Mechanistic investigation inspired “on water” reaction for hydrobromic acid‐catalyzed Friedel–Crafts–type reaction of β‐naphthol and formaldehyde

The mechanism of the HBr‐catalyzed Friedel‐Crafts‐type reaction between β‐naphthol and HCHO was investigated by DFT to improve this reaction. The HBr‐H₂O co‐catalyzed the preferential pathway undergoes the concerted nucleophilic addition and hydrogen shift, stepwise followed by H₂O elimination and the C C bond formation. The origin of the high catalytic activity of HBr is ascribed to C H···Br⁻ and O H···Br⁻ interactions, which suggest that the active species is Br⁻. Moreover, water molecules efficiently assist in improving the activity of Br⁻. The computational results show that solvent polarity profoundly affects the activation barriers. To our delight, the activation barrier of the rate‐determining step for the favored pathway in water is comparable (0.6 kcal/mol difference) with that in acetonitrile. The experimental observation further confirmed our results and demonstrated that the title reaction can be successfully achieved “on water.” Therefore, we open a new efficient and green strategy for the synthesis of biphenol derivatives. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mechanistic insight on (E)‐methyl 3‐(2‐aminophenyl)acrylate cyclization reaction by multicatalysis of solvent and substrate

The reaction mechanism of (E)‐methyl 3‐(2‐aminophenyl)acrylate ( A ) with phenylisothiocyanate ( B ) as well as the vital roles of substrate A and solvent water were investigated under unassisted, water‐assisted, substrate A ‐assisted, and water‐ A ‐assisted conditions. The reaction proceeds with four processes via nucleophilic addition, deprotonation and protonation, intramolecular cyclization with hydrogen transfer, and keto–enol tautomerization. According to the different H‐shift mode, two possible types of H‐shift P1 and P2 are carefully investigated to identify the most preferred pathway, differing in the ? NH₂ group deprotonation and ? CH group of A protonation processes. It is found that substrate A and water not only act as reactant and solvent, but also as catalyst, proton shuttle, and stabilizer in effectively lowering the energy barrier. Therefore, the results demonstrate that the strong donating and accepting ability of ? NH₂ group on A and the presence of bulk water are the keys to the title reaction proceed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The multieffects of DMF and DBU on the [5 + 1] benzannulation of nitroethane and α‐alkenoyl ketene‐(S,S)‐acetals: Hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions

A density functional theory (DFT) study was performed to elucidate the mechanism for the [5 + 1] benzannulation of nitroethane and α‐alkenoyl ketene‐(S,S)‐acetals. The calculation results are consistent with experimental findings, showing that the reaction proceeds via deprotonation of nitroethane, nucleophilic addition, intramolecular cyclization, elimination of HNO₂, and the keto‐enol tautomerization sequence. It was disclosed that N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) and 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU) act as not only solvent and nonnucleophilic base, respectively, but also catalysts in the reaction by stabilizing the transition states (TSs) and intermediates via intermolecular hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions. Besides, the effective orbital interaction of the reaction site in TS also contributes to the intramolecular cyclization step. The new mechanistic insights obtained by DFT calculations highlight that the hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions are key factors for the [5 + 1] benzannulation of nitroethane and α‐alkenoyl ketene‐(S,S)‐acetals. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

[DBU‐H]+ and H2o as effective catalyst form for 2,3‐dihydropyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4(1H)‐ones: A DFT Study

DFT investigations are carried out to explore the effective catalyst forms of DBU and H₂O and the mechanism for the formation of 2,3‐dihydropyrido[2,3‐d]‐pyrimidin‐4(1H)‐ones. Three main pathways are disclosed under unassisted, water‐catalyzed, DBU and water cocatalyzed conditions, which involves concerted nucleophilic addition and H‐transfer, concerted intramolecular cyclization and H‐transfer, and Dimroth rearrangement to form the product. The results indicated that the DBU and water cocatalyzed pathway is the most favored one as compared to the rest two pathways. The water donates one H to DBU and accepts H from 2‐amino‐nicotinonitrile ( 1 ), forming [DBU‐H]⁺‐H₂O as effective catalyst form in the proton migration transition state rather than [DBU‐H]⁺‐OH^?. The hydrogen bond between [DBU‐H]⁺···H₂O··· 1 ^? decreases the activation barrier of the rate‐determining step. Our calculated results open a new insight for the green catalyst model of DBU‐H₂O. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The Keto–Enol Tautomerism of Biliverdin in Bacteriophytochrome: Could it Explain the Bathochromic Shift in the Pfr Form?†

