Turning the Light on Phenols: New Opportunities in Organic Synthesis

Phenols ( I ) are extremely relevant chemical functionalities in natural, synthetic and industrial chemistry. Their corresponding electron-rich anions, namely phenolates ( I ), are characterized by interesting physicochemical properties that can be drastically altered upon light excitation. Specifically, phenolates ( I ) become strong reducing agents in the excited state and are able to generate reactive radicals from suitable precursors via single-electron transfer processes. Thus, these species can photochemically trigger strategic bond-forming reactions, including their direct aromatic C−H functionalization. Moreover, substituted phenolate anions can act as photocatalysts to enable synthetically useful organic transformations. An alternative mechanistic manifold is represented by the ability of phenolate derivatives I to form ground state electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes with electron-poor radical sources. These complementary scenarios have paved the way for the development of a wide range of relevant organic reactions. In this Minireview, we present the main examples of this research field, and give insight on emerging trends in phenols photocatalysis towards richer organic synthesis.     

S?F and S?C Activation of SF6 and SF5 Derivatives at Rhodium: Conversion of SF6 into H2S

The degradation of SF₆ and SF₅ organyls by S F and S C bond‐activation reactions at [{Rh(μ‐H)(dippp)}₂] under mild conditions is reported. Fluorido and thiolato species were identified as products or intermediates, and were characterized by X‐ray diffraction analysis and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. An unprecedented cyclic process for the conversion of the potent greenhouse gas SF₆ into H₂S was developed.     

Exploring the Association of Electron-Donating Corroles with Phthalocyanines as Electron Acceptors

Electron-donating corroles (Cor) were integrated with electron-accepting phthalocyanines (Pc) to afford two different non-covalent Cor ⋅ Pc systems. At the forefront was the coordination between a 10-meso-pyridine Cor and a ZnPc. The complexation was corroborated in a combination of NMR, absorption, and fluorescence assays, and revealed association with binding constants as high as 10⁶ m ⁻¹. Steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopies evidenced that regardless of exciting Cor or Pc, the charge-separated state evolved efficiently in both cases, followed by a slow charge-recombination to reinstate the ground state. The introduction of non-covalent linkages between Cor and Pc induces sizeable differences in the context of light harvesting and transfer of charges when compared with covalently linked Cor-Pc conjugates.     

Charge renormalization in planar and spherical charged lipidic aqueous interfaces

The charge renormalization in planar and spherical charged lipidic aqueous interfaces has been investigated by means of thermodynamic and electrokinetic measurements. We analyzed the behavior of mixed DOTAP/DOPE monolayers at the air-electrolyte solution interface and DOTAP/DOPE liposomes 100 nm in size dispersed in an aqueous phase of varying ionic strength. For the two systems, we have compared the "effective" surface charge derived from the measurements of surface potential and zeta-potential to the "bare" charge based on the stoichiometry of the lipid mixture investigated. The results confirm that a strong charge renormalization occurs, whose strength depends on the geometry of the mesoscopic system. The dependence of the "effective" charge on the "bare" charge is discussed in light of an analytical approximation based on the Poisson-Boltzmann equation recently proposed.     

Poly(amido‐amine)s Carrying Primary Amino Groups as Side Substituents

Poly(amido‐amine)s carrying primary amino groups as side substituents have been obtained by polyaddition of N‐triphenylmethyl‐monosubstituted 1,2‐diaminoethane (TPHMAE) to 2,2‐bisacrylamido acetic acid or 1,4‐bisacryloylpiperazine and subsequent removal of the protecting triphenylmethyl group by treating the resultant polymers with aqueous hydrochloric acid. Soluble polymers can be also obtained directly by the polyaddition of monoprotonated 1,2‐diaminoethane to 2,2‐bisacrylamido acetic acid in the presence of a limited amount of added acetic or hydrochloric acid. The resultant polymers are of a higher molecular weight than the corresponding ones prepared from TPHMAE. By adding a limited amount of N‐triphenylmethyl‐monosubstituted 1,2‐diaminoethane to the monomer mixtures leading to poly(amido‐amine)s with a recognised potential as nonviral vectors, such as ISA 23 and ISA 1, a controlled number of pendant primary amino groups have been introduced. By this procedure, ISA 23 and ISA 1 become suitable as polymer carriers for carboxylated drugs as well as amenable to the labelling techniques by fluorescent probes commonly employed for proteins.

Formation of monoprotected primary diamines.     

