Synthesis of polyfunctionalized furans from 3-acetyl-1-aryl-2-pentene-1,4-diones

The BF₃-catalyzed cyclization of 3-acetyl-1-aryl-2-pentene-1,4-diones 1a-e in the presence of water in boiling tetrahydrofuran gave bis(3-acetyl-5-aryl-2-furyl)methanes 2a-e in 26-79% yields along with a small amount of 3-acetyl-5-aryl-2-methylfurans 3a-e. The exact structure of 2a was determined by X-ray crystallography. The use of a half volume of the solvent for the reaction of 1a resulted in the formation of 2,4-bis(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-3-acetyl-5-phenylfuran (4) together with 2a and 3a. A similar reaction of 1a was carried out in the presence of 3-acetyl-5-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylfuran (3d) to afford 4-(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-3-acetyl-5-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylfuran (5) in 49% yield. The BF₃-catalyzed reaction of 1a with 2,4-pentanedione in dry tetrahydrofuran at 23°C gave 3-(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one (6a) and 3-(3-acetyl-2-methyl-4-phenyl-5-furyl)-4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one (7a) in 66 and 24% yields, respectively. The product distribution depended on the reaction temperature. A similar reaction of 1b-e also yielded the corresponding trisubstituted furans 6b-e and tetrasubstituted furans 7b-e in good yields. These results suggested the presence of the furfuryl carbocation intermediate A during the reaction. The one-pot synthesis of 6a and 7a was also achieved by a similar reaction using phenylglyoxal. The deoxygenation of 1a with triphenylphosphine gave 3a in 88% yield, while 1a was treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid to yield 3-acetyl-2-chloromethyl-5-phenylfuran (8) which was quantitatively transformed in ethanol into 3-acetyl-2-ethoxymethyl-5-phenylfuran (9) and in water into 3-acetyl-5-phenylfurfuryl alcohol (10), respectively. In addition, the Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopantadiene with 1a gave the corresponding [4+2] cycloaddition products 11 and 12.     

Copper-catalyzed dimerization of chromium Fischer carbene complexes: synthesis of dialkoxytrienes and their Nazarov-type cyclization to 2-alkoxy-2-cyclopentenones

Fischer carbene complexes 1 underwent a clean ligand dimerization reaction yielding functionalized olefins and trienes 4 in the presence of copper (I) catalysts. If treated with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), trienes 4c, d, f undergo a cyclization process (Nazarov reaction) which furnishes cyclopentenone derivatives 6c, d, 7c, d and 8 in good yields. Finally, the Fischer aminocarbene 9 efficiently cyclodimerizes to the substituted arene 10 in the presence of CuBr.     

Synthesis of fluorine containing glycolurils and oxazolines from oxides of internal perfluoroolefins

The reaction of oxides of internal perfluoroolefins 1-3 with urea gave two kinds of novel fluorine containing N-heterocyclic compounds depending on the solvent nature: 1,5-bis(perfluoroalkyl)tetraazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-3,7-diones 4a-c and 2-amino-5-fluoro-4,5-bis(perfluoroalkyl)-4,5-dihydrooxazol-4-ols 7a-d. Use of polar dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylacetamide and acetonitrile afforded glycolurils 4a-c in moderate yields. In dioxane, unexpected cyclization occurred resulting in oxazolines 7a-d in high yields. A similar reaction of oxiranes 2, 3 with urea in aqueous dioxane gave mixtures of 4,5-dihydroxy-4,5-bis(perfluoroalkyl)imidazolidine-2-ones 9b, c, glycolurils 4b, c and oxazolines 7b-d. The molecular structure of trans-isomers of oxazoline 7b and imidazolidine 9b has been established by X-ray crystallography.     

Singlet oxygen addition to homoallylic substrates in solution and microemulsion: novel secondary reactions

The photooxygenation of three homoallylic substrates, the γ,δ-unsaturated ketone 1a, nitrile 2a, and the γ,δ-unsaturated ester 3a was investigated in homogeneous solution and in microemulsion (for 1a). Two secondary reaction pathways were detected for the allylic hydroperoxides of type b and c, respectively. The cyclization reactions of 1b and 2b to the 1,2-dioxanes 1d and 2d followed well-known reaction patterns, whereas the base-catalyzed epoxide (1e-3e) formation from the tertiary allylic hydroperoxides 1c-3c is a unprecedented reaction type.     

