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Research has been conducted on the building block for the vitamin D analogues. The preparation of this building block which minimizes purification and isolation steps is descrubed.

Research has been conducted on the 1alpha-fluoro A-ring phosphine oxide. The synthesis of this oxide from (S)-carvone has been carried out in steps and the results indicate that a highly selective palladium-catalyzed isomerization of dieneoxide to dienol has been achieved via the use of the fluorinated alcohol as a catalytic proton source.

The construction of the 21-hydroxy-20-keto pregane side chain from the 1-bromo-1-(trimethylsilyl)ethylene through presumes intermediate allene oxide results in the formation of digitoxigenin from 3beta-acetoxyandrost-5-en-17one. The intermediate alcohol which is of primary importance to the reaction is obtained by the addition of 1-litho-1-(trimethylsilyl)ethylene to the carbonyl group. In the final stage of the reaction the butenolide ring is formed to yield 15beta-hydroxycardenolide which converts itself to digitoxigenin.

α-Methoxyimino-β-keto esters are reported to undergo highly enantioselective catalytic transfer hydrogenation using the Noyori-Ikariya complex RuCl( p -cymene)[( S , S )-Ts-DPEN] in a mixture of formic acid-triethylamine and dimethylformamide at 25 °C. The experimental study performed on over 25 substrates combined with computational analysis revealed that a Z -configured methoxyimino group positioned alpha to a ketone carbonyl leads to higher reactivity and mostly excellent enantioselectivity within this substrate class. Density functional theory calculations of competing transition states were used in rationalizing the origins of enantioselectivity and the possible role of the methoxyimino group in the reaction outcome.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is notorious for its toxic effects but is also recognized as a gasotransmitter with considerable therapeutic potential. Due to the inherent challenges in its delivery, the utilization of organic CO photoreleasing molecules (photoCORMs) represents an interesting alternative to CO administration characterized by high spatial and temporal precision of release. This paper focused on the design, synthesis, and photophysical and photochemical studies of 20 3-hydroxyflavone (flavonol) and 3-hydroxyflavothione derivatives as photoCORMs. Newly synthesized compounds bearing various electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups show bathochromically shifted absorption maxima and considerably enhanced CO release yields compared to the parent unsubstituted flavonol, exceeding 0.8 equiv of released CO in derivatives exhibiting excited states with a charge-transfer character. Until now, such outcomes have been limited to flavonol derivatives possessing a π-extended aromatic system. In addition, thione analogs of flavonols, 3-hydroxyflavothiones, show substantial bathochromic shifts of their absorption maxima and enhanced photosensitivity but provide lower yields of CO formation. Our study elucidates in detail the mechanism of CO photorelease from flavonols and flavothiones, utilizing steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopies and photoproduct analyses, with a particular emphasis on unraveling the structure-photoreactivity relationship and understanding competing side processes.

Novel binding motifs suitable for the construction of multitopic guest-based molecular devices (e.g., switches, sensors, data storage, and catalysts) are needed in supramolecular chemistry. No rigid, aliphatic binding motif that allows for axial disubstitution has been described for cucurbit[6]uril (CB6) so far. We prepared three model guests combining spiro[3.3]heptane and bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane centerpieces with imidazolium and ammonium termini. We described their binding properties toward CB6/7 and α-/β-CD using NMR, titration calorimetry, mass spectrometry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. We found that a bisimidazolio spiro[3.3]heptane guest forms inclusion complexes with CB6, CB7, and β-CD with respective association constants of 4.0 × 10 4 , 1.2 × 10 12 , and 1.4 × 10 2 . Due to less hindering terminal groups, the diammonio analogue forms more stable complexes with CB6 ( K = 1.4 × 10 6 ) and CB7 ( K = 3.8 × 10 12 ). The bisimidazolio bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane guest forms a highly stable complex only with CB7 with a K value of 1.1 × 10 11 . The high selectivity of the new binding motifs implies promising potential in the construction of multitopic supramolecular components.

Alkyl thiocyanurates, the compounds formed in the SN reaction of thiocyanuric acid and alkyl halides, are susceptible to transthioesterification and ligation with molecules containing cysteamine, analogous to native chemical ligation of thioesters with peptides with an N-terminal cysteine moiety. The ligation is irreversible and results in the formation of mono- and disubstituted products dominantly. Transthioesterification, in contrast, is fully reversible and may be used in constructing dynamic systems. The application of this reactivity in dynamic covalent chemistry has been exemplified by the preparation of a library of mixed thiocyanurates of glutathione and thioglycolic acid with self-assembly abilities and metathesis between thiocyanurates of tris(carboxymethyl) and tris(carboxamidomethyl) catalyzed by MESNa (sodium 2-mercaptoethylsulphonate) or MPAA (4-mercaptophenylacetic acid). Differences in reactivity of thiocyanurates toward cysteamines and thiols has been explained based on conceptual DFT.

Palladium-catalyzed Suzuki reactions of brominated flavin derivatives (5-deazaflavins, alloxazines, and isoalloxazines) with boronic acids or boronic acid esters that occur readily under mild conditions were shown to be an effective tool for the synthesis of a broad range of 7/8-arylflavins. In general, the introduction of an aryl/heteroaryl group by means of a direct C-C bond has been shown to be a promising approach to tuning the photophysical properties of flavin derivatives. The aryl substituents caused a bathochromic shift in the absorption spectra of up to 52 nm and prolonged the fluorescence lifetime by up to 1 order of magnitude. Moreover, arylation of flavin derivatives decreased their ability to generate singlet oxygen.

In search of novel pentalenide ligands for use in organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis, we report the scope of a straightforward base-promoted Michael annulation of cyclopentadienes with α,β-unsaturated ketones that allows the introduction of symmetrical as well as unsymmetrical aryl and alkyl substitution patterns including electron-donating as well as electron-withdrawing substituents. More than 16 examples of various isomers of 1,3,4,6-tetraarylated dihydropentalenes have been synthesized in isolated yields of up to 78%, representing a substantial expansion of the range of dihydropentalene scaffolds known to date. Double bond isomerization between the two pentacyclic rings in 1,2-dihydropentalenes with electronically different substituents occurred depending on the polarization of the molecule. The melting points of the air-stable dihydropentalenes decrease, and their solubilities in organic solvents improve with increasing substitution and decreasing symmetry of the molecule. A competitive pseudo-retro-aldol pathway produces 1,3,6-triarylated monocyclic pentafulvenes as side products in yields of 9-68%, which can be cleanly isolated (8 new examples) and used for other synthetic purposes, including separate cyclization to other dihydropentalenes.

A palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction between 2-oxyacrylates and aryl bromides was developed, where DavePhos was a unique ligand that efficiently promoted the reaction. The products, 2-oxycinnamates, served as excellent precursors, providing synthetically useful monoaryl pyruvates or ortho ester-protected monoaryl pyruvates depending on the nature of the 2-oxy group. The formation of such ortho esters via alkoxide addition is novel, and computational studies identified a plausible mechanism with an oxyallyl zwitterion as the key intermediate.

We report operationally facile methods for the synthesis of substituted dihydroisoquinolinones and tetrahydroisoquinolines from readily accessible o -bromobenzyl bromides and o -bromobenzaldehydes, respectively. While classical electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions are tailored to the construction of saturated isoquinolines derived from electron-rich precursors, we demonstrate efficient syntheses from electronically diverse substrates to produce cyclized products as single regioisomers.

The design of P-type photoswitches with thermal stability of the metastable form of hundreds of years that would efficiently transform using excitation wavelengths above 350 nm remains a challenge in the field of photochromism. In this regard, we designed and synthesized an extended set of 13 pyridine/quinoline hydrazones and systematically investigated the structure-property relationships, defining their kinetic and photoswitching parameters. We show that the operational wavelengths of the pyridine hydrazone structural motif can be effectively shifted toward the visible region without simultaneous loss of their high thermal stability. Furthermore, we characterized the ground-state and excited-state potential energy surfaces with quantum-chemical calculations and ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy, which allowed us to rationalize both the thermal and photochemical reaction mechanisms of the designed hydrazones. Whereas introducing an electron-withdrawing pyridyl moiety in benzoylpyridine hydrazones leads to thermal stabilities exceeding 200 years, extended π-conjugation in naphthoylquinoline hydrazones pushes the absorption maxima toward the visible spectral region. In either case, the compounds retain highly efficient photoswitching characteristics. Our findings open a route to the rational design of a new family of hydrazone-based P-type photoswitches with high application potential in photonics or photopharmacology.

Hydroxylation is an effective approach for the synthesis of carbon-oxygen bonds and allylic ethers. The [NHC]Au(I) catalyzed intermolecular hydroalkoxylation of allene was studied at the DFT and Coupled Cluster level of theory. Using the Unified Reaction Valley Approach (URVA), we carry out a comprehensive mechanistic analysis of [NHC]Au(I)-catalyzed and noncatalyzed reactions. The URVA study of several possible reaction pathways reveal that the [NHC]Au(I) catalyst enables the hydroalkoxylation reaction to occur via a two step mechanism based upon the Au ability to switch between π- and σ-complexation. The first step of the mechanism involves the formation of a CO bond after the transition state with no energy penalty. Following the CO bond breakage, the OH bond breaks and CH bond forms during the second step of the mechanism, as the catalyst transforms into the more stable π-Au complex. The URVA results were complemented with local vibrational mode analysis to provide measures of intrinsic bond strength for Au(I)-allene interactions of all stationary points, and NBO analysis was applied in order to observe charge transfer events along the reaction pathway. Overall, the π-Au C═C interactions of the products are stronger than those of the reactants adding to their exothermicity. Our work on the hydroxylation of allene provides new insights for the design of effective reaction pathways to produce allylic ethers and also unravels new strategies to form C-O bonds by activation of C═C bonds.

A thorough investigation has enabled the optimization of the synthesis of 1,4-dihydro-pyrrolo[3,2- b ]pyrroles. Although salts of such metals as vanadium, niobium, cerium, and manganese were found to facilitate the formation of 1,4-dihydro-pyrrolo[3,2- b ]pyrroles from amines, aldehydes, and diacetyl, we confirmed that iron salts are the most efficient catalysts. The conditions identified (first step: toluene/AcOH = 1:1, 1 h, 50 °C; second step: toluene/AcOH = 1:1, Fe(ClO 4 ) 3 ·H 2 O, 16 h, 50 °C) resulted in the formation of tetraarylpyrrolo[3,2- b ]pyrroles in a 6-69% yield. For the first time, very electron-rich substituents (4-Me 2 NC 6 H 4 , 3-(OH)C 6 H 4 , pyrrol-2-yl) originating from aldehydes and sterically hindered substituents (2-ClC 6 H 4 , 2-BrC 6 H 4 , 2-CNC 6 H 4 , 2-(CO 2 Me)C 6 H 4 , 2-(TMS-C≡C)C 6 H 4 ) present on anilines can be appended to the pyrrolo[3,2- b ]pyrrole core. It is now also possible to prepare 1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2- b ]pyrroles bearing an ordered arrangement of N -substituents and C -substituents ranging from coumarin, quinoline, phthalimide to truxene. These advances in scope enable independent regulations of many desired photophysical properties, including the Stokes shift value and emission color ranging from violet-blue through deep blue, green, yellow to red. Simultaneously, the optimized conditions have finally allowed the synthesis of these extremely promising heterocycles in amounts of more than 10 g per run without a concomitant decrease in yield or product contamination. Empowered with better functional group compatibility, novel derivatization strategies were developed.

The present study investigated the ability of bromovinyl phosphates to react with organozinc reagents at room temperature during palladium-catalyzed reactions. It was determined that both the bromine atom and the phosphate group were successfully substituted by means of the reaction with the organozinc reagents, thereby allowing for the synthesis of cyclic and acyclic tetrasubstituted double bonds. The low stability of the organozinc compounds in an acidic environment was exploited to accomplish the synthesis of alkenes using a one-pot, two-step experimental setup.

A scalable endo -selective synthesis of 2,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted pyrrolidines via cycloaddition of nitroalkenes and azomethine ylides is reported using a P,N-type ferrocenyl ligand and [Cu(OTf)] 2 ·C 6 H 6 . The robust method is tolerant of a wide range of functionalities, including rarely reported quaternary nitroalkene substitution and heteroaromatic and hindered ortho -substituted arenes on the azomethine ylide. Subsequent transformations highlight the utility of the method in the synthesis of densely functionalized small molecules suitable for fragment-based drug discovery and the cystic fibrosis C2-corrector clinical candidate ABBV-3221.

The following work presents three general approaches allowing, for the first time, the synthesis of 5,10-diheterotruxene derivatives containing two identical heteroatoms, namely, oxygen OOC , nitrogen NNC , or sulfur SSC . Two of described pathways involve the photocyclization of the corresponding triene 2 as a key step leading to a heptacyclic aromatic system. The third approach is based on the acidic condensation between ninhydrin 14 and benzo[ b ]heteroole 15 . Typical functionalizations of the 5,10-diheterotruxene core have also been presented. In addition, the article discusses the advantages and limitations of the three suggested paths for receiving specific 5,10-diheterotruxene derivatives because the universal method suitable for obtaining molecules with any type of heteroatoms is not known so far.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a cell-signaling molecule (gasotransmitter) produced endogenously by oxidative catabolism of heme, and the understanding of its spatial and temporal sensing at the cellular level is still an open challenge. Synthesis, optical properties, and study of the sensing mechanism of Nile red Pd-based CO chemosensors, structurally modified by core and bridge substituents, in methanol and aqueous solutions are reported in this work. The sensing fluorescence "off-on" response of palladacycle-based sensors possessing low-background fluorescence arises from their reaction with CO to release the corresponding highly fluorescent Nile red derivatives in the final step. Our mechanistic study showed that electron-withdrawing and electron-donating core substituents affect the rate-determining step of the reaction. More importantly, the substituents were found to have a substantial effect on the Nile red sensor fluorescence quantum yields, hereby defining the sensing detection limit. The highest overall fluorescence and sensing rate enhancements were found for a 2-hydroxy palladacycle derivative, which was used in subsequent biological studies on mouse hepatoma cells as it easily crosses the cell membrane and qualitatively traces the localization of CO within the intracellular compartment with the linear quantitative response to increasing CO concentrations.

This paper presents an alternative path for the synthesis of 5-thiatruxene and the synthetic approach for 5-azatruxene not known so far. A new method for 5-thiatruxene improves the overall reaction yield from 17.5 to 22.6%, diminishes the synthesis time and costs by reducing synthetic steps from 5 to 2, and simplifies the isolation of intermediate and final products. The overall reaction yield for 5-azatruxene is 32.4%. The typical reactivity of both aromatic systems is also demonstrated. Recent research results suggest the use of 5-thiatruxene as the acceptor subunit of soluble blue emitters.

The first solvent- and catalyst-free procedure for the Michaelis-Arbuzov reaction under flow conditions was developed. A variety of alkylphosphonic esters could be obtained using this protocol starting from the corresponding trialkyl phosphites and even catalytic amounts of alkyl halides with very short reaction times (8.33-50 min) and excellent conversions. In general, this protocol works effectively when the alkyl halide is used in catalytic amounts as low as 5-10% only if it concerns the synthesis of homo alkylphosphonates. One equivalent and an excess of alkyl halides should be used in the reaction with alkyl phosphite if the alkyl group of the selected substrates differ. Thus, it provides a sustainable, fast alternative to the existing methods for the preparation of alkylphosphonates. The isolation of the reaction products is straightforward due to the lack of solvents and a high purity of the obtained products (conv ≥ 99%), and notably, in the catalytic procedures there are only traces of alkyl halides formed after the reaction is complete. The reactions conducted using a glass microreactor chip with an internal volume of 250 μL allow the production of 1.6-1.95 g of organophosphorus esters per hour.

Modular syntheses of disorazoles A 1 and B 1 analogues in which the epoxide moieties of the natural products were replaced with cyclopropyl units have been achieved. Targeted as part of a structure-activity relationships study, these syntheses were successfully extended to the thiazole counterparts of these analogues. The retrosynthetically defined fragments were assembled through Yamaguchi esterification, Cu/Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling, Yamaguchi macrolactonization, and Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling as the key reactions. Further synthetic and biological investigations of such analogues are expected to lead to the discovery and development of potential payloads for antibody-drug conjugates as targeted cancer therapies.

A series of difluoroborates were synthesized from CH acids. All compounds were substituted with dialkylamino groups (NR 2 ). The lone electron pair of the nitrogen atom of this donor moiety is variably delocalized toward the difluoroborate core that acts as the electron acceptor. This was rationalized in light of the various geometries of the amino group. The degree of charge transfer was quantified on the basis of the results of time-dependent density functional theory calculations.

The photoswitching behavior of 5-phenylazopyrimidines was investigated by optical methods and NMR spectroscopy with in situ irradiation sustained by mathematical modeling and DFT calculations. Irradiation of various compounds with electron-donating groups on the pyrimidine ring and substituents with electron-withdrawing as well as electron-donating substituent in the para-position of the phenyl ring were examined. All compounds could be successfully converted to the cis isomer; this isomerization and the subsequent thermal fading were studied. Switching cycles can be repeated without signs of photodegradation for most of the compounds, which makes them adept to molecular photoswitches. Interestingly, the chloro and cyano derivatives can be switched without UV light, which makes them vis(π → π*)-vis(n → π*) photoswitches. Surprisingly equal trans-to- cis photoisomerization quantum yields for π → π* and n → π* excitation indicate the blocking of the inversion pathway following π → π* excitation. In contrast to that, DFT computations suggest the inversion mechanism for the reverse thermal cis-to- trans isomerization of 5-phenylazopyrimidines.

With the use of inexpensive commercially available abietic acid, a whole series of abietane enones were prepared in high yields. The structures of all the products obtained were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis with particular emphasis on the use of advanced NMR techniques, comparison with previously reported data and, where possible, by single crystal X-ray diffraction. However, in cases where X-ray crystallography was not applicable or compounds tested were unstable, a final stereochemical assignment could be inferred only by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) supported by vibrational circular dichroism to increase credibility. To reveal the relationship between structure and chiroptical properties, we used combined experimental and theoretical analysis of geometries, structural parameters, and chiroptical properties of all enones synthesized. A thorough analysis of their conformational flexibility by examining the effect of solvent and temperature on the ECD spectra was also used to achieve desired objectives. As a result, the impact of substituents adjacent to the enone chromophore on the conformation was determined by demonstrating that even slight changes in the position of hydroxyl and isopropyl groups attached to carbon C13 may substantially affect ECD curves' pattern, leading in some cases to Cotton effects sign reversal.

