λ‐Orthogonal Pericyclic Macromolecular Photoligation

A photochemical strategy enabling λ‐orthogonal reactions is introduced to construct macromolecular architectures and to encode variable functional groups with site‐selective precision into a single molecule by the choice of wavelength. λ‐Orthogonal pericyclic reactions proceed independently of one another by the selection of functional groups that absorb light of specific wavelengths. The power of the new concept is shown by a one‐pot reaction of equimolar quantities of maleimide with two polymers carrying different maleimide‐reactive endgroups, that is, a photoactive diene (photoenol) and a nitrile imine (tetrazole). Under selective irradiation at λ=310–350 nm, any maleimide (or activated ene) end‐capped compound reacts exclusively with the photoenol functional polymer. After complete conversion of the photoenol, subsequent irradiation at λ=270–310 nm activates the reaction of the tetrazole group with functional enes. The versatility of the approach is shown by λ‐orthogonal click reactions of complex maleimides, functional enes, and polymers to the central polymer scaffold.     

Synthesis and Reaction of the First 1,2‐Oxaphosphetane Complexes

While P^V 1,2‐oxaphosphetanes are well known from the Wittig reaction, their P^III analogues are still unexplored. Herein, the synthesis and reactions of the first 1,2‐oxaphosphetane complexes are presented, which were achieved by reaction of the phosphinidenoid complex [Li(12‐crown‐4)(solv)][(OC)₅W{(Me₃Si)₂HCPCl}] with different epoxides. The title compounds appeared to be stable in toluene up to 100 °C, before unselective decomposition started. Acid‐induced ring expansion with benzonitrile resulted in selective formation of the first complex bearing a 1,3,4‐oxazaphosphacyclohex‐2‐ene ligand.     

The First Total Synthesis of 4,4′-Biisofraxidin

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Five N′‐benzylidene‐N‐methylpyrazine‐2‐carbohydrazides

The compounds N′‐benzylidene‐N‐methylpyrazine‐2‐carbohydrazide, C₁₃H₁₂N₄O, (IIa), N′‐(2‐methoxybenzylidene)‐N‐methylpyrazine‐2‐carbohydrazide, C₁₄H₁₄N₄O₂, (IIb), N′‐(4‐cyanobenzylidene)‐N‐methylpyrazine‐2‐carbohydrazide dihydrate, C₁₄H₁₁N₅O·2H₂O, (IIc), N‐methyl‐N′‐(2‐nitrobenzylidene)pyrazine‐2‐carbohydrazide, C₁₃H₁₁N₅O₃, (IId), and N‐methyl‐N′‐(4‐nitrobenzylidene)pyrazine‐2‐carbohydrazide, C₁₃H₁₁N₅O₃, (IIe), have dihedral angles between the pyrazine rings and the benzene rings in the range 55–78°. These methylated pyrazine‐2‐carbohydrazides have supramolecular structures which are formed by weak C—H...O/N hydrogen bonds, with the exception of (IIc) which is hydrated. There are π–π stacking interactions in all five compounds. Three of these structures are compared with their nonmethylated counterparts, which have dihedral angles between the pyrazine rings and the benzene rings in the range 0–6°.     

The Mukaiyama Aldol Reaction: 40 Years of Continuous Development

A directed cross‐aldol reaction of silyl enol ethers with carbonyl compounds, such as aldehydes and ketones, promoted by a Lewis acid, a reaction which is now widely known as the Mukaiyama aldol reaction. It was first reported in 1973, and this year marks the 40th anniversary. The directed cross‐aldol reactions mediated by boron enolates and tin(II) enolates also emerged from the Mukaiyama laboratory. These directed cross‐aldol reactions have become invaluable tools for the construction of stereochemically complex molecules from two carbonyl compounds. This Minireview provides a succinct historical overview of their discoveries and the early stages of their development.     

Reaction of Phenanthrene‐9,10‐dione with Phenanthrene‐9,10‐diol: Synthesis and Characterization of the First ortho‐Quinhydrone Derivative

Treatment of phenanthrene‐9,10‐dione (PQ) with phenanthrene‐9,10‐diol (PQH₂), as prepared by catalytic hydrogenation of PQ, in toluene solution or in the solid state afforded crystalline ‘9,10‐phenanthrenequinhydrone’ (PQH), the first example of an ortho‐quinhydrone. PQH was characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods, including X‐ray and CP/MAS ¹³C‐NMR analyses. The crystal structure of PQH showed pairs of planar molecules linked by H‐bonds and organized in columns parallel to the crystallographic axis a. The solid‐state structure of PQH was compared with those of the parent compounds, PQ and PQH₂, the latter being reported for the first time. PQH was found to be stable in the solid state only, the components PQ and PQH₂ being formed upon dissolution in media of even low polarity such as toluene.     

