Pd0‐Catalyzed Intramolecular α‐Arylation of Sulfones: Domino Reactions in the Synthesis of Functionalized Tetrahydroisoquinolines

A new strategy for the synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinolines based on the Pd⁰‐catalyzed intramolecular α‐arylation of sulfones is reported. The combination of this Pd‐catalyzed reaction with intermolecular Michael and aza‐Michael reactions allows the development of two‐ and three‐step domino processes to synthesize diversely functionalized scaffolds from readily available starting materials.     

Atomistic packing models for experimentally investigated swelling states induced by CO2 in glassy polysulfone and poly(ether sulfone)

Atomistic packing models have been created, which help to better understand the experimentally observed swelling behavior of glassy polysulfone and poly (ether sulfone), under CO₂ gas pressures up to 50 bar at 308 K. The experimental characterization includes the measurement of the time‐dependent volume dilation of the polymer samples after a pressure step and the determination of the corresponding gas concentrations by gravimetric gas‐sorption measurements. The models obtained by force‐field‐based molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics methods allow a detailed atomistic analysis of representative swelling states of polymer/gas systems, with respect to the dilation of the matrix. Also, changes of free volume distribution and backbone mobility are accessible. The behavior of gas molecules in unswollen and swollen polymer matrices is characterized in terms of sorption, diffusion, and plasticization. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1874–1897, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(arylene ether)s containing 6‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)pyridazin‐3(2H)‐one or 6‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)pyridazine moieties

A series of novel soluble pyridazinone‐ or pyridazine‐containing poly(arylene ether)s were prepared by a polycondensation reaction. The pyridazinone monomer, 6‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)pyridazin‐3(2H)‐one ( 1 ), was synthesized from the corresponding acetophenone and glyoxylic acid in a simple one‐pot reaction. The pyridazinone monomer was successfully copolymerized with bisphenol A (BPA) or 1,2‐dihydro‐4‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)phthalazin‐1(2H)‐one (DHPZ) and bis(4‐fluorophenyl)sulfone to form high‐molecular‐weight polymers. The copolymers had inherent viscosities of 0.5–0.9 dL/g. The glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) of the copolymers synthesized with BPA increased with increasing content of the pyridazinone monomer. The T_g's of the copolymers synthesized from DHPZ with different pyridazinone contents were similar to those of the two homopolymers. The homopolymers showed T_g's from 202 to 291 °C by differential scanning calorimetry. The 5% weight loss temperatures in nitrogen measured by thermogravimetric analysis were in the range of 411–500 °C. 4‐(6‐Chloropyridazin‐3‐yl)phenol ( 2 ) was synthesized from 1 via a simple one‐pot reaction. 2 was copolymerized with 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol and bis(4‐fluorophenyl)sulfone to form high‐T_g polymers. The copolymers with less than 80 mol % pyridazinone or chloropyridazine monomers were soluble in chlorinated solvents such as chloroform. The copolymers with higher pyridazinone contents and homopolymers were not soluble in chlorinated solvents but were still soluble in dipolar aprotic solvents such as N‐methylpyrrolidinone. The soluble polymers could be cast into flexible films from solution. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3328–3335, 2006     

One‐Shot Double Elimination Process: A Practical and Concise Protocol for Diaryl Acetylenes

A variety of diaryl acetylenes were obtained in good yields when lithium hexamethyldisilazide was added to a solution of arylmethyl sulfone, aryl aldehyde, and chlorodiethylphosphate in THF. In this one‐shot process, a number of transformations such as aldol reaction, phosphorylation of aldolate, and double elimination of the resulting β‐substituted sulfone proceeded successively to afford the desired acetylenes. The one‐shot process was accelerated by the substitution of halogen atoms on the phenyl groups, and unsymmetrically substituted diaryl acetylenes were obtained without contamination of the dehalogenated products. Diaryl acetylenes with other substituents such as CF₃, ethoxycarbonyl, dimethylamino, TMS‐acetylene groups, as well as pyridinyl and thienyl moieties were also accessible with this method. However, methoxy‐substituted compounds were obtained in moderate yields under the same conditions, but the yields were increased when lithium diisopropylamide was used instead.     

Intramolecular Diels-Alder Reactions of Thio-Substituted Dienes with Enones

Thio-substituted dienes bearing an enone moiety were readily prepared from 3-sulfolenes, and their intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions were studied. Octahydronaphthalenones were produced in good yield with high stereoselectivity. Hexahydroindenones were also obtained, but the stereoselectivity was lower.     

Asymmetric dihydroxylation of vinyl sulfones: routes to enantioenriched α-hydroxyaldehydes and the enantioselective syntheses of furan-2(5H)-ones

The asymmetric dihydroxylation of α,β-unsaturated sulfones under Sharpless conditions affords enantioenriched α-hydroxyaldehydes in a complex mixture of dimeric species. These mixtures undergo olefination generating the corresponding α,β-unsaturated esters or furan-2(5H)-ones with high levels of enantiomeric excess. The application of this method for the rapid stereoselective synthesis of the furanone natural products; quercus lactone and maritolide, are described.     

Electronic influences on 3J(C,H) coupling constants via -S-, -S(O)- and -SO2-: their determination, calculation and comparison of detection methods

3J(C,H) coupling constants via a sulfur atom in two series of compounds, both including a sulfide, a sulfoxide and a sulfone, were detected experimentally and calculated by quantum mechanical methods. In the first series (1-3) the coupling between a hydrogen, bonded to an sp3 carbon, and an sp2 carbon is treated; the second series (4-6) deals with the coupling between a hydrogen, bonded to an sp3 carbon, and an sp3 carbon. Different pulse sequences (broadband HMBC, SelJres, 1D HSQMBC, J-HMBC-2, selective J-resolved long-range experiment and IMPEACH-MBC) proved to be useful in determining the long-range 3J(C,H) coupling constants. However, the dynamic behaviour of two of the compounds (4 and 6) led to weighted averages of the two coupling constants expected (concerning equatorial and axial positions of the corresponding hydrogens). DFT calculations proved to be useful to calculate not only the 3J(C,H) coupling constants but also the different contributions of FC, PSO, DSO and SD terms; the calculation of the Fermi contact term (FC) was found to be sufficient for the correct estimation of 3J(C,H) coupling constants.     

One-pot oxidation of sulfides to sulfones by reusable heterogeneous ruthenium catalyst in the presence of molecular oxygen

A reusable solid catalyst, MnFe_1.8Cu_0.15Ru_0.05O₄, has been developed as an effective catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of sulfides and sulfoxides to sulfones. The ruthenium modified spinel catalyst is the first example reported for such reaction under mild condition with molecular oxygen as the only oxidant. The oxidation reaction proceeded via an electrophilic attack of the oxygen atom of the catalyst on the electron-rich sulfur atom of the substrate.     

An easy preparation of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl propenyl sulfones

Sodium tridecafluorohexanesulfinate (1a) and sodium 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethanesulfinate (1b) were prepared by the treatment of 1-iodo-tridecafluorohexane and 1-bromo-1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane with sodium dithionite in a water-acetonitrile solution. Prolonged reaction of 1a with allyl bromide in DMF afforded tridecafluorohexane 1-propenyl sulfone 2 as the only product in good yield. A similar treatment of 1b gave exclusively 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane 3-propenyl sulfone 4. Bromination of 4 followed by dehydrobromination with Et₃N resulted in a mixture of 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane 3-bromo-1-propenyl sulfone 6 and 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane 2-bromo-3-propenyl sulfone 7, while dehydrobromination with pyridine gave sulfone 6 practically as the only product. α,β-Unsaturated sulfones 2 and 6 were shown to be active dienophiles.     

Chemoselective mono halogenation of β-keto-sulfones using potassium halide and hydrogen peroxide; synthesis of halomethyl sulfones and dihalomethyl sulfones

The synthesis of α-halo β-keto-sulfones using potassium halide and hydrogen peroxide as a chemoselective mono halogenation reagent and the synthesis of α,α-symmetrical and asymmetrical dihalo β-keto-sulfones and α-halo, α-alkyl and β-keto-sulfones is described. Base induced cleavage of α-halo β-keto-sulfones, α,α-dihalo β-keto-sulfones, and α-halo, α-alkyl β-keto-sulfones afforded the corresponding halomethyl sulfones, dihalomethyl sulfones and haloalkyl sulfones.