Preparation and reactions of optically active cyanohydrins using the (R)-hydroxynitrile lyase from Prunus amygdalus

Cyanuration of 2-naphthaldehyde (1) and 5-methyl-2-furaldehyde (2) yielded the racemic 2-hydroxy-2-(β-naphthyl)ethanenitrile (R,S)-3 and 2-hydroxy-2-(5-methyl-2-furyl)ethanenitrile (R,S)-5, respectively. The same reaction can be completed by using acetone cyanohydrin (4) as a transcyanating agent. The optically active (R)-3 and (S)-5 could be respectively obtained by hydrocyanation of 1 and 2 using (R)-hydroxynitrile lyase (R)-PaHNL [EC 4.1.2.10] from almonds (Prunus amygdalus) as a chiral catalyst. Cyanohydrins 3 and 5 in their racemic and optically active forms undergo a number of transformations which involve either the hydroxyl group or the cyanide function. Moreover, derivatization of 3 and 5 with (S)-Naproxen®chloride (S)-14 gave the respective diastereoisomers. The optical activity of (R)-3 and (S)-5 as well as their derivatives were recorded. The postulated structures for the new products were supported with compatible elementary and spectroscopic (IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS, and single crystal X-Ray crystallography) analyses. The antimicrobial activity of some selected racemic new products and their respective optically active analogues were also undertaken.     

Synthesis of selectively deuterated and tritiated lupane derivatives with cytotoxic activity

The aim of this work was to synthesize deuterated and tritiated analogues of highly oxidized lupane derivatives known from our group. We selected compounds that previously showed very high cytotoxic activity on multiple cancer cell lines in order to further investigate the mechanism of their action. From starting material (compounds 1–4), we obtained benzyl platanate (5) and its reaction with deuteromethyltriphenylphosphonium iodide gave deuterated compound 6. Following benzyl deprotection gave free acid 7 and oxidation with SeO₂ gave 30-oxo-[29-²H₂]lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (8), which is one of the most active compounds synthesized in our group to date (IC₅₀ 6 μmol/L on CEM cell line). The alkylation of benzyl 2-hydroxy-3-oxolupa-1,20(29)-dien-28-oate (9) with methyliodide or deuteromethyliodide followed by a series of deprotection and hydrogenation steps gave compounds 10–14, where 2β-[31-²H₃]methoxy-3-oxolupan-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (13) is especially interesting, it showed lower activity on CEM cell line (IC₅₀ 10 μmol/L) however, it was very active against Ph1—positive human leukemia BV-173 (IC₅₀ 0.91 μmol/L) and against human myelogenous leukemia K562 (IC₅₀ 0.52 μmol/L). Selectively labelled [3α-²H] and [3α-³H] methyl 3β-acetoxy-21,22-dioxolup-18-en-28-oates 24, 25 were prepared in three steps by reduction of corresponding 3-oxo derivatives and they showed moderate activity on CEM cell line (IC₅₀ 10 μmol/L). In total, 11 labelled compounds (6–8, 11, 14, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24 and 25) have not been reported before.     

Comparative investigation of the copper(II) complexes of (R)-, (S)- and (R,S)-1-phenyl-N,N-bis(pyridine-3-ylmethyl)ethanamine along with the related complex of (R,S)-1-cyclohexyl-N,N-bis(pyridine-3-ylmethyl)ethanamine. Synthetic, magnetic, and structural studies

The interaction of the enantiopure (R)- and (S)-1-phenyl-N,N-bis(pyridine-3- ylmethyl)ethanamine ligands, R-L ¹ and S-L ¹ , with copper(II) chloride followed by addition of hexafluorophosphate resulted in the isolation of the corresponding enantiomeric complexes [Cu(R-L ¹ )Cl](PF₆) (1), [Cu(S-L ¹ )Cl](PF₆) (2) and [Cu(S-L ¹ )Cl](PF₆)??0.5Et₂O (3), in which dimerization occurs through two long Cu??????Cl interactions, the ??-chloro bridges being thus strongly asymmetric. The organic ligand is bound to the metal centre via its N₃-donor dipyridylmethylamine fragment in a planar fashion, such that each copper centre is in a square planar environment (or distorted square pyramidal with a long axial bond length if the additional interaction is considered). When R,S-L ¹ was employed in a parallel synthesis, the similar racemic complex [Cu(R,S-L ¹ )Cl](PF₆)??0.5MeOH (4) was obtained, in which the L ¹ ligands in each dimeric unit have opposite hands. In contrast to the complexes of L ¹ , the reaction of Cu(II) chloride with the related ligand, (R)-1-cyclohexyl-N,N-bis(pyridine-3-ylmethyl)ethanamine (R-L ² ), yielded the mononuclear complex [Cu(R,S-L ² )Cl₂] (5), displaying a distorted square pyramidal coordination geometry. The structure of this product along with its corresponding circular dichroism spectrum revealed that racemisation of the starting R-L ² ligand has occurred under the relatively mild (basic) conditions employed for the synthesis. A temperature-dependent magnetic studies of the complexes 1, 2 and 5 indicate that a week ferromagnetic interaction is operative in each dicopper core in 1 and 2 with 2J?=?1.2?cm^?1. On the other hand, a week antiferromagnetic intermolecular interaction is operative for 5.     

