Homocoupling Reactions of Azoles and Their Applications in Coordination Chemistry

Pyrazole, a member of the structural class of azoles, exhibits molecular properties of interest in pharmaceuticals and materials chemistry, owing to the two adjacent nitrogen atoms in the five-membered ring system. The weakly basic nitrogen atoms of deprotonated pyrazoles have been applied in coordination chemistry, particularly to access coordination polymers and metal-organic frameworks, and homocoupling reactions can in principle provide facile access to bipyrazole ligands. In this context, we summarize recent advances in homocoupling reactions of pyrazoles and other types of azoles (imidazoles, triazoles and tetrazoles) to highlight the utility of homocoupling reactions in synthesizing symmetric bi-heteroaryl systems compared with traditional synthesis. Metal-free reactions and transition-metal catalyzed homocoupling reactions are discussed with reaction mechanisms in detail.     

A convenient synthesis of symmetric 1,2-diarylethenes from arylmethyl phosphonium salts

Symmetric ethenyldithiophenes are important intermediates for synthesis of photochromic materials and organic conductors. When acetonitrile is used as a solvent, 3-methylthiophenylphosphonium salts form symmetric ethenyldithiophenes in the presence of a strong base (e.g., NaH, (t)BuOK) in moderate to high yields. This homocoupling reaction is faster than a Wittig reaction with aromatic ketones in acetonitrile. Our study shows that the presence of polar aprotic solvents promotes the homocoupling reaction.     

Analysis of the ambruticin and jerangolid gene clusters of Sorangium cellulosum reveals unusual mechanisms of polyketide biosynthesis

Ambruticins and jerangolids are structurally related antifungal polyketides produced by Sorangium cellulosum strains. Comparative analysis of the gene clusters and characterization of compounds produced by gene knockout strains suggested hypothetical schemes for biosynthesis of these compounds. Polyketide synthase (PKS) architecture suggests that the pyran ring structure common to ambruticins and jerangolids forms by an intramolecular reaction on a PKS-bound intermediate. Disrupting ambM, encoding a discrete enzyme homologous to PKS C-methyltransferase domains, gave 15-desmethylambruticins. Thus, AmbM is required for C-methylation, but not pyran ring formation. Several steps in the post-PKS modification of ambruticin involve new enzymology. Remarkably, the methylcyclopropane ring and putative carbon atom excision during ambruticin biosynthesis apparently occur on the PKS assembly line. The mechanism probably involves a Favorskii rearrangement, but further work is required to elucidate these complex events.     

Sonogashira coupling reaction with diminished homocoupling

[reaction: see text] The side product from homocoupling reaction of two terminal acetylenes in the Sonogashira reaction can be reduced to about 2% using an atmosphere of hydrogen gas diluted with nitrogen or argon. Terminal arylethynes, diarylethynes, and a few new arylpyridylethynes with donor substituents have been synthesized in very good yields. Comparative control experiments suggest that the homocoupling yield is determined by concentration of both catalyst and oxygen.     

Efficient homocoupling reactions of halide compounds catalyzed by manganese (II) chloride

A new efficient homocoupling reaction was reported in one pot by a combination of metallic magnesium and a catalytic amount of manganese (II) chloride. Various aromatic and alkyl halides underwent homocoupling smoothly, affording the corresponding symmetrical homocoupling compounds in moderate to good yields. The readily available MnCl₂, the mild reaction conditions and the operational simplicity and practicability allow for an easy and practical procedure for the purpose of carbon carbon bond formation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Homocoupling of arylboronic acids catalyzed by simple gold salts

A range of arylboronic acids undergo a homocoupling reaction in the presence of catalytic amount of gold salts to yield symmetrical biaryls. Alkenylboronic acids, arylboronic esters, and arylborates also participate in the gold-catalyzed homocoupling reaction.     

Enzymatic C−H Oxidation–Amidation Cascade in the Production of Natural and Unnatural Thiotetronate Antibiotics with Potentiated Bioactivity

The selective activation of unreactive hydrocarbons by biosynthetic enzymes has inspired new synthetic methods in C−H bond activation. Herein, we report the unprecedented two‐step biosynthetic conversion of thiotetromycin to thiotetroamide C involving the tandem oxidation and amidation of an unreactive ethyl group. We detail the genetic and biochemical basis for the terminal amidation in thiotetroamide C biosynthesis, which involves a uniquely adapted cytochrome P450–amidotransferase enzyme pair and highlights the first oxidation–amidation enzymatic cascade reaction leading to the selective formation of a primary amide group from a chemically inert alkyl group. Motivated by the ten‐fold increase in antibiotic potency of thiotetroamide C ascribed to the acetamide group and the unusual enzymology involved, we enzymatically interrogated diverse thiolactomycin analogues and prepared an unnatural thiotetroamide C analogue with potentiated bioactivity compared to the parent molecule.     