Electron impact mass spectrometry of some geminal bis-sulphones

The behaviour under electron impact of six 1,1-bis(benzenesulphonyl)cyclioalkanes and of 1-phenyl-1-(benzensesulphaonyl)cyclopropane has been studied in detail with the aid of exact mass measurements, linked scans for metastable ion analysis, collisional spectroscopy and kinetic energy release measurements. The molecular ions of these compounds undergo a sulphone-sulphinate rearrangement with alkyl group migration on oxygen, in analogy with what is found for simple monosulphones and, in general, their fragmentation resembles that of mono-sulphonyl compounds. Loss of SO₂ from the molecular ion is observed for all substrates, but only in the case of 1, 1-bis(benzenesulphonyl)cyclopropane is this followed by loss of the second SO₂ unit; the first loss of SO₂ is probably accompanied by rearrangement since the fragmentation pattern of [M ? SO₂]⁺˙ ions from this compound is different than that of the isobaric molecular ions of 1-phenyl-1-(benzenesulphonyl)cyclopropane.     

Über die Kronenetherkomplexe [K(15-Krone-5)2]3[Sb3I12], [TeCl3(15-Krone-5)][TeCl5] und [TeCl3(15-Krone-5)]2[TeCl6]

On the Crown Ether Complexes [K(15-Crown-5)₂]₃[Sb₃I₁₂], [TeCl₃(15-Crown-5)][TeCl₅], and [TeCl₃(15-Crown-5)]₂[TeCl₆] Orange-coloured crystals of [K(15-crown-5)₂]₃[Sb₃I₁₂] are formed in the reaction of potassium iodide with antimony triiodide and 15-crown-5 in acetonitrile solution. An X-ray structure determination reveals severe disorder of the crown ether molecules, which coordinate to the potassium atoms in a sandwich array; so only the [Sb₃I₁₂]^3? ion and the potassium positions were ascertained. The anion is a centrosymmetric trimer (symmetry C_2h), which can be understood as central SbI₆^3? ion, coordinated by two SbI₃ molecules. (Space group C2/m), Z = 2, 3263 observed, independent reflections, R = 0.06, lattice dimensions at 20°C: a = 2541.1 pm, b = 1441.7 pm, c = 1588.4 pm, β = 113.33°. The tellurium complexes [TeCl₃(15-crown-5)] [TeCl₅] and [TeCl₃(15-crown-5)]₂[TeCl₆] are prepared by reaction of TeCl₄ with 15-crown-5 in acetonitrile solution, forming yellow-green crystals sensitive to moisture. They are characterized by their i.r. spectra.     

Über Synthesen in der Reihe des Hexahydrophenthiazins

Zusammenfassung Setzt man o-Amino-p-chlor-thiophenol, das als kristallisierte Verbindung erhalten wurde, mit 2-Chlor-cyclohexanon um, so erhält man hauptsächlich eine Verbindung vom Schmp. 168^o. Diese ist aber kein 6-Chlor-tetrahydrophenthiazin, wie diesFujii für sein ebenso schmelzendes Reaktionsprodukt annahm, sondern 6-Chlor-hexahydrophenthiazin. Aus den Mutterlaugen wurde in geringer Menge eine zweite Modifikation des 6-Chlorhexahydrophenthiazins vom Schmp. 109–110,5^o gewonnen. 2,2-Pentamethylen-5-chlor-benzthiazolin, das zum Vergleich aus o-Amino-p-chlor-thiophenol und Cyclohexanon synthetisiert worden war, wurde im Reaktionsprodukt nicht aufgefunden. Es bestehen somit wesentliche Unterschiede gegenüber den in der vorangegangenen Mitteilung geklärten Verhältnissen bei der Synthese des nicht substituierten Hexahydrophenthiazins. Aus dem Reaktionsprodukt wurden weitere Verbindungen isoliert, für die vorläufige Konstitutionsformeln vorgeschlagen wurden.Mit 2 Abbildungen     

Kristall- und Molekülstruktur von 6-Ethoxy-12,12-dimethyldibenzo[d,g]-1,3,2,6-dioxaphosphasilocin-6-oxid

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of the Bis(amidinatochelate) Complex ClSb[Ph? C(NSiMe₃)₂]₂ The antimony(III) amidinato complex ClSb[Ph? C(NSiMe₃)₂]₂ was obtained by the reaction of antimony trichloride and N,N,N′-tris(trimethylsilyl)benzamidine in dichloromethane in form of pale-yellow, moisture sensitive crystals. X-ray crystal structure determinations were performed at 20°C and at ?93°C. Crystal data at 20°C: space group P1 , Z = 2, a = 1160.3(2), b = 1305.4(2), c = 1336.5(2) pm, α = 68.32(1), β = 79.79(1), γ = 71.47(1)°; at ?93°C the lattice vectors are 1.20 to 0.85% shorter. In the molecule two Ph? C(NSiMe₃)₂ groups are attached with their N atoms in a chelate manner to the Sb atom. Together with the Cl atom they form an irregular coordination polyhedron about the Sb atom with a stereochemically strongly effective lone electron pair. The SiMe₃ groups show considerable twisting vibrations about the N? Si axes even at ?93°C.