ω-Haloalkylphosphine derivatives undergo the intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction upon treatment with a strong base, yielding either cycloalkylphosphine derivatives or heterocyclic phosphine derivatives. The selectivity of the cyclization of (ω-haloalkyl)alkylarylphosphine derivatives depends strongly on the distance between the electrophilic and nucleophilic carbon atoms and the structure of the phosphorus moiety. The desymmetrization of dimethylphenylphosphine sulfide followed by haloalkylation and cyclization led to the enantiomerically enriched tertiary phosphine sulfide, possessing a cyclohexyl fragment at the phosphorus.

A synthetic entry to novel dyes based on the dipyrrolonaphthyridinedione core was developed via the Heck reaction. These weakly fluorescent compounds bearing double bond linkages between the core and the peripheral units absorbed strongly in the far-red/NIR region and possessed large values of two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections (up to 5180 GM). Additionally, analogous dyes bearing triple bond linkages were also efficient TPA materials with relatively large two-photon absorption cross-sections (up to 2840 GM) as well as two-photon brightness (up to 1450 GM). The centrosymmetric nature of both of these families of dyes is responsible for the location of the maxima of two-photon absorption being at much higher energy than the ones corresponding to the double wavelength of the lowest-energy one-photon absorption. Theoretical calculations clarified that the enhancement of the TPA by the peripheral substitutions arose through different mechanisms depending on either the electron-donating or electron-withdrawing ability of a given substituent to the ambipolar core. The change in the electron distribution of HOMO and HOMO-1 by the push-pull effect was found to govern the strength of the lowest-energy TPA-allowed transition. Importantly, compounds from both series possessed a beneficial ratio of σ 2 /MW (1.6-9.8 GM/g).

Imidazolium-based guests containing two distinct binding epitopes are capable of binding β-cyclodextrin and cucurbit[6/7]uril (CB) simultaneously to form heteroternary 1:1:1 inclusion complexes. In the final configuration, the hosts occupy binding sites disfavored in the binary complexes because of the chemically induced reorganization of the intermediate 1:1 aggregate. In addition, the reported guests are capable of binding two CBs to form either 1:2 or 1:1:1 ternary assemblies despite consisting of a single cationic moiety. Whereas the adamantane site binds CB solely via hydrophobic interactions, the CB unit at the butyl site is stabilized by a combination of hydrophobic and ion-dipole interactions.

The synthesis and supramolecular properties of the first methylene-bridged propanediurea-based dimers are described. These dimers, bearing an aromatic sidewall, have the shape of molecular clips. Unlike glycoluril-based dimers, these clips neither dimerize nor accept any organic guests, due to their small cavities. Both propanediurea- and glycoluril-based dimers bind halide anions on the convex side of the molecules, even in highly polar organic solvents. This observation brings new insights into the mechanism of cucurbituril formation.

Ru-catalyzed cross-metathesis (CM) reaction between β-arylated α-methylidene-β-lactams and terminal olefins was developed. The CM reaction is effectively catalyzed with Hoveyda-Grubbs second-generation catalyst affording corresponding α-alkylidene-β-aryl-β-lactams in good isolated yields (41-83%) with exclusive Z-selectivity. The developed protocol was successfully applied for stereoselective preparation of Ezetimibe, the commercial cholesterol absorption inhibitor.

A series of macrocycles consisting of 9,10-substituted phenanthrenes connected by butadiynylene linkers in positions 3 and 6 has been described as well as their transformation into the corresponding phenanthrylene-thienylene macrocycles. Structure and properties of the macrocycles, such as self-association in solution and optical and electrochemical properties, were studied and reported in a comparative manner with respect to the effects of the different sizes and shapes of the macrocycles and the character and length of their side chains.

Efficient de novo asymmetric syntheses of (+)-preussin B, the C(2)-epimer of (-)-preussin B, and 3-deoxy-(+)-preussin B have been developed, using the diastereoselective conjugate addition of lithium (S)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to tert-butyl 4-phenylbut-2-enoate and diastereoselective reductive cyclizations of γ-amino ketones as the key steps to set the stereochemistry. Conjugate addition followed by enolate protonation generated the corresponding β-amino ester. Homologation using the ester functionality as a synthetic handle gave the corresponding γ-amino ketone. Hydrogenolytic N-debenzylation was accompanied by diastereoselective reductive cyclization in situ; reductive N-methylation then gave 3-deoxy-(+)-preussin B as the major diastereoisomeric product. Meanwhile, the same conjugate addition but followed by enolate oxidation with (+)-camphorsulfonyloxaziridine gave the corresponding anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino ester. α-Epimerization by oxidation and diastereoselective reduction then gave access to the corresponding syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino ester. Homologation of both of these diastereoisomeric α-hydroxy-β-amino esters gave the corresponding β-hydroxy-γ-amino ketones. N-Debenzylation and concomitant diastereoselective reductive cyclization, followed by reductive N-methylation, provided the C(2)-epimer of (-)-preussin B and (+)-preussin B as the major diastereoisomeric products, respectively. The overall yields (from phenylacetaldehyde) were 19% for 3-deoxy-(+)-preussin B over seven steps, 8% for the C(2)-epimer of (-)-preussin B over nine steps, and 7% for (+)-preussin B over eleven steps.

