Bimacrocyclic NHC transition metal complexes

The preparation of seven concave NHC metal complexes derived from bimacrocyclic imidazolinium salt 1 is reported. The silver complex 2, obtained in 86% yield by reacting 1 with silver(I) oxide, was used to give copper complex 3, rhodium complex 5 and iridium complex 6 by transmetalation in good yields. Palladium complex 4 was obtained by reaction of the azolium salt 1 with palladium dichloride in 3-chloropyridine. The rhodium and iridium dicarbonyl complexes 7 and 8 were prepared via ligand exchange from the COD complexes 5 and 6. Silver complex 2, copper complex 3 and palladium complex 4 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Silver complex 2 and copper complex 3 were tested in the cyclopropanation of styrene and indene with EDA (ethyl diazoacetate), where good results were obtained with 3, while low conversion and catalyst decomposition was observed with 2.     

New α-substituted alkylbenzene- and dialkylbenzene-1,2-diphosphonates: side-chain metalation of tetraethyl 4-methyl- and 4,5-dimethylbenzene-1,2-diphosphonates

Carbocyclic 1,2-diphosphonates (1a, 1b) are prepared by the Diels-Alder reaction of classical donor alka-1,3-dienes (isoprene and 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene) with tetraethyl acetylene bisphosphonate. Their aromatization by the KMnO₄-Al₂O₃ system affords 4-methyl and 4,5-dimethylbenzene-1,2-diphosphonates (2a, 2b), used as precursor for the generation of benzyl-type carbanions (3a, 3b) by lithiation with lithium isopropylamide in THF at −80 °C. The carbanions react with electrophilic reagents (chlorotrimethylsilane, p-fluorobenzaldehyde, and ethyl trifluoroacetate) in situ to form corresponding α-substituted monoalkyl- and dialkylbenzenediphosphonates in good yields.     

Synthesis of 2,3-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-ones by the domino Michael addition retro-ene reaction of 2-alkoxyiminoimidazolidines and acetylene carboxylates

2-Alkoxyiminoimidazolidines 2-3 react with acetylene dicarboxylates and ethyl phenylpropiolate to give 8-alkoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(3H)-ones C, which subsequently undergo a sterically induced multihetero-retro-ene fragmentation to give imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-ones 4-7 together with formaldehyde or benzaldehyde. On the other hand, a similar reaction of 2-3 with ethyl propiolate gives corresponding 8-alkoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(3H)-ones 8-10. The unsubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(1H)-one 11 can be prepared by retro-ene reaction of 9 upon prolonged heating in refluxing ethanol. A direct synthetic approach to 1-formyl-7-phenyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-5(1H)-one 14 is reported using DMF/sulfonyl chloride as a new Vilsmeier-type N-formylating reagent.     

Facile synthesis of 5-amino- and 7-amino-6-azaoxindole derivatives

An efficient approach for the formation of 5-amino- and 7-amino-6-azaoxindole derivatives was developed. 2-Amino-4-chloro-3-nitropyridine (8), and its 5-nitro-substituted regioisomer (9), respectively, were obtained by reaction with ethyl malonate. The resulting 2-amino-3/5-nitropyridine derivatives substituted in the 4-position with malonic acid diethyl ester (10, 11) were subjected to reductive cyclization yielding 3-ethoxycarbonyl-6-azaoxindole derivatives 4a and 5a. Protection of the amino function was not required. Intermediates 10 and 11 could also be converted to the corresponding 4-acetic acid ethyl esters 12 and 13 by dealkoxycarbonylation with LiCl, and subsequently cyclized under reductive conditions yielding 3-unsubstituted 5-/7-aminooxazindoles.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new 3-trifluoromethylpyrazolesulfonyl-urea and thiourea derivatives as antidiabetic and antimicrobial agents

