Oxidation of enamines to α-hydroxy ketones and α-amino ketones using N-sulfonyloxaziridines

Tri-substituted enamines are oxidized to α-hydroxy ketones by N-sulfonyloxaziridines while di-substituted enamines are oxidized to α-amino ketones. A unified mechanism for the formation of both α-hydroxy ketones and α-amino ketones is proposed.     

Direct organocatalytic asymmetric α-oxidation of ketones with iodosobenzene and N-sulfonyloxaziridines

The novel, direct amino acid-catalyzed α-oxidation of ketones with iodosobenzene and N-sulfonyloxaziridines is presented. A screen of several synthetically common oxidants revealed that iodosobenzene and N-sulfonyloxaziridines act as electrophiles in the direct organocatalytic asymmetric α-hydroxylation of ketones. The direct proline-catalyzed asymmetric α-oxidation of ketones with iodosobenzene yielded the corresponding α-hydroxylated ketones with up to 77% ee. Furthermore, several amino acid derivatives catalyze the stereoselective α-oxidation of ketones with N-sulfonyloxaziridines. For example, the direct diamine-catalyzed enantioselective α-hydroxylation of ketones with N-sulfonyloxaziridines furnished the corresponding α-hydroxylated products in moderate yield with up to 63% ee.     

Reduction of Aromatic α-Halo Ketones with Metallic Bismuth

Aromatic α-bromo ketones and α-iodio ketones can be reduced by bismuth prepared from NaBH₄ and BiCl₃ in water to their parent ketones in high yields, but aromatic α-chloro ketones should be added to sodium iodide first.     

Mn(III)-based C-C bond formation: regioselective α′-allylation of various α,β-unsaturated, α and β-alkoxy α,β-unsaturated ketones

The Manganese(III)-based regioselective α′-keto radical generation of unsaturated ketones is a versatile synthetic procedure with broad applicability. The generated α′-keto radical slowly creates a metal enolate in a solvent at reflux. The resultant metal enolate affords the corresponding α′-allylated α,β-unsaturated ketones in good yields. This method is the first example of the metal mediated regioselective α′-allylation of α,β-unsaturated ketones. The ketones that have α or β-alkoxy groups also work efficiently.     

Rhodium-catalyzed α-methylthiolation reaction of unactivated ketones using 1,2-diphenyl-2-methylthio-1-ethanone for the methylthio transfer reagent

In the presence of catalytic amounts of RhH(PPh₃)₄, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), and dimethyl disulfide, ketones without α-activating groups were α-methylthiolated with 1,2-diphenyl-2-methylthio-1-ethanone giving α-methylthio ketones. The reaction of unsymmetrical ketones proceeded at the more substituted carbons. The initial formation of kinetic α-methylthiolated products followed by their rearrangement to thermodynamic products was observed in the reaction of α-phenyl ketones. Aldehydes, phenylacetate, and phenylacetonitrile were also α-methylthiolated under these conditions.     

Reactions of β-heteroatom substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones with dimethylsulfonium methylide

β-Alkoxy- and β-alkylthio α,β-unsaturated ketones react with dimethylsulfonium methylide (DMSM) to give a furan, while β-anilino α,β-unsaturated ketones give the pyrrole. β,β-Bis(alkylthio) α,β-unsaturated ketones react with DMSM to afford the methylene inserted products, λ,λ-bis(alkylthio) β,λ-unsaturated ketones.     

Amine-Free,Directing-Group-Free and Redox-Neutral α-Alkylation of Saturated Cyclic Ketones

The activation of the α-C−H bond of ketones typically requires an amine and a directing group to guide the reaction selectivity in amine-catalysis carbonyl chemistry. For an α-C−H bond activation of ketone, directing groups are also required to control the reaction selectivity. Reported herein is the first α-alkylation of cyclic ketones in the absence of an amine catalyst and directing group. ¹H NMR, XPS, EPR studies and DFT calculations indicate that an α-carbon radical intermediate is formed through direct and selective activation of the inert α-C−H bond of ketones chelating on the surface of colloidal quantum dots (QDs). Such an interaction is essential for weakening the C−H bond, as exemplified, using CdSe QDs as the sole photocatalyst to execute α-C−H alkylation of cyclic ketones under visible-light irradiation. Without an amine catalyst and directing group, the high step- and atom-economy transformation under redox-neutral condition opens a new way for α-C−H functionalization of ketones in carbonyl chemistry.     

