In situ formation of palladium(0) from a P,C-palladacycle

In DMF at 80 °C, a Pd⁰ complex is generated in situ from the dimeric P,C-palladacycle (1) in the absence of any reducing agents, presumably via a reductive elimination. The Pd⁰ complex formed in an endergonic equilibrium has been trapped and stabilized by an additional P(o-Tol)₃ and has been detected in cyclic voltammetry by its oxidation peak. Its formation is favored by acetate anions (often used as base in Heck reactions) via the formation of a monomeric anionic P,C-palladacycle ligated by acetate ions. As postulated, P,C-palladacycles are a reservoir of monophosphine-Pd⁰ complexes active in oxidative additions with aryl halides.     

Facile cyclization of amidyl radicals generated from N-acyltriazenes

N-Acyltriazenes serve as a tin-free and initiator-free source for amidyl radicals. Thermal decomposition of N,N′-diaryl-N-(4-pentenoyl)triazenes in refluxing toluene led to the formation of monocyclic and tricyclic lactams in satisfactory yields via 5-exo amidyl radical cyclization.     

A mild, expedient, one-pot trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride mediated synthesis of N-arylimidates

The direct transformation of various secondary amides into N-arylimidates via mild electrophilic amide activation with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (Tf₂O) in the presence of 2-chloropyridine (2-ClPyr) is described. Low-temperature amide activation followed by C-O bond formation with 2-naphthol provides the desired N-arylimidates in short overall reaction times. In contrast, reaction with oxindole proceeds via formation of a C-C bond to give 1-(1H-indol-2-yl)naphthalene-2-ol.     

Synthesis of ferrocenoyl amino acid derivatives via homogeneous catalytic aminocarbonylation

Palladium-catalysed aminocarbonylation of iodoferrocene with amino acid esters as nucleophiles results in the selective formation of N-ferrocenoyl amino acid esters in the presence of Et₃N as the base. At the same time, the use of DBU leads to the formation of new N-ferrocenylglyoxyl amino acid derivatives with reasonable selectivity. In the latter reactions two new side products, formed via acylation of DBU, were also isolated and characterised.     

Facile preparation of cyclopropanes from 2-iodoethyl-substituted olefins and 1,3-dihalopropanes with zinc powder

Two efficient, simple, cheap, and environmentally benign preparations of cyclopropanes were achieved. One is the formation via 3-exo-trig manner from various electron-deficient 2-iodoethyl-substituted olefins with zinc powder in a mixture of t-butyl alcohol and water, and the other is the formation via 3-exo-tet manner from various 1,3-dihalopropanes with zinc powder in ethanol.     

Novel tandem reactions of ethyl acetoacetate with aromatic aldehydes: product- and stereo-selective formation of highly functionalised cyclohexanones

The five-component tandem reaction of ethyl acetoacetate with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of pyrrolidine affords t(3),t(5)-diaryl-t(4)-[(E)-3-aryl-2-propenonyl]-r(2)-ethoxycarbonylcyclohexanones stereoselectively in good yields presumably via a tandem Knoevenagel condensation-Michael addition-condensation via enamine-deethoxycarbonylation-Michael addition sequence. The same reactants in the presence of DBU led to the formation of t(3)-aryl-r(2),c(4)-bisethoxycarbonyl-c(5)-hydroxy-t(5)-methylcyclohexanones in excellent yields via a tandem Knoevenagel condensation-Michael addition-aldol reaction sequence.     

Photophysics of intramolecular electron donor—acceptor systems; N-carbazolyl(CH2)ntetrachlorophthalimide

In systems N-carbazolyl—(CH₂)_n—tetrachlorophthalimide (n = 2, 3, 4, 7) virtually complete quenching of the carbazole fluorescence via an intramolecular electron-transfer mechanism occurs, with concomitant formation of an emissive polar excited state. The rate of formation of this polar excited state is found to exceed considerably those reported for formation of intramolecular exciplex states in other non-conjugated bichromophoric systems with a less pronounced electron donor—acceptor character.     

