Reactions of vinyl ethers with 2‐cyano‐2‐propyl and benzoyloxy radicals

tert‐Butyl, cyclohexyl, n‐propyl, and n‐dodecyl vinyl ethers have been used as comonomers with styrene and methyl methacrylate using ¹³C‐enriched samples of azobis(isobutyronitrile) and benzoyl peroxide as initiators at 60°C. Examination by ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy of either (¹³CH₃)₂C(CN) or Ph¹³COO end‐groups in the products has shown that the vinyl ethers have low reactivities toward the 2‐cyano‐2‐propyl radical but high reactivities toward the benzoyloxy radical. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 771–777, 1999     

Mass spectrometry of five classes of trityl compounds-loss of 12C from (C6H5)313CH

The mass spectra of 25 triphenylmethyl (trityl) substituted compounds have been recorded. The trityl cation m/e 243 appears as a peak of major intensity for all classes of compounds examined; these contained trityl-carbon, trityl-nitrogen, trityl-oxygen or trityl-sulfur bonds. Fragmentation of the non-trityl portion of the molecules produced simple ions whose origin was predictable or of low intensity. A mechanism for the decay of the trityl cation is presented which is based upon retention of the α-carbon. Supporting evidence was afforded by mass spectral analysis of (C₆H₅)₃¹³CH in which all fragments from the trityl cation appear to retain nearly all of the ¹³C.     

Mass spectrometry in structural and stereochemical problems—CLVIII electron impact promoted fragmentation of triphenylmethyl ethers

The triphenylmethyl (trityl) moiety is frequently used for the protection of alcohols but the mass spectra of such trityl ethers have hitherto escaped scrutiny. It has now been found that triphenylmethyl derivatives of primary alcohols yield abundant molecular ions which permit the determination of the isotopic purity of the parent alcohol. Upon electron impact the triphenyl-methyl entity directs the fragmentation of trityl ethers as demonstrated by a detailed study of n-pentyl trityl ether and its deuterated analogs. Ions formed by migration of phenyl groups were observed in the mass spectra of the trityl ethers investigated as well as in the spectrum of triphenyl-methane itself.     

Modification of olefin polymerization catalysts. I. Mechanism of the interaction between AIEt3 and silyl ethers

The interaction between AlEt₃ and silyl ethers, Ph_nSi(OMe)_4-n (n = 0–3), was followed by ¹³C- and ²⁹Si-NMR techniques in conditions close to those typical for an olefin polymerization reaction with supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts (A1Et₃:silyl ether ratios from 1 to 10, temperature range 25–75°C). A1Et₃ and silyl ethers form instantaneously at ambient temperature a donor-acceptor complex, which is stable at a 1:1 molar ratio. In the presence of excess A1Et₃ the complex decomposes via a mechanism consisting, in the case of PhSi(OMe)₃, of five consecutive steps: alternating complexation and ether reductions with the formation of alkylated silyl ethers, Ph(Et)_nSi(OMe)_3-n (n = 1,2), and dialkyl-aluminum alkoxides, (Et₂A1OMe₃)_n (n = 2,3). The rate of decomposition was enhanced by the increasing number of methoxy groups present in the silyl ether, heating, or a high A1Et₃:silyl ether ratio. The decomposition was not inhibited by the presence of 1-hexene.     

Elaboration of the ether cleaving ability and selectivity of the classical Pearlman's catalyst [Pd(OH)2/C]: concise synthesis of a precursor for a myo-inositol pyrophosphate

The cleavage of propargyl, allyl, benzyl, and PMB ethers by Pd(OH)₂/C can be tuned in that order, by varying the reaction conditions. Other moieties such as C-C double bonds, esters, trityl ether, p-bromo and p-nitrobenzyl ethers are stable to these reaction conditions. Cleavage of allyl ethers can be made catalytic by using 1:1 mixture of Pd(OH)₂/C and Pd/C. The synthetic potential of the selective ether cleaving ability of Pd(OH)₂/C, essentially under neutral conditions, has been demonstrated by an efficient synthesis of a precursor for the preparation of an inositol pyrophosphate derivative.     

