Lateral lithiation of N,N′-diaryl ureas

Aromatic ureas bearing N-(2-alkylaryl) groups may be laterally lithiated by treatment with sec-butyllithium. Quenching with a range of electrophiles yields functionalised aryl ureas in excellent yield. Lateral lithiation is favoured when the urea nitrogen adjacent to the aromatic ring in question is alkylated, and when competitive lithiations of such a ring are possible, lateral lithiation is more favourable than the alternative ortholithiation.     

Electrochemical and electrochromic properties of novel aromatic poly(amine-amide)s derived from N,N′-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)-N,N′-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine

A series of novel triphenylamine-containing aromatic poly(amine-amide)s were prepared from the dicarboxylic acid, N,N′-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)-N,N′-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine, and various diamines by direct phosphorylation polycondensation. All the poly(amine-amide)s were amorphous, soluble in a variety of organic solvents, and could be solution cast into transparent, tough, and flexible films with good mechanical properties. They had useful levels of thermal stability associated with relatively high glass-transition temperatures (195-280 °C). These polymers exhibited strong UV-Vis absorption bands at 330-346 nm and their photoluminescence showed maximum bands around 516-535 nm in NMP solution. The hole-transporting and electrochromic properties are examined by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammograms of the poly(amine-amide)s prepared by casting polymer solution onto an indium-tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrate exhibited two reversible oxidative redox couples at potential 0.73-0.78 V and 1.12-1.18 V, respectively vs Ag/AgCl in acetonitrile solution. All the poly(amine-amide)s exhibited excellent reversibility of electrochromic characteristics by continuous ten cyclic scans between 0.0 and 1.40 V, with a color change from original pale yellowish neutral form to the green and then to blue oxidized forms.     

Novel dinuclear and polynuclear copper(II)-pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylate supramolecular complexes with 1,3-propanediamine, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine and 2,2′-bipyridine

Three novel Cu(II)-pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylate complexes with 1,3-propanediamine (pen), [Cu₂(μ-pzdc)₂(pen)₂] · 2H₂O (1), N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (tmen), {[Cu(μ-pzdc)(tmen)] · H₂O}_n(2), and 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy), {[Cu(μ-pzdc)(bipy)]·H₂O}_n(3) have been synthesized and characterized by means of elemental and thermal analyses, magnetic susceptibilities, IR and UV/vis spectroscopic studies. The molecular structures of dinuclear (1) and polynuclear (2 and 3) complexes have been determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylate acts as a bridging ligand through oxygen atom of carboxylate group and N atom of pyrazine ring and one oxygen atom of neighboring carboxylate. It links the Cu(II) ions to generate a distorted square pyramidal geometry forming a one-dimensional (1D) chain. Adjacent chains of 1 and 2 are then mutually linked via hydrogen bonding interactions, which are further assembled to form a two and three-dimensional network, respectively. The chains of complex 3 are further constructed to form three-dimensional framework by hydrogen bonding, C–H?π and ring?ring stacking interactions. In the complexes, Cu(II) ions have distorted square pyramidal geometry. Thermal analyses properties and thermal decomposition mechanism of complexes have been investigated by using thermal analyses techniques (TG, DTG and DTA).     

Catalytic photocarboxylation of 1,1-diphenylethylene with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine and carbon dioxide

Photocarboxylation of 1,1-diphenylethylene with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in MeCN under bubbling of CO₂ proceeded with high catalytic efficiency, giving 3,3-diphenylacrylic acid (DPA) and 3-hydroxy-3,3-diphenylpropionic acid (20). The turnover number (TON=(DPA+20)/TMB) reached 17. Similarly, 1-phenyl-1-cyclohexene yielded cis-2-acetamido-2-phenylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid with TON 5.9. As compared with related N,N-dimethylaniline derivatives, TMB is more resistant to photodecomposition, has the much larger absorbance in the S₀→S₁ transition, and has the lower quenching efficiency by CO₂. Probably these factors are partly responsible for the high TON observed for TMB.     

