Crystallographic characterization of three cathinone hydrochlorides new on the NPS market: 1-(4-methylphenyl)-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)hexan-1-one (4-MPHP), 4-methyl-1-phenyl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)pentan-1-one (α-PiHP) and 2-(methylamino)-1-(4-methylphenyl)pentan-1-one (4-MPD)

Cathinones belong to a group of compounds of great interest in the new psychoactive substances (NPS) market. Constant changes to the chemical structure made by the producers of these compounds require a quick reaction from analytical laboratories in ascertaining their characteristics. In this article, three cathinone derivatives were characterized by X-ray crystallography. The investigated compounds were confirmed as: 1-[1-(4-methylphenyl)-1-oxohexan-2-yl]pyrrolidin-1-ium chloride ( 1 , C₁₇H₂₆NO⁺·Cl^?, the hydrochloride of 4-MPHP), 1-(4-methyl-1-oxo-1-phenylpentan-2-yl)pyrrolidin-1-ium chloride ( 2 ; C₁₆H₂₄NO⁺·Cl^?, the hydrochloride of α-PiHP) and methyl[1-(4-methylphenyl)-1-oxopentan-2-yl]azanium chloride ( 3 ; C₁₃H₂₀NO⁺·Cl^?, the hydrochloride of 4-MPD). All the salts crystallize in a monoclinic space group: 1 and 2 in P2₁/c, and 3 in P2₁/n. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first detailed and comprehensive crystallographic data on salts 1 – 3 .     

α-Alkylation of Amino Acids without Racemization. Preparation of Either (S)- or (R)-α-Methyldopa from (S)-Alanine

Enantiomerically pure cis- and trans-5-alkyl-1-benzoyl-2-(tert-butyl)-3-methylimidazolidin-4-ones ( 1, 2, 11, 15, 16 ) and trans-2-(tert-butyl)-3-methyl-5-phenylimidazolidin-4-one ( 20 ), readily available from (S)-alanine, (S)-valine, (S)-methionine, and (R)-phenylglycine are deprotonated to chiral enolates (cf. 3, 4, 12, 21 ). Diastereoselective alkylation of these enolates to 5,5-dialkyl- or 5-alkyl-5-arylimidazolidinones ( 5, 6, 9, 10, 13a-d, 17, 18, 22 ) and hydrolysis give α-alkyl-α-amino acids such as (R)- and (S)-α-methyldopa ( 7 and 8a , resp.), (S)-α-methylvaline ( 14 ), and (R)-α-methyl-methionine ( 19 ). The configuration of the products is proved by chemical correlation and by NOE ¹H-NMR measurements (see 23, 24 ). In the overall process, a simple, enantiomerically pure α-amino acid can be α-alkylated with retention or with inversion of configuration through pivaladehyde acetal derivatives. Since no chiral auxiliary is required, the process is coined ‘self-reproduction of a center of chirality’. The method is compared with other α-alkylations of amino acids occurring without racemization. The importance of enantiomerically pure, α-branched α-amino acids as synthetic intermediates and for the preparation of biologically active compounds is discussed.     

Polymer drying. VII. 1H-NMR studies of evaporation from liquid saturated poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene)

Composition-studies were carried out in which samples of films composed of poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) particles enmeshed by poly(tetrafluoroethylene) fibers were saturated with dichloromethane and then allowed to evaporate at 23°C to virtual dryness as the ¹H-NMR signals and residual weight of sorbed liquid were monitored. The correlations, of ¹H-NMR line-widths with the corresponding log of the number, α_t of residual sorbed molecules per monomer unit show that sharp changes occur as α_t passes through α_G the composition that exists when all the liquid not sorbed (i.e., not present within the liquid-saturated particles), has been eliminated, and again as α_t passes through α_g the composition that exists when the particles attain the rigidity characteristic of the glassy state. Correlation of the corresponding T₁ relaxation times with log α_t show that sharp changes occur when α_t becomes equal first to α′_s and then to α′_g the compositions that exist respectively when, firstly, all the sorbed liquid not immobilized by adsorption to the polymer chains within the particles has been eliminated, and then when the desorption of immobilized liquid from the chains causes the composition to begin to undergo transition from its rubbery state to its glassy state.     

