Total synthesis of 2-(2-hydroxyalkyl)-piperidine alkaloids (−)-halosaline and (−)-8-epi-halosaline via iterative asymmetric allylation/RCM strategy

Total synthesis of 2-(2-hydroxyalkyl)-piperidine alkaloids, (?)-halosaline and (?)-8-epi-halosaline is reported from n-butyraldehyde using iterative asymmetric allylation, nucleophilic substitution with an azide and ring-closing metathesis as the key reactions.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-β-conhydrine from d-mannitol

An asymmetric synthesis of the piperidine alkaloid (+)-β-conhydrine has been developed starting from (R)-protected glyceraldehyde as the chiral precursor using Barbier allylation, azide nucleophilic substitution, and ring-closing metathesis as the key steps.     

Ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts with modified styrene ethers: influence of steric and electronic effects

A series of olefin metathesis catalysts with modified isopropoxybenzylidene ligands were synthesised, and the effects of ligands on the rate of metathesis investigated. Increased steric hinderance ortho to the isopropoxy group enhanced reaction rates. In the case of N-heterocyclic carbene complexes, decreasing electron density at both the chelating oxygen atom and the RuC bond accelerated reaction rates appreciably. Catalysts containing a tricyclohexylphosphane ligand, followed the same trend with regard to benzylidene electrophilicity, while higher electron density at oxygen enhanced reaction rates.     

Synthesis of C1- and C8a-epimers of (+)-castanospermine from d-glucose derived γ,δ-epoxyazide: intramolecular 5-endo epoxide opening approach

A concise synthesis of two diastereomers of (+)-castanospermine namely 1- and 8a-epi-castanospermine 1b and 1c, respectively, is reported from d-glucose. The methodology involves stereoselective cross metathesis of d-glucose derived alkene 2 with 4-bromo-1-butene followed by azide displacement and m-CPBA oxidation to afford diastereomeric γ,δ-epoxyazides 5a/5b. The Staudinger reaction of epoxyazide 5a followed by reaction with benzylchloroformate (CbzCl) unexpectedly furnished 1,3-oxazinan-2-one derivative 7 whose stereochemistry was establish by single crystal X-ray. This helps to assign the stereochemistry in the epoxidation reaction. The reduction of 5a/5b was then carried out by transfer hydrogenation to provide γ,δ-epoxyamine that concomitantly undergoes intramolecular 5-endo-tet cyclization to afford hydroxypyrrolidine ring skeleton with sugar framework-a precursor to castanospermine analogues 1b/1c.     

Synthesis studies on the Melodinus alkaloid meloscine

The pentacyclic Melodinus alkaloid (±)-meloscine was synthesized in 19 chemical steps from 2-bromobenzaldehyde through a route featuring an allenyl azide cyclization cascade to deliver the core azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane substructure. Peripheral functionalization of this core included a Tollens-type aldol condensation to set the quaternary center at C(20) and a diastereoselective ring-closing metathesis to forge the tetrahydropyridine ring.     

Investigation of electrochemically induced Michael addition reactions. Oxidation of some dihydroxybenzene derivatives in the presence of azide ion

In aqueous solution containing azide ion as a nucleophile, electrochemical oxidation of hydroquinone and some dihydroxybenzoic acids have been studied using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The voltammetric data show that electrochemically generated para and ortho-benzoquinones participate in Michael addition reactions with azide ions to form the corresponding diazido or diaminobenzoquinones. In this work, we have proposed various mechanisms for the electrode process and we report an efficient and one-pot method for the synthesis of 2,5-diazido-1,4-benzoquinone, 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzoquinone, 4,5-diamino-1,2-benzoquinone, and 2,3-diamino-5,6-dioxocyclohexa-1,3-dienecarboxylic acid based on the Michael reaction of electrochemically generated ortho and para-benzoquinones with azide ion in an undivided cell using an environmentally friendly reagent-less method in ambient conditions. An estimation of the observed homogeneous rate constant (k_obs) of the reaction of electrochemically generated para-benzoquinone with azide ion by the digital simulation method is also presented.     

Iodine/CuI-mediated alkyne–carbonyl metathesis reaction: synthesis of 1-aryl-1,2-dihydrochromeno[2,3-b]azepine-3,6-dione

Iodine/cuprous iodide-mediated intramolecular alkyne–carbonyl metathesis reaction has been developed using 2-(N-aryl-N-propargyl)aminochromone-3-carbaldehyde as the substrate. It led to the synthesis of hitherto unreported chromeno[2,3-b]azepine-3,6-dione. The special features of this methodology are mild reaction conditions, 100% atom economy and use of inexpensive reagents. This is the first example of I₂/CuI-mediated alkyne–carbonyl metathesis reaction.     

