Exploring the Reactivity of α‐Lithiated Aryl Benzyl Ethers: Inhibition of the [1,2]‐Wittig Rearrangement and the Mechanistic Proposal Revisited

By carefully controlling the reaction temperature, treatment of aryl benzyl ethers with tBuLi selectively leads to α‐lithiation, generating stable organolithiums that can be directly trapped with a variety of selected electrophiles, before they can undergo the expected [1,2]‐Wittig rearrangement. This rearrangement has been deeply studied, both experimentally and computationally, with aryl α‐lithiated benzyl ethers bearing different substituents at the aryl ring. The obtained results support the competence of a concerted anionic intramolecular addition/elimination sequence and a radical dissociation/recombination sequence for explaining the tendency of migration for aryl groups. The more favored rearrangements are found for substrates with electron‐poor aryl groups that favor the anionic pathway.     

Comparative properties of Amazonian oils obtained by different extraction methods

Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.), baba?u (Orbignya phalerata Mart.), buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) oils were studied to determine their antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities, as well as their total phenol and carotenoid contents. The fatty acid contents were determined by GC-MS. The three types of passion fruit oils studied were refined, cold pressed or extracted from seeds in a Soxhlet apparatus. The oils thus obtained showed differences in antioxidant activity and carotenoid content, but were similar in regard to total phenols. Buriti and pequi had the highest carotenoid contents, while refined and cold pressed passion fruit oil displayed the highest antioxidant activity. Pequi oil was the only oil to display antibacterial and cytotoxic activity.     

Computational characterization of a complete palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling process: the associative transmetalation in the Stille reaction

[reaction: see text] The species presumably involved in the associative ligand substitution mechanism for the Stille cross coupling of vinyl bromide and trimethylvinyl stannane with Pd(PMe(3))(2)/PMe(3) as catalysts in DMF (as ligand and solvent) have been structurally and energetically characterized. The cyclic four-coordinate transition state for the rate-determining transmetalation step explains the retention of configuration in the Stille coupling of chiral nonracemic alkyl stannanes.     

Computational study and analysis of the kinetic isotope effects of the rearrangement of cis-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene to cis,cis-cycloocta-1,3-diene

[reaction: see text] On the basis of KIE experiments, the ring opening of cis-bicyclo[4.2.0.]oct-7-ene has been suggested as an anti-Woodward-Hoffmann reaction candidate. We hereby report the results of a high-level computational study of the alternate reaction pathways which proves that the energy profiles show a clear preference for the conrotatory (W-H allowed) ring opening followed by double-bond isomerization. Computed KIE values for the aforementioned mechanism are in good agreement with the experimental values.     

Synthese und Kristallstrukturen der Phosphaniminato-Komplexe [AlCl2(NPEt3)]2, [GaI2(NPEt3)]2 und [GaI2(NPPh3)]2

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of the Phosphoraneiminato Complexes [AlCl₂(NPEt₃)]₂, [GaI₂(NPEt₃)]₂, and [GaI₂(NPPh₃)]₂ [AlCl₂(NPEt₃)]₂ ( 1 ) is made according to the known method by reaction of aluminium trichloride with the silylated phosphaneimine Me₃SiNPEt₃ in acetonitrile; it is isolated as colourless, moisture sensitive crystals. The phosphoraneiminato complexes [GaI₂(NPEt₃)]₂ ( 2 ) and [GaI₂(NPPh₃)]₂ ( 3 ), on the other hand, are obtained by redox reactions as pale yellow crystals; ( 2 ) of “gallium(I) iodide” with Me₃SiNPEt₃ in toluene and ( 3 ) of gallium with N-iodine triphenylphosphaneimine, INPPh₃, in tetrahydrofuran. 1 and 3 are characterized spectroscopically and by crystal structure determinations; 2 is characterized only crystallographically. 1 : Space group Pbca, Z = 4; lattice dimensions at –70 °C: a = 1232.6(2), b = 1341.1(2), c = 1393.4(3) pm, R₁ = 0.0315. 1 forms centrosymmetric molecules in which the Al atoms are linked via Al–N bonds of the two (NPEt₃^–) groups; with 185.0 and 184.4 pm these bonds are of almost the same lengths. 2 : Space group Pbca, Z = 4; lattice dimensions at –80 °C: a = 1380.0(1), b = 1311.0(1), c = 1429.1(1) pm, R₁ = 0.0273. 2 crystallizes isotypically with 1 . The gallium atoms of the centrosymmetric Ga₂N₂ four-membered ring are connected with Ga–N distances of equal length (190.9 pm). 3 · THF: Space group P2₁2₁2₁, Z = 2; lattice dimensions at –140 °C: a = 1494.6(1), b = 1536.3(1), c = 974.6(1) pm, R₁ = 0.0382. 3 forms dimeric molecules in which the gallium atoms are linked via the N atoms of the (NPPh₃^–) groups to form a non-planar Ga₂N₂ four-membered ring of C₂ symmetry with Ga–N bonds of equal lengths – within standard deviations – of 194.7 pm. The phosphoraneiminato groups are arranged in a synperiplanar way.     

