Structures of the Most Twisted Thioamide and Selenoamide: Effect of Higher Chalcogens of Twisted Amides on N-C(X) Resonance

Amide bond replacement with planar isosteric chalcogen analogues has an important implication for the properties of the N-C(X) linkage in structural chemistry, biochemistry and organic synthesis. Herein, we report the first higher chalcogen derivatives of non-planar twisted amides. The synthesis of twisted thioamide in a versatile system has been accomplished by direct thionation without cleavage of the σ N-C bond. The synthesis of twisted selenoamide has been accomplished by selenation with Woollins' reagent. The structures of higher chalcogen analogues of non-planar amides were unambiguously confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Reactivity studies were conducted to determine the effect of isologous N-C(O) to N-C(X) replacement on the properties of the amide linkage. Computational studies were employed to evaluate structural and energetic parameters of amide bond alteration in higher chalcogen amides. The study provides the first experimental evidence on the effect of chalcogen isologues on the structural and electronic properties of the non-planar amide N-C(X) linkage.

The thioamidation of gem-dibromoalkenes in an aqueous medium

The direct integration of sulphur and amine groups with 1,1-dibromoalkenes for thioamide synthesis has been achieved in an aqueous medium. The presented green protocol emphasizes the suitability of aqueous media for the thioamidation reaction and enables greater selectivity with synthetic utility. A wide range of thioamides in moderate to excellent yields has been achieved using readily available starting materials, with the use of no organic solvents, catalysts, or additives.

Resonance promoted ring-opening metathesis polymerization of twisted amides

The living ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of an unsaturated twisted amide using the third-generation Grubbs initiator is described. Unlike prior examples of ROMP monomers that rely on angular or steric strain for propagation, this system is driven by resonance destabilization of the amide that arises from geometric constraints of the bicyclic framework. Upon ring-opening, the amide can rotate and rehybridize to give a stabilized and planar conjugated system that promotes living propagation. The absence of other strain elements in the twisted amide is supported by the inability of a carbon analogue of the monomer to polymerize and computational studies that find resonance destabilization accounts for 11.3 kcal mol-1 of the overall 12.0 kcal mol-1 ring strain. The twisted amide polymerization is capable of preparing high molecular weight polymers rapidly at room temperature, and post-polymerization modification combined with 2D NMR spectroscopy confirms a regioirregular polymer microstructure.

Selective synthesis of aryl thioamides and aryl-α-ketoamides from α-oxocarboxylic acids and tetraalkylthiuram disulfides: an unexpected chemoselectivity from aryl sulfonyl chlorides

Tosyl chloride-controlled generation of thioamides and α-ketoamides via base-promoted decarboxylative reaction of α-oxocarboxylic acids with tetraalkylthiuram disulfides has been established.

Aqueous MCRs of quaternary ammoniums, N-substituted formamides and sodium disulfide towards aryl thioamides

A three-component reaction of quaternary ammonium salts, N-substituted formamides and aqueous sodium disulfide was developed, leading to aryl/heteroaryl thioamides in moderate to good yields with good functional group compatibility.

Twisted amide electrophiles enable cyclic peptide sequencing

There is an ever-increasing interest in synthetic methods that not only enable peptide macrocyclization, but also facilitate downstream application of the synthesized molecules. We have found that aziridine amides are stereoelectronically attenuated in a macrocyclic environment such that non-specific interactions with biological nucleophiles are reduced or even shut down. The electrophilic reactivity, revealed at high pH, enables peptide sequencing by mass spectrometry, which will further broaden the utility of aziridine amide-containing libraries of macrocycles.

An efficient computational model to predict protonation at the amide nitrogen and reactivity along the C-N rotational pathway

N-Protonation of amides is critical in numerous biological processes, including amide bonds proteolysis and protein folding as well as in organic synthesis as a method to activate amide bonds towards unconventional reactivity. A computational model enabling prediction of protonation at the amide bond nitrogen atom along the C-N rotational pathway is reported. Notably, this study provides a blueprint for the rational design and application of amides with a controlled degree of rotation in synthetic chemistry and biology.

Synthesis of thioamides via one-pot A3-coupling of alkynyl bromides, amines, and sodium sulfide

We herein describe a novel method for the synthesis of thioamides by a three component condensation of alkynyl bromides, amines, and Na₂S·9H₂O.

Medium-bridged lactams: a new class of non-planar amides

Medium-bridged twisted lactams, in which a non-planar amide bond is achieved by incorporating the nitrogen atom at the bridgehead position in a medium-sized heterocycle, offer an attractive setting in which to study the properties of distorted amide linkages. This Emerging Area article will describe progress in the preparation and study of these compounds. This work shows that compounds containing an even moderately distorted amide bond display useful and unusual chemical properties while retaining a measure of stability that enables their study.

Structural characterization of N-protonated amides: regioselective N-activation of medium-bridged twisted lactams

The straightforward protonation of lactams by treatment with acid and the full structural characterization of three resulting N-protonated lactams are disclosed. This work provides experimental evidence that N-protonation of amide bonds results in a dramatic increase in nonplanarity about the C-N amide bond. The resulting compounds are discussed in structural, spectroscopic, and reactivity terms. The data suggest that distortion of these amide bonds by approximately 50 degrees is sufficient for their effective N-activation.

Synthesis of medium-bridged twisted lactams via cation-pi control of the regiochemistry of the intramolecular Schmidt reaction

Medium-bridged twisted amides can be synthesized by the intramolecular Schmidt reaction of 2-azidoalkyl ketones. In these reactions, the regiochemistry of the Schmidt reaction is diverted into a typically disfavored pathway by the presence of an aromatic group at the alpha-position adjacent to the ketone, which stabilizes the predominantly reactive conformation of the azidohydrin intermediate by engaging in a nonbonded cation-pi interaction with the positively charged diazonium cation. This results in the rarely observed rearrangement of the C-C bond distal to the azidoalkyl chain. This reaction pathway also requires the azide-containing tether to be situated in the axial orientation in the key azidohydrin intermediate. Examination of the effect of substitution of aromatic rings on the regiochemistry of the Schmidt reaction shows an increase in the migratory selectivity with more electron-rich aromatic groups. The selectivity is lower when an electron-withdrawing substituent is placed on the aromatic ring. The ability of cation-pi interactions to act as a controlling element decreases when Lewis acids coordinate to substituents on the aromatic ring. The developed version of the Schmidt reaction provides a direct access to a family of medium-bridged twisted amides with a [4.3.1] bicyclic system, compounds which are very difficult to access with use of other currently available methods.