Enantiomerically pure 2-aryl(alkyl)-2-trifluoromethylaziridines: synthesis and ring opening with selected O- and N-nucleophiles

We report herein the synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2-phenyl- and 2-ethyl-2-trifluoromethylaziridines by Mitsunobu-type cyclisation of the corresponding N-protected amino alcohols, and our results regarding their ring opening with selected nucleophiles. Under basic conditions, N-tosyl aziridines have been regioselectively opened at the less hindered carbon. Under acidic conditions, the regioselectivity of the attack depends on the nature of the substituent at C-2 and on the nitrogen protecting group.     

Enantiomerically pure tetrahydroisoquinolines by enzyme catalysis and gold-catalyzed phenol synthesis

Five different furfural derivatives were converted to chiral cyanohydrins by enzyme catalysis in good enantiomeric excess. After a sequence of silyl protection, nitrile reduction, tosylation and propargylation, substrates for the gold(I) catalyzed cycloisomerization of δ-alkynyl furans delivered good yields of enantiomerically pure dihydroxytetrahydroisoquinoline building blocks. Neither racemization nor elimination to quinolines was observed.     

One-step synthesis of poly(methacrylic acid) macromonomers and application to soap-free emulsion copolymerization with styrene

Allylic sulfides such as α-(tert-butylthiomethyl)styrene and α-(2-hydroxyethylthiomethyl)styrene worked as effective chain transfer agents in the radical polymerization of methacrylic acid, to afford a one-step synthesis of water-soluble macromonomers with the 2-phenylallyl end groups. The macromonomers were found to be effective, particularly in the partially neutralized form, in emulsion copolymerization with styrene in water, to give stable emulsions with nearly monodisperse, submicron-sized particles. The microspheres thus obtained are considered to have carboxyl groups densely bound on the surface as a result of an organized copolymerization.     

Diastereo- and enantiomerically pure allylboronates: their synthesis and scope

Allylboronates are highly attractive reagents for allyl additions. Enantiomerically pure, stable reagents with a stereogenic centre in alpha-position to boron are especially versatile, albeit often difficult to synthesize. Starting from boron-containing allyl alcohols 6 and 7, which are discussed in detail herein, a set of reagents were obtained via [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements and consecutive transformations in the side chain. The configurations could be established first by chemical correlation, but also by X-ray crystallography (16, 18, 34, and 39). Allyl additions were performed resulting in the formation of predominantly (Z)-configured homoallylic alcohols (31, 43-45) with high enantiomeric excess. Detailed investigations on the matched-mismatched interaction between the reagents 15/16 (and ent-15/ent-16, respectively) and isopropylidene glyceraldehyde 42d are presented.     

Enantiomerically pure chiral coordination polymers: synthesis, spectroscopy, and electrochemistry in solution and on surfaces

The two enantiomerically pure bridging ligands (+/-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy] have been prepared employing a two-fold stereospecific alkylation reaction of the enantiomerically pure, chiral terpyridyl-type ligands (+/-)-ctpy. The reaction of each of the enantiomerically pure bridging ligands with Fe(2+) gives rise to chiral coordination polymers whose formation and stoichiometry were followed spectrophotometrically. An assignment of the absolute configuration of the formed helical polymeric structures was carried out on the basis of circular dichroism studies. Highly ordered domains (as determined from STM imaging) of the enantiomerically pure chiral redox polymers could be prepared via the interfacial reaction, over an HOPG substrate, of the bridging ligand in CH(2)Cl(2) and FeSO(4) in water. The degree of polymerization was estimated to be up to 60 from analysis of the STM images of the highly ordered domains on HOPG. The helicality of the domains was compared to the configuration obtained from the circular dichroism studies. The electrochemical properties of the polymers were investigated using cyclic voltammetry and the results compared to those of the respective monomeric complexes. The redox behavior of the iron centers in the polymer was comparable to that of the monomeric complex [Fe((-)-ctpy)(2)](PF(6))(2) as well as to that of [Fe(tpy)(2)](PF(6))(2). The polymeric materials undergo electrodeposition following the two-electron reduction of each bridging ligand unit (one electron per terpyridine group). No ligand-mediated metal-metal interactions were evident from the cyclic voltammetric measurements, suggesting that the metal centers act independently. Moreover, oxidation of the metal centers within the polymeric materials did not give rise to electrodeposition.     

