DPPH (= 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl = 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐(2,4,6‐trinitrophenyl)hydrazyl) Radical‐Scavenging Reaction of Protocatechuic Acid Esters (= 3,4‐Dihydroxybenzoates) in Alcohols: Formation of Bis‐alcohol Adduct

Protocatechuic acid esters (= 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoates) scavenge ca. 5 equiv. of radical in alcoholic solvents, whereas they consume only 2 equiv. of radical in nonalcoholic solvents. While the high radical‐scavenging activity of protocatechuic acid esters in alcoholic solvents as compared to that in nonalcoholic solvents is due to a nucleophilic addition of an alcohol molecule at C(2) of an intermediate o‐quinone structure, thus regenerating a catechol (= benzene‐1,2‐diol) structure, it is still unclear why protocatechuic acid esters scavenge more than 4 equiv. of radical (C(2) refers to the protocatechuic acid numbering). Therefore, to elucidate the oxidation mechanism beyond the formation of the C(2) alcohol adduct, 3,4‐dihydroxy‐2‐methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester ( 4 ), the C(2) MeOH adduct, which is an oxidation product of methyl protocatechuate ( 1 ) in MeOH, was oxidized by the DPPH radical (= 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) or o‐chloranil (= 3,4,5,6‐tetrachlorocyclohexa‐3,5‐diene‐1,2‐dione) in CD₃OD/(D₆)acetone 3 : 1). The oxidation mixtures were directly analyzed by NMR. Oxidation with both the DPPH radical and o‐chloranil produced a C(2),C(6) bis‐methanol adduct ( 7 ), which could scavenge additional 2 equiv. of radical. Calculations of LUMO electron densities of o‐quinones corroborated the regioselective nucleophilic addition of alcohol molecules with o‐quinones. Our results strongly suggest that the regeneration of a catechol structure via a nucleophilic addition of an alcohol molecule with a o‐quinone is a key reaction for the high radical‐scavenging activity of protocatechuic acid esters in alcoholic solvents.     

Chemical Constituents from the Bark of Garcinia xanthochymus and Their 1,1‐Diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) Radical‐Scavenging Activities

A new bis‐xanthone (xanthone=9H‐xanthen‐9‐one), named bigarcinenone A ( 1 ) which is the first example of a bis‐xanthone with the xanthone–xanthone linkage between an aromatic C‐atom and a C₅ side chain from a guttiferae plant, a new phloroglucinol (=benzene‐1,3,5‐triol) derivative, named garcinenone F ( 2 ), together with seven known xanthones were isolated from the bark of Garcinia xanthochymus. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, especially 2D‐NMR techniques. Bigarcinenone A ( 1 ) exhibited potent antioxidant activity in the 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical‐scavenging test with a IC₅₀ value of 9.2 μM , compared to the positive control, the well‐known antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) with a IC₅₀ of 20 μM (Table 3).     

The Rearrangement of 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐[(E)‐2‐phenylethenyl]cyclopropane to 3,4,4‐Triphenylcyclopent‐1‐ene: a DFT Analysis

A computational study on the rearrangement of 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐[(E)‐2‐phenylethenyl]cyclopropane ( 1 ) is presented, using density functional theory (DFT), (U)B3LYP with the 6‐31G* basis set (DFT1) and (U)M05‐2X with the 6‐311+G** basis set (DFT2). In agreement with a biradical character of the transition structure (TS) or intermediate, the potential‐energy hypersurface is lowered by the influence of three conjugated Ph groups. Surprisingly, two conformations of the geminal diphenyl group (different twist angles) induce two different minimum‐energy pathways for the rearrangement. Independent of the functional used, the first hypersurface harbors true biradical intermediates, whereas the second energy surface is a flat, slightly ascending slope from the starting material to the TS. The functional (U)M05‐2X with the basis set 6‐311+G** provides realistic energies which seem to be close to experiment. The activation energy for racemization of enantiomers of 1 is lower than that of rearrangement by 2.5 kcal mol^?1, in agreement with experiment.     

Facile One‐Pot Synthesis of Monosubstituted 1‐Aryl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazoles from Arylboronic Acids and Prop‐2‐ynoic Acid (=Propiolic Acid) or Calcium Acetylide (=Calcium Carbide) as Acetylene Source

The synthesis of monosubstituted 1‐aryl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazoles was achieved in a one‐pot reaction from arylboronic acids and prop‐2‐ynoic acid or calcium acetylide (=calcium carbide), respectively, as a source of acetylene, with yields ranging from moderate to excellent (Scheme 1, Table 2). The reaction conditions were successfully applied to arylboronic acids, including analogs with various functionalities. Unexpectedly, the 1,2,3‐triazole moiety promoted a regioselective hydrodebromination (Scheme 2).     

