Easily prepared azopyridines as potent and recyclable reagents for facile esterification reactions. An efficient modified mitsunobu reaction

The 2,2'-, 3,3'-, and 4,4'-azopyridines (azpy) and their alkyl pyridinium ionic liquids were studied as a new class of electron-deficient reagents for Mitsunobu esterification reactions. Among these compounds, 4,4'-azopyridine was found to be the most suitable one for esterification and thioesterification reactions. This new reagent promises to provide general and complementary solutions for separation problems in Mitsunobu reactions without restricting the reaction scope and facilitates the isolation of its hydrazine byproduct. The pyridine hydrazine byproduct can be simply recycled to its azopyridine by an oxidation reaction.     

Metal-free and PdII-promoted [2+3] cycloadditions of a cyclic nitrone to phthalonitriles: syntheses of oxadiazolines as well as phthalamide-PdII and dihydropyrrolyl-iminoisoindolinone-PdII complexes with high catalytic activity in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions

The previously unknown reactions between phthalonitriles, 1,2-(CN)2(C6)R1R2R3R4 1 (1 a, R1=R2=R3=R4=H; 1 b, R1=R2=R4=H, R3=CH3; 1 c, R1=R4=H, R2=R3=Cl; 1 d, R1=R2=R3=R4=Cl; 1 e, R1=R2=R3=R4=F), and a cyclic nitrone, -O+N==CHCH2CH2CMe2 2, proceed under heating in a sealed tube to give phthalimides 3, 2-oxadiazolyl-benzonitriles 4 or ortho-bis(oxadiazolyl)tetrafluorobenzene 4 e'. In the presence of palladium(II) chloride, phthalonitriles 1 react with 2 at room temperature, to give bis(pyrrolidin-2-ylidene)phthalamide PdII complexes 5 via metal-promoted rupture of the N--O bond of the oxadiazoline ring. The ketoimine ligands thus generated can be liberated from the metal by displacement with a diphosphine. Although the first [2+3] cycloaddition of 2 to 1 can occur in the absence of the metal to give the mono-cycloadducts 4, the second [2+3] coupling at the still-unreacted cyano group requires its activation by coordination to PdII, affording complexes 6 containing two ligated oxadiazolyl-benzonitriles. These ligands undergo either i) further cycloaddition with 2 to afford ultimately (upon rearrangement) the bis(pyrrolidinylidene)phthalamide complexes 5 or ii) N--O bond cleavage in the oxadiazoline ring with intramolecular attack of the imine nitrogen on the cyano carbon and bridging to a second PdII center to afford dimeric palladium(II) complexes 7, with chloride bridges, that bear a dihydropyrrolyl-iminoisoindolinone, a new type of ligand.The compounds were characterized by IR, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy, ESI MS or FAB+ MS, elemental analyses and, in the case of 4 c, 5 a, 5 c, and 7 c, also by X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 5 a and 7 c show high catalytic activity for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of bromobenzene and phenylboronic acid and give biphenyl in high yields with turnover frequencies (TOFs) of up to 9.0x10(5) h(-1).     

Reactivity of molecular dioxygen towards a series of isostructural dichloroiron(III) complexes with tripodal tetraamine ligands: general access to mu-oxodiiron(III) complexes and effect of alpha-fluorination on the reaction kinetics

