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.     

Synthesis of dipyrrolo[2,3-a:1′,2′,3′-fg]acridin-12(1H)-ones

Acylation reactions of 4,6-dimethoxyindoles with glyoxyloyl chlorides were achieved by the use of graphite powder in 1,2-dichloroethane at reflux. The products were monoketones as a result of decarbonylation, rather than the expected 1,2-diketones. Treatment of these monoketones with base led to their cyclisation and elimination of methanol to afford the novel dipyrrolo[2.3-a:1′,2′,3′-fg]acridin-12(1H)-ones.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine

An efficient and short synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine 1a-b is described using Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and regioselective nucleophilic opening of a cyclic sulfite as the key steps.     

Synthesis of (3R,4S,5S,9S)-3,5,9-trihydroxy-4-methylundecanoic acid δ-lactone

Radical-mediated opening of a chiral trisubstituted epoxy alcohol using cp₂TiCl furnished the ‘2-methyl-1,3-diol’ moiety with the desired stereochemistry, which led to a total synthesis of (3R,4S,5S,9S)-3,5,9-trihydroxy-4-methylundecanoic acid δ-lactone 1.     

Synthesis of β-chloro α-amino acids: (2S,3R)- and (2S,3S)-3-chloroleucine

The first syntheses of (2S,3R)- and (2S,3S)-3-chloroleucine (3-chloro-d-leucines 1 and 2) have been achieved from d-3-hydroxyleucine and allo-d-3-hydroxyleucine, respectively, through the formation of the corresponding N-Cbz β-lactones, followed by a ring opening promoted by lithium chloride and a debenzylation process.     

The first stereoselective total synthesis of (3S,4R)-dihydroxy-(6S)-undecyl-α-pyranone and total synthesis of (2S,3R,5S)-(−)-2,3-dihydroxytetradecan-5-olide

The first total synthesis of (3S,4R)-dihydroxy-(6S)-undecyl-α-pyranone 1 and total synthesis of (2S,3R,5S)-(−)-2,3-dihydroxytetradecan-5-olide 2 have been achieved in five steps in a highly stereoselective manner using Maruoka allylation, olefin cross-metathesis, and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as key steps.     

High-Pressure Synthesis and Crystal Structures of β-MNX (M=Zr, Hf; X=Br, I)

The single crystals of four kinds of metal nitride halides, β-MNX (M=Zr, Hf; X=Br, I), were prepared in Pt (or Au) capsules by the reaction of MN or α-MNX powders with NH₄X as fluxes under a high pressure of 3-5 GPa at 1000-1100°C. Their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. All four compounds crystallize in a rhombohedral space group R-3m, Z=6 with a=3.6403(6) Å, c=29.270(5) Å for β-ZrNBr, a=3.718(2) Å, c=31.381(9) Å for β-ZrNI, a=3.610(1) Å, c=29.294(6) Å for β-HfNBr, and a=3.689(1) Å, c=31.329(6) Å for β-HfNI. β-ZrNBr is isotypic with SmSI and the others are isotypic with YOF. Both structure variants are composed of structural slabs [X-M-N-N-M-X] (M=Zr, Hf; X=Br, I) stacked together by X…X van der Waals forces, but the ways of the layer stacking sequence are different: X_AM_cN_BN_CM_bX_A∣X_CM_bN_AN_BM_aX_C∣X_BM_aN_CN_AM_cX_B∣ in the SmSI-type and X_AM_bN_CN_BM_cX_A∣X_CM_aN_BN_AM_bX_C∣X_BM_cN_AN_CM_aX_B∣ in the YOF-type polymorphs.     

Improved synthesis of (S)-7-amino-5H,7H-dibenzo[b,d]azepin-6-one, a building block for γ-secretase inhibitors

An improved synthesis of (S)-7-amino-5H,7H-dibenzo[b,d]azepin-6-one (1), involving a selective crystallization of epimeric menthylcarbamates for the resolution step followed by simultaneous cleavage of the carbamate and the lactam protecting group is described. Epimerization conditions of the undesired epimer have also been determined.     