The aim of the present work is to explain the causes of the observed deviations from sector and helicity rules to determine the absolute configuration of optically active α,β-unsaturated ketones by means of electronic circular dichroism (ECD). To this end, a series of model compounds with a common decahydronaphthalene skeleton representing both cisoid and transoid enones were synthesized. In the framework of this work, detailed dichroic studies supported by single crystal X-ray analysis were performed where possible. To assist the achievement of the desired objectives the conformational flexibility of the selected cis-enones through the dependence of solvent and temperature on the ECD spectra were examined. All experimental studies were supplemented by detailed DFT calculations. A notable result of the study is assessing the applicability of the enone sector and helicity rules in dichroic studies and potential restrictions. To this end, a number of factors that could determine the signs of the individual Cotton effects has been considered. Among these nonminimum structure effects, i.e., twisting of the enone chromophore and nonplanarity of the enone double bond can be mentioned.

A series of different unsymmetrically substituted naphthyl-based diynes were synthesized. These substrates formed the foundation for the assembly of novel biaryls containing pyridine moieties with differently substituted five-membered rings in the backbone of the newly formed heterobiaryl system. The key step for their efficient construction was the photo- and cobalt-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between the corresponding naphthyldiyne and aceto- or benzonitrile. The heterobiaryl products have been isolated and investigated with respect to the configurational stability of their biaryl axis using dynamic chiral HPLC; subtle effects of the substitution pattern on the stability of the axis were observed. For several compounds the activation barriers (ΔG(‡)) of racemization were determined. Suitable substitution of the five-membered ring backbone exemplarily allowed the Co-catalyzed enantioselective cyclization to yield the enantiomerically enriched heterobiaryl.

Michael addition of phosphorus nucleophiles to the unsymmetrically substituted tert-butyl(1,4-cyclohexadien-3-yl)phosphine oxide and its derivatives has been described. The addition proceeds with the formation of the mixture of two isomeric products with good yield and diastereoselectivity. The reaction of tert-butyl(cyclohexen-1-yl)methylphosphine oxide with phosphorus nucleophiles is base sensitive and might afford two epimers which differ at one chirality center. The absolute configuration of the products has been assigned on the basis of conformational and (1)H NMR analysis, and the mechanism of the reaction has been discussed. The Michael addition of phosphorus nucleophiles is postulated to proceed with or without consecutive epimerization of two α-carbanions.

The ongoing controversy whether cyclization reactions of conjugated allenes or ketenes follow a pericyclic or a pseudopericyclic mechanism has triggered dozens of investigations, which have led to new valuable synthetic routes. In this work, the mechanism of 10 representative cyclization reactions of hepta-1,2,4,6-tetraenes with different terminal groups is investigated utilizing the unified reaction valley approach that registers all electronic structure changes of the target molecule along the entire reaction pathway. A clear differentiation between a purely pericyclic and a purely pseudopericyclic mechanism is established. Additionally, it is found that, by using suitable functional groups, a pericyclic mechanism can be converted into a pseudopericyclic one, which is associated with a steady decrease of the reaction barrier and a continuous change from one mechanism to the other. The energetics of the reaction are confirmed by coupled cluster calculations of the CCSD(T) type. The mechanistic insight gained is used to design new pseudopericyclic reactions with low or no barrier, which will open new synthetic avenues.

A Kinugasa reaction between copper(I) acetylides and cyclic nitrones derived from chiral amino alcohols and glyoxylic acid is reported. The stereochemical preferences observed in this reaction are discussed. The alkyne molecule approaches the nitrone exclusively anti to the large substituent next to the nitrogen atom to provide the cis-substituted β-lactam ring preferentially. The six-membered oxazinone ring can be opened by reduction with lithium borohydride. Deprotection of the β-lactam nitrogen atom can be achieved by lithium in liquid ammonia reduction or by CAN oxidation, depending on the substituents attached to the four-membered azetidinone ring. The adducts obtained by the Kinugasa reaction provide an attractive entry to a variety of monocyclic β-lactam structures related to monobactams and nocardicins.

