Reaction of Vinyl Aziridines with Arynes: Synthesis of Benzazepines and Branched Allyl Fluorides

We report the cycloaddition between vinyl aziridines and arynes. Depending on the reaction conditions and the choice of the aryne precursor, the aziridinium intermediate can be trapped through two distinct mechanistic pathways. The first one proceeds through a formal [5+2] cycloaddition to furnish valuable multi-substituted benzazepines. In the second pathway, the aziridinium is intercepted by a fluoride ion to afford allylic fluorides in good yields. Both reactions proceed stereospecifically and furnish enantiopure benzazepines and allylic fluorides.     

Efficient Regioselective Ring Opening of Activated Aziridine-2-Carboxylates with [18F]Fluoride

Aziridines can undergo a range of ring-opening reactions with nucleophiles. The regio- and stereochemistry of the products depend on the substituents on the aziridine. Aziridine ring-opening reactions have rarely been used in radiosynthesis. Herein we report the ring opening of activated aziridine-2-carboxylates with [¹⁸F]fluoride. The aziridine was activated for nucleophilic attack by substitution of various groups on the aziridine nitrogen atom. Fluorine-18 radiolabelling was followed by ester hydrolysis and removal of the activation group. Totally regioselective ring opening and subsequent deprotection was achieved with tert-butyloxycarbonyl- and carboxybenzyl-activated aziridines to give α-[¹⁸F]fluoro-β-alanine in good radiochemical yield.     

Strained Ruthenium Complexes Bearing Tridentate Guanidine-Derived Ligands

The dimer [{(η⁶-p-cymene)RuCl}₂(μ-Cl)₂] (cymene=MeC₆H₄ⁱPr) reacts with N,N′-bis(p-tolyl)-N′′-(2-pyridinylmethyl)guanidine ( H₂L1 ) and N,N′-bis(p-tolyl)-N′′-(2-diphenylphosphanoethyl)guanidine ( H₂L2 ), in the presence of NaSbF₆, giving rise to chlorido compounds of formula [(η⁶-p-cymene)RuCl( H₂L )][SbF₆] ( H₂L = H₂L1 ( 1 ), H₂L2 ( 2 )) in which the guanidine ligand adopts a κ² chelate coordination mode. The related ligand (S)-N,N′-bis(p-tolyl)-N′′-(1-isopropyl, 2-diphenylphosphano ethyl)guanidine ( H₂L3 ) affords mixtures of the corresponding chlorido compound [(η⁶-p-cymene)RuCl( H₂L3 )][SbF₆] ( 3 ) together with the complexes [(η⁶-p-cymene)RuCl₂( H₃L3 )][SbF₆] ( 4 ) and [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(κ³N,N′,P- HL3 )][SbF₆] ( 10 ) which contain phosphano-guanidinium and phosphano-guanidinate ions acting as monodentate and tridentate ligand, respectively. Compounds 1 , 2 and mixture of 3 / 4 / 10 react with AgSbF₆ rendering the cationic aqua-complexes [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru( H₂L )(OH₂)][SbF₆]₂ ( H₂L = H₂L1 ( 5 ), H₂L2 ( 6 ), H₂L3 ( 7 )). These aqua-complexes exhibit a temperature-dependent fluxional process in solution. Experimental NMR studies and DFT theoretical calculations on complex 6 suggest that the process involves the exchange between two rotamers around one of the C−N guanidine bonds. Treatment of 5 – 7 with NaHCO₃ renders the complexes [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(κ³N,N′,N′′- HL1 )][SbF₆] ( 8 ) and [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(κ³N,N′,P- HL )][SbF₆] ( HL = HL2 ( 9 ), HL3 ( 10 )), respectively, in which the HL ligand adopts a fac κ³ coordination mode. The new complexes have been characterized by analytical and spectroscopic means, including the determination of the crystal structures of the compounds 1 , 2 , 5 , 9 and 10 , by X-ray diffractometric methods.     

Synthesis and properties of bicyclic aziridines,derivatives of triacetoneamine

Bicyclic aziridines, derivatives of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone (triacetoneamine), are synthesized, which by acids treatment undergo the N—C(1) or N—C(2) bonds cleavage to form the corresponding pyrrolines, pyrrolidines, and piperidines. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 508–511, March, 2007.     

Synthesis and Reactivity of a Strained Silicon‐Bridged [1]Ferrocenophanium Ion

Not blue but red‐brown : A [1]ferrocenophanium ion has been synthesized and isolated as a red‐brown crystalline salt, surprisingly different in color from characteristically blue‐green unstrained ferrocenium ions. Compared to the neutral iron(II) counterpart, the [1]ferrocenophanium ion displays a considerably higher ring tilt and an increased propensity for ring‐opening reactions.

