Oxidation of natural targets by dioxiranes. Part 6: on the direct regio- and site-selective oxyfunctionalization of estrone and of 5α-androstane steroid derivatives

Using methyl(trifluoromethyl)dioxirane (1b), 3β,6α,17β-triacetoxy-5α-androstane (6) could be selectively transformed into its C-14 hydroxy derivative (7) and into the valuable C-12 ketone steroid (8), in high yields under mild reaction conditions. Similarly, the oxidation of 3α-estrone acetate (4) with 1b was carried out to yield selectively the steroid C-9 hydroxy derivative (5). The high regio- and site-selectivity attained demonstrates that the powerful dioxirane 1b is the reagent of choice to synthesize valuable oxyfunctionalized steroid derivatives.     

Oxidation of unsaturated steroid ketones with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by Fe(bpmen)(OTf)2. New methodology to access biologically active steroids by chemo-, and stereoselective processes

In this paper we describe a new environmentally friendly method to promote the oxidation of steroids. The chemo- and stereoselective aspects of the oxidation of conjugated enones, dienones, further unsaturated enones, estrone, and cholestane acetates were under study.The great facial stereoselectivity of the method has been shown on substrates 12, 14, and 18 improving some of the updated reported procedures in the literature. Reaction with substrate 16 displays the competition between the C4-C5 and the C9-C11 double bonds. The steric hindrance around C ring activates the C-H hydroxylation at the allylic position on C-12 by formation of the allylic alcohol 17c.The C-H activation at C-5 was proven to succeed on the oxidation reaction of androstane 26 by formation of the tertiary alcohol 27.     

Hydrothermal syntheses, crystal structures and properties of 0-D, 1-D and 2-D organic-inorganic hybrid borotungstates constructed from Keggin-type heteropolyanion [α-BW12O40] and transition-metal complexes

Three novel organic-inorganic hybrid borotungstates {[Ni(phen)₂(H₂O)]₂H(α-BW₁₂O₄₀)}·4H₂O (1), [Cu^I(2,2'-bipy)(4,4′-bipy)_0.5]₂{[Cu^I(2,2′-bipy)]₂Cu^I(4,4′-bipy)₂(α-BW₁₂O₄₀)} (2) and {[Cu^I(4,4′-bipy)]₃H₂(α-BW₁₂O₄₀)}·3.5H₂O (3) (phen=1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2′-bipy=2,2′-bipyridine, 4,4′-bipy=4,4′-bipyridine) have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV spectra, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), single-crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence. The structural analysis reveals that 1 consists of a 0-D bisupporting polyoxometalate cluster where two [Ni(phen)₂(H₂O)]²⁺ cations are grafted on the polyoxoanion [α-BW₁₂O₄₀]^5- through two terminal oxygen atoms, 2 shows a 1-D infinite chain constructed from [α-BW₁₂O₄₀]^5- polyoxoanions and {[Cu^I(2,2′-bipy)]₂Cu^I(4,4′-bipy)₂}³⁺ cations by means of alternating fashion, and 3 displays an unprecedented 2D extended structure built by [α-BW₁₂O₄₀]^5- polyoxoanions and -Cu^I-4,4′-bipy- linear chains, in which each [α-BW₁₂O₄₀]^5- polyoxoanion acts as a tetradentate inorganic ligand and provides three terminal oxygen atom and one two-bridging oxygen atom. The presence of Ni^II and W^VI in 1, Cu^I ions and W^VI in 2 and 3 are identified by XPS spectra. The photoluminescence of 2 and 3 are also investigated.     

Autoxidation of isotachysterol

Isotachysterol, the acid-catalyzed isomerization product of vitamin D₃, produces seven previously unknown oxygenation products in a self-initiated autoxidation reaction under atmospheric oxygen in the dark at ambient temperature. They are (5R)-5,10-epoxy-9,10-secocholesta-6,8(14)-dien-3β-ol (6a), (5S)-5,10-epoxy-9,10-secocholesta-6,8(14)-dien-3β-ol (6b), (10R)-9,10-secocholesta-5,7,14-trien-3β,10-diol (7a), (10S)-9,10-secocholesta-5,7,14-trien-3β,10-diol (7b), (7R,10R)-7,10-epoxy-9,10-secocholesta-5,8(14)-dien-3β-ol (8), 5,10-epidioxyisotachysterol (9) and 3,10-epoxy-5-oxo-5,10-seco-9,10-secocholesta-6,8(14)-dien-10-ol (10). The formation of these products is explained in terms of free radical peroxidation chemistry.     

