Report on an Unusual Cascade Reaction between Azulenes and 2,3‐Dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (=4,5‐Dichloro‐3,6‐dioxocyclohexa‐1,4‐diene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile; DDQ)

The oxidation of 1‐(3,8‐dimethylazulen‐1‐yl)alkan‐1‐ones 1 with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (=4,5‐dichloro‐3,6‐dioxocyclohexa‐1,4‐diene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile; DDQ) in acetone/H₂O mixtures at room temperature does not only lead to the corresponding azulene‐1‐carboxaldehydes 2 but also, in small amounts, to three further products (Tables 1 and 2). The structures of the additional products 3 – 5 were solved spectroscopically, and that of 3a also by an X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis (Fig. 1). It is demonstrated that the bis(azulenylmethyl)‐substituted DDQ derivatives 5 yield on methanolysis or hydrolysis precursors, which in a cascade of reactions rearrange under loss of HCl into the pentacyclic compounds 3 (Schemes 4 and 7). The found 1,1′‐[carbonylbis(8‐methylazulene‐3,1‐diyl)]bis[ethanones] 4 are the result of further oxidation of the azulene‐1‐carboxaldehydes 2 to the corresponding azulene‐1‐carboxylic acids (Schemes 9 and 10).     

Molybdenum‐ and Tungsten‐Based Coordination Polymers as Catalysts for an Efficient and Rapid Synthesis of Hexahydro‐5‐oxoquinoline‐3‐carboxylates and 1,4‐Dihydropyridine‐3,5‐dicarboxylates

Hexahydro‐5‐oxoquinoline‐3‐carboxylates and 1,4‐dihydropyridine‐3,5‐dicarboxylates were synthesized efficiently and rapidly (2 min) in the presence of molybdenum‐ and tungsten‐based coordination polymers [M(Bu₃Sn)₂O₄)]_n (M=Mo or W) as catalysts (Schemes 1 and 2; Tables 2 and 3). The products were formed at room temperature in excellent yields (90–98%). The catalysts worked under heterogeneous conditions and were recyclable. The earlier reports for the application of these polymers to conduct organic synthesis are limited. The present method explores a new and useful application of these catalysts.     

Evaluation of 5‐ethylidene‐2‐norbornene with an adhesion promoter for self‐healing applications

5‐Ethylidene‐2‐norbornene (ENB) has a potential application as part of a new generation of healing agents, owing to its rapid polymerization rate and wide liquid temperature range. In this study, we developed a new self‐healing system using ENB as the healing agent and methyl 5‐norbornene‐2‐carboxylate (MNC) as the adhesion promoter. Dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to monitor cure behaviors of ENB with different MNC loadings, through which a series of cure temperatures were designed. The MNC loading and cure temperature had significant effects on the adhesion strength. The adhesion strength increased remarkably with MNC loadings of up to 10 wt % compared with ENB alone. The ENB monomer and the ENB/MNC mixture were successfully microencapsulated, and the resultant microcapsules were embedded into an epoxy resin along with Grubbs' catalyst for self‐healing efficiency measurements. Peak fracture loads for both healing agents showed maximal values at a low catalyst loading (0.3 wt %). In comparison with neat ENB, a significant improvement in healing efficiency was observed for the ENB/MNC mixture. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1170–1179     

A novel 4‐methylene‐3‐borahomoadamantane: 1,1‐organoboration of an alkyn‐1‐ylsilane using 1‐boraadamantane

1,1‐Dibromo‐2,2‐bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)ethene ( 2 ) reacts with two equivalents of 1‐boraadamantane ( 1 ) by 1,1‐organoboration of both trimethylsilylethynyl groups to give a triene 3 bearing two 4‐methylene‐3‐borahomoadamantane moieties in terminal positions. The triene was characterized by one‐ and two‐dimensional ¹H, ¹¹B, ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy in solution and X‐ray structural analysis in the solid state. The planes of the C double bond are strongly twisted against each other as a result of the bulky substituents, and the surroundings of the boron atoms deviate from the ideal trigonal planar geometry owing to the tension in the tricyclic frameworks. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystallographic identification of an unexpected by‐product in an Ullman's reaction toward biphenyls: 1‐(4‐hexyloxy‐3‐hydroxyphenyl)ethanone

The synthesis of 3,3′‐diacetoxy‐4,4′‐bis(hexyloxy)biphenyl following the nickel‐modified Ullmann reaction yielded a by‐product which was identified successfully by crystallographic analysis as 1‐(4‐hexyloxy‐3‐hydroxyphenyl)ethanone, C₁₄H₂₀O₃. This unexpected nonbiphenyl by‐product exhibited IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and COSY (correlation spectroscopy) spectra fully consistent with the proposed structure. The compound crystallized in the orthorombic Pbca space group, with two independent formula units in the asymmetric unit (one of which was slightly disordered), and showed a supramolecular architecture in which molecules linked by hydroxy–ethanone O—H...O interactions are organized in columns separated by the aliphatic tails.     

Synthesis of 4‐Aryl‐3‐Methyl‐1‐Phenyl‐1H‐Benzo[h]Pyrazolo[3,4‐b]Quinoline‐5,10‐diones Using Diammonium Hydrogen Phosphate as an Efficient and Versatile Catalyst in Water

A simple and efficient synthesis of 4‐aryl‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐benzo[h]pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoline‐5,10‐diones has been accomplished by the one‐pot condensation reaction of 3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐amine, aldehydes and 2‐hydroxynaphthalene‐1,4‐dione in water in the presence of diammonium hydrogen phosphate.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of All Four Isomers of an Unusual Heterocycle‐Containing Amino Acid: 2‐Amino‐3‐furan‐2‐yl‐pentanoic Acid

All four isomers of a novel β‐branched unusual amino acid were designed and synthesized with high stereoselectivity (>90% de) and in 33% –44% overall yields by the use of 4(R/S)‐5,5‐dimethyl‐4‐phenyl‐oxazolidin‐2‐one as the chiral auxiliary via asymmetric 1,4‐Michael addition, direct or indirect azidation, hydrolysis and hydrogenation reactions.     

Polyoxometalate immobilized on MOF‐5 as an environment‐friendly catalyst for the synthesis of poly‐functionalized 3‐pyrrolin‐2‐ones

A polyoxometalate immobilized on MOF‐5 (POM/MOF‐5) material has been synthesized and evaluated for the diversity‐oriented synthesis of poly‐functionalized 3‐pyrrolin‐2‐ones via pseudo‐four‐component reaction between dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate, amines, and aldehyde. The catalyst can be separated from the reaction mixture and reused at least five times with superior activity.