Synthesis of N-tosyl-3,3,4-trisubstituted pyrrolidine derivatives starting from the Baylis-Hillman adducts via radical cyclization

N-Tosyl-3,3-disubstituted-4-vinylpyrrolidine derivatives 3a-c were synthesized via radical cyclization from the modified Baylis-Hillman adducts 2. The required starting materials 2a-c were prepared in moderate yields from the Baylis-Hillman adducts in three steps: (i) acetylation of the Baylis-Hillman adducts, (ii) S_N2′ reaction with tosylamide to prepare 1, and (iii) alkylation with 1,4-dibromo-2-butene.     

Synthesis of 3-substituted-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxides from the Baylis-Hillman adducts of o-nitrobenzaldehydes

The reaction of the Baylis-Hillman adducts 1b-f derived from o-nitrobenzaldehydes in trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of triflic acid (0.2 equiv.) afforded 3-substituted-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxides 2b-e and 2a in good to moderate yields. The reaction mechanism was evidenced by the experiment with 1f, the Baylis-Hillman adduct of 2-nitrobenzaldehyde N-tosylimine, as the one involving N-hydroxyisoxazoline as the key intermediate.     

The cross-aldol reaction of hexafluoroacetone (HFA) with ketones catalyzed by an acid

The cross-aldol reactions of hexafluoroacetone (HFA) and ketones using an acid catalyst are reported. When concentrated sulfuric acid was employed as the catalyst, HFA reacted regioselectively with various ketones at 50-100 °C to give the aldol adducts (6) in good yields. The reaction is initiated by an acid-catalyzed transformation of the ketone into the corresponding enol that reacts with HFA. The obtained adducts (6) can be reduced with hydrogen under a Ru/C catalyst to lead to the corresponding fluorine-containing diols (13).     

Efficient Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides catalyzed by tricyclohexylphosphine adducts of cyclopalladated ferrocenylimines

The air and moisture stable tricyclohexylphosphine (PCy₃) adducts of dimeric cyclopalladated ferrocenylimines 5 and 6 have been easily synthesized and successfully used in palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling of aryl chlorides. Using 0.1 mol% of 6 in the presence of 2 equivalent of Cs₂CO₃ as base in dioxane at 100 °C provided coupled products in excellent yields in the reaction of non-activated and deactivated aryl chlorides with phenylboronic acid. For activated chlorides such as 4-chloronitrobenzene and 4-chloroacetophenone, the catalyst loadings could be lowered to 0.01 mol% without loss of activity.     

Solvothermal syntheses and crystal structures of new Cu(II) complexes with phenylsuccinic acid

Five new Cu(II) complexes [Cu(psa)(phen)] · 3H₂O (1), [Cu(psa)(2bpy)] · 0.5H₂O (2), [Cu(psa)(2bpy)(H₂O)] · 3H₂O (3), [Cu(psa)(4bpy)] · H₂O (4), and [Cu(psa)_0.5(N₃)(2bpy)] (5) (H₂psa = phenylsuccinic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, 2bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, and 4bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine) were obtained under solvothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 2 and 3 were formed by one-pot reaction. In complex 2, Cu(II) ion is four-coordinated and locates at a slightly distorted square center. In complex 3, the coordinated water molecule occupies the axial site of Cu(II) ion forming a tetragonal pyramid geometry. Complexes 1 and 3 are of 1D chain structures, and extended into 2D supramolecular network by hydrogen bonds. Complex 2 is of zipper structure, and further assembled into 2D supramolecular network by hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions. Complex 4 is a 3D CdSO₄-like structure with twofold interpenetration, while complex 5 is a dinuclear compound. The different structures of complexes 1–5 can be attributed to using the auxiliary ligands, indicating an important role of the auxiliary ligands in assembly and structure of the title complexes.     