The preparation of some 1-(2-furyl)-2-arylethylenes

Some 1-(2-furyl)-2-arylethylenes, where the furan nucleus is substituted in position 5 with a methyl or p-chlorophenyl group and where the aryl group is phenyl, p-nitrophenyl, α-naphthyl or β-naphthyl, have been prepared by the Perkin reaction and subsequent decarboxylation of the acid. The compounds 1-12 were prepared lor of photochemistry and photoelectron spectroscopy studies. Their geometrical configurations has been established by ¹H nmr and ir spectra.     

Stereospecific polymerization of benzyl α-(alkoxymethyl) acrylates

α-(Alkoxymethyl) acrylates, such as methyl α-(phenoxymethyl) acrylate, benzyl α-(methoxymethyl)acrylate (BMMA), benzyl α-(benzyloxymethyl)acrylate, and benzyl α-(tert-butoxymethyl)acrylate, were synthesized, and their polymerizability and the stereoregularity of the polymers obtained by radical and anionic methods were investigated. The radically obtained polymers were found to be atactic by ¹³C- and ¹H-NMR analyses, but the polymers obtained with lithium reagents in toluene at −78°C were highly isotactic. Further, it is noteworthy that isotactic polymers were also produced with lithium reagents even in tetrahydrofuran. Effects of polymerization temperature and counter cation on stereoregularity were clearly observed in the polymerization of BMMA, and a potassium reagent afforded an almost atactic polymer. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 721–726, 1997     

Melanotropin Receptors I. Synthesis and Biological Activity of Nα-(5-Bromovaleryl)-Nα-deacetyl-α-melanotropin

Chemical synthesis and biological activities of a new α-melanotropin derivative are described. N^α-(5-Bromovaleryl)-N^α-deacetyl-α-melanotropin contains the 5-bromopentanoyl group as a chemical ‘handle’ in place of the acetyl group of the natural hormone. The synthesis involved a new protected intermediate which allowed the selective deprotection of either the N^α or N^α amino group. The title compound reacted with sodium thiosulfate to give N^α-deacetyl-N^α-(5-(sulfothio)valeryl)-α-melanotropin, a key intermediate for the preparation of tobaccomosaic virus/α-melanotropin disulfide conjugates. As a basis for the study of the conjugates, biological activities of the title compound on Cloudman S-91 mouse melanoma cell cultures (tyrosinase stimulation, binding, and cyclic AMP accumulation) were determined. They proved to be quite similar to the corresponding α-melanotropin activities. Differences in bindings may be explained by stronger hydrophobic interaction of the new derivative with the lipid phase of the target cell membranes.     

Herstellung enantiomerenreiner cis- oder trans-konfigurierter 2-(tert-Butyl)-3-methylimidazolidin-4-one aus den Aminosäuren (S)-Alanin, (S)-Phenylalanin, (R)-Phenylglycin, (S)-Methionin und (S)-Valin

Preparation of the Enantiomerically Pure cis- and trans-Configurated 2-(tert-Butyl)-3-methylimidazolidin-4-ones from the Amino Acids (S)-Alanine, (S)-Phenylalanine, (R)-Phenylglycine, (S)-Methionine, and (S)-Valine In contrast to α-hydroxy and α-mercapto carboxylic acids, simple α-amino acids do not form acetal-type derivatives ( 2 , X = NH) with pivalaldehyde. For the generation of amino-acid-derived chiral, nonracemic enolates (cf. 3 ), and hence, for the α-alkylation of amino acids without racemization and without an external chiral auxiliary, the imidazolidinones 12–14 were prepared diastereoselectively. To this end, the methyl or ethyl esters of amino-acid hydrochlorides were first converted to N-methylamides of amino acids which in turn were condensed with pivalaldehyde to give (neopentylidenamino)amides ( 11 ). These Schiff bases could be cyclized either to trans-or to cis-imidazolidinones ( 12, 14 and 13 , respectively), which were obtained in enantiomerically pure form after recrystallization. The enantiomeric purities were confirmed by HPLC with chiral stationary phases or by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy in the presence of chiral shift reagents. The configurations (cis, trans) were assigned by NOE measurements on 300- or 360-MHz ¹H-NMR spectrometers.     

