An efficient method for the synthesis of methyl 11α-amino-3α,7α-diacetoxy-12-oxo-5β-cholan-24-oate

The synthesis of methyl 11α-azido-3α,7α-diacetoxy-12-oxo-5β-cholan-24-oate, methyl 11β-azido-3α,7α-diacetoxy-12-oxo-5β-cholan-24-oate and methyl 11α-amino-3α,7α-diacetoxy-12-oxo-5β-cholan-24-oate have been achieved. Mechanistic aspects for the decomposition of steroidal azidoketones to its enamines are discussed.     

Regio- and stereoselective introduction of 15β-hydroxy group and side chains to steroids by the palladium-catalyzed reaction of 1,3-diene monoepoxide

The Pd-catalyzed reaction of 1,3-diene monoepoxides with carbonucleophiles is applied to the regio- and stereoselective introduction of 15β-hydroxy group and side chains to steroid nuclei. 3β-Hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one (15) was converted to 15,16β-epoxy-Δ¹⁷⁽²⁰⁾ isoheptylidene steroid 20 and ethylidene steroid 21. The former was subjected to the Pd-catalyzed reaction with dimethyl malonate and then converted to 15β-hydroxycholesterol (29). Similarly, 15β-hydroxyisocholesterol (32) was obtained from the ethylidene steroid 21 using the Pd-catalyzed reaction of methyl 3-oxo-5-methylhexanoate (24) as a key reaction.     

Preparation, structures, and haptotropic rearrangement of novel dinuclear ruthenium complexes, (μ2,η:η-guaiazulene)Ru2(CO)4(CNR)

Novel isonitrile derivatives of a diruthenium carbonyl complex, (μ₂,η³:η⁵-guaiazulene)Ru₂(CO)₅ (2), were synthesized by substitution of a CO ligand by an isonitrile, and were subjected to studies on thermal and photochemical haptotropic interconversion. Treatment of 2 (a 45:55 mixture of two haptotropic isomers, 2-A and 2-B) with RNC at room temperature resulted in coordination of RNC and alternation of the coordination mode of the guaiazulene ligand to form (μ₂,η¹:η⁵-guaiazulene)Ru₂(CO)₅(CNR), 5d–5f, [5d; R=^tBu, 5e; 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂, or 5f; 2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃] in moderate to good yields. Thermal dissociation of a CO ligand from 5 at 60 °C resulted in quantitative formation of a desirable isonitrile analogue of 2, (μ₂,η³:η⁵-guaiazulene)Ru₂(CO)₄(CNR), 4d–4f, [4d; R=^tBu, 4e; 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂, or 4f; 2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃], as a 1:1 mixture of the two haptotropic isomers. A direct synthetic route from 2 to 4d–4f was alternatively discovered; treatment of 2 with one equivalent of RNC at 60 °C gave 4d–4f in moderate yields. All of the new compounds were characterized by spectroscopy, and structures of 5d (R=^tBu) and 4d-A (R=^tBu) were determined by crystallography. Thermal and photochemical interconversion between the two haptotropic isomers of 4d–4f revealed that the isomer ratios in the thermal equilibrium and in the photostatic state were in the range of 48:52–54:46.     

Determination of critical micellar concentrations of cholic acid and its keto derivatives

The critical micellar concentration (CMC) values of keto derivatives of cholic acid (3,12-dihydroxy-7-oxo-5β-cholanoic acid, 3,7-dihydroxy-12-oxo-5β-cholanoic acid, 12-hydroxy-3,7-dioxo-5β-cholanoic acid, 3-hydroxy-7,12-dioxo-5β-cholanoic acid, 3,7,12-triketo-5β-cholanoic acid) and cholic acid itself, were determined. Replacement of hydroxyl groups in cholic acid molecule with keto groups yields the derivatives whose CMC values increase with increase in the number of keto groups introduced. The CMCs of derivatives with the same number of keto groups but at different positions do not differ significantly. The relationship between the number of keto groups in the molecule of cholic acid keto derivatives and CMC value can be described by the following equation: CMC = 43 number of keto groups + 14.667. The effect of NaCl concentration on CMC increases with increase in the number of keto groups.     

