Synthesis of (4Z)‐4‐(Arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones by the Reaction of Ethyl (2Z)‐3‐Aryl‐2‐isothiocyanatoprop‐2‐enoates with Organolithium Compounds

A convenient one‐pot method for the preparation of (4Z)‐4‐(arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones 2 and 3 from ethyl (2Z)‐3‐aryl‐2‐isothiocyanatoprop‐2‐enoates 1 , which can be easily prepared from ethyl 2‐azidoacetate and aromatic aldehydes, has been developed. Thus, these α‐isothiocyanato α,β‐unsaturated esters were treated with organolithium compounds, including lithium enolates of acetates, to provide 5‐substituted (4Z)‐4‐(arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones, 2 , and 2‐[(4Z)‐(4‐arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐2‐thioxo‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐5‐yl]acetates, 3 .     

Reactions of Methyl Diazoacetate with (E)‐ and (Z)‐1,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile: Novel and Unanticipated Pathways

The cycloadditions of methyl diazoacetate to 2,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)fumaronitrile ((E)‐ BTE ) and 2,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)maleonitrile ((Z)‐ BTE ) furnish the 4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazoles 13 . The retention of dipolarophile configuration proceeds for (E)‐ BTE with > 99.93% and for (Z)‐ BTE with > 99.8% (CDCl₃, 25°), suggesting concertedness. Base catalysis (1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), proton sponge) converts the cycloadducts, trans‐ 13 and cis‐ 13 , to a 94 : 6 equilibrium mixture (CDCl₃, r.t.); the first step is N‐deprotonation, since reaction with methyl fluorosulfonate affords the 4,5‐dihydro‐1‐methyl‐1H‐pyrazoles. Competing with the cis/trans isomerization of 13 is the formation of a bis(dehydrofluoro) dimer (two diastereoisomers), the structure of which was elucidated by IR, ¹⁹F‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy. The reaction slows when DABCO is bound by HF, but F^? as base keeps the conversion to 22 going and binds HF. The diazo group in 22 suggests a common intermediate for cis/trans isomerization of 13 and conversion to 22 : reversible ring opening of N‐deprotonated 13 provides 18 , a derivative of methyl diazoacetate with a carbanionic substituent. Mechanistic comparison with the reaction of diazomethane and dimethyl 2,3‐dicyanofumarate, a related tetra‐acceptor‐ethylene, brings to light unanticipated divergencies.     

Pentiptycene‐Derived Light‐Driven Molecular Brakes: Substituent Effects of the Brake Component

Five pentiptycene‐derived stilbene systems ( 1 R ; R =H, OM, NO, Pr, and Bu) have been prepared and investigated as light‐driven molecular brakes that have different‐sized brake components ( 1 H < 1 OM < 1 NO < 1 Pr < 1 Bu ). At room temperature (298 K), rotation of the pentiptycene rotor is fast (k_rot=10⁸–10⁹ s^?1) with little interaction with the brake component in the trans form ((E)‐ 1 R ), which corresponds to the brake‐off state. When the brake is turned on by photoisomerization to the cis form ((Z)‐ 1 R ), the pentiptycene rotation can be arrested on the NMR spectroscopic timescale at temperatures that depend on the brake component. In the cases of (Z)‐ 1 NO , (Z)‐ 1 Pr , and (Z)‐ 1 Bu , the rotation is nearly blocked (k_rot=2–6 s^?1) at 298 K. It is also demonstrated that the rotation is slower in [D₆]DMSO than in CD₂Cl₂. A linear relationship between the free energies of the rotational barrier and the steric parameter A values is present only for (Z)‐ 1 H , (Z)‐ 1 OM , and (Z)‐ 1 NO , and it levels off on going from (Z)‐ 1 NO to (Z)‐ 1 Pr and (Z)‐ 1 Bu . DFT calculations provide insights into the substituent effects in the rotational ground and transition states. The molar reversibility of the E–Z photoswitching is up to 46 %, and both the E and Z isomers are stable under the irradiation conditions.     