Effect of solvent nature on free-radical copolymerization of N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride and maleic acid

The free-radical copolymerization of N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride with maleic acid in DMSO proceeds to yield statistical copolymers. When the reaction is carried out in methanol, the copolymers of constant compositions (N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride: maleic acid = 2: 1) are formed over a wide range of comonomer ratios in the starting mixture. The formation of alternating copolymers in this case may be attributed to formation of donor-acceptor complexes between the comonomers in the methanol solution, as evidenced by UV spectrophotometry. The kinetic features of the process have been investigated, and the relative activities of the monomers have been assessed. ¹³C NMR studies have demonstrated that, regardless of the solvent nature, both double bonds of N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride are involved in copolymerization via intermolecular cyclization accompanied by formation of pyrrolidinium structures.     

Preparation of poly(phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone) asymmetric ultrafiltration membrane: II. The gelation process

Formation kinetics of the poly(phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone) (PPESK) asymmetric membrane via wet phase-inversion process has been studied experimentally. The membrane morphology has been observed using an online optical microscope–CCD camera experimental system. The precipitation front movement, X, has been measured. Three different linear correlations between the value of X² and the gelation time, t, have been identified. This observation is different from a commonly accepted conclusion which assumed a single linear correlation between X² and t for the whole gelation process. Compared to the morphology evolution of the membrane, it is realized that these three correlations correspond to the three consecutive gelation steps: formation of the top layer, formation of the transition layer and formation of the support layer. The effect of two additives, PEG1000 and Tween80, on the formation kinetics as well as the membrane flux has also been studied. The results present here may provide better understanding of the asymmetric membrane formation process.     

A study of some molecularly imprinted polymers as protic catalysts for the isomerisation of α-pinene oxide to trans-carveol

A range of acidic Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) were synthesised using the imprint molecule trans-carvyl amine as a transition state analogue for the selective isomerisation of α-pinene oxide to trans-carveol. The amine functionality of the imprint molecule was used to selectively position a sulfonic acid group in the MIP binding pocket utilising 4-styrene sulfonic acid as the functional monomer. Co-polymerisation with varying ratios of styrene and divinylbenzene afforded a range of MIPs which were tested for their ability to effect selective formation of trans-carveol from α-pinene oxide. Although successful imprinting was demonstrated in binding studies, it was shown that solvent effects were dominant in effecting selective formation of trans-carveol. Using DMF as solvent, up to 70% of the products from acid catalysed isomerisation of α-pinene oxide with the polystyrene MIPs were obtained via the necessary para menthyl tertiary carbocation, and industrially important trans-carveol was obtained in 45% yield.     

Controlled synthesis of copolymers of vinyl acetate and n-butyl acrylate mediated by trithiocarbonates as reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer agents

The formation of copolymers of vinyl acetate and n-butyl acrylate via polymerization mediated by di-tert-butyl trithiocarbonate and dibenzyl trithiocarbonate as reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer agents is studied. Copolymerization mediated by low-molecular-mass reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer agents and by the copolymers formed in their presence proceeds via the pseudoliving mechanism. As a result, the controlled synthesis of narrowly dispersed copolymers of various compositions and desired molecular masses may be implemented. Variation in the compositions of the copolymers with conversion is investigated, and the reactivity ratios of the comonomers are found to differ significantly (r _VA = 0.01 and r _BA = 5.38). Our experimental data make it possible to infer that gradient copolymers are formed in the systems of interest in a wide range of comonomer mixture compositions.     

HSAB-driven regioselectivity difference in the Lewis-acid catalyzed reactions of 2-C-substituted glycals with sulfur and oxygen nucleophiles: direct versus allylic substitution

A remarkable regioselectivity difference in the Lewis-acid catalyzed reactions of 2-C-acteoxymethyl glycals with thiophenols and phenols has been observed. The reaction with thiophenols led to preferential formation of a new class of compounds viz. 2-C-arylthiomethyl glycals via direct attack at the C-2 side chain primary carbon bearing the leaving group. In contrast, phenols were reported to afford predominantly 2-C-methylene-O-aryl glycosides via allylic attack at the anomeric carbon. The observed results correlate well with the HSAB principle proposed earlier for similar type of reactions with simple glycals. In addition, formation of an unusual bis-thioarylated product in presence of an excess of thiophenol is also reported.     

