Chiral ferrocenyl diphosphines for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone

The synthesis of new optically pure ferrocenyl diphosphines have been realized from (R)-(+)-N,N-dimethylaminoethylferrocene. Particularly, dissymmetric ferrocenyl diphosphines have been synthesized. The diphosphines have been used as ligands in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone in the presence of Ru catalysts.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, in vitro anti-proliferative effect and cell cycle analysis of N-(ferrocenyl)benzoyl dipeptide esters

N-ortho, meta and para-(ferrocenyl)benzoyl dipeptide esters 2-10 were prepared by coupling ferrocenyl benzoic acids 1(ortho, meta and para) to the dipeptide ethyl esters GlyAbu(OEt) 2-4, GlyNva(OEt) 5-7 and GlyNle(OEt) 8-10 in the presence of N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. The compounds were fully characterized by a range of NMR spectroscopic techniques, mass spectrometry and cyclic voltammetry. The cytotoxicity of 3, 6 and 9 versus H1299 lung cancer cells were 10.5 μM, 19.1 μM and 18.9 μM, respectively, whereas N-{meta-(ferrocenyl)-benzoyl}-glycine-l-alanine ethyl ester 11 and N-{para-(ferrocenyl)-benzoyl}-glycine-l-alanine ethyl ester 12 gave IC₅₀ values of 4.0 and 6.6 μM, respectively. Therefore, an increase in alkyl chain length of the second amino acid also increases the IC₅₀ values. Cell cycle analysis of N-{ortho-(ferrocenyl)-benzoyl}-glycine-l-alanine ethyl ester 13 suggests a block in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle.     

Synthesis of ferrocenyl conjugates of thio analogs of hydroxyl-containing biomolecules via the Mitsunobu reaction with N-(ethoxycarbonyl)ferrocenecarbothioamide as the pronucleophile

A new method for attachment of a ferrocenyl moiety to hydroxyl-containing biomolecules is reported, based on the Mitsunobu reaction with N-(ethoxycarbonyl)ferrocenecarbothioamide. The reaction results in the replacement of the OH group with a (ferrocenyl)thioimidoyl moiety. Using this method, ferrocenyl conjugates of cholesterol, stigmasterol, as well as protected and nonprotected adenosine and 2′-deoxy adenosine were obtained in high yield and with high chemo- and stereoselectivity.     

Synthesis of chiral ferrocenyl aminoalcohols involving a diastereospecific oxidation: use in asymmetric catalysis

The synthesis of six new chiral ferrocenic aminoalcohols has been performed. One step of this synthesis was a diastereospecific oxidation of diastereomeric mixtures of 1-[2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)ferrocenyl]alcohols by manganese dioxide: one diastereomer was oxidized, while the other stayed inert. The six new chiral compounds in association with ZnEt₂ proved to be good catalysts in the asymmetric ethylation of benzaldehyde (77 to 88% ee).     

Synthesis of the unnatural amino acid N-N-(ferrocene-1-acetyl)-l-lysine: A novel organometallic nuclease

The synthesis of a new unnatural amino acid, N^α-N^ε-(ferrocene-1-acetyl)-l-lysine, was achieved by coupling a ferroceneacetic acid molecule onto the side chain amine of a lysine. The structure of the compound provides options for incorporation of the molecule into peptides or large proteins. In addition, N^α-N^ε-(ferrocene-1-acetyl)-l-lysine exhibits nuclease activity. It is expected that incorporation of this ferrocenyl amino acid into any nucleic acid-binding protein will endow the protein with nuclease capability.     

About diastereoselective oxidations of ferrocenyl amino alcohols

Oxidation of some 2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)ferrocenylalkylcarbinols by MnO₂ is totally diastereoselective: only one diastereomer is oxidized. A study was performed to highlight the influential factors of this phenomenon. Several ferrocenyl alcohols have been studied. First, two diastereomers of the ferrocenyl amino alcohol bearing a deuterium as an R group have been synthesized and oxidized. The good reactivity of both diastereomers displayed the importance of the size of the alkyl group, which needs to be bulkier than a deuterium. The synthesis and the oxidation of endo- and exo-α-hydroxy [4](1,2)ferrocenophane enabled the elimination of the hypothesis involving the spatial position of the hydroxy group, while the two diastereomers were oxidized. The replacement of the dimethylamino group by a methoxy or a methyl, the oxidation of these compounds, and the study of the preferential conformation of each diastereomer showed clearly the influence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond. So,the diastereoselectivity was shown to depend on the steric bulk of the alkyl group and on the presence of a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond between the hydroxy group and the nitrogen.     

