Isomerization of α-3,4-epoxy-4-methylcarane

Conclusions 4-Methyl-3-carene, under the conditions for the reaction of olefins with I₂ and Ag₂O, which leads to epoxides, forms 3-acetyl-3,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexane, a ketone that is isomeric with the epoxide.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii N auk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 454–455, February, 1982.     

A direct method for the conversion of terminal epoxides into gamma-butanolides

A new and efficient process for the conversion of terminal epoxides to gamma-butanolides is described involving Lewis acid promoted epoxide ring-opening by 1-morpholino-2-trimethylsilyl acetylene. Addition of a terminal epoxide to a solution of the ynamine and boron trifluoride diethyl etherate in dichloromethane at 0 degrees C rapidly affords a cyclic keteneaminal that can be hydrolyzed and protodesilylated under mild conditions to provide the corresponding gamma-butanolide in high yield. The net transformation is equivalent to an acetate enolate opening of terminal epoxides. The formation of a cyclic keteneaminal as the direct addition product was observed by monitoring of the reaction by IR and NMR spectroscopy. Functionalized gamma-lactones were prepared by the interception of the reactive cyclic keteneaminal prior to hydrolysis. Reactions with enantiomerically enriched terminal epoxides provide the corresponding gamma-butanolides without loss of optical activity. The compatibility of the present methodology with a wide range of functional groups is noteworthy.     

Synthesis of bifunctional cyclic carbonates from CO2 catalysed by choline-based systems

Easily prepared choline iodide is an active catalyst for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates through the coupling reaction of CO₂ and epoxides using low pressure (1 MPa), moderate temperature (85 ºC) and green solvents (ethanol and propan-2-ol). The effects of reaction temperature, pressure, reaction time and amount of catalyst used were also investigated. The results showed moderate to high yields and excellent selectivities of cyclic carbonates with vinyl or acrylate groups under mild reaction conditions. The heterogenization of choline over a Merrifield resin gives access to a supported catalyst with good recyclability and reactivity that can be extended to a variety of terminal epoxide substrates.     

大位阻烯烃不对称环氧化合成手性环氧化合物

采用大位阻的有机锂试剂或格氏试剂与卤代烯烃偶联合成了7种大位阻取代烯烃. 以Oxone(KHSO₅)作为氧化剂, 分别在D-果糖衍生酮和(2S,5R)-2-异丙基-5-甲基环己酮为催化剂的催化下, 将合成的7种大位阻取代烯烃转变成了7个大位阻的手性环氧化合物. 其中以D-果糖衍生酮的对映选择性最好, 当双键碳上含有3个取代基时, 对映选择性最高, e.e.值为96.8%~99.5%. (2S, 5R)-2-异丙基-5-甲基环己酮的对映选择性较差, 无论是一取代的烯烃还是三取代的烯烃, 其e.e.值均介于25.6%~34.1%之间.     

Triethanolamine/KI: A Multifunctional Catalyst for CO2 Activation and Conversion with Epoxides into Cyclic Carbonates

A catalytic system of triethanolamine/potassium iodide (KI) was proved to be efficient for the chemical fixation of CO₂ with epoxide. It was found that triethanolamine with dual function could activate both CO₂ and epoxides. Effects of parameters such as catalyst molar ratio and amount, reaction time, pressure, and temperature were studied systematically. As a result, 99% propylene oxide conversion as well as 99% propylene carbonate selectivity could be obtained under the optimal reaction condition. Furthermore, the catalyst was found to be applicable to a variety of terminal epoxides, providing the corresponding cyclic carbonates in good yields and selectivity. Moreover, the catalyst could be reused five times without loss of activity. This work presents an example of a cheap and efficient catalyst for the chemical fixation of CO₂ to high-value chemicals, which could help to improve the catalytic efficiency and decrease cost of products for larger applications.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resource: Full experimental and spectral details.]     

