Olefin insertion in Pd-acyl complexes modified with 1,4-Cs-symmetrical diphosphine ligands

The insertion of ethene and propene was investigated in palladium(II) acyl complexes of the type [PdC(O)CH₃(P^∧P′)(CH₃CN)](OTf) modified with the C_s-symmetric diphosphines 2-4 and the parent ligand 1, described by C_2v-symmetry and taken as a reference.Ethene insertion was investigated for acyl complexes containing the ligands 2 and 3. Two insertion products formed in a ratio of approximately 1:1 for both systems, irrespective of the electronic properties of the ligands.Propene as an α-olefin can insert according to a 1,2- or 2,1-insertion mode into a palladium acyl bond, arising regioselectivity issues. Moreover, due to the C_s-symmetry of the ligands, two stereoisomers can result upon insertion, as the alkyl group of the formed five-membered metallacycle can be cis or trans to each non-equivalent moiety. Propene insertion was indeed neither stereo- nor regioselective in the cases of 3 and 4, in which the products arising from both 1,2- and 2,1-insertion were observed. 2 displayed total control of stereo- and regioselectivity, with the formation of one primary insertion product. Similar regioselectivity was observed for the reference ligand 1. The regioisomeric distribution was different from equimolar for propene insertion, where the ratio of the products might be controlled by a combination of steric and electronic factors.     

PhP-PPh group bound to 1,8-positions of naphthalene: Preparation of cis isomer and synthesis of binuclear complex

A thermodynamically less stable cis isomer of 1,2-diphosphacycle was prepared from the corresponding trans isomer. Diphosphine, in which a PhP-PPh bond bridges the 1,8-positions of naphthalene, 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-dihydronaphtho[1,8-cd][1,2]diphosphole (1), was first prepared according to a previously reported method, and the trans isomer of 1 was irradiated in tetrahydrofuran with UV-vis light to reach equilibrium with cis-1 in a trans:cis ratio of 1:2. When a similar photochemical conversion was carried out using a saturated hexane solution of trans-1, cis-1 was precipitated in a good yield of 94%. The configuration of cis-1 was confirmed by X-ray analysis. Both cis- and trans-1 diphosphine ligands were used for the preparation of binuclear gold complexes. The crystal structure of (μ-cis-1)-[AuCl]₂ demonstrated that the two lone pairs of cis-1 are suitably directed for arrangement of the two gold centers in close proximity to each other. The two independent (μ-cis-1)-[AuCl]₂ molecules in the crystal were found to form a dimer through the multiple intermolecular interaction among the gold centers.     

Silicon-carbon unsaturated compounds. 73. Photolysis of cis- and trans-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol and acetone

Irradiation of cis-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane (1a) in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol in hexane with a low-pressure mercury lamp bearing a Vycor filter proceeded with high stereospecificity to give cis-2,3-benzo-1-tert-butoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (2a), in 33% isolated yield, together with a 15% yield of 1-[(tert-butoxy)methylphenylsilyl]-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane (3). The photolysis of trans-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane (1b) with tert-butyl alcohol under the same conditions gave stereospecifically trans-2,3-benzo-1-tert-butoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (2b) in 41% isolated yield, along with a 12% yield of 3. Similar photolysis of 1a and 1b with tert-butyl alcohol-d₁ produced 2a and 2b, respectively, in addition to 1-[(tert-butoxy)(monodeuteriomethyl)(phenyl)silyl]-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane. When 1a and 1b were photolyzed with acetone in a hexane solution, cis- and trans-2,3-benzo-1-isopropoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (4a and 4b) were obtained in 25% and 23% isolated yield. In both photolyses, 1-(hydroxymethylphenylsilyl)-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane (5) was also isolated in 4% and 5% yield, respectively. The photolysis of 1a with acetone-d₆ under the same conditions gave 4a-d₆ and 5-d₁ in 18% and 4% yields.     

