An Optimised Small‐Molecule Stabiliser of the 14‐3‐3–PMA2 Protein–Protein Interaction

Modulation of protein–protein interactions (PPIs) is a highly demanding, but also a very promising approach in chemical biology and targeted drug discovery. In contrast to inhibiting PPIs with small, chemically tractable molecules, stabilisation of these interactions can only be achieved with complex natural products, like rapamycin, FK506, taxol, forskolin, brefeldin and fusicoccin. Fusicoccin stabilises the activatory complex of the plant H⁺‐ATPase PMA2 and 14‐3‐3 proteins. Recently, we have shown that the stabilising effect of fusicoccin could be mimicked by a trisubstituted pyrrolinone (pyrrolidone1, 1 ). Here, we report the synthesis, functional activity and crystal structure of derivatives of 1 that stabilise the 14‐3‐3–PMA2 complex. With a limited compound collection three modifications that are important for activity enhancement could be determined: 1) conversion of the pyrrolinone scaffold into a pyrazole, 2) introduction of a tetrazole moiety to the phenyl ring that contacts PMA2, and 3) addition of a bromine to the phenyl ring that exclusively contacts the 14‐3‐3 protein. The crystal structure of a pyrazole derivative of 1 in complex with 14‐3‐3 and PMA2 revealed that the more rigid core of this molecule positions the stabiliser deeper into the rim of the interface, enlarging especially the contact surface to PMA2. Combination of the aforementioned features gave rise to a molecule ( 37 ) that displays a threefold increase in stabilising the 14‐3‐3–PMA2 complex over 1 . Compound 37 and the other active derivatives show no effect on two other important 14‐3‐3 protein–protein interactions, that is, with CRaf and p53. This is the first study that describes the successful optimisation of a PPI stabiliser identified by screening.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Friedel–Crafts Reaction of Sesamol with Isatins: Access to Biologically Relevant 3‐Aryl‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxindoles

The Friedel–Crafts reaction of electron‐rich phenols with isatins was developed by employing bifunctional thiourea–tertiary amine organocatalysts. Cinchona alkaloid derived thiourea epiCDT‐ 3 a efficiently catalyzed the Friedel–Crafts‐type addition of phenols to isatin derivatives to provide 3‐aryl‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxindoles 7 and 9 in good yield (80–95 %) with good enantiomeric excess (83–94 %). Friedel–Crafts adduct 7 t was subjected to a copper(I)‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition to obtain biologically important 3‐aryl‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxindole 11 in good enantiomeric excess and having a 1,2,3‐triazole moiety.     

Synthesis,Structure of Zwitterionic 2‐Amino‐N′‐(imidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)benzohydrazides,and Their Transformation into 3‐(Imidazolidin‐2‐ylideneamino)quinazolin‐4(1H)‐one Derivatives

The reaction of 2‐chloro‐4,5‐dihydroimidazole ( 5 ) with 2‐aminobenzohydrazides 6a–e led to the formation of 2‐amino‐N′‐(imidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)benzohydrazides as zwitterions 7a–e , which on treatment with carbon disulfide in the presence of triethylamine afforded 3‐(imidazolidin‐2‐ylideneamino)‐2‐thioxo‐2,3‐dihydroquinazolin‐4(1H)‐ones 8a–e . Compounds 8a–d were further converted into the corresponding 3‐(imidazolidin‐2‐ylideneamino)quinazoline‐2,4(1H,3H)‐diones 9a–d using hydrogen peroxide–sodium hydroxide solution. The structures of the compounds prepared were established by elemental analyses, IR and NMR spectra as well as X‐ray crystallographic analyses of 7e and 9a .     

Synthesis of 1,3‐Bis(tetracyano‐2‐azulenyl‐3‐butadienyl)azulenes by the [2+2] Cycloaddition–Retroelectrocyclization of 1,3‐Bis(azulenylethynyl)azulenes with Tetracyanoethylene

1,3‐Bis(azulenylethynyl)azulene derivatives 9–14 have been prepared by palladium‐catalyzed alkynylation of 1‐ethynylazulene 8 with 1,3‐diiodoazulene 1 or 1,3‐diethynylazulene 2 with the corresponding haloazulenes 3–7 under Sonogashira–Hagihara conditions. Bis(alkynes) 9–14 reacted with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in a formal [2+2] cycloaddition–retroelectrocyclization reaction to afford the corresponding new bis(tetracyanobutadiene)s (bis(TCBDs)) 15–20 in excellent yields. The redox behavior of bis(TCBD)s 15–20 was examined by using CV and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), which revealed their reversible multistage reduction properties under the electrochemical conditions. Moreover, a significant color change of alkynes 9–14 and TCBDs 15–20 was observed by visible spectroscopy under the electrochemical reduction conditions.     

