Asymmetric synthesis of a P-chiral heteroditopic ligand via chiral metal template promoted cycloaddition between 3,4-dimethyl-1-phenylphosphole and its sulfonated analog

The asymmetric [4+2] Diels-Alder reaction involving 3,4-dimethyl-1-phenylphosphole, DMPP, as the cyclic diene and its P-sulfonated analogue DMPPS as the dienophile was carried out by utilizing the palladium(II) template complex containing ortho-metalated (R)-(1-(dimethylamino)ethyl)naphthalene as the chiral auxiliary. The reaction proceeded regiospecifically and stereoselectively to give corresponding phosphanorbornene ligand as the major product. Throughout the cycloaddition reaction, DMPP functions chemoselectively as the cyclic diene whilst DMPPS assumes the role of dienophile. The absolute stereochemistry of the novel chiral heteroditopic ligand was established by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Aliphatic carboncarbon bond activation of ketones by rhodium(II) porphyrin radical

Aliphatic carboncarbon bond activation of both enolizable and non-enolizable ketones occurred successfully with rhodium(II) porphyrin radical to give rhodium(III) porphyrin alkyls. Added Ph₃P promoted the yields of products.     

Rhodium assisted CH activation of N-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzaldimines. Synthesis, structure and electrochemical properties of a group of organorhodium complexes

Reaction of a group of N-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzaldimines, derived from 2-aminophenol and five para-substituted benzaldehydes (the para substituents are OCH₃, CH₃, H, Cl and NO₂), with [Rh(PPh₃)₃Cl] in refluxing toluene in the presence of a base (NEt₃) afforded a family of organometallic complexes of rhodium(III). The crystal structure of one complex has been determined by X-ray crystallography. In these complexes the benzaldimine ligands are coordinated to the metal center, via dissociation of the phenolic proton and the phenyl proton at the ortho position of the phenyl ring in the imine fragment, as dianionic tridentate C,N,O-donors, and the two PPh₃ ligands are trans. The complexes are diamagnetic (low-spin d⁶, S = 0) and show intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. Cyclic voltammetry shows a Rh(III)Rh(IV) oxidation within 0.63-0.93 V vs SCE followed by an oxidation of the coordinated benzaldimine ligand. A reduction of the coordinated benzaldimine is also observed within −0.96 to −1.04 V vs SCE. Potential of the Rh(III)Rh(IV) oxidation is found to be sensitive to the nature of the para-substituent.     

Osmium assisted C-H activation and CN cleavage of N-(2′-hydroxyphenyl) benzaldimines. Synthesis, structure and electrochemical properties of some organoosmium complexes

Reaction of N-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-4-R-benzaldimines (L-R, R = OCH₃, CH₃, H, Cl and NO₂) with [Os(PPh₃)₃Br₂] in refluxing 2-methoxyethanol in the presence of triethylamine affords two families of organoosmium complexes (1-R and 2-R). In both 1-R and 2-R complexes a benzaldimine ligand is coordinated to the metal center as tridentate C,N,O-donor. In the 1-R complexes, a bidentate N,O-donor imionsemiquinonate ligand, derived from the hydrolysis of another benzaldimine, and a PPh₃ ligand are also coordinated to osmium. In the 2-R complexes, a carbonyl, derived from decarbonylation of 4-R-benzaldehyde (derived from the same hydrolysis stated above), and two PPh₃ ligands take up the remaining coordination sites on osmium. Structures of the 1-Cl and 2-OCH₃ complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallography. All the 1-R and 2-R complexes are diamagnetic, and show characteristic ¹H NMR signals and intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. Cyclic voltammetry on the 1-R complexes shows a reversible Os(III)-Os(IV) oxidation within 0.47-0.67 V (vs SCE), followed by an irreversible oxidation of the imionsemiquinonate ligand within 1.10-1.36 V. An irreversible Os(III)-Os(II) reduction is also displayed by the 1-R complexes within −1.02 to −1.14 V. Cyclic voltammetry on the 2-R complexes shows a reversible Os(II)-Os(III) oxidation within 0.29-0.51 V, followed by a quasi-reversible oxidation within 1.04-1.29 V, and an irreversible reduction of the coordinated benzaldimine ligand within −1.16 to −1.31 V.     

Thermodynamic and spectroscopic study of the interaction of Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Ca(II) ions with 2-amino-N-(2-oxo-2-(2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl amino)ethyl)acetamide,a pseudo-mimic of human serum albumin

The protonation equilibria of 2-amino-N-(2-oxo-2-(2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl amino)ethyl)acetamide ([H₂(556)–N]) and the complexation of this ligand with Cu(II) Ca(II), Zn(II) and Ni(II) have been studied by glass electrode potentiometry and UV–visible spectrophotometry. From pH ∼2.00–11.00, five models for Cu(II) with the following complexes; MLH, ML, MLH₋₁, MLH₋₂ and MLH₋₃ were generated and observed to describe the experimental data equally well as far as the statistical criteria were concerned. The MLH₋₂ complex predominates at physiological pH in all five models, while the MLH₋₁ complex species exists only at low concentration in two models. The coordination in the MLH₋₂ complex suggested the involvement of one amino, two deprotonated peptides and one pyridyl nitrogen atoms. Molecular mechanics (MM) calculations confirmed the MLH₋₂ complex as the most stable species. Speciation calculations, using a blood plasma model, predicted that the Cu(II)–[H₂(556)–N] complex is able to mobilize Cu(II). Octanol/water partition of CuLH₋₂ showed that 30% of the complex went into the octanol phase, hence promoting percutaneous absorption of copper. The complex is a poor mimic of native copper–zinc superoxide dismutase.     

