Novelties of solid-liquid phase transfer catalysed synthesis of p-toluenesulfonyl fluoride from p-toluenesulfonyl chloride

Organic sulfonyl fluorides are of interest owing to their insecticidal, germicidal and enzyme inhibitory properties. In the current work synthesis of p-toluenesufonyl fluoride was accomplished by reacting p-toluenesulfonyl chloride with solid potassium fluoride using PEG-400 as a catalyst under solid-liquid phase transfer catalysis (S-L PTC) at 30 °C. p-Toulenesulfonyl fluoride is used as peroxygen bleach activator. It also finds use in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The mechanism is based on homogeneous solubilization of solid. PEG forms a complex with metal cation which associates with the nucleophile and it participates in S_N2 type reaction. The reaction is intrinsically kinetically controlled. A complete theoretical analysis is done to determine both the rate constant and equilibrium constant from the same set of data. The activation energy and Gibbs free energy are also calculated.     

A new type of B-podand catalysts for solid-liquid phase transfer reactions

Boron podands 1-4 (B-podands) were studied as strong complexing agents of alkali metal cations and very powerful catalysts in typical anion promoted reactions under solid-liquid conditions, even in chlorobenzene and acetonitrile. The results were comparable with the catalytic activity of classical phase transfer catalysts: crown ethers, polyethylene glycols (PEG) and previously studied Si-podands.     

Synthesis of oligo(p-phenylene vinylene)-porphyrin-oligo(p-phenylene vinylene) triads as antenna molecules for energy transfer

The oligo(p-phenylene vinylene)-porphyrin-oligo(p-phenylene vinylene) (P-OPVn, n=2, 4, where n is the number of phenyl rings) and the complex with Zn²⁺ based on P-OPVn were synthesized for investigating their photophysical properties via UV-vis, voltammetry, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectra. In these molecules two OPV moieties as energy donors were linked to porphyrin center by virtue of Wittig reaction. The detailed studies of photophysical properties indicate that OPV group can act as an antenna unit for effective intramolecular energy transfer.     

Selective N-debenzylation of amides with p-TsOH

N-Benzylamides were debenzylated efficiently with 4 equiv. of p-TsOH in refluxing toluene. Good to quantitative yields of the desired primary amides were obtained within 2-4 h from a wide variety of N-2,4-dimethoxybenzylamides. N-4-Methoxylbenzyl amides and N-benzylamides were also debenzylated cleanly. In the case of N-2,4-dimethoxylbenzylamides, selective N-debenzylation was possible in the presence of N-Fmoc, N-t-BOC or N-trityl-protection. Protected amino acid amides survived these conditions without any detectable epimerization.     

Original reaction of p-nitrobenzyl chloride with aldehydes using tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE)

A series of disubstituted diarylethanols was prepared in moderate to good yields by reaction of p-nitrobenzyl chloride (1) with various aromatic aldehydes (2-12) in presence of tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE).     

p-tert-Butylcalix[8]arene catalysed synthesis of 3,5-dinitrothiophene scaffolds: antiproliferative effect of some representative compounds on selective anticancer cell lines

A new efficient protocol for the synthesis of 3,5-dinitrothiophene scaffolds was developed by using simple p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene in aqueous medium. Biological activities of some representative compounds were also studied to inhibit the cell growth on selective anticancer cell lines.     

Ab initio study of the mechanism of the formation of p-rosolic acid from trifluoromethoxybenzene under HF/Lewis acid conditions

The mechanism of the formation of p-rosolic acid from trifluoromethoxybenzene under HF/Lewis acid conditions was studied using ab initio methods. A series of cationic intermediates is initiated by the expulsion of a fluorine atom of trifluoromethoxybenzene with anomeric assistance of the trifluoromethoxy oxygen. The resulting difluorocarbonium ion is attacked by a second trifluoromethoxybenzene to generate the first carbon-carbon bond on what will be the central carbon of p-rosolic acid. Elimination of phenol results in the formation of cationic intermediate 4 which is susceptible to carbon-alkylation by the same phenol to form the second carbon-carbon bond. Attack on subsequent difluorocarbonium ions by trifluoromethoxybenzene strips trifluoromethyl groups from the downstream intermediates, eventually leading to p-rosolic acid, and continues the generation of 4, each of which initiate a fresh mechanistic series toward another p-rosolic acid molecule.     

