ALBERT

Notizen: The synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of a europium macrocyctic complex 1, an important catalyst used for the sequence-specific cleavage of RNA, is reported. The role of this metal complex in facilitating phosphate transesterification is discussed.

Notizen: Starting from the easily available, highly functionalized acetylenic ketories 4a-i (Scheme 1), novel 2,3,5-trisubstituted thiophenes 1a-i (Scheme 2) were synthesized in good yields using a tandem Michael-addition/intramolecular Knoevenagel-condensation strategy, featuring Cs2CO3/MgSO4 (1:2) as an efficient base to effect the cyclization. Subsequent simple one-step transformations yielded 2,3-disubstituted thiophene-5-carbaidehydes 7a-c, carboxylic-acid derivatives 8, 9, and 11, and alcohol 10 (Scheme 3). These molecules constitute interesting novel thiophene-containing building blocks, useful for the preparation of low-molecular-weight compound libraries by combinatorial and parallel-chemistry techniques.

Notizen: Lanthanide picrate complexes with the ligand N,N,N′,N′-tetraphenyl-3,6-dioxaactanediamide (tdd): [Ln(Pic)3(tdd)] (Ln = La, Nd, Eu, Tb, Er) have been prepared in a nonaqueous medium and characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, IR, and 1H-NMR spectra. The crystal structures of the complexes for Ln = Nd and Er were determined. The early lanthanide, NdIII, crystallizes as the nona-coordinate complex [Nd(Pic)3(tdd)]. 2 CH3CN in the monoclinic space group P21n with a = 11.384(2), b = 18.805(4), c = 27.526(5) Å, β = 99.41(1)°, V = 5832(2) Å3, and Dc = 1.58 gcm-3 for Z = 4. The structure was refined to R = 0.0505, based on 4772 observed Deflections. The late lanthanide, ErIII, forms an octa-coordinate complex [Er(Pic)3(tdd)]; crystals are triclinic, P1, with a = 12.449(2), b = 17.065(2), c = 26.243(4) Å, α = 72.12(1), β = 87.86(1), γ = 84.60(1)°, V = 5282(1) Å3, and Dc = 1.68 g cm-3 for Z, = 4. The structure was refined to R = 0.0469, based on 10666 observed reflections, The results reveal that tdd forms a ring-like structure with its four O-atoms, coordinating to the metal ions as multidentate ligand, together with one O-atom of the bidentate picrate. The structure of the complexes is greatly affected by the ionic radius due to participation of the picrates in coordination.

Notizen: Intramolecular [Pd2(dba)3]/tri(2-furyl)phosphine-catalysed (dba = dibenzylideneacetone, PhCH=CHCOCH=CHPh) cyclisations of olefinic propargylic carbonates I provided alk-1-enyl-(3-aza)bicyclo[3.1.0]-hexanes VIII in good yields. A palladium cascade sequence I → II → III → IV → VII → VIII is proposed. Furthermore, chiral propargylic carbonates such as 23, 24 and 25 allowed diastereoselective formation of bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes 29, 30 and 31, respectively. The first diastereoselective synthesis of the monoterpene, (-)-α-thujone 40 illustrates the potential of the method.

Notizen: The structure of rogioldiol A ((-)-1), isolated from the red seaweed Laurencia microcladia, was determined. Employing the exciton-coupling technique for rogioldiol A p-bromobenzoate (2), the absolute configuration at C(9) of (-)-1 was assigned, and, together with extensive NMR experiments, the absolute configuration at C(10) and preferred conformations of (-)-1 were determined. The absolute configuration of the hetero-substituted cyclohexane ring was deduced in analogy from the X-ray structure of 4, a derivative of the aldehyde 3, which was isolated from the same seaweed and is believed to be a degradation product of (-)-1.

Notizen: New chromenes annulated with different six-membered azaheterocycles were prepared, i.e., the 3H-pyra-no[3,2-f]quinolines 9/10 and 14, the 8H-pyrano[2,3-h]isoquinoline 11, the 8H-pyrano[3,2-f]quinazolme 12, the 8-H-pyrano[3,2-f]quinoxaline 13, and the 2H-pyrano[2,3-f]isoquinoline 15. The synthesis was achieved using conveniently substituted α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and organotitanium intermediates arising from azaheterocyclic phenols. Their photochromic behaviour (photocolouration yield, UV/VIS spectrum of photomerocyanines, rate constant of thermal bleaching) were studied besides those of corresponding naphthopyrans. The heterocycle effect and the role of substituents in the pyran moiety were investigated quantitatively through the study of the photochromic properties and the solvent effects. Diaryl-substituted azino-fused chromenes, especially isoquinoline derivatives, exhibit increased colourabilities and bathochromically shifted spectra for photomerocyanines which open up new prospects for photochromic applications.

Notizen: The 2′,3′-O-isopropylideneuridine (1) reacts with MeI in the presence of an excess of NaH in THF giving 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene-5′-O-methyluridine (2). Prolonged reaction time gives rise to 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene-3,5′-O-dimethyluridine (4). The use of an equimolar amount of base and alkylating agent results predominantly in methylation at N(3) (→ 3).

Notizen: We describe a new, efficient synthesis of DX-9065a (4), a potent inhibitor of the blood coagulation enzyme factor Xa (fXa) which has previously been prepared in more than 20 steps. We saved approximately 10 steps starting with a Pd-catalyzed cyanation of the triflate 10 of 7-methoxynaphthalen-2-ol (9). After cleavage of the MeO group with boron tribromide, the triflate 6 was coupled to acrylate 5 in a Heck reaction (→3). The subsequent transformations led to DX-9065 a.

Notizen: The Cu2+ and Ni2+ complexes of three reinforced tetraazamacrocycles, containing a piperazine subunit and one or two alkyl substituents at the other two N-atoms have been prepared and their structural properties studied. In solution, the Ni2+ complexes are square-planar and show no tendency to axially coordinate a solvent molecule or an N3- ion. In contrast, the Cu2+ complexes change their geometry depending upon the donor properties of the solvent, being square-planar in MeNO2 and pentacoordinate in DMF. They also easily react in aqueous solution with N3- to give ternary species with pentacoordinate geometry, the stabilities of which have been determined. In the solid state, the X-ray crystal structures of three Cu2+ complexes also show both geometrical arrangements, two having a square-planar, the other one a distorted square pyramidal geometry. The difference behavior of Ni2+ and Cu2+ stems from the fact that the structural change from square-planar to square-pyramidal can easily be accomplished for Cu2+, whereas, for Ni2+, it is accompanied by an electronic rearrangement from the low-spin to the high-spin configuration. The relatively rigid ligands cannot Adapt to the somewhat larger high-spin Ni2+ion.

Notizen: N-Monosubstituted 1,3-diamines were selectively functionalized at the secondary N-atom via 2-Ph-substituted hexahydropyrimidine intermediates. Reaction of the diamines with benzaldehyde, followed by treatment with an electrophile and hydrolysis, provided the desired products with excellent selectivity and in high yields. N4,N9-bis[3-phenylprop-2-enoyl]spermine (4a), which was further converted to N1,N1 2-bis[3-phenylprop-2-enoyl]spermine (15) by a transamidation reaction, was prepared by this way in 82% yield from spermine (1). Compound 4a was alternatively synthesized in 83% yield, equally from 1, by a sequence involving intermediary protection of the terminal amino groups.

Notizen: As previously shown, oligo- and poly(β-hydroxyalkanoates) have a high tendency to form lamellar crystallites with ca. 50-Å thickness which corresponds to chain lengths of 16 units (Fig. 1). To have monodisperse model compounds, we have now prepared bicyclic derivatives with three parallel (27-29) or two parallel and an antiparallel chain (68-70) consisting of up to 16 3-hydroxybutanoate (3-HB) units. We also prepared dendritic compounds (71-75, 82-85) containing oligo(3-HB) chains which cannot possibly be arranged as in the lamellae; the branching units were prepared from trimesic acid (= benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid). So far, none of the prepared samples formed crystals or contained crystalline domains which would have been suitable for single-crystal or powder-diffraction X-ray analysis. The terminally deprotected dendrimers (74, 75, and 85) are multi-anionic (up to 12 peripheral CO2H groups) and biodegradable. The macromolecular HB derivatives (molecular weight up to 10150 Da) have been fully characterized by IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR, [α]D, and elemental analysis. Especially important is the analysis by mass spectrometry with the MALDI-TOF technique (Fig. 2), proving that the products are monodisperse; application of a new variation of this MS method (post source decay = PSD or fragment analysis by structural time of flight = FASTTM) allows for the observation of metastable fragment ions and, thus, is a tool for structural oligomer analysis (Fig. 3).

Notizen: 5-Methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (1) is a remarkable probe to study hydrogen and proton transfer reactions. The photoenol 4-hydroxy-5-methylidene naphthalen-1 (5H)-one (2) is formed in the ground state within 2 ps of excitation and with a quantum yield of unity, presumably through a conical intersection of the S0 and S1 hypersurfaces. In aqueous acid, enol 2 is hydrated to 5-(hydroxymethyl)naphthalene-1,4-diol 3 (X = OH, Scheme 1). The rate of hydration of 2 increases linearly with acid concentration from ca. 1.5 × 104 s-1 at pH 6 to reach a maximum value of 9 ×107 s-1 when the remaining carbonyl function is protonated, pKa(2+) = 1.1. Contrary to an earlier suggestion, the rate-determining step in the acid-catalyzed hydration of 2 is addition of water to the conjugate acid 2+. Pronounced acceleration of the decay rate of 2 by hydrazoic-acid buffers indicates competitive trapping of 2+ by the azide ion. In neutral-to-weakly-basic solutions, enol 2 reacts by ionization, pKa(2) = 6.5, and nearly diffusion-controlled condensation of the carbanionic species 2- with quinone 1. Proto-nation at the methylidene C-atom does not compete measurably with protonation on carbonyl O-atom, despite a Substsial thermodynamic basic for carbon Portoation of ca. 50 kJ mol-1 for 2 and 100 mol-1 for 2-.

Notizen: O-Alkylation of 8-hydroxy-1H-quinolin-2-one (1) afforded 8-(2-oxopropoxy)-1H-quinolin-2-one (2) which was immediately cyclized to form the tricyclic 2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-5H-pyrido[1,2,3-de][1,4]benzoxazine,-5-one (3). The Reformatsky-type condensation of 3 furnished antiplatelet 8-[(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2-methyl-4-methylidene-5-oxofuran-2-yl)melhoxy]-1H-quinolin-2-one (4). Its counterparts 7a-f, Ph-substituted at C(2) of the furan ring, were obtained from 1 via alkylation and the Reformatsky-type condensation. Although compound 4 was less active against platelet aggregation than 7a-f, it was the only compound which exhibited significant inhibitory activity on high-K+ medium, Ca2+-induced vasoconstriction and was more active than most of its Ph-substituted counterparts against norepinephrine-induced vasoconstrictions.

Notizen: The two structurally similar 20-phenyl- and 20-(4-methoxyphenyl)-11-(nitrosooxy)pregnan-20-ol derivatives 4 and 7 behave differently under photolytic conditions, the former nitrous acid ester affording, as a main product, the benzo-fused hexacyclic compound 9, and the latter the 21-nitro derivative 12. Mechanistic aspects of these transformations are discussed.

Notizen: The synthesis of a variety of potent macrocyclic growth hormone secretagogues, i.e. 5, 9, 12, and 20-22, based on the known lead structure L-692,429 (1) is described. These conformationally constrained growth hormone secretagogues were prepared by joining the two essential pharmacophores, the amino-acid side chain at the 1H-1-benzazepine moiety and the 1,1′-biphenyl moiety with a variety of linkers. The most potent analog was found to be L-744,080 (21), a derivative in which a 2′-carboxamide moiety at 1,1-biphenyl is N,O-joined to the OH group of the (2-hydroxypropyl)amino-acid side chain by a C4 ester linker. This potent analog may be useful in determining the bound conformation of the benzolactam class of growth hormone secretagogues at the newly identified GHS receptor, L-744,080 (21) with an ED50 of 20 nM was up to fifty times more potent than the seco-acid precursor and 3-fold more potent than the parent 2′-tetrazole compound L-692, 429 (1).

