Arto Valkonen

Dihydrooxazine Oxides as Key Intermediates in Organocatalytic Michael Additions of Aldehydes to Nitroalkenes

Pause and play: dihydrooxazine oxides are stable intermediates that are protonated directly, without the intermediacy of the zwitterions, in organocatalytic Michael additions of aldehydes and nitroalkenes (see scheme, R=alkyl). Protonation of these species explains both the role of the acid co-catalyst in these reactions, and the observed stereochemistry when the reaction is conducted with α-alkylnitroalkenes.

Organocatalytic Domino Oxa‐Michael/1,6‐Addition Reactions: Asymmetric Synthesis of Chromans Bearing Oxindole Scaffolds

An asymmetric organocatalytic domino oxa-Michael/1,6-addition reaction of ortho-hydroxyphenyl-substituted para-quinone methides and isatin-derived enoates has been developed. In the presence of 5 mol % of a bifunctional thiourea organocatalyst, this scalable domino reaction affords 4-phenyl-substituted chromans bearing spiro-connected oxindole scaffolds and three adjacent stereogenic centers in good to excellent yields (up to 98 %) and with very high stereoselectivities (up to >20:1 d.r., >99 % ee).

Cooperative Assistance in Bifunctional Organocatalysis: Enantioselective Mannich Reactions with Aliphatic and Aromatic Imines

Hold them tight: Guided by X-ray structures, bifunctional thiourea catalysts containing an activating intramolecular hydrogen bond were redesigned. The new catalysts were used to effect a highly enantioselective Mannich reaction between malonates and both aliphatic and aromatic imines (see scheme; Boc=tert-butoxycarbonyl).

Anion–π Interactions in Salts with Polyhalide Anions: Trapping of I42−

The directionality of interaction of electron-deficient π systems with spherical anions (e.g,. halides) can be controlled by secondary effects like NH or CH hydrogen bonding. In this study a series of pentafluorophenyl-substituted salts with polyhalide anions is investigated. The compounds are obtained by aerobic oxidation of the corresponding halide upon crystallization. Solid-state structures reveal that in bromide 2, directing NH-anion interactions position the bromide ion in an η(1)-type fashion over but not in the center of the aromatic ring. The same directing forces are effective in corresponding tribromide salt 3. In the crystal, the bromide ion is paneled by four electron-deficient aromatic ring systems. In addition, compounds 4 and 6, which have triiodide and the rare tetraiodide dianion as anions, are described. Computational studies reveal that the latter is highly unstable. In the present case it is stabilized by the crystal lattice, for example, by interaction with electron-deficient π systems.

Mukaiyama–Michael Reactions with Acrolein and Methacrolein: A Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of the C17–C28 Fragment of Pectenotoxins

Enantioselective iminium-catalyzed reactions with acrolein and methacrolein are rare. A catalytic enantioselective Mukaiyama-Michael reaction that readily accepts acrolein or methacrolein as substrates, affording the products in good yields and 91-97% ee, is presented. As an application of the methodology, an enantioselective route to the key C17-C28 segment of the pectenotoxin using the Mukaiyama-Michael reaction as the key step is described.

Self-Organization of 2-Acylaminopyridines in the Solid State and in Solution

Aggregation of 2-acylaminopyridines and their 6-methyl derivatives in chloroform solution was studied by (1)H, (13)C, and (15)N NMR spectroscopies. The results were compared with (13)C and (15)N CPMAS NMR and IR spectral as well as with X-ray structural data. Intermolecular interactions in solution and in solid state were found to have a similar nature. Relatively strong N(amide)-H···N(pyridine) intermolecular hydrogen bonds enable dimerization to take place. Steric interactions in N-pivaloyl- and N-1-adamantylcarbonyl as well as that caused by the 6-methyl group hinder formation of the dimeric aggregates stabilized by the N(amide)-H···N(pyridine) intermolecular hydrogen bonds. In general, the DFT optimized geometries of the aggregates in chloroform solution are in agreement with the X-ray crystal structures. Wavenumbers of the stretching vibration band of the C═O group were also found indicative of the type of hydrogen bond present in the solid state.

Ti(IV)-amino triphenolate complexes as effective catalysts for sulfoxidation

C(3)-symmetric Ti(IV) amino triphenolate complexes efficiently catalyze, without previous activation and in excellent yields, the oxidation of sulfides at room temperature, using both CHP and the more environment friendly aqueous hydrogen peroxide as terminal oxidants, with catalyst loadings down to 0.01%. The Ti(IV) catalysts and the intermediate Ti(IV)-peroxo complexes have been characterized in solution by (1)H NMR and ESI-MS techniques and via density functional studies.

Geometrically diverse anions in anion–π interactions

The role of different anion geometries in anion–π interactions is discussed. The chemistry described herein is different to the interaction of spherical cations with aromatics. The influence of different geometries makes selective anion recognition more complicated than respective cation sensing. The present structural study reveals attractive interactions between pentafluorophenyl units and geometrically diverse anions (linear, trigonal planar, tetrahedral and octahedral). Due to the electrostatic nature of anion–π interactions, the anion geometry seems to be irrelevant. The size of the anion controls the relative orientation of the anion and the π system (e.g. in compounds 1–3). The dimeric solid-state structure of ammonium tetrafluorophenolate betaine 4 shows π–π as well as anion–π interactions. In the solid-state structure of 5, the linear BrIBr anion is panelled by three pentafluorophenyl units.

Bile acid–amino acid ester conjugates: gelation, structural properties, and thermoreversible solid to solid phase transition

Design, synthesis, and gelation properties of three novel biocompatible bile acid–L-methionine methyl ester conjugates are presented. Two of the conjugates have been shown to undergo self-assembly leading to organogelation in certain aromatic solvents. The properties of these gels have been investigated by conventional methods typical for molecular gel studies along with 13C CPMAS NMR spectroscopic studies of the native gel. In addition, properties in solid and solution states for all three compounds have been investigated, and single crystal X-ray structures of all compounds determined. Furthermore, powder X-ray diffraction studies have revealed that compound 1 undergoes a dynamic and reversible conformational change in the solid state when cooling from ambient temperature to −150 °C. The powder X-ray diffraction data of the room-temperature conformer has been utilized to unambiguously determine the structure at room temperature.

Coordinatively Unsaturated Lanthanide(III) Helicates: Luminescence Sensors for Adenosine Monophosphate in Aqueous Media

Coordinatively unsaturated double-stranded helicates [(H2 L)2 Eu2 (NO3 )2 (H2 O)4 ](NO3 )4 , [(H2 L)2 Tb2 (H2 O)6 ](NO3 )6 , and [(H2 L)2 Tb2 (H2 O)6 ]Cl6 (H2 L=butanedioicacid-1,4-bis[2-(2-pyridinylmethylene)hydrazide]) are easily obtained by self-assembly from the ligand and the corresponding lanthanide(III) salts. The complexes are characterized by X-ray crystallography showing the helical arrangement of the ligands. Co-ligands at the metal ions can be easily substituted by appropriate anions. A specific luminescence response of AMP in presence of ADP, ATP, and other anions is observed. Specificity is assigned to the perfect size match of AMP to bridge the two metal centers and to replace quenching co-ligands in the coordination sphere.