Fluorinated pyrazoles, and benzenesulfonylurea and thiourea derivatives as well as their cyclic sulfonylthioureas 2-18 were prepared as hypoglycemic and antibacterial agents. The chemistry involves the condensation of 4-hydrazino benzenesulfonamide hydrochloride with 1-trifluoromethyl diketones 1 to give pyrazole derivatives 2 which upon bromination gave the bromopyrazole 3. Reaction of 2 or 3 with isocyanates and isothiocyanates gave the corresponding ureas 4 and 5 and thioureas 6 and 7. Cyclization of thiourea derivatives with ethyl bromoacetate, ethyl β-bromopropionate, 1,3-dichloroacetone and α-bromoacetophenone yielded the corresponding 4-oxothiazolidines 8 and 9, 4-oxo-5,6-dihydrothiazine 10, 5-oxo-4,5-dihydrothiazines 11 and 12 and thiazolines 13 and 14. Preliminary biological screening of the prepared compounds revealed significant antidiabetic and antibacterial activities.     

Chiral copper-bipyridine complexes: Synthesis, characterization and mechanistic studies on asymmetric cyclopropanation

Chiral bipyridine ligands of different steric properties when reacted with CuCl₂ formed orange, yellow or green solids of new copper(II) complexes, [Cu(L)Cl₂] (L = L2-6), in good yield. Together with [Cu(L1)Cl₂], these complexes were characterized in solution by UV-Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The complexes give d-d transitions between 860 and 970 nm, and exhibit one quasi-reversible Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple between +0.405 V and +0.516 V versus NHE. Two of the copper(II) complexes, [Cu(L5)Cl₂] and [Cu(L6)Cl₂], and a copper(I) complex of L1, [Cu(L1)Cl], were characterized by X-ray crystallography. The triflate derivatives of both the Cu(I) and Cu(II) complexes are active catalysts towards the cyclopropanation of ethyl diazoacetate with styrene. The asymmetric induction suffers when the size difference between the alkyl and alkoxyl groups was minimized. The mechanism of the cyclopropanation was studied with kinetic and competition experiments. The rate is first order in catalyst and ethyl diazoacetate, inverse order with styrene and is strongly affected by the counterion.     

Synthetic application of fluorinated vinamidinium salts: Synthesis of fluorinated 1,3-butadienylphosphonates by the reaction with Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reagents

The reaction of β-fluoro vinamidinium salt 1 with Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reagents (HWE) such as diethyl(ethoxycarbonyl)methylphosphonate (2a), diethyl(methoxycarbonyl)methylphosphonate (2b), diethyl-2-oxopropylphosphonate (2c), diethyl benzylphosphonate (2d), tetraethyl methylenediphosphonate (2e) and diethyl cyanomethylphosphonate (2f) under basic conditions gave the fluorinated 1,3-butadienylphosphonates 3 in moderate to good yields. The phosphonates 3 could be hydrolyzed with a 10% HCl aqueous solution to afford the corresponding γ-(diethylphosphono)-α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes 7 in good yields. The treatment of the phosphonate 3c with an NH₃ aqueous solution at 70 °C produced the pyridine derivative 8 in 60% yield.     

Solution-phase parallel synthesis of S-DABO analogues

A simple and straightforward methodology for the parallel, solution-phase synthesis of a new series of S-DABO derivatives 1 and 2, bearing aromatic substituents at the C2 and C6 positions, has been developed. Starting from potassium ethyl malonates 3, thiouracil intermediates 5 were prepared through parallel synthesis and isolated as pure products by simple extraction with ethyl acetate. Selective S-benzylation of 5 was achieved in few minutes under microwave irradiation to give the title compounds 1, which were oxidized in parallel to the corresponding sulfones 2. Some of the new compounds 1 showed potent inhibitory activity against HIV-1 RT.     

Kinetics and mechanism of thermal gas-phase elimination of β-substituted carboxylic acids

3-Phenoxypropanoic acid (1), 3-(phenylthio)propanoic acid (2), and 4-phenylbutanoic acid (3) were pyrolysed between 520 and 682 K. Analysis of the pyrolysates showed the elimination products to be acrylic acid and the corresponding arene. Pyrolysis of ethyl 3-phenoxypropanoate (4) and its methyl analogue (5), ethyl 3-(phenylthio)propanoate (6) and its methyl counterpart (7), and 3-phenoxypropane nitrile (8) were also investigated between 617 and 737 K. The thermal gas-phase elimination kinetics and product analysis are compatible with a thermal retro-Michael reaction pathway involving a four-membered cyclic transition state.     

