Intermediate carbene formation in the reaction of thioamides with phosphorus (III) derivatives: Quantum chemical investigation

The reactions of perfluoroalkyl thioamides with trimethyl phosphine, trimethyl phosphite, and tris(dimethylamino)phosphine have been analyzed by means of quantum chemical (DFT and MP2) calculations. The reaction seems to proceed via the nucleophilic attack of the electrophilic carbon atom by the phosphorus lone pair with the formation of cyclic or acyclic adducts. The latter releases the thiophosphate molecule forming perfluoroalkylaminocarbene as the short‐lived intermediate. The reaction of the carbene with the second molecule of trialkyl phosphite yields phosphorus ylide. The ylide undergoes a migration of fluorine from carbon to phosphorus. The reactions of perfluoroalkyl thioamides with phosphines and tris(dimethylamino)phosphine probably proceeds differently. Using alkyl thioamides or amides instead of perfluoroalkyl thioamides also makes the reaction less favorable. The only combination of perfluoroalkyl thioamides with trialkyl phosphite fulfills both the kinetic requirements (moderate activation energies and relative energies for intermediates) and the thermodynamic aspects (higher stabilities of the reaction products compared with the starting materials). © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Evidence for the formation of isothiocyanate during sulfurisation of phosphines and phosphites using xanthane hydride

Contrary to a previous report, the sulfurisation of triphenylphosphines and trialkyl phosphites by 3-amino-1,2,4-dithiazole-5-thione (xanthane hydride) does not yield carbon disulfide and cyanamide as the additional reaction products but unstable thiocarbamoyl isothiocyanate which has been trapped with nucleophiles.     

Nucleophilic addition of azoles to triphenyl-(phenylethynyl)phosphonium bromide and base hydrolysis of the addition products

Reactions of pyrazole, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, imidazole, and 1,2,4-triazole with triphenyl(phenylethynyl)phosphonium bromide gave the corresponding 2-azolyl-2-phenylethenyl(triphenyl)phosphonium salts. Base hydrolysis of the addition products led to the formation of 2-azolyl-1,2-diphenylethyl(diphenyl)phosphine oxides.     

Computational study of the reaction of C6F6 with [IrMe(PEt3)3]: identification of a phosphine-assisted C-F activation pathway via a metallophosphorane intermediate

Density functional theory calculations have been used to model the reaction of C6F6 with [IrMe(PEt3)3], which proceeds with both C-F and P-C bond activation to yield trans-[Ir(C6F5)(PEt3)2(PEt2F)], C2H4, and CH4 (Blum, O.; Frolow, F.; Milstein, D. J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1991, 258). Using a model species, trans-[IrMe(PH3)2(PH2Et)], a low-energy mechanism involving nucleophilic attack of the electron-rich Ir metal center at C6F6 with displacement of fluoride has been identified. A novel feature of this process is the capture of fluoride by a phosphine ligand to generate a metallophosphorane intermediate [Ir(C6F5)(Me)(PH3)2(PH2EtF)]. These events occur in a single step via a 4-centered transition state, in a process that we have termed "phosphine-assisted C-F activation". Alternative mechanisms based on C-F activation via concerted oxidative addition or electron-transfer processes proved less favorable. From the metallophosphorane intermediate the formation of the final products can be accounted for by facile ethyl group transfer from phosphorus to iridium followed by beta-H elimination of ethene and reductive elimination of methane. The interpretation of phosphine-assisted C-F activation in terms of nucleophilic attack is supported by the reduced activation barriers computed with the more electron-rich model reactant trans-[IrMe(PMe3)2(PMe2Et)] and the higher barriers found with lesser fluorinated arenes. Reactivity patterns for a range of fluoroarenes indicate the dominance of the presence of ortho-F substituents in promoting phosphine-assisted C-F activation, and an analysis of the charge distribution and transition state geometries indicates that this process is controlled by the strength of the Ir-aryl bond that is being formed.     

Stereochemical aspects of the reaction of dialkyl phosphates with amine in the presence of triphenylphospine and carbon tetrachloride

Activation of P-chiral dialkyl phosphates with triphenylphosphine-carbon tetrachloride involves intermediate phosphonium salt 1 which undergoes nucleophilic attack by aniline or pyridine with inversion of configuration at the chiral phosphorus atom.     

