Recent trends in chemistry, structure, and various applications of 1-acyl-3-substituted thioureas: a detailed review.

The interest in acyl thioureas has continually been escalating owing to their extensive applications in diverse fields, such as synthetic precursors of new heterocycles, pharmacological and materials science, and technology. These scaffolds exhibit a wide variety of biological activities such as antitumor, enzyme inhibitory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-malarial activities and find utilization as chemosensors, adhesives, flame retardants, thermal stabilizers, antioxidants, polymers and organocatalysts. In addition, the synthesis, and applications of coordination complexes of these ligands have also been overviewed. The current review is a continuation of our previous efforts in this area, focusing on the recent advancements during the period 2017 to present.

Synthesis, conformation and Hirshfeld surface analysis of benzoxazole methyl ester as a versatile building block for heterocycles.

Solventless cyclocondensation of 2-aminothiophenol with thiourea afforded the benzo[d]oxazole-2-thiol (3a) capable of existing also in the tautomeric form benzo[d]oxazole-2(3H)-thione (3b). Acylation with methyl chloroacetate in dry ethanol in absence of any base or catalyst selectively afforded the S-substituted ester 2-(methoxycarbonylmethylthio)benzo[d]oxazole (4a) in preference to the corresponding N-substituted ester N-(methoxycarbonylmethyl)thioxobenzoxazole (4b). Quantum chemical calculations were conducted to determine the conformational landscape and NBO population analysis showed the strong electronic delocalization via resonance interactions on the 2-mercaptobenzaxazole group. The anomeric effect and the occurrence of a 1,4-S···O intramolecular interactions suggest the relevance of chalcogen bonding in the conformational preference. The Hirshfeld surface analysis of the crystal structure indicates that the most important contributions for the crystal packing are from H⋯H (33.2%), H⋯O/O⋯H (19.9%) and H⋯C/C⋯H (17.8%) interactions. Hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions are the dominant interactions in the crystal packing. Computational chemistry indicates that in the crystal, the C-H⋯O hydrogen-bond energy is 44.8 kJ mol-1.

Investigation of stable solid diazonium salt by molecular structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis, optical and electrochemical studies, and applications.

The title compound is a new pyrazolone derivative which was synthesized starting from p-sulphophenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (1) by nitrosation at low temperature to afford the corresponding p-sulphophenyl-3-methyl-4-nitroso-5-pyrazolone which can exist both in nitroso (2a) and oxime tautomeric forms (2b). Reduction of the latter using zinc with hydrochloric acid furnished the 4-amino-p-sulphophenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (3). The diazotization of (3) under careful control of temperature and pH afforded the p-sulphophenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone diazonium salt (4) which was re-crystallized from acidified ethanol to afford crystal suitable for X-ray studies. UV-visible spectrum and cyclic voltammetric studies were also carried out indicating λmax at 420 nm and HOMO-LUMMO energy gap was also calculated (Eg) of 2.95 eV. The molecular and crystal structures of the compound were clarified by single crystal X-ray diffraction indicated that it crystallizes as the sodium salt in the triclinic space group P -1, with the 4-azo-pyrazolone and the sulphophenyl groups being nearly coplanar. To get an insight to the intermolecular interactions in the crystal, a Hirshfeld surface analysis was also carried out.

Pt-Ni@PC900 Hybrid Derived from Layered-Structure Cd-MOF for Fuel Cell ORR Activity.

