16α,17α-Ep-oxy-5α-hydr-oxy-6β-nitrooxy-20-oxopregnan-3β-yl acetate

New applications for bismuth(III) salts in organic synthesis: from bulk chemicals to steroid and terpene chemistry

Bismuth(III) salts are currently considered efficient and "ecofriendly" reagents and catalysts for the development of new applications in organic synthesis. The preparation of bismuth(III) triflate and its analogues is reviewed as well as some of their applications to the synthesis of bulk chemicals via electrophilic addition and cyclization reactions. The use of bismuth(III) salts in the development of new chemical processes involving steroids and terpenes as substrates is also discussed.

Bismuth(III) reagents in steroid and terpene chemistry

Steroid and terpene chemistry still have a great impact on medicinal chemistry. Therefore, the development of new reactions or “greener” processes in this field is a contemporaneous issue. In this review, the use of bismuth(III) salts, as “ecofriendly” reagents/catalysts, on new chemical processes involving steroids and terpenes as substrates will be focused. Special attention will be given to some mechanistic considerations concerning selected reactions.

3,3'-Dimethyl-1,1'-(methyl-enedi-p-phenyl-ene)diimidazolium bis-(hexa-fluoro-phosphate)

The title N-heterocyclic carbene compound, C(21)H(22)N(4) (2+)·2PF(6) (-), crystallizes as an inversion twin. There are two independent N-heterocyclic carbene dications (A and B) and four independent hexa-fluoro-phosphate anions in the asymmetric unit. The cations are L-shaped with the benzene rings being inclined to one another by 88.82 (16)° in cation A and 87.03 (16)° in cation B. The imidazole rings make dihedral angles of 35.7 (2) and 32.83 (18)° with the attached benzene rings in cation A, and 30.14 (19) and 31.96 (18)° in cation B. In the crystal, the cations are linked via C-H⋯F hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network. π-π inter-actions involving the benzene and imidazole rings [centroid-centroid distances = 3.602 (2) and 3.723 (2) Å] and C-H⋯π inter-actions are also present.