Synthesis of new chiral amino ether derivatives: synthetic application of meso aziridinium ions prepared from β-amino alcohols

Methods of synthesis of new chiral amino ether derivatives through the opening of aziridinium ions, prepared in situ using trans-(±)-2-(1-N,N-dialkylamino)cyclohexyl mesylate with (R)-(+)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol, are described. The (R,R,R)-diastereomer was obtained as the major product and isolated as an enantiopure salt, and characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. The C₂-chiral (R,R,R,R,R)-diamino ether was obtained as the major product by opening of the aziridinium ion, prepared using trans-(±)-2-(1-pyrrolidino)cyclohexyl mesylate and (R)-(+)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol in the presence of aq NaOH. This was also characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Novel starshaped initiators for the controlled radical polymerization based on resorcin[4]- and pyrogallol[4]arenes

Multifunctional macrocyclic initiators for the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) based on different resorcin[4]- and pyrogallol[4]arenes have been synthesized. The initiators with 8, 12 and 16 tertiary -bromoesters on the core were received by complete esterification of all phenolic groups with 2-bromo-isobutyryl bromide. The calixarene derivatives with aliphatic chains on the bridging methine carbon were obtained as their rccc (all cis) isomers, while the corresponding calixarenes with aromatic substituents gave mixtures of their rccc and rctt (cis, cis, trans, trans) isomers.     

Trans-cis isomerization of an azoxybenzene liquid crystal

Trans-cis isomerization was investigated in a room temperature liquid crystal mixture of two azoxybenzene compounds. Experiments were performed on isolated molecules in dilute solutions and on the liquid crystal phase composed of the pure compounds. The absorption spectra of the trans and cis isomers were found to be similar to those of azobenzene compounds, as were the birefringence and order parameter of the nematic liquid crystal phase. The photo-optic properties were also similar in that irradiation by ultraviolet light caused the conversion from trans to cis isomers, while short wavelength visible light incident on these compounds resulted in the conversion from cis to trans isomers. The activation energy for thermal relaxation from the cis to trans isomer in the liquid crystal phase was determined to be (66±7) kJ/mole, which is less than for azobenzene in solution. While a photostationary state in a dilute solution with approximately equal numbers of trans and cis isomers was achieved, the nematic-isotropic transition of the mixture of the pure compounds decreased from 70°C to room temperature with a cis concentration of only about 12%. One unusual finding was that the photostationary concentration of trans and cis isomers due to irradiation with light of a specific visible wavelength depended on the starting concentrations of the two isomers, indicating that there may be a molecular conformation that is not photo-responsive and relaxes only thermally.     

Enantioselective catalytic epoxidation of nonfunctionalized prochiral olefins by dissymmetric chiral Schiff base complexes of Mn(III) and Ru(III) metal ions II

A series of new dissymmetric chiral Schiff base complexes has been obtained by a systematic condensation of (1S,2S)(+)-diaminocyclohexane and 3-acetyl-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone with salicylaldehyde, 5-chloro-, 5-methoxy-and 5-nitrosalicylaldehyde and by subsequent metallation with manganese and ruthenium. The characterization of the complexes 1–8 was accomplished by physico chemical studies viz. microanalysis, IR-, UV/VIS-, and CD spectral studies, optical rotation, molar conductance measurements and cyclic voltammetry. Enantioselective epoxidation of non functionalised olefins, viz. cis-stilbene, trans-3-nonene and trans-4-octene with iodosyl benzene as oxidant was demonstrated in the presence of catalytic amounts of chiral Mn(III) and Ru(III) dissymmetric Schiff base complexes. Good optical yields of epoxides were obtained for the catalyst 4 with the substrates trans-3-nonene and cis-stilbene.     