Anion Recognition with Hydrogen‐Bonding Cyclodiphosphazanes

Modular cyclodiphosph(V)azanes are synthesised and their affinity for chloride and actetate anions were compared to those of a bisaryl urea derivative ( 1 ). The diamidocyclodiphosph(V)azanes cis‐[{ArNHP(O)(μ‐tBu)}₂] [Ar=Ph ( 2 ) and Ar=m‐(CF₃)₂Ph ( 3 )] were synthesised by reaction of [{ClP(μ‐NtBu)}₂] ( 4 ) with the respective anilines and subsequent oxidation with H₂O₂. Phosphazanes 2 and 3 were obtained as the cis isomers and were characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, HRMS and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The cyclodiphosphazanes 2 and 3 readily co‐crystallise with donor solvents such as MeOH, EtOH and DMSO through bidentate hydrogen bonding, as shown in the X‐ray analyses. Cyclodiphosphazane 3 showed a remarkably high affinity (log[K]=5.42) for chloride compared with the bisaryl urea derivative 1 (log[K]=4.25). The affinities for acetate (AcO^?) are in the same range ( 3 : log[K]=6.72, 1 : log[K]=6.91). Cyclodiphosphazane 2 , which does not contain CF₃ groups, exhibits weaker binding to chloride (log[K]=3.95) and acetate (log[K]=4.49). DFT computations and X‐ray analyses indicate that a squaramide‐like hydrogen‐bond directionality and C_α?H interactions account for the efficiency of 3 as an anion receptor. The C_α?H groups stabilise the Z,Z‐ 3 conformation, which is necessary for bidentate hydrogen bonding, as well as coordinating with the anion.     

Synthesis of 3‐Aminotropones from N‐Boc‐Protected Furan‐2‐amine (=tert‐Butyl Furan‐2‐ylcarbamate; Boc=(tert‐Butoxy)carbonyl) by Cycloaddition Reactions and Subsequent Rearrangement

The 3‐aminotropones (=3‐aminocyclohepta‐2,4,6‐trien‐1‐ones) 4 were prepared in two steps by i) a [4+3] cycloaddition reaction between a conveniently substituted α,α′‐dihalo ketone 1 and a furan‐2‐amine derivative 2 functionalized at C(2) by a protected amino group (→ 3 ), and ii) a base‐induced molecular rearrangement of the cycloadduct 3 via cleavage of the O‐bridge. A mechanism for the formation of 3‐aminotropones is proposed on the basis of the initial deprotonation of the [(tert‐butoxy)carbonyl]amino (BocNH) group of 3 , followed by O‐bridge opening, an acid–base equilibrium, and finally an alkoxyaluminate elimination to afford the conjugated stable troponoid system (Scheme 7).     

Synthesis of New C2‐Symmetric Chiral Bisamides from (1S,2S)‐Cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxylic Acid

A series of new C₂‐symmetric (1S,2S)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxamides was synthesized from (1S,2S)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarbonyl dichloride and N‐benzyl‐substituted aromatic amines, which were prepared from 2‐aminopyridine, 2‐chloroaniline, and 2‐aminophenol via imine formation with benzaldehyde and subsequent reduction with NaBH₄. (1S,2S)‐N,N′‐Dibenzyl‐N,N′‐bis[2‐(benzyloxy)phenyl]cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxamide was converted to (1S,2S)‐N,N′‐dibenzyl‐N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxamide via hydrogenolysis in the presence of Pd(OH)₂ on active carbon powder.     

