Advances in Imidazole Chemistry

Cobalt-Imidazole Complexes: Effect of Anion Nature on Thermochemical Properties

A solvent-free method was proposed for the synthesis of hexaimidazolecobalt(II) nitrate and perchlorate complexes-[Co(C3H4N2)6](NO3)2 and [Co(C3H4N2)6](ClO4)2-by adding cobalt salts to melted imidazole. The composition, charge state of the metal, and the structure of the resulting complexes were confirmed by elemental analysis, XPS, IR spectroscopy, and XRD. The study of the thermochemical properties of the synthesized complexes showed that [Co(C3H4N2)6](NO3)2 and [Co(C3H4N2)6](ClO4)2 are thermally stable up to 150 and 170 °C, respectively. When the critical temperature of thermal decomposition is reached, oxidative two-stage gasification is observed. In this case, the organic component of the [Co(C3H4N2)6](NO3)2 complex undergoes almost complete gasification to form Co3O4 with a slight admixture of CoO, which makes it attractive as a component of gas-generation compositions, like airbags.

Comparison of MAF-32 and a One-Pot Synthesized Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide/MAF-32 Composite for the Adsorption of Diclofenac

The global presence of pharmaceutical pollutants in water sources represents a burgeoning public health concern. Recent studies underscore the urgency of addressing this class of emerging contaminants. In this context, our work focuses on synthesizing a composite material, FexOy/MAF-32, through a streamlined one-pot reaction process, as an adsorbent for diclofenac, an emerging environmental contaminant frequently found in freshwater environments and linked to potential toxicity towards several organisms such as fish and mussels. A thorough characterization was performed to elucidate the structural composition of the composite. The material presents magnetic properties attributed to its superparamagnetic behavior, which facilitates the recovery efficiency of the composite post-diclofenac adsorption. Our study further involves a comparative analysis between the FexOy/MAF-32 and a non-magnetic counterpart, comprised solely of 2-ethylimidazolate zinc polymer. This comparison aims to discern the relative advantages and disadvantages of incorporating magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in the contaminant removal process facilitated by a coordination polymer. Our findings reveal that even a minimal incorporation of iron oxide nanoparticles substantially enhanced the composite's overall performance in pollutant adsorption.

Donor-Acceptor Fluorophores and Macrocycles Built Upon Wedge-Shaped π-Extended Phenanthroimidazoles

A class of wedge-shaped organic π-fluorophores featuring a 6,9-diphenyl-substituted phenanthroimidazole (PI) core was designed, synthesized, and characterized. Among them, a π-extended PI derivative containing two electron-withdrawing aldehyde groups was found to exhibit versatile solid-state packing properties as well as strong solvatofluorochromism in different organic solvents. Another PI derivative that was functionalized with two electron-donating 1,4-dithiafulvenyl (DTF) end groups showed versatile redox reactivities and quenched fluorescence. Treatment of this wedge-shaped bis(DTF)-PI compound with iodine resulted in oxidative coupling reactions, leading to the formation of intriguing macrocyclic products that carry redox-active tetrathiafulvalene vinylogue (TTFV) moieties in their structures. Mixing the bis(DTF)-PI derivative with fullerene (C₆₀ or C₇₀) in an organic solvent resulted in substantial fluorescence enhancement (turn-on). In this process, fullerene acted as a photosensitizer to generate singlet oxygen, which in turn induced oxidative C = C bond cleavages and converted nonfluorescent bis(DTF)-PI into highly fluorescent dialdehyde-substituted PI. Treatment of TTFV-PI macrocycles with a small amount of fullerene also led to a moderate degree of fluorescence enhancement, but this is not because of photosensitized oxidative cleavage reactions. Instead, competitive photoinduced electron transfer from TTFV to fullerene can be attributed to their fluorescence turn-on behavior.

