One-pot synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2,4-dioxobenzo[b][1,4]diazepine and malonamide derivatives using multi-component reactions

In this work, a new series of 1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2,4-dioxobenzo[b][1,4]diazepine and malonamide derivatives have been synthesized using an aromatic 1,2-diamine, Meldrum's acid, an isocyanide, and an arylidene malononitrile (or an aldehyde and malononitrile instead of an arylidene malononitrile) in CH₂Cl₂ at ambient temperature. Synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2,4-dioxobenzo[b][1,4]diazepine proceeded via four- and five-component reactions; while the synthesis of malonamide derivatives was performed using five- and six-component reactions. In addition, a new series of the malonamide derivatives have been prepared using an aldehyde, malononitrile, Meldrum's acid, an isocyanide, and two molecules of 1,4-diamine via a six-component reaction. These procedures provide alternative methods to the synthesis of a new series of 1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2,4-dioxobenzo[b][1,4]diazepine and malonamide derivatives.     

One-pot preparation of azobenzenes from nitrobenzenes by the combination of an indium-catalyzed reductive coupling and a subsequent oxidation

We demonstrated how a reduction step with a reducing system comprised of In(OTf)₃ and Et₃SiH and a subsequent oxidation that occurred under an ambient (oxygen) atmosphere allowed the highly selective and catalytic conversion of aromatic nitro compounds into symmetrical or unsymmetrical azobenzene derivatives. This catalytic system displayed a tolerance for the functional groups on a benzene ring: an alkyl group, a halogen, an acetyl group, an ester, a nitrile group, an acetyl group, an ester moiety, and a sulfonamide group.     

Synthesis of the N-Amykitanosyl Tetramic Acid Moiety of Amycolamicin

An improved five-step synthetic route from l -fucose to an N-glycosyl l -valine methyl ester has been developed. The new route involves glycosidation of l -fucose with phenol in a β-selective manner without protection/deprotection steps and one-pot stereochemical inversion of a secondary alcohol intermediate and is superior to our previous one both in the number of steps and in overall yield. An N-glycosyl l -valine benzyl ester, prepared from l -fucose in an analogous way, has been elaborated into an N-amykitanosyl tetramic acid derivative, Li's synthetic intermediate for amycolamicin, via a four-step sequence which features the utilization of Bestmann's ylide to stereoconvergently construct an N-glycosyl tetramic acid intermediate in a single step, opening of a cyclic carbonate ring with an amine to regioselectively install a carbamate functionality, and visible light-mediated oxidative debenzylation of an N,N-dibenzyl carbamate.     

Investigation of roman age pigments found on pottery fragments

This work deals with the study of the physico-chemical characteristics of pigments found on pottery fragments from an excavation in Vicenza (Contrà Pedemuro S. Biagio). The examined pigments were: a blue colour on a terracotta fragment; an olive green on a black pot bottom; yellow traces on a red depurated terracotta; an olive green plate bottom with an amaranth “a fresco” test; a deep red on a depurated terracotta; a white trace, again on a depurated terracotta. The techniques used were optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), equipped with an energy dispresive (EDS) microanalysis detector, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Most of those techniques were non-destructive and able to provide the required results. All the pigments belonged to the group of basic colours, we did not find “precious” pigments. They have many similarities to those discovered in other European sites in France and Switzerland, witnessing the active trading exchange in which X^a Regio, Venetia et Histria played an important role.     

σ‐Noninnocence: Masked Phenyl‐Cation Transfer at Formal NiIV

Reductive elimination is an elementary organometallic reaction step involving a formal oxidation state change of ?2 at a transition‐metal center. For a series of formal high‐valent Ni^IV complexes, aryl–CF₃ bond‐forming reductive elimination was reported to occur readily (Bour et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015 , 137, 8034–8037). We report a computational analysis of this reaction and find that, unexpectedly, the formal Ni^IV centers are better described as approaching a +II oxidation state, originating from highly covalent metal–ligand bonds, a phenomenon attributable to σ‐noninnocence. A direct consequence is that the elimination of aryl–CF₃ products occurs in an essentially redox‐neutral fashion, as opposed to a reductive elimination. This is supported by an electron flow analysis which shows that an anionic CF₃ group is transferred to an electrophilic aryl group. The uncovered role of σ‐noninnocence in metal–ligand bonding, and of an essentially redox‐neutral elimination as an elementary organometallic reaction step, may constitute concepts of broad relevance to organometallic chemistry.     

