Synthesis of symmetric anhydrides using visible light-mediated photoredox catalysis

A new approach to anhydride formation is reported via activation of C-O bonds by the Vilsmeier-Haack reagent formed by Ru(bpy)(3)Cl(2) and CBr(4) in DMF. Various aryl and alkyl carboxylic acids are converted to the corresponding anhydrides in excellent yields.     

Model reactions of functionalization of polycarbonate. Reactions of phenyl chloroformate with nucleophiles and cationic polymerization behavior of bicyclo orthoesters containing carbonate group

Some model experiments for functionalization of a polycarbonate were carried out. At first, reactivity of phenyl chloroformate with a few nucleophiles was examined. Reaction with alkyl amines gave corresponding carbamates, but in the case of aniline, formation of a byproduct diarylurea was observed. Reactions with alcohols and phenols afforded carbonates in moderate yields, in which p-nitrophenol and isopropyl alcohol were less reactive. On the basis of these results, 1-ethyl-4-phenoxycarboxymethyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (2) and 1-ethyl-4-ethoxycarboxymethyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (3) were prepared by the reaction of phenyl and ethyl chloroformates with 1-ethyl-4-hydroxymethyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane in the presence of tert-amine. 2 polymerized cationically with BF₃OEt₂ at more than 80°C to give a polyether containing both ester and carbonate groups in the side chain, with contamination of a gelled polymer.     

Photodissociation studies of CBr(4) (+) and CBr(3) (+) at 267 nm using ion velocity imaging

Time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectroscopy and ion velocity imaging were employed to study the formation and photodissociation of CBr(4) (+) and CBr(3) (+) ions that were observed in the TOF spectrum when a CBr(4) beam was irradiated with 118 nm and 355 nm lasers. Energy dependence measurements show that both CBr(4) (+) and CBr(3) (+) ions depend on the fourth power of the 355 nm laser energy, which indicates that direct ionization and dissociative ionization of CBr(4) have low probabilities from the state initially excited at 118 nm. This is likely due to the large geometry change in the CBr(4) (+) ion. Two ionic fragments Br(+) and CBr(2) (+) were observed from the dissociation of CBr(4) (+) and CBr(3) (+) ions when another laser at 267 nm was introduced to the interaction region at a delayed time. The possible dissociation pathways and the angular and translational distributions are discussed in the paper.     

Regioselective monobromination of substituted phenols in the presence of β-cyclodextrin

Cyclodextrin acts as a restricting nanovessel to enhance regioselectivity in bromination of substituted phenols such as 3-nitrophenol, 2-chlorophenol, 3-chlorophenol, and 4-chlorophenol. In contrast to solution bromination, cyclodextrin facilitates regioselective monobromination and formation of polybrominated products are substantially reduced. Selectivities in brominations are also observed in water and in the solid state. The observed results are rationalized on the basis of specific modes of inclusion of substituted phenols inside the cyclodextrin cavity and find strong support from energy minimization studies and ¹H-¹H NOESY.     

Nuclear Versus Side-Chain Bromination of 4-Methoxy Toluene by an Electrochemical Method

The electrochemical bromination of 4-methoxy toluene by two-phase electrolysis yields 3-bromo 4-methoxy toluene at first, which subsequently undergoes side-chain bromination to give 3-bromo 4-methoxy benzyl bromide as a final product in 86% yield. The two-phase electrolysis consists of 25–50% NaBr as aqueous electrolyte and CHCl₃ containing aromatic compound as organic phase. The reaction temperature is maintained at 10–25 °C. The probable orientation of bromine atom in an alkyl aromatic compound (nuclear versus side chain) is explained from the experimental result.     

