Asymmetric synthesis of (+)-abresoline

The first asymmetric synthesis of (+)-abresoline has been achieved starting from the (S)-1-(aryl)homoallylic amine, which was prepared enantioselectively by the method based on allylation of the (R)-2′-(2-naphthyl)-bearing hydroxyoxime ether. This synthetic route employs the TiCl₄-induced intramolecular Mannich-type cyclization of the 1-azadiene-bearing ketal amine as the key steps to afford stereoselectively the cis-2,6-disubstituted piperidine, followed by CBr₄/PPh₃-induced dehydrocyclization for the elaboration of the amino alcohol to the trans-4-arylquinolizidine.     

Novel pseudo-morphotactic synthesis and characterization of tungsten nitride nanoplates

A novel pseudo-morphotactic transformation route was developed to synthesize polycrystalline β-W₂N nanoplates by thermally treating tungstate-based inorganic-organic hybrid nanobelts with a lamellar microstructure in an NH₃ flow. The tungstate-based hybrid nanobelts were formed in a water-in-oil-microemulsion-like “commercial H₂WO₄ powders/n-octylamine/heptane” reaction system. The as-obtained hybrid nanobelts were thermally treated in an NH₃ atmosphere at 650-800 °C for 2 h to form cubic β-W₂N nanoplates. XRD, SEM, TEM, FT-IR and TG-DTA were used to characterize the precursors and their final products. The polycrystalline β-W₂N nanoplates derived from hybrid nanobelts, with side lengths of several hundred nanometers, consist of small nanocrystals with an average grain size of 3.2 nm. The formation of β-W₂N nanoplates involved two steps: decomposing tungstate-based hybrid nanobelts into WO_y and W species and then nitridizing the active W-containing species to β-W₂N nanocrystals in an NH₃ flow. The platelike morphology of the β-W₂N nanocrystals was inherited from the precursor of tungstate-based inorganic-organic hybrid nanobelts.     

An innovative synthesis of dibenzofurans through a carbanion-induced ring transformation reaction

An innovative route for the synthesis of substituted dibenzofurans has been delineated through a ring transformation reaction of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-ones by reaction with 7-methoxybenzofuran-3-one, in high yield. The novelty of the procedure lies in the creation of an aromatic ring from a 2H-pyran-2-one involving the -COCH₂-moiety of the substrate.     

Low temperature synthesis, structure and bioactivity of xCaO· (1−x)SiO2 glasses

Glasses of composition expressed by the following general formula xCaO·(1?x)SiO₂ (0.30≤x≤0.50) can be prepared by means of the sol-gel route starting from tetramethylorthosilicate and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate They are all difficult to prepare by means of the traditional technique of quenching the melt, because of the high liquidus temperature,T ₁ t that in the case ofx=0.3 glass isT ₁ =1650°C. The DTA apparatus appears a valuable tool for defining the procedure necessary to obtain the glass through the sol-gel route. The glassx=0.3 is bioactive. The experimental results suggest that the gel structures, such as obtained at room temperature, are very similar; only at high temperature do the reactions of hydrolysis and polycondensation go to completion and the structural units characteristic of each glass are obtained.     

2,3-Anhydrosugars in glycoside bond synthesis: application to furanosyl azides and C-glycosides

The preparation of 2-deoxy-2-thiotolylfuranosyl azides and C-glycosides from a 2,3-anhydrosugar thioglycoside with the d-lyxo stereochemistry is described. The reaction is performed by treatment of the thioglycoside with a trimethylsilylated nucleophile in the presence of BF₃·OEt₂. This approach provides a convenient route to the preparation of the corresponding 2-deoxy-furanosyl azides and C-glycosides. In contrast, the use of an isomeric substrate, with the 2,3-anhydro-d-ribo stereochemistry, gave these products in low to modest yield.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of nanocrystalline ZnSe: An in situ synchrotron radiation X-ray powder diffraction study

The hydrothermal synthesis of nanocrystalline ZnSe has been studied by in situ X-ray powder diffraction using synchrotron radiation. The formation of ZnSe was studied using the following starting mixtures: Zn+Se+H₂O (route A) and ZnCl₂+Se+H₂O+Na₂SO₃ (route B). The route A experiment showed that Zn powder starts reacting with water at 134 °C giving ZnO and H₂ followed by the formation of ZnSe which takes place in temperature range from 167 to 195 °C. The route B experiment shows a considerably more complex reaction path with several intermediate phases and in this case the formation of ZnSe starts at 141 °C and ZnSe and Se were the only crystalline phases observed at the end of the experiment where the temperature was 195 °C. The sizes of the nanocrystalline particles were determined to 18 and 9 nm in the route A and B experiments, respectively. Nanocrystalline ZnSe was also synthesized ex situ using the route A and B methods and characterized by conventional X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. An average crystalline domain size of ca. 8 nm was determined by X-ray powder diffraction in fair agreement with TEM images, which showed larger aggregates of nanoparticles having approximate diameters of 10 nm. Furthermore, a method for purification of the ZnSe nanoparticles was developed and the prepared particles showed signs of anisotropic size broadening of the diffraction peaks.     