Synthesis of Pt compounds containing chiral (2S,4S) -pentane-2,4-diyl-bis(5H-dibenzo[b]phosphindole) as ligand and their use in asymmetric hydroformylation of styrene derivatives

Unlike bis(diphenyl)phosphine derivatives in general, (2S,4S)-pentane-2,4-diyl-bis(5H-dibenzo[b]phosphindole), S,S-BDBPP, gives a trans oligomeric compound [PtCl₂(S,S-BDBPP)]_n, 1, in reaction with dichloro-Pt precursors such as PtCl₂(PhCN)₂, PtCl₂(CH₃CN)₂ and PtCl₂(COD) at room temperature. Compound 1, which could be readily isolated, slowly rearranges in solutions at room temperature to the expected cis-monomer PtCl₂(S,S-BDBPP), 3. Heating or the presence of PtCl₂(COD) accelerates the transformation of compound 1 to 3. SnCl₂ adducts of both compounds, trans-[PtCl(SnCl₃)(S,S-BDBPP)]_n, 2, and cis-PtCl(SnCl₃)(S,S-BDBPP), 4, as well as the known cis-PtCl(SnCl₃)(S,S-BDPP), 5, (S,S-BDPP = (2S,4S)-2,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane) have been tested as catalysts in the asymmetric hydroformylation of p-isobutylstyrene. The phenyl analog 5 provides up to 75% e.e. but moderate yields to chiral 2-(4-isobutylphenyl)-2-propanal. Compared to this, the regioselectivity to the branched aldehyde is remarkably increased; however, the enantioselectivity is drastically decreased by the use of both dibenzophosphole derivatives 2 and 4. The similarities in the selectivities provided by 2 and 4 indicate that the trans oligomer 2 transforms to the cis-monomer 4 during the catalytic process. X-ray crystal structure determination of compound 3 shows a half-chair conformation for the chelate ring with a symmetric arrangement of dibenzophosphole groups. Besides a preference for the latter achiral conformation, the planar structure of the dibenzophosphole groups can also be considered as reason for the moderate enantioselectivities provided by 4.     

Synthesis and structure of novel heterocyclic aminotelluranes

A series of novel 6-alkoxy-12H, 14H-[1,2,3]benzoxatellurazino[2,3-b]-[1,2,3]benzoxatellurazines 3 was synthesized from tetraalkoxytelluranes and bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)amines. ¹H, ¹³C and ¹²⁵Te NMR studies suggest that these aminotelluranes, unlike their orthoamidoester analogs, have a rigid trans-fused conformation. A preferential trans-fused conformation was also deduced from ab initio MO calculations of a model oxatellurazinooxatellurazine 7, using the STO-3G and SBK basis sets, and the Gaussian-92 program, which imply that the trans-fused aminotellurane is more stable than the corresponding cis isomer by 10.3 kcal/mol.     

Cyclopropyl carbanions derived from esters of 2-phenylcyclopropylcarboxylic acids: Configurational stability and reaction with electrophiles

The base-catalyzed cis-trans isomerization of cis and trans-alkyl 2-phenylcyclopropylcarboxylates was studied in several aprotic solvents. It was found that contact ion-pain of the derived carbanion lithium salts were configurationally more stable than the solvent-separated ones. Reaction of either the cis or the trans esters with MeI, and the reaction of the cis ester with Ph₂C = O, resulted in the corresponding I-substituted derivatives having cis geometry only. This was explained as due to steric hindrance to elctrophilic attack exerted by the 2-phenyl group in the case of the trans substrate. The trans esters did not react with Ph₂C=O. Inhibition of the trans-to-cis isomerization of the carbanion salt of the trans substrate in presence of Ph₂C=O could lead to this result.     

Ab initio analysis of the conformational changes of the prolyl-proline model peptide

For- -Pro- -Pro-NH₂ is an ab initio model of the prolyl-proline sequence unit present in numerous peptides and proteins. Cis–trans isomerization of the peptide linkage is a crucial step in accessing the active conformation of several proline containing macromolecules.

The present study focuses on the flexibility of the five-membered pyrrolidine ring, which is considered to help other conformational changes as well as cis–trans isomerization. Ring flexibility is characterized by the pseudorotational amplitude, A, and the phase angle, P. Calculations are carried out at the RHF/6-31+G(d) level of theory. The choice of method and level of theory is further supported by single point DFT calculations.

