Synthesis of substituted imidazoles via organocatalysis

A one-pot synthesis of substituted imidazoles is described. The cornerstone of this methodology involves the thiazolium-catalyzed addition of an aldehyde to an acyl imine to generate the corresponding alpha-ketoamide in situ followed by ring closure to the imidazole in a one-pot sequence. The extension of this methodology to the one-pot synthesis of substituted oxazoles and thiazoles is also described. [reaction: see text]     

Propagating transverse electric and transverse magnetic modes in liquid crystal-clad planar waveguides

ABSTRACT

In a planar dielectric waveguide, weak confinement of a propagating mode in a high index core leads to a measurable evanescent interaction with the cladding. In this work, we study the effect of a reorientable anisotropic cladding on the behaviour of Transverse Electric (TE) and Transverse Magnetic (TM) mode polarisations using a liquid crystal (LC)-clad waveguide architecture. The polarised evanescent field of a guided mode interacts with a voltage-tunable birefringent LC cladding to deflect an out-coupled beam. Experimental measurements are coupled with a theoretical framework and show good consistency with simulation results. We isolate the effect of mode confinement by changing the thickness of the high index core. Interactions between the LC index ellipsoid and the mode polarisation are probed by changing the initial alignment of the LC. Finally, we examine the difference in deflection between TE and TM modes, which incorporates both a change in mode confinement and a difference in LC index components.     

Colorimetric enantiodiscrimination of alpha-amino acids in protic media

A new method is described for the determination of optical purity of alpha-amino acid samples in protic media. No derivatization of the analyte or multistep synthesis is required, and high accuracy is obtained from the colorimetric output. Chiral discrimination is achieved through the use of an optically pure trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-derived Cu(II)-containing host that differentiates amino acid enantiomers by a factor of about 2. Enantioselective signaling arises from the implementation of an indicator displacement assay based on competitive Cu(II) coordination involving the chiral Cu(II)-containing host, the amino acid guest, and a metal ion indicator. The molecular structure of the host/guest complex was determined by X-ray analysis and exhibits chelation of the Cu(II) center by the amino acid to provide substrate organization.     

Carbometalations of simple alkenes with allyldibromoborane

[formula: see text] The allylboration of alkenes with allyldibromoborane is described. Utilizing an improved methodology for the synthesis of allyldibromoborane, 1,3-dienes, styrene, and even isolated alkenes could be carbometalated in high yield regio- and stereospecifically at 0 degree C. This high reactivity of allyldibromoborane significantly expands the scope of carbometalations of alkenes.     

Refinement of the crystal structure of (RS)-carnitine hydrochloride

A single crystal of (RS)-carnitine hydrochloride has been obtained, and its crystal structure has been refined by an x-ray structural experiment.Tashkent Pharmaceutical Institute. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 842–844, November–December, 1991.     

New chiral anion mediated asymmetric chemistry

Chemical reactions and processes often involve chiral, yet racemic, cationic reagents, intermediates or products. To afford instead non racemic or enantiopure compounds, an asymmetric ion pairing of the cations with enantiopure anions can be considered--the counter ions behaving as asymmetric auxiliaries, ligands or reagents. Detailed herein is a short review of our approach towards gaining reliable and predictable control over stereoselective ion pairing phenomena through the synthesis and the use of novel configurationally stable hexacoordinated phosphate anions.     

Regiochemical variation in the electrophilic addition of HBr to 1-phenylprop-1-yne

The reaction of aryl alkynes with dilute methylene chloride solutions of quaternary ammonium bromide and 20% trifluoroacetic acid produces primarily the syn Markovnikov adducts of hydrogen bromide. At moderate concentrations of the bromide, the principal product is the Markovnikov anti adduct. At high concentrations of bromide, the anti-Markovnikov anti addition product predominates.