Phytochromes are ubiquitous photoreceptors found in plants, eukaryotic algae, bacteria and fungi. Particularly, when bacteriophytochrome is irradiated with light, a Z‐to‐E (photo)isomerization takes place in the biliverdin chromophore as part of the Pr‐to‐Pfr conversion. This photoisomerization is concomitant with a bathochromic shift in the Q‐band. Based on experimental evidence, we studied a possible keto–enol tautomerization of BV, as an alternative reaction channel after its photoisomerization. In this contribution, the noncatalyzed and water‐assisted reaction pathways for the lactam–lactim interconversion through consecutive keto–enol tautomerization of a model BV species were studied deeply. It was found that in the absence of water molecules, the proton transfer reaction is unable to take place at normal conditions, due to large activation energies, and the endothermic formation of lactim derivatives prevents its occurrence. However, when a water molecule assists the process by catalyzing the proton transfer reaction, the activation free energy lowers considerably. The drastic lowering in the activation energy for the keto–enol tautomerism is due to the stabilization of the water moiety through hydrogen bonds along the reaction coordinate. The absorption spectra were computed for all tautomers. It was found that the UV–visible absorption bands are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data. Our results suggest that although the keto–enol equilibrium is likely favoring the lactam tautomer, the equilibrium could eventually be shifted in favor of the lactim, as it has been reported to occur in the dark reversion mechanism of bathy phytochromes.     

The keto→enol photoisomerization of N‐salicilydenemethylfurylamine: Nonadiabatic ab initio dynamics simulation

The photoinduced isomerization of cis‐keto and trans‐keto isomers in N‐salicilydenemethylfurylamine has been studied using the surface‐hopping approach at the CASSCF level of theory. After the cis‐keto or trans‐keto isomer is excited to S₁ state, the molecule initially moves to a excited‐state local minimum. The torsional motion around relative bonds in the chain drives the molecule to approach a keto‐form conical intersection and then nonadiabatic transition occurs. According to our full‐dimensional dynamics simulations, the trans‐keto and enol photoproducts are responsible for the photochromic effect of cis‐keto isomer excited to S₁ state, while no enol isomer was obtained in the photoisomerization of trans keto on excitation. The cis keto to enol and cis keto to trans keto isomerizations are reversible photochemical reactions. It is confirmed that this aromatic Schiff base is a potential molecular switch. Furthermore, the torsion of C N bond occurs in the radiationless decay of trans‐keto isomer, while it is completely suppressed by an intramolecular hydrogen bonding interaction in the dynamics of cis‐keto form. Moreover, the excited‐state lifetime of cis keto is longer than that of trans‐keto form due to the O···H N hydrogen bond.     

A theoretical investigation about the excited state behavior for 2‐(6'‐hydroxy‐2'‐pyridyl)benzimidazole: The water‐assisted excited state proton transfer process

In this work, based on density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT) methods, we theoretically investigate the excited‐state process of the 2‐(6'‐hydroxy‐2'‐pyridyl)benzimidazole (2HPB) system in acetonitrile and water solvents. Since acetonitrile is an aprotic solvent, it has no effect on the solvent‐assisted excited‐state proton transfer (ESPT) process. Therefore, the 2HPB molecule cannot transfer the proton in acetonitrile, which is consistent with previous experimental observation. On the other hand, 2HPB can combine one water molecule (which is a protic solvent), forming the 2HPB–H₂O complex in the S₀ state. After photoexcitation, the intermolecular hydrogen bonds O1 H2···O3 and O3 H4···N5 both get strengthened in the S₁ state, which leads to the possibility of a water‐assisted ESPT process. Further, the charge redistribution reveals the tendency of ESPT. By exploring the potential energy curves for the 2HPB–H₂O complex in water, we confirm that a stepwise double proton transfer process occurs in the S₁ state. Water‐assisted ESIPT can occur along O1 H2···O3 or O3 H4···N5 because of their similar potential barriers. Based on the stepwise ESPT mechanism, we reinterpret the absorption and fluorescence spectra mentioned in the experiments and confirm the rationality of the water‐assisted ESPT process.     

