The “Borrowing Hydrogen Strategy” by Supported Ruthenium Hydroxide Catalysts: Synthetic Scope of Symmetrically and Unsymmetrically Substituted Amines

The N‐alkylation of ammonia (or its surrogates, such as urea, NH₄HCO₃, and (NH₄)₂CO₃) and amines with alcohols, including primary and secondary alcohols, was efficiently promoted under anaerobic conditions by the easily prepared and inexpensive supported ruthenium hydroxide catalyst Ru(OH)_x/TiO₂. Various types of symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted “tertiary” amines could be synthesized by the N‐alkylation of ammonia (or its surrogates) and amines with “primary” alcohols. On the other hand, the N‐alkylation of ammonia surrogates (i.e., urea and NH₄HCO₃) with “secondary” alcohols selectively produced the corresponding symmetrically substituted “secondary” amines, even in the presence of excess amounts of alcohols, which is likely due to the steric hindrance of the secondary alcohols and/or secondary amines produced. Under aerobic conditions, nitriles could be synthesized directly from alcohols and ammonia surrogates. The observed catalysis for the present N‐alkylation reactions was intrinsically heterogeneous, and the retrieved catalyst could be reused without any significant loss of catalytic performance. The present catalytic transformation would proceed through consecutive N‐alkylation reactions, in which alcohols act as alkylating reagents. On the basis of deuterium‐labeling experiments, the formation of the ruthenium dihydride species is suggested during the N‐alkylation reactions.     

Secondary Binding Interactions in a Synthetic Receptor for Trimethyllysine

We have systematically studied how secondary interactions with neighboring lysine (Lys) and arginine (Arg) residues influence the binding and selectivity of the synthetic receptor A₂N for trimethyllysine (Kme₃). Multiple secondary binding sites on A₂N are formed by carboxylates rigidly positioned over aromatic rings, a motif that has been shown to stabilize salt bridges. We varied the spacing between Kme_X (X=0, 3) and an ancillary Lys or Arg and measured binding by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). These studies revealed that both neighboring residues improve the binding of A₂N to Kme_X by approximately 1 kcal mol^?1, with little influence of the spacing. Nonetheless, the improvement in affinity caused by Arg is enthalpically driven, while for Lys it is entropically driven, suggesting different mechanisms by which the residues interact with the secondary binding site.     

Intramolecular Oxygen Transfer on the Ozonolysis of a Diphenylcyclopentene Derivative

The ozonolysis of cis-3,4a,7,7a-tetrahydro-3,3-dimethyl-6,7a-diphenylcyclopenta[1,2,4]trioxine ( 1 ) in CH₂Cl₂ at ?78° gave the secondary endo ozonide 2 (43% yield) and an acetal 3 (27% yield) derived from O-insertion at the ortho position of the C(7a) phenyl substituent. Both structures were elucidated by X-ray. Repetition of the ozonolysis in MeOH/CH₂Cl₂20:3 at ?78° also gave the same two products in 12 and 15% yields, repectively, together with the hemiperacetal 4 (54% yield) formally derived from the secondary ozonide by addition of MeOH.     

Supramolecular architectures featuring stereoisomeric cluster complexes of the [Re6(μ3-Se)8]2+ core

The [Re₆(μ₃-Se)₈]²⁺ core-containing cluster complexes of the general formula [Re₆(μ₃-Se)₈(PEt₃)₄L₂]²⁺ (both trans- and cis-isomers) site-differentiated with inert PEt₃ and functional L ligands that are capable of hydrogen bonding or secondary (with respect to primary coordination with the cluster core) metal-ligand coordination interactions have been prepared. The applications of such stereospecific cluster isomers as building blocks for supramolecular construction have been studied. A great variety of multicluster arrays mediated by intercluster hydrogen bonding or cluster ligand coordination with secondary metal ions have been obtained and structurally characterized. The findings from this research clearly establish the superior utility of these novel building blocks for the creation of structurally sophisticated architectures and possibly functional materials.     

