On the dichotomy of the SN2/ET reaction pathways: an apparent SN2 reactivity in the reaction of naphthalene dianion with alkyl fluorides

Dilithium naphthalene (Li₂C₁₀H₈) displays a S_N2 reactivity profile in its reaction with alkyl fluorides (n-, s- and t-octyl fluoride). S_N2 seems to be the dominant mechanism operating with primary alkyl fluorides, which presumably turns into competition with ET as we move to secondary and tertiary alkyl fluorides. Significantly, lithium naphthalene (LiC₁₀H₈) seems to have also an important nucleophilic component when reacting with alkyl fluorides, in contrast to the previously proposed general ET process valid for all alkyl halides. These results explain the observed distribution of products and are reinforced by a complete analysis of the products originated by the reaction with 6-halohexenyl radical probes, whose main alkylation products are described here for the first time.     

Primary alkyl fluorides as regioselective alkylating reagents of lithium arene dianions. Easy prediction of regioselectivity by MO calculations on the dianion

Lithium arene dianions derived of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene and binaphtyl react cleanly with n-alkylfluorides to afford regiochemically controlled alkylated dihydroarenes after hydrolysis. These arene dianions can be easily prepared by simple treatment of the arene with lithium in THP. Unlike simple radical coupling, the alkylation of these species with alkyl fluorides apparently goes through a S_N2 transition state, despite the inertness of alkyl fluorides to undergo nucleophilic substitution. It is also atypical for reduced arenes, which tend to give ET reactions with other alkyl halides. Prediction of the regiochemistry was easily conducted by means of MO calculations (PM3) on the dianion, and in all cases were consistent with the experimental.     

Highly enantioselective copper-catalyzed allylic alkylation with atropos phosphoramidites bearing a D2-symmetric biphenyl backbone

A novel class of atropos dibridged biphenyl phosphoramidites bearing a D₂-symmetric biphenyl backbone was prepared and applied as chiral ligands in the copper-catalyzed allylic alkylation with Grignard reagent. The alkylation products were obtained in quantitative yields with high regioselectivities up to 94:6 of S_N2′/S_N2 ratio and enantiomeric excesses up to 91.1% for S_N2′ products. The unique D₂-symmetric backbone ligands have the advantages of easy preparation and sufficient reusability of their key intermediates from the undesired isomers.     

Mechanism of the reaction of N-p-tosylsulphilimine and related compounds with thiophenolate ion

The reaction of alkyl aryl N-p-tosylsulphilimines with thiophenolate ion was found to afford quantitatively the sulphide that arises by an S_N2 like reaction on the carbon atom adjacent to the tri-valent sulphur atom. This reaction was also found to proceed smoothly with such compounds as sulphoxides and sulphones and sulphoxmanes. The kinetic study on the reaction between aryl methyl N-p-tosylsulphilimine with thiophenolate ion in DMF reveals that the reaction is of second order, namely, first order with respect to each thiophenolate ion and the sulphilimine. The enthalpy and entropy of activation for the reaction are ΔH^≠ = ?17· kcal/mol and ΔS^≠ = ?5·7 eu respectively. The effect of substituents in the reaction, p-XC₆H₄⁺(^?SO₂C₆H₄Y-p)CH₃ + p-ZC₆H₄SK is nicely correl with Hammett σ values giving ?_x = + 2·4, ?_y = + 1·2 and ?_z = ?1·8 respectively. Meanwhile, a marked steric retardation by a bulky alkyl group in alkyl phenyl N-p-tosylsulphilimine is observed. Furthermore, from the stereochemical study of the reaction using an optically active sec-octyl phenyl N-p-tosylsulphilimine with thiophenolate ion it is concluded that the reaction proceeds via a typical S_N2 process on α-carbon atom attached to the tri-valent sulphur atom.     

Reductive dearomatization of biphenyl: sequential one-pot regioselective introduction of two different electrophiles

The reaction of biphenyl (1) with an excess of lithium in THF at room temperature leads to a solution of the corresponding dianion (I), which by successive reactions with an alkyl fluoride [E₁ = n-C₈H₁₇F, c-C₅H₉CH₂F, CH₂CH(CH₂)₄F] at 0 °C and another electrophile [E₂ = n-C₄H₉Br, Et₂CO, Me₂C(O)CH₂, i-Pr₃SiCl] at −78 °C yields the corresponding 1,4-disubstituted 1,4-dihydrobiphenyls 3 in a regioselective manner, as mixtures of cis- and trans-isomers. The diastereomers of 3 are separated by column chromatography.     

