Theoretical calculational investigation on the regioselectivity of the ring opening of thiiranes with ammonia and amines

The course, especially the regioselectivity, of the nucleophilic ring opening of thiiranes with ammonia and amines was investigated with the density functional theory (DFT) calculation. In the ring-opening reaction, thiiranes could be attacked on either their less or more substituted carbon atoms. The analyses of the potential energy surfaces, the bond lengths, and charges of key species in both pathways indicate that alkyl-substituted thiiranes are attacked dominantly on their less substituted ring carbon atom, whereas arylthiiranes are on their more substituted one due to the existence of the p-π conjugative effect, which stabilizes the transition states generated in the reaction. Furthermore, the Lewis acid can modulate the regioselectivity. However, the steric hindrance of nucleophiles and solvents affect the regioselectivity slightly as they show similar influence on both pathways, despite the fact that they can put an impact on the energy. NBO and MO analyses also support the substituent-depended regioselectivity. This is the first DFT calculational investigation on the regioselective ring opening of thiiranes and provides a rational explanation for the experimental results. The theoretical investigation gives a general understanding and a rule for the rationale and prediction of the regioselectivity in the nucleophilic ring opening of thiiranes, even other three-membered heterocycles.     

Solvent-dependent regioselectivity of hydrogen chloride-mediated ring opening of alkylidenecyclopropanone acetal

Ring opening reactions of 2-cyclohexylidene-3,3-dimethylcyclopropanone acetal (1) are readily induced by treatment of hydrogen chloride in various solvents. Bond cleavage takes place at the C1-C2 or C2-C3 bond, and the ratio of C1-C2/C2-C3 cleavages changes from >99/1 to <1/99 depending on the solvent. The two modes of bond cleavage must be initiated by protonations at the carbon-carbon double bond and the acetal oxygen, respectively. The regioselectivity can be rationalized by the rate-determining protonation at carbon and the equilibrium protonation at oxygen.     

Solvent effect on thermal degradation of plasticized para-substituted polystyrenes

The thermal effect on stability of a series of para-substituted polystyrenes with methyl, methoxy and α-methyl substituents in various solvents was studied in the temperature range of 298-363 K. They gave a monomer fluorescence as a minor part and excimer fluorescence as a major part. Thermal heating of para-substituted polystyrenes shows a decrease in both monomer and excimer fluorescences in all used solvents. Thermal heating causes a small fluorescence quenching effect at lower temperatures in solution but becomes very dominant at higher temperatures. Added terephthalate and phthalate plasticizers to these para-substituted polystyrenes caused a quenching of both monomer and excimer fluorescences without the formation of exciplex emission. The thermal quenching processes of the plasticized polymers were accompanied by a change in the structure of the fluorescence spectra at high heating temperatures. This may indicate that thermodestruction of these polymers starts from a random chain scission. The change in solvent polarity has considerable effect on fluorescence quenching but it has a minor effect on the thermal degradation of these polymers. The binding energies for excimer formation were calculated in the used solvents.     

The silicon effect on the regioselectivity of the Tsuji-Trost reaction. Experimental and theoretical approaches

Regioselectivity of the Tsuji-Trost reaction on allyl acetates and carbonates substituted with silyl groups at the olefinic moiety has been analyzed. Silicon atom in the central carbon atom increases the stability of the intermediate π-allylpalladium cation with respect to the isomeric π-allylpalladium cation featuring the silicon in a terminal carbon atom.     

Photodegradation kinetics of poly(para-substituted styrene) in solution

The UV irradiation effects on stability of polystyrene, poly(4-methoxystyrene), poly(4-methylstyrene), poly(α-methylstyrene), poly(4-tert-butylstyrene), poly(4-chlorostyrene), and poly(4-bromostyrene) in dichloromethane, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, and N,N-dimethylformamide solutions were studied in the presence of oxygen at different intervals of irradiation time. The photodegradation was studied at 293 K using fluorescence spectroscopy. Solutions of these polymers were accompanied by quenching of monomer and excimer emissions during the exposure of their solutions to UV light, and by a change in the structure of the fluorescence spectrum. Irradiation of poly(4-methylstyrene) and poly(α-methylstyrene) at excitation wavelength of 265 nm showed an increase of fluorescence intensity of a broad band, at longer wavelength without clear maxima. This may indicate that photodestruction of these polymers by irradiation with light of frequency absorbed by the polymer, may start from a random chain scission, with the possibility of formation of polyene and carbonyl compounds.     

