1,4-Dehydrogenation with a Two-Coordinate Cyclic (Alkyl)(amino)silylene

Cyclic (alkyl)(amino)silylene (CAASi) 1 has been found to successfully dehydrogenate 1,4-dihydroaromatic compounds containing various substituents to afford the corresponding aromatic compounds. The observed high substrate generality proves 1 to be a potential 1,4-dehydrogenation reagent for organic compounds. For the reaction with 9,10-dimethyl-9,10-dihydroanthracene, silylene 1 activated not only benzylic C−H bonds but also aromatic C−H bonds to yield a silaacenaphthene derivative, which is an unprecedented reaction of silylenes. The results of the experimental and computational study of the reaction of CAASi 1 with 9,10-dihydroanthracene and 1,4-cyclohexadiene are consistent with the notion that 1,4-dehydrogenation with CAASi 1 proceeds mainly through a stepwise hydrogen-abstraction mechanism.     

Features of clathrate formation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid

Structural data illustrating various ways of association of the molecules of host and guest observed in the clathrates of trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid (DED) with chloroform, ethyl propionate, 1,4-dioxane and acetone are presented. The following types of host-guest interactions are considered: “true clathrate” without host-guest hydrogen bonds (DED + chloroform, DED + ethyl propionate), infinite associate (DED + 1,4-dioxane) and discrete associate (DED + acetone).     

CH...O and CH...F links form the cage structure of dioxane-trifluoromethane

The molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectrum of 1,4-dioxane-trifluoromethane has been assigned and measured. The two subunits form a cage stabilized by one C-H...O and two C-H...F weak hydrogen bonds. The C-H...O link involves the axial lone pair of one of the two equivalent ring oxygens, while the two C-H...F bridges connect trifluoromethane to the two axial hydrogens in positions 3 and 5. The dissociation energy has been estimated from the D(J) centrifugal distortion parameter to be approximately 6.8 kJ/mol.     

Meridional bicyclometalation with iron: a novel way of forming dianionic [C,N,C]-ligands

Bicyclometalation of aromatic substrates containing imine anchoring groups is achieved with a dimethyliron complex at -70 degrees C; azadiene systems undergo a regiospecific activation of 1,4-CH/N interchanged C-H bonds which may be aromatic or vinylic.     

Synthesis and structural study of bis-perfluoropyridyl bridged by 1,4 and 1,2 dihydropyridine

Bis-perfluoropyridyl bridged by 1,4 and 1,2 dihydropyridine compounds was synthesized by reaction of 2 and 4 aminopridine derivatives with pentafluoropyridine. The structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. Compound 3a comprises two crystallographically independent molecules in the asymmetric unit in which one of them shows 1-D infinite chains along [0 1 0] direction due to the intermolecular C-H?N hydrogen bonds. In compound 5 intermolecular C-H?F and C-H?N hydrogen bonds link neighbouring molecules to each other. In addition, in both structures a series of C-F?π interactions stabilize the crystal packing.     

Protonation of 1,4,5-tri- and 1,4,5,8-tetrahydroxyanthraquinones in sulfuric acid: Multistep reaction involving tautomers and conformers

The fine structure of the ??_l,??*-absorption of hydroxyanthraquinones solutions in sulfuric acid arises due to the existence of the protonated forms as equilibrium mixtures of tautomers and conformers distinguished by the positions of the ??-bonds, charges, and the number of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Using quantum-chemical calculations and correlation analysis of the absorption spectra tautomers were identified of mono- and dications of 1,4,5-trihydroxyanthraquinone of 9,10-, 1,4-, and 1,10-isomeric structure. For 1,4,5,8-tetrahydroxyanthraquinone 9,10-, 1,4-, 1,10-, and 1,5-isomeric mono- and dications and their conformers were found.     

1,4-migration of rhodium and palladium in catalytic organometallic reactions

Mechanisms based on the 1,4-migration of metal centers have been proposed to explain some interesting transition-metal-catalyzed organic transformations. Despite the lack of solid evidence for the real nature of this process, the 1,4-metal migration reaction is proposed to proceed by the reductive elimination of trivalent intermediates for the Rh-involved reactions and of tetravalent intermediates for the Pd-catalyzed processes. These high-valent organometallic species would be formed by the oxidative addition to C-H and C-X bonds. This minireview summarizes the results in this area.     

