C_2-symmetric BINOL-squaramide as efficient organocatalyst for the enantioselective α-amination of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with dialkyl azodicarboxylates

The asymmetric α-amination of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with dialkyl azodicarboxylates has been achieved by C2-symmetric BINOL-squaramide bearing multiple hydrogen bond donors to provide the desired products in excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield and 98% ee).     

脯氨酰肼小分子催化的环己酮的直接α-硫代反应

研究了脯氨酰肼有机小分子催化环己酮的直接α-硫代反应. 考察了3种不同硫代试剂、9种溶剂、6种脯氨酰肼催化剂等对反应的活性和收率的影响. 结果表明, 硫代试剂、溶剂及催化剂的结构对反应的活性和反应收率均有较大的影响. 在优化条件下, 即以邻苯二甲酰亚胺为硫代试剂, 甲苯为溶剂, 脯氨酰肼1和4催化的环己酮的硫代反应活性比较高, 室温反应12 h, 收率达98%. 脯氨酰肼催化该类反应条件温和, 操作简单, 在药物合成中具有一定的应用潜力.     

Asymmetric synthesis of alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acids by diastereoselective alkylation of camphor-based tricyclic iminolactone

A novel and convenient route for the preparation of chiral tricyclic iminolactones 9 and 10 from camphorquinone has been developed. Alkylation of iminolactones 9 and 10 provided iminolactones 16 and 17 in high yields which were, in turn, alkylated again to afford the alpha,alpha-disubstituted products in good yields (70-90%) and excellent diastereoselectivities (>98%). Hydrolysis of the alkylated iminolactones furnished the desired alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acids in good yields and high enantiomeric excesses with good recovery yields of the chiral auxiliary 12 and 13. The extremely high endo-face selectivity for alkylation is discussed using semiempirical (MOPAC 93) calculations.     

xAu/α-MnO2催化剂的结构及催化氧化VOCs气体性能

以NaOH为沉淀剂,采用沉积-沉淀法制备了α-MnO2负载Au催化剂xAu/α-MnO2(x=1.0%～7.0%,质量分数),利用X射线衍射(XRD)、N2吸附-脱附、H2程序升温还原(H2-TPR)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)等技术对所得样品进行了表征,并对其催化氧化挥发性有机化合物(VOCs,苯和甲苯)的性能进行了研究.XRD结果表明,负载Au对α-MnO2载体结构影响不大,但对其晶粒大小和比表面积略有影响.随着Au含量的增加,α-MnO2结晶度增强,颗粒增大,Au粒径明显增大.XPS结果表明,随着Au负载量的增加,xAu/α-MnO2的晶格氧(O2-),Mn4+和Au3+的浓度增加.H2-TPR结果表明,由于贵金属的溢氢作用,Au明显提升了xAu/α-MnO2的还原能力,其中3%Au/α-MnO2的还原能力最强.负载Au明显影响xAu/α-MnO2的催化性能,xAu/α-MnO2的催化性能与Au的颗粒分散性、低温还原性能及表面氧物种密切相关,其中3%Au/α-MnO2显示出最佳活性,其催化氧化苯和甲苯的T100分别为280和250℃.     

Chiral iminophosphorane catalyzed asymmetric Henry reaction of α,β-alkynyl ketoesters

α,β-Alkynyl ketoesters were introduced to the enantioselective Henry reaction (nitroaldol condensation) with nitromethane catalyzed by tartaric acid derived chiral iminophosphoranes. As such, a variety of optically active β-nitro-substituted tertiary alcohols bearing alkyne moieties were obtained in good to excellent yields (42%-99%) and moderate to good level of enantiomeric excess (up to 87% ee).     

Silica gel catalyzed α-bromination of ketones using N-bromosuccinimide: An easy and rapid method

An easy and rapid method for the a-bromination of ketones using N-bromosuccinimide(NBS) catalyzed by silica gel in methanol under reflux conditions was developed. The expected products were formed in excellent isolated yields within a short period of time(5–20 min). Major advantages of the present procedure include use of inexpensive and readily available catalyst, exclusion of pre- and post-chemical treatment of catalyst and use of methanol as solvent instead of ethers and chlorinated solvents.     

