An efficient catalyst for the synthesis of ortho-substituted biaryls by the Suzuki cross-coupling: Triphenylphosphine adduct of cyclopalladated ferrocenylimine

The air and moisture stable triphenylphosphine adduct of cyclopalladated ferrocenylimine 2 has been successfully used in palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling for the synthesis of ortho-substituted biaryls in air. In the presence of 0.05 mol% of 2 as catalyst and 3 equivalent of CsF as base in dioxane at 100 °C, ortho-substituted biaryls were synthesized with moderate to high yields in the reactions of 2-methoxy-1-naphthylboronic acid with aryl halides, and 14 new ortho-substituted biaryls were obtained and characterized.     

Kinetic resolution of 5-substituted cycloalkenones by peptidic amidophosphane-copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of dialkylzinc

Asymmetric conjugate alkylation reaction of racemic 5-substituted cyclohexenones with dialkylzinc reagents was catalyzed by 2-5 mol % of dipeptidic amidophosphane-Cu(MeCN)₄BF₄ in toluene at 0 °C for 20 min to recover enantioenriched starting 5-substituted cyclohexenones with 88-98% ee in 28-41% yield along with trans major 3-alkylated 5-substituted cyclohexanones with 81-90% ee in 53-60% yield. Complete consumption of starting racemic 5-TMS-cyclohexenone by treating with diethylzinc under the catalytic asymmetric reaction conditions gave trans major 85:15 mixture of trans- and cis-3-ethyl-5-TMS-cyclohexanones with 15% ee (for trans) in 83% combined yield, indicating that the conformation-controlled trans-alkylation of cyclohexenone prevails over chiral catalyst-controlled enantiofacial differentiation.     

Synthesis of telogens and optimization of tetrafluoroethene telomerization process

The most advantageous technological parameters of tetrafluoroethene telomerization using 1-chloro-2-iodohexafluoropropane (telogen) towards the telomers n2-n4 or n1-n4 were experimentally established. The telomers n1-n4 were prepared with the yield of 48 mol% under the following conditions: temperature 170 °C, the molar ratio of 1-chloro-2-iodohexafluoropropane to tetrafluoroethene equal to 1.2, the autoclave filling of 1.5 kg dm⁻³. The maximum yield of telomers n2-n4 amounted to 27 mol% when the molar ratio of telogen to tetrafluoroethene was decreased to 0.7 and the other parameters of synthesis remained the same. The optimum parameters for the synthesis of telogens: 1-chloro-2-iodohexafluoropropane and 2-iodoheptafluoropropane have been also determined.     

Polymeric salen-Ti(IV) or V(V) complex catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of O-acetylcyanohydrins from KCN, Ac2O and aldehydes

Polymeric salen-Ti(IV) and V(V) complexes were employed in the enantioselective O-acetyl cyanation of aldehydes with potassium cyanide and acetic anhydride. The crosslinked polymeric salen-Ti(IV) catalyst exhibited good activities and enantioselectivities, up to 91% ee with 99% conversion was obtained at −20 °C with 1 mol% of catalyst (based on bimetallic catalytic unit). Moreover, six consecutive recyclings with the easily recovered crosslinked polymeric catalyst showed no obvious decrease in either activity or enantioselectivity. Linear polymeric salen-V(V) catalyst showed good catalytic efficiency too, up to 94% ee with 99% conversion was obtained at −42 °C with 5 mol% of catalyst.     

Asymmetric addition of trimethylsilylcyanide to N-benzylimines catalyzed by recyclable chiral dimeric V(V) salen complex

Chiral dimeric vanadium (V) salen complex (10 mol%) derived from 5,5-Methylene di-[(S,S)-{N-(3-tert-butyl salicylidine)-N′-(3′,5′-di-tert-butyl salicylidene)]-1,2-cyclohexanediamine] with vanadyl suphate followed by auto oxidation was used as efficient catalyst for enantioselective Strecker reaction of N-benzylimines with TMSCN at −30 °C. Excellent yield (92%) of α-aminonitrile and high chiral induction was achieved (ee up to 94%) in case of 2-methoxy substituted N-benzylimines in 10 h. The catalytic system worked well up to four cycles with retention of enantioselectivity.     

The first example of atropisomeric amide-derived P,O-ligands used for an asymmetric Heck reaction

Atropisomeric N,N-diisopropyl 2-diphenylphosphino- and 2-di(tert-butyl)phosphino-1-naphthamides were used, for the first time, as bidentate P,O-ligands for intermolecular asymmetric Heck reactions of 2,3-dihydrofuran with aryl triflates. The reactions were carried out in the presence of 4 mol% Pd(OAc)₂, 8 mol% of the axially chiral ligand, and 3 equiv. of (i-Pr)₂NEt in THF at 60 °C for 3 days. Optically active 2-aryl-2,5-dihydrofurans were obtained as the major products along with the rearranged 2-aryl-2,3-dihydrofurans. Enantioselectivity up to 55.2% ee was obtained for the major product.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new high-Tg photorefractive material

The synthesis and characterization of a new high-T_g photorefractive polymer, polyphosphazene P2, was described. It was obtained via a post-azo coupling reaction. The resulting material has been characterized by means of ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, FT-IR, UV-vis, GPC and DSC. Chromophore contents up to 14 mol% have been realized. The molecular weights of polyphosphazene P2 are 3.3 × 10⁴ (M_n) and 4.3 × 10⁴ (M_w), respectively; and the glass-transition temperature is high (170 °C). Measurements reveal that it possesses relatively large magnitude of photoinduced birefringence (4.2-4.7 × 10⁻³).     