Group 9 complexes of an N-heterocycle carbene bearing a pentafluorobenzyl substituent: attempted dehydrofluorinative coupling of cyclopentadienyl and N-heterocycle carbene ligands

Treatment of N-methylimidazole with pentafluorobenzyl bromide produces 1-pentafluorobenzyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (1), which reacts with silver(I) oxide to give the N-heterocycle carbene (NHC) complex 1-pentafluorobenzyl-3-methylimidazolin-2-ylidene silver(I) bromide (2). Complex 2 acts as a carbene transfer reagent giving the complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)MCl₂(NHC)] (3a, M = Rh; 3b M = Ir) on reaction with [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)MCl(μ-Cl)]₂. An attempt to use intramolecular dehydrofluorinative coupling methodology to link the carbene and the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligands of [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(CN^tBu)(NHC)]BF₄ was unsuccessful.     

InBr3-catalyzed stereoselective synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted hexahydro-1H-furo[3,4-c]pyran derivatives

An ?,δ-unsaturated alcohol tethered with a hydroxyl group, that is, (E)-2-styrylbutane-1,4-diol (1) undergoes a smooth bicyclization with various aldehydes in the presence of 10 mol % InBr₃ and at 0 °C to afford a novel series of hexahydro-1H-furo[3,4-c]pyran derivatives in good yields with high diastereoselectivity.     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of 2,2′-(buta-1,3-diyne-1,4-diyl)bis(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole 3-oxide 1-oxyl)

An approach to the synthesis of nitronyl nitroxide 2,2′-(buta-1,3-diyne-1,4-diyl)bis(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole 3-oxide 1-oxyl) (4) was developed. Compound 4 is the first diradical with nitronyl nitroxide groups directly linked through a diacetylene fragment. In solid phase the diradicals are arranged in stacks with parallel CC fragments, with the distances between the terminal carbon atoms of the neighboring diacetylene groups (T and d) being 6.170 and 4.466 Å, respectively, and the angle between the translation vector and the median line passing through the CCCC fragment of 45.9°. The values of T and d are outside the range of structural criteria allowing a topochemical reaction. Thus UV irradiation does not initiate solid phase polymerization of 4. After exposure at 373 K for 1 h the crystals of 4 turn dark-brown, become X-ray amorphous and lose the majority of their paramagnetic centers without significantly changing their mass. Upon further heating up to 400-420 K the product explodes, releasing about 360 kJ/mol of heat. A diluted solution of 4 in 1,4-dioxane produces an EPR spectrum typical of a strong exchange (a multiplet of nine broadened lines with A_4N = 0.35 mT), indicating the efficiency of the CCCC fragment as an exchange channel. The character of the experimental μ_eff(T) dependence for 4 indicates a strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic-type exchange interaction (J/k_B ∼ −104 K) and the dominating weak intermolecular ferromagnetic exchange.     

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.     

BF3·OEt2-catalyzed synthesis of 1-(tetrahydropyran-3-yl)-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran and trans-fused hexahydropyrano[3,2-c]chromene derivatives

A novel intramolecular Prins cyclization of (E)-5-(2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl)pent-4-en-1-ol with aldehydes has been achieved using 10 mol % BF₃·Et₂O to produce 1-(tetrahydropyran-3-yl)-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran derivatives in good to excellent yields with high selectivity. Similar type of coupling with salicylaldehydes provides the trans-fused hexahydropyrano[3,2-c]chromene derivatives in excellent yields.     

Homogeneous and supported copper(II) acetate as catalyst for CO coupling reactions

The reactivity of copper(II) acetate as catalyst in a standard CO coupling reaction has been systematically evaluated. Optimization of the reaction conditions resulted in a protocol involving stoichiometric amounts of reagents, a substoichiometric amount of base and 20 mol% catalyst, at 50 °C in 1,2-dichloroethane and under 1 atm O₂. Next, the reactivity of polymer-supported copper(II) acetate was evaluated. Although it is found that, in contrast to previous results obtained in related CN coupling reactions, the polymer-supported catalyst is in this case less efficient than the corresponding homogeneous one, the catalyst turns out to be conveniently recovered from the reaction mixture by simple filtration.     

