Reactions of dibromotetrafluorobenzene derivatives with sodium phenoxide salts. Competing hydrodebromination and SNAr processes

1,2- and 1,3-dibromotetrafluorobenzene react with sodium phenoxide derivatives at sites para to ring bromine because these positions are activated by fluorine atoms ortho and meta to the site of nucleophilic substitution. Fluorine para to the site of nucleophilic attack is usually deactivating in nucleophilic aromatic substitution processes and this is reflected in the significantly reduced reactivity of 1,4-dibromotetrafluorobenzene which undergoes competing hydrodebromination processes to afford, primarily, 3-bromo-1,2,4,5-tetrafluorobenzene.     

Anion binding by meta ureido-substituted thiacalix[4]arenes

The regioselective nitration of 25,26,27,28-tetrapropoxythiacalix[4]arene (1,3-alternate) led to the formation of mono- and dinitro derivatives bearing NO₂ groups in the meta positions at the same side of the molecule. Their reduction and subsequent condensation with arylisocyanates gave the new types of anion receptors with a so far unknown meta-substitution pattern. In a highly HB-competitive solvent like DMSO, the novel ligands showed good complexation abilities. Moreover, as can be documented by higher complexation constants, achiral receptors 9a, 9b are better preorganized for anion binding than corresponding stereoisomers 10a, 10b. Our results indicate that anion receptors based on meta-substituted thiacalixarenes possess complexation abilities fully comparable with common para-substituted analogues.     

Influence of an ortho-sulfinyl group on the configurational stability of α-lithiated aryloxiranes: deuteration of tolylsulfinyl styrene oxides

The influence of the p-tolylsulfinyl group, located at ortho-, meta-, and para-position, on the regio- and stereoselectivity of the deuteration reactions of substituted styrene oxides has been investigated. The sulfinyl group at an ortho-position reduces the configurational stability of α-lithiated styrene oxides, whereas meta- and para-sulfinyl derivatives completely control the regioselectivity only yielding deuterated products at the aromatic ring due to its strong ortho-director effect.     

Investigation on the preparation and chromatographic behavior of a new para-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-1,2-crown-4 stationary phase for high performance liquid chromatography

In the present work, a new para-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-1,2-crown-4 bonded silica stationary phase (CBS4-4) was synthesized, structurally characterized, and employed to separate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenols, aromatic amines, benzoic acid and its derivatives. The chromatographic behaviors of the prepared stationary phase were investigated and compared with ODS. The effects of methanol concentrations on the retention index show that CBS4-4 exhibits high selectivity for the above analytes. The separation mechanisms based on the different interactions between calixarene and the analytes were discussed. With the assistance of quantum chemistry calculation, the interaction Gibbs free energy change ΔG_solv (in the mobile phase) of p, m and o-phenylenediamine positional isomers and para-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-1,2-crown-4 were obtained. The ΔG_solv values were consistent with the retention behavior of p, m and o-phenylenediamine on the CBS4-4. According to the chromatographic data, it can be concluded that the selectivity of CBS4-4 for analytes is mainly ascribed to hydrophobic interaction, accompanied by other effects such as hydrogen bonding interaction, π-π and inclusion interaction. The CBS4-4 column has been successfully employed for the analysis of benzoic acid in Sprite drink.     

The calixarene p-bromodienone route: from a chemical curiosity to an useful synthetic tool

This review gives an account on the development of the calixarene “p-bromodienone route” which include the beginning of the story, the tested and potential applications, and a mention to a different strictly related procedure. The development of this route is due to the serendipitous discovery of calixarene derivatives containing the 4-tert-butyl-4-bromo-2,5-cyclohexadienone moiety (shortly, the p-bromodienone moiety). These derivatives undergo a silver-mediated nucleophilic substitution and a subsequent rearomatization to give products in which a nucleophilic agent is directly linked to the para-position of a calixarene aromatic ring in a sort of “aromatic ring umpolung”. The nucleophiles so far tested are O-nucleophiles (alcohols, phenols, carboxylates) or C-nucleophiles (activated aromatic rings, acetylides) which has led to the corresponding p-substituted derivatives or to unusual m-substituted calixarenes through an intermediate dienone-phenol rearrangement. In this way, a range of additional chemical functionalities can be attached to the calixarene scaffold which include interalia alkyno, carboxy, peptido and glyco substituents. On the basis of literature data, it can be expected that several additional nucleophiles, including S-, N-, and P-nucleophiles, could be used in the calixarene p-bromodienone route thus expanding its scope.     

