Efficient synthesis of polycyclic dispirooxindoles via domino Diels–Alder cyclodimerization reaction

Three-component reactions of 4-cyanopyridine or ethyl isonicotinate with electron-deficient alkynes and isatins in dimethoxyethane at room temperature afforded spiro[3H-indole-3,2′-[2H,9aH-pyrido[2,1-b][1,3]oxazine] derivatives. Alternately, the similar three-component reaction at elevated temperature resulted in polycyclic dispirooxindole derivatives. The reaction mechanism is believed to involve sequential generation and cycloaddition of Huisgen's 1,4-dipole, and Diels–Alder cyclodimerization reaction. The similar three-component reactions containing acenaphthenequinone and phenanthrenequinone also afforded corresponding polyheterocyclic derivatives.     

Synthesis of polyfunctional triethoxysilanes by ‘click silylation’

The copper-catalyzed ‘click silylation’ has been exploited for the chemical modification of γ-azidopropyltriethoxysilane (AzPTES) with a wide range of terminal alkynes (1a–1v) in a one-pot operation. The novel 1,2,3-triazole-triethoxysilane derivatives (2a–2v) were synthesized by this procedure and comprehensively characterized by IR spectra, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and HRMS studies.     

Highly Selective Dimerization and Trimerization of Isobutene to Linearly Linked Products by Using Nickel Catalysts

The unique linear linkage of isobutene to generate highly valuable C₈ precursors for plasticizers is feasible by using special nickel catalysts. (4‐Cyclooctene‐1‐yl)(1,1,1,5,5,5‐hexafluoro‐2,4‐acetylacetonato)nickel and aluminum‐alkyl‐activated nickel acetylacetonates produce isobutene dimers with high selectivities of up to 95 %. Moreover, selectivity for the head‐to‐head products (2,5‐dimethylhexenes) is remarkably high at up to 99 %. Additionally, novel C₁₂ isobutene trimers are also formed with a very high selectivity of up to 99 % for the linear linkage. The trimer structure (2,5,8‐trimethylnonenes) reflects the stepwise characteristic of the reaction mechanism. Pathways of insertion and activation and the deactivation processes of the catalyst are discussed in detail.     

The Varied Frustrated Lewis Pair Reactivity of the Germylene Phosphaketene (CH{(CMe)(2,6-iPr2C6H3N)}2)GePCO

The germylene species (CH{(CMe)(2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃N)}₂)GePCO 1 is shown to react with the Lewis acids (E(C₆F₅)₃ E=B, Al). Nonetheless, 1 participates in FLP chemistry with electron deficient alkynes or olefins, acting as an intramolecular FLP. In contrast, in the presence of B(C₆F₅)₃ and an electron rich alkyne, 1 behaves as Ge-based nucleophile to effect intermolecular FLP addition to the alkyne. This reactivity demonstrates that the reaction pathway is controlled by the nature of the electrophile and nucleophile generated in solution, as revealed by extensive DFT calculations.     

Tandem Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted NH Pyrroles from Simple Nitriles

An efficient tandem route to obtain tetrasubstituted NH pyrroles in a one-pot manner has been developed, staring from simple nitriles, ethyl bromoacetates, and zinc. This reaction involves oxidative dimerization of the zinc bromide complex of β-enaminoesters using cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN) as an oxidant, affording 2,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted pyrroles in yields up to 91%.     

Bidentate Lewis Acids Derived from o-Diethynylbenzene with Group 13 and 14 Functions

Starting from 1,2-diethynylbenzene, a series of bidentate Lewis acids was prepared by means of hydrometalations, in particular hydrosilylation, hydroboration, hydroalumination and terminal metalation based on group 13 and 14 elements. In the case of terminal alkyne metalation, the Lewis-acidic gallium function was introduced using triethylgallium under alkane elimination. A total of six different Lewis acids based on a semiflexible organic scaffold were prepared, bearing −SiClMe₂, −SiCl₂Me, −SiCl₃, −B(C₆F₅)₂, −AlBis₂ (Bis=bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl) and −GaEt₂ as the corresponding functional units. In all cases, the Lewis acid functionalisation was carried out twice and the products were obtained in good to excellent yields. In the case of the twofold gallium Lewis acid, a different structural motif in the form of a polymer-like chain was observed in the solid state. All new bidentate Lewis acids were characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, CHN analysis and X-ray diffraction experiments.     

