N,N′‐Bis(2‐methoxy­benzyl­idene) adducts of ethane‐1,2‐di­amine,propane‐1,3‐di­amine and butane‐1,4‐di­amine

We have isolated and crystallographically characterized the three homologous compounds N,N′‐bis(2‐methoxy­benzyl­idene)­ethane‐1,2‐di­amine (MeSalen), C₁₈H₂₀N₂O₂, N,N′‐bis(2‐methoxy­benzyl­idene)­propane‐1,3‐di­amine (MeSalpr), C₁₉H₂₂N₂O₂, and N,N′‐bis(2‐methoxy­benzyl­idene)­butane‐1,4‐di­amine (MeSalbu), C₂₀H₂₄N₂O₂. In contrast with MeSalpr, the mol­ecules of MeSalen and MeSalbu, which have an even number of methyl­ene units, have crystallographic symmetry. Comparing these methoxy‐substituted species with their hydroxy equivalents shows that the aryl rings rotate upon removal of the O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds. The packing of MeSalen and MeSalpr is controlled by C—H⋯π interactions, whereas that of MeSalbu has only van der Waals contacts.     

Reactivity of 2‐Methyl‐4H‐3,1‐benzoxazin‐4‐ones and 2‐Methyl‐4H‐pyrido[2,3‐d][1,3]oxazin‐4‐one under Microwave Irradiation Conditions

The reactivity of variably substituted 2‐methyl‐4H‐3,1‐benzoxazin‐4‐ones and 2‐methyl‐4H‐pyrido[2,3‐d][1,3]oxazin‐4‐one towards carbon and oxygen nucleophiles under microwave irradiation conditions was investigated. Optimization of the reaction conditions of oxazinones with carbon nucleophiles led to the synthesis of a series of 4‐hydroxy‐quinolin‐2‐ones and 4‐hydroxy‐1,8‐naphthyridin‐2‐ones in high yields, whereas reaction with a variety of alcohols proceeded smoothly to the formation of the corresponding N‐acetyl‐anthranilates and nicotinates.     

Lewis Acid Catalyzed Ring‐Opening Reactions of Sugar‐Derived Semicyclic N,O‐Acetals

N‐(Alkoxycarbonyl)‐N‐glycosides (polyoxygenated semicyclic N,O‐acetals) were efficiently synthesized from regular acetyl or methyl glycosides (glucopyranoside, ribofuranoside, arabinofuranoside, and 2‐deoxyribofuranoside) and a carbamate by treatment of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate and 4 Å molecular sieves. It was found that these N‐glycosides underwent Lewis acid catalyzed ring‐opening reactions with silylated nucleophiles to give ring‐opened amino alcohols with good‐to‐high diastereoselectivity. The reactivity order, 2‐deoxyribofuranoside > arabinofuranoside > ribofuranoside > glucopyranoside, was revealed. Ring‐opening reductions were also investigated with silanes or diisobutylaluminium hydride. An appropriate reducing agent was found to be dependent on the N‐glycosides used. A glycosidase inhibitor, (2S,3R,4R)‐2‐hydroxymethylpyrrolidine‐3,4‐diol ( 7 ) was synthesized by means of the reactions.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct C2 Arylation of N‐Substituted Indoles with 1‐Aryltriazenes

A novel and efficient palladium‐catalyzed C2 arylation of N‐substituted indoles with 1‐aryltriazenes for the synthesis of 2‐arylindoles was developed. In the presence of BF₃ ? OEt₂ and palladium(II) acetate (Pd(OAc)₂), N‐substituted indoles reacted with 1‐aryltriazenes in N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAC) to afford the corresponding aryl–indole‐type products in good to excellent yields.     

