Asymmetric sequential Michael reaction: Synthesis of optically active bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives

The sequential Michael reaction of (S)-4,5-di-O-isopropylidenepent-2- enoate and with lithium enolate afforded diastereo- and enantioselectively bicyclo[2.2.2]octane and (or ), respectively. The adducts were efficiently converted into both enantiomeric keto aldehydes (−)- and (+)- .     

A new family of small molecules to probe the reactivation of mutant p53

Cells that express mutant p53 derived from cancers are selectively killed by a new class of small organic molecules. The protein p53 is recognized as one of the most important guardians in the body that prevents tumor development. Mutant forms of p53 are present in approximately 50% of all human cancers. Molecules that selectively kill cells expressing mutant p53 could become important chemotherapeutic agents. Our research focuses on developing a synthetically accessible class of molecules that can be easily modified to examine structural activity relationships and mechanism of biological activity or to optimize for anticancer activity. In this communication, a new class of molecules that selectively arrests growth of cells expressing two forms of mutant p53 is described. Synthetic routes to these compounds are also presented.     

Syntheses and structures of mono-, di- and tetranuclear rhodium or iridium complexes of thiacalix[4]arene derivatives

The reactions of [Cp*MCl2]2(Cp*=eta5-C5Me5, M = Rh, Ir) with thiacalix[4]arene (TC4A(OH)4) and tetramercaptothiacalix[4]arene (TC4A(SH)4) gave the mononuclear complexes [(Cp*M){eta3-TC4A(OH)2(O)2}] and the dinuclear complexes [(Cp*M)2{eta3eta3-TC4A(S)4}] respectively, while the analogous reactions with dimercaptothiacalix[4]arene (TC4A(OH)2(SH)2) produced the tetranuclear complexes [(Cp*M)2(Cp*MCl2)2-{eta3eta3eta1eta1-TC4A(O)2(S)2}].     

Methane Decomposition in a Barium Titanate Packed-Bed Nonthermal Plasma Reactor

The behavior of lattice oxygen species of the ferroelectric material during methane oxidation was investigated using a nonthermal plasma reactor packed with BaTiO ₃ pellets. Lattice oxygen species in BaTiO ₃ play an important role in the formation of N ₂ O and the oxidation of CH ₄ . The oxidation products such as CO and CO ₂ were formed from independent reaction pathways. Lattice oxygen species were able to preferentially oxidize the carbon species deposited on the pellet surface into CO. Also, N ₂ O and NO _x were independently formed in the N ₂–O ₂ reaction, suggesting that different oxygen species give N ₂ O and NO _x. N ₂ O was produced by the oxidation of molecular nitrogen with lattice oxygen species.     

A synthesis of chiral 1,1,3-trisubstituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carbolines by the Pictet-Spengler reaction of tryptophan and ketones: conversion of (1R,3S)-diastereomers into their (1S,3S)-counterparts by scission of the C(1)-N(2) bond

The Pictet-Spengler cyclization of the imines (3) prepared by the condensation of L-tryptophan methyl ester (1) and aryl methyl ketones (2), using titanium(IV) isopropoxide as an iminating reagent, quantitatively proceeded, when treated with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) or formic acid, to provide two diastereomers, that is (1S,3S)-1-aryl-3-isopropoxycarbonyl-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carbolines (4) and their (1R,3S)-diastereomers (5), of which the diastereomer ratios varied from 1 to 5 depending on the reaction conditions. The (1R,3S)-diastereomers (5) are thermodynamically more stable than their (1S,3S)-congeners (4), as shown by equilibration experiments in TFA. The conversion of 4 to 5 (also 5 to 4) should occur under acidic conditions by cleavage of the C(1)-N(2) bond with complete retention of configuration at the C-3 chiral center. The low diastereo-selectivity observed in the Pictet-Spengler reaction of 1 and 2 is concluded to be a stereochemical outcome under conditions of kinetic control (lower temperature, shorter reaction time), while the high diastereo selectivity with preferential formation of the more stable isomer (5) is the result of thermodynamically controlled experiments (higher temperature, longer reaction time).     

Intramolecular catalytic Friedel-Crafts reactions with allenyl cations for the synthesis of quinolines and their analogues

[reaction: see text] This paper describes a novel method to synthesize a quinoline backbone by incorporating allenyl cations into a catalytic intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction. The initial products were isomerized and aromatized upon treatment with acid and base, respectively, to give quinolines. The basic concept also proved to be promising for 1-benzazepine, 1-benzazocine, or isoquinoline synthesis.     

Practical synthesis of a neuropeptide Y antagonist via stereoselective addition to a ketene

[Reaction: see text]. The synthesis of neuropeptide Y antagonist 1, currently under clinical investigation for the treatment of obesity, is described. The convergent synthesis from trans-spirolactone carboxylic acid intermediate 2a and aminopyrazole 3 is predicated on a stereoselective route to the former. The coupling reaction of ethyl 4-oxocyclohexanecarboxylate (10a) with lithiated isonicotinamide 11 was investigated in detail, but even optimized conditions only provided a 45:55 ratio of trans:cis isomers (12a:12b). While selective crystallization schemes were developed to isolate the thermodynamically less stable trans isomer 2a, improved stereocontrol was subsequentially achieved by the application of ketene chemistry. The ketene formation and quench was investigated under a variety of conditions aimed at maximizing the trans:cis ratio. Reacting a mixture of carboxylic acids 2a and 2b with POCl3 in THF, followed by concomitant addition of tert-butyl alcohol in the presence of TMEDA at 35 degrees C provided a 4:1 ratio of trans:cis tert-butyl esters (18a:18b) via in situ ketene formation. Ester hydrolysis, followed by selective crystallization of undesired 2b as the HCl salt, led to isolation of 2a in 47% overall yield. Aminopyrazole intermediate 3 was synthesized via the condensation reaction of 2-fluorophenylhydrazine hydrochloride (4a) with acrylonitrile derivative 5 in 65-70% yield. Coupling of advanced intermediates 2a and 3b via activation with thionyl chloride gave a 92% yield of 1.     

The first ammonium aromatic diselenoates: stable heavy congeners of aromatic carboxylic acid salts

Ammonium aromatic diselenoates were synthesized by reacting aromatic diselenoic acid 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl esters derived from aluminum 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl selenolate with aromatic selenoic acid O-methyl esters with ammonium fluorides. The results of molecular structure analysis and NMR studies of ammonium salts supported the double-bond character between the carbon atom and selenium atoms.     

Guest-induced assembly of tetracarboxyl-cavitand and tetra(3-pyridyl)-cavitand into a heterodimeric capsule via hydrogen bonds and CH-halogen and/or CH-pi interaction: control of the orientation of the encapsulated guest

The guest- or solvent-induced assembly of a tetracarboxyl-cavitand 1 and a tetra(3-pyridyl)-cavitand 2 into a heterodimeric capsule 1.2 in a rim-to-rim fashion via four intermolecular CO(2)H.N hydrogen bonds has been investigated both in solution and in the solid state. In the (1)H NMR study, a 1:1 mixture of1a and 2a (R = (CH(2))(6)CH(3)) in CDCl(3) gave a mixture of various complicated aggregates, whereas this mixture in CDCl(2)CDCl(2) or p-xylene-d(10) exclusively produced the heterodimeric capsule 1a.2a. It was found that an appropriate 1,4-disubstituted-benzene is a suitable guest for inducing the exclusive formation of 1a.2a in CDCl(3). The ability of a guest to induce the formation of guest-encapsulating heterodimeric capsule, guest@(1a.2a), increased in the order p-ethyltoluene < 1-ethyl-4-methoxybenzene < or = 1-ethyl-4-iodobenzene < or = 1,4-dibromobenzene < 1-iodo-4-methoxybenzene < or= 1,4-dimethoxybenzene < or = 1,4-diiodobenzene. The (1)H NMR study revealed that a CH-halogen interaction between the inner protons of the methylene-bridge rims (-O-H(out)CH(in)-O-) of the 1a and 2a units and the halogen atoms of 1,4-dihalobenzenes and a CH-pi interaction between the methoxy protons of 1,4-dimethoxybenzene and the aromatic cavities of the 1a and 2a units play important roles in the formation of 1,4-dihalobenzene@(1a.2a) and 1,4-dimethoxybenzene@(1a.2a), respectively. A preliminary single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of guest@(1b.2b) (R = (CH(2))(2)Ph; guest = 1-iodo-4-methoxybenzene or p-xylene) confirmed that the guest encapsulated in 1b.2b is oriented with the long axis of the guest along the long axis of 1b.2b and that the iodo and the methoxy groups of the encapsulated 1-iodo-4-methoxybenzene are specifically oriented with respect to the cavities of the 2b and 1b units, respectively.     

Detection of free nickel monocarbonyl, NiCO: rotational spectrum and structure

Unsaturated transition metal carbonyls are important in processes such as organometallic synthesis, homogeneous catalysis, and photochemical decomposition of organometallics. In particular, a metal monocarbonyl offers a zeroth-order model for interpreting the chemisorption of a CO molecule on a metal surface in catalytic activation processes. Quite large numbers of theoretical papers have appeared which predict spectroscopic and structural properties of transition metal carbonyls. The nickel monocarbonyl NiCO has been one of the metal carbonyls most extensively studied by the theoretical calculations. At least 50 theoretical studies have been published on this simplest transition metal carbonyl up to the present time. However, experimental evidence of NiCO is much more sparse than theoretical predictions, and the actual structure of NiCO has never been determined by any experimental methods. This Communication reports the first preparation of free nickel monocarbonyl and observation of its rotational transitions. The NiCO molecule was generated by the sputtering reaction of a Ni cathode in the presence of CO. The accurate bond lengths of Ni-C and C-O were experimentally determined from isotopic data and were compared with the theoretical predictions for the first time.