Carbon-carbon double bond in pillar[5]arene cavity: Selective binding of cis/trans-olefin isomers

The binding behavior of pillar[5]arenes (P5As) towards a series of olefin guests ((E)-1,4-dichlorobut-2-ene (1E), (Z)-1,4-dichlorobut-2-ene (1Z), (E)-but-2-ene-1,4-diol (2E), and (Z)-but-2-ene-1,4-diol (2Z), as well as an alkyne derivative 1,4-dichlorobut-2-yne (3)) have been studied in organic solution. P5As exhibit considerable selectivities for the trans-olefin isomers (1E and 2E) over their cis-isomers (1Z and 2Z). The cis/trans-selective interactions hold the potential of utilizing P5As to separate olefin isomers.     

Two isomeric fourteen-membered bis-dithioacetals derived from (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>)- and (<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-but-2-ene-1,4-dithiols

(Z)-But-2-ene-1,4-dithiol was found to undergo isomerization into the E isomer. Condensation of (Z)- and (E)-but-2-ene-1,4-dithiols with acetaldehyde gave isomeric fourteen-membered bis-dithioacetals whose structure was determined by X-ray analysis.     

Preparation of novel bicyclic piperazines by reduction of bicyclo[4.2.2]diketopiperazines: rearrangement involving 1,2-bond migration

Reduction of (1R,6R)-7,9-diazabicyclo[4.2.2]dec-3-ene-8,10-dione (5) with lithium aluminum hydride gave a mixture of the expected (1R,6R)-7,9-diazabicyclo[4.2.2]dec-3-ene (2) as well as 7,9-diazabicyclo[4.3.1]dec-3-ene (3), resulting from 1,2-σ (C-C) migration of the pendant cis-2-butenyl ring. More of the rearranged product was observed in polar solvents and upon the addition of HMPA. The relief of ring strain imparted by the olefin may promote this rearrangement, as it was not observed when the olefin was reduced prior to the reduction.     

Palladium-catalyzed desulfinylative C-C allylation of Grignard reagents and enolates using allylsulfonyl chlorides and esters

2-Methylprop-2-ene-, prop-2-ene-, 1-methylprop-2-ene-, and (E)-but-2-enesulfonyl chlorides have been used as electrophilic partners in desulfinylative palladium-catalyzed C-C coupling with Grignard reagents and sodium salts of dimethyl malonate and methyl acetoacetate. Neopentyl alk-2-ene sulfonates can also be used as electrophilic partners in desulfinylative allylic arylations and allylic alkylations. The regioselectivity of the allylic arylation and alkylation depends on the nature of the catalyst. With PdCl₂(PhCN)₂, (E)-crotyl derivatives are formed in high regioselectivity using either 1-methylprop-2-ene- or (E)-but-2-enesulfonyl chloride.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of a chiral nitrone to (E)-1,4-dichloro-2-butene: a new efficient synthesis of (2S,3S,4R)-4-hydroxyisoleucine

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of a chiral nitrone derived from (?)-menthone to (E)-1,4-dichlorobut-2-ene was the key step in a novel 5 step synthesis of (2S,3S,4R)-4-hydroxyisoleucine, obtained in 21% overall yield with high enantiopurity.     

Climacostol, a defense toxin of Climacostomum virens (protozoa, ciliata), and its congeners

Climacostol (1), a defense toxin of the heterotrich ciliate Climacostomum virens was established as 5-(Z)-non-2-enyl-benzene-1,3-diol. The structure was rigorously confirmed by the total synthesis. The two congeners of climacostol contained in this ciliate were determined as 5-(Z,Z)-undeca-2,5-dienyl-benzene-1,3-diol (2) and 5-(Z,Z,Z)-undeca-2,5,8-trienyl-benzene-1,3-diol (3).     

A new cycloartane triterpenoid from the leaves and stems of Fritillaria hupehensis

A new triterpenoid has been isolated from the leaves and stems of Fritillaria hupehensis Hsiao et K.C.Hsia.Its structure wasestablished as(23Z)-9,19-cycloart-23-ene-3α,25-diol 1 through chemical and spectroscopic studies including 2D NMR.Anotherknown triterpenoid 9,19-cycloart-25-ene-3β,24ξ-diol 2 was also isolated.     

