Model studies on the kinetics and mechanism of polyarylate synthesis by acidolysis

Model reactions were carried out to simulate the acidolysis process for polyarylate synthesis by using p-tert-butylphenyl acetate (ptBuPhOAc) and benzoic acid in diphenyl ether. p-tert-Butylphenol was formed in the reaction mixture and its concentration stayed constant throughout the reaction. Acetic benzoic anhydride and benzoic anhydride were detected by NMR. Based on this experimental evidence, a mechanism for the acidolysis was proposed involving the mixed anhydride. The kinetics of the acidolysis reaction was studied for this model reaction. The overall reaction order is two and the reaction order with respect to each reactant is one. Second-order reaction rate constants were measured at different reaction conditions (200–250°C). The activation energy (E_a), activation enthalpy (ΔH^≠), and activation entropy (ΔS^≠) were calculated from these data. The thermodynamic parameters of the acidolysis reaction were also measured for the analogous reaction of p-tert-butylphenyl pivalate (ptBuPhOPiv) and benzoic acid. The kinetics of two other elementary reactions involved in the acidolysis reaction were also studied: p-tert-butylphenol with acetic anhydride or benzoic anhydride, and p-tert-butylphenyl pivalate with benzoic acid.     

Ambident anion chemistry: The reaction of sterically-hindered phenolate anions with 1H-pyrrole-2,5-diones

The reaction of N-phenylmaleimide, 4a , with sodium 2,6-di-t-butylphenolate, 5a , in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) resulted a complex oligomeric mixture. The dimer 8 was isolated from the reaction of the N-alkyl-maleimide 4b with 5a in DMSO. The reaction of 4a with 5a in tetrahydrofuran (THF), which is an aprotic solvent that is known to promote ion pairing, resulted in the isolation of a low yield of 6a . The reaction of 4a with 5a in the hydrogen-bonding solvent t-butyl alcohol gave 6a in slightly higher yield. The N-alkylpyrrolidine-2,5-diones 6c-f were obtained by the reaction of the maleimides 4c-e with the corresponding sodium phenolate 5a-b in t-butyl alcohol reaction medium. The isolated yield of product increased with the size of the N-alkyl substituent of the maleimide. Surprisingly, the reaction of the 2,6-dimethylphenolate 5c with 4d led to the isolation of the dimer 10 with the formation of a quaternary carbon atom. The yield of 6a was observed to counterion dependent, increasing in the order Na⁺ < Li⁺ < MgBr⁺ in t-butyl alcohol. The bismaleimides 12 and 14 were obtained by the reaction of either 11 or 13 with 5d in THF.     

Synthesis of polyurethanes from fluorinated diisocyanates

A number of polyurethanes based on fluorinated aliphatic diisocyanates, perfluorinated aromatic diisocyanates, and chlorinated aromatic diisocyanates have been prepared. The polyurethane prepared from perfluorotrimethylene diisocyanate and hexafluoropentanediol was a rubbery solid which hydrolyzed readily in air to a liquid or sticky solid but was stable if protected from moisture. The products of hydrolysis were isolated and identified. Polyurethanes based on hexafluoropentamethylene diisocyanate were synthesized by reaction of hexafluoropentanediamine with hexafluoropentamethylene bischloroformate and with tetrafluoro-p-phenylene bischloroformate. Polyurethanes were synthesized by reaction of tetrafluoro-p-phenylene diisocyanate with hexafluoropentanediol and pentanediol. Other perfluoroaryl diisocyanate-based polyurethanes were synthesized by reaction of tetrafluoro-m-phenylene diisocyanate with hexafluoropentanediol and with tetrafluoro-p-hydroquinone. Polyurethanes were also synthesized by reaction of tetrachloro-p-phenylene diisocyanate and 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-p-xylylene-α,α′-diisocyanate with hexafluoropentanediol.     