The Pseudo‐Michael Reaction of 2‐Hydrazinylidene‐1‐Arylimidazolidines with Diethyl Ethoxymethylenemalonate

The pseudo‐Michael reaction of 2‐hydrazinylidene‐1‐arylimidazolidines with diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate (DEEM) was investigated. The reaction yields the chain adduct, namely diethyl{[2‐(1‐arylimidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)hydrazinyl]methylidene}propanedioates. This is contrary to the pseudo‐Michael reaction of DEEM with 1‐aryl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐amines that does not allow isolation of chain derivatives and leads to cyclic imidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidine derivatives while even at thermodynamic control. At first cyclization of diethyl{[2‐(1‐arylimidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)hydrazinyl]methylidene}propanedioates leads to ethyl 1‐aryl‐5(1H,8H)oxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐imidazo[2,1‐c][1,2,4]triazepine‐6‐carboxylates. 1,5‐Sigmatropic shift, following the cyclization, caused isomerization of 5(1H,8H)oxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐imidazo[2,1‐c][1,2,4]triazepine‐6‐carboxylates to ethyl 1‐aryl‐5(1H)hydroxy‐2,3‐dihydroimidazo[2,1‐c][1,2,4]triazepine‐6‐carboxylates. Presence of both isomers in the reaction product was detected in the NMR spectra. The structure of all the compounds was confirmed with spectroscopic studies (¹H NMR and MS). The structure of diethyl{[2‐(1‐phenylimidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)hydrazinyl]methylidene}propanedioate was also confirmed by X‐ray crystallography. In the addition reaction, thermodynamics and HOMO–LUMO orbitals of the reactants were studied by using quantum chemical calculations.     

Ritter Reaction of 1‐Aryl‐1‐Fluoro‐2‐Haloethanes

Fluorinated phenethyl bromides 1,2 , and 3 , prove to be totally inert under Ritter reaction conditions in the presence of either SnCl₄ or AgNO₃, due to the strong deactivation by the gem‐difluoro unit. Subjecting 2‐bromo‐1‐fluoro‐1‐phenylethane to SnCl₄ in MeCN at elevated temperatures led to formation of 2‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐4,5‐dihydrooxazole.     

First Experimental and Theoretical Kinetic Study of the Reaction of 4‐Hydroxy‐4‐methyl 2‐pentanone as a Function of Temperature

In this work, experimental and theoretical rate coefficients were determined for the first time for the gas‐phase reaction of 4‐hydroxy‐4‐methyl‐2‐pentanone (4H4M2P) with OH radicals as a function of temperature. Experimental studies were carried out over the pressure range of 5–80 Torr and the temperature range of 280–365 K, by using a cryogenically cooled cell coupled to the pulsed laser photolysis‐laser induced fluorescence (PLP–LIF) technique. A detailed oxidation mechanism of 4H4M2P with OH radicals was discussed theoretically under three hydrogen abstraction pathways by using density functional theory calculations and wave function based MP2 method. Single‐point energy calculations were performed at CCSD(T) level of theory with 6–311++G(d,p) basis set. The H‐atom abstraction from the ‐CH₂ group was found to be the dominant channel. The reaction force analysis predicts that the abstraction process is mainly dominated by structural rearrangement. Linear kinetic behavior for all the pathways was found in the range of 278–365 K. An atmospheric lifetime less than 3 days was evaluated for 4H4M2P with respect to its reaction with OH, indicating that the reaction with OH of 4H4M2P may be competitive with losses via photolysis.     

Five related N′‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethanimidoyl)benzene‐1‐carboximidamides

In the solid state, 4‐methoxy‐N′‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethanimidoyl)benzene‐1‐carboximidamide, C₁₀H₁₀Cl₃N₃O, (I), N′‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethanimidoyl)benzene‐1‐carboximidamide, C₉H₈Cl₃N₃, (II), 4‐chloro‐N′‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethanimidoyl)benzene‐1‐carboximidamide, C₉H₇Cl₄N₃, (III), 4‐bromo‐N′‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethanimidoyl)benzene‐1‐carboximidamide, C₉H₇BrCl₃N₃, (IV), and 4‐trifluoromethyl‐N′‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethanimidoyl)benzene‐1‐carboximidamide, C₁₀H₇Cl₃F₃N₃, (V), display strong intramolecular N—H...N hydrogen bonding across the chelate ring and also intramolecular N—H...Cl contacts. Additional intermolecular hydrogen bonds link the molecules into chains, double chains or sheets in all cases except for compound (V). For compound (II), there are three independent molecules per asymmetric unit.