Easy access to N-aryl, N-heteroarylbenzoxazolinones and 4-aza analogues via Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions

An improved method for the synthesis of N-aryl, N-heteroarylbenzoxazolinones and their 4-aza analogues is described. The process involves the Diels-Alder cycloaddition of benzoxazinic or pyridoxazinic dienic systems with dienophiles as a key step.     

Bis allyl benzoxazine: Synthesis, polymerisation and polymer properties

A bis benzoxazine monomer with allyl groups viz: 2,2′-bis (8-allyl-3-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,3-benzoxazinyl) propane (Bz-allyl) was synthesized via a solventless method from 2,2′diallyl bisphenol-A, paraformaldehyde and aniline. The chemical structure of Bz-allyl was confirmed by FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR analyses. The monomer manifested a two-stage thermal polymerisation pattern. The first stage was attributed to the polymerisation of the allyl groups and the second to the ring - opening polymerisation of benzoxazine moiety. The polymerisation profile was investigated with DSC, FT-IR, TGA and pyrolysis-GC techniques. A polymerisation mechanism involving the electrophilic addition of the propagating iminium cation on the aniline ring in lieu of the activated sites of bisphenol-A, (which are blocked by allyl and alkyl substituents) was proposed. Additional cross-linking was provided by thermal addition polymerization of allyl groups. As a result of altered cross-linking via the aniline moiety and the additional cross-linking via allyl groups, the cured polymer exhibited a T_g of ca. 300 °C and high crosslink density. The thermal stability of this polymer was also substantially higher vis-à-vis that of the bisphenol-A based polybenzoxazine. The work focuses on the manipulation of benzoxazine monomer structure to alter the ring-opening polymerisation mechanism and cross-linking to derive polybenzoxazine with improved properties.     

Molecular orbital studies on some 4-substituted pyridine N-oxides and 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide

The electronic structures of a series of 4-substituted pyridine N-oxides and 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide are investigated using the simple Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP), a modified PPP, IEH and MINDO/2 methods. The electronic absorption band maxima and dipole moments are calculated and compared with experimental values. The photoelectron spectra of these compounds are assigned. The nature of the N-oxide group is characterized using the orbital population distributions. The antifungal activity exhibited by some of these compounds is discussed in terms of the nucleophilic frontier electron densities, superdelocalizabilities and electron acceptor properties. The effect of the electron releasing as well as the electron withdrawing substituents on the physico-chemical properties is explained.     

Access to lincomycin N-oxide isomers controlled by reaction conditions

Oxidation of lincomycin with H₂O₂ in alkaline media leads to N-oxides, besides the conversion of thiomethyl group into sulfoxides and sulfones. NH₄OH favors formation of the S-isomer; both R- and S-isomers of the N-oxide are formed in the presence of NaOH. Addition of acetonitrile markedly accelerates the reaction.     

Copper-catalyzed direct N-arylation of N-arylsulfonamides using diaryliodonium salts in water

An efficient copper-catalyzed N-arylation of N-arylsulfonamides with diaryliodonium salts is reported. The reaction employs diaryliodonium salts and N-arylsulfonamides in water at room temperature, giving the products in moderate to excellent yields.     

Synthetic evaluation of an enantiopure tetrahydropyridine N-oxide. Synthesis of (+)-febrifugine

A study into the synthesis and synthetic utility of (S)-3-benzyloxy-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine N-oxide is described. This nitrone is readily accessed from l-glutamic acid and the regio- and stereoselectivity of cycloaddition of this compound with a range of alkenes has been probed. Reductive cleavage of the major cycloadducts provides access to a diverse range of trans-2,3-disubstituted piperidines. The synthetic scope of this nitrone is further illustrated by the use of this compound as a key intermediate in a concise synthesis of the anti-malarial agent (+)-febrifugine.     

