Nonsolvent Application of Ionic Liquids: Organo-Catalysis by 1-Alkyl-3-methylimidazolium Cation Based Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids for Chemoselective N-tert-Butyloxycarbonylation of Amines and the Influence of the C-2 Hydrogen on Catalytic Efficiency

Comparison of the effectiveness of two piperazine based nano-catalysts in the synthesis of benzoxazoles and benzimidazoles and use of the powerful one in the N-Boc protection of amines

In this work, a comparison between the catalytic activity of two piperazine based ionic liquids immobilized on ZnO NPs and SiO2 NPs is presented in the synthesis of benzoxazoles and benzimidazoles. These reactions are performed under solvent free conditions during appropriate reaction times with high yields. The catalyst obtained from ZnO-NPs (PINZS), as the more efficient one, is used for the efficient promotion of the N-Boc protection of amines. High chemoselectivity, no by-products, facile separation of the catalyst, short reaction times and no need for volatile organic solvents are the best features of the proposed methods.

Toxicity of ionic liquids in marine and freshwater microorganisms and invertebrates: state of the art

The variety of applications and expected growth in ionic liquid production are raising concerns about the release of these compounds into aquatic systems. Up to date, 103 studies have provided ecotoxicological data regarding the exposure effects of Ionic Liquids towards aquatic microorganisms and invertebrate species: 61 were devoted to freshwater species (n = 28), while marine species (n = 12) were mentioned in 42. The aim of this review, by gathering published studies on ionic liquids and model aquatic organisms, was to present the toxic effects described in distinct species and to understand which are the main factors influencing the toxicity of some ionic liquids. In accordance with the most recognized pattern, freshwater species were featured in a higher number of publications than marine ones. After literature analysis, algal species were the most represented organisms in aquatic toxicity assessments. Among tested compounds, the imidazolium cations in combination with long alkyl-chain anions, showed to be the most toxic one. In analytical terms, it is not straightforward to find the undissociated compound in a natural compartment, as ionic liquids are composed of ionic components, easily subjected to dissociation. Given the aforementioned, the present review paper points out the need of increasing the number of organisms being assessed in ionic liquids toxicity assays, in order to start defining monitoring procedures. Moreover, such would allow a better understanding of ionic liquids contamination status and, also, the opportunity to remark the effectiveness of new in silico methods for the ecotoxicity assessment of this kind of substances.

Ionic Liquids as Organocatalysts for Nucleophilic Fluorination: Concepts and Perspectives

Besides their extremely useful properties as solvent, ionic liquids (ILs) are now considered to be highly instructive tools for enhancing the rates of chemical reactions. The ionic nature of the IL anion and cation seems to be the origin of this fascinating function of ILs as organocatalyst/promoter through their strong Coulombic forces on other ionic species in the reaction and also through the formation of hydrogen bonds with various functional groups in substrates. It is now possible to tailor-make ILs for specific purposes as solvent/promoters in a variety of situations by carefully monitoring these interactions. Despite the enormous potentiality, it seems that the application of ILs as organocatalysts/promoters for chemical reactions have not been fully achieved so far. Herein, we review recent developments of ILs for promoting the nucleophilic reactions, focusing on fluorination. Various aspects of the processes, such as organocatalytic capability, reaction mechanisms and salt effects, are discussed.

Magnetically Recoverable Silica-Decorated Ferromagnetic-Nanoceria Nanocatalysts and Their Use with O- and N-Butyloxycarbonylation Reaction via Solvent-Free Condition

Silica-decorated ferrite nanoparticles, a new kind, coated with ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN), have been prepared successfully by simple coprecipitation techniques. Powder X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (PXRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDX), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), inductive coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques were used to characterize these nanoparticles. The catalysts are further studied for catalytic activity in solvent-free conditions. Importantly, these nanoparticles have been collected from the reaction mixture using an external magnet and recycled up to minimum of 15 cycles with no substantial loss of catalytic characteristics.

1,3-Bis(carboxymethyl)imidazolium Chloride as a Sustainable, Recyclable, and Metal-Free Ionic Catalyst for the Biginelli Multicomponent Reaction in Neat Condition

A simple and novel methodology has been developed for the synthesis of 1,3-bis(carboxymethyl)imidazolium chloride [BCMIM][Cl] salt. The ionic salt [BCMIM][Cl] catalyzed the reaction among arylaldehydes; the substituted 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and urea/thiourea at 80 °C with 5 mol % under neat condition provided the substituted dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one/thiones in the synthesis step with yields of up to 96%. In addition, we synthesized the commercially available drug Monastrol by employing this methodology. The new synthesis method employs the benefits of a broad substrate scope, short reaction time, and high atom economy along with low catalyst loading in neat conditions, and is devoid of chromatographic purification. The ionic salt [BCMIM][Cl] was recycled and reused up to six cycles without substantial damage of its catalytic efficiency.

