The intramolecular cyclization of N-benzylfumaramide [2]rotaxanes is described. The mechanical bond of these substrates activates this transformation to proceed in high yields and in a regio- and diastereoselective manner, giving interlocked 3,4-disubstituted trans-azetidin-2-ones. This activation effect markedly differs from the more common shielding protection of threaded functions by the macrocycle, in this case promoting an unusual and disfavored 4-exo-trig ring closure. Kinetic and synthetic studies allowed us to delineate an advantageous approach toward β-lactams based on a two-step, one-pot protocol: an intramolecular ring closure followed by a thermally induced dethreading step. The advantages of carrying out this cyclization in the confined space of a benzylic amide macrocycle are attributed to its anchimeric assistance.

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Equation-of-motion coupled cluster singles and doubles (EOM-CCSD) calculations have been performed to evaluate three-bond (15)N-(31)P coupling constants ((3h)J(N[bond]P)) across N[bond]H....O[bond]P hydrogen bonds in model cationic and anionic complexes including NH(4)(+):OPH, NH(4)(+):OPH(3), NH(3):(-)O(2)PH(2), NFH(2):(-)O(2)PH(2), and NF(2)H:(-)O(2)PH(2). Three-bond coupling constants can be appreciable when the phosphorus is P(V), but are negligible with P(III). (3h)J(N[bond]P) values in complexes with cyclic or open structures are less than 1 Hz, a consequence of the nonlinear arrangement of N, H, O, and P atoms. For complexes with these structures, (3h)J(N[bond]P) may not be experimentally measurable. In contrast, complexes in which the N, H, O, and P atoms are collinear or nearly collinear have larger values of (3h)J(N[bond]P), even though the N[bond]P distances are longer than N[bond]P distances in cyclic and open structures. In linear complexes, (3h)J(N[bond]P) is dominated by the Fermi-contact term, which is distance dependent. Therefore, N[bond]P (and hydrogen-bonding N[bond]O) distances in these complexes can be determined from experimentally measured (15)N-(31)P coupling constants.

[reactions: see text] Condensation reaction of o-phthalaldehyde with primary amines is a classical method for the synthesis of phthalimidines. Although the intermediacy of the corresponding monoimines has been occasionally proposed, the mechanism of their transformation into phthalimidines remains to be elucidated. We present here theoretical evidence supporting a three-step mechanistic pathway for that transformation involving the [1,5]-H sigmatropic rearrangement of the aldehydic proton leading to an intermediate (aminovinyl)ketene as the key step. Other alternative routes have been calculated to be energetically less favorable. Similar transformations of related imino aldehydes enclosing a 5-aza-2,4-pentadienal skeleton via [1,5]-H shifts are also studied.