Manganese-catalyzed benzene synthesis by [2+2+2] coupling of 1,3-dicarbonyl compound and terminal acetylene

Treatment of a mixture of a 1,3-dicarbonyl compound such as a beta-ketoester or 1,3-ketone and a terminal acetylene with a catalytic amount of MnBr(CO)5 in heated toluene produces a benzene derivative by a [2+2+2] coupling reaction incorporating the enol part of the dicarbonyl compound and two moles of the acetylene. When the reaction was carried out using phenylacetylene derivatives, the reaction was completely regioselective, producing p-terphenyl compounds in good to excellent yield. Aliphatic terminal acetylenes also reacted readily but gave a mixture of regioisomers. The reaction features high atom economy, neutral conditions, and functional group tolerance, and will be useful for materials-oriented studies.     

Structural and Morphological Transformations of Covalent Organic Nanotubes

Covalent organic nanotubes (CONTs) are porous one-dimensional frameworks connected through imine bonds via Schiff base condensation between aldehydes and amines. The presence of two amine groups at the ortho position in the structurally demanding tetraaminotriptycene (TAT) building block leads to multiple reaction pathways between the ditopic aldehyde and the tetratopic amine. We have synthesized five different monomers of CONT-1 by the Schiff base condensation reaction between TAT and o-anisaldehyde. The conversion of imine to imidazole bonding in a monomer is probed using NMR, mass spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction techniques. Solid-state NMR provide insights into the CONTs’ structural connectivity. A theoretical investigation suggests that the π-π stacking could be the driving force for rapid imine to imidazole conversion within the CONT-1. Microscopic imaging sheds further light on the self-assembly process of the CONTs, indicating both head-to-head and side-by-side assembly.     

Stepwise and one-pot syntheses of Ir(III) complexes with imidazolium-based carbene ligands

We report the preparation, crystal structure, electrochemistry, and emission properties of Ir(Cinsertion markC:)3, where Cinsertion markC: is an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand. Two synthetic approaches are introduced for generating Ir(III) complexes bearing imidazolium-based carbene ligands whose precursors are [pypiH2][Cl] (1a) (pyridyl[1,2-a]{2-phenylimidazol}-3-ylidene chloride) and [pympiH2][Cl] (1b) (pyridyl[1,2-a-{2-(p-methoxy)phenylimidazol}-3-ylidene chloride). The first method is a stepwise reaction: treatment of [Ir(mu-Cl)(COD)]2, where COD is 1,5-cyclooctadiene, with 4 equiv. of the corresponding carbene (Cinsertion markC:) ligands in the presence of an excess amount of sodium methoxide affords Ir(III) dimers [Ir(mu-Cl)(Cinsertion markC:)2]2 (2a, Cinsertion markC: = pypi(-); 2b, Cinsertion markC: = pympi(-)). These chloro-bridged dimers 2a and 2b react with the corresponding carbene (Cinsertion markC:) ligands to form the desired homoleptic compounds Ir(Cinsertion markC:)3 (3a, Cinsertion markC: = pypi(-); 3b, Cinsertion markC: = pympi(-)). The second method, using a one-pot reaction of [Ir(mu-Cl)(COD)]2 with 6 equiv. of the corresponding carbene (Cinsertion markC:) ligands 1a and 1b in the presence of excess amounts of Ag2O, affords Ir(Cinsertion markC:)3. The two methods are convenient and reproducible procedures for the synthesis of Ir(Cinsertion markC:)3. Complexes 3a and 3b are obtained as mixtures of meridional and facial isomers, which can be separated by recrystallization or flash column chromatography.     

Ru(CO)-salen-Catalyzed Synthesis of Enantiopure Aziridinyl Ketones and Formal Asymmetric Synthesis of (+)-PD 128907

Aziridination of vinyl ketones using SESN(3) in the presence Ru(CO)-salen complex 1 provides the enantiopure aziridinyl ketones that can serve as useful chiral building blocks. A formal asymmetric synthesis of (+)-PD 128907 was achieved in an eight-step sequence via aziridination.     

Organocatalytic deprotonative functionalization of C(sp(2))-H and C(sp(3))-H bonds using in situ generated onium amide bases

Onium amides, generated in situ from the combination of aminosilanes and onium fluorides (R(4)PF, R(4)NF), are employed for the first time as bases for catalytic deprotonative functionalization of C(sp(2))-H and activated C(sp(3))-H bonds under mild conditions.     

Reaction pathway and rate-determining step of the Schmidt rearrangement/fragmentation: a kinetic study

The Schmidt rearrangement of substituted 3-phenyl-2-butanone with trimethylsilyl azide in 90% (v/v) aqueous TFA gave two types of product, fragmentation and rearrangement, the ratio of which depends on the substituent: more fragmentation for a more electron-donating substituent. Rate measurements by azotometry indicated the presence of an induction period, and the pseudo-first-order rate constants showed saturation kinetics with respect to the azide concentration. It was indicated that the reaction proceeds through pre-equilibrium in the formation of iminodiazonium (ID) ion and that the N(2) liberation from the ID ion is rate-determining. Under high azide concentration conditions, where the effective reactant is the ID ion, the reaction gave a linear Hammett plot with a ρ value of -0.50. The observed substituent effects on the rate and the product selectivity imply that path bifurcation on the way from the rate-determining TS to the product states occurs, as suggested by previous molecular dynamics simulations, in a similar manner to the analogous Beckmann rearrangement/fragmentation reactions.     

Synthesis of Orthorhombic Mo‐V‐Sb Oxide Species by Assembly of Pentagonal Mo6O21 Polyoxometalate Building Blocks

Mix and match : The pentagonal [Mo₆O₂₁]^n? polyoxomolybdate building block assembles with other sources of Mo, V, and Sb ions to form an orthorhombic Mo‐V‐Sb oxide. The first single‐crystal X‐ray analysis of an orthorhombic Mo–V‐based oxide, a promising catalyst for light alkane selective oxidation known as the “M1 phase”, revealed the structure of the compound.

     

Fabrication of Photoprocessable Materials via Photopolymerization Using an Acid-Induced Photocleavable Platinum-Acetylide Crosslinker

Photopolymerization and photoprocessing are core technologies for molding and tuning polymer materials. However, they are incompatible with single materials owing to their contradictory photoreactivity. Herein, an acid-induced photocleavable crosslinker, a platinum–acetylide complex covered by permethylated cyclodextrins, enables the fabrication of photoprocessable materials via photopolymerization with N-(2-hydroxyethyl)acrylamide. The polymer networks are molded by 365 nm irradiation as well as softened and degraded by a cooperative reaction with HCl as an acidic additive under 365 nm UV light, or 470 nm visible light in the presence of a photosensitizer. Moreover, the crosslinker is applied to a photoadhesive triggered by 365 nm irradiation. The adhesion is detachable on-demand through acid-induced photodegradation with the same wavelength and intensity of irradiation. Thus, acid-induced photocleavage allows the integration of light-induced molding and processing under various lights of various wavelengths, opening up new strategies for polymer technologies.