Reactivity of the Lithium Salt of 4H-Cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b']dithiophene

The regioselectivity in reactions of the lithium salt of 4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b']dithiophene with various electrophilic agents [SiMe₃Cl, SnMe₃Cl, D₂O, Re(CO)₅Br] is discussed in terms of the charge and orbital control concepts.     

Towards the synthesis of [15]-membered stevastelins through the 2,3-epoxy analogues

A synthetic approach to the [15]-membered stevastelins, a novel class of immunosuppressant agents, is reported based on a macrolactamization route to the 2,3-epoxy derivative 6. The synthesis of this compound was achieved via a stereoselective epoxidation of the allylic alcohol 13, followed by a coupling reaction with a variety of peptide derivatives to give the epoxy peptides 7-10. After an extensive study of cyclizations with these precursors, the best result was achieved with the macrolactamization of 8 in the presence of DEPC, to obtain the epoxy cyclic depsipeptide 6 in 42% yield. From this product, an epoxy analogue of stevastelin B, compound 27, was prepared. Finally, the synthesis of the natural product was attempted through the opening of the oxirane ring contained in 6 and 26, with a variety of methyl cuprate reagents, but without success.     

Carbohydrates as chiral controllers: synthesis of dihydrothieno[2,3-c]furanones

Chiral dihydrothiophenes derived from carbohydrates can be transformed into a novel class of bicyclic and highly functionalized chirons by treatment with NaH. A mechanistic rationale is proposed which is consistent with experimental observations and demonstrates the stereodiscriminating properties exerted by carbohydrate chains with different configurations.     

Stereoselective pyrroline-ring formation through the cyclization of conjugated azomethine ylides at the periphery of pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidine system

The thermal reaction of N-benzyl-N-[3-(N-substituted imino)methyl-4-oxo-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-yl]amino acid esters, generated from aldehyde esters and primary amines, provides 2,3-dihydropyrido[1,2-a]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(1H)-one derivatives effectively and stereoselectively. Therein, the stereoselective generation of conjugated azomethine ylides from the imine esters and their cyclization is essential for the pyrroline-ring formation.     

Synthesis of new compounds containing the 2,3-dihydro[1,4]dioxino[2,3-b]pyridine heterocyclic system as a substructure

2,3-Dihydro-spiro[1,4]dioxino[2,3-b]pyridine-3,3′-pyrrolidine (8A) and 2,3-dihydro-spiro[1,4]dioxino[2,3-b]pyridine-3,4′-piperidine (9A) have been synthesized from 2-chloro-3-pyridinol. The corresponding 2,3′ (8B) and 2,4′ (9B) isomers were obtained via the Smiles rearrangement, while 9B was also selectively synthesized from 2-nitro-3-pyridinol. The separation of the isomers A and B under the sulfamide form was carried out by flash column chromatography. Subsequent transformations of the corresponding dioxinopyridine derivatives were described.     

Hetero-calix[4]pyrroles: incorporation of furans, thiophenes, thiazoles or fluorenes as a part of the macrocycle

Furans, thiazoles, fluorene or thiophene incorporated calix[4]pyrrole analogues were synthesized and characterized. The synthesis was achieved by utilization of various building blocks such as 7, 13, 14, 18 and 21. Acid catalyzed condensation of those building blocks with acetone or meso-disubstituted dipyrromethanes afforded desired macrocycles.     

Pyrrolopyrimidine nucleosides VII. A study on electrophilic and nucleophilic substitution at position six of certain pyrrolo[2,3-d] pyrimidine nucleosides

A study involving the reactivity of the pyrrolo[2,3-d] pyrimidine ring system at position 6 with another exocyclic group (CN or -NH₂) already residing at C5 has established that hydrogen and bromine are susceptible to electrophilic and acid-catalyzed nucleophilic substitution, respect-tively. In one instance a strong nucleophile (hydrazine) gave nucleophilic substitution at position 6 which was followed by a reaction with the o-nitrile group to afford the tricyclic nucleoside 4,5-diamino-8-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrazolo[3′, 4′ :5,4] pyrrolo[2,3-d] pyrimidine (4).     

Diversity oriented synthesis: substitution at C5 in unreactive pyrimidines by Claisen rearrangement and reactivity in nucleophilic substitution at C2 and C4 in pteridines and pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines

Diversity oriented synthesis of fused pyrimidines leads to scaffolds with many biological activities. In the case of the preparation of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines from 2-alkylthiopyrimidines, the formation of a new carbon-carbon bond at C5 is required, a reaction, that is, very limited in scope. However Claisen type rearrangement of simple 4-allylic ethers affords C5 substituted pyrimidines readily; in cases with an ester substituent, rearrangement occurs at room temperature. Subsequent cyclisation to afford 6-methylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7(8H)-ones was achieved in high yield. Using allylic ethers derived from 3-chloromethyl-4-arylbut-3-en-2-ones as substrates, a new titanium[IV]chloride catalysed reaction affording 6-arylmethyl-7-methylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines was discovered. In contrast, 2-alkylthiopteridines are readily available. In both cases, substitution at C2 and C4 to generate diversity has been carried out and the reactivity compared; yields of substitution products were generally higher with pteridine substrates. In biological assays unexpected hits were found for activity against the Gram positive bacterium, Nocardia farcinia, and against the parasite Trypanosoma brucei brucei, illustrating the value of diversity oriented synthesis in the discovery of biologically active compounds.     

