Rigid unit modes (RUMs) of distortion, local crystal chemistry and the inherent displacive flexibility of microporous AlPO4-11

Electron diffraction is used to investigate the average structure of microporous AlPO₄-11 as well as the zero-frequency rigid unit mode (RUM) modes of distortion of the ideal AlPO₄-11 tetrahedral framework. Direct experimental evidence (in the form of a highly structured, characteristic diffuse intensity distribution) has been found for the (presumably dynamic) excitation of numerous zero-frequency RUM modes of distortion. The lattice dynamic program CRUSH is used to confirm the existence of zero-frequency RUM modes of distortion with wave-vectors falling on the observed diffuse distribution. The simultaneous (presumably dynamic) excitation of such RUM modes of distortion needs to be taken into account in order for the local crystal chemistry of AlPO₄-11 to be understood.     

Cyclopalladation of enantiopure oxazolines having the prochiral CMe2 moiety at position 2 of the heterocycle

(R)-4-Ethyl-2-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)-2-oxazoline (1) and (S)-4-tert-butyl-2-(1,1-dimethylbutyl)-2-oxazoline (2) were synthesized in two steps from the corresponding enantiopure amino alcohols and acid chlorides in a total yield of 95% and 72%, respectively. (S)-2-(1-Adamantyl-1-methylethyl)-4-isobutyl-2-oxazoline (3) was obtained from adamantyl bromide and l-leucinol in five steps in a total yield of 82%. Reactions of oxazolines 1–3 with Pd(OAc)₂ in AcOH or CH₂Cl₂ followed by treatment with LiCl afforded the corresponding μ-Cl dimeric cyclopalladated complexes 15, 17, and 20 in good yield. Compounds 15, 17, and 20 reacted with PPh₃ to furnish the corresponding mononuclear complexes 16, 19, and 21. The ³¹P NMR spectra of trans(N,P) adducts 16, 19, and 21 contained signals of two diastereomers in a ratio of ca. 1.3:1.     

Phase transitions in K3AlF6

Phase transitions in the elpasolite-type K₃AlF₆ complex fluoride were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, electron diffraction and X-ray powder diffraction. Three phase transitions were identified with critical temperatures , and . The α-K₃AlF₆ phase is stable below T₁ and crystallizes in a monoclinic unit cell with a=18.8588(2)Å, b=34.0278(2)Å, c=18.9231(1)Å, β=90.453(1)° (a=2a_c−c_c, b=4b_c, c=a_c+2c_c; a_c, b_c, c_c—the basic lattice vectors of the face-centered cubic elpasolite structure) and space group I2/a or Ia. The intermediate β phase exists only in very narrow temperature interval between T₁ and T₂. The γ polymorph is stable in the T₂<T<T₃ temperature range and has an orthorhombic unit cell with a=36.1229(6)Å, b=17.1114(3)Å, c=12.0502(3)Å (a=3a_c−3c_c, b=2b_c, c=a_c+c_c) at 250 °C and space group Fddd. Above T₃ the cubic δ polymorph forms with a_c=8.5786(4)Å at 400 °C and space group . The similarity between the K₃AlF₆ and K₃MoO₃F₃ compounds is discussed.     

Formal total synthesis of aspergillide A

The formal total synthesis of aspergillide A 1 is described. The cross-metathesis of enone 6 with 6-hepten-2-ol derivative 5 provided E-olefin 15 corresponding to the C₄-C₁₄ backbone of 1. The CBS asymmetric reduction of 15 gave allyl alcohol 16, which was transformed into β-alkoxyacrylate 4 which had a formyl group. SmI₂-induced reductive cyclization of 4 gave a 2,6-syn-2,3-trans THP derivative 3 in good yield. After methoxymethylation of 3, the resulting compound 19 was submitted to desilylation and hydrolysis, to afford Fuwa’s key intermediate 2 for the total synthesis of 1.     

