Structure of poly(propylene oxide) obtained in the presence of K, K(15-crown-5)2

Potassium isopropoxide and potassium tetraethylene glycoxide vinyl ether as well as small amounts of dipotassium tri- and tetraethylene glycoxides are formed in the initiation step of propylene oxide polymerization by K⁻, K⁺(15-crown-5)₂. Chain transfer reactions occur during the polymerization. Therefore, macromolecules with various starting groups, i.e. with the isopropyl, vinyl, allyl, and propenyl ones, are obtained in the process. The kind of end groups generally depends on the quenching agent used for termination. However, the macromolecules terminated in the chain transfer reactions possess exclusively the hydroxyl end group. The functionality of protonated polymers is equal to about 1.2 as a result of propagation occurring on dipotassium glycoxides.     

Decomposition of vinyl ethers by alkalide K, K(15-crown-5)2 via organopotassium intermediates

The structure of vinyl ethers determines the direction of the C-O bond cleavage by alkalide K⁻, K⁺(15-crown-5)₂1. Highly reactive organopotassium compounds are intermediate products formed in the system containing phenyl vinyl ether, butyl vinyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl vinyl ether or triethylene glycol methyl vinyl ether. Vinylpotassium and butylpotassium react with 15-crown-5. The oxacyclic ring of the latter is opened in this case. Organopotassium ethers possessing CH₂CH₂O units eliminate ethylene. It results in various potassium alkoxides. The reaction of 1 with butyl vinyl ether occurs very slow as compared to other vinyl ethers and most of other reagents used till now.     

Selective cleavage of the linear ether bond in benzyl glycidyl ether and triphenylmethyl glycidyl ether by potassium alkalide as two-electron-transfer reagent

The linear ether bond was exclusively cleaved in benzyl glycidyl ether and triphenylmethyl glycidyl ether under the influence of K⁻, K⁺(15-crown-5)₂ (1), whereas the strongly strained three-membered oxacyclic ring remained undisturbed. Potassium glycidoxide and benzylpotassium were found as the primary reaction products of benzyl glycidyl ether with 1. Subsequently, benzylpotassium reacted with benzyl glycidyl ether giving the next potassium glycidoxide molecule and bibenzyl. Benzyl phenyl ether was used as a model compound to explain the mechanism of bibenzyl formation. The reaction of triphenylmethyl glycidyl ether with 1 resulted in potassium glycidoxide and stable triphenylmethylpotassium. After treating with a quenching agent a new glycidyl ether or glycidyl ester was obtained from potassium glycidoxide. These results were found when the reaction occurred at the excess of glycidyl ether. In another case, i.e. at the excess of 1 further reactions took place with the participation of potassium anions and various new compounds were observed in the reaction mixture after benzylation or methylation. Thus, the method of substrates delivery influences the course of studied processes in a decisive way.     

Color modulation for intramolecular charge-transfer-induced chemiluminescence of bicyclic dioxetanes bearing a 3-hydroxy-5-naphthylphenyl moiety in the coordination sphere

Bicyclic dioxetanes 2a, 2b, and 3, bearing a 3-hydroxy-5-naphthylphenyl moiety underwent charge-transfer-induced decomposition with accompanying emission of light, the color of which changed from red to blue responding to a complex of crown ether with potassium t-butoxide used as a base. Furthermore, they afforded unusual chemiluminescence, the spectra of which displayed two peaks in some cases. It was observed for chemiluminescences in the coordination sphere with crown ether that their spectra did not coincide with the spectra of authentic emitters.     

