Synthesis of triazoles from nonactivated terminal alkynes via the three-component coupling reaction using a Pd(0)-Cu(I) bimetallic catalyst

The synthesis of triazoles via the three-component coupling reaction of unactivated terminal alkynes, allyl carbonate, and trimethylsiyl azide under the Pd(0)-Cu(I) bimetallic catalyst is developed. The reaction most probably proceeds through the formation of a pi-allylpalladium azide complex and a copper-acetylide followed by a successive [3 + 2] cycloaddition. The deallylation of the resulting allyltriazoles proceeds very easily by the Ru-catalyzed isomerization followed by the ozonolysis of the resulting propenyltriazoles to give the triazoles in high yields.     

A method for cleaving an allyl protecting group at the amide nitrogen of peptides by one-pot olefin isomerization-oxidation

A facile method for N-deallylation at the amide nitrogen of peptides is described. One-pot deallylation of a substrate through ruthenium hydride-catalyzed terminal olefin isomerization and subsequent ozonolysis gave the corresponding deallylated product under mild conditions.     

Intermolecular hydroaminations via strained (E)-cycloalkenes

A photoinduced procedure for the intermolecular hydroamination of alkenes using azoles is described. This reaction occurs in modest to good yield for 6- and 7-membered cyclic alkenes. Upon irradiation at 254 nm in the presence of methyl benzoate and a small amount of triflic acid as an additive (20 mol %), imidazoles, pyrazoles, triazoles, and tetrazole can react with the alkene to afford complex Markovnikov adducts. The proposed mechanism involves photoisomerization to generate highly strained (E)-cycloalkene intermediates and (E)-cycloalkene protonation followed by reaction with the azole nucleophile. Alkene isomerization was found to be a competing side reaction under these conditions.     

A practical ruthenium-catalyzed cleavage of the allyl protecting group in amides, lactams, imides, and congeners

A convenient methodology for the deprotection of N-allylic amide-like moieties was developed. The first examples accounting for the ruthenium-catalyzed deallylation of amides, lactams, imides, pyrazolidones, hydantoins, and oxazolidinones have been achieved by the sequential use of Grubbs carbene (isomerization step) and RuCl(3) (oxidation step). A variety of substrates, including enantiopure multifunctional beta- and gamma-lactams, can be employed.     

Pressure dependence of stabilized Criegee intermediate formation from a sequence of alkenes

Ozonolysis is a key reaction in atmospheric chemistry, although important details of the behavior of the ozonolysis intermediates are not known. The key intermediate in ozonolysis, the Criegee intermeiate (CI), is known to quickly isomerize, with the favored unimolecular pathway depending on the relative barriers to isomerization. Stabilized Criegee intermediates (SCI), those with energy below any barriers to isomerization, may result from initial formation with low energy or collisional stabilization of high energy CI. Bimolecular reactions of SCI have been proposed to play a role in OH formation and nucleation of new particles, but unimolecular reactions of SCI may well be too fast for these to be significant. We present measurements of the pressure dependence of SCI formation for a set of alkenes utilizing a hexafluoroacetone scavenger. We studied four alkenes (2,3-dimethyl-2-butene (TME), trans-5-decene, cyclohexene, α-pinene) to characterize how size and cyclization (endo vs exo) affect the stability of Criegee intermediates formed in ozonolysis. SCI yields in ozonolysis were measured in a high pressure flow reactor within a range of 30-750 Torr. The linear alkenes show considerable stabilization with trans-5-decene showing 100% stabilization at ～400 Torr and TME having 65% stabilization at 710 Torr. Extrapolation of the yields for linear alkenes to 0 Torr shows yields significantly above zero, indicating that a fraction of their CI are formed below the barrier to isomerization. CI from endocyclic alkenes show little to no stabilization and appear to have neglible stabilization at 0 Torr. Cyclohexene derived CI showed no stabilization even at 650 Torr, while α-pinene CI had ～15% stabilization at 740 Torr. Our results show a strong dependence of SCI formation on carbon number; adding just 2 to 3 CI carbons in linear alkenes increases stabilization by a factor of 10. Stabilization for endocyclic alkenes, at atmospheric pressure, begins to occur at a carbon number of 10, with only modest yields of SCI.     

