Synthesis of d-mannitol-based crown ethers and their application as catalyst in asymmetric phase transfer reactions.

A few new d-mannitol-based monoaza-15-crown-5 type chiral lariat ethers and 18-crown-6 type macrocycles were synthesized. These crown compounds were used as phase transfer catalysts in asymmetric Michael addititons and in a Darzens condensation under mild conditions to afford the corresponding products in a few cases in good to excellent enantioselectivities. In the Michael addition of diethyl acetoxymalonate to trans-chalcone, in the addition of diethyl acetamidomalonate to ß-nitrostyrene, in the reaction of diethyl bromomalonate with benzylidene malononitriles, in the cyclopropanation reaction of diethyl bromomalonate and 2-benzylidene-1,3-indandione, and in the Darzens condensation of α-chloroacetophenone with benzaldehyde, maximum enantioselectivities of 39%, 65%, 99%, 56%, and 62%, respectively, were obtained in the presence of the d-mannitol-based macrocycles as the catalysts.

Stereoselective synthesis of trans-dihydronarciclasine derivatives containing a 1,4-benzodioxane moiety.

ABSTRACT: Some new trans-dihydronarciclasine derivatives containing a 1,4-benzodioxane moiety were stereoselectively synthesised using our feasible and efficient method developed recently. These new phenanthridone alkaloid analogues were obtained in both racemic and optically active forms. High enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) were achieved by applying (8S,9S)-9-amino(9-deoxy)epiquinine as an organocatalyst. Due to a side reaction, various methoxyphenanthridine regioisomers were also prepared which afforded further synthetic trans-dihydronarciclasine analogues modified in the ring A of the phenanthridone scaffold.

Proton dissociation properties of arylphosphonates: Determination of accurate Hammett equation parameters.

Determination of the proton dissociation constants of several arylphosphonic acid derivatives was carried out to investigate the accuracy of the Hammett equations available for this family of compounds. For the measurement of the pKa values modern, accurate methods, such as the differential potentiometric titration and NMR-pH titration were used. We found our results significantly different from the pKa values reported before (pKa1: MAE = 0.16 pKa2: MAE=0.59). Based on our recently measured pKa values, refined Hammett equations were determined that might be used for predicting highly accurate ionization constants of newly synthesized compounds (pKa1=1.70-0.894σ, pKa2=6.92-0.934σ).

The First Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (-)-trans-Dihydronarciclasine.

A feasible and enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-trans-dihydronarciclasine [(-)-1], a highly biologically active alkaloid, was devised starting from vanillin (8). The key step of this new synthesis was an asymmetric, organocatalytic Michael addition, in which an optically active nitropentanone [(-)-13] was obtained from a butenone derivative (12). Excellent enantioselectivity (>99% ee) was achieved using the (8S,9S)-9-amino(9-deoxy)epiquinine (16) organocatalyst. The target molecule can be prepared in 13 steps from compound (-)-13. The total synthesis has provided a facile and first access to the ent-form of naturally occurring (+)-trans-dihydronarciclasine, a highly potent cytostatic alkaloid.

Synthesis of l-threitol-based crown ethers and their application as enantioselective phase transfer catalyst in Michael additions.

A few new l-threitol-based lariat ethers incorporating a monoaza-15-crown-5 unit were synthesized starting from diethyl l-tartrate. These macrocycles were used as phase transfer catalysts in asymmetric Michael addition reactions under mild conditions to afford the adducts in a few cases in good to excellent enantioselectivities. The addition of 2-nitropropane to trans-chalcone, and the reaction of diethyl acetamidomalonate with ß-nitrostyrene resulted in the chiral Michael adducts in good enantioselectivities (90% and 95%, respectively). The substituents of chalcone had a significant impact on the yield and enantioselectivity in the reaction of diethyl acetoxymalonate. The highest enantiomeric excess (ee) values (99% ee) were measured in the case of 4-chloro- and 4-methoxychalcone. The phase transfer catalyzed cyclopropanation reaction of chalcone and benzylidene-malononitriles using diethyl bromomalonate as the nucleophile (MIRC reaction) was also developed. The corresponding chiral cyclopropane diesters were obtained in moderate to good (up to 99%) enantioselectivities in the presence of the threitol-based crown ethers.

Synthesis of Hydroxymethylenebisphosphonic Acid Derivatives in Different Solvents.

The syntheses of hydroxymethylenebisphosphonic acid derivatives (dronic acid derivatives) starting from the corresponding substituted acetic acids and P-reagents, mainly phosphorus trichloride and phosphorous acid are surveyed according to the solvents applied. The nature of the solvent is a critical point due to the heterogeneity of the reaction mixtures. This review sheds light on the optimum choice and ratio of the P-reactants, and on the optimum conditions.

Ionophore-gold nanoparticle conjugates for Ag(+)-selective sensors with nanomolar detection limit.

We report on the synthesis and trace analytical application of ionophore-gold nanoparticle conjugates as a basis of a new concept in confining ionophores to ion-selective membranes using inert nanoparticle carriers.

Studies on inclusion complexes of calix[4]arenes capped by diamide bridges with small organic molecules.

