Photoinduced Bergman cycloaromatization of imidazole-fused enediynes

A series of 4,5-bis-(alkyn-1-yl)imidazoles—‘imidazole-fused’ enediynes—were synthesized and their reactivities in photoinduced Bergman cycloaromatization reactions were determined. The more conformationally rigid analogues gave cycloaromatized products in good yields upon irradiation (450 W low-pressure mercury lamp, ambient temperature). A bicyclic analogue (3) was shown to cleave supercoiled plasmid DNA.     

Protein-degrading enediynes: library screening of Bergman cycloaromatization products

[structure: see text] A screening method based on Bergman cycloaromatization products was applied to a compact library of estrogenic-enediyne hybrids. An enediyne candidate identified from the screen was subsequently synthesized, and it induced temperature- and concentration-dependent degradation of human estrogen receptor alpha upon cycloaromatization.     

Oxa-enediynes: probing the electronic and stereoelectronic contributions to the Bergman cycloaromatization

Efficient routes to three classes of 10-membered oxa-enediynes are presented. The electronic and stereoelectronic contributions to half-lives are supported by density functional theory calculations. One member of this class cyclizes to give an isochroman which binds to and degrades the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR).     

Halo-enediynes: probing the electronic and stereoelectronic contributions to the Bergman cycloaromatization

A series of halogen-substituted cyclic enediynes were prepared with use of carbenoid coupling strategy. DFT analysis, initially used to identify synthesis candidates, was also employed to rationalize the propensity for cycloaromatization of the compounds. In all cases studied the halogen atom had a strongly retardative effect on the thermal Bergman cycloaromatization reaction. The isolation of the first C-9 monochloroenediyne is noteworthy, and may find application in prodrug design.     

Bergman cycloaromatization of imidazole-fused enediynes: the remarkable effect of N-aryl substitution

A series of N-aryl substituted `imidazole-fused' (Z) 3-ene-1,5-diynes was prepared and kinetic parameters for their Bergman cycloaromatization reactivities were determined. N-Arylation enhanced rates relative to N-alkyl derivatives by up to sevenfold (ANOVA p<0.0001). The greatest enhancement was exhibited by the N-phenyl derivative (sevenfold at 145 °C).     

Electronic control of the Bergman cyclization: the remarkable role of vinyl substitution.

We report an ab initio study of the effect of vinyl substitution on the cycloaromatization of 3-ene-1,5-diynes (the Bergman cyclization). The majority of the calculations were conducted by using the BLYP version of Density Functional Theory, and higher level Brueckner orbital calculations were used for a few key compounds. In all, 46 enediynes, 44 cyclization transition states, 39 singlet p-benzynes, and 28 related triplet p-benzynes were studied, including simple vinyl-substituted and annulated examples. The data indicate that strongly electron-withdrawing groups increase the cyclization barrier, while sigma-donating groups decrease it; pi conjugation, especially donation, has little effect. Most annulations, including those involving heteroaromatic rings, lower the barrier slightly (6 MR) or raise it slightly (5 MR). Larger effects are seen for smaller rings or charged rings. Some previously observed apparent rate inhibitions are seen to be due to reversibility or forward reactivity of the intermediate p-benzynes, which are thereby inhibited from the H abstraction step that completes cycloaromatization. H abstraction reactivity, as judged from the p-benzyne singlet-triplet energy gap and from isodesmic equations, is also examined. Unexpected behavior is predicted for some heteroaromatic systems. Finally, we anticipate how these results may be applied to the design of prodrug candidates for subsequent biological application.     

Perylene synthesis by the parallel cycloaromatization of adjacent enediynes

As part of an investigation into new synthetic routes to poly(peri-naphthalene), the synthesis and cycloaromatization of tetraethynylbiphenyls is described. The temperature-dependent cyclization of biphenyls containing unsubstituted alkynes provides the desired perylene in good yield.     

Electronic control of chemistry and catalysis at the surface of an individual tin oxide nanowire

Tin oxide single nanowires configured as field effect transistors were shown to be operable and tunable alternately as gas sensors or as catalysts under a gaseous atmosphere that simulated realistic ambient conditions. The unusually large surface-to-volume ratio available with nanowires causes adsorption or desorption of donor or acceptor molecules on the nanowire's surface to greatly alter its bulk electron density at relatively small values of the gate voltage. This process can be sensitively monitored as changes in the nanowire's conductivity. The potentially radical change in carrier density can lead to significant changes in the nanowire's sensitivity as a sensor or reciprocally as a catalyst in reactions that involve charge exchange across the nanowire's surface. This leads to the prospect of tuning catalysis or other surface reactions entirely through electronic means.     

