(4+2) Cycloaddition to tricarbonyl[(1-4-η)-2-methoxy-5-methylene-cyclohexa-1,3-diene]iron for the rapid construction of a spiro[5.5]undecane system

Diels-Alder reactions of tricarbonyl[(1-4-η)-2-methoxy-5-methylene-cyclohexa-1,3-diene]iron 1 with 1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-disubstituted derivatives 2a,b,d and 2,3,4,5-tetrabromothiophene-1,1-dioxide 5 are reported. The (4+2) cycloaddition reactions took place exclusively with highly electron deficient dienes to form spiro[5.5]undecane system in good yield. The more electron rich nature of the 1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-disubstituted derivatives 2b did not react. The reaction also took place stereospecifically exo to the Fe(CO)₃ moiety.     

1,1,3,3,3-Pentafluoro-2-pentafluorophenyl-1,2-epoxypropane and trimethylphosphite: unusual 1,4-dioxan-2,5-dione ring formation

1,1,3,3,3-Pentafluoro-2-pentafluorophenyl-1,2-epoxypropane 1 reacted with trimethylphosphite giving two diastereomers, (Z)- and (E)-3,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)-3,6-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-1,4-dioxan-2,5-dione 2a, b in a 1:1 ratio, cyclodimerisation product of the intermediately generated α-lactone 4. Compounds 2a, b were hydrolysed to furnish 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)propionic acid 5.     

Synthesis, characterization, and derivatization of some novel types of fluorinated mono- and bis-imidazolidineiminothiones with antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal activities

A series of thirty eight novel imidazolidineiminothiones (6a-g, 10a-h, 13a,b, 15a-d, and 16a), 5-thioxoimidazolidine-2,4-diones (7a-d, 11a-e, 14a,b, and 16b), and bis-imidazolidineiminothiones (17-20) with various fluorinated aromatic substituents at N-(1) and N-(3) were prepared in 75-85% yields. The imidazolidineiminothiones were synthesized from fluorinated N-arylcyanothioformanilides and substituted aromatic isocyanates, and by the reactions of fluorinated aromatic isocyanates with fluorinated and non-fluorinated aromatic N-arylcyanothioformanilides. Subsequent hydrolysis of selected products produced the corresponding 5-thioxoimidazolidine-2,4-diones. Preliminary screening of several compounds against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells indicated that 6f and 16a were the most active (90% and 80% inhibition, respectively). Further evaluation for cytotoxicity against other tumor cell lines gave IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.67 to 3.83 μg/mL, where compounds 15a and 16a were markedly active against all cell lines. This highlights the synergistic effect of the suitably positioned fluorinated substituents on N-(1) and N-(3) of the imidazolidineiminothiones. Compounds 6a,e-g, 10a-c, 13b, 15a-d, and 17-20 were tested against microbial organisms (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, and Sarcina lutea), and fungal strains (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus flavus). Whereas compound 6a exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, 13b displayed the strongest antifungal activity against all fungal strains, reaching as high as 30 mm. Finally, 15a,b,d were subjected to in vitro testing of antiviral activity against hepatitis A virus (HAV), human herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1), and Coxsackie B4 (COxB4) viral strain, where 15b was the most effective, reducing virus plaque count of HSV1 and COxB4 by 50% and 60%, respectively.     

The first synthesis and X-ray structures of polyfluorinated 1,2-, 2,3- and 2,4a-dihydro-1,3-diazafluorenes

Acetic acid-catalyzed condensation of 2-amino-3-(1-imino-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-1,1,4,5,6,7-hexafluoroindene (1b) with acetone and cyclopentanone gives 5,6,7,8,9,9-hexafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-4-trifluoromethyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-diazafluorene (2a) and 5,6,7,8,9,9-hexafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-diazafluorene-2-spiro-1′-cyclopentane (3a) together with small amounts of 5,6,7,8,9,9-hexafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-1,3-diazafluorene (2b) and 5,6,7,8,9,9-hexafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydro-1,3-diazafluorene-2-spiro-1′-cyclopentane (3b), respectively. When acted upon by (CH₃)₂SO₄ compounds 2, 3 were converted into corresponding fluorine-containing 1-methyl-1,2-dihydro-1,3-diazafluorenes 6, 7. 4a-Chloro-5,6,7,8,9,9-hexafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-4-trifluoromethyl-2,4a-dihydro-1,3-diazafluorene (8) has been synthesized by the interaction of compound 2 with SOCl₂. Solution of compound 2 as well as 8 in CF₃SO₃H-CD₂Cl₂ generated 5,6,7,8,9,9-hexafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,3-diazafluorene-4-yl cation (2c). The structures of compounds 2, 3, 6-8 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Synthesis of nicotinonitrile derivatives as a new class of NLO materials

4,6-Diaryl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-nicotinonitriles 2a-k and 3-amino-2,4-dicyano-5-aryl-biphenyls 3a-c were synthesized from 1,3-diaryl-prop-2-en-1-ones 1a-k and malononitrile by a convenient one-pot method. Likewise, the reaction of aromatic aldehydes with malononitrile afforded 6-amino-4-aryl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-pyridine-3,5-dicarbonitriles 6a-f. The reaction of mesityl oxide with malononitrile gave 5-amino-7-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-2,4,4-trimethyl-1,4-dihydro-1,6-naphthyridine-8-carbonitrile 8. The NLO studies of the pyridinedinitrile derivatives 6a, b, f showed a high value while that of nicotinonitrile 2b was weak.     

Synthesis of monofluorinated indolizines and their derivatives by the 1,3-dipolar reaction of N-ylides with fluorinated vinyl tosylates

Monofluorinated indolizines 4, benzo[d]indolizines 7 and 4H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazoles 8 were synthesized in moderate yields by 1,3-dipolar reaction between fluorinated vinyl tosylates 2a and N-ylides of pyridinium, isoquinolinium and benzimidazolinium, generated in situ from their halides salts. When the same N-ylides were allowed to react with 2,3,3-trifluoro-1-propenyl tosylate 2b, the unexpected product formylated indolizines and their derivatives 9 were obtained. The reaction mechanism is also proposed.     

Pummerer-type reactions in the (2-methylsulfanyl-2-phosphonyl) thiopyran 1-oxide series

Two (3,6-dihydro-2-methylsulfanyl-2H-thiapyran-2-yl)phosphonate derivatives have been chemoselectively oxidized on the thiopyran sulfur. The obtained allylic six-membered cyclic sulfoxides 2a and 2b were reacted under Pummerer reaction conditions leading to new thiopyran derivatives (4a and 6b, respectively). In both studied cases, the nucleophilic attack of β,γ-unsaturated thionium ion intermediate took place regioselectively at the γ-position (even when occupied by a methyl substituent like in 2b). An unexpected second product 7b was however obtained from substrate 2b (having the dimethyl-substituted double bond). Dephosphorylation of 7b under basic conditions led to an original conjugated tri-unsaturated trifluromethylcarbonyl thiopyran product (8b). These results represent new original examples of the Pummerer reaction.     

Preparation of β-fluoro- and β,β-difluoro-histidinols

Nucleophilic attack of azide on 2-bromo-3-fluoro-3-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-propan-1-ol (1a) in aprotic solvent occurs on the 2-position to give the 2-azido derivative (2a). Reduction of azide and removal of the trityl group produces β-fluorohistidinol (6a). Elimination of HBr from 1a followed by “FBr” addition to the resulting double bond gives 2-bromo-3,3-difluoro-3-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-propan-1-ol (1b). Nucleophilic attack of azide followed by reduction and removal of the trityl group, as for the preparation of 6a, gives β,β-difluorohistidinol (6b). Initial attempts, under a variety of conditions, to oxidize the fluorinated histidinol precursors to carboxylic acids have not been successful.     

Role of edge-to-face interaction between aromatic rings in clathrate formation of 1-benzoyl-2-hydroxyindoline derivatives with benzene. X-ray crystal and PM6 analyses of the interaction

(4-Nitrophenyl- and 4-chlorophenyl)(2-hydroxy-3,3-dimethylindolin-1-yl)methanone (4a,b) serve as clathrate hosts for benzene guests. X-ray crystal analyses of the inclusion compounds of 4a and 4b with benzene indicate that the ‘edge-to-face interaction’ plays an important role in the formation of the inclusion complexes with benzene as well as in the host-host interactions. PM6 molecular orbital calculations were found to reproduce the characteristic structural features of both intra- and intermolecular edge-to-face interactions.     

Synthetic application of fluorinated vinamidinium salts: Synthesis of fluorinated 1,3-butadienylphosphonates by the reaction with Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reagents

The reaction of β-fluoro vinamidinium salt 1 with Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reagents (HWE) such as diethyl(ethoxycarbonyl)methylphosphonate (2a), diethyl(methoxycarbonyl)methylphosphonate (2b), diethyl-2-oxopropylphosphonate (2c), diethyl benzylphosphonate (2d), tetraethyl methylenediphosphonate (2e) and diethyl cyanomethylphosphonate (2f) under basic conditions gave the fluorinated 1,3-butadienylphosphonates 3 in moderate to good yields. The phosphonates 3 could be hydrolyzed with a 10% HCl aqueous solution to afford the corresponding γ-(diethylphosphono)-α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes 7 in good yields. The treatment of the phosphonate 3c with an NH₃ aqueous solution at 70 °C produced the pyridine derivative 8 in 60% yield.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of novel bis(2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one) derivatives as potential GSK-3 inhibitors

(5Z,5′Z)-3,3′-(1,4-Phenylenebis(methylene)-bis-(5-arylidene-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one) derivatives (5a-r) have been synthesized by the condensation reaction of 3,3′-(1,4- or 1,3-phenylenebis(methylene))bis(2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones) (3a,b) with suitably substituted aldehydes (4a-f) or 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)2-oxoacetaldehydes (8a-c) under microwave conditions. The bis(2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones) were prepared from the corresponding primary alkyl amines (1a,b) and di-(carboxymethyl)-trithiocarbonyl (2). The 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxoacetaldehydes (8a-c) were synthesized from the corresponding acid chlorides (7a-c) using HSnBu₃.     

New bis(fluoro-ponytailed) bipyridine ligands for Pd-catalyzed Heck reactions under fluorous biphasic catalysis condition

Three highly fluorinated bipyridine derivatives (4,4′-bis(R_fCH₂OCH₂)-2,2′-bpy) {R_f=HCF₂(CF₂)₇ (1a), n-C₈F₁₇ (1b), n-C₁₀F₂₁ (1c)} have been synthesized using 4,4′-bis(BrCH₂)-2,2′-bpy and the corresponding fluorinated alkoxides. The fluorine contents of ligands 1a-c are 58.3, 59.8, and 62.3%, respectively. Despite its high fluorine content, the ligand 1a with a -CF₂H polar terminal group is more soluble in organic solvents. The ligand 1b is a white solid and is still moderately soluble in CH₂Cl₂. The ligand 1c has a high fluorophilicity, the partition ratio being 42:1 for the n-C₈F₁₈/CH₂Cl₂ system. The reaction of ligands 1a-c with [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] results in the novel Pd complexes [PdCl₂(4,4′-bis-(R_fCH₂OCH₂)-2,2′-bpy)] where R_f=HCF₂(CF₂)₇ (2a), n-C₈F₁₇ (2b), n-C₁₀F₂₁ (2c), respectively. The Pd complex 2b is a pale yellow solid, and has been tested unsatisfactorily for FBC. Insoluble in organic solvents, the Pd complex 2c dissolves only in fluorinated solvents, for instance FC77, which is mainly n-C₈F₁₈. The novel Pd complex 2c has been tested as a catalyst in Heck reactions under a fluorous biphasic catalysis condition. It was found that the Pd complex 2c, after an easy separation, keeps its catalytic activity (>90% yield), even after seven runs. The TGA studies indicate that the Pd complexes 2a-c are stable up to 330 °C.     