Titanium-based lewis acids for living cationic polymerizations of vinyl ethers and styrene: Control of lewis acidity in design of initiating systems

This brief account discusses the development of HCl/TiCl_4-n(OR)_n (n = 1–4), the titanium-based new initiating systems for living cationic polymerizations of vinyl ethers and styrene. The focus of this development is controlling the Lewis acidity of the metal halide components [TiCl_4-n(OR)_n] or “activators” in relation to the structure of the monomers. Thus, for vinyl ethers, relatively mild Lewis acids such as TiCl(OiPr)₃ and TiCl₂(OiPr)₂ are effective, whereas for styrene, a stronger Lewis acid such as TiCl₃(OiPr) is employed along with an added salt (nBu₄N⁺Cl⁻). In both cases, living polymers of controlled molecular weights can be obtained in methylene chloride solvent at −15°C.     

Mass spectra of alkenyl methyl ethers

Electron impact ionization mass spectra of numerous alkenyl methyl ethers C_nH_2n-1OCH₃ (n = 3–6) recorded under normal (4 kV, 70 eV, 175°C) and low-energy, low-temperature (8 kV, 12 eV, 75 °C) conditions are reported. The influence of the position and stereochemistry of the double bond on the dissociation of ionized alkenyl methyl ethers is discussed. The mechanisms by which these ethers fragment after ionization have been further investigated using extensive ²H-labelling experiments and by studying the energy dependence of the reactions. Ethers of allylic alcohols show spectra that are distinct from those of the isomeric species in which the double bond is separated by one or more sp³ carbon atoms from the carbon atom carrying the methoxy group. Three principal primary fragmentations are observed. The most common process, especially for ionized ethers of allylic alcohols, is loss of an alkyl group. This reaction often occurs by simple α-cleavage of radical-cations of the appropriate structure; however, alkyl groups attached to either end of the double bond are also readily lost. These formal β- and γ-cleavages are explained in terms of rearrangements via distonic ions and, at least in the case of γ-cleavages, ionized methoxycyclopropanes. Ionized homoallyl methyl ethers tend to eliminate an allylic radical, particularly at high internal energies, with formation of an oxonium ion (CH₃ ⁺O?CH₂ or CH₃ ⁺O?CHCH₃). The ethers of linear pentenols and hexenols show abundant [M - CH₃OH]⁺? ions in their spectra, especially when a terminal methoxy group is present Methanol loss also takes place from ionized ethers of allylic alcohols in which there is a Δ-hydrogen atom; this process is significantly favoured by cis, rather than trans, stereochemistry of the double bond.     

Selective reagents in chemical ionization mass spectrometry: Tetramethylsilane with ethers

Chemical ionization mass spectra of several ethers obtained with He/(CH₃)₄Si mixtures as the reagent gases contain abundant [M + 73]⁺ adduct ions which identify the relative molecular mass. For the di-n-alkyl ethers, these [M + 73]⁺ ions are formed by sample ion/sample molecule reactions of the fragment ions, [M + 73 ? C_nH_2n]⁺ and [M + 73 ? 2CnH_2n]⁺. Small amounts of [M + H]⁺ ions are also formed, predominantly by proton transfer reactions of the [M + 73 ? 2CnH_2n]⁺ or [(CH₃)₃SiOH₂]⁺ ions with the ethers. The di-s-alkyl ethers give no [M + 73] ⁺ ions, but do give [M + H]⁺ ions, which allow the determination of the relative molecular mass. These [M + H]⁺ ions result primarily from proton transfer reactions from the dominant fragment ion, [(CH₃)₃SiOH₂]⁺ with the ether. Methyl phenyl ether gives only [M + 73]⁺ adduct ions, by a bimolecular addition of the trimethylsilyl ion to the ether, not by the two-step process found for the di-n-alkyl ethers. Ethyl phenyl ether gives [M + 73]⁺ by both the two-step process and the bimolecular addition. Although the mass spectra of the alkyl etherr are temperature-dependent, the sensitivities of the di-alkyl ethers and ethyl phenyl ether are independent of temperature. However, the sensitivity for methyl phenyl ether decreases significantly with increasing temperature.     

