2-Cyanopyridazin-3(2H)-ones: effective and chemoselective electrophilic cyanating agents

2-Cyanopyridazin-3(2H)-ones are novel, effective, selective and electrophilic cyanating agents. A variety of amino, thiol and carbon nucleophiles are chemoselectively N-, S- or C-cyanated in excellent yield using 2-cyanopyridanzin-3(2H)-ones in water or tetrahydrofuran.     

Selective immobilization of Acinetobacter junii on the natural zeolitized tuff in municipal wastewater

The immobilization of desired bacteria onto material was usually performed in synthetic media. The aim of this study was to test the immobilization of phosphate (P)-accumulating bacteria Acinetobacter junii onto natural zeolitized tuff (NZ) in the raw or sterilized municipal wastewater containing the common bacteria Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis and the performance of immobilized A. junii in the same type of wastewater. In the sterilized wastewater which contained the mixture of A. junii, E. coli and E. faecalis, the A. junii was selectively immobilized onto NZ in significantly higher numbers than E. coli and E. faecalis. The A. junii added in the form of bioparticles to the wastewater containing E. coli and E. faecalis, multiplied and removed P from wastewater. The P removal from wastewater was a function of biomass of P-accumulating bacteria and not the amount of NZ or bioparticles used. The performance of A. junii was significantly better in membrane filtered than in autoclaved wastewater. The experiments that were performed in raw non sterilized wastewater showed that A. junii can be successfully immobilized onto NZ in competition with natively present heterotrophic bacteria, retain its metabolic activity and successfully remove P from such water, which makes this technology feasible from biotechnological aspect.     

Selective N-debenzylation of amides with p-TsOH

N-Benzylamides were debenzylated efficiently with 4 equiv. of p-TsOH in refluxing toluene. Good to quantitative yields of the desired primary amides were obtained within 2-4 h from a wide variety of N-2,4-dimethoxybenzylamides. N-4-Methoxylbenzyl amides and N-benzylamides were also debenzylated cleanly. In the case of N-2,4-dimethoxylbenzylamides, selective N-debenzylation was possible in the presence of N-Fmoc, N-t-BOC or N-trityl-protection. Protected amino acid amides survived these conditions without any detectable epimerization.     

Conformational analysis of bridgehead-substituted bicyclo[m.m.m]alkanes and bicyclo[8.8.n]alkanes

Conformational analyses of bicyclo[m.m.m]alkanes where m=1-10 and of bicyclo[8.8.n]alkanes where n=1-7 bearing methyl groups on the bridgeheads were carried out using a Monte Carlo search strategy. In the bicyclo[m.m.m]alkane series, greater variability was observed for the inter-bridgehead distance for larger values of m. This suggests that properly substituted bicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosanes or larger ring systems might serve as molecular springs.     

Convenient synthesis of fused pyrano[3,2-h]- and furo[3,2-h]benzo[f]coumarins from naphthalene-2,3-diol

The treatment of 8-propargyloxy-benzo[f]coumarin with boron trifluoride diethyl etherate in N,N-dimethylformamide under reflux or MW irradiation resulted in pyrano[3,2-h]benzo[f]coumarin, while the furo[3,2-h]benzo[f]coumarin is received from the treatment with N-methylformamide under MW irradiation.     

An effective C-C double bond formation via Cu(I)-catalyzed dehydrogenation

A dehydrogenation method using Cu(I) and either N,N-di-tert-butylthiadiaziridine 1,1-dioxide or N,N-di-tert-butyldiaziridinone is reported. The dehydrogenation allows a facile introduction of C-C double bond(s) into various carbocycles and heterocycles such as oxazolines and thiazolines.     

Rapid differentiation of Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

A matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS)-based method has been developed for rapid differentiation between Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius, two herbal medicines with similar chemical and physical properties but different therapeutic effects. This method required only a small quantity of samples, and the herbal medicines were analyzed by MALDI-MS either after a brief extraction step, or directly on the powder form or small pieces of raw samples. The acquired MALDI-MS spectra showed different patterns of ginsenosides and small chemical molecules between P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius, thus allowing unambiguous differentiation between the two Panax species based on the specific ions, intensity ratios of characteristic ions or principal component analysis. The approach could also be used to differentiate red ginseng or P. quinquefolius adulterated with P. ginseng from pure P. ginseng and pure Panax quinquefolium. The intensity ratios of characteristic ions in the MALDI-MS spectra showed high reproducibility and enabled quantitative determination of ginsenosides in the herbal samples and percentage of P. quinquefolius in the adulterated binary mixture. The method is simple, rapid, robust, and can be extended for analysis of other herbal medicines.     