Cycloadditions of α-(4-[2.2]paracyclophanyl)-N-methyl nitrone

Cycloadditions of the newly synthesized α-(4-[2.2]paracyclophanyl)-N-methyl nitrone (9) with selected dipolarophiles such as phenyl isocyanate (10), styrene (13), dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (15) and methylene sulfene (17) are reported. Two isolated diastereomeric oxadiazolones 11 and 12 are obtained by the reaction of 9 with 10, whereas the reaction of 9 with either 13 and/or 15 gives only one diastereomer isoxazole 14 and/or 16. 4-([2.2]Paracylophanyl)-N-methylamine (20) was obtained by the reaction of 9 with 17. The structure of compounds 9, 11 and 14 are assigned by X-ray structural analysis.     

Sodium dithionite initiated reactions of 1-bromo-1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane with enol ethers of cyclic ketones

Sodium dithionite initiated reactions of 1-bromo-1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (1) with methyl and trimethylsilyl ethers of cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone enols (2a-d) in a MeCN/H₂O system were investigated. 2-(2,2,2-Trifluoroethylidene)cyclopentanone (4a) and 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-cyclohexanone (4b), respectively, were obtained as the main products and isolated in reasonable yields. The reaction with a 1:1 mixture of 5- and 3-methyl substituted 1-methoxycyclohexenes, 2e and 2f, revealed strong influence of steric hindrance on the reaction rate; a mixture of 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-5-methylcyclohexanone (6) and 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-3-methylcyclohexanone (7) in a 9:1 ratio was formed. Ketones 4a and 4b were reduced to the corresponding alcohols 8 and 9 and the reaction of 4b with hydrazine gave an indazole derivative 10.     

Zn-promoted regio- and sequence-selective one-pot joining reactions of three components: vinylpyridines, alkyl iodides, and carbonyl compounds (or nitriles)

Addition of alkyl iodides (3) into the solution containing 2-(or 4-)vinylpyridine (1 or 2) and carbonyl compounds (6) in the presence of Zn-powder (99.9%) in acetonitrile under refluxing brought about regio- and sequence-selective joining reaction of three components to give the corresponding (2-hydroxyethyl)pyridines (7 or 8) in good to moderate yields. On the other hand, 2-(2- or 4-pyridyl)ethyl alkyl ketones (10 or 11) were obtained from the similar joining reaction of three components by addition of alkyl iodides (3) into the solution of 2-(or 4-)vinylpyridine (1 or 2), and nitriles (9) in toluene containing Zn-powder (99.9%) under the similar reaction conditions.     

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of ethynylstibanes with organic halides

The reaction of ethynylstibanes (1a-g) with vinyl halides or triflate in the presence of a palladium catalyst led to the formation of cross-coupling products (5a-g, 10-12) in good to moderate yield, along with homo-coupling products (6a-g). A similar reaction of ethynyldiphenylstibane (1a) with aryl iodides (13a-i) also gave cross-coupling products (14a-i), although the yields were relatively low. The yields of the cross-coupling products were highly dependent on the nature of the solvent employed, and good results were obtained when the reaction was carried out in HMPA or amines such as diethylamine and morpholine. The results imply that HMPA and amine used as solvents facilitate transmetallation of the ethynyl group on 1 to the palladium by intermolecular coordination between antimony and oxygen (for HMPA) or nitrogen (for amine).     

