Reaction of ferrocenecarboxylic acid with N,N-disubstituted carbodiimides: synthesis, spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analysis of N,N-disubstituted N-ferrocenoylureas and identification of a one-pot coupling reagent for the formation of ferrocenecarboxamides in a non-aqueous solvent

N,N^′-dicyclohexyl-N-ferrocenoylurea 2, N,N^′-diisopropyl-N-ferrocenoylurea 3, N,N^′-di-p-tolyl-N-ferrocenoylurea 4 and N,N^′-di-tert-butyl-N-ferrocenoylurea 5 were obtained by reaction of ferrocenecarboxylic acid 1 with N,N^′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), N,N^′-diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC), N,N^′-di-p-tolylcarbodiimide 10 and N,N^′-di-tert-butylcarbodiimide 11, respectively. Both N-tert-butyl-N^′-ethyl-N-ferrocenoylurea 6 and N^′-tert-butyl-N-ethyl-N-ferrocenoylurea 7 were obtained by reaction of 1 with N-tert-butyl-N^′-ethylcarbodiimide 12. In all cases a small amount of ferrocenecarboxylic anhydride 8 was formed as a by-product. All compounds were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR and MS. Single crystal X-ray structural analyses were made of 2, 3 and 4. From the consistent results, the reaction products of 1 with carbodiimides appear different from those proposed by some earlier workers. With N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N^′-ethylcarbodiimidehydrochloride 9 ferrocenoylurea was not isolated, but the main product was rather 8. The suitability of 8 as acylation reagent was applied by using 9 to obtain N-(3-triethoxysilyl)-propylferrocenecarboxamide in a one-pot reaction from 1 and 3-(triethoxysilyl)-propylamine.     

Lewis acid-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts/Michael cascade reaction of N,N-dialkyl-3-vinylanilines with N-tosylaziridines for the stereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized tetrahydroisoquinolines

A Lewis acid-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts/Michael cascade reaction between N-dialkyl-3-vinylanilines and N-tosylaziridines has been developed for the stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQs). The reaction using Gd(OTf)₃ as the Lewis acid catalyst was tolerant to the various N-dialkyl-3-vinylaniline and N-tosylaziridine substrates and provided access to 28 new, highly functionalized THIQs in typically high yields with moderate- to- excellent diastereoselectivities.     

Reaction of ferrocenecarbothioamide and N-(ethoxycarbonyl)ferrocenecarbothioamide with alkyl halides

Reaction of ferrocenecarbothioamide and N-(ethoxycarbonyl)ferrocenecarbothioamide with alkyl (mainly benzyl) halides in the presence of K₂CO₃ has been studied. The former compound yielded cyanoferrocene in high yield whereas the latter was transformed into the corresponding thioimidates as a result of S-alkylation and deprotonation. The molecular structure of S-p-nitrobenzyl-N-(ethoxycarbonyl)-ferrocenethioimidate was determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis and revealed the E configuration. The plausible reaction mechanism is discussed.     

Synthesis, structure, and isomerism of N-2,4-dinitrophenylbenzotriazoles

Both isomers of N-(2′,4′-dinitrophenyl)benzotriazole, the 1(3)- and the 2-substituted, have been characterized and their reciprocal isomerism was studied. Cross-experiments in the presence of 5(6)-nitro-1H-benzotriazole proved that the isomerization of 2-(2′,4′-dinitrophenyl)-2H-benzotriazole into the 1-isomer occurs by an intermolecular mechanism. The reported reaction of 5(6)-nitro-1H-benzotriazole with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene has been reexamined discovering that there is an error in the proportions of N-substituted isomers. A possible explanation for the observed isomerizations was proposed. Identification of all compounds by multinuclear magnetic resonance, including solid-state studies, has been achieved.     

One-step synthesis of aryl-capped vinylferrocenes from ferrocene and aryl-substituted oxiranes

Ferrocene reacts in methanesulfonic acid with aryl- and diaryloxiranes to afford (2-arylvinyl)- and (2,2-diarylvinyl)ferrocenes, respectively. The reaction with aryloxiranes is highly stereoselective and gives only the (E)-isomers. The reaction presumably proceeds via fast isomerisation of the protonated oxirane to the protonated carbonyl compound, which attacks ferrocene.     

N-(ethoxycarbonyl)ferrocenecarboxamide: Synthesis and use as the pronucleophile in the Mitsunobu reaction

The title compound has been synthesized in the reaction of ferrocene with ethoxycarbonyl isocyanate in methanesulfonic acid. It has been found that it undergoes N-alkylation with benzyl alcohols under classical Mitsunobu conditions (PPh₃/DEAD). However, in the reaction with cholesterol and stigmasterol O-alkylation with inversion of configuration occurred (confirmed by hydrolysis of the product obtained from cholesterol to epicholesterol). The structure of the product obtained from p-nitrobenzyl alcohol was determined by X-ray diffraction.     

