Synthesis of (R)‐Japonilure and (4R,9Z)‐9‐Octadecen‐4‐olide,Pheromones of the Japanese Beetle and Currant Stem Girdler

Asymmetric total synthesis of the sex pheromones of Japanese beetle and currant stem girdler, (R)‐japonilure (1) and (4R,9Z)‐9‐octadecen‐4‐olide (2), has been achieved.     

Amino Acids as a Chiral Pool: Synthesis of (S)‐and (R)‐2‐N‐Carbomethoxy‐5‐aminoindane from (S)‐ and (R)‐Phenylalanines

Enantioselective syntheses of (R)‐and (S)‐2‐N‐carbomethoxy‐5‐aminoindanes from (R)‐ and (S)‐phenylalanines, respectively, are described. A Friedel–Crafts reaction employing N‐carbomethoxy phenylalanine leads to chiral 2‐N‐carbomethoxy‐1‐indanone, which is diastereoselectively reduced to 1‐hydroxy‐2‐N‐carbomethoxyindane. After protection of the hydroxyl group, a regioselective nitration gives a 6‐nitroindane intermediate, which upon hydrogenation affords (R)‐or (S)‐2‐N‐carbomethoxy‐5‐aminoindane.     

Synthesis and study of 4‐(4′‐n‐alkoxybenzoyloxybenzoyl)‐4′′‐n‐butoxyanilides

Thirteen compounds with ester and amide linkages were synthesized and their mesogenic properties evaluated. Methyl to n‐propyl derivatives exhibit nematic phases, n‐butyl to n‐decyl derivatives exhibit smectic and nematic mesophases, whereas n‐dodecyl to n‐octadecyl derivatives exhibit only smectic phases. All the smectic homologues exhibit smectic C phases. Middle members of the homologous series exhibit polymorphism of smectic mesophase. A plot of transition temperatures versus number of carbon atoms in the alkoxy chain reveals an odd–even effect for nematic–isotropic transition temperatures. Nematic–isotropic and smectic–cholesteric thermal stabilities of the prepared compounds (series I) are higher compared to those of previously reported compounds, series A, B and C. The results indicate that a simple reversal of a central linkage has a dramatic effect on the appearance of smectic mesophase in a homologous series. The structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized using elemental analysis, thin‐layer chromatography and spectral data.     

Crystal structure of a liquid crystal non‐symmetric dimer: cholesteryl 4‐[4‐(4‐n‐butylphenylethynyl)phenoxy]butanoate

The crystal structure of cholesteryl 4‐[4‐(4‐n‐butylphenylethynyl)phenoxy]butanoate [phase sequence: Cr 155°C (46.1?J?g^?1) SmA 186.8°C (1.5?J?g^?1) TGB‐N* 204.7 (6?J?g^?1) I] has been solved from single crystal X‐ray diffraction data. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁ with unit cell parameters: a?=?13.129(2), b?=?9.3904(10), c?=?17.4121(8)?Å, β?=?92.790(7)°, Z?=?2. The structure has been solved by direct methods and refined to R?=?0.0606 for 3?250 observed reflections. The bond distances and angles are in good agreement with the corresponding values for compounds containing phenyl and cholesterol moieties. The phenyl rings A and B are planar. The dihedral angle between the least‐squares planes of the two phenyl rings is 28°. The cholesterol moiety has the usual structure: the C and E rings have chair conformations, and the D and F rings adopt half‐chair conformations. The molecules in the unit cell are arranged in an antiparallel manner. The crystal structure is stabilized by an intermolecular C–H…O contact of 2.989(10)?Å.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Photocrosslinking Properties of Poly(1‐(4‐Methacrylamidophenyl)‐1‐(4‐nitrophenyl)prop‐1‐en‐3‐one)

The phenylmethacrylamide monomer, 1‐(4‐methacrylamidophenyl)‐1‐(4‐nitrophenyl)prop‐1‐en‐3‐one (MPNP) containing a photosensitive group was synthesized by reacting 4‐nitrocinnamoylaniline with methacryloyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine at 0–5°C. The functional monomer, MPNP was polymerized in ethyl methyl ketone (EMK) under nitrogen atmosphere at 70°C using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as the initiator. The synthesized polymer was characterized by UV, IR, ¹H‐NMR and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy. The molecular weight data of the polymer as obtained from gel permeation chromatography suggests a higher tendency for chain termination by radical recombination than disproportionation. The thermal studies of the polymer were obtained from thermogravimetric analysis. The glass transition temperature of the polymer was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The solubility of the polymer was tested in various organic solvents at room temperature. The photosensitivity of the polymer was investigated in various solvents in the presence and absence of triplet photosensitizers. The effect of the different solvents nature and concentration on the rate of photocrosslinking of the polymer were also examined for using the polymer as negative photoresist materials.     

