Pictet–Spengler Synthesis of Quinoline‐Fused Porphyrins and Phenanthroline‐Fused Diporphyrins

Doubly and quadruply quinoline‐fused porphyrins were effectively synthesized through a reaction sequence consisting of Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of β‐borylated porphyrins with 2‐iodoaniline and subsequent Pictet–Spengler cyclization. These quinoline‐fused porphyrins display red‐shifted absorption bands and higher electron‐accepting abilities. This synthetic protocol also allowed the synthesis of phenanthroline‐fused porphyrin dimers, which bound either a Ni^II or Zn^II cation. The resultant metal complexes displayed further red shifted absorption spectra and molecular twists to effect an almost perpendicular arrangement of the two porphyrins.     

Pd‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Ring Opening/Cross‐Coupling and Cyclopropanation of Cyclobutanones

A palladium‐catalyzed enantioselective sequential ring‐opening/cross‐coupling of cyclobutanones is disclosed that provides chiral indanones bearing C3‐quaternary stereocenters. The reaction process involves palladium‐catalyzed nucleophilic addition of cyclobutanones and aryl halides, enantioselective β‐carbon elimination, and intermolecular trapping of a transient σ‐alkylpalladium complex with boronic acids. Alternatively, an intramolecular cyclopropanation is realized through C?H bond functionalization in the absence of external coupling reagents, affording chiral cyclopropane‐fused‐indanones in good yields and enantioselectivity.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Intramolecular [3+2] Cycloadditions of 1‐Aryl‐1‐allene‐6‐enes

Treatment of 1‐aryl‐1‐allen‐6‐enes with [PPh₃AuCl]/AgSbF₆ (5 mol %) in CH₂Cl₂ at 25 °C led to intramolecular [3+2] cycloadditions, giving cis‐fused dihydrobenzo[a]fluorene products efficiently and selectively. The reactions proceeded with initial formation of trans/cis mixtures of 2‐alkyl‐1‐isopropyl‐2‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydronaphthalene cations B, which were convertible into the desired cis‐fused cycloadducts through the combined action of a gold catalyst and a Brønsted acid. Theoretic calculation supports the participation of the trans‐B cation as reaction intermediate. Although HOTf showed similar activity towards several 1‐aryl‐1‐allen‐6‐enes, it lacks generality for this cycloaddition reaction.     

A 3,4‐trans‐Fused Cyclic Protecting Group Facilitates α‐Selective Catalytic Synthesis of 2‐Deoxyglycosides

A practical approach has been developed to convert glucals and rhamnals into disaccharides or glycoconjugates with high α‐selectivity and yields (77–97 %) using a trans‐fused cyclic 3,4‐O‐disiloxane protecting group and TsOH?H₂O (1 mol %) as a catalyst. Control of the anomeric selectivity arises from conformational locking of the intermediate oxacarbenium cation. Glucals outperform rhamnals because the C6 side‐chain conformation augments the selectivity.     

Novel π2s+π2a Electrocyclization of Triethylenic‐Malonic Acids Exemplified for a One‐Pot Synthesis of New γ‐Dilactones cis‐Fused with a Cyclopentene

A new, easy and rapid synthesis of γ‐dilactones is cis‐fused with a cyclopentenic ring via cyclization of 7‐chlorotriethylenic‐malonic acids. The key step implicates an intramolecular cyclization to a cyclopentenyl cation, according to an electrocyclic π_2s + π_2a conrotatory process. This cyclopentenyl cation led to unstable γ‐lactones intermediates that are rearrange to more stable isomers. δ‐lactones (6Z and 6E‐(3‐chlorobut‐2‐en‐2‐yl)‐5‐methyl‐3,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one) were obtained as secondary products. Mechanistic pathways were considered. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were established by elemental and spectral data.     

