Temperature‐induced solid‐to‐solid transformation in helical homochiral coordination polymers

The reactions of (R)‐ and (S)‐4‐(1‐carboxyethoxy)benzoic acid (H₂CBA) with 1,3‐bis(2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene (1,3‐BMIB) ligands afforded a pair of homochiral coordination polymers (CPs), namely, poly[[[μ‐1,3‐bis(2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene][μ‐(S)‐4‐(1‐carboxylatoethoxy)benzoato]zinc(II)] monohydrate], {[Zn(C₁₀H₈O₅)(C₁₄H₁₄N₄)]·H₂O}_n or {[Zn{(S)‐CBA}(1,3‐BMIB)]·H₂O}_n ( 1‐L ), and poly[[[μ‐1,3‐bis(2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene][μ‐(R)‐4‐(1‐carboxylatoethoxy)benzoato]zinc(II)] monohydrate] ( 1‐D ). Three kinds of helical chains exist in compounds 1‐D and 1‐L , which are constructed from Zn^II atoms, 1,3‐BMIB ligands and/or CBA^2? ligands. When the as‐synthesized crystals of 1‐L and 1‐D were further heated in the mother liquor or air, poly[[μ‐1,3‐bis(2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene][μ‐(S)‐4‐(1‐carboxylatoethoxy)benzoato]zinc(II)], [Zn(C₁₀H₈O₅)(C₁₄H₁₄N₄)]_n or [Zn{(S)‐CBA}(1,3‐BMIB)]_n ( 2‐L ), and poly[[μ‐1,3‐bis(2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene][μ‐(R)‐4‐(1‐carboxylatoethoxy)benzoato]zinc(II)] ( 2‐D ) were obtained, respectively. The single‐crystal structure analysis revealed that 2‐L and 2‐D only contained one type of helical chain formed by Zn^II atoms and 1,3‐BMIB and CBA^2? ligands, which indicated that the helical chains were reconstructed though solid‐to‐solid transformation. This result not only means the realization of helical transformation, but also gives a feasible strategy to build homochiral CPs.     

1,3‐Oxathiolanes from the Reaction of Aromatic and Enolized Thioketones with Monosubstituted Oxiranes

The reactions of 4,4′‐dimethoxythiobenzophenone ( 1 ) with (S)‐2‐methyloxirane ((S)‐ 2 ) and (R)‐2‐phenyloxirane ((R)‐ 6 ) in the presence of a Lewis acid such as BF₃?Et₂O, ZnCl₂, or SiO₂ in dry CH₂Cl₂ led to the corresponding 1 : 1 adducts, i.e., 1,3‐oxathiolanes (S)‐ 3 with Me at C(5), and (S)‐ 7 and (R)‐ 8 with Ph at C(4) and C(5), respectively. A 1 : 2 adduct, 1,3,6‐dioxathiocane (4S,8S)‐ 4 and 1,3‐dioxolane (S)‐ 9 , respectively, were formed as minor products (Schemes 3 and 5, Tables 1 and 2). Treatment of the 1 : 1 adduct (S)‐ 3 with (S)‐ 2 and BF₃?Et₂O gave the 1 : 2 adduct (4S,8S)‐ 4 (Scheme 4). In the case of the enolized thioketone 1,3‐diphenylprop‐1‐ene‐2‐thiol ( 10 ) with (S)‐ 2 and (R)‐ 6 in the presence of SiO₂, the enesulfanyl alcohols (1′Z,2S)‐ 11 and (1′E,2S)‐ 11 , and (1′Z,2S)‐ 13 , (1′E,2S)‐ 13 , (1′Z,1R)‐ 15 , and (1′E,1R)‐ 15 , respectively, as well as a 1,3‐oxathiolane (S)‐ 14 were formed (Schemes 6 and 8). In the presence of HCl, the enesulfanyl alcohols (1′Z,2S)‐ 11 , (1′Z,2S)‐ 13 , (1′E,2S)‐ 13 , (1′Z,1R)‐ 15 , and (1′E,1R)‐ 15 cyclize to give the corresponding 1,3‐oxathiolanes (S)‐ 12 , (S)‐ 14 , and (R)‐ 16 , respectively (Schemes 7, 9, and 10). The structures of (1′E,2S)‐ 11 , (S)‐ 12 , and (S)‐ 14 were confirmed by X‐ray crystallography (Figs. 1–3). These results show that 1,3‐oxathiolanes can be prepared directly via the Lewis acid‐catalyzed reactions of oxiranes with non‐enolizable thioketones, and also in two steps with enolized thioketones. The nucleophilic attack of the thiocarbonyl or enesulfanyl S‐atom at the Lewis acid‐complexed oxirane ring proceeds with high regio‐ and stereoselectivity via an S_n 2‐type mechanism.     

O→S Relay Deprotection: A General Approach to Controllable Donors of Reactive Sulfur Species

Reactive sulfur species (RSS) are biologically important molecules. Among them, H₂S, hydrogen polysulfides (H₂S_n, n>1), persulfides (RSSH), and HSNO are believed to play regulatory roles in sulfur‐related redox biology. However, these molecules are unstable and difficult to handle. Having access to their reliable and controllable precursors (or donors) is the prerequisite for the study of these sulfur species. Reported in this work is the preparation and evaluation of a series of O‐silyl‐mercaptan‐based sulfur‐containing molecules which undergo pH‐ or F^?‐mediated desilylation to release the corresponding H₂S, H₂S_n, RSSH, and HSNO in a controlled fashion. This O→S relay deprotection serves as a general strategy for the design of pH‐ or F^?‐triggered RSS donors. Moreover, we have demonstrated that the O‐silyl groups in the donors could be changed into other protecting groups like esters. This work should allow the development of RSS donors with other activation mechanisms (such as esterase‐activated donors).     

The absolute configuration of (2S,4S)‐ and (2R,4R)‐2‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methyl‐3‐(4‐tolyl­sulfon­yl)‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbaldehyde

The title enanti­omorphic compounds, C₁₆H₂₃NO₄S, have been obtained in an enanti­omerically pure form by crystallization from a diastereomeric mixture either of (2S,4S)‐ and (2R,4S)‐ or of (2R,4R)‐ and (2S,4R)‐2‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methyl‐3‐(4‐tolyl­sulfon­yl)‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbaldehyde. These mixtures were prepared by an aziridination rearrangement process starting with (S)‐ or (R)‐2‐tert‐butyl‐5‐methyl‐4H‐1,3‐dioxine. The crystal structures indicate an envelope conformation of the oxazolidine moiety for both compounds.     

catena‐Poly[[[μ‐1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane‐κ2P:P′][O‐ethyl (4‐methoxyphenyl)phosphonodithioato‐κ2S,S′]silver(I)] chloroform monosolvate]

Reaction of a mixture of AgOAc, Lawesson's reagent [2,4‐bis(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐1,3‐dithiadiphosphetane‐2,4‐disulfide] and 1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane (dppp) under ultrasonic treatment gave the title compound, {[Ag(C₉H₁₂O₂PS₂)(C₂₇H₂₆P₂)]·CHCl₃}_n, a novel one‐dimensional chain based on the in situ‐generated bipodal ligand [ArP(OEt)S₂]⁻ (Ar = 4‐methoxyphenyl). The compound consists of bidentate bridging 1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane (dppp) and in situ‐generated bidentate chelating [ArP(OEt)S₂]⁻ ligands. The dppp ligand links the [Ag{ArP(OEt)S₂}] subunit to form an achiral one‐dimensional infinite chain. These achiral chains are packed into chiral crystals by virtue of van der Waals interactions. No π–π interactions are observed in the crystal structure.     

Disilicon Complexes with Two Hexacoordinate Si Atoms: Paddlewheel‐Shaped Isomers with (ClN4)Si?Si(S4Cl) and (ClN2S2)Si?Si(S2N2Cl) Skeletons

The reaction of 1‐methyl‐3‐trimethylsilylimidazoline‐2‐thione with hexachlorodisilane proceeds toward substitution of four of the disilane Cl atoms during the formation of disilicon complexes with two neighboring hexacoordinate Si atoms. The N,S‐bidentate methimazolide moieties adopt a buttressing role, thus forming paddlewheel‐shaped complexes of the type ClSi(μ‐mt)₄SiCl (mt=methimazolyl). Most interestingly, three isomers (i.e., with (ClN₄)Si? Si(S₄Cl), (ClN₃S)Si? Si(S₃NCl), and (ClN₂S₂)Si? Si(S₂N₂Cl) skeletons as so‐called (4,0), (3,1), and cis‐(2,2) paddlewheels) were detected in solution by using ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopic analysis. Two of these isomers could be isolated as crystalline solids, thus allowing their molecular structures to be analyzed by using X‐ray diffraction studies. In accord with time‐dependent NMR spectroscopy, computational analyses proved the cis‐(2,2) isomer with a (ClN₂S₂)Si? Si(S₂N₂Cl) skeleton to be the most stable. The compounds presented herein are the first examples of crystallographically evidenced disilicon complexes with two Si? Si‐bonded octahedrally coordinated Si atoms and representatives of the still scarcely explored class of Si coordination compounds with sulfur donor atoms.     

Diphenyl(2‐thioxo‐1,3‐dithiole‐4,5‐di­thiolato‐S,S′)plumbane at 295 K and diphenyl(2‐thioxo‐1,3‐dithiole‐4,5‐di­thiolato‐S,S′)stannane at 150 K

Molecules of di­phenyl(2‐thio­xo‐1,3‐di­thiole‐4,5‐di­thiol­ato‐S,S′)­plumbane, [Pb(C₃S₅)(C₆H₅)₂], are linked into sheets via two intermolecular Pb?S_thione interactions of 3.322 (4) and 3.827 (4) Å; the Pb centre has a distorted octahedral geometry. In contrast, mol­ecules of ­di­phenyl(2‐thio­xo‐1,3‐di­thiole‐4,5‐di­thiol­ato‐S,S′)­stannane, [Sn(C₃S₅)(C₆H₅)₂], are linked into chains via a single intermolecular Sn—S_thione interaction of 2.8174 (9) Å; the Sn centre has a distorted trigonal‐bipy­ramidal geometry.     

Intramolecular Asymmetric Amidations of Sulfonamides and Sulfamates Catalyzed by Chiral Dirhodium(II) Complexes

Enantioselective intramolecular amidation of aliphatic sulfonamides was achieved for the first time by means of chiral carboxylatodirhodium(II) catalysts in conjunction with PhI(OAc)₂ and MgO in high yields and with enantioselectivities of up to 66% (Scheme 3, Table 1). The best results were obtained with [Rh₂{(S)‐nttl)₄] and [Rh₂{(R)‐ntv)₄] as catalysts ((S)‐nttl=(αS)‐α‐(tert‐butyl)‐1,3‐dioxo‐2H‐benz[de]isoquinoline‐2‐acetato, (R)‐nto=(αR)‐α‐isopropyl‐1,3‐dioxo‐2H‐benz[de] isoquinoline‐2‐acetato). In addition, these carboxylatodirhodium(II) catalysts were also efficient in intramolecular amidations of aliphatic sulfamates esters, although the enantioselectivity of these latter reactions was significantly lower (Scheme 4, Table 3).     

Structural and theoretical study of four novel norcantharidine derivatives: two new cases of conditional isomorphism

Structural and theoretical studies of four novel 5,6‐dehydronorcantharidine ( DNCA )/norcantharidine ( NCA ) derivatives, namely (3aR,4S,7R,7aS)‐2‐phenyl‐3a,4,7,7a‐tetrahydro‐4,7‐epoxy‐1H‐isoindole‐1,3(2H)‐dione, C₁₄H₁₁NO₃ ( DNCA‐A ), (3aR,4S,7R,7aS)‐2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐3a,4,7,7a‐tetrahydro‐4,7‐epoxy‐1H‐isoindole‐1,3(2H)‐dione, C₁₄H₁₀N₂O₅ ( DNCA‐NA ), (3aR,4S,7R,7aS)‐2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐3a,4,5,6,7,7a‐hexahydro‐1H‐4,7‐epoxyisoindole‐1,3(2H)‐dione, C₁₄H₁₂N₂O₅ ( NCA‐NA ), and (3aR,4S,7R,7aS)‐2‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐3a,4,5,6,7,7a‐hexahydro‐1H‐4,7‐epoxyisoindole‐1,3(2H)‐dione, C₁₀H₁₃NO₄ ( NCA‐AE ), are reported. The supramolecular interactions and single‐crystal structural characteristics of these molecules, together with the crystal structures of four other similar molecules, i.e. NCA‐A (the 4‐phenyl derivative of NCA‐NA ), DNCA‐AE (the 5,6‐unsaturated derivative of NCA‐AE ), DNCA and NCA , were analysed. Surprisingly, DNCA‐A and NCA‐A , as well as DNCA–NA and NCA‐NA , proved to be isomorphic, while DNCA‐AE and NCA‐AE , as well as DNCA and NCA , have very different crystal structures. These are very rare isostructural examples between unsaturated and saturated oxanorbornene/oxanorbornane derivatives. To further explore how noncovalent interactions (NCIs) affect the degree of isomorphism in this particular series of rigid molecules where there is a fairly limited conformational degree of freedom, all four pairs of crystal structures were analyzed in parallel. The differentiation in NCIs which entails the packing mode of similar molecules is supported by energy calculations based on real or exchanged crystal structures. Our results show that minor structural differences may result in very different supramolecular interactions, and so lead to altered packing modes in the crystalline solids. Even if isostructurality sometimes occurs, the possibility of various molecular packing types cannot be ruled out. On the other hand, isomorphism may just be the result of kinetic possibilities instead of relative thermodynamic stabilities. Though crystal structure prediction is formidable, the comparison method based on existing crystal structures and quantum calculations can be used to predict the probability of isomorphism. This understanding will help us to design new norbornene derivatives with specified structures.     

The Vinylic SN Reactions of Nitrodienes with Heteroatom‐Substituted Nuchleophilies and Their Structural Studies

Herein, we report the reactions of 1,1,2,4,4‐pentachloro‐3‐nitro‐1,3‐butadiene 1a and (1Z)‐1‐bromo‐1,2,4,4‐tetrachloro‐3‐nitro‐1,3‐butadiene 1b with nitrogen‐ and sulfur‐containing nucleophiles to obtain highly functionalized S‐, S,S‐, S,S,S‐, S,O‐ and N,S‐substituted‐polyhalodiene‐3‐nitro‐1,3‐butadiene derivatives. Most of these reactions turned out to be highly selective with good to very good yields. All new compounds have been characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectroscopic data. The molecular structures of the 3a and 21a due to its exceptional substitution pattern were evidenced by the X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction method.     

Isolable Boron Persulfide: Activation of Elemental Sulfur with a 2‐Chloro‐Azaborolyl Anion

The novel boron persulfide 2 LB(η²‐S₂) (L=[ArNC(R)CHC(R)]^?; Ar=2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃, R=tBu) was obtained by the reaction of the 2‐chloro‐azaborolyl anion 1 (LBCl)K(THF) with 0.25 equiv of elemental sulfur (S₈). Persulfide 2 is labile in solution and could be converted to the cyclic tetrasulfide LBS₄ ( 3 ) and hexasulfide LBS₆ ( 4 ) in the presence of sulfur at room temperature and 50 °C, respectively. Desulfination of 2 with triphenylphosphine resulted in the formation of the thioxoborane LB=S ( 5) . Alternatively, 3 and 4 could be obtained by the reaction of 1 with an excess of sulfur. Structural analysis of 2 disclosed the relatively long S?S bond of 2.1004(8) Å due to the lone‐pair repulsions of the two sulfur atoms, as disclosed by DFT calculations.     

Two isomers of Pd2(S2NC7H4)4

The dichloromethane solvates of the isomers tetrakis(μ‐1,3‐benzothiazole‐2‐thiolato)‐κ⁴N:S;κ⁴S:N‐dipalladium(II)(Pd—Pd), (I), and tetrakis(μ‐1,3‐benzothiazole‐2‐thiolato)‐κ⁶N:S;κ²S:N‐dipalladium(II)(Pd—Pd), (II), both [Pd₂(C₇H₄NS₂)₄]·CH₂Cl₂, have been synthesized in the presence of (o‐isopropylphenyl)diphenylphosphane and (o‐methylphenyl)diphenylphosphane. Both isomers form a lantern‐type structure, where isomer (I) displays a regular and symmetric coordination and isomer (II) an asymmetric and distorted structure. In (I), sitting on an centre of inversion, two 1,3‐benzothiazole‐2‐thiolate units are bonded by a Pd—N bond to one Pd atom and by a Pd—S bond to the other Pd atom, and the other two benzothiazolethiolate units are bonded to the same Pd atoms by, respectively, a Pd—S and a Pd—N bond. In (II), three benzothiazolethiolate units are bonded by a Pd—N bond to one Pd atom and by a Pd—S bond to the other Pd atom, and the fourth benzothiazolethiolate unit is bonded to the same Pd atoms by, respectively, a Pd—S bond and a Pd—N bond.     

Chiral Enol Oxazolines and Thiazolines as Auxiliary Ligands for the Asymmetric Synthesis of Ruthenium‐Polypyridyl Complexes

Various ligands, such as (Z)‐1‐phenyl‐2‐[(4S)‐4‐phenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,3‐oxazol‐2‐yl]ethen‐1‐ol ((S)‐ 1a ) and (Z)‐1‐phenyl‐2‐[(4S)‐4‐phenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,3‐thiazol‐2‐yl]ethen‐1‐ol ((S)‐ 1c ), were investigated as auxiliaries for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral ruthenium(II) complexes. The reaction of these chiral auxiliary ligands with [RuCl₂(dmso)₄], 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy, 2.2 equiv), and triethylamine (10 equiv) in DMF/PhCl (1:8) at 140 °C for several hours diastereoselectively provided the complexes Λ‐[Ru(bpy)₂{(S)‐ 1a ? H}] (Λ‐(S)‐ 2a , 52 % yield, 56:1 d.r.) and Λ‐[Ru(bpy)₂{(S)‐ 1c ? H}] (Λ‐(S)‐ 2c , 48 % yield, >100:1 d.r.) in a single step after purification. Both Λ‐(S)‐ 2a and Λ‐(S)‐ 2c could be converted into Λ‐[Ru(bpy)₃](PF₆)₂ by replacing the bidentate enolato ligands with bpy, under retention of configuration, induced by either NH₄PF₆ as a weak acid (from Λ‐(S)‐ 2a : 73 % yield, 22:1 e.r.; from Λ‐(S)‐ 2c : 77 % yield, 22:1 e.r.), TFA as a strong acid (from Λ‐(S)‐ 2a : 72 % yield, 52:1 e.r.; from Λ‐(S)‐ 2c : 85 % yield, 25:1 e.r.), methylation with Meerwein′s salt (from Λ‐(S)‐ 2a : 59 % yield, 46:1 e.r.; from Λ‐(S)‐ 2c : 86 % yield, 37:1 e.r.), ozonolysis (from Λ‐(S)‐ 2a : 56 % yield, 22:1 e.r.; from Λ‐(S)‐ 2c : 43 % yield, 6.3:1 e.r.), or oxidation with a peroxy acid (from Λ‐(S)‐ 2a : 72 % yield, 45:1 e.r.; from Λ‐(S)‐ 2c : 79 % yield, 8.5:1 e.r.). This study shows that, except for the reaction with NH₄PF₆, oxazoline‐enolato complex Λ‐(S)‐ 2a provides Λ‐[Ru(bpy)₃](PF₆)₂ with higher enantioselectivities than analogous thiazoline‐enolato complex Λ‐(S)‐ 2c , which might be due to the higher coordinative stability of the thiazoline‐enolato complex, thus requiring more prolonged reaction times. Thus, this study provides attractive new avenues for the asymmetric synthesis of non‐racemic ruthenium(II)‐polypyridyl complexes without the need for using a strong acid or a strong methylating reagent, as has been the case in all previously reported auxiliary methods from our group.     

Preparation of New Ferrocenylmonophosphine Ligands Containing Two Planar Chiral Ferrocenyl Moieties and Their Use for Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrosilylation of 1,3‐Dienes

Bis{(R_p)‐2‐[(1S)‐1‐methoxyethyl]ferrocenyl}arylphosphines (S,R_p)‐ 9 (aryl=4‐MeOC₆H₄ ( 9a ), Ph ( 9b ), 4‐CF₃C₆H₄ ( 9c ), 3,5‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃ ( 9d )), which contain two planar chiral ferrocenyl moieties, were prepared via (R_p)‐1‐bromo‐2‐[(1S)‐1‐methoxyethyl]ferrocene ((S,R_p)‐ 8 ). Asymmetric hydrosilylation of linear 1,3‐dienes such as deca‐1,3‐diene ( 10a ) with trichlorosilane in the presence of a palladium catalyst coordinated with 9d gave allylic silanes of up to 93% ee.     

