Ethyl 3,5‐dimethyl‐4‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrrole‐2‐carboxylate

In the title compound, C₁₅H₁₇NO₂, the ethoxy­carbonyl group is anti with respect to the pyrrole N atom. The angle between the planes of the phenyl and pyrrole rings is 48.26 (9)°. The mol­ecules are joined into dimeric units by a strong hydrogen bonds between pyrrole N—H groups and carbonyl O atoms. The geometry of the isolated mol­ecule was studied by ab initio quantum mechanical calculations, employing both molecular orbital Hartree–Fock (MO–HF) and density functional theory (DFT) methods. The minimum energy was achieved for a conformation where the angle between the planes of the phenyl and pyrrole rings is larger, and that between the ethoxy­carbonyl and pyrrole planes is smaller than in the solid‐state mol­ecule.     

4‐(Pyrrol‐1‐yl)‐1,2,4‐triazole

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C₆H₆N₄, comprises one and a half molecules with a C₂ axis through the second molecule. Each molecule consists of two planar five‐membered rings connected by a triazole–pyrrole N—N bond with the triazole ring close to being at right angles to the pyrrole ring. The molecules are linked by C—H...N hydrogen bonds and weaker offset face‐to‐face π–π interactions.     

Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of α‐Stereogenic Esters through Catalytic Asymmetric Michael Addition of 4‐Oxo‐4‐arylbutenoates

Highly enantioselective Michael addition of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds and nitromethane to 4‐oxo‐4‐arylbutenoates catalyzed by N,N′‐dioxide–Sc(OTf)₃ complexes has been developed. Using 0.5–2 mol % catalyst loading, various α‐stereogenic esters were obtained regioselectively with excellent yields (up to 97 %) and enantioselectivities (up to >99 % ee). Moreover, the reaction performed well under nearly solvent‐free conditions. The products with functional groups are ready for further transformation, which showed the potential value of the catalytic approach. According to the experimental results and previous reports, a plausible working model has been proposed to explain the origin of the activation and the asymmetric induction.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of 3‐(α‐Hydroxy‐β‐carbonyl) Oxindoles by a ScIII‐Catalyzed Direct Aldol‐Type Reaction

A direct catalytic asymmetric aldol‐type reaction of 3‐substituted‐2‐oxindoles with glyoxal derivatives and ethyl trifluoropyruvate, catalyzed by a chiral N,N′‐dioxide–Sc(OTf)₃ (Tf=trifluoromethanesulfonyl) complex, has been developed that tolerates a wide range of substrates. The reaction proceeds in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 93 % yield, 99:1 diastereomeric ratio (dr), and >99 % enantiomeric excess (ee)) under mild conditions, to deliver 3‐(α‐hydroxy‐β‐carbonyl) oxindoles with vicinal quaternary–tertiary or quaternary–quaternary stereocenters. Even with 1 mol % catalyst loading or on scaleup (10 mmol of starting material), maintenance of ee was observed, which showed the potential value of the catalyst system. In studies probing the reaction mechanism, a positive nonlinear effect was observed and Sc^III‐based enolate intermediates were detected by using ESIMS. On the basis of the experimental results and previous reports, a possible catalytic cycle was assumed.     

B(C6F5)3/Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Ketimine–Ene Reaction of 2‐Aryl‐3H‐indol‐3‐ones and α‐Methylstyrenes

The enantioselective ketimine–ene reaction is one of the most challenging stereocontrolled reaction types in organic synthesis. In this work, catalytic enantioselective ketimine–ene reactions of 2‐aryl‐3H‐indol‐3‐ones with α‐methylstyrenes were achieved by utilizing a B(C₆F₅)₃/chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) catalyst. These ketimine–ene reactions proceed well with low catalyst loading (B(C₆F₅)₃/CPA=2 mol %/2 mol %) under mild conditions, providing rapid and facile access to a series of functionalized 2‐allyl‐indolin‐3‐ones with very good reactivity (up to 99 % yield) and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee). Theoretical calculations reveal that enhancement of the acidity of the chiral phosphoric acid by B(C₆F₅)₃ significantly reduces the activation free energy barrier. Furthermore, collective favorable hydrogen‐bonding interactions, especially the enhanced N?H???O hydrogen‐bonding interaction, differentiates the free energy of the transition states of CPA and B(C₆F₅)₃/CPA, thereby inducing the improvement of stereoselectivity.     

Microwave‐assisted ring‐opening polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactone

Ring‐opening polymerization of ?‐caprolactone was carried out smoothly and effectively with constant microwave powers of 170, 340, 510, and 680 W, respectively, with a microwave oven at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. The temperature of the polymerization ranged from 80 to 210 °C. Poly(?‐caprolactone) (PCL) with a weight‐average molar mass (M_w) of 124,000 g/mol and yield of 90% was obtained at 680 W for 30 min using 0.1% (mol/mol) stannous octanoate as a catalyst. When the polymerization was catalyzed by 1% (w/w) zinc powder, the M_w of PCL was 92,300 g/mol after the reaction mixture was irradiated at 680 W for 270 min. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1749–1755, 2002     

Asymmetric Diels–Alder and Inverse‐Electron‐Demand Hetero‐Diels–Alder Reactions of β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Ketoesters with Cyclopentadiene Catalyzed by N,N′‐Dioxide Copper(II) Complex

Highly enantioselective Diels–Alder (DA) and inverse‐electron‐demand hetero‐Diels–Alder (HDA) reactions of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters with cyclopentadiene catalyzed by chiral N,N′‐dioxide–Cu(OTf)₂ (Tf=triflate) complexes have been developed. Quantitative conversion of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters and excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1) and enantioselectivities (up to >99 % ee) were observed for a broad range of substrates. Both aromatic and aliphatic β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters were found to be suitable substrates for the reactions. Moreover, the chemoselectivity of the DA and HDA adducts were improved by regulating the reaction temperature. Good to high chemoselectivity (up to 94 %) of the DA adducts were obtained at room temperature, and moderate chemoselectivity (up to 65 %) of the HDA adducts were achieved at low temperature. The reaction also featured mild reaction conditions, a simple procedure, and remarkably low catalyst loading (0.1–1.5 mol %). A strong positive nonlinear effect was observed.     

Kinetics of hexene‐1 polymerization using [(N,N′‐diisopropylbenzene)‐2,3‐(1,8‐napthyl)‐1,4‐diazabutadiene] dibromonickel/methylaluminoxane catalyst system

Kinetics of hexene‐1 polymerization was investigated using [(N,N′‐diisopropylbenzene)2,3‐(1,8‐napthly)‐1,4‐diazabutadiene]dibromonickel/methylaluminoxane catalyst. Experiments were performed at varying catalyst and monomer concentrations in the temperature range of ?10 to 35 °C. First order time‐conversion plot shows a downward curvature at temperatures of 20 °C and 35 °C indicating the presence of finite termination reactions. A nonlinear plot of degree of polymerization (P_n) with respect to conversion indicates occurrence of transfer reactions and slow initiation. The experimental molar masses are higher than predicted, which implies that a fraction of catalyst species could not be activated or is deactivated at the early stages of the reactions. The efficiency of the catalyst (Cat_eff) varies from 0.77 to 0.89. The observed polydispersity of the poly(hexene‐1) s is in the range of 1.18–1.48. The reaction order was found to be 1.11 with respect to catalyst. The Arrhenius plot obtained using the overall propagation rate constant, k_p, at five different temperatures (?10, 0, 10, 20, and 35 °C) was found to be linear with an activation energy, E_a = 4.3 kcal/mol. Based on the results presented it is concluded that the polymerization of hexene‐1 under the above‐mentioned conditions shows significant deviation from ideal “living” behavior. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1093–1100, 2007     

2‐(Diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)pyrrole–2‐(diphenylphosphinomethyl)pyrrole (0.43/0.57) and tetrachlorido(5‐diphenylphosphinomethyl‐2H‐pyrrole‐κ2N,P)titanium(IV)

The title phosphine oxide–phosphine, 0.43C₁₇H₁₆NOP·0.57C₁₇H₁₆NP, (I)/(II), was obtained as a 0.861 (6):1.139 (6) cocrystallized mixture. Hydrogen bonding between the two constituents leads to the formation of 2:2 solid‐state assemblies. Instead of forming the expected simple N,P‐chelated system via loss of the N‐bound H atom, reaction of 2‐(diphenylphosphinomethyl)pyrrole, (II), with TiCl₄ leads to the formation of the title titanium(IV) complex, [TiCl₄(C₁₇H₁₆NP)], (IV), containing a rearranged neutral ligand in which the N‐bound H atom moves to one of the pyrrole C atoms, giving a partially unsaturated ring.     

