Synthesis of 2-(N-arylimino-κN-methyl)pyrrolide-κN complexes of nickel

2-(N-aryliminomethyl)pyrrole precursors (2,6-R₂-C₆H₃-NCH-2-C₄H₃NH) (R = Me, IH; R = ⁱPr, IIH) were prepared and transformed into their corresponding sodium salts (Na⁺I⁻ and Na⁺II⁻) by treatment with NaH. Both salts readily react with [NiBr₂(DME)] (DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) to give the respective bis{2-(N-arylimino-κN-methyl)pyrrolide-κN}nickel(II) complexes (1, 2) in almost quantitative yields. The oxidative addition of IH to [Ni(COD)₂] (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) results in the formation of 3, which is a mono(iminomethylpyrrolide)-η³-(cyclic-allyl)-type organonickel(II) complex. The crystal structure of compound 1 has been established by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Orthoamides by selective borohydride reduction of N,N′,N″-triacyl- and N,N′,N″-tri(alkoxycarbonyl)-guanidines

N,N′,N″-Triacylguanidines and N,N′,N″-tri(alkoxycarbonyl)guanidines were prepared and reduced with borohydride salts in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and acetic acid to give triacyl and tri(alkoxycarbonyl) orthoamides in yields of 40–85%. However, similar reduction of N,N′,N″-tri(t-butoxycarbonyl)guanidine did not give orthoamide but the aminal di(t-butyl) methylenedicarbamate.     

Asymmetric synthesis of β′-amino-α,β-enones via addition of α,β-unsaturated ketone-derived enolates to chiral N-phosphonyl imines

Efficient asymmetric Mannich addition reactions between α,β-unsaturated ketone derived enolates and N-phosphonyl imines were reported. These reactions could proceed smoothly for a variety of imine substrates with good (up to 96%) chemical yields and excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 98:2 dr). The method reported in this work provides an easy access to chiral β′-amino-α,β-enones.     

Selective C-N bond oxidation: demethylation of N-methyl group in N-arylmethyl-N-methyl-α-amino esters utilizing N-iodosuccinimide (NIS)

Demethylation of N-methyl group in N-methyl-N-arylmethyl-α-amino esters was accomplished by the oxidation of the amino group using the N-iodosuccinimide (NIS)/acetonitrile system followed by treatment with O-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride. This combination of reagents could provide a complementary method to catalytic hydrogenolysis, which certainly cleaves N-arylmethyl groups, in organic synthesis.     

Efficient synthesis of N-Me, N-Boc-protected α-hydrazinoacids: access to 1:1:1 [N-Me α-hydrazino/α/N-Me α-hydrazino]trimers

The preparation of optically pure N^α-Me, N^β-Boc-protected α-hydrazinoacids in large scale is described via a S_N2 protocol. These compounds were used as starting materials for the synthesis of 1:1:1 [N^α-Me α-hydrazino/α/N^α-Me α-hydrazino]trimers.     

Syntheses and lipophilicity measurement of N/N-terminus-1,1-dihydroperfluoroalkylated α-amino acids and small peptides

(1,1-Dihydroperfluoroalkyl)phenyliodonium N,N-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imides (4, n = 0-2) were synthesized and used to transfer the corresponding 1,1-dihydroperfluoroalkyl groups to the α-amino group of (l)tyrosine. The obtained N^α-2,2,2-trifluoroethylated (l)tyrosine (6, n = 0) was further used as the N-terminus in the solid phase peptide synthesis of leucine enkephalin analogue. The lipophilicity of the N^α-1,1-dihydroperfluoroalkylated (l)tyrosines (6, n = 0-2) and N-terminus-2,2,2-trifluoroethylated leucine enkephalin analogue (7), as well as the corresponding parent compounds, was measured.     