Bimetallic effects in homopolymerization of styrene and copolymerization of ethylene and styrenic comonomers: scope, kinetics, and mechanism

This contribution describes the homopolymerization of styrene and the copolymerization of ethylene and styrenic comonomers mediated by the single-site bimetallic "constrained geometry catalysts" (CGCs), (mu-CH2CH2-3,3'){(eta(5)-indenyl)[1-Me2Si(tBuN)](TiMe2)}2 [EBICGC(TiMe2)2; Ti2], (mu-CH2CH2-3,3'){(eta(5)-indenyl)[1-Me2Si(tBuN)](ZrMe2)}2 [EBICGC(ZrMe2)2; Zr2], (mu-CH2-3,3'){(eta(5)-indenyl)[1-Me2Si(tBuN)](TiMe2)}2 [MBICGC(TiMe2)2; C1-Ti2], and (mu-CH2-3,3'){(eta(5)-indenyl)[1-Me2Si(tBuN)](ZrMe2)}2 [MBICGC(ZrMe2)2; C1-Zr2], in combination with the borate activator/cocatalyst Ph3C+ B(C6F5)4- (B1). Under identical styrene homopolymerization conditions, C1-Ti2 + B1 and Ti2 + B1 exhibit approximately 65 and approximately 35 times greater polymerization activities, respectively, than does monometallic [1-Me2Si(3-ethylindenyl)(tBuN)]TiMe2 (Ti1) + B1. C1-Zr2 + B1 and Zr2 + B1 exhibit approximately 8 and approximately 4 times greater polymerization activities, respectively, than does the monometallic control [1-Me2Si(3-ethylindenyl)(tBuN)]ZrMe2 (Zr1) + B1. NMR analyses show that the bimetallic catalysts suppress the regiochemical insertion selectivity exhibited by the monometallic analogues. In ethylene copolymerization, Ti2 + B1 enchains 15.4% more styrene (B), 28.9% more 4-methylstyrene (C), 45.4% more 4-fluorostyrene (D), 41.2% more 4-chlorostyrene (E), and 31.0% more 4-bromostyrene (F) than does Ti1 + B1. This observed bimetallic chemoselectivity effect follows the same general trend as the pi-electron density on the styrenic ipso carbon (D > E > F > C > B). Kinetic studies reveal that both Ti2 + B1 and Ti1 + B1-mediated ethylene-styrene copolymerizations follow second-order Markovian statistics and tend to be alternating. Moreover, calculated reactivity ratios indicate that Ti2 + B1 favors styrene insertion more than does Ti1 + B1. All the organozirconium complexes (C1-Zr2, Zr2, and Zr1) are found to be incompetent for ethylene-styrene copolymerization, yielding only mixtures of polyethylene and polystyrene. Model compound (mu-CH2CH2-3,3'){(eta(5)-indenyl)[1-Me2Si(tBuN)][Ti(CH2Ph)2]}2 {EBICGC[Ti(CH2Ph)2]2; Ti2(CH2Ph)4} was designed, synthesized, and structurally characterized. In situ activation studies with cocatalyst B(C6F5)3 suggest an eta(1)-coordination mode for the benzyl groups, thus supporting the proposed polymerization mechanism. For ethylene-styrene copolymerization, polar solvents are found to increase copolymerization activities and coproduce atactic polystyrene impurities in addition to ethylene-co-styrene, without diminishing the comonomer incorporation selectivity. Both homopolymerization and copolymerization results argue that substantial cooperative effects between catalytic sites are operative.     

Enantiomerically pure synthesis of beta-substituted gamma-butyrolactones: a key intermediate to concise synthesis of pregabalin

Chiral beta-substituted gamma-butyrolactones are known to be important intermediates for many biologically active compounds such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) derivatives and lignans. We have developed a general, convenient, and scalable synthetic method for enantiomerically pure beta-substituted gamma-butyrolactones, with either configuration, via nucleophilic cyclopropane ring opening of (1S,5R)- or (1R,5S)-bicyclic lactone followed by decarbethoxylation. The utility of our method was demonstrated by streamlined synthesis of pregabalin ((S)-3-isobutyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid), an anticonvulsant drug for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain.     

