Efficient, mild, parallel and purification-free synthesis of aryl ethers via the Mitsunobu reaction

A wide range of commercial diazodicarboxylates and phosphines were screened in an attempt to find purification-free conditions for application in parallel synthesis. The combination of immobilized triphenylphosphine and TMAD proved to be suitable for the synthesis of aryl ethers via the Mitsunobu reaction. Nine ethers were synthesized in good yield and excellent purity, the purification being limited to a filtration step.     

Complexes derived from the copper(II)/succinamic acid/N,N′,N″-chelate tertiary reaction systems: Synthesis,structural and spectroscopic studies

The use of succinamic acid (H₂sucm) in Cu^II/N,N′,N″-donor [2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (terpy), 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (dmbppy)] reaction mixtures yielded compounds [Cu(Hsucm)(terpy)]_n(ClO₄)_n (1), [Cu(Hsucm)(terpy)(MeOH)](ClO₄) (2), [Cu₂(Hsucm)₂(terpy)₂](ClO₄)₂ (3), [Cu(ClO₄)₂(terpy)(MeOH)] (4), [Cu(Hsucm)(dmbppy)]_n(NO₃)_n·3nH₂O (5^.3nH₂O), and [CuCl₂(dmbppy)]·H₂O (6·H₂O). The succinamate(−1) ligand exists in four different coordination modes in the structures of 1–3 and 5, i.e., the μ₂-κO:κO′:κO″ in 1 and 5 which involves asymmetric chelating coordination of the carboxylato group and ligation of the amide O-atom leading to 1D coordination polymers, the μ₂-κ²O:κO′ in 3 which involves asymmetric chelating and bridging coordination of the carboxylato group, and the asymmetric chelating mode in 2. The primary amide group, either coordinated in 1 and 5, or uncoordinated in 2 and 3, participate in hydrogen bonding interactions, leading to interesting crystal structures. Characteristic IR bands of the complexes are discussed in terms of the known structures and the coordination modes of the Hsucm⁻ ligands. The thermal decomposition of complex 5·3nH₂O was monitored by TG/DTG and DTA measurements.     

Catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetry versus electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry in the determination of trace cobalt and chromium in human urine

Two methods of the determination of cobalt and chromium in human urine of non-occupationally exposed populations—highly sensitive catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetry (CAdSV) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS)—are evaluated and compared. The CAdSV methods are based on adsorptive accumulation of a cobalt-nioxime (1,2-cyclohexanedione dioxime) or a chromium-DTPA (diethylenetriammine-N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentaacetic acid) complexes on a hanging mercury drop electrode, followed by a stripping voltammetric measurement of the catalytic reduction current of the adsorbed complex in the presence of sodium nitrite in case of cobalt or in the presence of sodium nitrate in case of chromium determination. In the CAdSV procedure UV-photolysis was used for the sample pre-treatment; the ET-AAS determination did not require any separate preliminary decomposition of the analyte urine samples. The accuracy of the procedures was checked by the analysis of commercially available quality control urine samples. The detection limits (3σ) were 0.13 μg l⁻¹ for Co and 0.18 μg l⁻¹ for Cr in ET-AAS determination and 0.007 μg l⁻¹ for Co and 0.002 μg l⁻¹ for Cr in CAdSV measurements. Precision (R.S.D.) was less than 5% for both methods. The study has shown that the CAdSV is a more reliable and sensitive technique for the determination of very low cobalt and chromium contents in urine, the detection of which is not possible when using the AAS technique.     

N,N′,N″-Tri-Boc-guanidine (TBG): a common starting material for both N-alkyl guanidines and amidinoureas

In this Letter, we describe the unexpected reaction pattern of N,N′N″-tri-Boc-guanidine (TBG) with amines at room temperature and under reflux conditions affording N-substituted guanidines and amidinoureas, potentially important compounds with extensive applications in medicinal chemistry. This investigation shows that TBG is an excellent, readily available common starting material for the synthesis of various N-alkyl guanidines as well as N-alkyl-N′-substituted amidinoureas by simply manipulating the reaction conditions.     

N,N′-Dichloro bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)urea (CC-2): an efficient reagent for the synthesis of α-chloro-nitroso compounds

A simple, efficient, rapid, and mild method for the synthesis of α-chloro-nitroso compounds is described using bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)urea (CC-2).     

