The Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reaction of Phenylboronic Acid with Haloarenes in the Presence of Bases

Total synthesis and biological evaluation of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids: narciclasine, ent-7-deoxypancratistatin, regioisomer of 7-deoxypancratistatin, 10b-epi-deoxypancratistatin, and truncated derivatives

Biocatalytic approaches have yielded efficient total syntheses of the major Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, all based on the key enzymatic dioxygenation of suitable aromatic precursors. This paper discusses the logic of general synthetic design for lycoricidine, narciclasine, pancratistatin, and 7-deoxypancratistatin. Experimental details are provided for the recently accomplished syntheses of narciclasine, ent-7-deoxypancratistatin, and 10b-epi-deoxypancratistatin via a new and selective opening of a cyclic sulfate over aziridines followed by aza-Payne rearrangement. The structural core of 7-deoxypancratistatin has also been degraded to a series of intermediates in which the amino inositol unit is cleaved and deoxygenated in a homologous fashion. These truncated derivatives and the compounds from the synthesis of the unnatural derivatives have been tested against six important human cancer cell lines in an effort to further develop the understanding of the mode of action for the most active congener in this group, pancratistatin. The results of the biological activity testing as well as experimental, spectral, and analytical data are provided in this manuscript for all relevant compounds.

Conformational studies by dynamic NMR. 90. Structure and stereodynamics of the rotamers of di- and tri-alpha-naphthylphenyl derivatives

The crystal structure of 1,3,5-tris(4-methylnaphth-1-yl)benzene, 1, shows one naphthyl substituent in an anti relationship to the other two. On the other hand, low temperature (-70 degrees C) (1)H NMR spectra in solution show the presence of a second rotational conformer (rotamer) having all the three naphthyl substituents in a syn relationship. The interconversion barrier between the anti (77%) and syn (23%) rotamers of 1 was determined by line shape simulation of the temperature-dependent NMR spectra (Delta G(++) = 12.1 kcal mol(-1)). In the analogous disubstituted meta and paraderivatives, that is, 1,3- and 1,4-bis(4-methylnaphth-1-yl)benzene (2 and 3, respectively), the presence of both the anti and syn rotamers was also detected by low-temperature NMR spectroscopy. In the latter compounds, the proportions of the anti and syn forms are nearly equal, and the corresponding anti to syn interconversion barriers were found to be lower (11.4 and 11.1(5) kcal mol(-1), respectively) than those of the trisubstituted derivative 1.

An efficient convergent synthesis of novel anisotropic adsorbates based on nanometer-sized and tripod-shaped oligophenylenes end-capped with triallylsilyl groups

This article describes an efficient and convergent synthesis of a novel tripod-shaped oligophenylene compound. The compound consists of three oligophenylene heptamers as the tripod legs and one bromophenyl group as the functional arm, joining at a tetrahedron silicon atom. Each tripod leg is end-capped with a triallylsilyl group for covalently anchoring the molecules on hydrogen-terminated silicon surfaces via hydrosilylation. The compound may represent a new type of anisotropic adsorbates for controlling the orientation of and spacing between functional groups in organic thin films and nanostructures grown on silicon surfaces. An oligophenylene hexamer end-capped with a triallylsilyl group and a pinacol arylboronate group was readily derived from diiodoterphenyl with a bromophenyl boronic acid by selective Suzuki coupling. Reaction conditions for highly selective Suzuki coupling of sterically hindered pinacol boronate with aryl iodide in the presence of multiple ethenyl groups for the competing Heck reaction were developed. Under the optimal conditions (Pd(PPh3)4/KOH/Bu4NBr/toluene/H2O, 85 degrees C, overnight), p-bromophenyl-tris(p-iodo-phenyl)silane reacted with 3 equiv of the hexaphenylene boronate to provide the tripod-shaped oligophenylene, composed of 22 phenylene and 9 allyl groups, in 78% yield.