Syntheses and structures of molybdenum and tungsten pentabenzylcyclopentadienyl complexes: new chlorination reactions

[M(CpBz)(CO)₃CH₃] (M=Mo, 2a, W, 2b; CpBz=C₅(CH₂Ph)₅) have been prepared and reacted with PCl₅ and PhI · Cl₂. Depending on the metal and on the chlorinating reagent used [Mo(CpBz)(η²-COCH₃)Cl₃], 3, [W(CpBz)Cl₄], 4, [Mo(CpBz)(CO)₃Cl], 5 and [Mo(CpBz)Cl₄], 6 have been obtained. The molecular structures of all compounds are reported and two conformations have been characterised for the benzyl substituents. In complexes 2a, 2b and 5 one phenyl ring bends towards the metals while in 3 and 4 the five phenyls point opposite to the metals.     

A “sodium trap” based on benzo-15-crown-5 with an exocyclic N-(thiophosphoryl)thiourea moiety

For N-(thio)phosphorylthioureas of the common formula RC(S)NHP(X)(OiPr)₂HL^I (R = N-(4′-aminobenzo-15-crown-5), X = S), HL^II (R = N-(4′-aminobenzo-15-crown-5), X = O), HL^III (R = PhNH, X = S), HL^IV (R = PhNH, X = O), and (N,N′-bis-[C(S)NHP(S)(OiPr)₂]₂-1,10-diaza-18-crown-6) H₂L^V, salts LiL^I,III,IV, NaL^I–IV, KL^I–IVM₂L^V (M = Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺), Ba(L^I,III,IV)₂, and BaL^V have been synthesized and investigated. Compounds NaL^I,II quantitatively drop out as a deposit in ethanol medium, allowing the separation of Na⁺ and K⁺ cations. This effect is not displayed for the other compounds. The crystal structures of HL^III and the solvate of the composition [K(Me₂CO)L^III] have been investigated by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of new polysubstituted (pyrazoles, pyrimidines and quinolines) five and six-membered heterocycles: reaction of α,α-dioxoketene dithioacetals with nucleophiles

A novel synthesis of polysubstituted pyrazoles 3a-d, pyrimidines 4a-f and quinolines 5a-c via the reaction of α,α-oxoketene dithioacetals 2a-c with hydrazine hydrate, malonohydrazide, urea, thiourea and aniline is reported and the synthetic potential of the method is demonstrated. The structure of the new compounds was established upon their elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR.     

(Cyclopentadienyl)chromiumtricarbonyl dimers as a source of metal-centered free-radicals to form stable η-bonded spin-adducts with fullerenes

Spin-adducts (I, IIb-c) of C₆₀ and C₇₀ with metal-centered free radicals CpCr(CO)₃ (I, IIa) have been generated in toluene via interaction between fullerenes and the weakly metal-metal bonded dimeric complexes [CpCr(CO)₃]₂ (Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅ (I); Cp = η⁵-C₅Me₅ (II)). Their structures have been investigated using ESR spectroscopy and DFT-PBE calculations and η²-bonding to the CC bond between two hexagons in C₆₀ has been established. Calculations have been extended to investigate the nature of the intermediate η²-coordinated toluene chromium complexes (I, IId).     

Synthesis of long-chained oligo-α-aminopyridines by tandem Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling aminations and their helical dinuclear complexes

Three novel multidentate long-chained oligo-α-aminopyridine ligands, nonapyridyloctaamine (1, npoa), decapyridylnonaamine (2, dpna), and undecapyridyldecaamine (3, upda) were synthesized successfully by tandem Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling aminations. The helical structures of protonated ligand npoa {4, [H₄·npoa](SO₃CF₃)₄} and the related dinuclear complexes 5-10 were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffractions.     

