A Simple and Efficient Method for the Synthesis of α,β‐Unsaturated Acyl Azo Compounds with NaNO2‐Acetic Anhydride Under Mild Conditions

In this paper, eight aryl substituted α, β‐unsaturated acyl hydrazides undergo efficient oxidation to α,β‐unsaturated acyl azo compounds using NaNO₂‐acetic anhydride under mild conditions with excellent yields.     

A Novel Method for the Synthesis of α,β‐Unsaturated Amides Mediated by Samarium Diiodide

Promoted by Samarium diiodide (SmI₂), α,β‐unsaturated amides were formed from nitrogen anions (formed in situ by the reduction of nitro compounds) and α,β‐unsaturated esters. This reaction contrasts with the conjugate addition between amines and α,β‐unsaturated esters promoted by samarium triiodide (SmI₃) and provides an alternative attractive way to obtain α,β‐unsaturated amides using SmI₂.     

A Mild Isomerization Reaction for β,γ‐Unsaturated Ketone to α,β‐Unsaturated Ketone

A series of β,γ‐unsaturated ketones were isomerized to their corresponding α,β‐unsaturated ketones by the introduction of DABCO in iPrOH at room temperature. The endo‐cyclic double bond (β,γ‐position) on ketone was rearranged to exo‐cyclic double bond (α,β‐position) under the reaction conditions.     

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.     

Direct Conjugate Addition of Alkynes with α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds Catalyzed by NCN‐Pincer Ru Complexes

NCN‐pincer Ru‐complexes containing bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl ligands serve as suitable catalysts in the direct conjugate additions of α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds, including ketones, esters, and amides, as well as vinylphosphonates, giving various β‐alkynyl carbonyl and phosphonate compounds. A bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl (phebox)–Ru complex also catalyzes the asymmetric conjugate addition of an alkyne with a β‐substituted, α,β‐unsaturated ketone to produce a chiral β‐alkynyl ketone.     

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.     

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.     

Reductive Cyclodimerization of α, β‐ Unsaturated Ketones Promoted by AlCl3/Sm System: A Facile Synthesis of 2‐Aroyl‐1,3,4‐triaryl Cyclopentanol Derivatives

Promoted by AlCl₃/Sm bimetallic system, α, β‐unsaturated ketones underwent reductive cyclodimerization to afford cyclopentanol derivatives under mild conditions. The reaction is stereocontrolled and regioselective over the competitive carbon‐carbon double bond reduction.     

Reaction of α,β‐unsaturated ketones with cerium(IV) salts in alcohol

Reaction of α,β‐unsaturated ketones with cerium(IV) salts or lanthanide triflates in alcohols gave good yields of the corresponding β‐alkoxy compounds. In the case of 2‐cyclopentenone and 2‐cyclohexenone, the 1,1,3‐trialkoxy acetal derivatives were obtained preferentially accompanied by β‐alkoxyketone, except 2‐cycloheptenone. However, in the reaction of 2‐cycloheptenone with alcohol using cerium(IV) sulfate (CS)‐molecular sieve, 1,1,3‐trialkoxy derivatives were obtained. Also, in the cases of 1‐penten‐3‐one, 4‐hexen‐3‐one and 3‐hepten‐2‐one, 1,1,3‐trialkoxy derivatives were obtained preferentially. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Access to Cyclic β‐Amino Acids by Amine‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Addition of the γ‐Carbon Atoms of α,β‐Unsaturated Imines to Enals

Disclosed herein is a new catalytic approach for an efficient access to cyclic β‐amino acids widely found in bioactive small molecules and peptidic foldamers. Our method involves addition of the remote γ‐carbon atoms of α,β‐unsaturated imines to enals by iminium organic catalysis. This highly chemo‐ and stereo‐selective reaction affords cyclic β‐amino aldehydes that can be converted to amino acids bearing quaternary stereocenters with exceptional optical purities. Our study demonstrates the unique power of organic catalytic remote carbon reactions in rapid synthesis of functional molecules.     

Enantioselective N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis by the Umpolung of α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones

N‐Heterocyclic carbene‐catalyzed formation of β‐anionic intermediates from enones has been employed in the enantioselective synthesis of 2‐aryl propionates. The reaction was achievable using a homochiral 4‐MeOC₆H₄ morpholinone catalyst allowing the first example of enantioselective catalysis by umpolung of α,β‐unsaturated ketones. The reaction is high yielding, and shows robustness with reasonable generality. A mechanism is proposed in which the enantiodetermining protonation is achieved using either hexafluoroisopropanol or the formed naphthol product.     

