A new mechanism for the addition of alcohols to disilenes revealed by DFT and ONIOM calculations

Density functional and ONIOM calculations of alcohol and phenol additions to two (tetramethyl and tetramesityl) disilenes were carried out. The dimer of MeOH adds to Me₂SiSiMe₂ more readily than the monomer. The trimer does not afford the adduct, but a zwitter-ionic intermediate. In the (CF₃OH)₂ addition to Me₂SiSiMe₂, H?Si bond formation is more advanced than O?Si bond formation in the transition state (TS). Addition of seven phenol derivatives to Me₂SiSiMe₂ was examined, and the dimer reactions were found to be superior to the monomer reaction regardless of the substituents on the benzene rings. (MeOH)₂ reacts also with Mes₂SiSiMes₂ favorably, and an isomer of the reactant-like complex (precursor) may afford an adduct of different stereochemistry via internal rotations. Generally, the dimer of the alcohol or phenol is the reactant toward the disilenes. Exceptionally, a monomer of p-(dimethylamino)phenol reacts with Mes₂SiSiMes₂ owing to steric congestion by the four mesityl groups.     

Iodine-promoted imino-Diels-Alder reaction of fluorinated imine with enol ether: synthesis of 2-perfluorophenyl tetrahydroquinoline derivatives

Iodine was used to catalyze the hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of pentafluorobenzylidineaniline (C₆F₅CHNAr 1) with enol ethers to afford the corresponding tetrahydroquinolines derivatives as a mixture of cis/trans stereoisomers in moderate yields. These products could also be prepared by one-pot, three-component reaction of pentafluorophenylaldehyde, anilines, and enol ethers under the same reaction condition. Mild and neutral reaction conditions, facile experimental procedure, and low price of iodine should make this method attractive for practical synthesis of many fluorinated tetrahydroquinoline derivatives.     

Synthesis and polymerization of novel fluorinated acrylates and methacrylates bearing alkoxyl groups derived from radical addition reaction of perfluoroisopropenyl ester

Radical addition of 2-benzoxypentafluoropropene [CF₂C(CF₃)OCOC₆H₅] (BPFP) with alcohols such as ethanol and 2-propanol was investigated to afford fluorinated alcohols. Radical addition of BPFP with cyclic ethers such as tetrahydrofuran, 1,3-dioxolane and tetrahydropyran was also achieved to afford addition products followed by hydrolysis to yield fluorinated alcohols possessing cyclic structures. Novel fluoroalkyl acrylates and methacrylates were synthesized from the fluorinated alcohols with (meth)acryloyl chlorides. Radical polymerization of the fluoroalkyl (meth)acrylates yielded polymers of 1.2 × 10⁵ as the highest molecular weight.     

Asymmetric formal synthesis of (−)-pancracine via catalytic enantioselective C-H amination process

The reaction of silyl enol ethers derived from cyclohexanone with [(4-nitrophenylsulfonyl)imino]phenyliodinane (pNsNIPh) catalyzed by dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N-tetrachlorophthaloyl-(S)-tert-leucinate], Rh₂(S-TCPTTL)₄, provides, after desilylation, N-pNs-protected (S)-β-aminocyclohexanone in up to 72% ee. This represents the first example of the insertion of nitrene species into an allylic C-H bond of silyl enol ethers. Using this process, a new catalytic asymmetric route to an advanced intermediate in Overman's synthesis of the montanine-type Amaryllidaceae alkaloid (−)-pancracine has been developed. The key steps involve (a) a one-pot Rh₂(R-TCPTTL)₄-catalyzed sequential 1,4-hydrosilylation/enantioselective C-H amination of 2-cyclohexen-1-one, (b) N-alkylation and subsequent intramolecular Mukaiyama aldol reaction/dehydration, and (c) a regio- and stereocontrolled reductive deoxygenation of bicyclic enone 27 with migration of the double bond to create the C1/C11a double bond and the stereogenic center at C11 of 3-arylhexahydroindole 31.     

