Nucleophilic substitution approach to 4′-substituted thymidines by employing 4′-benzenesulfonyl leaving group

Synthesis of 4′-substituted thymidines was investigated based on nucleophilic substitution using organosilicon and organoaluminum reagents. Two substrates having a benzenesulfonyl leaving group at the 4′-position were prepared for this purpose: 1-[4-benzenesulfonyl-3,5-bis-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2-deoxy-α-l-threo-pentofuranosyl]thymine (8α) and the 4′-(benzenesulfonyl)thymidine derivative (8β). The reaction of 8α with organosilicon reagents (Me₃SiCH₂CHCH₂ and Me₃SiN₃) in combination with SnCl₄ gave preferentially the 4′-substituted β-d-isomer: the 4′-allyl (12β) and 4′-azido (15β) derivatives, respectively. The reaction of 8α with AlMe₃, however, gave the 4′-methyl-α-l-isomer (16α) as the major product, presumably through an ion pair mechanism. By employing the substrate 8β in this reaction, the 4′-methylthymidine derivative (16β) was obtained exclusively in high yield. The 4′-ethyl (20β) and 4′-cyano (24β) derivatives were also synthesized by reacting 8β with the respective organoaluminum reagent.     

Synthesis of some new tertiary amines and their application as co-catalysts in combination with l-proline in enantioselective Baylis-Hillman reaction between o-nitrobenzaldehyde and methyl vinyl ketone

A chiral benzodiazepine derivative 1 was synthesized starting from o-nitrobenzoyl chloride and methyl l-prolinate hydrochloride. Diastereomeric (1R,2R,1′S)-(+)-2-[N-methyl-N-(α-phenylethyl)amino]cyclohexanol 3a and (1S,2S,1′S)-(+)-2-[N-methyl-N-(α-phenylethyl)amino]cyclohexanol 3b were synthesized starting from (S)-α-phenylethylamine and cyclohexene oxide via ring-opening, diastereomer separation and N-methylation. (S,S)-octahydrodipyrrolo[1,2-a:1′,2′-d]pyrazin 5 was synthesized from methyl l-prolinate. Chiral tertiary amines 1, 3a, 3b and 5 almost cannot catalyze the Baylis-Hillman reaction between o-nitrobenzaldehyde and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK). However, they functioned as efficient catalysts for this reaction in the presence of l-proline. The corresponding adducts were obtained in good yields with enantioselectivity of 83% ee, 81% ee, 51% ee and 66% ee, respectively.     

3-Oxyanthranilic acid derivatives from Actinomadura sp. BCC27169

Eight new compounds including 9′-[2-amino-3-(4″-O-methyl-α-rhamnopyranosyloxy) phenyl]nonanoic acid (1), 9′-[2-amino-3-(4″-O-methyl-α-ribopyranosyloxy)phenyl] nonanoic acid (2), 11′-[2-amino-3-(4″-O-methyl-α-rhamnopyranosyloxy)phenyl]undecanoic acid (3), 11′-[2-amino-3-(4″-O-methyl-α-ribopyranosyloxy)phenyl]undecanoic acid (4), 8-(4′-O-methyl-α-rhamnopyranosyloxy)-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-one (5), 8-(4′-O-methyl-α-ribopyranosyloxy)-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-one (6), 8-(4′-O-methyl-α-rhamnopyranosyloxy)-2-methyquinoline (7), and 8-(4′-O-methyl-α-ribopyranosyloxy)-2-methylquinoline (8) were isolated from Actinomadura sp. BCC27169. The chemical structures of these compounds were determined based on NMR and high-resolution mass spectroscopy. The absolute configurations of these monosaccharides were revealed by the hydrolysis of compounds 7 and 8. Compounds 3 and 8 exhibited antitubercular activity at MIC 50 μg/mL. Only compound 3 showed cytotoxicity against KB cell at IC₅₀ 18.63 μg/mL, while other isolated compounds were inactive at tested maximum concentration (50 μg/mL).     

