Formamidines as α-amino carbanion precursors. The synthesis of 2-arylpiperidines, -pyrrolidines,and nicotine analogs

Metallation of the $\text{t}$-butyl formamidines of benzyl or picolinyl amines followed by alkylation with α,ω -dihaloalkanes gives the title compounds after hydrazinolysis.     

Synthesis and application of palladium stearates as precursors for the preparation of palladium nanoparticles

This report successfully demonstrates the synthesis and application of palladium stearates. It was found that the branching of the carboxylate anion of metal precursors could influence the size and shape of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs). Worm‐like nanowires were formed when using the branched isomer palladium isostearate (PdISt₂), while triangular nanoparticles were produced in a majority when using the normal form: palladium stearate (PdSt₂). Furthermore, when applying CO₂ to the system, both types of PdNPs transformed into more spherical shapes with smaller sizes. The formation of carbamates from the amine stabilizer with CO₂ could prevent the further growth and aggregation of PdNPs. The PdNPs were tested as catalysts for the hydrogenation of styrene, and higher catalytic activities were achieved with PdNPs that were prepared with the assistance of CO₂. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polymer-supported triazenes as smart reagents for the alkylation of carboxylic acids

Starting from polystyrene, a simple four-step synthesis of polymer-supported alkyltriazenes (alkyl=Me, Et, benzyl) is described. With this synthesis, a loading capacity of 2.2 mmol g(-1) can be reached. The most prominent application of these polymer-supported reagents is the rapid, highly selective and high-yielding esterification of carboxylic acids, which involves a simple "mix and filter off" procedure at room temperature. If stored in a refrigerator, these reagents are stable for many months and they can be recycled several times.     

Optimizing the preparation of an alumina-supported rhenium catalyst for olefin metathesis

The processes involved in the formation of the alumina-supported rhenium catalyst for olefin metathesis, from the impregnation of the support (thermally activated alumina) with ammonium perrhenate to thermal activation, are studied. The monolayer coverage of the Al₂O₃ surface is observed at a rhenium content of 10 wt % (on Re₂O₇ basis), and the surplus rhenium is sublimed as heptoxide from the support upon thermal activation. In the metathesis of both linear α-olefins and methylenecyclobutanes, the optimum supported rhenium content of the catalyst is 10 wt % on Re₂O₇ basis.     

Doubly activated cyclopropanes as synthetic precursors for the preparation of 4-nitro- and 4-cyano-dihydropyrroles and pyrroles

[reaction: see text] 1-Nitro- and 1-cyano-cyclopropyl ketones have been prepared in an expedient manner from cyclopropanation reactions of alkenes by diazo compounds or in situ-generated phenyliodonium ylides catalyzed by Rh(II) carboxylates. The doubly activated cyclopropanes were used as synthetic precursors for the regiospecific synthesis of 4-nitro- and 4-cyano-dihydropyrroles upon treatment with primary amines. Oxidation of the dihydropyrroles with DDQ allows rapid access to densely functionalized pyrroles.     

Heterometal alkoxides as precursors for the preparation of porous Fe- and Mn-TiO2 photocatalysts with high efficiencies

