Cyanide-Free Cyanation of sp2 and sp-Carbon Atoms by an Oxazole-Based Masked CN Source Using Flow Microreactors

This work reports a cyanide-free continuous-flow process for cyanation of sp² and sp carbons to synthesize aryl, vinyl and acetylenic nitriles from (5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl) boronic acid [OxBA] reagent as a sole source of carbon-bound masked −CN source. Non-toxic and stable OxBA reagent is generated by lithiation-borylation of bromo-oxazole, and the consecutive Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling with aryl, vinyl, or acetylenic halides and demasking [4+2]/retro-[4+2] sequence were successfully accomplished to give the desired cyano compounds with reasonably good yields in a four-step flow manner. A unique feature of this cyanation protocol in flow enables to cyanate a variety of sp² and sp carbons to produce a broad spectrum of aryl acetonitrile. It is envisaged that the OxBA based cyanation would replace existing unstable and toxic approaches as well as non-toxic cyanation using two different sources of “C” and “N” to incorporate the −CN group.     

Synthesis of isotopomers of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-cyano-l-phenylalanine methyl ester: choice of cyanation solvent

N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-cyano-l-phenylalanine methyl ester and three isotopomers (C¹⁵N, ¹³CN, and ¹³C¹⁵N) were successfully synthesized in two steps to expand the utility of the nitrile symmetric stretch vibration of this modified amino acid as a vibrational reporter of local environments. The choice of cyanation solvent directly impacted the level of isotopic enrichment of the isotopomers. The commonly used solvent acetonitrile resulted in an isotopic enrichment of only ∼80% with a cyanation reaction time of 4.5 h, however, the cyanation solvent N,N-dimethylformamide afforded the isotopomers with >98% isotopic enrichment.     

Copper-mediated cyanation reactions

Aryl nitriles can be efficiently synthesized through transition-metal-mediated cyanation of aryl halides, arenes, aryl boronic acids, and so on. Among those most commonly used transition-metals, copper catalysts are surely much more inexpensive and easier to handle, compared to any other metal catalysts. Considering the high-efficiency of copper catalysts in the activation of C–X, C–H, and C–B bond as well as in the formation of C–CN bond, this Letter summarizes various copper-mediated cyanations based on the different kinds of cyanide reagents, such as metal cyanides, potassium hexacyanoferrate(II), acetone cyanohydrins, DDQ, AIBN, benzyl cyanide, malononitrile, nitromethane, and DMF. Our group’s recent contributions to this area are also demonstrated.     

Completing dissociation channels of nitromethane and methyl nitrite ions and the role of electronic and internal modes of excitation

Unimolecular dissociation reactions of the isomeric ions of nitromethane and methyl nitrite have been investigated for various electronic states of the ions up to an ionization energy of 18 eV using a photoelectron-photoion coincidence technique. The principal dissociation channels of the nitromethane ion lead to CH₃⁺, NO₂⁺ and NO⁺. Of these only NO⁺ is formed from methyl nitrite ion. A comparison of the NO⁺ dissociation data from both precursors indicates that rearrangement of the nitromethane to the more stable methyl nitrite ion structure preceding NO⁺ formation occurs in competition with direct CN bond cleavage dissociation of the nitromethane ion.Although the product kinetic energy distributions, measured as a function of the internal energy of a given parent-ion electronic state, were statistical in nature, evidence of a more specific dependence upon the initial electronic state was found. The formation of excited stated of the neutral NO₂ fragment which accompanies the CH₃⁺ product from the higher electronic states of the nitromethane ion was identified from the product kinetic energy data. The secondary dissociation of the NO₂⁺ product to NO⁺ + O was also recognized from the kinetic energy data by a comparison of the reduced, or scaled, forms of the energy distribution functions above and below the thermodynamic limit for the secondary reaction.     

