Synthesis of 1-(pyridyl, quinolyl, and isoquinolyl)azulenes by Reissert-Henze type reaction

Azulene derivatives reacted with N-oxide of several heterocycles in the presence of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (Tf₂O) to afford 1-(pyridyl, quinolyl, and isoquinolyl)azulenes in good yield, respectively. In the case of the reaction with the 1-azulenyl methyl sulfide (12), 1,1′-biazulene derivative 13 was obtained under the similar reaction conditions. The first synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,3-di(pyridyl)azulene derivative was also established via our new preparation method following the electrophilic pyridinylation using the reaction with pyridine in the presence of Tf₂O.     

Reaction of 2,3-diaminomaleonitrile with diones

2,3-Diaminomaleonitrile (DAMN) was allowed to react with 2,6-heptanedione to produce (2Z)-2-amino-3-[(1E)-3-methylcyclohex-2-enylideneamino]but-2-enedinitrile and (2Z)-2-amino-3-[(1Z)-3-methylcyclohex-2-enylideneamino]but-2-enedinitrile. The reaction of DAMN with 2,7-octanedione yielded trans-5,8a-dimethyl-1,5a,6,7,8,8a-hexahydrocyclopenta[e]-1,4-diazepine-2,3-dicarbonitrile. DAMN reacted with 2,8-nonanedione to afford trans- and cis-5,9a-dimethyl-5a,6,7,8,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-benzo[e]-1,4-diazepine-2,3-dicarbonitrile. These compounds were characterized by X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations.     

Spin trapping of alkoxyl radicals generated from 5-methyl and 5-aryl-3-alkoxy-4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thiones in photochemically induced and microwave-initiated reactions

Methoxyl and isopropoxyl radicals were generated from N-alkoxy-4,5-dimethylthiazole-2(3H)-thiones (λ_max∼320 nm) and 5-aryl derivatives (aryl=p-XC₆H₄; X=MeO, H, AcNH, Cl) (λ_max∼335 nm) in photochemically and microwave-induced reactions. Alkoxyl radicals were trapped with dimethylpyrrolidine N-oxide and characterized as spin adducts via EPR. Cumyloxyl radicals were liberated in a similar manner from N-cumyloxy-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thione. A noteworthy bathochromic shift was found for the lowest energy transition of N-(hydroxy)indeno[2,1-d]thiazole-2(3H)-thione (λ_max=376 nm), if compared to the UV-vis absorption of N-hydroxy-4-methyl-5-phenylthiazole-2(3H)-thione (λ_max=338 nm). Syntheses of alkoxyl radical precursors and procedures for conducting N,O-homolysis are described in a full account.     

First synthesis of 1-(indol-2-yl)azulenes by the Vilsmeier–Haack type arylation with triflic anhydride as an activating reagent

Azulene derivatives reacted with 2-indolinones in the presence of triflic anhydride (Tf₂O) to afford 1-(indol-2-yl)azulenes in good yields. In the cases of the reaction of 6-tert-butyl-1-(methylthio)azulene (11) and 1-(1,4-dihydropyridin-4-yl)azulene 14, 1,1′-biazulene derivative 24 and 1-(indol-2-yl)azulene (2) were obtained under the similar reaction conditions, respectively, instead of the presumed electrophilic substitution products.     

Synthesis of N-[5-alkoxy-2(5H)-furanonyl] amino acid propargyl esters

Using K₂CO₃ as a base and CH₃CN as solvent, different kinds of N-[5-alkoxy-2(5H)-furanonyl] amino acids were reacted with propargyl bromide via substitution reaction at 40?°C to give 16 N-[5-alkoxy-2(5H)-furanonyl] amino acid propargyl esters with the yields of 44?C85% (mostly over 74%). The structures of all newly synthesized compounds were elucidated and confirmed by FTIR, UV, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS, and elemental analysis. The rapid, efficient, and brief synthesis of the series propargyl esters with multiple bioactive units, will afford not only a basis for the activity test of potential drug molecules, but also an important synthetic strategy for 2(5H)-furanone derivatives with polyfunctional groups.     

Structures of four types of novel high-valent manganese complexes obtained by the reactions of KMnO4 with tridentate Schiff base ligands

X-ray structure analysis revealed that four types of novel manganese complexes, Mn^IV(N-EtO-sal)₂, Mn^III(N-PhO-sal)(L), [Mn^IV(5,6-Benzo-L)₂(μ-O)]₂ and Mn^III(L-4-Me)₃ have been found to be obtained by the reactions of KMnO₄ with various tridentate Schiff base ligands (N-EtOH-salH, N-PhOH-salH and its derivatives) in dry MeCN, where N-EtOH-salH, N-PhOH-salH, LH, 5,6-Benzo-LH and L-4-MeH denote N-2-hydroxyethyl-salicylideneamine, N-2-hydroxyphenyl-salicylideneamine, 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-benzoxazole 2-(2-hydroxynaphthyl)-benzoxazole and 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-5-methylbenzoxazole, respectively. The reactions of KMnO₄ and N-PhOH-salH and its derivatives have especially been found to afford benzoxazole derivatives which may be formed by intramolecular oxidative coupling between the phenolic oxygen atom of aminophenol moiety and the carbon atom of imine moiety.     

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of atropisomeric 2-aryl-4-quinolinone derivatives with an N–C chiral axis

In the presence of an (R)-MOP-Pd₂(dba)₃ catalyst, the reaction of ortho-tert-butylaniline with 2-bromophenyl arylethynyl ketone proceeded via a tandem amination (1,4-addition of aniline to an ynone and subsequent intramolecular Buchwald–Hartwig amination) to afford axially chiral N-(2-tert-butylphenyl)-2-aryl-4-quinolinone derivatives with moderate enantioselectivity (up to 72% ee).     

Synthesis and resolution of β2,2-HBin,the first enantiomerically stable β-amino acid with chirality only due to axial dissymmetry

The first gem-disubstituted β^2,2-amino acid possessing only axial chirality, was synthesized by bis-alkylation of methyl or ethyl cyanoacetate with both racemic and enantiomerically pure (R)-2,2′-bis-(bromomethyl)-1,1′-binaphthyl, followed by NaBH₄/CoCl₂ reduction of the cyano group, treatment of the resulting amino esters with Boc₂O and finally saponification of the ester function, to afford the C- and/or N-protected derivatives of 2′,1′:1,2;1′′,2′′:3,4-dinaphthcyclohepta-1,3-diene-6-aminomethyl-6-carboxylic acid: (RS)- and (R)-X-β^2,2-HBin-OR (X=Boc; H) (R=Me, Et or H). For the medium-scale resolution of β^2,2-HBin, the racemic amino esters (RS)-H-β^2,2-HBin-OR (R=Me, Et) were treated with benzoic anhydride and the resulting derivatives (RS)-Bz-β^2,2-HBin-OR were saponified. The obtained (RS)-Bz-β^2,2-HBin-OH was coupled with l-phenylalanine cyclohexylamide by the EDC/HOBt method to afford the dipeptide diastereoisomers Bz-(R)-Bin-l-Phe-NH-C₆H₁₁ and Bz-(S)-Bin-l-Phe-NH-C₆H₁₁, which were separated by chromatography. Complete hydrolysis under acidic conditions, followed by esterification of the resulting free amino acid enantiomers, N-protection and saponification, led to the enantiomerically pure derivatives (R)- and (S)-X-β^2,2-HBin-OR (X=Boc; H) (R=Me, H).     

Synthesis of efficient blue and red light emitting phenanthroline derivatives containing both hole and electron transporting properties

Two phenanthroline derivatives containing a hole transporting triphenylamine and an electron transporting 1,3,4-oxadiazole unit have been prepared with high yield. UV-vis absorption and fluorescence measurement indicated they are high efficient light-emitting materials. The compounds are 6-(5-(4-N,N′-diphenylaminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl) quinoxalino[2,3-f] phenanthroline (9, λ_max = 635 nm, 40% quantum yield), and 1-ethyl-2-(4-(5-(4-N,N′-diphenylaminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)phenyl)imidazo[4,5-f]phenanthroline (14, λ_max = 461 nm, 78% quantum yield). Preliminary study on electroluminescence for the two fluorescent dyes prepared from vacuum evaporation resulted in blue and red light emitting organic light emitting diodes (OLED).     

Alkaline condensation of 9,10-phenanthrenedione with N,N-dialkylguanidines. A novel synthesis of 2′-(dialkylamino)spiro[9H-fluorene-9,4′-[4H]imidazol]-5′(3′H)ones

9,10-Phenanthrenedione was reacted with equimolar amounts of N,N-dimethylguanidine or creatine in 0.2 N potassium hydroxide in ethanol-water, 7:3 to obtain 2′-(dimethylamino)spiro-[9H-fluorene-9,4′-[4H]imidazol]-5′(3′H)one or N-(3′,5′-dihydro-5′-oxospiro[9H-fluorene-9,4′-[4H]imidazol]-2′-yl)-N-methylglycine, respectively. These products are the first derivatives of this ring system with 2′-amino substituents. Formation of these products accounts for the previously reported absence of fluorescence when 9,10-phenanthrenedione reacts with N,N-di-substituted guanidines.     

