Copper‐Catalyzed N‐Arylation of Polysubstituted Pyridines Synthesized by the Novel Reaction of N‐Sulfonyl Ketenimine and Malononitrile‐Trichloroacetonitrile Adduct

In this study, we synthesized some new derivatives of N‐(4‐amino‐5‐cyano‐6‐(trichloromethyl)pyridin‐2‐yl)alkyl sulfonamides in the presence of a copper catalyst. A one‐pot reaction system was used, and four components participated in the process. These four components were sulfonyl azides, terminal alkynes, malononitrile, and trichloroacetonitrile. The reaction rate was increased by the use of copper (I) iodide as the catalyst and tetrahydrofuran was used as the solvent. We achieved the final compounds in moderate to good yields. Moreover, we converted “NH₂” side group to N‐aryl by the use of various aryl halide analogs in acetonitrile as the solvent, under mild reaction and at the room temperature.     

[5+2] Cycloaddition of 2‐(2‐Aminoethyl)oxiranes with Alkynes via Epoxide Ring‐Opening: A Facile Access to Azepines

A new FeCl₃ and BF₃?OEt₂ co‐catalyzed tandem hetero‐[5+2] cycloaddition of 2‐(2‐aminoethyl)oxiranes with a wide range of alkynes, including terminal alkynes and alkyl‐substituted internal alkynes is presented. This is the first example of rapid and facile production of diverse 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐azepines through a sequence of epoxide ring‐opening, annulation, and dehydroxylation with broad substrate scope and exquisite selectivity control.     

Organomagnesium‐Catalyzed Isomerization of Terminal Alkynes to Allenes and Internal Alkynes

Organomagnesium complexes 2 were synthesized from N,N‐dialkylamineimine ligands 1 and dibenzylmagnesium by benzylation of the imine moiety. 3‐Aryl‐1‐propynes reacted with 2 to form the corresponding tetraalkynyl complexes, which acted as catalysts for the transformation of these terminal alkynes into allenes and further to internal alkynes under mild conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this example is the first of an organomagnesium‐catalyzed isomerization of alkynes. Notably, the reactions proceeded through temporally separated autotandem catalysis, thus allowing the isolation of the allene or internal alkyne species in good yields. Mechanistic experiments suggested that the catalytically active tetraalkynyl complexes consist of a tautomeric mixture of alkynyl‐, allenyl‐, and propargylmagnesium species.     

Expedient Synthesis of Ketones via N‐Heterocyclic Carbene/Nickel‐Catalyzed Redox‐Economical Coupling of Alcohols and Alkynes†

An N‐heterocyclic carbene/nickel‐catalyzed direct coupling of alcohols and internal alkynes to form α‐branched ketones has been developed. This methodology provides a new approach to afford branched ketones, which are difficult to access through the hydroacylation of simple internal alkenes with aldehydes. This redox‐neutral and redox‐economical coupling is free from any oxidative or reductive additives as well as stoichiometric byproducts. These reactions convert both benzylic and aliphatic alcohols and alkynes, two basic feedstock chemicals, into various α‐branched ketones in a single chemical step.     

An Efficient Synthesis of Novel 2‐(5‐indolyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole Derivatives and Evaluation of Their Antimicrobial Activities

In this paper, we report the synthesis of novel 2‐(5‐indolyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole derivatives. The methodology involves the Sonogashira reaction of 4‐(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)‐2‐bromo‐N,N‐dimethylaniline ( 3 ) with variety of terminal alkynes to get corresponding novel 4‐(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)‐2‐alkynyl‐N,N‐dimethylaniline derivatives ( 4 ). These compounds on iodocyclization afforded novel iodoindolylbenzimidazole derivatives ( 5 ). The resulting compounds were functionalized further via palladium‐mediated carbon–carbon bond formation for generating novel structurally diversified heterocyclic compounds. All these newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activity.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Synthesis of 2H‐Thiopyran Derivatives from Alkynes,Sulfonyl Azides,Carbon Disulfide,and Malononitrile

A one‐pot synthesis of functionalized thiopyran derivatives via a Cu‐catalyzed multicomponent reaction of sulfonyl azides, arylacetylenes and dipotassium 2,2‐dicyanoethylene‐1,1‐dithiolate, generated from malononitrile and CS₂, has been developed. When alkylacetylenes were used as the terminal alkynes, N‐(alkanethioyl)‐N‐(2,2‐dicyanoethanethioyl)methanesulfonamides were obtained in good yields.     