Heterocyclic carbenes: synthesis and coordination chemistry

The chemistry of heterocyclic carbenes has experienced a rapid development over the last years. In addition to the imidazolin-2-ylidenes, a large number of cyclic diaminocarbenes with different ring sizes have been described. Aside from diaminocarbenes, P-heterocyclic carbenes, and derivatives with only one, or even no heteroatom within the carbene ring are known. New methods for the synthesis of complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands such as the oxidative addition or the metal atom template controlled cyclization of beta-functionalized isocyanides have been developed recently. This review summarizes the new developments regarding the synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbenes and their metal complexes.     

1,3-Diyne chemistry: synthesis and derivations

Conjugated diynes have attracted more and more attention not only for their unique rod like structures and wide existence in nature product, but also the abundant properties and derivations of them. Although oxidative dimerization of alkynes or Cadiot–Chodkiewicz reactions were the main pathway and have achieved great success in the synthesis of diynes, oxidative cross coupling, FBW rearrangement as well as diyne metathesis emerged rapidly recently. Moreover, diynes could be precursors of basic heterocycles, which represented an emerging research area. This Letter will cover the recent progresses in the synthesis and further derivations of diynes.     

Novel naphthalimide derivatives with near-infrared emission: synthesis via photochemical cycloaromatization, fluorescence in solvents and living cell

In this Letter, a pair of novel naphthalimide derivatives with long-wavelength emission (>600 nm) and larger Stokes shift (>140 nm) have been developed through the photochemical cycloaromatization, in which intramolecular radical-induced 1,3-aromatic hydrogen transfer might be occurred. Cell uptake experiments showed that dye 2 could be used as a potential NIR fluorescence imaging agent.     

Synthesis and cycloaromatization of a cyclic enyne-allene prodrug

A simple and stable cyclic enediynone (4) has been synthesized using an intramolecular Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi cyclization as the key step. Reaction with a thiolate nucleophile led to rapid cycloaromatization of 4. Trapping experiments using 1,4-cyclohexadiene support the intermediacy of an aromatic diradical in the cycloaromatization.     

Expanding the chemistry of cationic N-heterocyclic carbenes: alternative synthesis, reactivity, and coordination chemistry

A new synthetic route to complexes of the cationic N-heterocyclic carbene ligand 2 has been developed by the attachment of a cationic pentamethylcyclopentadienylruthenium ([RuCp*](+)) fragment to a metal-coordinated benzimidazol-2-ylidene ligand. The coordination chemistry and the steric and electronic properties of the cationic carbene were investigated in detail by experimental and theoretical methods. X-ray structures of three carbene-metal complexes were determined. The cationic ligand 2 is a poorer overall electron donor relative to the related neutral carbene, which is evident from cyclic voltammetry (CV) and IR measurements.     

The merger of natural product synthesis and medicinal chemistry: on the chemistry and chemical biology of epothilones

Based on epothilones as powerful natural product leads several promising new anticancer agents have emerged through concerted efforts in chemistry and biology.     

Steroids: partial synthesis in medicinal chemistry

This article reviews the progress in the chemistry of the steroids which was published between January and December 2006. The reactions and partial synthesis of estrogens, androgens, pregnanes, bile acid derivatives, cholestanes and vitamin D analogues are covered. There are 159 references.     

Steroids: partial synthesis in medicinal chemistry

This article reviews the progress in the chemistry of the steroids that was published between January and December 2004. The reactions and partial synthesis of estrogens, androgens, pregnanes, cholic acid derivatives, cholestanes and vitamin D analogues are covered. There are 127 references.     

Steroids: partial synthesis in medicinal chemistry

This article reviews the progress in the chemistry of the steroids that was published between January and December 2005. The reactions and partial synthesis of estrogens, androgens, pregnanes, bile acid derivatives, cholestanes and vitamin D analogues are covered. There are 139 references.     

Reaction chemistry of metallotexaphyrins: the synthesis and characterization of the first meso-oxotexaphlorin

Ring-oxygenation of metallotexaphyrins, promoted by strong bases, produces oxotexaphlorin, the first example of a meso-oxo functionalized texaphyrin derivative.