13C NMR spectra of 1-(α-aroyloxyarylideneamino)-1,2,3-triazoles. Identification of 4,5-unsymmetrically substituted derivatives

The ¹³C nmr spectra of the title compounds are reported. Chemical shifts of C-4 and C-5 carbons of the triazole ring are used for structural assignment of the 4,5-unsymmetrically substituted 1-(α-aroyloxyarylideneamino)-v-triazoles (triazolylisoimides). A complete assignment of the shifts of the α-aroyloxyarylideneamino group is given. Some J_C-H values are also reported.     

The synthesis and spectra of new (E)-(trans) and (Z)-(cis)-1-alkyl-2-aryl (alkyl) - 3 -aroylaziridines

The synthetic scope of the reaction of primary amines with α,β-dibromochalones to form aroylaziridines is explored and found to require at least one hydrogen on the α-carbon of the amine. Fourteen new epimeric l-alkyl-2-aryl(alkyl)-3-aroylaziridines are synthesized accordingly. Next, representative aroylaziridines are investigated by infra-red spectroscopy in solvents of ambient polarity to assess the relative populations of the gauche and cisoid conformers present in the (Z)-(cis) series.     

Enantioselective Deprotonation of Cyclohexene Oxide to (R)-2-Cyclohexen-1-ol

The reaction of cyclohexene oxide with homochiral lithium amides, prepared from (S)-phenylglycine and (S)-valine has been studied and (R)-2-cyclohexen-1-ol 3 was prepared in a maximum of 72% ee. The optical purity was determined by ¹H NMR measurement of the α-methoxy-α-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl acetic acid (MTPA) derivative of the corresponding alcohol.     

Synthesis of 2-(p-R-benzoylmethylene)-3-(p-R-phenyl)-1H-quinoxalines

The reaction of 1,2-diaminobenzenes with substituted 1,2-dibenzoyl-1,2-dibromoethanes constitutes a convenient synthetic route to the hitherto 2-(p-R-benzoylmethylene)-3-(p-R-phenyl)-1H-quinoxalines. Structures of all products were elucidated by ir, ¹H and ¹³C-nmr, mass spectra data. X-Ray crystallography data confirm assigned structures.     

Configurational statistics of polysaccharides. VI. Linear (1→4)-linked galactan

The conformational energies for (1→4)-linked α-D- and β-D-galactans have been computed by considering nonbonded, torsional, and electrostatic interactions. The electrostatic interactions are estimated by assigning the charges to various atoms in the molecule by the method of Del Re. The characteristic ratios C_N = 〈r²〉₀/Nl_v² are computed for α-D- and β-D-galactans as a function of the degree of polymerization N and the angle τ at the bridge oxygen atom. These values of characteristic ratios obtained for α-D-galactan are very much higher than for β-D-galactan, indicating that the former assumes a highly extended conformation compared to the latter. The values of characteristic ratios of both these polysaccharides show a decrease with increase in τ similar to that observed for other (1→4)-linked polysaccharides. The calculated values of C_∞ of (1→4)-linked polysaccharides show no correlation with the number of allowed conformations but are affected both by the orientation of the interunit glycosidic bonds and the hindered potential associated with chain units. It has also been shown that the magnitude of the steric factor σ may not be used as an index of flexibility for polysaccharides which differ in type of linkage.     