Total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-glucopyranoside, a component of blue flower pigment of Salvia patens, and seven chiral analogues

We have succeeded in the first total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1a), a component of blue pigment, protodelphin, from naringenin (2). Glycosylation of 2 according to Koenigs-Knorr reaction provided a monoglucoside 4a in 80% yield, and this was followed by DDQ oxidation to give apigenin 7-O-glucoside (12a). Further glycosylation of 4′-OH of 12a with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl fluoride (5a) was achieved using a Lewis acid-and-base promotion system (BF₃·Et₂O, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine, and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine) in 70% yield, and subsequent deprotection produced 1a. Synthesis of three other chiral isomers of 1a, with replacement of d-glucose at 7 and/or 4′-OH by l-glucose (1b-d), and four chiral isomers of apigenin 7-O-β-glucosides (6a,b) and 4′-O-β-glucosides (7a,b) also proved possible.     

Synthesis of new triazole substituted pyroaminoadipic and pipecolic acid derivatives

Racemic 5-(4,5-substituted-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1yl)-pyroaminoadipic and pipecolic acid derivatives were synthesized from meso dimethyl-α,α′-dibromoadipate 1 in good yields using mild reaction conditions. The key step of this reaction sequence was the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of an acetylenic compound on α-azido-α′-bromoadipate 2. A reactive α-(substituted-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-α′- bromoadipate derivative 3a-d was generated and reacted with sodium azide followed by Pd/C-catalyzed hydrogenation to provide lactams 5a-d. The chemoselective reduction of the amide carbonyl group of 5a-d with BH₃ followed by acid hydrolysis provided 5-(4,5-substituted-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl) pipecolic acids in racemic form.     

Chiral cyclopentadienyl ruthenium(II) complexes with P,P-ligands derived from (1R,2R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane: Synthesis,crystal structures and catalytic activity in Diels–Alder reactions

Chiral cyclopentadienyl ruthenium(II) complexes [CpRu(L1–L3)Cl] (5–7) have been prepared by reaction of [CpRu(PPh₃)₂Cl] with chiral P,P-ligands (1R,2R)-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphinamino)cyclohexane (L1), N,N′-[bis-(3,3′-bis-tert-butyl-5,5′-bis-methoxy-1,1′-biphenyl-2,2′-diyl)phosphite]-(1R,2R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (L2) and N,N′-[bis-(R)-1,1′-binaphtyl-2,2′-diyl)phosphite]-(1R,2R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (L3). The molecular structures of 5 and 6 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Studies on catalytic activity of the cations derived from (5–7) by treatment with AgSbF₆, are also reported.     

Synthesis and X-ray structures of new chiral Ag(I) complexes with biaryl-based N4-donor ligands

Condensation of (R)-2,2′-diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl or (R)-6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl-2,2′-diamine with 2 equiv of 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde in toluene in the presence of molecular sieves at 70 °C gives (R)-N,N′-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diimine (1), and (R)-N,N′-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)-6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl-2,2′-diimine (3), respectively, in good yields. Reduction of 1 with an excess of NaBH₄ in a solvent mixture of MeOH and toluene (1:1) at 50 °C gives (R)-N,N′-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine (2) in 95% yield. Rigidity plays an important role in the formation of helicate silver(I) complexes. Treatment of 1, or 3 with 1 equiv of AgNO₃ in mixed solvents of MeOH and CH₂Cl₂ (1:4) gives the chiral, dinuclear double helicate Ag(I) complexes [Ag₂(1)₂][NO₃]₂ (4) and [Ag₂(3)₂][NO₃]₂ · 2H₂O (6), respectively, in good yields. While under the similar reaction conditions, reaction of 2 with 1 equiv of AgNO₃ affords the chiral, mononuclear single helicate Ag(I) complex [Ag(2)][NO₃] (5) in 90% yield. [Ag₂(1)₂][NO₃]₂ (4) can further react with excess AgNO₃ to give [Ag₂(1)₂]₃[NO₃]₂[Ag(CH₃OH)(NO₃)₃]₂ · 2CH₃OH (7) in 75% yield. All compounds have been fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and elemental analyses. Compounds 1 and 5-7 have been further subjected to single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.     