Three uncharged push-pull oxazol-5(4H)-ones were synthesized and thoroughly characterized. The examined molecules contained electron-donor and electron-acceptor groups interacting via a π-conjugated bridge. Spectral properties of the oxazol-5(4H)-ones were studied in detail in three solvents of different polarities. The results indicate a solvatochromic shift toward lower energy for the charge-transfer state. The compounds are weakly fluorescent in polar solvents, but they have high fluorescence quantum yields in nonpolar solvents. Their two-photon absorption (2PA) properties were characterized by the open- and closed-aperture Z-scan technique, by the pump-probe technique, and by the two-photon excited fluorescence method. The dyes exhibit relatively high effective two-photon absorption cross sections ranging from 490 to 2600 GM at ~100 GW/cm(2), according to the Z-scan results, which are found, however, to contain significant contribution from higher-order absorption processes. In addition, these compounds display good photostability.

A series of original spiropyrrolizidine derivatives has been prepared by a one-pot three-component [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of (E)-3-arylidene-1-phenyl-pyrrolidine-2,5-diones, l-proline, and the cyclic ketones 1H-indole-2,3-dione (isatin), indenoquinoxaline-11-one and acenaphthenequinone. We disclose an unprecedented isomerization of some spiroadducts leading to a new family of spirooxindolepyrrolizidines. Furthermore, these cycloadducts underwent retro-1,3-dipolar cycloaddition yielding unexpected regioisomers. Upon treatment of the dipolarophiles with in situ generated azomethine ylides from l-proline or acenaphthenequinone, formation of spiroadducts and unusual polycyclic fused piperazines through a stepwise [3 + 3] cycloaddition pathway is observed. The stereochemistry of these N-heterocycles has been confirmed by several X-ray diffraction studies. Some of these compounds exhibit extensive hydrogen bonding in the crystalline state. To enlighten the observed regio- and stereoselectivity of the [3 + 2] cycloaddition, calculations using the DFT approach at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level were carried out. It was found that this reaction is under kinetic control.

L-Idofuranoside cyanohydrin 1 is converted on large scale into a mixture of L-IdoA methyl pyranosides and furanosides, which is converged to provide short 2-step routes to bicyclic [3.2.1] or [2.2.2] L-iduronate lactones. The former is obtained via a 100 g scale synthesis of 3-OBn L-IdoA. A two-step conversion of this mixture provides either pure anomer of the novel [2.2.2] l-iduronate thioglycoside lactones. Both [3.2.1] and [2.2.2] lactones are converted into GlcN-IdoA heparin precursor disaccharides. The [2.2.2] lactone enables a scalable 3-step route from 1 to a new type of highly disarmed O-4 iduronate thioglycoside, which is an effective acceptor with glucoazide thioglycoside donors. The resulting new iduronic [2.2.2] lactone disaccharides are readily rearmed by mild methanolysis to provide GlcN-IdoA thiophenyl disaccharide donors, intercepting their established utility for the assembly of both heparin- and heparan sulfate-like oligosaccharides. The [2.2.2] lactonization acts as a conformational switch to superdisarm iduronate components, reversible by lactone ring opening. In addition, the separated 2,4-diacetates also provide short access to all four anomeric and ring size isomers of l-iduronic acid methyl glycosides, including the first syntheses of the parent idofuranosides. X-ray structures are reported for a [2.2.2] iduronate lactone and examples of both methyl L-idopyranoside and novel methyl-L-idofuranoside systems.

A direct stereoselective conversion of tertiary hydroxyalkylphosphine oxides to the corresponding tertiary hydroxyalkylphosphine-boranes involving facile reduction of the P═O bond by BH3 under mild conditions has been developed. The unprecedented facility of reduction of the strong P═O bond by BH3, a mild reducing agent, has been achieved through an intramolecular P═O···B complexation directed by proximal α- or β-hydroxy groups present in the phosphine oxide structures. As established by two chemical correlations, the developed transformation of hydroxyalkylphosphine oxides into hydroxyalkylphosphine-boranes takes place with complete inversion of configuration at P.

The methylerythritol phosphate biosynthetic pathway, found in most Bacteria, some parasitic protists, and plant chloroplasts, converts D-glyceraldehyde phosphate and pyruvate to isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), where it intersects with the mevalonate pathway found in some Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, including the cytosol of plants. D-3-Methylerythritol-4-phosphate (MEP), the first pathway-specific intermediate in the pathway, is converted to IPP and DMAPP by the consecutive action of the IspD-H proteins. We synthesized five D-MEP analogues-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (EP), D-3-methylthrietol-4-phosphate (MTP), D-3-ethylerythritol-4-phosphate (EEP), D-1-amino-3-methylerythritol-4-phosphate (NMEP), and D-3-methylerythritol-4-thiolophosphate (MESP)-and studied their ability to function as alternative substrates for the reactions catalyzed by the IspDF fusion and IspE proteins from Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which covert MEP to the corresponding eight-membered cyclic diphosphate. All of the analogues, except MTP, and their products were substrates for the three consecutive enzymes.

