Reaction of ene-bis(phosphinylallenes): [2+2] versus [4+2] cycloaddition

Reaction of ene-bis(phosphinylallenes), derived from ene-bis(propargyl alcohols) and chlorodiphenylphosphine, was investigated. Benzene-bridged bis(phosphinylallenes) exclusively gave intramolecular [2+2] cycloadducts in the presence of dimethyl fumarate in sharp contrast to the reaction of benzene-bridged bis(sulfinylallenes), which gave the corresponding [4+2] cycloadducts. On the other hand, substituted ethylene- or five-membered heterocycle-bridged bis(phosphinylallenes) provided [4+2] cycloadducts. Reaction of benzene-bridged diallene bearing both a sulfinyl group and a phosphinyl group on the two allenyl groups was also described.     

Intermolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition of o-quinodimethanes derived from ene-bis(sulfinylallenes)

Intermolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition of o-quinodimethanes, prepared in situ from ene-bis(propargyl alcohols) and benzenesulfenyl chloride via ene-bis(sulfinylallene) formation, was investigated. Benzene-bridged bis(propargyl alcohols) reacted with both electron-deficient and electron-rich olefins to give the corresponding [4 + 2] cycloadducts. Ethylene-bridged bis(propargyl alcohols) underwent similar cycloaddition with electron-deficient olefins. Construction of some heterocycles based on the newly developed sequential reaction is also described.     

The Chemistry of Stable Silabenzenes

Stable silabenzenes ( 1a; R = Tbt, 1b; R = Bbt) were synthesized by taking advantage of extremely bulky and efficient steric protection groups, 2,4,6‐tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl (Tbt) and 2,6‐bis‐[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]‐4‐[tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl (Bbt). The structure of Tbt‐substituted 1a was determined by X‐ray crystallographic analysis, which demonstrated the complete delocalization of the π‐electrons of the silabenzene ring. It was found that silabenzene 1a reacted with C–C and C–O multiple bond compounds to give the corresponding [4+2]‐cycloadducts via 1,4‐addition, while 1a underwent both 1,2‐ and 1,4‐additions by the reaction with methanol. Silabenzene 1a dimerized very gradually to afford its [4+2]‐dimer, although 1b showed no change under the same conditions. Photochemical reaction of 1a gave the corresponding silabenzvalene isomer instead of the Dewar silabenzene isomer.     

(1+1) or (2+2) Coupling for bis(tosyloxyethoxy)benzenes with calix[4]arene and thiacalix[4]arene

As bifunctional reagents, bis(tosyloxyethoxy)benzenes can react with p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene or p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene to afford intramolecularly bridged (1+1) or intermolecularly bridged (2+2) products. It was found that the bridging pattern strongly depended on the structure of bis(tosyloxyethoxy)benzene and the kind of calixarene. For the ortho-isomer of bis(tosyloxyethoxy)benzene, intramolecularly bridged calix[4]arene and thiacalix[4]arene were the main products. For the para-isomer, the bridging reaction was in a (2+2) fashion. As for the meta-isomer, double thiacalix[4]arene and intramolecularly bridged calix[4]crown were synthesized.     

Rearrangement of the cyclohexadiene derivatives of C60 to bis(fulleroid) and bis(methano)fullerene: structure,stability, and mechanism

The cyclohexadiene derivative of C(60) rearranges photochemically to bis(fulleroid) (two [6,5] open structure) and bis(methano)fullerene (two [6,6] closed structure). During this process, a [6,5] open/[6,6] closed intermediate is observed. The isolated intermediate undergoes photochemical rearrangement to bis(fulleroid) and bis(methano)fullerene. On the other side, it undergoes retrorearrangement to the starting material in the dark. The structure and energetics of these C(60) derivatives have been studied at the AM1, PM3, RHF, and B3LYP levels of theory. It is found that bis(fulleroid) bearing four tert-butoxycarbonyl substituents is 5.8 kcal/mol (B3LYP) more stable than the corresponding bis(methano)fullerene. The isolated intermediate having the [6,5] open/[6,6] closed structure is 6.7 kcal/mol more favorable than the previously proposed two [6,5] closed intermediate, and the formation of this compound is well explained by the di-pi-methane rearrangement. (13)C NMR calculation at the B3LYP level reproduced the experimental chemical shifts with very good accuracy for each molecular system. Theoretical studies mainly at the unrestricted B3LYP level on singlet and triplet state potential energy surfaces on fullerene derivatives support the di-pi-methane rearrangement mechanism. The previously proposed symmetrical [4+4]/[2+2+2] and the novel proposed unsymmetrical di-pi-methane pathways may coexist during the reaction.     

Total Synthesis Confirms Laetirobin as a Formal Diels–Alder Adduct

Laetirobin, isolated from a parasitic fungus host–plant relationship, was synthesized in six practical steps with an overall yield of 12 % from commercially available 2,4‐dihydroxyacetophenone. Because the product is a pseudosymmetric tetramer of benzo[b]furans, each step of the synthesis was designed to involve tandem operations. Highlights include: 1) the double Sonogashira reaction of a bis(alkyne), 2) the practical copper(I)‐mediated formation of a bis(benzo[b]furan), and 3) the biomimetic [4+2] dimerization and unexpected cationic [5+2] annulation of gem‐diaryl alkene precursors. Preliminary structure–activity relationship data between the isomeric [4+2] and [5+2] tetramers revealed only the natural product to possess promising anticancer potential. Specifically, laetirobin is capable of blocking tumor cell division (mitosis) and invoking programmed cell death (apoptosis).     

Structural development of free or coordinated 4'-(4-pyridyl)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine ligands through N-alkylation: new strategies for metallamacrocycle formation

A series of N-alkylated derivatives of [Ru(pytpy)(2)]2+ (pytpy=4'-(4-pyridyl)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) has been synthesised and characterised. These include both model and functionalised complexes that complement previously reported iron(II) analogues. Reaction of [Ru(pytpy)(2)]2+ with bis[4-(bromomethyl)phenyl]methane leads to the formation of a [2+2] ruthenamacrocycle. Related ferramacrocycles could not be accessed by this route, and instead were prepared in two steps by first reacting bis[4-(bromomethyl)phenyl]methane or 4,4'-bis(bromomethyl)biphenyl with two equivalents of pytpy, and then treating the resulting bis(N-alkylated) product with iron(II) salts.     

Sterically encumbered regioselective cycloaddition of a calixarene derived bis(spirodienone) with 1,2-benzoquinones

A calix[4]arene derived bis(spirodienone) acts as the 2π component in a cycloaddition reaction with two molecules of 3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone in the [2+4] manner leading to macrocycles with a benzodioxin moiety. A theoretical rationalization of the results suggested a sterically encumbered regioselective pathway, which gives sterically crowded products.     

A dinuclear triple-stranded helicate with a bis(benzene-o-dithiolato) ligand

The bis(benzene-o-dithiol) ligand H4-1 reacts with Ti4+ in a self-assembly reaction to give the dinuclear triple-stranded helicate [Ti2(1)3]4- which is the first helicate build exclusively from benzene-o-dithiolato donor groups.     

Cycloaddition of norbornadiene to fluorine-containing heteroaddends

Cycloaddition reactions of norbornadiene with fluorinated heteroaddends (hexafluoro-acetone, dichlorotetrafluoroacetone, trifluoroacetonitrile, and N-trifluoroacetylhexafluoro-propan-2-imine) were studied. As a rule, the reactions follow the concerted mechanism. The reaction with bis(trifluoromethyl)ketene gave a mixture of tricyclene [2+2]- and [2+2+2]-cyclo-adducts formed along different pathways. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 1013–1015, April, 2005.     

4 + 1] cycloaddition of bis(alkylthio)carbenes with vinyl isocyanates. Total synthesis of (+/-)-mesembrine

[reaction: see text] The Sceletium alkaloid mesembrine has been synthesized in 13% overall yield by a sequence featuring a [4 + 1] cycloaddition of a bis(alkylthio)carbene with a functionalized vinyl isocyanate.     