Synthesis of the first examples of p-bromodienone and transannular spirodienone calixarene derivatives

The first examples of p-bromodienone calixarene derivatives (6-7 and 9-10) have been obtained by treatment of 1,5-dihydroxy-hexaalkoxycalix[8]arenes 5 or tripropoxycalix[4]arene 8 with trimethylphenylammonium tribromide and a saturated solution of NaHCO₃. The first transannular spirodienone derivative 11 was only obtained in the presence of NaOH or using the KOH/I₂/PEG-200 oxidizing system.     

Regioselective access to substituted oxindoles via rhodium-catalyzed carbene C-H insertion

Rhodium-catalyzed decomposition of diazoamides followed by insertion of the resulting carbenes into an aromatic C-H bond gives access to substituted oxindoles. The reaction takes place with aromatic rings substituted by either electron-donating or -withdrawing groups at ortho, meta or para positions and the regioselectivity can be controlled by a substitution α to the diazo functionality. In the presence of an ester, the reaction leads to the formation of 2-silyloxyindole-3-carboxylates in 40-85% yields and regioselectivities up to 80% are observed in the case of meta-substituted substrates. This selectivity mainly relies on steric factors and use of a more bulky N,N-diethylamide then affords 2-silyloxyindole-3-carboxamides in 42-91% yields with complete regioselectivity.     

Regio- and stereoselective 1(S)-camphorsulfonylation of monoalkoxycalix[4]arenes

The reaction of calix[4]arene monoalkyl ethers with 1(S)-camphor-10-sulfonyl chloride yields 1,2- or 1,3-alkoxy-1(S)-camphorsulfonyloxycalixarenes depending on the nature of the base used. In the presence of triethylamine only 1,3-substituted derivatives are formed. Two diastereomers of the 1,2-substituted calixarenes with clockwise and anticlockwise arrangement of alkyl and camphorsulfonyl groups at the narrow rim are formed in the presence of sodium hydride or potassium carbonate. Due to chiral induction of the camphorsulfonyl group the 1,2-substitution is diastereoselective. The ratio of diastereomers formed is dependent on the alkyl groups at the calixarene narrow rim.     

Extended peptoids: a new class of oligomers based on aromatic building blocks

Peptoids (N-substituted polyglycines) represent a class of bioinspired oligomers that have unique physical and structural properties. Here, we report the construction of ‘extended peptoids’ based on aromatic building blocks, in which the N-alkylaminoacetyl group of the peptoid backbone has been replaced by an N-alkylaminomethylbenzoyl spacer. Both meta- and para-bromomethylbenzoic acids were synthesized, providing access to a new class of peptoids. Further, inclusion of hydrophilic side chains confers water solubility to these compounds, showing that, like simple peptoids, extended peptoids add an extra dimension to synthetic poly-amide oligomers with potential application in a variety of biological contexts.     

QSPR study on pK<Subscript>a</Subscript> values of N-methoxy-polynitroaniline derivatives

A QSPR study is presented for acidities of thirteen N-methoxy-polynitroaniline derivatives. Hammett σ values are known for meta and para substituents, and in the present study values are introduced for ortho-substituents in these N-methoxy-polynitroaniline derivatives. Hammett σ values for ortho-substituents in these N-methoxy-polynitroaniline derivatives were obtained by multiplying para values with 0.65.     

Experimental and theoretical study of the structure of N,N-dimethyl-4-nitroaniline derivatives as model compounds for non-linear optical organic materials

Molecular and crystal structure of a series of derivatives of N,N-dimethyl-4-nitroaniline has been studied by both X-ray diffraction method and high-level ab initio calculations. According to these data, the dimethylamino groups were found to have a trigonal-pyramidal configuration and are considerably turned with respect to the ring plane in all molecules having a substituent in the ortho-position; on the contrary, this group is planar in the meta-substituted molecules. Topological analysis of the electron density function for all molecules studied within the framework of Bader's ‘atoms in molecules’ (AIM) theory revealed that introduction of a substituent into the ortho- or meta-position of the ring results in increasing of the contribution of the resonance forms different from the quinoid one. Contribution of the latter form is predominant for the structure of N,N-dimethyl-4-nitroaniline (1). Topological analysis of the electron density distribution was used to explain a decreasing of the molecular hyperpolarisabilites of the ortho- and meta-substituted compounds as compared with those for 1.     

pTSA-catalyzed condensation of xylenols and aldehydes under solvent-free conditions: One-pot synthesis of 9H-xanthene or bisphenol derivatives

A simple and efficient procedure for the synthesis of 9H-xanthene or bisphenol derivatives has been developed by one-pot condensation of xylenols with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid (pTSA) as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions at 100 °C. It is noteworthy that the condensation reaction of 3,5-xylenol with aldehydes produces 9H-xanthene derivatives, while the reaction with other xylenols leads to the corresponding bisphenol derivatives. Different types of aromatic aldehydes are used in the reaction and in every case the products were obtained in good to excellent yields. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and CHN data.     

