Chemoselective reduction of β-butyltellanyl α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to allylic alcohols

(Z)-β-Butyltellanyl α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds were stereoselectively produced by hydrotelluration of alkynones or by an addition/elimination sequence from enol tosylates. The β-butyltellanyl-enones were chemoselectively reduced with NaBH₄/MeOH, NaBH₄·CeCl₃·7H₂O/MeOH and DIBAL-H systems to the corresponding allylic alcohols with retention of the Z stereochemistry.     

CeCl3·7H2O/IBX-promoted oxidation of 3-alkylindoles to 3-hydroxyoxindoles

3-Alkylindoles undergo smooth oxidation with IBX in the presence of CeCl₃·7H₂O in aqueous acetonitrile at ambient temperature to afford the corresponding 3-hydroxyoxindoles in high yields. This method is very useful for the direct preparation of 3-hydroxyoxindoles from 3-alkylindoles. Operational simplicity, mild and neutral reaction conditions in aqueous solution are the key features of this protocol.     

Investigations into the selective oxidation of vicinal diols to α-hydroxy ketones with the NaBrO3/NaHSO3 reagent: pH dependence, stoichiometry, substrates and origin of selectivity

The NaBrO₃/NaHSO₃ reagent is one of the few oxidizing agents that chemoselectively oxidizes vicinal diols to α-hydroxy ketones with little overoxidation to the corresponding vicinal-dione or dicarboxylic acid. Oxidation reactions performed with this reagent showed strong pH dependence. cis-Vicinal diols reacted faster than trans-vicinal diols to the α-hydroxy ketone product. Hydroxy functional groups at axial ring positions were more readily oxidized than equatorial hydroxy groups. The application of the NaBrO₃/NaHSO₃ reagent for the chemoselective oxidation of vicinal diols was limited to simple systems and failed with more complex monosaccharide compounds probably due to acid catalyzed dehydrogenation reactions. Despite the simple reaction set-up and good selectivity towards the α-hydroxy ketone product, the actual oxidation reaction mechanism is highly complex and postulated to involve at least six different equilibria with a plethora of bromine containing species. A possible oxidation reaction mechanism is discussed.     

Reactions of terpene alcohols and diols with chlorine dioxide in dimethylformamide

The system chlorine dioxide–dimethylformamide in combination with or without a catalytic amount of MoCl₅, CeCl₃, ZrOCl₂, or VO(acac)₂ induces oxidative chlorination of a number of bicyclic terpene alcohols and vicinal diols. 2α-Chloropinan-3-one, 3α-chloro-10β-pinan-4-one, 5α-chloro-3α-hydroxycaran-4-one, 5β-chloro-3β-hydroxycaran-4-one, and 4α-chloro-2α-hydroxypinan-3-one were thus synthesized in good preparative yields.     

Oxazolidinone polycyclitols. Stereospecific synthesis of novel aminocarbasugars with oxazolidinone ring

Two new oxazolidinone polycyclitols, 4,5,7,8,9-pentahydroxy-3-tosyldecahydronaphtho [2,1-d]oxazol-2(9bH)-one and 4,5,6,7,8-pentahydroxy-3-tosyldecahydronaphtho [2,1-d]oxazol-2(9bH)-one were synthesized starting from p-benzoquinone. An endo selective Diels–Alder cycloaddition between p-benzoquinone and 1-acetoxybutadiene followed by stereoselective reduction with NaBH₄–CeCl₃·7H₂O led to the formation of an allylic cis-diol. The obtained diols were protected with p-TsNCO to yield bis-carbamates and then a palladium-catalyzed ionization/cyclization reaction produced two oxazolidinone derivatives. Oxidation of the two double bonds in either oxazolidinones with OsO₄ followed by acetylation produced oxazolidinone-pentaacetates whose exact configurations were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Controlled removal of the acetate groups furnished the desired two new oxazolidinone polycyclitols.     

Ru-catalyzed highly enantioselective hydrogenation of α-keto Weinreb amides

Asymmetric hydrogenation of α-keto Weinreb amides has been realized with [Ru((S)-Sunphos)(benzene)Cl]Cl as the catalyst and CeCl 3·7H2O as the additive.A series of enantiopure α-hydroxy Weinreb amides(up to 97% ee) have been obtained.Catalytic amount of CeCl3·7H2O is essential for the high reactivity and enantioselectivity and the ratio of CeCl3·7H2O to [Ru((S)-Sunphos)(benzene)Cl]Cl plays an important role in the hydrogenation reaction.     

