Convenient synthesis of 3-fluoro-4,5-diphenylfuran-2(5H)-one from benzoin ethers : Novel and efficient Z-E isomerisation and cyclisation of 2-fluoroalkenoate precursors, substitution of vinylic fluorine

Mixtures of ethyl (E)- and (Z)-4-alkoxy-2-fluoro-3,4-diphenylbut-2-enoates (6-8) prepared from benzoin ethers and ethyl 2-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-2-fluoroacetate were transformed in high yields to the target 3-fluoro-4,5-diphenylfuran-2(5H)-one (14) using bromine in tetrachloromethane at room temperature. The non-cyclisable Z-isomers 6b-8b were gradually isomerised to the cyclisable E-isomers 6a-8a during the process. The reaction of the (E)-butenoates 6a-8a with boron trifluoride led to furanone 14, while in Z-isomers 6b-8b both alkoxy group and vinylic fluorine were substituted with bromine during the reaction. Mechanisms for both complex reactions have been proposed. Furanone 14 was transformed to 2-[tert-butyl(dimethyl)silyloxy]-3-fluoro-4,5-diphenylfuran (18) as a novel building block.     

EPR studies on H-abstraction from methylbenzenes by “magic blue” reagent

After mixing a methylbenzene 4 with “magic blue” solution in F113 (CClF₂CCl₂F) containing bis{perfluoro[1-(2-fluorosulfonyl)ethoxy]ethyl}nitroxide 2 and perfluoro-1-nitroso-1-[1-(2-fluorosulfonyl)ethoxy]ethane 3 at room temperature, benzylic H-atom of 4 could be selectively abstracted by 2, and benzyl radical 5 thus generated was immediately trapped by 3. Based on hyper-fine splitting constants (hfsc), the structure of the spin adducts perfluoro[1-(2-fluorosulfonyl)ethoxy]ethyl benzyl nitroxides 6 derived from seven methylbenzenes have been identified. The mechanism of the H-abstraction/spin trapping process is also discussed.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of novel zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes with pyridine-phosphine chalcogenide ligands

New pyridine-phosphine chalcogenide ligands, tris[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]phosphine sulfide 1a and tris[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]phosphine selenide 1b, react with zinc(II) and cadmium(II) chlorides in EtOH at room temperature to afford complexes of compositions 2ZnCl₂·2L (2, L = 1a) and 3CdCl₂·2L (3a,b, L = 1a,b) in high yields. The solid-state structure of complexes 2, 3 has been proved by X-ray analysis data. Complex 2 is a centrosymmetric dimer, where two atoms of zinc are bonded by two bridging pyridine-phosphine sulfide ligands through N atoms. Complexes 3a,b exist as polymeric chains with each bridging ligand acting as a chelate N,S- or N,Se-donor to one cadmium(II) center and as a pyridine N-donor to the next cadmium(II) center.     

Sodium dithionite initiated reactions of 1-bromo-1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane with enol ethers of cyclic ketones

Sodium dithionite initiated reactions of 1-bromo-1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (1) with methyl and trimethylsilyl ethers of cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone enols (2a-d) in a MeCN/H₂O system were investigated. 2-(2,2,2-Trifluoroethylidene)cyclopentanone (4a) and 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-cyclohexanone (4b), respectively, were obtained as the main products and isolated in reasonable yields. The reaction with a 1:1 mixture of 5- and 3-methyl substituted 1-methoxycyclohexenes, 2e and 2f, revealed strong influence of steric hindrance on the reaction rate; a mixture of 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-5-methylcyclohexanone (6) and 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-3-methylcyclohexanone (7) in a 9:1 ratio was formed. Ketones 4a and 4b were reduced to the corresponding alcohols 8 and 9 and the reaction of 4b with hydrazine gave an indazole derivative 10.     