Oxymethylcrowned chromene: photoswitchable stoichiometry of metal ion complex and ion-responsive photochromism

Chromene derivatives bearing oxymethyl-12-crown-4 (1), -15-crown-5 (2), -18-crown-6 (3) ether moieties, and non-cyclic analogue (4) were synthesized, and their metal ion binding properties and photochromism were examined. NMR titration with alkali metal ions revealed that 1 formed a 1:2 complex (metal ion: ligand) with Na⁺, while Li⁺ afforded a 1:1 complex of 1. In cases of K⁺ and Rb⁺, the complexes were a mixture of 1:1 and 1:2 complexes, but the formation of 1:1 complex was observed again with Cs⁺. Under UV irradiation, however, the complex stoichiometry of 1 with all alkali metal ions was 1:1. As a comparison of NMR spectra between the Li⁺ and Na⁺ complexes of 1 indicated considerable upfield shift for the chromene moiety of the Na⁺ complex, π-π stacking of the chromene moiety seems to induce formation of the 1:2 complex. These results indicate that the chromene moiety is not only to show photochromism but also to induce aggregation to form the 1:2 complex resulted in switching of the complex stoichiometry by UV irradiation. The formation of 1:2 complex appeared only with 1 because flexibility of the crown moieties for 2 and 3 interfered the formation of 1:2 complex. Studies on photochromism in the presence of a metal ion demonstrated that the chromene derivatives bearing crown ether moieties show ion-responsive photochromism depending on the metal ion binding ability of their crown ether moieties.     

Stereoselective synthesis of highly substituted trans-2,3-dihydrofuran and trans-1,2-cyclopropane derivatives containing sulfonyl groups

trans-2,3-Dihydrofuran derivatives 3 and trans-1,2-cyclopropane derivatives 4 were prepared with high chemoselectivity and moderate overall chemical yield by the reaction of α,β-unsaturated sulfones 1 with arsonium bromides 2 in the presence of potassium carbonate. The structures of products obtained were identified by IR, MS, ¹H NMR, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Synthesis and chemistry of tricyclic cyclopropene-tricyclo[3.2.2.0]nona-2(4),6-diene

The 1,2-bridged tricyclic cyclopropene, tricyclo[3.2.2.0^2,4]nona-2(4),6-diene (1), has been synthesized by the elimination of 2-bromo-4-chlorotricyclo[3.2.2.0^2,4]-non-6-ene (5). Cyclopropene 1 will undergo different isomerizations in ether solution and in neat conditions. Compound 1 rearranged to an anti-Bredt compound 4 via diradical mechanism in ether and tricyclic compound 6 via vinyl carbene mechanism in neat conditions. Compound 1 can be trapped with DPIBF at different temperatures yielding different results: the exo-endo adduct 2 (exo-addition from the view of the cyclopropene and endo-addition from the view of bicyclo[2.2.2]octene) is a sole product at 0°C by slowly addition of methyllithium, and the exo-endo adduct 2, endo-endo adduct 9, anti-Bredt adduct 3, and styrene 8 are isolated at ether refluxing temperature. Styrene 8 is proposed to be formed from endo-endo adduct 9 by diradical mechanism. The chemistry of exo-endo adduct 2 and endo-endo adduct 9 is as well studied. The exo-endo adduct 2 undergoes hydration in trifluoroacetic acid to generate 1,3-cis-diol 11 followed by eliminations of water and formaldehyde to give naphthalene 12. The endo-endo adduct 9 reacts with water in tetrahydrofuran-containing silica gel to yield 1,4-cis-diol 10. Both 9 and 10 react with trifluoroacetic acid to form trans-3-hydroxy trifluoroacetate 13. Compound 13 will undergo hydrolysis and isomerization to generate 1,3-cis-diol 11 in trifluoroacetic acid.     

Synthesis of novel C2-symmetric chiral crown ethers and their application to enantioselective trifluoromethylation of aldehydes and ketones

Synthesis of novel C2-symmetric chiral crown ethers and their application to enantioselective trifluoromethylation of aldehydes and ketones are discussed. The use of a series of C2-symmetric chiral crown ethers 2 or 3 derived from commercially available (R)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol for the enantioselective trifluoromethylation of 2-naphthyl aldehyde 1a with (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane in the presence of a base was attempted. Iodo-substituted crown ether 2b was found to be the most effective in the model reaction. Moderate enantioselectivities were observed for the trifluoromethylation of both aryl or alkyl aldehydes and alkyl aryl ketones in 21-44% ees. Although the ees are still improvable, this is the first example of a chiral crown ether-catalyzed enantioselective trifluoromethylation reaction.     

