A new strategy in enantioselective intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction: catalytic double asymmetric induction during the tandem transetherification-intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction of methyl (E)-4-methoxy-2-oxo-3-butenoate with rac-6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol

An efficient catalytic double asymmetric induction during the tandem transetherification-intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction has been developed. The enantioselective tandem reaction of methyl (E)-4-methoxy-2-oxo-3-butenoate with rac-6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol has been achieved to provide methyl (2R,4aS,8aR)-3,4,4a,8a-tetrahydro-2,5,5-trimethyl-2H,5H-pyrano[4,3-b]-pyran-7-carboxylate in good yield with effective kinetic resolution (up to 95% selectivity), high diastereoselectivity (up to 92% de), and high enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee) in the presence of (S,S)-tert-Bu-bis(oxazoline)-Cu(SbF₆)₂ and 5 Å molecular sieves.     

Radical mediated stereoselective synthesis of (4R,8R)-4,8-dimethyldecanal, an aggregation pheromone of Tribolium flour beetles

(4R,8R)-4,8-Dimethyldecanal, a common aggregation pheromone of Tribolium flour beetles, has been synthesized from (R)-2,3-O-isopropylideneglyceraldehyde in 11 steps and 7% overall yield. The key step in the synthesis is the highly diastereoselective chelation-controlled radical reaction of ethyl (4S,5R)-4-benzyloxy-5,6-(isopropylidenedioxy)-2-methylenehexanoate with ethyl (R)-5-iodo-3-methylpentanoate performed in the presence of 7 equiv of MgBr₂·OEt₂.     

Synthesis of podophyllotoxin analogues: δ-lactone-containing picropodophyllin, podophyllotoxin and 4′-demethyl-epipodophyllotoxin derivatives

Non-epimerizable cis and trans δ-lactone analogues of podophyllotoxin have been prepared. Thus the synthesis of the cis isomer 4 has been achieved in 8 steps and 4% overall yield from podophyllotoxin 1 via the reduction of the γ lactone ring into the trans diol, selective protection of the 4-OH and 11-OH as a benzylidene acetal, and Wittig elongation at C-13 with inversion of configuration at C-2. Same elongation at C-13 but via the formation of a mesylate and introduction of a cyano group, led to the trans δ-lactone 5 (7 steps from 1 and 6% overall yied) with a small amount of its C-4 epimer 6. The synthesis of non-epimerizable δ-lactone analogues of 4′-demethyl-epipodophyllotoxin 7 and of 4-demethyl podophyllotoxin 8 are also reported. The synthesis of 7 and 8 was based upon the reduction of the γ-lactone ring of 4′-demethyl-4-epipodophyllotoxin followed by selective protection at C-11 and elongation at C-13. (8-15% and 4% overall yields). Compounds 4, 5 and 7 did not display relevant cytotoxicity in vitro against L1210 murine leukemia.     

Chemical studies of marine invertebrates—XLIII: Novel sesquiterpenes from clavularia inflata and clavularia koellikeri (Coelenterata,Octocorallia,Stolonifera)

Two novel sesquiterpenes, 12-acetoxycyclosinularane (1) and 12-acetoxysinularene(2),have been isolated from Clavularia inftata. Their structures have been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis and chemical correlation respectively. Moreover, the new aromadendrane sesquiterpene(1R^*, 1aS^*, 4R^*, 7R^*, 7aS^*, 7bS^*, 5Z)-4,4a,7-trihydroxyaromadendr-5-en-8-oic acid methyl ester (19) has been isolated from the related species C. koellikeri. Its structure has been established by X-ray diffraction analysis. These compounds are the first sesquiterpenes isolated from Octocorallia of the order Stolonifera.     

Iridodials: enantiospecific synthesis and stereochemical assignment of the pheromone for the golden-eyed lacewing, Chrysopa oculata

1R,2S,5R,8R; 1R,2S,5R,8S; 1S,2S,5R,8R; and 1S,2S,5R,8S-Iridodials have been prepared in five steps from 4aS,7S,7aR and 4aS,7S,7aS-nepetalactones, major components of catnip oil. 1R,2S,5R,8R-Iridodial has been identified as a male-produced male-aggregation pheromone for Chrysopa oculata, the first pheromone of any kind identified for lacewings.     

