Electrochemistry of potential bioreductive alkylating quinones : Part 2. Electrochemical properties of 2,5-bis(1-aziridinyl)-3,6-bis(ethoxycarbonylamino)-1,4-benzoquinone and some model compounds

The reduction mechanism of 2,5-bis(1-aziridinyl)-3,6-bis(ethoxycarbonylamino)-1,4-benzoquinone (Diaziquone, AZQ) and several model compounds of the mono- and bis(1-aziridinyl)quinone type at the dropping mercury electrode in aqueous solutions was studied. In addition, the influence of methyl substitution of the aziridinyl moiety at the 2-position on the protonation of the aziridine nitrogen was investigated. Substituent effects on quinone reduction and aziridine protonation prior to and following quinone reduction were studied qualitatively.     

Preparation and electrochemical properties of palladium(0) complexes coordinated by quinones and 1,5-cyclooctadiene

The complexes Pd(quinone)(COD) (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) are prepared by a ligand substitution reaction of Pd₂(DBA)₃ (DBA = dibenzylideneacetone) in the presence of both quinone and COD. Palladium(0) complexes coordinated by quinones only are formed in the reaction in the absence of COD. The cyclic voltammetric behavior of Pd(quinone)(COD) has been studied. The reduction potentials for quinones shifted toward negative values on coordination to palladium(0). The oxidation potentials for the central palladium(0) in Pd(quinone)(COD) depend on the electron-withdrawing ability of the free quinones, and are in the following series: quinone = p-benzoquinone < 5,8-dihydro-1,4-naphthoquinone ～ 1,4-naphthoquinone < duroquinone. The shift of oxidation potentials for Pd(quinone)(COD) on changing the quinones as ligands is in contrast to that of Pd(quinone)(triphenylphosphine)₂.     

Synthesis and ring contraction reactions of polyazamacrolides

The synthesis of three analogues of the single most abundant component of a ladybird beetle (Epilachna borealis) defensive secretion, the trimeric 42-membered polyazamacrolide PAML 681, is described. Construction of the nonnatural macrocyclic trimers began with the preparation of the corresponding monomeric segments, followed by their oligomerization and a final macrolactonization step of the activated linear trimeric hydroxy acid. The relative rates of the O-to-N acyl migrations that are characteristic of PAML 681 itself, as well as of the synthetic analogues, were investigated. These studies showed that changes in the substitution pattern adjacent to the nucleophilic nitrogen atom, along with changes in the size of the oxaazacyclic intermediates, have substantial effects on the polyazamacrolide rearrangement rates.     

Effect of replacing the primary quinone by different species on the ultrafast photosynthetic electron transfer in bacterial reaction centres

Using picosecond absorption spectroscopy it has been shown that in Rhodobacter sphaeroides reaction centres the substitution of the primary quinone acceptor (QA), ubiquinone-10, by other quinone species (with redox potentials higher or lower than that of ubiquinone-10) has essentially no modifying effect on the reaction centre protein. The molecular relaxation processes that accompany the localization and stabilization of a photo-excited electron on the intermediate acceptor, bacteriopheophytin (I), are not affected, although the subsequent transfer of the electron from I to QA is slowed down. Consequently, this leads to a lower quantum efficiency of high rate of direct I-----QA reaction is normally due to the specificity of the primary quinone species and its binding site in the reaction centre protein which provide optimum steric and chemical conditions for an effective interaction between I and QA.     

Regioselective single and double conjugate additions to substituted cyclohexa-2,5-dienone monoacetals

[reaction: see text]. A series of quinone monoacetals bearing electron-withdrawing groups was treated with diethyl malonate and other bifunctional nucleophiles in the presence of KO-t-Bu in THF. Reactions of ethyl 3-nitropropionate or diethyl malonate resulted in single conjugate addition adducts. When ethyl acetoacetate was used as a nucleophile, bridged bicyclic products were obtained in good yields. The regiochemistry of conjugate addition was dependent on the quinone monoacetal substitution.     