Synthesis characterization and X-ray crystal structures of cis-1,4-diaminocyclohexane-platinum(II) nucleobase adducts

Platinum complexes of the type [Pt(cis-1,4-DACH)(L)₂]X, where cis-1,4-DACH = cis-1,4-diaminocyclohexane; L = adenine (ade) (1), hypoxanthine (hyp) (2), 9-methylguanine (9-megua) (3), cytosine (cyt) (4), or 1-methylcytosine (1-mecyt) (5); and X = SO₄ or Cl₂ groups, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and by ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁹⁵Pt nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The crystals of [Pt(cis-1,4-DACH)(9-megua)₂]SO₄[9-megua-H]₂SO₄ (3) and [Pt(cis-1,4-DACH)(1-mecyt)₂]Cl₂ · 6H₂O (5) were also subjected to single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The base/PtN4 coordination plane dihedral angles were 74.55° and 85.61° in complex 3 and 78.12° and 81.80° in complex 5. The platinum had distorted square planar geometry in both complexes; the two adjacent corners were occupied by the two nitrogen atoms of cis-1,4-DACH, and the other two corners were occupied by the two N7 atoms of 9-megua in complex 3 and the two N3 atoms of 1-mecyt in complex 5. The cis-1,4-DACH, which has a unique twist-boat configuration, formed a seven-member chelating ring with platinum, which led to considerable strain during bidentate cis-1,4-DACH binding. Cations of both complexes 3 and 5 adopted C₂ molecular symmetry. These adducts were the models for the intrastand cross-links that were relevant to the binding of the Pt(II) antitumor drugs to DNA.     

Synthesis of N,N-di(arylmethylidene)arylmethanediamines by flash vacuum pyrolysis of arylmethylazides

Flash vacuum pyrolysis of arylmethylazides 7a-d gave 2,4-diazapentadienes 5a-d in high yield (76-92%). The thermal cyclization of 5a-d gave cis-imidazolines 1a-d, further heating or Swern oxidation of 1a-d gave dehydrogenated products, imidazoles 2a-d.     

Oxidative chemistry of the natural antioxidant hydroxytyrosol: hydrogen peroxide-dependent hydroxylation and hydroxyquinone/o-quinone coupling pathways

Oxidation of the natural antioxidant hydroxytyrosol (1) with peroxidase/H₂O₂ in phosphate buffer at pH 7.4 led to the formation of two main ethyl acetate-extractable products. These could be isolated by preparative TLC after reduction and acetylation, and were identified as the tetraacetyl derivative of 2-(2,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)ethanol (3) and the heptaacetyl derivative of the pentahydroxybiphenyl 4 by 2D NMR and MS analysis. Similar oxidation of 4-methylcatechol gave, after the same work-up, the acetylated derivatives of 1,2,4-trihydroxy-5-methylbenzene (5) and the pentahydroxybiphenyl 6. Mechanistic experiments suggested that hydrogen peroxide affects the course of the oxidation of 1 by adding to the first formed o-quinone to give a hydroxyquinone intermediate. This could bring nucleophilic attack to the o-quinone of 1 to give the dimer 4. These results disclose novel oxidative pathways of 4-alkylcatechols and provide an improved chemical basis to enquire into the mechanism of the antioxidant action of 1.     

Biomimetically inspired total synthesis of (12S)-12-hydroxymonocerin and (12R)-12-hydroxymonocerin

A concise asymmetric total synthesis of (12S)-12-hydroxymonocerin (1) and (12R)-12-hydroxymonocerin (2) were efficiently achieved from the known 4-bromo-2,6-dimethoxyphenol. The synthetic approach was inspired by our biomimetic synthesis of (+)-monocerin (3) and 7-O-demethylmonocerin (4). The cis-fused furobenzopyranones of 1 and 2 was efficiently constructed via an intramolecular nucleophilic trapping of a quinonemethide intermediate, which was obtained by benzylic oxidation of compound 10 using 2,3-Dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ).     

Dimolybdenum complexes containing anions of N,N′-bis(pyrimidine-2-yl)formamidine and N-(2-pyrimidinyl)formamide

The reactions of Mo₂(O₂CCH₃)₄ with different equivalents of N,N′-bis(pyrimidine-2-yl)formamidine (HL1) and N-(2-pyrimidinyl)formamide (HL2) afforded dimolybdenum complexes of the types Mo₂(O₂CCH₃)(L1)₂(L2) (1) trans-Mo₂(L1)₂(L2)₂ (2) cis-Mo₂(L1)₂(L2)₂ (3) and Mo₂(L2)₄ (4). Their UV–Vis and NMR spectra have been recorded and their structures determined by X-ray crystallography. Complexes 2 and 3 establish the first pair of trans and cis forms of dimolybdenum complexes containing formamidinate ligands. The L1 ligands in 1–3 are bridged to the metal centers through two central amine nitrogen atoms, while the L2 ligands in 1–4 are bridged to the metal centers via one pyrimidyl nitrogen atom and the amine nitrogen atom. The Mo–Mo distances of complexes 1 [2.0951(17) Å], 2 [2.103(1) Å] and 3 [2.1017(3) Å], which contain both Mo?N and Mo?O axial interactions, are slightly longer than those of complex 4 [2.0826(12)–2.0866(10) Å] which has only Mo?O interactions.     

