The Michael addition of indoles to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by CeCl3.7H2O-NaI combination supported on silica gel

Alkylation of indoles by means of the Michael addition has been the subject of a number of investigation. It is well established that regioselectivity in the additions of indoles to electron-deficient alkenes is strongly controlled by the reaction medium. In a continuation of the work on developing greener and cleaner technologies, the cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate and sodium iodide combination supported on silica gel catalyzes the alkylation of various indoles with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones giving 3-(3-oxoalkyl)indole derivatives in good yields. The substitution on the indole nucleus occurred exclusively at the 3-position, and N-alkylation products have not been observed.     

Products of the addition of water molecules to Al3O3- clusters: structure, bonding, and electron binding energies in Al3O4H2-, Al3O5H4-, Al3O4H2, and Al3O5H4

Two stable products of reactions of water molecules with the Al3O3- cluster, Al3O4H2- and Al3O5H4-, are studied with electronic structure calculations. There are several minima with similar energies for both anions and the corresponding molecules. Dissociative absorption of a water molecule to produce an anionic cluster with hydroxide ions is thermodynamically favored over the formation of Al3O3-(H2O)n complexes. Vertical electron detachment energies of Al3O4H2- and Al3O5H4- calculated with ab initio electron propagator methods provide a quantitative interpretation of recent anion photoelectron spectra. Contrasts and similarities in these spectra may be explained in terms of the Dyson orbitals associated with each transition energy.     

Green protocol for conjugate addition of thiols to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones using a [bmim]PF6/H2O system

Alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones undergo conjugate addition rapidly with thiols in a hydrophobic ionic liquid [bmim]PF(6)/H(2)O solvent system (2:1) in the absence of any acid catalyst to afford the corresponding Michael adducts in high to quantitative yields with excellent 1,4-selectivity under mild and neutral conditions. The enones show enhanced reactivity in ionic liquids, thereby reducing reaction times and improving the yields significantly. The use of ionic liquids helps to avoid the use of either acid or base catalysts for this conversion. The recovered ionic liquid was reused four to five times with consistent activity.     

Water-soluble (salicyladimine)2Cu complex as an efficient and renewable catalyst for Michael addition of indoles to nitroolefins in water

An efficient and environmentally friendly protocol has been demonstrated for water-soluble (salicyladimine)₂Cu complex-catalyzed Michael addition of indoles to nitroolefins in water at 30?°C. A variety of substituted indoles and β-nitrostyrenes could be worked well to provide the title products in 81–97% yields. Moreover, the catalyst can be reused directly at least for four times without significantly decreasing activity.     

New versatile route to the synthesis of tetrahydro-beta-carbolines and tetrahydro-pyrano[3,4-b]indoles via an intramolecular Michael addition catalyzed by InBr3

A simple multistep synthetic strategy to 4-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline and 1,3,4,9-tetrahydro-pyrano[3,4-b]indole derivatives starting from commercially available indole 2-carboxylic acid (5) is described. The final intramolecular Michael addition promoted by catalytic amount of InBr(3) (5-10 mol %) provided the expected polycyclic compounds in excellent yields (up to 97%) both in anhydrous organic and aqueous media.     

Syntheses and structures of two low-dimensional beryllium phosphate compounds: [C5H14N2]2[Be3(HPO4)5].H2O and [C6H18N2]0.5[Be2(PO4)(HPO4)OH].0.5H2O

The first two low-dimensional beryllium phosphates, [C5H14N2]2[Be3(HPO4)5].H2O (BePO-CJ29) and [C6H18N2]0.5[Be2(PO4)(HPO4)OH].0.5 H2O (BePO-CJ30), have been successfully synthesized under mild hydrothermal/solvothermal conditions. BePO-CJ29 is built up from strict alternation of BeO4 and HPO4 tetrahedra forming a unique one-dimensional double chains with 12-ring apertures. There are pseudo-10-ring apertures enclosed by two double chains through H-bonds. BePO-CJ29 can also be viewed as a pseudo 2-D layered structure stabilized by strong H-bonds. The diprotonated 2-methylpiperazium cations are located at three positions (i.e., inside the 12-ring aperture, inside the pseudo-10-ring aperture, and in the interlayer of the inorganic pseudo-layers. BePO-CJ30 is constructed by the alternation of Be-centered tetrahedra (including BeO4 and HBeO4) and P-centered tetrahedra (including PO4 and HPO4) resulting in a two-dimensional layered structure parallel to the (0 1 1) direction. The complex layer is composed of coupled 4.8 net sheets. The diprotonated 1,6-hexandiamine cations and water molecules reside in the interlayer regions and interact with the inorganic layers through H-bonds. Crystal data are as follows: [C5H14N2]2[Be3(HPO4)5].H2O (BePO-CJ29), triclinic, P1 (No. 2), a = 8.1000(9) A, b = 8.4841(14) A, c = 19.665(2) A, alpha = 89.683(10) degrees, beta = 78.182(8) degrees, gamma = 87.932(9) degrees, V = 1321.9(3) A3, Z = 2, R1 = 0.0523 (I > 2sigma(I)), and wR2 = 0.1643 (all data); [C6H18N2]0.5[Be2(PO4)(HPO4)OH].0.5 H2O (BePO-CJ30), orthorhombic, Pccn (No. 56), a = 26.01(4) A, b = 8.431(12) A, c = 9.598(13) A, V = 2105(5) A3, Z = 8, R1 = 0.0833 (I > 2sigma(I)), and wR2 = 0.2278 (all data).     