Fuel cell technology is the supreme alternate option for the replacement of fossil fuel in the current era. Pt alloys can perform well as fuel cell electrodes for being used as catalytic materials to perform the very notorious oxygen reduction reaction. In this regard, first, a layered metal-organic framework with empirical formula [C8H10CdO7] n ·4H2O is synthesized and characterized using various experimental and theoretical techniques. Then, a nanostructured porous carbon material with a sheet morphology (PC900) having a high BET surface area of 877 m2 g-1 is fabricated by an inert-atmosphere thermal treatment of the framework upon heating up to 900 °C. Pt and Ni nanoparticles are embedded into PC900 to prepare a homogenized hybrid functional material, i.e., Pt-Ni@PC900. The Pt-Ni@PC900 hybrid is proved to be an excellent ORR catalyst in terms of half-wave potential and limiting current density with 7% Pt loading compared with the commercially available 20% Pt/C catalyst. Pt-Ni@PC900 also shows stability of current up to 12 h with only a very small variation in current. This work highlights the importance of Pt alloys in future large-scale commercial applications of fuel cells.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Hirshfeld Surface Analysis, DFT, and DNA-Binding Studies of (E)-2-(3-Hydroxy-4-Methoxybenzylidene)Hydrazinecarbothioamide.

(E)-2-(3-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide 3 was synthesized by reacting thiosemicarbazide with 2-hydorxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde in dry ethanol. The structure was elucidated by spectroscopic (FT-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR) and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. A detailed analysis of the intermolecular interactions has been performed based on the Hirshfeld surfaces and their associated two-dimensional fingerprint plots. DFT, spectroscopic, and electrochemical DNA-binding analysis confirmed that the compound is reactive to bind with DNA. Viscometric studies suggested that compound 3 has a mixed mode of interaction and intercalated into the DNA base pairs predominantly along with the possibility of electrostatic interactions. Graphical Abstract.

Experimental and Theoretical High Energy Resolution Hard X-ray Absorption and Emission Spectroscopy on Biomimetic Cu2S2 Complexes.

High energy resolution fluorescence detected X-ray absorption near edge structure (HERFD-XANES) and Valence-to-Core X-ray emission (VtC-XES) spectroscopy are established as hard X-ray methods to investigate complexes that might be relevant as mimics for the biologically important CuA site. By investigation of three carefully selected complexes of the type [Cu2(NGuaS)2X2], characterized by a cyclic Cu2S2 core portion and a varying adjunct ligand nature, it is proven that the HERFD-XANES and VtC-XES measurements in combination with extensive TD-DFT calculations can reveal details of the electronic states in such complexes, including HOMO and LUMO levels and spin states. By theoretical spectroscopy, the value of this methodic combination for future in situ studies is demonstrated.

Synthesis, single crystal analysis, biological and docking evaluation of tetrazole derivatives.

Tetrazoles are conjugated nitrogen-rich heterocycles considered as bio-isosteres of carboxylic acids. Tetrazoles owing to their conjugated structures serve as biologically relevant potent scaffolds. The present research paper reports the successful synthesis and single crystal analysis of three different tetrazole derivatives (2, 4, 6). The synthesized tetrazole derivatives were evaluated for their possible cytotoxicity LD50 (52.89, 49.33, 17.28 µg/ml) and antileishmanial activities IC50 (0.166, 10, 5.0 µg/ml). Moreover, molecular docking studies were performed to determine the possible interaction sites of the tetrazole derivatives (2, 4, 6) with TryR, an enzyme involved in the redox metabolism of the Leishmania parasite. Docking computations demonstrates that the tetrazole derivatives (2, 4, 6) established prominent binding interactions with the key residues of the TryR and possess the potential to effectively inhibit the catalytic activities of the enzyme. The results suggested that the synthesized tetrazole derivative (2, 4, 6) can be possible hit candidates which can be tested further against amastigote stage of parasite and then in an animal model of leishmaniasis.

Borane-Catalyzed Synthesis of Quinolines Bearing Tetrasubstituted Stereocenters by Hydride Abstraction-Induced Electrocyclization.

The borane-catalyzed synthesis of quinoline derivatives bearing tetrasubstituted stereocenters from vinyl anilines has been developed. Mechanistic studies and quantum-mechanical investigations support the hydride abstraction/electrocyclization/hydride addition mechanism. The products were obtained in up to 99 % yield with a diastereoselectivity of >99 % in favour for the 3a-5-cis isomer.

One-pot synthesis, quantum chemical calculations and X-ray diffraction studies of thiazolyl-coumarin hybrid compounds.