In the course of NMR structure determination of peptides or proteins, proline residues present in the sequences need special attention. Because of the lack of an amide hydrogen, sequential assignment of proline is rather complicated. Furthermore, in solution state, peptide cis–trans isomers are almost always present. Ab initio study on the For- -Pro- -Pro-NH₂ model is a useful tool to discover the structural characteristics of the prolyl-proline sequence unit.     

Synthesis of dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol and derivatives through intramolecular C–H insertion

The natural dihydrobenzofuran neolignan 1 and its derivative 3 have been prepared through intramolecular C–H insertion catalyzed by a Rh(II) chiral complex. Moderate diastereo and enantioselectivities were observed. The cis and trans diastereomers were separated and unambiguously identified. The absolute configurations of the major isomers were established through chiral HPLC analysis and study of the Cotton effects in their circular dichroism curves.     

Kinetic aspects of stereoselectivity in hydrogenation of fatty acids

Kinetic peculiarities of stereoselectivity in hydrogenation of fatty acids are discussed. The reaction mechanism should be able to account for independence of the reaction rate on hydrogen pressure and conversion, stereoselectivity on conversion as well as an increase in cis/trans ratio with pressure increase. Various mechanisms advanced in the literature for formation of cis- and trans mono-unsaturated acids and their derivatives are considered, showing behavior contradicting with experiments. A reaction mechanism is proposed, which is consistent with experimental observations.     

X-ray study of the hetero ring flexibility in trans-5,6- trimethylene- and tetramethylene-5,6-dihydro 2-phenyl-[4H]-1,3-thiazines

The structures to two 1,3-thiazine derivatives differing only in the number of CH₂ groups in their trans fused hydrocarbon ring (_n = 3 for I and n = 4 for II) have been established by X-ray crystallography from diffractometer data. Crystals of I (trans-5,6- trimethylene-5,6-dihydro-2-phenyl-[4H] - 1,3-thiazine) are triclinic, space group P with a = 7.661(1), b = 8.282(1), c = 9.566(2) Å, = 91.75(1), β = 100.72(1), γ = 105.45(1)° Z = 2, D_c = 1.260 g cm^-3. Crystals of II (trans-5,6-tetramethylene-5,6-dihydro-2-phenyl [4H]-1,3-thiazine) are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c with a = 7.914(2), b = 19.362(13), c = 8.440(1) Å, β = 109.16(2)°C Z = 4, D_c = 1.258 g cm^-3. The structures determined by Patterson (I) and direct (II) methods were refined to R = 0.050 for 1330 reflections of I and R = 0.082 for 1012 reflections of II. The proper treatment of the positional disorder of the carbon atoms (C(5) and C(6)) forming the trans ring junction in I discovered two discrete conformations with a ratio of 1:2. The opposite chirality of atoms C(51) and C(52), and C(61) and C(62), indicates a simultaneous configurational disorder with a pattern of total disorder: A A . The puckering parameters of the hetero rings in the same enantiomers of molecules IA, IB and II indicate a connection between the conformers: ⁵E(II)→⁵H₆(IB)→E₆IA) via pseudorotation. Their relationship is discussed and compared with the conformational freedom of the analogous 1,3-oxazine derivatives.     

An ab initio potential energy surface for the υ4 vibrational mode of hydrogen peroxide

In this paper, the levels and the torsional microstates of hydrogen peroxide are determined from fully optimized ab initio calculations using a nuclear model in one dimension. Calculations have been performed at the MP2 level with the 6-311 G(2df,2pd), 6-31 1+G(2df,2pd), cc-pVTZ and AUG-cc-pVTZ basis sets including polarization orbitals and diffuse functions. The most stable conformation, calculated with the MP2/AUG-cc-pVTZ approach, is a trans–gauche conformer lying at 67.5° from the trans structure. By using the same level of calculations, the heights of the trans and cis barriers have been determined to be 386.5 and 2643.8 cm⁻¹ in a good agreement with the experimental data. The variational torsional levels split into four components by the tunnelling effect of the barriers. The splitting of the fundamental level caused by the trans barrier has been found to be 11.8683 cm⁻¹, whereas the splitting caused by the cis barrier is insignificant under n=2. Current ab initio energies confirm the experimental assignments and verify the separability of the torsion from the rest of the vibrations. However, the experimental relation of dependence on the torsion of the rotational constants cannot be reproduced in one-dimension and depends on several additional vibrational effects.     