Coordination modes of 3-hydroxypicolinic acid: Synthesis and structural characterization of polymeric mercury(II) complexes

Novel mercury(II) compounds of 3-hydroxypicolinic acid (HpicOH; IUPAC name: 3-hydroxy-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid) were synthesized and characterized. HgCl(picOH) (1) and HgBr₂(HpicOH) (2) were obtained as reaction products from the reaction of the corresponding mercury(II) halide with HpicOH, irrespective of the molar ratio of the reactants. From the reaction of HpicOH and mercury(II) acetate, Hg(picOH)₂ (3) was obtained, while mercury(II) nitrate monohydrate gave the 1/1 solvate with water Hg(picOH)₂ · H₂O (3a). Infrared, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic data were analyzed for complexes 1, 2 and 3. X-ray crystal structure analysis of 1 and 2 revealed their polymeric nature and different coordination modes of HpicOH. In 1 the deprotonated picolinic acid is N,O-chelating and bridging, while in 2 HpicOH is a O-monodentate weakly bound ligand. Compound 1 consists of HgCl(picOH) moieties with two linear covalent bonds, Hg–N 2.143(4) and Hg–Cl 2.298(1) Å, and four additional Hg?O contacts (2.460(3)–2.904(3) Å) in which both oxygen atoms from the carboxylic group are bridging and involved in coordination to three neighboring mercury atoms, thus forming infinite layers. The coordination of mercury is 2 + 4. 2 consists of {HgBr₂(HpicOH)} moieties, which are linked into chains by means of mercury to bromine secondary long range interactions. The coordination sphere of mercury can be described as irregular 2 + 3 formed by two covalently bonded bromine atoms (Hg–Br 2.277(1) and 2.366(1) Å), two bridging bromine atoms (Hg?Br 3.309(1) and 3.247(1) Å) and by the HpicOH ligand attached to mercury in the zwitterionic form via the carboxylic oxygen atom (Hg?O 2.602(7) Å).     

Synthesis and characterisation of dialkyltin 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic acid adducts

The novel dialkyltin 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic acid adducts (R₂Sn)(O,O′-dpmaa) [1a, R = Me; 1b, R = Bu; dpmaa = bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic acid] were synthesised from dpmaa and R₂SnCl₂ or Bu₂SnO. They were fully characterised by elemental analysis, IR- and multinuclear NMR-spectroscopies as well as X-ray crystallography [in the case of 1a as its Ph₂P(O)(CH₂)₂P(O)Ph₂ adduct]. Both were found to be cyclic trimers in the solid state that dissolve in the case of 1b into an equilibrium mixture of oligomers.     

Thermal hydrosilylation of olefin with hydrosilane. Preparative and mechanistic aspects

The reaction of trichlorosilane (1a) at 250 °C with cycloalkenes, such as cyclopentene (2a), cyclohexene (2b), cycloheptene (2c), and cyclooctene (2d), gave cycloalkyltrichlorosilanes [C_nH_2n−1SiCl₃: n = 5 (3a), 6 (3b), 7 (3c), 8 (3d)] within 6 h in excellent yields (97-98%), but the similar reactions using methyldichlorosilane (1b) instead of 1a required a longer reaction time of 40 h and afforded cycloalkyl(methyl)dichlorosilanes [C_nH_2n−1SiMeCl₂: n = 5 (3e), 6 (3f), 7 (3g), 8 (3h)] in 88-92% yields with 4-8% recovery of reactant 2. In large (2, 0.29 mol)-scale preparations, the reactions of 2a and 2b with 1a (0.58 mol) under the same condition gave 3a and 3b in 95% and 94% isolated yields, respectively. The relative reactivity of four hydrosilanes [HSiCl_3−mMe_m: m = 0-3] in the reaction with 2a indicates that as the number of chlorine-substituent(s) on the silicon increases the rate of the reaction decreases in the following order: n = 3 > 2 > 1 ? 0. In the reaction with 1a, the relative reactivity of four cycloalkenes (ring size = 5-8) decreases in the following order: 2d > 2a > 2c > 2b. Meanwhile linear alkenes like 1-hexene undergo two reactions of self-isomerization and hydrosilylation with hydrosilane to give a mixture of the three isomers (1-, 2-, and 3-silylated hexanes). In this reaction, the reactivity of the terminal 1-hexene is higher than the internal 2- and 3-hexene. The redistribution of hydrosilane 1 and the polymerization of olefin 2 occurred rarely under the thermal reaction condition.     

