Enhanced thermodynamic and kinetic stability of calix[4]arene dimers locked in the cone conformation

Wide rim tetraurea derivatives (2a,b) have been prepared from a calix[4]arene rigidified in the cone conformation by two diethyleneglycol ether bridges between adjacent oxygens. In comparison to the analogous tetraurea derivatives (3a,b) of a tetrapentoxy calix[4]arene, 2a,b show an increased thermodynamic stability in mixtures of CDCl(3) and DMSO-d(6). Their kinetic stability as expressed by the rate of guest exchange (benzene or cyclohexane against the solvent benzene-d(6)) is also strongly increased by factors of 30-38. Noticeable differences for the inclusion of selected guests are found.     

Photochemical reactions of 2-bromotropone and 2,7-dibromotropone with 9,10-dicyanoanthracene

The photochemical reactions of 2-bromotropone and 2,7-dibromotropone with 9,10-dicyanoanthracene gave products with anthracene, anthracenone, and dihydroanthracene skeletons both in polar and non-polar solvents. These products were formed by attack of water contaminated in the solvent, by attack of the troponoid, and by attack of the solvent used in the reactions, respectively, on a reaction intermediate. In a mixed solvent of benzene and methanol, a benzaldehyde derivative with a tribenzo-2-oxabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane system was obtained. This result was informative about the reaction mechanism, and suggested the formation of an [8 + 4]pi cycloadduct with a tribenzo-2-oxabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane system between the troponoid as the 8 pi component and the 9,10-dicyanoanthracene as the 4 pi component. In non-polar benzene, a new tetrabromodihydroanthracene derivative was obtained together with anthracenone and anthracene derivatives. It was proved by the reaction in benzene-d6 that the new product was formed by attack of benzene-d6.     

2D 1H and 13C NMR evidences of the [2 + 2] autodimerization of 2-benzyl-5-benzylidene cyclopentanone yielding two different diphenyl,dispiro cyclobutane derivatives

The ene-ene [2 + 2] cycloaddition of 2-benzyl-5-benzylidenecyclopentanone proceeds smoothly and spontaneously in benzene-d6 or deuteriochloroform solution to give two different diphenyl dispiro [4.1.4.1] dodecan-4,11-diones. Detailed 1H and 13C 2DNMR spectroscopy (COSY, HMQC, HMBC) were performed in order to prove the existence in solution of two cyclobutane derivatives, one a previously described photodimer obtained by the UV irradiation of crystals of 2-benzyl-5-benzylidenecyclopentanone.     

Gels Based on Anion Recognition Between Triurea Receptor and Phosphate Anion

Anion recognition between the triurea receptor and phosphate anion is demonstrated as the cross‐linkage to build supramolecular polymer gels for the first time. A novel multi‐block copolymer ( 3) is designed to have functional triurea groups as cross‐linking units along the polymer main chain. By virtue of anion coordination between the triurea receptor and phosphate anion with a binding mode of 2:1, supramolecular polymer gels are then prepared based on anion recognition using 3 as the building block.

     

含噻二唑官能基的对叔丁基硫桥杯[4]芳烃衍生物的合成及结构

以对叔丁基硫桥杯[4]芳烃(1)为原料, 在碳酸钾存在下与碘甲烷反应, 生成1,3-二取代桥杯[4]芳烃(2), 其分别与1,2-二溴乙烷, 1,3-二溴丙烷在碳酸钾的存在下进行烷基化反应, 生成硫桥杯[4]芳烃衍生物3和4. 在氢氧化钠存在下,其与过量的含不同官能团的2-巯基-1,3,4-噻二唑反应, 生成下缘含1,3,4-噻二唑基的硫桥杯[4]芳烃衍生物5a, 5b, 6a和6b, 并通过了¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, MS和元素分析的确证. 同时, X射线分析确定了硫桥杯[4]芳烃3和5a的晶体结构.     

