(E/Z)‐Isomerization of (all‐E)‐5,6‐Diepikarpoxanthin

(all‐E)‐5,6‐Diepikarpoxanthin (=(all‐E,3S,5S,6S,3′R)‐5,6‐dihydro‐β,β‐carotene‐3,5,6,3′‐tetrol; 1 ) was submitted to thermal isomerization and I₂‐catalyzed photoisomerization. The structures of the main products, i.e. (9Z)‐ ( 2 ), (9′Z)‐ ( 3 ), (13Z)‐ ( 4 ), (13′Z)‐ ( 5 ), and (15Z)‐5,6‐diepikarpoxanthin ( 6 ), were determined by their UV/VIS, CD, ¹H‐NMR, and mass spectra. In addition, (9Z,13′Z)‐ or (13Z,9′Z)‐ ( 7 ), (9Z,9′Z)‐ ( 8 ), and (9Z,13Z)‐ or (9′Z,13′Z)‐5,6‐diepikarpoxanthin ( 9 ) were tentatively identified as minor products of the I₂‐catalyzed photoisomerization.     

(E)‐N′‐(4‐Chlorobenzylidene)‐, (E)‐N′‐(4‐bromobenzylidene)‐ and (E)‐N′‐[4‐(diethylamino)benzylidene]‐ derivatives of 4‐hydroxybenzohydrazide

The 4‐chloro‐ [C₁₄H₁₁ClN₂O₂, (I)], 4‐bromo‐ [C₁₄H₁₀BrN₂O₂, (II)] and 4‐diethylamino‐ [C₁₈H₂₁N₃O₂, (III)] derivatives of benzylidene‐4‐hydroxybenzohydrazide, all crystallize in the same space group (P2₁/c), (I) and (II) also being isomorphous. In all three compounds, the conformation about the C=N bond is E. The molecules of (I) and (II) are relatively planar, with dihedral angles between the two benzene rings of 5.75 (12) and 9.81 (17)°, respectively. In (III), however, the same angle is 77.27 (9)°. In the crystal structures of (I) and (II), two‐dimensional slab‐like networks extending in the a and c directions are formed via N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The molecules stack head‐to‐tail viaπ–π interactions involving the aromatic rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.7622 (14) Å in (I) and 3.8021 (19) Å in (II)]. In (III), undulating two‐dimensional networks extending in the b and c directions are formed via N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The molecules stack head‐to‐head viaπ–π interactions involving inversion‐related benzene rings [centroid–centroid distances = 3.6977 (12) and 3.8368 (11) Å].     

(E,E,E)‐1,6‐Bis(2,4‐di­chloro­phenyl)­hexa‐1,3,5‐triene

The title mol­ecule, C₁₈H₁₂Cl₄, lies about an inversion centre and the hexatriene chain is planar. The torsion angle of the single bond between the planes of the chain and the benzene ring is −8.6 (3)°. The dihedral angle between the planes defined by the chains of adjacent mol­ecules is 50.0 (2)°. The shortest intermolecular distance between the Cl atoms is 3.514 (1) Å. The mol­ecules are joined through π–π‐stacking and strong attractive Cl⃛Cl interactions.     

1,2,3‐Trimethoxy‐4‐[(E)‐2‐phenylvinyl]benzene and (E,E)‐1,4‐bis(2,3,4‐trimethoxyphenyl)buta‐1,3‐diene

The stilbene derivative 1,2,3‐trimethoxy‐4‐[(E)‐2‐phenylvinyl]benzene, C₁₇H₁₈O₃, (I), and its homocoupling co‐product (E,E)‐1,4‐bis(2,3,4‐trimethoxyphenyl)buta‐1,3‐diene, C₂₂H₂₆O₆, (II), both have double bonds in trans conformations in their conjugated linkages. In the structure of stilbene (I), the aromatic rings deviate significantly from coplanarity, in contrast with coproduct (II), the core of which is rigorously planar. The deviation in stilbene (I) seems to be driven by intermolecular electrostatic interactions. Diene (II) sits on a crystallographic inversion centre, which bisects the conjugated linkage.     

