Insertion Reactions of Heterocumulenes with Zincocene Cp*2Zn

Zincocene Cp*₂Zn reacts with carbodiimides C(NR)₂ with insertion into the Zn–Cp* bond and formation of [(Cp*C(NR)₂]₂Zn [R = Et ( 1 ), iPr ( 2 ), Cy ( 3 )]. In addition, the reaction of Cp*₂Zn with CS₂ under dry conditions gives (Cp*CS₂)₂Zn ( 4 ), whereas in the presence of a small amount of water [Zn₄(μ₄‐O)(S₂CCp*)₆] ( 5 ) is obtained. Compounds 1 – 4 were characterized by NMR (¹H, ¹³C) and IR spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction ( 2 – 4 , 5 of poor quality). The solid‐state structure of 5 is comparable to the carboxylate complex previously obtained from the reaction of Cp*₂Zn with CO₂.     

A practical one-pot procedure for the synthesis of pyrazino[2′,3′:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidinones by a tandem aza-Wittig/heterocumulene-mediated annulation strategy

A simple one-pot and efficient method is described for the synthesis of pyrazino[2′,3′:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidinone derivatives 6 via a tandem aza-Wittig/heterocumulene-mediated annulation process. The iminophosphorane 3 reacted with aryl isocyanates, followed by heterocyclization on addition of secondary amines to give the corresponding guanidine intermediates 5, which were cyclized in the presence of a catalytic amount of potassium carbonate to tricyclic compounds 6. Similarly, iminophosphorane 3 reacts with phenols, thiophenol, or ROH to give 2-aryl(alkyl)oxy(thio)pyrazino[2′,3′:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidinone derivatives 7 in good yields. The corresponding carbodiimide 4c and guanidine-type intermediate compounds 5 could be isolated and characterized, thus confirming the suggested reaction pathway. However, two isomeric pyrazinothienopyrimidinones 8 and 9 may be produced in the reaction of iminophosphorane 3 with aromatic isocyanates and subsequent reaction with primary amines in the presence of a catalytic amount of potassium carbonate. The effects of the nucleophiles and isocyanates on the regioselectivity of the cyclization have been investigated.     

The Simplest,Isolable, Alkynyl Isocyanate HC≡CNCO: Synthesis and Characterization

Alkynyl isocyanates have been postulated as highly reactive intermediates in synthetic chemistry. Herein, the parent molecule HC≡CNCO is isolated for the first time. In sharp contrast to the previously reported short lifetime (ca. 15 s) at room temperature, we found that HC≡CNCO has a lifetime of 55 h in the gas phase (2 mbar, 300 K) with a melting point of ?79.5 °C and vaporization enthalpy (ΔH_vap) of 23.1(1) kJ mol^?1. Apart from the IR (gas, solid, and matrix), ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and UV/Vis spectroscopic characterization, its photoisomerization with a acylnitrene HC≡CC(O)N and cyanoketene NCC(H)CO has been observed.     

Efficient one-pot preparation of bis(pyrazino[2′,3′:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)benzenes based on an aza-Wittig/mediated annulation strategy

Aza-Wittig mediated annulation provides a highly facile and straightforward one-pot strategy for the synthesis of bis(pyrazino[2′,3′:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)benzenes 5 and 7. A tandem aza-Wittig reaction of iminophosphorane 2 with 1,4- or 1,3-phenylene diisocyanate, followed by intramolecular heteroconjugate addition annulation after addition of a nucleophilic reagent (amine, phenol, thiophenol or ROH), in presence of catalytic K₂CO₃ or NaOR, gives selectively the functionalized bis(pyrazinothienopyrimidinones) 5 and 7.     

The efficient synthesis of carbodiimides using a titanium imido complex

An efficient rt synthesis of carbodiimides or ureas from the combination of a titanium imido complex 2 and a range of 12 aryl and aliphatic isocyanates is described. Control experiments suggest that carbodimide formation is via heterocumulene metathesis through a transient intermediate η²-ureato-N,O metallacycle 8.