Transformation of inorganic sulfur into organic sulfur: a novel photoluminescent 3-D polymeric complex involving ligands in situ formation

The reaction of CuSCN with acetonitrile and methanol under solvothermal conditions yielded a novel 3-D polymeric photoluminescent complex containing dodecanuclear copper(I) clusters with methyl mercaptide. The synthesis involves in situ generation of ligands, which provides a model reaction to simulate the transformation of inorganic sulfur into organic sulfur under geothermic conditions.     

Mild generation of 5-(2'-deoxyuridinyl)methyl radical from a phenyl selenide precursor

[reaction: see text] 5-(2'-Deoxyuridinyl)methyl radical (1) resulting from formal hydrogen atom abstraction from the methyl group of thymidine is produced from the respective phenyl selenide precursor (2) via 350 nm photolysis or mild thermolysis (37 degrees C in the presence of glutathione) under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. The mild thermal generation of a nucleoside radical provides an alternative to previously reported photochemical methods, which are not always compatible with nucleic acids.     

Ethenolate Transfer Reactions: A Facile Synthesis of Vinyl Esters

A simple and efficient metal‐free ethenolate transfer reaction has been elaborated in moderate‐to‐high yields from vinyl acetate. This reaction was accomplished by generation of potassium ethenolate, which was then reacted with homo and mixed anhydrides of aliphatic, aryl and heteroaryl acids, to yield the corresponding vinyl esters. The utility of thus generated vinyl esters was then probed by carrying out intramolecular Heck reactions to give isobenzofuran‐1(3H)‐one derivatives in excellent yields.     

Studies directed toward the synthesis of the massileunicellins

An approach to the massileunicellins is described that employs a cycloaldol reaction to assemble the isobenzofuran bicyclic core. A stereoselective rearrangement-epoxidation-oxidation cascade and a chelation controlled addition to a hindered acyl furan are used to install the C3, C11, C12, and C13 oxygens. The synthesis establishes eight of the nine stereocenters present in the isobenzofuran core of the massileunicellins.     

Synthesis of furanophane derivatives through [8+2]-cycloaddition of dienylisobenzofurans and alkynes

The coupling of various dienylisobenzofurans with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) has been examined. In most cases, this reaction proceeds via [8+2]-cycloaddition to afford furan-bridged decatetraene ring systems. The major competing reaction pathway is [4+2]-cycloaddition between DMAD and the isobenzofuran nucleus. Isobenzofuran intermediates were generated using either a chromium carbene-based method or an acid-catalyzed method.     

Generation and trapping of isobenzofuran intermediates formed in the coupling of Fischer carbene complexes and o-alkynylbenzoyl derivatives

[formula: see text] The coupling of o-alkynylbenzoyl derivatives with carbene complexes has been investigated. The reaction initially affords isobenzofuran derivatives, which convert to alkylidenephthalan derivatives or can be trapped by various dienophiles to afford benzo-oxanorbornene derivatives.     

Catalytic and Asymmetric Fluorolactonisations of Carboxylic Acids through Anion Phase Transfer

Catalytic fluorolactonisations of aromatic carboxylic acids have been developed. The reactions proceed under mild conditions using the commercially available reagent Selectfluor. A weak phase transfer of the reagent mediated by Na₂CO₃ allows the reaction to be conducted in non‐polar solvents. Furthermore, by the use of a catalytic amount of (DHQ)₂PHAL (hydroquinine 1,4‐phthalazinediyl diether), the first asymmetric fluorolactonisation has been achieved. The corresponding isobenzofuran core can be found in many biologically active molecules.     

Reaction of 2,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole with 7-oxanorbornenes revisited: Experimental and quantum-chemical study of reaction stereoselectivity

The stereochemical outcome of reaction of 2,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole with 7-oxanorbornenes under various conditions was investigated. For the first time, microwave irradiation in carrying this type of reactions was used, resulting in comparable yields in significantly shorter reaction times. Regardless on substrate, in all reactions mixtures of the two isomeric O³-[3]polynorbornanes, bent and linear were obtained, with slight preference for bent structure. In some cases, retro Diels-Alder fragmentation was observed resulting in formation of isobenzofuran species. Reaction mechanism was also studied computationally (RHF/6-31G* method), and the origin of stereoselectivity explained by repulsive lone pair interactions between oxygen bridges in the transition state of the 1,3-dipolar addition.     