Acid-catalyzed rearrangement of α-hydroxytrialkylsilanes

Cationic rearrangement of several α-hydroxysilanes is described. Treatment of both (1R,1′R,2′S)-α-hydroxycyclopropylsilane syn-9 and (1S,1′R,2′S)-anti-9 under aqueous H₂SO₄ underwent rearrangement via a common α-silyl cation intermediate A to give a mixture of the ring-opened (R)-vinylsilane 13, the tandem [1,2]-CC bond migration product (1R,2S,1′R)-14, and its 1′S isomer 15. On the other hand, the acidic treatment of (R,E)-α-hydroxyalkenylsilane 8 or (R,Z)-8 was each accompanied with partial racemization to give an enantiomeric isomer of allylic alcohol 23 via a preferential syn-facial S_N2′ reaction, respectively. Both α-hydroxyalkynylsilane 6 and α-hydroxyalkylsilane 12 were inert to the acidic conditions; however, treatment of (R)-α-mesyloxyalkynylsilane 26 under aqueous H₂SO₄ gave a mixture of the optically active rearranged allene 27, α,β-unsaturated ketone 28, and (S)-α-hydroxyalkynylsilane 6 with partial racemization. Comparisons of the reactivities of these α-hydroxysilanes under acidic conditions are also disclosed.     

Montamine, a unique dimeric indole alkaloid, from the seeds of Centaurea montana (Asteraceae), and its in vitro cytotoxic activity against the CaCo2 colon cancer cells

Reversed-phase HPLC analysis of the methanol extract of the seeds of Centaurea montana afforded a flavanone, montanoside (4), six epoxylignans, berchemol (7), berchemol 4′-O-β-d-glucoside (5), pinoresinol (10), pinoresinol 4-O-β-d-glucoside (8), pinoresinol 4,4′-di-O-β-d-glucoside (6), pinoresinol 4-O-apiose-(1→2)-β-d-glucoside (9), two quinic acid derivatives, trans-3-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid (1), cis-3-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid (2), and eight indole alkaloids, tryptamine (3), N-(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)-5-hydroxytryptamine (11), cis-N-(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)-5-hydroxytryptamine (12), centcyamine (16), cis-centcyamine (17), moschamine (13), cis-moschamine (14) and a dimeric indole alkaloid, montamine (15). While the structures of two new compounds, montanoside (4) and montamine (15), were established unequivocally by UV, IR, MS and a series of 1D and 2D NMR analyses, all known compounds were identified by comparison of their spectroscopic data with literature data. The antioxidant properties of these compounds were assessed by the DPPH assay, and their toxicity towards brine shrimps and cytotoxicity against CaCo-2 colon cancer cells were evaluated by the brine shrimp lethality and the MTT cytotoxicity assays, respectively. The novel dimer, montamine (15), showed significant in vitro anticolon cancer activity (IC₅₀=43.9 μM) while that of the monomer, moschamine (13), was of a moderate level (IC₅₀=81.0 μM).     

Unusual formation of β-carboline dimers under Bischler-Napieralski reaction conditions: an old reaction with a new direction

l-N-Formyl tryptophan methyl ester (3) underwent a Bischler-Napieralski reaction with POCl₃ at room temperature or under microwave irradiation, resulting in the unusual formation of β-carboline dimers 5 and 6. Most importantly, acetylation using Ac₂O of each of the dimers 5 and 6 separately afforded 1-[3′-carbomethoxy-β-carbolinyl]-3-carbomethoxy-9-acetyl-β-carboline (7) as the only product, the structure of which was confirmed by X-ray crystallography studies.     

Reaction of ferrocenecarboxylic acid with N,N-disubstituted carbodiimides: synthesis, spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analysis of N,N-disubstituted N-ferrocenoylureas and identification of a one-pot coupling reagent for the formation of ferrocenecarboxamides in a non-aqueous solvent