Two‐step Synthesis of New γ‐Lactones via Cyclization of 7‐Chloro‐2‐(methoxycarbonyl)‐4‐6‐dimethylocta‐(2E,4E,6E)‐trienoic acid

A new rapid synthesis of γ‐lactones, cis fused with a cyclopentenic ring by thermal cyclization of 7‐chloro‐2‐(methoxycarbonyl)‐4‐6‐dimethylocta‐7‐phenyl (or methyl) (2E,4E,6E)‐trienoic acids was reported. The key step implicates an intramolecular cyclization to a cyclopentenyl cation, according to an electrocyclic π_2s + π_2a conrotatory process, published in a recent paper (from the corresponding diacids). We have investigated the thermal behavior of the corresponding half‐esters since; if the cyclization obeys to the proposed mechanism, the diacids, half‐esters must also cyclize in a similar manner. Saponification of these led to γ‐dilactones via intermediary cyclopropanes. Mechanistic pathways were investigated.     

gem‐Dihalocyclopropanes as Building Blocks in Natural‐Product Synthesis: Enantioselective Total Syntheses of ent‐Erythramine and 3‐epi‐Erythramine

ent‐Erythramine ((?)‐ 1 ), the enantiomer of the alkaloid erythramine, was prepared in 15 steps from known compounds. The first of three pivotal bond‐forming steps in the synthesis was a Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction of the starting materials to give a bis‐silyl ether. The second involved silver(I)‐induced electrocyclic ring opening of the gem‐dichlorocyclopropane formed in the next step and trapping of the ensuing π‐allyl cation by the tethered nitrogen atom to give, following cleavage of the allyloxycarbonyl protecting group, an approximately 5:6 mixture of the chromatographically separable diastereoisomeric spirocyclic products. In the third critical bond‐forming reaction, the iodide formed from one of the diastereoisomers underwent a radical‐addition/elimination reaction sequence that led to (?)‐ 1 in 89 % yield. The application of the same sequence of transformations to the other diastereoisomer afforded 3‐epi‐(+)‐erythramine (3‐epi‐(+)‐ 1 ).     

Photoinduced Electron‐Transfer Oxidation of Olefins with Molecular Oxygen Sensitized by Tetrasubstituted Dimethoxybenzenes: A Non‐Singlet‐Oxygen Mechanism

α‐Methylstyrene ( 1 ) was photo‐oxidized in the presence of a series of alkylated dimethoxybenzenes as sensitizers in an oxygen‐saturated MeCN solution to afford the cleaved ketone 2 , epoxide 3 , as well as a small amount of the ene product 4 in ca. 1 : 1 : 0.04 ratio. The relative rate of conversion was well‐correlated with the fluorescence quantum yield of sensitizers. Thus, a non‐singlet‐oxygen mechanism is proposed, in which an excited sensitizer is quenched by (ground‐state) molecular oxygen to produce a sensitizer radical cation and a superoxide ion (O), the former of which oxidizes the substrate, while the latter reacts with the resulting olefin radical cation ( 1 ^{+ .}) to give the major oxidation products. Photodurability of such electron‐donating sensitizers is dramatically improved by substituting four aromatic H‐atoms in 1,4‐dimethoxybenzene with Me or fused alkyl groups, which provides us with an environmentally friendly, clean method of photochemical functionalization with molecular oxygen, alternative to the ene reaction via singlet oxygenation.     

New 7‐phosphanorbornenes derived from 2‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐ and 1‐cyclohexyl‐3‐ methyl‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐phosphole 1‐oxides

