Metallophthalocyanine-catalyzed cyclopropanation

Metallophthalocyanine-catalyzed carbenoid reactions have had little attention to date. Recently these metal complexes have been found to catalyze cyclopropanation reactions. We have investigated these metallophthalocyanines in reactions to catalyze cyclopropanation from donor–acceptor carbenoids. The yields and diastereoselectivity of these reactions are influenced by the nature of the styrene as well as the aryldiazoacetate and catalyst. The products have been synthesized in short reaction times (1 h), with good yields (up to 84%), and high diastereoselectivity (up to 20:1 ratio cis/trans products).     

One-pot synthesis of sulfonyl (E)-stilbenes by nitrobenzene-mediated dimerizative desulfonation of benzylic sulfones

A facile one-pot synthetic route for preparing sulfonyl (E)-stilbenes 4 is developed. The efficient route is realized by a nitrobenzene (PhNO₂)-mediated dimerizative desulfonation of benzylic sulfones 3 in the presence of sodium hydride (NaH) in good yields. Some synthetic investigations of sulfonyl stilbenes 4 are also examined.     

First use of a palladium complex with a thiosemicarbazone ligand as catalyst precursor for the Heck reaction

A novel palladium complex with salicylaldehyde N(4)-ethylthiosemicarbazone has been synthesized and according to its crystal structure the ligand is bound to the metal in an O, N, S-terdentate coordination mode. This phosphorus-free system efficiently catalyzes the Heck reaction of aryl bromides (from electron-rich to electron-poor) with styrene under argon, with turnover numbers of up to 43,000, at 150 °C after 24 h, and with a selectivity toward trans-stilbenes ranging from 92 to 96%. In air, for activated aryl bromides and for a palladium concentration of 1 mM, the yields are essentially the same as those obtained when the reaction was performed under argon.     

Stability and Photoisomerization of Stilbenes Isolated from the Bark of Norway Spruce Roots

Stilbenes or stilbenoids, major polyphenolic compounds of the bark of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst), have potential future applications as drugs, preservatives and other functional ingredients due to their antioxidative, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Stilbenes are photosensitive and UV and fluorescent light induce trans to cis isomerisation via intramolecular cyclization. So far, the characterizations of possible new compounds derived from trans-stilbenes under UV light exposure have been mainly tentative based only on UV or MS spectra without utilizing more detailed structural spectroscopy techniques such as NMR. The objective of this work was to study the stability of biologically interesting and readily available stilbenes such as astringin and isorhapontin and their aglucones piceatannol and isorhapontigenin, which have not been studied previously. The effects of fluorescent and UV light and storage on the stability of trans stilbenes were assessed and the identification and characterisation of new compounds formed during our experiments were carried out by chromatographic (HPLC, GC) and spectroscopic techniques (UV, MS, NMR). The stilbenes undergo a trans to cis isomerisation under extended UV irradiation by intramolecular cyclisation (by the formation of a new C-C bond and the loss of two hydrogens) to phenanthrene structures. The characterised compounds are novel and not described previously.     

Microwave-assisted expeditious and efficient synthesis of cyclopentene ring-fused tetrahydroquinoline derivatives using three-component Povarov reaction

We report here an efficient and expeditious microwave-assisted synthesis of cyclopentadiene ring-fused tetrahydroquinolines using the three-component Povarov reaction catalyzed by indium (III) chloride. This method has an advantage of shorter reaction time (10–15 min) with high and reproducible yields (up to 90%) and is suitable for parallel library synthesis. The optimization process is reported and the results from the microwave route are compared with those of the conventional synthetic route. In almost all cases, the microwave acceleration consistently provided improved yields favoring the cis-diastereomer.     

Synthesis of 3-halo-2,5-disubstituted furans via CuX mediated cyclization-halogenation reactions

The Cu(I) halide (X = I, Br, Cl) mediated reactions of Cbz-protected cis-2-phenylethenyl-3-hydroxypyrrolidine gave novel 3-halo-2,5-trisubstituted furans in good yields, via a cyclization-halogenation, ring-opening reaction sequence. In contrast, the reactions with CuCN gave mainly the corresponding 3-cyanofuro[3,2-b]pyrrole formed from a cyclization-cyanation reaction.     

