DPPH (= 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) Radical‐Scavenging Reaction of Protocatechuic Acid (= 3,4‐Dihydroxybenzoic Acid): Difference in Reactivity between Acids and Their Esters

Protocatechuic acid (= 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid; 1 ) exhibits a significantly slow DPPH (= 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) radical‐scavenging reaction compared to its esters in alcoholic solvents. The present study is aimed at the elucidation of the difference between the radical‐scavenging mechanisms of protocatechuic acid and its esters in alcohol. Both protocatechuic acid ( 1 ) and its methyl ester 2 rapidly scavenged 2 equiv. of radical and were converted to the corresponding o‐quinone structures 1a and 2a , respectively (Scheme). Then, a regeneration of catechol (= benzene‐1,2‐diol) structures occurred via a nucleophilic addition of a MeOH molecule to the o‐quinones to yield alcohol adducts 1f and 2c , respectively, which can scavenge additional 2 equiv. of radical. However, the reaction of protocatechuic acid ( 1 ) beyond the formation of the o‐quinone was much slower than that of its methyl ester 2 . The results suggest that the slower radical‐scavenging reaction of 1 compared to its esters is due to a dissociation of the electron‐withdrawing carboxylic acid function to the electron‐donating carboxylate ion, which decreases the electrophilicity of the o‐quinone, leading to a lower susceptibility towards a nucleophilic attack by an alcohol molecule.     

Formation of 2‐(Phenylsulfonyl)resorcinols (=2‐(Phenylsulfonyl)benzene‐1,3‐diols) from Symmetrically Substituted Maleic Anhydrides (=Furan‐2,5‐diones)

Treatment of symmetrically substituted maleic anhydrides (=furan‐2,5‐diones) 6 with lithium (phenylsulfonyl)methanide, followed by methylation of the adduct with MeI/K₂CO₃ in acetone, give the corresponding 4,5‐disubstituted 2‐methyl‐2‐(phenylsulfonyl)cyclopent‐4‐ene‐1,3‐diones 8 (Scheme 3). Reaction of the latter with lithium (phenylsulfonyl)methanide in THF (?78°) and then with 4 mol‐equiv. BuLi (?5° to r.t.) leads to 5,6‐disubstituted 4‐methyl‐2‐(phenylsulfonyl)benzene‐1,3‐diols 9 (Scheme 4).     

Efficient Synthesis of 1‐Arylquinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones via Cyclocondensation of N‐Aryl‐Substituted 2‐Nitrosoanilines with Functionalized Alkyl Acetates

N‐Aryl‐substituted 2‐nitrosoanilines (=2‐nitrosobenzenamines) 1 , readily available by nucleophilic substitution of the ortho‐H‐atom in nitroarenes with arenamines, react with 2‐substituted acetic acid esters in the presence of a weak base giving 1‐arylquinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones (Scheme 2). This cyclocondensation allows for the synthesis of compounds 2 – 4 , unsubstituted at C(3) or substituted by alkyl, aryl, ester, amide, and keto groups, in good to excellent yields (Tables 1–4).     

Analogues of α‐Campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐Trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde) as Building Blocks for (+)‐β‐Necrodol (= (1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐Trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol) and Sandalwood‐like Alcohols