Raman and FTIR spectra of [Cu(H2O)6](BrO3)2 and [Al(H2O)6](BrO3)3 x 3H2O

Raman and FTIR spectra of [Cu(H2O)6](BrO3)2 and [Al(H2O)6](BrO3)3 x 3H2O are recorded and analyzed. The observed bands are assigned on the basis of BrO3- and H2O vibrations. Additional bands obtained in the region of v3 and v1 modes in [Cu(H2O)6](BrO3)2 are due to the lifting of degeneracy of v3 modes, since the BrO3- ion occupies a site of lower symmetry. The appearance v1 mode of BrO3- anion at a lower wavenumber (771 cm(-1)) is attributed to the attachment of hydrogen to the BrO3- anion. The presence of three inequivalent bromate groups in the [Al(H2O)6](BrO3)3 x 3H2O structure is confirmed. The lifting of degeneracy of v4 mode indicates that the symmetry of BrO3- anion is lowered in the above crystal from C3v to C1. The appearance of additional bands in the stretching and bonding mode regions of water indicates the presence of hydrogen bonds of different strengths in both the crystals. Temperature dependent Raman spectra of single crystal [Cu(H2O)6](BrO3)2 are recorded in the range 77-523 K for various temperatures. A small structural rearrangement takes place in BrO3- ion in the crystal at 391 K. Hydrogen bounds in the crystal are rearranging themselves leading to the loss of one water molecule at 485 K. This is preceded by the reorientation of BrO3- ions causing a phase transition at 447 K. Changes in intensities and wavenumbers of the bands and the narrowing down of the bands at 77 K are attributed to the settling down of protons into ordered positions in the crystal.     

Synthesis and characterization of the open-framework barium bisphosphonate [Ba3(O3PCH2NH2CH2PO3)2(H2O)4].3H2O

Following the strategy of using polyfunctional phosphonic acids for the synthesis of open-framework metal phosphonates, the phosphonocarboxylic acid (H2O3PCH2)2NCH2C6H4COOH was used in the hydrothermal synthesis of new Ba phosphonates. Its decomposition led to the first open-framework barium phosphonate [Ba3(O3PCH2NH2CH2PO3)2(H2O)4].3H2O. The synthesis was also successfully performed using iminobis(methylphosphonic acid), (H2O3PCH2)2NH, as a starting material, and the synthesis was optimized to obtain as a pure material. The reaction setup as well as the pH are the dominant parameters, and only a diffusion-controlled reaction led to the desired compound. The crystal structure was solved from single-crystal data: monoclinic; C2/c; a=2328.7(2), b=1359.95(7), and c=718.62(6) pm; beta=98.732(10) degrees ; V=2249.5(3)x10(6) pm3; Z=4; R1=0.036; and wR2=0.072 (all data). The structure of [Ba3(O3PCH2NH2CH2PO3)2(H2O)4].3H2O is built up from BaO8 and BaO10 polyhedra forming BaO chains and layers, respectively. These are connected to a three-dimensional metal-oxygen-metal framework with the iminobis(methylphosphonic acid) formally coating the inner walls of the pores. The one-dimensional pores (3.6x4 A) are filled with H2O molecules that can be thermally removed. Thermogravimetric investigations and temperature-dependent X-ray powder diffraction demonstrate the stability of the crystal structure up to 240 degrees C. The uptake of N,N-dimethylformamide and H2O by dehydrated samples is demonstrated. Furthermore, IR, Raman, and 31P magic-angle-spinning NMR data are also presented.     

Zeotype ionic crystal of Cs5[Cr3O(OOCH)6(H2O)3][alpha-CoW12O40].7.5H2O with shape-selective adsorption of water

A polyoxometalate-macrocation ionic crystal of Cs5[Cr3O(OOCH)6(H2O)3][alpha-CoW12O40].7.5H2O (1a) was synthesized by the complexion of an inorganic metal-oxide cluster of [alpha-CoW12O40]6- and a macrocation of [Cr3O(OOCH)6(H2O)3]+. About 50% of the water of crystallization in 1a was desorbed by the evacuation to form phase 1b, and the crystallinity and crystal structure was essentially maintained by the transformation. 1b adsorbed water into the solid bulk but excluded larger alcohols. 1b was easily reusable for the separation of only water in the azeotropic mixture of ethanol and water.