Synthesis of fluorinated imines and carbodiimides from azides via aza-Wittig reaction

The Staudinger reaction of fluoroalkylazides were studied. A series of N-fluoroalkylimines were synthesized via aza-Wittig reaction of N-fluoroalkyliminophosphoranes. The N,N′-difluoroalkylated carbodiimide was also synthesized via the reaction of N-fluoroalkyliminophosphoranes with carbon dioxide or carbon disulfide.     

An unusual behaviour of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)- and N-pivaloyl-(methylthio)anilines in metallation reactions

The metallation reaction of N-Boc-and N-Piv-(methylthio)anilines are here described. The results show that N-Boc derivatives are metallated only by superbases to give products substituted at the thiomethylic group. N-Piv derivatives show a different behaviour: ortho-derivative is metallated by both butyllithium and superbase at the thiomethylic carbon atom, while para-derivative is metallated in ortho to the N-Piv group by butyllithium and at the thiomethylic carbon atom by superbase. The meta-derivative is metallated only by superbase at the thiomethylic carbon atom.     

Asymmetric synthesis of enantio-enriched acyclic α-amino alkylstannanes and rearrangement behavior of carbanions thereof

An efficient stereocontrolled synthesis of enantio-enriched N-Boc-N-allyl-α-amino alkylstannanes and N,N-diallylic α-amino alkylstannanes starting from enantio-enriched α-hydroxy alkylstannane has been developed. The aza-Wittig rearrangement of enantio-defined N,N-diallyl-α-amino alkyllithium, generated by tin-lithium exchange, is shown to proceed predominantly with inversion of configuration at the Li-bearing carbon terminus.     

Electrochemical fluorination of N,N-dimethylperfluoroacylamides

The electrochemical fluorination (ECF) of N,N-dimethylperfluoroacylamides gives the corresponding perfluoro-N,N-dimethylacylamides in low yield. With increase of the number of carbon atoms in the perfluoroacyl radical the yield of the required perfluoro-N,N-dimethylacylamides is slightly increased.     

Magnetite/N-doped carboxylate-rich carbon spheres:Synthesis,characterization and visible-light-induced photocatalytic properties

A novel magnetically separable visible-light-photocatalyst,magnetite/N-doped carboxylate-rich carbon spheres（N-MCRCSs）,was synthesized by a facile ultrasonic method using the magnetite/carboxylaterich carbon spheres（MCRCSs） as precursors.N element has been successfully doped into the MCRCSs in a HNO₃ aqueous solution via an ultrasonic treatment,which were demonstrated by the FT-IR and XPS.NMCRCSs exhibit more intensive absorption over MCRCSs in the entire UV and visible region.N-MCRCSs can not only be easily recycled by applying an external magnetic field,but also exhibit powerful visible light photocatalytic activity.     

Alkylation of aniline with methanol in the presence of FeCl3 · 6H2O in carbon tetrachloride

The reaction of aniline with methanol in the presence of FeCl₃ · 6 H₂O in carbon tetrachloride leads to the formation of N-methyl- and N,N-dimethylanilines and 4,4′-methylenebis(N,N-dimethylaniline).     

Thermal behaviour of carbon clusters and small fullerenes

The structural and thermal properties of small carbon clusters (C _N , N = 13, 20, and 32) are investigated by constant energy Molecular Dynamics simulations over a wide range of temperatures, i.e., from T = 0K to above the melting point of graphitic carbon. The Tersoff interatomic potential [6] is used to mimic the covalent bond between the carbon atoms in the cluster. We find that small carbon clusters start to fragment or to evaporate atoms or C₂ or C₃ units before fully developing a liquidlike phase. As a consequence, some relevant isomers (such as rings, bowls, hollow cages) are thermally isolated from each other i.e., there are no thermally activated isomerization transitions between them. Possible implications of our results on the growth mechanism of fullerenes are discussed.     

Synthesis and bioimaging application of red-emissive carbon dots

Fluorescent red-emissive carbon dots (RCDs) were synthesized using the solvothermal method with citric acid as a carbon source, N,N-dimethylformamide as a nitrogen source, and formamide as a solvent. The as-synthesized RCDs show red fluorescence in an aqueous solution and have an excellent stability towards photobleaching as well as extremely low cytotoxicity and are successfully used for cell and zebrafish imaging. The results indicate that RCDs have potential applications in both in vitro and in vivo bioimaging.     

