Domino Diels-Alder reactions of N-methoxyethyl-7-oxa-norbornadiene-2,3-dicarboximide: an elusive, highly reactive dienophile

Flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) has been used to generate the novel 7-oxa-norbornadiene-2,3-dicarboxylic imide that in situ gave an unprecedented cycloaddition reaction cascade with the imidofuran, a side-product of FVP. Stereoselectivity of cycloadditions was studied with the aid of density functional calculations, which fully support observed exo/endo-selectivity.     

A theoretical study of the mechanism and stereoselectivity of the Diels-Alder cycloaddition between difluoro-2-methylencyclopropane and furan

A theoretical study of the molecular mechanism and stereoselectivity of the Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction between difluoro-2-methylencyclopropane and furan has been carried out at the B3LYP/6-31G+^∗∗ level of theory. The calculation of activation and reaction energies indicates that the 3-endo cycloadduct is favored both kinetically and thermodynamically, which is in agreement with the experimental data. Analysis of the bond order and charge transfer in the transition states shows that this reaction takes place via a synchronous-concerted mechanism.     

The formation of Lewis acid/base stabilised phosphanyltrielanes - A theoretical and experimental study

Theoretical investigations on the thermochemistry and the reaction mechanism of the formation of Lewis acid/base stabilised phosphanyltrielanes D · H₂EPH₂ · A (D = Lewis base, A = Lewis acid) were conducted. The reactions of EH₃ · D with A · PH₃ to form D · H₂EPH₂ · A and H₂ (E = B, Al, Ga; D = NH₃; A = BH₃, Cr(CO)₅) are all exothermic, regardless of whether donors and acceptors are present or absent. The lithium chloride elimination reactions between EH₂Cl · D and A · PH₂Li to give D · H₂EPH₂ · A and LiCl are endothermic for donor/acceptor stabilised compounds, if formation of gaseous LiCl is considered. If solid lithium chloride is considered all reactions are strongly exothermic. Studies of the transition state for H₂-elimination reactions between EH₃ · D and A · PH₃ to yield D · H₂EPH₂ · A and H₂ were only successful for E = Al, Ga. In these cases the reaction proceeds via a transition state featuring a five or six-coordinate group 13 element. Different donor molecules do not influence the activation energy of such H₂-elimination reactions, but nevertheless they have an effect on the reaction energy. The synthesis of the Cr(CO)₅ substituted phosphanyltrielanes [(CO)₅Cr(H₂PBH₂ · NMe₃)] (3a) and [(CO)₅Cr(H₂PAlH₂ · NMe₃)] (3b), as well as of the dinuclear complex [(CO)₈Cr₂(μ-HPBH₂ · NMe₃)₂] (4) are described, the latter as a subsequent reaction product of the photolysis of 3a. All compounds were characterised spectroscopically and by X-ray structure analysis.     

Regio- and diastereoselectivity of the cycloaddition of aldonitrones with benzylidenecyclopropane: An experimental and theoretical study

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of benzylidenecyclopropane with various aldonitrones proceeds regioselectively giving good yields of 4-spirocyclopropane isoxazolidines. In the case of aldonitrones, bearing carbamoyl- or aryl-groups on the carbon atom, only the cis-isomer is formed. The compounds synthesized were tested for their virus-inhibiting activity.     

Theoretical and experimental study of tropylium formation from substituted benzylpyridinium species

Fragmentation pathways of unsubstituted and substituted benzylpyridinium compounds were investigated using mass-analysed kinetic energy (MIKE) technique in combination with high level of quantum chemical calculations in the gas phase. Fast atom bombardment (FAB) source was used for ionisation of the studied compounds. The formation of both benzylium and tropylium species were investigated. Hybrid Hartree-Fock/Density Functional Theory calculations have been performed to assess the geometries and the energies of the transition states and intermediates. For each cases, different reaction pathways were investigated, and particularly in the case of the formation of tropylium species, the formation of the seven-membered ring before or after the loss of pyridine were studied. The effect of para-methyl and para-methoxy substituents on the activation energy of the rearrangement process to form thermodynamically stable tropylium compounds has been studied. Theoretical calculations showed competition between direct bond cleavage and rearrangement reactions to form benzylium and tropylium compounds, respectively. Experimental results also suggested that the rearrangement process takes place to yield stable tropylium under "soft ionisation techniques", such as FAB.     