2]Catenane assembly from calix[4]arene crown ethers [In Process Citation

A variety of novel calix[4]arene-incorporating crown ethers with or without intramolecular hydrogen bonding have been prepared by two efficient methods and utilized as donor rings to assemble calix[4]arene [2]catenanes based on pi-stacking interaction between hydroquinone and bipyridinium units. Treatment of calix[4]arene crown ethers 4, 10a, or 10b, whose cone conformation was fixed by intramolecular hydrogen bonding within the calix[4]arene moiety, with dicationic salt 15 x 2PF6 and dibromide 16 afforded the corresponding [2]catenanes 17a x 4PF6, 17b x 4PF6, and 17c x 4PF6 in 20%, 53%, and 55% yields, respectively, whereas from the reactions of 15 x 2PF6 and dibromide 16 in the presence of conformationally flexible 11 or 12 with a cone conformation kept by two propyl groups, [2]catenanes 18 x 4PF6 and 19 x 4PF6 were obtained in 12% and 6% yields. [2]Catenanes 21a x 4Cl, 21b x 4Cl, and 21c x 4Cl, incorporating calix[4]arene in both the donor and acceptor rings, were also successfully assembled from 10a or 10b, 16, and dicationic salts 20a x 2PF6 or 20b x 2PF6. The dynamic 1H NMR and absorption spectra of the [2]catenanes have been investigated, which revealed a strongest donor-acceptor interaction in 17a x 4PF6 and that the cone [2]catenanes 17a-c x 4PF6 can isomerize to the partial cone isomer at high temperature. The difference of the dynamic properties of these catenanes was discussed. The results demonstrate that catenation is one new general method to change the conformational distributions of calix[4]arenes.     

Calix[4]arenes with two different chemical modifications at the bridges

Hexabromocalix[4]arene derivatives (3a and 3b) possessing pairs of dibromomethylene and bromomethylene groups located at distal or proximal positions of the calix scaffold were prepared via photochemical bromination of tetramethoxycalix[4]arene. The dibromomethylene groups undergo hydrolysis to afford calix[4]arenes possessing pairs of carbonyl groups and bromomethylene groups located at distal or proximal bridges (4a and 4b, respectively). The bromomethylene groups of 4 undergo reactions with nucleophiles under S(N)1 conditions to afford a wide array of derivatives possessing two different chemical modifications at the bridges.     

Photochemical isomerization of 1,2,5-trisilabicyclo[3.2.0]hepta-3,6-diene to 1,4,7-trisilabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene

Upon irradiation of a benzene-d6 solution of 1,2,2,5-tetrakis[di-tert-butyl(methyl)silyl]-4,7-diaryl- 1,2,5-trisilabicyclo-[3.2.0]hepta-3,6-diene [1a: aryl = phenyl, b: aryl = 3,5-bis-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl], 1,4,7,7-tetrakis[di-tert-butyl-(methyl)silyl]-2,5-diaryl-1,4,7- trisilabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene (2a,b) was formed via skeletal rearrangement.     

Preparation of phthalocyanines with eight benzylchalcogeno substituents from 5,6-dibromo-4,7-diethylbenzo[1,2,3]trichalcogenoles