Glycosylation of 4‐Aryl‐1‐thioxo[1,2,4] triazolo[4,3‐a] quinazolin‐5(4H)‐one

Reaction of 4‐aryl‐1‐thioxo [1,2,4] triazolo [4,3‐a] quinazolin‐5 (4H)‐ones (2a,b) with acetylated glycosyl bromides 3a–c under alkaline conditions afforded the corresponding S‐glycoside derivatives 4, 5 and N‐glycoside derivatives 6, 7. Oxidation of S‐glycosyl derivatives 4, 5 with m‐chloroperbenzoic acid yielded the corresponding sulphones 8, 9, whereas the N‐glycosyl derivatives 6, 7 yielded 1‐oxo derivatives 10, 11. However their O‐deacetylation with sodium methoxide in methanol caused cleavage of the S‐glycosyl residue and gave N ²‐glycosylated analogues 12, 13, 14 and 15.     

Ferroelectric liquid crystal dopants with a chiral (R,R)‐2,3‐difluorooctyloxy side‐chain: host dependence of the polarization power

The polarization powers δ_p of four chiral dopants with (R,R)‐2,3‐difluorooctyloxy side‐chains were measured in four liquid crystal hosts with isotropic (I)–nematic (N)–smectic A (SmA)–smectic C (SmC) phase sequences. The four chiral dopants differ in terms of their core structures: 2‐phenylpyridine (MDW950), biphenyl (5), 2‐phenylpyrimidine (6) and 2‐(3‐nitrophenyl)pyrimidine (7). In each case, δ_p varies with the structure of the liquid crystal host, which is consistent with the behaviour of so‐called Type II dopants that normally feature a chiral core structure. The δ_p(host) profile was found to depend on the degree of biaxiality of the dopant core structure, and on the degree of steric coupling between the chiral 2,3‐difluorooctyloxy side‐chain and the core. Conformational analyses at the B3LYP/6‐31G* level suggest that the 2,3‐difluorooctyloxy side‐chain is conformationally more rigid than conventional chiral side‐chains due to the added electrostatic repulsion of the two adjacent fluoro groups combined with the hyperconjugative ‘gauche effect’, and may therefore have a higher degree of biaxiality on the time average. This biaxial character should make the chiral side‐chain more sensitive to variations in quadrupolar ordering imposed by the SmC phase of the liquid crystal host, and may therefore explain the dependence of δ_p on the host structure reported herein.     

Facile Method for Stereoselective Synthesis of New Chiral (1R,4aR,8aR)‐1,3,4,4a,5,7,8,8a‐Octahydro‐2‐methylene‐naphthalene‐6‐one‐1‐propanenitrile,an Important Precursor of Solanapyrones

A novel and facile strategy for stereoselective synthesis of new chiral (1R,4aR,8aR)‐1,3,4,4a,5,7,8,8a‐octahydro‐2‐methylenenaphthalene‐6‐one‐1‐propanenitrile (8) by one‐pot stereoselective hydrogenation/acetalization and Beckmann fragmentation is described. Chiral octalone 8, an important precursor of solanapyrone, was obtained in good yield.     

Synthesis of O‐β‐D‐Glucopyranosides of 7‐Hydroxy‐3‐(imidazol‐2‐yl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐ones

The 7‐hydroxy‐3‐formyl‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one 1 reacted with various cyclic 1,2‐dicarbonyl compounds in the presence of ammonium acetate to furnish 7‐hydroxy‐3‐([4,5‐fused] imidazol‐2‐yl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐ones 2a–f, which on glucosylation with α‐acetobromoglucose affords 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyloxy‐3‐([4,5‐fused] imidazol‐2‐yl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐ones 3a–f. 7‐O‐β‐D‐Glucopyranosyloxy‐3‐([4,5‐fused] imidazol‐2‐yl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐ones 4a–f were prepared by deacetylation with anhydrous zinc acetate in absolute methanol. The structure of these new O‐β‐D‐glucosides was established on the basis of chemical, elemental, and spectral analysis. These compounds were evaluated for their in vitro biological activity.