Gas phase behavior of radical cations of perfluoroalkyl‐1,2,4‐triazines: an experimental and theoretical study

Electron ionization mass spectrometry and low‐energy collision‐induced decomposition reactions occurring in a tridimensional ion trap, together with density functional theory (DFT) calculations on neutrals, even‐ and odd‐electron cations, have been used to study the gas‐phase ion chemistry of a series of perfluoroalkyl‐1,2,4‐triazines. Loss of oxygen, due to thermal degradation occurring before ionization, likely involving the hydroxylamino group, has been observed. Compounds having a carbonyl group at position 6 of the triazine ring fragment in the source by elimination of NO followed by HF or CO. The decomposition pathways occurring due to CID experiments have shown interesting features depending on the nature and structure of precursor ions. Most of them involve elimination of endocyclic atoms, thereby producing contraction of the original six‐membered ring or formation of acyclic structures. DFT (B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p)) calculations have been used for evaluating structure, stability and properties of neutral and ionic species involved in gas‐phase processes. In particular, it has been calculated that in the molecular ion the unpaired electron is mainly located on the exocyclic nitrogen, while the positive charge is on the C(6) carbon atom. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interaction of triols with formaldehyde and acetone: Experimental and theoretical study

Experimental and theoretical aspects of the condensation of glycerol and its homologs (1,2,3- and 1,2,4-butanetriols) with formaldehyde and acetone are studied under conditions of acid catalysis. Calculation of the thermodynamic parameters of the resulting products by the composite method CBS-QB3 shows that the six-membered heterocycles, the products of the interaction of triols with formaldehyde, are thermodynamically more stable than the five-membered acetals, while the reaction of the same triols with acetone is preferable for the formation of the five-membered acetals. This is due to the fact that the regioselectivity of the studied reactions is determined by the structural features and reactivity of the carbocations formed in a condensed medium during the course of the reaction. According to the theoretical data obtained experimentally, during the condensation of glycerol and 1,2,4-butanetriol with formaldehyde in the most stable form of the six-membered cyclic carbocation, intramolecular hydrogen bonding and anomeric stabilization due to the axially oriented hydroxyl group take place. As a result, cation 1b–1 is 1.2–1.6 kJ/mol more stable than its five-membered isomers ( 1a–1 and 1b–2 ). It leads to the predominant formation of 1,3-dioxane ( 3b ). However, upon condensation of butanetriol-1,2,3 with formaldehyde, the intermediate cation 4a–1 turns out to be significantly more stable than the other isomers due to the strong intramolecular hydrogen bond in the six-membered ring with the participation of the hydroxyl group of the substituent and the hydroxyl group of the cationic center, leading to the predominant formation of the dioxolane 6a .     

The role of fluorine in the stereoselective tandem aza-Michael addition to acrylamide acceptors: an experimental and theoretical mechanistic study

Aza-Michael additions of alpha-amino esters to fluorinated acceptors take place in a highly stereoselective manner, to give partially modified Psi[NHCH2]retropeptides incorporating a hydrolytically stable trifluoroalanine mimic. The reaction mechanism has been investigated experimentally and theoretically, in order to explain the effect of the trifluoromethyl group on the reactivity and the origins of the experimentally observed stereocontrol. The reaction is a two-step process, involving a tandem aza-Michael addition followed by a stereoselective hydrogen transfer. Both steps are base-catalyzed. The high level of stereocontrol is the result of a combination of electrostatic interactions and steric effects.     

Predicting reactivity and stereoselectivity in the Nazarov reaction: a combined computational and experimental study

The Nazarov reaction of pentadienyl cations generated by protonation of either dienones or alkoxytrienes has been examined in detail both experimentally and by DFT calculations. In particular, calculations at the B3LYP/6‐311G** level of theory accurately predicted, and accounted for, the outcome of the Brønsted acid catalyzed electrocyclization of 4π‐electron systems in which one of the double bonds involved in the process was embedded in N‐ and S‐heterocyclic rings. Calculations showed that both heteroatoms are capable of accelerating the ring closure by stabilizing the partial positive charge which develops at C‐6 (C‐2) in the transition state, with S‐heterocyclic derivatives being more reactive than the corresponding N‐containing compounds. In general, pentadienyl cations generated by protonation of alkoxytrienes were expected to react faster than those obtained by protonation of the corresponding dienones, as the latter were stabilized by a hydrogen bond. The presence of a substituent on the heterocyclic ring significantly affects the stereoselectivity (torquoselectivity) only in the case of the N‐heterocyclic derivatives, in which a 2‐alkyl group is axially oriented, providing the cis‐2,5‐disubstituted isomer only. Instead, with substituted S‐heterocyclic compounds, the anticipated torquoselectivity was very low and, in fact, a 3:1 diastereomeric mixture between the trans and cis products was experimentally found after ring closure. For this study, the synthesis of the appropriate N‐ and S‐containing dienones and alkoxytrienes was realized to evaluate the predictivity power of the DFT computations, which was very good in all of the cases examined, both in terms of reactivity and stereoselectivity. The consistency observed between computational and experimental results, therefore, shows the usefulness of DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6‐311G** level of theory as a robust instrument for the prediction of reactivity and stereoselectivity in the Nazarov electrocyclic reaction.     

Unprecedented aromatic homolytic substitutions and cyclization of amide-iminyl radicals: experimental and theoretical study

Amide-iminyl radicals are versatile and efficient intermediates in cascade radical cyclizations of N-acylcyanamides. They are easily trapped by alkenes or (hetero-)aromatic rings and cyclize into a series of new heterocyclic compounds which bear a pyrroloquinazoline moiety. As an illustration of the synthetic importance of these compounds, the total synthesis of the natural antitumor compound luotonin A was achieved through a tin-free radical cascade cyclization process. Not only do amide-iminyl radicals lead to new tetracyclic heterocycles but these nitrogen-centered radical species also react in aromatic homolytic substitutions. Indeed, the amide-iminyl radical moiety unprecedentedly displaces methyl, methoxy, and fluorine radicals from an aromatic carbon atom. This seminal reaction in the field of radical chemistry has been developed experimentally and its mechanism has additionally been investigated by a theoretical study.     

An experimental and theoretical study of vibrational spectra of picolinamide, nicotinamide, and isonicotinamide

The molecular structures and vibrational spectra of the three isomers of pyridinecarboxamide (picolinamide, nicotinamide, isonicotinamide) were calculated with the Density Functional Theory (DFT) method using the B3LYP function and the 6-31++G(d,p), Z2PolX, Z3PolX basis sets. The calculations were performed by using the Gaussian98W packet program set. The total energy distributions (TED) of the vibrational modes of these molecules were calculated by using the Scale 2.0 program and the vibrational modes of the molecules were determined. The Scaled Quantum Mechanical (SQM) method was used in the scaling procedure. In the experimental part of the study, the solid phase FT-IR and Micro Raman spectra of the three isomers of pyridinecarboxamide have been recorded in the range of 4000-650 and 1200-100 cm⁻¹, respectively. The calculated wavenumbers were compared to the corresponding experimental values. As a result, the observed bands of the three isomers of pyridinecarboxamide were assigned with good accuracy.     

The preparation of 1,2,4-triazines from α,β-diketo-ester equivalents and their application in pyridine synthesis

The α-Chloro-α-acetoxy-β-keto-esters were prepared from β-keto-esters in good overall yields. These compounds reacted as α,β-diketo-ester equivalents with amidrazones yielding triazines, generally in good yields, or with an amidrazone and 2,5-norbornadiene in a one-pot aza Diels-Alder reaction to give the corresponding pyridines.     

