Chiral pyrophosphites—synthesis and application as ligands in Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

Enantiopure pyrophosphites have been prepared for the first time based upon two independent synthetic pathways. The new ligands based on binaphthols, which are remarkably stable towards oxidation, were tested in the Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of functionalized olefins, where up to 70% ee could be achieved.     

Highly sterically hindered binaphthalene-based monophosphane ligands: synthesis and application in stereoselective Suzuki–Miyaura reactions

A series of new sterically hindered (R)-(2′-aryl-1,1′-binaphthalene-2-yl)phosphanes with ortho-substituted phenyls as aryl groups were prepared via Negishi monoarylation of enantiopure 2,2′-dibromo-1,1′-binaphthalene followed by lithiation and quenching with diphenylphosphanyl or dicyclohexylphosphanyl chloride. These ligands were applied to the stereoselective Suzuki–Miyaura coupling for the preparation of substituted biaryls. The enantioselectivity correlated positively when increasing the hindrance of the 2′-aryl group of the ligand. Using the best performing diphenylphosphane ligand with a 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl aryl group, various arylnaphthalenes were prepared in high to excellent yields (68–99%) with low to good ee (12–75% ee), the latter being comparable to the best values reported when using other chiral monophosphane ligands.     

Chichibabin “isodesmopyridine” synthesis

2,3,5-Trisubstituted pyridine isodesmopyridine is one of the elastin crosslinking amino acid which was isolated from the acid hydrolysates of bovine ligamentum nuchae. Biosynthesis of isodesmopyridine is believed to undergo via Chichibabin pyridine synthesis starting from aldehydes and an ammonia. Herein, we report the first total synthesis of isodesmopyridine through Chichibabin pyridine synthesis from allysines with protecting groups and ammonium salts in the presence of 50?mol% Pr(OTf)₃ with the optimization of the reaction conditions.     

Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as the key step in the enantioselective synthesis of spirocyclic σ1 receptor ligands

The enantioselective synthesis of fluorinated spirocyclic σ₁ ligands involved three key steps: (1) the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of 2-bromostyrene 5 provided enantiomerically pure diols (R)-6 and (S)-6 establishing the stereogenic center; (2) the intramolecular opening of the oxirane ring of (R)-11 and (S)-11, which occurred with excellent regioselectivity and complete inversion of configuration giving access to enantiomerically pure alcohols (S)-7a and (R)-7a; (3) the treatment of alcohols (S)-7b and (R)-7b with DAST, which led to the fluoromethyl derivatives (S)-1 and (R)-1 without racemization. X-ray crystal structure analysis of the tosylate (R)-13 confirmed the absolute configuration of the spirocyclic compounds as well as the enantioselectivity during the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of 5. The (S)-configured fluoromethyl derivative (S)-1 revealed a high σ₁ affinity (K_i = 1.8 nM), high eudismic ratio (factor 8) and high selectivity over the σ₂ subtype (667-fold).     

Transition metal complexes with “non-innocent” ligands in the activation of hydrogen sulfide

The reactions of hydrogen sulfide with transition metal complexes containing redox-active ligands are studied. A combination of electrochemical and spectral data indicates that the one-electron process affording the hydrogen sulfide radical and monoanionic complexes is an elementary act for the most part of the reactions studied. The accessibility of the metal center in the Co, Ni, Zn, and Pt complexes allows hydrogen sulfide to preliminary coordinate to the metal followed by the inner-sphere electron transfer in the hydrogen sulfide-metal-organic ligand system. Active intermediates (radical cation, thiyl radical, and proton) formed due to oxidation react with aromatic substrates. The substitution reaction in the aromatic ring produces a mixture of isomeric thiols and dimerization products of organylthiyl radicals (disulfides).     

Kojic acid and maltol: The “Transformers” in organic synthesis

The deconstructive reorganization strategy for the synthesis of benzene-containing products from the kojic acid- and maltol-derived alkynes has been recently reported. In this strategy, kojic acid and maltol are analogous to the “Transformers”, which can transform into benzofurans and benzaldehydes via annulation reactions. Under the synthetic standpoint, this deconstructive reorganization strategy features high atom economy, innate scalability and functional group tolerance. In the near future, we believe that this unique method will be widely investigated and other novel transformations of kojic acid and maltol will be discovered.     

