An unexpected migration of O-silyl group under Mitsunobu reaction conditions

A 1,4 O→O silyl migration followed by nucleophilic substitution with phthalimide was observed under Mitsunobu reaction conditions. This one step secondary alcohol protection and primary alcohol substitution with N-nucleophiles was extended to a variety of 2-hydroxyethyl trialkylsilylether derivatives. A possible mechanism has been postulated based on the pK_a values of the alcohol and nucleophile. The present one-pot silyl migration and substitution reaction might find application in the stereoselective synthesis of novel iminosugar derived anti diabetic agents.     

Total synthesis and structure revision of deacetylravidomycin M

Total synthesis of the unnatural enantiomer of deacetylravidomycin M was accomplished. The key steps include, (1) aryl C-glycosidation of the azido-bearing fucosyl acetate 2 by using catalytic Sc(OTf)₃, (2) the [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of alkoxybenzyne bearing an azido sugar to ketene silyl acetal, and (3) the ring expansion reaction of alkoxybenzocyclobutenone. The synthesis revealed that the natural product is not the proposed amine, but the corresponding N-oxide.     

TiCl4-promoted addition of nucleophiles to open chain α-amidoalkylphenyl sulfones

Linear α-amidoalkylphenyl sulfones are converted into the corresponding N-acyliminium ions by treatment with TiCl₄ at low temperature and then made to react with different nucleophiles such as allyltrimethylsilane, silyl ketene acetal, anisole and thiophene.     

Alkynylation of N-tosylimines with aryl acetylenes promoted by ZnBr2 and N,N-diisopropylethylamine in acetonitrile

We found a suitable condition for the effective alkynylation of N-tosylimines with aryl acetylenes. The reaction of N-tosylimines and aryl acetylenes in the presence of ZnBr₂ and DIEA (N,N-diisopropylethylamine) in CH₃CN afforded the desired N-tosyl propargylamines in moderate to good yields.     

Catalytic photocarboxylation of 1,1-diphenylethylene with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine and carbon dioxide

Photocarboxylation of 1,1-diphenylethylene with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in MeCN under bubbling of CO₂ proceeded with high catalytic efficiency, giving 3,3-diphenylacrylic acid (DPA) and 3-hydroxy-3,3-diphenylpropionic acid (20). The turnover number (TON=(DPA+20)/TMB) reached 17. Similarly, 1-phenyl-1-cyclohexene yielded cis-2-acetamido-2-phenylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid with TON 5.9. As compared with related N,N-dimethylaniline derivatives, TMB is more resistant to photodecomposition, has the much larger absorbance in the S₀→S₁ transition, and has the lower quenching efficiency by CO₂. Probably these factors are partly responsible for the high TON observed for TMB.     

A quantum chemical study on the mechanism of chiral N-oxides-catalyzed Strecker reaction

The mechanism for the Strecker reaction of silyl cyanide (H₃SiCN) and benzaldehyde N-methylimine (PhCHNCH₃) catalyzed by chiral 3,3′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine N,N′-dioxide was investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. The calculations revealed that the non-catalyzed reaction proceeded in a concerted way via a five-membered ring transition state, while the catalytic one occurred stepwisely via a hexacoordinate hypervalent silicate intermediate. It was predicted that both non-catalyzed and catalytic Strecker reactions involved two competitive reaction pathways, that is, addition followed by isomerization or isomerization followed by addition. The calculations indicated that two reaction pathways were comparable for both non-catalyzed and catalytic Strecker reactions. In the catalytic reaction, the strong electron donor (N-O) of chiral N-oxide played an important role in enhancing the reactivity and nucleophilicity of H₃SiCN by coordinating O atom to the Si atom of H₃SiCN. Chiral N-oxide could be used as a good catalyst for the reaction, which was in agreement with the experimental observations.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed reduction of N-alkoxy- and N-hydroxyamides

A ruthenium-catalyzed reduction of N-alkoxy- and N-hydroxyamides was found to afford corresponding amides in good to high yields. A simple RuCl₃/Zn-Cu/alcohol system, without the addition of any other ligands, exhibited a high catalytic activity, and therefore the present reaction does not require a stoichiometric amount of metals or metal complexes as reductants. When β-substituted-α,β-unsaturated N-methoxyamides were employed as substrates, concurrent hydrogenation of the olefin moiety proceeded slowly with deprotection of the methoxy group. In the reduction of N-hydroxyamides, the alcoholic solvent was found to function as a hydrogen donor.     

Pd2dba3/P(i-BuNCH2CH2)3N: a highly efficient catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of trans-4-N,N-diarylaminostilbenes and N,N-diarylaminostyrenes

A Pd₂dba₃/P(i-BuNCH₂CH₂)₃N catalyzed one-pot synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted trans-4-N,N-diarylaminostilbenes and both symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted N,N-diarylaminostyrene derivatives is reported. The procedure involves two or more palladium catalyzed sequential coupling reactions (an amination and an inter-molecular Heck reaction) in one-pot using the same catalyst system with two different aryl halides, including aryl chlorides and hetero aryl halides as the coupling partners.     

A simple and efficient biphasic method for the preparation of 4-nitrophenyl N-methyl- and N-alkylcarbamates

Treatment of 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate with alkylammonium hydrochloride salts and solid anhydrous Na₂CO₃ in either CH₂Cl₂ or CH₃CN gave 4-nitrophenyl N-methylcarbamate and other N-alkylcarbamate analogues in excellent yields. Of particular interest is the observation that 4-nitrophenyl N-methylcarbamate, a safer alternative to the highly toxic methyl isocyanate, is obtained in quantitative yield (?95% pure as determined by ¹H NMR) after simple filtration and solvent evaporation.     

Synthesis of C-glycosyl β-amino acids by asymmetric Mannich-type three-component reactions

C-Galactosyl and C-ribosyl β-amino acids were prepared by one-pot InCl₃-catalyzed Mannich-type three-component condensation (3CC) by combining the corresponding formyl C-glycoside, p-methoxybenzyl amine, and a ketene silyl acetal. In each case the reaction was highly stereoselective and afforded only one single product in good to excellent yields.     

N,N′,N″-Tri-Boc-guanidine (TBG): a common starting material for both N-alkyl guanidines and amidinoureas

In this Letter, we describe the unexpected reaction pattern of N,N′N″-tri-Boc-guanidine (TBG) with amines at room temperature and under reflux conditions affording N-substituted guanidines and amidinoureas, potentially important compounds with extensive applications in medicinal chemistry. This investigation shows that TBG is an excellent, readily available common starting material for the synthesis of various N-alkyl guanidines as well as N-alkyl-N′-substituted amidinoureas by simply manipulating the reaction conditions.     

Nucleophilic alkynylation of N-bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl aldimines

N-Bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl aldimines undergo nucleophilic addition reaction with premixed lithium alkynides/BF₃·OEt₂ to give moderate to good yields of N-bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl propargyl amines.     

BF3·Et2O catalyzed diastereoselective nucleophilic reactions of 3-silyloxypiperidine N,O-acetal with silyl enol ether and application to the asymmetric synthesis of (+)-febrifugine

The asymmetric BF₃·Et₂O catalyzed nucleophilic reactions of 3-silyloxypiperidine N,O-acetal 10 with silyl enol ethers derived from ketones are described. (+)-Febrifugine 1, an antimalarial alkaloid, was successfully synthesized based on this nucleophilic substitution. In addition, N,O-acetal 10 was synthesized from l-benzyl glutamate in 11 steps.     

An expeditious, efficient green methodology for the Boc protection of amines and silyl protection of alcohols over tungstophosphoric acid-doped mesoporous silica

An efficient, chemoselective and eco-friendly protocol for the protection of amines as N-tert-butylcarbamate using (Boc)₂O and protection of alcohols as silyl ether using HMDS over tungstophosphoric acid/SBA15 has been developed. Solventless condition, easy work-up, short reaction time, excellent yields and reusability of the catalyst are the striking features of this methodology which can be considered to be one of the better methods for the protection of amines and alcohols.     

Synthesis of N,N-Ac,Boc laurylthio sialoside and its application to O-sialylation

The combination of the 5-N-tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) group of laurylthio sialoside and cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) as a solvent enhanced the reactivity and α-selectivity of the sialyl donor during sialylation. Selective deprotection of the N-Boc group of sialoside, including an acid-sensitive isopropylidene function, was successfully achieved by Yb(OTf)₃-SiO₂. Transformation of N,N-Ac,Boc into an N-acetylglycolyl group of sialoglycoside was easily performed via selective N-deacylation of the mixed Ac-N-Boc carbamate, subsequent Boc group removal, and acylation.     

N,N-polymethylene-bisadenine complexes with d metal ions

The reaction of N⁹,N^9′-(tri or tetramethylene)-bisadenines (Ade₂C_x; x = 3 or 4) in HCl 2 M at 50 °C with MCl₂ · 2H₂O [M = Zn(II), Cd(II)] yields outer sphere compounds like the previously described [(H-Ade)₂C₃][ZnCl₄] · H₂O (3) and [(H-Ade)₂C₃]₂[Cd₂Cl₈(H₂O)₂] · 4H₂O (4) for Ade₂C₃ and the new {[(H-Ade)₂C₄][Cd₂Cl₆(H₂O)₂] · 2H₂O}_n (5) for Ade₂C₄. On the other hand, only in case of Zn(II) complexes by changing [HCl] to 0.1 M, the inner sphere compounds [H-(Ade)₂C₃(ZnCl₃)] (6) and [H-(Ade)₂C₄(ZnCl₃)] · 1.5H₂O (7) are obtained. X-ray diffraction study of compound 6, which represents the first inner sphere complex with a N⁹,N^9′-bisadenine, shows a zwitterionic form with one adenine ring protonated at N(1) while the other ring is coordinated via N(7) to a ZnCl₃ moiety as in other alkyl-adenine derivatives. In addition, with Ade₂C₄, is also possible to obtain another inner sphere complex: [(H-Ade)₂C₄(ZnCl₃)₂] · 3H₂O (8).     