Novel 7‐phosphanorbornene derivatives, such as 4, 5, 10 , and 11 were synthesized utilizing 1‐phenyl‐2‐methyl‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐phosphole oxide ( 1 ) and 1‐cyclohexyl‐3‐methyl‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐phosphole oxide ( 7 ) as the starting materials. Products 4 and 10 were prepared by trapping the corresponding phosphole oxide intermediates ( 3 and 9 , respectively) by N‐phenylmaleimide, while 5 and 11 were obtained by the dimerization of 3 and 9 , respectively. The trapping reaction was studied in details; on one hand, bromo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐phosphole oxides ( 6‐1 and 6‐2 ) were pointed out as the intermediates, on the other hand, the trapping reaction was optimized. Bri‐ dged P‐heterocycles 4, 5, 10 , and 11 were tested in the fragmentation‐related phosphorylation of methanol. Hydrogenation of phosphanorbornenes 4 and 5 led to the corresponding phosphanorbornanes ( 12 and 14 , respectively) and to a reductive type of retro cycloaddition. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 16:320–326, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20097     

[N‐(6‐Amino‐3,4‐di­hydro‐3‐methyl‐5‐nitroso‐4‐oxopyrimidin‐2‐yl)glycylglycinato]aquapotassium,a three‐dimensional coordination polymer

In the title compound, polymeric potassium N‐(6‐amino‐3,4‐di­hydro‐3‐methyl‐5‐nitro­so‐4‐oxopyrimidin‐2‐yl)­glycyl­gly­cinate hydrate, (K⁺·C₉H₁₁N₆O₅^?·H₂O)_n, the hexacoordinate K⁺ cation is linked to five different anions as well as to the water mol­ecule, with K—O distances in the range 2.617 (2)–2.850 (2) Å. Four of the O atoms in each anion coordinate to K centres, one of them acting as a bridging ligand, leading to the formation of nearly square centrosymmetric K₂O₂ rings. The structure is analysed in terms of (010) metal–ligand sheets linked by [010] chains of fused rings.     

Synthesis and Spectroscopic Properties of Fused‐Ring‐Expanded Aza‐Boradiazaindacenes

A series of fused‐ring‐expanded aza‐boradiazaindacene (aza‐BODIPY) dyes have been synthesized by reacting arylmagnesium bromides with phthalonitriles or naphthalenedicarbonitriles. An analysis of the structure–property relationships has been carried out based on X‐ray crystallography, optical spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations. Benzo and 1,2‐naphtho‐fused 3,5‐diaryl aza‐BODIPY dyes display markedly red shifted absorption and emission bands in the near‐IR region (>700 nm) due to changes in the energies of the frontier MOs relative to those of 1,3,5,7‐tetraaryl aza‐BODIPYs. Only one 1,2‐naphtho‐fused aza‐BODIPY of the three possible isomers is formed due to steric effects, and 2,3‐naphtho‐fused compounds could not be characterized because the final BF₂ complexes are unstable in solution. The incorporation of a  N(CH₃)₂ group at the para‐positions of a benzo‐fused 3,5‐diaryl aza‐BODIPY quenches the fluorescence in polar solvents and results in a ratiometric pH response, which could be used in future practical applications as an NIR “turn‐on” fluorescence sensor.     

Lead‐Free Silver‐Bismuth Halide Double Perovskite Nanocrystals

Lead‐free perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) were obtained mainly by substituting a Pb²⁺ cation with a divalent cation or substituting three Pb²⁺ cations with two trivalent cations. The substitution of two Pb²⁺ cations with one monovalent Ag⁺ and one trivalent Bi³⁺ cations was used to synthesize Cs₂AgBiX₆ (X=Cl, Br, I) double perovskite NCs. Using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, the charge carrier relaxation mechanism was elucidated in the double perovskite NCs. The Cs₂AgBiBr₆ NCs exhibit ultrafast hot‐carrier cooling (<1 ps), which competes with the carrier trapping processes (mainly originate from the surface defects). Notably, the photoluminescence can be increased by 100 times with surfactant (oleic acid) added to passivate the defects in Cs₂AgBiCl₆ NCs. These results suggest that the double perovskite NCs could be potential materials for optoelectronic applications by better controlling the surface defects.     