Enantioselective copper(II)‐catalyzed Henry reaction utilizing chiral aziridinyl alcohols

A family of enantiopure β‐aminoalcohols based on aziridine backbones were synthesized, and examined as chiral ligands for the copper(II)‐catalyzed asymmetric Henry reaction of aromatic aldehydes with nitromethane, giving β‐nitroalcohols in excellent yields (up to 93%) and moderate to good enantioselectivities (up to 82%). Moreover, possible transition states of the reaction are proposed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

One-pot synthesis of 2-trifluoromethyl and 2-difluoromethyl substituted benzo-1,3-diazoles

2-Trifluoromethyl and 2-difluoromethyl substituted benzimidazole, benzoxazole and benzothiazole derivatives were efficiently prepared through a one-pot reaction of trifluoroacetic acid and difluoroacetic acid, respectively, with commercially available o-phenylenediamines, 2-aminophenols, and 2-aminobenzenethiols in good to excellent yields. Subsequential bromination of 2-difluoromethyl groups by photolysis with NBS led to the formation of bromodifluoromethyl benzo-1,3-diazoles which may be utilized to prepare the new generation of gem-difluoromethylene linked identical or non-identical twin molecules for drug synthesis.     

Propylphosphonic anhydride(T3P~) catalyzed one-pot synthesis of α-aminonitriles

The Strecker reaction was performed via a one-pot three component condensation of hetero aromatic/aromatic aldehydes, secondary amines and trimetylsilyl cyanide in the presence of propylphosphonic anhydride(T3P~) to accomplish the corresponding a-aminonitriles. The main advantages of this method are very short reaction time and excellent yields.     

α-Fe_2O_3 nanoparticles:An efficient,inexpensive catalyst for the one-pot preparation of 3,4-dihydropyrano[c]chromenes

This paper describes the combustion synthesis ofα-Fe₂O₃ nanopowder at much lower temperature and its catalytic activity for the one-pot preparation of 3,4-dihydropyrano[c]chromenes.The combustion derivedα-Fe₂O₃ nanopowder was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction（PXRD）,Braunauer,Emmett and Teller（BET） surface area,scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FTIR）.Highly efficient,three-component condensation of aromatic aldehyde,malanonitrile and 4- hydroxycoumarin catalyzed byα-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles at room temperature is described.The method offers an excellent alternative to the synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrano[c]chromenes.The reactions are rapid,clean,and the products with good yield and high purity.     

Enantioselective anti-Mannich reaction catalyzed by modularly designed organocatalysts

A highly stereoselective method for achieving the anti-Mannich reaction of aldehydes and ketones with ethyl (4-methoxyphenylimino)acetate was realized using the modularly designed organocatalysts (MDOs) self-assembled from cinchona alkaloid derivatives and (R)-pyrrolidien-3-carboxylic acid in the reaction media. The desired anti-Mannich products were obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 93%), excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr), and good to high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Direct asymmetric aldol reaction co-catalyzed by l-proline and isothiouronium salts

An efficient, simple, and highly selective protocol for the direct asymmetric aldol reaction between cyclohexanone and aromatic aldehydes using l-proline as a chiral catalyst is reported. Catalytic amounts of achiral isothiouronium iodide salt 1d have been used for the first time as a co-catalyst for this reaction, which proved to be an excellent catalyst, producing good to excellent yields (up to 93%) with good stereoselectivities (up to 93:7 dr and 99% ee). These aldols are formed under solvent-free catalytic system, inside a standard laboratory refrigerator, and without stirring.     

Stereoselective synthesis of the dolastatin units by organotrifluoroborates additions to α-amino aldehydes

Dolastatin units were synthesized from the 1,2-addition reactions of potassium allyl or crotyltrifluoroborate salts to aldehyde derivatives from natural amino acids. The reactions were carried out in presence of a phase-transfer catalyst in a biphasic medium at room temperature and excellent yields (>89-93%) and stereoselective (>90:10 to 98:2) were obtained. The dolastatin units 8 and 14a-b were obtained after three steps in good overall yields (50-62%).     

Synthesis of 2-Oxazolines from Ethyl α-Cyanocinnamate Derivatives with Acetamide and N-Bromosuccinimide

An efficient method for the one-pot synthesis of 2-oxazolines from ethyl α-cyanocinnamate derivatives with acetamide and N-bromosuccinimide(NBS) in the presence of K₃PO₄ was developed. The reaction was performed smoothly and cleanly to give 2-oxazolines in good to excellent yields(up to 95%) in acetone at room temperature. Thirteen examples were investigated and the results indicated that a large range of α-cyanocinnamate derivatives could be suitable for this method. Based on the outcomes of experiment, a possible consecutive nucleophilic addition-cyclization pathway was proposed.     