Ruthenium carbene complexes containing bidentate and tridentate PO ligands

Treatment of [Ru(CHR)Cl₂(PCy₃)₂] (Cy = cyclohexyl) with Tl[N(Pr₂ⁱPO)₂] and AgL_OEt (L_OEt⁻ = [CpCo{P(O)(OEt)₂}₃]⁻) afforded the Ru carbene complexes [Ru(CHPh)(PCy₃)Cl{N(Pr₂ⁱPO)₂}] (1) and [L_OEtRu(CHR)(PCy₃)Cl] (2), respectively. Chloride abstraction of complex 2 with TlPF₆ in MeCN afforded [L_OEtRu(CHPh)(PCy₃)(MeCN)][PF₆] (3). Complexes 1 and 2 are capable of catalyzing ring-closing metathesis of diethyl 1,2-diallylmalonate. The crystal structure of complex 2 has been determined.     

The antioxidant activity of wines determined by the ABTS(+) method: influence of sample dilution and time

The free radical scavenging activity of 42 Spanish commercial wines was determined using the 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation (ABTS⁺). The ABTS⁺ radical was generated enzymatically using a horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide. The presence of wine phenolic compounds caused the absorbance of the radical to decay at 414 nm. The measurement conditions were optimised. The total phenolic content of wines ranged from 1262 to 2389 mg l⁻¹ for red wines and 70 to 407 mg l⁻¹ for white wines, expressed as gallic acid equivalents. The phenolic content of Sherry wines was similar to that of white wines. Optimum dilutions for white and Sherry wines were set up as a function of their total phenolic content (for total phenol index, TPI<300 mg gallic acid per liter, dilution 2.5:10 to 5:10; for TPI>300 mg gallic acid per liter, dilution 1:10 to 3:10). Red wines absorb at the wavelength of measurement and dilutions between 0.35:10 and 0.1:10 are advisable. Reaction kinetics were also monitored and the antioxidant activity, expressed as Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC), was determined at 2 and 15 min of reaction. The mean values for TEAC_2 min were 5.01±1.40 mM for red wines, 0.46±0.32 mM for white wines and 0.26±0.19 mM for Sherry wines. At 15 min, mean values were 6.93±2.41 mM for red wines, 0.67±0.47 mM for white wines and 0.26±0.19 mM for Sherry wines. The correlation coefficients were better at 2 min (r=0.9012) than at 15 min (r=0.8462) when compared with TPI. Hence, TEAC_2 min seems to be a more appropriate measure.     

A short, simple and general approach for the synthesis of (3S,4S)-3-methoxy-4-methylamino pyrrolidine and (3S,4R)-3-methoxy-4-methylamino pyrrolidine

A general and efficient stereoselective approach for the synthesis of (3S,4S) and (3S,4R)-3-methoxy-4-methylamino pyrrolidines, a part of the structure of AG-7352, a naphthyridine antitumor agent and quinoline antibacterial compounds has been described.     

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.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of two new coordination polymers of Cd(II) using organic spacer and inorganic-bridging ligands

Two new cadmium (II) complexes [Cd(hmt)(dca)₂] _n (1) and [Cd₃(hmt)₂(SeCN)₆(H₂O)₂] _n (2) (hmt=hexamethylenetetramine, dca=dicyanamide) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single-crystal analysis. The complex 1 is a 2D rectangular grid of octahedral cadmium (II) with CdN₆ chromophore where cadmium centers are doubly bridged by dicyanamide and hmt along a-axis, which are interlinked by dicyanamide running along c-axis. Whereas, complex 2 is a 1D chain of octahedral cadmium (II) with a three-leg ladder topology running along a-axis. The Cd(II) centers are doubly bridged through SeCN (infinite rail) along a-axis and singly bridged by hmt (two-step rung) along c-axis, having cadmium centers with CdSe₂N₃O and CdSe₂N₄ chromophores. The adjacent chains through H-bonding between coordinated water and hmt, and SeSe interaction are extended to 2D supramolecular architecture.     

Monomer insertion mechanism of ring-opening polymerization of -caprolactone with yttrium alkoxide intermediate: A DFT study

The mechanism of -caprolactone (CL) insertion into a Y–OCH₃ bond was investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The optimized geometries and corresponding Gibbs-free energies of the intermediates were obtained, which confirmed a four-step coordination-insertion mechanism. The coordination of CL onto yttrium center led to a nucleophilic addition of the carbonyl group of CL, followed by an intramolecular alkoxide ligand exchange. A monomer insertion was completed by the CL ring opening via acyl–oxygen bond cleavage. The formation of the five-coordinated yttrium intermediate, 3, was found to be the rate-determining step. This study could be applicable to ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) of CL initiated by lanthanide metal complexes.     

DFT study on the unsaturated germylenoid H2CGeNaF

The unsaturated germylenoid H₂CGeNaF was studied by using the DFT B3LYP method in conjunction with the 6-311+G(d, p) basis set. Geometry optimization calculations indicate that H₂CGeNaF has three equilibrium configurations, in which the p-complex is the lowest in energy and is the most stable structure. Two transition states for isomerization reactions of H₂CGeNaF are located and the energy barriers are calculated. For the most stable one, vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities have been predicted.