Facile preparation of cyclopropanes from 2-iodoethyl-substituted olefins and 1,3-dihalopropanes with zinc powder

Two efficient, simple, cheap, and environmentally benign preparations of cyclopropanes were achieved. One is the formation via 3-exo-trig manner from various electron-deficient 2-iodoethyl-substituted olefins with zinc powder in a mixture of t-butyl alcohol and water, and the other is the formation via 3-exo-tet manner from various 1,3-dihalopropanes with zinc powder in ethanol.     

Selective O-acylation of unprotected N-benzylserine methyl ester and O,N-acyl transfer in the formation of cyclo[Asp-Ser] diketopiperazines

The synthesis of two diastereomeric cyclo[Asp-N-Bn-Ser] diketopiperazines (2a and 2b) was investigated. Initial formation of the Boc-aspartyl-N-benzyl serine isopeptide methyl esters (4a and 4b) was observed, which derive from the selective O-acylation of unprotected (S)- or (R)-N-benzylserine. This unexpected O-acylation is preferred over the formation of the tertiary amide and the resulting ester bond is stable in solution to O,N-acyl transfer. The O,N-acyl migration is then triggered by cleavage of the Boc protecting group and treatment with base, which also promotes immediate cyclization to the diketopiperazines.     

Electrochemical fluorination of N,N-dimethylperfluoroacylamides

The electrochemical fluorination (ECF) of N,N-dimethylperfluoroacylamides gives the corresponding perfluoro-N,N-dimethylacylamides in low yield. With increase of the number of carbon atoms in the perfluoroacyl radical the yield of the required perfluoro-N,N-dimethylacylamides is slightly increased.     

Application of N,3-diaryl-3-oxo-propanethioamide in synthesis: an efficient and mild domino approach to highly substituted fused chromenones

A convenient and rapid synthesis of hitherto unknown 3-aroyl-4-aryl-2-phenylamino-4H-benzo[g]chromene-5,10-diones in high yield from β-aroyl-thioacetanilide, aromatic aldehyde, and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone via InCl₃ catalyzed one-pot three-component tandem Knoevenagel condensation–Michael addition–intramolecular cyclization–elimination reaction sequence is disclosed for the first time. This domino protocol has been used to obtain highly substituted pyrano[3,2-c]chromen-5(4H)-ones and 7,7-dimethyl-7,8-dihydro-4H-chromen-5(6H)-ones from N,3-diaryl-3-oxo-propanethioamide, aromatic aldehyde, and 4-hydroxycoumarine or dimedone under mild reaction conditions. A plausible reaction mechanism is proposed. The 4H-pyrano[3,2-c]chromen-5-one and 7,7-dimethyl-7,8-dihydro-4H-chromen-5(6H)-one derivatives possessing 3-(2-chlorobenzoyl)-2-phenylamino-substituents further cyclized under basic conditions to yield penta-cyclic 7,13-diaryl-5,14-dioxa-13-aza-benzo[a]naphthacen-6,8(7H,13H)-dione and tetra-cyclic 6,12-diaryl-3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromeno[2,3-b]quinolin-1,11(6H,12H)-dione, respectively.     

An effective C-C double bond formation via Cu(I)-catalyzed dehydrogenation

A dehydrogenation method using Cu(I) and either N,N-di-tert-butylthiadiaziridine 1,1-dioxide or N,N-di-tert-butyldiaziridinone is reported. The dehydrogenation allows a facile introduction of C-C double bond(s) into various carbocycles and heterocycles such as oxazolines and thiazolines.     

Gold(I)-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition of N-(hex-5-enynyl) tert-butyloxycarbamates

A study concerning the gold(I)-catalyzed transformation of N-(hex-5-enynyl) tert-butyloxycarbamates is described. The mild conditions employed allow the moderately efficient but stereoselective synthesis of a range of bicyclic carbamates following a formal [4+2] cycloaddition process.     

Regioselective ipso formylation of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene

A convenient procedure for direct introduction of one formyl group into p-tert-butylcalix[4]arenes through ipso substitution is described.     

