A Convenient Synthesis of 2,3‐Dihydro‐4H‐thiopyrano[2,3‐b]‐, ‐[2,3‐c]‐, or ‐[3,2‐c]pyridin‐4‐ones by the Reaction of the Corresponding 1‐(Chloropyridinyl)alk‐2‐en‐1‐ones with NaSH

2,3‐Dihydro‐4H‐thiopyrano[2,3‐b]pyridin‐4‐ones 4 were prepared by a three‐step sequence from commercially available 2‐chloropyridine ( 1 ). Thus, successive treatment of 1 with ⁱPr₂NLi (LDA) and α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes gave 1‐(2‐chloropyridin‐3‐yl)alk‐2‐en‐1‐ols 2 , which were oxidized with MnO₂ to 1‐(2‐chloropyridin‐3‐yl)alk‐2‐en‐1‐ones 3 . The reactions of 3 with NaSH?n H₂O proceeded smoothly at 0° in DMF to provide the desired thiopyranopyridinones. Similarly, 2,3‐dihydro‐4H‐thiopyrano[2,3‐c]pyridin‐4‐ones 8 and 2,3‐dihydro‐4H‐thiopyrano[3,2‐c]pyridin‐4‐ones 12 were obtained starting from 3‐chloropyridine ( 5 ) and 4‐chloropyridine ( 9 ), respectively.     

Synthesis of Bis‐Heterocyclic 1H‐Imidazole 3‐Oxides from 3‐Oxido‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carbohydrazides

The reaction of 1H‐imidazole‐4‐carbohydrazides 1 , which are conveniently accessible by treatment of the corresponding esters with NH₂NH₂?H₂O, with isothiocyanates in refluxing EtOH led to thiosemicarbazides (=hydrazinecarbothioamides) 4 in high yields (Scheme 2). Whereas 4 in boiling aqueous NaOH yielded 2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiones 5 , the reaction in concentrated H₂SO₄ at room temperature gave 1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐amines 6 . Similarly, the reaction of 1 with butyl isocyanate led to semicarbazides 7 , which, under basic conditions, undergo cyclization to give 2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐ones 8 (Scheme 3). Treatment of 1 with Ac₂O yielded the diacylhydrazine derivatives 9 exclusively, and the alternative isomerization of 1 to imidazol‐2‐ones was not observed (Scheme 4). It is important to note that, in all these transformations, the imidazole N‐oxide residue is retained. Furthermore, it was shown that imidazole N‐oxides bearing a 1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thione or 1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐amine moiety undergo the S‐transfer reaction to give bis‐heterocyclic 1H‐imidazole‐2‐thiones 11 by treatment with 2,2,4,4‐tetramethylcyclobutane‐1,3‐dithione (Scheme 5).     

A two‐dimensional cadmium(II) coordination polymer constructed from 4‐carboxy‐1‐(4‐carboxylatobenzyl)‐2‐propyl‐1H‐imidazole‐5‐carboxylate and 1‐(4‐carboxylatobenzyl)‐2‐propyl‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylate ligands

Crystals of poly[[aqua[μ₃‐4‐carboxy‐1‐(4‐carboxylatobenzyl)‐2‐propyl‐1H‐imidazole‐5‐carboxylato‐κ⁵O¹O^1′:N³,O⁴:O⁵][μ₄‐1‐(4‐carboxylatobenzyl)‐2‐propyl‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylato‐κ⁷N³,O⁴:O⁴,O^4′:O¹,O^1′:O¹]cadmium(II)] monohydrate], {[Cd₂(C₁₅H₁₄N₂O₄)(C₁₆H₁₄N₂O₆)(H₂O)]·H₂O}_n or {[Cd₂(Hcpimda)(cpima)(H₂O)]·H₂O}_n, (I), were obtained from 1‐(4‐carboxybenzyl)‐2‐propyl‐1H‐imidazole‐4,5‐dicarboxylic acid (H₃cpimda) and cadmium(II) chloride under hydrothermal conditions. The structure indicates that in‐situ decarboxylation of H₃cpimda occurred during the synthesis process. The asymmetric unit consists of two Cd²⁺ centres, one 4‐carboxy‐1‐(4‐carboxylatobenzyl)‐2‐propyl‐1H‐imidazole‐5‐carboxylate (Hcpimda²⁻) anion, one 1‐(4‐carboxylatobenzyl)‐2‐propyl‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylate (cpima²⁻) anion, one coordinated water molecule and one lattice water molecule. One Cd²⁺ centre, i.e. Cd1, is hexacoordinated and displays a slightly distorted octahedral CdN₂O₄ geometry. The other Cd centre, i.e. Cd2, is coordinated by seven O atoms originating from one Hcpimda²⁻ ligand and three cpima²⁻ ligands. This Cd²⁺ centre can be described as having a distorted capped octahedral coordination geometry. Two carboxylate groups of the benzoate moieties of two cpima²⁻ ligands bridge between Cd2 centres to generate [Cd₂O₂] units, which are further linked by two cpima²⁻ ligands to produce one‐dimensional (1D) infinite chains based around large 26‐membered rings. Meanwhile, adjacent Cd1 centres are linked by Hcpimda²⁻ ligands to generate 1D zigzag chains. The two types of chains are linked through a μ₂‐η² bidentate bridging mode from an O atom of an imidazole carboxylate unit of cpima²⁻ to give a two‐dimensional (2D) coordination polymer. The simplified 2D net structure can be described as a 3,6‐coordinated net which has a (4³)₂(4⁶.6⁶.8³) topology. Furthermore, the FT–IR spectroscopic properties, photoluminescence properties, powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern and thermogravimetric behaviour of the polymer have been investigated.     