A study of the reaction kinetics of electrogenerated superoxide ion with benzylbromide

The reaction kinetics between O₂^? and C₆H₅CH₂Br has been investigated in N,N′-dimethylformamide by electroanalytical techniques. A mechanism is proposed in which two molecules of the primary electrode product regenerate, via a following chemical reaction, one molecule of the original electroactive species. Furthermore, evidence for a S_N2 reaction mechanism between O₂^? and C₆H₅CH₂Br has been obtained. Second order rate constants resulted to be 11000 M^?1s^?1 and 3000 M^?1s^?1at room temperature and 0°C, respectively. The main products of the reaction were found to be benzylalcohol, benzaldehyde, benzene and biphenyl.     

Alkylation of acylmetalates with alkyl halides to prepare Fischer carbene complexes: an improved protocol

Alkoxy Fischer carbene complexes have been synthesized by alkylation of lithium acylmetalates with alkyl halides in the presence of catalytic amount (5-10 mol %) of n-tetrabutylammonium bromide (n-Bu₄NBr) restricting the temperature below 55 °C to minimize decomposition of the product. The reaction occurs in a biphasic condition involving water and alkyl halide. The effect of cesium on this alkylation reaction has been studied. The presence of a radical quencher, di-tert-butyl phenol, neither affects the yield nor leads to the formation of dimer of di-tert-butyl phenol, which rules out the possibility of radical pathway mechanism. The kinetic study and the ¹H NMR spectra of products suggest an S_N2 pathway particularly involving alkyl halides.     

Topics in current chemistry 96: Inorganic chemistry : Springer-Verlag,Berlin — Heidelberg — New York, 1981; 155 pages; DM 84

Reaction of PhEEPh (E  S, Se) with (η⁵-RC₅H₄)₂Zr(CH₃)₂ (R  H, t-Bu) affords the new complexes (η⁵-RC₅H₄)₂Zr(EPh)CH₃ and PhECH₃. Irradiation of these products by UV light finally gives the known complexes (η⁵-RC₅H₄)₂Zr(EPh)₂. The latter complexes can also be obtained from an irradiated mixture of (η₅-RC₅H₄)₂ZrPh₂ and PhEEPh. These reactions are thought to involve an S_H2 process at the metal center.     

Synthesis and properties of alkylruthenium complexes bearing primary and secondary amine ligands

A series of 18-electron alkylruthenium complexes, RuR[κ²(N,N′)-(S,S)-R′SO₂NCHPhCHPhNH₂](η⁶-arene) (Ph = C₆H₅, R′ = p-CH₃C₆H₄ and CH₃), bearing a N-sulfonylated diamine ligand was synthesized from the reaction of RuCl[κ²(N, N′)-(S,S)-R′SO₂NCHPhCHPhNH₂](η⁶-arene) with alkylzinc reagents, in which transmetalation proceeded smoothly to give the desired alkyl complexes in good yield and selectivity. Although the isolable amine Ru complexes bearing functionalized alkyl ligands were thermally stable, the simple methyl and ethyl Ru complexes underwent intramolecular deprotonation from NH protons to give the amido Ru complexes with release of the alkanes. The reactivity of the alkyl Ru complexes is highly affected by the structures of the arene ligands.     

Indium-mediated alkynylation of Baylis-Hillman acetates: a novel route to 1,4-enynes

Baylis-Hillman acetates undergo smooth alkynylation with aryl-susbstituted iodoalkynes in the presence of indium metal in refluxing dichloromethane to furnish 1,4-enynes in high yields with (E)-stereoselectivity. In the absence of Lewis acid, the reaction follows both S_N2 and S_N2′ pathways affording 1:1 mixtures of 1,4-enynes. Upon addition of 10 mol % of InBr₃, the reaction proceeds preferably in the S_N2′ manner. In the case of adducts derived from acrylonitrile, the corresponding products are obtained in fairly good yields and with (Z)-stereoselectivity.     