Notizen: Addition of CH2N2 to 2,3:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-1-thio-mannono-1,4-lactone (1) gave the 2,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazole 2 and the 4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-thiadiazole 3. First-order kinetics were observed for the thermolysis of 3 (Scheme 3) at 80-110° in C6D5Cl solution and of 2 (Scheme 3) at 20-35° in CDC13, respectively. The 1,2,3-thiadiazole 3 led to mixtures of the thiirane 9, the starting thionolactone 1, the thiono-1,5-lactone 8, and the enol ether 7, while the isomeric 1,3,4-thiadiazole 2 led to mixtures of the anomeric thiiranes 9 and 12, the O-hydrogen S,O,O-ortholactone α-D-14, the S-methyl thioester 15, the S,S,O-ortholactone 13, and the 2,3:5,6-di-Oisopropylidene-mannono-1,4-iactone (16). Pure products of the thermolysis were isolated by semipreparative supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), whereas preparative HPLC led to partial or complete decomposition. Thus, the β-D-mannofuranosyl β-D-mannofuranoside 10, contaminated by an unknown S species, was isolated by preparative HPLC of the crude product of thermolysis of 3 at 115-120° and partially transformed in CD3OD solution into the symmetric di(α-D-mannofuranosyl) tetrasulfide 11. Its structure was evidenced by X-ray analysis. Similarly, HPLC of the thermolysis product of 2 gave the enethiol 17, the sulfide 19, and the mercapto alcohol 18 as secondary products. Thermolysis of the thiirane 9 at 110-120° (Scheme 4) led to the anomeric thiirane 12 which was transformed into mixtures of the enethiol 17 and the enol ether 7. Addition of H2O to 17 and 7 gave the corresponding hemiacetals 18 and 20. The mechanism of the thermolysis of the dihydrothiadiazoles 2 and 3, and the thiiranes 9 and 12 is discussed.

Notizen: α-Substituted N-acylbornane-10, 2-sultams 6, 9, and 10 can be converted into enantiomerically pure ketones 5. 13, and 14, respectively, via a two-step procedure involving a known mercaptolysis reaction followed by an [Fe(acac)3]-mediated coupling of the resulting S-benzyl thioesters with Grignard reagents. Furthermore, enantiomerically pure aldehydes 23 can be obtained from α-substituted N-acylbornane-10,2-sultams 6 via a one-step reduction with (i-Bu)2AIH. No epimerization at the α-chiral center is observed during the cleavage reaction whereby the chiral auxiliary, bornane-10,2-sultam 1 or ent-l, was recovered. By using this methodology, several natural products or precursors thereof can be prepared.

Notizen: Benzo[a]heptalene has been synthesized by two different approaches. The first one follows a pathway to hexahydrobenzo[a]heptalenone 19a that has been already described by Wenkert and Kim(Scheme). Indeed, 19a was obtained in a mixture with its double-bond-shifted isomer 19b. Reduction of this mixture to the corresponding secondary alcohols 26a/26b and elimination of H2O lead to a mixture of the tetrahydrobenzo[a]heptalenes 23a-d (Scheme7 and 8). Reaction of 23a-d with 2 equiv. of triphenylmethylium tetrafluoroborate in boiling CHCl3, followed by treatment with Me3N in CH2Cl2, generated directly 2, unfortunately in a mixture with Ph3CH that could not be separated from 2 (Scheme 10 and 11). The second approach via dimethyl benzo[a]heptalene-6,7-dicarboxylate (30) (Scheme 12) that was gradually transformed into the corresponding carbaldehydes 37 and 43 (Scheme 14) both of which, on treatment with the Wilkinson catalyst [RhCl(PPh3)3] at 130° in toluene, smoothly decarbonylated, finally gave pure 2 as an unstable orange, viscous oil. UV/VIS, NMR, and mass spectra of 2 are discussed in detail (cf. Chapt.3).

Notizen: The stereochemistry of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides derived from aromatic aldehydes and i-proline alkyl esters with several nitroolefins was investigated. Cyclic and acyclic nitroolefins add to the anti form of the ylide in a highly diastereoselective but poorly regioselective manner to give pyrrolizidine derivatives. In a few cases, the stereochemical results strongly support a stepwise mechanism.

Notizen: Some 2′-deoxy-1′,2′-seco-D-ribosyl (5′→3′)oligonucleotides (= 1′,2′-seco-DNA), differing from natural DNA only by a bond scission between the centers C(1′) and C(2′), were synthesized and studied in order to compare their structure properties and pairing behavior with those of corresponding natural DNA and homo-DNA oligonucleotides (2′,3′-dideoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl oligonucleotides). Starting from (-)-D-tartaric acid, 2′-deoxy-1′,2′-secoadenosine derivative 9a and 1′,2′-secothymidine (9b) were obtained in pure crystalline form. Using the phosphoramidite variant of the phosphite-triester method, a dinucleotide monophosphate 1′,2′-seco-d(T2) was synthesized in solution, while oligonucleotides 1′,2′-seco-d[(AT)6], 1′,2′-seco-d(A10) and 1′,2′-seco-d(T10) were prepared on solid phase with either automated or manual techniques. Results of UV- and CD-spectroscopic as well as gel-electrophoretic studies indicated that neither adenine-thymine base pairing (as observed in natural DNA and homo-DNA), nor the adenine-adenine base pairing (as observed in homo-DNA) was effective in 1′,2′-seco-DNA, Furthermore, hybrid pairing was observed neither between 1′.2′-seco-DNA and natural DNA nor between 1′,2′-seco-DNA and homo-DNA.

Notizen: Flavo-thiazolio-cyclophane 6 was prepared on a gram scale by an 18-step synthesis (Schemes 3 and 4). This pathway involved the very efficient preparation of bromo-cyclophane 32 (37% yield over 13-steps), which can be readily modified to create various multiply functionalized receptors. This bromide 32 was subsequently converted into the corresponding boronic acid and connected to the 7-bromoflavin 10 (Scheme 2) via Suzuki coupling to give flavo-cyclophane 36. The thiazolium unit was then introduced after quaternization of the tertiary amino groups of 36. Flavo-thiazolio-cyclophane 6, with both prosthetic groups attached in proximity to the well-defined cyclophane binding site, is a functional model for the enzyme pyruvate oxidase. In basic methanolic solution, 6 catalyzes the oxidation of aromatic aldehydes to their corresponding methyl esters. Cyclophane 6 shows saturation kinetics, and the turnover number calculated for the oxidation of naphthalene-2-carbaldehyde to methyl naphthalene-2-carboxylate (kcat = 0.22 s-1) is one of the highest reported for an artificial enzyme. Control experiments showed that the catalytic advantages of 6 result from the macrocyclic binding and reaction site as well as from the covalent attachment of both cofactors to this site. The catalytic cycle is completed by electrochemical re-oxidation of the reduced flavin moiety at a low working electrode potential (- 0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl), and up to ca. 100 catalytic cycles can be performed on a preparative scale, The intramolecular nature of the electron transfer from the active aldehyde intermediate to the flavin is particularly conducive to the oxidation of unreactive aldehydes.

Notizen: The phosphoramidites 6b and 9 as well as the phosphonate 6a derived from 7-(hex-1-ynyl)- and 7-[5-(trifluoroacetamido)pent-1-ynyl]-substituted 7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosines 1 and 10, respectively, were prepared (Scheme 1). They were employed in solid-phase oligodeoxynucleotide synthesis of the alternating octamers d(hxy7c7G-C)4 (12), d(C-hxy7c7G)4 (13), and d(npey 7c7G-C)4 (15) as well as of other oligonucleotides (see 22-25; Table 2; hxy = hex-1-ynyl, npey = 5-aminopent-1-ynyl). The Tm values and the thermodynamic data of duplex formation were determined and correlated with the major-groove modification of the DNA fragments. A hexynyl side chain introduced into the 7-position of a 7-deazaguanine residue (see 1) was found to fit into the major groove without any protrusion. The incorporation of the (5-aminopent-1-ynyl)-modified 7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine 2 into single-stranded oligomers of the type 24 and 25 did not lead to change in duplex stability compared to the parent oligonucleotides. The self-complementary oligomer 15 with alternating npey7c7Gd (2) and dC units did not lead to a cooperative melting, either due to orientational disorder or interaction of the 5-aminopent-1-ynyl moiety with a base or with phosphate residues nearby or on the opposite strand.

Notizen: The determination of the chemical structure of a previously unknown Maillard reaction product with an amino acid incorporated in a four-ring structure is reported. The red compounds 1a and 1b, isolated from a thermally treated aqueous solution of furan-2-carbaldehyde and L-alanine, were identified as (S)-4{(E)-1-formyl -2-(2-furyl)ethenyl}-5-(2-furyl)-2-{(E)-(2-furyl)methylidene}-2, 3-dihydro-α-methyl-3-oxo-1H-pyrrole-1-acetic acid and its 2-{(Z)-(2-furyl)methylidene}isomer, respectively, by several 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques, MS, UV, and IR spectroscopy as well as by synthetic experiments. 2D-NOESY and 2D-ROESY experiments performed for conformation analysis indicated the existence of two atropisomers.

Notizen: Irradiation (λ = 350 nm) of 1H-[2]benzothiopyran-1-one (2) in the solid state affords selectively and in good yield 6aα, 6bα, 12bα, 12cα -tetrahydrocyclobuta[1, 2-c:4, 3-c′]bis([2]benzothiopyran)-5, 8-dione (3), the head-to-head (HH) cis-cisoid-cis-cyclodimer of 2, X-Ray analysis of 2 confirms that this reaction proceeds according to the well-established topochemical principles. The same dimer 3 is obtained in low yields on irradiation of 10-1 M solutions of 2 in either MeOH or MeCN, while no conversion at all is observed in benzene. On irradiation of 2 in MeCN in the presence of tetrachloroethene, the [2 + 2] photocycloadduct 4 is formed in good yield, the conversion 2 → 4 being efficiently quenched by naphthalene. In contrast, no reaction is observed -on irradiation of 2 in the presence of 2, 3-dimethylbut-2-ene, neither in polar nor in apolar solvents.

Notizen: The difference in steric strain between the oxidized and the reduced forms of tetraaminecopper complexes is correlated with the corresponding reduction potentials. The experimentally determined data considered range from -0.54 to -0.04 V (vs. NHE) in aqueous solution and from -0.35 to -0.08 V (vs. NHE) in MeCN. The observed and/or computed geometries of the tetraaminecopper(II) complexes are distorted octahedral or square-pyramidal (4 + 2 or 4+1) with (distorted) square-planar CuN4 chromophores (CuII—N = 1.99-2.06 Å; Cu—O4+2Ax ≈ 2.5 Å; Cu—O4+1ax ≈ 2.3 Å), those of the tetraaminecopper(I) complexes are (distorted) tetrahedral (four-coordinate; CuI—N = 2.12-2.26 Å; tetrahedral twist angle ∅ = 30-90°). The reduction potentials of CuII/I couples with primary-amine ligands and those with macrocyclic secondary-amine ligands were correlated separately with the corresponding strain energies, leading to slopes of 70 and 61 kJ mol-1 V-1, with correlation coefficients of 0.89 and 0.91, respectively. The approximations of the model (entropy, solvation, electronic factors) and the limits of applicability are discussed in detail and in relation to other approaches to compute reduction potentials of transition-metal compounds.