Two closely related hybrid species containing both, thiazolyl and coumarin groups, were synthesized by using two different one-pot procedures from a common precursor. The reaction of α-bromoacetylcoumarin with thioacetamide in methanol furnished 3­(2­methylthiazol­4­yl)­2H­chromen­2­one (2), whereas refluxing α­bromoacetylcoumarin with potassium thiocyanate in ethanol afforded 3­(2­ethoxythiazol­4­yl)­2H­chromen­2­one (3). Both derivatives were fully characterized by spectroscopic methods, elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction studies. Intramolecular C4H⋯N and C5'H⋯OC hydrogen bonds between the heterocycles determine the conformational behavior. The co-planarity of the coumarin and thiazolyl rings favors the occurrence of two remote orbital interactions involving the oxygen and nitrogen lone pairs and the corresponding σ*CH electron acceptor, as demonstrated by Natural Bond Orbital population analysis. The 2-substitution of the thiazol­4­yl group has little effect on the molecular structures but causes significant differences in the crystal packing of the two compounds.

The Connection between NHC Ligand Count and Photophysical Properties in Fe(II) Photosensitizers: An Experimental Study.

Four homo- and heteroleptic complexes bearing both polypyridyl units and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) donor functions are studied as potential noble metal-free photosensitizers. The complexes [FeII(L1)(terpy)][PF6]2, [FeII(L2)2][PF6]2, [FeII(L1)(L3)][PF6]2, and [FeII(L3)2][PF6]2 (terpy = 2,2':6',2″ terpyridine, L1 = 2,6-bis[3-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]pyridine, L2 = 2,6-bis[3-isopropylimidazol-2-ylidene]pyridine, L3 = 1-(2,2'-bipyridyl)-3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene) contain tridentate ligands of the C^N^C and N^N^C type, respectively, resulting in a Fe-NHC number between two and four. Thorough ground state characterization by single crystal diffraction, electrochemistry, valence-to-core X-ray emission spectroscopy (VtC-XES), and high energy resolution fluorescence detected X-ray absorption near edge structure (HERFD-XANES) in combination with ab initio calculations show a correlation between the geometric and electronic structure of these new compounds and the number of the NHC donor functions. These results serve as a basis for the investigation of the excited states by ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy, where the lifetime of the 3MLCT states is found to increase with the NHC donor count. The results demonstrate for the first time the close interplay between the number of NHC functionalities in Fe(II) complexes and their photochemical properties, as revealed in a comparison of the activity as photosensitizers in photocatalytic proton reduction.

Borane-catalyzed indole synthesis through intramolecular hydroamination.

The reaction of 2-alkynyl anilines with catalytic amounts of B(C6F5)3 (5 mol%) resulted in the formation of 2-substituted indoles according to an intramolecular hydroamination in good to excellent yields. Reaction intermediates as well as products were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and by X-ray crystallography. The domino hydroamination/hydrogenation sequence allowed the efficient synthesis of tetrahydroquinoline 8 in good yield.

Heteroacene Synthesis through C-S Cross-Coupling/5-endo-dig Cyclization.

Highly efficient, one-step synthesis of sulfur-containing heteroacenes was achieved through palladium-catalyzed C-S cross-coupling of bis-alkynes with thioacetate as hydrogen sulfide surrogate. Heteroacenes consisting of three, five, and seven fused aromatic rings were obtained in a single catalytic step by four-, six-, and eightfold C-S bond formation.

Frustrated Lewis Pair Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Oxidation of Indolines and Other Heterocycles.

An acceptorless dehydrogenation of heterocycles catalyzed by frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) was developed. Oxidation with concomitant liberation of molecular hydrogen proceeded in high to excellent yields for N-protected indolines as well as four other substrate classes. The mechanism of this unprecedented FLP-catalyzed reaction was investigated by mechanistic studies, characterization of reaction intermediates by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystal analysis, and by quantum-mechanical calculations. Hydrogen liberation from the ammonium hydridoborate intermediate is the rate-determining step of the oxidation. The addition of a weaker Lewis acid as a hydride shuttle increased the reaction rate by a factor of 2.28 through a second catalytic cycle.