Rare direct imidation of aromatic metallacycle by reaction of CpCo(dithiolene) complex with N-halosuccinimide

The aromatic [CpCo(S₂C₂(R)(H))] (R = Ph, Me, 9-phenanthryl, H) complexes reacted with N-halosuccinimides (NXS; X = Cl, Br, I) in carbon tetrachloride at room temperature to undergo the N-succinimide substitution reaction on the dithiolene ring, but no halogenated dithiolene complex was obtained. The imidation products [CpCo(S₂C₂(R)(N-sccinimide))] were yielded up to 64% where X = I and R = 9-phenanthryl. The reaction of [CpCo(S₂C₂(Ph)(H))] with N-bromophthalimide (NBP) also gave the imidation product [CpCo(S₂C₂(Ph)(N-phthalimide))]. This is the rare direct imidation reaction to an aromatic metallacycle by NXS. The reaction of [CpCo(S₂C₂H₂)] (R = H) with NIS afforded the double imidation product. One by-product in this reaction was the dithiolene-dithiolene homo-coupling product [CpCo(S₂C₂(R))]₂ (R = Ph, Me, 9-phenanthryl). The microwave-enhanced (MW) reactions were attempted in the carbon tetrachloride solution. Although the solution temperature increased up to only 43 °C by MW irradiation, the imidation reaction worked with short reaction time.     

Iodine-catalyzed synthesis of 2-arylpyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolin-9(3H)-one derivatives in ionic liquids via domino reaction

The domino reaction of (E)-2-amino-N′-(1-arylethylidene)benzohydrazide and triethyl orthoformate in ionic liquids catalyzed by 10 mol % iodine gave 3a,4-dihydro-2-arylpyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolin-9(3H)-one derivatives unexpectedly. In the presence of K₂S₂O₈, it could be oxidized to aromatized products in good yields.     

An efficient synthesis of highly substituted pyrroles from β-oxodithiocarboxylates

α-Oxoketene-N,S-acetals, prepared by the reaction of alkyl glycinate hydrochlorides with β-oxodithiocarboxylates followed by alkylation, underwent cyclization in presence of chloromethyleneiminium salt derived from POCl₃/DMF to afford alkyl-3-aryl-4-formyl-5-(alkylsulfanyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates in excellent yields. Alkyl-3-aryl-5-(alkylsulfanyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates were formed in moderate yields when the same N,S-acetals were treated with DBU.     

Chiral fluoroacetic acid: synthesis of (R)- and (S)-[2H1]-fluoroacetate in high enantiopurity

A two-step synthesis of (R)- and (S)-[²H₁]-fluoroacetate (sodium salts) in high enantioselectivity is reported. The synthesis is the development of a previous one in which the enantioselectivity has been increased from ～38% ee to >95% ee. The improvement in enantioselectivity applied Bio’s methodology, which involved a deoxyfluorination reaction with DAST on either enantiomer of [²H₁]-benzyl alcohol, adding TMS-morpholine to the reaction. The additive promotes an S_N2 inversion process, and suppresses a competing non-stereospecific S_N1 reaction course, and as a result significantly improves the stereointegrity of the C–F bond formation. The intermediate [²H₁]-benzyl alcohols, [²H₁]-benzyl fluorides and the product [²H₁]-fluoroacetates as their hexyl esters were separately assayed for their stereochemical integrity, using the Courtieu method. This method involved measuring their ²H NMR spectra in a chiral matrix of poly-γ-benzyl l-glutamate. The chiral assay demonstrated that there was no significant loss in stereointegrity during the deoxyfluorination reaction and showed that the enantiomers of [²H₁]-fluoroacetate were generated with high enantiomeric purity (95% ee).     

A simple conversion of azlactones into indenones via H3PW12O40/Al2O3 catalyzed intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction

A rapid and simple procedure for the synthesis of the indenone derivatives, N-(1-oxo-1H-inden-2-yl)benzamides, via intramolecular Friedel-Crafts (IFC) reaction of (Z)-4-arylidene-2-phenyl-5(4)-oxazolones (azlactones) catalyzed by H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ supported on neutral alumina under microwave irradiation has been developed. The reaction is straightforward and allows easy isolation of the product. The catalyst could be re-used up to four times after simple filtration.     