Novel stereocontrolled synthesis of the tricyclic lactone (1R,3R,6R,9S)-6,9-dimethyl-8-oxo-7-oxatricyclo[4.3.0.03,9]nonane

The stereocontrolled synthesis of (1R,3R,6R,9S)-6,9-dimethyl-8-oxo-7-oxatricyclo[4.3.0.0^3,9]nonane 1 from (R)-(−)-carvone has been accomplished by application of a 13-step sequence with 12% overall yield. The absolute stereochemistry of the unsaturated acid 8a has been established by X-ray analysis of the chiral amide 8c.     

A new approach to the preparation of lanthanide catalysts for the synthesis of 2-propyl-3-ethylquinoline based on the reactions of LnCl3 · 6H2O crystalline hydrates with triisobutylaluminum

A new approach to the preparation of lanthanide catalysts for the synthesis of nitrogen heterocycles (exemplified by 2-propyl-3-ethylquinoline) was developed based on the reactions of LnCl₃ · 6H₂O crystalline hydrates with alkylaluminums. It was found that the interaction of LnCl₃ · 6H₂O (Ln = Ce, Pr, Tb, and Eu) with iso-Bu₃Al in aromatic solvents (20°C) resulted in the formation of soluble (isobutane and the alumoxane (iso-Bu₂Al)₂O) and insoluble products (with the empirical formula LnCl₃ · xH₂O · y(iso-Bu₂Al)₂O (x = 0.4–0.7; y = 0.04–0.07)). The physiochemical properties of LnCl₃ · xH₂O · y(iso-Bu₂Al)₂O were studied, and these compounds were found to be highly efficient catalysts for the reaction of aniline condensation with butyraldehyde to form 2-propyl-3-ethylquinoline.     

Claisen rearrangements—VI : Synthesis of the coumarins,sesibiricin and toddaculin

The natural coumarins, sesibiricin (1) and toddaculin (28) have been synthesised from 5,7-dihydroxycoumarin, the former by a sequence involving regioselective O-prenylation at C-5 and C-prenylation at C-8. The prenyl ether of 5-hydroxy-7-methoxycoumarin, a key intermediate in the synthesis of toddaculin, has been found to undergo Claisen rearrangement exclusively to the para position thereby providing an alternative route to sesibiricin.     

The stereoselective addition of titanium(IV) enolates of 1,3-oxazolidin-2-one and 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione to cyclic N-acyliminium ion. The total synthesis of (+)-isoretronecanol

(+)-Isoretronecanol (1) has been prepared in four steps and 36% overall yield via the diastereoselective addition of the titanium(IV) enolate derived from N-4-chlorobutyryl-1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione (3) to N-Boc-2-methoxypyrrolidine (5), which afforded 2-substituted pyrrolidine 7 in 84% yield (8:1 diastereoisomeric ratio), followed by reductive recovery of the chiral auxiliary and cyclization.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of 7,8-dihalopyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole-6,9-dione and its 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro analogue

An efficient synthesis of 8-bromo-7-chloropyrido[1,2-a]-benzimidazole-6,9-dione and its 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro analogue from N-(4-chloro-2-nitrophenyl)pyridinium chloride has been accomplished. The study for antitumour activity against cancer cell lines such as A549, SH-SY5Y, Hep-2, HeLa and MCF-7 revealed that the cytotoxic effect of the compounds obtained was several times higher than that of Mitomycin C.     

Arc atomic emission determination of noble metals in mineral raw materials and products of their processing

A procedure has been developed for the direct atomic emission determination of medium concentrations of noble metals in mineral raw materials and products of their processing. The procedure is based on the application of a spectral complex, consisting of an arc source of spectrum excitation, a DFS-8 spectrograph, a receiver of spectrum emission with CCD structures, and a registration system including software. The detection limits are n × 10^?5% for a number of noble metals and n × 10^?7% for Ag with RSD of 7?C14%.     

On possible redirection of the course of anionic oxy-cope rearrangements

The β, γ-unsaturated ketones bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-en-7-one (10) and 7,7-dimethoxybicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-en-5-one (15) have been condensed with 1-metalated trans-1-methoxybutadienes (7a or 7b) and 2-isopropenylcyclopentenes (8b or 8c). Oxyanion formation within the resulting alcohols is followed by skeletal rearrangement at room temperature. Careful product analysis has revealed the [3,3] sigmatropic reaction manifold to be followed almost exclusively. Only in the case of 13 is a modest amount (4%) of formal antarafacialretention [1,3] sigmatropic bridgehead carbon migration in evidence. Consequently, the structural features inherent to these alcohols are not conducive to redirecting electronic reorganization to an alternative isomerization process.     