Preparation and structural analysis of (±)‐cis‐ethyl 2‐sulfanylidenedecahydro‐1,6‐naphthyridine‐6‐carboxylate and (±)‐trans‐ethyl 2‐oxooctahydro‐1H‐pyrrolo[3,2‐c]pyridine‐5‐carboxylate

Bicycle ring closure on a mixture of (4aS,8aR)‐ and (4aR,8aS)‐ethyl 2‐oxodecahydro‐1,6‐naphthyridine‐6‐carboxylate, followed by conversion of the separated cis and trans isomers to the corresponding thioamide derivatives, gave (4aSR,8aRS)‐ethyl 2‐sulfanylidenedecahydro‐1,6‐naphthyridine‐6‐carboxylate, C₁₁H₁₈N₂O₂S. Structural analysis of this thioamide revealed a structure with two crystallographically independent conformers per asymmetric unit (Z′ = 2). The reciprocal bicycle ring closure on (3aRS,7aRS)‐ethyl 2‐oxooctahydro‐1H‐pyrrolo[3,2‐c]pyridine‐5‐carboxylate, C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₃, was also accomplished in good overall yield. Here the five‐membered ring is disordered over two positions, so that both enantiomers are represented in the asymmetric unit. The compounds act as key intermediates towards the synthesis of potential new polycyclic medicinal chemical structures.     

Synthesis and Characterization of N,N‐Di‐substituted Acylthiourea Copper(II) Complexes

A series of six N,N‐di‐substituted acylthiourea ArC(O)NHC(S)NRR′ ligands (denoted as HLⁿ) [Ar = 1‐Naph: NRR′ = NPh₂, HL¹ ( 1 ); N(iPr)Ph, HL² ( 2 ). Ar = Mes: NRR′ = NPh₂, HL⁴ ( 3 ); N(iPr)Ph, HL⁵ ( 4 ); NEt₂, HL⁶ ( 5 ). Ar = Ph: NRR′ = N(iPr)Ph, HL⁸ ( 6 )] were synthesized and characterized. These ligands were deprotonated to form Cu^II complexes through metathesis or combined redox reaction with copper halides. The structures of the complexes were investigated with single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The reaction of the 1‐naphthalene derivative HL¹ ( 1 ) with CuBr in the presence of sodium acetate produced cis‐CuL¹₂ ( 7 ), where the deprotonated ligand is bound to the Cu^II atom in a bidentate‐(O, S) coordination mode. Similarly treatment of HL² ( 2 ) with NaOAc and CuCl resulted in the formation of the cis‐arranged product [cis‐CuL²₂ ( 8 )]. The reaction of mesityl derivative HL⁴ ( 3 ) and CuBr with and without the addition of NaOAc gave the cis‐CuL⁴₂ ( 9 ) and cis‐(HL⁴)₂CuBr ( 10 ), respectively. In contrast, reaction of HL⁵ ( 4 ) and CuI in the presence of NaOAc resulted in trans‐CuL⁵₂ ( 11 ). Alternatively trans‐CuL⁶₂ ( 12 ) was obtained by the reaction of diethyl‐substituted HL⁶ ( 5 ) with CuCl₂ in the absence of a base.     

Chiral N,N′‐Dioxide‐Organocatalyzed Regio‐, Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Michael Addition–Alkylation Reaction

A highly regio‐, diastereo‐ and enantioselective Michael addition–alkylation reaction between α‐substituted cyano ketones and (Z)‐bromonitrostyrenes has been realized by using a chiral N,N′‐dioxide as organocatalyst. A variety of substrates performed well in this reaction, and the corresponding multifunctionalized chiral 2,3‐dihydrofurans were obtained in up to 95 % yield with 95:5 dr and 93 % ee.     

Reactions of Sterically Hindered ‘Thiocarbonyl Ylides' with 1,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile: Isolation of a Cyclic Seven‐Membered Ketene Imine