Highly stereoselective reduction of methyl ketone complexes of the chiral Lewis acid [(η-C5H5)Re(NO)(PPh3)] by K(s-C4H9)3BH; synthesis of optically active secondary alcohols and derivatives

Reaction of optically active ketone complexes (+)-(R)-[(η⁵-C₅H₅)Re(NO)-(PPh₃)(η¹-O=C(R)(CH₃)]⁺ BF₄⁻ (R = CH₂CH₃, CH(CH₃)₂m C(CH₃)₃, C₆H₅) with K(s-C₄H₉)₃BH gives alkoxide complexes (+)-(RS)-(η⁵-C₅H₅)Re(NO)(PPh₃)-(OCH(R)CH₃) (73–90%) in 80–98% de. The alkoxide ligand is then converted to Mosher esters (93–99%) of 79–98% de.     

Synthesis of C-24 β-lactams of bile acids

Methyl 3α-hydroxy-5β-cholan-24-oate III and methyl 3α,12α-dihydroxy-5β-cholan-24-oate IV were converted into the respective hydrazides V and VI by reaction with hydrazine. These hydrazides were reacted with aryl aldehyde VII to give the corresponding 24-arylidene-hydrazides VIII and IX. The reaction of Schiff bases VIII and IX with monochloroacetyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine afforded β-lactams X-XI.     

Bile acids LXIX. Selective K-Selectride reduction of 3,7-diketo steroids

The K-Selectride reduction at low temperature (-45°C) of 7-oxo-5α-holestan-3β-yl acetate and methyl 7-oxo-3α-hydroxy-5(β-cholanoate resulted in almost quantitative yield of the 7α-alcohol in the 5α-compound but only moderate yield of the 5β-analog. The simultaneous reduction of two carbonyl groups in the 3 and 7 positions afforded good to excellent yields of the diaxial diol in planar steroids (methyl 3,7-dioxo-5α-cholanoate, 3,7-dioxo-5α-cholestane and methyl 3,7-dioxo-5α-cholestan-27-oate) and only 14% of 3α,7α-(OH)₂ from methyl 3,7-dioxo-5β-cholanoate.     

Is planarity of pyridin-2-yl- and pyrazin-2-yl-formamide thiosemicarbazones related to their tuberculostatic activity? X-ray structures of two pyrazine-2-carboxamide-N′-carbonothioyl-hydrazones

Crystal structures of two title compounds and several their relatives known earlier reveal conservative and characteristic features, which may be related to their tuberculostatic activity. The molecules are predominantly planar due to conjugation through five successive bonds in the zwitterionic fragment S⁻–C(sp²)–N–NH⁺–C(sp²)–NH₂ and intramolecular hydrogen bonds, which prevent rotation of the adjacent pyrazine (or pyridine) ring. It has been suggested that in spatial sense such planar molecules resemble acridines intercalating with nucleic acids and that similar process may be responsible for tuberculostatic activity of the title pyrazine-2-carboxamide-N′-carbonothioyl-hydrazones.     

Structures of propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, and pivalaldehyde complexes of the chiral rhenium fragment [(η-C5H5)Re(NO)(PPh3)]

The crystal structures of propionaldehyde complex (RS,SR)-(η⁵-C₅H₅)Re(NO)(PPh₃)(η²-O=CHCH₂CH₃)]⁺ PF₆⁻ (1b⁺ PF₆^s−; monoclinic, P2₁/c (No. 14), a = 10.166 (1) Å, b = 18.316(1) Å, c = 14.872(2) Å, β = 100.51(1)°, Z = 4) and butyraldehyde complex (RS,SR)-[(η⁵-C₅H₅)Re(NO)(PPh₃)(η²-O=CHCH₂CH₂CH₃)]⁺ PF₆⁻ (1c⁺PF₆⁻; monoclinic, P2₁/a (No. 14), a = 14.851(1) Å, b = 18.623(3) Å, c = 10.026(2) Å, β = 102.95(1)°, Z = 4) have been determined at 22°C and −125°C, respectively. These exhibit C O bond lengths (1.35(1), 1.338(5) Å) that are intermediate between those of propionaldehyde (1.209(4) Å) and 1-propanol (1.41 Å). Other geometric features are analyzed. Reaction of [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Re(NO)(PPh₃)(ClCH₂Cl)]⁺ BF₄⁻ and pivalaldehyde gives [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Re(NO)(PPh₃)(η²-O=CHC(CH₃)₃)]⁺BF₄⁻ (81%), the spectroscopic properties of which establish a π C O binding mode.     