Functionalizable polycyclic aromatics through oxidative cyclization of pendant thiophenes

We present a general strategy for obtaining large sulfur-containing polycyclic aromatics from thienyl precursors through iron(III) chloride mediated oxidative cyclizations. By placing thienyl moieties in close proximity to adjacent arenes, we have directed the oxidized intermediates into controlled cyclization pathways, effectively suppressing polymer formation. Utilizing these cyclized compounds and their thienyl precursors, we have studied cyclization/polymerization pathways of polymers such as poly(2). The unsubstituted positions alpha to the sulfur atoms within these aromatic cores allowed for efficient halogenation and further functionalization. As a demonstration, we prepared a series of arylene-ethynylene polymers with varying degrees of chromophore aromatization and used them to probe the effects of synthetically imposed rigidity on polymer photophysical behavior. The symmetries and effective conjugation pathways within the monomers play a key role in determining photophysical properties. We observed that rigid, aromatized chromophores generally led to increased excited-state lifetimes by decreasing radiative rates of fluorescence decay.

Homochiral 4-azalysine building blocks: syntheses and applications in solid-phase chemistry

Anomalous amino acids not only play central roles as mimics of natural amino acids but also offer opportunities as unique building blocks for combinatorial chemistry. This paper describes the chiral syntheses and solid-phase applications of a versatile atypical amino acid, 4-azalysine (2,6-diamino-4-azahexanoic acid) 1. The syntheses of differentially protected 4-azalysine derivatives 28a-e have been developed by two efficient and inexpensive routes that start either from Garner's aldehyde 16 or the chiron (S)-N(alpha)-Cbz-2,3-diaminopropionic acid 23. Both approaches employ the convergent modular concept and exploit reductive amination of aldehydes with amines as the key step for the fusion of the two segments. In the first route, the overall process inverts the chirality of the starting material, L-serine, and thus provides an excellent route to the unnatural D-isomers. The alternative route starting from L-asparagine provides a shorter and high-yielding route to orthogonally protected 4-azalysine derivatives. The corresponding N(2)-Fmoc-4-azalysines 31a-e, readily derived from the key intermediate 27, are compatible with the Fmoc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and solid-phase organic chemistry (SPOC) protocols. Furthermore, the utility and versatility of another key structure, tris-Boc-4-azalysine 2 in the engineering of novel high-loading dendrimeric polystyrene resins 33 and 36, have been demonstrated. Following derivatization with the Rink amide linker 34, the stability and robustness of these resin-bound dendrimers 35 and 37 in the synthesis of small molecules using a range of reaction conditions (e.g., Mitsunobu and Suzuki reactions) have been effectively illustrated.

Conformational studies by dynamic NMR. 89. Stereomutation and cryogenic enantioseparation of conformational antipodes of hindered aryl oximes

Aryl benzyl oximes having the configuration Z give rise to stereolabile atropisomers when a halogen atom is present in the ortho position of the aryl moiety, as a consequence of the restricted aryl-CN bond rotation. By means of dynamic (1)H NMR spectroscopy it has been possible to determine the corresponding rotation barrier, hence the lifetime of the atropisomers that, in the case of the iodine derivative, was found sufficiently long as to allow a physical separation to be achieved on an appropriately cooled enantioselective HPLC column. Comparison of the barriers determined by dynamic NMR and dynamic HPLC proved the equivalence of the two techniques. When the iodine atom was substituted by an alpha-naphthyl group, two dynamic processes were observed. That with the lower barrier could be determined by NMR and that with the higher barrier by HPLC, thus outlining the complementarity of these two techniques.