Enantioselective De Novo Synthesis of α,α-Diaryl Ketones from Alkynes

Chiral α,α-diaryl ketones are structural motifs commonly present in bioactive molecules, and they are also valuable building blocks in synthetic organic chemistry. However, catalytic asymmetric synthesis of α,α-diaryl ketones bearing a tertiary stereogenic center remains largely unsolved. Herein, we report a catalytic de novo enantioselective synthesis of α,α-diaryl ketones from simple alkynes via chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) catalysis. A broad range of enolizable α,α-diaryl ketones are prepared in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities. The described protocol also serves as an efficient deuteration method for the preparation of enantiomerically enriched deuterated α,α-diaryl ketones. Using the methodology reported, bioactive molecules, including one of the best-selling anti-breast cancer drugs, tamoxifen, are readily synthesized.     

α-Methoxymethyl ketones via aldol reaction

Paraformaldehyde in a methanolic solution of KOH converts ketones into α-methoxymethylated and α- hydroxymethylated products. The method was tested on nine steroidal ketones. On prolonged treatment the ketones formed are reduced to alcohols.     

A convenient and efficient one-pot way to synthesize α,β-epoxy ketones directly from acetophenones and arylaldehydes

A convenient and efficient one-pot way to synthesize α,β-epoxy ketones directly from ketones and aldehydes has been described. Reactions were carried out at room temperature and the corresponding α,β-epoxy ketones were isolated in moderate to excellent yields.     

Facile synthesis of 2-nitromethyl aromatic ketones by insertion of benzynes into the C-C bond of α-nitroketones

A facile method to synthesize 2-nitromethyl aromatic ketones was developed. In the method, benzyne was generated in situ for the insertion to α-Nitroketones in one pot to achieve 2-nitromethyl aromatic ketones under mild conditions. Aromatic and aliphatic α-nitroketones were applied in the reaction, and the results show that aliphatic α-nitroketones gave excellent yields (up to 96%), while aromatic α-nitroketones gave moderate yields. The synthesized 2-nitromethyl aromatic ketones could be potential substrates to synthesize isoindoles.     

Arylation of α-pivaloxyl ketones with arylboronic reagents via Ni-catalyzed sp3 C-O activation

A Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of α-pivaloxyl ketones via Ni-catalyzed sp(3) C-O activation to produce α-aryl ketones is developed. This study offers a convenient method to construct α-arylation products from readily available α-hydroxyl carbonyl compounds.     

Ring expansion reaction of α-sulfonyl cyclic ketones via insertion of arynes into C-C: a facile and mild access to medium- and large-sized benzannulated carbocycles

Insertion of arynes into C-C of α-sulfonyl ketones was investigated, which lead to the ring expansion reactions when α-sulfonyl cyclic ketones were used. By ring expansions and desulfonylations, medium- and large-sized benzannulated cyclic ketones were obtained in moderate yields.     

Ionic liquid as catalyst and solvent: the remarkable effect of a basic ionic liquid, [bmIm]OH on Michael addition and alkylation of active methylene compounds

A basic ionic liquid, 1-methyl-3-butylimidazolium hydroxide, [bmIm]OH, catalyzes the Michael addition of active methylene compounds to conjugated ketones, carboxylic esters and nitriles. It further catalyzes the addition of thiols to α,β-acetylenic ketones and alkylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl and -dicyano compounds. The Michael addition to α,β-unsaturated ketones proceeds in the usual way, giving the monoaddition products, whereas addition to α,β-unsaturated esters and nitriles leads exclusively to the bis-addition products. The α,β-acetylenic ketones undergo double conjugate addition with thiols producing β-keto 1,3-dithio-derivatives. In the alkylation reaction the acyclic 1,3-diketones are monoalkylated, whereas cyclic ketones undergo dialkylation under identical conditions. All these reactions were carried out without any organic solvent. The ionic liquid can also be recycled.     