Convenient synthesis of 3,3,3-trifluoropropanoic acid by hydrolytic oxidation of 3,3,3-trifluoropropanal dimethyl acetal

A convenient and efficient method for preparing 3,3,3-trifluoropropanoic acid (1) is reported. The starting material is 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (2) that can be easily transformed into 3,3,3-trifluoropropanal dimethyl acetal (4) on treatment with methanol and KOH followed by acid-catalyzed addition of methanol. Direct transformation of 4 into 1 was efficiently achieved with 30% aqueous hydrogen peroxide (4.0 equiv.) in the presence of FeCl₃ (0.025 equiv.) and hydrochloric acid (0.5 equiv.).     

Carbonyl complexes of manganese, rhenium and molybdenum with 2-pyridylimino acid ligands

[MBr(CO)₃{κ²(N,O)-pyca}] [M = Mn(1a), Re(1b), pyca = pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde] and [MoCl(η³-C₃H₄Me-2)(CO)₂{κ²(N,O)-pyca}] (1c) react with aminoacid β-alanine to give the corresponding iminopyridine complexes 2a-2c. The same method affords the iminopyridine derivatives from γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (3a-3c) and 3-aminobenzoic acid (4a-4c). For complexes 2a-2c, 3a, 3c and 4a, the solid state structures have been determined by X-ray crystallography, revealing interesting differences in their hydrogen-bonding patterns in solid state.     

Aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of ethyl (arylimino)acetate with methyl vinyl ketone and ethyl vinyl ketone

Aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman (aza-MBH) reaction of ethyl (arylimino)acetate with methyl vinyl ketone and ethyl vinyl ketone has been investigated. We found that aza-MBH adducts 1 could be formed in the presence of DABCO (30 mol %) and the corresponding adducts 2 could be obtained in the presence of PPh₃ (30 mol %) in moderate to good yields in acetonitrile under mild conditions, respectively.     

Novel diaminoaluminum halides and a diaminoaluminum hydride: 1,3,2-Diazaalumina-[3]ferrocenophanes

The dilithiated derivative 2 of 1,1′-bis(trimethylsilylamino)ferrocene (1) reacts with the pyridine adducts of the aluminum trihalides AlX₃ (X = Cl, Br, I) to give the respective 1,3,2-diazaalumina-[3]ferrocenophanes (4b, c, d) as pyridine adducts. The fluoride 4a could not be obtained in this way. The reaction of 1,1′-bis(trimethylsilylamino)ferrocene (1) with the dimethyl(ethyl)amine- or pyridine adduct of aluminium trihydride gave the 1,3,2-diazaalumina-[3]ferrocenophanes (5) and (6) as the amine and pyridine adducts, respectively. Treatment of 5 with trimethyltin fluoride afforded the adduct 7 with an Al–F function. Addition of pyridine converted 7 into the desired pyridine adduct of the fluoride (4a). The molecular structures of the pyridine adducts 4a, 4b, 4c and 6 were determined by X-ray analysis. The pyridine is in the trans-position relative to the N–Si bond vectors, and temperature dependent solution-state NMR spectra prove that prominent structural features are retained in solution.     

New approaches to β-trifluoromethylated enone derivatives

β-Trifluoromethylated enaminones 1 were prepared stereospecifically or high stercoselectively in 31-92% yields from the reaction of Weinreb amides with trifluoropropynyl lithium, followed by quenching with H₂O in the presence of amine derivatives. β-Trifluoromethylated enaminone 1a was reacted with aryl or alkynyl Grignard reagents to give Michael addition products 5 at 0 °C, whereas addition-elimination adducts, β-aryl (or alkynyl)-β-trifluoromethylated enones 6, were obtained stereospecifically in 50-92% yields after stirring at room temperature for several hours.     

Synthesis of a biphenyl-based axially chiral amino acid as a highly efficient catalyst for the direct asymmetric aldol reaction

A biphenyl-based axially chiral amino acid (S)-2 has been designed and synthesized. The new amino acid (S)-2 has been found to be a more efficient catalyst than (S)-1 in the direct asymmetric aldol reaction of acetone with aldehydes. For instance, the use of only 0.1 mol % of (S)-2 was sufficient to complete the reaction between acetone and 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, giving the corresponding aldol adduct in good yield with an excellent enantioselectivity.     

