Experimental and computational studies of molecules with close,non-bonded hydrogen–hydrogen contacts: common computational methods grossly overestimate some ‘through-space’ NMR scalar coupling constants

The NMR spin–spin scalar coupling constants (J_HH's) of closely contacting, but non-bonded hydrogen atoms in a series of highly strained molecules (including a new in,in-cyclophane made specifically for this study) have been examined both experimentally and computationally. The experimental J_HH's are invariably quite small (0.1–0.6 Hz), but common DFT methods with modest basis sets nearly always overestimate these values, by factors of 10–30, and even with quite large basis sets (up to cc-pVQZ) the J_HH's of two of the molecules are overestimated by a factor of 10 or more. Possible reasons for these discrepancies are discussed.     

Ring expansion of 11H-benzo[b]fluorene-11-methanols and related compounds leading to 17,18-diphenyldibenzo[a,o]pentaphene and related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with extended conjugation and novel architectures

Condensation between 7-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-13-phenyl-8H-indeno[2,1-b]phenanthrene and paraformaldehyde produced the corresponding 9-fluorenylmethanol derivative, which on treatment with P₂O₅ to promote a Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement for ring expansion furnished 14-phenyldibenzo[a,j]anthracene in 88% yield. Similarly, 17,18-diphenyldibenzo[a,o]pentaphene possessing a helical twist and bearing two phenyl substituents at the most sterically congested C17 and C18 positions and other related compounds were likewise synthesized. Subsequent intramolecular arylation reactions involving the phenyl substituents produced polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with novel architectures.     

A novel synthesis of N(1)-(substituted)-pyrimido[5,4-e]-1,2,4-triazine-5,7(1H,6H)-diones

A new synthesis of N₁-(substituted)-pyrimido[5,4-e]-1,2,4-triazine-5,7(1H,6H)-diones, which are analogues of the natural product toxoflavin, is reported. Condensation of preformed alkyl or aryl hydrazones with 6-chloro-3-methyl-5-nitrouracil efficiently provides pyrimidotriazinediones in a three-step process that broadens the scope of R₁ substituents.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of a dichloro zinc complex of N,N′-bis-(2,6-dichloro-benzyl)-(R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane: Application to ring opening polymerization of rac-lactide

A novel dichloro zinc complex (L¹)ZnCl₂, where L¹ is N,N′-bis-(2,6-dichloro-benzyl)-(R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane, has been synthesized and characterized. The dimethyl derivatives, generated in situ from the well characterized dichloro zinc complexes (L¹)ZnCl₂ and (L²)ZnCl₂, where L² is N,N′-bis-(benzyl)-(R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane, were employed as initiators for the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide (rac-LA). The complexes were found to be highly efficient initiators yielding the polylactide (PLA) with a narrow molecular weight distribution. The catalytic activity and heterotactic selectivity of the Zn(II) complexes were affected by the substituents on the phenyl groups of benzyl moieties in (R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane. The dimethyl derivative of (L²)ZnCl₂ produced highly stereocontrolled PLA with P_r = 0.75 at −25 °C.     

Phosphorus macrocycles and cryptands

The reviews covers authors" studies dealing with the synthesis of P^III- and P^V-containing macrocycles and cryptands. The separation, structural characterization, and the chemical properties of a number of homeomorphic compounds with in,out bridgehead phosphorus atoms are described. Modification of the in-positions in macrobicyclic compounds with bulky groups is described for the first time.     

