Transition-metal-free oxidative cyclization reaction of enynals to access pyrane-2-one derivatives.

A novel and efficient metal-free C-H functionalization of enynals is developed to synthesize α-pyrone derivatives via the formation of two C-O bonds. In this project, K2S2O8 has been introduced as an efficient oxygen source and C-H functionalization agent in regioselective oxidative cyclization reaction with a relatively broad substrate scope.

One-pot activation-alkynylation-cyclization synthesis of 1,5-diacyl-5-hydroxypyrazolines in a consecutive three-component fashion.

A consecutive three-component activation-alkynylation-cyclization reaction of (hetero)aryl glyoxylic acids, oxalyl chloride, arylacetylenes, and hydrazides efficiently forms 1,5-diacyl-5-hydroxypyrazolines in moderate to good yields. The structures were unambiguously corroborated by comprehensive NMR spectroscopy and X-ray structure analyses of selected derivatives.

A General Route to Metal-Substituted Dipnictenes of the Type [L(X)M]2 E2.

Two equivalents of LGa (L=HC[C(Me)N(2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 )]2 ) reacted with PX3 (X=Cl, Br) with insertion into two P-X bonds and formation of [L(X)Ga]2 PX (X=Cl 1, Br 2), whereas the analogous reaction with AsCl3 occurred with twofold insertion and subsequent elimination of LGaCl2 and formation of the Ga-substituted diarsene [L(Cl)Ga]2 As2 (3). Analogous findings were observed in the reactions with Me2 NAsCl2 , yielding the unsymmetrically-substituted diarsene [L(Cl)Ga]As=As[Ga(NMe2 )L] (4). The reaction of As(NMe2 )3 with LGa gave [L(Me2 N)Ga]2 As2 (5) after heating at 165 °C for five days, whereas the reaction with LAl gave [L(Me2 N)Al]2 As2 (6) after heating at only 80 °C for one day. Finally, two equivalents of LGa reacted with Bi(NEt2 )3 to give [L(Et2 N)Ga]2 Bi2 (7). Complexes 1-7 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy (1 H, 13 C, 31 P), elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (except for 1 and 5). The bonding situations in 4, 6, and 7 were analyzed by quantum chemical calculations.

Domino Insertion-Coupling Synthesis of Solid-State Luminescent Propynylidene Indolones.

The compound class of 3-arylpropynylidene indolones, key intermediates in consecutive three-component syntheses of various indole-based chromophores with peculiar emission characteristics, are readily synthesized by a domino insertion-coupling synthesis with an electronically diverse substitution pattern in moderate to excellent yields. The title compounds are formed in E/Z-ratios from 100:0 to 0:100. Besides structure elucidation by NMR-spectroscopy and X-ray structure analysis, DFT calculations have been employed to rationalize the observed stereoselectivity. The photophysical properties of 3-arylpropynylidene indolones are characterized by intense, tunable, solid-state emission of N-substituted derivatives as quantified for drop-cast films. The electronic ground state structure was corroborated by DFT and TD-DFT calculations, showing that gradient-corrected exchange and correlation PBE (Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof) functionals can be successfully employed to correctly reproduce the observed absorption characteristics of merocyanine derivatives. The huge Stokes shifts strongly depend on the electronic substitution pattern as supported by Hammett-Taft correlations.

Comprehensive Study on Reactions of Group 13 Diyls with Tetraorganodipentelanes.

L1Ga {L1 = HC[C(Me)N(2,6- iPr2C6H3)]2} reversibly reacts with E2Ph4 (E = Sb, Bi) in a temperature-dependent equilibrium reaction with insertion into the E-E bond and formation of L1Ga(EPh2)2 (E = Sb 1, Bi 2). Analogous findings were observed in the reactions of L2Ga {L2 = (C6H11)2NC[N(2,6- iPr2C6H3)]2} with E2R4 (R = Ph, Et), yielding L2Ga(EPh2)2 (E = Sb 3, Bi 4) and L2Ga(EEt2)2 (E = Sb 5, Bi 6). 1-3 and 5 were isolated by fractional crystallization at low temperature, whereas 4 and 6 could not be isolated in their pure form even at low temperature. In contrast, reactions of [Cp*Al]4 (Cp* = C5Me5) with Sb2R4 (R = Ph, Et) and Bi2Et4 did not proceed with insertion into the E-E bonds but with formation of (Cp*Al)3E2 (E = Sb, 7; Bi, 8), whereas the reaction with Bi2Ph4 yielded metallic bismuth. 8 was also formed in the reaction of [Cp*Al]4 and BiEt3 at ambient temperature, whereas the analogous reaction of [Cp*Al]4 with SbEt3 did not yield 7 even under drastic reaction conditions (120 °C, 3 days). In contrast, Cp*Ga and Sb2R4 (R = Ph, Et) were found to react only at elevated temperature (120 °C) with formation of antimony metal.

Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of Ga-Substituted Distibenes and Sb-Analogues of Bicyclo[1.1.0]butane.

Monovalent gallanediyl LGa {L=HC[C(Me)N(2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 )]2 } reacts with SbX3 to form the Ga-substituted distibenes [(LGaX)2 Sb2 ] (X=NMeEt 1, Cl 2). Upon heating, 2 reacts to the bicyclo[1.1.0]butane analogue [(LGaCl)2 (µ,η1:1 -Sb4 )] 3 containing a [Sb4 ]2- dianion. Moreover, 2 reacts with Li amides LiNR2 in salt elimination reactions that form the corresponding amido-substituted compounds 1 and [(LGaNMe2 )2 Sb2 ] 4, whereas reactions of 4 and [(LGaNMe2 )2 (µ,η1:1 -Sb4 )] 5 with two equivalents of GaCl3 resulted in the formation of 2 and 3, respectively. 1, 2 and 3 were characterized by 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. In addition, their bonding situation was analyzed by quantum chemical calculations.

Four- and Five-Component Syntheses and Photophysical Properties of Emission Solvatochromic 3-Aminovinylquinoxalines.

3-Aminovinylquinoxalines are readily accessible from (hetero)aryl glyoxylic acids or heterocyclic π-nucleophiles by consecutive four- and five-component syntheses in the sense of an activation-alkynylation-cyclocondensation-addition sequence or glyoxylation-alkynylation-cyclocondensation-addition sequence in good yields. The title compounds are highly fluorescent with pronounced emission solvatochromicity and protochromic fluorescence quenching. Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy furnishes radiative and nonradiative fluorescence decay rates in various solvent polarities. The electronic structure is corroborated by DFT and TD-DFT calculations rationalizing the observed spectroscopic effects.

Unusual bonding and properties in main group element chemistry: rational synthesis, characterization, and experimental electron density determination of mixed-valent tetraphosphetes.

Five dispirocyclic λ(3),λ(5)-tetraphosphetes [{R2Si(NR(1))(NR(2))P2}2] (R(1) = R(2) and R(1) ≠ R(2)) are easily prepared in almost quantitative yields via photolysis of the respective bis(trimethylsilyl)phosphanyldiazaphosphasiletidines with intense visible light. These deep-yellow low-coordinate phosphorus compounds can be considered as the first higher congeners of the well-known cyclodiphosphazenes. The tetraphosphetes are remarkably stable in air and show unexpected molecular properties related to the unique bonding situation of the central four-π-electron four-membered phosphorus ring. The extent of rhombic distortion of the central P4 ring is remarkable due to an unusually acute angle at the σ(2)-phosphorus atoms. All of the P-P bonds are approximately equal in length. The distances are in the middle of the range given by phosphorus single and double bonds. The anisotropic absorption of visible light that can easily be observed in the case of the yellow/colorless dichroic crystals of [{Me2Si(NtBu)(NtBu)P2}2] and the exceptional (31)P NMR chemical shift of the σ(2)-phosphorus atoms are the most remarkable features of the λ(3),λ(5)-tetraphosphetes. In the case of [{Me2Si(NtBu)(NtBu)P2}2], the Hansen-Coppens multipole model is applied to extract the electron density from high-resolution X-ray diffraction data obtained at 100 K. Static deformation density and topological analysis reveal a unique bonding situation in the central unsaturated P4 fragment characterized by polar σ-bonding, pronounced out-of-ring non-bonding lone pair density on the σ(2)-phosphorus atoms, and an additional non-classical three-center back-bonding contribution.

Design, synthesis, and conformational analysis of trispyrimidonamides as α-helix mimetics.

The straightforward synthesis of trispyrimidonamides as a new class of α-helix mimetics is reported. Because of the versatility of our synthetic protocol, a variety of side chains including aliphatic, basic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic residues were included. A comprehensive conformational analysis revealed that in polar solvents a trimeric compound adopts conformations that can lead to i, i + 4, i + 8, or i, i + 8 patterns of side chain orientation. This suggests that trispyrimidonamides could be promising α-helix mimetics to target hot spots that are distributed over a wider angular range of an α-helix interface than in the classical i, i + 4, i + 7 case.

Solvatochromic fluorescent 2-substituted 3-ethynyl quinoxalines: four-component synthesis, photophysical properties, and electronic structure.

2-Substituted 3-ethynylquinoxalines can be rapidly synthesized in generally excellent yields by a consecutive four-component synthesis starting from electron-rich π-nucleophiles, oxalyl chloride, terminal alkynes, and 1,2-diaminoarenes. The title compounds are highly fluorescent with a pronounced emission solvatochromism. The photophysical properties and electronic structure were additionally corroborated by computations on the DFT level of theory.

