Photothermal degradation of copolymers of methyl methacrylate and n-butyl acrylate

The photothermal degradation of copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and n-butyl acrylate (n-BuA) covering the whole composition range has been studied at 165°.The gaseous products, which are relatively minor, are hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane. The liquid products are predominantly MMA, with n-BuA, n-butanol and n-butyraldehyde as minor products. Infra-red spectral changes in the residue were attributed to lactone formation and associated with butanol formation as in the purely thermal reaction The “cold ring” or chain fragment fraction becomes increasingly more abundant as the n-BuA content of the copolymer is increased.All the products and principal features of the reaction are explained in terms of a radical process which is initiated by scission of pendant acrylate units and is propagated by a combination of depropagation and intra- and intermolecular transfer processes, the relative importance of which depends upon copolymer composition. Differences from the thermal reaction and the corresponding reaction in copolymers of methyl methacrylate and methyl acrylate are discussed.     

New opinions on the amidoalkylation of hydrophosphorylic compounds

A new and milder version of the procedure for the synthesis of N-protected α-aminoalkylphosphorylic compounds by reaction of alkyl carbamates, aldehydes and hydrophosphorylic compounds in acetic anhydride/acetyl chloride and a new mechanism for this type of reaction are described. The isolation, for the first time, of N,N′-benzylidene- and N,N′-alkylidenebiscarbamates as intermediates from the reaction medium and studies of the direct reaction of pre-obtained biscarbamates and hydrophosphorylic compounds in acetic anhydride are reported. A new version of the mechanism for this reaction which includes an Arbuzov-type reaction is proposed.     

A microwave-enhanced, solventless Mannich condensation of terminal alkynes and secondary amines with para-formaldehyde on cuprous iodide doped alumina

A microwave-enhanced, solventless Mannich condensation of terminal alkynes and secondary amines with para-formaldehyde on cuprous iodide doped alumina has been developed. β-Aminoalkynes are generated in good yields. The reaction can be extended to include a cyclization, which affords 2-substituted benzo[b]furans. The chemoselectivity of the reaction indicates that terminal alkynes are much more reactive than enolizable ketones under the reaction conditions.     

Reactions of levulinic acid and pseudolevulinic esters with various C-nucleophiles

The reactions of levulinic acid and its pseudo esters, which are readily available from carbohydrate-containing raw materials, with various C-nucleophiles are described. Different reaction pathways were demonstrated depending on the nature of the leaving groups and nucleophiles. For 5-methyl-5-methoxydihydrofuran-2(3H)-one, the reaction was found to proceed by a route giving hept-6-enoic acid derivatives. In contrast, the reaction of 2-methyl-5-oxotetrahydrofuran-2-yl acetate proceeds via intramolecular cyclization to form γ-valerolactone derivatives.     

The use of selenium(IV) chloride for the preparation of diarylselenium dichlorides

Two new synthetic routes for the preparation of diarylselenium dichlorides are reported both of which use selenium(IV) chloride as a starting meterial. In the first method, bis(p-methóxyphenyl) and bis(p-ethoxyphenyl)-selenium dichlorides are prepared by the reaction of SeCl₄ with anisole and phenetole respectively. In the second, diphenylselenium dichloride is prepared by the reaction of SeCl₄ with tetraphenyllead, a reaction in which the lead—carbon bond is cleaved.The far infrared and Raman spectra of the diarylselenium dichlorides are reported.     

Isocyanide based multicomponent reactions of oxazolidines and related systems

N-Alkyloxazolidines react in a multicomponent reaction with carboxylic acids and isocyanides to give N-acyloxyethylamino acid amides. The previously reported reaction conditions were improved using a design of experiments approach (DoE). Under the optimised conditions, good yields of the N-acyloxyethylamino acid amide products are obtained both via a three- or four-component approach from N-alkylethanolamines, aldehydes/ketones, isocyanides and carboxylic acids. The reaction of oxazolidines without a nitrogen substituent was found to give either the expected Ugi products or the N-acyloxyethylamino acid amides depending on the choice of reaction conditions. Optimised reaction conditions were also developed for the ring-expansion of oxazolidines to morpholin-2-ones via reaction with an isocyanide followed by hydrolysis. The mechanistic pathway of the multicomponent reaction was briefly investigated using an ¹⁸O labelling experiment. The carboxylic acid component can be replaced by a range of other acidic nucleophiles including thiobenzoic acid, thiophenol or 5-phenyltetrazole, which are incorporated via an alternative pathway. These latter reactions can also be applied to 2-aminotetrahydrofurans, 2-aminotetrahydropyrans or 4-hydroxybut-2-one, further extending the structural diversity of the multicomponent reaction products.     