Theoretical examination of Mg(2+)-mediated hydrolysis of a phosphodiester linkage as proposed for the hammerhead ribozyme

The hammerhead ribozyme is an RNA molecule capable of self-cleavage at a unique site within its sequence. Hydrolysis of this phosphodiester linkage has been proposed to occur via an in-line attack geometry for nucleophilic displacement by the 2'-hydroxyl on the adjoining phosphorus to generate a 2',3'-cyclic phosphate ester with elimination of the 5'-hydroxyl group, requiring a divalent metal ion under physiological conditions. The proposed S(N)2(P) reaction mechanism was investigated using density functional theory calculations incorporating the hybrid functional B3LYP to study this metal ion-dependent reaction with a tetraaquo magnesium (II)-bound hydroxide ion. For the Mg(2+)-catalyzed reaction, the gas-phase geometry optimized calculations predict two transition states with a kinetically insignificant, yet clearly defined, pentacoordinate intermediate. The first transition state located for the reaction is characterized by internal nucleophilic attack coupled to proton transfer. The second transition state, the rate-determining step, involves breaking of the exocyclic P-O bond where a metal-ligated water molecule assists in the departure of the leaving group. These calculations demonstrate that the reaction mechanism incorporating a single metal ion, serving as a Lewis acid, functions as a general base and can afford the necessary stabilization to the leaving group by orienting a water molecule for catalysis.     

Tautomerization of α,β-and β,γ-unsaturated phosphonium salts resulting from the reaction of triphenylphosphine with β-bromomethacrylic acid. Nucleophilic addition at the γ position of the allyl group in phosphonium salt

Temperature factor was found to be determining in the isomerization of 2-carboxyprop-1-en-1-yl-and 2-carboxyprop-2-en-1-yl(triphenyl)phosphonium bromides. Elevated temperature favors formation of isomer with the double bond in the β,γ position with respect to the phosphonium group. Alkaline hydrolysis at room temperature promotes the reverse isomerization. The isomerization of 2-carboxyprop-1-en-1-yl(triphenyl)phosphonium bromide is hampered by addition of hydrobromic acid, as well as by carrying out its synthesis in the presence of aqueous HBr. Alkaline hydrolysis of 2-carboxyprop-1-enyl(triphenyl)phosphonium bromide and (E)-(2-carboxyvinyl)triphenylphosphonium chloride is accompanied by phenyl group migration to the α-position with formation of 2-methyl-3-(diphenylphosphoryl)-3-phenylpropionic acid and 3-(diphenyl-phosphoryl)-3-phenylpropionic acid, respectively. The possibility for nucleophilic addition at the γ position of the allyl group in 2-carboxyprop-2-enyl(triphenyl)phosphonium bromide was demonstrated using the reaction with triphenylphosphine as an example.     

Thermal and photocontrol of the equilibrium between a 2-phosphinoazobenzene and an inner phosphonium salt

The reversible conversion between a phosphine and a phosphonium salt has been achieved by external stimuli of light and heat. Two 2-phosphinoazobenzenes were successfully synthesized by desulfurization of the corresponding phosphine sulfides. One of the phosphines bearing an azo group was in equilibrium with an inner phosphonium salt and showed thermochromism, which is derived from the change of the equilibrium constant depending on the temperature. While the 2-phosphinoazobenzene reacted as a usual triarylphosphine, its reaction with water gave phosphine oxide bearing a hydrazine moiety via a mechanism similar to the Mitsunobu reaction. The 2-phosphinoazobenzene bearing a methyl group at the 4'-position of azobenzene was isomerized to the Z-isomer by irradiation. The Z-isomer was neither in equilibrium with an inner phosphonium salt nor hydrolyzed, in contrast to the E-isomer, because its geometry is difficult for an intramolecular nucleophilic attack. Photoisomerization caused the switching of the unique reactivity toward water. Such phosphines in equilibrium with the inner phosphonium salts are expected to be useful to control organic reactions by taking advantage of the photoisomerization of the azobenzene moiety.     