Synthesis of N,N′-bis and N,N,N′,N′-tetra-[(3,5-di-substituted-1-pyrazolyl)methyl]para-phenylenediamines: new candidate ligands for metal complex wires

A series of tridentate ligands N,N-bis-[(di-substituted-1-pyrazolyl)methyl]arylamines 2-3a,b and benzylamine 4a,b, tetradentate N,N′-bis-[(di-substituted-1-pyrazolyl)methyl]para-phenylenediamines 7a,b and hexadentate N,N,N′,N′-tetra-[(di-substituted-1-pyrazolyl)methyl]para-phenylenediamines 8a,b has been prepared in good yield by condensation of arylamines, benzylamine or para-phenylenediamine with N-hydroxymethyl disubstituted pyrazoles 1a,b. The synthesis and characterisation of these various polydentate ligands are described.     

N,N′-Diisopropyl- and N,N′-dicyclohexylthiourea cadmium(II) complexes as precursors for the synthesis of CdS nanoparticles

Crystals of the cadmium(II) complexes of N,N-diisopropylthiourea and N,N-dicyclohexylthiourea were obtained and their X-ray single crystal structures determined. These complexes are air-stable, easy to prepare and inexpensive and decompose cleanly to give good quality crystalline CdS. The nanoparticles of CdS thus obtained showed quantum confinement effects in their optical spectra, with close to band-edge emission in luminescence experiments. The broad diffraction patterns observed are typical of nanodimensional particles. The variation of concentration of precursor-to-HDA ratio change the isolated materials from spheres to rod-shaped. TEM images showed agglomerates of needle-like plate of particles.     

Influence of N,N,N′,N′-tetraalkyl terephthalamide on isothermal crystallization kinetics and morphology evolution of polypropylene

The influence of N,N,N′,N′-tetraalkyl terephthalamide (TATA) on the isothermal crystallization kinetics of polypropylene (PP) was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that TATA shows a heterogeneous nucleation effect and leads to the formation of β-PP. TATA can not only shorten the crystallization time but also heighten the crystallization temperature of PP. The crystallization rate constant of PP containing TATA is larger than that of pure PP. The evolution of crystalline morphology of PP was investigated on a polarized optical microscopy (POM) equipped with a hot stage and the results showed that the introduction of TATA into PP can quicken the crystallization of PP, which is consistent with DSC results. TATA also leads to a substantial decrease in the spherulite size of PP and the boundaries of spherulites are hardly distinguished.     

Solvent-free reactions of N,N′-thiocarbonyldiimidazole with ferrocenylcarbinols

The efficient and simple routes for the synthesis of various ferrocenyl derivatives from ferrocenylcarbinols and N,N′-thiocarbonyldiimidazole (TCDI) are described. It involves grinding the two substrates in a Pyrex tube with a glass rod at room temperature. The reaction of ferrocenylmethanol (1a) provided S,S-bis(ferrocenylmethyl)dithiocarbonate (1b), whose crystal structure and a plausible mechanism for its formation are also reported. The reaction of 1-ferrocenyl-1-phenylmethanol (2a) and 1-ferrocenylbutanol (2b) gave the products 2c and 2d, respectively. The reaction of ω-ferrocenyl alcohols 4-ferrocenylphenol (3a) and 6-ferrocenylhexan-1-ol (3b) yielded the products 3c and 3d, respectively. Reaction of 1,1′-ferrocenedimethanol (3e) afforded 3f in moderate yield, and by contrast, it was not similar to 1b. Reaction of [4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methanol (4a) provided the thiocarbonate 4b in good yield.     

