Basicity of Phenyl‐ and Methyl‐Substituted 1,2,4‐Oxadiazoles

The basicity of a series of 3,5‐disubstituted 1,2,4‐oxadiazoles in aqueous H₂SO₄ was examined by means of UV and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy. The experimental data were analyzed by the modified Yates–McClelland method to yield the following pK values: 3,5‐dimethyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole, −1.66±0.06; 3‐methyl‐5‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole, −2.61±0.02; 3‐phenyl‐5‐methyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole, −2.95±0.01; 3,5‐diphenyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole, −3.55±0.06. A pK value of ca. −3.7 was estimated for the parent unsubstituted 1,2,4‐oxadiazole based on substituents' additivity increments. Possible protonation sites of the compounds were discussed in terms of both experimental data and theoretical calculations (HF/6‐31G**). Generally, protonation is most likely to occur at N(4) of the 1,2,4‐oxadiazole ring. However, concurrent formation of both N(4)‐ and N(2)‐protonated species in comparable amounts is possible in the case of 3‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles.     

NMR Conformational Analysis and Theoretical Calculations for 2‐Aryl‐ 1,3‐dihydroxy‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazolidines

Conformational studies of 1,3‐dihydroxy‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐2‐(pyridin‐1‐yl)imidazolidine ( 1a ) and 1,3‐dihydroxy‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)imidazolidine ( 1b ), carried out by using 1D ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR and 2D HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments and with the aid of theoretical calculations, indicate that the OH groups are trans to the pyridinyl substituent. Because the two ¹H‐NMR signals of the Me groups are distinguishable and do not change between 290 and 380 K, it is proposed that 1a and 1b have each only one conformation in this temperature range. This behavior was not found with 1,3‐dihydroxy‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)imidazolidine ( 1c ) because its Me ¹H‐NMR signals cross over at 300 K. Hence, more than one conformation must be present, beyond those produced by simple inversions. Theoretical calculations including temperature and solvent effects were performed to provide further information on the conformational analysis and to help to assign the NMR data. The combination of NMR measurements and quantum‐chemical calculations is shown to be a very promising strategy for conformational analysis studies in solution.     

Design and Synthesis of (13S)‐Methyl‐Substituted Arachidonic Acid Analogues: Templates for Novel Endocannabinoids

Two novel methyl‐substituted arachidonic acid derivatives were prepared in an enantioselective manner from commercially available chiral building blocks, and were found to be excellent templates for the development of (13S)‐methyl‐substituted anandamide analogues. One of the compounds synthesized, namely, (13S,5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)‐13‐methyl‐eicosa‐5,8,11,14‐tetraenoic acid N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)amide, is an endocannabinoid analogue with remarkably high affinity for the CB1 cannabinoid receptor.     

Electrochemical Properties of Substituted 2‐Methyl‐1,4‐Naphthoquinones: Redox Behavior Predictions

In the context of the investigation of drug‐induced oxidative stress in parasitic cells, electrochemical properties of a focused library of polysubstituted menadione derivatives were studied by cyclic voltammetry. These values were used, together with compatible measurements from literature (quinones and related compounds), to build and evaluate a predictive structure–redox potential model (quantitative structure–property relationship, QSPR). Able to provide an online evaluation (through Web interface) of the oxidant character of quinones, the model is aimed to help chemists targeting their synthetic efforts towards analogues of desired redox properties     

Synthesis of Newly Substituted Pyrazoles and Substituted Pyrazolo[3,4‐b]Pyridines Based on 5‐Amino‐3‐Methyl‐1‐Phenylpyrazole

The reaction of the aminopyrazole 1 with benzenesulfonyl chloride, arenediazonium salt, chloroacetyl chloride, ethoxy methyleneamlononitrile and with ethyl 2‐cyano‐3‐ethoxyacrylate gave the substituted 3‐methyl‐1‐phenylpyrazole 2–5a,b . Compound 5b was cyclized to 6 and to 7 by treating it with AlCl₃ and with POCl₃, respectively. Compound 6 converted to 7 by boiling it in POCl₃/PCl₅. Compound 10b was produced through reaction of 9 with acetophenone. Reaction of 1 with benzylidinemalononitrile afforded 11 . New methods for preparation of 15 and 16 are described. The reaction of 8 with malononitrile, thiosemicarbazide, phenyl hydrazine and acetophenone afforded compounds 18–21 . The reaction of 21 with malononitrile gave 22 . Compounds 23–26 were produced upon reaction of 10a with malononitrile, phenyl hydrazine, thiosemicarbazide, semicarbazide and with benzaldehyde, respectively.     

