A one-step route to azomethine ylides via chloroiminium salts

A new, one-step procedure for the generation of azomethine ylides, 4 and 20, via chloroiminium salts, 3 and 19, is reported. The generation of the azomethine ylides was confirmed by their trapping with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) which, upon spontaneous 1,4-dehydrochlorination, gave the corresponding pyrroles 17 and 21.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs); preparation of reference standards and fluorinated internal analytical standards

Four new difluorinated tetra- and pentabromo BDE internal standards for GC-MS/GC-ECD analysis, 2F-BDE47, 2F-BDE85, 2F-BDE99 and 2F-BDE119, have been prepared in 98-99.0% purity, mainly by coupling of the new tribromodifluorophenols (19-21) and symmetrical bromodiphenyliodonium salts (8, 22). The four difluorinated BDEs showed promising properties as internal standards for quantitative BDE analysis. Tetra-, penta-, hexa- and hepta-brominated BDE reference standards, BDE75, BDE85, BDE138 and BDE183, were also prepared in 98.4-99.8% purity and characterised.     

Intramolecular rearrangement of organosilyl groups between oxygen and nitrogen in aminosiloxanes - a joint experimental-theoretical study, part II

Lithium amino-di-tert-butylsilanolate reacts with halosilanes to give 1-silylamino-1,3-siloxanes (1-7). The tetrakis(1-silylamino)siloxane thermally condenses yielding a spirocyclic six-membered ring (8). One six-membered ring of 8 forms a boat and the other has a twist conformation. Lithium salts of amino-disiloxanes form silylamino-silanolates or amido-disiloxanes. The first includes a 1,3-silyl group migration from the oxygen to the nitrogen atom. The energies of the isomeric lithium salts of model compounds are calculated and show that the lithium-trimethylsilylamino-dimethylsilanolate III is 0.7 kcal/mol more stable than the isomeric lithium-1,3-disiloxaneamide V. Experiments show that the lithium salts of amino-1,3-disiloxanes, (Me₃C)₂SiNH₂-O-R (R = SiMe₃, SiMe₂Ph, SiF₂CMe₃) reacts with ClSiMe₃, FSiMe₂Ph or F₃SiCMe₃ under a 1,3-O-N-silyl group migration to give the 1-silylamino-1,3-disiloxanes 9-11. If the trimethylsilyl group is substituted by SiMeF₂, the difference between the isomers III′ and V′ is even smaller, 0.12 kcal/mol, and the barrier to reaction via the dyotropic transition state is calculated to be 10.1 kcal/mol. Interestingly, the fluorine atoms allow for two other isomers VI and VIII which are even lower in energy. The low difference in the energies of III and V respectively VI and VIII explains that in absence of steric and/or electronic restraints the lithium salts of amino-1,3-disiloxanes react halosilanes to give both isomeric silylamino-1,3-disiloxanes, e. g. the lithiated (Me₃C)₂SiNH₂-O-SiF₂CMe₃ reacts with F₂SiMe₂ or F₃SiPh to give the structural isomers 12, 13, and 14, 15.The silyl group migration can be prevented kinetically, e. g. the lithium salts of (Me₃C)₂SiNH₂-O-R (R = SiF(N(CHMe₂)₂)₂, SiH(CMe₃)₂) react with F₂SiMe₂ or F₂Si(CMe₃)₂ to 16 and 17. A thermodynamically prevented rearrangement is observed in the reaction of lithiated (Me₃C)₂SiNH₂-O-SiMe₃ with F₃SiR (R = CMe₃ (18), Ph (19), N(SiMe₃)₂ (20), C₆H₂ (CMe₃)₃ (21). 18-21 ((Me₃C)₂SiNHSiF₂R)-O-SiMe₃) are formed.LiF-elimination from (Me₃C)₂SiNHLiO-SiF₂Me leads to the formation of the eight-membered (SiOSiN)-ring 22. The most stable lithium salts of 1-silylamino-1,3-disiloxanes form amides. This explains that in further reactions with halosilanes, the new ligand is bonded with the nitrogen atom (28-30). In results of crystal structure determinations new lithium-1-fluorosilylamino-1,3-disiloxanes of 20, (21, 23-25) are presented. 23 crystallizes as tricyclic, 24 as an unknown pentacyclic, and 25, as monomeric compound. In 25 the shortest Si-N bond length (157.9 pm) with four coordinate silicon is found. Lithium salts of 1-fluorosilylamido-1,3-disiloxanes lose thermally LiF with formation of siloxane substituted cyclodisilazanes, 26 and 27. Crystal structures of 4, 8, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28 are presented.     

