Design and synthesis of fluorescent 6-aryl[1,2-c]quinazolines serving as selective and sensitive ‘on-off’ chemosensor for Hg in aqueous media

Three fluorescent quinazolines thiophen-2-yl-5,6-dihydrobenzo-[4,5]imidazo[1,2-c]quinazoline (1), pyridin-3-yl-5,6-dihydrobenzo-[4,5]imidazo-[1,2-c]quinazoline (2) and phenyl-5,5′,6,6′-dihydrobenzo-[4,4′,5,5′]imidazo-[1.1′,2-c,2′-c]quinazoline (3) have been synthesized. Structures of 1 and 3 have been authenticated crystallographically. Quinazolines 1-3 exhibit highly selective ‘on-off’ switching for Hg²⁺ ions. The fluorescence intensity displayed a linear relationship with respect to Hg²⁺ concentration (0.1-1.0 μM; R² = 0.99) with detection limit of 2.0 × 10⁻⁷ M.     

Cyclization versus oligomerization of SP- and RP-5′-OH-N-benzoyl-2′-deoxycytidine-3′-O-(2-thio-4,4-pentamethylene-1,3,2-oxathiaphospholane)s

The S_P-isomer of 5′-OH-N⁴-benzoyl-2′-deoxycytidine-3′-O-(2-thio-4,4-pentamethylene-1,3,2-oxathiaphospholane) undergoes DBU-promoted intramolecular cyclization providing as a sole product S_P-deoxycytidine cyclic 3′,5′-O,O-phosphorothioate. Unexpectedly, the R_P-counterpart yields a mixture of products consisting of R_P-deoxycytidine cyclic 3′,5′-O,O-phosphorothioate and macrocyclic oligo(deoxycytidine phosphorothioate)s. The results of molecular modeling indicate that the dychotomy observed for the R_P substrate may result from remarkably higher energy of the corresponding transition states, caused by the presence of bulky ‘spiro’ pentamethylene substituent at the position C4 in the oxathiaphospholane ring.     

Microwave assisted green chemical synthesis of novel spiro[indole-pyrido thiazines]: a system reluctant to be formed under thermal conditions

Spiro [3H-indole-3,2′-[4H] pyrido [3,2-e]-1,3-thiazine]-2,4′ (1H) diones, a class of previously unknown compound which does not form under conventional conditions, can be prepared by treatment of ‘in situ’ generated 3-indolylimine derivatives with 2-mercaptonicotinic acid under microwave irradiation in absence of any solvent or solid support in 85-92% yields in 3-8 min. The facile one pot reaction is generalized for a variety of ketones and amines to give pure pyrido [3,2-e] thiazine derivatives, which do not require further purification processes.     

Dipyridinocalixcrown/diiodoperfluorocarbon binary host systems for CsI: structural studies and fluorous phase extraction of caesium

A mixture of partial cone 2,4-bis[(2-pyridylmethyl)oxy]-(1,3)-p-tert-butylcalix[4]crown-6, hexadecafluoro-1,8-diiodooctane and CsI in EtOH produces a crystalline ‘supramolecular salt’. In the solid state the caesium ion of the ‘supercation’ is encapsulated inside the cavity created by the crown ether loop, the picolyl and the inverted phenyl moieties, while the two iodide ions of the ‘superanion’ form a discrete five-component aggregate held together by co-existing hydrogen and halogen bonds. Similar calix/CsI/iodofluorocarbon adducts are shown to exist also in solution. In a prototypical study, a combination of this calixcrown and liquid octafluoro-1,4-diiodobutane acts as an effective ‘binary host’ system for the selective extraction of CsI from aqueous to fluorous phase.     

