Lewis acid mediated SN2-type nucleophilic ring opening followed by [4+2] cycloaddition of N-tosylazetidines with aldehydes and ketones: synthesis of chiral 1,3-oxazinanes and 1,3-amino alcohols

A highly efficient strategy for Cu(OTf)₂ mediated S_N2-type nucleophilic ring opening followed by [4+2] cycloaddition reactions of enantiopure 2-phenyl-N-tosylazetidines with various aldehydes and ketones afforded a variety of substituted 1,3-oxazinanes and 1,3-amino alcohols in excellent yields, excellent de and good to excellent ee. The proposed S_N2-type mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction is supported by experimental evidence.     

An efficient synthetic route to substituted tetrahydropyrimidines by Cu(OTf)2-mediated nucleophilic ring-opening followed by the [4+2] cycloaddition of N-tosylazetidines with nitriles

A highly efficient strategy for Cu(OTf)₂-mediated S_N2 type nucleophilic ring-opening followed by the [4+2] cycloaddition reactions of a number of 2-aryl-N-tosylazetidines with nitriles to afford a variety of substituted tetrahydropyrimidines in excellent yields is reported. The resulting tetrahydropyrimidines could easily be transformed into synthetically important 1,3-diamines by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. The strategy has been extended to the synthesis of enantiomerically pure tetrahydropyrimidines from enantiopure disubstituted azetidines. The reaction proceeds through an S_N2 type mechanism as proposed by us earlier.     

Facile Cu(OTf)2-catalyzed preparation of 9-tosylaminofluorene derivatives from o-arylated N-tosylbenzaldimines

The 9-tosylaminofluorene derivatives were synthesized conveniently by Cu(OTf)₂-catalyzed aza-Friedel-Crafts reaction of o-arylated N-tosylbenzaldimines in high yields. This is an efficient, atom-economic, and green method.     

Stereoselective synthesis of anti-2-oxazolidinones by Ph3P-CCl4-Et3N mediated SN2 cyclization of N-Boc-β-amino alcohols

Ethyl anti-4-substituted phenyl-2-oxo-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylates were synthesized stereoselectively in excellent yields using the Ph₃P-CCl₄-Et₃N system by S_N2 cyclization of N-Boc-β-amino alcohols. syn to anti conversion of ethyl 4-substituted phenyl-2-oxo-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylates using DBU as base is also described.     

A convenient synthetic route to 2-aryl-N-tosylazetidines and their ZnX2 (X = I, OTf) mediated regioselective nucleophilic ring opening reactions: synthesis of γ-iodoamines and tetrahydropyrimidines

A general and convenient synthetic route to various 2-aryl-N-tosylazetidines has been described. Their ZnX₂ (X = I, OTf) mediated nucleophilic ring opening with halides and [4+2] cycloaddition reactions with various nitriles have been achieved to afford γ-iodoamines and substituted tetrahydropyrimidines, respectively, in good to excellent yields. A mechanism for the cycloaddition reaction is proposed.     

Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of dichloro[S-1-phenyl-N-(S-pyrrolidin-2-ylmethyl)ethanamine]zinc(II) and its catalytic application to rac-lactide polymerization

New dichloro zinc(II) complex ligated by the homochiral bidentate ligand S-1-phenyl-N-(S-pyrrolidin-2-ylmethyl)ethanamine (PPMA) was synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The geometry of the (PPMA)ZnCl₂ is a distorted tetrahedron comprising of zinc metal as a center linked with two N atoms of the PPMA in a bidentate coordination mode along with two chloro ligands. The catalytic capacity of the complex was evaluated in ring opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide. The active catalyst species was generated in situ by treating MeLi to complex (PPMA)ZnCl₂. The dimethyl derivative of the (PPMA)ZnCl₂ showed highly activity in ROP of rac-lactide and gave preference to heterotactic polylactide.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of almorexant

A highly stereoselective synthesis of almorexant has been achieved using (R)-tert-butanesulfinamide as a chiral source. The chiral tetrahydroisoquinoline core was constructed through allylation of chiral N-sulfinyl imine followed by ring closure of the secondary amide with a tethered halide. The chiral α-phenyl amide was introduced by means of S_N2 substitution of (S)-methyl 2-phenyl-2-(tosyloxy)acetate with chiral tetrahydroisoquinoline.     

