Synthesis of Di‐, Tri‐, and Tetrasubstituted Oxetanes by Rhodium‐Catalyzed OH Insertion and CC Bond‐Forming Cyclization

Oxetanes offer exciting potential as structural motifs and intermediates in drug discovery and materials science. Here an efficient strategy for the synthesis of oxetane rings incorporating pendant functional groups is described. A wide variety of oxetane 2,2‐dicarboxylates were accessed in high yields, including functionalized 3‐/4‐aryl‐ and alkyl‐substituted oxetanes and fused oxetane bicycles. Enantioenriched alcohols provided enantioenriched oxetanes with complete retention of configuration. The oxetane products were further derivatized, while the ring was maintained intact, thus highlighting their potential as building blocks for medicinal chemistry.     

A Concise Diastereoselective Photochemical Synthesis of 3‐Hydroxyfuran‐2(3H)‐ones

The photocycloaddition of alkyl phenylglyoxylates to allylic alcohols leads to oxetanes 3a–h with high to moderate (2R?,4R?)‐diastereoselectivity that can be easily ring‐opened to give 3‐hydroxyfuran‐2(3H)‐ones 4a–b .     

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of 1,4‐Dioxanes and Other Oxa‐Heterocycles by Oxetane Desymmetrization

A new asymmetric synthesis of chiral 1,4‐dioxanes and other oxa‐heterocycles has been developed by means of organocatalytic enantioselective desymmetrization of oxetanes. This mild process proceeds with exceedingly high efficiency and enantioselectivity to establish the quaternary stereocenters. This method complements the existing, yet limited, strategies for the synthesis of these oxa‐heterocycles.     

Enhancing cationic ring‐opening photopolymerization of cycloaliphatic epoxides via dark cure and oxetanes

Due to the longevity of the cationic active centers, cationic ring‐opening photopolymerization can continue after illumination ceases. In addition, substantial reactivity enhancement for epoxides is realized through copolymerization with oxetanes. Here, the separate reactions of epoxide and oxetane moieties were resolved during illumination and subsequent dark cure via real‐time Raman spectroscopy. Using oxetane additives, reactivity and conversion of 3,4‐epoxycyclohexylmethyl‐3′,4′‐epoxycyclohexane carboxylate (EEC) were improved during illumination and subsequent dark cure through modulation of the initial formulation viscosity and selection of the oxetane secondary functional groups. The largest enhancement in reactivity occurred with secondary groups comprising either aliphatic chains with their flexibility or hydroxyls with their chain‐transfer capacity. In contrast, oxetanes containing UV‐absorbing phenyl rings reduced the initiation efficiency, and difunctional oxetanes suppressed overall conversion through additional crosslinking. Although bulk conversion was directly related to initial formulation viscosity, the impact of the oxetane secondary functional groups was greater. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1436–1445     

Organocatalytic Strategy for the Enantioselective Cycloaddition to Trisubstituted Nitroolefins to Create Spirocyclohexene‐Oxetane Scaffolds

The first catalytic enantioselective cycloaddition reaction to α,β,β‐trisubstituted nitroolefins is reported. For this purpose, nitroolefin oxetanes were employed in the reaction with 2,4‐dienals promoted by trienamine catalysis. This methodology provides a facile and efficient strategy for the synthesis of highly functionalized chiral spirocyclohexene‐oxetanes with two adjacent tetrasubstituted carbon atoms in high yields and excellent selectivities. This strategy also enabled access to chiral spirocyclohexene‐cyclobutanes and ‐azetidines. Additionally, the obtained scaffolds can undergo diverse transformations leading to complex structures with up to four stereocenters, and we demonstrate that the nitro group, under nucleophilic conditions, can be applied for ring‐opening of the oxetane.     

Pd‐Catalyzed Enantioselective [6+4] Cycloaddition of Vinyl Oxetanes with Azadienes to Access Ten‐Membered Heterocycles

We report herein the first enantioselective cycloaddition of vinyl oxetanes, the reaction of which with azadienes provided unprecedented access to ten‐membered heterocycles through a [6+4] cycloaddition. By using a commercially available chiral Pd‐SIPHOX catalyst, a wide range of benzofuran‐ as well as indole‐fused heterocycles could be accessed in excellent yield and enantioselectivity. A unique Lewis acid induced fragmentation of these ten‐membered heterocycles was also discovered.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Trifluoromethylation of Trisubstituted Allylic and Homoallylic Alcohols

An efficient copper‐catalyzed trifluoromethylation of trisubstituted allylic and homoallylic alcohols with Togni’s reagent has been developed. This strategy, accompanied by a double‐bond migration, leads to various branched CF₃‐substituted alcohols by using readily available trisubstituted cyclic/acyclic alcohols as substrates. Moreover, for alcohols in which β‐H elimination is prohibited, CF₃‐containing oxetanes are isolated as the sole product.     

“Kick‐Starting” oxetane photopolymerizations

In the presence of small amounts of 2,2‐dialkyl‐, 2,2,3‐trialkyl‐, or 2,2,3,3‐tetraalkyl substituted epoxides such as isobutylene oxide, 1,2‐limonene oxide, and 2,2,3,3,‐tetramethyl oxirane, the photoinitiated cationic ring‐opening polymerizations of 3,3‐disubstituted oxetanes are dramatically accelerated. The acceleration affect was attributed to an increase in the rate of the initiation step of these latter monomers. Both mono‐ and disubstituted oxetane monomers are similarly accelerated by the above‐mentioned epoxides to give crosslinked network polymers. The potential for the use of such “kick‐started” systems in applications such as coatings, adhesives, printing inks, dental composites and in three‐dimensional imaging is discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2934–2946     

Formation of linear and cyclic polyoxetanes in the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of 3‐allyloxymethyl‐3‐ethyloxetane and subsequent postpolymerization modification of poly(3‐allyloxymethyl‐3‐ethyloxetane)

The synthesis of 3‐allyloxymethyl‐3‐ethyloxetane (AllylEHO) and its polymerization with BF₃ × Et₂O is described in this study. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and membrane osmometry are used for the determination of molecular weights of the obtained products, ranging from M_n,SEC = 41,500‐131,500 g/mol. ¹H NMR spectroscopy, SEC, as well as MALDI‐TOF MS reveal the formation of cyclic tetramer beside low, but detectable concentrations of larger cyclic oligomers as by‐products during the polymerization process. These results help to understand mechanistically why attempts for a controlled homopolymerization of AllylEHO fail and why a controlled homopolymerization of oxetanes has not been described so far in the literature. Additionally, the high versatility of allyl‐functional polyoxetane for postpolymerization modification is proven by thiol–ene reactions with 3‐mercaptopropionic acid and N‐acetyl‐L ‐cysteine methyl ester. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Potassium‐, Ammonium‐, Hydrazinium‐, Guanidinium‐, Aminoguanidinium‐, Diaminoguanidinium‐, Triaminoguanidinium‐ and Melaminiumnitroformate – Synthesis,Characterization and Energetic Properties

Energetic salts containing the nitroformate (trinitromethanide) anion with several nitrogen‐rich cations were investigated, including ammonium nitroformate (ANF), melaminium nitroformate (MNF), guanidinium nitroformate monohydrate (GNFH), aminoguanidinium nitroformate (AGNF), diaminoguanidinium nitroformate (DAGNF) as well as triaminoguanidinium nitroformate (TAGNF). All salts were characterized using vibrational spectroscopy (IR, Raman), mass spectrometry, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The thermal decomposition of the salts was monitored using differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, the impact, friction and electrostatic sensitivity data were determined. Theoretical calculations were carried out in order to predict performance data such as detonation velocities and detonation pressures. The crystal structures of ANF, MNF, GNFH, AGNF, DAGNF and TAGNF were determined using single crystal X‐ray diffraction. In addition, a second polymorph of MNF was determined crystallographically as well as the crystal structures of MNF with methanol and MNF with dimethylsulfoxide. Finally, new polymorphs of potassium nitroformate (KNF) and hydrazinium nitroformate (HNF) were characterized using single crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

Synthesis and Reactivity of 2‐Pyrrolidino‐, 2‐N‐Methylpiperazino‐, 2‐Piperidino‐, and 2‐Morpholino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazines

A variety of 2‐pyrrolidino‐, 2‐N‐methylpiperazino‐, 2‐piperidino‐, and 2‐morpholino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazines were prepared by cyclocondensation of phenacyl halides with thiosemicarbazides. Heating of the products resulted in desulfurization and formation of pyrazoles. The rate of this process strongly depends on the substitution pattern of the 1,3,4‐thiadiazines.     