Asymmetric Dearomatization of Indole Derivatives with N‐Hydroxycarbamates Enabled by Photoredox Catalysis

Dearomatization of indoles provides efficient synthetic routes for substituted indolines. In most cases, indoles serve as nucleophiles. Reported here is an asymmetric dearomatization reaction of indole derivatives that function as electrophiles. The combination of a photocatalyst and chiral phosphoric acid open to air unlocks the umpolung reactivity of indoles, enabling their dearomatization with N‐hydroxycarbamates as nucleophiles. A variety of fused indolines bearing intriguing oxy‐amines were constructed in excellent yields with moderate to high enantioselectivities. Mechanistic studies show that the realization of two sequential single‐electron transfer oxidations of the indole derivatives is key, generating the configurationally biased carbocation species while providing the source of stereochemical induction. These results not only provide an efficient synthesis of enantioenriched indoline derivatives, but also offer a novel strategy for further designing asymmetric dearomatization reactions.     

Azo‐Coupling Reactions of Para‐X‐Benzenediazonium Cations with 3‐Ethoxythiophene in Acetonitrile

Kinetic studies for the azo‐coupling reactions of 3‐ethoxythiophene 1 with a series of 4‐X‐substituted diazonium cations 2a‐e (X = OCH₃, CH₃, H, Cl, and NO₂) have been investigated in acetonitrile at 20°C. The second‐order rate constants have been employed to determine the nucleophilicity parameters N and s of the thiophene 1 according the Mayr equation. Thus, the nucleophile‐specific parameters N and s of thiophene 1 have been derived and compared with the reactivities of other C‐nucleophiles in acetonitrile (pyrroles, furan, indoles, etc.). The Yukawa–Tsuno plot resulted in an excellent correlation (R² = 0.9980) with an r value of 0.89, suggesting that the nonlinear Hammett plot observed in the present work is due to resonance demand of the π–electron donor substituent of on the –N₂⁺ moiety. Importantly, using the concept of global electrophilicity (ω) proposed by Parr, we successfully predict the electrophilicity parameters E of seven substituted diazonium cations whose experimental data are available.     

Synthesis and Structure–Activity Correlation Studies of Secondary‐ and Tertiary‐Amine‐Based Glutathione Peroxidase Mimics

In this study, a series of secondary‐ and tertiary‐amino‐substituted diaryl diselenides were synthesized and studied for their glutathione peroxidase (GPx) like antioxidant activities with H₂O₂, cumene hydroperoxide, or tBuOOH as substrates and with PhSH or glutathione (GSH) as thiol cosubstrates. This study reveals that replacement of the tert‐amino groups in benzylamine‐based diselenides by sec‐amino moieties drastically enhances the catalytic activities in both the aromatic thiol (PhSH) and GSH assay systems. Particularly, the N‐propyl‐ and N‐isopropylamino‐substituted diselenides are 8–18 times more active than the corresponding N,N‐dipropyl‐ and N,N‐diisopropylamine‐based compounds in all three peroxide systems when GSH is used as the thiol cosubstrate. Although the catalytic mechanism of sec‐amino‐substituted diselenides is similar to that of the tert‐amine‐based compounds, differences in the stability and reactivity of some of the key intermediates account for the differences in the GPx‐like activities. It is observed that the sec‐amino groups are better than the tert‐amino moieties for generating the catalytically active selenols. This is due to the absence of any significant thiol‐exchange reactions in the selenenyl sulfides derived from sec‐amine‐based diselenides. Furthermore, the seleninic acids (RSeO₂H) derived from the sec‐amine‐based compounds are more stable toward further reactions with peroxides than their tert‐amine‐based analogues.     

Latent Nucleophiles in Lewis Base Catalyzed Enantioselective N‐Allylations of N‐Heterocycles

Latent nucleophiles are compounds that are themselves not nucleophilic but can produce a strong nucleophile when activated. Such nucleophiles can expand the scope of Lewis base catalyzed reactions. As a proof of concept, we report that N‐silyl pyrroles, indoles, and carbazoles serve as latent N‐centered nucleophiles in substitution reactions of allylic fluorides catalyzed by Lewis bases. The reactions feature broad scopes for both reaction partners, excellent regioselectivities, and produce enantioenriched N‐allyl pyrroles, indoles, and carbazoles when chiral cinchona alkaloid catalysts are used.     

