Silica Hybrid Containing （ R ）-2, 2＇-Binaphtho-20-crown-6 Moieties via the Sol-Gel Process

(R)-6,6‘-Bis(triethoxysilylethen-2-yl)-2,2-‘binaphtho-20-crown-6(precursor,R-2) derived form(R)-2,2-BINOL derivative was synthesized by Pd-catelyzed Heck reaction of (R)-6-6‘-dibromo-2,2‘-binaphtoh-20-crown-6(R-1) intermediate with vinyltriethoxysilane. The hydrolysis and polycondensatlon ofthe precursor gave rise to the corresponding xerogei. Both pre cursor and xerogei were analysed by NMR, FT-IR, UV, CD spectra, fluorescent spectroscopy, polarimetry and elemental analysis. The precursor and xerogei can emit strong blue fluorescenee and are expected to have the potential appficatiou inthe separation of chiral molecules as fluorescent sensor. The precursor exhibits strong Cotton effect in its circular dichroism (CD) spectrum indicating that it is a highly rigid structure.     

From Polymer to Size‐Defined Oligomers: A Highly Divergent and Stereocontrolled Construction of Chondroitin Sulfate A,C, D,E, K,L, and M Oligomers from a Single Precursor: Part 2

An efficient, stereocontrolled, and highly divergent approach for the preparation of oligomers of chondroitin sulfate (CS) A, C, D, E, K, L, and M variants, starting from a single precursor easily obtained by semisynthesis from abundant natural polymer is reported for the first time. Common intermediates were designed that allowed the straightforward construction of O‐sulfonated species either on the D ‐galactosamine unit (CS‐A, ‐C, and ‐E) or on both D ‐glucuronic acid and D ‐galactosamine units (CS‐D and CS‐K, ‐L, and ‐M). This strategy represents a successful improvement and brings a definitive answer toward the synthesis of such complex molecules with numerous relevant biological functions.     

An Improved and Versatile Method for the Rapid Synthesis of Aryldihydrobenzofuran Systems by a Boron Tribromide‐Mediated Cyclization Reaction

Boron tribromide is presented as a highly reactive reagent that simultaneously allows the demethylation and fully diastereoselective cyclization of different precursor molecules, obtained by an aldol‐type reaction, to a series of hydroxylated aryldihydrobenzofuran systems in racemic form. The latter are often found as key structures in natural compounds of different classes. Syntheses of educts, which mainly took advantage of a versatile Rieche formylation, are also described.     

Concise and Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)‐Mehranine, (−)‐Methylenebismehranine,and Related Aspidosperma Alkaloids

We report an efficient and highly stereoselective strategy for the synthesis of Aspidosperma alkaloids based on the transannular cyclization of a chiral lactam precursor. Three new stereocenters are formed in this key step with excellent diastereoselectivity due to the conformational bias of the cyclization precursor, leading to a versatile pentacyclic intermediate. A subsequent stereoselective epoxidation followed by a mild formamide reduction enabled the first total synthesis of the Aspidosperma alkaloids (?)‐mehranine and (+)‐(6S,7S)‐dihydroxy‐N‐methylaspidospermidine. A late‐stage dimerization of (?)‐mehranine mediated by scandium trifluoromethanesulfonate completed the first total synthesis of (?)‐methylenebismehranine.     

Electroreductive Cross-Coupling of Trifluoromethyl Alkenes and Redox Active Esters for the Synthesis of Gem-Difluoroalkenes

An electroreductive access to gem-difluoroalkenes has been developed through the decarboxylative/defluorinative coupling of N-hydroxyphtalimides esters and α-trifluoromethyl alkenes. The electrolysis is performed under very simple reaction conditions in an undivided cell using cheap carbon graphite electrodes. This metal-free transformation features broad scope with good to excellent yields. Tertiary, secondary as well as primary alkyl radicals could be easily introduced. α-aminoacids L-aspartic and L-glutamic acid-derived redox active esters were good reactive partners furnishing potentially relevant gem-difluoroalkenes. In addition, it has been demonstrated that our electrosynthetic approach toward the synthesis of gem-difluoroalkenes could use an easily prepared Kratitsky salt as alkyl radical precursor via a deaminative/defluorinative carbofunctionalization of trifluoromethylstyrene.     

Catalyst‐Enabled Site‐Divergent Stereoselective Michael Reactions: Overriding Intrinsic Reactivity of Enynyl Carbonyl Acceptors

A site‐divergent stereoselective Michael reaction system is developed based on the identification of two distinct catalysts. Cinchonidine‐derived thiourea catalyzes the 1,4‐addition of prochiral azlactone enolates to enynyl N‐acyl pyrazoles in a highly diastereo‐ and enantioselective manner to give stereochemically defined alkynes, while P‐spiro chiral triaminoiminophosphorane catalytically controls the stereoselective 1,6‐addition and the consecutive γ‐protonation of the vinylogous enolate intermediate to afford Z,E‐configured conjugated dienes. This 1,6‐adduct serves as a valuable precursor for the synthesis of a 2‐amino‐2‐deoxy sugar.     

