Highly enantioselective (OC)Ru(salen)-catalyzed sulfimidation using N-alkoxycarbonyl azide as nitrene precursor

Enantioselective imidation of alkyl aryl sulfides with N-alkoxycarbonyl azide as a nitrene precursor was effected by using (OC)Ru(salen) complex 1 as catalyst. The steric and electronic nature of the N-alkoxycarbonyl group was found to strongly affect the enantioselectivity and the reaction rate, and high enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee) and good chemical yields were achieved by using 2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-dimethylethoxycarbonyl azide as the nitrene precursor at room temperature.     

Enantioselective O-acetylcyanation/cyanoformylation of aldehydes using catalysts with built-in crown ether-like motif in chiral macrocyclic V(V) salen complexes

Chiral macrocyclic V(V) salen complexes 1a-f derived from macrocyclic ligands obtained by the reaction of 1R,2R-(−) diaminocyclohexane/(1R,2R)-(+)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine with bis-aldehydes 2 and 3 were synthesized and used as efficient catalysts in asymmetric cyanation reactions. The V(V) catalysts demonstrated excellent performance (product yields and ees up to 99%) with potassium cyanide (KCN) and sodium cyanide (NaCN). The catalytic system also performed very well with a safer source of cyanide-ethyl cyanoformate to give cyanohydrin carbonates in excellent yield and ee (up to 97%). The V(V) macrocyclic salen complex 1b retained its performance at multi-gram level and was conveniently recycled for a number of times.     

Synthesis of 3,4,5-trisubstituted indoles via iterative directed lithiation of 1-(triisopropylsilyl)gramines

Directed lithiation of 1-(triisopropylsilyl)gramines 1 with tert-butyllithium followed by reaction with trimethylsilylmethyl azide produced 4-amino-1-(triisopropylsilyl)gramines 7. The N-tert-butoxycarbonyl derivatives 8 were lithiated selectively at C-5 with tert-butyllithium and the lithiated species were reacted with a variety of electrophiles to give 5-functionalized compounds, 9 and 10. A facile method to produce 3,4,5-trisubstituted indoles from readily available gramine derivatives is thereby established.     

Formation of new 4-isocyanobut-2-enenitriles by thermal ring cleavage of 3-pyridyl azides

A new thermal ring cleavage of 3-pyridyl nitrenes for the formation of 4-isocyanobut-2-enenitrile products is reported. Thermolysis of 4-(thien-3-yl)-3-pyridyl azide 1 and 3-azido-4-(1-TIPS-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)pyridine 5 afforded two new isonitrile-nitrile products by ring cleavage; 4-isocyano-2-(thiophen-3-yl)but-2-enenitrile (3, 27%) and 4-isocyano-2-(1-TIPS-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)but-2-enenitrile (7, 20%), in addition to our previously reported pyrido[3,4-b]thienopyrrole (2, 29%) and pyrido[3,4-b]pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrrole (6, 71%) products. Minor amounts of 2-(thien-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile (4, 6%), formed by ring contraction, were also isolated after thermolysis of azide 1. Isonitriles 3 and 7 underwent degradation into amine 3b and formamide 7a by acidic hydrolysis. The nature and chemistry of compounds 3, 4 and 7 were investigated.     

Enantioselective allylation of alkyl glyoxylates catalyzed by (salen)chromium(III) complexes

The enantioselective addition of allylstannanes and allylsilanes to alkyl glyoxylates of type 1, catalyzed by chiral (salen)Cr(III) complexes 3, has been studied. We have found that the reaction proceeded smoothly for low loading (1-2 mol %) of (1R,2R)-(salen)Cr(III)BF₄3a or (1R,2R)-(salen)Cr(III)ClO₄3c, and allyltributyltin under simple, undemanding conditions, affording (R)-2-hydroxypent-4-enoic acid esters 2 in good yield (61-90%) and enantioselectivity (58-76% ee).     