Microwave synthesis of mono- and bis-tetrazolato complexes via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of organonitriles with platinum(II)-bound azides

[2 + 3] Cycloaddition reactions of the diazidoplatinum(II) complexes cis-[Pt(N3)2(PPh3)2] 1 and cis-[Pt(N3)2(2,2'-bipy)] 4 with organonitriles NCR 2 give the bis(tetrazolato) complexes trans-[Pt(N4CR)2(PPh3)2] 3 [R = Me (3a), Et (3b), Pr (3c), Ph (3d), 4-ClC6H4 (3e)] and cis-[Pt(N4CR)2(2,2'-bipy)] 5 [R = Me (5a), Et (5b), Pr (5c), Ph (5d)]. The reaction of cis-[Pt(N3)2(PPh3)2] I with propionitrile also affords, apart from 3b, the unexpected mixed cyano-tetrazolato complex trans-[Pt(CN)(5-ethyltetrazolato)(PPh3)2] 3b' which is derived from the reaction of the bis(tetrazolato) 3b with propionitrile, with concomitant formation of 5-ethyl-1H-tetrazole, via a suggested unusual oxidative addition of the nitrile to PtII. All these reactions are greatly accelerated by microwave irradiation and this method also shows a higher selectivity in the case of the reaction of propionitrile with 1, leading only to the formation of 3b. All the complexes obtained were characterized by IR, 1H, 13C and 31P[1H] (for complexes 3) NMR spectroscopies, FAB-MS and elemental analyses. Complexes 3b', 3d, 3e and 5d were also characterized by X-ray structural analyses.     

A facile and efficient one-pot synthesis of thiochromans from bis(2-formylphenyl) disulfide and alkenols via iodine-promoted generation and subsequent intramolecular cycloaddition of ortho-thiobenzoquinone methides

Stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydrofuro- and tetrahydropyrano[3,2-c]benzothiopyrans was achieved by intramolecular [4+2]cycloaddition of o-thiobenzoquinone methides that were generated in situ from bis(2-formylphenyl) disulfide and alkenols in the presence of iodine under mild reaction conditions.     

Synthesis and properties of pyrazole carbaldehyde bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-dithioacetal hydrochlorides*

A simple method has been developed for the synthesis of water-soluble pyrazole derivatives, namely 4-[bis(2-hydroxyethylsulfanyl)methyl]pyrazoles hydrochlorides, by the reaction of a series of pyrazole carbaldehydes with 2-mercaptoethanol in the presence of trimethylchlorosilane. When treated with aqueous ammonia solution the pyrazole-4-carbaldehydes bis(2-hydroxyethyl)dithioacetal hydro-chlorides are converted to the 4-[bis(2-hydroxyethylsulfanyl)methyl]pyrazole free bases.     

Strontium- und Barium-bis[N,N′ -bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate] aus der Additionsreaktion der Erdalkalimetall-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amide] mit Benzonitril

Strontium and Barium Bis[N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinates] from the Addition Reaction of the Alkaline Earth Metal Bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amides] and Benzonitrile The reaction of strontium bis[bis trimethylsilyl)amide] with benzonitrile yields strontium bis[N,N′- bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate] · 2THF, which crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn (a = 1845.4(3); b = 131 1,3(2); c = 1838,(3) pm; Z = 4). During the similar reaction of barium bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amide] with benzonitrile the benzonitrile adduct barium bis[N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate] · 2 THF · benzonitrile is formed. After the addition of diphenylacetylene to the strontium di(benzamidinate) in diglyme a clathrate of the composition strontium bis[N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate] · diglyme · diphenylacetylene could be isolated; the spectroscopic data as well as the X-ray structure (monoclinic, C2/c, a = 1492.2(2); b = 1539.1(2); c = 2337.8(3)pm; Z = 4) confirm the isolated appearance of the acetylene molecule without interaction to the metal center in solution and in the solid state, respectively.     

