Interaction of 2-(arylazo)phenols with rhodium. Usual coordination vs. C-H and C-C activation

Reaction of 2-(2′-hydroxyphenylazo)phenol with [Rh(PPh₃)₃Cl] in refluxing benzene in presence of triethylamine afforded a red complex in which the ligand is coordinated to rhodium as a tridentate O,N,O-donor. However, similar reaction of [Rh(PPh₃)₃Cl] with 2-(2′-carboxyphenylazo)-4-methylphenol yielded two complexes, viz. a blue one and a green one. In both the complexes the ligand is coordinated as C,N,O-donor. However, in the blue complex orthometallation takes place from the ortho-carbon atom, which bears -COOH group via decarboxylation and in green one orthometallation occurs from the other ortho-carbon. Structures of all the three complexes were determined by X-ray crystallography. In all the three complexes rhodium is sharing the equatorial plane with the tridentate ligand and a chloride, and the two triphenylphosphines are axially disposed. All of the complexes show intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. Cyclic voltammetry on these complexes shows a Rh(III)-Rh(IV) oxidation on the positive side of SCE and a reduction of the coordinated azophenolate ligand on the negative side.     

Application and details of photoinduced oxidative cyclization of 5-(4′,9′-methanocycloundeca-2′,4′,6′,8′,10′-pentaenylidene)pyrimidine-2,4,6(1,3,5H)-triones and related compounds

As novel methodology for synthesizing the furan ring, a photoinduced oxidative cyclization of 5-(4′,9′-methanocycloundeca-2′,4′,6′,8′,10′-pentaenylidene)pyrimidine-2,4,6(1,3,5H)-triones (7a-c) and related compounds 9a-c was accomplished to give 5,10-methanocycloundeca[4,5]furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1,3H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates (8a-c⁺·BF₄⁻) and related compounds 2a-c⁺·BF₄⁻, respectively. In the photoinduced oxidative cyclization, the molecular oxygen in air is used as oxidant and the reaction proceeds under mild conditions to give desired products without byproducts, and thus, it is interesting from the viewpoint of the green chemistry. On the reactions of the mono-substituted derivatives 7d,e and 9e,f, the selectivity of the photoinduced cyclizations were reversed as compared with those of the DDQ-promoted oxidative cyclizations. By the NMR monitoring of the reactions of 7a and deuterated compound 7a-D₂ under degassed conditions, the details of the reaction pathway were clarified and rationalized on the basis of the MO calculation by the 6-31G^∗ basis set of the MP2 levels as well.     

Iridium mediated methyl and phenyl C-H activation of 2-(arylazo)phenols. Synthesis, structure, and spectral and electrochemical properties of some organoiridium complexes

Reaction of 2-(2′,6′-dimethylphenylazo)-4-methylphenol with [Ir(PPh₃)₃Cl] in refluxing ethanol in the presence of a base (NEt₃) affords an organoiridium complex 5, where the 2-(2′,6′-dimethylphenylazo)-4-methylphenol is coordinated to iridium, via C-H activation of a methyl group, as a dianionic tridentate C,N,O-donor. Two triphenylphosphines and a hydride are also coordinated to the metal center. A similar reaction carried out in toluene affords complex 5 along with a similar complex 7, where a chloride is coordinated to iridium instead of the hydride. Reaction of 2-(2′-methylphenylazo)-4-methylphenol with [Ir(PPh₃)₃Cl] in refluxing ethanol in the presence of a base (NEt₃) affords an organoiridium complex 12, where the 2-(2′-methylphenylazo)-4-methylphenol is coordinated to iridium, via C-H activation at the ortho position of the phenyl group in the 2′-methylphenylazo fragment, as a dianionic tridentate C,N,O-donor. Two triphenylphosphines and a hydride are also coordinated to the metal center. A similar reaction carried out in toluene affords a complex 12 along with a similar complex 13, where a chloride is coordinated to iridium instead of the hydride. Structures of complexes 5, 12 and 13 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. In all these complexes, the two triphenylphosphines are trans. All these complexes show intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. Cyclic voltammetry on all the complexes shows an Ir(III)-Ir(IV) oxidation within 0.60-0.73 V vs. SCE, followed by an oxidation of the coordinated 2-(arylazo)phenolate ligand within 1.08-1.39 V vs. SCE. A reduction of the coordinated 2-(arylazo)phenolate ligand is observed within −1.10 to −1.26 V vs. SCE.     

