Organocatalysis of CN/CN and CC/CN Exchange in Dynamic Covalent Chemistry

The reversibly formed C?N bond plays a very important role in dynamic covalent chemistry and the C?N/C?N exchange of components between different imine constituents to create dynamic covalent libraries has been extensively used. To facilitate diversity generation, we have investigated an organocatalyzed approach, using L ‐proline as catalyst, to accelerate the formation of dynamic libraries of [n×n] imine components. The organocatalysis methodology has also been extended, under somewhat modified conditions, to reversible C?C/C?N exchange processes between Knoevenagel derivatives of barbituric acid and imines, allowing for the generation of increased diversity.     

Synthesis and polymerizability of CN monomers

The synthesis and polymerizability of imine C?N monomers is surveyed. The investigated imines were either far more reactive than similarly substituted C?C or C?O monomers, or too stable to polymerize. Imines with electron‐attracting substituents on N favor polymerization by anionic mechanism, but led only to low molecular weight polymers. Imines with a donor substituent on N, such as N‐arylmethyleneimines, polymerized by cationic or anionic mechanism. 1‐ and 2‐Aza‐1,3‐butadienes were also rather unstable and polymerized to oligomers. The symmetrically substituted 2,3‐diaza‐1,3‐butadienes could be purified and polymerized successfully using anionic initiators, resulting in both 1,4‐ and 1,2‐structures in the polymer backbone, depending on the substituents. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

[2 + 3]‐Cycloadditions of Phosphonodithioformate S‐Methanides with CS,NN,and CC Dipolarophiles

The reaction of the methyl (dialkoxyphosphinyl)‐dithioformates (= methyl dialkoxyphosphinecarbodithioate 1‐oxides) 10 with CH₂N₂ at − 65° in THF yielded cycloadducts which eliminated N₂ between − 40 and − 35° to give the corresponding phosphonodithioformate S‐methanides ( =methylenesulfonium (dialkoxyoxidophosphino)(methylthio)methylides) 11 (Scheme 3). These reactive 1,3‐dipoles were intercepted by aromatic thioketones to yield 1,3‐dithiolanes. Whereas the reaction with thiobenzophenone ( 12b ) led to the sterically more congested isomers 15 regioselectively, a mixture of both regioisomers was obtained with 9H‐fluorene‐9‐thione ( 12a ). Trapping of 11 with phosphono‐ and sulfonodithioformates led exclusively to the sterically less hindered 1,3‐dithiolanes 16 and 18 , respectively (Scheme 4). In addition, reactive CC dipolarophiles such as ethenetetracarbonitrile, maleic anhydride, and N‐phenylmaleimide as well as the NN dipolarophile dimethyl diazenedicarboxylate were shown to be efficient interceptors of 11 (Scheme 5).     

Synthesis of α-hydroxy-β-lactams

A convenient synthesis of α-hydroxy-β-lactams has been devised that involves the annelation of an inline with benzyloxyacetyl chloride and triethylamine and subsequent hydrogenolysis in the presence of palladium on carbon. In most cases a cis-β-lactam was obtained. A thioimidate can also be used as the imino component in the annelation reaction but the hydrogenolysis step fails. The annelation of the appropriate thiazoline to a 6-epi-penicillin derivative occurred much more readily with benzyloxyacetyl chloride than with azidoacetyl chloride.     

Reactions of Stable α‐Chlorosulfanyl Chlorides with CS‐Functionalized Compounds

The smooth reaction of 3‐chloro‐3‐(chlorosulfanyl)‐2,2,4,4‐tetramethylcyclobutanone ( 3 ) with 3,4,5‐trisubstituted 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazole‐2‐thiones 8 and 2‐thiouracil ( 10 ) in CH₂Cl₂/Et₃N at room temperature yielded the corresponding disulfanes 9 and 11 (Scheme 2), respectively, via a nucleophilic substitution of Cl^? of the sulfanyl chloride by the S‐atom of the heterocyclic thione. The analogous reaction of 3‐cyclohexyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐4,5‐diphenyl‐1H‐imidazole‐2‐thione ( 8b ) and 10 with the chlorodisulfanyl derivative 16 led to the corresponding trisulfanes 17 and 18 (Scheme 4), respectively. On the other hand, the reaction of 3 and 4,4‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1,3‐thiazole‐5(4H)‐thione ( 12 ) in CH₂Cl₂ gave only 4,4‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1,3‐thiazol‐5(4H)‐one ( 13 ) and the trithioorthoester derivative 14 , a bis‐disulfane, in low yield (Scheme 3). At ?78°, only bis(1‐chloro‐2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐3‐oxocyclobutyl)polysulfanes 15 were formed. Even at ?78°, a 1 : 2 mixture of 12 and 16 in CH₂Cl₂ reacted to give 13 and the symmetrical pentasulfane 19 in good yield (Scheme 5). The structures of 11, 14, 17 , and 18 have been established by X‐ray crystallography.     

