A computational study of the thermal opening of benzocyclobutenes to (E)- and (Z)-xylylenes

The structures of eleven 1-substituted benzocyclobutenes and corresponding (E)-o-xylylenes and (Z)-o-xylylenes have been calculated at the Becke3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level. Some o-xylylenes are plane and even some (Z)-isomers. In three cases (substituent: methoxy, amino and formamido groups), the (Z)-isomer is more stable than the (E)-isomer. The regioselectivity of the Diels-Alder reaction between (o)-xylylenes and propene or ethylvinylether is discussed according to the frontier OM coefficients.     

Stereospecific synthesis of conjugated (1E,3E)- and (1Z,3Z)-1,4-di(n-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-1,3-butadienes from 2-chloro-1-(n-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)ethenes: fluorescence properties

The conjugated 1,4-di(n-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-1,3-butadienes (n=o-, m-, p-) were efficiently synthesised by homocoupling of the appropriate 2-chloro-1-(n-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)ethene (n=o-, m-, p-) with stoichiometric amounts of zerovalent nickel complexes. The 1,3-butadienes were obtained as a mixture of stereoisomers, with independence of the starting E or Z chlorovinyl isomer. Moreover, the stereospecific (Z,Z) stereoisomer was obtained by partial hydrogenation of the corresponding 1,3-butadiyne, while the stereospecific (E,E) stereoisomer was obtained by exposure to the sunlight radiation of the (Z,Z) or the (Z,E) compound in ethanol.     

Synthesis of D-(6R) - and D-(6S) -(6-2H1) glucose

Chemical synthesis ofD-(6R)- and D(6S)-(6-²H₁) glucose is described comprising (i) formation of 6-²H₁)-3-o-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-l, 2-0-isopropylidene-α-D-xylo-hex-5-ynofuranose from D-glucose; (ii) stereospecific reduction of the deuterated acetylene functionality to (E)- or (Z)-deuterated olefin; (iii) stereospecific cis-dihydroxylation of the deuterated olefin; and (iv) separation of stereoisomers based on the intrinsic chirality of D-glucose and subsequent deprotection.     

Facile stereoselective synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-α-substituted cinnamates: stereospecific dehydration reaction with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and copper(II) chloride

A highly stereoselective method for the synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-α-substituted cinnamates in good yield has been achieved by dehydration reaction of anti- and syn-α-substituted-β-hydroxyphenylpropiolate using EDC. This facile method has been used to synthesize various (E)- and (Z)-α-substituted cinnamates and (E)- and (Z)-α-alkylidene-γ-butyrolactones. The reaction mechanism of this highly stereospecific dehydration using EDC can be elucidated by the ω-dimethylamino group of EDC, which is believed to facilitate the deprotonation step.     

Five-membered 2,3-dioxo heterocycles: CI. Reaction of 3-aroylpyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzoxazine-1,2,4-triones with arylhydrazines. Crystal and molecular structure of substituted 2-hydrazonopyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzoxazine

A new direction of nucleophilic attack was revealed in the reactions of 3-aroylpyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]-benzoxazine-1,2,4-triones with o-tolylhydrazine and 2-hydrazinylbenzoic acid hydrochloride, which afforded the corresponding hydrazones at the C²=O carbonyl group, substituted 2-(2-o-tolylhydrazono)pyrrolo[2,1-c]-[1,4]benzoxazine-1,4(2H)-diones and pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzoxazin-2(4H)-ylidenehydrazinylbenzoic acids. The structure of (Z)-2-{2-[3-benzoyl-1,4-dioxo-1H-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzoxazin-2(4H)-ylidene]hydrazinyl}-benzoic acid was determined by X-ray analysis.     

Study of plant coumarins: X. Peurutenicin triflate in cross-coupling reactions

By Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of peurutenicin triflate with arylboric, furanylboric, pyridinylboric, and indolylboric acids the corresponding 7-aryl(hetaryl)coumarins were synthesized. The high activity of hetaryl-substituted boric acids in the Suzuki reaction was observed. Heck reaction of 7-O-trifluoromethylsulfonylpeur utenicin with terminal olefins (styrene, vinylpyridines, vinylpyrazine, vinyltriazole) was used to prepare (E)-7-[aryl(hetaryl)vinyl]coumarins. The dependence of reaction products yield on the nature of the catalytic system was found.     

Arenediazonium o-benzenedisulfonimides as efficient reagents for Heck-type arylation reactions

Arenediazonium o-benzenedisulfonimides can be used as new and efficient reagents for Heck-type arylation reactions of some common substrates containing C-C multiple bonds, namely ethyl acrylate, acrylic acid, acroleyne, styrene and cyclopentene. The reactions were carried out in an organic solvent, in the presence of Pd(OAc)₂ as pre-catalyst, and gave rise to arylated products, for example, ethyl cinnamates, cinnamic acids, cinnamic aldehydes and stilbenes, possessing an (E)-configuration, and 1-arylcyclopentenes, in good to excellent yields. It is noteworthy that all the reactions led to the recovery, in greater than 80% yield, of o-benzenedisulfonimide, recyclable for the preparation of other diazonium salts.     

Chiral arene ruthenium complexes: Part 3. [Ruthenium(η6-arene)(η4-1,5-cyclooctadiene)] complexes with N or O donor functions in the arene side chain

Arene ruthenium(0) complexes with carbonyl side chain functionalities like [Ru(η⁶-C₆H₅COR)(η⁴-COD)] or [Ru(η⁶-o-C₆H₄{R¹}COR)(η⁴-COD)] (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene; R=H, CH₃; R¹=H, CH₃, OCH₃) are easily accessible by replacing the naphthalene ligand of [Ru(η⁶-naphthalene)(η⁴-COD)] (1) through an arene exchange reaction. These carbonyl species are susceptible to standard organic reactions of the carbonyl function, thus allowing the introduction of dangling side chains bearing highly polar functions like hydroxyl or amino groups. Aldol reaction of [Ru(o-C₆H₄{CH₃}COCH₃)(COD)] (3) with (−)-menthylchloroformate in the presence of LDA (LDA=lithium diisopropylamide) leads to a diastereomeric mixture of [Ru(menthyl-{3-oxo-3-η⁶-o-tolyl}propionate)(COD)] (10). However, treatment of 3 with LDA and o-tolylaldehyde or benzaldehyde affords the unexpected products [Ru(1-η⁶-o-tolyl-3-o-tolylpropan-1-one)(COD)] (11) and [Ru(1-η⁶-o-tolyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one)(COD)] (12). A diastereoselective addition (88% de) of deprotonated menthylacetate to [Ru(o-tolylaldehyde)(COD)] (4) results in the formation of [Ru(menthyl 3-η⁶-o-tolyl-3-hydroxypropionate)(COD)] (13). Racemic planar-chiral aldehyde complexes 2 and 4 react with amines giving the imination products in good yield. In case of reaction between 2 and (R)-N-amino-2-(methoxymethyl)-pyrrolidine (RAMP), diastereomeric [Ru(N-[[η⁶-(2-methylphenyl]methylene]-(R)-2-(methoxymethyl)-1-pyrrolidinamine)(COD)] (17) is formed. The diastereomers (R,R)-17 and (S,R)-17 have been separated by fractional crystallisation. Asymmetric arene ruthenium complexes with a defined planar-chiral configuration are thus accessible. Reduction of [Ru(3-η⁶-phenyl-(R)-methylbutyrate)(COD)] (7) with LiAlH₄ yields the chiral γ-alcohol [Ru(3-η⁶-phenyl-(R)-1-butanol)(COD)] (18). A Wittig olefination converts the aldehyde complex 4 into a mixture of E- and Z-isomeric [Ru(1-η⁶-o-tolyl-2-phenylethylene)(COD)] 21a and 21b, which were separated again by fractional crystallisation.     