芳基亚磺酸钠自身偶联合成二芳基砜

在二价铜促进下,芳基亚磺酸钠通过分子间脱硫,发生自身偶联,高选择性高产率地合成了对称性的二芳基砜类化合物。反应无需惰性气体保护,条件温和,具有良好的官能团耐受性,可以用于二芳基砜衍生物的高效合成。     

Aryl alkynylation versus alkyne homocoupling: unprecedented selectivity switch in Cu, phosphine and solvent-free heterogeneous Pd-catalysed couplings

Sonogashira reaction and oxidative dimerisation of terminal alkynes are among the most relevant and attractive C-C bond forming transformations in the metallo-catalysed cross-coupling scenario. Often, the homocoupling reactions of substituted acetylenic derivatives are concomitant to the Sonogashira pathway and time-consuming optimization procedures are required in order to reach satisfactory levels of selectivity. In this paper, the potential of a class of Pd-complexes loaded to mesoporous silica gel in promoting the Sonogashira reaction between aryl acetylenes and iodoarenes is underlined. This family of heterogeneous organo-palladium systems allows the desired cross-coupled compounds to be isolated in excellent yield under very mild conditions. In fact, the absence of organic solvents, copper(I) co-catalyst and phosphane ligands, (which are easily oxidisable and whose preparation has a heavy environmental impact), in conjunction with the low catalyst loading ([Pd] 0.1-1 mol%) and its recoverability, stresses the environmental benefits of the protocol. The Sonogashira/homocoupling selectivity proved to be function of the haloarene employed. As a matter of fact, while iodoarenes bearing EWG (electron withdrawing groups) on the phenyl ring underwent smoothly the Sonogashira pathway, electron-rich iodobenzenes showed opposite behaviour by mainly furnishing the homocoupling product. The use of bromoarenes provided solely the homocoupling product in excellent yield without themselves being consumed. This is despite that fact that the catalysts used activate bromoarenes equally as well as iodoarenes in both Heck and Suzuki systems. Kinetic investigations revealed a highly temperature-dependent profile, which indicates strongly that the reaction takes place at the surface. Finally, the full heterogeneous character of the catalytically active species as well as the reusability of the immobilised Pd-complex were confirmed by hot-filtration test and by multiple reuses of the supported catalyst in subsequent Sonogashira cross-couplings.     

Gold‐Palladium Nanocluster Catalysts for Homocoupling: Electronic Structure and Interface Dynamics

The gold‐palladium (Au?Pd) bimetallic nanocluster (NC) catalyst in colloidal phase performs the homocoupling reaction of various aryl chlorides (Ar?Cl) under ambient conditions. We have systematically investigated various aspects of the Au?Pd NC catalysts with respect to this homocoupling reaction by using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, genetic algorithm (GA) approaches, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Our findings include the geometric and electronic structures of the Au?Pd NC, the reactive Pd sites on the NC surface, the electron‐donating effects of surrounding polymer matrix, the reaction mechanism of homocoupling reaction and rate‐determining step, the inverse halogen dependence of the reaction, and the solvation dynamics at interface region between NC and polymer matrix in aqueous solution.     

AgF-Mediated Homocoupling Reaction of Trialkoxy Aryl Silanes

In this article, we present the direct homocoupling reaction of trialkoxy aryl silanes mediated by AgF in moderate to excellent yields in very mild conditions. It is an important complement for the synthesis of symmetrical biaryls by using homocoupling of trialkoxy silanes. In this reaction, no other catalyst such as Pd or Cu was necessary.

Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for full experimental and spectral details.     

Fast, ligand- and solvent-free synthesis of 1,4-substituted buta-1,3-diynes by Cu-catalyzed homocoupling of terminal alkynes in a ball mill

A method for the Glaser coupling reaction of alkynes by using a vibration ball mill has been developed. The procedure avoids the use of ligands and solvents during the reaction. Aryl- and alkyl-substituted terminal alkynes undergo homocoupling if coground with KF-Al(2)O(3) and CuI as a milling auxiliary and catalyst. Furthermore, an alternative protocol has been developed incorporating 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as an additional base allowing the use of KF-Al(2)O(3) with a lower KF loading. Besides Cu salts, the homocoupling of phenylacetylene is also catalyzed by Ni or Co salts, as well as by PdCl(2). TMS-protected phenylacetylene could be directly converted into the homocoupling product after in situ deprotection of the alkyne by fluoride-initiated removal of the trimethylsilyl group.     

Stereoselective synthesis of multisubstituted butadienes through directed Mizoroki-Heck reaction and homocoupling reaction of vinyl(2-pyridyl)silane

[reaction: see text] We have developed the homocoupling reaction of alkenyl(2-pyridyl)silanes mediated by CuI and CsF, in which the strong directing effect of the 2-pyridyl group was observed. The homocoupling reaction was successfully integrated with the Mizoroki-Heck reaction of vinyl(2-pyridyl)silane with aryl halides, enabling a rapid and stereoselective synthesis of multisubstituted butadienes. From a relatively small compound library, it was possible to detect a number of fluorescent butadienes with a wide range of fluorescence color variations (blue to reddish-orange).     