Notizen: The reaction of thiobenzophenone (= diphenylmethanethione; 8a) or 9H-fluorene-9-thione (8b) and methyl fumarate (9) in excess PhN3 at 80° yields a mixture of diastereoisomeric thiiranes 10 and 11 (Scheme 1). A mechanism involving the initial formation of 1-phenyl-4, 5-dihydro-1H-1, 2, 3-triazole-4, 5-dicarboxylate 12 by 1, 3-dipolar cycloaddition of PhN3 and 9 is proposed in Scheme 2. The diazo compound 13, which is in equilibrium with 12, undergoes a further 1, 3-dipolar cycloaddition with thioketones 8 to give 2, 5-dihydro-1, 3, 4-thiadiazoles 14. Elimination of N2 yields the thiocarbonyl ylide 15 which cyclizes to the corresponding thiirane. Desulfurization of the thiiranes 10 and 11 with hexamethylphosphorous triamide leads to the olefinic compounds 16 (Scheme 3). The crystal structures of 10a, 11a, and 16b were determined.

Notizen: β-Hexapeptides 1-5 and a β-dodecapeptide 6 with sequences containing two different types of β-amino acids (aliphatic proteinageous side chains in the 2- or in the 3-position) have been prepared. CD (Fig. 1) and NMR measurements indicate that, with one exception, the secondary structures formed by these new β-peptides differ from those of isomers studied previously. Detailed NMR analysis of the β-hexapeptide 5 (with alternating β2,β3-building blocks) and molecular-dynamics simulations have produced a minimum energy conformation (Fig. 2,b)which might be described as a novel irregular helix containing ten- and twelve-membered H-bonded rings. This demonstrates the great structural variability of β-peptides, since three different helical secondary structures have been discovered to date.

Notizen: Catalytic control of regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 3-acryl-oyloxazolidin-2-one (4) with different nitrones 2 by the application of a [TiX2(TADDOLato)] complex as the catalyst was developed (TADDOL = α,α,α′,α′-tetraaryl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dimethanol). In the absence of a catalyst, the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 4 with 2 proceeded to give a mixture of regioisomers, whereas, in the presence of a catalyst, the regioselectivity of the reaction could be controlled. Three asymmetric [TiX2(TADDOLato)] catalysts were tested, and it was found that use of the [Ti(OTs)2(TADDOLato)] complex gave complete regioselectivity, high ‘endo’-selectivities (〉 90% d.e.), and enantioselectivities corresponding to 48-70% e.e.

Notizen: A systematic investigation of the rotational behavior of aryl substituents in α,α,α′,α′-tetraaryl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dimethanols (TADDOLs) is presented. In the use as chiral ligands for enantioselective metal-catalyzed reactions, a change from phenyl to bulkier substituents, e.g., 1-naphthyl, gives rise to an astounding alteration of the selectivity, The possible existence of preferred rotamers of TADDOLs has so far not been given due attention, which encouraged us to look at the validity of the Knowles model, originally formulated for diaryl substituted bisphosphines. 1H-NMR Investigations at various temperatures as well as X-ray powder diffraction were employed to study the rotation in the case of tetra(1-naphthyl) TADDOL 1. To support the interpretation of the experimental results, molecular mechanics, semiempirical, and ab initio calculations were performed. For comparison, the energy surface of tetraphenyl TADDOL 2 was calculated as well. Our results lead to the conclusion that for 1, only one major conformation is present in both solution and solid state, which determines the stereochemical outcome of the catalyzed reactions.

Notizen: Synthesis of Triafulvalene Precursors by ‘Carbene-Dimerization’ of 1-Halogeno-1-lithiocyclopropanesBi(cyclopropylidenes) 7a, 7c, and 7e are available in a simple one-pot reaction by treating 1,1-dibromocyclo-propanes 5 at -95° with BuLi and CuCl2. Attempts towards triafulvalene precursors with good leaving groups are reported. The most promising attempt makes use of 2,2′-bis(phenylthio)-3,3′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,1′-bi(cyclopropylidene) (7c) which has been oxidized to give the bis(phenylsulfonyl) derivative 7g. So far, F--induced elimination experiments with 7g failed.

Notizen: Preparation of 2-biarylcarbaldehydes using an intramolecular free-radical ispo-substitution is described. The two aryl moieties to be coupled are pre-associated using a glycolamide derivative. An unusual amidomethyl leaving group was successfully employed in this process.

Notizen: The synthesis and X-ray analysis of a racemic dilithiated S-ethyl-N-methyl-S-phenylsulfoximine cluster 2 with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethane-1,2-diamine (TMEDA) as coordinating solvent is presented. The lithium complex 2 consists of a mixed tetrameric mono- and dilithio salt. Unexpectedly, a separation of the enantiomers in mono-and dilithiated antipodes with respect to the chirality center on the S-atom is observed. Dilithiation of S-ethyl-N-methyl-S-phenylsulfoximine (1) affords a chiral dinucleophile which undergoes highly regie- and stereoselective alkylation reactions with bis-electrophiles.

Notizen: Hetero- or homocoupling of protected 1,4-cis-diethynylated 1,5-anhydroglucitols leads to two isomeric cyclotrimers and to four isomeric cyclotetramers. The C3-symmetric cyciotrimer 31, the C4-symmetric cyclotetramer 35, and the D2-symmetric cyclotetramer 6 have been prepared before. We have now synthesized the C1-symmetric cyciotrimer 13, and the C1- and the C2-symmetric cyclotetramers 22 and 27, respectively. The cyclotrimer 13 was prepared by intramolecular, oxidative homocoupling and, alternatively, by a one-pot trimerization/cyclization of the monomer 36 (Schemes 1 and 5, resp.). Oxidative homocoupling was used for the cyclization of the tetramers 19 and 25, leading to 22 and 27. The tetramer 19 was made by sequential Cadiot-Chod-kiewicz coupling (Scheme 2)and the tetramer 25 by a combination of a Cadiot-Chodkiewicz reaction and an intermolecular, oxidalive homocoupling (Scheme 3). The acetates 34 and 38, corresponding to 35 and 27, respectively, were also made by a one-pot dimerization/cyclization of the dimer 37 (Scheme 5). Intramolecular oxidative heterocoupling is also feasible and results in an alternative, more convenient synthesis of the acetylated cyclotrimer 30 and the acetylated cyclotetramer 34 (corresponding to 31 and 35, resp.; Scheme 4). The solid-state conformation of the C4-symmetric cyclotetramer 34 corresponds well to the one predicted by force-field calculations. We compared the water-solubilities of the cyclotrimers 13 and 31 and the tetramers 6, 22, 27, and 35, their calculated conformations (MM3*), and the D-adenosine binding properties of the cyclotetramers 6, 27, and 35.

Notizen: X-Ray crystal structure of 4-(methylthio)-4-nitro-1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)buta-1,3-diene (2b)The C-atoms of the butadiene chain have been numbered as shown in 1 and 2. These numbers have been retained throughout the discussion for the sake of clarity and consistency. indicates the presence of a C—H…S hydrogen bond. This might also explain the observed downfield shift of this proton in solution.

Notizen: An approach to a new class of cyclic hydroxamic acids is described leading to a formal combination of a benzoxazine subunit related to some natural aglucones occurring in plants with the steroidal skeleton from two members of the estra-1,3,5(10)-triene series. The annelation procedure for a 4-hydroxy-1,4-oxazine moiety to the aromatic A-ring in estrone (1) and 1-hydroxy-4-methylestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-one (7), used as steroidal precursors, proceeds in four or three steps, respectively (Schemes 1 and 2, resp.). First, a 2-nitro group is introduced regioselectively by a novel nitrosation-oxidation procedure or by conventional nitration (→ nitrophenols 2 and 8). Reaction of the phenolic unit of 2 and 8 with methyl bromoacetate or ethyl chlorooxoacetate gives rise to the nitro esters 3, 4, 9, and 10, which are subjected to reductive cyclization either by means of Zn dust in ammonium chloride solution (for the acetates) or of H2/Pt(S)/C (for the sensitive oxalates). Hence, the novel cyclic hydroxamic acids 5, 6, 11, and 12 of the estra-1,3,5(10)-triene series are obtained.

Notizen: The synthesis of the tricyclo-deoxynucleoside analogs 1 and 2 and of the corresponding cyanoethyl phosphoramidite building blocks 16 and 21 for oligonucleotide synthesis is described. These tricyclic deoxynucleoside analogs differ from the recently introduced bicyclo-deoxynucleosides by an additional cyclopropane unit joined to the centers C(5′) and C(6′) of the latter (se Fig. 1), and thus represent a further member of the class of nucleoside analogs with constraint conformational flexibility. The synthesis of the tricyclo-deoxynucleoside was achieved by a diastereoselective carbene addition to the enantiomerically pure silyl enol either 8/9 and a Vorbrüggen condensation of the tricyclic carbohydrate unit 10/11 with in situ persilylated thymine and N6-benzoyladenine. Selective tritylation of the tertiary OH—C(5′) and phosphinylation of OH—C(3′) of 1 and 2 afforded the corresponding phosphoramidites 16 and 21. The ‘exo’-configuration of the newly introduced cyclopropane ring was confirmed by 1H-NMR-NOE spectroscoy. The α-D- and β-D-configuration at C(1′) of the nucleoside analogs 1 and 14 (2 and 19, resp.) was assigned by 1H-NMR-NOE spectroscopy and NOESY. Modeling studies of the β-D-anomeric nucleoside analog 1 indicate a preference for the 2′-endo-conformation of the furanose ring and a partial correction of the torsion angle γ to the anti-clinal range compared to bicyclo-deoxynucleosides.

Notizen: The hydroxo complex (Bu4N)2[Ni2(C6F5)4(μ-OH)2]reacts with 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoro benzenamine (C6F5-NH2), 1,3-diaryltriaz-1-enes (ArNH—N=N—Ar, Ar = Ph, 4-MeC6H4, 4-MeOC6H4), 7-aza-1H-indole (= 1H-pyrrolo[2.3-b]pyridine; Hazind), N-phenylpyridin-2-amine(pyNHPh), and N-phenylpyridine-2-carboxamide (py-CONHPh) at room temperature in acetone to give the binuclear complexes (Bu4N)2[Ni2(C6F5)4(μ-C6F5NH)2] (1) and (Bu4N)2[{Ni(C6F5)2} 2(μ-OH)(μ-azind)] (2) and the mononuclear complexes Bu4N[Ni(C6F5)2(ArN3Ar)] (3-5), Bu4N[Ni(C6F5)2(pyNPh)] (6), and Bu4N[Ni(C6F5)2(pyCONPh)] (7). The hydroxo.complex (Bu4N)2[{Ni(C6F5)2-(μ-OH)}2] promotes the nucleophilic addition of water to pyridine-2-carbonitrile, 2-aminoacetonitrile, and 2-(dimethylamino)acetonitrile, and complexes 8-10 containing pyridine-2-carboxamidato, 2-aminoacetamidato and 2-(dimethylamino)acetamidato ligands are formed. Analytical (C, H, N) and spectroscopic (IR, 1H and 19F-NMR, and FAB-MS) data were used for structural assignments. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of (Bu4N)2[{Ni(C6F5)2}2(μ-OH)(μ-azind)] (2) established the binuclear nature of the anion; the two Ni-atoms are bridged by an OH group and a 7-aza-7H-indol-7-yl group, but the central Ni—O—Ni—N—C—N ring is not planar, the dihedral angle between the Ni—O—Ni and Ni—N—C—N—Ni planes being 84.4°.

Notizen: Two simple thiols derived from the parent TADDOL, α,α,α′,α′ tetraphenyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-clioxolan-4,5-dimethanol, are used to prepare Cu1 complexes C and D to catalyze (0.05 equiv.) 1,4-additions of Grignard reagents RMgCl to cyclic enones with enantioselectivities which are comparable to or better than previously reported (enantiomer ratios up to 92:8).