Syntheses of aryl- and arylethynyl-substituted N-confused porphyrins

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions under Suzuki, Sonogashira, and Stille conditions afford 3-aryl (9-12) and 3-arylethynyl N-confused porphyrin (NCP) silver(III) complexes (13-15) from the 3-bromo NCP complex (4) in ca. 70% yields along with the transmetalated products, 3-substituted NCP palladium(II) complexes (11-Pd to 15-Pd), in 10-30% yields. Substitution at 3-position was confirmed by the single crystal X-ray structures of 9, 13-Ag, and 13-Pd. The arylethynyl groups or five-membered heterocyclic aromatic rings at 3-position largely affected the optical properties of N-confused porphyrin, in which the longest absorption maxima of the Q-bands are shifted bathochromically by 30-120 nm. The electronic effect of substituent differs largely between palladium and silver complexes reflecting the different π-electron delocalization pathway of NCP cores. 3-Aryl- and 3-arylethynyl NCP silver(III) complexes were easily demetalated to afford the corresponding free base porphyrins by the treatment of sodium borohydride.     

On the conformation of the 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetra- methyl piperidine N-oxide

The infrared spectra and thedipole moment of 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine N-oxide are presented. The temperature effects on the conformations chair-boat of this compound are discussed, based on the existence of intra or intermolecular H-bonding.     

Double crystallization behavior in dry-jet wet spinning of cellulose/N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide hydrate solutions

The structure and resultant mechanical properties of fibers in the dry-jet wet spinning process of cellulose solutions in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) hydrates were investigated in terms of molecular weight of cellulose, concentration, and hydration number (n) of NMMO hydrate. The value of n had an effect on the crystallization behavior of the cellulose solution system, which influenced the resultant fiber structure. Increasing cellulose concentration and decreasing the value of n retarded crystallization because of the increased interactions between cellulose and NMMO hydrate. Reducing the value of n from 1 to 0.72 produced more highly oriented cellulose fibers. However, incorporating n-propyl gallate, an antioxidant, had little effect on the fiber structure. When n=0.72 a double crystallization behavior was observed in the fiber spinning process irrespective of molecular weight of cellulose and concentration over the experimental ranges examined. It should be noted that such a double crystallization took place in the absence of foreign additives. The double crystallization behavior was more noticeable when the aspect ratio of spinning nozzle was greater. The double layer structure had a positive effect on the mechanical strength.     

Studies on the carbenium-iminium ions derived from N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO)

Two carbenium-iminium ions, an exo-centered species 2 and a ring-centered form 3, are derived from the widely used oxidant and cellulose solvent N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (1) by heterolytic degradation. 3 rearranges into 2 in the presence of water, in an endothermic, bimolecular reaction involving a highly organized transition state, which is the first example of a carbenium-iminium ion interconversion. The reaction mechanism was investigated by a combined approach consisting of trapping reactions, isotopic labeling, kinetic studies, and computations on the DFT level.     

On the non-classical course of Polonowski reactions of N-benzylmorpholine-N-oxide (NBnMO)

The Polonowski reaction of NBnMO (4) afforded tropone (10) and the novel isoindole 11 besides the expected products benzaldehyde and acetmorpholide, in a temperature-dependent ratio. The reaction proceeded via two primary carbenium-iminium ion intermediates, an exo-centered species 5 which underwent a benzylium-tropylium type rearrangement, and a ring-centered species 6, which reacted further to isoindole 11 by intramolecular electrophilic substitution. The experimental findings were in good agreement with DFT computational data.     

The first report of unusual flipping of the cycloadducts from 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine N-oxide to N-cinnamoyl piperidines

A series of cycloadducts possessing unusual flipping modes have been isolated from the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine N-oxide to piperidides of cinnamic acid and para-substituted cinnamic acids and these were analyzed by X-ray crystallography to reveal novel solid-state structures. The presence of two different flippomers arising due to flipping of the six/five bicyclic ring was confirmed both in solid state and in solution. This is the first observation of 1,3-dipolar cycloadducts having two different flippomers arising due to flipping of the isoxazolidine ring.     

