Neighboring Group Participation Research Articles

Fluorescence Recognition of Hydrazine Driven by Neighboring Group Participation.

Hydrazine (N2H4) has toxic effects on the environment. Although a variety of reactive probes have been used to identify hydrazine, practical applications required continuous development of hydrazine fluorescent probes with improved performance. Here, we applied the neighboring group participation (NGP) to the design of a fluorescent probe for hydrazine. The probe exhibited a rapid response to N2H4 and strong anti-interference ability, with detection limited to 0.031μmol/L. Theoretical calculation showed that the energy barrier could be reduced by NGP. The cyclic intermediate formed by the indole ring and the α-ester carbonyl group significantly reduced the activation energy of the reaction. Practically, the probe could detect hydrazine in actual water samples.

Origins of Temperature-Dependent Anomeric Selectivity in Glycosylations with an L-Idose Thioglycoside.

L-Idose thioglycosides are useful glycosyl donors for the construction of glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides. When activated with NIS and catalytic TMSOTf in the presence of methanol, the stereoselectivity of O-glycosylation displays an intriguing dependence on the reaction temperature, with an increased preference for formation of the α-glycoside at higher temperatures. Using a combination of vt-NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations, we show how a simple mechanistic model, based on competing reactions of the iodinated thioglycoside, can explain the main features of the temperature dependence. In this model, the increased selectivity at high temperature is attributed to differences among the entropy and energy terms of the competing reaction pathways. Neighbouring-group participation (giving an intermediate acyloxonium ion) plays an increasingly dominant role as temperature is raised. The general features of this kinetic regime may also apply more broadly to other glycosylations that likewise favour α-glycoside formation at high temperature.

Catalytic Hydroxyethylation of Phenols with Renewable Ethylene Glycol Diester as an Alternative to Ethylene Oxide

AbstractPolyol esters are abundant bio‐based resources. Integration of polyol esters into the production chain of fine chemicals would reduce carbon emissions and improve the sustainability of the chemical industry. An efficient synthetic route to phenoxyethanols was developed through catalytic hydroxyethylation of phenols with ethylene glycol diacetate as the reagent. This method showed the potential of ethylene glycol diester as a safe and sustainable substitute for ethylene oxide, a useful but toxic reagent. A variety of phenoxyethanol esters were produced in high yield under simple catalytic conditions. Mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction underwent a neighboring group participation process.

Reaction Rate and Stereoselectivity Enhancement in Glycosidations with O-Glycosyl Trihaloacetimidate Donors due to Catalysis by a Lewis Acid-Nitrile Cooperative Effect.

Activation of O-glycosyl trihaloacetimidate glycosyl donors with AuCl3 as a catalyst and pivalonitrile (tBuCN) as a ligand led to excellent glycosidation results in terms of yield and anomeric selectivity. In this way, various β-d-gluco- and β-d-galactopyranosides were obtained conveniently and efficiently. Experimental studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, in order to elucidate the reaction course, support formation of the tBuCN-AuCl2-OR(H)+ AuCl4- complex as a decisive intermediate in the glycosidation event. Proton transfer from this acceptor complex to the imidate nitrogen leads to donor activation. In this way, guided by the C-2 configuration of the glycosyl donor, the alignment of the acceptor complex enforces the stereoselective β-glycoside formation in an intramolecular fashion, thus promoting also a fast reaction course. The high stereocontrol of this novel 'Lewis acid-nitrile cooperative effect' is independent of the glycosyl donor anomeric configuration and without the support of neighboring group or remote group participation. The power of the methodology is shown by a successful glycoalkaloid solamargine synthesis.

Stereoinvertive SN1 Through Neighboring Group Participation.

Neighboring group participation, the assistance of non-conjugated electrons to a reaction center, is a fundamental phenomenon in chemistry. In the framework of nucleophilic substitution reactions, neighboring group participation is known to cause rate acceleration, first order kinetics (SN1), and retention of configuration. The latter phenomenon is a result of double inversion: the first one when the neighboring group displaces the leaving group, and the second when a nucleophile substitutes the neighboring group. This powerful control of stereoretention has been widely used in organic synthesis for more than a century. However, neighboring group participation may also lead to inversion of configuration, a phenomenon which is often overlooked. Herein, we review this unique mode of stereoinversion, dividing the relevant reactions into three classes with the aim to introduce a fresh perspective on the different modes of stereoinversion via neighboring group participation as well as the factors that control this stereochemical outcome.

