Convergence of products from Povarov and von Miller reactions: approaches to helquinoline

Yttrium triflate or triflic acid catalysed Povarov reaction of methyl anthranilate with ethyl vinyl ether, both as aldehyde surrogate and as alkene, gave the desired 2-methyl-4-ethoxytetrahydroquinoline diastereoisomers as the major products along with four component coupling von Miller adducts. A proton NMR-study, using yttrium triflate as catalyst, revealed that the cis-diastereoisomers were the initial major products in both the Povarov and von Miller reactions but that these isomerised to the trans-diastereoisomers under the reaction conditions. Two distinct pathways for forming von Miller adducts were uncovered with the initial Povarov products being converted to von Miller adducts under the reaction conditions. Replacement of the 4-ethoxy with a 4-methoxy group under acidic conditions gave predominantly the trans-diastereoisomer, which was subsequently converted to a cis/trans mixture of the tetrahydroquinoline antibiotic helquinoline. It was also possible to convert the von Miller products to Povarov products under acidic conditions.     

Radical cyclizations to quinolone and isoquinolone systems under oxidative and reductive conditions

Radical cyclizations to quinolone and isoquinolone systems under Fenton-type and n-Bu₃SnH-mediated conditions are described. For N-iodoalkylquinolones, ca. 3:1 mixtures of oxidative cyclization products at C-2, and unexpectedly at C-8, were obtained under both conditions. Five- or six-membered oxidative cyclization products were obtained from N-iodoalkylisoquinolones under Fenton-type conditions, whereas n-Bu₃SnH-mediated reactions gave products of reductive cyclization in the five, six, and seven-membered series.     

High pressure and thermal Diels-Alder reactions of 5-nitro[2.2]paracyclophanepyran-6-one

The Diels-Alder reactions of 5-nitro[2.2]paracyclophanepyran-6-one with 1,3-butadienes and 1,2-dihydro-3-vinyl-naphthalene were examined under thermal and high-pressure conditions. The cycloadditions with 1,3-butadienes occurred in good yield and anti-exo diastereoselectively only under high-pressure conditions; the one with 1,2-dihydro-3-vinyl-naphthalene afforded comparable yields of mixtures of anti/syn adducts under normal and high-pressure conditions. A structural analysis of the reaction products by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy is presented.     

Investigation of m-nitroaniline formation during the Zimmermann reaction

The Zimmermann reaction for the determination of 17-ketosteroids was tested under both room-temperature and steam-distillation reaction conditions. meta-Nitroaniline was isolated from the residue of the steam distillation by ether extraction and thin-layer chromatography. Conclusive identification was by infrared spectroscopy. In contrast, m-nitroaniline was not formed under room-temperature reaction conditions, even when allowed to react for 24 hr. Similar results were also obtained for the reaction between acetone and m-dinitrobenzene under alkaline conditions. In conclusion, the results indicate that m-nitroaniline formation cannot account for the conversion of structure I to structure II under room-temperature reaction conditions as investigated herein.     

Extraction and gas-liquid chromatography of microbial N-dealkylation systems

Methods are described for the extraction and qualitative gas-liquid chromatography of a series of microbial transformation systems in which various Streptomycetes and fungi were screened for N-dealkylation activity against a variety of drug molecules. The possibility that microbial transformation products could react under extraction conditions to form gem-diamines was investigated. Rapid on-column acetylation permitted the resolution of N-dealkylated products from starting substrate. Incomplete acetylation under the conditions used ensured that each N-dealkylated transformation product formed at least two species with characteristic retention times; with careful standardization, this increased confidence in the identifications.     

Discriminating non-ylidic carbon-sulfur bond cleavages of sulfonium ylides for alkylation and arylation reactions

A sulfonium ylide participated alkylation and arylation under transition-metal free conditions is described. The disparate reaction pattern allowed the separate activation of non-ylidic S-alkyl and S-aryl bond. Under acidic conditions, sulfonium ylides serve as alkyl cation precursors which facilitate the alkylations. While under alkaline conditions, cleavage of non-ylidic S-aryl bond produces O-arylated compounds efficiently. The robustness of the protocols were established by the excellent com...     

n-Butane isomerization in the gas phase and under supercritical conditions

The aromatization of n-butane under supercritical conditions on gallium-, zinc-, and platinum-modified high-silica zeolites with a modulus of 30–70 was first studied, and the experimental data were compared to the results of a study of this process in the gas phase. It was found that the operational efficiency of catalysts for n-butane conversion under supercritical conditions was much higher than that for the gas-phase reaction in terms of activity, productivity, and resistance to poisoning by condensation products. The aromatization of gaseous n-butane at 530°C and 1 atm was characterized by rapid catalyst deactivation. The selectivity for the benzene-toluene-xylene (BTX) fraction was higher than 50%. Under supercritical conditions at 430–560°C and 100–200 atm, the selectivity of formation of aromatic compounds decreased by a factor of 2, whereas the yield of C₁-C₃ cracking products increased by the above factor. On the other hand, it was found that an increase in the productivity of catalysts by a factor of 20–50 with the retention of almost 100% activity for several days of operation is an advantage of the process performed under supercritical conditions. The almost complete conversion of butane under supercritical conditions was found on promoted HZSM-5 zeolite samples. The thermogravimetric analysis of spent samples suggested a higher degree of catalyst carbonization under supercritical conditions, as compared with that in the reaction performed in the gas phase. However, the deposition of 20–30 wt % condensation products on the catalysts had no detectable effect on the high activity of the catalysts in the reaction performed under supercritical conditions.     