Novel and efficient approach to (Z)-4-trifluoroethylidene-1,3-dioxolane derivatives via (trifluoromethyl)ethynylation of ketones and aldehydes

Perfluoroalkylated 4-trifluoroethylidene-1,3-dioxolanes 2a-p were prepared in quantitative yields from the reaction of new stable (trifluoromethyl)ethynylation reagent 1a with TBAF at −15 °C for 10 min, followed by treatment with phenyl perfluoroalkylated ketones at room temperature. The use of aldehydes under the same reaction condition afforded 1,3-dioxolanes 2q-r in good yields. The reaction of 1a with TBAF, followed by treatment with aldehydes or ketones at −15 °C for 10 min and then with trifluoroacetophenone at room temperature provided 1,3-dioxolane derivatives 2s-t in good yields. Tetrabutylammonium trifluoropropynylide [II] was treated with benzaldehyde derivatives at −15 °C for 10 min, followed by treatment with trifluoroacetophenone, to give the corresponding 1,3-dioxolanes 2u-z and 1,3-dioxines 3u-z with different reaction condition.     

Platinum-catalyzed double silylations of alkynes with bis(dichlorosilyl)methanes

Bis(dichlorosilyl)methanes 1 undergo the two kind reactions of a double hydrosilylation and a dehydrogenative double silylation with alkynes 2 such as acetylene and activated phenyl-substituted acetylenes in the presence of Speier’s catalyst to give 1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-1,3-disilacyclopentanes 3 and 1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-1,3-disilacyclopent-4-enes 4 as cyclic products, respectively, depending upon the molecular structures of both bis(dichlorosilyl)methanes (1) and alkynes (2). Simple bis(dichlorosilyl)methane (1a) reacted with alkynes [R¹-CC-R²: R¹ = H, R² = H (2a), Ph (2b); R¹ = R² = Ph (2c)] at 80 °C to afford 1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-1,3-disilacyclopentanes 3 as the double hydrosilylation products in fair to good yields (33-84%). Among these reactions, the reaction with 2c gave a trans-4,5-diphenyl-1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-1,3-disilacyclopentane 3ac in the highest yield (84%). When a variety of bis(dichlorosilyl)(silyl)methanes [(Me_nCl_3 − nSi)CH(SiHCl₂)₂: n = 0 (1b), 1 (1c), 2 (1d), 3 (1e)] were applied in the reaction with alkyne (2c) under the same reaction conditions. The double hydrosilylation products, 2-silyl-1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-1,3-disilacyclopentanes (3), were obtained in fair to excellent yields (38-98%). The yields of compound 3 deceased as follows: n = 1 > 2 > 3 > 0. The reaction of alkynes (2a-c) with 1c under the same conditions gave one of two type products of 1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-1,3-disilacyclopentanes 3 and 1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-1,3-disilacyclopent-4-enes (4): simple alkyne 2a and terminal 2b gave the latter products 4ca and 4cb in 91% and 57% yields, respectively, while internal alkyne 2c afforded the former cyclic products 3cc with trans form between two phenyl groups at the 3- and 4-carbon atoms in 98% yield, respectively. Among platinum compounds such as Speier’s catalyst, PtCl₂(PEt₃)₂, Pt(PPh₃)₂(C₂H₄), Pt(PPh₃)₄, Pt[ViMeSiO]₄, and Pt/C, Speier’s catalyst was the best catalyst for such silylation reactions.     