When ‘thiocarbonyl ylide' 1A (=(2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐3‐oxocyclobutylidenesulfonio)methanide) is generated from the dihydrothiadiazole 5A by N₂ extrusion at 40° in the presence of 2,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)fumaronitrile ((E)‐ 10 ), a cyclic seven‐membered ketene imine 11 and trans‐thiolane 12 are formed (81 : 19). The reaction of 1A with (Z)‐ 10 furnishes 11, 12 , and cis‐thiolane 25 in the ratio of 82 : 12 : 6. The strained ketene imine 11 is crystalline and storable as a consequence of the stabilizing ‘perfluoroalkyl effect'. The ketene imine group is stereogenic; 11 has a transoid structure with respect to the CF₃ groups, and there is no evidence for the cisoid diastereoisomer. Ketene imine 11 adds H₂O, MeOH, and PhNH₂. In solution at 60°, 11 undergoes an irreversible ring contraction, furnishing the thiolanes 12 / 25 98 : 2. The rate constant of this first‐order rearrangement increases 850‐fold, as the solvent polarity rises from cyclohexane to CD₃CN, in accordance with a zwitterionic intermediate. It is the same intermediate that is initially formed from 1A and 10 , and its intramolecular N‐ and C‐alkylation give rise to 11 and 12 + 25 , respectively. In contrast to 1A , thiocarbonyl ylide 27 , which harbors the sterically less‐demanding adamantylidene group, reacts with (E)‐ 10 to give trans‐thiolane 29 , but no ketene imine. The precursor 26 catalyzes the (Z)/(E) isomerization of 10 ((E)/(Z) ca. 95 : 5 at equilibrium), thus obviating conclusions on steric course and mechanism of this cycloaddition.     

A New Monomer for π‐Conjugated Polymers — Synthesis and Characterization of Bis((Z)‐5‐phenyl‐2‐phenylmethylidene‐1, 3‐dithiole‐4‐yl)monosulfane

Bis((Z)‐5‐phenyl‐2‐phenylmethylidene‐1, 3‐dithiole‐4‐yl)monosulfane ( 6 ), a molecule consisting of two diphenyldithiafulvene units connected by a sulfur bridge, was synthesized by the selective lithiation of (Z)‐4‐phenyl‐2‐phenylmethylidene‐1, 3‐dithiole ( 7a ) at the endocyclic double bond and by subsequent reaction of the lithiated intermediate with bis(phenylsulfonyl)sulfane. Since this reaction sequence proceeded with retention of configuration, of three possible isomers (E, E, Z, E, and Z, Z) only the Z, Z form was obtained. On the basis of the X‐ray structure analysis and the NMR‐spectroscopic characterization of 6 supplemented by the NMR parameters of (E)‐ and (Z)‐4‐phenyl‐2‐phenylmethylidene‐1, 3‐dithiole, it was demonstrated that two characteristic ⁵J coupling constants of the proton at the exocyclic double bond indicate the configuration (Z or E) of disubstituted dithiafuvene derivatives.     

Analogues of α‐Campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐Trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde) as Building Blocks for (+)‐β‐Necrodol (= (1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐Trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol) and Sandalwood‐like Alcohols

To complete our panorama in structure–activity relationships (SARs) of sandalwood‐like alcohols derived from analogues of α‐campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde), we isomerized the epoxy‐isopropyl‐apopinene (?)‐ 2d to the corresponding unreported α‐campholenal analogue (+)‐ 4d (Scheme 1). Derived from the known 3‐demethyl‐α‐campholenal (+)‐ 4a , we prepared the saturated analogue (+)‐ 5a by hydrogenation, while the heterocyclic aldehyde (+)‐ 5b was obtained via a Bayer‐Villiger reaction from the known methyl ketone (+)‐ 6 . Oxidative hydroboration of the known α‐campholenal acetal (?)‐ 8b allowed, after subsequent oxidation of alcohol (+)‐ 9b to ketone (+)‐ 10 , and appropriate alkyl Grignard reaction, access to the 3,4‐disubstituted analogues (+)‐ 4f,g following dehydration and deprotection. (Scheme 2). Epoxidation of either (+)‐ 4b or its methyl ketone (+)‐ 4h , afforded stereoselectively the trans‐epoxy derivatives 11a,b , while the minor cis‐stereoisomer (+)‐ 12a was isolated by chromatography (trans/cis of the epoxy moiety relative to the C₂ or C₃ side chain). Alternatively, the corresponding trans‐epoxy alcohol or acetate 13a,b was obtained either by reduction/esterification from trans‐epoxy aldehyde (+)‐ 11a or by stereoselective epoxidation of the α‐campholenol (+)‐ 15a or of its acetate (?)‐ 15b , respectively. Their cis‐analogues were prepared starting from (+)‐ 12a . Either (+)‐ 4h or (?)‐ 11b , was submitted to a Bayer‐Villiger oxidation to afford acetate (?)‐ 16a . Since isomerizations of (?)‐ 16 lead preferentially to β‐campholene isomers, we followed a known procedure for the isomerization of (?)‐epoxyverbenone (?)‐ 2e to the norcampholenal analogue (+)‐ 19a . Reduction and subsequent protection afforded the silyl ether (?)‐ 19c , which was stereoselectively hydroborated under oxidative condition to afford the secondary alcohol (+)‐ 20c . Further oxidation and epimerization furnished the trans‐ketone (?)‐ 17a , a known intermediate of either (+)‐β‐necrodol (= (+)‐(1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol; 17c ) or (+)‐(Z)‐lancifolol (= (1S,3R,4Z)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐(4‐methylpent‐3‐enylidene)cyclopentanemethanol). Finally, hydrogenation of (+)‐ 4b gave the saturated cis‐aldehyde (+)‐ 21 , readily reduced to its corresponding alcohol (+)‐ 22a . Similarly, hydrogenation of β‐campholenol (= 2,3,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐1‐ene‐1‐ethanol) gave access via the cis‐alcohol rac‐ 23a , to the cis‐aldehyde rac‐ 24 .     

