Stereochemistry of phenyl alpha-nitronyl nitroxide radicals

An extensive investigation of the conformations adopted by the family of phenyl alpha-nitronyl nitroxides has been carried out. A database containing 110 crystal structures was used in a statistical study of the solid-state geometries and conformations of these radicals. This study revealed that the favoured conformations involve a twisted distortion in the imidazolyl rings and a twist between the aromatic and heterocyclic rings in the molecules. As a consequence, these radicals show two types of preferred conformations in the solid state: the pseudo-anti enantiomeric pair and the pseudo-eclipsed pair, the latter type being the most statistically probable. A new chiral member of this group of radicals that bears a lactate moiety, (R)-1, and its corresponding racemic compound, (R,S)-1, have been prepared in order to study the influence of chiral induction from the stereogenic centre on the torsion angle between the aromatic and heterocyclic rings of the alpha-nitronyl nitroxides. The X-ray crystal structures of the enantiopure and racemic compounds, which both reveal chains of molecules sustained by strong O-H...O hydrogen bonds between the carboxylic acid group and the ON group of the radical in the solid, as well as their magnetic properties have been determined. Remarkably, the molecules with a given stereogenic centre have a single helical sense between their component rings, even in the racemic crystal. Chiral induction from the stereogenic centre to the radical unit has also been proved by CD spectroscopy in the solid state. The results of these experiments have been rationalised by ab initio calculations of the spectra.     

Hydrogen abstraction from substituted aromatic compounds

The reactivity of tert-butoxy radicals with methyl substituted aromatic compounds is almost exclusively determined by the aromatic moiety and almost independent of the methyl group position. The hydrogen abstraction from the carbon α to the aromatic ring is hardly sensitive to the produced radical stabilization. This lack of dependence can be explained in terms of the large exothermicity of the process.     

Selective generation and reactivity of 5'-adenosinyl and 2'-adenosinyl radicals

The reaction of hydrated electrons (e(-)(aq) with 8-bromoadenosine 7 has been investigated by radiolytic methods coupled with product studies. Pulse radiolysis revealed that one-electron reductive cleavage of the C-Br bond gives the C8 radical 8 followed by a fast radical translocation to the sugar moiety. The reaction is partitioned between C5' and C2' positions in a 60:40 ratio leading to 5'-adenosinyl radical 9 and 2'-adenosinyl radical 11. This radical translocation from C8 to different sites of the sugar moiety has also been addressed computationally by means of DFT B3LYP calculations. In addition, ketone 21 was prepared and photolyzed providing an independent generation of C2' radical 11. Both C5' and C2' radicals undergo unimolecular reactions. Radical 9 attacks adenine with a rate constant of 1.0 x 10(4) s(-1) and gives the aromatic aminyl radical 10, whereas C2' radical 11 liberates adenine with a rate constant of 1.1 x 10(5) s(-1).     

Syntheses of aromatic substituted hydrazino-thiazole derivatives to clarify structural characterization and antioxidant activity between 3-arylsydnonyl and aryl substituted hydrazino-thiazoles

This work clarifies the structural characterization and antioxidant activity between aromatic and 3-arylsydnonyl substituted hydrazino-thiazoles by further synthesizing a series of aromatic ring-substituted hydrazino-thiazole derivatives 8a-h and 9a-h. Hydrazino-thiazole derivatives 8a-h and 9a-h were obtained by reacting aromatic or heterocyclic aromatic aldehyde thiosemicarbazones 7a-h with cyclization reagents ethyl 2-chloroacetoacetate (2a) and 2-bromoacetophenone (2b), respectively. The ORTEP drawings of compounds 8g, 8h and 9f provide strong evidence of the structure of aromatic thiazole derivatives 8a-h and 9a-h. Undoubtedly, the structure of compounds 3e-h and 4e-h synthesized by the reaction of 3-aryl-4-formylsydnone thiosemicarbazones 1e-h with cyclization reagents 2a and 2b in the previous work should have the thiazole moiety, and not the thiazoline moiety. Both the new thiazole derivatives 8a-h and 9a-h and the 3-arylsydnonyl-substituted derivatives 3e-h and 4e-h were investigated to determine their antioxidant activity by two tests that have been highly documented-the direct scavenging effect on a stable free 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and the inhibition of the 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical. Results of this study demonstrate that not only the thiazole ring and the aryl ring has the contribution to the antioxidant activities, the sydnone ring of 3-arylsydnonyl moiety also has its considerable contribution.     

