Inclusion complex formation of sanguinarine alkaloid with cucurbit[7]uril: inhibition of nucleophilic attack and photooxidation

The inclusion of sanguinarine, a biologically active natural benzophenanthridine alkaloid, in cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) was studied by NMR and ground-state absorption spectroscopy, as well as steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements in aqueous solution. The iminium form of sanguinarine (SA(+)) produces very stable 1 : 1 inclusion complex with CB7 (K = 1.0 × 10(6) M(-1)), whereas the equilibrium constant for the binding of the second CB7 is about 3 orders of magnitude smaller. Marked fluorescence quantum yield and fluorescence lifetime enhancements are found upon encapsulation of SA(+) due to the deceleration of the radiationless deactivation from the single-excited state, but the fluorescent properties of 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 complexes barely differ. The equilibrium between the iminium and alkanolamine forms is shifted 3.69 pK unit upon addition of CB7 as a consequence of the preferential encapsulation of the iminium form and the protection of the 6 position of sanguinarine against the nucleophilic attack by hydroxide anion. On the basis of thermodynamic cycle, about 225 M(-1) is estimated for the equilibrium constant of the complexation between the alkanolamine form of sanguinarine (SAOH) and CB7. The confinement in the CB7 macrocycle can be used to impede the nucleophilic addition of OH(-) to SA(+) and to hinder the photooxidation of SAOH.     

Claisen-type addition of glycine to a pyridoxal iminium ion in water

The 5'-deoxypyridoxal stabilized glycine carbanion has been generated in water at neutral and mildly basic pH. At pH < 7, this carbanion reacts mainly with the carbonyl carbon of 1 to form a stable Claisen-type adduct. At pH > or = 8, this carbanion reacts with the iminium carbon of the pyridoxal-glycine iminium ion to form the second Claisen-type adduct 3 as the major reaction product.     

Aminocatalytic Cross‐Coupling Approach via Iminium Ions to Different CC Bonds

Given the attractive ability of iminium ions to functionalize molecules directly at ostensibly unreactive positions, the reactivity of iminium ions, in which an α CH₂ group is replaced by C?O was explored. Background studies on the ability of such iminium cations to promote reactions via an iminium‐catalyzed or iminium‐equivalent pathway are apparently unavailable. Previously, tandem cross‐coupling reactions were reported, in which an iminium ion undergoes nucleophilic 1,2‐addition to give a putative three‐component intermediate that abstracts a proton in situ and undergoes self‐deamination followed by unprecedented DMSO/aerobic oxidation to generate α‐ketoamides. However, later it was observed that iminium ions can generate valuable α‐ketoamides through simple aerobic oxidation. In all reactions, iminium ions were generated in situ by reaction of 2‐oxoaldehydes with secondary amines.     

Glycine enolates: the effect of formation of iminium ions to simple ketones on alpha-amino carbon acidity and a comparison with pyridoxal iminium ions

Equilibrium constants in D2O were determined by 1H NMR analyses for formation of imines/iminium ions from addition of glycine methyl ester to acetone and from addition of glycine to phenylglyoxylate. First-order rate constants, also determined by 1H NMR, are reported for deuterium exchange between solvent D2O and the alpha-amino carbon of glycine methyl ester and glycine in the presence of increasing concentrations of ketone and Br?nsted bases. These rate and equilibrium data were used to calculate second-order rate constants for deprotonation by DO- and by Br?nsted bases of the alpha-imino carbon of the ketone adducts. Formation of the iminium ion between acetone and glycine methyl ester and between phenylglyoxylate and glycine is estimated to cause 7 unit and 15 unit decreases, respectively, in the pKa's of 21 and 29 for deprotonation of the parent carbon acids. The effect of formation of iminium ions to phenylglyoxylate and to 5'-deoxypyridoxal (DPL) [Toth, K.; Richard, J. P. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 3013-3021] on the carbon acidity of glycine is similar. However, DPL is a much better catalyst than phenylglyoxylate of deprotonation of glycine, because of the exceptionally large thermodynamic driving force for conversion of the amino acid and DPL to the reactive iminium ion.     

