Selective aerobic oxidation of allylic and benzylic alcohols catalyzed by N-hydroxyindole and copper(I) chloride

In the presence of copper(I) chloride, tert-butyl 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-6-trifluoromethyl-1H-indole-3-carboxylate acted as a catalyst for the chemoselective aerobic oxidation of allylic and benzylic alcohols. A variety of primary and secondary allylic and benzylic alcohols were oxidized into the corresponding α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in good yields without affecting non-allylic alcohols.     

Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of Z-vinylic tellurides from propargylic alcohols: a route to chiral Z-enynes

tert-Butyldimethylsilyl ethers of propargylic alcohols are hydrotellurated regioselectively to give 1,2-Z-vinylic tellurides. Enantiomerically pure propargylic alcohols give enantiomerically pure vinylic tellurides, which are coupled with alkynes under Pd catalysis to give enantiomerically pure allylic enynols.     

A novel reaction of allylic alcohols with hexafluoropropene-diethylamine adduct (PPDA) to form 2-fluoro-2-trifluoromethyl-4-alkenamide

Treatment of allylic alcohols with hexafluoropropene-diethylamine adduct (PPDA) afforded N,N-diethyl-2-fluoro-2-trifluoromethyl-4-alkenamides which were formed by the Claisen rearrangement of intermediary 2-alkenyl-1-diethylamino-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propenyl ethers. Although (E)-allylic alcohols gave two diastereomeric products in about 1:1 ratio, (Z)-allylic alcohols gave the corresponding product as a single diastereomer.     

A simple method for the oxidation of primary alcohols with o-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) in the presence of acetic acid

A simple method for the oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes using o-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) with the addition of stoichiometric acetic acid has been developed. Addition of acetic acid significantly accelerated the reaction rate. Under these conditions, primary aliphatic, benzylic, and allylic alcohols are smoothly converted to aldehydes in high yields (90-97%).     

Copper(I) tert-butoxide-promoted stereospecific alkylation of β-hydroxymethylvinylsilanes with alkyl halides

Stereospecific alkylation of (Z)-β-hydroxymethylvinylsilanes proceeded by treatment with copper(I) tert-butoxide and alkyl halides. Tri- and tetra-substituted allylic alcohols were obtained with complete retention of configuration.     

One-pot synthesis and resolution of chiral allylic alcohols

Substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones were selectively reduced to the corresponding allylic alcohols under mild reaction conditions. The allylic alcohols thus obtained were kinetically resolved by lipase catalyzed transesterification in the same pot to afford chiral allylic alcohols in excellent enantioselectivity. Various lipases were screened for this one-pot transesterification of allylic alcohols. Effects of different solvent have also been studied under these conditions. Pseudomonas cepacia lipase immobilized on ceramic particles (PS-C) and on diatomaceous earth (PS-D) catalyzes this transesterification in diisopropyl ether in a highly efficient manner.     

Kinetic resolution of allylic alcohols via stereoselective acylation catalyzed by lipase PS-30

By using lipase PS-30 as catalyst, the kinetic resolution of a series of racemic allylic alcohols has been achieved via stereoselective acylation. The value of kinetic enantiomeric ratio (E) reached up to 968. Substituent effect is briefly discussed.     

Nickel-catalyzed coupling of terminal allenes, aldehydes, and silanes

The development of a nickel-catalyzed coupling of terminal allenes, aldehydes, and silanes is described. This transformation selectively provides 1,1-disubstituted allylic alcohols, protected as a silyl ether. The choice of the reducing agent is essential for achieving selectivity in this coupling process. A trialkylphosphine (Cyp₃P) and an N-heterocyclic carbene (IPr) are complementary in this reaction.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of all-syn 3,4-disubstituted l-prolines: studies of the reductive rearrangement of unactivated tertiary allylic alcohols

We describe a stereocontrolled method that converts tertiary allylic alcohols in pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives prepared from 3-(S)-hydroxy-l-proline to all-syn 3,4-disubstituted l-prolines. A study of various parameters to optimize the reductive rearrangement of tertiary allylic alcohols to tetrasubstituted olefins was conducted.     

Sequencing cross-metathesis and non-metathesis reactions to rapidly access building blocks for synthesis

The olefin cross-metathesis reaction has been sequenced with four common organic transformations in a one- or two-pot manner to rapidly access useful building blocks. Those reactions are: (1) phosphorus-based olefination (e.g., Wittig and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons); (2) hydride reduction; (3) Evans propionate aldol reaction; (4) Brown allyl- and Roush crotyl-boration. The products of these reactions include stereodefined 2,4-dienoates, trans allylic alcohols, syn-propionate aldols, and chiral non-racemic homoallylic alcohols, respectively. Many of these intermediates have been carried further to natural products, demonstrating the utility of the methodology.     

Direct palladium(0)-catalyzed amination of allylic alcohols with aminonaphthalenes

The direct activation of CO bonds in allylic alcohols by palladium complexes has been accelerated by carrying out the reactions in the presence of titanium reagents. The palladium-catalyzed amination of allylic alcohols using aminonaphthalenes gave N-allylic naphthylamines in good yields. The monoallylation products are formed in the main.     

Direct palladium/carboxylic acid-catalyzed C-allylation of cyclic 1,3-diones with allylic alcohols in water

The direct activation of C-O bonds in allylic alcohols in water as a suspension medium by palladium complexes has been accelerated by carrying out the reactions in the presence of a carboxylic acid. The palladium-catalyzed allylation of cyclic 1,3-diones using allylic alcohols directly gave the corresponding C-allylated products in good yields.     