A new approach to the synthesis of lysophospholipids: preparation of lysophosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine from p-nitrophenyl glycerate

A new stereospecific synthesis of lysophosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine is reported. The sequence relies on p-nitrophenyl-d-glycerate as a chiral synthon, including chemoselective reduction of the active ester function without affecting other carboxylic ester groups present in the molecule.     

The synthesis of P-stereogenic MOP analogues and their use in rhodium catalysed asymmetric addition

The synthesis is reported of novel P-stereogenic binaphthyl substituted monophosphines via a short five-step synthesis using a nickel coupling reaction with separation of the borane-protected diastereomeric products. Extensive coordination studies of these ligands with a number of well-known metal precursors were performed to more effectively understand their behaviour during catalysis.These ligands and some previously reported P-stereogenic ligands were tested in the rhodium catalysed asymmetric addition of phenyl boronic acid to napthaldehyde. These studies in asymmetric catalysis were used to compare the chiral induction of ligands that combine both axial and central chirality with ligands lacking P-stereogenicity.     

Sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of artemisinin based on its reaction with p-aminophenylboronic acid

The electrochemical detection of artemisinin generally requires high oxidation potential or the use of complex electrode modification. We find that artemisinin can react with p-aminophenylboronic acid to produce easily electrochemically detectable aminophenol for the first time. By making use of the new reaction, we report an alternative method to detect artemisinin through the determination of p-aminophenol. The calibration curve for the determination of artemisinin is linear in the range of 2 μmol L⁻¹ to 200 μmol L⁻¹ with the detection limit of 0.8 μmol L⁻¹, which is more sensitive than other reported electrochemical methods. The relative standard deviation is 4.83% for the determination of 10 μM artemisinin. Because the oxidation potential of p-aminophenol is around 0 V, the present method is high selective. When 40 μM, 90 μM and 140 μM of artemisinin were spiked to compound naphthoquine phosphate tablet samples, the recoveries are 107.6%, 105.4% and 101.7%, respectively. This detection strategy is attractive for the detection of artemisinin and its derivatives. The finding that artemisinin can react with aromatic boronic acid has the potential to be exploited for the development of other sensors, such as fluorescence artemisinin sensors.     

pTSA-catalyzed condensation of xylenols and aldehydes under solvent-free conditions: One-pot synthesis of 9H-xanthene or bisphenol derivatives

A simple and efficient procedure for the synthesis of 9H-xanthene or bisphenol derivatives has been developed by one-pot condensation of xylenols with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid (pTSA) as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions at 100 °C. It is noteworthy that the condensation reaction of 3,5-xylenol with aldehydes produces 9H-xanthene derivatives, while the reaction with other xylenols leads to the corresponding bisphenol derivatives. Different types of aromatic aldehydes are used in the reaction and in every case the products were obtained in good to excellent yields. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and CHN data.     

Indium triflate-catalyzed allylation reactions of N-sulfonyl aldimines or N-alkoxycarbonylamino p-tolylsulfones with allyltrimethylsilane: synthesis of protected homoallylic amines

Indium triflate-catalyzed allylation reactions of N-sulfonyl aldimines or N-alkoxyloxycarbonylamino p-tolylsulfone with allyltrimethylsilane have been successfully developed to produce protected homoallylic amines.     

