Electrochemical synthesis of 2-arylimino-4,5-di(2-furyl)-1,3-dioxoles and (E)-1,2-di(2-furyl)vinylene bis(N-arylchloroformimidates). HF and B3LYP computational study of the topomerization mechanism of aryliminodioxoles

Cathodic reductions of 2,2′-furils in the presence of N-arylcarbonimidoyl dichlorides lead to 2-arylimino-4,5-di(2-furyl)-1,3-dioxoles in high yields, along with minor amounts of (E)-1,2-di(2-furyl)vinylene bis(N-arylchloroformimidates). HF and B3LYP density functional theory methods have been applied to the determination of molecular geometries and to study the topomerization mechanism of aryliminodioxoles. The molecular structure of (E)-1,2-di(2-furyl)vinylene bis[N-(2-chloro-4-methylphenyl)chloroformimidate] has been determined by X-ray crystallography and compared with the calculated structure.     

A study of the tautomerism of β-dicarbonyl compounds with special emphasis on curcuminoids

Six β-diketones related to curcumin and curcumin itself have been studied by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy in chloroform in order to determine the equilibrium constant between the two keto/enol tautomers. In order to do this GIAO/B3LYP/6-31G^∗∗ calculations of absolute shieldings (σ, ppm) were carried out. To establish relationships between σ and experimental chemical shifts (δ, ppm), three simple β-diketones (acetylacetone, dibenzoylmethane and benzoylacetone) have been studied. The preference for different groups to be conjugated with the CO has been determined.     

An effective synthesis of N,N-dimethylamides from carboxylic acids and a new route from N,N-dimethylamides to 1,2-diaryl-1,2-diketones

Carboxylic acids were heated at 150 °C in DMF in the presence of 1.25 equiv of thionyl chloride to give corresponding N,N-dimethylamides in good yields. Tandem chlorination and amidation reactions occurred in the one-pot procedure. Dicarboxylic acids needed prolonged reaction time to produce bisamides in good yields. Some benzamides were efficiently converted into corresponding 1,2-diaryl-1,2-diketones (benzils) under acyloin condensation conditions in the presence of 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (DBB) in THF. Ultrasonic irradiation effectively accelerates the reaction, but it is not critical. However, the presence of DBB is fatal to the reaction. Although a few synthetic methods for benzils from benzoic acids have been reported so far, this method is one of the most convenient and highly reproducible procedures.     

Free radical ring expansion and chain extension of 1,3-diketones

Free radical-promoted one carbon ring expansion and chain extension of 1,3-diketones including 1,3-diarylpropane-1,3-diones and 2-aroyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-naphalen-1-one to generate corresponding 1,4-diketones are described.     

Solvent-dependent reactivities of acyclic nitrones with β-diketones: catalyst-free syntheses of endiones and enones

Reactions of the nitrones ^?O⁺N(Me)C(H)Ar 1 (Ar=phenyl 1a, 4-methylphenyl 1b, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl 1c, and anthracen-9-yl 1d) with the cyclic β-diketones 1,3-indandione 2 or barbituric acid 3 in CH₂Cl₂, afford the corresponding endiones 2′a–2′d or 3′a–3′d. In contrast, dimedone 4 reacts with 1a or 1b to give the endione 4′a or 4′b and the bis-adduct 4″a or 4″b. Nevertheless, reaction of 4 with 1c or 1d in CH₂Cl₂ furnishes only the endione adducts 4′c or 4′d. However, the reaction of 4 with 1a or 1b in methanol gives only 4″a or 4″b, respectively. Among acyclic β-diketones only malonic acid 7 reacts with 1a–1c. Reaction of 7 with 1a in CH₂Cl₂ forms cinnamic acid 7″a, whereas in the case of 1b, the endione 7′b and (E)-3-p-tolylacrylic acid 7″b are obtained. The nitrone 1c reacts with 7 in CH₂Cl₂ to afford the endione 7′c or with acetone yielding (E)-4-mesitylbut-3-en-2-one 8. X-ray analyses are reported for 4′c, 5, and 7″b. In addition, the calculated acidity of the hydrogen at the α-C atom is shown to correlate with the reactivity of the β-diketones with nitrones.     