NMR spectroscopic study of rotation around CC and C?N bonds in diene δ-aminocarbonyl compounds

A relatively fast rotation around the α,β carbon–carbon double bond at the equilibrium of geometrical isomers and a comparatively slow rotation around the carbon-nitrogen single bond in compounds of the type (X₁, X₂ are electron-attracting substituents) were detected and investigated by the NMR technique. The relationships between the free energies of activation for these rotational processes and the character of the substituents, the number of double bonds, solvents and concentration were studied.     

Random and sequential radical cotelomerizations of 3,3,3‐trifluoropropene (H2CCHCF3) with vinylidene fluoride (F2CCH2)

The synthesis of original cotelomers based on 3,3,3‐trifluoropropene (TFP) and vinylidene fluoride (VDF) with a general formula: R_F‐[CH₂? CF₂]_n? [CH₂? CH(CF₃)]_m? I (where n = 1–63, m = 2–640, and R_F = (CF₃)₂CF) was achieved by sequential and random cotelomerizations in the presence of R_FI. The radical cotelomerizations were initiated by thermal decomposition of different peroxide and persulfate initiators either in bulk, in solution (in the presence of acetonitrile or 1,1,1,3,3‐pentafluorobutane as the solvents), and in aqueous process (emulsion). Different adducts were obtained in good yield (50–70 wt %) with a relative proportion of each adduct depending on (i) the R₀ = [R_FI]₀/([TFP]₀+[VDF]₀) initial molar ratio, (ii) the reaction temperature, and (iii) C₀ = [In]₀/([TFP]₀+[VDF]₀). Random cotelomerization gave higher yields than those obtained from the sequential cotelomerization. When the concentration of the chain transfer agent increased, the molecular weights of the resulting poly(VDF‐co‐TFP) cotelomers decreased and showed that the R₀ ratio targeted the molecular weights (～700–66,000 g mol^?1). Some of the obtained molecular weights were exceptionally high for a (co)telomerization. The kinetics of the radical cotelomerization of VDF and TFP led to the determination of the reactivity ratios of both comonomers (r_VDF = 0.28 ± 0.07 and r_TFP = 2.35 ± 0.26 at 75 °C). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3964–3981, 2009     

Structures and isomerizations of carbenoids H2CCCLiX (X  F,Cl)

Novel structures of H₂C?C?CLiX (X ? F, Cl) were determined using HF/STO-3G gradient method. Both of the carbenoids have two equilibrium structures, askew and linear forms, at the level of calculation. In the case X?F, the former is more stable, but in the case X=Cl, the latter is more stable. The frontier MOs are given and analyzed.     

Synthesis of new racemic and optically active N‐phosphonoalkyl bicyclic β‐amino acids via the kabachnik–fields reaction as potential biologically active compounds

Novel racemic and optically active constrained N‐phosphonoalkyl bicyclic β‐amino acids have been synthesized via the Kabachnik–Fields reaction of the (RS) or (R)‐1‐aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octane‐2‐carboxylic acids with paraformaldehyde and benzaldehyde, and the dimethyl‐H‐phosphonate. The structure of obtained compounds was characterized by NMR (¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P), LC/MS, and X‐ray diffraction analyses. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 23:123–130, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.20759     

Synthesis and polymerization of racemic and optically active substituted β-propiolactones. VI. α-Phenyl β-propiolactone

The synthesis and optical resolution of α-phenyl β-amino-ethylpropionate led to the preparation of optically active α-phenyl β-propiolactones (PhPL) of different optical purities. The enantiomeric excess of PhPL was determined using 200 MHz ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, after complexation with tris[3-(trifluoromethyl hydroxymethylene)-d-camphorato]europium III. It was then polymerized, in bulk and in solution, using a potassium acetate/crown ether complex as initiator. The optically active poly(PhPL)s thus obtained are insoluble in most organic solvents, whereas atactic poly(PhPL)s are soluble in CCl₄, CHCl₃, and dichloroethane. Several differences are observed between the physical properties of optically active and atactic poly(PhPL)s. However, atactic poly(PhPL)s are semi-crystalline polymers, similar to poly(α-disubstituted β-propiolactone)s, but in contrast with poly(α-methyl β-propiolactone). Melting (T_f) and glass transition temperatures, as well as enthalpy of fusion (ΔH), vary with the optical purity of the polymers. For example, atactic poly(PhPL) exhibits a T_f = 94°C and ΔH = 9 J/g as compared to T_f = 119°C and ΔH = 37 J/g for a poly(PhPL) having an enatiomeric excess of 50%.