An Efficient Solvent Free Synthesis of 1,8-Dioxo-octahydroxanthene Using p-Toluene Sulfonic Acid

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of 1,8‐dioxo‐octahydroxanthene by using p‐toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst under solvent free conditions is described, which involves cyclization of 2,2‐arylmethylenebis(3‐hydroxy‐5,5‐dimethyl‐2‐cyclohexene‐1‐one) that was obtained firstly by the reaction of dimedone with aromatic aldehydes in water as solvent and catalyst at room temperature. The experimental procedures in the two steps are very simple and the products are formed in excellent yields.     

Effects of introduction of α‐carboxylate,N‐methyl,and N‐formyl groups on intramolecular cyclization of o‐quinone amines: Density functional theory‐based study

o‐Quinone amines, which are relevant to various biological processes, can undergo spontaneous intramolecular cyclization (ring closure reaction by amino‐terminated hydrocarbon side chain) that deactivates them toward another possible reactions, that is, thiol binding. Density functional theory‐based calculation is employed for obtaining the potential energy curves along the C? N bond formation in the intramolecular cyclization of various o‐quinone amines, viz., dopaminequinone, dopaquinone, N‐methyl‐dopaminequinone, N‐formyl‐dopaminequinone, and the corresponding methylene‐inserted analogues. The activation barrier is decreased by introduction of α‐carboxylate and N‐methyl group whereas increased by introduction of N‐formyl group. A negative correlation between the activation barriers and the level of highest occupied molecular orbital is pointed out. Furthermore, the methylene‐inserted analogues show decreased activation barriers. This is explained by reduction of steric repulsion in the transition state.     

A Theoretical Investigation on N7(H)→N9(H)Tautomerization of Isolated and Monohydrated 2,6-Dithiopurine Combined with IPCM Solvent Model

The tautomerization reaction mechanism has been reported between N7(H) and N9(H) of isolated and monohydrated 2,6‐dithiopurine using B3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p). The isodensity polarized continuum model (IPCM) in the self‐consistent reaction field (SCRF) method is employed to account for the solvent effect of water on the tautomerization reaction activation energies. The results show that the two pathways P(1) (via the carbene intermediate I1) and P(2) (via the sp³‐hybrid intermediate I2) are found in intramolecular proton transfer, and each pathway is composed by two primary steps. The calculated activation energy barriers of the rate‐determining steps in isolated 2,6‐dithiopurine N7(H)→N9(H) tautomerism are 308.2 and 220.0 kJ·mol^?1 in the two pathways, respectively. Interestingly, in one‐water molecule catalyst, it dramatically lowers the N7(H)→N9(H) energy barriers by the concerted double proton transfer mechanism in P(1), favoring the formation of 2,6‐dithiopurine N9(H). However, the single proton transfer mechanism assisted with out‐of‐plane water in the first step of P(2) increases the activation energy barrier from 220.0 to 232.3 kJ·mol^?1, while the second step is the out‐of‐plane concerted double proton transfer mechanism, indicating that they will be less preferable for proton transfer. Additionally, the results also show that all the pathways are put into the aqueous solution, and the activation energy barriers have no significant changes. Therefore, the long‐range electrostatic effect of bulk solvent has no significant impact on proton transfer reactions and the interaction with explicit water molecules will significantly influence proton transfer reactions.     

An Efficient Synthesis of Mono and Bis‐1,2,3‐triazole AZT Derivatives via Copper(I)‐catalyzed Cycloaddition

An efficient synthesis of novel mono and bis‐1,2,3‐triazoles 3′‐azido‐2′‐deoxythymidine (AZT) derivatives via copper(I)‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction is described. Starting from AZT and terminal alkyne derivatives, mono and bis‐1,2,3‐triazole AZT derivatives are regioselectively obtained in good yields under mild conditions using CuSO4·5H2O and sodium ascorbate as a catalyst system, and t‐BuOH/H₂O (1:1, v/v) as a co‐solvent. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by IR, HR MS and NMR.     

