Synthesis of chiral ortho-(p-tolylsulfinyl) benzyl ketones

(S)-ortho-(p-Tolylsulfinyl)benzyl alkyl (and aryl) ketones 1a-e were prepared in good yields by reaction of esters or nitriles with the lithium benzyl carbanion derived from 2-(p-tolylsulfinyl) methylbenzene. α-Methylbenzyl ketones 2 were prepared as ca. 1:1 diastereoisomeric mixtures by methylation of the unsubstituted ketones 1 with NaH/MeI. The use of the ethylbenzene derivative as the starting material afforded complex mixtures. The obtention of pure (S,(S)S)-2 diastereoisomers could be attained in good yields by oxidation with PCC of the alcohols (epimeric mixtures at the hydroxylic carbon) obtained from reactions of aldehydes with the lithium carbanion derived from 2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)ethylbenzene.     

Xanthate-based microwave-assisted CH radical functionalization of caffeine, 1,3-dimethyluracil,and imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

Xanthate-based radical chemistry was used for the regioselective direct alkylation of caffeine, uracil, and imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine systems, using dilauroyl peroxide as initiator and oxidant, under microwave irradiation. Under these conditions, several electrophilic radicals (located alpha to a carbonyl function such as esters, amides, ketones, malonates and cyano groups) were added to the title heterocyclic systems. The methodology allows the intermolecular regioselective construction of a sp²-sp³ CC bond via a CH functionalization in an aromatic substitution, from readily available starting materials.     

Aerobic oxidation of cumene catalysed by 4-alkyloxycarbonyl-N-hydroxyphthalimide

4-Hexyloxycarbonyl-, 4-dodecyloxycarbonyl- and 4-hexadecyloxycarbonyl-N-hydroxyphthalimides were synthesised using trimellitic anhydride chloride as the starting material. The obtained lipophilic derivatives of N-hydroxyphthalimide were applied as catalysts of the cumene oxidation reaction with oxygen performed in polar acetonitrile, in non-polar tert-butylbenzene and in the absence of a solvent. The courses of reactions catalysed by N-hydroxyphthalimide and its derivatives were compared.      

Theoretical insight into phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of indolizines to α,β-unsaturated ketones

A theoretical investigation of the mechanism and origin of enantioselectivity for phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of indolizines to α,β-unsaturated ketones.     

Synthesis,spectral studies,antimicrobial and insect antifeedant activities of some substituted styryl 4′-fluorophenyl ketones

Good yield of some substituted styryl 4′-fluorophenyl ketones were synthesized by solvent free fly-ash:water catalyzed eco-friendly environmentally benign Aldol reaction. These chalcones were characterized by physical constants, micro analysis and spectral data. Antimicrobial and insect antifeedant activities were measured in all chalcones. The group frequencies of all chalcones like carbonyl stretches νCO, C–F and the deformation modes of vinyl part of CH– out of plane, in-plane, CHCH out of plane and >CC< out of plane (cm⁻¹), the vinyl hydrogen and carbons δ(ppm) of H_α, H_β, C_α, C_β and CO were assigned and these frequencies were correlated with various kinds of substituent constants. From the results of statistical analysis the influence of electronic effects of substituents on the spectral data of carbonyl group, vinyl proton and carbons of the ketones have been explained.     

Asymmetric bioreduction of activated carbon–carbon double bonds using Shewanella yellow enzyme (SYE-4) as novel enoate reductase

Shewanella yellow enzyme (SYE-4), a novel recombinant enoate reductase, was screened against a variety of different substrates bearing an activated double bond, such as unsaturated cyclic ketones, diesters, and substituted imides. Dimethyl- and ethyl esters of 2-methylmaleic acid were selectively reduced to (R)-configured succinic acid derivatives and various N-substituted maleimides furnished the desired (R)-products in up to >99% enantiomeric excess. Naturally occurring (+)-carvone was selectively reduced to (?)-cis-dihydrocarvone and (?)-carvone was converted to the diastereomeric product, respectively. Overall SYE-4 proved to be a useful biocatalyst for the selective reduction of activated CC double bonds and complements the pool of synthetic valuable enoate reductases.     

