Complex dynamic behavior of fluctuating smectic- A films as studied by scattering with coherent X-rays

Coherent dynamic x-ray scattering has been used to study the thermally excited layer fluctuations in freely suspended smectic films of the compound 4O.8. Using 8-keV x rays and films with a thickness around 0.3 &mgr;m we resolve relaxation times down to a few &mgr;s. A combination of damped and oscillatory behavior is observed for the layer undulations, which can be attributed to inertial effects. These are due to the surface contribution to the free energy which cannot be disregarded for thin films.     

Dichlorocarbene Addition to

In contrast to the terminal phosphinidene complex PhPW(CO)(5) (2), which adds to [5]metacyclophane (1) in a 1,4-fashion, dichlorocarbene preferentially adds in a 1,2-fashion to the formal "anti-Bredt" type double bond of the aromatic ring of 1 to afford the norcaradiene 11b, which immediately rearranges to the bridged cycloheptatriene 12b and further by a [1,5] sigmatropic chlorine migration to the isomeric 13b as the first observable product. More slowly, the latter isomerizes via a dissociative mechanism to give 15b. A computational study supports the notion that the [1,5] chlorine migration in the rearrangement 12b --> 13b, for which an activation barrier of 70.2 kJ mol(-)(1) was calculated, is essentially concerted with minor charge separation. In contrast, the analogous [1,5] chlorine migration in the flat model compound 7,7-dichlorocycloheptatriene (12a) displays features of a dissociative pathway.     

Microwave‐Assisted Beckmann Rearrangement: Convenient Synthesis of 1,3‐Diaza‐bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane

Small heterocyclic amines such as 1,3‐diaza‐bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane are known to be key components of biologically active molecules. A convenient synthesis of this compound utilizing a key Beckmann rearrangement of (Z)‐1‐aza‐bicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐3‐one oxime (6) with conc. H₂SO₄ under microwave irradiation was achieved. The desired compound (1) was obtained in 20% yield overall.     

Pt-catalyzed cyclization/migration of propargylic alcohols for the synthesis of 3(2H)-furanones, pyrrolones, indolizines, and indolizinones

Several heterocycles such as furanones, pyrrolones, and indolizines, which are of pharmacological importance, are easily accessed via the Pt(II)-catalyzed heterocyclization/1,2-migration of propargylic ketols or hydroxy imine derivatives. This method sidesteps the challenges of traditional heteroaromatic oxygenation strategies such as regioselectivity and functional group tolerance in the syntheses of these heterocycles.     

Reagents for stereoselective preparation of N-carbamyl β-D-glucuronides

Carbamyl glucuronidation is an increasingly well-recognized route of metabolism for secondary amine drugs. Proper characterization of these metabolites requires the synthesis of authentic standards. O-protected glucuronyl p-nitrophenyl carbonates can be prepared with high selectivity for the β-configuration at the anomeric center and efficiently transfer the β-glucuronylcarbonyl group to secondary amines, constituting an effective and versatile method for preparation of these metabolites.     

Methodologies for 2-alkylidene-1,3-cyclopentanediones

Methods for the synthesis of 2-alkylidene-1,3-cyclopentanediones are given along with some preliminary information on the reactivity of these ene-diones.     

Selective amination of polyhalopyridines catalyzed by a palladium-xantphos complex

[reaction: see text] Amination of 5-bromo-2-chloropyridine (1a) catalyzed by a palladium-Xantphos complex predominately gives 5-amino-2-chloropyridine product 3a in 96% isolated yield and excellent chemoselectivity (3a/4a = 97:3). Amination of 2,5-dibromopyridine (11) under the same conditions exclusively affords 2-amino-5-bromopyridine 4a.