A New Monomer for π‐Conjugated Polymers — Synthesis and Characterization of Bis((Z)‐5‐phenyl‐2‐phenylmethylidene‐1, 3‐dithiole‐4‐yl)monosulfane

Bis((Z)‐5‐phenyl‐2‐phenylmethylidene‐1, 3‐dithiole‐4‐yl)monosulfane ( 6 ), a molecule consisting of two diphenyldithiafulvene units connected by a sulfur bridge, was synthesized by the selective lithiation of (Z)‐4‐phenyl‐2‐phenylmethylidene‐1, 3‐dithiole ( 7a ) at the endocyclic double bond and by subsequent reaction of the lithiated intermediate with bis(phenylsulfonyl)sulfane. Since this reaction sequence proceeded with retention of configuration, of three possible isomers (E, E, Z, E, and Z, Z) only the Z, Z form was obtained. On the basis of the X‐ray structure analysis and the NMR‐spectroscopic characterization of 6 supplemented by the NMR parameters of (E)‐ and (Z)‐4‐phenyl‐2‐phenylmethylidene‐1, 3‐dithiole, it was demonstrated that two characteristic ⁵J coupling constants of the proton at the exocyclic double bond indicate the configuration (Z or E) of disubstituted dithiafuvene derivatives.     

Synthesis of 4‐Arylisocoumarins (=4‐Aryl‐1H‐2‐benzopyran‐1‐ones) through Acidic Hydrolysis of (Z)‐2‐(1‐Aryl‐2‐methoxyethenyl)benzaldehydes,Followed by Oxidation

4‐Arylisocoumarins (=4‐aryl‐1H‐2‐benzopyran‐1‐ones) 6 were prepared from 2‐(1‐aryl‐2‐methoxyethenyl)‐1‐bromobenzenes 1 . Successive treatment of these bromo styrenes with BuLi and 1‐formylpiperidine gave a mixture of (E)‐ and (Z)‐2‐(1‐aryl‐2‐methoxyethenyl)benzaldehydes 2 . Hydrolysis of (Z)‐isomers with conc. HBr, followed by pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) oxidation of the resulting 1H‐2‐benzopyran‐1‐ol derivatives 4 (and 5 ), afforded the desired products.     

1,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile and Vinyl Ethers: Cyclic Ketene Imines on the Pathway to 1 : 2 Cycloadducts

(E)‐ and (Z)‐1,2‐bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile (BTE; (=E)‐ and (Z)‐1,2‐bis(trifluoromethyl)but‐2‐enedinitrile) were reacted with an excess of methyl vinyl ether, used as solvent, and furnished 1 : 2 adducts 6 (54%) and cyclobutanes 3 as 1 : 1 adducts (41%). The four diastereoisomeric bis‐adducts 6 (different ratios from (E)‐ and (Z)‐BTE) are derivatives of 1‐azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct‐5‐ene; X‐ray analyses and ¹⁹F‐NMR spectra revealed their structures. Since the cyclobutanes 3 are resistant to vinyl ether, the pathways leading to mono‐ and bis‐adducts must compete on the level of the intermediate l,4‐zwitterions 1 and 2 . The latter either cyclize to the cyclobutanes 3 or to six‐membered cyclic ketene imines 8 which accept a second molecule of vinyl ether to yield the bis‐adducts 6 . The occurrence of the highly strained ketene imines 8 gains credibility by comparison to stable seven‐membered cyclic ketene imines recently reported.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Annulation of 1,2‐Diborylalkenes and ‐Arenes with 1‐Bromo‐2‐[(Z)‐2‐bromoethenyl]arenes: A Modular Approach to Multisubstituted Naphthalenes and Fused Phenanthrenes

(Z)‐1,2‐Diaryl‐1,2‐bis(pinacolatoboryl)ethenes underwent double‐cross‐coupling reactions with 1‐bromo‐2‐[(Z)‐2‐bromoethenyl]arenes in the presence of [Pd(PPh₃)₄] as a catalyst and 3 M aqueous Cs₂CO₃ as a base in THF at 80 °C. The double‐coupling reaction gave multisubstituted naphthalenes in good to high yields. Annulation of 1,2‐bis(pinacolatoboryl)arenes with bromo(bromoethenyl)arenes in the presence of a catalyst system that consisted of [Pd₂(dba)₃] (dba=dibenzylideneacetone) and 2‐dicyclohexylphosphino‐2′,6′‐dimethoxybiphenyl (SPhos) under the same conditions produced fused phenanthrenes in good to high yields. The first annulation coupling occurred regiospecifically at the bromoethenyl moiety. This procedure is applicable to the facile synthesis of polysubstituted anthracenes, benzothiophenes, and dibenzoanthracenes through a double annulation pathway by using the corresponding dibromobis[(Z)‐2‐bromoethenyl]benzenes as diboryl coupling partners.     