Bi(OTf)3-catalyed One-pot Synthesis of α-Halo-β-amino Ketones and Acyl Aziridines from 3-Aryl Propargyl Alcohols

A Bi(OTf)₃-catalyed reaction of 3-aryl propargyl alcohols with sulfonamide and halogen source was firstly investigated, which provided a facile route for the synthesis of a large variety of α-halo-β-amino ketones. The key intermediates, β-amino ketones, were obtained through tandem Meyer-Schuster rearrangement reaction of propargyl alcohols and intermolecular Michael addition of α, β-unsaturated ketones and sulfonamide. Then the in situ generated α-halo-β-amino ketones underwent the base-promoted intramolecular cyclization to give diverse acyl aziridines in a one-pot fashion. These transformations are reliable on a large scale. The high yields and convenient experimental operations make it a valuable method for the construction of α-halo-β-amino ketones and acyl aziridine derivatives.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of α-amino-α'-alkoxy ketones by a copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of peptidic thiol esters and α-alkoxyalkylstannanes

A stereocontrolled synthesis of α-amino-α'-alkoxy ketones is described. This pH-neutral copper(I) thiophene-2-carboxylate (CuTC)-catalyzed cross-coupling of amino acid thiol esters and chiral nonracemic α-alkoxyalkylstannanes gives α-amino-α'-alkoxy ketones in good to excellent yields with complete retention of configuration at the α-amino- and α-alkoxy-substituted stereocenters.     

Synthetic applications of the amine-base treatment in the ozonolysis of substituted-allyl silyl ethers or -allyl esters via a novel ene-diol type rearrangement

The ozonolysis of substituted-allyl silyl ethers or -allyl esters followed by treatment with bases gave the corresponding α-silyloxy ketones or α-acyloxy ketones in good yields. The reaction is proposed to proceed via a novel ene-diol rearrangement of the corresponding α-silyloxy aldehydes or α-acyloxy aldehydes intermediates.     

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated, α-tosyloxy and α-substituted ketones

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of cyclic and acyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones catalysed by η⁶-p-cymene/ruthenium(II) and η⁵-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl/rhodium(III) complexes have been investigated. Cyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones appeared to be more suitable substrates for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure allylic alcohols than do acyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones. A proposed mechanism for the formation of 4-phenyl-[1,3]-dioxolan-2-one from α-tosyloxy- and halo-substituted acetophenones is discussed. The results of further investigations into the reduction of a range of α-tosyloxyacetophenones and the dynamic kinetic resolution of α-substituted ketones is presented.     

A ruthenium-catalyzed one-pot method for α-alkylation of ketones with aldehydes

Ketones react with an array of aldehydes in dioxane at 80 °C in the presence of a catalytic amount of RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ along with KOH to give the corresponding α-alkylated ketones in moderate to good yields. A reaction pathway involving base-catalyzed cross-aldol reaction between ketones and aldehydes to form α,β-unsaturated ketones and regioselective reduction of carbon-carbon double bond of α,β-unsaturated ketones is proposed for this catalytic process.     

Metal catalyst-free direct α-iodination of ketones with molecular iodine

Ketones are directly converted to the corresponding α-iodoketones in good yields with molecular iodine under metal catalyst-free conditions. A significant difference in the reactivities was observed for aliphatic and aromatic ketones; whereas aliphatic ketones reacted smoothly at room temperature giving a mixture of 1-iodo, 3-iodo and 1,3-diiodoketones with predominant formation of the 3-iodo product, the α-iodination of aromatic ketones proceeded conveniently under heating to give good yields of α-iodo products.