Synthesis,Properties, and π‐Dimer Formation of Oligothiophenes Partially Bearing Orthogonally Fused Fluorene Units

A series of oligothiophenes that incorporate cyclopenta[c]thiophene‐based units bearing spiro‐substituted dialkylfluorene was synthesized. Photophysical measurements indicated that there was no interruption in the conjugation along the oligothiophene backbones, irrespective of the number or position of this unit. Electrochemical measurements showed that the thiophene 7‐mers and 11‐mer exhibit reversible multi‐oxidation waves. The formation of cationic species was clearly observed from UV/Vis/NIR measurements. Furthermore, the UV/Vis/NIR spectra at 223 K under one‐electron oxidation conditions revealed that the unsubstituted thiophene or bithiophene units remained in the absence of intermolecular π–π interactions, whereas the formation of π‐dimeric species was observed for the thiophene 7‐mer containing an unsubstituted terthiophene ( U₃ ) unit. Theoretical calculations indicated that the combination of the U₃ unit and the all‐trans conformation decreased the intermolecular steric repulsion between the fused cyclopentene ring and its facing thiophene, which may contribute to the formation of the dimeric structure.     

New five‐ring symmetrical bent‐core mesogens exhibiting the fascinating B7 phase

Three new homologous series of symmetrical five‐ring bent‐core compounds have been synthesized and investigated for their mesomorphic properties. The laterally unsubstituted parent compounds exhibit a metastable SmCP_A phase. However, the two series of compounds containing a strongly polar cyano or nitro group at the angular position of the central phenyl unit show the fascinating classical B₇ phase. The mesophases have been characterized using standard techniques.     

Synthesis of Unsubstituted and 4,4′-Substituted Oligobipyridines as Ligand Strands for Helicate Self-Assembly

A general strategy for the synthesis of oligobipyridine ligands 2 – 5 containing from two to five 2,2′-bipyridine subunits, for helical metal complexes is described (sec Scheme). Both the unsubstituted parent strands ( a series) as well as their derivatives bearing fester or amide functions in the 4,4′-positions of the bipyridine moieties ( b – d series) have been obtained.     

Chemistry and Biochemistry of Microbial α-Glucosidase Inhibitors

α-Glucosidases are among the most important carbohydrate-splitting enzymes. They catalyze the hydrolysis of α-glucosidic linkages. Their substrates are—depending on their specificity—oligo- and polysaccharides. Microbial inhibitors of α-amylases and other mammalian intestinal carbohydrate-splitting enzymes studied during the last few years have aroused medical interest in the treatment of metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Moreover, they extend the spectrum of microbial secondary metabolites which comprises an enormous variety of structures. They also contribute considerably to a better understanding of the mechanism of action of α-glucosidases. These inhibitors belong to different classes of substances. Those studied most thoroughly are microbial α-glucosidase inhibitors which are members of a homologous series of pseudooligosaccharides of the general formula (4). They all have a core in common which is essential for their inhibitory action, a pseudodisaccharide residue consisting of an unsaturated cyclitol unit, and a 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy- glucose unit. The—in many respects—most interesting representative of this homologous series is acarbose (5), a pseudotetrasaccharide exhibiting a very pronounced inhibitory effect on intestinal α-glucosidases such as sucrase, maltase and glucoamylase. The present paper will review this new field of microbial α-glucosidase inhibitors which has been studied with particular intensity during the past ten years.     

Reactivity of tert-butoxyl radicals towards substituted indole derivatives

Tert-butoxyl radicals react with indole and methyl substituted derivatives by hydrogen abstraction. For those compounds which are unsubstituted at the N-atom, hydrogen abstraction takes place almost exclusively at the N? H bond. The reactivity of these compounds correlates with their donor electron capacity, pointing to significant contribution of charge transfer to the transition state stability. Substitution at the N atom considerably decreases the reactivity.     

Total Synthesis of (+)‐trans‐Trikentrin A

Several syntheses have already been reported for cis‐trikentrins and herbindoles, which are indole alkaloids unsubstituted at the C2 and C3 positions that bear a trans‐1,3‐dimethylcyclopentyl unit. Herein, we describe the first asymmetric and stereoselective synthesis of the more challenging trans‐trikentrin A as its naturally occurring isomer. Different approaches were investigated and the strategy of choice was a combination of an enzymatic kinetic resolution and a thallium(III)‐mediated ring contraction. The antiproliferative activities of the natural product and related intermediates have been tested against human tumor cell lines, leading to the discovery of new compounds with potent antitumor activity.     