Domino synthesis of indenols and alkyl-indene ethers under modified Vilsmeier conditions

Indenols are produced in high yields through domino reactions, when electron-rich trans-stilbenes and other trans aryl-alkyl olefins were subjected to Vilsmeier formylation in the presence of excess POCl₃ in a one-pot procedure. The method is even suitable for converting aryl-alkyl carbinols (precursors for olefins) directly into indenols. The corresponding indene ethers could be prepared in high yields directly when less reactive α,β-unsaturated aldehydes were subjected to cyclization in alcoholic HCl.     

Metal complexes stability constant determination by hyphenation of capillary electrophoresis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: The case of 1:1 metal-to-ligand stoichiometry

Nuclear energy development has raised new issues like radionuclides biogeochemistry. The modelling of their biochemical properties involves the accurate determination of thermodynamical data, like stability constants. This can be achieved by using hyphenated capillary electrophoresis (CE)–ICPMS and the method was applied successfully on 1:1 lanthanum–oxalate and uranyl–oxalate complexes. Several significant steps are discussed: choice of analytical conditions, electrophoretic mobility calculation, mathematical treatment of experimental data by using linear regressions, ligand concentration and ionic strength corrections. The following values were obtained with a good precision for lanthanum–oxalate and uranyl–oxalate complexes: log(K°(LaOxa⁺)) = 6.10 ± 0.10 and log(K°(UO₂Oxa)) = 6.40 ± 0.30, respectively, at infinite dilution. These values are consistent with the literature data, showing CE–ICPMS potential for metal complexes stability constants determination.     

Rapid access to homoallylic alcohols via Pd(OAc)2 catalyzed Barbier type allylation in presence of DMAP

DMAP was found to accelerate significantly the rate of Pd(OAc)₂ catalyzed Barbier type allylation of carbonyl compounds by allylbromide using SnCl₂·2H₂O as reducing agent. Both aldehyde as well as ketones produced excellent yields within a short reaction time in the presence of 3 mol % of Pd(OAc)₂ and 12 mol % of DMAP at room temperature. Aldehydes could be allylated within 5–10 min whereas, in case of ketones, the reaction completes in 45–120 min.     

Efficient synthesis of cis-thiazolidinethiones derived from ephedrines

The reaction of chlorodeoxypseudoephedrine or chlorodeoxynorpseudoephedrine hydrochlorides with sodium dithiocarbonate in stirring ethanol at 0 °C to stereoselectively afford the corresponding cis-thiazolidinethiones in good yields (81% and 95%) is reported. The in situ formation of a cis-aziridine to explain the presence of trans-thiazolidinethione as a side product is proposed when the same reaction was carried out at room temperature. In addition, a 70:30 mixture of trans-isomers of a thiazolidinethione/isothiazolidinethione was formed when a cis-aziridine NH was reacted with carbon disulfide in refluxing ethanol. The analogous reaction with cis-aziridine N-Me stereoselectively affords the corresponding cis-thiazolidinethione. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR data of the thiazolidinethiones were assigned. cis-3,4-Dimethyl-5-phenylthiazolidine-2-thione was crystallized from ethanol and its X-ray diffraction structure was analyzed.     

Hexaphenylbenzene end-capped tri(p-phenylenevinylenes): synthesis and properties

Three new hexaphenylbenzene end-capped tri(p-phenylenevinylenes) were synthesized by the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction in good yields (86–76%). All compounds have bright fluorescent emissions in the blue to blue–green region in solution (λ_max = 445–492 nm in tetrahydrofuran) and also high emission efficiency (Φ_fl = 0.51–0.72 in tetrahydrofuran). They exhibit good electrochemical reversibility, high thermal stability, and have high HOMO value.     

Highly regio- and stereoselective hydrometallation reactions of fluorine-containing internal alkynes: Novel approaches to fluoroalkylated alkenes

Hydroalumination, hydrocupration, and hydroboration reactions of various fluorine-containing alkynes were investigated. The alkyne reacted smoothly with 2.0 equiv. of Red-Al at −78 °C to give the hydroaluminated adduct in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner, which was treated with iodine, the corresponding vinyliodide being produced in moderate yield. Hydrocupration of the alkynes also took place, but the resulting vinylmetal reacted with various electrophiles sluggishly. In sharp contrast, the reaction with dicyclohexylborane proceeded smoothly to afford the cis-addition products preferentially, which were subjected to Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction, leading to trisubstituted alkenes in high yields.     