Direct Synthetic Processes for Cyclic Carbonates from Olefins and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

This short review presents the recent developments in the direct synthesis of cyclic carbonates from olefins and CO₂. The straightforward synthesis of cyclic carbonates from olefins instead of epoxides, also called one-pot “oxidative carboxylation” of olefins, can be viewed as the coupling of two sequential reactions of epoxidation of olefins and CO₂ cycloaddition to epoxides formed. The facile synthetic approach would make carbonate synthesis simpler and even cheaper with industrial potential from environmental and economic points of view. Some progresses have been made on this direct synthetic reaction for cyclic carbonates with homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, however, this reaction system is still at a preliminary stage. Among the catalysts reported, only a few can be considered as effective for the direct oxidative carboxylation of olefins to cyclic carbonates. Thus active and selective catalysts should be explored to put the direct synthesis of cyclic carbonates into practical applications.     

Co(III) porphyrin/DMAP: an efficient catalyst system for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and epoxides

CoTPP(Cl)/DMAP was found to be a highly active catalyst system for the chemical fixation of CO₂ via reaction with epoxides. The corresponding cyclic carbonate products are produced in high yield and selectivity for a variety of terminal mono and disubstituted epoxides. 1,2-Disubstituted internal epoxides were also investigated as substrates and found to react with very high stereospecificity.     

New partially fluorinated epoxides by oxidation of olefins with sodium hypohalites under phase transfer catalysis

Partially fluorinated epoxides can be readily prepared by oxidation of the corresponding olefins by NaOCl (or NaOBr) under phase transfer catalysis (PTC) conditions. Oxidation of CH₂C(CF₃)₂ at 0-5 °C leads to the formation of 2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)oxirane in 65-75% yield. (CF₃)₂CCHCH₂X (X=Cl or Br) were converted into the corresponding epoxides in 24-31% yield by the action of NaOCl and NaOBr, respectively. Baylis-Hillman adducts of fluorinated ketones and esters of acrylic acid CH₂C[C(OH)(CF₂X)Y][C(O)OR] [X=F or Cl, Y=CF₃, CF₂Cl or C(O)OCH₃ and R=CH₃ or C(CH₃)₃] were converted into α-hydroxyepoxides in 47-84% yield under action of NaOCl in the presence of PT catalyst. Oxidation of tert-butyl ester of α-trifluoromethylacrylic acid by NaOCl rapidly proceeds at ambient temperature with formation of epoxide in 75% yield. Oxidation of (C₂F₅)₂CCHC₃F₇ results in the high yield formation of trisubstituted epoxide.     

Unusual reactivity of selenoboranes towards epoxides: new selective routes to b-hydroxyselenides and allylalcohols

Selenoboranes react with terminal α,β- di- and trisubstituted epoxides to produce β-hydroxylenides, (or olefins) in the two first cases and allyl alcohols in the last one. A very high stereodescrimination has been observed for α,β-disubstituted epoxides: the cis epoxide being much more reactive.     

Efficient epoxidation reaction of terminal olefins with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by an iron (II) complex

A highly active iron (II) complex that catalyzed epoxidation of terminal olefins with hydrogen peroxide was described. The catalytic system displayed excellent catalytic ability for the selective oxidation of terminal olefins to epoxides with high selectivity (up to 97.8%) in CH₃CN at 25?°C. The catalytic activity of three similarly structural iron (II) complexes was comparatively studied. The effect of various auxiliary ligands on epoxidation was investigated in detail.     

The hydrogenation of olefins using a polymer supported ruthenium complex

RuCl₂(PPH₃)3 has been attached to a phosphinated polymer support (phosphinated polystyrene crosslinked with 2% divinylbenzene) and the reagent converted to the polymer supported analogue of RuClH(PPH₃)₃ in the presence of base. The polymer supported catalyst efficiently hydrogenates terminal olefins under ambient conditions. Hydrogenation of 1-hexene has revealed that the reaction rate is proportional to [Ru], [H₂] and [olefin]/(1 + [olefin]). The polymer support environment allows for selectivity in olefin hydrogenation and under suitable reaction conditions short chain terminal olefins are hydrogenated more rapidly than long chain terminal olefins. The extent of metal loading on the polymer and the reaction solvent composition also influence the reaction selectivity and these effects are discussed.     