Acylation of N-p-toluenesulfonylpyrrole under Friedel-Crafts conditions: evidence for organoaluminum intermediates

The Friedel-Crafts acylation of N-p-toluenesulfonylpyrrole under Friedel-Crafts conditions has been reinvestigated. Evidence is presented in support of the hypothesis that when AlCl₃ is used as the Lewis acid, acylation proceeds via reaction of an organoaluminum intermediate with the acyl halide. This leads to the production of the 3-acyl derivative as the major product. With weaker Lewis acids (EtAlCl₂, Et₂AlCl) or less than 1 equiv of AlCl₃ the relative amount of 2-acyl product is increased. A mechanistic rationalization is presented to explain these data.     

N-ferrocenoyl benzotriazole: A convenient tool for the synthesis of ferrocenoyl esters

A new synthesis methodology has been presented for the preparation of the ferrocenoyl esters. Ferrocene carboxylic acid was derivatized using direct 1H-benzotriazole/SOCl₂ methodology to prepare N-ferrocenoyl benzotriazole as a convenient tool for the functionalization of ferrocene ring. N-ferrocenoyl benzotriazole was reacted with alcohols in mild conditions to prepare ferrocenoyl esters in high purity and in good yield. The solid state structure of benzyl-1-ferrocenoate, 2f, has also been determined by X-ray crystallography. In the crystal structure, intermolecular C-H···O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into a two-dimensional network. The π···π contacts between the cyclopentadiene rings and cyclopentadiene and phenyl rings, [centroid-centroid distances = 3.296(1) and 3.750(1) Å] may further stabilize the structure. Two weak C-H···π interactions are also found.     

Imino ene-type reaction of enamines with N-sulfonylimines and application to diastereoselective synthesis of N-sulfonyl-1,3-diamines

Enamines react rapidly with N-sulfonylimines to afford imino ene-type adducts. The reaction proceeds even at −78 °C in the presence of acetic acid and shows high diastereoselectivity. Acid hydrolysis of imino ene-type products affords β-amino ketones, and reduction with NaBH₃CN furnishes N-sulfonyl-1,3-diamines with high diastereoselectivities. The stereochemistry of these transformations is considered based on transition state models.     

Synthesis and biological activity research of novel ferrocenyl-containing thiazole imine derivatives

A series of novel N-substituted benzylidene-4-ferrocenyl-5-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1,3-thiazol-2-amine derivatives were synthesized by condensation of substituted-benzaldehydes with 2-amino-4-ferrocenyl-5-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1,3-thiazole and characterized by ¹H NMR, X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis. The results of bioassay showed that some title compounds exhibited some degree of plant growth regulatory and antifungal activities.     

Synthesis of N,N,N′,N′-tetrasubstituted 1,3-bis(4-aminophenyl)azulenes and their application to a hole-injecting material in organic electroluminescent devices

After a preliminary search of the reaction conditions for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of haloazulenes with arylboronic acids, the title compounds were synthesized either by the direct coupling reaction between 1,3-dihaloazulene and the corresponding N,N-disubstituted 4-aminophenylboronic acids or by a two-step sequence involving the cross-coupling with 4-bromophenylboronic acid and subsequent Pd-catalyzed amination. Application of the title diamines to a hole-injecting material in organic electroluminescent devices was carried out to provide their prominent characteristics as a novel durable, non-cyanine and non-polyamine substance without color fade. The diamine derivatives, extended by an ethynyl unit between the azulenyl core and the 4-aminophenyl moiety, were also synthesized and found, unfortunately, unsuitable for vacuum deposition in preparing a multilayer composite.     

The synthesis and structural characterization of N-para-ferrocenyl benzoyl dipeptide esters: The X-ray crystal structure of N-{para-(ferrocenyl)benzoyl}-l-alanine-glycine ethyl ester

A series ofN-para-ferrocenyl benzoyl dipeptide esters 2-5 were prepared by coupling para-ferrocenyl benzoic acid (1) to the dipeptide ethyl esters using the conventional 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) protocol. The dipeptides employed in the synthesis were Ala-Gly(OEt) (2), Ala-Ala(OEt) (3), Ala-Leu(OEt) (4) and Ala-Phe(OEt) (5). The compounds were fully characterized by a range of NMR spectroscopic techniques, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). In addition the X-ray crystal structure of the l-alanine-glycine derivative 2 has been determined.     

β-Ferrocenyl-α,β-unsaturated phosphonates and sulfones

Ferrocene reacts with β-ketophosphonates and β-ketosulfones (or acetals of formylphosphonates and sulfones) in the presence of a strong acid (triflic or methanesulfonic) to afford β-ferrocenyl-α,β-unsaturated phosphonates and β-ferrocenyl-α,β-unsaturated sulfones in good yield. The (E)-stereochemistry of these compounds was confirmed by spectral and analytical data, as well as by X-ray diffraction.     