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of (E)-β,γ-Unsaturated Esters via Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of (E)-Alkenylboronic Acids with α-Bromoacetic Esters

The cross-coupling reaction of trans-alkenylboronic acids with a-bromoacetic esters was firstly studied. It was found that using Pd(OAc)2 as catalyst, a bulky electron-rich phospine, (2-dicyclohexylphospino-biphenyl) as ligand, the reaction can be readily accomplished to give specific (E)-b,g-unsaturated esters in high yields.     

The Propensity of α‐Aminoisobutyric Acid (=2‐Methylalanine; Aib) to Induce Helical Secondary Structure in an α‐Heptapeptide: A Computational Study

We present a molecular‐dynamics simulation study of an α‐heptapeptide containing an α‐aminoisobutyric acid (=2‐methylalanine; Aib) residue, Val¹‐Ala²‐Leu³‐Aib⁴‐Ile⁵‐Met⁶‐Phe⁷, and a quantum‐mechanical (QM) study of simplified models to investigate the propensity of the Aib residue to induce 3₁₀/α‐helical conformation. For comparison, we have also performed simulations of three analogues of the peptide with the Aib residue being replaced by L ‐Ala, D ‐Ala, and Gly, respectively, which provide information on the subtitution effect at C(α) (two Me groups for Aib, one for L ‐Ala and D ‐Ala, and zero for Gly). Our simulations suggest that, in MeOH, the heptapeptide hardly folds into canonical helical conformations, but appears to populate multiple conformations, i.e., C₇ and 3₁₀‐helical ones, which is in agreement with results from the QM calculations and NMR experiments. The populations of these conformations depend on the polarity of the solvent. Our study confirms that a short peptide, though with the presence of an Aib residue in the middle of the chain, does not have to fold to an α‐helical secondary structure. To generate a helical conformation for a linear peptide, several Aib residues should be present in the peptide, either sequentially or alternatively, to enhance the propensity of Aib‐containing peptides towards the helical conformation. A correction of a few of the published NMR data is reported.     

Unexpected Spiroproducts from the Reaction of N‐Benzoylglycine with Ortho‐Formylbenzoic Acids −3,5′‐Dioxo‐2′‐Phenyl‐1,3‐Dihydrospiro[Indene‐2,4′‐[1,3]Oxazol]‐1‐yl Acetates: Establishments of Their Structure

This paper describes a method of preparation of new 3,5′‐dioxo‐2′‐phenyl‐1,3‐dihydrospiro[indene‐2,4′‐[1,3]oxazol]‐1‐yl acetate and its 5‐chloro‐ and bromoderivatives as products of interaction of N‐benzoylglycine (hippuric acid) with corresponding ortho‐formylbenzoic acids. The reaction carried out in acetic anhydride media in the presence of piperidine as catalyst. The novel spirocompounds were purified by column chromatography from multicomponent reaction mixtures. The composition of the spiro‐products was confirmed by C, H, N element analysis. The structure was established by IR, MS, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR analysis including COSY ¹H‐¹³C experiments.     

One‐pot,Green and Efficient Synthesis of 3,4‐Dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones or Thiones Catalyzed by Citric Acid

One‐pot three‐component condensation of ethyl acetoacetate, aldehyde and urea or thiourea in refluxing ethanol in the presence of catalytic amounts of citric acid afforded the corresponding 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones/thiones in high yields. The catalyst is reusable and can be applied several times without any decrease in product yield.     

Green Biginelli‐type Reaction: Solvent‐free Synthesis of 5‐unsubstituted 3,4‐dihydropyrimdin‐2(1H)‐ones

The Biginelli‐type compounds, 5‐unsubstituted 3,4‐dihydropyrimdin‐2(1H)‐ones were synthesized by a one‐pot three‐component condensation of aromatic aldehydes, aromatic ketones and urea in the presence of SnCl₄ · 5H₂O under solvent‐free conditions. The advantages of this method are short reaction time (4–10 min), excellent yields (74–97%), inexpensive catalyst and solvent‐free conditions. A plausible mechanism was proposed.     

Reaction of Ketene Dithioacetals with Pyrazolylcarbohydrazide： Synthesis and Biological Activities of Ethyl 5-Amino-1-（5＇-methyl-1 ＇-t-butyl-4＇-pyrazolyl）carbonyl-3-methylthio-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate

The title compound, C16H23N5O3S, ethyl 5-amino-1-(5‘-methyl-1‘-t-butyl-4‘-pyrazolyl)carbonyl-3-methylthio-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate (5) has been synthesized by the treatment of ethyl 2-cyano-3,3-dimethylthioacrylate with 1-t-butyl-5-methyl-4-hydrazinocarbonylpyrazole (4) in refluxed ethanol. The possible mechanism of the above reaction was also discussed. The results of biological test show that the title compound has fungicidal and plant growth regulation activities.     

