New 9,10‐Secosteroids from Biotransformations of Hyodeoxycholic Acid with Rhodococcus spp.

The biotransformations of hyodeoxycholic acid with various Rhodococcus spp. are reported. Some strains (i.e., Rhodococcus zopfii, Rhodococcus ruber, and Rhodococcus aetherivorans) are able to partially degrade the side chain at C(17) to afford 6α‐hydroxy‐3‐oxo‐23,24‐dinor‐5β‐cholan‐22‐oic acid ( 2 ; 23%) and 6α‐hydroxy‐3‐oxo‐23,24‐dinorchol‐1,4‐dien‐22‐oic acid ( 3 ; 23–30%), together with two new 9,10‐secosteroids 4 and 5 (10–45%), still bearing the partial side chain at C(17) and adopting an intramolecular hemiacetal form. In addition, the 9,10‐secosteroid 5 showed an unprecedented C(4)‐hydroxylation. The new secosteroids were fully characterized by MS, IR, NMR, and 2D‐NMR analyses.     

Direct Synthesis of Titanium Complexes with Chelating cis‐9,10‐Dihydrophenanthrenediamide Ligands through Sequential C?C Bond‐Forming Reactions from o‐Metalated Arylimines

A series of new titanium(IV) complexes with o‐metalated arylimine and/or cis‐9,10‐dihydrophenanthrenediamide ligands, [o‐C₆H₄(CH?NR)TiCl₃] (R=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃ ( 3 a ), 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ ( 3 b ), tBu ( 3 c )), [cis‐9,10‐PhenH₂(NR)₂TiCl₂] (PhenH₂=9,10‐dihydrophenanthrene; R=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃ ( 4 a ), 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ ( 4 b ), tBu ( 4 c )), [{cis‐9,10‐PhenH₂(NR)₂}{o‐C₆H₄(HC?NR)}TiCl] (R=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃ ( 5 a ), 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ ( 5 b ), tBu ( 5 c )), have been synthesised from the reactions of TiCl₄ with o‐C₆H₄(CH?NR)Li (R=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃, 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃, tBu). Complexes 4 and 5 were formed unexpectedly from the reactions of TiCl₄ with two or three equivalents of the corresponding o‐C₆H₄(CH?NR)Li followed by sequential intramolecular C? C bond‐forming reductive elimination and oxidative coupling reactions. Attempts to isolate the intermediates, [{o‐C₆H₄(CH?NR)}₂TiCl₂] ( 2 ), were unsuccessful. All complexes were characterised by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and the molecular structures of 3 a , 4 a – c , 5 a , and 5 c were determined by X‐ray crystallography.     

New Eunicellin Diterpenes and 9,10‐Secosteroids from the Gorgonian Muricella sibogae

Bioactivity‐guided isolation of the rare gorgonian Muricella sibogae (Nutting ) yielded the two new eunicellin diterpenes sibogin A and B ( 1 and 2 ), the three new 9,10‐secosteroids sibogol A–C ( 6 – 8 ), together with the three known eunicellin diterpenes 3 – 5 and the five known 9,10‐secosteroids 9 – 13 . Their structures were established by extensive spectral analysis (1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, IR, and MS). The cytotoxicity of the isolates 1 – 13 was evaluated in vitro against the selected tumor cell lines P388 and BEL‐7402. All the compounds showed only weak activity against P388 cell lines, with an inhibition rate ranging from 10 to 60% at a concentration of 50 μg/ml, whereas the were inactive against BEL‐7402 cell lines.     

Coordination of Ligands That Contain Thiocarbonyl,Carbonyl, or Thiolate Functionalities to Complex Fragments of Palladium in Various Oxidation States