The strength of parallel-displaced arene-arene interactions in chloroform

[reaction: see text] Triptycene-derived compounds have been prepared to serve as conformational equilibrium reporters for direct measurements of arene-arene interactions in the parallel-displaced orientation. A series of such compounds bearing arenes with different substituents were synthesized, and the ratios of the syn and anti conformers were determined by variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy. The syn conformer allows attached arenes to interact with each other while the anti conformer does not. The free energies derived from the syn/anti ratios in chloroform range from slightly positive (0.2 kcal/mol) to considerably negative (-0.98 kcal mol) values. The interactions between the arenes bearing electron-donating groups (EDG) are either negligible or slightly repulsive, while the interactions between arenes bearing electron-withdrawing groups (EWG) are attractive. Intermediate free energy values are obtained for those compounds bearing arenes with one EDG and one EWG.     

Cationic polyelectrolytes. IV. Kinetic study of the reaction of acrylic polymers containing tertiary amine groups with halogenated compounds in dipolar aprotic solvents

The reaction kinetics of halogenated compounds with tertiary amine groups attached at an acrylic macromolecular chain have ben studied. Three acrylic polymers were used. Two of them have mainly a structural unit of N, N-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide and the third is poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate). Dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were used as dipolar aprotic solvents. Benzyl chloride and allyl chloride were considered as halogenated compounds with increased reactivity. The reaction kinetics depend on the polymer and halogenated-compound structures as well as the nature of the solvent. In the most of the cases the reactions carried out on polymers are accompanied by self-accelerating processes, with the exception of DMSO, which obviously has normal second-order kinetics. The reaction of polymers containing units of N,N-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide are compared with one having a low molecular weight, for instance N,N′-bis(3-dimethylaminopropyl)glutaramide.     

Inducing anti-Conformers of Biliverdin Chromophores by Reducing Sterical Hindrance

Summary. Two different types of conformational changes of the biliverdin chromophore were accomplished by the concept of reducing sterical hindrance. On one hand, model compounds unsubstituted at position 7 and/or 13 adopt the semi-extended geometry with anti-conformation of the dipyrrinone moiety. On the other hand, stretching of the chromophore with anti-conformation of the dipyrrin substructure was achieved with a model compound unsubstituted at position 12. Both kinds of anti-conformations have been proved by 2D NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy.Current address: Voestalpine Stahl GmbH, Voest-Alpine-Straße 1, A-4020 Linz, Austria     

7‐Phenyl‐1‐oxa‐4‐thiaspiro[4.5]decan‐7‐ol stereoisomers

The stereoisomers of 7‐phenyl‐1‐oxa‐4‐thia­spiro­[4.5]­decan‐7‐ol, C₁₄H₁₈O₂S, have the same stereochemistry at the C atom bearing an OH group, i.e. axial OH and equatorial phenyl groups. However, the acetal S and O atoms are axial and equatorial, respectively, in one isomer and reversed in the second. Furthermore, the crystals of one isomer are composed of hydrogen‐bonded mol­ecules involving the hydroxyl H atom and the O atom of the five‐membered heterocyclic ring, with an O?O distance of 2.962 (3) Å, forming a polymeric chain along the b axis. The asymmetric unit of the other isomer is composed of two mol­ecules, wherein hydroxyl H atoms and the O atoms of the five‐membered heterocyclic rings display intramolecular O—H?O hydrogen bonds with O?O separations of 2.820 (2) and 2.834 (2) Å.     

4‐Hydro­xy‐ONN‐azoxy­benzene

The oxidation of 4‐hydroxy­azo­benzene provided a mixture of two azoxy compounds, which were separated by column chromatography. The isomer with the higher melting point appeared to belong to the α (ONN) series, as determined by X‐ray diffraction. The mol­ecule, C₁₂H₁₀N₂O₂, is almost planar. The benzene rings are twisted by 11.7 (2) (substituted) and 4.1 (1)° (unsubstituted) with respect to the ONN plane. The mol­ecules are connected to one another by strong O—H?O hydrogen bonds forming chains extended along [001], which are bound by much weaker C—H?O hydrogen bonds forming layers in the bc plane.     

