Bioinspired synthesis of hirsutellones A, B, and C

The total synthesis of hirsutellones A (1), B (2), and C (3) has been achieved through a bioinspired late-stage sequence starting from advanced intermediate 6. The sequence proceeded via labile intermediate 17,1'-dehydrohirsutellone B (5) and delivered, in addition to the natural products (1-3), hirsutellone analogue 1',2',17-epi-hirsutellone C (1',2',17-epi-3).     

Studies toward the total synthesis of the hirsutellones

A strategy of tandem ketene-trapping/IMDA toward the total synthesis of the hirsutellones was attempted. The AB ring moiety of the hirsutellones was constructed with the proper stereochemistry.     

A new abietane and two dimeric abietane diterpenes from the black heartwood of Cryptomeria japonica

Three new diterpenes, sugikurojins A-C (1-3) were isolated from the black heartwood of Cryptomeria japonica. The structure of sugikurojin A was deduced to be 19-hydroxy-6,7-dehydroferruginol on the basis of extensive NMR experiments. Sugikurojin B was a dimer of 6,7-dihydroxyferruginol and 6,7-dehydroferruginol with a 6-O-11' linkage. Sugikurojin C was a dimeric ferruginol with 6-O-7' and 7-O-6' linkages. Also obtained in this investigation were the known compounds formosaninol (4), 15 sesquiterpenes (5-19), 16 diterpenes (20-35), three phenylpropanoids (36-38), and a phenolic compound (39).     

Dimerization of formic acid--an example of a "noncovalent" reaction mechanism

The pulse deposition technique allows selectively the isolation of monomeric or dimeric formic acid in argon matrices at 7 K. Warming of matrices containing the monomer M from 7 K to 40 K results in the decrease of M and formation of a dimer B. This dimer is also labile, and further warming finally produces a second dimer A. By comparison with density functional theory (DFT) calculations and gas phase IR spectra taken from the literature, the latter dimer A was identified as the C2h-symmetrical cyclic dimer. The unstable dimer B was identified as the acyclic Cs-symmetrical dimer. An activation energy of 2.3 kcal mol(-1) was calculated for the B --> A rearrangement at the B3LYP/ 6-311 ++ G(d,p) level of theory, which is in qualitative agreement with the experimental finding of a slow thermal reaction under the conditions of matrix isolation.     

Laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy of a mixed dimer between 2-pyridone and 7-azaindole

We report here the laser induced fluorescence excitation (FE) and dispersed fluorescence (DF) spectra of a 1:1 mixed dimer between 7-azaindole (7AI) and 2-pyridone (2PY) measured in a supersonic free jet expansion of helium. Density functional theoretical calculation at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level has been performed for predictions of the dimer geometry and normal mode vibrational frequencies in the ground electronic state. A planar doubly hydrogen-bonded structure has been predicted to be the most preferred geometry of the dimer. In the FE spectrum, sharp vibronic bands are observed only for excitation of the 2PY moiety. A large number of low-frequency vibronic bands show up in both the FE and DF spectra, and those bands have been assigned to in-plane hydrogen bond vibrations of the dimer. Spectral analyses reveal Duschinsky-type mixing among those modes in the excited state. No distinct vibronic band structure in the FE spectrum was observed corresponding to excitations of the 7AI moiety, and the observation has been explained in terms of nonradiative electronic relaxation routes involving the 2PY moiety.     

A quantum chemistry study: a new kind of boron nitrides

At the B3LYP/6-311+G** and the BP86/6-311+G** levels of theory, BNN, H(3)BNN, NNBH(2)-BH(2)NN, (BNN)(2)H(2), NNBBNN, (BNN)(3) (+), (BNN)(4), (BNN)(4) (2+), (BNN)(4) (2-), B(4)(NN)(2), (BNN)(5) (-), (BNN)(6), (BNN)(7) (+), and (BNN)(8) (2+) are investigated. Neutral (BNN)(4) is aromatic with its triplet state but antiaromatic with its singlet state. (BNN)(4) dication favors D(2d) structure, while (BNN)(4) dianion favors a planar D(4h) structure. (BNN)(3) (+), (BNN)(4) (2-), (BNN)(5) (-), (BNN)(6), (BNN)(7) (+), (BNN)(7) (3-), (BNN)(8) (2+), and (BNN)(8) (2-) are all aromatic with planar monocyclic conformation, following the 4n + 2 rule. Moreover, according to the CASSCF and MRCI calculations, the planar B(4)(NN)(2) of D(2h) symmetry prefers to be a sigma-pi diradical in spite of open-shell singlet or triplet and is also aromatic. Akin to the sigma-pi back interaction in compounds containing transition metal, there exists the sigma-pi back interaction between boron and N(2) ligand among some species reported herein, which strengthens B(-)N bond but activates N-N bond, especially in (4)Sigma(-) BNN. The T-shaped structure lies lowest in energy among seven isomers of the (BNN)(2)H(2) dimer, and the parallel-displaced structure is favored between two isomers of the (BNN)(6) dimer.     