Synthesis of N,N-dialkylaminobenzonitriles and halo-(N,N-dialkyl)benzamidines by reaction of halobenzonitriles with lithium amides

3- and 4-N,N-Dialkylaminobenzonitriles and 4-chloro-(N,N-dialkyl)benzamidines were isolated by reacting 4-chlorobenzonitrile with hindered lithium amides under thermodynamic (0 °C) and kinetic control conditions (−78 °C), respectively. As previously reported, a benzyne mechanism seems to be confirmed since N,N-dialkylaminobenzonitriles are formed. Only benzamidines were isolated in fair to high yields at both 0 °C and −78 °C with non-hindered lithium amides. Exploitation and mechanistic rationale of the reaction of different halobenzonitriles are also reported.     

Microwave-assisted aza-Cope rearrangement of N-allylanilines

The aza-Cope rearrangement of N-allylanilines is described. The use of BF₃·OEt₂ and microwave irradiation allows to run the transformation under mild conditions and in reaction times of minutes.     

Synthesis and characterization of a tetraruthenium butterfly cluster containing a quadruply-bridging ligand derived from an N,N′-dipyrid-2-ylurea

The tetraruthenium cluster complex [Ru₄(μ₄-κ⁴-dmpu)(CO)₁₀], H₂dmpu = N,N′-bis(6-methylpyrid-2-yl)urea, has been prepared by treating [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] with H₂dmpu in toluene at reflux temperature. An X-ray diffraction study has determined that this cluster has a butterfly metallic skeleton hold up by a doubly-deprotonated N,N′-bis(6-methylpyrid-2-yl)urea ligand (dmpu). This ligand has the pyridine N atoms attached to the wing-tip Ru atoms and the amido N atoms spanning Ru-Ru wing-edges, in such a way that the cluster has C₂ symmetry. The donor atoms of doubly-deprotonated N,N′-dipyrid-2-ylureas seem to be appropriately arranged to hold butterfly tetranuclear clusters.     

Synthesis, characterization and Schlenk equilibrium studies of methylmagnesium compounds with O- and N-donor ligands - the unexpected behavior of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (pmdta = N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine)

MgMe₂ (1) was found to react with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (dabco) in tetrahydrofuran (thf) yielding a binuclear complex [{MgMe₂(thf)}₂(μ-dabco)] (2). Furthermore, from reactions of MgMeBr with diglyme (diethylene glycol dimethyl ether), NEt₃, and tmeda (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) in etheral solvents compounds MgMeBr(L), (L = diglyme (5); NEt₃ (6); tmeda (7)) were obtained as highly air- and moisture-sensitive white powders. From a thf solution of 7 crystals of [MgMeBr(thf)(tmeda)] (8) were obtained. Reactions of MgMeBr with pmdta (N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) in thf resulted in formation of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9) in nearly quantitative yield. On the other hand, the same reaction in diethyl ether gave MgMeBr(pmdta) · MgBr₂(pmdta) (10) and [{MgMe₂(pmdta)}₇{MgMeBr(pmdta)}] (11) in 24% and 2% yield, respectively, as well as [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) as colorless needle-like crystals in about 26% yield. The synthesized methylmagnesium compounds were characterized by microanalysis and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The coordination-induced shifts of the ¹H and ¹³C nuclei of the ligands are small; the largest ones were found in the tmeda and pmdta complexes. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed in 2 a tetrahedral environment of the Mg atoms with a bridging dabco ligand and in 8 a trigonal-bipyramidal coordination of the Mg atom. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13) showed them to be monomeric with five-coordinate Mg atoms. The square-pyramidal coordination polyhedra are built up of three N and two C atoms in 12 and three N and two Br atoms in 13. The apical positions are occupied by methyl and bromo ligands, respectively. Temperature-dependent ¹H NMR spectroscopic measurements (from 27 to −80 °C) of methylmagnesium bromide complexes MgMeBr(L) (L = thf (4); diglyme (5); NEt₃ (6); tmeda (7)) in thf-d₈ solutions indicated that the deeper the temperature the more the Schlenk equilibria are shifted to the dimethylmagnesium/dibromomagnesium species. Furthermore, at −80 °C the dimethylmagnesium compounds are predominant in the solutions of Grignard compounds 4-6 whereas in the case of the tmeda complex7 the equilibrium constant was roughly estimated to be 0.25. In contrast, [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9) in thf-d₈ revealed no dismutation into [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13) even up to −100 °C. In accordance with this unexpected behavior, 1:1 mixtures of 12 and 13 were found to react in thf at room temperature yielding quantitatively the corresponding Grignard compound 9. Moreover, the structures of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9c), [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12c), and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13c) were calculated on the DFT level of theory. The calculated structures 12c and 13c are in a good agreement with the experimentally observed structures 12 and 13. The equilibrium constant of the Schlenk equilibrium (2 9c ? 12c + 13c) was calculated to be K_gas = 2.0 × 10⁻³ (298 K) in the gas phase. Considering the solvent effects of both thf and diethyl ether using a polarized continuum model (PCM) the corresponding equilibrium constants were calculated to be K_thf = 1.2 × 10⁻³ and K_ether = 3.2 × 10⁻³ (298 K), respectively.