Syntheses and structures of iron carbonyl complexes derived from N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethylidene)-2-thiolethylamine and N-(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethylidene)-2-thiolethylamine

The reaction of N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethylidene)-2-thiolethylamine (1) with Fe₂(CO)₉ in refluxing acetonitrile yielded di-(μ₃-thia)nonacarbonyltriiron (2), μ-[N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethyl)-η¹:η¹(N);η¹:η¹(S)-2-thiolatoethylamido]hexacarbonyldiiron (3), and N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethylidene)amine (4). If the reaction was carried out at 45 °C, di-μ-[N-(5-methyl-2-thienylmethylidene)-η¹(N);η¹(S)-2-thiolethylamino]-μ-carbonyl-tetracarbonyldiiron (5) and trace amount of 4 were obtained. Stirring 5 in refluxing acetonitrile led to the thermal decomposition of 5, and ligand 1 was recovered quantitatively. However, in the presence of excess amount of Fe₂(CO)₉ in refluxing acetonitrile, complex 5 was converted into 2-4. On the other hand, the reaction of N-(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethylidene)-2-thiolethylamine (6) with Fe₂(CO)₉ in refluxing acetonitrile produced 2, μ-[N-(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)-η¹ (N_py);η¹:η¹(N); η¹:η¹(S)-2-thiolatoethylamido]pentacarbonyldiiron (7), and μ-[N-(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethylidene)-η²(C,N);η¹:η¹(S)-2- thiolethylamino]hexacarbonyldiiron (8). Reactions of both complex 7 and 8 with NOBF₄ gave μ-[(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)-η¹(N_py);η¹:η¹(N);η¹:η¹(S)-2-thiolatoethylamido](acetonitrile)tricarbonylnitrosyldiiron (9). These reaction products were well characterized spectrally. The molecular structures of complexes 3, 7-9 have been determined by means of X-ray diffraction. Intramolecular 1,5-hydrogen shift from the thiol to the methine carbon was observed in complexes 3, 7, and 9.     

Synthesis of arotinoid acid and temarotene using mixed (Z)-1,2-bis(organylchalcogene)-1-alkene as precursor

An efficient and novel total synthesis of the two bioactive retinoids temarotene and arotinoid acid (TTNPB) is described. The key steps in this process include the regio and stereoselective hydrotelluration of thioacetylene 9 and Te/Li transmetalation of mixed (Z)-1,2-bis(organylchalcogene)-1-alkene (Z)-3. The subsequent reaction involving the β-phenylthio vinyl lithiated intermediate 10 with dimethyl sulfate gave the (E)-vinyl sulfide 11. The Ni⁺² cross-coupling of 11 with the corresponding phenylzinc bromide and p-oxazoline phenylzinc bromide 12 afforded the respective temarotene 2 and retinoid-oxazoline substituted 13. Finally, compound 13 was deprotected with HCl to furnish arotinoid acid (TTNPB) 1.     

Organolanthanides with 3-(2-pyridylmethyl) indenyl ligands: synthesis, crystal structures and catalytic activities of divalent complexes for ε-caprolactone polymerization

Reaction of 3-(2-pyridylmethyl)indenyl lithium (1) with LnI₂(THF)₂ (Ln = Sm, Yb) in THF produced the divalent organolanthanides (C₅H₄NCH₂C₉H₆)₂Ln^II(THF) (Ln = Sm (2), Yb (3)) in high yield. 1 reacts with LnCl₃ (Ln = Nd, Sm, Yb) in THF to give bis(3-(2-pyridylmethyl)indenyl) lanthanide chlorides (C₅H₄NCH₂C₉H₆)₂Ln^IIICl (Ln = Nd (4), Sm (5)) and the unexpected divalent lanthanides 3 (Ln = Yb). Complexes 2-5 show more stable in air than the non-functionalized analogues. X-ray structural analyses of 2-4 were performed. 2 and 3 belong to the high symmetrical space group (Cmcm) with the same structures, they are THF-solvated 9-coordinate monomeric in the solid state, while 4 is an unsolvated 9-coordinate monomer with a trans arrangement of both the sidearms and indenyl rings in the solid state. Additionally, 2 and 3 show moderate polymerization activities for ε-caprolactone (CL).     