Palladium‐catalyzed reductive homocoupling of aryl sulfonates via cleavage of C─O bond at room temperature

Palladium‐catalyzed reductive homocoupling of aryl sulfonates has been successfully achieved under mild conditions. This transformation is a new method for the homocoupling reaction of aryl sulfonates at room temperature via the cleavage of C─O bonds, thus providing an alternative synthesis of symmetric biaryls. The reported reductive homocoupling reaction is tolerant of many common functional groups regardless of electron‐donating or electron‐withdrawing nature, making this newly developed transformation important for complementing Ullmann coupling. Experimental Section. Typical procedure for the products.     

Toward the pathway of S. aureus WTA biosynthesis

Wall teichoic acid (WTA) contributes profoundly to the virulence of Staphylococcus aureus. The successful in vitro reconstitution of poly-ribitolphosphate WTA biosynthesis using recombinant enzymes sheds new light on WTA enzymology and paves the way for developing new antibiotics that target WTA biosynthesis, as discussed in Brown et al. in a recent issue of Chemistry & Biology.     

微乳凝胶中小分子传质研究

微乳凝胶中小分子传质研究对于拓宽胶束酶学研究内涵、加速酶在生物合成与转化领域中的应用、研制高性能生物传感器等具有重要理论意义和潜在应用价值.以微乳液中二价金属离子与紫脲酸胺之间的配位反应为指示反应,采用分光光度技术,研究了金属离子在由阳离子表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化胺构建的微乳凝胶中的传质问题.结果表明,在由含紫脲酸胺微乳液及含金属离子微乳凝胶构成的体系中,金属离子在微乳凝胶中的传质是金属离子与紫脲酸胺配位反应的限速步骤.为进一步证实上述结论,还对影响金属离子在微乳凝胶中传质的各种因素(如微乳液中水与表面活性剂的摩尔比值、分散相中甘油与水的配比等)进行了研究,结果也证实了上述结论.     

Reductive Coupling of (Fluoro)pyridines by Linear 3d-Metal(I) Silylamides of Cr–Co: A Tale of C−C Bond Formation,C−F Bond Cleavage and a Pyridyl Radical Anion

Herein, we disclose the facile reduction of pyridine (and its derivatives) by linear 3d-metal(I) silylamides (M=Cr–Co). This reaction resulted in intermolecular C−C coupling to give dinuclear metal(II) complexes bearing a bridging 4,4′-dihydrobipyridyl ligand. For iron, we demonstrated that the C−C coupling is reversible in solution, either directly or by reaction with substrates, via a presumed monomeric metal(II) complex bearing a pyridyl radical anion. In the course of this investigation, we also observed that the dinuclear metal(II) complex incorporating iron facilitated the isomerisation of 1,4-cyclohexadiene to 1,3-cyclohexadiene as well as equimolar amounts of benzene and cyclohexene. Furthermore, we synthesised and structurally characterised a non-3d-metal-bound pyridyl radical anion. The reactions of the silylamides with perfluoropyridine led to C−F bond cleavage with the formation of metal(II) fluoride complexes of manganese, iron and cobalt along with the homocoupling or reductive degradation of the substrate. In the case of cobalt, the use of lesser fluorinated pyridines led to C−F bond cleavage but no homocoupling. Overall, in this paper we provide insights into the multifaceted behaviour of simple (fluoro)pyridines in the presence of moderately to highly reducing metal complexes.     

The first synthesis and characterization of both diastereomers of a di[2.2]paracyclophane: 4,4'-bis(1,1,2,2,9,9,10,10-octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophane)

The synthesis and characterization of both diastereomers of a system comprised of two [2.2]paracyclophane units linked through a single 4,4' bond are described. Both the meso and d,l diastereomers of 4,4'-bis(octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophane) have been prepared via a palladium-catalyzed reductive homocoupling reaction by copper, producing a 3:2 ratio of meso and d,l diastereomers. A similar reductive homocoupling of pseudo-o-iodotrifluoromethyloctafluoro[2.2]paracyclophane gave only the analogous meso diastereomer. Single-crystal X-ray structures were obtained for all of the diparacyclophane products.     

Quantifying intermediates in template-directed natural product biosynthesis

High-performance mass spectrometry is providing new experimental windows into the enzymology of natural product biosynthesis. The first quantitative assessments of covalently attached biosynthetic intermediates promise to shine new light on template-directed biosynthesis.     

Palladium catalyzed reductive homocoupling reactions of aromatic halides in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution

Biaryls were obtained in good to excellent yields from the palladium catalyzed reductive homocoupling reactions of various aryl iodides and bromides in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution without the need for any additional reducing reagents. Pd(dppf)Cl₂ is the most effective among the screened palladium catalysts for the homocoupling reactions. Fluorides, carbonates, acetates and hydroxides can be used as bases at promoting the palladium catalyzed reductive homocoupling of aryl halides in DMSO solution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis shows that the oxidative Pd²⁺(dppf) species can be reduced into the Pd⁰(dppf) active species by solvent DMSO molecules to furnish the catalytic cycle, indicating that DMSO plays a dual role as both solvent and reducing reagent. A plausible reaction mechanism has been discussed. Elimination of additional reducing reagents will not only reduce the reaction operation cost, but will also simplify the product separation and purification.