Per-O-methylation reaction for structural analysis of carbohydrates by mass spectrometry

Per-O-methylation of carbohydrates is an important sample preparation step in structural analysis of complex carbohydrates, which has generated considerable interest as shown by thousands of citations in the last 10 years. This article provides a critical overview of the per-O-methylation methods applied for structural analysis of carbohydrates by mass spectrometry. The understanding of the O-methylation mechanism can help the researchers to apply the adequate O-methylation method and can generate new ideas in the effort of improving this reaction. The per-O-methylation of carbohydrates is relied upon stepwise reactions. The parameters that affect the reaction are discussed for the most important methods and are critically commented for each reaction step. The limits of each method are emphasized. The improvements of the per-O-methylation reaction are described in detail with their advantages and disadvantages and some illustrative examples are given. The methods that give complete O-methylation in non-hazardous conditions with high yields within minutes at room temperature with a very low amount of side-products are especially highlighted.     

Thermal epimerization of inositol 1,3-benzylidene acetals in the molten state

1,3-O-Benzylidene-2,4,5,6-tetra-O-substituted-myo-inositol derivatives obtained by the DIBAL-H reduction of the corresponding myo-inositol 1,3,5-orthobenzoate derivatives undergo epimerization at the acetal carbon on heating, in the molten state, just above their melting point. The same epimerization reaction does not proceed either in the crystalline state or in solution. DFT calculations suggest that the epimeric acetal obtained by this thermal process is relatively more stable than the starting acetal. Either of these acetals could not be obtained by the reaction of the corresponding inositol derived diol with benzaldehyde. These observations constitute a novel reaction solely in the molten state, which are rarely encountered in the literature. X-ray crystal structures of the epimeric acetals as well as their radical deoxygenation reaction are also reported.     

CuI-catalyzed thioarylation of active methylene compounds with in situ generated benzenethiols: Preparation of α-thioaryl-β-dicarbonyls and 4-thioaryl-5-pyrazolones

In this paper, a one-step copper-catalyzed procedure for oxidative coupling of active methylene compounds including cyclic β-diketones, cyclic β-ketoesters and 5-pyrazolone with benzenethiols is described. Benzenethiols are in situ generated in the reaction mixture from aryl halides and thiourea as sulfur transfer reagent. α-Thioaryl compounds are obtained in excellent yields and in short reaction time via the process which is free from the foul smell of thiols.     

Kinetics of devitrification and differential thermal analysis

A quantitative relationship between kinetic parameters and DTA curves has been derived for devitrification reactions which are described by a Johnson—Mehl—Avrami equation.Both activation energy, E, and reaction order, n, can be derived from DTA curves and related to the probable reaction mechanism.Experimental results and isothermal literature data are consistent.     

An unusual Mannich type reaction of tertiary aromatic amines in aqueous micelles

An efficient, unusual Mannich type reaction of tertiary aromatic amines, formaldehyde and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds is described in aqueous micelles catalyzed by boric acid to afford dialkylaminoarylated 1,3-dicarbonyls. In this unusual Mannich type reaction, tertiary aromatic amines react with formaldehyde to generate an N-alkyl-N-(4-methylenecyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)alkylaminium intermediate (aza quinone methide), which undergoes nucleophilic addition with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. The reaction is highly regioselective, and exclusively para functionalized products are formed in high yields.     

Selective functionalization of a resorcin[6]arene

The Mannich-type condensation of hexaethylresorcin[6]arene with achiral primary amines results in S₆-symmetrical hexadihydro-1,3-oxazine derivatives, which are mesoforms. The reaction with individual enantiomers of α-phenylethylamine leads to C₃-symmetrical enantiomeric hexaoxazines, which crystallize from reaction mixtures in an analytically pure form.     

Temperature vs. time sequences to palliate deactivation in parallel and in series-parallel with the main reaction: parametric study

The calculation of temperature vs. time sequences to palliate catalyst deactivation in an integral reactor has been studied either by maintaining constant the conversion at the reactor outlet in a simple reaction or by maintaining constant the concentration of a given component at the outlet in a complex reaction system. The experimental systems studied, which are a simple one (dehydration of 2-ethylhexanol) and a complex one (isomerization of cis-butene), have kinetic models of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson type for the main reaction and deactivation, with deactivation by coke dependent on the concentration of the reaction components. In the reaction of dehydration of 2-ethylhexanol deactivation occurs in parallel with the main reaction and in the isomerization of cis-butene deactivation occurs in series-parallel with the main reaction. A parametric study has been carried out for both reaction systems. The sequences calculated have been experimentally proven in an automated reaction apparatus.     