A cheap and efficient method for selective para-iodination of aniline derivatives

A new and cheap protocol for controlled iodination in the para-position of various aniline derivatives is presented. It operates under mild conditions by reacting the aniline derivatives with molecular iodine in a mixture of pyridine/dioxane (1/1 vol) at 0 °C.     

Preparation of TMS protected trifluoromethylated alcohols using trimethylamine N-oxide and trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane (TMSCF3)

A catalytic trifluoromethylation of aldehydes using trimethylamine N-oxide and trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane (TMSCF₃) is described. Aromatic, aliphatic and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes provided good to excellent yields of the corresponding trifluoromethylated products.     

The infrared spectra (600-150 cm−1 of pyridine N-oxide complexes of metal(II) halides and mixed-ligand (pyridine N-oxide—dimethylsulphoxide) complexes of copper(II) halides

The infrared spectra of the complexes [M(pyO)(H₂O)Cl₂] (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu; pyO = pyridine N-oxide) have been determined. Assignments of ν M-Opy, νM-OH₂ and ν M-Cl are made by observing the effects of deuterating the coordinated pyO and H₂O and replacing chloride by bromide in the Mn(II) complex. Assignments of metal—ligand modes in the mixed ligand complexes [M(pyO)(dmso)X₂] (dmso = dimethylsulphoxide) are made by comparison with the spectra of (ML₂X₂] (L = pyO, dmso) and by observing the effects of deuteration of pyO and dmso. Structural aspects of the spectra are discussed.     

Understanding the role of the Lewis acid catalyst on the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of N-benzylideneaniline N-oxide with acrolein: a DFT study

The Lewis acid (LA) catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of N-benzylideneaniline N-oxide with acrolein has been studied using DFT calculations. Coordination of AlCl₃ to the acrolein oxygen atom produces a drastic change in the mechanism along the more favorable meta reactive channel. The process is characterized by a strong nucleophile/electrophile interaction allowing the formation of a zwitterionic intermediate, a Michael-type addition. The subsequent ring closure constitutes the rate-determining step. The energies obtained with the inclusion of solvent effect by means of the polarizable continuum model are in good agreement with experimental findings. Analysis of the global and local electrophilicity allows to explain correctly the reactivity and regioselectivity of the LA catalyzed cycloaddition.     

Synthesis and structure of 5,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DECPO). Application to superoxide radical trapping

DECPO, a new analogue of EMPO was synthesized through a two-step synthetic pathway. Its structure and its application to trap superoxide were investigated. The ESR detection of the DECPO-OOH spin adduct is easy even at low concentration of superoxide. In comparison with DEPMPO, the trapping of superoxide with DECPO is faster and the detection of DECPO-OOH can be performed using a very low nitrone concentration (0.5 mM).     

Investigating thermal dimerization of N-methyl-flindersine. Syntheses and characterizations of paraensidimerines

Thermal dimerization of N-methyl-flindersine is reported here. This work commenced with the intent to access new Diels-Alder-type dimeric bis-pyranylquinoline alkaloids melicodenines but uncovered and characterized naturally occurring paraensidimerine F, F′and C′, as well as two new bis-quinolone derivatives.     

Unexpected cycloadducts from 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 3,4-dehydromorpholine N-oxide to N-cinnamoyl piperidines—first report of the novel formation of 2:1 cycloadducts

A series of unexpected cycloadducts along with normal cycloadducts have been isolated from the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 3,4-dehydromorpholine N-oxide to piperidides of cinnamic acid and para-substituted cinnamic acids and these were analyzed by X-ray crystallography to reveal novel solid-state structures. At first, 1:1 cycloadducts were formed which underwent in situ nucleophilic attack by another reduced nitrone moiety. A plausible iminium-oxonium ion mechanism has been proposed.