Room-temperature long-lived [Nb2F11] salts of radical cations of simple arenes: EPR, UV-Vis and DFT results

The computed structures of the long-lived radical cation salts [Arene][Nb₂F₁₁] [Arene = 1,4-F₂-2,5-(OMe)₂C₆H₂, 2; 1,4-(OMe)₂C₆H₄, 3; 2,5-(OEt)₂(Me)C₆H₃, 4; C₆H₆, 5] and that of the transient [1,3-(OMe)₂C₆H₄][Nb₂F₁₁], 6, obtained for the gas-phase by DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G∗∗ level, are presented. The degree of inertness observed in chloroform solution seems to increase on decreasing the steric demand of the ring substituents, and may be correlated to the calculated distance between the cation-centroid and the niobium atoms. The room-temperature EPR spectra of 2-4, in CHCl₃, are described in detail; the spectrum of 3 is compared to those of analogous 1,4-dimethoxybenzene radical species reported previously. The EPR spectra display a hyperfine structure due to coupling of the unpaired electron with nuclei belonging to both the cation (H and F in the case of 2) and the anion (F and eventually Nb). The UV-Vis spectra of 2-4 exhibit one strong absorption attributed to the cation and one anion-to-cation charge-transfer band (e.g. for 3 at 398 and 589 nm, respectively). Thermodynamic calculations indicate that the low yield formation of the benzene radical salt 5 occurs with Gibbs free energy variation significantly higher than those involved in the synthesis of 2-4 and 6.     

Photoinduced cycloadditions of N-methyl-1,8-naphthalenedicarboximides with alkynes

Photoinduced cycloadditions of N-methyl-1,8-naphthalenedicarboximide 1 with phenylacetylenes 2a-2c, cyclopropylacetylene 2d, diphenylacetylenes 2e-2f and 1-phenylpropyne 2g were investigated. In the case of phenylacetylenes 2a, 2b and cyclopropylacetylene 2c, photoreaction with 1 takes place at the naphthalene C(1)C(2) bond to give the cyclobutene products. For 4-methoxyphenylacetylene 1c, the cyclobutene 3c is obtained together with the 4-benzo[a]thebenidinone 4c derived from a primary oxetene product formed by [2+2] addition of the imide carbonyl with the alkyne. Similar to 2c, photocycloaddition of 1 with 2e and 2f gave the cyclobutenes 7e, 7f, 8f and the 4-benzo[a]thebenidinone products 9e, 9f and 10f, respectively, derived from the corresponding oxetenes. Photoreaction of 1 with 2g gave cyclobutene 7g and benzo[a]thebenidinone 9g. Sensitization experiment and internal heavy atom effect study showed that these reactions proceed from the ππ* singlet excited state of 1. Estimation of the free energy change for electron transfer between ¹1* and the alkynes and the calculation of charge and spin density distribution in the anion radical of 1 and the cation radical of the alkynes suggested that the cyclobutene products are formed by direct [2+2] cycloaddition of ¹1* with the alkyne, while the formation of the oxetene products is the result of electron transfer interaction between ¹1* and the alkyne. The regioselectivity in the oxetene formation is accounted for by charge and spin density distribution in the anion radical of 1 and the cation radical of the alkyne.     

1,2,5-Thiadiazole 2-oxides: selective synthesis,structural characterization,and electrochemical properties

A new general procedure for the selective synthesis of 1,2,5-thiadiazole 2-oxides (including fused derivatives) 8a,b,c,g,h from the reaction of vic-glyoximes with S₂Cl₂ and pyridine in acetonitrile was elaborated together with general procedure for the synthesis of 1,2,5-thiadiazoles 7a–i, 10, 12, and 14 from the same starting materials and reagents. Molecular structures of 3,4-dimethyl-1,2,5-thiadiazole 2-oxide 8a and [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-b]quinoxaline 10 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Electrochemical properties of 1,2,5-thiadiazole 2-oxides 8 were studied by cyclic voltammetry and different behavior was observed for monocyclic and benzo-fused derivatives. With compounds 8g and 17, previously unknown deoxygenation of 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole 1-oxides was discovered by electrochemical reduction, and resulted 2,1,3-benzothiadiazoles 7g and 19 were detected in the forms of their radical anions by EPR spectroscopy combined with DFT calculations.     

