Bis(4‐picoline‐κN)gold(I) dibromidoaurate(I) and bis(4‐picoline‐κN)gold(I) dichloridoaurate(I): space‐group ambiguity?

Bis(4‐picoline‐κN)gold(I) dibromidoaurate(I), [Au(C₆H₇N)₂][AuBr₂], (I), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n, with two half cations and one general anion in the asymmetric unit. The cations, located on centres of inversion, assemble to form chains parallel to the a axis, but there are no significant contacts between the cations. Cohesion is provided by flanking anions, which are connected to the cations by short Au...Au contacts and C—H...Br hydrogen bonds, and to each other by Br...Br contacts. The corresponding chloride derivative, [Au(C₆H₇N)₂][AuCl₂], (II), is isotypic. A previous structure determination of (II), reported in the space group P with very similar axis lengths to those of (I) [Lin et al. (2008). Inorg. Chem. 47 , 2543–2551], might be identical to the structure presented here, except that its γ angle of 88.79 (7)° seems to rule out a monoclinic cell. No phase transformation of (II) could be detected on the basis of data sets recorded at 100, 200 and 295 K.     

HBr or not HBr? That is the question: crystal structure of 6‐hydroxy‐1,4‐diazepane‐1,4‐diium dibromide redetermined

Liu et al. [Chin. J. Struct. Chem. (1996). 15 , 371–373] reported the structure of 6‐hydroxy‐1,4‐diazepane di(hydrogen bromide), C₅H₁₂N₂O·2HBr, which was interpreted in terms of neutral diazepane and HBr molecules. We found, however, ample evidence that the formation of an organic salt, consisting of a diammonium cation and two bromide anions, is more plausible. This interpretation is also in agreement with thermogravimetric analysis and with the observed solution behaviour. The crystal structure of 6‐hydroxy‐1,4‐diazepane‐1,4‐diium dibromide, C₅H₁₄N₂O²⁺·2Br^?, measured at 142 K, crystallized in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁. The structure displays O—H…Br and N—H…Br hydrogen bonding. Contact distances are given. A search in the Cambridge Structural Database for the singly‐bonded H—Br moiety revealed a total of 69 structures. The question, whether these structures really include HBr as neutral molecules or rather Br^? anions and a protonated substrate such as an amine, is addressed.     

A Straightforward Synthesis of 2‐[1‐Alkyl‐5,6‐bis(alkoxycarbonyl)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐2‐oxopyridin‐3‐yl]acetic Acid Derivatives via Domino Michael Addition?Cyclization Reaction

A new and efficient synthesis of 2‐[1‐alkyl‐5,6‐bis(alkoxycarbonyl)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐2‐oxopyridin‐3‐yl]acetic acid derivatives by a one‐pot three‐component reaction between primary amine, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate, and itaconic anhydride (=3,4‐dihydro‐3‐methylidenefuran‐2,5‐dione) is reported. The reaction was performed without catalyst and under solvent‐free conditions with excellent yields. Notably, the ready availability of the starting materials, and the high level of practicability of the reaction and workup make this approach an attractive complementary method to access to unknown 2‐[1‐alkyl‐5,6‐bis(alkoxycarbonyl)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐2‐oxopyridin‐3‐yl]acetic acid derivatives. The structures were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS) and by elemental analyses. A plausible mechanism for this type of domino Michael addition? cyclization reaction is proposed (Scheme 2).     

2‐Halogeno‐1,3,2‐diazaarsolenes and 2‐halogeno‐1,3,2‐diazastibolenes: Examples for spontaneous E?X bond heterolysis or not?

2‐X‐1,3,2‐diazaarsolenes and 2‐X‐1,3,2‐ stibolenes (X = Cl, Br) were prepared from appropriate α‐amino‐aldimine precursors via transamination with ClSb(NMe₂)₂ or via base‐induced dehydrohalogenation with EX₃ (E = As, Sb). The products were further converted into 2‐iodo‐derivatives via halide exchange with Me₃SiI, or into 1,3,2‐diazaarsolenium or 1,3,2‐stibolenium salts via halide abstraction using E′X₃ (E′ = Al, Ga, Sb) or Me₃SiOTf. All compounds synthesized were characterized by spectroscopic data and several of them by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. The results of these investigations confirmed that diazaarsolenium or stibolenium cations are stabilized by similar π‐delocalization effects as the corresponding diazaphospholenium cations. 2‐Halogeno‐1,3,2‐diazaarsolenes and 2‐halogeno‐132‐stibolenes are best addressed as molecular species whose covalent E X bonds are as in 2‐chloro‐diazaphospholenes weakened by intramolecular π(C₂N₂) → σ*(E X) and, in the case of the Sb‐containing heterocycles, inter‐ molecular n(X′) → σ*(E X) hyperconjugation between the σ* (E X) orbital and a lone‐pair of electrons on the halogen atom of a neighboring molecule. Correlation of structural and spectroscopic data and the evaluation of halide transfer reactions allowed to conclude that the extent of E X bond weakening in the 2‐X‐substituted heterocycles decreases and thus the Lewis acidity of the cations increases, with increasing atomic number of the pnicogen atom. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 16:327–338, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20098     

Microwave Accelerated Polymerization of 2‐Phenyl‐2‐oxazoline: Microwave or Temperature Effects?