Simple route to ferrocenyl(alkyl)imidazoles

A suitable method for the synthesis of ferrocenyl(alkyl)imidazoles is proposed. The treatment of α-ferrocenylcarbinols with N,N′-carbonyldiimidazole affords the title compounds, are in more than 80% yields.     

Synthesis of ‘three-petal’ carbocyclic systems based on s-cis-diferrocenyltrienes

Acid-catalyzed intramolecular, homoannular alkylation of one of the ferrocenyl substituents in spirocyclodimers derived from 1,3-bis(ferrocenylmethylidene)-2-methylidene-cyclohexane, -cycloheptane, and 3,5-bis(ferrocenylmethylidene)-4-methylidene-N-methylpiperidine results in a fused system with a ‘three-petal’ moiety in the center. The structure of 1-ferrocenyl-3,11-bis(ferrocenylmethylidene)-2,3,4,5,6,6b,10,10a,11,12,13,14-dodecahydro-1H-benzo[d](ferroceno[a])phenanthrene was established by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Mass spectrometry of γ-Complexes of transition metals : XXII. Fragmentations of ferrocenyl-substituted pyrazolines-2 under electron impact

The mass spectra of 1-N-acetyl- and 1-N-phenyl-3-ferrocenyl-5-arylpyrazolines-2, their 5-ferrocenyl-3-aryl isomers and their 3,5-diferrocenyl analogues have been studied. The “pyrazoline” type of the molecular ion fragmentation involves various processes of heterocyclic nucleus destruction and elimination of the substituents or their fragments. The directions and intensifies of the processes observed are interpreted in terms of preferred positive charge localization on the transition metal atom. Interactions between the acetyl and ferrocenyl groups manifest themselves by the appearance of intense [P  C₅H₅]⁺ ions (ferrocenyl type fragmentation products) in the mass spectra of 1-N-acetyl-3-aryl-5-ferrocenylpyrazolines-2 only. The fragmentation mechanism leading from [P  C₅H₅]⁺ to C₇H₇OFe⁺ is discussed.     

Tris-(1,2-N,N-dimethylaminomethylferrocenyl)stibine and its heterotrimetallic complex

New tertiary chloro-bis(1,2-N,N-dimethylaminomethylferrocenyl)stibine (1) and tris-(1,2-N,N-dimethylaminomethylferrocenyl)stibine ligand (2) containing CH₂NMe₂ pendenant arm at the ortho-position have been synthesized. Stibine (2) reacts with PtCl₄^2? and hetero trimetallic cis-PtCl₂L (3) complex is obtained, where stibine (2) acts as a bidentate ligand. All these compounds were characterized by various physicochemical methods and their molecular structures were determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. It is to be noted that tris(1,2-aminomethylferrocenyl)stibine represents the first example of a structurally characterized ferrocenyl pnictogen where three 1,2-disubstituted ferrocenyl groups are attached to the central antimony atom and phosphorus analogue of the stibine is missing in the literature. Stibine (1) shows a hypervalent Sb–N interaction while stibine (2) does not show this interaction in solid state.     

Redox-active ferrocene-modified pyrimidines and adenine as antitumor agents: structure,separation of enantiomers,and inhihibition of the DNA synthesis in tumor cells

The structures, electrochemical properties, enantiomeric separation of ferrocenyl-(alkyl)pyrimidines and ferrocenyl(ethyl)adenine and their effects on the DNA synthesis in tumor cells were studied. Enantiomeric mixtures were separated by HPLC on modified cellulose as the chiral selector. The electrochemical properties of compounds were studied by cyclic voltammetry. All compounds have reversible single-electron redox transition in the region of 0.52–0.60 V, which belongs to ferrocene—ferrocenium with a positive shift compared to ferrocene (0.52 V). The molecular structure of 1-N-(ferrocenylbenzyl)-5-iodocytosine was studied by X-ray diffraction. 1-N-(Ferrocenylethyl)adenine was studied for ability to inhibit the DNA synthesis in the human ovarian cancer cell culture by the ³H-thymidine test.     