Development and application of quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics methods with advanced polarizable potentials

Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations are a popular approach to study various features of large systems. A common application of QM/MM calculations is in the investigation of reaction mechanisms in condensed-phase and biological systems. The combination of QM and MM methods to represent a system gives rise to several challenges that need to be addressed. The increase in computational speed has allowed the expanded use of more complicated and accurate methods for both QM and MM simulations. Here, we review some approaches that address several common challenges encountered in QM/MM simulations with advanced polarizable potentials, from methods to account for boundary across covalent bonds and long-range effects, to polarization and advanced embedding potentials.

Continued Exploration of Trifunctional Alkyl 4-Chloro-2-diazo-3-oxobutanoates: Streamlined Entry into [1,2,3]Triazolo[5,1-c][1,4]benzoxazines and [1,2,3]Triazolo[5,1-c][1,4]benzoxazepines

Further exploration of the trifunctional character of previously introduced alkyl 4-chloro-2-diazo-3-oxobutanoates in reactions with N-protected substituted o-aminophenols followed by deprotection provided a convenient entry into [1,2,3]triazolo[5,1-c][1,4]benzoxazines, which are of high medicinal importance, as documented in the literature. The same approach applied to N-protected substituted o-(aminomethyl)phenols afforded [1,2,3]triazolo[5,1-c][1,4]benzoxazepines, which are practically unexplored compounds from a medicinal chemistry perspective. The syntheses start with SN2-type alkylation of the phenol. Removal of the protecting group triggers imine formation followed by Wolff 1,2,3-triazole synthesis.

Mild deprotection of the N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl (N-Boc) group using oxalyl chloride

We report a mild method for the selective deprotection of the N-Boc group from a structurally diverse set of compounds, encompassing aliphatic, aromatic, and heterocyclic substrates by using oxalyl chloride in methanol. The reactions take place under room temperature conditions for 1–4 h with yields up to 90%. This mild procedure was applied to a hybrid, medicinally active compound FC1, which is a novel dual inhibitor of IDO1 and DNA Pol gamma. A broader mechanism involving the electrophilic character of oxalyl chloride is postulated for this deprotection strategy.

We report a mild method for the selective deprotection of the N-Boc group from a structurally diverse set of compounds, encompassing aliphatic, aromatic, and heterocyclic substrates by using oxalyl chloride in methanol.

Current Status of AMOEBA-IL: A Multipolar/Polarizable Force Field for Ionic Liquids

Computational simulations of ionic liquid solutions have become a useful tool to investigate various physical, chemical and catalytic properties of systems involving these solvents. Classical molecular dynamics and hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) calculations of IL systems have provided significant insights at the atomic level. Here, we present a review of the development and application of the multipolar and polarizable force field AMOEBA for ionic liquid systems, termed AMOEBA–IL. The parametrization approach for AMOEBA–IL relies on the reproduction of total quantum mechanical (QM) intermolecular interaction energies and QM energy decomposition analysis. This approach has been used to develop parameters for imidazolium– and pyrrolidinium–based ILs coupled with various inorganic anions. AMOEBA–IL has been used to investigate and predict the properties of a variety of systems including neat ILs and IL mixtures, water exchange reactions on lanthanide ions in IL mixtures, IL–based liquid–liquid extraction, and effects of ILs on an aniline protection reaction.

Protecting Groups in Peptide Synthesis

The protection of amino acid reactive functionalities including the α-amino group, the side chain (amines, carboxylic acids, alcohols, and thiols), or the carboxylic acid terminus is an essential strategy in peptide chemistry. This is mandatory to prevent polymerization of the amino acids and to minimize undesirable side reactions during the synthetic process. Proper protecting group manipulation strategies can maximize the yield of the desired product or allow the construction of complex peptide-based structures. Thus, the compatibility and orthogonality of each protecting group are key to achieve the proper control of molecular structure. Herein, we describe some common protecting groups and their general unmasking methods, in order to mask and expose amine, carboxylic acid, alcohol, and thiol functionalities to achieve the synthesis of peptides and related molecules.

