Facile Synthesis of Soluble Poly(aryl alkyl ketone)s and a Simple Route Toward Conjugated Polymers

A new route for the synthesis of soluble poly(aryl alkyl ketone)s was developed employing the cross‐coupling reaction of an aryl dihalide and a diketone in the presence of a palladium complex and a sterically bulky phosphane. The solubility of the polymer can be controlled via the α‐substituent next to the carbonyl group. The polyketone can be converted easily to a conjugated polymer upon treatment with a silylation agent.     

Substituent effects on the ring opening of 2-aziridinylmethyl radicals

[reaction: see text] Substituent effects on the ring-opening reactions of 2-aziridinylmethyl radicals were studied systematically for the first time utilizing the ONIOM(QCISD(T)/6-311+G(2d,2p):B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)) method. It was found that various substituents on the nitrogen atom had a relatively small effect on the ring opening of the 2-aziridinylmethyl radical. A pi-acceptor substituent at the C(1) position reduced the energy barrier for C-C cleavage dramatically, but it increased the energy barrier for C-N cleavage significantly at the same time. When the C(1) substituent is alkyl, the ring opening should always strongly favor the C-N cleavage pathway, regardless of whether the N substituent is alkyl, aryl, or COR. When the C(1) substituent is CHO (or CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, or CO-OR but not CO-NR(2)), the ring opening strongly favors the C-C cleavage pathway, regardless of whether the N substituent is alkyl, aryl, or COR. When the C(1) substituent is aryl (or alkenyl or alkynyl), the ring opening should favor the C-C cleavage pathway if the N substituent is alkyl or COR. If both the C(1) substituent and the N substituent are aryl, the ring opening should proceed via both the C-C and C-N cleavage pathways. The solvent effect on the regioselectivity of the ring opening of the 2-aziridinylmethyl radicals was found to be very small. The substituent effects on C-C cleavage could be explained successfully by the spin-delocalization mechanism. For the substituent effects on C-N cleavage, an extraordinary through-bond pi-acceptor effect must be taken into account. Furthermore, studies on bicyclic 2-aziridinylmethyl radicals showed that the ring strain could also affect the regiochemistry of the ring-opening reactions.     

Generation and reactivity of simple chloro(aryl)carbenes within the cavities of nonacidic zeolites

A number of para-substituted chloro(aryl)carbenes are generated within the cavities of a series of dry alkali metal cation-exchanged zeolites (LiY, NaY, KY, RbY, and CsY) upon laser flash photolysis of the corresponding diazirine precursor. The absolute reactivity of the chloro(aryl)carbene is found to be strongly dependent on both the nature of the electron-donating and -withdrawing properties of the aryl substituent and the nature of the zeolite charge-balancing cations. The results strongly suggest that two opposing mechanisms for capture of the carbene can occur depending on whether the zeolite framework behaves as a nucleophilic reagent or an electrophilic reagent in its reaction with the carbene center. Hammett relationships for the decay of the carbene as a function of aryl substituent and zeolite counterion versus the sigma+ substituent parameter support a change in mechanism as the carbene center toggles between being electron poor and electron rich. For the electron-poor chloro(4-nitrophenyl)carbene, a framework adduct is proposed upon reaction of the nucleophilic [Si-O-Al]- bridge with the carbene center, and for the electron-rich chloro(4-methoxyphenyl)carbene, an adduct with the tight Li+ cation is proposed.     