Benzo[1,2,3]trichalcogenoles with two bromine atoms on the benzene ring, 5,6-dibromo-4,7-diethylbenzo[1,2,3]trichalcogenoles (1a) and (1b) (chalcogen: 1a = S; 1b = Se), were first prepared by treating 2,3,5,6-tetrabromo-1,4-diethylbenzene (TBDEB) with elemental sulfur or amorphous selenium in DBU at 140 degrees C (for 1a) and 100 degrees C (for 1b) for 24 h. The structures of 1a and 1b were verified by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. X-ray crystallographic analysis ultimately showed that the substitution reactions of TBDEB proceeded at the two adjacent bromine atoms. To apply 1a and 1b to construction of phthalocyanine derivatives with sulfur or selenium functional groups, 4,5-bis(benzylchalcogeno)-3,6-diethylphthalonitriles (5a) and (5b) as key intermediates were prepared by way of introduction of alkyl groups (2-cyanoethyl or 4-nitrophenethyl groups) on two chalcogen atoms, substitution of two bromine atoms with nitrile groups, and subsequent exchange of alkyl groups with benzyl groups. Compound 5a was treated with lithium in n-pentanol at 100 degrees C for 1 h to produce 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis(benzylthio)-1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octaethylphthalocyanine (6a). A similar treatment of 5b in n-hexanol at 100 degrees C for 2 h gave phthalocyanine 6b. The structures of 6a and 6b were determined by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOFMS. X-ray crystallographic analysis of 6a was also performed. The Q-band absorptions (lambda(max)) for 6a and 6b in UV-vis spectra were observed at 755 nm (log epsilon = 5.1) and 757 nm (log epsilon = 5.1), respectively, and their electrochemical properties were verified by cyclic voltammetry in dichloromethane with Ag/AgNO(3) as a reference electrode. Compounds 6a and 6b were further treated with lithium in THF/NH(3) at -78 degrees C and then with dibutyltin dichloride to produce phthalocyanine derivatives 8a and 8b with four dichalcogenastannole rings by way of octachalcogenate phthalocyanines 7a and 7b.     

Synthesis of Calix[4]resorcinarene Amide Derivatives

Three different synthetic routes were developed to introduce carbamoyloxy functional groups at the upper periphery of two calix[4]resorcinarenes. By treating activated esters 2a-b with excess corresponding amine such as 3-(dimethylamino)propylamine 3, ct-phenethylamine 4 and triethylenetetramine 5, six amide derivatives 6a-8b were obtained in high yield (Route 1). The pyridine-linked amide derivatives 9a-b were prepared by using acid chloride intermediate (Route 2).The amide derivatives 10a-b were obtained in moderate yields by direct alkylation of phenolic hydroxyl groups of la-b with N,N-dipropylchloroacetoamide in the presence of K2CO3/KI in acetone (Route 3).     

Synthesis and Reactions of Some New Heterocyclic Compounds Containing Cycloalka[e]thieno[2,3‐b]pyridine Moiety

Hydrolysis of ethyl 3-amino-4-aryl-cycloalka[e]thieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylates ( 3a-d) gave the corresponding o-aminocarboxylic acids 4a-d . Heating the latter compounds ( 4a-d) with acetic anhydride furnished the oxazinone derivatives 5a-d which, in turn, underwent recyclization reaction to give the corresponding pyrimidinones 6a-d upon treatment with ammonium acetate in acetic acid. Reaction of 3-amino-4-aryl-cycloalka[e]thieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxamides ( 3f,h ) with triethyl orthoformate gave pyrimidinone derivatives 7a,b . Reaction of 3-amino-4-phenyl-cycloalka[e]thieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxamides 3e,h with aromatic aldehydes furnished tetrahydropyridothienopyrimidinones 8a-d . Chlorination of 7a,b and 6a-d by using phosphorous oxychloride produced 4-chlorocycloalka[5′,6′]pyrido[3′,2′:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives 9a-f which were used as key intermediates in the synthesis of several new cycloalkapyrido-thienopyrimidines 10a-f ˜ 14a-f . Moreover, some cycloalkapyridothienotriazinones 15a,b-17a,b were synthesized.     