Synthetic application of fluorinated vinamidinium salts: Synthesis of fluorinated 1,3-butadienylphosphonates by the reaction with Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reagents

The reaction of β-fluoro vinamidinium salt 1 with Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reagents (HWE) such as diethyl(ethoxycarbonyl)methylphosphonate (2a), diethyl(methoxycarbonyl)methylphosphonate (2b), diethyl-2-oxopropylphosphonate (2c), diethyl benzylphosphonate (2d), tetraethyl methylenediphosphonate (2e) and diethyl cyanomethylphosphonate (2f) under basic conditions gave the fluorinated 1,3-butadienylphosphonates 3 in moderate to good yields. The phosphonates 3 could be hydrolyzed with a 10% HCl aqueous solution to afford the corresponding γ-(diethylphosphono)-α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes 7 in good yields. The treatment of the phosphonate 3c with an NH₃ aqueous solution at 70 °C produced the pyridine derivative 8 in 60% yield.     

Chiral organotin (IV) carboxylates complexes: Syntheses, characterization, and crystal structures with chiral (S)-(+)-6-methoxy-α-methyl-2-naphthaleneaceto acid ligand

Eight new organotin (IV) carboxylates, (R₃Sn)₄(nap)₄ (R = Me 1, n-Bu 2), [(R₃Sn) (nap)]_n (R = Ph 3, PhCH₂4), (R₂Sn) (nap)₂ (R = n-Bu 5, Ph 6, PhCH₂7) and {[R₂Sn(nap)]₂O}₂ (R = Me 8) (nap = (S)-(+)-6-methoxy-α-methyl-2-naphthaleneaceto anion) have been synthesized. All of the complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) spectra. Among these complexes, complexes 1, 3, 5 and 8 were also characterized by X-ray crystallography diffraction analysis, and the data of X-ray crystallography diffraction indicated that complexes 1, 3 and 5 are new chiral organotin (IV) carboxylates complexes. The structural analyses show that complex 1 has a tetranuclear Sn₄O₈ macrocycle structure, complex 3 has a 1D spring-like chiral helical chain with a columnar channel, complex 5 possesses a dimer structure, and complex 8 has a supramolecular chainlike ladder structure through weak intermolecular non-covalent O^…O interactions.     

The synthesis of facial amphiphile 3α,7α-diaminocholestane

The facial amphiphile 3α,7α-diaminocholestane 3 was synthesized from 3β-acetoxy-7-ketocholestane 1 through a stepwise reductive amination. The reductive amination of 1 with NH₄OAc in the presence of NaBH₃CN, and protection with Boc₂O yielded 7α-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-aminocholestane 4 in 86% yield. The reductive amination of 6, which was obtained from 4 after hydrolysis and subsequent oxidation, with NH₄OT_f in the presence of NaBH(OEh)₃ provided 3 in 75% yield after protection with Boc₂O.     

Mg-promoted facile and selective intramolecular cyclization of aromatic δ-ketoesters

Treatment of various types of aromatic δ-ketoesters 2, 7, and 9 with Mg-turnings for Grignard reaction at −5 to 0 °C in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) containing trimethylsilyl chloride (TMSCl) brought about selective and reductive intramolecular cyclization to give the corresponding α-aryl-α-hydroxycyclopentanones 5, 8, and 10, respectively, in moderate to good yields. Similar reductive intramolecular cyclization of aromatic δ-ketodiesters 14, followed by acidic hydrolysis and decarboxylation easily gave the corresponding 2-aryl-2-cyclopenten-1-ones 15. The present facile coupling may be initiated through electron transfer from Mg metal to the aromatic carbonyl groups of 2, 7, 9, and 14 to generate the corresponding radical anions, followed by their intramolecular nucleophilic attack to the ester groups to give the corresponding five-membered ring compounds 5, 8, 10, and 15, respectively.     

