Synthesis of Functionalized Pyrazines and Quinoxalines from Nef‐Isocyanide Adducts and 1,2‐Diamines

Alkyl 3‐(alkylamino)‐5,6‐dicyanopyrazine‐2‐carboxylates and alkyl 3‐(alkylamino)quinoxaline‐2‐carboxylates were obtained in good yields by treatment of Nef‐isocyanide adducts with 1,2‐diamines in MeCN.     

Organocatalyzed and Uncatalyzed CC/CC and CC/CN Exchange Processes between Knoevenagel and Imine Compounds in Dynamic Covalent Chemistry

Molecular diversity generation through reversible component exchange has acquired great importance in the last decade with the development of dynamic covalent chemistry. We explore here the recombination of components linked by C?C and C?N bonds through reversible double‐bond formation, and cleavage in C?C/C?C and C?C/C?N exchange processes. The reversibility of the Knoevenagel reaction has been explored, and C?C/C?C C/C exchanges have been achieved among different benzylidenes, under organocatalysis by secondary amines such as L ‐proline. The substituents of these benzylidenes were shown to play a very important role in the kinetics of the exchange reactions. L ‐Proline is also used to catalyze the reversible C?C/C?C exchange between Knoevenagel derivatives of barbituric acid and malononitrile. Finally, the interconversion between Knoevenagel derivatives of dimethylbarbituric acid and imines (C?C/C?N exchange) has been studied and was found to occur rapidly in the absence of catalyst. The results of this study pave the way for the extension of dynamic combinatorial chemistry based on C?C/C?C and C?C/C?N exchange systems.     

Formation of Dialkyl 2‐[3‐Alkoxy‐1‐(alkylimino)‐1‐chloro‐3‐oxopropan‐2‐ylidene]hydrazine‐1,1‐dicarboxylates of α‐(Alkoxycarbonyl)imidoyl Chlorides from PhosphineDiazo Ester Zwitterions and Nef‐Isocyanide Adducts

A novel transformation involving phosphine? diazo ester zwitterions (generated from dialkyl azodicarboxylates with Ph₃P) and α‐(alkoxycarbonyl)imidoyl chlorides (prepared from α‐addition of acyl chlorides to alkyl isocyanides) to afford dialkyl 2‐[3‐alkoxy‐1‐(alkylimino)‐1‐chloro‐3‐oxopropan‐2‐ylidene]hydrazine‐1,1‐dicarboxylates in moderate yields, is described.     

[2 + 3]‐Cycloadditions of Phosphonodithioformate S‐Methanides with CS,NN,and CC Dipolarophiles

The reaction of the methyl (dialkoxyphosphinyl)‐dithioformates (= methyl dialkoxyphosphinecarbodithioate 1‐oxides) 10 with CH₂N₂ at − 65° in THF yielded cycloadducts which eliminated N₂ between − 40 and − 35° to give the corresponding phosphonodithioformate S‐methanides ( =methylenesulfonium (dialkoxyoxidophosphino)(methylthio)methylides) 11 (Scheme 3). These reactive 1,3‐dipoles were intercepted by aromatic thioketones to yield 1,3‐dithiolanes. Whereas the reaction with thiobenzophenone ( 12b ) led to the sterically more congested isomers 15 regioselectively, a mixture of both regioisomers was obtained with 9H‐fluorene‐9‐thione ( 12a ). Trapping of 11 with phosphono‐ and sulfonodithioformates led exclusively to the sterically less hindered 1,3‐dithiolanes 16 and 18 , respectively (Scheme 4). In addition, reactive CC dipolarophiles such as ethenetetracarbonitrile, maleic anhydride, and N‐phenylmaleimide as well as the NN dipolarophile dimethyl diazenedicarboxylate were shown to be efficient interceptors of 11 (Scheme 5).     

Reactions of Cyclohexyl Isocyanide with η5‐Substituted Cyclo‐pentadienyl MoMo Triply Bonded Complexes. Crystal Structure of [Mo(CO)2(η5‐C5H4CO2CH3)]2(μ‐η2‐CNC6H11)

Reactions of one or two equiv. of cyclohexyl isocyanide in THF at room temperature with Mo?Mo triply bonded complexes [Mo(CO)₂(η⁵‐C₅H₄R)]₂ (R=COCH₃, CO₂CH₃) gave the isocyanide coordinated Mo? Mo singly bonded complexes with functionally substituted cyclopentadienyl ligands, [Mo(CO)₂(η⁵‐C₅H₄R)]₂(μ‐η²‐CNC₆H₁₁) ( 1a , R=COCH₃; 1b , R=CO₂CH₃) and [Mo(CO)₂(η⁵‐C₅H₄R)(CNC₆H₁₁)]₂ ( 2a , R=COCH₃; 2b , R=CO₂CH₃), respectively. Complexes 1a , 1b and 2a , 2b could be more conveniently prepared by thermal decarbonylation of Mo? Mo singly bonded complexes [Mo(CO)₃(η⁵‐C₅H₄R)]₂ (R=COCH₃, CO₂CH₃) in toluene at reflux, followed by treatment of the resulting Mo?Mo triply bonded complexes [Mo(CO)₂(η⁵‐C₅H₄R)]₂ (R=COCH₃, CO₂CH₃) in situ with cyclohexyl isocyanide. While 1a , 1b and 2a , 2b were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopy, 1b was further characterized by X‐ray crystallography.     