Synthesis and Reactivity Comparisons of 1‐Methyl‐3‐Substituted Cyclopropene Mini‐tags for Tetrazine Bioorthogonal Reactions

Substituted cyclopropenes have recently attracted attention as stable “mini‐tags” that are highly reactive dienophiles with the bioorthogonal tetrazine functional group. Despite this interest, the synthesis of stable cyclopropenes is not trivial and their reactivity patterns are poorly understood. Here, the synthesis and comparison of the reactivity of a series of 1‐methyl‐3‐substituted cyclopropenes with different functional handles is described. The rates at which the various substituted cyclopropenes undergo Diels–Alder cycloadditions with 1,2,4,5‐tetrazines were measured. Depending on the substituents, the rates of cycloadditions vary by over two orders of magnitude. The substituents also have a dramatic effect on aqueous stability. An outcome of these studies is the discovery of a novel 3‐amidomethyl substituted methylcyclopropene tag that reacts twice as fast as the fastest previously disclosed 1‐methyl‐3‐substituted cyclopropene while retaining excellent aqueous stability. Furthermore, this new cyclopropene is better suited for bioconjugation applications and this is demonstrated through using DNA templated tetrazine ligations. The effect of tetrazine structure on cyclopropene reaction rate was also studied. Surprisingly, 3‐amidomethyl substituted methylcyclopropene reacts faster than trans‐cyclooctenol with a sterically hindered and extremely stable tert‐butyl substituted tetrazine. Density functional theory calculations and the distortion/interaction analysis of activation energies provide insights into the origins of these reactivity differences and a guide to the development of future tetrazine coupling partners. The newly disclosed cyclopropenes have kinetic and stability advantages compared to previously reported dienophiles and will be highly useful for applications in organic synthesis, bioorthogonal reactions, and materials science.     

Synthesis and Conformational Analysis of 1′‐ and 3′‐Substituted 2‐Deoxy‐2‐fluoro‐D‐ribofuranosyl Nucleosides

Convergent syntheses of the 9‐(3‐X‐2,3‐dideoxy‐2‐fluoro‐β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl)adenines 5 (X=N₃) and 7 (X=NH₂), as well as of their respective α‐anomers 6 and 8 , are described, using methyl 2‐azido‐5‐O‐benzoyl‐2,3‐dideoxy‐2‐fluoro‐β‐D ‐ribofuranoside ( 4 ) as glycosylating agent. Methyl 5‐O‐benzoyl‐2,3‐dideoxy‐2,3‐difluoro‐β‐D ‐ribofuranoside ( 12 ) was prepared starting from two precursors, and coupled with silylated N⁶‐benzoyladenine to afford, after deprotection, 2′,3′‐dideoxy‐2′,3′‐difluoroadenosine ( 13 ). Condensation of 1‐O‐acetyl‐3,5‐di‐O‐benzoyl‐2‐deoxy‐2‐fluoro‐β‐D ‐ribofuranose ( 14 ) with silylated N²‐palmitoylguanine gave, after chromatographic separation and deacylation, the N⁷‐β‐anomer 17 as the main product, along with 2′‐deoxy‐2′‐fluoroguanosine ( 15 ) and its N⁹‐α‐anomer 16 in a ratio of ca. 42 : 24 : 10. An in‐depth conformational analysis of a number of 2,3‐dideoxy‐2‐fluoro‐3‐X‐D ‐ribofuranosides (X=F, N₃, NH₂, H) as well as of purine and pyrimidine 2‐deoxy‐2‐fluoro‐D ‐ribofuranosyl nucleosides was performed using the PSEUROT (version 6.3) software in combination with NMR studies.     

5‐Methyl‐2‐thiouracil

The molecular structure of the title compound, also known as 2‐thio­thymine [systematic name: 2,3‐di­hydro‐5‐methyl‐2‐thioxopyrimidin‐4(1H)‐one], C₅H₆N₂OS, is similar to that of thymine, with only small changes in the ring structure, apart from a significant difference at the substitution site [S=C = 1.674 (1) Å]. The mol­ecules are connected by hydrogen bonds, with N—H?O = 2.755 (2) Å and N—H?S = 3.352 (1) Å. The hydrogen‐bond network is different from that in thymine, since it involves all the donor and acceptor atoms.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of cis‐β‐Methyl‐ and Phenyl‐Substituted Alkenylboronates by Platinum‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Borylation

Changing places : Intramolecular B(pin)/H exchange took place in the presence of a platinum–phosphane catalyst, giving synthetically useful cis‐β‐methyl‐substituted alkenylboronates stereoselectively (see scheme; B(pin)=4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl).

     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Arylaldehyde (Arylketone)‐(4‐Substituted phenyl‐5‐Substituted phenoxy‐Methyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐Triazole‐3‐yl)‐Thiol Acetyl Hydrazones

Fourteen novel arylaldehyde (arylketone)‐(4‐substituted phenyl‐5‐substituted phenoxy‐methyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐yl)‐thiol acetyl hydrazone derivatives ( 5a‐5g, 6a‐6g ) were synthesized by 4‐substituted phenyl‐5‐substituted phenoxy‐methyl‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thione as starting material according to substructure link principle, followed by thioetherification, hydrazide hydrazone reaction. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR and elemental analysis. Crystal structure of compounds 1b and 6d were determined by the X‐ray diffraction.     

Synthesis and Nematocidal Activity of N‐Substituted 3‐Methyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐4‐carboxamide Derivatives Against Meloidogyne incognita

A series of novel pyrazole carboxamides were designed and synthesized through multi‐step reactions from ethyl acetoacetate and triethyl orthoformate, and their structures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The preliminary insecticidal activity showed that some of them possessed good insecticidal activities against Meloidogyne incognita.     

Synthesis and Antioxidant Properties of New Substituted 8‐Methyl‐6‐phenyl‐5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐1,3,2‐benzodioxaphosphocine‐2‐oxide Derivatives

A new route for the synthesis of substituted 8‐methyl‐6‐phenyl‐5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐1,3,2‐benzodioxaphosphocine‐2‐oxide derivatives has been developed by using cinnamic acid and p‐cresol via condensation, reduction, and followed by phosphorylation steps. The title compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, and mass spectral studies and elemental analysis. The title compounds have been investigated for their antioxidant activity with respect to their IC₅₀ values using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl, NO radical scavenging activities, and reducing power assay. The results obtained from the aforementioned methods revealed that 2‐phenylamino derivatives have shown greater free radical scavenging activity when compared with those of the phenoxy derivatives and is attributed to the presence of secondary amino group, which is able to produce free radicals easily.     

Synthesis and CD Spectra of Fluoro‐ and Hydroxy‐Substituted β‐Peptides

β‐Amino acids 1 – 3 with OH and F substituents in the α‐position have been prepared (Scheme) from the natural (S)‐α‐amino acids alanine, valine, and leucine, and incorporated into β‐hexa‐ and β‐heptapeptides 4 – 12 . The peptide syntheses were performed according to a conventional solution strategy (Boc/Bn protection) with fragment coupling. The new β‐peptides with (series a ) and without (series b ) terminal protection were isolated in HPLC‐pure form and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and MALDI mass spectrometry. The chemical properties as well as the patterns of the CD spectra (Figs. 3–5) depend upon constitution (OH, F, F₂ substitution) and configuration (l or u) of the amino acid residues, upon the total number of OH and F substituents in the peptide chain, and upon the solvent used (H₂O, MeOH, CF₃CH₂OH, (CF₃)₂CHOH). No reliable clues regarding the structures can be obtained from these CD spectra. Only a full NMR analysis will be able to answer the questions: a) with which known secondary structures (Figs. 1 and 2) of β‐peptides are the OH and F derivatives compatible? b) Are new secondary structures enforced by the polar and/or H‐bonding backbone substituents? Furthermore, the β‐peptides described here will enable us to study changes in chemical, enzymatic, and metabolic stability, and in physiological properties caused by the heteroatoms.     

