International Journal of Organic Chemistry
Vol. 2  No. 1 (2012) , Article ID: 17862 , 7 pages DOI:10.4236/ijoc.2012.21011

Unusual Catalytic Process Involving OH and NH Exchange

Ramadan M. Ramadan*, Ahmad K. Abu Al-Nasr

Applied Chemistry Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Taibah University, Almadinah Almunawrah, KSA

Email: *r_m_ramadan@yahoo.com

Received November 22, 2011; revised February 2, 2012; accepted February 21, 2012

Keywords: Bicompartment Ligand; Schiff Bases; Diaminobenzene; X-Ray Analysis

ABSTRACT

Interaction of some transition metals species with a Schiff base, 1, derived from 4,6-diacetylresorcinol and 2-amino- 5-methylphenol (1:2 mole ratio) yielded the two compounds 4-ethanimidoyl-6-[(1E)-N-(2-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl) ethanimidoyl]benzene-1,3-diol, 2, and 4,6-diacetyl-1,3-diaminobenzene, 4 via unusual catalytic process involving OH and NH exchange. All the compounds are characterized by elemental analysis, IR, mass and 1H NMR. The structure of the two compounds 2 and 4 are also determined by X-ray analysis. The crystal structure analysis revealed that the two compounds crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/c with a Z value of 4.

1. Introduction

Coordination chemistry of macrocyclic ligands has shown to be interesting subject of current research in the last two decades [1,2]. Importance in designing new macrocyclic ligands arises mainly from their use as models for protein-metal binding sites in a substantial array of metalloproteins in biological systems, such as the synthetic ionophores, models for the magnetic exchange phenomena, therapeutic reagents in chelate therapy for treatment of metal intoxication and the cyclic antibiotics that retain their antibiotic actions to specific metal complexation [3-6]. On the other hand, the synthesis of binuclear complexes in which a ligand structure accommodates two metal centers in close proximity but in a different compartments separated by an intervening group represents important criteria in the study of transitionmetal systems. In such molecularly designed ligands, the aromatic rings are expected to act as a bridge and a rigid separator between the two compartments. The interest in these complexes corresponds to their ability to serve as simple models for multi-metal-centered catalysts [7,8]. From these types of ligands, the macrocyclic Schiff bases exhibited great importance in macrocyclic chemistry because they can selectively chelate certain metal ions depending on the number, type and position of their donor atoms, the ionic radii of the metal centers, and the coordinating property of the counter ions [9]. In this report, we synthesized a molecularly designed macrocyclic Schiff base to serve as a host for two metal centers. However, unusual behavior was observed in the attempts of interactions of this ligand with different transition metal species.

2. Experimental

2.1. Reagents

4,6-diacetylresorcinol, 2-amino-5-methylphenol, ferric chloride, nickel nitrate and palladium(II) chloride were purchased from Aldrich. All the solvents were of analytical reagent grade and were purified by standard methods.

2.2. Instruments

IR measurements (KBr discs) were carried out on a Unicam-Mattson 1000 FT-IR spectrometer. NMR measurements were performed on a Spectrospin-Bruker 300 MHz spectrometer. Samples were dissolved in (CD3)2SO and TMS was used as an internal reference. Elemental analyses were performed on Perkin-Elmer 2400 CHN elemental analyzer. Mass spectrometry measurements of the solid complexes (70 eV, EI) were carried out on a Finnigan MAT SSQ 7000 spectrometer.

2.3. Preparation of 4,6-Di[(1E)-N-(2-hydroxy-4- methylphenyl)ethanimidoyl]-benzene-1, 3-diol (1)

Solutions of 4,6-diacetylresorcinol and 2-amino-5- methylphenol in absolute ethanol with molar ratio 1:2 were mixed together and heated to reflux for 1 h. The reaction mixture was then cooled and the formed yellow precipitate was isolated by filtration. The crude was recrystallized from hot ethanol to give yellow fine crystals. The compound was left to dry under vacuum for several hours (yield 86 %). M.p. 268˚C - 270˚C; M. Wt = 404.47, m/z = 388 (P-OH)+; Elemental analysis, Found (Calc.): C, 71.20 (71.27), H, 6.03 (5.98), N, 6.88 (6.92); IR: 3379 (m, OH), 3310 (m, OH), 1615 (sh, C=N), 1593 (vs, C=N), 1530 (vs, C=C), 1460 (s, C=C), 1433 (s, C=C), 864 - 570 (m, Ph); 1H NMR: 12.70 (s, 2 H, OH), 9.46 (s, 2 H, OH), 8.41, 8.25 (d, 2 H, Ph), 6.88 - 6.1 (m, 6 H, Ph), [2.40 (s), 2.38 (s), 2.26 (s), 2.08 (s), 12 H, CH3].