Rigidified calixarenes bearing four carbamoylmethylphosphineoxide or carbamoylmethylphosphoryl functions at the wide rim

Conformationally rigidified tetraCMPO derivatives have been prepared from calix[4]arene bis(crown ether) 4a in which adjacent oxygens are bridged at the narrow rim by two diethylene glycol links. Acylation of the tetraamine 4c with the CMPO-active ester 5b gave the tetraphosphine oxide 6a, while the tetraphosphinate 6b and the tetraphosphonate 6c were obtained by Arbuzov reaction of tetrabromoacetamido derivative 7 with PhP(OEt)2 or P(OEt)3. The extraction ability of these CMPO derivatives was checked for selected lanthanides and actinides and compared with the analogous compounds 1b, 10b and 10d derived from calix[4]arene tetrapentyl ether. All rigidified bis(crown ether) ligands are more effective extractants than their pentyl ether counterparts and require only 1/10 of the concentration (cL= 10 4M) to obtain the same distribution coefficients, while with CMPO itself a 2,000-fold concentration is necessary. This could be a consequence of a better preorganisation of the ligating functions owing to the rigidity which on the other hand did not change the observed selectivity for americium (DAm/DEu=9-19) and for light lanthanides over heavy ones. NMR relaxivity titration curves show that the complex of Gd3+ with ligand 6a is highly oligomerised in anhydrous acetonitrile over a large range of ligand:metal concentration ratios. Nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) profiles also showed that large oligomers were formed, and their mean tumbling times were deduced from the Solomon-Bloembergen-Morgan equations. The NMR spectra of dia- and paramagnetic lanthanide complexes with 6a agreed with the presence of two conformers with an elongated calix[4]arene skeleton in which the distances between opposite methylene groups are different. Contrary to what was observed with ligand 2a, the addition of nitrate ions does not labilize the metal complexes, presumably because of the rigidification effect of the ether bridges. Single-crystal X-ray structures were obtained for the active ester 5b and for diphenylphosphorylacetic acid 5a.     

Synthesis of Calix [4] resorcinarene Core Dendrimers with Peripheral Salicylideneimine Functional Groups

IntroductionOver the past two decades, dendrimers have at-tracted considerable attention because of their inherentnovel structural features and their potential applicationsin various scientific and industrial fields such as cataly-sis or newmaterials, and…     

Functional [6]pericyclynes: synthesis through [14+4] and [8+10] cyclization strategies

Critical analysis of possible strategies for the synthesis of novel carbo-benzene derivatives suggests several [(18-n)+n] routes for the preparation of hexaoxy[6]pericyclyne precursors. Beyond the previously attempted [9+9] symmetrical scheme (n=9), the a priori most selective strategies are those for which n=1, 4, 7, 10, 13, and 16. They involve a cyclizing double-propargylation of a C(18-n) omega-bis-terminal-skipped oligoyne containing (19-n)/3 triple bonds with a C(n) omega-dicarbonyl-skipped oligoyne containing (n-1)/3 triple bonds. To complement the previously used [11+7] strategy, the [14+4] and [8+10] strategies were thus explored. They proved to be efficient, affording seven novel hexaoxy[6]pericyclynes corresponding to six different substitution patterns. These compounds were obtained in 7-15 steps as mixtures of stereoisomers. Thus, by using dibenzoylacetylene as the C(4) electrophile, a [14+4] strategy allowed the synthesis of two hexaphenyl representatives with two or four free carbinol vertices. This approach also afforded tetraphenyl representatives in which the two remaining carbinoxy vertices were substituted with either two alkynyl or one 4-anisyl and one 4-pyridyl groups. By using the hexacarbonyldicobalt complex of butynedial as the C(4) electrophile, a [14+4] strategy also allowed the isolation of a tetraphenylhexaoxy[6]pericyclyne with two adjacent unsubstituted carbinol vertices. A regioisomer with two opposite unsubstituted carbinol vertices was obtained through an [8+10] strategy and its oxidation afforded the corresponding pericyclynedione. Several attempts at synthesizing diphenylhexaoxy[6]pericyclynes with four unsubstituted carbinoxy vertices are described. Only an [8+10] strategy allowed the generation of a fragile diphenylhexaoxy[6]pericyclyne with four adjacent unsubstituted carbinoxy vertices, which could be partly characterized. These results show that the synthesis of the nonsubstituted hexahydroxy[6]pericyclyne, the ring carbo-mer of [6]cyclitol, is a difficult challenge.     