Transition-Metal Free Electrophilic Aminations of Polyfunctional O-2,4,6-Trimethylbenzoyl Hydroxylamines with Zinc and Magnesium Organometallics

We reported a new electrophilic amination of various primary, secondary and tertiary alkyl, benzylic, allylic zinc and magnesium organometallics with O-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl hydroxylamines (O-TBHAs) in 52–99 % yield. These O-TBHAs displayed an excellent long-term stability and were readily prepared from various highly functionalized secondary amines via a convenient 3 step procedure. The amination reactions showed remarkable chemoselectivity proceeding without any transition-metal catalyst and were usually complete after 1–3 h reaction time at 25 °C. Furthermore, this electrophilic amination also provided access to enantioenriched tertiary amines (up to 88 % ee) by using optically enriched secondary alkylmagnesium reagents of the type s-AlkylMgCH₂SiMe₃.     

Stereoselective Synthesis and Retentive Trapping of α‐Chiral Secondary Alkyllithiums Leading to Stereodefined α,β‐Dimethyl Carboxylic Esters

The treatment of α‐chiral secondary alkyl iodides with tBuLi at ?100 °C leads to the corresponding secondary alkyllithiums with high retention of configuration. Subsequent quenching with various electrophiles such as Bu₂S₂, DMF, MeOB(OR)₂, or Et₂CO provides the desired products with retention of configuration. Furthermore, a transmetalation with CuBr?P(OEt)₃ also allows retentive trapping with acid chlorides and ethylene oxide. The quenching of the resulting alkyllithiums with ClCO₂Et furnishes stereoselectively syn‐ and anti‐ethyl‐2,3‐dimethyl ester carboxylates (d.r.>94 %). Related esters bearing three adjacent stereo‐controlled centers (stereotriads) have also been prepared. This method has been applied to the synthesis of the ant pheromone (±)‐lasiol in 26 % overall yield (four steps) with d.r.=97:3 starting from commercially available cis‐2,3‐epoxybutane.     

Steric effect on the formation of columnar phases in β-diketonate copper(II) complexes

A systematic study of the mesomorphic properties of three series of copper(II) complexes based on β-diketonate ligands containing branched side chains is reported. These disc-like compounds have four, six and eight flexible alkoxy side chains appended to the central core, in which two or four side chains were substituted by bulkier secondary alkoxy groups: 1-methylbutyloxy R ' = C₅(2°) or 1-methylheptyloxy R ' = C₈(2°). The mesomorphic results indicated that at least eight side chains are required to form stable columnar mesophases; other compounds with four or six side chains are not mesogenic regardless of the combination of the carbon length on the alkoxy or secondary alkoxy groups of the side chains. The compounds 3 with shorter R ' = C₅(2°) side chains were all non-mesogenic regardless of the carbon length of three alkoxy side chains (R = C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂) used. However, when the longer 1-methylheptyloxy side chain R ' = C₈(2°) was substituted, the compounds 3b-3e with various alkoxy groups (R = C₆, C₇, C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂) exhibited columnar phases. The mesophases were characterized and identified as columnar hexagonal phases (Col_h), as expected, by thermal analysis and optical polarized microscopy. The presence of the introduced secondary alkoxy groups apparently appeared to influence the formation of columnar phases. The clearing points were relatively lower than other similar copper(II) compounds not substituted by secondary alkoxy side chains.     

Diarylmethyl ethers and Pd salts or complexes: a perfect combination for the protection and deprotection of alcohols

Primary and secondary alcohols are easily protected as diphenylmethyl (DPM) or bis(methoxyphenyl)methyl (BMPM) ethers in good yield using PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂ as catalyst in dichloroethane at 60 or 20 °C, respectively. These conditions are compatible with other functional and protecting groups such as halides, esters, acetal, benzyl, para-methoxybenzyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, and tert-butyldiphenylsilyl. Good selectivity was observed in favor of primary over secondary alcohols. Deprotection of diphenylmethyl or bis(4-methoxyphenyl)methyl ethers was efficiently achieved at room temperature using PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂ in dichloroethane in the presence of 10 equiv of ethanol.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Stability of Lithium Arylphosphanidyl-diarylphosphane Oxide

