Dicobalt octacarbonyl-catalyzed cationic polymerization of allylic and enolic ethers

In the presence of silanes bearing Si H groups, dicobalt octacarbonyl [Co₂(CO)₈] efficiently catalyzes the cationic polymerization of a wide variety of enol ether and other related monomers including vinyl ethers, 1-propenyl ethers, 1-butenyl ethers, 2,3-dihydrofuran, 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran, ketene acetals, and allene ethers. In addition, this catalyst system is also effective for the polymerization of complimentary allylic and propargylic ethers by a process involving tandem isomerization and cationic polymerization. This latter process occurs by a stepwise mechanism in which the allylic or propargylic ether is first isomerized, respectively, to the corresponding enol ether or allenic ether and then this latter compound is rapidly cationically polymerized in the presence of the catalyst. In accord with this mechanism, it has been shown that the structure of the polymers prepared from related enol and allyl ethers using the above catalyst system are identical. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1579–1591, 1997     

Acetal-vinyl sulfide cyclization on sugar substrates: effect of structure and substituent

A range of 2-deoxyfuranoside and -pyranoside derivatives were fashioned into derivatives that carry a vinyl or propenyl side chain. Extension of the alkene by a Suzuki cross-coupling reaction with 1-bromo-1-(phenylthio)ethene gave thioenol ethers as the cyclization substrates. The treatment of these substrates with BF(3).Et(2)O in tert-butylmethyl ether below 0 degrees C induced cyclization to optically active bicyclic ethers. If the cyclizations are carried out in toluene as the solvent, the isomerization of the terminal thioenol ether to the inner thioenol ether can take place prior to the cyclization. The cyclization reactions can be impeded by steric and electronic factors. The opening of the bicyclic ethers could be illustrated with the base-induced conversion of the ketone 53 to the cyclooctenone 54.     

Polar nematic methyl (E)-[trans-4-cyclohexyl-substituted]allyl ethers: Synthesis, liquid crystal transition temperatures and some physical properties

We have introduced an oxygen atom and a carbon-carbon double bond with a trans-configuration (E) into the terminal alkyl chain attached to the cyclohexyl ring of a variety of two- and three-ring nematic liquid crystals of positive dielectric anisotropy. The new polar two-ring methyl (E)-allyl ethers often possess low melting points, but are not mesomorphic in general. The related three-ring methyl (E)-allyl ethers exhibit high clearing points and wide nematic ranges. Comparisons with the corresponding derivatives incorporating either just an oxygen atom or just a carbon-carbon double bond in the same position indicate that synergetic effects lead to broader nematic phases than would otherwise have been expected. This is partially due to the low smectic transition temperatures observed for the methyl (E)-allyl ethers. Selected physical properties of three binary mixtures of a weakly polar standard nematic liquid crystal and three difluoro-substituted (polar) liquid crystals (including the new ethers) differing only in the nature of the terminal chain show that, although some of the methyl (E)-allyl ethers exhibit longer switch-off times in TN cells than those of analogous liquid crystals incorporating either a methyl propyl ether or a 1-(E)-propenyl chain instead of the methyl (E)-allyl ether chain, they are still useful components for nematic mixtures, especially where a wide temperature range is required.     

Recoordination of a metal ion in the cavity of a crown compound: a theoretical study. 1. Conformers of arylazacrown ethers and their complexes with Ca2+ cation

Photoinduced recoordination of Ca²⁺ complexes of the photochromic azacrown ethers is studied by the density functional method. The study included model arylazacrown ethers containing various acceptor groups in the aromatic ring in the para position to the azacrown ether moiety and a real azacrown-containing styryl dye. It is found that both free azacrown ethers and their complexes can adopt two types of conformations: (1) axial conformations, in which the aromatic ring axis passing through the crown ether nitrogen N_cr and the opposite atom of the aromatic ring is perpendicular to the root-mean-square (RMS) plane of the crown ether (least-squares fitted plane for all the crown ether atoms), and (2) equatorial conformations, in which the aromatic ring axis only slightly deflects from the RMS plane of the crown ether. In the equatorial conformers, the metal cation is coordinated only to the O atoms of the azacrown ether cycle, the metal—nitrogen bond is broken, and N_cr is conjugated with the aromatic ring. In the axial conformers, the metal cation is additionally coordinated to N_cr. It is found that the presence of an acceptor group bearing a formal positive charge decreases the relative energy of the equatorial conformer and favors metal—nitrogen bond dissociation, which results in the recoordination of the metal cation. However, a long distance between the charged group and N_cr has the reverse effect. The photoinduced recoordination observed in the alkaline-earth metal complexes of the photochromic azacrown ethers is explained by the transitions between the axial and equatorial conformers facilitated by the charge transfer in the excited state of the complex.     