Transition-metal-doped titanium glycolates (M-TG, with M=Fe, Mn), which are the first non-stoichiometric heterometal alkoxides, have been synthesised through a solvothermal doping approach. X-ray diffraction, UV/Vis diffuse reflectance and ESR spectroscopy revealed that the dopant ion (Fe(3+) or Mn(2+)) is substituted for Ti(4+) in the TG lattice. Fe(3+) prolongs the crystallisation time of Fe-TG, whereas Mn(2+) has a smaller effect on the crystallisation time in comparison with Fe(3+). The as-synthesised M-TG materials were used directly as single-source precursors for the preparation of metal-doped titania (M-TiO(2)) through a simple thermal treatment process. The as-prepared M-TiO(2) materials maintain the rod-like morphology of the precursors and possess a mesoporous structure with high crystallinity. It has been proved that the dopant ions are incorporated into the TiO(2) lattice at the Ti(4+) positions. The photocatalytic activities of the M-TiO(2) materials obtained were evaluated by testing the degradation of phenol under UV irradiation. From the photocatalytic results, it was concluded that high crystallinity, a large surface area and appropriate transition-metal-doping are all beneficial to the enhancement of the photocatalytic performance of the doped TiO(2) material. In addition, it was noted that in comparison with Mn-TiO(2), Fe-TiO(2) shows higher photocatalytic activity due to the better inhibition effect of Fe(3+) on recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. In contrast to the conventional nanosized TiO(2) photocatalyst, the micrometre-sized M-TiO(2) particles we obtained can be easily separated and recovered after the photocatalytic reactions.     

N-acyl triazenes as tunable and selective chemodosimeters toward cyanide ion

A novel type of chemodosimeters has been developed on the basis of a displacement reaction. N-Acyl-triazenes are found to be highly selective and tunable chemodosimeters toward cyanide. When N-acetyl-triazene 1a was titrated with various anions (-CN, F-, Cl-, AcO-, H2PO4-, -SCN, ClO4-, and HSO4-) in acetonitrile, significant absorption changes (from colorless to deep purple) resulted in the cases of -CN and F-, and small changes in the cases of AcO- and H2PO4-. N-Isopropanoyl-triazene 1b showed significant response only toward -CN, weaker response toward F-, and little response toward other anions in acetonitrile. Both of the triazenes 1a and 1b responded only to -CN in methanol-water, because of the analyte's strong nucleophilicity toward the acyl group and weak hydrogen-bonding ability as compared to other anions examined. The N-acyl-triazenes can be used for the naked eye detection of cyanide.     

Synthesis and characterization of single-source molecular precursors for the preparation of metal chalcogenides

Metal chalcogenides constitute an important family of functional materials. Subtle changes in shape, size and phase of these materials result in variations in physical properties (e.g. electronic and optical), which can be exploited for various technological applications. Several strategies have evolved recently for controlling shape, size and phase of these materials. This work discusses design and synthesis of single-source molecular precursors for the preparation of metal chalcogenides both in bulk and nano-size regime. Precursors for palladium chalcogenides, indium sulphides andII–VI materials are presented. Synthesis of a variety of palladium(II)/platinum(II) complexes with internally functionalised chalcogenolate ligands, selenocarboxylates; gallium and indium dithiolate complexes and zinc/cadmium/ mercury complexes with N,N′-dimethylaminoalkylselenolate ligands and their characterization by NMR and X-ray crystallography are also discussed. Data on thermal behaviour of a few representative complexes, [Pd(SeCOAr)₂(PR₃)₂], [PdCl(E∩N)(PR₃)], [InMe₂(S∩S)], [In(S∩S)₃] and [M(E(CH₂)_nNMe₂)₂] (M = Zn, Cd, Hg;n = 2 or 3) are presented.     

Nitroalkanes and ethyl glyoxalate as common precursors for the preparation of both β-keto esters and α,β-unsaturated esters

β-Nitro acrylic esters, obtained by the reaction of nitroalkanes and ethyl glyoxalate, are the key building blocks for the immediate synthesis of both the title compounds. In fact, their treatment with titanium trichloride produce the direct conversion to the β-keto esters, while their reaction with sodium boron hydride gives the one-pot synthesis of α,β-unsaturated esters through formal substitution of the vinylic nitro group with an hydrogen.     

The one-pot halomethylation of 5-substituted salicylaldehydes as convenient precursors for the preparation of heteroditopic ligands for the binding of metal salts

The one-pot bromo- and chloro-methylation of various 5-substituted salicylaldehydes with paraformaldehyde and hydrobromic or hydrochloric acid has been achieved. This approach establishes a convenient and flexible method to attach functional arms to salicylaldehydes for further applications in organic and coordination chemistry. Examples are described using 3-bromomethyl-5-t-butylsalicylaldehyde in the synthesis of piperazine-containing heteroditopic ligands as receptors for metal salts.     

