Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Redox‐Active Esters with Boronic Acids

A transformation analogous in simplicity and functional group tolerance to the venerable Suzuki cross‐coupling between alkyl‐carboxylic acids and boronic acids is described. This Ni‐catalyzed reaction relies upon the activation of alkyl carboxylic acids as their redox‐active ester derivatives, specifically N‐hydroxy‐tetrachlorophthalimide (TCNHPI), and proceeds in a practical and scalable fashion. The inexpensive nature of the reaction components (NiCl₂?6 H₂O—$9.5 mol^?1, Et₃N) coupled to the virtually unlimited commercial catalog of available starting materials bodes well for its rapid adoption.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of substituted 2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1‐benzazepine‐5‐carboxylic esters by a tandem reduction‐reductive animation reaction

An efficient, diastereoselective synthesis of substituted and unsubstituted 2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1‐benzazepine‐5‐carboxylic esters has been developed based on the tandem reduction‐reductive amination reac tion. Catalytic hydrogenation of a series of 2‐(2‐nitrophenyl)‐5‐oxoalkanoic esters initiates a reaction sequence involving (1) reduction of the aromatic nitro group, (2) condensation of the N‐hydroxylamino (or amino) nitrogen with the side chain carbonyl, and (3) reduction of the seven‐membered cyclic imine. Cyclizations that produce 2‐alkyl‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1‐benzazepine‐5‐carboxylic esters are diastereose lective for the product having the C2 alkyl and the C5 ester groups cis. In these reactions, the transannular ester group exerts a strong stereodirecting effect on the reduction of the cyclic imine intermediate, though not as strong as that observed in previous closures of 2‐alkyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐4‐carboxylic esters. This decrease in diastereoselectivity is attributed to (1) the greater distance between the ester and the imine double bond and (2) the increased conformational mobility of the larger ring, both of which diminish the stereodirecting effect of the ester. Finally, formation of the seven‐membered ring is sufficiently slow that reaction with the side chain ester group competes with heterocycle formation in several of the reactions.     

Ketones from Nickel‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative,Non‐Symmetric Cross‐Electrophile Coupling of Carboxylic Acid Esters

Synthesis of the C?C bonds of ketones relies upon one high‐availability reagent (carboxylic acids) and one low‐availability reagent (organometallic reagents or alkyl iodides). We demonstrate here a ketone synthesis that couples two different carboxylic acid esters, N‐hydroxyphthalimide esters and S‐2‐pyridyl thioesters, to form aryl alkyl and dialkyl ketones in high yields. The keys to this approach are the use of a nickel catalyst with an electron‐poor bipyridine or terpyridine ligand, a THF/DMA mixed solvent system, and ZnCl₂ to enhance the reactivity of the NHP ester. The resulting reaction can be used to form ketones that have previously been difficult to access, such as hindered tertiary/tertiary ketones with strained rings and ketones with α‐heteroatoms. The conditions can be employed in the coupling of complex fragments, including a 20‐mer peptide fragment analog of Exendin(9–39) on solid support.     

Ketones from Nickel‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative,Non‐Symmetric Cross‐Electrophile Coupling of Carboxylic Acid Esters

Synthesis of the C?C bonds of ketones relies upon one high‐availability reagent (carboxylic acids) and one low‐availability reagent (organometallic reagents or alkyl iodides). We demonstrate here a ketone synthesis that couples two different carboxylic acid esters, N‐hydroxyphthalimide esters and S‐2‐pyridyl thioesters, to form aryl alkyl and dialkyl ketones in high yields. The keys to this approach are the use of a nickel catalyst with an electron‐poor bipyridine or terpyridine ligand, a THF/DMA mixed solvent system, and ZnCl₂ to enhance the reactivity of the NHP ester. The resulting reaction can be used to form ketones that have previously been difficult to access, such as hindered tertiary/tertiary ketones with strained rings and ketones with α‐heteroatoms. The conditions can be employed in the coupling of complex fragments, including a 20‐mer peptide fragment analog of Exendin(9–39) on solid support.     

Substituted 4‐Oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐3‐carboxylic Esters by a Tandem Imine Addition‐SNAr Reaction

A tandem imine addition‐S_NAr annulation reaction has been developed as a new approach to the synthesis of 4‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐3‐carboxylic esters. A series of these structures has been generated by reacting selected imines with tert‐butyl 2‐fluoro‐5‐nitrobenzoylacetate. Structural variations in the final products are accomplished by changing the substituents on the imine and the alkyl group of the ester. The title compounds are isolated as their enols in 55–97% yield without the need for added base or catalysts. The synthesis of the starting materials as well as mechanistic studies and further synthetic conversions of the products are presented.     

