Ring-chain interconversion in high-performance polymer systems. 3. Cyclodepolymerization of poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (Nomex) and entropically driven ring-opening polymerization of the macrocyclic oligomers so produced

A homologous series of macrocyclic oligoamides has been prepared in high yield by reaction of isophthaloyl chloride with m-phenylenediamine under pseudo-high-dilution conditions. The products were characterized by infrared and H-1 NMR spectroscopies, matrix assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). A series of linear oligomers was prepared for comparison. The macrocycles ranged in size from the cyclic trimer up to at least the cyclic nonamer (90 ring atoms). The same homologous series of macrocyclic oligomers was prepared in high yield by the cyclodepolymerization of poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (Nomex). Cyclodepolymerization was best achieved by treating a 1% w/v solution of the polymer in dimethyl sulfoxide containing calcium chloride or lithium chloride with 3-4 mol % of sodium hydride or the sodium salt of benzanilide at 150 degreesC for 70 h. Treatment of a concentrated solution of the macrocyclic oligomers (25% w/v) with 4 mol % of sodium hydride or the sodium salt of benzanilide in a solution of lithium chloride in dimethyl sulfoxide at 170 degreesC for 6 h resulted in efficient entropically driven ring-opening polymerizations to give poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide), characterized by infrared and H-1 NMR spectroscopies and by GPC. The molecular weights obtained were comparable with those of the commercial polymer.

Alkene-arene meta photocycloadditions with a four-carbon-atom tether: efficient approach toward the polycyclic ring systems of aphidicolin and stemodinone

At the end of its tether! The fusion of a six-membered ring onto the four-carbon-atom tether of substrate 1 provides an efficient approach toward the polycyclic ring systems of the natural products aphidicolin and stemodinone. The reaction represents a unique example of a preference for product formation from an endo exciplex in an intramolecular system (exo:endo 2:3=1.0:1.2).

Aromatic-aromatic interaction between metallacycle and phenyl ring

The X-ray crystal structure of [CuL2]ClO4 where L is the 1:1 condensate of benzil-monohydrazone and 2-pyridinecarboxalde-hyde, reveals unprecedented pi - pi interaction between the metallacycles and phenyl rings. The interaction is intramolecular. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Enthalpy-driven ring-opening polymerization of highly strained macrocyclic biaryl-ether-ketones

Highly strained macrocyclic ether-ketones obtained by nickel-catalyzed cyclization of linear precursor oligomers undergo ring-opening polyinerization via ether exchange in the presence of nucleophilic initiators such as fluoride or phenoxide anions. Strain enthapies of these macrocycles, from DSC analyses of their exothermic ring-opening polymerization are in the range 50-90 kJ mol(-1). Melt-phase polymerization generally affords slightly cross-linked materials, but solution-phase polymerization at high macrocycle concentrations gives fully soluble, high molar mass polymers with inherent viscosities of up to 1.78 dL g(-1). Sequence-analysis of the resulting polymers by C-13 NMR shows that alternating or random monomer sequences may be obtained, depending on whether one or both aromatic rings adjacent to the ether linkages are activated toward nucleophilic attack.

Synthesis of strained macrocyclic biaryls for enthalpy-driven ring-opening polymerization

Polymerizable macrocyclic biarylene-ether-ketones and biarylene-ether-sulfones are accessible from linear, bis(chloro)-terminated oligomers via nickel-catalyzed, intramolecular coupling under pseudo-high-dilution conditions. Single-crystal X-ray analyses of the resulting cyclo-oligomers reveal extremely distorted and highly strained geometries, with 4,4 '-biphenylene units showing deviations of up to 70 degrees from linearity.

Microfabrication of high-performance aromatic polymers as nanotubes or fibrils by in situ ring-opening polymerisation of macrocyclic precursors

Melt-phase nucleophilic ring-opening polymerisation of macrocyclic aromatic ethers and thioethers at high temperatures within the cylindrical pores of an anodic-alumina membrane, followed by dissolution of the template, enables replication of the membrane's internal pore structure and so affords high-performance aromatic polymers with well-defined fibrillar or tubular morphologies.

Spontaneous ring-opening polymerization of macrocyclic aromatic thioether ketones under transient high-temperature conditions

Spontaneous ring-opening polymerization of macrocyclic aromatic thioether ketones [-1,4-SC6H4CO-C6H4-](n) (n = 3 and 4), in which the thioether linkages are para to the ketone, occurs during rapid, transient heating to 480degreesC, to afford a soluble, semi-crystalline poly(thioether ketone) of high molar mass (eta(inh) > 1.0 dL . g(-1)). Corresponding macrocyclic ether ketone, and a macrocyclic thioether ether ketone in which the thioether linkage is para to the ether rather than to the ketone, show no evidence of polymerization under analogous conditions.

