Efficient electrochemical synthesis of pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles

Electrochemical reduction of N-(2-nitroaryl)pyridinium chlorides in alcohol—dilute HCl mixtures gave pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles in high yields in both divided and undivided cells. According to cyclic voltammetry measurements and DFT calculations (B3LYP/6-31+G(d)), the reaction involves intermediate formation of the corresponding hydroxylamine derivative followed by its heterocyclization.     

A novel three-component reaction of N-fluoropyridinium salts: a facile approach to imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

The reaction of N-fluoropyridinium triflate with isonitriles in acetonitrile and propionitrile in the presence of NaBH(OAc)₃ led to the formation of the corresponding imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in 44-73% yields. The proposed reaction mechanism involves the intermediate formation of a highly reactive carbene species and apparent reduction of the pyridinium intermediate with NaBH(OAc)₃ to yield the targeted heterocycles.     

A quantum chemical study on the reaction of 1-aryl-1,2-dihydrophosphinine oxides with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

A β-oxophosphorane/ylide (2a) and an oxaphosphete (3a), the product and the possible intermediate of an inverse Wittig type reaction of 1-(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl-)1,2-dihydrophosphinine oxide with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate were studied by quantum chemical calculations. The reaction of the title reagents following either a traditional [4 + 2] cycloaddition protocol to afford phosphabicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene 5 or a novel route yielding eventually β-oxophosphorane/ylide 2 was evaluated by energy calculations. The mechanism for the formation of intermediate 3a₂ was refined by HF/6-31G* transition state calculations. Analysis of the HOMO-LUMO orbitals of the reagents justified the reactivity experienced.     

Quantum chemical studies of mechanisms of organic reactions: VI. Reaction of ethane-1,2-dithiol with vinylidene chloride

A theoretical mechanism has been proposed for the reaction of vinylidene chloride with ethane-1,2-dithiol in the system hydrazine hydrate–potassium hydroxide on the basis of DFT quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. The reaction includes two consecutive stages: dehydrochlorination of vinylidene chloride to chloroacetylene and nucleophilic addition of one thiol group of ethane-1,2-dithiol to the β-carbon atom of chloroacetylene, followed by closure of 2,3-dihydro-1,4-dithiine ring via nucleophilic substitution of chlorine by sulfur atom of the second thiol group.     

An investigation into the mechanism of the imidazolidinone catalyzed cascade reaction

The cascade reaction of α,β-unsaturated butyric aldehydes with 2-methyl furan and chlorinated quinone catalyzed by a (2S,5S)-5-benzyl-2-tert-butyl-3-methylimidazolidin-4-one·TFA was investigated by using density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the PCM(EtOAc)/B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level to (a) confirm the detailed reaction mechanism and key factors controlling the enantioselectivity; and (b) check the models of the iminium ion formation and hydrolysis process that were carried out in another reaction. Two favorable reaction channels, corresponding to the enantioselectivity of the (2R,3S)-product and (2S,3S)-product, have been characterized. The enantioselectivity is controlled by the steps involved in the formation of the C–C bond and the C–Cl bond in the iminium catalysis and the enamine catalysis, respectively. The calculated results explain the reaction mechanism and the enantioselectivity, which are in agreement with experimental observations, and may be helpful for understanding the reaction mechanism of similar cascade reactions.     

Theoretical study of the imidazolidinone catalyzed 1,4-addition of N,N-dimethyl-3-anisidine with α,β-unsaturated butyric aldehyde

Friedel–Crasfts alkylation reactions of α,β-unsaturated butyric aldehydes with N,N-dimethyl-3-anisidine catalyzed by a (2S,5S)-5-benzyl-2-tert-butyl-3-methylimidazolidin-4-one HCl salt have been carried out at the PCM(CH₂Cl₂)/B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. Three reaction processes have been characterized: (I) the formation of an iminium ion intermediate; (II) the 1,4-iminium addition of the iminium ion; and (III) the hydrolysis of the addition product. Moreover, Path 1-1 is the favorable channel in the formation of the iminium ion. From the point of view of energy, the enantioselectivity is controlled by the carbon–carbon bond formation step that is involved in both the intermediate M4 and the transition state TS4. The highest energy barrier of the reaction is the H2 proton transfer from the O10 atom of a water molecule to the N1 atom of the catalyst in the hydrolysis process, which is 23.4 kcal/mol. The presented calculated results may be helpful in understanding the experimental product distribution for the title reaction, and provide a general model to help explain the mechanisms of similar reactions.     

