Preorganized ligand arrays based on spirotetrahydrofuranyl motifs. Synthesis of the stereoisomeric 1,8,14-trioxatrispiro[4.1.4.1.4. 1]octadecanes and the contrasting conformational features and ionic binding capacities of these belted ionophores

Reactions of Allylmagnesium Reagents with Carbonyl Compounds and Compounds with C═N Double Bonds: Their Diastereoselectivities Generally Cannot Be Analyzed Using the Felkin-Anh and Chelation-Control Models

This review describes the additions of allylmagnesium reagents to carbonyl compounds and to imines, focusing on the differences in reactivity between allylmagnesium halides and other Grignard reagents. In many cases, allylmagnesium reagents either react with low stereoselectivity when other Grignard reagents react with high selectivity, or allylmagnesium reagents react with the opposite stereoselectivity. This review collects hundreds of examples, discusses the origins of stereoselectivities or the lack of stereoselectivity, and evaluates why selectivity may not occur and when it will likely occur.

2-Aminophenolate ligands for phosphorus(v): a lithium salt featuring the chiral [P(OC6H4NR)3]- anion

Phosphoranes P(OC6H4NR)2(OC6H4NHR) [R = Me (2a), Ph (2b), C6F5 (2c)] were synthesized by treating PCl5 with the respective 2-aminophenol derivative (1a-c, 3.1 equiv.). In one instance, an intermediate species, P(OC6H4NR)2Cl [R = Me (3a)], was isolated and structurally characterized. Deprotonation of the amine moieties (-NH[combining low line]R) in phosphoranes 2a and 2b with a strong alkali-metal base (e.g. n-BuLi) in the presence of a strong-donor solvent (e.g. THF) afforded salts composed of the hexacoordinate P(v)-anions [P(OC6H4NR)3]- (R = Me, [4a]-; Ph, [4b]-). Employing precursor 2a, the salt Li(THF)3fac-[4a]- was isolated. The X-ray crystal of each enantiomer of [4a]- was determined and, to our knowledge, represents the first structurally characterized example of a salt containing a hexacoordinate P(v)N3O3 anion featuring P(v)-N bonds.

ADDITIVITY SCHEMES IN CONFORMATIONAL ANALYSIS: CONCEPT AND DEMONSTRATION

Additivity schemes are of fundamental importance in molecular modeling. It is the goal of an additivity scheme to predict the value of parameter for a complex system based on the knowledge of the respective parameters for prototypical systems. The commonly employed method is based on the identification of energy factors, the quantification of these energy factors, and the evaluation of trial functions that depend on these factors. We describe a non-iterative method to derive energy factor expressions. While energy factors occur in the derivation of the energy factor expressions, the values of the energy factors are not determined and they are expressed instead as series of the known parameters of the minimal set of prototypes. The non-iterative energy factor analysis is illustrated by application to conformational preference energies for a series of spiro(THF)cyclohexanes for which the results of a traditional analysis are available. We demonstrate that the contributions to the conformational preference energy are additive, clarify the precise meaning of the terms "gauche interaction" and "1,3-interaction", and state a more general hypothesis that provides opportunities for testing by future experimental and computational studies.

Synthesis of, and Structural Assignments to the Stereoisomers of Bis (2,2‘)- and Tris (2,2‘,2‘ ‘)-Tetrahydrofurans: Conformational Features and Ionic Binding Capacities of These Gateway Polycyclic Networks

Construction of the polytetrahydrofuranyl building blocks 6-10 from the common bissiloxyacetone precursor 11 is detailed. The approach is concise and, for the bis-(THF) pair, capitalizes on the full retention of configuration observed during the rhodium-promoted decarbonylation of aldehydes 18 and 19. The capability of the title compounds to associate with alkali metal ions in solution and the gas phase has demonstrated a preference for Li+ over Na+ and K+ in all cases, with 6 and 7 exhibiting somewhat higher binding selectivities than 8-10. The relative energy orderings of attainable conformations with the bis-THF and tris-THF series were explored computationally. The various envelope arrangements present in the individual THF units are shown to play a significant role alongside prevailing gauche interactions. The "gauche effect" is shown computationally not to be an accurate predictor of the lowest energy conformer.

Synthesis and Lewis acid induced isomerization of mono-, di-, and tri-spiro α-keto tetrahydro-furans and -pyrans

The stereoselectivity of the acid-catalyzed ring expansion of dihydrofuranyl and dihydropyranyl 1,2-adducts to spirocyclic ketones 8 and 9 has been examined. These substrates have become readily available by the utilization of 1,3-dichloroacetone as a synthetic equivalent of cyclopropanone. The kinetically controlled isomerizations result in ring expansion to dispirocyclopentanones. Third-stage conversion to trispirocyclohexanones was shown to be possible in select examples. On a different front, the syn and anti pairs proved capable of interconversion by heating in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate. A push–pull fragmentation of the ketone ring is proposed to account for these epimerizations. Calculations have been performed to simulate transition state energies in the oxonium ion intermediates and to gain some idea of the preferred ground-state geometries of the final products.Key words: oxonium ion rearrangements, ring expansions, acid-catalyzed epimerizations, cyclopropanone equivalent, spirocyclic ethers.

