Rare-Earth-Metal Methyl and Methylidene Complexes Stabilized by TpR,R'-Scorpionato Ligands─Size Matters.

Homoleptic tetramethylaluminates Ln(AlMe4)3 react with KTptBu,Me (TptBu,Me = tris(3-tBu-5-Me-pyrazolyl)borato) to yield rare-earth-metal methylidene complexes (TptBu,Me)Ln(µ3-CH2)[(µ-Me)AlMe2]2 (Ln = La, Ce, Nd). The lanthanum reaction is prone to additional C-H- and B-N-bond activation, affording coproducts La[HB(pzMe,tBu)(pzCMe2,Me)2][(µ-CH2)(µ-Me)AlMe2]2 and [La(µ-pztBu,Me)(AlMe4)2]2 (pztBu,Me = 3-tBu-5-Me-pyrazolato). The protonolysis reaction of Ln(AlMe4)3 and HpztBu,Me provides more efficient access to [Ln(µ-pztBu,Me)(AlMe4)2]2 (Ln = La, Nd). Treatment of Ln(AlMe4)3 with KTpMe,Me led to methylidene complexes (TpMe,Me)Ln(µ3-CH2)[(µ-Me)AlMe2]2 (Ln = Nd, Sm) or bis(tetramethylaluminate) complexes (TpMe,Me)Ln(AlMe4)2 (Ln = Y, Lu). The neodymium reaction generated methine derivative (TpMe,Me)Nd[(µ4-CH)(AlMe2)2(µ-pz,Me,Me)][(µ-Me)AlMe2] as a minor coproduct. The reaction of Ln(GaMe4)3 (Ln = Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Ho) with HTptBu,Me gave methylidene complexes (TptBu,Me)Ln(µ3-CH2)[(µ-Me)GaMe2]2 (Ln = La, Ce, Nd, Sm) and alkyl complexes (TptBu,Me)LnMe[(µ-Me)GaMe3] (Ln = Y, Ho), while competing B-N bond activation reactions produced GaMe2[BH(Me)(µ-pztBu,Me)2] and (TptBu,Me)Ln(η2-pztBu,Me)[(µ-Me)GaMe3] (Ln = Y, Ho). The steric impact of the TpR,Me ligands was examined by cone angle calculations. Rare-earth-metal methylidene complexes (TptBu,Me)Ln(µ3-CH2)[(µ-Me)EMe2]2 (E = Al, Ga) successfully promote carbonyl methylenation reactions upon addition of ketone.

A Saddle-Shaped Expanded Porphyrinoid Fitting C60.

We present the synthesis of a new type of an expanded porphyrinoid macrocycle with a saddle-shaped morphology and its complexation of C60 guest molecules. The new macrocycle contains four carbazole and four triazole moieties and can be readily synthesized via a copper-catalyzed click reaction. It shows specific photo-physical properties including fluorescence with a high quantum yield of 60 %. The combination of the saddle-shaped geometry with the expanded π-system allows for host-guest interactions with C60 in a stacked polymer fashion. Evidence for the presence of a host-guest complex is provided both in solution by NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray structure analysis.

Open-Shell Early Lanthanide Terminal Imides.

Group 3- and 4f-element organometallic chemistry and reactivity are decisively driven by the rare-earth-metal/lanthanide (Ln) ion size and associated electronegativity/ionicity/Lewis acidity criteria. For these reasons, the synthesis of terminal "unsupported" imides [Ln═NR] of the smaller, closed-shell Sc(III), Lu(III), Y(III), and increasingly covalent Ce(IV) has involved distinct reaction protocols while derivatives of the "early" large Ln(III) have remained elusive. Herein, we report such terminal imides of open-shell lanthanide cations Ce(III), Nd(III), and Sm(III) according to a new reaction protocol. Lewis-acid-stabilized methylidene complexes [TptBu,MeLn(µ3-CH2){(µ2-Me)MMe2}2] (Ln = Ce, Nd, Sm; M = Al, Ga) react with 2,6-diisopropylaniline (H2NAriPr) via methane elimination. The formation of arylimide complexes is governed by the Ln(III) size, the Lewis acidity of the group 13 metal alkyl, steric factors, the presence of a donor solvent, and the sterics and acidity (pKa) of the aromatic amine. Crucially, terminal arylimides [TptBu,MeLn(═NAriPr)(THF)2] (Ln = Ce, Nd, Sm) are formed only for M = Ga, and for M = Al, the Lewis-acid-stabilized imides [TptBu,MeLn(NAriPr)(AlMe3)] (Ln = Ce, Nd, Sm) are persistent. In stark contrast, the [GaMe3]-stabilized imide [TptBu,MeLn(NAriPr)(GaMe3)] (Ln = Nd, Sm) is reversibly formed in noncoordinating solvents.