Syntheses of rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C5H3)2}-Zr{RN(CH2)3NR}, structural analyses of rac-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C5H3)2}Zr{RN(CH2)3NR} (where R is SiMe3 or Ph), and meso to rac isomerization

Syntheses of rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C₅H₃)₂}Zr{Me₃SiN(CH₂)₃NSiMe₃} (rac-3/meso-3) and rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C₅H₃)₂}Zr{PhN(CH₂)₃NPh} (rac-4/meso-4) were achieved by metallation of K₂[PhP(3-t-Bu-C₅H₃)₂] · 1.3 THF (2) with Zr{RN(CH₂)₃NR}Cl₂(THF)₂ (where R = SiMe₃ or Ph, respectively) using ethereal solvent. These isomeric pairs were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy; rac-3 and rac-4 were also examined via single crystal X-ray crystallography. The structures of rac-3 and rac-4 are notable in the tendency of the cyclopentadienyl rings towards η³ coordination. While isolated samples of rac-3/meso-3 and rac-4/meso-4 slowly isomerize in tetrahydrofuran-d₈ to equilibrium ratios, the isomerization rate for 3 is more than 15-fold greater than that for 4. In addition, equilibrium ratios are rapidly reached when isolated samples of rac-3/meso-3 and rac-4/meso-4 are exposed to tetrabutylammonium chloride in tetrahydrofuran-d₈ solvent. We propose that a nucleophile (either chloride or the phosphine interannular linker) brings about dissociation of one cyclopentadienyl ring, thus promoting the rac/meso isomerization mechanism.     

Rhodium complexes with chiral counterions: achiral catalysts in chiral matrices

The neutral complexes [Rh(I)(NBD)((1S)-10-camphorsulfonate)] (2) and [Rh(I)((R)-N-acetylphenylalanate)] (4) reacted with bis-(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) to form the cationic Rh(I)(NBD)(dppe) complexes, 5 and 6, respectively, accompanied by their corresponding chiral counteranions. Analogously, 4 reacted with 4,4^′-dimethylbipyridine to yield complex 7. Complexes 5 and 6 disproportionated in aprotic solvents to form the corresponding bis-diphosphine complexes 8 and 9, respectively. 8 was characterized by an X-ray crystal structure analysis. In order to form achiral Rh(I) complexes bearing chiral countercations new sulfonated monophosphines 13-16 with chiral ammonium cations were synthesized. Tris-triphenylphosphinosulfonic acid (H₃TPPS, 11) was used to protonate chiral amines to yield chiral ammonium phosphines 14-16. Thallium-tris-triphenylphosphinosulfonate (Tl₃TPPS, 12) underwent metathesis with a chiral quartenary ammonium iodide to yield the proton free chiral ammonium phosphine 13. Phosphines 15 and 16 reacted with [Rh(NBD)₂]BF₄ to afford the highly charged chiral zwitterionic complexes [Rh(NBD)(TPPS)₂][(R)-N,N-dimethyl-1-(naphtyl)ethylammonium]₅ (17) and [Rh(NBD)(TPPS)₂][BF₄][(R)-N,N-dimethyl-phenethylammonium]₆ (18), respectively. Complexes 5, 6, and 18 were tested as precatalysts for the hydrogenation of de-hydro-N-acetylphenylalanine (19) and methyl-(Z)-(α)-acetoamidocinnamate (MAC, 20) under homogeneous and heterogeneous (silica-supported and self-supported) conditions. None of the reactions was enantioselective.     

Solvent-dependent formation of two different Cd(II) complexes with p-BrC6H4C(S)NHP(O)(OiPr)2 (HL). Crystallographic modification of Cd(HL)2L2

Reaction of the potassium salt of N-(diisopropoxyphosphoryl)-p-bromothiobenzamide p-BrC₆H₄C(S)NHP(O)(OiPr)₂ (HL) with Cd(II) cations in freshly dried and distilled EtOH leads exclusively to the complex [Cd(p-BrC₆H₄C(S)NH₂-S)(L-O,S)₂] ([Cd(L^I)L₂]), while the same reaction in H₂O leads to the complex [Cd(HL-O)₂(L-O,S)₂] ([Cd(HL)₂L₂]). The corresponding reactions with Zn(II) always lead to the complex [Zn(L-O,S)₂] ([ZnL₂]) regardless of the solvent. The crystal structure of [Cd(HL)₂L₂]^.2/3H₂O reveals to be a polymorph to the previously reported anhydrous [Cd(HL)₂L₂].     