Analysis of nitromethane from samples exposed in vitro to chloropicrin by stable isotope dilution headspace gas chromatography with mass spectrometry

Chloropicrin (trichloronitromethane) is a widely used soil fumigant and an old chemical warfare agent. The metabolism of chloropicrin is not well known in mammals but nitromethane has been shown to be one of its main metabolites. Here, a fast and simple headspace gas chromatography with mass spectrometry method was applied for the measurement of nitromethane from aqueous samples. The analytical method was validated using stable isotope labeled internal standard and a small sample volume of 260 μL. No conventional sample preparation steps were needed. The method was accurate (relative standard deviations ≤1.5%) and linear (R² = 0.9996) within the concentration range of 0.1?6.0 μg/mL. This method was used to measure nitromethane in in vitro incubations with human and pig liver cell fractions containing enzymes for xenobiotic metabolism, exposed to chloropicrin. The results indicate that the presence of glutathione is necessary for the formation of nitromethane from chloropicrin. Also, nitromethane was formed mostly in liver cytosol fractions, but not in microsomal fractions after the incubation with chloropicrin. Our results suggest that although nitromethane is not the unequivocal biomarker of chloropicrin exposure, this method could be applied for screening the elevated levels in humans after chloropicrin exposure.     

Complexation of Ba2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, and UO22+ Ions with 18-Crown-6 and Dicyclohexyl-18-Crown-6 in Nitromethane and Acetonitrile Solutions by a Competitive NMR Technique Using the 7Li Nucleus as a Probe

[⁷Li] NMR measurements were used to determine the stoichiometry and stability of Li⁺ complexes with 18-crown-6 and dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 in nitromethane and acetonitrile solutions. A competitive [⁷Li] NMR technique was also employed to probe the complexation of Ba²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and UO₂²⁺ ions with the same crown ethers–solvent systems. All the resulting 1 : 1 complexes were more stable in nitromethane than acetonitrile solution. In all cases, the stability of both crown complexes in nitromethane and acetonitrile varied in the order Pb²⁺ > Ba²⁺ > Li⁺ > Cd²⁺ > UO₂²⁺.     

Acidité dans le nitrométhane: III. Détermination électrochimique de la basicité du nitrométhane — Corrélation Dn/Eo(Hs+/H2/

The use of the complex acid HAlCl₄ (HCl+AlCl₃) permits the detemrination of the standard potential of the hydrogen electrode in nitromethane. The result (E₀(H_s⁺/H₂)=0.5 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺, Fc=ferrocene) shows that nitromethane is very weakly basic. This measurement is confirmed by showing that the standard potential of the hydrogen electrode in various solvents is linked to Gutmann's donor numbers of these solvents. The E₀(H_s⁺/H₂) value obtained in nitromethane belongs to the correlation line.     

Base Equilibria of Substituted Pyridines in Nitromethane

In the framework of our studies on acid=nbase equilibria in systems comprisingsubstituted pyridines and nonaqueous solvents, acid dissociation constants havebeen determined potentiometrically for a variety of cationic acids conjugatedwith pyridine and its derivatives in the polar protophobic aprotic solvent nitromethane. The potentiometric method enabled a check as to whether and to whatextent cationic homoconjugation equilibria of the BH⁺/B type, as well as cationicheteroconjugation equilibria in BH⁺/B₁ systems without proton transfer, are setup in nitromethane. The equilibrium constants were compared with thosedetermined in water and two other polar protophobic aprotic solvents, propylenecarbonate and acetonitrile. The pK _a values of acids conjugate to the N-bases innitromethane fall in the pK _a range of 5.84 to 17.67, i.e., 6 to 7 pK _a units, onaverage, higher than in water, 1 to 2 units higher than in propylene carbonate,and less than 1 unit lower than in acetonitrile. This means that the basicity ofthe pyridine derivatives increases on going from propylene carbonate throughnitromethane to acetonitrile. Further, it was found that the sequence of the pK _achanges of the protonated amines was consistent in all three media, thus providingthe basis for establishing linear correlations among these values. In the majorityof the BH⁺/B systems in nitromethane, cationic homoconjugation equilibria havebeen established. The cationic homoconjugation constants, log K _BHB+, arerelatively low, falling in the range 1.60–2.89. A comparison of the homoconjugationconstants in nitromethane with those in propylene carbonate and acetonitrile showsthat nitromethane is a more favorable solvent for the cationic homoconjugationequilibria than the other two solvents. Moreover, results of the potentiometricmeasurements revealed that cationic heteroconjugation equilibria were not presentin the majority of the BH⁺/B₁ systems in nitromethane. The heteroconjugationconstant could be determined in one system only, with logdiK _BHB1 + = 2.56.     