15N NMR spectra and reactivity of 2,4,6‐triazidopyridines, 2,4,6‐triazidopyrimidine and 2,4,6‐triazido‐s‐triazine

2,4,6‐Triazido‐s‐triazine, 2,4,6‐triazidopyrimidine and six different 2,4,6‐triazidopyridines were studied by ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy. The assignment of signals in the spectra was performed using the gauge‐independent atomic orbital (GIAO)–Tao‐Perdew‐Staroverov‐Scuseria exchange‐correlation functional (TPSS)h/6‐311+G(d,p) calculations on the M06‐2X/6‐311+G(d,p) optimized molecular geometries. The Truhlar and coworkers' continuum solvation model called SMD was applied to treat solvent effects. With this approach, the root mean square error in estimations of the ¹⁵N chemical shifts for the azido groups was just 1.9 ppm. It was shown that the different reactivity of the α‐ and γ‐azido groups in pyridines correlates well with the chemical shifts of the N_α signals of these groups. Of two nonequivalent azido groups of azines, the azido group with the most shielded N_α signal is the most electron‐deficient and reactive toward electron‐rich reagents. By contrast, the azido group of azines with the most deshielded N_α signal is the most reactive toward electron‐poor reagents. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solid‐Phase Combinatorial Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Destruxin E Analogues

The solid‐phase combinatorial synthesis of cyclodepsipeptide destruxin E has been demonstrated. The combinatorial synthesis of cyclization precursors 8 was achieved by using a split and pool method on SynPhase Lanterns. The products were successfully macrolactonized in parallel in the solution phase by using 2‐methyl‐6‐nitrobenzoic anhydride and 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine N‐oxide to afford macrolactones 9 , and the subsequent formation of an epoxide in the side chain gave 18 member destruxin E analogues 6 . Biological evaluation of analogues 6 indicated that the N‐MeAla residue was crucial to the induction of morphological changes in osteoclast‐like multinuclear cells (OCLs). Based on structure–activity relationships, azido‐containing analogues 15 were then designed for use as a molecular probe. The synthesis and biological evaluation of analogues 15 revealed that 15 b , in which the Ile residue was replaced with a Lys(N₃) residue, induced morphological changes in OCLs at a sufficient concentration, and modification around the Ile residue would be tolerated for attachment of a chemical tag toward the target identification of destruxin E ( 1 ).     

Synthesis and characterization of well‐defined polystyrene and poly(ε‐caprolactone) hetero eight‐shaped copolymers

Well‐defined hetero eight‐shaped copolymers composed of polystyrene (PS) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution were successfully synthesized by the combination of ring‐opening polymerization, ATRP, and “click” reaction. The synthetic procedure involves three steps: (1) preparation of a tetrafunctional PS and PCL star copolymer with two PS and two PCL arms using the tetrafunctional initiator bearing two hydroxyl groups and two bromo groups; (2) synthesis of tetrafunctional star copolymer, (α‐acetylene‐PCL)₂(ω‐azido‐PS)₂, by the transition of terminal hydroxyl and bromo groups to acetylene and azido groups through the reaction with 4‐propargyloxybutanedioyl chloride and NaN₃ respectively; (3) intramolecular cyclization reaction to produce the hetero eight‐shaped copolymers using “click” chemistry under high dilution. The ¹H NMR, FTIR, and gel permeation chromatography techniques were applied to characterize the chemical structures of the resulted intermediates and the target polymers. Their thermal behavior was investigated by DSC, and their crystallization behaviors of PCL were studied by polarized optical microscopy. The decrease in chain mobility of the eight‐shaped copolymers restricts the crystallization of PCL and the crystallization rate of PCL is slower in comparison with their corresponding star precursors. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6496–6508, 2008     

Synthesis of 1,1‐Dimethyl‐4‐indanol Derivatives

The synthesis of 1,1‐dimethyl‐4‐indanols (3a,b) has been achieved by intramolecular Friedel–Crafts cyclization of 2‐(3‐methyl‐2‐butenyl)phenols (5a,b) or 1‐methoxy‐2‐(3‐methyl‐2‐butenyl)benzenes (6a,b) followed by demethylation, respectively.It was found that the solvent was critical for the formation of different products in the intramolecular Friedel–Crafts reactions of 6. The unexpected product 4‐methoxy‐1,1,6,6‐tetramethyl‐as‐hydrindacene (11) was obtained from the Friedel–Crafts reactions of 6a, and its structure was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The key intermediates 5a,b were prepared by ortho‐alkenylation of phenols with 1‐bromo‐3‐methyl‐2‐butene, and the reaction temperature exerted an obvious impact on the yield of 2‐(3‐methyl‐2‐butenyl)phenol (5a).     

Modeling the cyclopolymerization of diallyl ether and methyl α‐[(allyloxy)methyl]acrylate

The free‐radical cyclopolymerization of diallyl ether (1) and methyl α‐(allyloxymethyl)acrylate (2) has been modeled with the B3LYP/6‐31G* methodology, by making use of model compounds for the growing radicals. The cyclization of both monomers is exo, with activation barriers of 5.33 and 9.82 kcal/mol, respectively. To account for the polymerizabilities of these monomers, competing reactions have also been modeled. Although both monomers have a lower barrier for homopolymerization than for cyclization, cyclization dominates due to entropy. This explains the high cyclopolymerization vs. homopolymerization of monomer 2, although its monofunctional counterpart has been reported to homopolymerize well. It has also been shown that the degradative chain transfer by H‐abstraction from the allylic carbon is not effective with this monomer. Poor cyclopolymerization of the monomer 1 has been demonstrated by modeling the degradative chain transfer by H‐abstraction from the allylic carbon, which has been shown to compete very efficiently with polymerization reactions. Additionally, intermolecular propagation reaction has been shown to be facile due to cyclization, since the attacking monomer adopts a cyclic structure. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Thermolytic ring closure reactions of 4‐azido‐3‐phenylsulfanyl‐and 4‐azido‐3‐phenylsulfonyl‐2‐quinolones to 12H‐quinolino‐[3,4‐b][1,4]benzothiazin‐6(5H)‐ones

4‐Hydroxy‐3‐phenylsulfanyl‐2‐quinolones 2 and 4‐hydroxy‐3‐sulfonyl‐2‐quinolones 7 , which are readily accessible from 4‐hydroxy‐2‐quinolones 1 and diphenyldisulfide or thiophenol, can be converted to 4‐azido‐3‐phenylsulfanyl‐2‐quinolones 10 or 4‐azido‐3‐phenylsulfonyl‐2‐quinolones 12 via 4‐chloro‐3‐phenylsul‐fanyl‐2‐quinolones 5 or 4‐chloro‐3‐phenylsulfonyl‐2‐quinolones 9 , respectively. Thermolysis of the azides 10 and 12 results in a cyclization reaction to give quinolino[3,4‐b][1,4]benzothiazinone 11 and quino‐lino[3,4‐b][1,4]benzothiazinone dioxides 13 , respectively. The conditions for thermolysis have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).     

Covalent Attachment of Cyclic TAT Peptides to GFP Results in Protein Delivery into Live Cells with Immediate Bioavailability

The delivery of free molecules into the cytoplasm and nucleus by using arginine‐rich cell‐penetrating peptides (CPPs) has been limited to small cargoes, while large cargoes such as proteins are taken up and trapped in endocytic vesicles. Based on recent work, in which we showed that the transduction efficiency of arginine‐rich CPPs can be greatly enhanced by cyclization, the aim was to use cyclic CPPs to transport full‐length proteins, in this study green fluorescent protein (GFP), into the cytosol of living cells. Cyclic and linear CPP–GFP conjugates were obtained by using azido‐functionalized CPPs and an alkyne‐functionalized GFP. Our findings reveal that the cyclic‐CPP–GFP conjugates are internalized into live cells with immediate bioavailability in the cytosol and the nucleus, whereas linear CPP analogues do not confer GFP transduction. This technology expands the application of cyclic CPPs to the efficient transport of functional full‐length proteins into live cells.     

A DFT study on the mechanisms for the cycloaddition reactions between 1‐Aza‐2‐azoniaallene cations and carbodiimides

The mechanisms of the title reactions between 1‐aza‐2‐azoniaallene cations and carbodiimides in the gas phase have been examined using the Becke‐3‐parameter‐Lee‐Yang‐Parr (B3LYP) at 6‐31++G** level. The theoretical results revealed that the reaction is a domino reaction that comprises two consecutive reactions: an ionic [3+2] cycloaddition reaction between 1‐aza‐2‐azoniallene cation and carbodiimide to yield the cycloadduct 3 and then a [1,2]‐shift to yield the thermodynamically more stable adduct 4 . Both stepwise and concerted pathways are accessible in the first cycloaddition in the model reaction. The activation barriers of them are almost equivalent. For the [1,2]‐shift reactions, both of the electron‐withdrawing chlorine substituent and the electron‐releasing methyl substituent on the 1‐aza‐2‐azoniaallene cation can facilitate the reaction but have little effects when substituted in the carbodiimide moiety. The model reaction has also been investigated at the QCISD (quadratic configuration interaction using single and double substitutions)/6‐31++G** and CCSD(T) (coupled cluster calculations with single and double excitations and a perturbative estimate of triple contributions calculations)/6‐31++G** levels as well as by the density functional theory. In addition, solvent effects with the isodensity‐surface polarized continuum model are also reported for all the reactions. In solvent dichloromethane, the cycloadducts of all the reactions, except model reaction and reaction d, were obtained from reactants directly as the result of the solvent effect. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Properties of Energetic Copper(II) Complex based on 3,5‐Dinitrobenzoic Acid and 1,5‐Diaminotetrazole

Energetic copper(II) complexes based on 3,5‐dinitrobenzoic acid (HDNBA) and 1,5‐diaminotetrazole (DAT), Cu(DNBA)₂(H₂O)₂ ( 1 ) and Cu(DAT)₂(DNBA)₂ ( 2 ) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, single‐crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction. In both complexes, Cu^II was coordinated to a plane tetragon, by four oxygen atoms from two DNBA^– ions and two coordinated H₂O molecules for 1 , and by two oxygen atoms and two nitrogen atoms from different DNBA^– ions and DAT ligands for 2 . Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) analyses were employed to measure the thermal decomposition processes and non‐isothermal kinetics parameters of the complexes. The thermal decomposition onset temperatures of 1 and 2 are 321 and 177 °C. The apparent activation energies of the first exothermic decomposition peaks of 1 and 2 are 247.2 and 185.2 kJ · mol^–1. Both 1 (35 J, > 360 N) and 2 (12.5 J, > 360 N) are less sensitive than RDX. The catalytic effects on the decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) of 1 and 2 were studied by DSC. All results supported the potential applications of the energetic complexes as additives of solid rocket propellants.     

Radical Reactions Induced by Visible Light in Dichloromethane Solutions of Hünig's Base: Synthetic Applications and Mechanistic Observations

β‐(3‐Iodopropoxy)‐substituted α,β‐unsaturated lactams, lactones, and cycloalkenones (eight examples) underwent reductive radical reactions in a dichloromethane solution of N,N‐diisopropylethylamine (Hünig's base) upon irradiation with visible light (λ=419 nm). Apart from plain reduction reactions (hydro‐de‐iodination), a significant degree of cyclization was observed in three cases. In parallel to the conversion of the substrates, the formation of intensely colored by‐products was observed. Based on mass spectrometric evidence and upon comparison with known compounds, the by‐products were identified as cyanine dyes. Their formation supports the hypothesis that irradiation of dichloromethane solutions of Hünig's base leads to the formation of radicals, which in turn can either initiate a radical reaction or combine with cyanine precursors. It was shown by deuterium‐labelling experiments, that one equivalent of dichloromethane is incorporated into the cyanine dyes and that the reductive quenching of radical intermediates is at least partially due to hydrogen abstraction from the solvent. As a consequence, a reductive cyclization of the starting materials is favored in CD₂Cl₂ solutions as shown for two β‐(3‐iodopropoxy)‐substituted tetronates, which underwent in dichloromethane almost exclusive reduction, but gave predominantly the cyclization products in CD₂Cl₂.     

An efficient synthetic route to well‐defined theta‐shaped copolymers

A series of well‐defined θ‐shaped copolymers composed of polystyrene (PS) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution have been successfully synthesized without any purification procedure by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), ring‐opening polymerization (ROP), and the “click” chemistry. The synthetic process involves two steps: (1) synthesis of AB₂ miktoarm star copolymers, which contain one PCL chain terminated with two acetylene groups and two PS chains with two azido groups at their one end, (α,α′‐diacetylene‐PCL) (ω‐azido‐PS)₂, by ROP, ATRP, and the terminal group transformation; (2) intramolecular cyclization of AB₂ miktoarm star copolymers to produce well‐defined pure θ‐shaped copolymers using “click” chemistry under high dilution. The ¹H NMR, FTIR, and gel permeation chromatography techniques were applied to characterize the chemical structures of the resultant intermediates and the target polymers. Their thermal behavior was investigated by DSC. The mobility decrease of PCL chain across PS ring in the theta‐shaped copolymers restricts the crystallization ability of PCL segment. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2620–2630, 2009     

13C and 15N NMR spectra of high‐energy polyazidocyanopyridines

¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectra of high‐energy 2,4,6‐triazidopyridine‐3,5‐dicarbonitrile, 2,3,5,6‐tetraazidopyridine‐4‐carbonitrile and 3,4,5,6‐tetraazidopyridine‐2‐carbonitrile are reported. The assignment of signals in the spectra was performed on the basis of density functional theory calculations. The molecular geometries were optimized using the M06‐2X functional with the 6‐311+G(d,p) basis set. The magnetic shielding tensors were calculated by the gauge‐independent atomic orbital method with the Tao–Perdew–Staroverov–Scuseria hybrid functional known as TPSSh. In all the calculations, a polarizable continuum model was used to simulate solvent effects. This approach provided accurate predictions of the ¹³C and ¹⁵N chemical shifts for all the three compounds despite complications arising due to non‐coplanar arrangement of the azido groups in the molecules. It was found that the ¹⁵N chemical shifts of the N_α atoms in the azido groups of 2,4,6‐triazidopyridines correlate with the ¹³C chemical shifts of the carbon atoms attached to these azido groups. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Transition States for CO2 Capture by Substituted Ethanolamines