2.4. Preparation of 4-Ethanimidoyl-6-[(1E)- N-(2-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)ethanimidoyl]-benzene-1,3-diol (2)

A mixture of compound 1 and FeCl3 (1:1 mole ratio) in absolute ethanol was heated to reflux for 5 min and then left to stand at room temperature for few hours. The formed yellow residue was separated by filtration. The compound was recrystallized from hot ethanol to give yellow crystals. The crystals were left to dry under vacuum for several hours (yield 42%). M.p. 230˚C - 232˚C; M. Wt = 298.34, m/z = 299 P+; Elemental analysis, Found (Calc.): C, 68.38 (68.44), H, 6.12 (6.08), N, 9.30 (9.39); IR: 3431 (b, OH), 3069 (m, NH), 1636 (s, C=N), 1611 (s, C=N), 1592 (s, C=N), 1536 (s, C=C), 1463 (m, C=C), 1435 (m, C=C), 876 - 783 (m, Ph); 1H NMR: 17.21 (s, 1H, C=NH), 12.72 (s, 1 H, OH), 9.71 (d, 2 H, OH), 8.26 (d, 2 H, Ph), 6.89 - 6.20 (m, 3 H, Ph), [2.65 (s), 2.64 (s), 2.50 (s), 2.49 (s), 2.39 (s), 2.25 (s) 9 H, CH3].

2.5. Preparation of 4,6-Diacetyl-1,3- diaminobenzene (4)

Similar procedure was employed as that used for preparation of compound 2 but the mixture was heated to reflux for 3 h. The color of the solution was turned to dark brown. The mixture was left to stand overnight at room temperature where white needle crystals were isolated. The crystals were washed several times by warm absolute ethanol and then left to dry under vacuum (yield 53 %). M.p. 186˚C - 188˚C; M. Wt = 192.22, m/z = 194 (P+1)+; Elemental analysis, Found (Calc.): C, 62.45 (62.49), H, 6.32 (6.29), N, 14.52 (14.57); IR: 3215 (m, NH), 3076 (m, NH), 1655 (s, CO), 1587 (s, CO), 1486 (m, C=C), 1427 (m, C=C); 1H NMR: 12.72 (bs, 2 H, O..H..N), 8.41, 8.25 (s, 2 H, Ph), 6.41 (bs, 2 H, NH), [2.68 (s), 2.65 (s), 2.63 (s), 2.51 (s), 6 H, CH3].

2.6. X-Ray Structure Determination

All X-ray measurements were made at room temperature using suitable crystals for data collection. Accurate lattice parameters were determined from least squares refinements of well-centered reflections in the ranges 2.91 ≤ q ≤ 27.49 for compound 2 and 2.91 ≤ q ≤ 26.02 for compound 4. During data collection, three standard reflections were periodically observed and showed no significant intensity variations. The ranges of h, k and l are 0 ≤ h ≤ 14; 0 ≤ k ≤ 12 and –17 ≤ l ≤ 16 for compound 2, and 0 ≤ h ≤ 8; 0 ≤ k ≤ 14 and –14 ≤ l ≤ 13 for compound 4. 5456 (2) and 2725 (4) unique reflections were measured of which 2018 (2) and 1021 (4) had I > 3:00σ(I). These observed reflections were used for structure determination and refinements. The crystallographic data are presented in Table 1. All Diagrams and calculations were performed using maXus crystallographic software package (Nonius, Delft & MacScience, Japan). The structures were determined by direct methods SIR 92 [10] and refined by full matrix least-squares methods maXus [11]. The displacement factors of non-hydrogen atoms of the two compounds were refined with anisotropic thermal parameters. The hydrogen atoms were refined isotropically. The function minimized was with w = l/δ2(Fo)2 + 0.0300 (Fo)2. The final R and Rw values are given in Table 1.

Table 1. The crystal parameters for compounds 2 and 4.

3. Results and Discussion

IR and NMR Studies

The Schiff base 4,6-di[(1E)-N-(2-hydroxy-4-methyl-phenyl)-ethanimidoyl]benzene-1,3-diol, 1, was prepared by the condensation reaction of 4,6-diacetylresorcinol and 2-amino-5-methylphenol in 1 to 2 molar ratio (Scheme 1). This Schiff base was molecularly designed to be used as a bicompartment ligand. The IR spectrum of 1 showed characteristic stretching frequencies due to the functional groups [12]. Also, the presence of the OH groups was confirmed by 1H NMR. Direct interaction of compound 1 with some transition metals species such as Fe(III), Ni(II) and Pd(II) in ethanol exhibited unusual catalytic behavior to give the two compounds 4-ethani-midoyl-6-[(1E)- N-(2-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl) ethanimidoyl] benzene-1, 3- diol, 2, and 4,6-diacetyl-1,3-diaminobenzene, 4. Interestingly, this catalytic process was deactivated by carrying out the reactions in basic medium, i.e., by addition of sodium hydroxide. The two compounds 2, 4 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR as well as X-ray crystal structure. The IR spectra of both 2 and 4 showed characteristic bands corresponding to the functional groups in the compounds [12]. Interestingly, the 1H NMR spectrum of compound 4 showed broad signals at 12.72 and 6.41 ppm due to both OH and NH. Therefore, the structure of the compound in solution is different from the solid state structure which indicated by X-ray analysis. The presence of a signal at 12.72 ppm could be due to hydrogen bonding between one of the NH2 protons and the carbonyl oxygen [13-16].

