RuO4-promoted oxidative polycyclization of isoprenoid polyenes. A further insight into the stereochemistry of the process

Further studies on the RuO₄-catalyzed oxidative polycyclization of isoprenoid polyenes have been carried out. The configuration of the tris-THF product from the oxidation of geranylgeranyl acetate has been determined by a combination of spectral and chemical correlation methods. The oxidation of (E,Z)-farnesyl acetate, synthesized from nerol, has been carried out. This process stops at the first cyclization indicating that an E configuration of the Δ⁶ double bond is needed for the second cyclization to occur. The results are discussed in comparison with previous knowledge on the related Re(VII) polycyclization of polyenic bis-homoallylic alcohols.     

RuO4-catalyzed oxidative polycyclization of squalene. Determination of the configuration of the penta-tetrahydrofuranyl diol product

The configuration of the penta-tetrahydrofuranyl diol (penta-THF) product obtained by a single-step, RuO₄-catalyzed oxidative polycyclization of squalene, has been determined as cis-threo-cis-threo-trans-threo-trans-threo-trans. The cis-cis-trans-trans-trans sequence for the five contiguous THF rings has been established through extensive 2D-NMR spectroscopic studies carried out both on the intact molecule and on some of its derivatives, including the oxidative cleavage products obtained by degradation of the penta-THF with PCC/AcOH. Four different chemical approaches were devised to determine each of the four threo relationships within each carbon pair connecting adjacent THF rings in the molecule. To this aim, studies have been carried out either on some intermediates of the process leading to penta-THF, obtained by stopping the oxidation of squalene prior to completion, or on a degradation product of the penta-THF, obtained from the latter through a bidirectional double oxidative degradation with PCC.     

RuO4-mediated oxidative polycyclization of linear polyenes. A new approach to the synthesis of the bis-THF diol core of antitumour cis-cis adjacent bis-THF annonaceous acetogenins

The RuO₄-catalyzed oxidative polycyclization of some selected linear polyenes, possessing a repetitive 1,5-diene structural motif, has been investigated. The all-trans triene (E,E,E)-acetic acid henicosa-2,6,10-trienyl ester gave the expected bis-tetrahydrofuranyl diol product possessing a threo-cis-threo-cis-threo relative configuration, along with a mixture of the corresponding bis-THF ketols. These compounds can be seen as useful intermediates in the synthesis of the bis-THF diol core of adjacent bis-THF antitumour acetogenins possessing a threo-cis-threo-cis-erythro relative configuration, such as rolliniastatiin-1, membranacin, rollimembrin and membrarollin. Oxidation of the related all-trans tetraene (E,E,E,E)-acetic acid pentacosa-2,6,10,14-tetraenyl ester stops at the second cyclization step giving a mixture of a threo-cis-threo-cis-threo bis-THF diol and the corresponding ketol products. Oxidation of the triene (E,Z,E)-acetic acid 12-acetoxy-dodeca-2,6,10-trienyl ester stops at the monocyclization level failing to give bis-cyclized products, as previously observed for the related isoprenoid triene (E,Z)-farnesyl acetate. This result confirms the difficulty of closing a second THF ring when the central double bond of the triene possesses a cis configuration. Based on the collected results, a plausible model is proposed that both explains the observed cis/trans stereoselectivity for each ring-closing step in these processes, and rationalize the stereochemical course of the previously studied polycyclization of the isoprenoid polyenes (E,E)-farnesyl acetate, geranylgeranyl acetate and squalene.     

Discovery of a novel one-step RuO4-catalysed tandem oxidative polycyclization/double spiroketalization process. Access to a new type of polyether bis-spiroketal compound displaying antitumour activity

Four novel C₃₀ polyether bis-spiroketals, displaying selective inhibition of the BT474 breast-derived cancer cell line, have been obtained from squalene through an unprecedented one-step, RuO₄-catalysed, cascade process characterised by a tandem oxidative pentacyclization/double oxidative spiroketalization sequence. Preliminary studies indicate that the Ru-mediated spiroketalization steps proceed with retention of configuration at the forming spirocentres. A similarity with the oxidative behaviour of PCC has been disclosed.     

Efficient synthesis of chiral C2-symmetric diamines via allylboration of bis-N,N′-metallodiimines

An enantioselective synthesis of C₂-symmetric bis-homoallylic aromatic and heteroaromatic diamines in 54-89% yields, in 73-94% de and ?98% ee has been achieved via the allylboration of the corresponding N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)dialdimines and N,N′-bis(diisobutylalumino)dialdimines with B-allyldiisopinocampheylborane in the presence of methanol, followed by alkaline hydrogen peroxide workup. One-pot synthesis of stable N,N′-bis(benzaldimine-triethylborane) complexes and subsequent allylboration to afford benzene diamines is also described.     