Reaction of triphenyl(phenylethynyl)phosphonium bromide with α-aminoethers,dipiperidinomethane, and secondary amines

The reactions of triphenyl(phenylethynyl)phosphonium bromide with α-aminoethers lead to formation of triphenyl(2-amino-2-phenylvinyl)phosphonium bromides. In the case of acyclic aminoethers, this reaction is accompanied by the formation of the corresponding amine hydrobromide and triphenylphosphine oxide by a scheme analogous to that of alkaline hydrolysis of phosphonium salts and involving attack of the amine on the phosphorus atom. The reaction of the same salt with diethyl-or dipropylamine affords hydrobromides of the latter, while with piperidine, together with salts, its adduct by the triple bond is formed. Piperidinomethane with the same salt forms triphenylphosphonium (2-phenyl-2-piperidinovinyl)phosphonium bromide. Original Russian Text G.B. Bagdasaryan, P.S. Pogosyan, G.A. Panosyan, M.G. Indzhikyan, 2007, published in Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, 2007, Vol. 77, No. 5, pp. 769–773.     

Synthetic studies in steroidal sapogenins and alkaloids—XII : Synthesis of sceptrumgenin and isonuatigenin

The Michael adduct of 5-nitro-2,2-ethylene-dioxypentan-1-ol acetate with E-5,17(20)-pregnadien-3β-ol-16-one gave on reduction with sodium borohydride and deketalisation, spirost-5-en-3β-ol-25-one. This intermediate was converted to sceptrumgenin through reaction with triphenyl phosphonium methylide and to isonuatigenin by treatment with dimethyl oxosulfonium methylide followed by lithium aluminium hydride.     

Synthesis and transformations of triphenylpropargylphosphonium bromide

A method of the synthesis of triphenylpropargylphosphonium bromide is developed. Its isomerization and hydration in various solvents are studied, and reactions with secondary amines, triethylamine, and triphenylphosphine are carried out. It is established that secondary amines add to the intermediate allene isomer with subsequent migration of the formed double bond to the phosphorus atom. The reaction of triethylamine with triphenylpropargyl and triphenylethynyl bromides occurs similarly to alkaline hydrolysis involving attack of the amine on the phosphorus atom. Triphenylphosphine forms with triphenylpropargylphosphonium bromide a bis-salt with a terminal methylene group. Experimental evidence is obtained showing that for phosphoxazole derivatives to form from oximes derived from triphenyl(oxomethyl)phosphonium salts that latter should bear an aryl substituent at the keto group.     

Mechanism of SN2 disulfide bond cleavage by phosphorus nucleophiles. Implications for biochemical disulfide reducing agents

The B3LYP variant of DFT has been used to study the mechanism of S-S bond scission in dimethyl disulfide by a phosphorus nucleophile, trimethylphospine (TMP). The reaction is highly endothermic in the gas phase and requires significant external stabilization of the charged products. DFT calculations (B3LYP) were performed with explicit (water molecules added) and implicit solvent corrections (COSMO model). The transition structures for this SN2 displacement reaction in a number of model systems have been located and fully characterized. The reaction barriers calculated with different approaches for different systems are quite close (around 11 kcal/mol). Remarkably, the calculations suggest that the reaction is almost barrierless with respect to the preorganized reaction complex and that most of the activation energy is required to rearrange the disulfide and TMP to its most effective orientation for the SMe group transfer way. Different reactivities of different phosphorus nucleophiles were suggested to be the result of steric effects, as manifested largely by varying amounts of hindrance to solvation of the initial product phosphonium ion. These data indicate that the gas-phase addition of a phosphine to the disulfide moiety will most likely form a phosphonium cation-thiolate anion salt, in the presence of four or more water molecules, that provide sufficient H-bonding stabilization to allow displacement of the thiolate anion, a normal uncomplicated SN2 transition state is to be expected.     

Dynamic Cross‐Exchange in Halophosphonium Species: Direct Observation of Stereochemical Inversion in the Course of an SN2 Process

The complex fluxional interconversions between otherwise very similar phosphonium bromides and chlorides R₃PX⁺X^? (R=Alk, Ar, X=Cl or Br) were studied by NMR techniques. Their energy barriers are typically ca. 11 kcal mol^?1, but rise rapidly as bulky groups are attached to phosphorus, revealing the importance of steric factors. In contrast, electronic effects, as measured by Hammett analysis, are modest (ρ 1.46) but still clearly indicate negative charge flow towards phosphorus in the transition state. Most significantly, detailed analysis of the exchange pathways unequivocally, and for the first time in any such process, shows that nucleophilic attack of the nucleophilic anion on the tetrahedral centre results in inversion of configuration.     

