Dehalogenation of o-dihalogen substituted arenes and α,α′-dihalogen substituted o-xylenes with lanthanum metal

It was found that lanthanum metal caused the dehalogenation of o-dihalogen substituted arenes and α,α′-dihalogen substituted o-xylenes to generate the corresponding benzynes and o-quinodimethanes. When o-dihalogen substituted arenes were allowed to react with lanthanum metal in the presence of dienes, the Diels-Alder products between benzyne and dienes were formed in moderate to good yields. Similarly, the Diels-Alder adducts of o-quinodimethane with dienophiles were obtained, in the reaction of α,α′-dibromo-o-xylenes with lanthanum metal in the presence of dienophiles.     

The redox behaviour of cyclic tetraaminoethenes derived from 2,2′-biimidazole

Syntheses and redox chemistry of the nearly unknown 4,4′,5,5′-tetraamino derivatives of 2,2′-biimidazole are studied. These cyclic versions of electron-rich ethenes are only stable under strictly anaerobic conditions. In the presence of oxygen, a fast oxidation reaction occurs to form stable, deeply coloured tetraazafulvalenes. Leuco-forms, however, can be stabilized towards air by acylation reactions. This accounts for the hexa-Boc derivative 6. Based on these findings, we present the first synthesis of tetraazafulvalenes, which possess four peripheric secondary amine functions.     

Fluordiazadiphosphetidine, 11. Mitt.: Eine neue Methode zur Herstellung der doppelt zwitterionischen Verbindung (CH3N)6P4F8

A new synthetic route for the preparation of the betain-like compound (CH₃N)₆P₄F₈ from (CH₃NPF₃)₂,N-methyl-hexamethyldisilazane andN,N-dimethyl-urea has been found. The steps of this multi-stage reaction could be rationalized to a far extent.

10. Mitteilung:Kubjacek M., Utvary K., Mh. Chem.112, 305 (1981).     

Conformational behaviour of 2,2′-bipyrrole

The rotational potential around the interannular bond in 2,2-bipyrrole has been calculated making use of standard minimal STO-3G and split valence 4-31G basis sets. Geometrical optimization concerning the most significant interannular internal parameters has been performed with both basis sets. The trans conformer is predicted to be more stable than the cis. The minimal basis set predicts the existence of a cisoid-gauche minimum which after limited optimization becomes very shallow and it seems to be an artifact of the rigid rotor approximation. At 4-31G level, both the trans and cis conformers represent maxima in the potential curve and two gauche minima appear at =46.0° and =147.6°, the latter being the absolute minimum. The absolute maximum of the potential curve corresponds to the cis conformer.     

5′-Noraristeromycin derivatives isomeric to aristeromycin and 2′-deoxyaristeromycin

A straightforward synthesis of (1S,2R,3R,4R)-4-(6-aminopurin-9-yl)-2-hydroxymethylcyclopentane-1,3-diol (2), an isomer of aristeromycin, and its 2′-deoxy derivative 3 from readily available disubstituted cyclopentenes is presented. An antiviral analysis of 2 showed it to have significant activity versus Epstein-Barr virus (IC₅₀ 0.62 μg/mL in the Elisa assay) and to be free of cytotoxicity effects against the host cells. In a much less comprehensive antiviral analysis, 3 also was active towards Epstein-Barr (IC₅₀ 7.58 μg/mL in the Elisa assay) but this was accompanied by cellular toxicity.     

Molybdenum(VI)-complexes with chiral N,O-ligands derived from carbohydrates: synthesis, structure and catalytic properties in asymmetric olefin epoxidation

Novel chiral 2′-pyridinyl alcohols derived from isopropylidene-protected carbohydrates are reported. They show different characteristics at the hydroxy group, but are all suitable ligands for chiral molybdenum(VI) complexes of the type MoO₂L₂ (L = chiral 2′-pyridinyl alcoholate). MoO₂(acac)₂ served as starting material in the complex syntheses. The structure of one ligand and one dioxo complex were exemplary established by X-ray crystallography. For catalytic runs in the enantioselective epoxidation catalysis trans-methylstyrene was used as model substrate, tert-butylhydroperoxide and cumolhydroperoxide, resp., as the oxidant.     