Vibrational spectra and structure of the photochromic 2-(2′,4′-dinitrobenzyl)pyridine

The molecular structure of the pale yellow crystals of 2-(2′,4′-dinitrobenzyl)pyridine (CH₂ form) and its photo induced ‘enamine’ NH tautomer (dark blue crystals) have been studied by means of vibrational spectra and ab initio calculations. The Raman spectrum of the photo-sensitive CH₂ form was registered by NIR FT-Raman spectroscopy by means of the Nd:YAG laser as an excitation source. Ab initio calculations have been performed for the CH₂ and NH tautomers at the Hartree-Fock level using a 6-21G** basis set. The theoretical geometrical parameters for the isolated 2-(2′,4′-dinitrobenzyl)pyridine molecule (CH₂ form) are close to the literature X-ray diffraction data. According to the theory the dihedral angle between the benzene and pyridine ring planes in the NH photo induced tautomer is about 46°, the ortho-nitro group is twisted about 25° towards the benzene ring plane, whereas the para-nitro group is coplanar to the benzene ring. The assignment of the fundamental vibration frequencies of both 2-(2′,4′-dinitrobenzyl)pyridine tautomers CH₂ and NH have been performed on the basis of Raman and infrared spectra and ab initio force field calculations. The computed frequencies are in coincidence with the registered ones; the mean deviations are between 23.7 and 28.5 cm⁻¹.     

Regioselective monobromination of (E)-1-(2′-hydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-aryl-2-propen-1-ones using bromodimethylsulfonium bromide and synthesis of 8-bromoflavones and 7-bromoaurones

A wide variety of monobrominated compounds 2a-l have been prepared in good yields from (E)-1-(2′-hydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-aryl-2-propen-1-ones (1a-l) through regioselective ring bromination using 1.5 equiv of bromodimethylsulfonium bromide (BDMS) at room temperature. Similarly, some of the 2′-hydroxychalcones can be converted directly into tribromides 3 or dibromides 4 by employing 4.0 equiv of BDMS under different reaction conditions which in turn can be transformed into 8-bromoflavones and 7-bromoaurones on treatment with 0.2 M ethanolic KOH solution. Mild reaction conditions, good yields and no chromatographic separation are some of the salient features of the present protocol.     

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer in 2-(2′,6′-dihydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole: effect of dual hydrogen bonding on the optical properties

2-(2′,6′-Dihydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (DHBO) has been synthesized by using palladium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization. The compound utilizes both O-H···N and O-H···O bonds to ensure a coplanar structure between the benzoxazole and phenol fragments. Optical comparison with the parent compound 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HBO) reveals that the dual hydrogen bonding in DHBO plays an essential role in raising the desirable keto emission for ESIPT and tuning the polarity sensitivity toward the molecular environment. DHBO also exhibits a higher quantum yield (?_fl = 0.108 in methanol) than HBO (?_fl = 0.0025) in the same solvent.     

A pyrazolyl-terminated 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine ligand: Iron(II), ruthenium(II) and palladium(II) complexes of 4′-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine

The preparation of 4′-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (2) under acidic conditions results in the formation of the salts [H₂2][MeOSO₃]₂ and [H₂2][EtOSO₃]₂, treatment of which with base leads to neutral 2. The structure of [H₂2][EtOSO₃]₂ · H₂O has been established by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The complexes [Fe(2)₂][PF₆]₂ and [Ru(2)₂][PF₆]₂ have been prepared and characterized, and the single crystal structure determination of [Ru(2)₂][PF₆]₂ is reported; [Fe(2)₂][PF₆]₂ is isostructural with [Ru(2)₂][PF₆]₂. Treatment of [Fe(2)₂]²⁺ with PdCl₂ produces [Pd(2)Cl]⁺, isolated and structurally characterized as the hexafluoridophosphate salt, illustrating that metal exchange within the tpy-binding domain occurs in preference to palladium(II) coordination by the N-donor atom of the pendant 3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl unit in 2. [Pd(2)Cl]²⁺ can also be prepared from PdCl₂ and [H₂2][MeOSO₃]₂ in refluxing methanol.     

Straightforward synthesis of 3′-deoxy-3′,4′-didehydronucleoside-5′-aldehydes via 2′,3′-O-orthoester group elimination: a simple route to 3′,4′-didehydronucleosides

Straightforward, high-yielding syntheses of 3′-deoxy-3′,4′-didehydronucleoside-5′-aldehydes and 3′-deoxy-3′,4′-didehydronucleosides starting from 2′,3′-O-orthoester derivatives of ribonucleosides are described.     