Ab initio study of mechanism of forming a spiro-ge-heterocyclic ring compound

The mechanism of cycloaddition reaction between singlet state dichloromethylenegermene (Cl₂C=Ge:) and ethene has been investigated with the CCSD(T)//B3LYP/6-31G* method. From the potential energy profile, it could be predicted that the reaction has one dominant reaction channel. The reaction rule presented is that the 4p unoccupied orbital of Ge in dichloromethylenegermene and the π orbital of ethene forming a π → p donor–acceptor bond resulting in the formation of a three-membered ring intermediate. Ring-enlargement effect make the three-membered ring intermediate isomerizes to a four-membered ring germylidene. Because the 4p unoccupied orbital of Ge atom in the four-membered ring germylidene and the π orbital of ethene form a π → p donor–acceptor bond, the four-membered ring germylidene further combines with ethene to form another intermediate. Because the Ge atom in the intermediate happens sp ³ hybridization after transition state, the intermediate isomerizes to a spiro-Ge-heterocyclic ring compound.     

A computational mechanistic study of the deamination reaction of melamine

A detailed computational study of the deamination reaction of melamine by OH^–, n H₂O/OH^–, n H₂O (where n = 1, 2, 3), and protonated melamine with H₂O, has been carried out using density functional theory and ab initio calculations. All structures were optimized at M06/6‐31G(d) level of theory, as well as with the B3LYP functional with each of the basis sets: 6‐31G(d), 6‐31 + G(d), 6‐31G(2df,p), and 6‐311++G(3df,3pd). B3LYP, M06, and ω B97XD calculations with 6‐31 + G(d,p) have also been performed. All structures were optimized at B3LYP/6‐31 + G(d,p) level of theory for deamination simulations in an aqueous medium, using both the polarizable continuum solvation model and the solvation model based on solute electron density. Composite method calculations have been conducted at G4MP2 and CBS‐QB3. Fifteen different mechanistic pathways were explored. Most pathways consisted of two key steps: formation of a tetrahedral intermediate and in the final step, an intermediate that dissociates to products via a 1,3‐proton shift. The lowest overall activation energy, 111 kJ mol^?1 at G4MP2, was obtained for the deamination of melamine with 3H₂O/OH^?.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> quantum-chemical calculations of the energies and structures of 1,2-acetylenedithiol isomers

Ab initio quantum-chemical calculations of 1,2-acetylenedithiol isomers were carried out. The MP2(full), DFT(B3PW91, MPW1PW91), G3, G3B3, and CBS-Q methods were used. According to the calculations, the most stable isomers were 1,2-dithiet, thiiranethione, and trans-1,2-dithioglyoxal. The necessity of including basis set functions with a large angular momentum in calculations was confirmed. The relatively high stability of 1,2-dithiet was attributed to the aromaticity of its four-membered ring. It was noted that the carbon-carbon bond in the three-membered rings of the cis- and trans-isomers of thiirenethiols was unusually short.     

Isomerization and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of gem-difluorinated NH-azomethine ylides in the reaction of difluorocarbene with diarylmethanimines

Reaction of difluorocarbene with diarylmethanimines leads to the formation of gem-difluorinated NH-azomethine ylides, two types of competing transformations of which are found to be characteristic: a formal 1,2-H shift into N-(difluoromethyl)imines and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to electron-deficient multiple bonds. α,α,α-Trifluoroaceto-phenones are efficient dipolar traps for difluoro NH-ylides, the addition of which to the dipole proceeds regioselectively with the formation of 4-fluoro-2,5-dihydrooxazoles. According to the quantum-chemical calculations by the DFT B3LYP/6-31G* method, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of difluorinated NH-azomethine ylides to a C=O bond with the formation of 4-fluoro derivatives of oxazole has lower barrier of activation than the reaction, leading to another regioisomer; the formal 1,2-H shift in the ylide occurs intermolecularly with participation of an imine, a precursor of the ylide.     

Formation of unsymmetrical 1,4-dithiins from fused 1,2,3,4,5-pentathiepins: synthesis,structural, and computational study

Pentathiepinopyrroles reacted with methyl propiolate and triphenylphosphine to give regioselectively dithiinopyrroles in agreement with the electron distribution in the proposed reaction intermediate. Thieno[2,3-f][1,2,3,4,5]pentathiepin when treated with methyl propiolate and triphenylphosphine gave a pair of regioisomers where the higher yielding regioisomer contained the same mode of junction as in the case of pentathiepinopyrroles. X-ray crystal structures are provided for the thieno[2,3-b][1,4]dithiine carboxylate isomers. Quantum-chemical calculations B3LYP/6-31G(d) and B3LYP/6-311⁺⁺G(d,p) have been carried out for better understanding of the reaction mechanisms; the index of synchronism of the S_h addition and the index of a relative difference in bond orders in transition states are in good agreement with the formation of the regioisomers by the reaction of unsymmetrical pentathiepins with alkynes containing one electron-withdrawing group.     

