Spontaneous Alternating Copolymerization via Zwitterion Intermediates

This article describes a new concept of copolymerization which occurs spontaneously without any added catalyst. A nucleophilic monomer (M_N) combines with an electrophilic one (M_E) to generate a zwitterion ^[+]M_N—M, which is responsible for the initiation and propagation of copolymerization. Twenty-three novel copolymerizations have been explored on the basis of the new concept. M_N monomers which have been investigated are five- and six-membered cyclic imino ethers, dihydro-2(3H)-furanimine, an azetidine, a cyclic phosphinic acid ester and a Schiff base; the M_E monomers include β-propiolactone, a cyclic dicarboxylic acid anhydride, a sultone, acrylic acid, acrylamide, a β-hydroxyalkyl acrylate and ethylenesulfonamide. In most combinations, alternating 1 : 1 copolymers were produced. In addition to the above-mentioned combinations, the alternating 1 : 1 copolymerization of cyclic phosphite with α-keto acid was discovered.     

Synthesis of 3-Aminopyrocatechol via Lithiated Intermediates

We report the synthesis of 3-aminopyrocatechol (7) through electrophilic amination of lithiated pyrocatechol, protected in the form of a ketal. For this purpose the lithiation reaction of protected pyrocatechol (1) was studied. The synthesis of compounds (3) was achieved by the reaction of organolithium derivative (2) and a series of electrophilic reagents. Lithium-t-butyl-N-tosyloxycarbamate (5) was used as the electrophilic aminating reagent. With the cupro derivative (4) the protecting groups in compound (6) are removed in an acid medium by heating in ethanol-HCl solution (4:1).     

Synthesis of 1,3,6,8-Tetrabromophenanthrene via a Stoichiometric Ullmann Reaction

1,3,6,8-Tetrabromophenantherene (1) is prepared in four steps from 2,4,6-tribromobenzoic acid (4) in an overall yield of 12%. The key transformation used in the synthesis is a stoichiomteric Ullmann reaction.     

Acid-Catalyzed Cyclodimerizations via Vinyl Cations as Intermediates

The electrophilic addition of hydrogen chloride and bromide to allene and of hydrogen bromide to methylacetylene at ?70 °C leads not only to the simple Markownikoff adducts but also to cis- and trans-1,3-dihalo-1,3-dimethylcyclobutanes. These cyclodimerizations, which evidently proceed via vinyl cations, have opened up new short routes for the synthesis of cyclobutane-, cyclobutene-, and bicyclobutane derivatives starting from substrates that are industrially readily accessible.     

Substitution Reactions Which Proceed via Radical Anion Intermediates

A new type of substition process at a saturated carbon atom is described. These reactions, which proceed via a chain sequence in which radical anions and free radicals are intermediates, are noteworthy for providing novel and powerful means of synthesis: they occur readily under mild conditions, they give excellent yields of pure products, and, in contrast to S_N2 displacements, they are rather insensitive to steric hindrance. As a consequence, radical anion processes are especially valuable for the preparation of highly branched structures. Many inorganic and organic anions readily enter into these displacements and, indeed, amines are also effective. Systems which undergo substitutions via this electron transfer mechanism include benzylic, cumylic, strictly aliphatic, and heterocyclic molecules. It is of interest that a number of groups which do not behave as leaving groups in S_N2 displacements are readily displaced at room temperature from a satureted carbon atom via the radical anion-free radical pathway, e.g., nitro, azide, sulfone, and ether groups.     

Monobenzylation Of 1,n-Diols via Dibutylstannylene Intermediates

Symmetrical primary l,n-diols, HO(CH_2)nOH, of any chain length from n = 2-10, can be selectively monobenzylated via sequential treatment with dibutyltin oxide and benzyl bromide.     