Microwave assisted synthesis of novel imidazo [2,1-b]thiazole derivative attached to quinoxalinones

3-(6-Phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones (qunoxalinone) (6a-q) have been synthesized by the reaction of ethyl 2-oxo-2-(6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)acetates (4a-e) with suitably substituted o-phenylenediamines (5a-f) under microwave heating. The ethyl 2-oxo-2-(6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)acetates (4a-e) were prepared by the reaction of 6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles (3a-e) with ethyl chlorooxoacetate in refluxing 1,4-dioxane whereas the thiazoles (3a-e) were synthesized by the reaction of 2-bromo-1-phenylethanones (2a-e) with thiazol-2-amine in refluxing acetone.     

A novel and practical synthetic route for the total synthesis of lycopene

A novel route for the total synthesis of lycopene 1 is described. The synthesis is based on: (i) a condensation between 4,4-dimethoxy-3-methylbutanal 4 and methylenebisphosphonic acid tetraethyl ester 5, leading to the C6-phosphonate 6, followed by (ii) a modified Wittig-Horner reaction between 6 and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one 7 producing dimethoxy-3,5,9-triene 8, and (iii) another modified Wittig-Horner reaction between C15-phosphonate 2 and C10-triene dialdehyde 3 producing all-E-lycopene. The synthetic steps are easily operated and practical for the large-scale production.     

The synthesis of 2,4-dienyl fluoroalkyl ketones by a tandem three-stage sequence of propargyl 2-fluoroalkylvinyl ether formation, Claisen rearrangement, and allene-to-conjugated diene isomerization

A tandem three stages process to a series of trifluoromethyl and halodifluoromethyl 2,4-unsaturated ketones 4a-c is described. This process started with the preparation of 2-fluoroalkyl substituted propargyl vinyl ether 3a-d by treatment of a mixture of individual ethyl α-per(poly)fluoroalkyl acetates 1a-d and propargyl alcohol 2 in CH₂Cl₂ with the mixed base (Na₂CO₃/TEA) at ambient temperature. When heated in toluene at 80°C, these ethers readily underwent a tandem propargyl-allenyl Claisen rearrangement and isomerization of the resultant 3,4-dienone to give 2,4-unsaturated fluoroalkyl ketones 4a-c (Z/E mixture). The reaction of ethyl α-per(poly)fluoroalkyl acetate 1 with 1-phenyl propargyl alcohol 5 in refluxing CH₂Cl₂ in the presence of the mixed base (Na₂CO₃/TEA) directly afforded the corresponding unsaturated fluoroalkyl ketone 6a-c in one pot. In the presence of NaH, the reaction of ethyl 3-halo-3-fluoroalkylacrylates 8a-b with 1,1-dimethyl propargyl alcohol 9 at −50°C to 0°C also gave the unsaturated fluoroalkyl ketones 10a-b in one pot. The difluorovinyl propargyl ether 11 produced by reduction of 2-bromodifluoromethyl substituted propargyl vinyl ether 3b rearranged in hot benzene to give the corresponding allene 12 bearing a gem-difluoromethylene group in the middle of the aliphatic chain.     

Microwave-induced generation and reactions of nitrile sulfides: an improved method for the synthesis of isothiazoles and 1,2,4-thiadiazoles