Carbonylation studies of Pd-methyl complexes modified with 1,4-Cs-symmetrical diphosphine ligands

Neutral palladium methyl chloride 2a-d [PdCH₃(PˆP′)Cl] and cationic palladium methyl acetonitrile mono-triflate 3a-d [PdCH₃(PˆP′)(CH₃CN)](CF₃SO₃) complexes were synthesized and fully characterized (PˆP′ = 1a-d). All the neutral and cationic complexes containing a C_s-symmetric diphosphine exist in solution as a mixture of geometric isomers. The carbonylation at atmospheric pressure of the neutral and cationic complexes revealed that migratory insertion of carbon monoxide is not stereospecific in these systems. The neutral and cationic acyl complexes were formed in situ as mixtures of stereoisomers, which were characterized by means of NMR spectroscopy.The crystal structures of [Pd(1a)Cl]₂(OTf)₂ and 2d are described.     

Chronoamperometric study and X-ray analysis of Ru(II)-pdto (1,8-bis-(2-pyridyl)-3,6-dithiaoctane) complexes with substituted 1,10-phenanthrolines

This work presents cyclic voltammetry and double potential step chronoamperometry experiments corresponding to the electrochemical reduction of the substituted 1,10-phenanthroline ligands in the coordination compounds [Ru(pdto)(1,10-phenanthroline)]Cl₂ (1), [Ru(pdto)(5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)]Cl₂ (2), [Ru(pdto)(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)]Cl₂ (3), [Ru(pdto)(4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)]Cl₂ (4) and [Ru(pdto)(3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)]Cl₂ (5). These studies were performed in order to evaluate the stability of the electrogenerated chemical species. An EC_i mechanism for all the complexes was proposed and the rate constant value (k₁) for the chemical coupled reaction was estimated. The stability is discussed in terms of the rate constant value (k₁) and the π*-acceptor properties.     

Nitration reaction of lutein with peroxynitrite

The in vitro reactivity of lutein toward peroxynitrite was investigated, and the reaction products produced by scavenging with peroxynitrite were analyzed. A novel lutein-6H-1,2-oxazine (1) along with 14-s-cis-15-nitirolutein (2) and 14′-s-cis-15′-nitrolutein (3) was isolated from the products of the reaction of lutein with peroxynitrite. These results indicate that lutein is able to capture peroxynitrite and nitrogen dioxide radicals from their molecules to form oxazine or nitrocarotenoids.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of new dimethylamino-functionalised and heteroaryl-substituted titanocene anti-cancer drugs

From the carbolithiation of N,N-dimethylamino fulvene (3a) and different ortho-lithiated heterocycles (furan, thiophene and N-methylpyrrole), the corresponding lithium cyclopentadienide intermediate (4a-c) was formed. These three lithiated intermediates underwent a transmetallation reaction with TiCl₄ resulting in dimethylamino-functionalised titanocenes 5a-c. When these titanocenes were tested against LLC-PK cells, the IC₅₀ values obtained were of 240, and 28 μM for titanocenes 5a and 5b, respectively. The most cytotoxic titanocene 5c with an IC₅₀ value of 5.5 μM is found to be almost as cytotoxic as cis-platin, which showed an IC₅₀ value of 3.3 μM, when tested on the LLC-PK cell line, and titanocene 5c is approximately 400 times better than titanocene dichloride itself.     

Electrostatic forces that determine O,O-trans versus O,S-cis conformers in the aminated porphyrin complexes of Cd(N-NHCO-2-C4H3O-tpp)(OAc) and Cd(N-NHCO-2-C4H3S-tpp)(OAc)