N,N^′-dicyclohexyl-N-ferrocenoylurea 2, N,N^′-diisopropyl-N-ferrocenoylurea 3, N,N^′-di-p-tolyl-N-ferrocenoylurea 4 and N,N^′-di-tert-butyl-N-ferrocenoylurea 5 were obtained by reaction of ferrocenecarboxylic acid 1 with N,N^′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), N,N^′-diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC), N,N^′-di-p-tolylcarbodiimide 10 and N,N^′-di-tert-butylcarbodiimide 11, respectively. Both N-tert-butyl-N^′-ethyl-N-ferrocenoylurea 6 and N^′-tert-butyl-N-ethyl-N-ferrocenoylurea 7 were obtained by reaction of 1 with N-tert-butyl-N^′-ethylcarbodiimide 12. In all cases a small amount of ferrocenecarboxylic anhydride 8 was formed as a by-product. All compounds were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR and MS. Single crystal X-ray structural analyses were made of 2, 3 and 4. From the consistent results, the reaction products of 1 with carbodiimides appear different from those proposed by some earlier workers. With N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N^′-ethylcarbodiimidehydrochloride 9 ferrocenoylurea was not isolated, but the main product was rather 8. The suitability of 8 as acylation reagent was applied by using 9 to obtain N-(3-triethoxysilyl)-propylferrocenecarboxamide in a one-pot reaction from 1 and 3-(triethoxysilyl)-propylamine.     

Synthesis and characterisation of six Fe(II or III), Co(II) or Zr(IV) complexes containing the ligand [CH(SiMe2R)P(Ph)2NSiMe3] (R = Me, NEt2) and of [Co{N(SiMe3)C(Ph)C(H)P(Ph)2NSiMe3}2]

The C,N-(trimethylsilyliminodiphenylphosphoranyl)silylmethylmetal complexes [Fe(L)₂] (3), [Co(L)₂] (4), [ZrCl₃(L)]·0.83CH₂Cl₂ (5), [Fe(L)₃] (6), [Fe(L′)₂] (7) and [Co(L′)₂] (8) have been prepared from the lithium compound Li[CH(SiMe₂R)P(Ph)₂NSiMe₃] [1a, (R = Me) {≡ Li(L)}; 1b, (R = NEt₂) {≡ Li(L′)}] and the appropriate metal chloride (or for 7, FeCl₃). From Li[N(SiMe₃)C(Ph)C(H)P(Ph)₂NSiMe₃] [≡ Li(L″)] (2), prepared in situ from Li(L) (1a) and PhCN, and CoCl₂ there was obtained bis(3-trimethylsilylimino- diphenylphosphoranyl-2-phenyl-N-trimethylsilyl-1-azaallyl-N,N′)cobalt(II) (9). These crystalline complexes 3-9 were characterised by their mass spectra, microanalyses, high spin magnetic moments (not 5) and for 5 multinuclear NMR solution spectra. The X-ray structure of 3 showed it to be a pseudotetrahedral bis(chelate), the iron atom at the spiro junction.     

Synthesis of novel multidentate carbohydrate-triazole ligands

Cu(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (click reaction) of 1 mol equiv of N,N′-di-prop-2-ynyl-phthalamide (1a), N,N′-di-prop-2-ynyl-isophthalamide (1b), and pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid bis-prop-2-ynylamide (1c), respectively with 2 mol equiv of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl azide (2a), 2-azidoethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (2b), and 2-azidoethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-mannopyranoside (2c), respectively, afforded the corresponding bis-cycloadducts 3-5, containing two 1,2,3-triazole moieties each, in 38-76% yield. Reaction of 1 mol equiv of 2c with 1 mol equiv of 1c under otherwise identical conditions gave the mono-cycloadduct 6, containing one 1,2,3-triazole and one 2-propynylamide moiety, in 77% yield. Reaction of 6 with 2a afforded 7, containing two different sugar moieties, in 67% yield.     

N-Nosyl as a stereoselectivity-improving and easily removable group in the O-glycosylation of d-allal and d-galactal-derived allyl aziridines. Stereospecific synthesis of 4-amino-2,3-unsaturated-O-glycosides

The glycosylation of alcohols, phenol, and partially protected monosaccharides with the diastereoisomeric d-allal and d-galactal-derived N-nosyl aziridines 2α and 2β leads to the corresponding 4-N-(nosylamino)-2,3-unsaturated-α-O- (6α) and β-O-glycosides and disaccharides (6β), respectively, in a stereospecific substrate-dependent O-glycosylation process. The N-(nosylamino) group of 6α and 6β can easily be deprotected to give the corresponding 4-amino-2,3-unsaturated-O-glycosides 7α and 7β, with an increased value to our glycosylation protocol.     