Rotamerisation and intramolecular proton transfer of 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)oxazole, 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)imidazole and 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)thiazole: a theoretical study

Semi-empirical (AM1-SCI) calculations have been performed on 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)oxazole (HPO), 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)imidazole (HPI) and 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)thiazole (HPT) to rationalise the photophysical behaviour of the compounds exhibiting intramolecular rotation as well as excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). The calculations reveal that there is a gradual variation in the properties from HPO to HPT through HPI so far as the existence of the rotational isomers in the ground state is concerned. While HPO gives rise to two stable rotamers (I and II) in all the common solvents, there is only one stable species for HPT in the S₀ state. For HPI, rotamer II is possible only in the isolated state and/or in solvents of low polarity, but in high polar solvents it gives rise to the normal form (I) only. For all the molecules in the series, however, intramolecular proton transfer (IPT) takes place in the lowest excited singlet (S₁) and the triplet (T₁) states. Combination of the rotamerism and ESIPT gives rise to multiple fluorescence bands for the fluorophores. Theoretical assignments have been made for the excitation, fluorescence and phosphorescence bands. Simulated potential energy curves (PEC) in different electronic states reveal that the IPT process is feasible in either of the S₁ and T₁ states but not in the ground state. The ESIPT reaction has been found to be favoured both thermodynamically and kinetically in these electronic states compared to the ground state. However, quantum mechanical tunnelling has been proposed for the prototropic reaction to proceed in the excited states.     

Synergistic liquid-liquid extractive spectrophotometric determination of gold(III) using 1-(2′,4′-dinitro aminophenyl)-4,4,6-trimethyl-1,4-dihydropyrimidine-2-thiol

Synergistic liquid-liquid extractive spectrophotometric determination of gold(III) using 1-(2′,4′-dinitro aminophenyl)-4,4,6-trimethyl-1,4-dihydro pyrimidine-2-thiol [2′,4′-dinitro APTPT] has been described. Equal volumes (5 cm³) of the 2′,4′-dinitro APTPT (0.02 mol L⁻¹) in the presence of pyridine (0.5 mol L⁻¹) form an orange-red coloured ternary complex with gold(III) of molar ratio 1:1:1 at pH 1.8-2.4 with 5 min of shaking. The absorbance of coloured organic layer in 1,2-dichloroethane is measured spectrophotometrically at 445 nm against reagent blank. A pronounced synergism has been observed by the binary mixture of 2′,4′-dinitro APTPT and pyridine, which shows that the enhancement in the absorbance is observed in the presence of pyridine by the adduct formation in the organic phase. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range 2.5-20.0 μg mL⁻¹, with molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity values of 8.7 × 10³ dm³ mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ and 0.023 μg cm⁻² respectively. A repetition of the method was checked by finding relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) (n = 10) which was 0.17%. The composition of the gold(III)-2′,4′-dinitro APTPT-pyridine adduct was established by slope analysis, molar ratio and Job's method. The ternary complex was stable for more than 48 h. The influence of various factors such as pH, 2′,4′-dinitro APTPT concentration, solvent and pyridine on the degree of complexation has been established. A number of foreign ions tested for their interferences and use of suitable masking agents wherever necessary are tabulated, which show that selectivity of the method has been enhanced. The method is successfully employed for the determination of gold(III) in binary, synthetic mixtures and ayurvedic samples. The reliability of the method is assured by inter-comparison of experimental values, using an atomic absorption spectrometer.     

Synthesis of new fluorescent 2-(2′,2″-bithienyl)-1,3-benzothiazoles

Bithienyl-1,3-benzothiazole derivatives were synthesised by reacting various 5-formyl-5′-alkoxy- or 5-formyl-5′-N,N-dialkylamino-2,2′-bithiophenes with ortho-aminobenzenethiol in good to excellent yields. Evaluation of the fluorescence properties of these compounds was carried out. They show strong fluorescence in the 450-600 nm region, as well as high quantum yields and large Stokes’ shifts.     

A concise synthesis of 3′-α-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxyguanosine (FddG) via 3′-α-selective fluorination of 8,2′-thioanhydronucleoside

The antiviral nucleoside 3′-α-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxyguanosine (FddG) was synthesized via 3′-α-selective fluorination of 8,2′-thioanhydronucleoside as the key step. Desulfurization of 3′-α-fluoro-3′-deoxy-8,2′-thioanhydronucleoside could be achieved by the treatment with Raney Ni in toluene. This method provides a concise route to 3′-α-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides that avoids the use of explosive and expensive SF₄-related fluorinating reagents.     

