Microwave assisted organic synthesis-a review

In the past few years, spiropyran has emerged as the molecule-of-choice for the construction of novel dynamic materials. This unique molecular switch undergoes structural isomerisation in response to a variety of orthogonal stimuli, e.g. light, temperature, metal ions, redox potential, and mechanical stress. Incorporation of this switch onto macromolecular supports or inorganic scaffolds allows for the creation of robust dynamic materials. This review discusses the synthesis, switching conditions, and use of dynamic materials in which spiropyran has been attached to the surfaces of polymers, biomacromolecules, inorganic nanoparticles, as well as solid surfaces. The resulting materials show fascinating properties whereby the state of the switch intimately affects a multitude of useful properties of the support. The utility of the spiropyran switch will undoubtedly endow these materials with far-reaching applications in the near future.

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Spiropyran-based dynamic materials

Spiro Compounds for Organic Optoelectronics

A review of ionic liquids: Applications towards catalytic organic transformations

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) receive increasing attention because they address both diversity and complexity in organic synthesis. Thus, in principle diverse sets of relatively complex structures can be generated from simple starting materials in a single reaction step. The ever increasing need for optically pure compounds for pharmaceutical and agricultural applications as well as for catalysis promotes the development of asymmetric multicomponent reactions. In recent years, asymmetric multicomponent reactions have been applied to the total synthesis of various enantiopure natural products and commercial drugs, reducing the number of required reaction steps significantly. Although many developments in diastereoselective MCRs have been reported, the field of catalytic enantioselective MCRs has just started to blossom. This critical review describes developments in both diastereoselective and catalytic enantioselective multicomponent reactions since 2004. Significantly broadened scopes, new techniques, more environmentally benign methods and entirely novel MCRs reflect the increasingly inventive paths that synthetic chemist follow in this field. Until recently, enantioselective transition metal-catalyzed MCRs represented the majority of catalytic enantioselective MCRs. However, metal contamination is highly undesirable for drug synthesis. The emergence of organocatalysis greatly influences the quest for new asymmetric MCRs.

Recent developments in asymmetric multicomponent reactions.

A simple, efficient and green procedure for Knoevenagel condensation catalyzed by [C4dabco][BF4] ionic liquid in water

A variety of β-enamino ketones and esters have been synthesized in high to exellent yields by reacting β-dicarbonyl compounds with amines in the presence of a catalytic amount of indium tribromide. The reaction proceeds smoothly at room temperature in a short reaction time under solvent-free conditions.

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A General and Efficient Method for the Preparation of β-Enamino Ketones and Esters Catalyzed by Indium Tribromide

Bispirooxindole derivatives containing three stereocenters, including two spiro quaternary centers, were synthesized in a high-yielding, atypically rapid, and stereocontrolled cascade Michael–cyclization reaction between methyleneindolinones and isothiocyanato oxindoles catalyzed by a bi- or multifunctional organocatalyst. Mild conditions were used to construct bispirooxindoles with excellent enantio- and diastereomeric purities within less than 1 min. Catalyst reconfiguration offered access to the opposite enantiomer. This exceptionally highly efficient procedure will allow diversity-oriented syntheses of this intriguing class of compounds with potential biological activities.

Highly Efficient Enantioselective Construction of Bispirooxindoles Containing Three Stereocenters through an Organocatalytic Cascade Michael–Cyclization Reaction

A general enantioselective synthesis of functionalized nitrocyclopropanes by organocatalytic conjugate addition of a variety of bromonitroalkanes to alpha,beta-unsaturated enone systems is presented. The process, efficiently catalyzed by the salts of 9-amino-9-deoxyepiquinine 1 d serves as a powerful approach to the preparation of synthetically and biologically important cyclopropanes with high levels of enantio- and diastereoselectivities. Since only 0.6 equivalents of bromonitromethane are used as a reagent, (S)-2 e is obtained enantiomerically pure by employing chiral 1 d as a highly efficient catalyst for its kinetic resolution (97 % ee at 51 % conversion, selectivity s=120).

Enantioselective Synthesis of Functionalized Nitrocyclopropanes by Organocatalytic Conjugate Addition of Bromonitroalkanes to α,β‐Unsaturated Enones

Three series of functionalized spiropyrans and spirooxazines derivatives were synthesized and their photochromic properties were investigated in particular regard to the fatigue resistance, the lifetime of the colored merocyanine form and the interaction of the colored form molecule. (1) Spiropyrans 5 and spironaphthooxazines 6 having an antioxidant group as a pendant exhibited higher fatigue resistance than that of the parent spiro compounds in solution. In particular, spiropyrans 5 showed higher resistance than parent compound 1 in the presence of an equimolar amount of the corresponding antioxidant. (2) bis-Spironaphthooxazines 8a–8i and 10 connected through a phosphoryl group exhibited higher fatigue resistance and longer lifetime of the colored merocyanine form than those of the parent spirooxazine 7. (3) Symmetrical bis-spiro photochromic compounds 15 and 16 and unsymmetrical bis-spiro compounds 13, 14 and 17 were synthesized. The bis-spiro photochromic compounds were found to undergo intramolecular interaction between the colored merocyanine forms.

Yongmei Wang

Papers

A simple, efficient and green procedure for Knoevenagel condensation catalyzed by [C4dabco][BF4] ionic liquid in water

A General and Efficient Method for the Preparation of β-Enamino Ketones and Esters Catalyzed by Indium Tribromide

Highly Efficient Enantioselective Construction of Bispirooxindoles Containing Three Stereocenters through an Organocatalytic Cascade Michael–Cyclization Reaction

Enantioselective Synthesis of Functionalized Nitrocyclopropanes by Organocatalytic Conjugate Addition of Bromonitroalkanes to α,β‐Unsaturated Enones

Synthesis of functionalized spiropyran and spirooxazine derivatives and their photochromic properties