Rearrangement and fragmentation patterns, which have been observed during uv. irradiation of the following pyridinium ylides, will be discussed: pyridinium methylides, N.-iminopyridinium ylides and pyridine-N--oxides. As a rule these mesoionic compounds undergo two competing reactions: i) photolytic cleavage via a triplet state, leading to the corresponding pyridines and to carbenes, nitrenes a...

Natural products and their signature fragments are an enduring resource for identifying biological modulators. A number of biologically active alkaloids, such as strychnofoline and isorhynchophylline (Fig. 1), feature spiroindolizidine oxindoles. This fragment is considered ‘privileged’ for potential therapeutic investigation and there is much interest in developing expedient synthesis of such ...

The reaction of trimethylsilyl-substituted sulfonium ylides with organoboranes (Ph(3)B, Et(3)B) has been studied and although homologated products were obtained in good yield (after oxidation to the corresponding alcohols), the enantiomeric excesses were low with our camphor-based chiral sulfide (up to 40% ee, cf. corresponding phenyl-substituted sulfonium ylides gave >95% ee). Cross-over exper...

A photoinduced reaction between TMDPO (diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphine oxide) and perfluoroalkyl iodides successfully affords P-(perfluoroalkyl)diphenylphosphines as promising ligands for recyclable catalysts. Interestingly, the perfluoroalkylation reaction involves the reduction of phosphorus(V) compounds to phosphorus(III) species. The advantages of the present reaction include the...

The intriguing properties of phosphorene motivate scientists to further explore the structures and properties of phosphorus materials. Here, we report a new allotrope named K4 phosphorus composed of three-coordinated phosphorus atoms in non-layered structure which is not only dynamically and mechanically stable, but also possesses thermal stability comparable to that of the orthorhombic black p...

Cycloaddition reactions are among the most powerful methods for the synthesis of complex compounds. In particular, the development and application of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, an important member of this reaction class, has grown immensely due to its powerful ability to efficiently build various five-membered heterocycles. Azomethine ylides are commonly used as dipoles for the synthesis of...