Carboxylation of a polypentenamer and preparation of its hydrogenated derivatives

Carboxylated three-membered ring derivatives of a polypentenamer (PP) that contained 82% trans and 17% cis double bonds were prepared by carbene addition of ethyldiazoacetate with a copper catalyst to the double bonds and subsequent hydrogenation of the residual unsaturation. In this way derivatives that contained approximately either 5 or 10 mole % three-membered rings with ester side groups were obtained. These side groups were further reacted by hydrolysis or neutralization to form carboxylic acid and cesium salts of carboxylic acid. Reaction conditions were chosen so that no backbone degradation occurred and side reactions that led to crosslinking were avoided. The derivatives were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. It was found that an increase in substituent concentration decreased the melting point (T_m) in hydrogenated derivatives and increased the glass transition temperature (T_g) in unhydrogenated derivatives. The cesium salts of carboxylic acid were the least thermally stable among those studied and the hydrogenated derivatives were generally more stable than the unhydrogenated.     

Solid-state photopolymerization of α,α′-bis(4-acetoxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-p-benzenediacetonitrile

One crystalline form of α,α′-bis(4-acetoxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-p-benzenediacetonitrile is photopolymerized by a four-center reaction to give a polymer containing alternating benzene and cyclobutane rings. The polymer is highly crystalline and insoluble in most solvents. Location of groups around the cyclobutane ring is deduced from the products obtained on thermal decomposition. Chain contained benzene rings are located in positions 1 and 3; aromatic groups alternate sides of the cyclobutane ring. Special characterization and quantum yield of the polymerization are reported, as well as polymer solution viscosity and alkaline depolymerization of the polymer.     

3-Amino-2H-Azirines. Synthons for α,α-Disubstituted α-Amino Acids in Heterocycle and Peptide Synthesis [New Analytical Methods (43)]

The recent upswing in peptide chemistry has been accompanied by an increasing interest in nonproteinogenic amino acids. These include the α,α-disubstituted glycines, the best known of which is Aib (2-aminoisobutyric acid, 2-methylalanine). These α-amino acids occur in natural oligopeptides such as the peptaibols, a class of membrane-active ionophores that has been isolated from fungal cultures. The twofold substitution at the α-C atom of the amino acids severely restricts the conformational freedom of the peptides and causes particular secondary structures to be favored; thus, α, α-disubstituted α-amino acids induce the formation of β turns or helices. 3-Amino-2H-azirines are ideal synthons for the construction of oligopeptides, cyclic peptides and depsipeptides (peptolides) containing such α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids. The presence of the ring strain in these molecules means that they can be used in peptide coupling without the need for additional activating reagents. Using 3-amino-2H-azirines a large array of heterocycles containing α, α-disubstituted α-amino acids as structural elements within their skeleton can be synthesized. The driving force in these reactions is the release of the strain on the three-membered ring, which usually takes place in a ring-expansion reaction. The mechanistic elucidation of these reactions, which can be quite complex, contains some surprises.     

Cyclization and Isomerization Reactionsin Silylhydrazine Chemistry

 This review describes the synthesis and isomerization reactions of cyclic silylhydrazines. Topics of discussion are the ring expansion of the three-membered Si(SiN₂) to the four-membered (SiN)₂ ring by lithiation of the (SiN₂) ring and by thermal silyl group insertion into the N*N bond, the ring expansion of a three-membered (SiN₂) to a five-membered (CSi₂N₂) ring by SiCH₂ insertion into the Si*N bond, the formation of isomeric four- and six-membered (SiN₂)₂ rings, the synthesis of five- and six-membered silylhydrazine rings, and the expansion of a five-membered (N₂Si₂N)N ring to the isomeric six-membered (SiNN)₂ ring. The mechanisms of the isomerizations are explained by quantum chemical calculations, and the results are verified by crystal structure determinations.     

Ni-complex-catalysed addition polymerisation of 2-phenyl-1-methylenecylopropane to afford a polymer with cyclopropylidene groups

pi-Allyl-nickel complexes initiated addition polymerisation of 2-phenyl-1-methylenecyclopropane to give a polymer with three-membered rings; the formed polymer showed a high Tg and negligible thermal decomposition up to 300 degrees C.     