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of nitrile sulfides, generated by microwave-assisted decarboxylation of 1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-ones, have been investigated. By this approach ethyl 1,2,4-thiadiazole-5-carboxylates 3 were prepared in good yield by cycloaddition of the nitrile sulfides to ethyl cyanoformate. Similarly, reaction of benzonitrile sulfide with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) afforded dimethyl 3-phenylisothiazole-4,5-dicarboxylate (5). In contrast, o-hydroxybenzonitrile sulfide, generated from the corresponding oxathiazolone 2d, reacted with DMAD to give methyl 4-oxo-4H-[1]benzopyrano[4,3-c]isothiazole-3-carboxylate (8) in high yield. A ca. 1:1 mixture of ethyl 3-phenylisothiazole-4- and 5-carboxylates (6,7) was formed from benzonitrile sulfide and ethyl propiolate. The corresponding reaction with diethyl fumarate gave diethyl trans-4,5-dihydro-3-phenylisothiazole-4,5-dicarboylate (10). 3-Arylisothiazoles, unsubstituted at both the 4- and 5-positions, were prepared from the reaction of 5-aryl-1,3,4-oxathiazolones with norbornadiene by a pathway involving cycloaddition of the nitrile sulfide to the norbornadiene, followed by retro-Diels-Alder extrusion of cyclopentadiene from the resulting isothiazoline cycloadduct 12. In summary, the use of microwave irradiation, rather than conventional heating methods, allows nitrile sulfide generation and reactions to be carried out in shorter times, with easier work-up and, in some cases, in higher yields.     

Tandem intramolecular carbolithiation-transmetallation: from lithium to copper or boron chemistry

Lithium/copper transmetallation from the organolithium intermediate 3 (obtained via intramolecular carbolithiation of the acyclic organolithium 2, generated by a chlorine-lithium exchange) gives the corresponding organocopper intermediate 5. This intermediate reacts with eletrophiles, such as allylic or propargylic halides, acyl chlorides or α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds giving the expected compounds 6-10, which are not possible to be obtained directly from the organolithium 3. On the other hand, lithium/boron transmetallation affords the corresponding alkylboronic acid 11 which, after palladium-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction with different aryl bromides gives the expected products 12 with modest yields, the corresponding Ullman biarylic homocoupling products being the major by-products.     

Lewis acid-mediated reactions of 1-cyclopropyl-2-arylethanone derivatives with diethyl 2-oxomalonate and ethyl 2-oxoacetate

TMSOTf-mediated reactions of 2-aryl-1-(1-phenylcyclopropyl)ethanones 1 with diethyl 2-oxomalonate 2 afford a novel method for the synthesis of spiro-γ-lactone derivatives 3 in good to excellent yields via a sequential reaction involving a nucleophilic ring-opening reaction of the cyclopropane by H₂O, an aldol-type reaction and a cyclic transesterification mediated by Lewis acid. On the other hand, we found that TMSOTf-mediated reactions of 1-cyclopropyl-2-arylethanones 1 with ethyl 2-oxoacetate 4 could also provide the corresponding spiro-γ-lactone derivatives 5 in moderate yields along with another spiro-γ-lactone derivatives 6 derived from the reaction of 1 with two molecules of ethyl 2-oxoacetate. The plausible reaction mechanisms have also been provided on the basis of control experiments.     

Modification and photostabilization of low density polyethylene film by photodecomposition of various diazo-compounds and methyl azidocarboxylate

Various diazo-compounds, 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidin-4-yl diazoacetate (PMPDA), 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl diazoacetate (TMPDA), methyl diazoacetate (MDA), 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidin-4-yl 2-diazo-3-methyloxycarbonylpropionate (PMPMDS), 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidin-4-yl 2-diazo-4-methyloxycarbonylbutanoate (PMPMDP), and one azide, methyl azidocarboxylate (MAC), were successfully prepared and grafted on polyethylene films by UV light (λ > 210 nm) activation. The treated films were characterised by FT-IR spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. Ab-initio quantum mechanical calculations allowed simulating the IR absorption spectra of the polymer grafted species. These last and the related grafting yields are discussed with reference to the diazo-compound structure and concentration. Up to 8.6 mol% of bonded groups (grafted groups/ethylene monomeric unit) were found without affecting the polymer molecular weight distribution, as shown by GPC analysis. All modified films bearing HAS groups showed very high photo-stability.     

