Margarita Suárez

Stereodivergent Synthesis of Chiral Fullerenes by [3 + 2] Cycloadditions to C60

A wide range of new dipoles and catalysts have been used in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of N-metalated azomethine ylides onto C60 yielding a full stereodivergent synthesis of pyrrolidino[60]fullerenes with complete diastereoselectivities and very high enantioselectivities. The use of less-explored chiral α-iminoamides as starting 1,3-dipoles leads to an interesting double asymmetric induction resulting in a matching/mismatching effect depending upon the absolute configuration of the stereocenter in the starting α-iminoamide. An enantioselective process was also found in the retrocycloaddition reaction as revealed by mass spectrometry analysis on quasi-enantiomeric pyrrolidino[60]fullerenes. Theoretical DFT calculations are in very good agreement with the experimental data. On the basis of this agreement, a plausible reaction mechanism is proposed.

Hierarchical Selectivity in Fullerenes: Site‐, Regio‐, Diastereo‐, and Enantiocontrol of the 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition to C70

Since the discovery of fullerenes and their further preparation on a multigram scale, these molecular carbon allotropes have been thoroughly investigated from the chemical viewpoint in the search for new modified fullerenes that are able to exhibit unconventional properties for practical applications. Furthermore, this knowledge has allowed a faster and better understanding of the chemical reactivity of the related carbon nanostructures, in particular of the promising carbon nanotubes, endohedral fullerenes, and the most recent graphenes. However, the number of studies on the reactivity of higher fullerenes is comparatively scarce and the use of asymmetric catalysis in these systems has been neglected so far. Higher fullerenes include a great diversity of molecules with different structures and chemical behavior that, because of the minor degree of symmetry, give rise to a complex covalent chemistry, in which chirality is an important and fascinating aspect. The preparation of chiral fullerenes has been based on chiral starting materials or, alternatively, on the most common racemic syntheses followed by complex, expensive, and highly time-consuming chromatographic isolation and purification processes. However, even when the isolation of the different isomers is feasible, the high costs and low abundance of higher fullerenes make necessary the availability of an efficient synthetic methodology to limit a broad distribution of products. Recently, we reported a straightforward procedure catalyzed by silver or copper acetate to efficiently obtain pyrrolidino[60]fullerenes with stereochemical control by enantioselective cycloaddition of azomethine ylides to the C60 molecule. [8] However, the extension of the scope of such a methodology to higher fullerenes, namely C70, is not a trivial process because C70 has to face many distinct levels of selectivity. Unlike C60, C70 lacks a spherical symmetry and has four different types of double bonds on the cage. The most common additions to [70]fullerene proceed in a 1,2 manner with a regioselectivity driven by the release of the strain of the double bond. Accordingly, additions occur preferentially at the most strained fullerene double bonds, namely those located at the polar zone (a site followed by b and g sites). The flatter equatorial region is less reactive and the addition only rarely takes place at the double bond of the d site. Particularly, cycloadditions of azomethine ylides typically give rise to the a, followed by the b, and a small amount of the g regioisomers (C(8) C(25), C(7) C(22), C(1) C(2) according to the systematic numbering; Figure 1). We propose to refer to these isomers (a, b, etc.) and to this form of selectivity as “site isomers” and site selectivity, respectively, to distinguish them from the regioisomers that result from the addition of nonsymmetric 1,3-dipoles to a double bond of the fullerene sphere. Indeed, depending on the orientation of the asymmetric azomethine ylide addition to the fullerene double bond, two regioisomers are, in turn, possible for each of the formed cycloadducts (see Figure 1). Furthermore, each of these regioisomeric pyrrolidines could be formed in a cis or trans configuration (diastereomers) and, in turn, in both of the enantiomeric forms. Herein we describe an efficient catalytic site-, regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective cycloaddition of N-metalated azomethine ylides to C70 at low temperatures and while maintaining the atom economy principle. This methodology [*] E. E. Maroto, Dr. S. Filippone, Dr. . Mart n-Domenech, Prof. Dr. N. Mart n Departamento de Qu mica Org nica I Facultad de Ciencias Qu micas Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid (Spain) Fax: (+ 34)91-394-4103 E-mail: nazmar@quim.ucm.es Homepage: http://www.ucm.es/info/fullerene

X-Ray and theoretical structural study of novel 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzo-4H-pyrans

Abstract The X-ray crystal structure of three substituted tetrahydrobenzo-4H-pyrans ( 6a–c ) is presented and the experimental findings compared with the theoretical values calculated at the semiempirical (AM1, PM3) and ab initio (HF/6-31G∗) levels. A good agreement between both experimental and theoretical data is found showing a flattened boat conformation for the 4H-pyran ring and a pseudo-axial orientation of the aryl ring on the C4 position. The geometrical features of these systems ( 6a–c ) reveal that they present the structural requirements to act as calcium antagonists.