Two new diamagnetic, mononuclear and aminated porphyrin complexes of O,O-trans-Cd (3-trans) and O,S-cis-Cd (4-cis) have been synthesized and characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of (acetato)(N-2-furancarboxamido-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)cadmium(II) [Cd(N-NHCO-2-C₄H₃O-tpp)(OAc); 3-trans] and (acetato)(N-2-thiophenecarboxamido-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)cadmium(II) [Cd(N-NHCO-2-C₄H₃S-tpp)(OAc); 4-cis] were determined. The coordination sphere around Cd²⁺ is a distorted square-based pyramid in which the apical site is occupied by a bidentate chelating OAc⁻ group for 3-trans and 4-cis. The plane of three pyrrole nitrogen atoms [i.e., N(1), N(2), N(4) for 3-trans and N(1), N(2), N(3) for 4-cis] strongly bonded to Cd²⁺ is adopted as a reference plane 3N. The N(3) and N(4) pyrrole rings bearing the 2-furancarboxamido (Fr) and 2-thiophenecarboxamido groups in 3-trans and 4-cis, respectively, deviate mostly from the 3N plane, thus orienting separately with a dihedral angle of 33.4° and of 31.0°. In 3-trans, Cd²⁺ and N(5) are located on different sides at 1.06 and −1.49 Å from its 3N plane, while in 4-cis, Cd²⁺ and N(5) are also located on different sides at 1.04 and −1.53 Å from its 3N plane. An attractive electrostatic interaction between the Cd²⁺ and O(4)⁻ atoms in furan stabilizes the O,O-trans conformer of 3. A repulsive electrostatic interaction between Cd²⁺ and S(1)⁺ destabilizes the O,S-trans conformer of 4. Both of these repulsive and the mutually attractive interactions between S(1)⁺ and O(3)⁻ atoms favor the O,S-cis rotamer of 4 both in the vapor phase and in low polarity solvents. NOE difference spectroscopy, HMQC and HMBC were employed for the unambiguous assignment of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR resonances of 3-trans and 4-cis in CDCl₃ at 20 and −50 °C.     

Synthesis and structure of {{amino(triorganosilyl)carbene}pentacarbonyltungsten(0)} complexes and attempted synthesis of {[2-bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl-3-triorganosilyl-2H-azaphosphirene-κP]pentacarbonyltungsten(0)}

First examples of tungsten aminocarbene complexes [(OC₅)W{C(SiR¹_nR²_3-n)NH₂}] 2a-d (R¹ = Ph, R² = Me) were synthesized via ammonolysis of the corresponding methoxycarbene complexes 1a-d. They were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, MS, IR, UV/Vis and elemental analysis, and in the case of the C-triphenylsilyl derivative 2a by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. The reaction of P-chloro alkylidenephosphane 3 with complexes 2a-d, meant to give 2H-azaphosphirene complexes, was monitored by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy to reveal the formation of the products 4-7, which were presumably formed via decomposition of the transient complexes 10a-d.     

Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of tribenzylphosphine rhodium and iridium complexes

New rhodium and iridium complexes, with the formula [MCl(PBz₃)(cod)] [M = Rh (1), Ir (2)] and [M(PBz₃)₂(cod)]PF₆ [M = Rh (3), Ir (4)] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene), stabilized by the tribenzylphosphine ligand (PBz₃) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods. The molecular structures of 1 and 2 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The addition of pyridine to a methanol solution of 1or 2, followed by metathetical reaction with NH₄PF₆, gave the corresponding derivatives [M(py)(PBz₃)(cod)]PF₆ [M = Rh (5), Ir (6)]. At room temperature in CHCl₃ solution, 4 converted spontaneously to the ortho-metallated complex [IrH(PBz₃)(cod){η²-P,C-(C₆H₄CH₂)PBz₂}]PF₆ (7) as a mixture of cis/trans isomers via intramolecular C-H activation of a benzylic phenyl ring. The reaction of 3 or 4 with hydrogen in coordinating solvents gave the dihydrido bis(solvento) derivative [M(H)₂(S)₂(PBz₃)₂]PF₆ (M = Rh, Ir; S = acetone, acetonitrile, THF), that transformed into the corresponding dicarbonyls [M(H)₂(CO)₂(PBz₃)₂]PF₆ by treatment with CO. Analogous cis-dihydrido complexes [M(H)₂(THF)₂(py)(PBz₃)₂]PF₆ (M = Rh, Ir) were observed by reaction of the py derivatives 5 and 6 with H₂.     

Chemical characterisation of oxidative degradation products of Δ-THC

The chemical analysis of a sample of Δ⁹-THC, which had been stored in an ethanol/propylene glycol solution for 5 years, resulted in the isolation of several hydroxylated Δ⁹-THC derivatives, the main of which were trans-cannabitriol monoethyl ether (4) and trans-propanediol ethers 7 and 8. cis-Cannabitriol monoethyl ether (5) and the oxidised derivatives 3 and 6 were detected in lesser amounts. The structure elucidation of the unprecedented cannabinoids 3, 5, 7 and 8 was achieved mainly by NMR techniques. Full NMR assignment of compounds 4 and 6 were also made. The detection of cannabitriol (6) and the corresponding solvent-adduct analogues (compounds 4-8) was in agreement with the decomposition mechanisms previously proposed for Δ⁹-THC. The isolation of the endoperoxide 3 represents indirect evidence of the existence of unstable precursors that were suspected to be intermediates in the non-enzymatic oxidation pathway of Δ⁹-THC. Both isomers of cannabitriol monoethyl ether exhibited weak affinity at either CB₁ (K_i=2.25, 6.30 μM) or CB₂ cannabinoid receptors (K_i=1.97, 3.13 μM), the trans isomer always being more potent than the cis isomer.     