The reaction mechanism of a tandem conjugate addition/α-alkylation of enals leading to functionalized cyclopentanes catalyzed by O-trimethylsilyldiphenylprolinol was investigated by mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. We have shown that the high stereoselectivity of the reaction depends on the energy discrimination between the two stereoisomers formed by the condensation of the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde (cinnamaldehyde) and the catalyst. The stereoselectivity of this step depends on the solvent used. The experimental activation barriers were determined to be E(a) = 25 ± 7 kJ mol(-1) (Arrhenius equation), ΔH(‡) = 23 ± 7 kJ mol(-1), and ΔG(‡) = 101 ± 9 kJ mol(-1) (Eyring equation).

Association of four N-(pyridin-2-yl),N'-R(1)-ureas (R(1) = ethyl, n-butyl, phenyl, and tert-butyl) with substituted 2-amino-1,8-naphthyridines and benzoates were studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopic titrations and quantum chemical calculations. The benzoates and 2-amino-1,8-naphthyridines were selected as representatives of double and triple hydrogen bonding counterparts, respectively. The classical substituent effect on the association was studied. A prerequisite and a crucial step for the complex formation was the breaking of the intramolecular hydrogen bond in urea derivatives. The QTAIM calculation method was employed to explain the hydrogen bonding within complexes. In the case of benzoates carrying an electron-donating substituent the experimental findings were explained by the formation of two complexes. These observations were rationalized by the electronic repulsions between atoms in a close proximity and further verified by calculations. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction was used to confirm the structure of studied ureas in the crystalline state. These results are in line with the solution studies of self-association of ureas.

Ezetimibe (1), a strong β-lactamic cholesterol absorption inhibitor, was synthesized from (R)-6-(4-fluorophenyl)-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one 7. Independent pathways were analyzed in order to select the optimal one, which involved 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with C-(4-benzyloxyphenyl)-N-(4-fluorophenyl)-nitrone (8), intramolecular nucleophilic displacement at the benzylic position of the lactone, cleavage of the N-O bond, elimination of a water molecule, hydrogenation of the double bond, rearrangement of the six-membered lactone ring into a β-lactam moiety, and final deprotection of the phenolic hydroxyl group. Highly stereoselective Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition was the most crucial step of the synthesis. Owing to the rigid transition state of the cycloaddition, the absolute configuration of the starting lactone controlled the formation of other stereogenic centers of the final molecule 1.

A comparison set of mono-/biradical TEMPO derivatives was prepared, novel compounds were fully characterized, and their physicochemical properties were determined. Cyclic voltammetry revealed reversible redox behavior for all studied nitroxides. Moreover, the electron-withdrawing substituents increased the oxidation potential of the respective nitroxides in comparison to electron-donating groups. While EPR spectra of monoradicals in dichloromethane at 295 K reveal the expected three-line signal, spectra of biradicals show more complex features. DFT and MP2 calculations indicate that the EPR splitting pattern of dinitroxide 7 could be explained by its interactions with solvent molecules. In the solid state, mononitroxides 4 and 5 behave as a Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chain, whereas dinitroxides 6-8 are almost isolated paramagnetic diradicals coupled in an antiferromagnetic manner.

A water-soluble methylene-bridged glycoluril dimer 2S was isolated. It was shown that 2S is the only kinetic product of the reaction between glycoluril derivative 1 and paraformaldehyde. Compound 2S is subsequently intermolecularly transformed into its diastereomer 2C. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the S- to C-shaped dimer isomerization were investigated under reaction conditions similar to those for cucurbituril synthesis.

A diastereomerically pure cyanohydrin, preparable on kilogram scale, is efficiently converted in one step into a novel L-iduronamide. A new regioselective acylation of this iduronamide and a new mild amide hydrolysis method mediated by amyl nitrite enables short, scalable syntheses of an L-iduronate diacetate C-4 acceptor, and also L-iduronate C-4 acceptor thioglycosides. Efficient conversions of these to a range of heparin-related gluco-ido disaccharide building blocks (various C-4 protection options) including efficient multigram access to key heparin-building block ido-thioglycoside donors are described. A 1-OAc disaccharide is converted into a heparin-related tetrasaccharide, via divergence to both acceptor and donor disaccharides. X-ray and NMR data of the 1,2-diacetyl iduronate methyl ester and the analogous iduronamide show that while both adopt (1)C(4) conformations in solution, the iduronate ester adopts the (4)C(1) conformation in solid state. An X-ray structure is also reported for the novel, (4)C(1)-conformationally locked bicyclic 1,6-anhydro iduronate lactone along with an X-ray structures of a novel distorted (4)C(1) iduronate 4,6-lactone. Deuterium labeling also provides mechanistic insight into the formation of lactone products during the novel amyl nitrite-mediated hydrolysis of iduronamide into the parent iduronic acid functionality.