The tunable coordination architectures of a flexible multicarboxylate N-(4-carboxyphenyl)iminodiacetic acid via different metal ions, pH values and auxiliary ligand

{[Pb₃(CPIDA)₂(H₂O)₃]·H₂O}_n1, {[Cd₃(CPIDA)₂(H₂O)₄]·5H₂O}_n2, [Cd(HCPIDA)(bpy)(H₂O)]_n3 (bpy=4,4′-bipyridine) and {[Co₃(CPIDA)₂(bpy)₃(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O}_n4 were synthesized with N-(4-carboxyphenyl) iminodiacetic acid (H₃CPIDA). In 1, the CPIDA³⁻ ligands adopt chelating and bridging modes with Pb(II) to possess a 3D porous framework. In 2D-layer 2, the CPIDA³⁻ ligands display a simple bridging mode with Cd(II). The 2D layers have parallelogram-shaped channels along a axis. With bpy ligands, the HCPIDA²⁻ ligands in 3 show more abundant modes, but 3 still displays a 2D sheet on bc plane for the unidentate bpy molecules. However, in 3D-framework 4, the bpy ligands adopt bridging bidentate at a higher pH value and the CPIDA³⁻ ligands show bis-bidentate modes with Co(II). Additionally, 2D correlation analysis of FTIR was introduced to ascertain the characteristic adsorptions location of the carboxylate groups with different coordination modes in 4 with thermal and magnetic perturbation. Compounds 1, 2 and 4 exhibit the fluorescent emissions at room temperature.     

Influence of the anion on the coordination mode of an unsymmetrical N-heterocyclic ligand in Cd(II) complexes: From discrete molecule to one- and two-dimensional structures

Five new 0D–2D Cd(II) complexes, [Cd₂(Hbimt)₂I₄] (1), [Cd(bimt)(Hbimt)Br]_n (2), [Cd(Hbimt)Cl₂(H₂O)]_n (3), {[Cd(Hbimt)(SO₄)(H₂O)₂]·1.5H₂O}_n (4) and [Cd(Hbimt)(SCN)₂]_n (5) (Hbimt = 2-((benzoimidazol-yl)methyl)-1H-tetrazole) have been synthesized by the reactions of Hbimt with suitable cadmium salts. Employment of different anions can influence the coordination modes of the Hbimt ligand, and accordingly result in different structures ranging from 0D to infinite 1D and 2D networks. Complex 1 displays a dimeric structure in which two Cd(II) ions are bridged through two iodine atoms. Complex 2 was caused by deprotonation of the Hbimt ligand, resulting in a 1D helical chain. While in complexes 3 and 4, Hbimt acts as a bidentate bridging ligand which joins two Cd(II) ions, leading to 1D stair-like chains. Complex 5 exhibits a 2D network structure with infinite 1D [Cd₂(SCN)₂]_n chains. The distinct structures of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 reveal that the anions and the versatile coordination modes of the ligand play an important role in the structures of the complexes. In addition, the luminescent properties of complexes 1–5 have been investigated in the solid state at room temperature.     

Synthesis of sulfur containing analogues of the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor 8-bromo-4H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[3,4-c][1,4]benzoxazin-1-one NS2028

Sulfur analogues of the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibitor NS2028 1a are synthesized. Treating 8-bromo-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-3(4H)-one oxime (6) with 1,1′-thiocarbonyldiimidazole (1.1 equiv) gave the carbamothioate 8-bromo-4H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[3,4-c][1,4]benzoxazine-1-thione (3a) in 83% yield. Alternatively reacting NS2028 1a with P₂S₅ (0.5 equiv) affords the carbamothioate 3a in 80% yield. Similar treatment of 8-aryl substituted NS2028 analogues 1b-d with P₂S₅ gave the carbamothioates 3b-d in 64-91% yields. Although quite stable, the carbamothioates 3a-d could be thermally isomerized in the presence of Cu (10 mol %) to afford the thiocarbamates 4a-d in high yields. Interestingly, in the case of carbamothioate 3a Pd and In metals also facilitated the isomerization. Furthermore, treatment of the thiocarbamates 4a-d with P₂S₅ (0.5 equiv) affords the carbamodithioates 5a-d in 72-89% yields. All new compounds are fully characterized including single crystal X-ray data for carbamothioate 3a and thiocarbamate 4a. Finally, a mechanism is proposed for the carbamothioate to thiocarbamate isomerization.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of η-allyl(α-diimine)nickel(II) complexes bearing trimethylsilyl groups