Manganese‐Catalyzed Direct Olefination of Methyl‐Substituted Heteroarenes with Primary Alcohols

Herein, we present the first catalytic direct olefination of methyl‐substituted heteroarenes with primary alcohols through an acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling. The reaction is catalyzed by a complex of the earth‐abundant transition metal manganese that is stabilized by a bench‐stable NNN pincer ligand derived from 2‐hydrazinylpyridine. The reaction is environmentally benign, producing only hydrogen and water as byproducts. A large number of E‐disubstituted olefins were selectively obtained with high efficiency.     

Design,Synthesis, and Bioactivity Evaluation of Novel 3‐(Substituted Phenoxy)‐6‐Methyl‐4‐(3‐Trifluoromethylphenyl) Pyridazine Derivatives

Using 3‐(4‐cyano phenoxy)‐6‐methyl‐4‐(3‐trifluoromethylphenyl) pyridazine (compound A ) as a leading compound, a total of 24 novel 3‐(substituted phenoxy)‐6‐methyl‐4‐(3‐trifluoromethylphenyl) pyridazine derivatives containing two electron‐withdrawing groups on the benzene ring (acylamine and oxime ether) were synthesized. Their herbicidal, insecticidal activities were bioassayed, and the herbicidal activity of compound CD-2 against Brassica campestris was 97.6% at 300 g/ha, which was better than the commercial herbicide diflufenican at the this concentration and is equal to the activity of the leading compound A . Compound CD-4 , CD-5 , CJ-3 , and CJ-5 displayed excellent insecticidal activity against Aphis laburni Kaltenbach (>95%). The results show that the oxime ether substitutions exhibit better bleaching and herbicidal activity than the acylamine ones. The bleaching and herbicidal activity of para‐position substitutions is better than the meta‐position ones. It seems that the para‐position on the benzene ring of oxime ether pyridazine derivatives is one of the key active sites that affect their herbicidal activities.     

10‐Methyl‐ and 9,10‐dimethyl­acridinium methyl sulfate

The title compounds, C₁₄H₁₂N⁺·CH₃O₄S^?, (I), and C₁₅H₁₄N⁺·CH₃O₄S^?, (II), respectively, crystallize with the planar 10‐methylacridinium or 9,10‐di­methyl­acridinium cations arranged in layers, parallel to the twofold axis in (I) and perpendicular to the 2₁ axis in (II). Adjacent cations in both compounds are packed in a `head‐to‐tail' manner. The methyl sulfate anion only exhibits planar symmetry in (II). The cations and anions are linked through C—H?O interactions involving three O atoms of the anion, six acridine H atoms and the CH₃ group on the N atom in (I), and the four O atoms of the anion, three acridine H atoms and the carbon‐bound CH₃ group in (II). The methyl sulfate anions are oriented differently in the two compounds relative to the cations, being nearly perpendicular in (I) but parallel in (II). Electrostatic interaction between the ions and the network of C—H?O interactions leads to relatively compact crystal lattices in both structures.     

1‐Methyl‐4‐nitraminopyridinium nitrate and 4‐nitraminopyridinium methanesulfonate

In the title compounds, C₆H₈N₃O₂⁺·NO₃^? and C₅­H₆­N₃­O₂⁺·­CH₃SO₃^?, respectively, the cations are almost planar; the twist of the nitr­amino group about the C—N and N—N bonds does not exceed 10°. The deviations from coplanarity are accounted for by intermolecular N—H?O interactions. The coplanarity of the NHNO₂ group and the phenyl ring leads to the deformation of the nitr­amino group. The C—N—N angle and one C—C—N angle at the junction of the phenyl ring and the nitr­amino group are increased from 120° by ca 6°, whereas the other junction C—C—N angle is decreased by ca 5°. Within the nitro group, the O—N—O angle is increased by ca 5° and one O—N—N angle is decreased by ca 5°, whereas the other O—N—N angle remains almost unchanged. The cations are connected to the anions by relatively strong N—H?O hydrogen bonds [shortest H?O separations 1.77 (2)–1.81 (3) Å] and much weaker C—H?O hydrogen bonds [H?O separations 2.30 (2)–2.63 (3) Å].