Facile Chemoselective synthesis of 2‐(2‐(Methoxycarbonyl)‐3‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydrobenzofuran‐2‐yl)benzoic acids and 3H,3’H‐Spiro[benzofuran‐2,1′‐isobenzofuran]‐3,3′‐dione derivatives

Oxidation of some derivatives of 4b,9b–dihydroxyindeno[1,2‐b]benzofuran‐10‐one have been investigated in detail using lead(IV) acetate in acetic acid under reflux conditions and periodic acid in aqueous ethanol at room temperature. We realized that during the first 5–15 minutes of the oxidation reactions in lead(IV) acetate/acetic acid system, 3H,3’H‐spiro[benzofuran‐2,1′‐isobenzofuran]‐3,3′‐dione derivatives have been synthesized chemo selectively, while, if the reaction mixtures stirred for additional 3 hours, the main products would be 2‐(2‐(Methoxycarbonyl)‐3‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydrobenzofuran‐2‐yl)benzoic acids. Moreover, room temperature oxidation of 4b,9b–dihydroxyindeno[1,2‐b]benzofuran‐10‐ones by periodic acid (H₅IO₆), leads to the formation of 3H,3’H‐spiro[benzofuran‐2,1′‐isobenzofuran]‐3,3′‐dione derivatives in good to excellent yields.     

Two phosphonodehydrotripeptides: Boc0–Gly1–Δ(Z)Phe2–α‐Abu3PO3Me2 and Boc0–Gly1–Δ(Z)Phe2–α‐Nva3PO3Et2

The present paper reports the crystal structures of two short phosphonotripeptides (one in two crystal forms) containing one ΔPhe (dehydrophenylalanine) residue, namely dimethyl (3‐{[tert‐butoxycarbonylglycyl‐α,β‐(Z)‐dehydrophenylalanyl]amino}propyl)phosphonate, Boc⁰–Gly¹–Δ(Z)Phe²–α‐Abu³PO₃Me₂, C₂₁H₃₂N₃O₇P, (I), and diethyl (4‐{[tert‐butoxycarbonylglycyl‐α,β‐(Z)‐dehydrophenylalanyl]amino}butyl)phosphonate, Boc⁰–Gly¹–Δ(Z)Phe²–α‐Nva³PO₃Et₂, as the propan‐2‐ol monosolvate 0.122‐hydrate, C₂₄H₃₈N₃O₇P·C₃H₈O·0.122H₂O, (II), and the ethanol monosolvate 0.076‐hydrate, C₂₄H₃₈N₃O₇P·C₂H₆O·0.076H₂O, (III). The crystals of (II) and (III) are isomorphous but differ in the type of solvent. The phosphono group is linked directly to the last C_α atom in the main chain for all three peptides. All the amino acids are trans linked in the main chains. The crystal structures exhibit no intramolecular hydrogen bonds and are stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonds only.     

The synthesis and transformations of 2‐[2‐ethoxycarbonyl‐2‐(2‐pyridinyl)ethenyl]amino‐3‐dimethylaminopropenoates. the synthesis of substituted β‐amino‐α,β‐didehydro‐a‐amino acid derivatives

Alkyl (Z)‐2‐[(E)‐2‐ethoxycarbonyl‐2‐(2‐pyridinyl)ethenyl]amino‐3‐dimethylaminopropenoates 7 and 8 were prepared from ethyl 2‐pyridinylacetate (1) in two steps. Substitution of the dimethylamino group with alkyl‐, aryl‐, or heteroarylamines afforded the corresponding β‐alkyl‐ 22–24 , β‐aryl‐ 25–35 , and β‐herteroaryl‐amino‐α,β‐didehydro‐α‐amino acid 36 and 37 derivatives, intermediates for further preparation of various heterocyclic systems. The orientation around both double bonds were determined by various nmr techniques.     

