One-pot synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted oxazoles from N-acyl amino acids by a combination of cyclodehydration with N,N′-diisopropylcarbodiimide and Wittig olefination

By a combination of cyclodehydration of N-acyl amino acids with N,N′-diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC) and non-classical Wittig olefination of the resultant 5(4H)-oxazolones with Ph₃PCHCN and Ph₃PCHCOOEt, 5-oxazoleacetonitriles and 5-oxazoleacetates were synthesized in one-pot in 41–85% and 57–70% yields, respectively.     

Selective O-acylation of unprotected N-benzylserine methyl ester and O,N-acyl transfer in the formation of cyclo[Asp-Ser] diketopiperazines

The synthesis of two diastereomeric cyclo[Asp-N-Bn-Ser] diketopiperazines (2a and 2b) was investigated. Initial formation of the Boc-aspartyl-N-benzyl serine isopeptide methyl esters (4a and 4b) was observed, which derive from the selective O-acylation of unprotected (S)- or (R)-N-benzylserine. This unexpected O-acylation is preferred over the formation of the tertiary amide and the resulting ester bond is stable in solution to O,N-acyl transfer. The O,N-acyl migration is then triggered by cleavage of the Boc protecting group and treatment with base, which also promotes immediate cyclization to the diketopiperazines.     

On the solvolysis kinetics of amidoesters derived from β-aminoalcohols

To better understand reactivity in such systems, fifteen amidoesters derived from β-aminoalcohols were solvolyzed at the ester group in mildly basic methanol-d₄. All trials showed pseudo-first-order kinetics by ¹H NMR. The rate constants are about 2 to 140-fold larger than those found with simple alkyl esters. The least bulky N-acyl groups generally sponsor the largest rate constants, and strongly so in two cases, but apparently not as a result of lesser steric crowding between the amide and ester groups. Rate constants are also greater for those amidoesters favoring an anti conformation at the amide linkage.     

Photochemistry of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-substituted salicylic acid amides

The products of photolysis of N-substituted salicylic acid amides, viz., 2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-ethylbenzoic acid N-(4-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)amide (1) and 2-hydroxybenzoic acid N-[3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)prop-1-yl]amide (2), in heptane were studied by optical spectroscopy and stationary and nanosecond laser photolysis (Nd: YAG laser, 355 nm). It was shown by the method of partial deuteration of amides 1 and 2 that they exist in both the unbound state and as complexes with intraand intermolecular hydrogen bond. Amides 1 and 2 are subjected to photolysis, which results in the formation of a triplet state and phenoxyl radicals RO? presumably due to the absorption of the second photon by the excited singlet state. The formation of radical products due to N–H bond ionization was not observed. The main channel of decay of the triplet state and radicals RO? is triplet–triplet annihilation and recombination (k _r ≈ 2.3?10⁸ L mol^–1 s^–1), respectively. The UV irradiation of compounds 1 and 2 leads to the excitation of the amide groups, and no formation of radical products due to N–H bond ionization was observed.     

Reaction of anthranilic acid amides with cyclic anhydrides

Anthranilic acid amide reacts with cyclic anhydrides to give the corresponding N-acyl derivatives at the amino group, while analogous reactions of o-aminobenzohydroxamic acid lead lead to formation of 3-hydroxy-quinazolin-4-ones under mild conditions. N-Acyl derivatives of anthranilic acid amide undergo intramolecular cyclization to imides on microwave irradiation or on melting, and their treatment with acetic anhydride in the presence of sodium acetate on heating yields quinazolin-4-ones.     

The peculiar reaction of 2-arylazo-1-vinylpyrroles with trifluoroacetic acid: a novel synthesis of 2-methylquinolines

2-Arylazo-1-vinylpyrroles 1-6 react with CF₃CO₂H (benzene, reflux, 5 h) in a peculiar way: instead of expected electrophilic addition of CF₃CO₂H to the N-vinyl group, the latter is transferred to the azo group followed by NN bond cleavage to afford substituted 2-methylquinolines 10-12 in up to 56% yields. The reaction was shown (¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N NMR) to start with the protonation of the azo group with further inter- and intramolecular involving of two protonated N-vinyl groups to finally build up the quinoline cycle over the aryl moiety.     