Decarboxylative Conjunctive Cross‐coupling of Vinyl Boronic Esters using Metallaphotoredox Catalysis

The synthesis of complex alkyl boronic esters through conjunctive cross‐coupling of vinyl boronic esters with carboxylic acids and aryl iodides is described. The reaction proceeds under mild metallaphotoredox conditions and involves an unprecedented decarboxylative radical addition/cross‐coupling cascade of vinyl boronic esters. Excellent functional‐group tolerance is displayed, and application of a range of carboxylic acids, including secondary α‐amino acids, and aryl iodides provides efficient access to highly functionalized alkyl boronic esters. The decarboxylative conjunctive cross‐coupling was also applied to the synthesis of sedum alkaloids.     

Decarboxylative C(sp3)−O Cross‐Coupling

Alkyl aryl ethers are an important class of compounds in medicinal and agricultural chemistry. Catalytic C(sp³)?O cross‐coupling of alkyl electrophiles with phenols is an unexplored disconnection strategy to the synthesis of alkyl aryl ethers, with the potential to overcome some of the major limitations of existing methods such as C(sp²)?O cross‐coupling and S_N2 reactions. Reported here is a tandem photoredox and copper catalysis to achieve decarboxylative C(sp³)?O coupling of alkyl N‐hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) esters with phenols under mild reaction conditions. This method was used to synthesize a diverse set of alkyl aryl ethers using readily available alkyl carboxylic acids, including many natural products and drug molecules. Complementarity in scope and functional‐group tolerance to existing methods was demonstrated.     

(±)‐2,3‐dialkyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐3‐carboxylic esters by a tandem reduction‐reductive amination reaction

A series of 2‐methyl‐2‐(2‐nitrobenzyl)‐substituted β‐keto ester derivatives has been subjected to reductive cyclization under hydrogenation conditions to assess the importance of the ester group position on the diastereoselectivity of the process. Hydrogenation over 5% palladium‐on‐carbon at 4 atmospheres pressure resulted in formation of (±)‐2,3‐dialkyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐3‐carboxylic esters with a preference for the product isomer having the C2 alkyl cis to the C3 ester. The product ratios were synthetically useful (6‐16:1), but less than that observed in cyclizations to prepare (±)‐2‐alkyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐4‐carboxylic esters. The reduced selectivity in the current reactions has been rationalized in terms of the greater conformational mobility around the ester bearing carbon, which decreases the ability of the ester to sterically influence the addition of hydrogen to the final imine intermediate.     

Structural determination of nerve agent markers using gas chromatography mass spectrometry after derivatization with 3‐pyridyldiazomethane

Nerve agents are a class of organophosphorous chemicals that are prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention. Their degradation products, phosphonic acids, are analyzed as markers of nerve agent contamination and use. Because the phosphonic acids are non‐volatile and very polar, their identification by GC‐MS requires a derivatization step prior to analysis. Standard derivatization methods for gas‐chromatography electron‐impact mass‐spectrometry analysis give very similar spectra for many alkyl phosphonic acid isomers, which complicates the identification process. We present a new reagent, 3‐pyridyldiazomethane, for preparing picolinyl ester derivatives of alkyl methylphosphonic acids facilitating the determination of their structure by enhancing predictable fragmentation of the O‐alkyl chain. This fragmentation is directed by the nitrogen nucleus of the pyridyl moiety that abstracts hydrogen from the O‐alkyl chain, inducing radical cleavage of the carbon–carbon bonds and thereby causing extensive fragmentation that can be used for detailed structure elucidation of the O‐alkyl moiety. The separability of related isomers was tested by comparing the spectra of the picolinyl esters formed from twelve hexyl methylphosphonic acid isomers. Spectral library matches and principal component analysis showed that the picolinyl esters were more effectively separated than the corresponding trimethylsilyl derivatives used in the standard operating procedures. The suggested method will improve the unambiguous structural determination process for phosphonic acids. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Secondary Benzylic Alcohols by the Enantioselective Esterification Using Pyridine‐3‐carboxylic Anhydride (3‐PCA) with Chiral Acyl‐Transfer Catalysts

