Evaluation of the enantiomeric resolution of 7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]-pyrene and its 6-fluoro and 6-bromo derivatives on polysaccharide-derived stationary phases

The enantiomeric resolution and the elution order of (+/-)-trans-7,8-dihydrodiols of benzo[a]pyrene and its 6-fluoro and 6-bromo derivatives were analyzed on three polysaccharide-based columns: Daicel Chiralcel CA-I (cellulose triacetate), OF, and OG [cellulose tris(4-chloro- and 4-methylphenylcarbamate)]. For comparison, the separation of (+/-)-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol was evaluated on the OG and OF columns. Possibly similar interactions of (S)-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol and (7S,8S)-isomers of 6-halo-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene with the chiral sorbent are suggested.     

Exceptionally mild, high-yield synthesis of alpha-fluoro acrylates

Novel achiral and chiral alkyl alpha-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-ylsulfonyl)-alpha-fluoroacetates can be readily synthesized by metalation-fluorination of (1,3-benzothiazol-2-ylsulfonyl)acetates. DBU-mediated condensations of these fluorinated synthons with aldehydes proceed in a facile manner at 0 degrees C or at room temperature giving high yields of alpha-fluoro acrylates. Ketones are unreactive under these conditions. The presence of fluorine renders the synthon substantially more reactive compared to the unfluorinated analogue. Reactivity of alpha-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-ylsulfonyl)-alpha-fluoroacetate and the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reagent (EtO)2P(O)CHFCOOEt has also been compared.     

Bromination of aromatic molecules with polymer supported reagents

Crosslinked co-poly/styrene-4-vinyl(N-hexylpyridinium bromide) was converted with bromine or chlorine to insoluble polymer supported complexes or respectively, and their reactivity studied in reactions with various aromatic molecules. Reagent was found in all cases to be milder than reagent and regiospecifically transformed alkoxy and amino substituted benzenes ( ) into 4-bromo derivatives, while corresponding reactions with resulted in dibromo derivatives. Several benzoheterocyclic molecules were converted with to substitution or addition products, i.e. 2,3-dibromo-N-methylpyrrole, 3-bromobenzo/b/thiophene, and 2,3-dibromo-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran. In the series of ortho-alkyl disubstituted benzene derivatives, i.e. o-xylene, indane, and tetraline, where the Mills-Nixon effect was established with various electrophilic reagents, bromination reactions with showed higher β-selectivity than the corresponding reactions with bromine. The rate of bromination in various alkyl substituted benzenes with reagent depended on the magnitude of the alkyl group, as well as the para/ortho regioselectivity, amounting to 100% in the case of tert-butylbenzene.     

Synthesis of Fluoroolefins via Julia-Kocienski Olefination

The Julia-Kocienski olefination provides a versatile platform for the synthesis of fluorovinyl compounds. This review describes our efforts as well as those of others in the synthesis of various fluorinated aryl and heteroaryl sulfones and their utility as olefination reagents for the modular assembly of fluoroalkenes. Where data is available, the influence of the fluorine atom on the reactivity of the olefination reagents and the stereochemical outcome of the olefination are described.     

Facile synthesis of 4-vinyl- and 4-fluorovinyl-1,2,3-triazoles via bifunctional "click-olefination" reagents

Modular synthesis of vinyl and fluorovinyl triazoles can be achieved from bifunctional propargyl and fluoropropargyl sulfones by Cu-catalyzed azide-alkyne ligation and Julia-Kocienski olefination. Competitive click reactions of the protio and fluoropropargyl sulfones show higher reactivity of the latter, and a preliminary DFT analysis was performed.     

Synthetic, crystallographic, computational, and biological studies of 1,4-difluorobenzo[c]phenanthrene and its metabolites

1,4-Difluorobenzo[c]phenanthrene (1,4-DFBcPh) and its putative metabolites, the dihydrodiol and diol epoxides, have been synthesized and structurally characterized, and the extent of DNA binding by the metabolites has been assessed. 1,4-DFBcPh and 1,4-difluoro-10-methoxybenzo[c]phenanthrene were prepared by photochemical cyclization of appropriate naphthylphenylethylenes. The dihydrodiol was synthesized from 1,4-difluoro-10-methoxybenzo[c]phenanthrene, and the diol epoxides were diastereoselectively synthesized from the dihydrodiol. Interesting differences were noted in 1H NMR spectra of the series 1 (syn) diol epoxides of benzo[c]phenanthrene (BcPh) and 1,4-DFBcPh; the BcPh diol epoxide displays a quasi-diequatorial orientation of the hydroxyl groups, but in the 1,4-DFBcPh case these are diaxially disposed. This difference probably stems from the presence of the fjord-region fluorine atom in 1,4-DFBcPh. A through-space, fjord-region H-F coupling has also been observed for 1,4-DFBcPh and its derivatives. Comparative X-ray crystallographic analyses of BcPh and 1,4-DFBcPh and their dihydrodiols show that introduction of fluorine increases the molecular distortion by about 6-7 degrees . As a guide to estimating the molecular distortion and its effects, and for comparison with the X-ray structures in known cases, optimized structures of BcPh, 1,4-DFBcPh, and 1,4-DMBcPh (the dimethyl analogue) as well as their dihydrodiols and diol epoxides were computed. Relative aromaticities of these compounds were assessed by nucleus-independent chemical shift calculations, and 13C NMR chemical shifts were computed by gauge-inducing atomic orbital calculations. 1,4-DFBcPh and its dihydrodiol were subjected to metabolism, and the amount of DNA binding in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells was assessed. The extent of DNA binding was then compared with that for BcPh and its dihydrodiol and the potent carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene. The 1,4-DFBcPh series 2 (anti) diol epoxide-derived DNA adducts were also compared with those arising from intracellular oxidation of the dihydrodiol with subsequent DNA binding. These experiments showed that increased molecular distortion decreased metabolic activation to the terminal metabolites but that diol epoxide metabolites that are formed are the DNA-damaging species.     

REACTIONS OF XENON DIFLUORIDE WITH ORGANO-SULPHUR MOLECULES

Abstract

Xenon difluoride readily reacts with various organo-sulphur compounds. In general, three types of products were isolated, the course of the reactions depending on the structure of the organo-sulphur substrate. Alkyl-phenyl substituted sulphides, 3,3-dibromothiochroman-4-one and thiochroman-4-ol reacted to form α-fluoro substituted products, 2,5-diphenyltetrahydrothiopyran-4-one, thiochroman-4-one and 3-bromothiochroman-4-one formed dehydrogenated products, while diphenyl-sulphide, dibenzothiophene and 10-thioxanthenone reacted to form sulphoxide and sulphone. The reaction mechanism and the reaction pathways, which are shown on the Scheme, will be discussed.