Synthesis of oxazines and N-arylpyrroles by reaction of unfunctionalized dienes with nitroarenes and carbon monoxide,catalyzed by palladium-phenanthroline complexes

The reaction between an unfunctionalized conjugated diene and a nitroarene under CO pressure and at 100 degrees C, catalyzed by [Pd(Phen)2][BF4]2 (Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), affords the corresponding hetero-Diels-Alder adduct (oxazine) in up to 91% yields in one pot. If the reaction mixture is then heated to 200 degrees C, the oxazines are converted into the corresponding N-arylpyrroles in good yields. Pressures as low as 5 bar can be employed, and 0.08% catalyst is sufficient to effect the transformation. The reaction can be equally run by employing the nitroarene or the diene as limiting agent and works well for nitroarenes bearing either electron-withdrawing or mildly electron-donating substituents. A moderate steric hindrance on the nitroarene (o-methyl) is well tolerated, but 1,4-disubstituted-1,3-dienes are not suitable substrates.     

Kinetic enolate formation by lithium arylamide: effects of basicity on selectivity

Five ketones R1COCH2R2 (1a-e) were enolized in tetrahydrofuran solvent employing lithium arylamides with different electron-withdrawing and -donating substituents on the phenyl ring (4a-e). Enolate selectivity is unaffected by a moderate electron-releasing or -withdrawing group, but significantly enhanced by strong electron-withdrawing substituents to yield predominantly Z-enolate. Outstanding selectivity was achieved with lithium trichloroanilide (5) and lithium diphenylamide (6). The results are rationalized in terms of electronic effects on the tightness of the transition states.     

Thermal racemization of spiropyrans: implication of substituent and solvent effects revealed by computational study

The thermal racemization of spiropyrans has been investigated by computational study at the density functional theory and MP2 levels. Two possible reaction mechanisms for the thermal racemization of spiropyrans were found. One reaction mechanism is a three-step reaction, the other represents a four-step reaction. The competition between these two mechanisms is dependent on the strengths of the substituents, as well as the polarities of the solvents. Different substituents and solvents change the rate-determining step and lead to various pathways. The solvent effect is found more pronounced on the electron-withdrawing substituted spiropyrans. In addition, bond length alternation (BLA), a structural parameter, has been employed in this study. It has been proven that BLA is a useful parameter to correlate the effect of substituents and solvents with the racemization mechanism of spiropyrans. The relationship between BLA and activation energies clearly explains the origin of the competition between the two reaction mechanisms. The results from this work would be valuable for selecting substituents and solvents for development of desired optical properties of spiropyrans.     

Mechanism of alcohol oxidation by dipicolinate vanadium(V): unexpected role of pyridine

Dipicolinate vanadium(V) alkoxide complexes (dipic)V(V)(O)(OR) (OR = isopropoxide (1), n-butanoxide (2), cyclobutanoxide (3), and α-tert-butylbenzylalkoxide (4)) react with pyridine to afford vanadium(IV) and 0.5 equiv of an aldehyde or ketone product. The role of pyridine in the reaction has been investigated. Both NMR and X-ray crystallography experiments indicate that pyridine coordinates to 1, which is in equilibrium with (dipic)V(V)(O)(O(i)Pr)(pyr) (1-Pyr). Kinetic studies of the alcohol oxidation suggest a pathway where the rate-limiting step is bimolecular and involves attack of pyridine on the C-H bond of the isopropoxide ligand of 1 or 1-Pyr. The oxidations of mechanistic probes cyclobutanol and α-tert-butylbenzylalcohol support a two-electron pathway proceeding through a vanadium(III) intermediate. The alcohol oxidation reaction is promoted by more basic pyridines and facilitated by electron-withdrawing substituents on the dipicolinate ligand. The involvement of base in the elementary alcohol oxidation step observed for the dipicolinate system is an unprecedented mechanism for vanadium-mediated alcohol oxidation and suggests new ways to tune reactivity and selectivity of vanadium catalysts.     