Density functional computational studies on 2‐[(2,4‐Dimethylphenyl)iminomethyl]‐3,5‐dimethoxyphenol

Density functional calculations of the structure, molecular electrostatic potential, and thermodynamic functions have been performed at B3LYP/6‐31G(d) level of theory for the title compound of 2‐[(2,4‐dimethylphenyl)iminomethyl]‐3,5‐dimethoxyphenol ( I ). To investigate the tautomeric stability, optimization calculations at B3LYP/6‐31G(d) level were performed for the enol and keto forms of I . Calculated results reveal that the enol form of I is more stable than its keto form. The predicted nonlinear optical properties of I are much greater than ones of urea. The changes of thermodynamic properties for the formation of the title compound with the temperature ranging from 200 to 500 K have been obtained using the statistical thermodynamic method. At 298.15 K, the change of Gibbs free energy for the formation reaction of I is 32.973 kJ/mol. The title compound can not be spontaneously produced from the isolated monomers at room temperature. The tautomeric equilibrium constant is computed as 0.868 at 298.15 K for enol‐imine?keto‐amine tautomerization of I . In addition, natural bond orbital analysis of I was performed using the B3LYP/6‐31G(d) method. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Substituent effects on enol nitrosation of 1,3‐diketones

The keto–enol tautomerism of 3‐chloro‐pentane‐2,4‐dione (ClPD) was studied in aqueous micellar solutions of cationic, anionic, and nonionic surfactants. The enol of ClPD tautomerizes rapidly in water to the equilibrium proportions of the keto form, K_E=0.55; whereas the keto–enol conversion of 3‐ethyl‐pentane‐2,4‐dione (EPD) is a much slower reaction than the enol nitrosation. Kinetics of enol –nitrosation of both ClPD and EPD in aqueous acid medium using nitrous acid shows first‐order dependence upon [ketone] and linear or curve relationships of the observed rate constant, k_o, as a function of [nitrite] or [H⁺]; the observed behavior depends on the molecular structure of diketone and varies with the experimental conditions. The reaction is strongly catalyzed by Cl^?, Br^?, or SCN^?, and the observed rate constant shows a curve dependence on [Br^?] or [SCN^?], which is more pronounced at high acidity. The results are consistent with a reaction mechanism in which the nitrosation occurs initially on the enol–oxygen and releasing a proton to form a chelate–nitrosyl complex intermediate in steady state. Fine differences on the mechanistic spectrum of enols nitrosation are considered on the basis of the molecular structure of the diketone. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 668–679, 2012     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Alkenes/ α‐Bromoacetophenones with Aldehydes: A Facile Entry to α,β‐Epoxy Ketones

A novel, N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed direct oxidative coupling of styrenes with aldehydes has been described for the synthesis of α,β‐epoxy ketones in good yields. This unprecedented regioselective oxidative coupling employs NBS/DBU/DMSO (DBU=1,8‐diazabicyclo [5.4. 0] undec‐7‐ene, DMSO=dimethylsulfoxide, NBS=N‐bromosuccinimide) as an oxidative system at ambient conditions. Additionally, first NHC‐catalyzed Darzens reaction of α‐bromoketones and aldehydes under mild reaction conditions has also been described. Interestingly, mechanistic studies have revealed the preferred reactivity of NHC with alkene/α‐bromoketone rather than aldehydes, thus proceeding via the ketodeoxy Breslow intermediate.     