Enantiodivergent synthesis of 3-amino-4,4-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrrolidin-2-one and derivatives: amino analogues of pantolactone

An enantiodivergent preparation of (+)-(R)- and (−)-(S)-3-amino-4,4-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrrolidin-2-one, (R)- and (S)-9, and several derivatives, from 4,4-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrrolidin-2,3-dione, 4, and (R)- or (S)-1-phenylethylamine, (R)- or (S)-5, as the chirality transfer agents, is described. Amine (S)-9 has also been used as a chiral auxiliary in a diastereoselective Michael reaction.     

The manifestation of non-bonded attraction in the physical properties of cis and trans olefins

Non-bonded attraction is suggested to account for a host of differences in the physical properties of cis and trans olefins of the type XHC=CHX. The main predictions are: (i) The cis isomer is more stable than the trans isomer; (ii) The C=C bond is longer and the C-X bonds are shorter for the cis isomer; (iii) The π MO's orbital energies of the two isomers differ such that the trans isomer is a better electron donor and electron acceptor than the cis isomer. Ab initio calculations at the STO-3G and the 4-31G levels in support of the model are presented. The photoelectron spectra of cis and trans difluoro, dichloro and dibromoethylene are discussed, and found to be in accord with our qualitative model.     

Construction and investigation of photo-switch property of azobenzene-bridged pillar[5]arene-based [3]rotaxanes

Series of azobenzene-bridged pillar[5]arene-based [3]rotaxanes with different alkyl chain length of guest molecules were constructed by threading-endcapping method with alkylenetriazole as axile and tetrahydrochromene as endcapping group.The encapsulation of pillar[5]arenes were proved by highresolution mass,¹ H NMR and NOESY spectra.The photo-responsive property were examined by irradiation of the synthesized [3]rotaxanes with 365 nm and blue light LED,which caused trans to cis and cis to trans isomerization,respectively.Irradiation of corresponding model guest compounds without pillar[5]arene encapsulation resulted in near completely trans to cis and cis to trans isomerization,indicating the existence of pillar[5]arenes is the determining factor for the comprised photo isomerization efficiency.     

2-(4-Alkylphenyl)-5-(alkenyloxy)pyrimidines: Synthesis, liquid crystal transition temperatures and some physical properties

We have recently reported the introduction of a carbon-carbon double bond into a wide variety of 5-n-alkyl-2-(4-n-alkoxyphenyl)pyrimidines to produce the corresponding alkenyloxy derivatives. The position and nature (E/Z) of the double bond were varied systematically and the effect on the liquid crystal transition temperatures studied. The position and nature (E/Z) of the double bond changed the conformation of the alkenyloxy chain substantially. This resulted in higher smectic C and nematic transition temperatures for compounds with a trans-double bond (E) at an even number of carbon atoms from the molecular core. Significantly lower transition temperatures (including the melting point) were observed for materials with a cis-double bond (Z) at an odd number of carbon atoms from the molecular core. We have now performed the same operation on the related 2-(4-n-alkylphenyl)-5-n-alkoxypyrimidines to produce the corresponding alkenyloxy derivatives. An interesting feature of the new results is the high melting points of the trans-substituted materials and the low melting points of the terminally substituted compounds. The smectic C transition temperatures of both series are high. No nematic phases could be observed. However, in admixture with other smectic C components, the new compounds lead to surprisingly fast switching times, high smectic C transition temperatures and low melting points/crystallization temperatures in experimental mixtures designed for electro-optic display devices based on ferroelectric effects.     