Pyridine‐3‐carboxylic anhydride (3‐PCA) was found to function as an efficient coupling reagent for the preparation of carboxylic esters from various carboxylic acids with alcohols under mild conditions by a simple experimental procedure. This novel condensation reagent 3‐PCA was applicable not only for the synthesis of achiral carboxylic esters catalyzed by 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) but also for the production of chiral carboxylic esters by the combination of chiral nucleophilic catalyst, such as tetramisole (=2,3,5,6‐tetrahydro‐6‐phenylimidazo[2,1‐b][1,3]thiazole) derivatives. An efficient kinetic resolution of racemic benzylic alcohols with achiral carboxylic acids was achieved by using 3‐PCA in the presence of (R)‐benzotetramisole ((R)‐BTM), and a variety of optically active carboxylic esters were produced with high enantiomeric excesses by this new chiral induction system without using a tertiary amine.     

Cationic palladium complex‐catalyzed carbonylation of 2,3‐dien‐1‐ols to 1,3‐diene‐2‐carboxylic acids and esters under mild conditions

A cationic palladium complex, [Pd(PPh₃)₂(MeCN)₂](BF₄)₂, catalyzed the carbonylation of 2,3‐dien‐1‐ols under mild conditions. The dienols bearing two or more alkyl substituents on the diene part afforded 1,3‐diene‐2‐carboxylic acids successfully in tetrahydrofuran (THF), while those possessing one or no alkyl substituent gave polymers of the products exclusively. The former afforded the corresponding methyl esters in good yields when the reactions were carried out in methanol, while the latter afforded mainly the Diels–Alder reaction products of the resulting esters. An alkylidene group‐substituted π‐allylpalladium species has been presumed to be an intermediate. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pd(II)‐catalyzed polymerization of optically active norbornene carboxylic acid esters

(?)‐(1S,2R)‐Norbornene‐2‐carboxylic acid alkyl esters (alkyl = Me, Bz, L ‐menthyl, or D ‐menthyl) were successfully prepared by the Diels–Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene with (R)‐(?)‐pantolactone‐O‐yl acrylate followed by epimerization and column chromatography. The enantiomeric excess was 99.9%. These monomers were polymerized by Pd(II)‐based catalysts, and high yields of the polymers were obtained. The methyl ester gave an optically active polymer of high optical rotation (monomer [α]_D = ?24.7, polymer [α]_D = ?98.5). This high rotation value of the polymer was attributed to the isotactic chain regulation of the polymer. This high rotation was not observed with methyl esters prepared by the transesterification of menthyl esters. The stereoregular polymer exhibited notable resonance peaks at 39 ppm in ¹³C NMR spectra. No crystallinity was observed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1263–1270, 2006     

Enantioseparation of Amino Acids on a Chiral Stationary Phase Derived from L‐α‐Norleucinyl‐ and Pyrrolidinyl‐disubstituted Cyanuric Chloride by High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography

A silica‐based chiral stationary phase (CSP) derived from L‐α‐norleucinyl‐ and pyrrolidinyl‐disubstituted cyanuric chloride was prepared for the enantioseparation of methyl esters of N‐(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl) amino acids by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The chromatographic results show that effective enantioseparation of methyl esters of N‐(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl)amino acids, except for proline, was achieved on this chiral stationary phase. The chromatographic resolution of racemic n‐propyl ester of N‐(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl)valine on CSP‐B is better than that of racemic methyl ester of N‐(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl)valine on CSP‐B or CSP‐A reported previously (J. Chromatogr. A, 676 (1994) 303). The comparison of the chromatographic results obtained in this study with those on CSP‐A reported previously reveals that steric effect, instead of hydrophobic interaction, between the n‐butyl group attached to the chiral center of the chiral selector and the alkyl group attached to the chiral center of the chiral selectand plays a significant role in chiral discrimination. The increase in the selectivity factor of methyl esters of N‐(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl)amino acids with bulky alkyl groups was examined on CSP‐B.     