A D2 symmetric tetraamide macrocycle based on 1,1′,4,4′-tetrahydro[3,3′(2H,2′H)-spirobiquinoline]-2,2′-dione: synthesis and selectivity for lithium over sodium and alkaline earth ions

Macrocyclic ionophores d,l-3 and d,l-4 with four amide carbonyl ligands were synthesized and investigated in lithium ion-selective electrodes. In solvent PVC membranes, ion selectivity of d,l-3 and d,l-4 for lithium relative to sodium was observed as and −1.23, respectively. Spiromacrocycle d,l-3 and analogue dibenzospiromacrocycle d,l-4 have similar ion selectivity patterns for alkali metal ions, but d,l-4 could discriminate against alkaline earth metal ions better than d,l-3. It is an example of an endopolarophilic/exolipophilic macrocyclic ionophore whose selectivity for monovalent cations over divalent cations is enhanced by thick lipophilic shells.     

Synthetic studies towards complex diterpenoids—VI : New synthetic routes to tetracyclic bridged-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane intermediates by intramolecular alkylation reactions through α-diazomethyl ketones of hydroaromatic γ,δ-unsaturated acids

Two new synthetic routes to a number of tetracyclic intermediates, for the total synthesis of some diterpenoids incorporating the bicyclo[3.2.1]octane moiety, are described. The syntheses of the bicyclo[3,2,1]octane derivatives begin with preparation of the hydroaromatic γ,δ-unsaturated acids 6, 15 and 17, and proceed via the α-diazomethyl ketones to the corresponding pentacyclic ketones 20, 24 and 26 by an intramolecular carbenoid insertion reaction, followed by a regiospecific acid-catalysed cleavage of the aromatic conjugated cyclopropane bond to the respective unsaturated ketones 27, 29 and 30. The second route to these unsaturated ketones involves a single step boron trifluoride etherate catalysed intramolecular alkylation in the corresponding α-diazomethyl ketones. The tetracyclic ketones 31, 34 and 35 were obtained in quantitative yields by a regiostereospecific hydrogenolytic cleavage of the aromatic conjugated cyclopropane bond in the respective pentacyclic precursors with PdC in ethanol. Under the same conditions, reduction of the styrenoid bond in the ketones 29 and 30 proceeds stereospecifically leading to 34 and 35 respectively, whereas the unsaturated ketone 27 gave a mixture of epimeric ketones 31 and 32 in a ratio of 69:31.     

Catalyst-controlled selective borocarbonylation of benzylidenecyclopropanes: regiodivergent synthesis of γ-vinylboryl ketones and β-cyclopropylboryl ketones

Regioselective catalytic multi-functionalization reactions enable the rapid synthesis of complexed products from the same precursors. In this communication, we present a method for the regiodivergent borocarbonylation of benzylidenecyclopropanes with aryl iodides. Various γ-vinylboryl ketones and β-cyclopropylboryl ketones were produced in moderate to good yields with excellent regioselectivity from the same substrates. The choice of the catalyst is key for the regioselectivity control: γ-vinylboryl ketones were produced selectively with IPrCuCl and Pd(dppp)Cl₂ as the catalytic system, while the corresponding β-cyclopropylboryl ketones were obtained in high regioselectivity with Cu(dppp)Cl, [Pd(η³-cinnamyl)Cl]₂ and xantphos as the catalytic system. Moreover, γ-vinylboryl ketones and β-cyclopropylboryl ketones were successfully transformed into several other value-added products.

A novel procedure for regiodivergent borocarbonylation of benzylidenecyclopropanes has been developed. A variety of valuable γ-vinylboryl ketones and β-cyclopropylboryl ketones can be obtained selectively in excellent yields.     

