2‐[(Acetyloxy)methyl]‐4‐(acetylsulfanyl)‐2‐(ethoxycarbonyl)‐3‐oxobutyl Group: A Thermolabile Protecting Group for Phosphodiesters

The phosphodiester linkage of 3′‐O‐levulinoylthymidine 5′‐methylphosphate ( 5 ) has been protected with 2‐[(acetyloxy)methyl]‐4‐(acetylsulfanyl)‐2‐(ethoxycarbonyl)‐3‐oxobutyl group (to give 1 ) to study the potential of this group as an esterase‐ and thermolabile protecting group. The group turned out to be unexpectedly thermolabile, being removed as ethyl 3‐(acetyloxy)‐4‐(acetylsulfanyl)‐2‐methylidenebut‐3‐enoate ( 10 ) without accumulation of any intermediates. The half‐life of this reaction at pH 7.5 and 37° is 14 min. Hog liver esterase (HLE), in turn, removes the protecting group as ethyl 4‐(acetylsulfanyl)‐2‐methylidene‐3‐oxobutanoate ( 12 ). On using 2.6 units of HLE in 1 ml, the rate of the enzymatic deprotection was still only one third of that of the nonenzymatic reaction. The mechanisms of both reactions have been studied and discussed. The crucial step seems to be removal of the O‐bound Ac group, either by esterase or by migration to the neighboring 3‐oxo group (nonenzymatic removal). This triggers the removal by retro‐aldol condensation/elimination mechanism. No alkylation of glutathione (GSH) upon the deprotection of 1 could be detected.     

DFT Study of the Group Interactions in 1,3,5‐Triamino‐2,4,6‐Trinitrobenzene and 1,3,5‐Triamino‐2,4,6‐Tridifluoroaminobenzene

Density functional calculations on isodesmic disproportionation reactions of 1,3,5‐triamino‐2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene (TATB) and 1,3,5‐triamino‐2,4,6‐tridifluoroaminobenzene (TATDB) indicate that the interaction between nitro groups on meta carbons of TATB, which brings about unstability to the molecule, is surprisingly larger than that between difluroamino groups in TATDB. The electron‐withdrawing and electron‐donating groups generate large positive and very small negative values of E_{disproportion}, respectively. When both electron‐withdrawing and electron‐donating groups are attached to the benzene skeleton at the same time, large negative disproportionation energy is produced, which stabilizes the derivatives. The values of E_{disproportion} for TATB and TATDB are predicted to be ‐48.03 kJ/mol and ‐63.54 kJ/mol, respectively, indicating that the total interaction among groups with stabilization effects in TATDB is larger than that in TATB. The large difference of the E_{disproportion} values between TATB and TATDB is derived from the large difference between the interactions of the meta‐nitro group and those of meta‐difluoroamino groups. The energy barriers for the C‐N internal rotation of NO₂ group and NF₂ groups are 74.7 kJ/mol and 185.8 kJ/mol for TATB and TATDB, respectively. The large energy barrier for the rotation of the NF₂ group is caused by its stabilization interaction with neighbor amino groups, instead of steric effects. When the number of pairs of amino‐nitro or amino‐difluoroamino groups increases, there are more negative charges on the NO₂/NF₂ groups and on the O/F atoms.     

β‐Amyrin Biosynthesis: The Methyl‐30 Group of (3S)‐2,3‐Oxidosqualene Is More Critical to Its Correct Folding To Generate the Pentacyclic Scaffold than the Methyl‐24 Group

Oxidosqualene cyclases catalyze the transformation of oxidosqualene ( 1 ) into numerous cyclic triterpenes. Enzymatic reactions of 24‐noroxidosqualene ( 8 ) and 30‐noroxidosqualene ( 9 ) with Euphorbia tirucalli β‐amyrin synthase were conducted to examine the role of the branched methyl groups of compound 1 in the β‐amyrin biosynthesis. Substrate 8 almost exclusively afforded 30‐nor‐β‐amyrin (>95.5 %), which was produced through a normal cyclization pathway, along with minor products (<4.5 %). However, a lack of the Me‐30 group (analogue 9 ) resulted in significantly high production of premature cyclization products, including 6/6/6/5‐fused tetracyclic and 6/6/6/6/5‐fused pentacyclic skeletons (64.6 %). In addition, the fully cyclized product (35.4 %) having the 6/6/6/6/6‐fused pentacycle was produced; however, the normally cyclized product, 29‐nor‐β‐amyrin was present in only 18.6 % of these products. The conversion yield of substrate 8 possessing a Z‐Me group at the terminus was approximately twofold greater than that of compound 9 with an E‐Me group. Thus, the Me‐30 group is essential for the correct folding of a chair–chair–chair–boat–boat conformation of compound 1 for the production of the β‐amyrin scaffold, whereas the Me‐24 group exerts little influence on the normal polycyclization cascade. Here, we show that the Me‐30 group plays critical roles in constructing the ordered architecture of a chair–chair–chair–boat–boat structure, in facilitating the ring‐expansion reactions, and in performing the final deprotonation reaction at the correct position.     

