1‐Aryl‐4‐Silylmethyl[60]fullerenes: Synthesis,Properties, and Photovoltaic Performance

The efficient nucleophilic addition of aryl Grignard reagents (aryl=4‐MeOC₆H₄, 4‐Me₂NC₆H₄, Ph, 4‐CF₃C₆H₄, and thienyl) to C₆₀ in the presence of DMSO produced 1,2‐arylhydro[60]fullerenes after acid treatment. The reactions of the anions of these arylhydro[60]fullerenes with either dimethylphenylsilylmethyl iodide or dimethyl(2‐isopropoxyphenyl)silylmethyl iodide yielded the target compounds, 1‐aryl‐4‐silylmethyl[60]fullerenes. The properties and structures of these 1‐aryl‐4‐silylmethyl[60]fullerenes (aryl=4‐MeOC₆H₄, thienyl) were examined by electrochemical studies, X‐ray crystallography, flash‐photolysis time‐resolved microwave‐conductivity (FP‐TRMC) measurements, and electron‐mobility measurements by using a space‐charge‐limited current (SCLC) model. Organic photovoltaic devices with a polymer‐based bulk heterojunction structure and small‐molecule‐based p–n and p–i–n heterojunction configurations were fabricated by using 1‐aryl‐4‐silylmethyl[60]fullerenes as an electron acceptor. The most efficient device exhibited a power‐conversion efficiency of 3.4 % (short‐circuit current density: 8.1 mA/ cm², open‐circuit voltage: 0.69 V, fill factor: 0.59).     

An Examination of the Palladium/Mor‐DalPhos Catalyst System in the Context of Selective Ammonia Monoarylation at Room Temperature

An examination of the [{Pd(cinnamyl)Cl}₂]/Mor‐DalPhos (Mor‐DalPhos=di(1‐adamantyl)‐2‐morpholinophenylphosphine) catalyst system in Buchwald–Hartwig aminations employing ammonia was conducted to better understand the catalyst formation process and to guide the development of precatalysts for otherwise challenging room‐temperature ammonia monoarylations. The combination of [{Pd(cinnamyl)Cl}₂] and Mor‐DalPhos afforded [(κ²‐P,N‐Mor‐DalPhos)Pd(η¹‐cinnamyl)Cl] ( 2 ), which, in the presence of a base and chlorobenzene, generated [(κ²‐P,N‐Mor‐DalPhos)Pd(Ph)Cl] ( 1 a ). Halide abstraction from 1 a afforded [(κ³‐P,N,O‐Mor‐DalPhos)Pd(Ph)]OTf ( 5 ), bringing to light a potential stabilizing interaction that is offered by Mor‐DalPhos. An examination of [(κ²‐P,N‐Mor‐DalPhos)Pd(aryl)Cl] ( 1 b – f ) and related precatalysts for the coupling of ammonia and chlorobenzene at room temperature established the suitability of 1 a in such challenging applications. The scope of reactivity for the use of 1 a (5 mol %) encompassed a range of (hetero)aryl (pseudo)halides (X=Cl, Br, I, OTs) with diverse substituents (alkyl, aryl, ether, thioether, ketone, amine, fluoro, trifluoromethyl, and nitrile), including chemoselective arylations.     

Rapid and Slow Generation of 1‐Trifluoromethylvinyllithium: Syntheses and Applications of CF3‐Containing Allylic Alcohols,Allylic Amines,and Vinyl Ketones