Heterodiene synthesis—XI : A study of the isomerization of tetrahydropyran[2′,3′:2,3] 2,3-dihydropyran[6,5-c] pyrazoles

The stereoisomers (1–4) of the tetrahydropyran[2′,3′:2,3] 2,3-dihydropyran[6,5-c] pyrazole system equilibrate in deuterated trifluoroacetic acid at 35°.The mechanism which causes incorporation of deuterium in the 4a-position is discussed.The isomers distribution is rationalized in terms of steric and electronic interactions, and the energy values for the interaction between the phenyl group in 5 and the substituent in position 6 on the pyrazole ring are given.     

Multiple one-electron oxidation and reduction of trinuclear bis(2,4-pentanedionato)ruthenium complexes with substituted diquinoxalino[2,3-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine ligands

The complexes (μ₃-L¹/L²)[Ru(acac)₂]₃, acac⁻ = 2,4-pentanedionato, L¹ = 2,3,8,9,14,15-hexachlorodiquinoxalino[2,3-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine and L² = 2,3,8,9,14,15- hexamethyldiquinoxalino[2,3-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine, undergo stepwise one-electron oxidation involving a total of three electrons and stepwise one-electron reduction with three (L²) or four electrons (L¹). All reversibly accessible states were characterized by UV–Vis–NIR spectroelectrochemistry. Oxidation leads to mixed-valent intermediates {(μ₃-L)[Ru(acac)₂]₃}⁺ and {(μ₃-L)[Ru(acac)₂]₃}²⁺ of which the Ru^IIIRu^IIRu^II combinations exhibit higher comproportionation constants K_c than the Ru^IIIRu^IIIRu^II states – in contrast to a previous report for the unsubstituted parent systems {(μ₃-L³)[Ru(acac)₂]₃}^+/2+, L³ = diquinoxalino[2,3-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine. No conspicuous inter-valence charge transfer absorptions were observed for the mixed-valent intermediates in the visible to near-infrared regions. The monocations and monoanions were characterized by EPR spectroscopy, revealing rhombic ruthenium(III) type signals for the former. Electron addition produces ruthenium(II) complexes of the reduced forms of the ligands L, a high resolution EPR spectrum with ¹⁴N and ^35,37Cl hyperfine coupling and negligible g anisotropy was found for {(μ₃-L¹)[Ru(acac)₂]₃}⁻. DFT calculations of (μ₃-L¹)[Ru(acac)₂]₃ confirm several ligand-centered low-lying unoccupied MOs for reduction and several metal-based high-lying occupied MOs for electron withdrawal, resulting in low-energy metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions.     

Structural changes upon reduction of dipyrido[2,3-a:3',2'-c]phenazine probed by vibrational spectroscopy, ab initio calculations, and deuteration studies

A series of bridging ligands, dipyrido[2,3-a:3',2'-c]phenazine (ppb), dipyrido[2,3-a:3',2'-c]-6,7-dichlorophenazine (ppbCl2), and dipyrido[2,3-a:3',2'-c]-6,7-dimethylphenazine (ppbMe2), and their binuclear copper(I) complexes have been synthesized, and their spectral properties were measured. The single-crystal structure of the complex, [(PPh3)2Cu(mu-ppbCl2)Cu(PPh3)2](BF4)2 in the monoclinic space group P21/c, 18.2590(1), 21.1833(3), 23.2960(3) A with Z = 4 is reported. The copper(I) complexes are deeply colored through MLCT transitions in the visible region. The vibrational spectra of the ligands have been modeled using ab initio hybrid density functional theory (DFT) methods (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) and compared to experimental FT-Raman and IR data. The DFT calculations are used to interpret the resonance Raman spectra, and thus the electronic spectra, of the complexes. The preferential enhancement of modes associated with the phenanthroline section of the ligands with blue excitation (lambda(exc) = 457.9 nm) over phenazine-based modes with redder excitation (lambda(exc) = 514.5 and 632.8 nm) suggests the 2 MLCT transitions terminated on different unoccupied MOs are present under the visible absorption envelope. The radical anion species of the ligands are prepared by the electrochemical reduction of the binuclear copper(I) complexes; no evidence of dechelation prevalent in other copper(I) complexes is observed. The resonance Raman spectra of the reduced complexes are dramatically different from those of the parent species. Across the series common bands are observed at about 1590 and 1570 cm(-1) which do not shift with reduction but are altered in intensity. The normal-mode analysis of the radical anion species suggests that these normal modes primarily involve bond length distortions that are unaffected by reduction.     

