Catalytic Decomposition of Diazo Compounds as a Method for Generating Carbonyl‐Ylide Dipoles

The transition metal catalyzed reaction of α‐diazo carbonyl compounds has found numerous applications in organic synthesis, and its use in either heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring formation is well‐precedented. In contrast to other catalysts that are suitable for carbenoid reactions of diazo compounds, those constructed with the dirhodium(II) framework are most amenable to ligand modification that, in turn, can influence reaction selectivity. The reaction of rhodium carbenoids with carbonyl groups represents a very efficient method for generating carbonyl ylide dipoles. Rhodium‐mediated carbenoid–carbonyl cyclization reactions have been extensively utilized as a powerful method for the construction of a variety of novel polycyclic ring systems. This article will emphasize some of the more recent synthetic applications of the tandem cyclization/cycloaddition cascade for natural product synthesis. Discussion centers on the chemical behavior of the rhodium metal–carbenoid complex that is often affected by the nature of the ligand groups attached to the metal center.     

Synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene precursors bearing biphenyl units and their use in ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening metathesis polymerization

A range of new imidazolium and imidazolinium chlorides bearing biphenyl units on their nitrogen atoms was synthesized. They differed by the electron-withdrawing or -donating nature and the steric bulk of the substituents on their aromatic rings. These various N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors were combined with the [RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ dimer and potassium tert-butoxide to generate the corresponding ruthenium-arene complexes [RuCl₂(p-cymene)(NHC)] in situ. The catalytic activity of these species was investigated in the photoinduced ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cyclooctene. The results obtained confirmed the necessity of blocking the ortho-positions of the phenyl rings in the vicinity of the metal center in order to attain high catalytic efficiencies. They also showed that changing the steric and electronic properties of the substituents on the remote phenyl rings of the biphenyl units had no significant influence on the outcome of the polymerization.     

The Mechanism on Cyclization, Debenzylation and Oxidation of 1-[1-（Benzyloxy）-3-methylnaphthalen-4-yloxy]propan-2-one

Mansonone compounds represent a series of naturally occurring o-quinones mainly isolated from the heartwood of Mansonia Altissima1 and Ulmus Glabra2. Mansonone F contained oxaphenalene skeleton which was a relatively novel structure and rarely existed in …     

The modulating possibilities of dicarbollide clusters: optimizing the Kharasch catalysts

exo-Cluster dicarbollides substitution has allowed tuning of the E degrees (Ru(II)/Ru(III)) potential to obtain the best-performing Kharasch catalyst. We postulate that this is possible through the to-and-fro electron movement between the boron cluster and the sulfonium moieties.     

Syntheses of bile pigments. Part 15. First unequivocal assignment of the absolute configuration of an urobilinoid bile pigment by X-ray diffraction analysis of its synthetic precursor

(?)-(4S,16S)-8, 12-bis[de(2-carboxyethyl)]mesourobilin-IIIα hydrochloride ( 8 ) has been synthesized from the enantiomerically pure 1,4,5,10-tetrahydro-1-oxodipyrrin-9-carboxylic-acid precursor 6a whose absolute configuration was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis of the N-[(S)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl] carboxamide 7b . The present results prove unequivocally that an (S,S)-configurated urobilin chromophore displays a negative Cotton effect in the VIS absorption range. However, the helicity of the inherently dissymmetric chromophore remains undetermined.     

Structure elucidation of β-carotene isomers by HPLC-NMR coupling using a C30 bonded phase

The separation of cis/trans isomers of β-carotene has been performed with a C₃₀ stationary phase employing ¹H NMR spectroscopy as an on-line detection technique. 1D as well as 2D NMR spectra have been recorded in the stopped-flow mode for the predominant chromatographic peaks. Structural assignment of the five identified isomers was performed via comparison of simulated 1D ¹H NMR spectra on the basis of the structures of β-carotene cis/trans isomers with the experimental data, and also by the analysis of the proton-proton connectivities in the 2D NMR spectra of three isomers with the highest concentration. The chromatographic retention behaviour of the isomers agreed well with previously reported data. The advantage of the applied hyphenated coupling technique compared to conventional off-line techniques lies in the fact that chromatographic separation and NMR detection are performed in a closed system, so that reisomerization of the separated compounds is inhibited. Received: 29 May 1996 / Revised: 1 July 1996 / Accepted: 4 July 1996     

Le Groupe de Recherche du C.R.N.S. Application des Reactions Nucleaires a l'Analyse Chimique G.A.R.N.A.C.

In this article the research topics dealt with at Research Group for Applications of Nuclear Reactions to Chemical Analysis (GARNAC) are described. Particular emphasis is laid on the main contribution of the GARNAC to the development and the evolution of charged particle activation analysis, evolving with the analytical studies performed and with the scientific and technical progress realized in material and semiconductors science.      

Aspects of the Reduction of Double Bonds Using Cob (I)alamin as Catalys

The olefinic system in 3β-methoxy-4-cholesten-6 a-ol ( 2 ) is reduced using cob (I)alamin ( 1 ( I ); see Scheme 1) as catalyst, aqueous acetic acid as solvent and metallic zinc as electron source (cf. Schemes 2 and 3). Experimental evidence for an attack of 1 ( I ) on both faces of the double bond is presented. By the same catalyst (1 R)-10, 10-dimethyl-2-pinene- 10-carbonitrile ( 9 ) is first transformed to the menthene derivative 11 (see Schemes 4 and 5). The ring opening is then followed by a fast saturation of the disubstituted olefinic system in 11 , and ultimately the remaining double bond is reduced in a slow reaction. The cis-configurated saturated menthane derivative 16 is the main final product ( 16 / 17 ≈ 10:1).     

Anomalous dehydration of 2-phenylindole-3-carboxamide to 2-phenylindole-3-carbonitrile by lithium aluminum hydride

Steric factors have been shown to be responsible for the anomalous dehydration of 2-phenylindole-3-carboxamide (1) to 2-phenylindole-3-carbonitrile (3) by lithium aluminum hydride. This steric effect was also reflected in the reactions of 2-phenylindole (4) and its derivatives.

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Anomale Dehydratisierung von 2-Phenylindol-3-carbonsäureamid zu 2-Phenyl-indol-3-carbonitril mit Lithiumaluminiumhydrid (Kurze Mitteilung)

Zusammenfassung Es wird gezeigt, daß für die anomale Dehydratisierung von 2-Phenylindol-3-carbonsäureamid (1) zum entsprechenden Nitril3 durch Lithiumaluminiumhydrid sterische Faktoren verantwortlich sind. Dieser sterische Effekt zeigt sich auch bei Reaktionen von 2-Phenylindol (4) und seiner Derivate.

     

The asymmetric syntheses of the C-1 sidechains of zaragozic acid A and zaragozic acid C

The asymmetric syntheses of the C-1 sidechains of zaragozic acid A and C are described. Aldol reaction defines the chirality at C-4′and C-5′in two independent routes. Multigram preparation as well as a route amenable to derivatization are highlights of these approaches.