Monitoring of the Pre-Equilibrium Step in the Alkyne Hydration Reaction Catalyzed by Au(III) Complexes: A Computational Study Based on Experimental Evidences

The coordination ability of the [(ppy)Au(IPr)]²⁺ fragment [ppy = 2-phenylpyridine, IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)-imidazol-2-ylidene] towards different anionic and neutral X ligands (X = Cl⁻, BF₄⁻, OTf⁻, H₂O, 2-butyne, 3-hexyne) commonly involved in the crucial pre-equilibrium step of the alkyne hydration reaction is computationally investigated to shed light on unexpected experimental observations on its catalytic activity. Experiment reveals that BF₄⁻ and OTf⁻ have very similar coordination ability towards [(ppy)Au(IPr)]²⁺ and slightly less than water, whereas the alkyne complex could not be observed in solution at least at the NMR sensitivity. Due to the steric hindrance/dispersion interaction balance between X and IPr, the [(ppy)Au(IPr)]²⁺ fragment is computationally found to be much less selective than a model [(ppy)Au(NHC)]²⁺ (NHC = 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) fragment towards the different ligands, in particular OTf⁻ and BF₄⁻, in agreement with experiment. Effect of the ancillary ligand substitution demonstrates that the coordination ability of Au(III) is quantitatively strongly affected by the nature of the ligands (even more than the net charge of the complex) and that all the investigated gold fragments coordinate to alkynes more strongly than H₂O. Remarkably, a stabilization of the water-coordinating species with respect to the alkyne-coordinating one can only be achieved within a microsolvation model, which reconciles theory with experiment. All the results reported here suggest that both the Au(III) fragment coordination ability and its proper computational modelling in the experimental conditions are fundamental issues for the design of efficient catalysts.     

Design and Synthesis of New 5-aryl-4-Arylethynyl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles with Valuable Photophysical and Biological Properties

Cu-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of methyl 2-azidoacetate to iodobuta-1,3-diynes and subsequent Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling were used to synthesize new triazoles derivatives: 5-aryl-4-arylethynyl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles. Investigation of their optical properties by using UV absorption and fluorescence emission spectroscopies revealed that all molecules possess fluorescence properties with the values of the Stokes shift more than 100 nm. The photophysical behavior of the two most promising triazoles in polar and non-polar solvents was also studied.     

Iron‐Catalyzed 1,2‐Addition of Perfluoroalkyl Iodides to Alkynes and Alkenes

Iron catalysis has been developed for the intermolecular 1,2‐addition of perfluoroalkyl iodides to alkynes and alkenes. The catalysis has a wide substrate scope and high functional‐group tolerance. A variety of perfluoroalkyl iodides including CF₃I can be employed. The resulting perfluoroalkylated alkyl and alkenyl iodides can be further functionalized by cross‐coupling reactions. This methodology provides a straightforward and streamlined access to perfluoroalkylated organic molecules.     

A Bioorthogonal Small‐Molecule‐Switch System for Controlling Protein Function in Live Cells

Chemically induced dimerization (CID) has proven to be a powerful tool for modulating protein interactions. However, the traditional dimerizer rapamycin has limitations in certain in vivo applications because of its slow reversibility and its affinity for endogenous proteins. Described herein is a bioorthogonal system for rapidly reversible CID. A novel dimerizer with synthetic ligand of FKBP′ (SLF′) linked to trimethoprim (TMP). The SLF′ moiety binds to the F36V mutant of FK506‐binding protein (FKBP) and the TMP moiety binds to E. coli dihydrofolate reductase (eDHFR). SLF′‐TMP‐induced heterodimerization of FKBP(F36V) and eDHFR with a dissociation constant of 0.12 μM . Addition of TMP alone was sufficient to rapidly disrupt this heterodimerization. Two examples are presented to demonstrate that this system is an invaluable tool, which can be widely used to rapidly and reversibly control protein function in vivo.