Electron spin resonance of γ-irradiated poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate)

The two types of radicals trapped in γ-irradiated poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate) (PEN 2,6) have been identified by ESR as ? O? CH? CH₂? O? (radical I) and a radical located on the naphthalene ring (radical II). The relative concentrations of radicals in the gross polymer are 10–20% radical I and 80–90% radical II. Similar trapped radicals have been identified in γ-irradiated poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), a structurally related polymer which differs only in the aromatic moiety, but the relative radical concentrations are quite different. These results are discussed in relation to the radiation resistance of the two polymers.     

多聚氮杂环的脱氮自由基转化:C−N键的构建研究进展

多聚氮杂环化合物在有机合成、药物化学以及材料化学等领域具有重要的作用.人们已经在多聚氮杂环的修饰和可控转换领域取得了诸多突破性的研究成果.在多种多聚氮杂环转换反应中,脱氮是一类重要反应,可以快速地构建其他氮杂环或者C?N键.通常而言,多聚氮杂环化合物更易于脱氮形成金属卡宾中间体,继而发生后续串联或环化反应,但涉及自由基中间体的多聚氮杂环脱氮反应尚未得到充分关注和研究.在过去几年中,得益于现代合成手段如有机光化学合成、有机电化学合成和有机光电合成等的革新,自由基化学得到快速发展,建立了很多多聚杂环脱氮自由基串联反应,为高度复杂的杂环骨架或具有复杂杂环体系的天然产物提供了一条通用且便捷的合成路径.光催化剂在有效地将可见光中的能量转移至非吸收化合物方面的应用越来越受到关注,该方法可温和而有效地生成自由基,以新的方式形成化学键.此外,啉钴与卟啉铁催化剂在多聚杂环的脱氮反应中亦展现出较好的催化性能.本文综述了多聚氮杂环的脱氮自由基转化(C?N键的构建)领域的最新进展,重点讨论了脱氮生成自由基的方法与串联模式和反应机理,分析了存在的挑战.本文还根据反应底物的类别从四个模块展开讨论:(1)苯并三嗪和苯并噻三嗪的自由基脱氮串联反应;(2)苯并三氮唑的自由基脱氮串联反应;(3)吡啶三氮唑与四氮唑的脱氮反应;(4)3-氨基吲唑的自由基脱氮反应.综上,研究者们通过多聚氮杂环的脱氮自由基转化(C?N键的构建)的方法合成了一些重要的药物分子及其前体,并证明了该方法具有潜在的应用价值.未来,将多聚氮杂环脱氮反应应用于活性天然产物合成与修饰是非常可行的.     

可见光诱导的1,n-烯炔的自由基串联环化反应研究进展

碳氮杂环化合物广泛存在于天然产物、生物活性分子、药物等相关化合物以及许多其他精细化学品中.近年来,发展了大量的合成方法制备该类化合物.其中,可见光诱导的l,n-烯炔的自由基串联环化反应条件绿色友好、操作简单、化学选择性和官能团兼容性好,已成为制备该类化合物的强有力工具.本文主要根据自由基产生的类型概述了近来可见光诱导的...     