3-Heteroaryl-2-pyridones: benzodiazepine site ligands with functional delectivity for alpha 2/alpha 3-subtypes of human GABA(A) receptor-ion channels

A novel series of 3-heteroaryl-5,6-bis(aryl)-1-methyl-2-pyridones were developed with high affinity for the benzodiazepine (BZ) binding site of human gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A)) receptor ion channels, low binding selectivity for alpha 2- and/or alpha 3- over alpha 1-containing GABA(A) receptor subtypes and high binding selectivity over alpha 5 subtypes. High affinity appeared to be associated with a coplanar conformation of the pyridone and sulfur-containing 3-heteroaryl rings resulting from an attractive S.O intramolecular interaction. Functional selectivity (i.e., selective efficacy) for alpha 2 and/or alpha 3 GABA(A) receptor subtypes over alpha1 was observed in several of these compounds in electrophysiological assays. Furthermore, an alpha 3 subtype selective inverse agonist was proconvulsant and anxiogenic in rodents while an alpha 2/alpha 3 subtype selective partial agonist was anticonvulsant and anxiolytic, supporting the hypothesis that subtype selective BZ site agonists may provide new anxiolytic therapies.

A facile one-pot synthesis of 4,5-diaryl-2,2-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanones

An efficient and practical one-pot synthesis of 4,5-diaryl-2,2-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanones has been achieved from 1,2-diarylethanones and 2-bromoisobutyryl cyanide in the presence of excess base, by employing the 'hard soft acid base' principle. The reaction scope of 2-bromoisobutyryl cyanide could be expanded to prepare a variety of 2,2-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone derivatives other than 4,5-diaryl-2,2-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanones.

Conformational studies by dynamic NMR. 86. Structure, stereodynamics, and cryogenic enantioseparation of the stereolabile isomers of o-dinaphthylphenyl derivatives

Static and dynamic stereochemistry of the hydrocarbon comprising a phenyl ring bearing two alpha-naphthyl substituents in the ortho positions, i.e., 1,2-di-(4-methyl-naphth-1-yl)-benzene 1, has been studied by a combination of variable temperature NMR, cryogenic HPLC, and MM calculations. Whereas in solution both syn (meso) and anti (chiral) forms were observed and the corresponding interconversion barrier was determined (Delta G(++) = 19.5 kcal mol(-1)), only the diastereoisomer anti was found to be present in the crystalline state (X-ray diffraction). When the molecule is rendered asymmetric by introduction of a nitro group in the phenyl ring as in 1,2-di-(4-methyl-naphth-1-yl)-4-nitrobenzene 2, the chiral syn and anti diastereoisomers are simultaneously present both in solution and in the solid state, albeit in different proportions. Cryogenic chromatography on a HPLC chiral stationary phase at 20 degrees C allowed the stereolabile diastereoisomers and the corresponding enantiomers to be separated.

alpha(1)-Adrenoceptor agonists: the identification of novel alpha(1A )subtype selective 2'-heteroaryl-2-(phenoxymethyl)imidazolines

Novel 2'-heteroaryl-2-(phenoxymethyl)imidazolines have been identified as potent agonists of the cloned human alpha(1)-adrenoceptors in vitro. The nature of the 2'-heteroaryl group can have significant effects on the potency, efficacy, and subtype selectivity in this series. alpha(1A) Subtype selective agonists have been identified.

Remarkably selective iridium catalysts for the elaboration of aromatic C-H bonds

Arylboron compounds have intriguing properties and are important building blocks for chemical synthesis. A family of Ir catalysts now enables the direct synthesis of arylboron compounds from aromatic hydrocarbons and boranes under "solventless" conditions. The Ir catalysts are highly selective for C-H activation and do not interfere with subsequent in situ transformations, including Pd-mediated cross-couplings with aryl halides. By virtue of their favorable activities and exceptional selectivities, these Ir catalysts impart the synthetic versatility of arylboron reagents to C-H bonds in aromatic and heteroaromatic hydrocarbons.

Conjugated polymers containing 2,3-dialkoxybenzene and iptycene building blocks

[structure: see text]. New poly(phenylene ethynylene)s (PPEs) and poly(phenylene vinylene)s (PPVs) that are highly emissive in solution and thin films were prepared utilizing palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling between new 1,4-diiodo-2,3-dialkoxybenzene- and iptycene-containing monomers. The absorption and emission spectra of the resulting polymers consistently showed a significant blue shift relative to the corresponding polymer analogues containing 2,5-dialkoxyphenylenes.