A novel and efficient synthesis of chiral C2-symmetric 1,4-diamines

A novel and efficient method for synthesis of (R,R)- and (S,S)-C₂-symmetric 1,4-diamines was established. The key steps are a combination of Pinacol Coupling and Corey-Winter olefination.     

Novel C1-symmetric chiral crown ethers bearing rosin acids groups: synthesis and enantiomeric recognition for ammonium salts

Four types of novel C₁-symmetric chiral crown ethers including 28-crown-8, 20-crown-6, 17-crown-5 and 14-crown-3 (9a–m) were synthesized and their enantiodiscriminating abilities with protonated primary amines (10–14) were examined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. 20-crown-6 crown ethers exhibited good chiral recognition properties toward these guests and showed different complementarity to some chiral guests, indicating that 20-crown-6 crown ethers could be used as a chiral NMR solvating agent to determine the enantiopurity of these guests. In addition, the binding model and binding site between the hosts and guests were also studied by the computational modeling and experimental calculation.     

Regioselective cleavage of the bis-benzylidene acetal of d-mannitol under oxidative and reductive conditions: a new approach to C2-symmetric chiral ligands

A highly regioselective oxidative cleavage of 1,3:4,6-di-O-benzylidene-d-mannitol was carried out using NBS and the resultant product was readily converted to the C₂-symmetric chiral ligand, (R,R)-3,4-dihydroxy-1,5-hexadiene. On the other hand, reductive cleavage of 1,3:4,6-di-O-benzylidene-d-mannitol was achieved in a highly regioselective manner using BF₃·OEt₂ and Et₃SiH to give a highly functionalized benzyl ether, which was converted to a synthetically useful C₂-symmetric bis-amino alcohol derivative.     

Carbonylation studies of Pd-methyl complexes modified with 1,4-Cs-symmetrical diphosphine ligands

Neutral palladium methyl chloride 2a-d [PdCH₃(PˆP′)Cl] and cationic palladium methyl acetonitrile mono-triflate 3a-d [PdCH₃(PˆP′)(CH₃CN)](CF₃SO₃) complexes were synthesized and fully characterized (PˆP′ = 1a-d). All the neutral and cationic complexes containing a C_s-symmetric diphosphine exist in solution as a mixture of geometric isomers. The carbonylation at atmospheric pressure of the neutral and cationic complexes revealed that migratory insertion of carbon monoxide is not stereospecific in these systems. The neutral and cationic acyl complexes were formed in situ as mixtures of stereoisomers, which were characterized by means of NMR spectroscopy.The crystal structures of [Pd(1a)Cl]₂(OTf)₂ and 2d are described.     

Copper(II)-containing C2-symmetric bistetracarboline amides in enantioselective Henry reactions

A series of new C₂-symmetric chiral diamides were synthesized from l-tryptophan and used as chiral ligands chelated with Cu(II) in enantioselective Henry reactions. Ligand 4a with CuCl₂·2H₂O (5%) showed effective catalytic efficiency in Henry reaction. High yields (up to 99%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98%) were achieved for both aromatic and aliphatic aldehyde substrates.     

Olefin insertion in Pd-acyl complexes modified with 1,4-Cs-symmetrical diphosphine ligands

The insertion of ethene and propene was investigated in palladium(II) acyl complexes of the type [PdC(O)CH₃(P^∧P′)(CH₃CN)](OTf) modified with the C_s-symmetric diphosphines 2-4 and the parent ligand 1, described by C_2v-symmetry and taken as a reference.Ethene insertion was investigated for acyl complexes containing the ligands 2 and 3. Two insertion products formed in a ratio of approximately 1:1 for both systems, irrespective of the electronic properties of the ligands.Propene as an α-olefin can insert according to a 1,2- or 2,1-insertion mode into a palladium acyl bond, arising regioselectivity issues. Moreover, due to the C_s-symmetry of the ligands, two stereoisomers can result upon insertion, as the alkyl group of the formed five-membered metallacycle can be cis or trans to each non-equivalent moiety. Propene insertion was indeed neither stereo- nor regioselective in the cases of 3 and 4, in which the products arising from both 1,2- and 2,1-insertion were observed. 2 displayed total control of stereo- and regioselectivity, with the formation of one primary insertion product. Similar regioselectivity was observed for the reference ligand 1. The regioisomeric distribution was different from equimolar for propene insertion, where the ratio of the products might be controlled by a combination of steric and electronic factors.     

Synthesis and structure of C2-symmetric N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of palladium

The first 9- and 11-membered cis and trans C₂-symmetric benzimidazol-2-ylidene palladium(II) complexes based on a trans-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxalane backbone were synthesised and the configuration of the complexes was elucidated via NMR and X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of a C3-symmetric macrocycle with alternating sugar amino acid and tyrosine residues

A C₃-symmetric macrocycle with alternating sugar amino acid and tyrosine residues was synthesized in seven steps from tyrosine tert-butyl ester and a sugar amino acid precursor derived from D-glucosamine. An Fmoc-protected D-glucosamine derivative was oxidized at C-6 to give the sugar amino acid, which was immediately coupled to tyrosine tert-butyl ester to produce an orthogonally protected building block. This building block was subsequently elongated to the trimer via the dimer, and finally cyclized to give the C₃-symmetric macrocycle.     