A common approach to the total synthesis of l-arabino-, l-ribo-C18-phytosphingosines, ent-2-epi-jaspine B and 3-epi-jaspine B from d-mannose

A common strategy for the total syntheses of the protected l-arabino- and l-ribo-C₁₈-phytosphingosine (8 and 9, respectively), HCl salts of ent-2-epi-jaspine B (ent-6) and 3-epi-jaspine B (7) with efficient use of both flexible building blocks 26 and 27 was achieved. The key step of this approach was [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allylic trichloroacetimidate 21 and thiocyanate 22, which were derived from the known 2,3:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-d-mannofuranose 18 as the source of chirality. The side chain functionality was installed utilizing a Wittig reaction.     

Photoreactions of 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarbonitrile with arylethenes—photo- olefin dimerization-aromatic substitution reactions

Irradiation of 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) with styrene derivatives 1-4, respectively, leads to a photochemical olefin dimerization-aromatic substitution reaction to give the corresponding (2,4,5-tricyanophenyl)tetralin derivative (8, 12, 16, 17, and 20) as the main product. Further irradiation of the primary product with alkene results in substitution of the meta-CN group by another phenyltetralinyl to give the corresponding 4:1 (alkene-TCNB) product. According to the effect of the codonor (biphenyl) and salt (magnesium perchlorate) on reaction rate, the result of photoinduced reactions of TCNB with tetralin (6) and 1-phenyltetralin (7) and analysis of the known kinetic data for relevant processes in the cyanoarene-alkene reactions, the mechanism for the formation of the olefin dimerization-aromatic substitution products (such as 8) is proposed to involve radical pair combination of the alkene cyclodimer radical (the corresponding 4-phenyl-1-tetralinyl radical) with TCNB⁻ followed by expulsion of a CN⁻. Photoreactions of TCNB with the alkene photocyclodimer (1-phenyltetralin) may also make minor contributions. Photoinduced reaction of TCNB with 1-phenylcyclohexene (5) takes a different pathway from 1-4 to afford the 1:1 (5-TCNB) primary product 21 by deprotonation of 5⁺ and radical pair combination with TCNB⁻ followed by elimination of HCN.     

New fulvalenium salts of bis(dicarbollide) cobalt and iron: Synthesis, crystal structure and electrical conductivity

New radical cation salts (BEDT-TTF)₂[3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂] (1), (BEDT-TTF)₂[8-I-3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₀)(1′,2′-C₂B₉H₁₁)] (2), (BMDT-TTF)[3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂] (3) and (TMTSF)₂[3,3′-Fe(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂] (4) were synthesized and their crystal structures and electrical conductivities were determined. Compound 4 is isostructural to the earlier reported Co analogue. All the radical cation salts synthesized are semiconductors.     

Experimental and theoretical approaches into the C- and D-ring problems of sterol biosynthesis. Hydride shift versus C-C bond migration due to cation conformational changes controlled by the counteranion

The C- and D-ring problems of sterol biosynthesis, how an enzyme overcomes the Markovnikov wall, were investigated by using a model compound from an experimental as well as theoretical standpoint. When model diol 20 was treated with BF₃·Et₂O, SnCl₄, TiF₄, Sc(OTf)₃, FeCl₃, or TfOH, spirocyclic ether 21 was formed as the sole product via a tert-cationic intermediate 16 through 1,2-hydride shift. However, the treatment with TiCl₄ afforded six-membered ring products 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 via the ring expansion into the unstable six-membered ring secondary cation 17. Occurrence of both α and β chloride 23 and 24 is distinctive evidence of the existence of secondary cation 17, ruling out the idea of the concerted mechanism. Molecular mechanics calculations of the naked cation 15 elucidated two possible conformers, parallel 15-I (five membered ring and cationic plane) that is favorable for the hydride shift generating 16 and perpendicular 15-II leading to C-C bond migration to 17. The first ab initio calculation of the cation conformation in the presence of counteranions such as [TiCl₄OH]⁻, [TiF₄OH]⁻, [BF₃OH]⁻, and [OTf]⁻ entirely supported our experimental results. Although the counteranion [TiCl₄OH]⁻ stabilizes perpendicular cation 15-II, it destabilizes the parallel conformer 15-I significantly, and thus, the C-C bond migration to 17 becomes the only possible pass. On the other hand, [TiF₄OH]⁻, [BF₃OH]⁻, and [OTf]⁻ stabilize parallel conformer 15-I and the hydride shift to 16 becomes the only possible pass. The relative location or distance of the counteranion from the cation should be the biggest factor to control the stability and, thus, the conformation of the cation. Our results indicate that the carboxylate anions in the enzyme cavity enable to control the conformation of pre-C-ring cationic intermediate 3 to be perpendicular leading to six-membered C-ring secondary cation 4. The parallel conformation of the cation 5 could lead to hydride shift to give tirucallanoids or lanostanoids. Therefore, this result is the first example that overcame the big Markovnikov wall experimentally and theoretically at least to our knowledge.     

Synthesis, structure, and catalytic activity of rhodium complexes with new chiral binaphthyl-based NHC-ligands

Three new chiral NHC-rhodium complexes have been prepared from the reactions between [Rh(COD)Cl]₂, NaOAc, KI, and dibenzimidazolium salts 3, 4 or 5, which are derived from (S)-2,2′-diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl. The steric and electronic effects of the ligand play an important role in the complex formation. For example, treatment of pyridine substituted dibenzimidazolium salts 3 or 4 with 0.5 equiv of [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ in the presence of NaOAc and KI in CH₃CN at 85 °C gives the chiral Rh(III) complexes 6 and 7, respectively. However, under similar reaction conditions, pyridine-N-oxide substituted dibenzimidazolium salt 5 affords a binuclear Rh(I) complex 8. All compounds have been characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, and elemental analyses. The solid-state structures of compounds 4-8 have been further confirmed by X-ray diffraction analyses. Rhodium complexes 6-8 show good catalytic activity for the asymmetric hydrosilylation of acetophenone with moderate ee values.     

Biotransformation of triptolide by Cunninghamella blakesleana

Biotransformation of triptolide 1 by Cunninghamella blakesleana (AS 3.970) was carried out. Seven biotransformation products were obtained and four of them were characterized as new compounds. On the basis of their NMR and mass spectral data, their structures were characterized as 5α-hydroxytriptolide 2, 1β-hydroxytriptolide 3, triptodiolide 4, 16-hydroxytriptolide 5, triptolidenol 6, 19α-hydroxytriptolide 7 and 19β-hydroxytriptolide 8. All the new transformed products (2, 3, 7 and 8) were found to exhibit potent in vitro cytotoxicity against some human tumor cell lines.     

The first entry to pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinoline-2,4(3aH,5H)-diones

Wittig olefination of 3-aminoquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones 1 with ethyl (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetate (Ph₃PCHCO₂Et) afforded (E)-3-amino-4-ethoxycarbonylmethylene-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-quinolones (E)-2 and pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinoline-2,4(3aH,5H)-diones 3. An alternative approach for the synthesis of 3 via 3-bromoacetamidoquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones 7, their corresponding triphenylphosphonium salts 8, and ylides A that undergo intramolecular Wittig reaction, was investigated. Under the applied reaction conditions, the phosphonium salts 8 and ylides A are so unstable that they partly decompose to 3-acetamidoquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones 9 during the synthesis of 3.     

Combined biotransformations of 4(20),11-taxadienes

Taxuyunnanine C (1) and its analogs (2 and 3), the C-14 oxygenated 4(20), 11-taxadienes from callus cultures of Taxus sp., were regio- and stereo-selectively hydroxylated at the 7β position by a fungus, Abisidia coerulea IFO 4011, and it was interesting that the longer the alkyl chain of the acyloxyl group at C-14 became, the higher the yield of 7β-hydroxylated product was. Besides the three 7β-hydroxylated products (5, 9, 17), other nine new products (7, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20 and 21) and six known products (4, 6, 8, 10, 13 and 19) were obtained. Subsequently, the acetylated derivatives (24 and 27) of 7β-and 9α-hydroxylated products of 1 were regio- and stereo-specifically hydroxylated at the 9α position by Ginkgo cells and 7β position by A. coerulea, respectively. Thus, the two specific oxidations have been combined. These bioconversions would provide not only valuable intermediates for the semi-synthesis of paclitaxel or other bioactive taxoids from 1 and its analogs, but also some useful hints for the biosynthetic pathway of taxoid in the natural Taxus plant.     