Electrochemical carboxylation of fluorocontaining imines with preparation of fluorinated N-phenylphenylglycines

A possibility of obtaining fluorine-containing N-phenylphenylglycine derivatives at yields of up to 85% via the electrochemical carboxylation of corresponding benzalanilines was shown. The influence of imine's electron structure, the nature of supporting electrolyte and cathodic material on such processes is examined. It was found, that increasing electron accepting ability of the substituents in benzylidene and aniline fragments of the imine molecule lead to decrease of amino acid yields. The dependence of the N-phenyl-p-fluorophenylglycine yield on the cathode material (Zn, GC, Cu, Ag, Pt) and on the nature of the supporting electrolytes (Bu₄NBr, Et₄NBr, Et₄NClO₄, PhCH₂Me₃NClO₄, LiBF₄, LiClO₄, NaBF₄ and KBF₄) was investigated. The highest amino acid yields were obtained at cathodes (GC and Zn) that do not exhibit specific adsorption of fluorine-containing imines, as well as in the presence of background salts (Alk₄NBr) whose cations do not show tendency to strong ion pairing with anion radicals formed by the electrochemical activation of the imines.     

Exploring structural and conformational behaviour of cyclophanes incorporating imidazole-2-thiones

New cyclophanes containing two imidazole-2-thione moieties linked by two xylylene groups have been synthesized by the reaction of imidazolium-linked cyclophanes with sulfur in the presence of K₂CO₃. The conformational behaviour of the new cyclophanes was explored by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies. In cyclophanes containing o-xylylene or 2,4,6-trimethyl-m-xylylene linking groups, the imidazole-2-thione groups were mutually syn in both the solid state and in solution, the cyclophanes adopting a conformation reminiscent of the cone conformation of calix[4]arenes. Cyclophanes containing p-xylylene or m-xylylene linking groups exhibited two conformations in solution, one in which the imidazole-2-thione groups are mutually syn, the other in which they are mutually anti, and these conformations did not interconvert on the NMR timescale. Both conformations co-crystallised in the m-xylylene linked cyclophane, while for the p-xylylene-linked cyclophane the anti conformation crystallised separately.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of alkenes with planar chiral 2-phosphino-1-aminoferrocene-iridium(I) complexes

The first highly enantioenriched and enantiopure planar chiral 2-phosphino-1-aminoferrocene ligands and their Ir(COD)BAr_F complexes are reported. The ligands display bidentate coordination behavior towards iridium, as indicated by trends in ³¹P and ¹H NMR spectra of the phosphine moieties and the α to nitrogen substituents of the amines. All of the new complexes showed good reactivity as catalysts in promoting asymmetric hydrogenation of several prochiral alkenes, with enantioselectivities up to 92%. Iridium complexes of dimethylaminoferrocene derivatives containing P-Ar groups [PPh₂ and P(o-tol)₂] gave the highest levels of asymmetric induction.     

Synthesis and structures of polychalcogenadistannabicyclo[k.l.m]alkanes

Reaction of steric encumbered trichlorostannane with disodium sulfide or dilithium selenide gave 2,4-dimercapto-1,3,2,4-dithiadistannetane or tetraselenadistannabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane, respectively. Reactions of steric encumbered trihydrostannane with elemental chalcogens gave pentachalcogenadistannabicyclo[k.1.1]heptanes (k = 2 and 3). The two bridgehead tin atoms of the first polychalcogenadistannabicyclo[k.l.m]alkanes are concluded to have no significant bonding interaction, judging from the longer bond distances than those of the normal tin-tin single bonds.     

Fluorinated phenylcyclopropylamines: Part 6. Effects of electron withdrawing or donating aryl substituents on the inhibition of tyramine oxidase from Arthrobacter sp. by diastereomeric 2-aryl-2-fluoro-cyclopropylamines

Diastereomeric arylcyclopropylamines substituted with fluorine in the 2-position and with electron donating or electron withdrawing groups at the aromatic ring were evaluated as inhibitors of microbial tyramine oxidase. The trans-isomers were consistently more potent inhibitors of the enzyme than the cis-isomers. Electron donating substituents increased the potency of tyramine oxidase inhibition, while electron withdrawing substituents decreased the activity. The results obtained are discussed in terms of pK_a and log D values of the inhibitors as well as the mechanism of action of tranylcypromines and the geometry of the active site of the enzyme.     