Isolatable Organophosphorus(III)–Tellurium Heterocycles

A new structural arrangement Te₃(RP^III)₃ and the first crystal structures of organophosphorus(III)–tellurium heterocycles are presented. The heterocycles can be stabilized and structurally characterized by the appropriate choice of substituents in Te_m(P^IIIR)_n (m=1: n=2, R=OMes* (Mes*=supermesityl or 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl); n=3, R=adamantyl (Ad); n=4, R=ferrocene (Fc); m=n=3: R=trityl (Trt), Mesor by the installation of a P^V₂N₂ anchor in RP^III[TeP^V(tBuN)(μ‐NtBu)]₂ (R=Ad, tBu).     

Hydrogen-Bridged Oligosilanylsilyl Mono- and Oligosilanylsilyl Dications

Hydrogen-bridged oligosilanylsilyl borates 8 [B(C₆F₅)₄], 9 [B(C₆F₅)₄] and diborates 10 [B(C₆F₅)₄]₂ have been prepared by hydride transfer between α-ω-dihydrido- ( 11 ) and branched tetrahydrido-oligosilanes ( 13 ) and trityl cation. The obtained cyclic intramolecularly stabilized silylium ions 8 , 9 and bissilylium ion 10 were characterized by low temperature NMR spectroscopy supported by the results of density functional calculations. The branched Si−H−Si monocation 9 undergoes at low temperatures a fast degenerate rearrangement, which exchanges the Si−H groups with a barrier of 31 kJ mol⁻¹ via an antarafacial transition state. Reaction of the branched monocation 9 with a second equivalent of trityl cation or of the branched oligosilane 13 with two equivalents of trityl cation, gives at −80 °C the corresponding bissilylium ion 10 , an example for a new class of highly reactive poly-Lewis acids.     

Zur Interpretation 29Si-NMR-chemischer Verschiebungen

The ²⁹Si-NMR chemical shifts δ(²⁹Si) of (CH₃)_4?nSiX_n compounds and some ¹³C-NMR chemical shifts δ(¹³C) of analogous carbon compounds are discussed by means of relative paramagnetic screening constants σ*, calculated by a simplified model. In this model only the Si(3P)- and C(2P)-orbitals are considered; for the calculations, the electronegativities of Si, C and the X-substituents and a single empirical parameter are necessary. The calculated values of σ* are in good agreement with the change of the chemical shifts which are observed for the (CH₃)_4?nMX_n compounds with different X and n. These results clearly show that δ(²⁹Si) and δ(¹³C) depend primarily on the σ-charge of the Si- and C-atom, and that (P? d)π-interactions on the Si-atom are of minor importance.     

Wasserstoffumlagerungen bei der elektronenstoßinduzierten Fragmentierung von Aminoäthern

Due to neighbouring group effects the behaviour under electron impact of amino ethers of the type RO(CH₂)_nNR₁R₂ is distinctly different from that of both simple ethers and amines. In addition to α-cleavages two further primary fragmentations can often be observed, one leading to [M–aldehyde]^+. or [M–ketone]^+. ions, the other (with n≥3) giving [M–R]⁺ ions. Both processes involve hydrogen rearrangements which were investigated by means of deuterium labelling. Their importance is strongly dependent upon the nature of the substituents R, R₁, R₂ and upon the length (n) of the carbon chain between the heteroatoms. This dependence can easily be explained by the fragmentation mechanisms put forward.     

[IrCl2Cp*(NHC)] Complexes as Highly Versatile Efficient Catalysts for the Cross‐Coupling of Alcohols and Amines

A comparative study on the catalytic activity of a series of [IrCl₂Cp*(NHC)] complexes in several C–O and C–N coupling processes implying hydrogen‐borrowing mechanisms has been performed. The compound [IrCl₂Cp*(I^nBu)] (Cp*=pentamethyl cyclopentadiene; I^nBu=1,3‐di‐n‐butylimidazolylidene) showed to be highly effective in the cross‐coupling reactions of amines and alcohols, providing high yields in the production of unsymmetrical ethers and N‐alkylated amines. A remarkable feature is that the processes were carried out in the absence of base, phosphine, or any other external additive. A comparative study with other known catalysts, such as Shvo's catalyst, is also reported.     

13C n.m.r. spectroscopy of diethyl alkyl- and benzyl-phosphonates. A study of phosphorus–carbon spin–spin coupling constants over one to seven bonds

¹³C chemical shifts and ³¹P? ¹³C spin–spin coupling constants are reported for 10 alkyl-, 20 benzyl- and 3 (naphthylmethyl)-phosphonates. While in saturated aliphatic chains P–C couplings over more than four bonds cannot be resolved, couplings over up to seven bonds are observed in the benzyl type systems. Conformational and substituent effects on J(PC) are studied and discussed. ⁿJ(PF) (n = 4, 5, 6) are reported for the isomeric (fluorobenzyl)phosphonates and ⁿJ(PP) (n = 5, 6, 7) were obtained from the ¹³C satellites in the ³¹P n.m.r. spectra of the isomeric diphosphonates, C₆H₄[CH₂P(O)(OEt)₂]₂. Comparison of those ¹³C absorptions of the latter, which represent the X parts of ABX or AA′X spin systems, with the spectra of the corresponding (methylbenzyl)phosphonates, CH₃C₆H₄CH₂P(O)(OEt)₂, yielded the relative signs of ⁿJ(PC) (n = 2–6).     

Application of Ball Milling Technology to Carbohydrate Reactions: I. Regioselective Primary Hydroxyl Protection of Hexosides and Nucleoside by Planetary Ball Milling‡

Dry ball milling of hexosides with trityl chloride in the presence of DABCO or Na₂CO₃ has been found to result in their complete conversion to the respective 6‐O‐trityl ethers. Further wet grinding of the reaction mixture with Ac₂O in the presence of DMAP led to the respective fully protected hexosides in good to excellent yields after isolation. It has been found to be an effective one‐pot two‐step synthesis under solvent‐free condition. The speed of homogenization has been shown to highly influence the rate and outcome of the reaction, and commercially available planetary ball mill has been proved to be very convenient for carrying out the reaction under standardized and reproducible conditions.     

Multicomponent One‐pot Reactions Towards the Synthesis of Stereoisomers of Dipicolylamine Complexes

Reported are multi‐component one‐pot syntheses of chiral complexes [M(L^ROR′)Cl₂] or [M(L^RSR′)Cl₂] from the mixture of an N‐substituted ethylenediamine, pyridine‐2‐carboxaldehyde, a primary alcohol or thiol and MCl₂ utilizing in‐situ formed cyclized Schiff bases where a C?O bond, two stereocenters, and three C?N bonds are formed (M=Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd; R=Et, Ph; R′=Me, Et, nPr, nBu). Tridentate ligands L^ROR′ and L^RSR′ comprise two chiral centers and a hemiaminal ether or hemiaminal thioether moiety on the dipicolylamine skeleton. Syn‐[Zn(L^PhOMe)Cl₂] precipitates out readily from the reaction mixture as a major product whereas anti‐[Zn(L^PhOMe)Cl₂] stays in solution as minor product. Both syn‐[Zn(L^PhOMe)Cl₂] and anti‐[Zn(L^PhOMe)Cl₂] were characterized using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Solid‐state structures revealed that syn‐[Zn(L^PhOMe)Cl₂] adopted a square pyramidal geometry while anti‐[Zn(L^PhOMe)Cl₂] possesses a trigonal bipyramidal geometry around the Zn centers. The scope of this method was shown to be wide by varying the components of the dynamic coordination assembly, and the structures of the complexes isolated were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X‐ray crystallography. Syn complexes were isolated as major products with Zn^II and Cu^II, and anti complexes were found to be major products with Ni^II and Cd^II. Hemiaminals and hemiaminal ethers are known to be unstable and are seldom observed as part of cyclic organic compounds or as coordinated ligands assembled around metals. It is now shown, with the support of experimental results, that linear hemiaminal ethers or thioethers can be assembled without the assistance of Lewis acidic metals in the multi‐component assembly, and a possible pathway of the formation of hemiaminal ethers has been proposed.     

Living cationic polymerization of cis- and trans-ethyl propenyl ethers and synthesis of block copolymers with isobutyl vinyl ether

The cationic polymerization of cis- and trans-ethyl propenyl ethers (EPE, CH₃? CH?CH? O? C₂H₅), initiated by a mixture of hydrogen iodide and iodine (HI/I₂ initiator) at ?40°C in nonpolar media (toluene and n-hexane), led to living polymers of controlled molecular weights and a narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) (M?_w/M?_n = 1.2–1.3). The geometrical isomerism of the monomer did not affect the living character of the polymerization. ¹³C NMR stereochemical analysis of the polymers showed that the living propagating end is sterically less crowded than nonliving counterparts generated by conventional Lewis acids (e.g., BF₃OEt₂). New block copolymers between EPE (cis or trans) and isobutyl vinyl ether were also prepared by sequential living polymerization of the two monomers.     

The synthesis of novel 4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)chromenone-crown ethers and their cation binding,as determined using fluorescence spectra

o-Dihydroxy-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-chromenones (coumarins; 3a,b) were synthesised from 1,2,3-trihydroxy- or 1,2,4-triacetoxybenzenes through a reaction with ethyl 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-oxopropanoate in H₂SO₄ or CF₃COOH. The chromenone-crown ethers (4a–f) were prepared from the cyclic condensation of o-dihydroxy-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)chromenones (3a,b) with poly(ethylene glycol) ditosylates, in the presence of CH₃CN/alkali carbonates. The chromatographically purified original chromenone-crown ethers were identified by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The 1:1 binding constants of Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ with the chromenone-crown ethers were estimated in acetonitrile using fluorescence emission spectroscopy. The complexing-enhanced fluorescence spectra and complexing-enhanced quenching fluorescence spectra, along with the cationic recognition rules of the crown ethers allowed the ion binding powers to be determined.     

Stereochemistry in cationic polymerization of alkenyl ethers. V. Stereochemistry of acetal additions as model reactions for the polymerization of alkenyl ethers

Acetal additions to β-substituted vinyl ethers having a variety of substituents (alkenyl ethers) were stereochemically investigated as model reactions for their cationic polymerization. The reactions catalyzed by BF₃O(C₂H₅)₂ in CH₂Cl₂ at O°C gave 1:1 adducts, the steric structure of which was determined by means of ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. trans-Alkenyl ethers always gave adducts with a single structure stereospecifically, indicating that the intermediate carbocation attacks a trans-alkenyl ether from a definite direction independent of the bulkiness of substituents. On the other hand, cis-alkenyl ethers formed adducts with two steric structures, and the direction of cation addition was found to depend on the bulkiness of the alkoxy group involved. The above trends were in agreement with the results for poly(alkenyl ether)s and allowed detailed discussion of the stereochemistry of the propagation processes in alkenyl ether polymerizations.     

Living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers with a functional group. VII. Polymerization of vinyl ethers with a silyloxyl group and synthesis of polyalcohols and related functional polymers

Living cationic polymerizations of two silicon-containing vinyl ethers, 2-(t-butyldimethyl-silyloxyl)ethyl vinyl ether (tBuSiVE) and 2-(trimethylsilyloxyl)ethyl vinyl ether (MeSiVE), have been achieved with use of the hydrogen iodide/iodine (HI/I₂) initiating system in toluene at ?15 or ?40°C, despite the existence of the acid-sensitive silyloxyl pendants. The living nature of the polymerizations was demonstrated by linear increases in the number-average molecular weights (M?_n) of the polymers in direct proportion to monomer conversion and by their further rise upon addition of a second monomer feed to a completely polymerized reaction mixture. The polymers obtained in these experiments all exhibited very narrow molecular weight distributions (MWD) with M?_w/M?_n around or below 1.1. Desilylation of the polymers under mild conditions (with H⁺ for MeSiVE and F^? for tBuSiVE) gave poly(2-hydroxyethyl vinyl ether), a water-soluble polyalcohol with a narrow MWD. The living processes also permitted clean syntheses of amphiphilic AB block copolymers and water-soluble methacrylate-type macromonomers, all of which bear narrowly distributed segments of the polyalcohol derived from the silicon-containing vinyl ethers.