Experimental and Theoretical Investigations of the Stereoselective Synthesis of P‐Stereogenic Phosphine Oxides

An efficient enantioselective strategy for the synthesis of variously substituted phosphine oxides has been developed, incorporating the use of (1S,2S)‐2‐aminocyclohexanol as the chiral auxiliary. The method relies on three key steps: 1) Highly diastereoselective formation of P^V oxazaphospholidine, rationalized by a theoretical study; 2) highly diastereoselective ring‐opening of the oxazaphospholidine oxide with organometallic reagents that takes place with inversion of configuration at the P atom; 3) enantioselective synthesis of phosphine oxides by cleavage of the remaining P?O bond. Interestingly, the use of a P^III phosphine precursor afforded a P‐epimer oxazaphospholidine. Hence, the two enantiomeric phosphine oxides can be synthesized starting from either a P^V or a P^III phosphine precursor, which constitutes a clear advantage for the stereoselective synthesis of sterically hindered phosphine oxides.     

Epoxyfocardin and Its Putative Biogenetic Precursor,Focardin, Bioactive,New-Skeleton Diterpenoids of the Marine Ciliate Euplotes focardii from Antractica

From the ciliate Euplotes focardii, collected from Ross Sea coastal waters, Antarctica, a new-skeleton diterpenoid, epoxyfocardin, was isolated as a 85:15 mixture of hemiacetals 8a and 8b . The absolute configuration of 8a/8b was determined from Mosher's esters 11a/11b and 12a/12b . Focardin 9a/9b , most likely a biogenetic precursor of 8a/8b , was also isolated as a minor component. Focardin, and particularly epoxyfocardin, proved to be toxic towards representatives of ciliate communities from Antarctic, temperate, tropical, and equatorial environments, constituting the first example of ecologically relevant metabolites from ciliate species that inhabit polar ecosystems.     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Botryolide E and Ophiocerin C

A highly stereoselective approach to the total synthesis of the γ‐lactone derivative botryolide E and tetrahydropyran derivative ophiocerin C via a common polyketide precursor by means of Prins cyclization and MacMillan α‐aminoxylation sequence is described. The method can conveniently be utilized for the preparation of further related γ‐lactone and tetrahydropyran derivatives.     

Reactivity of a Nickel(II) Bis(amidate) Complex with meta‐Chloroperbenzoic Acid: Formation of a Potent Oxidizing Species

Herein, we report the formation of a highly reactive nickel–oxygen species that has been trapped following reaction of a Ni^II precursor bearing a macrocyclic bis(amidate) ligand with meta‐chloroperbenzoic acid (HmCPBA). This compound is only detectable at temperatures below 250 K and is much more reactive toward organic substrates (i.e., C?H bonds, C?C bonds, and sulfides) than previously reported well‐defined nickel–oxygen species. Remarkably, this species is formed by heterolytic O?O bond cleavage of a Ni–HmCPBA precursor, which is concluded from experimental and computational data. On the basis of spectroscopy and DFT calculations, this reactive species is proposed to be a Ni^III–oxyl compound.     

Reaction of o‐Carboryne with Furans: Facile Synthesis of Carborane‐ Fused Oxanorbornenes and Their Derivatives

o‐Carboryne (1,2‐dehydro‐o‐carborane) is a very useful synthon for the synthesis of a variety of carborane‐functionalized molecules. Diels‐Alder reaction of o‐carboryne with furans gave a series of carborane‐fused oxanorbornenes in moderate to high yields using 1‐OTf‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₁ as carboryne precursor. The resultant cycloadducts can undergo hydrogenation, cyclic oxidation, bromination, [4 + 2]/[2 + 2] cycloaddition and nucleophilic ring opening reaction to afford a variety of highly functionalized carboranes that may find applications as useful basic units in medicine and materials science.     

Colloidal Templating Fabrication of Aluminum‐Organophosphonate Films Using High Molecular Weight PS‐b‐PEO

High molecular weight polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer (PS‐b‐PEO) is utilized as colloidal spheres in the presence of water. Adequately thick films with multilayers of spherical macropores are fabricated in one‐pot under highly concentrated conditions of PS‐b‐PEO. The frameworks are constructed using aluminum organophosphonate as a complicated hybrid component. The macropores (30–200 nm) are homogeneously distributed over the entire films and pore windows between the macropores are tunable (up to nearly 10 nm) by changing the relative amount of PS‐b‐PEO in the precursor solutions.     