A plausible mechanism for the formation of the two compounds 2 and 4 is given in Scheme 2. It is suggested that the interaction of the metal ions with the bicompartment Schiff base, 1, caused fragmentation of the base to give compound 2 (Scheme 1). On the other hand, further reaction with the metal ions with 2 might lead to the formation of intermediate 3, also, via fragmentation of 2. The existence of this intermediate was suggested according to 1H NMR evidence. Also, the presence of both NH and OH signals in the 1H NMR spectrum of compound 4 is additional evidence. However, attempts to isolate intermediate 3 in the solid state were unsuccessful. Scheme 2 shows a speculated mechanism for the formation of 4,6-diacetyl-1,3-diaminobenzene, 4, through a radical mechanism. To our knowledge, this is the first example observed for such type of exchange on a phenyl ring. However, the proton NH/OH exchange using 1H, 13C and 15N NMR was previously observed [17]. Also, the NH/OH exchange as well as proton exchange is a familiar feature on metal centers [18-20].

The crystal structure of the compounds 2 and 4 were determined by X-ray analysis. The crystallographic data are presented in Table 1. The ORTEP representations of the two compounds are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Selected bond lengths and angles are given in Tables 2 and 3. The crystal analysis revealed that the two compounds crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/c with a Z value of 4. From the structural analysis of compound 2 (Figure 1), it can be noted that the compound is totally unsymmetrical having the point group Cs. The fragments N1-C19-C18 and N1-C19-C9 are planar which revealed the sp2 hybridization of the N1, C19 and C18 atoms. The bond angles between these atoms lie in the range of 120˚ (Table 2). Also, the bond angle C19-N1- H1 is linear (179.9˚). Furthermore, the bond length of C19-N1 is 1.212 Å, which is shorter than the normal single C-N bond (vide infra), and indicated the presence of double bond character [21,22]. The bond angles in the azomethine part (C11-N5-C13) showed the presence of

Scheme 1. Synthesis scheme of compounds 2 and 3.

Scheme 2. Suggested mechanism for the formation of the two compounds 2 and 4.

Figure 1. The ORTEP projection of 2.

Figure 2. The ORTEP projection of 4.

Table 2. Selected bond lengths (Å) and bond angles (˚) for compound 2.

Table 3. Selected bond lengths (Å) and bond angles (˚) for compound 4.

conjugation between the C-N bonds and the two phenyl groups attached to the group (1.431 and 1.324 Å). The X-ray analysis of compound 2 showed that it contains 3 OH groups attached to the phenyl rings. Interestingly, the C-O bond length of the OH group attached to the position para to the C-N-H group (C16-O2 = 1.281 Å) is shorter than the other C-O bonds (C6-O3 = 1.355 Å and C20-O4 = 1.339 Å). The content of one unit cell (Figure 3) showed that the dihydroxy phenyl moieties of every two molecules are located in opposite faces and are parallel. This could be due to a charge transfer between every two moieties with π-π* type of interaction [23].

The X-ray crystal analysis of compound 4, Figure 2, revealed that it has a C2 axis of rotation with two planes of symmetry perpendicular to the symmetry axis (C2v symmetry). The bond angles between atoms are consistent with such symmetry (Table 3). However, the O-C-C angles located near the nitrogen atoms are slightly wider than the other angles. The bond length of C-N bond is typically single bond (N1-C8 = 1.338 Å and N3-C7 = 1.348 Å) [21,22]. On the other hand, the C-O bond lengths are consistent with the presence of double bond character (O2-C12 = 1.226 Å and O9-C11 = 1.224 Å) [21,22]. These bond lengths are shorter than the single C-O bonds observed for compound 2 (Scheme 1). The unit cell packing of 4 (Figure 4) exhibited that the

Figure 3. The unit cell packing of 2. Hydrogen atoms are omitted for clearance.

Figure 4. The unit cell packing of 4. Hydrogen atoms are omitted for clearance.

molecules are located in opposite faces and are in parallel stacks. Again, this could be due to a charge transfer between every two molecules with π-π* type of interaction [23].

4. Conclusion

Reactions of 4,6-di[(1E)-N-(2-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)- ethanimidoyl]-benzene-1,3-diol with some metal ions resulted in fragmentation of the compound followed by amido/hydroxyl exchange via unusual catalytic process to yield finally 4,6-diacetyl-1,3-diaminobenzene.

5. Supplementary Data

Supplementary crystallographic data (Atomic positional parameters, all bond lengths and angles, anisotropic temperature factors and the calculated and observed structure factors) are available from the CCDC, 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 IEZ, UK on request, deposition number: CCDC for: (2) 821862; (4) 821863.

6. Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Deanship of Scientific Research, Taibah University, Almadinah Almunawrah, KSA, for the generous financial support of the project no. 431/775.

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NOTES

*Corresponding author.