NH2SO3H–SiO2 as a new water‐compatible,recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of novel (α,β‐unsaturated) β‐amino ketones via aza‐Michael reaction

NH₂SO₃H–SiO₂/water as a novel catalytic system was used for the synthesis of (α,β‐unsaturated) β‐amino ketones via aza‐Michael reaction at reflux conditions. The methodology was of general applicability and the catalyst exhibited activity up to five cycles. The catalyst was characterized for the first time using FT‐IR, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopic–energy dispersion analytical X‐ray. The stability of the catalyst was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and TGA/differential thermal analysis. High efficiency of the catalyst along with its recycling ability and the rather low loading demonstrated in reactions are the merits of the presented protocol. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Benzylamine as Hydrogen Transfer Agent: Cobalt‐Catalyzed Chemoselective C=C Bond Reduction of β‐Trifluoromethylated α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones via 1,5‐Hydrogen Transfer

An efficient cobalt‐catalyzed chemoselective reduction of β‐CF₃‐α,β‐unsaturated ketones using benzylamine as hydrogen transfer agent involving intramolecular 1,5‐hydrogen transfer is reported. The reaction proceeded smoothly with a relatively wide range of substrates including those bearing aromatic heterocycles such as a furyl ring system in high yields (74–92 %). This provides an efficient method for the synthesis of β‐CF₃ saturated ketones in one‐pot. This methodology was also applied to the selective C=C reduction of other enone substrates bearing no β‐CF₃‐substituent, of which β‐substituted or β,β‐disubstituted enones are tolerated, giving the desired products in good yields (72–75 %). Mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction involves 1,5‐hydrogen transfer.     

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.     

Aryloxide‐Facilitated Catalyst Turnover in Enantioselective α,β‐Unsaturated Acyl Ammonium Catalysis

A new general concept for α,β‐unsaturated acyl ammonium catalysis is reported that uses p‐nitrophenoxide release from an α,β‐unsaturated p‐nitrophenyl ester substrate to facilitate catalyst turnover. This method was used for the enantioselective isothiourea‐catalyzed Michael addition of nitroalkanes to α,β‐unsaturated p‐nitrophenyl esters in generally good yield and with excellent enantioselectivity (27 examples, up to 79 % yield, 99:1 er). Mechanistic studies identified rapid and reversible catalyst acylation by the α,β‐unsaturated p‐nitrophenyl ester, and a recently reported variable‐time normalization kinetic analysis method was used to delineate the complex reaction kinetics.     

CuI/amino acid catalysis in coupling and cyclization of β‐bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids with terminal alkynes leading to alkylidenefuranones

β‐Bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids 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 alkylidenefuranones in good yields. Similar reaction under microwave irradiation also gave alkylidenefuranones in higher yields. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

Syngas‐Free Highly Regioselective Rhodium‐Catalyzed Transfer Hydroformylation of Alkynes to α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

The hydroformylation of alkynes is a fundamental and important reaction in both academic research and industry. Conventional methods focus on the conversion of alkynes, CO, and H₂ into α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes, but they often suffer from problems associated with operation, regioselectivity, and chemoselectivity. Herein, we disclose an operationally simple, mild, and syngas‐free rhodium‐catalyzed reaction for the hydroformylation of alkynes via formyl and hydride transfer from an alkyl aldehyde. This synthetic method uses inexpensive and easy‐to‐handle n‐butyraldehyde to overcome the challenge posed by the use of syngas in traditional approaches and employs a commercially available catalyst and ligand to transform a broad range of internal alkynes, especially alkynyl‐containing complex molecules, into versatile stereodefined α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes with excellent chemo‐, regio‐, and stereoselectivity.     

Computational insight into asymmetric uranyl‐salophen coordinated with α, β‐unsaturated aldehydes and ketones

The study of the catalytic activity and activation mechanism of asymmetric uranyl‐salophens with α, β‐unsaturated aldehydes or α, β‐unsaturated ketones, is a research hotspot. In this paper, the complexes of the uranyl–salophen(U‐S) modified by unilateral benzene, coordinated with cyclohexenone, cyclopentenone and acrolein, were investigated using density functional theory calculations at the level of B3LYP/6‐311G(d, p) basis set. The results showed that the uranyl‐salophen(U‐S) weakened the large π bond between C = C and C = O of the α, β‐unsaturated aldehydes and ketones, making the unsaturated aldehydes and ketones activated. In addition, the molecular‐recognition selectivity of the asymmetrical uranyl‐salophen for cyclohexenone and cyclopentenone were much higher than for acrolein.     

Metal‐Free and Efficient Epoxidation of α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones with 1,1,2,2‐Tetrahydroperoxy‐1,2‐Diphenylethane as a Powerful Solid Oxidant

1,1,2,2‐Tetrahydroperoxy‐1,2‐diphenylethane was used for the efficient and metal‐free epoxidation of various α,β‐unsaturated ketones, carried out under mild alkaline conditions at room temperature.