Bridged 1,4-benzoxazocines from 5-hydroxy-3-phenyl-2-benzofuranone

A previously described neighboring group reaction has been extended to the synthesis of hydroxy-substituted bridged 1,4-benzoxazocines (i.e., 7, 8 ) bearing a structural analogy to potent analgetics of the hydroxy-6,7-benzomorphan series. In contrast to the latter, the presence of a hydroxyl group in the aromatic ring of the present series destroys all analgesic activity possessed by the unsubstituted system.     

Twinning by merohedry in bis(4‐methoxyphenyl)tellurium(IV) diiodide dimethyl sulfoxide hemisolvate

Green crystals of the title compound, C₁₄H₁₄I₂O₂Te·0.5C₂H₆OS, space group P3₂, show twinning by merohedry (class II). The asymmetric unit contains two organotellurium molecules and one dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) molecule. The crystal structure displays secondary Te...I and Te...O(DMSO) bonds that lead to [(4‐MeOC₆H₄)₂TeI₂]₂·DMSO supramolecular units in which the two independent organotellurium molecules are bridged by the DMSO O atom. In addition to these secondary bonds, I...I interactions link translationally equivalent organotellurium molecules to form nearly linear ...I—Te—I...I—Te—I... chains. These chains are crosslinked, forming two‐dimensional arrays parallel to (001). The crystal packing consists of a stacking of these sheets, which are related by the 3₂ axis. This study describes an unusual dimeric arrangement of X—Te—X groups.     

Synthesis of Some Unusual (1,2,4‐Oxadiazole)‐Linked Hexenopyranosides and Mannopyranosides

A copper‐catalyzed reaction of propargyl 4,6‐di‐O‐acetyl‐2,3‐dideoxy‐α‐D‐erythro‐hex‐2‐enopyranoside with 3‐(4‐azidophenyl)‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles gave the corresponding hexenopyranosides bearing an 1,2,4‐oxadiazole subunit in the aglyconic part of the molecule. The same reaction between ethyl 4‐azido‐2,3,4‐trideoxy‐α‐D‐erythro‐hex‐2‐enopyranoside and acetylenic 1,2,4‐oxadiazoles afforded the corresponding hexenopyranosides carrying a triazole and a 1,2,4‐oxadiazole ring at C‐4 of the carbohydrate. Combination of the two sequences gave hexenopyranosides displaying two 1,2,4‐oxadiazole subunits, each one being embedded in the C‐1 and C‐4 frameworks, of the carbohydrate moiety. A simple dihydroxylation reaction of these unsaturated carbohydrates yielded a series of mannopyranosides bearing one or two 1,2,4‐oxadiazole subunits at C‐1 or C‐4. These new compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against two cell strains: NCI‐H₂₉₂ (lung carcinoma) and Hep‐2 (larynx carcinoma), some of them presenting impressive cell growth inhibitions.     

Synthesis of bridged aza-rebeccamycin analogues

The syntheses of rebeccamycin analogues possessing a 7-azaindole moiety instead of an indole unit, and with both indole and azaindole moieties linked to the carbohydrate are described. In these bridged aza compounds, the oxygen of the pyranose heterocycle is oriented towards either the indole, or the azaindole unit. In these series, compounds bearing a free imide nitrogen were synthesized by coupling the corresponding aglycones with a sugar pre-tosylated in 2-position via a Mitsunobu reaction. To obtain a precursor for bridged aza-rebeccamycin analogues substituted in 6-position on the sugar moiety, a 2,6-ditosylated sugar was used.     

Synthesis and characterization of metallodendritic palladium-biscarbene complexes derived from 1,1'-methylenebis(1,2,4-triazole)

The syntheses of first generation dendritic compounds bearing 1,1'-alkane-1,1-diylbis(4-butyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene)palladium(II) dibromide on the periphery are described. The metallabiscarbene moieties have also been studied separately from the dendrimer. These compounds display a non-symmetric boat-to-boat conformational equilibrium that has axial and equatorial arrangements. The predominance of the axial conformer in the equilibrium is supported by DFT calculations. The X-ray solid state structures of axial conformers of 3-hydroxy- and 3-mesyloxy-1,1'-propane-1,1-diylbis(4-butyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene)palladium(II) dibromide are reported. These complexes display modest catalytic activity in the Heck reaction with activated aryl bromides and the dendritic catalysts were more active than the corresponding non-dendritic mononuclear species, a finding indicative of a cooperative effect.     

