Deprotonative metalation of aromatic compounds using mixed lithium–iron combinations

The deprotonation of 2-methoxypyridine was attempted using putative (TMP)₃FeLi prepared from different iron sources. Using iodine to intercept the metalated 2-methoxypyridine, the best result was obtained from FeBr₂ (1 equiv) using THF at room temperature; nevertheless, in addition to the expected iodide, the corresponding 2,2′-dimer was obtained (86% total yield). The origin of the competitive formation of the 2,2′-dimer was not identified but mechanisms were suggested to explain its formation. It was observed that the nature of the electrophile employed to trap the 3-metalated 2-methoxypyridine has a strong impact on this dimer formation, the latter being favored using iodine (35% yield), but also benzophenone (28%), benzoyl chloride (22%), methyl iodide (27%), allyl bromide (15%), benzyl bromide (41%), and tetramethylthiuram disulphide (36%); for this reason, the yields of the expected derivatives were only 51, 15, 62, 0, <5, 18, and 0%, respectively. In contrast, using aldehydes readily led to the expected pyridine alcohols without dimerization (59% yield using 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde and 66% yield using pivalaldehyde). 2,6-Dimethoxypyridine (in 68% yield), anisole (47%), 2,4-dimethoxypyrimidine (50% at C5 and 3% at C6), 2-fluoropyridine (64%), and thiophene (49%) were similarly converted into the corresponding alcohols after subsequent trapping with pivalaldehyde. Using iodine to trap the 2-metalated anisole did not lead to dimer formation, and 2-iodoanisole was isolated in 71% yield.     

Diastereoselective photodeconjugation of chiral α,β-unsaturated esters

Chiral alcohols available in both enantiomeric forms have been tested for the diastereoselective photochemical deconjugation of 2,4-dimethylpentenoic acid esters. (R)-Pantolactone afforded selectively the (2R)-β,γ-unsaturated ester in good yield and high d.e. (89%), while analogous use of (S)-pantolactone gave the (2S)-stereoisomer with similar selectivity.     

Diastereoselective and enantioselective capture of chiral zinc enolate using nitroolefins: a rapid access to chiral γ-nitro carbonyl compounds

Highly diastereoselective and enantioselective catalytic capture of chiral zinc enolates using nitroolefins as electrophiles is described. The tandem products γ-nitro ketones were obtained in good yields with high diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities. The γ-nitro ketones were readily hydrogenated to the optically enriched and diastereomerically pure chiral pyrrolidines with four contiguous stereocentres under mild conditions.     

Diastereoselective Friedel–Crafts reaction of α-trifluoromethyl imines derived from chiral amines

The Friedel–Crafts reactions of chiral N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-1-arylethylamines 1a and 1b with various electron-rich aromatic compounds were examined. The reactions proceeded readily at room temperature in the presence of BF₃·Et₂O. Substituted products 2–12 were obtained in low to very high stereoselectivities (up to 100% d.e.). The absolute configuration of compound 12 was determined by X-ray analysis. Moreover, the chiral auxiliary from compounds 3 and 12 was selectively removed by palladium-catalyzed hydrogenolysis.     

Synthesis of (±)- and (−)-botryodiplodin using stereoselective radical cyclizations of acyclic esters and acetals

Three different routes for the stereoselective synthesis of botryodiplodin have been investigated. The intramolecular allylation of acetals proved to be unsatisfactory due to unstable intermediates and poor stereocontrol. Zard intramolecular radical allylation of a 2-iodopropionate derivative allows the development of an expeditious synthesis of racemic botryodiplodin. The relative configuration within the final product was corrected by a deprotonation–reprotonation step. The cyclization of allenyl bromoacetals was investigated next and proved to be satisfactory for the synthesis of racemic and enantiomerically pure botryodiplodin. Good stereocontrol was achieved by cyclizing a gem-dibromide followed by the stereoselective reduction of the thus formed cyclic monobromide.     

Synthesis of benzannulated spiroacetals using chiral gold–phosphine complexes and chiral anions

The development of an asymmetric gold-catalysed dihydroalkoxylation strategy for the synthesis of the 3′H-spiro[chroman-2,1′-isobenzofuran] spiroacetal ring system 5 is described. Spiroacetal was generated in up to 87:13 enantiomeric ratio using chiral gold–phosphine complexes and chiral silver phosphate Ag(S)-TRIP.     

Efficient one-pot selective reduction of esters in β-ketoesters using LiHMDS and lithium aluminium hydride

The ester functionality in β-keto esters is selectively reduced in one-pot, first by enolization using LiHMDS and then reduced with lithium aluminium hydride. This method produces β-hydroxyl ketones from the corresponding β-keto esters in high yield.     