Synthesis of B-trisubstituted borazines via the rhodium-catalyzed hydroboration of alkenes with N,N′,N″-trimethyl or N,N′,N″-triethylborazine

Hydroboration of terminal and internal alkenes with N,N′,N″-trimethyl- and N,N′,N″-triethylborazine was carried out at 50 °C in the presence of a rhodium(I) catalyst. Addition of dppb or DPEphos (1 equiv.) to RhH(CO)(PPh₃)₃ gave the best catalyst for hydroboration of ethylene at 50 °C, resulting in a quantitative yield of B,B′,B″-triethyl-N,N′,N″-trimethylborazine. On the other hand, a complex prepared from (t-Bu)₃P (4 equiv.) and [Rh(coe)₂Cl]₂ gave the best yield for hydroboration of terminal or internal alkenes.     

Convenient synthesis of carbamates, S-alkyl thiocarbamates, and N,N′-disubstituted urea derivatives of methoxycarbonylsulfenyl isocyanate

Convenient simple and suitable methods for the synthesis of carbamates, N,N′-unsymmetrically disubstituted ureas, and S-alkyl thiocarbamates derived from CH₃OC(O)SNCO in one-step are provided. Reactions are operationally simple and have high selectivity toward nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur nucleophiles. The absence of solvents coupled with high yields and short reaction times make these procedures very attractive for synthesis.     

Efficient synthesis of N,N′-dialkyl-N″-dialkylaminocarbothioyl thioureas from cyclic secondary amines, CS2, and N,N′-dialkyl carbodiimides in water

A mild, convenient, and practical one-pot procedure for direct synthesis of N,N′-dialkyl-N″-dialkylaminocarbothioyl thioureas is described via three-component reaction of cyclic secondary amines, CS₂, and N,N′-dialkyl carbodiimides in water at room temperature.     

Mild and regioselective iodination of aromatic compounds with N,N′-diiodo-N,N′-1,2-ethanediylbis(p-toluenesulphonamide)

N,N′-Diiodo-N,N′-1,2-ethanediylbis(p-tolouenesulphonamide) [NIBTS] and catalytic trifluoroacetic acid can be used for the regioselective iodination of aromatic compounds in acetonitrile under mild conditions in excellent yields.     

A concise synthesis of asymmetrical N,N′-disubstituted guanidines

We present a new and concise method for the preparation of asymmetrical N,N′-disubstituted guanidines starting from thiourea via the reaction of N-Boc-protected N′-alkyl/aryl substituted thioureas with an amine in the presence of mercury(II) chloride and triethylamine.     

Reactions of P4S10 and pyPS2Cl with N,N′-diphenylurea and N,N′-diphenylthiourea

The reaction of P₄S₁₀ (1) with N,N′-diphenylurea (PhNH)₂CO (2) results in new heterocyclic compounds: the pyridinium salt of 1,3-diphenyl-2-sulfido-2-thioxo-1,3-diaza-2λ⁵-phosphetidine (3) (with a P–N–C–N cycle) and the pyridinium salt of 1,4-diphenyl-2,5-disulfido-2,5-dithioxo-1,4-dithiadiaza-2λ⁵,5λ⁵-diphosphinane (4), containing the (P–S–N)₂ cycle and the cyclic thiophosphates [pyH]₂[P₂S₈] (5), [pyH]₂[P₂S₇] (6) and [pyH]₃[P₃S₉] (7). A similar reaction, but carried out with N,N′-diphenylthiourea (PhNH)₂CS (8), leads to the formation of 4 and 6. pyPS₂Cl (9), used as an alternative starting material, also yields compounds 3, 4, 5, and further [pyH][PS₂Cl₂] (10) and S₈ after reaction with 2. Compound 3 reacts with Pd(CH₃COO)₂, with the formation of the complex [Pd(Ph₂N₂COPS₂)₂] (11). The crystal structures of 3 and 7 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Fluorescence quenching of conjugated polymer by coupling plasmonic silver nanocap array

The optical properties of poly(2,5-dioctyloxy-p-phenylene) (DOO-PPP) coupled to a silver nanocap array are investigated by Raman and photoluminescence spectra. The emission intensity of the DOO-PPP coupled to the silver nanocap array is much weaker than that of the DOO-PPP film due to the fluorescence quenching of the silver nanocap array. In contrast with the freshly prepared sample, the fluorescence quenching efficiency of the silver nanocap array is obviously decreased for the sample exposed in air; correspondingly, the Raman intensity at 1609 cm⁻¹ is markedly decreased, which is characteristic Raman peak of the inter-ring CC stretching vibration in the conjugated polymer. The experimental results indicate that the inter-ring CC stretching vibration plays an important role for the fluorescence quenching in the DOO-PPP coupled to the silver nanocap array.     