Solvent-free synthesis of 4-aryl substituted 5-alkoxycarbonyl-6-methyl-3,4-dihydropyridones under microwave irradiation

Abstract 4-Aryl substituted 5-alkoxycarbonyl-6-methyl-3,4-dihydropyridones have been prepared in one-pot condensation from Meldrums acid, methyl acetoacetate and the appropriate benzaldehyde in the presence of ammonium acetate using microwave irradiation without solvent. This rapid method produced pure products in high yields (81–91%) due essentially to a specific non-thermal microwave effect (17–28%) by conventional heating under the same conditions.

Switching the Stereoselectivity: (Fullero)Pyrrolidines “a la Carte”

Stereodivergent syntheses of cis/trans pyrrolidino[3,4:1,2]fullerenes and endo/exo pyrrolidines are reported with high enantioselectivity levels. Fullerenes are revealed as a useful benchmark to develop suitable catalysts to control the stereochemical outcome and to shed light on the mechanism involved in the related 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.

Development of a novel virtual screening cascade protocol to identify potential trypanothione reductase inhibitors.

The implementation of a novel sequential computational approach that can be used effectively for virtual screening and identification of prospective ligands that bind to trypanothione reductase (TryR) is reported. The multistep strategy combines a ligand-based virtual screening for building an enriched library of small molecules with a docking protocol (AutoDock, X-Score) for screening against the TryR target. Compounds were ranked by an exhaustive conformational consensus scoring approach that employs a rank-by-rank strategy by combining both scoring functions. Analysis of the predicted ligand−protein interactions highlights the role of bulky quaternary amine moieties for binding affinity. The scaffold hopping (SHOP) process derived from this computational approach allowed the identification of several chemotypes, not previously reported as antiprotozoal agents, which includes dibenzothiepine, dibenzooxathiepine, dibenzodithiepine, and polycyclic cationic structures like thiaazatetracyclo-nonadeca-hexaen-3-ium. Assays measuring the inhibiting effect of these compounds on T. cruzi and T. brucei TryR confirm their potential for further rational optimization.

Structural study of 3,4-dihydropyridones and furo[3,4-b]-2(1H)-pyridones as potential calcium channel modulators

Abstract A structural study of 4-aryl substituted 5-alkoxycarbonyl-6-methyl-3,4-dihydropyridones (4a-d) and hexahydrofuro-[3,4-b]-2-(1H)-pyridones (5a-d) has been carried out using X-ray analyses, semiempirical (AM1) calculations, NOE experiments and coupling constants. From the two favoured conformers (A and B), conformation A bearing the phenyl ring in a pseudoaxial position turned out to be the most stable both in the solid state and in solution. Compounds 4a-d fulfil, from the structural point of view, all the requirements needed for exhibiting an antagonist calcium effect and an agonist effect should be expected for compounds 5a-d.

Pyridazine Derivatives. Part 21: Synthesis and Structural Study of Novel 4-Aryl-2,5-dioxo-8-phenylpyrido[2,3-d]pyridazines

Abstract New substituted 4-aryl-2,5-dioxo-8-phenylpyrido[2,3-d]pyridazines 4a–f have been prepared in one step from the corresponding arylidene substituted Meldrums acid (1) and 5-amino-6-phenyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone (2) in good yields. Semiempirical theoretical calculations (AM1) reveal two favoured conformations (A and B) for compounds 4a–f, with a screw boat conformation in the pyridone system and a planar pyridazinone ring. X-Ray crystallographic analysis shows that in the solid state, conformation A bearing the phenyl ring in a pseudoaxial position is the most stable. Compounds 4a–f fulfil, from the structural point of view, all the requirements needed for exhibiting cardiotonic effects.

Synthesis of methyl 4-aryl-6-methyl-4,7-dihydro-1H-pyrazolo-[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxylates from methyl 4-aryl-6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine-5-carboxylates

Novel methyl 4,7-dihydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxylates 3a–e have been prepared in a two step procedure from the readily available 2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine-5-carboxylates 1a–e by treatment with the Vilsmeier–Haack reagent. Further treatment of the novel o-chloroformyl substituted methyl 1,4-dihydropyridine-5-carboxylates 2a–e with hydrazine affords the corresponding methyl pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxylates in good yields. Semiempirical calculations reveal a favoured geometry with a boat conformation in the dihydropyridine system and a planar pyrazole ring.

Ultrasound-assisted one-pot, four component synthesis of 4-aryl 3,4-dihydropyridone derivatives.

The condensation of Meldrums acid, aromatic aldehydes, alkyl acetoacetates and ammonium acetate in glacial acetic acid under ultrasound irradiation at room temperature results in the formation of 3,4-dihydropyridone derivatives (4a-p) in 85-96% yields. Compared with conventional methods, the main advantages of the present procedure are milder conditions, shorter reaction times and higher yields.