Stereoselective radical cyclizations of N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,X(X=O, S)-acetals

2-Alkyloxazolines and 2-alkylthiazolines react with 2-halobenzoyl chlorides to form N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,O-acetals and N-(2-halobenzoyl)-cyclic ketene-N,S-acetals in excellent yields, respectively. These ketene acetals readily undergo stereocontrolled aryl radical cyclizations to afford the central six-membered rings of substituted-2,3,10,10α-tetrahydrooxazolo[3,2-b]isoquinolin-5-ones and their 2,3,10,10α-tetrahydrothiazolo[3,2-b]isoquinolin-5-one analogs. The tertiary N,O- and N,S-radicals formed upon aryl radical reaction at the ketene-N,X(X=O, S)-acetal double bond appear to have reasonable stability. The stereoselectivity in hydrogen abstractions by these intermediate radicals from both Bu₃SnH and (Me₃Si)₃SiH was investigated. The N,S-heterocyclic fused ring products may have potential medical value.     

Mononuclear hydridocarbonyl ruthenium complexes incorporating N2O2 bis-chelating ligands

The reactions of [RuH(CO)Cl(PPh₃)₃] with N,N^′-bis(salicylidine)-hydrazine (H₂bsh) and N,N^′-bis(salicylidine)-p-phenylene diammine (H₂bsp) in presence of KOH in methanol led in the formation of neutral mononuclear complexes with the formulations [RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂(L)] (LHbsh or Hbsp). These present the first examples where the ligands H₂bsh or H₂bsp provide only two of its available donor sites for interaction with the metal centre. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, FAB-MS, IR, ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR and electronic spectral studies. Molecular structure of the representative complex [RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂(Hbsh)] have been determined by single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Efficient three-component reactions of α-thiocyanato ketones stereoselectively forming E-3-aroylidene-2-oxindole derivatives

A new three-component reaction of α-thiocyanato ketones under microwave irradiation for the stereoselective synthesis of 25 examples of E-3-aroylidene-2-oxindole derivatives has been described. The domino reaction simultaneously installs C–S and C–C bonds through continuous [3+2] cycloaddition/ring opening of in situ generated 1,3-oxathiolanes/S_N2-type reaction sequence.     

Metal-organic chains constructed from pre-organized N2S2 donor ligands

Three new N₂S₂ donor ligands 1,1′-((2-(2-(phenylthio)phenylthio)phenyl)methylene)bis(3,5-R-1H-pyrazole), R = H (L^H), R = Me (L^Me), R = i-Pr (L^i-Pr) have been prepared and characterized. These bifunctional ligands incorporate two distinct chelate donor systems, by virtue of the presence of bispyrazole and bisthioether functions. The preferred conformation of these ligands is such that the N₂ and S₂ donor moieties may be oriented in opposite directions, thus favoring the formation of molecular chains when treated with AgBF₄. The X-ray structures of Ag(I) complexes show that, depending on the steric hindrance present on the pyrazole rings, these ligands behave as κ⁴-SSNN-μ bridging tetradentate (when R = H), or κ³-SNN-μ bridging tridentate (when R = Me, i-Pr). Interestingly, [Ag(L^H)]BF₄ crystallizes in the chiral space group P4₁, with the molecular chain that is folded around the 4₁ screw axis.     

Copper(II) triflate promoted cycloaddition of α-alkyl or aryl substituted N-tosylaziridines with nitriles: a highly efficient synthesis of substituted imidazolines

Cu(OTf)₂ or Zn(OTf)₂ mediated [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of various α-alkyl or aryl substituted N-tosylaziridines with nitriles is described for the syntheses of substituted imidazolines. A mechanism for the cycloaddition is proposed to rationalize the formation of a nonracemic imidazoline from optically pure aziridine.     

Alkynylation of N-tosylimines with aryl acetylenes promoted by ZnBr2 and N,N-diisopropylethylamine in acetonitrile

We found a suitable condition for the effective alkynylation of N-tosylimines with aryl acetylenes. The reaction of N-tosylimines and aryl acetylenes in the presence of ZnBr₂ and DIEA (N,N-diisopropylethylamine) in CH₃CN afforded the desired N-tosyl propargylamines in moderate to good yields.     