Solid supported fluoronitroaryl triazenes as immobilized and convertible Sanger reagents--synthesis and SNAr reactions towards a novel preparation of 1-alkyl-5-nitro-1H-benzotriazoles

Synthesis of novel fluoronitroaryl triazenes in liquid phase and on solid support have been described; mild displacement of the fluoride ion with various nucleophiles provides access to substituted arenes which in turn can be cleaved to provide a unique access to 1-alkyl-5-nitro-1H-benzotriazole.     

Synthesis of multidentate ligands with amido or amino donor groups for the preparation of rhenium and technetium radiopharmaceuticals

A new method to prepare novel semi-rigid multidentate ligands containing nitrogen atom, to coordinate with rhenium and technetium, was established. The method was based on formylation of substituted anilines, followed by Mannich reaction with glycine and paraformaldehyde. The method was very promising to design ligands of various molecular structures (L₁–L₅) to coordinate with rhenium metal ions. The complexes were prepared through ligand exchange with the complex ReOCl₃(PPh₃)₂, giving new complex of the structure ReOCl₃L_(1–5). The prepared ligands and complexes were identified by the use of UV–vis, and infrared absorption spectrometric techniques, elemental analysis, molecular weight determination by depression of freezing point. These ligands were labeled with ^99mTc pertechnetate, and the labeling efficiency of the complexes was measured using a well type scintillation gamma counter equipment and obtained a good yield.     

Synthesis of saccharide precursors for preparation of potential inhibitors of glycosyltranferases

Ethyl 6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-3,4-di-O-acetyl-2-thio-α-D-fructofuranoside (Va), its β-analog (Vb); as well as benzyl 6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-3,4-di-O-acetyl-2-thio-α-D-fructofuranoside (Xa) and its β-analog (Xb), having an unprotected OH group at C-1, were prepared by sequential synthesis starting from commercially available D-fructose. These compounds represent suitable nucleophiles for the preparation of model carbohydrate mimetics of a glycosyltransferase inhibitor type in transition state. The structures of all compounds were confirmed by NMR spectral data and elemental analyses.     

Protected homocysteine peptides as precursors of labelled methionine peptides. Application in preparation of methionine-enkephalin

A synthetic scheme from N-benzyloxycarbonyl S-benzyl homocysteine peptide benzyl ester, assembled using well-established procedures in solution and purified, to the corresponding free methionine peptide, has been explored preparatively. Deprotection by sodium in liquid ammonia followed by alkylation on sulfur with methyl iodide gave, after purification by semipreparative HPLC, in the case of methionine-enkephalin a pure product in high yield. No evidence from side-reactions on tyrosine could be detected by HPLC. The scheme was primarily designed to be adaptable to the preparation of 11C-labelled methionine-enkephalin and, in particular, to exploit 11C-methyl iodide, now in routine production in our laboratory, in peptide synthesis, thus providing access to 11C-labelled enkephalins with high specific radioactivity for in vivo experiments. Applying 2H-, 3H-, 13C- or 14C-methyl iodide instead, however, this approach should be equally useful for the preparation of the corresponding peptides. Provided overalkylation by methyl iodide and fatal splitting of peptide bonds by the sodium/ammonia reagent can be avoided, the scheme should be applicable also to the synthesis of other methionine-containing peptides.     

Sulfur-containing palladacycles as catalyst precursors for the Heck reaction

[formula: see text] The air, water, and highly thermally stable sulfur-containing palladacycles, mainly derived from the ortho-palladation of benzylic thioethers, are exceptional catalyst precursors for the Heck reaction. The reaction can be performed with aryl lodides, bromides, and chlorides, with acrylic esters and styrene, leading to turnover numbers up to 1,850,000.