1‐(Trifluoromethyl)vinylation is accomplished in two protocols by the in situ generation of thermally unstable 3,3,3‐trifluoroprop‐1‐en‐2‐yllithium ( 1 ): 1) a rapid lithium–halogen‐exchange reaction of 2‐bromo‐3,3,3‐trifluoroprop‐1‐ene ( 2 ) takes effect with sec‐BuLi at ?105 °C to generate vinyllithium 1 , which reacts with more reactive electrophiles, such as aldehydes and N‐tosylimines before its decomposition, to afford 2‐(trifluoromethyl)allyl alcohols and N‐[2‐(trifluoromethyl)allyl] sulfoamides in good yield; 2) treatment of 2 with nBuLi at ?100 °C causes a slow lithium–halogen exchange of 2 , which gives rise to a mixture of 1 and nBuLi. Vinyllithium 1 is preferentially trapped with less reactive electrophiles, such as N,N‐dimethylamides in the presence of BF₃?OEt₂, to afford 1‐(trifluoromethyl)vinyl ketones in good yield. Versatility of the products toward syntheses of CF₃‐containing ring‐fused cyclopentenones is also demonstrated by the Pauson–Khand reaction and the Nazarov cyclization.     

New Pyrazolyl‐Nicotinic Acids,Methyl Esters,and 1,3,4‐Oxadiazolyl‐pyrazolyl‐pyridine Tricyclic Scaffold Derivatives from 6‐Hydrazinylnicotinic Acid Hydrazide Hydrate

This paper describes an efficient approach for the synthesis of a new series of 6‐[3‐alkyl(aryl/heteroaryl)‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]nicotinic acids (where alkyl = CH₃; aryl = Ph, 4‐OCH₃Ph, 4,4′‐BiPh; and heteroaryl = 2‐Furyl) from the hydrolysis reaction of alkyl(aryl/heteroaryl)substituted 2‐(5‐trifluoromethyl‐5‐hydroxy‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)‐5‐(5‐trifluoromethyl‐5‐hydroxy‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐1‐carbonylpyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridines, under basic conditions and at 70–95% yields. In a subsequent step, the esterification reaction of pyrazolyl‐nicotinic acids done in thionyl chloride and methanol led to the isolation of a series of methyl 6‐[alkyl(aryl/heteroaryl)‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl] nicotinates as stable hydrochloride salts at 64–84% yields, which could be easily converted to hydrazides to give new oxadiazolyl‐pyrazolyl‐pyridine tricyclic scaffolds at good yields from a [4 + 1] cyclocondensation reaction with 1,1,1‐triethoxyethane and 1‐(triethoxymethyl)benzene as the reagent/solvent.     

Cycloaromatization Reaction of 4‐Alkoxy‐1,1,1‐trifluoroalk‐3‐en‐2‐ones with 2,6‐Diaminotoluene: The Unexpected Regioselective Synthesis of 2,4,7,8‐Tetrasubstituted Quinolines

This article reports a convenient and general method for the regioselective synthesis of a new series of 2‐alkyl(aryl)‐8‐methyl‐4‐trifluoromethyl‐7‐aminoquinolines in 86–93% yields, from cycloaromatization reactions of N‐(oxotrifluoroalkenyl)‐2,6‐diaminotoluenes in a strongly acidic medium polyphosphoric acid and absence of solvent. The enaminoketone intermediates were easily isolated from the reaction of 4‐alkoxy‐4‐alkyl(aryl)‐1,1,1‐trifluoroalk‐3‐en‐2‐ones [CF₃C(O)CH═C(R)OR¹, where R = H, Me, Ph, 4‐FPh, 4‐BrPh, 4‐MePh, and R¹ = Me, Et] with 2,6‐diaminotoluene (2,6‐DAT) in methanol under mild conditions, in 46–70% yields. Another synthetic route also allowed the regioselective synthesis of 2‐aryl(heteroaryl)‐4‐methyl‐4‐trifluoromethyl‐7‐aminoquinolines from direct cyclocondensation reactions of 4‐alkoxy‐4‐aryl(heteroaryl)‐1,1,1‐trifluoroalk‐3‐en‐2‐ones with 2,6‐diaminotoluene in methanol under mild conditions, in 21–36% yields.     