Ortho-directed metallation of π-deficient heterocycles in connection with palladium-catalyzed biaryl cross-coupling — Synthesis of marine alkaloids of the pyridoacridine series

Connection between ortho-directed metallation of π-deficient heterocycles and Suzuki cross-coupling reactions provides a very efficient and fruitful strategy to polycyclic molecules of biological interest. The methodology is used to synthesize alkaloids or precursors and analogues of natural compounds of the pyrido[2,3,4-k,l]acridine series.Key words: marine alkaloids, pyrido[2,3,4-k,l]acridines, metallation, cross-coupling.

Porphyrinic dyads and triads assembled around iridium(III) bis-terpyridine: photoinduced electron transfer processes

Multicomponent arrays based on a central iridium(III) bis-terpyridine complex (Ir) used as assembling metal and free-base, zinc(II) or gold(III) tetraaryl-porphyrins (PH(2), PZn, PAu) have been designed to generate intramolecular photoinduced charge separation. The rigid dyads PH(2)-Ir, PZn-Ir, PAu-Ir, and the rigid and linear triads PH(2)-Ir-PAu, PZn-Ir-PAu, as well as the individual components Ir, PH(2), PZn, PAu have been synthesized and characterized by various techniques including electrochemistry. Their photophysical properties either in acetonitrile or in dichloromethane and toluene have been determined by steady-state and time-resolved methods. In acetonitrile, excitation of the triad PH(2)-Ir-PAu leads to a charge separation with an efficiency of 0.5 and a resulting charge-separated (CS) state with a lifetime of 3.5 ns. A low-lying triplet localized on PH(2) and the presence of the heavy Ir(III) ion offer the CS state an alternative deactivation path through the triplet state. The behavior of the triad PZn-Ir-PAu in dichloromethane is rather different from that of PH(2)-Ir-PAu in acetonitrile since the primary electron transfer to yield PZn(+)()-Ir(-)-PAu is not followed by a secondary electron transfer. In this solvent, both unfavorable thermodynamic and electronic parameters contribute to the inefficiency of the second electron-transfer reaction. In contrast, in toluene solutions, the triad PZn-Ir-PAu attains a CS state with a unitary yield and a lifetime of 450 ns. These differences can be understood in terms of ground-state charge-transfer interactions as well as different stabilization of the intermediate and final CS states by solvent.

Solid-phase synthesis of isoxazoles using vinyl ethers as chameleon catches

[reaction: see text] Regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of supported vinyl ethers R(1)C(=CH(2))O-CH(2)-polymer, prepared by the Tebbe olefination of R(1)CO(2)-CH(2)-polymer, with ethyl cyanoformate N-oxide gave supported isoxazoline derivatives. Release from the support under mild acidic conditions gave the isoxazoles ethyl 5-R(1)-isoxazole-3-carboxylates. Alternatively, further on-resin functionalization of the R(1) substituent using Suzuki coupling reactions and release from the support under acidic conditions gave more structurally diverse isoxazoles.

Measurement of interfluorine distances in solids

(19)F homonuclear dipolar recoupling methods were used to measure internuclear distances ranging from 5 to 12 A in fluorinated organic compounds in the solid state. Magic-angle-spinning-based high-resolution techniques were utilized. Trifluoromethyl and aromatic fluorine groups were separated by rigid aromatic spacers; these compounds were diluted into nonfluorinated host molecule matrices to give isolated homonuclear spin pairs with known internuclear distances. Radiofrequency-driven recoupling (RFDR) was used to elicit magnetization exchange between the spin pairs in 1D and 2D experiments. Simulation of the exchange was accomplished using a Monte Carlo-type algorithm to search the parameter space. These methods allow the determination of distances with an accuracy of 1 A at shorter distances and 2 A at longer distances, with the assumption of no prior knowledge of T(2)(ZQ).