From N,N-diphenyl-N-naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl-amine to propeller-shaped N,N,N-tri(naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl)-amine: syntheses and structures

Three unique propeller-shaped helicenyl amines compounds: N,N-diphenyl-N-naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl-amine (1), N-phenyl-N,N-di(naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl)amine (2), and N,N,N-tri(naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl)amine (3) were efficiently synthesized by Wittig reaction and oxidative photocyclization. The crystal structures of 1, 2 and molecular configuration optimization (DFT-B3LYP/6-31+G(d)) of 3 reveal that the steric hindrance from the moiety of trithia[5]helicene effectively forces the nitrogen atom and the three bonded carbon atoms to coplanar and the interplanar angles of the facing terminal thiophene ring and benzene ring becoming larger when the helical arm increased from 1 to 3. Electrochemical properties and UV–vis absorption behaviors of 1, 2, 3 were primarily determined by the moiety of trithia[5]helicene.     

Reactivity of 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine with [Re2(CO)8(CH3CN)2]: Molecular structures of [Re2(CO)8(C14H10N4)] and [Re2(CO)8(C14H10N4)Re2(CO)8]

The reaction of the labile compound [Re₂(CO)₈(CH₃CN)₂] with 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine in dichloromethane solution at reflux temperature afforded the structural dirhenium isomers [Re₂(CO)₈(C₁₄H₁₀N₄)] (1 and 2), and the complex [Re₂(CO)₈(C₁₄H₁₀N₄)Re₂(CO)₈] (3). In 1, the ligand is σ,σ′-N,N′-coordinated to a Re(CO)₃ fragment through pyridine and pyrazine to form a five-membered chelate ring. A seven-membered ring is obtained for isomer 2 by N-coordination of the 2-pyridyl groups while the pyrazine ring remains uncoordinated. For 2, isomers 2a and 2b are found in a dynamic equilibrium ratio [2a]/[2b]  =  7 in solution, detected by ¹H NMR (−50 °C, CD₃COCD₃), coalescence being observed above room temperature. The ligand in 3 behaves as an 8e-donor bridge bonding two Re(CO)₃ fragments through two (σ,σ′-N,N′) interactions. When the reaction was carried out in refluxing tetrahydrofuran, complex [Re₂(CO)₆(C₁₄H₁₀N₄)₂] (4) was obtained in addition to compounds 1-3. The dinuclear rhenium derivative 4 contains two units of the organic ligand σ,σ′-N,N′-coordinated in a chelate form to each rhenium core. The X-ray crystal structures for 1 and 3 are reported.     

Structural diversity in Cu(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) coordination complexes with the rigid N,N′-bis(2/3-aryl)-1,4-benzenedicarboxamide ligand

The syntheses and structures of a series of metal complexes, namely Cu₂Cl₄(L¹)(DMSO)₂·2DMSO (L¹ = N,N′-bis(2-pyridinyl)-1,4-benzenedicarboxamide), 1; {[Cu(L²)_1.5(DMF)₂][ClO₄]₂·3DMF}_∞ (L² = N,N′-bis(3-pyridinyl)-1,4-benzenedicarboxamide), 2; {[Cd(NO₃)₂(L³)]·2DMF}_∞ (L³ = N,N′-bis-(2-pyrimidinyl)-1,4-benzenedicarboxamide), 3; {[HgBr₂(L³)]·H₂O}_∞, 4, and {[Na(L³)₂][Hg₂X₅]·2DMF}_∞ (X = Br, 5; I, 6) are reported. All the complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 is dinuclear and the molecules are interlinked through S?S interactions. In 2, the Cu(II) ions are linked through the L² ligands to form 1-D ladder-like chains with 60-membered metallocycles, whereas complexes 3 and 4 form 1-D zigzag chains. In complexes 5 and 6, the Na(I) ions are linked by the L³ ligands to form 2-D layer structures in which the [Hg₂X₅]⁻ anions are in the cavities. The L² ligand acts only as a bridging ligand, while L¹ and L³ show both chelating and bridging bonding modes. The L¹ ligand in 1 adopts a trans-anti conformation and the L² ligand in 2 adopts both the cis-syn and trans-anti conformations, whereas the L³ ligands in 3–6 adopt the trans conformation.     