Redox initiated cationic polymerization: Silane‐N‐aryl heteroaromatic onium salt redox couples

In this article, a new route for the synthesis of N‐aryl heteroaromatic onium salts by the direct copper catalyzed arylation of pyridine, substituted pyridines, isoquinoline, and acridine with diaryliodonium salts is described. It was demonstrated that these N‐aryl heteroaromatic onium salts undergo facile platinum or rhodium‐catalyzed reduction by silanes bearing Si? H groups. The reduction of N‐aryl heteroaromatic onium salts generates Brønsted acids. When this redox reaction was carried out in situ in the presence of an appropriate monomer, cationic polymerization was observed. Using this approach, the cationic polymerizations of epoxides, oxetanes, 1,3,5‐trioxane, styrene, and vinyl ethers were carried out. The use of optical pyrometry to monitor the redox initiated cationic polymerizations of some representative multifunctional monomers is described. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Enantioselective NHC‐Catalyzed Redox [2+2] Cycloadditions with Perfluoroketones: A Route to Fluorinated Oxetanes

The N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed redox formal [2+2] cycloaddition between α‐aroyloxyaldehydes and perfluoroketones, followed by ring‐opening in situ delivers a variety of perfluorinated β‐hydroxycarbonyl compounds in good yield, and excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity. Through a reductive work‐up and subsequent cyclization, this protocol offers access to highly substituted fluorinated oxetanes in two steps and in high ee.     

2,3,3′,6‐Tetra‐O‐acetyl‐4,1′,6′‐trichloro‐4,1′,4′,6′‐tetradeoxygalactosucrose

At 160 K, one of the Cl atoms in the furanoid moiety of 3‐O‐acetyl‐1,6‐di­chloro‐1,4,6‐tri­deoxy‐β‐d ‐fructo­furan­osyl 2,3,6‐tri‐O‐acetyl‐4‐chloro‐4‐deoxy‐α‐d ‐galacto­pyran­oside, C₂₀H₂₇­Cl₃O₁₁, is disordered over two orientations, which differ by a rotation of about 107° about the parent C—C bond. The conformation of the core of the mol­ecule is very similar to that of 3‐O‐acetyl‐1,4,6‐tri­chloro‐1,4,6‐tri­deoxy‐β‐d ‐tagato­furanos­yl 2,3,6‐tri‐O‐acetyl‐4‐chloro‐4‐deoxy‐α‐d ‐galacto­pyran­oside, particularly with regard to the conformation about the glycosidic linkage.     

Visible‐Light‐Initiated Manganese Catalysis for C−H Alkylation of Heteroarenes: Applications and Mechanistic Studies

A visible‐light‐driven Minisci protocol that employs an inexpensive earth‐abundant metal catalyst, decacarbonyldimanganese Mn₂(CO)₁₀, to generate alkyl radicals from alkyl iodides has been developed. This Minisci protocol is compatible with a wide array of sensitive functional groups, including oxetanes, sugar moieties, azetidines, tert ‐butyl carbamates (Boc‐group), cyclobutanes, and spirocycles. The robustness of this protocol is demonstrated on the late‐stage functionalization of complex nitrogen‐containing drugs. Photophysical and DFT studies indicate a light‐initiated chain reaction mechanism propagated by ^.Mn(CO)₅. The rate‐limiting step is the iodine abstraction from an alkyl iodide by ^.Mn(CO)₅.     

Preparation of 2‐, 4‐, 5‐, and 6‐aminonicotinic acid tert‐butyl esters

Procedures are reported to prepare the tert‐butyl esters of 2‐aminonicotinic acid, 4‐aminonicotinic acid, 5‐aminonicotinic acid, and 6‐aminonicotinic acid from 2‐chloronicotinic acid, 4‐chloronicotinic acid, 5‐bromonicotinic acid, and 6‐chloronicotinic acid, respectively, without need for purification of intermediates. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2012).     