Extending the scope of chromium-manganese redox-coupled reactions: a one-pot synthesis of benzoxazoles.

A critically important strategy for synthetic chemistry is the development of "domino" processes: those capable of concatenating multiple transformations into a single step. Such transformations not only provide an increase in synthetic efficiency, but also imply the development of a significant degree of mechanistic understanding. We report herein a new domino reaction, in which a chromium-manganese redox couple is employed both to catalytically reduce an o-hydroxy nitroarene and to oxidatively cyclize a subsequently formed imine. We find that the reaction is most effective for starting o-hydroxy nitroarenes with a strongly electron-withdrawing group at the para position.     

活性炭载铁催化剂作用下几种典型芳烃一步氧化羟基化反应研究

以过氧化氢为氧化剂, 在乙腈介质中研究了几种典型芳烃的一步羟基化反应, 考察了底物取代基的供吸电子性质、 空间位阻等对羟基化反应的影响, 并推测了其反应机理.     

The one-pot process for the preparation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-monoalkyl aromatic amines from nitroarene derivatives

A series of N-monoalkyl aromatic amines are synthesized in high yields from corresponding nitroarene derivatives, aldehydes, and ammonium formate in the presence of Pd/C as a catalyst through one-pot operations at room temperature. Both the conversion and selectivity of the process are above 80%. Optimum reaction conditions are investigated, and it is found that the optimum molar ratio of nitroarene derivatives to ammonium formate and the optimum weight ratio of nitroarene derivatives to Pd/C are 1/4 and 1/0.10, respectively. These experiments provide a novel access for N-monoalkyl aromatic amines with advantages of simplicity, high selectivity, and environmental benignity.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of substituted phenyl methyl sulphides by n-bromoacetamide

The kinetics of oxidation of several substituted phenyl methyl sulphides by N-bromoacetamide (NBA) in 80%acetonitrile-20%water (v/v) mixture are presented. The reaction is first order with respect to both sulphide and NBA and second order in Hg(II). The rate of the reaction exhibits inverse dependence on both [acetamide] and [NBA]. Electron-releasing substituents present in the phenyl ring of the sulphides accelerate the rate while electron-withdrawing ones retard it. The results are in accord with a mechanism involving the reaction between NBA-Hg(II) and sulphide-Hg(II) complexes in the slow rate-limiting step affording a sulphoniumion which hydrolyses in a subsequent fast step to the sulphoxide.     

Synthesis of bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes functionalized at the tip of the cyclopropane ring. Application to the synthesis of carbocyclic nucleosides

[reaction: see text] A general synthetic strategy for the preparation of functionalized bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes is described. The new approach employs a cross metathesis step designed to functionalize the appropriate terminal olefin of the bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane precursor and a carbene-mediated intramolecular cyclopropanation reaction on the corresponding diazo intermediate. This combined methodology allowed the diastereoselective introduction of chemically diverse substituents at the tip of the cyclopropane group, except in cases where the substituents consisted of electron-withdrawing groups where a competing [3 + 2] cycloaddition predominated.     

Trifluoromethylation of Propargylic Halides and Trifluoroacetates Using (Ph(3)P)(3)Cu(CF(3)) Reagent

A copper-mediated trifluoromethylation of propargylic halides and trifluoroacetates was performed with high allenyl or propargyl selectivity. The reaction proceeds smoothly with aliphatic and aromatic substituents bearing either electron-withdrawing or -supplying groups. Preliminary mechanistic results indicate an ionic mechanism involving nucleophilic transfer of the CF(3) group from the Cu complex to the propargylic substrate.     