Ring Enlargement and Sulfur‐Transfer Processes in SiO2‐Catalyzed Reactions of Thiocarbonyl Compounds with Optically Active Oxiranes

The reactions of 1,3‐dioxolane‐2‐thione ( 3 ) with (S)‐2‐methyloxirane ((S)‐ 1 ) and with (R)‐2‐phenyloxirane ((R)‐ 2 ) in the presence of SiO₂ in anhydrous dichloroalkanes led to the optically active spirocyclic 1,3‐oxathiolanes 8 with Me at C(7) and 9 with Ph at C(8), respectively (Schemes 2 and 3). The analogous reaction of 1,3‐dimethylimidazolidine‐2‐thione ( 4a ) with (R)‐ 2 yielded stereoselectively (S)‐2‐phenylthiirane ((S)‐ 10 ) in 83% yield and 97% ee together with 1,3‐dimethylimidazolidin‐2‐one ( 11a ). In the cases of 3‐phenyloxazolidine‐2‐thione ( 4b ) and 3‐phenylthiazolidine‐2‐thione ( 4c ), the reaction with (RS)‐ 2 yielded the racemic thiirane (RS)‐ 10 , and the corresponding carbonyl compounds 11b and 11c (Scheme 4 and Table 1). The analogous reaction of 4a with 1,2‐epoxycyclohexane (= 7‐oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane; 7 ) afforded thiirane 12 and the corresponding carbonyl compound 11a (Scheme 5). On the other hand, the BF₃‐catalyzed reaction of imidazolidine‐2‐thione ( 5 ) with (RS)‐ 2 yielded the imidazolidine‐2‐thione derivative 13 almost quantitatively (Scheme 6). In a refluxing xylene solution, 1,3‐diacetylimidazolidine‐2‐thione ( 6 ) and (RS)‐ 2 reacted to give two imidazolidine‐2‐thione derivatives, 13 and 14 (Scheme 7). The structures of 13 and 14 were established by X‐ray crystallography (Fig.).     

Weak C—H...O and C—H...π hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions in a series of four N′‐[(E)‐(aryl)methylidene]‐N‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazides

Oxazolidin‐2‐ones are widely used as protective groups for 1,2‐amino alcohols and chiral derivatives are employed as chiral auxiliaries. The crystal structures of four differently substituted oxazolidinecarbohydrazides, namely N′‐[(E)‐benzylidene]‐N‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazide, C₁₂H₁₂N₃O₃, (I), N′‐[(E)‐2‐chlorobenzylidene]‐N‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazide, C₁₂H₁₂ClN₃O₃, (II), (4S)‐N′‐[(E)‐4‐chlorobenzylidene]‐N‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazide, C₁₂H₁₂ClN₃O₃, (III), and (4S)‐N′‐[(E)‐2,6‐dichlorobenzylidene]‐N,3‐dimethyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carbohydrazide, C₁₃H₁₃Cl₂N₃O₃, (IV), show that an unexpected mild‐condition racemization from the chiral starting materials has occurred in (I) and (II). In the extended structures, the centrosymmetric phases, which each crystallize with two molecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit, form A+B dimers linked by pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds, albeit with different O‐atom acceptors. One dimer is composed of one molecule with an S configuration for its stereogenic centre and the other with an R configuration, and possesses approximate local inversion symmetry. The other dimer consists of either R,R or S,S pairs and possesses approximate local twofold symmetry. In the chiral structure, N—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into C(5) chains, with adjacent molecules related by a 2₁ screw axis. A wide variety of weak interactions, including C—H...O, C—H...Cl, C—H...π and π–π stacking interactions, occur in these structures, but there is little conformity between them.     

