Hydrazination of pyridazines and phthalazines

It is shown by ¹⁵N-labelling techniques that hydrazination of pyridazines partly occurs according to a reaction pathway, involving addition of the nucleophile (hydrazine), ring opening and ring closure (S_N(ANRORC)-mechanism). It is also proved that phthalazines undergo hydrazination without ring opening (S_N(AE)-mechanism).     

Selective Synthesis of Monofluorinated Compounds Applying Amine/HF Reagents

For nucleophilic monofluorination, amine/HF reagents such as Et₃N⋅3HF, Pyr⋅9HF (Olah's reagent) and similar combinations belong to the most frequently used fluoride sources, whereupon the selectivity of these reagents can be very different depending of its acidity, the nucleophilicity of the fluoride equivalent, and the structure of the particular substrate. These reagents can be used safely in ordinary chemistry laboratories for nucleophilic substitution reactions by fluoride at sp³-hybridized carbon centers. For ring opening reactions of epoxides, the regio- and stereoselectivity is very much depending of the nature of the epoxide and the acidity of the HF reagent favoring either S_N1 or S_N2 type reactions. Similarly, the outcome of halofluorination and similar reactions with sulfur or seleno electrophiles can be controlled by the particular combination of the electrophile and the fluoride source. Examples for the application of these reaction types for the synthesis of fluorine-containing analogues of natural products or biologically relevant compounds are in the focus of this personal account.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Crystal Structure of Some Novel 1‐Aryl‐2‐Thioxo‐2,3‐Dihydro‐1H‐Quinazolin‐4‐Ones

The base catalyzed intramolecular nucleophilic cyclization of 1‐(2‐haloaroyl)‐3‐aryl thioureas ( 1a‐i ), in the presence of DMF afforded the 1‐aryl‐2‐thioxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐quinazolin‐4‐ones ( 2a‐i ). The structures were confirmed by spectroscopic data, elemental analyses and in case of the 2c by single crystal X‐ray diffraction data. The mechanistic studies support an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution (S_NAr mechanism) rather than intramolecular aromatic substitution (S_RN1 mechanism).     

Quantum-chemical study of nucleophilic substitution in protonated trisindolylmethane*

The total energies of reactants, products, and transition states of nucleophilic substitution reactions in protonated tris(indol-3-yl)methane have been assessed with the semiempirical AM1 method and the theory of functional density B3LYP/6-31(d) method. The results of calculations indicated that the reactions proceed by an S _N 1-like mechanism, since the activation barrier for it is significantly lower than in the case of the S _N 2-like mechanism.     

Ambident electrophilicity of O,O-diethyl-S-phenyl phosphorothiolate

Reaction between O,O-diethyl-S-phenyl phosphorothiolate and lithium dialkylamides results in the displacement of the PhS substituent by the R₂N group. With Grignard reagents, the same substrate gives products of the nucleophilic substitution at both the phosphorus and the sulfur atom.     

Dediazoniations of Arene Diazonium Ions in Homogeneous Solution. Part III: Heterolytic arylations in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol - an SN1-or an SN2-reaction?

Benzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol decomposes to give fluorobenzene and phenyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ether. In the presence of benzene, toluene, trifluoromethyl-benzene or anisole, the respective biphenyl derivatives are formed in addition to fluorobenzene and the ether. The distribution of the isomeric substituted biphenyls is consistent with an electrophilic substitution. No homolytic products (diazo tars, benzene) are formed. The reaction kinetics clearly show that ether formation and aryl-dediazoniations are of second-order type, i.e. that trifluoroethanol and the benzene derivatives mentioned above are rate-determining factors. It is shown that these results exclude the S_N1-mechanism which is usually assumed for heterolytic dediazoniations; free aryl cations are therefore not involved in these reactions. An S_N2-like mechanism seems to be the most likely, but one involving an encounter complex containing the dissociated benzenediazonium ion is also consistent with the experimental data.     

Nucleophilic and organometallic displacement reactions of allylic compounds: stereo-and regiochemistry

Allylic alcohols, esters, halides and related compounds have been of mechanistic and synthetic interest for years. This Report focuses on the stereo- and regiochemical aspects of three reaction types: the S_N2' reaction (bimolecular nucleophilic substitution with allylic rearrangement); displacement reactions effected by organometallic reagents; the conversion of allylic alcohols into halides.     

Defluorosilylation of Industrially Relevant Fluoroolefins Using Nucleophilic Silicon Reagents

A number of new magnesium and lithium silyl reagents were prepared and shown to be outstanding nucleophiles in reactions with industrially relevant fluoroolefins. These reactions result in a net transformation of either sp² or sp³ C?F bonds into C?Si bonds by two modes of nucleophilic attack (S_NV or S_N2′). The methods are mild, proceeding with high chemo‐ and regioselectivity. Mechanistic pathways are described that lead to new substitution patterns from HFO‐1234yf, HFO‐1234ze, and HFO‐1336mzz, previously inaccessible by transition metal catalyzed difluorosilylation routes.     

A Highly Convergent Total Synthesis of (+)-Myxovirescine M2. Preliminary Communication

The antibiotic myxovirescine M₂ was synthesized from seven building blocks ( 1 – 7 , Scheme 1), with the following chiral starting materials being employed: (S)-malic acid, (+)-D -ribonolactone, (S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)butanoate, and (2R,4S)-5-hydroxy-2,4-dimethylpenLanoate. Three new nucleophilic reagents, 8 – 10 , for C-C bond formation have been used. The key steps of the synthesis are: a Suzuki coupling between an alkyl borane and a vinyl bromide ( 4 + 12e → 13 ), a Julia olefinalion ( 14 + 17 → 18 ), and a Yamaguchi macrolactonizalion to form the 28-membered lactone ( 18 → 19 ), This extremely convergenl synthetic approach will allow the preparation of a number of the 31 known myxovirescine molecules.     

Nucleophilic substitution at phosphorus: stereochemistry and mechanisms

This review is devoted to the stereochemistry of nucleophilic substitution reactions at phosphorus. The study of the reactions of phosphoryl group transfer is important for biological and molecular chemistry. The stereochemistry and mechanisms of S_N1(P) monomolecular and S_N2(P) bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reactions of organophosphorus compounds are discussed. It has been shown that hydrolysis of many natural phosphates proceeds according to the monomolecular S_N1(P) mechanism via the formation of metaphosphate intermediate (PO₃^?). S_N2(P) nucleophilic substitution at chiral trivalent or pentavalent phosphorus compounds proceeds via the formation of penta-coordinated transition state or pentacoordinate intermediate.     

An efficient synthetic route to substituted tetrahydropyrimidines by Cu(OTf)2-mediated nucleophilic ring-opening followed by the [4+2] cycloaddition of N-tosylazetidines with nitriles

A highly efficient strategy for Cu(OTf)₂-mediated S_N2 type nucleophilic ring-opening followed by the [4+2] cycloaddition reactions of a number of 2-aryl-N-tosylazetidines with nitriles to afford a variety of substituted tetrahydropyrimidines in excellent yields is reported. The resulting tetrahydropyrimidines could easily be transformed into synthetically important 1,3-diamines by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. The strategy has been extended to the synthesis of enantiomerically pure tetrahydropyrimidines from enantiopure disubstituted azetidines. The reaction proceeds through an S_N2 type mechanism as proposed by us earlier.     

Synthesis of hetero- and carbocycles by nucleophilic substitution at sp carbon

Vinylic halides having alcohol, sulfonamide, active methine, and thiol moieties as nucleophiles cyclize to hetero- and carbocycles by intramolecular nucleophilic substitution at the sp² carbon centers. The density functional theory calculations suggest that the cyclization proceeds through S_N2-type substitution (the in-plane vinylic nucleophilic substitution, S_NVσ), when vinyl halides are substituted with oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon nucleophiles. The substitution with sulfur nucleophiles, in contrast, proceeds through both routes of S_NVσ and out-of-plane vinylic nucleophilic substitution (S_NVπ).     

The Fluoride Anion-Catalyzed Sulfurization of Thioketones with Elemental Sulfur Leading to Sulfur-Rich Heterocycles: First Sulfurization of Thiochalcones

Fluoride anion was demonstrated as a superior activator of elemental sulfur (S₈) to perform sulfurization of thioketones leading to diverse sulfur-rich heterocycles. Due to solubility problems, reactions must be carried out either in THF using tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) or in DMF using cesium fluoride (CsF), respectively. The reactive sulfurizing reagents are in situ generated, nucleophilic fluoropolysulfide anions FS_(8−x)⁻, which react with the C=S bond according to the carbophilic addition mode. Dithiiranes formed thereby, existing in an equilibrium with the ring-opened form (diradicals/zwitterions) are key-intermediates, which undergo either a step-wise dimerization to afford 1,2,4,5-tetrathianes or an intramolecular insertion, leading in the case of thioxo derivatives of 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutane-1,3-dione to ring enlarged products. In reactions catalyzed by TBAF, water bounded to fluoride anion via H-bridges and forming thereby its stable hydrates is involved in secondary reactions leading, e.g., in the case of 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-thioxocyclobutanone to the formation of some unexpected products such as the ring enlarged dithiolactone and ring-opened dithiocarboxylate. In contrast to thioketones, the fluoride anion catalyzed sulfurization of their α,β-unsaturated analogues, i.e., thiochalcones is slow and inefficient. However, an alternative protocol with triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) applied as a catalyst, offers an attractive approach to the synthesis of 3H-1,2-dithioles via 1,5-dipolar electrocyclization of the in situ-generated α,β-unsaturated thiocabonyl S-sulfides. All reactions occur under mild conditions and can be considered as attractive methods for the preparation of sulfur rich heterocycles with diverse ring-size.     

