Electrochemical Reduction of 4,4′‐(2,2,2‐Trichloroethane‐1,1‐diyl)‐ bis(chlorobenzene) (DDT) and 4,4′‐(2,2‐Dichloroethane‐1,1‐diyl)‐ bis(chlorobenzene) (DDD) at Carbon Cathodes in Dimethylformamide

In dimethylformamide containing tetramethylammonium tetrafluoroborate, cyclic voltammograms for reduction of 4,4′‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethane‐1,1‐diyl)bis(chlorobenzene) (DDT) at a glassy carbon cathode exhibit five waves, whereas three waves are observed for the reduction of 4,4′‐(2,2‐dichloroethane‐1,1‐diyl)bis(chlorobenzene) (DDD). Bulk electrolyses of DDT and DDD afford 4,4′‐(ethene‐1,1‐diyl)bis(chlorobenzene) (DDNU) as principal product (67–94%), together with 4,4′‐(2‐chloroethene‐1,1‐diyl)bis(chlorobenzene) (DDMU), 1‐chloro‐4‐styrylbenzene, and traces of both 1,1‐diphenylethane and 4,4′‐(ethane‐1,1‐diyl)bis(chlorobenzene) (DDO). For electrolyses of DDT and DDD, the coulometric n values are essentially 4 and 2, respectively. When DDT is reduced in the presence of a large excess of D₂O, the resulting DDNU and DDMU are almost fully deuterated, indicating that reductive cleavage of the carbon–chlorine bonds of DDT is a two‐electron process that involves carbanion intermediates. A mechanistic scheme is proposed to account for the formation of the various products.     

Diiodobis(2‐hydroxymethyl‐1‐methyl‐1‐imidazole‐N3)cadmium(II)

The Cd atom in Cd(Hmmi)₂I₂ is five‐coordinate with a trigonal bipyramidal geometry in which the apical sites are occupied by I and O atoms. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of (4Z)‐4‐(Arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones by the Reaction of Ethyl (2Z)‐3‐Aryl‐2‐isothiocyanatoprop‐2‐enoates with Organolithium Compounds

A convenient one‐pot method for the preparation of (4Z)‐4‐(arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones 2 and 3 from ethyl (2Z)‐3‐aryl‐2‐isothiocyanatoprop‐2‐enoates 1 , which can be easily prepared from ethyl 2‐azidoacetate and aromatic aldehydes, has been developed. Thus, these α‐isothiocyanato α,β‐unsaturated esters were treated with organolithium compounds, including lithium enolates of acetates, to provide 5‐substituted (4Z)‐4‐(arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones, 2 , and 2‐[(4Z)‐(4‐arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐2‐thioxo‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐5‐yl]acetates, 3 .     

A three‐dimensional coordination polymer based on the Zn4(μ3‐OH)2 unit: poly[[(μ4‐benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)bis(μ3‐benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)bis(μ3‐hydroxido)bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione)tetrazinc] dihydrate]

The title compound, {[Zn₄(C₈H₄O₄)₃(OH)₂(C₁₂H₆N₂O₂)₂]·2H₂O}_n, has been prepared hydrothermally by the reaction of Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O with benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid (H₂bdc) and 1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione (pdon) in H₂O. In the crystal structure, a tetranuclear Zn₄(OH)₂ fragment is located on a crystallographic inversion centre which relates two subunits, each containing a [ZnN₂O₄] octahedron and a [ZnO₄] tetrahedron bridged by a μ₃‐OH group. The pdon ligand chelates to zinc through its two N atoms to form part of the [ZnN₂O₄] octahedron. The two crystallographically independent bdc²⁻ ligands are fully deprotonated and adopt μ₃‐κO:κO′:κO′′ and μ₄‐κO:κO′:κO′′:κO′′′ coordination modes, bridging three or four Zn^II cations, respectively, from two Zn₄(OH)₂ units. The Zn₄(OH)₂ fragment connects six neighbouring tetranuclear units through four μ₃‐bdc²⁻ and two μ₄‐bdc²⁻ ligands, forming a three‐dimensional framework with uninodal 6‐connected α‐Po topology, in which the tetranuclear Zn₄(OH)₂ units are considered as 6‐connected nodes and the bdc²⁻ ligands act as linkers. The uncoordinated water molecules are located on opposite sides of the Zn₄(OH)₂ unit and are connected to it through hydrogen‐bonding interactions involving hydroxide and carboxylate groups. The structure is further stabilized by extensive π–π interactions between the pdon and μ₄‐bdc²⁻ ligands.     