Modular synthesis of di- and tripeptides of luminescent crown ether aminocarboxylic acids

Luminescent benzo crown ether aminocarboxylic acids with ammonium ion affinity were prepared and converted into linear bis- and tris benzo crown ether amides using standard peptide coupling protocols. The affinities of the new crown ethers to ammonium ions and di- and tetrapeptides bearing ammonium ion moieties were determined by emission titration in methanol and buffered water.     

Metal carbene-promoted sequential transformations for the enantioselective synthesis of highly functionalized cycloheptadienes

A two-step, three-component coupling of an alkyne, enol ether, and vinyl diazoester was accomplished by use of successive metal carbene-catalyzed transformations. This efficient approach to cycloheptadienes is both diastereo- and enantioselective. Kinetic resolution was accomplished on dienol ethers bearing a racemic chiral center at the propargylic position. A model is offered which explains the observed selectivity and accounts for the reactivity difference between trans- and cis-dienol ethers.     

Direct synthesis of enaminone functionalized biaryl ethers by CuI-catalyzed O-arylation of enaminone functionalized phenols

The O-arylation of o-enaminone functionalized phenols, namely, (E)-3-(dimethylamino)-1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-ones, has been achieved via a self-promoted process in the presence of CuI, which provided a class of new biaryl ethers bearing a reactive enaminone fragment. The reactions were performed under mild conditions and the functionalized biaryl ether products have been found as useful building blocks for the assembly of heterocyclic compounds.     

Intramolecular regioselective addition of radicals and carbanions to ynol ethers. A strategy for the synthesis of exocyclic enol ethers

The scope and limitations of radical and anionic cyclization reactions involving halo ynol ethers have been investigated. 5-exo and 6-exo radical cyclizations of 6-iodo and 7-iodo ynol ethers proceeded well when the oxygen of the ynol ether was bearing an ethyl group. Exocyclic iodoenol ethers resulting from these cyclizations were highly unstable and decomposed rapidly. Li-I exchange of iodo ynol ethers proceeded smoothly at −78 °C. 6-Alkoxy-5-hexynyllithiums underwent regiospecific 5-exo-dig anionic cyclization to produce five-membered rings bearing an exocyclic enol ether moiety. The cyclized vinyllithium intermediate was successfully trapped with electrophiles to afford functionalized cycloalkoxyalkylidene derivatives in modest to good yields. 7-Alkoxy-6-heptynyllithiums did not cyclize via a 6-exo anionic process.     

Developing the Saegusa–Ito Cyclisation for the Synthesis of Difluorinated Cyclohexenones

Palladium(II)‐catalysed cycloalkenylation (Saegusa–Ito cyclisation) has been used for the first time to transform difluorinated silylenol ethers to difluorinated cycloalkenones under mild conditions. The silylenol ether precursors were prepared in two high‐yielding steps from trifluoroethanol, and cyclised in moderate to good yields. A combination of air and copper(I) chloride in acetonitrile gave the turnover of the initial palladium(II) salt, whereas the provision of an oxygen atmosphere ensured more rapid reaction. Annulations required a minimum level of substitution on the chain, but failed when the alkene was substituted. Annelations allowed a range of n,6‐bicyclic systems to be prepared and afforded three products, in which heterocycles were fused to the new cyclohexenone. The least substituted system explored underwent cyclisation followed by terminal oxidation to a cyclic enal, which corresponded to a Wacker product of unusual regiochemistry.     

Use of alkane monolayer templates to modify the structure of alkyl ether monolayers on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has been used to investigate the structure of pure and mixed monolayers formed by adsorption of long-chain alkanes and/or ethers on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite. Application of a pure phenyloctane solution of simple alkanes, such as tritriacontane, CH3(CH2)31CH3, produced a monolayer within which the individual molecular axes were oriented perpendicular to the lamellar axes. In contrast, a pure solution of symmetrical long-chain ethers, such as di-n-hexadecyl ether, CH3(CH2)15O(CH2)15CH3, produced a monolayer within which the molecular axes were oriented at an angle of approximately 65 degrees relative to the lamellar axes. The compositions of the overlying solutions were then gradually changed either from pure alkanes to nearly pure ethers or from pure ethers to nearly pure alkanes. When ethers replaced alkanes in the monolayer, the ethers conformed to the orientation within the existing alkane layer, rather than adopting the characteristic orientation of pure ether monolayers. However, when alkanes were incorporated into monolayers that had been formed from pure ether solutions, the orientation of the molecules within the monolayer converted to that characteristic of pure alkanes. Alkane monolayers thus acted as templates for subsequent ether layers, but ether monolayers did not act as templates for alkane layers.     

