Acid‐Acid‐Catalyzed Tandem Reactions Driven by an Additive‐Like Component

Acid‐catalyzed tandem reactions with auto‐tandem catalysis are effective for simplifying organic synthesis. However, some of the reported reactions were established based on the use of well‐designed substrate with complex structure. In some cases, owing to the existence of a big gap between each catalytic cycle, it is hard to bind all the individual reaction steps to be a peaceful sequence. To enrich the diversity and also to strengthen the practical usefulness of the methodology developed by auto‐tandem catalysis, an additive‐like component was added to induce acid‐acid‐catalyzed tandem reaction. During the reaction, the additive‐like component acted either as an activator to increase the reactivity of the starting material or a hided reagent to enable successful transformation of the intermediate. Many novel tandem reactions were established in a one‐pot manner with the aid of this strategy. Importantly, this strategy not only allows the use of simple and commercially available chemicals as substrates, but also possesses multiple merits, such as simplifying operation, lowering waste generation and enhancing synthetic efficiency and atom‐economy. A summarization of the additive‐like component‐induced auto‐tandem catalysis with an acid catalyst was given in this review, in which many acid‐acid‐catalyzed tandem reactions were discussed. The reported additive‐like components were classified as three types: oxidative type, reductive type and neutral type depending on their mechanisms in assisting the establishment of acid‐acid‐catalyzed tandem reactions. Many examples were collected and analyzed from the viewpoints of simplifying the synthesis and manifesting their superior and distinct functionalities of the additives. A perspective of this concept was also given at the end of this review.     

Boehmite@tryptophan‐Pd nanoparticles: A new catalyst for C–C bond formation

A boehmite@tryptophan‐Pd nanoparticulate catalyst was prepared by a simple, fast and convenient route. The nanomaterial was characterized using various techniques and employed as a thermally stable catalyst for Heck, Stille and Suzuki cross‐coupling reactions. Optimized conditions for these reactions are described. The catalyst could be isolated, post‐reaction, by simple filtration and recycled for several consecutive cycles without a notable change in its activity.     

Multicomponent Double Diels–Alder/Nazarov Tandem Cyclization of Symmetric Cross‐Conjugated Diynones to Generate [6‐5‐6] Tricyclic Products

The construction of complex polycyclic terpenoid products in an efficient and step‐economical manner using multicomponent and tandem processes is highly valuable. Herein, we report a tandem cyclization sequence that initiates with a multicomponent double Diels–Alder reaction of cross‐conjugated diynones, followed by a Nazarov cyclization to efficiently produce [6‐5‐6] tricyclic products with excellent regio‐ and diastereoselectivity. This methodology generates five new carbon–carbon bonds, three rings, quaternary or vicinal quaternary carbons, and stereogenic centers in a one‐pot reaction.     

Synthesis of substituted biaryls via Suzuki,Stille and Hiyama cross‐coupling and homo‐coupling reactions by CN‐dimeric and monomeric ortho‐palladated catalysts

The catalytic activity of dimeric [Pd{C₆H₂(CH₂CH₂NH₂)–(OMe)₂,2,3}(μ‐Br)]₂ and monomeric [Pd{C₆H₂(CH₂CH₂NH₂)–(OMe)₂,2,3}Br(PPh₃)] complexes as efficient, stable and air‐ and moisture‐tolerant catalysts was investigated in the Suzuki, Stille and Hiyama cross‐coupling and homo‐coupling reactions of various aryl halides. Substituted biaryls were produced in excellent yields in short reaction times using catalytic amounts of these complexes. The monomeric complex was demonstrated to be more active than the corresponding dimeric catalyst for the cross‐coupling reaction of unreactive aryl bromides and chlorides. The combination of homogeneous metal catalysts and microwave irradiation gave higher yields of products in shorter reaction times. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Extension of solution‐reaction‐surface description to examination of nonequilibrium solvation effect for microsolvated reaction

A microscopic method to examine a nonequilibrium solvation effect is reported. The solution reaction is simplified as a barrier‐crossing reaction within a solution reaction surface that corresponds to a two‐dimensional space determined by solute and solvent reactive coordinates. For this simplification, the motions within the space spanned by nonreactive coordinates are frozen. We derive three rate constant expressions: (1) in the nonadiabatic solvation limit, (2) in the equilibrium solvation limit, and (3) of the transition‐state theory. This method was applied to the examination of the contact‐ion‐pair formation of t‐BuCl in four waters. We found that the nonadiabatic solvation picture overestimates the nonequilibrium solvation effect. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 77: 791–796, 2000     

Silica‐supported 3‐4,5‐dihydroimidazol‐1‐yl‐propyltriethoxysilanedichloropalladium(II) complex: Heck and Suzuki cross‐coupling reactions