Synthesis and characterization of two bifunctional pyrazole-phosphonic acid ligands

The bifunctional compounds 3,5-dimethyl-4-(4-phosphonophenyl)-1H-pyrazole 1 and 4-(4-phosphonophenyl)-1H-pyrazole 2 were synthesized via Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, starting from a Boc-protected pyrazolylboronic acid ester and the iodoarylphosphonate. The target compounds were isolated after acidic hydrolysis in the form of the hydrochloride salts 1 · HCl and 2 · HCl · H2O with a yield of 81% and 86%, respectively. Pd(dppf)Cl2 was found to be superior to Pd(PPh3)4 as a catalyst; dry 1,4-dioxane as a solvent, Cs2CO3 as a base, and no co-ligands were the best found conditions. The alternative routes through iodoarylphosphonate of iodoarylpyrazole, with the crucial steps based on the copper-catalyzed coupling with acetylacetone or the Arbuzov reaction were proven inefficient. The structures of the isolated hydrochloride salts 1 · HCl and 2 · HCl · H2O feature hydrogen-bonded networks involving the chloride anions.

A diversity of alkylation/acylation products of uracil and its derivatives: synthesis and a structural study

tert-Butyl dicarbonate (Boc2O) and ethyl iodide (EtI) reactions with uracil (U), thymine (T) and 6-methyluracil (6-MU) were performed following routine procedures in pyridine/DMF solvents and with DMAP as the catalyst. Among 20 synthesized compounds, a derivative of 6-methyluracil substituted by the Boc-pyridine moiety at the C5 position appeared unexpectedly. The NMR spectra confirmed the molecular structure of all uracil derivatives. Parallel quantum mechanical DFT calculations supported the experimental findings.

Polarizable ab initio QM/MM Study of the Reaction Mechanism of N-tert-Butyloxycarbonylation of Aniline in [EMIm][BF₄]

N-t e r t-butoxycarbonylation of amines in solution (water, organic solvents, or ionic liquids) is a common reaction for the preparation of drug molecules. To understand the reaction mechanism and the role of the solvent, quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical simulations using a polarizable multipolar force field with long⁻range electrostatic corrections were used to optimize the minimum energy paths (MEPs) associated with various possible reaction mechanisms employing the nudged elastic band (NEB) and the quadratic string method (QSM). The calculated reaction energies and energy barriers were compared with the corresponding gas-phase and dichloromethane results. Complementary Electron Localization Function (ELF)/NCI analyses provide insights on the critical structures along the MEP. The calculated results suggest the most likely path involves a sequential mechanism with the rate⁻limiting step corresponding to the nucleophilic attack of the aniline, followed by proton transfer and the release of CO 2 without the direct involvement of imidazolium cations as catalysts.

ChemoselectiveN-tert-butyloxycarbonylation of amines in glycerol

The operational simplicity, cleaner reaction, rapid reaction convergence, functional group tolerance, excellent yield, high selectivity, catalyst-free feature and solvent recyclability are the distinct advantages of this protocol. This makes the protocol feasible, economical and environmentally benign.

syn-Selective crotylation of aldehydes using bismuth-crotyl bromide-(1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide) combination: some synthetic applications

The Bi-[bmim][Br] combination has been found to offer high syn-selectivity in the crotylation of aldehydes with crotyl bromide using practically stoichiometric amounts of the reagents. The room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), [bmim][Br], activated Bi metal in the presence of oxygen to produce crotylbismuthdibromide, which reacted with the aldehydes at room temperature. The major anti-syn diastereomeric product obtained from the crotylation of (R)-cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde was utilized for the synthesis of dictyostatin and cryptophycin segments, and (+)-cis-aerangis lactone, using standard synthetic protocols.

Acid-induced chemoselective arylthiolations of electron-rich arenes in ionic liquids from sodium arylsulfinates: the reducibility of halide anions in [Hmim]Br

An odorless approach for arylthiolations of arenes is introduced, in which [Hmim]Br is used as both a solvent and a reducer.

Highly efficient green synthesis of α-hydroxyphosphonates using a recyclable choline hydroxide catalyst

Aldehydic carbonyl groups are eco-friendly and efficiently hydrophosphonylated by diethylphosphite using the basic ionic liquid, choline hydroxide.

Temperature dependent dielectric relaxation of ionic liquid ([bmim][BF4])/alcohol binary mixtures

A dielectric spectroscopy study on the binary mixtures of the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄]) and four kinds of alcohols as a function of temperature was carried out over a frequency range of 100 MHz to 20 GHz.

Enantioselective Synthesis of β-Hydrazino Alcohols Using Alcohols and N-Boc-Hydrazine as Substrates

An enantioselective approach for the synthesis of α-hydrazino aldehydes is described that utilizes alcohols and N-Boc hydrazine instead of the conventional combination of aldehydes with azodicarboxylates. This protocol is enabled by merging in situ aerobic dual oxidation with asymmetric organocatalysis. This reaction also exhibits a high tolerance for varieties of substituents on the alcohol component. This approach features excellent enantiocontrol, cheap starting materials, operational simplicity, and scalability. The corresponding chiral β-hydrazino alcohols were obtained by sequential reduction with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee).