An Efficient Tertiary Azidation of 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds in Water Catalyzed by Tetrabutylammonium Iodide

An efficient azidation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds led to tertiary azides in the presence of tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI). TBAI is used as a pre-catalyst along with aq. tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant in aqueous medium. This operationally simple, practical, mild and green method provides an opportunity to synthesize a variety of azidated -keto esters, amides, and ketones in good yields.

Oxidations of thio ketones by singlet and triplet oxygen

Oxidation of di-tert-butyl thioketone (1) and 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutylth ioketone (2) by singlet oxygen yields the corresponding sulfine and ketone; in the case of 1 the sulfine is the major product, whereas in 2 it is the ketone. 1,2,3-Dioxathietane has been suggested as the precursor for the ketones, and the zwitterionic/diradid peroxide is believed to be a common primary intermediate for both sulfine and ketone. Steric influence is felt both during primary interaction between singlet oxygen and thioketone and during the partitioning of the peroxide intermediate. Steric interaction is suggested as the reason for variations in the product distribution between 1 and 2. Singlet oxygen is also generated through energy transfer from the triplet state of thioketones. These excited states also directly react with oxygen to yield ketone.

Oxidations of thio ketones by singlet and triplet oxygen

Oxidation of di-tert-butyl thioketone (1) and 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutylth ioketone (2) by singlet oxygen yields the corresponding sulfine and ketone; in the case of 1 the sulfine is the major product, whereas in 2 it is the ketone. 1,2,3-Dioxathietane has been suggested as the precursor for the ketones, and the zwitterionic/diradid peroxide is believed to be a common primary intermediate for both sulfine and ketone. Steric influence is felt both during primary interaction between singlet oxygen and thioketone and during the partitioning of the peroxide intermediate. Steric interaction is suggested as the reason for variations in the product distribution between 1 and 2. Singlet oxygen is also generated through energy transfer from the triplet state of thioketones. These excited states also directly react with oxygen to yield ketone.

Crystal Structures of a New Polymorphic Form of Gabapentin Monohydrate and the E and Z Isomers of 4-Tertiarybutylgabapentin

Gabapentin, a widely used antiepileptic drug, crystallizes in multiple polymorphic forms. A new crystal form of gabapentin monohydrate in the space group Pbca is reported and the packing arrangement compared with that of a previously reported polymorph in the space group P2(1)/c [Ibers, J.A. (2001) Acta Crystallogr; C57:641]. Gabapentin polymorphs can also occur from a selection of one of the two distinct chair forms of the 1,1-disubstituted cyclohexane. Crystal structures of the E and Z isomers of 4-tert-butylgabapentin provide models for analyzing anticipated packing modes in the conformational isomers of gabapentin. The E isomer crystallized in the space group Pca2(1), while the Z isomer crystallized in the space group P2(1)/c. The crystal structure of E-4-tert-butylgabapentin provides the only example of a structure in a non-centrosymmetric space group. Crystal structures of the hydrochloride and hydrobromide salts of 4-tert-butyl derivatives are reported. The results suggest that for gabapentin, a large 'polymorph-space' may be anticipated, in view of the multiple conformational states that are accessible to the molecule.

Ternary Iron(III) complex showing photocleavage of DNA in the photodynamic therapy window

A new ternary iron(III) complex [FeL(dpq)] containing dipyridoquinoxaline (dpq) and 2,2-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)aminoacetic acid (H3L) is prepared and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The high-spin complex with a FeN3O3 core shows a quasi-reversible iron(III)/iron(II) redox couple at -0.62 V (vs SCE) in DMF/0.1 M TBAP and a broad visible band at 470 nm in DMF/Tris buffer. Laser photoexcitation of this phenolate (L)-to-iron(III) charge-transfer band at visible wavelengths including red light of >= 630 nm leads to cleavage of supercoiled pUC19 DNA to its nicked circular form via a photoredox pathway forming hydroxyl radicals.

Exploring polymorphism by solvent mediation in potentially active herbicide Metribuzin: A subtle interplay of weak intermolecular interactions

Metribuzin, 4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-methylthio- 1,2,4-triazin-5-one, exhibits polymorphic behaviour, crystallizing as plates and needles, driven by variation in solvent polarity, a delicate balance of weak intermolecular forces generating different molecular assemblies.