Synthesis and Physical Properties of Tunable Aryl Alkyl Ionic Liquids (TAAILs) Comprising Imidazolium Cations Blocked with Methyl-, Propyl- and Phenyl-Groups at the C2 Position

Imidazolium-based ionic liquids are very popular for different applications because of their low viscosity and melting point. However, the hydrogen atom at the C2 position of the imidazolium cation can easily be deprotonated by a base, resulting in a reactive carbene. If an inert ionic liquid is needed, it is necessary to introduce an unreactive alkyl or aryl group at the C2 position to prevent deprotonation. Tunable aryl alkyl ionic liquids (TAAILs) were first introduced by our group in 2009 and are characterized by a phenyl group at the N1 position, which offers the possibility to fine-tune the physicochemical properties by using different electron-donating or -withdrawing substituents. In this work, we present a new series of TAAILs where the C2 position is blocked by a methyl, propyl or phenyl group. For each of the blocking groups, the phenyl and three different phenyl derivatives (2-Me, 4-OMe, 2,4-F₂ ) are compared with respect to melting point, viscosity, conductivity and electrochemical window. In addition, the differences between blocked and unblocked TAAILs with regard to their electrochemical reduction potentials are investigated by quantum chemical methods.

Ligand-free Pd/Ag-mediated dehydrogenative alkynylation of imidazole derivatives

A variety of 2-alkynyl(benzo)imidazoles have been synthesized by dehydrogenative alkynylation of (benzo)imidazoles with terminal alkyne in NMP under air in the presence of Ag₂CO₃ as the oxidant and Pd(OAc)₂ as the catalyst precursor. The data obtained in this study support a reaction mechanism involving a non-concerted metalation deprotonation (n-CMD) pathway.

The regioselective synthesis of 2-alkynyl(benz)imidazoles was successfully achieved by Pd(ii)/Ag(i)-mediated dehydrogenative alkynylation of the corresponding (benz)imidazoles with terminal alkynes in an open vessel.

Radiolabelling Studies of Free Radicals Using Muonium (The Second Hydrogen Radioisotope)

An overview is presented of the way various spectroscopic/radioisotopic-labelling methods (MuSR), in which free radicals are labelled with the light hydrogen radioisotope muonium, may be employed in the study of free radical reaction kinetics and dynamics. Specifically considered are: the reaction rates of thiyl radicals and related species in relation to biological membrane damage; the dynamics of radicals sorbed in solid catalysts and in activated carbons and other porous particulate materials of environmental significance; reacting gas-phase systems; mechanisms for the formation of muon (muonium) labelled radicals, and the study of radical stabilisation and reactivity.

Current advances in the synthesis and biological potencies of tri- and tetra-substituted 1H-imidazoles

In this report, we review the current chemistry progress and in particular the synthesis approaches of tri- and tetra-substituted imidazoles.

Quantum chemical and spectroscopic (FT-IR and FT-Raman) investigations of 3-methyl-3h-imidazole-4-carbaldehyde

FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of 3-methyl-3h-imidazole-4-carbaldehyde (3M3HI4C) were recorded in the region 4000-400cm(-1) and 3500-50cm(-1), respectively. Optimized geometric parameters, conformational equilibria, normal mode frequencies, and corresponding vibrational assignments of 3M3HI4C were theoretically examined by quantum chemical methods for the first time. All vibrational frequencies were assigned in detail with the help of total energy distribution (TEDs). The experimental wavenumbers were compared with the scaled vibrational frequencies determined by DFT/B3LYP method. The results showed that the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) method predicts vibrational frequencies and the structural parameters effectively. The most stable conformer of the title compound was determined. The total electron density and molecular electrostatic potential surfaces of the molecule were constructed by using B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) method to display electrostatic potential (electron+nuclei) distribution. The electronic properties HOMO and LUMO energies were measured. The lower energy band was assigned to the HOMO→LUMO transition. Natural bond orbital analysis of title molecule has been performed to indicate the presence of intramolecular charge transfer. Energies, relative stabilities, and dipole moments of title molecule were also compared and analyzed in the gas phase and in solvents. Furthermore, solvent effects on the geometry and vibrational frequency of 3M3HI4C were studied theoretically at the DFT/B3LYP level in combination with the conductor polarizable continuum model (C-PCM).