Chiral copper-catalyzed enantioselective Michael difluoromethylation of arylidene meldrum's acids with (difluoromethyl)zinc reagents

The catalytic enantioselective difluoromethylation of arylidene Meldrum's acids with (difluoromethyl)zinc reagent, easily prepared through zinc/iodide exchange reaction of difluoroiodomethane and diethylzinc with co-solvent such as pyridines, by a chiral phosphoramidite-Cu catalyst is shown to provide highly enantioselective sp [3]-difluoromethyl Michael addition product in good yields and high levels of enantioselectivity.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric [3+2]-cycloaddition of 3-isothiocyanato oxindoles with 1,3,5-trisubstituted-hexahydro-1,3,5-triazines to access spiro-imidazolidinethione-oxindoles

An efficient asymmetric [3 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction of 3-isothiocyanato oxindoles and formaldimines in-situ generated from 1,3,5-trisubstituted-hexahydro-1,3,5-triazines with a cinchona alkaloid-derived thiourea as the catalyst has been developed. A range of biologically important spiro-imidazolidinethione-oxindoles were obtained in excellent yields with good enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield and 93% ee).     

Selective synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>-isomers of aldoximes via a domino aza-Michael/retro-Michael reaction

A highly stereoselective synthesis of E-isomer of aldoximes was developed through a base-catalysed domino aza-Michael/retro-Michael reaction of hydroxylamine and 2-(R-benzylidene)malononitrile. This reaction generates (E)-aldoxime diastereomer in high yields (eight examples, isolated yields of 82-93 %), excellent diastereomeric purity (diastereomeric ratio higher than 95: 5 by ¹H NMR), and proceeds under mild reaction conditions (aqueous NaOH, pH 12, room temperature, 4 h).     

Graphite‐Supported Gold Nanoparticles as Efficient Catalyst for Aerobic Oxidation of Benzylic Amines to Imines and N‐Substituted 1,2,3,4‐Tetrahydroisoquinolines to Amides: Synthetic Applications and Mechanistic Study

Selective oxidation of amines using oxygen as terminal oxidant is an important area in green chemistry. In this work, we describe the use of graphite‐supported gold nanoparticles (AuNPs/C) to catalyze aerobic oxidation of cyclic and acyclic benzylic amines to the corresponding imines with moderate‐to‐excellent substrate conversions (43–100 %) and product yields (66–99 %) (19 examples). Oxidation of N‐substituted 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolines in the presence of aqueous NaHCO₃ solution gave the corresponding amides in good yields (83–93 %) with high selectivity (up to amide/enamide=93:4) (6 examples). The same protocol can be applied to the synthesis of benzimidazoles from the reaction of o‐phenylenediamines with benzaldehydes under aerobic conditions (8 examples). By simple centrifugation, AuNPs/C can be recovered and reused for ten consecutive runs for the oxidation of dibenzylamine to N‐benzylidene(phenyl)methanamine without significant loss of catalytic activity and selectivity. This protocol “AuNPs/C+O₂” can be scaled to the gram scale, and 8.9 g (84 % isolated yield) of 3,4‐dihydroisoquinoline can be obtained from the oxidation of 10 g 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline in a one‐pot reaction. Based on the results of kinetic studies, radical traps experiment, and Hammett plot, a mechanism involving the hydrogen‐transfer reaction from amine to metal and oxidation of M‐H is proposed.     

Direct access to CF3-propargyl amines and conversion to difluoromethyl imines

Trifluoromethyl aldimines reacted with acetylides in toluene at −78 °C to provide propargyl amines in good yields. From a chiral trifluoromethyl aldimine, the propargyl amines were obtained with excellent diastereoselectivities (de >98%). Trifluoromethyl propargyl amines could be further converted into difluoromethyl imines under basic conditions.     

Rhodium(II,II) dimer as an efficient catalyst for aziridination of sulfonamides and amidation of steroids

[reaction: see text] Unsaturated sulfonamides underwent direct intramolecular aziridination catalyzed by Rh(2)(OAc)(4) with PhI(OAc)(2) and Al(2)O(3) to give the corresponding aziridine products in excellent yields (up to 98%) and with good to excellent conversions. High turnovers (up to 1375) were achieved. The intermolecular rhodium-catalyzed amidation of cholesteryl acetate with PhI=NTs or PhI(OAc)(2)/NH(2)R as the nitrogen source exhibited both excellent regio- and alpha-selectivity (alpha/beta ratio up to 9:1).