Theoretical study of two-photon absorption in donor-acceptor chromophores tetraalkylammonium halide/carbon tetrabromide

Two-photon absorption properties of a series of donor-acceptor chromophores of tetraalkylammonium halide/carbon tetrabromide ([NR4h.CBr4], h = Cl, Br, I; R = Me, Et, Pr) complexes are investigated in terms of the calculated results by the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) technique combined with the sum-over-states (SOS) method. The modeling two-photon absorption spectra show that these charge-transfer complexes have large two-photon absorption (TPA) cross sections and the [NEt4I.CBr4] has the largest TPA cross section delta with the value of 5.0 x 10(-45) cm4 s photon(-1). The maximum values of delta increase with increasing separations between the donor/acceptor in the order Cl...Br < Br...Br < I...Br for [NEt4h.CBr4] complexes; however, the TPA cross sections delta vary slightly as the size of the alkyl group increases from methyl to propyl for the bromide as a donor, and the maximum wavelength of the TPA peak lambdamax indicates a bathochromic shift. The charge transfers from the halide anion to the carbon tetrabromide make a significant contribution to the excited states, and the donor-acceptor charge transfer plays an important role in the TPA activity, whereas changes in size of alkyl group do not make a substantial contribution to TPA.     

Bromination of aromatic molecules with polymer supported reagents

Crosslinked co-poly/styrene-4-vinyl(N-hexylpyridinium bromide) was converted with bromine or chlorine to insoluble polymer supported complexes or respectively, and their reactivity studied in reactions with various aromatic molecules. Reagent was found in all cases to be milder than reagent and regiospecifically transformed alkoxy and amino substituted benzenes ( ) into 4-bromo derivatives, while corresponding reactions with resulted in dibromo derivatives. Several benzoheterocyclic molecules were converted with to substitution or addition products, i.e. 2,3-dibromo-N-methylpyrrole, 3-bromobenzo/b/thiophene, and 2,3-dibromo-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran. In the series of ortho-alkyl disubstituted benzene derivatives, i.e. o-xylene, indane, and tetraline, where the Mills-Nixon effect was established with various electrophilic reagents, bromination reactions with showed higher β-selectivity than the corresponding reactions with bromine. The rate of bromination in various alkyl substituted benzenes with reagent depended on the magnitude of the alkyl group, as well as the para/ortho regioselectivity, amounting to 100% in the case of tert-butylbenzene.     

Reactions of singly-reduced ethylene carbonate in lithium battery electrolytes: a molecular dynamics simulation study using the ReaxFF

We have conducted quantum chemistry calculations and gas- and solution-phase reactive molecular dynamics simulation studies of reactions involving the ethylene carbonate (EC) radical anion EC(-) using the reactive force field ReaxFF. Our studies reveal that the substantial barrier for transition from the closed (cyclic) form, denoted c-EC(-), of the radical anion to the linear (open) form, denoted o-EC(-), results in a relatively long lifetime of the c-EC(-) allowing this compound to react with other singly reduced alkyl carbonates. Using ReaxFF, we systematically investigate the fate of both c-EC(-) and o-EC(-) in the gas phase and EC solution. In the gas phase and EC solutions with a relatively low concentration of Li(+)/x-EC(-) (where x = o or c), radical termination reactions between radical pairs to form either dilithium butylene dicarbonate (CH(2)CH(2)OCO(2)Li)(2) (by reacting two Li(+)/o-EC(-)) or ester-carbonate compound (by reacting Li(+)/o-EC(-) with Li(+)/c-EC(-)) are observed. At higher concentrations of Li(+)/x-EC(-) in solution, we observe the formation of diradicals which subsequently lead to formation of longer alkyl carbonates oligomers through reaction with other radicals or, in some cases, formation of (CH(2)OCO(2)Li)(2) through elimination of C(2)H(4). We conclude that the local ionic concentration is important in determining the fate of x-EC(-) and that the reaction of c-EC(-) with o-EC(-) may compete with the formation of various alkyl carbonates from o-EC(-)/o-EC(-) reactions.     

Characterization of lithium alkyl carbonates by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy: experimental and theoretical study

Lithium alkyl carbonates ROCO2Li result from the reductive decomposition of dialkyl carbonates, which are the organic solvents used in the electrolytes of common lithium-ion batteries. They play a crucial role in the formation of surface layers at the electrode/electrolyte interfaces. In this work, we report on the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization of synthesized lithium methyl and ethyl carbonates. Using Hartree-Fock ab initio calculations, we interpret and simulate the valence spectra of both samples, as well as several other Li alkyl carbonates involved in Li-ion batteries. We show that Li alkyl carbonates can be identified at the electrode's surface by a combined analysis of XPS core peaks and valence spectra.     