Five-membered ring chelate complexes of Ni(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II) derived of di-(2-pyridyl)-N-ethylimine

Cis-diaquobis{di-(2-pyridyl)-N-ethylimine}nickel(II) chloride (2) was obtained from the reaction of di-(2-pyridyl)-N-ethylimine (1) and [NiCl₂dppe] [dppe = cis-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene] in a 2:1 ratio in hot acetonitrile. Cis-dichloro{di-(2-pyridyl)-N-ethylimine}palladium(II) (3) and cis-dichloro{di-(2-pyridyl)-N-ethylimine}platinum(II) (4) complexes were obtained from the reaction of MCl₂ (M = Pd, Pt) and (1) in equimolar ratio in hot acetonitrile. Compounds 1–4 were characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry; the complexes 3 and 4 were characterized in solution by NMR. In addition, solid state structures of compounds 1–4 were determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. X-ray diffraction data of the complexes 3 and 4 showed a distorted square planar local geometry at palladium and platinum atoms with the chlorine atoms in a cis-coordination; in 2 a local octahedral geometry at nickel atom was observed. Complexes 3 and 4 are arranged as dimers with a M?M distance of 3.4567(4) Å (M = Pd) and 3.4221(4) Å (M = Pt), respectively; 2 consists of units linked by intermolecular hydrogen bonding.     

Dimolybdenum complexes containing anions of N,N′-bis(pyrimidine-2-yl)formamidine and N-(2-pyrimidinyl)formamide

The reactions of Mo₂(O₂CCH₃)₄ with different equivalents of N,N′-bis(pyrimidine-2-yl)formamidine (HL1) and N-(2-pyrimidinyl)formamide (HL2) afforded dimolybdenum complexes of the types Mo₂(O₂CCH₃)(L1)₂(L2) (1) trans-Mo₂(L1)₂(L2)₂ (2) cis-Mo₂(L1)₂(L2)₂ (3) and Mo₂(L2)₄ (4). Their UV–Vis and NMR spectra have been recorded and their structures determined by X-ray crystallography. Complexes 2 and 3 establish the first pair of trans and cis forms of dimolybdenum complexes containing formamidinate ligands. The L1 ligands in 1–3 are bridged to the metal centers through two central amine nitrogen atoms, while the L2 ligands in 1–4 are bridged to the metal centers via one pyrimidyl nitrogen atom and the amine nitrogen atom. The Mo–Mo distances of complexes 1 [2.0951(17) Å], 2 [2.103(1) Å] and 3 [2.1017(3) Å], which contain both Mo?N and Mo?O axial interactions, are slightly longer than those of complex 4 [2.0826(12)–2.0866(10) Å] which has only Mo?O interactions.     

Synthesis, structural, spectroscopic and reactivity properties of a new N-2,3,4-trifluorophenyl-3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldimine ligand and its Cu(II) and Pd(II) complexes

A new N-2,3,4-trifluorophenyl-3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldimine (1) complexes with Cu(II) (2) and Pd(II) (3) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography, UV-Vis, IR, ¹H NMR and EPR spectroscopic techniques. The X-ray crystal structure of complex 2 reveals tetrahedrally distorted square-planar coordination geometry around Cu(II). The UV/Vis and EPR results indicate that the solid state geometry of 2 remains unchanged in solutions. Chemical oxidation of 3 with Ce(IV) in CHCl₃ generates relatively stable Pd(II)-phenoxyl radical complex (g = 2.0073). The results related with the chemical oxidation of 2 and 3 as well as the catalytic activity of 3 in the hydrogenation of PhNO₂ are presented.     

Six-membered ring chelate complexes of Pd(II) and Pt(II) derived from di-(2-pyridyl)pyrimidin-2-ylsulfanylmethane

Cis-[MLCl₂] complexes of di-(2-pyridyl)pyrimidin-2-ylsulfanylmethane ligand (L), where M = Pd (1), and M = Pt (2) have been synthesized. Reaction of 1 with L in presence of Na[BF₄] and hot acetonitrile produced the complex [PdL₂](BF₄)₂ (3). Complexes 1-3 and ligand L have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR and NMR spectroscopy. Crystal structures of 1, 3 and L were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, showing nonplanar structures with the pyridinic rings twisted around the bridging carbon and the ipso carbon bonds. 1 and 3 displayed a bidentate coordination of L to the palladium atom with the formation of six-membered chelate rings, where the local geometry at palladium atom was distorted square planar. In 3 the palladium atom was coordinated to two dipyridyl ligands through two of the pyridinic nitrogen atoms to form a cationic complex stabilized by two tetrafluoroborate counter-ions.     