Regio- and stereoselective reactions of a rhodanine derivative with optically active 2-methyl- and 2-phenyloxirane

The reaction of a rhodanine derivative (=(Z)-5-benzylidene-3-phenyl-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-4-one; 1) with (S)-2-methyloxirane (2) in the presence of SiO₂ in dry CH₂Cl₂ for 10 days led to two diastereoisomeric spirocyclic 1,3-oxathiolanes 3 and 4 with the Me group at C(2) (Scheme 2). The analogous reaction of 1 with (R)-2-phenyloxirane (5) afforded also two diastereoisomeric spirocyclic 1,3-oxathiolanes 6 and 7 bearing the Ph group at C(3) (Scheme 3). The structures of 3, 4, 6, and 7 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography (Figs. 1 and 2). These results show that oxiranes react selectively with the thiocarbonyl group (CS) in 1. Furthermore, the nucleophilic attack of the thiocarbonyl S-atom at the SiO₂-activated oxirane ring proceeds with high regio- and stereoselectivity via an S_N2-type mechanism.     

Efficient construction of bicyclic systems by an internal SN2′ enolate alkylation/ring-closing metathesis (RCM) strategy: a concise synthesis of the trans-hydrindane nucleus

A concise and efficient synthesis of the trans-hydrindane system has been achieved by a novel intramolecular S_N2′ enolate alkylation/ring-closing metathesis (RCM) strategy with a good degree of stereocontrol.     

Highly enantioselective copper-catalyzed allylic alkylation with atropos phosphoramidites bearing a D2-symmetric biphenyl backbone

A novel class of atropos dibridged biphenyl phosphoramidites bearing a D₂-symmetric biphenyl backbone was prepared and applied as chiral ligands in the copper-catalyzed allylic alkylation with Grignard reagent. The alkylation products were obtained in quantitative yields with high regioselectivities up to 94:6 of S_N2′/S_N2 ratio and enantiomeric excesses up to 91.1% for S_N2′ products. The unique D₂-symmetric backbone ligands have the advantages of easy preparation and sufficient reusability of their key intermediates from the undesired isomers.     

PTSA catalyzed straightforward protocol for the synthesis of 2-(N-acyl)aminobenzimidazoles and 2-(N-acyl)aminobenzothiazoles in PEG

An efficient PTSA catalyzed synthesis of 2-(N-acyl)aminobenzimidazoles and 2-(N-acyl)aminobenzothiazoles has been described using S-ethylated-N-acylthioureas as substrates and polyethylene glycol as solvent.     

Synthesis of chiral vicinal C2 symmetric and unsymmetric bis(sulfonamide) ligands based on trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine by aminolysis of N-tosylaziridines

The ring opening of N-tosylaziridines with aliphatic amines can be efficiently catalyzed by lithium perchlorate to provide derivatives of the trans-1,2-diamine in high yields. The reaction was used in desymmetrization of several cyclic N-tosylaziridines using chiral amines. Using this strategy, an efficient synthesis of chiral vicinal C₂ symmetric bis(sulfonamide) and unsymmetrical bis(sulfonamide) ligands based on trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine was developed.     

High-pressure crystal growth and magnetic and electrical properties of the quasi-one dimensional osmium oxide Na2OsO4

Na₂OsO₄ crystals were grown by a NaCl flux method under high pressure. It crystallizes in the Ca₂IrO₄-type structure without having additional elements or metal vacancies, which are usually accommodated. It appears that Na₂OsO₄ is a metal-stoichiometric Ca₂IrO₄-type compound never been synthesized to date. Na₂OsO₄ has the octahedral environment of Os⁶⁺O₆ so that the electronic configuration is 5d², suggesting the magnetic S=1 ground state. However, magnetization, electrical resistivity, and specific heat measurements indicated that the non-magnetic S=0 state is much likely for Na₂OsO₄ than the S=1 state. Band structure calculations and the structure analysis found that the disagreement is probably due to the statically uniaxial compression of the OsO₆ octahedra, resulting in splitting of the t_2g band.     

Catalytic photocarboxylation of 1,1-diphenylethylene with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine and carbon dioxide

Photocarboxylation of 1,1-diphenylethylene with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in MeCN under bubbling of CO₂ proceeded with high catalytic efficiency, giving 3,3-diphenylacrylic acid (DPA) and 3-hydroxy-3,3-diphenylpropionic acid (20). The turnover number (TON=(DPA+20)/TMB) reached 17. Similarly, 1-phenyl-1-cyclohexene yielded cis-2-acetamido-2-phenylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid with TON 5.9. As compared with related N,N-dimethylaniline derivatives, TMB is more resistant to photodecomposition, has the much larger absorbance in the S₀→S₁ transition, and has the lower quenching efficiency by CO₂. Probably these factors are partly responsible for the high TON observed for TMB.