Dispersion copolymerization of poly(oxyethylene) macromonomers and styrene

The kinetics of dispersion copolymerization of methacryloyl-terminated poly(oxyethylene) (PEO-MA) and p-vinylbenzyl-terminated (PEO-St) polyoxyethylene macromonomers and styrene (St), initiated by a water- and/or oil-soluble initiator, was investigated using conventional gravimetric and NMR methods at 60°C. The batch copolymerizations in the water/ethanol continuous phase were conducted to high conversion. The rate of polymerization was described by the curve with a maximum at very low conversion. The initial rate of polymerization and the number-average molecular weight were found to decrease with increasing [PEO-MA], and the decrease was more pronounced in the range of a high macromonomer concentration. The rate per particle (at ca. 20% conversion) was found to be proportional to the −1.55th, the particle size to the −0.92nd, and the number of particles (at final conversion) to the 3.2nd power of [PEO-MA], respectively. At the beginning of polymerization the continuous phase is the main reaction locus. As the polymerization advances, the reaction locus is shifted from the continuous phase to the polymer particles. The transform of the reaction loci from the continuous phase to the polymer particles increases the rate of polymerization and the polymer molecular weights. The increase of the weight ratio PEO-MA/St favors the formation of monodisperse polymer particles, the colloidal stability of dispersion, and the formation of a larger number of polymer particles. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3131–3139, 1997     

Photochemistry synthesis. Part 2: Enantiomerically pure polyhydroxy-1,1,3-triarylpropan-2-ols

A new method to open the heterocyclic ring of flavan-3-ols via photolytic cleavage of the ether bond, with stereoselective trapping of the intermediates with phloroglucinol to obtain phloroglucinol grafted derivatives of flavan-3-ols, was developed. Photolysis of catechin and epicatechin, respectively, in the presence of phloroglucinol yielded the enantiomeric (1S,2S)- and (1R,2R)-1,3-di(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propan-2-ols, respectively. The absolute configuration at C-1 and C-2 was determined by electronic circular dichroism (experimental and calculated) and these results confirmed that the trapping mechanism is controlled by the C-3 configuration of the flavan-3-ol.     

The synthesis of sulfonated polymers by free radical copolymerization. Poly(butadiene-co-sodium styrene sulfonate)

The copolymerization of butadiene with sodium styrene sulfonate was studied and the copolymer products characterized. In general these copolymers contain 0.5–4 mole% of sulfonated monomer. The effects of the following reaction variables are described: emulsifier type and concentration, monomers feed ratio, chain transfer agent concentration, and reaction conversion. The products were heterogeneous with regard to composition, molecular weight, and solubility behavior. Copolymers prepared under certain conditions exhibited strong intermolecular interactions derived from associations of the ionic species as observed in other ionomers.     

“Emulsifier-free” emulsion copolymerization of styrene and butylacrylate: particle size control with synthesis parameters

 This paper presents the synthesis of film-forming particles with controlled diameters. The copolymerization of styrene and butylacrylate is realized by emulsion synthesis in the presence of potassium sulfopropylmethacrylate (SPM), an ionogenic monomer and sodium bicarbonate. The initiator, ammonium persulfate, and the SPM ensure the stabilization of particles. After the particles are washed, their diameters are measured by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) with a Zetasizer 3 (Malvern). The particle diameters are controlled by SPM concentration and the ionic strength of the medium. An increase of ionic strength, at constant [SPM], increases diameters, though an increase of [SPM], at constant ionic strength, decreases diameters. The experimental results are interpreted by two different modelizations, either by log–log equations like in the literature, or by semi-log and exponential equations. The latter ones give better modelization. Received: 18 July 1997 Accepted: 3 March 1998     

Laser-initiated copolymerization of maleic anhydride with styrene,vinyltoluene, and t-butylstyrene

Laser-initiated polymerization of charge transfer monomer complexes has been investigated using an argon ion laser. The influence of solvents, monomer feed ratio, and irradiation time on the copolymer yield and composition was evaluated. The polymer yield was found to be directly proportional to the irradiation time and the molar concentration of maleic anhydride in the monomer feed. An enhanced rate of polymerization was obtained by substituting electron donating groups in the donor monomer. Polymerization, initiation, and propagation mechanisms, via charge transfer complexes, have been discussed. Comparison of laser-induced polymerization with UV-induced polymerization suggests that laser initiation is an energy-efficient process.     

Di(4-isopropenylphenoxy)alkanes as cross-linking comonomers in three-dimensional copolymerization with styrene

Di(4-isopropenylphenoxy)alkanes were synthesized by condensation of 4-isopropenylphenol with symmetrical dihaloalkanes in the presence of KI promoter. Three-dimensional polymeric structures were prepared by compolymerization of these monomers with styrene.     