Cyclization and Isomerization Reactionsin Silylhydrazine Chemistry

Summary.  This review describes the synthesis and isomerization reactions of cyclic silylhydrazines. Topics of discussion are the ring expansion of the three-membered Si(SiN₂) to the four-membered (SiN)₂ ring by lithiation of the (SiN₂) ring and by thermal silyl group insertion into the N*N bond, the ring expansion of a three-membered (SiN₂) to a five-membered (CSi₂N₂) ring by SiCH₂ insertion into the Si*N bond, the formation of isomeric four- and six-membered (SiN₂)₂ rings, the synthesis of five- and six-membered silylhydrazine rings, and the expansion of a five-membered (N₂Si₂N)N ring to the isomeric six-membered (SiNN)₂ ring. The mechanisms of the isomerizations are explained by quantum chemical calculations, and the results are verified by crystal structure determinations. Received February 23, 2001. Accepted (revised) April 24, 2001     

Protonation of some cyclopropylarenes in the gas phase

The capability of the cyclopropyl group to conjugate with Unsaturated systems or to delocalize an adjacent positive charge is compared with that of a double bond, and is tested by the determination of the gas-phase basicity (GB) of various methyl-substituted cyclopropylbenzenes, α-methyl styrenes, and biphenyls by Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance. The site of the gas-phase protonation in the cyclopropylbenzene is established at the three-membered ring, based on analogy with the trends of GBs in the styrene system upon methyl substitution at the aromatic meta and para positions. The diverse nature of the conjugative interaction of a cyclopropyl group and of a double bond toward an aromatic ring is manifested, instead, in the different behaviour toward a steric perturbation. The cyclopropyl group adopts the bisected conformation in cyclopropylbenzene, because it tolerates the steric perturbation of a methyl group, intentionally placed in the ortho position, more easily than the double bond, which adopts a coplanar conformation in the isomeric α-methyl styrene.     

Bonding Properties of Cyclopropane and Their Chemical Consequences

Among the cyclic compounds of carbon, cyclopropane and its derivatives are outstanding by virtue of their unusual structural, spectroscopic, and chemical properties. The cyclopropane ring more closely resembles the C?C double bond than the cyclobutane ring: it is a small ring with “double bond character”. Cyclopropyl and vinyl groups interact with neighbouring π-electron systems and p-electron centers; both cyclopropane derivatives and olefins form metal complexes, and add strong acids, halogens, and ozone; they both undergo catalytic hydrogenation and cycloadditions. While distinct differences in reactivity do exist–the double bond usually being more reactive than the three-membered ring–there are no fundamental differences in behavior.–Although cyclopropane derivatives have been known for more than 90 years, intensive studies have been limited to the past 25 years. The development of carbene chemistry has rendered cyclopropane derivatives far more readily accessible. In recent years, the synthetic potential of the small-ring function has been increasingly exploited. A considerable number of newly developed methods utilizing this approach clearly demonstrates that the reactivity of the cyclopropene ring, like that of the C?C double bond, qualify it as a “functional carbon group”. This development is in full swing; we may therefore justifiably devote considerable effort to the study of cyclopropane chemistry.     

Cyclopropenes and methylenecyclopropanes in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions

The review considers the main results of the cycloaddition reactions involving cyclopropenes and methylenecyclopropanes, the compounds bearing strained three-membered rings and, respectively, endo- and exocyclic double bonds. The main attention is focused on the reactions of these compounds with 1,3-dipoles (nitrones, azomethine imines, azomethine ylides, carbonyl ylides, etc.), which gave complex heterocyclic systems with high regio- and stereoselectivity.

     

Influence of the heteroatom on the structure,bonding and ring strain of a series of three-membered rings containing a second,third, fourth and fifth row elements: a theoretical investigation