A set of isomeric para- and meta-trimethylsilylphenyl ortho-substituted N,N-phenyl α-diimine ligands [(Ar-NC(Me)-(Me)CN-Ar) Ar=2,6-di(4-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl (16); Ar=2,6-di(3-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl (17)] have been synthesized through a two-step procedure. The palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reaction between 2,6-dibromophenylamine (7) and 4-trimethylsilylphenylboronic acid (8), 3-trimethylsilylphenylboronic acid (9) was used to prepare 4,4^′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-[1,1^′;3^′,1″]terphenyl-2^′-ylamine (10) and 3,3^′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-[1,1^′;3^′,1″]terphenyl-2^′-ylamine (11). The di-1-adamantylphosphine oxide Ad₂P(O)H (13) and di-tert-butyl-trimethylsilylanylmethylphosphine tert-Bu₂P-CH₂-SiMe₃ (14) were used for the first time as ligands for the Suzuki coupling. The condensation of 2,2,3,3-tetramethoxybutane (15) with anilines 10 and 11 afforded α-diimines 16 and 17. The reaction of π-allylnickel chloride dimer (18), α-diimines (16), (17) and sodium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate (BAF) (19) or silver hexafluoroantimonate (20) led to two sets of isomeric complexes [η³-allyl(Ar-NC(Me)-(Me)CN-Ar)Ni]⁺ X⁻, [Ar=2,6-di(4-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl, X=BAF (3), X=SbF₆ (4); Ar=2,6-di(3-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl, X=BAF (5), X=SbF₆ (6)]. The steric repulsion of closely positioned trimethylsilyl groups in 4 caused the distortion of the nickel square planar coordination by 17.6° according to X-ray analysis.     

Synthesis and structure of highly substituted pyrazole ligands and their complexes with platinum(II) and palladium(II) metal ions

Reaction of 3-methoxycarbonyl-2-methyl- or 3-dimethoxyphosphoryl-2-methyl-substituted 4-oxo-4H-chromones 1 with N-methylhydrazine resulted in the formation of isomeric, highly substituted pyrazoles 4 (major products) and 5 (minor products). Intramolecular transesterification of 4 and 5 under basic conditions led, respectively, to tricyclic derivatives 7 and 8. The structures of pyrazoles 4a (dimethyl 2-methyl-4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl-phosphonate) and 4b (methyl 4-oxo-2-methyl-4H-chromene-3-carboxylate) were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Pyrazoles 4a and 4b were used as ligands (L) in the formation of ML₂Cl₂ complexes with platinum(II) or palladium(II) metal ions (M). Potassium tetrachloroplatinate(II), used as the metal ion reagent, gave both trans-[Pt(4a)₂Cl₂] and cis-[Pt(4a)₂Cl₂], complexes with ligand 4a, and only cis-[Pt(4b)₂Cl₂] isomer with ligand 4b. Palladium complexes were obtained by the reaction of bis(benzonitrile)dichloropalladium(II) with the test ligands. trans-[Pd(4a)₂Cl₂] and trans-[Pd(4b)₂Cl₂] were the exclusive products of these reactions. The structures of all the complexes were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR and FAB MS spectral analysis, elemental analysis and Kurnakov tests.     

The coordination chemistry of enantiopure diimines derived from 1-phosphanorbornadiene-2-carboxaldehydes

The reaction of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane with enantiopure (R)-2-formyl-1-phosphanorbornadiene (1) takes place with efficient kinetic resolution and gives an easily separable mixture of the corresponding (S,S)-bis-imine (3) and (R)-mono-imine (4). The absolute configuration of 3 has been established by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The coordination chemistry of enantiopure 3 with Pd(II), Rh(I), and Ru(II) has been investigated. The reaction of [PdCl₂(cod)] mainly affords a binuclear complex 6 whose structure has been established by X-ray analysis. One unit is coordinated to one P and one PdCl⁺ unit is tricoordinated to the other P and the two N. The two square planar units are parallel and the Pd?Pd distance is 3.1787(5) Å. The reaction of [RhCl(cod)]₂ gives the very reactive tetracoordinate cationic [Rh(P₂N₂)]⁺ species 7 which is able to activate one C-Cl bond of chloroform to give the dichloromethyl-Rh complex (8) whose octahedral structure has been ascertained by X-ray analysis.     

Chemically modified oximato complexes of titanium(IV) isopropoxide as new precursors for the sol-gel preparation of nano-sized titania: Crystal and molecular structure of [Ti{ONC10H16}4·2CH2Cl2]