Synthesis, structure and hydrogenation catalytic activity of [Ru3(μ3,η-ampy)(μ,η:η-PhC=CHPh)(CO)6(PPh3) (Hampy = 2-amino-6-methylpyridine)

The compound [RU₃(μ₃,η²- -ampy)(μ₃η¹:η²-PhC=CHPh)(CO)₆(PPh₃)₂] (1) (ampy = 2-amino-6-methylpyridinate) has been prepared by reaction of [RU₃(η-H)(μ₃,η²- ampy) (μ,η¹:η²-PhC=CHPh)(CO)₇(PPh₃)] with triphenylphosphine at room temperature. However, the reaction of [RU₃(μ-H)(μ₃, η² -ampy)(CO)₇(PPh₃)₂] with diphenylacetylene requires a higher temperature (110°C) and does not give complex 1 but the phenyl derivative [RU₃(μ₃,η²-ampy)(μ,η ¹:η² -PhC=CHPh)(μ,-PPh₂)(Ph)(CO)₅(PPh₃)] (2). The thermolysis of complex 1 (110°C) also gives complex 2 quantitatively. Both 1 and 2 have been characterized by0 X-ray diffraction methods. Complex 1 is a catalyst precursor for the homogeneous hydrogenation of diphenylacetylene to a mixture of cis- and trans -stilbene under mild conditions (80°C, 1 atm. of H₂), although progressive deactivation of the catalytic species is observed. The dihydride [RU₃(μ-H)₂(μ ₃,η²-ampy)(μ,η¹:η²- PhC=CHPh)(CO)₅(PPh₃)₂] (3), which has been characterized spectroscopically, is an intermediate in the catalytic hydrogenation reaction.     

Monodentate and bidentate trifluoroacetato ligands in bis(trifluoroacetato)-(N-methyl-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)thallium(III)—a new dynamic 4:3 piano stool seven-coordinate geometry

The crystal structure of bis(trifluoroacetato)-(N-methyl-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato) thallium(III), Tl(N---Me---tpp)(CF₃CO₂)₂ (2), was established and the coordination sphere around the Tl³⁺ ion is described as 4:3 tetragonal base–trigonal base piano stool seven-coordinate geometry in which the two cis CF₃CO₂ ⁻ groups occupy two apical sites. The plane of the three pyrrole nitrogen atoms [i.e. N(2), N(3) and N(4)] strongly bonded to Tl³⁺ is adopted as the reference plane 3N. The pyrrole N(1) ring bearing the methyl group [i.e. C(45)H₃] is the most deviated one from the 3N plane making a dihedral angle of 23.3° whereas smaller angles of 9.9, 2.7 and 4.7° occur with pyrroles N(2), N(3), and N(4), respectively. Because of the larger size of the thallium(III) ion, Tl is considerably out of the 3N plane; its displacement of 1.02 Å is in the same direction as that of the two apical CF₃CO₂ ⁻ ligands. The intermolecular trifluoroacetate exchange process for 2 in CD₂Cl₂ solvent is examined through ¹⁹F and ¹³C NMR temperature-dependent measurements. In the slow-exchange region, the CF₃ and carbonyl (CO) carbons of the CF₃CO₂ ⁻ groups in 2 are separately located at δ 114.3 [¹J(C–F)=290 Hz, ³J(Tl–C)=411 Hz] and 155.1 [²J(C–F)=37 Hz, ²J(Tl–C)=204 Hz], respectively, at −106 °C. In the same slow-exchange region, the fluorine atoms of 2, Tl(N---Me---tpp)(CF₃CO₂)⁺ and the free CF₃CO₂ ⁻ are located at δ −73.76 [⁴J(Tl–F)=44 Hz], −73.30 [⁴J(Tl–F)=22 Hz], and −76.15 ppm at −97 °C, respectively.     