Syntheses, structures and photoluminescence of a series of coordination frameworks based on dicarboxylate anion and bis(imidazole) ligand

In this article, ten new coordination frameworks, namely, [Ni(H₂O)₆]·(L3) (1), [Zn(L3)(H₂O)₃] (2), [Cd(L3)(H₂O)₃]·5.25H₂O (3), [Ag(L1)(H₂O)]·0.5(L3) (4), [Ni(L3)(L1)] (5), [Zn(L3)(L1)_0.5]·H₂O (6), [Cd(L3)(L1)_0.5(H₂O)] (7), [CoCl(L3)_0.5(L1)_0.5] (8), [ZnCl(L3)_0.5(L2)_0.5] (9), and [CoCl(L3)_0.5(L2)_0.5] (10), where L1 = 1,1′-(1,4)-butanediyl)bis(imidazole), L2 = 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(2-ethylbenzimidazole) and H₂L3 = 3,3′-(p-xylylenediamino)bis(benzoic acid), have been synthesized by varying the metal centers and nitrogen-containing secondary ligands. These structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, elemental analyses and IR spectra. In 1, the L3 anion is not coordinated to the Ni(II) center as a free ligand. The Ni(II) ion is coordinated by water molecules to form the cationic [Ni(H₂O)₆]²⁺ complex. The hydrogen bonds between L3 anions and [Ni(H₂O)₆]²⁺ cations result in a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular structure of 1. In compounds 2 and 3, the metal centers are linked by the organic L3 anions to generate 1D infinite chain structures, respectively. The hydrogen bonds between carboxylate oxygen atoms and water molecules lead the structures of 2 and 3 to form 3D supramolecular structures. In 4, the L3 anion is not coordinated to the Ag(I) center, while the L1 ligands bridge adjacent Ag(I) centers to give 1D Ag-L1 chains. The hydrogen bonds among neighboring L3 anions form infinite 2D honeycomb-like layers, in the middle of which there exist large windows. Then, 1D Ag-L1 chains thread in the large windows of the 2D layer network, giving a 3D polythreaded structure. Considering the hydrogen bonds between the water molecules and L3 anions, the structure is further linked into a 3D supramolecular structure. Compounds 5 and 7 were synthesized through their parent compounds 1 and 3, respectively, while 6 and 9 were obtained by their parent compound 2. In 5, the L3 anions and L1 ligands connect the Ni(II) atoms to give a 3D 3-fold interpenetrating dimondoid topology. Compound 6 exhibits a 3D three-fold interpenetrating α-Po network structure formed by L1 ligands connecting Zn-L3 sheets, while compound 7 shows a 2D (4,4) network topology with the L1 ligands connecting the Cd-L3 double chains. In compound 8, the L1 ligands linked Co-L3 chains into a 2D layer structure. Two mutual 2D layers interpenetrated in an inclined mode to generate a unique 3D architecture of 8. Compounds 9 and 10 display the same 2D layer structures with (4,4) network topologies. The effects of the N-containing ligands and the metal ions on the structures of the complexes 1-10 were discussed. In addition, the luminescent properties of compounds 2-4, 6, 7 and 9 were also investigated.     

Syntheses, structural and spectroscopic characterization of novel zinc(II)-bis(trithiocarbimato) complexes and bis(N-methylsulfonyldithiocarbimate)-sulfide

Four zinc(II)-bis(trithiocarbimato) complexes with the general formula A₂[Zn(RSO₂NCS₃)₂] [A = Ph₄P⁺: R = CH₃ (1), 4-CH₃C₆H₄ (2); A = Bu₄N⁺: R = CH₃ (3), 4-CH₃C₆H₄ (4)] were obtained by the reaction of sulfur with the correspondent zinc(II)-bis(dithiocarbimato) complexes. Additionally, the compound (Ph₄P)₂[(CH₃SO₂NCS₂)₂S)] (5) was prepared from the potassium methylsulfonildithiocarbimate by oxidation with iodine. The compounds were characterized by elemental analyses and IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. The compounds 4 and 5 were also characterized by X-ray diffraction techniques. The compound 4 crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group C2/c of the monoclinic system. The Zn(II) is in a distorted tetrahedral environment (ZnS₄) in compound 4, and differ from the coordination mode observed in compound 1, which involves one sulfur and one nitrogen atom of each trithiocarbimate ligand. Compound 5 is the first example of a compound containing a bis(N-alkylsulfonyldithiocarbimate)-sulfide dianion and crystallises in the non-centrosymmetric space group P4₁2₁2 of the tetragonal system.     