Intramolecular carbolithiation of 2,6-dilithio-1,6-heptadienes: an experimental and theoretical study

2,6-Dilithio-1,6-heptadienes 3 undergo intramolecular carbolithiation in Et(2)O/N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) at the lithiated double bonds to afford 1,2-bis(lithiomethyl)cyclopentenes 5. Reaction of these dianions with electrophiles affords a number of 1,2-difunctionalized cyclopentene derivatives 7-10. The ease of carbolithiation of 2,6-dilithio-1,6-heptadiene (3a) compared to that of 2-lithio-1,6-heptadiene (14) has been studied experimentally. A series of ab initio molecular-orbital calculations on the course of the reaction were carried out and the results were compared to those for the corresponding intramolecular carbolithiation of an isolated double bond. The Li-C interactions found in the transition state by this theoretical study support a carbolithiation pathway for the cyclization of 2,6-dilithio-1,6-heptadienes.     

Tautomerism in bis(oxazolines): an experimental and theoretical study of proton transfer in 1,1-bis(4,4-dimethyl-1,3-oxazolin-2-yl)-ethane

The serendipitous isolation of an unusual protonated bis(oxazoline) prompted us to discuss the role of H⁺ on the kinetics and thermodynamics of the equilibrium between its ketimine and enamine forms. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the protonated bis(oxazoline) is in the Z-enamine form, the unipositive charge is counterbalanced by [(FeCl₃)₂O]²⁻ and [FeCl₄]⁻ anions. DFT calculation at the BP86/TZVP level showed that relative stability of enamine tautomer versus ketimine tautomer increases with the protonation of the nitrogen atom of the oxazolidine ring. At the same time, the barrier energy of tautomerism decreases.     

Local structure of highly dispersed lead species incorporated within zeolite: experimental and theoretical studies

XAFS (both XANES and FT-EXAFS) measurements revealed that the Pb²⁺ /ZSM-5 catalyst prepared from precursor H-ZSM-5 by a conventional ion-exchange method includes a highly dispersed 3-fold coordinated Pb²⁺ ion species within the zeolite framework. UV-irradiation of Pb²⁺ /ZSM-5 led to effective decomposition of NO and N₂O producing N₂. The photocatalytic decomposition of NO is found to be slightly preferable than that of N₂O. The isolated Pb²⁺ ions play a significant role in the decomposition of pollutant NO _x . Ab initio and DFT quantum chemical studies at the HF/Lanl2dz and B3PW91/Lanl2dz levels further shed light on local structures of the Pb²⁺ active site of lead-containing zeolites, as well as on their interactions with pollutant NO and N₂O molecules. In agreement with experiments, 3-fold coordination was found to be the most favorable state for the Pb²⁺ site within the zeolite framework.     

Synthesis and characterization of some binuclear metal complexes with a pentadentate azodye ligand: An experimental and theoretical study

A novel series of binuclear complexes with Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) ions derived from a pentadentate azo dye ligand (H₃L) was synthesized and structurally investigated by various physicochemical analyses, namely, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, NMR, UV–visible spectroscopy, and Electron-Spin Resonance (ESR) studies. The infrared spectral data revealed characteristic bands due to ν(N=N) and ν(C=O) at 1606 and 1631 cm⁻¹ in the free ligand. However, their positions shifted and appeared at ~1564 and ~1592 cm⁻¹ on coordination, suggesting the involvement of carbonyl oxygen and azo nitrogen in complex formation. The spectral data suggested octahedral geometry for the complexes. The kinetic parameters such as order and activation energy were determined from the thermal decomposition values. X-ray powder diffraction analysis showed the orthorhombic nature of the cadmium complex. Furthermore, Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were also recorded to describe the insight bonding. The synthesized compounds were tested for in vitro antibacterial activity against K. aerogenes, S. aureus, B. acidoterrestris, E. coli, and V. cholerae strains by the cup-plate method. In addition, the interactions that occurred in the protein–ligand complexes have been predicted by docking analysis.     