Synthesis and mesogenic properties of several homologous series of aldose dialkyl dithioacetals. A model for their behaviour

Abstract

Ten homologous series (n-butyl through n-decyl) of aldose S,S-acetals (D-glucose, D-galactose, D-mannose, L-rhamnose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, D-xylose, D-lyxose, D- or L-arabinose, D-ribose and 2-deoxy-D-ribose) have been prepared. Most of these compounds form thermotropic liquid crystals, the exceptions being the entire L-rhamnose series and some of the derivatives with the shortest alkyl chains. All of the compounds have been investigated with differential scanning calorimetry and polarization microscopy. Some temperature dependent powder X-ray data are also presented. A model is proposed which correlates the carbohydrate configuration with the melting behaviour. On the basis of now available behaviourial characteristics, visual inspection, mixing experiments and precedent, the mesophase is identified as smectic A_d, the partially overlapping carbohydrate moieties being in the centre and the aliphatic chains pointing outward at an angle of about 62°. Despite the intrinsic chirality of all the carbohydrate mesogens, no evidence for chiral mesophases was found, not even after introduction of a homochiral branched alkyl chain.     

Anionic water-soluble sulfonated phthalocyanines: microwave-assisted synthesis,aggregation behaviours,electrochemical and in-situ spectroelectrochemical characterisation

In this work, a phthalonitrile derivative bearing p-sulfonylphenoxy group at the 3-position has been synthesised. The water-soluble non-peripherally tetrasubstituted zinc (3) and cobalt (4) phthalocyanines were obtained by cyclotetramerisation of this phthalonitrile derivative in the presence of anhydrous metal salts by microwave irradiation. The compounds have been characterised by using FT-IR, ¹H NMR, UV–Vis and Mass spectrometry (MS) data. The aggregation behaviours of these compounds were investigated in methanol, DMSO, DMF, and water. We have also studied the aggregation behaviours of the phthalocyanine complex 3 in various DMSO/water mixtures. Additionally, the redox properties of the phthalocyanine complexes were examined in dimethylsulfoxide by voltammetry and in situ spectroelectrochemistry. Redox behaviours of the complexes supported the structures of the complexes. Metal and ring-based reductions were observed for 4 and only ring-based electron transfer processes were observed with 3.     

Configurational assignment by 13C NMR of stereoisomeric 3-bromo-3-acyl derivatives of 5α- and 5β- androstane

The configurational assignment of stereoisomeric 3-bromo-3-acyl derivatives of steroids in both the 5α and 5β series has been carried out by comparing the ¹³C chemical shifts of C-3. A downfield shift is observed for C-3, bearing a bromine and an acyl group, on going from the isomer with an equatorial bromine to that with an axial bromine. This rule has been established by comparison of the ¹³C chemical shifts of model compounds in 4-tert-butylcyclohexanes of known configuration.     

Thermotropic mesomorphism of mixed-valent diruthenium aliphatic carboxylates with axial anion bearing two aliphatic chains

A homologous series of binuclear mixed-valent diruthenium tetracarboxylates, Ru₂(O₂C(CH₂)_n?2CH₃)₄DHDP (DHDP = di(hexadecyl)phosphate axial anion, n = 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18), have been synthesized and characterized, and the liquid crystalline properties of these compounds were examined. All the compounds exhibit a room-temperature crystalline lamellar phase and a high temperature (above 140°) Col_h mesophase. Another, probably semi-crystalline, lamellar intermediate phase has also been found for all the studied compounds but for the n = 18 derivative. Comparison with related mesogenic homologous series where the equatorial ligands are also linear carboxylates, but the axial anions bear just one aliphatic chain (carboxylates, octylsulfonate, and dodecylsulfate), shows that the presence of a second aliphatic chain in the axial anion both lowers the transition temperatures and modifies the nature of the intermediate lamellar phase. Structural models at the molecular level are suggested for the crystalline lamellar and the Col_h phases.