Chiral Vinyl Sulfoxides as Useful Reagents for the Synthesis of β-Amino Acid Derivatives

(S)- and (R)-β-amino acid derivatives were synthesized by the asymmetric conjugate addition of ammonia and piperidazine to t-butyl (E)-2-[(R)- and (S)-p-tolylsulfinyl]cinnamates, respectively.     

A facile synthesis and highly atom economic 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of hexahydropyrido[3,4-c][1,5]benzothiazepines with nitrile oxide: stereoselective formation of hexahydro[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[5,4-d]pyrido[3,4-c][1,5]benzothiazepines

A series of new 2-methyl-11-aryl-4-[(E)-arylmethylidene]-1,2,3,4,11,11a-hexahydropyrido[3,4-c][1,5]benzothiazepines were obtained by the reaction of o-aminothiophenol and (E)-1-methyl-3,5-bis(arylidene)-4-piperidones in the presence of a catalytic amount of acetic acid under solvent-free microwave irradiation. These dipolarophiles undergo a highly atom economic 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with nitrile oxide to afford a series of novel 6-methyl-1-phenyl-8-aryl-4-[(E)-arylmethylidene]-4,5,6,7,7a,8-hexahydro[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[5,4-d]pyrido[3,4-c][1,5]benzothiazepines stereoselectively.     

(E)-Selective hydrolysis of (E,Z)-α,β-unsaturated nitriles by the recombinant nitrilase AtNIT1 from Arabidopsis thaliana

From stereoisomeric α,β-unsaturated nitriles (E,Z)-1, the recombinant nitrilase AtNIT1 from Arabidopsis thaliana hydrolyses the (E)-isomers exclusively to the corresponding (E)-carboxylic acids (E)-2 with high specificity. The (E)-selectivity can also be utilised for the preparation of the isomerically pure nitriles (Z)-1. From (E,Z)-2-hydroxycinnamonitrile (E,Z)-3, the otherwise difficult obtainable (Z)-3 was prepared in 66% isolated yield. With β,γ-unsaturated (E,Z)-3-heptenenitrile (E,Z)-4, however, (E)-selectivity was not observed. AtNIT1 exhibits not only diastereoselectivity but also regioselectivity. From a mixture of the four isomers A–D of 3-(2-cyanocyclohex-3-enyl)propenenitrile 6, exclusively isomer D ((E)-cis-6) was hydrolysed to 3-(2-cyanocyclohex-3-enyl)propenoic acid (E)-cis-7, as stated by X-ray crystal structure. Only after complete conversion of D and high enzyme concentrations, isomer C ((E)-trans-6) was hydrolysed to a small extent.     

Oxidative addition reaction of o-quinones to triphenylantimony: novel triphenylantimony catecholate complexes

New catecholate Sb(V) complexes triphenyl(3,6-di-tert-butylcatecholato)antimony(V) Ph₃Sb(3,6-DBCat) (1) and triphenyl(perchloroxanthrenecatecholato)antimony(V) Ph₃Sb(^OXCat_Cl) (2) were synthesized by the oxidative addition reaction of corresponding o-quinones (3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone and perchloroxanthrenequinone-2,3) with triphenylantimony. Catecholates 1 and 2 can alternatively be synthesized by reacting the appropriate thallium catecholate with triphenylantimony dichloride. The oxidative addition reaction of an equimolar ratio of 4,4′-di-(3-methyl-6-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone) and triphenylantimony yielded 4-(2-methyl-5-tert-butyl-cyclohexadien-1,5-dion-3,4-yl)-(3-methyl-6-tert-butyl-catecholato)triphenylantimony(V) Ph₃Sb(Cat-Q) (3); in the case of a 1:2 molar ratio, complex 4,4′-di-[(3-methyl-6-tert-butyl-catecholato)triphenylantimony(V)] Ph₃Sb(Cat-Cat)SbPh₃ (4) resulted. Complexes 1-4 were characterized by IR- and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Molecular structures of 1, 2 and 4 were determined by X-ray crystallography to be a distorted tetragonal-pyramidal.     