Evaluation of the thermal degradation of PC/ABS/montmorillonite nanocomposites

Polycarbonate (PC)/acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (ABS) polymer alloy/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites were prepared using a direct melt intercalation technique. The pyrolytic degradation and the thermo‐oxidative degradation of the polymer alloy and the nanocomposites were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The kinetic evaluations were performed by the model‐free kinetic analysis and the multivariate non‐linear regression. Apparent kinetic parameters for the overall degradation were calculated. The results show that PC/ABS/MMT nanocomposites have high thermal stability and low flammability. Their pyrolytic degradation and the thermo‐oxidative degradation model are different. The pyrolytic degradation reaction of the polymer is a two‐step parallel reaction model: nth‐order reaction model, and ath‐degree autocatalytic reaction with an nth‐order reaction autocatalytic reaction, whereas the thermal oxidative degradation reaction of the polymer is a two‐step following reaction model: A → B → C of nth‐order reaction model, and autocatalytic reaction model. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A One‐Pot Tandem Ugi Multicomponent Reaction (MCR)/Click Reaction as an Efficient Protecting‐Group‐Free Route to 1H‐1,2,3‐Triazole‐Modified α‐Amino Acid Derivatives and Peptidomimetics

By a one‐pot tandem Ugi multicomponent reaction (MCR)/click reaction sequence not requiring protecting groups, 1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐modified Ugi‐reaction products 6a – 6n (Scheme 1 and Table 2), 7a – 7b (Table 4), and 8 (Scheme 2) were synthesized successfully. i.e., terminal, side‐chain, or both side‐chain and terminal triazole‐modified Ugi‐reaction products as potential amino acid units for peptide syntheses. Different catalyst systems for the click reaction were examined to find the optimal reaction conditions (Table 1, Scheme 1). Finally, an efficient Ugi MCR+Ugi MCR/click reaction strategy was elaborated in which two Ugi‐reaction products were coupled by a click reaction, thus incorporating the triazole fragment into the center of peptidomimetics (Scheme 3). Thus, the Ugi MCR/click reaction sequence is a convenient and simple approach to different 1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐modified amino acid derivatives and peptidomimetics.     

Growth and kinetics of in vitro poly([R]‐(–)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate) granules interpreted as particulate polymerization with coalescence

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Cryo‐TEM were used to study the growth kinetics of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) granules produced by in vitro polymerization. The in vitro formation of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) uses a recombinant form of the PHA synthase to polymerize [R]‐(–)‐3‐hydroxybutyryl‐CoA. Since the in vitro reaction contains only synthase and monomer, it is a simpler system than the in vivo biosynthesis of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate). TEM and Cryo‐TEM were used in conjunction with image analysis to examine the granules that were formed in the in vitro reaction. The in vitro reaction yielded spherical granules of rapidly increasing size; the initially observed granules were already larger than 0.1 μm. While the average granule diameter and volume increased with reaction time, the number of granules decreased throughout the reaction due to coalescence. Basic kinetic parameters, including K_M and V_max were determined and compared to those reported for the in vivo biosynthesis of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate). In addition it was found that the granules formed by this process were essentially noncrystalline. A computer simulation of the reaction, based on initial formation of relatively large microporous granules that consolidate by expulsion of water during polymerization, accounted for the shape of the kinetic curves.     

Copper‐Catalyzed CH Bond Direct Chalcogenation of Aromatic Compounds Leading to Diaryl Sulfides,Selenides, and Diselenides by Using Elemental Sulfur and Selenium as Chalcogen Sources Under Oxidative Conditions

The reactions of aromatic compounds and elemental chalcogens catalyzed by a copper salt with molecular oxygen as an oxidant were carried out. The reaction of 3‐substituted imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridines and elemental sulfur in the presence of CuTC (copper(I) thiophenecarboxylate) gave the corresponding bisimidazopyridyl sulfides in good to quantitative yields. The reaction proceeded even under aerobic oxidation conditions. The use of a polar solvent was crucial for the reaction, and DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) in particular stimulated the reaction. The reaction could be applied to common aromatic compounds, such as N‐methyl indole and dialkyl anilines. The reaction of indole proceeded at the nucleophilic C3 position rather than at the acidic C2 position. In addition, the reaction of dialkyl anilines proceeded with an ortho, para orientation. The reactions of imidazopyridines and elemental selenium under similar conditions gave the corresponding bisimidazopyridyl diselenides along with bisimidazopyridyl monoselenides. The resulting diselenides were readily converted to the corresponding monoselenides with unreacted imidazopyridines under the same conditions. The reaction could be applied to the copolymerization of bifunctional bisimidazopyridines and elemental sulfur to give oligomeric copolymers in quantitative yield.     

