Palladium-Catalyzed Ring-Opening Addition of Activated Vinyl Cyclopropanes with N-Tosylhydrazones

Ring-opening addition reaction of activated vinyl cyclopropanes with N-tosylhydrazones in the presence of palladium(0) and triphenylphosphine affords N-tosylhydrazone butenylmalonate compounds. Aromatic aldehyde-derived N-tosylhydrazones produced terminal and internal N-allylated products, in which the terminal products are the main. While ketone-derived tosylhydrazones produced only terminal addition products. The transformation relationship of the terminal and internal N-allylated products in the reaction was also observed. A reasonable mechanism is proposed based on preliminary experimental results.     

Synthesis of Selectively gem-Difluorinated Molecules; Chiral gem-Difluorocyclopropanes via Chemo-Enzymatic Reaction and gem-Difluorinated Compounds via Radical Reaction

The incorporation of fluorine atoms into an organic compound can alter the chemical reactivity or biological activity of the resulting compound due to the strong electron withdrawing nature of the fluorine atom. We have synthesized many original gem-difluorinated compounds and described the results in four sections. The first section describes the synthesis of optically active-gem-difluorocyclopropanes via the chemo-enzymatic reaction; we applied these compounds to liquid crystalline molecules, then further discovered a potent DNA cleavage activity for the gem-difluorocyclopropane derivatives. The second section describes the synthesis of selectively gem-difluorinated compounds via a radical reaction; we synthesized fluorinated analogues of a sex pheromone of the male African sugarcane borer, Eldana saccharina, and used the compounds as proof for investigating the origin of pheromone molecule recognition on the receptor protein. The third involves the synthesis of 2,2-difluorinated-esters by visible light-driven radical addition of 2,2-difluoroacetate with alkenes or alkynes in the presence of an organic pigment. The last section describes the synthesis of gem-difluorinated compounds via the ring-opening of gem-difluorocyclopropanes. We further developed a novel method of synthesizing gem-difluorohomoallylic alcohols via the ring-opening of gem-difluorocyclopropane and aerobic oxidation by photo-irradiation in the presence of an organic pigment. Since gem-difluorinated compounds that were prepared by the present method have two olefinic moieties with a different reactivity at the terminal position, we accomplished the synthesis of four types of gem-difluorinated cyclic alkenols via the ring-closing-metathesis (RCM) reaction.     

Metal Catalyzed Polymerization: From Stereoregular Poly(α-olefins) to Tailor-Made Biodegradable/Biorenewable Polymers and Copolymers

Metal catalyzed polymerizations are among the most important chemical reactions, accounting for the production of about 400 million tons per year of polymeric materials, 50 % of which are polyolefins. The CIRCC research units at the University of Salerno, founded by the late Professor Adolfo Zambelli, a coworker of Giulio Natta and a pioneer in the studies of stereospecific polymerization catalysts, has a consolidated expertise in this field. Although often considered a “mature” area of research, olefin polymerization catalysis continues to drive great interest of both industrial and academic scientists. On the other hand, strong political and economic pressure toward the development of “green” and possibly biodegradable alternatives to olefin-based polymers stimulated our group to direct increasing research efforts in the area of sustainable polymers. In this perspective, we focus on the most recent work from the CIRCC research units involved in homogeneous catalysis for polymerization of a variety of monomers, with the aim to address how the concepts and the expertise developed for olefin polymerization can be applied to the development of different metal-catalyzed polymerizations and copolymerizations. Of course, although the results are discussed in the frame of the most important literature contributions, a comprehensive review of such a wide and diversified topic is out of the scope of the paper. References to reviews covering the different types of metal catalyzed polymerizations are provided in each chapter.     

Isoselective Ring-opening Polymerization of Racemic Lactide Catalyzed by N-heterocyclic Olefin/(Thio)urea Organocatalysts

The isoselective ring-opening polymerization of racemic lactide was achieved by combining N-heterocyclic olefin(NHO) with mono(thio)ureas or bis(thio)ureas as catalytic systems. The polymerization process shows high stereoselectivity, controllability and reactivity,delivering multi-block isotactic polylactides with high chain-end fidelity and narrow molecular weight distributions. The enhancement of catalytic performance was observed in the following order: bisthiourea(DTU) monothiourea(TU) bisurea(DU) urea(U). The highest Pm(probability of forming a meso dyad) = 0.91 was observed at-70 °C when using NHO/U1 catalytic system and the high stereoselectivity was attributed to chain-end control mechanism.     