Stereoselective (exo-specific) synthesis, dynamic 1H NMR and quantum chemical conformational and configurational analysis of norbornene-aziridine-E-imidoyl system

Stereoselective (exo-specific) synthesis, dynamic ¹H NMR and computational analysis of exo-N??-{3-azatricyclo[3.2.1.0.^2,4]oct-3-yl)mesithyloxy)methylene}-1-benzensulfunamide (3) were investigated. Aziridine nitrogen inversion gives rise to two sets of configurations where the N-substituent is Syn (S) or Anti (A) to C7 of the norbornyl ring. At lower temperature, the proton signals of aziridine exo-E-3 decoalesces to show two syn conformers and one anti conformer (exo-E-3 ^{1 S} ? $ \leftrightharpoons $ ?exo-E-3 ^{2 S} ? $ \leftrightharpoons $ ?exo-E-3 ^{3 A} ) with ratio of 60:20:20, respectively. Experimentally, the Gibbs free energy of activations [??G ^? (kcal/mol) ?±?0.08] were calculated 11.96, 12.45 for 3 isomerizations. The standard Gibbs free energy (??G ^o kcal/mol) 0.174, 0, 0.174, and 0.298 at 213?K and energy minimum 6.64, 4.77 and 1.78 were calculated for 3 ^1S? $ \leftrightharpoons $ ?3 ^2S, 3 ^2S? $ \leftrightharpoons $ ?3 ^{3 A} , 3 ¹ S? $ \leftrightharpoons $ ?3 ^{3 A} isomerizations, respectively. The enthalpy (??H ^?, kcal/mol) and entropy (??S ^?, cal?mol^?1?K^?1) of activation for the nitrogen inversion of aziridine of 3 were calculated 11.2 and ?0.80, respectively.     

Synthesis of some new α,α-dioxoketene-N,S- and -N,N-acetals derived from secondary aliphatic amines

A total of 11 new α,α-dioxoketene- N,S -acetals (2a–2k) and two new α,α-dioxoketene- N,N -acetals (3j and 3k) have been synthesised by treating 3-[bis(methylthiol)methylene]pentane-2,4-dione (1) with increasing mole ratios of secondary aliphatic amines at room temperature, in either toluene or ethanol. Eight non-cyclic N -methylalkyl and N -ethylalkyl amines and the azacyclopentane of pyrrolidine yielded exclusively mono-substituted N,S -acetals (2a–2i), while the azacyclohexanes of piperidine and morpholine yielded the mono-substituted N,S -acetals 2j and 2k and the double-substituted N,N -acetals 3j and 3k. The conversion yields for the reactions in ethanol are considerably higher than those in toluene. Furthermore, the secondary aliphatic amines with an N -methylalkyl moiety, which have one primary α-carbon and less steric crowding around the nucleophilic nitrogen, appear to be more reactive towards 1 than those with the N -ethylalkyl group, which have two primary α-carbons; further, the latter amines are more reactive than the amines with secondary α-carbons.     

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity in vitro of new 2-aminobenzimidazole derivatives. Reaction of 2-arylideneaminobenzimidazole with selected nitriles containing active methylene group