A verification of the photolytic decomposition pathways of 3-tert-butyl-3-chlorodiazirine based on the application of the C60 probe technique

C₆₀ acts as a mechanistic probe for the formation of carbene and for the rearranged product via the excited state in the photolysis of 3-t-butyl-3-chlorodiazirine.     

Synthesis of C2-functionalized pyrimidines from 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones by the Mitsunobu coupling reaction

The Biginelli 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one was converted to various C2-multifunctionalized pyrimidines via the dehydrogenation and Mitsunobu reaction using amines, alcohols, phenols and carboxylic acids as nucleophiles. A possible mechanism was also proposed to rationalize the formation of products.     

On the 6-exo-trig ring closure of substituted 5-hexen-1-oxyl radicals

Substituted 5-hexen-1-oxyl radicals have been generated from N-(5-hexen-1-oxy)-5-(p-methoxyphenyl)-4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thiones under tin-free conditions and have been successfully applied as reactive intermediates in a mechanistic study on the formation of bromomethyl-substituted tetrahydropyrans via 6-exo-trig selective cyclizations.     

Non-thiazolidinedione antihyperglycaemic agents. Part 4: Synthesis of (±)-, (R)-(+)- and (S)-(−)-enantiomers of 2-oxy-3-arylpropanoic acids

The synthesis of a new series of potent 2-oxy-3-arylpropanoic acid antihyperglycaemic agents in both racemic and non-racemic form is described. Resolution of racemic acids 1 is accomplished via amide formation with either (S)-2-phenylglycinol or (S)-4-benzyloxazolidin-2-one as complementary resolving agents.     

Enzyme catalyzed hydroxymethylation of aromatic aldehydes with formaldehyde. Synthesis of hydroxyacetophenones and (S)-benzoins

Benzaldehyde lyase from the Pseudomonas Fluorescens catalyzed reaction of aromatic aldehydes with formaldehyde providing 2-hydroxy-1-arylethan-1-one in high yields via an acyloin linkage. Kinetic resolution of rac-benzoins with formaldehyde providing (S)-benzoins and 2-hydroxy-1-arylethan-1-one via C-C bond cleavage and a bond formation reaction.     

Reactivity of (NNN)-pincer nickel(II) aryl complex towards oxidative carbon-heteroatom bond formation

The reactivity of an (NNN)-Ni(II) aryl complex towards C–X bond formation upon exposure to a panel of one- and two-electron oxidants is reported. High selectivity for C(sp²)–N bond formation is observed in all cases, except under conditions when C–C bond formation is accessible. Preliminary mechanistic investigations indicate access to either a Ni(III) or Ni(IV) intermediate dependent on oxidant used and that C–N bond formation is more efficient via Ni(IV) pathway due to geometry of reactive species.     

Stereoselective synthesis of N-protected pyrrolidines via Pd-catalyzed reactions of γ-(N-acylamino) alkenes and γ-(N-Boc-amino) alkenes with aryl bromides

The stereoselective synthesis of N-acyl- and N-Boc-protected pyrrolidines via Pd-catalyzed reactions of γ-(N-acylamino) alkenes and γ-(N-Boc-amino) alkenes with aryl bromides is described. These reactions effect formation of two bonds in a single operation and proceed with generally high levels of diastereoselectivity. In contrast to previously described reactions of γ-(N-arylamino) alkenes, these transformations proceed in high yield and high regioselectivity with both electron-rich and electron-deficient aryl bromides as well as vinyl bromide substrates.     

Synthesis of 2′-hydrazine oligonucleotides and their efficient conjugation with aldehydes and 1,3-diketones

Oligodeoxyribonucleotides that contain a novel nucleoside, 2′-O-(2-hydrazinoethyl)uridine, were synthesised by NaBH₃CN reduction of hydrazones formed from 2′-O-(2-oxoethyl)oligonucleotides with FmocNHNH₂, followed by concd aq NH₃ deprotection. The 2′-hydrazine oligonucleotides obtained were then used to synthesise a number of conjugates with aldehydes via hydrazone formation and with1,3-diketones via pyrazole formation. The method was shown to be applicable for the preparation of oligonucleotide-peptide conjugates.