Synthesis of aluminium complexes bearing a piperazine-based ligand system

Aluminium complexes bearing the N,N-chelating ligand 1,4-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butyl)piperazine (1) have been synthesised. Both monometallic and bimetallic aluminium methyl complexes (2 and 3, respectively) were prepared by treatment of 1 with the appropriate amount of AlMe₃. Complex 2 can be converted to 3 by addition of excess AlMe₃. Bimetallic aluminium-ethyl complex 4 was also prepared. Treatment of 1 with AlEt₂Cl afforded the monometallic chloride complex 5. Treatment of this latter complex with potassium alkoxides (KOR, R = Me, Et, ⁱPr, ^tBu) or AgOTf afforded the corresponding aluminium alkoxide complexes (6, R = Et; 7, R = Me; 8, R = ⁱPr; 9, R = ^tBu; 10, R = OTf) in good yields. Aluminium ethoxide complex 6 was also synthesised by treatment of 1 with AlEt₂OEt. All of these complexes were tested as potential catalysts in the ring-opening polymerisation of rac-lactide and caprolactone with limited success.     

Synthesis and structural characterisation of rhodium hydride complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

Addition of excesses of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) IEt₂Me₂, IⁱPr₂Me₂ or ICy (IEt₂Me₂ = 1,3-diethyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene; IⁱPr₂Me₂ = 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene; ICy = 1,3-dicyclohexylimidazol-2-ylidene) to [HRh(PPh₃)₄] (1) affords an isomeric mixture of [HRh(NHC)(PPh₃)₂] (NHC = IEt₂Me₂ (cis-/trans-2), IⁱPr₂Me₂ (cis-/trans-3), ICy (cis-/trans-4) and [HRh(NHC)₂(PPh₃)] (IEt₂Me₂(cis-/trans-5), IⁱPr₂Me₂ (cis-/trans-6), ICy (cis-/trans-7)). Thermolysis of 1 with the aryl substituted NHC, 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene (IMesH₂), affords the bridging hydrido phosphido dimer, [{(PPh₃)₂Rh}₂(μ-H)(μ-PPh₂)] (8), which is also the reaction product formed in the absence of carbene. When the rhodium precursor was changed from 1 to [HRh(CO)(PPh₃)₃] (9) and treated with either IMes (=1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene) or ICy, the bis-NHC complexes trans-[HRh(CO)(IMes)₂] (10) and trans-[HRh(CO)(ICy)₂] (11) were formed. In contrast, the reaction of 9 with IⁱPr₂Me₂ gave [HRh(CO)(IⁱPr₂Me₂)₂] (cis-/trans-12) and the unusual unsymmetrical dimer, [(PPh₃)₂Rh(μ-CO)₂Rh(IⁱPr₂Me₂)₂] (13). The complexes trans-3, 8, 10 and 13 have been structurally characterised.     

Alkaline hydrolysis of N-bromoiminothianthrene derivatives

5-(N-Bromo)iminothianthrene (2) and 5-(N-bromo)iminothianthrene 10-oxide (5) and 10,10-dioxide (8) were prepared and their alkaline hydrolyses were studied. The compound 2 and cis-5-(N-bromo)iminothianthrene 10-oxide (cis-5) afforded the corresponding sulfoximine exclusively. While, unexpectedly, both trans-5-(N-bromo)iminothianthrene 10-oxide (trans-5) and 8 afforded mainly de-brominated products, trans-5-iminothianthrene 10-oxide (trans-4) and 5-iminothianthrene 10,10-dioxide (7), respectively. In these cases, 5-iminothianthrene 5,10-dioxide (6) (Z- and E-mixture) and 5-iminothianthrene 5,10,10-trioxide (9) and further de-iminated products were also formed respectively as minor products. The stereochemical considerations on the S_N reactions are described in view of the steric effect and ‘flip-flap’ motion of the thianthrene framework.