First synthesis of 1,1-ferrocene bis-aminophosphonic esters

The series of aminophosphonates bearing the 1,1^′-bis-substituted ferrocenyl moiety was obtained by the addition of dialkyl phosphites to an azomethine bond of Schiff bases derived from 1,1^′-ferrocene-bis-carboxaldehyde. This addition led to both diastereoisomeric forms demonstrating its behaviour to be contrary to the addition to terephthalic Schiff bases, which led exclusively to a meso-form.     

Derivatives of 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf): Electrochemistry, complexation and the X-ray structures of 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)osmocene (dppo) and [PdCl2(dppo)]

The oxidative electrochemistry of 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)osmocene (dppo) and 1,1′-bis(diphenylarsino)ferrocene (dpaf) was studied in dichloromethane with tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate as the supporting electrolyte. The [MCl₂(P^∩P)] (M = Pd or Pt; P^∩P = dppo or 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphinoindenyl)iron) complexes were prepared, studied electrochemically and the X-ray structures of dppo and [PdCl₂(dppo)] were determined.     

The highly regiospecific synthesis and crystal structure determination of 1,1′-2,5′ substituted ring-locked ferrocenes

1,1′-Ferrocene biscarboxaldehyde (1) has been prepared and the aldehyde groups were subsequently protected with acetal groups to produce 1,1′-bisacetalferrocene (2). A ring-locked ferrocene was synthesised by further derivatisation of the cyclopentadiene rings at the 2,2′ positions with phosphine substituents to produce 2,2′-bis-(acetal)-1,1′-diphenylphosphinoferrocene (3), which was subsequently coordinated to either a nickel chloride (5) or nickel bromide (6) metal centre. The ring-locked ferrocene complexes produced 2,5′-bis-(acetal)-1,1′-diphenylphosphinoferrocene substitution patterns. The acetal protecting groups of 2,2′-bis-(acetal)-1,1′-diphenylphosphinoferrocene were removed to produce 1,1′-bis-carboxaldehyde-2,2′-diphenylphosphinoferrocene (4). The Cp rings of 1,1′-bisacetalferrocene were also further derivatised at the 2,2′ positions with a silane to produce the ring-locked 1,1′-siloxane-2,5′-bisacetalferrocenophane (7). The acetal protecting groups were removed from this to produce 1,1′-siloxane-2,5′-ferrocenophanecarboxaldehyde (8). For both the phosphine and siloxane electrophiles, the substitution on the Cp rings gives chiral products (obtained as racemic mixtures). Due to the highly regioselective nature of the reaction and diastereoselectivity in the products only C₂-symmetric compounds were observed without the presence of meso diastereoisomers. Subsequent ring-locking forced the Cp rings to rotate, leading to 1,1′-ring-locked ferrocenes with 2,5′-arrangement of the acetal groups (i.e. on opposite faces of the ferrocene unit).     

New optically active organoantimony (BINASb) and bismuth (BINABi) compounds comprising a 1,1′-binaphthyl core: synthesis and their use in transition metal-catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones

Racemic 2,2′-bis[diarylstibano]-1,1′-binaphthyls [(±)-BINASbs] and 2,2′-bis[di(p-tolyl)bismuthano]-1,1′-binaphthyl [(±)-BINABi], which are the antimony and bismuth congeners of BINAP, have been prepared from 2,2′-dibromo-1,1′-binaphthyl (DBBN) via 2,2′-dilithio-1,1′-binaphthyl intermediate by treatment with the appropriate metal halides [(p-Tol)₂SbBr, Ph₂SbBr and (p-Tol)₂BiCl]. The optical resolution of the (±)-BINASbs could be achieved via the separation of a mixture of the diastereomeric Pd-complexes derived from the reaction of (±)-BINASbs with di-μ-chlorobis{(S)-2-[1-(dimethylamino)-ethyl]phenyl-C¹,N}dipalladium(II). Optically active (R)-BINASb and (R)-BINABi could be also obtained from optically active (R)-DBBN by the same procedure. The enantiopure BINASbs have been shown to be effective chiral ligands for the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones.     