Total synthesis of (±)-nicolaioidesin B via a highly regio- and diastereoselective Diels–Alder reaction

The total synthesis of (±)-nicolaioidesin B, a natural product that shows preferential cytotoxicity against pancreatic cancer cells under nutrient starvation conditions, is achieved. The key step is a thermally-induced, highly regio- and diastereoselective Diels–Alder reaction between (E)-N-methoxy-N-methylcinnamide and ocimene under solvent-free conditions.     

Interaction of biomass of aerobic bacteria and fungi with Pu(IV) at low pH

The aim of this study was to investigate the change of Pu oxidation states due to interaction with aerobic bacteria and fungi at low pH under laboratory conditions. Microorganisms were isolated from samples collected from the low-level radioactive waste repository within the confines of Ignalina NPP. Abilities of the fungi (Absidia spinosa var spinosa Lendn. and Paecilomyces lilacinus Thom Samson) as well as Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus mycoides and Micrococcus luteus) and Gram-negative bacterium I-m1 to transform the oxidation states of Pu under aerobic conditions were investigated. Oxidized and reduced Pu was tested using two radiochemical procedures. The amount of reduced and oxidized Pu was determined by measuring alpha activity after radiochemical separation. The results have shown that all bacteria and fungi can very slightly alter oxidation states of Pu due to their microbial activity. All the microorganisms tested demonstrate quite a fast process of Pu biosorption under the experimental conditions.     

Nonequilibrium vibrational populations and dissociation rates of oxygen in electrical discharges

Nonequilibrium vibrational distributions and dissociation rates of molecular oxygen in both electrical and thermal conditions have been calculated by solving a system of master equations including V-V (vibration-vibration), V-T (vibration-translation) and e-V (electron-vibration) energy exchanges. The dissociation constant under thermal conditions (i.e. without electrons) follows an Arrhenius law with an activation energy of 120 kcal/mole, while the corresponding rates under electrical conditions (5000 ? T_e ? 15000 K, 300 ? T_g ? 1000 K, 10¹¹ ? n_e ? 10¹² cm^?3,5 ? p ? 20 torr) increase with decreasing gas (T_g) and electron (T_e) temperatures and pressure (p) and with increasing electron density (n_e). These results are explained on the basis of the different interplay of V-V and V-T energy exchanges and are rationalized by means of simplified models proposed in the literature. The accuracy of the present results is discussed paying particular attention to the dependence of V-V and V-T rate coefficients on the vibrational quantum number. A comparison of the calculated dissociation rates with the corresponding ones obtained by the direct electron impact mechanism shows that the present mechanism prevails at low electron and gas temperatures. Finally a comparison is shown between theoretical and experimental dissociation rates under electrical and thermal conditions.     

A mechanistic study of the photoreaction of dimethylaniline and methyl chloroacetate: Role of acid-base properties in both the ground state and the excited state

On irradiation, dimethylaniline 1 reacted with methyl chloroacetate 2 in both acidic and basic solutions to yield methyl o- and p-dimethylaminophenylacetates (3a,3b). Kinetic treatments on the basis of quantum yields for fluorescence quenching and disappearance of 1 revealed the mechanism, which involves the exciplex in a broad sense under acidic conditions and both the exciplex and the charge-transfer complex under basic conditions.     

Convenient synthesis and unusual reactivity of 2-oxo-2H,5H-pyrano[3,2-c]chromenes

The reaction of 4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-carbaldehydes with coumarin-4-acetic acids under the Perkin conditions follows an interesting pathway that involves aldol reaction and subsequent intramolecular lactonization to afford 2-oxo-2H,5H-pyrano[3,2-c]chromene skeleton. In contrast to chromone-3-carbaldehydes, the same reaction with chromone-2-carbaldehydes yielded only the aldol condensation product. The reaction was performed under thermal and microwave conditions. The reactivity of 2-oxo-2H,5H-pyrano[3,2-c]chromenes in water, alcohol and acetic acid was described.     

The para-siletanylbenzyl (PSB) ether: a peroxide-cleavable protecting group for alcohols and phenols

A novel arylmethyl protecting group that is electronically similar to benzyl (Bn) but that can be cleaved under mild oxidizing conditions in the presence of para-methoxybenzyl (PMB) is described herein. para-Siletanylbenzyl (PSB) ethers are formed in one or two steps from the corresponding alcohols and cleaved in one or two steps with basic peroxide. Alcohols and phenols have been protected in good yields and deprotected cleanly under mild oxidative conditions.     