Ethylene Epoxidation with Nitrous Oxide over Fe–BTC Metal–Organic Frameworks: A DFT Study

The epoxidation of ethylene with N₂O over the metal‐organic framework Fe–BTC (BTC=1,3,5‐benzentricarboxylate) is investigated by means of density functional calculations. Two reaction paths for the production of ethylene oxide or acetaldehyde are systematically considered in order to assess the efficiency of Fe–BTC for the selective formation of ethylene oxide. The reaction starts with the decomposition of N₂O to form an active surface oxygen atom on the Fe site of Fe–BTC, which subsequently reacts with an ethylene molecule to form an ethyleneoxy intermediate. This intermediate can then be selectively transformed either by 1,2‐hydride shift into the undesired product acetaldehyde or into the desired product ethylene oxide by way of ring closure of the intermediate. The production of ethylene oxide requires an activation energy of 5.1 kcal mol^?1, which is only about one‐third of the activation energy of acetaldehyde formation (14.3 kcal mol^?1). The predicted reaction rate constants for the formation of ethylene oxide in the relevant temperature range are approximately 2–4 orders of magnitude higher than those for acetaldehyde. Altogether, the results suggest that Fe–BTC is a good candidate catalyst for the epoxidation of ethylene by molecular N₂O.     

New Cycloadditon Reaction of 2-Chloroprop-2-enethioamides with Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxylates: Synthesis of Dialkyl 2-[4,5-bis(alkoxycarbonyl)-2-(aryl{alkyl}imino)-3(2H)-thienylidene]-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dicarboxylates

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones with alkynes to form 1,3-dithioles is one of the most studied reactions in this class of polysulfur-containing heterocycles. Nucleophilic substitution of chlorine atoms in dimethyl 2-(1,2-dichloro-2-thioxoethylidene)-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dicarboxylate, which was obtained by addition one molecules of DMAD to 4,5-dichloro-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione, led to a series of 2-chloro-2-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)ethanethioamides. Cycloaddition reaction of 2-chloro-2-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)ethanethioamides with activated alkynes led to the unexpected formation of 2-(thiophen-3(2H)-ylidene)-1,3-dithioles via new intermediate, 1-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-N-phenylethan-1-yliumimidothioate. Structure of dimethyl 2-(4,5-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-2-(phenylimino)thiophen-3(2H)-ylidene)-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dicarboxylate was finally proven by single crystal X-ray diffraction study. Optimized reaction conditions and a mechanistic rationale for the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of novel intermediate are presented.     

Novel sequence of two base-catalyzed 1,3 proton shifts and [1,2] Wittig rearrangement in the synthesis of 2,4-bis-(trifluoromethyl)-6-phenylpyridine

The reaction of 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione with (R)-phenylglycinol was found to proceed via intermediate formation of (R, 4E, 6Z)-5,7-bis-(trifluoromethyl)-2,3-dihydro-3-phenyl-1,4-oxazepine which further underwent a base-catalyzed 1,3-proton shift reaction followed by [1,2] Wittig rearrangement giving rise to 2,4-bis-(trifluoromethyl)-6-phenylpyridine.     

Formation of furoxans and 1,2-diazetine 1,2-dioxides by oxidation of α-hydroxylamino oximes

The oxidation of secondary and tertiaryα-hydroxylamino oximes with sodium hypobromite gives, respectively, furoxans and 3-bromo-1,2-diazetine 1,2-dioxides. The intermediate oxidation products, which confirm the proposed reaction mechanism, were isolated. When 3-bromo-1,2-diazetine 1,2-dioxides are heated in benzene, the ring opens with the evolution of nitrogen oxides and the formation of halo olefins.     

Quantum chemical study of mechanisms of organic reactions: V. Addition of ethane-1,2-dithiol to 4-hydroxy-4-methylpent-2-ynenitrile

The mechanism of nucleophilic addition of ethane-1,2-dithiol to 4-hydroxy-4-methylpent-2-ynenitrile has been studied at the DFT B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. The base-catalyzed reaction involves nucleophilic attack by deprotonated ethane-1,2-dithiol on the ß-carbon atom of the nitrile with formation of intermediate Z-vinylic carbanion which undergoes intramolecular cyclization with closure of 1,3-dithiolane ring. Further transformation of 2-[2-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-1,3-dithiolan-2-yl]acetonitrile to 6,6-dimethyl-7-oxo-1,4-dithiaspiro[4.4]nonan-8-imine has also been studied.     

