On the Ambiphilic Reactivity of Geometrically Constrained Phosphorus(III) and Arsenic(III) Compounds: Insights into Their Interaction with Ionic Substrates

The ambiphilic nature of geometrically constrained Group 15 complexes bearing the N,N‐bis(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐phenolate)amide pincer ligand (ONO^3?) is explored. Despite their differing reactivity towards nucleophilic substrates with polarised element–hydrogen bonds (e.g., NH₃), both the phosphorus(III), P(ONO) ( 1 a ), and arsenic(III), As(ONO) ( 1 b ), compounds exhibit similar reactivity towards charged nucleophiles and electrophiles. Reactions of 1 a and 1 b with KOtBu or KNPh₂ afford anionic complexes in which the nucleophilic anion associates with the pnictogen centre ([(tBuO)Pn(ONO)]^? (Pn=P ( 2 a ), As ( 2 b )) and [(Ph₂N)Pn(ONO)]^? (Pn=P ( 3 a ), As ( 3 b )). Compound 2 a can subsequently be reacted with a proton source or benzylbromide to afford the phosphorus(V) compounds (tBuO)HP(ONO) ( 4 a ) and (tBuO)BzP(ONO) ( 5 a ), respectively, whereas analogous arsenic(V) compounds are inaccessible. Electrophilic substrates, such as HOTf and MeOTf, preferentially associate with the nitrogen atom of the ligand backbone of both 1 a and 1 b , giving rise to cationic species that can be rationalised as either ammonium salts or as amine‐stabilised phosphenium or arsenium complexes ([Pn{ON(H)O}]⁺ (Pn=P ( 6 a ), As ( 6 b )) and [Pn{ON(Me)O}]⁺ (Pn=P ( 7 a ), As ( 7 b )). Reaction of 1 a with an acid bearing a nucleophilic counteranion (such as HCl) gives rise to a phosphorus(V) compound HPCl(ONO) ( 8 a ), whereas the analogous reaction with 1 b results in the addition of HCl across one of the As?O bonds to afford ClAs{(H)ONO} ( 8 b ). Functionalisation at both the pnictogen centre and the ligand backbone is also possible by reaction of 7 a / 7 b with KOtBu, which affords the neutral species (tBuO)Pn{ON(Me)O} (Pn=P ( 9 a ), As ( 9 b )). The ambiphilic reactivity of these geometrically constrained complexes allows some insight into the mechanism of reactivity of 1 a towards small molecules, such as ammonia and water.     

Synthesis and Structure Investigations of Potential Sedative and Anticonvulsant Hydroxy- and Acetoxy-N-(3-oxobutyl)-pyrido[2,3-d]pyridazinonesa

Summary.  Novel N-(3-oxobutyl)-hydroxy- and acetoxypyrido[2,3-d]pyridazinones were synthesized and tested in vivo for their sedative and anticonvulsant activity. The Michael-type reaction of quinolinic acid hydrazide and methyl vinyl ketone afforded a mixture of two isomers, 5-hydroxy-N ⁷-(3-oxobutyl)-pyrido[2,3-d]pyridazin-8(7H)-one and 8-hydroxy-N ⁶-(3-oxobutyl)-pyrido[2,3,-d]pyridazin-5-(6H)-one, in a ratio of 2:1 which were separated by crystallization. Subsequent acetylation of both isomers yielded the corresponding 5- and 8-acetoxy compounds. The structures of the compounds were proven and completely assigned on the basis of ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N NMR, and 1D NOE difference spectra as well as 2D C,H-correlation experiments. Preliminary pharmacological tests showed low acute toxicity with a LD ₅₀ > 1000 mg/kg in the mouse and sedative activity for the title compounds. 5-Acetoxy-N ⁷- (3-oxobutyl)-pyrido[2,3-d]pyridazin-8(7H)-one displayed a borderline anticonvulsant activity in the metrazole test model. Corresponding author. E-mail: edith.goessnitzer@uni-graz.at Received March 20, 2002; accepted April 3, 2002     

Optimization of Experimental Parameters to Explore Small‐Ligand/Aptamer Interactions through Use of 1H NMR Spectroscopy and Molecular Modeling

Aptamers constitute an emerging class of molecules designed and selected to recognize any given target that ranges from small compounds to large biomolecules, and even cells. However, the underlying physicochemical principles that govern the ligand‐binding process still have to be clarified. A major issue when dealing with short oligonucleotides is their intrinsic flexibility that renders their active conformation highly sensitive to experimental conditions. To overcome this problem and determine the best experimental parameters, an approach based on the design‐of‐experiments methodology has been developed. Here, the focus is on DNA aptamers that possess high specificity and affinity for small molecules, L ‐tyrosinamide, and adenosine monophosphate. Factors such as buffer, pH value, ionic strength, Mg²⁺‐ion concentration, and ligand/aptamer ratio have been considered to find the optimal experimental conditions. It was then possible to gain new insight into the conformational features of the two ligands by using ligand‐observed NMR spectroscopic techniques and molecular mechanics.     

