Halogenation effects in Intramolecular Furan Diels-Alder reactions:broad scope synthetic and computational studies

For the first time a comprehensive synthetic and computational study of the effect of halogen substitution on both furan and dienophile for the intramolecular Furan Diels-Alder (IMDAF) reaction has been undertaken. Contrary to our initial expectations, halogen substitution on the dienophile was found to have a significant effect, making the reactions slower and less thermodynamically favourable. However, careful choice of the site of furan halogenation could be used to overcome dienophile halogen substitution, leading to highly functionalised cycloadducts. These reactions are thought to be controlled by the interplay of three factors: positive charge stabilisation in the transition state and product, steric effects and a dipolar interaction term identified by high level calculations. Frontier orbital effects do not appear to make a major contribution in determining the viability of these reactions, which is consistent with our analysis of calculated transition state structural data

Free radical 5-exo-dig cyclization as the key step in the synthesis of bis-butyrolactone natural products: experimental and theoretical studies

Radical cyclization reactions were performed by 5-exo-dig mode to yield cis-fused bicyclic systems, leading to the synthesis of bis-butyrolactone class of natural products. The study was aimed at understanding the impact of alkyl side chains of furanoside ring systems in L-ara configuration on the radical cyclization. It was amply demonstrated by experimental studies that the increase in the length of the alkyl side chain has an effect on the cyclization: while efficient cyclization reactions could be realized with methyl and ethyl side chains, the yields were significantly reduced in the case of n-pentyl side chain. Theoretical studies using DFT and (RO)MP2 methods were carried out to analyze the influence of the substitution pattern on the cyclization barriers

Reactivity difference between protolytic forms of some macrocyclic chromium(III) complexes in ligand substitution and electron transfer processes

The review provides insight into the mechanism of ligand substitution and electron transfer (from chromium( III) to iron(III)) by comparison of the reactivity of some tetraazamacrocyclic chromium(III) complexes in the conjugate acid-base forms. Use of two geometrical isomers made possible to estimate the influence of geometry and protolytic reactions in trans and cis position towards the leaving group on the rate enhancement. Studies on the reaction rates in different media demonstrated the role played by outer sphere interactions in a monodentate ligand substitution

Designing organometallic compounds for catalysis and therapy

Bioorganometallic chemistry is a rapidly developing area of research. In recent years organometallic compounds have provided a rich platform for the design of effective catalysts, e.g. for olefin metathesis and transfer hydrogenation. Electronic and steric effects are used to control both the thermodynamics and kinetics of ligand substitution and redox reactions of metal ions, especially Ru II. Can similar features be incorporated into the design of targeted organometallic drugs? Such complexes offer potential for novel mechanisms of drug action through incorporation of outer-sphere recognition of targets and controlled activation features based on ligand substitution as well as metal- and ligand-based redox processes. We focus here on η 6-arene, η 5-cyclopentadienyl sandwich and half-sandwich complexes of Fe II, Ru II, Os II and Ir III with promising activity towards cancer, malaria, and other conditions. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Direct Introduction of a Dimesitylboryl Group Using Base-Mediated Substitution of Aryl Halides with Silyldimesitylborane

The first dimesitylboryl substitution of aryl halides with a silylborane bearing a dimesitylboryl group in the presence of alkali-metal alkoxides is described. The reactions of aryl bromides or iodides with Ph2MeSi-BMes(2) and Na(OtBu) afforded the desired aryl dimesitylboranes in good to high yields and with high borylation/silylation ratios. Selective reaction of the sterically less-hindered C-Br bond of dibromoarenes provided monoborylated products. This reaction was used to rapidly construct a D-pi-A aryl dimesityl borane with a non-symmetrical biphenyl spacer