Nanoscale Organolanthanum Clusters: Nuclearity-Directing Role of Cyclopentadienyl and Halogenido Ligands.

Tetramethylaluminato/halogenido(X) ligand exchange reactions in half-sandwich complexes [CpR La(AlMe4 )2 ] are feasible in non-coordinating solvents and provide access to large coordination clusters of the type [CpR LaX2 ]x . Incomplete exchange reactions generate the hexalanthanum clusters [CpR 6 La6 X8 (AlMe4 )4 ] (CpR =Cp*=C5 Me5 , X=I; CpR =Cp'=C5 H4 SiMe3 , X=Br, I). Treatment of [Cp*La(AlMe4 )2 ] with two equivalents Me3 SiI gave the nonalanthanum cluster [Cp*LaI2 ]9 , while the exhaustive reaction of [Cp'La(AlMe4 )2 ] with the halogenido transfer reagents Me3 GeX and Me3 SiX (X=I, Br, Cl) produced a series of monocyclopentadienyl rare-earth-metal clusters with distinct nuclearity. Depending on the halogenido ion size the homometallic clusters [Cp'LaCl2 ]10 and [Cp'LaX2 ]12 (X=Br, I) could be isolated, whereas different crystallization techniques led to the aggregation of clusters of distinct structural motifs, including the desilylated cyclopentadienyl-bridged cluster [(µ-Cp)2 Cp'8 La8 I14 ] and the heteroaluminato derivative [Cp'10 La10 Br18 (AlBr2 Me2 )2 ]. The use of the Cp' ancillary ligand facilitates cluster characterization by means of NMR spectroscopy.

Unsaturated and Benzannulated N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes of Titanium and Hafnium: Impact on Catalysts Structure and Performance in Copolymerization of Cyclohexene Oxide with CO2.

Tridentate, bis-phenolate N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are among the ligands giving the most selective and active group 4-based catalysts for the copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) with CO2. In particular, ligands based on imidazolidin-2-ylidene (saturated NHC) moieties have given catalysts which exclusively form polycarbonate in moderate-to-high yields even under low CO2 pressure and at low copolymerization temperatures. Here, to evaluate the influence of the NHC moiety on the molecular structure of the catalyst and its performance in copolymerization, we extend this chemistry by synthesizing and characterizing titanium complexes bearing tridentate bis-phenolate imidazol-2-ylidene (unsaturated NHC) and benzimidazol-2-ylidene (benzannulated NHC) ligands. The electronic properties of the ligands and the nature of their bonds to titanium are studied using density functional theory (DFT) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. The metal-NHC bond distances and bond strengths are governed by ligand-to-metal σ- and π-donation, whereas back-donation directly from the metal to the NHC ligand seems to be less important. The NHC π-acceptor orbitals are still involved in bonding, as they interact with THF and isopropoxide oxygen lone-pair donor orbitals. The new complexes are, when combined with [PPN]Cl co-catalyst, selective in polycarbonate formation. The highest activity, albeit lower than that of the previously reported Ti catalysts based on saturated NHC, was obtained with the benzannulated NHC-Ti catalyst. Attempts to synthesize unsaturated and benzannulated NHC analogues based on Hf invariably led, as in earlier work with Zr, to a mixture of products that include zwitterionic and homoleptic complexes. However, the benzannulated NHC-Hf complexes were obtained as the major products, allowing for isolation. Although these complexes selectively form polycarbonate, their catalytic performance is inferior to that of analogues based on saturated NHC.

C-H-Bond Activation and Isoprene Polymerization Studies Applying Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl-Supported Rare-Earth-Metal Bis(Tetramethylaluminate) and Dimethyl Complexes.