Novel and practical asymmetric synthesis of β2,3-amino esters using asymmetric Michael addition of chiral amine

A practical method for the synthesis of chiral β^2,3-amino esters having various substituents was developed, which is characterized by an asymmetric Michael addition reaction of a chiral lithium amide with trisubstituted (E)-α,β-unsaturated esters. We found that a highly face-selective protonation occurred by the quick addition of water to the enolate intermediate derived from the Michael addition reaction to afford N-protected β^2,3-amino esters in moderate to excellent yields. This finding was made possible by the facile preparation of geometrically pure trisubstituted (E)-α,β-unsaturated esters, which was established recently by our group. The subsequent deprotection of the amino group in the Michael adduct by using N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) efficiently provided β^2,3-amino esters having various substituents.     

Enantioselective allylic substitutions using ketene silyl acetals catalyzed by a palladium–chiral amidine complex

Enantioselective allylic substitutions using ketene silyl acetals 3 as a nucleophile have been explored. In the asymmetric reactions of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl pivalate 2 catalyzed by the Pd(0)–chiral amidine 1 complex, excellent levels of stereocontrol are achieved along with good conversions, demonstrating that ketene silyl acetals are able to expand the scope of asymmetric allylic alkylations. The present asymmetric reactions should proceed via nucleophilic attack at the allyl terminus trans to the diphenylphosphinyl group of the amidine on the side opposite to palladium.     

Enantioselective α-alkylation of unsaturated carboxylic acids using a chiral lithium amide

The regio- and stereochemistry of the alkylation of dienediolates from unsaturated carboxylic acids with benzylic halides, which often results in mixtures of isomers, can be controlled by means of changes in the lithium amide, allowing the α-regioisomer to be obtained as the major diastereoisomer. In addition, when chiral amines are used, moderate enantiomeric excesses can be attained.     

Synthesis and characterization of a series of chiral NHC–Pd complexes derived from l-phenylalanine

The synthesis of a series of chiral Pd(L)PyBr₂ (3a–3e) and Pd(L)PyCl₂ (4d and 4e) complexes from l-phenylalanine is presented (L = (S)-3-allyl-4-benzyl-1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-imidazolin-2-ylidene (a), (S)-4-benzyl-1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3-(naphthalen-2-ylmethyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene (b), (S)-4-benzyl-3-(biphenyl-4-ylmethyl)-1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene (c), (S)-4-benzyl-1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3-(naphthalen-1-ylmethyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene (d) or (S)-4-benzyl-1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene (e). The complexes were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods, and the X-ray crystal structures of 3a–3c and 4d are reported. In each case, there is a slightly distorted square-planar geometry around palladium, which is surrounded by imidazolylidene, two trans halide ligands and a pyridine ligand. There are π–π stacking interactions in the crystal structures of these complexes. Complex 3a showed good catalytic activity in the Cu-free Sonogashira coupling reaction under aerobic conditions.     

Properties of lysine-containing zinc amino acid mixed complexes and evaluation of their zinc supplying ability

Zinc deficiency is one of the serious problems of trace element nutrition in the world, which causes a series of pathologic effects. Based on the principles of bioinorganic chemistry, the ternary complexes of Zn-lysiue-histidine were studied as a substitution of zinc sulfate for zinc supplementation. It has also been proved by animal trail.     

Samarium diiodide induced asymmetric synthesis of γ-butyrolactone using chiral auxiliaries derived from isosorbide and isomannide

The asymmetric reductive coupling reaction of various acrylates derived from D-isosorbide and D-isomannide with acetophenone mediated by samarium diiodide to give both enan-tiomers of the optically active γ-butyrolactone was described.The best enantiomeric excess of the products was 60%.     

Coordination behaviour of 2,2′-bipyridine towards the dichloroacetates of zinc and cadmium

The coordiantion compounds [Zn(C₁₀H₈N₂)(Cl₂HCCOO)(H₂O)₃]⁻·[Zn(C₁₀H₈N₂)(Cl₂HCCOO)₃]⁺ and [Cd(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂(Cl₂CHCOO)₂] were synthesised and characterised by elemental and thermal analysis, IR and UV–VIS spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. The complexes are air stable and well-soluble in water. The zinc atoms are five and six coordinated and the cadmium atom is six coordinated. The coordination polyhedra of central atoms can be described as trapezoidal pyramid and octahedron in zinc compound and as rectangular bipyramid strongly distorted towards skew trapezoidal bipyramid in cadmium compound. In both compounds all dichloroacetate groups are monodentate. The bond valences considerations show that all 2,2′-bipyridine molecules are bonded almost 2 times stronger than carboxylate groups. In the structure of zinc compound exist O–H···O hydrogen bonds and in both structures can be found weak C–H···O hydrogen bonds. Additionally, both compounds are pile-stacked by π···π interactions. The IR spectra show typical vibrations for chelating 2,2′-bipyridine molecules and terminal monodentate carboxylate groups. The thermal decomposition studies show zinc compound decomposes in 4 steps and cadmium compound decomposes in 5 steps with formation of oxides as a final products. The ligands decompose gradually, first dichloroacetates and next 2,2′-bipyridine.     

