Synthesis of Coumarins and Quinolones by Intramolecular Aldol Condensation Reactions of Titanium Enediolates

Low-valent titanium prepared by the reduction of TiCl3 with zinc dust oxidatively adds to α-ketoamides or α-ketoesters with the formation of the corresponding titanium enediolates. These 1,2-difunctional nucleophiles, which have hardly been used in organic synthesis so far, undergo regioselective intramolecular aldol condensation reactions with various electrophiles such as aldehydes, ketones, nitriles, esters and amides. This methodology allows the synthesis of differently substituted coumarin and 2-quinolone derivatives

Synthesis of azido derivatives of mucobromic acid

Mucobromic acid is a highly reactive multicentered molecule. It was converted to its corresponding but unstable diazido derivative by reaction with two equivalents of sodium azide. The resultant 3,4-diazido-5-hydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one was obtained in moderate yield (42%) but decomposed readily even at low temperatures. Its more stable analogue 3,4-diazido-5-methoxyfuran-2(5H)-one was obtained in excellent yield after reacting 5-methoxy-3,4-dibromofuranone with two equivalents of sodium azide. The 4,5-dibromopyridazinones which are in effect masked mucobromic acid derivatives, underwent nucleophilic substitution reactions with various nucleophiles, including azides and afforded corresponding azidopyridazinones in good yields. The synthesized azido-furanone and pyridazinone derivatives are earmarked for click reactions. KEY WORDS: 3,4-Diazido-5-hydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one, 3,4-diazido-5-methoxyfuran-2(5H)-one, 4,5-Diazidopyridazinones, Mucobromic acid Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2013, 27(1), 151-154.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v27i1.1

Unprecedented alkylation of carboxylic acids by boron trifluoride etherate

The alkylation of carboxylic acids by an ethyl moiety of boron trifluoride etherate in the absence of ethyl alcohol from the reaction system is unexpected and novel. Both aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids were clearly alkylated affording good yields in short reaction times with the exception of nicotinic acid that necessitated an overnight reaction. It was noted that while ortho-substituted hydroxyl groups of carboxylic acids investigated were not affected by alkylation, those of meta- and para-substituted carboxylic acids were partially etherified. Furthermore, the alkylation reaction was found to be compatible with a range of functional groups such as halogens, amino and nitro groups except for the alkene function of undecylenic acid that underwent polymerisation with concomitant alkylation of its carboxylic acid function.               KEY WORDS: Carboxylic acids, Alkylation, Etherification, Functional groups, Boron trifluoride etherate Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2018, 32(2), 387-392.DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v32i2.1

UNPRECEDENTED ALKYLATION OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS BY BORON TRIFLUORIDE ETHERATE

The alkylation of carboxylic acids by an ethyl moiety of boron trifluoride etherate in the absence of ethyl alcohol from the reaction system is unexpected and novel. Both aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids were clearly alkylated affording good yields in short reaction times with the exception of nicotinic acid that necessitated an overnight reaction. It was noted that while ortho-substituted hydroxyl groups of carboxylic acids investigated were not affected by alkylation, those of meta- and para-substituted carboxylic acids were partially etherified. Furthermore, the alkylation reaction was found to be compatible with a range of functional groups such as halogens, amino and nitro groups except for the alkene function of undecylenic acid that underwent polymerisation with concomitant alkylation of its carboxylic acid function.               KEY WORDS: Carboxylic acids, Alkylation, Etherification, Functional groups, Boron trifluoride etherate Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2018, 32(2), 387-392.DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v32i2.1

Remote-controlled experiments with cloud chemistry

Developing cleaner chemical processes often involves sophisticated flow-chemistry equipment that is not available in many economically developing countries. For reactions where it is the data that are important rather than the physical product, the networking of chemists across the internet to allow remote experimentation offers a viable solution to this problem

Co-limitation towards lower latitudes shapes global forest diversity gradients

The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is one of the most recognized global patterns of species richness exhibited across a wide range of taxa. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed in the past two centuries to explain LDG, but rigorous tests of the drivers of LDGs have been limited by a lack of high-quality global species richness data. Here we produce a high-resolution (0.025° × 0.025°) map of local tree species richness using a global forest inventory database with individual tree information and local biophysical characteristics from ~1.3 million sample plots. We then quantify drivers of local tree species richness patterns across latitudes. Generally, annual mean temperature was a dominant predictor of tree species richness, which is most consistent with the metabolic theory of biodiversity (MTB). However, MTB underestimated LDG in the tropics, where high species richness was also moderated by topographic, soil and anthropogenic factors operating at local scales. Given that local landscape variables operate synergistically with bioclimatic factors in shaping the global LDG pattern, we suggest that MTB be extended to account for co-limitation by subordinate drivers

Co-limitation towards lower latitudes shapes global forest diversity gradients

The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is one of the most recognized global patterns of species richness exhibited across a wide range of taxa. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed in the past two centuries to explain LDG, but rigorous tests of the drivers of LDGs have been limited by a lack of high-quality global species richness data. Here we produce a high-resolution (0.025° × 0.025°) map of local tree species richness using a global forest inventory database with individual tree information and local biophysical characteristics from ~1.3 million sample plots. We then quantify drivers of local tree species richness patterns across latitudes. Generally, annual mean temperature was a dominant predictor of tree species richness, which is most consistent with the metabolic theory of biodiversity (MTB). However, MTB underestimated LDG in the tropics, where high species richness was also moderated by topographic, soil and anthropogenic factors operating at local scales. Given that local landscape variables operate synergistically with bioclimatic factors in shaping the global LDG pattern, we suggest that MTB be extended to account for co-limitation by subordinate drivers

Co-limitation towards lower latitudes shapes global forest diversity gradients

The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is one of the most recognized global patterns of species richness exhibited across a wide range of taxa. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed in the past two centuries to explain LDG, but rigorous tests of the drivers of LDGs have been limited by a lack of high-quality global species richness data. Here we produce a high-resolution (0.025° × 0.025°) map of local tree species richness using a global forest inventory database with individual tree information and local biophysical characteristics from ~1.3 million sample plots. We then quantify drivers of local tree species richness patterns across latitudes. Generally, annual mean temperature was a dominant predictor of tree species richness, which is most consistent with the metabolic theory of biodiversity (MTB). However, MTB underestimated LDG in the tropics, where high species richness was also moderated by topographic, soil and anthropogenic factors operating at local scales. Given that local landscape variables operate synergistically with bioclimatic factors in shaping the global LDG pattern, we suggest that MTB be extended to account for co-limitation by subordinate drivers