A 3,4‐trans‐Fused Cyclic Protecting Group Facilitates α‐Selective Catalytic Synthesis of 2‐Deoxyglycosides

A practical approach has been developed to convert glucals and rhamnals into disaccharides or glycoconjugates with high α‐selectivity and yields (77–97 %) using a trans‐fused cyclic 3,4‐O‐disiloxane protecting group and TsOH?H₂O (1 mol %) as a catalyst. Control of the anomeric selectivity arises from conformational locking of the intermediate oxacarbenium cation. Glucals outperform rhamnals because the C6 side‐chain conformation augments the selectivity.     

Reactivity Study of Pyridyl‐Substituted 1‐Metalla‐2,5‐diaza‐cyclopenta‐2,4‐dienes of Group 4 Metallocenes

In this work the reactivity of 1‐metalla‐2,5‐diaza‐cyclopenta‐2,4‐dienes of group 4 metallocenes, especially of the pyridyl‐substituted examples, towards small molecules is investigated. The addition of H₂, CO₂, Ph?C≡N, 2‐py?C≡N, 1,3‐dicyanobenzene or 2,6‐dicyanopyridine results in exchange reactions, which are accompanied by the elimination of a nitrile. For CO₂, a coordination to the five‐membered cycle occurs in case of Cp*₂Zr(N=C(2‐py)?C(2‐py)=N). A 1,4‐diaza‐buta‐1,3‐diene complex is formed by H‐transfer in the conversion of the analogous titanocene compound with CH₃?C≡N, PhCH₂?C≡N or acetone. For CH₃?C≡N a coupling product of three acetonitrile molecules is established additionally. In order to split off the metallocene from the coupled nitriles, we examined reactions with HCl, PhPCl₂, PhPSCl₂ and SOCl₂. In the last case, the respective thiadiazole oxides and the metallocene dichlorides were obtained. A subsequent reaction produced thiadiazoles.     

Design,Synthesis, and Antifungal Activity of 3‐(Thiophen‐2‐yl)‐1,5‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrrol‐2‐one Derivatives Bearing a Carbonic Ester Group

A series of 3‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐1,5‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrrol‐2‐one derivatives bearing a carbonic ester group were designed and synthesized by integrating a thiophene nucleus and a pyrroline‐2‐one scaffold in a single molecular architecture. Their structures were confirmed by IR, ¹H‐NMR, EI‐MS, and elemental analyses, and their antifungal activities against Fusarium graminearum (Fg), Rhizoctorzia solani (Rs), and Botrytis cinerea (Bc) were evaluated. The antifungal bioassays indicated that some title compounds exhibited desirable antifungal effects against the tested fungi. Strikingly, the title compounds 4i , 4k , 4n , and 4o showed obvious antifungal activities against Rs, with corresponding EC₅₀ values of 35.26, 33.56, 23.90, and 30.48 μg/mL, respectively, which are better than that of hymexazol (37.86 μg/mL). These results indicated that 3‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐1,5‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrrol‐2‐one derivatives bearing a carbonic ester group can serve as potential structural templates in the search for novel high‐efficient fungicides.     

A New Reactivity Mode for the Diazo Group: Diastereoselective 1,3‐Aminoalkylation Reaction of β‐Amino‐α‐Diazoesters To Give Triazolines

A novel mode of reactivity for the diazo group, the 1,3‐addition of a nucleophile and an electrophile to the diazo group, has been realized in the intramolecular aminoalkylation of β‐amino‐α‐diazoesters to form tetrasubstituted 1,2,3‐triazolines. The reaction exhibited a broad scope, good functional group tolerance, and excellent diastereoselectivity. In addition, a new Au‐catalyzed intramolecular transannulation reaction of the obtained propargyl triazolines to give pyrroles has been discovered.     