Structure-property relationships of benzo[2,1-b:3,4-b’]bis[1]benzothiophenes for organic field effect transistors

A series of novel benzo[2,1-b:3,4-b’]bis[1]-benzothiophene (BBBT) derivatives with different side-chains were synthesized and characterized. And their mobility properties were evaluated based on their active layers in OFETs devices. By means of simple thermal annealing, the devices based on BBBT-4 and BBBT-6 exhibited typical p-type FETs behavior with average hole mobilities of 0.28 and 0.124?cm² V^?1?s^?1, respectively. Furthermore, the structure-property relationships of these semiconductors were also investigated by XRD and AFM.     

Reagent-controlled diastereoselective synthesis of (2S,3R)- and (2R,3R)-2,3-diaminobutanoic acid derivatives using proline-catalyzed α-hydrazination reaction

(2S,3R)- and (2R,3R)-2,3-Diaminobutanoic acid (Dab) derivatives were efficiently synthesized from Cbz-(R)-alanine using the proline-catalyzed diastereoselective α-hydrazination reaction and the SmI₂-promoted reductive cleavage of the N-N bond as the key steps.     

A straightforward route to enantiopure α-substituted derivatives of (2S,3aS,7aS)-octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid

High yielding and remarkably selective alkylations of a suitably protected derivative of (2S,3aS,7aS)-octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid are described. The fused bicyclic structure of this proline analogue greatly influences the stereochemical outcome of direct alkylation reactions taking place at the α-carbon and provides access to α-substituted analogues with retention of the configuration. The overall procedure allows the preparation of enantiopure α-substituted derivatives of this Oic isomer, suitably protected for their incorporation into peptides, in a straightforward manner.     

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (R)-tuberolactone, (S)-jasmine lactone and (R)-δ-decalactone

A general synthetic approach has been developed for the first asymmetric total synthesis of tuberolactone 1, jasmine lactone 2 and δ-decalactone 3. The key step is the selective hydrogenation of triple and endocyclic double bonds in the key intermediate 4.     

Synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-α,β-difluorourocanic acid

Horner-Emmons fluoroolefination of an aryl aldehyde followed by introduction of a second fluorine via “FBr” addition provides an original approach to the preparation of 1-alkyl-2-aryl-1,2-difluoroethenes. The utility of this procedure is demonstrated by the preparation of (E and Z)-α,β-difluorourocanic acid.     

The first synthesis of cis-N,N′-dialkylisoindigo derivatives from 3-indolyl-2-oxindoles with DDQ

cis-N,N′-Dialkylisoindigo derivatives were synthesized for the first time by the reaction of 3-indolyl-2-oxindoles with DDQ in aqueous 1,4-dioxane. cis-Isoindigo derivatives were completely isomerized to the corresponding trans-isomers by heating the solution in short time.     

Why is cis/trans stereoinversion with Li+(THF)4 migration across the phenyl ring of α-lithiostyrene accelerated by two ortho-methyl groups?

Common wisdom might anticipate that two methyl groups placed on a molecular migration route should act as an impediment. However, the “conducted tour” migration of Li⁺(THF)₄ across the aryl ring (“π-route”) during the cis/trans stereoinversion of α-arylvinyllithiums had been found to occur with practically equal velocities in the presence of either one or two ortho-alkyl substituents. We now report that the omission of both ortho-methyl groups retards the stereoinversion process. In order to arrive at an answer to the title question, we investigate the aggregation equilibria and microsolvation states of ortho, ortho′-unsubstituted α-lithiostyrenes by means of approved secondary NMR criteria. Beyond such necessary knowledge about the ground-state properties, we provide kinetic evidence showing that the retarded cis/trans stereoinversion of α-lithiostyrene proceeds by the pseudomonomolecular, ionic mechanism with Li⁺(THF)₄ migration.     