Dimers of 3,7-dehydrotropones (bicyclo[3.2.0]hepta-1(7),2,4-trien-6-ones)

2-(tert-Butyl)-3,7-dehydrotropone (7-(tert-butyl)bicyclo[3.2.0]hepta-1(7),2,4-trien-6-one; 1 ) was found to dimerize reversibly to 2A by [2 + 4]-cycloaddition/cycloreversion reaction. The equilibrium lies on the side of the highly strained dimer 2A in the solid state, and on the side of the monomer 1 in solution. The [2 + 4]-reaction is fully perisite-, regio- and stereoselective. Above room temperature, 1 irreversibly formed a decarbonylated dimer 6 , probably via the intermediate 9A or 9B , which resulted either from a dimerisation of 1 by [4 + 6]-cycloaddition or from a sigmatropic rearrangement of the originally formed dimer 2A or 2B . Similary, the 6-bromo derivative 14 afforded the corresponding decarbonylated dimer 15 . Should the formation of 6 and 15 be due to a primary cycloaddition then that reaction is fully peri-, site- and regioselective. Mild LiAlH₄-reduction of 6 and subsequent acetylation yielded the acetate 11 , the structure of which was established by an X-ray analysis. More vigorous LiAlH₄-treatment also reduced the terminal fulvenoid double bond of 6 and acetylation of the crude product led to the acetated 12 and 13 .     

Molecular structure and infrared spectra of (HXeCN)n (n=2, 3 or 4)

The structure, energetics, and vibrational spectra of the (HXeCN)2 dimer were investigated at the CCSD(T), MP2 and B3LYP levels. Such properties of the (HXeCN)3 trimer and (HXeCN)4 tetramer were investigated at the B3LYP level. The dimer, trimer, and tetramer were predicted to have a C2h, C2v, and D2d structure, respectively. In all of these oligomers, the N?Xe intermonomeric interaction is the most important one for holding the monomers together. Included with the ZPVE and BSSE, the stabilization energy of the dimer is 12.36 kcal/mol at the CCSD(T) level, while those of the dimer, trimer, and tetramer are 10.42, 18.23, and 31.34 kcal/mol, respectively, at the B3LYP level. At the B3LYP level, with respect to those of the isolated monomer, the C-Xe and Xe-H asymmetric stretching frequencies are shifted by -11.2 and +128.0 cm(-1) for the dimer, -51.6, +220.7 and -11.5, +96.6 cm(-1) for the trimer, and -14.1 and +201.8 cm(-1) for the tetramer.     

Structural Determination of the [4+2] Dimer of 2,3-Dimethylene-2,3-Dihydrothiophene from Deuterium Labeling Study

2,3-Dimethylene-2,3-dihydrothiophene (1a), prepared by the flash vacuum pyrolysis of 3-methyl-2-thienylmethyl benzoate (7a), rapidly dimerizes to form a [4 + 2] dimer 6. The structure of the [4+2] dimer 6 was confirmed by comparing its NMR spectrum with that of the [4 + 2] dimers from 2-dideuteriomethylene-3-methylene-2,3-dihydrothiophene (1b) and 2-methylene-3-dideuteriomethylene-2,3-dihydrothiophene (1c).     

Molecular paramagnetic semiconductor: crystal structures and magnetic and conducting properties of the Ni(dmit)(2) salts of 6-oxoverdazyl radical cations (dmit = 1,3-dithiol-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate)

Four kinds of 1:1 and 1:3 salts of 3-[4-(trimethylammonio)phenyl]-1,5-diphenyl-6-oxoverdazyl radical cation ([1](+)) and its mono- and dimethyl derivatives ([2](+) and [3](+)) with Ni(dmit)(2) anions (dmit = 1,3-dithiol-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate) ([1](+)[Ni(dmit)(2)](-) (4), [2](+)[Ni(dmit)(2)](-) (5), [3](+)[Ni(dmit)(2)](-) (6), and [1](+)[Ni(dmit)(2)](3)(-) (7)) have been prepared, and the magnetic susceptibilities (chi(M)) have been measured between 1.8 and 300 K. The chi(M) values of salts 5 and 7 can be well reproduced by the sum of the contributions from (i). a Curie-Weiss system with a Curie constant of 0.376 (K emu)/mol and negative Weiss constants (THETAV;) of -0.4 and -1.7 K and (ii). a dimer system with strong negative exchange interactions of 2J/k(B) = -354 and -258 K, respectively. The dimer formations in Ni(dmit)(2) anions have been ascertained by the crystal structure analyses of salts 4-6. In salts 4 and 6, Ni(dmit)(2) dimer molecules are sandwiched between two verdazyl cations, indicating the formation of a linear tetramer in 4 and 6. The magnetic susceptibility data for salts 4 and 6 have been fitted to a linear tetramer model using an end exchange interaction of 2J(1)/k(B) = -600 K and a central interaction of 2J(2)/k(B) = -280 K for 4 and 2J(1)/k(B) = -30 K and 2J(2)/k(B) = -580 K for 6, respectively. The results of the temperature dependence of the g(T) value in salts 4-6 obtained by ESR measurement also support the above analyses. The 1:1 salts 4-6 are insulators. On the other hand, the conductivity of the 1:3 salt 7 at 20 degrees C was sigma = 0.10 S cm(-)(1) with an activation energy E(A) = 0.099 eV, showing the semiconductor property. Salt 7 is a new molecular paramagnetic semiconductor.     