Stereoselective multicomponent assembly of enantiopure oxazolopiperidines and -azepines

A multicomponent reaction (MCR) based on a cyclohydrocarbonylation (CHC) driven by hydroformylation was set up toward the efficient diastereoselective preparation of oxazolopiperidines (4a-e) and -azepines (7a-d). The bicyclic oxazolidines were obtained from chiral N-alkenylamino alcohols via transient cyclic iminium intermediates that underwent an intramolecular cyclization from the appendant oxygen. On the basis of a series of different experimental conditions, the diastereocontrol observed during the formation of the oxazolidines is best explained by the stereoelectronic effect induced by an A(1,3)-strain in a common cyclic iminium intermediate (A). This new sequence is suitable for diversity oriented syntheses, allowing the preparation of enantiopure (S)- and (R)-coniceine in five steps from commercially available material.     

Nucleophilic addition to iminium ethers in the preparation of functionalized N-alkyl heterocycles

Bicyclic iminium ethers can be synthesized by the reactions of ketones with hydroxyalkyl azides. These cationic species react with a variety of nucleophiles via two possible pathways. The initially formed, kinetic product arises from direct addition to the iminium carbon in the substrate. In some cases, the initial adduct reverts to the starting iminium ether and the ultimate product arises from nucleophilic displacement at the O-alkyl group to afford the terminally functionalized N-substituted amide. The behavior of a range of nucleophiles was studied by using several iminium ethers. In general, the relevant pathway could be identified by characterization of the product formed. For hydroxide addition, which can afford only one product regardless of mechanism, the reaction was shown to arise by the kinetic pathway, using (18)O-labeled hydroxide. A one-pot synthesis of functionalized lactams entailing treatment of ketones first with hydroxyalkyl azides followed by nucleophilic addition was also developed.     

Experimental and quantum-mechanical investigation of the vinylsilane-iminium ion cyclization

A vinylsilane-ketiminium ion cyclization involving iminium species derived from amines 6 and 7 was investigated experimentally as a possible approach to some biologically interesting 1-azaspirocycles. However, even under conditions of microwave irradiation at high temperatures no such cyclization was observed whereas (in line with previous results) the corresponding vinylsilane-aldiminium ion cyclizations were more successful. Aldiminium species substituted alpha to nitrogen displayed no diastereoselectivity in the cyclization of precursors derived from 6 while high trans diastereoselectivity could be obtained for iminium species derived from 7. Quantum-mechanical investigations of the general reaction mechanism underlined the lack of reactivity of ketiminium species and also convincingly explained the observed diastereoselectivities of aldiminium species. The calculations further revealed that (Z)-vinylsilanes cyclize via a silicon-stabilized beta-carbocation, and that any formal aza-Cope rearrangement of the starting material to an allylsilane-iminium species does not take place in a concerted fashion. However, the calculations show that the aza-Cope rearrangement precedes cyclization for the corresponding (E)-vinylsilanes, the overall reaction being energetically slightly less favoured than cyclization of the (Z)-isomers.     

The mannich reaction-II : Derivatization of aldehydes and ketones using dimethyl(methylene)ammonium salts

Aldehydes and ketones have been converted efficiently to their corresponding Mannich products by various dimethyl(methylene)ammonium salts under a range of reaction conditions. The several methods used to form these derivatives are compared. Excellent approaches to aldehyde derivatives involve treating the enol silyl ether of the carbonyl compound with methyllithium and then an iminium salt, or directly adding the iminium salt to the enol silyl ether. Ketones may be derivatized effectively by treatment with potassium hydride, followed by an iminium salt, or from the enol silyl ether by addition of the iminium reagent. Use of iminium reagents in the Mannich reaction is recommended because the yields are often good and the site of attachment on an unsymmetrical ketone is both predictable and controllable.     