Phosphoraneiminato Complexes of Manganese and Cobalt with Heterocubane Structure

The phosphoraneiminato complexes [MnBr(NPEt₃)]₄ ( 1 ) and [M₄Br₅{NP(NMe₂)₃}₃] with M = Mn ( 2 ) and M = Co ( 3 ) are prepared by melting reactions from the anhydrous metal dibromides with the silylated phosphaneimines Me₃SiNPR₃ (R = Et, NMe₂) in the presence of potassium fluoride. All complexes are characterized by crystal structure analyses. 1 forms an only slightly distorted Mn₄N₄ heterocubane skeleton with an approximate T_d symmetry and short Mn…Mn distances of average 295.7 pm. In the structures of 2 and 3 one μ₃-NPEt₃ ligand of 1 is replaced by one bromine atom with μ₃-function. This leads to the novel heterocubane type M₄N₃Br with approximate C₃ symmetry. The deformation of the cubic skeleton leads to metal-metal distances of different lengths, i. e. 292.7 and 323.6 pm in 2 and 274.4 and 306.2 pm in 3 . Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements between 300 and 5 K on 1 have shown that strong antiferromagnetic coupling exists between the Mn(II) ions with S = 5/2, with a large negative Weiss constant of Θ = –694 K.     

Die Kristallstrukturen der silylierten Phosphanimine Me3SiNP(c-C6H11)3 und (Me3SiNPPh2)2CH2

Crystal Structures of the Silylated Phosphaneimines Me₃SiNP(c-C₆H₁₁)₃ and (Me₃SiNPPh₂)₂CH₂ The crystal structures of Me₃SiNP(c-C₆H₁₁)₃ ( 1 ) and (Me₃SiNPPh₂)₂CH₂ ( 2 ) are determined by X-ray diffraction at single crystals. In both compounds the PN distances correspond to double bonds, the SiN distances to single bonds. With 149.8° the SiNP bond angle in 1 is noticeably large, while it is only 138.5° in 2 , which shows C₂ symmetry. 1 : Space group P2₁/n, Z = 4, lattice dimensions at –70 °C: a = 1143.0(1), b = 1743.0(2), c = 1152.5(1) pm, β = 90.42(1)°; R = 0.0677. 2 : Space group I4₁/a, Z = 8, lattice dimensions at –60 °C: a = b = 1959.7(1), c = 1695.8(1) pm, R = 0.0433.     

Mechanism of the gold(I)-catalyzed Rautenstrauch rearrangement: a center-to-helix-to-center chirality transfer

The mechanism of the stereospecific gold(I)-catalyzed Rautenstrauch rearrangement of (E)-1-ethynyl-2-methyl-but-2-en-yl acetate to 3,4-dimethyl-cyclopent-2-enone has been computationally addressed using DFT (B3LYP/6-31G, SDD for Au). Our results indicate that the bond formation event follows the Au(I)-induced acetyl transfer to the vicinal alkyne and that it is the helicity of the pentadienyl cation intermediate which keeps memory of the chiral information. The fidelity of the center-to-helix-to-center chirality transfer requires that the rates of helix interconversion and pivaloyl rotation are slower than the cyclization, as calculations predict.     

Cyclization Cascade of Allenyl Azides: Synergy Between Theory and Experiment

Collaborative work between experimentalists and computational chemists have demonstrated a stong synergy which allowed the rationalization of allenyl azide chemistry and permited the development of an efficient synthetic tool aimed at the preparation of several alkaloids. Saturated allenyl azides undergo a reaction cascade involving key diradical intermediates that follow the Curtin-Hammett model whereas unsaturated allenyl azides form indolidene intermediates that furnish the final indole products via electrocyclic ring closure events taking place out of the Curtin-Hammett regime. The regiochemistry of the reaction cascade with the latter substrates can be manipulated by Cu(I) addition to the reaction mixture.     

Synthese und Kristallstrukturen der silylierten Tris-Phosphanimine R?C(CH2PPh2NSiMe3)3 mit R  H und CH3

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of the Silylated λ⁵-Phosphazenes R? C(CH₂PPh₂NSiMe₃)₃ with R = H and CH₃ The title compounds are obtained by Staudinger reaction from the corresponding tripodal phosphanes R? C(CH₂PPh₂)₃ and trimethylsilylazide. Both complexes are characterized by their IR and NMR spectra and by crystal structure analyses. H? C(CH₂PPh₂NSiMe₃)₃ ( 1 ): Space group P2₁/c, Z = 4, structure determination with 7833 independent reflections, R = 0.055. Lattice dimensions at ?50°C: a = 1399.5, b = 2311.4, c = 1678.9 pm, β = 112.92°. CH₃? C(CH₂PPh₂NSiMe₃)₃ ( 2 ): Space group P1 , Z = 2, structure determination with 9251 independent reflections, R = 0.057. Lattice dimensions at ?50°C: a = 1276.5, b = 1386.9, c = 1790.2 pm; α = 85.55°, β = 69.39°, γ = 62.99°. 1 and 2 form monomeric molecules which are distinguished by their conformation.