A series of pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazole and α-cyanocinnamic acid derivatives have been synthesized in the reactions of Schiff bases 2–7 with selected nitriles containing an active methylene group: malononitrile 8–12, cyanoacetamide 13–16, benzyl cyanide 17–21, benzoylacetonitrile 22–24, cyanoacetate methyl ester 25–28 and benzylacetamide 29. The structures 8–29 were confirmed by the results of elementary analysis and their IR, ¹H-, ¹³C-NMR and MS spectra. The products 8–29 of various chemical structure pyrimido[1,2-a] benzimidazole 8–12, 14–16, 17–21, 23–24, 26 and α-cyanocinnamic acid derivatives 13, 22, 25, 27, 28 were obtained, which are of interest for biological studies or which can be substrates for further synthesis. The selected compounds 10, 13, 14, 17, 19, 21, 23–25 and 28 were screened for their antiproliferative activity in vitro against neoplastic and normal cell lines. The most active two compounds were: 2-(o-bromophenylene)-3-cyano-4-phenyl-1,2-dihydropyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazole (24) and 3-cyano-4-phenyl-2-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-1,2-dihydropyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazole (23). However, similarly like cisplatin used as the control, they showed no selectivity towards cancer cells, by inhibiting proliferation of normal mouse fibroblasts in similar manner.      

Catalyst-free tandem Michael addition-cyclization reactions in aqueous media for the synthesis of benzimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidinone derivatives

The catalyst-free reactions of Baylis-Hillman alcohols (1a-i) with 2-aminobenzimidazole (2) in THF-H₂O (1:4) were developed for the convenient and greener synthesis of benzimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidinone derivatives (3a-i). The pesticidal activities of 3a-i were examined to investigate a new biological activity of the imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidinone-type compounds.     

Naphthologs of overcrowded bistricyclic aromatic enes: (E)-bisbenzo[a]fluorenylidene

(E)-11H-Bisbenzo[a]fluorenylidene (E-6) was synthesized by Barton’s double extrusion diazo-thione coupling method from 11H-benzo[a]fluoren-11-thione (11) and 11-diazo-11H-benzo[a]fluorene (13). The reaction is probably thermodynamically controlled; in the event that the less stable Z -6 is also formed, it would rapidly undergo Z → E diastereomerization to give E -6. The B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) calculated diastereomerization barrier for Z -6 → E -6 is ΔG ₂₉₈ = 57.0 kJ/mol (13.6 kcal/mol). The calculated equilibrium constant K _eq(E -6 → Z -6) = 92:8 (at 298 K) is indicative of a marked diastereoselectivity of the reaction leading to E -6. The structure of E-6 was established by ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopies and by X-ray analysis. PAE E-6 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c. The unit cell of the crystal structure E -6 contains eight molecules, arranged as four pairs of enantiomers. PAE E -6 adopts a twisted conformation with the pure twist of the central C¹¹=C^11′ bond ω = 39°. The dihedral angle ν in E -6 is 60.6°, which is significantly higher than the respective dihedral angle in PAEs Z -6, 2, E -7, Z -7, 14, and 15. The large syn-pyramidalization angles at C¹¹ and C^11′ (χ = 12.6° and 14.8°) of E-6 indicates the enhanced strain in the fjord regions of the molecule. The enhanced twist is primarily attributed to the double benzo[a]annelation of the bifluorenylidene moiety at the fjord regions. The B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) calculated structure of E -6 is in a very good agreement with the experimental X-ray structure. PAE E -6 adopts a twisted conformation in solution, with the downfield chemical shift of H¹/H^1′ (8.31 ppm); H¹⁰/H^10′ (δ = 7.20 ppm) and H⁹/H^9′ (δ = 6.86 ppm) in E -6 are positioned above the planes of the opposing naphthalene rings. PAEs E -6 and Z -6 are significantly higher in energy than their corresponding benzo[b]annelated isomers E -7 and Z -7.     

Crown-containing styryl dyes

Complexation of styryl dyes containing theN-phenylaza-15-crown-5 fragment (trans-2a,b) with Ca²⁺ ions in MeCN was studied. Unlike cationic dyetrans-2a, betainetrans-2b forms both complexes of 1∶1 stoichiometry and aggregates consisting of four dye molecules and one Ca²⁺ ion. Cation-induced aggregation was observed also for the analog of dyetrans-2b, which contains a dimethylamino group instead of an azacrown ether fragment (trans-3). Apparently, the interaction between a metal cation and sulfo groups of moleculestrans-2b ortrans-3 makes the main contribution to the stability of aggregates. The dependence of the stability of aggregates on the nature of the metal cation was studied.     