Site-selective photocycloadditions of 2-pyrones with electron-poor olefins and the derivation from the cycloadducts

Photosensitized cycloaddition of 4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrone ( 1 ) with methacrylonitrile ( 3b ) afforded two types of [2 + 2]cycloadducts, 4b and 6b , across the C₅-C₆ and C₃-C₄ double bonds in 1 , respectively. Photosensitized reactions of 1 with dimethyl maleate and dimethyl cyclobutene-1,2-dicarboxylate gave [2 + 2]cycload-ducts 4d, 4e across the C₅-C₆ double bond, in addition to [4 + 2]cycloadduct 9d or bicyclo[4.2.0]octadiene 10e . The photoreactions of methyl 2-pyrone-5-carboxylate ( 2 ) with 3b and 2-chloroacrylonitrile ( 3c ) gave [4 + 2]cycloadducts 5b, 5c in addition to [2 + 2]cycloadducts 11b and 11c across the C₅-C₆ double bond in 2 . The photocycloaddition mechanism was explained from results calculated by means of PM3-CI method. Namely, the site- and/or regio-selective products, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 were thought to come from the same site-selective radical intermediates in the case of electron-poor olefins. Pyrolysis and/or hydrolysis of the cycload-ducts 4e, 5b, 5c gave 5,6-dihydro-2-pyrone 12 or benzene derivatives.     

Heterocyclic synthesis containing bridgehead nitrogen atom: Synthesis of 3‐[(2H)‐2‐oxobenzo[b]pyran‐3‐yl]‐s‐triazolo[3,4‐b]‐1,3,4‐thiadiazine and thiazole derivatives

The reaction of 2H‐2‐oxobenzo[b]pyran‐3‐hydrazide ( 2 ) with carbon disulfide in basic DMF afforded potassium thiocarbamate 3 , which readily underwent heterocyclization upon its reaction with hydrazine and/or phenacyl bromide to yield 1,2,4‐tiazole ( 4 ) and thiazole 7 derivatives, respectively. Condensation of 4 with substituted phenacyl bromide and/or chloranil gave 1,2,4‐triazole[3,4‐b]thiadiazine ( 5a,b ) and 3,10‐bis‐[2H‐2‐oxobenzo[b]pyran‐3‐yl]‐6,13‐dichloro‐bis‐1,2,4‐triazolo[3,4‐b]‐1,3,4‐thiadiazino[5′,6′‐b:5′,6′‐e]cyclohexa‐1,4‐diene ( 6 ), respectively. Cyclization of thiosemicarbazide 10 by refluxing it in sodium hydroxide and/or phosphoryl chloride afforded triazole 13 and thiadiazole 15 derivatives, respectively. Also, 10 reacted with phenacyl bromide in the presence of anhydrous sodium acetate to give the oxothiazolidine derivative 17 . The structure of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by elemental analyses, IR, ¹H NMR, and mass spectra. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:114–120, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10109     

Synthesis,photochemical synthesis and antitumor evaluation of novel derivatives of thieno[3',2':4,5]thieno[2,3-c]quinolones