Synthesis and chemical modification of hyperbranched polyethers with terminal hydroxy groups by the anionic ring‐opening polymerization of 3‐alkyl‐3‐hydroxymethyl oxetanes

The anionic ring‐opening polymerization of oxetanes containing hydroxyl groups was carried out with potassium tert‐butoxide as an initiator in the presence of 18‐crown‐6‐ether in N‐methylpyrrolidinone at 180 °C; it yielded corresponding multifunctional hyperbranched polymers: poly(3‐ethyl‐3‐hydroxymethyloxetane)s, with number‐average molecular weights of 2200–4100 in 83–95% yields, and poly(3‐methyl‐3‐hydroxymethyloxetane)s, with number‐average molecular weights of 4600–5200 in 70–95% yields. The synthesized poly(3‐ethyl‐3‐hydroxymethyloxetane)s and poly(3‐methyl‐3‐hydroxymethyloxetane)s were hyperbranched polyethers containing an oxetane moiety and many hydroxy groups at the ends. The postpolymerization of poly(3‐ethyl‐3‐hydroxymethyloxetane)s was performed in the presence of potassium tert‐butoxide and 18‐crown‐6‐ether in N‐methylpyrrolidinone at 180 °C; it yielded corresponding polymers with higher molecular weights in good yields. The cationic polymerization of poly(3‐ethyl‐3‐hydroxymethyloxetane) derivatives was carried out with boron trifluoride etherate as an initiator and was followed by alkaline hydrolysis; this yielded a new branched polymer, a poly(hyperbranched polyether), with many pendant hydroxy groups. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3739–3750, 2004     

Investigations of the reactivity of “kick‐started” oxetanes in photoinitiated cationic polymerization

The ability of certain alkyl substituted epoxides to accelerate the photoinitiated cationic ring‐opening polymerizations of oxetane monomers by substantially reducing or eliminating the induction period altogether has been termed by us “kick‐starting.” In this communication, the rates of photopolymerization of several model “kick‐started” oxetane systems were quantified and compared with the analogous biscycloaliphatic epoxide monomer, 3,4‐epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3′,4′‐epoxycyclohexanecarboxylate (ERL). It has been found that the “kick‐started” systems undergo photopolymerization at rates that are at least two‐fold faster than ERL. These results suggest that “kick‐started” oxetanes could replace ERL in many applications in which high speed ultraviolet induced crosslinking photopolymerizations are carried out. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 586–593     

Thermochemistry of N‐heterocyclic carbenes with 5‐, 4‐, 3‐, and 2‐membered rings

N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) based on imidazole‐2‐ylidene ( 1 ) or the saturated imidazolidine‐2‐ylidene ( 2 ) scaffolds are long‐lived singlet carbenes. Both benefit from inductive stabilization of the sigma lone pair on carbon by neighboring N atoms and delocalization of the N pi lone pairs into the nominally vacant p‐pi atomic orbital at the carbene carbon. With thermochemical schemes G4 and CBS‐QB3, we estimate the relative thermodynamic stabilization of smaller ring carbenes and acyclic species which may share the keys to NHC stability. These include four‐membered ring systems incorporating the carbene center, two trivalent N centers, and either a boron or a phosphorus atom to complete the ring. Amino‐substituted cyclopropenylidenes have been reported but three‐membered rings containing the carbene center and two N atoms are not known. Our calculations suggest that amino‐substituted cyclopropenylidenes are comparable in stability to the four‐membered NHCs but that diazacyclopropanylidenes would be substantially less effectively stabilized. Concluding the series are acyclic carbenes with and without neighboring N atoms and a series of “two‐membered ring” azapropadienenylidene cations of form :C?N?W with W = an electron‐withdrawing agent. We have studied W = NO₂, CH₂(+), CF₂(+), and (CN)₂C(+). Although these systems display a degree of stabilization and carbene‐like electronic structure, the stability of the NHCs is unsurpassed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Enantio‐, Regio‐, and Chemoselective Lipase‐Catalyzed Polymer Synthesis

In contrast to chemical routes, enzymatic polymerization possesses favorable characteristics of mild reaction conditions, few by‐products, and high activity toward cyclic lactones which make it a promising technique for constructing polymeric materials. Meanwhile, it can avoid the trace residue of metallic catalysts and potential toxicity, and thus exhibits great potential in the biomedical fields. More importantly, lipase‐catalyzed polymer synthesis usually shows favorable enantio‐, regio‐, and chemoselectivity. Here, the history and recent developments in lipase‐catalyzed selective polymerization for constructing polymers with unique structures and properties are highlighted. In particular, the synthesis of polymeric materials which are difficult to prepare in a chemical route and the construction of polymers through the combination of selective enzymatic and chemical methods are focused. In addition, the future direction is proposed especially based on the rapid developments in computational chemistry and protein engineering techniques.