Kinetic and mechanistic study of the reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol by dithionites

The reaction of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPI) and dithionites is studied kinetically by applying the stopped-flow technique. Reaction rate constants are given for the pH range 1.30–6.80. The reaction was found to follow first-order kinetics with respect to each of the reactants. For pH 3.97, 5.10 and 6.80, the second-order reaction rate constant was determined by applying four different technique. Mean values of k = 172±5, 200±2 and 276±4 l mol^?1s^?1 are given for pH 3.97, 5.10 and 6.80, respectively. A mechanism is proposed for the reaction, which suggests partial reactions of all possible species of DCPI and dithionites at any pH. An equation for the calculation of k at any pH is derived, which gives k as a function of [H⁺], the partial reaction rate constants and the dissociation constants of DCPI and H₂S₂O₄. Values of reaction rate constants of all possible partial reactions are also presented.     

Iodine-mediated aryl transfer reaction from arylhydrazine hydrochlorides to nitriles

An iodine-promoted, metal-, base-, and solvent-free cross-coupling reaction was developed for the synthesis of various useful secondary amides via an aryl N-addition reaction of aryl groups to cyano groups. This aryl transfer reaction proceeds with arylhydrazine hydrochlorides serving as the aryl donors. A labelling experiment shows that the N atom in the product comes from the cyano group of the nitriles, which are low in cost. A plausible radical-driven mechanism is also proposed.     

New synthetic method of 1,2-diaryl-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaboranes employing aromatic nucleophilic substitution (SNAr) reaction

Aromatic nucleophilic substitution (S_NAr) reaction of 1-phenyl-o-carborane with 4-nitrofluorobenzene in the presence of NaH or KO^tBu proceeded smoothly to give 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-phenyl-o-carborane; similar reaction affords various 1,2-diaryl-o-carboranes, which are useful precursors for macromolecular construction and drug design.     

Copper-catalyzed Pummerer type reaction of α-thio aryl/heteroarylacetates: Synthesis of aryl/heteroaryl α-keto esters

A copper catalyzed Pummerer type reaction of α-thio aryl/heteroarylacetates is described for the first time. This transformation represents a new route to synthesize α-keto esters, which are important intermediates for pharmaceuticals and organic synthesis. The reaction proceeds via in situ generation of a thionium ion that undergoes hydrolysis to furnish α-keto esters in synthetically viable yields (up to 82%).     

1,4-Asymmetric induction in the titanium-mediated aldol reactions of α-benzyloxy methyl ketones

Good levels of 1,4-anti asymmetric induction are obtained in the TiCl₃(i-PrO)-mediated aldol reaction of α-benzyloxy methyl ketones with achiral aldehydes. Such methodology represents a new approach to the substrate-controlled acetate aldol reaction, which can be useful to design more efficient synthesis.     

An efficient,environmentally benign,and solvent-free protocol for the synthesis of 4-substituted 1,5-benzodiazepines catalyzed by reusable sulfated polyborate

An efficient and environmentally benign method has been developed for the one-pot solvent-free synthesis of 4-substituted-1,5-benzodiazepines via three-component reaction of o-phenylenediamine, dimedone with a variety of aldehydes catalyzed by sulfated polyborate. The major advantages of the present method are good to excellent yields, shorter reaction time, simple experimental procedure, easy workup, solvent-free reaction condition, recyclability of the catalyst and ability to tolerate a variety of functional groups which gives economical as well as ecological rewards.     

A novel Barton decarboxylation produces a 1,4-phenyl radical rearrangement domino reaction

A novel 1,4-Phenyl radical rearrangement (1,4-PhRR) is described in a typical Barton decarboxylation procedure. While carrying out this reaction in presence of a N,N-disubstituted β-amino acid derivative, the decarboxyphenyl rearranged derivative is obtained, as well as in presence of β-N,N-acylamide. On the other hand, secondary amines give the β-lactam derivative without rearrangement, as well as N-Fmoc derivatives give the normal decarboxylation reaction. In regards of amines which are far away from the carboxylic group, such as δ-amino acid derivatives, the reaction occur through a typical Barton decarboxylation without rearrangement. The diversity of the reaction proves synthetic usefulness paving the way to interesting biologically active compounds.