Enantioselective C-S bond formation by iron/Pybox catalyzed Michael addition of thiols to (E)-3-crotonoyloxazolidin-2-one

The enantioselective Michael addition of thiols to (E)-3-crotonoyloxazolidin-2-one was effectively catalyzed by the Fe(BF₄)₂·6H₂O/(S,S)-ip-Pybox catalyst, and the addition product was obtained with up to a 95% ee.     

A rapid, one-pot, four-component route to 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-triones

A new, efficient, and environmentally benign protocol for the one-pot, four-component synthesis of 2,2-dimethyl-13-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-1,6,11(13H)-trione by condensation of phthalic anhydride, hydrazinium hydroxide, aromatic aldehydes, and dimedone catalyzed by Ce(SO₄)₂·4H₂O as an ecofriendly catalyst with high catalytic activity and reusability at 125 °C under solvent-free conditions is reported. The reaction proceeds to completion within 5-10 min in 71-95% yield. To the best of our knowledge, this new procedure provides the first example of an efficient synthetic method for 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-1,6,11(13H)-trione via a four-component reaction.     

Chiral binuclear copper(II) catalyzed nitroaldol reaction: scope and mechanism

Chiral binuclear copper(II) Schiff base complexes 4a-g have been prepared from aldehydes 1a,b, (S)-amino alcohols 2a-f, and Cu(OAc)₂·1H₂O in high yield. Their catalysis is studied for the addition of nitroalkanes to aldehydes at ambient conditions with 76:24 er.     

Two-dimensional composition diagram of the Al(OH)3-dien-HFaq.-ethanol system: Evidence of a new tetrahedral (Al4F18) polyanion

Six domains appear in the 2D composition diagram of the Al(OH)₃-dien-HF_aq.-ethanol system at 190 °C and [Al³⁺] = 1 mol L⁻¹ under microwave heating. Four organic-inorganic fluorides crystallise: [H₃dien]·(AlF₆) (P2₁/c, Z = 4), [H₃dien]₂·(AlF₅(H₂O))₃·2H₂O (P2₁/n, Z = 4), [H₃dien]·(AlF₆)·2H₂O, which was previously known, and [H₃dien]₂·(Al₄F₁₈) (C2/c, Z = 4). A new (Al₄F₁₈)⁶⁻ polyanion, which results from the tetrahedral association of four AlF₆ octahedra linked by corners, is evidenced in [H₃dien]₂·(Al₄F₁₈).     

A family of three-dimensional porous coordination polymers with general formula (Kat)2[{M(H2O)n}3{Re6Q8(CN)6}2]·xH2O (Q=S, Se; n=1.5, 2)

The X-ray crystal structures of a series of new compounds (H₃O)₂[{Mn(H₂O)_1.5}₃{Re₆Se₈(CN)₆}₂]·19H₂O (1), (Me₄N)₂[{Co(H₂O)_1.5}₃{Re₆S₈(CN)₆}₂]·13H₂O (2), (Me₄N)₂[{Co(H₂O)_1.5}₃{Re₆Se₈(CN)₆}₂]·3H₂O (3), (Et₄N)₂[{Mn(H₂O)₂}₃{Re₆Se₈(CN)₆}₂]·6.5H₂O (4), (Et₄N)₂[{Ni(H₂O)₂}₃{Re₆S₈(CN)₆}₂]·6.5H₂O (5), and (Et₄N)₂[{Co(H₂O)₂}₃{Re₆S₈(CN)₆}₂]·10H₂O (6) are reported. All six compounds are isostructural crystallizing in cubic space group with four formulae per unit cell. For compounds 1, 3-5 the following parameters were found: (1) a=19.857(2) Å, R1=0.0283; (3 at 150 K) a=19.634(1) Å, R1=0.0572; (4) a=20.060(2) Å, R1=0.0288; (5) a=19.697(2) Å, R1=0.0224. The structures consist three-dimensional cyano-bridged framework formed by cyano cluster anions [Re₆Q₈(CN)₆]⁴⁻, Q=S, Se and transition metal cations, M²⁺=Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺. Water molecules and large organic cations Me₄N⁺ and Et₄N⁺ are included in cavities of this framework. Porosity of the framework, its ability to accommodate different cations and water molecules by little changes in the structure, as well as distortion of coordination framework under loss of water of crystallization is discussed.     