Topological polymer chemistry by programmed self-assembly and effective linking chemistry

Ongoing challenges in topological polymer chemistry are reviewed. In particular, we focus on recent developments in an “electrostatic self-assembly and covalent fixation (ESA–CF)” process in conjunction with effective linking/cleaving chemistry including a metathesis process and an alkyne–azide click reaction. A variety of novel cyclic polymers having specific functional groups and unprecedented multicyclic macromolecular topologies have been realized by combining intriguing synthetic protocols.     

Organochromium(II) and Organonitridochromium(V) N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis and Structural Characterization

The N‐heterocyclic carbene‐stabilized chromium(II) alkyl, aryl, and alkynyl complexes (IPM)₂CrR₂ [R = Me ( 2 ), Ph ( 3 ), C≡CPh ( 3 ); IPM = 1,3‐diisopropyl‐4,5‐dimethylimidazole‐2‐ylidene] were prepared by metathesis reactions of (IPM)₂CrCl₂ ( 1 ) with the corresponding organolithium reagents. Further reaction of 3 with an organic azide, 1‐azidoadamantane, yielded an organonitridochromium(V) compound (IPM)₂Ph₂Cr≡N ( 5 ). Compounds 2 – 5 are fully characterized by ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopy, X‐ray crystallography as well as by elemental analysis. The structural analysis shows that the metal atom adopts a nearly square‐planar arrangement in the respective 2 , 3 , and 4 and a square‐pyramidal one in 5 . The reaction of 3 with the organic azide to 5 appears a novel way to the organonitridochromium compound.     

Decisive role of water in efficient noncatalyzed synthesis of polyfunctional 1H-1,2,3-triazoles proceeding from γ-hydroxypropynals

A highly efficient method was developed for the synthesis of new polyfunctional 1H-1,2,3-triazoles by the reaction of γ-hydroxypropynals with trimethylsilyl azide in water at room temperature without catalyst. The addition of trimethylsilyl azide to γ-hydroxypropynals occurs regioselectively: Previously unknown hydroxyalkyl-1H-1,2,3-triazolecarbaldehydes have been isolated in 69-96% yields with the prevalence of 1,5-isomers and the content of minor 1,4-isomers equal 9-21%. In the reaction of γ-hydroxypropynals with sodium azide in DMSO the formation of 4-hydroxyalkyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-5-carbaldehydes is accompanied by the dimerization of initial aldehydes into the corresponding 1,3-dioxolanes.     

Azide ligand substitution reaction in zinc bis(diethyldithiocarbamate)

The azide ligand substitution reaction in tetrahedral zinc bis(diethyldithiocarbamate) has been studied by extraction. The reaction has been shown to proceed by both solvent and azide ion interactions with k₀ = 5.0 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹ and k₁ = 1.9 × 10⁻³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. A general discussion of the reaction mechanism is provided.     

Facile One-step Synthesis of Zn1–xMnxSiN2 Nitride Semiconductor Solid Solutions via Solid-state Metathesis Reaction

We report on the synthesis of the II-IV-N₂ semiconductors ZnSiN₂, MnSiN₂, and the Zn_1–xMn_xSiN₂ solid solutions by a one-step solid-state metathesis reaction. The successful syntheses were carried out by reacting the corresponding metal halides with stoichiometric amounts of silicon nitride and lithium azide in sealed tantalum ampoules. After washing out the reaction byproduct LiCl, powder X-ray diffraction patterns were indexed with orthorhombic space group Pna2₁. Single phase products were obtained without applying external pressure and at a moderate reaction temperature of 700 °C. The resulting ZnSiN₂ was found to consist of nano-sized grains and needle-shaped nano-crystals. With increasing manganese content in the Zn_1–xMn_xSiN₂ solid solution, we found the reaction product to be increasingly crystalline. Both the cell parameters and the bandgap values across the different compositions of the solid solutions change linearly. The sample Zn_0.95Mn_0.05SiN₂ synthesized by means of solid-state metathesis reaction is an intense red emitter with a broad emission maximum at λ_max ≈ 619 nm when excited with ultraviolet light after annealing the sample at a pressure of 6 GPa and a temperature of 1200 °C.     