Three-membered heterorings have received a great interest for the design of organic reactions and new active therapeutic agents. However, there is little information available in the literature about their structural properties, in particular for those containing third, fourth, and fifth row elements. With this in mind, structure, bonding, ring strain, and Mulliken charge distribution of a series of 22 saturated three-membered rings containing a second, third, fourth, and fifth row element were theoretically investigated. Calculations were carried out within the MP2, PBE1PBE, and CCSD approximations using Pople’s and correlation consistent basis sets. In general, structural predictions obtained by MP2 and coupled cluster are comparable with each other for the studied heterocycles, and their predictions are in good agreement with the little experimental data available. The structural parameters, ring strain, and Mulliken charges are strongly affected by the nature of heteroatom contained into ring skeleton, finding a consistent periodic relationship according to the row-group or row-period plot. The ring geometry was highly symmetric in most of the studied cases (C_2h), except for the rings containing V-group elements (C_s) whose molecular symmetry is distorted by the disposition out of molecular plane of H-heteroelement bond. Finally, the increase of heteroatomic radius increases significantly the molecular strain of these three-membered heterocycles, being especially notable in the four and fifth row element rings. Curiously, the rings containing tellurium, iodium, bromo, chloro, and sulfur presented a ring strain comparable to those common heterocycles containing second row element.     

Dihalocarbene insertion reactions into C-H bonds of compounds containing small rings: mechanisms and regio- and stereoselectivities

Novel insertion reactions of dichloro- and dibromocarbene into carbon-hydrogen bonds adjacent to cyclopropane rings are reported. It is found that the predominant isomers formed in the reactions with bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane result from insertion into the endo carbon-hydrogen bonds alpha to the three-membered ring. In the reactions of bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane, however, the exo dihalocarbene insertion products are formed as the major isomers. In some compounds cyclopropane rings "activate" adjacent carbon-hydrogen bonds, whereas other systems containing three-membered rings do not. Moreover, the influence of various substituents (methyl, geminal dimethyl, phenyl, methoxy, and ethoxy) attached to bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane and bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane in dihalocarbene reactions has been studied. The findings can be explained by the concept of maximum orbital overlaps of Walsh orbitals of the cyclopropane rings and the alpha carbon-hydrogen bonds. In stark contrast, selective insertion into the tertiary carbon-hydrogen bonds of the cyclobutane ring in bicyclo[4.2.0]octane is observed.     

Chain and Ring Phosphorus Compounds—Analogies between Phosphorus and Carbon Chemistry

Up to about 15 years ago compounds with a skeleton of phosphorus chains or rings were regarded as “exotic” in the field of nonmetal chemistry. Aside from a number of examples of molecules with two P atoms directly bonded to each other and a few sporadically discovered monocyclic ring compounds, only solids of undefined composition and structure were known. Since then the state of our knowledge in this sector has made considerable progress: between PH₃ and its derivatives on the one hand, and the high-molecular modifications of elementary phosphorus on the other, an unexpected variety of well defined compounds have been discovered, showing many similarities to the analogous compounds of carbon. However, surprises can still occur even with “small” phosphorus-containing molecules, as shown by the likewise recently discovered field of phosphorus three-membered ring compounds.     

Calculations of silicooxygen ring vibration frequencies

In the work model calculations of the vibrations of ideally isolated silicooxygen rings (using PM3 method) have been carried out. three-, four-, and six-membered rings have been considered. It has been found that that the three-membered silicooxygen rings are flat and practically undeformed showing D_3h symmetry. The rings of higher number of ring members (i.e. n>3) are deformed to some extent. The deformation reveals itself most significantly in the Si–O–Si bond angles distribution. In the case of all the rings the bridging Si–O–Si bonds are ca. 0.02–0.04 Å shorter than the non-bridging Si–O⁻ bonds. Hypothetical IR spectra for all the rings considered have been also calculated. Analysis of these hypothetical spectra leads to the conclusion that the whole spectrum can be divided into four wavenumbers regions, 1200–1100 cm⁻¹ stretching Si–O(Si) vibrations; 1000–800 cm⁻¹ stretching Si–O⁻ vibrations; 800–600 cm⁻¹; the region in which a band characteristic of silicooxygen rings appears, and below 600 cm⁻¹ bending ⁻O–Si–O⁻ and (Si)O–Si–O(Si). It has been also found that as the number of ring members increases the ‘ring band’ shifts to lower wavenumbers: 725 cm⁻¹ for three-membered rings, 650 cm⁻¹ for four-membered rings and 610 cm⁻¹ for six-membered rings. Calculated spectra have been compared with the experimental spectra of cyclosilicates. They showed good agreement in the 1200–600 cm⁻¹ region. In the experimental spectra as well as in the calculated ones, with increasing the number of ring members the ‘ring band’ shifts towards lower wavenumbers.     

Carbamoyl Radical‐Mediated Synthesis and Semipinacol Rearrangement of β‐Lactam Diols

In an approach to the biologically important 6‐azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring system, the scope of the tandem 4‐exo‐trig carbamoyl radical cyclization—dithiocarbamate group transfer reaction to ring‐fused β‐lactams is evaluated. β‐Lactams fused to five‐, six‐, and seven‐membered rings are prepared in good to excellent yield, and with moderate to complete control at the newly formed dithiocarbamate stereocentre. No cyclization is observed with an additional methyl substituent on the terminus of the double bond. Elimination of the dithiocarbamate group gives α,β‐ or β,γ‐unsaturated lactams depending on both the methodology employed (base‐mediated or thermal) and the nature of the carbocycle fused to the β‐lactam. Fused β‐lactam diols, obtained from catalytic OsO₄‐mediated dihydroxylation of α,β‐unsaturated β‐lactams, undergo semipinacol rearrangement via the corresponding cyclic sulfite or phosphorane to give keto‐bridged bicyclic amides by exclusive N‐acyl group migration. A monocyclic β‐lactam diol undergoes Appel reaction at a primary alcohol in preference to semipinacol rearrangement. Preliminary investigations into the chemo‐ and stereoselective manipulation of the two carbonyl groups present in a representative 7,8‐dioxo‐6‐azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane rearrangement product are also reported.     

On the performance of DFT and interatomic potentials in predicting the energetics of (three-membered ring-containing) siliceous materials

We compare the enthalpies of transition for a range of SiO2 phases, including siliceous zeolites and dense polymorphs, calculated using three different interatomic potentials (Sanders-Leslie-Catlow (SLC), Sastre-Gale (SG), van Beest-Kramers-van Santen (BKS)), and from B3LYP periodic DFT calculations, with the experimentally measured values. It is found that the calculated results show a linear correlation with the measured values but that they often either considerably underestimate or overestimate enthalpy differences compared to experiment. Care should thus be taken when comparing experimental and calculated results. A linear rescaling of the calculated enthalpies to put the data on the same energy scale is proposed. Furthermore, it is found that when comparing enthalpies of transitions for materials containing three-membered rings, for which there is no experimental data available, the values, rescaled to the experimental energy scale, are very similar for both DFT and interatomic potentials (except for the BKS potential). The latter result suggests that the energetics of three-membered ring containing materials is well described using both approaches. Finally, we discuss the transition enthalpies of four three-membered ring containing siliceous materials and demonstrate that three-membered ring containing materials are not necessarily energetically disadvantageous but do become so progressively with increasing number of three-membered rings.     

Synthesis,thermal and optical properties of new nanosized polyamides containing N-phenyl- and O-naphthyl-s-triazine rings; part 2

We report the chemistry and properties of two new series of well-defined nano sized spheres aramides-containing N- and O-naphthyl-s-triazines. The polymers were carefully characterized by different techniques including infrared, ultraviolet, fluorescent emission, elemental, thermal analyses and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The polymers were readily soluble in polar aprotic solvents while insoluble neither in water nor halogenated solvents. Thermal analyses data up to 900°C showed high thermal behavior and the polymers were classified either as “slow burning polymers” or “self-extinguishing polymers” based on their calculated the limiting oxygen index. Interestingly, the naphthyl / phenyl interchange has dramatic improvement on the thermal properties. Obviously, the pyridine / phenylene interchange has no influence on the thermal properties of the addressed polymers. Thermal stability of the aniline-containing polymers proved to be comparable to their naphthylamine analogues. Polymers containing p-phenylene moieties exhibited better thermal results compared to their analogues containing m-phenylene moieties. Benzidine containing polymers and sulfone containing polymers exhibited better thermal stabilities than their analogues containing either ether or methylene flexible linkages. The kinetic data obtained from the nonisothermal decomposition of the prepared polyamides series were also studied. The polymers exhibited emissions ranging from blue to orange wavelength depending on the nature of the signaling unit. The naphthyl / phenyl interchange led to either appreciable red-shifted absorptions in some cases or blue-shifted absorptions in other cases and this behavior may be attributed to the contorted, twisted structural nature of the naphthalene ring. Such attracting properties make these polymers good candidates for applications such as processable high-temperature materials and also as heat-resistant polymeric materials.     