N,N′-Diaminoethane linked bis-TEMPO-mediated free radical polymerization of styrene

The N,N′-diaminoethane linked bis-TEMPO nitroxide (C2)-mediated free radical polymerization of styrene at 135 °C in bulk was studied. It was found that under comparable conditions a single nitroxide group of C2 biradical retards the polymerization more than TEMPO. The results were discussed in terms of through-space interactions between two TEMPO moieties of C2 biradical and diffusion effects. According to experimental results analyzed by means of statistical methods, the polymerization system displays a bimodal molecular-weight distribution (MWD) from the beginning of the polymerization process, most probably by undergoing decomposition side reactions leading to irreversible polymer arm (P) separation from PC2P to PC2 and PC2H alkoxyamines. The scale of the decomposition depends rather on the time the system is maintained at the polymerization temperature than on conversion of monomer. Generally, the contribution of low molecular weight chains to overall MWD increases with time of polymerization whereas the contribution of high molecular weight chains to MWD increases for less controlled polymerization systems. For polymers obtained at high [dinitroxide]/[initiator] ratio, the thermal treatment of polystyrene in mass at 135 °C unexpectedly revealed an increase of M_n, which can probably be ascribed to post-polymerization effects involving polystyrene with unsaturated chains end groups.     

Coordination compounds of N,N′-olefin functionalized imidazolin-2-ylidenes

N-Heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHC) were metalated with Pd(OAc)₂ or [Ni(CH₃CN)₆](BF₄)₂ by in situ deprotonation of imidazolium salts to give the N-olefin functionalized biscarbene complexes [MX₂(NHC)₂] 3-7 (3: M = Pd, X = Br, NHC = 1,3-di(3-butenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene; 4: M = Pd, X = Br, NHC = 1,3-di(4-pentenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene; 5: M = Pd, X = I, NHC = 1,3-diallylimidazolin-2-ylidene; 6: M = Ni, X = I, NHC = 1,3-diallylimidazolin-2-ylidene; 7: M = Ni, X = I, NHC = 1-methyl-3-allylimidazolin-2-ylidene). Molecular structure determinations for 4-7 revealed that square-planar complexes with cis (5) or trans (4, 6, 7) coordination geometry at the metal center had been obtained. Reaction of nickelocene with imidazolium bromides afforded the η⁵-cyclopentadienyl (η⁵-Cp) monocarbene nickel complexes [NiBr(η⁵-Cp)(NHC)] 8 and 9 (8: NHC = 1-methyl-3-allylimidazolin-2-ylidene; 9: NHC = 1,3-diallylimidazolin-2-ylidene). The bromine abstraction in complexes 8 and 9 with silver tetrafluoroborate gave complexes [NiBr(η⁵-Cp)(η³-NHC)] 10 and 11. The X-ray structure analysis of 10 and 11 showed a trigonal-pyramidal coordination geometry at the nickel(II) center and coordination of one N-allyl substituent.     

Poly(N-bromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide) and N,N,N′,N′-tetrabromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide as novel catalytic reagents for silylation of alcohols, phenols, and thiols using hexamethyldisilazane

Poly(N-bromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide) [PBBS] and N,N,N′,N′-tetrabromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide [TBBDA] are effective catalysts for the silylation of alcohols, phenols, and thiols in the presence of hexamethyldisilazane with, or without solvent, and also under microwave irradiation.