Chiral Macrocycle‐Enabled Counteranion Trapping for Boosting Highly Efficient and Enantioselective Catalysis

The tight binding enabled by tailor‐made macrocycles can be manipulated for tuning the catalysis process. In parallel to well‐developed crown ether‐based cation‐binding catalysis, a macrocycle‐enabled counteranion trapping strategy is presented for boosting highly efficient and enantioselective catalysis. A set of bis‐diarylthiourea macrocycles containing two BINOL moieties were designed and synthesized. They possess a well‐confined chiral cavity and strong binding affinities towards disulfonate anions. Caused by the tight binding, just 1 mol % macrocycle in combination with 1 mol % ethanedisulfonic acid can promote excellent conversion and up to 99 % ee in the Friedel–Crafts reaction of indoles with imines. The acid or the macrocycle alone do not afford any reactivity. The high catalytic efficiency and excellent stereocontrol was ascribed to large, complexation‐induced acidity enhancement and tight ion‐pairing facilitated by cave‐like macrocyclic cavity.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Cascade Cyclization of 2‐Alkynyl‐N‐Propargylanilines by Rearrangement of a Propargyl Group

Gold catalysis enables direct construction of tetracyclic fused indolines through the migration of a propargyl substituent from an aniline nitrogen atom to the C3‐position of an indole from 2‐alkynyl‐N‐propargylanilines. This reaction provides rapid access to fused three‐dimensional indolines in a single operation with the formation of four bonds and three rings.     

Intermolecular Photocyclizations of N‐(ω‐Hydroxyalkyl)tetrachlorophthalimide with Alkenes Leading to Medium‐ and Large‐Ring Heterocycles—Reaction Modes and Regio‐ and Stereoselectivity of the 1,n‐Biradicals

A new photocyclization strategy by using intermolecular tandem reactions between N‐(ω‐hydroxyalkyl)‐4,5,6,7‐tetrachlorophthalimides ( 1 , 2 , and 3 ) and a series of acyclic and cyclic alkenes is reported. Electron transfer of the triplet‐excited phthalimide with the alkene and regioselective trapping of the alkene cation radical by the hydroxyl group at the phthalimide side chain gives a triplet 1,n‐biradical, which after intersystem crossing (ISC) leads to regio‐ and diastereoselective synthesis of polycyclic heterocycles with an N,O‐containing medium to large ring. Regio‐ and diastereoselectivity in the cyclizations are clarified by unambiguous steric structure assignments of the products by X‐ray diffraction or extensive 2D NMR measurements. The diastereoselectivity is decided by the stereochemical course of the ISC process of the triplet 1,n‐biradicals. These intermolecular photoreactions also furnish a new strategy to generate triplet 1,n‐biradicals. Therefore, in photoreactions of 1 and 2 with phenylcyclohexene, the unprecedented stereoselective formation of products by intramolecular hydrogen‐atom transfer in the 1,n‐biradical intermediate was found ( 9 and 23 ). These facts provide direct verification to the reaction pathways of the 1,n‐biradicals and give a new insight into the factors deciding reaction‐pathway partitioning and stereoselectivity.     

Light‐Induced Cycloaddition of 2,3‐Dihydro‐2,2‐dimethyl‐4H‐thiopyran‐4‐one (a 4‐Thiacyclohex‐2‐enone) to Alkenes and Dienes

The reactivity of (thiacyclic)‐2,3‐dihydro‐2,2‐dimethyl‐4H‐thiopyran‐4‐one ( 1a ) in light‐induced cycloadditions to furan ( F ), acrylonitrile ( AN ), or 2,3‐dimethylbut‐2‐ene ( TME ) is compared to that of (carbocyclic) 5,5‐dimethylcyclohex‐2‐enone ( 1b ). Whereas for the more‐flexible thiacycle, the efficiency of [2+2]‐photocycloadduct formation with AN or TME is generally much lower, the diastereoselectivity regarding the ring fusion in the bicyclo[4.2.0]octanes is quite similar for both enones. In contrast, 1a affords exclusively trans‐fused [4+2] cycloadducts with F , while 1b gives predominantly the corresponding cis‐fused products.     