Regulation of metal ion recognition by allosteric effects in thiacalix[4]crown based receptors

Three new ditopic receptors 3a-c based on thiacalix[4]arene of 1,3 alternate conformation possessing two different complexation sites have been designed and synthesized for both soft and hard metal ions. The imino nitrogens bind soft metal ion (Ag⁺/Pb²⁺/Cu²⁺) and the crown moiety binds K⁺ ion. The preliminary investigations show that 3a-c behave as ditopic receptors for Ag⁺/K⁺, Pb²⁺/K⁺, and Cu²⁺/K⁺ ions, respectively. In all the three receptors it was observed that the formation of 3a·Ag⁺/3b·Pb²⁺/3c·Cu²⁺ complex triggers the decomplexation of K⁺ ion from crown moiety and acts as a gateway, which regulates the binding of alkali metal to crown moiety. Thus, allosteric binding between metal ions ‘switch off’ the recognition ability of crown ether ring.     

A new chemiluminescence probe for singlet oxygen based on tetrathiafulvalene-anthracene dyad capable of performing detection in water/alcohol solution

A new tetrathiafulvalene-anthracene dyad 1 with two “tetraethylene glycol” units was synthesized and characterized. Strong chemiluminescence was observed upon reaction of dyad 1 with singlet oxygen (¹O₂), and this reaction shows fairly good selectivity toward ¹O₂ over other reactive oxygen species. Due to the introduction of two hydrophilic “tetraethylene glycol” units, the detection of ¹O₂ with dyad 1 can be performed in alcohol/water solution, which is relatively a mild medium when compared with water/tetrahydrofuran solution required by other tetrathiafulvalene-anthracene dyads. Dyad 1 may have a wider use for detection of ¹O₂ in biological systems.     

The synthesis of 2,4-dienyl fluoroalkyl ketones by a tandem three-stage sequence of propargyl 2-fluoroalkylvinyl ether formation, Claisen rearrangement, and allene-to-conjugated diene isomerization

A tandem three stages process to a series of trifluoromethyl and halodifluoromethyl 2,4-unsaturated ketones 4a-c is described. This process started with the preparation of 2-fluoroalkyl substituted propargyl vinyl ether 3a-d by treatment of a mixture of individual ethyl α-per(poly)fluoroalkyl acetates 1a-d and propargyl alcohol 2 in CH₂Cl₂ with the mixed base (Na₂CO₃/TEA) at ambient temperature. When heated in toluene at 80°C, these ethers readily underwent a tandem propargyl-allenyl Claisen rearrangement and isomerization of the resultant 3,4-dienone to give 2,4-unsaturated fluoroalkyl ketones 4a-c (Z/E mixture). The reaction of ethyl α-per(poly)fluoroalkyl acetate 1 with 1-phenyl propargyl alcohol 5 in refluxing CH₂Cl₂ in the presence of the mixed base (Na₂CO₃/TEA) directly afforded the corresponding unsaturated fluoroalkyl ketone 6a-c in one pot. In the presence of NaH, the reaction of ethyl 3-halo-3-fluoroalkylacrylates 8a-b with 1,1-dimethyl propargyl alcohol 9 at −50°C to 0°C also gave the unsaturated fluoroalkyl ketones 10a-b in one pot. The difluorovinyl propargyl ether 11 produced by reduction of 2-bromodifluoromethyl substituted propargyl vinyl ether 3b rearranged in hot benzene to give the corresponding allene 12 bearing a gem-difluoromethylene group in the middle of the aliphatic chain.     