Isomerization and Cleavage of Allyl Ethers of Carbohydrates by Trans- [Pd(NH3)2Cl2

Allyl ethers are widely used for the “temporary” protection of hydroxy groups in carbohydrates. The allyl group is conveniently removed by isomerization and subsequent cleavage of the labile prop-1-enyl group.² The rearrangement of allyl ethers to prop-1-enyl ethers is readily achieved by treatment with potassium t-butoxide in dimethyl sulfoxide, using tris(tripheny1phosphine)rhodium chloride, palladium on activated charcoal and by an ene reaction with diethylazodicarboxylate. acidic conditions, ozonolysis followed by alkaline hydrolysis, reaction with alkaline permanganate solution, or treatment with mercuric chloride in the presence of mercuric oxide. The isomerization of allyl ethers to prop-1-enyl ethers can also be carried out in the presence of palladium on carbon or complex bis(benzonitrile)palladium(11) chloride. Bruce and Roshan-Ali' showed that derivatives of allyl phenyl ether are smoothly cleaved by this complex. This has made it possible to remove the protecting group in a one-pot operation. We have now investigated the effect of palladium catalysts on the isomerization and cleavage of the allyl group in carbohydrate derivatives.     

The ozonolysis of acetylene--a quantum chemical investigation.

The ozonolysis of acetylene was investigated using CCSD(T), CASPT2, and B3LYP-DFT in connection with a 6-311+G(2d,2p) basis set. The reaction is initiated by the formation of a van der Waals complex followed by a [4pi + 2pi] cycloaddition between ozone and acetylene (activation enthalpy DeltaH(a)(298) = 9.6 kcal/mol; experiment, 10.2 kcal/mol), yielding 1,2,3-trioxolene, which rapidly opens to alpha-ketocarbonyl oxide 5. Alternatively, an O atom can be transferred from ozone to acetylene (DeltaH(a)(298) = 15.6 kcal/mol), thus leading to formyl carbene, which can rearrange to oxirene or ketene. The key compound in the ozonolysis of acetylene is 5 because it is the starting point for the isomerization to the corresponding dioxirane 19 (DeltaH(a)(298) = 16.9 kcal/mol), for the cyclization to trioxabicyclo[2.1.0]pentane 10 (DeltaH(a)(298) = 19.5 kcal/mol), for the formation of hydroperoxy ketene 15 (DeltaH(a)(298) = 20.6 kcal/mol), and for the rearrangement to dioxetanone 9 (DeltaH(a)(298) = 23.6 kcal/mol). Compounds 19, 10, 15, and 9 rearrange or decompose with barriers between 13 and 16 kcal/mol to yield as major products formanhydride, glyoxal, formaldehyde, formic acid, and (to a minor extent) glyoxylic acid. Hence, the ozonolysis of acetylene possesses a very complicated reaction mechanism that deserves intensive experimental studies.     

Asymmetric N1 unit transfer to olefins with a chiral nitridomanganese complex: novel stereoselective pathways to aziridines or oxazolines

Chiral nitridomanganese complex 1 was found to be a highly potential N1 unit source for the asymmetric synthesis of aziridines and 2-oxazolines from olefins such as styrene and its derivatives. When sulfonyl chlorides were employed as activators of the complex in the presence of pyridine, pyridine N-oxide, and a silver salt, the reaction of olefins with complex 1 proceeded smoothly to afford the N-sulfonylated aziridines. The aziridination of styrene derivatives with complex 1 using 2-trimethylsilylethanesulfonyl chloride (SESCl) gave the N-SES-aziridines, which were easily converted into chiral N-unsubstituted aziridines. It was found that the reaction was applicable to the asymmetric synthesis of 2-oxazolines from olefins when acyl chlorides were employed as activators. Complex 1 provided an effective asymmetric environment for trans-disubstituted styrenes in the reaction (up to 92% ee). This is the first example of a direct asymmetric synthesis of 2-oxazolines from olefins. Additional experiments, conducted during the course of this investigation, suggest that the isomerization of the N-acylaziridine intermediate is involved in this reaction.     

Laser probes of conformational isomerization in flexible molecules and complexes

Molecules with several flexible coordinates have potential energy surfaces with a large number of minima and many transition states separating them. A general experimental protocol is described that is capable of studying conformational isomerization in such circumstances, measuring the product quantum yields following conformation-specific infrared excitation, and measuring energy thresholds for isomerization of specific X --> Y reactant-product isomer pairs following excitation via stimulated emission pumping (SEP). These methods have been applied to a series of molecules of varying size and conformational complexity, including 3-indolepropionic acid (IPA), meta-ethynylstyrene, N-acetyltryptophan methyl amide (NATMA), N-acetyltryptophan amide (NATA), and melatonin. Studies of isomerization in solute-solvent complexes are also described, including a measurement of the barrier to isomerization in the IPA-H2O complex, and a unique isomerization reaction in which a single water molecule is shuttled between H-bonding sites on the trans-formanilide (TFA) molecule.     