Bonding and structural preferences of indenyl complexes: MInd2Ln (n=0–3)

A search of bis(indenyl) derivatives available in the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre was performed and the two main families, MInd₂ and MInd₂L_n (n=1–3), were structurally analyzed in detail. DFT calculations were performed for some relevant compounds in order to understand their electronic structure and interpret the experimental data. For MInd₂ complexes, the rotation angles between the rings show a wide range of values, depending both on the electron count and on the steric effects of the ring substituents. Hapticity change toward η³ is induced by extra electrons, but a perfect η³ coordination is never observed. For the electron deficient Cr(II) complexes, two isomers having two and four unpaired electrons are known for different substituents, and the calculated energies in models are very close, as expected. The MInd₂L₂ family is the largest one and examples of η³ coordination can be found. Both electronic and steric effects play a major role in determining the structural parameters of these species, but in the absence of bulky ring substituents, the rings are fluxional.     

Tautomeric properties, conformations and structure of N-(2-hydroxy-5-chlorophenyl) salicylaldimine

The crystal structure of N-(2-hydroxy-5-chlorophenyl) salicylaldimine (C₁₃H₁₀NO₂Cl) was determined by X-ray analysis. It crystallizes orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a=12.967(2) Å, b=14.438(3) Å, c=6.231(3) Å, V=1166.5(6) Å³, Z=4, D_c=1.41 g cm⁻³ and μ(MoK)=0.315 mm⁻¹. The title compound is thermochromic and the molecule is nearly planar. Both tautomeric forms (keto and enol forms in 68(3) and 32(3)%, respectively) are present in the solid state. The molecules contain strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds, N1–H1O1/O2 (2.515(1) and 2.581(2) Å) for the keto form and O1–H01N1 for the enol one. There is also strong intermolecular O2–HO1 hydrogen bonding (2.599(2) Å) between neighbouring molecules. Minimum energy conformations AM1 were calculated as a function of the three torsion angles, θ₁(N1–C7–C6–C5), θ₂(C8–N1–C7–C6) and θ₃(C9–C8–N1–C7), varied every 10°. Although the molecule is nearly planar, the AM1 optimized geometry of the title compound is not planar. The non-planar conformation of the title compound corresponding to the optimized X-ray structure is the most stable conformation in all calculations.     

Hydrogenation ofmethyl 3a-acetoxy-23-oxo-5b-cholan-24-oatecatalyzed by cinchona alkaloid-modified Pt-alumina catalyst

Summary Methyl-3α-acetoxy-23-oxo-5β-cholan-24-oate is hydrogenated with 78% enantioselection at C23 atom over Pt-alumina catalyst modified with cinchona alkaloids, in liquid phase under mild experimental conditions (293-297 K, hydrogen pressure: 1 bar, concentration of modifiers: 0.1 mmol/L, solvent: THF).     

Mixed-metal cluster chemistry Part 20. Syntheses, crystal structures and electrochemical studies of W2Ir2(μ-L)(CO)8(η-C5H4Me)2 (L=dppe, dppf)

The 60-electron tetrahedral clusters W₂Ir₂(μ-L)(CO)₈(η⁵-C₅H₄Me)₂ [L=dppe (2), dppf (3)] have been prepared from reaction between W₂Ir₂(CO)₁₀(η⁵-C₅H₄Me)₂ (1) and the corresponding diphosphine in 52 and 66% yields, respectively. A structural study of 2 reveals that three edges of a WIr₂ face are spanned by bridging carbonyls, that the iridium-ligated diphosphine coordinates diaxially and that the tungsten-bound methylcyclopentadienyls coordinate axially and apically with respect to the plane of bridging carbonyls. A structural study of 3 reveals that the dppf ligand bridges an Ir---Ir bond which is also spanned by a bridging carbonyl; tungsten-ligated methylcyclopentadienyl ligands and terminal carbonyls result in electronic asymmetry (17e and 19e iridium atoms) in the electron-precise cluster. Both clusters show two reversible one-electron oxidation processes and an irreversible two-electron reduction; the dppf-containing cluster 3 has a further, irreversible, one-electron oxidation process. UV–vis-NIR spectroelectrochemical studies of the 2→2⁺→2²⁺ progression reveal the appearance of a low-energy transition on oxidation to 2⁺ which persists on further oxidation to 2²⁺.     