Synthesis and characterization of the aqueous solution chemistry of the food-derived carcinogen model N-acetoxy-N-(1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,5-b]indol-3-yl)acetamide and its N-pivaloyloxy analogue

We report the synthesis of N-acetoxy-N-(1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,5-b]indol-3-yl)acetamide, 7, its N-pivaloyloxy analogue, 9, and improved synthesis of indole-2-acetonitrile, 3 (70% in five steps from indole-2-carboxylic acid), the carcinogenic amine Trp-P-2, 4 (40% from 3), and the nitro compound, 5 (40% from 4 by oxidation with H₂O₂ using Mo(CO)₆ catalyst). In aqueous solution at neutral pH, 7 primarily undergoes C-O bond cleavage to yield the hydroxamic acid, 8, but under the same conditions the sterically hindered 9 decomposes predominately by N-O bond cleavage with a pH independent rate constant that is 7.5-fold smaller than that for 7. In the pH range 0.5-7.0 three different processes for the decomposition of 9 were detected by kinetics. Only the process that dominates at neutral pH generates a nitrenium species that can be trapped by N₃⁻.     

Troubleshooting a molecular motor: a remarkably stable N-acyl pyridinium salt

With the objective of establishing why reaction of the proposed molecular motors 7 and 22 with carbonyldiimidazole and phosgene does not result in unidirectional rotation, N-ethyl-2-[4-(N,N-dimethylamino)-2-pyridinyl]benzenamine [28, 2-(2-(ethylamino)phenyl)DMAP] was examined as a model substrate. The synthesis of 28 is described. Compound 28 was found to react with phosgene to give the unexpectedly stable N-acyl pyridinium salt 30. The latter (30) is so stable that it is effectively inert to reaction with methanol. At room temperature the two methyls in the Me₂N-group of 30 are nonequivalent (NMR) and the barrier to rotation around the Me₂N-pyridinium bond is 18.5 kcal/mol. To the authors' knowledge, that is the first quantitative determination of the barrier to rotation around the bond between a 4-(N,N-dimethylamino) group and an N-acyl pyridinium unit. The implications of the findings regarding 30 as to troubleshooting the proposed molecular motor 7, and possible strategies to follow, are discussed.     

Synthesis and structural characterisation of redox-responsive N-ferrocenoyl amino acid esters; the X-ray crystal structure of N-ferrocenoyl alanine methyl ester; electrochemical anion recognition and H NMR complexation studies

The N-ferrocenoyl amino acid ester derivatives FcCOR {Fc=(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)} where R=Gly(OMe) 1, Gly(OEt) 2, Gly(OBn) 3, l-Ala(OMe) 4, l-Ala(OEt) 5, l-Leu(OMe) 6, l-Leu(OEt) 7, l-Leu(OBn) 8, l-Phe(OMe) 9 and l-Phe(OEt) 10, were prepared by coupling ferrocene carboxylic acid with the appropriate amino acid ester starting materials using the 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) protocol and these have been characterised by spectroscopic techniques. The electrochemical anion sensing behaviour of compounds 1-10 with several anions using a platinum microdisk working electrode is described, together with ¹H NMR anion complexation studies. The X-ray single crystal structure of N-ferrocenoyl-l-alanine methyl ester 4 has been determined and contains two molecules which differ slightly in conformation in the asymmetric unit of space group P2₁ (No. 4); principal dimensions are amide N(H)CO 1.224(6) and 1.231(6) Å, ester CO 1.220(10) and 1.190(7) Å, with N-H?OC(amide) as the primary intermolecular hydrogen bond, N?O 2.992(6) and 2.971(6) Å and with graph set C(4).     

Hindered rotation in N-acyloxy-4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thiones

Experimentally determined barriers to O-acyl group topomerization in mixed anhydrides composed of β-disubstituted carboxylic acids and cyclic thiohydroxamic acid N-hydroxy-4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thione were located in the range of ΔG^‡₃₂₀=68±8 kJ mol⁻¹ (DNMR). According to modeling studies, the underlying exchange process is proposed to occur via rotation about the N,O bond for torsional movement of the O-acyl group past the heterocyclic 4-methyl substituent. The energetically lowest pathway for passing the O-acyl entity by the thione sulfur, is predicted to occur via sequential rocking about the Csp²,O single bond in combination with an interlaced twist about the N,O axis.     

Unusual Fragmentation Pathways in Collagen Glycopeptides

Collagens are the most abundant glycoproteins in the body. One characteristic of this protein family is that the amino acid sequence consists of repeats of three amino acids –(X—Y—Gly)_n. Within this motif, the Y residue is often 4-hydroxyproline (HyP) or 5-hydroxylysine (HyK). Glycosylation in collagen occurs at the 5-OH group in HyK in the form of two glycosides, galactosylhydroxylysine (Gal-HyK) and glucosyl galactosylhydroxylysine (GlcGal-HyK). In collision induced dissociation (CID), collagen tryptic glycopeptides exhibit unexpected gas-phase dissociation behavior compared to typical N- and O-linked glycopeptides (i.e., in addition to glycosidic bond cleavages, extensive cleavages of the amide bonds are observed). The Gal- or GlcGal- glycan modifications are largely retained on the fragment ions. These features enable unambiguous determination of the amino acid sequence of collagen glycopeptides and the location of the glycosylation site. This dissociation pattern was consistent for all analyzed collagen glycopeptides, regardless of their length or amino acid composition, collagen type or tissue. The two fragmentation pathways—amide bond and glycosidic bond cleavage—are highly competitive in collagen tryptic glycopeptides. The number of ionizing protons relative to the number of basic sites (i.e., Arg, Lys, HyK, and N-terminus) is a major driving force of the fragmentation. We present here our experimental results and employ quantum mechanics calculations to understand the factors enhancing the labile character of the amide bonds and the stability of hydroxylysine glycosides in gas phase dissociation of collagen glycopeptides.

Quantification of the push-pull character of azo dyes and a basis for their evaluation as potential nonlinear optical materials

The push-pull characters of a large series of donor-acceptor substituted azo dyes—71 structures in all—have been quantified by the NN double bond lengths, d_NN, the ¹⁵N NMR chemical shift differences, Δδ_15N, of the two nitrogen atoms and the quotient, π^∗/π, of the occupations of the antibonding π^∗, and bonding π orbitals of this partial NN double bond. The excellent correlation of the occupation quotients with the bond lengths strongly infers that both π^∗/π and d_NN are excellent parameters for quantifying charge alternation in the push-pull chromophore and the molecular hyperpolarizability, β₀, of these compounds. By this approach, selected compounds can be appropriately considered as viable candidates for nonlinear optical (NLO) applications.     

Stereoselective functionalisation of SuperQuat enamides: asymmetric synthesis of homochiral 1,2-diols and α-benzyloxy carbonyl compounds

Homochiral (E)- and (Z)-enamides derived from SuperQuat (S)-4-phenyl-5,5-dimethyl-oxazolidin-2-one undergo highly diastereoselective epoxidation upon treatment with dimethyldioxirane. Subsequent epoxide opening with meta-chlorobenzoic acid proceeds via a stereoselective S_N1-type process, with retention of configuration, to give the corresponding 1′-m-chlorobenzoyl-2′-hydroxy derivatives. Treatment of the SuperQuat enamides with mCPBA effects this two-step transformation in one pot. Reductive cleavage of the isolated 1′-m-chlorobenzoyl-2′-hydroxy derivatives (≥96% de) generates homochiral 1,2-diols in ≥96% ee. Alternatively, regioselective lithiation of the enamide at C(1′) with ^tBuLi followed by reaction with an aromatic aldehyde and in situ O-benzylation generates a 1′-(benzyloxy-aryl-methyl) substituted enamide with high diastereoselectivity. Subsequent oxidative cleavage of the enamide CC bond with NaIO₄/RuCl₃ followed by methanolysis of the resultant N-acyl fragment furnishes an O-benzyl protected α-hydroxy methyl ester in high ee.     

Alkyne activation by half-sandwich ruthenium(II) complexes bearing the water-soluble phosphane 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA)

Complex [RuCl{κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(PPh₃)(PTA)] (κ³(N,N,N)-Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate) containing the water-soluble phosphane 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.1^3,7]decane (PTA) reacts with terminal alkynes producing to the corresponding neutral alkynyl complexes [Ru(CCR){κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(PPh₃)(PTA)] (R = Ph (1a), ⁿBu (1b), 1-cyclopentenyl (1c), p-methoxyphenyl (1d), 6-methoxynaft-2-yl (1e)). When halide is extracted from complex [RuCl{κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(PPh₃)(PTA)] followed by treatment with propargyl alcohols, the corresponding allenylidene complexes [Ru{κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(PPh₃)(PTA)(CCCPh₂)][X] (X = PF₆ (2a), CF₃SO₃ (2b)) and [Ru{κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(PPh₃)(PTA)(CCCC₁₂H₈)][PF₆] (3) result. Electrophilic attack on the complexes thus obtained leads chemoselectively to the alkynyl complexes [Ru(CCR){κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(PPh₃)(1-CH₃-PTA)][CF₃SO₃] (R = Ph (4a), ⁿBu (4b), and 1-cyclopentenyl (4c)) and to the dicationic allenylidene complexes [Ru{κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(PPh₃)(1-H-PTA)(CCCC₁₂H₈)][PF₆]₂ (5) and [Ru{κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(PPh₃)(1-CH₃-PTA)(CCCPh₂)][CF₃SO₃]₂ (6).     

