Concerning the efficient conversion of epoxy alcohols into epoxy ketones using dioxiranes

Representative epoxy alcohols are cleanly converted into the corresponding epoxy ketones in high yield by selective oxidation using dimethyldioxirane (1a) and its trifluoro analogue (1b) under mild conditions. The oxidation is found to take place leaving the configuration at the epoxy functionality unaffected. The direct oxyfunctionalization of simple cyclic epoxides with the powerful dioxirane 1b provides another attractive method to access epoxy ketones regioselectively.     

Titanium-mediated syntheses of cyclopropylamines

The transformations of N,N-dialkylcarboxamides and nitriles with 1,2-dicarbanionic organometallics in situ generated from organomagnesium (Grignard) as well as organozinc reagents in the presence of stoichiometric or substoichiometric (semi-catalytic) quantities of a titanium alkoxide derivative of type XTi(OR)₃ with X=OR, Cl, Me and OR=OiPr, OEt are described. The key step in the transformation of a monocarbanionic into a 1,2-dicarbanionic organotitanium species is a disproportionation of a dialkyltitanium intermediate to form an alkane and a titanium alkene complex which has the reactivity of a titanacyclopropane derivative. The latter are able to undergo insertion of the carbonyl group of an N,N-dialkylcarboxamide or a cyano group to furnish, after ring contraction and hydrolysis, dialkylcyclopropylamines or cyclopropylamines, respectively. The titanium alkene complexes can also undergo ligand exchange with alkenes to afford new titanacyclopropanes, which subsequently react as 1,2-dicarbanionic equivalents. In many cases, these titanium-mediated formations of a wide range of synthetically and/or pharmacologically important cyclopropylamines proceed in good to very good yields (from 20% to 98% for dialkylcyclopropylamines from N,N-dialkylcarboxamides and from 27% to 73% for primary cyclopropylamines from nitriles) and with high chemo- and stereoselectivity. These circumstances in conjunction with the simplicity of the experimental handling and inexpensiveness of the reagents favor these reactions for an ever increasing range of applications in organic synthesis.     

Novel photochemical reactions of enamino ketones

Irradiation of the conjugated N-aryl enamino ketone (V) yielded the indole (VI) resulting from a novel decomposition of the ylide intermediate.     

New and easy route to primary cyclopropylamines from nitriles

Starting from readily available substrates, we have developed a new synthesis of primary cyclopropylamines. The reaction involves a cooperative Ti(II)- and Lewis acid-mediated coupling of alkanenitriles with Grignard reagents.     

Novel polyaniline-supported molybdenum-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones

[reaction: see text] Oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones has been studied in high yields using molecular oxygen and a catalytic amount of 1 in toluene under stirring (ca. 100 degrees C). The reactions of primary alcohols are faster compared to secondary alcohols and the catalyst 1 can be recycled without loss of activity.     

Novel direct reduction of diaryl ketones to diarylmethanes using supercritical 2-propanol

We found that diaryl ketones reduce directly to diaryl alkanes under supercritical 2-propanol. This method was applied to one-pot synthesis of anthracene from anthraquinone derivatives by the addition of sulfur in excellent yields.     

Novel vanadium-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones under atmospheric oxygen

[reaction: see text] Oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones has been studied in high yields using atmospheric oxygen and a catalytic amount of V2O5 in toluene under heating (ca. 100 degrees C). Secondary alcohols can be chemoselectively converted into ketones in the presence of primary hydroxy groups.     

Novel reduction of perfluoroalkyl ketones with lithium alkoxides

The reaction of tert-butyl N-(2-bromophenyl)carbamate (1) with ethyl perfluorooctanoate in the presence of tert-butyllithium did not give the desired N-(2-perfluorooctanoylphenyl)carbamate (3) but gave 1-hydroxy-1H-perfluorooctyl compound (4), which was supposed to be formed by the reduction of 3. A similar reaction of 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone with tert-butyllithium did not gave any reduction product. Detailed investigation showed that lithium ethoxide worked as the reducing agent of this abnormal reduction. By the reaction of lithium isopropoxide, an aldol product from 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone with acetone was isolated, while perfluoroheptyl or perfluoropropyl phenyl ketones were reduced by this alkoxide in a high yield without formation of the aldol adduct.     