Kinetics and mechanism of thermal gas-phase elimination of α- and β- (N-arylamino)propanoic acid: experimental and theoretical analysis

2-(N-Phenylamino)propanoic acid 1a and 3-(N-phenylamino)-propanoic acid 2a together with four of their aryl analogues were pyrolysed in the gas-phase. The reactions were homogeneous and free from catalytic and radical pathways. Analysis of the pyrolysate of 1 showed the elimination products to be carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde and aniline, while the pyrolysate of 2 reveals the formation of acrylic acid in addition to aniline. Theoretical study of the pyrolysis of 2 using an ab initio SCF method lend support to a reaction pathway involving a 4-membered cyclic transition state.     

A series of 2D lanthanide (III) coordination polymers constructed from 2-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylate

Reactions of 2-(pyridine-3-yl)-1H-4,5-imidazoledicarboxylic acid (H₃PyIDC) with a series of Ln(III) ions affords ten coordination polymers, namely, {[Ln(H₂PyIDC)(HPyIDC)(H₂O)₂]·H₂O}_n [Ln=Nd (1), Sm (2), Eu (3) and Gd (4)], {[Ln(HPyIDC)(H₂O)₃]·(H₂PyIDC)·H₂O}_n [Ln=Gd (5), Tb (6), Dy (7), Ho (8) and Er (9)], and {[Y₂(HPyIDC)₂(H₂O)₅]·(bpy)·(NO₃)₂·3H₂O}_n (10) (bpy=4,4′-bipyridine). They exhibit three types of networks: complexes 1-4 are isomorphous coordination networks containing neutral 2D metal-organic layers, while complexes 5-9 are isomorphous, which consist of cationic metal-organic layers and anionic organic layers, and complex 10 is a 2D network built up from 4-connected HPyIDC²⁻ anion and 4-connected Y(III) ions. In addition, thermogravimetric analyses and solid-state luminescent properties of the selected complexes are investigated. They exhibit intense, characteristic emissions in the visible region at room temperature.     

Syntheses, structures and photoluminescence of a series of coordination frameworks based on dicarboxylate anion and bis(imidazole) ligand

In this article, ten new coordination frameworks, namely, [Ni(H₂O)₆]·(L3) (1), [Zn(L3)(H₂O)₃] (2), [Cd(L3)(H₂O)₃]·5.25H₂O (3), [Ag(L1)(H₂O)]·0.5(L3) (4), [Ni(L3)(L1)] (5), [Zn(L3)(L1)_0.5]·H₂O (6), [Cd(L3)(L1)_0.5(H₂O)] (7), [CoCl(L3)_0.5(L1)_0.5] (8), [ZnCl(L3)_0.5(L2)_0.5] (9), and [CoCl(L3)_0.5(L2)_0.5] (10), where L1 = 1,1′-(1,4)-butanediyl)bis(imidazole), L2 = 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(2-ethylbenzimidazole) and H₂L3 = 3,3′-(p-xylylenediamino)bis(benzoic acid), have been synthesized by varying the metal centers and nitrogen-containing secondary ligands. These structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, elemental analyses and IR spectra. In 1, the L3 anion is not coordinated to the Ni(II) center as a free ligand. The Ni(II) ion is coordinated by water molecules to form the cationic [Ni(H₂O)₆]²⁺ complex. The hydrogen bonds between L3 anions and [Ni(H₂O)₆]²⁺ cations result in a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular structure of 1. In compounds 2 and 3, the metal centers are linked by the organic L3 anions to generate 1D infinite chain structures, respectively. The hydrogen bonds between carboxylate oxygen atoms and water molecules lead the structures of 2 and 3 to form 3D supramolecular structures. In 4, the L3 anion is not coordinated to the Ag(I) center, while the L1 ligands bridge adjacent Ag(I) centers to give 1D Ag-L1 chains. The hydrogen bonds among neighboring L3 anions form infinite 2D honeycomb-like layers, in the middle of which there exist large windows. Then, 1D Ag-L1 chains thread in the large windows of the 2D layer network, giving a 3D polythreaded structure. Considering the hydrogen bonds between the water molecules and L3 anions, the structure is further linked into a 3D supramolecular structure. Compounds 5 and 7 were synthesized through their parent compounds 1 and 3, respectively, while 6 and 9 were obtained by their parent compound 2. In 5, the L3 anions and L1 ligands connect the Ni(II) atoms to give a 3D 3-fold interpenetrating dimondoid topology. Compound 6 exhibits a 3D three-fold interpenetrating α-Po network structure formed by L1 ligands connecting Zn-L3 sheets, while compound 7 shows a 2D (4,4) network topology with the L1 ligands connecting the Cd-L3 double chains. In compound 8, the L1 ligands linked Co-L3 chains into a 2D layer structure. Two mutual 2D layers interpenetrated in an inclined mode to generate a unique 3D architecture of 8. Compounds 9 and 10 display the same 2D layer structures with (4,4) network topologies. The effects of the N-containing ligands and the metal ions on the structures of the complexes 1-10 were discussed. In addition, the luminescent properties of compounds 2-4, 6, 7 and 9 were also investigated.     