Expanding the chemistry of cationic N-heterocyclic carbenes: alternative synthesis, reactivity, and coordination chemistry.

A new synthetic route to complexes of the cationic N-heterocyclic carbene ligand 2 has been developed by the attachment of a cationic pentamethylcyclopentadienylruthenium ([RuCp*](+)) fragment to a metal-coordinated benzimidazol-2-ylidene ligand. The coordination chemistry and the steric and electronic properties of the cationic carbene were investigated in detail by experimental and theoretical methods. X-ray structures of three carbene-metal complexes were determined. The cationic ligand 2 is a poorer overall electron donor relative to the related neutral carbene, which is evident from cyclic voltammetry (CV) and IR measurements.

Aryl hetaryl ketones and thioketones as efficient inhibitors of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases.

A series of 18 differently substituted new aryl hetaryl ketones and thioketones were synthesized in four to six steps from commercial starting materials. The new ketones were evaluated as inhibitors of the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase hPin1 with K(i) values ranging in the one-digit micromolar to sub-micromolar numbers. A crystal structure revealed the non-planar arrangement of the aryl residues at the carbonyl compound and supports the hypothesis that the new compounds might mimic the transition state of the enzymatic conversion.

Hexaaqua-aluminium(III) tris-(methane-sulfonate).

The title compound, [Al(H(2)O)(6)](CH(3)SO(3))(3) (common name: aluminium methane-sulfonate hexa-hydrate), was crystallized from an aqueous solution prepared by the precipitation reaction of aluminium sulfate and barium methane-sulfonate. Its crystal structure is the first of the boron group methane-sulfonates to be determined. The characteristic building block is a centrosymmetric unit containing two hexa-aqua-aluminium cations that are connected to each other by two O atoms of the -SO(3) groups in an O-H⋯O⋯H-O sequence. Further O-H⋯O hydrogen bonding links these blocks in orthogonal directions - along [010] forming a double chain array, along [10-1] forming a layered arrangement of parallel chains and along [101] forming a three-dimensional network. As indicated by the O⋯O distances of 2.600 (3)-2.715 (3) Å, the hydrogen bonds are from medium-strong to strong. A further structural feature is the arrangement of two and four methyl groups, respectively, establishing 'hydro-phobic islands' of different size, all positioned in a layer-like region perpendicular to [101]. The only other building block within this region is one of the -SO(3) groups giving a local connection between the hydro-philic structural regions on both sides of the 'hydro-phobic' one. Thermal analysis indicates that a stepwise dehydration process starts at about 413 K and proceeds via the respective penta- and dihydrate until the compound completely decomposes at about 688 K.

Mixed crystal of bis-(ammonium/oxonium) tetra-aqua-µ3-fluorido-dodeca-kis-(µ2-tri-fluoro-acetato)octa-hedro-hexa-ytterbiate(III) tetra-hydrate, [(NH4)1-x (H3O) x ]2[Yb6F8(O2CCF3)12(H2O)4]·4H2O (x = 1/4), containing a hexa-nuclear ytterbium(III) carboxyl-ate complex with face-capping fluoride ligands and comprising an unusual kind of substitutional disorder.

The reaction of ytterbium metal with ammonium tri-fluoro-acetate in liquid ammonia resulted in a green substance comprising a substantial amount of ytterbium(II) tri-fluoro-acetate that is a useful precursor for the oxidative synthesis of the new ytterbium(III) compound, [(NH4)1-x (H3O) x ]2[Yb6F8(O2CCF3)12(H2O)4]·4H2O (x = 1/4), in aqueous tri-fluoro-acetic acid. This mixed ammonium/oxonium crystalline solid is the first example of a substance containing an octa-hedro-hexa-nuclear ytterbium(III) complex with µ3-face-capping fluorido ligands. The main structural features of its [Yb6F8] core are non-bonding Yb⋯Yb distances and Yb-F bond lengths of 3.7576 (3)-3.9413 (5) and 2.2375 (17)-2.3509 (17) Å, respectively. Yb-O bond lengths involving the O atoms of O,O'-bridging carboxyl-ato ligands and vertex-substituting aqua ligands are in the ranges 2.23 (4)-2.329 (2) and 2.448 (2)-2.544 (3) Å, respectively. These bond lengths are in accordance with expectations, taking into account lanthanoid contraction. Inter-estingly, there is a significant ammonium versus oxonium ion site dependence, not only of the hydrate water mol-ecule positions within the solid's hydrogen-bonding framework, but also of the coordination sites of one carboxyl-ato and one aqua ligand in the hexa-nuclear complex.

Oxidation of europium with ammonium perfluorocarboxylates in liquid ammonia: pathways to europium(II) carboxylates and hexanuclear europium(III) fluoridocarboxylate complexes.