Bioactive pregnane-type steroids from the soft coral Scleronephthya gracillimum

Nine new steroids, sclerosteroids A-I (1, 5, 6, 8-13), along with 18 known metabolites (2-4, 7, 14-27), were isolated from the soft coral Scleronephthya gracillimum. These structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of sugar moieties in steroidal glycosides 10-13 were determined by HPLC analysis of the o-tolylthiocarbamate derivatives of the liberated sugars from hydrolysis of these steroidal giycosides. Cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities of these compounds were measured in vitro.     

Mg-promoted facile and selective intramolecular cyclization of aromatic δ-ketoesters

Treatment of various types of aromatic δ-ketoesters 2, 7, and 9 with Mg-turnings for Grignard reaction at −5 to 0 °C in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) containing trimethylsilyl chloride (TMSCl) brought about selective and reductive intramolecular cyclization to give the corresponding α-aryl-α-hydroxycyclopentanones 5, 8, and 10, respectively, in moderate to good yields. Similar reductive intramolecular cyclization of aromatic δ-ketodiesters 14, followed by acidic hydrolysis and decarboxylation easily gave the corresponding 2-aryl-2-cyclopenten-1-ones 15. The present facile coupling may be initiated through electron transfer from Mg metal to the aromatic carbonyl groups of 2, 7, 9, and 14 to generate the corresponding radical anions, followed by their intramolecular nucleophilic attack to the ester groups to give the corresponding five-membered ring compounds 5, 8, 10, and 15, respectively.     

Tandem radical cyclization-based strategy for the synthesis of oxa- and aza-cages: a case of fragmentation versus cyclization

A new strategy for the synthesis of oxa- and aza-cage compounds based on tandem radical cyclizations is described. The iodides 1 lead to oxa-cages 3 after two tandem radical cyclizations. The ester 10aa on reaction with n-Bu₃SnH and AIBN gives rise to the oxa-cage 12aa after two tandem 5-exo-trig cyclizations. On the other hand, reaction of the ketones 17aa and 21 under similar conditions furnished the oxa-cages 20aa and 23, respectively, via a double 5-exo-trig tandem radical cyclization followed by fragmentation.     

The influence of moisture on deprotonation mode of imidazolinium chlorides with palladacycle acetate dimer

Deprotonation of 1,3-diorganyl imidazolinium salts, 1, with N,C-type palladacyclic acetate dimer 2 afforded novel NHC coordinated complexes 3 along with ring opening hydrolysis products 4, which may coordinate to palladium center via NH group to give 5a. The hydrolysis necessitates the study of NHC complex formation in anhydrous media. The new compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods and three of them (3c, 4c, 5a) by X-ray single-crystal diffraction studies.     

The radical reactions of imine radicals produced from the metal salts oxidation of 2-amino-1,4-benzoquinones

The metal salts mediated oxidative free radical reaction of 2-amino-1,4-benzoquinones is described. Imine radicals can be generated by the oxidation of 2-amino-1,4-benzoquinones with Mn(III) and Ag(II). The dimeric products 4 and 14 were formed via the intermolecular radical coupling reaction of the corresponding radical intermediates 5 and 15. In the presence of styrene, twistane 17 was afforded from 2-phenylamino-1,4-benzoquinone 1 via a radical annulation reaction of imine radical 5.     

Synthetic studies of erythromycin derivatives: 6-O-methylation of (9S)-12,21-anhydro-9-dihydroerythromycin A derivatives

Synthetic studies on methylation of erythromycin derivatives were conducted. Methylation of 6 resulted in the formation of the C-3′ quaternary ammonium salts with a rate faster than 6-O-methylation. In dipolar aprotic solvent and under strong base conditions, 6-O-methylation, C-3′ quaternary ammonium salts formation and 2-C-methylation proceeded simultaneously to yield a mixture of three different products 7, 8 and 9. The quaternary ammonium salts were converted back to the corresponding tertiary amines 2, 10 and starting material 6 by employing sodium 4-pyridinethiolate as a N-demethylation reagent. The 6-O-methylation was eventually achieved in a good yield when a carbobenzyloxy (Cbz) group was utilized to protect the C-3′-dimethylamino group of 4. In this report, we will discuss the details of different reaction courses in the methylation of (9S)-12, 21-anhydro-9-dihydroerythromycin A derivatives.