Regioselectivity and regiospecificity of phosphorylation of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>)- and (<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-4-chloromethylene-2-phenyl-5(4<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-oxazolones. Effect of solvation: Supramolecular approximation

By the methods of quantum chemistry in supramolecular approximation, are considered stereochemical and energetic features of phosphorylation of 4-chloromethylene-2-phenyl -5(4H)-oxazolone Z- and E-isomers in gas phase and their solvates with acetonitrile of 1:n composition where n varies from 1 to 10. On the MNDO-PM3 level the phosphorylation with triphenylphosphine proceeds endothermally in two steps: nucleophilic addition in the first step and elimination of chlorine anion with formation of phosphonium salt in the second step. Solvation with acetonitrile leads to stabilization of phosphonium intermediate and decrease in heat of conversion. On both semiempirical and nonempirical levels occur regioselectivity of nucleophilic attack at the double C=C, but not C=O, bond and regiospecificity of transformation without inversion of init configuration of the isomers owing to steric hindrances restricting rotation degree of freedom of -CHClP⁺Ph₃ group. Therewith, elimination of chlorine anion is characterized by low activation barrier and occurs with donation negative charge from π-orbital of carbon atom in the 4 position of heterocycle on antibonding σ*-orbital of carbon-chlorine bond; two orbitals become practically coplanar in the transition state.     

Chemistry and stereochemistry of the interaction of the water-soluble phosphine [HO(CH2)3]3P with cinnamaldehyde in aqueous media

To learn more about the bleaching action of pulps by (hydroxymethyl)phosphines, cinnamaldehyde was reacted with tris(3-hydroxypropyl)phosphine, [HO(CH2)3]3P (THPP), in aqueous solution at room temperature under argon. Self-condensation of the aldehyde into two isomeric products, 2-benzyl-5-phenyl-pent-2,4-dienal and 5-phenyl-2-(phenylmethylene)-4-pentenal, is observed; this implies initial nucleophilic attack of the phosphine at the beta-carbon of the alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde. Reaction in D2O gives the same products in which all but the phenyl and CHO protons are replaced by deuterons. NMR studies are consistent with carbanion formation and subsequent condensation of two phosphonium-containing aldehyde moieties to generate the products with concomitant elimination of phosphine oxide. In D2O in the presence of HCl, THPP reversibly attacks the aldehyde-C atom to form the (alpha-hydroxy)phosphonium derivative [PhCH=C(H)CH(OD)PR3]Cl (where R=(CH2)3OD), which slowly converts into the deuterated bisphosphonium salt [R3PCH(Ph)CD(H)CH(OD)PR3]Cl2 via the deuterated monophosphonium salt [R3PCH(Ph)CD(H)CHO]Cl. The phosphonium intermediates and phosphonium products in this chemistry, although having up to three chiral carbon centers, are formed with high stereoselectivity just in enantiomeric forms. In acetone-H2O (1:1 v/v), a cross-condensation of cinnamaldehyde with acetone to give 6-phenyl-3,5-hexadien-2-one is promoted by THPP via generation of OH-.     

Regio- and stereoselectivity of the 3-membered ring opening of some 3,4-epoxytetrahydropyrans and of the corresponding epibromonium ions

The reactions of 3,4-epoxytetrahydropyran and of its cis- and trans-2-methyl derivatives with hydrogen halides and with lithium aluminum hydride have been investigated in order to assess the influence of an O atom in the β position on the regioselectivity of the epoxide ring opening. All these reactions exhibit a high preference for nucleophilic attack at position 4, which decreases moderately only when the inductive effect of the O atom and the stereoelectronic requirements of the attack act in opposite directions. Similar trends are observed in the reactions of the 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyrans with NBA, which occur with preferential nucleophilic attack by water at position 4 of the intermediate epibromonium ions. A remarkably high preference (96%) for electrophilic attack syn to the 2-Me group is observed in the latter type of reaction, in accordance with a previous proposal of a mechanism in which the nucleophilic step is rate determining.     

The catalytic hydration of nitriles to amides using a homogeneous platinum phosphinito catalyst

New homogeneous catalysts for the hydration of nitriles to amides are described. The catalyst precursors are coordination compounds of Pt(II) with secondary phosphine oxides. They contain a hydrogen bridged mono-anionic didentate phosphinito group, together with a third phosphine oxide ligand and a monodentate anionic ligand, either hydride or chloride. Reacting the chloride with silver ion, or the hydride with water gives a cationic species which is the active catalyst. On coordination to the cation the nitrile becomes susceptible to nucleophilic attack. The hydrolysis gives the amide as the sole product, and there is no tendency towards further hydrolysis to the acid. The effects of substituents on phosphorus are investigated, and a reaction mechanism is suggested. The most active catalyst, [PtH(PMe₂OH)(PMe₂O)₂H], 2a, is derived from dimethylphosphine oxide, and this precursor catalyses the hydration of acrylonitrile to acrylamide with a turnover number of 77,000, without addition to the C=C double bond.     