Condensation of fluoroalkyl-containing 1,2,3-trione 2-arylhydrazones with methylamine

Fluoroalkyl-containing 1,2,3-trione 2-arylhydrazones react with methylamine in different ways, depending on the substrate structure. Arylhydrazones having a short fluoroalkyl substituent (R_F = CF₃, HCF₂CF₂) react at the carbonyl group adjacent to the nonfluorinated substituent to give 3-alkyl(aryl)-2-aryldiazenyl-3-methylamino-1-polyfluoroalkylprop-2-en-1-ones. Arylhydrazones with a long-chain fluoroalkyl group (R_F = C₃F₇ and longer) and a bulky nonfluorinated group take up methylamine molecule at the carbonyl group linked to the fluorinated substituent, and the subsequent haloform reaction yields N-methyl-2-arylhydrazono-3-oxobutanamides. Both types of products are formed in reactions of methylamine with 1,2,3-triketone 2-arylhydrazones having a long fluoroalkyl group and methyl group at the other carbonyl group. Template condensation of fluoroalkyl-containing 1,2,3-trione 2-arylhydrazones with methylamine over Ni(II) template gives bis[3-alkyl(aryl)-1-polyfluoroalkyl-3-methylamino-2-aryldiazenylprop-2-en-1-onato-N,N′]-nickel(II), regardless of the size of the fluoroalkyl substituent. The same complexes and their copper analogs can be obtained by treatment of 3-alkyl(aryl)-2-aryldiazenyl-3-methylamino-1-polyfluoroalkylprop-2-en-1-ones with the corresponding metal salts.     

Preparation and Characterization of Alkenyl Aryl Tetrafluoro‐λ6‐sulfanes

Substituted alkenyl aryl tetrafluoro‐λ⁶‐sulfanes have been prepared by the direct addition of readily accessible chlorotetrafluorosulfanyl arenes to primary alkynes. Substitution of an apical fluorine of the pentafluorosulfanyl group enables modulation of the reactivity of this little explored functional group while at the same time facilitating the direct investigation of aryl substituent effects on the aryl tetrafluorosulfanyl‐substituted products.     

Arylphosphonylation and Arylazidation of Activated Alkenes

Two radical‐mediated processes of activated alkenes, namely arylphosphonylation and arylazidation, are described. The difunctionalization of alkenes by a tandem process that involves radical addition, 1,4‐aryl migration, and desulfonylation generates α‐aryl‐β‐heterofunctionalized amides bearing a quaternary stereocenter when the substituent on the nitrogen atom is an aryl group. Alternatively, heterooxindoles or spirobicycles can be obtained with excellent regioselectivity in the presence of an alkyl substituent on the nitrogen atom.     

Synthesis of allenes from allylic alcohol derivatives bearing a bromine atom using a palladium(0)/diethylzinc system

A general and efficient synthesis of allenes using a palladium(0)/diethylzinc system is described. Treatment of mesylates or trichloroacetates of (E)- or (Z)-2-bromoalk-2-en-1-ols with diethylzinc in the presence of a catalytic amount of palladium(0) affords allenes bearing an aminoalkyl, alkyl, or aryl substituent(s) in good to high yields. No transfer of chirality from the stereogenic center carrying the mesyloxy group to the allene was observed.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of borondipyrromethene dyes bearing aryl substituents at the boron center

Several borondipyrromethene (Bodipy) dyes bearing an aryl nucleus linked directly to the boron center have been prepared under mild conditions. The choice of Grignard or lithio organo-metallic reagents allows the isolation of B(F)(aryl) or B(aryl)2 derivatives; where aryl refers to phenyl, anisyl, naphthyl, or pyrenyl fragments. A single crystal, X-ray structure determination for the bis-anisyl compound shows that the sp3 hybridized boron center remains pseudo-tetrahedral and that the B-C bond distances are 1.615 and 1.636 A. All compounds are electrode active but replacement of the fluorine atoms by aryl fragments renders the Bodipy unit more easily oxidized by 100 mV in the B(F)(aryl) and 180 mV in the B(aryl)2 compounds whereas reduction is made more difficult by a comparable amount. Strong fluorescence is observed from the Bodipy fluorophore present in each of the new dyes, with the radiative rate constant being independent of the nature of the aryl substituent. The fluorescence quantum yields are solvent dependent and, at least in some cases (aryl = anisyl or pyrenyl), nonradiative decay from the first-excited singlet state is strongly activated. There is no indication, however, for population of a charge-transfer state, in which the aryl substituent acts as donor and the Bodipy fragment functions as acceptor, that is strongly coupled to the ground state. Instead, it is conjectured that nonradiative decay involves a conformational change driven by the solvophobic effect. Thus, the rate of nonradiative decay in any given solvent increases with increasing surface accessibility (or molar volume) of the aryl substituent. Intramolecular energy transfer from pyrene or naphthalene residues to Bodipy is quantitative.     