Two phosphine ligands of [Pd(PPh₃)₄] were substituted by π(C?S) coordination of 4‐bromodithiobenzoic acid methyl ester resulting in complex 1 . The same ester, after alkylation, afforded the dicationic complex bis(μ‐methanethiolato)tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)dipalladium(2+) bis(tetrafluoroborate) ( 2 ) from the same palladium source. A related thiolato‐bridged complex, bis(μ‐methanethiolato)bis(1‐methylpyridin‐2(1H)‐ylidene)bis(triphenylphosphine)dipalladium(2+) bis(tetrafluoroborate) ( 4 ) and the trinuclear cluster tris(μ‐methanethiolato)tris(triphenylphosphine)tripalladium(+)(3Pd? Pd) ( 5 ) resulted from treatment of a known cationic pyridinylidene complex with MeSLi. The double oxidative substitution reaction of [Pd(PPh₃)₄] with 1,5‐dichloro‐9,10‐anthraquinone afforded trans‐dichloro[μ‐(9,10‐dihydro‐9,10‐dioxoanthracene‐1,5‐diyl)]tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)dipalladium ( 6 ). Some of these complexes could be fully characterized by ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, and ³¹P‐NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The crystal and molecular structures of all of them, and of trans‐bis(1,3‐dihydro‐1,3‐dimethyl‐2H‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene)diiodopalladium ( 3 ), were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

Dibutylsilylene Derivatives of Tartaric Acid

Crystals of the bis(tert‐butyl)silylene (DTBS) derivatives of the tartaric acids were synthesized from D ‐, L ‐, rac‐, and meso‐tartaric acid and DTBS bis(trifluoromethanesulfonate): two polymorphs of Si₂tBu₄(L ‐Tart1,2;3,4H_–4) (L ‐ 1a and L ‐ 1b ), the mirror image of the denser modification (D ‐ 1b ) as well as the racemate ( 2 ), and the meso analogue Si₂tBu₄(meso‐Tart1,3;2,4H_–4) ( 3 ). The structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The threo‐configured D ‐ and L ‐ (and rac‐) tartrates were coordinated by two tBu₂Si units forming five‐membered chelate rings, whereas the erythro‐configured meso‐tartrate formed six‐membered chelate rings. The new compounds were analyzed by NMR techniques, including ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography.     

Structures of rhenium(I) complexes with 3‐hydroxyflavone and benzhydroxamic acid as O,O′‐bidentate ligands and confirmation of π‐stacking by solid‐state NMR spectroscopy

The synthesis and crystal structures of two new rhenium(I) complexes obtained utilizing benzhydroxamic acid (BHAH) and 3‐hydroxyflavone (2‐phenylchromen‐4‐one, FlavH) as bidentate ligands, namely tetraethylammonium fac‐(benzhydroxamato‐κ²O,O′)bromidotricarbonylrhenate(I), (C₈H₂₀N)[ReBr(C₇H₆NO₂)(CO)₃], 1 , and fac‐aquatricarbonyl(4‐oxo‐2‐phenylchromen‐3‐olato‐κ²O,O′)rhenium(I)–3‐hydroxyflavone (1/1), [Re(C₁₅H₉O₃)(CO)₃(H₂O)]·C₁₅H₁₀O₃, 3 , are reported. Furthermore, the crystal structure of free 3‐hydroxyflavone, C₁₅H₁₀O₃, 4 , was redetermined at 100 K in order to compare the packing trends and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy with that of the solvate flavone molecule in 3 . The compounds were characterized in solution by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and in the solid state by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy using the cross‐polarization magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) technique. Compounds 1 and 3 both crystallize in the triclinic space group P with one molecule in the asymmetric unit, while 4 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁. Molecules of 1 and 3 generate one‐dimensional chains formed through intermolecular interactions. A comparison of the coordinated 3‐hydroxyflavone ligand with the uncoordinated solvate molecule and free molecule 4 shows that the last two are virtually completely planar due to hydrogen‐bonding interactions, as opposed to the former, which is able to rotate more freely. The differences between the solid‐ and solution‐state ¹³C NMR spectra of 3 and 4 are ascribed to inter‐ and intramolecular interactions. The study also investigated the potential labelling of both bidentate ligands with the corresponding fac‐^99mTc‐tricarbonyl synthon. All attempts were unsuccessful and reasons for this are provided.     