Catalyst- and steric-controlled alkenylation via chemoselective C-H activation and C-Br activation in Heck reaction of methyl 1-(2-bromoaryl)-3-(2-furyl/thienyl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylates and diethyl 1-(2-bromoaryl)-3-(2-furyl/thienyl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2,2-dicarboxylate derivatives

Pd(II)-catalyzed alkenylation of methyl 1-(2-bromoaryl)-3-(2-furyl/thienyl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate derivatives 1(a-d) resulted in the formation of 3(a-d) exclusively via C-H activation in the heteroaryl moiety. Similar observations were observed for the corresponding diester analogues 4(a-d) to form 5(a-d). Normal Heck reaction, however, was observed in the case of 1(a-f) to furnish 2(a-f) when the reaction was carried out with Pd(0) catalyst generated in situ. Pd(0)-catalyzed vinylation of 4(a-f) via C-Br oxidation, however, failed due to steric reason.     

Reactions of azulenes with 1,2-diaryl-1,2-ethanediols in methanol in the presence of hydrochloric acid: comparative studies on products, crystal structures, and spectroscopic and electrochemical properties

Although reaction of guaiazulene (1a) with 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediol (2a) in methanol in the presence of hydrochloric acid at 60 °C for 3 h under aerobic conditions gives no product, reaction of 1a with 1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-ethanediol (2b) under the same reaction conditions as 2a gives a new ethylene derivative, 2-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (3), in 97% yield. Similarly, reaction of methyl azulene-1-carboxylate (1b) with 2b under the same reaction conditions as 1a gives no product; however, reactions of 1-chloroazulene (1c) and the parent azulene (1d) with 2b under the same reaction conditions as 1a give 2-[3-(1-chloroazulenyl)]-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (4) (81% yield) and 2-azulenyl-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylene (5) (15% yield), respectively. Along with the above reactions, reactions of 1a with 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2-ethanediol (2c) and 1-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-2-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol (2d) under the same reaction conditions as 2b give 2-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylene (6) (73% yield) and (Z)-2-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-1-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1-phenylethylene (7) (17% yield), respectively. Comparative studies of the above reaction products and their yields, crystal structures, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties are reported and, further, a plausible reaction pathway for the formation of the products 3-7 is described.     

Imino Diels-Alder reaction of boronates. Preparation and characterization of new 3,4-dihydroquinoline and 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine derivatives

The preparation of 3,4-dihydroquinolines (2a-d and 3a,b,d), as well as 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines (4a-e) by imino Diels-Alder reaction of boronates (1a-e) with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene is reported. Boronates (1a-d) containing substituents meta and para relative to the imino fragment lead to diastereomeric mixtures of 4-methyl-4-ethenyl-3,4-dihydroquinolines (2, 3) and tetrahydropyridines (4). In contrast, the presence of an electron withdrawing substituent at the para position (1e), favors the iminodienophile behavior giving 4,5-dimethyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (4e) as the main product. The results show that boronates derived from Schiff bases are electron deficient species which can act either as dienophiles or dienes in the reaction with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene to give 3,4-dihydroquinolines and 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines. All products were characterized by NMR and X-ray diffraction analysis of 2b, 2d, 3d and 4c allowed to assign the relative configuration of the newly formed stereogenic centers.     

Pd-catalyzed boronations and cross-coupling reactions of aromatic cobaltadithiolene complexes with aryl halides

The Pd-catalyzed reaction of [CpCo(S2C2(Ph)(Bpin))] (1, Bpin = 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaboronate) with 1-iodonaphthalene or 2-bromothiophene gave the cross-coupling product [CpCo(S2C2(Ph)(Ar))] (Ar = 1-Np (4) or 2-Th (5)), although an early paper described the reaction of 1 with 3-bromopyridine or 9-bromoanthracene (Ar = 3-Py (2) or 9-Anth (3)). The boronation of the brominated precursor [CpCo(S2C2(p-C6H4Br)(H))] (7) with Bpin-H in the presence of Pd catalyst gave the expected boronated product [CpCo(S2C2(p-C6H4Bpin)(H))] (8) but also underwent an unexpected direct boronation on the dithiolene carbon to form [CpCo(S2C2(p-C6H4Br)(Bpin))] (9). The brominated complex 7 or [CpCo(S2C2(Ph)(p-C6H4Br))] (10) was synthesized by thermal reaction and the microwave-enhanced reaction relatively gave better yield with shorter reaction time than that of the conventional heating reaction. The cross-coupling reactions of the boronated or [CpCo(S2C2(Ph)(p-C6H4Bpin))] (11) with aryl halides successfully produced the corresponding cross-coupling products such as [CpCo(S2C2(p-C6H4Py)(H))] (12) or [CpCo(S2C2(p-C6H4Anth)(H))] (13) from 8 and [CpCo(S2C2(Ph)(p-C6H4Py))] (14) from 11. The structures of 7, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 14 were determined by X-ray diffraction studies. Electronic absorption maxima (λ_max) due to dithiolene LMCT in dichloromethane solution can be modified in the range of 574-602 nm by a substituent effect on the dithiolene ring. Redox potentials obtained from CV measurement were also reported.     