A Comprehensive Study of Copper Guanidine Quinoline Complexes: Predicting the Activity of Catalysts in ATRP with DFT.

Copper complexes of the hybrid guanidine ligands 1,3-dimethyl-N-(quinolin-8-yl)-imidazolidin-2-imine (DMEGqu) and 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-(quinolin-8-yl)-guanidine (TMGqu) have been studied comprehensively with regard to their structural and electrochemical properties and their activity in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A simple analysis of the molecular structures of the complexes gives no indication about their activity in ATRP; however, with the help of DFT and NBO analysis the influence of particular coordinating donors on the electrochemical properties could be fully elucidated. With an adequate DFT methodology and newly applied theoretical isodesmic reactions it was possible to predict the relative position of the redox potentials of copper complexes containing DMEGqu and TMGqu ligands. In addition, predictions could be made as to whether the complexes of DMEGqu or TMGqu are more active in ATRP. Four new Cu(I) complexes were tested in standard ATRP reactions and kinetically investigated both in bulk and in solution. It could be proven that complexes featuring DMEGqu possess a lower redox potential and are more active in ATRP, although the tetramethylguanidine moiety represents the stronger donor.

Frustrated Lewis Pair-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of 1,5-Enynes via a 5-endo-dig Cyclization/Protodeborylation Sequence.

The first frustrated Lewis pair-catalyzed cycloisomerization of a series of 1,5-enynes was developed. The reaction proceeds via the π-activation of the alkyne and subsequent 5-endo-dig cyclization with the adjacent alkene. The presence of PPh3 was of utmost importance on the one hand to prevent side reactions (for example, 1,1-carboboration) and on the other hand for the efficient protodeborylation to achieve the catalytic turnover. The mechanism is explained on the basis of quantum-chemical calculations, which are in full agreement with the experimental observations.

Crystal structure of tris-(1,3-dimesityl-4,5-di-hydro-1H-imidazol-3-ium) tetra-bromido-cobaltate(II) bromide chloro-form hexa-solvate.

In the unit cell of the title compound, (C21H27N2)3[CoBr4]Br·6CHCl3, the tetrabromidocobaltate(II) anion and the bromide anion are located on a crystallographic threefold rotation axis. For the [CoBr4](2-) group, the axis runs through one of the Br ligands and the Co(II) atom. All other structure moieties lie on general sites. Various tris-(1,3-dimesityl-4,5-di-hydro-1H-imidazol-3-ium) structures with different counter-ions have been reported. In the title compound, the N-C-N angle is 113.7 (5)°, with short C-N bond lengths of 1.297 (7) and 1.307 (7) Å. The two mesityl planes make a dihedral angle of 34.6 (1)° and the dihedral angles between the mesityl and N-C-N planes are 82.0 (1) and 88.5 (1)°, respectively. The imidazoline ring is almost planar, with atom deviations in the range 0.003 (5)-0.017 (5) Šfrom the best plane; the mean deviation is 0.012 (5) Å. In the crystal, non-covalent inter-actions of the C-H⋯Br type occur between the Br(-) anion and the cation, as well as between the [CoBr4](2-) anion and both the chloro-form solvent mol-ecules. These H⋯A distances are slightly shorter than the sum of van der Waals radii.

Crystal structures of di-iodido-bis-[(1S,5S)-4-mesityl-1,2,8,8-tetra-methyl-2,4-di-aza-bicyclo-[3.2.1]octan-3-yl-idene-κC (3)]palladium(IV) and di-chlorido-[(1S,5S)-4-mesityl-1,2,8,8-tetra-methyl-2,4-di-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-yl-idene-κC (3)](tri-phenyl-phosphane-κP)palladium(IV).