     

Transformations of Strained Three-Membered Rings a Common,Yet Overlooked,Motif in Heavy-Atom Tunneling Reactions

Quantum mechanical tunneling has long been recognized as an important phenomenon when considering transformations dominated by a lightweight hydrogen atom. Tunneling of heavier atoms like carbon, initially dismissed as negligible, has seen a quickly increasing number of computationally predicted and/or experimentally confirmed examples over the last decade, thus highlighting its importance for a wide variety of reactions. However, no common structural motif has been pointed out within these seemingly unconnected examples, strongly limiting the predictability of the impact of heavy-atom tunneling on a given reaction. This Concept article will provide this perspective and showcase how the recognition of the formation and cleavage of three-membered rings as common motif can inform the prediction of and research into heavy-atom tunneling reactions.     

Ring Expansion to 6-, 7-, and 8-Membered Benzosilacycles through Strain-Release Silicon-Based Cross-Coupling

The synthesis of silacycles is highly appealing due to their important applications in organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and materials chemistry. However, sila-tetralins and sila-benzosuberanes are surprisingly under-represented due to a lack of general methods to access these compounds. We successfully developed a Pd-catalyzed strain-release silicon-based cross-coupling as an unprecedented ring-expansion method, which constitutes a general route for preparing diverse sila-tetralins and sila-benzosuberanes.     

Ring Expansion to 6‐, 7‐, and 8‐Membered Benzosilacycles through Strain‐Release Silicon‐Based Cross‐Coupling

The synthesis of silacycles is highly appealing due to their important applications in organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and materials chemistry. However, sila‐tetralins and sila‐benzosuberanes are surprisingly under‐represented due to a lack of general methods to access these compounds. We successfully developed a Pd‐catalyzed strain‐release silicon‐based cross‐coupling as an unprecedented ring‐expansion method, which constitutes a general route for preparing diverse sila‐tetralins and sila‐benzosuberanes.     

Ring opening of boriranes vis‐à‐vis aziridines: An ab initio and DFT probe on the mechanisms

Borirane undergoes ring opening reaction with NOCl and HNF₂ yielding the corresponding alkenes. Ab initio and density functional investigations of this reaction with cis‐ and trans‐2,3‐dimethylboriranes reveal that these reactions take place in a single step through the formation of a prereactive complex and a transition state giving the alkene with the same stereochemistry. Calculations clearly show that the concerted cleavage of C? B bonds leads to retention of stereochemistry. Further, it shows that HNF₂ cleaves boriranes more efficiently than does NOCl. Intrinsic reaction coordinate analyses and bond order analysis describe the nature of the transition state very well and fix the reaction mechanism. Solvent effect calculations through PCM model, with acetonitrile and CCl₄ as solvents, do not alter the gas phase results significantly. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Ring Opening of N‐Sulfonyl Aziridines by Amines in Silica‐Water

Ring opening reactions of N‐sulfonyl aziridines by primary and secondary amines in silica gel (SG)‐water system were achieved, which provided a mild, practical and environmentally benign method to synthesize mono‐ and bis‐sulfonyl substituted amines. When primary and secondary amines were used in excess, they reacted with N‐sulfonyl aziridines smoothly at room temperature, mainly affording 1:1 ring opening products. Reactions of primary amines with 2 equiv. of aziridines produced 2:1 ring opening products. Some 1:1 products can be cyclized with CS₂ to synthesize N‐sulfonyl cyclothioureas also in water.     

Nucleophile‐Dependent Regio‐ and Stereoselective Ring Opening of 1‐Azoniabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane Tosylate

1‐[(1R)‐(1‐Phenylethyl)]‐1‐azoniabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane tosylate was generated as a stable bicyclic aziridinium salt from the corresponding 2‐(3‐hydroxypropyl)aziridine upon reaction with p‐toluenesulfonyl anhydride. This bicyclic aziridinium ion was then treated with various nucleophiles including halides, azide, acetate, and cyanide in CH₃CN to afford either piperidines or pyrrolidines through regio‐ and stereoselective ring opening, mediated by the characteristics of the applied nucleophile. On the basis of DFT calculations, ring‐opening reactions under thermodynamic control yield piperidines, whereas reactions under kinetic control can yield both piperidines and pyrrolidines depending on the activation energies for both pathways.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Fluxionality of Strained Hypercoordinate Silicon‐Bridged [1]Ferrocenophanes