Quantum chemical studies are used to understand the electronic and steric effects on the mechanisms of the reaction of substituted ethanolamines with CO₂. SCS‐MP2/6‐311+G(2d,2p) calculations are used to obtain the activation energy barriers and reaction energies for both the carbamate and bicarbonate formation. Implicit solvent effects are included with the universal solvation model SMD. Carbamate formation is more favorable than bicarbonate formation for monoethanolamine (MEA) both kinetically and thermodynamically. Increase of the steric hindrance on the C atoms around the N atom in substituted ethanolamines favors bicarbonate formation over carbamate formation with lower activation barriers and thereby higher reaction rates. In contrast, substitution by an N‐methyl or N‐ethyl group on MEA leads to a lower activation barrier for both carbamate formation and bicarbonate formation. As a result, higher reaction rates are expected as compared to MEA, and therefore these compounds have significant potential as industrial CO₂ capturing solvents.     

A New Solution—phase Parallel Synthesis of 2—Alkyamino—3—aryl—5—phenylmethylene—3,5—dihydro—4H—imidazol—4—ones

Thirteen new 2-alkylaminoimidazolones(4) wre rapidly synthesized by a new solution-phase parallel synthetic method,which includes aza-Wittig reaction of iminophosphorane(1) with aromatic isocyanate to give carbodi-imide(2) and subsequent reaction of 2 with various aliphatic primary amine in a parallel fashion.The products were confirmed by ^1H NMR,MS,IR and X-ray crystallographic analysis.The unusual selectivity of the cyclization was probably due to the deometry of the guanidine intermediate.     

From Tri‐O‐Acetyl‐D‐Glucal to (2R,3R,5R)‐2,3‐Diazido‐5‐Hydroxycyclohexanone Oxime

Abstract

Methyl 3‐azido‐2,3‐dideoxy‐α/β‐D‐arabino‐ and ‐α/β‐D‐ribo‐hexopyranosides were transformed into 6‐iodo analogues via p‐tolylsulfonyl compounds. Elimination of hydrogen iodide from 6‐iodo glycosides provided methyl 4‐O‐acetyl‐3‐azido‐2,3,6‐trideoxy‐α‐ and ‐β‐D‐threo‐hex‐5‐eno‐pyranosides or 3‐azido‐4‐O‐p‐tolylsulfonyl‐2,3,6‐trideoxy‐α‐D‐threo‐ and ‐β‐D‐erythro‐hex‐5‐eno‐pyranosides. Ferrier's carbocyclization of 4‐O‐acetyl‐3‐azido‐2,3,6‐trideoxy‐α‐ and ‐β‐D‐threo‐hex‐5‐eno‐pyranosides gave (2S,3R,5R)‐2‐acetoxy‐3‐azido‐5‐hydroxycyclohexanone, which was converted into oxime. The 2‐OAc group in oxime was substituted by azide ion to yield (2R,3R,5R)‐2,3‐diazido‐5‐hydroxycyclohexanone oxime. The configuration and conformation of all products are widely discussed on the basis of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR.     

C?H Activation of Benzene by a Photoactivated NiII(azide): Formation of a Transient Nickel Nitrido Complex

Photochemical activation of nickel‐azido complex 2 [Ni(N₃)(PNP)] (PN^HP=2,2′‐di(isopropylphosphino)‐4,4′‐ditolylamine) in neat benzene produces diamagnetic complex 3 [Ni(Ph)(PN^PN^H)], which is crystallographically characterized. DFT calculations support photoinitiated N₂‐loss of the azido complex to generate a rare, transient Ni^IV nitrido species, which bears significant nitridyl radical character. Subsequent trapping of this nitrido through insertion into the Ni P bond generates a coordinatively unsaturated Ni^II imidophosphorane PN donor. This species shows unprecedented reactivity toward 1,2‐addition of a C H bond of benzene to form 3 . The structurally characterized chlorido complex 4 [Ni(Cl)(PN^PN^H)] is generated by reaction of 3 with HCl or by direct photolysis of 2 in chlorobenzene. This is the first report of aromatic C H bond activation by a trapped transient nitrido species of a late transition metal.