Synthesis and reactions of 2-hydroxy-4-oxo-4-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-but-2-enoic acid methyl ester

2-Hydroxy-4-oxo-4-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-but-2-enoic acid methyl ester (1) was synthesized by the reaction of pentafluoroacetophenone with dimethyl oxalate in the presence of sodium methylate. Subsequently, reactions of compound 1 with aniline, o-phenylenediamine, and o-aminophenol were investigated. In addition, the thermal cyclization of ester 1 was studied and led to the formation of 5,6,8-trifluoro-7-methoxy-4-oxo-4H-chromene-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester (6) due to nucleophilic substitution of the 3-fluoro group. Hydrolysis of compound 1 and subsequent cyclization by treatment with SOCl₂ gave 5-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-furan-2,3-dione (3). Thermal decarbonylation of compound 3 under mild conditions resulted in the formation of 3-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-propene-1,3-dione (4) which dimerized to pyranone 5.     

1-Nitratoethyl-5-nitriminotetrazole derivatives - Shaping future high explosives

1-(2-Nitratoethyl)-5-nitriminotetrazole (2) was formed by the reaction of 1-(2-hydroxyethyl-5-aminotetrazole (1) and 100% HNO₃. Compound 1 was obtained by alkylation of 5-amino-1H-tetrazole. Next to the known byproduct 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-nitriminotetrazole (3), a second one, 1-(2-nitratoethyl)-5-aminotetrazolium nitrate (4) was obtained and fully characterized. Nitrogen-rich salts such as the ammonium (5), hydroxylammonium (6), guanidinium (7), aminoguanidinium (8), diaminoguanidinium (9) and triaminoguanidinium (10) 1-(2-nitratoethyl)-5-nitriminotetrazolate were prepared by deprotonation or metathesis reactions. The reaction of 2 and diaminourea yielded 1-(2-nitratoethyl)-5-aminotetrazole (11). Compounds 4-11 were fully characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, vibrational spectroscopy (IR and Raman), multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and DSC measurements. The heats of formation of 5-10 were calculated by the atomization method based on CBS-4M enthalpies. Regarding the possible application of these compounds as energetic materials or high explosives, several detonation parameters such as the detonation pressure, velocity, energy and temperature were computed using the EXPLO5 code and the X-ray densities as well as the computed heats of formation. In addition the sensitivities towards impact, friction and electrical discharge were tested using the BAM drophammer, a friction tester as well as a small scale electrical discharge device.     