Kojic acid and maltol: The “Transformers” in organic synthesis

The deconstructive reorganization strategy for the synthesis of benzene-containing products from the kojic acid- and maltol-derived alkynes has been recently reported. In this strategy, kojic acid and maltol are analogous to the “Transformers”, which can transform into benzofurans and benzaldehydes via annulation reactions. Under the synthetic standpoint, this deconstructive reorganization strategy features high atom economy, innate scalability and functional group tolerance. In the near future, we believe that this unique method will be widely investigated and other novel transformations of kojic acid and maltol will be discovered.     

α-Aminoamides as ligands in Goldberg amidations

α-Aminoamides are shown to be useful as ligands in Goldberg amidations. A number of α-aminoamides are examined and the importance of substitution on the α-aminoamides is explored. Acetamide is focused on as the nucleophilic coupling partner due to its low cost, stability and convenience as a protecting group. The initial substrate scope for these catalysts is explored and includes electronically activated and deactivated aryl bromides, however o-substituted aryl bromides are problematic.     

Syntheses and structural characterizations of Fe_4S_4 cubane-like cluster compounds containing cycloalkylthiolate ligands

In a reaction system consisting of FeCl2,tetrathiometallate and cycloalkylthiolate,two Fe4S4 cubane-like cluster compounds were obtained with the following crystallographic data:(PhCH2NMe32[Fe4S4 (SC5H9)4](Ⅰ),monoclinic space group P21/c,a=1.6327(4),6=1.1229(3),c=2.802 5( 10) nm,β=94.63(2)°,Z=4,and R=0.074; (Et4N)2[Fe4S4(SC6H11)4](Ⅱ),tetragonal space group I42m,a=1.16705(9),b=1.167 06(2),c=2.063 26(5) nm,Z=2,Dabs=1.28 g/cm3,and R=0.078 The participation of cy-cloalkylthiolate ligand does not obviously arouse the change of the Fe4S4 core structure.Meanwhile,the influence of the cation on the structural symmetry of the Fe4S4 cluster dianion is also discussed.     

Non-innocent ligands in bioinorganic chemistry—An overview

This review touches the most common instances where non-innocent (“suspect”) behaviour of redox-active ligands, either substrates or supporting components, is observed in a biochemical context. These ligands include the O₂/O₂^?/O₂^2?, NO⁺/NO/NO^?, o-quinone/o-semiquinone/catecholate and tyrosyl/tyrosinate redox systems, the tetrapyrrole (porphyrinic) ligands, the pterins and flavins, and the dithiolene/ene-dithiolate ligands in molybdo- and tungstopterin. These non-innocent ligands are discussed in their interaction with biological iron, copper, manganese, molybdenum or tungsten centers.     

Polydentate chiral heteroorganic ligands/catalysts—impact of particular functional groups on their activity in selected reactions of asymmetric synthesis

The influence of each functional group in enantiomerically pure ligands 1, bearing a hydroxy moiety, a stereogenic sulfinyl group and an enantiomeric amine moiety, on ligand catalytic efficiency in enantioselective nitroaldol (Henry) reactions was investigated by subsequent transformation and/or protection of these groups. It was found that, although the absolute configuration of the amine moiety exerted a decisive influence on the stereochemical outcome of the reaction, the presence of the sulfinyl group was crucial. The hydroxy group could be replaced by a second enantiomeric amine moiety, but in order to achieve high catalytic activity of the ligand, it was necessary to retain the sulfinyl moiety in its molecule. This clearly indicated that the simultaneous presence of three coordinating centres was essential for the efficiency of the catalysts and allowed us to conclude that the original ligands 1 demonstrated a tridentate character.     

Organic synthesis and biological evaluation of novel “3 + 1” mixed ligands of technetium-99m Gabapentin as receptor imaging agents

This work focuses on the “3 + 1” mixed ligands of ^99mTc labeled Gabapentin as α2δ receptor imaging agents in the brain. Gabapentin 1-(aminomethyl)cyclohexanacetic acid as monodentate and two tridentates: tridentate A; 3-(2-imino-thiozolidin-4-one)-quinozoline-4-(3H)-one and tridentate B; N-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-imino-2H-chromene-3-Carbothioamide which were synthesized and characterized by infrared analysis (IR), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and mass spectrum. ^99mTc-complexes were prepared by the “3 + 1” mixed ligand approach. The labeling conditions were optimized and the complexes was extracted by chloroform and purified by high performance liquid chromatography. ^99mTc-complexs were lipophilic and stable for at least 8–12 h at room temperature. The biodistribution of the ^99mTc-complexes was evaluated in mice. The brain uptake was 4.5% and 3.5% ID/g (percentage of the injected dose per gram) at 5 min, and the retention was 1.5% and 1.7% ID/g at 120 min for ^99mTc-complex A and ^99mTc-complex B, respectively.     