Low temperature 13C NMR study of 1-(3-pentyloxyphenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-dialkyl- aminocyclohexanes

Cyclohexane and piperidine ring reversal in 1-(3-pentyloxyphenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-dialkylaminocyclohexanes was investigated by ¹³C NMR. An unusually low conformational energy ΔG = 0.59 kJ mol^?1 and activation parameters ΔG^≠₂₁₈ = 43.8 ± 0.4 kJ mol^?1, ΔH^≠ = 48.9 ± 2.5 kJ mol^?1 and ΔS^≠ = 23 ± 9 J mol^?1 K^?1 were found for the diequatorial to diaxial transition of the cyclohexane ring in the trans-pyrrolidinyl derivative. In the trans-piperidinyl derivative, ΔG₂₂₂ = 44.7 ± 0.5 KJ mol^?1, ΔH^≠ = 55.7 ± 6.3 kJ mol^?1 and ΔS^≠ = 51 ± 21 J mol^?1 K^?1 was found for the piperidine ring reversal from the non-equivalence of the α-carbons.     

NIEDERKOORDINIERTE PHOSPHORVERBINDUNGEN, 631. IMINO(BISMETHYLEN)PHOSPHATE

Abstract

Two imino(bismethylene)phosphat-ions can be synthesized via reaction of phenylamino- and α-naphthylaminobismethylenephosphorane with n-butyllithium in tetrahydrofuran. Anions containing [sgrave]³λ⁶-bounded phosphorus are stabilized in the crystal with THF-solvated lithium-kations.

Zwei Imino(bismethylen)phosphat-ionen werden durch Umsetzung des Phenylamino- und des α-Naphthylaminobismethylenphosphorans mit n-Butyllithium in Tetrahydrofuran erhalten. Die Anionen mit [sgrave]³λ⁶-gebundenem Phosphor werden im Kristall durch THF-solvatisierte Lithium-Kationen stabilisiert.     

Zum Mechanismus der α-Alkinon-Cyclisierung: Synthese und Thermolyse von 1-(1-Methylcyclopentyl)[3-13C]prop-2-inon

On the Mechanism of the α-Alkynone Cyclization: Synthesis and Thermolysis of 1-(1-Methylcyclopentyl)[3-¹³C]prop-2-ynone The relative migratory aptitude of two acetylenic substituents in the α-alkynone cyclization, a thermal conversion of α-acetylenic ketones A to 2-cyclopentenones C , was investigated by isotope-labeling experiments. The α-alkynone [β-¹³C]- 1 , specifically labeled with ¹³C at the β-acetylenic C-atom C(3), was synthesized by an intramolecular Witting reaction (230–300°) of the diacylmethylidenephosphorane [¹³C]- 7. The latter resulted from acylation of methylidenetriphenylphosphorane with the acid chloride 4 to yield the acylmethylidenephosphorane 5 , which in turn was formylated with acetic [¹³C]formic anhydride ([¹³C]- 6. ) Upon thermolysis of [β-¹³C]- 1 , its label at C(β) was transferred almost exclusively to C(β) of the 2-cyclopentenone moiety in the resulting cyclization product [¹³C]- 2. We conclude that there is a distinct preference for hydrogen migration in the acetylene → alkylidene carbene isomerization (A → B) which precedes the cyclization step (B → C). No evidence was found for a fast reversibility of this isomerization (A ? B) involving both acetylenic substituents.     

Rubber elasticity in the range of small uniaxial tensions and compressions. Results for poly(dimethylsiloxane)

Results of uniaxial tension and compression experiments are reported on crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) networks in the unswollen state over the range 0.5 < α^?1 < 1.2 where α is the extension ratio. Curves representing the reduced force [f] = f(V⁰/V)^1/3(α – α^?2)^?1 plotted against α^?1 can be approximated by straight lines for 0.5 < α^?1 < 0.9, in agreement with the phenomenological Mooney equation. As α^?1 approaches 1, however, they tend to level off and continue into the α^?1 > 1 region with decreasing slope. These results are in agreement with the predictions of recent elasticity theories that incorporate the effect of junction-chain entanglements in the elastic free energy.     