Sequential Intramolecular Diels–Alder Reaction of 3‐Heteroaryl‐2‐propenylamides of Ethenetricarboxylate

The reaction of 1,1,2‐ethenetricarboxylic acid 1,1‐diethyl ester with E‐3‐(2‐furyl)‐2‐propenylamines under the amide condensation conditions (EDCI/HOBt/Et₃N) on heating at 80–110°C afforded cis‐fused tricyclic compounds, furo[2,3‐f]isoindoles as major product. On the other hand, the reaction with E‐3‐(3‐furyl)‐2‐propenylamines afforded trans‐fused tricyclic compounds predominantly. The formation of amide/[4 + 2] cycloaddition/hydrogen‐shift reactions proceed sequentially. The observed stereoselectivity of the fused rings has been investigated by the density functional theory calculations. The reaction of 1,1,2‐ethenetricarboxylic acid 1,1‐diethyl ester with 3‐(3‐pyridinyl)‐2‐propen‐1‐amine under the amide condensation conditions afforded HOBt‐incorporated 3,4‐trans‐pyrrolidine selectively. The chemoselectivity and stereoselectivity of the reactions with (3‐heteroaryl)‐2‐propen‐1‐amines depend on the nature of heteroarenes.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (2E) 3‐amino‐2‐(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)acrylate and symmetric bisacrylates by transamination reactions

A range of various amines 2(a–i) was tested in transamination reactions using ethyl 2‐(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)‐3‐dimethylamino‐acrylate 1a. The (E)‐s‐cis/trans conformation of some representative products 4 was analyzed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. The C‐2/C‐3 bond of the compounds 3(a–i) is strongly polarized by a push‐pull effect. In the same manner, reactions of ethyl 2‐(benzoxazol‐2‐yl)‐3‐dimethylamino‐acrylate 1c with 1,4‐diaminobenzene 2i, ethylenediamine 2i, and 1,5‐diaminomaphthalene 2k have been investigated and gave directly the corresponding symmetric bis‐acrylates 4(a–c) in good yields. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 10: 446–454, 1999     

Zum Einfluß der PR3‐Liganden auf Bildung und Eigenschaften der Phosphinophosphiniden‐Komplexe [{η2‐tBu2P–P}Pt(PR3)2] und [{η2‐tBu2P1–P2}Pt(P3R3)(P4R′3)]

Coordination Chemistry of P‐rich Phosphanes and Silylphosphanes XXI The Influence of the PR₃ Ligands on Formation and Properties of the Phosphinophosphinidene Complexes [{η²‐^tBu₂P–P}Pt(PR₃)₂] and [{η²‐^tBu₂P¹–P²}Pt(P³R₃)(P⁴R′₃)] (R₃P)₂PtCl₂ and C₂H₄ yield the compounds [{η²‐C₂H₄}Pt(PR₃)₂] (PR₃ = PMe₃, PEt₃, PPhEt₂, PPh₂Et, PPh₂Me, PPh₂ⁱPr, PPh₂^tBu and P(p‐Tol)₃); which react with ^tBu₂P–P=PMe^tBu₂ to give the phosphinophosphinidene complexes [{η²‐^tBu₂P–P}Pt(PMe₃)₂], [{η²‐^tBu₂P–P}Pt(PEt₃)₂], [{η²‐^tBu₂P–P}Pt(PPhEt₂)₂], [{η²‐^tBu₂P–P}Pt(PPh₂Et)₂], [{η²‐^tBu₂P–P}Pt(PPh₂Me)₂], [{η²‐^tBu₂P–P}Pt(PPh₂ⁱPr], [{η²‐^tBu₂P–P}Pt(PPh₂^tBu)₂] and [{η²‐^tBu₂P–P}Pt(P(p‐Tol)₃)₂]. [{η²‐^tBu₂P–P}Pt(PPh₃)₂] reacts with PMe₃ and PEt₃ as well as with ^tBu₂PMe, PⁱPr₃ and P(c‐Hex)₃ by substituting one PPh₃ ligand to give [{η²‐^tBu₂P¹–P²}Pt(P³Me₃)(P⁴Ph₃)], [{η²‐^tBu₂P¹–P²}Pt(P³Ph₃)(P⁴Me₃)], [{η²‐^tBu₂P¹–P²}Pt(P³Et₃)(P⁴Ph₃)], [{η²‐^tBu₂P¹–P²}Pt(P³Me^tBu₂)(P⁴Ph₃)], [{η²‐^tBu₂P¹–P²}Pt(P³ⁱPr₃)(P⁴Ph₃)] and [{η²‐^tBu₂P¹–P²}Pt(P³(c‐Hex)₃)(P⁴Ph₃)]. With ^tBu₂PMe, [{η²‐^tBu₂P–P}Pt(P(p‐Tol)₃)₂] forms [{η²‐^tBu₂P¹–P²}Pt(P³Me^tBu₂)(P⁴(p‐Tol)₃)]. The NMR data of the compounds are given and discussed with respect to the influence of the PR₃ ligands.     

