Insertion of a stable dialkylsilylene into silicon-chlorine bonds

The reactions of a stable dialkylsilylene with chlorosilanes such as tetrachlorosilane, dimethyldichlorosilane, and dichlorosilane occurred smoothly at room temperature in hydrocarbon solvents to give the corresponding Si-Cl bond insertion products. In the reaction of the silylene with dichlorosilane, only the Si-Cl bond insertion product was obtained, while a similar reaction with dimethylchlorosilane gave only the Si-H insertion product, emphasizing the remarkable difference in the steric requirements between these two insertion reactions. No reaction took place during the treatment of the silylene with trimethylchlorosilane. The Si-Cl insertion reactions are expected to be applied in the synthesis of new organosilicon frameworks that cannot be obtained by conventional methods.     

Reversible Isomerization Between Silacyclopropyl Cation and Cyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Silylene

A phosphine-stabilized silacyclopropyl cation 2 has been synthesized and fully characterized. Of particular interest, 2 reversibly isomerizes into the corresponding seven-membered cyclic (alkyl)(amino)silylene 3 at room temperature via a formal migratory ethylene insertion into the Si−P bond. Although silylene 3 has not been spectroscopically detected, its transient formation has been evidenced by the isolation of the corresponding disilene dimer 5 as well as by trapping reactions.     

IR-UV double resonance spectroscopic investigation of phenylacetylene-alcohol complexes. Alkyl group induced hydrogen bond switching

The electronic transitions of phenylacetylene complexes with water and trifluoroethanol are shifted to the blue, while the corresponding transitions for methanol and ethanol complexes are shifted to the red relative to the phenylacetylene monomer. Fluorescence dip infrared (FDIR) spectra in the O-H stretching region indicate that, in all the cases, phenylacetylene is acting as a hydrogen bond acceptor to the alcohols. The FDIR spectrum in the acetylenic C-H stretching region shows Fermi resonance bands for the bare phenylacetylene, which act as a sensitive tool to probe the intermolecular structures. The FDIR spectra reveal that water and trifluoroethanol interact with the pi electron density of the acetylene C-C triple bond, while methanol and ethanol interact with the pi electron density of the benzene ring. It can be inferred that the hydrogen bonding acceptor site on phenylacetylene switches from the acetylene pi to the benzene pi with lowering in the partial charge on the hydrogen atom of the OH group. The most significant finding is that the intermolecular structures of water and methanol complexes are notably distinct, which, to the best of our knowledge, this is first such observation in the case of complexes of substituted benzenes.     

Preparation of SF5 aromatics by vicarious nucleophilic substitution reactions of nitro(pentafluorosulfanyl)benzenes with carbanions

Vicarious nucleophilic substitutions (VNS) of hydrogen in 1-nitro-4-(pentafluorosulfanyl)benzene with carbanions provide 2-substituted 1-nitro-4-(pentafluorosulfanyl)benzenes in good to high yields. VNS of 1-nitro-3-(pentafluorosulfanyl)benzene gives a mixture of 6- and 4-substituted 1-nitro-3-(pentafluorosulfanyl)benzenes in 85:15 to >98:2 ratio and good to high yields. In basic media, the VNS reactions lead to the formation of carbanions that can be alkylated by alkyl halides affording the corresponding alkylated products in moderate yields. Transformation of primary products to substituted (pentafluorosulfanyl)anilines and 3- or 4-substituted (pentafluorosulfanyl)benzenes is also described.     

Synthesis of 3,4-dibromo-3,4,4-trichloro-1-phenylbutan-1-one and 1-aryl-2-bromo-3,4,4-trichlorobut-3-en-1-ones from 3,4,4-trichlorobut-3-enoic acid

Bromination of 3,4,4-trichlorobut-3-enoic acid in boiling carbon tetrachloride led to the formation of 2-bromo-3,4,4-trichlorobut-3-enoic acid as a result of replacement of hydrogen in the CH₂ group. The reaction at 40°C involved the double C=C bond to give 3,4-dibromo-3,4,4-trichlorobutanoic acid. The brominated acids were converted into the corresponding chlorides which were used to acylate benzene, toluene, and bromobenzene according to Friedel-Crafts. The acylation was not selective, and only the reaction of 3,4-dibromo-3,4,4-trichlorobutanoyl chloride with benzene gave 3,4-dibromo-3,4,4-trichloro-1-phenylbutan-1-one as the only product. 1-Aryl-2-bromo-3,4,4-trichlorobut-3-en-1-ones were synthesized by bromination of the corresponding 1-aryl-3,4,4-trichlorobut-3-en-1-ones which were prepared previously by Friedel-Crafts acylation of substituted benzenes with 3,4,4-trichlorobut-3-enoyl chloride.     

