The preferential direction of enolization of some asymmetric 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in solution: a study by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy

Keto-enol tautomerism of β-diketo molecules in the presence of graphitic materials through π-π stacking

The pseudo aromatic structures of the enol forms of β-diketo molecules are stabilized on the surface of graphitic materials through π-π interaction. This phenomenon has been studied through a relative binding energy calculation using density functional theory. The intermolecular interaction as well as the relative stability of the keto or enol tautomer is also influenced by the functional groups attached to the graphitic materials. The theoretical results are supported by spectroscopic evidence. Our study with three different graphitic materials, with a comparable extent of π-electrons and acid functionalities, reveals that π-π interaction is the main governing factor for the stability of the enol forms. Then comes the role of intermolecular H-bonding between the adsorbate and adsorbent. This can stabilize both the keto and enol tautomers, according to the arrangements of the functional groups and the geometry of the β-diketo molecules. Acid groups on the adsorbent can enhance enolization through H-bonding, but an excess of functional groups may decrease the possibility of π-π interaction by disrupting the π-clouds of the graphitic surface and pushing the adsorbate and adsorbent away from each other beyond a π-π stacking distance. In that situation, H-bonding becomes crucial for determining the relative stability. Our results indicate that graphitic materials with acid functionalities across their edges, and ample π-cloud, are the most suitable catalysts for enolization.

Synthesis of 3,4,5-trisubstituted isoxazoles in water via a [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of nitrile oxides and 1,3-diketones, β-ketoesters, or β-ketoamides

Herein we report a method for the synthesis of 3,4,5-trisubstituted isoxazoles in water under mild basic conditions at room temperature via a [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of nitrile oxides and 1,3-diketones, β-ketoesters, or β-ketoamides. We optimized the reaction conditions to control the selectivity of the production of isoxazoles and circumvent other competing reactions, such as O-imidoylation or hetero [3 + 2]-cycloaddition. The reaction happens fast in water and completes within 1–2 hours, which provides an environmentally friendly access to 3,4,5-trisubstituted isoxazoles, an important class of structures found in numerous bioactive natural products and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, we optimized the reaction conditions to produce trifluoromethyl-substituted isoxazoles, a prevalent scaffold in biomedical research and drug discovery programs. We also proposed a plausible mechanism for the selectivity of the [3 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction to produce 3,4,5-trisubstituted isoxazoles. Not to be overlooked are our optimized reaction conditions for the dimerization of hydroximoyl chlorides to form furoxans also known as 1,2,5-oxadiazole 2-oxides, a class of structures with important biological activities due to their unique electronic nature and coordination ability.

Contrasting reactivity of fluorinated 2,6-heptanediones towards amines and ammonia, leading to cyclohexanediones or 2-oxa-6-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes and evaluation of their cytotoxicity

Synthesis and cytotoxic studies of cyclohexanediones and 2-oxa-6-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes obtained in reaction of fluorinated 2,6-hetanediones with amines and ammonia respectively.

CONFORMATIONAL STABILITY, MOLECULAR STRUCTURE, AND INTRAMOLECULAR HYDROGEN BONDING OF THENOYLTRIFLUOROACETONE

Complete conformational analysis of all possible keto and enol forms of thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA) was carried out using density functional theory with the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G**, 6-311G**, and 6-311++G** basis sets. In addition, the geometries and energies of the four most stable chelated conformers and their corresponding open structures were obtained at the MP2/6-31G** level of theory. The energy differences between the four stable chelated enol conformers, in the gas phase, calculated at the B3LYP levels are negligible. However, calculations at the MP2 level indicate that the B2 conformer (the hydroxyl group in the - CF 3 side) is significantly more stable than others, in agreement with the X-ray diffraction results. The calculated intramolecular hydrogen bond (IHB) energy E HB and the strength of the bond have been compared, and an imperfection in the prevalent method of evaluating E HB has been perceived. The IHB of TTFA was compared with those in several β-dicarbonyls.

Synthesis and structure of new trichloromethyl-β-diketones — 5-Trichloromethylisoxazole and 5-isoxazolecarboxylic acid derivatives

An improved method for the synthesis of a new series of trichloromethyl-β-diketones including 1,1,1-trichloropentan-2,4-dione (2a), 1,1,1-trichloro-3-methylhexan-2,4-dione (2b), 4,4,4-trichloro-1-phenylbutan-1,3-dione (2c), 4,4,4-trichloro-2-methyl-1-phenylbutan-1,3-dione (2d), 2-trichloroacetylcyclohexanone (2e), 4-tert-butylcyclohexanone (2f), 4-tert-butylcycloheptanone (2g), and 4-tert-butylcyclooctanone (2h) is reported. A multinuclear NMR study showed that β-dicarbonyl compounds 2b and 2d–2h are predominantly in the keto form and 2a and 2c are in the enol form. The trichloromethyl-β-diketones react with hydroxylamine hydrochloride leading to three sets of isoxazole derivatives.Key words: acetals, acylation, trichloromethyl-1,3-diketones, 2-trichloroacetylcycloalkanones, isoxazoles, cyclocondensation.