The first hypercoordinate sila[1]ferrocenophanes [fcSiMe(2‐C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂)] ( 5 a ) and [fcSi(CH₂Cl)(2‐C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂)] ( 5 b ) (fc=(η⁵‐C₅H₄)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)) were synthesized by low‐temperature (?78 °C) reactions of Li[2‐C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂] with the appropriate chlorinated sila[1]ferrocenophanes ([fcSiMeCl] ( 1 a ) and [fcSi(CH₂Cl)Cl] ( 1 d ), respectively). Single‐crystal Xray diffraction studies revealed pseudo‐trigonal bipyramidal structures for both 5 a and 5 b , with one of the shortest reported Si???N distances for an sp³‐hybridized nitrogen atom interacting with a tetraorganosilane detected for 5 a (2.776(2) Å). Elongated Si? C_ipso bonds trans to the donating NMe₂ arms (1.919(2) and 1.909(2) Å for 5 a and 5 b , respectively) were observed relative to both the non‐trans bonds ( 5 a : 1.891(2); 5 b : 1.879(2) Å) and the Si? C_ipso bonds of the non‐hypercoordinate analogues ([fcSiMePh] ( 1 b ): 1.879(4), 1.880(4) Å; [fcSi(CH₂Cl)Ph] ( 1 e ): 1.881(2), 1.884(2)). Solution‐state fluxionality of 5 a and 5 b , suggestive of reversible coordination of the NMe₂ group to silicon, was demonstrated by means of variable‐temperature NMR studies. The ΔG^≠ of the fluxional processes for 5 a and 5 b in CD₂Cl₂ were estimated to be 35.0 and 37.6 kJ mol^?1, respectively (35.8 and 38.3 kJ mol^?1 in [D₈]toluene). The quaternization of 5 a and 5 b by MeOTf, to give [fcSiMe(2‐C₆H₄CH₂NMe₃)][OTf] ( 7 a‐ OTf) and [fcSi(CH₂Cl)(2‐C₆H₄CH₂NMe₃)][OTf] ( 7 b‐ OTf), respectively, supported the reversibility of NMe₂ coordination at the silicon center as the source of fluxionality for 5 a and 5 b . Surprisingly, low room‐temperature stability was detected for 5 b due to its tendency to intramolecularly cyclize and form the spirocyclic [fcSi(cyclo‐CH₂NMe₂CH₂C₆H₄)]Cl ( 9 ‐Cl). This process was observed in both solution and the solid state, and isolation and Xray characterization of 9 ‐Cl was achieved. The model compound, [Fc₂Si(2‐C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂)₂] ( 8 ), synthesized through reaction of [Fc₂SiCl₂] with two equivalents of Li[2‐C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂] at ?78 °C, showed a lack of hypercoordination in both the solid state and in solution (down to ?80 °C). This suggests that either the reduced steric hindrance around Si or the unique electronics of the strained sila[1]ferrocenophanes is necessary for hypercoordination to occur.     

Synthesis of quaternary allylammonium salts via ring opening of 1-benzyl-2-(bromomethyl)aziridines

Treatment of 1-benzyl-2-(bromomethyl)aziridine, and some aryl substituted analogues, with an excess of iodomethane resulted in N-allyl-N-benzyl-N,N-dimethylammonium salts, in good yields. These quaternary allylammonium salts are of importance in different fields, from organic synthesis and polymeric chemistry to agricultural use.     

Exploiting Strained Rings in Chelation Guided C−H Functionalization: Integration of C−H Activation with Ring Cleavage

Strained ring systems are regarded as privileged coupling partners in directed C?H bond functionalization and have emerged as a potential research area in organic synthesis. The inherent ring strain in these systems acts as a driving force, allowing the facile construction of diversified structural scaffolds via integrating C?H activation and ring‐scission. The mechanistic underpinnings allows the implementation of a plethora of C?H bonds across plentiful organic substrates, including the less reactive alkyl ones. Considering the synthetic space, this area will foster developments of novel synthetic methods in chelation guided C?H functionalization. This review will focus on recent developments in transition‐metal catalyzed chelation assisted concomitant C?H activation and ring scission of strained rings to attain molecular complexity.     

A new synthetic approach to 2,3-dideoxy-2-fluoro-β-d-threo-pentofuranose, the fluorofuranose unit of the anti-HIV-active nucleoside, β-FddA

The fluorinated furanose unit of the anti-HIV-active nucleoside (2,3-dideoxy-2-fluoro-β-d-threo-pentofuranosyl)adenine, β-FddA, has been synthesized as its 5-trityl derivative with high stereocontrol from (S)-trityl glycidol and phenylthioacetic acid.