Fragmentation by electron impact ionization and intracluster reactions of size selected (N2H4) n and (OCS) n clusters

The hydrogen-bonded (N₂H₄) _n clusters and the van der Waals (OCS) _n clusters are size selected in a scattering experiment with a He beam up to the cluster sizen=6. By measuring the angular distributions of the scattered clusters the complete fragmentation pattern of electron impact ionization is obtained. For Hydrazine the two main fragment masses are the protonated species (N₂H₄) _n?1H⁺ and with somewhat weaker intensities also the nominal ion mass (N₂H₄) _n ⁺ . The largest intensity is observed for the monomer ion N₂H ₄ ⁺ to which clusters up ton=5 fragment. For carbonylsulfide, completely different results are obtained. Aside from the fragments of the OCS monomer and the van der Waals cluster fragments (OCS) ₂ ⁺ and (OCS) ₃ ⁺ signals at mass S ₂ ⁺ , S ₃ ⁺ and S₂OCS⁺ are detected. This indicates a fast chemical reaction in the cluster according to: S + OCS → CO + S₂ which occurs for clusters of sizen ≥ 2. Peaks at S ₃ ⁺ and S₂OCS⁺ are seen for the first time forn ≥ 5 according to a further reaction of S₂ in the cluster.     

Synthesis of poly-substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinolines through one-pot two component cascade reaction

A diversity-oriented method for the synthesis of novel poly-substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinolines has been developed on the basis of an S_NAr/Knoevenagel cyclization cascade reaction or an S_NAr/Dieckmann–Thorpe cyclization cascade reaction. The methods provide a variety of poly-substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinolines bearing an amino, alkyl or aryl substituent at the 5-position. In addition, a diversity-oriented method for the synthesis of 2-substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinolines from a readily available 2-[[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]oxy]pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinoline has also been disclosed.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the deuterated organic conductor, (d8-ET)4[Hg2(SCN)4Cl2]

On the basis of completely deuterated bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (d₈-ET), new organic conductors, (d₈-ET)₄[Hg₂(SCN)₄Cl₂] and (d₈-ET)₂[Hg(SCN)₂Br] have been synthesized and studied by X-ray structural analysis. Unlike nondeuterated organic metalsk-(ET)₂[Hg(SCN)_3–n X _n ] (X = Cl or Br;n=1 and 2), the crystal structure of (d₈-ET)₄[Hg₂(SCN)₄Cl₄] exhibits -type packing of the d₈-ET radical cations in the conducting layer and a polymeric structure of anions, in which both the SCN groups and the Cl atoms are involved in the bridging bonds. The crystals of (d₈-ET)₂[Hg(SCN)₂Br] and the nondeuterated form (ET)₂[Hg(SCN)₂Br] are isostructural.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khlmicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 905–909, May, 1995.This work was financially supported by the International Science Foundation (Grant RE1 000), the Scientific Council on the Problems of High-Temperature Superconductivity (Project No. 93030), and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Project No. 94-03-09950).     

A new approach to the synthesis of oligomers. Application to the synthesis of p-phenylene thioether wires

Oligothioethers 4-RC₆H₄(SC₆H₄-4)_nX (n = 1-3; X = Br, I; R = NO₂; X = Br; R = MeO. n = 1 and 2; X = I; R = MeO. n = 4; X = Br; R = NO₂) have been prepared through a process involving (i) palladium-catalyzed C-S coupling between 4-RC₆H₄(SC₆H₄-4)_n−1I and 4-BrC₆H₄SH to give 4-RC₆H₄(SC₆H₄-4)_nBr and (ii) copper-catalyzed replacement of Br by I.     

γ-Selective allylic substitution reaction with Grignard reagents catalyzed by copper N-heterocyclic carbene complexes and its application to enantioselective synthesis

The reaction of allylic compounds with alkyl Grignard reagents in the presence of a catalytic amount of copper N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes proceeded predominantly in an S_N2′ reaction pathway to give γ-substituted product in excellent yield. The method was applied to asymmetric reaction by using optically active NHC ligands.