Extending motifs in lithiocuprate chemistry: unexpected structural diversity in thiocyanate complexes.

The new area of lithio(thiocyanato)cuprates has been developed. Using inexpensive, stable and safe CuSCN for their preparation, these complexes revealed Lipshutz-type dimeric motifs with solvent-dependent point group identities; planar, boat-shaped and chair shaped conformers are seen in the solid state. In solution, both Lipshutz-type and Gilman structures are clearly seen. Since the advent in 2007 of directed ortho cupration, effort has gone into understanding the structure-reactivity effects of amide ligand variation in and alkali metal salt abstraction from Lipshutz-type cuprates such as (TMP)2Cu(CN)Li2(THF) 1 (TMP = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide). The replacement of CN(-) with SCN(-) is investigated presently as a means of improving the safety of lithium cuprates. The synthesis and solid state structural characterization of reference cuprate (TMP)2Cu(CN)Li2(THP) 8 (THP = tetrahydropyran) precedes that of the thiocyanate series (TMP)2Cu(SCN)Li2(L) (L = OEt29, THF 10, THP 11). For each of 9-11, preformed TMPLi was combined with CuSCN (2 : 1) in the presence of sub-stoichiometric Lewis base (0.5 eq. wrt Li). The avoidance of Lewis basic solvents incurs formation of the unsolvated Gilman cuprate (TMP)2CuLi 12, whilst multidimensional NMR spectroscopy has evidenced the abstraction of LiSCN from 9-11 in hydrocarbon solution and the in situ formation of Gilman reagents. The synthetic utility of 10 is established in the selective deprotometalation of chloropyridine substrates, including effecting transition metal-free homocoupling in 51-69% yield.This work was supported by the U.K. EPSRC through grant EP/J500380/1 (A. P.) and the Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche scientifique Algérien (M. H.). F. M.This is the final version of the article. It was first available from the Royal Society of Chemistry via http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C5DT03882

Synthesis of C,N'-linked bis-heterocycles using a deprotometalation-iodination-N-arylation sequence and evaluation of their antiproliferative activity in melanoma cells

International audienceBenzothiophene, benzofuran, benzothiazole and benzoxazole were deprotometalated using the lithium-zinc combination prepared from ZnCl2*TMEDA (TMEDA = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine, 1 equiv) and lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (LiTMP, 3 equiv). Subsequent interception of the 2-metalated derivatives using iodine as electrophile led to the iodides in 81, 82, 67 and 42% yields, respectively. These yields are higher (10% more) than those obtained using ZnCl2*TMEDA (0.5 equiv) and LiTMP (1.5 equiv), except in the case of benzoxazole (10% less). The crude iodides were involved in the N-arylation of pyrrole, indole, carbazole, pyrazole, indazole, imidazole and benzimidazole in the presence of Cu (0.2 equiv) and Cs2CO3 (2 equiv), and using acetonitrile as solvent (no other ligand) to provide after 24 h reflux the expected N-arylated azoles in yields ranging from 33 to 81%. Using benzotriazole also led to N-arylation products, but in lower 34, 39, 36 and 6% yields, respectively. A further study with this azole evidenced the impact of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine on the N-arylation yields. Most of the C,N'-linked bis-heterocycles thus synthesized (in particular those containing benzimidazole) induced a high growth inhibition of A2058 melanoma cells after a 72 h treatment at 10-5 M

Deprotonative Metalation of Methoxy-Substituted Arenes Using Lithium 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidide Experimental and Computational Study

International audienceThe reaction pathways of lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (LiTMP)-mediated deprotonative metalation of methoxy-substituted arenes were investigated. Importantly, it was experimentally observed that, whereas TMEDA has no effect on the course of the reactions, the presence of more than the stoichiometric amount of LiCl is deleterious, in particular without an in situ trap. These effects were corroborated by the DFT calculations. The reaction mechanisms, such as the structure of the active species in the deprotonation event, the reaction pathways by each postulated LiTMP complex, the stabilization effects by in situ trapping using zinc species, and some kinetic interpretation, are discussed herein

Functionalization of pyridyl ketones using deprotolithiation-in situ zincation

International audienceThe metallation of aryl ketones was achieved by using LiTMP in the presence of ZnCl2 center dot TMEDA, as evidenced by subsequent interception with iodine or by a palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reaction. One of the synthesized iodo ketones has been further elaborated to reach derivatives of biological interest

Enantioselective deprotometalation of N,N-dialkyl ferrocenecarboxamides using metal amides

International audienceN,N-Diisopropylferrocenecarboxamide can be enantioselectively deprotometalated by combining butyllithium with (‒)-sparteine in diethyl ether at low temperature. It is of interest to identify conditions that could allow substrates bearing more reactive functional groups (such as esters and ketones) to be similarly converted. We here report our efforts to use different chiral lithium-zinc bases, made from a simple chiral lithium amide, (R,R)- or (S,S)-lithium bis(1-phenylethyl)amide (PEALi), for the enantioselective deprotonation of N,N-diisopropylferrocenecarboxamide. First, different zinc-based in situ traps were employed to intercept the formed ferrocenyllithium; optimization using enantiopure lithium bis[1-(S)-phenylethyl]amide ((S)-PEALi) led to the 2-iodo derivative in 96% yield and 69% ee in favor of the RP enantiomer. The method was extended to N,N-dimethylferrocenecarboxamide, morpholinoferrocenecarboxamide and N,N-diethylferrocenecarboxamide; for the latter, similar yield and enantioselectivity were recorded. DFT calculations on a model reaction showed very small differences between the activation energies leading to (RP)- and (SP)-2-lithioferrocenecarboxamides.Next, the behavior of various mixed amino-alkyl lithium zincates of the types R2[(S)-PEA]ZnLi and R2[(S)-PEA]2ZnLi2 (R = alkyl) was studied, notably by varying the reaction temperature and time, and the amount of base. The best results were obtained with Me2[(S)-PEA]2ZnLi2, affording the 2-iodo derivative in 97% yield and 86% ee in favor of the SP enantiomer