Terephthalic acid derived ligand‐stabilized palladium nanocomposite catalyst for Heck coupling reaction: without surface‐modified heterogeneous catalyst

A new protocol is reported for the synthesis of a heterogeneous palladium nanocomposite stabilized with a terephthalic acid‐derived ligand (N ,N ‐bis(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxybenzylidene)terephthalohydrazide). This is a highly insoluble ligand in common organic solvents, except dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide. The resulting palladium nanocomposite acts as an efficient catalyst precursor for Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions conducted under various reaction conditions. The spectral data suggest that the rate, yield and recycling of the catalyst are more effective for C–C coupling reactions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fe Supported Catalysts Prepared by The Sol-Gel Method. Characterization and Evaluation in Phenol Abatement

Iron supported catalysts containing 10 wt% of iron, as oxide, on TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ have been prepared by the sol gel method and the traditional method based of the impregnation of the support with the metal precursor on commercial and sol-gel supports. The samples were characterised by measuring the specific area (S _BET), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), electrophoretic migration (IP), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The catalytic activity was measured in a batch reactor using ozone as oxidizing agent. It was found presence of highly dispersed iron oxide in the samples prepared by cogelation, whereas in those prepared by impregnation of the iron precursor, the dispersion was very poor. Catalytic activity indicates that phenol is degraded with a low mineralization to CO_2.     

Synthesis of 11‐cis‐Retinoids by Hydrosilylation–Protodesilylation of an 11,12‐Didehydro Precursor: Easy Access to 11‐ and 12‐Mono‐ and 11,12‐Dideuteroretinoids

An expeditious, highly efficient approach to 11‐cis‐retinoids was achieved by semihydrogenation of a readily available 11‐yne precursor through a hydrosilylation–protodesilylation protocol. The complete chemo‐, regio‐, and syn‐stereoselectivity of the method also allowed direct access to 11‐ and 12‐monodeutero‐, and 11,12‐dideutero‐11‐cis‐retinoids. The analogous trans series was not accessible by this route, and was synthesized by means of Hiyama coupling.     

First Isolation and Characterization of the Highly Coordinated Group 14 Enolates: Effects of the Coordination Controls on the Geometry and Tautomerization of Germyl Enolates

The Group 14 enolates play an important part in many organic reactions. Herein, the reduction of an α‐bromo ketone with germanium(II) salts cleanly afforded the corresponding germyl enolate as an isolatable species. This experimental reductive generation of a germyl enolate enabled us to characterize both C‐ and O‐bound tautomers derived from an identical precursor and to unveil the tautomeric mechanisms, including the kinetic parameters and the relative stability of these tautomers, along with confirmation from DFT calculations. Moreover, the highly coordinated germyl enolates were isolated by a stabilization process induced by adding ligands. All products were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography.     

Structure investigation of poly(p-phenylene vinylene)

Electron diffraction patterns of highly oriented poly(p-phenylene vinylene) films obtained by the soluble polymeric precursor route are interpreted on the basis of a monoclinic unit cell containing two monomer units: c (chain axis) = 0.658 nm, a = 0.790 nm, b = 0.605 nm, α ? 123°. The molecules are nearly perfectly oriented along the stretching direction but exhibit partial axial translational disorder.     

On Cardioactive Steroids. XVI. Stereoselective β-Glycosylation of Digitoxose: The Synthesis of Digitoxin

Two methods for stereoselective β-glycosylation of digitoxose were developed. The first achieved stereocontrol by a 1,3-participation of a N-methylurethane group under acid catalysis. The second utilized mercuric-ion catalyzed cleavage of thioglycosides and a 1,3-participation of a p-methoxybenzoyl group in a neutral medium. The first highly stereoselective and quite efficient synthesis of digitoxin ( C7 ) was achieved by a combination of these methods. The furyl-substituted precursor IV of digitoxigenin (Scheme 1) was used as aglycone, and the furan group was converted to the unsaturated lactone of digitoxin by our known oxidation procedure (m-chloroperbenzoic acid/NaBH₄) after the assembly of the carbohydrate portion of the molecule and its deblocking was completed.     

Partially imidized poly[(amic ester)-alt-imide]: A novel polyimide pregursor

Partial imidization of poly[(amic ester)-alt-(amic acid)], a precursor for the “strictly alternating” copolyimides, was performed via selective chemical imidization of amic acid units in the copolymer precursor. The resulting, poly[(amic ester)-alt-imide], showed superior properties such as an excellent solution stability, good processibility and improved optical transparency, which are essential for the use as a precursor for the polyimide.