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Furan‐yne Cyclizations Involving 1,2‐Rearrangement: Efficient Synthesis of Functionalized 1‐Naphthols and Its Application to the Synthesis of Wailupemycin G

Gold‐catalyzed cascade cyclization/1,2‐rearrangement of 1‐(2‐furanyl)phenyl propargyl alcohols has been developed, which provides a rapid and efficient access to multisubstituted 1‐naphthols bearing an enal or enone moiety with high stereoselectivity. The (Z)‐ or (E)‐stereochemistry can be easily controlled by choosing protected‐ or non‐protected substrates. The utility of the methodology has been illustrated in the first total synthesis of wailupemycin G.     

1,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile: Enol Ethers and Ketene Acetals as Cycloaddition Partners

(E)‐ and (Z)‐1,2‐bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile ((E)‐ and (Z)‐BTE, resp., =(E)‐ and (Z)‐2,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)but‐2‐enedinitrile) were used as a stereochemical probe in studying (2+2) cycloadditions of acceptor with donor alkenes. The additions to methyl (E)‐ and (Z)‐propenyl ether gave rise to the eight conceivable cyclobutanes 8 , although in different ratios in reactions of (E)‐ and (Z)‐BTE. The ¹⁹F‐NMR data served the structural assignment and the quantitative analysis. The mechanistic discussion is based on rotations and ring closures of the assumed 1,4‐zwitterionic intermediates. Dimethylketene dimethyl acetal, methylketene dimethyl acetal, and ketene diethyl acetal show an increasing rate in their reactions with BTE as well as in the equilibration of the cycloadducts.     

A Facile Synthesis of Oxoindenothiazine and Dioxospiro(indene‐2,4′‐thiazine) Derivatives from (Substituted ethylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamides

(E)‐2‐[2‐(1‐Substituted ethylidene)hydrazinyl]‐5‐oxo‐9b‐hydroxy‐5,9b‐dihydroindeno[1,2‐d][1,3]‐thiazine‐4‐carbonitriles and (E)‐5‐oxo‐[(E)‐(1‐substituted ethylidene)hydrazinyl]‐2,5‐dihydroindeno[1,2‐d][1,3]thiazine‐4‐carbonitriles have been obtained from the reaction of 2‐(substituted ethylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamides with 2‐(1,3‐dioxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐inden‐2‐ylidene)propanedinitrile ( 1 ) in ethyl acetate solution. However, (Z)‐6′‐amino‐1,3‐dioxo‐3′‐substituted‐2′‐[(E)‐(1‐phenylethylidene)hydrazono]‐1,2′,3,3′‐tetrahydrospiro(indene‐2,4′‐[1,3]thiazine)‐5′‐carbonitriles were observed during the reaction of N‐substituted‐2‐(1‐phenylethylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamides with ( 1 ). The structure assignment of products has been confirmed on the basis of ¹H‐, ¹³C‐NMR, and mass spectrometry, as well as theoretical calculations.     

Synthesis of 2‐Mercaptobenzaldehyde, 2‐Mercaptocyclohex‐1‐enecarboxaldehydes and 3‐Mercaptoacrylaldehydes

A novel one‐pot approach for the preparation of 2‐mercaptobenzaldehyde, 2‐mercaptocyclohex‐1‐enecarboxaldehydes and 3‐mercaptoacrylaldehydes [(Z)‐3‐mercapto‐2‐methyl‐3‐phenylacrylaldehyde, 3‐mercapto‐3‐(o‐tolyl)acrylaldehyde)] starting from ortho‐bromobenzaldehyde, 2‐chlorocyclohex‐1‐enecarbaldehydes, (Z)‐3‐chloro‐2‐methyl‐3‐phenylacrylaldehyde and 3‐chloro‐3‐(o‐tolyl)acrylaldehyde is reported. The reaction of sulfur with the Grignard reagent of the acetal for the protection of the aldehyde group affords the title compounds through hydrolysis with dilute hydrochloric acid in high yields.     