Deciphering the Self-Catalytic Mechanisms of Polymerization and Transesterification in Polybenzoxazine Vitrimers.

The use of internal catalysts has emerged as a pivotal design principle to facilitate dynamic exchanges within covalent adaptable networks (CANs). Polybenzoxazines, specifically, have shown considerable potential in generating vitrimers through thermally induced transesterification reactions catalyzed internally by tertiary amines. This study aims to investigate the chemical complexities of transesterification reactions within benzoxazine vitrimers. To achieve this, model molecules using various phenolic acids and amino-alcohol derivatives were synthesized as precursors. The structure of these model molecules was fully elucidated by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rheology experiments evidenced the accelerated network formation of the precursors due to the presence of aliphatic -OH groups. Thermogravimetric analysis coupled with microcomputed gas chromatography (TGA-μGC) was used to provide evidence of transesterification reactions. The results showed that the spatial proximity between tertiary amine and hydroxyl groups significantly enhances the rate exchange, attributed to a neighboring group participation (NGP) effect. Interestingly, kinetic experiments using complementary NMR techniques revealed the thermal latency of the tertiary amine of benzoxazine toward transesterification reactions as its opening is needed to trigger the dynamic exchange. The study highlights the crucial role of steric hindrance and tertiary amine basicity in promoting the dynamic exchange in an internally catalyzed system.

Characterization of elusive rhamnosyl dioxanium ions and their application in complex oligosaccharide synthesis

Attaining complete anomeric control is still one of the biggest challenges in carbohydrate chemistry. Glycosyl cations such as oxocarbenium and dioxanium ions are key intermediates of glycosylation reactions. Characterizing these highly-reactive intermediates and understanding their glycosylation mechanisms are essential to the stereoselective synthesis of complex carbohydrates. Although C-2 acyl neighbouring-group participation has been well-studied, the reactive intermediates in more remote participation remain elusive and are challenging to study. Herein, we report a workflow that is utilized to characterize rhamnosyl 1,3-bridged dioxanium ions derived from C-3 p-anisoyl esterified donors. First, we use a combination of quantum-chemical calculations and infrared ion spectroscopy to determine the structure of the cationic glycosylation intermediate in the gas-phase. In addition, we establish the structure and exchange kinetics of highly-reactive, low-abundance species in the solution-phase using chemical exchange saturation transfer, exchange spectroscopy, correlation spectroscopy, heteronuclear single-quantum correlation, and heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Finally, we apply C-3 acyl neighbouring-group participation to the synthesis of complex bacterial oligosaccharides. This combined approach of finding answers to fundamental physical-chemical questions and their application in organic synthesis provides a robust basis for elucidating highly-reactive intermediates in glycosylation reactions.

Unraveling chemical glycosylation: DFT insights into factors imparting stereoselectivity

Stereoselective chemical glycosylation reactions are pivotal for preparing manifold biologically and medically important compounds, while mechanisms of chemical glycosylation reactions remain obscure and largely speculative. Herein, we performed DFT calculations to delve into the multifaceted mechanistic details of glycosylation reactions, including the equilibria among reactive glycosyl triflate intermediates in solution, the stereoselectivity imparting protecting groups, solvent effects, base, and the anomeric effect. Our results provided theoretical corroborations to 2-OAc neighbouring group participation (NGP), the arming/disarming effect, the coordination theory of solvent effect on glycosylation stereochemistry, and the influence of solvent polarity on the reaction kinetics spanning the SN1-SN2 continuum. For the first time, the existence of putative contact-ion-pairs (CIP) of glycosyl oxocarbenium and triflate anion in organic solutions was theoretically confirmed with the identification of multiple ground state structures employing an implicit Solvation Model based on Density (SMD). Kinetics of nucleophilic attack of model glucosyl triflates by simple alcohol acceptors ethanol (EtOH) and trifluoroethanol (TFE), complexed with 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylpyrimidine (TTBP) were explored, revealing the essential role of the close accompanying base for rendering glycosidic bond formation thermodynamically favorable. Our work deepens the comprehension of the glycosylation mechanism, paving the way for the rational design and future advancement of efficient and environmentally friendly stereoselective glycosylation reactions.