The selective reaction of aryl halides with KOH: synthesis of phenols, aromatic ethers, and benzofurans

The direct and selective synthesis of phenols from aryl/heteroaryl halides and KOH has been achieved through the use of highly active monophosphine-based catalysts derived from Pd(2)dba(3) and ligands L1 or L2 and the biphasic solvent system 1,4-dioxane/H(2)O. We have also demonstrated a one-pot method of phenol formation/alkylation for the preparation of alkyl aryl ethers from aryl halides. In many instances, this protocol overcomes limitations in existing Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions of aliphatic alcohols with aryl halides. Finally, we demonstrate that substituted benzofurans can be prepared efficiently via a Pd-catalyzed phenol formation/cyclization protocol starting from 2-chloroaryl alkynes.     

Rate parameters for the reactions of the bromomethyne radical

Absolute rate parameters were measured for the gas phase reactions of CBr($\text{～}\text{X}$²Π) produced in the flash photolysis of CHBr₃ with a variety of paraffins, olefins, O₂ and NO. The rate of cycloaddition to unsaturated bond increases with alkyl substitution, pointing to the electrophilic nature of CBr. In comparison with published data on CCI and CH the reactivity follows the trend CBr ≈ CCl < CH.     

The syntheses of carbocations by use of the noble-gas oxidant, [XeOTeF5][Sb(OTeF5)6]: the syntheses and characterization of the CX3+ (X = Cl, Br, OTeF5) and CBr(OTeF5)2+ cations and theoretical studies of CX3+ and BX3 (X = F, Cl, Br, I, OTeF5)

The CCl(3)(+) and CBr(3)(+) cations have been synthesized by oxidation of a halide ligand of CCl(4) and CBr(4) at -78 degrees C in SO(2)ClF solvent by use of [XeOTeF(5)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)]. The CBr(3)(+) cation reacts further with BrOTeF(5) to give CBr(OTeF(5))(2)(+), C(OTeF(5))(3)(+), and Br(2). The [XeOTeF(5)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)] salt was also found to react with BrOTeF(5) in SO(2)ClF solvent at -78 degrees C to give the Br(OTeF(5))(2)(+) cation. The CCl(3)(+), CBr(3)(+), CBr(OTeF(5))(2)(+), C(OTeF(5))(3)(+), and Br(OTeF(5))(2)(+) cations and C(OTeF(5))(4) have been characterized in SO(2)ClF solution by (13)C and/or (19)F NMR spectroscopy at -78 degrees C. The X-ray crystal structures of the CCl(3)(+), CBr(3)(+), and C(OTeF(5))(3)(+) cations have been determined in [CCl(3)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)], [CBr(3)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)].SO(2)ClF, and [C(OTeF(5))(3)][Sb(OTeF(5))(6)].3SO(2)ClF at -173 degrees C. The CCl(3)(+) and CBr(3)(+) salts were stable at room temperature, whereas the CBr(n)(OTeF(5))(3-n)(+) salts were stable at 0 degrees C for several hours. The cations were found to be trigonal planar about carbon, with the CCl(3)(+) and CBr(3)(+) cations showing no significant interactions between their carbon atoms and the fluorine atoms of the Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-) anions. In contrast, the C(OTeF(5))(3)(+) cation interacts with an oxygen of each of two SO(2)ClF molecules by coordination along the three-fold axis of the cation. The solid-state Raman spectra of the Sb(OTeF(5))(6)(-) salts of CCl(3)(+) and CBr(3)(+) have been obtained and assigned with the aid of electronic structure calculations. The CCl(3)(+) cation displays a well-resolved (35)Cl/(37)Cl isotopic pattern for the symmetric CCl(3) stretch. The energy-minimized geometries, natural charges, and natural bond orders of the CCl(3)(+), CBr(3)(+), CI(3)(+), and C(OTeF(5))(3)(+) cations and of the presently unknown CF(3)(+) cation have been calculated using HF and MP2 methods have been compared with those of the isoelectronic BX(3) molecules (X = F, Cl, Br, I, and OTeF(5)). The (13)C and (11)B chemical shifts for CX(3)(+) (X = Cl, Br, I) and BX(3) (X = F, Cl, Br, I) were calculated by the GIAO method, and their trends were assessed in terms of paramagnetic contributions and spin-orbit coupling.     