Asymmetric synthesis of cyclopropylamines starting from N-sulfinyl alpha-chloro ketimines

Treatment of novel chiral N-sulfinyl alpha-chloro ketimines with Grignard reagents resulted in the synthesis of chiral N-(1-substituted cyclopropyl)-tert-butanesulfinamides in acceptable to good yields and diastereoselectivity via 1,3-dehydrohalogenation and subsequent addition of the Grignard reagent to the intermediate cyclopropylideneamine. Only in the case of allylmagnesium chloride did the reaction lead to aziridines in high yield. Further deprotection toward N-unprotected 1-substituted cyclopropylamines was established, and the absolute configuration was determined. [reaction: see text].     

新型手性环状胺膦配体的设计合成及在酮的不对称还原中的应用

新型手性配体的设计合成是不对称催化研究的重要内容,其中手性胺膦配体因同时含有"软"的磷原子和"硬"的氮原子而具有丰富的配位化学性能和优秀的不对称诱导能力.本文总结了本研究组最近设计合成的手性环状胺膦配体的制备、表征及其在铁催化酮的不对称还原中的应用.手性1,2-环己二胺与双(2-甲酰基苯基)苯基膦通过[2+2]环缩合反应能够顺利获得手性22元环的亚胺膦配体21,该配体经Na BH4还原后生成大环胺膦配体22.利用手性大环胺膦配体22与Fe3(CO)12原位生成的催化体系,能够高活性、高对映选择性地实现包括杂环芳香酮在内50多种酮的不对称转移氢化和不对称氢化反应,其S/C(底物与催化剂的摩尔比)最高可达5000:1,产物手性芳香醇的光学纯度高达99%ee.     

Bifunctional nanocrystalline MgO for chiral epoxy ketones via Claisen-Schmidt condensation-asymmetric epoxidation reactions

Design and development of a truly nanobifunctional heterogeneous catalyst for the Claisen-Schmidt condensation (CSC) of benzaldehydes with acetophenones to yield chalcones quantitatively followed by asymmetric epoxidation (AE) to afford chiral epoxy ketones with moderate to good yields and impressive ee's is described. The nanomagnesium oxide (aerogel prepared) NAP-MgO was found to be superior over the NA-MgO and CM-MgO in terms of activity and enantioselectivity as applicable in these reactions. An elegant strategy for heterogenization of homogeneous catalysts is presented here to evolve single-site chiral catalysts for AE by a successful transfer of molecular chemistry to surface metal-organic chemistry with the retention of activity, selectivity/enantioselectivity. Br?nsted hydroxyls are established as sole contributors for the epoxidation reaction, while they add on to the CSC, which is largely driven by Lewis basic O2-sites. Strong hydrogen-bond interactions between the surface -OH on MgO and -OH groups of diethyl tartrate are found inducing enantioselectivity in the AE reaction. Thus, the nanocrystalline NAP-MgO with its defined shape, size, and accessible OH groups allows the chemisorption of TBHP, DET, and olefin on its surface to accomplish single-site chiral catalysts to provide optimum ee's in AE reactions.     

Titanium-mediated synthesis of bicyclic cyclopropylamines from unsaturated nitriles

Here we report an easy synthesis of bicyclic primary cyclopropylamines directly from unsaturated nitriles. The described reaction involves Ti(II)-mediated intramolecular coupling of alkene and nitrile moieties.     