4‐(2‐Hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐phenyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine and the 2‐(2,3‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐, 2‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐ and 2‐(2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐substituted derivatives

The 1,5‐benzodiazepine ring system exhibits a puckered boat‐like conformation for all four title compounds [4‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐phenyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine, C₂₁H₁₈N₂O, (I), 2‐(2,3‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐4‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine, C₂₃H₂₂N₂O₃, (II), 2‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐4‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine, C₂₃H₂₂N₂O₃, (III), and 2‐(2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐4‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine, C₂₃H₂₂N₂O₃, (IV)]. The stereochemical correlation of the two C₆ aromatic groups with respect to the benzodiazepine ring system is pseudo‐equatorial–equatorial for compounds (I) (the phenyl group), (II) (the 2,3‐dimethoxyphenyl group) and (III) (the 3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl group), while for (IV) (the 2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl group) the system is pseudo‐axial–equatorial. An intramolecular hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl OH group and a benzodiazepine N atom is present for all four compounds and defines a six‐membered ring, whose geometry is constant across the series. Although the molecular structures are similar, the supramolecular packing is different; compounds (I) and (IV) form chains, while (II) forms dimeric units and (III) displays a layered structure. The packing seems to depend on at least two factors: (i) the nature of the atoms defining the hydrogen bond and (ii) the number of intermolecular interactions of the types O—H...O, N—H...O, N—H...π(arene) or C—H...π(arene).     

Quantification of the β‐Stabilizing Effect of the Dicarbonyl(η5‐cyclopentadienyl)iron Group

Kinetic investigations of the reactions of (prop‐2‐enyl)dicarbonyl(cyclopentadienyl)iron complexes 1 with benzhydrylium ions 3 , and of dicarbonyl(cyclopentadienyl)[(1,2‐η)propene]iron(II) tetrafluoroborate ( 9 ⋅BF₄) with π‐nucleophiles have been performed to elucidate the magnitude of the β‐effect of the [(CO)₂FeCp] group (Fp group). Introduction of the Fp group into the allylic position of propene and 2‐methylpropene increases the nucleophilicity of the π‐bonds by nine and six orders of magnitude, respectively, with the result that the allyl‐Fp complexes 1a (N=6.78) and 1b (N=8.45) are among the strongest neutral π‐nucleophiles. Replacement of one β‐H‐atom in the isopropyl cation by the Fp group reduces the electrophilicity by more than 20 orders of magnitude, so that 9 ⁺ ranks among the weakest cationic C‐electrophiles (E=−11.2).     

1,10‐Phenanthroline and Non‐Symmetrical 1,3,5‐Triazine Dipicolinamide‐Based Ligands For Group Actinide Extraction

The synthesis and evaluation of new extractants for spent nuclear fuel reprocessing are described. New bitopic ligands constituted of phenanthroline and 1,3,5‐triazine cores functionalized by picolinamide groups were designed. Synthetic routes were investigated and optimized to obtain twelve new polyaza‐heterocyclic ligands. In particular, an efficient and versatile methodology was developed to access non‐symmetric 2‐substituted‐4,6‐di(6‐picolin‐2‐yl)‐1,3,5‐triazines from the 1,3,5‐triazapentadiene precursor in the presence of anhydride reagents. Extraction studies showed the ability of both ligand series to extract and separate actinides selectively at different oxidation states (U^VI, Np^V,VI, Am^III, Cm^III, and Pu^IV) from an acidic solution (3 M HNO₃). Phenanthroline‐based ligands show the most promising efficiency for use in the group actinide extraction (GANEX) process due to a higher number of donor nitrogen atoms and a suitable pre‐organization of the dipicolinamide‐1,10‐phenanthroline architecture.     

Metal‐Free Annulation of Arenes with 2‐Aminopyridine Derivatives: The Methyl Group as a Traceless Non‐Chelating Directing Group

A novel annulation reaction between 2‐aminopyridine derivatives and arenes under metal‐free conditions is described. The presented intermolecular transformation provided straightforward access to the important pyrido[1,2‐a]benzimidazole scaffold under mild reaction conditions. The unprecedented application of the methyl group of methylbenzenes as a traceless, non‐chelating, and highly regioselective directing group is reported.     

Ladder π‐Conjugated Materials Containing Main‐Group Elements

Ladder π‐conjugated compounds, which have fully ring‐fused polycyclic skeletons, are an important class of materials possessing significant potentials for application in organic electronics. The incorporation of main‐group elements, such as B, Si, P, S, and Se, into the ladder skeletons as bridging moieties is a powerful strategy to endow unusual electronic structures as well as suitable molecular arrangements in the solid state, giving rise to attractive photophysical and electronic properties. Recent efforts have produced a number of fascinating ladder materials, some of which indeed showed high performance as light‐emitting materials and charge carrier transporting materials. This Focus Review is an overview of the progress in this chemistry, focusing on several important π‐conjugated skeletons.     

4‐Chloro‐3′‐methylsulfinyl‐5(6 or 8)‐nitro‐3,4′‐diquinolinyl sulfides

Reaction of 4‐chloro‐3′‐methylthio‐3,4′‐diquinolinyl sulfides 3, 9b, 9c with a nitrating mixture proceeds via the 3′‐methylthio group monooxidation and yields 3′‐methylsulfinyl diquinolinyl sulfides 4, 5b, 5c , respectively. Further treatment of 4 with a nitrating mixture followed as C₅‐ and C₈‐nitration and gives mixture of 5a and 5c. Treatment of 3′‐methylsulfinyl quinolines 6 and 7 with hydrochloric acid/potassium iodide system causes reduction of the sulfoxide group in 6 and 7 to the sulfide group yielding 8 , in case of 4‐methoxyquinolines 6 , hydrolysis of the 4‐methoxyquinoline moiety to the 4‐quinolinone moiety takes place simultaneously. The proton and carbon chemical shifts of 4 and 5a were completely assigned following COSY, HETCOR and INEPT or COLOC studies.     

Supramolecular structures of 5‐[3‐(4‐methyl­phenyl)‐ and 5‐[3‐(4‐chloro­phenyl)‐2‐propenyl­idene]‐2,2‐di­methyl‐1,3‐dioxane‐4,6‐dione

2,2‐Di­methyl‐5‐[3‐(4‐methyl­phenyl)‐2‐propenyl­idene]‐1,3‐di­ox­ane‐4,6‐dione, C₁₆H₁₆O₄, crystallizes in the triclinic space group , with two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. These mol­ecules and a centrosymmetrically related pair, linked together by weak C—H?O hydrogen bonds, form a tetramer. 5‐[3‐(4‐Chloro­phenyl)‐2‐propenyl­idene]‐2,2‐di­methyl‐1,3‐dioxane‐4,6‐dione, C₁₅H₁₃ClO₄, also crystallizes in the triclinic space group , with one mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit. Centrosymmetrically related mol­ecules are linked together by weak C—H?O hydrogen bonds to form dimers which are further linked by yet another pair of centrosymmetrically related C—H?O hydrogen bonds to form a tube which runs parallel to the a axis.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Regioselective C7‐Olefination of Indazoles Using an N‐Amide Directing Group

A rhodium‐catalyzed regioselective C−H olefination of indazole is described. This protocol relies on the use of an efficient and removable N ,N ‐diisopropylcarbamoyl directing group, which offers facile access to C7‐olefinated indazoles with high regioselectivity, ample substrate scope and broad functional group tolerance.     

Intramolecular Photocyclization of 2‐Acylphenyl Methacrylates: a Convenient Access to 4,5‐Dihydro‐1,4‐epoxy‐2‐benzoxepin‐3(1H)‐ones (= Benzo[c]‐6,8‐dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan‐7‐ones

The photochemical reactions of 2‐acylphenyl methacrylates (= 2‐acylphenyl 2‐methylprop‐2‐enoates) 1 were investigated. Irradiation of 2‐acylphenyl methacrylates 1a – d in MeCN gave the tricyclic lactones 2a – d in good yields, together with a small amount of O CO bond cleavage product, the 2‐acylphenols 3a – d (Scheme 2, Table). The formation of the tricyclic lactones 2 probably follows a mechanism involving a 1,7‐diradical through ζ‐H abstraction (1,8‐H transfer) by the excited carbonyl O‐atom (Scheme 3). Irradiation of 2‐acylphenyl tiglate (= 2‐acylphenyl (2E)‐2‐methylbut‐2‐enoate) 1e and 2‐acylphenyl methacrylates 1g – i , substituted by a MeO group (δ‐H) at the 3,5‐positions of the phenyl group, also gave the tricyclic lactones 2e and 2g – i , but in low yields. On the other hand, no H‐abstraction products were observed on irridation of 2‐(ethoxycarbonyl)phenyl methacrylate 1f , of 2‐acylphenyl methacrylate 1j which is substituted by a Me group (γ‐H) at the 3,5‐positions of the phenyl group, and of 1k with an OH group at the 3‐position of the phenyl group.     