Solvent-free oxidation of alcohols by t-butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by water-soluble copper complex

The catalytic system composed of CuCl₂ and 2,2′-biquinoline-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid dipotassium salt (BQC), was found to be highly efficient for the selective oxidation of secondary benzylic, allylic and propargylic alcohols to the corresponding ketones, with aqueous t-butyl hydroperoxide under phase-transfer catalysis conditions. The catalytic system is stable and can be recycled and reused several times without loss of activity.     

Mild stereoselective formation of tri- and tetrasubstituted olefins by regioselective ring opening of 1,1-disubstituted vinyl oxiranes with dialkyl dithiophosphates

Presented in this Letter is a mild new method to stereoselectively ring open 1,1-disubstituted vinyl oxiranes using dialkyl dithiophosphate nucleophiles. This new reaction proceeds in toluene at room temperature to afford tri- and tetrasubstituted allylic alcohols with high Z-selectivity. The syn relationship between the alcohol and the newly incorporated dithiophosphate moiety presented an opportunity to evaluate the anionic hopping properties of the ring opening product. Treatment of the ring opening product with base results in a facile phosphate hopping followed by a selective thiolate 3-exo-trig instead of a 5-exo-tet cyclization.     

A practical one-pot radical-ionic sequence for the preparation of epoxides: application to the synthesis of unnatural polyhydroxylated alkaloids

An efficient one-pot sequence for the preparation of epoxides from α-iodoesters or α-iodonitriles and allylic alcohols is described. This sequence is based on the use of iodine atom transfer reaction onto allylic alcohols followed by a ring closing epoxidation reaction of the halohydrin intermediates. The feasibility of this sequence is showcased in the synthesis of the perhydroaza-azulene, an unnatural analog of castanospermine.     

Highly enantioselective acylation of chlorohydrins using Amano AK lipase from P. fluorescens immobilized on silk fibroin–alginate spheres

Aromatic, allylic, and aliphatic compounds containing a chlorohydrin group were selected as substrates for the enzymatic kinetic resolution mediated by Amano AK lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens immobilized in silk friboin-alginate spheres. Thus, the enantioselectivity of the process was sufficient for the production of the desired alcohols and acetates in good yields and high enantiomeric purities. This Letter provides a simple, cheap, and practical protocol for enantioselective synthesis of chlorohydrins and reinforces the versatility of silk fibroin as supports for heterogeneous catalysts.     

Highly selective methanesulfonic acid-catalyzed 1,3-isomerization of allylic alcohols

Secondary and tertiary allylic alcohols undergo 1,3-isomerization smoothly in the presence of methanesulfonic acid under simple and efficient conditions to afford selectively the corresponding primary E-allylic alcohols in excellent yields.     

N-Bromosuccinimide-mediated reaction of cyclic styrenes with chloramine-T

A facile route toward substituted allylic sulfonamides 3 is developed from the N-bromosuccinimide (NBS)-mediated allylic amination of cyclic styrenes 2 with chloramine-T (1a). Skeleton 2 is prepared by Grignard addition of cyclic ketones with different arylmagnesium bromides in THF followed by dehydration of the resulting tertiary alcohols with BF₃·OEt₂ in CH₂Cl₂. The synthetic route obtained moderate yields from the one-step operation and the key structures of skeleton 3 were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Formation of dihydroxyselenides from allylic alcohols and their conversion to β-hydroxy epoxides via substitution of a phenylselenonyl group

Hydroxyselenation of allylic alcohols occurs with high regio- and stereoselectivity to give β,β′-dihydroxyphenylselanyl adducts in high yields. An exception is the reaction of the terminal alcohol, 2-methylprop-2-en-1-ol, which forms only a 1,2-diol product. Generally, the addition is Markovnikov in orientation, but the fact that one anti-Markovnikov addition is observed and that addition to 1,2-disubstituted alkenes shows a strong preference for one regioisomer suggests that an interaction of the allylic alcohol with the selenium atom of the reaction intermediate (which weakens the C_β-Se bond in the intermediate) is also an important factor in determining the preference for addition of the phenylselanyl group to the double bond carbon nearest the allylic alcohol. The hydroxyselenated adducts of allylic alcohols can be readily converted to β-hydroxy epoxides in good yields via oxidation with m-chloroperbenzoic acid to a selenone and subsequent treatment with base. Hydroxyselenation of crotyl acetate and 3-acetoxycyclohexene is more regiocatholic than hydroxyselenation of the corresponding allylic alcohols. It appears that the known selectivity of additions of phenylselanyl chloride to these acetates in organic solvents is lost when water or a Lewis acid complexes to the acetate group.     

Redox isomerisation of allylic alcohols catalysed by water-soluble ruthenium complexes in aqueous systems

The process of catalytic isomerisation of various allylic alcohols (alk-1-en-3-ols) into saturated ketones under mild conditions is reported. The water-soluble Na₄[{RuCl₂(mtppms)₂}₂] complex, previously reported by us as a precursor to very active hydrogenation catalysts was also found an active catalyst of the redox isomerisation of allylic alcohols in aqueous media. The new Na[Ru(CO)Cp(mtppms)₂] as well as Na₄[{RuCl(μ-Cl)(CCCPh₂)(mtppms)₂}₂] and Na₂[RuClCp(mtppms)₂] also showed good to excellent catalytic activities for redox isomerisations in aqueous systems at 50-80 °C under inert atmosphere.