Two-step synthesis of ferrocenyl esters of vanillic acid

Successive reactions of vanillin with aromatic aldehydes at the phenol group and ferroceneboronic acid at the carbonyl group catalyzed with various N-heterocyclic carbenes afforded the corresponding ferrocenyl esters. In these reactions copper(II) sulfate, cinnamic aldehyde, and air oxygen act as oxidants. The resulting ferrocenyl esters of vanillic acid were tested for cytotoxicity.     

Application of the asymmetric hydrogenation of enamines to the preparation of a beta-amino acid pharmacophore

(3R)-3-[N-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl)amino]-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanoic acid 7a has been synthesized by an asymmetric hydrogenation of enamine ester 3 using chiral ferrocenyl ligands I and II in conjunction with [Rh(COD)Cl]₂. The direct reduction of 3 provides amino ester 1b in 93% ee, which was isolated as an (S)-camphorsulfonic acid salt to upgrade the enantiomeric excess to >99%. A more concise approach was developed involving the in situ protection of 1b using di-tert-butyldicarbonate. This approach provided the desired N-Boc amino ester 7b directly from the hydrogenation with 97% ee, which was upgraded to >99% ee upon crystallization.     

Monosubstituted thermotropic ferrocenomesogens containing heterocyclic pyrazole

The synthesis and mesomorphic properties of two series of ferrocenyl derivatives, 5-[4-(4-alkoxylbenzyloxy)phenyl]-3-(4-ferrocenylphenyl)-1H-pyrazoles 1a and 3-[4-(4-ferrocenylbenzyloxy)phenyl]-5-(4-alkoxylphenyl)-1H-pyrazoles 1b are reported. Compounds 1a exhibited either nematic (N) or smectic A (SmA) phases, whereas compounds 1b formed N/SmC or SmA/SmC phases depending on the terminal carbon length. The formation of SmC phases in compounds 1b was attributed to better molecular interaction between layers since the ferrocenyl unit was remotely located one phenyl ring away from pyrazole core. In contrast, their precursors, ferrocenyl β-diketonates, were in fact non-mesogenic. A less bent shape formed by ferrocenyl pyrazoles than ferrocenyl β-diketones was believed to be responsible for the formation of observed mesophases. The crystal and molecular structure of 3-[4-(4-ferrocenylbenzyloxy)phenyl]-5-(4-hexyloxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazole (1b; n=6) was determined by means of X-ray structural analysis. It crystallizes in the triclinic space group p-1, with a=11.0725(5) Å, b=12.5514(5) Å, c=14.2085(6) Å, and Z=2. The molecular arrangement was quite consistent with the layer structure observed by powder X-ray diffractometer. The cyclic voltammogram measured for 1 and 2 (n=16) indicated that incorporation of pyrazole group hardly influenced the electrochemical behavior of the ferrocenyl moiety.     

Diferrocenylcyclopropenyl cations. Synthesis, structures, and some chemical properties

Synthesis of diferrocenylcyclopropenyl tetrafluoroborates with hetero-substituents in the three-membered ring, viz., ethoxy, trityloxy, ferrocenyl(phenyl)methoxy, N,N-diethylamino, piperidino, and morpholino, is described. The spatial structure of diferrocenyl(morpholino)cyclopropenyl tetrafluoroborate was established based on the data from X-ray diffraction analysis. Under the action of potassium tert-butoxide, all the diferrocenylcyclopropenyl tetrafluoroborates undergo three-membered ring-opening with formation of the corresponding 2,3-diferrocenylacrylic acid derivatives. A mechanism of the ring-opening is suggested.     

Synthesis of versatile intermediates of the ferrocene series: reductive amination of ferrocenecarbaldehyde

Reductive amination of ferrocenecarbaldehyde with several primary and secondary amines in the presence of sodium triacetoxyborohydride was studied. This method was used for the synthesis of new ferrocenylmethylamines, viz., N-(ferrocenylmethyl)isoleucine methyl ester, N,N-bis(ferrocenylmethyl)glycine ethyl ester, and N-(3,5-dibenzyloxybenzyl)-N-(ferrocenylmethyl)methylamine. The latter is a potential precursor of a dendrimer with the chiral ferrocenyl plane in the core.     