A zwitterionic nickel-olefin initiator for the preparation of high molecular weight polyethylene

The reaction of the sodium 3-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)-but-1-en-2-olato with Ni(PMe₃)₂(η¹-CH₂C₆H₅)Cl provides 3-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)-but-1-en-2-olato(η¹-benzyl)(trimethylphosphine) nickel (1), which was structurally characterized. The addition of 2 equiv. of B(C₆F₅)₃ to 1 results in the formation of 2-tris(pentafluorophenyl)borate-3-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)-but-1-ene(η³-benzyl)nickel (2), in which the borane coordinates to the O site of the ligand and forces binding of the olefin unit to the nickel center. The solid-state structure of 2 shows a zwitterionic structure with substantial positive charge at the nickel center. Compound 2 can be used to initiate the homopolymerization of ethylene to yield high molecular weight polyethylene.     

Front side neighbouring group participation in the 16-hydroxymethylandrost-5-ene-3, 17-diol series

The cis isomers of 16-hydroxymethylandrost-5-ene-3β, 17-diol (1a and 8a) transform into 16-bromomethylandrost-5-ene-3β, 17 diacetate (5 and 12) on treatment with hydrogen bromide and acetic acid. The process is accompanied by the formation of some tri-acetate (1d and 8d) and rearranged products (6 and 13). The trans isomers (15a and 16a) yield, under similar experimental conditions, only triacetates (15b and 16b).     

Palladium-mediated fragmentation reactions of meta photocycloadducts to afford arylated or oxidatively cyclised products

Whilst seeking to improve the yield of a Heck-style arylation/fragmentation reaction using a silyloxy substituted meta photocycloadduct, an alternative reaction pathway was discovered that led to the formation of the unique oxidatively cyclised compound 8. This tricyclic ether is believed to form as the result of the meta photocycloadduct structure fragmenting to give a π-allyl palladium species and then subsequently being displaced by a neighbouring hydroxyl group. An attempt to develop an enantioselective version of this reaction via the desymmetrisation of a meso π-allyl palladium intermediate was made using the meta photocycloadduct derived from anisole and Z-but-2-ene-1,4-diol, however no enantioenrichment of the products could be detected.     

Ferrocenyl compounds possessing protected phenol and thiophenol groups: Synthesis,X-ray structure,and in vitro biological effects against breast cancer

We have previously shown that conjugated ferrocenyl p-phenols show strong cytotoxic effects against both the hormone-dependent MCF-7 and hormone-independent MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines, possibly via metabolic quinone methide (QM) formation. To further evaluate this proposed mechanism, we have created a series of ferrocenyl prodrugs containing methyl and acetyl-protected thio- and oxo-phenols: 2-ferrocenyl-1,1-bis(4-acetoxyphenyl)-but-1-ene (5), 2-ferrocenyl-1,1-bis(4-thioacetylphenyl)-but-1-ene (6), 2-ferrocenyl-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-but-1-ene (7), and 2-ferrocenyl-1,1-bis(4-thiomethylphenyl)-but-1-ene (8), which might be activated by hydrolysis enzymes in situ. Only the acetoxy 5 displayed antiproliferative effects (IC₅₀ on MDA-MB-231 of 0.5 μM) while 6–8 act as pure estrogens (proliferative on MCF-7 and little to no effect on MDA-MB-231). The behaviour of 5 is similar to that previously found for the free phenol 2-ferrocenyl-1,1-di(4-hydroxyphenyl)-but-1-ene (2), indicating that 5 is metabolized in situ to 2, which could then undergo oxidative QM formation. The observation that the thioacetyl 6 is not cytotoxic suggests that the in situ oxidative chemistry of the putative ferrocenyl thiophenol is different from that of 2. Because p-thioquinone methides are practically unknown, the negative results for 6 further implicate the bioformation of the QM in the case of 2 and related compounds. The lack of cytotoxicity of 7 and 8 can be attributed to lack of efficient hydrolysis in situ. Estrogen receptor binding affinity studies for the compounds and the X-ray structure of 8 are also reported.     