Further solvent-free reactions of ferrocenylaldehydes: Synthesis of 1,1′-ferrocenyldiimines and ferrocenylacrylonitriles

Grinding of 1,1′-ferrocenedicarboxaldehyde with a 2.2 molar equivalent of an aromatic amine in a solvent-free environment provided excellent yields of 1,1′-ferrocenyldiimines. After mixing the aldehyde and amines, a gum or melt formed which eventually solidified to the product. An analytically pure sample of the product was obtained by cold recrystallization. Grinding of ferrocenecarboxaldehyde and 4-substituted phenylacetonitriles under solvent-free conditions provided good yields of the corresponding ferrocenylacrylonitriles. The yield in this reaction was very low when the substituent group para to the acetonitrile group was electron-donating.     

A simple synthetic approach to homochiral 6- and 6′-substituted 1,1′-binaphthyl derivatives

Various homochiral binaphthyl derivatives having functional groups at the 6-position are important key intermediates for the immobilization of binaphthyl compounds on various solid-supports and have been prepared from commercially available 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol via controlled monopivalation of the 2-hydroxyl group and electrophilic aromatic substitution at the 6-position. (S)-2,2′-Bis-((S)-4-alkyloxazol-2-yl)-6-(2-methoxycarbonyl)ethyl-1,1′-binaphthyls (6-functionalized (S,S)-boxax)) were prepared and immobilized on various polymer supports including PS-PEG, PS, PEGA and MeO-PEG resin.     

Facile acid-catalyzed condensation of 2-hydroxy-2,2′-biindan-1,1′,3,3′-tetrone with phenols, methoxyaromatic systems and enols

Various phenols, methoxy aromatic compounds, 3- and 4-hydroxycoumarins and enols smoothly condense with 2-hydroxy-2,2′-biindan-1,1′,3,3′-tetrone 1 in an acid medium producing 2-aryl/alkyl-2,2′-biindan-1,1′,3,3′-tetrones in high yields. The adducts of resorcinol, 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene and α- and β-naphthols of 1 preferably remain in the intramolecular hemi-ketal form, confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. On the other hand para and meta substituted phenols condense with 1 in an acid medium to produce 6 or 7 substituted 2′,4-spiro(1′,3′-indanedion)-indeno[3,2-b]chromenes in good yields.     

Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxicity of some palladium(II), platinum(II), rhodium(I) and iridium(I) complexes of ferrocenylpyridine and related ligands. Crystal and molecular structure of trans-dichlorobis(3-ferrocenylpyridine)palladium(II)

The preparation of a series of ferrocenyl nitrogen donor ligands including ferrocenylpyridines, ferrocenylphenylpyridines and 1,1^′-di(2-pyridyl)ferrocene is described. Coordination studies of the substituted pyridines (L) were carried out with platinum, palladium, rhodium and iridium. This resulted in the preparation of the following types of complexes: [MCl(CO)₂(L)] and [M(cod)(L)₂]ClO₄ where M=Rh or Ir, cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene; [M^′Cl₂(L)₂] where M^′=Pt or Pd. The X-ray crystal structure of trans-dichlorobis(3-ferrocenylpyridine)palladium was obtained. The complexes were screened for activity against two human cancer cell lines. At least two of the complexes displayed growth inhibition similar to that of the widely used chemotherapeutic agent, cisplatin.     

Control over the chirality of (R)-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol dibenzoate in nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of (R)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol dibenzoate (R-BND) ranging from 40 to 170 nm were prepared by using the reprecipitation method. The nanoparticles exhibit size-dependent exciton chirality, where the coupling potential V₁₂ of ¹B_b transitions increases as nanoparticles grow and simultaneously the exciton chirality peaks exhibit the bathochromic shift. Such size-dependent optical properties can be attributed to the lattice hardening with increased particle size, which leads to a decreased dihedral angel θ between the two naphthyl planes in a R-BND molecule.     