Enhancement of Neighbouring‐Group Participation in Cu0‐Promoted Cross‐Coupling gem‐Difluoromethylenation of Aryl/Alkenyl Halides with 1,3‐Azolic Difluoromethyl Bromides

A copper(0)‐promoted direct reductive gem‐difluoromethylenation of unactivated aryl or alkenyl halides with benzo‐1,3‐azolic (oxa‐, thia‐ or aza‐) difluoromethyl bromides or 2‐bromodifluoromethyl‐1,3‐oxazoline has been developed for the construction of pharmaceutically important gem‐difluoromethylene‐linked twin molecules. The unique π‐conjugated aryl‐fused 1,3‐azolic moiety in difluoromethyl bromide substrates could stabilise the reaction intermediates, which promotes the reactivities, providing facile access to the cross‐coupling products in good to excellent yields, and allowing significant functional group tolerance. The reaction exhibits an enhanced neighbouring‐group‐participation effect. This method could provide a new strategy for the construction of gem‐difluoromethylene‐linked identical or nonidentical twin drugs through further functionalisation of 1,3‐azolic skeletons.     

5‐Fluoro‐1‐octanoyl­uracil

The crystal structure of 5‐fluoro‐1‐octanoyl­uracil [5‐fluoro‐1‐octanoyl­pyrimidine‐2,4(1H,3H)‐dione, C₁₂H₁₇FN₂O₃], a lipophilic prodrug of 5‐fluoro­uracil, is described. The 5‐fluoro­pyrimidine‐2,4(1H,3H)‐dione moiety is similar to the known structure of 1‐acetyl‐5‐fluoro­uracil. The 1‐octanoyl group and the 5‐fluoro­uracil moiety are essentially coplanar, with the octanoyl carbonyl group oriented towards the the ring C—H group and away from the nearer ring carbonyl group. The torsion angle C—N—C—O (from the ring CH group to the octanoyl carbonyl group) of 9.2 (2)° is similar to the corresponding torsion angles reported for 1‐acetyl‐5‐fluoro­uracil (17.3 and 1.6°) and 1,3‐di­acetyl‐5‐fluoro­uracil (8.8°).     

Stereoselective β‐Mannosylation with 2,6‐Lactone‐bridged Thiomannosyl Donor by Remote Acyl Group Participation

Stereoselective β‐mannosylation has been recognized as one of the greatest challenges of carbohydrate chemistry. Herein, we described a practical method for stereoselective construction of β‐mannosides by using a 2,6‐lactone‐bridged thiomannosyl donor through the remote acyl‐group participation as well as the steric effect of O‐4 substituent. The two effects are enabled through the conversion of a regular mannopyranosyl ⁴C₁ conformation into a 2,6‐lactone bridged conformation. The lactone donor could be readily prepared in three steps on a gram scale and the β‐mannosylation proceeded smoothly with high stereoselectivity for primary, secondary and tertiary alcohol acceptors. In addition, this strategy was successfully applied to the synthesis of a naturally occurring trisaccharide.     

Synthesis and Some Reactions of 2‐Acyl‐2‐alkyl‐1,3‐dithiolane 1,1‐Dioxides

The selective formation of optically active 2‐acyl‐2‐alkyl‐1,3‐dithiolane 1,1‐dioxides from the corresponding 2‐acyl‐2‐alkyl‐1,3‐dithiolane 1‐oxides, by reaction with OsO₄ and NMO in acetone, is reported. These compounds underwent stereoselective reactions at the carbonyl group of the acyl group with organometallic reagents. These reactions were completely regioselective, and no attack at either of the S‐atoms was observed, unlike similar reactions with the corresponding sulfoxides. The nature of the metal atom had a direct effect upon the configuration of the product alcohols.