5-Amino-3-anilino-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile

In the title compound, C₁₀H₉N₅, the phenyl ring is twisted with respect to the pyrazole ring, forming a dihedral angle of 24.00 (6)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds into chains running parallel to [010] containing alternating R₂²(6) and R₂²(12) rings. Further inter­actions are found in the crystal, viz. N—H⋯π(phen­yl) inter­actions and weak face-to-face π–π stacking inter­actions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.8890 (6) Å] between the centroids of the pyrazole and phenyl rings are observed.

Muonium--the second radioisotope of hydrogen: a remarkable and unique radiotracer in the chemical, materials, biological and environmental sciences

Muonium (Mu), may be regarded as a radioactive hydrogen atom with a positive muon as its nucleus, and is formed in a range of media which are irradiated with positive muons. This exotic atom can be considered as a second radioisotope of hydrogen, along with tritium. Addition of this light atom (with a mass 1/9th that of a normal hydrogen, protium, atom) to unsaturated organic molecules forms free radicals, in which the muon serves as a radioactive and magnetic probe of their kinetic and structural properties. Suitable examples are chosen to illustrate the very large functionality of organic radicals which have been measured using muons and various methods of muSR, where mu stands for muon, S for spin and R may refer to rotation, resonance or relaxation. The principal techniques illustrated are transverse-field muon spin rotation (TF-muSR), avoided level crossing muon spin resonance (ALC-muSR) and longitudinal-field muon spin relaxation (LF-muSRx). Structural studies of radicals, the determination of mechanisms for radical formation, the measurement of radical stabilisation energies, the determination of the kinetics of reactions of free muonium atoms and of free radicals have all been accomplished using TF-muSR methods. It is further shown that TF-muSR is most useful in measuring radical reaction rates in non-aqueous media, to provide information of relevance to cell membrane damage and repair Muonium may further be used as a mechanistic probe since it determines a true pattern of H-atom reactivity in molecules, against which results from similar radiolysed materials may be compared. [In many solid materials that are exposed to ionising radiation, apparent H-atom adduct radicals are detected but which originate from charge-neutralisation of positive holes (radical cations) and ejected electrons, without free H-atoms being formed. DNA is the superlative example of this. Free H-atoms normally feature in the province of radiolysed aqueous media]. The applications of ALC-muSR and LF-muSRx in studying the reorientation of reactive radicals on reactive surfaces forms the substantive proportion of the review: considered specifically are radicals sorbed in zeolites, in clays and in porous silica, in porous carbons and on ice-surfaces, in connection with their role as intermediates in catalytic systems, particularly hydrocarbon cracking and oxidation processes, and in atmospheric aerosol chemistry. The formation of muonium and other muon species in cation-exchanged zeolite-X samples are also considered, according to the evidence of longitudinal field repolarisation measurements. Finally, mention is given of the use of muSR techniques for studying radicals in the gas-phase.

Synthesis of some novel hydrazono acyclic nucleoside analogues

The syntheses of novel hydrazono acyclic nucleosides similar to miconazole scaffolds are described. In this series of acyclic nucleosides, pyrimidine as well as purine and other azole derivatives replaced the imidazole function in miconazole and the ether group was replaced with a hydrazone moiety using phenylhydrazine. To interpret the dominant formation of (E)-hydrazone derivatives rather than (Z)-isomers, PM3 semiempirical quantum mechanic calculations were carried out which indicated that the (E)-isomers had the lower heats of formation.

1-(5-Hydr-oxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)ethanone: a new monoclinic polymorph

The title compound, C₁₂H₁₂N₂O₂, crystallized in the monolinic space group P2₁/n, with two independent mol­ecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit. This is in contrast to the first monoclinic polymorph reported [Cingolani et al. (2002 ▶). Inorg. Chem.41, 1151–116], which crystallized in the space group C2/c with one independent mol­ecule per asymmetric unit. The dihedral angles between the two rings differ slightly; in mol­ecule A it is 4.90 (11)° and in mol­ecule B it is 16.05 (13)°. In both mol­ecules, there is an intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond involving the hydroxyl substituent and the carbonyl O atom of the adjacent acetyl group. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules A and B are linked via a C—H⋯N inter­action. There are also some weak C—H⋯π inter­actions involving the phenyl ring of mol­ecule A and H atoms of the acetyl groups of both mol­ecules.