Syntheses,supramolecular structures and properties of six coordination complexes based on 5-sulfosalicylic acid and bipyridyl-like chelates

Six new complexes constructed by 5-sulfosalicylic acid and bipyridyl-like ligands (2,2′-bipy and 1,10-phen), namely [Cu₄(OH)₂(ssal)₂(phen)₄ · 7H₂O] (1), [Cu₄(OH)₂(ssal)₂(bipy)₄ · 2H₂O] (2), [Cd(Hssal)(bipy)] (3), [Cd(HL)₂(phen)₂] (4), [Cr(ssal)(bipy)(H₂O)₂ · 2H₂O] (5) and [Cr(ssal)(phen)₂] (6) (H₃ssal = 5-sulfosalicylic acid, H₂L = p-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid, bipy = 2,2′-bipy, phen = 1,10-phen) were prepared under hydrothermal conditions and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1 and 2 are both tetranuclear copper complexes with a stepped topology. In complex 3, a new coordination mode of the Hssal²⁻ group is reported in this work. During the synthetic process of complex 4, in situ decarboxylation of 5-sulfosalicylic acid into p-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid is involved. Two chromium 5-sulfosalicylates (5 and 6) are reported for the first time. These new complexes display different supramolecular structures by O–H?O, C–H?O hydrogen bonds as well as π?π, C–H?π and O?π interactions. The results of magnetic determination show that ferromagnetic interactions exist in complex 1, however, antiferromagnetic interactions exist in 2.     

Synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted benzofurans and indoles by π-Lewis acidic transition metal-catalyzed cyclization of ortho-alkynylphenyl O,O- and N,O-acetals

The PtCl₂-catalyzed cyclization reaction of ortho-alkynylphenyl acetals 1 in the presence of COD (1,5-cyclooctadiene) produces 3-(α-alkoxyalkyl)benzofurans 2 in good to high yields. For example, the reaction of acetaldehyde ethyl 2-(1-octynyl)phenyl acetal (1a), acetaldehyde ethyl 2-(cyclohexylethynyl)phenyl acetal (1c), and acetaldehyde ethyl 2-(phenylethynyl)phenyl acetal (1f) in the presence of 2 mol % of platinum(II) chloride and 8 mol % of 1,5-cycloocatadiene in toluene at 30 °C gave the corresponding 2,3-disubstituted benzofurans 2a, 2c, and 2f in 91, 94, and 88% yields, respectively. Moreover, the reaction of N-methoxymethyl-2-alkynylanilines 3 was catalyzed by PdBr₂, affording the corresponding 2,3-disubstituted indoles 4 in moderate yields. For example, the reaction of N-methoxymethyl-2-(1-pentynyl)-N-tosylaniline (3a) and N-methoxymethyl-2-(phenylethynyl)-N-tosylaniline (3b) in the presence of 10 mol % of PdBr₂ in toluene at 80 °C gave 3-methoxymethyl-2-propyl-1-tosylindole (4a) and 3-methoxymethyl-2-phenyl-1-tosylindole (4b) in 33 and 33% yields, respectively.     

Pyrenyl-appended imidazolium receptor for selective fluorescence sensing of oxalic acid

A new fluorescent imidazolium-based cholestane receptor 4 bearing a pyrene moiety was synthesized. The binding ability of 4 toward various dicarboxylic acids was examined by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Receptor 4 showed the highest binding constant for oxalic acid among all the tested dicarboxylic acids (K_a = 5.06 × 10⁴ M⁻¹). Oxalic acid formed a complex with 4 with a 1:2 ratio in ethanol.     

Reactions of guaiazulene with methyl terephthalaldehydate and 2-hydroxy- and 4-hydroxybenzaldehydes in methanol in the presence of hexafluorophosphoric acid: comparative studies on molecular structures and spectroscopic, chemical and electrochemical properties of monocarbocations stabilized by 3-guaiazulenyl and phenyl groups

Reaction of guaiazulene (1) with methyl terephthalaldehydate (2) in methanol in the presence of hexafluorophosphoric acid at 25 °C for 2 h under aerobic conditions gives (3-guaiazulenyl)[4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl]methylium hexafluorophosphate (5) in 94% yield. Similarly, reactions of 1 with 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3) and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (4) under the same reaction conditions as 2 give (3-guaiazulenyl)(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylium hexafluorophosphate (6) and (3-guaiazulenyl)(4-hydroxyphenyl)methylium hexafluorophosphate (7) in 89 and 97% yields, respectively. Comparative studies on the molecular structures as well as the spectroscopic, chemical and electrochemical properties of the monocarbocation compounds 5-7 stabilized by 3-guaiazulenyl and 4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl (or 2-hydroxy- or 4-hydroxyphenyl) groups are reported.