A novel methodology for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates based on the palladium-catalyzed cascade reaction of 4-methoxycarbonyloxy-2-butyn-1-ols with phenols,involving a novel carbon dioxide elimination-fixation process

A palladium-catalyzed CO(2)-recycling reaction has been developed. Reaction of 4-methoxycarbonyloxy-2-butyn-1-ols with phenols, carried out in the presence of a palladium catalyst, produces phenoxy-substituted cyclic carbonates by way of a pathway involving a CO(2) elimination-fixation. A variety of propargylic alcohols and phenols participate in these reactions which yield cyclic carbonates with high efficiencies. Stereoselective construction of trans-cyclic carbonates is achieved by using nonsymmetric substrates. Highly enantioselective reactions occur when (S)-BINAP is used as a ligand. Reaction of 4-phenoxycarbonyloxy-2-butyn-1-ol in the presence of the palladium catalyst yields the corresponding cyclic carbonates via a three-component decomposition-reconstruction process.     

Design and synthesis of condensed thienocoumarins by Suzuki–Miyaura reaction/lactonization tandem protocol

A concise and efficient approach to a series of chromen-4-ones with fused thiophene ring has been developed using the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of bromothiophene-2- and 3-carboxylates with 2-methoxyboronic acids and subsequent cyclization of prepared alkyl (2-methoxy)aryl thiophene-2- and 3-carboxylates under the action of BBr₃/KOtBu. Starting bromothiophenes are easily obtained from corresponding commercially available aminothiophenes by diazotization/bromination reaction.     

A convenient conversion of pyrazolyl disulfide to sulfides by sodium dithionite and synthesis of sulfoxides

Indirectly introduce trifluoromethylthio-, alkylthio-, and trifluoromethylsulfinyl to pyrazole ring by a convenient reaction of a pyrazolyl disulfide with F₃CBr and alkyl halides in the presence of sodium dithionite at room temperature. Followed by selective oxidation with H₂O₂ or trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) to give trifluoromethylsulfenyl phenylpyrazole, alkylsulfenyl phenylpyazole, trifluoromethylsulfinyl phenylpyrazole 4a (a highly efficient insecticide named fipronil) and ethylsulfinyl phenylpyrazole 4c derivatives, respectively.     

溴代烷烃与活性氮的反应发光研究

在流动余辉装置上, 利用N₂空心阴极放电制备活性氮, 研究了活性氮与溴代烷烃(CHBr₃、CH₂Br₂、C₂H₅Br、C₄H₉Br) 反应的化学发光.上述所有反应中, 在550～750 nm波段均观察到了较强的NBr (b¹Σ+→X³Σ^-)跃迁发射谱. 同时在活性氮与CHBr₃和CH₂Br₂的反应中, 在流动管下游还观察到了CN (A²π, B²π→X²Σ⁺)的发射谱. 验证性的实验表明, 激发态NBr (b¹Σ⁺)是由二步过程形成: N(⁴S)与溴代烷烃反应生成NBr (X³Σ^-), 再通过N₂ (A ³Σ_u⁺)分子能量转移到激发态NBr (b¹Σ⁺); 而激发态的CN是通过N(⁴S) + CBr→CN(A, B) + Br过程形成的.     

Mass spectral fragmentation of the intravenous anesthetic propofol and structurally related phenols