Synthesis, structure, and both cathodic and anodic reversible redox reactions of benzochalcogenophenes containing ferrocene units

2,3-Diferrocenylbenzo[b]thiophene and 1,3-diferrocenylbenzo[c]thiophene have been systematically and selectively synthesized from benzo[b]thiophene and phthaloyl dichloride, respectively. Characterization of the molecules was performed by physical and spectroscopic means and X-ray crystallographic analyses. The cyclic voltammograms of the novel thiophene derivatives containing ferrocene fragments showed a well-defined reversible cathodic step derived from the unusually stable thiophene radical anions and two distinct reversible anodic steps derived from ferrocenium cations separated from each other by a thiophene heterocycle. 1,3-Diferrocenylbenzo[c]selenophene was also synthesized in a similar manner for formation of 1,3-diferrocenylbenzo[c]thiophene by the use of bis(dimethylaluminum) selenide as a selenating reagent.     

N-acylbenzotriazole mediated microwave assisted synthesis of protected and novel unprotected ferrocenoylamidoamino acids

In this study, crystalline and chirally stable carboxyl-protected and novel unprotected N-ferrocenoyl amino acid derivatives of Ser, Cys, Ala, Phe, Trp, Asp and Asn have been prepared. These amino acids undergo substitution reaction with 1-(ferrocenylcarbonyl)-1H-benzotriazole, 1, in partially aqueous media under microwave irradiation.     

Synthesis and aromatic nucleophilic N-N, N-S and N-O exchange reactions of N,N-dimethyl-2-trifluoroacetyl-1-naphthylamine

We succeeded in the synthesis of N,N-dimethyl-2-trifluoroacetyl-1-naphthylamine (10) by the regioselective deacylation of N,N-dimethyl-2,4-bis(trifluoroacetyl)-1-naphthylamine with trifluoroacetic acid and water. The aromatic nucleophilic substitutions of 10 with various amines, thiols and alcohols proceeded cleanly to give the corresponding N-N, N-S and N-O exchanged products in moderate to excellent yields.     

Functionalized pentamethylferrocenes: Synthesis, structure, and electrochemistry

The advantageous properties of the Cp^* ligand — intensified electron donation, steric bulk, and enhanced solubility in comparison to the ubiquitous Cp ligand — are finding increasing use in organometallic chemistry. A systematic evaluation of synthetic routes to pentamethylferrocene compounds with a wide range of functionalities, including carboxyl, carbonyl, aminomethyl, vinyl, ethynyl, fulvenyl, cyclopentadienylmethyl, and others is reported. Spectroscopic, structural, and electrochemical properties of such functionalized pentamethylferrocenes Fc^*/2—R are compared to those of non-methylated ferrocenes Fc—R. The electronic influence of the Cp^* ligand in these unsymmetricalferrocenes Fc^*/2—R has been studied by cyclic voltammetry measurements, demonstrating a decrease in oxidation potential of −0.276 V in direct comparison to non-methylated ferrocenes Fc—R.     

Synthesis of N-substituted 2,4-thiazolidinediones from oxazolidinethiones

A novel reaction has been found between oxazolidinethione and bromoacetyl bromide to afford N-substituted 2,4-thiazolidinediones through an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction. Interestingly a step of elimination was carried out in trisubstituted oxazolidinethiones forming a double bond.     

An effective synthesis of N,N-dimethylamides from carboxylic acids and a new route from N,N-dimethylamides to 1,2-diaryl-1,2-diketones

Carboxylic acids were heated at 150 °C in DMF in the presence of 1.25 equiv of thionyl chloride to give corresponding N,N-dimethylamides in good yields. Tandem chlorination and amidation reactions occurred in the one-pot procedure. Dicarboxylic acids needed prolonged reaction time to produce bisamides in good yields. Some benzamides were efficiently converted into corresponding 1,2-diaryl-1,2-diketones (benzils) under acyloin condensation conditions in the presence of 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (DBB) in THF. Ultrasonic irradiation effectively accelerates the reaction, but it is not critical. However, the presence of DBB is fatal to the reaction. Although a few synthetic methods for benzils from benzoic acids have been reported so far, this method is one of the most convenient and highly reproducible procedures.     

Imino-ene reaction of N-tosyl arylaldimines with α-methylstyrene: application in the synthesis of important amines

Copper(II) or tin(II) trifluoromethanesulfonate in combination with TMSCl effectively activates a C-H bond for the imino-ene reaction of N-tosylarylaldimines with α-methylstyrene. A wide variety of N-tosylarylaldimines were used to give homoallylamines in good to excellent yields under mild conditions. The imino-ene adduct was converted into a β-amino ketone. The synthesis of a 2,4-substituted pyrrolidine and a piperidine was also achieved from the imino-ene product via a Mitsunobu reaction and a Grubbs cyclization, respectively.