Bis(1,3‐dithiol‐2‐ylidene)‐Substituted Subtriazachlorin: A Subphthalocyanine Analogue with Redox Properties

Bis(1,3‐dithiol‐2‐ylidene)‐substituted subtriazachlorin was formed because of an unusual reaction of a 1,3‐dithiole‐2‐one‐fused subphthalocyanine in a triethylphosphite‐mediated tetrathiafulvalene synthesis. In this novel molecule, the bis(1,3‐dithiol‐2‐ylidene)ethane moiety and subtriazachlorin structure are fused, resulting in an electron‐donating ability and broad absorption in the near‐infrared region.     

Catalytic (3+2) Palladium‐Aminoallyl Cycloaddition with Conjugated Dienes

We describe the design and application of tailored aminoallyl precursors for catalytic (3+2) cycloaddition with conjugated dienes via a Pd‐aminoallyl intermediate. The new cycloaddition reactions override the conventional (4+3) selectivity of aminoallyl cation cycloaddition through a sequence of Pd‐allyl transfer and ring closure. A variety of highly substituted or fused pyrrolidine rings were synthesized using the cycloaddition, and can further undergo [1,3] N‐to‐C rearrangement to five‐membered carbocycles with a different palladium catalyst. The utility of the (3+2) cycloaddition is also demonstrated by the preparation of various derivatives from the bicyclic pyrrolidine products.     

Quantitative method for analysis of tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines in mainstream cigarette smoke by using heart‐cutting two‐dimensional liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A heart‐cutting two dimensional liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the analysis of tobacco‐specific N‐nitrosamines (TSNAs) at low concentration level in Virginia‐type cigarette smoke. A strong cation exchange column was utilized for the first dimensional separation, which effectively removed acidic and neutral components in the smoke, followed by a reversed phase liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometric analysis. To capture components of the TSNAs in the effluent on the trapping column, a compensating pump was applied for online dilution and pH adjustment during the period of the TSNAs fraction transferring and enrichment. Highly sensitive determination of the TSNAs in mainstream cigarette smoke was achieved by isotope deuterated internal standards under the multiple reaction monitoring mode. Compared with traditional methodologies, the method was almost no matrix interference. Limits of quantity for the TSNAs were within 0.027–0.094 ng/mL, and the results showed good reproducibility and accuracy. Finally, the new method was applied for analysis of the Kentucky reference cigarettes and the results agreed well with joint experiments of Cooperation Centre for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco.     

Competitive homolytic and heterolytic dediazoniation mechanisms: Rate constants and product distribution of methoxy‐, hydroxy‐, and hydro‐dediazoniation of 3‐ and 4‐methylbenzenediazonium salts in acidic MeOH/H2O mixtures

The rates and product distribution for methoxy‐, hydroxy‐ and hydro‐dediazoniation and the rate constants for disappearance of 3‐ and 4‐methylbenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate in acidic MeOH/H₂O mixtures, in the presence and absence of electrolytes like HCl, NaCl, and CuCl₂, are reported. Data were obtained by using a combination of VIS‐UV and HPLC techniques. The kinetics and product distributions are completely consistent with competitive homolytic and heterolytic mechanisms, the heterolytic one being predominant at any solvent composition. Heterolytic data are in agreement with the predictions of a D_N + A_N mechanism; that is, rate determining formation of an aryl cation that reacts immediately with available nucleophiles. Selectivity values, determined from product yields, are low and independent of solvent composition. Product formation is discussed in terms of a preassociation step between aryl cations and the nucleophile, which does not account for much of the trapping, and a nucleophilic attack on a “free” arenediazonium cation. Activation parameters were also determined at 99.5% MeOH: enthalpies of activation are high and entropies of activation are positive, and they are similar to those reported for pure water. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 210–220, 2000