The Behaviors of Metal Acetylides with Dinitrogen Tetroxide

Lithium phenylacetylide ( 1a ) and N₂O₄ ( 2 ) at −78° yield diphenylbutadiyne ( 6a ) by oxidative coupling, phenylacetylene ( 7a ) by oxidation and then solvent H‐abstraction, and benzoyl cyanide ( 8 ) by dimerizative‐rearrangement of nitroso(phenyl)acetylene ( 23 ). Nitro(phenyl)acetylene ( 3 , R=Ph) is not obtained. Benzonitrile ( 9 ), a further product, possibly results from hydrolytic decomposition of nitroso(phenyl)ketene ( 27 ) generated from phenylacetylenyl nitrite ( 26 ). Phenylacetylene ( 7a ) and 2 give, along with (E)‐ and (Z)‐1,2‐dinitrostyrenes ( 34 and 35 , resp.), 3‐benzoyl‐5‐phenylisoxazole ( 10 ), presumably as formed by cycloaddition of benzoyl nitrile oxide ( 40 ) to 7a . Further, 2 reacts with other lithium acetylides ( 1b – 1e ), and with sodium, magnesium, zinc, copper, and copper lithium phenylacetylides, 1f – 1l , to yield diacetylenes 6a – 6c and monoacetylenes 7a – 7c . Conversions of metallo acetylide aggregates to diacetylenes are proposed to involve generation and addition reactions of metallo acetylide radical cationic intermediates in cage, further oxidation, and total loss of metal ion. Loss of metal ions from metallo acetylide radical cations and H‐abstraction by non‐caged acetylenyl radicals will give terminal acetylenes. The principal reactions (75–100%) of heavy metal acetylides phenyl(trimethylstannyl)acetylene ( 44 ) and bis(phenylacetylenyl)mercury ( 47 ) with 2 are directed nitrosative additions (NO⁺) and loss of metal ions to give nitroso(phenyl)ketene ( 27 ), which converts to benzoyl cyanide ( 8 ).     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Alkylation of Indoles with Tertiary Amines by Oxidation of a sp3 C?H Bond and Lewis Acid Catalysis

Ruthenium porphyrins (particularly [Ru(2,6‐Cl₂tpp)CO]; tpp=tetraphenylporphinato) and RuCl₃ can act as oxidation and/or Lewis acid catalysts for direct C‐3 alkylation of indoles, giving the desired products in high yields (up to 82 % based on 60–95 % substrate conversions). These ruthenium compounds catalyze oxidative coupling reactions of a wide variety of anilines and indoles bearing electron‐withdrawing or electron‐donating substituents with high regioselectivity when using tBuOOH as an oxidant, resulting in the alkylation of N‐arylindoles to 3‐{[(N‐aryl‐N‐alkyl)amino]methyl}indoles (yield: up to 82 %, conversion: up to 95 %) and the alkylation of N‐alkyl or N‐H indoles to 3‐[p‐(dialkylamino)benzyl]indoles (yield: up to 73 %, conversion: up to 92 %). A tentative reaction mechanism involving two pathways is proposed: an iminium ion intermediate may be generated by oxidation of an sp³ C? H bond of the alkylated aniline by an oxoruthenium species; this iminium ion could then either be trapped by an N‐arylindole (pathway A) or converted to formaldehyde, allowing a subsequent three‐component coupling reaction of the in situ generated formaldehyde with an N‐alkylindole and an aniline in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst (pathway B). The results of deuterium‐labeling experiments are consistent with the alkylation of N‐alkylindoles via pathway B. The relative reaction rates of [Ru(2,6‐Cl₂tpp)CO]‐catalyzed oxidative coupling reactions of 4‐X‐substituted N,N‐dimethylanilines with N‐phenylindole (using tBuOOH as oxidant), determined through competition experiments, correlate linearly with the substituent constants σ (R²=0.989), giving a ρ value of ?1.09. This ρ value and the magnitudes of the intra‐ and intermolecular deuterium isotope effects (k_H/k_D) suggest that electron transfer most likely occurs during the initial stage of the oxidation of 4‐X‐substituted N,N‐dimethylanilines. Ruthenium‐catalyzed three‐component reaction of N‐alkyl/N‐H indoles, paraformaldehyde, and anilines gave 3‐[p‐(dialkylamino)benzyl]indoles in up to 82 % yield (conversion: up to 95 %).     

Tetraaryl Tetradecahydroporphyrazins: Novel Porphyrin Derivatives Featuring a Cyclic Benzene‐Ring Tetramer

Treatment of tetramethylsuccinonitrile 1 with aryl lithium compounds and subsequent quenching with chlorotrimethylsilane yields 5‐aryl‐3,3,4,4‐tetramethyl‐N‐(trimethylsilyl)‐3,4‐dihydropyrrol‐2‐imines 2 a – c in 49–71 % yield. Attempts to crystallise 2 a – c in the presence of wet air yielded the tetraaryl tetradecahydroporphyrazins 3 a – c in yields of 4–84 % as single diastereomers. X‐ray diffraction studies of 3 b and c showed that only the isomer with four aryl substituents pointing in the same direction was formed. The resulting four‐bladed pinwheel‐like structures were characterised by four intramolecular aromatic interactions, in which each phenyl ring points with its edge towards the centre of a neighbouring phenyl moiety, resembling the arrangement of benzene molecules in T‐shaped dimers. Temperature‐dependent NMR spectra give insight into the dynamic properties of the aryl substituents. Quantum chemical calculations that included dispersion corrections indicated the importance of aryl–aryl interactions for the diastereoselectivity of the reaction and for the structural properties of the single isomers observed.     

Borohydrides from Organic Hydrides: Reactions of Hantzsch’s Esters with B(C6F5)3

We report herein that the reaction between a series of Hantzsch’s ester analogues 1 a – d with the Lewis acidic species B(C₆F₅)₃ results in facile transfer of hydride to boron. The main products of this reaction are pyridinium borohydride salts 2 a – d , which are obtained in high to moderate yields. The N‐substituted substrates (N‐Me, N‐Ph) reacted in high yield 90–98 % and the connectivity of the products were confirmed by an X‐ray crystallographic analysis of the N‐Me borohydride salt 2 a . Unsubstituted Hanztsch’s ester 1 a reacted less effectively generating only 60 % of the corresponding borohydride salt, with the balance of the material sequestered as the ester‐bound Lewis acid–base adduct 3 a . Formation of the Lewis acid–base adduct could be minimized by increasing the steric bulk about the ester groups as in 1 d . The connectivity of the carbonyl‐bound adduct was confirmed by an X‐ray crystallographic analysis of 3 e the product of the reaction of methyl ketone 1 e with B(C₆F₅)₃. We also explored the generation of these pyridinium salts by employing frustrated Lewis pair methodology. However, the reaction of mixtures of the corresponding pyridine and B(C₆F₅)₃ with hydrogen gas only resulted in formation of trace amounts of the pyridinium borohydride, along with the Lewis acid–base adduct of the starting material and B(C₆F₅)₃. The 1,2‐dihydropyridine adduct was the final product of this reaction. This was ascribed to the low basicity of the pyridine nitrogen and the complicating formation of an ester bound Lewis acid–base adduct.     