Melamine Trisulfunic Acid: An Efficient and Recyclable Solid Acid Catalyst for the Synthesis of 4,4′‐(Arylmethylene)‐bis‐(1H‐pyrazol‐5‐ols)

Melamine trisulfunic acid is employed as a recyclable catalyst for the condensation reaction of aromatic aldehydes with 3‐methyl‐l‐phenyl‐2‐pyrazolin‐5‐one. This condensation reaction was performed in ethanol under refluxing conditions giving 4,4′‐(arylmethylene)‐bis‐(3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐ols) in 80‐96% yields.     

Synthesis of Novel α‐(Acyloxy)‐α‐(quinolin‐4‐yl)acetamides by a Three‐Component Reaction between an Isocyanide,Quinoline‐4‐carbaldehyde,and Arenecarboxylic Acids

Novel α‐(acyloxy)‐α‐(quinolin‐4‐yl)acetamides were synthesized by the Passerini three‐component reaction between an isocyanide, quinoline‐4‐carbaldehyde, and arenecarboxylic acids in H₂O. The reactions were carried out in one pot at room temperature with quantitative yields.     

Hydrogen‐transfer reaction in nitroxide mediated polymerization of methyl methacrylate: 2,2‐Diphenyl‐3‐phenylimino‐2,3‐dihydroindol‐1‐yloxyl nitroxide (DPAIO) vs. TEMPO

In a recent article, we have showed that the nitroxide mediated polymerization of methyl methacrylate was possible up to 80% conversion for reasonable masses M_n = 60,000 g mol^?1 when 2,2‐diphenyl‐3‐phenylimino‐2,3‐dihydroindol‐1‐yloxyl nitroxide (DPAIO) was used as control agent. We have claimed that the success of this experiment relied on the absence of H‐transfer reaction both in the alkoxyamine and between alkyl and nitroxyl radical. In this article, the decomposition of 4‐nitrophenyl 2‐(2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐yloxy)‐2‐methylpropionate ( 1a ) and 4‐nitrophenyl 2‐(2,2‐diphenyl‐3‐phenylimino‐2,3‐dihydroindol‐1‐yloxy)‐2‐methylpropanoate ( 2a ) has been studied by ¹H NMR in the presence and in the absence (persistent radical effect condition) of scavenger (thiophenol PhSH). At temperature lower than the one used for polymerization, fast and quantitative H‐transfer reaction was observed for 1a whereas no H‐transfer reaction was observed for 2a . The scavenging technique proved for the first time that the H‐transfer was an intermolecular process for 1a . However, the slow side‐reaction of N? OC bond homolysis, which did not impede the control of the polymerization but may exert a detrimental effect on the livingness, was observed and quantified for 2a . © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6828–6842, 2008     

Pinacol Rearrangement of 3,4‐Dihydro‐3,4‐dihydroxyquinolin‐2(1H)‐ones: An Alternative Pathway to Viridicatin Alkaloids and Their Analogs

3‐Alkyl/aryl‐3‐hydroxyquinoline‐2,4‐diones were reduced with NaBH₄ to give cis‐3‐alkyl/aryl‐3,4‐dihydro‐3,4‐dihydroxyquinolin‐2(1H)‐ones. These compounds were subjected to pinacol rearrangement by treatment with concentrated H₂SO₄, resulting in 4‐alkyl/aryl‐3‐hydroxyquinolin‐2(1H)‐ones. When a benzyl (Bn) group was present in position 3 of the starting compound, its elimination occurred during the rearrangement, and the corresponding 3‐hydroxyquinolin‐2(1H)‐one was formed. The reaction mechanisms are discussed for all transformations. All compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, as well as mass spectrometry.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of 5,7,8,9,9a,10‐Hexahydro‐8‐thioxotetrahydropyrido[2,3‐d : 6,5‐d′]dipyrimidine‐2,4,6(1H,3H,5aH)‐triones via a Four‐Component Coupling Reaction of Aldehydes,Amines, Barbituric Acids,and Thiouracil

An efficient one‐pot approach to the synthesis of 5,7,8,9,9a,10‐hexahydro‐8‐thioxopyrido[2,3‐d : 6,5‐d′]dipyrimidine‐2,4,6(1H,3H,5aH)‐triones 5 via a four‐component reaction of an aldehyde 1 , an amine 2 , a barbituric acid 3 , and thiouracil ( 4 ) is reported for the first time. This new multicomponent reaction is accomplished in refluxing EtOH in the presence of tungstophosphoric acid (H₃PW₁₂O₄₀) as a catalyst. A variety of hexahydropyrido[2,3‐d : 6,5‐d′]dipyrimidinetrione derivatives were successfully synthesized in excellent yields with this protocol (Table 2).     