Two tautomeric forms of 2‐amino‐5,6‐dimethylpyrimidin‐4‐one

Derivatives of 4‐hydroxypyrimidine are an important class of biomolecules. These compounds can undergo keto–enol tautomerization in solution, though a search of the Cambridge Structural Database shows a strong bias toward the 3H‐keto tautomer in the solid state. Recrystallization of 2‐amino‐5,6‐dimethyl‐4‐hydroxypyrimidine, C₆H₉N₃O, from aqueous solution yielded triclinic crystals of the 1H‐keto tautomer, denoted form (I). Though not apparent in the X‐ray data, the IR spectrum suggests that small amounts of the 4‐hydroxy tautomer are also present in the crystal. Monoclinic crystals of form (II), comprised of a 1:1 ratio of both the 1H‐keto and the 3H‐keto tautomers, were obtained from aqueous solutions containing uric acid. Forms (I) and (II) exhibit one‐dimensional and three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding motifs, respectively.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Hydrolysis of a Novel Anhydrogalactosucrose: 2′‐Methoxyl‐O‐1′,4′:3′,6′‐dianhydro‐β‐D‐fructofuranosyl 3,6‐anhydro‐4‐chloro‐4‐deoxy‐α‐D‐galactopyranoside

A novel anhydrogalactosucrose derivative 2′‐methoxyl‐O‐1′,4′:3′,6′‐dianhydro‐β‐D‐fructofuranosyl 3,6‐anhydro‐4‐chloro‐4‐deoxy‐α‐D‐galactopyranoside ( 4 ) was prepared from 3,6:1′,4′:3′,6′‐trianhydro‐4‐chloro‐4‐deoxy‐galactosucrose ( 3 ) via a facile method and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and 2D NMR spectra. The single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis shows that the title molecule forms a two thee‐dimensional network structure by two kinds of hydrogen bond interactions [O(2) H(2)···O(7), O(5) H(5)···O(8)]. Its stability was investigated by acid hydrolysis reaction treated with sulfuric acid, together with the formation of 1,6‐Di‐O‐methoxy‐4‐chloro‐4‐deoxy‐β‐D‐galactopyranose ( 5 ) and 2,2‐Di‐C‐methoxy‐1,4:3,6‐dianhydromannitol ( 6 ). According to the result, the relative stability of the ether bonds in the structure is in the order: C(1) O C(5)≈C(3′) O C(6′)≈C(1′) O C(4′)>C(3) O C(6)≈C(1) O C(2′)>C(2′) O C(5′).     

Excited‐State Proton‐Relay Dynamics of 7‐Hydroxyquinoline Embedded in a Solid Matrix of Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)

Excited 7‐hydroxyquinoline embedded in a solid matrix of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) undergoes a proton‐relay reaction efficiently to form its keto tautomer. However, the reaction mechanism depends on the torsional conformation and the microscopic environment of the molecule at the moment of excitation. Whereas the bridged cis‐enol form undergoes proton relay immediately on absorption of a photon to produce its tautomeric keto species, the unbridged cis form requires 120 ps for bridge formation via solvent reorganization prior to proton relay. Furthermore, the trans form needs 1000 ps for tautomerization because it requires an activated (11 kJ mol^?1) torsional motion to change into its cis form prior to bridge formation and proton relay. Torsional motion rather than solvent reorganization determines the proton relay rate of the trans‐form of the molecule.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of acetylacetone by permanganate ion

The kinetics and mechanism of permanganate ion oxidation of acetylacetone (Acac) was studied in acidic and alkaline media. The rate constants for keto, enol, and enolate anions were determined and discussed. Delocalization of the π‐electrons of the double bond by conjugation results in a slower oxidation rate of enol than can be usually observed for unsaturated compounds. In the case of the keto form, the acid‐catalyzed nucleophilic attack of permanganate ion occurs on the carbonyl‐C atom. For enolate anion a mechanism with basis‐catalyzed electron abstraction is suggested. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 444–450, 2006     

Theoretical study of cyclization of 2′-hydroxychalcone

The isomerization mechanism of 2′(OH)chalcone (1) in flavanone (2) was studied. The calculations were performed with the semiempirical method AM1, using totally optimized molecular geometries. A 6-step mechanism including several equilibrium states was proposed. It was concluded that: (a) At the conformational equilibrium of 1 there could be 43.9% of s-cis conformer; (b) The acid dissociation of 1 trans-s-trans is considerable; (c) The E_E, ΔH_f and net charges show that the rotation of ring A of 1 and the formation of ring C of 2 occurs without greater impairments; (d) Although the keto structure is the most stable one, the enolate of 2 is present in the reaction medium; (e) The conversion of enol of 2 in the keto form would be the limiting step of the analyzed isomerization rate.     