Triadic analysis of substituent effects—gas-phase acidity of para-substituted phenols

A large variety of para-substituted phenols was examined and their acidities in the gas-phase were rationalized by a triadic formula, which is capable of delineating the initial, intermediate and final state effects in the deprotonation process. It is shown that triadic analysis is equivalent to the homodesmotic reactions approach, while being much more informative at the same time. The applied MP2(fc)/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) theoretical method gives acidities in very good agreement with available measured values, meaning that calculations can safely replace the missing experimental data for compounds not easily amenable to laboratory examinations. It is found that the underlying principle leading to enhanced acidity of para-substituted phenols containing strong π-electron acceptor groups is the final state effect. It reflects a more pronounced ability to accommodate the excess negative charge. Particular attention has been focused on superacidifying NO₂, SO₂CF₃ and S(O)(NSO₂CF₃)CF₃ and C(CN)C(CN)₂ moieties. It is shown that their influence on acidity is strong and that the deprotonation ability increases along the sequence of substituents NO₂<SO₂CF₃<S(O)(NSO₂CF₃)CF₃<C(CN)C(CN)₂. On the contrary, the electron releasing substituents NH₂, OCH₃, OH and CH₃ decrease acidity of phenol albeit to a small extent. Finally, it is demonstrated that pentacyano derivative of phenol is a powerful OH superacid as evidenced by ΔH_acid value of 287.5 kcal mol⁻¹.     

Synthesis of orthogonally protected 1,2-diaminopropanoic acids by ring-opening of 3-unsubstituted N-activated aziridine 2-carboxylates with para-methoxybenzylamine: a study of the regioselectivity of the reaction

Orthogonally protected 1,2-diaminopropanoic acids (DAPs) have been synthesised in good yields by the ring-opening of 3-unsubstituted N-activated aziridine 2-carboxylates with para-methoxybenzylamine. The choice of both the N-activating group and ester alkyl group had a significant influence on the ratio of attack at the α or β positions of the aziridine. However, the regiochemical outcome is not predictable.     

Synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted morpholines through regioselective oxiranes ring opening by tosylamide under PTC conditions

Symmetric and non-symmetric 2,6-disubstituted morpholines were synthesized through regioselective nucleophilic ring opening of oxiranes with tosylamide under solid-liquid phase transfer catalysis (SL-PTC) conditions followed by cyclization of the tosylamido diols thus obtained and final deprotection of the corresponding N-tosyl morpholines. The morpholines prepared are interesting building blocks in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.     

Reactivity and regioselectivity in Stille couplings of 3-substituted 2,4-dichloropyridines

The influence of substituents at C-3 of 2,4-dichloropyridines on their reactivity and regioselectivity in Pd-catalyzed cross-couplings is studied. As a model reaction, the (Ph₃P)₂PdCl₂-catalyzed Stille coupling between 2-furyl(tributyl)tin and pyridines is chosen. Increased electron-withdrawing ability of a substituent at the pyridine 3-position improves the overall reactivity. Absolute selectivity for coupling at C-2 is achieved with an amino group at C-3, and the selectivity is totally reversed when the amino group is exchanged for a nitro substituent.     

Solvent effect on regioselectivity of epoxide ring opening in styrene oxide by O- and N-nucleophiles in neutral and basic media

The results of ring opening in styrene oxide by alcohols, amines, amino alcohols, and diamines were generalized. On low polarizing ability of the solvent, the main direction of the process is the formation of normal α-substituted products. The solvent effect on regioselectivity of the reaction was studied for N,N-diethylethylenediamine. The ratio of products correlates well with the value of dielectric constant for mixed aqueous-organic solvents and with the parameters of polarity E _T and AN for neat solvents.     

Comparative study of the ring opening of 1-CF3-epoxy ethers mediated by Brönsted acids and hexafluoro-2-propanol

In order to evaluate more deeply the nature of the activation of oxirane ring opening reactions by HFIP, ring opening of both CF₃-epoxy ethers 1a (R = Ph) and 1b (R = CH₂CH₂Ph) with HFIP alone, and with hard (MeOH) or soft (PhSH) nucleophiles in HFIP, were investigated and compared to reactions performed with Brönsted acids. Nucleophilic ring opening reactions in HFIP were facilitated with PhSH and only α-substituted trifluoromethyl ketone 5 was isolated (nucleophilic ring opening), while with MeOH, both processes, nucleophile and electrophile-assisted ring opening were in competition. In the Brönsted acid-catalysed ring opening of 1-CF₃-epoxy ethers 1 in HFIP, only the acid-catalysed ring opening process occurred with an inversed regioselectivity.     

Synthesis in the isocamphane series,XVI. The regioselectivity of some lewis acids in the catalyzed Diels-Alder-reaction of cyclopentadiene and mesityloxide

Zusammenfassung The regioselectivity of 9Lewis acids in the catalyzedDiels-Alder-reaction of cyclopentadiene and mesityloxide is described and theendo: exo-ratio of1 a and1 b determined by quantitative HPLC- and¹H-NMR-measurements. The reaction mixture of1 a+1 b normally contains more of theendo epimer1 a, e.g. 31 for1 a1 b, and is therefore in agreement with theendo rule, only TiCl₄ favors theexo epimer1 b.