Acetal Substitution Reactions: Stereoelectronic Effects, Conformational Analysis, Reactivity vs Selectivity, and Neighboring-Group Participation

AbstractAcetal substitution reactions can proceed by a number of mechanisms, but oxocarbenium ion intermediates are involved in many of these reactions. Our research has focused on understanding the conformational preferences, structures, and reactions of these intermediates. This account summarizes our observations that electrostatic effects play a significant role in defining the preferred conformations, and that torsional effects determine how those intermediates react. Neighboring-group effects are not as straightforward as they might seem, considering that oxocarbenium ion intermediates are in equilibrium with structures that involve stabilization by a nearby substituent.1 Introduction2 Unexpected Stereoselectivities3 Determining Conformational Preferences of Oxocarbenium Ions4 Structures of Carbocations by NMR Spectroscopy and X-ray Crystallography5 Stereoelectronic Models for Reactions Involving Other Oxocarbenium Ions6 Stereoselectivity and Reactivity: When They Correlate, When They Do Not7 Neighboring–Group Participation Is Not as Simple as It Seems8 What Is True for Carbocations Is True for Carbonyl Compounds9 Stereoelectronic and Torsional Effects in Reactions of Enolates10 Summary of Expected Selectivities for Reactions of Cyclic Acetals11 Conclusion

Dihydrophenanthrene Open-Shell Singlet Diradicals and Their Roles in the Mallory Photocyclization Reaction.

A computational study (ωB97X-D/6-31G(d)) of the Mallory photocyclization reaction has revealed that the well-established dihydrophenanthrene (DHP) intermediates can adopt either closed-shell (CS) or open-shell-diradical (OS) singlet ground states. A detailed study of the properties of DHPs allowed their classifications as OS, borderline-OS, borderline-CS, or CS intermediates. The triplet electronic state and higher energy CS* isomer of all the OS singlet diradicals were computationally located, and the expected relationship between the diradical index, yo, and the triplet energy and the OS-CS* energy gaps was established. The importance of aromaticity in stabilizing the OS singlet diradicals was confirmed by using the Harmonic Oscillator Model of Aromaticity (HOMA). The thermal decompositions of DHPs by cycloreversions to regenerate the Mallory starting materials were also studied. The cycloreversion mechanism was described as a homolytic cleavage characterized by an anchimeric assistance continuum promoted by bis-β-homolytic cleavage.

Atmospheric Oxygen Facilitated Oxidative Amidation to α-Ketoamides and Unusual One Carbon Degradative Amidation to N-Alkyl Amides.

A mild, transition-metal-free novel synthetic approach for the construction of C═O and C-N bonds has been demonstrated. Easily accessible gem-dibromoalkenes under similar conditions form oxidative amidation product α-ketoamides and unusual degradative amidation product N-alkyl amides by simply changing the amine substitute. Atmospheric air containing molecular oxygen proved to be an ideal oxidant for an amidation reaction. Under similar conditions, the electron-deficient gem-dibromoalkenes play a dual role with different formamides forming novel oxidative amidation products and by the state of art neighboring group participation of amine to unusual one-carbon degradative amidation products.

Total Synthesis of Nikkomycin Sz and Nikkomycin Soz.

The nikkomycins Sz/Soz are a class of locked nucleoside antibiotics that share a common [5,6] trans-bicyclic core. Herein we present an efficient synthesis of these nikkomycins from diene, using neighboring group participation N-glycosylation and stereoselective oxidation state installation. This synthetic strategy overcomes several challenges due to the poor redox tolerance of the uracil base, the high strain of the trans-fused furanopyran C8 monosaccharides, and the acid-sensitive glycosidic bond when dealing with the deoxynucleotide natural product nikkomycin Sz.

