Tandem transformations of tetrahydropyrrolo[3,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>]pyridines under the action of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate. A novel route to pyrrolo[2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>]azocines

Reactions of substituted tetrahydropyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridines with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in protic and aprotic solvents were studied. A novel single-step method for the synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3-d]azocine derivatives was developed. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2513–2519, November, 2005.     

A novel RNA motif based on the structure of unusually stable 2',5'-linked r(UUCG) loops

We have recently shown that hairpins containing 2',5'-linked RNA loops exhibit superior thermodynamic stability compared to native hairpins comprised of 3',5'-RNA loops [Hannoush, R. N.; Damha, M. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 12368-12374]. A remarkable feature of the 2',5'-r(UUCG) tetraloop is that, unlike the corresponding 3',5'-linked tetraloop, its stability is virtually independent of the hairpin stem composition. Here, we determine the solution structure of unusually stable hairpins of the sequence 5'-G(1)G(2)A(3)C(4)-(U(5)U(6)C(7)G(8))-G(9)(U/T(10))C(11)C(12)-3' containing a 2',5'-linked RNA (UUCG) loop and either an RNA or a DNA stem. The 2',5'-linked RNA loop adopts a new fold that is completely different from that previously observed for the native 3',5'-linked RNA loop. The 2',5'-RNA loop is stabilized by (a). U5.G8 wobble base pairing, with both nucleotide residues in the anti-conformation, (b). extensive base stacking, and (c). sugar-base and sugar-sugar contacts, all of which contribute to the extra stability of this hairpin structure. The U5:G8 base pair stacks on top of the C4:G9 loop-closing base pair and thus appears as a continuation of the stem. The loop uracil U6 base stacks above U5 base, while the cytosine C7 base protrudes out into the solvent and does not participate in any of the stabilizing interactions. The different sugar pucker and intrinsic bonding interactions within the 2',5'-linked ribonucleotides help explain the unusual stability and conformational properties displayed by 2',5'-RNA tetraloops. These findings are relevant for the design of more effective RNA-based aptamers, ribozymes, and antisense agents and identify the 2',5'-RNA loop as a novel structural motif.     

Billion-fold acceleration of the methanolysis of paraoxon promoted by La(OTf)3 in methanol

The methanolysis of the insecticide paraoxon (2) was investigated in methanol solution containing varying [La(OTf)(3)] (OTf = (-)OS(O)(2)CF(3)) as a function of at 25 degrees C. Plots of the pseudo-first-order rate constants (k(obs)) for methanolysis as a function of [La(OTf)(3)](total) were obtained under buffered conditions from 5.15 to 10.97, and the slopes of the linear parts of these were used to determine the second-order rate constants (k(2)(obs)) for the La(3+)-catalyzed methanolysis of 2. Detailed analysis of the potentiometric titration data of La(OTf)(3) in methanol through fits to a multicomponent equilibrium mixture of dimers of general stoichiometry La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)n, where n assumes values of 1-5, gives the equilibrium distribution of each as a function of. These data, when fit to a second expression describing k(2)(obs) in terms of a linear combination of individual rate constants k(2)(2:1), k(2)(2:2).k(2)(2:)n for the dimers, allow one to describe the overall catalytic profile in terms of the individual contributions. The most catalytically important species are the three dimers La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)1, La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)2, and La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)3. The catalysis of the methanolysis of 2 is spectacular: a 2 x 10(-3) M solution of [La(3+)](total), at neutral, affords a 10(9)-fold acceleration relative to the base reaction (t(1/2) approximately 20 s at 8.2) with excellent turnover. A mechanism of the catalyzed reaction involving the La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)2 species is proposed.     