Difluorocarbene chemistry: synthesis of gem-difluorocyclopropenylalkynes and 3,3,3′,3′-tetrafluorobicyclopropyl-1,1′-dienes

A series of gem-difluorocyclopropenylalkynes are easily obtained in good yields by the Sonogashira reaction of 3,3-difluoro-1-iodocyclopropenes with terminal alkynes. Onto these new alkynes addition of difluorocarbene, generated from the decomposition of FSO₂CF₂COOTMS in diglme in the presence of 10 mol% anhydrous NaF at 120 °C, gives 3,3,3′,3′-tetrafluorobicyclopropyl-1,1′-dienes. Acid hydrolysis of gem-difluorocyclopropenylalkynes in refluxing CH₃OH affords the corresponding methoxycarbonylenynes.     

New N-acyl, N-alkyl, and N-bridged derivatives of rac-6,6′,7,7′-tetramethoxy-1,1′,2,2′,3,3′,4,4′-octahydro-1,1′-bisisoquinoline

The preparation of potential new ligand systems based on the rac-1,1′,2,2′,3,3′,4,4′-octahydro-6,6′,7,7′-tetramethoxy-1,1′-bisisoquinoline skeleton has been investigated. Syntheses of N-(2-bromobenzyl), N-(3-acetoxybenzyl), N-acetyl, N-chloroacetyl, N-chlorocarbonyl, N-ethoxycarbonyl and N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl derivatives and five macrocyclic, polyether containing derivatives are described.     

Acid-catalyzed condensation of 2,2′-diamino-1,1′-biaryls for the synthesis of benzo[c]carbazoles

2,2′-Diamino-1,1′-biaryls were found to undergo ring-closure condensation reaction to afford benzo[c]carbazoles in good to excellent yield. Coupled with the synthesis of 2,2′-biaryldiamines from diaryl hydrazides via [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, it constitutes a new efficient synthetic method for benzo[c]carbazoles and related compounds.     

An isoselective and visual inclusion host system using charge-transfer complexes of 3,3′-disubstituted-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol and methylviologen

A charge-transfer (CT) complex, composed of rac-3,3′-dibromo-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol as the electron donor and 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride as the electron acceptor, is formed only by the inclusion of specific guest molecules. The color of this inclusion CT complex is sensitive to the component guest molecules.     

Synthesis and separation of the atropisomers of 2-(5-benzo[b]fluorenyl)-2′-hydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl and related compounds

Several syn and anti atropisomers of 2-(5-benzo[b]fluorenyl)-2′-hydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl and related compounds were synthesized from 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diol (BINOL). It was possible to separate the syn and anti atropisomers by silica gel column chromatography. The syn atropisomers are potential hetero-bidentate ligands for complex formation with metals. By starting from enantiomerically pure (R)-(+)-BINOL and (S)-(−)-BINOL, four optically active syn atropisomers and two anti atropisomers with high enantiomeric purity were obtained. The structures of two syn atropisomers and one anti atropisomer were established by X-ray structure analyses.     

An effective method for the preparation of mono N-alkyl derivatives of 1,1′-bis(6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline)

The condensation of 1,1′-bis(6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) with alkyl, aralkyl and aryl aldehydes, but not ketones, in ethanol or chloroform provides useful cyclic aminal [8-substituted 5,6,10,11,15b,15c-hexahydro-2,3,13,14-tetramethoxy-8H-imidazo[5,1-a:4,3-a′]diisoquinoline] intermediates that when subsequently treated with sodium cyanoborohydride in ethanol, followed by the addition of 2 M hydrochloric acid, gave monosubstituted N-alkyl 1,1′-bis(6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) derivatives in very high yields. The rates of the initial condensation with four different aldehydes were measured, and the entire sequence was successfully applied in one example to a ‘one-pot’ process; this signals a versatile route to differentially N-substituted 1,1′-bis(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) derivatives.     

