Transition structures, energetics, and secondary kinetic isotope effects for cope rearrangements of cis-1,2-divinylcyclobutane and cis-1,2-divinylcyclopropane: a DFT study

The minimum energy reaction paths and secondary kinetic isotope effects (KIE) for the Cope rearrangements of cis-1,2-divinylcyclobutane and cis-1,2-divinylcyclopropane obtained by (U)B3LYP calculations are reported. Both reactions proceed through endo-boatlike reaction paths, and have aromatic transition states. The predicted activation energies are in agreement with the experimental data. The reaction paths of the rearrangements are intervened by enantiomerization saddle points of the products (and the reactant in the case of divinylcyclobutane). The calculated KIEs are similar in the two systems, and consistent with the geometries of the transition structures. There is computational evidence that the isotope effect associated with the conversion of a pure sp(2) C-H bond into a pure sp(3) one might be the same in all molecules. The predicted KIEs agree with experiment for divinylcyclopropane, but not for divinylcyclobutane.     

Facile synthesis of alkynyl‐, aryl‐ and ferrocenyl‐substituted pyrazoles via Sonogashira and Suzuki–Miyaura approaches

A concise and efficient synthesis of densely substituted novel pyrazoles with alkynyl, aryl and ferrocenyl functionalities is reported, providing a platform for biological studies. The general strategy involves Sonogashira and Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions of easily obtainable 5‐ferrocenyl/phenyl‐4‐iodo‐1‐phenylpyrazoles with terminal alkynes and boronic acids, respectively. The starting 4‐iodopyrazoles were synthesized by electrophilic cyclization of α,β‐alkynic hydrazones with molecular iodine. Sonogashira reactions have been achieved by employing 5 mol% PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂, 5 mol% CuI, excess Et₃N and 1.2 equiv. of terminal alkyne, relative to 4‐iodopyrazole, in tetrahydrofuran at 65 °C, while Suzuki–Miyaura reactions have been accomplished using 5 mol% PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ and 1.4 equiv. of both boronic acid/ester and KHCO₃, with respect to 4‐iodopyrazole, in 4:1 dimethylformamide–H₂O solution at 110 °C. Both Sonogashira and Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions have proven effective for the synthesis of alkynyl‐, aryl‐ and ferrocenyl‐substituted pyrazoles and demonstrated good tolerance to a diverse range of substituents, including electron‐donating and electron‐withdrawing groups. These coupling approaches could allow for the rapid construction of a library of functionalized pyrazoles of pharmacological interest. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new approach for the synthesis of spiro and gem-dimethyl-substituted 1,4-oxazepines from N-propargylic β-enaminones

An efficient and general method for the synthesis of spiro-1,4-oxazepines and 3,3-dimethyl-1,4-oxazepines is reported. When treated with ZnI₂ and AgSbF₆ in refluxing DCE, cyclohexane-embedded N-propargylic β-enaminones underwent 7-exo-dig cyclization to afford spiro-1,4-oxazepines, specifically 12-methylene-11-oxa-7-azaspiro[5.6]dodeca-7,9-dienes, in good to high yields. Accordingly, N-(1,1-dimethyl)propargylic β-enaminones produced 3,3-dimethyl-1,4-oxazepines. Cyclization was found to be general for a diverse range of N-propargylic β-enaminones with high efficiency and broad functional group tolerance. This operationally easy method might provide quick access to a library of functionalized spiro and gem-dimethyl-substituted 1,4-oxazepine derivatives of pharmacological interest.     

Cyclobutane-substituted diacetamido sulfides and 2,5-diacylthiophenes

A general and convenient route for the synthesis of 2,5-di[1-methyl-1-arylcyclobutane-3-yl]- thiophenes 4a–c and bis[1-methyl-1-arylcyclobutane-3-yl]-2-(2-oxyethtylamido)thiazole sulfides 7a–c is reported. The characterization of these compounds was obtained by elemental analyses, IR, ¹³C, and ¹H NMR techniques. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 15:26–31, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/.hc10207