Cylisation reactions of 2-substituted biphenyl-2′-yldiazonium salts leading to O-alkyldibenzofuranium and S-alkyl-dibenzothiophenium salts: modified meerwein reagents

Charge-Separated Reactive Intermediates from the UV Photodissociation of Chlorobenzene in Solution

Although ultraviolet (UV)-induced photochemical cleavage of carbon–halogen bonds in gaseous halocarbons is mostly homolytic, the photolysis of chlorobenzene in solution has been proposed to produce a phenyl cation, c-C₆H₅⁺, which is a highly reactive intermediate of potential use in chemical synthesis and N₂ activation. Any evidence for such a route to phenyl cations is indirect, with uncertainty remaining about the possible mechanism. Here, ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy of UV-excited (λ = 240 and 270 nm) chlorobenzene solutions in fluorinated (perfluorohexane) and protic (ethanol and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol) solvents reveals a broad electronic absorption band centered at 540 nm that is assigned to an isomer of chlorobenzene with both charge-separated and triplet-spin carbene character. This spectroscopic feature is weaker, or absent, when experiments are conducted in cyclohexane. The intermediate isomer of chlorobenzene has a solvent-dependent lifetime of 30–110 ps, determined by reaction with the solvent or quenching to a lower-lying singlet state. Evidence is presented for dissociation to ortho-benzyne, but the intermediate could also be a precursor to phenyl cation formation.

Asmic Isocyanide [3 + 2] Cascade to Dihydrooxazoles and Dihydroimidazoles

The versatile isocyanide building block Asmic, anisylsulfanylmethylisocyanide, reacts with aldehydes and ketones in a BF₃·OEt₂-mediated condensation to afford thioimidoyl-substituted 2,5-dihydrooxazoles. The condensation is distinguished from related base and transition-metal-catalyzed [3 + 2] processes in proceeding via the condensation of aldehydes and ketones with 2 equiv of an isocyanide followed by a molecular rearrangement that installs four new bonds. BF₃·OEt₂ mediates an analogous condensation of Asmic with imines to generate N-substituted dihydroimidazoles. Mechanistically, BF₃·OEt₂ activates the isocyanide to facilitate deprotonation evolving to a zwitterion that traps π-electrophiles in a formal [3 + 2] process. A second deprotonation-condensation with Asmic initiates a structural rearrangement involving a sulfanyl elimination-addition transposition sequence. The resulting dihydrooxazoles and dihydroimidazoles contain a thioimidate that serves as a diversification point for further elaboration.

BCl3 -Induced Annulative Oxo- and Thioboration for the Formation of C3-Borylated Benzofurans and Benzothiophenes

BCl₃ -induced borylative cyclization of aryl-alkynes possessing ortho-EMe (E=S, O) groups represents a simple, metal-free method for the formation of C3-borylated benzothiophenes and benzofurans. The dichloro(heteroaryl)borane primary products can be protected to form synthetically ubiquitous pinacol boronate esters or used in situ in Suzuki-Miyaura cross couplings to generate 2,3-disubstituted heteroarenes from simple alkyne precursors in one pot. In a number of cases alkyne trans-haloboration occurs alongside, or instead of, borylative cyclization and the factors controlling the reaction outcome are determined.

CF3 oxonium salts, O-(trifluoromethyl)dibenzofuranium salts: in situ synthesis, properties, and application as a real CF3+ species reagent

We report in situ synthesis of the first CF(3) oxonium salts, thermally unstable O-(trifluoromethyl)dibenzofuranium salts, which furthermore have different counteranions (BF(4)-, PF(6)-, SbF(6)-, and Sb(2)F(11)-) and ring substituents (tert-butyl, F, and OCH(3)), by photochemical decomposition of the corresponding 2-(trifluoromethoxy)biphenylyl-2'-diazonium salts at -90 to -100 degrees C. The yields markedly increased in the order of BF(4)- < PF(6)- < SbF(6)- < Sb(2)F(11)-. The CF(3) oxonium salts were fully assigned by means of (1)H and (19)F NMR spectroscopy at low temperature. The CF(3) salts decomposed to form CF(4) and dibenzofurans. The half-life times at -60 degrees C of the 2-tert-butyl salts having different counteranions were 29 min for BF(4)- salt 2d, 36 min for PF(6)- salt 2c, 270 min for SbF(6)- salt 2a, and 415 min for Sb(2)F(11)- salt 2b. Those at -60 degrees C of the Sb(2)F(11)- salts having different 2-substituents were 13 min for F salt 3b, 63 min for H (unsubstituted) salt 1b, and 415 min for tert-butyl salt 2b. Thus, the stability of the CF(3) oxonium salts increased in the order of BF(4)- < PF(6)- < SbF(6)- < Sb(2)F(11)- and F < H < tert-butyl, which is in accord with the increasing orders of the non-nucleophilicity of counteranions and the electron-donating effect of ring substituents. 2-tert-Butyl-O-(trifluoromethyl)dibenzofuranium hexafluoroantimonate (2a) was thus chosen and successfully applied as a real CF(3)+ species source to the direct O- and N-trifluoromethylations of alcohols, phenols, amines, anilines, and pyridines under very mild conditions. The thermal decomposition method with a mixture of diazonium salt 17a and aryl- or alkylsulfonic acids, pyridine, or pyridines having an electron-withdrawing group also afforded CF(3)O or CF(3)N products. The trifluoromethylation mechanism is discussed and an S(N)2 mechanism containing the transient formation of free CF(3)+ is proposed. Thus, the present study has demonstrated that the exceedingly reactive CF(3)+ species can be generated much easier than the CH(3)+ species, contrary to the common sense that CF(3)+ is extremely difficult to generate in solution.

α2-Adrenoreceptors Profile Modulation. 2. Biphenyline Analogues as Tools for Selective Activation of the α2C-Subtype

A series of derivatives structurally related to biphenyline (3) was designed with the aim to modulate selectivity toward the alpha(2)-AR subtypes. The results obtained demonstrated that the presence of a correctly oriented function with positive electronic effect (+sigma) in portion X of the ligands is an important factor for significant alpha(2C)-subtype selectivity (imidazolines 5, 13, 16, and 19). Homology modeling and docking studies support experimental data and highlight the crucial role for the hydrogen bond between the pyridine nitrogen in position 3 of 5 and the NH-indole ring of Trp6.48, which is favorably oriented in the alpha(2C)-subtype, only.