New active ruthenium(II) complexes based N3,N3′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-2,2′-bipyridine-3,3′-diamine and P,P′-diphenylphosphinous acid-P,P′-[2,2′-bipyridine]-3,3′-diyl ester ligands for transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones by propan-2-ol

The dimeric starting material [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ reacts with N3,N3′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-2,2′-bipyridine-3,3′-diamine, 1 and P,P′-diphenylphosphinous acid-P,P′-[2,2′-bipyridine]-3,3′-diyl ester, 2 ligands to afford bridged dinuclear complexes [C₁₀H₆N₂{NHPPh₂-Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂}₂], 3 and [C₁₀H₆N₂{OPPh₂-Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂}₂], 4 in quantitative yields. These bis(aminophosphine) and bis(phosphinite) based Ru(II) complexes serve as active catalyst precursors for the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone derivatives in 2-propanol and especially 4 acts as a good catalyst, giving the corresponding alcohols in 99% yield in 20 min (TOF ? 280 h⁻¹).     

Synthesis and characterization of novel fluorinated polyimides derived from 1,1′-bis(4-aminophenyl)-1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethane and aromatic dianhydrides

A novel fluorinated aromatic diamine 1,1′-bis(4-aminophenyl)-1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (6FDAM) was synthesized in a simple procedure, which was then employed to prepare a series of fluorinated polyimides with commercial aromatic dianhydrides, such as pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane (6FDA), 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and 4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA). The polyimides exhibited good solubility in strong dipolar solvents such as NMP, DMAc, DMF and m-cresol as well as some of low boiling point organic solvents of THF and CHCl₃, etc. Experimental results indicated the polyimides possessed low moisture adsorptions of 0.42-0.95%, low dielectric constant of 2.71-2.95 at 1 MHz, high dielectric strength of 92.0-122.6 kV/mm and good optical transparency with cutoff wavelengths of UV-vis at 330-375 nm. The polyimides also exhibited good mechanical properties as well as excellent thermal and thermo-oxidative stability. The fluorinated polyimides possessed better solubility, lower dielectric constant and water adsorption as well as higher optical transparency than the representative non-fluorinated polyimide derived from PMDA and 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA).     

Acid-catalyzed condensation of 2,2′-diamino-1,1′-biaryls for the synthesis of benzo[c]carbazoles

2,2′-Diamino-1,1′-biaryls were found to undergo ring-closure condensation reaction to afford benzo[c]carbazoles in good to excellent yield. Coupled with the synthesis of 2,2′-biaryldiamines from diaryl hydrazides via [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, it constitutes a new efficient synthetic method for benzo[c]carbazoles and related compounds.     

Synthesis and characterizations of 3,3′-bis(diphenylphosphinoamine)-2,2′-bipyridine and 3,3′-bis(diphenylphosphinite)-2,2′-bipyridine and their chalcogenides

New bis(phosphinoamine) and bis(phosphinite) derivatives of 2,2′-bipyridine were prepared through a single step reaction of 3,3′-diamino-2,2′-bipyridine or 3,3′-dihydroxy-2,2′-bipyridine with diphenylchlorophosphine, respectively. Their P = E chalcogenides (E = O, S, Se) were also prepared. All the new compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopies. The molecular structure of 3,3′-bis(diphenylthiophosphinite)-2,2′-bipyridine was elucidated by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.     

Facile acid-catalyzed condensation of 2-hydroxy-2,2′-biindan-1,1′,3,3′-tetrone with phenols, methoxyaromatic systems and enols

Various phenols, methoxy aromatic compounds, 3- and 4-hydroxycoumarins and enols smoothly condense with 2-hydroxy-2,2′-biindan-1,1′,3,3′-tetrone 1 in an acid medium producing 2-aryl/alkyl-2,2′-biindan-1,1′,3,3′-tetrones in high yields. The adducts of resorcinol, 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene and α- and β-naphthols of 1 preferably remain in the intramolecular hemi-ketal form, confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. On the other hand para and meta substituted phenols condense with 1 in an acid medium to produce 6 or 7 substituted 2′,4-spiro(1′,3′-indanedion)-indeno[3,2-b]chromenes in good yields.     

Synthesis of 2,3′-biindolyls and indolo[3,2-a]carbazoles

Several highly activated 2,3′-biindolyls were prepared from methyl 5,6-dimethoxyindole-2-carboxylate and oxindoles. The 2,3′-biindolyls were further transformed into a hydroxy indolo[3,2-a]carbazole and a bisindole amide.     

Highly diastereoselective chemoenzymatic synthesis of (2′R)- and (2′S)-2′-deoxy[2′-H]guanosines

In an effort to develop an efficient synthetic method of highly diastereoselective (2′R)- and (2′S)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]guanosines, chemoenzymatic conversion was investigated. The synthesis of (2′R > 98% de)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]guanosine was achieved by biological transdeoxyribosylation using (2′R > 98% de)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]uridine, 2,6-diaminopurine, and Enterobacter aerogenes AJ-11125, followed by treatment with adenosine deaminase. (2′S > 98% de)-2′-Deoxy[2′-²H]guanosine was synthesized from (2′S > 98% de)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]uridine and 2,6-diaminopurine using thymidine phosphorylase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase instead of E. aerogenes AJ-11125.     