Synthetic Approaches to Ribosyl Adenosine 5′,5′′‐Diphosphate Fragment of Poly(ADP‐ribose)

AbstractRibosyl adenosine 5′,5′′‐diphosphate is a poly(ADP‐ribose) fragment covalently bonded to a protein during post‐translational modification. Poly(ADP‐ribose) is involved in several biological processes such as DNA repair and cancerization. Herein, we report the development of two synthetic approaches to the poly(ADP‐ribose) fragment via a common precursor. The major difficulty in the synthesis of the fragment is the α‐(1′′→2′)‐glycosidic bond formation between the ribose and adenosine because of the lack of neighboring group participation and low reactivity of the 2′‐hydroxyl group. The first approach employed an indirect method that involved stepwise assembly of the ribosyl adenosine framework by O‐ribofuranosylation of a commercially available ribose acceptor and subsequent N‐glycosylation of N6‐benzoyl adenine (14 linear longest sequence (LLS) steps, 11 pots, 6.8 % overall yield). In the second approach, the direct O‐ribofuranosylation of a known 6‐chloropurine riboside acceptor was adopted (12 LLS steps, 10 pots, 4.8 % overall yield). Thus, two practical synthetic approaches to the target fragment were successfully established in terms of the number of LLS steps, pots, and overall yield. Furthermore, the precursor was converted into a conjugation‐ready building block, primed for application in ADP‐ribose oligomer synthesis.

Modular and Stereoselective One-Pot Total Synthesis of Icosasaccharide Motif from Cordyceps sinensis EPS-1A Glycan.

The first stereoselective one-pot synthesis of the icosasaccharide motif of EPS-1A glycan from Cordyceps sinensis has been achieved. The synthetic approach highlights the following features: (1) merging reagent modulation and remote anchimeric assistance α-glycosylation strategy for the highly stereoselective formation of five and ten continuous 1,2-cis glucosidic bonds; (2) the strategic employment of glycosyl N-phenyltrifluoroacetimidates and glycosyl o-(1-phenylvinyl)benzoates as the matched pair for efficient orthogonal one-pot synthesis; and (3) [11 + 8 + 1] orthogonal one-pot glycosylation for the efficient assembly of the target icosasaccharide.

Neighboring-Group Participation by C-2 Acyloxy Groups: Influence of the Nucleophile and Acyl Group on the Stereochemical Outcome of Acetal Substitution Reactions.

A single acyloxy group at C-2 can control the outcome of nucleophilic substitution reactions of pyran-derived acetals, but the extent of the neighboring-group participation depends on a number of factors. We show here that neighboring-group participation does not necessarily control the stereochemical outcome of acetal substitution reactions with weak nucleophiles. The 1,2-trans selectivity increased with increasing reactivity of the incoming nucleophile. This trend suggests the intermediacy of both cis-fused dioxolenium ions and oxocarbenium ions in the stereochemistry-determining step. In addition, as the electron-donating ability of the neighboring group decreased, the preference for the 1,2-trans products increased. Computational studies show how the barriers for the ring-opening reaction on the dioxolenium ions and the transition states to provide the oxocarbenium ions change with the electron-donating capacity of the C-2-acyloxy group and the reactivity of the nucleophile.

Stereodirecting Effect of Esters at the 4-Position of Galacto- and Glucopyranosyl Donors: Effect of 4-C-Methylation on Side-Chain Conformation and Donor Reactivity, and Influence of Concentration and Stoichiometry on Distal Group Participation.

When generated in a mass spectrometer bridged bicyclic 1,3-dioxenium ions derived from 4-O-acylgalactopyranosyl, donors can be observed by infrared spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures, but they are not seen in the solution phase in contrast to the fused bicyclic 1,3-dioxalenium ions of neighboring group participation. The inclusion of a 4-C-methyl group into a 4-O-benzoyl galactopyranosyl donor enables nuclear magnetic resonance observation of the bicyclic ion arising from participation by the distal ester, with the methyl group influence attributed to ester ground state conformation destabilization. We show that a 4-C-methyl group also influences the side-chain conformation, enforcing a gauche,trans conformation in gluco and galactopyranosides. Competition experiments reveal that the 4-C-methyl group has only a minor influence on the rate of reaction of 4-O-benzoyl or 4-O-benzyl-galacto and glucopyranosyl donors and, consequently, that participation by the distal ester does not result in kinetic acceleration (anchimeric assistance). We demonstrate that the stereoselectivity of the 4-O-benzoyl-4-C-methyl galactopyranosyl donor depends on reaction concentration and additive (diphenyl sulfoxide) stoichiometry and hence that participation by the distal ester is a borderline phenomenon in competition with standard glycosylation mechanisms. An analysis of a recent paper affirming participation by a remote pivalate ester is presented with alternative explanations for the observed phenomena.