A convenient synthesis of new thiaazacrown ethers and study of their complexation reactions with some transition metal cations in binary acetonitrile–chloroform mixture using the conductometric method

Three novel thiaazacrown ethers 1, 2 and 3 were synthesized in a simple way and in high yield. The complex formation between Ag⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Cd²⁺ metal cations with thiaazacrown ethers 1, 2 and 3 have been studied in acetonitrile:chloroform (1:1) binary solvent system using conductometric technique. The conductance data show that the stochiometry of the complexes with Ag⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ cations is 1:1 (L:M), but in the case of Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺ cations, a 1:2 (L:M) complex is formed in solutions. The formation constants of the resulting 1:1 complexes were determined from the molar conductance-mole ratio data at 25 °C. It was found that the stability constants of 1-Ag²⁺, 2-Ag⁺ and 3-Ag⁺ complexes are higher than those of their corresponding Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ complexes and found to vary in order 3 > 1 > 2 for Ag⁺.     

Conformational space of tetrakis(2-naphthalenyl)ethene: a naphthologous AIE luminogen

The AIE luminogen tetrakis(2-naphthalenyl)ethene (2-NA ₄ E) was synthesized by Barton’s double extrusion diazo-thione coupling method from 2,2′-dinaphthyl thioketone and 2,2′-(diazomethylene)bisnaphthylene in 77 % yield. The structure of 2-NA ₄ E was confirmed by its ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra with full assignments. 2-NA ₄ E and its parent tetraphenylethene (Ph ₄ E) have been subjected to a comprehensive computational DFT study, in search of their conformational spaces. Seven conformers and two transition states of 2-NA ₄ E have been located. Four conformers and one transition state of Ph ₄ E have been located. The conformers of 2-NA ₄ E and Ph ₄ E are not overcrowded, as indicated by the contact distances in the fjord and cove regions. The relative free energies (ΔG ₂₉₈) of the six most stable conformers of 2-NA ₄ E are in the narrow range of 2.3 kJ/mol; they make comparable contributions (12–29 %) to the equilibrium mixture. The energy barriers for the diastereomerization D ₂-Z,Z,Z,Z $ \rightleftharpoons $ ? D ₂-E,E,E,E via the transition state C ₁-Z,E,E,Z and for the enantiomerization C ₂-Z,Z,E,E $ \rightleftharpoons $ ? C ₂-E,E,Z,Z via the transition state C _i -Z,E,Z,E are only 29.8 and 29.0 kJ/mol, respectively, indicating very rapid rates of diastereomerization and enantiomerization at room temperature. The values of naphthalenyl torsion angles and ethenic twist angles in 2-NA ₄ E are almost identical to those in the parent Ph ₄ E. The previously proposed “bulkiness” of the naphthalenyl substituents and the validity of the restriction of naphthalenyl rotation are challenged. The analysis of the AIE effect in 2-NA ₄ E should take into account the intermolecular homochiral and heterochiral interactions between the conformers.     

LC Method for Analysis of Three Flavonols in Rat Plasma and Urine after Oral Administration of Polygonum aviculare Extract

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the simultaneous analysis of the flavonols myricitrin (1), avicularin (2), and juglanin (3) in rat plasma and urine after oral administration of the total flavonoids from Polygonum aviculare. Samples were prepared by solid-phase extraction then separated on a C₁₈ reversed-phase column by use of a mobile-phase gradient prepared from methanol and aqueous formic acid solution. The flow rate was 1 mL min^?1. Detection was performed at 254 nm. The calibration range was 11–1,100 μg mL^?1 for both 2 and 3 in plasma; in urine the calibration ranges for 1, 2, and 3 were 32–1,600, 11–1,100, and 22–1,100 μg mL^?1, respectively. Intra-day and inter-day RSD were less than 4.33 and 3.62% for 2 and 3, respectively, in plasma, and no more than 4.03 and 2.22% for all the analytes in urine. The analytical sensitivity and selectivity of the assay enabled successful application to pharmacokinetic studies of flavonols 1–3 in rats.     

Transformations of ortho-quinones in the γ-radiolysis of their solutions in cyclohexane

The transformations of 4-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone (I), 3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone (II), and 4-methoxy-5-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone (III) in deaerated cyclohexane solutions under exposure to γ-radiation were studied. It was found by chromatography-mass spectrometry and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy that the addition of cyclohexyl radicals at the C=O bond in compounds I–III resulted in monoalkyl ethers, whereas cyclic ketal XXI was also formed in the case of compound II. Moreover, quinone I afforded mixed O-and C-alkylation products, and the adduct of cyclohexyl radicals and quinone II at the C=C bond was the source of dimeric products.     

