Palladium‐catalyzed cyclization of β‐bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated ketones with arylhydrazines leading to 3‐substituted 1‐aryl‐1 H‐pyrazoles

β‐Bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated ketones are condensed with arylhydrazines to form hydrazones, which are in situ intramolecularly cyclized into 3‐substituted 1‐aryl‐1 H‐pyrazoles under a catalytic system of Pd(OAc)₂/1,3‐bis(diphenylhosphino)propane (dppp)/NaO^tBu. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palladium(II) acetate catalyzed efficient synthesis of N‐aryl‐α,β‐unsaturated amides via carbonylative addition of aniline derivatives to aromatic alkynes

A series of new N‐aryl‐α,β‐disubstituted amides (gem or E1; trans or E2) were synthesized in good yields by carbonylative addition of aniline derivatives 1a–f to aromatic alkynes 2a,b catalyzed by Pd(OAc)₂ and 1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)propane. The catalytic synthesis of tertiary α,β‐unsaturated amides was also successfully achieved. Traces of products were observed in the absence of p‐toluenesulfonic acid used as an additive. The reaction is sensitive to the type of phosphine ligand and solvent. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

(E)‐,(Z)‐Parallel Preparative Methods for Stereodefined β,β‐Diaryl‐ and α,β‐Diaryl‐α,β‐unsaturated Esters: Application to the Stereocomplementary Concise Synthesis of Zimelidine

Parallel and practical methods for the preparation of both (E)‐ and (Z)‐β‐aryl¹‐β‐aryl²‐α,β‐unsaturated esters 1 and (E)‐ and (Z)‐α‐aryl¹‐β‐aryl²‐α,β‐unsaturated esters 2 are described. These methods involve accessible, robust, stereocomplementary N‐methylimidazole (NMI)‐mediated enol tosylations (14 examples, 70–99 % yield), as well as stereoretentive Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐couplings (36 examples, 64–99 % yield). The highlighted feature of the present protocol is the use of parallel and stereocomplementary approaches to obtain highly (E)‐ and (Z)‐pure products 1 and 2 by utilizing sequential enol tosylations and cross‐coupling reactions. An expeditious and parallel synthesis of (E)‐ and (Z)‐zimelidine ( 3 ), which is a highly representative selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), was performed by utilizing the present methods.     

Reactions of 3‐methylamino‐5‐phenylthiophene with α,β‐unsaturated esters and α,β‐unsaturated nitriles

Treatment of 3‐methylamino‐5‐phenylthiophene with α,β‐unsaturated esters, i.e., methyl acrylate, (E)‐methyl crotonate, diethyl fumarate, diethyl maleate and ethyl propiolate, in tetrahydrofuran for several days at reflux gave 1‐methyl‐3,4‐dihydrothieno[2,3‐e]pyridin‐2‐ones 4 and/or 1‐methylthieno[2,3‐e]pyridin‐2‐ones 5 , depending on the structure of the esters. On the other hand, the same reactions with α,β‐unsaturated nitriles such as acrylonitrile and tetracyanoethene, gave the corresponding thiophenes 7 and 10 bearing 2‐cyanoethyl and 1,2,2‐tricyanoethenyl groups at C‐2, respectively. The reaction with (Z)‐1,2‐dicyanoethene under the same conditions produced the corresponding thiophene 9 bearing the 1,2‐dicyanoethenyl group and 1,2‐dicyano‐5‐methylaminobiphenyl.     

Hydrogen‐transfer reduction of α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds catalyzed by naphthyridine‐functionalized N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes

Substitution of silver complex of 2‐chloro‐7‐(mesitylimidazolylidenylmethyl)naphthyridine (NpNHC) with palladium(II), rhodium(I) and iridium(I) metal precursors provided [Pd(C ,N ‐NpNHC)(η³‐allyl)](BF₄) ( 5 ), RhCl(COD)(C ‐NpNHC) ( 6a ) and IrCl(COD)(C ‐NpNHC) ( 6b ), respectively. Abstraction of chloride from 6a and 6b with AgBF₄ provided the chelation complexes [Rh(COD)(C ,N ‐NpNHC)](BF₄) ( 7a ) and Ir(COD)(C ,N ‐NpNHC)(BF₄) ( 7b ), respectively. All complexes were characterized using NMR and elemental analyses and the structural details of 5 and 6a were further confirmed using X‐ray crystallography. In catalytic activity studies, complex 5 was found to be an effective catalyst in the hydrogen‐transfer reduction of α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds into the corresponding saturated carbonyl compounds.     

