Bromophilic substitution/carbophilic substitution cascade reactions of α,α-dibromo-2-methoxyacetophenone with C-, N- and O-nucleophiles

α,α-Dibromo-2-methoxyacetophenone reacts, under mild reaction conditions, with C-, N- and O-nucleophiles via a bromophilic substitution/protonation/carbophilic substitution cascade process to afford α-monosubstituted-2-methoxyacetophenones in moderate to good yield. The only exception from this reaction pathway is the reaction with the anion derived from malononitrile in which 2-aroyl-1,1,3,3-tetracyanopropene is obtained.     

Synthesis of 2-(N-arylimino-κN-methyl)pyrrolide-κN complexes of nickel

2-(N-aryliminomethyl)pyrrole precursors (2,6-R₂-C₆H₃-NCH-2-C₄H₃NH) (R = Me, IH; R = ⁱPr, IIH) were prepared and transformed into their corresponding sodium salts (Na⁺I⁻ and Na⁺II⁻) by treatment with NaH. Both salts readily react with [NiBr₂(DME)] (DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) to give the respective bis{2-(N-arylimino-κN-methyl)pyrrolide-κN}nickel(II) complexes (1, 2) in almost quantitative yields. The oxidative addition of IH to [Ni(COD)₂] (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) results in the formation of 3, which is a mono(iminomethylpyrrolide)-η³-(cyclic-allyl)-type organonickel(II) complex. The crystal structure of compound 1 has been established by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Oxidative ring opening of 3-hydroxyquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones into N-(α-ketoacyl)anthranilic acids

N-(α-Ketoacyl)anthranilic acids were prepared by oxidative ring opening of 3-hydroxyquinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones by using paraperiodic acid (H₅IO₆) or sodium periodate (NaIO₄). The optimisation of the reaction conditions is described as well as the utilisation of N-(α-ketoacyl)anthranilic acids in the preparation of anthranilic acid hydrochlorides.     

Trading N and O. Part 4: Asymmetric synthesis of syn-β-substituted-α-amino acids

A total of nine enantiopure syn-β-substituted-α-amino acids have been synthesised, comprising both syn-β-hydroxy-α-amino acids and syn-β-fluoro-α-amino acids. The key step in the synthetic strategy towards these syn-β-substituted-α-amino acids involves a stereospecific rearrangement, which proceeds via the intermediacy of the corresponding aziridinium ions. The requisite enantiopure syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters were prepared via asymmetric aminohydroxylation of the corresponding α,β-unsaturated esters followed by epimerisation of the resultant anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters at the C(2)-position. Subsequent activation of the α-hydroxy moiety as a leaving group followed by displacement by the β-amino substituent gave the corresponding aziridinium species. Regioselective in situ ring-opening of the aziridinium intermediates with either water or fluoride gave the corresponding syn-β-hydroxy-α-amino ester or syn-β-fluoro-α-amino ester, respectively, and N-deprotection and ester hydrolysis afforded the target syn-β-substituted-α-amino acids as single diastereoisomers in good overall yield.     

Asymmetric Michael addition of α-cyano acetates to (E)-1,4-diaryl-2-buten-1,4-diones

An organocatalyzed asymmetric Michael addition of α-cyano acetates to (E)-1,4-diaryl-2-buten-1,4-diones was realized. The reactions afforded various enantioenriched α,α-disubstituted α-cyano acetates with good yields (up to 99%), moderate to good diastereoselectivities (up to 13.3:1) and moderate to good enantioselectivities (up to 94% ee). Furthermore, one of the products was subjected to Paal–Knorr cyclization to provide an α-furanyl-α,α-disubstituted α-cyano acetate in good yield with moderate enantioselectivity. Thus an indirect asymmetric α-heteroarylation of α-cyano acetates has been well established.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine

An efficient and short synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine 1a-b is described using Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and regioselective nucleophilic opening of a cyclic sulfite as the key steps.     

Synthesis of cis- and trans-(±)-3-mercaptoproline and pipecolic acid derivatives via thio-Michael addition

The reactivity of 2,3-dehydroproline and 2,3-dehydropipecolic acid methyl ester derivatives with S-nucleophiles in the thio-Michael addition reaction has been explored. The addition of triphenylmethanethiol and subsequent trityl cleavage led to the corresponding cis- and trans-(±)-3-mercaptoproline and pipecolic acid derivatives in good yields.     

In vitro and in vivo studies of N,N′-bis[2(2-pyridyl)-methyl]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide–copper(II) and rheumatoid arthritis

The thermodynamic equilibria of copper(II), zinc(II) and calcium(II) with N,N′-bis[2(2-pyridyl)-methyl]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide (L1) have been studied at 25 °C and an ionic strength of 0.15 mol dm⁻³. Spectroscopic studies suggest metal ion complexation promotes deprotonation and coordination of the amide nitrogens resulting in overall tetragonal coordination of Cu²⁺. Blood–plasma modelling predicts that Cu(II) competes effectively against Zn(II) and Ca(II) for L1 in vivo. Octanol–water partition coefficient studies show that Cu(II)–L1 complexes are reasonably lipophilic. However, the CuL1H₋₂ species which predominates at the physiological pH of 7.4 has poor superoxide dismutase activity. Bio-distribution experiments showed activity accumulation and retention in the body of about 50% of the injected dose for the [⁶⁴Cu]Cu(II)–L1 complex after 24 h.     

Flavonol 3-O-robinobiosides and 3-O-(2″-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl)-robinobiosides from Sesuvium portulacastrum

Six new flavonol 3-O-robinobiosides and 3-O-(2″-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl)-robinobiosides, sesuviosides A-F, were isolated from the aerial portion of Sesuvium portulacastrum together with ecdysterone, adenosine, 2′-O-methyladenosine, and l-tryptophan. The structure elucidations were based on analyses of chemical and spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D-NMR. Sesuviosides A-F and their aglycones exhibited radical scavenging activity using DPPH and ORAC assays.     

Total synthesis of (6Z,9S)-3,4-trans-9-hydroxy-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide and (6Z)-3,4-trans-9-oxo-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide γ-butyrolactones

The first total synthesis of (6Z,9S)-3,4-trans-9-hydroxy-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide and (6Z)-3,4-trans-9-oxo-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide was achieved in a convergent pathway. The salient features of our synthesis include Ohira–Bestmann reaction, regioselective alkyne addition to terminal epoxide, TEMPO/BAIB mediated oxidative lactonization, and partial hydrogenation.     

Host compounds (+)-(2R,3R)-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,2,3,4-tetraol (TETROL) and (2R,3R)-(−)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,4-diol (DMT) with guests o-, m- and p- toluidine: A comparative investigation

In this work, we have compared the host abilities of closely related compounds (+)-(2R,3R)-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,2,3,4-tetraol (TETROL) and (2R,3R)-(?)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,4-diol (DMT) when these were recrystallized from single and mixed toluidine guests. Significant differences in host behaviour and selectivities were revealed and these were explained by means of single crystal diffraction experiments. Thermal analyses were used to determine the relative complex stabilities, and these data correlated exactly with the host selectivity orders for both TETROL and DMT.     

Synthesis and reactivity towards carbon monoxide of an optically active endo five-membered ortho-cyclopalladated imine: X-ray molecular structure of trans-(μ-Cl)2[Pd(κ-C,N-(R)-C6H4-CHN-CHMe-Ph)]2

(R)-1-Phenylethyl-benzylidene-amine (1) reacted with Pd(OAc)₂ in acetic acid at 60 °C under nitrogen affording the acetato-bridged dinuclear endo five-membered ortho-cyclopalladated compound (μ-OAc)₂[Pd(κ²-C,N-(R)-C₆H₄-CHN-CHMe-Ph)]₂ (2) in 65% yield. Compound 2 was converted by a metathesis reaction with LiCl into the corresponding chloro-bridged dinuclear cyclopalladated compound (μ-Cl)₂[Pd(κ²-C,N-(R)-C₆H₄-CHN-CHMe-Ph)]₂ (3). ¹H NMR of CDCl₃ solutions of compounds 2 and 3 treated separately with py-d₅, (R)-1-phenylethylamine and racemic 1-phenylethylamine were consistent with the endo cyclopalladated structure and the R absolute configuration of the chiral carbon atoms of compounds 2 and 3. Compounds 2 and 3 reacted with carbon monoxide in methanol affording, as major compounds, methyl 2-formylbenzoate (91% chemical yield) and the epimers of 3-methoxy-2-[(R)-1-phenylethyl]isoindolin-1-one (64% chemical yield) in ca. 20% diastereomeric excess, respectively. The trans isomer of compound 3 crystallized in the P2₁ monoclinic space group with a = 10.430(4) Å, b = 12.082(8) Å, c = 11.168(4) Å and β = 95.20(3)° and presented C-H?Cl intramolecular and C-H?Pd intermolecular non-conventional hydrogen bonds.     

Total synthesis of two γ-butyrolactone containing compounds (Z,11S)-3,4-trans-11-hydroxy-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide and (Z)-3,4-trans-11-oxo-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide

The first total synthesis of (Z,11S)-3,4-trans-11-hydroxy-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide and (Z)-3,4-trans-11-oxo-3-methyldodec-cis-6-en-4-olide was accomplished using Jacobsen hydrolytic kinetic resolution, Ohira–Bestmann reaction, regioselective alkyne addition to terminal carbon atom of epoxide, intramolecular TEMPO/BAIB mediated oxidative lactonization and partial hydrogenation as the key steps.     

Synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-α,β-difluorourocanic acid

Horner-Emmons fluoroolefination of an aryl aldehyde followed by introduction of a second fluorine via “FBr” addition provides an original approach to the preparation of 1-alkyl-2-aryl-1,2-difluoroethenes. The utility of this procedure is demonstrated by the preparation of (E and Z)-α,β-difluorourocanic acid.     

Synthesis of β-chloro α-amino acids: (2S,3R)- and (2S,3S)-3-chloroleucine

The first syntheses of (2S,3R)- and (2S,3S)-3-chloroleucine (3-chloro-d-leucines 1 and 2) have been achieved from d-3-hydroxyleucine and allo-d-3-hydroxyleucine, respectively, through the formation of the corresponding N-Cbz β-lactones, followed by a ring opening promoted by lithium chloride and a debenzylation process.     

Lead(II) and cadmium(II) complexes of 3-(2-pyridyl)-5,6-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazine-p,p′-disulfonate with high thermal stability

Pb(II) and Cd(II) complexes, {[Pb₂(PDTS)₂(CH₃OH)((H₂O)₂]? H₂O} _n (1) and [Cd(PDTS)(H₂O)₄]? 2H₂O (2) (PDTS^2? = 3-(2-pyridyl)-5,6-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazine-p,p′-disulfonate), are synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared (IR), ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. The single-crystal structure of 1 shows that the complex forms a 2-D polymeric network containing two types of Pb²⁺ with coordination number eight (PbN₂O₆). Both possess hemidirected coordination geometries. The single-crystal structure of 2 shows distorted octahedral geometry for cadmium(II), CdN₂O₄. These compounds are the first complexes of “PDTS^2?”. The supramolecular features in these complexes are guided/controlled by hydrogen bonding and noncovalent intermolecular interactions.     

Facile synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams via thermal β-elimination of trans-3-allyl-3-sulfinyl-β-lactams

A competent synthetic route for the synthesis of novel (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams is described. The strategy involves oxidation of trans-3-allyl-3-phenylthio-β-lactams 1 using sodium metaperiodate (NaIO₄) to diastereomeric trans-3-allyl-3-phenylsulfinyl-β-lactams 2 and 3, which further undergo thermal β-elimination in refluxing carbon tetrachloride to furnish (Z)- and (E)-3-allylidene-β-lactams 5 and 6 in good to excellent yields. The molecular structure of 3b has been established with the help of single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Electrogeneration of (Z)-α-aroyloxy-β-aroylthiostilbenes and (Z)-4,5-diaryl-2-arylimino-1,3-oxathioles by cathodic reduction of monothiobenzils in the presence of electrophilic reagents. Computational B3LYP and RI-MP2 study on the relative stability of oxathiole compounds

Electrochemical reductions of monothiobenzils in the presence of either aroyl or carbonimidoyl dichlorides were carried out, yielding products with sulfur retention. Electrolyses in the presence of aroyl chlorides led to previously unknown (Z)-α-aroyloxy-β-aroylthiostilbenes in high to quantitative yields, whereas reactions in the presence of arylcarbonimidoyl dichlorides provided novel 4,5-diaryl-2-arylimino-1,3-oxathioles in fair to high yields. The molecular structures of (Z)-α-benzoyloxy-β-benzoylthio-4,4′-dimethylstilbene and (Z)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenylimino)-4,5-diphenyl-1,3-oxathiole were determined by X-ray crystallography. Also, ab initio HF, density functional B3LYP, and Møller-Plesset RI-MP2 procedures were applied to oxathiole compounds revealing that (Z)-isomers are more stable than (E)-isomers and that both isomers are separated by a relatively low activation barrier.     

Aminolithiation–arylation consecutive cyclization of N-(2-fluorophenyl)methylaminoalkylstyryls giving aryl-substituted pyrido[1,2-b]isoquinolines

Aminolithiation–arylation tandem cyclization of N-(2-fluorophenyl)methylaminoalkylstyryls proceeded smoothly to give hexahydro-2H-pyrido[1,2-b]isoquinoline using a stoichiometric amount of n-BuLi with high trans selectivity. The arylation reaction was highly accelerated by the addition of HMPA. Both pyrido- and pyrrolo-[1,2-b]isoquinoline were successfully constructed by this tandem reaction.