Reaction of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones of triphenyl(2-aroylethyl)phosphonium bromides with aqueous alkali and some transformations of the betaines formed

Triphenyl(2-p-toluoylethyl)- and triphenyl(2-p-bromobenzoylethyl)phosphonium bromide 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones were established to form a bipolar compounds with a negatively charged nitrogen atom and a positively charged phosphonium atom, under the action of aqueous alkali at 0°C. When refluxed in acetonitrile, the product formed from triphenyl(2-p-toluoylethyl)phosphonium bromide undergoes cleavage by a five-membered ring mechanism to give triphenylphosphine and tolyl vinyl ketone 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone. The reactions of the above betains with methyl iodide give rise to N-alkylation and cleavage products, but, in addition, iodide analogs of the starting phosphonium salt 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones which are probably formed via N→C negative charge transfer, C-methylation, and reaction of the resulting products with N-betaines.     

磷酰化丝氨酸形成六配位磷中间体的理论研究

用MNDO方法对磷酰化丝氨酸仿生化反应机理中六配位磷中间体的形成过程进行了研究.磷酰化丝氨酸(1)形成分子内磷酸-羧酸分子内混酐的五配位磷中间体(2)后,其酸性质子解离,分子经过具有氢桥键结构的过渡态,使氨基酸侧链羟基上的氢通过氢键作用向磷上的O₁进行转移,然后再经过构型由三角双锥向八面体的转变,形成六配位磷中间体(3).氢桥键的存在使反应过渡态能量降低,其相对能量为148.5kJ/mol.理论计算较成功的解释了六配位磷中间体的形成机理以及磷酰化丝氨酸仿生化反应中羧基和侧链羟基共同参与的实验结果.     

Acylation is rate-limiting in glycosylasparaginase-catalyzed hydrolysis of N4-(4'-substituted phenyl)-L-asparagines

Glycosylasparaginase catalyzes the hydrolysis of the N-glycosylic bond between N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and L-asparagine in the catabolism of glycoproteins. The mechanism has been proposed to resemble that of serine proteases involving an acylation step where a nucleophilic attack by a catalytic Thr residue on the carbonyl carbon of the N-glycosylic bond gives rise to a covalent beta-aspartyl-enzyme intermediate, and a deacylation step to give the final products. The question posed in this study was: Is the acylation step the rate-limiting step in the hydrolysis reaction as in serine proteases? To answer this question a series of mostly new substituted anilides was synthesized and characterized, and their hydrolysis reactions catalyzed by glycosylasparaginase from human amniotic fluid were studied. Five N4-(4'-substituted phenyl)-L-asparagine compounds were synthesized and characterized: 4'-hydrogen, 4'-ethyl, 4'-bromo, 4'-nitro, and 4'-methoxy. Each of these anilides was a substrate for the enzyme. Hammett plots of the kinetic parameters showed that acylation is the rate-limiting step in the reaction and that upon binding the electron distribution of the substrate is perturbed toward the transition state. This is the first direct evidence that acylation is the rate-limiting step in the enzyme-catalyzed reaction. A Br?nsted plot indicates a small, negative charge (-0.25) on the nitrogen atom of the leaving group anilines containing electron-withdrawing groups, and a small, positive charge (0.43) on the nitrogen atom of the leaving group anilines containing electron-donating groups. The free energy (incremental) change of binding (delta deltaGb) in the enzyme-substrate transition state complexes shows that substitution of a substituted phenyl group for the pyranosyl group in the natural substrate results in an overall loss of binding energy equivalent to a weak hydrogen bond, the magnitude of which is dependent on the substituent group. The data are consistent with a mechanism for glycosylasparaginase involving rapid formation of a tetrahedral structure upon substrate binding, and a rate-limiting breakdown of the tetrahedral structure to a covalent beta-aspartyl-enzyme intermediate that is dependent on the electronic properties of the substituent group and on the degree of protonation of the leaving group in the transition state by a general acid.