Synthesis, characterization, photophysical and electrochemical properties of new phosphorescent dopants for OLEDs

New heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes of 2-(p-substituted-phenyl)-pyridine were synthesized and characterized. These complexes have two cyclometalated ligands (C^∧N) and a bidentate ancillary ligand (LX), that is, (C^∧N)₂Ir(LX). LX was either acetylacetonate or 5-nitro-8-hydroxy quinolate. Substitution on the p-phenyl of C^∧N ligands was used to alter the electronic properties of these complexes. The (C^∧N)₂Ir(acac) complexes show phosphorescence with good quantum yields and microsecond lifetimes and also show photoluminescence over a wide visible range (λ_max = 503-620 nm). The HOMO level and triplet energy level of these complexes were also determined. These data indicate their potential use as emitting materials for organic light emitting diodes, OLEDs.     

Features of the reaction of 4-bromobut-2-enylphosphonium salts with monosubstituted hydrazines

(4-Bromobut-2-en-1-yl)triphenylphosphonium bromide reacted with phenylhydrazine at 2°C in the presence of sodium carbonate to form triphenyl[4-(2-phenylhydrazinylidene)but-2-en-1-yl]phosphonium bromide in 62% yield. The obtained N-phenylhydrazine derivatives cyclized into the corresponding pyrazoline derivatives of phosphonium salts. Unlike phenylhydrazine, ethylhydrazine reacted with (4-bromobut-2-ene-1-yl)triphenylphosphonium bromide under the same conditions to afford triphenyl[(1-ethyl-4,5-dihydro-1Hpyrazol-3-yl)methyl]- and -[(1-ethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methyl]phosphonium bromides in yields of 60 and 40%.     

Optically active imidazole N-oxides derived from l-prolinamine1

Starting with (S)-1-benzylprolinamine and α-hydroxyimino ketones, enantiomerically pure bisheterocyclic imidazole N-oxides bearing the (S)-configured N-benzyl(pyrrolidin-2-yl)methyl residue were prepared. These N-oxides reacted with 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutane-1,3-dithione to give the corresponding optically active imidazole-2-thione derivatives via a sulfur transfer reaction. Reduction of the N-oxides with Raney-nickel led to deoxygenation, whereas catalytic hydrogenation (Pd/C) in ethanol occurred with simultaneous deoxygenation and debenzylation, leading to optically active 1-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)methyl-1H-imidazoles. Alkylation of the prepared imidazole N-oxides and their respective imidazoles with butyl and hexyl bromide and subsequent anion exchange gave optically active N-alkoxy- and N-alkylimidazolium tetrafluoroborates, respectively, with the properties of ‘room temperature ionic liquids’.     

A facile,one-pot synthesis of Ephedra-based aziridines

A series of enantiomerically and diastereomerically enriched N-sulfonylaziridines have been prepared by a single-pot process from (1R,2S)- and (1S,2R)-norephedrine and (1S,2S)-pseudonorephedrine. The cyclization process involved N-sulfonylation of the Ephedra alkaloid followed by O-sulfonylation with methanesulfonyl chloride. The bis(sulfonyl)Ephedra derivatives were treated with either hydrazine or sodium hydroxide to afford the N-sulfonylaziridines.     

Synthesis and electroluminescence properties of carbazole-containing 2,6-naphthalene-based conjugated polymers

Three types of carbazole containing 1,5-disubstituted poly(2,6-naphthalene) derivatives, i.e., 2,6-naphthalene homopolymer that has a carbazolyl side chain at 1,5-positions, random copolymers and alternating copolymers consisting of 1,5-dialkoxynaphthalene-2,6-diyl and N-phenylcarbazole-2,7-diyl were newly synthesized by Ni-mediated Yamamoto polycondensation and Pd-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction. The number-average molecular weights (M_n) of the polymers and their polydispersity indices (M_w/M_n) were 5.4-8.2 × 10³ and 1.4-1.7, respectively. These polymers exhibited blue photoluminescence in the film states and high fluorescence quantum efficiencies in CHCl₃ (?_fl = 0.70-1.00). The electroluminescence properties of these polymers were investigated by fabricating a PLED device that has a configuration of ITO/PEDOT(PSS)/polymer/CsF/Al. The device fabricated with the random copolymer exhibited highest performances showing a maximum brightness of 8370 cd/m² at 13 V and a maximum efficiency of 2.16 cd/A at 7 V.     