4‐Acetyl‐5‐methyl‐2‐phenyl‐1,2‐di­hydro‐3H‐pyrazol‐3‐one hydrate

The title compound, C₁₂H₁₂O₂N₂·H₂O, is described. Although the keto–enol form of the ligand in solution is known, the compound crystallized in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with only the monohydrated 1,3‐diketo form. The intermolecular hydrogen bond between the imino N—H group of the ligand and O atom of the water mol­ecule recorded an H?O distance of 1.73 (3) Å.     

Effects of the ionization in the tautomerism of uracil: A reaction electronic flux perspective

The one‐step tautomerization processes of uracil and its radical cation and radical anion have been investigated in the light of the reaction force and reaction electronic flux (REF) formalisms. The relative energies of the different tautomers as well as the corresponding tautomerization barriers have been obtained through the use of the G4 high‐level ab initio method and by means of B3LYP/6‐311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6‐311+G(d, p) calculations. Systematically, the enol radical cations are more stable in relative terms than the neutral, due to the higher ionization energy of the diketo forms with respect to the enolic ones. Conversely, the enol radical anions, with the only exception of the 2‐keto‐N1 anion, are found to be less stable than the neutral. The effects of the ionization are also sizable on the tautomerization barriers although this effect also depends on the particular tautomerization process. The reaction force analysis shows that all reactions are mainly activated through structural rearrangements that initiate the electronic activity. This electronic activity is monitored along the reaction coordinate through the REF that obeys a delicate balance between the acid and basic character of the atoms involved in the hydrogen transfer. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Photochemical behaviour of polyacryloylacetone;and polyethylacrylacetate monolayers at the air–water interface

The surface organization of enol units of polyacryloylacetone (PAA) and polyethylacrylacetate (PEAA) monolayers at the air–water interface is examined using surface pressure, surface potential and rheological measurements and theoretical calculations based on molecular models. The mechanism and kinetics of the photochemical enol–keto tautomerization of PAA and PEAA polymers organized in a monolayer of closely packed monomer units are studied by measuring the surface area increase at constant surface pressure. The results indicate an increase in the area per unit during the consecutive enol-to-keto photoconversion and the slow interfacial reorganization of these ¶forms to a more favourable state.     

Reaction mechanism of palladium‐catalyzed silastannation of allenes by density functional theory

The reaction mechanism of Pd(0)‐catalyzed allenes silastannation reaction is investigated by the density functional method B3LYP. The overall reaction mechanism is examined. For the allene insertion step, the Pd Si bond is preferred over the Pd Sn bond. The electronic mechanism of the allene insertion into Pd Si bond to form σ‐vinylpalladium (terminal‐insertion) and σ‐allylpalladium (internal‐insertion) insertion products is discussed in terms of the electron donation and back‐donation. It is found that the electron back‐donation is significant for both terminal‐ and internal‐insertion. During allene insertion into Pd Si bond, internal‐insertion is preferred over terminal‐insertion. By using methylallene, the regio‐selectivity for the monosubstituted allene insertion into Pd Si and Pd Sn bond is analyzed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2009     

Colorimetric Fluoride‐Anion Sensor Based on Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding and Enol–Keto Tautomerization of a Phenothiazine Derivative

A colorimetric sensor for fluoride ions based on a new sensing mechanism is reported. The colorimetric sensor contains an isomerizable enol–keto moiety as the recognition site and phenothiazine as chromogenic center. A color change visible to the naked eye is observed upon addition of fluoride ions to the solution of sensor 1 in aprotic solvents such as CHCl₃ and MeCN. The sensor shows no colorimetric response for other halide ions. Enol‐keto tautomerization is proposed to be responsible for the anion sensing of 1 , based on UV/VIS absorption, ¹H‐NMR, and single‐crystal structure analysis.