Palladium-catalyzed arylation of N,N-dialkylhydrazines and the subsequent conversion to anilines

Palladium-catalyzed aminations of different ArBr with N,N-dialkylhydrazines are described. The reaction proceeded in moderate to excellent yield (up to 90%) with good functional groups compatibilities as cyano, ester, ketone and Boc-amine groups are all well tolerated. Several hydrazines were proved to be good coupling partners and this process provided a general method for the isosteric replacement of benzyl amines with arylhydrazines. Moreover, a method for the N-N bond cleavage of arylhydrazines was discovered, and this two-step sequence could be employed as an alternative synthesis of aniline derivatives.     

Zur Bildung von Xylol-tricarbonylchrom (Dimethylbenchrotrenen) aus Di-n-butylether und Hexacarbonylchrom

The reaction of fluorenone ethyleneketal (9), diphenic anhydride as well as of biphenyls such as4 with Cr(CO)₆ in refluxing di-n-butylether (BE) gives dimethylbenchrotrenes [xylene-Cr(CO)₃,7] which are also formed by refluxing pureBE with Cr(CO)₆—although with much lower yields. Similarily, from di-n-pentylether and Cr(CO)₆ isobutyl- and 1-methyl-3-propyl-benchrotrene (13 and14) were obtained, whilst from di-n-propyl- and-hexylether, resp., and Cr(CO)₆ no benchrotrenes could be isolated.Tentative assumptions on the catalytic action of certain functional groups were confirmed by the reaction ofBE and Cr(CO)₆ in the presence of carbonamides, such as acetamide, urea and pyrrolidone, where 1,4-dimethylbenchrotrene (7 c) was formed with appreciable yields.Studies using dideuteratedBE showed that—at least for the reaction of9 with Cr(CO)₆ (giving a much lower yield of7 than with undeuteratedBE)—a simple bimolecular mechanism can be excluded.

     

Ruthenium cluster compounds containing 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf): an electrochemical analysis and the crystal structure of [Ru3(CO)11]2(μ-dppf)

The electrochemistry of 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf) derivatives of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ was investigated. Two known compounds [Ru₃(CO)₈(μ-dppf)₂ (1) and Ru₃(CO)₁₀dppf (2)] and a new compound [Ru₃(CO)₁₁(μ-dppf)Ru₃(CO)₁₁ (3)] were prepared. Compound 3 was characterized spectroscopically and an X-ray crystal structure was obtained. The reductive electrochemistry of 1 and 2 showed an irreversible reduction and a follow-up oxidation, similar to Ru₃(CO)₁₂. The electrochemistry of compound 3 showed two irreversible waves and a follow-up oxidation. A trend in the reduction potential vs. the number of coordinated phosphorus atoms was noted. The oxidative electrochemistry of 1-3 showed a dppf-based chemically reversible wave, and an irreversible wave similar to that of Ru₃(CO)₁₂. Trends were also noted between the oxidation potential and the number of coordinated phosphorus atoms.     

Uptake of weathered p,p′-DDE by plant species effective at accumulating soil elements

Ten plant species previously shown to accumulate inorganic elements effectively from natural solids were grown under field conditions in p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p′-DDE) contaminated soil. The plant species, which included rye, mustard, canola, vetch, pigeonpea, clover, peanut, and 3 cultivars of white lupin, represented both monocots and dicots, as well as two major families within the dicots: the Brassicaceae and the Fabaceae. The plants varied widely in their ability to phytoextract and translocate weathered p,p′-DDE. The percentage of contaminant phytoextracted ranged from 0.06% (white lupin) to 0.22% (clover, vetch), and the translocation factors (TF; contaminant concentration ratio of stems to roots) ranged from 0.04 (clover, white lupin) to 0.37 (canola). An inverse relationship exists between the amount of contaminant in the roots as measured by the root BCF (bioconcentration factor; dry weight contaminant concentration ratio of root to soil) and the TF. Duplicate mounds of each species were periodically amended with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), nitrogen and phosphorus together (N/P); a minus phosphorus treatment involved the addition of AlSO₄ to the soil prior to planting. The effect of nutrient regime on plant biomass, p,p′-DDE uptake and translocation, and inorganic element content varied greatly among the 10 plant species. For some species (rye, vetch, pigeonpea, clover, white lupin), reductions or non-significant changes in p,p′-DDE uptake were observed under the nutrient treatments and were not correlated with plant biomass effects. For mustard, canola, and peanut, the percentage of p,p′-DDE phytoextracted in the various treatments was more than doubled and was directly correlated with a two-fold increase in total plant biomass. Although it is generally assumed that fertilizer amendments will enhance the phytoremediation of organic and inorganic pollutants, the data here suggest that such effects are highly species specific and in some cases may actually decrease remediation potential.