Characterization of reaction products formed during thin-layer chromatographic detection of thiocarbamate herbicides

The reaction between thiocarbamate herbicides and 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone-N-chloroimine or 2,6-dibromobenzoquinone-N-chloroimine is suitable for the detection of these herbicides on thin-layer plates with high sensitivity. The reactions were followed by infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. We have established the formation of 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone-S-alkyl sulphenylimines. In the case of the bromo-derivative, halogen exchange and substitution on the quinone ring took place simultaneously leading to the formation of mixed halogenated 2,6-dihalo- and, in addition, 2,3,6-trihalobenzoquinone-S-alkyl sulphenylimines. The final product of the detection reaction, i.e. 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone-S-alkyl sulphenylimine was reacted with 2,6-dibromobenzoquinone-N-chloroimine where 2,6-dichloro-3-bromobenzoquinone-S-alkyl sulphenylimine formed as a consequence of the looser bromine-carbon linkage on the 2 and 6 positions of the quinone ring.     

A regioselective approach toward the synthesis of pharmacologically important quinone-containing heterocyclic systems

An inexpensive and regioselective approach to dihydrothieno[3,2-g]quinoline-4,9-dione is reported. A combination of a mild version of Skraup reaction with a sequential substitution/Michael addition allowed the selective preparation in acceptable yield of a pharmacologically important quinone derivative, previously obtained only in trace and together with the other regioisomer.     

Solution SERS of an insoluble synthetic organic pigment-quinacridone quinone-employing calixarenes as dispersive cavitands

A possibility of getting SERS spectra of insoluble aromatic compounds in colloidal silver solutions is described. The method tested for the organic pigment quinacridone quinone consists of dispersing it in calix[n]arenes. The potentials of such cavitands, both as dispersing and as silver functionalization agents, is reported as a function of the substitution in their lower rim and their cavity size.     

The mechanisms of retardation and inhibition in radical polymerizations by quinones

The sensitized polymerizations of styrene, vinyl acetate (VA), acrylonitrile (AN), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and ethyl acrylate (EA) in the presence of benzoquinone (BQ), 2,5-dichlorobenzoquinone(Dich.BQ), chloranil and duroquinone (DQ) have been studied by isolation and investigation of the polymers formed during the induction periods. Quinonoid polymeric derivatives of BQ and Dich.BQ, were obtained for all monomers. In the case of chloranil, quinonoid products were formed only with MMA and EA. Most of the DQ was recovered intact in all systems; only in the case of styrene could quinonoid polymers be detected. The results indicate that substitution of the polymer chains into the quinone nucleus is the predominant mechanism for retardation and inhibition. The feasibility of substitution is determined by the electron-donating power of the polymeric radical, the redox potential of the quinone and the presence of hydrogen atoms in its nucleus. The tendency of the acrylate radicals for disproportionation accounts for the formation of quinonoid products with chloranil. The suggested mechanisms account for the variety of observations on inhibition reactions.     

Polymerization of 7-phenyl-2,6-dimethylquinone methide and its derivatives

7-Phenyl-, 7-chlorophenyl-,7-methylphenyl-, and 7-trifluoromethylphenylquinone methide were synthesized to investigate the anionic polymerization of quinone methide. Novel high molecular weight polymers have been prepared and the substitution effects of the monomers on polymerization kinetics were determined. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effect of methoxyl group position on the regioselectivity of ammonia substitution reactions involving 3,3'-dichloro-2,2'-binaphthoquinones

A series of methoxyl-substituted 3,3'-dichloro-2,2'-binaphthoquinones 2 were prepared and evaluated for regioselectivity in ammonia substitution reactions. Biquinone 2b underwent regiospecific amination at the unsubstituted chloronaphthoquinone unit whereas the isomeric biquinone, 2c, produced moderate regioselectivity (85:15). Biquinone 2d, however, showed no level of regioselectivity demonstrating that the position of the methoxyl group influences the regiochemistry. The intramolecular hydrogen bond in biquinone 5 altered the regioselectivity. Semiempirical calculations revealed comparatively larger LUMO coefficients at the chlorinated carbons that underwent preferential substitution.     

In Process Citation

An HPLC method for the identification and determination of BHT (3,5-di-tert.butyl-4-hydroxytoluene) and the by-products obtained from it by β-ray or oxidative treatment is described. The chemical structure of the by-products is established by mass spectrometry. The irradiation leads to the dimeric and trimeric forms of the antioxidant and the oxidation to a cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-one with substitution of a hydroxy and a methanol or aldehyde group at position 4.     

Asymmetric Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Synthesis of Triarylmethanes—Construction of Communesin and Spiroindoline Scaffolds

Aza‐ortho‐quinone methides allow the straightforward asymmetric synthesis of natural‐product‐inspired indole scaffolds possessing a quaternary stereocenter. Our approach provides access to diverse communesin and spiroindoline derivatives with high enantioselectivity under mild reaction conditions. Predictable substitution patterns are found to be the key to our regiodivergent protocols.     

