Practical and highly stereoselective method for the preparation of several chiral arylsulfinamides and arylsulfinates based on the spontaneous crystallization of diastereomerically pure N-benzyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)-arylsulfinamides

A novel and simple process for the preparation of enantiomerically pure (S_S)-benzenesulfinamide (S_S)-3a, (S_S)-p-toluenesulfinamide (S_S)-3b, (S_S)-p-chloro-benzenesulfinamide (S_S)-3c and (S_S)-p-fluorobenzenesulfinamide (S_S)-3d has been developed. The treatment of arylsulfinyl chlorides with (R)-N-benzyl-1-phenylethanamine in the presence of excess triethylamine gave diastereomeric mixtures of N-benzyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)-arylsulfinamides 1, which underwent spontaneous crystallization to furnish diastereomerically pure (R,S_S)-N-benzyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)-arylsulfinamides (R,S_S)-1a-1d in 28%, 29%, 27% and 31% yields, respectively. The diastereomerically pure compounds (R,S_S)-1 were then converted into four enantiopure (R_S)-methyl arylsulfinates (R_S)-2, and finally into four enantiopure (S_S)-arylsulfinamides (S_S)-3 in good yields.     

Regioselective radical cyclization initiated by the reaction of allylic hydroperoxides with iron(II) sulfate

Treatment of 1-methyl-2-methylene-1-cyclohexyl hydroperoxide with a mixture of FeSO₄/CuCl₂ yielded 1-(1-chlorocyclohexyl)ethanone as the major product consistent with 6-endo-trig cyclization of the intermediate 5-acetylhex-5-enyl radical. This strategy was extended to the ring enlargement of a series of 1-isopropenylcycloalkyl hydroperoxides. Regioselective 7- or 8-endo-trig cyclization reactions could be achieved by treatment of the corresponding cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl hydroperoxides with either a mixture of FeSO₄/CuCl₂ or with FeSO₄ only. The influence of substituents on the efficiency of the 8-endo-trig cyclization process was also explored.     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of boron-containing intermediates in the reductive amination of ferrocenecarboxaldehyde to a bis(ferrocenylmethyl) amine

Reaction of ferrocenecarboxaldehyde with aqueous methylamine leads to [(methylimino)methyl]ferrocene, which is reduced to N-(ferrocenylmethyl)-N-methylamine by NaBH₄. This amine reacts with ferrocenecarboxaldehyde and NaCNBH₃ to give the tertiary ammonium salt, di(N-(ferrocenylmethyl))-N-methylammonium cyanoborohydride. Hydrolysis of the NaCNBH₃ reaction mixture produces the free amine, di(N-(ferrocenylmethyl))-N-methylamine. Thermolysis of di(N-(ferrocenylmethyl))-N-methylammonium cyanoborohydride in refluxing tetrahydrofuran converts it to the cyanoborane adduct, di(N-ferrocenylmethyl)-N-methylamine-cyanoborane, with elimination of H₂. The new compounds are fully characterized by using spectroscopic and physical methods, including X-ray crystal structure determinations of di(N-(ferrocenylmethyl))-N-methylammonium cyanoborohydride, di(N-(ferrocenylmethyl))-N-methylamine, and di(N-(ferrocenylmethyl))-N-methylamine-cyanoborane.     

Calculation of the in-plane force constants and vibrational spectra of pyridine and its deuterated derivatives by the CNDO/2 force method

The in-plane vibrations of pyridine and its deuterated derivatives (4-d₁, 2,6-d₂, 3,5-d₂, and d₅) have been studied with the CNDO/2 force method. The calculated values of the force field scaled by five empirical parameters yield good agreement with the experimental spectra. The results seem to permit the reassignment of some bands.     