(E)‐(4‐Hydroxyphenyl)(4‐nitrophenyl)diazene, (E)‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)(4‐nitrophenyl)diazene and (E)‐[4‐(6‐bromohexyloxy)phenyl](4‐cyanophenyl)diazene

Syntheses and X‐ray structural investigations have been carried out for (E)‐(4‐hydroxy­phenyl)(4‐nitro­phenyl)­diazene, C₁₂H₉N₃O₃, (Ia), (E)‐(4‐methoxy­phenyl)(4‐nitro­phenyl)­diazene, C₁₃H₁₁N₃O₃, (IIIa), and (E)‐[4‐(6‐bromo­hexyl­oxy)­phenyl](4‐cyano­phenyl)­diazene, C₁₉H₂₀BrN₃O, (IIIc). In all of these compounds, the mol­ecules are almost planar and the azo­benzene core has a trans geometry. Compound (Ia) contains four and compound (IIIc) contains two independent mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit, both in space group P (No. 2). In compound (Ia), the independent mol­ecules are almost identical, whereas in crystal (IIIc), the two independent mol­ecules differ significantly due to different conformations of the alkyl tails. In the crystals of (Ia) and (IIIa), the mol­ecules are arranged in almost planar sheets. In the crystal of (IIIc), the mol­ecules are packed with a marked separation of the azo­benzene cores and alkyl tails, which is common for the solid crystalline precursors of mesogens.     

Conformational polymorphism of (E,E)‐N,N′‐bis(4‐nitrobenzylidene)benzene‐1,4‐diamine

Two polymorphs of (E,E)‐N,N′‐bis(4‐nitrobenzylidene)benzene‐1,4‐diamine, C₂₀H₁₄N₄O₄, (I), have been identified. In each case, the molecule lies across a crystallographic inversion centre. The supramolecular structure of the first polymorph, (I‐1), features stacking based on π–π interactions assisted by weak hydrogen bonds involving the nitro groups. The second polymorph, (I‐2), displays a perpendicular arrangement of molecules linked via the nitro groups, combined with weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds. Both crystal structures are compared with that of the carbon analogue (E,E)‐1,4‐bis[2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethenyl]benzene, (II).     

Mercuric Acetate Mediated Oxidative Cyclization of (2E, 4E)‐1‐(2‐Hydroxyphenyl)‐5‐phenylpenta‐2,4‐dien‐1‐ones: Synthesis of (Z)‐2‐((E)‐3‐Phenylallylidene)benzofuran‐3(2H)‐ones

(2E,4E)‐1‐(2‐Hydroxyphenyl)‐5‐phenylpenta‐2,4‐dien‐1‐ones 1a , 1b , 1c , 1d , 1e on oxidative cyclization with mercuric acetate in dimethylsulphoxide have provided (Z)‐2‐((E)‐3‐phenylallylidene)benzofuran‐3(2H)‐ones 2a , 2b , 2c , 2d , 2e in good yields.     

(2S,RS)‐6‐Phenyl‐1‐(p‐tolyl­sulfinyl)­hexa‐3(E),5(E)‐dien‐2‐ol

The mol­ecule of the title compound, C₁₉H₂₀O₂S, corresponds to a chiral sulfinyldienol with two stereogenic centres, viz. the C atom susbtituted by the hydr­oxy group and the sulfinyl S atom. The mol­ecule displays a V‐shape in the solid state. The dihedral angle defined by the least‐squares planes of the aromatic rings is 72.9 (1)°. The packing pattern exhibits the following inter­molecular hydrogen bonds: one O—H⋯O [H⋯O = 1.98 Å, O⋯O = 2.785 (4) Å and O—H⋯O = 166°] and two C—H⋯O [H⋯O = 2.58 and 2.60 Å, C⋯O = 3.527 (5) and 3.347 (5) Å, and C—H⋯O = 164 and 134°]. These define a chain along b.     