Family of Mixed-Valence Oxovanadium(IV/V) Dinuclear Entities Incorporating N4O3-Coordinating Heptadentate Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, and EPR Spectra

Dinuclear ((VVV)-V-IV) oxophenoxovanadates of general formula [V2O3L] have been synthesized in excellent yields by reacting bis(acetylacetonato)oxovanadium(IV) with H3L in a 2:1 ratio in acetone under an N-2 atmosphere. Here L3- is the deprotonated form of 2,6-bis[{{(2-hydroxybenzyl)(N',N'-(dimethylamino)ethyl)}amino}methyl]-4-methylphenol (H3L1), 2,6-bis[{{(5-methyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)(N',N'-(dimethylamino)ethyl)}amino}methyl]-4-methylphenol (H3L2) 2,6-bis[ {{(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)(N',N'-(dimethylamino)ethyl)}amino}methyl]-4-methylphenoI (H3L3), 2,6-bis[{{(5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzyl)(N',N'-(dimethylamino)ethyl)}amino}methyl]-4-methylphenol (H3L4) , 2,6-bis[{{(5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzyl)(N',N'-(dimethylamino)ethyl)}amino}methyl]-4-methylphenol (H3L5), or 2,6-bis[{{(5-methoxy-2-hydroxybenzyl)(N',N'-(dimethylamino)ethyl)}amino}methyl]-4-methylphenol (H3L6). In [V2O3L1], both the metal atoms have distorted octahedral geometry. The relative disposition of two terminal V=O groups in the complex is essentially cis. The O=V...V=O torsion angle is 24.6(2)degrees. The V-O-oxo-V and V-O-phenoxo-V angles are 117.5(4) and 93.4(3)degrees, respectively. The V...V bond distance is 3.173(5) Angstrom. X-ray crystallography, IR, UV-vis, and H-1 and V-51 NMR measurements show that the mixed-valence complexes contain two indistinguishable vanadium atoms (type 111). The thermal ellipsoids of O2, O4, C10, C14, and C15 also suggests a type III complex in the solid state. EPR spectra of solid complexes at 77 K display a single line indicating the localization of the odd electron (3d(xy)(1)). Valence localization at 77 K is also consistent with the V-51 hyperfine structure of the axial EPR spectra (3d(xy)(1) ground state) of the complexes in frozen (77 K) dichloromethane solution: S = 1/2, g(parallel to) similar to 1.94, g(perpendicular to) similar to 1.98, A(parallel to) similar to 166 x 10(-4) cm(-1), and A(perpendicular to) similar to 68 x 10(-4) cm(-1). In contrast isotropic room-temperature solution spectra of the family have 15 hyperfine lines (g(iso) similar to 1.974 and A(iso) similar to 50 x 10(-4) cm(-1)) revealing that the unpaired electron is delocalized between the metal centers. Crystal data for the [V2O3L1].CH2Cl2 complex are as follows: chemical formula, C32H43O6N4C12V2; crystal system, monoclinic; space group, C2/c; a = 18.461(4), b = 17.230(3), c = 13.700(3) Angstrom; beta = 117.88(3)degrees; Z = 8.

Reactions of copper(I) aryloxides with phenyl isothiocyanate: steric and ligand control in the oligomerization of [N-phenylimino(aryloxy)methanethiolato]copper(I) complexes

The preparation of five different copper(I) complexes [CuSC(=NPh)(OAr)}L(n)]m (1-5) formed by the insertion of PhNCS into the Cu-OAr bond and the crystal structure analyses of three of them have been carried out. A monomeric species 1 (OAr = 2,6-dimethylphenoxide) is formed in the presence of excess PPh3 (n = 2, m = 1) and crystallizes as triclinic crystals with a = 12.419(4) angstrom, b = 13.298(7) angstrom, c = 15.936(3) angstrom, alpha = 67.09(3)-degrees, beta = 81.63(2)-degrees, gamma = 66.54(3)-degrees, V = 2224(2) angstrom3, and Z = 2. The structure was refined by the least-squares method to final R and R(w) values of 0.038 and 0.044, respectively, for 7186 unique reflections. Copper(I) 2,5-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxide results in the formation of a dimeric species 2 in the presence of P(OMe)3 (n = 1, m = 2), where the coordination around Cu is trigonal. Crystals of 2 were found to be orthorhombic with a = 15.691(2) angstrom, b = 18.216(3) angstrom, c = 39.198(5) angstrom, v = 11204(3) angstrom3, and Z = 8. Least-squares refinement gave final residuals of R = 0.05 and R(w) = 0.057 with 6866 unique reflections. A tetrameric species 3 results when PPh3 is replaced by P(OMe)3 in the coordination sphere of copper(I) 2,6-dimethylphenoxide. It crystallizes in the space group P1BAR with a = 11.681 (1) angstrom, b = 13.373(2) angstrom, c = 20.127(1) angstrom, a = 88.55(l)-degrees, beta = 89.65(l)-degrees, gamma = 69.28(1)-degrees, V = 2940(l) angstrom3, and Z = 2. Least-squares refinement of the structure gave final values of 0.043 and 0.05 for R and R(w) respectively using 12214 unique reflections. In addition, a dimeric species 4 is formed when 1 equiv of PPh3 is added to the copper(I) 4-methylphenoxide, while with an excess of PPh3 a monomeric species 5 is isolated. Some interconversions among these complexes are also reported.