Electronic and steric effects of ligands as control elements for rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

Electronic and steric effects in the rhodium diphosphinite catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation were investigated. A series of electronically and sterically modified (S)-BINOL and (S)-H₈-BINOL ligands was synthesized and effects on the catalytic performance were studied. Phosphinite basicity was varied by using p-CH₃O, p-CH₃, p-H, p-CF₃, 3,5-(CH₃)₂, 3,5-(CF₃)₂ substituents on the diphenylphosphine moieties. In the hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate and methyl (Z)-α-acetamido cinnamate an increase in enantioselectivity and activity was observed with increasing phosphine basicity.     

Crystal chemistry and crystallography of the SrR2CuO5 (R=lanthanides) phases

The crystal chemistry and crystallography of the compounds SrR₂CuO₅ (Sr-121, R=lanthanides) were investigated using the powder X-ray Rietveld refinement technique. Among the 11 compositions studied, only R=Dy and Ho formed the stable SrR₂CuO₅ phase. SrR₂CuO₅ was found to be isostructural with the “green phase”, BaR₂CuO₅. The basic structure is orthorhombic with space group Pnma. The lattice parameters for SrDyCuO₅ are a=12.08080(6) Å, b=5.60421(2) Å, c=7.12971(3) Å, V=482.705(4) Å³, and Z=8; and for the Ho analog are a=12.03727(12) Å, b=5.58947(7) Å, c=7.10169(7) Å, V=477.816(9) Å³, and Z=8. In the SrR₂CuO₅ structure, each R is surrounded by seven oxygen atoms, forming a monocapped trigonal prism (RO₇). The isolated CuO₅ group forms a distorted square pyramid. Consecutive layers of prisms are stacked in the b-direction. Bond valence calculations imply that residual strain is largely responsible for the narrow stability of the SrR₂CuO₅ phases with R=Dy and Ho only. X-ray powder reference diffraction patterns for SrDy₂CuO₅ and SrHo₂CuO₅ were determined.     

Synthetic,spectral and structural studies of mononuclear tris(κ-amidate) aluminium complexes supported by tripodal ligands

The synthesis and characterization of mononuclear tris(κ²-amidate) aluminium complexes supported by the tripodal ligands, [N(o-PhNC(O)R)₃]³⁻ (R = ⁱPr and ^tBu), are described. The molecular structures of [Al(N(o-PhNC(O)ⁱPr)₃)] and [Al(N(o-PhNC(O)^tBu)₃)] have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. Both neutral six-coordinate aluminium complexes display coordination geometries that are intermediate between octahedral and trigonal prismatic. Solution-state NMR studies (¹H, ¹³C and ²⁷Al) indicate that these structures are non-fluxional in solution. Detailed analysis of the solid-state structures shows that slight changes in the relative size of the amidate acyl substituents do not significantly impact the solid-state structures. However, large substituents may be required to prevent the formation of multinuclear species.     

10b-Substituted hexahydropyrrolo-isoquinolines: studies on diastereoselective formation of a quaternary carbon stereocenter via N-acyliminium ion cyclization

The stereoselective synthesis of hexahydro-pyrroloisoquinolines with a quaternary carbon stereocenter is described. The presented methodology employs the addition of a Grignard reagent to the carbonyl group of imide 1, derived from l-tartaric acid, followed by acetylation and BF₃·Et₂O induced cyclization. The acetylation-cyclization sequence can be run either as a one-pot process, or stepwise in a selected solvents. The crucial step, an acid-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction via an N-acyliminium ion offers high stereoselectivity, which has been shown to be strongly dependent on the size of the R¹ substituents and the reaction conditions, that is, choice of solvent, amount of a Lewis acid, temperature, and concentration of the substrate. Based on the results observed, participation of solvent in the cyclization, via an N-acyliminium cation is proposed.     