Halogenomercury Salts of Sterically Crowded Triazenides – Convenient Starting Materials for Redox‐Transmetallation Reactions

Diaryl‐substituted triazenides Ar(Ar′)N₃HgX [Ar/Ar′ = Dmp/Mph, X = Cl ( 2a ), Br ( 3a ), I ( 4a ); Ar/Ar′ = Dmp/Tph, X = Cl ( 2b ), I ( 4b ) with Mph = 2‐MesC₆H₄, Mes = 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂, Tph = 2′,4′,6′‐triisopropylbiphenyl‐2‐yl and Dmp = 2,6‐Mes₂C₆H₃] were synthesized by salt‐metathesis reactions in ethyl ether from the readily available starting materials Ar(Ar′)N₃Li and HgX₂. These compounds may be used for redox‐transmetallation reactions with rare‐earth or alkaline earth metals. Thus, reaction of 4b or 2b with magnesium or ytterbium in tetrahydrofuran afforded the triazenides Dmp(Tph)N₃MX(thf) ( 5b : M = Mg, X = I; 6b : M = Yb, X = Cl) in good yield. All new compounds were characterized by melting point, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and for selected species by IR spectroscopy or mass spectrometry. In addition, the solid‐state structures of triazenides 2a , 2b , 3a , 4b , 5b and 6b were investigated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

Metal‐Ion‐Binding Analogs of Ribonucleosides: Preparation and Formation of Ternary Pd2+ and Hg2+ Complexes with Natural Pyrimidine Nucleosides

Four metal‐ion‐binding nucleosides, viz. 2,6‐bis(1‐methylhydrazinyl)‐9‐(β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl)‐9H‐purine ( 2a ) and its N‐acetylated derivative, 2b , 2,4‐bis(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)‐5‐(β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl)pyrimidine ( 3 ), and 2,4‐bis(1‐methylhydrazinyl)‐5‐(β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl)pyrimidine ( 4 ) have been synthesized. The ability of these nucleosides and the previously prepared 2,6‐bis(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)‐9‐(β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl)‐9H‐purine to form Pd²⁺‐ and Hg²⁺‐mediated complexes with uridine has been studied by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy. To obtain additional support for the interpretation of the NMR data, comparative measurements on the ternary‐complex formation between pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxamide ( 5 ), pyrimidine nucleosides, and K₂PdCl₄ were carried out.     

Reaction of 3‐Hydroxyquinoline‐2,4‐diones with Isocyanates and Thermally Induced Transformation of the Reaction Products

3‐Hydroxyquinoline‐2,4‐diones 1 react with isocyanates to give novel 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐2,4‐dioxoquinolin‐3‐yl (alkyl/aryl)carbamates 2 and/or 1,9b‐dihydro‐9b‐hydroxyoxazolo[5,4‐c]quinoline‐2,4(3aH,5H)‐diones 3 . Both of these compounds are converted, by boiling in cyclohexylbenzene solution in the presence of Ph₃P or 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine, to give 3‐(acyloxy)‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐indol‐2‐ones 8 . All compounds were characterized by IR, and ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, as well as by EI mass spectrometry.     

Synthesis and Characterization of 1,3,2‐Bis (arylamino) phospholidine, 2‐oxide Derivatives: Crystal Structures of $\rm Cl(O)\overline{PN(p-Me-C_{6}H_{4})CH_{2}CH_{2}N}(p-Me-C_{6}H_{4})$ and $\rm ((CH_{2}C_{6}H_{5})(O)\overline{PN(p-Me-C_{6}H_{4})CH_{2}CH_{2}N}(p-Me-C_{6}H_{4})$

Using phosphoryl chloride as a substrate, a family of 1,3,2‐bis(arylamino) phospholidine, 2‐oxide of the general formula ; (X=Cl, 6a ; X=NMe₂, 1b ; X=N(CH₂C₆H₅)(CH₃), 2b ; X=NHC(O)C₆H₅, 3b ; X=4Me‐C₆H₄O, 4b ; X=C₆H₅O, 5b ; X=NHC₆H₁₁, 6b ; X=OC₄H₈N, 7b ; X=C₅H₁₀N, 8b ; X=NH₂, 9b ; X=F, 10b and Ar=4Me‐C₆H₄) was prepared and characterized by ¹H, ¹⁹F, ³¹P and ¹³C NMR and IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. A general and practical method for the synthesis of these compounds was selected. The structures of 6a and 2b were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction techniques. The low temperature NMR spectra of 2b revealed the restricted rotation of P‐N bond according to two independent molecules in crystalline lattice.     