Functionalization of C60 via organometallic reagents

The reaction of [60]fullerene with organolithium and Grignard reagents carrying orthoester, acetal or other end groups yielded adducts 3-5 at the 6-6 bond of C60 after quenching with trifluoroacetic acid. The adducts could be easily methylated or benzylated with methyl iodide or benzyl bromide in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide to yield exclusively the 1,4-disubstituted C60 6 and 7a,b. Cleavage of the orthoester, acetal and silylether groups gave the corresponding carboxylic acid 9, aldehydes 10a,b and 11 and alcohols 12 and 13a,b. The carboxylic acid 9 readily reacted with alanine ethyl ester under standard peptide coupling conditions to give 14 in 55% yield. Attempts to generate a silyl enol ether from the reaction of aldehyde 10b with TIPSOTf and triethylamine failed. Instead the reaction led to a cyclized ether 16a (or alcohol 16b in the absence of silylating agent) resulting from the addition of an initially formed fulleride anion to the aldehyde group. The corresponding acetal 4b reacted similarly. The reaction of aldehyde 10b with aniline also gave a cyclized product 19. Surprisingly, aldehyde 11, which no longer carried an acidic fullerene proton reacted with aniline to give a product 20 resulting from an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction followed by aromatization of a primarily formed N-phenylimine. Alcohol 13b could be readily converted to the corresponding bromide using tetramethyl-α-bromoenamine. The bromide was reacted with the carbanion derived from the protected glycine derivative to yield the diastereomeric fullerene amino acid derivatives 1-benzyl-4-[α-propyl-tert-butylglycinate benzophenone imine] 1,4-dihydro[60]fullerenes 24a and 24b.     

Amphiphilic perfluoroalkylated sulfones and sulfonate betaines

Two types of perfluoro alkyl-containing amphiphilic sulfones 7-9 and 13-15, respectively, and sulfonate betaines 23-32 were prepared using 2-[(perfluoroalkyl)methyl]oxiranes (1-3, R_F = C₄F₉, C₆F₁₃, C₈F₁₇) or 3-(perfluoroalkyl)propyl iodides (16 and 17, R_F = C₆F₁₃, C₈F₁₇) as the starting compounds. The overall yields of two-step syntheses were above 90%. The compounds 7-9 were prepared by the reaction of oxiranes 1-3 with 2-sulfanylethan-l-ol and subsequent oxidation of intermediate sulfides. Similarly, the amphiphiles 13-15 were obtained by analogous reaction of oxiranes 1-3 with thiomorpholine and subsequent oxidation of the sulfur atom in the morpholine ring. In the syntheses of betaines 23-32, the starting compounds 1-3 or 16 and 17 were first reacted with dimethylamine followed by the ring-opening reaction of the intermediate fluoroalkyl(dimethyl)amines with propane-1,3- or butane-1,4-sultones.     

Synthesis of nicotinonitrile derivatives as a new class of NLO materials

4,6-Diaryl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-nicotinonitriles 2a-k and 3-amino-2,4-dicyano-5-aryl-biphenyls 3a-c were synthesized from 1,3-diaryl-prop-2-en-1-ones 1a-k and malononitrile by a convenient one-pot method. Likewise, the reaction of aromatic aldehydes with malononitrile afforded 6-amino-4-aryl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-pyridine-3,5-dicarbonitriles 6a-f. The reaction of mesityl oxide with malononitrile gave 5-amino-7-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-2,4,4-trimethyl-1,4-dihydro-1,6-naphthyridine-8-carbonitrile 8. The NLO studies of the pyridinedinitrile derivatives 6a, b, f showed a high value while that of nicotinonitrile 2b was weak.     