Synthesis of 5,5′-diarylated 2,2′-bithiophenes via palladium-catalyzed arylation reactions

2,2′-Bithiophene and 3,3′-dicyano-2,2′-bithiophenes are diarylated directly with aryl bromides at the 5- and 5′-positions accompanied by C-H bond cleavage in the presence of Pd(OAc)₂ and a bulky phosphine ligand using Cs₂CO₃ as base. In the reaction using (2,2′-bithiophen-5-yl)diphenylmethanol as the substrate, monoarylation at the 5-position via C-C bond cleavage occurs selectively to give 5-aryl-2,2′-bithiophenes and the subsequent arylation with a different aryl bromide affords the corresponding unsymmetrically 5,5′-diarylated products.     

Preparation of (1R,1′R)-1,1′-(anthracene-9,10-diyl)bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethanamine): a chiral diamine with low basicity

A new chiral diamine with low basicity was synthesized in enantiopure form. (1R,1′R)-1,1′-(Anthracene-9,10-diyl)bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethanamine) was obtained by means of several stereochemically controlled reactions. The structures of the title compound and several intermediates were studied.     

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of primary arylamines from aryl halides and 2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide

A catalytic method was developed to synthesize primary arylamines from the corresponding aryl bromides and iodides under mild conditions (yields = 80-99%). Crystalline 2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide was used as ammonia surrogate and CuI/N,N′-dimethyl ethylenediamine was used as catalyst to achieve the C-N cross-coupling.     

Diastereomeric isomerization of hetaryl leuco-TAM dyes, (2Z, 2′E)-2,2′-(2-phenyl propane-1,3-diylidene)bis(1,3,3-trimethylindoline) derivatives in various organic solvents

The diastereomeric isomerization of the ZE isomers of (2Z, 2′E)-2,2′-(2-phenyl propane-1,3-diylidene) bis(1,3,3-trimethylindoline) derivatives were examined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy in various organic solvents. In non-polar solvents, such as benzene, THF, and chloroform, the ZE isomers of these molecules equilibrated into a mixture of ZE/EE or ZE/EE/ZZ isomers with time, whereas the isomers were inert in polar organic solvents, such as acetone and DMSO. Theoretical calculations of the energies and dipole moments of the diastereomers in different media were performed using the Jaguar program.     

Synthesis of 1′,3,3′,4-tetrahydrospiro[chromene-2,2′-indoles] as a new class of ultrafast light-driven molecular switch

A new class of ultrafast light-driven molecular switch has been designed and synthesized. The reaction of 1-substituted 2-methylidene-3,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indoles with 2-chloromethyl-4-nitrophenol afforded 1′,3,3′,4-tetrahydrospiro[chromene-2,2′-indoles], following a basic workup. The spectroscopic properties and nanosecond-resolved photoinduced dynamics of five compounds in the 1′,3,3′,4-tetrahydrospiro[chromene-2,2′-indole] family were investigated.     

Cascade assembly of N,N′-dialkylbarbituric acids and aldehydes: a simple and efficient one-pot approach to the substituted 1,5-dihydro-2H,2′H-spiro(furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6,5′-pyrimidine)-2,2′,4,4′,6′(1′H,3H,3′H)-pentone framework

Cascade assembly of N,N′-dialkylbarbituric acids and aldehydes in the presence of bromine leads to the selective and efficient formation of substituted 1,5-dihydro-2H,2′H-spiro(furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6,5′-pyrimidine)-2,2′,4,4′,6′-(1′H,3H,3′H)-pentones in 70-88% yields via a complex cascade process. Spirobarbiturates containing the furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine framework are a class of compounds with interesting pharmacological and physiological activity.     

Facile synthesis of 3H,3′H-spiro[benzofuran-2,1′-isoindole]-3,3′-diones using monobromomalononitrile (MBM) as an efficient organo-brominating agent

An efficient methodology for the synthesis of 3H,3′H-spiro[benzofuran-2,1′-isoindole]-3,3′-diones has been developed where monobromomalononitrile (MBM) has been employed as a non-hazardous brominating agent under ambient reaction condition. The intrinsic advantages of the methodology are the utilization of simple and easily available starting materials and non-toxic reagents, operational simplicity, and good yields of the products with high atom-economy.     