Syntheses and structures of iron carbonyl complexes derived from N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethylidene)-2-thiolethylamine and N-(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethylidene)-2-thiolethylamine

The reaction of N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethylidene)-2-thiolethylamine (1) with Fe₂(CO)₉ in refluxing acetonitrile yielded di-(μ₃-thia)nonacarbonyltriiron (2), μ-[N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethyl)-η¹:η¹(N);η¹:η¹(S)-2-thiolatoethylamido]hexacarbonyldiiron (3), and N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethylidene)amine (4). If the reaction was carried out at 45 °C, di-μ-[N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethylidene)-η¹(N);η¹(S)-2-thiolethylamino]-μ-carbonyl-tetracarbonyldiiron (5) and trace amount of 4 were obtained. Stirring 5 in refluxing acetonitrile led to the thermal decomposition of 5, and ligand 1 was recovered quantitatively. However, in the presence of excess amount of Fe₂(CO)₉ in refluxing acetonitrile, complex 5 was converted into 2-4. On the other hand, the reaction of N-(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethylidene)-2-thiolethylamine (6) with Fe₂(CO)₉ in refluxing acetonitrile produced 2, μ-[N-(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)-η¹ (N_py);η¹:η¹(N); η¹:η¹(S)-2-thiolatoethylamido]pentacarbonyldiiron (7), and μ-[N-(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethylidene)-η²(C,N);η¹:η¹(S)-2- thiolethylamino]hexacarbonyldiiron (8). Reactions of both complex 7 and 8 with NOBF₄ gave μ-[(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)-η¹(N_py);η¹:η¹(N);η¹:η¹(S)-2-thiolatoethylamido](acetonitrile)tricarbonylnitrosyldiiron (9). These reaction products were well characterized spectrally. The molecular structures of complexes 3, 7-9 have been determined by means of X-ray diffraction. Intramolecular 1,5-hydrogen shift from the thiol to the methine carbon was observed in complexes 3, 7, and 9.     

Stabilization of (N-methyleneamino)imidoylketenes: synthesis of dipyrazolo[1,2-a;1′,2′-d][1,2,4,5]tetrazines

Thermolysis of substituted methyl 1-methyleneamino-4,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates 2a,b led to substituted dimethyl 3,9-dioxo-1,5,7,11-tetrahydro-1H,7H-dipyrazolo[1,2-a;1′,2′-d][1,2,4,5]tetrazine-1,7-dicarboxylates 4a,b and methyl 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylates 5a,b as minor products. The structure of compound 4a was determined by X-ray crystallography. The proposed mechanism of this conversion includes generation of (N-methyleneamino)imidoylketenes 6a,b and its intramolecular transformation to azomethine imines—5-oxo-2,5-dihydropyrazole-1-methylium-2-ides 7a,b, which undergo dimerization in head-to-tail manner yielding products 4a,b and partially hydrolyse to compounds 5a,b.     

Palladium(II) and palladium(0)-cocatalyzed ring opening and oxidation reactions of 2-(arylmethylene)cyclopropylcarbinols

In the presence of Pd(II) acetate and triethylamine as well as triphenylphosphine, 2-(arylmethylene)cyclopropylcarbinols 1 underwent ring opening and oxidation reactions smoothly to deliver (2E,4E)-5-arylpenta-2,4-dienals 2 in toluene at 60 °C in moderate to good yields under ambient atmosphere. Mechanisms involved with an in situ generated Pd(0) species from Pd(II) and Et₃N or PPh₃ catalyzed isomerization of 1 to provide (E,E)-5-arylpenta-2,4-dien-1-ols 3 and following a Pd(II) catalyzed aerobic oxidation of 3 have been proposed on the basis of control and deuterium labeling experiments.     

