O-substituted alkyl aldehydes for rhodium-catalyzed intermolecular alkyne hydroacylation: the utility of methylthiomethyl ethers

Combining α-methylthiomethyl (MTM) ether substituted aldehydes and 1-alkynes in the presence of [Rh(dppe)]ClO(4) results in efficient intermolecular alkyne hydroacylation to deliver α-O-MTM-substituted enone products. The product MTM ethers can be converted to the free hydroxyl group either in situ, by the addition of water to the completed reaction, or in a separate operation, by the action of silver nitrate.     

Synthesis of tris-hydroxymethyl-based nitrone derivatives with highly reactive nitronyl carbon

A novel series of α-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone derivatives, bearing a hydrophobic chain on the aromatic ring and three hydroxyl functions on the tert-butyl group, was synthesized through a short and convenient synthetic route based on a one-pot reduction/condensation of tris(hydroxymethyl)nitromethane with a benzaldehyde derivative. Because of the presence of hydroxyl functions on the tert-butyl group, an intramolecular Forrester-Hepburn reaction leading to the formation of an oxazolidine-N-oxyl compound was observed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The mechanism of cyclization was further studied by computational methods showing that intramolecular hydrogen bonding and high positive charge on the nitronyl carbon could facilitate the nucleophilic addition of a hydroxyl group onto the nitronyl carbon. At high nitrone concentrations, a second paramagnetic species, very likely formed by intermolecular nucleophilic addition of two nitrone molecules, was also observed but to a lesser extent. In addition, theoretical data confirmed that the intramolecular reaction is much more favored than the intermolecular one. These nitrones were also found to efficiently trap carbon-centered radicals, but complex spectra were observed due to the presence of oxazolidine-N-oxyl derivatives.     

Chiral Sulfinimines in Asymmetric Synthesis of Enantiomeric Aminophosphonic Acids

Abstract

Aminophosphonic acids have become important in different fields of chemistry, medicine and agriculture. In this review article, we highlight a new strategy developed in the author's laboratory of asymmetric synthesis of enantiomeric aminophosphonic acid that users chiral sulfinimines as reagents. A key reaction in the synthesis of enantiopure α-, β- and γ-aminophosphonic acids is a highly or fully diastereoselective addition of trivalent phosphorus nucleophiles and α-phosphonate carbanions to enantiopure sulfinimines. The steric course of these addition reactions is rationalized. The usefulness of the sulfinimine methodology is demonstrated by the synthesis of biologically active enantiopure 2-amino-3-phosphonopropanoic acid (AP3), 2-amino-4-phosphonobutanoic acid (AP4) and phosphoemeriamine.     

Multi-component regio- and diastereoselective cobalt-catalyzed hydrovinylation/allylboration reaction sequence

The combination of a regioselective cobalt-catalyzed 1,4-hydrovinylation and the diastereoselective allylboronation reaction leads to a wide scope of functionalized hydroxydienyl esters in a one-pot reaction in excellent yields. With catalytic amounts of base, these products are easily converted either into α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated hydroxyl esters or complex tetrasubstituted tetrahydropyrans in chemo- and diastereoselective fashions. In addition, a high-yielding four-component one-pot reaction involving an acrylate, two different and unsymmetrical 1,3-dienes, and an unsaturated aldehyde is presented.     

Synthesis of novel fullerene α-amino acid conjugates

Aspartic acid and glutamic acid with protected α-amino and α-carboxyl groups had been used to react with the activated hydroxyl group of N-substituted 3,4-fullero pyrrolidine. The products were deprotected, affording two monofuUerene α-amino acids, monofullerene aspartic acid （mFas） and monofullerene glutamic acid （mFgu）. Then a bifullerene glutamic acid conjugate （bFguC） was synthesized by reaction of mFgu containing protected amino group with N-substituted 3,4-fullero pyrrolidine.     

REACTION OF TRIFLUOROMETHYLSULFENYL CHLORIDE WITH 3-CHLORO- AND 3-HYDROXYPROPYNES

Vinylsulfides are often obtained via the reaction of substituted acetylenes with sulfur-containing reagents. The presence of other functional groups such as the halide or the hydroxyl moieties enhances the usefulness of the vinylsulfide intermediates. To this end, propargyl alcohol and halides have found wide application. With a view to enhance the biological properties of the end products synthesized from the vinylsulfide intermediates, the trifluoromethylthio function has now been incorporated as a part of the vinylic system. This communication presents the free-radical addition of trifluoromethylsulfenyl chloride to 3-chloro- and 3-hydroxypropynes, and the mechanism of the formation of the various products and their spectral characterization.     