Rapid and facile synthesis of acyl azides from acyl halides using a polymer-supported azide ion under heterogeneous conditions

In this article a rapid and facile method for synthesis of acyl azide is described. The cross-linked poly(N-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium) azide ion, [P₄-VP]N₃ is prepared and used as an efficient polymeric reagent for synthesis of acyl azides from acyl halides at room temperature under heterogeneous conditions. Various benzoyl halides, with electron-withdrawing groups as well as electron-donating groups, were transformed into the corresponding benzoyl azides in high to excellent yields in short reaction times. The acyl azide products were characterized by FT-IR, and some of them were also characterized by ¹H-and/or ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy, and physical properties were compared to literature values of known compounds. The spent polymeric reagents can be regenerated and reused for several times without losing their activity. Relative to the reported methods, the present method has the advantages of operational simplicity, mild reaction conditions, fast reaction rates, simple reaction work-up and lower hazardous and potentially explosive nature. Also the present method is the first procedure for the synthesis of acyl azides from acyl halides by using a polymer-supported azide ion under heterogeneous conditions.     

Reaction of trimethylsilyl azide with bridged bicyclic olefins

Bridged bicyclic olefins were found to undergo facile 1,3-cycloaddition reaction with trimethylsilyl azide. Norbornene produced cis,exo-1-trimethylsilyl-4,7-methano-3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydrobenzotriazole, while norbornadiene formed a diadduct with cis,exo-stereochemistry, together with 2-trimethylsilyl-1,2,3-triazole produced by a retro-Diels—Alder reaction of an intermediate mono-adduct. Dicyclopentadiene reacted only at the norbornene position while α-pinene did not react with trimethylsilyl azide. In contrast to aryl- and sulfonyl-azide adducts of norbornene derivatives, which decompose upon heating the present adducts were recovered unchanged after prolonged treatment at 205°C.     

Highly enantioselective (OC)Ru(salen)-catalyzed sulfimidation using N-alkoxycarbonyl azide as nitrene precursor

Enantioselective imidation of alkyl aryl sulfides with N-alkoxycarbonyl azide as a nitrene precursor was effected by using (OC)Ru(salen) complex 1 as catalyst. The steric and electronic nature of the N-alkoxycarbonyl group was found to strongly affect the enantioselectivity and the reaction rate, and high enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee) and good chemical yields were achieved by using 2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-dimethylethoxycarbonyl azide as the nitrene precursor at room temperature.     

Prins and RCM protocols for the synthesis of the pheromones of the giant white butterfly Idea leuconoe

The total syntheses of (6R)-6-[(2R)-2-hydroxyhexyl]tetrahydro-2H-2-pyranone and 7-hydroxy-5-dodecanolide are described utilizing a Prins reaction and ring closing metathesis reaction sequence.     

Reaction of N-phenyl(benzylidene,phenoxy)acetyl-1,4-benzoquinone imines with sodium azide

N-Phenyl(benzylidene, phenoxy)acetyl-1,4-benzoquinone imines reacted with sodium azide to give the corresponding 1,4-addition products, N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) carboxamides. Quantum chemical calculations showed that the initial step in the examined reaction is addition of azide ion to neutral quinone imine molecule.     

Zinc-assisted synthesis of imidazolium-tetrazolate bi-heterocyclic zwitterions with variable alkyl bridge length

Zinc halide-complexed alkyl-bridged bi-heterocycles were obtained as zwitterions from the Click reaction of a series of N-cyanoalkyl-N-alkylimidazolium halide ionic liquids with sodium azide. Reaction optimization showed fast reaction times and milder conditions compared to conventional Click syntheses from neutral nitriles.     

Reaction of N-arylcarbamoyl-1,4-benzoquinone imines with sodium azide

N-Arylcarbamoyl-1,4-benzoquinone imines reacted with sodium azide in completely regioselective fashion according to the 1,4-addition pattern with formation of 1-(3-azido-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-arylureas. The reaction of N-arylcarbamoyl-2,6-dichloro-3,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone imines with sodium azide afforded N-arylcarbamoyl-2,6-diazido-3,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone imines as a result of nucleophilic substitution of the chlorine atoms.     

Synthesis of β,β′-diamino acids from α-amino acid-derived β-lactams by ring opening with nucleophiles. Utilization in the synthesis of peptidomimetics

Ring opening of protected 3-aminoalkyl-substituted azetidin-2-ones with O-, N- or S-nucleophiles led to β,β′-diaminocarboxylic esters, amides and thioesters, respectively. The reaction outcome is improved by the addition of catalytic amounts of sodium azide. Utilization of a glycine derivative with unprotected amino function as nucleophile was possible. When bulkier amino acid esters were used, the intermediate acid azide underwent a Curtius rearrangement. The isocynates formed were trapped as the corresponding urea derivatives. Reduction of β-lactam's amide moiety led to diaminoalcohols.