Kinetics and mechanism of thermal gas-phase elimination of β-substituted carboxylic acids

3-Phenoxypropanoic acid (1), 3-(phenylthio)propanoic acid (2), and 4-phenylbutanoic acid (3) were pyrolysed between 520 and 682 K. Analysis of the pyrolysates showed the elimination products to be acrylic acid and the corresponding arene. Pyrolysis of ethyl 3-phenoxypropanoate (4) and its methyl analogue (5), ethyl 3-(phenylthio)propanoate (6) and its methyl counterpart (7), and 3-phenoxypropane nitrile (8) were also investigated between 617 and 737 K. The thermal gas-phase elimination kinetics and product analysis are compatible with a thermal retro-Michael reaction pathway involving a four-membered cyclic transition state.     

Synthesis of l-azaisotryptophan and its analogs: a general access to new 2-substituted azaindoles

l-(N-Cbz)-7-azaisotryptophan, l-(N-Cbz)-1a, a new isostere of tryptophan, was synthesized by reacting Li₂-(N-Boc)-2-amino-3-picoline, Li₂-(N-Boc)-2a, with appropriately protected l-aspartic acid followed by simple functional group manipulation. This synthetic success led us to access a set of analogs of azaisotryptophan (4a–c; 6a–c) as well as a new class of chiral amines (7a–c; 8a–c) for future application in asymmetric synthesis and design of homochiral ligands. Further, we have generalized the method substantiating a variety of new azaindol-2-yl derivatives (10aa–10lc) with functionalized substituents. In a preliminary luminescence characterization, l-(N-Cbz)-1a has exhibited about 30 nm bathochromic shifted fluorescence emission compared to tryptophan and (N-Cbz)-tryptophan.     

An efficient microwave assisted synthesis of novel class of Rhodanine derivatives as potential HIV-1 and JSP-1 inhibitors

(Z)-5-(2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)-2-oxoethylidene)-3-phenyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one (7a-q) derivatives have been synthesized by the condensation reaction of 3-phenyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones (3a-h) with suitably substituted 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxoacetaldehyde (6a-d) under microwave condition. The thioxothiazolidine-4-ones were prepared from the corresponding aromatic amines (1a-e) and di-(carboxymethyl)-trithiocarbonyl (2). The aldehydes (6a-h) were synthesized from the corresponding acid chlorides (5a-d) using HSnBu₃.     

Optically active cyclopentadienyl and indenyl ligands obtained from lactic acid esters

Asymmetric cyclopentadienes and indenes are easily prepared by nucleophilic attack of LiCp or LiInd on tosylate or triflate of ethyl (S)-(−) lactate. The selectivity of the reaction depends on the nature of the leaving group. This is particularly true in the case of the reaction of LiCp with sulfonates of ethyl (S)-(−) lactate. Indeed, only the monosubstituted cyclopentadiene lactate 2 is obtained from the triflate 6, whereas from the tosylate 1, besides 2 (20%) a 1,3-disubstituted cyclopentadiene lactate 3 is isolated (16.5%). From cyclopentadiene and indene lactate 2 and 7, optically active β-hydroxycyclopentadiene 10 and β-hydroxyindene 11 are obtained by reduction with LiAlH₄. Two rhodium(I) complexes 14 and 15 have been synthesized from (R,S)-2-(cyclopentadienyl)N,N-dimethylpropanamide 12 and (S)-2-(cyclopentadiene)propan-1-ol 10, respectively. The molecular structure of these complexes has been determined. Analytical and preparative chiral HPLC have been used to determine the optical purity of the ligands and to isolate enantiopure cyclopentadienyl complexes from racemic or enantiomerically enriched rhodium(I) complexes.     