Improved thermal stability of crosslinked PTFE using fluorine gas treatment

Crosslinked PTFE (XF) samples were fluorinated at 293-593 K under 0.7-101 kPa F₂ and for 1 h to 7 days to improve its thermal stability. Because the weight uptake which may be caused by the fluorine addition was detected at room temperature, CC bonds in XF can be fluorinated and the fluorine content was saturated after 72 h. Weights of all samples increased more than that of original XF through additional fluorination of CC bonds, whereas it decreased by the chain-scission to form gaseous fluorocarbons such as CF₄. The intensity ratio in IR spectra of the peaks correspond to the double bond (CFCF₂) at 1785 cm⁻¹ and the characteristic peaks of PTFE at 1794 cm⁻¹, I_PTFE/I_PTFE was smaller for the fluorinated XF rather than that for XF. Average values of heat of crystallization (ΔH_c) for all fluorinated XF samples were about 2 J/g higher than that of the original XF. The decomposition temperature calculated from the TG curves increased with increasing reaction temperature and reaction time up to 72 h. Thermal stability of XF was improved through fluorine gas treatment.     

Synthesis of novel highly heat-resistant fluorinated silane coupling agents

Novel fluorinated silane coupling agents with a biphenyl structure, C_nF_2n+1(C₆H₄)₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₃)₃ (n = 4, 6, and 8), were synthesized with the aim to improve the heat-resistance, oxidation-resistance, and acid-resistance of the surface modified with a common fluorinated silane coupling agent. Alcohols, Rf(C₆H₄)₂CH(OH)CH₃, were obtained by reducing the intermediates, Rf(C₆H₄)₂COCH₃, the products of the reaction of 4-acetyl-4′-bromobiphenyl with perfluoroalkyl iodides in the presence of copper powder. The reaction of the alcohols with phosphorus tribromide gave olefins, Rf(C₆H₄)₂CHCH₂, which were then allowed to react with tetramethoxysilane in the presence of hexachloroplatinate(IV) catalyst to yield novel fluorinated silane coupling agents with a biphenyl structure. The coupling agents with four and six carbon atoms in their fluorocarbon chains were obtained as a colorless liquid while that with 8 carbon atoms was a white gel. Evaluations were made of the coupling agents using surfaces modified with them in terms of water contact angles, heat-resistance, oxidation-resistance, and acid-resistance. The agents behaved similarly to the conventional fluorinated silane coupling agents with respect to water contact angles, oxidation-resistance, and acid-resistance, whereas the former showed an extremely higher heat-resistance (up to 350 °C). In addition, C₆H₅C₆H₄CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₃)₃ and CH₃(C₆H₄)₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₃)₃ with no fluoroalkyl group were synthesized and the heat-resistance of glass surfaces modified with these compounds was examined.     

Transformation of benzonitrile into benzyl alcohol and benzoate esters in supercritical alcohols

The reactions of benzonitrile in supercritical methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol were investigated under non-catalytic conditions. In supercritical methanol, benzonitrile was converted to methyl benzoate in high yield. The esterification reaction also occurred in supercritical ethanol to afford ethyl benzoate in moderate yield. The esterification could occur via a route analogous to the Pinner reaction. On the other hand, benzonitrile in supercritical 2-propanol yielded no ester. Benzyl alcohol was the major product in supercritical 2-propanol. We investigated the reaction of the CN bond in supercritical 2-propanol. In supercritical 2-propanol, N-benzylideneaniline was transferred to the reduction product (N-benzylaniline) and hydrolysis products (benzyl alcohol and aniline). The hydrolysis reaction was restricted when the reaction was carried out in supercritical 2-propanol with a low water content. This indicates that the water in the 2-propanol acts as a reagent for the hydrolysis of the CN bond. These results suggested the following reaction process: C₆H₅CN→C₆H₅CHNH→C₆H₅CHO→C₆H₅CH₂OH.     

An economic and efficient tetrahydrofuranylation of alcohols, imines and alkynes

The tetrahydrofuranyl radical, generated by heating tetrahydrofuran in the presence of air and allyl or benzyl chloride, becomes a useful tool in order to transform the hydroxyl functions into ethers, or the CN double bond into amine, or the C-C triple bond into vinyl derivatives. A radical mechanism is proposed followed by a nucleophilic substitution for the alcohol substrate and a radical addition for the iminic and the acetylenic reactants.     

The use of perfluoroalkyl hypofluorites for an efficient synthesis of perfluorinated ethers characterized by low Ostwald coefficient

In the reaction between perfluoroolefins and perfluoroalkylhypofluorites the existence of two different free radical reaction mechanisms is demonstrated by the presence of characteristic byproducts. These kinetic schemes can be experimentally controlled by tuning the hypofluorite concentration in the reaction media.In particular, in the reactions between trifluoromethyl hypofluorite and highly reactive perfluoroolefins like CF₂CFOCF₃ and CF₂CF₂, the free radical oligomerization and dimerization products can be suppressed by utilizing the opportune experimental conditions.The pure perfluorinated ethers obtained, having low Ostwald coefficient, can be utilized as contrast agents for diagnostic ultrasound imaging injectable microbubbles composition.     

The migratory insertion of carbon monoxide and methyl isocyanide into zirconium–carbon and titanium–carbon bonds anchored to a calix[4]arene moiety: a dynamical density functional study

The energetics and reaction mechanism of the migratory insertion of carbon monoxide and methyl isocyanide into the zirconium–carbon and titanium–carbon bonds in [calix[4](OMe)₂(O)₂–M–Me₂], (M=Zr, Ti), have been investigated by combining static and dynamic density functional calculations. Two steps have been characterized: the coordination of the incoming nucleophilic moiety leading to relatively stable facial adducts; its subsequent insertion into the M–C bond, leading to ²-bound acyl or iminoacyl complexes, providing a rationale for the different behavior of CO and MeNC towards both insertion and deinsertion reactions. Our results indicate that the rate-determining step for the overall MeNC insertion into the M–C bond is its coordination to the electron-deficient metal center, with the titanium system featuring a higher energy barrier (12.7 versus 5.5 kcal mol^–1). Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations have been performed on the Zr system by means of the Car–Parrinello method, to study the hitherto inaccessible mechanistic features of the insertion reactions.Contribution to the Björn Roos Honorary Issue     

Regio- and stereochemistry of Na-mediated reductive cleavage of alkyl aryl ethers

We have investigated the regio- and stereochemistry of the reductive dealkoxylation of alkyl aryl ethers. Chiral non-racemic secondary alcohols were converted into the corresponding m-terphenyl or 2-biphenyl ethers either via inversion of configuration under Mitsunobu reaction conditions or with retention of configuration under S_NAr conditions. The successive cleavage of the aromatic CO bond occurred in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of Na metal in dry tetrahydrofuran at rt with retention of configuration, thus highlighting that the overall inversion or retention of configuration for the whole two-step procedure is dictated by the stereochemistry of the first synthetic step.     

Functionalized fluorinated arylethers by ring-opening of 1,2,3,4-tetrafluorodibenz[b,f][1,4]oxazepine

Treatment of 1,2,3,4-tetrafluorodibenz[b,f][1,4]oxazepine with acetyl or benzoyl chloride produces the fluorinated aryl ethers bearing amide and aldehyde functionalities, RCONHC₆H₄-2-OC₆F₄CHO-2 (2a R=Ph; 2b R=Me). The structures of intermediate compounds produced by addition of acid chloride across the imine bond and by partial hydrolyis of the resulting chlorine-containing compound have been determined.     

Copper-catalyzed oxidative cleavage of carbon-carbon double bond of enol ethers with molecular oxygen

A novel CC bond cleavage reaction of aromatic enol ethers (1) to give ketones (2) using molecular oxygen as oxidant is described. Among the examined catalysts (Cu(II), Pd(II), Ru(II), and H⁺), CuCl₂ exhibited the highest activity. The reaction proceeded smoothly with several kinds of substrates.     

Intramolecular cyclization of phenol derivatives with CC double bond in a side chain

Intramolecular cyclization of phenol derivatives with CC double bond on a side chain was examined using copper and silver catalyst. For example, 2-allylphenol (1a) was converted to 2,3-dihydro-2-methylbenzofuran (2a) in 70% yield using Cu(OTf)₂ or in 90% yield using AgClO₄. This catalysis was applied to cyclization of 2-allylphenol derivatives, 2-(3-butenyl)phenol, benzoic acids with CC double bond, 2-allyl-N-tosylaniline, and 2-(3-butenyloxy)phenol. Furthermore, allyl phenyl ether was converted to 2a via Claisen rearrangement and cyclization.     