Reaction of 2,3‐Dichloro‐1,4‐Naphthoquinone with 1‐Phenylbiguanide and 2‐Guanidinebenzimidazole

When 2,3‐dichloro‐1,4‐naphthoquinone (DCHNQ) ( 1 ) is allowed to react with 1‐phenylbiguanide (PBG) ( 2 ), 4‐chloro‐2,5‐dihydro‐2,5‐dioxonaphtho[1,2‐d]imidazole‐3‐carboxylic acid phenyl amide ( 4 ), 6‐chloro‐8‐phenylamino‐9H‐7,9,11‐triaza‐cyclohepta[a]naphthalene‐5,10‐dione ( 5 ) and 4‐dimethyl‐amino‐5,10‐dioxo‐2‐phenylimino‐5,10‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[g]quinazoline‐1‐carboxylic acid amide ( 6 ) were obtained. While on reacting 1 with 2‐guanidinebenzimidazole (GBI) ( 3 ) the products are 3‐(1H‐benzoimidazol‐2‐yl)‐4‐chloro‐3H‐naphtho[1,2‐d]imidazole‐2,5‐dione ( 7 ) and 3‐[3‐(1H‐benzoimidazol‐2‐yl)‐ureido]‐1,4‐dioxo‐1,4‐dihydronaphthalene‐2‐carboxylic acid dimethylamide ( 8 ).     

Synthesis of 3‐Aryl‐2‐methoxyinden‐1‐one (Z)‐Phenylhydrazones via Hydrobromic Acid‐Mediated Cyclization of 2‐(1‐Aryl‐2‐methoxyethenyl)benzaldehyde Phenylhydrazones

2‐(1‐Aryl‐2‐methoxyethenyl)benzaldehydes 2 , obtained by successive treatment of 1‐(1‐aryl‐2‐methoxyethenyl)‐2‐bromobenzenes 1 with BuLi and 1‐formylpiperidine, were transformed to the corresponding phenylhydrazones 3 on treatment with PhNHNH₂. When these hydrazones were allowed to react with conc. HBr, cyclization, followed by dehydrogenation with air occurred, furnished 3‐aryl‐2‐methoxyinden‐1‐one (Z)‐phenylhydrazones 4 .     

Condensation of 1‐(Dicyanomethylene)acenaphthene‐2‐one with Aromatic Diamines

1‐(Dicyanomethylene)acenaphthene‐2‐one ( 1 ) reacts with 1,8‐diaminonaphthalene ( 2 ) to yield two products, identified as acenaphtho[1,2‐b]naphtho[1,8‐ef][1,4]diazepine ( 3 ) and (Z)‐2‐(8‐aminonaphthalen‐1‐ylamino)‐2‐(2‐oxoacenaphthylen‐1(2H)‐ylidene)acetonitrile ( 4 ). On the other hand, (2Z,2′Z)‐2,2′‐(hydrazine‐1,2‐diylidene)diacenaphthylen‐1(2H)‐one ( 6 ) was obtained during the condensation process of 1 with hydrazine hydrate ( 5 ). Reaction of 1 with 3,4‐diaminotoluene ( 8b ) produces 9‐methylacenaphtho[1,2‐b]quinoxaline ( 9b ) and (Z)‐2‐(2‐amino‐5‐methylphenyl‐amino)‐2‐(2‐oxoacenaphthylen‐1(2H)‐ylidene)acetonitrile ( 10b ). However, treatment of 5,6‐diamino‐pyrimidine‐2,4‐diol hemisulphate ( 11 ) with 1 affords acenaphtho[1,2‐g]pteridine‐9,11‐diol ( 12 ).     

Synthesis of (4Z)‐4‐(Arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones by the Reaction of Ethyl (2Z)‐3‐Aryl‐2‐isothiocyanatoprop‐2‐enoates with Organolithium Compounds

A convenient one‐pot method for the preparation of (4Z)‐4‐(arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones 2 and 3 from ethyl (2Z)‐3‐aryl‐2‐isothiocyanatoprop‐2‐enoates 1 , which can be easily prepared from ethyl 2‐azidoacetate and aromatic aldehydes, has been developed. Thus, these α‐isothiocyanato α,β‐unsaturated esters were treated with organolithium compounds, including lithium enolates of acetates, to provide 5‐substituted (4Z)‐4‐(arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones, 2 , and 2‐[(4Z)‐(4‐arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐2‐thioxo‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐5‐yl]acetates, 3 .     