     

Two Efficient Syntheses of Protected 4‐Deoxy‐D‐lyxo‐hexose (4‐Desoxy‐D‐mannose)

The formation of four differently protected 4‐deoxy‐D‐lyxo‐hexose derivatives 7, 8, 12, and 14 is described. In the first procedure, a nucleophilic displacement of the allylic mesylate 4 by hydride was combined with a highly stereoselective osmylation of olefin 6 to afford diol 7. In the second radical procedure, tributyl tin hydride was substituted by the cheap and environmentally friendly hypophosphorous acid as a hydrogen donor in the reduction of xanthate 13 to 4‐deoxy lyxo‐hexose 14.     

Facile Synthesis and Unusual Methanesulfonylation Reaction of (2R,3R)‐1,4‐Dimethoxy‐1,1,4,4‐tetrasubstituted‐2,3‐butanediols

A facile method for the synthesis of (2R,3R)‐1,4‐dimethoxy‐1,1,4,4‐tetrasubstituted‐2,3‐butanediols involving oxidative cleavage of benzylidene acetal as a key step is described. These sterically hindered diols unusually formed cyclic sulfites as the major product under methanesulfonylation reaction conditions.     

Microwave‐Assisted Elimination Reaction of trans‐4‐(4‐Fluorophenyl)‐3‐chloromethyl‐1‐methylpiperidine on Alumina

Abstract

trans‐4‐(4‐Fluorophenyl)‐3‐chloromethyl‐1‐methylpiperidine 3b was subjected to elimination reaction on alumina or KF‐alumina under solvent‐free conditions and microwave irradiation. Compared with the “classical” method of heating in the presence of an organic base, the microwave‐assisted methodology provided higher yields of 4‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐3‐methylene‐1‐methylpiperidine 7b (65.5–71%) in considerably shorter reaction times (20–40 min). Furthermore, the exocyclic double bond in 7b underwent rearrangement to the endocyclic double bond to furnish compound 8. The effect of alumina and irradiation time on reaction conversion and the extent of isomerization was examined.     

Synthesis of 4‐(Indol‐1‐yl)butanals via Rhodium‐Catalyzed Hydroformylation of 1‐Allylindoles

The rhodium‐catalyzed hydroformylation of new 1‐(β‐methallyl) indoles 1a–e carried out with Rh₄ (CO)₁₂ as the catalyst precursor, at 100 atm total pressure and 100°C, produces the 4-(indol‐1‐yl)‐3‐methylbutanals 2a–e as the sole products in high yields. The synthesized 4‐indolylbutanals are stable under the adopted conditions and are isolated and characterized here for the first time. The preparation of the starting 1‐allylindoles is described too.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of (2S)‐1‐(3,4‐Dihydroxyphenoxy)‐3‐(3,′4′‐Dimethoxyphenoxy) Ethylamino‐2‐propanol hydrochloride (RO363)

Enantiomerically pure (S)‐RO363 was synthesized by using (R,R) Salen Co(III) complex for the resolution of terminal epoxide. The hydrolytic kinetic resolution process was carried out at room temperature in excellent enantioselectivity. The method can be applied for large‐scale preparation of (S) RO363.     

Synthesis of Poly[2‐decyloxy‐5‐(4′‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] as a Light Emitting Material

In this study, a new electroluminescent poly(2‐decyloxy‐5‐(4′‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylene‐vinylene) (designated as DBP‐PPV) with no tolane‐bis–benzyl (TBB) structure defect was prepared by dehydrohalogenation of 1,4‐bisbromomethyl‐2‐decyloxy‐5‐(4′‐tert‐butyl‐phenyl) benzene (as monomer). The monomer bearing decyloxy and 4′‐tert‐butylphenyl substituents was synthesized via alkylation, bromination and Suzuki coupling reactions. The two asymmetric substituents of the monomer can suppress the formation of TBB defect during polymerization process and make the resultant polymer be soluble in common organic solvents. The structure and properties of DBP‐PPV were examined by ¹H‐NMR, FT‐IR, UV/Vis, TGA and photoluminescence (PL) analyses. Moreover, with the DBP‐PPV acting as a light‐emitting polymer, a device with sequential lamination of ITO/PEDOT/DBP‐PPV/Ca/Ag was fabricated. The electroluminescence (EL) spectrum of the device showed a maximum emission at around 546 nm, corresponding to a yellowish‐green light. The device showed a turn‐on voltage of about 8.4 V and a maximum luminescence efficiency of 0.11 cd/A at an applied voltage of 12 V.     