The first successful crystallographic characterization of a cyclodextrin dimer: efficient synthesis and molecular geometry of a doubly sulfur-bridged beta-cyclodextrin

Beta-cyclodextrin is transannularly disulfonylated at the 6(A)- and 6(B)-positions, and then converted to the corresponding 6(A),6(B)-diiodide and 6(A),6(B)-dithiol. Cross-coupling of the latter two species yields a single head-to-head-coupled beta-cyclodextrin dimer 5 with two sulfur linkers at adjacent 6-methylene carbons. NMR and X-ray analysis revealed the trans-type ("aversive") linkage of both beta-cyclodextrin units. In the solid-state structure of 5.5 MeOH.23 H(2)O, the undistorted cyclodextrin macrocycles feature almost parallel ring planes pointing away from each other, leaving 5 with a "handcuff-like" appearance of approximate C(2) symmetry. This work represents the first successful crystallographic study on a cyclodextrin dimer.     

Electrochemical oxidation of 2-pyrimidinethiols and theoretical study of their dimers, disulfides, sulfenyl radicals, and tautomers

The relative energies and structures of 2-pyrimidinethiol (1), 4-methyl-2-pyrimidinethiol (3), 5-methyl-2-pyrimidinethiol (5), and 4,6-dimethylpyrimidinethiol (7), and their dimers, disulfides, sulfenyl radicals, and tautomers have been studied using restricted and unrestricted ab initio theory, density functional theory, complete basis set methods, coupled cluster theory, and quadratic configuration interaction calculations. The electrochemical oxidation of 2-pyrimidinethiol (1), 4-methyl-2-pyrimidinethiol (3), and 4,6-dimethylpyrimidinethiol (7) in ethanenitrile affords the respective disulfides in excellent yields. The less polar 2-pyrimidinethiol tautomers are predicted to be the dominant species in the gas phase. CBS-QB3, CBS-Q, CCD, CCSD(T), QCISD(T), and MP2 predict the energy difference (Erel) between (1) and its tautomer (2-pyrimidinethione, 2) to be in the narrow range from 7.23 to 7.87 kcal/mol. Similar trends are observed in the Erel values for the respective tautomers of 2-pyrimidinethiols (3), (5), and (7). The hybrid density functionals B3LYP, B3P86, B3PW91, and MPW1PW91 predict smaller values for Erel between the tautomers than any of the other models. Substitution of methyl groups at positions 4 and 6 of the pyrimidine ring lowers the energy difference between the respective tautomers while a methyl group at position 5 has little effect. The 2-pyrimidinethiol dimer (13) is predicted to be 5.52 and 4.12 kcal/mol, respectively, lower in energy than the isomeric 2-pyrimidinethione dimer (14) and heterodimer (15). The intramolecular four center transition states (TS1) for the tautomerization of 2-pyrimidinethiols (1, 3a, 3b, 5, and 7) in the gas phase have activation barriers of 34.84, 34.42, 34.02, 35.16, and 33.64 kcal/mol, respectively. Alternative lower energy pathways for tautomerism in the gas phase involve dimers and dimer transition states. Dimers and dimer transition states are also involved in the electrochemical oxidation of the 2-pyrimidinethiols. The APT, Mulliken (MPA), and NBO partial atomic charges are compared with the CHELPG and MKS charges that give the most consistent and similar results.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of the Decahydrofluorene Core of the Hirsutellones

A stereoselective synthesis of the decahydrofluorene core of the hirsutellones was accomplished in eight steps and in 43% overall yield. The key step of the synthesis is the highly stereoselective intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclization of the siloxacyclopentene-constrained tetraene 1.     