Synthesis of bulky tris[(dimethyl(alkyl/aryl)silyl)methyl]stannanes as radical based reducing agents

The synthesis of novel bulky tris[dimethyl(ethyl/benzyl/p-tolyl/α-naphthyl)silylmethyl]stannanes (1-4) is described. Alkylation of SnCl₄ with Me₂(ethyl/p-tolyl)SiCH₂MgBr (10-11) gave mainly the triorganotin chlorides [(Me₂(ethyl/p-tolyl)SiCH₂)]₃SnCl 14 and 15, which were isolated by silica gel chromatography. Reduction of 14 and 15 with LiAlH₄ in THF gave the corresponding triorganotin hydrides 1 and 2, respectively. [Me₂(benzyl/α-naphthyl)SiCH₂]₃SnCl 16 and 17, generated by the alkylation of SnCl₄ with Me₂(benzyl/α-naphthyl)SiCH₂MgBr 12 and 13, were inseparable from the minor product [Me₂(benzyl/α-naphthyl)SiCH₂]₂SnCl₂18 and 19, respectively. Treatment of the mixtures of 16/18 and 17/19 with NaOH furnished the corresponding mixtures of stannoxanes, from which the hexakisdistannoxanes [Me₂(benzyl/α-naphthyl)SiCH₂]₆Sn₂O 20 and 22 were isolated from the minor dialkyltin oxide derivatives [Me₂(benzyl/α-naphthyl)SiCH₂]₂SnO in good yields. Reduction of 20 and 22 with BH₃ in THF gave [Me₂(benzyl/α-naphthyl)SiCH₂]₃SnH (3 and 4), respectively in good yields. ¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn, ²⁹Si NMR characteristics of the newly synthesized compounds are included.     

Experimental and theoretical studies on three spiromuscar-3-one M1 agonist derivatives

Muscarone analogues are compounds that have been proposed for the prevention or treatment of senile dementias. ARL-16607 (I), ARL-15467 (II), ARL-14995 (III) and YM-796 (IV) are spiromuscar-3-one derivatives and behave as muscarinic M₁ agonists, with different binding selectivity and efficacy at the M₁ receptors. In this work, we have elucidated the solid-state structures of I-III and compared the results obtained with the data available in the literature for IV.The solid-state arrangements of I-IV have then been used to input a series of theoretical calculations. For each molecule, eight conformations have been modeled and the obtained structures (1-32) have been submitted to a series of molecular dynamics/simulated annealing and molecular mechanics calculations aimed to explore the conformational freedom of the spiromuscar-3-one moiety. Some hints about the reactivity of I-IV have been obtained by performing Hartree-Fock, density functional theory and semiempirical quantum mechanics calculations. These studies analyzed the properties of the frontier orbitals and of the molecular electrostatic potential of I-IV.The information gained has been used to explain the better efficacy and poorer selectivity shown by III. Our results suggest that the behavior of III is due to its smaller size, the features of its molecular surface, the shape of its electrostatic potential and the orientation of its reactive domains.     

Syntheses, electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of novel ball-type and mononuclear Co(II) phthalocyanines substituted at the peripheral and non-peripheral positions with binaphthol groups

Mononuclear cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) substituted at the non-peripheral 8 and peripheral positions 9 with 1,1′-binaphthyl-8,8′-diol and ball-type dinuclear Co₂Pc₂ substituted at the non-peripheral 10 and peripheral 11 positions with the same substituent are reported. The complexes with 1,1′-binaphthol-bridges were prepared from the corresponding phthalonitriles 4-7. The effects of the position of substituent on spectral, electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of these complexes were also explored. The mononuclear complexes 8 and 9 exhibited one metal reduction, one ring reduction and one ring oxidation. The redox properties of the ball-type complexes 10 and 11 exhibited two reduction processes assigned to [(Co^IPc⁻²)₂]²⁻/[(Co^IPc⁻³)₂]⁴⁻ (I), (Co^IIPc⁻²)₂/[(Co^IPc⁻²)₂]²⁻ (II) and one oxidation process assigned to [(Co^IIIPc⁻²)₂]²⁺/Co^IIPc⁻²)₂ (III). The ball-type complexes are much easier to oxidize and more difficult to reduce than the corresponding monomers 8 and 9.     