Synthesis of novel 4′-C-methyl-1′,3′-dioxolane pyrimidine nucleosides and evaluation of its anti-HIV-1 activity

The key glycosyl donor for the target molecule 12 was prepared by two-step sequences; (1) acetalization of tert-butyldimethylsilyloxyacetaldehyde with 3-bromopropanediol, (2) DBN-initiated β-elimination of the resulting 2-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)methyl-4-bromomethyl-1,3-dioxolane 11. Electrophilic glycosidation between 12 and silylated pyrimidine nucleobase proceeded efficiently to provide a mixture of β- and α-anomers of the respective glycosides 14 and 15. Tin radical-mediated reduction of the bromomethyl functional group of 14 and 15 gave protected 4′-C-methyl-dioxorane uracil- 16 and thymine nucleoside 17. The respective cytosine nucleoside 18 was synthesized from 16. De-silylation of 4′-methyl-1′,3′-dioxolane pyrimidine nucleosides 16–18 gave the target molecules. Evaluation of the anti-HIV-1 activity of the β- and α-anomers of the novel 4′-C-methyl-1′,3′-dioxolane nucleosides 22β,α–24β,α revealed that none of the nucleoside derivatives possess anti-viral activity against HIV-1 and show cytotoxicity against MT-4 cells at 100 μM.     

A simple synthesis of 4-(2-aminoethyl)-5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazoles

A simple four-step synthesis of 4-(2-aminoethyl)-5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazoles 8 (or their 1H-pyrazol-3(2H)-one tautomers 8′) as the pyrazole analogues of histamine was developed. First, enamino lactam 3 was prepared as the key intermediate in two steps from 2-pyrrolidinone (1). Next, acid-catalysed ‘ring switching’ transformations of 3 with monosubstituted hydrazines 4 gave N-[(1-substituted 5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)ethyl]benzamides 7a-k and N-[2-(2-heteroaryl-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)ethyl]benzamides 7′l-o. Benzamides 7a-k and 7′l-o were finally hydrolysed by heating in 6 M hydrochloric acid to furnish 1-substituted 4-(2-aminoethyl)-5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazoles 8a-k and 4-(2-aminoethyl)-2-heteroaryl-1H-pyrazol-3(2H)-ones 8′l-o in good overall yields.     

Preparation and structures of 6- and 7-coordinate salen-type zirconium complexes and their catalytic properties for oligomerization of ethylene

A series of salen-type zirconium complexes of the general formula LZrCl₂ (L = N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminate), 3a; N,N′-ethylenebis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneiminate), 3b; N,N′-ethylenebis(5-methoxysalicylideneiminate), 3c; N,N′-ethylenebis(5-chlorosalicylideneiminate), 3d; N,N′-ethylenebis(5-nitrosalicylideneiminate), 3e; N,N′-o-phenylenebis(salicylideneiminate), 4a; N,N′-o-phenylenebis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneiminate), 4b; N,N′-o-phenylenebis(5-methoxysalicylideneiminate), 4c; N,N′-o-phenylenebis(5-chloro-salicylideneiminate), 4d) were prepared. The crystal structures of 6- and 7-coordinate zirconium complexes 4b and [4b · OCMe₂] were determined by X-ray crystallography, which reveals that a salen-type zirconium complex possesses a labile coordination site on the Zr center with a relatively stable framework and that the coordination and the dissociation of O-donor molecules occur readily at this site. The catalytic properties of 3(a-e) and 4(a-d) were studied for ethylene oligomerization in combination with Et₂AlCl as co-catalyst. Complex 3c featuring a methoxy-substituted salen ligand displayed higher activity than its analogous precursors having chloro and nitro groups as substituents. The catalytic reactions by 3(a-e) and 4(a-d) gave C₄-C₁₀ olefins and low-carbon linear α-olefins in good selectivity.