Study on the α-Thiocarbonylthioformamide Ⅰ-Comparison with α-carbonylthioformamide

α-Carbonylthioformamide 1 and α-thiocarbonylthioformamide 1 were synthesized by Adiwidjaja in 1980¹. However, there is no report of these compounds related their properties and reaction activities². Compound 1 has two possible sites for nucleophilic attack. In our previous works., it was used to synthesize a lot of heterocyclic compounds (Scheme l)^3-6.     

Recent Progress in the Synthetic Applications of Substituted Furans and Pyrroles

In this lecture, I would like to present efficient synthetic routes towards the total synthesis of syringolide 1 (2)^1,2 and secosyrin 1 (3),¹ employing 2,4-disubstituted furan 1 as a common precursor. A modified total synthesis of prehispanolone (6)³ from (S)-(+)-Wieland-Miescher ketone (4) via hispanolone (5) will also be discussed. Our methodology for the synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted-lH-pyrroles⁴ and for the generation of 3,4-didehydrothiophene⁵ has also guided us to the successful identification of 1-tert-butoxycarbonyl-3,4-didehydro-1H-pyrrole (7),which is presumably the most strained heterocyclic cumulene ever recorded.     

Diels-Alder Reactions of 6-Hydroxy-2H-pyran-3(6H)-ones with Cyclopentadiene and Its Application for the Synthesis of New Skeletal Oxa-Cage Compounds

The 2(5H)-furanone and 3(6H)-pyranone structures are frequently found in natural products, which have a broad range of biological activities. In addition, furanones and pyranones have served as versatile intermediates in the synthesis of a variety of products. 1 Recently, we envisioned that studies on the synthesis and chemistry of heterocyclic cage compounds can greatly expand the scopes and utilities of cage compounds.2 As part of a program that involves the synthesis, chemistry, and applications of heterocyclic cage compounds, we report here the Diels-Alder reactions of 6-hydroxy2H-pyran-3(6H)-ones 1 and 2 with cyclopentadiene and the application of the cycloadducts for the synthesis of oxa-cage compounds 3-6 with new skeleton. Compound 6 is a potential new chiral amino-alcohol.     

First Total Synthesis of (±)-Ponganone Ⅲ

In recent years, the synthesis and pharmacology of pyranoflavanoids have been extensively investigated due to their wide range of pharmacological properties^[1-3]. Ponganone Ⅲ^[4],a new natural pyranoflavanone isolated from the Pongamia pinnala, was identified as (2S)-3',4'-dimethoxy-6',6"-dimethylpyrano-[2",3":7,8]-flavanone (2) on the basis of spectra data. Its precursor,3,4-dimethoxy-2'-hydroxy-6",6"-dimethylchromeno-[2",3":4',3']-chalcone (1) is also a new natural product^[5] isolated from the roots of Lonchocarpus subglaucescent. Their total synthesis have not been reported. Herein, we wish to report the first total synthesis of compounds 1 and 2 in order to confirm the proposed structure and further more to evaluate its biological activities.     

Synthesis of 6-aryl-3-cinchophenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles

In recent years, fused heterocycles have been found to possess many unique properties in synthesis and pharmacology. Especially, 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles derivatives have been attracting much attention of chemists and pharmacologists because of their broad-spectrum biological activities such as antibacterial¹, hypotensive and CNS depressant² activities. We have prepared some 3,6-substituted 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles and found that these compounds exhibited antimacrobial, insecticidal and promote plant growth.^3-5 Cinchophen had been used widely as medicine in clinic,but has been obsolete in recent years due to its by-effect. In order to seek for other uses of cinchophen, as a continuation of our preceeding studies, we used cinchophen as the starting material to synthesize ten new 6-aryl-3-cinchophenyl-l,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-l,3,4-thiadiazoles 5a-j. Compound 1 was prepared by the reaction of cinchophen and ethanol in the presence of sulfuric acid. 1 then reacted with hydrazine hydrate in absolute ethanol to give 2 which yielded 3 on treatment with CS₂ and KOH. On refluxing of 3 with excess hydrazine hydrate, 4 was obtained. 4 reacted with various substituted benzoic acids in the presence of POCl₃ to afifort 5a-j.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Natural Eudesmane Acids

Eudesmane derivatives constitute a group of natural compounds widely distributed in the plant kingdom. These kinds of compounds exhibit considerable biological activities such as antifeedant,cell growth inhibitory and plant growth regulating activities,¹ and consequently efficient synthesis of those compounds are a synthetic challenge that has received much attention in the past decades. In recent years a number of eudemane acids have been isolated from natural sources.² However the synthesis of this particular kind of compound have received little attention. In association with our synthesis work on eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes, we have been interested in studying on the synthetic approaches to this kind of compound, in particular the synthesis of compounds 1-6.     