Synthesis, characterization and Schlenk equilibrium studies of methylmagnesium compounds with O- and N-donor ligands - the unexpected behavior of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (pmdta = N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine)

MgMe₂ (1) was found to react with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (dabco) in tetrahydrofuran (thf) yielding a binuclear complex [{MgMe₂(thf)}₂(μ-dabco)] (2). Furthermore, from reactions of MgMeBr with diglyme (diethylene glycol dimethyl ether), NEt₃, and tmeda (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) in etheral solvents compounds MgMeBr(L), (L = diglyme (5); NEt₃ (6); tmeda (7)) were obtained as highly air- and moisture-sensitive white powders. From a thf solution of 7 crystals of [MgMeBr(thf)(tmeda)] (8) were obtained. Reactions of MgMeBr with pmdta (N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) in thf resulted in formation of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9) in nearly quantitative yield. On the other hand, the same reaction in diethyl ether gave MgMeBr(pmdta) · MgBr₂(pmdta) (10) and [{MgMe₂(pmdta)}₇{MgMeBr(pmdta)}] (11) in 24% and 2% yield, respectively, as well as [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) as colorless needle-like crystals in about 26% yield. The synthesized methylmagnesium compounds were characterized by microanalysis and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The coordination-induced shifts of the ¹H and ¹³C nuclei of the ligands are small; the largest ones were found in the tmeda and pmdta complexes. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed in 2 a tetrahedral environment of the Mg atoms with a bridging dabco ligand and in 8 a trigonal-bipyramidal coordination of the Mg atom. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13) showed them to be monomeric with five-coordinate Mg atoms. The square-pyramidal coordination polyhedra are built up of three N and two C atoms in 12 and three N and two Br atoms in 13. The apical positions are occupied by methyl and bromo ligands, respectively. Temperature-dependent ¹H NMR spectroscopic measurements (from 27 to −80 °C) of methylmagnesium bromide complexes MgMeBr(L) (L = thf (4); diglyme (5); NEt₃ (6); tmeda (7)) in thf-d₈ solutions indicated that the deeper the temperature the more the Schlenk equilibria are shifted to the dimethylmagnesium/dibromomagnesium species. Furthermore, at −80 °C the dimethylmagnesium compounds are predominant in the solutions of Grignard compounds 4-6 whereas in the case of the tmeda complex7 the equilibrium constant was roughly estimated to be 0.25. In contrast, [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9) in thf-d₈ revealed no dismutation into [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13) even up to −100 °C. In accordance with this unexpected behavior, 1:1 mixtures of 12 and 13 were found to react in thf at room temperature yielding quantitatively the corresponding Grignard compound 9. Moreover, the structures of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9c), [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12c), and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13c) were calculated on the DFT level of theory. The calculated structures 12c and 13c are in a good agreement with the experimentally observed structures 12 and 13. The equilibrium constant of the Schlenk equilibrium (2 9c ? 12c + 13c) was calculated to be K_gas = 2.0 × 10⁻³ (298 K) in the gas phase. Considering the solvent effects of both thf and diethyl ether using a polarized continuum model (PCM) the corresponding equilibrium constants were calculated to be K_thf = 1.2 × 10⁻³ and K_ether = 3.2 × 10⁻³ (298 K), respectively.     

Fluorinated peptidomimetics: synthesis, conformational and biological features

Peptides modified with fluoroalkyl functions in key backbone positions have been scarcely studied so far. Thus, little is known about their synthesis, their structural and physico-chemical properties, and their biological features. Our interest in this field of research led to the development of stereocontrolled synthetic protocols, both in solution and in solid phase, for many different fluoroalkyl peptidomimetics, some of which are overviewed in this paper: (a) ψ[CH(CF₃)NH]-peptide mimics holding a great potential as hybrids between natural peptides and hydrolytic transition state analogs; (b) trifluoromethyl (Tfm) malic peptidomimetics as micromolar inhibitors of some matrix metalloproteinases; (c) bis-Tfm analogs of Pepstatin A, that are nanomolar and selective inhibitors of the protozoal aspartyl protease Plasmepsin II.     

Synthesis of new fluorescent 2-(2′,2″-bithienyl)-1,3-benzothiazoles

Bithienyl-1,3-benzothiazole derivatives were synthesised by reacting various 5-formyl-5′-alkoxy- or 5-formyl-5′-N,N-dialkylamino-2,2′-bithiophenes with ortho-aminobenzenethiol in good to excellent yields. Evaluation of the fluorescence properties of these compounds was carried out. They show strong fluorescence in the 450-600 nm region, as well as high quantum yields and large Stokes’ shifts.     

Synthesis and characterization of a tetraruthenium butterfly cluster containing a quadruply-bridging ligand derived from an N,N′-dipyrid-2-ylurea

The tetraruthenium cluster complex [Ru₄(μ₄-κ⁴-dmpu)(CO)₁₀], H₂dmpu = N,N′-bis(6-methylpyrid-2-yl)urea, has been prepared by treating [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] with H₂dmpu in toluene at reflux temperature. An X-ray diffraction study has determined that this cluster has a butterfly metallic skeleton hold up by a doubly-deprotonated N,N′-bis(6-methylpyrid-2-yl)urea ligand (dmpu). This ligand has the pyridine N atoms attached to the wing-tip Ru atoms and the amido N atoms spanning Ru-Ru wing-edges, in such a way that the cluster has C₂ symmetry. The donor atoms of doubly-deprotonated N,N′-dipyrid-2-ylureas seem to be appropriately arranged to hold butterfly tetranuclear clusters.     