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Synthesis in the isocamphane series, XVI. The regioselectivity of some lewis acids in the catalyzed Diels-Alder-reaction of cyclopentadiene and mesityloxideShort communication

Teil der Diplomarbeit vonHuber, U., Universität Wien, 1980.     

Assessment of the regioselectivity in the condensation reaction of unsymmetrical o-phthaldialdehydes with alanine

One approach for the synthesis of isoindolinones, a privileged bioactive heterocyclic core structure, involves a condensation reaction of o-phthaldialdehydes with a suitable nitrogen-containing nucleophile. This fascinating reaction is revisited here in the context of the use of o-phthaldialdehydes that contain additional substituents in the aromatic ring leading to a detailed analysis of the regioselectivity of the reaction. Eleven monosubstituted o-phthaldialdehydes were synthesised and reacted with alanine. The regioselectivity observed across the eleven substrates led to the design of a disubstituted substrate that reacted with very high control. A gram-scale reaction followed by esterification gave one major regioisomer in high yield. In addition, the regioselectivity observed on reaction of two novel monodeuterated substrates led to an increased mechanistic understanding.     

Synthesis of β-amino alcohols by regioselective ring opening of arylepoxides with anilines catalyzed by cobaltous chloride

CoCl₂ has been used as a mild and effective catalyst for regioselective ring opening of oxiranes with anilines to synthesize β-amino alcohols in good yields.     

A highly regioselective azidolysis of 2,3-epoxy amines: an unexpected [Ti(O-i-Pr)2(N3)2] mediated C-2 opening

The Lewis acid-catalysed regioselective azidolysis of 2,3-epoxy amines has been investigated. The results obtained demonstrated that using TMSN₃ as a source of azide, the appropriate choice of Lewis acid allowed to direct the regiochemistry of the ring opening. The present methodologies provide a powerful tool in organic synthesis for the preparation of diaminoalcohol moieties.     

Synthesis of homo-propargylic ethers: A domino ring opening/coupling reaction of oxiranes with terminal alkynes and aryl iodides

A domino ring opening/cross-coupling reaction of oxiranes with terminal alkynes and aryl iodides has been developed. This transformation serves as a protocol for the synthesis of homo-alkyne ether skeletons from the readily available starting materials. The success of the reaction has dependence on catalyst/ligand system of choice. The synthesis utility of the alkyne ether skeletons in formation of chromane skeleton has also been studied.     

The cyclopropyl effect on the regioselectivity of coupling reactions involving the lithiation of 1-cyclopropyl-2-arylacetylenes

The cyclopropyl effect controlled the regioselectivity of the cross coupling reactions of propargylic/allenylic metallic species with electrophiles affording alkynic cyclopropanes. It was proposed that the strain in cyclopropyl ring, which makes the formation of vinylidenecyclopropanes unfavorable, determined the regioselectivity. Control experiment of i-propyl, cyclobutyl, and cyclohexyl- phenylacetylenes were conducted to support the above speculation.     

Regio-controlled pentadienylation of sulfinylimines by pentadienyltin reagent. Efficient Lewis acid activation of 4-methoxyphenylsulfinyl imines

Nucleophilic addition of pentadienyltin reagent toward N-(4-methoxyphenylsulfinyl)-imine was effectively accelerated by the use of InCl₃ or TMSOTf as a Lewis acid. The former afforded the γ-adduct with high stereoselectivity, while the latter gave the ε-adduct with moderate stereoselectivity, depending on the reaction mechanisms.     

BCl3-promoted synthesis of benzofurans

Lewis acidic nature of boron trichloride (BCl₃) to coordinate to the carbonyl functionality was exploited for the synthesis of benzofurans via dehydrative cyclization. This mild and efficient procedure allowed for facile access to a number of highly substituted benzofurans in a regioselective manner. The structural requirement for the successful cyclodehydration was examined in the cases, where competitive demethylation could occur.     

A highly regio- and chemoselective synthesis of vicinal bromohydrins by ring opening of terminal epoxides with dibromoborane-dimethyl sulfide

Dibromoborane-dimethyl sulfide (BHBr₂-SMe₂) displays high degrees of chemo- and regioselectivity during the brominative cleavage of the epoxy group into vicinal bromohydrins in the presence of alkene, alkyne, allene, ether, acetal and acetonide, besides its hydroborating ability. Several reducible functional groups, such as chloride, aldehyde, ketone, azide, ester, nitrile and tert-amino ester, have been successfully accommodated during the epoxide opening process.