Reactions of [Ti(OPrⁱ)₄] with various oximes, in anhydrous refluxing benzene yielded complexes of the type [Ti{OPrⁱ}_4−n{L}_n], where, n = 1-4 and LH = (CH₃)₂CNOH (1-4), C₉H₁₆CNOH (5-8) and C₉H₁₈CNOH (9-12). The compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight measurements, FAB-mass, FT-IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C{¹H}) spectral studies. The FAB-mass spectra of mono- (1), and di- (2), (6), (10) substituted products indicate their dimeric nature and that of tri- (3) and tetra- (4), (8) substituted derivatives suggest their monomeric nature. Crystal and molecular structure of [Ti{ONC₁₀H₁₆}₄·2CH₂Cl₂] (8A) suggests that the oximato ligands bind the metal in a dihapto η²-(N, O) manner, leading to the formation of an eight coordinated species. Thermogravimetric curves of (3), (6) and (10) exhibit multi-step decomposition with the formation of TiO₂ as the final product in each case, at 900 °C. Low temperature (∼600 °C) sol-gel transformations of (2), (3), (4), (6), (7) and (8) yielded nano-sized titania (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f), respectively. Formation of anatase phase in all the titania samples was confirmed by powder XRD patterns, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. SEM images of (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) exhibit formation of nano-grains with agglomer like surface morphologies. Compositions of all the titania samples were investigated by EDX analyses. The absorption spectra of the two representative samples, (a) and (f) indicate an energy band gap of 3.17 eV and 3.75 eV, respectively.     

Silicon-carbon unsaturated compounds. 73. Photolysis of cis- and trans-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol and acetone

Irradiation of cis-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane (1a) in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol in hexane with a low-pressure mercury lamp bearing a Vycor filter proceeded with high stereospecificity to give cis-2,3-benzo-1-tert-butoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (2a), in 33% isolated yield, together with a 15% yield of 1-[(tert-butoxy)methylphenylsilyl]-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane (3). The photolysis of trans-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane (1b) with tert-butyl alcohol under the same conditions gave stereospecifically trans-2,3-benzo-1-tert-butoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (2b) in 41% isolated yield, along with a 12% yield of 3. Similar photolysis of 1a and 1b with tert-butyl alcohol-d₁ produced 2a and 2b, respectively, in addition to 1-[(tert-butoxy)(monodeuteriomethyl)(phenyl)silyl]-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane. When 1a and 1b were photolyzed with acetone in a hexane solution, cis- and trans-2,3-benzo-1-isopropoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (4a and 4b) were obtained in 25% and 23% isolated yield. In both photolyses, 1-(hydroxymethylphenylsilyl)-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane (5) was also isolated in 4% and 5% yield, respectively. The photolysis of 1a with acetone-d₆ under the same conditions gave 4a-d₆ and 5-d₁ in 18% and 4% yields.     

1-Methylimidazolin-2-yl functionalized cyclopentadienyl complexes of titanium and zirconium. Crystal structure of {[η:η-κN-C5H4CPh2CH2-(1-Me-C3H4N2)]ZrCl2}2(μ-Cl)2

The novel bidentate ligand, C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3), has been prepared and characterized as its lithium salt LiC₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-Li). Cyclopentadiene HC₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-H) has been obtained from 6,6-diphenylfulvene and 1,2-dimethylimidazoline (1). In THF-d₈ solution in the presence of 1, (1-methylimidazoline-2-yl)methyllithium (2) has been proved to undergo gradual conversion into a dilithium derivative of N¹-methyl-N²-[(1E,2E)-1-methyl-2-(1-methylimidazolidine-2-idene)ethylidene]ethane-1,2-diamine (2a). In a solution, cyclopentadiene 3-H has been shown to undergo isomerization into 3-{N-[2-(N-methylamino)ethyl]amino}-1,1-diphenyl-1,2-dihydropentalene (4) and, further, into a mixture of 4 and two rotameric 3-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-methylamino]-1,1-diphenyl-1,2-dihydropentalenes (5a) and (5b). Treatment of the lithium salt 3-Li with Me₃SiCl has lead to 3-{N-[2-(N-trimethylsilylamino)ethyl]amino}-1,1-diphenyl-1,2-dihydropentalene (6) as the dominant component in the reaction mixture. In the latter case the expected Me₃Si-C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-Si) was not observed. Stannylation of 3-Li with 1 equiv. of Me₃SnCl has resulted in formation of a mixture of Me₃Sn-C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-Sn), (Me₃Sn)₂-C₅H₃CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-Sn₂), and cyclopentadiene 3-H in a ca. 2:1:1 molar ratio. Monocyclopentadienyl complexes {[η⁵:η¹-κN-C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂)]MCl₃ (M = Ti (7), Zr (8)) have been prepared starting from the organotin and organolithium compounds 3-Sn and 3-Li, respectively. The dynamic behavior of complexes 7 and 8 has been investigated by means of variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy in solutions. The molecular structures of the dihydropentalene 4, binuclear complex {[η⁵:η¹-κN-C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂)]ZrCl₂}₂(μ-Cl)₂8, and a coordination dimer of the dilithium salt 2a have been established by X-ray diffraction analysis. In the crystal structure of the 2a-dimer, the shortest known Li-Li contact has been found.     