6‐(2‐Hydro­xy­benzoyl)‐5‐(pyrrol‐2‐yl)‐3H‐pyrrolizine

The title compound, 2‐hydroxy­phenyl 5‐(pyrrol‐2‐yl)‐3H‐pyrrolizin‐6‐yl ketone, C₁₈H₁₄N₂O₂, was isolated from the base‐catalyzed 1:2 condensation of 2‐hydroxy­aceto­phenone with pyrrole‐2‐carbaldehyde. The pyrrole N—H and hydroxy­benzoyl O—H groups are hydrogen bonded to the benzoyl O atom. The allyl­ic C=C double bond of the 3H‐pyrrolizine system is located between ring positions 1 and 2, the C atom at position 3 (adjacent to the N atom) being single bonded.     

Isomeric 3‐ and 4‐chloro‐N‐[1‐(1H‐pyrrol‐2‐yl)ethylidene]aniline

The title isomers, namely 3‐chloro‐N‐[1‐(1H‐pyrrol‐2‐yl)ethylidene]aniline, (I), and 4‐chloro‐N‐[1‐(1H‐pyrrol‐2‐yl)ethylidene]aniline, (II), both C₁₂H₁₁ClN₂, differ in the position of the chlorine substitution. Both compounds have the basic iminopyrrole structure, which shows a planar backbone with similar features. The dihedral angle formed by the planes of the pyrrole and benzene rings is 75.65 (7)° for (I) and 86.56 (8)° for (II). The H atom bound to the pyrrole N atom is positionally disordered and partial protonation occurs at the imino N atom in (I), while this phenomenon is absent from the structure of (II). Packing interactions for both compounds include intermolecular N—H...N hydrogen bonds and C—H...π interactions, forming centrosymmetric dimers for both (I) and (II).     

Catalytic Asymmetric Epoxidation of α,β‐Unsaturated Esters with Chiral Yttrium–Biaryldiol Complexes

The full details of the asymmetric epoxidation of α,β‐unsaturated esters catalyzed by yttrium complexes with biaryldiol ligands are described. An yttrium–biphenyldiol catalyst, generated from Y(OiPr)₃–biphenyldiol ligand–triphenylarsine oxide (1:1:1), is suitable for the epoxidation of various α,β‐unsaturated esters. With this catalyst, β‐aryl α,β‐unsaturated esters gave high enantioselectivities and good yields (≤99 % ee). The reactivity of this catalyst is good, and the catalyst loading could be decreased to as little as 0.5–2 mol % (the turnover number was up to 116), while high enantiomeric excesses were maintained. For β‐alkyl α,β‐unsaturated esters, an yttrium–binol catalyst, generated from Y(OiPr)₃–binol ligand–triphenylphosphine oxide (1:1:2), gave the best enantioselectivities (≤97 % ee). The utility of the epoxidation reaction was demonstrated in an efficient synthesis of (?)‐ragaglitazar, a potential antidiabetes agent.     

A 3,4‐trans‐Fused Cyclic Protecting Group Facilitates α‐Selective Catalytic Synthesis of 2‐Deoxyglycosides

A practical approach has been developed to convert glucals and rhamnals into disaccharides or glycoconjugates with high α‐selectivity and yields (77–97 %) using a trans‐fused cyclic 3,4‐O‐disiloxane protecting group and TsOH?H₂O (1 mol %) as a catalyst. Control of the anomeric selectivity arises from conformational locking of the intermediate oxacarbenium cation. Glucals outperform rhamnals because the C6 side‐chain conformation augments the selectivity.     

N‐(o‐Chloro­phenyl)‐2,5‐di­methyl­pyrrole‐3‐carb­aldehyde

Crystal structure analysis of the title compound, C₁₃H₁₂ClNO, reveals three crystallographically independent mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. The main conformational difference between these mol­ecules is the orientation of the phenyl rings with respect to the pyrrole rings. The coplanar arrangement of the aldehyde groups attached to the pyrrole rings influences the pyrrole‐ring geometry. The C2—C3 and N1—C5 bonds are noticeably longer than the C4—C5 and N1—C2 bonds. Two independent mol­ecules of the title compound form dimers via intermolecular C—H⃛O hydrogen bonds [D⃛A = 3.400 (3) Å and D—H⃛A = 157°]. The perpendicular orientation of the phenyl and pyrrole rings of one independent mol­ecule and its symmetry‐related mol­ecule allows C—H⃛π interactions, with an H⃛centroid distance of 2.85 Å and a C—H⃛π angle of 155°. The distances between the H atom and the pyrrole‐ring atoms indicate that the C—H bond points towards one of the bonds in the pyrrole ring.     