Ligand effects on hydrogen atom transfer from hydrocarbons to three-coordinate iron imides

A new β-diketiminate ligand with 2,4,6-tri(phenyl)phenyl N-substituents provides protective bulk around the metal without exposing any weak C-H bonds. This ligand improves the stability of reactive iron(III) imido complexes with Fe═NAd and Fe═NMes functional groups (Ad = 1-adamantyl; Mes = mesityl). The new ligand gives iron(III) imido complexes that are significantly more reactive toward 1,4-cyclohexadiene than the previously reported 2,6-diisopropylphenyl diketiminate variants. Analysis of X-ray crystal structures implicates Fe═N-C bending, a longer Fe═N bond, and greater access to the metal as potential reasons for the increase in C-H bond activation rates.     

Iridium-catalyzed borylation of secondary C-h bonds in cyclic ethers

The borylation of secondary C-H bonds, specifically secondary C-H bonds of cyclic ethers, with a catalyst generated from tetramethylphenanthroline and an iridium precursor is reported. This borylation occurs with unique selectivity for the C-H bonds located β to the oxygen atoms over the weaker C-H bonds located α to oxygen atoms. Mechanistic studies imply that the C-H bond cleavage occurs directly at the β position rather than at the α position followed by isomerization of a reaction intermediate.     

Synthesis and calculated properties of some 1,4-bis(amino)anthracene-9,10-diones

The synthesis of a number of 1,4-bis(amino)anthracene-9,10-diones containing chlorine or sulfur which are related to the anti-cancer drugs Ametantrone and Mitoxantrone are reported. 1,4-Dichloro-2,3-dihydro-5,8-dihydroxyanthracene-9,10-dione reacts readily with a series of alkylamines to yield the corresponding 1,4-bis(alkylamino)-5,8-dichloroanthracene-9,10-dione after oxidation. The subsequent reaction of the products with ethanethiol or thiophenol gives the corresponding 1,4-bis(alkylamino)-5,8-bis(sulfanyl)anthracene-9,10-dione in good yield. Theoretical calculations at the RHF 6-31G** level indicate that the introduction of either chlorine or the phenylsulfanyl group into the 5- and 8-positions of 1,4-bis(alkylamino)anthracene-9,10-diones results in a lowering of the LUMO energies suggesting that related functionalised derivatives might have lower cardiotoxicities than Mitoxantrone.     

Role of tautomerism and rotational isomerism in the interaction of α-hydroxyanthraquinones with boric acid

The products of reaction of α-hydroxyanthraquinones with boric acid are mixtures of 9,10-, 1,10 -, 1,4- and 1,5-quinoid tautomeric complexes of boric acid and borate esters differing by the coordination bonds with carbonyl groups existing in the dynamic equilibrium. The deepening of the reagents color in the presence of boron does not a result only of the complexation, but in the accompanying shift of the tautomeric equilibria.     

Reactivity of the C-H bonds of methyl hexanoate toward the <Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butylperoxy radical

The kinetics of oxygen uptake and the kinetics of accumulation of methyl hexanoate oxidation products in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide have been investigated to determine the partial rate constants for the interaction of the tert-butylperoxy radical with C-H bonds of the ester at 373 K. The ester group deactivates the C-H bonds in the 2- and 3-positions and does not deactivate the same bonds in the 5-position, which are similar in reactivity to the methylenic C-H bonds of hydrocarbons. The C-H bonds of the methoxyl group of methyl hexanoate are substantially more reactive than the C-H bonds of the methyl group.     

C-H bond strengths and acidities in aromatic systems: effects of nitrogen incorporation in mono-, di-, and triazines

The negative ion chemistry of five azine molecules has been investigated using the combined experimental techniques of negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy to obtain electron affinities (EA) and tandem flowing afterglow-selected ion tube (FA-SIFT) mass spectrometry to obtain deprotonation enthalpies (Δ(acid)H(298)). The measured Δ(acid)H(298) for the most acidic site of each azine species is combined with the EA of the corresponding radical in a thermochemical cycle to determine the corresponding C-H bond dissociation energy (BDE). The site-specific C-H BDE values of pyridine, 1,2-diazine, 1,3-diazine, 1,4-diazine, and 1,3,5-triazine are 110.4 ± 2.0, 111.3 ± 0.7, 113.4 ± 0.7, 107.5 ± 0.4, and 107.8 ± 0.7 kcal mol(-1), respectively. The application of complementary experimental methods, along with quantum chemical calculations, to a series of nitrogen-substituted azines sheds light on the influence of nitrogen atom substitution on the strength of C-H bonds in six-membered rings.     