InCl3-catalyzed synthesis of C-pyrrolyl glycosides via tandem condensation of aminosugars and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in water

Various C-pyrrolyl glycosides were obtained through tandem condensation of aminosugars (d-glucosamine and d-galactosamine) and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds under green conditions in moderate to good yields. The reactions were carried out in the presence of 10 mol % InCl₃ in water at 50 °C. A reaction mechanism through carbocation intermediates was proposed.     

Reactivity of RuO species in RuO2/CeO2 catalysts prepared by a wet reduction method

The paper deals with the reactivity of RuO₂/CeO₂ prepared by a wet reduction method: ruthenium was supported on Ce(OH)₃, which was precipitated by alkali-hydrolysis of Ce(NO₃)₃, under a reduction condition with formaldehyde at pH 11 and transformed into RuO₂/CeO₂ catalysts by calcination in air at 773 K. The catalysts were investigated with an ESR technique and were tested for oxidation of propylene. They had no ESR signals by themselves at room temperature, but gave two sets of anisotropic signals upon contact with propylene. These signals were derived from the reaction products between RuO and propylene. The intensities of the signals were kept unchanged at room temperature for more than 1 h in the absence of excess propylene. The signals decayed in the presence of excess propylene and the upfield signal decayed more rapidly. A prior heating of the catalyst in air at 473 K or above caused the increase in the intensity of the upfield signal. The time course of the signal changes discriminated between ethylene and olefins with allylic hydrogen toward RuO species.     

New C2-symmetry diols accumulating one stereogenic axis and two stereogenic centers

Herein we report a protocol for the enantioselective synthesis of the three stereoisomers of 1,1′-(1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diyl)bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethanol) and their characterization. These compounds, that combine axial and central chirality, might present interesting properties for enantiorecognition. Different reduction processes were applied to racemic and enantiopure 1,1′-(1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diyl)bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethanone) allowing the isolation of the corresponding ketols, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-[2′-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-hydroxyethyl)-1,1′-binaphthalen-2-yl]ethanone, and the named diols.     

Solvothermal Synthesis of Superfine Li1−xMn2O4−σ Powders

Superfine Li_1−xMn₂O_4−σ powders were successfully synthesized by the alcohol-thermal method using 0.01 mol of MnO₂, 0.01mol of LiOH·H₂O, and 0.06mol of NaOH as starting materials at 160-200°C. The products are characterized by XRD, TEM, ED, BET, and ICP. Results show that the Li_0.74Mn₂O_3.74 powder prepared at 200°C has an average size of 180 nm with BET surface areas of 16.44 m²/g. A possible formation mechanism is proposed. It was concluded that the alcohol acts not only as the solvent but also as the reducing agent in the synthesis of Li_1−xMn₂O_4−σ powders. The effects of reaction temperature and the contents of NaOH and LiOH on the formation of single phase Li_1−xMn₂O_4−σ were investigated.     

Enzyme mimics of spinel-type CoxNi1−xFe2O4 magnetic nanomaterial for eletroctrocatalytic oxidation of hydrogen peroxide

A series of spinel-type Co_xNi_1−xFe₂O₄ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) magnetic nanomaterials were solvothermally synthesized as enzyme mimics for the eletroctrocatalytic oxidation of H₂O₂. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope were employed to characterize the composition, structure and morphology of the material. The electrochemical properties of spinel-type Co_xNi_1−xFe₂O₄ with different (Co/Ni) molar ratio toward H₂O₂ oxidation were investigated, and the results demonstrated that Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄ modified carbon paste electrode (Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄/CPE) possessed the best electrocatalytic activity for H₂O₂ oxidation. Under optimum conditions, the calibration curve for H₂O₂ determination on Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄/CPE was linear in a wide range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁸–1.0 × 10⁻³ M with low detection limit of 3.0 × 10⁻⁹ M (S/N = 3). The proposed Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄/CPE was also applied to the determination of H₂O₂ in commercial toothpastes with satisfactory results, indicating that Co_xNi_1−xFe₂O₄ is a promising hydrogen peroxidase mimics for the detection of H₂O₂.     

InBr3/Cu(OTf)2-catalyzed C-alkylation of pyrroles and indoles with α-diazocarbonyl compounds

Pyrroles and indoles react smoothly with α-diazocarbonyl compounds in the presence of 10 mol% of InBr₃ under mild conditions to afford the corresponding 2- and 3-alkyl pyrrole and 3-alkyl indole derivatives, respectively, in good yields with high selectivity.