The mol-ecular structures of the chiral title compounds, [Pd(C19H28N2)2I2], (I), and [Pd(C19H28N2)Cl2(C18H15P)], (II), show a distorted square-planar coordination around the Pd(II) atoms with two halogenide (Hal) ligands each and two N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands in (I) or one NHC and one tri-phenyl-phosphane ligand in (II). The deviations of the Pd(II) atoms from the L 2Hal2 best plane (L = NHC or tri-phenyl-phosphane ligand) are 0.206 (1) Šfor (I) and 0.052 (1) Šfor (II). The crystal packings exhibit inter-molecular C-H⋯Hal hydrogen bonds.

Crystal structure of di-chlorido-bis-(1,3,4,5-tetra-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-ium-2-thiol-ate-κS)nickel(II).

In the mol-ecular structure of the title compound, [NiCl2(C7H12N2S)2], the Ni(II) atom has a distorted tetra-hedral geometry, coordinated by two Cl atoms [Ni-Cl= 2.2336 (6) Å] and two thione S atoms [Ni-S= 2.3024 (6) Å]. The angles at the Ni(II) cation, which lies on a twofold rotation axis, are Cl-Ni-Cl = 115.58 (3)° and S-Ni-S = 94.55 (3)°. All other angles at the central Ni(II) atom range from 109.46 (2) to 112.96 (2)°. The C-S-Ni angle is 99.91 (6)°. The planes of two imidazolium rings make a dihedral angle of 70.56 (6)°.

Crystal structure of di-bromido-bis-(1,3-dibenzyl-1,3-diazinan-2-one-κO)cobalt(II).

The unit cell of the title complex, [CoBr2(C18H20N2O)2], contains 1.5 formula units per asymmetric unit with one mol-ecule sitting on a general site and a second one halved by a crystallographic twofold rotation axis passing through the Co(II) cation. Both Co(II) atoms are coordinated in a distorted tetra-hedral manner by two Br(-) ligands and two O atoms of the pyrimidinone (OPyr) groups. The Br-Co-Br coordination angles are similar [115.46 (4) and 115.20 (5)°], while the O-Co-O angles differ slightly more [102.26 (18) and 98.1 (2)°]. Similarly, the Co-Br bond lengths are almost identical [2.3721 (9), 2.3757 (10) and 2.3809 (10) Å], with a larger difference between the Co-O bond lengths [1.929 (4), 1.926 (4) and 1.955 (4) Å]. The three independent OPyr groups present envelope conformations, with three C and two N atoms lying in well defined planes with maximum deviations from the least-squares planes of 0.047, 0.031 and 0.036 Å, and the external-most C atoms protruding by 0.654 (6), 0.643 (7) and 0.656 (6) Šout of the planes. The dihedral angles between the planar fractions of the OPyr planes are 50.5 (1)° for the nonsymmetric mol-ecule and 49.7 (1)° for the symmetric one. Non-covalent inter-actions are of the C-H⋯Br type and they are weak, hardly shorter than van der Waals radii, with an H⋯Br distance range of 3.00-3.04 Å. The inter-molecular inter-actions define chains parallel to [101].

A combined experimental and theoretical study of the tautomeric and conformational properties of (5-phenyl-tetrazol-2-yl)-acetic acid methyl ester.

The tautomeric and conformational properties of a new tetrazole derivative are studied in a combined approach that includes the analysis of the experimental vibrational data together with theoretical calculation methods, especially in terms of natural bond orbital (NBO) population analysis. Moreover, the molecular and crystal structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallized as the 2-tautomeric form, monoclinic space group P21/c with Z=4, a=10.0630(14), b=8.2879(11), c=12.8375(18) Å, ß=105.546(3)°, V=1031.5(2) Å(3). The tetrazole and phenyl rings are coplanar with the acetate group oriented perpendicular to the plane. The NBO analysis showed that delocalizing interactions of the lpp(N2) lone pair orbital contributes to a strong resonance interactions with both adjacent π(∗)(N3N4) and π(∗)(N1C5) antibonding orbitals of the tetrazole group.