Studies on ferrocene derivatives. Part XVI: steric effects on the ligand exchange reactions of alkylferrocenes

Ligand exchange reactions of alkylferrocenes with substituted benzenes were carried out. The steric effects of substituents on the reaction were almost equal irrespective of the site of the substituents, either on the cyclopentadienyl – or the benzene ring. For benzene ring substituents, the effect on the symmetrically substituted benzenes was greater than that on the unsymmetrically substituted benzenes.     

Origin of the synchronicity in bond formation in polar Diels-Alder reactions: an ELF analysis of the reaction between cyclopentadiene and tetracyanoethylene

The origin of the synchronicity in C-C bond formation in polar Diels-Alder (P-DA) reactions involving symmetrically substituted electrophilic ethylenes has been studied by an ELF analysis of the electron reorganization along the P-DA reaction of cyclopentadiene (Cp) with tetracyanoethylene (TCE) at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. The present study makes it possible to establish that the synchronicity in C-C bond formation in P-DA reactions is controlled by the symmetric distribution of the electron-density excess reached in the electrophile through the charge transfer process, which can be anticipated by an analysis of the spin electron-density at the corresponding radical anion. The ELF comparative analysis of bonding along the DA reactions of Cp with ethylene and with TCE asserts that these DA reactions, which have a symmetric electron reorganization, do not have a cyclic electron reorganization as the pericyclic mechanism states. Due to the very limited number of cases of symmetrically substituted ethylenes, we can conclude that the synchronous mechanism is an exception of DA reactions.     

Pd(OAc)2-catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction of benzenes with olefins in the presence of molybdovanadophosphoric acid under atmospheric dioxygen and air

The direct oxidative coupling reaction of benzenes with alkenes bearing an electron-withdrawing group was successfully achieved by the use of Pd(OAc)(2)/molybdovanadophosphoric acid (HPMoV) as the key catalyst under O(2) or air atmosphere. Thus, the reaction of benzene with ethyl acrylate under air (1 atm) assisted by Pd(OAc)(2)/HPMoV afforded ethyl cinnamate as a major product in satisfactory yield (74%). This catalytic system could be extended to the coupling reactions between various substituted benzenes and alkenes through the direct aromatic C-H bond activation. In the reaction of benzene with ethyl acrylate under O(2) (1 atm), the best turn-over number (TON) of Pd(OAc)(2) reached was 121. This reaction provides a green route to cinnamate derivatives, which are important precursors of a variety of pharmaceuticals.     

Stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydrofurans via the palladium-catalyzed reaction of aryl bromides with gamma-hydroxy alkenes: evidence for an unusual intramolecular olefin insertion into a Pd(Ar)(OR) intermediate

A new, stereoselective method for the synthesis of substituted tetrahydrofurans from gamma-hydroxy alkenes that forms both a C-C and a C-O bond with diastereoselectivities of up to >20:1 is described. Initial mechanistic studies that suggest the reactions proceed via the intramolecular insertion of an olefin into a Pd(Ar)(OR) intermediate are discussed.     

Reactions of C5H5M (M = Fe, Ni) with substituted thiophenes

The ion molecule reactions between C₅H₅M⁺ (M = Fe, Ni) with some substituted thiophenes have been studied in an ion trap mass spectrometer. The reactions of halogen substituted thiophenes lead to the formation of a new C-C bond between the cyclopentadiene ring and the thiophene with the loss of a neutral HX. The reaction mechanism has been investigated by means of DFT calculations and it was found that the insertion of the metal atom in the C-X bond is the key step in the process.     

Synthesis of polybenzyls by Suzuki Pd-catalyzed crosscoupling of boronic acids and benzyl bromides: Model reactions and polyreactions

The palladium-catalyzed crosscoupling reaction of boronic acids and benzyl bromides can be used successfully for the preparation of benzyls in high yield. This C-C coupling reaction was optimized for the synthesis of polybenzyls by model reactions. Different reaction channels were observed here with meta- and para-bis(bromomethyl)benzenes. The main product with 1,3-bis(chloromethyl)benzene was the corresponding 1,3-dibenzylbenzene, but the main product with 1,4-bis(chloromethyl)benzene was the corresponding biaryl resulting from homocoupling of aromatic boronic acid. 1.3-Linked polybenzyls were synthesized based on the results of the model reactions. M̄_n's of 2 380 corresponding to a DP of 26 were found based on GPC. No structural defects were detected within the limits of detection.     