Assignment of the E,Z configurational isomers of platinum complexes of N,N‐dialkyl‐N′‐acyl(aroyl)thioureas by means of triple resonance 1H/13C/195Pt PFG correlation NMR spectroscopy

Unsymmetrical, dialkyl‐substituted N,N‐dialkyl‐N^′‐acyl(aroyl)thioureas show E,Z configurational isomerism at room temperature in solution, which is also expressed in the existence of cis‐[Pt(ZZ‐L‐S,O)₂], cis‐[Pt(EZ‐L‐S,O)₂] and cis‐[Pt(EE‐L‐S,O)₂] complexes derived from these ligands. These configurational isomers were assigned by means of a double magnetization transfer ¹H/¹³C/¹⁹⁵Pt correlation NMR experiment, despite the fact that the long‐range ⁵J(¹⁹⁵Pt, ¹H) and ⁴J(¹⁹⁵Pt, ¹³C) scalar couplings are not directly observable in their ¹H and ¹³C spectra at high field. Depending on the ligand structure, the relative amounts of cis‐[Pt(ZZ‐L‐S,O)₂], cis‐[Pt(EZ‐L‐S,O)₂] and cis‐[Pt(EE‐L‐S,O)₂] complexes are in the ranges 40–42% ZZ, 46–47% ZE and 12–13% EE. The cis‐bis[N‐methyl‐N‐(tert‐butyl)‐N^′‐(2,2‐dimethylpropanoyl)thioureato]platinum(II) complex is found to occur exclusively as the ZZ isomer. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural diversity in the coordination of 1,4‐dihydro‐1,4‐diarsinine as a cyclic ditopic organoarsenic ligand to metal ions

A number of different complexation structures of cis‐1,4‐dihydro‐1,4‐dimethyl‐2,3,5,6‐tetrakis(t‐butoxycarbonyl)‐1,4‐diarsinine (cis‐DHDAtBu) with gold(I) and iridium(III) were synthesized and characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectra, X‐ray crystallography, and elemental analysis. Mono‐ and di‐nuclear gold(I) chloride complexes with cis‐DHDAtBu were obtained by simple addition of gold(I) chloride to cis‐DHDAtBu. A hetero‐trinuclear gold‐platinum‐gold complex (PtAu₂Cl₄(cis‐DHDAtBu)₂) was obtained by complexation of a mononuclear platinum(II) complex (trans‐PtCl₂(cis‐DHDAtBu)₂), which was obtained by complexation of cis‐DHDAtBu with a half‐equimolar amount of PtCl₂(PhCN)₂, with a twice‐equimolar amount of gold(I) chloride. An iridium(III) complex with cis‐DHDAtBu (IrCl₃(cis‐DHDAtBu)₂) was prepared from hydrated iridium(III) chloride and cis‐DHDAtBu. The complex comprises a five‐membered chelate cis‐DHDAtBu and an usual monodentate cis‐DHDAtBu. The interior angles at around the arsenic and the As–C—C bond angles were significantly varied from 113.4° to 129.4° in the present crystal. These observations suggest that the flexibility of the bond angles at around the arsenic center is inherent property in the present organoarsenic compounds. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 23:16–26, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.20747     