Quinolone analogues 1. A convenient synthesis of 1‐alkyl‐4‐oxo‐1,4‐dihydropyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxaline‐3‐carboxylic acids

The reaction of the alkylhydrazinoquinoxaline N‐oxides 2a‐d with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate gave the dimethyl 1‐alkyl‐1,5‐dihydropyridazino[3,4‐b]qumoxaline‐3,4‐dicarboxylates 3a‐d , whose reaction with nitrous acid effected the C₄‐oxidation to afford the dimethyl 1‐alkyl‐4‐hydroxy‐1,4‐dihydropyridazino‐[3,4‐b]quinoxaline‐3,4‐dicarboxylates 4a‐d , respectively. The reaction of compounds 4a‐d with 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]‐7‐undecene in ethanol provided the ethyl 1‐alkyl‐4‐oxo‐1,4‐dihydropyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxa‐line‐3‐carboxylates 5a‐d , while the reaction of compounds 4a‐d with potassium hydroxide furnished the 1‐alkyl‐4‐oxo‐1,4‐dihydropyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxaline‐3‐carboxylic acids 6a‐d , respectively. Compounds 6c,d were also obtained by the reaction of compounds 5c,d with potassium hydroxide, respectively.     

Synthesis of Amphiphilic Fullerene Derivatives and Their Incorporation in Langmuir and Langmuir‐Blodgett Films

Various amphiphilic fullerene derivatives were prepared by functionalization of [5,6]fullerene‐C₆₀‐I_h (C₆₀) with malonate or bis‐malonate derivatives obtained by esterification of the malonic acid mono‐esters 5 – 7 . Cyclopropafullerene 10 was obtained by protection of the carboxylic acid function of 6 as a tert‐butyl ester, followed by Bingel addition to C₆₀ and a deprotection step (Scheme 2). The preparation of 10 was also attempted directly from the malonic acid mono‐ester 6 under Bingel conditions. Surprisingly, the corresponding 3′‐iodo‐3′H‐cyclopropa[1,9][5,6]fullerene‐C₆₀‐I_h‐3′‐carboxylate 11 was formed instead of 10 (Scheme 3). The general character of this new reaction was confirmed by the preparation of 15 and 16 from the malonic acid mono‐esters 13 and 14 , respectively (Scheme 4). All the other amphiphilic fullerene derivatives were prepared by taking advantage of the versatile regioselective reaction developed by Diederich and co‐workers which led to macrocyclic bis‐adducts of C₆₀ by a cyclization reaction at the C‐sphere with bis‐malonate derivatives in a double Bingel cyclopropanation. The bis‐adducts 37 – 39 with a carboxylic acid polar head group and four pendant long alkyl chains of different length were prepared from diol 22 and acids 5 – 7 , respectively (Scheme 9). In addition, the amphiphilic fullerene derivatives 45, 46, 49, 54 , and 55 bearing different polar head groups and compound 19 with no polar head group were synthesized (Schemes 11–13, 15, and 5, resp.). The ability of all these compounds to form Langmuir monolayers at the air‐water interface was investigated in a systematic study. The films at the water surface were characterized by their surface pressure vs. molecular area isotherms, compression and expansion cycles, and Brewster‐angle microscopy. The spreading behavior of compound 10 was not good, the two long alkyl chains in 10 being insufficient to prevent aggregation resulting from the strong fullerene‐fullerene interactions. While no films could be obtained from compound 19 with no polar head group, all the corresponding amphiphilic fullerene bis‐adducts showed good spreading characteristics and reversible behavior upon successive compression/expansion cycles. The encapsulation of the fullerene in a cyclic addend surrounded by four long alkyl chains is, therefore, an efficient strategy to prevent the irreversible aggregation resulting from strong fullerene‐fullerene interactions usually observed for amphiphilic C₆₀ derivatives at the air‐water interface. The balance of hydrophobicity to hydrophilicity was modulated by changing the length of the surrounding alkyl chains or the nature of the polar head group. The best results in terms of film formation and stability were obtained with the compounds having the largest polar head group, i.e. 45 and 46 , and dodecyl chains. Finally, the Langmuir films obtained from the amphiphilic fullerene bis‐adducts were transferred onto solid substrates, yielding high‐quality Langmuir‐Blodgett films.     

Optical Resolution of 5‐Oxo‐1‐Phenyl‐Pyrazolidine‐3‐Carboxylic Acid as a New Organocatalyst for Organic Reactions

Optical resolution of racemic 5‐oxo‐1‐phenyl‐pyrazolidine‐3‐carboxylic acid 2 with L‐amino acid methyl ester via the diastereomers formation was investigated. Treatment of racemic 5‐oxo‐1‐phenyl‐pyrazolidine‐3‐carboxylic acid 2 with L‐valine methyl ester gave diastereomers with a total yield of 86%. The diastereomeric dipeptides can be easily separated by flash column chromatography. Acidic cleavage of the derived diastereomers gave both the optically pure (+)‐(R)‐ and (‐)‐(S)‐5‐oxo‐1‐phenyl‐pyrazolidine‐3‐carboxylic acid ((+)‐(R)‐ 2 and (‐)‐(S)‐ 2 ) with a total yield of 94% and 95%, respectively.     