Stereoelectronic Effects in the Iodine‐Promoted Oxidation of Pentacyclic Tetrahydroisoquinolines

Iodine‐promoted oxidations of the pentacyclic tetrahydroisoquinolines 4a, 4b , and 10 were investigated. Whereas the all‐cis diastereoisomer 4a containing an arylamino moiety gave the iminium ion 5 as the primary product, which subsequently underwent intramolecular aminal formation to 6 , the corresponding all‐trans diastereoisomer 4b epimerized to the all‐cis diastereoisomer 4a via iminium ion 7 . In contrast, tetrahydroisoquinoline 10 could be cleanly oxidized to the corresponding isoquinolizidinium ion 11 . Mechanistic considerations were supported by molecular‐modeling calculations.     

A Theoretical and Experimental Study of the Effects of Silyl Substituents in Enantioselective Reactions Catalyzed by Diphenylprolinol Silyl Ether

The effect of silyl substituents in diphenylprolinol silyl ether catalysts was investigated. Mechanistically, reactions catalyzed by diphenylprolinol silyl ether can be categorized into three types: two that involve an iminium ion intermediate, such as for the Michael‐type reaction (type A) and the cycloaddition reaction (type B), and one that proceeds via an enamine intermediate (type C). In the Michael‐type reaction via iminium ions (type A), excellent enantioselectivity is realized when the catalyst with a bulky silyl moiety is employed, in which efficient shielding of a diastereotopic face of the iminium ion is directed by the bulky silyl moiety. In the cycloaddition reaction of iminium ions (type B) and reactions via enamines (type C), excellent enantioselectivity is obtained even when the silyl group is less bulky and, in this case, too much bulk reduces the reaction rate. In other cases, the yield increases when diphenylprolinol silyl ethers with bulky substituents are employed, presumably by suppressing side reactions between the nucleophilic catalyst and the reagent. The conformational behaviors of the iminium and enamine species have been determined by theoretical calculations. These data explain the effect of the bulkiness of the silyl substituent on the enantioselectivity and reactivity of the catalysts.     

A new synthetic method for alpha-alkoxycarbonyl iminium salt and its reaction with nucleophiles

An iminium salt was easily prepared using the oxidation of amino ketene silyl acetal with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone, and the subsequent nucleophilic addition to this iminium species proceeded efficiently to afford alpha-amino esters in good yields.     

Thermodynamic stability and reactivity of silylated bis(oxy)iminium ions

Silylation of various nitronates with trialkylsilyl triflates was investigated by applying NMR techniques. In several cases, a flexible nitronate-bis(oxy)iminium ion (as an ion pair with triflate as counterion) equlibrium was found, and its thermodynamic parameters were determined. Elevation of temperature or dilution shifts this equilibrium toward the reactants. Activation parameters for the C,C-coupling reaction of silylated bis(oxy)iminium ions with a series of reference nucleophiles were determined. Estimated electrophilicity of bis(oxy)iminium ions allows one to count on C,C-coupling when partner nucleophilicity is N > 4.     

The application of vinylogous iminium salt derivatives to efficient formal syntheses of the marine alkaloids lamellarin G trimethyl ether and ningalin B

Studies directed at the synthesis of lamellarin G trimethyl ether and ningalin B via vinylogous iminium salt derivatives are described. The successful strategy relies on the formation of a 2,4-disubstituted pyrrole or a 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted pyrrole from a vinylogous iminium salt or vinylogous iminium salt derivative. Subsequent transformations of these highly substituted pyrroles lead to efficient and regiocontrolled formal syntheses of the respective pyrrole containing natural products.     

Contribution of cation-π interactions in iminium catalysis

Ab initio calculations were carried out for a benzyl-substituted iminium cation derived from (E)-crotonaldehyde and a chiral imidazolidinone that was developed as an organocatalyst by MacMillan et al. At the MP2 level of theory it is predicted that the phenyl group is close to the iminium moiety in the most stable conformer, suggesting that the cation-π interaction contributes to the stabilization of this conformer. Energy decomposition analyses on model systems indicate that the electrostatic and polarization terms make significant contribution to the attractive interactions between the benzene ring and the iminium cation.     