A selective catalytic side chain oxidation of lysine and ornithine derivatives

The fully protected derivatives of the diamino acids lysine and ornithine (n=1, 2) can be oxidized selectively in the side chain using a Mn(OAc)₂/peracetic acid/NaOAc system. The ε or γ carbon, respectively, is converted to the aldehyde oxidation state, protected as the cyclic N,N-acetal.     

Degradation of aldehydes to one carbon lower homologs

Degradation of aldehydes to one carbon lower homologs has been achieved by using a mixture of N-methylmorpholine, N-methylmorpholine N-oxide, a catalytic amount of OsO₄ and NaIO₄ in a mixture of acetone/H₂O.     

A new synthesis of amides and γ-lactones based on the conjugate addition of lithium enolate of amides to 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides

Reaction of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were synthesized from chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide and ketones or aldehydes, with lithium enolate of N,N-dimethylacetamide gave the adducts in good to quantitative yields. The adducts were converted to several kinds of amides in high overall yields. Treatment of the adducts with trifluoroacetic anhydride in the presence of NaI resulted in the formation of γ-tolylsulfanylated γ-lactones in high yields. The scope and limitations of this method and the mechanism of the reactions are also discussed. These procedures offer a new and effective method for the synthesis of amides and γ-lactones having substituents on the β-carbon from N,N-dimethylacetamide with carbon elongation.     

Converting 9-Methyldipyrrinones to 9-H and 9-CHO Dipyrrinones

Yellow 9-methyldipyrrinones can be converted readily and in high yields to symmetric linear tetrapyrroles, blue biliverdinoids, which are cleaved in half, smoothly at room temperature to afford yellow 9-H dipyrrinones, and 9-CHO dipyrrinones as their violet to orange colored adducts with the carbon acid used for the scission: thiobarbituric acid (TBA), N,N′-diethylthiobarbituric acid, barbituric acid, N,N′-dimethylbarbituric acid, and Meldrum's acid. The adducts, usually only of passing interest, are formally Knövenagel condensation products of a 9-CHO dipyrrinone with TBA and other carbon acids of this work, and a reverse Knövenagel reaction of such adducts leads to 9-CHO dipyrrinones. Under a set of improved reaction conditions the sequence thus efficiently converts 9-CH₃ dipyrrinones to 9-H and 9-CHO dipyrrinones.     

Control of chemo- and regio-selectivity in rhodium catalysed reactions of unsaturated amines with H2CO

The rhodium catalysed reactions of N-allyl- and N-butenyl-1,3-diaminopropanes give single products arising from exclusive hydroformylation at the terminal carbon when the hindered bisphosphite ligand, BIPHEPHOS is used. Reactions using a high carbon monoxide: hydrogen ratio (9:1) and triphenylphosphine as ligand give predominantly lactams arising from carbonylation but with poor control of regioselectivity.     

Synthesis and reactivity of 5-methylenehydantoins

5-Methylenehydantoin, as well as the N-mono- and N,N-di-protected derivatives, can be obtained by different synthetic routes. These compounds can undergo a large variety of reactions, such as Diels-Alder, epoxidation, methanol addition and conjugate addition reactions of different types of nucleophiles, including carbon (cyanide), nitrogen (piperidine) and sulfur (thiols, thioacetate) nucleophiles. The reactivity with electrophilic reagents, such as m-CPBA or methanol in acidic medium, and the need for Lewis acids to promote the conjugate addition reactions indicate that hydantoin is a poor electron-withdrawing group.     