Effects of Alloyed Metal on the Catalysis Activity of Pt for Ethanol Partial Oxidation: Adsorption and Dehydrogenation on Pt(3)M (M=Pt, Ru, Sn, Re, Rh, and Pd)

The adsorption and dehydrogenation reactions of ethanol over bimetallic clusters, Pt(3)M (M = Pt, Ru, Sn, Re, Rh, and Pd), have been extensively investigated with density functional theory. Both the α-hydrogen and hydroxyl adsorptions on Pt as well as on the alloyed transition metal M sites of PtM were considered as initial reaction steps. The adsorptions of ethanol on Pt and M sites of some PtM via the α-hydrogen were well established. Although the α-hydrogen adsorption on Pt site is weaker than the hydroxyl, the potential energy profiles show that the dehydrogenation via the α-hydrogen path has much lower energy barrier than that via the hydroxyl path. Generally for the α-hydrogen path the adsorption is a rate-determining-step because of rather low dehydrogenation barrier for the α-hydrogen adsorption complex (thermodynamic control), while the hydroxyl path is determined by its dehydrogenation step (kinetic control). The effects of alloyed metal on the catalysis activity of Pt for ethanol partial oxidation, including adsorption energy, energy barrier, electronic structure, and eventually rate constant were discussed. Among all of the alloyed metals only Sn enhances the rate constant of the dehydrogenation via the α-hydrogen path on the Pt site of Pt(3)Sn as compared with Pt alone, which interprets why the PtSn is the most active to the oxidation of ethanol.     

An umpolung sulfoxide reagent for use as a functionalized benzyl carbanion equivalent

N-Methyl ortho-carbamoylaryl benzyl sulfoxides can be used as synthetic equivalents for α-hydroxy, α-chloro, and α-acetammido benzyl carbanions by means of a two-step sequence involving highly diastereoselective α-C-alkylation with alkyl halides followed by displacement of the sulfinyl residue (which can be recovered and recycled) by a hydroxyl, a chlorine or an acetamido, respectively, under non-oxidative Pummerer conditions. The scope and limits of the method, including a stereoselective version of the reaction, as well as the mechanism of the process are discussed in detail.     

Post-lactonization of vinyl polymers containing pendent ester and hydroxymethyl groups

Copolymers of methyl methacrylate with methyl and ethyl α-hydroxymethylacrylate and with α-hydroxymethylstyrene have been prepared with free-radical initiators at temperatures below 80°C. At higher reaction temperatures or under extrusion conditions, alcohol was eliminated and the free hydroxyl content was greatly decreased. All evidence indicates the formation of six-membered lactone groups in this post-polymerization reaction: direct evidence for their formation is lacking, however, since neither infrared nor nuclear magnetic resonance spectra could be used to detect lactonization in this system. The loss of activity from ¹⁴C ester-labeled methyl methacrylate copolymer on heating could be correlated with the extent of lactonization. The degree of lactonization is relatively less with copolymers containing higher amounts of hydroxymethyl groups. The resulting polymers exhibit higher heat distortion temperatures and decreased impact resistance when compared to poly(methyl methacrylate). Attempts were made to incorporate similar lactone structures by cyclocopolymerization with methyl methacrylate of α-methacryloxymethylstyrene or ethyl α-methacryloxymethylacrylate, but only crosslinked polymers or polymers with pendent unsaturation were found.     

Polycarbonate-modified epoxies. I. Studies on the reactions of epoxy resin/polycarbonate blends prior to cure

An epoxy resin based upon the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A was modified with poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (PC). Prior to aromatic amine cure, the possible reactions in the epoxy resin/PC blend were investigated using GPC and FTIR techniques. It was shown that at 150°C, the epoxy resin acted as a plasticizer and promoted the crystallization of PC. In addition, a transesterification between the secondary hydroxyl groups in the epoxy resin with the carbonate groups in PC occurred. This reaction resulted in degraded PC chains with phenolic hydroxyl end groups. There was no evidence of reaction of epoxide groups at 150°C in this blend. At 200°C, the secondary hydroxyl groups acted as a catalyst converting most of the aromatic–aromatic carbonates to the aromaticndash;liphatic and aliphaticndash;aliphatic carbonates through transesterification. At this elevated temperature, the secondary hydroxyl groups were regenerated by the addition reaction between the epoxide groups and the phenolic hydroxyl end groups, either from the transesterification or the hydrolysis of PC. This addition reaction combining the PC chains and epoxy chains eventually resulted in a crosslinked polymer if the extent of reaction was high. Thus, by using a melt blending process at high temperature, e.g., 200°C, a copolymer network structure of PC-modified epoxy could be formed. The fracture toughness should be increased by increasing the capability for plastic deformation due to the incorporation of PC chains into the network; results will be reported in a future study. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Molecular Dynamic Simulation on the Absorbing Process of Isolating and Coating of α-olefin Drag Reducing Polymer