Controlled biosynthesis and characterization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) from mixtures of palm kernel oil and 3HV-precursors

This study investigates the biosynthesis and characterization of P(3HB-co-3HV-co-3HHx) terpolymer from mixtures of palm kernel oil and 3HV-precursors by using recombinant Cupriavidus necator PHB⁻4/pBBREE32d13. Sodium valerate and propionate have been evaluated for the generation of 3HV monomers. The feeding time of these precursors was a crucial factor that significantly affected the 3HV molar fractions, which ranged from 2 to 60 mol%. Sodium valerate was generally the better precursor in initiating the accumulation of 3HV monomers while maintaining high cell dry weight (7.9 g/L) and good PHA accumulation (79 wt%). However, the 3HHx molar fractions in the terpolymers at 72 h were consistent at about 2-7 mol%. P(3HB-co-3HV) copolymers have been known to exhibit approximately the same degree of crystallinity throughout a wide range of 3HV composition. Interestingly, in this study, terpolymers containing 58 mol% 3HB, 39 mol% 3HV and 3 mol% 3HHx showed elastomeric behavior. This study demonstrates the suitability of palm kernel oil as the main carbon source and both sodium propionate and sodium valerate as 3HV-precursors for the synthesis of novel compositions of P(3HB-co-3HV-co-3HHx) terpolymers with interesting properties.     

Hydroxymethylation of α-substituted nitroacetates

Only 1 mol % of K₃PO₄ is efficient enough to catalyze the hydroxymethylation of α-substituted nitroacetates in good to excellent yield. Both aliphatic and aryl substituted nitroacetates work well under this reaction. The first catalytic asymmetric version of this reaction also reported that 10 mol % of cupreidine could catalyze this reaction up to 71% ee and 89% yield. Paraformaldehyde and formalin could both serve as the hydroxymethylation C1 unit. The synthetic application of products is also demonstrated.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-strychnine: development of a highly practical catalytic asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formation and domino cyclization

An enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-strychnine was accomplished through the use of the highly practical catalytic asymmetric Michael reaction (0.1 mol% of (R)-ALB, greater than kilogram scale, without chromatography, 91% yield and >99% ee), and a domino cyclization that simultaneously constructed the B- and D- rings of strychnine (>77% yield). Newly-developed reaction conditions for thionium ion cyclization, NaBH₃CN reduction of the imine moiety in the presence of a Lewis acid to prevent the ring-opening reaction, and chemoselective reduction of the thioether (desulfurization) in the presence of exocyclic olefin were pivotal to complete the synthesis. The described chemistry paves the way for the synthesis of more advanced Strychnos alkaloids.     

Enantio- and diastereoselective construction of vicinal quaternary and tertiary carbon centers by catalytic Michael reaction of α-substituted β-keto esters to cyclic enones

A catalytic enantio- and diastereoselective Michael reaction was achieved to construct vicinal quaternary and tertiary carbon centers in one step. Using 5 mol % of La(O-i-Pr)₃ and 10 mol % of a new N-linked-BINOL type ligand, the reaction of α-substituted β-keto esters to cyclic enones provided the corresponding Michael adducts in up to quantitative yield with a diastereomeric ratio up to 86/14 and enantiomeric excess up to 86% for the major isomer. An alternative catalyst preparation method using La(OTf)₃ instead of La(O-i-Pr)₃ was also examined.     

meta-Substituted triphenylamines as new dyes displaying exceptionally large Stokes shifts

A straightforward synthesis of fluorescent tris-meta-substituted triphenylamines (m-TPAs) is presented. These new fluorophores display a unique feature that is a remarkably high Stokes shift up to 250 nm, as compared to their para counterparts. Although the meta substitution is made at the expense of the quantum yield, the latter is maintained at an appreciable level (5%) making the m-TPAs a new class of fluorophores adaptable to a large range of applications from biology to materials science.     

Proline-catalyzed aldol reactions of acyl cyanides with acetone: an efficient and convenient synthesis of 1,3-diketones

The aldol-type addition of acetone towards (un)substituted benzoyl, heteroarylcarbonyl or α,β-unsaturated acyl cyanides was efficiently catalyzed by l-proline (30 mol %) to give 2-hydroxy-4-oxo-2-substituted pentanenitriles. Upon the treatment with sodium hydroxide, the adducts transformed to 1,3-diketones in good-to-excellent yield, furnishing an efficient and convenient method for the regioselective synthesis of 1,3-diketones.     