Enantioselective monoreduction of different 1,2-diaryl-1,2-diketones catalysed by lyophilised whole cells from Pichia glucozyma

In this work we have studied the monoreduction of different 1,2-diaryl-ethanediones (benzils, 1) with lyophilised whole cells from Pichia glucozyma CBS 5766, using the diphenyl compound (benzil, 1a) as model substrate, and extended the enantioselective reduction to structurally different symmetric benzils for producing enantiomerically pure or enriched benzoins (α-hydroxyketones 2) in high yields and very short reaction times. In order to study the regio- and stereoselectivity of this biocatalyst, we examined the reduction of diaryldiketones formed from different aryl moieties, to obtain symmetric and asymmetric crossed-benzoins. This methodology is conducted under very mild reaction conditions (aqueous media with small amounts of DMSO for solubilising the substrates, T=28 °C), therefore constituting a green alternative compared to other reported procedures for obtaining homochiral benzoins.     

Iodomethane oxidative addition to β-diketonatobis(triphenylphosphite)rhodium(I) complexes: A synthetic, kinetic and computational study

New rhodium(I)- and rhodium(III)-β-diketonato complexes of the type [Rh(FcCOCHCOR)(P(OPh)₃)₂] and [Rh(FcCOCHCOR)(P(OPh)₃)₂(CH₃)(I)], with Fc = ferrocenyl and R = Fc, CH₃ and CF₃, have been synthesized. The reactivity of complexes of the type [Rh(β-diketonato)(P(OPh)₃)₂] increase in the order: β-diketonato = (CF₃COCHCOCF₃)⁻ < (CF₃COCHCOPh)⁻ < (CF₃COCHCOCH₃)⁻ < (PhCOCHCOPh)⁻ < (CF₃COCHCOFc)⁻ < (CH₃COCHCOPh)⁻ < (CH₃COCHCOCH₃)⁻ < (CH₃COCHCOFc)⁻ < (FcCOCHCOFc)⁻, giving linear relationships between the kinetic parameter ln k₂ and the parameters that are related to the electron density on the rhodium centre; the sum of the group electronegativities of the β-diketonato side groups (χ_R + χ_R′) and the pK_a of the uncoordinated β-diketone RCOCH₂COR′. The large negative values of the volume and entropy of activation indicated a mechanism which occurs via a polar transition state. A density functional theory study, at the PW91/TZP level of theory, indicates that oxidative addition of iodo methane to [Rh(FcCOCHCOCF₃)(P(OCH₃)₃)₂] occurs via a two-step mechanism. This mechanism involves a nucleophilic attack by the metal on the methyl carbon to displace iodide to form a metal-carbon bond and the coordination of iodide to the five-coordinated intermediate to give a six-coordinated trans alkyl product.     

A new reaction of diazomethane with norbornyl α-diketones

A new reaction of diazomethane with norbornyl α-diketones in MeOH as solvent leading regioselectively to ketals is described. The mechanistic details of this intriguing reaction were investigated employing d₄-MeOH, EtOH and d₆-EtOH. The surprising observation of complete deuterium incorporation in the diazomethane-derived methoxy group was accounted for by sequential deuterium exchange between the initially formed hemiketal d₄-18 and diazomethane in the presence of d₄-MeOH as solvent.     

Fluorinated 1,3-diketones, 2-trifluoroacetyl phenols and their derivatives: versatile reactants in phosphorus chemistry