1,1,3,3,3-Pentafluoro-2-pentafluorophenyl-1,2-epoxypropane and trimethylphosphite: unusual 1,4-dioxan-2,5-dione ring formation

1,1,3,3,3-Pentafluoro-2-pentafluorophenyl-1,2-epoxypropane 1 reacted with trimethylphosphite giving two diastereomers, (Z)- and (E)-3,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)-3,6-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-1,4-dioxan-2,5-dione 2a, b in a 1:1 ratio, cyclodimerisation product of the intermediately generated α-lactone 4. Compounds 2a, b were hydrolysed to furnish 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)propionic acid 5.     

Synthesis,crystal structures and spectroscopic studies of calcium(II) succinamate(-1) complexes

The reaction of succinamic acid (H₂sucm) with Ca(NO₃)₂·4H₂O yielded compounds [Ca(Hsucm)(NO₃)(H₂O)]_n (1) and [Ca(Hsucm)₂]_n (2). The succinamate(-1) ligand presents two new ligation modes and coordinates through the two carboxylato and the amide O-atoms, thus bridging three Ca^II ions which assemble into zig-zag 1D chains in 1 and 2D networks in 2. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions in the crystal structures of 1 and 2 result in overall 3D framework structures. Both compounds have been characterized by IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and their thermal decomposition was monitored by TG/DTG and DSC measurements. The structural comparison of 1 and 2 with known lanthanide(III) succinamate(-1) complexes reveals differences in the coordination mode of the ligand and in the coordination number of the metal ions; the biological relevance of these differences is discussed.     

Synthesis of bulky tris[(dimethyl(alkyl/aryl)silyl)methyl]stannanes as radical based reducing agents

The synthesis of novel bulky tris[dimethyl(ethyl/benzyl/p-tolyl/α-naphthyl)silylmethyl]stannanes (1-4) is described. Alkylation of SnCl₄ with Me₂(ethyl/p-tolyl)SiCH₂MgBr (10-11) gave mainly the triorganotin chlorides [(Me₂(ethyl/p-tolyl)SiCH₂)]₃SnCl 14 and 15, which were isolated by silica gel chromatography. Reduction of 14 and 15 with LiAlH₄ in THF gave the corresponding triorganotin hydrides 1 and 2, respectively. [Me₂(benzyl/α-naphthyl)SiCH₂]₃SnCl 16 and 17, generated by the alkylation of SnCl₄ with Me₂(benzyl/α-naphthyl)SiCH₂MgBr 12 and 13, were inseparable from the minor product [Me₂(benzyl/α-naphthyl)SiCH₂]₂SnCl₂18 and 19, respectively. Treatment of the mixtures of 16/18 and 17/19 with NaOH furnished the corresponding mixtures of stannoxanes, from which the hexakisdistannoxanes [Me₂(benzyl/α-naphthyl)SiCH₂]₆Sn₂O 20 and 22 were isolated from the minor dialkyltin oxide derivatives [Me₂(benzyl/α-naphthyl)SiCH₂]₂SnO in good yields. Reduction of 20 and 22 with BH₃ in THF gave [Me₂(benzyl/α-naphthyl)SiCH₂]₃SnH (3 and 4), respectively in good yields. ¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn, ²⁹Si NMR characteristics of the newly synthesized compounds are included.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of novel bis(2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one) derivatives as potential GSK-3 inhibitors

(5Z,5′Z)-3,3′-(1,4-Phenylenebis(methylene)-bis-(5-arylidene-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one) derivatives (5a-r) have been synthesized by the condensation reaction of 3,3′-(1,4- or 1,3-phenylenebis(methylene))bis(2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones) (3a,b) with suitably substituted aldehydes (4a-f) or 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)2-oxoacetaldehydes (8a-c) under microwave conditions. The bis(2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones) were prepared from the corresponding primary alkyl amines (1a,b) and di-(carboxymethyl)-trithiocarbonyl (2). The 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxoacetaldehydes (8a-c) were synthesized from the corresponding acid chlorides (7a-c) using HSnBu₃.