Divergent total synthesis of penaresidin B and its straight side chain analogue

The divergent synthesis of penaresidin B and its straight side chain analogue was accomplished by constructing an azetidine ring via S_N2 type cyclization of protected 2,3-syn-3,4-syn-4-amino-1,3-dihydroxyhept-6-en-2-yl mesylate and late-stage introduction of an alkyl side chain via olefin cross-metathesis of 4-allylazetidine with readily available terminal alkenes. This synthetic route would be useful to synthesize penaresidin side chain analogues.     

Scalable synthesis of a new enantiomerically pure π-extended rigid amino indanol

A convenient route to a benzo-fused amino indanol chiral controller is disclosed. The synthesis is based on a newly optimized entry to 3H-benz(e)indene that can be performed on decagram scale with no purification of intermediates. Subsequent oxidation, classical resolution, and Ritter steps give the target synthon in >98% ee. The resolution features (S)-naproxen as an inexpensive and highly crystalline resolving agent. Conversion of the amino alcohol to its bis(oxazolinyl)-propane is also reported. A solid state structure of the CuCl₂–box complex shows preservation of the distorted square planar geometry found in the parent CuCl₂(indanyl-box) despite greater steric crowding by the blocking groups.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of potassium molybdenum oxide bronzes: structure-inheriting solid-state route to blue bronze and dissolution/deposition route to red bronze

The hydrothermal syntheses of the alkali metal molybdenum bronzes from starting solids (H_xMoO₃) with structural affinities to the desired products were investigated. Single-phase potassium blue and red bronzes were prepared by the hydrothermal treatments at around 430 K, and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and SEM. The formation processes of these two bronzes during the hydrothermal treatments were found to differ. The blue bronze was formed by a structure-inheriting solid-state route from H_xMoO₃ with x<0.3, whereas the red bronze was formed for x>0.3 through a solution dissolution/deposition route via the formation of MoO₃+MoO₂.     

Asymmetric synthesis via aziridinium ions: exploring the stereospecificity of the ring opening of aziridinium ions and a formal synthesis of (−)-swainsonine

The use of aziridinium ions in two different projects is described. First, the stereospecificity of the ring opening of aziridinium ions with MeNH₂ as a route to chiral diamines has been explored. When the aziridinium ion contained a phenyl or para-methoxyphenyl substituent, stereospecific ring opening occurred. In contrast, switching the para-methoxy group to a para-N,N-dimethylamino group gave a racemic diamine product. Second, starting from N-Boc pyrrolidine, asymmetric lithiation-trapping-ring expansion (via an aziridinium ion) was used to synthesise a piperidine alcohol. In this way, a formal synthesis of (?)-swainsonine was completed.     

One-pot synthesis of sulfonyl (E)-stilbenes by nitrobenzene-mediated dimerizative desulfonation of benzylic sulfones

A facile one-pot synthetic route for preparing sulfonyl (E)-stilbenes 4 is developed. The efficient route is realized by a nitrobenzene (PhNO₂)-mediated dimerizative desulfonation of benzylic sulfones 3 in the presence of sodium hydride (NaH) in good yields. Some synthetic investigations of sulfonyl stilbenes 4 are also examined.     

Alternative synthesis of cystothiazole A

Palladium-catalyzed methoxycarbonylation of (−)-(2R,3S)-1-tert-butyldimethylsiloxy-3-methyl-2-methoxypenta-4-yne 9 derived from (2R,3S)-epoxy butanoate 5 gave the acetylenic ester 10, which was treated with MeOH in the presence of Bu₃P to afford selectively (Z)-β-methoxy acrylate congener 11 in 86% yield. Treatment of (Z)-11 with 99.8% enrichment of CDCl₃ followed by consecutive desilylation and oxidation afforded the left-half aldehyde (+)-2. The overall yield (10 steps from 5; 23%) of (+)-2 via the present route was improved in comparison to that (10 steps from 5; 10%) of the previously reported route. By applying the modified Julia's coupling method, selectivity (E/Z=14:1) of the (E)-form (cystothiazole A 1) against the (Z)-form was improved in comparison to the Wittig method (E/Z=4:1 to 6.9:1).     

Protein-mediated synthesis of antibacterial silver nanoparticles deposited on titanium dioxide nanotube arrays

We report on an effective route to decorate titanium nanotube arrays (TiNT) with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). In this method, surface-adsorbed antibody molecules serve as templates to bind silver ions by electrostatic interaction. The photocatalytic activity of the TiNT under UV irradiation causes the photoreduction of AgNPs to occur, and the biological template is decomposed simultaneously. This route also was successfuly applied to gold nanoparticles (starting from negatively charged metallic precursor ions). Compared to undecorated samples, the AgNPs/TiNT samples under visible light display a much higher antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli.