New and efficient synthesis of 5′-amino-5′-(S)-methyl-2′,5′-dideoxynucleosides

A short, efficient synthesis of 5′-amino-5′-(S)-methyl-2′,5′-dideoxynucleosides 1 has been developed through the diastereoselective addition of methylmagnesium bromide or methyllithium to an intermediate tert-butylsulfinimide.     

Efficient synthesis of phosphonodepsipeptides derived from norleucine

In the present work, we describe in detail an efficient solution synthesis of norleucine-derived phosphonopeptides mimicking the peptide sequences Nle-Gly(Ala) and Nle-Gly(Ala)-Val. The most efficient strategy involved use of the benzyl group. The synthesis was achieved through BOP-catalysed coupling of the monobenzyl ester of the N-Cbz-protected phosphonate derivative of norleucine with the hydroxyl moieties of derivatised l-lactic or glycolic acid. Subsequently, complete deprotection of the products was achieved in good yields by one-step Pd-catalysed hydrogenolysis. We also prepared the Fmoc-Nle-Ψ[PO(OH)O]-CH₂-COOH synthon and demonstrated that this precursor is a suitable building block for the solid-phase synthesis of cysteine-containing phosphonopeptides.     

N,N′-bis(salicylidene)propane-1,2-diamine lanthanide(III) coordination polymers: Synthesis, crystal structure and luminescence properties

Reaction of Ln(NO₃)₃·6H₂O with H₂L [H₂L=N,N′-bis(salicylidene)propane-1,2-diamine] gives rise to five new coordination polymers, viz. [Pr(H₂L)(NO₃)₃(MeOH)]_n (1) and [Ln(H₂L)_1.5(NO₃)₃]_n [Ln=La (2), Eu (3), Sm (4) and Gd (5)]. Crystal structural analysis reveals that H₂L effectively functions as a bridging ligand forming one-dimensional (1D) chain and two-dimensional (2D) open-framework polymers. Solid-state fluorescence spectra of 3 and 4 exhibit typical red fluorescence of Eu(III) and Sm(III) ions at room temperature while 2 emits blue fluorescence of ligand H₂L. The lowest triplet level of ligand H₂L was calculated on the basis of the phosphorescence spectrum of 5. The energy transfer mechanisms in the lanthanide polymers were described and discussed.     

The acetyl CoA synthase paradigm for hybrid bio-organometallics: Quantitative measures for resin-bound Ni-Rh complexes

The active site of Acetyl CoA Synthase utilizes a square planar NiN₂S₂ complex in the form of Ni^II(CGC)²⁻ (CGC = the cysteine-glycine-cysteine tripeptide motif within the protein) to serve as a bidentate sulfur-donor ligand to chelate a second, catalytically active Ni atom responsible for the C-C and C-S coupling reactions for the production of Acetyl CoA. Metalloenzymes, such as this, which house stable catalytic complexes within intricately designed pockets accessible by solvent channels, have inspired design of resin-bound complexes. Through the use of TentaGel S-RAM^® resin beads, the O-Ni(CGC)²⁻ ligand has been synthesized and derivatized with the Rh^I(CO)₂ moiety. The identification of the adduct on these resin beads is afforded by attenuated total reflectance FTIR spectroscopy in the ν(CO) region and compared to solution analogues. The goal of this study is to establish a quantitative measure of the loading of nickel and rhodium on the tripeptide modified resin beads, O-(CGC). The extent of CGC derivatization was determined by Fmoc cleavage of the Fmoc protected O-(CGC). Nickel and rhodium loading were determined by Neutron Activation Analysis. This work provides evidence that the TentaGel S-RAM^® resin beads greatly decrease the air sensitivity of the Ni-Rh complex as compared to the unsupported solution phase analogue. The derivatized beads have also been studied for their ability to withstand a number of physical stresses, i.e., for leaching.     

Complex formation equilibria between Ag(I) and thioureas in n-propanol

Complex formation equilibria between Ag(I) and thiourea or N-alkyl-substituted thioureas have been investigated in n-propanol by potentiometry at 10 °C intervals from 5 to 50 °C. Stepwise formation of tris-coordinated AgL_n (n = 1-3) complexes has been found for the majority of the ligands. ΔH and ΔS values for the complex formation reactions have been evaluated from the dependence of ln β_n on temperature. The alkyl-substituents affect the ligand affinities in different ways in relation with the coordination level n.The reactions are exothermic with few exceptions. Enthalpy favoured complex formation with negative dependence of ΔG on temperature (ΔS > 0) have been found.The enthalpy and entropy changes for the stepwise complex formation equilibria are correlated by two linear compensative relationships with the same isoequilibrium temperature 50-51 °C.     

Chemical and electrochemical procedures for the synthesis of diisopropyltetrahydroquinoxalinedione derivatives

Diisopropyltetrahydroquinoxalinedione derivatives are synthesized from the reaction of various catechols with N,N′-diisopropylethylenediamine. Both chemical and electrochemical methods give the same products. While the chemical synthesis is faster, the electrochemical synthesis provides higher yields.