The first example of the C-3 alkylation of indoles with cyclopropyl ketones promoted by CeCl3·7H2O/LiI

Indoles undergo smooth alkylation with cyclopropyl ketones in the presence of the CeCl₃·7H₂O/LiI reagent system in refluxing acetonitrile under neutral conditions to produce the corresponding C-3 substituted indole derivatives in good to high yields and with high selectivity. The use of CeCl₃·7H₂O/LiI makes this method simple, convenient, and cost-effective.     

Synthesis of α,β-unsaturated dioxanes, dioxolanes and dioxepanes by trans-acetalisation of dimethylacetals with meso or C2-symmetrical 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-diols

Several o-dibenzylic diols were prepared reacting organometallics with o-phthalaldehyde at room temperature in ether. The identity of the meso and C₂-symmetrical (d,l) isomers as well as their ratio were determined by chiral gas chromatography. The meso and C₂ (racemic) stereoisomeric diols were easily separated by flash chromatography on silica gel. A set of 18 α,β-unsaturated acetals were then prepared reacting those, as well as commercially available 1,2, 1,3 and 1,4 diols, with the corresponding methylacetals in acidic medium. A trans-acetalisation procedure adapted to the cases of fragile allylic alcohols or unfavorable 1,6 diols-derived dioxonanes based on a Dean-Stark trapping of methanol was also employed.     

Indium(III) triflate catalysed transacetalisation reactions of diols and triols under solvent-free conditions

Acyclic acetals and ketals undergo transacetalisation in the presence of catalytic quantities of indium(III) triflate (In(OTf)₃) and diols or triols under solvent-free conditions to generate the corresponding cyclic acetals and ketals in excellent yield. The methodology has been further developed to encompass a tandem acetalisation-acetal exchange protocol, which provides a facile and high yielding route to cyclic ketals from unreactive ketones under very mild reaction conditions.     

Stereochemistry of Hydride Reduction of 20-Hydroxyecdysone Derivatives

The 6-oxo group in 2,3:20,22-di-O-isopropylidene derivatives of 20-hydroxyecdysone and its 24,25/25,26-anhydro analog is reduced with NaBH₄-CeCl₃ in a stereoselective fashion to afford the corresponding 6α-alcohols. In the first case, the reaction is accompanied by dehydration to give Δ¹⁴-bond. Reduction of the same substrates with NaBH₄ or LiAlH₄ in the absence of CeCl₃ leads to mixtures of 6α- and 6β-hydroxy derivatives, the latter prevailing. In all cases, epimerization at C⁵ occurs.     

Hydrate des Cer(III)-chlorids

Hydrates of Cerium(III) Chloride The thermal dehydration of CeCl₃ · 7 H₂O to CeCl₃ gives four definite intermediates: CeCl₃ · 6 H₂O, CeCl₃ · 3 H₂O, CeCl₃ · 2 H₂O, CeCl₃ · H₂O. In the hexahydrate monomeric [CeCl₂(H₂O)₆]⁺ units exist. A structure analysis of CeCl₃ · 3 H₂O gave an orthorhombic unit cell (S.G. Pnma; Z = 4) with a = 1 242.7(4) pm; b = 881.8(8) pm, c = 693.4(5) pm. The structure consists of [CeCl_4/2Cl(H₂O)₃] chains, where two Ce³⁺ ions are connected via two chloride ions, forming bent chains in the [010] direction. The trihydrates LnCl₃ · 3 H₂O (Ln = Pr? Tb) are isotypic, also one modification of LaCl₃ · 3 H₂O. The structures of the di- and mono-hydrate are not yet known. Molar volumina and solution enthalpies in water vary linearly with the number of H₂O molecules per formula unit.     

CeCl3·7H2O: a highly efficient catalyst for the synthesis of 1-substituted-octahydro-[1,3,2]diazaphospholo[1,5-a]pyridine-1-oxide

An efficient and simple protocol is reported for the synthesis of a new class of 1-substituted-octahydro-[1,3,2]diazaphospholo[1,5-a]pyridine-1-oxides in good to excellent yield (88–95%) via Michaelis–Arbuzov rearrangement. Condensation of diamido phosphite with various halides at 60 °C using CeCl₃·7H₂O as a highly efficient catalyst afforded the products within a short period of reaction time. This procedure is mild, efficient, and non-toxic and stability of the catalyst is the merit of this process. Therefore, this protocol being environmentally benign and efficient, serves as an alternative procedure for the preparation of the title compounds.     