Investigation of steric and electronic effects in the copper-catalysed asymmetric oxidation of sulfides

Steric and electronic effects in the copper-catalysed asymmetric oxidation of aryl benzyl, aryl alkyl and alkyl benzyl sulfides have been investigated. The presence of an aryl group directly attached to the sulfur is essential to afford sulfoxides with high enantioselectivities, with up to 97% ee for 2-naphthyl benzyl sulfoxide, the highest enantioselectivity achieved to date for copper-catalysed asymmetric sulfoxidation. In contrast, the benzyl substituent can be replaced by sterically comparable groups with no effect on enantioselectivity. Copper-mediated oxidation of substituted aryl benzyl sulfides display modest steric and electronic effects resulting in comparable or lower enantioselectivities to those obtained with the unsubstituted benzyl phenyl sulfide.     

Introduction of a triflate group into sterically-hindered positions in 1-aryl-4,6-diamino-1,3,5-triazines and their dimroth rearrangement products

Decomposition of 1-(azidophenyl)-4,6-diamino-1,3,5-triazines 11–13 and their 4-amino-6-(azidoanilino)-1,3,5-triazine isomers 31–33 in trifluoromethanesulphonic acid at 0° led to the introduction of the triflate group (OSO₂CF₃) into the aryl group. This method can be employed to introduce a bulky substituent into the hindered position ortho to the triazinyl substituent. Dimroth rearrangement of 1-(aryl)-4,6-diamino-1,3,5-triazines is best effected in refluxing ethanolic pyridine.     

Combined computational and experimental studies of the mechanism and scope of the retro-Nazarov reaction

Density functional theory calculations (B3LYP/6-31+G) demonstrate that conjugating and electron-donating substituents at carbons three and four of a cyclopentenyl oxyallylic cation should have a rate-accelerating effect on the retro-Nazarov reactions of these species. The retro-Nazarov reaction of these intermediates is predicted to exhibit significant torquoselectivity when carbon three is substituted with a methoxy and a methyl group. Experimental studies show that oxyallylic cations can undergo effective retro-Nazarov reactions when two alkyl and one aryl/vinyl groups are on carbons three and four. An equal number of alkyl substituents or a single aryl substituent is not effective in promoting the reaction. Interestingly, a single alkoxy substituent at carbon three is sufficient for the retro-Nazarov reaction to occur. The methodology developed was used in a total synthesis of the natural product turmerone.     

A computational study of the effectiveness of the frontier molecular orbital formalism in predicting conformational isomerism in (p-RC6H4NC)2W(dppe)2

Ab initio electronic structure calculations on a series of ligands, p-RC6H4NC:, indicate, that the energy of the LUMO correlates with the electron-withdrawing/donating capabilities of the substituent group, which determines the relative pi-acidity of the ligand. Depending on the nature of the para substituent group on the aryl isocyanide ligand, bis(aryl isocyanide) complexes of tungsten-containing bulky bidentate arylphosphine ligands adopt either cis or trans conformations. The frontier molecular orbital formalism predicts that strong pi-acids, which contain electron-withdrawing groups, tend to polarize sufficient charge density away from the metal center to effect the formation of the sterically less favorable but electronically stabilized cis conformer. Density functional theory calculations on similar complexes containing phosphines which do not impose severe steric contraints indicate that the balance between steric and electronic stabilization can be effectively predicted by comparing the relative energies of the ligand LUMOs.     

