Evidence for an indirect halogen exchange in the reaction of trans- 2,3-dibromo-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran with chloride ions

Treatment of the title compound with chloride ions in acetonitrile leads mainly to the formation of trans-2,3-dichloro-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran. Since a nucleophilic displacement of bromide anion by chloride anion can be excluded, a mechanism involving the equilibrium 2Cl^? + Br₂ ? 2Br^? + Cl₂ is suggested.     

New strategies in the synthesis of regioselectively trifluoromethyl- and trifluoromethoxy-substituted arenes as building blocks for biologically active molecules

Regioisomerically pure trifluoromethyl- and trifluoromethoxy-substituted aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes and carboxylic acids are valuable building blocks for the synthesis of biologically active molecules. They have been prepared by employing modern organometallic methods. On this basis, a novel access to 2,3-dihydro-5-(trifluoromethoxy)indole was developed which represents an intriguing example of how organometallic and radical chemistry can fecundate each other.     

Regioselectively nucleus and/or side-chain fluorinated 2-(Phenanthryl)propionic acids by an effective combination of radical and organometallic chemistry

Regioselectively nucleus and/or side-chain fluorinated 2-(phenanthr-1-yl)- and 2-(phenanthr-2-yl)propionic acids 1-5 were prepared using phenanthren-1(2H)-ones 6a-c as key intermediates. Thus, ethyl 2-(fluorophenanthryl)propionates 11 were obtained in good yields by Reformatsky reaction of 6a-c with ethyl 2-bromopropionate followed by dehydratation and DDQ-promoted aromatization of the resulting beta-hydroxyesters. Side-chain alkyl 2-hydroxy-2-(phenanthr-1-yl)propionates 14 were obtained by bromine/lithium permutation of dihydrophenanthryl bromides 12a-c with butyllithium followed by quenching of the lithiated intermediates with methyl pyruvate or ethyl 3,3,3-trifluoropyruvate and subsequent DDQ-promoted aromatization. The alkyl 2-hydroxy-2-(phenanthr-1-yl)propionates 25 were prepared by reacting 8-bromo-1,3-difluorophenanthrene 24 with butyllithium for 10 seconds at -110 degrees C and subsequent addition of the suitable pyruvate to the lithiated intermediates. Alkyl 2-hydroxy-2-(phenanthr-2-yl)propionates 26 and 29 were suitably obtained by site-selective metalation of 1,3-difluorophenanthrene 28 and the bromophenanthrene 24, respectively, with LDA followed by quenching of the metalated intermediates with the suitable alkyl pyruvate. Fluorination of the above alpha-hydroxypropionates with DAST, followed by the alkaline hydrolysis, allowed the expected 2-(phenanthryl)propionic acids 1-5 to be obtained in satisfactory overall yields.     

Atropisomeric (R,R)-2,2'-Bi([2]paracyclo[2](5,8)quinolinophane) and (R,R)-1,1'-Bi([2]paracyclo[2](5,8)isoquinolinophane): synthesis, structural analysis, and chiroptical properties

Atropisomeric (R,R)-2,2'-bi([2]paracyclo[2](5,8)quinolinophane) [(R,R)-1] and (R,R)-1,1'-bi([2]paracyclo[2](5,8)isoquinolinophane) [(R,R)-2] have been prepared in moderate overall yield (17 and 9%, respectively) by a four-step sequence starting from (R)-(-)-4-amino[2.2]paracyclophane and (R)-(-)-4-carboxy[2.2]paracyclophane, respectively. The structures have been determined on the basis of NOE (1)H NMR analysis and molecular mechanics (MM) calculations performed with a Spartan02 program, using the MMF94s force field. A preliminary, qualitative analysis of the chiroptical properties of these two compounds has also been attempted. The main spectral data can be interpreted in terms of an almost planar 2,2'-bisquinoline chromophore inserted in a paracyclophane structure in the case of (R,R)-1, while in the case of (R,R)-2, the main role is played by a distorted 1,1'-bisisoquinoline chromophore. On the basis of the above structural results, a hypothesis about the enantioselection capability of these two molecules has also been formulated.     

An electrically actuated imperfect microbeam: Dynamical integrity for interpreting and predicting the device response

In this study we deal with a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) and develop a dynamical integrity analysis to interpret and predict the experimental response. The device consists of a clamped-clamped polysilicon microbeam, which is electrostatically and electrodynamically actuated. It has non-negligible imperfections, which are a typical consequence of the microfabrication process. A single-mode reduced-order model is derived and extensive numerical simulations are performed in a neighborhood of the first symmetric natural frequency, via frequency response diagrams and behavior chart. The typical softening behavior is observed and the overall scenario is explored, when both the frequency and the electrodynamic voltage are varied. We show that simulations based on direct numerical integration of the equation of motion in time yield satisfactory agreement with the experimental data. Nevertheless, these theoretical predictions are not completely fulfilled in some aspects. In particular, the range of existence of each attractor is smaller in practice than in the simulations. This is because these theoretical curves represent the ideal limit case where disturbances are absent, which never occurs under realistic conditions. A reliable prediction of the actual (and not only theoretical) range of existence of each attractor is essential in applications. To overcome this discrepancy and extend the results to the practical case where disturbances exist, a dynamical integrity analysis is developed. After introducing dynamical integrity concepts, integrity profiles and integrity charts are drawn. They are able to describe if each attractor is robust enough to tolerate the disturbances. Moreover, they detect the parameter range where each branch can be reliably observed in practice and where, instead, becomes vulnerable, i.e. they provide valuable information to operate the device in safe conditions according to the desired outcome and depending on the expected disturbances.     

B Values as a Sensitive Measure of Steric Effects

Someone who says “A” should be prepared to also say “B” : In contrast to cyclohexane model‐based A values, biphenyl model‐derived B values are powerful tools to quantify steric repulsion in and conformational behavior of ortho‐substituted aromatic compounds.

     

Synthesis of 3-Acyl and 3-Carboalkoxyfurans by the Ceric Ammonium Nitrate Promoted Addition of 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds to Vinylic Acetates

3-Acyl- and 3-carboalkoxyfurans can be prepared in 30–55% yield by the oxidative addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to vinylic acetates induced by eerie ammonium nitrate.     

Harmonic and anharmonic features of IR and NIR absorption and VCD spectra of chiral 4-X-[2.2]paracyclophanes

The vibrational absorption spectra and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of both enantiomers of 4-X-[2.2]paracyclophanes (X = COOCD3, Cl, I) have been recorded for a few regions in the range of 900-12000 cm(-1). The analysis of the VCD spectra for the two IR regions, 900-1600 cm(-1) and 2800-3200 cm(-1), is conducted by comparing with DFT calculations of the corresponding spectra; the latter region reveals common motifs of vibrational modes for the three molecules for aliphatic CH stretching fundamentals, whereas in the mid-IR region, one is able to identify specific signatures arising from the substituent groups X. In the CH stretching region between 2900 and 2800 cm(-1), we identify and interpret a group of three IR VCD bands due to HCH bending overtone transitions in Fermi resonance with CH stretching fundamental transitions. The analysis of the NIR region between approximately 8000 and approximately 9000 cm(-1) for X = COOCD3 reveals important features of the aromatic CH stretching overtones that are of value since the aromatic CH stretching fundamentals are almost silent. The intensifying of such overtones is attributed to electrical anharmonicity terms, which are evaluated here by ab initio methods and compared with literature data.