Isomerisierung von Methoxy- und Carbomethoxysubstituierten Cycloalkyl- und Alken-radikalkationen

The very complex isomerization patterns of methoxy and carbomethoxy substituted cycloalkanes (3- to 7-membered rings) have been investigated using collisional activation, metastable ion characteristics and field ionization kinetics. The extent of isomerization depends on both the ring size and the substituent. Irrespective of the electronic properties of the substituent, ring opening involves exclusively the C-1? C-2 bond whereby linear alkene radical cations are formed. In the case of OCH₃- and COOCH₃ substituents the position of the resulting double bond (terminal or α,β-unsaturated) is determined more by the ring size of the precursor molecules and less by the electronic properties of the substituents. Contrary to these findings alklyl substituted cycloalkanes (3- to 5-membered rings) rearrange exclusively to terminal alkene radical cations. The barrier for double bond isomerization seems to be substantially influenced by substituents.     

Recent Advances in Free-Radical Ring-Opening Polymerization

Although cyclic ketene acetals, such as 2-methylene-1, 3-dioxepane, undergo quantitative free-radical ring-opening polymerization, their reactivity in copolymerization is rather low. In order to find a series of monomers that have high reactivities in copolymerization and still undergo free radical ring-opening polymerization, a series of cyclic acrylates was synthesized and polymerized. For example, β-bromolactic acid condensed with benzaldehyde to give a cyclic acetal lactone which on treatment with base gave the cyclic acrylate. Free-radical solution polymerization at 140°C of the cyclic acrylate, which produced a benzyl radical upon ring opening, gave quantitative ring opening. However, in bulk at 120°C, only 20% of the rings were opened during poiymerization. The resulting polymers containing the pyruvate ester units were shown to be highly biodegradable with microorganisms. Vesicles containing these cyclic acrylates on the end of one of the hydrophobic chains of the lipidlike molecules were shown to undergo free-radical ring-opening polymerization to give polymerized vesicles which were biodegradable. In order to discover groups other than carbonyl groups and strained rings that would promote free-radical ring-opening polymerization, a series of spiromethylenecyclohexadienes were prepared and polymerized. Thus, 3-methylenespiro [5,5] undeca-1,4-diene in bulk at 130°C gave a polymer in which 79% of the rings had opened and in solution at 130°C gave a polymer in which nearly all of the rings had opened. A benzo derivative, 3-methylene-8,9-benzo [5,5] undeca-1,4,8-triene, gave a polymer that is essentially an alternating copolymer of p-xylylene and o-xylylene and has a very high thermal decomposition temperature. A tricyclic dispirocyclohexadiene derivative was shown to undergo double free-radical ring-opening polymerization to give a polymer with expansion in volume containing a p-phenylene group in the backbone.     

Synthesis of Fluoro-, Monofluoromethyl-, Difluoromethyl-, and Trifluoromethyl-Substituted Three-Membered Rings

This Minireview describes recent advances toward the synthesis of fluoro-, monofluoromethyl-, difluoromethyl-, and trifluoromethyl-substituted three-membered rings such as cyclopropanes, aziridines, epoxides, episulfides, cyclopropenes, and 2 H-azirines. The main synthetic methodologies since 2016 for cyclopropanes and since 2010 for the other three-membered rings are reported.     

Strained-Ring and Double-Bond Systems Consisting of the Group 14 Elements Si,Ge, and Sn

The organometallic chemistry of the Group 14 elements E = Si, Ge, Sn in the 1980's is highlighted by the successful construction and characterization of three systems previously thought to be too reactive to exists: (1) three-membered ring compounds including cyclotrisilane, cyclotrigermane, and cyclotristannane, (2) molecules containing E? E double bonds including disilene, digermene, and distannene, and (3) strained polycycles containing a skeleton of Group 14 elements, such as bicyclo[1.1.0]tetrasilane, hexagemaprismane, and octasilacubane. The majority of these numerous compounds now available are fully substituted with bulky ligands to suppress the reactivity intrinsic to the systems. These compounds permit examinations of (1) the variation of physical and chemical properties of a system with these elements and also with the ligands and (2) how two systems are interrelated thermally and photochemically with the intermediacy of the divalent (carbene-like) species. Theoretical calculations on virtually all of the parent compounds discussed in this review are evaluated alongside the experimental results. Some polycycles may constitute a stepping-stone on the way to compounds with a triple bond.