C-H bond activation of hydrocarbons by an imidozirconocene complex

Monomeric imidozirconocene complexes of the type Cp2(L)Zr=NCMe3 (Cp = cyclopentadienyl, L = Lewis base) have been shown to activate the carbon-hydrogen bonds of benzene, but not the C-H bonds of saturated hydrocarbons. To our knowledge, this singularly important class of C-H activation reactions has heretofore not been observed in imidometallocene systems. The M=NR bond formed on heating the racemic ethylenebis(tetrahydro)indenyl methyl tert-butyl amide complex, however, cleanly and quantitatively activates a wide range of n-alkane, alkene, and arene C-H bonds. Mechanistic experiments support the proposal of intramolecular elimination of methane followed by a concerted addition of the hydrocarbon C-H bond. Products formed by activation of sp2 C-H bonds are generally more thermodynamically stable than those formed by activation of sp3 C-H bonds, and those resulting from reaction at primary C-H bonds are preferred over secondary sp3 C-H activation products. There is also evidence that thermodynamic selectivity among C-H bonds is sterically rather than electronically controlled.     

Intermolecular amidation of unactivated sp2 and sp2 C-H bonds via palladium-catalyzed cascade C-H activation/nitrene insertion

This communication describes the Pd(OAc)2-catalyzed intermolecular amidation reactions of unactivated sp2 and sp3 C-H bonds using primary amides and potassium persulfate. The substrates containing a pendent oxime or pyridine group were amidated with excellent chemo- and regioselectivities. It is noteworthy that reactive C-X bonds were well-tolerated and a variety of primary amides can be effective nucleophiles for the Pd-catalyzed C-H amidation reactions. For the reaction of unactivated sp3 C-H bonds, beta-amidation of 1 degrees sp3 C-H bonds versus 2 degrees C-H bonds is preferred. The catalytic reaction is initiated by chelation-assisted cyclopalladation involving C-H bond activation. Preliminary mechanistic study suggested that the persulfate oxidation of primary amides should generate reactive nitrene species, which then reacted with the cyclopalladated complex.     

Regioselectivity of the borylation of alkanes and arenes

The borylation of alkanes and arenes has become some of the most practical C-H bond functionalization chemistry. Most striking is the high regioselectivity of these reactions. Rhodium and ruthenium complexes catalyze with exquisite selectivity the borylation of methyl C-H bonds over methylene or methine C-H bonds. Iridium complexes catalyze, with high steric control, the borylation of one aromatic C-H bond over another. In contrast, iridium-catalyzed borylation of heteroaromatic C-H bonds is more controlled by electronic effects. Detailed information on these selectivities and mechanistic information on the origins of this regioselectivity will be described in this critical review (95 references).     

Electronic structures and spin topologies of gamma-picoliniumyl radicals. A study of the homolysis of N-methyl-gamma-picolinium and of benzo-, dibenzo-, and naphthoannulated analogs

Radicals resulting from one-electron reduction of (N-methylpyridinium-4-yl) methyl esters have been reported to yield (N-methylpyridinium-4-yl) methyl radical, or N-methyl-gamma-picoliniumyl for short, by heterolytic cleavage of carboxylate. This new reaction could provide the foundation for a new structural class of bioreductively activated, hypoxia-selective antitumor agents. N-methyl-gamma-picoliniumyl radicals are likely to damage DNA by way of H-abstraction and it is of paramount significance to assess their H-abstraction capabilities. In this context, the benzylic C-H homolyses were studied of toluene (T), gamma-picoline (P, 4-methylpyridine), and N-methyl-gamma-picolinium (1c, 1,4-dimethylpyridinium). With a view to providing capacity for DNA intercalation the properties also were examined of the annulated derivatives 2c (1,4-dimethylquinolinium), 3c (9,10-dimethylacridinium), and 4c (1,4-dimethylbenzo[g]quinolinium). The benzylic C-H homolyses were studied with density functional theory (DFT), perturbation theory (up to MP4SDTQ), and configuration interaction methods (QCISD(T), CCSD(T)). Although there are many similarities between the results obtained here with DFT and CI theory, a number of significant differences occur and these are shown to be caused by methodological differences in the spin density distributions of the radicals. The quality of the wave functions is established by demonstration of internal consistencies and with reference to a number of observable quantities. The analysis of spin polarization emphasizes the need for a clear distinction between "electron delocalization" and "spin delocalization" in annulated radicals. Aside from their relevance for the rational design of new antitumor drugs, the conceptional insights presented here also will inform the understanding of ferromagnetic materials, of spin-based signaling processes, and of spin topologies in metalloenzymes.     