Synthesis of new fluorescent building blocks via the microwave-assisted annulation reaction of 1,1,2-trimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indole with acrylic acid and its derivatives

The reaction of 1,1,2-trimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indole with acrylic acid and its derivatives was employed for the preparation of novel fluorescent building blocks. Treatment of 1,1,2-trimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indole with acrylic acid, acrylamide or tert-butyl acrylate in an autoclave or a microwave reactor at 180–200 °C afforded benzo[e]pyrido[1,2-a]indole derivatives. Various chemical transformations of the latter compounds have been performed to yield functionalized benzo[e]indole scaffolds. The structure assignments were based on data from ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray analyses. The optical properties of the obtained benzo[e]indoline derivatives were studied by UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Selective functionalization at the small rim of calix[6]arene. Synthesis of novel non-symmetrical N3, N4 and N3ArO biomimetic ligands

Eight novel calix[6]arene-based biomimetic ligands for transition metal ions have been synthesized. They display a non-symmetrical N₃, N₄ or N₃ArO binding core that mimics enzyme active sites presenting histidine and tyrosine residues. The key step for their synthesis is the mono-alkylation at the small rim of the C_3v symmetrical trimethyl ether derivative of tBu-calix[6]arene with N-Boc-2-chloroethylamine to yield a novel calix[6]arene synthon. Its combined O-alkylation with a chloromethyl aromatic amine and N-deprotection or alkylation or reductive alkylation with a salicylaldehyde derivative yielded the calix[6]arene-based ligands with mixed N/O donors.     

An efficient synthesis of furano analogs of duocarmycin C1 and C2: seco-iso-cyclopropylfurano[e]indoline-trimethoxyindole and seco-cyclopropylfurano[f]quinoline-trimethoxyindole

seco-Iso-cyclopropylfurano[e]indoline-trimethoxyindole 1 and seco-cyclopropylfurano[f]quinoline-trimethoxyindole 2 are potent cytotoxic agents. Previous synthesis of these compounds was inefficient and the approach required separation of a mixture containing the isomeric indoline and quinoline intermediates 11 and 12, formed from radical cyclization of allylic bromide 10. Reported herein is an efficient and selective synthesis of either intermediate 11 or 12, thus product 1 or 2, as needed. The conditions of the Stobbe condensation, bromination, 5-exo-trig radical cyclization, amine-carboxylic acid coupling, and debenzylation were optimized for multi gram scale. As a result, the reaction times were shortened, the products were readily isolated, and the yields and purity improved.     

Syntheses and structures of zinc and tin(II) compounds with hemilabile N-silyl-tert-butylamido and N-silyl-p-tolylamido ligands that contain pendent tert-butoxy groups

Syntheses and solid-state structures of zinc and tin(II) compounds, containing the N-silyl-amide ligands (O^tBu)(NR)SiMe₂, R = ^tBu (L^tBu), or R = p-tolyl (L^pTol), are reported. The N-silyl amines were synthesized by modified published procedures from commercially available Me₂SiCl₂, ^tBuOH, and ^tBuNH₂, or p-Me-C₆H₄NH₂, respectively. Treatment of SnCl₂ with LiL^pTol furnished Sn(L^pTol)₂, which was X-ray structurally characterized and shown to contain two covalent Sn-N bonds and two asymmetrical O → Sn donor bonds. The single-crystal X-ray structure of Sn(L^tBu)₂ revealed a much more symmetrically-coordinated, pseudo-trigonal-bipyramidal tin atom. Aminolysis of diethylzinc with HL^pTol produced [EtZn(L^pTol)]₂, which crystallized as a centrosymmetric dimer, containing four-coordinate zinc atoms connected by bridging amides. Zinc dichloride, by contrast, reacted with two equivalents of LiL^tBu to produce the homoleptic, pseudo-spirocyclic Zn(L^tBu)₂.     

Ruthenium trichloride catalyzed synthesis of 2,3-unsaturated-N-glycosides via Ferrier azaglycosylation

An efficient, economical and mild protocol for the synthesis of 2,3-unsaturated-N-glycosides has been developed using ruthenium(III) chloride. The Ferrier azaglycosylation of glycals with various N-nucleophiles such as sulfonamides, benzamides, carbamates and N-substituted sulfonamides proceeded smoothly to afford the corresponding 2,3-unsaturated-N-glycosides or ‘N-pseudoglycals’ in good yields (64–98%). High α-anomeric selectivity was observed with N-substituted sulfonamides such as N-benzyl or N-phenyl sulfonamides under similar conditions.     

An efficient synthesis of spiro[dibenzo[b,i]xanthene-13,3′-indoline]-pentaones and 5H-dibenzo[b,i]xanthene-tetraones

Spiro[dibenzo[b,i]xanthene-13,3′-indoline]-pentaones and 5H-dibenzo[b,i]xanthene-tetraones are synthesized from the condensation of 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione with isatins or aldehydes.     

