Spirocyclopropanated bicyclopropylidenes: straightforward preparation, physical properites, and chemical transformations

Perspirocyclopropanated bicyclopropylidene (6) was prepared in three steps from 7-cyclopropylidenedispiro[2.0.2.1]heptane (4) (24% overall) or, more efficiently, through dehalogenative coupling of 7,7-dibromo[3]triangulane (15) (82%). This type of reductive dimerization turned out to be successful for the synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-bis(spiropentylidene) 14 (67%) and even of the "third-generation" spirocyclopropanated bicyclopropylidene 17 (17% overall from 15). Whereas the parent bicyclopropylidene 1 dimerized at 180 degrees C to yield [4]rotane, dimerization of 6 at 130 degrees C under 10 kbar pressure occured only with opening of one three-membered ring to yield the polyspirocyclopropanated (cyclopropylidene)cyclopentane derivative 19 (34% yield), and at the elevated temperature the polyspirocyclopropanated 2-cyclopropylidene[3.2.2]propellane derivative 20 (25 % yield). Perspirocyclopropanated bicyclopropylidene 6 and the "third-generation" bicyclopropylidene 17 gave addition of bromine, hydrogen bromide, and various dihalocarbenes without rearrangement. The functionally substituted branched [7]triangulane 28 and branched dichloro-C2v-[15]triangulane 32 were used to prepare the perspirocyclopropanated [3]rotane (D3h-[10]triangulane) 49 (six steps from 6, 1.4% overall yield) and the C2v-[15]triangulane 51 (two steps from 17, 41% overall). Upon catalytic hydrogenation, the perspirocyclopropanated bicyclopropylidene 6 yielded 7,7'-bis(dispiro[2.0.2.]-heptyl) (52) and, under more forcing conditions, 1,1'-bis(2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropyl) (53). The bromofluorocarbene adduct 33 of 17 reacted with butyllithium to give the unexpected polyspirocyclopropanated 1,4-di-n-butyl-2-cyclopropylidenebicyclo[2.2.0]hexane derivative 37 as the main product (55% yield) along with the expected "third-generation" perspirocyclopropanated dicyclopropylidenemethane 38 (21% yield). Mechanistic aspects of this and the other unusual reactions are discussed. The structures of all new unusual hydrocarbons were proven by X-ray crystal structure analyses, and the most interesting structural and crystal packing features are presented.     

Ring-closing metathesis of olefinic peptides: design, synthesis, and structural characterization of macrocyclic helical peptides

Heptapeptides containing residues with terminal olefin-derivatized side chains (3 and 4) have been treated with ruthenium alkylidene 1 and undergone facile ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) to give 21- and 23-membered macrocyclic peptides (5 and 6). The primary structures of peptides 3 and 4 were based upon a previously studied heptapeptide (2), which was shown to adopt a predominantly 3(10)-helical conformation in CDCl(3) solution and an alpha-helical conformation in the solid state. Circular dichroism, IR, and solution-phase (1)H NMR studies strongly suggested that acyclic precursors 3 and 4 and the fully saturated macrocyclic products 7 and 8 also adopted helical conformations in apolar organic solvents. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of cyclic peptide 8 showed it to exist as a right-handed 3(10)-helix up to the fifth residue. Solution-phase NMR structures of both acyclic peptide 4 and cyclic peptide 8 in CD(2)Cl(2) indicated that the acyclic diene assumes a loosely 3(10)-helical conformation, which is considerably rigidified upon macrocyclization. The relative ease of introducing carbon-carbon bonds into peptide secondary structures by RCM and the predicted metabolic stability of these bonds renders olefin metathesis an exceptional methodology for the synthesis of rigidified peptide architectures.     

Octafluoronaphthalene–diphenylacetylene (1/1)

The structure of the title complex, C₁₀F₈·C₁₄H₁₀, comprises mixed stacks of alternating di­phenyl­acetyl­ene and octa­fluoro­naphthalene mol­ecules, both lying at inversion centres and parallel to within 8.6 (1)°, in contrast with the herring‐bone packing observed in crystals of either pure component.     

An investigation of heparinase immobilization

A systematic investigation of the parameters that affect the efficiency of immobilizing heparinase onto cyanogen bromide activated crosslinked 8% agarose beads was conducted. Two experimental measures, the “fraction bound” and the “fraction retained,” were used to monitor the coupling efficiency. The fraction bound is the portion of the total initial enzyme that is bound to the agarose gel. The fraction retained is the fraction of bound enzyme that is active. The product of the two measures indicates the coupling efficiency. The activity of the immobilized heparinase was measured under conditions free of both internal and external mass transfer limitations, and thus, the fraction retained represents the true immobilized enzyme activity. Increasing the degree of activation of the beads results in an increase in the fraction bound, the fraction retained, and consequently, the coupling efficiency. As the ratio of enzyme solution to gel volume increases from 1.5 to 2.2, the fraction bound remains constant but the fraction retained decreases (heparinase concentration; 0.15 mg/mL and degree of activation; 9.5 μmol of cyanate esters/g of gel). At volume ratios greater than 2.2, both the fraction bound and the fraction retained decline continuously. Changing the heparinase concentration in the coupling solution changes the coupling efficiency in a manner similar to that of the volume ratio change. When heparin is added during the coupling process, the fraction bound declines as the heparin concentration increases, whereas the fraction retained increases up to a heparin concentration of 12 mg/mL and decreases thereafter. When arginine, lysine, and glycine are used to block the unreacted cyanate ester groups after the coupling process, the immobilized heparinase shows different pH optima of 6.5, 6.9, and 7.2, respectively. Based upon these findings, a protocol to optimize heparinase immobilization is developed.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Regioselective C‐Benzylation via a Rearrangement Reaction: Access to Benzyl‐Substituted Anilines

An unprecedented C‐benzylation rearrangement reaction, catalyzed by palladium, is reported. The reaction proceeds by rearrangement leading to the direct synthesis of para or ortho benzyl‐substituted N‐methylanilines. The product is obtained in high regioselectivity, without the need to use a ligand for the catalytic process.     