1,3-双[3-(1-甲氧基-2-羟基丙氧基)丙基]封端聚硅氧烷的合成

以1,3-双[3-(1-甲氧基-2-羟基丙氧基)丙基]四甲基二硅氧烷和八甲基环四硅氧烷(D4)为原料,通过阳离子催化开环聚合制备了1,3-双(3-(1-甲氧基-2-羟基丙氧基)丙基)封端聚硅氧烷,研究了反应温度,反应时间,催化剂种类及加入量对于聚合反应的影响,结果表明,最佳反应条件为:反应温度65℃,反应时间24h,浓硫酸作为催化剂加入量为反应物质量的0.3%,此时反应拥有最高的转化率。通过红外光谱与核磁共振光谱对产物进行了表征。     

Contributions of quantum chemistry to the development of ring opening polymerizations and chemical recycling

Quantum chemistry has increasingly become an integral component for the development of homogeneous catalytic processes to form polymers and to break them down. This review examines how quantum chemistry has been utilized to gain insights on mechanisms and selectivities in polymerization and depolymerization reactions by homogeneous catalysts, from some of the earliest uses of theory to the most recent efforts. Key aspects of catalysis by transition-metal catalysts, organocatalytic bases and organic acids will be highlighted.     

Highly efficient regioselective ring openings of N-tosylaziridines to haloamines using ferric(Ⅲ) halides

FeX3（X = Cl, Br） were found to be very effective reagents and powerful catalysts for regioselective ring openings of a variety of N-tosylaziridines with them to afford the corresponding b-haloamines in good to excellent yields with high regioselectivity under mild conditions. At the same time, 13 new compounds were obtained firstly. Moreover, the b-bromoamine prepared could be transferred into b-nitroamine with NaNO2 in moderate yield.     

A Potential Alternative to Polystyrene: Ring-opening Terpolymerization of Different Epoxides with Phthalic Anhydride Using Metal-free Dual Catalysts

A series of semi-aromatic polyesters named as Poly(PO-CHO-PA) were facilely synthesized via ring-opening terpolymerization of biobased cyclohexane oxide(CHO)/propylene oxide(PO)/phthalic anhydride(PA) using economical U1/PPNCl as dual catalyst. The proportion of CHO-PA and PO-PA segments in polymer can be readily altered by changing the feed ratio of CHO/PO because the reactivity ratios of CHO and PO with PA calculated by Fineman-Ross method are comparable. All synthesized amorphous polyesters with various compositions show one Tg ranging from 62 ℃ to 133 ℃. Significantly, the mechanical, thermal and barrier properties of these amorphous semi-aromatic polyesters are also adjustable and investigated for the first time. The results indicate the semi-polyesters exhibit superior thermostability(T5% ranging from 306 ℃ to323 ℃) and high tensile strength(40.21-55.7 MPa) that is comparable with polystyrene(PS). Furthermore, Poly(PO-CHO-PA) films possess a promising prospect as packaging materials because of its colorless and highly transparent nature, along with low oxygen and water vapor transmission rate. All above performances may guarantee its potential alternative to commercial PS.     

Studies on the synthesis of orthogonally protected azalanthionines,and of routes towards β-methyl azalanthionines,by ring opening of N-activated aziridine-2-carboxylates

Orthogonally protected azalanthionines were successfully synthesised by the ring-opening of N-activated aziridine-2-carboxylates with protected diaminopropanoic acids (DAPs). The required DAPs were also prepared by ring-opening of N-activated aziridine-2-carboxylates with para-methoxybenzylamine, but it was found that the choice of aziridine protecting groups dictated both the success of the reaction as well as the regioselectivity of the isolated products. Attempts to extend the methodology to the preparation of the more sterically demanding β-methyl azalanthionines have, so far, been unsuccessful.     

逐步增长聚合的研究进展

逐步增长聚合应用面广,且聚合物分子量是逐步增加的,近来利用逐步增长聚合可以合成新型高分子材料日益引人注目。按照逐步增长聚合的不同类型,对近年来逐步增长聚合研究的新进展,特别是对合成聚酯等的缩聚反应,以及利用二异氰酸酯和Click反应的逐步加成聚合等进行了综述。为了进一步获得性能优良、分子量可控、结构理想且制备方法简便的高分子材料,加强逐步增长聚合理论研究、开发新型结构的单体,并充分开发相应的聚合新技术,是今后逐步增长聚合研究的重点。