A new route for the preparation of the 22,23-dioxocholestane side chain from diosgenin and its application to the stereocontrolled construction of the 22R,23S-diol function

The new (22R,23S,25R)-3β,16β,26-triacetoxy-cholest-5-ene-22,23-diol (11a) was synthesized from diosgenin (3) through a synthetic route based on chemoselective RuO₄ oxidation of (25R)-3β,16β-diacetoxy-23-ethyl-23¹,26-epoxycholesta-5,23(23¹)-dien-22-one (9) that afforded (20S,25R)-3β,16β,26-triacetoxycholest-5-ene-22,23-dione (10) which was stereoselectively reduced using NaBH₄. Compound 9 was obtained from the known isomeric 22,26-epoxycholest-5-ene steroidal skeleton 8b by treatment with p-TsOH in toluene, amberlyst-15 or directly from diosgenin by treatment with BF₃·OEt₂/Ac₂O. Chemoselective reduction of the 23-keto group of 10, was attained using NaBH₄/ZnCl₂ at −70 °C to give 23S-14. The NMR spectra of all compounds were unambiguously assigned based on one and two dimensional experiments and the C-22 and C-23 stereochemistry in the diacetate derivative 11b, as well as the structure of epoxycholestene 9 were further established by X-ray diffraction analyses. The new route for the functionalization of the side chain of diosgenin can find application in the synthesis of norbrassinosteroid analogues.     

Stereospecific mono- and difluorination of the C7-bridge of norbornenes

Fluorinated norbornenes are very desirable monomers in the semiconductor and high-temperature polyimide industries. We describe herein a synthetic strategy for the stereospecific mono- or difluorination of the C₇-carbon in norbornene systems beginning with 7-ketonadic anhydride 1. In particular, anti-7-fluoro methyl diester 4 and its 7,7-difluoronadic analog 7 can be prepared from 1 in 3 or 4 steps: saponification, reduction (for 4), esterification, fluorination with DAST. In addition, anti-7-fluoro-syn-7-fluoromethylnadic diester 16 is obtained from epoxide 14, and dimethyl 7,7-difluorobicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylate (17) from ketone 15. Anchimeric assistance of the norbornene double bond guides the introduction of attacking fluoride anions stereospecifically anti to the olefinic linkage.     

Proanthocyanidin glycosides from the leaves of Quercus ilex L. (Fagaceae)

From the polar extracts of the leaves of Quercus ilex L., two new proanthocyanidin glycosides, namely afzelechin-(4α→8)-catechin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside (1) and afzelechin-(4α→8)-catechin-3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (2), were isolated in addition to catechin (3), proanthocyanidin B₃ (4), prodelphinidin C (5), dehydrodicatechin A (6), quercetin (7) and six known flavonol glucosides with their acylated derivatives (8-13) and ellagic acid (14). The structures of all isolated compounds were established by spectroscopic means, mainly 1D and 2D NMR, as well as LC/MS and HR-MS spectrometric analyses. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was determined by CD measurements. The proanthocyanidin glycosides are especially interesting, as they possess the sugar in the upper unit of the dimer, which is rare for this type of compounds.     

Nucleophilic substitution approach to 4′-substituted thymidines by employing 4′-benzenesulfonyl leaving group

Synthesis of 4′-substituted thymidines was investigated based on nucleophilic substitution using organosilicon and organoaluminum reagents. Two substrates having a benzenesulfonyl leaving group at the 4′-position were prepared for this purpose: 1-[4-benzenesulfonyl-3,5-bis-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2-deoxy-α-l-threo-pentofuranosyl]thymine (8α) and the 4′-(benzenesulfonyl)thymidine derivative (8β). The reaction of 8α with organosilicon reagents (Me₃SiCH₂CHCH₂ and Me₃SiN₃) in combination with SnCl₄ gave preferentially the 4′-substituted β-d-isomer: the 4′-allyl (12β) and 4′-azido (15β) derivatives, respectively. The reaction of 8α with AlMe₃, however, gave the 4′-methyl-α-l-isomer (16α) as the major product, presumably through an ion pair mechanism. By employing the substrate 8β in this reaction, the 4′-methylthymidine derivative (16β) was obtained exclusively in high yield. The 4′-ethyl (20β) and 4′-cyano (24β) derivatives were also synthesized by reacting 8β with the respective organoaluminum reagent.