Thermal and structural studies of zinc zirconate nanoscale composite derived from sol–gel process

In the present investigation, a novel synthetic zinc zirconate nanocomposites were prepared by a sol–gel technique using a very stable sol containing zirconium acetylacetonate, zinc acetate, monoethanolamine, and 1,3-propanediol as chelating agent. Thermal analysis results indicated that the decomposition of zinc zirconate precursors occurred at 225 and 234 °C. The influence of thermal annealing (temperatures and duration) on their structural properties has been studied by means of X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy techniques. The results indicated that a higher percent of zinc zirconate is formed at 800 °C and reached maximum at 1,000 °C in 120 min. The morphology, composition, and bandgap properties of zinc zirconate nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and ultraviolet diffiuse reflectance. The SEM observation showed that average grain size of zinc zirconate nanopowders was 58 nm. The optical results revealed maximum absorbances at 394, 413, and 438 nm for ZnZrO₃ sample annealed at 400, 800, and 900 °C for 30 min, respectively. This is an indication that the nanopowder can absorb lights in the higher wavelength.     

Diastereoselective LiAlH4 reduction of chiral ketone hydrazones derived from (R)-(–)-2-aminobutan-1-ol

Various chiral N,N-dialkylhydrazines were prepared in four to five steps from (R)-(–)-2-aminobutan-1-ol 6. They reacted with various prochiral ketones, thus giving the corresponding hydrazones. Reduction of the latter by means of LiAlH₄ afforded N,N,N′-trisubstituted hydrazines whose d.e.s were in the range 43–100%. Interestingly, LiAlH₄ reduction of the four N-trifluoroethylhydrazones 34 and 38–40 yielded the hydrazines 46 and 48–50, respectively, and with d.e.s=100% by ¹H and ¹³C NMR.     

Coordination polymers derived from gallium and zinc metal–metal bonded species

The reaction of (dpp-bian)Ga–Zn(dpp-bian) (dpp-bian is 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene) with 1,3-di(4-pyridyl)propane results in 1D coordination polymer [(dpp-bian)Ga–Zn(dpp-bian)(μ²-1,3-Py₂(CH₂)₃)]_n with the retained Ga–Zn bond. In contrast, the coordination of 1,3-di(4-pyridyl)propane to Zn atoms in the (dpp-bian)Zn–Zn(dpp-bian) complex induces the cleavage of the Zn–Zn bond which is accompanied by reduction of dpp-bian radical anions to dianions. The reaction product represents 1D coordination polymer [{(dpp-bian)Zn}(μ²-1,3-Py₂(CH₂)₃)]_n.     

Calculation of solvation free energies of Li+ and O2 ? ions and neutral lithium–oxygen compounds in acetonitrile using mixed cluster/continuum models

Solvation effects play a major role in determining the cycling characteristics of the non-aqueous rechargeable Li-air battery. We use a mixed cluster/continuum solvent model with varying number of explicit solvent molecules (n?=?4–10) to calculate the solvation free energies ( $ \Updelta G_{\text{solv}}^{*} $ ) of Li⁺ and O₂ ^? ions and neutral LiO₂, Li₂O₂, LiO, and Li₂O species in acetonitrile solvent. Calculations for complexes with the full first solvation shell around Li⁺ (n?=?4) and O₂ ^? (n?=?8) show excellent agreement with the solvation free energies obtained using the cluster pair approximation (the error is below 2.0?kcal/mol). The use of the pure continuum model fitted to reproduce the experimental values of $ \Updelta G_{\text{solv}}^{*} $ (Li⁺) and $ \Updelta G_{\text{solv}}^{*} $ (O₂ ^?) gives the solvation free energies of various lithium–oxygen species (Li _x O _y ; x, y?=?1, 2) that are in excellent agreement with the results obtained using mixed cluster/continuum models (n?≥?8). This provides a theoretical framework for including solvent effects in the theoretical models of oxygen reduction and evolution reactions in the aprotic Li-air battery.     

Facile formation of tetrahydrofurans with multiple chiral centers using double iodoetherification of σ-symmetric diene acetals: short asymmetric total synthesis of rubrenolide and rubrynolide

A novel double intramolecular iodoetherification of σ-symmetric diene acetals from (R,R)-hydrobenzoin occurred in highly diastereoselective manners to give tetrahydrofuran moieties with multiple chiral centers in a one-pot operation. The chemoselective discrimination of the two iodomethyl functions in the products was attained in various reactions. The reaction was applied to the concise asymmetric syntheses of rubrenolide and rubrynolide, in which the unit from the chiral auxiliary worked as a template to achieve the chemoselectivity and as the protecting group of the hydroxyl function.     

Asymmetric synthesis of chiral β-iodo Baylis–Hillman esters using MgI2 as promoter via a one-pot three-component reaction

An asymmetric synthesis of β-iodo-α-(hydroxyalkyl)acrylates has been developed involving conjugate addition of I⁻ to menthyl propiolates to give β-iodo allenolate intermediates which undergo 1,2-addition to form β-iodo Baylis–Hillman products. Modest diastereoselectivities (37–58% de) and excellent yields (80–87%) were obtained when (1R,2S,5R)-(−)-menthol was used as a chiral auxiliary. The two diastereoisomers of the product were separated by silica gel chromatography to give diastereomerically pure products.