The inclusion of small neutral organic guests (acetonitrile, toluene, pyrazine, butylamine, nitromethane) by cyclic calix[4]arene diamide receptors was studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The binding constants determined by (1)H NMR titration, and the results obtained by T(1) relaxation measurements and DOSY confirm the importance of the acidity of the C-H bond of the guests and highlight the role of steric interactions including conformational properties of the receptors in the recognition process.

Highly enantioselective organocatalytic conjugate addition of nitromethane to benzylidene acetones.

Six active 4-aryl-5-nitro-pentan-2-ones were synthesized enantioselectively from the corresponding 5-aryl-butenones by asymmetric Michael addition of nitromethane using an imidazolidine-type enantioselective organocatalyst. The ee ratio of the products were between 67 and 100%, determined by HPLC with Chiracel OD. Molecular and crystal structure of 3,4-methylenedioxy-phenyl-5-nitro-pentan-2-one has been studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Novel potentiometric and optical silver ion-selective sensors with subnanomolar detection limits.

Ten Ag+-selective ionophores have been characterized in terms of their potentiometric selectivities and complex formation constants in solvent polymeric membranes. The compounds with pi-coordination show much weaker interactions than those with thioether or thiocarbamate groups as the coordinating sites. Long-term studies with the best ionophores show that the lower detection limit of the best Ag+ sensors can be maintained in the subnanomolar range for at least 1 month. The best ionophores have also been characterized in fluorescent microspheres. The so far best lower detection limits of 3 x 10(-11) M (potentiometrically) and 2 x 10(-11) M Ag+ (optically) are found with bridged thiacalixarenes.

Complex formation between aliphatic amines and chromogenic calix[4]arene derivatives studied by FT-IR spectroscopy.

Complex formation of two calix[4]arene derivatives - containing two ethoxycarbonylmethoxy groups or a bridge including two carboxamide moieties in the coordination sphere - with aliphatic amines (n-octylamine, OA and triethylamine, TEA) were the subject of FT-IR studies. Two nitrophenyl type auxochromic moieties were also present in both of the ligands. Solvent effects were studied in chloroform, diiodomethane and dichloromethane. Presumably, in these reactions, the reactants undergo phenol-amine type interactions and, simultaneously, coordinative interaction takes place between the carbonyl group of the ligand and the protonated form of the aliphatic amine. Complex formation of calixarene 1a with n-octylamine was complete resulting in drastic changes in the FT-IR spectra. Moreover, the possibility of the formation of a new compound by the reaction between the ester type functionalities and octylamine was precluded. The expected ligand was synthesized and its spectra were compared with those of calixarene 1a. In most of the cases of calixarene 1b, the amide moiety of the carboxamide bridge does not participate in the complex formation with the exception of complexes formed in diiodomethane solution and of the 1b-TEA complex observed in dichloromethane.

Unprecedented cyclizations of calix[4]arenes with glycols under the Mitsunobu protocol, part 2.(1) O,O-and O,S-bridged calixarenes.

[reaction: see text] Cycloalkylations of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene (CA) and p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene (TCA) with various aliphatic glycols were performed under the Mitsunobu protocol using the DEAD/TPP system. CA gave 1,3-dialkylated diols, while C(2)-C(10) glycols gave 1,2- and 1,3-bridged calixarenes. The reaction of TCA with C(2) diols afforded sulfonium phenoxide betaines via O,S-cyclization, which is the first example for the alkylation of the sulfide bridge.

Absorption, fluorescence, and cd spectroscopic study of chiral recognition by a binaphthyl-derived chromogenic calixcrown host.

The (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of a binaphthyl-appended calix[4]crown-6 ether with two 2,4-dinitrophenylazo chromophore units ((R)-1 and (S)-1) as chiral hosts were tested in their reactions with the enantiomers of alpha-methylbenzylamine ((R)-MBA, (S)-MBA)) and phenylglycinol ((R)-PGL, (S)-PGL) as chiral guests. The visible absorption spectra indicate a two-step process: the first is a nonenantioselective proton transfer from the host to the guest, which is followed by the enantioselective real complexation. In the visible range of the CD spectra a positive/negative band belongs to the absorption of pure (R)-1/(S)-1, and a negative/positive exciton couplet to the absorption of (R)-1-(S)-MBA/(S)-1-(R)-MBA complexes. The latter phenomenon suggests that the complexation of amines is accompanied by a chiral arrangement of the two chromophore units in the hosts. The UV fluorescence of (R)-1/(S)-1 arising from the binaphthyl moiety is quenched by K+ ions, but not by the amine guests, showing that the interaction between the binaphthyl group and the complexed amines is weak.

Anisotropy decay study on the host-guest interaction of distally dialkylated calix[4]arenes with 1-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene.

The 'host' properties of distally dialkylated calix[4]arenes and 4-tert-butylcalix[4]arenes in the presence of 1-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (BFT) were studied in chloroform solvent by intensity-independent spectrofluorometric method. The anisotropy decay experiments were found as suitable method to indicate the host-guest complex formation but it is unable to determine the strength of supramolecular interaction.