Efficient synthesis of 3,3′,5,5′-tetra(p-X-phenylethynyl)biphenyl (X: NMe2; OMe) by homocoupling of 1-bromo-3,5-di(p-X-phenylethynyl)benzene or by heterocoupling of 3,3′,5,5′-tetraethynylbiphenyl with p-X-phenylbromobenzene with nickel or palladium complexes, respectively

The conjugated 3,3′,5,5′-tetra(p-X-phenylethynyl)biphenyl derivatives were efficiently obtained by homocoupling of 1-bromo-3,5-di(p-X-phenylethynyl)benzene mediated by zero-valent nickel complexes.The 1-bromo-3,5-di(p-X-phenylethynyl)benzene was previously prepared by heterocoupling between 1-bromo-3,5-di(ethynyl)benzene and p-X-iodobenzene (X: NMe₂; OMe) catalysed by the palladium/copper system in good yield. The necessary 1-bromo-3,5-di(ethynyl)benzene was obtained by heterocoupling between 1,3,5-tribromobenzene and 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol catalysed by palladium and successive treatment with sodium hydroxide in dry toluene, in good yield.The same 3,3′,5,5′-tetra(p-X-phenylethynyl)biphenyl (X: NMe₂; OMe) derivatives were alternatively synthesised in highest yield by heterocoupling between 3,3′,5,5′-tetra(ethynyl)biphenyl and p-X-bromobenzene (X: NMe₂; OMe) catalysed by palladium in excellent yields. Previously, 3,3′,5,5′-tetra(ethynyl)biphenyl was obtained in practically quantitative yield by homocoupling of 1-bromo-3,5-di[4-(2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol)] benzene mediated by the zero-valent nickel complex to the 3,3′,5,5′-tetra{di[4-(2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol)]}biphenyl followed the treatment with sodium hydroxide.     

Domino reactions in water for the stereoselective synthesis of novel spiro dihydro-2′H-[indene-2,3′-thiophen]-1(3H)-ones with three contiguous stereocenters

The domino reactions of (E)-2-(aryl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ones and 1,4-dithiane-2,5-diol in the presence of triethylamine in water stereoselectively afforded a library of 2′-(aryl)-4′-hydroxy-4′,5′-dihydro-2′H-spiro[indene-2,3′-thiophen]-1(3H)-ones. This transformation presumably proceeds via the generation of 2-mercaptoacetaldehyde from 1,4-dithiane-2,5-diol followed by Michael addition–intramolecular aldol sequence with C–C and C–S bond formations and creation of three contiguous stereocenters in a one-pot operation.     

Synthesis of aryl/alkyl(2,2′-bis-3-methylindolyl)methanes and aryl(3,3′-bis indolyl)methanes promoted by secondary amine based ionic liquids and microwave irradiation

Aryl/alkyl(2,2′-bis-3-methylindolyl)methanes and aryl(bis-3,3′-indolyl)methanes are synthesized in high yield using ionic liquids mediated by microwave. Reaction conditions and product recovery are simple and ionic liquids could be recycled.     

Synthesis of novel 3′-spirocyclic-oxindole derivatives and assessment of their cytostatic activities

The synthesis of some novel 3′-spirocyclic-oxindole compounds, based on the spiro[indole-3,5′-isoxazolidin]-2(1H)-one, the 2′H-spiro[indole-3,6′-[1,3]oxazinane]-2,2′(1H)-dione and the 2′H-spiro[indoline-3,3′-pyrrolo[1,2-c][1,3′]oxazine]-1′,2(1H)-dione heterocyclic structures, is described. These compounds were prepared from methyl α-(2-nitrophenyl)acrylate via [1,3]-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with two acyclic nitrones and one cyclic nitrone followed by reduction of the cycloadducts and then treatment with triphosgene. Two of these compounds showed significant cytostatic activity on three cancer cell lines with GI₅₀ values of 2.6-4.1 μM on the human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7.     

Synthesis of dihydropyrazolo[3′,4′:3,4]pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles and spiro-[3H-indole-3,3′-[Δ-1,2,4]-triazolin]-2-ones via intra and intermolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions

A new class of dihydropyrazolo[3′,4′:3,4]pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles and spiro[3H-indole-3,3′-[Δ²-1,2,4]-triazoline]-2-ones were synthesised via intra and intermolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions in good yields.     

Synthesis of a new bidentate ferrocenyl N-heterocyclic carbene ligand precursor and the palladium (II) complex trans-[PdCl2(CfcC)], where (CfcC) = 1,1′-di-tert-butyl-3,3′-(1,1′-dimethyleneferrocenyl)-diimidazol-2-ylidene

A new ferrocenyl-N-heterocyclic carbene ligand precursor 1,1′-bis[(1-tert-butylimidazolium)-3-methyl]ferrocene dichloride has been synthesised and structurally characterised. The imidazolium salt was readily deprotonated in situ with KN(SiMe₃)₂ and reacted with [PdCl₂ (cod)] to afford the structurally characterised palladium (II) complex trans-[PdCl₂(C^∧fc^∧C)], where (cod) = 1,5-cyclooctadiene and (C^∧fc^∧C) = 1,1′-di-tert-butyl-3,3′-(1,1′-dimethyleneferrocenyl)-diimidazol-2-ylidene.