In situ synthesis of mononuclear copper(II) complexes of the new tridentate ligand bis[(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)methyl]amine

Two mononuclear copper complexes, {bis[(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl‐κN²)methyl]amine‐κN}(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐κN²)(perchlorato‐κO)copper(II) perchlorate, [Cu(ClO₄)(C₅H₈N₂)(C₁₂H₁₉N₅)]ClO₄, (I), and {bis[(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl‐κN²)methyl]amine‐κN}bis(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐κN²)copper(II) bis(hexafluoridophosphate), [Cu(C₅H₈N₂)₂(C₁₂H₁₉N₅)](PF₆)₂, (II), have been synthesized by the reactions of different copper salts with the tripodal ligand tris[(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)methyl]amine (TDPA) in acetone–water solutions at room temperature. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed that they contain the new tridentate ligand bis[(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)methyl]amine (BDPA), which cannot be obtained by normal organic reactions and has thus been captured in the solid state by in situ synthesis. The coordination of the Cu^II ion is distorted square pyramidal in (I) and distorted trigonal bipyramidal in (II). The new in situ generated tridentate BDPA ligand can act as a meridional or facial ligand during the process of coordination. The crystal structures of these two compounds are stabilized by classical hydrogen bonding as well as intricate nonclassical hydrogen‐bond interactions.     

Chiral Primary‐Amine‐Catalyzed Conjugate Addition to α‐Substituted Vinyl Ketones/Aldehydes: Divergent Stereocontrol Modes on Enamine Protonation

Enantioselective protonation with a catalytic enamine intermediate represents a challenging, yet fundamentally important process for the synthesis of α‐chiral carbonyls. We describe herein chiral primary‐amine‐catalyzed conjugate additions of indoles to both α‐substituted acroleins and vinyl ketones. These reactions feature enamine protonation as the stereogenic step. A simple primary–tertiary vicinal diamine 1 with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) was found to enable both of the reactions of acroleins and vinyl ketones with good activity and high enantioselectivity. Detailed mechanistic studies reveal that these reactions are rate‐limiting in iminium formation and they all involve a uniform H₂O/acid‐bridged proton transfer in the stereogenic steps but divergent stereocontrol modes for the protonation stereoselectivity. For the reactions of α‐branched acroleins, facial selections on H₂O‐bridged protonation determine the enantioselectivity, which is enhanced by an OH???π interaction with indole as uncovered by DFT calculations. On the other hand, the stereoselectivity of the reactions with vinyl ketones is controlled according to the Curtin–Hammett principle in the C? C bond‐formation step, which precedes a highly stereospecific enamine protonation.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of 2,3‐Dihydropyrroles by Ring‐Opening/Cyclization of Cyclopropyl Ketones Using Primary Amines

The asymmetric ring‐opening/cyclization of cyclopropyl ketones with primary amine nucleophiles was catalyzed by a chiral N,N′‐dioxide/scandium(III) complex through a kinetic resolution process. A broad range of cyclopropyl ketones and primary amines are suitable substrates of this reaction. The corresponding products were afforded in excellent enantioselectivities and yields (up to 97 % ee and 98 % yield) under mild reaction conditions. This method provides a promising access to chiral 2,3‐dihydropyrroles as well as an effective procedure for the kinetic resolution of 2‐substituted cyclopropyl ketones.     