Utilization of N,N‐Dialkylcarbamic Acid Derived from Secondary Amines and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide: Stereoselective Synthesis of Z Alkenyl Carbamates with a CO2‐Soluble Ruthenium–P(OC2H5)3 Catalyst

Reversible transformation of diethylamine ( 1 ) and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) into N,N‐diethylcarbamic acid ( 2 ) was confirmed by direct acquisition of ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectra. The equilibrium between 1 +CO₂ and 2 is strongly influenced by conditions of the supercritical state. Low temperature favors formation of carbamic acid, whereas high temperature causes decarboxylation. On the basis of the spectroscopic results of carbamic acid formation under scCO₂ conditions, the ruthenium‐catalyzed formation of alkenyl carbamates from terminal alkynes, 1 , and carbon dioxide was investigated to demonstrate the useful transformation of elusive carbamic acids. Selectivity toward the CO₂‐fixation products over enynes obtained by dimerization of the alkyne substrates was improved by the use of scCO₂ as a reaction medium. In particular, a CO₂‐soluble ruthenium complex, trans‐[RuCl₂{P(OC₂H₅)₃}₄], was found to be effective in affording Z alkenyl carbamates with high stereoselectivity.     

DFT studies on the mechanism of Ag2CO3‐catalyzed hydroazidation of unactivated terminal alkynes with TMS‐N3: An insight into the silver(I) activation mode

Silver‐mediated hydroazidation of unactivated alkynes has been developed as a new method for the synthesis of vinyl azides. Density functional theory calculations toward this reaction reveal that terminal alkynes with TMS‐N₃ participated hydroazidation proceed through HN₃ formation, deprotonation and silver acetylides formation, nucleophilic addition, and protonation of terminal carbon by AgHCO₃. It is also found that water molecules and activation modes of Ag (I) have a significant influence on the title reaction mechanism. Initially, catalyst Ag₂CO₃ coordinates preferentially with internal N atom of TMS–N₃ to assist water as hydrogen source and proton‐shuttle in facilitating HN₃ formation. Then, the regioselective anti‐addition of HN₃ to triple bond of active silver‐acetylide or ethynyl carbinols affords product vinyl azide via Ag–C σ‐bond activation or Ag…C π‐coordination activation modes, and the former one is more favorable. The origin of the difference regioselectivity is ascribed to the electronic and orbital effects of the reactive sites. Moreover, Ag₂CO₃ is the critical catalyst, acting as activator, base, and stabilizer to promote the HN₃ and vinyl azide formation. Water molecule plays an important role as proton shuttle to promote HN₃ and key active silver acetylides formation, thus improving the yield of product. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Synthesis of (E)‐δ‐Boryl‐Substituted anti‐Homoallylic Alcohols in Two Steps from Terminal Alkynes

We report the highly diastereo‐ and enantioselective preparation of (E)‐δ‐boryl‐substituted anti‐homoallylic alcohols in two steps from terminal alkynes. This method consists of a cobalt(II)‐catalyzed 1,1‐diboration reaction of terminal alkynes with B₂pin₂ and a palladium(I)‐mediated asymmetric allylation reaction of the resulting 1,1‐di(boryl)alk‐1‐enes with aldehydes in the presence of a chiral phosphoric acid. Propyne, which is produced as the byproduct during petroleum refining, could be used as the starting material to construct homoallylic alcohols that are otherwise difficult to synthesize with high stereocontrol.     

Highly Regio‐ and Stereoselective Hydrosilylation of Alkynes Catalyzed by Tridentate Cobalt Complexes

Several cobalt complexes bearing tridentate (NNN) ligands were synthesized and served as precatalysts for alkyne hydrosilylation with Ph₂SiH₂. For terminal alkynes, the catalyst L2 b‐CoCl₂ was selected, and resulted in the corresponding α‐vinylsilanes with high (Markovnikov) regioselectivity and extensive functional‐group tolerance. For internal diaryl alkynes, the catalyst L2 c‐CoCl₂ exhibited the best activity, and afforded E‐selective vinylsilanes through syn‐addition in excellent yield under mild conditions.     

Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Regioselective Addition of Nucleophilic Silicon Across Terminal and Internal Carbon–Carbon Triple Bonds

The copper(I) alkoxide‐catalyzed release of a silicon‐based cuprate reagent from a silicon–boron pronucleophile is applied to the addition across carbon–carbon triple bonds. Commercially available CuBr?Me₂S was found to be a general precatalyst that secures high regiocontrol for both aryl‐ and alkyl‐substituted terminal as well as internal alkynes. The solvent greatly influences the regioisomeric ratio, favoring the linear regioisomer with terminal acceptors. This facile protocol even allows for the transformation of internal acceptors with remarkable levels of regio‐ and diastereocontrol.     