Direct conversion of 13-beta-alkylgonatetraenes into 13-beta-alkylgon-4-en-3-ones

Birch reduction of 8,9-didehydroestradiol-17 beta 3-methyl ether 1 or 9(11)-didehydroestradiol-17 beta 3-methyl ether 2 followed by acid hydrolysis results in a mixture of 19-nortestosterone 8 and 19-nor-9 beta, 10 alpha-testosterone 9 in varying amounts. However, reduction of their acetates with sodium or lithium, tert-butyl alcohol in liquid ammonia and in the presence of aniline affords exclusively 19-nortestosterone. Similarly, 18a-homo-19-nortestosterone 12 is prepared from the acetate of 18a-homoestradiol-17 beta 3-methyl ether, 10.

Probing the limits of steric constraints in the oligomerization of copper(I) complexes: structures of two sterically congested oligomers

Oligomeric copper(I) clusters are formed by the insertion reaction of copper(I) aryloxides into heterocumulenes. The effect of varying the steric demands of the heterocumulene and the aryloxy group on the nuclearity of the oligomers formed has been probed. Reactions with copper(I)2-methoxyphenoxide and copper(I)2-methylphenoxide with PhNCS result in the formation of hexameric complexes hexakis[N-phenylimino(aryloxy)methanethiolato copper(I)] 3 and 4 respectively. Single crystal X-ray data confirmed the structure of 3. Similar insertion reactions of CS2 with the copper(I) aryloxides formed by 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol and 2,6-dimethylphenol result in oligomeric copper(I) complexes 7 and 8 having the (aryloxy)thioxanthate ligand. Complex 7 was confirmed to be a tetramer from single crystal X-ray crystallography. Reactions carried out with 2-mercaptopyrimidine, which has ligating properties similar to N-alkylimino(aryloxy)methanethiolate, result in the formation of an insoluble polymeric complex 11. The fluorescence spectra of oligomeric complexes are helpful in determining their nuclearity. Ir has been shown that a decrease in the steric requirements of either the heterocumulene or aryloxy parts of the ligand can compensate for steric constraints acid facilitate oligomerization. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cyclometalated complexes derived from calix[4] arene bisphosphites and their catalytic applications in cross-coupling reactions

Palladium and platinum dichloride complexes of a series of symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted 25,26;27,28-dibridged p-tert-butyl-calix[4]arene bisphosphites in which two proximal phenolic oxygen atoms of p-tert-butyl-or p-H-calix[4]arene are connected to a P(OR) ( R = substituted phenyl) moiety have been synthesized. The palladium dichloride complexes of calix[4]arene bisphosphites bearing sterically bulky aryl substituents undergo cyclometalation by C-C or C-H bond scission. An example of cycloplatinated complex is also reported. The complexes have been characterized by NMR spectroscopic and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. During crystallization of the palladium dichloride complex of a symmetrically substituted calix[4]arene bisphosphite in dichloromethane, insertion of oxygen occurs into the Pd-P bond to give a P,O-coordinated palladium dichloride complex. The calix[4]arene framework in these bisphosphites and their metal complexes adopt distorted cone conformation; the cone conformation is more flattened in the metal complexes than in the free calix[4]arene bisphosphites. Some of these cyclometalated complexes proved to be active catalysts for Heck and Suzuki C-C cross-coupling reactions but, on an average, the yields are only modest. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Crystal packing and melting temperatures of small oxalate esters: the role of C-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonding

The simple dialkyl oxalates are generally liquids at room temperature except for dimethyl and di-tert-butyl oxalate which melt at 327 and 343 K. The crystal structures of diethyl, di-iso-propyl, di-n-butyl, di-tert-butyl and methyl ethyl oxalates were determined. The liquid esters were crystallized using the cryocrystallization technique. A comparison of the intermolecular interactions and packing features in these crystal structures was carried out. The crystal structure of dimethyl oxalate was redetermined at various temperatures. The other compounds were also studied at several temperatures in order to assess the attractive nature of the hydrogen bonds therein. A number of moderate to well defined C-H center dot center dot center dot O interactions account for the higher melting points of the two solid esters. Additionally, a diminished entropic contribution Delta S(m) in di-tert-butyl oxalate possibly increases the melting point of this compound further.

Air oxygenation chemistry of 4-TBC catalyzed by chloro bridged dinuclear copper(II) complexes of pyrazole based tridentate ligands: synthesis, structure, magnetic and computational studies

Four dinuclear bis(mu-Cl) bridged copper(II) complexes, Cu-2(mu-Cl)(2)(L-X)(2)](ClO4)(2) (L-X = N,N-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazole-1-yl)-methyl]benzylamine with X = H(1), OMe(2), Me(3) and Cl(4)), have been synthesized and characterized by the single crystal X-ray diffraction method. In these complexes, each copper(II) center is penta-coordinated with square-pyramidal geometry. In addition to the tridentate L-X ligand, a chloride ion occupies the last position of the square plane. This chloride ion is also bonded to the neighboring Cu(II) site in its axial position forming an SP-I dinuclear Cu(II) unit that exhibits small intramolecular ferromagnetic interactions and supported by DFT calculations. The complexes 1-3 exhibit methylmonooxygenase (pMMO) behaviour and oxidise 4-tert-butylcatechol (4-TBCH2) with molecular oxygen in MeOH or MeCN to 4-tert-butyl-benzoquinone (4-TBQ), 5-methoxy-4-tert-butyl-benzoquinone (5-MeO-4-TBQ) as the major products along with 6,6'-Bu-t-biphenyl-3,4,3',4'-tetraol and others as minor products. These are further confirmed by ESI- and FAB-mass analyses. A tentative catalytic cycle has been framed based on the mass spectral analysis of the products and DFT calculations on individual intermediates that are energetically feasible.

Synthesis of substituted nitroolefins: a copper catalyzed nitrodecarboxylation of unsaturated carboxylic acids

A novel, mild and convenient method for the nitrodecarboxylation of substituted cinnamic acid derivatives to their nitroolefins is achieved using a catalytic amount of CuCl (10 mol%) and tert-butyl nitrite (2 equiv.) as a nitrating agent in the presence of air. This reaction provides a useful method for the synthesis of beta,beta-disubstituted nitroolefin derivatives, which are generally difficult to access from other conventional methods. Additionally, this reaction is selective as the E-isomer of the acid derivatives furnishes the corresponding E-nitroolefins. One more salient feature of the method is, unlike other methods, no metal nitrates or HNO3 are employed for the transformation.

Iron(III) Catecholates for Cellular Imaging and Photocytotoxicity in Red Light

Iron(III) complexes Fe(L)(L') (NO3)]-in which L is phenyl-N, N-bis(pyridin-2-yl) methyl]methanamine (1), (anthracen-9-yl)N, N-bis(pyridin-2-yl) methyl] methanamine (2), (pyreny-1-yl)-N, N-bis(pyridin- 2-yl) methyl] methanamine (3-5), and L' is catecholate (1-3), 4-tert-butyl catecholate (4), and 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzene- 1,2-diolate (5)-were synthesized and their photocytotoxic proper-ties examined. The five electron-paramagnetic complexes displayed a FeIII/ Fe-II redox couple near similar to 0.4 V versus a saturated calomel electrode (SCE) in DMF/0.1m tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP). They showed unpre-cedented photocytotoxicity in red light (600-720 nm) to give IC50-15 mm in various cell lines by means of apoptosis to generate reactive oxygen species. They were ingested in the nucleus of HeLa and HaCaT cells in 4 h, thereby interacting favorably with calf thymus (ct)-DNA and photocleaving pUC19 DNA in red light of 785 nm to form hydroxyl radicals.