Surface functionalization with redox active molecule-based imidazolium via click chemistry

In this study, the redox active molecule N-ferrocenylmethyl-N-propargylimidazolium bromide was immobilized onto the surface of an electrode. The surface modification was performed by coupling the electrochemical reduction of the 4-azidophenyldiazonium generated in situ with a copper(I) catalyzed click chemistry reaction. Surface and electrochemical investigations suggest the attachment of a monolayer of redox active molecules containing an ionic liquid framework onto the electrode surface. Furthermore, scanning electrochemical microscopy studies revealed the conductive behavior of the attached ferrocenyl moieties on the ITO surface.     

New 1,2-disubstituted ferrocenyl stibines containing N-heterocyclic pendant arm: Sb-N hypervalent compounds

New 1,2-disubstituted ferrocenyl stibines viz. containing -CH₂NR or -CH₂NHR pendant arm at the ortho-position have been synthesized and characterized by various physicochemical methods. These new ferrocenylstibines were prepared by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of diphenyl[(N,N,N-trimethylaminomethylferrocenyl)iodide]stibine by different primary amines and secondary heterocyclic amines viz. furan-2-ylmethylamine, p-aminoacetophenone, 3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-aniline, 4-hydroxypiperidine, 1-ethylpiperazine and 4-(4-bromophenyl)-4-hydroxypiperidine. Molecular structure of stibine (2), (3), (5) and (7) have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Stibine (2), (5) and (7) show a weak hypervalent Sb-N interaction while stibine (3) does not show this interaction in solid state.     

Novel rhodium complexes with ferrocene-based N-heterocylic carbenes: Synthesis,structure and catalysis

The synthesis of a chiral N-heterocyclic carbene with an oxazolinyl ferrocenyl substituent is reported. The X-ray crystal structure of a rhodium complex reveals the chelating properties of the ligand, and catalysis studies demonstrate the capability of the rhodium complexes to catalyze hydrosilylations of ketones.     

A tandem mass spectrometric investigation of N-(3-ferrocenyl-2-naphthoyl) dipeptide ethyl esters and N-(6-ferrocenyl-2-naphthoyl) dipeptide ethyl esters

N‐(3‐Ferrocenyl‐2‐naphthoyl) dipeptide ethyl esters 1–4 and N‐(6‐ferrocenyl‐2‐naphthoyl) dipeptide ethyl esters 5–8 were prepared by coupling either 3‐ferrocenylnaphthalene‐2‐carboxylic acid or 6‐ferrocenylnaphthalene‐2‐carboxylic acid to the dipeptide ethyl esters GlyGly(OEt) (1, 5), AlaGly(OEt) (2, 6), GlyPhe(OEt) (3, 7) and GlyLeu(OEt) (4, 8), using the standard N‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐N'‐ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride, 1‐hydroxybenzotriazole protocol. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI‐MS) were employed in conjunction with tandem mass spectrometry in the analysis of N‐(3‐ferrocenyl‐2‐naphthoyl) dipeptide ethyl esters 1–4 and N‐(6‐ferrocenyl‐2‐naphthoyl) dipeptide ethyl esters 5–8. Radical cations, [M]^+? and [M + H]⁺ species were both observed in the mass spectra. Intense sodium [M + Na]⁺ and potassium [M + K]⁺ adducts were also present. An important diagnostic ion at m/z [M–65]⁺ was observed in both the MS and MS/MS spectra of the N‐(3‐ferrocenyl‐2‐naphthoyl) dipeptide derivatives. Sequence‐specific ions were generally not observed in the MS/MS spectra of the N‐(3‐ferrocenyl‐2‐naphthoyl) series due to formation of the diagnostic [M–65]⁺ ion. Sequence‐specific ions were observed in the MS/MS spectra of the N‐(6‐ferrocenyl‐2‐naphthoyl) dipeptide esters with charge retention on the derivatized N‐terminal of the dipeptide. Both series of compounds could be successfully analyzed by MALDI without the use of a matrix (LDI). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.