Reactions of Stable α‐Chlorosulfanyl Chlorides with CS‐Functionalized Compounds

The smooth reaction of 3‐chloro‐3‐(chlorosulfanyl)‐2,2,4,4‐tetramethylcyclobutanone ( 3 ) with 3,4,5‐trisubstituted 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazole‐2‐thiones 8 and 2‐thiouracil ( 10 ) in CH₂Cl₂/Et₃N at room temperature yielded the corresponding disulfanes 9 and 11 (Scheme 2), respectively, via a nucleophilic substitution of Cl^? of the sulfanyl chloride by the S‐atom of the heterocyclic thione. The analogous reaction of 3‐cyclohexyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐4,5‐diphenyl‐1H‐imidazole‐2‐thione ( 8b ) and 10 with the chlorodisulfanyl derivative 16 led to the corresponding trisulfanes 17 and 18 (Scheme 4), respectively. On the other hand, the reaction of 3 and 4,4‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1,3‐thiazole‐5(4H)‐thione ( 12 ) in CH₂Cl₂ gave only 4,4‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1,3‐thiazol‐5(4H)‐one ( 13 ) and the trithioorthoester derivative 14 , a bis‐disulfane, in low yield (Scheme 3). At ?78°, only bis(1‐chloro‐2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐3‐oxocyclobutyl)polysulfanes 15 were formed. Even at ?78°, a 1 : 2 mixture of 12 and 16 in CH₂Cl₂ reacted to give 13 and the symmetrical pentasulfane 19 in good yield (Scheme 5). The structures of 11, 14, 17 , and 18 have been established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Metal Alkoxide Promoted Regio‐ and Stereoselective CO and CC Metathesis of Allenoates with Aldehydes

The reaction of 2,3‐allenoates and aldehydes in the presence of an alkoxide affords alkyl 4,5‐diaryl‐3‐oxo‐2‐propylpent‐4(E)‐enoates and cis‐3,4‐diaryloxetanes through a formal C?O and C?C metathesis. A mechanism for this reaction has been proposed.     

Enantioselective Reduction of Electrophilic CC Bonds with sodium tetrahydroborate and ‘semicorrin’ cobalt catalysts

‘Semicorrin’ cobalt complexes, prepared in situ from cobalt(II) chloride and the corresponding ligands, are efficient catalysts for the enantioselective reduction of electrophilic C?C bonds with NaBH₄. The best selectivities (> 90% ee) are achieved with α,β-unsaturated carboxamides and carboxylates. Analogous α,β-unsaturated nitriles, sulfones, and phosphonates afford enantiomeric excesses of 50–70%. Interestingly, in the reduction of α,β-unsaturated sulfones, the highest enantioselectivities were obtained with unsymmetrical ‘semicorrins’, whereas in all other cases C₂-symmetric ‘semicorrins’ proved to be superior.     

Push–Pull Buta‐1,2,3‐trienes: Exceptionally Low Rotational Barriers of Cumulenic CC Bonds and Proacetylenic Reactivity

A variety of asymmetrically donor–acceptor‐substituted [3]cumulenes (buta‐1,2,3‐trienes) were synthesized by developed procedures. The activation barriers to rotation ΔG^≠ were measured by variable temperature NMR spectroscopy and found to be as low as 11.8 kcal mol^?1, in the range of the barriers for rotation around sterically hindered single bonds. The central C?C bond of the push–pull‐substituted [3]cumulene moiety is shortened down to 1.22 Å as measured by X‐ray crystallography, leading to a substantial bond length alternation (BLA) of up to 0.17 Å. All the experimental results are supported by DFT calculations. Zwitterionic transition states (TS) of bond rotation confirm the postulated proacetylenic character of donor–acceptor [3]cumulenes. Additional support for the proacetylenic character of these chromophores is provided by their reaction with tetracyanoethene (TCNE) in a cycloaddition‐retroelectrocyclization (CA–RE) cascade characteristic of donor‐polarized acetylenes.     