Mechanistic studies on a Cu-catalyzed aerobic oxidative coupling reaction with N-phenyl tetrahydroisoquinoline: structure of intermediates and the role of methanol as a solvent

The mechanism of an aerobic copper-catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction with N-phenyl tetrahydroisoquinoline was investigated. The oxidized species formed from the reaction of the amine with the copper catalyst were analyzed by NMR-spectroscopy. An iminium dichlorocuprate was found to be the reactive intermediate and could be structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The effect of methanol to effectively stabilize the iminium ion was investigated and shown to be beneficial in an oxidative allylation reaction.     

Mechanistic studies of hydrazide-catalyzed enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions

The mechanism of the enantioselective, hydrazide-catalyzed Diels-Alder cycloaddition was investigated in detail. Both the formation of the reactive iminium species and the hydrolysis of the product iminium intermediates were found to be extremely rapid, leaving the cycloaddition as the kinetically significant step. Mechanistic studies using NMR showed that a retro-Diels-Alder reaction occurred during the catalytic cycle, suggesting a thermodynamic component to the reaction.     

Iminium salts of omega-dithiafulvenylpolyenals: an easy entry to the corresponding aldehydes and doubly proaromatic nonlinear optic-phores

A short, high-yielding route to omega-dithiafulvenylpolyenals (1) via the corresponding iminium salts (2) and starting from trimethyl-1,3-dithiolium tetrafluoroborate is reported. The Knoevenagel reactions of either 1 or 2 with isoxazolone-containing acceptors afford merocyanines 7 and 9, in a process that is often accompanied by a vinylene-shortening side reaction. Experimental and theoretical studies reveal that compounds 7 and 9, featuring two proaromatic end groups, are strongly polarized and show good second-order nonlinear optical responses.     

ULTRASOUND ACCELERATED REDUCTIVE COUPLING OF IMINE OR IMINIUM ION GENERATED IN 5 M LITHIUM PERCHLORATE SOLUTION BY LITHIUM METAL

A novel one-pot reductive coupling of imine or iminium ion generated in the concentrated ethereal lithium perchlorate solution was achieved in the presence of lithium metal. The yield of the reaction depends on the reactivity preformed imine or iminium ion. Diamines were formed with high diastereoselectivity in some cases in about 5 h. The reaction time was doubled without the use of ultrasound acceleration.     

9-氨基奎宁催化剂催化1-溴代硝基甲烷和亚苄基丙酮的共轭加成反应的理论研究

通过密度泛函理论(DFT) B3LYP, M062X和从头算方法MP2, 给出了9-氨基奎宁作为有机催化剂和苯甲酸作为辅助催化剂催化1-溴代硝基甲烷与亚苄基丙酮的不对称共轭加成反应的详细反应机理. 反应过程主要包括3个阶段: (1) 亚胺离子中间体的形成; (2) 亚胺离子与1-溴代硝基甲烷的亲核加成; (3) 水解并伴随催化剂的还原. 计算结果不仅解释了苯甲酸加合物在亚胺离子形成过程中所起的重要作用, 而且提供了一般反应模型以理解这个共轭加成反应的反应机理和对映选择性.     

Asymmetric synthesis of tetracyclic benzo[a]quinolizidine targets

We report a novel, facile, and asymmetric approach for the synthesis of polycyclic benzo[ a]quinolizidine targets. In the formation of more functionalized derivatives, we have observed the generation of an iminium ether salt intermediate, formed during an unprecedented retro-Diels-Alder/ N-acyliminium cyclization cascade. The iminium ether intermediate was isolated in good yield, characterized by X-ray crystallography, and subsequently applied as a synthetic building block.