Efficient Synthesis of N,N′‐Disubstituted Ureas/Thioureas Catalyzed by Iodine

Iodine is an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of symmetrically N,N′‐disubstituted ureas/thioureas by heating respective amines or phenyl hydrazine and urea/thiourea on a preheated hot plate at 90–95°C, under solvent‐free conditions. The yields are excellent, and the reactions go to complete within 5–10 min.     

Stereocontrolled Transformations of trans α,β‐Aziridine Aldehydes toward Different Amino Hydroxylated Structures

The stereocontrolled condensation of methyl ketones to trans α,β‐aziridine aldehydes creates functionalized aldols, valuable precursors for different amino hydroxylated structures, such as amino alcohols, amino diols, α‐tetrahydrofuryl amides, and α‐furyl amides.     

α‐Cyanodithioic Acids and Their Corresponding Mono‐ and Dithiolate Salts as Building Blocks for the Synthesis of Novel Mercaptothiophenes

A novel and efficient method for the synthesis of mercaptothiophenes using cyanodithioic acids and their corresponding mono‐ and dithiolate salts as starting components is described.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Tricyclo[6.2.2.02,7]dodecane-3,6,9,10-tetrol via Selective Reduction of α,β-Unsaturated 1,4-DIKetone

Stereoselective synthesis of tricyclo[6.2.2.0^2,7]dodecane-3,6,9,10-tetrol was developed starting from p-benzoquinone. The endo selective Diels–Alder cycloaddition of p-benzoquinone and 1,3-cyclohexadiene afforded the corresponding bicyclic diketone. The synthesis of the title compound was based on the cycloadduct by selective reduction with NaBH₄, acetylation with AcCl, and hydroxylation with OsO₄-NMO.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resource: Full experimental and spectral details.]     

Synthesis of Some Novel α-Cyanoketene-N,S-acetals Derived from Secondary Aliphatic Amines and Their Use in Pyrazole Synthesis

New α-cyanoketene-N,S-acetals 2(a–g) and β-dialkylamine-α-cyanoacrylates 3(g–i) were synthesized in good to excellent yields by the reaction of ethyl 2-cyano-3,3-bis(methylthio)acrylate 1 with secondary aliphatic amines (i.e., N-methylalkyl- and N-ethylalkylamines), and pyrrolidine, in the presence of triethylamine, under reflux in ethanol, for 1–16 h, depending on the amine used. Five N-methylalkyl amines and pyrrolidine yielded exclusively mono-substituted N,S-acetals 2(a–f) in good yields. On the other hand, N-ethylbenzylamine gave a mixture of monosubstituted products including N,S-acetal 2g in 35% yield and the unexpected product ethyl 3-[benzyl(ethyl)amino]-2-cyanoacrylate 3g in 50% yield. N-Ethylcyclohexylamine and N-ethylbutylamine did not produce N,S-acetals and gave only the unexpected products ethyl 2-cyano-3-[cyclohexyl(ethyl)amino]acrylate 3h and ethyl 3-[butyl(ethyl)amino]-2-cyanoacrylate 3i in good yields. The α-cyanoketene-N,S-acetals 2(a–f), 2j, and 2k underwent cyclization with the binucleophile hydrazine in ethanol under reflux to afford substituted pyrazoles 4(a–f), 4j, and 4k in good yields.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resources: Full experimental and spectral details.]     

CeCl3·7H2O-Catalyzed Synthesis of 1-Oxo-hexahydroxanthene Derivatives in Aqueous Media

Cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate (CeCl₃·7H₂O) catalyzes the reaction of substituted salicylaldehydes with 1,3-cyclohexane dione or dimedone in aqueous medium at reflux temperature to afford the corresponding 1-oxo-1,2,3,4,9,10-hexahydroxanthene derivatives4 0 in high yields.     

Hydrated Rare Earth Structural Networks containing the Phenylene‐1, 2‐dioxydiacetate (PDDA) Ligand

Reaction of LnCl₃ with Na₂(PDDA) (PDDA = phenylene‐1, 2‐dioxydiacetate) in a 1 to 2 mol ratio in aqueous solution yielded [Ln₂(PDDA)₃(H₂O)₆] · 2H₂O, structurally characterized for Ln = Ce ( 1 ), Sm ( 2 ) (redetermination), Tb ( 3 ) and Y ( 4 ) in a monoclinic C2/c array, a second related structural form [orthorhombic, Pbcn] being obtained for Tb ( 5 ), Ho ( 6 ) and Er ( 7 ). The ‘domains of existence' of these two previously described forms are now extended to Ce–Dy, Y, and Eu–Er, respectively. Reaction under the same conditions for the heavier Yb³⁺ ion yielded [Yb₂(PDDA)₃(H₂O)₆]_(∞|∞) · 4H₂O ( 8 ), orthorhombic, Pbca. In the case of Ln = La the bimetallic species [NaLa(PDDA)₂(H₂O)₂]_(∞|∞) · 4H₂O ( 9 ) was obtained, while reaction of LnCl₃ with Na₂(PDDA) in a 1 to 3 mol ratio led to the isolation of the isotypic (monoclinic, P2₁/c) [NaLn(PDDA)₂(H₂O)₂]_(∞|∞) · 4H₂O) for Ln = Ce ( 10 ) and Sm ( 12 ). With the smaller Ln = Yb, the more definitively bimetallic [NaYb(PDDA)₂(H₂O)₂]_(∞|∞) · 3H₂O ( 13 ) (triclinic, P$\bar{1}$ )) was obtained, the trihydrate solvation ascribed differing from that recorded (dihydrate) in a cosynchronous report.     

Nickel Boride–Mediated Cleavage of 1,3-Dithiolanes: A Convenient Approach to Reductive Desulfurization

1,3-Dithiolanes are rapidly cleaved by nickel boride, generating corresponding hydrocarbons in excellent yields. The hydrogenolysis is rapid at room temperature and does not require protection from the atmosphere. Mild reaction conditions, simple workup, and good yields of pure products are some of the major advantages of the procedure.     

Novel Cyanoketene N,S‐Acetals and Pyrazole Derivatives using Potassium 2‐Cyanoethylene‐1‐thiolates

Novel ketene N,S‐acetals 3 were readily prepared by the reaction of cyanoacetamide or cyanothioacetamide with phenylisothiocyanate in the presence of potassium hydroxide, followed by alkylation of the produced salts with methyl iodide. The reaction of compounds 3 with hydrazines afforded different substituted pyrazoles 6.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Arylation and Vinylation of 2,3-Dihydrofuran with Hypervalent Iodonium Salts

The palladium-catalyzed arylation and vinylation of 2,3-dihydrofuran with aryl and alkenyl iodonium salts afforded 2-phenyl- or 2-alkenyl-2,5-dihydrofurans at room temperature in an aqueous medium.