Synthesis of the Potassium Channel Opener (3S,4R)‐3,4‐Dihydro‐4‐(2,3‐dihydro‐2‐methyl‐3‐oxo‐pyridazin‐6‐Yl)oxy‐3‐hydroxy‐6‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)sulphonyl‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐2H‐benzo[b]pyran

The preparation of the potassium channel opener (3S,4R)‐3,4‐dihydro‐4‐(2,3‐dihydro‐2‐methyl‐3‐oxo‐pyridazin‐6‐yl)oxy‐3‐hydroxy‐6‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)sulphonyl‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐2H‐benzo[b]pyran (1) as a single enantiomer is reported. Considerable improvements have been implemented with respect to the original synthesis that allow for the preparation of multigram quantities of the final target compound. The optimized synthesis consists of a six‐step linear sequence whose key step is an asymmetric epoxidation protocol through the use of Jacobsen's (S,S)‐(+)‐N,N′‐bis(3,5‐di‐tert‐butylsalicylidene)‐1,2‐cyclohexanediaminomanganese(III) chloride catalyst.     

Simple and Convenient Synthesis of 4‐Unsubstituted‐3‐(3‐Oxoalkyl)isocoumarins

A simple transformation of 2‐alkylfurans and 2‐formylbenzoic acids into 4‐unsubstituted 3‐(3‐oxoalkyl)isocoumarins is described. It is based on the synthesis of 2‐(2‐carboxybenzyl)furans followed by their acid‐catalyzed recyclization to the target isocoumarins.     

Antibacterial Activities of New (E) 2‐Cyano‐3‐(3′,4′‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐2‐propenoylamide Derivatives

(E) 2‐Cyano‐3‐(3′,4′‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐2‐propenoyl chloride (2) underwent mono‐ and binucleophilic displacement with hydrazines, amines, ureas, and aromatic bifunction amines to give new 2‐propenoyl hydrazines (4 and 5), 2‐propenoylamide (6, 7, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21), and 2‐thiol propenoate (22–24). Some of these products were cyclized to give novel heterocyclic derivatives (8, 10, 14, 16, and 20).     

Isolation and Structure Characterization of a (4‐O‐Methyl‐d‐glucurono)‐d‐xylan from the Skin of Opuntia ficus‐indica Prickly Pear Fruits

A slightly water soluble (4‐O‐methyl‐d‐glucurono)‐d‐xylan was isolated from the skin of Opuntia ficus‐indica (OFI) fruits by alkaline extraction, followed by ethanol precipitation and ion‐exchange chromatography. The structure of this xylan was determined by sugar determination coupled with a ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy analysis. The xylan consisted of a linear (1→4)‐β‐d‐xylopyranosyl backbone decorated with 4‐O‐methyl‐α‐d‐glucopyranosyluronic acid groups linked to the C‐2 of the xylopyranosyl residues, in the ratio of one uronic acid for six neutral sugar units.     

Organic Base‐Catalyzed Stereoselective Isomerizations of 4‐Hydroxy‐4‐phenyl‐but‐2‐ynoic Acid Methyl Ester to (E)‐ and (Z)‐4‐Oxo‐4‐phenyl‐but‐2‐enoic Acid Methyl Esters

We have developed a 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO)‐catalyzed isomerization of 4‐hydroxy‐4‐phenyl‐but‐2‐ynoic acid methyl ester to (E)‐4‐oxo‐4‐phenyl‐but‐2‐enoic acid methyl ester and an N,N‐diisopropylethylamine‐catalyzed isomerization of the same substrate to (Z)‐4‐oxo‐4‐phenyl‐but‐2‐enoic acid methyl ester.