C1-symmetric carbohydrate diphosphite ligands for asymmetric Pd-allylic alkylation reactions. Study of the key Pd-allyl intermediates

A series of C(1)-symmetrical 1,3-diphosphite ligands with a furanoside backbone have been applied in the Pd-catalysed asymmetric allylic alkylation of mono- and disubstituted linear substrates. These diphosphite ligands were designed by selective modification of the successful diphosphite ligand L1a with the 6-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-glucofuranose backbone in order to study the effect of the ligand structure on the catalytic performance. The effect of the solvent, the substrate/metal ratio and ligand/metal ratio were also investigated. The results in the Pd-allylic alkylation of rac-1,3-diphenyl-3-acetoxyprop-1-ene showed that the ligand structure and the reaction conditions had a considerable effect on enantioselectivity and on the kinetics of the reaction producing the kinetic resolution of the substrate. The alkylated product 2 was therefore obtained in 95% ee at 53% conversion and the enantiopure substrate 1 was recovered in 99.9% ee. Furthermore, the effect of the ligand structure and solvent were also observed in the Pd-allylic alkylation of monosubstituted 1-phenyl-3-acetoxyprop-1-ene. The use of a pro-chiral nucleophile was also explored in this reaction leading to excellent regioselectivities but moderate enantioselectivities. Finally, in order to determine how the ligand structure affected the chiral pocket of the Pd-π-allyl intermediates, the complexes [Pd(η(3)-C(15)H(13))(L)]PF(6), where L = L1a, L5-L8a, were synthesised and characterised by NMR spectroscopy.     

Interception of a Rh(I)-Rh(III) dinuclear trihydride complex revealing the dihydrogen activation by [Rh(CO)2{(R,R)-Ph-BPE}

Reaction of [Rh(CO)(2){(R,R)-Ph-BPE}][BF(4)] 1 under 7 bar H(2) provides the dihydride [Rh(H)(2)(CO)(2){(R,R)-Ph-BPE}][BF(4)] 3, which reacts with the neutral hydride [Rh(H)(CO){(R,R)-Ph-BPE}] 2 arising from 3 in THF. The resulting complex is the dimeric monocationic Rh((I))-Rh((III)) complex [Rh(H)(2)(CO)(2){(R,R)-Ph-BPE}][BF(4)] 4.     

μ‐Raman spectroscopy of prehistoric paintings from the Abrigo Remacha rock shelter (Villaseca,Segovia, Spain)

The composition of the materials present in prehistoric paintings discovered on the walls of the Abrigo Remacha rock shelter (Villaseca, Segovia, Spain) has been characterised by micro‐Raman spectroscopy. In addition, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray microanalysis have been used as auxiliary techniques. The results show that haematite (α‐Fe₂O₃) is the main component of the red pigment. Amorphous carbon and paracoquimbite (Fe₂(SO₄)₃.9H₂O) have been detected in the bluish black pigment used in a significant bi‐colour pictograph. This is the first time that this mineral has been discovered in a prehistoric painting. Accretions of whewellite and weddellite form crusts covering most of the painting panel. Different carbonates are the main components of the rocky substrate. The detection of gypsum on the surface of the panel is associated to the flaking process that is affecting the painting panel. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of Lewis acids on the facial selectivity in cycloadditions of sugar-derived dihydropyranones

The influence of such Lewis acids as Et₂O·BF₃, ZnCl₂, SnCl₄ and TiCl₄ on the stereochemical course of the Diels-Alder cycloadditions of sugar-derived (2S)-alkoxydihydropyranones was studied. The first two catalysts promoted the addition of dienes to give (3S,4aR,8aS)-3-alkoxy-4a,5,8,8a-tetrahydro-2-benzopyran-4-ones, and their concentration had almost no effect on the stereochemistry of the reaction. In contrast, the concentration of SnCl₄ and TiCl₄ had a remarkable influence on the selectivity, and even facial stereoselection reversal has been observed. These results may be ascribed to chelate complexation of the Lewis acid with the carbonyl and the vicinal alkoxy group of the dihydropyranone.     

Infrared and Raman spectra of 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroacetamide (ClF2CC(O)NH2)

The infrared and Raman spectra of 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroacetamide (ClF₂CC(O)NH₂) have been recorded and analyzed with the complement of results derived from computational chemistry calculations. Thus, delocalization effects and stabilization energies have been computed for the title molecule and a complete assignment has been also proposed. ¹³C, ¹⁹F and ¹H NMR chemical shifts and coupling constants have been also measured for this substance.     

Spectroscopic separation of 13C NMR spectra of complex isomeric mixtures by the CSSF‐TOCSY‐INEPT experiment

Isomeric mixtures from synthetic or natural origins can pose fundamental challenges for their chromatographic separation and spectroscopic identification. A novel 1D selective NMR experiment, chemical shift selective filter (CSSF)‐TOCSY‐INEPT, is presented that allows the extraction of ¹³C NMR subspectra of discrete isomers in complex mixtures without physical separation. This is achieved via CSS excitation of proton signals in the ¹H NMR mixture spectrum, propagation of the selectivity by polarization transfer within coupled ¹H spins, and subsequent relaying of the magnetization from ¹H to ¹³C by direct INEPT transfer to generate ¹³C NMR subspectra. Simple consolidation of the subspectra yields ¹³C NMR spectra for individual isomers. Alternatively, CSSF‐INEPT with heteronuclear long‐range transfer can correlate the isolated networks of coupled spins and therefore facilitate the reconstruction of the ¹³C NMR spectra for isomers containing multiple spin systems. A proof‐of‐principle validation of the CSSF‐TOCSY‐INEPT experiment is demonstrated on three mixtures with different spectral and structural complexities. The results show that CSSF‐TOCSY‐INEPT is a versatile, powerful tool for deconvoluting isomeric mixtures within the NMR tube with unprecedented resolution and offers unique, unambiguous spectral information for structure elucidation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enantio- and diastereoselective organocatalytic α-alkylation of aldehydes with 3-substituted 2-(bromomethyl)acrylates

The catalytic direct α-alkylation of aldehydes with 2-(bromomethyl)acrylates has been accomplished, giving rise to α-branched and functionalized aldehydes of high diastereo- and enantiopurity. The influence of the nature of the ester group of the acrylates in reaction stereoselectivity and especially in reactivity is investigated. Optimum conditions implicate the use of phenyl acrylates in conjunction with organocatalyst 8. Application of thus obtained adducts in synthesis is illustrated with a concise stereocontrolled preparation of trisubstituted cyclopentenes.