Enantioselective enzymatic acylation of 1-(3′-bromophenyl)ethylamine

An efficient biocatalytic process has been developed for the resolution of 1-(3′-bromophenyl)ethylamine (RS)-1 by way of enantioselective lipase-mediated (R)-selective acylation with ethyl 2-methoxyacetate to afford (S)-amine (S)-1 and (R)-2″-methoxyacetamide ((R)-2) in 91–95% and 90–92% isolated yield, respectively, and both with >99% ee.     

Alkyl heterocycles in heterocyclic synthesis (II): Novel synthesis of isoquinoline,thiazolopyridine, and thieno[2,3‐b]pyridine derivatives

Treating 5‐(4‐phenylcarboxamido)‐3‐cyano‐4‐methylpyridin‐2(1H)thione ( 3 ) with elemental sulfur yielded thienopyridine 4 . Compound 4 reacts with acrylonitrile to give isoquinoline 7 . Compound 7 was also, prepared from 3 and methylenemalononitrile. Reaction of 3 with dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate (DMAD) gave the pyridothiazole 9 . Also, 3 reacted with N,N‐dimethylchloroacetamide ( 10 ) to afford compound 11 which further reacted with the reagents 12 , 13 and 14 providing the thieno[2,3‐b]pyridine derivatives 15 , 16 and 17 respectively.     

N-Benzyl Derivatives of Leucine Esters

Leucine methyl and ethyl esters reacted with 3-bromobenzaldehyde and 4-chlorobenzaldehyde in anhydrous methanol in the presence of magnesium sulfate to afford the coresponding Schiff bases of the general formula (CH3)2CHCH2CH(COOR¹)N=CHR² [R¹ = CH3, C2H5, R²= 3-BrC6H4, 4-ClC6H4]. Their reduction with sodium tetrahydridoborate yielded N-benzyl derivatives (CH3)2CHCH2CH(COOR¹)NHCH2R², which were converted into N-acyl-N-benzyl derivatives (CH3)2CHCH2CH(COOR¹)N(COR³)CH2R²[R³= CH₃, C₆H₅].     

Cyclisation of 2-(2-aminophenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one reexamined: formation of isomeric angular fused quinazolinoquinazolinones and their spectroscopic identification

Cyclisation of 2-(2-aminophenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-ones on to N₃ and on to N₁ leading to 6-alkyl-(8H)-quinazolino[4,3-b]quinazolin-8-one and 6-alkyl-(13H)-quinazolino[3,4-a]quinazolin-13-one, respectively was described for the first time. The differences in the IR and carbon NMR data of these isomeric fused quinazolinoquinazolinones afford a useful method for distinguishing between the two series.     

Synthesis and reactions of thiosemicarbazides, triazoles, and Schiff bases as antihypertensive α-blocking agents

Methyl 2-(thiazol-2-ylcarbamoyl)acetate was synthesized and used as starting material. It was treated with hydrazine hydrate to afford the hydrazide, which was reacted with nitromethane and formaldehyde to give the saturated nitropyrimidine. The hydrazide was reacted with phenyl isothiocyanate to afford the thiosemicarbazide, which was cyclized with ethyl bromoacetate, sodium hydroxide, or sulfuric acid to afford N-phenylthiazolidinone, N-phenyltriazole, and thiadiazolyl derivatives. The methyl 2-(thiazol-2-ylcarbamoyl)acetate was coupled with diazonium salts of aniline, 4-chloroaniline, 4-bromoaniline, or 4-aminobenzenesulfonamide to afford the carbamoyl acetates, which were reacted with 2-aminobenzimidazole, 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorophthalic anhydride, and hydrazine hydrate to afford the corresponding thiazolylmalonamide, tetrachloroisoindolylimide, and tri-azole derivatives. Schiff bases and imides are newly synthesized candidates obtained via simple condensation of the hydrazide with aldehydes, 2,3-pyridinedicarboxylic anhydride, or 1,8-naphthalenedicarboxylic anhydride. The pharmacological screening showed that many of these compounds have good antihypertensive α-blocking activity and low toxicity.