ClickEnam. 1. Synthesis of novel 1,4-disubsituted-[1,2,3]-triazole-derived β-aminovinyl trifluoromethylated ketones and their copper(II) complexes

The copper(I) catalyzed cycloaddition reaction of N-Boc propargyl amine (dipolarophile) 1 with benzyl azide (1,3-dipole) 2 was found to proceed smoothly in t-BuOH/H₂O at room temperature, to furnish the corresponding 1,4-disubstituted-[1,2,3]-triazole-derived N-Boc amine 3 in good yield. Deprotection of 3 with trifluoroacetic acid and addition of the trifluoroacetate salt 4 in the presence of triethylamine, with a series of methoxyvinyl(trifluoromethyl)ketones 10-14, gave the corresponding β-aminovinyl trifluoromethylated ketones 15-19 in moderate to good yields. Two copper(II) complexes, one monomer and one dimer with chlorine double bridge, 20 and 21, respectively, were also prepared and their crystal structure determined. β-Aminovinyl trifluoromethylated ketones 15-17 and complexes 20 and 21 have been screened as potential antifungal agents and the antimalarial activity of 15 and 16 were tested against two Plasmodium falciparum strains (3D7 and W2).     

Samarium diiodide-mediated reductive couplings of chiral nitrones with aldehydes/ketones and acyl chlorides

The SmI₂-mediated and H₂O-promoted reductive cross-coupling reactions of the l-tartaric acid derived nitrone (3S,4S)-8 with aldehydes/ketones, and the l-malic acid derived nitrone (S)-6 with aliphatic acyl chlorides have been investigated, respectively. (2R,3S,4S)-1,3,4-Trihydroxyprolinol derivatives 9a-f were obtained with high C-2/C-3 trans-selectivities, and 72:28-85:15 diastereoselectivities at the carbinol center from aromatic ketones/aldehydes, while low diastereoselectivities for aliphatic aldehydes. Conditions have been established for the syntheses of (2R,3S,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyprolinol derivatives such as 18, by N-O bond cleavage of the corresponding N-hydroxyprolinol derivatives 9b-f, or more conveniently by a one-pot reductive coupling of nitrone 8 and in situ N-O bond cleavage of the resultant coupling product. The 2-acyl-3-benzyloxy-1-hydroxypyrrolidines 10a-f were formed in 48-82% yields, and in 74:26-78:22 diastereoselectivities. It was revealed that the amount of water required for the reaction is substrate-depending.     

Rh(II)-Cp-TsDPEN catalyzed aqueous asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of chromenones into saturated alcohol: CC and CO reduction in one step

As an efficient catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reaction (ATH reaction) of α,β-unsaturated ketones, Rh-Cp^∗-TsDPEN (Cp^∗ = 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopenta-1,3-diene, TsDPEN = N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-1,2-diphenyl- ethylenediamine) shows high chemoselectivity on CO and CC reduction. In our method, both CO and CC bonds in a variety of chromenone derivatives were reduced efficiently in aqueous media, resulting in at least 98% ee and up to 99% yields in a convenient way without further purification. The product was a useful intermediate for deriving chiral chroman-4-amine, which was reported as an effective agent against hypotension and inflammatory pain by inhibiting human bradykinin B1 receptor.     

Dependence of ultraviolet absorbers' performance on ultraviolet wavelength

So far, ultraviolet absorbers (UVA) have been discussed mainly on the basis of the extinction coefficient (?), and the light degradation of polymeric materials is explained by photolysis of hydroperoxides and Norrish reactions of ketones. This study focuses on the photo-antioxidant ability as characteristic which UVA must possess for the light stabilization, and examines the dependence of the photo-initiation by oxidation products on UV wavelength range. As a result, it has been made clear that UV rays ranging 290-320 nm trigger photo-oxidation (degradation) by photolysis of hydroperoxides and Norrish reactions of ketones, and α-diketone derived from further oxidation of the ketones, for example, initiates photo-oxidation at a surprisingly higher velocity under UV rays above 350 nm. UV rays in the range of 320-350 nm participate in the photo-initiation by an enone (CCCO) structure in addition to the above-mentioned oxidation products, in which the initiation velocity is the medium between the velocities for the above two wavelength ranges. That is to say, the longer the UV rays wavelength range, the faster the photo-initiation velocity. Finally, it is concluded that excellent UVA are judged based on λ_max rather than ?, and that UVA absorbing longer wavelength UV rays can more control the photo-oxidation.     

Enantioselective synthesis of α-amino ketones through palladium-catalyzed asymmetric arylation of α-keto imines

Chiral α-amino ketones are common structural motifs in natural products and pharmaceuticals, as well as important synthons in organic synthesis. Thus, establishing efficient methods for preparing compounds with these privileged scaffolds is an important endeavor in synthetic chemistry. Herein we disclose a new catalytic asymmetric approach for the synthesis of chiral α-amino ketones through a chiral palladium-catalyzed arylation reaction of in situ generated challenging α-keto imines from previously unreported C-acyl N-sulfonyl-N,O-aminals, with arylboronic acids. The current reaction offers a straightforward approach to the asymmetric synthesis of acyclic α-amino ketones in a practical and highly stereocontrolled manner. Meanwhile, the multiple roles of the chiral Pd(ii) complex catalyst in the reaction were also reported.

Chiral α-amino ketones are common structural motifs in natural products and pharmaceuticals, as well as important synthons in organic synthesis.     

Enantioselective homoallyl-cyclopropanation of dibenzylideneacetone by modified allylindium halide reagents—rapid access to enantioenriched 1-styryl-norcarene

Dibenzylideneacetone (8) reacts with in situ-generated allylindium halide reagents to yield the product of a homoallyl-cyclopropanation reaction: 2-(3″-butenyl)-1,1-bis[(E)-2′-phenylethenyl]cyclopropane (9), which proceeds via step-wise cleavage of the CO bond and delivery of two allyl fragments from the reagent. A range of enantiomerically enriched ligands have been tested as stoichiometric asymmetric modifiers for this process. Enantiopure compounds such as cinchona alkaloids, ephedra, aminoalcohols and tartaric acid derivatives, which have proven of utility as asymmetric modifiers for the indium-mediated allylation of aldehydes and ketones, were very inefficient in the process 8→9. However, mandelic acid derivatives, in particular mandelates, were found to be of significant potential. The absolute stereochemistry of the cyclopropane 9 has been determined by degradation to 1,1-dicarboxymethyl-2-butylcyclopropane, converging with an independent enantioselective synthesis starting from hexene. Under optimised conditions, viz. using allylindium iodide reagents and working-up with aqueous Na₂SO₃ to avoid iodine-mediated polymerisation, (S)-9 can be generated in 86% yield and with (S)-methyl mandelate as modifier useful enantiopurity (94/6 er) was observed. The cyclopropane product ((S)-9) undergoes RCM using standard conditions to afford a norcarene unit ((1S,6S)-1-(E)-2′-(phenylethenyl)-bicyclo[4.1.0]hept-2-ene) without loss of enantiopurity.     

Efficient preparation of enantiomerically pure α-aryl-α-trifluoromethylglycines via Auto Seeded Programmed Polythermic Preferential Crystallization of 5-aryl-5-trifluoromethylhydantoins

Both pure enantiomers of α-phenyl- (or α-(p-methoxyphenyl))-α-trifluoromethyl-glycine and their corresponding methyl esters were obtained on a preparative scale using the following four-step sequence: the preparation of 5-aryl-5-trifluoromethylhydantoins by a Bücherer-Bergs reaction starting from trifluoromethyl aryl ketones, optical resolution by Auto Seeded Programmed Polythermic Preferential Crystallization (AS3PC), basic hydrolysis of the enantiopure hydantoins by means of aqueous barium hydroxide, and esterification of the amino acids with trimethylsilyldiazomethane. Hydantoins 5 and 6 were proven to crystallize as conglomerates using first second harmonic generation and then X-ray powder diffraction. The absolute stereochemistry of (+)-5-phenyl-5-trifluoromethylhydantoin 5b was established to be (S) by X-ray diffraction analysis on a single-crystal.     

6′-Chloro-7- or 9-(2,3-dihydro-5H-4,1-benzoxathiepin-3-yl)-7H- or 9H-purines and their corresponding sulfones as a new family of cytotoxic drugs

A series of 1-(2,3-dihydro-5H-4,1-benzoxathiepin-3-yl)pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized and two of them (8 and 9) showed a modest antiproliferative activity against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. We then decided to change the pyrimidine base for the more lipophilic 6′-chloropurine, and the N-9′ purine (15) and N-7′ purine (17) were obtained. The sulfone N-7′-alkylated-6-chloropurine 18 was the most active derivative. Compound 17 was found to be slightly more active than its regioisomer 15, with an activity similar to that of 5-fluorouracil as a reference drug. Encouraged by these values, we tested these compounds against both the HT-29 human colon cancer cell line and the IEC-6 normal rat intestinal epithelial cell line, and 15 was found to be 12.7-fold more active against HT-29 than versus IEC-6.     

Synthese nouvelle d'allylcetones par voie organosilicique

In the presence of a Lewis acid (AlCl₃, InCl₃, GaCl₃), acyl chlorides react with allyltrimethylsilane to give the corresponding allyl ketones, CH₂CHCH₂COR, in good yields.Substituted allylsilanes, synthesized by 1,4-disilylation of conjugated dienes, give a similar reaction. The electrophilic substitution of SiMe₃ by a COR group occurs with allylic rearrangement and therefore silylated β,γ-ethylenic ketones,

, are obtained. In most cases the allylic ketones prepared isomerize easily to the corresponding conjugated ketones; ketones having the formula CH₂CHCH₂COR lead uniquely to the trans-,propenylketones, MeCHCHCOR.     

Modelling, refinement and analysis of the “Type III” δ-Bi2O3-related superstructure in the Bi2O3-Nb2O5 system

The structure of the “Type III” δ-Bi₂O₃-related superstructure phase in the system Bi₂O₃-Nb₂O₅ is presented. A starting model was constructed by considering the crystal-chemistry of the system in the context of symmetry constraints determined by electron diffraction. After applying initial distortions, this could be Rietveld-refined against a combination of synchrotron X-ray and time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction data. The undistorted starting model was independently optimized using solid-state ab initio energy calculations, giving a fully optimized structure in excellent agreement with that obtained by Rietveld refinement. This dual approach both validates the structure and demonstrates the value of combining accurate total energy calculations with traditional refinement techniques for the solution of complex structures using powder diffraction data. The structure (Bi₉₄Nb₃₂O₂₂₁, Z=1, (#119), a=11.52156(18), ) consists of interacting corner-connected strings of NbO₆ octahedra along 〈110〉_F directions of the FCC subcell, and can be described as a hybrid of fluorite and pyrochlore types.     

Direct preparation and structure determination of tertiary and secondary amine boranes from primary or secondary amine boranes

New secondary and tertiary amine borane derivatives were prepared in a one-pot reaction starting from primary amine boranes. The reaction involves treatment of an amine borane with 2 equivalents of s-BuLi at −78 °C. In general, mixtures of mono and di metallated products were obtained. Alkyl iodides and benzyl chloride reacted with the lithiated amine, but aldehydes and ketones were reduced. Conversion was high as determined by NMR, but moderate to low yields were obtained after chromatography, possibly due to decomposition on silica. Crystal structures were obtained for the compounds 3a, 3b and 3c.