Azide Substituents Research Articles

Tuning Green Explosives through SNAr Chemistry.

Reactivity and regioselectivity of SNAr-type fluorine substitution with azide in polyfluorosubstituted nitrobenzenes was studied both theoretically and experimentally. The obtained polyazido-substituted nitrobenzene derivatives were extensively characterized by NMR, IR, HPLC, X-ray, and DFT methods. It was found that the substitution with the azide nucleophile occurs first at the para- and the ortho-positions to the NO2-group and that transazidation reactions also occur here. Thermal decomposition of prepared azidonitrobenzenes was studied both in controlled (kinetic decay) and uncontrolled (explosion) modes. In case of the controlled thermal decomposition of ortho-azidonitrobenzenes, benzofuroxans were found as major products of the reaction unless another azido group was adjacent to the furoxan moiety. The bursting power of azidonitrobenzenes was found to rise gradually with the number of the azide substituents in the aromatic ring.

Trapping of a Transient Base-Stabilised Alumylene and Alumylene-type Reactivity of a Self-Stabilising Dialumene towards Organic Azides.

The reduction of a carbene-coordinated, sterically encumbered terphenyl-substituted aluminium diiodide, (LRAlI2), yielded a "masked" dialumene (LRAl=AlRL), self-stabilised through [2+2] cycloaddition with a peripheral aromatic group. During the course of the reaction, a carbene-stabilised arylalumylene (LRAl:) was generated in situ, which was trapped using an alkyne, generating an aluminacyclopropene or a C-H activated product thereof, depending on the steric bulk of the alkyne. The masked dialumene also underwent intramolecular cycloreversion and dissociation into alumylene fragments, which reacted with various organic azides to yield monomeric or dimeric iminoalanes depending on the sterics of the azide substituent. The thermodynamics of monomeric and dimeric iminoalane formation were probed by theoretical calculations.

Synthesis of vancomycin fluorescent probes that retain antimicrobial activity, identify Gram-positive bacteria, and detect Gram-negative outer membrane damage

Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent threat to human health, and new antibacterial drugs are desperately needed, as are research tools to aid in their discovery and development. Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that is widely used for the treatment of Gram-positive infections, such as life-threatening systemic diseases caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Here we demonstrate that modification of vancomycin by introduction of an azide substituent provides a versatile intermediate that can undergo copper-catalysed azide−alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction with various alkynes to readily prepare vancomycin fluorescent probes. We describe the facile synthesis of three probes that retain similar antibacterial profiles to the parent vancomycin antibiotic. We demonstrate the versatility of these probes for the detection and visualisation of Gram-positive bacteria by a range of methods, including plate reader quantification, flow cytometry analysis, high-resolution microscopy imaging, and single cell microfluidics analysis. In parallel, we demonstrate their utility in measuring outer-membrane permeabilisation of Gram-negative bacteria. The probes are useful tools that may facilitate detection of infections and development of new antibiotics.

Investigation of the Substituent Effects of the Azide Functional Group Using the Gas-Phase Acidities of 3- and 4-Azidophenols

The electronic effect of the azide functional group on an aromatic system has been investigated using Hammett-Taft parameters obtained from the effect of azide substitution on the gas-phase acidity of phenol. Gas-phase acidities of 3- and 4-azidophenol have been measured using mass spectrometry and the kinetic method and found to be 340.8 ± 2.2 and 340.3 ± 2.0 kcal/mol, respectively. The relative electronic effects of the azide substituent on an aromatic system have been measured using Hammett-Taft parameters. The σF and σR values are determined to be 0.38 and 0.02, respectively, consistent with predictions based on electronic structure calculations. The values of σF and σR demonstrate that azide acts as an inductively withdrawing group but has negligible resonance contribution on the phenol. In contrast, acidity values calculated for azide-substituted benzoic acids give values of σF = 0.69 and σR = -0.39, indicating that the azide is a strong π donor, comparable to that of a hydroxyl group. The difference is explained as being the result of "chimeric", or, alternatively, "chameleonic" electronic behavior of the azide, similar to that observed previously for the N-oxide moiety, which can be more or less resonance donating in response to the environment.

Reactivity of Pyridine Dipyrrolide Iron(II) Complexes with Organic Azides: C-H Amination and Iron Tetrazene Formation.

