Synthesis of Fluorescent 2,6‐Dicyano‐3,5‐Disubstituted Anilines Using Cellulose Sulfuric Acid in Aqueous Media

The synthesis of some fluorescent 2,6‐dicyano‐3,5‐disubstituted anilines using cellulose sulfuric acid (Cellulose‐SA) as an environmentally benign catalyst in H₂O is described. The one‐pot reaction of 1,3‐diketone and three equiv. of malononitrile was carried out in the presence of one equiv. of a secondary amine, Cellulose‐SA as catalyst, and H₂O as solvent. The photophysical properties (λ_Abs., λ_Flu.) of the synthesized compounds in CH₂Cl₂, MeCN, and MeOH have been measured. The emission spectra of the new compounds in the solid state are also reported.     

Cyclization vs. Elimination Reactions of 5‐Aryl‐5‐hydroxy 1,3‐Diones: One‐Pot Synthesis of 2‐Aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐4H‐pyran‐4‐ones

2‐Aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐4H‐pyran‐4‐ones were prepared in one step by cyclocondensation of 1,3‐diketone dianions with aldehydes. The use of HCl (10%) for the aqueous workup proved to be very important to avoid elimination reactions of the 5‐aryl‐5‐hydroxy 1,3‐diones formed as intermediates. The TiCl₄‐mediated cyclization of a 2‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐4H‐pyran‐4‐one with 1,3‐silyloxybuta‐1,3‐diene resulted in cleavage of the pyranone moiety and formation of a highly functionalized benzene derivative.     

CoFe2O4/TMU‐17‐NH2 as a hybrid magnetic nanocomposite catalyst for multicomponent synthesis of dihydropyrimidines

A new magnetic metal–organic framework nanocomposite (CoFe₂O₄/TMU‐17‐NH₂) was prepared via an embedding approach by synthesis of the metal–organic framework crystals in the presence of magnetic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles. We demonstrated that the resulting magnetic nanocomposite can serve as a recyclable nanocatalyst for one‐pot synthesis of bis‐3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐one and 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐one derivatives via three‐component reaction of 1,3‐diketone, urea or thiourea and aromatic aldehyde under solvent‐free conditions. CoFe₂O₄/TMU‐17‐NH₂ was characterized using various techniques. The recovery of the nanocomposite was achieved by a simple magnetic decantation and it was reused at least seven times without significant degradation in catalytic activity.     

Synthesis of 1-Aryl-1,3-Diketones Containing the Dimethyl Malonate Moiety

The synthesis of new 1,3-diketones malonates 3 a-j were prepared in good yield from 1,5-diketones 2 a-j by employing the 1,5 → 1,3 diketone rearrangement.     

Phosphomolybdic Acid (PMA)–SiO2 as a Heterogeneous Solid Acid Catalyst for the One‐Pot Synthesis of 2H‐Indazolo[1,2‐b]phthalazine‐triones

Phosphomolybdic acid (PMA)–SiO₂ was found to be an efficient catalyst for the three‐component condensation reaction of phthalhydrazide, 1,3‐diketone, and aldehydes to produce 2H‐indazolo[1,2‐b]phthalazine‐triones in excellent yields. The catalyst can be recovered and reused without significant loss of activity.     

One-Pot Synthesis of Metastable 2,5-Dihydrooxepines through Retro-Claisen Rearrangements: Method and Applications

A one-pot methodology to synthesize metastable bicyclic 2,5-dihydrooxepines from cyclic 1,3-diketones and 1,4-dibromo-2-butenes through the retro-Claisen rearrangement of syn-2-vinylcyclopropyl diketone intermediates is reported. DFT calculations were performed to understand the reaction selectivity and mechanisms towards [1,3]- or [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements, highlighting the crucial influence of the temperature. The reaction was successfully applied to a short protecting group-free total synthesis of radulanin A, a natural 2,5-dihydrobenzoxepine. Moreover, the strong herbicidal potential of this natural product is demonstrated for the first time.     

An Efficient One‐pot Synthesis of Novel Spiro Cyclic 2‐Oxindole Derivatives of Pyrimido[4,5‐b]Quinoline,Pyrido[2,3‐d:6,5‐d′]Dipyrimidine and Indeno[2′,1′:5,6]Pyrido [2,3‐d]Pyrimidine in Water

A novel and facile one‐pot synthesis of spiro cyclic 2‐oxindole derivatives of pyrimido[4,5‐b]quinoline‐4,6‐dione, pyrido[2,3‐d:6,5‐d′]dipyrimidine‐2,4,6‐trione, and indeno[2′,1′:5,6]pyrido [2,3‐d]pyrimidine employing 6‐aminothiouracil (or 6‐aminouracil), isatin, and cyclic 1,3‐diketone (e.g. 1,3‐indanedione, dimedone, or barbituric acid) has been developed.     