Highly Enantioselective Carbonyl–Ene Reactions of 2,3‐Diketoesters: Efficient and Atom‐Economical Process to Functionalized Chiral α‐Hydroxy‐β‐Ketoesters

Carbonyl–ene reactions of 2,3‐diketoesters catalyzed by [Cu{(S,S)‐tBu‐box}](SbF₆)₂ [box=bis(oxazoline)] generate chiral α‐functionalized α‐hydroxy‐β‐ketoesters in up to 94 % yield and 97 % ee. The 2,3‐diketoesters are conveniently accessed from the corresponding α‐diazo‐β‐ketoester, and a catalyst loading as low as 1.0 mol % can be achieved.     

Squaramide‐Catalyzed Asymmetric aza‐Friedel–Crafts/N,O‐Acetalization Domino Reactions Between 2‐Naphthols and Pyrazolinone Ketimines

N‐Boc ketimines derived from pyrazolin‐5‐ones were explored to develop an unprecedented domino aza‐Friedel–Crafts/N,O‐acetalization reaction with 2‐naphthols. The novel method requires a catalyst loading of only 0.5 mol % of a bifunctional squaramide catalyst, is scalable to gram amounts, and provides a new series of furanonaphthopyrazolidinone derivatives bearing two vicinal tetra‐substituted stereogenic centers in excellent yields (95–98 %) and stereoselectivity (>99:1 d.r. and 97–98 % ee ). A different reactivity was observed in the case of 1‐naphthols and other electron‐rich phenols, which led to the aza‐Friedel–Crafts adducts in 70–98 % yield and 47–98 % ee .     

Hydrogen‐bonding patterns in six derivatives of 2,4‐dimethyl­pyrrole

The crystal and mol­ecular structures of 4‐ethyl‐3,5‐dimethyl­pyrrole‐2‐carbaldehyde, C₁₀H₁₅NO, (I), benzyl 3,5‐dimethyl­pyrrole‐2‐carboxyl­ate, C₁₄H₁₅NO₂, (II), benzyl 4‐acetyl‐3,5‐dimethyl­pyrrole‐2‐carboxyl­ate, C₁₆H₁₇NO₃, (III), dimethyl 3,5‐dimethyl­pyrrole‐2,4‐dicarboxyl­ate, C₁₀H₁₃NO₄, (IV), 4‐ethyl‐3,5‐dimethyl‐2‐(p‐tos­ylacet­yl)pyrrole, C₁₇H₂₁NO₃S, (V), and ethyl 4‐(2‐ethoxy­carbonyl‐2‐hydroxy­acrylo­yl)‐3,5‐dimethyl­pyrrole‐2‐carboxyl­ate, C₁₅H₁₉NO₆, (VI), were determined at 130 K. Compounds (I), (II), (IV), (V) and (VI) form hydrogen‐bonded dimers [N—H⋯O=C = 1.97 (2)–2.03 (3) Å]. Four dimers, viz. (I) and (IV)–(VI), have inversion symmetry, while the dimer of (II) has twofold symmetry. Only (III) forms polymeric chains involving hydrogen bonds between the pyrrole H atom and the acetyl carbonyl group [H⋯O = 1.97 (2) Å] and is further stabilized by CH₃⋯O inter­actions (C—H⋯O = 2.28–2.49 Å). Compound (VI) was found to occur as the enol ether in the crystal.     

Two methyl 3‐(1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)octahydropyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐1‐carboxylates form different hydrogen‐bonded sheets

In the molecules of both methyl (1RS,3SR,3aRS,6aSR)‐1‐methyl‐3‐(3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)‐4,6‐dioxo‐5‐phenyloctahydropyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐1‐carboxylate, C₂₅H₂₄N₄O₄, (I), and methyl (1RS,3SR,3aRS,6aSR)‐5‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1‐methyl‐3‐(3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)‐4,6‐dioxooctahydropyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐1‐carboxylate, C₂₅H₂₃ClN₄O₄, (II), the two rings of the pyrrolopyrrole fragment are both nonplanar, with conformations close to half‐chair forms. The overall conformations of the molecules of (I) and (II) are very similar, apart from the orientation of the ester function. The molecules of (I) are linked into sheets by a combination of an N—H...π(pyrrole) hydrogen bond and three independent C—H...O hydrogen bonds. The molecules of (II) are also linked into sheets, which are generated by a combination of an N—H...N hydrogen bond and two independent C—H...O hydrogen bonds, weakly augmented by a C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bond.     