Chiral crystallization of cis-2,3-dichloro-buth-2-ene-1,4-diol

The X-ray diffraction study of cis-2,3-dichlorobuth-2-ene-1,4-diol (3) obtained by the reduction of 3,4-dichloro-5-ethoxy- and 5-isopropoxi-2(5H)-furanones with lithium aluminum hydride is performed. The crystals of compound 3 are trigonal: a = b = 15.746(9) Å, c = 6.848(4) Å; V = 1470.5(15) ų, space group P3₁, Z = 9 (three independent molecules). Independent molecules have identical planar conformation, and hydroxyl groups are located on different sides of the multiple bond plane. The supramolecular motif of the crystal is spirals about the threefold screw axes; the neighboring spirals are linked by OH…O hydrogen bonds.     

One-pot synthesis of 1-aryl-3-methyl-1,3-dienes using methallyl(trimethyl)silane and aldehydes and their low temperature (Z)→(E) isomerization induced by sulfur dioxide

2-Methylprop-2-ene-1-sulfonyl fluorides can be easily prepared via the ene reaction of methallylsilanes and SO₂. In the presence of a base, aldehydes and 2-methylprop-2-ene-1-sulfonyl fluorides give 1,3-(E) and (Z)-dienes. Their (Z)→(E) isomerization by classical means fails or leads to their polymerization. It is shown that SO₂ can isomerize 1-aryl-3-methyl-1,3-dienes at low temperature, without formation of sulfolenes (cheletropic addition/elimination). Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that SO₂ adds to 1,3-dienes forming 1,4-diradical intermediates that are responsible for the (Z)→(E) isomerizations.     

Catalytic synthesis of vinylphosphanes via calcium-mediated intermolecular hydrophosphanylation of alkynes and butadiynes

The calcium complex [(thf)₄Ca(PPh₂)₂] (1) is a very effective catalyst for the hydrophosphanylation of substituted alkynes of the type R-CC-R (R = Me, Ph) yielding (E)-1,2-diphenyl-1-diphenylphosphanylethene (2a) and (Z)-1-phenyl-2-diphenylphosphanyl-1-propene (2b). The calcium-mediated hydrophosphanylation of butadiynes of the type R-CC-CC-R (R = Me, SiMe₃, Ph, Mes, tBu) proceeds less selectively and diverse products are obtained such as 1,4-substituted 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)-1,3-butadienes (3), 1,4-diphenyl-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)-1,3-butadiene (4), and 1,4-di(tert-butyl)-1,4-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)buta-1,2-diene (5). Besides these regioisomers also several configuration isomers with respect to the C=C double bonds [(E)/(Z) isomerism] are obtained. A catalytic cycle can be formulated with the first addition of a Ca-P bond of the catalyst 1 to a CC triple bond always leading to the formation of an intermediate with the newly formed C-P bond in 1-position whereas the remaining phosphanido calcium fragment binds to the carbon in 2-position. The addition of a second diphenylphosphane is much faster and therefore, only two-fold hydrophosphanylated butadiynes are observed. Neither addition products with only one HPPh₂ group nor those with more than two PPh₂ substituents are obtained.     

Iron pentacarbonyl assisted photochemical route to 2,5- and 2,6-divinyl-substituted 1,4-benzoquinones from 1-ene-3-ynes

Photochemical reaction between the enynes, (Z)-1-methoxybut-1-ene-3-yne, 1 or isopropenyl acetylene, 2 with CO in presence of Fe(CO)₅ yields the 2,6- and 2,5-divinyl-substituted 1,4-benzoquinones: 2,6-bis{(Z)-2-methoxyvinyl}-1,4-benzoquinone (3, 42%), 2,5-bis{(Z)-2-methoxyvinyl}-1,4-benzoquinone (4, 31.5%), [{η²,η²:2,6-di(prop-1-en-2-yl)-1,4-benzoquinone}tricarbonyliron] (5, 45%), and {η²,η²:2,5-di(prop-1-en-2-yl)-1,4-benzoquinone}tricarbonyliron] (6, 65%).     