Acid-catalysed hydrolysis of N-sulphonyl sulphilimines—II

The basicity and the acid-catalysed hydrolysis of ph(R)SNTs and o-HC₆H₄(Me)SNTs sulphilimines have been studied by UV spectrophotometric and kinetic methods, respectively, in aqueous HClO₄ (1–10 M) and 1:1 (v/v) EtOH/H₂O-HClO₄ (0.5–6 M). Depending on the constitution of the substrates, sulphilimine hydrolysis can follow three different courses, according to rate-acidity profiles, Bunnett-Olsen's treatment, activation parameters and product analysis. Most typical for sulphilimines is S_N2 hydrolysis with S^IV-N bond cleavage. In this case the reaction starts with the nucleophilic addition of water and is promoted by acid-base catalysis. If a relatively stable carbenium ion can be formed from R group, an S_N1 reaction with S^IVC bond cleavage takes place. Sulphilimine with X = o-CO₂H due to neighbouring-group participation hydrolyses very rapidly via acyloxy-sulphurane and acyloxy-sulphonium ion intermediates with five-memembered ring (S_Ni reaction involving S^IVN bond cleavage).     

Microwave-enhanced,stereospecific ring-closure of medium-ring cyanamide ethers to yohimbine

A highly efficient acid-promoted, stereospecific, transannular ring-closure of medium-ring ether compounds to the indole alkaloid yohimbine is described. Microwave-enhanced acetic acid degradation of cyanamide compounds involves loss of (R)- or (S)-ethers, followed by a stereospecific, nucleophilic ring-closure from the cyanamide to afford yohimbine in up to 74% yield in as little as one minute. This nucleophilic reactivity of the amino moiety of the cyanamide highlights an alternative reactivity profile from its traditional electrophilic properties. Additionally, this reaction pathway highlights a rare case of an S_N1 pathway that proceeds with complete stereospecificity.     

Micelle Effects of Functionalized Surfactants, 1-Cetyl-3-(2-hydroxyiminopropyl)imidazolium Halides,in Reactions with p-Nitrophenyl p-Toluenesulfonate,Diethyl p-Nitrophenyl Phosphate,and Ethyl p-Nitrophenyl Ethylphosphonate

1-Cetyl-3-(2-hydroxyiminopropyl)imidazolium chloride and bromide were synthesized for the first time. These compounds are functionalized zwitterionic surfactants which give rise to micelle formation in aqueous solution. Kinetic and thermodynamic analysis of nucleophilic cleavage of p-nitrophenyl p-toluenesulfonate, diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate, and ethyl p-nitrophenyl ethylphosphonate in the presence of 1-cetyl-3-(2-hydroxyiminopropyl)imidazolium halide micelles showed that the latter are powerful nucleophilic reagents whose kinetic behavior can be described in terms of a simple pseudophase distribution model. The efficiency of substrate solubilization with zwitterionic surfactant micelles and the reactivity of the oximate fragment in the micelle phase were estimated on a quantitative level. The observed acceleration of S_N2 reactions with the examined p-nitrophenyl esters relative to analogous reactions of zwitterionic 1-methyl-3-(2-hydroxyiminopropyl)imidazolium halides is, respectively, 12800, 550, and 900 times; it is explained mainly by increased concentration of the reactants in micelles.     

Remarkable rate acceleration of water-promoted nucleophilic substitution of Baylis-Hillman acetate: a facile and highly efficient synthesis of N-substituted imidazole

Without additional reagents, the Baylis-Hillman acetates 2 underwent nucleophilic substitution reaction with imidazole readily in aqueous THF solution to afford the corresponding N-substituted imidazole derivatives 3 in good to excellent yields. Moreover, the reaction between the in situ generated DABCO salt of Baylis-Hillman acetates 4 and imidazole occurs in aqueous THF providing the S_N2 type products 5. The simpler operational procedure, better stereoselectivity and higher efficiency over conventional method make the present protocol practical for the preparation of imidazole derivatives.     

Synthesis and chemical transformations of tert-butyl-4-vinyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridine-1-carboxylate

Reaction of tert-butyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]pyridine-1-carboxylate with tributylvinyltin in the presence of Pd(PPh₃)₄-LiCl afforded tert-butyl-4-vinyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridine-1-carboxylate. The latter reacted with maleic anhydride to form tert-butyl-(3aS,9bR)-1,3-dioxo-4,6,7,9,9a,9b-hexahydro-3aH-furo[3,4-h]isoquinoline-8-carboxylate as the Diels-Alder endo-adduct. Reactions of this adduct with electrophilic and nucleophilic reagents, as well as the reduction and oxidation of its functional groups was performed.     

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure α-amino acids via chemo- and diastereoselective alkylation of (5S)-5-phenyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-1,4-oxazin-2-one

(5S)-5-Phenyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-1,4-oxazin-2-one 2 undergoes lewis acidmediated chemo- and diastereoselective nucleophilic addition of Grignard reagents to furnish adducts 3 which can be dismantled to allow ready access to enantiomerically pure (S)-α-amino acids 4.