Esterification‐nitration of Ortho‐hydroxyphenyl Carboxylic Acids and Benzoic Acids with Cerium(IV) Ammonium Nitrate (CAN)

A convenient and useful esterification was realized, and this reaction proceeded without a dehydrating reagent or water removal equipment. A series of ortho‐hydroxyphenyl carboxylic acids and benzoic acids were transformed to their corresponding methyl esters under CAN/CH₃OH reaction conditions. Whereas in an aprotic solvent, acetonitrile, sp³‐C tethered ortho‐hydroxyphenyl carboxylic acids undergo simultaneous o,p‐dinitration and intramolecular esterification reactions in good yields. Also, 2‐((1 E)‐2‐nitrovinyl)‐4‐nitro‐phenol ( 3e ) showed selective cytotoxicities toward MCF‐7, HEP G2, and HEP 3B cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 23.50, 7.33, and 7.59 ug/mL, respectively.     

Stepwise Mechanism of Hydroxide Ion Catalyzed Cyclization of Uridine 3′‐Thiophosphates

Diastereoisomeric isopropyl‐, 2‐ethoxyethyl‐, 2,2‐dichloroethyl‐ and 2,2,2‐trichloroethyl uridine 3′‐thiomonophosphates, 1a – 1d , respectively, have been synthesized, and their hydrolyses in aqueous alkali at 25° have been followed by HPLC. According to the time‐dependent product distributions obtained, the alkyl phosphorothioates 1a – 1d undergo cleavage to uridine 2′‐ and 3′‐thiophosphates, 7a and 7b , respectively, via a uridine 2′,3′‐cyclic thiophosphate ( 6 ). The rate of the hydroxide ion‐catalyzed cyclization of both (R_P)‐ and (S_P)‐diastereoisomer is highly dependent on the polar nature of the leaving group, the β_lg values being ?1.23±0.03 and ?1.24±0.03, respectively. Brønsted dependence of the second‐order rate constants (k_OH [dm³ mol^?1 s^?1]) on the pK_a values of the leaving alcohols shows a convex breakpoint on going from alkyl esters 1a – 1d to aryl esters studied earlier. This may be considered as a strong evidence for a stepwise mechanism, where the formation and breakdown of the phosphorane intermediate is the rate‐limiting step with aryl and alkyl esters, respectively.     

Synthetic Reactions Using Low‐valent Titanium Reagents Derived from Ti(OR)4 or CpTiX3 (X = O‐i‐Pr or Cl) in the Presence of Me3SiCl and Mg

In the presence of Me₃SiCl, Ti(OR)₄ or CpTiX₃ (X = O‐i‐Pr or Cl) is reduced by Mg powder in THF to gradually generate a specific low‐valent titanium (LVT) species that mediates several synthetic reactions. The LVT‐catalyzed C–O bond‐cleaving reactions of allyl and propargyl ethers and esters generate parent alcohols and carboxylic acids, respectively. O‐allyl and propargyl carbamates are also readily deprotected by the LVT to afford parent amines. In addition, the respective reductive N–S or O–S bond cleavage of sulfonamides or sulfonyl esters mediated by the LVT was developed as a novel facile deprotection method. The reagent catalyzes intra‐ and intermolecular alkyne or alkyne/nitrile cycloaddition to produce substituted benzenes and pyridines, while epoxides and oxetanes are reduced to alcohols via an LVT‐mediated homolytic ring opening. The McMurry coupling of aryl aldehydes and ketones proceeds with the LVT under homogeneous and mild reaction conditions and is effective for the polymerization of aromatic dialdehydes, generating conjugated polymers. Finally, imino‐pinacol coupling of imines is mediated by the LVT to provide 1,2‐diamines.     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of N‐Aryl‐4‐(cyano/alkoxycarbonyl)‐5‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H/3H‐1,2,3‐triazole Derivatives

A convenient synthesis of a new series of N‐aryl‐5‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H/3H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐4‐carbonitriles and alkyl N‐aryl‐5‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H/3H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐4‐carboxylic acid esters is reported. The newly synthesized 5‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1,2,3‐triazole derivatives are evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activity. Some of these triazole derivatives have exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity.