Pyridinium salts—versatile reagents for the regioselective synthesis of functionalized thiazocino[2,3-b]indoles by tandem dinucleophilic reactions of thiooxindoles

The reaction of thiooxindoles with various 2- and 3-substituted pyridinium salts afforded a variety of functionalized thiazocinoindoles. The products have been prepared in good to excellent yields by regioselective dinucleophilic C/S-cyclocondensation of thiooxindoles with pyridinium salts.     

Diversity-oriented approach to cyclophanes via Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis as key steps

Among numerous reactions to prepare cyclophane derivatives, Claisen rearrangement reaction is very useful. We have prepared cyclophanes containing ethylene oxy bridge by double Claisen rearrangement reaction and ring-closing metathesis reaction as key steps.     

Pentamethylcyclopentadienide in organic synthesis: nucleophilic addition of lithium pentamethylcyclopentadienide to carbonyl compounds and carbon-carbon bond cleavage of the adducts yielding the parent carbonyl compounds

Lithium pentamethylcyclopentadienide (C₅Me₅Li, Cp*Li) reacted with aromatic aldehyde to provide the corresponding carbinol in excellent yield. The carbinol returns to the parent aldehyde and pentamethylcyclopentadiene upon exposure to acid or due to heating. Chlorodimethylaluminum is essential as an additive to attain the nucleophilic addition of Cp*Li to aliphatic aldehyde. The carbinol derived from aliphatic aldehyde returns to the parent aldehyde and pentamethylcyclopentadiene by the action of a catalytic amount of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ). The reversible addition/elimination of the Cp* group can represent a protection of aldehyde. Mechanistic details of the carbon-carbon bond cleavage are also disclosed.     

A simple and efficient approach to the synthesis of highly functionalized fused benzochromenes

Protonation of the reactive intermediates produced in the reaction between tert-butyl isocyanide and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate or dibenzoylacetylene, by 1-naphthol, 2-naphthol, 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene, 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene or 4-methyl-8-hydroxycoumarin leads to vinylnitrilium cations, which undergo carbon-centered Michael type addition with the conjugate base of the naphthols to produce highly functionalized benzochromenes.     

Pentamethylcyclopentadienide in organic synthesis: nucleophilic addition of lithium pentamethylcyclopentadienide to aromatic aldehydes and carbon-carbon bond cleavage of the adducts affording the parent aldehydes

Treatment of aromatic aldehyde with lithium pentamethylcyclopentadienide provided the corresponding carbinol in excellent yield. The carbinol returns to the parent aldehyde and pentamethylcyclopentadiene upon exposure to an acid or due to heating. The combination of the two reactions can represent a protection of aromatic aldehyde.     

Stereoselective synthesis of the C-11 to C-19 segment of macrolactin 3 via a center inversion followed by Oxa-Michael addition approach

An efficient and short stereoselective synthesis of C11–C19 fragment of Macrolactin 3 was achieved. The vic-triol moiety (C15–C17) was derived from the C2–C4 chiral centers of D-mannose. The C-1 of D-mannose was utilized for the Wittig-olefination followed by hydroxylation using hydroboration reaction to introduce C11–C13 carbon chain in the C11–C19 fragment, whereas C5–C6 carbon chain of mannose was converted into C18–C19 of the target by dehydration reactions. Thus, the main strategy was (a) two consecutive Wittig-olefination reactions on C1 carbon of mannose, (b) inversion of C4 stereocenter, and (c) dehydration of C5–C6 vic-diol to olefin to result in the C11–C19 fragment.     

Michael addition approach for the synthesis of novel spiro compounds and 2-substituted malonic acid derivatives from Meldrum’s acid

Novel routes for the synthesis of spiro derivatives of Meldrum’s acid and 2-substituted malonic acid derivatives have been developed. Meldrum’s acid was monoalkylated using a Michael addition reaction. Mono-Michael adducts were then alkylated using substituted haloalkanes, which on condensation gave spiro derivatives of Meldrum’s acid. Bis Michael addition of Meldrum’s acid with 1,5-diaryl-1,4-pentadien-3-one gave directly a spiro derivative of Meldrum’s acid. These compounds and bis alkylated Meldrum’s acid derivatives, on acidic methanolysis gave 2-substituted malonic acids.     

Two alternative approaches to modification of a cage complex: nucleophilic substitution and electrophilic addition for the synthesis of an iron(II) clathrochelate with an annulated imidazole fragment

A rib-functionalized iron(II) tris-dioximate clathrochelate bearing an annulated phenylimidazole fragment was prepared using nucleophilic substitution and electrophilic addition at the chelating α-dioximate fragment of the macrobicyclic framework. The resultant cage complex was identified with single crystal XRD, analytical data, ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F, ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy, and examined with UV–vis spectroscopy and CVA. Two approaches to modification of the clathrochelate framework are compared.     

Regioselectivity, scope, and limitations of the addition of organolithium and allylmagnesium reagents to 1H-pyridine-2-thiones; access to 3,4-, 3,6-, and 5,6-dihydropyridine-2-thiones

Organolithium and lithium allyldibutylmagnesate reagents add to readily available NH, NMe, NBn, and NPh substituted pyridine-2-thiones yielding 4- and/or 6-substituted 3,4- or 3,6-dihydropyridine-2-thiones, respectively. The regioselectivity of the addition is dependent on the solvent, temperature, substituent at the nitrogen, and the type or organometallic reactant used, and allows tailoring of both systems. A simple conversion of 6-substituted β,γ-unsaturated δ-thiolactams into their α,β-unsaturated isomers makes the above processes a highly versatile synthetic methodology to access 6-substituted 5,6-dihydropyridine-2-thiones—valuable Michael acceptors.     

Synthetic approach to cis and trans-decalins via Diels—Alder reaction and ring-closing metathesis as key steps: further extension to dioxapropellane derivative by ring-closing metathesis

9,10-Substituted cis and trans-decalins were synthesized by a simple route using the Diels-Alder reaction and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) as key steps. Later, the cis-decalin system has been extended to 3,8-dioxa[8.4.4]propellane derivative by RCM sequence as a key step.     

Oxidative addition of 1,4‐dichloro‐2‐butyne to an organoplatinum complex: A new precursor for synthesis of ultrasmall Pt nanoparticles thin film at liquid/liquid interface as the electrocatalyst in methanol oxidation reaction

In this study, the usage of ClCH₂CCCH₂Cl alkyne as a reagent for the oxidative addition reaction with organoplatinum?(II) complex [PtMe₂(bipy)] ( 1 ), in which bipy = 2,2′‐bipyridine to give a mixture including of trans‐[PtClMe₂(CH₂CCCH₂Cl)(bipy)] ( 2a ) and a cis‐[PtClMe₂(CH₂CCCH₂Cl)(bipy)] ( 2b ) complexes is reported. Kinetic study was investigated by monitoring the disappearance of the metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MLCT) band in the UV–Vis spectra. ¹H NMR experimental results confirmed that trans isomer ( 2a ) is more stable than its corresponding cis isomer. A liquid–liquid planar interface has been employed as a template for self‐assembly of platinum nanoparticles. The as prepared complex was applied for the synthesis of platinum thin film that characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive analysis of X‐rays (EDAX), field emission‐scanning electron micrographs (FE‐SEM) and elemental mapping. The electrocatalytical activity of Pt thin film was investigated in methanol oxidation reaction.     

MCSCF study of singlet oxygen addition to ethenol—a model of photooxidation reactions of unsaturated and aromatic compounds bearing hydroxy groups

The reaction path of singlet (¹Δ_g) oxygen addition to ethenol (vinyl alcohol)—a model of the reactions of singlet oxygen with aromatic and unsaturated compounds bearing the hydroxy groups—has been studied by means of MCSCF calculations, using various active spaces and basis sets. The effects of dynamic correlation (at the PT2 level) and basis set superposition error (BSSE) on relative energies were also investigated. It was found that including polarization functions is necessary to obtain geometries of the oxygen moiety consistent with the available experimental data. Two possible reaction products were considered: 1-hydroxy-1,2-dioxethane (peroxide) and 2-hydroperoxyethanal-1 (hydroperoxide); their energies are 24.1 and 36.6 kcal/mol (44.1 and 78.2 kcal/mol with the PT2 contribution and BSSE correction) below the dissociation limit, respectively (all energies reported here refer to the 6-31G** basis set and an active space composed of eight orbitals and ten electrons). A common stage of both reactions is the formation of a peralcoxyl intermediate with one of the oxygen atoms attached to the unsubstituted carbon atom; the energies of the respective transition state and that of the intermediate are 30.2 and 18.7 kcal/mol (15.9 and 10.3 kcal/mol with the PT2 contribution and BSSE correction) above the dissociation limit, respectively. The energy of this transition state is the dominant energy barrier to the reaction. The intermediate can then undergo conversion to the dioxethane product, to the perepoxide intermediate, or via a proton transfer, directly to the hydroperoxide, the last route being the most probable one. The perepoxide intermediate, after a proton transfer, also readily gives the hydroperoxide. It was also found that the unimolecular conversion from dioxethane to hydroperoxide via a proton transfer from the hydroxy group accompanied with ring cleavage requires an activation energy of at least 56 kcal/mol, making this reaction path highly improbable. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 18 : 1668–1681, 1997     

Chiral tertiary 2-furyl alcohols: diversified key intermediates to bioactive compounds. Their enantioselective synthesis via (2-furyl)aluminium addition to ketones catalyzed by a titanium catalyst of (S)-BINOL

Novel asymmetric 2-furyl additions of (2-furyl)AlEt(2)(THF) to aromatic ketones and one alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone catalyzed by a titanium catalyst of 10-20 mol% (S)-BINOL are reported to furnish tertiary furyl alcohols in good to excellent enantioselectivities of 87-93% ee.     

Efficient construction of highly functionalized endo′-selective spiro[pyrrolidin-2,3′-oxindoles] via a regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between 3-amino oxindoles as azomethine ylide precursors and nitroalkenes

An efficient synthesis of novel endo′-selective spiro[pyrrolidin-2,3′-oxindoles] has been achieved via a three component regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. The azomethine ylides generated in situ from 3-amino oxindoles and aldehydes reacted with the nitroalkenes to furnish novel pyrrolidine–spirooxindole derivatives bearing one spiro quaternary center and multiple chiral centers in moderate to high yields (up to 99%) with high diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1). The structure and relative stereochemistry of cycloadducts were confirmed by NMR spectra and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The possible mechanism was proposed and the cycloaddition proceeded via endo′-transition state.     

A simple and efficient one-pot synthesis of β-acetamido carbonyl compounds using sulfated zirconia as a heterogeneous recyclable catalyst

Sulfated zirconia has been employed as an efficient recyclable catalyst for the preparation of various β-acetamidoketones or esters at room temperature. The process involves the one-pot multicomponent reactions of aromatic aldehydes, enolizable ketones or β-ketoesters and acetonitrile in the presence of acetyl chloride.     

Convenient approach to tetrahydro-quinolizin-4-ones by sequential addition of lithium allyldibutylmagnesate to N-allylpyridin-2-ones and ring-closing metathesis reactions

A new strategy based on allylation of N-allylpyridin-2-ones with the lithium allyldibutylmagnesate reagent followed by ring-closing metathesis in a sequential fashion to access the quinolizidine skeleton with olefinic bonds in both rings is reported.     

Copper(II) tetrafluoroborate as a novel and highly efficient catalyst for Michael addition of mercaptans to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

Copper(II) tetrafluoroborate has been found to be a new and highly efficient catalyst for Michael addition of thiols to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds under solvent-free conditions and in H₂O at room temperature. The reactions are very fast and are completed in 2 min to 1 h affording high yields. The rate of thiol addition was dependent on the steric hindrance at the β-carbon of the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl substrate. In the case of chalcones, the reactions are best carried out in MeOH as solvent.     

Chemoselective addition of in situ prepared lithium alkynyl borates to aldehydes: a practical and transition metal free approach toward the synthesis of propargylic alcohols

A convenient synthesis of functionalized propargylic alcohols arising from the 1,2-addition of lithium alkynyl-trimethyl borate onto aldehydes under transition metal free mild conditions is reported. The reaction tolerates a wide range of functional groups, is highly chemoselective and the propargylic alcohols are isolated in good to excellent yields.     

Catalysis by ionic liquid: a simple, green and efficient procedure for the Michael addition of thiols and thiophosphate to conjugated alkenes in ionic liquid, [pmIm]Br

A room temperature ionic liquid, 1-pentyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, [pmIm]Br efficiently catalyzes Michael addition of thiols and diethyl dithiophosphate to a variety of conjugated alkenes such as α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, carboxylic esters, nitriles and chalcones without requiring any other organic solvent and catalyst. The ionic liquid can be recycled for subsequent reactions without any appreciable loss of efficiency.