Enantiomerically pure chiral phenazino-crown ethers: synthesis,preliminary circular dichroism spectroscopic studies and complexes with the enantiomers of 1-arethyl ammonium salts

Enantiomerically pure chiral crown ethers containing the phenazine unit [(R,R)-2–(S,S)-8] were prepared by two types of cyclization reactions. Ligands (R,R)-2, (R,R)-3, (S,S)-4, (R,R)-5, (R,R)-6 and (R,R)-7 were prepared from phenazine-1,9-diol 9 and the appropriate ditosylates (S,S)-10–(S,S)-15 in weak basic conditions with complete inversion of configuration. Ligands (S,S)-2, (S,S)-7 and (S,S)-8, however, were prepared from 1,9-dichlorophenazine 19 and the appropriate diols (S,S)-16–(S,S)-18 in strong basic conditions with retention of configuration. Enantiomeric recognition of most of the chiral ligands with α-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium perchlorate (NEA) and α-phenylethylammonium perchlorate (PEA) has been studied by CD spectroscopy.     

Radical copolymerization of crotonyl compounds with styrene

The monomer reactivity ratios for the radical copolymerization of crotononitrile (CN), methyl crotonate (MC), and n-propenyl methyl ketone (PMK) with styrene (St) were measured at 60°C. in benzene and little penultimate unit effect was shown for these systems. The values obtained were: St–CN, r₁ = 24.0, r₂ = 0; St–MC, r₁ = 26.0, r₂ = 0.01; St–PMK, r₁ = 13.7, r₂ = 0.01. The rate of copolymerization and the viscosity of the copolymer decreased markedly as the molar fraction of the crotonyl compound in the monomer mixture increased. The Q–e values were also calculated to be as follows: CN, e = 1.13, Q = 0.009; MC, e = 0.36, Q = 0.015; PMK, e = 0.61, Q = 0.024. A linear relationship was obtained between the e values of the crotonyl compounds and their Hammett constants σ_m.     

Living carbocationic copolymerization of isobutylene with styrene

The carbocationic copolymerization of isobutylene (IB) and styrene (St), initiated by 2‐chloro‐2,4,4‐trimethylpentane/TiCl₄ in 60/40 (v/v) methyl chloride/hexane at ?90 °C, was investigated. At a low total concentration (0.5 mol/L), slow initiation and rapid monomer conversion were observed. At a high total comonomer concentration (3 mol/L), living conditions (a linear semilogarithmic rate and M_n–conversion plots) were found, provided that the St concentration was above a critical value ([St]₀ ～ 0.6 mol/L). The breadth of the molecular weight distribution decreased with increasing IB concentration in the feed, reaching M_w/M_n ～ 1.1. St homopolymerization was also living at a high total concentration, yielding polystyrene with M_n = 82,000 g/mol, the highest molecular weight ever achieved in carbocationic St polymerization. An analysis of this system by both the traditional gravimetric–NMR copolymer composition method and FTIR demonstrated penultimate effects. IB enrichment was found in the copolymers at all feed compositions, with very little drift at a high total concentration and above the critical St concentration. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1778–1787, 2007     

High conversion copolymerization of styrene with methylmethacrylate

A study of the free radical copolymerization of styrene-methylmethacrylate at high conversion is reported. Differences are observed between the experimentally measured compositions and those calculated according to the integrated form of the copolymer composition equation, using published reactivity ratios. Significant differences occur only in situations exhibiting a gel effect, e.g. during bulk copolymerization or with a precipitant like butyl stearate present. Negligible differences are exhibited when a solvent such as benzene is present. Differences have been expressed as changes in copolymer reactivity ratios with conversion; the start of any changes in reactivity ratios is closely related to the onset of gel effects.     

The emulsion copolymerization of styrene and sodium styrene sulfonate

The emulsion copolymerization of styrene and sodium styrene sulfonate has been shown to be a feasible preparative route to ionomeric sulfonated polystyrene. The properties of these copolymers are reported elsewhere. The copolymerization rate was found to be dramatically enhanced when compared to that for the emulsion copolymerization of styrene under identical conditions. This copolymerization was studied in detail and two mechanisms were proposed to account for these rate differences. An increase in the number of polymerizing particles in the copolymerization with consequent rate enhancement was substantiated by electron microscopy. However, the data indicate that the rate differences cannot be fully accounted for by this effect. In addition, a gel effect is proposed as a second contributor to the enhanced rate. This gel effect is believed to result from the intermolecular association of the incorporated metal sulfonate units in the growing polymer particles. When a third monomer that plasticizes the ionic interactions is used the polymerization rate decreases. This supports the gel effect hypothesis.