We have synthesized the mono, di-, and tri-alpha-fluoro ligands in the tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA) series, namely, FTPA, F(2)TPA and F(3)TPA, respectively. Fluorination at the alpha-position of these nitrogen-containing tripods shifts the oxidation potential of the ligand by 45-70 mV per added fluorine atom. The crystal structures of the dichloroiron(II) complexes with FTPA and F(2)TPA reveal that the iron center lies in a distorted octahedral geometry comparable to that already found in TPAFeCl(2). All spectroscopic data indicate that the geometry is retained in solution. These three isostructural complexes all react with molecular dioxygen to yield stable mu-oxodiiron(III) complexes. Crystal structure analyses are reported for each of these three mu-oxo compounds. With TPA, a symmetrical structure is obtained for a dicationic compound with the tripod coordinated in the kappa(4)N coordination mode. With FTPA, the compound is a neutral mu-oxodiiron(III) complex with a kappa(3)N coordination mode of the ligand. Oxygenation of the F(2)TPA complex gave a neutral unsymmetrical compound, the structure of which is reminiscent of that already found with the trifluorinated ligand. On reduction, all mu-oxodiiron(III) complexes revert to the starting iron(II) species. The oxygenation reaction parallels the well-known formation of mu-oxo derivatives from dioxygen in the chemistry of porphyrins reported almost three decades ago. The striking feature of the series of iron(II) precursors is the effect of the ligand on the kinetics of oxygenation of the complexes. Whereas the parent complex undergoes 90 % conversion over 40 h, the monofluorinated ligand provides a complex that has fully reacted after 30 h, whereas the reaction time for the complex with the difluorinated ligand is only 10 h. Analysis of the spectroscopic data reveals that formation of the mu-oxo complexes proceeds in two distinct reversible kinetic steps with k(1) approximately 10 k(2). For TPAFeCl(2) and FTPAFeCl(2) only small variations in the k(1) and k(2) values are observed. By contrast, F(2)TPAFeCl(2) exhibits k(1) and k(2) values that are ten times higher. These differences in kinetics are interpreted in the light of structural and electronic effects, especially the Lewis acidity at the metal center. Our results suggest coordination of dioxygen as an initial step in the process leading to formation of mu-oxodiiron(III) compounds, by contrast with an unlikely outer-sphere reduction of dioxygen, which generally occurs at negative potentials.     

An Inhibitive Determination Method for Heavy Metals Using Bromelain,A Cysteine Protease

A heavy-metal assay has been developed using bromelain, a protease. The enzyme is assayed using casein as a substrate with Coomassie dye to track completion of hydrolysis of casein. In the absence of inhibitors, casein is hydrolysed to completion, and the solution is brown. In the presence of metal ions such as Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺, the hydrolysis of casein is inhibited, and the solution remains blue. Exclusion of sulfhydryl protective agent and ethylenediaminetetraacetic in the original assay improved sensitivity to heavy metals several fold. The assay is sensitive to Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺, exhibiting a dose–response curve with an IC₅₀ of 0.15 mg l⁻¹ for Hg²⁺ and a one-phase binding curve with an IC₅₀ of 0.23 mg l⁻¹ for Cu²⁺. The IC₅₀ value for Hg²⁺ is found to be lower to several other assays such as immobilized urease and papain assay, whilst the IC₅₀ value for Cu²⁺ is lower than immobilized urease, 15-min Microtox™, and rainbow trout.     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structure determination of zinc (II) and mercury (II) complexes with 2,2′-dimethyl-4,4′-bithiazole

The 2,2′-dimethyl-4,4′-bithiazole ligand (1), (dm4bt), and its Zn and Hg complexes have been prepared. A conformational property calculation at the DFT level for the ligand shows the anti conformation is energetically more stable by about 22.83 kJ/mol and the rotational barrier is about 32.01 kJ/mol for the anti → syn conversion, a phenomena happening during complex formation. The complexes [Zn(dm4bt)Cl₂] (2) and [Hg(dm4bt)Cl₂] (3) have spectral properties typical for d¹⁰ metal diimine systems. The structures of the ligand and the two complexes have been determined by the single crystal diffraction method. The X-ray structure determinations show that both complexes are four coordinated by two chloride atoms and one bidentate dm4bt. In the Hg complex one of the two chlorides is set at a semi-bridging position.     

Iron(III) Trifluoroacetate: Chemoselective and Recyclable Lewis Acid Catalyst for Diacetylation of Aldehydes,Thioacetalization and Transthioacetalization of Carbonyl Compounds and Aerobic Coupling of Thiols

Iron(III) trifluoroacetate [Fe(CF3CO2)3] was found to be a recyclable, highly efficient and chemoselective Lewis acid catalyst for protection of a variety of carbonyl compounds as thioacetals under nearly neutral conditions. With the use of this catalyst, 1,3-dithiolanes and 1,3-dithianes were obtained in high yields from various aldehydes. Under the same conditions ketones were similarly but more slowly thioketalized. This difference in reactivity between aldehydes and ketones was successfully utilized for the selective thioacetalization of aldehydes in the presence of ketones and also for the chemoselective conversion of β-diketone into the corresponding dithioacetal. Transthioacetalization of O,O-acetals and O,O-ketals into cyclic thioacetals was also achieved by using this catalyst. Additionally, iron(III) trifluoroacetate has been found to be efficient catalyst for the addition of acetic anhydride to both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes to afford 1,1-diacetates (gem diacetates). Aerobic dimerization of thiols was achieved by this reagent mediated by sodium iodide and air atmosphere.     