First Total Synthesis of (-)-4-O-(6'-Hydroxy-7'(9')-Dehydro-6',7,-Dihydrogeranyl)-Coniferyl Alcohol

Some Ligularia species have long used as folk remedies due to their antibiotic, antiphlogistic and antitumor activities.¹ Compound 1,² a novel coniferyl alcohol, was isolated from ligularia duciformis(Compoitae). The geometrical structure of 1,determined by spectroscopic techniques, was corresponded to 4-o-(6,-hydroxy-7'(9')-dehydro-6',7'-dihydrogeranyl)-coniferyl alcohol. But its absolute configuration at C-₆,has not yet been determined. Herein, we report the total synthesis of (6'S)-(-)-1 from Geraniol 2 through 9 steps (Scheme 1).     

Synthesis, Chemistry, and Applications of Heterocyclic Cage Compounds (V)

The synthesis and chemistry of polycyclic of cage compounds have attracted considerable attention in recent years. The vast majority of the work reported in this area has dealt with carbocylic cage compounds. On the other hand, the synthesis and chemistry of heterocyclic cage compounds have received less attention. Recently, we envisioned that studies on the synthesis and chemistry of heterocyclic cage compounds can greatly expand the scopes and utilities of cage compounds.1 As part of a program that involves the synthesis, chemistry, and application of heterocyclic cage compounds, we report here the synthesis of new thia-oxa-cage compounds and the chemical nature of these thia-cages.     

AN EFFICIENT SYNTHESIS OF ALIPHATIC α-ORGANOTHIO ALDOXIME

The importance of the aliphatic α-organothio aldoxime compound 3 in the preparation of various pesticides is well established. Molecules comprising the α-organothio oxime moiety have been reported to exhibit insecticidal,nematocidal,miticidal activities.^[1-2] In the synthesis of the compound 3,the chlorination of the corresponding aliphatic aldoxime 1 is the key step.In conventional methods, the aliphatic aldoxime 1 is chlorinated by chlorine,then the resulting hydroxime acid chloride 2 is treated with sodium alkyl mercaptide to obtain the desired compounds 3^[3]. Although free Cl₂ is the most common chlorinating agent,it is laborious to determine the accurate amount that has been absorbed,and the high reactivity of Cl₂ always leads to side reactions. In connection with an our ongoing research project, we require an efficient and simple method for the synthesis of the compound 3.An improved synthesis process according to the following scheme is reported in this paper.     

Facile Synthesis of 6β-Hydroxy-7α(H)-eudesma-4-en-3-one and β-Cyperone

Eudesmane derivatives have been drawing considerable attention due to their wide spectrum of biological proerties, particulaly antifeedant, cell growth inhibitory and plant growth regulating activities.¹ In recent years a number of C-6 oxyfunctionalized eudesmanes and β-dihydroagarofurans,such as compounds 3-6,have been isolated from nature sources. However the reports on the synthesis of this particular kind of compounds are few and the reported syntheses are generally by synthetic methodology starting from α-santonin 2². Our interest of study on the synthesis of this kind of compounds prompted us to investigate a new synthetic route from cheap material (+)-dihydrocarvone 7.     

Regioselective Synthesis of Two Novel 2-geranyloxyacetophenones

The phenols containing geranyl units¹ are a large group of interesting natural products exhibited many physiological actions as antiflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidative activities². Two novel acetophenones 1 and 2 were recently isolated from the fruits of Evodia merrillii, a small folk medicinal tree widely distributed in Taiwan³. Their structures were elucidated as 2-(1'-geranyl)-4,6-dihydroxyacetophenone 1 and 2-(1'-geranyloxy)-2,6,α-trihydroxyacetophenone 2 by means of spectroscopic data. So far as we know, the total synthesis of them have not been reported yet. Herein, we wish to report the first total synthesis of 1 and 2,starting from 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone.     

