Diastereomeric Amides Derived from Malonic Acid: the Role of Chiral Auxiliaries and of the Nature of Co-Acids in the Mixed Kolbe Electrolyses

Experiments towards the diastereoselective coupling of new malonic acid amides synthesized with commercially available chiral amines [(S)-(+)-1-cyclohexylethylamine and (R)-(+)-1-phenylethylamine] as chiral auxiliaries were performed through Kolbe oxidations [undivided cell, Pt (anode and cathode), MeOH, 5% to 10% KOH neutralisation, 200 to 250 mA/cm²], using different co-acids (hexanoic, trimethylsilylacetic and diethylphosphonoacetic acids and phthaloylglycine). New long chain and silylated amides (mixed Kolbe dimer) were obtained in good yields (56 to 63%) and low diastereoselectivity, in the presence of a large excess of co-acids, together with disproportionation and non-Kolbe (nK) products, mainly methoxy derivatives. Coupling was more effective with radicals with opposite reactivity. Electrophilic radicals couple between themselves to a lesser extent. Diastereoselective induction was not high. Studies performed with phthaloylglycine, under Kolbe conditions, in the absence and presence of hexanoic acid as a co-acid led to the symmetrical dimer, a N-methoxymethyl-hydroxylactam and a N-methoxyphthalimide. In the presence of hexanoic acid, the latter products were obtained together with alkylated imide and the corresponding hydroxylactam

Concentration-dependent diffusion coefficients of tert-butylferrocene within dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride/brine liquid crystals

The title lyotropic liquid crystal is examined as a framework to investigate long-range charge transfer, using tert-butylferrocene (tBuFc) as model hydrophobic system. It is found that the apparent one-dimensional diffusion coefficient depends on the tBuFc loading. It is suggested that an efficient relay mechanism for electron transfer is through the partitioning of the oxidised form between the two subphases, with inter-pseudophase reaction