Cascade radical reactions via alpha-(arylsulfanyl)imidoyl radicals: competitive [4 + 2] and [4 + 1] radical annulations of alkynyl isothiocyanates with aryl radicals

Aryl radicals react with 2-(2-phenylethynyl)phenyl isothiocyanate through a novel radical cascade reaction entailing formation of alpha-(arylsulfanyl)imidoyl radicals and affording a new class of compounds, i.e. thiochromeno[2,3-b]indoles. These derivatives are formed as mixtures of substituted analogues arising from competitive [4 + 2] and [4 + 1] radical annulations. The isomer ratio is strongly dependent on the aryl substituent and is correlated to its capability to delocalize spin density. The presence of a methylsulfanyl group in the ortho-position of the initial aryl radical results in complete regioselectivity and better yields, as the consequence of both strong spin-delocalization effect, which promotes exclusive [4 + 1] annulation, and good radical leaving-group ability, which facilitates aromatization of the final cyclohexadienyl radical. Theoretical calculations support the hypothesis of competitive, independent [4 + 2] and [4 + 1] annulation pathways. They also suggest that rearrangement onto the sulfur atom of the [4 + 1] intermediate does not occur via a sulfuranyl radical but rather through either a transition state or a sulfur-centered (thioamidyl) radical; the latter is possibly the preferred route in the presence of an o-methylsulfanyl moiety that can act as a leaving group in the final ipso-cyclization process.     

Direct determination of rate constants for coupling between aromatic radical anions and alkyl and benzyl radicals by laser-flash photolysis

Coupling rates between the radicals methyl, n-, sec-, tert-butyl and benzyl (R.) and the aromatic radical anions of 1,4-dicyanonaphthalene, 9,10-dicyanoanthracene and fluorenone (A-.) have been obtained using a new laser-flash photolysis method. The radicals R. and the radical anions A-. were generated by a photoinduced electron transfer reaction between the aromatic compound A and the alkyl or benzyl triphenylborate anion RB(Ph)3-. For the first time the rate constants of the coupling reaction between methyl and benzyl radicals with aromatic radical anions have been obtained. For all the measured coupling rate constants an average value of k1 = 1.9 x 10(9) M-1 s-1 was found with a relatively small variation in the coupling rates (0.8-2.9 x 10(9) M-1 s-1). The results demonstrate that the coupling rate k1 is insensitive to changes in the steric and electronic properties of the radicals and the structure and standard potentials of the aromatic radical anions.     

Alkyl radical adducts of aromatic N-oxides as hydrogen-abstracting agents: The reactivity of phenazine-N,N′-dioxide-methyl radical adduct

An O-methylated analog of protonated phenazine-di-N-oxide radical anion abstracts hydrogen from primary and secondary alcohols in a slow (k ₁ < 500 M⁻¹ s⁻¹) bimolecular reaction. No kinetic evidence has been found for the unimolecular release of free methoxyl radicals through the homolytic N-OMe bond cleavage in these species. DFT calculations at the UB3LYP 6-31G(d) level indicate that protonated and O-alkylated radical anions of pyrazine, quinoxaline and phenazine di-N-oxides are close analogues of aromatic nitroxyl radicals with the highest spin density localized on the oxygen and nitrogen of the nitrone moiety.     

Modifying effects of cysteine and aromatic sulfhydryl and disulfide agents on the radiation-induced decomposition of thymidine

Steady-state γ radiolysis of oxygen-free aqueous solution of thymidine has been carried out in the presence of cysteine and five aromatic sulfydryl and disulfide agents. The common major mode of action of these compounds is their ability to scavenge water radiolysis species including OH^• radicals and solvated electrons. In addition, cysteine and the two compounds with a free SH group were found to act as hydrogen donor leading to an increase in the formation of the 5R and 5S diastereoisomers of 5,6-dihydrothymidine and 5-hydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymidine. Two sulfhydryl agents including cysteine were also found to chemically repair the radiation-induced osidic radicals through efficient hydrogen donation mechanisms. It should be noticed that hydrogen atom transfer to hydroxyl and electron thymidine adducts leads to the decomposition of the thymine moiety.     