A direct method for the substitution of imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines at position 5

3-Ethylthioimidazo[1,5-a]pyridine lithiates at carbon 5. Quenching of the anion with an electrophile followed by desulphurisation gives 5-substituted imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines.     

Nucleophilic substitution at the bridgehead of 1,4-dihalobicyclo[2.2.2]octanes : An abnormal leaving group mobility order

Stannylation of 1-bromo- and 1-chloro-4-iodobicyclo[2.2.2]octane with (trimethyltin) lithium indicate an abnormal leaving group mobility (Br>I>Cl).     

α-Alkoxystannanes as masked oxonium ions: application to the synthesis of furo[2,3-b]pyrans

α-Alkoxystannanes undergo oxidation upon treatment with cerium ammonium nitrate generating oxonium ions, which can be trapped in an intramolecular fashion affording furo[2,3-b]pyrans.     

Synthesis of furano[2,3-c]pyran-3-one and thieno[2,3-c]pyran-3-one derivatives through the coupling of 3-alkynyl-2-heteroaromatic carboxaldehydes with Fischer carbene complexes: total synthesis of a Baccharis-derived cadinene derivative

The coupling of Fischer carbene complexes with 3-alkynyl-2-heteroaromatic carboxaldehyde derivatives has been examined. The reaction affords pyrones fused to furans or thiophenes in a single step. The compounds are stable enough for isolation. If the carbene complex features a remote alkene substituent, a subsequent Diels-Alder reaction can occur. This reaction has been used as the key step in the synthesis of a naturally occurring cadinene derivative.     

Chemistry of the 2,3-oxaphosphabicyclo[2.2.2]octene ring system: Extrusion of metaphosphates

The 2,3-oxaphosphabicyclo[2.2.2]octene 3-oxide (or sulfide) ring system is of considerable value because it easily fragments on being heated or irradiated (254 nm) to provide three-coordinate phosphoryl species. The system is synthesized by O-insertion with peracids into a C P bond of 7-phosphanorbornene derivatives with a variety of P-substituents. With rare exception, the insertion has been found to proceed with retention of the configuration at phosphorus, as established by X-ray and NMR techniques. The thermal fragmentation that produces the metaphosphate derivatives EtO PO₂, EtO P(S)O, and Et₂N PO₂ follows first-order kinetics, and is independent of the concentration of a trapping agent for these species. Solvent effects and activation parameters join in defining a retrocycloaddition mechanism that ejects the free metaphosphate. The species Ph PO₂ can also be easily generated either thermally or photochemically. Metaphosphates have been found to attack ethereal oxygen in epoxides and oxetanes, and may undergo anchimeric participation with a properly placed methoxy group on the substituent used in the 2,3-oxaphosphabicyclo[2.2.2]octene precursor.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of 2-aryl-3-vinyl-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furans through a Sakurai reaction: a mechanistic proposal

The condensation of 2,3-dihydrobenzoxasilepins with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of boron trifluoride to form 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans shows a level of diastereoselection which is a function of the electronic nature of the aldehyde and the polarity of the solvent. The study of the mechanism of the reaction demonstrated that it proceeds through a ring-opened allylfluorosilane, which is stable enough to be isolated and characterized.     

An organocatalytic direct Mannich-cyclization cascade as [3+2] annulation: asymmetric synthesis of 2,3-substituted pyrrolidines

A new method for asymmetric synthesis of 2,3-substituted pyrrolidines from N-PMP aldimines and succinaldehyde via formal [3+2] cycloaddition is reported. This reaction involves proline catalyzed direct Mannich reaction and acid catalyzed reductive cyclization with high yields (up to 78%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99%).     

Synthesis of a New Series of Imidazo[1,5-d]pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]thiazines as Potential Ligands for the GABA Receptor Complex

Summary.  Starting from 2-chloro-3-nitropyridine, 1H-pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]thiazin-2(3H)-one was synthesized. This compound was reacted with potassium tert-butoxide and diethyl chlorophosphate to give the intermediate 1H-pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]thiazin-2-ylphosphate derivative, which in turn afforded the 1,2,4-oxadiazolylimidazo[1,5-d]pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazine derivatives. The title compounds are potential ligands for the γ-aminobutyric acid A/benzodiazepine receptor complex. Corresponding author. E-mail: thomas.erker@univie.ac.at Received February 22, 2002. Accepted March 6, 2002