Conversion of iminoacyl quinolinylpalladium (II) complexes into novel oxo‐pyrrolo[3,4‐b] quinolines via depalladation reactions

Oxidative addition reactions of quinolines 1a , b with Pd(dba)₂ in the presence of PPh₃ (1:2) in acetone gave dinuclear palladium complexes [Pd(C,N‐2‐C₉ H₄N‐CHO‐3‐R‐6)Cl(PPh₃)]₂ [(R = H ( 2a ), R = OMe ( 2b ), which were reacted with isocyanide XyNC (Xy = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃) to give novel iminoacyl quinolinylpalladium complexes 3a , b in good yields (81 and 77%). Cyclopalladated complexes 3a , b were also obtained in low yields (39 and 33.5%) via one‐pot reaction of 1a , b with isonitrile XyNC:Pd(dba)₂ (4:1). The reaction of 3a , b with Tl(TfO) (TfO = triflate, CF₃SO₃) in the presence of H₂O or EtOH causes depalladation reactions of complexes to provide the corresponding organic compounds 4a , b , 5a , b and 6a , b in yields of 41, 27 and 18 ? 19%, respectively. The products were characterized by satisfactory elemental analyses and spectral studies (IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR). The crystal structures 2a , 3a and 3b were determined by X‐ray diffraction studies. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Addition Reactions of Me3SiCN with Aldehydes Catalyzed by Aluminum Complexes Containing in their Coordination Sphere O,S, and N Ligands

The reaction of one equivalent of LAlH₂ ( 1 ; L=HC(CMeNAr)₂, Ar=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃, β‐diketiminate ligand) with two equivalents of 2‐mercapto‐4,6‐dimethylpyrimidine hydrate resulted in LAl[(μ‐S)(m‐C₄N₂H)(CH₂)₂]₂ ( 2 ) in good yield. Similarly, when N‐2‐pyridylsalicylideneamine, N‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)salicylaldimine, and ethyl 3‐amino‐4,5,6,7‐tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene‐2‐carboxylate were used as starting materials, the corresponding products LAl[(μ‐O)(o‐C₆H₄)CN(C₅NH₄)]₂ ( 3 ), LAlH[(μ‐O)(o‐C₄H₄)CN(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃)] ( 4 ), and LAl[(μ‐NH)(o‐C₈SH₈)(COOC₂H₅)]₂ ( 5 ) were isolated. Compounds 2 – 5 were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy as well as by single‐crystal X‐ray structural analysis. Surprisingly, compounds 2 – 5 exhibit good catalytic activity in addition reactions of aldehydes with trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN).     

Reductive Coupling Reaction of Aryliminomethylferrocenes with Triethyl Orthoformate Induced by Low‐valent Titanium

Reductive coupling reaction of aryliminomethylferrocenes FcCH = NAr[(1, Ar=QHs (a), p‐ClC₆H₄ (b), p‐BrC₆H₄ (c), p‐CH₃C₆H₄ (d), m‐ClC₆H₄ (e)] with triethyl orthoformate (2) in Zn‐TiCl₄ system gave three kinds of products: 1, 3‐diaryl‐4, 5‐diferrocenyl imidazolidines (3), N, N‐disubstituted formamides (4), and 1, 2‐diferrocenyl ethylene (5). ¹H NMR spectra proved that all the compounds 3 obtained were dl‐isomers. All the new compounds 3 and 4 were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR (for 3) and IR spectra. The molecular structure of 3c was determined by X‐ray diffraction.     

Synthesis of some novel fused oxo‐ and thiopyrimidines via an intramolecular friedel‐crafts reaction

1H‐Indeno[1,2‐d]pyrimidine‐2,5(3H,9bH)‐dione derivatives 2(a‐i) and 2,3‐dihydro‐2‐thioxo‐1H‐indeno[1,2‐d]pyrimidine‐5(9bH)‐ones 2(j‐q) were synthesized via an intramolecular Friedel‐Crafts reaction between the aryl and ester group of ethyl 6‐methyl‐4‐aryl‐2‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidine‐5‐carboxylates 1a‐i , and their thioxo analogs using AlCl₃ and acetyl chloride in nitrobenzene. Yields of the products, after washing with THF, were of the order of 45‐69%. IR and NMR spectroscopy together with elemental analysis were used for identification of these compounds.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Reactivity of RuII Complexes with Trimethylsilylethinylamidinate Ligands

The mononuclear amidinate complexes [(η⁶‐cymene)‐RuCl( 1a )] ( 2 ) and [(η⁶‐C₆H₆)RuCl( 1b )] ( 3 ), with the trimethylsilyl‐ethinylamidinate ligands [Me₃SiC≡CC(N‐c‐C₆H₁₁)₂]^– ( 1a^– ) and[Me₃SiC≡CC(N‐i‐C₃H₇)₂]^– ( 1b^– ) were synthesized in high yields by salt metathesis. In addition, the related phosphane complexes[(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Ru(PPh₃)( 1b )] ( 4a ) [(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)Ru(PPh₃)( 1b )] ( 4b ), and [(η⁶‐C₆H₆)Ru(PPh₃)( 1b )](BF₄) ( 5 ‐BF₄) were prepared by ligand exchange reactions. Investigations on the removal of the trimethyl‐silyl group using [Bu₄N]F resulted in the isolation of [(η⁶‐C₆H₆)Ru(PPh₃){(N‐i‐C₃H₇)₂CC≡CH}](BF₄) ( 6 ‐BF₄) bearing a terminal alkynyl hydrogen atom, while 2 and 3 revealed to yield intricate reaction mixtures. Compounds 1a / b to 6 ‐BF₄ were characterized by multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P) and IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses, including X‐ray diffraction analysis of 1b , 2 , and 3 .     

The molecular conformation of pentan‐3‐one studied in cholic acid pentan‐3‐one solvate

The crystal structure of cholic acid–pentan‐3‐one (1/1), C₅H₁₀O·C₂₄H₄₀O₅, has been determined in order to deduce the molecular conformation of the small volatile ketone. Data were collected at 100 K to a resolution of (sin θ)/λ = 0.91 Å⁻¹. The structure contains a hydrogen‐bonded cholic acid host network, forming only van der Waals interactions with the guest pentan‐3‐one molecules. The ketone molecules are disordered on general positions, with two clearly identifiable conformations. The majority conformer exhibits approximate C₂ symmetry and is similar to that recently observed by microwave spectroscopy in the gas phase.     

Pakistolides A and B,Novel Enzyme Inhibitory and Antioxidant Dimeric 4‐(Glucosyloxy)Benzoates from Berchemia pakistanica

Pakistolides A and B, novel dimeric β‐(glucosyloxy)benzoates were isolated from Berchemia pakistanica and assigned structures 1 and 2 on the basis of extensive NMR studies. In addition, the known compounds 7,5′‐dimethoxy‐3,5,2′‐trihydroxyflavone (=3,5‐dihydroxy‐2‐(2‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxyphenyl)‐7‐methoxy‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one), 4′,5‐dihydroxy‐3,6,7‐trimethoxyflavone (=5‐hydroxy‐2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐3,6,7‐trimethoxy‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one), 5,6‐dihydroxy‐4,7‐dimethoxy‐2‐methylanthracene‐9,10‐dione, and 1,3,4‐trihydroxy‐6,7,8‐trimethoxy‐2‐methylanthracene‐9,10‐dione were reported for the first time from the genus Berchemia. Both 1 and 2 showed significant α‐glucosidase and lipoxygenase inhibitory activities, while 2 also showed antioxidant potential.     