Syntheses of 2‐alkylthio‐1,3‐thiazine derivatives from S‐alkyldithiocarbamates and α,β‐unsaturated ketones

Various 2‐alkylthio‐1,3‐thiazine derivatives were synthesized by the reactions of S‐alkylthiocarbamates with α,β‐unsaturated ketones in the presence of BF₃ · Et₂O. The thiazine was converted into two isomeric dehydrated products in the presence of a Lewis acid. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 13:377–379, 2002; Published online in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10055     

Studies on the Mass Spectra of N‐Aryl α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Lactams

The mass spectra of a series of N‐aryl α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactams were studied. Besides the molecular ion, the three characteristic fragments such as [M⁺‐29], [M⁺‐55], and [M⁺‐82] were commonly found in a series of N‐Aryl α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactams in EI/MS. Further more the mechanism for the interpretation of these fragments is also de scribed.     

Palladium‐catalyzed carbonylative cyclization of β‐bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids with primary amines leading to N‐alkylmaleimides

Cyclic β‐bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids are carbonylatively cyclized with primary amines under carbon monoxide pressure in MeCN in the presence of a catalytic amount of PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ to give N‐alkylmaleimides. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Iridium(I)‐catalyzed C−H Borylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Esters with Bis(pinacolato)diboron

A new process has been developed for the iridium(I)‐catalyzed vinylic C?H borylation of α,β‐unsaturated esters with bis(pinacolato)diboron (B₂pin₂). These reactions proceeded in octane at temperatures in the range of 80–120 °C to afford the corresponding alkenylboronic compounds in high yields with excellent regio‐ and stereoselectivities. The presence of an aryl ester led to significant improvements in the yields of the acyclic alkenylboronates. Crossover experiments involving deuterated substrates as well as a mixture of stereoisomers confirmed that this reaction proceeds via a 1,4‐addition/β‐hydride elimination mechanism. Notably, this reaction was also used to develop a one‐pot borylation/Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling procedure.     

Iodine‐promoted Intermolecular Dehydrogenation Diamination: Synthesis of Unsymmetrical α,β‐Diamido Ketones

Iodine‐promoted direct diamination of α,β‐unsaturated ketone to form two C?N bonds has been developed starting from chalcone and secondary amine. This reaction was performed in THF at 50 °C in the presence of I₂ and K₂CO_3. The protocol is metal‐free, operationally simple and carried out under mild conditions, providing an effective new way for directing diamination reactions.     

New Types of Reactivity of α,β‐Unsaturated N,N‐Dimethylhydrazones: Chemodivergent Diastereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized Tetrahydroquinolines and Hexahydropyrrolo[3,2‐b]indoles

The indium trichloride‐catalyzed reaction between aromatic imines and α,β‐unsaturated N,N‐dimethylhydrazones in acetonitrile afforded 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinolines bearing a hydrazone function at C4 through a one‐pot diastereoselective domino process that involves the formation of two C? C bonds and the controlled generation of two stereocenters, one of which is quaternary. This reaction constitutes the first example of an α,β‐unsaturated dimethylhydrazone that behaves as a dienophile in a hetero Diels–Alder reaction. The related reaction between anilines, aromatic aldehydes, and methacrolein dimethylhydrazone in CHCl₃ with BF₃?Et₂O as catalyst afforded polysubstituted 1,2,3,3a,4,8b‐hexahydropyrrolo[3,2‐b]indoles as major products through a fully diastereoselective ABB′C four‐component domino process that generates two cycles, three stereocenters, two C? C bonds, and two C? N bonds in a single operation.     

Microwave‐Assisted,Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed N‐Annulation Reactions of Aryl and α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones with Alkynes

New Rh^III‐catalyzed, one‐pot N‐annulation reactions of aryl and α,β‐unsaturated ketones with alkynes in the presence of ammonium acetate have been developed. Under microwave irradiation conditions, the processes lead to rapid formation of the respective isoquinoline and pyridine derivatives with efficiencies that are strongly dependent on the steric nature of the aryl ring and enone substituents. By employing this protocol, a variety of isoquinoline and pyridine derivatives were prepared in high yields. In addition, a new one‐pot approach to the synthesis of pyridines, involving four‐component reactions of ketones, formaldehyde, NH₄OAc, and alkynes, has been uncovered. This process takes place through a route involving initial aldol condensation of the ketone with formaldehyde to generate a branched α,β‐unsaturated ketone that then undergoes Rh^III‐catalyzed N‐annulation with NH₄OAc and the alkyne.     

Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α,β‐Unsaturated Nitriles with Base‐Activated Iridium N,P Ligand Complexes

Although many chiral catalysts are known that allow highly enantioselective hydrogenation of a wide range of olefins, no suitable catalysts for the asymmetric hydrogenation of α,β‐unsaturated nitriles have been reported so far. We have found that Ir N,P ligand complexes, which under normal conditions do not show any reactivity towards α,β‐unsaturated nitriles, become highly active catalysts upon addition of N,N‐diisopropylethylamine. The base‐activated catalysts enable conjugate reduction of α,β‐unsaturated nitriles with H₂ at low catalyst loadings, affording the corresponding saturated nitriles with high conversion and excellent enantioselectivity. In contrast, alkenes lacking a conjugated cyano group do not react under these conditions, making it possible to selectively reduce the conjugated C?C bond of an α,β‐unsaturated nitrile, while leaving other types of C?C bonds in the molecule intact.     