Living anionic polymerization of (E)‐1,3‐pentadiene and (Z)‐1,3‐pentadiene isomers

The anionic polymerization of (E)‐1,3‐pentadiene (EP) and (Z)‐1,3‐pentadiene (ZP) together with mixture of the E/Z isomers are investigated, respectively. The kinetic analysis shows that the activation energy for EP (86.17 kJ/mol) is much higher than that for ZP (59.03 kJ/mol). GPC shows that it is the EP rather than the ZP isomer that undergoes anionic living polymerization affording quantitative products of the polymers with well‐controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (1.05 ≤? ≤ 1.09). In addition, THF as polar additive has proved its validity to reduce the molecular weight distribution of poly(ZP) from 1.38 to as low as 1.19. The microstructure and sequence distributions of polypentadiene are characterized by ¹H NMR and quantitative ¹³C NMR. Finally, the distinctive reaction activity of two isomers can be elucidated by two different mechanisms which involve the presence of four forms of zwitterions for EP and the typical [1,5]‐sigmatropic hydrogen‐shift phenomenon for ZP. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2291–2301     

Synthesis of Methyl (20R,22E)‐ and (20S,22E)‐3‐Oxochola‐1,4,22‐ trien‐24‐oate

Methyl (22E)‐3‐oxochola‐1,4,22‐trien‐24‐oate ( 4 ; C₂₅H₃₄O₃) is a naturally occurring steroid with unknown configuration at C(20). Starting from the (20S)‐3‐oxo‐23,24‐dinorchol‐4‐en‐22‐al ( 1a ), we prepared both diastereoisomeric methyl esters 4a and 4b by a three‐step procedure (Scheme). In the case of 4b , the initial epimerization of aldehyde 1a was followed by completion of the sequence and then separation via fractional crystallization to afford pure (20R)‐methyl ester 4a and its (20S)‐diastereomer 4b . Only the analytical data of the (20S)‐compound 4b were in good agreement with those reported for the natural product.     

(E)‐2‐(2‐Adamantylidene)‐3‐(1‐ferrocenylethylidene)succinic anhydride

The title compound, [Fe(C₅H₅)(C₂₁H₂₁O₃)], was obtained from successive Stobbe condensations between ketones and di­methyl succinate. The succinic anhydride five‐membered ring is distorted significantly from planarity, with the buta­diene moiety being twisted by 49.3 (2)° from planarity and the C atoms at the succinic anhydride end of the alkene bonds showing significant pyramidalization. The cyclo­penta­diene rings of the ferrocenyl moiety adopt an almost eclipsed conformation.     

Solvatomorphism in (E)‐2‐(2,6‐dichloro‐4‐hydroxybenzylidene)hydrazinecarboximidamide

The structures of orthorhombic (E)‐4‐(2‐{[amino(iminio)methyl]amino}vinyl)‐3,5‐dichlorophenolate dihydrate, C₈H₈Cl₂N₄O·2H₂O, (I), triclinic (E)‐4‐(2‐{[amino(iminio)methyl]amino}vinyl)‐3,5‐dichlorophenolate methanol disolvate, C₈H₈Cl₂N₄O·2CH₄O, (II), and orthorhombic (E)‐amino[(2,6‐dichloro‐4‐hydroxystyryl)amino]methaniminium acetate, C₈H₉Cl₂N₄O⁺·C₂H₃O₂⁻, (III), all crystallize with one formula unit in the asymmetric unit, with the molecule in an E configuration and the phenol H atom transferred to the guanidine N atom. Although the molecules of the title compounds form extended chains via hydrogen bonding in all three forms, owing to the presence of different solvent molecules, those chains are connected differently in the individual forms. In (II), the molecules are all coplanar, while in (I) and (III), adjacent molecules are tilted relative to one another to varying degrees. Also, because of the variation in hydrogen‐bond‐formation ability of the solvents, the hydrogen‐bonding arrangements vary in the three forms.     