Facile Synthesis and Properties of 2‐λ5‐Phosphaquinolines and 2‐λ5‐Phosphaquinolin‐2‐ones

Treatment of 2‐ethynylanilines with P(OPh)₃ gives either 2,2‐diphenoxy‐2‐λ⁵‐phosphaquinolines or 2‐phenoxy‐2‐λ⁵‐phosphaquinolin‐2‐ones under transition‐metal‐free conditions. This reaction offers access to an underexplored heterocycle, which opens up the study of the fundamental nature of the N?P^V double bond and its potential for delocalization within a cyclic π‐electron system. This heterocycle can serve as a carbostyril mimic, with application as a bioisostere for pharmaceuticals based on the 2‐quinolinone scaffold. It also holds promise as a new fluorophore, since initial screening reveals quantum yields upwards of 40 %, Stokes shifts of 50–150 nm, and emission wavelengths of 380–540 nm. The phosphaquinolin‐2‐ones possess one of the strongest solution‐state dimerization constants for a D–A system (130 M ^?1) owing to the close proximity of a strong acceptor (P?O) and a strong donor (phosphonamidate N? H), which suggests that they might hold promise as new hydrogen‐bonding hosts for optoelectronic sensing.     

Hydrogen‐bonding patterns in 3‐alkyl‐3‐hydroxyindolin‐2‐ones

The molecules of racemic 3‐benzoylmethyl‐3‐hydroxyindolin‐2‐one, C₁₆H₁₃NO₃, (I), are linked by a combination of N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds into a chain of centrosymmetric edge‐fused R₂²(10) and R₄⁴(12) rings. Five monosubstituted analogues of (I), namely racemic 3‐hydroxy‐3‐[(4‐methylbenzoyl)methyl]indolin‐2‐one, C₁₇H₁₅NO₃, (II), racemic 3‐[(4‐fluorobenzoyl)methyl]‐3‐hydroxyindolin‐2‐one, C₁₆H₁₂FNO₃, (III), racemic 3‐[(4‐chlorobenzoyl)methyl]‐3‐hydroxyindolin‐2‐one, C₁₆H₁₂ClNO₃, (IV), racemic 3‐[(4‐bromobenzoyl)methyl]‐3‐hydroxyindolin‐2‐one, C₁₆H₁₂BrNO₃, (V), and racemic 3‐hydroxy‐3‐[(4‐nitrobenzoyl)methyl]indolin‐2‐one, C₁₆H₁₂N₂O₅, (VI), are isomorphous in space group P. In each of compounds (II)–(VI), a combination of N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds generates a chain of centrosymmetric edge‐fused R₂²(8) and R₂²(10) rings, and these chains are linked into sheets by an aromatic π–π stacking interaction. No two of the structures of (II)–(VI) exhibit the same combination of weak hydrogen bonds of C—H...O and C—H...π(arene) types. The molecules of racemic 3‐hydroxy‐3‐(2‐thienylcarbonylmethyl)indolin‐2‐one, C₁₄H₁₁NO₃S, (VII), form hydrogen‐bonded chains very similar to those in (II)–(VI), but here the sheet formation depends upon a weak π–π stacking interaction between thienyl rings. Comparisons are drawn between the crystal structures of compounds (I)–(VII) and those of some recently reported analogues having no aromatic group in the side chain.     

Preparation of Protected β2‐ and β3‐Homocysteine, β2‐ and β3‐Homohistidine,and β2‐Homoserine for Solid‐Phase Syntheses

The Ser, Cys, and His side chains play decisive roles in the syntheses, structures, and functions of proteins and enzymes. For our structural and biomedical investigations of β‐peptides consisting of amino acids with proteinogenic side chains, we needed to have reliable preparative access to the title compounds. The two β³‐homoamino acid derivatives were obtained by Arndt–Eistert methodology from Boc‐His(Ts)‐OH and Fmoc‐Cys(PMB)‐OH (Schemes 2–4), with the side‐chain functional groups' reactivities requiring special precautions. The β²‐homoamino acids were prepared with the help of the chiral oxazolidinone auxiliary DIOZ by diastereoselective aldol additions of suitable Ti‐enolates to formaldehyde (generated in situ from trioxane) and subsequent functional‐group manipulations. These include OH→O^tBu etherification (for β²hSer; Schemes 5 and 6), OH→STrt replacement (for β²hCys; Scheme 7), and CH₂OH→CH₂N₃→CH₂NH₂ transformations (for β²hHis; Schemes 9–11). Including protection/deprotection/re‐protection reactions, it takes up to ten steps to obtain the enantiomerically pure target compounds from commercial precursors. Unsuccessful approaches, pitfalls, and optimization procedures are also discussed. The final products and the intermediate compounds are fully characterized by retention times (t_R), melting points, optical rotations, HPLC on chiral columns, IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analyses, and (in some cases) by X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis.     

An efficient synthesis of 3‐triazolyl‐2(1H)‐quinolones by CuTC‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction

A facile and efficient Cu(I)‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction for the synthesis of a series of 3‐triazolyl‐2(1H)‐quinolones 3 have been developed using 3‐azido‐quinolin‐2(1H)‐one as the coupling partner. The optimized reaction conditions involve the use of eco‐ friendly ethanol as the solvent in the presence of copper(I) thiophene‐2‐carboxylate as the catalyst, to afford good to excellent yields of 3‐triazolyl‐2(1H)‐quinolone derivatives of biological interest. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Co‐crystals of 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐α‐d‐glucopyranose and 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐β‐d‐glucopyranose

3‐Deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐d ‐glucopyranose crystallizes from acetone to give a unit cell containing two crystallographically independent molecules. One of these molecules (at site A) is structurally homogeneous and corresponds to 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐β‐d ‐glucopyranose, C₆H₁₁FO₅, (I). The second molecule (at site B) is structurally heterogeneous and corresponds to a mixture of (I) and 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐α‐d ‐glucopyranose, (II); treatment of the diffraction data using partial‐occupancy oxygen at the anomeric center gave a high‐quality packing model with an occupancy ratio of 0.84:0.16 for (II):(I) at site B. The mixture of α‐ and β‐anomers at site B appears to be accommodated in the lattice because hydrogen‐bonding partners are present to hydrogen bond to the anomeric OH group in either an axial or equatorial orientation. Cremer–Pople analysis of (I) and (II) shows the pyranosyl ring of (II) to be slightly more distorted than that of (I) [θ_(I) = 3.85 (15)° and θ_(II) = 6.35 (16)°], but the general direction of distortion is similar in both structures [ϕ_(I) = 67 (2)° (B_C1,C4) and ϕ_(II) = 26.0 (15)° (^C3TB_C1); B = boat conformation and TB = twist‐boat conformation]. The exocyclic hydroxymethyl (–CH₂OH) conformation is gg (gauche–gauche) (H5 anti to O6) in both (I) and (II). Structural comparisons of (I) and (II) to related unsubstituted, deoxy and fluorine‐substituted monosaccharides show that the gluco ring can assume a wide range of distorted chair structures in the crystalline state depending on ring substitution patterns.     

Combined experimental and computational modeling studies on 4‐[(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbenzylidene) amino]‐1,5‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydro‐3H‐pyrazol‐3‐one

The Schiff base compound, 4‐[(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbenzylidene)amino]‐1,5‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydro‐3H‐pyrazol‐3‐one, has been synthesized and characterized by IR, UV–vis, and X‐ray single‐crystal determination. Molecular geometry from X‐ray experiment of the title compound in the ground state have been compared using the density functional method (B3LYP) with 6‐31G(d,p) basis set. Calculated results show that density functional theory (DFT) can well reproduce the structure of the title compound. The energetic behavior of the title compound in solvent media has been examined using B3LYP method with the 6‐31G(d,p) basis set by applying the Onsager and the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The results obtained with these methods reveal that the PCM method provided more stable structure than Onsager's method. By using TD‐DFT method, electronic absorption spectra of the title compound have been predicted and a good agreement with the TD‐DFT method and the experimental one is determined. The predicted nonlinear optical properties of the title compound are much greater than ones of urea. In addition, DFT calculations of the title compound, molecular electrostatic potential and NBO analysis were performed at B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) level of theory. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

