“Design” of Boron‐Based Compounds as Pro‐Nucleophiles and Co‐Catalysts for Indium(I)‐Catalyzed Allyl Transfer to Various Csp3‐Type Electrophiles

We have recently uncovered a general indium(I)‐catalyzed method for allylations and propargylation of acetals and ketals with a water‐ and air‐stable allyl boronate. By using a more reactive allyl borane, we have successfully extended this methodology to the more challenging C C coupling with ethers. Herein, we report an improved methodology for the indium(I)‐catalyzed allylation of acetals and ethers, through combination of the allyl boronate with a commercially available “hard” Lewis acid, B‐methoxy‐9‐BBN (BBN=borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane), as an effective co‐catalyst. Significantly, our work highlights for the first time the correlation between the Lewis acidity of “electrophilic” boron‐based compounds and their “nucleophilic” reactivity in Csp³–Csp³ couplings, catalyzed by a “soft” low‐oxidation main group metal. In addition, we also report several applications of these methodologies to the selective synthesis of various carbohydrate derivatives.     

Comment on “Stabilization of Low‐Valent Iron(I) in a High‐Valent Vanadium(V) Oxide Cluster”

A recent Communication in this journal reported the stabilization of low‐valent iron(I) in a fully oxidized polyoxovanadate. With no ligand‐field argument to support such an assignment, a re‐evaluation of the data accompanied by detailed computational analysis reveals the redox chemistry is localized to the polyoxovanadate, and when reduced, instigates a spin transition at iron.     

Tellurium(II)‐Centered Dications from the Pseudohalide “Te(OTf)2”

Te for two : Supported by pyridine‐ or carbene‐based ligands, tellurium‐centered dications are prepared in high yield and include a dicationic tellurium analogue of the recently synthesized “carbodicarbene”. The key to accessing these compounds is the isolation of a base‐stabilized form of TeOTf₂ (see structure), a new highly electrophilic reagent for tellurium chemistry.

     

First Stereoselective Synthesis of the Cytotoxic Polyketide (4R)‐1‐(3,5‐Dihydroxyphenyl)‐4‐hydroxypentan‐2‐one

The first stereoselective synthesis of the cytotoxic polyketide (4R)‐1‐(3,5‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐4‐hydroxypentan‐2‐one ( 1 ) was achieved from readily available propylene oxide and 3,5‐dimethoxybenzyl alcohol. The synthesis involves Jacobsen's hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) and Grignard reaction as key steps.     

On the “Wolfsberg–Helmholz Conjecture” of “Extended‐Hückel Theory”

After having reviewed some pioneer integral approximations closely related to Rüdenberg's expansions of one‐ and two‐electron orbital products, we apply the previously described “Implicit Multi‐Center Integration” techniques on Roothaan's “restricted” Fock‐matrix components over standard atomic orbital bases. The resulting compact forms are very similar to the well‐known “Wolfsberg–Helmholz Conjecture” of “Extended‐Hückel Theory,” which relates the various off‐diagonal matrix elements of “restricted” Fock‐type to their corresponding diagonal counterparts. In this way, a “nonempirical Extended‐Hückel Theory” can be created. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and thio‐bromo “click” chemistry approach toward the preparation of flame‐retardant polymers

This contribution describes our recent efforts geared toward the use of a general, thio‐bromo “click” reaction as a post‐polymerization method for the preparation of flame‐resistant polymeric materials. α‐bromo ester‐containing polymers could easily be prepared using ROMP and a subsequent, facile thio‐bromo click reaction was used for the installation of a phosphorus‐moiety that was shown to impart flame‐resistant/self‐extinguishing properties to these polymers. The extent of their flame resistance was then ascertained by treating paper (previously coated with polymer) to standard burn tests as well as measuring the limiting oxygen index (LOI). © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 645–652     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (3S,5S)‐1,7‐Bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)heptane‐3,5‐diol, (3S,5S)‐Alpinikatin,and Its Diastereoisomers

Stereoselective synthesis of the diarylheptanoids, (3S,5S)‐1,7‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)heptane‐3,5‐diol ( 1 ), (3S,5S)‐alpinikatin ( 3 ), and their diastereoisomers ( 2 and 4 , resp.), was achieved from readily available 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde. The synthetic sequences involve Browns's allylation and Et₂Zn mediated diastereoselective alkynylation reaction as key steps.     

Microwave‐assisted synthesis of phenylenedi(4′,4“‐tetrahydroquinoline) and di(4′,4”‐tetrahydropyridine) derivatives

The synthesis of bifunctional pyridine and quinolione derivatives were investigated using terephthalic and isophthalic aldehydes as a precursor. The reaction proceeds under microwave irradiation with good yield (70–92%) and short reaction time (7–9 min.). We provide a rapid and efficient method of synthesizing a range of bifunctional monocyclic and bicyclic products related to 1,4‐dihydropyridines (1,4‐DHPs).     