Volumetric, ultrasonic and viscometric studies of binary mixtures of dimethyl sulphoxide with chloro and nitro substituted aromatic hydrocarbons at T = 303.15 K

Excess volumes (V^E) ultrasonic sound velocities (u), isentropic compressibilities (K_s) and viscosities (η) have been measured for the binary mixtures of dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) with 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,3-dichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, o-chlorotoluene, m-chlorotoluene, p-chlorotoluene, o-nitrotoluene and m-nitrotoluene at T = 303.15 K. The measured V^E values were positive over the entire composition range in all the binary mixtures. Isentropic compressibilities (K_s) have been computed for the same systems from precise sound velocity and density data. Further, deviation in isentropic compressibility (ΔK_s) from ideal behaviour was also calculated. The viscosity data are analysed on the basis of corresponding states approach. Deviation in viscosities are positive over the entire composition range. The measured data is explained on the basis of intermolecular interactions between unlike molecules.     

The thermodynamic properties of star-shaped fullerene-containing poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone

The temperature dependence of the heat capacity of star-shaped fullerene-containing poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone was studied over the temperature range 6–390 K by precision adiabatic vacuum and dynamic scanning calorimetry. The temperature intervals and thermodynamic characteristics of phase transitions were determined. The low-temperature dependence of the heat capacity of the substance was analyzed according to the Debye theory of the heat capacity of solids and its multifractal generalization. The data obtained were used to calculate the standard thermodynamic functions C _p ^o (T),H ^o(T)-H ^o(0), S ^o(T), and G ^o(T)-H ^o(0) of fullerene-containing poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone from T → 0 to 390 K. The standard entropy of formation of the polymer from simple substances and the entropy of its synthesis from poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone and fullerite C₆₀ at 298.15 K were calculated. The thermodynamic characteristics of fullerene-containing poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone are compared with those of the polymer-analogue without C₆₀.     

Graft copolymerization of acrylic acid to nylon-6 by mutual irradiation—V: Influence of temperature

Film of nylon-6, immersed in an aqueous solution of acrylic acid containing cupric chloride, has been subjected to γ-irradiation in vacuo at different temperatures. From the initial rates, negative overall activation energies E_o(G) and E_o(H) were derived for grafting and for the attendant homopolymerization. The value of E_o(H) is consistent with a process, which is known to involve termination exclusively by cupric ions. However, no satisfactory explanation can be proposed for the value of E_o(G).     

Total synthesis of (+)-piericidin A1 and (−)-piericidin B1

The convergent syntheses of (+)-piericidin A₁ 1 and (?)-piericidin B₁ 2 have been achieved based on classical Julia-Lythgoe olefination between 4-hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxy-3-methyl-2-[5-oxo-3-methyl-pent-(2E)-enyl]-pyridine 3 corresponding to the left half of the final molecule, and chiral phenyl sulfones, (4R,5R)-2,4,6-trimethyl-5-methoxy-1-phenylsulfonyl-octa-(2E,6E)-diene 20 and (4R,5R)-5-tert-butyldimethylsiloxy-2,4,6-trimethyl-1-phenylsulfonyl-octa-(2E,6E)-diene 33, corresponding to the right halves. The construction of the two stereogenic centers in the right half of piericidins was achieved based on lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of methyl (2,3)-anti-3-acetoxy-2,4-dimethyl-hex-(4E)-enoate (±)-22.     