Bromination of aromatic molecules with polymer supported reagents

Crosslinked co-poly/styrene-4-vinyl(N-hexylpyridinium bromide) was converted with bromine or chlorine to insoluble polymer supported complexes or respectively, and their reactivity studied in reactions with various aromatic molecules. Reagent was found in all cases to be milder than reagent and regiospecifically transformed alkoxy and amino substituted benzenes ( ) into 4-bromo derivatives, while corresponding reactions with resulted in dibromo derivatives. Several benzoheterocyclic molecules were converted with to substitution or addition products, i.e. 2,3-dibromo-N-methylpyrrole, 3-bromobenzo/b/thiophene, and 2,3-dibromo-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran. In the series of ortho-alkyl disubstituted benzene derivatives, i.e. o-xylene, indane, and tetraline, where the Mills-Nixon effect was established with various electrophilic reagents, bromination reactions with showed higher β-selectivity than the corresponding reactions with bromine. The rate of bromination in various alkyl substituted benzenes with reagent depended on the magnitude of the alkyl group, as well as the para/ortho regioselectivity, amounting to 100% in the case of tert-butylbenzene.     

The reactions of dialkylgallium hydrides with tert-butylethynylbenzenes--a systematic investigation into the course of hydrogallation reactions

The reactions of bis- and tris(tert-butylethynyl)benzenes with dialkylgallium hydrides afforded two different types of products. 1,4-Di(tert-butylethynyl)benzene and dialkylgallium hydrides R(2)GaH bearing relatively small substituents (R = Et, nPr) gave the expected addition products with each C triple bond C triple bond inserted into a Ga-H bond. The intact GaR(2) groups are attached to those carbon atoms which are in alpha-position to the benzene rings, and intermolecular Ga-C interactions led to the formation of one-dimensional coordination polymers. In contrast secondary reactions with the release of the corresponding trialkylgallium derivatives GaR(3) (R = Et, nPr, iPr, CH(2)tBu, tBu) were observed for all hydrogallation reactions involving the trisalkyne 1,3,5-tris(tert-butylethynyl)benzene. A similar reaction was observed upon treatment of the 1,4-bisalkyne with a dialkylgallium hydride bearing a relatively bulky substituent (R = neopentyl). Cyclophane type molecules are formed in all these cases with two or three gallium atoms in the bridging positions between both benzene rings.     

Acetylene cyclotrimerization catalyzed by TiO2 and VO2 in the gas phase: a DFT study

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been used to investigate acetylene cyclotrimerization catalyzed by titanium and vanadium dioxides. The calculated results illustrate that the overall process is highly favorable at room temperature from both thermodynamic and kinetic points of view. The mechanism of C2H2 cyclotrimerization over MO2 (M = Ti, V) can be understood as four steps: (1) a four-membered ring (-O-M-C=C-) formation that coordinates and activates the first C2H2 molecule; (2) the second C2H2 insertion into the M-C bond to form a six-membered ring (-O-M-C=C-C=C-); (3) the third C2H2 insertion into the M-C bond to form an eight-membered ring (-O-M-C=C-C=C-C=C-); and (4) contraction of the eight-membered ring and benzene formation and desorption. All of the reaction steps are overall barrierless with respect to the separated reactants (MO2C2xH2x + C2H2, x = 0, 1, 2). This theoretical study predicts that the M=O double bond in MO2 is very catalytic toward the C2H2 cyclotrimerization. The metal center in this study can be considered always in the same +4 oxidation state (Ti4+ and V4+). In contrast, two-electron cycling of the metal center is present in the documented mechanism for the C2H2 cyclotrimerization. The C2H2 cyclotrimerization over the Ti atom and TiO molecule is also studied, and the documented mechanism applies in this case. The new mechanism is suggested to apply to reactions using titanium and vanadium oxides as catalysts.     

Restricted geometry optimization: a different way to estimate stabilization energies for aromatic molecules of various types

At RHF, MPn, and DFT levels, a procedure of geometry optimization under the restrictions of pi-orbital interactions (GOR) was developed, thus providing a conjugated molecule with the following two types of localized reference geometries: a "GL" geometry where all double bonds are localized, and n different "GE-n" geometries, in each of which only two double bonds were permitted to conjugate. Interestingly, the molecular energy differences between the corresponding pairs of GE-n and GL geometries were found to be additive in each of the acyclic polyenes, and these were not additive for benzene. As a result, an extra stabilization energy (ESE) value of -39.0 kcal/mol was found in benzene. Afterward, GOR was applied to benzene- and furan-like species, strained aromatic molecules, and substituted benzenes, and the calculated ESEs for these molecules were found to be in reasonable ranges. The GOR can isolate a specific group from other groups, and it has several special functions. First, with regard to the substituent effect, the ESE difference between substituted benzene and benzene can be partitioned into conjugative and inductive parts. Second, the behavior of strained aromatic molecules can be ascertained from the roles of their resonance interactions, strained-induced bond localization (SIBL), and inductive effects, indicating that it is resonance interactions, rather than SIBL, which are responsible for localizing double bonds. Emphatically, it is the GL and GE-n geometries of aromatic molecules, rather than nonaromatic compounds, which can be used as the reference structures for calculating ESE. Particularly, these localized geometries are no longer arbitrary.     