Mn(III)-based reaction of alkenes with quinolinones. Formation of peroxyquinolinones and quinoline-related derivatives

The reactions of 1,1-disubstituted alkenes with 4-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-ones under both Mn(III)-catalyzed aerobic oxidation conditions at room temperature and Mn(III)-mediated oxidation conditions at reflux temperature are described. The Mn(III)-catalyzed aerobic oxidation afforded bis(hydroperoxyethyl)quinolinones and azatrioxa[4.4.3]propellanes, while the oxidation with Mn(OAc)₃·2H₂O produced furo[3,2-c]quinolin-4-one analogues. The existence of a substituent at the 3-position of the 4-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-ones prevented a double reaction with the alkenes, and (endoperoxy)quinolinones and/or (hydroperoxyethyl)quinolinones were obtained under the Mn(III)-catalyzed aerobic conditions, while furo[3,2-c]quinolinone hemiacetals and vinylquinolinones were selectively produced under the Mn(III)-mediated oxidation conditions depending on the reaction temperature and times. Cyclic assembly of quinolinone-related 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds such as dihydropyridinones, pyranones, and dimedone derivatives was also examined under elevated temperature conditions.     

Photochemical synthesis of benzoxazolo[3,2-b]isoquinolin-11-one and isoquinolino[3,2-b][1,3]benzoxazin-11-one under basic conditions

Irradiation of N-phenyl substituted isoquinolines in acetonitrile containing 1 M NaOH in a multilamp reactor (MLR) furnished benzoxazolo[3,2-b]isoquinolin-11-ones. In contrast, irradiation of the N-benzyl substituted isoquinoline derivative under the same conditions afforded the hydrolysed N-benzylbenzamide derivative. The isoquinolinobenzoxazine was obtained by irradiating the N-benzyl substituted isoquinoline derivative at higher basic conditions. The required isoquinolines were synthesized under solvent-free, solid supported microwave conditions.     

Aza-Diels-Alder reactions in ionic liquids: a facile synthesis of pyrano- and furanoquinolines

Room temperature ionic liquids are found to catalyze efficiently the three component-coupling reactions of aldehydes, amines and cyclic enol ethers such as 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran and 2,3-dihydrofuran under mild and convenient conditions to afford the corresponding pyrano- and furanoquinolines in excellent yields with high endo-selectivity. Interestingly, 2,3-dihydrofuran afforded selectively endo-products under the similar reaction conditions.     

Transition metal and base free coupling of N-tosylhydrazones with 1,3-dicarbonyl compound

N-tosylhydrazones derived from a wide variety of aryl, alkyl and heteroaryl aldehydes undergo smooth coupling with 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione under transition metal and base free conditions to generate tetraketo compounds in high yields. In presence of a base, the coupling reaction generates β-keto enol ether as the major product in a polar aprotic solvent. N-Tosylhydrazone can also be converted to xanthenedione in high yields in one-pot operation under mild acidic conditions.     

A new synthetic approach towards isoquinobenzazepinone and isoindolinobenzazepinone using acid-mediated cyclisation and Heck reaction

Six-membered ring cyclisation of N-ethylbenzazepinone, prepared from the condensation of benzazepinone with phenethyl iodide under basic conditions, smoothly provided the corresponding product, isoquino[1,2-b][3]benzazepinone, under acid-mediated conditions. On the other hand, the attempted direct five-membered ring cyclisation using the acid-mediated conditions failed to give the 7,5 fused ring isoindolinobenzazepinone from N-benzylbenzazepinone, but the 7,6 fused ring product was instead obtained. However, five-membered ring cyclisation of N-benzylbenzazepinone could be effected efficiently by employing the Heck reaction followed by catalytic hydrogenation to furnish the desired isoindolinobenzazepinone.     

Degree of order and redox balance in B-site ordered double-perovskite oxides, Sr2MMoO6−δ (M=Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn)

We have investigated a series of double-perovskite oxides Sr₂MMoO_6−δ (M=Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn) for redox stability, oxygen content and crystal structure. Phases with M=Co, Ni and Zn were found to be oxygen-stoichiometric and stable under oxidizing conditions, whereas those with M=Mn and Fe were oxygen-deficient and stable under reducing conditions. The M=Mg phase is stable both under reducing and oxidizing conditions, showing variable oxygen contents within 0.00≤δ≤0.04 depending on the annealing conditions. Structural data indicate somewhat depressed values for the degree of M/Mo cation order and also evidence of electron transfer from M^II to Mo^VI for M=Mn, Fe and Co.     

Simultaneous chromatographic identification of a few components in mixtures based on a correlation between their absolute or relative retention times under different conditions

A correlation was established between the absolute and relative retention parameters of various compounds under different conditions of chromatographic analysis (isothermal and temperature programming conditions in gas chromatography or isocratic and gradient elution in high-performance liquid chromatography). This correlation is described by the linear regression equations t _R (II) = = at _R (I) + b with a high degree of accuracy. This property of chromatographic retention parameters allowed us not only to recalculate the values of these parameters determined under different conditions, but also to propose an algorithm for the simultaneous identification of a few components in complex mixtures with the use of published data on retention parameters found under other conditions (even presented as the drawings of chromatograms).