A new, one-step synthesis of 1-heteroaryl-2-alkylaminoethanols

Refluxing a mixture of a heteroarylcarboxaldehyde and an N-alkylamino acid in dry toluene, in the presence of 4 Å molecular sieves, results in the formation of β-hydroxyamines through the 1,3-electrocyclisation of an azomethine ylide and the subsequent ring-opening hydrolysis of an aziridine. The intermediacy of an azomethine ylide in this process is suggested by the isolation of oxazolidines from the cycloaddition of the azomethine ylides to their aldehyde precursors.     

Theoretical investigation of changes in the thermodynamic properties of water in the region near an electrode upon the discharge of an hydroxonium ion

A method for investigating solutions in the region near an electrode has been developed in the framework of the Monte Carlo method. The energies of the reorganization of water upon the transfer of an electron to a hydroxonium ion from the unpolarized surface of an absolutely solid charged electrode in the range of surface charge densities from +0.056 to –0.640 C/m² and upon the reverse process have been calculated. The hydration energies of an H₃O⁺ cation and an H₃O^– radical in the region near an electrode have been calculated. The effective interactions of an ion and a nonpolar molecule with an electrode in a solution have been analyzed.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental/naya Khimiya, Vol. 26, No. 5, pp. 596–600, September–October, 1990.     

Halogen‐bonded adduct of 1,2‐dibromo‐1,1,2,2‐tetrafluoroethane and 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane

Halogen bonding is an intermolecular interaction capable of being used to direct extended structures. Typical halogen‐bonding systems involve a noncovalent interaction between a Lewis base, such as an amine, as an acceptor and a halogen atom of a halofluorocarbon as a donor. Vapour‐phase diffusion of 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) with 1,2‐dibromotetrafluoroethane results in crystals of the 1:1 adduct, C₂Br₂F₄·C₆H₁₂N₂, which crystallizes as an infinite one‐dimensional polymeric structure linked by intermolecular N...Br halogen bonds [2.829 (3) Å], which are 0.57 Å shorter than the sum of the van der Waals radii.     

Biomimetic Synthesis of the Calcineurin Phosphatase Inhibitor Dibefurin

Dibefurin is a C_i‐symmetric natural product that acts as an inhibitor of calcineurin phosphatase. A six‐step synthesis of this compound is reported, which features an oxidative dimerization of the aromatic polyketide epicoccine as the key step. Dibefurin is proposed to be related to epicolactone, a complex yet racemic fungal metabolite that has recently been discovered. Attempts to access epicolactone from epicoccine and epicoccone B resulted in an unusual dimer that is formed through a hetero‐Diels–Alder reaction of a para‐quinone methide with an ortho‐quinone.     

Synthesis of cyclobutanones and four-membered enol ethers by using a rearrangement reaction of enol triflates

A new synthetic method of cyclobutanone derivatives and four-membered enol ethers via an intramolecular cyclization of a ketone enolate was developed. The cyclization precursors, enol triflates having a silyloxy group at the β′-position, were synthesized from the corresponding β-hydroxy ketones, which were prepared via an aldol reaction of a cycloalkanone and an aldehyde. Under the influence of TBAF, the enol triflates afforded a cyclobutanone or a four-membered enol ether through rearrangement of the trifluoromethanesulfonyl group followed by an intramolecular C- or O-alkylation reaction.     