Thermodynamic ionization energies and charge transfer reactions in benzene and substituted benzenes

Ionization energies of 11 substituted benzenes of CS₂ related to the ionization energy of benzene were obtained by measurements of the charge exchange equilibrium constants for C₆H₅X⁺ + C₆H₅Y ? C₆H₅Y⁺ + C₆H₅X at 450 and K. Thermodynamic ionization energies of substituted benzenes, related to that of benzene, are found to be higher by 0.5–2.0 kcal/mole than the corresponding photoionization (0—0) values. Exothermic charge transfer reactions between substituted benzenes are found to proceed with rate constants of (1.3–1.6) × 10^?9 cm³/mol s, which agree well with calculated collision rates.     

Synthesis of bromo-, boryl-, and stannyl-functionalized 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzenes via Diels-Alder or C-H activation reactions

1,2-Bis(trimethylsilyl)benzenes are key starting materials for the synthesis of benzyne precursors, Lewis acid catalysts, and certain luminophores. We have developed efficient, high-yield routes to functionalized 4-R-1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzenes, starting from either 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene/5-bromopyran-2-one (2) or 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzene (1)/bis(pinacolato)diborane. In the first reaction, 5 (R = Br) is obtained through a cobalt-catalyzed Diels-Alder cycloaddition. The second reaction proceeds via iridium-mediated C-H activation and provides 8 (R = Bpin). Besides its use as a Suzuki reagent, compound 8 can be converted into 5 with CuBr(2) in i-PrOH/MeOH/H(2)O. Lithium-bromine exchange on 5, followed by the addition of Me(3)SnCl, gives 10 (R = SnMe(3)), which we have applied for Stille coupling reactions. A Pd-catalyzed C-C coupling reaction between 5 and 8 leads to the corresponding tetrasilylbiphenyl derivative. The bromo derivative 5 cleanly undergoes Suzuki reactions with electron-rich as well as electron-poor phenylboronic acids.     

Molecular similarity based on atomic electrostatic potential

We propose a new similarity measure operating in the space spanned by the potential values, evaluated at atoms constituting the benzene ring and the COOH group in para-substituted benzoic acids and at benzene ring atoms in monosubstituted benzenes. The similarity measures are equivalent to the Euclidean distance between points in that space. Only the distances between the potentials at corresponding atoms in different molecules are included. The distances for benzene rings were very similar, regardless of whether they were calculated in para-substituted acids or in monosubstituted benzenes. As reference reactions, dissociation of benzoic acids and nitration of monosubstituted benzenes have been used. The effects of reduction of dimensionality of the potential space on the comparison of similarity measures with the free energies of the reference reactions have been investigated. It became obvious that the potentials at individual atoms in molecules of the acids and monosubstituted benzenes are mutually correlated to a high degree.     

Transmission of substituent effects through unsaturated systems. I—relative magnitudes of proton and carbon substituent chemical shifts in ethylenes,butadienes, α-enones and benzenes

The carbon-13 shifts of C-1, C-2 and C-3 are determined in a series of 1-cyclohexen-3-ones substituted in position 1. Linear relationships are demonstrated between the substituent chemical shifts of corresponding carbons in substituted ethylenes, butadienes, α-enones and benzenes. The substituent chemical shifts of proton H-2 are also reported and correlated with those of corresponding protons in ethylenes and benzenes. The slopes of the lines for the carbons directly linked to the substituent are close to unity, showing a relative independence of the substituent effect for this nucleus from the variation of the unsaturated framework. In contrast to this, the transmission of the substituent effect through one double bond (nuclei β to the substituents) decreases as the number of conjugated π bonds in the whole structure increases. This relationship is interpreted as being due to the ability of an unsaturated system to spread the variation of π electron density induced by the substituent.     

Katalytische Cyclisierung von Acetylen und substituiertem Acetylen zu aromatischen Kohlenwasserstoffen

The pentahalogenides of niobium and tantalum and some tungsten chlorides catalize the cyclotrimerization of acetylenic hydrocarbons to form aromatic compounds. Acetylene is converted into benzene at atmospheric pressure and temperatures between — 20 and 130°C. Under similar conditions methylacetylene and but-1-yne respectively yield a mixture of the corresponding 1,2,4- and 1,3,5-substituted benzenes while with but-2-yne hexamethyl benzene is obtained. Cocyclization between acetylene and substituted acetylenes or diacetylene is possible; in this case mono- and disubstituted benzenes or biphenyl, terphenyl, and polyphenyls are formed.