Reductive alkylation of perfluorocarboxylic acid esters with CCl3F or CCl4 and synthesis of higher linear perfluoroketones

Barbier-type reductive alkylation of perfluorocarboxylic acid esters (I) with CFCl₃ and activated Al was successfully performed to give α,α-dichloroperfluoroketones (II). A similar reaction of CF₃COOEt with CCl₄ and Al provided a convenient synthesis of CF₃COCCl₃. Ketones (II) were fluorinated further with SbF₅ to form higher linear perfluoroketones (IX). An alternative approach to the synthesis of ketones (IX) was proposed by reductive perfluoroalkylation of esters (I) under the action of R_FI and Al.     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of new cobalt and manganese phthalocyanine complexes tetra-substituted with 3,4-(methylendioxy)-phenoxy

The synthesis and electrochemical properties of new cobalt and manganese phthalocyanine complexes, tetra-substituted with 3,4-(methylendioxy)-phenoxy at the peripheral (complexes 3 and 5) and non-peripheral (complexes 4 and 6) positions, are reported. Complexes 3 and 4 showed Q-band absorption, in DMF, at 668 and 686 nm, respectively while Q-band due to complexes 5 and 6 appeared at 732 and 760 nm, respectively in CHCl₃. All the complexes showed well resolved redox processes attributed to both metal and ring based processes. Complexes 3 and 4 showed four redox processes, labeled I, II, III and IV. For complex 3, process I (Co^IPc⁻²/Co^IPc⁻³) was observed at −1.45 V, II (Co^IIPc⁻²/Co^IPc⁻²) at −0.38 V, III (Co^IIIPc⁻²/Co^IIPc⁻²) at +0.49 V and IV (Co^IIIPc⁻¹/Co^IIIPc⁻²) at +0.97 V versus Ag|AgCl. Similar processes were observed for complex 4 at −1.36 V, −0.27 V, +0.56 V, +1.03 V versus Ag|AgCl, respectively. Complexes 5 and 6 showed two redox processes (I and II). For complex 5, these processes appeared at −0.79 V (Mn^IIPc⁻²/Mn^IIPc⁻³, I) and −0.07 V versus Ag|AgCl (Mn^IIIPc⁻²/Mn^IIPc⁻², II), while for complex 6, they were observed at −0.86 V and −0.04 V versus Ag|AgCl. Spectroelectrochemistry was used to probe and confirm the origin of these processes.     

Structural diversity in the self-assembly of Ag(I) complexes containing 2-amino-5-halopyrimidine

A series of Ag(I) complexes containing the 2-amino-5-halopyrimidine ligands have been synthesized and their structures characterized by X-ray crystallography. The isomorphous complexes Ag(L-Cl)₂(CF₃SO₃) (L-Cl = 2-amino-5-chloropyrimidine), 1, and Ag(L-Br)₂(CF₃SO₃) (L-Br = 2-amino-5-bromopyrimidine), 2, are mononuclear, while [Ag(L-Br)(CF₃SO₃)]₆·6C₄H₁₀O, 3, and [Ag(L-I)(CF₃SO₃)]₆ (L-I = 2-amino-5-iodopyrimidine), 4, show cyclic self-assembly of six Ag(Ι) atoms and six L-X ligands, resulting in 24-membered metallocycles. The complex [Ag(L-I)(CF₃SO₃)]_∞, 5, forms 1D zigzag chains which are linked through C-I?Ag and Ag?O interactions to form a 3D structure. The tetranuclear complexes [Ag(L-X)(NO₃)]₄ [X = Cl, 6; Br, 7] form 16-membered metallocycles, while [Ag(L-X)(ClO₄)]_∞ [X = Cl, 8; Br, 9] exhibit helical chains. The different structure of 5 from 1 and 2 appears to be due to the stronger nucleophilic character of the iodine atom. In these complexes, the relatively smaller NO₃⁻ anions lead to the formation of tetranuclear metallocycles and the larger CF₃SO₃⁻ anions support the hexanuclear metallocycles, whereas the ClO₄⁻ anions induce the helical chains.