Alternative Synthesis of 2‐Hydroxy‐3,5,5‐trimethylcyclopent‐2‐en‐1‐one

The 2‐hydroxy‐3,5,5‐trimethylcyclopent‐2‐en‐1‐one ( 1 ) was synthesized in 42% yield by rearrangement of epoxy ketone 10 on treatment with BF₃⋅Et₂O under anhydrous conditions. Intermediate 10 was available from the known enone 8 , either via direct epoxidation (60% H₂O₂, NaOH, MeOH; yield 50%), or via reduction to the corresponding allylic alcohol 14 (LiAlH₄, THF), followed by epoxidation ([VO(acac)₂], ^tBuOOH) and reoxidation under Swern conditions, in 37% total yield.     

3‐Cyano‐6‐hydroxy‐4‐methyl‐2‐pyridone: two new pseudopolymorphs and two cocrystals with products of an in situ nucleophilic aromatic substitution

Four crystal structures of 3‐cyano‐6‐hydroxy‐4‐methyl‐2‐pyridone (CMP), viz. the dimethyl sulfoxide monosolvate, C₇H₆N₂O₂·C₂H₆OS, (1), the N,N‐dimethylacetamide monosolvate, C₇H₆N₂O₂·C₄H₉NO, (2), a cocrystal with 2‐amino‐4‐dimethylamino‐6‐methylpyrimidine (as the salt 2‐amino‐4‐dimethylamino‐6‐methylpyrimidin‐1‐ium 5‐cyano‐4‐methyl‐6‐oxo‐1,6‐dihydropyridin‐2‐olate), C₇H₁₃N₄⁺·C₇H₅N₂O₂⁻, (3), and a cocrystal with N,N‐dimethylacetamide and 4,6‐diamino‐2‐dimethylamino‐1,3,5‐triazine [as the solvated salt 2,6‐diamino‐4‐dimethylamino‐1,3,5‐triazin‐1‐ium 5‐cyano‐4‐methyl‐6‐oxo‐1,6‐dihydropyridin‐2‐olate–N,N‐dimethylacetamide (1/1)], C₅H₁₁N₆⁺·C₇H₅N₂O₂⁻·C₄H₉NO, (4), are reported. Solvates (1) and (2) both contain the hydroxy group in a para position with respect to the cyano group of CMP, acting as a hydrogen‐bond donor and leading to rather similar packing motifs. In cocrystals (3) and (4), hydrolysis of the solvent molecules occurs and an in situ nucleophilic aromatic substitution of a Cl atom with a dimethylamino group has taken place. Within all four structures, an R₂²(8) N—H...O hydrogen‐bonding pattern is observed, connecting the CMP molecules, but the pattern differs depending on which O atom participates in the motif, either the ortho or para O atom with respect to the cyano group. Solvents and coformers are attached to these arrangements via single‐point O—H...O interactions in (1) and (2) or by additional R₄⁴(16) hydrogen‐bonding patterns in (3) and (4). Since the in situ nucleophilic aromatic substitution of the coformers occurs, the possible Watson–Crick C–G base‐pair‐like arrangement is inhibited, yet the cyano group of the CMP molecules participates in hydrogen bonds with their coformers, influencing the crystal packing to form chains.     