Directed H-bonding inhibition in molecular recognition: an NMR case study of the H-bonding of a dicarboxylic acid with a new mixed diamide receptor having one adjacent pyridine-N-oxide

The inhibition of hydrogen bond formation in the recognition of adipic acid by a new diamide receptor 1 having a pyridine-N-oxide and a simple pyridine ring adjacent to the amide moieties is observed. NMR studies show binding by the pyridine amide group in 1, which demonstrates the discrimination in hydrogen bonding between the carboxyls and an amide adjacent to pyridine versus another adjacent to the pyridine N-oxide. This specific inhibition of hydrogen bonding to a carboxyl group by the two different amides in 1 is corroborated by the NMR binding studies of 1 with propionic acid.     

Thiocarbene and alkoxycarbene tungsten complexes exhibit typically different reaction paths

The condensation of (butyl)thiocarbene tungsten complex [(OC)₅WC(SEt)Bu] (1a) with an α,β-unsaturated secondary acid amide R²CHCHC(O)NHR¹4 in the presence of POCl₃/Et₃N gives cyclopentadienimines 12, whereas the isostructural alkoxycarbene complex [(OC)₅WC(OEt)Bu] (1c) under similar conditions affords a (N-enamino)ethoxycarbene compound 9. Furthermore, condensation of the (methyl)thiocarbene tungsten complex [(OC)₅WC(SEt)Me] (1b) with an amide 4 yields cyclopentenimines 19 and allenylidene complexes 20, whereas the corresponding ethoxycarbene complex [(OC)₅WC(OEt)CH₃] (1d) forms 4-NH-amino-1-tungsta-1,3,5-hexatrienes 16 under similar conditions.     

Stereoselective conjugate addition reactions of lithium amides to α,β-unsaturated chiral iron acyl complexes [(η-C5H5)Fe(CO)(PPh3)(COCHCHR)]

Conjugate addition of achiral lithium dimethylamide to the chiral iron cinnamoyl complexes (S,E)- and (S,Z)-[(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(CO)(PPh₃)(COCHCHPh)] proceeds with high diastereoselectivity, with this protocol being used to establish unambiguously the absolute configuration of Winterstein’s acid (3-N,N-dimethylamino-3-phenylpropanoic acid) as (R). The highly diastereoselective conjugate addition of lithium N-benzyl-N-trimethylsilylamide to a range of α,β-unsaturated iron acyl complexes, followed by in-situ elaboration of the derived enolate by either alkylation or aldol reactions is also demonstrated, facilitating the stereoselective synthesis of both cis- and trans-β-lactams. This methodology has been used to effect the formal asymmetric syntheses of (±)-olivanic acid and (±)-thienamycin. Addition of chiral lithium amides derived from primary and secondary amines to the iron crotonyl complex [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(CO)(PPh₃)(COCHCHMe)] indicates that lithium N-α-methylbenzylamide shows low levels of enantiorecognition, while lithium N-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl-N-α-methylbenzylamide and lithium N-benzyl-N-α-methylbenzylamide show high levels of enantiodiscrimination. The high level of observed enantiorecognition was used to facilitate a kinetic resolution of (RS)-[(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(CO)(PPh₃)(COCHCHMe)] with homochiral lithium (R)-N-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl-N-α-methylbenzylamide. Further mechanistic studies show that conjugate additions of (RS)-lithium N-benzyl-N-α-methylbenzylamide to either the (RS)- or homochiral iron crotonyl complex show 2:1 stoicheiometry, while homochiral lithium N-benzyl-N-α-methylbenzylamide shows 1:1 stoicheiometry.     

Das chlorsilylsubstituierte Silanimin Bu2SiNSiClBu2

In the thermolysis of the silaterazolines silatetrazoline ^tBu₂SiNSiCl^tBu₂ · ^tBu₃SiN₃ the silanimine ^tBu₂SiNSiCl^tBu₂ and the silyl azide ^tBu₃SiN₃ are formed quantitatively. The silanimine ^tBu₂SiNSiCl^tBu₂ has been trapped with Et₃NHF, Me₃NHCl, water, 1-butene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, isobutene, methylvinyl ether, and ^tBu₂SiClN₃. The structure of the disiloxane (^tBu₂SiCl-NH-Si^tBu₂)₂O and of the bis(di-tert-butylchlorsilyl)-substituted silatetrazoline ^tBu₂SiNSiCl^tBu₂ · ^tBu₂SiClN₃ has been determined by X-ray structure analysis.