The molecular structure of 4a, 5, 8, 8a-tetrahydro-11, 14-dimethoxy-7-methyl-4a-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-5, 8a-o-benzeno-1, 4-naphthoquinone

A novel natural product, microphyllone, has been isolated from Ehretia microphylla² together with baurenol and ursolic acid. Spectroscopic techniques, derivative formation and finally X-ray diffraction have been utilized in the structure elucidation of microphyllone. The structure appears to be 4a, 5, 8,8a - tetrahydro -11,14- dihydroxy-7-methyl-4a-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-5, 8a-o-benzeno-1, 4-naphthoquinone.     

Synthesis of New Heterocyclic Systems on the Basis of 7-Benzyl-3-chloro-1-(morpholin-4-yl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2,7-naphthiridine-4-carbonitrile

Methods have been developed for the synthesis of new 8-amino-3-benzyl-5-(morpholin-4-yl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimido[4′,5′: 4,5]thieno[2,3-c][2,7]naphthyridine starting from 7-benzyl-3-chloro-1-(morpholin-4-yl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2,7-naphthyridine-4-carbonitrile. 8-Hydrazinyl-3-benzyl-5-(morpholin-4-yl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimido[4′,5′: 4,5]thieno[2,3-c][2,7]naphthyridine has been converted to isomeric pentacyclic structures with a triazole ring fused through the [c] side of the pyrimidine ring, and their Dimroth rearrangement has been accomplished in both acidic and basic media. New heterocyclic systems containing pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidinone and pyrimido[1,2-a]azepinone fragments were obtained on the basis of the thieno-[2,3-c][2,7]naphthyridine derivative.     

Direct Amination of Nitroquinoline Derivatives via Nucleophilic Displacement of Aromatic Hydrogen

The vicarious nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen (VNS) reaction in electron-deficient nitroquinolines was studied. Properties of all new products have been characterized by several techniques: MS, HRMS, FTIR, GC-MS, electronic absorption spectroscopy, and multinuclear NMR. The structures of 4-chloro-8-nitroquinoline, 8-(tert-butyl)-2-methyl-5-nitroquinoline, 9-(8-nitroquinolin-7-yl)-9H-carbazole and (Z)-7-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)-8-(hydroxyimino)quinolin-5(8H)-one were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. The 9-(8-nitroquinolin-7-yl)-9H-carbazole and (Z)-7-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)-8-(hydroxyimino)quinolin-5(8H)-one illustrate the nitro/nitroso conversion within VNS reaction. Additionally, 9-(8-isopropyl-2-((8-isopropyl-2-methyl-5-nitroquinolin-6-yl)methyl)-5-nitrosoquinolin-6-yl)-9H-carbazole is presented as a double VNS product. It is postulated that the potassium counterion interacts with the oxygen on the nitro group, which could influence nucleophile attack in that way.     

The formation,crystal and molecular structures of bis(η5-indenyl)dicarbonyltitanium and bis(η5-indenyl)dicarbonylzirconium

Bis(η⁵-indenyl)dicarbonyltitanium has been produced in 47% yield by reduction of bis(η⁵-indenyl)dichlorotitanium with activated aluminum in THF solution under a carbon monoxide atmosphere. Bis(η⁵-indenyl)dicarbonylzirconium can similarly be prepared in 45% yield by the reductive carbonylation of bis(η⁵-indenyl)dichlorozirconium using activated magnesium turnings. IR spectral evidence has been obtained for the corresponding hafnium analog, although it could not be isolated. Detailed syntheses for the precursors (η⁵-indenyl)₂MCl₂ (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) have been developed. Bis(η⁵-indenyl)dicarbonyltitanium crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with unit cell parameters a 30.435(8), b 7.357(5), c 28.279(8) Å and β 90.93(5)°. Refinement of 3530 observed reflections lead to final agreement indices of R = 0.052 and R_w = 0.049. Bis(η⁵-indenyl)dicarbonylzirconium crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with unit cel parameters of a 7.288(5), b 14.398(8), c 15.273(7) Å and β 89.84(5)°. Refinement of 2253 observed reflections lead to final agreement indices of R = 0.049 and R₂ = 0.055.     