Polyfluorinated arylnitrosamines

N-Methyl-, N-n-butyl-, N-t-butylperfluoroarylamines undergo nitrosation with nitrous acid to give the corresponding N-nitroso derivatives. Perfluoroaryl groups were selected from the benzene, indane, biphenyl, naphthalene and pyridine series. According to ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectra, N-nitroso-N-methyl derivatives of polyfluoroarenes consist of E and Z isomers with the former prevailing. The more bulky n-butyl group promotes an increase in the formation of Z isomers. Only Z isomers have been obtained from N-t-butyl derivatives of perfluorinated 4-toluidine and 4-aminopyridine. The structure of the Z isomer of N-nitroso-N-methylperfluoro-4-toluidine is confirmed by X-ray data.     

DFT study of the reaction sites of N,N′-substituted p-phenylenediamine antioxidants

The geometry of N,N′-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD), N-phenyl-N′-(1′-methylbenzyl)-p-phenylenediamine (SPPD), N-phenyl-N′-(1,3-dimethyl-butyl)-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), N-phenyl-N′-isopropyl-p-phenylenediamine (IPPD), and N-(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (CPPD) as well as of their dehydrogenation products has been optimized at B3LYP/6-31G^∗ level of theory. Our results support the idea of formation of stable ketimine Ph-NC structures (instead of quinonediimine structures) during consecutive dehydrogenation of SPPD, 6PPD, and IPPD antioxidants despite the formation of tertiary carbon-centered radicals in the first dehydrogenation step is energetically preferred for SPPD only.     

DBU-promoted alkylation of alkyl phosphinates and H-phosphonates

The alkylation of alkyl phosphinates and some H-phosphonate diesters is promoted by the base DBU. Only more reactive alkyl halides react in preparatively useful yields. However, the method provides easy access to important H-phosphinate building blocks, without the need for a protecting group strategy or metal catalysts. The reaction is conveniently conducted at, or below, room temperature. The preparation of methyl-H-phosphinate esters is particularly interesting as it avoids the heretofore more common use of methyldichlorophosphine MePCl₂.     

Synthesis of granulatimide bis-imide analogues

The synthesis of dipyrrolo[3,4-a:3,4-c]carbazole-1,3,4,6-tetraones, structurally related to granulatimide is reported. These compounds can be considered as granulatimide analogues in which a maleimide heterocycle replaces the imidazole moiety. The synthesis of pyridino[2,3-b]dipyrrolo[3,4-e:3,4-g]indole-1,3,4,6-tetraones is also reported. In these compounds, a 7-azaindole unit replaces the indole moiety present in the granulatimide and isogranulatimide structures.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of homo-N,O-nucleosides

A new class of homo-N,O-nucleosides has been designed, based on the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of C-substituted nitrones with allyl nucleobases. The N-methyl-C-ethoxycarbonyl nitrone 1, and the C-α-silyloxymethyl-N-methyl nitrone 7 have been exploited: the stereochemical features of the obtained nucleosides are dependent on the nature of the dipole. The results obtained with DFT calculations fully agree with the experimental results and successfully reproduce the experimentally observed reversal of endo/exo selectivity for nitrones 1 and 7.     

Two novel tricyclic diterpenoids from Isodon rubescens var. taihangensis

Two novel tricyclic diterpenoids rubescensins U (1) and V (2) were isolated from the leaves of Isodon rubescens var. taihangensis. They were elucidated as a 8,15-seco-ent-kauranoid and an ent-abietanoid, respectively, by 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and single crystal X-ray analysis. Compound 1 is the first example of an 8,15-seco-ent-kaurane from the plants genus Isodon. A discussion of their biogenesis is described.     

Convenient synthesis of fused pyrano[3,2-h]- and furo[3,2-h]benzo[f]coumarins from naphthalene-2,3-diol

The treatment of 8-propargyloxy-benzo[f]coumarin with boron trifluoride diethyl etherate in N,N-dimethylformamide under reflux or MW irradiation resulted in pyrano[3,2-h]benzo[f]coumarin, while the furo[3,2-h]benzo[f]coumarin is received from the treatment with N-methylformamide under MW irradiation.     