Synthesis of 4,5-fused tricyclic quinolines via an acid-promoted intramolecular Friedel–Crafts allenylation of aniline derivatives

A novel method for synthesizing 4,5-fused tricyclic quinoline derivatives based on an acid-promoted intramolecular Friedel–Crafts allenylation of anilines. Using aryl group-substituted propargyl alcohol derivatives with a meta-substituted N-Boc aniline unit as substrates, a four-step reaction sequence involving an acid-promoted intramolecular Friedel–Crafts allenylation of anilines, an acid-promoted intramolecular C–N bond formation, deprotection of the Boc group, and air oxidation proceeded in a single pot, producing the corresponding 4,5-fused tricyclic quinoline derivatives in 31–84% yield.     

Photopolymerization of 1,6‐hexanedioldiacrylate initiated by three‐component systems based on N‐arylphthalimides

Three‐component photoinitiators comprised of an N‐arylphthalimide, a diarylketone, and a tertiary amine were investigated for their initiation efficiency of acrylate polymerization. The use of an electron‐deficient N‐arylphthalimide resulted in a greater acrylate polymerization rate than an electron‐rich N‐arylphthalimide. Triplet energies of each N‐arylphthalimide, determined from their phosphorescence spectra, and the respective rate constants for triplet quenching by the N‐arylphthalimide derivatives (acquired via laser flash photolysis) indicated that an electron–proton transfer from an intermediate radical species to the N‐arylphthalimide (not energy transfer from triplet sensitization) is responsible for generating the initiating radicals under the conditions and species concentrations used for polymerization. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4009–4015, 2004     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)‐Blennolide A

Blennolide A can be synthesized through an enantioselective domino‐Wacker/carbonylation/methoxylation reaction of 7 a with 96 % ee and an enantioselective Wacker oxidation of 7 b with 89 % ee. Further transformations led to the α,β‐unsaturated ester (E)‐ 17 , which was subjected to a highly selective Michael addition, introducing a methyl group to give 18 a . After a threefold oxidation and an intramolecular acylation, the tetrahydroxanthenone 4 was obtained, which could be transformed into (?)‐blennolide A (ent‐ 1 ) in a few steps.     

Artificial model for cystathionine β-synthase: efficient β-replacement reaction with thiols employing a novel pyridoxal model compound having an imidazole function

As a second-generation pyridoxal model compound for cystathionine β-synthase, we designed a novel model compound having an ionophore function and an imidazole function, application of which to the β-replacement reaction with various thiols smoothly took place to give S-substituted cysteines. Peptides having a serine-O-carbonate residue at the N-terminal position were also converted to the corresponding peptides having an S-substituted cysteine residue under the catalytic conditions of the novel pyridoxal model compound.     

N-alkylation of nitriles(1)—II. Synthesis polymerization and quaternization of N-substituted acrylamidines. A new class of acrylic monomers16)

N-Substituted acrylamidines, a new class of acrylic monomers, have been prepared from acrylonitrile, an alkyl halide, a Lewis acid and an amine. The synthesis involves the aminolysis of an N-alkylacrylonitrilium salt with an aliphatic or an aromatic amine. Following this general scheme, 4 examples of N-substituted acrylamidines have been already obtained in 30–50 per cent overall yield based on the starting nitrile. Two of them have been polymerized with azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. By the action of dimethylsulphate, a polyacrylamidinium salt (a new type of polyelectrolyte) has been prepared.     

Partial electro-neutralisation of -α-p-hydroxyphenylglycine in sulphuric acid medium