Bismuth(III) bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide

Bismuth(III) bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (Bi(NTf₂)₃, 3) has been prepared from the reaction of protiodemetallation of tri-p-tolylbismuth by a stoichiometric amount of bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amine (1). The intermediates BiPh_3−n(NTf₂)_n (n=2 (4), 1 (5)) resulting from the reaction of 1 with triphenylbismuth have also been isolated. The amide 3 was able to catalyze the benzoylation and the benzenesulfonylation of toluene.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (6S) and (6R)-5,6-dihydro-6-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-6-phenylhexyl]-2H-pyran-2-one and their cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines

Stereoselective total synthesis of α,β-unsaturated lactone (1a), isolated from Ravensara crassifolia, has been achieved efficiently starting from chiral 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-glyceraldehyde (3) followed by asymmetric allylation and ring-closing metathesis. The antiproliferative activities of compounds 1a, 1b and the unusual bicyclic compound 2 were evaluated against three-cancer cell lines, THP-1 and U-937 (leukemia) and A-375 (melanoma).     

Synthesis and reactions of 2-hydroxy-4-oxo-4-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-but-2-enoic acid methyl ester

2-Hydroxy-4-oxo-4-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-but-2-enoic acid methyl ester (1) was synthesized by the reaction of pentafluoroacetophenone with dimethyl oxalate in the presence of sodium methylate. Subsequently, reactions of compound 1 with aniline, o-phenylenediamine, and o-aminophenol were investigated. In addition, the thermal cyclization of ester 1 was studied and led to the formation of 5,6,8-trifluoro-7-methoxy-4-oxo-4H-chromene-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester (6) due to nucleophilic substitution of the 3-fluoro group. Hydrolysis of compound 1 and subsequent cyclization by treatment with SOCl₂ gave 5-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-furan-2,3-dione (3). Thermal decarbonylation of compound 3 under mild conditions resulted in the formation of 3-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-propene-1,3-dione (4) which dimerized to pyranone 5.     

Synthesis and properties of bis(heteroazulen-3-yl)methyl cations and bis(heteroazulen-3-yl)ketones

The synthesis and properties of a novel type of bis(heteroazulen-3-yl)methyl cations, bis(2-oxo-2H-cyclohepta[b]furan-3-yl)methyl cation salt and nitrogen analogues, (9a-c·PF₆⁻) and (9a-c·BF₄⁻), as well as bis(heteroazulen-3-yl)ketones (12a-d) are studied. The synthetic method was based on a TFA-catalyzed electrophilic aromatic substitution on the heteroazulenes (6a-d) with paraformaldehyde to afford the corresponding disubstituted methane derivatives 7a-d, followed by oxidative hydrogen abstraction with DDQ, and subsequent exchange of the counter-anion by using aq. HPF₆ or aq. HBF₄. In addition, the reaction of 7a-d with 2.2 equiv. amounts of DDQ afforded carbonyl compounds 12a-d. The delocalization of the positive charge of 9a-c was evaluated by the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral data. The thermodynamic stability of cations 9a-c was evaluated to be in the order 9a<9b<9c on the basis of their reduction potentials measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and pK_R+ values (2.6-10.3) obtained spectrophotometrically. The reduction waves of cations 9a-c were irreversible, suggesting the dimerization of the radical species generated by one-electron reduction. This was demonstrated by the reduction of 9a·BF₄⁻ with Zn powder to give dimerized product 14a. In addition, the quenching of 9a·BF₄⁻ with MeOH/NaHCO₃ gives ether derivative 15a, which is proposed for the precursor for synthesizing tris(heteroazulene)-substituted methyl cations bearing two different heteroazulene-units.     

Catalytic asymmetric allylation of aldehydes using the chiral (salen)chromium(III) complexes

The enantioselective addition of allylstannanes to glyoxylates and glyoxals, as well as simple aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes, catalyzed by chiral (salen)Cr(III) complexes, has been studied. The reaction proceeded smoothly for the reactive 2-oxoaldehydes and allyltributyltin in the presence of small amounts (1-2 mol %) of (salen)Cr(III)BF₄ (1b) under mild, undemanding conditions. However, in the case of other simple aldehydes, the use of high-pressure conditions is required to obtain good yields. Classic chromium catalyst 1b, easily prepared from the commercially available chloride complex 1a, affords homoallylic alcohols usually in good yield and with enantiomeric purity of 50-79% ee. The stereochemical results are rationalized on the basis of the proposed model.