Determination of the Mössbauer parameters of rare-earth nitroprussides: Evidence for new light-induced magnetic excited state (LIMES) in nitroprussides

Nitroprussides of the rare-earth elements and some mixed rare-earth-sodium nitroprussides are studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy at ambient and lower temperatures. The high precision Mössbauer measurements reveal fine changes in the electronic configurations of the nitroprusside anions. A small increase of the quadrupole splitting reveals charge polarization effects in the nitroprusside anion caused by the oblate or prolate shape of the rare-earth ion and the lanthanide contraction. Despite the very large magnetic moment of holmium a magnetic phase transition is not observed down to 300 mK. The population of the metastable states SI and SII are evidenced in europium and scandium nitroprussides, and most likely they can be populated in all rare-earth nitroprussides. No distinct correlation between the Mössbauer parameters and the decay temperatures T_c of the metastable states are found. In a very thin surface layer strong color change, which remains stable at room temperature, is detected. A quadrupole doublet with Mössbauer parameters typical for Fe(III), low spin S=1/2 state is related to a new colored photoproduct. The photoproduct is called light-induced magnetic excited state (LIMES) and explained with a photochemical redox reaction, which changes the valence, spin, and magnetic state of 4f-3d bimetallic complexes.     

Identification and quantification of 13 components in Angelica sinensis (Danggui) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with pressurized liquid extraction

Angelica sinensis (Danggui in Chinese), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, is also used as a health food product for women's care in Europe and America. Therefore, the demand for Danggui is enormous throughout the world. Due to the shortage of Angelica sinensis, Angelica acutiloba and Angelica gigas are commonly used as the substitutes of Danggui in the market of southeast Asia. However, the three common Angelica roots showed variation in their genetic and chemical composition. Up to date, it is thought that ferulic acid, ligustilide and other phthalides such as butylidenephthalide are the biologically active components of Danggui. In this paper, the contents of 13 compounds including ferulic acid, Z-ligustilide, E-ligustilide, Z-butylidenephthalide, E-butylidenephthalide, 3-butylphthalide, 3-butylidene-4-hydroxyphthalide, senkyunolide A, 6,7-epoxyligustilide, senkyunolide F, senkyunolide H, senkyunolide I, and 6,7-dihydroxyligustilide were determined or estimated by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled with pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). The results showed that GC-MS coupled with PLE offered a simple, rapid and high sensitive method to analysis of components in Angelica root. And the contents of investigated compounds in Angelica sinensis, Angelica acutiloba and Angelica gigas, which are used as Danggui in China, Japan and Korea, respectively, were highly variant. It is thought that interaction of multiple chemical compounds contributes to the therapeutic effects of Chinese medicines. However, the overall clinical efficacy of these different Danggui has not been determined. Therefore, comparison of chemical components and pharmacological activities of different Angelica root is helpful to elucidate the mechanism of therapeutic effects of Danggui.     

Highly selective isomerization of N-allylamides and N-allylamines

A highly selective rhodium and ruthenium catalyzed transformation of N-allylamines and N-allylamides to the corresponding 1-propenyl derivatives is described. Strong E-selectivity in the isomerization of allylamines was observed. The first catalytic system containing a transition metal complex for Z-selective isomerization of allylamides is presented. An application of siliceous mesoporous cellular foams for effective removal of the catalyst from the post-reaction mixture is described.     

First straightforward synthesis of 1-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-benz[g]isochromene-5,10-dione and structure revision of a bioactive benz[g]isochromene-5,10-dione from Psychotria camponutans

For the first time, a synthesis of 1-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-benz[g]isochromene-5,10-dione (3), which is claimed to be a bioactive compound isolated from Psychotria camponutans, was achieved with a phthalide annulation reaction using 3-cyano-1(3H)-isobenzofuranone (5) and 5,6-dihydropyran-2-one (6) and subsequent reduction of the lactone moiety in the key steps. However, full spectral characterization of the synthesized target compound revealed that the isolated compound is not 1-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-benz[g]isochromene-5,10-dione (3). Structure revision shows the previously isolated compound to be the known psychorubrin (2).     

Concise total synthesis of flavone C-glycoside having potent anti-inflammatory activity

The total synthesis of anti-inflammatory active flavone C-glycoside isolated from oolong tea extract is achieved. Introducing a C-glucosyl moiety to an aryl system and constructing a fused tetracyclic ring characteristic to this natural product were conducted based on the O-to-C rearrangement of sugar moiety and the successive intramolecular Mitsunobu reaction, respectively. This concise and efficient synthetic pathway is applicable to the large-scale synthesis of target flavone and for constructing a large library of related compounds.