Nucleophilic reactions uncatalyzed synthesis

Quinone methides have been shown to be important intermediates in chemical synthesis,1 2 in lignin biosynthesis,3 and in the activity of antitumor and antibiotic agents.4 They react with many biologically relevant nucleophiles including alcohols,1 thiols,5-7 nucleic acids,8-10 proteins,6 11 and phosphodiesters.12 The reaction of nucleophiles with ortho- and /iara-quinone methides is pH dependent and can occur via either acid-catalyzed or uncatalyzed pathways.13-17 The electron transfer chemistry that is typical of the related quinones does not appear to play a role in the nucleophilic reactivity of QMs.18... 

Fig. 8.11. Tandem reaction consisting of three single reactions mutually transforming heterocumulenes and heteroatom nucleophiles in a one-pot synthesis of an isothiocyanate (1) uncatalyzed addition reaction of heteroatom nucleophile (aniline) + heterocumulene (carbon disulfide) —> carbonic acid derivative (A) (2) heterolysis-initiated /3-elimination of the carbonic acid derivative (D) -> heterocumulene (F = phenylisothiocyanate) + heteroatom nucleophile (thiocar-bonic acid O-ethylester) (3) decomposition of a carbonic acid derivative (D) to a heterocumulene (carbon oxysulfide) and a heteroatom nucleophile (ethanol) via the zwitterion H.

Halodendralenes are valuable substrates for dendralene to dendralene transformations that preserve or extend the dendralene framework. They are intermediates in the synthesis of [7]- and [8]dendralene (Scheme 1.26) [23], as are their nucleophilic relatives, pinacolatoboryldendralenes, in the synthesis of substituted [4]-, [5]-, and [6] dendraienes [25, 27]. (Pseudo)halodendralenes have also been used in Stille [209] and Sonagashira cross-couplings [178, 210]. Dendralene dimers can be obtained via homocoupling of halodendralenes [211]. Dendralene frameworks can also be extended by uncatalyzed metathesis reactions on alkyne-containing dendraienes, and olefination reactions on carbonyl-containing ones [1, 211-214], each of which has been discussed. 

Yaunner et al. (2012) reported synthesis of piperidinyl pyridines by piperidina-tion of halopyridines under microwave irradiation by Buchwald-Hartwig reaction, Ullmann reaction and nucleophilic aromatic substitution (Sj Ar). A comparative study of these methodologies show that the Ullmann reaction was most effective for less reactive halopyridines, while uncatalyzed Sj Ar was sufficient for more reactive ones. Reaction was carried out at 150°C for about half an hour in ethylene glycol. 

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