Efficient Palladium(0)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Alkenyl 1-Thioglycosides and Thiodisaccharides

ABSTRACT

Unsaturated thiodisaccharides are obtained in good yields by alkylation of ethyl α-O-?²-glycosides, having a leaving group at C-4, with various thiocarbohydrates in the presence of a catalytic amount of palladium(0). The reaction is regio- and stereospecific for the α-erythro enoside, and only stereospecific in the case of the α-threo enoside, alkylation occurring at C-4 and C-2. In all cases, only the β-anomer is formed.     

Synthesis of α-(aminomethylene)-9-(methoxymethyl)-9H-purine-6-acetic acid derivatives

α-(Aminomethylene)-9-(methoxymethyl)-9H-purine-6-acetamide and the ethyl acetate, 3 and 8 , have been synthesized by catalytic hydrogenation of 6-cyanomethylene-9-methoxymethylpurine derivatives 2 and 7 which were obtained by the substitution of 6-chloro-9-(methoxymethyl)purine ( 1 ) with α-cyanoacetamide and ethyl cyanoacetate, respectively. Substitution of 3 and 8 with amines gave the corresponding N-substituted α-(aminomethylene)-9-(methoxymethyl)-9H-purine-6-acetamide and the ethyl acetate 4 and 10 . Reaction of 3 with piperidine gave 9-(methoxymethyl)-9H-purine-6-acetamide ( 5 ).     

Synthesis of α-(aminomethylene)-9H-purine-6-acetic acid derivatives

α-(Aminornethylene)-9H-purine-6-acetamide ( 3a ) and the corresponding ethyl acetate 9 have been synthesized by catalytic hydrogenation of 6-cyanomethylenepurine derivatives 2 and 7 which were obtained by the substitution of 6-chloropurine derivatives with α-cyanoacetamide and ethyl cyanoacetate, respectively. Substitution of α-(aminomethylene)-9-(tetrahydrofuran)-9H-purine-6-acetamide ( 3b ) with amines gave the corresponding N-alkyl- and N-arylamines 5 , which were treated with acid to give N-substituted α-(aminomethylene)-9H-purine-6-acetamides 6 . Substitution of 9 with amines gave the corresponding N-alkyl- and N-aryl substituted amines 10 .     

Conformations of the Ten-membered Ring in 5, 10-Secosteroids. III: (Z)-3β- and (Z)-3α-Hydroxy-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-cholesten-5-one Esters and (Z)-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-Cholestene-3, 5-dione

(Z)-3β-Acetoxy- and (Z)-3 α-acetoxy-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-cholesten-5-one ( 6a ) and ( 7a ) were synthesized by fragmentation of 3β-acetoxy-5α-cholestan-5-ol ( 1 ) and 3α-acetoxy-5β-cholestan-5-ol ( 2 ), respectively, using in both cases the hypoiodite reaction (the lead tetraacetate/iodine version). The 3β-acetate 6a was further transformed, via the 3β-alcohol 6d to the corresponding (Z)-3β-p-bromobenzoate ester 6b and to (Z)-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-cholestene-3, 5-dione ( 8 ) (also obtainable from the 3α-acetate 7a ). The ¹H-and ¹³C-NMR. spectra showed that the (Z)-unsaturated 10-membered ring in all three compounds ( 6a , 7a and 8 ) exists in toluene, in only one conformation of type C ₁, the same as that of the (Z)-3β-p-bromobenzoate 6b in the solid state found by X-ray analysis. The unfavourable relative spatial factors (interdistance and mutual orientation) of the active centres in conformations of type C ₁ are responsible for the absence of intramolecular cyclizations in the (Z)-ketoesters 6 and 7 ( a and c ).