Intramolecularly two-centered cooperation catalysis for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and epoxides

A catalyst system containing an electrophilic center and a sterically hindered nucleophilic center in one molecule was applied to the cycloaddition reaction of CO₂ and epoxides. This intramolecularly two-centered cooperation catalyst showed activity even at a high [epoxide]/[catalyst] ratio up to 50 000 under mild conditions such as solvent-free, ambient temperature, and low CO₂ pressure. The reaction of CO₂ with (S)-propylene oxide at 80 °C in the presence of the bifunctional catalyst gives (S)-propylene carbonate in 96% ee with retention of stereochemistry.     

Synthesis of 1,2-azidoalcohols from epoxides using a task-specific protic ionic liquid: 1-hydrogen-3-methylimidazolium azide

A task-specific ionic liquid as an environmentally eco-friendly green catalyst has been synthesized and used in the ring opening of epoxides under green conditions. In order to use protic ionic liquids (PIL), we decided to synthesize 1,2-azidoalcohols via a ring opening reaction of epoxides with 1-hydrogen-3-methylimidazolium azide ([Hmim]N₃), which actually acts as a solvent, a reagent and an activator of the epoxide ring. The reaction was carried out in short times (50–70 min) at 70 °C to give 1,2-azidoalcohol in 80–94% isolated yields.     

Triazine‐based Organic Polymer‐catalysed Conversion of Epoxide to Cyclic Carbonate under Ambient CO2 Pressure

In this work we have achieved epoxide to cyclic carbonate conversion using a metal‐free polymeric catalyst under ambient CO₂ pressure (1.02 atm) using a balloon setup. The triazine containing polymer (CYA‐ANIS) was prepared from cyanuric chloride (CYA?Cl) and o‐dianisidine (ANIS) in anhydrous DMF as solvent by refluxing under the N₂ gas environment. The presence of triazine and amine functional groups in the polymer results in the adsorption of CO₂ up to 7 cc/g at 273 K. This inspired us to utilize the polymer for the conversion of a series of functionalised epoxides into their corresponding cyclic carbonates in the presence of tetrabutyl ammonium iodide (TBAI) as co‐catalyst. The product has wide range of applications like solvent in lithium ion battery, precursor for polycarbonate, etc. The catalyst was efficient for the conversion of different mono and di‐epoxides into their corresponding cyclic carbonates under atmospheric pressure in the presence of TBAI as co‐catalyst. The study indicates that epoxide attached with electron withdrawing groups (like, CH₂Cl, glycidyl ether, etc.) displayed better conversion compared to simple alkane chain attached epoxides. This is mainly due to the stabilization of electron rich intermediates produced during the reaction (e. g. epoxide ring opening or CO₂ incorporation into the halo‐alkoxide anion). This catalyst mixture was capable to maintain its reactivity up to five cycles without losing its activity. Post catalytic characterization clearly supports the heterogeneous and recyclable nature of the catalyst.     

[HCo(CO)4]‐Catalyzed Three‐component Cycloaddition of Epoxides,Imines, and Carbon Monoxide: Facile Construction of 1,3‐Oxazinan‐4‐ones

The three‐component [3+2+1] cycloaddition of epoxides, imines, and carbon monoxide to produce 1,3‐oxazinan‐4‐ones has been developed by using [HCo(CO)₄] as the catalyst. The reaction occurs for a wide variety of imines and epoxides, under 60 bar of CO pressure at 50 °C, to produce 1,3‐oxazinan‐4‐ones with different substitution patterns in high yields, and provides an efficient and atom‐economic route to heterocycles from simple and readily available starting materials. A plausible mechanism involves [HCo(CO)₄]‐induced ring‐opening of the epoxide, followed by sequential addition of carbon monoxide and the imine, and then ring closure to form the product accompanied by regeneration of [HCo(CO)₄].     