Synthesis of polysubstituted pyridines under combined microwave and ultrasound irradiation: K2CO3-promoted tandem addition/cyclization/hydrogen shift process

A convenient and efficient K₂CO₃-promoted tandem reaction of chalcone, malononitrile, and methanol for the synthesis of highly functionalized pyridines has been developed. This multi-component reaction employing the weak nucleophilic agent methanol proceeded smoothly under combined microwave and ultrasound irradiation (CMUI). The reaction mechanism was proposed to consist of a Michael addition, a methoxylation of CN bond, a cyclization to a 1,4-dihydropyridine and an intermolecular hydrogen shift between 1,4-dihydropyridine and initial chalcone.     

Theoretical studies on the imine germylenoid HNGeNaF and its insertion reaction with R-H (R = F, OH, NH2, CH3)

The geometries and isomerization of the imine germylenoid HNGeNaF as well as its insertion reactions with R-H (R = F, OH, NH₂, CH₃) have been systematically investigated at the B3LYP/6-311+G^∗ level of theory. The potential barriers of the four insertion reactions are 117.2, 172.6, 219.7, and 322.3 kJ/mol, respectively. Here, all the mechanisms of the four reactions are identical to each other, i.e., an intermediate has been formed first during the insertion reaction. Then, the intermediate could dissociate into the substituted germylene (HNGeHR) and NaF with a barrier corresponding to their respective dissociation energies. Correspondingly, the reaction energies for the four reactions are 185.0, 208.1, 224.4, and 266.9 kJ/mol, respectively, which are linearly correlated with the calculated barrier heights. Compared with the insertion reaction of HNGe: and R-H, the introduction of NaF makes the insertion reaction occur easily though it is more difficult to proceed than that of insertion reaction between H₂GeNaF and R-H. Furthermore, the effects of halogen (F, Cl, Br) substitution and inorganic salts employed on the reaction activity have also been discussed. As a result, the relative reactivity among the four insertion reactions should be as follows: H-F > H-OH > H-NH₂ > H-CH₃.     

Vinyl polymerization versus [1,3] O to C rearrangement in the ruthenium-catalyzed reactions of vinyl ethers with hydrosilanes

Two reactions, vinyl polymerization and [1,3] O to C rearrangement of vinyl ethers, are investigated in the ruthenium-catalyzed reaction with hydrosilanes. The reaction pathways are dependent on the substituents of the vinyl ether, in particular, those of the alkoxy group. Primary-, secondary-, and tertiary-alkyl vinyl ethers, ROCHCH₂, are polymerized with ease to give the corresponding polymer in good yields. When R is electron-donating benzyl groups, the reaction does not give the polyvinyl ether but results in [1,3] O to C rearrangement to give the corresponding aldehyde, RCH₂CHO in moderate to good yields. The rearrangement selectively proceeds when vinyl ethers having α-substituents are used as the starting materials to give the corresponding ketones in high yields. With catalytic amounts of hydrosilanes, the rearrangement gives ketones or aldehydes selectively. In sharp contrast, use of excess amounts of hydrosilanes leads to the rearrangement followed by reduction of the formed carbonyl group to give the corresponding silyl ethers in good yields. Nature of catalytically active species is discussed.     

Reactions of fluorinated silanes with 2-nitrocinnamates

The interaction of 2-nitrocinnamates with silicon reagents Me₃SiR_f (R_f = CF₃, C₂F₅, and C₆F₅) promoted either by sodium acetate in DMF or by tetrabutylammonium acetate in dichloromethane has been described. The reactions proceed as conjugate addition of fluorinated carbanion at the CC bond and afford 3-aryl-2-nitrobutanoates bearing a fluorinated substituent in good yields as diastereomeric mixtures in ratio from 1:1 to 1.6:1.     

On the PdCl2-catalyzed synthesis of allylic azides and allylic sulfonamides from homoallylic alcohols

According to experimental and literature data, the one-pot formation of allylic azides or sulfonamides from catalytic amounts of PdCl₂, homoallylic alcohols and TMSN₃ or TsNH₂ occurs through CC migration followed by regioselective nucleophilic addition on the Pd^II-activated CC bond and β-OH elimination.