Regio- and stereoselective preparation of dienylcarboxylic acids and dienylphosphonic esters using a (Z)-alkenyl sulfone-titanocene(II) system

Titanocene(II)-promoted alkenylation of functionalized alkynes with (Z)-alkenyl sulfones proceeded with high regio- and stereoselectivity to produce functionalized dienes. Conjugated dienylcarboxylic acids and dienylphosphonic esters were obtained using acetylenic lithium carboxylates and dialkyl phosphonates as starting materials.     

Design of a Bilateral Disulfurating Reagent for Unsymmetrical Polysulfidation

In this study, we designed a bilateral disulfurating reagent via S−S motif “snip and stitch” processes, allowing diverse functional groups to be bridged via S−S bonds. The reagent is readily synthesized in high yield using a one-step reaction from easily available starting materials and is air-stable. With this reagent, diverse electrophiles including inactivated alkyl Cl/Br/I/OMs and benzyl chloride were sequentially installed on either side of the S−S motif. Natural products, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals can be successively cross-linked with S−S bonds. Notably, the disulfurating reagent can be used in cyclic disulfide synthesis. At last, some desired products of this work showed good antibacterial activities, which could be employed as novel candidates to control plant pathogenic bacteria.     

Synthesis,characterization, antibacterial,and thermal studies of unsymmetrical Schiff-base complexes of cobalt(II)

Cobalt(II) complexes of a new series of unsymmetrical Schiff bases have been synthesized and characterized by their elemental analyses, melting points, magnetic susceptibility, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared (IR), and electronic spectral measurements. The purity of the ligands and the metal complexes are confirmed by microanalysis, while the unsymmetrical nature of the ligands was further corroborated by ¹H-NMR. Comparison of the IR spectra of the Schiff bases and their metal complexes confirm that the Schiff bases are tetradentate and coordinated via N₂O₂ chromophore. The magnetic moments and electronic spectral data support square-planar geometry for the cobalt(II) complexes. The complexes were thermally stable to 372.3°C and their thermal decomposition was generally via the partial loss of the organic moiety. The Schiff bases and their complexes were screened for in vitro antibacterial activities against 10 human pathogenic bacteria and their minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined. Both the free ligands and cobalt(II) complexes exhibit antibacterial activities against some strains of the microorganisms, which in a number of cases were comparable with, or higher than, that of chloramphenicol.     

On the unsymmetrical deformation and reverse snapping of a spinning non-flat disk

In this paper we study the steady state deflection and reverse snapping phenomenon of a spinning non-flat disk. Both the initial and the deformed shapes of the disk are allowed to have axisymmetrical and unsymmetrical components. For the analysis of a rotating axisymmetrical disk, we conclude that there is no need to include the unsymmetrical assumed modes in the solution because all the unsymmetrical steady state deformations are unstable. In addition, the stability of the axisymmetrical positions will not be affected by the inclusion of the unsymmetrical assumed modes. In the case when the initial shape of the disk contains a dominant axisymmetrical component and a smaller unsymmetrical component, attention is focused on the effect of this unsymmetrical component on the overall deformation and stability of the spinning disk. It is found that the unsymmetrical component with one nodal diameter tends to slightly defer the occurrence of the reverse snapping phenomenon. On the other hand, all other unsymmetrical components with more than one nodal diameter tend to reduce dramatically the reverse snapping speed. Experiment is conducted on a non-flat brass disk containing an axisymmetrical component and an unsymmetrical component with two nodal diameters. The experimental measurement confirms the theoretical prediction.     

Synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted pyrene derivatives through (6-bromo-3,8-dibutylpyren-1-yl)trimethylsilane

A straightforward route to unsymmetrically functionalized pyrene derivatives is described involving the synthesis of key precursor (6-bromo-3,8-dibutylpyren-1-yl)trimethylsilane 1. In a first step bromide 1 was successful in Suzuki-Miyaura, Sonogashira, and Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling reactions. Subsequent transformation of the trimethylsilyl group to bromide enabled the introduction of a second variable functional group onto the pyrene skeleton.     

Iridium-catalyzed hydroiodination of functionalized alkynes

The efficiency of an Ir(I)/HI system has been studied. The association of hydroiodic acid with iridium has been tested in the catalytic hydroiodination of alkynes. The use of [Ir(cod)Cl]₂ dimer led to clean hydroiodination reactions and afforded the corresponding vinyliodides as a mixture of derivatives, where the Markovnikov type adduct was found to be the major product (80/20 to 93/7 ratio), in good yields. The mechanism was investigated and two main pathways seemed to be involved, one based on an initial oxidative addition of HI to the Ir(I) complex and the other one based on a π-activation of the alkyne moiety. The corresponding vinyliodides were engaged in Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling (Sonogashira and Suzuki-Miyaura) reactions under organoaqueuous conditions.     

Double intramolecular oxymercuration: stereoselective synthesis of highly substituted bis-tetrahydrofuran

Stereoselective intramolecular oxymercuration has been demonstrated as the key reaction for the efficient preparation of mono- and dihydroxylated unsymmetrical bis-tetrahydrofuran skeletons present in naturally occurring biologically active acetogenins using carbohydrates. These trans- and syn-selective intramolecular oxymercurations were explored in an enantioselective synthesis of the bis-tetrahydrofuran skeleton of mucoxin.     

A convenient preparation of mixed allylic and allenic thiosulfinates

The first successful preparation of propargylic and allylic chloroalkoxy disulfides in high yields is reported. Facile 1,4-electrophilic addition of these to 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, followed by [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements affords mixed allyl allenic and bis-allylic thiosulfinates, respectively. Due to their similarity to allicin, the latter are of potential biological interest.     

Transition-metal catalyzed enantioselective hydrofunctionalization of alkynes

A significant number of reactions regarding hydrofunctionalization of alkynes have appeared in the literature over the years. This digest focus on the transition-metal catalyzed enantioselective alkyne hydrofunctionalization reactions. Based on the reaction mechanism, these reactions described herein are classified into three types. Strategies, substrate scope, along with mechanisms are highlighting.