Synthesis of 4-vinylquinoline: Pyrolytic rearrangement of the 4-(1-hydroxyethyl)quinoline and related derivatives

The synthesis of 4-vinylquinoline has been carried out by means of the Wittig reaction between 4-quino-linecarbaldehyde and the methyl triphenylphosphonium ylide in dimethyl sulphoxide in good yield. Dehydration of the 4-(1-hydroxyethyl)quinoline and their xanthate derivative, give equimolar amounts of 4-ethylquinoline and 4-acetylquinoline while small amounts of 4-vinylquinoline were found. Dehydrochlorination of 4-(1-chloroethyl)quinoline in ethanol-sodium hydroxide provides 4-ethyl-3-ethoxyquinoline in good yield, but 4-vinylquinoline is a minor reaction product.     

Natural product synthesis from (8aR)- and (8aS)-bicyclofarnesols: synthesis of (+)-wiedendiol A, (+)-norsesterterpene diene ester and (−)-subersic acid

Both enantiomers (8aR)-7 and (8aS)-7 of bicyclofarnesol were synthesized from the enzymatic resolution products (1R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal (8aR)-5 (98% ee) and acetate of (1S,4aS,8aS)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal (8aS)-6 (>99% ee), respectively. The formal synthesis of (+)-wiedendiol 1 was achieved via a coupling reaction of an ate complex derived from 1,2,4-trimethoxybenzene with allyl bromide (8aS)-8 derived from (8aS)-7. The total synthesis of (+)-norsesterterpene diene ester 2 was achieved, based on the synthesis of (13E,10S)-α,β-unsaturated aldehyde 12, derived from (8aS)-7, followed by the selective construction of the (3E,5E)-diene moiety including a C(2)-stereogenic centre in (+)-2. The total synthesis of (−)-subersic acid 3 was carried out based on a Stille coupling between allyl trifluoroacetate congener 25c, derived from (8aR)-7, corresponding to the diterpene part, and aryl stannane congener 26 in the presence of Pd catalyst and CuI as an additive.     

Synthesis of annelated [a]aza-anthracenones and thieno[3,2-g]aza-naphthalenones through ring transformation of 2H-pyran-2-one followed by photocyclization

A concise synthesis of some new classes of heterocycles (4-aryl-11-oxo-1,2,3,11-tetrahydro-1,3a-diaza-cyclopenta[a]anthracen-6-carbonitriles and 5-aryl-12-oxo-1,3,4,12-tetrahydro-2H-1,4a-diazabenzo[a]anthracene-7-carbonitriles) has been developed by the ring transformation of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-one with α-oxoketene cyclic aminals to intermediates (8-aroyl-5-aryl-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-7-ylidene)-acetonitriles and (9-aroyl-6-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-8-ylidene)-acetonitriles) followed by their photocyclization either in CHCl₃ or acetonitrile. This reaction was further explored for the synthesis of methyl 4-aryl-11-oxo-1,2,3,11-tetrahydro-1,3a,9-triaza-cyclopenta[a]anthracene-6-carboxylate, 4-aryl-11-oxo-1,2,3,11-tetrahydro-1,3a,9-triaza-cyclopenta[a]anthracene-6-carbonitriles, 5-aryl-12-oxo-1,3,4,12-tetrahydro-2H-1,4a,10-triazabenzo[a]anthracene-7-carbonitriles, 4-aryl-10-oxo-1,2,3,10-tetrahydro-9-thia-1,3a-diazadicyclopenta[a,g]naphthalene-6-carbonitriles and 5-aryl-11-oxo-1,3,4,11-tetrahydro-2H-10-thia-1,4a-diazacyclopenta[b]phenanthrene-7-carbonitriles from the similar reactions.     

Phase equilibria in Al-Ni-Zr system at 1123 K

Phase equilibria in ternary Al-Ni-Zr system have been studied using X-ray phase and electron probe microanalyses at 1123 K in the content range of 0–45 at % Al. A fragment of the isothermal section of this system has been plotted. The existence of three-phase equilibria Zr₇Ni₁₀ + Zr₈Ni₂₁ + Zr₂Ni₇, τ₂-ZrNi₂Al + NiAl + Zr₂Ni₇, NiAl + Ni₃Al + Zr₂Ni₇, Zr₇Ni₁₀ + Zr₂Ni₇ + τ₂-ZrNi₂Al at 1123 K has been established for the first time. Phase based of binary compound Zr₂Ni₇ dissolves up to 13 at % aluminum. The crystalline structure of the τ₇-Zr₅Ni₄Al phase has been determined, including structure type U₃Si₂, spatial group P4/mbm (a = 7.1852(7) Å, c = 3.3019(5) Å).