On the P‐Coordinating Limit of NHC–Phosphenium Cations toward RhI Centers

Two types of imidazoliophosphane with additional electron‐withdrawing substituents, such as alkoxy or imidazolio groups, are experimentally described and theoretically studied. Diethyl N,N′‐2,4,6‐methyl(phenyl)imidazoliophosphonite is shown to retain a P‐coordinating ability toward a {RhCl(cod)} (cod=cycloocta‐1,5‐diene) center, thus competing with the cleavage of the labile C? P bond. Derivatives of N,N′‐phenylene‐bridged diimidazolylphenylphosphane were isolated in good yield. Whereas the dicationic phosphane proved to be inert in the presence of [{RhCl(cod)}₂], the monocationic counterpart was shown to retain the P‐coordinating ability toward a {RhCl(cod)} center, thus competing with the N‐coordinating ability of the nonmethylated imidazolyl substituent. The ethyl phosphinite version of the dication, thus possessing an extremely electron‐poor P^III center, was also characterized. According to the difference between the calculated homolytic and heterolytic dissociation energies, the N₂C???P bond of imidazoliophosphanes with aryl, amino, or alkoxy substituents on the P atom is shown to be of dative nature. The P‐coordinating properties of imidazoliophosphanes with various combinations of phenyl or ethoxy substituents on the P atom and those of six diimidazolophosphane derivatives with zero, one, or two methylium substituents on the N atom, were analyzed by comparison of the corresponding HOMOs and LUMOs and by calculation of the IR C?O stretching frequencies of their [RhCl(CO)₂] complexes. Comparison of the ν_CO values allows the family of the electron‐poor Im⁺PRR′ (Im=imidazolyl) potential ligands to be ranked in the following order versus (R,R′): P(OEt)₃<(Ph,Ph)<(Ph,OEt)<(OEt,OEt)<PF₃<(Ph,Im)<(Ph,Im⁺)<(OEt,Im⁺). The (Ph,Im) representative is therefore the least electron‐donating phosphane for which coordinating behavior toward a Rh^I center has been experimentally evidenced to date. Ultimate applications in catalysis could be envisaged.     

Continuous Flow Acylation of (Hetero)aryllithiums with Polyfunctional N,N-Dimethylamides and Tetramethylurea in Toluene

The continuous flow reaction of various aryl or heteroaryl bromides in toluene in the presence of THF (1.0 equiv) with sec-BuLi (1.1 equiv) provided at 25 °C within 40 sec the corresponding aryllithiums which were acylated with various functionalized N,N-dimethylamides including easily enolizable amides at −20 °C within 27 sec, producing highly functionalized ketones in 48–90 % yield (36 examples). This method was well suited for the preparation of α-chiral ketones such as naproxene and ibuprofen derived ketones with 99 % ee. A one-pot stepwise bis-addition of two different lithium organometallics to 1,1,3,3-tetramethyurea (TMU) provided unsymmetrical ketones in 69–79 % yield (9 examples).     

Reactivity of TpMe2‐Supported Yttrium Alkyl Complexes toward Aromatic N‐Heterocycles: Ring‐Opening or CC Bond Formation Directed by CH Activation

Unusual chemical transformations such as three‐component combination and ring‐opening of N‐heterocycles or formation of a carbon–carbon double bond through multiple C–H activation were observed in the reactions of Tp^Me2‐supported yttrium alkyl complexes with aromatic N‐heterocycles. The scorpionate‐anchored yttrium dialkyl complex [Tp^Me2Y(CH₂Ph)₂(THF)] reacted with 1‐methylimidazole in 1:2 molar ratio to give a rare hexanuclear 24‐membered rare‐earth metallomacrocyclic compound [Tp^Me2Y(μ‐N,C‐Im)(η²‐N,C‐Im)]₆ ( 1 ; Im=1‐methylimidazolyl) through two kinds of C–H activations at the C2‐ and C5‐positions of the imidazole ring. However, [Tp^Me2Y(CH₂Ph)₂(THF)] reacted with two equivalents of 1‐methylbenzimidazole to afford a C–C coupling/ring‐opening/C–C coupling product [Tp^Me2Y{η³‐(N,N,N)‐N(CH₃)C₆H₄NHCH?C(Ph)CN(CH₃)C₆H₄NH}] ( 2 ). Further investigations indicated that [Tp^Me2Y(CH₂Ph)₂(THF)] reacted with benzothiazole in 1:1 or 1:2 molar ratio to produce a C–C coupling/ring‐opening product {(Tp^Me2)Y[μ‐η²:η¹‐SC₆H₄N(CH?CHPh)](THF)}₂ ( 3 ). Moreover, the mixed Tp^Me2/Cp yttrium monoalkyl complex [(Tp^Me2)CpYCH₂Ph(THF)] reacted with two equivalents of 1‐methylimidazole in THF at room temperature to afford a trinuclear yttrium complex [Tp^Me2CpY(μ‐N,C‐Im)]₃ ( 5 ), whereas when the above reaction was carried out at 55 °C for two days, two structurally characterized metal complexes [Tp^Me2Y(Im‐Tp^Me2)] ( 7 ; Im‐Tp^Me2=1‐methyl‐imidazolyl‐Tp^Me2) and [Cp₃Y(HIm)] ( 8 ; HIm=1‐methylimidazole) were obtained in 26 and 17 % isolated yields, respectively, accompanied by some unidentified materials. The formation of 7 reveals an uncommon example of construction of a C?C bond through multiple C–H activations.     