Synthesis of tubuphenylalanine and epi-tubuphenylalanine via regioselective aziridine ring opening with carbon nucleophiles followed by hydroboration-oxidation of 1,1-substituted amino alkenes

An efficient synthesis of N-Boc-tubuphenylalanine benzyl ester (N-Boc-Tup-OBn, 1a) and N-Boc-epi-tubuphenylalanine benzyl ester (N-Boc-epi-Tup-OBn, 1b) is reported herein. Regioselective aziridine 4 ring opening with carbon nucleophiles followed by hydroboration of 1,1-substituted aminoalkene 3 using 9-BBN and subsequent oxidation in an alkaline medium are used as the key steps to provide N-tosyl 1,4-aminoalcohols. The 1,4-aminoalcohols are successfully transformed into the desired products with an overall yield of 23% for 1a and 11% for 1b over 8 consecutive steps separately.     

Use of heterogeneous catalyst KG-60-NEt2 in Michael and Henry reactions involving nitroalkanes

The N,N-diethylpropylamine supported on amorphous silica (KG-60-NEt₂) catalyses the formation of carboncarbon bonds by nitroalkanes through both the nitroaldol (Henry) and Michael reactions. The catalyst shows general utility with a variety of electrophilic acceptors. Moreover, the catalyst can be reused for two further cycles without loss of the activity.     

Synthesis of 1,5-naphthylethynyl nanostructure networks with extended π-conjugation. Effective heterocoupling catalyzed by palladium under a compatible CO2 atmosphere

The synthesis of a new extended π-conjugated 5-N,N-dimethylaminonaphthyl family was undertaken by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between a protected 5-iodonaphthylethynyl and 1-ethynyl-5-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthalene. Under an argon atmosphere, only the homocoupling product 1,4-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthyl-1,3-butadiyne was isolated, in excellent yield. However, under a compatible and pure carbon dioxide atmosphere, the cross-coupling product was obtained in excellent yield.     

Thermal degradation of aramids—Part II: Pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of some model compounds of poly(1,3-phenylene isophthalamide) and poly(1,4-phenylene terephthalamide)

The thermal degradation reactions of seven aromatic amides which are structurally related to the commercial aramids Kevlar (poly(1,4-phenylene terephthalamide)) and Nomex (poly(1,3-phenylene isophthalamide) have been investigated in the temperature range 450 to 700°C by pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Benzanilide, N,N′-dibenzoyl-1,4-phenylenediamine, N,N′-dibenzoyl-1,3-phenylenediamine, N,N′-diphenylterephthalamide, N,N′-diphenylisophthalamide, N-(4-aminophenyl)-benzamide and N-(3-aminophenyl)benzamide all gave very low yields of carbon oxides and water. The structures of the higher molecular weight products were related to those of the parent compounds and their yields are presented quantitatively. The principal mechanism for thermal cleavage of the amide bonds in the N,N′-dibenzoylphenylenediamines is mainly heterolytic, while for the other compounds thermal cleavage of the amide bonds is homolytic. The relationship between the pyrolysis products of the model compounds and those of the corresponding aramids is discussed.     

The dynamics of fullerene multifragmentation

The molecular dynamics statistical trajectory ensemble (MDSTE) method has been employed to study the fragmentation of fullerenes in a cross-beam collision experiment. Differential fragmentation cross-sections and double differential cross-sections of the final time step of the large scale molecular dynamics statistical trajectory ensemble simulation with improved statistics is presented. The envelope of the cross-sections of the small collision fragments (Fullerene multifragmentation: J. Schulte (N ⩽ 28)) follow a scaling law with σ(C_N) ≈ N^−λ, with λ = 1.54. An odd-even alteration with enhanced even number size fragments (N ⩽ 12) is found with a change of the alteration sequence starting at N = 15. The small and large fragments of the fullerene collisions are carbon chains and intertwined carbon chains with vibrational excitations close to that of an ideal cluster gas where about 50% of the collision momentum is transferred to internal vibrational energy, and a strong correlation of fragment mean coordination number and their respective excitation has been found.     

Halogenation of N-substituted para-quinone monoimine and para-quinone monooxime esters: VI. Regular trends in chlorination and bromination of N-arylsulfonyl-1,4-benzoquinone monoimines alkyl-substituted in the quinoid ring

Reactions of halogens with N-arylsulfonyl-1,4-benzoquinone monoimines occur with the formation of a halogenonium ion that either transforms into a carbocation where the first halogen atom adds to the carbon in the ortho-position relative to the carbonyl carbon, or the halogenonium ion adds directly the second halogen atom.