Heterocyclic 1,3,4-oxadiazole as columnar core

The synthesis, characterization and mesomorphic properties of a new type of liquid crystalline compound, the 2,5-bis(3,4,5-trialkoxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles, 3a-3h, are reported. These heterocyclic compounds are derived from unsaturated 1,3,4-oxadiazole as the core group, and obtained by the condensation reaction of 3,4,5-trialkoxybenzoic acid N-(3,4,5-trialkoxybenzoyl)-hydrazides and phosphorus oxychloride in toluene under reflux. All compounds were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The mesomorphic properties of these and the related compounds 1, 2 were characterized and studied by differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy. The formation of columnar mesophases was found to be dependent on the numbers of alkoxy sidechains. The compounds 3 exhibited hexagonal columnar (Col_h) phases, however compounds 1, 2 formed crystalline phases. Compounds 3b-3e with shorter carbon chains were room temperature liquid crystals. Polar induction by nitrogen and/or oxygen atoms on the heterocyclic core ring might be responsible for the formation and better observed mesomorphic properties in this type of compound.     

The Chlorination of O-Alkyl S-Alkyl(aryl) Thiophosphoric(-nic) Acid Derivatives with Phosphorus Oxychloride——A New Convenient Method for Synthesis of Chiral S-Alkyl(aryl) Thiophosphoro(-no) Chloridates

In our laboratory, the isomerization/chlorination of a variety of O,O-dialkyl phosphoro(-no)thionates 1 with phosphorus oxychloride have been systematically studied. It was found that when R' equals aryloxy^[1], alkylthio^[2], arylthio^[2], dialkylamino^[3], phenyl^[4], methyl^[5],and nitrogen heterocyclic group^[6] in 1,respectively, this reaction can proceed smoothly and gives the desired products ² and ³. Hence, it provides a general synthitic method for S-alkyl thiophosphoro(-no)chloridates, especially for the asymmetric ones.     

The First Efficient Approach from α-(-)-Santonin to Dihydroagarofuran Sesquiterpene

The naturally occurring dihydroagarofuran compounds have been demonstrated to show some important bioactive activities, such as insect antifeedant, antitumor activities.¹ Synthetic research of this kind of compounds have been attracting the increasing interest of organic chemists. Because a total synthesis of polyol skeleton involved too many steps,² our synthetic efforts are focusing on search for a short and efficient approach and thus, we begin with readily available α-(-)-santonin(1). The creative key steps include generation of C₅-OH, the stereochemical reversion at C-7 and the cyclization of tetrahydrofuran. A successful approach is shown in the following scheme.     

A Convenient One-Pot Synthsis of Substituted Furans from Propargylic Dithioacetal

The reactions of propargylic dithioactals with organocuprate reagent have recently been explored from our laboratory.¹ In this paper, we report the reactions of propargylic dithioactals 1 with organocuprate reagents followed by treatment with an aldehyde to afford the corresponding substituted furans 2.     

Heterocyclic columnar pyrimidines: synthesis, characterization and mesomorphic properties

The synthesis, characterization, and mesomorphic properties of two series of heterocyclic compounds derived from a pyrimidine core are reported. These series, 1a and 1b, are substituted with a variety of functional groups (X=NHSO₂CF₃, F, Cl, Br, I, OCH₃, CH₃, C₂H₅) at the C^3' (meta)- or C^4' (para)-position of the terminal phenyl ring, and the substituent effect on mesophase formation was studied. The compounds were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, and the mesomorphic behavior of the compounds was characterized and studied by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. Most of the compounds were mesogenic at room temperature, and the mesophases were assigned as lamellar columnar (Col_L) phases, as expected for disk-like molecules. The results also revealed that compounds with a para-substituent (1a; except for -OCH₃) at the C^4'-position, exhibited higher clearing temperatures and wider temperature mesophase ranges than those of compounds with a meta-substituent (1b) at the C^3'-position. The higher clearing temperatures may be attributed to stronger dipolar interactions resulting from a greater resonance effect with the central core for para-substitution than for meta-substitution. The results also indicated that the columnar mesophases observed show a correlation with the electronic properties of the substituents; compounds containing electron-withdrawing substituents (X=F, Cl, Br, I, NHSO₂CF₃) also have higher clearing temperatures than compounds containing electron-donating substituents (X=Me, Et, OMe).     

Unexpected Products from the Reaction of Naphthols with Cholesterol Catalysed by Montmorillonite K 10

Under catalysis of montmorillonites, arenes could be cholesterylated by cholesterol (1) via a Friedel-Crafts alkylation.¹ When phenols were employed as substrates for that reaction, aryl cholesteryl ethers were obtained instead of aryl cholestenes.² However, β-naphthol (2a) and α-naphthol (2b) gave obviously different products. We report here the identification of these unexpected products from the reaction of 2 with 1 catalysed by montmorillonite K 10.     

Facile Total Synthesis of Three Natural 1,7-Diaryl-4-hepten-3-ones

Linear 1,7-diarylheptanoids (Ar¹-C₇-Ar²) are a large group of interesting natural products isolated from plants belonging to Alinia,Curcuma, Zingiber, Alnua,Centridobium and Acer genera used as traditional medicines in some oriental countries¹. Pharmacological experiments exhibited that some of them had many physiological actions such as anti-inflammatory, antifungicial, antioxidative,antihepatotoxic activities and so on². Three natural compounds 1³, 2⁴ and 3⁵ (gingerone C) having 1,7-diaryl-4-hepten-3-one skeleton were isolated from the rhizomes of Alpinia offocinarum, the wood of Alnus japonica and the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale respectively. Their structures were elucidated as 1,7-diphenylhept-4-en-3-one(1), 1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hept-4-en-3-one(2) and 1-(3-hydroxyl-4-methoxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxyphenyl)hept-4-en-3-one(3) by spectral method. Herein, we wish to report facile total synthesis of these three natural compounds. Their synthetic routes were shouwn in scheme.     

Novel Oxidative Coupling of 2-Naphthols to 1,1'-Bi-2-naphthols Catalysed by Solid Lewis Acids Using Atmospheric Oxygen as Oxidant

l,l'-Bi-2-naphthol derivatives have wide applications as chiral inducing agents for asymmetric synthesis.¹ There are many good methods for resolution of racemic binaphthols to give enantiomeric binaphthols.² Therefore, it is essential to established simple, convenient, economically and environmental-friendly methods for preparation of racemic l,l'-binaphthol derivatives. A number of methods have been developed for the oxidative coupling of 2-naphthols usually by using Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺ or Mn³⁺ as oxidants. The reaction were carried out in organic solvent,^3a in solid state^3b and in aqueous Fe³⁺ solution.^3c However, all those cases by employing excess, usually 2 equivalents of oxidant. The excess Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺ and the resulted Fe²⁺, Cu⁺ and HCl were not acceptable from a view point of environmental protection. Recently, Sakamoto et at⁴ and Kantam et at⁵ independently reported two catalytic oxidative coupling procedure for preparation of l,l'-binaphthols using aerial oxygen as oxidant and Cu²⁺-exchanged montmorillonite as catalysts. However, both procedures were by using some toxic chlorobenzene as solvent and long reaction time (>2 h) and high temperature(>140℃) were needed. Consquently, there is still a great demand for catalytic oxidative coupling 2-naphthols to generate binaphthols under mild conditions, environmentally friendly procedure and rapid process. Herein we report novel oxidative coupling of to 1,1-bi-2-naphthols (2a, 2b) catalysed by a number of supported reagents using aerial oxygen as oxidant. The results are listed in Table 1.     

Heterocyclic benzoxazole-based liquid crystals

The synthesis, characterization, and mesomorphic properties of a new type of heteronuclear compounds 1a-c and a Pd complex 1d derived from benzoxazole as the core group are reported. These compounds were prepared by the ring closure reaction of 4-alkoxybenzoic acid 4-[(4-alkoxy-2-hydroxyphenylimino)methyl]phenyl esters 6 in the presence of lead(IV) acetate. All the compounds were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies and elemental analysis. The phase behaviour of these mesogenic compounds was characterized and studied by differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy. All the compounds 1a exhibited nematic (N) and/or smectic C (SmC) phases, as expected for rod-like molecules; however, the compounds 1b and 1c exhibited crystal phases. For those compounds 1a having shorter carbon chains (n = 1, 3, 4) nematic phases were observed, whereas for compounds having longer carbon chains (n = 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14) smectic C behaviour was also observed at lower temperatures. The greater aspect ratio (l/d) of compounds 1a compared with 1b and 1c was found to be required for the observation of liquid crystallinity. The fluorescent properties of these compounds were also examined. All λ_max peaks of the absorption and photoluminescence spectra of compounds 1a-1c occurred at c. 316-322 nm and 371-382 nm, respectively. The quantum yields of some compounds were relatively low, and also slightly solvent-dependent.