Multisite solid catalyst for cascade reactions: the direct synthesis of benzodiazepines from nitro compounds

Substituted 1,5-benzodiazepines are selectively synthesized in one pot from substituted nitroaromatics and ketones. The reaction is performed in the presence of hydrogen and in the absence of solvent by using a bifunctional solid catalyst with a chemoselective hydrogenation functional group capable of reducing the nitro group to a diamino group and an acid functional group, which catalyzes the cyclocondensation of the amino group with the ketone.

Gas-solid reactions of single crystals: a study of reactions of NH3 and NO2 with single crystalline organic substrates by infrared microspectroscopy

Reaction of single crystals of benzoic and trans-cinnamic acids with 200 Torr pressure of ammonia gas in a sealed glass bulb at 20 degrees C generates the corresponding ammonium salts; there is no sign of any 1:2 adduct as has been reported previously for related systems. Isotopic substitution using ND3 has been used to aid identification of the products. Adipic acid likewise reacts with NH3 gas to form a product in which ammonium salts are formed at both carboxylic acid groups. Reaction of 0.5 Torr pressure of NO2 gas with single crystals of 9-methylanthracene and 9-anthracenemethanol in a flow system generates nitrated products where the nitro group appears to be attached at the 10-position, i.e. the position trans to the methyl or methoxy substituent on the central ring. Isotopic substitution using 15NO2 has been used to confirm the identity of the bands arising from the coordinated NO2 group. The products formed when single crystals of hydantoin are reacted with NO2 gas under similar conditions depend on the temperature of the reaction. At 20 degrees C, a nitrated product is formed, but at 65 degrees C this gives way to a product containing no nitro groups. The findings show the general applicability of infrared microspectroscopy to a study of gas-solid reactions of organic single crystals.

Brand New Quantitative Solid-state Synthesis of N-pyrazolyl Azomethines

Fifteen preparatively useful azomethines 3 and 5 have been quantitatively (100% yield at 100% conversion) obtained as hydrates by ball-milling together 4-aminoantipyrine 1 and 3-amino-4,6-dimethylpyrazolopyridine 4 with solid benzaldehydes 2 without passing through liquid phases. Unlike (acid catalysed) azomethine syntheses in solution, the solid–solid condensations proceed “waste free” in the absence of any auxiliaries or microwave irradiation. The product yields are quantitative in all cases and the products do not require purifying workup.

Waste-free solid-state syntheses with quantitative yield

Unexpected organic solid-state reactions in the gas-solid and stoichiometric solid-solid versions are highly promising new tools for solvent-free sustainable synthesis and production if they occur with 100% yield. Costly workup is obsolete, no wastes are formed and resources and energy saved. More than 500 published 100%-yield, solid-state reactions in 25 reaction types cover virtually all fields of synthetic organic chemistry. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals that solid-state reactions require long-range molecular movements and are strictly and sensibly guided by the crystal packing. Three steps govern the issue: phase rebuilding, phase transformation, and crystal disintegration (detachment). If one of these fails, or if liquid phases are not avoided, the reaction will usually not run to completion. Repeated creation of fresh contacts of crystallites is essential in solid-solid reactions. New, otherwise inaccessible and highly reactive products are most easily obtained. Cooling below eutectic temperatures, but also thermal activation above room temperature, may be necessary. Liquids may be solidified by cooling or inclusion complexation. Typical single-step, multi-step and cascade reactions have been performed with 100% yield using commonly available starting materials in various fields. Upscaling to the kilogram scale has been achieved under various conditions. Further upscaling to technical size productions seems possible.