(1E,3E,5E)‐1,2,3,4,5,6‐Hexa­fluoro‐1,6‐di­phenyl­hexatriene

The title triene, C₁₈H₁₀F₆, was prepared via the Pd⁰ coupling reaction of (E)‐(1,2‐di­fluoro‐1,2‐ethenediyl)­bis­(tri­butyl­stan­nane) with (Z)‐β‐iodo‐α,β‐di­fluoro­styrene in N,N′‐dimethylformamide/tetrahydrofuran. The crystal structure shows the product to be the 1E,3E,5E isomer. Due to steric interactions between F atoms, the double bonds are not coplanar. The planes defined by the two terminal double bonds are almost perpendicular.     

(E)‐4‐(4‐Bromo­phenyl­diazen­yl)‐2,6‐dimethyl­phenyl acrylate and (E)‐2,6‐dimethyl‐4‐(4‐methyl­phenyl­diazen­yl)­phenyl acrylate

The crystal structures of the title compounds, C₁₇H₁₅BrN₂O₂, (I), and C₁₈H₁₈N₂O₂, (II), determined at room temperature, have a trans configuration with respect to the diazene linkage, as found for other azo (diazene) derivatives. The aromatic mean planes are nearly coplanar, with a dihedral angle between these planes of 8.31 (2)° for (I) and 3.74 (2)° for (II). In both complexes, the mean plane of the ester group is nearly perpendicular to the aromatic ring planes. In both compounds, the crystal packing involves only π–π and π–ring inter­actions, which combine to stabilize the extended structure.     

(E)‐2‐[(4‐Chlorophenyl)iminomethyl]‐5‐methoxyphenol and (E)‐2‐[(2‐chlorophenyl)iminomethyl]‐5‐methoxyphenol: X‐ray and DFT‐calculated structures

The crystal structures of the title 4‐chlorophenyl, (I), and 2‐chlorophenyl, (II), compounds, both C₁₄H₁₂ClNO₂, have been determined using X‐ray diffraction techniques and the molecular structures have also been optimized at the B3LYP/6‐31 G(d,p) level using density functional theory (DFT). The X‐ray study shows that the title compounds both have strong intramolecular O—H...N hydrogen bonds and that the crystal networks are primarily determined by weak C—H...π and van der Waals interactions. The strong intramolecular O—H...N hydrogen bond is evidence of the preference for the phenol–imine tautomeric form in the solid state. The IR spectra of the compounds were recorded experimentally and also calculated for comparison. The results from both the experiment and theoretical calculations are compared in this study.     

(E/Z)‐Isomerization of 3′‐Epilutein

3′‐Epilutein (=(all‐E,3R,3′S,6′R)‐4′,5′‐didehydro‐5′,6′‐dihydro‐β,β‐carotene‐3,3′‐diol; 1 ), isolated from the flowers of Caltha palustris, was submitted to both thermal isomerization and I₂‐catalyzed photoisomerization. The structures of the main products (9Z)‐ 1 , (9′Z)‐ 1 , (13Z)‐ 1 , (13′Z)‐ 1 , (15Z)‐ 1 , and (9Z,9′Z)‐ 1 were determined based on UV/VIS, CD, ¹H‐NMR, and MS data.     

Enantioselective Rhodium‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of (E)‐1,6‐Enynes

An enantioselective rhodium(I)‐catalyzed cycloisomerization reaction of challenging (E)‐1,6‐enynes is reported. This novel process enables (E)‐1,6‐enynes with a wide range of functionalities, including nitrogen‐, oxygen‐, and carbon‐tethered (E)‐1,6‐enynes, to undergo cycloisomerization with excellent enantioselectivity, in a high‐yielding and operationally simple manner. Moreover, this Rh^I‐diphosphane catalytic system also exhibited superior reactivity and enantioselectivity for (Z)‐1,6‐enynes. A rationale for the striking reactivity difference between (E)‐ and (Z)‐1,6‐enynes using Rh^I‐BINAP and Rh^I‐TangPhos is outlined using DFT studies to provide the necessary insight for the design of new catalyst systems and the application to synthesis.