µ2‐Diiodotetrakis(2‐hydroxymethyl‐1‐methyl‐1‐imidazole‐N3)dicadmium(II) bis[triiodo(2‐hydroxymethyl‐1‐methyl‐1‐imidazole‐N3)cadmate(II)] dihydrate

There are two types of Cd in the title compound, the six‐coordinated Cd atom in the cation is in a distorted octahedral geometry while the four‐coordinated Cd in the anion shows a distorted tetrahedral geometry. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Herbicidal Activity of Novel N‐(2‐Fluoro‐5(3‐methyl‐2,6‐dioxo‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐pyrimidin‐1(6H)‐yl)phenyl)‐2‐phenoxyacetamide Derivatives

Thirteen novel N‐(2‐fluoro‐5‐(3‐methyl‐2,6‐dioxo‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)‐2,3‐dihydropyrimidin‐1(6H)‐yl)phenyl)‐2‐phenoxy)acetamides were designed and synthesized utilizing 4‐fluoro‐aniline and ethyl 3‐amino‐4,4,4‐trifluoro‐but‐2‐enoate as starting materials. The chemical structures of all compounds were confirmed by ¹H NMR, IR, mass spectrum and elemental analyses. Subsequently, the herbicidal activities of the as‐prepared compounds were evaluated in the greenhouse. Bioassay results indicated that most of compounds had better herbicidal activities against dicotyledonous weeds. Among all the tested compounds, compounds 4a – 4i showed good herbicidal activities at both pre‐emergence and post‐emergence treatment against two or three kinds of dicotyledonous weeds, such as Abutilon theophrasti Medic, Amaranthus ascendens L, and Chenopodium album L at the dosage of 75 g ai/ha.     

Pseudohalide‐directed Assembly of Two Zinc(II) Coordination Polymers with a 3,4‐Bis(3‐pyridyl)‐5‐(4‐pyridyl)‐1,2,4‐triazole Tecton

The zinc(II) pseudohalide complexes {[Zn(L³³⁴)(SCN)₂(H₂O)](H₂O)₂}_n ( 1 ) and [Zn(L³³⁴)(dca)₂]_n ( 2 ) were synthesized and characterized using the ligand 3,4‐bis(3‐pyridyl)‐5‐(4‐pyridyl)‐1,2,4‐triazole (L³³⁴) and ZnCl₂ in presence of thiocyanate (SCN^–) and dicynamide [dca, N(CN)₂^–] respectively. Single‐crystal X‐ray structural analysis revealed that the central Zn^II atoms in both complexes have similar octahedral arrangement. Compound 1 has a 2D sheet structure bridged by bidentate L³³⁴ and double μ_N,S‐thiocyanate anions, whereas complex 2 , incorporating with two monodentate dicynamide anions, displays a two‐dimensional coordination framework bridged by tetradentate L³³⁴ ligand. Structural analysis demonstrated that the influence of pseudohalide anions plays an important role in determining the resultant structure. Both complexes were characterized by IR spectroscopy, microanalysis, and powder X‐ray diffraction techniques. In addition, the solid fluorescence and thermal stability properties of both complexes were investigated.     

Effect of Medium Acidity and Photostability of 3‐(4‐Dimethylamino‐phenyl)‐1‐(2,5‐dimethyl‐thiophen‐3‐yl)‐propenone (DDTP): A New Green Emitting Laser Dye

On the line of a previous work on the spectral properties of some of heteroaryl chalcone, the effect of medium acidity and photoreactivity of 3‐(4‐dimethylamino‐phenyl)‐1‐(2,5‐dimethyl‐thiophen‐3‐yl)‐propenone (DDTP) has been investigated in dimethylformamide and in chloromethane solvents such as methylenechloride, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. The dye solution (ca. 5×10⁻⁴ mol·L⁻¹ in DMF) gives a good laser emission in the range 470–560 nm with emission maximum at 515 nm upon pumping by nitrogen laser (λ_ex=337.1 nm). The laser parameters such as gain coefficient (α), emission cross section (δ_e) and half life energy (E_1/2) at maximum laser emission are also determined.     

Ring Opening of 2‐(Benzylamino)‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones and 2‐Bromo‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones

Substituted 2‐(benzylamino)‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones are unstable under alkaline and acidic conditions, undergoing opening of the benzoxazinone ring. 2‐Bromo‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones show similar degradation under alkaline conditions, while replacement of Br at C(2) to give 2‐hydroxy‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones was observed only under mild alkaline conditions. Mechanisms of ring opening and degradation to 2‐aminophenol derivatives are proposed.     

Efficient Synthesis of (3E)‐3‐[Amino(aryl)methylidene]chromane‐2,4‐diones (=(3E)‐3‐[Amino(aryl)methylene]‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2,4(3H)‐diones) via a Three‐Component Reaction

The Michael‐type addition of a 4‐hydroxycoumarin (=4‐hydroxy‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) 1 to a β‐nitrostyrene (=(2‐nitroethenyl)benzene) 2 in the presence of AcONH₄ leads to substituted (3E)‐3‐[amino(aryl)methylidene]chroman‐2,4‐diones (=(3E)‐3‐[amino(aryl)methylene]‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2,4(3H)‐diones) 4 (Table 1). High yields, short reaction time, and easy workup are advantages of this novel one‐pot three‐component reaction.     