Probes for narcotic receptor mediated phenomena. Part 31: Synthesis of rac-(3R,6aS,11aS)-2-methyl-1,3,4,5,6,11a-hexahydro-2H-3,6a-methanobenzofuro[2,3-c]azocine-10-ol, and azocine-8-ol, the ortho-c and the para-c oxide-bridged phenylmorphan isomers

Two of the 12 possible oxide-bridged phenylmorphans, were synthesized, rac-(3R,6aS,11aS)-2-methyl-1,3,4,5,6,11a-hexahydro-2H-3,6a-methanobenzofuro[2,3-c]azocine-10-ol (7) (the ortho-c compound), and rac-(3R,6aS,11aS)-2-methyl-1,3,4,5,6,11a-hexahydro-2H-3,6a-methanobenzofuro[2,3-c]azocine-8-ol (8) (the para-c compound). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies indicated that the dihedral angle between the least squares planes through the phenyl ring and the atoms C₁, C_11a, C₁₂, and C₃ in the piperidine ring in both 7·CHCl₃ and 8·HBr was 6.9°. The C₁₂-C_6a-C_6b-C_10a torsion angle was found to be 139.3° for both compounds. The angular relationship between the phenolic ring and the piperidine ring in phenylmorphans that interact with specific opioid receptors as agonists or antagonists is of considerable theoretical interest.     

Conservation of [(C2H4NH3)3N]2·(ZrF7)2·H2O layers during the topotactic dehydration of [(C2H4NH3)3N]2·(ZrF7)2·9H2O

Tren amine cations [(C₂H₄NH₃)₃N]³⁺ and zirconate or tantalate anions adopt a ternary symmetry in two hydrates, [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·9H₂O and [H₃tren]₆·(ZrF₇)₂·(TaOF₆)₄·3H₂O, which crystallise in R32 space group with a_H = 8.871 (2) Å, c_H = 38.16 (1) Å and a_H = 8.758 (2) Å, c_H = 30.112 (9) Å, respectively. Similar [H₃tren]₂·(MX₇)₂·H₂O (M = Zr, Ta; X = F, O) sheets are found in both structures; they are separated by a water layer (O_w(2)-O_w(3)) in [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·9H₂O. Dehydration of [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·9H₂O starts at room temperature and ends at 90 °C to give [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·H₂O. [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·H₂O layers remain probably unchanged during this dehydration and the existence of one intermediate [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·3H₂O hydrate is assumed. O_w(1) molecules are tightly hydrogen bonded with -NH₃⁺ groups and decomposition of [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·H₂O occurs from 210 °C to 500 °C to give successively [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₆)·(Zr₂F₁₂) (285 °C), an intermediate unknown phase (320 °C) and ZrF₄.     

Chiral dioxovanadium(V) Schiff base complexes of 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-diaminoethane and aromatic o-hydroxyaldehydes: Synthesis,characterization, catalytic properties and structure

A series of dioxovanadium(V) complexes of tridentate ligands obtained by monocondensation of chiral 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-diaminoethane and aromatic o-hydroxyaldehydes was synthesized. The complexes were characterized by spectroscopic methods in the solid state (IR) and in solution (UV–Vis, CD, ¹H and ⁵¹V NMR). Single crystal X-ray analysis was performed with (VO₂L · H₂O)₂, denoted as (4 · H₂O)₂, where L is (S,S)-1-amino-2-{(2′-oxido-4′,6′-dimethoxyphenyl)methylene}amino-1,2-diphenylethane. Crystal structure analysis revealed that (4 · H₂O)₂ contains oxo-bridged dimers of 4 joined with water molecules by hydrogen bonding interactions, and that two five-membered chelate rings in the dimeric molecule adopt different envelope conformations, one on the asymmetric carbon atom linked to the azomethine nitrogen and the other on the asymmetric carbon atom linked to the primary amino nitrogen. The (S,S)- and (R,R)-complexes bearing the methoxy substituent in positions 3 or 5 of the salicylidene moiety catalyze the oxidation of phenyl methyl sulfide by cumene hydroperoxide yielding the corresponding sulfoxide almost quantitatively with 34–39% enantiomeric excess.     

Preparation, spectroscopic properties of 1,4-di (N,N-diisopropylacetamido)-2,3(1H,4H)-quinoxalinedione (L) lanthanide complexes and the supramolecular structure of [Nd2L2(NO3)6(H2O)2]·H2O

The reaction of lanthanide nitrate with 1,4-di (N,N-diisopropylacetamido)-2,3(1H,4H)-quinoxalinedione (L) yields six novel Ln(III) complexes ([Ln₂L₂(NO₃)₆(H₂O)₂]·H₂O) which are characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), conductivity measurements, IR, electronic and ¹H NMR spectroscopies. A new quinoxalinedione-based ligand is used as antenna ligand to sensitize the emission of lanthanide cations. The lowest triplet state energy level of the ligand in the nitrate complex matches better to the resonance level of Eu(III) and Sm(III) than Tb(III) and Dy(III) ion. The f-f fluorescence is induced in the Eu³⁺ and Sm³⁺ complexes by exciting into the π-π* absorptions of the ligand in the UV. Furthermore, the crystal structures of a novel binuclear complex [Nd₂L₂(NO₃)₆(H₂O)₂]·H₂O has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The binuclear [Nd₂L₂(NO₃)₆(H₂O)₂]·H₂O complex units are linked by the intermolecular hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions to form a two-dimensional (2-D) layer supramolecule.     

Asymmetric Michael addition promoted by (R,R)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane in ionic liquids

In tetrafluoroborate based ionic liquids fair yields and enantiomeric excesses up to 91% were obtained in the Michael addition of ethyl cyclohexanone-2-carboxylate to methyl vinyl ketone, using (R,R)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane as chiral auxiliary (37% mol/mol with respect to the donor). The presence of catalytic amounts of metal sources [Ni(OAc)₂ · 4H₂O, Co(acac)₂, FeCl₃ · 6H₂O, LaCl₃, Cu(OAc)₂ · H₂O] did not improve the activity, and, in some instances, caused a drop of enantioselectivity. Reactions carried out in the absence of any metal and with a Michael donor/diamine molar ratio of 20 allowed us to ascertain that the reaction can be performed catalytically.     

The influence of organic agents on the resultant crystal structure in the reactions of the [Re4Te4(CN)12] tetrahedral cluster anion with Nd cations

The reaction of the cluster salt K₄[Re₄Te₄(CN)₁₂]·5H₂O with NdCl₃·6H₂O was studied in either an acidic medium (HCl) or in a water solution in the presence of the following organic agents: hexafluoroacetylacetonate, 2,2′-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen). The crystal structures of four new compounds have been solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis: (H)[{Nd(H₂O)₅}{Re₄Te₄(CN)₁₂}]·5.5H₂O (1) (space group P2₁/c, framework structure), K₂[{Nd(H₂O)₇}₂{Re₄Te₄(CN)₁₂}₂]·8H₂O (2) (space group С2/c, isolated structure), K_0.5H_0.5[{Nd(H₂O)₅}{Re₄Te₄(CN)₁₂}]·3H₂O (3) (space group Сmcm, layered structure) and (phenH)[{Nd(H₂O)₂(phen)₂}{Re₄Te₄(CN)₁₂}]·11H₂O (4) (space group С2/c, chain structure). 1,10-Phenanthroline was found to have been incorporated into the structure of compound 4, whilst hexafluoroacetylacetonate and 2,2′-bipyridine did not enter the structures of 2 and 3. It was shown that the structures of compounds 2-4 differ dramatically from that found for compound 1, which was obtained in the absence of the organic agents.     

Ferric sulfate hydrate-catalyzed O-glycosylation using glycals with or without microwave irradiation

We have developed a novel glycal-based O-glycosylation reaction, in which the substrates are not only peracetyl glycals but also perbenzyl glucals to afford the corresponding 2,3-unsaturated-O-glycosides via Ferrier rearrangement. The reaction of the perbenzyl glucal with various alcohols catalyzed by ferric sulfate hydrate (Fe₂(SO₄)₃·xH₂O) was successfully carried out to give 2,3-unsaturated d-O-glucosides with exclusive α-selectivity and no formation of addition products 2-deoxy hexopyranosides was observed. It is the first report on peralkyl glycal efficiently undergoing Ferrier rearrangement instead of addition of alcohols catalyzed by Lewis acids. Fe₂(SO₄)₃·xH₂O is an effective, convenient, and environmentally benign heterogeneous catalyst. It has low catalytic loading and recyclable without significant loss of activity.     

Efficient one-pot synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones from aromatic aldehydes and their one-pot oxidation to quinazolin-4(3H)-ones catalyzed by Bi(NO3)3·5H2O: Investigating the role of the catalyst

An efficient and novel synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones via one-pot, three-component reaction of isatoic anhydride, primary amines and aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by Bi(NO₃)₃·5H₂O under solvent-free conditions is described. Oxidation of these 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones to their quinazolin-4(3H)-ones was also successfully performed in the presence of Bi(NO₃)₃·5H₂O. This new method has the advantages of convenient manipulation, short reaction times, excellent yields, very easy work-up, and the use of commercially available, low cost and relatively non-toxic catalyst. The role of Bi(NO₃)₃·5H₂O was also investigated in these transformations.     

Synthetic access to optically active isoflavans by using allylic substitution

A general approach to the (S)- and (R)-isoflavans was invented, and efficiency of the method was demonstrated by the synthesis of (S)-equol ((S)-3), (R)-sativan ((R)-4), and (R)-vestitol ((R)-5). The key step is the allylic substitution of (S)-6a (Ar¹=2,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₃) and (R)-6b (Ar¹=2,4-(BnO)₂C₆H₃) with copper reagents derived from CuBr·Me₂S and Ar²-MgBr (7a, Ar²=4-MeOC₆H₄; 7b, 2,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₃; 7c, 2-MOMO-4-MeOC₆H₃), furnishing anti S_N2′ products (R)-8a and (S)-8b,c with 93-97% chirality transfer in 60-75% yields. The olefinic part of the products was oxidatively cleaved and the Me and Bn groups on the Ar¹ moieties was then removed. Finally, phenol bromide 9a and phenol alcohols 9b,c underwent cyclization with K₂CO₃ and the Mitsunobu reagent to afford (S)-3 and (R)-4 and -5, respectively.     

Magnetic and catalytic properties of the 2D copper(II) functionalized VPO hybrid system [{Cu(bpy)}2(VO)3(PO4)2(HPO4)2]·2H2O

The hybrid 2D compound [{Cu(bpy)}₂(VO)₃(PO₄)₂(HPO₄)₂]·2H₂O (1), has been investigated due to its interesting magnetic and catalytic properties. Compound (1) acts as an efficient catalyst in the epoxidation of cyclohexene and styrene. The chemoselectivity towards the epoxidation of cyclohexene is notoriously higher than the one observed towards styrene. The bulk antiferromagnetic behaviour of [{Cu(bpy)}₂(VO)₃(PO₄)₂(HPO₄)₂]·2H₂O (1) can be well described with a pentanuclear model, using five J values. Both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions mediated by phosphate bridges are found to be present in this hybrid copper(II)–vanadium(IV) material.     

A facile one-pot stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted (E)-2-methylalk-2-enoic acids from unactivated Baylis-Hillman adducts and a simple access to some important insect pheromones

An efficient one-pot stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted (E)-2-methylalk-2-enoic acids has been accomplished by treatment of unactivated Baylis-Hillman adducts, 3-hydroxy-2-methylenealkanoates, with Al-NiCl₂·6H₂O in methanol at room temperature followed by hydrolysis. The method has been applied to the synthesis of three important insect pheromones, (4S,2E)-2,4-dimethyl-2-hexenoic acid, (+)-(S)-manicone and (+)-(S)-normanicone.     

Syntheses, crystal structures and optical spectroscopy of Ln2(SO4)3·8H2O (Ln=Ho, Tm) and Pr2(SO4)3·4H2O

The lanthanide sulphate octahydrates Ln₂(SO₄)₃·8H₂O (Ln=Ho, Tm) and the respective tetrahydrate Pr₂(SO₄)₃·4H₂O were obtained by evaporation of aqueous reaction mixtures of trivalent rare earth oxides and sulphuric acid at 300 K. Ln₂(SO₄)₃·8H₂O (Ln=Ho, Tm) crystallise in space group C2/c (Z=4, a_Ho=13.4421(4) Å, b_Ho=6.6745(2) Å, c_Ho=18.1642(5) Å, β_Ho=102.006(1) Å³ and a_Tm=13.4118(14) Å, b_Tm=6.6402(6) Å, c_Tm=18.1040(16) Å, β_Tm=101.980(8) Å³), Pr₂(SO₄)₃·4H₂O adopts space group P2₁/n (a=13.051(3) Å, b=7.2047(14) Å, c=13.316(3) Å, β=92.55(3) Å³). The vibrational and optical spectra of Ho₂(SO₄)₃·8H₂O and Pr₂(SO₄)₃·4H₂O are also reported.     

Crystal structure of a new phosphate compound, Mg2KNa(PO4)2·14H2O

A new phosphate compound, Mg₂KNa(PO₄)₂·14H₂O, formed in the laboratory by cyanobacteria, has been identified and its crystal structure studied with single-crystal X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The crystal is orthorhombic with the space group Pnma and unit-cell parameters a=25.1754(18) Å, b=6.9316(5) Å, c=11.2189(10) Å, V=1957.8(3) Å³. Its structure can be viewed as stacking of three types of layers along the a-axis in a sequence ABCBABCB…, where layer A is composed of Mg1(H₂O)₆ octahedra and Na(H₂O)₆ trigonal prisms, layer B of two crystallographically distinct PO₄³⁻ tetrahedra (designated as P1 and P2), and layer C of Mg2(H₂O)₆ octahedra and highly irregular K-polyhedra formed by five H₂O molecules and one O²⁻ from the P2 tetrahedron. The linkage between layers is principally achieved through hydrogen bonding, except for the K-O5 bond between layers B and C. The structure of Mg₂KNa(PO₄)₂·14H₂O has many features similar to those for the struvite analogs of MgK(PO₄)·6H₂O (Acta Crystallogr. B 35 (1979) 11) or MgNa(PO₄)·7H₂O (Acta Crystallogr. B 38 (1982) 40) and represents the first struvite-type phosphate compound that contains both K and Na as univalent cations.     

Synthesis and properties of novel 5-(cyclohepta-2′,4′,6′-trienylidene)pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-triones: methodology for synthesizing cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates

Novel condensation reaction of tropone with N-substituted and N,N′-disubstitued barbituric acids in Ac₂O afforded 5-(cyclohepta-2′,4′,6′-trienylidene)pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-trione derivatives (8a-f) in moderate to good yields. The ¹³C NMR spectral study of 8a-f revealed that the contribution of zwitterionic resonance structures is less important as compared with that of 8,8-dicyanoheptafulvene. The rotational barriers (ΔG^‡) around the exocyclic double bond of mono-substituted derivatives 8a-c were obtained to be 14.51-15.03 kcal mol⁻¹ by the variable temperature ¹H NMR measurements. The electrochemical properties of 8a-f were also studied by CV measurement. Upon treatment with DDQ, 8a-c underwent oxidative cyclization to give two products, 7 and 9-substituted cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates (11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻) in various ratios, while that of disubstituted derivatives 8d-f afforded 7,9-disubstituted cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborate (11d-f·BF₄⁻) in good yields. Similarly, preparation of known 5-(1′-oxocycloheptatrien-2′-yl)-pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-trione derivatives (14a-d) and novel derivatives 14e,f was carried out. Treatment of 14a-c with aq. HBF₄/Ac₂O afforded two kinds of novel products 11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a,c·BF₄⁻ in various ratios, respectively, while that of 14d-f afforded 11d-f. The product ratios of 11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻ observed in two kinds of cyclization reactions were rationalized on the basis of MO calculations of model compounds 20a and 21a. The spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of 11a-f·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻ were studied, and structural characterization of 11c·BF₄⁻ based on the X-ray crystal analysis and MO calculation was also performed.     

PEG-400-H2O as a green and recyclable medium for asymmetric hydrogenations of aromatic ketones catalyzed by RuCl2(TPPTS)2-(S,S)-DPENDS

PEG-400-H₂O was found to be a green and recyclable reaction medium for asymmetric hydrogenations of aromatic ketones catalyzed by a ruthenium achiral monophosphine complex RuCl₂(TPPTS)₂ [TPPTS: P(m-C₆H₄SO₃Na)₃] modified by (S,S)-DPENDS [disodium salt of sulfonated (S,S)-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethylene-diamine]. The acetophenone product was obtained with 86.3% ee under the optimized conditions. The resulting products can be easily separated from the catalyst by extraction with n-hexane. The catalyst immobilized in PEG-400-H₂O not only exhibits excellent activity and enantioselectivity, but also can be recycled and reused several times without a loss of activity or enantioselectivity.