Julia–Kocienski approach to trifluoromethyl-substituted alkenes

A Julia–Kocienski approach to trifluoromethyl-substituted alkenes was evaluated in the reactions of 1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl, 1-phenyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl, and 1-tbutyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl sulfones with aldehydes. Among the various conditions tested, the best yields were obtained with 1-phenyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl sulfone, in CsF-mediated, room temperature olefinations in DMSO. Aromatic aldehydes gave (trifluoromethyl)vinyl derivatives in 23–86% yields, with generally moderate stereoselectivity. Straightforward synthesis of the Julia–Kocienski reagent, and conversion to trifluoromethyl-substituted alkenes under mild reaction conditions, are the advantages of this approach.     

Solvent dependent photo-isomerization of 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene carboxylic acid

We have observed reversible trans–cis photo-isomerization behaviors of 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene carboxylic acid (4DAzC) in ethyl acetate by alternating irradiations at 370 and 430 nm. The photo-isomerization from trans- to cis-isomer was found to be strongly solvent dependent and not to occur efficiently in water and ethanol. Also photo-isomerization from cis- to trans-isomer was occurred upon 370 nm illumination or via thermal relaxation. The activation energy for the thermal isomerization from cis to trans-isomer was estimated to be 49.2 kJ/mol in ethyl acetate from the temperature-dependent kinetic absorption measurements.     

Room‐Temperature,Ligand‐ and Base‐Free Heck Reactions of Aryl Diazonium Salts at Low Palladium Loading: Sustainable Preparation of Substituted Stilbene Derivatives

The Pd(OAc)₂‐catalyzed Heck reaction of aryl diazonium salts with 2‐arylacrylates led to cis‐stilbenes with good to excellent stereoselectivity. The environmentally friendly protocol developed in this work features low palladium loading in technical‐grade methanol at room temperature under base‐, additive‐, and ligand‐free conditions. The same protocol applied to simple Heck coupling of aryl diazonium salts with methyl acrylate allows astonishingly low palladium loading, down to 0.005 mol %. The stereoselectivity experimentally observed for the synthesis of cis‐stilbenes has been rationalized by DFT calculations. Moreover, the role of methanol in promoting the reaction has been clarified by a computational study.     

Conversion of novel palladacycles into oxopyrrolo[3,4-b]quinolines

The quinolinylcyclopalladated complexes 3a–b were synthesised in good yields (81% and 77%) by the insertion reaction of the prepared dinuclear palladium complexes [Pd(C,N-2-C₉H₄N-CHO-3-R-6)Cl(PPh₃)]₂ [(R = H (2a), R = OMe (2b)] with isonitrile XyNC (Xy = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃). The cyclopalladated complexes 3a–b were also obtained in low yields (39% and 33.5%) via a one pot oxidative addition reaction of quinoline chloride 1a–b with isonitrile XyNC:Pd(dba)₂ (4:1). The reactions of 3a–b with Tl(TfO) (TfO = triflate, CF₃SO₃) in the presence of H₂O or EtOH causes depalladation reactions of the complexes to provide the corresponding organic compounds 4a–b, 5a–b and 6a–b in yields (41%, 27% and 18–19%). The products were characterized by satisfactory elemental analyses and spectral studies (IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR). The crystal structures of 2a, 3a and 3b were determined by X-ray diffraction studies.     

New silver(I)–monophosphine complex derived from chiral Ar-BINMOL: synthesis and catalytic activity in asymmetric vinylogous Mannich reaction

A new family of C₂-axially chiral monophosphines (Ar-NNPs) from Ar-BINMOLs was developed for silver-catalyzed asymmetric vinylogous Mannich reaction of (furan-2-yloxy)trimethylsilane with aromatic aldimines. It was found that the enantioselective vinylogous Mannich-type reactions of trimethylsiloxyfuran with aldimines are catalyzed efficiently by silver(I) complexes of the Ar-BINMOL-derived chiral monophosphine. This procedure displays wide aldimine versatility, excellent yields (up to 99% isolated yields), moderate to good enantioselectivity (up to 78%ee) and exceptional diastereoselectivity (>99:1 dr) in most cases examined. The molecular structure of silver–monophosphine complex was confirmed by X-ray analysis and revealed that the benzyl group on chiral monophosphine provided dual function with weak silver–π/π–π stacking and steric repulsion to favour the diastereoselective Re-nucleophilic addition of siloxyfuran to imine.     