Chemical constituents in the leaves of Vateria indica

Comprehensive re-investigation of the chemical constituents in the leaves of Vateria indica (Dipterocarpaceae) resulted in the isolation of a novel resveratrol dimeric dimer having a C(2)-symmetric structure, vateriaphenol F (1), and two new O-glucosides of resveratrol oligomers, vateriosides A (2) (resveratrol dimer) and B (4) (resveratrol tetramer), along with a new natural compound (3) and 33 known compounds including 26 resveratrol derivatives. The absolute structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, including two dimensional NMR and circular dichroism (CD) spectra.     

NMR spectral assignments of a new [C--O--C] isoflavone dimer from Andira surinamensis

The phytochemical investigation of extracts from the branch wood and branch barks of Andira surinamensis yielded a novel isoflavone dimer, 4'-methoxyisoflavone-(7-O-7')-3',4'-methylenedioxyisoflavone (surinamensin), along with the triterpene lupeol and the known isoflavones 5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone (biochanin A), 5,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyisoflavone (prunetin), 7,3'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone (calycosin), and 5,7,3'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone (pratensein). The structure of the new isoflavone was elucidated by 1D and 2D homonuclear and heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy and by comparison with published data for closely related compounds.     

Bonding of benzene with excited States of Fe7

The interaction between high-spin Fe7 clusters and a benzene molecule was studied using the BPW91/6-311++G(2d,2p) method. The Fe7-C6H6 ground state has a T-shaped structure, similar to that of the benzene dimer, and a multiplicity M = 2S + 1 = 19 (S = total spin). The carbon atoms are bonded to a single equatorial iron atom, which experiences a dramatic decrease in its magnetic moment, from 3.1 to -0.8 mu(B); the magnetic moments of other Fe atoms are larger than those in the ground-state Fe7 cluster. Such unexpected magnetic behavior of the cluster is crucial for adsorption of benzene.     

Reductive coupling of metal triangles in sandwich complexes

The one-electron reduction of [Pd3(C7H7)2(CH3CN)3][BF4]2 in acetonitrile resulted in the formation of the dimer dication [Pd6(C7H7)4(CH3CN)4][BF4]2, whose structure containing a novel bitriangle hexapalladium skeleton was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The dimer is stable in CD3CN at ambient temperature for several days but is highly air-sensitive. Similarly, the cycloheptatriene tripalladium complex [Pd3(C7H7R)2(CH3CN)3][BF4]2 (R = H, t-Bu) dimerized upon one-electron reduction. Both monomer and dimer of cycloheptatriene complexes were structurally determined by X-ray crystallographic analyses.     

The rhodamine B intercalation of montmorillonite

Using photometric methods the dissociation constants and weight fractions of rhodamine B dimer in water solutions at different concentrations were determined. The montmorillonite (SWy) samples were fully intercalated with rhodamine B (RhB) solutions at various monomer/dimer ratios. The amount of rhodamine B in fully intercalated montmorillonite (RhB-SWy) increases with increasing concentration of dye in water solutions, i.e., with increasing dimer/monomer ratio. The sum of exchangeable guest cations in RhB-SWy is approximately constant (0.900 meq g(-1)) for all samples, because RhB-SWy samples with prevailing dye monomer also contain higher amounts of non-exchanged alkali elements. The experimental data are supported by calculated structure models that illustrate the changes in RhB-SWy structure depending on monomeric and/or dimeric arrangement of guests. The analysis of the calculated structure models confirmed the existence of two phases with different basal spacings, d approximately 1.8 and approximately 2.3 nm, revealed by X-ray diffraction.     

Amine- and ether-chelated aryllithium reagents-structure and dynamics

Chelation and aggregation in phenyllithium reagents with potential 6- and 7-ring chelating amine (2, 3) and 5-, 6-, and 7-ring chelating ether (4, 5, 6) ortho substituents have been examined utilizing variable temperature (6)Li and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, (6)Li and (15)N isotope labeling, and the effects of solvent additives. The 5- and 6-ring ether chelates (4, 5) compete well with THF, but the 6-ring amine chelate (2) barely does, and 7-ring amine chelate (3) does not. Compared to model compounds (e.g., 2-ethylphenyllithium 7), which are largely monomeric in THF, the chelated compounds all show enhanced dimerization (as measured by K = [D]/[M](2)) by factors ranging from 40 (for 6) to more than 200 000 (for 4 and 5). Chelation isomers are seen for the dimers of 5 and 6, but a chelate structure could be assigned only for 2-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)phenyllithium (2), which has an A-type structure (both amino groups chelated to the same lithium in the dimer) based on NMR coupling in the (15)N, (6)Li labeled compound. Unlike the dimer, the monomer of 2 is not detectably chelated. With the exception of 2-(methoxymethyl)phenyllithium (4), which forms an open dimer (12) and a pentacoordinate monomer (13), the lithium reagents all form monomeric nonchelated adducts with PMDTA.