Investigation of the catalytic activity of a Pd/biphenyl-based phosphine system in the Ullmann homocoupling of aryl bromides

We described Ullmann homocoupling promoted by a Pd/biphenyl-based phosphine system using DMF as solvent. Using Hammett equation it is found that the rate determining step of the reaction depends on the electronic nature of substituents of aryl bromides. Increase the rate of reaction with decreasing the electron donating of the substituent from NH₂ to H suggesting an oxidative addition step as the rate determining step. Decrease the rate of reaction with increasing the electron-withdrawing ability of the substituent from H to NO₂ indicating a reductive elimination step as the rate determining step.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition between substituted phenyl azide and 2,3-dihydrofuran

A theoretical study was performed on the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between 2,3-dihydrofuran and substituted phenyl azide using Density Functional Theory (DFT) in combination with a 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The optimum geometries for reactant, transition state and product, as well as the kinetic data, rate constants and reaction constant (ρ) were investigated to rationalise the substitution effects and reaction rates of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition process in various solvents. The DFT calculation and Frontier Molecular Orbital (FMO) theory as well as the atomic Fukui indices show that the electron-withdrawing substituents enhance the reaction constant (ρ > 0), especially in polar aprotic solvents. Consequently, small changes in the rate constant of the reaction in various solvents and geometric similarity between reactants and transition state structures were suggested as the early transition state mechanism for electron-withdrawing substituents. In addition, the slope of the Hammett plot and susceptibility of the reaction to electron-withdrawing substituents in various solvents confirmed the mechanism.     

Origin of the relative stereoselectivity of the beta-lactam formation in the Staudinger reaction

The relative (cis, trans) stereoselectivity of the beta-lactam formation is one of the critical issues in the Staudinger reaction. Although many attempts have been made to explain and to predict the stereochemical outcomes, the origin of the stereoselectivity remains obscure. We are proposing a model that explains the relative stereoselectivity based on a kinetic analysis of the cis/trans ratios of reaction products. The results were derived from detailed Hammett analyses. Cyclic imines were employed to investigate the electronic effect of the ketene substituents, and it was found that the stereoselectivity could not be simply attributed to the torquoelectronic model. Based on our results, the origin of the relative stereoselectivity can be described as follows: (1) the stereoselectivity is generated as a result of the competition between the direct ring closure and the isomerization of the imine moiety in the zwitterionic intermediate; (2) the ring closure step is most likely an intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the enolate to the imine moiety, which is obviously affected by the electronic effect of the ketene and imine substituents; (3) electron-donating ketene substituents and electron-withdrawing imine substituents accelerate the direct ring closure, leading to a preference for cis-beta-lactam formation, while electron-withdrawing ketene substituents and electron-donating imine substituents slow the direct ring closure, leading to a preference for trans-beta-lactam formation; and (4) the electronic effect of the substituents on the isomerization is a minor factor in influencing the stereoselectivity.     

Amination of benzylic C-H bonds by arylazides catalyzed by CoII-porphyrin complexes: a synthetic and mechanistic study

Co(II)-porphyrin complexes catalyze the reaction of aromatic azides (ArN(3)) with hydrocarbons that contain a benzylic group (ArR(1)R(2)CH) to give the corresponding amines (ArR(1)R(2)C-NHAr). When at least one of the R substituents is hydrogen, the catalytic reaction proceeds further to give the imine ArRC=NAr in good yields. The reaction mechanism has been investigated. The reaction proceeds through a reversible coordination of the arylazide to the Co(II)-porphyrin complex. This unstable adduct can either react with the hydrocarbon in the rate-determining step or decompose by a unimolecular mechanism to afford a putative "nitrene" complex, which reacts with more azide, but not with the hydrocarbon, to afford the byproduct diaryldiazene. The kinetics of the catalytic reaction have been investigated for a range of azides and substituted toluenes. Arylazides with electron-withdrawing substituents react at a faster rate and a good correlation is found between the log(k) and the Taft parameters. On the other hand, an excellent correlation between the logarithm of the rate for substituted toluenes relative to that of toluene and a radical parameter (sigma*JJ) alone was found, with no significant contribution by polar parameters. An explanation has been proposed for this anomalous effect and for the very high isotopic effect (k(H)/k(D)=14) found.     

Electrophilic additions to a 2-methylenebicyclo[2.1.1]hexane system: probing pi-face selectivity for electrostatic and orbital effects

[reaction: see text] 5-exo-Bicyclo[2.1.1]hexane derivatives with remote electron-withdrawing substituents exhibit very modest face selectivity during electrophilic additions due to interplay of several electronic factors. These experimental results have been probed through ab initio MESP maps, bond density calculations, and energetics involved in pre-reaction complexation.     

Tuning CH Hydrogen Bond-Based Receptors toward Picomolar Anion Affinity via the Inductive Effect of Distant Substituents

Inspired by nature, artificial hydrogen bond-based anion receptors have been developed to achieve high anion selectivity; however, their binding affinity is usually low. The potency of these receptors is usually increased by the introduction of aryl substituents, which withdraw electrons from their binding site through the resonance effect. Here, we show that the polarization of the C(sp³)-H binding site of bambusuril receptors, and thus their potency to bind anions, can be modulated by the inductive effect. The presence of electron-withdrawing groups on benzyl substituents of bambusurils significantly increases their binding affinities to halides, resulting in the strongest iodide receptor reported to date with an association constant greater than 10¹³ M⁻¹ in acetonitrile. A Hammett plot showed that while the bambusuril affinity toward halides linearly increases with the electron-withdrawing power of their substituents, their binding selectivity remains essentially unchanged.     

Reactivity and regioselectivity in Stille couplings of 3-substituted 2,4-dichloropyridines

The influence of substituents at C-3 of 2,4-dichloropyridines on their reactivity and regioselectivity in Pd-catalyzed cross-couplings is studied. As a model reaction, the (Ph₃P)₂PdCl₂-catalyzed Stille coupling between 2-furyl(tributyl)tin and pyridines is chosen. Increased electron-withdrawing ability of a substituent at the pyridine 3-position improves the overall reactivity. Absolute selectivity for coupling at C-2 is achieved with an amino group at C-3, and the selectivity is totally reversed when the amino group is exchanged for a nitro substituent.     

Efficient access to (1H)-isoindolin-1-one-3-carboxylic acid derivatives by orthopalladation and carbonylation of methyl arylglycinate substrates

The orthopalladation of methyl arylglycinate derivatives has been studied. The reaction proceeds efficiently for different electron-withdrawing and electron-releasing substituents at the aryl ring. The carbonylation of the orthopalladated complexes affords, in a single step, substituted (1H)-isoindolin-1-one-3-carboxylates. These compounds constitute valuable synthetic intermediates and can be transformed diastereoselectively into octahydroisoindole-1-carboxylic acid derivatives, an important scaffold in the synthesis of many biologically active compounds.     

Regioselective reactivity of some 5,7-dimethoxyindoles

The reactivity of some 5,7-dimethoxyindoles with respect to electrophiles has been investigated. The favoured sites for reaction are C3 and C4 and regioselectivity can be controlled by the judicious arrangement of electron-withdrawing substituents. Results of formylation, acylation, the Mannich reaction, bromination and nitration are described.     

Electron-withdrawing substituents decrease the electrophilicity of the carbonyl carbon. An investigation with the aid of (13)C NMR chemical shifts,nu(C[double bond]O) frequency values,charge densities,and isodesmic reactions to interpret substituent effects on reactivity

(13)C NMR chemical shifts and nu(C[double bond]O) frequencies have been measured for several series of phenyl- or acyl-substituted phenyl acetates and for acyl-substituted methyl acetates to investigate the substituent-induced changes in the electrophilic character of the carbonyl carbon. Charge density, bond order, and energy calculations have also been performed. The spectroscopic and charge density results indicate that opposite to the conventional thinking, electron-withdrawing substituents do not increase the electrophilicity of the carbonyl carbon but instead decrease it. On the other hand, reaction energies of the isodesmic reactions designed show that electron-withdrawing substituents destabilize the carbonyl derivatives investigated. So, a significant ground-state destabilization of carboxylic acid esters, and carbonyl compounds in general, due to the decreased resonance stabilization, is proposed as a novel concept to explain both the increase in their reactivity and the changes in the chemical shifts and carbonyl frequencies induced by electron-withdrawing substituents.