Bis(3-pyridyl)methylvinylsilane (L1) and 1,2-di(3-quinolyl) dimethyl disilane (L2): Synthesis and complexation reactions. Anion controlled solid state structures of cationic Ag(I)-L1 complex

3-Bromopyridine and 3-bromoquinoline on reaction with n-butyllithium give lithiated products which on reaction with dichloromethylvinylsilane and 1,2-dichlorodimethyldisilane at −78 °C result in the ligands bis(3-pyridyl)methylvinylsilane (L1) and 1,2-di(3-quinolyl)dimethyl disilane (L2). The complexation reactions of both these ligands with Ag(I), Pd(II) and Cu(II) have been explored. The ¹H, ¹³C{¹H} and ²⁹Si{¹H}NMR and IR spectra of both the ligands and their metal complexes have been found characteristic. The complex of L1 with silver(I), [Ag(L1)]ClO₄ (1) gives suitable single crystals characterized by X-ray diffraction. Its structure consists of two dimensional sheets, having 25-membered metallamacrocycle ring, in which Ag has distorted tetrahedral geometry and is bonded to vinyl (η²) group. On reacting AgCF₃SO₃ with L1 and subjecting the single crystals of the resulting complex to X-ray diffraction it has been found that contrary to 1 there is no bond between vinyl group and silver, resulting in infinite molecular strands, in which coordination geometry of silver is distorted trigonal planar. anion acts as a bridge between two molecular strands through F?H (aromatic) and Ag?O secondary interactions. The Ag-C distances in 1 are 2.309(5) and 2.350(12) Å. The CC bond length does not exhibit significant change on bonding with silver in 1.     

An efficient synthesis of 4,4′,5,5′-tetraiododibenzo-24-crown-8 and its highly conjugated derivatives

4,4′,5,5′-Tetraiododibenzo-24-crown-8 (9), a practical building block, was prepared under efficient and mild reaction conditions starting from the simple starting material, catechol (1). Highly conjugated 4,4′,5,5′-tetraethynyldibenzo-24-crown-8 (10a,b) were prepared via a Sonogashira coupling reaction from tetraiodocrown ether 9. These highly conjugated crown ethers form complexes in CD₂Cl₂ with dibenzylammonium hexafluorophosphate in a 1:1 ratio. Emission spectrum of pseudorotaxane 11 shows a dramatic shift from the non-complexed precursor.     

Nitrosation of hydrochlorothiazide and the modes of binding of the N-nitroso derivative with two macrocycles possessing an 18-membered crown ether cavity

The hydrochlorothiazide, 6-chloro-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-7-sulfonamide-1,1-dioxide, (HCTZ), widely used as a diuretic and anti-hypertensive drug, was transformed into its N-nitroso-derivative, 6-chloro-4-nitroso-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-7-sulfonamide-1,1-dioxide (ON-HCTZ) by sodium nitrite in an acidic medium. The crystalline complexes of ON-HCTZ with 18-crown-6 (18C6) and cis-anti-cis-dicyclohexyl-18C6 (DCH6B) demonstrated different H-bonding modes from those present in the co-crystals of HCTZ with the same crown ethers. The influence of the nitroso-group on the binding mode and crystal packing is discussed.     

Formation of (vinyl-ferrocenyl)stibines involving β-elimination: Hypervalent Sb-N bonding

Unusual syntheses of vinyl substituted ferrocenylstibines viz. diphenyl(2-vinylferrocenyl) stibine (2) and iodo-(N,N-dimethylaminoethylferrocenyl)(2-vinylferrocenyl)stibine (4) involving β-elimination, are reported. Stibines Ph₂SbFc (1) or Fc₂SbCl (3) containing dimethylaminoethyl-pendant arm on a ferrocenyl ring on reaction with MeI gives vinyl substituted ferrocenylstibines. All the new stibines were characterized by IR, mass, ¹H, ¹³C, COSY, HETCOR NMR spectroscopy. The structures of all of these 1,2-disubstituted ferrocenylstibines were determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. The compounds 3 and 4 show hypervalent bonding between the antimony and nitrogen atoms giving 6 and 5 coordinated antimony, respectively. This is the first report on ferrocenylstibines containing a vinyl group in their framework.     