The Self Oxidation Reduction of N-Arylhydroxylamines

The reactions of N-phenylhydroxylamine in the presence of dry hydrogen chloride to form azoxybenzene, aniline, 2-chloroaniline and 4-chloroaniline were studied. The molar ratio of the azoxybenzene and aniline obtained was very close to one. A similar reaction was also observed for 2-methyl- and 4-methyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine. A reasonable explanation is that N-phenylhydroxylamine undergoes a self oxidation reduction reaction to give aniline and nitrosobenzene, and the latter subsequently reacts with N-phenylhydroxylamine to give azoxybenzene. The reaction of N-phenylhydroxylamine, catalyzed by trifluoroacetic acid to yield azoxybenzene, was previously studied by Okamoto et al. and was suspected to undergo a similar reaction. We repeated the reaction and evidence for the same self oxidation reduction reaction was found. A mechanism involving the anilenium ion is proposed to account for this reaction.     

Activation and Reaction Volumes for [4+2] and [3+2] Additions Involving Maleic Anhydride

The partial molar volumes of reactants and products of the [3+2] addition of C-(p-nitrophenyl)-N-phenylnitrone to maleic anhydride and of the [4+2] addition of 9,10-dimethylanthracene to the same dienophile were determined, and the reaction volumes were calculated. A new method was suggested for determining the reaction volume. The activation volumes of both reactions were calculated from the dependences of the reaction rates on the external pressure. The volume parameters of the reactions involving the reagents of close size are close. The ratios of the activation volumes to the reaction volumes are unity, which suggests a common concerted mechanism of the reactions. Factors that could be responsible for significant changes in the absolute values of the reaction volume parameters are discussed.     

Alkoxylation of hydridophosphorane. II. Reaction of hydridophosphorane with benzenesulphenic esters

The spirophosphorane 4 underwent reaction with a series of benzene-sulphenic esters 3 to give the corresponding isolable alkoxyphosphoranes. The reactivities of benzenesulphenic esters 3 in this reaction were seen to be dependent on steric hindrance of the R groups. The yields of alkoxyphosphoranes were influenced by the reaction temperature. The probable mechanism was suggested in terms of experimental observations.     

A kinetic study of the high temperature rearrangement of 4‐ethyl‐3,5‐diphenyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole

The kinetics of the thermal rearrangement 4‐ethyl‐3,5‐diphenyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazoles, 1 , to the corresponding 1‐ethyl‐3,5‐diphenyl‐1‐alkyl‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazoles, 2 , was studied in 15‐Crown‐5 and octadecane at 330 °C. The reaction was very slow in octadecane but proceed well in 15‐Crown‐5. The reaction order for the reaction was not constant but changed from an initial second order rate law towards a first order rate law as the reaction progressed. This was confirmed by the concentration dependent reaction order, n_c, which was larger than the time dependent rate law, n_t. The rationale for the observation was, that at high substrate concentrations the reaction order was second order while at lower concentrations a competing solvent assisted reaction plays an increasing important role. The data were in agreement with a mechanism in which the neutral 4‐alkyl‐triazoles in an intermolecular nucleophilic displacement reaction form a triazolium triazolate, which in a subsequent nucleophilic reaction gives the observed product.     

Triphenylarsine as an effective catalyst in a mechanistic investigation of trans- 1, 2-di (methoxycarbonyl)-6, 6-dimethyl-5, 7-dioxaspiro [2, 5] octane-4, 8-dione formation

The kinetics and mechanism of the reaction between dimethyl acetylendicarboxylate (DMAD) and Meldrum's acid (MA) in the presence of triphenylarsine (TPA) as a catalyst were investigated in a methanol environment by the UV/vis spectrophotometry technique. In this work, the reaction followed second- order kinetics and the first and second steps of the reaction mechanism were recognized as the fast and rate-determining step (RDS), respectively. A significant point in this reaction “in comparison with previous work” is related to the change in behavior of the kinetics and reaction mechanism in the presence of triphenylarsine (TPA). Activation energy and parameters (E_a, ΔH^?, ΔS^?, and ΔG^?) were determined for the reaction and a comparison between ΔH^? and TΔS^? values showed that the reaction is entropy-controlled. High values of the activation Gibbs free energy indicated that the reaction was chemically controlled. Also, the large negative value of ΔS^? implied an associative mechanism.     

Cationic polyelectrolytes. II. Amination of chloromethylated polystyrene with hydroxyalkylic secondary amines

The reaction of chloromethylated polystyrene with methyl(2- hydroxyethyl)amine and butyle (2-hydroxyethyl)amine was studied kinetically. The reaction of benzyl chloride with these amines was also investigated for comparison. N,N-dimethylformamide and dioxane were used as solvents. The reactions of benzyl chloride with the two amines in these solvents took place according to normal kinetics of the second order. Reaction kinetics depend on the nature of the amine and solvent in Chloromethylated polystyrene reactions. In dioxane the self-accelerating effect of the reaction for β ? 0.5 is apparent. Steric hindrance of the reaction, beginning with a conversion degree of about 75%, wss observed for butyl(2-hydroxyethyl)amine in N,N-dimethylformamide. This self-accelerating effect is observed in dioxane at the same reaction degree. The activation energies and frequency factors were calculated for the amination of benzyl chloride and chloromethylated polystyrene with the two amines in N,N-dimethylformamide and dioxane.     

Preparation and structure determination of 1-benzyl-, 1-methyl- and 1H-5-[(2-nitro-2-phenyl)ethenyl]imidazoles

1-R-5-[(2-Nitro-2-phenyl)ethenyl]imidazoles (R = Bn, Me, H) 6a,b,c were synthesized by the Knoevenagel reaction of the corresponding aldehydes 4a,b,c with phenylnitromethane 5 . The E-isomers 6a,b,c were precipitated from the reaction mixture as crystalline compounds in 89, 81 and 60% yields, respectively. Traces of the Z-isomers 6a′b′,c′ were found in the reaction mixtures but could be obtained in a ratio of 4:3 from the E-form with UV irradiation. The E-forms were more stable and the Z-isomers changed again to the E-isomers in several weeks.     

Synthesis of optically active polynucleotide analogs with poly(vinyl alcohol)s as backbones and adenine and 5-bromouracil derivatives as pendants

The optically active polynucleotide analogs were prepared by grafting nucleic acid base derivatives onto poly(vinyl alcohol). The (R)-ethyl 2-(5-bromouracil-1-yl)propanoate was obtained either by reaction of 5-bromouracil sodium salt with (S)-ethyl 2-[(methylsulfonyl)oxy]propanoate or reaction of 5-bromouracil with (S)-ethyl lactate in the presence of triphenyl phosphine and diethyl azodicarboxylate. Subsequent hydrolysis of the ester is aqueous acid provided the optically pure (R)-bromouracilypropanoic acid. The monomer model compounds were prepared by an esterification reaction of the pendant groups with 3-pentyl alcohol in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and a catalytic amount of 4-pyrrolidinopyridine. Poly(vinyl alcohol) underwent reaction with the (R)-bromouracilylpropanoic acid or the (R)-adeninylpropanoic acid in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and a catalytic amount of 4-pyrrolidinopyridine. The resulting polymers were optically active and percents grafting were almost quantitative.     

Study on the murexide reaction. V

Although the reaction of caffeine with hydrogen peroxide/hydrochloric acid or nitric acid and then with ammonia has been known to give a purple coloration (Murexide reaction), the use of hydrazine instead of ammonia is found to provide no purple coloration. The reaction of caffeine with hydrogen peroxide/hydrochloric acid and then with hydrazine hydrate afforded a yellow reaction mixture, from which 4-methyl-6-(N-methylcarbamoyl)-3,5-dioxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrotriazine 9 , oxalyl hydrazide 10 and hydroxylamine hydrochloride were isolated. The reaction of caffeine with nitric acid and then with hydrazine hydrate furnished a yellow reaction mixture, from which 8-amino-1,3,7-trimethyl-2,6-dioxo-1H,3H,7H-xanthine 11, 9 and hydroxylamine nitrate were isolated. Compound 9 was clarified to be produced from 3-hydroxy-4,6-dimethyloxazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,5,7(3H,4H,6H)-trione 3 and 1,3-dimethylalloxan 7 by the ring transformation with hydrazine.     

Benzimidazolinetriones. Reactions of 2,5,6- and 2,4,7-benzimidazolinetriones

The condensation of 2,5,6-benzimidazolinetrione with ethylenediamine resulted in the formation of the 1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-g]quinoxalin-2-one ring system. The reaction of this trione with excess ethanethiol resulted in the isolation of three hydroquinones which were oxidized to the respective quinones. 2,4,7-Benzimidazolinetrione was shown to undergo a Diels-Alder reaction with isoprene and a mono-addition reaction with benzenethiol.     

Comparative studies on the concerted and two-step mechanism of ketene-methylenimine cycloaddition

The concerted reaction mechansim of the ketene-methylenimine cycloaddition reaction was reconfirmed by IRC calculation at HF/6-31G level.Other possible reaction schemes were also studied.The cis and gauch intermediate cannot be found on the potential energy surface,and the trans intermediate can only lead to a 6-membered ring product.Therefore,a two step mechanism to form β-lactam is excluded for the title reaction.     

Syntheses of Polycyclic Natural Products Employing the Intramolecular Double Michael Reaction

The one-pot intramolecular double Michael reaction of compounds having two different α, β-unsaturated carbonyl groups to form polycyclic compounds can be carried out by three different methods: in the first the substrate is treated with lithium hexamethyldisilazide, in the second with chlorotrimethylsilane, triethylamine, and zinc chloride at an elevated temperature, and in the third with tert-butyldimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate and triethylamine. The reaction proceeds with complete regioselectivity and high stereoselectivity following a stepwise mechanism. Spiro-fused bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives can be constructed with high stereoselectivity by the intromolecular double Michael reaction by using the first method. Enantiomerically pure atisine and the enantiomer of atisirene were synthesized stereoselectively by application of this methodology. The syntheses of steroids and angular triquinane-type sesquiterpenoids were possible with the second method. Heterocyclic compounds with a bridgehead nitrogen atom were obtained by the reaction of α, β-unsaturated amides following the second and third methods. The asymmetric synthesis of tylophorine with diastereofacial control was achieved by the intramolecular reaction according to the third method. The sulfur-mediated intramolecular double Michael reaction utilizing the third method produced trans-hydroindane derivatives. Furthermore, the intramolecular Michael-aldol reaction can be employed in synthesizing polycyclic systems with cyclobutane units by treatment with tert-butyldimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate in the presence of triethylamine. The intermolecular double Michael reaction and related reactions will also be described.     

Brominated Trihalomethylenones as Versatile Precursors to 3‐Ethoxy, ‐Formyl, ‐Azidomethyl, ‐Triazolyl,and 3‐Aminomethyl Pyrazoles

5‐Bromo[5,5‐dibromo]‐1,1,1‐trihalo‐4‐methoxy‐3‐penten[hexen]‐2‐ones are explored as precursors to the synthesis of 3‐ethoxymethyl‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐pyrazoles from a cyclocondensation reaction with hydrazine monohydrate in ethanol. 3‐Ethoxymethyl‐carboxyethyl ester pyrazoles were formed as a result of a substitution reaction of bromine and chlorine by ethanol. The dibrominated precursor furnished 3‐acetal‐pyrazole that was easily hydrolyzed to formyl group. In addition, brominated precursors were used in a nucleophilic substitution reaction with sodium azide to synthesize the 3‐azidomethyl‐5‐ethoxycarbonyl‐1H‐pyrazole from the reaction with hydrazine monohydrate. These products were submitted to a cycloaddition reaction with phenyl acetylene furnishing the 3‐[4(5)‐phenyl‐1,2,3‐triazolyl]5‐ ethoxycarbonyl‐1H‐pyrazoles and to reduction conditions resulting in 3‐aminomethyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐5‐carboxyethyl ester. The products were obtained by a simple methodology and in moderate to good yields.