Synthesis of 4‐Aryl‐4,6‐dihydropyrimido[4,5‐d]pyridazine‐2,5(1H,3H)‐diones from Biginelli Compounds

Biginelli compounds 1 were first brominated at Me? C(6) with 2,4,4,6‐tetrabromocyclohex‐2,5‐dien‐1‐one to give Br₂CH? C(6) derivatives 2 . The hydrolysis of the 6‐(dibromomethyl) group of 2c to give the 6‐formyl derivative 3c in the presence of an expensive Ag salt followed by reaction with N₂H₄?H₂O yielded tetrahydropyrimido[4,5‐d]pyridazine‐2,5(1H,3H)‐dione ( 4c ; Scheme 1). However, treatment of the 6‐(dibromomethyl) derivatives 2 directly with N₂H₄?H₂O led to the fused heterocycles 4 in better overall yield (Schemes 1 and 2; Table).     

Synthesis of 2‐Aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,8‐naphthyridin‐4(1H)‐ones by Deprotective Cyclization of N‐{3‐[(2E)‐3‐Arylprop‐2‐enoyl]pyridin‐2‐yl}‐2,2‐dimethylpropanamides in Water

A new and convenient method for the preparation of 2‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,8‐naphthyridin‐4(1H)‐ones 4 has been developed. Thus, N‐{3‐[(2E)‐3‐arylprop‐2‐enoyl]pyridin‐2‐yl}‐2,2‐dimethylpropanamides 3 are synthesized from commercially available pyridin‐2‐amine using an easily performed three‐step sequence and are subjected to cyclization with deprotection under acidic conditions in H₂O to give the desired products. Similarly, 2‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,7‐naphthyridin‐4(1H)‐ones 8 and 2‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,6‐naphthyridin‐4(1H)‐ones 12 can be prepared from pyridin‐3‐amine and pyridin‐4‐amine, respectively.     

One‐Pot Syntheses of 2‐(2‐Sulfanyl‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetic Acid Derivatives via Reactions of 3‐(2‐Isothiocyanatophenyl)prop‐2‐enoic Acid Derivatives with Thiols or Sodium Sulfide

Two efficient methods for the preparation of 2‐(2‐sulfanyl‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetic acid derivatives 3 under mild conditions have been developed. The first method is based on the reaction of 3‐(2‐isothiocyanatophenyl)prop‐2‐enoates 1a – 1c with thiols in the presence of Et₃N in THF at room temperature, leading to the corresponding dithiocarbamate intermediates 2 , which underwent spontaneous cyclization at the same temperature by an attack of the S‐atom at the prop‐2‐enoyl moiety in a 1,4‐addition manner (Michael addition) to give 2‐(2‐sulfanyl‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetates in one pot. The second method involves treatment of 3‐(2‐isothiocyanatophenyl)prop‐2‐enoic acid derivatives 1b – 1d with Na₂S leading to the formation of 2‐(2‐sodiosulfanyl‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetic acid intermediates 5 by a similar addition/cyclization sequence, which are then allowed to react with alkyl or aryl halides to afford derivatives 3 . 2‐(2‐Thioxo‐4H‐3,1‐benzothiazin‐4‐yl)acetic acid derivatives 6 can be obtained by omitting the addition of halides.     

2‐Azido‐2‐deoxycellulose: Synthesis and 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition

Chitosan ( 1 ) was prepared by basic hydrolysis of chitin of an average molecular weight of 70000 Da, ¹H‐NMR spectra indicating almost complete deacetylation. N‐Phthaloylation of 1 yielded the known N‐phthaloylchitosan ( 2 ), which was tritylated to provide 3a and methoxytritylated to 3b . Dephthaloylation of 3a with NH₂NH₂?H₂O gave the 6‐O‐tritylated chitosan 4a . Similarly, 3b gave the 6‐O‐methoxytritylated 4b . CuSO₄‐Catalyzed diazo transfer to 4a yielded 95% of the azide 5a , and uncatalyzed diazo transfer to 4b gave 82% of azide 5b . Further treatment of 5a with CuSO₄ produced 2‐azido‐2‐deoxycellulose ( 7 ). Demethoxytritylation of 5b in HCOOH gave 2‐azido‐2‐deoxy‐3,6‐di‐O‐formylcellulose ( 6 ), which was deformylated to 7 . The 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of 7 to a range of phenyl‐, (phenyl)alkyl‐, and alkyl‐monosubstituted alkynes in DMSO in the presence of CuI gave the 1,2,3‐triazoles 8 – 15 in high yields.     