Structural and spectral studies of N-2-(pyridyl)-, N-2-(3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-picolyl)- and N-2-(4,6-lutidyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthioureas

Structures of the following compounds have been obtained: N-(2-pyridyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, PyTu2SMe, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=11.905(3), b=4.7660(8), c=23,532(6) Å, β=95.993(8)°, V=1327.9(5) ų and Z=4; N-2-(3-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenyl-thiourea, 3PicTu2SeMe, monoclinic, C2/c, a=22.870(5), b=7.564(1), c=16.941(4) Å, β=98.300(6)°, V=2899.9(9) ų and Z=8; N-2-(4-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, 4PicTu2SMe, monoclinic P2₁/a, a=9.44(5), b=18.18(7), c=8.376(12) Å, β=91.62(5)°, V=1437(1) ų and Z=4; N-2-(5-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, 5PicTu2SMe, monoclinic, C2/c, a=21.807(2), b=7.5940(9), c=17.500(2) Å, β=93.267(6)°, V=2893.3(5) ų and Z=8; N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenylthiourea, 6PicTu2SMe, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=8.499(4), b=7.819(2), c=22.291(8) Å, β=90.73(3)°, V=1481.2(9) ų and Z=4 and N-2-(4,6-lutidyl)-N′-2-thiomethoxyphenyl-thiourea, 4,6LutTu2SMe, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=11.621(1), b=9.324(1), c=14.604(1) Å, β=96.378(4)°, V=1572.4(2) ų and Z=4. Comparisons with other N-2-pyridyl-N′-arylthioureas having substituents in the 2-position of the aryl ring are included.     

Hydrogenmaleato bridged supramolecular double chains via π–π stacking interactions: syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties of ∞[Cu(phen)X(HL)2/2] with X=Cl (1), NO3 (2) and H2L=maleic acid

Two novel hydrogen maleato (HL) bridged Cu(II) complexes _∞¹[Cu(phen)Cl(HL)_2/2] 1 and _∞¹[Cu(phen)(NO₃)(HL)_2/2] 2 were obtained from reactions of 1,10-phenanthroline, maleic acid with CuCl₂·2H₂O and Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O, respectively, in CH₃OH/H₂O (1:1 v/v) at pH=2.0 and the crystal structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. Both complexes crystallize isostructurally in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with cell dimensions: 1 a=8.639(2) Å, b=15.614(3) Å, c=11.326(2) Å, β=94.67(3)°, Z=4, D_calc=1.720 g/cm³ and 2 a=8.544(1) Å, b=15.517(2) Å, c=12.160(1) Å, β=90.84(8)°, Z=4, D_calc=1.734 g/cm³. In both complexes, the square pyramidally coordinated Cu atoms are bridged by hydrogen maleato ligands into 1D chains with the coordinating phen ligands parallel on one side. Interdigitation of the chelating phen ligands of two neighbouring chains via π–π stacking interactions forms supramolecular double chains, which are then arranged in the crystal structures according to pseudo 1D close packing patterns. Both complexes exhibit similar paramagnetic behavior obeying Curie–Weiss laws χ_m(T−θ)=0.414 cm³ mol⁻¹ K with the Weiss constants θ=−1.45, −1.0 K for 1 and 2, respectively.     

Studies in stereochemistry—I Stereospecific routes to trans- anti- and cis- syn-Δ-dodecahydrophenanthrenes

Reduction of trans-1-oxo-7-methoxy-1,2,3,4,9,10,11,12-octahydrophenanthrene (XI) by lithium tri-t-butoxyaluminohydride gave trans-1β-hydroxy-7-methoxy-1,2,3,4,9,10,11,12-octahydrophenanthrene (XII) which on lithium—liquid ammonia reduction gave trans-anti-1β-hydroxy-7-oxo-Δ⁸⁽¹⁴⁾-dodecahydrophenanthrene (XIII). Reduction of cis-1-oxo-7-methoxy-1,2,3,4,9,10,11,12-octahydrophenanthrene (XV) by sodium borohydride gave cis-1-hydroxy-7-methoxy-1,2,3,4,9,10,11,12-octahydrophenanthrene (XVI) which on lithium—liquid ammonia reduction gave cis-syn-1-hydroxy-7-oxo-Δ⁸⁽¹⁴⁾-dodecahydrophenanthrene (XVII).     