Effect of solvent coordination on the structure of β‐diketone‐based vanadyl complexes and assessment of in vitro antidiabetic activity and cytotoxicity

The physicochemical properties, thereby the biological efficacy, of metal complexes are affected based on their structure and geometry that vary in the presence of coordinating and non‐coordinating solvents. To investigate this, in the present work, we synthesized three hitherto unreported β‐diketone‐based oxovanadium(IV) complexes, namely [VO(tfdmh)₂] (tfdmh =1,1,1‐trifluro‐5,5‐dimethyl‐2,4‐hexanedione), [VO(dmh)₂] (dmh = 2,2‐dimethyl‐3,5‐hexanedione) and [VO(dbm)₂] (dbm = 1,3‐diphenylpropane‐1,3‐dione), and characterized them using electron paramagnetic resonance, UV–visible, Fourier transform infrared and electrospray ionization mass spectroscopies and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The structural changes in the presence of dichloromethane, dimethylsulfoxide and dimethylformamide were analysed using spectroscopic techniques. Further, in vitro glucose uptake efficacy and cytotoxicity were assessed using C2C12 (rat skeletal muscle) and HeLa (human cervical cancer) cell lines, respectively.     

Synthesis of Peptides by Silver‐Promoted Coupling of Carboxylates and Thioamides: Mechanistic Insight from Computational Studies

The mechanism of the recently described N→C direction peptide synthesis through silver‐promoted coupling of N‐protected amino acids with thioacetylated amino esters was explored by using density functional theory. Calculation of the potential energy surfaces for various pathways revealed that the reaction proceeds through silver‐assisted addition of the carboxylate to the thioamide, which is followed by deprotonation and silver‐mediated extrusion of sulfur as Ag₂S. The resulting isoimide is the key intermediate, which subsequently rearranges to an imide through a concerted pericyclic [1,3]‐acyl shift (O–sp²N 1,3‐acyl migration). The proposed mechanism clearly emphasises the requirement of two equivalents of Ag^I and basic reaction conditions, which is in full agreement with the experimental findings. Alternative rearrangement pathways involving only one equivalent of Ag^I or through O–sp³N 1,3‐acyl migration can be excluded. The computations further revealed that peptide couplings involving thioformamides require significant conformational changes in the intermediate isoformimide, which slow down the rearrangement process.     

Highly efficient and green approach for the synthesis of spirooxindole derivatives in the presence of novel Brønsted acidic ionic liquids incorporated in UiO‐66 nanocages

An efficient and green approach is reported for the rapid synthesis of spirocyclic 2‐oxindole using triethylenediamine or imidazole Brønsted acidic ionic liquids supported in Zr metal–organic framework (TEDA/IMIZ‐BAIL@UiO‐66) as a novel, superior and retrievable heterogeneous catalyst under ultrasonic irradiation. Heterocyclic compounds including pyrido[2,3‐d:6,5‐d′]dipyrimidines and indeno[2′,1′:5,6]pyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidines were obtained by the one‐pot condensation reaction of 6‐amino‐1,3‐dimethyluracil, isatins and cyclic 1,3‐diketone (barbituric acid or 1,3‐indanedione). The reusability of the catalyst, low catalyst loading, short reaction times, excellent yields, simple work‐up, and use of sonochemical procedure as a mild process and an alternative energy source are some of the advantages of this method. Furthermore, the novel heterogeneous nanocomposite was fully characterized using various techniques.     

Tandem Insertion–[1,3]‐Rearrangement: Highly Enantioselective Construction of α‐Aminoketones

An enantioselective synthesis of α‐aminoketone derivatives were readily available through a tandem insertion–[1,3] O‐to‐C rearrangement reaction. The rhodium salt and chiral N,N′‐dioxide‐indium(III) complex make up relay catalysis, which enables the O?H insertion of benzylic alcohols to N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles, and asymmetric [1,3]‐rearrangement of amino enol ether intermediates, subsequently. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that the [1,3] O‐to‐C rearrangement step proceeded through an ion pair pathway.     

Microwave‐Assisted Beckmann Rearrangement: Convenient Synthesis of 1,3‐Diaza‐bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane

Small heterocyclic amines such as 1,3‐diaza‐bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane are known to be key components of biologically active molecules. A convenient synthesis of this compound utilizing a key Beckmann rearrangement of (Z)‐1‐aza‐bicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐3‐one oxime (6) with conc. H₂SO₄ under microwave irradiation was achieved. The desired compound (1) was obtained in 20% yield overall.     