An efficient approach to isoindolo[2,1-b][2]benzazepines via intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of maleic anhydride to 4-α-furyl-4-N-benzylaminobut-1-enes

Acylation of 4-α-furyl-4-N-benzylaminobut-1-enes with maleic anhydride gave 4-oxo-3-aza-10-oxatricyclo[5.2.1.0^1,5]dec-8-ene-6-carboxylic acid via amide formation followed by intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of furan (IMDAF). The cycloaddition proceeded under mild reaction conditions (25 °C) and provided only the exo-adduct in quantitative yield. Treatment of this compound with PPA gave isoindolo[2,1-b][2]benzazepine derivatives via ring opening, aromatization and intramolecular electrophilic alkylation. In order to extend the scope of the reaction sequence, 7-oxo-5,11b,12,13-tetrahydro-7H-isoindolo[2,1-b][2]benzazepine-8-carboxylic acids were further transformed into useful synthetic intermediates.     

Substituted and fused spiro[benzo-2-azepine-3,1′-cyclohexanes]

5-Methyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-spiro[benzo-2-azepine-3,1-cyclohexane] N-oxide was rear- ranged into 5-methyl-1-oxo-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-3H-spiro[benzo-2-azepine-3,1-cyclohexane]. The latter was used for the synthesis of spiro{triazolo[3,4-a]- and-tetrazolo[5,1-a]benzo-2- azepinecyclohexanes}.Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1647–1651, August, 2004.     

Structure-NMR chemical shift relationships for novel functionalized derivatives of quinoxalines

(1)H, (13)C and (15)N NMR chemical shifts for a variety of novel quinoxalines were determined by different 2D methods and were calculated using the GIAO DFT approach. Comparison with experimental data shows good correlations in the case of (1)H, (13)C and (15)N chemical shifts. Different combinations of basis sets were tested. In non-polar solvents quinoxalines exist as dimers owing to strong hydrogen bonding. Calculations for dimers improve the correlation between experiment and theory. Additive empirical methods for estimating chemical shifts have drawbacks and have to be used with a great care for this type of compound.     

Synthesis of 9-diazo-4-azafluorenes

Stable diazo compounds of the azafluorene series, viz., 9-diazo-4-azafluorenone and 1,3-diphenyl-4-azafluorene, were obtained from 4-azafluorenone and 1,3-diphenyl-4-azafluorene tosylhydrazones. 1,2-Dicarbomethoxyspiro(4-azafluorene-9,3-cyclopropane) was obtained from 4-azafluorenone tosylhydrazone, and 4,5-dicarbomethoxyspiro(4-azafluorene-9,3-pyrazolenine) was obtained from 9-diazo-4-azafluorene. It is assumed that the product in the latter case is obtained as a result of reaction of a carbene, viz., 4-azafluorenylidene carbene, which is formed from 9-diazo-4-fluorene, with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 7, pp. 951–953, July, 1979.     

Determination of dissociation energies of N-H bond in the 4-anilinodiphenylaminyl radical and O-H bond in the 2,5-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenoxyl radical from the equilibrium constants of chain reactions in quinoneimine-hydroquinone systems

The temperature dependences of the equilibrium constants of two chain reversible reactions in quinonediimine (quinonemonoimine)—2,5-dichlorohydroquinone systems in chlorobenzene were studied. The enthalpy of equilibrium of the reversible reaction of quinonediimine with 4-hydroxydiphenylamine was estimated from these data (ΔH = − 14.4±1.6 kJ mol⁻¹) and a more accurate value of the N-H bond dissociation energy in the 4-anilinodiphenylaminyl radical was determined (D _NH = 278.6±3.0 kJ mol⁻¹). A chain mechanism was proposed for the reaction between quinonediimine and 2,5-dichlorohydroquinone, and the chain length was estimated (ν = 300 units) at room temperature. Processing of published data on the rate constant of the reaction of styrylperoxy radicals with 2,5-dichlorohydroquinone in the framework of the intersecting parabolas method gave the O-H bond dissociation energy in 2,5-dichlorohydroquinone: D _OH = 362.4±0.9 kJ mol⁻¹. Taking into account these data, the O-H bond dissociation energy in the 2,5-dichlorosemiquinone radical was found: D _OH = 253.6±1.9 kJ mol⁻¹. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1661–1666, October, 2006.