A convenient CeCl3·7H2O/NaI-promoted synthesis of structurally novel and strained tricyclic β-lactams from hydrazines

A convenient synthetic protocol for structurally novel and strained highly derivatized tricyclic β-lactams has been developed. The synthesis involves CeCl₃·7H₂O/NaI catalyzed addition-condensation of mercaptoacetic acid and N-aroyl-N′-arylidenehydrazines followed by intramolecular cyclodehydration to afford bicyclic 5H-thiazolo[4,3-b][1,3,4]-oxadiazoles, which on treatment with acid chlorides in the presence of triethylamine furnish highly derivatized tricyclic 3H-azetidino[2,1-b]-thiazolo[3,4-d][1,3,4]-oxadiazol-6-ones in 80-93% yields. The process presents an excellent illustration of Ce(III)-catalyzed C-C, C-N and C-S bond formation in a one-pot procedure.     

CeCl3·7H2O-Catalyzed Synthesis of 1-Oxo-hexahydroxanthene Derivatives in Aqueous Media

Cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate (CeCl₃·7H₂O) catalyzes the reaction of substituted salicylaldehydes with 1,3-cyclohexane dione or dimedone in aqueous medium at reflux temperature to afford the corresponding 1-oxo-1,2,3,4,9,10-hexahydroxanthene derivatives4 0 in high yields.     

Study on the Phase Diagram of CsCl-CeCl3-HCl(11%)-H2O System and the Properties of the Compounds

The equilibrium solubility of CsCl-CeCl3-HCl(11%)-H2O qua-ternary system at 25℃ has been determined by the physicchemical analysis method ,and the phase diagram was plotted, Two new double salts 3CsCl.CeCl3.3H2O and CsCl.CeCl3.4H2O obtained from the complicated system were identified and characterized by XRD,TG-DTA ,DSC,UV and fluorescence spectroscopy, Studies on the fluorescence excitation and emission show that 3CsCl.CeCl3.3H2O and CsCl.CeCl3.4H2O have upconversion luminescence of infrared-visible range,and the upconversion emission intensity increases with the increase of ratio of CeCl3 in CsCl.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of vicinal diols by stannous chloride-mediated addition of hydroxyallylic stannanes to aldehydes

A new protocol for the synthesis of vicinal diols was accomplished by the reaction of unprotected α-hydroxymethylmetals, as hydroxymethyl anion equivalents, with aldehydes. The treatment of hydroxyallylic stannanes, which were prepared from α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and Bu₃SnLi in situ, with various aldehydes gave but-3-en-1,2-diols in the presence of SnCl₂. The stereochemistry of the diol and olefin moieties demonstrated syn- and E-selectivities, respectively. We propose the following reaction mechanism; transmetalation of a hydroxyallylic stannane with SnCl₂ gives a rearranged allylic tin(II) species that undergoes aldehyde addition via a cyclic transition state. The strict interaction between the unprotected hydroxy moiety and the tin(II) center accounts for the selectivity.     

Catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation of substituted trans-stilbene derivatives: implications of the variation of enantioselectivities on the mechanism of OsO4 addition to olefins

The OsO₄ catalyzed asymmetric dihydroxylation of substituted trans-stilbene derivatives using 9-O-acetyldihydrocinchonidine as chiral ligand gives the corresponding diols with lower enantioselectivity in the case of substrates containing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents. The Hammett correlations of the enantiomeric ratios exhibit non-linear plots, in accordance with the conclusion that the reaction involves a 1,3-dipolar type [3+2] cycloaddition transition state.     

Titanyl Acetylacetonate as an Efficient Catalyst for Regioselective 1,2‐Reduction of α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds and Conversion of α‐Diketones & Acyloins to Vicinal Diols with Sodium Borohydride

α,β‐Unsaturated aldehydes and ketones were reduced readily and exclusively to their corresponding allylic alcohols with NaBH₄ and catalytic amounts of titanyl acetylacetonate at room temperature. Reduction reactions were carried out in CH₃CN or THF. This reducing system was also efficient for the reduction of α‐diketones and acyloins to their corresponding vicinal diols in CH₃CN.     

The use of anhydrous CeCl3 as a catalyst for the synthesis of 3-sulfenyl indoles

Anhydrous CeCl₃ was successfully used as a catalyst for the synthesis of several 3-sulfenyl indoles in good to excellent yields through the reaction of indole with N-(alkylthio) and N-(arylthio)phthalimides in DMF.     

A Re2O7 catalyzed cycloetherification of monoallylic diols

A Re₂O₇ catalyzed cycloetherification of monoallylic diols is described. The reaction features short reaction time, mild reaction conditions and exclusive E selectivity. A wide range of monoallylic alcohols with alkyl or aryl substituents on olefin smoothly undergo ring closure to deliver corresponding oxa-heterocycles. The reaction is also operationally simple and not sensitive to air and moisture.