Suzuki cross-coupling in aqueous media catalyzed by a 1,1-N-substituted ferrocenediyl Pd(II) complex

Reaction of PdCl₂(MeCN)₂ with Fe[η-C₅H₄NC(H)Ph-N]₂ (1) at MeOH at r.t. gives air-stable PdCl₂Fe[η-C₅H₄NC(H)Ph-N]₂ (2; yield 84%). X-ray single-crystal diffraction analyses show that 2 is a Pd(II) square planar complex with N,N^′ chelation of the ferrocenediyl ligand, without Fe-Pd bond. It effectively catalyzes Suzuki cross-coupling reactions of aryl iodides and bromides with aryl boronic acids in aqueous media under non-homogeneous conditions in which the products can be easily isolated. The reaction conditions including choice of base, catalytic load and catalyst recoverability have been investigated and reported.     

Synthesis and characterization of polybinaphthalene incorporating chiral (R) or (S)-1,1′-binaphthalene and oxadiazole units by Heck reaction

Chiral conjugated polymers P-1 and P-2 were synthesized by the polymerization of (R)-3,3′-diiodo-2,2′-bisbutoxy-1,1′-binaphthalene ((R)-M-1) and (S)-3,3′-diiodo-2,2′-bisbutoxy-1,1′-binaphthalene ((S)-M-1) with 2,5-bis(4-vinylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (M-2) under Pd-catalyzed Heck coupling reaction, respectively. Both monomers and polymers were analysed by NMR, MS, FT-IR, UV, DSC-TG, fluorescent spectroscopy, GPC and CD spectra. The chiral conjugated polymers exhibit strong Cotton effect in their circular dichroism (CD) spectra indicating a high rigidity of polymer backbone. CD spectra of polymers P-1 and P-2 are almost identical and have opposite signs for their position. These polymers have strong blue fluorescence.     

Facile synthesis of 6-iodo-2,2′-dipivaloyloxy-1,1′-binaphthyl, a key intermediate of high reactivity for selective palladium-catalyzed monofunctionalization of the 1,1′-binaphthalene core

A high-yielding procedure for selective monoiodination of 2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl (BINOL) is reported. 6-Iodo-2,2′-dipivaloyloxy-1,1′-binaphthyl, obtained in three steps starting from BINOL in 88% overall yield, proved to be a highly efficient substrate in various palladium-catalyzed coupling (Stille, Heck, Sonogashira, and Suzuki coupling) and carbonylation reactions compared to the analogous 6-bromo derivative.     

Diastereoselective addition of dimethyl phosphite to 3,3′,4,4′-tetramethyl-1,1′-diphosphaferrocene-2-carboxaldehyde

Addition of dimethyl phosphite to racemic 3,3′,4,4′-tetramethyl-1,1′-diphosphaferrocene-2-carboxaldehyde gives almost exclusively one diastereomer of the corresponding α-hydroxyphosphonate (d.r. ?96:4). Its absolute configuration (S, R_p)-(R, S_p) was established by X-ray diffraction.     

Palladium-catalysed reactions of 6-halogeno-1,1′-binaphthyl derivatives. A detailed investigation of structure/reactivity and structure/selectivity relationships

Five 6-halogeno-binaphthyl derivatives of different structure were synthesised starting from 2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl 1. Several new 6-substituted binaphthyl compounds were obtained via the palladium-catalysed reactions of these derivatives. The reactivity of 6-iodo derivatives was much greater in most cases. In cross-coupling reactions the 6-bromo compounds were converted into the products using longer reaction times and/or higher temperatures. The reactivity difference between the two types of substrates was especially marked in aminocarbonylation and Heck reactions.