An Infrared Spectroscopic Study on the Hofmann- and en-Td-type Clathrates: Mn(NH3)2Zn(CN)4 .2benzene and Mn(ethylenediamine)Zn(CN)4.2benzene

Infrared spectra of Mn(NH₃)₂Zn(CN)₄.2C₆H₆ andMn(ethylenediamine)Zn(CN)₄.2C₆H₆ are reported. The spectral data suggest that these compounds are similar in structure toHofmann-T_d-type and the en-T_d-type clathrates,respectively. There is good evidence for H-bonding from ammoniaN–H to benzene as a to H-bond.     

有机化学反应中海水替代淡水试验的初步探讨

分别使用淡水和海水进行了乙酰苯胺和扁桃酸的制备、康尼查罗反应和霍夫曼重排等5个反应研究。结果表明,某些反应可以直接用海水替代淡水进行,如邻氨基苯甲酸的制备,产率为77.2%,与应用淡水的文献值接近;某些反应可由海水经简单处理后替代淡水进行,如苯甲醛的康尼查罗反应,产率为52.2%,与应用淡水的文献值接近;而2-氯-3-氨基-4-甲基吡啶的制备实验,产率为98.1%,优于应用淡水的文献值;而乙酰苯胺和扁桃酸的制备使用海水或经简单处理后的海水的实验结果均不理想。     

Hofmann rearrangement of primary carboxamides and cyclic imides using DCDMH and application to the synthesis of gabapentin and its potential peptide prodrugs

Two protocols for the efficient transformation of aromatic as well as aliphatic primary carboxamides to the corresponding carbamates and aromatic as well as aliphatic cyclic imides to the corresponding anthranilic acid derivatives & amino acid derivatives, respectively, are described. We also developed a novel methodology to the multigram scale synthesis of gabapentin and (S)-pregabalin. The gabapentin methyl carbamate was converted to novel potential peptide prodrugs of gabapentin.     

Four-Step Spin Crossover in a New Cyano-Bridged Iron-Silver Coordination Polymer

Spin-crossover complexes with multistep transitions attract much attention due to their potential applications as multi-switches and for data storage. A four-step spin crossover is observed in the new iron(II)-based cyanometallic guest-free framework compound Fe(2-ethoxypyrazine)₂{Ag(CN)₂}₂ during the transition from the low-spin to the high-spin state. A reverse process occurs in three steps. Crystallographic studies reveal an associated stepwise evolution of the crystal structures. Multiple transitions in the reported complex originate from distinct Fe^II sites which exist due to the packing of the ligand with a bulky substituent.     

Synthesis of chiral α-amino acids

A novel method for the synthesis of chiral α-amino acids has been developed where the acid functionality was constructed by oxidizing a hydroxymethyl group introduced by Evans’ method in the α-position of an appropriate acid substrate and the amino part came from the amide of the original carboxyl group following a modified Hofmann rearrangement reaction.     

Graphenes Prepared by Hummers,Staudenmaier and Hofmann Methods for Analysis of TNT‐Based Nitroaromatic Explosives in Seawater

The detection of TNT and related nitroaromatic compounds in seawater is of great interest. Electrochemical techniques can be applied for detection purposes since nitroaromatic compounds contain easily reducible nitro groups. In this study, we investigate the performance of thermally reduced graphenes prepared by three different oxidative methods: Hummers, Staudenmaier and Hofmann methods with consequent thermal exfoliation. The Hofmann method‐based graphene was found to exhibit the highest sensitivity in detecting TNT electrochemically. Extended study on the detection of TNT in seawater using the graphene material provided significant improvements in the detection sensitivity. These findings will have profound impacts on the detection of nitroaromatic explosives in seawater.     

A new convenient synthesis of phenanthrene alkaloids from 1-arylmethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines

Hofmann degradation of 1-arylmethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2,2-dimethylisoquinolinium iodides with methanolic KOH gave stilbene derivatives, for example, (E)-N-2{2-[2-(phenyl)ethenyl]-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl}ethyl-N,N-dimethylamine. Photochemical electrocyclization of these stilbenes afforded the corresponding phenanthrene alkaloids/phenanthrene derivatives.     

Alkylation/elimination from azetidinium ylides: an entry to functionalized acrylonitriles

Azetidinium triflates were reacted in a one-pot two-steps sequence involving, generation of an azetidinium ylide, its alkylation with an halide, and final regioselective Hofmann elimination of the produced alkylated azetidinium ion to yield substituted α,β-unsaturated nitriles bearing an aminoethyl side-chain. The scope of this sequence was examined, and was found to depend both on the steric hindrance around the reactive center in the starting azetidinium salt, and on the nature of the reacting halide. Produced acrylonitriles were further used in DBU-catalyzed conjugate addition of amines, to yield 4-amino-2-aminomethyl-butyronitriles with fair diastereoselectivity, or, alternatively, to give C₂ symmetrical cyclopropanes.     

Synthesis and properties of porous polyvinylamine microspheres from acrylonitrile

A novel route to synthesize crosslinked porous polyvinylamine (PVAm) microspheres from acrylonitrile (AN) was developed. In the first step, crosslinked porous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) spheres were prepared by copolymerization of AN and divinylbenzene (DVB). Then they were hydrolyzed to form polyacrylamide (PAM) spheres. And lastly, the porous PVAm spheres were successfully obtained via Hofmann degradation of PAM spheres. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) indicated that these PVAm microspheres have rough surfaces and porous interior structure. The pore size, the amino content, and the content of equilibrium water were also investigated. The pore size of these PVAm microspheres increased with the hydrolytic process. The contents of equilibrium water was changed from 49.6 to 96.5% depending on the different crosslinking degrees, and the amino contents were varied between 9.60 and 15.30 mmol/g depending on the different molar ratio of n(NaClO)/n(NaOH). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1674–1682, 2008