Configurational inversion and hexachloroethane chlorination of α-sulfonylcarbanions

The cis fused bicyclic sulfones 1a, 1c and 3a are lithiated in benzene with n-butyllithium under concomitant cis/trans isomerization of the ring fusion, involving intramolecular proton transfer. H/D exchange of the three α-hydrogens in protic solvents proceeds with retention of configuration. The lithiated sulfones are chlorinated with hexachloroethane (HCE) and show a strong preference for introduction of halogen at an equatorial α-position.     

Tris(acetonitrile)tricarbonylchromium(0) catalyzed 1,4-addition of hydrogen to 1,3-dienes

The Cr(CO)₃(CH₃CN)₃ complex is found to catalyze the 1,4-addition of hydrogen to 1,3-dienes such as 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, trans-1,3-pentadiene, and trans, trans-2,4-hexadiene at low temperature (40°) and low H₂ pressure (20 psi). For trans, trans-2,4-hexadiene the only product obtained when D₂ is used is 2,5-dideuterio-cis-3-hexene. The catalytic 1,4-hydrogenation can be carried out in neat dienes, and turnover numbers for the catalyst of greater than 3000 have been observed.     

N-phenylselenophthalimide (NPSP) : A valuable selenenylating agent

The phenylseleno group (PhSe) has evolved in recent years as a very useful and versatile functionality. Its facile introduction into organic molecules and its subsequent oxidative or reductive removal, has allowed many important synthetic transformations.^1–7 Due to the fact that, similarly to halogens, it can exist either as an electrophilic species (PhSe⁺) or as a nucleophilic one (PhSe^-), this group can be introduced either via nucleophilic substrates (e.g. carbanions, olefins), or via electrophilic ones (e.g. epoxides, halides), as illustrated in Scheme 1. Another valuable aspect of the phenylseleno group is that it can be readily oxidized to the corresponding selenoxide(PhSe(O)—), which undergoes β-hydrogen abstraction and syn-elimination to form olefins, under relatively mild conditions (Scheme 2(a)). Furthermore, this group can be substituted with hydrogen, upon the action of an appropriate reducing agent (Scheme 2(b)).The great synthetic utility of the phenylseleno group is apparent from its extensive utilization in numerous natural products syntheses,¹ as well as many other synthetic studies.^2–7     

Chlorination of α-sulfonyl carbanions with hexachloroethane: A novel preparation of α-halosulfones

The cyclic sulfones1,2, and3 are lithiated in benzene with n-butyllithium. Lithiation is demonstrated to lead to α-mono, α,α′-di and/or α,α-di and α,α,α′ trimetallation. The lithiated sulfones are chlorinated with hexachloroethane (HCE). Some mechanistic aspects of the reaction of the lithiosulfones with vicinal dihalides are discussed.     

Preparation of cyclopentadienes and diazocyclopentadienesvia cyclopentenolones and cyclopentenones

The structure and stereochemistry of the cyclopentenolones obtained by condensation of dialkyl ketones with benzil have been studied by NMR spectroscopy. These enolones were converted into cyclopentenones and cyclopentadienes. Alkyl-substituted cyclopentadienes required phenyllithium to effect their conversion by toluenesulphonyl azide into diazo-cyclopentadienes; otherwise piperidine sufficed as base catalyst.2,3,4-Triphenyldiazocyclopentadiene was simply procured by reaction of the condensation product of benzil and phenylacetone with toluenesulphonylhydrazone followed by alkali. Cyclohexyl- and methoxy-triphenylcyclopentadienes were prepared by photolytic decomposition of diazotriphenylcyclopentadiene in cyclohexane or methanol respectively.     

Magnetic behavior of copper diethyldithiocarbamate at low temperatures: A reinvestigation

The title compound, Cu(S₂CNEt₂)₂, behaves at low temperatures (1–20 K) as a normal spin-1/2 molecule, with 〈g〉 =2.06 and the Curie-Weiss θ = +0.25 K. This result contradicts an earlier investigation that led to the suggestion that the crystallographically-occurring dimers are coupled ferromagnetically.     

Solid state properties and catalytic behavior of the α- and β-vanadium bronzes

Decomposition of isopropanol (IPA) on V₂O₅, Li_0.02V₂O₅, Na_0.02V₂O₅, Na_0.06V₂O₅, Li_0.33V₂O₅, and Na_0.33V₂O₅ has been studied in the temperature range 186–300°C. The first four catalysts (α-phase) show predominately dehydration, whereas the last two (β-phase) have comparable dehydration and dehydrogenation activity. Dehydration activity increases with alkali metal concentration within the α-phase, but falls sharply on the β-phase catalysts. This difference is attributed to the different rate determining steps for the reaction on the α- and β-phase catalysts. X-ray and ir spectral data show that the β-phase catalysts are much more stable than the α-phase. A mechanism for the dehydration of IPA based on the electrical resistivity, ESR spectra, and kinetic data has been proposed.     

The synthesis and structure of potassium cyanotrimethylaluminate

The reaction of KCN with Al(CH₃)₃ to form K[Al(CH₃)₃CN] is greatly facilitated by the presence of an aromatic solvent: for p-xylene a solid complex, K[Al(CH₃)₃CN]·C₆H₄(CH₃)₂, has been isolated. The crystal structure of potassium cyanotrimethylaluminate has been determined from three-dimensional X-ray data measured by counter methods. K[Al(CH₃)₃CN] crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with cell dimensions a = 19.902(7), b = 9.211(4), c = 9.615(4) Å, β = 107.74(5)°, and p_calcd. = 1.09 g cm^?1 for Z = 8. Least squares refinement gave a conventional weighted R factor of 4.9% for 807 independent reflections. The monomeric [Al(CH₃)₃CN]^? units possess no crystallographic symmetry, and the packing in the unit cell is such that the nitrogen atoms on three such units approach the potassium atom to within 3.11 Å. The average aluminum-methyl carbon bond distance is 1.971 (7) Å, while the aluminum-cyano carbon distance is 2.047 (7) Å. This significant lengthening is attributed to partial electron deficiency in the aluminum-cyano carbon bond.     

σ,π-acetylido complexes via P---C bond cleavage of phosphinoacetylenes: X-ray structure of Fe2(CO)6(CCPh)(PPh2)

Solutions of Co^II salts of organic acids in primary amines absorb molecular oxygen rapidly and irreversibly forming μ-dioxygen—cobalt complexes. Thermolysis leads to a homopolar cleavage of the OO bond with subsequent radical reactions involving ligand amine. After thermolysis the capacity of oxygen uptake is reestablished (catalysis).     

Fluxional behaviour of π-bonded acetylenes

Some cationic five coordinate complexes of formula [Os(CO)(NO)L₂A]PF₆ (L = tertiary phosphine, A = an acetylene) have been prepared by reaction of the appropriate acetylene with [Os(CO)(NO)L₂(acetone)]PF₆; the variable temperature ¹H NMR spectra of some of these indicate that the coordinated π-acetylene undergoes fluxional behaviour.