Reaction of (MesPDPPh)Fe(thf) (H2MesPDPPh = 2,6-bis(5-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)pyridine) with organic azides has been studied. The identity of the azide substituent had a profound impact on the transformation type and nature of the observed products. Reaction with aromatic p-tolyl azide, N3Tol, resulted in exclusive formation of the corresponding iron tetrazene complex (MesPDPPh)Fe(N4Tol2). In contrast, the use of bulky 1-adamantyl azide led to clean intramolecular C-H amination of one of the benzylic C-H bonds of a mesityl substituent on the pyridine dipyrrolide, PDP, supporting ligand. The smaller aliphatic substituent in benzyl azide allowed for the isolation of two different compounds from distinct reaction pathways. One product is the result of double C-H amination of the PDP ligand via nitrene transfer, while the second one contains a dibenzyltetrazene and a benzaldimine ligand. All isolated complexes were characterized using a combination of X-ray crystallography, solid state magnetic susceptibility measurements, 1H NMR and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT), and their electronic structures were elucidated. Potential electronic structures for putative iron(IV) imido or iron(III) imidyl radical complexes were explored via DFT calculations.

Application of Sugar-Base Anhydro Bridge for Modification of Nucleosides in the 2’- and/or 3’-Positions - Revisited

The nucleosides modified in the 2’- and/or 3’-position have been known for years and include important, bioactive compounds such as zidovudine, cytarabine, didanosine, puromycin, and fludarabine. This group consists of analogs with altered configuration, 2’,3’-dideoxy and 2’,3’-dideoxy-didehydro nucleosides, as well as derivatives with additional substituents. These compounds are often targeted against viruses and tumors. The sugar-base anhydro nucleosides have been known since the middle of the 20th century. However, their application has not yet been fully explored and described. The number of 2’,3’-dimodified derivatives, obtainable through sugar-base anhydrocyclic synthons, could be vast, especially taking into consideration various combinations of S-alkyl, S-aryl, O-alkyl, O-aryl, halogen, triazole, amine and azide substituents in both pyrimidine and purine nucleosides. Furthermore, application of anhydrocyclic structures can be an efficient method of introducing isotope labeled groups. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the known methods of functionalization of the 2’- and/or 3’-position of nucleosides, using anhydrocyclic structures, and also to present a future outlook for this subject.

Influence of Alkyne and Azide Substituents on the Choice of the Reaction Mechanism of the Cu+-Catalyzed Addition of Azides to Iodoalkynes.

The cycloaddition of azides to iodoalkynes is strongly enhanced by some Cu+-complexes. We have studied computationally six reaction pathways for the cycloaddition of 24 combinations of azide and iodoalkyne to identify the dominant pathways and the influence of reactant structure on the evolution of the reaction. Two pathways were found to be operating for distinct sets of reactants. In the first pathway, initial complexation of iodoalkyne by Cu+ is followed by the binding of the azide to the metal through its substituted nitrogen atom, followed by attack of the nonhalogenated alkyne carbon by the terminal nitrogen atom. This pathway is generally followed by aromatic or electron-deficient azides, unless the iodoalkyne bears an electron-withdrawing group. The second pathway is a single-step mechanism similar (apart from the alkyne bond weakening caused by complexation) to that observed in the absence of catalyst. Electron-deficient iodoalkynes and methyl azides strongly prefer this mechanism, regardless of the identity of the reaction partners. The catalytic gain obtained through the use of Cu+ depends only partially on its direct effect on the energy of the transition state (relative to that of the infinitely separated reactants) and may be lost if the iodoalkyne itself strongly interacts with the catalyst through the formation of too strong a π-complex.

Novel CDTA-based, Bifunctional Chelators for Stable and Inert MnII Complexation: Synthesis and Physicochemical Characterization.

In the search for MnII MR and PET/MR imaging agents with optimal balance between thermodynamic stability, kinetic inertness, and relaxivity, two novel bifunctional MnII chelators (BFMnCs) based on CDTA (trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid) were synthesized. A six-step synthesis, involving the buildup of a functionalized trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane core, provided CuAAC-reactive 6a and 6b bearing an alkyne or azide substituent on the cyclohexane ring, respectively (CuAAC = CuI-catalyzed azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition). Thermodynamic, kinetic, and relaxometric studies were performed with 4-HET-CDTA (8a) as a "model chelator," synthesized in two steps from 6a. The protonation constants revealed that 8a is slightly less basic than CDTA and forms a MnII complex of marginally lower thermodynamic stability (log KMnL = 13.80 vs 14.32, respectively), while the conditional stability constant is almost identical for both chelates (pMn = 8.62 vs 8.68, respectively). Kinetic assessment of the CuII-mediated transmetalation of [Mn(4-HET-CDTA)]2- showed that proton-assisted complex dissociation is slightly slower than for [Mn(CDTA)]2- (k1 = 297 vs 400 M-1 s-1, respectively). Importantly, the dissociation half-life near physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 25 °C) underlined that [Mn(4-HET-CDTA)]2- is ∼35% more inert (t1/2 = 16.2 vs 12.1 h, respectively). Those findings may be accounted for by a combination of reduced basicity and increased rigidity of the ligand. Analysis of the 17O NMR and 1H NMRD data attributed the high relaxivity of [Mn(4-HET-CDTA)]2- (r1 = 4.56 mM-1 s-1 vs 3.65 mM-1 s-1 for [Mn(CDTA)]2-; 20 MHz, 25 °C) to slower rotational dynamics (τR298 = 105 ps). Additionally, the fast water exchange of the complex correlates well with the value reported for [Mn(CDTA)]2- (kex298 = 17.6 × 107 vs 14.0 × 107 s-1, respectively). Given the exquisite compromise between thermodynamic stability, kinetic inertness, and relaxivity achieved by [Mn(4-HET-CDTA)]2-, appropriately designed CuAAC-conjugates of 6a/6b are promising precursors for the preparation of targeted, bioresponsive, or high relaxivity manganese-based PET/MR tracers (52g/55 MnII) and MR contrast agents (MnII).

Unusually Stable Isoxazolidinyl Epoxides: Synthesis and Reactivity in Nucleophilic Substitutions

The synthesis of new N‐carbamoyl‐substituted isoxazolidine‐4,5‐diols and their 4,5‐anhydro analogues, isoxazolidinyl epoxides, is described. The 4,5‐unsubstituted 2,3‐dihydroisoxazole starting materials reacted directly with potassium osmate/4‐methylmorpholine N‐oxide and 3,3‐dimethyldioxirane, respectively. All addition reactions proceeded with excellent anti selectivity with respect to the substituent at C‐3. The obtained isoxazolidinyl epoxides as well as benzoylated isoxazolidine‐4,5‐diols were subjected to nucleophilic substitution reactions with various nucleophiles. 4‐Hydroxyisoxazolidines with chlorine, methoxy, and azide substituents bound to C‐5 were prepared in moderate to good yields. In terms of chemical stability, the discussed isoxazolidinyl epoxides can be isolated and stored for a long time.

Azide vs Alkyne Functionalization in Pt(II) Complexes for Post-treatment Click Modification: Solid-State Structure, Fluorescent Labeling, and Cellular Fate.

Tracking of Pt(II) complexes is of crucial importance toward understanding Pt interactions with cellular biomolecules. Post-treatment fluorescent labeling of functionalized Pt(II)-based agents using the bioorthogonal Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction has recently been reported as a promising approach. Here we describe an azide-functionalized Pt(II) complex, cis-[Pt(2-azidobutyl)amido-1,3-propanediamine)Cl2] (1), containing the cis geometry and difunctional reactivity of cisplatin, and present a comparative study with its previously described alkyne-functionalized congener. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals a dramatic change in the solid-state arrangement with exchange of the alkyne for an azide moiety wherein 1 is dominated by a pseudo-chain of Pt-Pt dimers and antiparallel alignment of the azide substituents, in comparison with a circular arrangement supported by CH/π(C≡C) interactions in the alkyne version. In vitro studies indicate similar DNA binding and click reactivity of both congeners observed by fluorescent labeling. Interestingly, complex 1 shows in vitro enhanced click reactivity in comparison to a previously reported azide-appended Pt(II) complex. Despite their similar behavior in vitro, preliminary in cellulo HeLa studies indicate a superior imaging potential of azide-functionalized 1. Post-treatment fluorescent labeling of 1 observed by confocal fluorescence microscopy shows nuclear and intense nucleolar localization. These results demonstrate the potential of 1 in different cell line localization studies and for future isolation and purification of Pt-bound targets.

Chemoselective hydration of glycosyl cyanides to C-glycosyl formamides using ruthenium complexes in aqueous media

[RuCl2(DMSO)4] in the presence of N-benzylated 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane efficiently catalyzed the hydration of glycosyl cyanides to the corresponding formamide derivatives in water or water–N-methylpyrrolidone solvent mixtures at 105°C. O-Acetyl, O-benzoyl, and O-benzyl protecting groups, anomeric bromide and azide substituents as well as double bonds were shown to be compatible with these reaction conditions.