Diastereoselective electrophilic α-amination of camphor N-acyl N-phenylpyrazolidinones: the metal enolate-dependent synthesis of two possible hydrazide diastereomers

Complementary approaches under enolate amination reactions for the synthesis of both α-hydrazidoacyl diastereomers have been achieved. Both isomers are obtained with high to excellent chemical yields and high stereoselectivities (up to >95:5 dr) when aryl-substituted camphor N¹-acyl N²-phenylpyrazolidinone was treated with potassium hexamethyldisilylamide (KHMDS) and lithium hexamethyldisilylamide (LHMDS), respectively, followed by the addition of di-tert-butyl azodicarboxylate. The nondestructive removal of the chiral auxiliary, which can be carried out under mild condition, afforded the hydrazido alcohol with high enantiomeric ratio. The facial stereoselectivity and stereochemical course of the reactions are discussed.     

Photocatalytic aerobic cross-coupling reaction of N-substituted anilines with N-aryl glycine esters: Synthesis of α-aryl α-amino esters

A novel photocatalytic cross dehydrogenative coupling reaction of N-aryl glycine esters with N-substituted anilines has been developed. The reaction proceeds effectively using methylene blue as a photocatalyst under visible light irradiation without any metal, chemical oxidant or additive. A variety of α-aryl α-amino derivatives were prepared in moderate to excellent yields with a high para-regioselectivity.     

N,3,4-Trisubstituted pyrrolidines by electron transfer-induced oxidative cyclizations of N-allylic β-amino ester enolates

Oxidative radical cyclizations starting from easily accessible N-allylic β-alanine esters are reported. Deprotonation generates the corresponding enolates, which are transformed efficiently into α-ester radicals by single electron transfer mediated by ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate. The stereochemistry of the radical 5-exo cyclization can be switched by the configuration of the enolate precursor. First examples of asymmetric oxidative radical cyclizations using N-(1-phenylethyl)-substituted β-amino esters are reported. Only two of the four possible diastereomers are formed from the (E)-enolate with high cis-selectivity. From (Z)-enolates, an additional diastereomer is formed, which is likely to be formed only under chelation control.     

Survey of exact N-body decompositions of stochastic scalar-Jastrow–Hartree form

The quantum N-body dynamics problem with pairwise interactions can be exactly decomposed into the average of N stochastically evolving 1-body problems, thereby eliminating the usual exponential scaling of computational costs. Unfortunately, the variance in such averages can be large leading to slow Monte Carlo convergence. In addition, norm preserving decompositions are available only for identical fermions or bosons. Here we introduce a family of decompositions of scalar-Jastrow–Hartree form which can be applied to electronic structure and many molecular dynamics problems. We also discuss their convergence properties and test a few such methods on the vibrational stretching mode dynamics of CH₄. Finally, we explain how the Monte Carlo convergence problem can be completely eliminated via the introduction of a perfect control variate.     

Iron-catalyzed carbonylation–arylation of N-arylacrylamides for synthesis of oxindole derivatives

An efficient method for oxindole synthesis is established by iron-catalyzed carbonylation–arylation of N-arylacrylamides with aldehydes. 3-Functionalized oxindoles are synthesized smoothly using FeCl₃ as catalyst and TBHP as oxidant. The obtained oxindoles can be used for further transformations to give diverse indole alkaloid structure motifs.     

The acid-mediated ring opening/cyclisation reaction of N-benzyl-α-aryl-azetidinones

N-Benzyl-4-aryl-azetidinones undergo ring opening with triflic acid to form N-benzyl-cinnamamides, which either undergo cyclisation to give 5-aryl-benzazepin-3-ones or N-debenzylation to give cinnamamides.     

Iron-catalyzed Minisci acylation of N-heteroarenes with α-keto acids

An efficient and mild protocol has been developed for the Minisci acylation reactions of nitrogen-containing heteroarenes with α-keto acids. Distinct from the conventional Minisci acylation conditions, the chemistry was performed using non-noble metal Fe(II), instead of expensive Ag(I) salt, as catalyst. A wide range of substrates, including aliphatic or aromatic α-keto acids, as well as various N-heteroarenes, proved to be compatible with the protocol. Scale-up experiment also demonstrates the practicality of the approach.     

Regioselective halogenation of pyridinium N-(benzoazynyl) aminides as a way to produce N-benzyl-α-aminobenzoazines

The halogenation of pyridinium N-(benzoazynyl) aminides with N-halosuccinimides provides a mild and regioselective method to functionalize the negatively charged diazine moiety in most cases. In some examples, however, formation of other products is explained. Finally, alkylation of the exocyclic nitrogen and reduction of the N–N bond provides a simple and straightforward strategy to obtain functionalized N-benzyl-benzoazynyl-α-amines.     

Cyclisation at very high temperature. Thermal transformations of N-alkyl and N, N-dialkyl amides of α,β-unsaturated acids into mono- and bicyclic heterocycles under FVT conditions

Cyclisations of N-alkyl and N,N-dialkyl cinnamic amides to the corresponding pyrrolidin-2-ones under the conditions of flash vacuum thermolysis (FVT), are described. It was found that these reactions proceed at 950-1000 °C affording in various yields the mixtures of isomeric mono and bicyclic γ-lactams, which were separated chromatographically and analysed by means of NMR spectroscopy. Two alternative mechanisms for the title process are proposed.     

An efficient one-pot synthesis of N,N′-disubstituted phenylureas and N-aryl carbamates using hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid

We have developed an efficient one-pot method for the microwave-assisted synthesis of ureas and carbamates via a proposed Lossen rearrangement. Herein we report the first examples of the direct conversion of benzoyl chlorides into N,N′-disubstituted ureas and N-aryl carbamates using hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid as reagent. Using our general method, we have produced 11 examples of N,N′-disubstituted phenylureas in yields up to 95% using various substituted anilines, and primary and secondary amines. Additionally, we were able to generate a series of N-aryl carbamates in moderate yields using primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols.     

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed dehydration of α,ω-disilanol oligomers

An efficient polycondensation reaction of α,ω-dihydroxy oligodimethylsiloxanes, catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC), is developed for the first time. Surprisingly, in this polymerization, the moisture sensitive NHC catalyze the dehydration of disilanol oligomers, and remains intact. This result demonstrates the compatibility of NHCs with the intervention of H₂O in catalytic reactions.     

Photodecarboxylative additions of N-protected α-amino acids to N-methylphthalimide

Photoreactions involving N,N-dimethylated α-amino acid salts and N-methylphthalimide are dominated by photoreduction and acetone trapping. Only, N-phenyl glycinate underwent photodecarboxylative addition in a moderate yield of 30%. In contrast, N-acylated α-amino acid salts readily gave addition products in fair to high yields of 20-95%. Comparison experiments with N,N-dimethylacetamide and amino-/amido-containing phthalimides revealed the origin of the crucial electron-transfer step and the reactivity order NR₃ »  ? RCONR₂ was established.     

Facile rearrangement of N-(α-aminoacyl)cytidines to N-(4-cytidinyl)amino acid amides

Under near neutral and mildly basic conditions, primary N⁴-(α-aminoacyl)cytidines (4a-g) undergo a facile rearrangement to form N-(4-cytidinyl)amino acid amides (5a-g). Secondary aminoacyl derivatives rearrange with other competing pathways. Tertiary aminoacyl derivatives do not rearrange.     

Synthesis and decarboxylation of N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids: a new synthesis of α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts

4-Phosphoranylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones 1 undergo hydrolysis in THF in the presence of HBF₄ at room temperature to give N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonioglycines 3 (R² = H) in very good yields. 4-Alkyl-4-triphenylphosphonio-5(4H)-oxazolones 2 react with water in CH₂Cl₂/THF solution without any acidic catalyst at 0-5 °C in a few days yielding N-acyl-α-triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids 3 (R² = Me) or α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salt 4 (R² = CH₂OMe). α-Triphenylphosphonio-α-amino acids 3, on heating up to 105-115 °C under reduced pressure (5 mmHg) or on treatment with diisopropylethylamine in CH₂Cl₂ at 20 °C undergo decarboxylation to give the corresponding α-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts 4, usually in very good yields.