Embryotoxicity studies of tri‐n‐butyltin(IV) complexes of 5‐[(E)‐2‐(aryl)‐1‐diazenyl]‐2‐hydroxybenzoic acid and 2‐[(E)‐2‐(3‐formyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1‐diazenyl] benzoic acid on sea urchin development

The toxicity studies of free 5‐[(E)‐2‐(aryl)‐1‐diazenyl]‐2‐hydroxybenzoic acid and 2‐[(E)‐2‐(3‐formyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1‐diazenyl]benzoic acid and their tri‐n‐butyltin(IV) complexes were evaluated by using sea urchin early developmental stages as recommended model organisms for toxicity tests. The novel complexes, as the parent tri‐n‐butyltin(IV) chloride (TBTCl), caused mitosis block and induced high embryonic mortality in sea urchin. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystallographic report: Bis(η5‐methyl‐cyclopentadienyl)‐bis(cyanato)‐vanadium(IV)

The crystal structure of the first cyclopentadienyl vanadium(IV) pseudohalide complex, (η⁵‐C₅H₄CH₃)₂V(NCO)₂, was determined. The molecule has a typical bent metallocene structure in which two η⁵‐bonded methyl‐cyclopentadienyl rings and two nitrogen atoms of cyanato ligands occupy the pseudotetrahedral coordination sites around the vanadium(IV) center. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Efficient Synthesis of Dialkyl (2Z)‐2‐[(E)‐1‐Aryl‐2‐(3‐arylquinoxalin‐2‐yl)ethenyl]but‐2‐enedioates

The reaction of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates 4 with 1‐aryl‐2‐[(3‐arylquinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ylidene)ethanones 3 in the presence of Ph₃P leads to dialkyl (2Z)‐2‐[(E)‐1‐aryl‐2‐(3‐arylquinoxalin‐2‐yl)ethenyl]but‐2‐enedioates 1 in good yields.     

Enantiospecific Synthesis of (R)‐3‐Amino‐4‐(2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)butanoic Acid Using (S)‐Serine as a Chiral Pool

Starting from (S)‐serine, a new method was developed for the synthesis of the β‐amino acid part of sitagliptin in ten steps and with an overall yield of 30%. The crucial step of the synthesis was the ring opening of N‐ and O‐protected (R)‐aziridin‐2‐methanol with (2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)magnesium bromide to give N‐ and O‐protected (R)‐2‐amino‐3‐(2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)propan‐1‐ol.     

Cancer‐associated pH‐responsive tetracopolymeric micelles composed of poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(L‐histidine)‐b‐poly(L‐lactic acid)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)

To create a novel vector for specifically delivering anticancer therapy to solid tumors, we used diafiltration to synthesize pH‐sensitive polymeric micelles. The micelles, formed from a tetrablock copolymer [poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(L ‐histidine)‐b‐poly(L ‐lactic acid)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)] consisted of a hydrophobic poly(L ‐histidine) (polyHis) and poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLA) core and a hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) shell, in which we encapsulated the model anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). The robust micelles exhibited a critical micellar concentration (CMC) of 2.1–3.5 µg/ml and an average size of 65–80 nm pH 7.4. Importantly, they showed a pH‐dependent micellar destabilization, due to the concurrent ionization of the polyHis and the rigidity of the PLA in the micellar core. In particular, the molecular weight of PLA block affected the ionization of the micellar core. Depending on the molecular weight of the PLA block, the micelles triggering released DOX at pH 6.8 (i.e. cancer acidic pH) or pH 6.4 (i.e. endosomal pH), making this system a useful tool for specifically treating solid cancers or delivering cytoplasmic cargo in vivo. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A three‐dimensional ZnII coordination framework: poly[[μ2‐(E)‐1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethene][μ4‐(E)‐2,2′‐(diazene‐1,2‐diyl)dibenzoato][μ2‐(E)‐2,2′‐(diazene‐1,2‐diyl)dibenzoato]dizinc(II)]

In the title coordination polymer, [Zn₂(C₁₄H₈N₂O₄)₂(C₁₂H₁₀N₂)]_n, the asymmetric unit contains one Zn^II cation, two halves of 2,2′‐(diazene‐1,2‐diyl)dibenzoate anions (denoted L²⁻) and half of a 1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethene ligand (denoted bpe). The three ligands lie across crystallographic inversion centres. Each Zn^II centre is four‐coordinated by three O atoms of bridging carboxylate groups from three L²⁻ ligands and by one N atom from a bpe ligand, forming a tetrahedral coordination geometry. Two Zn^II atoms are bridged by two carboxylate groups of L²⁻ ligands, generating a [Zn₂(CO₂)₂] ring. Each loop serves as a fourfold node, which links its four equivalent nodes via the sharing of four L²⁻ ligands to form a two‐dimensional [Zn₂L₄]_n net. These nets are separated by bpe ligands acting as spacers, producing a three‐dimensional framework with a 4⁶6⁴ topology. Powder X‐ray diffraction and solid‐state photoluminescence were also measured.