A Molecularly Defined Iron‐Catalyst for the Selective Hydrogenation of α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

A selective iron‐based catalyst system for the hydrogenation of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes to allylic alcohols is presented. Applying the defined iron–tetraphos complex [FeF(L)][BF₄] (L=P(PhPPh₂)₃) in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid a broad range of aldehydes are reduced in high yields using low catalyst loadings (0.05–1 mol %). Excellent chemoselectivity for the reduction of aldehydes in the presence of other reducible moieties, for example, ketones, olefins, esters, etc. is achieved. Based on the in situ detected hydride species [FeH(H₂)(L)]⁺ a catalytic cycle is proposed that is supported by computational calculations.     

N‐[tert‐Butoxy­carbonyl­glycyl‐(Z)‐α,β‐dehydro­phenyl­alanylglycyl‐(E)‐α,β‐dehydro­phenyl­alanylphenyl­alanyl]‐4‐nitro­aniline ethanol solvate

The α,β‐dehydro­phenyl­alanine residues influence the conformation of the title penta­peptide Boc⁰–Gly¹–Δ^ZPhe²–Gly³–Δ^EPhe⁴–l ‐Phe⁵–p‐NA ethanol solvate, C₄₂H₄₃N₇O₉·C₂H₅OH. The first unsaturated phenyl­alanyl (Δ^ZPhe²) and the third glycyl (Gly³) residues form a type I β turn, while the second unsaturated phenyl­alanyl (Δ^EPhe⁴) and the last phenyl­alanyl (l ‐Phe⁵) residues are part of a type II β turn. All the amino acids in the peptide are linked trans to one another. The crystal structure is stabilized by intra‐ and inter­molecular hydrogen bonds.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Epoxidation of α,β‐Unsaturated Esters with Chiral Yttrium–Biaryldiol Complexes

The full details of the asymmetric epoxidation of α,β‐unsaturated esters catalyzed by yttrium complexes with biaryldiol ligands are described. An yttrium–biphenyldiol catalyst, generated from Y(OiPr)₃–biphenyldiol ligand–triphenylarsine oxide (1:1:1), is suitable for the epoxidation of various α,β‐unsaturated esters. With this catalyst, β‐aryl α,β‐unsaturated esters gave high enantioselectivities and good yields (≤99 % ee). The reactivity of this catalyst is good, and the catalyst loading could be decreased to as little as 0.5–2 mol % (the turnover number was up to 116), while high enantiomeric excesses were maintained. For β‐alkyl α,β‐unsaturated esters, an yttrium–binol catalyst, generated from Y(OiPr)₃–binol ligand–triphenylphosphine oxide (1:1:2), gave the best enantioselectivities (≤97 % ee). The utility of the epoxidation reaction was demonstrated in an efficient synthesis of (?)‐ragaglitazar, a potential antidiabetes agent.     

CuI/amino acid‐catalyzed coupling and cyclization of β‐bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated amides with terminal alkynes leading to (3Z)‐3‐alkylidenepyrrol‐1‐ones

β‐Bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated amides are coupled and cyclized with terminal alkynes in DMF at 110 °C in the presence of a catalytic amount of CuI and amino acid along with a base to give the corresponding (3Z)‐3‐alkylidenepyrrol‐1‐ones in moderate to good yields. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palladium‐catalyzed decarboxylative coupling of α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids with aryl tosylates

We report a general method for selective cross‐coupling of α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids with aryl tosylates enabled by versatile Pd(II) complexes. This method features the general cross‐coupling of ubiquitous α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids by decarboxylation. The transformation is characterized by its operational simplicity, the use of inexpensive, air‐stable Pd(II) catalysts, scalability and wide substrate scope. The reaction proceeds with high trans selectivity to furnish valuable (E)‐1,2‐diarylethenes.     

Reaction of α,β‐unsaturated ketones using cerium (IV) sulfate tetrahydrate in acetic acid

The reaction of α,β‐unsaturated ketones with cerium (IV) sulfate tetrahydrate [Ce(SO₄)₂·4H₂O, CS] in acetic acid gave the corresponding β‐acetoxy ketones. In the case of 2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one with CS in acetic acid, benzobicyclo[2.2.2]octen‐2‐one was obtained. The reaction mechanism also was proposed. Moreover, we report the aromatization and esterification of (R)‐(?)‐carvone by CS in acetic acid. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stereoretentive Addition of N‐tert‐Butylsulfonyl‐α‐Amido Silanes to Aldehydes,Ketones, α,β‐Unsaturated Esters,and Imines

Enantioenriched N‐tert‐butylsulfonyl‐α‐amido silanes were successfully reacted with aldehydes, ketones, imines, and α,β‐unsaturated esters in the presence of a sub‐stoichiometric amount of CsF (0.5 equiv) in 1,2‐dimethoxyethane (DME) at ?20 °C to afford the corresponding coupling products with up to 89 % enantiospecificity in a retentive manner.