Investigation of keto–enol tautomerism in tetraketonate ligands

Molecular structure, vibration analysis, and natural bond orbital study of four derivatives of tetraketonate ligand were investigated in three different solvents using density functional theory B3LYP/6-31++G** method. The solution phase studies were carried out using an Onsager model. According to the obtained results the enol form of the ligands is more stable than keto form, even in solvents with high dielectric constant such as DMSO. This result is also confirmed experimentally using NMR studies for tetraacetylethane. Their stabilities are due to the presence of hydrogen bonding in the enol tautomers. A comparison among different possible enol forms of the substituted tetraketonate ligands demonstrated that three factors control the stability of the compounds as hydrogen bonding, steric hindrance, and charge distribution. The effectiveness of each of these factors on the stability of ligands depends on the nature of the substituent attached to the ligand.     

“One-step” synthesis of nonsolvated aluminum hydride

The direct reaction of lithium tetrahydroaluminate with aluminum chloride in an ether— toluene mixture at temperatures ≥90 °? was studied. Under these conditions, nonsolvated aluminum hydride is formed in a yield ≥80%. The product formed represents agglomerates with the highly developed surface and has satisfactory hydrolytic and thermal stability but an increased lithium chloride content (0.25–2.2 wt.%). The decrease in the percentage of this impurity to 0.2 wt.% is achieved by using chloroalanes AlH^b3-n Cl^bn ?xOEt^b2 (n ≤ 1) instead of aluminum chloride along with vigorous stirring and an increase in the synthesis—crystallization temperature to >100 ° ?. The use of compounds based on magnesium tetrahydroaluminate, LiAlH^b4? Mg(AlH^b4)^b2 or LiCl? Mg(AlH^b4)^b2, as modifying agents increases the thermal stability of the hydride and decreases the agglomeration of the crystals.     

Studies of the ligand effect on the synthesis of dialuminoxanes by various β-diketiminato ligands

Reactions of LH (L = HC[C(Me)N(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3))](2)) with Me(n)AlCl(3-n) in diethyl ether afforded the adducts LH·AlMe(n)(Cl)(3-n) (n = 2, 3; 1, 4; 0, 5) in good yields. Treatment of 3 at elevated temperatures in toluene resulted in LAlMeCl (2) by intramolecular elimination of methane. The controlled hydrolysis of LAlMeCl (2) with equimolar amounts of water in the presence of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) gave a mixture of [LAl(Me)](2)(μ-O) (7) and dimeric [LAlMe(μ-OH)](2) (8). A convenient route for the preparation of [LAlMe(μ-OH)](2) (8) was the NHC-assisted controlled hydrolysis of LAlMeI (9). Stepwise hydrolysis of LAlH(2) (11) gave dialuminoxane hydride [LAl(H)](2)(μ-O) (12) and dialuminoxane hydroxide [LAl(OH)](2)(μ-O) (13), respectively. Anhydrous treatment of LAlCl(2) (1) or LAlMeCl (2) with Ag(2)O afforded chlorinated dialuminoxane [LAl(Cl)](2)(μ-O) (14) and [LAl(Me)](2)(μ-O) (7), respectively.     

“Triple” mutual prodrug based on 2-methoxyestradiol: synthesis and biotesting in vitro

Russian Chemical Bulletin - Ester of the tubulin ligand, 2-methoxyestradiol, with two molecules of DNA alkylating agent chlorambucil was proposed as a “triple” mutual prodrug for...     

Monohaloboryls (BHX-) as bridging ligands: observable dinuclear σ-(halo)boranyl intermediates in the synthesis of metalloborylenes

Upon treating transition-metal-dihaloboryl complexes of the form [L(n)MBX(2)] with K[(η(5)-C(5)H(5))MnH(CO)(2)], salt elimination occurs along with a migration of the Mn-bound hydride ligand onto the boron atom, thereby forming dinuclear σ-(halo)boranyl complexes of the form [L(n)M(μ-BHX)Mn(CO)(2)(η(5)-C(5)H(5))]. Most of these complexes react further at room temperature to lose HX and provide metalloborylene complexes [L(n)M-B = Mn(CO)(2)(η(5)-C(5)H(5))]; however, when ML(n) = Re(CO)(5) the σ-(halo)boranyl complex decomposes into unidentifiable products. We found through DFT calculations that two electronically and structurally distinct forms of the intermediate σ-(halo)boranyl complexes exist, one of which easily loses HX and one that does not.