Adding a Structural Context to the Deprotometalation and Trans‐Metal Trapping Chemistry of Phenyl‐Substituted Benzotriazole

Organometallic bases are becoming increasingly complex, because mixing components can lead to bases superior to single‐component bases. To better understand this superiority, it is useful to study metalated intermediate structures prior to quenching. This study is on 1‐phenyl‐1H‐benzotriazole, which was previously deprotonated by an in situ ZnCl₂ ? TMEDA/LiTMP (TMEDA=N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine; TMP=2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidide) mixture and then iodinated. Herein, reaction with LiTMP exposes the deficiency of the single‐component base as the crystalline product obtained was [{4‐R‐1‐(2‐lithiophenyl)‐1H‐benzotriazole ? 3THF}₂], [R=2‐C₆H₄(Ph)NLi], in which ring opening of benzotriazole and N₂ extrusion had occurred. Supporting lithiation by adding iBu₂Al(TMP) induces trans‐metal trapping, in which C?Li bonds transform into C?Al bonds to stabilise the metalated intermediate. X‐ray diffraction studies revealed homodimeric [(4‐R′‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐benzotriazole)₂], [R′=(iBu)₂Al(μ‐TMP)Li], and its heterodimeric isomer [(4‐R′‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐benzotriazole){2‐R′‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐benzotriazole}], whose structure and slow conformational dynamics were probed by solution NMR spectroscopy.     

Carbocyclic and nitrogen-containing fused CH-acids with an annelated indenyl fragment. Thermogravimetric and X-ray structural analysis of 6H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoline

Based on thermogravimetric characteristics first obtained for the model 6H-indeno [1,2-b]quinoline, the scheme of thermal conversions of this compound in the temperature range 20–700 °C has been proposed, and the limit of its thermal stability (300 °C) has been determined. This temperature is recommended as the optimum for synthesizing fused benzoaza(diaza)fluorenes. Based on the results of X-ray structural analysis, the molecules of the studied indenoquinoline form centrosymmetric pairs, which are arranged in (110) layers. The molecules are orientationally disordered. The observed self-association of these molecules is similar to the - association of fused heterocyclic systems with-excessive and ****- deficient fragments. It has been suggested that interferon-inducing and antitumor compounds with an annelated indenyl fragment have a common mechanism of action according to the intercalation model of stacking structures.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 703–709, April, 1995.     

Reaction of 3,3-dichloropentane-2,4-dione with aromatic aldehydes under the conditions of Darzens reaction

3,3-Dichloropentane-2,4-dione reacts with aromatic aldehydes under the conditions of Darzens reaction to give 4-acetoxy-4-aryl-3,3-dichlorobutan-2-ones, the products of insertion into the -C-C bond. The reaction of ethyl dichloroacetylacetate with benzaldehyde yields a derivative of tricyclo[5.1.0.0^3,5]octane, rather than 2,6-bis(1-chlorobenzylidene)cyclohexane-1,4-dione, as the by-product.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1294–1298, July, 1995.     

Transition metal 1,2-bidentate thiolates as building blocks and their construction into cluster complexes

Simple fragments of transition metal 1,2-bidentate thiolates, the so-called building blocks of the general compositions ML₃, ML₂, ML, M(O)L₂, ML₂L, MLL, etc. have been proposed to constitute the di-, tri- and tetranuclear complexes concerned in this review. Structureal regularities and characteristics have been discussed and summarized according to the thiolato ligands edt and pdt, bdt and tdt, mp, and mpo, and mpp, respectively.Abbreviations H₂mpo o-mercaptophenol - Hmpo 2-mercaptopyridine-N-oxide - R₂dtc N,N-dialkyldithiocarbamate - Haet 2-aminoethanethiol - H₂bdt o-benzenedithiol - H₂pdt 1,2-propanedithiol - H₂tdt toluene-3,4-dithiol - Hmpp-mppH bis-(3-hydroxy-2-pyridyl)disulfide - Hmp-mpH bis-(2-oxyphenyl)disulfide - H₂edt 1,2-ethanedithiol - dppe 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane - H₂tedt 3,4,5,6-tetrachlorobenzene-1,2-dithiol - H₂tpdt 3-thiapentane-1,5-dithiol - H₂mnt maleonitriledithiol - Him imidazole - Bz benzyl - py pyridine     

Raman study of structural defects in SiO2 aerogels

The structure of the silica aerogels was studied by Raman spectroscopy. The spectra of the solid network resembles that of bulk silica with additional bands related to organic groups and a large amount of OH groups.The typical bands due to ring breathing also called defect bands D ₁ and D ₂ located at 490 and 610 cm^–1 are present. However, the evolution of the D ₂ band compared to that of OH band (980 cm^–1) seems apparently, in contradiction with the results previously reported in the literature. During heat treatments between 25 and 300°C the D ₂ and the OH bands increase simultaneously. Generally, in silica glass the defect band D ₂ grows at the expense of the OH groups.This result is explained by the oxidation of the organic compounds which, in this temperature range, leads to the formation of the both species (OH) and those related to siloxane rings. ²⁹Si MAS NMR results are in agreement with the Raman study.