Recent work on entropically-driven ring-opening polymerizations: some potential applications

The entropically-driven ring-opening polymerization of macrocyclic monomers (> ca. 14 ring atoms per repeat unit) and/or macrocyclic oligomers is a relatively new method of polymer synthesis that exploits the well-known phenomenon of ring-chain equilibria. It attracts interest because of its novel features. For example, these ring-opening polymerizations emit no volatiles and little or no heat. This review considers the principles of entropically-driven ring-opening polymerizations, gives selected examples and discusses potential applications. The latter include micromolding, high throughput syntheses and the synthesis of supramolecular polymers. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley T Sons, Ltd.

Ring-rearrangement metathesis of bicyclic amino acid derivatives

In this letter, we describe the ring-rearrangement metathesis (RRM) of bicyclic amino acid derivatives. The procedure is of use for the synthesis of constrained amino acid and peptide derivatives with potential as reverse-turn inducers. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ring-rearrangement metathesis of substituted 2-aminonorbornenes

In this report we describe the ring-rearrangement metathesis of 2-aminonorbornene derivatives. Ail efficient ruthenium-catalysed metathesis reaction Occurs with a wide range of pendent alkenes and alkynes to generate bicyclic amines and amides.

Sequential ring-closing metathesis and nitrone cycloaddition on glucose-derived substrates: a divergent approach to analogues of spiroannulated carbanucleosides and conformationally locked nucleosides

The carbohydrate-derived substrate 3-C-allyl-1,2: 5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-allofuranose was judiciously manipulated for preparing suitable synthons, which could be converted to a variety of isoxazolidino-spirocycles and -tricycles through the application of ring-closing metathesis (RCM) and intramolecular nitrone cycloaddition (INC) reactions. Cleavage of the isoxazolidine rings of some of these derivatives by tranfer hydrogenolysis followed by coupling of the generated amino functionalities with 5-amino-4,6-dichloropyrimidine furnished the corresponding chloropyrimidine nucleosides, which were elaborated to spiroannulated carbanucleosides and conformationally locked bicyclo[2.2.1] heptane/ oxa-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane nucleosides. However, use of higher temperature for the cyclization of one of the chloropyrimidines led to the dimethylaminopurine analogue as a sole product, formed via nucleophilic displacement of the chloro group by dimethylamine generated from DMF.

Anion-templated assembly of pseudorotaxanes: importance of anion template, strength of ion-pair thread association, and macrocycle ring size

A wide range of pseuclorotaxane assemblies containing positively charged pyridinium, pyridinium nicotinamide, imidazolium, benzimidazolium and guanidinium threading components, and macrocyclic isophthalamide polyether ligands have been prepared using a general anion templation procedure. In noncompetitive solvent media, coupling halide anion recognition by a macrocyclic ligand with ion-pairing between the halide anion and a strongly associated cation provides the driving force for interpenetration. Extensive solution H-1 NMR binding studies, thermodynamic investigations, and single-crystal X-ray structure determinations reveal that the nature of the halide anion template, strength of the ion-pairing between the anion template and the cationic threading component, and to a lesser extent favorable second sphere pi-pi aromatic stacking interactions between the positively charged threading component and macrocyclic ligand, together with macrocyclic ring size, affect the efficacy of pseudorotaxane formation.

Preparation and ring-opening reactions of N,O-bis(diphenylphosphinyl) hydroxymethylaziridine ('Di-Dpp')

N,O-bis(diphenylphosphinyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)aziridine ('DiDpp', 1) is efficiently prepared from 2-aminoethane-1,3-diol: this activated aziridine undergoes two sequential reactions with copper(I)-modified Grignard reagents, yielding alpha-branched N-Dpp amines in good yield. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of oxepane ring containing monocyclic, conformationally restricted bicyclic and spirocyclic nucleosides from d-glucose: a cycloaddition approach

Carbohydrate-derived substrates having (i) C-5 nitrone and C-3-O-allyl, (ii) C-4 vinyl and a C-3-O-tethered nitrone, and (iii) C-5 nitrone and C-4-allyloxymethyl generated tetracyclic isoxazolidinooxepane/-pyrart ring systems upon intramolecular nitrone cycloaddition reactions. Deprotection of the 1,2acetonides of these derivatives followed by introduction of uracil base via Vorbruggen reaction condition and cleavage of the isooxazolidine rings as well as of benzyl groups by transfer hydrogenolysis yielded an oxepane ring containing blicyclic and spirocyclic nucleosides. The corresponding oxepane based nucleoside analogues were prepared by cleavage of isoxazolidine and furanose rings, coupling of the generated amino functiontalities with 5-amino-4,6-dichloropyrimidine, cyclization to purine rings, and finally aminolysis.