Reactivity study on morpholine‐1‐carbothioic acid (2‐phenyl‐3H‐quinazolin‐4‐ylidene) amide

Regioselective reactions of morpholine‐1‐carbothioic acid (2‐phenyl‐3H‐quinazolin‐4‐ylidene) amide ( 1 ) with electrophiles and nucleophiles were studied. The compound ( 1 ) reacts with alkyl halides in basic medium to afford S‐substituted isothiourea derivatives, with amines to give 1,1‐disubstituted‐3‐(2‐phenyl‐3H‐quinazolin‐4‐ylidene) thioureas and l‐substituted‐3‐(2‐phenyl‐quinazolin‐4‐yl) thioureas via transami‐nation reaction. The reaction of ( 1 ) with amines in the presence of H₂O₂ provided N⁴‐disubstituted‐N'⁴‐(2‐phenylquinazolin‐4‐yl)morpholin‐4‐carboximidamide via oxidative desulfurization. Estimation of reactivity sites on ( 1 ) was supported using the ab initio (HF/6‐31G**) quantum chemistry calculations. The ir, ¹H nmr, ¹³C nmr, mass spectroscopy and x‐ray identified the isolated products.     

A New and Convenient Synthesis of Amino‐phthalimide (1H‐Isoindole‐1,3(2H)‐dione) Derivatives and Their Photoluminescent Properties

A new and convenient synthesis for amino‐phthalimide (1H‐isoindole‐1,3(2H)‐dione) derivatives has been developed starting from an α,β‐unsaturated ketone. The ketones were reacted with amines to give aromatic amine products. This is the first time that substituted amine groups have been incorporated in aromatic rings. The mechanism of the product formation is rationalized by the 1,2‐addition of amines to ketones. All aromatic compounds exhibited high fluorescence properties at the blue‐green region.     

Catalytic,Cascade Ring‐Opening Benzannulations of 2,3‐Dihydrofuran O,O‐ and N,O‐Acetals

An Al(OTf)₃‐catalyzed intramolecular cascade ring‐opening benzannulation of 2,3‐dihydrofuran O,O‐ and N,O‐acetals is described. The cascade sequence involves the dihydrofuran ring‐opening by acetal hydrolysis, an intramolecular Prins‐type cyclization, and aromatization to generate an array of benzo‐fused (hetero)aromatic systems in up to 95 % yield. This method represents the first example of dihydrofuran acetal usage in benzannulation reactions. The approach provides excellent regiocontrol based on the choice of alkenes used to form the requisite dihydrofuran acetals.     

Hydrogen‐bonded one‐dimensional networks in 1:1 complexes of N,N′‐bis(2‐pyridyl)aryldiamines with anilic acid

The 1:1 complexes N,N′‐bis(2‐pyridyl)­benzene‐1,4‐di­amine–anilic acid (2,5‐di­hydroxy‐1,4‐benzo­quinone) (1/1), C₁₆H₁₄N₄·C₆H₄O₄, (I), and N,N′‐bis(2‐pyridyl)­bi­phenyl‐4,4′‐di­amine–anilic acid (1/1), C₂₂H₁₈N₄·C₆H₄O₄, (II), have been prepared and their solid‐state structures investigated. The component mol­ecules of these complexes are connected via conventional N—H?O and O—H?N hydrogen bonds, leading to the formation of an infinite one‐dimensional network generated by the cyclic motif R(9). The anilic acid molecules in both crystal structures lie around inversion centres and the observed bond lengths are typical for the neutral mol­ecule. Nevertheless, the pyridine C—N—C angles [120.9 (2) and 120.13 (17)° for complexes (I) and (II), respectively] point to a partial H‐atom transfer from anilic aicd to the bispyridyl­amine, and hence to H‐atom disorder in the OHN bridge. The bispyridyl­amine mol­ecules of (I) and (II) also lie around inversion centres and exhibit disorder of their central phenyl rings over two positions.     

A bis­(acetyl­acetonato)­uranium(IV) complex of the Schiff base N,N′‐bis(3‐hydroxy­salicyl­idene)‐2‐methyl‐1,2‐propane­di­amine

The title complex, bis­(acetyl­acetonato‐κ²O,O′)[N,N′‐bis(3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxidobenzaldimino)‐2‐methyl‐1,2‐propane­di­amine‐κ⁴N,O,O′,N′]­uranium(IV) tetra­hydro­furan solvate, [U(C₁₈H₁₈N₂O₄)(C₅H₇O₂)₂]·C₄H₈O, is a rare example of a uranium(IV) complex with a compartmental Schiff base. The U atom is located in the N₂O₂ inner site of the hexadentate N,N′‐bis(3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxidobenzaldimino)‐2‐methyl‐1,2‐pro­pane­di­amine group and is bound also to the two O atoms of both acetyl­acetonate moieties, which results in a dodecahedral coordination environment. Centrosymmetric dimers are formed through intermolecular hydrogen bonds that link the terminal uncoordinated hydroxy groups to one another and to the O atoms of the acetyl­acetonate ligands.     