Azirine/Oxindole Ring Enlargement via Amidinium Intermediates

A novel general method for the synthesis of oxindoles, namely the ‘azirine/oxindole ring enlargement via amidinium‐intermediates’ has been established: the reaction of 2H‐azirin‐3‐amines 1 with BF₃?OEt₂ in THF solution at ?78° leads to 1,3,3‐trialkyl‐2‐amino‐3H‐indolium tetrafluoroborates 14 in good yields (Scheme 5). Treatment of aqueous solutions of 14 at 0° with aqueous NaOH (30%) and extraction with CH₂Cl₂ gives oily substances that are either hydrates of 1,3,3‐trialkyl‐2‐dihydroindol‐2‐imines 15 or the corresponding indolium hydroxides. These products are transformed to the corresponding 1,3,3‐trialkyl‐2,3‐dihydroindol‐2‐ones 17 in modest yields upon refluxing in H₂O/THF. Reaction of 14 with Ac₂O in pyridine at ca. 23° for 16 h followed by aqueous workup and chromatographic separation leads to mixtures of N‐(1,3,3‐trialkyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐indol‐2‐yliden)acetamides 16 and oxindoles 17 (Scheme 6). Hydrolysis of 16 with aqueous HCl under reflux for 1–2 h gives oxindoles 17 in a good yield. Several oxindoles, spiro‐oxindoles, and 5‐substituted oxindoles were synthesized by means of the reactions mentioned above.     

Synthesis of 2,3‐Disubstituted Quinolines via Ketenimine or Carbodiimide Intermediates

Cyclopenta[b]quinolines and cyclohexa[b]quinolines were prepared via the reactions of α‐diazo ketones with N‐(2‐cyclopropylidenemethylphenyl)phosphanimines and N‐(2‐cyclobutylidenemethylphenyl) phosphanimine, respectively. The reaction proceeds in a cascade involving ketenimine formation, 6 π‐electron ring closure, and 1,3‐alkyl shift. A similar approach was developed for the synthesis of dihydropyrrolo‐[2,3‐b]quinolines from N‐(2‐cyclopropylidenemethylphenyl)phosphanimines and isocyanates.     

Synthesis of Mono N-Substituted Guanylthioureas

A convenient method for the synthesis of mono N-substituted guanylthioureas in reasonable yields from readily available starting materials has been developed. In contrast to the previously published method, the use of highly noxious hydrogen sulfide is avoided. The method allows the rapid preparation of guanylthioureas since the synthesis of each requires only a single step from a common intermediate, the S-methylated derivative of dithiobiuret.     

Potentiometric Titrations and Nickel(II) Complexes of Four Topologically Constrained Tetraazamacrocycles

Abstract

The novel high spin Ni²⁺ complexes of the topologically constrained tetraazamacrocycles (1–4) [4,11-dimethyl-1,4,8,11 - tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane (1); 4,10-dimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazabicyclo[6.5.2]pentadecane (2); 4,10-dimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazabicyclo[5.5.2]tetradecane (3); racemic-4,5,7,7,11,12,14,14-octamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane (4)] show striking properties. Potentiometric titrations of the ligands 2 and 4 revealed them to be proton sponges, as reported earlier for 1 [1]. Ligand 3 is less basic, losing its last proton with a pK = 11.3(2). Despite high proton affinities, complexation reactions in the absence of protons successfully yielded Ni²⁺ complexes in all cases. The X-ray crystal structures of Ni(1)(acac)⁺, Ni(3)(acac)⁺ and Ni(1)(OH₂)₂ ²⁺ demonstrate that the ligands enforce a distorted octahedral geometry on Ni²⁺ with two cis sites occupied by other ligands. Magnetic measurements and electronic spectroscopy on the corresponding Ni(L)Cl₂ (L = 1–3) complexes reveal that all are high spin and six-coordinate with typical magnetic moments. In contrast, [Ni(4)Cl⁺] is five-coordinate with a slightly higher magnetic moment and its own characteristic electronic spectrum. The extra methyl groups on ligand 4 define a shallow cavity, sterically allowing only one chloride ligand to bind to the nickel(II) ion.     

Method for Estimating Efficiency Factors for Complex Reactions: I. Reactions Occurring via Several Stoichiometric Equations

The method for estimating the efficiency factors proposed by Temkin for a multicomponent reaction described by a single stoichiometric equation is extended to reactions described by several stoichiometric equations. The proposed approach makes it possible to find the efficiency factors of key substances by solving a set of nonlinear equations. The capabilities of the method are illustrated using the reaction of steam reforming of methane as an example.     

Stoichiometric coefficients as chemical charges

Thermodynamic charge is one of the central concepts in the thermokinetic theory of physico-chemical processes. This paper demonstrates that stoichiometric coefficients play the role of charges in elementary chemical reactions.

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Divalent Silicon Intermediates

Like carbenes, silylenes are assumed to occur as intermediates in many reactions. A detailed account of the reactivity of the silylenes is given and the reductive and thermolytic methods used for their preparation are discussed. Insertion and interception reactions emphasize the formal relationship between these species and the carbenes. Silacyclopropenes and silacyclopropanes have not, as yet, been isolated.