The reaction of LiP(H)Tipp ( 2a ) and KP(H)Tipp ( 2b , Tipp = C₆H₂-2,4,6-iPr₃), which are accessible via metalation of Tipp-PH₂ ( 1 ), with bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)phosphinic chloride yields Tipp-P=P(OM)Ar₂ [M = Li ( 3a ) and K ( 3b )]. These complexes show characteristic chemical ³¹P shifts and large ¹J_PP coupling constants. These compounds degrade with elimination of the phosphinidene Tipp-P: and the alkali metal diarylphosphinites M–O–PAr₂ [M = Li ( 4a ) and K ( 4b )]. The phosphinidene forms secondary degradation products (like the meso and R,R/S,S-isomers of diphosphane Tipp-P(H)–P(H)Tipp ( 5 ) via insertion into a P–H bond of newly formed Tipp-PH₂), whereas the crystallization of [Tipp-P=P(OLi)Ar₂ · LiOPAr₂ · LiCl · 2Et₂O]₂ (i.e. [ 3a·4a· LiCl · 2Et₂O]₂) succeeds from diethyl ether. The metathesis reactions of LiP(SiiPr₃)Tipp and LiP(SiiPr₃)Mes (Mes = C₆H₂-2,4,6-Me₃) with Ar₂P(O)Cl yield Ar*-P=P(OSiiPr₃)Ar₂ (Ar* = Mes, Tipp) which degrade to Ar₂POSiiPr₃ and other secondary products.     

Primary and Secondary Isotope Effects on Proton Transfers to Diazocarbonyl Compounds

The primary solvent isotope effects on the AS_E-2 type hydrolyses of α-diazocarbonyl compounds p-XC₆H₄CN₂CH₃ (X = NO₂, H, OCH₃ and C₆H₅CON(CH₃)₂) are found to be identical despite large differences in their overall hydrolysis rates. The secondary solvent isotope effects diminish considerably with diminishing substrate reactivity, and for two substrates they are smaller than those normally anticipated for a simple proton transfer from the lyonium species. An analysis is presented of these and other abnormal secondary isotope effects found elsewhere, involving consideration of the solvation of the reaction complex.     

Alkoxy Derivatives of Tricyclopentadienyl Cerium (IV)

Tricyclopentadienyl cerïum(IV) chloride has been treated with various primary and secondary alcohols in benzene medium in the presence of triethylamine to give compounds, (C₅H₅)₃Ce(OR) wherein R may be CH₃ C₂H₃, n-C₂H₃, iso-C₃H₇, N-C₄H₉, iso-C₄H₉ and iso-C₃H₁₁. Infrared spectra and some physical characteristics of all these compounds and reported.     

Structural and Mechanistic Insights into s‐Block Bimetallic Catalysis: Sodium Magnesiate‐Catalyzed Guanylation of Amines

To advance the catalytic applications of s‐block mixed‐metal complexes, sodium magnesiate [NaMg(CH₂SiMe₃)₃] ( 1 ) is reported as an efficient precatalyst for the guanylation of a variety of anilines and secondary amines with carbodiimides. First examples of hydrophosphination of carbodiimides by using a Mg catalyst are also described. The catalytic ability of the mixed‐metal system is much greater than that of its homometallic components [NaCH₂SiMe₃] and [Mg(CH₂SiMe₃)₂]. Stoichiometric studies suggest that magnesiate amido and guanidinate complexes are intermediates in these catalytic routes. Reactivity and kinetic studies imply that these guanylation reactions occur via (tris)amide intermediates that react with carbodiiimides in insertion steps. The rate law for the guanylation of N,N′‐diisopropylcarbodiimide with 4‐tert‐butylaniline catalyzed by 1 is first order with respect to [amine], [carbodiimide], and [catalyst], and the reaction shows a large kinetic isotopic effect, which is consistent with an amine‐assisted rate‐determining carbodiimide insertion transition state. Studies to assess the effect of sodium in these transformations denote a secondary role with little involvement in the catalytic cycle.     