As previously shown for lutetium and yttrium, 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (C5Me5 = Cp*)-bearing rare-earth metal dimethyl half-sandwich complexes [Cp*LnMe2]3 are now also accessible for holmium, dysprosium, and terbium via tetramethylaluminato cleavage of [Cp*Ln(AlMe4)2] with diethyl ether (Ho, Dy) and tert-butyl methyl ether (TBME) (Tb). C-H-bond activation and ligand redistribution reactions are observed in case of terbium and are dominant for the next larger-sized gadolinium, as evidenced by the formation of mixed methyl/methylidene clusters [(Cp*Ln)5(CH2)(Me)8] and metallocene dimers [Cp*2Ln(AlMe4)]2 (Ln = Tb, Gd). Applying TBME as a "cleaving" reagent can result in both TBME deprotonation and ether cleavage, as shown for the formation of the 24-membered macrocycle [(Cp*Gd)2(Me)(CH2OtBu)2(AlMe4)]4 or monolanthanum complex [Cp*La(AlMe4){Me3Al(CH2)OtBu}] and monoyttrium complex [Cp*Y(AlMe4)(Me3AlOtBu)], respectively. Complexes [Cp*Ln(AlMe4)2] (Ln = Ho, Dy, Tb, Gd) and [Cp*LnMe2]3 (Ln = Ho, Dy) are applied in isoprene and 1,3-butadiene polymerization, upon activation with borates [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] and [PhNHMe2][B(C6F5)4], as well as borane B(C6F5)3. The trans-directing effect of AlMe3 in the binary systems [Cp*Ln(AlMe4)2]/borate is revealed and further corroborated by the fabrication of high-cis-1,4 polybutadiene (97%) with "aluminum-free" [Cp*DyMe2]3/[Ph3C][B(C6F5)4]. The formation of multimetallic active species is supported by the polymerization activity of pre-isolated cluster [(Cp*Ho)3Me4(CH2)(thf)2].

Spin Crossover in a Hexaamineiron(II) Complex: Experimental Confirmation of a Computational Prediction.

Single crystal structural analysis of [FeII (tame)2 ]Cl2 ⋅MeOH (tame=1,1,1-tris(aminomethyl)ethane) as a function of temperature reveals a smooth crossover between a high temperature high-spin octahedral d6 state and a low temperature low-spin ground state without change of the symmetry of the crystal structure. The temperature at which the high and low spin states are present in equal proportions is T1/2 =140 K. Single crystal, variable-temperature optical spectroscopy of [FeII (tame)2 ]Cl2 ⋅MeOH is consistent with this change in electronic ground state. These experimental results confirm the spin activity predicted for [FeII (tame)2 ]2+ during its de novo artificial evolution design as a spin-crossover complex [Chem. Inf. MODEL: 2015, 55, 1844], offering the first experimental validation of a functional transition-metal complex predicted by such in silico molecular design methods. Additional quantum chemical calculations offer, together with the crystal structure analysis, insight into the role of spin-passive structural components. A thermodynamic analysis based on an Ising-like mean field model (Slichter-Drickammer approximation) provides estimates of the enthalpy, entropy and cooperativity of the crossover between the high and low spin states.

Trivalent Rare-Earth-Metal Bis(trimethylsilyl)amide Halide Complexes by Targeted Oxidations.

In contrast to previously applied salt metathesis protocols the targeted rare-earth-metal compounds Ln[N(SiMe3)2]2(halogenido) were accessed by oxidation of Ln(II) silylamide precursors. Treatment of Sm[N(SiMe3)3]2(thf)2 with 0.5 equiv of C2Cl6 or 0.25 equiv of TeBr4 in thf and crystallization thereof gave [Sm{N(SiMe3)2}2(µ-X)(thf)]2 (X = Cl, Br). A similar reaction/crystallization procedure performed with 0.5 equiv of 1,2-diiodoethane gave monomeric Sm[N(SiMe3)2]2I(thf)2. Switching to Yb[N(SiMe3)2]2(thf)2, the aforementioned oxidants generated monomeric five-coordinate complexes Yb[N(SiMe3)2]2X(thf)2 (X = Cl, Br, I). The reaction of Eu[N(SiMe3)2]2(thf)2 with 0.5 equiv of C2Cl6 in thf yielded the separated ion pair [Eu{N(SiMe3)2}3Cl][(thf)5Eu(µ-Cl)2Eu(thf)5]. Performing the chlorination in n-hexane led to oxidation followed by rapid disproportionation into EuCl3(thf) x and Eu[N(SiMe3)2]3. The bromination reaction did not afford crystalline material, while the iodination gave crystals of divalent EuI2(thf)5. Use of trityl chloride (Ph3CCl) as the oxidant in thf accomplished the Eu(III) species [Eu{N(SiMe3)2}2(µ-Cl)(thf)]2. In situ oxidation of putative [Tm{N(SiMe3)2}2(thf) x] using 0.5 equiv of C2Cl6 in thf followed by crystallization from n-hexane led to the formation of a mixture of [Tm{N(SiMe3)2}2(µ-Cl)(thf)]2 and Tm[N(SiMe3)2]3. Switching the oxidant to 0.5 equiv of 1,2-diiodoethane and crystallizing from thf repeatedly afforded the bis-halogenated complex Tm[N(SiMe3)2]I2(thf)3.