Development of the first and practical method for enantioselective synthesis of B-enriched p-borono-l-phenylalanine

At present p-(¹⁰B)borono-l-phenylalanine (l-¹⁰Bpa) is used clinically as an excellent ¹⁰B carrier for BNCT; however, its enantioselective synthesis has not been reported yet. The present Letter describes the first and practical method for enantioselective synthesis of ¹⁰B-enriched l-Bpa using Z-l-Ser-OMe as the chiral synthon in good total yield and high optical purity.     

Bi(OTf)3-catalyzed acylation of p-quinones: a facile synthesis of acylated hydroquinones

p-Quinones undergo smooth acylation with acetic anhydride in the presence of 2 mol % of bismuth triflate under mild conditions to afford the corresponding 1,4-diacylated-2-acetoxylated hydroquinones in excellent yields with high selectivity.     

One-pot synthesis of N-alkyl purine and pyrimidine derivatives from alcohols using TsIm: a rapid entry into carboacyclic nucleoside synthesis

A convenient and efficient one-pot N-alkylation of nucleobases from alcohols using N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)imidazole (TsIm) is described. In this method, treatment of alcohols with a mixture of purine or pyrimidine nucleobase, TsIm, K₂CO₃, and triethylamine in refluxing DMF regioselectively furnishes the corresponding N-alkyl nucleobases in good yields. This methodology is highly efficient for various structurally diverse primary alcohols.     

New B-substituted derivatives of m-carborane, p-carborane, and cobalt bis(1,2-dicarbollide) anion

The Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of B-I bond in m- and p-carboranes and cobalt bis(1,2-dicarbollide) anion with organomagnesium and organozinc compounds were studied. Carboranyl derivatives of furan, thiophene, indole, pyridine and quinoline were synthesized. 2-Pyridylethynyl and 3-quinolylethynyl derivatives of p-carborane were prepared by Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions using corresponding alkynes or their magnesium derivatives.     

Porosity development in chars from thermal decomposition of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide)

The main objective of this work was to investigate the development of porosity in solid residues from the thermal decomposition of the polymer, poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA). PPTA chars were prepared at different temperatures and characterized by X-ray diffraction and physical adsorption of CO₂ at 0 °C. The carbonization temperatures were selected on the basis of thermogravimetric analysis results. The effect of introducing an isothermal treatment at 500 °C on the characteristics of the resulting chars was also studied. It was found that this pre-treatment lowers the decomposition temperature of PPTA and yields a somewhat less ordered material than in the case of pyrolysis under a constant heating rate. The micropore volume increases with increasing heat treatment temperature for both series of samples. The mean micropore size decreases for the two series of chars until the 700-800 °C interval; above these temperatures, this evolution is reversed. The micropore volume of the samples submitted to the isothermal treatment is higher than when PPTA is treated under a constant heating rate. Likewise, the pore size distribution is more heterogeneous when the intermediate isothermal treatment at 500 °C is introduced during PPTA pyrolysis. Some differences between porosity development in chars from PPTA and other high thermal stability polymers were explained on the basis of different mechanistic features in polymer pyrolysis.     

Porosity development in chars from thermal degradation of poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole)

The main objective of this work was to investigate porosity development in carbonaceous materials formed by thermal degradation of the high thermal stability polymer, poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO). Two varieties of PBO, as-spun (AS) and high-modulus (HM) were studied. Chars obtained at various polymer decomposition temperatures (selected on the basis of thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis results) were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and CO₂ adsorption at 273 K. The obtained adsorbents essentially contained narrow micropores, and maximum pore development took place at ca. 1000 K, when the polymer was not yet completely decomposed. At higher temperatures, there is a certain pore widening along with a displacement towards smaller pore sizes, and the pore volume significantly decreases.     

Bi(OTf)3-catalyzed conjugate addition of indoles to p-quinones: a facile synthesis of 3-indolyl quinones

A wide range of indoles undergo conjugate addition to p-benzoquinones in the presence of 2 mol% bismuth triflate under mild conditions to afford the corresponding 3-indolyl quinones in excellent yields with high selectivity.