Reactions of urocanic acid (UCA) methyl esters with singlet oxygen and 4-methyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (MTAD)

Singlet oxygen adds to the imidazole ring of cis- and trans-methyl urocanate (MUC) to yield the corresponding 2,5-endoperoxides, which are modestly stable at low temperature but decompose upon warming to form complex reaction mixtures. MTAD, a singlet oxygen mimic, reacts with cis- and trans-MUC to yield stereospecific [4+2] reaction products involving the olefinic side chain and the C₄-C₅ double bond of the imidazole ring. trans-MUC forms a 1:2 MTAD adduct while the cis isomer yields only the 1:1 adduct at 25 °C. The stereospecificity and absence of MeOH trapping adducts indicate that these reactions may not involve open or trappable dipolar intermediates.     

Solid–liquid equilibrium and hydrogen solubility of trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene and cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene for a new hydrogen storage medium in fuel cell system

Solid–liquid equilibrium was measured for benzene + cyclohexane, trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene and cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene under the atmospheric pressure in the temperature range from 226.69 to 353.14 K. The apparatus was specially designed in this study, and it was based on a cooling method. The phase diagram with the complete immiscible solids was observed for the three systems, and the eutectic point was found at x₂ = 0.2709 and T_eu = 232.11 K for benzene + cyclohexane, x₂ = 0.9816 and T_eu = 241.98 K for trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, and x₃ = 0.9822 and T_eu = 225.74 K for cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, respectively. Hydrogen solubility was also measured for the two pure substances, trans-decahydronaphthalene and cis-decahydronaphthalene, and the three mixtures, trans-decahydronaphthalene + cis-decahydronaphthalene, trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, and cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, in the pressure range from 1.702 to 4.473 MPa at 303.15 K. Considering the solid–liquid equilibrium data, mole ratio of trans-decahydronaphthalene:cis-decahydronaphthalene was set to 50:50, and those of trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, and cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene to 85:15. The hydrogen solubility increased linearly with the pressure following the Henry's law for all systems. The experimental solubility data were correlated or predicted with the Peng–Robinson equation of state [D.Y. Peng, D.B. Robinson, Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam. 15 (1976) 59–64; R. Stryjek, J.H. Vera, Can. J. Chem. Eng. 64 (1986) 323–333].     

A study of the reactions of methionine- and histidine-containing peptides with palladium(II) complexes: The key role of steric crowding on palladium(II) in the selective cleavage of the peptide bond

¹H NMR spectroscopy was applied to study the reactions of palladium(II) complexes, cis-[Pd(dpa)Cl₂] and cis-[Pd(dpa)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ (dpa is 2,2′-dipyridylamine acting as a bidentate ligand) with the dipeptides methionylglycine (Met-Gly) and histidylglycine (His-Gly), and the N-acetylated derivatives of these dipeptides, MeCOMet-Gly and MeCOHis-Gly. All reactions were carried out in the pH range 2.0–2.5 with equimolar amounts of the palladium(II) complex and the peptide at two different temperatures, 25 and 60 °C. In the reactions of cis-[Pd(dpa)Cl₂] and cis-[Pd(dpa)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ with Met-Gly and His-Gly, no hydrolysis of the peptide bond was observed. The final product in these reactions was the [Pd(dpa)₂]²⁺ complex. The square-planar structure of this complex was confirmed by X-ray analysis. The reaction of the cis-[Pd(dpa)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ complex with the MeCOHis-Gly and MeCOMet-Gly peptides under the previously mentioned experimental conditions was remarkably selective in the cleavage of the amide bond involving the carboxylic group of methionine in the side chain. The modes of coordination of cis-[Pd(dpa)Cl₂] and cis-[Pd(dpa)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ in the reactions with the non-acetylated peptides and the total steric inhibition of the hydrolytic reaction between cis-[Pd(dpa)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ and MeCOHis-Gly can be attributed to the steric bulk of the palladium(II) complex. This finding should be taken into consideration in designing new palladium(II) complexes for the regioselective cleavage of peptides and proteins.