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.     

Organocatalyzed and Uncatalyzed CC/CC and CC/CN Exchange Processes between Knoevenagel and Imine Compounds in Dynamic Covalent Chemistry

Molecular diversity generation through reversible component exchange has acquired great importance in the last decade with the development of dynamic covalent chemistry. We explore here the recombination of components linked by C?C and C?N bonds through reversible double‐bond formation, and cleavage in C?C/C?C and C?C/C?N exchange processes. The reversibility of the Knoevenagel reaction has been explored, and C?C/C?C C/C exchanges have been achieved among different benzylidenes, under organocatalysis by secondary amines such as L ‐proline. The substituents of these benzylidenes were shown to play a very important role in the kinetics of the exchange reactions. L ‐Proline is also used to catalyze the reversible C?C/C?C exchange between Knoevenagel derivatives of barbituric acid and malononitrile. Finally, the interconversion between Knoevenagel derivatives of dimethylbarbituric acid and imines (C?C/C?N exchange) has been studied and was found to occur rapidly in the absence of catalyst. The results of this study pave the way for the extension of dynamic combinatorial chemistry based on C?C/C?C and C?C/C?N exchange systems.     

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.     

Selenium-77 NMR chemical shifts of five-membered selenium and sulphur heterocycles with CSe,CS,and CO groups

This paper reports the ⁷⁷Se NMR chemical shifts of 1,3-dithiole-, 1,3-thiaselenole- and 1,3-diselenole-2-ones, -thiones and -selones, of the corresponding saturated compounds 1,3-diselenolane-2-one, -thione and -selone, and the 1,3-thiaselenolium tetrafluoroborates, either unsubstituted or substituted by morpholino, ethylthio or ethylseleno groups in the 2-position. The ⁷⁷Se chemical shift values of the ring selenium and the C?Se groups are compared with the ¹³C chemical shift values of neighbouring carbon atoms. The relationships between the ⁷⁷Se chemical shifts of the C?Se groups and the wavelengths of their n→* absorption in the UV-visible spectrum are discussed with respect to the significance of the δE term in the contribution of the paramagnetic screening and the electron density distribution.     

Selenoketene (H2CCSe)+• and selenoketyl cumulene (HCCSe)+ ions and their neutral counterparts: a tandem mass spectrometric and computational study

Dissociative electron ionization (70eV) of selenophene (C₄H₄Se) generates m/z 106 ions of composition [H₂, C₂, ⁸⁰Se]^+? and m/z 105 ions of [H, C₂, ⁸⁰Se]⁺. From tandem mass spectrometric experiments, Density Functional Theory (DFT) and ab initio calculations, it is concluded that these ions have the structure of selenoketene H₂C?C?Se^+? (1a^+? )and selenoketyl HC?C?Se⁺ (2a⁺) ions respectively. The calculations predict that selenoketene ion 1a^+? is separated by high energy barriers from its isomers selenirene (H e)^+? 1b^+?, ethyne selenol (HCCSeH)^+? 1c^+?, (CCHSeH)^+? 1d^+? and (CCSeH₂)^+? 1e^+?. The selenoketyl ion 2a⁺ is separated by high barriers from its isomers (CCHSe)⁺ 2b⁺, and (CCSeH)⁺ 2c⁺. Neutralization‐reionization mass spectra (NRMS) of these structurally characterized ions confirmed that the corresponding neutral analogues, selenoketene H₂CCSe 1a and selenoketyl radical HCCSe 2a^? are stable in the rarefied gas phase. The relative, dissociation, and isomerization energies for selenoketene and selenoketyl ions and neutrals studied at B3LYP/6–31G(d,p) and G2/G2(MP2) levels are used to support and interpret the experimental results. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Metal Alkoxide Promoted Regio‐ and Stereoselective CO and CC Metathesis of Allenoates with Aldehydes

The reaction of 2,3‐allenoates and aldehydes in the presence of an alkoxide affords alkyl 4,5‐diaryl‐3‐oxo‐2‐propylpent‐4(E)‐enoates and cis‐3,4‐diaryloxetanes through a formal C?O and C?C metathesis. A mechanism for this reaction has been proposed.     

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