Loss and Reformation of Ruthenium Alkylidene: Connecting Olefin Metathesis, Catalyst Deactivation, Regeneration, and Isomerization.

Ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts are used in laboratory-scale organic synthesis across chemistry, largely thanks to their ease of handling and functional group tolerance. In spite of this robustness, these catalysts readily decompose, via little-understood pathways, to species that promote double-bond migration (isomerization) in both the 1-alkene reagents and the internal-alkene products. We have studied, using density functional theory (DFT), the reactivity of the Hoveyda-Grubbs second-generation catalyst 2 with allylbenzene, and discovered a facile new decomposition pathway. In this pathway, the alkylidene ligand is lost, via ring expansion of the metallacyclobutane intermediate, leading to the spin-triplet 12-electron complex (SIMes)RuCl2 (3R21, SIMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene). DFT calculations predict 3R21 to be a very active alkene isomerization initiator, either operating as a catalyst itself, via a η3-allyl mechanism, or, after spin inversion to give R21 and formation of a cyclometalated Ru-hydride complex, via a hydride mechanism. The calculations also suggest that the alkylidene-free ruthenium complexes may regenerate alkylidene via dinuclear ruthenium activation of alkene. The predicted capacity to initiate isomerization is confirmed in catalytic tests using p-cymene-stabilized R21 (5), which promotes isomerization in particular under conditions favoring dissociation of p-cymene and disfavoring formation of aggregates of 5. The same qualitative trends in the relative metathesis and isomerization selectivities are observed in identical tests of 2, indicating that 5 and 2 share the same catalytic cycles for both metathesis and isomerization, consistent with the calculated reaction network covering metathesis, alkylidene loss, isomerization, and alkylidene regeneration.

Asymmetric synthesis of chloroisothreonine derivatives via syn-stereoselective Mannich-type additions across N-sulfinyl-α-chloroimines.

Mannich-type reactions of O-Boc glycolic esters across chiral N-sulfinyl-α-chloroaldimines resulted in the efficient and syn-stereoselective synthesis of new γ-chloro-α-hydroxy-ß-amino esters (dr > 99 : 1). The α-coordinating ability of the chlorine atom was of great importance for the diastereoselectivity of the Mannich-type reaction and overruled the chelation of the sulfinyl oxygen with the lithium ion of the incoming E-enolate in the transition state model. These novel chloroisothreonine derivatives proved to be excellent building blocks in asymmetric synthesis of novel syn-ß,γ-aziridino-α-hydroxy esters and biologically relevant trans-oxazolidinone carboxylic esters.

Dynamics and thermodynamics of crystalline polymorphs. 3. γ-Glycine, analysis of variable-temperature atomic displacement parameters, and comparison of polymorph stabilities.

In a series of systematic studies, we have investigated the molecular motion in crystals of the glycine polymorphs and determined their thermodynamic functions from an analysis of multitemperature atomic displacement parameters (ADPs) combined with ONIOM calculation on 15-molecule clusters. The studies are aimed at providing insight into the factors governing the relative stabilities of the α-, ß-, and γ-polymorphs. This Article, the last in the series, focuses on the most stable polymorph, γ-glycine. Multitemperature diffraction data of the γ-glycine polymorph have been collected to 0.5 Å resolution between 10 and 300 K at two synchrotron beamlines, KEK Photon Factory and ID11 of the ESRF. The ADPs of γ-glycine from these sources differ significantly, as previously observed also for the other two polymorphs. A simple model of rigid body motion explains the ADPs from KEK and their temperature dependence. It provides lattice vibration frequencies that are in line with those from Raman spectroscopy. Together with the internal vibration frequencies from an ONIOM calculation, the thermodynamic functions are estimated using the Einstein, Debye, and Nernst-Lindemann models of heat capacity. The relative stabilities of the three polymorphs of glycine are discussed on the basis of the contributions to their free energies as obtained in this work and from various experimental and theoretical studies. The comparison shows that the free-energy differences are determined primarily by differences in lattice and zero-point vibrational energies.

Synthesis and stability of the [45Ti]Ti-DOTA complex: en route towards aza-macrocyclic 45Ti-based radiopharmaceuticals.

We report the use of DOTA as a chelator for titanium. The resulting complex is fully characterised and in vitro stability studies reveal its high kinetic inertness against transmetallation and transchelation. The radiolabeling of DOTA with 45Ti, via a guaiacol-based liquid-liquid extraction method, leads to a high radiochemical conversion up to 98%.

Simple and highly Z-selective ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalyst.

A one-step substitution of a single chloride anion of the Grubbs-Hoveyda second-generation catalyst with a 2,4,6-triphenylbenzenethiolate ligand resulted in an active olefin metathesis catalyst with remarkable Z selectivity, reaching 96% in metathesis homocoupling of terminal olefins. High turnover numbers (up to 2000 for homocoupling of 1-octene) were obtained along with sustained appreciable Z selectivity (>85%). Apart from the Z selectivity, many properties of the new catalyst, such as robustness toward oxygen and water as well as a tendency to isomerize substrates and react with internal olefin products, resemble those of the parent catalyst.

Reactivity of yttrium carboxylates toward alkylaluminum hydrides.

Yttrocene-carboxylate complex [Cp*2Y(OOCAr(Me))] (Cp*=C5Me5, Ar(Me) =C6H2Me3-2,4,6) was synthesized as a spectroscopically versatile model system for investigating the reactivity of alkylaluminum hydrides towards rare-earth-metal carboxylates. Equimolar reactions with bis-neosilylaluminum hydride and dimethylaluminum hydride gave adduct complexes of the general formula [Cp*2Y(µ-OOCAr(Me))(µ-H)AlR2] (R=CH2SiMe3, Me). The use of an excess of the respective aluminum hydride led to the formation of product mixtures, from which the yttrium-aluminum-hydride complex [{Cp*2Y(µ-H)AlMe2(µ-H)AlMe2(µ-CH3)}2] could be isolated, which features a 12-membered-ring structure. The adduct complexes [Cp*2Y(µ-OOCAr(Me))(µ-H)AlR2] display identical (1)J(Y,H) coupling constants of 24.5 Hz for the bridging hydrido ligands and similar (89)Y NMR shifts of δ=-88.1 ppm (R=CH2SiMe3) and δ=-86.3 ppm (R=Me) in the (89)Y DEPT45 NMR experiments.

Synthesis of 2-hydroxy-1,4-oxazin-3-ones through ring transformation of 3-hydroxy-4-(1,2-dihydroxyethyl)-ß-lactams and a study of their reactivity.

The reactivity of 3-hydroxy-4-(1,2-dihydroxyethyl)-ß-lactams with regard to the oxidant sodium periodate was evaluated, unexpectedly resulting in the exclusive formation of new 2-hydroxy-1,4-oxazin-3-ones through a C3C4 bond cleavage of the intermediate 4-formyl-3-hydroxy-ß-lactams followed by a ring expansion. This peculiar transformation stands in sharp contrast with the known NaIO(4)-mediated oxidation of 3-alkoxy- and 3-phenoxy-4-(1,2-dihydroxyethyl)-ß-lactams, which exclusively leads to the corresponding 4-formyl-ß-lactams without a subsequent ring enlargement. In addition, this new class of functionalized oxazin-3-ones was further evaluated for its potential use as building blocks in the synthesis of a variety of differently substituted oxazin-3-ones, morpholin-3-ones and pyrazinones. Furthermore, additional insights into the mechanism and the factors governing this new ring-expansion reaction were provided by means of density functional theory calculations.

Nucleophile-directed selective transformation of cis-1-tosyl-2-tosyloxymethyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)aziridine into aziridines, azetidines, and benzo-fused dithianes, oxathianes, dioxanes, and (thio)morpholines.

A five-step procedure for the synthesis of cis-1-tosyl-2-tosyloxymethyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)aziridine was developed, starting from 1-ethoxy-2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, involving imination, aziridination, ester reduction, hydrogenation, and N-,O-ditosylation steps. Further synthetic elaborations revealed a remarkable difference in the reactivity of cis-1-tosyl-2-tosyloxymethyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)aziridine with respect to aromatic sulfur and oxygen nucleophiles, thus enabling the selective deployment of this versatile substrate as a building block for the synthesis of functionalized aziridines, azetidines, and benzo-fused dithianes, oxathianes, dioxanes, and (thio)morpholines.