Pd2dba3/P(i-BuNCH2CH2)3N: a highly efficient catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of trans-4-N,N-diarylaminostilbenes and N,N-diarylaminostyrenes

A Pd₂dba₃/P(i-BuNCH₂CH₂)₃N catalyzed one-pot synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted trans-4-N,N-diarylaminostilbenes and both symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted N,N-diarylaminostyrene derivatives is reported. The procedure involves two or more palladium catalyzed sequential coupling reactions (an amination and an inter-molecular Heck reaction) in one-pot using the same catalyst system with two different aryl halides, including aryl chlorides and hetero aryl halides as the coupling partners.     

Helicity of N,N′-diaryl-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane derivatives. Implications for molecular helicity manipulations

Derivatives of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH), useful as chiral ligands, scaffolds and building blocks, differ in their conformation. The conformation of N,N′-diaryl-DACH derivatives was studied by the semiempirical and DFT computational methods and by exciton-coupled circular dichroism. It was found that, contrary to M-helical N,N′-diimine, N,N′-diimide and N,N′-diamide derivatives, the aromatic residues in N,N′-diphenyl derivatives are oriented to form a P-helix for the (R,R)-DACH absolute configuration. The helicity of the bis-aryl system is modified in the case of 1-naphthyl or 2-naphthyl derivatives. Further switching of helicity has been demonstrated by either protonation or mono-N-acetylation of N,N′-diaryl DACH derivatives.     

Synthesis of fluorinated imines and carbodiimides from azides via aza-Wittig reaction

The Staudinger reaction of fluoroalkylazides were studied. A series of N-fluoroalkylimines were synthesized via aza-Wittig reaction of N-fluoroalkyliminophosphoranes. The N,N′-difluoroalkylated carbodiimide was also synthesized via the reaction of N-fluoroalkyliminophosphoranes with carbon dioxide or carbon disulfide.     

Selective O-acylation of unprotected N-benzylserine methyl ester and O,N-acyl transfer in the formation of cyclo[Asp-Ser] diketopiperazines

The synthesis of two diastereomeric cyclo[Asp-N-Bn-Ser] diketopiperazines (2a and 2b) was investigated. Initial formation of the Boc-aspartyl-N-benzyl serine isopeptide methyl esters (4a and 4b) was observed, which derive from the selective O-acylation of unprotected (S)- or (R)-N-benzylserine. This unexpected O-acylation is preferred over the formation of the tertiary amide and the resulting ester bond is stable in solution to O,N-acyl transfer. The O,N-acyl migration is then triggered by cleavage of the Boc protecting group and treatment with base, which also promotes immediate cyclization to the diketopiperazines.     

Intramolecular metal-catalyzed amination of pseudo-anomeric C-H bonds

Intramolecular metal-catalyzed amination of a pseudo-anomeric C-H bond in a C-glycoside is reported. Treatment of α,β-C-carbamoyloxymethyl- or β-C-sulfamoyloxymethyl glycosides with Rh₂(OAc)₄, PhI(OAc)₂, and MgO provided original spirooxazolidines or spirooxathiazolidines in reasonable yields. No correlation between ‘anomeric’ stereochemistry and insertion efficiency was found for the conversion of carbamate derivatives whereas amination reactions of the corresponding sulfamate esters were found to be strongly dependent on the anomeric configuration.     

A simple and efficient biphasic method for the preparation of 4-nitrophenyl N-methyl- and N-alkylcarbamates

Treatment of 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate with alkylammonium hydrochloride salts and solid anhydrous Na₂CO₃ in either CH₂Cl₂ or CH₃CN gave 4-nitrophenyl N-methylcarbamate and other N-alkylcarbamate analogues in excellent yields. Of particular interest is the observation that 4-nitrophenyl N-methylcarbamate, a safer alternative to the highly toxic methyl isocyanate, is obtained in quantitative yield (?95% pure as determined by ¹H NMR) after simple filtration and solvent evaporation.     

Synthesis and structures of polychalcogenadistannabicyclo[k.l.m]alkanes

Reaction of steric encumbered trichlorostannane with disodium sulfide or dilithium selenide gave 2,4-dimercapto-1,3,2,4-dithiadistannetane or tetraselenadistannabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane, respectively. Reactions of steric encumbered trihydrostannane with elemental chalcogens gave pentachalcogenadistannabicyclo[k.1.1]heptanes (k = 2 and 3). The two bridgehead tin atoms of the first polychalcogenadistannabicyclo[k.l.m]alkanes are concluded to have no significant bonding interaction, judging from the longer bond distances than those of the normal tin-tin single bonds.