Internal azomethine ylide cycloaddition methodology for access to the substitution pattern of aziridinomitosene A

Highly substituted, tethered alkyne dipolarophiles participate in the internal 2 + 3 cycloaddition with azomethine ylides generated by treatment of oxazolium salts with cyanide ion. Starting from oxazole 26, a sequence of N-methylation, cyanide addition, and electrocyclic ring opening of a 4-oxazoline intermediate affords the indoloquinone 31 in a one-pot process. A similar reaction from the protected alkynol derivative 25 affords the sensitive, but isolable, enone 32, and subsequent oxidation affords 31 and the deprotected quinone alcohol 34. Related azomethine cycloaddition methodology via intramolecular oxazolium salt formation from 43 or 46 is also demonstrated and allows the synthesis of quinone 45 and derived structures having the substitution pattern of aziridinomitosene A. Removal of the N-trityl protecting group could not be achieved without aziridine cleavage.     

Reactions of carbanions derived from α-substituted-methyl tolyl sulfones with quinone methides as Michael acceptors

Nucleophilic addition of α-halo-4-tolylsulfonyl methyl anions to quinone methides and subsequent reactions were studied. Three kinds of consecutive reaction products were isolated, depending on the substrate structures and reaction conditions. Two of them were identified as rearrangement products and one as the vicarious nucleophilic substitution (VNS) product. An unexpected 1,2-migration of the tosyl group was observed. The mechanism of the reactions is briefly discussed.     

The reaction of triptycene haloquinones with alkoxides. An unusual route to pentiptycene quinones

Triptycene haloquinones 3 react with sodium alkoxides in refluxing alcohol to afford, besides the expected substitution products, pentiptycene quinone 4. This approach to 4 is compared with a Diels-Alder strategy to the same compound.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-herbindole B and (+/-)-cis-trikentrin B

[reaction: see text] Herbindole B and cis-trikentrin B are naturally occurring indoles having the unusual and synthetically challenging pattern of carbon substitution at the 4-7 and 5-7 positions, respectively, with no substitution at the 1-3 positions. The total syntheses of these polyalkylated indoles have been achieved in 19 and 12 steps, respectively. The synthesis of herbindole B relies on two iterations of a quinine monoimine Diels-Alder reaction, while cis-trikentrin B uses a single cycloaddition of a suitable quinone monoimine. Indolization of the adducts provides suitably substituted benzopyrrole nuclei for elaboration to the natural products.     

Oxidative nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen in nitroarenes with phenylacetic acid derivatives

Oxidative nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen (ONSH) in nitroarenes with carbanion of isopropyl phenyl acetate gives various products depending on the conditions and oxidant. The reaction carried out in liquid ammonia and KMnO₄ oxidant gives iso-propyl α-hydroxy-α-nitroarylphenylacetates formed via hydroxylation of the initial ONSH products. In some cases additionally dimeric, trimeric and tetrameric products are formed. In THF and Bu₄N⁺MnO₄⁻ or DDQ oxidants simple ONSH products are formed whereas oxidation by dimethyl dioxirane (DMD) gave iso-propyl hydroxyaryl phenyl acetates. The dimeric and trimeric products are apparently formed via coupling of nitrobenzylic radicals generated in course of oxidation with nitrobenzylic carbanions of the ONSH products.     

Carbon-13 NMR studies of benzoquinones

The assignment of all ring carbons of p-benzoquinones derived from perezone and from thymoquinone was completed using gated decoupled spectra. The long range proton-carbon couplings are discussed in terms of the degree of substitution of the quinone ring. The tautomeric interconversion of the two energetically equivalent forms of 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinones has been studied in various solvents and at several temperatures.     

Cyclotriphosphazatriene Derivatives. XXIX. Reaction of Cyclophosphazatriene Dichloride With Sodium Hydrosulfide

The chlorine substitution reaction of trimeric dichlorocyclophosphazene with sodium hydrosulfide has been examined. The reaction proceeded easily in dioxane and THF solutions. The reaction product, which had the chemical composition P₃N₃S₆H₆, was examined by ³¹P-NMR and IR spectroscopy. Further, it is suggested that the product was polymerized by heating with hydrogen sulfide, and the polymer (PNS) was formed.