The absorbing process in isolating and coating process of α-olefin drag reducing polymer was studied by molecular dynamic simulation method, on basis of coating theory of α-olefin drag reducing polymer particles with polyurethane as coating material. The distributions of sodium laurate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate on the surface of α-olefin drag reducing polymer particles were almost the same, but the bending degrees of them were obviously different. The bending degree of SLA molecules was greater than those of the other two surfactant molecules. Simulation results of absorbing and accu-mulating structure showed that, though hydrophobic properties of surfactant molecules were almost the same, water density around long chain sulfonate sodium was bigger than that around alkyl sulfate sodium. This property goes against useful absorbing and accumulating on the surface of α-olefin drag reducing polymer particles; simulation results of interactions of different surfactant and multiple hydroxyl compounds on surface of particles showed that, interactions of different surfactant and one kind of multiple hydroxyl compound were similar to those of one kind of surfactant and different multiple hydroxyl compounds. These two contrast types of interactions also exhibited the differences of absorbing distribution and closing degrees to surface of particles. The sequence of closing degrees was derived from sim-ulation; control step of addition polymerization interaction in coating process was absorbing mass transfer process, so the more closed to surface of particle the multiple hydroxyl com-pounds were, the easier interactions with isocyanate were. Simulation results represented the compatibility relationship between surfactant and multiple hydroxyl compounds. The isolating and coating processes of α-olefin drag reducing polymer were further understood on molecule and atom level through above simulation research, and based on the simulation, a referenced theoretical basis was provided for practical optimal selection and experimental preparation of α-olefin drag reducing polymer particles suspension isolation agent.     

Unusual Reaction of β-Hydroxy α-Diazo Carbonyl Compounds with Trichloroacetonitrile (CI3CCN) and Sodium Hydride

In the process of preparing α-diazo carbonyl compound 2 by imidation of 1, we unexpectedly observed a direct conversion of the hydroxyl group into trichloroacetylamino group. In this presentation, we report this unprecedented reaction, as well as the Rh2(OAc)4-catalyzed reaction of the resulting β-(trichloroacetyl)amino β-diazo carbonylcompounds 3. [ 1]     

The lead tetraacetate oxidation of Δ6-unsaturated tertiary alcohols. Eight-membered cyclic ether formation

In the lead tetraacetate oxidation of the unsaturated tertiary cyclic alcohols 1a and 1b, and the acyclic alcohol 15a, all possessing a Δ⁶-olefinic bond (with respect to the hydroxyl group), the α-acetoxylated eight-membered cyclic ethers 6a, 6b and 16a, respectively, were obtained. With these substrates lead tetraaeetate reacts at the double bond and, if at all, only by weak association with the hydroxyl group, so that fragmentation products derived from alkoxy radical intermediates (such as 2) were not formed. The mechanism of this cyclisation reaction is discussed.     

Glycosylations with a septanosyl fluoride donor lacking a C2 protecting group

Septanosyl fluorides, prepared from protected pyranoses, were used as donors in glycosylation reactions. The fluorides were synthesized by the addition of vinyl Grignard to the pyranoses followed by ozonolysis and then DAST-mediated fluorination. Activation in the presence of nucleophiles then provided the product glycosides. High α-stereoselectivity was observed for glycosylations using a donor that had a free C2 hydroxyl group; a model where the hydroxyl group participates to guide the stereochemical outcome is proposed.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 2,6-cis-substituted tetrahydropyrans: Brønsted acid-catalyzed intramolecular oxa-conjugate cyclization of α,β-unsaturated ester surrogates