Palladium-free zinc-mediated hydroamination of alkynes: efficient synthesis of indoles from 2-akynylaniline derivatives

Reaction of 2-phenylethynyl N-tosylanilide prepared by Pd-free procedure with ZnBr₂ (3 equiv) in refluxing toluene gave N-tosyl-2-phenylindole in 93% yield. Treatment of 2-phenylethynylaniline with ZnBr₂ (1 equiv) in refluxing toluene resulted in the formation of 2-phenylindole in 91% yield. Catalytic ZnBr₂ (0.05 equiv) effectively reacted with 2-alkynylanilines to afford 2-substituted indoles in high yields. Thus, complete Pd-free zinc catalyzed hydroamination of 2-alkynylanilines was achieved.     

Facile access to chiral 4-substituted chromanes through Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

Rh/ZhaoPhos-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of a series of (E)-2-(chroman-4-ylidene)acetates was successfully developed to prepare various chiral 4-substituted chromanes with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield, 98% ee). Moreover, the gram-scale hydrogenation could be performed well in the presence of 0.02 mol% catalyst loading (TON = 5000), the hydrogenation product was easily converted to access other important compounds, which demonstrated the synthetic utility of this asymmetric catalytic methodology.     

Novel formal synthesis of stereospecifically C-6 deuterated d-glucose employing configurationally stable alkoxymethyllithiums

The synthesis and testing of configurational stability of chirally monodeuterated PMB- and THP-substituted oxymethyllithiums are described. Macroscopically they are configurationally stable up to −35 °C, the limit of their chemical stability, and microscopically even up to 0 °C. Furthermore, THP-protected oxy-[D₁]methyllithium has been applied in the formal synthesis of (6R)-[6-D₁]-d-glucose (four steps, 40% yield), an example of its use as a homochiral hydroxymethyl synthon.     

High Tg nematic thermosets: Synthesis, characterization and thermo-mechanical properties

In this paper the synthesis and characterization of a new family reactive nematic oligomers based on 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA) will be presented. We modified the backbone using para- and meta-substituted aromatic monomers such as terephthalic acid (TA), isophthalic acid (IA), hydroquinone (HQ), resorcinol (RS), 4,4′-bisphenol (BP) and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (3-HBA). All oligomers, with a target M_n of 5000 and 9000 g mol⁻¹, were end-capped with reactive phenylethynyl functionalities and synthesized using standard melt condensation techniques. Curing of the phenylethynyl reactive functionalities proceeds through chain extension and crosslinking, depending upon the temperature and time and can be carried out between 310 and 400 °C. Fully cured nematic thermosets could be obtained with glass-transition temperatures previously not accessible (T_g > 400 °C). The cured polymers exhibit excellent tensile properties, i.e. tensile strength (83 MPa) and elongation at break (9%). This approach allows us to prepare all-aromatic polymers with a combination of useful properties such as ease of processing, high T_g’s, and excellent mechanical properties.     

Sulfonated poly(fluorene-co-sulfone)ether membranes containing perfluorocyclobutane groups for fuel cell applications

A new class of sulfonated poly(fluorene-co-sulfone)ether membranes containing perfluorocyclobutane (PFCB) groups were synthesized and characterized in terms of their electrochemical properties as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells. Two monomers, 9,9-bis(4-trifluorovinyloxyphenyl)fluorene and 4,4′-sulfonyl-bis(trifluorovinyloxy)biphenyl were synthesized and statistically copolymerized by thermal [2π + 2π] cycloaddition to yield a series of polymers containing 0–60 mol% of fluorenyl content (PFS-X). The copolymers were then sulfonated using chlorosulfonic acid to afford five kinds of ionomers with different sulfonation levels (SPFS-X), which were cast into membranes and analyzed in terms of electrochemical properties. It was found that the ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, proton conductivity and methanol permeability values of SPFS-X increased with the increment of the sulfonated fluorenyl content. The proton conductivities of SPFS-50 and -60 with high IECs and water uptake values were higher than those of Nafion-115 between 25 and 80 °C. The methanol permeability of SPFS-X was considerably lower than that of Nafion-115.     

Enantioselective Henry reaction catalyzed by copper(II)—Cinchona alkaloid complexes

An enantioselective Henry reaction was efficiently carried out under mild reaction conditions in the presence of catalytic 9-epi and natural Cinchona alkaloids and copper (II) acetate. The best catalytic performance was observed for native quinine (12 mol %) and Cu(OAc)₂ (10 mol %). Aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes with nitromethane and its α-substituted derivatives provided the corresponding β-nitroalcohols in good to reasonable yields, high syn-diastereoselectivity, and (S)-enantioselectivity of up to 94% ee.     

Catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles as monodentate and activated ester equivalent acceptors

Catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles as monodentate and activated ester equivalent acceptors is described. A Sm(O-i-Pr)₃/(R)-H₈-BINOL complex promoted the epoxidation reaction to afford products in high yield (up to quant) and high enantiomeric excess (up to >99.5% ee). Reaction proceeded smoothly using cumene hydroperoxide (CMHP) with low explosive hazard, and completed within 0.2-0.5 h with 5 mol % catalyst. Catalyst loading was successfully reduced to as little as 0.02 mol %. The N-acylpyrrole properties as well as efficient synthesis of α,β-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles are also described.