Spectral-luminescent and solvatochromic properties of 2-(3-coumarinyl)-5-(2′-(R-amino)-phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles

Spectral-luminescent properties of the newly synthesized 2-(3^′-coumarinyl)-5-(2′-(R-amino)-phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles has been investigated in solvents of various polarity and hydrogen-bonding ability. It has been found that for all the studied compounds no excited state intramolecular proton transfer occurs despite the presence of coumarinyl fragment - electron acceptor effect of the coumarinyl fragment is not sufficient to increase the excited state acidity of the amino group. It has been found that the absorption spectra of the studied compounds shift to higher energy with increase in solvent polarity, whereas corresponding fluorescence spectra shift to lower energy with solvent polarity increase. It has been suggested that long-wavelength shifts of the fluorescence spectra of the studied compounds with increase in solvent polarity is caused by the solvent relaxation. The observed solvent relaxation effect allow us to propose some of the studied compounds as potential probes to monitor changes in solvent relaxation in low-polar media and as potential probes for rigidochromic effect.     

The synthesis of ‘tyrosyl’ peptidomimetics by acid-catalyzed N(1)-C(4) ring opening of 4-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-azetidine-2-ones

Under acidic conditions, the N(1)-C(4) bond of 4-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-azetidine-2-ones are cleaved with the formation of a stabilized benzylic carbocation intermediates. The intermediates were reduced by silanes or participated in intramolecular or intermolecular Friedel-Crafts reactions to produce tyrosine mimetics.     

A convenient synthesis of substituted 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines

The 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines 8a and 8b were prepared in good yield by reacting α-acetoxy-α-chloro-β-keto-esters 1 (R¹ = ⁿPr and Ph) with the bis-amidrazone 7 and 2,5-norbornadiene 5 in ethanol at reflux.     

A convenient synthesis of substituted 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines

The 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines 7a-c were prepared in good yield by reacting α-acetoxy-α-chloro-β-keto-esters 3a-c with bis-amidrazone 4 and 2,5-norbornadiene 6 in ethanol at reflux. Compounds 3a and 3b gave the 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines 9a and 9b, respectively, in moderate yield when treated with compound 4 and enamine 8.     

New and efficient synthesis of 5′-amino-5′-(S)-methyl-2′,5′-dideoxynucleosides

A short, efficient synthesis of 5′-amino-5′-(S)-methyl-2′,5′-dideoxynucleosides 1 has been developed through the diastereoselective addition of methylmagnesium bromide or methyllithium to an intermediate tert-butylsulfinimide.     

Novel oxorhenium complexes with 2-(2′-hydoxy-5′-methylphenyl)benzotriazolato ligand. X-ray studies,spectroscopic characterization and DFT calculations

The [ReOCl₂(hmpbta)(AsPh₃)] · MeCN, [ReOBr₂(hmpbta)(AsPh₃)] · MeCN, [ReOCl₂(hmpbta)(PPh₃)] · MeCN, [ReOBr₂(hmpbta)(PPh₃)] · MeCN, and [ReBr₂(hmpbta)(PPh₃)] · MeCN complexes have been prepared in the reactions of [ReOX₃(EPh₃)₂] (X = Cl, Br; E = P, As) with 2-(2’-hydoxy-5′-methylphenyl)benzotriazole in molar ratio 1:1. All the compounds were structurally and spectroscopically characterized. The electronic structure of [ReOCl₂(hmpbta)(AsPh₃)] has been calculated with the density functional theory (DFT) method. The TDDFT/PCM calculations have been employed to produce a hundred of singlet excited-states starting from the ground-state geometry optimized in the gas phase, and the UV–Vis spectrum of [ReOCl₂(hmpbta)(AsPh₃)] has been discussed on this basis. The paper reports also X-ray structure and DFT calculations for the disubstituted [ReOCl(hmpbta)₂] chelate.     

One-pot palladium-catalyzed C-I and C-H bond activation and subsequent Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of 2-aryl-3-iodo-4-(phenylamino)quinolines with arylboronic acids

The 2-aryl-3-iodo-4-(phenylamino)quinolines undergo one-pot palladium-mediated C-I and C-H bond activation and subsequent Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling with arylboronic acids under anhydrous conditions to afford mixture of 2,3-diaryl-4-(phenylamino)quinolines (minor) and 2-aryl-4-([(1,1′-biaryl)-2-yl]amino)quinoline derivatives (major). The 2,3-diaryl-4-(phenylamino)quinolines were isolated as major products when 2 M K₂CO₃ was used as a base. A plausible mechanism, which implicates a six-membered palladacycle intermediate is proposed for the formation of the observed mixture of products. The prepared compounds were characterized using a combination of spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic techniques.