Photoinduced and thermal reactions of α‐cyano‐β‐bromomethylcinnamide with 1‐benzyl‐1,4‐dihydronicotinamide

The photoinduced reaction of a mixture of (Z)‐α‐cyano‐β‐bromomethylcinnamide (1) and (E)‐α‐cyano‐β‐bromomethylcinnamide (2) with 1‐benzyl‐1, 4‐dihydronicotinamide produces a mixture of the (E)‐ and (Z)‐ isomers of α‐cyano‐β‐methylcinnamide (3 and 4). Using spin‐trapping technique for monitoring reactive intermediate, it is shown that the reaction proceeds via electron transfer‐debromination‐H abstraction mechanism. The thermal reaction of the same substrate with BNAH at 60°C in the dark gives three products: the (E)‐ and (Z)‐isomers of α‐cyano‐β‐methylcinnamide and a dehydrodimeric product; 2, 7‐dicyano‐3, 6‐diphenylocta‐2, 4, 6‐trien‐1, 8‐dioic amide (7). Based on product analysis, scavenger experiment and cyclic voltammetry, an electron transfer‐debromination‐disproportionation mechanism is proposed.     

Gold‐Catalyzed 1,2‐/1,2‐Bis‐acetoxy Migration of 1,4‐Bis‐propargyl Acetates: A Mechanistic Study

The late transition metal catalyzed rearrangement of propargyl acetates offers an interesting platform for the development of synthetically useful transformations. We have recently shown that gold complexes can catalyze a highly selective tandem 1,2‐/1,2‐bis‐acetoxy migration in 1,4‐bis‐propargyl acetates to form 2,3‐bis‐acetoxy‐1,3‐dienes. In this way, (1Z,3Z)‐ or (1Z,3E)‐ and (1E,3Z)‐1,3‐dienes could be obtained in a stereocontrolled manner depending on the electronic and steric features of the ancillary ligand bound to gold and the substituents at the propargylic positions. In this work, we report an experimental study on the scope of this transformation, plus a detailed theoretical examination of the reaction mechanism, which has revealed the key features responsible for the reaction stereoselectivity. Synthetic applications towards the one‐pot synthesis of quinoxaline heterocycles and tandem Diels–Alder processes have also been devised.     

A new one‐dimensional CdII coordination polymer with a two‐dimensional layered structure incorporating 2‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]‐1H‐benzimidazole and benzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate ligands

The N‐heterocyclic ligand 2‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]‐1H‐benzimidazole (imb) has a rich variety of coordination modes and can lead to polymers with intriguing structures and interesting properties. In the coordination polymer catena‐poly[[cadmium(II)‐bis[μ‐benzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylato‐κ⁴O¹,O^1′:O²,O^2′]‐cadmium(II)‐bis{μ‐2‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]‐1H‐benzimidazole}‐κ²N²:N³;κ²N³:N²] dimethylformamide disolvate], {[Cd(C₈H₄O₄)(C₁₁H₁₀N₄)]·C₃H₇NO}_n, (I), each Cd^II ion exhibits an irregular octahedral CdO₄N₂ coordination geometry and is coordinated by four O atoms from two symmetry‐related benzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate (1,2‐bdic²⁻) ligands and two N atoms from two symmetry‐related imb ligands. Two Cd^II ions are connected by two benzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate ligands to generate a binuclear [Cd₂(1,2‐bdic)₂] unit. The binuclear units are further connected into a one‐dimensional chain by pairs of bridging imb ligands. These one‐dimensional chains are further connected through N—H…O hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions, leading to a two‐dimensional layered structure. The dimethylformamide solvent molecules are organized in dimeric pairs via weak interactions. In addition, the title polymer exhibits good fluorescence properties in the solid state at room temperature.     

Trans‐3,5‐dihydroperoxy‐3,5‐dimethyl‐1,2‐dioxalane/HBr System as New,Effective, Mild and Non‐toxic Reagent for Synthesis of 2‐Aryl‐1H‐benzothiazoles and 2‐Aryl‐1‐arylmethyl‐1H‐benzimidazoles

Ttrans‐3,5‐dihydroperoxy‐3,5‐dimethyl‐1,2‐dioxalane has been used as new, effective, solid, inexpensive and nontoxic oxidant for in situ generation of Br⁺ from HBr. This system has been applied as catalyst for synthesis of 2‐aryl‐1H‐benzothiazoles and 2‐aryl‐1‐arylmethyl‐1H‐benzimidazoles at room temperature in excellent yields and high purity.     