2‐(Dinitromethylene)‐1‐nitro‐1, 3‐diazacyclopentane‐Based Energetic Salts

Energetic salts that contain nitrogen‐rich cations and the 2‐(dinitromethyl)‐3‐nitro‐1, 3‐diazacyclopent‐1‐ene anion were synthesized in high yield by direct neutralization reactions. The resulting salts were fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H and ¹³C), vibrational spectroscopy (IR), elemental analysis, density and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and elemental analysis. Additionally, the structures of the ammonium ( 1 ) and isopropylideneaminoguanidinium ( 9 ) 2‐(dinitromethyl)‐3‐nitro‐1, 3‐diazacyclopent‐l‐ene salts were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Solid‐state ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy was used as an effective technique to further determine the structure of some of the products. The densities of the energetic salts paired with organic cations fell between 1.50 and 1.79 g · cm^–3 as measured by a gas pycnometer. Based on the measured densities and calculated heats of formation, detonation pressures and velocities were calculated using Explo 5.05 and found to to be 25.2–35.5 GPa and 7949–9004 m · s^–1, respectively, which make them competitive energetic materials.     

Modular Stereoselective Synthesis of (1→2)‐C‐Glycosides based on the sp2–sp3 Suzuki–Miyaura Reaction

This work reports a modular and rapid approach to the stereoselective synthesis of a variety of α‐ and β‐(1→2)‐linked C‐disaccharides. The key step is a Ni‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction of D ‐glucal pinacol boronate with alkyl halide glycoside easily prepared from commercially available D ‐glucal. The products of this sp²–sp³ cross‐coupling reaction can be converted to glucopyranosyl, mannopyranosyl, or 2‐deoxy‐glucopyranosyl C‐mannopyranosides by one‐ or two‐step stereoselective oxidative–reductive transformations. To the best of our knowledge, we demonstrated the first synthetic application of a challenging sp²–sp³ Suzuki‐Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction in carbohydrate chemistry.     

[Fc2B2(Br)(μ‐NPEt3)2]+Br– – ein Ferrocenyl‐substituierter Phosphaniminato‐Komplex des Bors

[Fc₂B₂(Br)(μ‐NPEt₃)₂]⁺Br^– – a Ferrocenyl‐substituted Phosphoraneiminato Complex of Boron [Fc₂B₂(Br)(μ‐NPEt₃)₂]⁺Br^– has been prepared from ferrocenylboron dibromide, [Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₅)(η⁵‐C₅H₄BBr₂)], and the silylated phosphoraneimine Me₃SiNPEt₃ in dichloromethane solution to give orange‐red single crystals which were characterized by IR, NMR and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra, as well as by a crystal structure determination. [Fc₂B₂(Br)(μ‐NPEt₃)₂]⁺Br^– · 3 CH₂Cl₂ ( 1 · 3 CH₂Cl₂): Space group P2₁/n, Z = 4, lattice dimensions at –50 °C: a = 1370.6(3), b = 2320.9(5), c = 1454.4(2), β = 95.38(1)°, R₁ = 0.061. In the cation of 1 the ferrocenyl‐substituted boron atoms are connected by the nitrogen atoms of the [NPEt₃]^– groups to form a planar B₂N₂ four‐membered ring. One of the boron atoms having planar, the other tetrahedral coordination.     

An Imidazoline–Aminophenol (IAP) Nickel Catalyst: Structure and Catalytic Activity in the Enantioselective 1,4‐Addition of 3′‐Indolyl‐3‐Oxindoles to Nitroethylene

The structure of a nickel complex of imidazoline–aminophenol (IAP) prepared from IAP with Ni(OAc)₂ was elucidated as cis‐bis(imidazolineaminophenoxide) [Ni(IAP)₂]. The [Ni(IAP)₂] complex smoothly promoted catalytic asymmetric 1,4‐addition of 3′‐indolyl‐3‐oxindole to nitroethylene to provide chiral mixed 3,3′‐bisindoles with high enantioselectivities. Mechanistic studies using ESI‐MS analyses suggest that one IAP ligand dissociated from [Ni(IAP)₂] to generate the Ni–enolate of 3′‐indolyl‐3‐oxindole. From the optically active 3,3′‐mixed indole adduct, biologically important 3′‐indolyl‐3‐pyrrolidinoindoline was successfully synthesized in a three‐step reaction sequence.