Mass spectrum of nitromethane

The mass spectrum of nitromethane points to rupture of the CH₃? NO₂ bond as the dominant primary reaction, as also observed in pyrolysis, photolysis and radiolysis. Isomerization of the molecular ion to the nitrite configuration seems to contribute little in the mass spectrum of nitromethane, in contrast to those of nitrobenzene and other nitroarenes. The nitrite ion is probably the immediate precursor of [NO]⁺ at its appearance potential, but most of the [NO]+ yield seems to stem from secondary decomposition of excited [NO₂]⁺.     

Synthesis of [1-14C]-labeled mandelic acid under microwave condition

Summary We report here a facile synthesis of [1-¹⁴C]-mandelic acid. Benzyl bromide on cyanation with K¹⁴CN followed by acid hydrolysis in a microwave oven gave [1-¹⁴C] phenylacetic acid. The latter on a-bromination followed by hydrolysis under microwave irradiation for 2 minutes furnished the title compound.     

Iron(II)‐Catalyzed Direct Cyanation of Arenes with Aryl(cyano)iodonium Triflates

A direct oxidative cyanation of arenes under Fe^II catalysis with 3,5‐di(trifluoromethyl)phenyl(cyano)iodonium triflate (DFCT) as the cyanating agent has been developed. The reaction is applicable to wide range of aromatic substrates, including polycyclic structures and heteroaromatic compounds.     

A Porous Organic Poly(triphenylimidazole) Decorated with Palladium Nanoparticles for the Cyanation of Aryl Iodides

A new porous organic poly(triphenylimidazole), PTPI‐Me, was prepared through a Yamamoto self‐coupling reaction of 2,4,5‐tris‐(4‐bromophenyl)‐1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazole (TPI‐Me) in the presence of bis(1,5‐cyclooctadiene)nickel(0). The polymer was subsequently decorated with Pd nanoparticles (NPs) to afford a heterogeneous cyanation catalyst, Pd@PTPI‐Me. Pd NPs with an average diameter of 2.7 nm were grown within the PTPI‐Me framework, owing to the coordination of the imidazole rings to the Pd species. The resultant Pd@PTPI‐Me catalyst, with a Pd loading of 0.13 mmol g^?1, exhibited superior catalytic activity for the cyanation of aryl iodides. More importantly, the heterogeneous catalyst was also readily recycled and displayed negligible deactivation after five cycles.     

Complexes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ortho</Emphasis>-nitrophenols with aluminum bromide in nonaqueous solutions

The reactions of 2-nitro-, 2-nitro-4,6-dichloro-, 2,4-dinitro-, and 2,4,6-trinitrophenols with aluminum bromide in nitromethane solution were studied by calorimetry and by ¹H and ¹³C NMR.     

Photocatalyzed Cyanodifluoromethylation of Alkenes

Difluoromethylation is a straightforward and widely applied strategy used to incorporate HCF₂ into organic molecules. In contrast, cyanation reagents are typically volatile or highly toxic, or they require harsh reaction conditions. Incorporation of both CN and HCF₂ into organic molecules, such as alkenes, is a worthwhile but challenging task. A method for photocatalyzed cyanodifluoromethylation of alkenes has been developed, which employs a Ph₃P⁺CF₂CO₂^?/NaNH₂ (or NH₃) reagent system. Ph₃P⁺CF₂CO₂^? functions as both the HCF₂ and CN carbon source. A cyanide anion is generated in situ under mild conditions, thereby avoiding the use of toxic cyanation reagents. The photocatalytic method permits cyanodifluoromethylation of a range of alkenes under mild room temperature conditions. The CN group within the products may be further derivatized by standard methods.     