Facile Synthesis of Substituted Ethyl 2‐(Chloromethyl)‐2‐hydroxy‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐carboxylates

Ethyl 2‐(chloromethyl)‐2‐hydroxy‐2H‐chromene‐3‐carboxylates 2a – 2j have been synthesized by reaction of substituted salicylaldehydes with ethyl 4‐chloro‐3‐oxobutanoate, in the presence of piperidine in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature, in good yields.     

Efficient Synthesis of Dialkyl (2Z)‐2‐[(E)‐1‐Aryl‐2‐(3‐arylquinoxalin‐2‐yl)ethenyl]but‐2‐enedioates

The reaction of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates 4 with 1‐aryl‐2‐[(3‐arylquinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ylidene)ethanones 3 in the presence of Ph₃P leads to dialkyl (2Z)‐2‐[(E)‐1‐aryl‐2‐(3‐arylquinoxalin‐2‐yl)ethenyl]but‐2‐enedioates 1 in good yields.     

1,1‐Diethyl‐1‐germa‐2,3,4,5‐tetra‐tert‐butyl‐2,3,4,5‐tetraphospholan (C2H5)2Ge(tBuP)4, Molekül‐ und Kristallstruktur

1,1‐Diethyl‐1‐germa‐2,3,4,5‐tetra‐ tert ‐butyl‐2,3,4,5‐tetraphospholane (C₂H₅)₂Ge( t BuP)₄, Molecular and Crystal Structure The reaction of the diphosphide K₂[(tBuP)₄] · THF ( 1 ) with the germanium(IV) compound (C₂H₅)₂GeCl₂ leads via a [4 + 1]‐cyclo‐condensation reaction to 1,1‐diethyl‐1‐germa‐2,3,4,5‐tetra‐tert‐butyl‐2,3,4,5‐tetraphospholane (C₂H₅)₂Ge(tBuP)₄ ( 2 ) with the 5‐membered GeP₄ ring system. 2 could be characterized ³¹P NMR spectroscopically, mass spectrometrically and by a single crystal structure analysis.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of [5‐[4,4,4,4′,4′,4′‐Hexafluoro‐N‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐D‐valine]]‐ and [5‐[4,4,4,4′,4′,4′‐Hexafluoro‐N‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐L‐valine]cyclosporin A

Addition of various amines to the 3,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)acrylamides 10a and 10b gave the tripeptides 11a – 11f , mostly as mixtures of epimers (Scheme 3). The crystalline tripeptide 11f ₂ was found to be the N‐terminal (2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐substituted (R,S,S)‐ester HOCH₂CH₂O‐D ‐Val(F₆)‐MeLeu‐Ala‐O^tBu by X‐ray crystallography. The C‐terminal‐protected tripeptide 11f ₂ was condensed with the N‐terminus octapeptide 2b to the depsipeptide 12a which was thermally rearranged to the undecapeptide 13a (Scheme 4). The condensation of the epimeric tripeptide 11f ₁ with the octapeptide 2b gave the undecapeptide 13b directly. The undecapeptides 13a and 13b were fully deprotected and cyclized to the [5‐[4,4,4,4′,4′,4′‐hexafluoro‐N‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐D ‐valine]]‐ and [5‐[4,4,4,4′,4′,4′‐hexafluoro‐N‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐L ‐valine]]cyclosporins 14a and 14b , respectively (Scheme 5). Rate differences observed for the thermal rearrangements of 12a to 13a and of 12b to 13b are discussed.     

A one‐dimensional lead(II) coordination polymer with terminal and bridging 5‐carboxy‐2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylate ligands

In the coordination polymer catena‐poly[[[diaqua[5‐carboxy‐2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylato‐κ²N³,O⁴]lead(II)]‐μ‐5‐carboxy‐2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylato‐κ³N³,O⁴:N²] dihydrate], {[Pb(C₁₀H₆N₃O₄)(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O}_n, the two 5‐carboxy‐2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylate ligands have different coordination modes, one being terminal and the other bridging. The bridging ligand links Pb^II cations into one‐dimensional coordination polymer chains. The structure is also stabilized by intra‐ and interchain π–π stacking interactions between the pyridine rings, resulting in the formation of a two‐dimensional network. Extensive hydrogen‐bonding interactions lead to the formation of a three‐dimensional supramolecular network.     

