Experimental tests of chirality algebra

Most chiral molecules can be dissected into a collection of ligands attached to an underlying skeleton. Application of permutation group theory and group representation theory to such a model can lead to chirality functions which can be used to approximate pseudoscalar measurements such as optical rotation or circular dichroism. Such chirality functions have been tested experimentally for the following skeletons: (1) The polarized triangle of phosphines and phosphine oxides; (2) the tetrahedron of methane derivatives; (3) the disphenoid of allene and 2, 2-spirobiindane derivatives; (4) the polarized rectangle of [2, 2]-metacyclophanes; (5) the polarized pentagon of heterodisubstituted ferrocenes. The success of this method is fair to good for the polarized triangle, tetrahedron, and disphenoid skeletons but deteriorates rapidly for the polarized rectangle and polarized pentagon skeletons, in accord with the greater group-theoretical complexity of the latter skeletons.     

P-Nitrosophosphate compounds: new N-O heterodienophiles and nitroxyl delivery agents

P-Nitrosophosphates, such as 9, react as N-O heterodienophiles with 1,3-dienes to form highly functionalized cycloadducts that can be directly transformed into allylic phosphoramidates. The in situ periodate oxidation of the unstable N-hydroxyphosphoramidate precursors provides an efficient preparation of these new reactive intermediates. P-Nitrosophosphate (9) regioselectively reacts with 1-methoxy-1,3-butadiene to provide cycloadduct 16. P-Nitrosophosphate (9) also reacts with 9,10-dimethylanthracene to give cycloadduct 17, which undergoes retro Diels-Alder dissociation to re-form 9. In the absence of a 1,3-diene, the decomposition of 17 produces nitrous oxide, evidence for nitroxyl, the one-electron-reduced form of nitric oxide. An asymmetric P-nitrosophosphate reacted with 1,3-cyclohexadiene to form a mixture of diastereomeric cycloadducts (19 and 20) in a 1.6:1 ratio. These results identify P-nitrosophosphates as new species that react similarly to acyl nitroso compounds, making them useful synthetic intermediates and potential nitroxyl delivery agents.