Enzymatic reactions for the preparation of homocalycotomine enantiomers

Homocalycotomine enantiomers (R)-4 and (S)-4 were prepared by the Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B)-catalysed asymmetric O-acylation of N-Boc-protected 2-(6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl)ethanol (±)-1. The preliminary small-scale experiments were performed either in a continuous-flow system or as batch reactions, while the preparative-scale resolution was carried out in two steps with vinyl acetate as the acyl donor in the presence of Et₃N and Na₂SO₄ in toluene at 3 °C, as a batch reaction. Treatment of the resulting amino alcohol (S)-1 and amino ester (R)-3 (ee ?94%) with 18% HCl, and then with 5 M NaOH, furnished the desired (R)-4 and (S)-4 without a decrease in the enantiomeric excess (ee ?94%).     

The kerr effect in the vicinity of the transition from the isotropic to smectic a phase

The equilibrium electrooptical effect in the isotropic phase of seven liquid crystalline substances (4-n-decyloxy-4′-cyanobiphenyl, carbosilane dendrimer of the fourth generation with cyanobiphenyl terminal fragments, and the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and tenth members of the homologous series of 4-n-acylphenylene 4′-n-alkoxybenzoates) was studied. The smectic A phases were found to exhibit weaker divergence of the Kerr constant in the vicinity of the T _c isotropic melt-liquid crystal phase transition temperature compared with the nematic phases. The difference between T _c and the temperature T* of the virtual second-order phase transition varied from 3.2 to 19.0 K for the smectic A phases, which substantially exceeded the value (T _c-T*) ≤ 1 K for the nematic phases. A theory of the electrooptical properties of isotropic melts in the vicinity of the T _c temperature of the phase transition from the isotropic to smectic A phase is developed. An equation relating the T _c-T* difference to the phenomenological coefficients of the expansion of the Helmholtz energy of an isotropic melt into a series in powers of the coordination and orientational order parameters is obtained.     

Two new examples of the rare C→O migration of ethoxycarbonyl groups

Two new examples of a carbon→oxygen ethoxycarbonyl group shift are described. Treatment of 3-ethoxycarbonylnitromethyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-O-p-toluenesulfonyl-α-d-allofuranose (4) with Bu₄NF leads to a rearrangement to 5-O-ethoxycarbonyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-3-nitromethyl-6-O-p-toluenesulfonyl-α-d-allofuranose (8). Similar treatment of ethyl-3-O-benzyl-6-deoxy-6-nitro-d,l-glycero-d-glucoheptofuronate (12) gives 3-O-benzyl-4-O-ethoxycarbonyl-6-deoxy-6-nitro-d-glucopyranose (16).     

An excellent new resolving agent for the diastereomeric resolution of rac-mandelic acid

Chiral mandelic acid (S)-1, which is an important precursor for stereoselective transformations and a versatile intermediate for pharmaceuticals, was resolved with the Pope and Peachey method. Enantiopure 1-amino-3-phenoxypropan-2-ol (S)-2, a key intermediate for pharmaceuticals, was used to resolve rac-mandelic acid rac-1 successfully for the first time. The less soluble salt (S)-1·(S)-2·H₂O could be obtained in 77% yield and 98% de (E 75%) using (S)-2 and LiOH in water. The crystal structure of the less soluble salt (S)-1·(S)-2·H₂O showed that the water molecule played a key role in forming the crystals.     

Deuteration effects on the phosphorescence of aromatic hydrocarbons

Observations of the phosphorescence decay of isotopic mixtures of naphthalene-h_s and -d_s, phenanthrene-h₁₀ and -d₁₀, and chrysene-h₁₂ and -d₁₂, in ethanol solutions at 77 K are analysed to determine the ratio k_PT^H/k_PT^D of the triplet radiative rate parameters of the perprotonated and perdeuterated compounds. The ratio is 1.20 (±0.07) for naphthalene, 1.39 (±0.06) for phenanthrene, and 0.98 (±0.04) for chrysene.     