Chromatographic Resolution of α‐Amino Acids by (R)‐(3,3'‐Halogen Substituted‐1,1'‐binaphthyl)‐20‐crown‐6 Stationary Phase in HPLC

Three new chiral stationary phases (CSPs ) for high‐performance liquid chromatography were prepared from R ‐(3,3'‐halogen substituted‐1,1'‐binaphthyl)‐20‐crown‐6 (halogen = Cl, Br and I). The experimental results showed that R ‐(3,3'‐dibromo‐1,1'‐binaphthyl)‐20‐crown‐6 ( CSP ‐1 ) possesses more prominent enantioselectivity than the two other halogen‐substituted crown ether derivatives. All twenty‐one α ‐amino acids have different degrees of separation on R ‐(3,3'‐dibromo‐1,1'‐binaphthyl)‐20‐crown‐6‐based CSP ‐1 at room temperature. The enantioselectivity of CSP ‐1 is also better than those of some commercial R ‐(1,1'‐binaphthyl)‐20‐crown‐6 derivatives. Both the separation factors (α ) and the resolution (R _s) are better than those of commercial crown ether‐based CSPs [CROWNPAK CR (+) from Daicel] under the same conditions for asparagine, threonine, proline, arginine, serine, histidine and valine, which cannot be separated by commercial CR (+). This study proves the commercial usefulness of the R ‐(3,3'‐dibromo‐1,1'‐binaphthyl)‐20‐crown‐6 chiral stationary phase.     

Reaction between Furan‐ or Thiophene‐2‐carbonyl Chloride,Isocyanides, and Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxy­lates: Multicomponent Synthesis of 2,2′‐Bifurans and 2‐(Thiophen‐2‐yl)furans

An efficient multi‐component synthesis of highly functionalized 2,2′‐bifurans and 2‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)furans is described. A mixture of furan‐ or thiophene‐2‐carbonyl chloride, an isocyanide, and a dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate undergoes a smooth addition reaction in dry CH₂Cl₂ at ambient temperature to produce 2‐amino‐5‐(4‐chlorofuran‐2‐yl)furan‐3,4‐dicarboxylates and 2‐amino‐5‐(4‐chlorothiophen‐2‐yl)furan‐3,4‐dicarboxylates. A single‐crystal X‐ray‐analysis of a derivative conclusively confirms the structure of these 2,2′‐bifurans and 2‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)furans. A novel electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction can justify the formation of the Cl‐substituted furan or thiophene rings.     

Squaric Acid Mediated Chemoselective PEGylation of Proteins: Reactivity of Single‐Step‐Activated α‐Amino Poly(ethylene glycol)s

The covalent attachment of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to therapeutically active proteins (PEGylation) has become an important method to deal with the pharmacological difficulties of these polypeptides, such as short body‐residence times and immunogenicity. However, the derivatives of PEG used for PEGylation lack further functional groups that would allow the addition of targeting or labeling moieties. Squaric acid diethyl ester was used for the chemoselective single‐step activation of poly(ethylene glycol)s into the respective ester amides. The resultant selective protein‐reactive poly(ethylene glycol)s were investigated with respect to their selectivity towards amino acid residues in bovine serum albumin (as a model protein). The presented procedure relies on a robust two‐step protocol and was found to be selective towards lysine residues; the activated polyethers are efficient and stoichiometric PEGylation agents with a remarkable hydrolytic stability over a period of several days. By adjusting the pD value of the conjugation mixture, the chemoselectivity of the activated PEGs towards the α‐ and ε‐amino groups of lysine methyl ester was effectively changed.     

Two Coordination Polymers based on 2‐Ethyl‐1H‐imidazole‐4,5‐dicarboxylic Acid and 1,3‐Bis(4‐pyridyl)propane: Synthesis,Crystal Structures,and Photoluminescent Properties

Two coordination polymers, [Cd(Heidc)(bpp)]_n ( 1 ) and [Zn₃ (eidc)₂(bpp)(H₂O)₂] · 2H₂O}_n ( 2 ) (H₃eidc = 2‐ethyl‐4,5‐imidazole dicarboxylic acid, bpp = 1,3‐bis(4‐pyridyl)propane) were hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, spectroscopy single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analyses. Compound 1 features a 2D layer formed by C–H ··· π stacking interactions between adjacent chains, whereas compound 2 shows a 3D (8³)₂(8⁵.10)‐tfc framework constructed of the 2D (6,3) layer. The result demonstrates that the central metal atoms play a key role in governing the coordination motifs. Moreover, solid‐state properties such as thermal stabilities and photoluminescence of 1 and 2 were also investigated.