Synthesis of arotinoid acid and temarotene using mixed (Z)-1,2-bis(organylchalcogene)-1-alkene as precursor

An efficient and novel total synthesis of the two bioactive retinoids temarotene and arotinoid acid (TTNPB) is described. The key steps in this process include the regio and stereoselective hydrotelluration of thioacetylene 9 and Te/Li transmetalation of mixed (Z)-1,2-bis(organylchalcogene)-1-alkene (Z)-3. The subsequent reaction involving the β-phenylthio vinyl lithiated intermediate 10 with dimethyl sulfate gave the (E)-vinyl sulfide 11. The Ni⁺² cross-coupling of 11 with the corresponding phenylzinc bromide and p-oxazoline phenylzinc bromide 12 afforded the respective temarotene 2 and retinoid-oxazoline substituted 13. Finally, compound 13 was deprotected with HCl to furnish arotinoid acid (TTNPB) 1.     

The first sorbicillinoid alkaloids, the antileukemic sorbicillactones A and B, from a sponge-derived Penicillium chrysogenum strain

The saltwater culture of a Penicillium chrysogenum strain isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Ircinia fasciculata yielded three new sorbicillin-derived compounds (1-3), whose structures were elucidated mainly by 2D NMR and mass spectrometry. Among them, sorbicillactones A (1) and B (2) are the first sorbicillinoid natural products that contain nitrogen. Compound 1 is anti-HIV active and it exhibits a strong cytotoxic activity against L5178y leukemic cells, combined with a relatively low toxicity to cervical carcinoma HeLa S3 cells and pheochromocytoma PC 12 cells. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were elucidated by quantum chemical calculation of circular dichroism (CD) spectra. Another compound isolated, sorbivinetone (3), might be an artifact derived from sorbicillinol (4) by Diels-Alder reaction with ethyl vinyl ether. Furthermore, the known sorbicillinoid fungal metabolites oxosorbicillinol (5), sorbicillin (6), and bisvertinolone (7) were identified, as well as the alkaloids meleagrine and roquefortine C. The biosynthetic origin of sorbicillactone A (1) from acetate, alanine, and methionine was investigated by feeding experiments with ¹³C-labeled precursors.     

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.     

Synthesis and conformational analysis of 3-hydroxypipecolic acid analogs via CSI-mediated stereoselective amination

A short and efficient stereoselective synthetic approach toward substituted piperidines, involving (2S,3S)-3-hydroxypipecolic acid 1, (2R,3S)-3-hydroxypipecolic acid 3, and their acid-reduced analogs 2 and 4, has been developed. The requisite anti- and syn-1,2-amino alcohols 11 and 12 for the preparation of title four piperidine analogs 1-4 were synthesized via the regioselective and diastereoselective amination of anti- and syn-1,2-dibenzyl ethers 13 and 14 using chlorosulfonyl isocyanate (CSI). As a result, reaction of anti-1,2-dibenzyl ether 13 with CSI afforded exclusively the anti-1,2-amino alcohol 11 with the diastereoselectivity of 49:1 in toluene at −78 °C and syn-isomer 14 gave the syn-1,2-amino alcohol 12 as the major product with the diastereoselectivity of 12:1 in hexane at −78 °C. The result of these reactions could be explained by the neighboring group effect leading to retention of stereochemistry. In addition, conformational changes of trans-piperidine intermediate 9 in terms of the nature of N-protecting groups are described. The conformations of 9 and 24-28 were confirmed by ¹H NMR analysis and NOE correlation. Furthermore, the conformations of piperidines 18 and 23 with hydroxyl methyl substituent at C-2 were investigated by NMR spectroscopy.     

Reexamination of the traditional Baylis-Hillman reaction

In the Baylis-Hillman reaction of arylaldehydes with methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), we found that, besides the normal Baylis-Hillman adduct 1, the diadduct 2 can also be formed at the same time and the yield of 2 can reach to 55% if increasing the amount of methyl vinyl ketone. But for ethyl vinyl ketone (EVK), methyl acrylate or acrylonitrile, only the normal Baylis-Hillman adduct 4, 7 or 8 was obtained, respectively. The substituent's effects and Lewis base effects were also examined and a plausible reaction mechanism was proposed for the formation of 2.