5,6-Dimethoxy- und [4,5,6-Trimethoxy-benzo[b]-thienyl-(3)]-acylamine

Zusammenfassung Umsetzung von 5,6-Dimethoxy- und [4,5,6-Trimethoxy-benzo[b]thienyl-(3)]-essigsäure mit PCl₅ lieferte die methoxysubstituierten [Benzo[b]thienyl-(3)]-essigsäurechloride, die mit sekundären Aminen zu den entsprechenden Amiden reagierten.Die homologen Verbindungen mit einer C₃-Brücke wurden durchArndt-Eistert-Reaktion des Diazomethylketons in Gegenwart der entsprechenden sekundären Amine erhalten.

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Reaction of 5.6-dimethoxy- and [4.5.6-trimethoxybenzo[b]-thienyl-(3)]-acetic acid with PCl₅ gave the methoxy-substituted [benzo[b]thienyl-(3)]-acetic acid chlorides, which reacted with secondary amines to the corresponding amides.The homologous compounds with a C₃-bridge were synthesized viaArndt-Eistert reaction of the diazomethyl ketone in presence of the corresponding secondary amines.

     

Kinetic Studies on SNAr Reactions of Substituted Benzofurazan Derivatives: Quantification of the Electrophilic Reactivities and Effect of Amine Nature on Reaction Mechanism

Kinetics of the nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions of 7‐L‐4‐nitrobenzofurazans 1 ( 1a : L = Cl and 1b : L = OCH₃) and secondary cyclic amines (morpholine, piperidine, and pyrolidine) 2a–c have been measured in acetonitrile solution at 20°C. The derived values of second‐order rate constants (k ₁) have been employed to determine the electrophilicity parameters E for both benzofurazans 1a and 1b according to the linear free enthalpy relationship: log k (20°C) = s_N(E + N ) (Eq. 1 ). The second‐order rate constants for reactions of benzofurazans 1 with a series of 4‐X‐substituted anilines 3a–d (X = OH, OCH₃, CH₃, and H) have also been measured in MeCN and found to agree within a factor of 0.14–50 with those calculated by Eq. 1 from the electrophilicity parameters E measured in this work and the known nucleophile‐specific parameters N and s _N of anilines 3 . On the other hand, the reactions of these benzofurazans 1 with anilines 3 exhibit linear Brønsted‐type plots with β_nuc = 1.27 for 1a and 1.01 for 1b , which are considerably greater than those (0.57 for 1a and 0.62 for 1b ) obtained with the secondary cyclic amines 2 . These high values of β_nuc have been interpreted in terms of a single electron transfer mechanism. Secondary evidence for the validity of this mechanism is provided by the agreement between the rate constants, k ₁, for substitution of benzofurazans 1 by the anilines 3 and their oxidation potentials E °.     

Synthesis of aldehydes and ketones by the dehydrogenation of alcohols in the presence of a Raney nickel/aluminium isopropoxide/alumina catalyst

The synthesis of aldehydes and ketones by the dehydrogenation of allylic and secondary alcohols using a Raney-Ni-Al(i-OPr)₃-Al₂O₃ catalyst without hydrogen acceptors is presented.     

Deciphering the Role of Anions and Secondary Coordination Sphere in Tuning Anisotropy in Dy(III) Air-Stable D5h SIMs**

Precise control of the crystal field and symmetry around the paramagnetic spin centre has recently facilitated the engineering of high-temperature single-ion magnets (SIMs), the smallest possible units for future spin-based devices. In the present work, we report a series of air-stable seven coordinate Dy(III) SIMs {[L₂Dy(H₂O)₅][X]₃⋅L₂⋅n(H₂O), n = 0, X = Cl ( 1 ), n=1, X = Br ( 2 ), I ( 3 )} possessing pseudo-D_5h symmetry or pentagonal bipyramidal coordination geometry with high anisotropy energy barrier (U_eff) and blocking temperature (T_B). While the strong axial coordination from the sterically encumbered phosphonamide, ^tBuPO(NHⁱPr)₂ ( L ), increases the overall anisotropy of the system, the presence of high symmetry significantly quenches quantum tunnelling of magnetization, which is the prominent deactivating factor encountered in SIMs. The energy barrier (U_eff) and the blocking temperature (T_B) decrease in the order 3 > 2 > 1 with the change of anions from larger iodide to smaller strongly hydrogen-bonded chloride in the secondary coordination sphere, albeit the local coordination geometry and the symmetry around the Dy(III) display only slight deviations. Ab initio CASSCF/RASSI-SO/SINGLE_ANISO calculations provide deeper insights into the dynamics of magnetic relaxation in addition to the role of the secondary coordination sphere in modulating the anisotropy of the D_5h systems, using diverse models. Thus, in addition to the importance of the crystal field and the symmetry to obtain high-temperature SIMs, this study also probes the significance of the secondary coordination sphere that can be tailored to accomplish novel SIMs.     

The Acid-catalyzed Hydrolysis of CF3-deactivated Diazoalkanes

The acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of CF₃CHN₂ ( 1 ) follows an A2 mechanism of preequilibrium protonation and rate-determining solvolysis of the intermediate diazonium ion 4 ; this was demonstrated by: (a) the inverse kinetic isotope effect; (b) H-D exchange; (c) the unimportance of general acid catalysis; (d) strong rate acceleration by added nucleophiles. The activation parameters have been determined in two solvent systems. In contrast to 1 the secondary diazocompound CF₃? CN₂? CH₃ ( 2 ) follows the normal A-S_E2 mechanism of rate-determining proton transfer.     

Synthesis and characterization of a cationic oxorhenium(V) complex containing the pentadentate N3O2-donor ligand bis ( N -methylsalicylideneiminopropyl)amine

The complex salt [ReO(bsa)]PF₆ (H₂bsa?=?bis(N-methylsalicylideneiminopropyl)amine) was prepared from the reaction of cis-[ReO₂I(PPh₃)₂] with H₂bsa in toluene. The dianionic pentadentate ligand bsa is coordinated to the ReO³⁺ moiety via one secondary amino and two imino nitrogens, and two anionic phenolate oxygens. The complex was characterized by spectroscopy and analytical data, and the structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

The Miraculous CD Spectra (and Secondary Structures?) of β‐Peptides as They Grow Longer,Preliminary Communication

The recently improved conditions for solid‐phase synthesis of β³‐peptides by the Fmoc strategy were used to synthesize a β‐tetracosapeptide ( 4 , Scheme) composed of eight different β‐amino acid residues; 11 of the 24 residues carry functionalized proteinogenic side chains (namely those of Glu, Lys, Ser, and Tyr). The highly H₂O‐soluble β‐tetracosapeptide was identified by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy (in MeOH), analytical HPL chromatography, and ESI‐mass spectrometry (Fig. 1). The expected 3₁₄‐helical secondary structure of the new β‐peptide was designed to have one hydrophobic and two hydrophilic faces, and to be compared with other β‐peptides ( 1 – 3 ), two of which are also of amphipathic character in this secondary structure (Fig. 2). In the absence of NMR‐structural proof, the CD spectra of the four β‐peptides were compared (Figs. 3 and 4). The β‐tetracosapeptide exhibits an unprecedented CD pattern (in MeOH and in H₂O solution) that may arise from a new type of secondary structure or from an unordered conformation.     

Rate constant for the NH3 + NO2 → NH2 + HONO reaction: Comparison of kinetically modeled and predicted results

The rate constant for the NH₃ + NO₂ rlhar2; NH₂ + HONO reaction (1) has been kinetically modeled by using the photometrically measured NO₂ decay rates available in the literature. The rates of NO₂ decay were found to be strongly dependent on reaction (1) and, to a significant extent, on the secondary reactions of NH₂ with NO_X and the decomposition of HONO formed in the initiation reaction. These secondary reactions lower the values of k₁ determined directly from the experiments. Kinetic modeling of the initial rates of NO₂ decay computed from the reported rate equation, - d[NO₂]/dt = k₁[NH₃][NO₂] based on the conditions employed led to the following expression: This result agrees closely with the values predicted by ab initio MO [G2M//B3LYP/6-311 G(d,p)] and TST calculations. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 245–251, 1997.