The role of fluorinated β-diketones, their tautomers (keto–enols) and their derivatives as reagents towards λ³P compounds is reviewed, including 2-trifluoroacetyl phenols, possessing formally a keto–enol system, and their derivatives. In an ‘insertion’ reaction phosphine and the keto–enol tautomers of 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro- and 1,1,1-trifluoropentan-2,4-dione furnished primary (S) or (R) α-hydroxy phosphines, whose enol functions probably isomerized the corresponding keto compounds. Further addition and isomerisation furnished 1,3α,5,7β-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-2-phospha-6-oxa-9-oxabicyclo[3.3.1]-nonan-3β,7α-diol and 1,7-trifluoromethyl-3,5-methyl-2,4,8-trioxa-6-phophaadamantane, exclusively one diastereomer in each case. The main mechanistic feature of these reactions is a consecutive diastereoselective hemiketal cyclization. 1,1,1,5,5,5-Hexafluoro- and 1,1,1-trifluoropentan-2,4-dione, as well as 2-trifluoroacetyl phenol and its imino derivatives reacted diastereospecifically with phosphonous acid dichlorides, RPCl₂ to give in a concerted mechanism thermally stable tricyclic λ⁵σ⁵P phosphoranes containing two five-membered rings and one six-membered ring. Surprisingly, the two CF₃ groups bonded to an sp³-hybridized carbon were in a cisoid arrangement having closest non-bonding FF distances of 301.4 or 273.5 pm. These findings reflect the ‘through space’ F---F coupling constants of the tricyclic phosphoranes (J_FF=4.0–7.0 Hz), in solution. 4,4,4-Trifluoro-3-hydroxy-1-phenyl-butan-1-one and methyl or phenyl phosphonous acid dichlorides gave similar tricyclic phosphoranes decomposing at ambient temperature to furnish 1,2λ⁵σ⁴-oxaphospholanes and (E)-1,1,1-trifluoro-4-phenyl-but-2-en-4-one. Dialkylphosphites and 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentan-2,4-dione reacted to give either the (Z)-enol phosphonates or the respective γ-ketophosphonates from which in two cases four diastereomeric 2-oxo-2,5-dialkoxy-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-3-hydroxy-1,2λ⁵σ⁴-oxa-phospholanes were obtained. 2-Trifluoroacetyl cyclohexanone, 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-trimethylsiloxy-1-phenylbutan-1-one, 1-benzoyl-2-trifluormethyloxirane, 1-benzoyl-2-trifluoro-methylaziridine, 2-trifluoroacetyl-1-trimethylsiloxybenzene and (trifluoroacetyl-1-phenyl) diethyl phosphate reacted with tris(trimethylsilyl) phosphite to give functionalized α-trimethylsiloxy phosphonates, which could easily be transferred into the respective phosphonic acids. In the case of an oxirane and an aziridine ketone no ring cleavage was observed. For 1,1′-(2-hydroxy-5-methyl-m-phenylene)-bis-ethanone and 1,1′-(2-trimethylsiloxy-5-methyl-m-phenylene)-bis-ethanone benzoxaphospholanes were obtained. Trialkyl phosphites and 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentan-2,4-dione furnished cyclic phosphoranes containing the 3-hydroxy-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,2λ⁵σ⁵-oxaphospholene structural element, stable at ambient temperature only in the case of one cyclic phosphite precursor. (E)-1,1,1-Trifluoro-4-phenyl-but-2-en-4-one and trimethylphosphite reacted to form 1,2λ⁵σ⁵-oxaphosphol-4-ene as the sole product. Results similar to the reaction of 1,1′-(2-hydroxy-5-methyl-m-phenylene)-bis-ethanone with diethyltrimethylsilylphosphite were obtained for trimethylphosphite and 2-trifluoroacetyl phenol where a deoxygenated phosphorane was found, easily hydrolyzed to give the respective phosphonic acid. With dialkylisocyanato phosphites and the keto components, 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro- and 1,1,1-trifluoropentan-2,4-dione, 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-butandione, 2-trifluoroacetyl cyclohexanone, 2-trifluoroacetyl phenol and 1,1′-(2-hydroxy-5-methyl-m-phenylene)-bis-ethanone reacted in a ‘double’ cycloaddition to form bicyclic phosphoranes containing the 4,8-dioxa-2-aza-1λ⁵σ⁵-phosphabicyclo[3.3.0]-oct-6-en-3-one ring system; for the imino derivatives of 2-trifluoroacetyl phenol a corresponding 8-oxa-2,4-diaza- system was generated. For (E)-1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-4-trimethylsiloxy-3-penten-2-one however, a cyclic spiroimino phosphorane was obtained which underwent a [2+2] cyclodimerization to form a diazadiphosphetidine. Dimethylpropynyl phosphonite and 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentan-2,4-dione yielded diastereoselectively a bisphosphorane, namely 1,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)-3,6-dioxa-2,2,7,7-tetramethoxy-2,7-di(1-propynyl)-2,7-diphosphabicyclo[2.2.1] heptane. When trimethylsilanyl–phosphenimidous acid bis-trimethylsilanyl–amide, Me₃SiN=PN(SiMe₃)₂, was allowed to react with 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro- and 1,1,1-trifluoropentan-2,4-dione, (E)-1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-4-trimethylsiloxy-3-penten-2-one, 2-trifluoroacetyl cyclopentanone, 2-trifluoroacetyl phenol and its imino derivatives, 2-imino-1,2λ⁵σ⁴-oxaphospholenes were found containing two diastereomers in each case, which added hexafluoroacetone across the P=N bond to give 1,3,2λ⁵σ⁵-oxazaphosphetanes.     