Stereocomplementary Synthesis of cis‐ and trans‐2‐(p‐Bromophenyl)‐5‐methylthiazolidin‐4‐ones: Useful Umpolung‐type Suzuki–Miyaura Cross‐coupling Partner and Donor

Novel cis‐ and trans‐2‐(p‐bromophenyl)‐5‐methylthiazolidin‐4‐ones, S,N‐containing heterocyclic compounds, were provided in a cis‐stereocomplementary and trans‐stereocomplementary synthetic manner. cis‐Selective cyclo‐condensation proceeded between 2‐sulfanylpropanoic acid (thiolactic acid) and an imine derived from 4‐bromobenzaldehyde and methylamine, whereas Ti(OiPr)₄ and Ti(OiBu)₄‐promoted trans‐selective cyclo‐condensation proceeded between benzyl 2‐sulfanylpropanoate and the imine. The obtained cis‐ and trans ‐ 2‐(p‐bromophenyl)‐5‐methylthiazolidin‐4‐ones were successfully converted to 2‐(3‐furyl)phenyl derivatives and bis(pinacolato)diborane derivatives utilizing Suzuki–Miyaura and Miyaura–Ishiyama cross‐coupling reactions, respectively, in an umpolung manner.     

Microwave‐Assisted Three‐Component Synthesis of Some Novel 1‐Alkyl‐1H‐indole‐2,3‐dione 3‐(O‐Alkyl­oxime) Derivatives as Potential Chemotherapeutic Agents

A convenient and efficient method for a one‐pot conversion of N‐alkylisatins to N‐alkylisatin O‐alkyloximes 7a – 7n as potential chemotherapeutic agents is described (Scheme) (isatin=1H‐indole‐2,3‐dione). In this method, the microwave‐assisted three‐component reaction of N‐alkylisatins 8 , hydroxylamine hydrochloride, and diverse alkyl halides in the presence of K₂CO₃ and Bu₄NBr furnishes the corresponding N‐alkylisatin O‐alkyloximes under solvent‐free condition in short times (2–10 min) and good to excellent yields (62–83%). The O‐alkylation of in situ generated isatin oximes with alkyl halides was achieved regioselectively, and (Z)‐O‐alkyloximes were produced dominantly. PM3 Semi‐empirical quantum‐mechanic calculations were performed to rationalize the evidences, and the calculations indicated a lower heat of formation for the (Z)‐O‐alkyloximes.     

Novel and one‐pot Synthesis of Tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2‐a]‐2‐Methylbenzothiazole‐3‐Spiro‐1′‐Cyclohexa‐2′,5′‐Dien‐4′‐one‐4,5‐Dicarboxylate Derivatives via a Three Component Reaction

The three component condensation reactions involving 2‐methylbenzothiazole or 2,5‐dimethylbenzothiazole, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate, and 2,6‐dimethyl phenol or 2,6‐di‐tert‐butylphenol constitute a novel and one‐pot synthesis of tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2‐a ]‐2‐methylbenzothiazoles‐3‐spiro‐1^′‐cyclohexa‐2^′,5^′‐dien‐4^′‐one‐4,5‐dicarboxylate derivatives in good yields. The reactions proceeded at room temperature without using any catalyst. This method is very useful to functionalize benzothiazole derivatives in a one‐pot operation.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the dinuclear copper(II) Schiff base complex μ‐hydroxido‐μ‐chlorido‐bis{[bis(trans‐2‐nitrocinnamaldehyde)ethylenediamine]chloridocopper(II)} dichloromethane sesquisolvate

Transition metal complexes of Schiff base ligands have been shown to have particular application in catalysis and magnetism. The chemistry of copper complexes is of interest owing to their importance in biological and industrial processes. The reaction of copper(I) chloride with the bidentate Schiff base N,N′‐bis(trans‐2‐nitrocinnamaldehyde)ethylenediamine {Nca₂en, systematic name: (1E,1′E,2E,2′E)‐N,N′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diyl)bis[3‐(2‐nitrophenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐imine]} in a 1:1 molar ratio in dichloromethane without exclusion of air or moisture resulted in the formation of the title complex μ‐chlorido‐μ‐hydroxido‐bis(chlorido{(1E,1′E,2E,2′E)‐N,N′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diyl)bis[3‐(2‐nitrophenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐imine]‐κ²N,N′}copper(II)) dichloromethane sesquisolvate, [Cu₂Cl₃(OH)(C₂₀H₁₈N₄O₄)₂]·1.5CH₂Cl₂. The dinuclear complex has a folded four‐membered ring in an unsymmetrical Cu₂OCl₃ core in which the approximate trigonal bipyramidal coordination displays different angular distortions in the equatorial planes of the two Cu^II atoms; the chloride bridge is asymmetric, but the hydroxide bridge is symmetric. The chelate rings of the two Nca₂en ligands have different conformations, leading to a more marked bowing of one of the ligands compared with the other. This is the first reported dinuclear complex, and the first five‐coordinate complex, of the Nca₂en Schiff base ligand. Molecules of the dimer are associated in pairs by ring‐stacking interactions supported by C—H…Cl interactions with solvent molecules; a further ring‐stacking interaction exists between the two Schiff base ligands of each molecule.     

ZnII‐ and AuI‐Catalyzed Regioselective Hydrative Oxidations of 3‐En‐1‐ynes with Selectfluor: Realization of 1,4‐Dioxo and 1,4‐Oxohydroxy Functionalizations

Catalytic 1,4‐dioxo functionalizations of 3‐en‐1‐ynes to (Z)‐ and (E)‐2‐en‐1,4‐dicarbonyl compounds are described. This regioselective difunctionalization was achieved in one‐pot operation through initial alkyne hydration followed by in situ Selectfluor oxidation. The presence of pyridine alters the reaction chemoselectivity to give 4‐hydroxy‐2‐en‐1‐carbonyl products instead. A cooperative action of pyridine and Zn^II assists the hydrolysis of key oxonium intermediate.     

Highly Enantioselective Protonation of the 3,4‐Dihydro‐2‐ methylnaphthalen‐1(2H)‐one Li‐Enolate by TADDOLs

A series of nine TADDOLs (=α,α,α′,α′‐tetraaryl‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4,5‐dimethanols) 1a – 1i , have been tested as proton sources for the enantioselective protonation of the Li‐enolate of 2‐methyl‐1‐tetralone (=3,4‐dihydro‐2‐methylnaphthalen‐1(2H)‐one). The enolate was generated directly from the ketone (with LiN(i‐Pr)₂ (LDA)/MeLi) or from the enol acetate (with 2 MeLi) or from the silyl enol ether (with MeLi) in CH₂Cl₂ or Et₂O as the solvent (Scheme). The Li‐enolate (associated with LiBr/LDA, or LiBr alone) was combined with 1.5 – 3.0 equiv. of the TADDOL at −78° by addition of the latter or by inverse addition. 2‐Methyl‐1‐tetralone of (S)‐configuration is formed (≤80% yield) with up to 99.5% selectivity if and only if (R,R)‐TADDOLs ( 1d , e , g ) with naphthalen‐1‐yl groups on the diarylmethanol unit are employed (Table). The reactions were carried out on the 0.1‐ to 1.0‐mM scale. The selectivity is subject to non‐linear effects (NLE) when an enantiomerically enriched TADDOL 1d is used (Fig. 1). The performance of TADDOLs bearing naphthalen‐1‐yl groups is discussed in terms of their peculiar structures (Fig. 2).