The novel derivatives of thieno[3',2':4,5]thieno[2,3-c]quinolones 6a, 6b, 7, 10a and 10b were synthesized in multistep synthesis starting from thiophene-3-carboxaldehyde and malonic acid reacting in aldol condensation or from 3-bromothiophenes or methyl 4-bromothiophene-2-carboxylate reacting in Heck reaction. They resulted in corresponding substituted thienylacrylic acids 3a-c, which were cyclized into thieno[2,3-c]thiophene-2-carbonyl chlorides 4a-c and converted into thieno[2,3-c]thiophene-2-carboxamides 5a-d. Prepared carboxamides were photochemically dehydrohalogenated into corresponding substituted thieno[3',2':4,5]thieno[2,3-c]quinolones 6a-d. Compound 7 was prepared from 6d by alkylation with N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]chloride hydrochloride in the presence of NaH. Compounds 10a and 10b were prepared from 6c in the multistep synthesis over acid 8 and acid chloride 9. Compounds 6a, 6b, 7, 10a and 10b were found to exert cytostatic activities against malignant cell lines: pancreatic carcinoma (MiaPaCa2), breast carcinoma (MCF7), cervical carcinoma (HeLa), laryngeal carcinoma (Hep2), colon carcinoma (CaCo-2), melanoma (HBL), and human fibroblast cell lines (WI-38). The compound 6b, which bears the 3-dimethylaminopropyl substituent on quinolone nitrogen and methoxycarbonyl substituent on position 9, exhibited marked antitumor activity. On the contrary, compound 7, which also bears the 3-dimethylaminopropyl substituent on the quinolone nitrogen but anilido substituent on position 9, exhibited less antitumor activity than the others.     

Synthesis of photoreactive calixarene derivatives containing pendant cyclic ether groups

New photoreactive calixarene derivatives containing cationically polymerizable pendant oxetane groups (calixarenes 1a , b , 2a , b , and 3a , b ) were synthesized in good yields by the substitution reaction of C‐methylcalix[4]resorcinarene (CRA), p‐methylcalix[6]arene (MCA), and p‐tert‐butylcalix[8]arene (BCA) with (3‐methyloxetan‐3‐yl)methyl 4‐toluenesulfonate and (3‐ethyloxetan‐3‐yl)methyl 4‐toluenesulfonate with potassium hydroxide as a base and tetrabutylammonium bromide as a phase‐transfer catalyst in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, respectively. Calixarene derivatives containing cationically polymerizable pendant oxirane groups (calixarenes 4 , 5 , and 6 ) were also prepared in good yields by the substitution reaction of CRA, MCA, and BCA with epibromohydrin, respectively, with cesium carbonate as a base in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone. The thermal stability of the obtained calixarene derivatives containing pendant oxetane groups or oxirane groups was examined with thermogravimetric analysis, and it was found that these calixarene derivatives had thermal stability beyond 340 °C. The photochemical reaction of calixarenes 1 , 2 , and 3 containing pendant oxetane groups was examined with certain photoacid generators in the film state. In this reaction system, calixarene 1a , composed of a CRA structure and pendant (3‐methyloxetan‐3‐yl)methyl groups, showed the highest photochemical reactivity when bis‐[4‐(diphenylsulfonio)phenyl]sulfide bis(hexafluorophosphate) was used as the catalyst. The photochemical reaction of calixarenes 4 , 5 , and 6 containing pendant oxirane groups was also examined, and it was found that the photoinitiated cationic polymerization of calixarenes 4 , 5 , and 6 proceeded smoothly under the same conditions; however, the reaction rates were lower than those of the corresponding calixarenes 1 , 2 , and 3 containing pendant oxetane groups. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1169–1179, 2001     

Novel synthesis, properties, and NAD+-NADH type redox ability of 1,3-dimethylcyclohepta[4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine- 2,4(1,3h)-dionylium ions annulated with additional pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-1,3(2,4h)-dione and furan analogue, and their hydride adducts

