The synthesis and structure of potassium cyanotrimethylaluminate

The reaction of KCN with Al(CH₃)₃ to form K[Al(CH₃)₃CN] is greatly facilitated by the presence of an aromatic solvent: for p-xylene a solid complex, K[Al(CH₃)₃CN]·C₆H₄(CH₃)₂, has been isolated. The crystal structure of potassium cyanotrimethylaluminate has been determined from three-dimensional X-ray data measured by counter methods. K[Al(CH₃)₃CN] crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with cell dimensions a = 19.902(7), b = 9.211(4), c = 9.615(4) Å, β = 107.74(5)°, and p_calcd. = 1.09 g cm^?1 for Z = 8. Least squares refinement gave a conventional weighted R factor of 4.9% for 807 independent reflections. The monomeric [Al(CH₃)₃CN]^? units possess no crystallographic symmetry, and the packing in the unit cell is such that the nitrogen atoms on three such units approach the potassium atom to within 3.11 Å. The average aluminum-methyl carbon bond distance is 1.971 (7) Å, while the aluminum-cyano carbon distance is 2.047 (7) Å. This significant lengthening is attributed to partial electron deficiency in the aluminum-cyano carbon bond.     

A novel synthesis of organic diselenapolysulfides

A family of organic polychalcogenides with a common structure of RSeS_xSeR (with x=1, 2, 3 and R=CH₃, Ph, PhCH₂, O₂NC₆H₄CH₂) as well as cyclic 5,5-dimethyl-1,2-dithia-3,7-diselenacycloheptane were synthesized in good yield and high purity from the reaction of Ph₃CS_xCl with corresponding diselenides in chloroform at room temperature. Mechanistic aspects of the insertion involving the formation of an intermediate (RSeS_xCPh₃) are discussed.     

Efficient one-pot synthesis of 2-hydroxyethyl per-O-acetyl glycosides

A class of stereo-isomerically-pure alkanediol monoglycosides, 2-hydroxyethyl per-O-acetyl pyranosides (IIIa-IIIf), was conveniently prepared by a one-pot reaction of per-O-acetylated pyranoses (Ia-If) and 2-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)ethanol (II) with catalysis by BF₃·OEt₂. The α-(IIIa) or β-linked glycosides (IIIb-IIIf) with 1,2-trans-configuration were obtained from glycosyl donors with participation of the neighbouring 2-O-acetyl group. BF₃·OEt₂, along with hydrogen fluoride released from BF₃·OEt₂ under the experimental conditions used, facilitates the subsequent de-protection of siloxane to successfully afford 2-hydroxyethyl per-O-acetyl-pyranosides.     

Asymmetric synthesis of l-proline regio- and stereoselectively labelled with deuterium

A synthesis of l-proline where all of the ring methylenes are stereoselectively labelled with deuterium is described. A catalytic deuteration of protected 3,4-dehydro-l-proline using transition metal catalyst followed by RuO₄-oxidation gave a [3,4-D₂]pyroglutamic acid derivative. A syn-selective deuteration of the aminal derived from the pyroglutamate with Et₃SiD–BF₃·OEt₂ furnished (2S,3S,4R,5S)-[3,4,5-D₃]proline. The present procedure is also applied to the synthesis of the corresponding (2S,3S,4R,5R)-isomer.     

Solid state synthesis of calcium borohydroxyapatite

Calcium borohydroxyapatite was synthesized by the solid-state reaction of colemanite (Ca₂B₆O₁₁·5H₂O) and diamonium hydrogenphosphate ((NH₄)₂HPO₄) at 1200 °C for 12 h. X-ray diffraction pattern showed only the formation of calcium borohydroxyapatite. The experimental analysis assigned the chemical formula as Ca₁₀[(PO₄)_5.80(BO₃)_0.20](OH)₂. It was indexed in the hexagonal system with the refined unit cell parameters of a = 9.557(3) Å, c = 6.926(8) Å and space group P6₃/m. The experimental results verified that if colemanite was used as a primary reactant for both calcium and boron source, the calcium borohydroxyapatite could be obtained.     

One-pot synthesis of N-allylthioureas using supported reagents

A simple and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of N-allylthioureas from allylic bromides in one-pot by using a supported reagents system, KSCN/SiO₂-RNH₃OAc/Al₂O₃, in which allyl bromide reacts first with KSCN/SiO₂ and the product, allyl isothiocyanate, reacts with RNH₃OAc/Al₂O₃ to give the final product, N-allylthiourea, in good yield.     

A new synthesis of platinum—carbon bonds

Syntheses of cis-[PtCl(CH₂COCH₃)(PEt₃)₂], cis-[PtCl(CH₂NO₂) (PEt₃)₂], and trans-[Pt(CCPh)₂ (PEt₃)₂] are described. The procedure involves reaction of cis-[PtCl₂(PEt₃)₂] with Ag₂O and acidic CH bonds to precipitate AgC1 and generate a PtC bond. The method may represent a new general route to platinum—carbon bonds.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of Nd-doped orthoborate nanoparticles that emit in the near-infrared

The Y_1−xBO₃:Nd_x nanoparticles have been prepared by a mild hydrothermal method and luminescence properties in the NIR of Y_1−xBO₃:Nd_x nanoparticles have been investigated. The Y_1−xBO₃:Nd_x nanoparticles with 0-15 mol% Nd³⁺ were found to be isostructural with YBO₃ crystal. The preferential nucleation and growth of Y_1−xBO₃:Nd_x nanoparticles along a certain plane can be observed and the dopants of Nd³⁺ ions would help to weaken the selectivity of the growth of Y_1−xBO₃:Nd_x nanoparticles. The emission spectrum in the NIR of Y_1−xBO₃:Nd_x nanoparticles consisted of a few narrow, sharp lines corresponding to the and transitions of Nd³⁺ ions when pumped with 800 nm laser radiation. The luminescence intensity of Y_1−xBO₃:Nd_x nanoparticles increased remarkably with the increase in the doping concentration of Nd³⁺ ions and reached a maximum at approximately 10 mol%.     

Solvent-free mechanochemical synthesis of diacylfuroxans

Acetophenones with a variety of substituents could be converted to diacylfuroxans in a solvent-free reaction by combining the reagents Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O and P₂O₅ under high-speed ball milling. This reaction was facile and eco-friendly, and exhibits advantages in terms of better toleration, safety, and easier operation. The nitrate acid and nitrogen dioxide generated in situ should play a major role in this mechanochemical reaction.     

Superacid-promoted synthesis of indolizidine derivatives

A series of amido-acetals were reacted with the Brønsted superacid, CF₃SO₃H, to provides indolizidine derives by a cyclization cascade. A mechanism is proposed involving formation of a vinylogous enol which undergoes a 6π-electrocyclization reaction with an adjacent N-acyl iminium ion group. With aryl substituents, there is a strong tendency for the N-acyl iminium ion group to undergo Friedel-Crafts type cyclizations with the aryl group. The synthetic methodology was used to prepare the alkaloid natural product, ipalbidine.     

Novel pseudo-morphotactic synthesis and characterization of tungsten nitride nanoplates

A novel pseudo-morphotactic transformation route was developed to synthesize polycrystalline β-W₂N nanoplates by thermally treating tungstate-based inorganic-organic hybrid nanobelts with a lamellar microstructure in an NH₃ flow. The tungstate-based hybrid nanobelts were formed in a water-in-oil-microemulsion-like “commercial H₂WO₄ powders/n-octylamine/heptane” reaction system. The as-obtained hybrid nanobelts were thermally treated in an NH₃ atmosphere at 650-800 °C for 2 h to form cubic β-W₂N nanoplates. XRD, SEM, TEM, FT-IR and TG-DTA were used to characterize the precursors and their final products. The polycrystalline β-W₂N nanoplates derived from hybrid nanobelts, with side lengths of several hundred nanometers, consist of small nanocrystals with an average grain size of 3.2 nm. The formation of β-W₂N nanoplates involved two steps: decomposing tungstate-based hybrid nanobelts into WO_y and W species and then nitridizing the active W-containing species to β-W₂N nanocrystals in an NH₃ flow. The platelike morphology of the β-W₂N nanocrystals was inherited from the precursor of tungstate-based inorganic-organic hybrid nanobelts.     

The synthesis of some bidentate ligands containing both phosphine and nitrile groups

Both (C₆H₅)₂P(CH₂)₃CN and (C₆H₅)₂P(CH₂)₄CN have been obtained from the reaction of Br(CH₂)_nCN (n = 3, 4) with (C₆H₅)₂POCH₃ followed by reduction with (C₆H₅)₂SiH₂. These phosphine-nitrile ligands form L₂PdCl₂ complexes which are shown by IR measurements to have trans geometries with the phosphine portions of the ligands coordinated. Reactions of o-BrC₆H₄CN with CH₃(CH₂)₃Li followed by R₂PCl (R = C₆H₅ or (CH₃)₂N) have been used to provide good yields of the corresponding R₂P-o-C₆H₄CN products.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and thermodynamic analysis of dawsonite-type compounds

Dawsonite-type compounds of formula MAl(OH)₂CO₃ (M=Na,K,NH₄) were hydrothermally synthesized. The influences of the composition of starting materials, reaction temperature, acidity of the reaction medium on the formation, morphology and particle size of MAl(OH)₂CO₃ powders were systematically investigated. The experiment results show that increase in the amount of MHCO₃ favors the formation of MAl(OH)₂CO₃ phase with more slender particle morphology. The higher the reaction temperature, the grosser the particle is. It was also demonstrated that the particle size of the MAl(OH)₂CO₃ phase are most uniform when the pH value of reaction system is 10.3 for sodium dawsonite and potassium dawsonite, but it is 9.79 for that of ammonium dawsonite. The thermodynamics of the formation of dawsonite-type compounds have also been analyzed in details.     

Asymmetric synthesis of allylic sulfides via palladium-mediated allylation of thiols

Cyclic and acyclic allylic S-p-chlorophenyl, S-2-pyridyl and S-2-pyrimidyl sulfides of 50–96% ee have been obtained in 24–87% yield through reaction of the corresponding racemic carbonates with p-chlorothiophenol, 2-mercaptopyridine and 2-mercaptopyrimidine, respectively, mediated by a complex generated in situ from Pd₂(dba)₃·CHCl₃ and the Trost ligand.     

Organoboranes for synthesis. 7. An improved general synthesis of primary amines from alkenes via hydroboration-organoborane chemistry

Triorganylboranes, R₃B, and diorganylborinic esters, R₂BOR', react readily with preformed chloramine or hydroxylamine-0-sulfonic acid to produce the corresponding primary amines, RNH₂. However, the product of the reaction following hydrolysis is the boronic acid, RB(OH)₂, limiting the yield to 67% for R₃B and to 50% for R₂BOR'. This problem has now been overcome with the help of lithium dimethylborohydride, readily converted in situ to dimethylborane. The hydroboration of representative alkenes by dimethylborane provides the corresponding monoorganyldimethylborane, RMe₂B. Treatment of this intermediate with hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid provides the desired amines, RNH₂, in isolated yields of 73% to 95%. The reaction proceeds with complete retention, reproducing the precise structure of the organic group in the organoboranes, RMe₂B.     

Palladium-catalysed synthesis of biaryl phosphines

Monodentate, biphenyl-type phosphines have emerged as a powerful class of ligands in homogeneous catalysis. Synthetic methods for these ligands are limited, however. We report that the palladium-catalysed Suzuki coupling of OPR₂(o-C₆H₄X) (R=Ph, t-Bu; X=Br, I) with arylboronic acids affords a variety of biaryl phosphine oxides including those that contain heterocycles. The corresponding phosphines are readily obtained by treatment with HSiCl₃. The methodology provides an easy entry to monodentate biaryl and heterobiaryl P^?X (X=N, O, S) phosphines with diverse steric and electronic properties.     

New iodine-apatites: synthesis and crystal structure

The paper describes methods for the preparation of compounds with an apatite structure containing only iodine atoms in the “halogen” position. The crystal structure of the compounds was refined by the Rietveld method. The resulting apatites have a structure with a space group P6₃/m and have the following unit cell parameters: Ba^{4 f} _1.78(2)Ba^{6 h} _2.75(2)(PO₄)₃I_0.04(2) (a = 10.18609(34) Å, c = 7.71113(30) Å, V = 692.889(54) ų, R = 5.448 %), Pb^{4 f} _1.82(2)Pb^{6 h} _2.75(2)(PO₄)₃I_0.13(2) (a = 9.87882(18) Å, c = 7.43222(16) Å, V = 628.144(26) ų, R = 8.533 %), Pb^{4 f} _1.90(2)Pb^{6 h} _2.68(2)(PO₄)₃I_0.16(2) (a = 9.87058(48) Å, c = 7.41255(46) Å, V = 625.437(72) ų, R = 5.433 %). The study of the crystal structure showed a relatively low efficiency of the binding of iodine in the apatite matrix.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (+)-abresoline

The first asymmetric synthesis of (+)-abresoline has been achieved starting from the (S)-1-(aryl)homoallylic amine, which was prepared enantioselectively by the method based on allylation of the (R)-2′-(2-naphthyl)-bearing hydroxyoxime ether. This synthetic route employs the TiCl₄-induced intramolecular Mannich-type cyclization of the 1-azadiene-bearing ketal amine as the key steps to afford stereoselectively the cis-2,6-disubstituted piperidine, followed by CBr₄/PPh₃-induced dehydrocyclization for the elaboration of the amino alcohol to the trans-4-arylquinolizidine.     

Stereo-specific synthesis of hydroanthracene-dicarboximides

Compound 3, N-((1S)-1-cyclohexylethyl)-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-(11S,12S)-dicarboximide-1,2,3,4-octahydro, was obtained by ruthenium-assisted hydrogenation of the hydroanthracene-dicarboximide 2 under mild conditions (3 bar H₂ and room temperature). In contrast to other related compounds, dicarboximides 2 and 3 were stereo-selectively obtained, confirmed by both solid state (X-ray diffraction) and solution (NMR). This selectivity denoted a hindered rotation around the N-CH axis together with the aromatic hydrogen bond acceptor behaviour of the hydroanthracene skeleton towards a methylene of the cyclohexyl group of the imide moiety. In addition, the nature of the metallic species involved in the hydrogenation process was also investigated.     

Alternative synthesis of cystothiazole A

Palladium-catalyzed methoxycarbonylation of (−)-(2R,3S)-1-tert-butyldimethylsiloxy-3-methyl-2-methoxypenta-4-yne 9 derived from (2R,3S)-epoxy butanoate 5 gave the acetylenic ester 10, which was treated with MeOH in the presence of Bu₃P to afford selectively (Z)-β-methoxy acrylate congener 11 in 86% yield. Treatment of (Z)-11 with 99.8% enrichment of CDCl₃ followed by consecutive desilylation and oxidation afforded the left-half aldehyde (+)-2. The overall yield (10 steps from 5; 23%) of (+)-2 via the present route was improved in comparison to that (10 steps from 5; 10%) of the previously reported route. By applying the modified Julia's coupling method, selectivity (E/Z=14:1) of the (E)-form (cystothiazole A 1) against the (Z)-form was improved in comparison to the Wittig method (E/Z=4:1 to 6.9:1).