Induced-fit recognition by p-carboxylatocalix[4]arene hosts

Calix[4]arene derivatives bearing anionic carboxylato groups at the upper rim (p-carboxylatocalix[4]arenes) are able to ‘grab’ paraquat dicationic guest through an induced-fit mechanism, which originates from the conformational mobility of calixarene skeleton.     

Iodine(III)-mediated aromatic amidation vs olefin amidohydroxylation. The amide N-substituent makes the difference

A series of N-methoxy- and N-para-methoxyphenylacetamides simultaneously substituted at the α position by a benzyl and an allyl group have been treated with phenyliodine(III)bis(trifluoroacetate) to generate stabilized N-acylnitrenium intermediates. It has been observed that, when starting from N-methoxy substituted amides, such intermediates are intramolecularly trapped by nucleophilic arene rings to render the quinolinone skeleton. Alternatively, under the same reaction conditions, N-para-methoxyphenylamides afford pyrrolidinone derivatives through an olefin amidohydroxylation process.     

Characterization of 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene-silica bonded stationary phases and their comparison to selected commercial columns by using principal component analysis

Twelve calix[4]arene stationary phases in 1,3-alternate conformation, synthesized in the authors’ laboratory, were characterized in terms of their surface coverage, hydrophobic selectivity, aromatic selectivity, shape selectivity, hydrogen bonding capacity and ion-exchange capacity. The set of tests commonly used for evaluation of commercially available stationary phases was applied to assess fundamental chromatographic properties of the calixarene phases. The new calixarene phases were compared to each other, to Caltrex and LiChrosorb C-18 columns. Principal component analysis has been used to provide comparison between 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene phases and commercially available phenyl, fluorophenyl and fluoroalkyl columns.     

On study of sterically controlled regioselective lithiation of meta-halopyridocarboxamides derivatives

Sterically controlled regioselective lithiation of meta-halopyridocarboxamides derivatives using deuterated probes is described. A first experimental demonstration that the nitrogen is the main chelating-base approach site onto the oxazoline and N-alkoxyamide DMGs is reported.     

Coordination to copper(II) strongly enhances the in vitro antimicrobial activity of pyridine-derived N(4)-tolyl thiosemicarbazones

Five copper(II) complexes with N(4)-ortho, N(4)-meta and N(4)-para-tolyl thiosemicarbazones derived from 2-formyl and 2-acetylpyridine were obtained and thoroughly characterized. The crystal structure of N(4)-meta-tolyl-2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Ac4mT) was determined, as well as that of its copper(II) complex [Cu(2Ac4mT)Cl], which contains an anionic ligand and a chloride in the coordination sphere of the metal. The in vitro antimicrobial activities of all thiosemicarbazones and their copper(II) complexes were tested against Salmonella typhimurium and Candida albicans. Upon coordination a substantial decrease in the minimum inhibitory concentration, from 225 to 1478 μmol L⁻¹ for the thiosemicarbazones to 5–30 μmol L⁻¹ for the complexes was observe against the growth of Salmonella typhimurium and from 0.7–26 to 0.3–7 μmol L⁻¹ against the growth of C. albicans, suggesting that complexation to copper(II) could be an interesting strategy of dose reduction.     

Study of solvent and substituent effects on organic acids. Part III. Consistency of a thermodynamic and an electrostatic model with experimental results of ortho-benzoic acid derivatives

The experimental models of the transfer proton process of ortho-benzoic acid derivatives in DMSO-water solutions were used to check an electrostatic and a thermodynamic model.As in the case of the meta and para derivatives, the electrostatic model was found to be consistent with experimental results.     

Lithiation of 2-(chloroaryl)-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanes and application in synthesis of new ortho-functionalized acetophenone derivatives

2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane 2a was lithiated ortho to the ketal group by treatment with butyllithium in THF at 0°C. Related 2-aryl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanes possessing a chlorine substituent at the meta position of the aryl group 2b,c were lithiated with butyllithium in THF at −78°C at the position between the two directing groups. The lithio species thus generated were treated with various electrophiles to give ortho-functionalized acetophenone derivatives.     

Electrophilic aromatic fluorination with fluorine: meta-Directed fluorination of anilines

Anilines are mainly or selectively fluorinated in the meta-position with F₂ when dissolved in triflic acid, sometimes in the presence of small quantities of antimony pentafluoride. The regioselectivity is increased when an electron-donating substituent is present at the para-position.