Novel epoxy compositions for vibration damping applications

Three epoxy compositions have been developed by using polyether amine hardeners having varying chain lengths of polyethers. Unlike normal epoxies, the compositions show low glass transition temperatures (0–45°C). Dynamic mechanical analysis and time–temperature superposition of the isotherms indicate that they have broad and high loss factor values over broad frequency and temperature ranges suggesting their application as viscoelastic materials in constrained layer damping of structural vibrations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Novel polyphenylene oxide microcapsules filled with epoxy resins

Novel polyphenylene oxide (PPO) microcapsules filled with epoxy resins (PPOMCs) were synthesized by in situ polymerization technology with 2, 6‐dimethy phenol as shell materials and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy resins as core materials. The structures and morphologies of PPOMCs were characterized using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, micro‐confocal Raman microscope, laser scanning confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy, respectively. The thermal properties of PPOMCs were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The influences of different processing parameters such as the weight ratio of shell material to core material, kind of surfactant and reaction temperature on the morphologies and sizes of PPOMCs were investigated. Preliminary investigation on application of PPOMCs to thermosetting resins 4,4′‐bismaleimidodiphenylmethane/O,O′‐diallylbisphenol A (BMI/BA) system was conducted. Results indicate that PPOMCs can be synthesized successfully. The sizes and surface morphologies of PPOMCs may be significantly affected by different processing parameters. PPOMCs can be well prepared at about 30°C, and they depend strongly on the kind of surfactant and the weight ratio of shell material to core material. PPOMCs basically exhibit high thermal stability when the temperature is below 258°C. The addition of PPOMCs can improve the mechanical properties and maintain the thermal properties of BMI/BA system. The released core materials from PPOMCs may repair the matrix cracks through the polymerization of epoxy resins initiated by curing agent. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Novel flame retardancy effects of DOPO-POSS on epoxy resins

A series of flame retarded epoxy resins (EP) was prepared with a novel polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane containing 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO-POSS). The flame retardancy of these EPs was tested by the LOI, UL-94, which indicates that DOPO-POSS has meaningful effects on the flame retardancy of EP composites. 2.5 wt.% DOPO-POSS incorporation into epoxy resin (EP-2.5), results in a LOI value 30.2 and UL-94 V-1 (t₁ = 8 s and t₂ = 3 s) rating. Moreover, self-extinguishing effect through the pyrolytic gases spurt is observed in UL-94 test for the EP-2.5. The pyrolytic gases and thermal stability of epoxy resins with and without DOPO-POSS were detected by TGA-FTIR under air atmosphere. Releases of gaseous species are found to be similar for the pure EP and EP-2.5. The details of fire behaviour, such as TTI, HRR, p-HRR, TSR, SEA, COPR, CO₂PR, and TML, were tested by cone calorimeter. It is notable that 2.5 wt.% DOPO-POSS could make COPR and CO₂PR reach a maximum, which could explain the blowing-out extinguishing effect.     

Spiro epoxy ketones. 2. Thermal transformations of 2-benzylideneindan-1,3-dioneα-oxide

2-Phenyl-3,3,4,4-diphthaloyloxetane is formed when solutions of 2-benzylideneindan-1,3-dione -oxide in benzene or carbon tetrachloride are heated, while 5-oxo-3-phenyl-2,2-phthaloyl-2,3-dihydroindeno[2,3-b][1,4]dioxine is formed when solutions in dioxane are heated.See [1] for Communication 1.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 7, pp. 881–884, July, 1988.     

Novel and facile synthesis of fluorinated enamino ketones and amino alcohols

Selected imines and one bis-imine react via their enamine tautomers with terminal perfluorinated epoxides, e.g. hexafluoropropene oxide to produce fluorinated enamino ketones or imino ketones. In contrast, internal perfluorinated linear epoxides and one cyclic epoxide yield intermediate imino alcohols, which in one case added hexafluoroacetone, furnishing a new imino diol investigated by X-ray diffraction.     

Reactions of alpha,alpha'-dihydroxy ketones with phosgene. Structural requirements for spiro epoxy carbonate formation

[reaction: see text] Apha,alpha'-dihydroxy ketones having two OH groups that can come into close proximity react with phosgene in the presence of DMAP to produce 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diones. When covalent bonding in this manner is prohibited, alternate reaction pathways can in principle be adopted. Of these, the generation of spiro epoxy carbonates is shown to be feasible in three examples. In other cases, the alpha-ketol rearrangement precedes diacylation.