Syntheses and structures of zinc and tin(II) compounds with hemilabile N-silyl-tert-butylamido and N-silyl-p-tolylamido ligands that contain pendent tert-butoxy groups

Syntheses and solid-state structures of zinc and tin(II) compounds, containing the N-silyl-amide ligands (O^tBu)(NR)SiMe₂, R = ^tBu (L^tBu), or R = p-tolyl (L^pTol), are reported. The N-silyl amines were synthesized by modified published procedures from commercially available Me₂SiCl₂, ^tBuOH, and ^tBuNH₂, or p-Me-C₆H₄NH₂, respectively. Treatment of SnCl₂ with LiL^pTol furnished Sn(L^pTol)₂, which was X-ray structurally characterized and shown to contain two covalent Sn-N bonds and two asymmetrical O → Sn donor bonds. The single-crystal X-ray structure of Sn(L^tBu)₂ revealed a much more symmetrically-coordinated, pseudo-trigonal-bipyramidal tin atom. Aminolysis of diethylzinc with HL^pTol produced [EtZn(L^pTol)]₂, which crystallized as a centrosymmetric dimer, containing four-coordinate zinc atoms connected by bridging amides. Zinc dichloride, by contrast, reacted with two equivalents of LiL^tBu to produce the homoleptic, pseudo-spirocyclic Zn(L^tBu)₂.     

PtCl2-catalyzed reactions of o-alkynylanilines with ethyl propiolate and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

The PtCl₂-catalyzed reactions between indoles and ethyl propiolate gave rise to mono and double addition products. The composition of the products was largely influenced by the substituents on the indoles as well as the amount of ethyl propiolate used. o-Alkynylanilines reacted with ethyl propiolate and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate under the catalysis of PtCl₂ to generate the corresponding 2,3-disubstituted indoles. The reaction proceeded by following a sequential cyclization/intermolecular addition pathway.     

Diastereoselective formation of homochiral flexible perylene bisimide cyclophanes and their hybrids with fullerenes

Cyclophanes of different ring sizes featuring perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid bisimide (PBI) linked by flexible malonates were designed, synthesized, and investigated with respect to their structural, chemical and photo-physical properties. It is predominantly the number of PBIs and their geometric arrangement, which influence dramatically their properties. For example, two-PBI containing cyclophanes reveal physico-chemical characteristics that are governed by strong co-facial π–π interactions. This is in stark contrast to cyclophanes with either three or four PBIs. Key to co-facial π–π stackings are the flexible malonate linkers, which, in turn, set up the ways and means for diastereoselectivity of the homochiral PBIs at low temperatures, on one hand. In terms of selectivity, diastereomeric (M,M)/(P,P) : (M,P)/(P,M) pairs with a ratio of approximately 10 : 1 are discernible in the ¹H NMR spectra in C₂D₂Cl₄ and a complete diastereomeric excess is found in CD₂Cl₂. On the other hand, symmetry-breaking charge transfer as well as charge separation at room temperature are corroborated in steady-state and time-resolved photo-physical investigations. Less favourable are co-facial π–π stackings in the three-PBI containing cyclophanes. For statistical reasons, the diastereoisomers (M,M,M)/(P,P,P) and (M,M,P)/(P,P,M) occur here in a ratio of 1 : 3. In this case, symmetry-breaking charge transfer as well as charge separation are both slowed down. The work was rounded-off by integrating next to the PBIs, for the first time, hydrophobic or hydrophilic fullerenes into the resulting cyclophanes. Our novel fullerene–PBI cyclophanes reveal unprecedented diastereoselective formation of homochiral (M,M)/(P,P) pairs exceeding the traditional host–guest approach. Hybridization with fullerenes allows us to modulate the resulting solubility, stacking, cavity and chirality, which is of tremendous interest in the field.

Perylene bisimide (PBI) cyclophanes linked by flexible malonates were functionalized with fullerenes. Modulation of the chemical environment enhances the chiral self-sorting, leading exclusively to the homochiral diastereomeric pair (M,M)/(P,P).     

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.