2‐Azido‐2‐deoxycellulose: Synthesis and 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition

Chitosan ( 1 ) was prepared by basic hydrolysis of chitin of an average molecular weight of 70000 Da, ¹H‐NMR spectra indicating almost complete deacetylation. N‐Phthaloylation of 1 yielded the known N‐phthaloylchitosan ( 2 ), which was tritylated to provide 3a and methoxytritylated to 3b . Dephthaloylation of 3a with NH₂NH₂?H₂O gave the 6‐O‐tritylated chitosan 4a . Similarly, 3b gave the 6‐O‐methoxytritylated 4b . CuSO₄‐Catalyzed diazo transfer to 4a yielded 95% of the azide 5a , and uncatalyzed diazo transfer to 4b gave 82% of azide 5b . Further treatment of 5a with CuSO₄ produced 2‐azido‐2‐deoxycellulose ( 7 ). Demethoxytritylation of 5b in HCOOH gave 2‐azido‐2‐deoxy‐3,6‐di‐O‐formylcellulose ( 6 ), which was deformylated to 7 . The 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of 7 to a range of phenyl‐, (phenyl)alkyl‐, and alkyl‐monosubstituted alkynes in DMSO in the presence of CuI gave the 1,2,3‐triazoles 8 – 15 in high yields.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New 3‐(3‐Hydroxyphenyl)‐4‐ alkyl‐3,4‐dihydrobenzo[e][1,3]oxazepine‐1,5‐dione Compounds

A series of 3‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)‐4‐alkyl‐3,4‐dihydrobenzo[e][1,3]oxazepine‐1,5‐dione compounds with general formula C_nH_2n+1CNO(CO)₂C₆H₄(C₆H₄OH) in which n are even parity numbers from 2 to 18. The structure determinations on these compounds were performed by FT‐IR spectroscopy which indicated that the terminal alkyl chain attached to the oxazepine ring was fully extended. Conformational analysis in DMSO at ambient temperature was carried out for the first time via high resolution ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.     

Calcium-mediated dearomatization, C-H bond activation, and allylation of alkylated and benzannulated pyridine derivatives

A facile and general synthetic pathway for the production of dearomatized, allylated, and C? H bond activated pyridine derivatives is presented. Reaction of the corresponding derivative with the previously reported reagent bis(allyl)calcium, [Ca(C₃H₅)₂] ( 1 ), cleanly affords the product in high yield. The range of N‐heterocyclic compounds studied comprised 2‐picoline ( 2 ), 4‐picoline ( 3 ), 2,6‐lutidine ( 4 ), 4‐tert‐butylpyridine ( 5 ), 2,2′‐bipyridine ( 6 ), acridine ( 7 ), quinoline ( 8 ), and isoquinoline ( 9 ). Depending on the substitution pattern of the pyridine derivative, either carbometalation or C? H bond activation products are obtained. In the absence of methyl groups ortho or para to the nitrogen atom, carbometalation leads to dearomatized products. C(sp³)? H bond activation occurs at ortho and para situated methyl groups. Steric shielding of the 4‐position in pyridine yields the ring‐metalated product through C(sp²)? H bond activation instead. The isolated compounds [Ca(2‐CH₂‐C₅H₄N)₂(THF)] ( 2 b ?(THF)), [Ca(4‐CH₂‐C₅H₄N)₂(THF)₂] ( 3 b ?(THF)₂), [Ca(2‐CH₂‐C₅H₃N‐6‐CH₃)₂(THF)_n] ( 4 b ?(THF)_n; n=0, 0.75), [Ca{2‐C₅H₃N‐4‐C(CH₃)₃}₂(THF)₂] ( 5 c ?(THF)₂), [Ca{4,4′‐(C₃H₅)₂‐(C₁₀H₈N₂)}(THF)] ( 6 a ?(THF)), [Ca(NC₁₃H₉‐9‐C₃H₅)₂(THF)] ( 7 a ?(THF)), [Ca(4‐C₃H₅‐C₉H₇N)₂(THF)] ( 8 b ?(THF)), and [Ca(1‐C₃H₅‐C₉H₇N)₂(THF)₃] ( 9 a ?(THF)₃) have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and metal analysis. 9 a ?(THF)₄ and 4 b ?(THF)₃ were additionally characterized in the solid state by X‐ray diffraction experiments. 4 b ?(THF)₃ shows an aza‐allyl coordination mode in the solid state. Based on the results, mechanistic aspects are discussed in the context of previous findings.