Synthesis of heteroarenes using cascade radical cyclisation via iminyl radicals

Cascade radical cyclisation involving homolytic aromatic substitution has been used to synthesise new tetracycles. Treatment of vinyl iodide radical precursors with Me(3)Sn. radicals (from hexamethylditin) yielded intermediate vinyl radicals which undergo 5-exo cyclisation onto suitably placed nitrile groups to yield intermediate iminyl radicals. The iminyl radicals undergo aromatic homolytic substitution via 6-endo cyclisation (or 5-exo cyclisation followed by neophyl rearrangement) with loss of hydrogen (H.) in a H-abstraction step. We propose that this abstraction was facilitated by tert-butoxyl (t-BuO.) radicals from di-tert-butyl peroxide or methyl radicals, generated from breakdown of trimethylstannyl radicals (Me(3)Sn.). The biologically active alkaloids mappicine and luotonin A were synthesised using the new methodology. A novel radical conversion of nitriles to primary amides is proposed.     

Free-radical generation mechanism and antimalarial activity of cyclohexyl endoperoxides

A kinetic analysis has been carried out for a cascade of intramolecular oxidation reactions of free radicals generated in the redox reactions of substituted cyclohexyl endoperoxides (15 compounds) with the Fe²⁺ ion. Each radical conversion reaction has been characterized by its enthalpy, activation energy, and rate constant. Kinetic characteristics have been calculated by the intersecting parabolas method. Depending on their structure, cyclohexyl endoperoxides generate one to three radicals. There is a linear empirical correlation between the number of radicals generated by a peroxide and its molar antimalarial activity (IC ₅₀/M, where M is the molar mass of the peroxide). The peroxides that generate no more than one radical show no antimalarial activity.     

Interaction of hydroxyaryl aldehydes with α-hydroxyethyl radicals

The effect of some hydroxylated aromatic aldehydes on the radiation-chemical transformations of deaerated ethanol during continuous radiolysis has been studied. The data obtained show that these compounds effectively inhibit radiation-induced processes involving α-hydroxyethyl radicals (α-HER). Benzaldehyde and its hydroxylated derivatives (II, III) predominantly oxidize, and compounds containing the cinnamic moiety, (IV–VI), add α-HER to a carbonyl group or -C=C bond.     

ESR applications to photochemical polymer reactions

ESR spectroscopy combined with spin-trapping technique is a selective and powerful method for studies of reaction mechanisms and intermediates in free radical reactions of polymer systems. The method has been applied to several problems in our research program of which three are presented in this paper. - The mechanism of photo-initiation with aromatic ketone/tert. amine and subsequent photocuring of acrylic coatings has been largely resolved. - The mechanism of photocrosslinking of ethylene-propylenediene copolymers (EPDM elastomers) studied by model compounds has been shown to involve formation of allyl radicals in the diene groups and crosslinking by allyl radical combination. - The photoinitiated crosslinking of polyethylenes (LD, LLD and HD) has been studied using model compounds. It involves formation of primary alkyl and allyl radicals which crosslink the polymer by radical combination. - The mechanism of photocrosslinking indicates a second order reaction, i.e. rate of crosslinking depends of the square of irradiation intensity which has been verified experimentally. This result is the basis for development of rapid crosslinking processes of technical and industrial interest.     

Visible-Light-Induced Photoreduction of Carborane Phosphonium Salts: Efficient Synthesis of Carborane-Oxindole-Pharmaceutical Hybrids

Visible-light-induced photoreaction of carboranes is an effective approach to prepare carborane-containing compounds. While several methods involving boron-centered carboranyl radicals have been established, those for carbon-centered carboranyl radicals are underdeveloped, except for the UV-light-promoted photohomolysis. Herein, we describe a simple but effective approach to access carbon-centered carboranyl radicals by photoreduction of carborane phosphonium salts under blue light irradiation without using transition metals and photocatalysts. The utility of the method was demonstrated by successfully preparing a range of carborane-oxindole-pharmaceutical hybrids by radical cascade reactions. Computational and experimental studies suggest that the carbon-centered carboranyl radicals are generated by single-electron transfer of the photoactive charge-transfer complexes between the salts and the additive potassium acetate.     