To complete our panorama in structure–activity relationships (SARs) of sandalwood‐like alcohols derived from analogues of α‐campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde), we isomerized the epoxy‐isopropyl‐apopinene (?)‐ 2d to the corresponding unreported α‐campholenal analogue (+)‐ 4d (Scheme 1). Derived from the known 3‐demethyl‐α‐campholenal (+)‐ 4a , we prepared the saturated analogue (+)‐ 5a by hydrogenation, while the heterocyclic aldehyde (+)‐ 5b was obtained via a Bayer‐Villiger reaction from the known methyl ketone (+)‐ 6 . Oxidative hydroboration of the known α‐campholenal acetal (?)‐ 8b allowed, after subsequent oxidation of alcohol (+)‐ 9b to ketone (+)‐ 10 , and appropriate alkyl Grignard reaction, access to the 3,4‐disubstituted analogues (+)‐ 4f,g following dehydration and deprotection. (Scheme 2). Epoxidation of either (+)‐ 4b or its methyl ketone (+)‐ 4h , afforded stereoselectively the trans‐epoxy derivatives 11a,b , while the minor cis‐stereoisomer (+)‐ 12a was isolated by chromatography (trans/cis of the epoxy moiety relative to the C₂ or C₃ side chain). Alternatively, the corresponding trans‐epoxy alcohol or acetate 13a,b was obtained either by reduction/esterification from trans‐epoxy aldehyde (+)‐ 11a or by stereoselective epoxidation of the α‐campholenol (+)‐ 15a or of its acetate (?)‐ 15b , respectively. Their cis‐analogues were prepared starting from (+)‐ 12a . Either (+)‐ 4h or (?)‐ 11b , was submitted to a Bayer‐Villiger oxidation to afford acetate (?)‐ 16a . Since isomerizations of (?)‐ 16 lead preferentially to β‐campholene isomers, we followed a known procedure for the isomerization of (?)‐epoxyverbenone (?)‐ 2e to the norcampholenal analogue (+)‐ 19a . Reduction and subsequent protection afforded the silyl ether (?)‐ 19c , which was stereoselectively hydroborated under oxidative condition to afford the secondary alcohol (+)‐ 20c . Further oxidation and epimerization furnished the trans‐ketone (?)‐ 17a , a known intermediate of either (+)‐β‐necrodol (= (+)‐(1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol; 17c ) or (+)‐(Z)‐lancifolol (= (1S,3R,4Z)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐(4‐methylpent‐3‐enylidene)cyclopentanemethanol). Finally, hydrogenation of (+)‐ 4b gave the saturated cis‐aldehyde (+)‐ 21 , readily reduced to its corresponding alcohol (+)‐ 22a . Similarly, hydrogenation of β‐campholenol (= 2,3,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐1‐ene‐1‐ethanol) gave access via the cis‐alcohol rac‐ 23a , to the cis‐aldehyde rac‐ 24 .     

Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding: The Case of β‐Phosphorylated Nitroxide (= Aminoxyl) Radical

Alkoxyamines and persistent nitroxide (= aminoxyl) radicals are important regulators of nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization. Since polymerization times decrease with the increasing homolysis rate constant of the C? ON bond homolysis between the polymer chain and the aminooxy moiety, the factors influencing the cleavage rate constant are of considerable interest. It has already been shown that the value of the homolysis rate constant k_d is very sensitive to the stabilization of both released radical species. X‐Ray, EPR, and kinetic data showed that the intramolecular H‐bonding radical in the 1‐(diethoxyphosphoryl)‐2,2‐dimethylpropyl 2‐hydroxy‐1,1‐dimethylethyl nitroxide ( 3a ) (homologue of 2‐hydroxy‐1,1‐dimethylethyl 1‐phenyl‐2‐methylpropyl nitroxide ( 2a )) did not occur with the nitroxide moiety as expected but with the phosphoryl group. However, the polymerization rate of styrene (= ethenylbenzene) was significantly enhanced.     

Facile and Selective Synthesis of 4‐Methyl‐ and 4‐Phenylthiosemicarbazide (=N‐Methyl‐ and N‐Phenylhydrazinecarbothioamide) Derivatives of Benzil (=1,2‐Diphenylethane‐1,2‐dione)

A selective synthesis of 4‐methylthiosemicarbazide (=N‐methylhydrazinecarbothioamide; 4a ) derivatives by reaction with benzil (=1,2‐diphenylethane‐1,2‐dione; 3 ) is described. The reaction conditions determined the condensation product formed. The most important factor was the acid used: in the presence of conc. HCl solution, the open‐chain 2 : 1 compound 1a was exclusively obtained, whereas in the presence of 2M HCl, the cyclic 1 : 1 condensation product 2a was formed. The alcohol used, the presence of H₂O, and the time of heating were additional crucial factors. The new cyclic compound 2a with a MeO group was exclusively formed when working under high‐dilution conditions. The reaction with the 4‐phenyl derivative 4b gave new cyclic compounds as the major products under all conditions used (Scheme).     

A Novel and Efficient Synthesis of 3‐[(4,5‐Dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐chromen‐2‐ones (=3‐[(4,5‐Dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐ones)

An efficient one‐pot synthesis of 3‐[(4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one (=3‐[(4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3yl)carbonyl]‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) derivatives 4 by a four‐component reaction of a salicylaldehyde 1 , 4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one, a benzylamine 2 , and a diaroylacetylene (=1,4‐diarylbut‐2‐yne‐1,4‐dione) 3 in EtOH is reported. This new protocol has the advantages of high yields (Table), and convenient operation. The structures of these coumarin (=2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) derivatives, which are important compounds in organic chemistry, were confirmed spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS) and by elemental analyses. A plausible mechanism for this reaction is proposed (Scheme 2).     

