Solid-state (14)N MAS NMR of ammonium ions as a spy to structural insights for ammonium salts.

The high resolution offered by magic-angle spinning (MAS), when compared to the static condition in solid-state NMR of powders, has been used to full advantage in a (14)N MAS NMR study of some ammonium salts: CH(3)NH(3)Cl, (NH(4))(2)(COO)(2) x H(2)O, (CH(3))(3)(C(6)H(5)CH(2))NCl, (CH(3))(3)(C(6)H(5))NI, [(n-C(4)H(9))(4)N](2)Mo(2)O(7), (NH(4))(2)HPO(4), and NH(4)H(2)PO(4). It is shown that the high-quality (14)N MAS NMR spectra, which can be obtained for these salts, allow determination of the (14)N quadrupole coupling parameters, i.e. C(Q) (the quadrupole coupling constant) and eta(Q) (the asymmetry parameter), with very high precision. In particular, it is shown that precise C(Q), eta(Q) parameters can be determined for at least two different (14)N sites in case the individual spinning-sideband (ssb) intensities arise from a single manifold of ssbs, i.e. the ssbs for the two sites cannot be resolved. This feature of (14)N MAS NMR, which is the first demonstration for manifolds of ssb in MAS NMR without the potential information from a central transition, becomes especially useful at the slow spinning frequencies (nu(r) = 1000-1500 Hz) applied to some of the ammonium salts studied here. The detection of the number of sites has been confirmed by the corresponding crystal structures determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), either in this work for the unknown structure of benzyl trimethylammonium chloride or from reports in the literature. The magnitudes of the (14)N quadrupole coupling constants for the ammonium salts studied here are in the range from C(Q) approximately 20 kHz to 1 MHz while the asymmetry parameters span the full range 0 < or = eta(Q) < or = 1. Clearly, the (14)N quadrupole coupling parameters (C(Q), eta(Q)) for ammonium ions appear highly sensitive toward crystal structure and therefore appreciably more informative for the characterization of ammonium salts in comparison to the isotropic (14)N (or (15)N) chemical shifts.

Samarium diiodide-induced intramolecular pinacol coupling of dinitrones: synthesis of cyclic cis-vicinal diamines.

Pinacol coupling of alkyl dinitrones mediated by SmI2 was achieved in the presence of a proton source allowing the synthesis of cyclic vicinal diamines with good cis-selectivity.

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts type addition of indoles to nitro-olefins using a chiral hydrogen-bonding catalyst--synthesis of optically active tetrahydro-beta-carbolines.

The enantioselective Friedel-Crafts addition of indoles to nitro-olefins using chiral hydrogen-bonding bis-sulfonamides as the catalysts has been developed. The reactions, in the presence of only 2 mol% catalyst, generally proceed in high yields and with enantioselectivities up to 64% ee, and the enantiomeric excess can be improved to >98% ee by recrystallization. Various synthetic transformations of the Friedel-Crafts adducts are demonstrated: the nitro group can easily be reduced to the corresponding amine and the product obtained can undergo a stereocontrolled Pictet-Spengler cyclization to give, for example, enantiopure tetrahydro-beta-carbolines. The X-ray structure of the chiral bis-sulfonamides has been determined and based on these structures the mechanism for the stereoselectivity in the reaction is discussed.

Catalytic and enantioselective aza-ene and hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of alkenes and dienes with azodicarboxylates.

Lewis acids such as Cu(OTf)(2), Zn(OTf)(2), Yb(OTf)(3) and Nd(OTf)(3) catalyze the aza-ene reaction of alkenes with azodicarboxylates, giving the allylic amination adducts. The use of bis(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)azodicarboxylate as the amination reagent and Cu(OTf)(2) and Yb(OTf)(3) as the catalysts gave the aza-ene reaction of different alkenes, leading to the corresponding allyl amines in high yields. Chiral copper complexes prepared from Cu(OTf)(2) and chiral bisoxazoline ligands were found to catalyze the enantioselective aza-ene reaction of azodicarboxylates with alkenes and the hetero-Diels-Alder reaction with cyclopentadiene, giving the corresponding aza-ene- and hetero-Diels-Alder adducts, respectively, in good yields and moderate enantioselectivities.