A novel and practical synthetic route for the total synthesis of lycopene

A novel route for the total synthesis of lycopene 1 is described. The synthesis is based on: (i) a condensation between 4,4-dimethoxy-3-methylbutanal 4 and methylenebisphosphonic acid tetraethyl ester 5, leading to the C6-phosphonate 6, followed by (ii) a modified Wittig-Horner reaction between 6 and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one 7 producing dimethoxy-3,5,9-triene 8, and (iii) another modified Wittig-Horner reaction between C15-phosphonate 2 and C10-triene dialdehyde 3 producing all-E-lycopene. The synthetic steps are easily operated and practical for the large-scale production.     

Synthesis of acyclic nucleoside analogues based on 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones by one-step Vorbrüggen glycosylation

New acyclovir analogues were obtained by reaction of 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones 4a–i with (2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl acetate 5 in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) as catalyst (Vorbrüggen procedure). Coupling between compounds 4a–f and 5 led to a mixture of N3- and N4-isomers 6 and 7, respectively. On the contrary, the reaction of compounds 4g–i with 5 proceeded selectively with formation of N3-isomers only. It was found that the ratio of 6a–f and 7a–f depends on the presence or the absence of N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA). Glycosylated products 6a–f and 7a–f underwent reversible isomerization under TMSOTf treatment. The ratio of glycosylated products of the coupling reaction between 4 and 5 was thermodynamically controlled. A similar reaction occurred if ZnCl₂ was chosen as a catalyst, although lower yields of the acyclic analogues of nucleosides were observed. The glycosylation of other purines (adenine and guanine) can be achieved via the non-BSA modification of the Vorbrüggen procedure.     

Synthesis and substitution reactions of β-alkoxyvinyl bromodifluoromethyl ketones

β-Alkoxyvinyl bromodifluoromethyl ketones 1a, 1b and 1c were synthesized by the reaction of bromodifluoroacetic anhydride with appropriate vinyl ethers in high yields. The acyclic enone 1a reacted with amines to give the corresponding β-aminovinyl bromodifluoromethyl ketones 2 in good yields. The reaction of 1a with electrophilic reagent ICl yielded α-iodoenone 4. The substitution reaction of the cyclic enones 1b and 1c with thio-nucleophiles gave the corresponding difluoromethylene thioethers 6. The three-component reactions of 2 with primary amines and formaldehyde gave multifunctional 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine 3 in moderate yields.     

A Stille biaryl-coupling approach to dityrosines. Formal total synthesis of Hazimycin

The Stille cross-coupling reaction between 3-tributylstannyltyrosine derivatives (15-23, 40), and 3-iodotyrosines (6-14, 39) afforded the corresponding dityrosines (24-37, 41). Additionally, this method provided a short and improved access to Hazimycin (3) a naturally occurring anti-fungal agent.     

Synthesis and photochromic behaviour of new methyl induced linear and angular thieno-2H-chromenes

New methyl induced linear and angular thieno-2H-chromenes 4, 5 and 6 were prepared by reaction of new methylated 6-hydroxybenzo[b]thiophenes 2 (a, b and c) and propargylic alcohols 3a and 3b, using acidic Alumina Brockmann I as catalyst and drying agent. Compounds 2 were prepared in good to excellent yields in a ‘one pot’ three step reaction from the corresponding bromo compounds 1. The photochromic behaviour of compounds 4, 5 and 6b was evaluated with the aid of a classical set of spectrokinetic parameters, and compared to reference compounds that are benzoannellated in the 5,6 and 6,7 positions of the chromene (naphthopyrans) and also to thieno-2H-chromenes 7 and 8, previously prepared, which are analogues of 5a. The resistance to fatigue (photodegradation) under continuous irradiation was also evaluated.