Diversification of ortho‐Fused Cycloocta‐2,5‐dien‐1‐one Cores and Eight‐ to Six‐Ring Conversion by σ Bond C−C Cleavage

Sequential treatment of 2‐C₆H₄Br(CHO) with LiC≡CR¹ (R¹=SiMe₃, tBu), nBuLi, CuBr?SMe₂ and HC≡CCHClR² [R²=Ph, 4‐CF₃Ph, 3‐CNPh, 4‐(MeO₂C)Ph] at ?50 °C leads to formation of an intermediate carbanion (Z)‐1,2‐C₆H₄{C_A(=O)C≡C_BR¹}{CH=CH(CH^?)R²} ( 4 ). Low temperatures (?50 °C) favour attack at C_B leading to kinetic formation of 6,8‐bicycles containing non‐classical C‐carbanion enolates ( 5 ). Higher temperatures (?10 °C to ambient) and electron‐deficient R² favour retro σ‐bond C?C cleavage regenerating 4 , which subsequently closes on C_A providing 6,6‐bicyclic alkoxides ( 6 ). Computational modelling (CBS‐QB3) indicated that both pathways are viable and of similar energies. Reaction of 6 with H⁺ gave 1,2‐dihydronaphthalen‐1‐ols, or under dehydrating conditions, 2‐aryl‐1‐alkynylnaphthlenes. Enolates 5 react in situ with: H₂O, D₂O, I₂, allylbromide, S₂Me₂, CO₂ and lead to the expected C ‐E derivatives (E=H, D, I, allyl, SMe, CO₂H) in 49–64 % yield directly from intermediate 5 . The parents (E=H; R¹=SiMe₃, tBu; R²=Ph) are versatile starting materials for NaBH₄ and Grignard C=O additions, desilylation (when R¹=SiMe) and oxime formation. The latter allows formation of 6,9‐bicyclics via Beckmann rearrangement. The 6,8‐ring iodides are suitable Suzuki precursors for Pd‐catalysed C?C coupling (81–87 %), whereas the carboxylic acids readily form amides under T3P® conditions (71–95 %).     

Mechanochromism,Twisted/Folded Structure Determination,and Derivatization of (N‐Phenylfluorenylidene)acridane

(N‐Phenylfluorenylidene)acridane (Ph‐FA) compounds with electron‐withdrawing and ‐donating substituents (H, MeO, Ph, NO₂, Br, F) at the para position of the phenyl group were successfully synthesized by Barton–Kellogg reactions of N‐aryl thioacridones and diazofluorene. By using the substituent on the nitrogen atom to alter the electronic properties, both the folded and twisted conformers of p‐NO₂‐C₆H₄‐FA could be crystallographically characterized, which enabled the charge transfer from the electron‐donating acridane moiety to the electron‐accepting fluorenylidene moiety to be understood. Ground‐state mechanochromism, thermochromism, vapochromism, and proton‐induced chromism were demonstrated between the folded and twisted conformations of the conformers. Protonation and chemical oxidation of Ph‐FA gave two stable acridinium compounds, namely, the fluorenylacridinium and acridinium radical cations. The present study will contribute to the development of functional dyes and organic semiconductors.     