β-Diketones bearing electron-donating chromophores and a novel β-triketone: synthesis and reversible fluorescence behavior

Saturated and unsaturated β-diketones bearing 4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl substituent and a novel β-triketone were synthesized. These β-diketones exist in both cis-enol and keto forms in solution, and their relative contents were determined by ¹H NMR measurements. In contrast, for the β-triketone, only enol form was observed in a solution. A strong fluorescence quenching was observed for unsaturated diketones as compared with the saturated ones. These β-diketones displayed reversible photoinduced ketonization as revealed by UV-vis spectroscopy. The fluorescence emission of the saturated β-diketones faded gradually during UV irradiation. The fluorescence emission of these saturated β-diketones can thus be reversibly switched between the enol form ‘ON’ and the keto form ‘OFF’ based on keto-enol tautomerization.     

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.     

Synthesis of substituted dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazines and a new heterocyclic dipyrido[3,2-f:2′,3′-h]quinoxalino[2,3-b]quinoxaline

Three new α,α′-diimine ligands were synthesized based on condensation of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione with 1,2-phenylenediamine derivatives using different approaches. All compounds were fully characterized by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, UV-visible, and MS spectroscopies. We report the first example of a dipyrido[3,2-f:2′,3′-h]quinoxalino[2,3-b]quinoxaline, which exhibits a strong absorption at 430 nm and an interesting electrochemical behavior. These new molecules may have biological potential and are of synthetic and technological importance.     

Emission of 2-phenylethanol from its β-d-glucopyranoside and the biogenesis of these compounds from [H8] l-phenylalanine in rose flowers

The hydrolysis of 2-phenylethyl β-d-glucopyranoside (3) was found to be partially inhibited by feeding with 2-phenyl-N-glucosyl-acetamidiumbromide (8), a β-glucosidase inhibitor, resulting in a decrease in the diurnal emission of 2-phenylethanol (2) from Rosa damascena Mill. flowers. Detection of [1,1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-2 and [1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₇]-2 from R. ‘Hoh-Jun’ flowers fed with [1,1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-3 suggested that β-glucosidase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and reductase might be involved in scent emission. Comprehensive GC-SIM analyses revealed that [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-2 and [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-3 must be biosynthesized from [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′6′-²H₈] l-phenylalanine ([²H₈]-1) with a retention of the deuterium atom at α-position of [²H₈]-1.     

Double asymmetric induction as a mechanistic probe: the doubly diastereoselective conjugate addition of enantiopure lithium amides to enantiopure α,β-unsaturated esters and enantiopure α,β-unsaturated hydroxamates

The doubly diastereoselective conjugate addition of the antipodes of lithium N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to a range of enantiopure α,β-unsaturated esters [derived from Corey’s 8-phenylmenthol chiral auxiliary] and enantiopure α,β-unsaturated hydroxamates [derived from our ‘chiral Weinreb amide’ auxiliary (S)-N-1-(1′-naphthyl)ethyl-O-tert-butylhydroxylamine] has been used as a mechanistic probe to determine the reactive conformations of these acceptors.     

The preparation of substituted bithiophenyl aldehydes via the ring opening of dithieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]thiophene in the presence of n-BuLi

In the presence of n-BuLi in THF at low temperature, the phenomena of ring opening of symmetric substituted dithieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]thiophenes were observed. After quenching the organolithium intermediates with dry DMF, a series of substituted novel bithiophenyl aldehydes were prepared in good to excellent yields. The mechanism shows the key step for the ring opening of dithieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]thiophene is the nucleophilic attack of butyl anion onto the sulfur atom of the central ring. Total ten samples of symmetric substituted dithieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]thiophenes and their ring-opened products, the substituted bithiophenyl aldehydes were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and HRMS. Two ring-opened products were confirmed by X-ray single crystal analysis.     

Synthesis of chiral β-3-amino-2-hydroxyalkanoates and 3-alkyl-3-hydroxy-β-lactams by double asymmetric induction

Reactions of chiral (2S)-enolates of dioxolan-4-ones, derived from lactic, mandelic, and phenyllactic acids, with aliphatic (S_S)- and (S_R)-tert-butylsulfinyl aldimines afforded conformationally restrained C2-disubstituted N,O-orthogonally protected 3-amino-2-hydroxyalkanoates in the form of N-sulfinyl protected 1′-aminodioxolan-4-ones. The product distribution showed that there is significant kinetic selectivity, due to the presence of ‘matched’ and ‘mismatched’ components, between the (S)- or (R)-tert-butylsulfinyl aldimines and the (2S)-enolates of the 1,3-dioxolan-4-ones. Selective methoxide-induced removal of the acetal group of the N-sulfinyl-1′-aminodioxolanones yielded the corresponding N-sulfinyl protected methyl alkanoates. In addition, the selective acid-induced removal of the sulfinyl group of the N-sulfinyl-1′-aminodioxolanones provided the corresponding N-unprotected 1′-aminodioxolanones, whose base-induced cyclization afforded the corresponding β-lactams.     

Synthesis of a heterodinuclear ruthenium(II)–platinum(II) complex linked by l-cysteine methyl ester

A potential anticancer heterodinuclear ruthenium(II)–platinum(II) complex, [ruthenium(II)(4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)₂(5-(l-cysteine-methyl ester)-1,10-phenanthroline)-trans-chlorodiammineplatinum(II)] chloride, [Ru(Me₂bipy)₂(5-(l-cysteine-Me)-phen)-trans-Pt(NH₃)₂Cl]Cl₃, was synthesised. l-Cysteine methyl ester was used to link the two metal centres, as more conventional straight chain diaminoalkanes and 2-mercaptoethylamine failed to couple to the phenanthroline ligand. From the precursor mononuclear ruthenium(II) complexes, which were separated into their Δ- and Λ-isomers by column chromatography, the dinuclear complex was synthesised and characterised by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, UV–Vis, circular dichroism, fluorescence and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry.     

Novel fluoro-substituted benzo- and benzothieno fused pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazol-4(1H)-ones

A straightforward, two-step synthesis of fluoro substituted chromeno[2,3-c]pyrazol- and [1]benzothieno[2′,3′:5,6]pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazol-4(1H)-ones, respectively, is presented. Hence, treatment of 1-substituted or 1,3-disubstituted 2-pyrazolin-5-ones with fluoro substituted 2-fluorobenzoyl chlorides or 3-chloro-6-fluoro-1-benzothiophene-2-carbonyl chloride using calcium hydroxide in refluxing 1,4-dioxane gave the corresponding 4-aroylpyrazol-5-ols, which were cyclized into the fused ring systems. 5-Fluorochromeno[2,3-c]pyrazol-4(1H)-one was obtained upon treatment of the 1-(4-methoxybenzyl) protected congener with trifluoroacetic acid. Treatment of 5-fluorochromeno[2,3-c]pyrazol-4(1H)-ones with methylhydrazine afforded novel tetracyclic ring systems such as 2-methyl-7-phenyl-2,7-dihydropyrazolo[4′,3′:5,6]pyrano[4,3,2-cd]indazole. Detailed NMR spectroscopic investigations (¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁹F) with the obtained compounds were undertaken.     

Improved syntheses of precursors for PET radioligands [F]XTRA and [F]AZAN

Improved syntheses of 7-methyl-2-exo-[3′-(2-bromopyridin-3-yl)-5′-pyridinyl]-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes (3) and 7-methyl-2-exo-[3’-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)-5′-pyridinyl]-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes (4), precursors for PET radioligands [¹⁸F]XTRA (1) and [¹⁸F]AZAN (2), involving a key Stille coupling step followed by deprotection of Boc group and N-methylation are described. The new synthetic procedures provided the title compounds in more than 40% overall yields.     