Synthesis of lithium,sodium, cesium,and calcium salts of (E)-4- or (E,S)-3-methyl-2-(5-arylisoxazol-3-yl)-methyleneaminobutanoic, (E,S)-4-methyl-2- or (E,2S,3S)-3-methyl-2-(5-arylisoxazol-3-yl)methyleneaminopentanoic,and (E)-6-(5-arylisoxazol-3-yl)methyleneaminohexanoic acids

Preparative method for the synthesis of lithium, sodium, cesium, and calcium salts of (E)-4-(5-arylisoxazol-3-yl)methyleneaminobutanoic, (E)-6-(5-arylisoxazol-3-yl)methyleneaminohexanoic, (E,S)-3-methyl-2-(5-arylisoxazol-3-yl)methyleneaminobutanoic, (E,S)-4-methyl-2-(5-arylisoxazol-3-yl)methyleneaminopentanoic and (E,2S,3S)-3-methyl-2-(5-arylisoxazol-3-yl)methyleneaminopentanoic acids was developed by reacting 5-phenyl(4-tolyl)isoxazole-3-carbaldehydes with amino acids like 4-aminobutyric and 6-aminocaproic acids, L-valine, L-leucine or L-isoleucine in the presence of lithium hydride, sodium methoxide, cesium carbonate or calcium hydride in boiling methanol.     

Theoretical calculations of magnetic properties of the α-, β-, γ- and δ-phases of p-NPNN

Hybrid density functional theory (HDFT) calculations have been carried out for clusters of p-NPNN extracted from the experimental crystal structures of the α-, β-, γ- and δ-phases in order to investigate the weak magnetic interactions between the organic radicals theoretically. From the systematic HDFT calculations for β- and γ-phase p-NPNN clusters, it was found that the magnetic long-range ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic orderings would be presented in the β- and γ-phase p-NPNN crystals, respectively.     

Propargyl α-aryl-α-diazoacetates as robust reagents for the effective CH bond functionalization of 1,3-diketones via scandium catalysis

Propargyl α-aryl-α-diazoacetate a new class of reagent is developed for the effective CH bond functionalization of 1,3-diketones at room temperature. The combination of scandium triflate and propargyl α-aryl-α-diazoacetate proved to be efficient catalyst-reagent system for the controlled CH bond functionalization to afford 1,3-dicarbonyl alkylation. The protocol uses inexpensive Sc(OTf)₃ (5 mol%) and the reaction did not require the use of expensive catalysts or ligands and worked efficiently at room temperature. The practicality of the protocol has been demonstrated by the gram scale synthesis.     

Synthesis of B-organo-substituted 1,2-, 1,7-, and 1,12-dicarbaclosododecarboranes(12)

A convenient new method is proposed for the synthesis of 9-organo-substituted o- and m-carboranes and 2-organo-substituted p-carborane by the substitution of iodine in 9-iodine-o-, 9-iodine-m-, and 2-iodine-p-carboranes by an organic group from an organomagnesium compound in the presence of catalytic amounts of phosphine complexes of palladium. For the first time the halogen in boron halogen carboranes has been substituted by an organic group.     

Modified synthesis of methyl (1R,2R,3E,5R)-3-(hydroxyimino)-5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-cyclohexanecarboxylate from (R)-4-menthen-3-one

A modified stereospecific synthesis of potentially biologically and pharmacologically active methyl (1R,2R,3E,5R)-3-(hydroxyimino)-5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)cyclohexanecarboxylate from (R)-4-menthen-3-one was developed using sequential 1,4-conjugate addition of Norman reagent catalyzed by CuI?CBF₃?Et₂O?CCuCl₂ and ozonolysis?Creduction of the intermediate (R,R,R)-vinylmenthone by hydroxylamine hydrochloridein MeOH.     

Preparation,molecular structures,and characteristic properties of (E)-1-(2-furyl)- and (E)-1-(2-thienyl)-2-(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylenes and (E)-1-(3-furyl)- and (E)-1-(3-thienyl)-2-(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylenes

Wittig reactions of 2-furaldehyde (20) [and thiophene-2-carbaldehyde (21)] with (3-guaiazulenylmethyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide (19) in ethanol containing NaOEt at 25 °C for 24 h under argon give (E)-1-(2-furyl)-2-(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene (22E) and (E)-1-(2-thienyl)-2-(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene (23E) in 53 and 36% yields. Similarly, Wittig reactions of 3-furaldehyde (29) [and thiophene-3-carbaldehyde (30)] with 19 under the same reaction conditions as for 20 and 21 afford (E)-1-(3-furyl)-2-(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene (31E) and (E)-1-(3-thienyl)-2-(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene (32E) in 32 and 46% yields. Molecular structures and characteristic properties as well as preparation of the title E (i.e., one of the geometrical isomers) forms, with a view to comparative study, are reported. Moreover, reactions of those conjugated π-electron systems with TCNE (=tetracyanoethylene) in benzene [and in DMF (=N,N-dimethylformamide)] at 25 °C for 24 h under argon yield unique products, possessing interesting molecular structures, respectively, whose characteristic properties and crystal structures are documented, also.     