The novel coordination polymer [Eu(O2CCF3)2(dmf)2]∞ (1) (dmf = N,N-dimethylformamide) containing europium(II) and the two new compounds (NH4)2[Eu6F8(O2CCF3)12(CF3COOH)6] (2) and (NH4)2[Eu6F8(O2CC2F5)12(C2F5COOH)6]·8C2F5COOH (3), both based on hexanuclear europiate(III) complexes, were synthesized from precursors with a Eu2+ : Eu3+ ratio >1, obtained by reaction of europium metal with ammonium perfluorocarboxylates in liquid ammonia. In the crystal structure of 1 the europium(II) ions are bridged by carboxylate groups and N,N-dimethylformamide to form polymeric chains with Eu2+⋯Eu2+ distances of 408.39(13)-410.49(13) pm. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1̄ (Z = 2). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a (solvated) perfluorocarboxylate containing a lanthanoid in a subvalent oxidation state. In the crystal structures of 2 and 3 the europium(III) ions are bridged by fluoride ions and carboxylate groups to form hexanuclear complex anions with an octahedral arrangement of the cations. The Eu3+⋯Eu3+ distances are in the range of 398.27(15)-400.93(15) pm in 2 and 395.37(4)-399.78(5) pm in 3, respectively. Both compounds crystallize in the monoclinic space group type P21/n (Z = 4) and are the first examples of octahedro-hexanuclear europium carboxylates for which fluoride is reported as a bridging ligand. In all compounds the oxidation state of europium was monitored via151Eu Mössbauer and photoluminescene spectroscopy.

Enantioselective and diastereoselective Tsuji-Trost allylic alkylation of lactones: an experimental and computational study.

The Tsuji-Trost protocol has been successfully employed for the allylic alkylation of preformed lactone enolates. It has been demonstrated that this Pd-catalyzed reaction can be carried out in an enantio- and diastereoselective manner. The use of additives, such as LiCl, was found to be crucial for reaching high levels of product selectivity. For one particular pair of reactants, density functional theory was used to investigate the mechanism of the nucleophilic addition. Among the five pathways considered, the reaction between an (allyl)Pd(BINAP) complex and a LiCl-lithium enolate adduct is predicted to be the most likely route for C-C bond formation. LiCl plays a key role as the connecting link between the noble metal and the enolate in the kinetically favored transition state. The computed diastereoselectivity ratio is in good agreement with the experimentally observed value.

Blue-luminescent 5-(3-indolyl)oxazoles via microwave-assisted three-component coupling-cycloisomerization-Fischer indole synthesis.

Aryl-substituted 5-(3-indolyl)oxazoles are readily synthesized in a novel one-pot three-component synthesis consisting of a microwave assisted sequence of Sonogashira coupling, an acid-catalyzed cycloisomerization, and a concluding Fischer indole synthesis. All title compounds are intensely blue-luminescent with large Stokes shifts upon UV-irradiation. The experimental absorption spectra are rationalized by ZINDO-CI computations based upon DFT geometry optimization.

Stereogenic boron in 2-amino-1,1-diphenylethanol-based boronate-imine and amine complexes.

Racemic boronate-imine and boronate-amine complexes 8 and 10, both featuring a stereogenic boron atom were synthesized from 2-amino-1,1-diphenylethanol (5) and characterized by crystal structure analyses. Proof of enantiomerism at the boron center for the novel boronate-amine complex 10 was established by separation of the enantiomers. Racemization barriers were found to be in the same range for both amine and imine complexes (100-110 kJ/mol).

Microwave-assisted three-component coupling-addition-S(N)Ar (CASNAR) sequences to annelated 4H-thiopyran-4-ones.

A whole family of annelated 4H-thiopyran-4-ones as the core structural unit was readily synthesized in good yields by a microwave-assisted coupling-addition-S(N)Ar (CASNAR) sequence starting from readily available (het)aroyl chlorides, alkynes and sodium sulfide nonahydrate in a consecutive one-pot three-component reaction. All representatives display a pronounced halochromicity of the absorption bands upon protonation. According to DFT calculations, the electronic ground state of the annelated 4H-thiopyran-4-ones possess a considerable zwitterionic character.

The betainic form of (imidazol-2-yl)phenylphosphinic acid hydrate.

Single crystals of the title compound, (imidazolium-2-yl)phenyl-phosphinate monohydrate, C(9)H(9)N(2)O(2)·H(2)O, were ob-tained from methanol/water after deprotection and oxidation of bis-(1-diethoxy-methyl-imidazol-2-yl)phenyl-phosphane. In the structure, several N-H⋯O and P-O⋯H-O hydrogen bonds are found. π-π inter-actions between the protonated imidazolyl rings [centroid-centroid distance = 3.977 (2) Å] help to establish the crystal packing. The hydrate water mol-ecule builds hydrogen bridges to three mol-ecules of the phosphinic acid by the O and both H atoms.