Theoretical study on the structures and stabilities of silacyclopropylidenoids

Isomeric structures, energies, and properties of silacyclopropylidenoids, C₂H₄SiMX (where M?=?Li or Na and X?=?F, Cl or Br), were studied ab initio at the HF and MP2 levels of theory using the 6-31+G(d,p) and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets. The calculations indicate that each of C₂H₄SiMXs has three stationary structures: silacyclopropylidenoid (S), tetrahedral (T), and inverted (I). All of the silacyclopropylidenoid (S) forms are energetically more stable than others except that S-LiF is by only 0.7?kcal/mol higher in energy than I-LiF. In contrast, all of the tetrahedral (T) forms are the most unstable ones except for T-NaF. Energy differences between S, T, and I forms range from 0.70 to 8.70?kcal?mol^?1 at the MP2/6-31+G(d,p) level. In addition, the molecular electrostatic potential maps, natural bond orbitals, and frontier molecular orbitals were calculated at the MP2/6-31+G(d,p) level.     

fac-Cobalt(III)-azido complexes derived from substituted pyridyl-based tridentate amines

Four new mononuclear triazido-cobalt(III) complexes [Co(L ^1/2/4 )(N₃)₃] and [Co(L ³ )(N₃)₃]·CH₃CN where L ¹  = [(2-pyridyl)-2-ethyl]-(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methylamine, L ²  = [(2-pyridyl)-2-ethyl]-[6-methyl-(2-pyridylmethyl)]-N-methylamine, L ³  = [(2-pyridyl)-2-ethyl]-[3,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy-(2-pyridylmethyl)]-N-methylamine, and L ⁴  = [(2-pyridyl)-2-ethyl]-[3,4-dimethoxy-(2-pyridylmethyl)]-N-methylamine, respectively, were synthesized and structurally characterized. The four complexes were characterized by elemental microanalyses, IR and UV–VIS spectroscopy and X-ray single crystal crystallography. The complexes display two strong IR bands over the frequency region 2,020–2,050 cm^?1 assigned for the asymmetric stretching frequency, ν_a(N₃) of the coordinated azides indicating facial geometry. The molecular structure determinations of the complexes were in complete agreement with fac-[Co(L)(N₃)₃] conformation in distorted octahedral Co(III) environment.     

A functional conjugated hyperbranched polymer derived from tetraphenylethene and oxadiazole moieties: Synthesis by one-pot “a4+b2+c2” polymerization and applicaion as explosive chemosensor and pled

A new conjugated hyperbranched polymer (hb-TFO) containing tetraphenylethylene (TPE) units, a famous aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active group, as the core, was synthesized successfully with modest yield via one-pot Suzuki polymerization reaction. Thanks to the introduction of TPE moieties, hb-TFO exhibited aggregation-enhanced emission (AEE) property, and could work as explosive chemosensor with high sensitivity. The polymeric light-emitting diode (PLED) device was fabricated to investigate its electroluminescent property, and hb-TFO demonstrated a maximum luminance efficiency of 0.22 cd/A and a maximum brightness of 545 cd/m² at 15.9 V.     

Phytochemical Study of the Rhizome of Pinellia ternata and Quantification of Phenylpropanoids in Commercial Pinellia Tuber by RP-LC

Four phenylpropanoids, (E)-p-coumaryl alcohol (1), 3,4-dihydroxycinnamyl alcohol (2), sachaliside 1 (3), and coniferin (4) have been isolated from the rhizome of Pinellia ternata. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1–3 were isolated from the genus Pinellia for the first time. Compound 4 was isolated from this plant for the first time. A rapid, sensitive, and accurate reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection at 260 nm was established for simultaneous separation and determination of the four phenylpropanoids in nineteen batches of dried rhizomes of P. ternata. Compounds were separated on a 250 × 4.6 mm C₁₈ column with methanol–acetonitrile–water–phosphoric acid, 20:5:75:0.3, as mobile phase. The amounts of 1–4 in the rhizome of P. ternata could be easily determined within 30 min. The linear calibration ranges for 1–4 were 0.05–137.50, 0.66–1050.00, 0.06–30.00, and 0.05–67.50 μg mL^?1, respectively. Recovery of 1–4 was 97.43–103.73%, with RSD from 0.12 to 1.62%. Limits of quantification for 1–4 were 50, 660, 60, and 50 ng mL^?1, respectively. The method was successfully used for phytochemical analysis of phenylpropanoids from the rhizome of P. ternata.     

Spectroscopic studies of charge-transfer complexation of iodine with a new benzo-substituted macrocyclic diamide in chloroform, dichloromethane and their 1:1 mixture

Charge-transfer complexation of iodine with a new benzo-substituted macrocyclic diamide 5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-2H-1,13,4,7,10-benzodioxatriazacyclopentadecine-3,11(4H,12H)-dione (L) with iodine was studied spectrophotometrically in chloroform, dichloromethane and their 1:1 (v/v) mixture. The observed time dependence of the charge-transfer band and subsequent formation of I₃ ^- ion are related to the slow formation of the initially formed 1:1 L.I₂ outer complex to an inner electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex, followed by fast reaction of the inner complex with iodine to form a triiodide ion, as follows: L + I₂ → L.I₂ (outer complex), fast L.I₂ (outer complex) → (L.I⁺)I^- (inner complex), slow (L.I⁺)I^- (inner complex) + I₂ → (L.I⁺)I₃ ^-, fast The pseudo-first-order rate constants for the transformation process were evaluated in different solvent systems. The stability constants of the resulting EDAr complexes were also evaluated and the solvent effect on their stability is discussed. The resulting complexes were isolated and characterized by FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Dianionic complexes with hexacoordinate silicon(IV) or germanium(IV) and three bidentate ligands of the salicylato(2–) type: Syntheses and structural characterization in the solid state and in solution

Reaction of tetramethoxysilane or tetramethoxygermane with salicylic acid and morpholine (molar ratio 1:3:2) in tetrahydrofuran yielded morpholiniummer-tris[salicylato(2–)-O¹,O³]silicate(mer -5) and morpholiniummer-tris[salicylato(2–)-O¹,O³]germanate (mer-8), respectively. Treatment of tetramethoxysilane with 5-chlorosalicylic acid and piperidine (molar ratio 1:3:2) in tetrahydrofuran afforded piperidinium mer-tris[5-chlorosalicylato(2–)-O¹,O³]silicate–ditetrahydrofuran (mer-6·2THF). Triethylammonium mer-tris[3-methylsalicylato(2–)-O¹,O³]silicate (mer-7) was obtained analogously by reaction of tetramethoxysilane with three molar equivalents of 3-methylsalicylic acid and two molar equivalents of triethylamine in dichloromethane/diethyl ether. The racemic compounds mer-5, mer-6· 2THF,mer-7, and mer-8 were characterized by elemental analyses (C, H, N), single-crystal X-ray diffraction, as well as solid-state (²⁹Si) and solution(¹H, ¹³C, ²⁹Si) NMR studies. The structural characterizationwas complemented by computational studies (HF studies, TZVP level) of thefac- and mer-tris[salicylato(2–)-O¹,O³]silicatedianion. In addition, the behavior of mer-7 in solution was studied by VT ¹HNMR experiments.     

Trichloro- and methyldichlorogermyl monochelates and dibromo- and dichlorogermyl bischelates derived from N,N-disubstituted amides of 2-hydroxycarboxylic acids

The reactions of GeCl₄, GeBr₄, and MeGeCl₃ with O-trimethylsilyl derivatives of N,N-disubstituted amides of 2-hydroxycarboxylic acids afforded pentacoordinate and hexacoordinate neutral (O,O)-mono- and (O,O)-bischelates. The reactions of glycolic acid derivatives with GeX₄ produced bischelates X₂Ge[OCH₂C(O)NR²R³]₂ 7a,c,d (X = Cl, R² = R³ = Me (a), (CH₂)₅ (c), (CH₂CH₂)₂O (d)) and 8a (X = Br). By contrast, the reactions of lactic and mandelic acid derivatives with GeCl₄ and MeGeCl₃ gave monochelates Cl₃Ge[OCH(R¹)C(O)NR²R³] (S)-9a–c (R¹ = Me) and Cl₂MeGe[OCH(R¹)C(O)NR²R³] 10a (R¹ = H), (S)-11a,b (R¹ = Me), and (S)-12a (R¹ = Ph) (R²R³ = (CH₂)₄ (b)), respectively. According to the X-ray diffraction data, the Ge atom in bischelates 7c,d and 8a has a coordination number 6, and its coordination polyhedron can be described as a slightly distorted octahedron. In monochelates (S)-9a-c, 10a, (S)-11a,b, and (S)-12a, the Ge atom has a coordination number 5, and its coordination polyhedron can be described as a trigonal bipyramid with two halogen atoms or one halogen atom and one ethereal oxygen atom in equatorial positions and the halogen atom and the amide oxygen atom in the axial positions. The bonds in the axial positions are somewhat longer than the corresponding bonds in tetracoordinate Ge compounds.