Study of hydrogen bonds in N-methylacetamide by DFT calculations of oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen solid-state NMR parameters

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) parameters of ¹⁷O, ¹⁴N/¹⁵N, and ²H/¹H nuclei were evaluated in two available neutron crystalline structures of N-methylacetamide (NMA) at 250 and 276 K, NMA-I and NMA-II, respectively. Density functional theory calculations were performed by B3LYP method and 6-311++G** and IGLO-II type basis sets to calculate the electric field gradient (EFG) and chemical shielding (CS) tensors at the sites of mentioned nuclei. In order to investigate hydrogen bonds (HBs) effects on NMR tensors, calculations were performed on four-model systems of NMA: an optimized isolated gas-phase, crystalline monomers, crystalline dimers, and crystalline trimers. Comparing the calculated results reveal the influence of N–H···O=C and C–H···O=C HB types on the NMR tensors which are observable by the evaluated parameters including quadrupole coupling constant, C _Q, and isotropic CS, σ _iso. Furthermore, the results demonstrate more influence of HB on the EFG and CS tensors of NMA at 276 K rather than that of 250 K.     

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Alkanna bracteosa and Alkanna tricophila

Alkanna bracteosa and Alkanna tricophila, Boraginaceae, have been reported to be useful for their anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects in traditional medicine. Methanol extracts of A. bracteosa and A. tricophila were evaluated for their potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Alkanna bracteosa was observed to produce a maximum of 42% reduction of hind paw licking in acute as well as 68% alleviation in inflammatory phase of formalin test in mice and about 30% declination of carrageenan-induced rats paw swelling at doses 100-400?mg?kg?1 in comparison to negative control; on the other hand, A. tricophila required at least 200?mg?kg?1 to exhibit a significant reduction in paw licking or oedemas at the early phase of formalin test and the late phase of carrageenan test, respectively. Our results suggest that the extracts may be of use for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.     

Antioxidant, nitric oxide scavenging and malondialdehyde scavenging activities of essential oils from different chemotypes of Zataria multiflora

The antioxidant, nitric oxide (NO) scavenging and malondialdehyde (MDA) scavenging activities of different Zataria multiflora (ZM) chemotype essential oils (EOs) were investigated. The main components are: ZM1 (carvacrol, p-cymene), ZM2 (carvacrol, p-cymene), ZM3 (carvacrol, p-cymene), ZM4 (linalool), ZM5 (carvacrol, p-cymene, thymol), ZM6 (thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene, γ-terpienene), ZM7 (thymol, p-cymene, γ-terpienene) and ZM8 (carvacrol, linalool, p-cymene, thymol). The antioxidant capacities were estimated to be 863?±?55, 619?±?27, 876?±?32, 38?±?9, 649?±?50, 595?±?40, 696?±?41 and 618?±?9?μg ascorbic acid equivalents per millilitre for ZM1 to ZM8, respectively. The NO scavenging values were estimated to be 54?±?1.2, 50?±?1.4, 63?±?1, 0.60?±?0.1, 53?±?0.7, 53?±?1.5, 38?±?1.1 and 46.5?±?3?μg ascorbic acid equivalents per millilitre for ZM1 to ZM8, respectively. The MDA scavenging values were estimated to be 19?±?1, 9?±?1, 24?±?1, 1.6?±?0.6, 12?±?1, 11.7?±?1, 10?±?1 and 12.5?±?1.3?μg ascorbic acid equivalents per millilitre for ZM1 to ZM8, respectively. Among these EOs, ZM3 with carvacrol and p-cymene had higher antioxidant, NO scavenging and MDA scavenging properties.