Reaction of Ketene Dithioacetals with Pyrazolylcarbohydrazide： Synthesis and Biological Activities of Ethyl 5-Amino-1-（5＇-methyl-1 ＇-t-butyl-4＇-pyrazolyl）carbonyl-3-methylthio-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate

The title compound, C16H23N5O3S, ethyl 5-amino-1-(5‘-methyl-1‘-t-butyl-4‘-pyrazolyl)carbonyl-3-methylthio-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate (5) has been synthesized by the treatment of ethyl 2-cyano-3,3-dimethylthioacrylate with 1-t-butyl-5-methyl-4-hydrazinocarbonylpyrazole (4) in refluxed ethanol. The possible mechanism of the above reaction was also discussed. The results of biological test show that the title compound has fungicidal and plant growth regulation activities.     

A three‐dimensional coordination polymer based on the Zn4(μ3‐OH)2 unit: poly[[(μ4‐benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)bis(μ3‐benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)bis(μ3‐hydroxido)bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione)tetrazinc] dihydrate]

The title compound, {[Zn₄(C₈H₄O₄)₃(OH)₂(C₁₂H₆N₂O₂)₂]·2H₂O}_n, has been prepared hydrothermally by the reaction of Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O with benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid (H₂bdc) and 1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione (pdon) in H₂O. In the crystal structure, a tetranuclear Zn₄(OH)₂ fragment is located on a crystallographic inversion centre which relates two subunits, each containing a [ZnN₂O₄] octahedron and a [ZnO₄] tetrahedron bridged by a μ₃‐OH group. The pdon ligand chelates to zinc through its two N atoms to form part of the [ZnN₂O₄] octahedron. The two crystallographically independent bdc²⁻ ligands are fully deprotonated and adopt μ₃‐κO:κO′:κO′′ and μ₄‐κO:κO′:κO′′:κO′′′ coordination modes, bridging three or four Zn^II cations, respectively, from two Zn₄(OH)₂ units. The Zn₄(OH)₂ fragment connects six neighbouring tetranuclear units through four μ₃‐bdc²⁻ and two μ₄‐bdc²⁻ ligands, forming a three‐dimensional framework with uninodal 6‐connected α‐Po topology, in which the tetranuclear Zn₄(OH)₂ units are considered as 6‐connected nodes and the bdc²⁻ ligands act as linkers. The uncoordinated water molecules are located on opposite sides of the Zn₄(OH)₂ unit and are connected to it through hydrogen‐bonding interactions involving hydroxide and carboxylate groups. The structure is further stabilized by extensive π–π interactions between the pdon and μ₄‐bdc²⁻ ligands.     

A three‐dimensional ZnII coordination framework: poly[[μ2‐(E)‐1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethene][μ4‐(E)‐2,2′‐(diazene‐1,2‐diyl)dibenzoato][μ2‐(E)‐2,2′‐(diazene‐1,2‐diyl)dibenzoato]dizinc(II)]

In the title coordination polymer, [Zn₂(C₁₄H₈N₂O₄)₂(C₁₂H₁₀N₂)]_n, the asymmetric unit contains one Zn^II cation, two halves of 2,2′‐(diazene‐1,2‐diyl)dibenzoate anions (denoted L²⁻) and half of a 1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethene ligand (denoted bpe). The three ligands lie across crystallographic inversion centres. Each Zn^II centre is four‐coordinated by three O atoms of bridging carboxylate groups from three L²⁻ ligands and by one N atom from a bpe ligand, forming a tetrahedral coordination geometry. Two Zn^II atoms are bridged by two carboxylate groups of L²⁻ ligands, generating a [Zn₂(CO₂)₂] ring. Each loop serves as a fourfold node, which links its four equivalent nodes via the sharing of four L²⁻ ligands to form a two‐dimensional [Zn₂L₄]_n net. These nets are separated by bpe ligands acting as spacers, producing a three‐dimensional framework with a 4⁶6⁴ topology. Powder X‐ray diffraction and solid‐state photoluminescence were also measured.     

