Improved Method for Preparation of 3-(1H-Indol-3-yl)benzofuran-2(3H)-ones

3-(1H-Indol-3-yl)benzofuran-2(3H)-ones were efficiently accessed via polyphosphoric acid-mediated condensation of 3-(2-nitrovinyl)-1H-indoles with phenols.     

Asymmetric Organocatalyzed Aza-Henry Reaction of Hydrazones: Experimental and Computational Studies

The first asymmetric catalyzed aza-Henry reaction of hydrazones is presented. In this process, quinine was used as the catalyst to synthesize different alkyl substituted β-nitrohydrazides with ee up to 77 %. This ee was improved up to 94 % by a further recrystallization and the opposite enantiomer can be obtained by using quinidine as the catalyst, opening exciting possibilities in fields in which the control of chirality is vital, such as the pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, experimental and ab initio studies were performed to understand the reaction mechanism. The experimental results revealed an unexpected secondary kinetic isotope effect (KIE) that is explained by the calculated reaction pathway, which shows that the protonation of the initial hydrazone and the C−C bond forming reaction occur during a concerted process. This concerted mechanism makes the catalysis conceptually different to traditional base-promoted Henry and aza-Henry reactions.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxygenation of potassium nitronates. Evidence for a single electron transfer (SET) mechanism ??

Summary The oxygenation of the potassium salts of alkylnitronates in absolute DMSO leads to potassium nitrite (nitrate) and the corresponding aldehydes or ketones at 40°C. Kinetic measurements for potassium 1-propylnitronate (K-1-PN) resulted in the rate law -d[K-1-PN]/dt = k₂[K-1-PN][O₂]. The rate constant, activation enthalpy, and entropy at 313.16 K are as follows: k/M^-1 s^-1 = (1.43±0.04), DH^‡/kJ mol^-1 = 57±10 DS^‡/J mol^-1 K^-1 = -60±32. The presence of superoxide ion as a result of a SET from the nitronate to dioxygen was proved by NBT test.     

Excess volumes of quinoline with nitroalkanes: Interpretation by the Prigogine-Flory-Patterson theory

Excess volumes of V ^E of binary liquid mixtures of quinoline with each of the nitroalkanes have been measured at 30°C as a function of composition using a continuous dilution dilatometer. The excess volumes are negative over the whole mole-fraction range for all the mixtures except quinoline + nitromethane, which exhibits positive V ^E over the whole range. V ^E results have been analyzed in the light of the Prigogine-Flory-Patterson theory, which divides V ^E into three contributions. The agreement between experimental and theoretical values is reasonably good.     

One-Pot Synthesis of (E)-2-(3-Oxoindolin-2-ylidene)-2-arylacetonitriles

A highly efficient and expeditious one-pot approach towards 2-(3-oxoindolin-2-yl)acetonitriles was designed, which involves a base-assisted aldol reaction of ortho-nitroacetophenones, followed by hydrocyanation, triggering an unusual reductive cyclization reaction.     

Primary kinetic hydrogen isotope effects in deprotonations of a nitroalkane by intramolecular phenolate groups

Rate constants and kinetic isotope effects have been determined for the formation of nitronate anions from the ethers 1‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐2‐nitropropane, 7 (X = H, L = H and D) and 1‐(2‐methoxy‐5‐nitrophenyl)‐2‐nitropropane, 7 (X = NO₂, L = H and D), and from the corresponding phenols, 1‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐nitropropane, 3 (X = H, L = H and D), and 1‐(2‐hydroxy‐5‐nitrophenyl)‐2‐nitropropane, 3 (X = NO₂, L = H and D), in aqueous basic medium. For the ethers 7 , rates of deprotonation by hydroxide are comparable with those found for deprotonations of 2‐nitropropane, with k^H/k^D (25 °C) = 7.7 and 7.8, respectively. In both the cases, the isotope effects are conventionally temperature dependent. For the corresponding phenols 3 , conditions have been established under which the deprotonations of the nitroalkane are dominated by intramolecular deprotonation by the kinetically first‐formed phenolate anion, with an estimated effective molarity EM ～ 250. For 3 (X = H, L = H or D), k^H/k^D (25 °C) = 7.8, with E ? E = 6.9 kJ mol^?1 and A^H/A^D = 0.5. For 3 (X = NO₂, L = H or D), rates of intramolecular deprotonation are reduced 30‐fold, and an elevated kinetic isotope effect is found (k^H/k^D (25 °C) = 10.7). Activation parameters (E ? E = 17.8 kJ mol^?1 and A^H/A^D = 0.008) are compatible with an enhanced tunnelling contribution to reactivity in the H‐isotopomer. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Facile Synthesis of 4‐Functionalized Cyclopentenones

1-8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene(DBU)‐catalyzed Michael addition of nitroalkanes to dicyclopentadienone (1) followed by flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) provided a high‐yielding synthesis of extremely pure 4‐nitroalkyl cyclopentenones (3). The optimized Nef reaction of the nitro adducts (2) provided 4‐ketoalkyl cyclopentenones (5) in the similar way.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of γ-substituted vinyl sulfones

A fast new entry for the stereoselective construction of γ-substituted vinyl sulfones is presented. The key for success is the use of a readily available chiral secondary amine catalyst that allows the use of base-sensitive β-nitroethyl sulfones as masked β-sulfonyl vinyl anions in conjugate additions. The method performed in a three-step one-pot operation gives access to a great variety of vinyl sulfones in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities. The method has also been extended to other relatively base-sensitive β-electron-withdrawing-substituted nitroalkanes to afford products with manifold functionality, providing a quick entry to very attractive synthetic intermediates for organic synthesis.