Mechanochromism,Twisted/Folded Structure Determination,and Derivatization of (N‐Phenylfluorenylidene)acridane

(N‐Phenylfluorenylidene)acridane (Ph‐FA) compounds with electron‐withdrawing and ‐donating substituents (H, MeO, Ph, NO₂, Br, F) at the para position of the phenyl group were successfully synthesized by Barton–Kellogg reactions of N‐aryl thioacridones and diazofluorene. By using the substituent on the nitrogen atom to alter the electronic properties, both the folded and twisted conformers of p‐NO₂‐C₆H₄‐FA could be crystallographically characterized, which enabled the charge transfer from the electron‐donating acridane moiety to the electron‐accepting fluorenylidene moiety to be understood. Ground‐state mechanochromism, thermochromism, vapochromism, and proton‐induced chromism were demonstrated between the folded and twisted conformations of the conformers. Protonation and chemical oxidation of Ph‐FA gave two stable acridinium compounds, namely, the fluorenylacridinium and acridinium radical cations. The present study will contribute to the development of functional dyes and organic semiconductors.     

Synthesis and miscibility studies of [60]fullerenated poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)

[60]Fullerenated poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)s containing 0.6–3.0 wt % C₆₀ were synthesized. These polymers are soluble in methanol and N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF). [60]Fullerenated poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)s with higher C₆₀ contents are only sparingly soluble in DMF and virtually insoluble in other organic solvents. A loading of 1.2 wt % C₆₀ in poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) does not greatly affect its miscibility with poly(N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone), poly(1‐vinylimidazole), and poly(4‐vinylpyridine). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1157–1166, 2002     

NaBH4‐I2 mediated chemoselective reduction of γ‐lactam and thio‐γ‐lactam in presence of gem‐dicarboxylates: An easy access to 1,3‐diaryl pyrrolidines

Substituted pyrrolidine derivatives were synthesized in high yield by NaBH₄/I₂ mediated chemoselective reduction of N‐aryl‐γ‐lactam and N‐aryl‐thio‐γ‐lactam‐2,2‐dicarboxylate. With excess NaBH₄/I₂, carbonyl functionality of the ester groups remained unchanged. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

A Flexible,Extremely Sterically Demanding Triazenide Ligand: Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry

Seeking to further the investigation of extremely sterically congested main group metals, the synthesis of a new oligoaryl triazene (Dipp*₂N₃H) is reported. This was accessed by diazotization of Dipp*NH₂ to access both Dipp*I and Dipp*N₃ in high yield and with scalable preparations. These compounds are used as precursors to Dipp*₂N₃H, via a magnesium aryl, due to the difficulties in obtaining pure triazene via an aryl‐lithium species. Deprotonation of the triazene with both potassium and thallium tert‐butoxides gives the respective metal triazenides in high yield. The solid‐state structures of these complexes have been determined and three high hapticity metal arene‐π interactions, which sterically shield the metal centers, were observed in each case; spectroscopic C_2v symmetry suggests these interactions are fluxional in solution. The variability of these interactions in the solid state as well as the changes in calculated steric demand of the ligand between metals point to an adaptive, flexible coordination mode.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of Functionalized 3‐Aryl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazoles from Hydrazonoyl Chlorides and Acetylenic Esters in the Presence of Ph3P

The zwitterionic 1 : 1 intermediates generated by addition of Ph₃P to acetylenic esters is trapped by 1‐[(aryl)chloromethylene]‐2‐phenylhydrazines (=N‐phenylarenecarbohydrazonoyl chlorides) to yield functionalized 3‐aryl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazoles in good yields.     

Anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate by initiating systems based on lithium amides of various secondary amines

The anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate in toluene at −78 °C with lithium amides of various secondary amines (diisopropylamine, N‐isopropylaniline, N‐n‐butylaniline, indoline, and N‐ethyl‐o‐toluidine) as initiators was studied. The tacticity of the resulting poly(methyl methacrylate)s (PMMAs) was dependent on the kind of secondary amine, and highly isotactic PMMAs (91–93% mm) were obtained when lithium amides of N‐isopropylaniline and N‐n‐butylaniline were employed. The isotacticity of the PMMAs further increased up to 98% mm with initiating systems composed of the lithium amides, n‐butyllithium, and transition‐metal halides (WCl₆, MoCl₅, and NbCl₅). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4405–4411, 2005