Synthesis of New Crown Ethers Containing Appended Pyridine, 10-hydroxybenzoquinoline, 8-hydroxyquinoline and 2-amino-1-hydroxybiphenyl Sidearms

Twelve crown ethers containing one or two arms were synthesized. Two methods were used to attach arms to the azacrown ethers. Ligands 4 - 12 were prepared by a nucleophilic substitution of secondary macrocyclic amine functions on RX ( X=bromide or tosylate groups). Ligands 13 - 15 were obtained via a Mannich reaction of secondary macrocyclic amines with 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline or a substituted-phenol. Diaza-18-crown-6 was treated with 2-bromomethyl-9-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline at the same conditions in which 4 - 8 and 10 - 12 were prepared. In this case, the main product was the diazacrown ether containing one arm. Twelve new aza-crown ethers bearing aromatic and aliphatic side arms were prepared by nucleophilic substitution by secondary macrocyclic amine functions on halide or tosylates or via a Mannich reaction of the macrocyclic secondary amines with phenolic compounds. R=derivatives of pyridine, 8-hydroxyquiniline, and 1-hydroxybiphenyl. Crown ether include aza-15-crown-5 diaza-18-crown-6 diazatrithia-15 (and 16)-crown-6 and diaza-21-crown-7     

Synthesis of polynuclear azoles linked by ether tethers

Alkylation of NH-triazoles and tetrazoles and cycloaddition of organic and inorganic azides to propargyl ethers bearing a cyano group gave a number of polynuclear heterocyclic systems bridged by ether tethers.     

Synthesis of 2-substituted benzofurans and indoles using functionalized titanium benzylidene reagents on solid phase

Titanium(IV) benzylidenes bearing a masked oxygen or nitrogen nucleophile in the ortho position were generated from thioacetals, using low-valent titanocene complex, Cp2Ti[P(OEt)3]2. Methylene acetal, alkyl ether, silyl ether, fluoro, tertiary amino, and N-alkyl, N-benzyl, N-prenyl, and N-silyl tert-butyl carbamate groups were tolerated in the titanium alkylidene reagents (Schrock carbenes). Aryl-chlorine bonds were stable to the titanium benzylidene functionality, but there was poor chemoselectivity for the reduction of the thioacetal in the presence of an aryl chloride. The titanium benzylidenes converted Merrifield and Wang resin-bound esters into enol ethers. The oxygen nucleophile was masked as a TMS ether, and when the resin-bound enol ethers bearing this ortho substituent were treated with 1% TFA in dichloromethane, benzofurans were released from resin in high yields. The chameleon catch strategy ensured excellent purity. In a similar way, N-alkylated and N-silylated tert-butyl carbamates were used for the synthesis of N-alkyl and N-Boc indoles, respectively. These traceless solid-phase syntheses of heterocycles are believed to involve postcleavage modification rather than cyclative termination.     

Synthesis of Lariat Diazacrown Ethers with Terminal Amino Groups in the Side Chains

Treatment of diazacrown ethers with N-(haloalkyl)- and N-(haloethoxy)phthalimides gives the corresponding N,N'- substituted diazacrown ether. Hydrazinolysis of the latter then gives diazacrown ethers with terminal primary amino groups in the side chain. Their reductive methylation using formaldehyde in formic acid gives the dimethylamino derivatives. The presence of a lariat effect was demonstrated by treating the compounds obtained with picrates of alkali and alkaline-earth metals.     

SYNTHESIS OF ALKYL AND ARYL 1-PROPENYL ETHER MONOMERS: A NEW APPROACH

A new, convenient synthesis of alkyl and aryl 1-propenyl ether monomers in good to excellent yields has been developed. Alkyl and aryl allyl ethers can be smoothly isomerized to the desired 1-propenyl ethers by refluxing in a basic ethanolic solution containing pentacarbonyliron as a catalyst. A simplified two-step, one-pot procedure has also been developed which consists of combining an alcohol with allyl bromide in the presence of base and then adding pentacarbonyliron to isomerize the in-situ generated allyl ether to directly give the 1-propenyl ether. Good yields of alkyl 1-propenyl ethers were obtained using this process. Factors affecting the isomerization reaction were investigated and a mechanism was proposed.     