Oxidation of 2-deoxyribose by benzotriazinyl radicals of antitumor 3-amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine 1,4-dioxides

Tirapazamine (3-amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine 1,4-dioxide) is the lead bioreductive drug in clinical trials as an anticancer agent to kill refractory hypoxic cells of solid tumors. It has long been known that, upon metabolic one-electron reduction, tirapazamine induces lethal DNA double strand breaks in hypoxic cells. These strand breaks arise from radical damage to the ribose moiety of DNA, and in this pulse radiolysis and product analysis study we examine mechanistic aspects of the dual function of tirapazamine and analogues in producing radicals of sufficient power to oxidize 2-deoxyribose to form radicals, as well as the ability of the compounds to oxidize the resulting deoxyribose radicals to generate the strand breaks. Both the rate of oxidation of 2-deoxyribose and the radical yield increase with the one-electron reduction potentials of the putative benzotriazinyl radicals formed from the benzotriazine 1,4-dioxides. Subsequent oxidation of the 2-deoxyribose radicals by the benzotriazine 1,4-dioxides and 1-oxides proceeds through adduct formation followed by breakdown to form the radical anions of both species. The yield of the radical anions increases with increasing one-electron reduction potentials of the compounds. We have previously presented evidence that oxidizing benzotriazinyl radicals are formed following one-electron reduction of the benzotriazine 1,4-dioxides. The reactions reported in this work represent the kinetic basis of a short chain reaction leading to increased oxidation of 2-deoxyribose, a process which is dependent on the one-electron reduction potential of the benzotriazinyl radicals that are above a threshold value of ca. 1.24 V.     

Aromatic Radical Anions in Neat Aromatic Hydrocarbons as Solvents. Direct evidence of through space spin-density transfer to the ligand of the counter ion

Contact ion pairs of aromatic radical anions, with a crown ether complex of potassium as cation in a neat aromatic hydrocarbon, can be obtained by reducing the aromatic hydrocarbon in which a small amount of crown ether is dissolved. The unpaired electron stays attached to one aromatic molecule during a time interval which is long on the ESR. time scale. The radicals are stabilized by ion-pair formation in the low polarity solvent. As a consequence of this stabilization, radicals of compounds with low electron affinities, e.g. mesitylene, can be prepared. Mesitylene, m-xylene, and toluene show additional hyperfine splitting in the ESR. spectra of their anion radical pairs of the order of 18 μT. The proton ENDOR. spectra have signals at the corresponding frequencies, indicating a hyperfine coupling with protons of the crown ether ligand. Using mixtures of two aromatic compounds, their relative electron affinities can be determined by studying the temperature dependence of the radical concentrations.     

Rearrangement energies for radicals of azido nitroaromatic compounds

Dissociation energies of C–N₃ bonds have been determined on the basis of data on the enthalpies of formation for a series of azido nitroaromatic compounds and the enthalpies of formation of radicals. Using fundamental relationships of chemical physics, a procedure has been suggested to calculate the energy of rearrangement of molecule fragments into radicals on the basis of special properties of rearrangement energy and the sums of average thermochemical energies for bonds comprising radical fragment in molecule. This calculation procedure provided a possibility to determine the energy of the N₃ moiety transformation into N₃ radical and the rearrangement energies of nitroaromatic radicals.     

Intramolecular homolytic aromatic substitution of alkyl 2-benzimidazolyl sulfones as a means of entry into alkyl radicals for organic synthesis

The intramolecular radical aromatic substitution of heteroaryl sulfones by tethered aryl radicals has been investigated as a source of alkyl radicals. The 1-(2-iodobenzyl)benzimidazole-2-sulfonyl system was found to be the most effective, while a tetrazole-based system did not undergo the desired radical aromatic substitution at all. Application of the benzimidazole-based system to the generation of alkyl radical and their subsequent use in radical cyclizations was demonstrated.