Stereoselective synthesis of 2-alkylidene-3-iminoindoles by reaction of 1,1-dianions with oxalic acid bis(imidoyl) chlorides

Treatment of dilithiated nitriles and sulfones with oxalic acid bis(imidoyl) chlorides resulted in a new cyclization reaction which provided a variety of (3-imino-2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-2-ylidene)-acetonitriles and -sulfones in good yields. The reactions proceeded by condensation of the dianions with the first imidoyl chloride group of the bis(imidoyl) chloride, subsequent intramolecular attack of the ortho carbon of the arylimino group onto the second imidoyl chloride group, and final aromatization. Excellent stereoselectivities were observed in most cases

Metal-free binding and coupling of carbon monoxide at a boron-boron triple bond

Many metal-containing compounds, and some metal-free compounds, will bind carbon monoxide. However, only a handful of metal-containing compounds have been shown to induce the coupling of two or more CO molecules, potentially a method for use of CO as a one-carbon-atom building block for the synthesis of organic molecules. In this work, CO was added to a boron-boron triple bond at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, resulting in a compound into which four equivalent of CO are incorporated: a flat, bicyclic, bis(boralactone). By the controlled addition of one CO to the diboryne compound, an intermediate in the CO coupling reaction was isolated and structurally characterized. Electrochemical measurements confirm the strongly reducing nature of the diboryne compound