Quantum chemical and master equation simulations of the oxidation and isomerization of vinoxy radicals

The vinoxy radical, a common intermediate in gas-phase alkene ozonolysis, reacts with O2 to form a chemically activated alpha-oxoperoxy species. We report CBS-QB3 energetics for O2 addition to the parent (*CH2CHO, 1a), 1-methylvinoxy (*CH2COCH3, 1b), and 2-methylvinoxy (CH3*CHCHO, 1c) radicals. CBS-QB3 predictions for peroxy radical formation agree with experimental data, while the G2 method systematically overestimates peroxy radical stability. RRKM/master equation simulations based on CBS-QB3 data are used to estimate the competition between prompt isomerization and thermalization for the peroxy radicals derived from 1a, 1b, and 1c. The lowest energy isomerization pathway for radicals 4a and 4c (derived from 1a and 1c, respectively) is a 1,4-shift of the acyl hydrogen requiring 19-20 kcal/mol. The resulting hydroperoxyacyl radical decomposes quantitatively to form *OH. The lowest energy isomerization pathway for radical 4b (derived from 1b) is a 1,5-shift of a methyl hydrogen requiring 26 kcal/mol. About 25% of 4a, but only approximately 5% of 4c, isomerizes promptly at 1 atm pressure. Isomerization of 4b is negligible at all pressures studied.     

Chromatography-free Pd-catalyzed deprotection of allyl ethers using PS-DEAM as a scavenger of boronic acids and Pd catalyst

Polystyrene-bound diethanolamine (PS-DEAM) work-up for a newly developed Pd(PPh₃)₄-catalyzed cleavage of allylic alkyl ethers using phenylboronic acid can effectively release Pd-free parent alcohols. Furthermore, chromatography-free deallylation can be conducted by using vinylboronic anhydride pyridine complex as an allyl scavenger with a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)₂ and 4-(diphenylphosphino)benzoic acid instead of Pd(PPh₃)₄ to yield the desired products in high purities and yields after removal of volatile byproducts and the phosphine-derived contaminants by evaporation and sequestration through acid-base interaction with PS-DEAM, respectively.     

Carbonyl oxides reactions from geraniol-trans-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-ol), 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and 6-hydroxy-4-methyl-4-hexenal ozonolysis: kinetics and mechanisms

A density functional theory (DFT) study of the mechanisms of carbonyl oxide reactions from geraniol-trans, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and 6-hydroxy-4-methyl-4-hexenal ozonolysis is presented. The geometries, energies, and harmonic vibrational frequencies of each stationary point were determined by B3LYP/6-31(d,p) and BH&HLYP/cc-pVDZ methods. According to the calculations, the ozonolysis reactions are initiated by the formation of van der Waals (VDW) complexes to yield primary ozonides, which rapidly open to carbonyl oxide compounds. These carbonyl oxide compounds react to form dioxanes and hydroperoxides. The hydroperoxides react by isomerization to form stable products. Glyoxal and methyl-glyoxal have been identified as the final product from geraniol-trans, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and 6-hydroxy-4-methyl-4-hexenal ozonolysis. Our results are in good agreement with the experimental studies.     

Ring opening of methylenecycloalkenes via the C-C bond cleavage

3-Methylenecycloalkene-1,1-dicarboxylates underwent facile ring opening via the cleavage of the unactivated C-C bond to yield aliphatic alkenes. The reaction (intramolecular deallylation) was catalyzed by "Ni-H" species generated in situ from a NiX2(phosphine) n/R3Al mixture and proceeded under ambient conditions. In addition, the skeletal rearrangement of a diene could be carried out by a one-pot cycloisomerization/deallylation sequence.     

Investigation of the electrosurface properties of NiO and Fe2O3 in azole solutions

The electrokinetic study of heterogeneous system consisting of Ni(II) and Fe(III) oxide powders in aqueous azole solutions is presented. Diazole, triazole and tetrazole were used in our experiments. Various combinations of operating conditions such as pH, electrolyte and azole concentrations were employed. Zeta-potentials of powders with adsorbed azoles were obtained in order to investigate the interactions occurring between azoles and the oxide surfaces. In the presence of azoles the equilibration process of zeta-potential of oxide surfaces has a very special “damping oscillation” character and the equilibration process continues for around a week. However, kinetics of adsorption of azoles is completed in approximately 3 h. The latter shows a complex behaviour of adsorbed azoles on oxide surfaces.     

Alternating structures in copolymers as elucidated by microozonolysis

The technique of microozonolysis followed by gas chromatography has been used to determine the amount of 1,2-structures occurring as 1,4–1,2–1,4 sequences in n-butyl-lithium-initiated polybutadienes. The product obtained from the ozonolysis of these sequences, 3-formly-1,6-hexanedial, was directly proportional to the 1,2 (vinyl) content of the polymers as measured by infrared or NMR spectroscopy. An unusual ozonolysis product, 4-octene-1,8-dial, has been found in the ozonolysis products of high-1,4 poly-butadienes. Ozonolysis has also been used to determine alternating structures in propylene-butadiene copolymers. The product obtained from ozonolysis of such structures is 3-methyl-1,6-hexanedial. Ozonolysis of a polyisoprene containing equal amounts of 1,4 and 3,4 structures indicated it to have a nonalternating structure with long blocks of 1,4-isoprene units. Gas chromatographic separation was accomplished by using sucrose acetate isobutyrate with Carbowax 20M as the liquid phase. Retention times were established by using model compounds where possible.     

Fe-Catalyzed reactions of 2-chloro-1,7-dienes and allylmalonates

Fe(III)(BIAP)Cl₃ complex catalyzes alkylative cyclization of 2-chloro-1,7-heptadiene in the presence of triethylaluminum. It also catalyzes deallylation of certain 2-allyl-2-substituted malonates under the same reaction conditions.     

2,3-Dimethyl-2-butene (TME) ozonolysis: pressure dependence of stabilized Criegee intermediates and evidence of stabilized vinyl hydroperoxides

We present measurements of the pressure dependence of stabilized Criegee intermediate (SCI) formation utilizing a hexafluoroacetone scavenger. SCI yields in the ozonolysis of 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene (TME) were measured in a high pressure flow reactor within a range of 50-710 Torr. Within this pressure range, SCI yields increase linearly with pressure. A zero pressure intercept of about 15% indicates that a significant fraction of CI are formed below the barrier to isomerization. By comparison of our results of the pressure dependence of SCI formation and both prompt and long-time OH yields, our results indicate that OH formation from ozonolysis proceeds via at least two intermediates, the SCI and presumably a vinylhydroperoxide (VHP).     

Complete ozonolysis of alkyl substituted ethenes at -60 degrees C: distributions of ozonide and oligomeric products

The distribution of ozonide and oligomeric structures formed on complete ozonolysis of alkenes in a non-participating solvent at -60 degrees C is governed by the alkyl substitution around the carbon-carbon double bond. The ozonolysis of a 1,1-alkyl substituted ethene generally favours the formation of an ozonide (a 1,2,4-trioxolane). Whereas the ozonolysis of a 1,1,2-alkyl substituted ethene also produces ozonide, a considerable amount of the ozonised products are oligomeric in nature. For example, the ozonolysis of 3-methylpent-2-ene in solution to high conversion in pentane yields oligomers with structural units derived from the fragmentation products of the primary ozonide (a 1,2,3-trioxolane) which are namely butanone carbonyl oxide and acetaldehyde; these can be characterised by electrospray ionisation mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) under soft ionisation conditions. The predominant oligomers formed are rich in carbonyl oxide units (80 + mol%) and are cyclic in nature. A small proportion of the oligomers formed are open chain compounds with end groups that suggest that chain termination is brought about either by water or by hydrogen peroxide. Residual water in the solvent will react with the carbonyl oxides to produce 2-methoxybut-2-yl hydroperoxide, which we propose readily decomposes generating hydrogen peroxide. A significant yield of oligomers also is obtained from the ozonolysis of a 1,2-alkyl substituted ethene. The ozonolysis of trans-hex-2-ene in pentane yields oligomers containing up to four structural units and are predicted to be mainly cyclic.     

Ozonolysis of unsaturated organotrifluoroborates

Organotrifluoroborates are robust reagents capable of withstanding ozonolysis of remote alkenes, thus providing a new route to oxo-substituted organotrifluoroborates. The primary ozonides initially generated upon ozonolysis can be reduced with Zn/AcOH to afford the carbonyl compounds. Alternatively, capture of the carbonyl oxides with either an appropriate N-oxide or H2O easily gives the desired oxo-substituted organotrifluoroborates. Both unsaturated alkyltrifluoroborates and aryltrifluoroborates effectively participate in the reaction. The process provides oxo-functionalized organotrifluoroborates that cannot be prepared directly via either transmetalation or hydroboration protocols.     

Synthetic applications of aryl radical building blocks for cyclisation onto azoles

2-(2-Bromophenyl)ethyl groups have been used as building blocks in radical cyclisation reactions onto azoles to synthesise tri- and tetra-cyclic heterocycles. 2-(2-Bromophenyl)ethyl methanesulfonate was used to alkylate azoles (imidazoles, pyrroles, indoles and pyrazoles) for the synthesis of the radical precursors. Cyclisations of the intermediate aryl radicals yield new 6-membered rings attached to the azoles. The aryl radicals undergo intramolecular homolytic aromatic substitution onto the azole rings. Tributylgermanium hydride has been used with success to replace the toxic and troublesome tributyltin hydride. Initial studies show that the protocol can be used on solid phase resins. The molecular and crystal structures of methyl 5,6-dihydroimidazo[5,1-a]iso-quinoline-1-carboxylate and methyl 5,6-dihydroimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-3-carboxylate were determined by X-ray crystallography.