Intermolecular and intramolecular, platinum-catalyzed, acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of hydrosilanes with aryl and aliphatic methyl C-H bonds

Intermolecular acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of silanes with arene C-H bonds and intramolecular coupling of silanes with aryl and alkyl C-H bonds occur in good yield in the presence of 5 mol % of TpMe2PtMe2H (TpMe2 = hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) and related platinum(IV) complexes. The intermolecular reactions of arenes occurred with both trialkyl and dialkylaryl silanes. Intramolecular reactions of dialkylsilylalkylarenes occurred at aryl C-H bonds, and reactions of tributylsilane or dibutylphenylsilane occurred intramolecularly at the aliphatic, primary C-H bond. The reactions of arenes occurred preferentially at the least sterically hindered C-H bonds and preferentially with more electron-poor arenes. Crossover experiments and the lack of reactivity of the arylsilanes with H2 imply that the dehydrogenative silylation of arenes can be irreversible, even in a closed reaction vessel.     

Cycloaddition of 1-Aryl-3-trimethylsiloxy-1,3-butadienes in the Synthesis of Natural Quinone Analogs

7-Hydroxy-5-(2-methoxyphenyl)-2-methyl-6-R-1,4-naphthoquinones, 8-hydroxy-1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9,10-anthraquinone, and 2-ethoxycarbonyl-8-hydroxy-1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3-trimethylsiloxy-1,1a,4,4a-tetrahydro-9,10-anthraquinone were synthesized by reactions of 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-2-R-3-trimethylsiloxy-1,3-butadienes with 2-bromo-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone and juglone. 1-Aryl-2-ethoxycarbonyl-3-trimethylsiloxy-1,3-butadienes reacted with 1,4-naphthoquinone to afford 1-aryl-2-ethoxycarbonyl-3-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinones and their 4,4a-dihydro derivatives.     

Syntheses and bioactivities of substituted 9,10-dihydro-9,10-[1,2]benzenoanthracene-1,4,5,8-tetrones. Unusual reactivities with amines

A number of substituted 9,10-dihydro-9,10-[1,2]benzenoanthracene-1,4,5,8-tetrones have been synthesized and their anticancer and antimalarial activities evaluated. A one-pot synthesis of 2,5,8-trimethoxy-9,10-dihydro-9,10-[1,2]benzenoanthracene-1,4-dione (4) was achieved by heating a mixture of 1,4-dimethoxyanthracene, methoxyhydroquinone, silver oxide, and zinc iodide in toluene. Regioselective bromination of 4 and 2-methoxy-9,10-dihydro-9,10-[1,2]benzenoanthracene-1,4,5,8-tetrone (7) with N-bromosuccinimide provided 2-bromo-3,5,8-trimethoxy-9,10-dihydro-9,10-[1,2]benzenoanthracene-1,4-dione and 2-bromo-3-methoxy-9,10-dihydro-9,10-[1,2]benzenoanthracene-1,4,5,8-tetrone (1), respectively. The reactions of 1 with aliphatic primary amines and secondary amines, respectively, produced different products, a result most likely attributed to the different basicities (or nucleophilicities) and steric effects of the two kinds of amines. The structure of the displacement product, 2-bromo-3-[2-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)ethylamino]-9,10-dihydro-9,10-[1,2]benzenoanthracene-1,4,5,8-tetrone, from the reaction of 1 with tert-butyl 3-aminopropanoate was unequivocally determined by a single-crystal X-ray analysis. IC(50) values of triptycene bisquinones for the inhibition of L1210 leukemia cell viability are in the 0.11-0.27 microM range and for the inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 are in the 4.7-8.0 microM range.