Synthesis of 2,3‐dihydro‐6H‐1‐oxa‐3a‐aza‐phenalene and its benzo/hetero‐fused analog

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of highly substituted benzo‐ and hetero‐fused analog of 2, 3‐dihydro‐6H‐oxa‐3a‐aza‐phenalene was developed using 2H‐1, 4‐benzoxazine and α‐oxoketene dithio‐acetals. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Substituent effects in trans‐p,p′‐disubstituted azobenzenes: X‐ray structures at 100 K and DFT‐calculated structures

The crystal and molecular structures of two para‐substituted azobenzenes with π‐electron‐donating –NEt₂ and π‐electron‐withdrawing –COOEt groups are reported, along with the effects of the substituents on the aromaticity of the benzene ring. The deformation of the aromatic ring around the –NEt₂ group in N,N,N′,N′‐tetraethyl‐4,4′‐(diazenediyl)dianiline, C₂₀H₂₈N₄, (I), may be caused by steric hindrance and the π‐electron‐donating effects of the amine group. In this structure, one of the amine N atoms demonstrates clear sp²‐hybridization and the other is slightly shifted from the plane of the surrounding atoms. The molecule of the second azobenzene, diethyl 4,4′‐(diazenediyl)dibenzoate, C₁₈H₁₈N₂O₄, (II), lies on a crystallographic inversion centre. Its geometry is normal and comparable with homologous compounds. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to analyse the changes in the geometry of the studied compounds in the crystalline state and for the isolated molecules. The most significant changes are observed in the values of the N=N—C—C torsion angles, which for the isolated molecules are close to 0.0°. The HOMA (harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity) index, calculated for the benzene ring, demonstrates a slight decrease of the aromaticity in (I) and no substantial changes in (II).     

N‐(4‐Methyl­phenyl)‐N‐(5‐nitro­furfuryl)‐N‐prop‐2‐ynyl­amine

The title compound, C₁₅H₁₄N₂O₃, is the first example of a structurally determined tertiary amine with both N‐5‐nitro­furfuryl and N‐prop‐2‐ynyl moieties. The mol­ecule is not planar, i.e. the furan ring is inclined at an angle of 84.35 (4)° to the phenyl ring. The crystal structure is dominated by van der Waals forces. The terminal alkynyl group as the strongest C—H hydrogen‐bond donor is not involved in hydrogen‐bond formation.     

Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions of Meta‐ and Para‐Substituted Benzylamines with Benzyl Bromide in Methanol Medium

The rates of reactions of para‐ and meta‐substituted benzylamines with benzyl bromide were measured using conductivity technique in methanol medium. The reaction followed a total second‐order path. The end product of the reaction is identified as dibenzylamine (X‐C₆H₄CH₂NHCH₂C₆H₅) (where X = 4‐OCH₃, 4‐CH₃, H, 4‐Cl, 4‐CF₃, 3‐CF₃, 4‐NO₂). Electron‐withdrawing groups such as chloro, trifluoromethyl, and nitro in the benzylamine moiety decrease the rate of the reaction, whereas the electron‐donating groups, such as methoxy and methyl, increase the rate compared to the unsubstituted compound. A mechanism involving formation of an S_N2‐type transition state between the amine nucleophiles and the benzyl bromide and its subsequent decomposition is proposed. Hammett's reaction constant ρ of the reaction decreases with an increase in temperature. Activation parameters were calculated and discussed.