Shedding new light on ZnCl2-mediated addition reactions of Grignard reagents to ketones: structural authentication of key intermediates and diffusion-ordered NMR studies

Building on recent advances in synthesis showing that the addition of inorganic salts to Grignard reagents can greatly enhance their performance in alkylation reactions to ketones, this study explores the reactions of EtMgCl with benzophenone in the presence of stoichiometric or catalytic amounts of ZnCl(2) with the aim of furthering the understanding of the role and constitution of the organometallic species involved in these transformations. Investigations into the metathesis reactions of three molar equivalents of EtMgCl with ZnCl(2) led to the isolation and characterisation (X-ray crystallography and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy) of novel magnesium "zinc-rich" zincate [{(THF)(6)Mg(2)Cl(3)}(+){Zn(2)Et(5)}(-)] (1), whose complicated constitution in THF solutions was assessed by variable-temperature (1)H DOSY NMR studies. Compound 1 reacted with one equivalent of benzophenone to yield magnesium magnesiate [{(THF)(6)Mg(2)Cl(3)}(+){Mg(2)(OC(Et)Ph(2))(2)Cl(3)(THF)}(-)] (3), whose structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. (1)H NMR monitoring of this reaction showed two equivalents of ZnEt(2) formed as a co-product, which together with the "magnesium only constitution" of 3 provides experimental insights into how zinc can be efficiently recycled in these reactions, and therefore used catalytically. The chemoselectivity of this reaction can be rationalised in terms of the synergic effect of magnesium and zinc and contrasts with the results obtained when benzophenone was allowed to react with EtMgCl in the absence of ZnCl(2), where the reduction of the ketone takes place preferentially. The reduction product [{(THF)(5)Mg(3)Cl(4){OC(H)Ph(CF(3))}(2)] (4) obtained from the reaction of EtMgCl with 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone was established by X-ray crystallography and multinuclear ((1)H, (13)C and (19)F) NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 3 and 4 exhibit new structural motifs in magnesium chemistry having MgCl(2) integrated within their constitution, which highlights the new role of this inorganic salt in providing structural support for the newly generated alkoxide ligand.     

Dependence of Li2FeSiO4 electrochemistry on structure

Small differences in the FeO(4) arrangements (orientation, size, and distortion) do influence the equilibrium potential measured during the first oxidation of Fe(2+) to Fe(3+) in all polymorphs of Li(2)FeSiO(4).     

Enantioselective synthesis of α-alkyl,α-vinyl amino acids via [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of selenimides

Chiral α-alkyl,α-vinyl amino acids (quaternary vinyl glycine derivatives) are prepared with high levels of enantiomeric purity by [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allylic selenimides. The required trisubstituted allylic selenides are prepared by an organocatalytic α-selenenylation of aldehydes followed by Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) olefination. Both (E)-and (Z)-geometrical isomers are available giving access to both enantiomers of the desired products.     

Enamine carboxylates as stereodetermining intermediates in prolinate catalysis

Experimental and computational studies probing the nature of intermediates in the α-amination of aldehydes catalyzed by prolinate salts support an enamine carboxylate intermediate in the stereodetermining step.     

A liquid drop RC filter apparatus for detection

A new analytical detector based on a liquid drop resistor–capacitor (RC) filter is described, in which transformed gain vs. frequency curves are used to analyze compounds. This detector can be used to detect either charged or neutral species (that are dielectrically different) which are dissolved in a liquid (e.g., water, alcohol, solvent mixtures, etc.). This device was fabricated by modifying an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD)-based experimental setup. When a liquid drop is placed on a dielectric surface, the system acts as a RC filter. At a given frequency, gain is a function of conductivity, surface tension, dielectric constant, double-layer thickness of the solid–liquid drop interface, as well as the applied voltage. Since different liquids and solutions have different physical properties, each liquid/solution has a unique curve (peak) in gain vs. frequency plot. This is the basic principle behind the detector. Different amounts of zinc chloride dissolved in water, benzalkonium chloride in water, 1-methylimidazole in water, cetyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride (CTAC) in water, and CTAC dissolved in ethylene glycol solutions were tested with the detector as proof of principle. The device can be used as a stand-alone detector or can easily be coupled with droplet based microfluidic lab-on-a-chip systems such as EWOD-based microfluidic chips.     

Enhanced comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic resolution of polychlorinated biphenyls on a non-polar polysiloxane and an ionic liquid column series

A total of 196 out of 209 polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) congeners were resolved using GC×GC-TOFMS with a non-polar/ionic liquid column series consisting of poly(50%-n-octyl-50%-methyl)siloxane and (1,12-di(tripropylphosphonium)dodecane bis(trifluoromethansulfonyl)amide) in the first and second dimension, respectively. It has been found that 13 PCB congeners overlap in five doublets (CB12+CB13, CB62+CB75, CB70+CB76, CB97+CB125 and CB153+CB168) and one triplet (CB90+CB101+CB113). All toxic, "dioxin like" congeners were separated with no interferences from any PCB congener. The 109 PCBs present in Aroclor 1242 and the 82 PCBs present in Aroclor 1260 were resolved GC×GC-TOFMS analysis on this column set.     

Structurally powered synergic 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine bimetallics: new reflections through lithium-mediated ortho aluminations

Recent times have witnessed many notable advances in metalation chemistry with halide salt supported strategies and alkali-metal mediated metalation being particularly prominent. This article begins with a brief account of both of these avant garde metalation methods focusing on selected recent examples not covered previously in a review. New results in the area of Alkali-Metal Mediated Alumination (AMMAl) are also presented. Thus, the putative lithium aluminate base THF·Li(μ-TMP)(2)Al((i)Bu)(2) (4) is shown to act via TMP basicity to efficiently ortho deprotonate a variety of functionalized aromatic molecules at room temperature, tolerating carboxamide and halide functionalities. These metalated species are electrophilically quenched with elemental iodine. Crystal structure determinations of the metalated intermediates confirm unequivocally that direct alumination of the substrates has occurred. Since the homometallic lithium or aluminum reagents are unable to effect such deprotonations these reactions are synergic in nature and can be considered examples of AMMAl. Drawing together previously published work in the field of AMMAl, together with other pertinent experimental observations and new density functional theory (DFT) computational studies, we propose a potential rationale for the "unusual" reactivity patterns witnessed in this branch of heterometallic synthetic chemistry with respect to other Alkali Metal Mediated Metalations which appear to behave in a more conventional manner.     

pKas of the conjugate acids of N-heterocyclic carbenes in water

pK(a) values of 19.8-28.2 are reported for the conjugate acids of a large series of NHCs in water. The effects of ring size, N-substituent and C(4)-C(5) saturation on pK(a) are discussed.     

Drimenol: A versatile synthon for compounds with trans-drimane skeleton

Several reviews have been published on sesquiterpenes, and on drimane-type sesquiterpenes, going through drimenol and related compounds among others. However, to our knowledge, this is the first review exclusively on drimenol. Although, the main focus is on drimenol as a synthon for other drimane-type compounds, synthetic routes to obtain racemic and (-)-drimenol are summarized, as well as its isolation and determination of its configuration, in the early fifties. The reviewed synthetic routes start from natural (-)-drimenol as chiral synthon in most of cases, nevertheless total syntheses are considered as well. The strategies where racemic drimenol is involved begin with biomimetic cyclization of trans-farnesol. Microbiological procedures to functionalize the A ring of drimenol are also commented. The revision is classified according to the chemical structure of the final product, which mainly correspond to structures of natural occurrence, although other related derivatives are also analyzed.