Grid‐like Cobalt(II) Layered Complex with an Unprecedented Double 1,2‐Bis(1,2,4‐triazole‐1‐yl)methane Bridges

A novel two‐dimensional cobalt complex, [Co(btrm)₂(dca)]ClO₄ ( 1 , btrm = 1,2‐bis(1,2,4‐triazole‐1‐yl)methane, dca = dicyanamide), was synthesized and characterized. X‐ray diffraction analyses reveal that the title complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m with a = 29.507(13)Å, b = 17.804(8) Å, c = 14.709(7) Å, β = 119.916(7)°, Z = 12, and R₁ = 0.0784, wR₂ = 0.2041. The cobalt atom involves a six‐coordinated CoN₆ environment, with a distorted octahedral coordination. Two btrm ligands connect the Co^II atoms with the exodentate nitrogen atoms on the 4‐position of triazole rings to form a sixteen‐membered rhombic grid. The unprecedented double btrm bridges and μ_1,5‐dca bridge connect the cobalt atoms to form a two‐dimensional grid‐like layered structure. The spectroscopic and magnetic properties have also been investigated.     

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of (Z + E)‐1‐[4‐(2‐(cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese)‐2‐oxo‐ethoxy)phenyl]‐1,2‐di(p‐hydroxyphenyl)‐but‐1‐ene against breast cancer cells

This paper describes the synthesis of (Z + E)‐1‐[4‐(2‐(cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese)‐2‐oxo‐ethoxy)phenyl]‐1,2‐di(p‐hydroxyphenyl)‐but‐1‐ene. Two synthetic pathways were explored. The best pathway consisted of the alkylation of 1,2‐bis‐[4‐(tert‐butyl‐dimethylsilyloxy)phenyl]‐1‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)but‐1‐ene with BrCH₂COOEt. The ester obtained was transformed into the Weinreb amide by reaction with HN(OMe)Me–HCl. The reaction of lithium manganese tricarbonylcyclopentadienide with the Weinreb amide produced 1‐[4‐(2‐(cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese)‐2‐oxo‐ethoxy)phenyl]‐1,2‐di(p‐tert‐butyldimethylsiloxyphenyl)‐but‐1‐ene. The deprotection of phenolic functions of the latter compound led to the formation of the final compound. The Z and E isomers could be separated but the isomerization of these isomers from one to another is an easy process. The Z + E compound 2 was tested against the hormone‐dependent MCF‐7 and hormone‐independent MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines. The IC₅₀ values of compound 2 were 4.80 ± 2.00 µm and 4.79 ± 0.70 µm for MCF‐7 cells and MDA‐MB‐231 cells, respectively, which was three times better than the ferrocenyl analogue. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of Optically Active 1‐(1‐Phenylethyl)‐1H‐imidazoles Derived from 1‐Phenylethylamine

The three‐component reaction of (R)‐ or (S)‐1‐phenylethylamine ( 6 ), formaldehyde, and an α‐(hydroxyimino) ketone 5 , i.e., 3‐(hydroxyimino)butan‐2‐one ( 5a ) or 2‐(hydroxyimino)‐1,2‐diphenylethanone ( 5b ), yields the corresponding enantiomerically pure 1‐(1‐phenylethyl)‐1H‐imidazole 3‐oxide 7 in high yield (Schemes 2 and 3). The reactions are carried out either in MeOH or in AcOH. Smooth transformations of the N‐oxides into optically active 1‐(1‐phenylethyl)‐1H‐imidazoles 10 and 2,3‐dihydro‐1‐(1‐phenylethyl)‐1H‐imidazole‐2‐thiones 11 are achieved by treatment of 7 with Raney‐Ni and 2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐3‐thioxocyclobutanone ( 12 ), respectively (Scheme 4).     

Short communication: An alternative and effective catalyst in the stereo‐specific reaction of Z‐1‐aryl‐1‐stannyl‐2‐silylethenes with allyl bromide

The Pd(dba)₂‐catalyzed reaction of Z‐1‐aryl‐1‐(tributylstannyl)‐2‐(trimethylsilyl)ethenes with allyl bromide in the presence of copper(I) iodide is reported for the first time. The reaction in the presence of 0.5 mol% Pd(dba)₂ and 8 mol% CuI in dimethylformamide takes place at room temperature to give E‐2‐aryl‐1‐(trimethylsilyl)penta‐1,4‐dienes exclusively in isolated yields of 62–99%. A putative reaction mechanism is proposed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.