Notable structural property of 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylanilide enolates: interconversion between the rotamers and their reactivity

Interconversion between the separable 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylanilide rotamers was found to easily occur through formation of the lithium enolate. Protonation of the anilide enolate gave the anilide rotamer mixture of E-major. On the other hand, reactions of lithium enolate prepared from 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylpropionanilide with alkyl bromides preferentially afforded a Z-rotamer of alkylated products.     

Attempt to Synthesize Hindered 2,4,6‐Tri‐Aryloxy‐s‐Triazines: Bis(2,4‐di‐tert‐Butylphenyl) Carbonate – Crystal Structure

Some less hindered 2,4,6‐tri‐aryloxy‐s‐triazines were synthesized through the reaction of the corresponding phenols as a starting materials with cyanogen bromide (BrCN) to obtain the corresponding arylcyanates and then trimerized. Unexpectedly, 2,4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐1‐cyanatobenzene derived from 2,4‐di‐tert‐butylphenol did not trimerize but, indeed, yielded bis(2,4‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl) carbonate. The structures of 2,4,6‐tri‐aryloxy‐s‐triazines and bis(2,4‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl) carbonate were characterized by means of IR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. Also the structure of the latter compound was studied by X‐ray crystallography.     

New Aspects of 1,3‐Diphosphacyclobutane‐2,4‐diyls

1,3‐Di(tert‐butyl)‐2,4‐bis[2,4,6‐tri(tert‐butyl)phenyl]‐1,3‐diphosphacyclobutane‐2,4‐diyl was formed from [2,4,6‐tri(tert‐butyl)phenyl]phosphaacetylene and t‐BuLi. In addition, the X‐ray diffraction analysis was carried out, together with theoretical calculations of the structure and NMR data.     

Two Sterically Encumbered 1,3,2‐Dioxaphospholanes – Reactions,Comparison of Crystal Structures and Computational Explanations

3,4,5,6‐Tetrachlorobenzo‐3‐(2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,3,2‐dioxaphospholane ( 2 ) and benzo‐3‐(2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,3,2‐dioxaphospholane ( 4 ), in which the reactive P^III‐center lies close to the sterically demanding Mes* group (Mes* = 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl), were prepared from Mes*–Br and the corresponding P‐chloro‐phospholane. Compounds 2 and 4 reacted with various oxidants, azides, MeSO₃CF₃ or [(tht)AuCl] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) to give the expected products. All crystal structures of the products display a strongly distorted Mes* system with a boat conformation of the phenyl ring and appreciable out‐of‐plane deviations of phosphorus and the ortho‐tert‐butyl groups to opposite sides of the ring. Quantum chemical calculations at the DFT (density functional theory) level of theory were used in order to discriminate between intra‐ and intermolecular forces, which are responsible for these distortions.     

Z and E rotamers of N‐formyl‐1‐bromo‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxymorphinan‐6‐one and their interconversion as studied by 1H/13C NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

N‐Formyl‐1‐bromo‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxymorphinan‐6‐one (compound 2 ), an important intermediate in the NIH Opiate Total Synthesis, presumably exists as a mixture of two rotamers (Z and E) in both CHCl₃ and DMSO at room temperature due to the hindered rotation of its N‐C18 bond in the amide moiety. By comparing the experimental ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts of a single rotamer and the mixture of compound 2 in CDCl₃ with the calculated chemical shifts of the geometry optimized Z and E rotamers utilizing density functional theory, the crystalline rotamer of compound 2 was characterized as having the E configuration. The energy barrier between the two rotamers was also determined with the temperature dependence of ¹H and ¹³C NMR coalescence experiments, and then compared with that from the reaction path for the interconversion of the two rotamers calculated at the level of B3LYP/6‐31G*. Detailed geometry of the ground state and the transition states of both rotamers are given and discussed. Copyright © 2012 This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

Ring‐opening Polymerization of L‐Lactide by an Anionic Cobalt(II) Aryloxide

The reaction of anhydrous CoCl₂ with NaOAr (ArO=2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenoxo) in THF at room temperature in 1:3 molar ratio afforded anionic cobalt aryloxide [Na(THF)₆][Co(OAr)₃] ( 1 ). The definite structure of this complex was characterized by X‐ray single crystal diffraction. It was found that this anionic aryloxo cobalt(II) complex could effectively initiate the ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide both in solution and in bulk, leading to high molecular weight poly(L‐lactide).     

Dimers and Trimers of Diphosphenes: A Wealth of Cyclo‐Phosphanes

Various new P‐based ring systems were synthesised by transferring established reaction routes from NP chemistry to the analogous PP compounds. Due to the different electronic situations of phosphorus and nitrogen with respect to s and p character of the lone pair, different reactivity of the phosphorus compounds was observed, especially with regard to the specificity of the reactions and the stability of the products. Whereas Mes*N?PCl (Mes*=2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl) is stable in the solid state and in solution, the formal phosphorus congener Mes*P?PCl is highly reactive and could not be observed. Instead, several formal dimers and trimers of Mes*P?PCl could be isolated, which constitute an intriguing variety of three‐ and four‐membered ring systems.     

Influence of P‐Bonded Bulky Substituents on Electronic Interactions in Ferrocenyl‐Substituted Phospholes

2,5‐Diferrocenyl‐1‐Ar‐1H‐phospholes 3 a – e (Ar=phenyl ( a ), ferrocenyl ( b ), mesityl ( c ), 2,4,6‐triphenylphenyl ( d ), and 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl ( e )) have been prepared by reactions of ArPH₂ ( 1 a – e ) with 1,4‐diferrocenyl butadiyne. Compounds 3 b – e have been structurally characterized by single‐crystal XRD analysis. Application of the sterically demanding 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl group led to an increased flattening of the pyramidal phosphorus environment. The ferrocenyl units could be oxidized separately, with redox separations of 265 ( 3 b ), 295 ( 3 c ), 340 ( 3 d ), and 315 mV ( 3 e ) in [NnBu₄][B(C₆F₅)₄]; these values indicate substantial thermodynamic stability of the mixed‐valence radical cations. Monocationic [ 3 b ]⁺–[ 3 e ]⁺ show intervalence charge‐transfer absorptions between 4650 and 5050 cm^?1 of moderate intensity and half‐height bandwidth. Compounds 3 c – e with bulky, electron‐rich substituents reveal a significant increase in electronic interactions compared with less demanding groups in 3 a and 3 b .     

2,4,6‐Tri‐tert‐butylphenyl and 2,4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐6‐methylphenyl groups: Look similar,react differently

The crystal structures of molecules with two phosphaalkene groups have been determined. Differences in the stabilization of the PC π‐bond by the 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl and 2,4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐6‐methylphenyl groups were observed. It has been found that lithium supermesityl(trimethylsilyl)phosphide could be a very efficient base to remove a proton from acetonitrile.© 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 13:662–666, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10083     

Catenation of 1,3‐Diphosphacyclobutane‐2,4‐diyl Units Having 2,4,6‐Tri‐tert‐butylphenyl Protecting Groups and a P‐sec‐Butyl Group in the Ring

Two and three stable 1‐sec‐butyl‐2,4‐bis(2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,3‐diphosphacyclobutane‐2,4‐diyl units were catenated to construct multi‐biradical derivatives by utilizing 1,3‐di‐, 1,4‐di‐, and 1,3,5‐trimethylenebenzenes as bridging groups, respectively. UV/Vis spectroscopic and cyclovoltammetric (CV) properties of the multi‐biradicals indicate a non‐conjugative interaction between the concatenated biradical units.     

Intramolecular CH Activation through Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Reaction of Iodoalkynes

The cycloisomerization reaction of 1‐(iodoethynyl)‐2‐(1‐methoxyalkyl)arenes and related 2‐alkyl‐substituted derivatives gives the corresponding 3‐iodo‐1‐substituted‐1H‐indene under the catalytic influence of IPrAuNTf₂ [IPr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropyl)phenylimidazol‐2‐ylidene; NTf₂=bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imidate]. The reaction takes place in 1,2‐dichloroethane at 80 °C, and the addition of ttbp (2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylpyrimidine) is beneficial to accomplish this new transformation in high yield. The overall reaction implies initial assembly of an intermediate gold vinylidene upon alkyne activation by gold(I) and a 1,2‐iodine‐shift. Deuterium labeling and crossover experiments, the magnitude of the recorded kinetic primary isotopic effect, and the results obtained from the reaction of selected stereochemical probes strongly provide support for concerted insertion of the benzylic C? H bond into gold vinylidene as the step responsible for the formation of the new carbon–carbon bond.     

Phase‐Transfer‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of Axially Chiral Anilides

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral o‐iodoanilides and o‐tert‐butylanilides as useful chiral building blocks was achieved by means of binaphthyl‐modified chiral quaternary ammonium‐salt‐catalyzed N‐alkylations under phase‐transfer conditions. The synthetic utility of axially chiral products was demonstrated in various transformations. For example, axially chiral N‐allyl‐o‐iodoanilide was transformed to 3‐methylindoline by means of radical cyclization with high chirality transfer from axial chirality to C‐centered chirality. Furthermore, stereochemical information on axial chirality in o‐tert‐butylanilides could be used as a template to control the stereochemistry of subsequent transformations. The transition‐state structure of the present phase‐transfer reaction was discussed on the basis of the X‐ray crystal structure of ammonium anilide, which was prepared from binaphthyl‐modified chiral ammonium bromide and o‐iodoanilide. The chiral tetraalkylammonium bromide as a phase‐transfer catalyst recognized the steric difference between the ortho substituents on anilide to obtain high enantioselectivity. The size and structural effects of the ortho substituents on anilide were investigated, and a wide variety of axially chiral anilides that possess various functional groups could be synthesized with high enantioselectivities. This method is the only general way to access a variety of axially chiral anilides in a highly enantioselective fashion reported to date.     

A Boryl‐Substituted Diphosphene: Synthesis,Structure, and Reaction with n‐Butyllithium To Form a Stabilized Adduct by pπ‐pπ Interaction

A boryl‐substituted diphosphene was synthesized through the nucleophilic borylation of PCl₃ with a borylzinc reagent, followed by a reduction with Mg. A combined analysis of the resulting diboryldiphosphene by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, DFT calculations, and UV/Vis spectroscopy revealed a σ‐electron‐donating effect for the boryl substituent that was slightly weaker than that of the 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl (Mes*) ligand. The reaction of this diboryldiphosphene with ⁿBuLi afforded a boryl‐substituted phosphinophosphide that was, in comparison with the thermally unstable Mes*‐substituted diaryldiphosphene, stabilized by a π‐electron‐accepting effect of the boryl substituent.     

Synthesis of Dialkyl 2‐(Alkylamino)‐4,9‐dihydro‐9‐oxocyclohepta[b]pyran‐3,4‐dicarboxylates

Dialkyl 2‐(alkylamino)‐4,9‐dihydro‐9‐oxocyclohepta[b]pyran‐3,4‐dicarboxylates are prepared in a one‐pot three‐component reaction of alkyl isocyanide, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate, and α‐tropolone (=2‐hydroxycyclohepta‐2,4,6‐trienone). The reaction proceeds smoothly at room temperature and under neutral conditions to afford tropolone derivatives in high yield.     

A Boryl‐Substituted Diphosphene: Synthesis,Structure, and Reaction with n‐Butyllithium To Form a Stabilized Adduct by pπ‐pπ Interaction

A boryl‐substituted diphosphene was synthesized through the nucleophilic borylation of PCl₃ with a borylzinc reagent, followed by a reduction with Mg. A combined analysis of the resulting diboryldiphosphene by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, DFT calculations, and UV/Vis spectroscopy revealed a σ‐electron‐donating effect for the boryl substituent that was slightly weaker than that of the 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl (Mes*) ligand. The reaction of this diboryldiphosphene with ⁿBuLi afforded a boryl‐substituted phosphinophosphide that was, in comparison with the thermally unstable Mes*‐substituted diaryldiphosphene, stabilized by a π‐electron‐accepting effect of the boryl substituent.     

