Abstraction Versus Electrophilic Substitution: Metaphosphate-Mediated Reactions in the Gas Phase

Abstract

Whereas arylmetaphosphates (ArOPO₂) tend to cyclise by intramolecular C-H insertion (phosphorylation) when generated in the gas phase, their alkyl-substituted counterparts exhibit non-electrophilic behaviour and give rise to alkenes by an unusual 1,2-methyl shift induced by a combination of hydrogen abstraction with concomitant elimination of metaphosphoric acid (HOPO₂).     

N-Heterocyclic Olefin-Ligated Palladium(II) Complexes as Pre-Catalysts for Buchwald–Hartwig Aminations

New N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) are described with functionalization on the ligand heterocyclic backbone and terminal alkylidene positions. Various Pd^II–NHO complexes have been formed and their use as pre-catalysts in Buchwald–Hartwig aminations was explored. The most active system for catalytic C−N bond formation between hindered arylamine and arylhalide substrates was accessed by combining a backbone methylated NHO with [Pd(cinnamyl)Cl]₂ in the presence of NaOtBu as a base. In these active systems evidence suggests that catalysis is mediated by colloidal palladium metal, highlighting a different coordination ability of NHOs in comparison with commonly used N-heterocyclic carbene co-ligands.     

Total synthesis of (±)-hibiscone B and (±)-acyl hibiscone B

The first total syntheses of the furanosesquiterpenoids hibiscone B and acyl hibiscone B are reported. The chemistry used to prepare hibiscone B solves an important challenge to the synthesis of other members of the furanosesquiterpenoid family of natural products, for which the parent molecule, hibiscone C, has shown promising biological activity.     

Unexpected Migratory Insertion Reactions of M(alkyl)2 (M=Zn,Cd) and Diamidocarbenes

The electrophilic character of free diamidocarbenes (DACs) allows them to activate inert bonds in small molecules, such as NH₃ and P₄. Herein, we report that metal coordinated DACs also exhibit electrophilic reactivity, undergoing attack by Zn and Cd dialkyl precursors to afford the migratory insertion products [(6‐MesDAC‐R)MR] (M=Zn, Cd; R=Et, Me; Mes=mesityl). These species were formed via the spectroscopically characterised intermediates [(6‐MesDAC)MR₂], exhibiting barriers to migratory insertion which increase in the order MR₂ = ZnEt₂ < ZnMe₂ < CdMe₂. Compound [(6‐MesDAC‐Me)CdMe] showed limited stability, undergoing deposition of Cd metal, by an apparent β‐H elimination pathway. These results raise doubts about the suitability of diamidocarbenes as ligands in catalytic reactions involving metal species bearing nucleophilic ligands (M‐R, M‐H).     

Improved Nucleophilic Displacements in N-Methyl Pyrrolidinone as a Solvent

The nucleophilic displacement reactions of 2- and 4- halogenonaphthalic-1,8, anhydrides and the N-imides, of 4,7- dichloroquinolines, the alkylation of lithio alkynes, the methylation of ethyl or methyl diacetylacetate and a variety of related reactions are greatly facilitated in N-methylpyrrolidinone as aprotic solvent.     

Identification and Quantification of Triterpenoid Centelloids in Centella asiatica (L.) Urban by Densitometric TLC

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A simple and rapid method for analysis of four major triterpenoids in Centella asiatica preparations is described. Thin-layer...