Summary: Investigations regarding the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of 2‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline under microwave irradiation and conventional heating are reported. This study was inspired by contradictory reports of the (non‐)existence of non‐thermal microwave effects that might accelerate the cationic ring‐opening of 2‐oxazolines. The polymerization of 2‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline was investigated under pressure in acetonitrile and under reflux (or at the boiling point of butyronitrile in a closed vessel) in butyronitrile utilizing a single‐mode microwave reactor and automated synthesis robots with conventional heating.

     

The reactions of [Fe2(η-Cp)2(CNAr)4] complexes with halogens and tin(II) halides

Summary [Fe₂(-Cp)₂(CNAr)₄] (2) (540-01, C₆H₄Me-2, C₆H₄Et-2, C₆H₃Me₂-2,4, C₆H₃Me₂-2,6, C₆H₃(Me)Et-2,6, C₆H₃Et₂-2,6 or C₆H₃ i-Pr₂-2,6) react with I₂ to give [Fe(-Cp)(CNAr)₂I], but with Br₂[Fe(-Cp) (CNAr)₃]⁺ salts are the only products; IBr gives a mixture of the two. With SnX₂ (X = F, Cl, Br or I) in refluxing n-butanol, (2) gives isolable [{Fe(-Cp)(CNAr)₂}₂SnX₂] only when the CNAr ligands have two ortho substituents, otherwise decomposition occurred. When X = F, [Fe(-Cp) (CNAr)₂SnF₃] was also obtained from this reaction. Attempts to prepare [Fe(-Cp)(CNAr)₂X] (X = Cl or Br) by reaction of (2) with HX in the presence of air gave rather unstable products which with SnX₂ formed [Fe(-C₅H₅)-(CNAr)₂SnX₃]. Similar compounds, [Fe(-Cp) (CNAr)₂ SnX₂I], were obtained from [Fe(-Cp)-(CNAr)₂I] and SnX₂ (X = Cl or Br but not I). All of these complexes are much less stable than their Fe(-Cp)(CO)₂ counterparts; all decompose in solution to [Fe(-Cp)(CNAr)₃]⁺ which then break down to unidentified species. X-ray diffraction studies show that in [Fe(-Cp)(CNC₆H₃-i-Pr₂-2,6)₂I] and [{Fe(-Cp)(CNC₆H₃Me₂-2,6)₂}₂SnBr₂] there is pseudo-octahedral coordination about Fe. In the latter there is also distorted tetrahedral coordination about Sn so that its structure is very similar to that of [{Fe(-Cp)(CO)₂}₂SnCl₂]. Spectroscopic studies show that in all complexes rotation of the aryl rings of the CNAr ligands cannot be slowed in solution, and that there is free rotation about all 540-02 bonds.     

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed ortho Alkenylation of N‐Phenoxyacetamides with N‐Tosylhydrazones or Diazoesters through C?H Activation

A coupling reaction of N‐phenoxyacetamides with N‐tosylhydrazones or diazoesters through Rh^III‐catalyzed C H activation is reported. In this reaction, ortho‐alkenyl phenols were obtained in good yields and with excellent regio‐ and stereoselectivity. Rh–carbene migratory insertion is proposed as the key step in the reaction mechanism.     

Why are reactions of 2‐ and 8‐thioquinoline derivatives with iodine different?

The crystal structures of 1,2‐dihydro‐1,1′‐bi[thiazolo[3,2‐a]quinoline]‐10a,10a′‐diium diiodide hemihydrate, C₂₂H₁₆N₂S₂²⁺·2I⁻·0.5H₂O, and 1,2‐dihydro‐1,1′‐bi[thiazolo[3,2‐a]quinoline]‐10a,10a′‐diium iodide triiodide, C₂₂H₁₆N₂S₂²⁺·I⁻·I₃⁻, obtained during the reaction of 1,4‐bis(quinolin‐2‐ylsulfanyl)but‐2‐yne (2TQB) with iodine, have been determined at 120 K. The crystalline products contain the dication as a result of the reaction proceeding along the iodocyclization pathway. This is fundamentally different from the previously observed reaction of 1,4‐bis(quinolin‐8‐ylsulfanyl)but‐2‐yne (8TQB) with iodine under similar conditions. A comparative analysis of the possible conformational states indicates differences in the relative stabilities and free rotation for the 2‐ and 8‐thioquinoline derivatives which lead to a disparity in the convergence of the potential reaction centres for 2TQB and 8TQB.     

Temperature‐Dependent Product Selectivity in the Vilsmeier?Haack Reaction on Bis(phenylhydrazones) of Bis(aroylmethyl) Sulfides (=1,1′‐[Thiobis(methylene)]bis[arylmethanone] Bis(2‐phenylhydrazones)): Synthesis of 3‐Aroylindoles (=Aryl(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)methanones)

The bis(phenylhydrazone) of substituted diphenacyl sulfides (=1,1′‐[thiobis(methylene)]bis[arylmethanone] bis(2‐phenylhydrazones)) 1 underwent a tandem sequence of reactions upon treatment with Vilsmeier reagent, ultimately yielding 3‐aroylindoles (=aryl(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)methanones) 3 (Scheme 1 and Table 1). The reaction seems to be product selective depending upon the reaction temperature.