Chiral C2-symmetric 2,3-disubstituted aziridine and 2,6-disubstituted piperidine as chiral ligands in the addition reaction of diethylzinc with arylaldehydes

Chiral C₂-symmetric 2,3-disubstituted aziridines and 2,6-disubstituted piperidines having a β-amino alcohol moiety have been successfully synthesized and their catalytic chiral induction properties have been examined in the asymmetric addition reactions of diethylzinc with arylaldehydes in hexane. When N-(2,2-diphenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-(S,S)-2,3-bis(methoxymethyl)aziridine 11 was used as a catalytic chiral ligand, sec-alcohols having (S)-configuration formed in high yields of 86–92% but low enantiomeric excesses (ee's) of 11–13%. However, when N-(2,2-diphenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-(R,R)-2,6-disubstituted piperidine derivatives 16 and 20 were used as the chiral ligands under the same reaction conditions, the ee's of the corresponding sec-alcohols were 20–30 and 5–6%, respectively, along with the inversion of absolute configuration. A plausible mechanism for this inversion is proposed.     

Antiferroelectric liquid crystals derived from a new optically active (R)-3-ethylmercapto-2-methylpropionic acid

A new optically active (R)-3-ethylmercapto-2-methylpropionic acid has been synthesized using D(-)—2,10-camphorsultam as a chiral auxiliary. The optical purity of the acid obtained was greater than 98 per cent. Its derivatives, (R)-4-(3-ethylmercapto-2-methylpropionyl)phenyl 4'-alkoxybiphenyl-4-carboxylates (EMMPPmBC; m = 7-16), have been prepared for the investigation of liquid crystalline properties as a function of peripheral alkyl chain length. Optical studies showed that all members exhibited an antiferroelectric S*c_A phase. The results also indicate that a lengthened alkyl chain length is favoured for S_cA* phase formation.     

Synthesis, characterization and the unpleasantly disordered crystal structure of Ir(Ome)(CO)(PPh3)2(SO4)

The adducts of O₂ and SO₂ with trans-MeOIr(CO)(PPh₃)₂ are formed in equilibria and have been characterized. Reaction of the SO₂ adduct, Ir(OMe)(SO₂)(CO)(PPh₃)₂ with dioxygen leads to the sulfato complex, Ir(Ome)(CO)(PPh₃)₂(SO₄), the structure of which has been determined. Ir(Ome)(CO)(PPh₃)₂(SO₄) crystallizes in the monoclinic system with a 11.958(2), b 14.163(3), c 12.231(2) Å, β 118.365(12)°, V 1822.7(6) ų and Z = 2. Diffraction data for 2θ = 4.5–45.0° (Mo-K) were collected with a Syntex P2₁ diffractometer and the structure was solved (assuming space group P2₁/m and an unpleasant 2-fold disordered model) and refined to R = 4.8% for all 2512 independent data (R = 3.5% for those 2042 data with ¦F_O¦ > 6σ(¦F¦)). The iridium(III) atom has a distorted octahedral coordination sphere with trans PPh₃ ligands and a cis-chelating bidentate O,O′-SO₄ group; the structure is completed by mutually cis OMe and CO ligands.     

A comparison of ferroelectric liquid crystals containing diastereomeric propionic acids derived from natural ethyl lactate

Two diastereomeric carboxylic acids, 2(S)-[2(R)-methylhexyloxy]propionic acid and 2(S)[2(S)-methylhexyloxy]propionic acid, were prepared from ethyl (S)-lactate and (R)-1-iodo2-methylhexane or (S)-1-iodo-2-methylhexane in the presence of Ag₂O. From these acids two liquid crystals, 2 and 3 , whose configurations are (S , R ) and (S, S) were synthesized and their liquid crystal properties investigated. Although both LCs have the same phase sequence Cr-SmC*-N*-I as well as a wide SmC* phase range, the influence of the relative stereochemistry on their physical properties is clear. The liquid crystal with (S, S)-configuration possesses better properties: lower SmC* phase transition temperature, wider SmC* phase range and higher P_s value. The P_s value difference between the ferroelectric LCs 2 and 3 (97 and 131nCcm^-2, respectively, at T_c - T = 10°C) is unexpectedly large. The consideration, alone, of a zigzag conformation at the chiral molecular part of 2 and 3 is insufficient to explain such a difference.