Synthesis of 2′-deoxyribofuranosyl indole nucleosides related to the antibiotics SF-2140 and neosidomycin

The 2′-deoxyribofuranose analog of the naturally occurring antibiotics SF-2140 and neosidomycin were prepared by the direct glycosylation of the sodium salts of the appropriate indole derivatives, with 1-chloro-2- deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-α-D-erythropentofuranose ( 5 ). Thus, treatment of the sodium salt of 4-methoxy-1H- indol-3-ylacetonitrile ( 4a ) with 5 provided the blocked nucleoside, 4-methoxy-1-(2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-β- D-erythropentofuranosyl)-1H-indol-3-ylacetonitrile ( 6a ), which was treated with sodium methoxide to yield the SF-2140 analog, 4-methoxy-1-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythropentofuranosyl)-1H-indol-3- ylacetonitrile ( 7a ). The neosidomycin analog ( 8 ) was prepared by treatment of the sodium salt of 1H-indol-3-ylacetonitrile ( 4b ) with 5 to obtain the blocked intermediate 1-(2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-β-D-erythropentofuranosyl) ?1H-indol-3-ylace-tonitrile ( 6b ) followed by sodium methoxide treatment to give 1-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythropentofuranosyl)-1H- indol-3-ylacetonitrile ( 7b ) and finally conversion of the nitrile function of 7b to provide 1-(2-deoxy-β-D- erythropentofuranosyl)-1H-indol-3-ylacetamide ( 8 ). In a similar manner, indole ( 9a ) and several other substituted indoles including 1H-indole-4-carbonitrile ( 9b ), 4-nitro-1H-indole ( 9c ), 4-chloro-1H-indole-2-carboxamide ( 9d ) and 4-chloro-1H-indole-2-carbonitrile ( 9e ) were each glycosylated and deprotected to provide 1-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythropentofuranosyl)-1H-indole ( 11a ), 1-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythropentofuranosyl)-1H-indole-4- carbonitrile ( 11b ), 4-nitro-1-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythropentofuranosyl)-1H-indole ( 11c ), 4-chloro-1-(2-deoxy-β-D- erythropentofuranosyl)-1H-indole-2-carboxamide ( 11d ) and 4-chloro-1-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythropentofuranosyl)- 1H-indole-2-carbonitrile ( 11e ), respectively. The 2′-deoxyadenosine analog in the indole ring system was prepared for the first time by reduction of the nitro group of 11c using palladium on carbon thus providing 4-amino-1-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythropentofuranosyl)- 1H-indole ( 16 , 1,3,7-trideaza-2′-deoxyadenosine).     

Protonation and bromination of an osmabenzyne: reactions leading to the formation of new metallabenzynes

The reactivities of benzynes and metal-carbyne complexes are normally associated with the triple bond units. However, we have now found that electrophiles do not attack the formal osmium-carbon triple bond of osmabenzyne complex 1. Instead, 1 undergoes electrophilic substitution reactions-the typical reactions of aromatic systems.     

Esters of 5-carboxyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide: a family of spin traps for superoxide

Apparent rate constants, at acidic pH and neutral pH for the reaction of a family of ester-containing 5-carboxyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxides with superoxide (O2*-) were estimated, using ferricytochrome c as a competitive inhibitor. It was of interest to note that the rate constants were similar among the different nitrones and not that significantly different from that found for 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide. At acidic pH, the rate constant for spin trapping O2*- was 3-fold greater than that at physiological pH. Subsequent experiments determined the half-life of aminoxyls, derived from the reaction of these nitrones with O2*-. The EPR spectra were modeled by using a global analysis method. The results clearly demonstrated that EPR spectra of all the aminoxyls were inconsistent with a model that included a single gamma-hydrogen splitting. A better interpretation modeled them as two diastereomers with identical nitrogen splittings and slightly different beta-hydrogen splittings. Detailed line width analyses slightly favored an equal line width-unequal population ratio for the two diastereomers.     

The alpha-effect in the stereochemistry of kinetic ketonization of enols

Kinetic control of the stereoselectivity of protonation of enolates and other strongly delocalized anionic species is involved in a large number of organic reactions. Protonation occurring from the less hindered side of the, e.g., enolic system affords the less stable of two diastereomers. However, one apparent discrepancy has been in the synthesis of prostaglandins. The present research deals with the source of this behavior. A curious effect of the substituent at the enolic alpha carbon was uncovered. In certain instances an alpha substituent is forced to twist into a conformation blocking the proton donor from its side, thus reversing the stereochemistry of protonation. In the course of this research, a number of five-ring enols of varying structure were investigated. Finally, the ketonization reaction course has been studied theoretically.