Neighbouring group processes in the deamination of protonated phenylalanine derivatives

The gas-phase fragmentation of protonated phenylalanine and a series of its derivatives (tyrosine, 4-methylphenylalanine, 4-aminophenylalanine, 4-methoxyphenylalanine, 4-tert-butylphenylalanine, 4-fluorophenylalanine, 4-chlorophenylalanine, 4-bromophenylalanine, 4-iodophenylalanine, 4-cyanophenylalanine, 4-nitrophenylalanine, 3-fluorophenylalanine, and 3,4-dichlorophenylalanine) were examined using a combination of low energy CID in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer as well as DFT calculations and RRKM modelling. In particular, the relationship between the electron-donating ability of the substituent and the competitive losses of H2O + CO and NH3 were explored through the application of the Hammett equation. It was found that electron-donating substituents promote the loss of NH3, while electron-withdrawing substituents suppress the loss of NH3 and favour the H2O + CO loss fragmentation channel instead. These observations are consistent with a neighbouring group pathway operating for the loss of NH3. Molecular orbital calculation (at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory) were also performed for a range of derivatives to compare the relative transition state energy barriers for three competing mechanisms: (i) the combined loss of H2O + CO, which is triggered by an initial intramolecular proton transfer from the ammonium group to hydroxyl OH, followed by the combined loss of H2O and CO to form an immonium ion; (ii) loss of NH3 via an aryl assisted neighbouring group pathway to yield a phenonium ion; (iii) loss of NH3 via a 1,2-hydride migration process, which results in the formation of a benzyl cation. The relative energy barriers for H2O + CO loss remain nearly constant, while that for both NH3 pathways increase as the substituent moves from electron-donating to electron-withdrawing. The relative transition state energy for loss of NH3 via the aryl assisted neighbouring group pathway is always lower than that of the 1,2-hydride migration process. RRKM modelling of the DFT predicted barrier heights suggest that the rate constants for H2O + CO loss are insensitive to the substituent on the ring, while the NH3 loss channels are greatly affected by the substituent. These theoretical results are consistent with the experimental observation of the relative yields of the competing fragmentation channels. Finally, comparisons with published gas phase and condensed phase studies on related systems are made.     

Complete Diastereocontrol in Intramolecular 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions of 2-Substituted 5-Hexenyl and 5-Heptenyl Nitrones: Application to the Synthesis of the beta-Lactam Antibiotic 1beta-Methylthienamycin

The diastereoselectivity of intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of 2-substituted 5-hexenyl and 5-heptenyl nitrones to give 6-substituted and 3,6-disubstituted perhydrocyclopenta[c]isoxazoles has been investigated. An alkyl or aryl substituent at C2 completely controls the stereochemistry of the ring juncture and, in the case of the 5-heptenyl systems, also the stereochemistry of the 3-methyl group. Thus one stereocenter controls the formation of the other three to give a product with four contiguous stereocenters. The use of an ethylene ketal substituent in these systems allows the reaction to be carried out at much lower temperatures, an example of the gem-dialkoxy effect. This cycloaddition process has been used in an efficient formal total synthesis of the potent beta-lactam antibiotic, 1beta-methylthienamycin.     

Synthesis and chemical characterisation of target identification reagents based on an inhibitor of human cell invasion by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii

The use of phenotype-based screens as an approach for identifying novel small molecule tools is reliant on successful protein target identification strategies. Here we report on the synthesis and chemical characterisation of a novel reagent for protein target identification based on a small molecule inhibitor of human cell invasion by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. A detailed (1)H NMR study and biological testing confirmed that incorporation of an amino-containing functional group into the aryl ring of this inhibitor was possible without loss of biological activity. Interesting chemical reactivity differences were identified resulting from incorporation of the new substituent. The amine functionality was then used to prepare a biotinylated reagent that is central to our current protein target identification studies with this inhibitor.     