A Visualizable Chain-Terminating Inhibitor of Glycosaminoglycan Biosynthesis in Developing Zebrafish

Heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) glycosaminoglycans (GAG) are proteoglycan-associated polysaccharides with essential functions in animals. They have been studied extensively by genetic manipulation of biosynthetic enzymes, but chemical tools for probing GAG function are limited. HS and CS possess a conserved xylose residue that links the polysaccharide chain to a protein backbone. Here we report that, in zebrafish embryos, the peptide-proximal xylose residue can be metabolically replaced with a chain-terminating 4-azido-4-deoxyxylose (4-XylAz) residue by administration of UDP-4-azido-4-deoxyxylose (UDP-4-XylAz). UDP-4-XylAz disrupted both HS and CS biosynthesis and caused developmental abnormalities reminiscent of GAG biosynthesis and laminin mutants. The azide substituent of protein-bound 4-XylAz allowed for rapid visualization of the organismal sites of chain termination in vivo through bioorthogonal reaction with fluorescent cyclooctyne probes. UDP-4-XylAz therefore complements genetic tools for studies of GAG function in zebrafish embryogenesis.

A Visualizable Chain‐Terminating Inhibitor of Glycosaminoglycan Biosynthesis in Developing Zebrafish

Heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) glycosaminoglycans (GAG) are proteoglycan-associated polysaccharides with essential functions in animals. They have been studied extensively by genetic manipulation of biosynthetic enzymes, but chemical tools for probing GAG function are limited. HS and CS possess a conserved xylose residue that links the polysaccharide chain to a protein backbone. Here we report that, in zebrafish embryos, the peptide-proximal xylose residue can be metabolically replaced with a chain-terminating 4-azido-4-deoxyxylose (4-XylAz) residue by administration of UDP-4-azido-4-deoxyxylose (UDP-4-XylAz). UDP-4-XylAz disrupted both HS and CS biosynthesis and caused developmental abnormalities reminiscent of GAG biosynthesis and laminin mutants. The azide substituent of protein-bound 4-XylAz allowed for rapid visualization of the organismal sites of chain termination in vivo through bioorthogonal reaction with fluorescent cyclooctyne probes. UDP-4-XylAz therefore complements genetic tools for studies of GAG function in zebrafish embryogenesis.

ChemInform Abstract: Copper(II)‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Pyrazinones from α‐Azido‐N‐allylamides under an Oxygen Atmosphere.

AbstractThe conversion of substrates bearing an aryl substituent proceeds through intramolecular 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of the azide substituent to the allyl moiety followed by copper‐catalyzed ring‐opening of the bicyclic product and oxidation with molecular oxygen.

ChemInform Abstract: Oxetane Nucleosides with Fluorine and Azide Substituents: Nucleophilic Displacement on an Oxetane Ring.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

N−H and N=C Bond Formation via Germanium(III) Diradicaloid Intermediates and C−S Bond Cleavage in Reactions of the Digermyne Ar′GeGeAr′ (Ar′ = C6H3-2,6-(C6H3-2,6-Pri2)2) with Azides

Reactions of the digermyne Ar'GeGeAr' (Ar' = C(6)H(3)-2,6(C(6)H(3)-2,6-Pr(i)(2))(2)) (1) with four different azides R'N(3) (R = Me(3)Sn, (n)Bu(3)Sn, PhSCH(2), or 1-adamantanyl) are described. Treatment of 1 with Me(3)SnN(3) or (n)Bu(3)SnN(3) afforded the low-valent germanium (II) parent amido derivative, Ar'Ge(mu(2)-NH(2))(2)GeAr' (3) or the high-valent germanium (IV) parent imido derivative, Ar'((n)Bu(3)Sn)Ge(mu(2)-NH)(2)Ge(Sn(n)Bu(3))Ar' (4), respectively. Addition of AdN(3) (Ad =1-admantanyl) yielded a monoimide bridged species Ar'Ge(mu(2)-NAd)GeAr' (5). The structure of 5 differs from that of the diradicaloid Ar'Ge(mu(2)-NSiMe(3))(2)GeAr' (2), which was previously obtained from the analogous reaction of 1 with Me(3)SiN(3). The reaction of 1 with PhSCH(2)N(3) afforded the germanium ketimide Ar'Ge(SPh)(2)(N=CH(2)) (6) containing the imino -N=CH(2) functional group. These reactions demonstrate a remarkable product dependence on the azide substituent. All compounds were spectroscopically and structurally characterized. Both 3 and 4 feature a four-membered Ge(2)N(2) core. The structure of 5 is stabilized by CH-pi interactions while 6 features a rare example of a pi-pi interaction between an aromatic ring and a non-aromatic double bond (N=C). The mechanism of formation of 3-6 are discussed. It is proposed that 3 and 4 are obtained via diradical imido intermediates followed by H-abstraction from solvents, whereas 6 was formed by the activation of azide group in concert with C-S bond cleavage.