Hydrogen bond induced chiral symmetry breaking in the crystallization of nickel(II) complexes

A pair of enantiomers formulated as {Δ-cis-[Ni(en)₂OAc][ClO₄]} _n (Δ-1) and {Λ-cis-[Ni(en)₂OAc][ClO₄]} _n (Λ-1) (en = diaminoethane, OAc^? = acetate anion) were obtained when nickel acetate was reacted with diaminoethane and sodium perchlorate in the absence of any chiral source, whereas the reactions of nickel acetate with 1,3-propanediamine and sodium perchlorate only gave a centrosymmetric complex [Ni(1,3-pn)₂OAc][ClO₄] (2) (1,3-pn = 1,3-propanediamine). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of all three complexes indicated that the central Ni(II) atoms all have a distorted octahedral coordination geometry, being coordinated by four nitrogen atoms of the diamine ligands, plus two oxygen atoms of OAc^?. In complexes Δ-1 and Λ-1, the monomers of {Δ-cis-[Ni(en)₂OAc]}⁺ and {Λ-cis-[Ni(en)₂OAc]}⁺ are connected through intermolecular hydrogen bonds to generate one-dimensional right- and left-handed homochiral helical chains, respectively, while the monomers of [Ni(1,3-pn)₂OAc]⁺ are linked by similar intermolecular hydrogen bonds to form one-dimensional zigzag chains instead of helical chains. The chiral natures of complexes Δ-1 and Λ-1 have been confirmed by circular dichroism spectroscopy.     

Palladacyclic and platinacyclic catalysts for the allylation of aldehydes

A range of palladacyclic and platinacyclic catalysts have been tested for activity in the allylation of aldehydes with allyl tributyltin. The bulky, π-acidic palladacycle [{Pd(μ-Cl){κ²-P,C-P(OC₆H₂-2,4-^tBu₂)(OC₆H₃-2,4-^tBu₂)₂}}₂] shows particularly good activity at room temperature with a variety of unsaturated substrates.     

Thermodynamic properties of normal and deuterated cyclopropenes

The specific heat, entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy of cyclopropene-d₀, cyclopropene-1-d₁, cyclopropene-3-d₁, cyclopropene-1,2-d₂, cyclopropene-3,3-d₂, cyclopropene-1,3,3-d₃, and cyclopropene-d₄ have been calculated for the temperature range 100–1500 K using the rigid-rotor and harmonic oscillator model. The standard enthalpy and Gibbs free energy of formation of cyclopropene-d₀ have also been evaluated for the same temperature range using the experimental standard enthalpy of formation at 298.15 K.     

Evolution of phase equilibrium states in the Y-Mn-O system in the thermal dissociation of the compound YMn2O5

The sequence of heterogeneous equilibria in the Y-Mn-O system in the thermal dissociation of the compound YMn₂O₅ was studied by a static method at low oxygen pressure. The thermodynamic characteristics of the formation of the compounds YMn₂O₅ and YMnO₃ from elemental substances were calculated. Fragments of the P-T-x state diagram of the Y-Mn-O system were constructed.     

Addition of allyltrichlorostannanes to aldehydes: application in the synthesis of 4-N-Boc-amino-3-hydroxy ketones

We wish to describe here the diastereoselective reaction between chiral N-Boc-α-amino aldehydes and achiral allyltrichlorostannanes leading to 1,2-syn-N-Boc-α-amino alcohols, which are treated with catalytic amounts of OsO₄ in the presence of NaIO₄ to provide the corresponding 4-N-Boc-amino-3-hydroxy ketones.     

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of indane and cyclobuta[a]indenes from homoallylic alcohols derived from Baylis-Hillman adducts: base-dependent stereoselectivity for the benzylidene group in cyclobuta[a]indene

Various indane and cyclobuta[a]indene derivatives were synthesized by palladium-catalyzed cyclization of homoallylic alcohol derivatives prepared from Baylis-Hillman adducts. Especially, cyclobuta[a]indene derivative was synthesized stereoselectively by palladium-catalyzed 5-exo-trig/4-exo-trig cascade cyclization, albeit in moderate yield. The Z isomer was formed exclusively in the presence of Et₃N by usual Heck-type carbopalladation process while E isomer with Cs₂CO₃ most likely by a concerted metalation/deprotonation (CMD) process.     

An efficient procedure for the synthesis of 2-N-Boc-amino-3,5-diols

We wish to describe here the diastereoselective reaction between chiral N-Boc-α-amino aldehydes with both achiral allyltrichlorostannanes leading to 1,2-syn-N-Boc-α-amino alcohols, which are easily converted to the corresponding 4-N-Boc-amino-3-hydroxy ketones after treatment with catalytic amounts of OsO₄ in the presence of NaIO₄. After reduction of the carbonyl function, these 4-N-Boc-amino-3-hydroxy ketones were converted to 1-deoxy-5-hydroxy sphingosine analogues.     

First enantioselective synthesis of the novel antiinfective TAN-1057A via its aminomethyl-substituted dihydropyrimidinone heterocycle

Enantiomerically pure N²-Z-N²-MeAsnOH [(S)-14], prepared in 8 steps (23% overall yield) from asparaginic acid, was first subjected to a Hofmann degradation with PhI(OCOCF₃)₂ yielding (S)-N²-Z-N²-methyl-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid [N²-Z-N²-Me-L-A₂pr, (S)-15], and this in turn was protected to give N²-Z-N³-Boc-N²-Me-L-A₂pr [(S)-17]. Condensation of (S)-17 with HNC(SMe)NHCONH₂ followed by removal of the tert-butoxycarbonyl protecting group, cyclization and hydrogenolytic removal of the Z-group gave the heterocycle of TAN-1057A [(S)-1] with an e.e. of 87 in 36% yield [from (S)-14]. Coupling of (S)-1 with (S)-tris-Z-β-homoarginine (20a) in the presence of O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) and iPr₂NEt in N,N-dimethylacetamide followed by hydrogenolysis afforded the most active A-diastereomer of the natural antibiotic TAN-1057 in 52% yield (from (S)-1 and 20a). Similarly, starting from (S)-1, a single diastereomer of the potent, less toxic TAN-1057A analogue 22b with a β-lysine side chain has been prepared. All described synthetic steps do not require column chromatography for purification of the products.     

19F NMR study of mixed fluorohalide anions of niobium(V) and tantalum(V) in solution

Anions of the type MF_nX^-_6-n (M = Nb^V, Ta^V; X = Cl_-, Br_-), including geometric isomers, have been characterised in solution by ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. Thirty eight fluorine-containing complexes of tantalum of the type TaF_xCl_yBr^-_z have been found from the 46 theoretically possible. The relative stability of mixed tantalum fluorochloro and fluorobromo anions of the type TaF_nX^-_6-n has been studied.     

The reaction of (Sp)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenecarboxylic acid with carbodiimide reagents: Characterisation of the acid anhydride and urea products

Interaction of (S_p)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenecarboxylic acid [(S_p)-1] with N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and N-ethyl-N′-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide (EDC) have been investigated in order to study the reacting system itself and to characterise side-products typically arising during the diimide-promoted condensation of acid (S_p)-1 with nucleophiles. The reaction between (S_p)-1 and DCC was found to give preferentially the respective urea derivative in the absence of a base, and (S_p)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenecarboxylic anhydride [(S_p,S_p)-3] when the same reaction was performed in the presence of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP). With EDC, the preference for a reaction pathway was less pronounced: whereas the reaction without the base afforded exclusively the corresponding urea, that in the presence of DMAP yielded a mixture of the urea and anhydride (S_p,S_p)-3.     

Synthesis and evaluation of new chiral diols based on the dicyclopentadiene skeleton

The resolution by Lipase PS of rac-5 (from reduction of ketone 6, obtained from dicyclopentadiene with a new environment-friendly synthesis) gives (2S)-5, which was further reduced to the endo(2R)-1a alcohol. The endo(2S)-1b alcohol was obtained from camphor with a multistep synthesis. Pinacol couplings of 3a,b, carried out with Mg/Hg or Corey's general procedure respectively, afforded with high diastereoselectivity the C₂ symmetry diols (2R,2′R)-2a and (2S,2′S)-2b, with endo oriented OH functions. The enantiogenic power of the endo alcohol (2R)-1a and (2S)-1b and of the diols (2R,2′R)-2a and (2S,2′S)-2b was tested towards the LiAlH₄ reduction of acetophenone. The C₂ symmetry appears to play a fundamental role.