Understanding MAOS through computational chemistry

Computational chemistry may explain and rationalize the impact of microwave irradiation in organic synthesis.

Influence of Polarity and Activation Energy in Microwave-Assisted Organic Synthesis (MAOS)

The aim of this work was to determine the parameters that have decisive roles in microwave-assisted reactions and to develop a model, using computational chemistry, to predict a priori the type of reactions that can be improved under microwaves. For this purpose, a computational study was carried out on a variety of reactions, which have been reported to be improved under microwave irradiation. This comprises six types of reactions. The outcomes obtained in this study indicate that the most influential parameters are activation energy, enthalpy, and the polarity of all the species that participate. In addition to this, in most cases, slower reacting systems observe a much greater improvement under microwave irradiation. Furthermore, for these reactions, the presence of a polar component in the reaction (solvent, reagent, susceptor, etc.) is necessary for strong coupling with the electromagnetic radiation. We also quantified that an activation energy of 20-30 kcal mol(-1) and a polarity (μ) between 7-20 D of the species involved in the process is required to obtain significant improvements under microwave irradiation.

[4 + 2] cycloaddition of in situ generated 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes with simple olefins: facile approaches to tetrahydropyridazines

A catalyst-free [4 + 2] annulation process between in situ generated 1,2-diaza-1,3-butadienes and simple olefins has been developed. Under mild conditions, the reactions afforded 1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridazines, which feature a wide range of bioactive compounds, with high yields (up to 99% yield).

The issue of 'molecular radiators' in microwave-assisted reactions. Computational calculations on ring closing metathesis (RCM)

A DFT computational mechanistic study of the ring closing metathesis (RCM) reaction of diallyl ether or N,N-diallyl-p-toluenesulfonamide catalyzed by a second generation Grubbs-type ruthenium carbene complex has been carried out. This study was performed at the PCM(CH2Cl2)-B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p)//B3LYP/SDD theory level. The aim of this work was to shed light on the influence that microwave irradiation has on these reactions and to gain insight into the so-called 'molecular radiator' effect. The outcomes obtained indicate that thermal effects induced by microwave irradiation decrease the catalytic induction period. The presence of a polar reagent and/or polar species in the reaction that increases the polarity of the medium may enhance this thermal effect.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Isopropylβ-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-α-hydroxypropanoate

Using microwave irradiation heating, isopropylβ-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-α-hydroxypropanoate was synthesised from 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and acetylglycine through the formation of 2-methyl-4-(3,4-acetoxybenzylene)oxazol-5-ones,α-acetylamino-β-(3,4-diacetoxyphenyl)acrylic acid, andβ-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)pyruvic acid followed by Clemmensen reduction and esterification. The reaction conditions in terms of operating parameters were optimised by using an orthogonal design of experiment (ODOE) approach, including reaction temperature, reaction time, and microwave power level. Compared with conventional heating, the reaction time was significantly reduced for all reactions and the product yields were increased (except for the third-step reaction) under microwave heating conditions. The most remarkable microwave enhancement was found in the step of isopropylβ-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-α-hydroxypropanoate production where the reaction time was reduced from 10 hrs (conventional heating) to 25 mins (microwave heating) whilst the yield was increased from 75.6% to 87.1%, respectively.

Microwave-based reaction screening: tandem retro-Diels-Alder/Diels-Alder cycloadditions of o-quinol dimers

We have accomplished a parallel screen of cycloaddition partners for o-quinols utilizing a plate-based microwave system. Microwave irradiation improves the efficiency of retro-Diels-Alder/Diels-Alder cascades of o-quinol dimers which generally proceed in a diastereoselective fashion. Computational studies indicate that asynchronous transition states are favored in Diels-Alder cycloadditions of o-quinols. Subsequent biological evaluation of a collection of cycloadducts has identified an inhibitor of activator protein-1 (AP-1), an oncogenic transcription factor.