Easy method for the synthesis of labeled oligonucleotides

We developed a new strategy for labeling oligonucleotides. Labels bearing an acceptor substituted azide moiety, e.g. a sulfonyl azide substituent are used during oligonucleotide synthesis instead of conventional dye phosphoramidites. Azides are well known to react with trivalent phosphor compounds to phosphor amidates and therefore they could be used instead of an oxidizer during oligonucleotide synthesis. Because N-Alkyl or N-Aryl phosphor amidates are hydrolyzed especially under acidic conditions, we used acceptor substituted azides as reactants, which results in remarkable stabilization of the corresponding amidates. This method is suitable to introduce labels at any internucleosidic linkage of an oligonucleotide and could be used for synthesis of any kind of labeled or polylabeled detection probes. Probes synthesized with these new labeling reagents are evaluated in Real Time PCR. They show the same performance like probes synthesized by conventional means. Since the labeling reagents could be easily synthesized and since excess reagent could be recycled and used for further labeling reactions, this method represents a very cost effective way for the synthesis of labeled oligonucleotides.

Synthesis of Eight‐ and Star‐Shaped Poly(ε‐caprolactone)s and Their Amphiphilic Derivatives

Spirocyclic tin dialkoxides are unique initiators for the ring-expansion polymerization of lactones leading to complex, but well-defined macromolecular architectures. In a first example, epsilon-caprolactone (epsilon CL) was polymerized, followed by the resumption of polymerization of a mixture of epsilon CL and epsilon CL alpha-substituted by a chloride (alpha Cl epsilon CL), so leading to "living" eight-shaped chains. Upon hydrolysis of the alkoxides, a four-arm star-shaped copolyester was formed, whose each arm was grafted by conversion of the chloride units into azides, followed by the Huisgen's [3+2] cycloaddition of alkyne end-capped poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) onto the azide substituents. The complexity of this novel amphiphilic architecture was increased further by substituting the four-arm interconnecting PCL by an eight-shaped PCL. In a preliminary step, epsilon CL was polymerized followed by a few units of epsilon CL alpha-substituted by an acrylate. The intramolecular photo-crosslinking of the acrylates adjacent to the tin dialkoxides was effective in stabilizing the eight-shaped polyester while preserving the chain growth sites. This quite unusual tetrafunctional macroinitiator was used to copolymerize epsilon CL and alpha Cl epsilon CL, followed by hydrolysis of the alkoxides, conversion of the chloride units into azides and grafting of the four arms by PEO (see above). This architecture reported for the very first time is nothing but a symmetrical four-tail eight-shaped copolyester macromolecule.

Combination of Ring-Opening Polymerization and “Click Chemistry”: Toward Functionalization and Grafting of Poly(ε-caprolactone)

A straightforward strategy is proposed for the derivatization of poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL). First, statistical copolymerization of α-chloro-e-caprolactone (αCleCL) with e-caprolactone (eCL) was initiated by 2,2-dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dioxepane (DSDOP). In a second step, pendent chlorides were converted into azides by reaction with sodium azide. Finally, duly substituted terminal alkynes were reacted with pendent azides by copper-catalyzed Huisgen's 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, thus a “click” reaction. According to this strategy, pendent hydroxyl and acrylate groups and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators were successfully attached to PCL. Similarly, amphiphilic graft copolymers were prepared by cycloaddition of an alkyne end-capped poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) onto the azide substituents of the copolyester. The dependence of the grafting yield on the experimental conditions of the “click” reaction, i.e., temperature, solvent, and catalyst, was investigated. This strategy is very versatile be...

Mixed Azide-Terminated Monolayers: A Platform for Modifying Electrode Surfaces

We have prepared and characterized mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAM) on gold electrodes from azido alkane thiols and various omega-functionalized alkane thiols. In the presence of copper(I) catalysts, these azide-modified surfaces are shown to react rapidly and quantitatively with terminal acetylenes forming 1,2,3-triazoles, via "click" chemistry. The initial azide substituents can be identified and monitored using both grazing-angle infrared (IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectrosopies. Acetylenes possessing redox-active ferrocene substituents react with the azide-terminated mixed SAMs and electrochemical measurements of the ferrocene-modified SAM electrodes have been used to quantify the redox centers attached to these platforms. Time-resolved electrochemical measurements have enabled us to follow the formation of these ferrocene centers and thus to measure the rate of the surface "click" reaction. Under optimal conditions this well-behaved second-order reaction takes place with a rate constant of 1 x 10(3) M(-)(1) s(-)(1). Typical reaction times of several minutes were realized using micromolar concentrations of acetylene. These techniques have been used to construct well-characterized, covalently modified monolayers that can be employed as functional electrode surfaces.