KI-catalysed synthesis of 4-methylcatechol dimethylacetate and fragrant compound Calone 1951®

Synthesis of the fragrant compound Calone 1951® from 4-methyl catechol and methyl bromoacetate entails three successive reactions: the Williamson reaction, Dieckmann condensation, and hydrolysis-decarboxylation reaction. In this paper, the synthesis of 4-methylcatechol dimethylacetate (MCDA) via the Williamson reaction by adding KI as catalyst was investigated. It was found that the addition of an appropriate amount of KI can significantly increase the product yield due to generation of methyl iodoacetate via the reaction between KI and methyl bromoacetate. The synthesised MCDA as well as Calone 1951® were first characterised by melting points, HPLC, IR, and NMR analyses. Next, the effect of the key operating factors on MCDA synthesis by the Williamson reaction was investigated and the optimum operating conditions were obtained via a group of orthogonal experiments. The verification experiments demonstrated that, under the optimum operating conditions, the MCDA yield could be increased from 78.5 % to 95.4 % by the addition of an appropriate amount of KI; the corresponding yield of Calone 1951® increased to 68 %.     

Near-infrared fluorophores containing benzo[c]heterocycle subunits

The syntheses and spectroscopic properties of eight new push-pull-type near-infrared fluorophores that contain either isobenzofuran or isothianaphthene subunits are presented. The isobenzofuran dyes demonstrate significantly red-shifted absorption compared with their isothianaphthene counterparts, which is attributed to isobenzofuran's more potent pro-quinoidal character.     

Synthesis and photochromic properties of spiropyrans containing a fused benzopyranone fragment

New spiro compounds of the indole, phthalazine, isobenzofuran, and benzopyran series, containing a fused benzopyranone fragment in the chromene moiety, were synthesized. Indole derivatives were found to exhibit photochromic properties under stationary conditions at 293 K. The thermal stability of merocyanine isomers sharply decreases upon introduction of electron-withdrawing nitro group into the indole fragment and fusion of a benzene ring to the chromene fragment.     

Facile Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed generation and successive aromatization of isobenzofuran from o-dicarbonylbenzenes

Isobenzofuran can be prepared from o-phthalaldehyde using hydrosilane. The formed isobenzofuran is trapped by an alkene via a Diels-Alder reaction. Further dehydration proceeds to furnish the conjugated aromatic compound. This multistep reaction was promoted by catalytic amounts of Sc(OTf)(3).     

Solvent-modulated chemoselective deprotections of trialkylsilyl esters and chemoselective esterifications

A series of trialkylsilyl esters were deprotected or transesterificated into their corresponding carboxylic acids or methyl esters under a catalytic amount of CBr₄ in alcohol reaction system. This method enables to desilylate secondary sp³-carbon, sp²-carbon, sp-carbon and aryl tethered trialkylsilyl esters to carboxylic acids, whereas primary sp³-carbon tethered trialkylsilyl esters were further converted into their methyl esters under CBr₄/MeOH reaction conditions. The highly chemoselective deprotections can be modulated and achieved by the introduced protecting trialkylsilyl groups and the used alcohols such as MeOH and EtOH under this photochemically-induced reaction conditions.     

Elimination of oxidative degradation during the per-O-methylation of carbohydrates

The possible oxidative degradation mechanism occurring during the per-O-methylation of carbohydrates in dimethyl sulfoxide with methyl iodide in the presence of base is described. Evidence is presented that this process occurs only under anhydrous conditions when there is a long reaction time between the carbohydrate dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide and methyl iodide, followed by reaction with the base. Under these specific conditions, the oxidative degradation of alditols, and cyclic carbohydrates, with and without a free hemiacetal group, is observed. The reaction between carbohydrate and methyl iodide in dimethyl sulfoxide can result in a complete oxidative degradation depending on the type of carbohydrate and the time of reaction. The oxidative degradation can be accelerated by replacing methyl iodide with dimethyl sulfate. Mass spectrometric identification of the degradation products of d-glucitol indicates simultaneous oxidation processes at all the hydroxyl groups, with site dependent rates of their reactivity. This oxidative process is not a characteristic of the methylation of carbohydrates in dimethyl sulfoxide with methyl iodide in the presence of solid sodium hydroxide and can be totally avoided by treating the carbohydrate with powdered sodium hydroxide before introduction of methyl iodide under nonanhydrous conditions, or by adding a trace of water in dimethyl sulfoxide before methyl iodide, or by using N,N-dimethylacetamide as the solvent. The degradation of the per-O-methylated carbohydrates in the liquid-liquid extraction process is also taken into account, and it is found that the degradation process can be avoid by neutralization of the base before extraction, by using benzene or tetrachloromethane as extraction solvent, and by drying the final organic extract.     

Facile Chemoselective synthesis of 2‐(2‐(Methoxycarbonyl)‐3‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydrobenzofuran‐2‐yl)benzoic acids and 3H,3’H‐Spiro[benzofuran‐2,1′‐isobenzofuran]‐3,3′‐dione derivatives

Oxidation of some derivatives of 4b,9b–dihydroxyindeno[1,2‐b]benzofuran‐10‐one have been investigated in detail using lead(IV) acetate in acetic acid under reflux conditions and periodic acid in aqueous ethanol at room temperature. We realized that during the first 5–15 minutes of the oxidation reactions in lead(IV) acetate/acetic acid system, 3H,3’H‐spiro[benzofuran‐2,1′‐isobenzofuran]‐3,3′‐dione derivatives have been synthesized chemo selectively, while, if the reaction mixtures stirred for additional 3 hours, the main products would be 2‐(2‐(Methoxycarbonyl)‐3‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydrobenzofuran‐2‐yl)benzoic acids. Moreover, room temperature oxidation of 4b,9b–dihydroxyindeno[1,2‐b]benzofuran‐10‐ones by periodic acid (H₅IO₆), leads to the formation of 3H,3’H‐spiro[benzofuran‐2,1′‐isobenzofuran]‐3,3′‐dione derivatives in good to excellent yields.     

Indirect electrochemical side-chain oxidation of alkyl aromatic compounds - selective synthesis of methyl benzoates or ortho-benzoic acid trimethylesters

The technically important side-chain oxidation of alkyl aromatic compounds to from either methyl benzoates or orthobenzoic acid trimethylesters can be performed electrochemically at low potentials in methanol solution using an undivided cell and tris(2,4-dibromopheny1)amine as redox catalyst. Under neutral or slightly acidic conditions methyl benzoates are selectively formed while under basic conditions the ortho-esters are predominating. In a similar way ortho benzoic acid trimethylesters are formed selectively starting from benzaldehyde dimethylacetals. The redox catalyst is stable under the reaction conditions so that several thousand cycles can be performed without noticeable loss.     

Synthesis of methyl 3-amino-4-aryl(or methyl)sulfonyl-2-thiophenecarboxylates from 3-alkoxy-2-aryl(or methyl)-sulfonylacrylonitriles

The synthesis of a series of methyl 3-amino-4-aryl(or methyl)sulfonylthiophene-2-carboxylates by reaction of 3-alkoxy-2-aryI(or methyl)sulfonylacrylonitriles with methyl thioglycolate in the presence of triethylamine is described. Hydrolysis/decarboxylation of the ester at the 2-position and acylation of the resulting amine represents a convenient route to 4-arylsulfonyl-3-carboxamidothiophenes. Attempted acylation of a title aminothiophene under standard conditions was unsuccessful.     

Thermal Conversion of Methane to Formaldehyde Promoted by Gold in AuNbO3+ Cluster Cations

In addition to generation of a methyl radical, formation of a formaldehyde molecule was observed in the thermal reaction of methane with AuNbO₃⁺ heteronuclear oxide cluster cations. The clusters were prepared by laser ablation and mass‐selected to react with CH₄ in an ion‐trap reactor under thermal collision conditions. The reaction was studied by mass spectrometry and DFT calculations. The latter indicated that the gold atom promotes formaldehyde formation through transformation of an Au?O bond into an Au?Nb bond during the reaction.     

The reaction of 1-silylcyclopropyl anions with dichloromethyl methyl ether: the efficient synthesis of cyclopropyl silyl ketones via cyclopropylidene derivatives

The reaction of 1-silylcyclopropyl anions with dichloromethyl methyl ether is described. The reaction with an excess amount of dichloromethyl methyl ether gives the corresponding cyclopropyl silyl ketones in low yields. On the other hand, the reaction under basic conditions proceeded smoothly to afford the corresponding cyclopropylidene derivatives, exclusively. The resulting cyclopropylidene compounds are subjected to hydrolysis or trapping with electrophiles easily to give the cyclopropyl silyl ketone derivatives in good yields.     

Regioselective reactions of methyl pyropheophorbide a with formaldehyde based on hydroxymethylation

Regioselective reactions of methyl pyropheophorbide a (MPPa) with formaldehyde based on hydroxymethylation have been studied. It was found that MPPa can react regioselectively with formaldehyde under different conditions to produce a series of 3-dioxane, 12-, 13²- or 20-hydroxymethyl and 12-/13²-alkenyl-substituted chlorins via Prins reaction, Blanc chloromethylation and aldol reaction, respectively. The first examples of direct C–C bond formation at 12-position of chlorophyll derivatives were also reported to give a series of 12-vinyl-substituted chlorins. These chlorins showed extend Qy absorptions and efficient singlet oxygen generation property, indicating their potential as photosensitizers for application in photodynamic therapy.