Total synthesis of lycogarubin C utilizing the Kornfeld-Boger ring contraction

An efficient synthesis of lycogarubin C (3) was completed in seven steps from the known 1-(phenylsulfonyl)indole-3-carbaldehyde in 30% overall yield, via a Diels-Alder reaction between (Z)-1,2-di(1H-indol-3-yl)ethene 9b and dimethyl 1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-dicarboxylate (7), followed by a Kornfeld-Boger ring contraction to form the pyrrole ring.     

Microwave assisted synthesis of novel imidazo [2,1-b]thiazole derivative attached to quinoxalinones

3-(6-Phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones (qunoxalinone) (6a-q) have been synthesized by the reaction of ethyl 2-oxo-2-(6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)acetates (4a-e) with suitably substituted o-phenylenediamines (5a-f) under microwave heating. The ethyl 2-oxo-2-(6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)acetates (4a-e) were prepared by the reaction of 6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles (3a-e) with ethyl chlorooxoacetate in refluxing 1,4-dioxane whereas the thiazoles (3a-e) were synthesized by the reaction of 2-bromo-1-phenylethanones (2a-e) with thiazol-2-amine in refluxing acetone.     

The effect of fluorine atoms on gas transport properties of new polynorbornene dicarboximides

The new N-4-trifluoromethylphenyl-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide (2a) and N-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide (2b) mixtures of exo and endo monomers were synthesized and polymerized via ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) using bis(tricyclohexylphosphine) benzylidene ruthenium(IV) dichloride (I) and tricyclohexylphosphine [1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene][benzylidene] ruthenium dichloride (II) to produce the corresponding polynorbornene dicarboximides Poly-2a and Poly-2b, respectively. The transport of five gases He, N₂, O₂, CO₂ and CH₄ across membranes prepared from Poly-2a was determined at 35 °C using a constant volume permeation cell. The gas transport properties of the fluorine containing polymer Poly-2a were compared with those found for membranes from non-fluorinated poly(N-phenyl-exo-endo-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide) (P-PhNDI). Gas permeability, diffusion and solubility coefficients of the fluorine containing polynorbornene Poly-2a were up to an order of magnitude larger than those of the non-fluorinated one. Poly-2a was found to have one of the largest gas transport coefficients reported to date in glassy polynorbornene dicarboximides.     

Enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions of α-fluorinated α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds : Part 5. Chemical consequences of fluorine substitution

α-Fluoro-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, compared with the corresponding non-fluorinated parent compounds, are less reactive in Diels-Alder reactions with normal 1,3-dienes. The cycloadducts of such dienophiles with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene (1) or o-quinodimethane (6) exhibit low stability whereas the corresponding cycloaddducts formed with cyclopentadiene (7) are stable compounds. While the cycloadditions of oct-1-en-3-one (2e) or benzyl acrylate (10b) with 7 are endo-selective, the corresponding reactions with 2-fluorooct-1-en-3-one (2a) or benzyl 2-fluoroacrylate (10a) are exo-selective. Applying Lewis acids as mediators, the reactions with non-fluorinated dienophiles become even more endo-selective, while the corresponding reactions with the fluorinated analogues become more exo-selective. Using enantiopure Lewis acidic metal complexes such as titanium TADDOLates, low enantioselectivity is observed in reactions of 7 with 2e or 10b. Moderate enantioselectivity (max. 43% enantiomeric excesses (ee)) is found in the corresponding cycloadditions of 7 with 2a, whereas 10a shows practically no enantioselectivity. The more efficient chiral induction in reactions with the fluorinated dienophile 2a might be caused by a chelate-like complexation of the carbonyl compound involving the fluorine substituent.     

Photochemistry of benzene and quinoxaline fused Δ-1,2,3-triazolines and their trapping products

The benzene and quinoxaline fused Δ²-1,2,3-triazolines 1a and 1b were synthesized in good yields using Knoevenagel condensation and intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition as two of the key reactions. Photolysis (254 nm) of Δ²-1,2,3-triazoline 1a or 1b in acetonitrile led to the homolytic cleavage of nitrogen that generated diethyl diazomalonate 7, highly reactive intermediates aziridines 8a,b, and isoindoles B. The latter two species subsequently underwent rearrangement to give the nitrogen extrusion products 9a,b, and polymers. Furthermore, the reactive intermediates were trapped by dienophiles to give the corresponding cycloadducts. Subsequent rearrangement of the N-bridged cycloadducts gave N-substituted pyrrolo[3,4-b]quinoxalines 12b and 15b in 6% and 9% yields, respectively. Irradiation of 1a in the presence of fumaronitrile led to the isolation of cycloadduct 16a with retention of stereochemistry. Thermal reaction of 1b gave more nitrogen extruded product 9b (58-63% yield) than that by photolysis (5-23% yield), which implied that zwitterionic intermediate might be involved in the former.     