Asymmetric aziridine synthesis by aza-Darzens reaction of N-diphenylphosphinylimines with chiral enolates. Part 1: Formation of cis-aziridines

The aza-Darzens (‘ADZ’) reactions of N-diphenylphosphinyl (‘N-Dpp’) imines with chiral enolates derived from oxazolidinones and camphorsultam have been studied. Whilst oxazolidinone enolates reacted poorly in terms of aziridination, the use of the chiral enolate derived from both antipodes of N-bromoacetyl 2,10-camphorsultam, 2R-(5) and 2S-(5), with N-diphenylphosphinyl aryl and tert-butylimines proceeded in generally good yield to give, respectively, (2′R,3′R)- or (2′S,3′S)-cis-N-diphenylphosphinyl aziridinoyl sultams of high de.     

On the importance of the pore inner cavity for the ionophoric activity of 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene/steroid conjugates

1,3-Alternate calix[4]arenes, decorated with four nonpolar ‘all-trans’ tetracyclic nuclei and cation-stabilizing β-methoxyethoxy appendages, were synthesized from commercially available starting materials and through straightforward functional groups transformations/couplings. Their Na⁺-transport activities, when compared with those exerted by the known conformationally-rigidified 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene AB/cis cholic acid conjugates, suggest that the cation conductance is related to the morphology of the pendant steroids.     

Synthetic studies of benzo[b]pyrrolo[4,3,2-de][1,10]phenanthroline

6,11-Dihydrobenzo[b]pyrrolo[4,3,2-de][1,10]phenanthroline-5,8-dione (6), which possesses a unique heterocyclic ring system similar to that in plakinidines A-D (1-4), was synthesized from 2-acetyl-3′-nitrodiphenylamine (16) in nine steps.     

H-quadrupolar coupling-based analysis of stereochemical and regiochemical memory in the Pd-catalysed allylic alkylation of iso-cinnamyl type substrates employing the chiral monophosphine ligands ‘MOP’ and ‘MAP’

The reaction of iso-cinnamyl acetate with NaC(Me)(CO₂Me)₂, catalysed by Pd-‘MOP’ (MOP=2-methoxy-2′-diphenylphosphino-1,1′-binaphthalene) is known to proceed with a regiochemical memory effect that results in the predominant generation of the branched alkylation product. The analogous reaction employing ‘MAP’ as ligand (MAP=2-N,N-dimethylamino-2′-diphenylphosphino-1,1′-binaphthalene) proceeds with ‘normal’ regioselectivity to generate predominantly the linear isomer of product. A ²H-NMR based analysis, employing quadrupolar coupling in a chiral liquid crystal matrix, has been developed to facilitate the simultaneous study of the regiochemical and stereochemical outcome of the reaction of both enantiomers of iso-cinnamyl ester substrates in ²H-labelled but racemic samples. The analysis allows the comparison of relative rates of two competing isomerisation processes occurring in the π-allyl intermediates in the Pd-catalysed reaction, one of which facilitates asymmetric induction, the other resulting in loss of regiochemical memory. It is demonstrated that the two processes are partially coupled and that this then limits the attainment of high global enantiomeric excess in the branched product to reactions that proceed with low regiochemical retention. A key factor for the observation of high regiochemical memory is found to be the nucleophilicity of the malonate anion and the electrophilicity of the Pd-π-allyl intermediate with reduction in the reactivity of either partner resulting in the onset of substantial loss of memory.     

Unprecedented coexistence of a spirooxazine and its four transoid photomerocyanines

The synthesis of the 5′-hydroxy-1,3,3-trimethylspiro[indoline-2,3′-[3H]naphtho[1,2-b][1,4]oxazine] is reported. Equilibrium in the dark between closed and open forms has been proved by NMR spectroscopy.     

Effect of the alkyl chain length of 1,1′-binaphthyl esters in lipase-catalyzed amidation

Lipase-catalyzed amidation of 2-[2-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl [(±)-3] yielded optically active (S)-3 and 2-[2-(2-cyanoethylaminocarbonyl)ethyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl [(R)-6a] with high enantiomeric excess. For these lipase-catalyzed amidations, the optimal alkyl chain length between the binaphthyl ring and the ester group was determined to be an ethylene spacer.