A direct and practical approach for the synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene coinage metal complexes

A novel direct and practical synthetic route leading to N-heterocyclic carbene coinage metal complexes has been developed by using air stable, commercial available Au(III) salt [MAuCl₄·2H₂O], CuCl_n (n=1,2) or AgCl, and imidazolium salts as starting materials. The reaction proceeded without sacrificing carbene transfer agent (Ag₂O) or using highly sensitive free NHC.     

A new synthesis of platinum—carbon bonds

Syntheses of cis-[PtCl(CH₂COCH₃)(PEt₃)₂], cis-[PtCl(CH₂NO₂) (PEt₃)₂], and trans-[Pt(CCPh)₂ (PEt₃)₂] are described. The procedure involves reaction of cis-[PtCl₂(PEt₃)₂] with Ag₂O and acidic CH bonds to precipitate AgC1 and generate a PtC bond. The method may represent a new general route to platinum—carbon bonds.     

Microwave hydrothermal flash synthesis of nanocomposites Fe-Co alloy/cobalt ferrite

The present article presents, for the first time, the last developments reported for an original microwave hydrothermal flash synthesis of Fe-Co alloys (Fe_yCo_1−y)/cobalt ferrite (Fe_3−xCo_xO₄) nanocomposites. Synthesis was performed in alcoholic solutions of ferrous chloride, cobalt chloride and sodium ethoxide (EtONa) using a microwave autoclave (The RAMO system) specially designed by authors. Compared with conventional synthesis, smaller grains (100 nm compared to 1 μm) can be produced in a short period (e.g. 10 s) using a less basic medium. In all the cases, the microstructure and the amount of metal inside the composite particles are very different from the product obtained via a classical route. Indeed, 20% of metal was routinely obtained using the microwave flash synthesis. Nevertheless, this mean of production is more efficient and much faster than the ones commonly used to produce this type of nanocomposites.     

Divergent synthesis of isoindolo[2,1-a]indole and indolo[1,2-a]indole through copper-catalysed C- and N-arylations

A simple and efficient synthetic route to both isoindolo[2,1-a]indole and its structural isomer indolo[1,2-a]indole skeletons is presented. The key steps of the strategy are based on copper-catalysed C_aryl-C and C_aryl-N bond formation reactions, respectively. Moreover, we report the first copper-mediated intramolecular C-H functionalisation of an indole.     

Organoelement compounds in the electrochemical synthesis of fluoroorganics

Electrochemical generation of organic anion-radicals in the presence of fluoroorganosilanes causes the chain addition reaction. Adducts of CFCl₂SiMe₃, CFClCFSiMe₃ and CF₃SiMe₃ with benzaldehyde were obtained with conversion efficiency up to 8000%.Electroreduction of bis-(trifluoromethyl)mercury (II) was established to be the route for the intermediate formation of trifluoromethyl anion, which was trapped by the reactions with benzaldehyde, Me₃SiCl and bromobenzonitrile.The use of salen Ni(II) complex as mediator allows the electrochemical reduction of polyfluoroalkylchlorides at the potentials more than 1 V higher than their reduction potentials.     

Chiron approach for the synthesis of (5RS)-Hagen’s gland lactones from diacetone-d-mannose

A new and convergent synthetic route for (5RS)-Hagen’s lactones 1–4 is described, starting from bisacetonide mannofuranolactone 5. The key transformations in the synthesis are SmI₂ mediated α-deoxygenation of a aldonolactone to 2-deoxy lactone, Pd(II) mediated oxidative cyclization and an oxidation of tetrahydrofuran to a furanone.     

Low-temperature synthesis of SrAl2O4 by a modified sol-gel route: XRD and Raman characterization

Among other alkaline-earth aluminates, the monoclinic (M) polymorph of SrAl₂O₄ can be used as host material for Eu²⁺ luminescence based phosphors. With the aim of reducing the synthesis temperature of this polymorph, we have produced and characterized by XRD and Raman scattering solid solutions of the SrAl_2−xB_xO₄ system (x?0.3) obtained by two different methods, a ceramic route and a modified sol-gel synthesis. Though the addition of boron lowers the temperature of obtention of the M polymorph in both type of samples, lower B contents are needed to stabilize the M form as single phase for samples prepared by the sol-gel method than through the ceramic route. In the sol-gel method, the M polymorph can be obtained at temperatures as low as 1200 °C, with a Boron content of just 1%. Rietveld profile analysis allows us to conclude that coexistence of the monoclinic and hexagonal polymorphs of SrAl₂O₄ occurs for samples synthesized below an onset temperature of about 1000-1100 °C, that depends on the sample composition. Above those temperatures, only the monoclinic phase is formed.