Selective Benzylic and Allylic Alkylation of Protic Nucleophiles with Sulfonamides through Double Lewis Acid Catalyzed Cleavage of sp3 Carbon–Nitrogen Bonds

The acid‐catalyzed benzylic and allylic alkylation of protic nucleophiles is fundamentally important for the formation of carbon? carbon and carbon? heteroatom bonds, and it is a formidable challenge for benzylic and allylic amine derivatives to be used as the alkylating agents. Herein we report a highly efficient benzylic and allylic alkylation of protic carbon and sulfur nucleophiles with sulfonamides through double Lewis acid catalyzed cleavage of sp³ carbon–nitrogen bonds at room temperature. In the presence of a catalytic amount of inexpensive ZnCl₂‐TMSCl (TMSCl: chlorotrimethylsilane), 1,3‐diketones, β‐keto esters, β‐keto amides, malononitrile, aromatic compounds, thiols, and thioacetic acid can couple with a broad range of tosyl‐activated benzylic and allylic amines to give diversely functionalized products in good to excellent yields and with high regioselectivity. Furthermore, the cross‐coupling reaction of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with benzylic propargylic amine derivatives has been successfully applied to the one‐step synthesis of polysubstituted furans and benzofurans.     

1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions of 2‐substituted azomethine N‐oxides with N‐benzyl maleimides leading to the synthesis of stereoisomers

The azomethine N‐oxides ( 1 ) on reacting with N‐benzylmaleimide ( 2 ) provide a mixture of stereoisomers 2,3‐diphenyl‐5‐benzyl‐4H‐2,3,3a,5,6,6a‐hexahydropyrrolo[3,4‐d]isoxazole‐4,6–dione derivatives ( 3 ) in good yields. These isomers have been assigned cis and trans configurations ( 3‐A and 3‐B ) with respect to proton C₃‐H on the azomethinic carbon on the basis of their PMR and H‐NMR COSY data. The ratio between cis and trans isomers has been found to be dependent on substituents present at ortho position of C‐phenyl aldehydic moiety. The salient feature of these 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions lies in that the benzylic protons on N‐benzyl moiety suffer gem coupling, indicating magnetic nonequivalence. J. Heterocyclic Chem.,, (2012).     

Study of Unusually High Rotational Barriers about S?N Bonds in Nonafluorobutane‐1‐sulfonamides: The Electronic Nature of the Torsional Effect

Slow rotation about the S? N bond in N,N‐disubstituted nonafluorobutane‐1‐sulfonamides 1 can easily be detected by NMR measurements at room temperature. This effect causes magnetic nonequivalence of otherwise identical geminal substituents in symmetrical staggered ground‐state conformation A . The torsional barriers determined (62–71 kJ?mol^?1) proved to be the highest ever observed for sulfonamide moieties. They are comparable to the values routinely measured for carboxylic acid amides or carbamates. The restricted rotation is interpreted as result (n_N? d_S)‐π and of n_N? σ interactions, which develop substantial S,N double‐bond character in sulfonamides 1 . The S,N binding interaction is increased by the highly electron‐withdrawing effect of the perfluorobutyl group. The anticipated symmetry of the ground‐state conformation A and the considerable shortening of the S? N bond (1.59 Å) compared to the mean value in sulfonamides (1.63 Å) are confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray study of N,N‐dibenzylnonafluorobutane‐1‐sulfonamide ( 1c ).     

Synthesis of trans‐Disubstituted Alkenes by Cobalt‐Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with Activated Alkenes

A cobalt‐catalyzed reductive coupling of terminal alkynes, RC?CH, with activated alkenes, R′CH?CH₂, in the presence of zinc and water to give functionalized trans‐disubstituted alkenes, RCH?CHCH₂CH₂R′, is described. A variety of aromatic terminal alkynes underwent reductive coupling with activated alkenes including enones, acrylates, acrylonitrile, and vinyl sulfones in the presence of a CoCl₂/P(OMe)₃/Zn catalyst system to afford 1,2‐trans‐disubstituted alkenes with high regio‐ and stereoselectivity. Similarly, aliphatic terminal alkynes also efficiently participated in the coupling reaction with acrylates, enones, and vinyl sulfone, in the presence of the CoCl₂/P(OPh)₃/Zn system providing a mixture of 1,2‐trans‐ and 1,1‐disubstituted functionalized terminal alkene products in high yields. The scope of the reaction was also extended by the coupling of 1,3‐enynes and acetylene gas with alkenes. Furthermore, a phosphine‐free cobalt‐catalyzed reductive coupling of terminal alkynes with enones, affording 1,2‐trans‐disubstituted alkenes as the major products in a high regioisomeric ratio, is demonstrated. In the reactions, less expensive and air‐stable cobalt complexes, a mild reducing agent (Zn) and a simple hydrogen source (water) were used. A possible reaction mechanism involving a cobaltacyclopentene as the key intermediate is proposed.     

Photoluminescence properties of a cationic trinuclear zinc(II) complex with the tetradentate Schiff base ligand 6‐methyl‐2‐({[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolate

Metal complexes with Schiff base ligands have been suggested as potential phosphors in electroluminescent devices. In the title complex, tetrakis[6‐methyl‐2‐({[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolato‐1:2κ⁸N,N′,O:O;3:2κ⁸N,N′,O:O]trizinc(II) hexafluoridophosphate methanol monosolvate, [Zn₃(C₁₄H₁₃N₂O)₄](PF₆)₂·CH₃OH, the Zn^II cations adopt both six‐ and four‐coordinate geometries involving the N and O atoms of tetradentate 6‐methyl‐2‐({[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolate ligands. Two terminal Zn^II cations adopt distorted octahedral geometries and the central Zn^II cation adopts a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The O atoms of the phenolate ligands bridge three Zn^II cations, forming a dicationic trinuclear metal cluster. The title complex exhibits a strong emission at 469 nm with a quantum yield of 15.5%.     

Cu(OTf)2-catalyzed arylmethylation of terminal alkynes with benzylic alcohols under ligand-, base-, and additive-free reaction conditions

An effective, convenient, and mild coupling reaction of benzylic alcohols with terminal alkynes has been developed. As an effective Lewis acid, Cu(OTf)₂-catalyzed arylmethylation of terminal alkynes with benzylic alcohols generated the corresponding products in BrCH₂CH₂Br with good yields in the absence of ligand, base, and additive.     

Nitrogen–Carbon Bond Formation by Reactions of a Titanium–Potassium Dinitrogen Complex with Carbon Dioxide,tert‐Butyl Isocyanate,and Phenylallene

Nitrogen–carbon bond‐forming reactions at coordinated dinitrogen in a bifunctional titanium–potassium system are reported. A titanium atrane complex with a tris(aryloxide)methyl ligand ( 1 ) was treated with two equivalents of potassium naphthalenide under N₂ atmosphere to generate a bifunctional complex ( 2 ) in which N₂ binds end‐on to two titanium centers and side‐on to three potassium cations. Dinitrogen complex 2 reacted with carbon dioxide, tert ‐butyl isocyanate, and phenylallene, forming nitrogen–carbon bonds and affording diverse N‐functionalized products. The reaction of 2 with CO₂ followed by addition of Me₃SiCl resulted in the formation of the starting complex 1 with concomitant release of silylated carboxyl hydrazines while the reaction with two equivalents of tert ‐butyl isocyanate proceeded by insertion into the Ti−N bonds. Treatment of 2 with phenylallene afforded vinyl‐substituted hydrazido complexes.     

Iron‐Catalyzed anti‐Selective Carbosilylation of Internal Alkynes

Reported is the anti ‐selective carbosilylation of internal alkynes with silylborane and alkyl halides using a FeBr₂/DPPE catalyst system. The iron catalyst allows simultaneous introduction of a carbon electrophile and a silicon nucleophile to simple internal alkynes, including diaryl‐, dialkyl‐, and aryl/alkyl‐substituted alkynes, in a highly stereoselective manner. Alkyl halides are applicable as the electrophiles, thereby enabling the synthesis of a variety of tetrasubstituted alkenylsilanes. In addition, syn ‐selective carbosilylation was achieved through stereoswitching, by using a silylborane having oxygen functionality on the silyl group. This novel iron‐catalyzed carbosilylation is a useful tool for expedient synthesis of stereodefined multisubstituted olefins, a fundamental structural motif in organic chemistry.     

A Chiral N,N′‐Dioxide–ZnII Complex Catalyzes the Enantioselective [2+2] Cycloaddition of Alkynones with Cyclic Enol Silyl Ethers

A highly efficient enantioselective [2+2] cycloaddition between alkynones and cyclic enol silyl ethers was developed by using a chiral N,N′‐dioxide‐zinc(II) complex as a catalyst. This method functions well for a variety of terminal alkynes as well as cyclic enol silyl ethers, with good to excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97 % ee). This is also the first successful example for the catalytic enantioselective [2+2] cycloaddition of internal alkynes with cyclic enol silyl ethers to give fully substituted cyclobutenes. Meanwhile, the desired cyclobutene product can easily be transformed into fused cyclobutane derivatives.