Efficient Synthesis of Novel Coumarin‐3‐carboxamides (=2‐Oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐carboxamides) Containing Lipophilic Spacers

The novel coumarin‐3‐carboxamides (=2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐carboxamides) 5a – 5g containing lipophilic spacers were synthesized through the Ugi‐four‐component reaction (Scheme 1). The reactions of aromatic aldehydes 1 , 4,4′‐oxybis[benzenamine] or 4,4′‐methylenebis[benzenamine] as diamine 2 , coumarin‐3‐carboxylic acid (=2‐oxo‐2H‐benzopyran‐3‐carboxylic acid; 3 ), and alkyl isocyanides 4 lead to the desired substituted coumarin‐3‐carboxamides 5a – 5g at room temperature with high bond‐forming efficiency. These novel coumarin derivatives exhibit brilliant fluorescence at 544 nm in CHCl₃.     

Synthesis of Polysubstituted Benzenes via the Vinylogous Michael Addition of Alkylidenemalononitriles to 2‐(1,3‐Dioxo‐1H‐inden‐2(3H)‐ylidene)malononitrile

An efficient synthesis for polysubstituted benzenes was successfully developed by the reaction of ninhydrin (=2,2‐dihydroxyindane‐1,3‐dione), malononitrile (=propanedinitrile), and alkylidenemalononitrile. The method involves vinylogous Michael addition of alkylidenemalononitrile to 2‐(1,3‐dioxo‐1H‐inden‐2(3H)‐ylidene)malononitrile, which formed by condensation of malononitrile and ninhydrin in the presence of Et₃N, and the alcoholic solvent has participated in the reaction as a reagent. The method has the advantages of good yields and of not requiring a metal catalyst. The structures were confirmed spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS) and by elemental analyses, and, in the case of 2c , by X‐ray crystallography. A plausible mechanism for this reaction is proposed (Scheme).     

Facile One‐Pot Synthesis of Monosubstituted 1‐Aryl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazoles from Arylboronic Acids and Prop‐2‐ynoic Acid (=Propiolic Acid) or Calcium Acetylide (=Calcium Carbide) as Acetylene Source

The synthesis of monosubstituted 1‐aryl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazoles was achieved in a one‐pot reaction from arylboronic acids and prop‐2‐ynoic acid or calcium acetylide (=calcium carbide), respectively, as a source of acetylene, with yields ranging from moderate to excellent (Scheme 1, Table 2). The reaction conditions were successfully applied to arylboronic acids, including analogs with various functionalities. Unexpectedly, the 1,2,3‐triazole moiety promoted a regioselective hydrodebromination (Scheme 2).     

Highly Regioselective C(3) Opening of an Aromatic 2,3‐Epoxy Alcohol with Sodium Phenoxides or Thiophenoxides (=Benzenethiolates) Supported by β‐Cyclodextrin in Water

A simple and mild procedure was developed for the first time for the C(3)‐selective ring opening of an aromatic 2,3‐epoxy alcohol, i.e., of trans‐3‐phenyloxirane‐2‐methanol ( 1 ), with sodium phenoxides or thiophenoxides (=benzenethiolates) 2 supported by β‐cyclodextrin in H₂O at 50° to afford the corresponding 3‐(aryloxy)‐ or 3‐(arylthio)propane1,2‐diols 3 in excellent yields (Scheme, Table).     

One‐Pot Diastereoselective Synthesis of Densely Functionalized 2H‐Indeno[2,1‐b]furans. Single‐Crystal X‐Ray Structure of Dimethyl 8,8a‐Dihydro‐8‐oxo‐8a‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethoxy)‐2H‐indeno[2,1‐b]furan‐2,3‐di­carboxylate

Highly reactive 1 : 1 intermediates were produced in the reaction of Ph₃P and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates (=dialkyl but‐2‐ynedioates). Protonation of these intermediates by alcohols (2,2,2‐trichloroethanol, propargyl alcohol (=prop‐2‐yn‐1‐ol), MeOH, benzyl alcohol, and allyl alcohol (=prop‐2‐en‐1‐ol) led to vinyltriphenylphosphonium salts 4 , which underwent a Michael addition reaction with the conjugate base to produce the corresponding stabilized phosphonium ylides 5 (Scheme). Wittig reaction of the stabilized phosphonium ylides with ninhydrin ( 6 ) led to the corresponding densely functionalized 2H‐indeno[2,1‐b]furans 10 in fairly good yields (Table 1). The structures of the final products were confirmed by IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The configuration of dimethyl 8,8a‐dihydro‐8‐oxo‐8a‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethoxy)‐2H‐indeno[2,1‐b]furan‐2,3‐dicarboxylate ( 10a ) was established by a single‐crystal X‐ray structure determination, establishing that the one‐pot multicomponent condensation reaction was completely diastereoselective.     