Constraining of small-ring cyclic ether triads by stereodefined spiroannulation to an inositol orthoformate platform. Solution- and gas-phase alkali metal binding affinities for three- to five-membered ring structural combinations

The structural features most conducive to complexation of the alkali metal ions Li(+), Na(+), and K(+) in a series of constrained inositol orthoformate derivatives have been probed in solution, in the solid state, and in the gas phase by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The eight spirotricyclic polyethers differ in the size of the rings containing the potentially ligating oxygen atoms. Although the ring sizes have been limited to three to five atoms inclusively, the combinations of oxirane, oxetane, and tetrahydrofuran are rather extensive and consist of many options. The overall trend for lithium ion affinity is [5.5.5] > [ 5.5.4] > [4.4.4] > [5.5.3] > [5.4.3] > [4.4.3] > [1.1.1] > [3.3.1], an ordering that correlates with the differing polarizabilities of the oxygen atoms, ease of alignment of the nonbonded electron pairs, and the overall size of the ligand as gauged by nonbonded O......O distances.

Intercalation of multiple carbon atoms between the carbonyls of alpha-diketones

The reaction of open-chain or cyclic alpha-diketones with specific omega-alkenyl organometallics leads readily under the proper conditions to 1,2-diols bonded to terminal olefinic chains. With 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione, biacetyl, and cyclohexane-1,2-dione, allylindation in aqueous THF proceeds readily at both adjacent carbonyls. For cyclododecane-1,2-dione, recourse must be made to allylmagnesium bromide for completing the second-stage condensation. Grignard reagents have also served well as reactants for biacetyl monoadducts. In contrast, monoallylated camphorquinone is reluctant to couple to Grignard reagents and reacts only when Barbier-type alkyllithium reactions are applied. The ring closing metatheses of these products have been examined. Where six-membered ring formation operates, cyclization can be performed directly on diols. When larger rings are involved, the diols will react only if structural preorganization capable of facilitating mutual approach of the two double bonds is at play. For this purpose, the prior conversion to a cyclic carbonate holds considerable utility. In the latter setting, saponification must precede the diol cleavage step which has been performed with lead tetraacetate. The latter reagent also exhibits the very beneficial effect of facilitating removal of ruthenium and phosphorus byproducts generated during the metathesis step. This chemistry conveniently lends itself to the controlled intercalation of multiple methylene groups between the carbonyl carbons of readily available alpha-diketones to deliver linear or cyclic products.

Self-assembled organometallic [12]metallacrown-3 complexes

The reaction of [(arene)RuCl2]2 (arene = C6H6, cymene, C6H3Et3, or C6Me6) or [Cp*RhCl2]2 with 3-hydroxy-2-pyridone in the presence of Cs2CO3 gives trinuclear metallamacrocyclic complexes. The self-assembly process was shown to be completely diastereoselective, and a racemic mixture of complexes with M(R)M(R)M(R) or MsMsMs (M=Ru, Rh) configuration was obtained. Plausible mononuclear intermediates of the formula [(arene)RuCl(C5H4NO2)] (arene = cymene, C6Me6) have been isolated and characterized. A structurally related trimer was synthesized by using [(cymene)RuCl2]2 and 3-acetamido-2-pyridone instead of 3-hydroxy-2-pyridone. The macrocycles were shown to be highly potent ionophores for Na+ and/or Li+ with negligible affinities for the larger cation K+. The selectivities of the receptors depend on the pi-ligand present: whereas the (C6H6)Ru- and (cymene)Ru complexes bind both Li+ and Na+, the (C6Me6)Ru-, (C6H3Et3)Ru-, and Cp*Rh complexes bind exclusively Li+. For all receptors, the presence of alkali metal ions can be detected electrochemically: the peak potential is shifted by > 300 mV toward anionic potential upon binding. This behavior was utilized to detect Li+ and Na+ colorimetrically. Single crystal X-ray analyses have been carried out on eight complexes, four of which are bound to an alkali metal halide ion pair. Structural parameters, which affect the affinity and selectivity are discussed. A computational study on [[MX][12]crown-3] complexes (M =Li, Na; X=Cl, Br, I) was performed in order to compare relevant bond lengths and angles of the energy-minimized structures with those of the organometallic receptors.

Selective lithium ion binding involving inositol-based tris(spirotetrahydrofuranyl) ionophores: formation of a rodlike supramolecular ionic polymer from a homoditopic dimer

The stereoselective replacement of all three hydroxyl groups in myo-inositol orthoformate by spirotetrahydrofuran rings in that manner which projects the C--O bonds in the molecular interior has been examined. The heterocyclic components were introduced sequentially, a protocol that demonstrated the utility of precomplexation to LiClO(4) as a stereocontrol tactic. The capability of 3 to coordinate to alkali metal ions was quantified. The conformationally restricted nature of this ligand conveys high selectivity for binding to lithium ion. Beyond that, the ionophore prefers to form 2:1 complexes with Li(+) and exhibits little tendency for 1:1 stoichiometry. These properties are shared by the "dimer" 36, in which two building blocks of type 3 have been conjoined by a 1,3-butadiyne tether positioned at the ortho ester terminus. This bifacial ligand reacts with one equivalent of LiClO(4) or LiBF(4) to form rodlike ionic polymers. Alternative recourse to lithium picrate results in production of the doubly capped homoditopic complex 41. Various other aspects of the chemistry peculiar to these systems are discussed.