Hydrothermal synthesis and structure of one-dimensional Co(dien)2(VO3)3·(H2O) (dien=diethylenetriamine)

One-dimensional Co(dien)₂(VO₃)₃·(H₂O) was prepared from the hydrothermal reaction of NH₄VO₃, Co₂O₃, diethylenetriamine (dien) and H₂O at 130 °C. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c with a=16.1581(6) Å, b=8.7006(3) Å, c=13.9893(4) Å, β=103.1483(11)°, V=1915.13(11) Å³, Z=4, and R₁=0.0268 for 3060 observed reflections. Single crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the structure is composed of infinite one-dimensional chains formed by corner-sharing VO₄ tetrahedra with Co(dien)³⁺ complex cations and crystallization water molecules occupying the interchain positions, which are held together to a three-dimensional network via extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions. The compound, with a new zig-zag conformation of metavanadate chains, is the first example of vanadium oxides incorporating trivalent transition metal coordination groups. Other characterizations by elemental analysis, IR and thermal analysis are also described.     

Reactions of the cationic diruthenium carbonyl complex [Ru2(μ-dppm)2(CO)4(μ,η-O2CMe)] with bidentate ligands; intramolecularly assisted stereospecific synthesis via the second-sphere face-to-face π–π stacking interactions

The reactions of the diruthenium carbonyl complexes [Ru₂(μ-dppm)₂(CO)₄(μ,η²-O₂CMe)]X (X=BF₄⁻ (1a) or PF₆⁻ (1b)) with neutral or anionic bidentate ligands (L,L) afford a series of the diruthenium bridging carbonyl complexes [Ru₂(μ-dppm)₂(μ-CO)₂(η²-(L,L))₂]X_n ((L,L)=acetate (O₂CMe), 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), acetylacetonate (acac), 8-quinolinolate (quin); n=0, 1, 2). Apparently with coordination of the bidentate ligands, the bound acetate ligand of [Ru₂(μ-dppm)₂(CO)₄(μ,η²-O₂CMe)]⁺ either migrates within the same complex or into a different one, or is simply replaced. The reaction of [Ru₂(μ-dppm)₂(CO)₄(μ,η²-O₂CMe)]⁺ (1) with 2,2′-bipyridine produces [Ru₂(μ-dppm)₂(μ-CO)₂(η²-O₂CMe)₂] (2), [Ru₂(μ-dppm)₂(μ-CO)₂(η²-O₂CMe)(η²-bpy)]⁺ (3), and [Ru₂(μ-dppm)₂(μ-CO)₂(η²-bpy)₂]²⁺ (4). Alternatively compound 2 can be prepared from the reaction of 1a with MeCO₂H–Et₃N, while compound 4 can be obtained from the reaction of 3 with bpy. The reaction of 1b with acetylacetone–Et₃N produces [Ru₂(μ-dppm)₂(μ-CO)₂(η²-O₂CMe)(η²-acac)] (5) and [Ru₂(μ-dppm)₂(μ-CO)₂(η²-acac)₂] (6). Compound 2 can also react with acetylacetone–Et₃N to produce 6. Surprisingly [Ru₂(μ-dppm)₂(μ-CO)₂(η²-quin)₂] (7) was obtained stereospecifically as the only one product from the reaction of 1b with 8-quinolinol–Et₃N. The structure of 7 has been established by X-ray crystallography and found to adopt a cis geometry. Further, the stereospecific reaction is probably caused by the second-sphere π–π face-to-face stacking interactions between the phenyl rings of dppm and the electron-deficient six-membered ring moiety of the bound quinolinate (i.e. the N-included six-membered ring) in 7. The presence of such interactions is indeed supported by an observed charge-transfer band in a UV–vis spectrum.