Topological and thermodynamic investigations of molecular interactions in binary mixtures: Molar excess volumes and molar excess enthalpies

Molar excess volumes and molar excess enthalpies of butyl acetate (i) with cyclohexane or benzene or toluene or o-, m- or p-xylene (j) binary mixtures have been measured dilatometrically and calorimetrically over the entire composition range at 308.15 K. The observed data have also been analyzed in terms of graph theoretical approach. The analysis of V^E data by graph theoretical approach suggests that butyl acetate in pure state exists as associated entity and (i + j) mixtures are characterized by the presence of (i–j) molecular entity. It has further been observed that V^E and H^E values calculated by this approach agree well with the corresponding experimental values. The presence of molecular entity is further confirmed by IR study of (i + j) mixture.     

RuO4-mediated oxidative polycyclization of linear polyenes. A new approach to the synthesis of the bis-THF diol core of antitumour cis-cis adjacent bis-THF annonaceous acetogenins

The RuO₄-catalyzed oxidative polycyclization of some selected linear polyenes, possessing a repetitive 1,5-diene structural motif, has been investigated. The all-trans triene (E,E,E)-acetic acid henicosa-2,6,10-trienyl ester gave the expected bis-tetrahydrofuranyl diol product possessing a threo-cis-threo-cis-threo relative configuration, along with a mixture of the corresponding bis-THF ketols. These compounds can be seen as useful intermediates in the synthesis of the bis-THF diol core of adjacent bis-THF antitumour acetogenins possessing a threo-cis-threo-cis-erythro relative configuration, such as rolliniastatiin-1, membranacin, rollimembrin and membrarollin. Oxidation of the related all-trans tetraene (E,E,E,E)-acetic acid pentacosa-2,6,10,14-tetraenyl ester stops at the second cyclization step giving a mixture of a threo-cis-threo-cis-threo bis-THF diol and the corresponding ketol products. Oxidation of the triene (E,Z,E)-acetic acid 12-acetoxy-dodeca-2,6,10-trienyl ester stops at the monocyclization level failing to give bis-cyclized products, as previously observed for the related isoprenoid triene (E,Z)-farnesyl acetate. This result confirms the difficulty of closing a second THF ring when the central double bond of the triene possesses a cis configuration. Based on the collected results, a plausible model is proposed that both explains the observed cis/trans stereoselectivity for each ring-closing step in these processes, and rationalize the stereochemical course of the previously studied polycyclization of the isoprenoid polyenes (E,E)-farnesyl acetate, geranylgeranyl acetate and squalene.     

The synthesis, Na+ binding properties of new coumarin-crown ethers

o-Dihydroxy-3-(methylphenyl)-chromenones (coumarins; 3a–3c) were synthesized from trimethoxybenzaldehydes through a reaction with the corresponding methylphenyl-acrylonitrile in pyridine·HCl and then H₃O⁺. Dihydroxycoumarins reacted with the ditosylate or dichloride derivatives of tri- or tetraethyleneglycols in the presence of CH₃CN/Na₂CO₃ and macrocyclic ethers with a coumarin moiety were obtained. The chromatographically purified new coumarin-crown ethers (5a–5f) were identified by IR, ¹H NMR, and Mass spectrometry. The binding constants of Na⁺ with the coumarin-crown ethers were determined in an 80 % dioxane/water binary solvent system at 25 °C from conductance measurements.     

Self-cyclization of (E)-2-(trimethylsilylmethyl)pentadienol derivative. Synthesis of bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane ring systems

Utility and limitation of the title reaction was studied. When (E)-3-(4-t-butyl- and 4-phenylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)-2-(trimethylsilylmethyl)prop-2-en-1-ols were treated with Ms₂O or MsCl, 3-t-butyl- and 3-phenyl-8-methylbicyclo[4.3.0]nona-1(6),7-dienes were obtained, respectively. The corresponding (Z)-isomer afforded a complex mixture, among which an elimination product was detected. (E)-4-(4-t-Butylcyclohexylidene)-2-(trimethylsilylmethyl)but-2-en-1-ol afforded only elimination product.