Determination of Sulfur Compounds in Water Samples by Ion Chromatography Dynamic Reaction Cell Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

An ion chromatography‐inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (IC‐ICP‐MS) method for the speciation of sulfur compounds, namely sulfite [SO₃^2?], sulfate [SO₄^2?] and thiosulfate [S₂O₃^2?], was described. Ionic sulfur compounds were well separated in about 3 min by ion chromatography with a Hamilton PRP‐X100 column as the stationary phase and 60 mmol L^?1 NH₄NO₃ and 0.1% v/v formaldehyde (HCHO) solution (pH = 7) as the mobile phase. The analyses were carried out using dynamic reaction cell (DRC) ICP‐MS. The sulfur‐selective chromatogram was determined at m/z 48 as ³²S¹⁶O⁺ by using its reaction with O₂ in the reaction cell. The method avoided the effect of polyatomic isobaric interferences at m/z 32 caused by ¹⁶O¹⁶O⁺ and ¹⁴N¹⁸O⁺ on ³²S⁺ by detecting ³²S⁺ as the oxide ion ³²S¹⁶O⁺ at m/z 48, which is less interfered. The detection limit of various species studied was in the range of 3.6–4.6 ng S mL^?1. The accuracy of the method has been verified by comparing the sum of the concentrations of individual sulfur compounds obtained by the present procedure with the total concentration of sulfur in several natural water samples. The recovery was in the range of 97–102% for various compounds studied.     

Synthesis of dithiafulvene–quinone donor–acceptor systems: isolation of a Michael adduct

π‐Conjugated donor–acceptor systems based on dithiafulvene (DTF) donor units and various acceptor units have attracted attention for their linear and nonlinear optical properties. The reaction between p‐benzoquinone and a 1,3‐dithiole phosphonium salt, deprotonated by lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS), gave a product mixture from which the Michael adduct [systematic name: dimethyl 2‐(3‐hydroxy‐6‐oxocyclohexa‐2,4‐dien‐1‐ylidene)‐2H‐1,3‐dithiole‐4,5‐dicarboxylate], C₁₃H₁₀O₆S₂, was isolated. It is likely that one of the unidentified products obtained previously by others from related reactions could be a similar Michael adduct.     

[1,2‐P2S8]2− – a New Member of the Thiophosphate Family: Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Vibrational Spectrum of [NH4(2.2.2‐cryptand)]2[1,2‐P2S8] and [NH4(18‐crown‐6)]2[1,2‐P2S8]·H2O

Colourless block‐shaped crystals of [(NH₄)₂(2.2.2‐cryptand)₂][P₂S₈] ( 1 ) and [(NH₄)₂(18‐crown‐6)₂][P₂S₈]·H₂O ( 2 ) could be obtained by the reaction of an aqueous solution of ammonium hexathiohypodiphosphate, (NH₄)₄P₂S₆·2 H₂O, with sulfur and 2.2.2‐cryptand or 18‐crown‐6. The crystal structures of both compounds have been determined by single‐crystal X‐Ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 2032.7(2), b = 1243.6(2), c = 2244.6(2) pm, β = 98.64(1)°, and Z = 8, whereas compound 2 crystallizes also monoclinic in the space group P2₁/c with a = 2121.3(2), b = 865.5(1), c = 2345.4(2) pm, β = 91.96(1)°, and Z = 4. It could be established that the title compounds contain a new type of six‐membered [1,2‐P₂S₄] ring with P – P bond and three S – S linkages. The tetrahedral environment of each phosphorus is completed by a (formally) single and double bonded sulfur atom attached externally to the [1,2‐P₂S₄] ring. These terminal PS₂ units are mesomerically stabilized according to their P – S distances. FT‐IR and FT‐Raman spectra of the title compounds are recorded and interpreted.     

Asymmetric Reaction of Simple Nitro Compounds with Chiral 1,3‐Oxazolidin‐2‐ones

The chiral oxazolidinone 1 (=[(3aS,6R,7aR)‐tetrahydro‐8,8‐dimethyl‐2‐oxo‐4H‐3a,6‐methano‐1,3‐benzoxazol‐3‐yl](oxo)acetaldehyde) was found to react stereoselectively with simple nitro compounds in the presence of Al₂O₃ or Bu₄NF?3 H₂O (TBAF) as catalysts, affording the diastereoisomeric nitro alcohols 3 – 6 with good asymmetric induction. When Al₂O₃ was used, the (S)‐configuration at the center bearing the OH group was generated, with the relative syn‐configuration for the major diastereoisomers. In the case of the nitro‐aldol reaction catalyzed by TBAF, an opposite asymmetric induction was found for two nitro compounds. In contrast to 1 , compound 12 (=((4R,5S)‐4‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐5‐phenyl‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐3‐yl)(oxo)acetaldehyde), a derivative of Evans auxiliary, gave rise to poor asymmetric induction in Henry reactions.