[HCo(CO)4]‐Catalyzed Three‐component Cycloaddition of Epoxides,Imines, and Carbon Monoxide: Facile Construction of 1,3‐Oxazinan‐4‐ones

The three‐component [3+2+1] cycloaddition of epoxides, imines, and carbon monoxide to produce 1,3‐oxazinan‐4‐ones has been developed by using [HCo(CO)₄] as the catalyst. The reaction occurs for a wide variety of imines and epoxides, under 60 bar of CO pressure at 50 °C, to produce 1,3‐oxazinan‐4‐ones with different substitution patterns in high yields, and provides an efficient and atom‐economic route to heterocycles from simple and readily available starting materials. A plausible mechanism involves [HCo(CO)₄]‐induced ring‐opening of the epoxide, followed by sequential addition of carbon monoxide and the imine, and then ring closure to form the product accompanied by regeneration of [HCo(CO)₄].     

Scope and limitations of montmorillonite K 10 catalysed opening of epoxide rings by amines

Montmorillonite K 10 efficiently catalyses the opening of epoxide rings by amines in high yields with excellent regio- and diastereo-selectivities under solvent-free conditions at room temperature affording an improved process for synthesis of 2-amino alcohols. Reaction of cyclohexene oxide with aryl/alkyl amines leads to the formation of trans-2-aryl/alkylaminocyclohexanols. For unsymmetrical epoxides, the regioselectivity is controlled by the electronic and steric factors associated with the epoxide and the amine. Selective nucleophilic attack at the benzylic carbon of styrene oxide takes place with aromatic amines, whereas, aliphatic amines exhibit preferential nucleophilic attack at the terminal carbon. Aniline reacts selectively at the less hindered carbon of other unsymmetrical epoxides. The difference in the internal strain energy of the epoxide ring in cycloalkene oxides and alkene oxides led to selective nucleophilic opening of cyclohexene oxide by aniline in the presence of styrene oxide. Due to the chelation effect, selective activation of the epoxide ring in 3-phenoxy propylene oxide takes place in the presence of styrene oxide leading to preferential cleavage of the epoxide ring in 3-phenoxy propylene oxide by aniline.     

Copper-catalyzed regioselective allylic oxidation of olefins via C–H activation

A regioselective oxidation of allylic C–H bond to C–O bond catalyzed by copper (I) was developed with diacyl peroxides as oxidants. The oxidation of allylic C–H bond was accomplished with good yield and regioselectivity under mild reaction conditions. This method has a broad substrate scope including cyclic olefins, terminal and internal acyclic olefins and allyl benzene compounds. The reaction proceeds by a radical mechanism as suggested by spin trapping experiments.     

Pnictogen-Bonding Catalysis: An Interactive Tool to Uncover Unorthodox Mechanisms in Polyether Cascade Cyclizations

Pnictogen-bonding catalysis and supramolecular σ-hole catalysis in general is currently being introduced as the non-covalent counterpart of covalent Lewis acid catalysis. With access to anti-Baldwin cyclizations identified as unique characteristic, pnictogen-bonding catalysis appeared promising to elucidate one of the hidden enigmas of brevetoxin-type epoxide opening polyether cascade cyclizations, that is the cyclization of certain trans epoxides into cis-fused rings. In principle, a shift from S_N2- to S_N1-type mechanisms could suffice to rationalize this inversion of configuration. However, the same inversion could be explained by a completely different mechanism: Ring opening with C−C bond cleavage into a branched hydroxy-5-enal and the corresponding cyclic hemiacetal, followed by cascade cyclization under conformational control, including stereoselective C−C bond formation. In this report, a pnictogen-bonding supramolecular Sb^V catalyst is used to demonstrate that this unorthodox polyether cascade cyclization mechanism occurs.     

Palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of terminal olefins with electron-withdrawing groups in scCO2

Product control of palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of terminal olefins with electron-withdrawing groups can be achieved through modifying reaction conditions. When the oxidant, such as CuCl₂/O₂, benzoquinone/O₂ or O₂, was present in scCO₂, aerobic oxidation of terminal olefins goes smoothly. With enough MeOH and sufficient oxygen, acetalization preponderated over cyclotrimerization, while with little MeOH as co-solvent in scCO₂ or no MeOH in DMF and an appropriate pressure of O₂, cyclotrimerization of terminal olefins became the dominated reaction. When oxygen is absent and triethylamine was added into the reaction system, palladium-catalyzed C-N bond formation occurs to produce β-amino acid derivatives as the sole product.