Metabolites identification of oil palm roots infected with Ganoderma boninense using GC–MS-based metabolomics

An approach to metabolomics profiling of non-infected and Ganoderma boninense (G. boninsense) infected oil palm roots crude extracts that utilize gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and multivariate statistics of principal component analysis (PCA) have been tested. This combination has provided a rapid approach in investigating the changes in the metabolite variations of non-infected and infected oil palm roots at 14 and 30 days post-infection. The extracts were prepared by using 80% (v/v) of methanol. In identifying the metabolites responsible for each differentiation, PCA model was generated in loading bi-plot. Dimethyl benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate, methyl 3-(3,5-ditert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate, ergost-5-en-3-ol, (3β), stigmast-5-en-3-ol, (3β), stigmasterol, methyl hexadecanoate, methyl (9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoate, methyl octadecanoate, 2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, methyl (Z)-octadec-6-enoate and (E)-icos-5-ene were found more abundant in G. boninense infected roots than in non-infected roots. Steroidal compounds and fatty acid derivatives which has been determined in the non-infected and G. boninense infected roots regulate a variety of responses to the G. boninense. The abundant of these metabolites in G. boninense infected roots are due to the crucial roles in pathogen defence.     

Styryl coupling vs. styryl acetate formation in reactions of styryl tellurides with palladium(II) salts

In sharp contrast to the expected formation of a telluride-palladium complex, the treatment of either (E,E)- and (Z,Z)-distyryl tellurides (1 and 2) or (E)- and (Z)-styryl phenyl tellurides (5 and 6) with Li₂PdCl₄ in acetonitrile at 25°C results in the formation of stereoisomeric 1,4-diphenylbuta-1,3-dienes, whereas the treatment of 1 and 2 with Pd(OAc)₂ produces styryl acetates solely or mainly.     

A simple and stereodivergent strategy for the synthesis of 3′-C-branched 2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides exploiting (Z)-but-2-en-1,4-diol and (R)-2,3-cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde

Barbier type additions of allylic bromide 4, derived from (Z)-but-2-en-1,4-diol 2 to (R)-2,3-cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde 1 were performed through mediation with Zn employing Luche’s procedure and also with low valent Cu, Co, and Fe which were produced via bimetal redox strategy in THF to afford 5c,d as the major products. From these, 5a,b were prepared following an oxidation-reduction protocol. Compound 5c was exploited as a representative starting material to develop a simple and inexpensive strategy toward the synthesis of 3′-C-branched 2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides having stereodiversity at 3′- and 4′-positions.     

Synthesis of E and Z 1-amino-2-aryl(alkyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acids via meldrum derivatives

The reaction of 5-arylidene(alkylidene)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones (1) (Meldrum's acid derivatives) with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide gave 1- aryl(alkyl) - 6,6 - dimethyl - 4,8 - dioxo - 5,7 -dioxaspiro [2.5] octanes (2) which, on treatment with sodium methoxide or ammonium hydroxide, gave exclusively E-1-methoxy-carboyl-2-aryl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acids (4) or Z-1-carbamoyl-2-aryl(alkyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acids (7), respectively. Compounds, 4, under conditions of Curtius-type reactions, yielded Z-methyl 1-isocyanate-2-aryl-cyclopropanecarboxylates (5), while derivatives 7 were treated with hypobromite, leading to E-1-methoxy-carbonylamino-2-aryl(alkyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acids (8).Reaction of compounds 5 and 8 with hydrochloric acid produced the corresponding Z and E 1-amino-2-aryl (alkyl)-cyclopropanecarboxylic acids hydrochlorides (6). The ¹H-NMR spectral data were analyzed to deduce the stereochemistry of the compounds obtained.     

Synthesis of 4-unsubstituted dihydropyrimidines having acyl and alkoxycarbonyl groups at 5- and 6-positions by cyclization–elimination reactions using 1,3-diaza-1,3-butadienes

A synthetic method for novel 4-unsubstituted 2-phenyldihydropyrimidines having acyl and alkoxycarbonyl groups at the 5- and 6-positions was developed. The cyclization of 4-dimethylamino-1,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene having N-protecting groups (Boc, Cbz) with 1,2-disubstituted ethylenes, such as diethyl maleate, diethyl fumarate, (Z)-hex-3-ene-2,5-dione, (E)-1,4-diphenylbut-2-ene-1,4-dione, and unsymmetrical (E)-ethyl 4-oxo-4-phenylbut-2-enoate, following the elimination of a dimethylamino group proceeded smoothly, producing the corresponding dihydropyrimidines in good overall yield. The N-protecting group (Boc) could be easily removed to obtain N-unsubstituted dihydropyrimidines as a mixture of tautomers, and their tautomeric behavior was analyzed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy.