Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Some New Magnesium Formamidinates

[Mg(Form)₂(THF)] [Form = bis(2,6‐dimethylphenyl)formamidinate (XylForm) ( 1 ), bis(2,6‐diethylphenyl)formamidinate, (EtForm) ( 2 ), bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)formamidinate (DippForm) ( 3 )] are conveniently synthesized by treating bis(2,6‐dimethylphenyl)formamidine, bis(2,6‐diethylphenyl)formamidine, or bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)formamidine, respectively, with half an equivalent of dibutylmagnesium in THF. Compounds 1 – 3 are mononuclear species in the solid state with five coordinate central metal atoms. The ¹H NMR chemical shift of the formamidinate formyl proton exhibits a correlation with ligand sterics wherein increasing bulk leads to a shift to higher field.     

An Efficient Enantioselective Synthesis of Natural Gingerols,the Active Principles of Ginger

A straightforward synthesis of (S)‐gingerols 1 – 3 has been described. The requisite stereogenic center in the target molecules was introduced by Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation using a chiral complex, AD‐mix β. This route is simple and efficient to prepare the products in very good yields.