Synthesis of 2-aminomethyl-4-phenyl-1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes via LiAlH4-induced reductive cyclization of 2-(4-chloro-2-cyano-2-phenylbutyl)aziridines and evaluation of their antimalarial activity.

2-(4-Chloro-2-cyano-2-phenylbutyl)aziridines were employed for the one-step stereoselective construction of both endo- and exo-2-aminomethyl-4-phenyl-1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes as new azaheterobicyclic scaffolds via a double LiAlH(4)-induced reductive cyclization protocol. Antiplasmodial assessment of these 1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes revealed moderate to good activities in the micromolar range, with the exo-isomers being the most promising structures. Furthermore, the proposed mode of action was supported by ligand docking studies, pointing to a strong binding interaction with the enzyme plasmepsin II.

Dynamics and thermodynamics of crystalline polymorphs. 2. ß-Glycine, analysis of variable-temperature atomic displacement parameters.

The molecular dynamics in the crystal and the thermodynamic functions of the ß-polymorph of glycine have been determined from a combination of molecular translation-libration frequencies reflecting the temperature dependence of atomic displacement parameters (ADPs), with frequencies derived from ONIOM(DFT:PM3) calculations on a 15-molecule ß-glycine cluster. ADPs have been obtained from variable-temperature diffraction data to 0.5 Å resolution collected with X-ray synchrotron (10-300 K) and sealed tube radiation (50-298 K). At the higher temperatures, the ADPs of ß-glycine from synchrotron are larger than those from sealed tube probably due to different experimental conditions. The lattice vibration frequencies from normal-mode analysis of ADPs and the internal vibration frequencies from ONIOM(B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p):PM3) calculations agree with those from spectroscopy. Estimation of thermodynamic functions using the vibrational frequencies, the Einstein and Debye models of heat capacity, and the room-temperature compressibility provides C(p), H(vib), and S(vib) that agree with those from calorimetry. The ß-phase with higher H and G is found to be less stable than the α-phase in the temperature range of the experiment.

Radical-mediated nitrile translocation as the key step in the stereoselective transformation of 2-(4-chloro-2-cyanobutyl)aziridines to methyl cis-(1-arylmethyl-4-phenylpiperidin-2-yl)acetates.

Non-activated 2-(4-chloro-2-cyano-2-phenylbutyl)aziridines were used as building blocks for the stereoselective synthesis of novel cis-2-cyanomethyl-4-phenylpiperidines via a microwave-assisted aziridine to piperidine ring expansion followed by a radical-induced nitrile translocation through initial formation and subsequent cleavage of intermediate bicyclic iminyl radicals. Furthermore, these 2-(cyanomethyl)piperidines were shown to be eligible substrates for the preparation of methyl cis-(1-arylmethyl-4-piperidin-2-yl)acetates through a Pinner reaction using gaseous HCl in methanol.

Asymmetric synthesis of γ-chloro-α,ß-diamino- and ß,γ-aziridino-α-aminoacylpyrrolidines and -piperidines via stereoselective Mannich-type additions of N-(diphenylmethylene)glycinamides across α-chloro-N-sulfinylimines.

The asymmetric synthesis of new chiral γ-chloro-α,ß-diaminocarboxylamide derivatives by highly diastereoselective Mannich-type reactions of N-(diphenylmethylene)glycinamides across chiral α-chloro-N-p-toluenesulfinylaldimines was developed. The resulting (S(S),2S,3S)-γ-chloro-α,ß-diaminocarboxylamides were formed with the opposite enantiotopic face selectivity as compared to the (S(S),2R,3R)-γ-chloro-α,ß-diaminocarboxyl esters obtained via Mannich-type addition of analogous N-(diphenylmethylene)glycine esters across a chiral α-chloro-N-p-toluenesulfinylaldimine. Selective deprotection under different acidic reaction conditions and ring closure of the γ-chloro-α,ß-diaminocarboxylamides was optimized, which resulted in N(α)-deprotected syn-γ-chloro-α,ß-diaminocarboxylamides, N-sulfinyl-ß,γ-aziridino-α-aminocarboxylamide derivatives, a trans-imidazolidine, and an N(α),N(ß)-deprotected syn-γ-chloro-α,ß-diaminocarboxylamide.