Columnar and smectic liquid crystals based on crown ethers

Unsymmetrical benzo[15]crown-5 ethers 5 with one lateral ortho-terphenyl unit bearing alkoxy side chains of varying chain lengths (C5-C14) were prepared from 3,4-dialkoxyphenylbromides 2. Complexation with metal salts MX (M = Na, Cs) afforded the corresponding derivatives MX5. The uncomplexed crown ethers 5 h and 5 i, with dodecyloxy and tetradecyloxy side chains, respectively, exhibit liquid crystalline properties. In the series of complexed crown ethers, liquid crystal properties appeared as early as NaI5 f with C9H19 side chains. Whereas the uncomplexed 5 h,i form smectic mesophases, the complexed NaI5 g and NaI5 h exhibit textures typical of columnar mesophases. These results were supported by X-ray diffraction measurements (WAXS, SAXS), which revealed smectic (5 h,i), rectangular columnar (NaI5 g), and hexagonal columnar (NaI5 h) mesophases. As the liquid crystalline phase might retain packing features of the solid-state structure, single-crystal X-ray analyses were also performed for some of the uncomplexed and complexed crown ether derivatives. The complex NaI(3)5 a displays a sandwich-type structure, with the crown ether cores mutually antiperiplanar and maintaining an almost perfect crown conformation. In contrast, non-mesogenic uncomplexed crown ether 5 b displays a layer-type ordering in the solid phase.     

Kinetic and NMR spectroscopic studies of chiral mixed sodium/lithium amides used for the deprotonation of cyclohexene oxide

The mixed-metal complex formed from n-butylsodium, n-butyllithium, and a chiral amino ether has been studied by NMR spectroscopy. Three different mixed-metal amides were used as chiral bases for the deprotonation of cyclohexene oxide. The selectivity and initial rate of reaction were compared for sodium-amido ethers, lithium-amido ethers, and mixtures of sodium and lithiumamido ethers in diethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran, respectively. The mixed sodium/lithium amides are more reactive than the single sodium and lithium amides, whereas the stereoselectivities are higher when lithium amides are used. The alkali-metal/gamma-amido ethers exhibit both higher initial reaction rates and stereoselectivities than their beta-amido ether analogues. NMR spectroscopic studies of mixtures of n-butylsodium (nBuNa), n-butyllithium (nBuLi), and the gamma-amino ethers in diethyl ether show the exclusive formation of dimeric mixed-metal amides. In diethyl ether, the lithium atom of the mixed-metal amide is internally coordinated and the sodium atom is exposed to solvent; however, in tetrahydrofuran, both metals are internally coordinated.     

The effect of carbonyl carbon atom replacement in acetone molecule (ACN) by sulfur atom (DMSO)

Enthalpies of solution of 1,4-dioxane, 12-crown-4 ether (12C4), 15-crown-5 ether (15C5) and 18-crown-6 (18C6) have been analyzed from the point of view of preferential solvation of these cyclic ethers (crown ethers) by a molecule of acetone or dimethylsufoxide in the mixtures of water with acetone or dimethylsulfoxide. It has been observed that the carbonyl carbon atom replacement in acetone molecule by sulfur atom brings about completely different behavior of molecules of these solvents in relation to cyclic ethers dissolved in mixed solvents. Crown ethers are preferentially solvated by acetone (ACN) molecules, which is not observed in the case of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO).     

Olefin self-metathesis as a new entry into xenotransplantation antagonists bearing the Galili antigen

A hexameric disaccharide cluster bearing the terminal Gal alpha related xenotransplantation antigen was constructed using a sequence of ruthenium carbenoid catalyzed olefin self-metathesis of monoallylated tribenzyl pentaerythritol followed, after interconversion of benzyl ethers into para-iodobenzyl ethers, by a single step Sonogashira cross-coupling of six prop-2-ynyl glycosides onto a hexameric aryl iodide scaffold.     

Novel synthesis of substituted pyrrolidines and piperidines via radical addition-ionic cyclization reaction of oxime ethers

We have developed a novel synthetic route to nitrogen-containing heterocycles via radical addition-ionic cyclization reaction. Treatment of oxime ethers carrying the tosyloxy group with Et₃B and alkyl iodide in the presence of Lewis acid gave the substituted pyrrolidines and piperidines. The reaction of oxime ethers carrying the methoxycarbonyl group proceeded under the same conditions to give the amino esters, which were easily converted into the corresponding lactams by the treatment with concd HCl. On the other hand, the oxime ether bearing the phenoxycarbonyl group afforded directly alkylated lactams under the radical reaction conditions. The utility of this domino reaction was demonstrated by the synthesis of (±)-bgugaine and the formal synthesis of 5,8-disubstituted indolizidine alkaloids.