[2+3]Cycloaddition reaction of a kinetically stabilized distibene with a nitrile oxide leading to the formation of a unique heterocyclic compound

The synthesis of a 1-oxa-5-aza-2,3-distibacyclopent-4-ene derivative by the [2+3]cycloaddition reaction of a kinetically stabilized distibene, BbtSb=SbBbt (Bbt = 2,6-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-4-[tris-(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl), with MesCNO (Mes = mesityl) has been performed. Dedicated to Prof. Dr. E. Lukevics on the occasion of his 70th birthday __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 12, pp. 1880–1887, December, 2006.     

Merging [2+2] Cycloaddition with Radical 1,4‐Addition: Metal‐Free Access to Functionalized Cyclobuta[a]naphthalen‐4‐ols

A metal‐free [2+2] cycloaddition and 1,4‐addition sequence induced by S‐centered radicals has been achieved by treating benzene‐linked allene‐ynes with aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates and DABCO‐bis(sulfur dioxide) in a one‐pot procedure. The reaction provides a greener and more practical access to functionalized cyclobuta[a]naphthalen‐4‐ols with valuable applications. More than 50 examples are demonstrated with excellent diastereoselectivity and chemical yields. The reaction pathway is proposed to proceed by the following steps:[2+2] cycloaddition, insertion of SO₂, 1,4‐addition, diazotization, and tautomerization.     

[3+2] cycloaddition synthesis of new (nicotinonitrile-chromene)-based bis(pyrazole) hybrids as potential acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

A [3+2] cycloaddition protocol was used to prepare two series of (nicotinonitrile-chromene)-based bis(pyrazoles) in 82%–91% yields. The protocol involved the reaction of nitrilimines, which were generated in situ by the action of triethylamine on hydrazonoyl chlorides, with the respective (nicotinonitrile-chromene)-based bis(enaminone). At the concentrations tested, bis(pyrazole) linked to 1-(4-methoxyphenyl) and 3-acetyl units had the best acetylcholinesterase and DPPH-free radical inhibitory activity.     

Rational synthesis of multicyclic bis[2]catenanes

Bis-loop tetraurea calix[4]arene 6 has been prepared by acylation of the wide-rim calix[4]arene tetraamine 1 with the activated bis(urethane) 8 under dilution conditions. Similarly the bis(Boc-protected) tetraamine 2 is converted into the mono-loop derivative 3 which after deprotection and acylation gives the bisalkenyl derivative 5. In apolar solvents this tetraurea calix[4]arene 5 forms regioselectively a single hydrogen-bonded homodimer, from which the bis[2]catenane 10a is formed in 49% by a metathesis reaction followed by hydrogenation. Bis-loop derivative 6 forms no homodimers for steric reasons, but a stoichiometric mixture with the open-chain tetraalkenyl derivative 7a contains exclusively the heterodimer. Metathesis and subsequent hydrogenation now yields 65 % of the pure bis[2]catenane 10a which could not be isolated from the complex reaction mixture obtained from the homodimer 7a.7a. The chirality of 10a (D(2) symmetry) has been verified by optical resolution using HPLC on a chiral stationary phase.     

Reaction of 2-aminothiophenol with acrylic acid and conversion of the resultant adducts

The reaction of acrylic acid with 2-aminothiophenol gives 5-carboxyethyl-2,3-dihydro-5H-benzo[b][1,4]-thiazepin-4-one and N-[2-(carboxyethylthio)phenyl]-α-alanine, while the reaction of acrylic acid with bis(2-aminophenyl) disulfide gives bis[2-(carboxyethylamino)phenyl] disulfide. The action of potassium thiocyanate in acid medium on the carboxyethylamino derivatives yields 1-[2-carboxyethylthio)phenyl]dihydro-4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinone-2-thione, bis-{2-[dihydro-4(1H, 3H)-pyrimidinone-2-thion-1-yl]phenyl} disulfide, and 3-(2-mercaptobenzothiazol-3-yl)propanoic acid. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 256–261, February, 2006.