Electronic and steric control in regioselective addition reactions of organolithium reagents with enaldimines

A reaction mode of imines derived from naphthalene-1-carbaldehyde and acyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes with organolitium reagents was dependent on the characteristic nature of a substituent on the imine nitrogen atom. An imine having an electron-withdrawing aryl group on the nitrogen atom behaves as a 1,2-directing imine toward organolithium reagents. In contrast, an imine bearing an alkyl or a bulky aryl group favors 1,4-addition of organolithium reagents. Electronic and steric tuning of a substituent on the imine nitrogen atom for a reaction mode was rationalized on the basis of molecular orbital calculations.     

Trifluoroacetylation of pyrrolo[1,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]pyrazines

A study was carried out on the reaction of pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines containing an alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl substituent at C-1 with trifluoroacetic anhydride. Trifluoroacetylation products may be formed either by reaction in the pyrrole ring or at the aryl or aralkyl groups at C-1. Products of electrophilic substitution at C-6 are formed in the trifluoroacetylation of pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines containing at C-1 a substituent bulkier than a methyl group but lacking substituents at C-6 (the α-position of the pyrrole ring). __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1226–1233, August, 2007.     

Electrochemical surface derivatization of glassy carbon by the reduction of triaryl- and alkyldiphenylsulfonium salts

The range of materials susceptible to electrochemically assisted grafting onto carbon materials has been expanded to include a new group of compounds. This new approach is based on the reduction of symmetrical or unsymmetrical triarylsulfonium salts and alkyldiphenylsulfonium salts. Our findings suggest that it is possible to form layers of aryl moieties on the surface and that the unsymmetrical triarylsulfonium salts cleave upon reduction in a direction dictated by the substituent on the rings (i.e., (4-methoxyphenyl)diphenylsulfonium salt leads to a film made predominantly of phenyl groups, whereas (4-chlorophenyl)diphenylsulfonium salt leads to a mixture of phenyl and chlorophenyl groups). These relationships may be understood by considering the inductive nature of the substituent with regard to the aryl-S bonds and are supported by preparative experiments. Upon reduction, the alkyldiphenylsulfonium salts are found to cleave almost exclusively to an alkyl radical and diphenyl sulfide. As judged from the electrochemical blocking properties of the films made from such species, either relatively thick or compact films are formed. The mass spectrometric analysis indicates that the films are made of a combination of alkyl and aryl groups and possibly related structural derivatives. Importantly, our findings provide evidence that it is possible to graft electrode surfaces with reactive aryl radicals even using precursors reduced at potentials that are substantially more negative than the estimated reduction potential of the grafting radical.     

Diastereoselective approach to 11-aryl steroid skeletons through a cobalt(I)-mediated [2+2+2] cyclization of allenediynes

The cobalt(I)-mediated [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions of allenediynes of yne-allene-yne type bearing an aryl group on the allene are described. The cyclizations are totally chemo- and regioselective and show low diastereoselectivities. η⁴-Complexed tricyclic (6,6,6) compounds were obtained in good yields as mixtures of endo/exo diastereomers. The cyclization is also compatible with an oxyfunctionality at C3. By designing an allenediyne having a preexisting D ring, we succeeded in building skeletons of 11-aryl steroids in one step and in a totally diastereoselective manner and with simultaneous introduction of an angular methyl group at C10 and an aryl substituent at C11.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed aromatization of aromatic enynes via the 1,2-migration of halo and aryl groups: a new process involving electrocyclization and skeletal rearrangement

The halo and aryl substituents of the 1,2-disubstituted styryl group of aromatic enynes undergo a 1,2-shift in the aromatization reaction catalyzed by TpRuPPh3(CH3CN)2PF6 (10 mol %) in toluene (110 degrees C, 6-8 h). The aryl group shifts to the neighboring olefin carbon, and the iodo (or bromo) substituent migrates to the terminal alkyne carbon. The mechanisms of these two migrations have been elucidated by isotope labeling experiments. It indicates that the 1,2-aryl shift arises from 5-endo-dig electrocyclization of a ruthenium-vinylidene species, whereas the 1,2-iodo shift follows a 6-endo-dig pathway.