Deprotometalation of Substituted Pyridines and Regioselectivity-Computed CH Acidity Relationships

International audienceA series of methoxy- and fluoro-pyridines have been deprotometalated in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature by using a mixed lithium-zinc combination obtained from ZnCl2·TMEDA (TMEDA = N,N,N’,N’-tetramethylethylenediamine) and LiTMP (TMP = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidino) in a 1:3 ratio, and the metalated species intercepted by iodine. Efficient functionalization at the 3 position was observed from 4-methoxy, 2-methoxy, 2,6-dimethoxy, 2-fluoro and 2,6-difluoropyridine, and at the 4 position from 3-methoxy and 2,3-dimethoxypyridine. Interestingly, clean dideprotonation was noted from 3-fluoropyridine (at C2 and C4) and 2,6-difluoropyridine (at C3 and C5). The obtained regioselectivities have been discussed in light of the CH acidities of the substrates, determined both in the gas phase (DFT B3LYP and G3MP2B3 levels) and in THF solution. In the case of methoxypyridines, the pKa values have also been calculated for complexes with LiCl and LiTM

Fluoro- and Chloroferrocene From 2-to 3-Substituted Derivatives

International audienceThe ferrocene halogen "dance" has been deemed hardly controllable. Here, we describe the first efficient examples of this reaction. Conversion of 1-fluoro-2-iodo (or 1-chloro-2-iodo) to 1-fluoro-3-iodo (or 1-chloro-3-iodo) ferrocenes was ensured by suitably protecting the free 5 position

Synthesis of N-Aryl and N-Heteroaryl gamma-, delta-, and epsilon-Lactams Using Deprotometalation-Iodination and N-Arylation, and Properties Thereof

International audienceXanthone, thioxanthone, fluorenone, benzophenone, 2-benzoylpyridine, dibenzofuran, and dibenzothiophene were deprotonated using a base prepared in situ from MCl2TMEDA (M = Zn or Cd; TMEDA =N,N,N,N-tetramethylethylenediamine) and lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide in a 1:3 ratio, as demonstrated by subsequent iodolysis. The different aryl halides were involved as partners in the N-arylation of pyrrolidin-2-one. In the presence of copper(I) iodide and tripotassium phosphate, and using dimethyl sulfoxide as solvent, the reactions could be performed in yields ranging from 40 to 70%. Most of the products were tested for their antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, and cytotoxic (MCF-7) activity

Enantioselective deprotometalation of alkyl ferrocenecarboxylates using bimetallic bases

International audienceThe enantioselective deprotometalation of alkyl ferrocenecarboxylates (FcCO(2)R) using mixed lithium-zinc or lithium-cadmium bases is described. By using FcCO(2)Me as the substrate, chiral lithium alkyl-amidozincates prepared from exo-(alpha R)- or endo-(alpha S)-N-(alpha-phenylethyl)bornylamine (H-exo-born-R or H-endo-born-S) were tested; the best results (27% yield and 62% ee in favor of the R-P enantiomer) were obtained by using Bu-2(endo-born-S)ZnLi in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at -30 degrees C before iodolysis. Due to the low compatibility of FcCO(2)Me with alkyl-containing lithium zincates, 1 : 1 mixtures of lithium and zinc amides were tested. Chiral (H-exo-born-R or H-endo-born-S) or/and achiral (lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide or lithium diisopropylamide) secondary amines gave good results, the best (81% yield and 44% ee in favor of the R-P enantiomer) being obtained by using (endo-born-S)(3)ZnLi in THF at room temperature. Among other secondary amines also prepared and/or tested, commercial (S,S)-bis(alpha-phenylethyl)amine (H-PEA-S) proved promising. After optimization of the reaction conditions, the best enantioselectivity (26% yield and 80% ee in favor of the RP enantiomer) was observed by treating a THF solution of FcCO(2)Me and Zn(PEA-S)(2) with Li-PEA-S at -80 degrees C before iodolysis. That no reaction took place with cadmium instead of zinc suggests the formation of 'ate complexes upon treatment of Cd(PEA-S)(2) by Li-PEA-S while Zn(PEA-S)(2) and Li-PEA-S would rather work in tandem (Li-PEA-S as the base and Zn(PEA-S)(2) as the in situ trap for the formed ferrocenyllithium). While FcCO(2)Me, FcCO(2)tBu and FcCO(2)iPr could be converted into their racemic 2-iodinated derivatives with a yield of 84 to 87% by employing LiTMP (2 equiv.) in the presence of ZnCl2.TMEDA (1 equiv.) as an in situ trap, their enantioselective deprotometalation rather required Li-PEA-S together with Zn(PEA-S)(2) to produce the enantio-enriched derivatives with yields of 45-82% and 71% ee