Improved synthesis of (R)-7-hydroxycarvone from (S)-α-pinene

A three-step synthesis of (R)-7-hydroxycarvone (1), which is anticipated to be a valuable building block for the versatile preparation of natural products, is described. Optimization of the reaction conditions for photooxygenation and migration of (S)-α-pinene 2, tetrapropylammonium perruthenate (TPAP) oxidation of the generated alcohol, and a subsequent ring-opening reaction in the presence of Cu(OTf)₂ led to the synthesis of 1 with good reproducibility. The desired product 1 was thus obtained in 46% yield over three steps.     

Synthesis of novel spiro[benzo[4,5]thiazolo[3,2-a]chromeno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-14,3′-indoline]-1,2′,13(2H)-triones via three component reaction

A new and efficient method for the synthesis of hitherto unreported spiro[benzo[4,5]thiazolo[3,2-a]chromeno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-14,3′-indoline]-1,2′,13(2H)-triones was developed via the Domino Knoevenagel condensation–Michael addition–intermolecular cyclization sequences of isatin derivatives, cyclohexane-1,3-diones, and 2-hydroxy-4H-benzo[4,5]thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones, employing 12-tungstophosphoric acid (H₃PW₁₂O₄₀) as an effective and inexpensive catalyst.     

Substituted benzoquinazolinones. Part 1: Synthesis of 6-aminobenzo[h]quinazolinones via Buchwald–Hartwig amination from 6-bromobenzo[h]quinazolinones

6-(Morpholin-4-yl)benzo[h]quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives 18a,b were prepared under Buchwald–Hartwig conditions by reacting 6-bromobenzo[h]quinazolin-4(3H)-ones 13a,b with morpholine in the presence of a Pd(OAc)₂/XantPhos system in 1,4-dioxane as solvent. The starting 6-bromobenzo[h]quinazolin-4(3H)-ones 13 were synthesized via condensation of the ethyl 1-amino-4-bromonaphthalene-2-carboxylate (11) with formamide (Niementowski reaction), and then reaction of the obtained benzoquinazolinone 9 with appropriates benzyl bromides. Compound 11 was prepared using a three-step procedure involving (a) metalation of the N-Boc- or N-Piv-protected 1-aminonaphthalenes with t-BuLi, followed by reaction with ethyl chloroformate, (b) bromination of the naphthalene ring of ester 3 using NBS, and next (c) deprotecion of the amine group with TFA or HCl. Biological screening of the potential cytotoxicity of compounds 8, 9, 18b on A549 and HT29 cell lines, as well as on the lymphocytes showed that compound 18b has interesting anticancer activities. The detailed synthesis, spectroscopic data, and biological assays were reported.     

Enantioselective epoxidation of α,β-enones promoted by (1R,3S,4S)-2-azanorbornyl-3-methanol as an organocatalyst

(1R,3S,4S)-2-Azanorbornyl-3-methanol was synthesized form (R)-1-phenylethylamine and used as a catalyst for the enantioselective epoxidation of α,β-enones to afford the corresponding epoxides in good yields and high enantioselectivities at room temperature.     

Thiourea linked peracetylated glucopyranosyl–anthraquinone conjugate as reversible ON–OFF receptor for fluoride in acetonitrile

A new thiourea linked peracetylated glucopyranosyl–anthraquinone conjugate (L) has been synthesized and characterized. The binding properties of L have been studied with nineteen different anions. The L exhibited selective chromogenic as well as fluorescent chemosensor property toward F⁻ by a ∼13-fold increase in the emission intensity upon binding with F⁻. The minimal detection limit for F⁻ is 185 ± 5 ppb in acetonitrile. Interaction of F⁻ led to a bathochromic shift of 80 nm in the absorption band. An INHIBIT logic gate has been proposed using the output obtained from the fluorescence studies. The structure of the species formed upon the interaction of F⁻ with L has been established by DFT computations.