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Reductive coupling of α,β-unsaturated acid chlorides A with alkynoyls B provides convergent access to Nazarov cyclization precursors, α-carboxy divinyl ketones C. Cyclization of C gives an intermediate oxyallyl cation intermediate D, which can be trapped with tethered arenes (Ar). The resultant products can be further cyclized through nucleophilic displacement of suitable leaving groups X by tethered OH groups to give lactones (in a subsequent step). Where X is a suitable chiral auxiliary (e.g., oxazolidinone) this strategy affords access to homochiral cyclopentanoids.

5,5'-Disubstituted-3,3'-bisisoxazoles are prepared in one step by the dropwise addition of aqueous potassium hydrogen carbonate to a mixture of dichloroglyoxime and terminal alkynes. The reaction exhibits a striking preference for the 5,5'-disubstituted 3,3'-bisisoxazole over the 4,5'-regioisomer. Organometallic iridium and rhenium bisisoxazole complexes are luminescent with emission wavelengths varying depending upon the identity of the 5,5'-substituent (phenyl, butyl).

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/p(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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation of the use of Cp2Zr(H)Cl (Schwart'z s reagent) to reduce a variety of amides to the corresponding aldehydes under very mild reaction conditions and in high yields is reported. A range of tertiary amides, including Weinreb's amides, can be converted directly to the corresponding aldehydes with remarkable chemoselectivity. Primary and secondary amides proved to be viable substrates for reduction as well, although the yields were somewhat diminished as compared to the corresponding tertiary amides Results from NMR experiments suggested the presence of a stable 18-electron zirconacycle intermediate that presumably affords the aldehyde upon water or silica gel workup A series of competition experiments revealed a preference of the reagent for substrates in which3 the lone pair of the nitrogen is electron releasing and thus more delocalized across the amide bond by resonance This trend accounts for the observed excellent selectivity for tertiary amides versus esters. Experiments regarding the solvent dependence of the reaction suggested a kinetic profile similar to that postulated for the hydrozirconation of alkenes and alkynes. Addition of p-anisidine to the reaction intermediate resulted in the formation of the corresponding imine mimicking the addition of water that forms the aldehyde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]