[reaction: see text] A convenient preparation of novel cations 11a,b+ x BF4(-) and 12a,b+ x BF4(-), which are derived from annulation of the 1,3-dimethylcyclohepta[4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1,3H)-dionylium ion with additional pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-1,3(2,4H)-dione and a furan analogue, was accomplished by a novel oxidative cyclization of 1,7-dihydro-7-[1',3'-dimethyl-2',4'(1',3'H)-dioxo-6'-(phenylamino)-pyrimidin-5'-yl]-1,3-dimethyl-10-phenylcyclohepta[4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1,3H)-dione 9 and its furan-analogue by using DDQ or photoirradiation under aerobic conditions. Structural characteristics of 11a,b+ and 12a,b+ were clarified on inspection of the UV-vis and NMR spectral data as well as X-ray crystal analyses. The stability of cations 11a,b+ and 12a,b+ is expressed by the pK(R+) values that were determined spectrophotometrically to be 10.7-12.6. The electrochemical reduction of 11a,b+ x BF4(-) and 12a,b+ x BF4(-) exhibited reduction potential at -0.93 to -1.00 (V vs Ag/AgNO3). The first reduction potential of 11a+ was reversible due to steric hindrance of two phenyl groups. The photoinduced oxidation reaction of 11a,b+ x BF4(-) and 12a,b+ x BF4(-) toward some amines under aerobic conditions was carried out to give the corresponding imines (isolated by converting to the corresponding 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones) with the recycling numbers of 0.6-30.3. Furthermore, as an example of the NAD+-NADH models, the reduction of a pyruvate analogue and some carbonyl compounds with the hydride-adduct of 11a+ x BF4(-) was accomplished for the first time to give the corresponding alcohol derivatives.     

Ruthenium-cluster-mediated activation of all bonds of a methyl group of 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine and 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline: transformation of the latter into a 2-alkenyl-9-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline ligand

The treatment of [Ru3(CO)12] with 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (Me2bipy) or 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Me2phen) in THF at reflux temperature gives the trinuclear dihydride complexes [Ru3(mu-H)2(mu3-L1)(CO)8] (L1 = HCbipyMe 1 a, HCphenMe 1 b), which result from the activation of two C-H bonds of a methyl group. The hexa-, hepta-, and pentanuclear derivatives [Ru6(mu3-H)(mu5-L2)(mu-CO)3(CO)13] (L2 = CbipyMe 2 a, CphenMe 2 b), [Ru7(mu3-H)(mu5-L2)(mu-CO)2(CO)16] (L2 = CbipyMe 3 a, CphenMe 3 b), and [Ru5(mu-H)(mu5-C)(mu-L3)(CO)13] (L3 = bipyMe 4 a, phenMe 4 b) can also be obtained by treating 1 a and 1 b with [Ru3(CO)12]. Compounds 2 a and 2 b have a basal edge-bridged square-pyramidal metallic skeleton with a carbyne-type C atom capping the four Ru atoms of the pyramid base. The structures of 3 a and 3 b are similar to those of 2 a and 2 b, respectively, but an additional Ru atom now caps a triangular face of the square-pyramidal fragment of the metallic skeleton. The most interesting feature of 2 a, 2 b, 3 a, and 3 b is that their carbyne-type C atoms were originally bound to three hydrogen atoms in Me2bipy or Me2phen and, therefore, they arise from the unprecedented activation of all three C-H bonds of C-bound methyl groups. The pentanuclear compounds 4 a and 4 b contain a carbide ligand surrounded by five Ru atoms in a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal environment. They are the products of a series of processes that includes the activation of all bonds (three C-H and one C-C) of organic methyl groups, and are the first examples of complexes having carbide ligands that arise from C-bonded methyl groups. The alkenyl derivatives [Ru5(mu5-C)(mu-p-MeC6H4CHCHphenMe)(CO)13] (5 b), [Ru5(mu-H)(mu5-C)(mu-p-MeC6H4CHCHphenMe)(p-tolC2)(CO)12] (6 b), and [Ru5(mu-H)(mu5-C)(mu-PhCHCHphenMe)(PhC2)(CO)12] (7 b) have been obtained by treating 4 b with p-tolyl- and phenylacetylene, respectively. Their heterocyclic ligands contain an alkenyl fragment in the position that was originally occupied by a methyl group. Therefore, these complexes are the result of the formal substitution of an alkenyl group for a methyl group of 2,9-dimethyl-1,10- phenanthroline.