Synthesis of 2-Substituted 1-Hydroxyimidazoles through Directed Lithiation

Benzylation of 3-hydroxyimidazole 1-oxide gave 3-(benzyloxy)imidazole 1-oxide, which was deoxygenated with phosphorous trichloride to produce 1-(benzyloxy)imidazole. 1-(Benzyloxy)imidazole was deprotonated selectively at C-2 by n-butyllithium. The anion formed was reacted with electrophiles to give 1-(benzyloxy)imidazoles with carbon, halogen, silicon, or sulfur substituents at the 2-position. Subsequent debenzylation afforded 2-substituted 1-hydroxyimidazoles which in turn could be deoxygenated to give 2-substituted imidazoles.

Changes in primary donor hydrogen-bonding interactions in mutant reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides: identification of the vibrational frequencies of all the conjugated carbonyl groups

Specific changes in the hydrogen-bonding states of the primary donor, P, in reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides bearing mutations near P were determined using near-infrared excited Fourier transform (FT) Raman spectroscopy. This technique, using 1064-nm excitation, provides the preresonantly enhanced vibrational spectrum of P in its reduced state selectively over the contributions of the other reaction center chromophores and protein and yields structural information concerning P and its hydrogen-bonding interactions. The mutations studied were as follows: Leu M160-->His, Leu L131-->His, the D9 double mutant (Leu M160-->His + Leu L131-->His), Phe M197-->His, and His L168-->Phe. These mutations were designed to introduce new, or to break existing, hydrogen bonds to the C9 and C2 carbonyl groups of P. On the basis of previous assignments [Mattioli, T. A., Hoffmann, A., Robert, B., Schrader, B., & Lutz, M. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 4648-4654], the FT Raman spectra of these mutants show the predicted changes in hydrogen bond interactions of P carbonyl groups with the protein. The results of this study have permitted us to unambiguously identify the C2 and C9 carbonyl vibrators of P in Rb. sphaeroides. The genetically introduced hydrogen bond interactions are discussed in terms of other physicochemical properties of P including the redox potential and electronic asymmetry in the P+ state. It is discussed that changes in protein hydrogen bonding to the conjugated carbonyl groups of P alone are not the sole factor that contributes to the sizeable modifications of the P/P+ redox midpoint potentials, and that the chemical nature of the hydrogen bond donor plays a significant role in this modification.

New selective histamine H1 agonists. Synthesis and pharmacology

In this article the synthesis and histaminergic H1 activity of a series of substituted 2-phenylhistamines are described. It appeared that substitution of the phenyl ring of these compounds influences the H1 activity substantially. In general, substitution in para position causes a decrease in H1 activity. However, in the meta-substituted members both increases and decreases of H1 activity have been observed; thus the meta nitro and meta methoxy derivatives are four times as potent as the parent 2-phenylhistamine. As far as investigated, neither H1 nor H3 activity could be established.

Prebiotic synthesis of histidine

The prebiotic formation of histidine (His) has been accomplished experimentally by the reaction of erythrose with formamidine followed by a Strecker synthesis. In the first step of this reaction sequence, the formation of imidazole-4-acetaldehyde took place by the condensation of erythrose and formamidine, two compounds that are known to be formed under prebiotic conditions. In a second step, the imidazole-4-acetaldehyde was converted to His, without isolation of the reaction products by adding HCN and ammonia to the reaction mixture. LC, HPLC, thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and tandem mass spectrometry were used to identify the product, which was obtained in a yield of 3.5% based on the ratio of His/erythrose. This is a new chemical synthesis of one of the basic amino acids which had not been synthesized prebiotically until now.