Three‐Step Synthesis of 3‐Aryl‐2‐sulfanylthieno[2,3‐b]‐, ‐[2,3‐c]‐, or ‐[3,2‐c]pyridines from the Corresponding Aryl(halopyridinyl)methanones

A convenient three‐step procedure for the synthesis of three types of 3‐aryl‐2‐sulfanylthienopyridines 4, 8 , and 12 has been developed. The first step of the synthesis of thieno[2,3‐b]pyridine derivatives 4 is the replacement of the halo with a (sulfanylmethyl)sulfanyl group in aryl(2‐halopyridin‐3‐yl)methanones 1 by successive treatment with Na₂S?9 H₂O and chloromethyl sulfides to give aryl{2‐[(sulfanylmethyl)sulfanyl]pyridin‐3‐yl}methanones 2 . In the second step, these were treated with LDA (LiNⁱPr₂) to give 3‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐2‐sulfanylthieno[2,3‐b]pyridin‐3‐ols 3 , which were dehydrated in the last step with SOCl₂ in the presence of pyridine to give the desired products. Similarly, thieno[2,3‐c]pyridine and thieno[3,2‐c]pyridine derivatives, 8 and 12 , respectively, can be prepared from aryl(3‐chloropyridin‐4‐yl)methanones 5 and aryl(4‐chloropyridin‐3‐yl)methanones 9 , respectively.     

Formation and Molecular Structure of an Ion Pair Iron (II) Compound Derived from 2,6‐Bis‐ [1‐(2,6‐dibromophenylimino) ‐ethyl] pyridine and 2‐Acetyl‐6‐[1‐(2, 6‐dibromophenylimino)‐ethyl] pyridine

Two novel tridentate ligands of 2,6‐bis‐[l‐(2,6‐dibromophenylimino) ethyl] pyridine (L₁) and2‐acetyl‐6‐[1‐(2,6‐dibromophenylimino) ethyl] pyridine (L2) have been synthesized. The iron(II) complex of L₁ and L₂ has been characterized with the crystal structure of [Fe(L₁)(L₂)]²⁺ [FeCl₄]² CH₂Cl₂ [monoclinic, P2₁ (#11), a = 1.0562(4), b = 2.0928(4), c = 1.2914(2) nm, β = 100.12°, V = 2.810(1) nm³ D_c = 1.879 g/cm³ and Z = 2].     

Synthesis of 1‐Methyl‐6,10‐diphenylheptalene Derivatives

The reduction of heptalene diester 1 with diisobutylaluminium hydride (DIBAH) in THF gave a mixture of heptalene‐1,2‐dimethanol 2a and its double‐bond‐shift (DBS) isomer 2b (Scheme 3). Both products can be isolated by column chromatography on silica gel. The subsequent chlorination of 2a or 2b with PCl₅ in CH₂Cl₂ led to a mixture of 1,2‐bis(chloromethyl)heptalene 3a and its DBS isomer 3b . After a prolonged chromatographic separation, both products 3a and 3b were obtained in pure form. They crystallized smoothly from hexane/Et₂O 7 : 1 at low temperature, and their structures were determined by X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis (Figs. 1 and 2). The nucleophilic exchange of the Cl substituents of 3a or 3b by diphenylphosphino groups was easily achieved with excess of (diphenylphospino)lithium (=lithium diphenylphosphanide) in THF at 0° (Scheme 4). However, the purification of 4a / 4b was very difficult since these bis‐phosphines decomposed on column chromatography on silica gel and were converted mostly by oxidation by air to bis(phosphine oxides) 5a and 5b . Both 5a and 5b were also obtained in pure form by reaction of 3a or 3b with (diphenylphosphinyl)lithium (=lithium oxidodiphenylphospanide) in THF, followed by column chromatography on silica gel with Et₂O. Carboxaldehydes 7a and 7b were synthesized by a disproportionation reaction of the dimethanol mixture 2a / 2b with catalytic amounts of TsOH. The subsequent decarbonylation of both carboxaldehydes with tris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium(1+) chloride yielded heptalene 8 in a quantitative yield. The reaction of a thermal‐equilibrium mixture 3a / 3b with the borane adduct of (diphenylphosphino)lithium in THF at 0° gave 6a and 6b in yields of 5 and 15%, respectively (Scheme 4). However, heating 6a or 6b in the presence of 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) in toluene, generated both bis‐phosphine 4a and its DBS isomer 4b which could not be separated. The attempt at a conversion of 3a or 3b into bis‐phosphines 4a or 4b by treatment with t‐BuLi and Ph₂PCl also failed completely. Thus, we returned to investigate the antipodes of the dimethanols 2a, 2b , and of 8 that can be separated on an HPLC Chiralcel‐OD column. The CD spectra of optically pure (M)‐ and (P)‐configurated heptalenes 2a, 2b , and 8 were measured (Figs. 4, 5, and 9).