New amine-templated zinc phosphates with a temperature-induced increase of structural dimensionality.

Three new amine-templated zinc phosphates, [C4N2H14][Zn(HPO4)2].H2O, AU-I, [C4N2H14][Zn2(H(0.5)PO4)2(H2PO4)], AU-II, and [C4N2H14][Zn5(H2O)(PO4)4], AU-III, are prepared by hydrothermal synthesis using an organic amine, N,N'-dimethylethylendiamine CH3NHCH2CH2NHCH3, as structure-directing agent. The three materials are prepared from the same reaction mixture, 1Zn(CH3CO2)2:3.05H3PO4:2.25CH3NHCH2CH2NHCH3:138H2O (pH = 5.1), AU-I at RT, AU-II at 60 degrees C, and AU-III at 170 degrees C. The materials are built from corner-sharing ZnO4 and PO4 tetrahedra forming chains, layers, or framework structures for AU-I to III, respectively, and are linked together by hydrogen bonds via the diprotonated amine ions. The complete hydrogen-bond scheme is resolved for these new compounds and reveals some interesting phenomena, for example, a hydrogen shared between two phosphate groups in AU-II, thereby forming H(0.5)PO4 groups. Furthermore, the water molecules are different; that is, in AU-I they act as hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor, whereas they act as ligand in AU-III with coordination to Zn. The structures of the compounds are determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. AU-I, [C4N2H14][Zn(HPO4)2].H2O, crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1, a = 8.215(2), b = 8.810(3), c = 8.861(3) A, alpha = 88.001(4) degrees , beta = 89.818(5) degrees , and gamma = 89.773(5) degrees , Z = 2. AU-II, [C4N2H14][Zn2(H(0.5)PO4)2(H2PO4)], is monoclinic, P2/n, a = 11.7877(4), b = 5.2093(2), c = 12.2031(4) A, beta = 98.198(1) degrees , Z = 2. AU-III, [C4N2H14][Zn5(H2O)(PO4)4], crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pna2(1) with lattice parameters, a = 20.723(2), b = 5.2095(6), c = 17.874(2) A, Z = 4. The phase stability investigated by systematic hydrothermal synthesis is presented, and the materials are further characterized by 31P solid-state MAS NMR, for example, by determination of 31P chemical shift anisotropies for AU-III, while the thermal behavior is investigated by thermogravimetry (TG).

Two new cobalt-zinc orthophosphate monohydrates: hydrothermal synthesis, crystal structures and thermal investigation.

Two new cobalt zinc orthophosphate hydrates with similar chemical formula, (CoxZn(1-x))3(PO4)2.H2O, but different composition and structure, have been prepared by systematic hydrothermal synthesis from the system nCo(CH3COO)2 : (1 -n)Zn(CH(3)COO)2 : 3.5H3PO4 : 2.1(CH3)2NH(CH2)3NH2:144H2O (0

Self-assembly of the octanuclear cluster [Cu8(OH)10(NH2(CH2)2CH3)12]6+ and the one-dimensional N-propylcarbamate-linked coordination polymer {[Cu(O2CNH(CH2)2CH3)(NH2(CH2)2CH3)3](ClO4)}n.

The reaction of Cu(ClO4)2.6-H2O and n-propylamine in methanol gives two high-nuclearity products of well-defined compositions. At amine concentrations greater than seven equivalents compared to copper ion concentration, the system fixes carbon dioxide from air to form the one-dimensional carbamate-bridged coordination polymer, {[Cu(mu2-O,O'-O2CNH(CH2)2CH3)(NH2(CH2)2CH3)3](ClO4)}n ({1-ClO4}n). Lower relative amine concentrations lead to the self-assembly of an octanuclear copper-amine-hydroxide cluster [Cu8(OH)10(NH2(CH2)2CH3)12]6+ (2). Both compounds exhibit unique structures: {1-ClO4}n is the first mu2-O,O'-mono-N-alkylcarbamate-linked coordination polymer and 2 is the largest copper-hydroxide-monodentate amine cluster identified to date. The crystal structures indicate that the size of the n-propyl group is probably crucial for directing the formation of these compounds. Magnetic susceptibility studies indicate very weak antiferromagnetic coupling for 1. The octanuclear cluster 2 displays slightly stronger net antiferromagnetic coupling, despite the presence of a number of Cu-O(H)-Cu angles below the value of about 97 degrees that would normally be expected to yield ferromagnetic coupling.

Conformational effects on glycoside reactivity: study of the high reactive conformer of glucose.

The effect of conformation on glycoside reactivity was investigated by studying the hydrolysis of a selection of 3,6-anhydroglucosides as models for glucose in the highly reactive (1)C(4) conformation. Methyl 3,6-anhydro-beta-D-glucopyranoside was found to hydrolyze 200-400 times faster than methyl glucosides in the (4)C(1) conformation, while methyl 3,6-anhydro-beta-D-galactopyranoside, which is in the B(1,4) conformation, was less reactive than methyl beta-D-galactopyranoside. Methyl (3,6-anhydro-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1 --> 6)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside, methyl (3,6-anhydro-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1 --> 6)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside, and methyl (3,6-anhydro-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1 --> 6)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside were prepared and found to react selectively at the anhydro residue. The finding that (1)C(4) conformers of glucosides are highly reactive species is in accordance with and supports previous results showing that axial OH groups are less electron withdrawing than equatorial OH groups.

Radical addition of nitrones to acrylates mediated by SmI2: asymmetric synthesis of gamma-amino acids employing carbohydrate-based chiral auxiliaries.

Alkyl nitrones possessing N-substituted sugars as chiral auxiliaries were found to effectively undergo an SmI(2)-mediated radical addition to n-butyl acrylate affording gamma-amino acid derivatives with high diastereomeric control.

Preparation of a novel diphosphine-palladium macrocyclic complex possessing a molecular recognition site. Oxidative addition studies.

A disphosphine-palladium(0) complex capable of recognising barbiturates has been prepared. Oxidative addition studies with a barbitiurate:aryl iodide conjugate provided new Pd(ii) complexes where the positioning of the Pd-bound aryl group is controlled by the molecular recognition event.

The first catalytic highly enantioselective alkylation of ketimines--a novel approach to optically active quaternary alpha-amino acids.

A series of novel ketimines with intrinsic protecting group anchoring was synthesized and allowed to react with various silylketene acetals in the presence of 5-10 mol % of a chiral Zn(OTf)(2)-(R,R)-Ph-pybox-aqua complex. The corresponding optically active quaternary alpha-amino acid derivatives were obtained in high yields and with enantioselectivities ranging from 34 % up to 95 % ee. The catalyst was studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, and a dynamic equilibrium of two species was identified in solution. These are a homo-chiral 1:2 metal-ligand complex and a 1:1 metal-ligand complex, of which the latter is expected to be the actual catalyst of the diastereo- and enantioselective reaction. A strong positive nonlinear effect was observed due to the formation of a catalytically inactive 1:2 metal-ligand hetero-chiral complex. On the basis of DFT calculations and the absolute stereochemistry of the products, simultaneous coordination of the imino electrophile and a single molecule of H(2)O to the chiral Lewis acid complex is proposed. Coordination of the imine-nitrogen atom in the axial position of an octahedral complex can account for the facial selectivity as well as the diastereoselectivity observed.

Catalytic asymmetric Mannich reactions of glycine derivatives with imines. A new approach to optically active alpha,beta-diamino acid derivatives.

Imines of glycine alkyl esters react with imines in a diastereo- and highly enantioselective Mannich reaction in the presence of chiral copper(I) complexes as the catalyst to give optically active alpha,beta-diamino acid derivatives. A series of imines of glycine esters derived from glycine and aromatic carbonyl compounds has been screened as substrates for the Mannich reaction with different imines in the presence of various combinations of metal salts and chiral ligands. The benzophenone imine of glycine esters was found to react with N-protected imines in a diastereoselective fashion giving functionalized alpha,beta-diamino acid esters with excellent enantioselectivities. The most effective chiral catalysts are chiral copper(I) complexes having phosphino-oxazoline (P,N)-ligands, and among these ligands, those derived from (1R,2S)-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene gave the best results. The scope of this new catalytic asymmetric reaction of the benzophenone imine glycine esters is demonstrated for the reaction with different N-protected-C-aryl and C-alkyl imines giving the Mannich adducts with excellent optical purity. Furthermore, the synthetic aspects of the reaction are presented by converting the Mannich adducts into alpha,beta-diamino acid derivatives. The relative and absolute configuration of the Mannich adduct have been determined and based on the stereochemical outcome of the reaction a tetrahedral chiral-copper(I)-imino glycine alkyl ester intermediate is proposed. In this intermediate the Re-face of the benzophenone imine glycine ester is shielded by the chiral ligand leaving the Si-face available for approach of the Si-face of the imine. A series of semiempirical calculations has been performed to support the structure of the tetrahedral chiral-copper(I) complex and to account for the influence of the substituents in the chiral phosphino-oxazoline ligands.

Organocatalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to alpha,beta-unsaturated enones using novel imidazoline catalysts.

A new catalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to acyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated enones catalyzed by novel organic catalysts has been developed. A series of chiral amines has been tested as catalysts for the addition of 2-nitropropane to benzylideneacetone, and it is found that a novel imidazoline catalyst, prepared from phenylalanine, can catalyze a highly enantioselective 1,4-addition reaction. The reaction of various acyclic and cyclic nitroalkanes was found to proceed well with enantioselectivities up to 86% ee, and enantiopure products can be obtained by recrystallization. The potential of the reaction is documented by the reaction of a series of substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated enones with different nitroalkanes. Furthermore, the synthetic applicability of the reaction is demonstrated by the formation of optically active functionalized pyrrolines and pyrrolidines by reductive amination of the products. On the basis of the absolute configuration of the conjugate addition products, the mechanism for the reaction is discussed and a transition state proposed.

Synthesis and characterization of the barium oxalates BaC2O4.0.5H2O, alpha-BaC2O4 and beta-BaC2O4.

The synthesis of BaC(2)O(4).0.5H(2)O and its thermal decomposition to alpha-BaC(2)O(4) and beta-BaC(2)O(4) was investigated. BaC(2)O(4).0.5H(2)O is precipitated at room temperature from aqueous solutions of barium chloride and ammonium oxalate. The deuterated compound BaC(2)O(4).0.5D(2)O was made in analogy with D(2)O as the solvent. The compounds were characterized by X-ray and neutron diffraction analysis. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of BaC(2)O(4).0.5H(2)O measured at 120 K gave the triclinic cell a = 8.692 (1), b = 9.216 (1), c = 6.146 (1) A, alpha = 95.094 (3), beta = 95.492 (3), gamma = 64.500 (3) degrees, space group P1, Z = 4. Two independent Ba atoms are each coordinated to nine O atoms at distances from 2.73 (1) to 2.99 (1) A. One of the two oxalate ions deviates significantly from planarity. The water molecule does form weak hydrogen bonds. In situ X-ray powder diffraction was used to study the thermal decomposition of BaC(2)O(4).0.5H(2)O and the formation of alpha-BaC(2)O(4). The X-ray powder pattern of alpha-BaC(2)O(4) measured at 473 K was indexed on a triclinic cell with a = 5.137 (3), b = 8.764 (6), c = 9.006 (4) A, alpha = 83.57 (4), beta = 98.68 (5), gamma = 99.53 (5) degrees, and the space group P1 with Z = 4.

Copper-catalyzed enantioselective Henry reactions of alpha-keto esters: an easy entry to optically active beta-nitro-alpha-hydroxy esters and beta-amino-alpha-hydroxy esters.

The catalytic enantioselective Henry reaction of alpha-keto esters with nitromethane has been developed. The reaction conditions have been optimized by the screening of different chiral Lewis acids, solvents, and bases, and it was found that the copper(II)-tert-butyl bisoxazoline complex in combination with triethylamine catalyzed a highly enantioselective reaction giving optically active beta-nitro-alpha-hydroxy esters in high yields and with excellent enantiomeric excesses. The scope of the reaction is demonstrated by the reaction of a variety of different alpha-keto esters. The catalytic enantioselective Henry reaction of beta,gamma-unsaturated-alpha-keto esters proceeds as a 1,2-addition reaction exclusively, in contrast to the uncatalyzed reaction where both the 1,2- and 1,4-addition products are formed. It is demonstrated that the beta-nitro-alpha-hydroxy esters can be converted into, e.g., Boc-protected beta-amino-alpha-hydroxy esters in high yields and without loss of optical purity. The mechanism for the reaction is discussed, and it is postulated that both the alpha-keto ester and nitromethane/nitronate is coordinated to the metal center during the reaction course.

Evidence for formation of silenes strongly influenced by reversed Si[double bond]C bond polarity.

[reaction: see text] Transient silenes that are strongly influenced by reversed Si[double bond]C bond polarization are formed upon heating of tris(trimethylsilyl)silylamides. The silenes are trapped with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene to quantitatively yield only one of the possible diastereomers of the functionalized cyclic allylsilanes.

On the intermediates in chiral bis(oxazoline)copper(II)-catalyzed enantioselective reactions--experimental and theoretical investigations.

The intermediates in the chiral bis(oxazoline)copper(II)-catalyzed reactions have been investigated by means of experimental and theoretical investigations. It is shown that the absolute configuration of the hetero-Diels-Alder adduct obtained from the reaction of ethyl glyoxylate with 1,3-cyclohexadiene in the presence of the chiral bis(phenyloxazoline)copper(II) is dependent on the solvent. In this case, a linear relationship between the enantiomeric excess (ee) and the dielectric constant of the solvent was observed. However, the enantiomeric excess for the adduct obtained with the chiral bis(tert-butyloxazoline)copper(II) complex is independent of the solvent. The addition of different coordinating solvents to the chiral catalysts was investigated and no effect on the enantioselectivity of the reaction was observed. A series of chiral bis(tert-butyloxazoline)-, bis(phenyloxazoline)-, and bis(indaneoxazoline)copper(II) complexes has been prepared and characterized by X-ray analysis, and the similarity between the structures is discussed. For comparison, two related chiral bis(tert-butyloxazoline)- and bis(phenyloxazoline)zinc(II) complexes were also prepared and characterized. A series of chiral bis(oxazoline)copper(II)-substrate (the substrate being glyoxal or methyl glyoxylate) complexes was investigated by means of ab initio calculations. Calculation of the total energy of the optimized structure of 17-, 19-, and 21-electron bis(oxazoline)copper(II)-substrate complexes give the 17-electron complex as the most stable and the most reactive complex, while the 21-electron complex is less stable and also much less reactive. The optimized structures of both the 17-electron bis(tert-butyloxazoline)- and bis(phenyloxazoline)copper(II)-substrate complexes show that the plane of the substrate molecule is twisted by approximately 40-45 degrees out of the bis(oxazoline)copper(II) plane, in agreement with the X-ray structures. On the basis of the experimental results, X-ray structures, and ab initio calculations, the structure of the intermediate(s) and reactivity of the chiral bis(oxazoline)copper(II)-substrate complexes are discussed.

SmI(2)-mediated cyclizations of derivatized beta-lactams for the highly diastereoselective construction of functionalized prolines.

A series of C4-keto-functionalized 1-[(benzoyloxy)(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl]-2-azetidinones were prepared and studied for their tendency to undergo a Reformatsky-type cyclization to fused bicyclic or tricyclic beta-lactams with the single-electron reducing agent samarium diiodide. Whereas the azetidinone 21a underwent reductive cyclization, affording the potent antibiotic sanfetrinem's tricyclic [4.5.6] core structure as the major component, all other examples tested resulted in cyclization followed by an N to O acyl migration involving cleavage of the beta-lactam ring as the favored pathway. Highly functionalized proline derivatives were therefore accessed as single diastereomers through the reductive cyclization of benzoates 21b, 22, 23a,b, 24b, and 25-28. Pertinent for the success of these cyclizations was the addition of 1 equiv of tert-butyl alcohol, allowing for the protonation of the basic amide derivative obtained after the acyl migration step. The diastereoselectivities of these reactions deviate from those of similar cyclizations involving the corresponding lithium enolate. This divergence could be rationalized by the coordination of the metal ion of the samarium(III) enolate intermediate to the beta-lactam amide functionality in the cyclization step, which may not be possible for lithium enolates.