Copper‐Free Sonogashira Coupling of Acid Chlorides with Terminal Alkynes in the Presence of a Reusable Palladium Catalyst: An Improved Synthesis of 3‐Iodochromenones (=3‐Iodo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐ones)

Pd/C is used as an efficient catalyst for the copper‐free Sonogashira coupling of acid chlorides and terminal alkynes to afford ynones in high yields (Tables 1 and 3). Cyclization of (2‐methoxyaryl)‐substituted ynones induced by I₂/ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate (CAN) at room temperature gave 3‐iodochromenones (=3‐iodo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐ones) in excellent yield (Table 4).     

One‐Pot Synthesis of Novel Pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxaline‐4(5H)‐ones Using Benzene‐1,2‐diamine,Acetylenedicarboxylates, and β‐Nitrostyrene Derivatives

The reaction between a variety of o‐phenylenediamines (=benzene‐1,2‐diamines), dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, and derivatives of nitrostyrene (=(E)‐(2‐nitroethenyl)benzene) in the presence of sulfamic acid (SA; H₃NSO₃) as catalyst led to the corresponding pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxaline‐4(5H)‐one derivatives in high yields.     

Regio‐ and Stereoselectivity in the Lewis Acid‐ and NaH‐Induced Reactions of Thiocamphor with (R)‐2‐Vinyloxirane

The reaction of the enolizable thioketone (1R,4R)‐thiocamphor (= (1R,4R)‐1,7,7‐trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane‐2‐thione; 1 ) with (R)‐2‐vinyloxirane ( 2 ) in the presence of a Lewis acid such as SnCl₄ or SiO₂ in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ gave the spirocyclic 1,3‐oxathiolane 3 with the vinyl group at C(4′), as well as the isomeric enesulfanyl alcohol 4 . In the case of SnCl₄, an allylic alcohol 5 was obtained in low yield in addition to 3 and 4 (Scheme 2). Repetition of the reaction in the presence of ZnCl₂ yielded two diastereoisomeric 4‐vinyl‐1,3‐oxathiolanes 3 and 7 together with an alcohol 4 , and a ‘1 : 2 adduct’ 8 (Scheme 3). The reaction of 1 and 2 in the presence of NaH afforded regioselectively two enesulfanyl alcohols 4 and 9 , which, in CDCl₃, cyclized smoothly to give the corresponding spirocyclic 1,3‐oxathiolanes 3, 10 , and 11 , respectively (Scheme 4). In the presence of HCl, epimerization of 3 and 10 occurred to yield the corresponding epimers 7 and 11 , respectively (Scheme 5). The thio‐Claisen rearrangement of 4 in boiling mesitylene led to the allylic alcohol 12 , and the analogous [3,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement of the intermediate xanthate 13 , which was formed by treatment of the allylic alcohol 9 with CS₂ and MeI under basic conditions, occurred already at room temperature to give the dithiocarbonate 14 (Schemes 6 and 7). The presented results show that the Lewis acid‐catalyzed as well as the NaH‐induced addition of (R)‐vinyloxirane ( 2 ) to the enolizable thiocamphor ( 1 ) proceeds stereoselectively via an S_N2‐type mechanism, but with different regioselectivity.     

Chemical Constituents from the Bark of Garcinia xanthochymus and Their 1,1‐Diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) Radical‐Scavenging Activities

A new bis‐xanthone (xanthone=9H‐xanthen‐9‐one), named bigarcinenone A ( 1 ) which is the first example of a bis‐xanthone with the xanthone–xanthone linkage between an aromatic C‐atom and a C₅ side chain from a guttiferae plant, a new phloroglucinol (=benzene‐1,3,5‐triol) derivative, named garcinenone F ( 2 ), together with seven known xanthones were isolated from the bark of Garcinia xanthochymus. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, especially 2D‐NMR techniques. Bigarcinenone A ( 1 ) exhibited potent antioxidant activity in the 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical‐scavenging test with a IC₅₀ value of 9.2 μM , compared to the positive control, the well‐known antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) with a IC₅₀ of 20 μM (Table 3).     

An Efficient Synthesis of 3‐(1H‐Tetrazol‐5‐yl)coumarins (=3‐(1H‐Tetrazol‐5‐yl)‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐ones) via Domino Knoevenagel Condensation,Pinner Reaction,and 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition in Water

A novel straightforward synthesis of 3‐(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)coumarins (=3‐(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐ones) 6 via domino Knoevenagel condensation, Pinner reaction, and 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of substituted salicylaldehydes (=2‐hydroxybenzaldehydes), malononitrile (propanedinitrile), and sodium azide in H₂O is reported (Scheme 1 and Table 2). This general protocol provides a wide variety of 3‐(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)coumarins in good yields under mild reaction conditions.     

Radical 4‐exo Cyclizations onto O‐Alkyloxime Acceptors: Towards the Synthesis of Penicillin‐Containing Antibiotics

The 4‐exo cyclizations of two types of carbamoyl radicals onto O‐alkyloxime acceptor groups were studied as potential routes to 3‐amino‐substituted azetidinones and hence to penicillins. A general synthetic route to ‘benzaldehyde oxime oxalate amides’ (= 2‐[(benzylideneamino)oxy]‐2‐oxoacetamides; see, e.g., 10c ) of 2‐{[(benzyloxy)imino]methyl}‐substituted thiazolidine‐4‐carboxylic acid methyl esters 9 was developed (Scheme 3). It was shown by EPR spectroscopy that these compounds underwent sensitized photodissociation to the corresponding carbamoyl radicals but that these did not ring close. An analogous open‐chain precursor, benzaldehyde O‐(benzylaminoacetaldehyde‐O‐benzyloxalyl)oxime, 15 , lacking the 5‐membered thiazolidine ring, was shown by EPR spectroscopy to release the corresponding carbamoyl radical (Scheme 4). The latter underwent 4‐exo cyclization onto its C?NOBn bond in non‐H‐atom donor solvents. The rate constant for this cyclization was determined by the steady‐state EPR method. Spectroscopic evidence indicated that the reverse ring‐opening process was slower than cyclization.     

Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Secondary Benzylic Alcohols by the Enantioselective Esterification Using Pyridine‐3‐carboxylic Anhydride (3‐PCA) with Chiral Acyl‐Transfer Catalysts

Pyridine‐3‐carboxylic anhydride (3‐PCA) was found to function as an efficient coupling reagent for the preparation of carboxylic esters from various carboxylic acids with alcohols under mild conditions by a simple experimental procedure. This novel condensation reagent 3‐PCA was applicable not only for the synthesis of achiral carboxylic esters catalyzed by 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) but also for the production of chiral carboxylic esters by the combination of chiral nucleophilic catalyst, such as tetramisole (=2,3,5,6‐tetrahydro‐6‐phenylimidazo[2,1‐b][1,3]thiazole) derivatives. An efficient kinetic resolution of racemic benzylic alcohols with achiral carboxylic acids was achieved by using 3‐PCA in the presence of (R)‐benzotetramisole ((R)‐BTM), and a variety of optically active carboxylic esters were produced with high enantiomeric excesses by this new chiral induction system without using a tertiary amine.     

Synthesis and properties of new aromatic poly‐(ether benzoxazole)s from 2,2′‐bis(4‐amino‐3‐hydroxyphenoxy)biphenyl and aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides

A new bis(o‐aminophenol) with a crank and twisted noncoplanar structure and ether linkages, 2,2′‐bis(4‐amino‐3‐hydroxyphenoxy)biphenyl, was synthesized by the reaction of 2‐benzyloxy‐4‐fluoronitrobenzene with biphenyl‐2,2′‐diol, followed by reduction. Biphenyl‐2,2′‐diyl‐containing aromatic poly(ether benzoxazole)s with inherent viscosities of 0.52–1.01 dL/g were obtained by a conventional two‐step procedure involving the polycondensation of the bis(o‐aminophenol) monomer with various aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides, yielding precursor poly(ether o‐hydroxyamide)s, and subsequent thermal cyclodehydration. These new aromatic poly(ether benzoxazole)s were soluble in methanesulfonic acid, and some of them dissolved in m‐cresol. The aromatic poly(ether benzoxazole)s had glass‐transition temperatures of 190–251 °C and were stable up to 380 °C in nitrogen, with 10% weight losses being recorded above 520 °C. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2656–2662, 2002