Pd‐Catalyzed Carbonylative α‐Arylation of Aryl Bromides: Scope and Mechanistic Studies

Reaction conditions for the three‐component synthesis of aryl 1,3‐diketones are reported applying the palladium‐catalyzed carbonylative α‐arylation of ketones with aryl bromides. The optimal conditions were found by using a catalytic system derived from [Pd(dba)₂] (dba=dibenzylideneacetone) as the palladium source and 1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (DPPP) as the bidentate ligand. These transformations were run in the two‐chamber reactor, COware, applying only 1.5 equivalents of carbon monoxide generated from the CO‐releasing compound, 9‐methylfluorene‐9‐carbonyl chloride (COgen). The methodology proved adaptable to a wide variety of aryl and heteroaryl bromides leading to a diverse range of aryl 1,3‐diketones. A mechanistic investigation of this transformation relying on ³¹P and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy was undertaken to determine the possible catalytic pathway. Our results revealed that the combination of [Pd(dba)₂] and DPPP was only reactive towards 4‐bromoanisole in the presence of the sodium enolate of propiophenone suggesting that a [Pd(dppp)(enolate)] anion was initially generated before the oxidative‐addition step. Subsequent CO insertion into an [Pd(Ar)(dppp)(enolate)] species provided the 1,3‐diketone. These results indicate that a catalytic cycle, different from the classical carbonylation mechanism proposed by Heck, is operating. To investigate the effect of the dba ligand, the Pd⁰ precursor, [Pd(η³‐1‐PhC₃H₄)(η⁵‐C₅H₅)], was examined. In the presence of DPPP, and in contrast to [Pd(dba)₂], its oxidative addition with 4‐bromoanisole occurred smoothly providing the [PdBr(Ar)(dppp)] complex. After treatment with CO, the acyl complex [Pd(CO)Br(Ar)(dppp)] was generated, however, its treatment with the sodium enolate led exclusively to the acylated enol in high yield. Nevertheless, the carbonylative α‐arylation of 4‐bromoanisole with either catalytic or stoichiometric [Pd(η³‐1‐PhC₃H₄)(η⁵‐C₅H₅)] over a short reaction time, led to the 1,3‐diketone product. Because none of the acylated enol was detected, this implied that a similar mechanistic pathway is operating as that observed for the same transformation with [Pd(dba)₂] as the Pd source.     

An Efficient,Multicomponent, One‐pot Synthesis of Tetra Substituted Pyrans in Water

A new and environmentally benign multi‐component synthesis of tetra substituted 4H‐pyran derivatives is developed via the one‐pot reaction of an aromatic aldehyde, malononitrile, and 1,3‐diketone in the presence of NaOH with water as the solvent at RT. The reaction is efficient and affords excellent yields of the products.     

Synthesis of New Bis‐imidazole Derivatives

The reaction of aldimines with α‐(hydroxyimino) ketones of type 10 (1,2‐diketone monooximes) was used to prepare 2‐unsubstituted imidazole 3‐oxides 11 bearing an alkanol chain at N(1) (Scheme 2, Table 1). These products were transformed into the corresponding 2H‐imidazol‐2‐ones 13 and 2H‐imidazole‐2‐thiones 14 by treatment with Ac₂O and 2,2,4,4‐tetramethylcyclobutane‐1,3‐dithione, respectively (Scheme 3). The three‐component reaction of 10 , formaldehyde, and an alkane‐1,ω‐diamine 15 gave the bis[1H‐imidazole 3‐oxides] 16 (Scheme 4, Table 2). With Ac₂O, 2,2,4,4‐tetramethylcyclobutane‐1,3‐dithione or Raney‐Ni, the latter reacted to give the corresponding bis[2H‐imidazol‐2‐ones] 19 and 20 , bis[2H‐imidazol‐2‐thione] 21 , and bis[imidazole] 22 , respectively (Schemes 5 and 6). The structures of 11a and 16b were established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Unexpected Novel Rearrangement Reaction: Synthesis of Benzo‐Medium‐Ring Anhydride

When we attempted to synthesize (E)‐3‐(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol‐5‐ylmethylene)‐4‐(propan‐2‐ylidene)‐dihydrofuran‐2,5‐dione, we found a novel rearrangement and obtained the unexpected compound that is assigned as benzo‐medium‐ring anhydride instead of the expected compound. We described the novel rearrangement and a potential method for the synthesis of benzo‐medium‐ring anhydride derivatives.     

Synthesis and reversible hydration–dehydration system of copolymers bearing a vicinal tricarbonyl structure

Novel copolymers composed of a styrene (St) derivative bearing a vicinal tricarbonyl moiety and various vinyl monomers such as St, methyl methacrylate (MMA), and N‐vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) were synthesized by (1) radical copolymerization of a St derivative with a 1,3‐diketone structure with St, MMA, and NVP and (2) successive oxidation of the resulting copolymers with N‐bromosuccinimide in DMSO to convert their 1,3‐diketone moieties in the side chains into the corresponding vicinal tricarbonyl moieties. Their tricarbonyl moieties were readily hydrated in water‐containing acetone to generate the corresponding copolymers bearing geminal diol structures in the side chains. On the other hand, heating the resulting copolymers bearing the geminal diol structures in vacuo‐enabled successful recovery of the vicinal tricarbonyl moieties to demonstrate the reversible nature of this system. The hydration behavior in powdery state under air atmosphere saturated by water was also investigated. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Diazodiphenylmethane and Monosubstituted Butadienes: Kinetics and a New Chapter of Vinylcyclopropane Chemistry

Diazodiphenylmethane ( DDM ) undergoes cycloadditions to 1‐substituted buta‐1,3‐dienes exclusively at the C(3)?C(4) bond. At room temperature, the N₂ loss from the initially formed 4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐pyrazoles 2 is faster than the cycloaddition and furnishes the vinylcyclopropane derivatives 7 and 9 with structural retention at the C(1)?C(2) bond. 2‐Substituted butadienes react with DDM at the C(3)?C(4) bond to give 12 ; isoprene, however, affords 3,4/1,2 products in the ratio of 86 : 14. DDM is a nucleophilic 1,3‐dipole: 1‐Cyanobutadiene reacts 400 times faster than 1‐methoxybuta‐1,3‐diene (DMF, 40°). The log k₂ for the additions to six 1‐substituted butadienes show a linear correlation with σ_p (Hammett) and ?=+2.9; the log k₂ of five 2‐substituted butadienes are linearly related to Taft's σ_I (?=+1.7). The structures of the vinylcyclopropanes 7, 9 , and 12 are established by NMR spectra and oxidation. A cyclopropyl carbinyl cation is made responsible for the isomerization of 12 , R=Ph, Me, by acetic acid to 4‐substituted 1,1‐diphenylpenta‐1,3‐dienes 25 and 29 ; TsOH at 200° converts 25 further to 9,10‐dihydro‐9‐methyl‐10‐phenyl‐9,10‐ethanoanthracene ( 27 ). Thermal rearrangement of 7, 9 , and 12 at 200–300° produces the 3‐ or 1‐substituted 4,4‐diphenylcyclopentenes 30 and 31 . These give the same mass spectra as the vinylcyclopropanes, and an open‐chain distonic radical cation is suggested as common intermediate. Besides spectroscopic evidence for the cyclopentene structures, hydrogenation and epoxidation are described; NMR data support the trans‐attack by perbenzoic acid.     

Construction of reversible hydration–dehydration system by a model compound and a novel polymer bearing vicinal tricarbonyl structure

A novel polymer bearing acyclic vicinal tricarbonyl moieties in the side chains was synthesized by (1) radical polymerization of a styrene derivative with a 1,3‐diketone structure and (2) successive treatment of the resulting polystyrene derivative by N‐bromosuccinimide to convert its 1,3‐diketone moiety in the side chains into the corresponding vicinal tricarbonyl moiety. The tricarbonyl moiety was highly reactive with water to permit its rapid conversion into a geminal diol structure in water‐containing acetone. On the other hand, heating the resulting polymer bearing the geminal diol structure under vacuum enabled successful recovery of the vicinal tricarbonyl moiety to demonstrate the reversible nature of this system, which allowed us to repeat the hydration–dehydration cycle without deteriorating the polymer structure. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Reactions of unsymmetrical α‐diazo‐β‐diketones with imines: Syntheses of 4H‐1,3‐oxazin‐4‐ones

Cycloaddition reactions of an unsymmetrical α‐diazo‐β‐diketone, 2‐diazo‐1‐phenyl‐1,3‐butanedione, with a series of imines having various substituents were studied. The results indicated that only cycloadducts derived from acetylphenylketene, which was generated by the thermal Wolff rearrangement of 2‐diazo‐1‐phenyl‐1,3‐butanedione with phenyl migration, and imines were obtained. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 13:165–168, 2002; Published online in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10015