Studies towards the synthesis of (1R,2S)- and (1S,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates and (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates

The trans-configured fosfomycin analogue, diethyl (1S,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonate, was synthesised by the intramolecular Williamson reaction of diethyl (1S,2R)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonate. The cis-analogue was obtained as O-ethyl or O,O-diethyl (1R,2S)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates, when (1R,2R)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonate or its 3-O-trityl derivative were used as starting materials, respectively. The intramolecular Williamson cyclisations of diethyl (1S,2R)- and (1R,2S)-1-benzyloxy-3-hydroxy-2-mesyloxypropylphosphonates led to diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-benzyloxypropylphosphonates, respectively, with the concomitant formation of diethyl (E)-1-benzyloxy-3-hydroxyprop-1-en-1-phosphonate. From diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-epoxy-1-benzyloxypropylphosphonates, enantiomerically pure diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-1,2-dihydroxypropylphosphonates were obtained by catalytic hydrogenation, while diethyl (1S,2S)- and (1R,2S)-3-acetamido-1,2-dihydroxypropylphosphonates were produced after epoxide ring opening with dibenzylamine, acetylation and hydrogenolysis.     

Synthesis of 2,3-diaryl-5H-imidazo[2,1-a]isoindol-5-ones via the one-pot reaction of 1,2-diketones, 2-formylbenzoic acids, and ammonium acetate

We describe a new one-pot synthesis of 2,3-diaryl-5H-imidazo[2,1-a]isoindol-5-ones via the reaction of 1,2-diketones, 2-formylbenzoic acids, and ammonium acetate in acetic acid under reflux conditions and in the absence of a catalyst.     

Syntheses of 3-, 4-, and 5-O-feruloylquinic acids

The efficient synthesis of 3-, 4-, and 5-O-feruloylquinic acids starting from d-(?)-quinic acid is described. Esterification of suitably protected quinic acid derivatives with 3-(4-acetoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-acryloyl chloride and subsequent hydrolysis of all the protecting groups afforded the title products in overall yields of 33%, 15%, and 45%, respectively, (from quinic acid).     

Biodegradation of α-, β-, and γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane by Arthrobacter fluorescens and Arthrobacter giacomelloi

The organochlorine pesticide γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH, lindane) and its non-insecticidal isomers α-, β-, and δ- continue to pose serious environmental and health concerns, although their use has been restricted or completely banned for decades. The present study reports the first results on the ability of two Arthrobacter strains, not directly isolated from a HCH-polluted site, to grow in a mineral salt medium containing α-, β-, or γ-HCH (100 mg?l^?1) as sole source of carbon. Growth of cultures and HCHs degradation by Arthrobacter fluorescens and Arthrobacter giacomelloi were investigated after 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 days of incubation by enumerating colony forming units and GC with ECD detection, respectively. Both bacteria are able to metabolize the HCHs: A. giacomelloi is the most effective one, as after 72 h of incubation it produces 88 % degradation of α-, 60 % of β-, and 56 % of γ-HCH. The formation of possible persistent compounds was studied by GC/MS and by HPLC analysis. Pentachlorocyclohexenes and tetrachlorocyclohexenes have been detected as metabolites, which are almost completely eliminated after 72 h of incubation, while no phenolic compounds were found.     

Synthesis of enantiomeric (+)- and (-)-6-(1-methylethylidene)-3,3a,6,6a-tetrahydro-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-1-ones

Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of racemic [2 +2 ]-cycloadduct derived from dichloroketene and dimethylfulvene gave 3,3-dichloro-6-(1-methylidene)-3,3a,6,6a-tetrahydro-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-2-one, and opening of the lactone ring in the latter with (+)-α-methylbenzylamine produced diastereoisomeric amides which can be readily separated by chromatography on silica gel. The subsequent lactonization and reductive dechlorination afforded enantiomeric (?)- and (+)-6-(propan-2-ylidene)-3,3a,6,6a-tetrahydro-2H-cyclopenta[b]-furan-1-ones.