Electrical double layer at the mercury-nitromethane solution interface

The differential capacity and the surface charge density curves as a function of the electrode potential for mercury/electrolyte solution in nitromethane interface are presented. For all the systems studied the capacity hump at the anodic potential region is observed. The height and the location of the hump considerably depends on the kind of anion. As a test of specific adsorption of ions in the systems studied the Esin-Markov effect was examined. The results indicated that anions appear to be specifically adsorbed from nitromethane in the order PF₆^?<ClO₄^?<Cl^?<SCN^?.     

A Robust (10,3)-a Network Containing Chiral Micropores in the AgI Coordination Polymer of a Bridging Ligand that Provides Three Bidentate Metal-Binding Sites

Framework integrity is retained when water molecules replace the nitromethane molecules in the coordination polymer [Ag(hat)ClO₄]⋅2 CH₃NO₂ (see picture for structure), which are arranged in a helical fashion within the chiral micropores of the three-dimensional [Ag(hat)⁺]_n network with a (10,3)-a topology. Remarkably, this is also the case after subsequent displacement of the water by nitromethane molecules. hat=1,4,5,8,9,12-hexaazatriphenylene.     

Transformations of 1,2,4-Triazines in Reactions with Nucleophiles: V. SNH and ipso-Substitution in the Synthesis and Transformations of 5-Cyano-1,2,4-triazines

The scope of functionalization of 1,2,4-triazines can be considerably extended via successive nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen (S_N ^H) and ipso-substitution. A convenient procedure has been developed for direct cyanation of 1,2,4-triazine 4-oxides with acetone cyanohydrin in the presence of triethylamine. The cyano group in the resulting 5-cyano-1,2,4-triazines is readily replaced by reactions with various aliphatic alcohols and amines.     

Potentiometric differentiated titration of the components of nucleic acids and their derivatives. VII. Acidimetric determination of some N-acyl-2′-deoxyribonucleosides and their 5′-tritylated derivatives

The conditions have been investigated for the potentiometric titration of N-acyl-2′-deoxyribonucleotides and of trityl carbinol derivatives and their two-component mixtures with a nitromethane solution of perchloric acid. The influence of water, acetone, chloroform, and acetic acid on the conditions for the acidimetric analysis of tri-p-methyltrityl carbinol, p-monomethoxytrityl carbinol, and di-p-methoxy trityl carbinol in nitromethane have been shown. Procedures have been developed for the quantitative determination of N⁶-benzoyl-5′-di-p-methoxytrityl-2′-deoxyriboadenosine, the 5′-tri-p-methyltrityl and 5′-p-monomethoxytrityl derivatives of N⁴-benzoyl-2′-deoxyribocytidine, of N⁶-benzoyl-2′-deoxyriboadenosine, and of N²-isobutyryl-2′-deoxyriboguanosine by differentiated potentiometric titration. For the determination of the 5′-di-p-methoxy derivatives of N⁴-benzoyl-2′-deoxyribocytidine and of N⁶-benozyl-2′-deoxyriboadenosine a procedure is proposed which includes the use of two parallel titrations. Methods have been developed for the use of milligram amounts of substance.     

阳极氰化反应的研究进展

本文综述了近30年来阳极氰化反应在有机电合成中的应用,主要回顾了阳极氰化胺、阳极氰化杂环化合物和阳极氰化芳香化合物的研究.此外,还报道了乳化技术在阳极氰化反应中的应用.     

Facile synthesis of vicinal diamines via oxidation of N-phenyltetrahydroisoquinolines with DDQ

The oxidation of N-phenyltetrahydroisoquinolines occurs rapidly with DDQ. Under ambient conditions and in the presence of nitromethane, the corresponding β-nitroamine derivatives are isolated in good to excellent yields. Variation in the electronic nature of the isoquinoline and the N-phenyl substituent showed that a broad range of substituents are tolerated, with electronic communication between the isoquinoline aromatic ring and the C1 carbon being stronger than with the N-aryl ring. Reduction of the β-nitroamines to the corresponding novel chiral vicinal diamines are straightforward. Examination of the reaction by ¹H NMR spectroscopy suggested that the reaction proceeds via an iminium ion, which then reacts with nitromethane upon work-up. This information was used to shorten the required reaction time.