Mechanism and Kinetics of the Reaction of Nitrosamines with OH Radical: A Theoretical Study

The reaction of nitrosodimethylamine, nitrosoazetidine, nitrosopyrrolidine, and nitrosopiperidine with the hydroxyl radical has been studied using electronic structure calculations in gas and aqueous phases. The rate constant was calculated using variational transition state theory. The reactions are initiated by H‐atom abstraction from the αC─H group of nitrosamines and leads to the formation of alkyl radical intermediate. In the subsequent reactions, the initially formed alkyl radical intermediate reacts with O₂ forming a peroxy radical. The reaction of peroxy radical with other atmospheric oxidants, such as HO₂ and NO radicals, is studied. The structures of the reactive species were optimized by using the density functional theory methods, such as M06‐2X, MPW1K, and BHandHLYP, and hybrid methods G3B3. The single‐point energy calculations were also performed at CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(d,p)// M062X/6‐311+G(d,p) level. The calculated thermodynamical parameters show that the reactions corresponding to the formation of intermediates and products are highly exothermic. We have calculated the rate constant for the initial H‐atom abstraction and subsequent favorable secondary reactions using canonical variational transition state theory over the temperature range of 150–400 K. The calculated rate constant for initial H‐atom abstraction reaction is ∼3 × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and is in agreement with the previous experimental results. The calculated thermochemical data and rate constants show that the reaction profile and kinetics of the reactions are less dependent on the number of methyl groups present in the nitrosoamines. Furthermore, it has been found that the atmospheric lifetime of nitrosamines is around 5 days in the normal atmospheric OH concentration.     

Calculated structures and relative stabilities of furoxan,some 1,2-dinitrosoethylenes and other isomers

The structures and relative stabilities of furoxan and some of its isomers, e.g., the 1,2-dinitrosoethylenes, have been determined by means of ab initio Hartee–Fock and Møller–Plesset calculations. Geometries were optimized at the HF/3-21G, HF/6-31G* and MP2/6-31G* levels, and subsequently used for computing MP2/6-31G*, MP3/6-31G*, and MP4/6-31G* energies. The results are markedly affected by the inclusion of electronic correlation, which renders three of the isomers unstable. It also emphasizes the importance of a zwitterionic contribution to the structure of furoxan, which promotes ring-opening through a cis 1,2-dinitrosoethylene intermediate/transition state that has an MP4/6-31G*//MP2/6-31G* energy that is 31.6 kcal/mol above furoxan.     

Synthesis of crescent shaped heterocycle-fused aromatics via Garratt-Braverman cyclization and their DNA-binding studies

Three crescent shaped heterocycle-fused phenanthrene based systems 1–3 have been synthesized starting from benzene (or substituted benzene) 1,2-bis-propargyl alcohols. Bis-alkylation with propargylic bromides provided the key intermediate, the bis-propargyl bis-ethers. In spite of the possibility of many competing reactions, the latter underwent facile double Garratt-Braverman cyclization to provide compounds 1–3 in near quantitative yield, in a striking reaction involving the formation of four C–C bonds in a single step. Compounds 1–3 showed binding interaction with DNA, predominantly, via groove binding along with partial intercalation (combilexins). Molecular docking study supported the proposed binding modes.     

Synthetic scope, computational chemistry and mechanism of a base induced 5-endo cyclization of benzyl alkynyl sulfides

We present an experimental and computational study of the reaction of aryl substituted benzyl 1-alkynyl sulfides with potassium alkoxide in acetonitrile, which produces 2-aryl 2,3-dihydrothiophenes in poor to good yields. The cyclization is most efficient with electron withdrawing groups on the aromatic ring. Evidence indicates there is rapid exchange of protons and tautomerism of the alkynyl unit prior to cyclization. Theoretical calculations were also conducted to help rationalize the base induced 5-endo cyclization of benzyl 1-propynyl sulfide (1a). The potential energy surface was calculated for the formation of 2,3-dihydrothiophene in a reaction of benzyl 1-propynyl sulfide (1a) with potassium methoxide. Geometries were optimized with CAM-B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) in acetonitrile with the CPCM solvent model. It is significant that the benzyl propa-1,2-dien-1-yl sulfane (6) possessed a lower benzylic proton affinity than the benzyl prop-2-yn-1-yl sulfane (8) thus favoring the base induced reaction of the former. From benzyl(propa-1,2-dien-1-yl sulfane (6), 2,3-dihydrothiophene can be formed via a conjugate base that undergoes 5-endo-trig cyclization followed by a protonation step.