“One‐pot” synthesis of (Z)‐2‐aryl‐1‐(2‐cyanoethyl)ethenylphosphonates via hexamethylphosphoramide‐promoted sequential transformation

(Z)‐2‐Aryl‐1‐(2‐cyanoethyl)ethenylphosphonates were synthesized by the hexamethylphosphoramide‐promoted sequential transformation of tetra‐alkyl methanediphosphonates, by the action of potassium tert‐butoxide, and then by acrylonitrile and aldehydes. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 13:116–119, 2002; Published online in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10004     

Amido‐3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐ones as Iron(III) Ligands

The synthesis and physicochemical properties of a range of 2‐ and 6‐amido‐3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐ones are described. All the amido‐substituted 3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐ones have lower pK_a values than 1,2‐dimethyl‐3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐one (deferiprone). This is due to the inductive effect of the amido group. Furthermore, the pK_a values of the 3‐hydroxy group in 1‐nonsubstituted pyridinones are dramatically lower than those of the corresponding 1‐alkyl analogues, indicating that a strong hydrogen bond exists between the 2‐amido function and the 3‐oxygen anion, which stabilises the anion. As a result of the decreased competition with protons, the pFe³⁺ values of this group of molecules are higher than that of deferiprone. The distribution coefficients of these molecules are also increased despite the lack of a hydrophobic 1‐alkyl substituent and this is ascribed to the intramolecular hydrogen bond. X‐ray diffraction studies confirm the existence of the intramolecular hydrogen bond.     

The solid‐state emmissive chalcone (2E)‐1‐(5‐chlorothiophen‐2‐yl)‐3‐[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]prop‐2‐en‐1‐one

Orange rectangular blocks suitable for X‐ray diffraction analysis were obtained for the previously reported [Ahmad & Bano (2011). Int. J. ChemTech Res. 3 , 1470–1478] title chalcone, C₁₅H₁₄ClNOS. This solid‐emissive chalcone exhibits a planar structure and the bond parameters are compared with related compounds already described in the literature. The determination of the structure of this chalcone is quite relevant because it will play an important role in theoretical calculations to investigate potential two‐photon absorption processes and could also be useful for studying the interaction of such compounds with a biological target.     

“Living” radical graft polymerization of styrene to styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) with 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy (TEMPO)

Well‐defined graft copolymers with styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) backbones and polystyrene branches were synthesized by living free radical polymerization (LFRP) techniques. Thus 1‐ benzoyl‐2‐phenyl‐2‐(2′,2′,6′,6′‐tetramethyl‐piperidinyl‐1′‐oxy)ethane (BZ‐TEMPO) was synthesized and hydrolyzed to the corresponding 1‐hydroxyl derivative. This functional nitroxyl compound was coupled with brominated SBR (SBR‐Br). The resulting macroinitiator (SBR‐TEMPO) for “living” free radical polymerization was then heated in the presence of styrene for the formation of the controlled graft copolymer. ¹H‐NMR and IR spectroscopy were used to investigate the structure of the polymers. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

“Smart” poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate‐ran‐9‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐9H‐carbazole) copolymers synthesized by nitroxide mediated radical polymerization

A series of poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate‐ran‐9‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐9H‐carbazole) (poly(DMAEMA‐ran‐VBK)) random copolymers, with VBK molar feed compositions f_VBK,0 = 0.02–0.09, were synthesized using 10 mol % [tert‐butyl[1‐(diethoxyphosphoryl)‐2,2‐dimethylpropyl]amino] nitroxide (SG1) relative to 2‐([tert‐butyl[1‐(diethoxyphosphoryl)‐2,2‐dimethylpropyl]amino]oxy)‐2‐methylpropionic acid (BlocBuilder) at 80 °C and 90 °C. Controlled polymerizations were observed, even with f_VBK,0 = 0.02, as reflected by a linear increase in number average molecular weight (M_n) versus conversion X ≤ 0.6 with final copolymers characterized by relatively narrow, monomodal molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n ≈ 1.5). Poly(DMAEMA‐ran‐VBK) copolymers were deemed sufficiently pseudo‐“living” to reinitiate a second batch of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAA), with very few apparent dead chains, as indicated by the monomodal shift in the gel permeation chromatography chromatograms. Poly(DMAEMA‐ran‐VBK) random copolymers exhibited tuneable lower critical solution temperature (LCST), in aqueous solution, by modifying copolymer composition, solution pH and by the addition of the water‐soluble poly(DMAA) segment. ¹H NMR analysis determined that, in water, the VBK units of the poly(DMAEMA‐ran‐VBK) random copolymer were segregated to the interior of the copolymer aggregate regardless of solution temperature and that poly(DMAEMA‐ran‐VBK)‐b‐poly(DMAA) block copolymers formed micelles above the LCST. In addition, the final random copolymer and block copolymer exhibited temperature dependent fluorescence due to the VBK units. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011