Intramolecular oxa-conjugate cyclization (IOCC) of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, triggered by deprotonation with a base, represents a straightforward method for the synthesis of tetrahydropyrans. However, it has been known that stereochemical outcome of IOCC depends on the local structure of substrates and sometimes requires harsh reaction conditions and/or prolonged reaction times for selective formation of 2,6-cis-substituted tetrahydropyrans. These shortcomings limit the feasibility of IOCC in the context of complex natural product synthesis. In this paper, we describe Br?nsted acid-catalyzed IOCC of α,β-unsaturated ester surrogates (e.g., α,β-unsaturated thioesters, oxazolidinone imides, and pyrrole amides) under mild reaction conditions, which affords a series of synthetically versatile 2,6-cis-substituted tetrahydropyran derivatives with good to excellent stereoselectivity (dr from 7:1 to >20:1). These α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds were found to be more reactive than the corresponding oxoesters that are generally unreactive toward Br?nsted acid-catalyzed intramolecular oxa-conjugate additions. The product tetrahydropyrans could be transformed into various derivatives in an efficient manner, highlighting the usefulness of our methodology.     

Reaction of hydroxyl radical with aromatic hydrocarbons in nonaqueous solutions: A laser flash photolysis study in acetonitrile

Laser flash photolysis (LFP) of acetonitrile solutions of N-hydroxypyridin-2-thione in the presence of trans-stilbene generates a transient absorbance at 392 nm, attributed to the addition of hydroxyl radical to stilbene. The observed transient absorbance was used in competitive LFP experiments to determine relative rates of reaction for hydroxyl radical with a range of aromatic hydrocarbons in acetonitrile. Structure-reactivity relationships for the reaction of hydroxyl radical with arenes are derived. With these aromatic hydrocarbons, we observe a good correlation between the rates of hydroxyl-radical reaction and the ionization potential of the arene. Kinetic isotope effects are consistent with hydroxyl-radical addition being the dominant reaction pathway with the arene.     

Copper(II) tetrafluoroborate as an extremely efficient catalyst for 1,3-dithiolane/dithiane formation from carbonyl compounds under solvent-free conditions at room temperature

Copper(II) tetrafluoroborate hydrate is a new and extremely efficient catalyst for 1,3-dithiolane/dithiane formation from aromatic, heteroaromatic and aliphatic aldehydes and cyclic saturated ketones in 1-5 min under solvent-free conditions at room temperature. The reaction is compatible with other functionalities such as ether, ester, hydroxyl, halide, nitro and cyano groups and exhibits excellent chemoselectivity. α,β-Unsaturated aldehydes/ketones lead to selective formation of 1,3-dithiolanes instead of Michael addition products. For substrates bearing an aldehyde and a ketone carbonyl group, chemoselective dithiolane formation takes place with the aldehyde.     

α- and β-Mercaptoalkanoic Acids: Versatile Synthons in the Syntheses of Thiasteroid Analogues and Selenathiadiazoles

This review describes the reactions of α/β-mercaptoalkanoic acids as building blocks for the synthesis of heterosteroids, polyfunctional heterocycles with pharmacological interest. Annelated heterocycles have been prepared by the cyclocondensation reaction of α- and β-mercaptoalkanoic acids with carbonyl compounds. This reaction takes place by nucleophilic addition, followed by cyclization with elimination of water. The main objective of this survey is to provide a comprehensive account of this reaction type in building various heterocycles, and examining their potential in developing better chemotherapeutic agents.     

N,N-dihalophosphoramides—X : The addition of diethyl N,N-dichlorophosphoroamidate (DCPA) to α-olefins and α,β-unsaturated esters

The addition of DCPA to several α-olefins and α,β-unsaturated esters has been studied. The reaction was found to proceed in boiling benzene and was evidently accelerated by UV irradiation. N-Chloro adducts, formed in reasonable yields, afforded the corresponding diethyl N-(β-chloroalkyl) phosphoroamidates upon reduction with sodium bisulphite solution. β-Chloroamine hydrochlorides or α-chloro-β-aminoacid ester hydrochlorides could be produced from the latter compounds by PN bond cleavage with hydrogen chloride in benzene. The full regioselectivity for anti-Markovnikov addition, as proven by NMR evidence, is in accord with the photolytically initiated radical-chain mechanism proposed for the reaction. This reaction offers an easy, two-step approach to aminochlorination of a double bond in α-olefins and α,β-unsaturated esters.     

Diastereoselectivity in the epoxidation of γ-hydroxy α,β-unsaturated esters: temperature and solvent effect

The diastereoselectivity in the nucleophilic epoxidation of γ-hydroxy α,β-unsaturated compounds using lithium-tert-butylperoxide is highly dependent on the reaction solvent but not influenced by the temperature. The free hydroxyl is key for stereoselection.