Thioformaldehyde S-methylide and thioacetone S-methylide: an ab initio MO study of structure and cycloaddition reactivity

The mechanisms of cycloaddition of thioformaldehyde S-methylide and thioacetone S-methylide, as models for an alkyl-substituted ylide, to thioformaldehyde and thioacetone, as well as to ethene as a model for a C=C double bond have been studied by ab initio calculations. Restricted and unrestricted B3LYP/6-31G* calculations were performed for the geometries of ground states, transition structures, and intermediates. Although basis sets with more polarization functions were tested, the 6-31G* basis set was applied throughout. Single-point CASPT2 calculations are reported for analysis of the unsubstituted system. The stabilities of structures with high biradical character seem to be overestimated by DFT methods in comparison to CASPT2. The general trends of the results are independent of the level of theory. Thioformaldehyde adds to thioformaldehyde S-methylide without activation energy, and the activation energies for two-step biradical pathways to 1,3-dithiolane are low. C,S biradicals are more stable than C,C biradicals. The two-step cycloaddition is not competitive with the concerted cycloaddition. Methyl substitution in the 1,3-dipole and the dipolarophile does not change the mechanistic relationships. TSs for the concerted formation of the regioisomeric cycloadducts of thioacetone Smethylide and thioacetone were located. Concerted addition remains the preferred reaction. The reactivity of the C=S double bond is high relative to that of the C=C double bond.     

The reactivity of neurotransmitters and their metabolites towards various nitrogen-centered radicals: Experimental,theoretical, and biotoxicity evaluation

In the past few years, there has been a certain interest in nitrogen-centered radicals, biologically important radicals that play a vital role in various processes and constitute many important biological molecules. In this paper, there was an attempt to bridge a gap in the literature that concerns the antiradical potency of monoamine neurotransmitters (dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) and their metabolites towards these radicals. The most probable radical quenching mechanism was determined for each radical out of three common mechanisms, namely Hydrogen Atom Transfer (HAT), Single Electron Transfer followed by the Proton Transfer (SET-PT), and Sequential Proton Loss Electron Transfer (SPLET). Marcus’ theory was then used to determine the reaction rates for the electron transfer process. SPLET was the most probable mechanism for both reactions with the aminyl and hydrazyl radicals, while HAT and SPLET were plausible mechanisms for reactions with the imidazolyl radical. Special emphasis was put on the investigation of the substituent effect on the preferred mechanism. The necessity of both thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for the comparison of the antiradical potency of compounds was discussed. The same methodology was applied for the theoretical investigation of the reactivity towards DPPH^⦁, a member of the hydrazyl radicals. An ecotoxicity analysis was performed to assess the impact the investigated radicals have on the ecosystem. Except for histidine, every other neutral form was either toxic or highly toxic to some of the analyzed marine organisms.     

The cocondensation reaction of lithium atoms and anisole: an experimental and theoretical study of the reaction pathway

The cocondensation reaction of lithium atoms and pure anisole leads to an ortho CH activation and the formation of lithium hydride. This simple two-component system allows the investigation of the reaction mechanism with included donor molecules. Therefore two anisole and one dilithium molecule, which was identified in an earlier spectroscopic study, were considered for the reaction pathway calculations.Firstly, two intermediates can be found along the reaction pathway, which show the reaction before and after the critical CH activation step. Secondly, a low-lying transition state can be identified, which allows the carbon hydrogen bond to be broken with an activation energy of less than 20 kcal/mol instead of more than 100 kcal/mol, if a free radical mechanism is employed. All calculations were performed at the B3LYP/6-31G** level of theory.     

Diels-Alder reaction of 2-phosphaindolizines catalysed by organoaluminium reagent: theoretical and experimental results

Theoretical calculations at the DFT (B3LYP/6-31+G^**) level of the model Diels-Alder (DA) reactions of 1-methyl-3-(methoxycarbonyl)-2-phosphaindolizine with 1,3-butadiene in the presence of methylaluminium dichloride reveal that the co-ordination of organoaluminium reagent to the carbonyl oxygen increases the activation barrier compared to that for the uncomplexed 2-phosphaindolizine. On the other hand, co-ordination of the organoaluminium reagent to the σ², λ³ P atom lowers the activation barrier by ∼6 kcal mol⁻¹. 1-Methyl-2-phosphaindolizines having an electron-withdrawing group at the 3-position only undergo DA reaction with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene in the presence of the ethylaluminium dichloride catalyst in methylene chloride at a low temperature to afford [2+4] cycloadducts. The formation of an intermediate having the ethylaluminium reagent co-ordinated to σ², λ³ P atom has been detected by ³¹P NMR. The products have been characterized by ³¹P and ¹H NMR studies.