Synthesis of Piperidin-4-one Derivatives via α-Imino Rhodium Carbene-Initiated 1,2-Aryl/Alkyl Migration and Annulation.

Valuable piperidin-4-one derivatives were synthesized in excellent yields via an α-imino carbene-initiated cascade reaction involving 1,2-aryl/alkyl migration and annulation. The excellent selectivity of alkyl migration was attributed to the neighboring group participation of 2-bromoethyl. Features such as high efficiency, excellent migrating selectivity, broad substrate scope, and convenient one-pot procedure qualified this protocol as an effective tool for piperidine derivative synthesis. The product could be transformed to a bioactive molecule easily. The migration-annulation reaction of α-imino carbene provided a powerful strategy for heterocycle construction.

Direct insertion into the C–C bond of unactivated ketones with NaH-mediated aryne chemistry

•o-Diiodoarenes/NaH as an efficient system for aryne generation in a controlled manner •Neighboring-group-assisted metal-halogen exchange process •Sodium hydride as an iodophile reagent •Aryne insertion into C–C σ-bond of unactivated ketones Here, we document the reinvention of aryne chemistry with “old” o-diiodoarenes as aryne progenitors. We have established a NaH-mediated activation strategy for the generation of highly reactive aryne species in a controlled manner. The resulting arynes can efficiently participate in a C–C σ-bond-insertion reaction with unactivated ketones, which is difficult to achieve by existing methods. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the two adjacent iodines in o-diiodoarenes play critical roles in the formation of aryne. The nucleophilic attack of hydride to the electrophilic iodine requires that the adjacent iodine act as a directing group to accelerate this process, whereas mono-substituted iodobenzene lacking the neighboring-group participation makes it difficult. The in-situ-formed enolates from ketones are proposed to adopt tetrameric aggregates to react with arynes, which accounts for the high regiochemistry for substrates with bulky substituents. Here, we document the reinvention of aryne chemistry with “old” o-diiodoarenes as aryne progenitors. We have established a NaH-mediated activation strategy for the generation of highly reactive aryne species in a controlled manner. The resulting arynes can efficiently participate in a C–C σ-bond-insertion reaction with unactivated ketones, which is difficult to achieve by existing methods. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the two adjacent iodines in o-diiodoarenes play critical roles in the formation of aryne. The nucleophilic attack of hydride to the electrophilic iodine requires that the adjacent iodine act as a directing group to accelerate this process, whereas mono-substituted iodobenzene lacking the neighboring-group participation makes it difficult. The in-situ-formed enolates from ketones are proposed to adopt tetrameric aggregates to react with arynes, which accounts for the high regiochemistry for substrates with bulky substituents.

Dihydroxyterephthalate—A Trojan Horse PET Counit for Facile Chemical Recycling (Adv. Mater. 21/2023)

Chemically Recyclable Plastics In article number 2210154, Ting-Han Lee, George Kraus, Eric Cochran, and co-workers report dihydroxyterephthalate (DHTE) as a “Trojan horse” co-unit in poly(ethylene terephthalate) to produce highly recyclable plastics. The DHTE enables chemical recycling via hydrolysis to monomers in pure water by acting as an internal catalyst through neighboring group participation.

Unprecedented neighboring group participation of C2 N-imidoxy functionalities for 1,2-trans-selective glycosylation

Stereoselective glycosylation reactions are important in carbohydrate chemistry. The most used method for 1,2-trans(β)-selective glycosylation involves the neighboring group participation (NGP) of the 2-O-acyl protecting group; nevertheless, an alternative stereoselective method independent of classical NGP would contribute to carbohydrate chemistry, despite being challenging to achieve. Herein, a β-selective glycosylation reaction employing unprecedented NGP of the C2 N-succinimidoxy and phthalimidoxy functionalities is reported. The C2 functionalities provided the glycosylated products in high yields with β-selectivity. The participation of the functionalities from the α face of the glycosyl oxocarbenium ions gives stable six-membered intermediates and is supported by density functional theory calculations. The applicability of the phthalimidoxy functionality for hydroxyl protection is also demonstrated. This work expands the scope of functionalities tolerated in carbohydrate chemistry to include O–N moieties.