Propofol (2,6-diisopropyl phenol) is a widely used intravenous anesthetic. To define its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, methods for its quantitation in biological matrixes have been developed, but its pattern of mass spectral fragmentation is unknown. We found that fragmentation of the [M - H](-) ion (m/z 177) of propofol in both APCI MS/MS and ESI MS/MS involves the stepwise loss of a methyl radical and a hydrogen radical from one isopropyl side chain to give the most intense product ion, [M -H - CH(4)](-), at m/z 161. This two-step process is also the preferred mode of fragmentation for similar branched alkyl substituted phenols. This mode of fragmentation of the [M - H](-) ion is supported by three independent lines of evidence: (1) the presence of the intermediary [M - H - CH(3)](-) radical ion under conditions of reduced collision energy, (2) the determination of the mass of the predominant [M - H - CH(4)](-) product ion by high resolution mass spectrometry, and (3) the pattern of product ions resulting from further fragmentation of the [M - H - CH(4)](-) product ion. Phenols with a single straight chain alkyl substituent, in contrast, undergo beta elimination of the alkyl radical irrespective of the length of the alkyl chain, yielding the most intense product ion at m/z 106. This product ion represents a special case of a stable intermediary radical for the two-step process described for branched side chains, because further elimination of a hydrogen radical from the beta carbon is not possible.     

Photochemical reaction pathways of carbon tetrabromide in solution probed by picosecond X-ray diffraction

We report a liquid-phase time-resolved X-ray diffraction study that resolves the molecular structures of the short-lived intermediates formed in the photodissociation of tetrabromomethane in methanol. Time-resolved X-ray diffraction can detect all chemical species simultaneously, and the diffraction signal from each chemical species can be quantitatively calculated from molecular structures and compared with experimental data with high accuracy and precision. The photochemistry of carbon tetrahalides has long been explored to describe their reactions in the natural environment due to its relevance to ozone depletion. Excited with an ultraviolet optical pulse, the complicated photodissociation dynamics of CBr4 was followed in a wide temporal range from picoseconds up to microseconds and associated rate coefficients were determined by analyzing time-resolved diffraction patterns accumulated from 100 ps X-ray pulses. The homolytic cleavage of one C-Br bond in the parent CBr4 molecule yields the CBr3 and Br radicals, which escape from the solvent cage and combine nongeminately to form C2Br6 and Br2, respectively. C2Br6 eventually decays to give C2Br4 and Br2 as final stable products. Our diffraction data at the current signal-to-noise ratio could not provide any evidence for the geminate recombination of the CBr3 and Br radicals to form the Br2CBr-Br isomer or the solvated ion pair, implying that their formation is a minor channel compared with those observed clearly by time-resolved diffraction in this work.     

An efficient, stereoselective approach to syn-1,2-diols protected as cyclic carbonates

Enantioenriched 4-hydroxyalk-2-ynyl carbonates (or benzoates) have been prepared by stereoselective zinc-mediated addition of alkyl 2-propynyl carbonates (or their benzoate analogues) to aldehydes. Their partial reduction to Z-olefins followed by cyclization under mild Pd-catalyzed conditions allowed a straightforward access to enantioenriched syn-1,2-diols protected as cyclic carbonates.     

CCl3(+) and CBr3(+) salts with the [Al(OR(F))4]- and [((F)RO)3Al-F-Al(OR(F))3]- anions (R(F) = C(CF3)3)

The CX3(+) salts [CCl(3)](+)[Al(OR(F))(4)](-)1, [CCl(3)](+)[(R(F)O)(3)Al-F-Al(OR(F))(3)](-)2, [CBr(3)](+)[Al(OR(F))(4)](-)3, [CBr(3)](+)[(R(F)O)(3)Al-F-Al(OR(F))(3)](-)4 (R(F) = C(CF(3))(3)) were prepared in 56 to 85% yield from CX(4) (X = Cl, Br) and the corresponding silver salts (weight balance, NMR, IR, X-ray structure of 1). The most convenient solvent for the preparation of 1 and 2 is SO(2)ClF but for 3 and 4 it is SO(2). The reactions are complete after about three days stirring at -30 to -40 °C. The salts are stable for weeks in solution at -40 °C and stable for a few hours at RT in the solid state. In SO(2)ClF (1, 2) or SO(2) (3, 4) solution they decompose slowly at -20 °C and within several hours at RT; in general the CBr3(+) salts are more stable than the CCl3(+) homologues. The decomposition products were assigned as CCl(3)F and primarily CBr(2)F(2) (which likely forms as a Lewis acid induced disproportionation product of the initial CBr(3)F). The C-X vibrations of the salts were found in the expected range and the assignments were made based on experimental and calculated data. The IR spectrum of a CBr3(+) salt is for the first time reported here.