Notizen: It has been found that dimethyl heptalene-4,5-dicarboxylates, when treated with 4 mol-equiv. of lithiated N,N-dialkylamino methyl sulfones or methyl phenyl sulfone, followed by 4 mol-equiv. of BuLi in THF in the temperature range of -78 to 20°, give rise to the formation of 3-[(N,N-dialkylamino)sulfonyl]- or 3-(phenylsul-fonyl)benzo[a]heptalene-2,4-diols of. (cf. Scheme 4, and Tables 2 and 3). Accompanying products are 2,4-bis{[(N,N-dialkylamino)sulfonyl]methyl}- or 2,4-bis[(phenylsulfonyl)methyl]-4,10a-dihydro-3H-heptaleno[1,10-bc]furan-3-carboxylates as mixtures of diastereoisomers of. cf. Scheme 4, and (Tables 2 and 3) which are the result of a Michael addition reaction of the lithiated methyl sulfones at C(3) of the heptalene-4,5-dicarboxylates, followed by (sulfonyl)methylation of the methoxycarbonyl group at C(5) and cyclization of. (cf. Scheme 5). It is assumed that the benzo[a]heptalene formation is due to (sulfonyl)methylation of both methoxycarbonyl groups of the heptalene-4,5-dicarboxylates of. (cf. Schemes 6 and 8). The resulting bis-enolates 35 are deprotonated further. The thus formed tris-anions 36 can then cyclize to corresponding tris-anions 37 of cyclopenta[d]heptalenes which, after loss of N,N-dialkylamido sulfite or phenyl sulfinate, undergo a ring-enlargement reaction by 1,2-C migration finally leading to the observed benzo[a]heptalenes of. (cf. Schemes 8 and 9). The structures of the new product types have been finally established by X-ray crystal-structure analyses (cf. Figs. 1 and 2 as well as Exper. Part).

Notizen: 1,3,4,6,8-Pentamethylazulene (9), when heated at 100° in supercritical CO2 at 150 bar in the presence of 4 equiv. of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (ADM), led to the formation of 16% of a 1:1 mixture of dimethyl 3,5,6,8,10-pentamethylheptalene-1,2-dicarboxylate 12a) and its double-bond-shifted isomer 12b as well as 4% of the corresponding azulene-1,2-dicarboxylate 13 (Scheme 4). The formation of the [1 + 2] adduct 11 (cf. Scheme 2) was not observed. Similarly, benz[a]azulene (25) yielded in supercritical CO2 (150°/170 bar) in the presence of 4 equiv. of ADM dimethyl benzo[d]heptalene-6,7-dicarboxylate (29; 30%) and dimethyl benzo[a]cyclopent[cd]azulene-1,2-dicarboxylate (28; 22%; Scheme 5). The reaction of 5,9-diphenylbenz[a]azulene (26) and ADM in supercritical CO2 (100°/150 bar) gave the corresponding benzo[d]heptalene-6,7-dicarboxylate 31 (22%) and dimethyl 5,9-diphenyl-4b,10-etheno-10H-benz[a]azulene-11,12-dicarboxylate(30; 25%; Scheme 5).

Notizen: Tetraethynylethene (3,4-diethynylhex-3-ene-1,5-diyne) molecular scaffolding provided access to novel macrocyclic nanometer-sized C-rich molecules with unusual structural and electronic properties. Starting from cis-bis-deprotected cis-bis(trialkylsilyl)protected tetraethynylethenes, the per(silylethynyl)ated octadehydro[12]annulenes 1 and 2 and the corresponding dodecadehydro[18]annulenes 4 and 5 were prepared by oxidative Hay coupling. X-Ray crystal-structure analyses of (i-Pr)3Si-protected 2 and Me3Si-protected 4 showed that both annulene perimeters are perfectly planar. Electronic absorption spectral comparisons provided strong evidence that the macro rings in the deep-purple-colored 1 and 2 are antiaromatic (4n π-electrons), whereas those in yellow 4 and 5 are aromatic ((4n + 2) π-electrons). Although unstable in solution, the antiaromatic compound 2 gave high-melting crystals in which the individual octadehydro[12]annulene chromophores are isolated and stabilized in a matrix-type environment formed by the bulky (i-Pr)3Si groups. Electrochemical studies demonstrated that the antiaromatic octadehydro[12]annulene 2 undergoes two stepwise one-electron reductions more readily that the aromatic chromophore 5. This redox behavior is best explained by the formation of an aromatic (4n + 2) π-electron dianion from 2, whereas 5 loses its aromaticity upon reduction. The Me3Si derivative 4 was deprotected with borax in MeOH/THF to give the highly unstable hexaethynyl-dodecadehydro[18]annulene 6, a C30H6 isomer and macrocyclic precursor to a two-dimensional all-C-network. Deprotection of 2 did not give isolable amounts of tetraethynyl-octadehydro[12]annulene 3 due to the extreme instability of the latter. Starting from dimeric and trimeric acyclic tetraethynylethene oligomers, a series of expanded radialenes were obtained. They possess large C-cores with silylethynyl-protected peripheral valences and can be viewed as persilylated C40 (7), C50 (8), and C60 (9) isomers. These expanded C-sheets are high-melting, highly stable, soluble materials which were readily characterized by laser-desorption time-of-flight (LD-TOF) mass spectrometry. Due to inefficient macrocyclic cross-conjugation and/or non-planarity, the extent of π-electron delocalization in 7-9 is limited to the longest linearly conjugated π-electron fragment. In agreement with these properties, all three expanded radialenes exhibited similar redox behavior; they are difficult to oxidize but undergo several reversible one-electron reductions in similar potential ranges. Presumably, the reduced π-electron delocalization is also at the origin of the particularly high stability of 7-9.

Notizen: trans-4,4,10-Trimethyl-9-decalone ( = trans-5,5,8a-trimethyl-octahydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one; 1), when treated with trifluoroperacetic acid, gave the unexpected hydroxyspirolactone 7-hydroxy-7,11,11-trimethyl-1-oxaspiro[5.5]undecan-2-one (6), in which the two new O-atoms were introduced in a 1,2-trans relationship. The structure of this compound was conclusively proven by X-ray crystallography. The process involves the intermediacy of 7-membered lactone 2, the expected Baeyer-Villiger product, which could also be successfully prepared under controlled conditions at 0° in a buffered medium containing Na2HPO4.

Notizen: The intermediacy of metallocarbenes in decomposition reactions of iodonium ylides with [Rh2(OAc)4] was established by comparison with reactions of the corresponding diazo compounds. The sensitivity of the RhII-catalyzed intermolecular cyclopropane formation from substituted styrenes and bis(methoxycarbonyl)(phenyliodono)methanide (1a) or dimethyl diazomalonate (1b) is identical. The Hammett plot (with σ+) has a slope of -0.47. Iodonium ylides and diazo compounds afford the same products in [Rh2(OAc)4]-catalyzed cyclopropane formations, cycloadditions, and intramolecular CH insertions, and exhibit the identical selectivity in intramolecular competitions for cyclopropane formation and insertion. The intramolecular CH insertion of the ylide 20c, when carried out in the presence of a chiral catalyst ([Rh2{(-)-(S)-ptpa}4]), results in formation of 21a having an ee of 67%, identical to the ee obtained with the diazo compound 20b.

Notizen: The stereoselectivity of radical reactions using cyclic iodohydrins and 2-alkoxy iodides was investigated on a simple model system obtained from indene (see 1a-d). The low level of stereoselectivity inherent to this type of systems could neither be overcome by using large protective group on the O-atom of 1c nor by complexation with Lewis acids. However, starting from the free alcohol 1c, it was possible to obtain very high selectivities (trans/cis 〉 100:1) by forming an aluminium alkoxide derivative upon treatment with methylaluminium bis[2,6-di(tert-butyl)-4-methylphenoxide] (MAD) before running the radical reaction. Despite the high steric demand of these complexes, the reactions gave satisfactory yields even for the formation of C—C bonds.

Notizen: The stereoselectivity in reactions of 2-oxy-substituted radicals of type B was investigated. As expected, minimization of allylic 1,3-strain was the major controlling factor. Under standard conditions, only a modest level of stereoselectivity was observed. E.g., deuteration of the benzylated radical (R1 = benzyl) gave diastereoisomer ratios ≤ 2:1. Use of a bulky protective group on the O-atom (R1 = (t-Bu)Ph2Si) enhanced slightly the selectivity (ratio 4.1:1). However, a dramatic increase of the stereoselectivity (ratio 13:1) was obtained, when the reaction was performed with the free alcohol after treatment with bulky methylaluminium bis(phenoxide) derivatives (methyl-aluminium bis[2,6-di(tert-butyl)-4-methylphenoxide] (MAD) and methylaluminium bis(2,6-diphenylphenoxide) (MAPH)).

Notizen: The complexation of N-benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz) derivatives of the excitatory amino acids L-aspartic acid (Asp; 1), L-glutamic acid (Glu; 3), and, for the first time, L-kainic acid ((2S,3S,3S)-2-carboxy-4-(1-methylethenyl)pyrrolidine-3-acetic acid; Kai; 5) was studied in CDCl3 with a diversity of chiral receptors consisting of a 1,1′-binaphthyl spacer with (carboxamido)pyridine (CONH(py)) functionality attached to the 6,6′-positions in the major groove. Receptors of type A possess two N-(pyridin-2-yl)carboxamide H-bonding sites (e.g. 7), whereas type B-receptors have two N-(pyridine-6,2-diyl)acetamide residues attached (e.g. 8 and 9). Complexes of excitatory amino-acid derivatives and other, achiral α,β-dicarboxylic acids with these receptors are primarily stabilized by two sets of C=O···H—N and O—H ··· N H-bonds. Optically active type-A receptors such as (R)- and (S)-7 showed a preference for the larger Glu derivative, whereas type-B receptors such as (R)- and (S)-8 and (R)- and (S)-9 formed more stable complexes with the smaller Cbz-Asp. To improve the poor enantioselectivity shown by 7-9, additional functionality was introduced at the 7,7′-positions of the 1,1′-binaphthyl spacer, and the nature of the H-bonding sites in the 6,6′-positions was varied. Screening the diversity of new racemic receptors for binding affinity, which had been shown in many examples by Cram to correlate with enantioselectivity, demonstrated that (+)-10 and (+)-11 formed the most stable complexes with dicarboxylic acids, and these receptors were synthesized in enantiomerically pure form. Both are type-B binders and contain additional PhCH2O (10) and MeO (11) groups in the 7,7′-positions. By 1H-NMR binding titrations, the complexation of (R)- and (S)- 10 and (R)- and (S)-11 with the excitatory amino-acid derivatives was studied in CDCl3, and association constants Ka between 103 and 2 · 105 l mol-1 were measured for the 1:1 host-guest complexes formed. Whereas both 10 and 11 formed stable complexes, enantioselective binding was limited to the PhCH2O-substituted receptor 10, with the (R)-enantiomer complexing Cbz-Asp by 0.7 kcal mol-1 more tightly than the (S)-enantiomer. The structures of the diastereoisomeric complexes were analyzed in detail by experimental methods (complexation-induced changes in 1H-NMR chemical shifts, 1H{1H} nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) difference spectroscopy) and computer modeling. These studies established that an unusual variety of interesting aromatic interactions and secondary electrostatic interactions are responsible for both the high binding affinity (—ΔG° up to 7.2 kcal mol-1) and the enantioselection observed with (R)- and (S)-10. In an approach to enhance the enantioselectivity by reducing the conformational flexibility of the 1,1′-binaphthyl spacer, an additional crown-ether binding site was attached to the 2,2′-positions in the minor groove of the type-B receptors (R)- and (S)-48. Both the binding affinity and the enantioselectivity (Δ(ΔG°) up to 0.7 kcal mol-1) in the complexation of the excitatory amino-acid derivatives by (R)- and (S)-48 were not altered upon complexation of Hg(CN)2 at the crown-ether binding site, demonstrating lack of cooperativity between the minor- and major-groove recognition sites.