Dinuclear rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes based on π-conjugated polypyridyl ligands with tetrathiafulvalenes: Syntheses, crystal structures, properties and DFT calculations

A series of tetrathiafulvalene-substituted 2,3-di(2-pyridyl)quinoxaline (dpq) ligands, 2-(4,5-bis(methylthio)-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-6,7-di(pyridin-2-yl)- [1,3]dithiolo[4,5-g]quinoxaline (L₁), dimethyl-2-(6,7-di(pyridin-2-yl)-[1,3]dithiolo[4,5-g]quinoxalin-2-ylidene)-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dicarboxylate (L₂), and 2-(5,6-dihydro-[1,3]dithiolo[4,5-b] [1,4]dithiin-2-ylidene)-6,7-di(pyridin-2-yl)-[1,3]dithiolo[4,5-g]quinoxaline (L₃), have been prepared. Reactions of these ligands with Re(CO)₅Cl afford the corresponding dinuclear rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes, Re₂(L)(CO)₆Cl₂ (L = L₁, 5a; L = L₂, 5b; L = L₃, 5c). All new compounds are fully characterized by ¹H NMR, IR and mass spectroscopies. The crystal structures of 5a and 5b have been studied. Optimized conformations and molecular orbital diagrams of 5a−5c have been calculated with density functional theory (DFT). The spin-allowed singlet−singlet electronic transitions of all complexes have been calculated with time-dependent DFT (TDDFT), and the UV-Vis−NIR spectra are discussed based on the theoretical calculations.     

Columnar/smectic metallomesogens derived from heterocyclic benzoxazoles

The synthesis, mesomorphic behavior, and optical properties of two new series of metal complexes 1a,b-M (M=Pd, Cu, Zn) derived from benzoxazoles 2a,b are reported. The crystal and molecular structures of mesogenic 5-decyloxy-2-(6-decyloxybenzooxazol-2-yl)phenol and nonmesogenic bis[5-octyloxy-2-(6-octyloxybenzooxazol-2-yl) phenol]Pd(II) were determined by means of X-ray structural analysis. Two benzoxazoles 2a exhibited monotropic SmA phases, and all benzoxazoles 2b were nonmesogenic. On the other hand, metal complexes 1a-M exhibited distinctly different mesomorphism from complexes 1b-M. Complexes 1a-Pd formed SmC phases; complexes 1a-Cu and 1a-Zn formed crystal phases. In contrast, complexes 1b-Zn exhibited columnar phases, and complexes 1b-Cu and 1b-Pd were nonmesogenic. The difference of the mesomorphism in 1a-M and 1b-M was probably attributed to the geometry and/or the overall molecular shape created by 2a and 2b. The electronic configuration of metal ion might play an important role in forming the mesophases. The fluorescent properties of these compounds were also examined.     

Synthesis of a new class of azathia crown macrocycles containing two 1,2,4-triazole or two 1,3,4-thiadiazole rings as subunits

A series of new 1,2/1,3-bis[o-(N-methylidenamino-5-aryl-3-thiol-4H-1,2,4-triazole-4-yl)phenoxy]alkane derivatives 3a-d and bis[o-(N-methylidenamino-2-thiol-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-yl)phenoxy]alkanes 6a-c were prepared by condensation of 4-amino-5-(aroyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols 2a-b or 2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole with bis-aldehydes 1a-c. Further reaction of compounds 3a-d and 6a-c with dibromoalkanes afforded the new macrocycles 5a-f and 8a-d. The cyclization does not require high dilution techniques and provides the expected azathia macrocycles in good yields, ranging from 55% to 68%.