Intramolecular C?H Activation through Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Reaction of Iodoalkynes

The cycloisomerization reaction of 1‐(iodoethynyl)‐2‐(1‐methoxyalkyl)arenes and related 2‐alkyl‐substituted derivatives gives the corresponding 3‐iodo‐1‐substituted‐1H‐indene under the catalytic influence of IPrAuNTf₂ [IPr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropyl)phenylimidazol‐2‐ylidene; NTf₂=bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imidate]. The reaction takes place in 1,2‐dichloroethane at 80 °C, and the addition of ttbp (2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylpyrimidine) is beneficial to accomplish this new transformation in high yield. The overall reaction implies initial assembly of an intermediate gold vinylidene upon alkyne activation by gold(I) and a 1,2‐iodine‐shift. Deuterium labeling and crossover experiments, the magnitude of the recorded kinetic primary isotopic effect, and the results obtained from the reaction of selected stereochemical probes strongly provide support for concerted insertion of the benzylic C H bond into gold vinylidene as the step responsible for the formation of the new carbon–carbon bond.     

Towards Truly Sustainable Polymers: A Metal‐Free Recyclable Polyester from Biorenewable Non‐Strained γ‐Butyrolactone

The first effective organopolymerization of the biorenewable “non‐polymerizable” γ‐butyrolactone (γ‐BL) to a high‐molecular‐weight metal‐free recyclable polyester is reported. The superbase tert‐Bu‐P₄ is found to directly initiate this polymerization through deprotonation of γ‐BL to generate reactive enolate species. When combined with a suitable alcohol, the tert‐Bu‐P₄‐based system rapidly converts γ‐BL into polyesters with high monomer conversions (up to 90 %), high molecular weights (M_n up to 26.7 kg mol^?1), and complete recyclability (quantitative γ‐BL recovery).     

Combining Neopentyllithium with Potassium tert‐Butoxide: Formation of an Alkane‐Soluble Lochmann–Schlosser Superbase

Mixtures of alkyllithium and heavier alkali‐metal alkoxides are often used to form alkyl compounds of heavier alkali metals, but these mixtures are also known for their high reactivity in deprotonative metalation reactions. These organometallic mixtures are often called LiC–KOR superbases, but despite many efforts their constitution remains unknown. Herein we present mixed alkali‐metal alkyl/alkoxy compounds produced by reaction of neopentyllithium with potassium tert‐butoxide. The key to success was the good solubility and temperature‐stability of neopentyl alkali‐metal compounds, leading to hexane‐soluble mixtures, which allowed handling at ambient temperatures and isolation by crystallization. The compounds in solid state and in solution were identified by X‐ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy as mixtures of lithium/potassium neopentyl/tert‐butoxy aggregates of varying compositions Li_xK_yNp_z(OtBu)_x+y?z.     

Versatile One‐Step One‐Pot Direct Aldol Condensation Promoted by MgI2

A true one‐step one‐pot aldol‐reaction procedure has been developed for the synthesis of β‐hydroxy ketones and esters. The reaction can be run at room temperature by simply mixing four components in CH₂Cl₂, with medium‐to‐high yields of aldol products obtained after regular workup. Mechanistically, the process probably proceeds via Mg‐enolate formation of the ketone or ester component, followed by addition to the electrophilic aldehyde.     

Synthesis of 2,4,6‐Tri‐Substituted Pyridine Derivatives in Aqueous Medium via Hantzsch Multi‐Component Reaction Catalyzed by Cerium (IV) Ammonium Nitrate

2,4,6‐Tri‐substituted pyridine derivatives have been efficiently synthesized in excellent yields using catalytic amounts of cerium (IV) ammonium nitrate in aqueous medium via one‐pot, multi‐component reaction. Condensation of dehydroacetic acid with aldehydes and ammonium acetate afforded corresponding tri‐substituted pyridine derivatives in excellent yields by using Hantzsch pyridine synthesis. The structures of all the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed from their analytical and spectral data.