5‐Hydroxyalkyl derivatives of tert‐butyl 2‐oxo‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole‐1‐carboxylate: diastereoselectivity of the Mukaiyama crossed‐aldol‐type reaction

The title compounds, rac‐(1′R,2R)‐tert‐butyl 2‐(1′‐hydroxyethyl)‐3‐(2‐nitrophenyl)‐5‐oxo‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole‐1‐carboxylate, C₁₇H₂₀N₂O₆, (I), rac‐(1′S,2R)‐tert‐butyl 2‐[1′‐hydroxy‐3′‐(methoxycarbonyl)propyl]‐3‐(2‐nitrophenyl)‐5‐oxo‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole‐1‐carboxylate, C₂₀H₂₄N₂O₈, (II), and rac‐(1′S,2R)‐tert‐butyl 2‐(4′‐bromo‐1′‐hydroxybutyl)‐5‐oxo‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole‐1‐carboxylate, C₁₃H₂₀BrNO₄, (III), are 5‐hydroxyalkyl derivatives of tert‐butyl 2‐oxo‐2,5‐dihydropyrrole‐1‐carboxylate. In all three compounds, the tert‐butoxycarbonyl (Boc) unit is orientated in the same manner with respect to the mean plane through the 2‐oxo‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole ring. The hydroxyl substituent at one of the newly created chiral centres, which have relative R,R stereochemistry, is trans with respect to the oxo group of the pyrrole ring in (I), synthesized using acetaldehyde. When a larger aldehyde was used, as in compounds (II) and (III), the hydroxyl substituent was found to be cis with respect to the oxo group of the pyrrole ring. Here, the relative stereochemistry of the newly created chiral centres is R,S. In compound (I), O—H...O hydrogen bonding leads to an interesting hexagonal arrangement of symmetry‐related molecules. In (II) and (III), the hydroxyl groups are involved in bifurcated O—H...O hydrogen bonds, and centrosymmetric hydrogen‐bonded dimers are formed. The Mukaiyama crossed‐aldol‐type reaction was successful when using the 2‐nitrophenyl‐substituted hydroxypyrrole, or the unsubstituted hydroxypyrrole, and boron trifluoride diethyl ether as catalyst. The synthetic procedure leads to a syn configuration of the two newly created chiral centres in all three compounds.     

A series of (E)‐5‐(arylideneamino)‐1‐tert‐butyl‐1H‐pyrrole‐3‐carbonitriles and their reduction products to secondary amines: syntheses and X‐ray structural studies

An efficent access to a series of N‐(pyrrol‐2‐yl)amines, namely (E)‐1‐tert‐butyl‐5‐[(4‐chlorobenzylidene)amino]‐1H‐pyrrole‐3‐carbonitrile, C₁₆H₁₆ClN₃, (7a), (E)‐1‐tert‐butyl‐5‐[(2,4‐dichlorobenzylidene)amino]‐1H‐pyrrole‐3‐carbonitrile, C₁₆H₁₅Cl₂N₃, (7b), (E)‐1‐tert‐butyl‐5‐[(pyridin‐4‐ylmethylene)amino]‐1H‐pyrrole‐3‐carbonitrile, C₁₅H₁₆N₄, (7c), 1‐tert‐butyl‐5‐[(4‐chlorobenzyl)amino]‐1H‐pyrrole‐3‐carbonitrile, C₁₆H₁₈ClN₃, (8a), and 1‐tert‐butyl‐5‐[(2,4‐dichlorobenzyl)amino]‐1H‐pyrrole‐3‐carbonitrile, C₁₆H₁₇Cl₂N₃, (8b), by a two‐step synthesis sequence (solvent‐free condensation and reduction) starting from 5‐amino‐1‐tert‐butyl‐1H‐pyrrole‐3‐carbonitrile is described. The syntheses proceed via isolated N‐(pyrrol‐2‐yl)imines, which are also key synthetic intermediates of other valuable compounds. The crystal structures of the reduced compounds showed a reduction in the symmetry compared with the corresponding precursors, viz. Pbcm to P from compound (7a) to (8a) and P2₁/c to P from compound (7b) to (8b), probably due to a severe change in the molecular conformations, resulting in the loss of planarity observed in the nonreduced compounds. In all of the crystals, the supramolecular assembly is controlled mainly by strong (N,C)—H…N hydrogen bonds. However, in the case of (7a)–(7c), C—H…Cl interactions are strong enough to help in the three‐dimensional architecture, as observed in Hirshfeld surface maps.