In the industrial synthesis of -α-p-hydroxyphenylglycine the separation of amino acid is carried out by precipitation. During this process, a mother liquor is produced with a high salt content (2 M phosphates and sulphates) and an amino acid concentration of 0.11–0.12 M. The disposal of this mother liquor causes an environmental problem and an economic loss. The salt content of this mother liquor can be reduced in 70% of the initial by means of an electrodialysis process previously carried out by us, with only an amino acid loss of 15% of the initial. To improve and simplify this process, an electro-electrodialysis process (a membrane electrolysis process; the electrode processes and the transport process across the membrane are used) has been developed in which as a first step, the electro-neutralisation of solutions containing sulphuric acid and -α-p-hydroxyphenylglycine is studied. The sulphuric acid content is reduced to 87% of the initial, without detected loss of amino acid. The final solution is posteriorly neutralised by working up the pH of the solution for precipitating the amino acid, and a mother liquor with approximately 0.10 M -α-p-hydroxyphenylglycine and a low salt content (0.08 M Na₂SO₄) is produced. This mother liquor with low salinity can be recirculated again to a new electro-electrodialysis process.     

Phosphonium-based protic ionic liquid as electrolyte for carbon-based supercapacitors

This study describes the use of a solution of a phosphonium protic ionic liquid [Bu₃HP][BF₄] (3.4 mol L⁻¹) in acetonitrile as an electrolyte for carbon-based supercapacitors, with an operating voltage of 1.5 V and capacities comparable to conventional aqueous electrolytes. The combination of good cycling abilities and an operating temperature ranging from − 40 °C to 80 °C rendered possible the realization of supercapacitors having an extended specific energy in a large temperature range.     

Three‐Component Asymmetric Catalytic Ugi Reaction—Concinnity from Diversity by Substrate‐Mediated Catalyst Assembly

The first chiral catalyst for the three‐component Ugi reaction was identified as a result of a screen of a large set of different BOROX catalysts. The BOROX catalysts were assembled in situ from a chiral biaryl ligand, an amine, water, BH₃?SMe₂ , and an alcohol or phenol. The catalyst screen included 13 different ligands, 12 amines, and 47 alcohols or phenols. The optimal catalyst system (LAP 8‐5‐47) provided α‐amino amides from an aldehyde, a secondary amine, and an isonitrile with excellent asymmetric induction. The catalytically active species is proposed to be an ion pair that consists of the chiral boroxinate anion and an iminium cation.     

Photoinduced electron transfer in a triarylamine-organoboron-Ru(2,2′-bipyridine)32+ compound

Long-range electron transfer reactions play a key role in biological photosynthesis, and they are likely to play an important role for future artificial photosynthetic endeavors as well. The possibility to control the rates for long-range electron transfer with external stimuli is of particular interest in this context. In the work presented herein, we explored a donor–bridge–acceptor compound in which intramolecular electron transfer from a triarylamine donor to a photoexcited Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) acceptor occurs across an organoboron bridge over a distance of approximately 22 Å. Fluoride has a high binding affinity to the organoboron bridge in apolar solutions, and the resulting organofluoroborate has a significantly different electronic structure. We explored to what extent the change from an electron-deficient organoboron wire to an electron-rich organofluoroborate bridge affects long-range electron transfer between the distant triarylamine donor and the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ acceptor.     

Enzyme Mimetic Active Intermediates for Nitrate Reduction in Neutral Aqueous Media

Nitrate is a pervasive aquatic contaminant of global environmental concern. In nature, the most effective nitrate reduction reaction (NRR) is catalyzed by nitrate reductase enzymes at neutral pH, using a highly‐conserved Mo center ligated mainly by oxo and thiolate groups. Mo‐based NRR catalysts mostly function in organic solvents with a low water stability. Recently, an oxo‐containing molybdenum sulfide nanoparticle that serves as an NRR catalyst at neutral pH was first reported. Herein, in a nanoparticle‐catalyzed NRR system a pentavalent Mo^V(=O)S₄ species, an enzyme mimetic, served as an active intermediate for the NRR. Potentiometric titration analysis revealed that a redox synergy among Mo^V?S, S radicals, and Mo^V(=O)S₄ likely play a key role in stabilizing Mo^V(=O)S₄, showing the importance of secondary interactions in facilitating NRR. The first identification and characterization of an oxo‐ and thiolate‐ligated Mo intermediates pave the way to the molecular design of efficient enzyme mimetic NRR catalysts in aqueous solution.