Thermal [2+3]‐Cycloadditions of trans‐1‐Methyl‐2,3‐diphenylaziridine with CS and CC Dipolarophiles: An Unexpected Course with Dimethyl Dicyanofumarate

The thermal reaction of trans‐1‐methyl‐2,3‐diphenylaziridine (trans‐ 1a ) with aromatic and cycloaliphatic thioketones 2 in boiling toluene yielded the corresponding cis‐2,4‐diphenyl‐1,3‐thiazolidines cis‐ 4 via conrotatory ring opening of trans‐ 1a and a concerted [2+3]‐cycloaddition of the intermediate (E,E)‐configured azomethine ylide 3a (Scheme 1). The analogous reaction of cis‐ 1a with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate ( 5 ) gave dimethyl trans‐2,5‐dihydro‐1‐methyl‐2,5‐diphenylpyrrole‐3,4‐dicarboxylate (trans‐ 6 ) in accord with orbital‐symmetry‐controlled reactions (Scheme 2). On the other hand, the reactions of cis‐ 1a and trans‐ 1a with dimethyl dicyanofumarate ( 7a ), as well as that of cis‐ 1a and dimethyl dicyanomaleate ( 7b ), led to mixtures of the same two stereoisomeric dimethyl 3,4‐dicyano‐1‐methyl‐2,5‐diphenylpyrrolidine‐3,4‐dicarboxylates 8a and 8b (Scheme 3). This result has to be explained via a stepwise reaction mechanism, in which the intermediate zwitterions 11a and 11b equilibrate (Scheme 6). In contrast, cis‐1,2,3‐triphenylaziridine (cis‐ 1b ) and 7a gave only one stereoisomeric pyrrolidine‐3,4‐dicarboxylate 10 , with the configuration expected on the basis of orbital‐symmetry control, i.e., via concerted reaction steps (Scheme 10). The configuration of 8a and 10 , as well as that of a derivative of 8b , were established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Reactivity of TpMe2‐Supported Yttrium Alkyl Complexes toward Aromatic N‐Heterocycles: Ring‐Opening or CC Bond Formation Directed by CH Activation

Unusual chemical transformations such as three‐component combination and ring‐opening of N‐heterocycles or formation of a carbon–carbon double bond through multiple C–H activation were observed in the reactions of Tp^Me2‐supported yttrium alkyl complexes with aromatic N‐heterocycles. The scorpionate‐anchored yttrium dialkyl complex [Tp^Me2Y(CH₂Ph)₂(THF)] reacted with 1‐methylimidazole in 1:2 molar ratio to give a rare hexanuclear 24‐membered rare‐earth metallomacrocyclic compound [Tp^Me2Y(μ‐N,C‐Im)(η²‐N,C‐Im)]₆ ( 1 ; Im=1‐methylimidazolyl) through two kinds of C–H activations at the C2‐ and C5‐positions of the imidazole ring. However, [Tp^Me2Y(CH₂Ph)₂(THF)] reacted with two equivalents of 1‐methylbenzimidazole to afford a C–C coupling/ring‐opening/C–C coupling product [Tp^Me2Y{η³‐(N,N,N)‐N(CH₃)C₆H₄NHCH?C(Ph)CN(CH₃)C₆H₄NH}] ( 2 ). Further investigations indicated that [Tp^Me2Y(CH₂Ph)₂(THF)] reacted with benzothiazole in 1:1 or 1:2 molar ratio to produce a C–C coupling/ring‐opening product {(Tp^Me2)Y[μ‐η²:η¹‐SC₆H₄N(CH?CHPh)](THF)}₂ ( 3 ). Moreover, the mixed Tp^Me2/Cp yttrium monoalkyl complex [(Tp^Me2)CpYCH₂Ph(THF)] reacted with two equivalents of 1‐methylimidazole in THF at room temperature to afford a trinuclear yttrium complex [Tp^Me2CpY(μ‐N,C‐Im)]₃ ( 5 ), whereas when the above reaction was carried out at 55 °C for two days, two structurally characterized metal complexes [Tp^Me2Y(Im‐Tp^Me2)] ( 7 ; Im‐Tp^Me2=1‐methyl‐imidazolyl‐Tp^Me2) and [Cp₃Y(HIm)] ( 8 ; HIm=1‐methylimidazole) were obtained in 26 and 17 % isolated yields, respectively, accompanied by some unidentified materials. The formation of 7 reveals an uncommon example of construction of a C?C bond through multiple C–H activations.     

Scope and Mechanisms of Frustrated Lewis Pair Catalyzed Hydrogenation Reactions of Electron‐Deficient CC Double Bonds

Several phosphonium and ammonium triarylborohydrides, which are intermediates in hydrogenation reactions catalyzed by frustrated Lewis pairs, were synthesized in high yield under mild conditions from triaryl boranes, ammonium or phosphonium halides, and triethylsilane. The kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions of these hydridoborate salts with benzhydrylium ions, iminium ions, quinone methides, and Michael acceptors were investigated, and their nucleophilicity was determined and compared with that of other hydride donors.