Notizen: 2′,3′-O-Isopropylidene-5-methyl(15N2)[O2,O4-17O2]uridine (= 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene (15N2)[O2,O4-17O2]-ribosylthymine; 1) was analyzed by 15N-and 17O-NMR spectroscopy. The 15N and 17O chemical shifts revealed, in the absence and presence of unlabelled 2′,3′-O-isopropylideneadenosine (2), the formation of thymine-thymine and thymine-adenine base pairs in CHCl3. As expected, cyclic complexes stabilized by two H-bonds occurred at low temperatures, but at elevated temperatures, the data suggest that open complexes involving only one H-bond prevailed. The 17O-NMR data showed the cyclic thymine-adenine pair in a reverse base pair geometry. The open base pair involved contacts to the urea-derived carbonyl O-atom of thymine. The thermodynamics of complex formation of the cyclic and open forms in both homo and hetero pairs were calculated from the temperature and concentration dependence of the 15N-NMR data using a new method. It involves a fitting procedure onto the experimental isotherms using a theoretically derived function with the standard Gibbs free energy as a parameter to be optimized. ΔH° and ΔS° were derived from a linear regression of ΔG°(T) vs. T. The fitting procedure circumvents the baseline problem and could be automated and used to calculate correct thermodynamics from UV-monitored melting curves of oligonucleotides. Since titrations are not involved, this dilution method should also be a useful alternative for stability studies of supramolecular complexes in H2O and in organic solvents.

Notizen: As compounds from a calcareous sponge, Leucetta sp., of the Coral Sea, we isolated a series of novel naamidine-type alkaloids, 6-10, which are oxidized at a single benzylic position. We also report on the first marine, mixed-ligand metal complex 5 and on the first natural metal complexes 3 and 4 derived from classical naamidines, i.e., 1 and 2. The latter are also present in free form in the sponge.

Notizen: The first systematic electrochemical study by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating-disk electrode (RDE) of the changes in redox properties of covalent fullerene derivatives (2-11) as a function of increasing number of addends is reported. Dialkynylmethanofullerenes 2-4 undergo multiple, fullerene-centered reduction steps at slightly more negative potentials than C60 (1; see Table and Fig. 1). The two C-spheres in the dumbbell-shaped dimeric fullerene derivative 4 show independent, identical redox characteristics. This highlights the insulating character of the sp3-C-atoms in methanofullerenes which prevent through-bond communication of substituent effects from the methano bridge to the fullerene sphere. In the series of mono- through hexakis-adducts 5-11, formed by tether-directed remote functionalization, reductions become increasingly difficult and more irreversible with increasing number of addends (see Table and Fig. 2). Whereas, in 0.1M Bu4NPF6/CH2Cl2, the first reduction of mono-adduct 5 occurs reversibly at -1.06 V vs. the ferrocene/ferricinium couple (Fc/Fc+), hexakis-adduct 11 is reduced irreversibly only at - 1.87 V. Hence, with incremental functionalization of the fullerene, the LUMO of the remaining conjugated framework is raised in energy. Reduction potentials are also dependent on the relative spatial disposition of the addends on the surface of the fullerene sphere. Observed UV/VIS spectral changes and changes in the chemical reactivity along the series 5-11 are in accord with the results of electrochemical measurements. Further, with increasing number of addends, the oxidation of derivatives 5-11 becomes more reversible. Whereas oxidations are increasingly facilitated upon going from mono-adduct 5 (+1.22 V) to tris-adduct 7 (+0.90 V), they occur at nearly the same potential (+0.95 to +0.99 V) in the higher adducts 8-11. This indicates that the oxidations occur in these compounds at a common sub-structural element, for which a ‘cubic’ cyclophane is proposed (see Fig. 3). This sub-structure is fully developed in hexakis-adduct 11.

Notizen: It is shown that the 2-(hydroxymethyl)-1-methylazulenes 6 are being oxidized by activated MnO2 in CH2Cl2 at room temperature to the corresponding azulene-1,2-dicarbaldehydes 7 (Scheme 2). Extension of the MnO2 oxidation reaction to 1-methyl- and/or 3-methyl-substituted azulenes led to the formation of the corresponding azulene-1-carbaldehydes in excellent yields (Scheme 3). The reaction of unsymmetrically substituted 1,3-dimethyl-azulenes (cf. 15 in Scheme 4) with MnO2 shows only little chemoselectivity. However, the observed ratio of the formed constitutionally isometric azulene-1-carbaldehydes is in agreement with the size of the orbital coefficients in the HOMO of the azulenes. The reaction of guaiazulene (18) with MnO2 in dioxane/H2O at room temperature gave mainly the expected carbaldehyde 19. However, it was accompanied by the azulene-diones 20 and 21 (Scheme 5). The precursor of the demethylated compound 20 is the carbaldehyde 19. Similarly, the MnO2 reaction of 7-isopropyl-4-methyalazulene (22) as well as of 4,6,8-trimethylazulene (24) led to the formation of a mixture of the corresponding azulene-1,5-diones and azulene-1,7-diones 20/23 and 25/26, respectively, in decent yields (Schemes 6 and 7). No MnO2 reaction was observed with 5,7-dimethylazulene.

Notizen: The dehydrogenation reaction of the heptalene-4,5-dimethanols 4a and 4d, which do not undergo the double-bond-shift (DBS) process at ambient temperature, with basic MnO2 in CH2Cl2 at room temperature, leads to the formation of the corresponding heptaleno[1,2-c]furans 6a and 6d, respectively, as well as to the corresponding heptaleno[1,2-c]furan-3-ones 7a and 7d, respectively (cf. Scheme 2 and 8). The formation of both product types necessarily involves a DBS process (cf. Scheme 7). The dehydrogenation reaction of the DBS isomer of 4a, i.e., 5a, with MnO2 in CH2Cl2 at room temperature results, in addition to 6a and 7a, in the formation of the heptaleno[1,2-c]-furan-1-one 8a and, in small amounts, of the heptalene-4,5-dicarbaldehyde 9a (cf. Scheme 3). The benzo[a]heptalene-6,7-dimethanol 4c with a fixed position of the C=C bonds of the heptalene skeleton, on dehydrogenation with MnO2 in CH2Cl2, gives only the corresponding furanone 11b (Scheme 4). By [2H2]-labelling of the methanol function at C(7), it could be shown that the furanone formation takes place at the stage of the corresponding lactol [3-2H2]-15b (cf. Scheme 6). Heptalene-1,2-dimethanols 4c and 4e, which are, at room temperature, in thermal equilibrium with their corresponding DBS forms 5c and 5e, respectively, are dehydrogenated by MnO2 in CH2Cl2 to give the corresponding heptaleno[1,2-c]furans 6c and 6e as well as the heptaleno[1,2-c]furan-3-ones 7c and 7e and, again, in small amounts, the heptaleno[1,2-c]furan-1-ones 8c and 8e, respectively (cf. Scheme 8). Therefore, it seems that the heptalene-1,2-dimethanols are responsible for the formation of the furan-1-ones (cf. Scheme 7). The methylenation of the furan-3-ones 7a and 7e with Tebbe's reagent leads to the formation of the 3-methyl-substituted heptaleno[1,2-c]furans 23a and 23e, respectively (cf. Scheme 9). The heptaleno[1,2-c]furans 6a, 6d, and 23a can be resolved into their antipodes on a Chiralcel OD column. The (P)-configuration is assigned to the heptaleno[1,2-c]furans showing a negative Cotton effect at ca. 320 nm in the CD spectrum in hexane (cf. Figs. 3-5 as well as Table 7). The (P)-configuration of (-)-6a is correlated with the established (P)-configuration of the dimethanol (-)-5a via dehydrogenation with MnO2. The degree of twisting of the heptalene skeleton of 6 and 23 is determined by the Me-substitution pattern (cf. Table 9). The larger the heptalene gauche torsion angles are, the more hypsochromically shifted is the heptalene absorption band above 300 nm (cf. Table 7 and 8, as well as Figs. 6-9).

Notizen: The 1H-pyrrole derivative obtained from diethyl L-glutamate hydrochloride and tetrahydro-2,5-dimethoxyfuran was cyclized with BBr3 to ethyl (5S)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-8-oxoindolizine-5-carboxylate (18). Catalytic hydrogenation of 18 over Pd/C in AcOH gave ethyl (5S,8aR)-octahydroindolizine-5-carboxylate (21), whereas hydrogenation over Rh/Al2O3 in EtOH/AcOH 99:1 afforded mainly ethyl (5S,8S,8aS)-octahydro-8-hydroxyindolizine-5-carboxylate (22). By functional-group interconversions, 21 was transformed into piclavine A (1) and indolizidine 209D (2). Similarly, (5R,8R,8aS)-octahydro-5-pentylindolizine-8-methanol (37), the final relay for indolizidine 209B (3), was obtained from 22.

Notizen: A series of novel open-chain and cyclic conformationally constrained (R)- and (S)-α,α-disubstituted tyrosine analogues 1a-e were synthesized in good yields and high optical purities (Schemes 1 and 2). The absolute configurations of these tyrosine analogues were unambiguously determined based on the X-ray structures of the precursor diastereoisomeric peptides of type 4 and 5. Four of these structures are described (Figs. 1-4), showing β-turn type-I geometries for dipeptides 4a, 5b, and 4c and an extended conformation for peptide 5c (Table 3). The conversion of the free amino acids 1a-c into suitably protected building blocks 11a-d and 15d,e for peptide synthesis is discussed (Schemes 3 and 4).

Notizen: Base pairing in p-RNA (β-D-ribopyranosyl-(4′ → 2′)-oligonucleotides) is not only stronger than in DNA and RNA, but also more selective in the sense that it is strictly confined to the Watson-Crick mode. Homopurine sequences (tested up to decamers) exist as single strands under conditions where they undergo reverse-Hoogsteen self-pairing in homo-DNA or Hoogsteen self-pairing in DNA. This exceptional pairing selectivity is rationalized as hinging on two structural features of p-RNA: the large inclination between backbone axis and base-pair axes in p-RNA duplexes, and the higher rigidity of the p-RNA backbone compared with RNA, DNA, and homo-DNA. The most important consequence of the pairing selectivity refers to the potential of p-RNA to replicate. Replicative copying of sequence information by nonenzymatic template-controlled ligation is not hampered by self-pairing of guanine-rich templates, as it is known to be the case in the RNA series. We have demonstrated two replicative cycles in which G-rich p-RNA-octamer templates induce sequence-selective ligation of tetramer-2′-phosphate derivatives to complementary C-rich octamer sequences, and in which the latter, with comparable efficiency, induce corresponding ligation reactions back to the original G-rich octamers. Ligation is most satisfactorily achieved after pre-activation of the 2′-phosphate groups as 2′,3′-cyclophosphate derivatives; in this version, the process does not proceed as oligocondensation, but as a genuine oligomerization. This is of considerable promise for the search for potentially natural conditions under which homochiral p-RNA strands might self-assemble and self-replicate.

Notizen: The 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethylsulfonyl (npes) group is developed as a new sugar OH-blocking group in the ribonucleoside series. Its cleavage can be performed in a β-eliminating process under aprotic conditions using 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) as the most effective base. Since sulfonates do not show acyl migration, partial protection of 1,2-cis-diol moieties is possible leading to new types of oligonucleotide building blocks. A series of Markiewicz-protected ribonucleosides 1-10 is converted into their 2′-O-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethylsulfonyl] derivatives 29-38 in which the 5′-O—Si bond can be cleaved by acid hydrolysis forming 39-45. Subsequent monomethoxytritylation leads to 46-50, and desilylation affords the 5′-O-(monomethoxytrityl)-2′-O-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethylsulfonyl]ribonucleosides 51-55. Acid treatment to remove trityl groups do also not harm the npes group (→56-58). Unambiguous syntheses of fully blocked 2′-O-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethylsulfonyl]ribonucleosides 96-102 are achieved from the corresponding 3′-O-(tert-butyl)dimethylsilyl derivatives. Furthermore, various base-protected 5′-O-(monomethoxytrityl)- and 5′-O-(dimethoxytrityl)ribonucleosides, i.e. 59-77, are treated directly with 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethylsulfonyl chloride forming in all cases a mixture of the 2′,3′-di-O- and the two possible 2′- and 3′-O-monosulfonates 107-148 which can be separated into the pure components by chromatographic methods. The npes group is more labile towards DBU cleavage than the corresponding base-protecting 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl (npe) and 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxycarbonyl (npeoc) groups allowing selective deblocking which is of great synthetic potential.

Notizen: The experimental conditions developed for the detection of rather stable radical cations in solution by electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) of a FeII complex of 2-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5-methylpteridin-4 (3H)-one (1c) are used to observe the formation of the more unstable radical cations formed from 2-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropteridin-4(3H)-one (1a) and tris(pentane-2,4-dionato)iron(III) ([FeIII(acac)3]; 4) and to monitor their oxidation to the corresponding p-quinonoid dihydropterin complexes. These results contribute to the understanding of the important role played by 6β-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin (1b; a homologue of 1a) together with iron as constituent of some cofactors. The complexes obtained from 1a and iron may be considered, e.g. as a model of the cofactor of the phenylalanine hydroxylase. Moreover, we describe an improved synthesis of 1c.

Notizen: Copper(II) complexes of the ligands N2-[(R)-2-hydroxypropyl]- and N2-[(S)-2-hydroxypropyl]-(S)-phenylalaninamide performed chiral separation of N-dansyl-protected and unmodified amino acids in HPLC (reversed phase). With the aim of investigating which species are potentially involved in the discrimination mechanism, the two ligands were synthesized and their complexation equilibria with Cu2+ studied by potentiometry and spectrophotometry in aqueous solution up to pH 11.7. The formation constants of the species observed, [CuL]2+, [CuL2]2+, [CuLH-1]+, [CuL2H-1]+, [CuL2H-2], and [CuL2H-3]-, were quite similar for both compounds and were compared to those of (S)-phenylalaninamide. Most probably, in [CuL2H-3]- the ligands behave as terdentate, with the deprotonated OH group occupying an apical position.

Notizen: Phosphonopyruvates: Syntheses, NMR Investigations, and ReactionsThe new 3-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-2-oxopropanoates 5-24 and -propanamides 25-38 with various substituents at C(3) were prepared in moderate-to-good yields (Schemes 2 and 3, Tables 1 and 2). It was shown that they adopt a preferred conformation in which the diethoxyphosphoryl group and the substituent at C(4) are antiperiplanar to each other (see B). The keto-enol tautomerization of phosphonopyruvates with Ph—C(3) (see 20) and MeS—C(3) (see 24 and 33) was examined. In CHCl3, two tautomeric species exist, whereas in dimetylsulfoxide (DMSO), three tautomeric forms are observed. Oxime ethers, an oxime, and a phenylhydrazone of unsubstituted phosphonopyruvates were prepared (see 40-44), and quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones could be obtained from the reaction of pyruvates with 4,5-dimethylbenzene-1,2-diamine (see 45-47).

Notizen: The substituent reactivity and tautomerism of isoguanine nucleosides is studied. Benzoylation or tosylation of isoguanine nucleosides (pyridine, room temperature) yields the 2-benzoyl derivatives 7c, 11, and 12 or the 2-tosyl compounds 13 and 14. The isobutyrylation of the 6-amino group which did not occur under these conditions was induced in the presence of Me3SiCl. In the absence of Me3SiCl, the reactivity of isoguanine substituents decreases in the order from 2-oxo → 5′-OH → 3′-OH → 6-NH2. From isoguanine nucleosides, the N1-(2b), N3-(17), N6-(15a,b), and 2-O-alkylated (3b) derivatives were prepared. Their pKa values were determined and the UV and 13C-NMR spectra compared with regard to the alkylation position. Also the tautomeric forms of isoguanine nucleosides were determined UV-spectrophotometrically in aqueous and nonaqueous solution. Isoguanosine (1a), its 2′-deoxy analogue 1b as well as the N6-methyl- and 8-substituted derivatives form lactam tautomers in aqueous solution, whereas the lactim form is present in dioxane.

Notizen: An Unexpected Ring Enlargement of 3-(Dimethylamino)-2,2-dimethyl-2H-azirine to 4,5-Dihydropyridin-2(3H)-one DerivativesThe reaction of 3-(dimethylamino)-2,2-dimethyl-2H-azirine (1a) and 4,4-disubstituted 2-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-ones 7 in MeCN at 70° afforded 5-(dimethylamino)-3,6-dihydropyrazin-2(1H)-ones 10 (Scheme 4), whereas no reaction could be observed between 1a and 2-allyl-4-phenyl-2-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-oxazol-5(2H)-one (8a) or 4,4-dibenzyl-2-phenyl-1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-one (9). The formation of 10 is rationalized by a mechanism via nucleophilic attack of 1a onto 7. The failure of a reaction with 9 shows that only activated 1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-ones bearing electron-withdrawing substituents do react as electrophiles with 1a. The amino-azirine 1a and 2,4-disubstituted 1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-ones 2b-e in refluxing MeCN undergo a novel ring enlargement to 4,5-dihydropyridin-2(3H)-ones 11 (Scheme 5). Several side products were observed in these reactions. Two different reaction mechanisms for the formation of 11 are proposed: either 1a undergoes a nucleophilic addition onto the open-chain ketene tautomer of 2 (Scheme 6), or 2 reacts as CH-acidic compound (Scheme 7).

Notizen: The solution structure and the aggregation behavior of (E)-2-lithio-1-(2-lithiophenyl)-1-phenylpent-1-ene (1) and (Z)-2-lithio-1-(2-lithiophenyl)ethene (2) were investigated by one- and two-dimensional 1H-, 13C-, and 6Li-NMR spectroscopy. In Et2O, both systems form dimers which show homonuclear scalar 6Li,6Li spin-spin coupling. In the case of 2, extensive 6Li,1H coupling is observed. In tetrahdrofuran and in the presence of 2 mol of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylylenediamine (tmeda), the dimeric structure of 1 coexists with a monomer. The activation parameters for intra-aggregate exchange in the dimers of 1 and 2 (1 (Et2O): ΔH≠ = 62.6 ± 13.9 kJ/mol, ΔS≠ = 5.8 ± 14.0 J/mol K, ΔG≠(263) = 61.1 kJ/mol; 2 (dimethoxyethane): ΔH≠ = 36.9 ± 6.5 kJ/mol, ΔS≠ = -61 ± 25 J/mol K, ΔG≠(263) = 54.0 kJ/mol) and the thermodynamic parameters for the dimer-monomer equilibrium for 1 (ΔH°; = 26.7 ± 5.5 kJ/mol, ΔS° = 63 ± 27 J/mol K), where the monomer is favored at low temperature, were determined by dynamic NMR studies.

Notizen: Diphenyl phosphorazidate (DPPA) was used as the azide source in a one-pot synthesis of 2,2-disubstituted 3-amino-2H-azirines 1 (Scheme 1). The reaction with lithium enolates of amides of type 2, bearing two substituents at C(2), proceeded smoothly in THF at 0°; keteniminium azides C and azidoenamines D are likely intermediates. Under analogous reaction conditions, DPPA and amides of type 3 with only one substituent at C(2) gave 2-diazoamides 5 in fair-to-good yield (Scheme 2). The corresponding 2-diazo derivatives 6-8 were formed in low yield by treatment of the lithium enolates of N,N-dimethyl-2-phenylacetamide, methyl 2-phenylacetate, and benzyl phenyl ketone, respectively, with DPPA. Thermolysis of 2-diazo-N-methyl-N-phenylcarboxamides 5a and 5b yielded 3-substituted 1,3-dihydro-N-methyl-2H-indol-2-ones 9a and 9b, respectively (Scheme 3). The diazo compounds 5-8 reacted with 1,3-thiazole-5 (4H)-thiones 10 and thiobenzophenone (13) to give 6-oxa-1,9-dithia-3-azaspiro[4.4]nona-2,7-dienes 11 (Scheme 4) and thiirane-2-carboxylic acid derivatives 14 (Scheme 5), respectively. In analogy to previously described reactions, a mechanism via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, leading to 2,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazoles, and elimination of N2 to give the ‘thiocarbonyl ylides’ of type H or K is proposed. These dipolar intermediates with a conjugated C=O group then undergo either a 1,5-dipolar electrocyclization to give spirohetrocycles 11 or a 1,3-dipolar electrocyclization to thiiranes 14.

Notizen: Syntheses of a series of enantiomerically pure, substituted analogues 7b-t of SDZ EAB 515 (7a) were described (Schemes 1 and 2). Affinites for the NMDA receptor were measured ([3H]CGP-39653 binding assay) and competitive NMDA antagonistic potencies determined in a functional test (rat neocortical slice preparation). Structure-activity relationships show that attachment of an OH group at position 4 of the chain-inserted benzene ring of the biphenyl moiety and/or expansion of the angle between the planes of the two benzene rings by ortho-substituents increase in vitro activities into the low nanomolar range.

Notizen: A novel approach to modeling the angular geometry about the metal centre in transition-metal complexes, using a variation of classical molecular-mechanics calculations, is presented. The approach is based on the combination of 1,3-nonbonded interactions around the metal centre and a harmonic sine function with a ligandfield-dependent force constant for the L-M-L′ terms. Force-field parameters for four-, five-, and six-coordinated first-row transition-metal coordination centres and a variety of ligands containing N-, S-, and O-donor sets are given. The new ‘electronically doped’ force field is shown to generally lead to computed structures with higher accuracy than those obtained when the coordination geometries are modeled with 1,3-nonbonded interactions alone.

Notizen: The dendritic cyclophanes (dendrophanes )1-3 containing a [6.1.6.1]paracyclophane as the initiator core embedded in dendritic poly(ether-amide) shells of first (1), second (2), and third (3) generation were prepared and characterized. The X-ray crystal-structure analyses of esters 7 and 4, derivatives of cyclophane core 9 and first-generation dendrophane 1, respectively, displayed open cavity binding sites suitable for the inclusion complexation of aromatic substrates. With their carboxylate surface groups, dendrophanes 1-3 were readily soluble in aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 8.0), and the complexation of naphthalene derivatives was investigated by 1H-NMR and fluorescence titrations. The binding studies demonstrated that the cyclophane cavity remains open and accessible to appropriate substrates even at higher dendritic generations. The 1:1 complexes formed in aqueous buffer were of similar stability to those formed by the unbranched core 9 (Ka between 1000 and 10000 1 mol-1, 300 K). Investigations with the fluorescent probe 6-(p-toluidino)naphthalene-2-sulfonate (12) showed that the micropolarity at the dendrophane core decreases with increasing generation number.

Notizen: The unimolecular fragmentation reactions of the radical cations of diethyl, diisopropyl, dipropyl, isopropyl propyl, and di(tert-butyl) peroxide have been investigated by mass spectrometric and isotopic labeling techniques. Two competing pathways for unimolecular decomposition in the μs time regime (metastable ions) are observed: i) A combination of an α-C—C bond cleavage and a H migration gives rise to proton-bound dimers of two ketone or aldehyde molecules. ii) Ion/dipole complexes of alkyl cations and alkylperoxy radicals are generated by C-O bond cleavage. These complexes either exhibit direct losses of alkylperoxy radicals, or they rearrange via a coupled proton and H-atom transfer, this sequence of unprecedented isomerizations is completed by losses of alkyl radicals. Collisional activation experiments confirm that the ionic products of the latter process correspond to RR′C=OOH+; these ions can be regarded as protonated carbonyl oxides. In addition, we observe the elimination of alkenes leading to hydroperoxide radical cations and the expulsion of HO2⋅ radicals. The latter process implies a C—C bond formation step between the two alkyl fragments leading to higher alkyl cations.

Notizen: Several cyclic and acyclic enones and their ethylene ketals/acetals were reacted with dimethyl diazomalonate under bis(acetylacetonato)copper(II) catalysis. Cyclohex-2-en-1-one (1) yielded only C-H insertion products 2 and 3, whereas but-3-en-2-one gave a cyclopropane albeit in very low yield. The ethylene ketals 6 of cyclopent-2-en-1-one and cyclohex-2-en-1-one gave the corresponding cyclopropanes 7, which were in turn cleaved to the ketones 8. The acetals 9 and 10 of crotonaldehyde ((E)-but-2-enal) and cinnamaldehyde ((E)-3-phenylprop-2-enal), respectively, yielded C-O insertion and [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement products 11b, c and 12b, c, as well as cyclopropanes 11a and 11b, all of which are polyfunctional and synthetically useful compounds.

Notizen: Light-induced cyclizations of suitably functionalized polyalkene terpenoids, such as geranyl, all-trans-farnesyl, and all-trans-geranylgeranyl derivatives, via formation of radical cations are proven to be a powerful method for the single-step synthesis of mono- and mostly all-trans-fused polycyclic compounds from readily available precursors. Whereas some of these highly stereo- and chemoselective transformations required the use of micel ar media, they can now be conveniently performed in homogeneous solutions upon suitable choice of the electron acceptors and of the functionality pattern of the polyalkene substrates. Moreover, the mode of cyclization, i.e., 6- vs. 5-membered ring formation and termination of the cyclization cascades, are steered efficiently by the substituents of the polyalkenes (polyalkenyl acetate vs. α,β-unsaturated ethyl polyalkenoate and polyalkene-1,1-dicarbonitrile). At the same time, the protic solvents used add highly stereoselectively to the ω-alkene sites of the polyalkens in anti-Markovnikov sense which strongly suggests that radical cations are intercepted. Interestingly, the transformations achieved here upon photoelectron transfer parallel the biosynthetic paths of non-oxidative terpene cyclizations which are thought to occur purely by protonation of the isoprenoid polyalkenes.

Notizen: A comprehensive series of multiple adducts of C60 was prepared by tether-directed remote functionalization. When the tether-reactive-group conjugates 2 and 10 were attached to methano[60]fullerenecarboxylic acid ( = cyclopropafullerene-C60-Ih-carboxylic acid) and C60, respectively, the e-bis-adducts 4 and 9 (Schemes 1 and 2) were obtained with complete regioselectivity as predicted by semi-empirical PM3 calculations (Fig. 2). Attachment of the anchor-tether-reactive-group conjugate 13 to C60 by Bingel reaction, followed by double intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition afforded the tris-adduct 12 (Scheme 3). Starting from 12, a series of selective e-additions led to the tetrakis-adducts 16 and 19 (Scheme 4), pentakis-adducts 20-23 (Scheme 5), and, ultimately, to hexakis-adducts 24 and 25 (Scheme 6), and 29 and 30 (Scheme 7) with a pseudo-octahedral addition pattern on the fullerene core. Oxidative cyclization of diethynylmethanofullerene 30 under Eglinton-Glaser conditions afforded the trimeric and tetrameric acetylenic macrocycles 26, with three, and 27, with four appended C60 moieties, respectively (Scheme 8). These multinanometer-sized compounds are the first soluble derivatives of C195 and C260, two members of a new class of fullerene-acetylene hybrid C-allotropes with the general formula Cn(60 + 5). The matrix-assisted laser-desorption time-of-flight mass spectra of 26 and 27 showed a remarkable fragmentation; the sequential loss of fullerene spheres led to the formation of ions corresponding to mono-fullerene adducts of the cyclocarbons cyclo-C15 and cyclo-C20 (Fig. 4). Large solvent effects were observed in the Bingel addition of 2-bromomalonates to higher adducts of C60, with the use of polar solvents enhancing the reaction rate without loss of regioselectivity. Experimental evidence for the enhanced reactivity of eface over eedge bonds was obtained, which had previously been predicted in computational studies. The correlated series of mono- to hexakis-adducts of C60 allowed identification of the changes in reactivity and physical properties that occur, when the conjugated π-electron chromophore of the fullerene is reduced as a result of increasing functionalization; this analysis is the subject of the directly following paper.

Notizen: The 3-alkyl-2,2-dimethyl-4-(tert-butyl)-2H-thietes 9a-c were obtained in several steps from the corresponding, newly synthesized, 3-alkyl-2-(tert-butyl)thiophenes 5a-c. Irradiation (254nm) of these tetraalkylated four membered S-heterocycles leads to a photostationary equilibrium with enethiones 10a-c (thiete/enethione 3:1).

Notizen: Electron Transfer and Ion-Pair Formation: Titrations of Tetracyanoethene by Alkaline and Alkaline Earth Metals in Aprotic SolutionFor alkaline and earth alkaline metal ‘titrations’ of the π-acceptor tetracyanoethene in aprotic (c(H⊕) 〈 0.1 ppm) solution, UV/VIS and ESR spectra have been measured in a sealed glas apparatus. Isosbestic points prove uniform but differing metal-mirror reduction processes for [Li]x, [Na]x, and [K]x vs. [Cs]x. The formation of solvent-shared or solvent-separated contact ion pairs detected is supported by subsequent crystallization and structure determination. For the tetracyanoethene radical anion, semiempirical PM3 calculations with limited configuration interaction allow to reproduce the structural data as well as the long-wavelength charge transfer excitation.

Notizen: Interactions in Crystals: The Dimorphism of (2-Pyridyl)(2-pyrimidyl)aminePreceding structural studies of 2-aminopyridine derivatives prove that they form polymorphic H-pair-bonded dimmers, and, therefore, (2-pyrimidyl)amine has been crystallized under different conditions. Two different monoclinic modifications are characterized by their crystal structures of the same space group P21/c: form I exhibits the well known herringbone motif and form II the sandwich-herringbone one. Both modifications contain almost identical planar, H-pair-bridged molecular dimmers. Crystals of form I are readily obtained from any solvent, whereas those of form II result either on fast evaporation of a Et2O solution or by resolidification of the melt. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and crystallization experiments at different temperatures prove, for both modifications, no transitions in the temperature range between -25° and the melting point at 152° and, therefore the system should be monotropic. The structural and thermodynamic aspects of the (2-pyridyl)(2-pyrimidyl)amine dimorphism are discussed in comparison to those of the trimorphism observed for di(2-pyridyl)amine.

Notizen: Interaction in Crystals: The Keyboard of Na⊕ Coordination Numbers in Its Carbazole Anion SaltsSome local minima in the shallow potential of the system carbazole anion, sodium cation, and the ethers tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, diglyme, triglyme, tetraglyme, 15-crown-5 as well as 2.2.1-cryptand are explored experimentally and by quantum-chemical calculations. Three prototype contact-ion multiples of Na⊕-solvated carbazole anion M⊖ salts have been crystallized and structurally characterized: polyether-solvated monomers [M⊖Na⊕solv]1, solvent-shared dimers [M⊖Na⊕solv]2, and solvent-separated polyions [(M⊖)nNa⊖solv](n-1)- [Na⊕solv](n-1). The Na⊕ coordination numbers stretch from 3 to 7 as illustrated by the compounds [(M-)3Na+]⊖⊖[Na+(2.2.1-crytand)]2 for 3 and 7, [(M-)2Na+(THF)2]⊖ [Na⊕(2.2.1-cryptand)] for 4 and 7, [M- Na+(diglyme)]2 for 5, or [M- Na+(l 5-crown-5)] for 6. Structural comparison is based on literature analogies as well as on results of MNDO calculations concerning charge distribution and enthalpies of formation. Taken together, the results demonstrate the delicate energy balance, by which cation solvation can influence the formation of organic salts.

Notizen: Alkylation of 3-oxo-1,2-thiazetidine 1,1-dioxide 2 yields the N-alkylated 3-oxo-β-sultams 3a-i. Solvolysis with NaOH or NH3 selectively opens the N—S bond forming the sulfonate carboxamides 4 and the sulfonamidocarboxamides 7, respectively. Furthermore, the hitherto unknown compounds of type 5 are prepared, representing a strained four-membered ring with a diacylated, sulfonated N-atom. Depending upon the reaction conditions, 3b-d and 3g are rearranged by base-catalyzed reactions into the substituted 4-oxothiazolidine 1,1-dioxides 9 or 10. Structures are elucidated by spectroscopic methods, established by crystal-structure analyses, and a possible way of formation is proposed. Furthermore, some side reactions and transformations are reported.

Notizen: Synthesis of (3-Aminopropyl)arylsilanes, Including One or Two Heterocyclic Patterns, Potential FungicidesFlusilazole is an effective silylated fungicide used on a large scale for plant protection. We synthesized several flusilazole analogs and also copied the tebuconazole design, an other very efficient fungicide, which has four atoms between the aromatic group and the heterocyclic moiety. In contrast to flusilazole, we obtained dissymetric structures around the Si-atom by using successively two different Grignard reagents. In another way, the 1H-1,2,4-triazole moiety was exchanged in several cases by other N-heterocycles such as 1H-imidazole, piperidine, and 2,6-dimethylmorpholine, already present in other fungicidal compounds. Finally, several compounds having two N-heterocycles of the same or different nature were prepared.

Notizen: The 2,2-disubstituted 2H-azirin-3-amines 7 (2,2-disubstituted 3-amino-2H-azirines) were used as amino-acid synthons in the preparation of medium-sized cyclic depsipeptides and peptides derived from salicylic acids 6 and anthranilic acid 19, respectively (Schemes 2--4 and 5, resp.). The combination of the ‘azirine/oxazolone method’ for the synthesis of linear peptides containing α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids and the acid-catalyzed amide cyclization in DMF at 60° proved to be an excellent preparative route to ten-membered cyclic depsipeptides and peptides. In the case of the anthranilic-acid derivative, a transannular ring-closure reaction was observed (24 → 25). Larger rings proved to be extremely sensitive to hydrolysis.

Notizen: Second derivatives of the UV spectra of 2-(4-alkoxybenzyl)cyclopentan-1-ols and their acetates were used for the quantitative analysis of reaction kinetics of enzyme-mediated hydrolytic process. To determine the enantiomeric purity of the products using non-chiral HPLC columns, their diastereoisomeric esters of 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-methoxy-2-phenylpropanoic acid(MTPA) were prepared. The absolute configuration of the products was established using a combination of the results of a HPLC analysis and 1H/19F-NMR measurements of the diastereoisomeric MTP esters. The analytical method described consists of an easy routine HPLC analysis which can sometimes be used as a quick on-line analysis of the reaction kinetics and as a quick stepwise analysis of the optical purity and the absolute configuration of the products.

Notizen: It is proposed to study the influence of interresidue H-bonds on the structure and properties of polysaccharides by comparing them to a series of systematically modified oligosaccharide analogues where some or all of the glycosidic O-atoms are replaced by buta-1,3-diyne-1,4-diyl groups. This group is long enough to interrupt the interresidue H-bonds, is chemically versatile, and allows a binomial synthesis. Several approaches to the simplest monomeric unit required to make analogues of cellulose are described. In the first approach, allyl α-D-galactopyranoside (1) was transformed via 2 and the tribenzyl ether 3 into the triflate 4 (Scheme 2). Substitution by cyanide (→ 5-7) followed by reduction with DIBAH led in high yield to the aldehyde 9, which was transformed into the dibromoalkene 10 and the alkyne 11 following the Corey-Fuchs procedure (Scheme 3). The alkyne was deprotected via 12 or directly to the hemiacetal 13. Oxidation to the lactone 14, followed by addition of lithium (trimethylsilyl)acetylide Me3SiC≡CLi/CeCl3 (→ 15) and reductive dehydroxylation afforded the disilylated dialkyne 16. The large excess of Pd catalyst required for the transformation 11 → 13 was avoided by deallylating the dibromoalkene 10 (→ 17 → 18), followed by oxidation to the lactone 19, addition of Me3SiC≡CLi to the anomeric hemiketals 20 (α-D/β-D 7:2), dehydroxylation to 21, and elimination to the monosilylated dialkyne 22 (Scheme 3). In an alternative approach, treatment of the epoxide 24 (from 23) with Me3SiC≡CLi/Et2AlCl according to a known procedure gave not only the alkyne 27 but also 25, resulting from participation of the MeOCH2O group (Scheme 4). Using Me3Al instead of Et2AlCl increased the yield and selectivity. Deprotection of 27 (→ 28), dibenzylation (→ 29), and acetolysis led to the diacetate 30 which was partially deacetylated (→ 31) and oxidized to the lactone 32. Addition of Me3SiC≡CLi/TiCl4 afforded the anomeric hemiketals 33 (α-D/β-D 3:2) which were deoxygenated to the dialkyne 34. This synthesis of target monomers was shortened by treating the hydroxy acetal 36 (from 27) with (Me3SiC≡C)3Al (Scheme 5): formation of the alkyne 37 (70%) by fully retentive alkynylating acetal cleavage is rationalised by postulating a participation of HOC(3). The sequence was further improved by substituting the MeOCH2O by the (i-Pr)3SiO group (Scheme 6); the epoxide 38 (from 23); yielded 85% of the alkyne 39 which was transformed, on the one hand, via 40 into the dibenzyl ether 29, and, on the other hand, after C-desilylation (→ 41) into the dialkyne 42. Finally, combined alkynylating opening of the oxirane and the 1,3-dioxolane rings of 38 with excess Et2Al C≡CSiMe3 led directly to the monomer 43 which is thus available in two steps and 77% yield from 23 (Scheme 6).

Notizen: A series of transformations of cytochalasin D (1; zygosporin A) was carried out. After treatment of the diol 7 with mesyl chloride and pyridine, and subsequent chromatography on silica gel, the 17-acetyl derivatives 12 and 13, the first members of the hitherto unknown [10]cytochalasans, were obtained. The alcohol 8 was converted to the chlorosulfinate 18 under the same conditions. Replacement of pyridine by triethylamine in the mesylation reaction led to the cyclohepta[4,5]benz[1,2-d]isoindole derivative 20, also representing a novel ring system.

Notizen: Synthetic (+)-makomakine (6) was transformed in six steps into (+)-17R,18R)-17,18-dihydrohobartine-17,18-diol ((+)-5) with an overall yield of 38% (Scheme 2). This compound was shown to be identical with natural hobartinol, a monoterpene indole alkaloid from Aristotelia australasica, originally believed to be the (17S)-epimer 1. At the same time, the synthesis of (+)-5 delineates the hitherto unknown absolute configuration of this metabolite.

Notizen: Allylpalladium complexes with chiral bis(dihydrooxazole) ligands were studied as catalysts for the enantioselective allylic substitution reaction of rac-1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate (rac-5) with the anion of dimethyl malonate (Scheme 1). Using enantiomerically pure (S,E)-1-(4-tolyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enyl acatete ((S)-25) as substrate, the reaction was shown to proceed by a clean ‘syn’ displacement of acetate by dimethyl malonate (Scheme 6). The [Pd11(η3-allyl)] complex 18 and the analogous [Pd(η3-1,3-diphenylallyl)] complex 20, both containing the same bis(dihydrooxazole) ligand, were characterized by X-ray structure analysis and by NMR spectroscopy in solution. The structural data reveal that steric interactions of the allyl system with the chiral ligand result in selective electronic activation of one of the allylic termini. The higher reactivity of one allylic terminus toward nucleophilic attack is reflected in a significantly longer Pd—C bond and a shift of the corresponding 13C-NMR resonance to higher frequency.

Notizen: Accurate low-temperature X-ray crystal structures of the isomeric Diels-Alder monoadducts of C70 1a, bridged at the [6,6] bond between C(1) and C(9), and 1b, bridged at the [6,6] bond between C(7) and C(8), have been determined. The latter structure is the first one solved for a 7,8-C70 monoadduct. The C1-symmetrical 1a and Cs-symmetrical 1b co-crystallize with CS2 molecules in the space groups P21/c and Pnma, respectively, and the distances between bridgehead atoms are 1.603(3) and 1.584(3) Å. The degree of pyramidalization of atoms involved in [6,6] bonds near the ‘unsubstituted’ pole and near the equator of the fullerene was estimated; it is shown for the unsubstituted pole region that atoms corresponding to C(1) and C(9) are slightly more pyramidal than those corresponding to C(7) and C(8), in agreement with ab initio calculations obtained for the C70 spheroid. Some aspects of the crystal packings are discussed.

Notizen: The partial synthesis of 10,22-dihydro-4,5-dioxo-4,5-secopheophorbide a (1) from pheophorbide a methyl ester (2) is described. A regioselective, photooxygenolytic reaction of (pheophorbidato a methyl ester)cadmium(II)(3) provides the entry to the crucial 4,5-secoporphinoid structure in form of the (10,22-dihydro-4,5-dioxo-4,5-seco-pheophorbidato a methyl ester)cadmium(II) (4). The hydride reduction of this 4,5-dioxo-4,5-secophytoporphyrin ester occurs selectively at the ‘eastern’ meso-position to lead (after demetallation) to 10,22-dihydro-4,5-dioxo-4,5-secopheophorbide a methyl ester (5). This oxobilin-carbaldehyde has the structure assigned earlier to an ester of an isolation form of the red pigment(s) from Chlorella protothecoides. Hydrolysis of the propanoate ester function of 5, selectively catalyzed by pig liver esterase, then yields the title compound 1. The red tetrapyrrole 1 may represent an intermediary chlorophyll catabolite in degreening plants.

Notizen: Treatment of celery leaves (Apium graveolens, cv. secalinum) with Jasmonic acid (JA, 1) or analogues of amino-acid conjugates of Jasmonic acid such as the leucine conjugate with 1-oxoindan-4-carboxylic acid (IN-ILE, 2) stimulated the biosynthesis of the furanocoumarins psoralen (6), xanthotoxin (8), bergapten (7), and isopimpinellin (9). Besides the increase of the compounds within the leaf, a significant amount (ca. 20%) of the total furanocoumarins was deposited on the surface of the leaf. The two monomethoxy furanocoumarins, 7 and 8, began to increase steadily and simultaneously within the leaf and on the leaf surface ca. 40 h after the onset of the jasmonic-acid stimulus. Within the leaf, the ratio 7/8 was ca. 1.3:1.0, while among the surface lipids 8 dominated (7/8 0.8:1.0), indicating that the export of the compounds to the surface is not a simple diffusive translocation along the oil-ducts. Females of the carrot fly (Diptera, Psilidae) responded with an increased oviposition to the altered leaf surface chemistry of the JA-treated celery plants. The effect shown for total leaves was corroborated by surrogate leaves treated with leaf-surface extracts of JA-induced leaves. Based on the known stimulation of oviposition by furanocoumarins, we conclude that the enhanced amount of furanocoumarins on the surface can explain the insects' preference for the JA-stimulated plants. This is the first report of a JA-induced change of the surface chemistry of a plant and an increase of the acceptability of treated leaves for a specialist insect, like the carrot fly.

Notizen: The crystal structure of [3,O-didehydro-MeBmt1, Val2]cyclosporin (PSC-833; 1) was investigated by X-ray analysis. Data were collected from two different crystal modifications. Modification I crystallizes in P3121, a = b = 21.419 (2) Å, c = 32.101 (3) Å with one molecule in the asymmetric unit, modification II in P3221, a = b = 21.313 (2) Å, c = 62.053(3) Å with two molecules per asymmetric unit. This non-immunosuppressive analogue of cyclosporin A adopts a similar backbone conformation to that found in the crystal structure of cyclosporin A and other analogues. Three different data sets of modification I were collected using an Enraf-Nonius-CAD4 diffractometer with CuKα radiation at 20°, a Stoe-Siemens four-circle diffractometer with MoKα radiation at - 120°, and an EMBL image-plate scanner with synchrotron radiation at 12°. The quality of the data sets was evaluated by internal consistency, independent structure solution, and refinement. The structural parameters reported here for modification I are based on the synchrotron data.

Notizen: The preparation of the diastereoisomers of 1-amino-2-bromocyclopropanecarboxylic acid is described using the methyl (1RS, 5SR)-2-oxo-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-1-carboxylate 5 as starting material. The key step is the oxidation of 9 with subsequent radical introduction of bromine according to the Barton procedure. The 2-bromo-cyclopropanecarboxylates cis-11 and trans-11 were obtained as diastereoisomer mixture in a ratio of 3:1. They were converted into cis- and trans-esters 12 and the acids 13.

Notizen: The bicyclic keto lactone 26 was synthesized for the purpose of developing a viable route to marine diterpenes of the crenulatan type. Following the efficient conversion of (S)-citronellol (5) to the allylated alcohol 9a (Scheme 2), the αβ-unsaturated lactone 12 was efficiently accessed in preparation for stereocontrolled conjugate addition. The hydroxymethyl equivalent most suited to this task was (i-PrO)Me2SiCH2MgCl, which gave 13 predominantly in the presence of CuI and Me3SiCl. Once the OH group was deprotected (→ 14), it proved an easy matter to implement acid-catalyzed isomerization to lactone 15, oxidation of which gave the pivotal aldehyde 16. Condensation of 16 with PhSeCH2Li led via 21 to 22 (Scheme 3). Once the OH group was protected (→ 22b), it proved possible to effect aldolization with crotonaldehyde (→ 23). Exposure of 23 to acid gave the sub-target compound 25. Its subsequent oxidation and thermal activation resulted in sequential selenoxide elimination with Claisen rearrangement (→ 26). The structural features of 26 require that a chair-like transition state be adopted during the [3.3]sigmatropic event. With the clarification of these issues, a highly serviceable and more advanced assault on the crenulatans should prove capable of being mounted.

Notizen: The molecular clefts (R)- and (S)-3, incorporating 9,9′-spirobi[9H-fluorene] as a spacer and two N-(5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)carboxamide (CONH(naphthy)) units as H-bonding sites were prepared via the bis(succinimid-N-yl esters) of (R)-and (S)-9,9′-spirobi[9H-fluorene]-2,2′-dicarboxylic acid (5). Derivative 6, with one CONH(naphthy) unit and one succinimid-N-yl ester residue allowed easy access to spirobifluorene clefts with two different H-bonding sites, as exemplified by the synthesis of 4. Binding studies with (R)- and (S)-3 and optically active dicarboxylic acids in CDCl3 exhibited differences in free energy of the formed diastereoisomeric complexes (Δ(ΔGº)) between 0.5 and 1.6 kcal mol-1 (T 300 K). Similar enantioselectivities were observed with the spirobifluorene clefts (R)- and (S)-1, bearing two N-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)carboxamide (CONH(py)) H-bonding sites. The thermodynamic quantities ΔHº and ΔSº for the recognition processes with (R)- and (S)-1 were determined by variable-temperature 1H-NMR titrations and compared to those with (R)- and (S)-2, which have two CONH(py) moieties attached to the 6,6′-positions of a conformationally more flexible 1,1′-binaphthyl cleft. All association processes showed high enthalpic driving forces which are partially compensated by unfavorable changes in entropy. Pyranosides bind to the optically active clefts 1 and 3 in CDCl3 with -ΔGº = 3.0-4.3 kcal mol-1. Diastereoisomeric selectivities up to 1.2 kcal mol-1 and enantioselectivities up to 0.4 kcal mol-1 were observed. Cleft 4 and N-(5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)acetamide (25) complexed pyranosides 22-24 as effectively as 3 indicating that only one CONH(naphthy) site in 3 associates strongly with the sugar derivatives. Based on the X-ray crystal structure of 3, a computer model for the complex between (S)-3 and pyranoside 22 was constructed. Molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations showed that differential geometrical constraints are at the origin of the high enantioselectivity in the complexation of dicarboxylic acid (S)-7 by (R)- and (S)-1 and (R)- and (S)-3.

Notizen: Nocardicin A analogues 30, 34, and 38 as well as the highly strained quinone methide 43 were synthesized. β -Lactam 34 was found biologically active against several Gram-negative microorganisms in vitro; pyridinium N-oxide derivative 38 possessed activity against Gram-positive S. aureus bacterium. Masked p-quinone methide β -lactam 43 exhibited significant antimicrobial activity in vitro. A mechanism involving an oxidation in vivo is proposed for the unprecedented biological properties of nocardicins.