A substituent directed regioselective synthesis of aryl/pyronyl pendant unusual adipate and tetrahydronaphthalene

An efficient regioselective synthesis of pyronyl pendant ethyl methylthiocarbonylalkanoates 5 has been delineated from the base catalyzed reaction of suitably functionalized 2-pyranone 1 and 2-carbethoxycycloalkanones 2, 6 through successive substitution and regioselective ring opening by in situ generated mercaptide ion. To assess the effect of C-4 substituent on regioselectivity, reactions of 6-aryl-3-cyano-4-(piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxopyran 8 with 2-carbethoxycyclohexanone 6a and 2-carbethoxy-2-methylcyclohexanone 6b were carried out separately under analogous reaction conditions but the compounds isolated were identical and characterized as 4-aryl-8-methyl-2-piperidin-1-yl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-1-carbonitriles 9. Ethyl 2-(5-amino-4′-bromo-4,6-dicyanobiphenyl-3-yl)-5-methylsulfanylcarbonylpentanoate 10 has also been prepared through base catalyzed ring transformation of ethyl 2-[6-(4-bromophenyl)-3-cyano-2-oxo-2H-pyran-4-yl]-5-methylsulfanylcarbonylpentanoate 5d by malononitrile in DMF.     

Regioselective hydrodehalogenation of 3,5-dihaloisothiazole-4-carbonitriles: synthesis of 3-haloisothiazole-4-carbonitriles

3,5-Dibromoisothiazole-4-carbonitrile 1 treated with Zn or In dust (5 equiv) and HCO₂H undergoes regioselective hydrodebromination to give 3-bromoisothiazole-4-carbonitrile 3 in 70-74% yield. Similarly, 5-bromo and iodo 3-chloroisothiazole-4-carbonitriles 8 and 9 give 3-chloroisothiazole-4-carbonitrile 4 in 77 and 85% yields, respectively. Also hydrodeamination of 5-amino-3-chloroisothiazole-4-carbonitrile 7 using isoamyl nitrite gives the latter in 95% yield. The dibromoisothiazole 1 reacts with Zn dust in either DCO₂D or HCO₂D to give 3-bromo-5-deuterioisothiazole-4-carbonitrile 10 in 71 and 58% yields, respectively. The 3-bromoisothiazole 3 reacts with cyclic dialkylamines to give the corresponding 2-(dialkylaminomethylene)-malononitriles and not the expected 3-dialkylaminoisothiazole-4-carbonitriles. Finally, the 3-bromoisothiazole 3 is readily converted into both 3-bromoisothiazole-4-carboxamide 19 and the carboxylic acid 20. All products are fully characterized.     

The conversion of 2-(4-chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazolylideneamino)benzonitriles into 3-aminoindole-2-carbonitriles using triphenylphosphine

2-(4-Chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazolylideneamino)benzonitrile 1a reacts with triphenylphosphine (4 equiv) in the presence of water (2 equiv) to afford anthranilonitrile 2a, 3-aminoindole-2-carbonitrile 3a and (2-cyanoindol-3-yl)iminotriphenylphosphorane 4a, together with triphenylphosphine sulfide and oxide. The use of polymer bound triphenylphosphine provides cleaner reaction mixtures. 2-(4-Chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazolylideneamino)-4,5-dimethoxybenzonitrile 1h does not give the corresponding indole on treatment with triphenylphosphine but gives 6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline-2-carbonitrile 5 (15%) and 2-cyano-4,5-dimethoxy cyanothioformanilide 6 (36%). A total of seven new 3-aminoindole-2-carbonitriles 3a-g are prepared and fully characterised.     

S-Transalkylation/ring closing metathesis as a route to azathiamacrocycles incorporating 2,2′-bipyridine subunits

A new route to cyclophanes 6a,b incorporating 2,2′-bipyridine subunits has been elaborated using as the key steps (1) S-transalkylation of 6,6′-bis(methylsulfanyl)-2,2′-bipyridines 2a,b with ethyl bromoacetate resulting in the formation of 6,6′-bis[(ethoxycarbonyl)methylsulfanyl]-2,2′-bipyridines 3a,b and (2) ring-closing metathesis of the corresponding alkenyl ethers 5a,b.