A novel mesoporous silica‐nanotube‐supported 3‐4,5‐dihydroimidazol‐1‐yl‐propyltriethoxysilanedichloropalladium(II) complex was prepared and characterized. 3‐4,5‐Dihydroimidazol‐1‐yl‐propyltriethoxysilanedichloropalladium(II) and mesoporous silica‐supported 3‐4,5‐dihydroimidazol‐1‐yl‐propyltriethoxysilanedichloropalladium(II) were tested for catalytic activity for Heck coupling reactions between styrene and several aryl halides and Suzuki coupling reactions between phenylboronic acid and several aryl halides. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation of α- or β-trifluoromethylated vinylstannanes and their cross-coupling reactions

α- or β-Trifluoromethylated vinylstannanes 1, 2a, 3 and 4 were prepared form 1,1-bis(phenylthio)-2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropylbenzene (5) via several steps. The cross-coupling arylation reactions of 1–4 with aryl iodides bearing a bromo, methoxy, methyl, nitro or trifluoromethyl group on para- or meta-position of benzene ring afforded the corresponding coupling products in good yields. Compounds 1, 2a and 4 underwent the acylation reaction with various types of acyl chlorides to give the corresponding trifluoromethylated enone derivatives in good yields. Reduction of trifluoromethylated enone derivatives with LiAlH₄, followed by Fridel-Craft’s type of cyclization with AlCl₃ provided trifluoromethylated indene derivatives in good yields.     

Silver(I)‐Catalyzed Tandem 1,3‐Acyloxy Migration/Mannich‐type Addition/Elimination of the Sulfonyl Group of N‐Sulfonylhydrazone‐propargylic Esters to 5,6‐Dihydropyridazin‐4‐one Derivatives

The addition of nucleophiles to C?N bonds offers a highly efficient synthetic strategy for accessing nitrogen‐containing molecules. 1 Among the well‐developed addition reactions, such as the highly efficient Mannich reaction, various C? H bond‐activated compounds including carboxylic acid derivatives, nitroalkanes, and terminal alkynes have been applied as nucleophiles to achieve different classes of amines. 2 However, employing new nucleophiles without activated C? H bonds, such as internal alkynes and allenic esters are limited when using metal catalysts. 3 Herein, we wish to report a new addition of allenic esters to C?N bonds initiated by a silver‐catalyzed 1,3‐migration of propargylic esters.     

Ferric Perchlorate Catalyzed One‐pot Synthesis of 1,2,3,4‐Tetrahydro‐2‐pyrimidinones and ‐thiones: an Expedient Protocol for the Biginelli Reaction

An efficient synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-pyrimidinones and -thiones using ferric perchlorate as the catalyst from an aldehyde, ethyl acetoacetate, and urea or thiourea in acetonitrile was described. Compared to the classical Biginelli reaction conditions, this new method consistently has the advantage of full catalysis, good yields and short reaction time.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Formal Dehydro‐Diels–Alder Reactions of Ene‐Ynamide Derivatives Bearing Terminal Alkyne Chains: Scope and Mechanistic Studies

A new protocol for the synthesis of a variety of N‐containing aromatic heterocycles by a formal gold‐catalyzed dehydro‐Diels–Alder reaction of ynamide derivatives has been developed. Deuterium‐labeling experiments and kinetic studies support the involvement of a dual gold catalysis mechanism in which a gold acetylide moiety adds onto an aurated keteneiminium.     

Kinetics of the ene reactions of 4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione with β‐pinene and 2‐carene: Temperature,high pressure,and solvent effects

The data on temperature, solvent, and high hydrostatic pressure influence on the rate of the ene reactions of 4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione ( 1 ) with 2‐carene ( 2 ), and β‐pinene ( 4 ) have been obtained. Ene reactions 1 + 2 and 1 + 4 have high heat effects: ∆H_r‐n ( 1 + 2 ) −158.4, ∆H_r‐n( 1 + 4 ) −159.2 kJ mol⁻¹, 25°C, 1,2‐dichloroethane. The comparison of the activation volume (∆V^≠( 1 + 2 ) −29.9 cm³ mol⁻¹, toluene; ∆V^≠( 1 + 4 ) −36.0 cm³ mol⁻¹, ethyl acetate) and reaction volume values (∆V_r‐n( 1 + 2 ) −24.0 cm³ mol⁻¹, toluene; ∆V_r‐n( 1 + 4 ) −30.4 cm³ mol⁻¹, ethyl acetate) reveals more compact cyclic transition states in comparison with the acyclic reaction products 3 and 5 . In the series of nine solvents, the reaction rate of 1+2 increases 260‐fold and 1+4 increases 200‐fold, respectively, but not due to the solvent polarity.     

Mechanistic Insights into the Rhenium‐Catalyzed Alcohol‐To‐Olefin Dehydration Reaction

Rhenium‐based complexes are powerful catalysts for the dehydration of various alcohols to the corresponding olefins. Here, we report on both experimental and theoretical (DFT) studies into the mechanism of the rhenium‐catalyzed dehydration of alcohols to olefins in general, and the methyltrioxorhenium‐catalyzed dehydration of 1‐phenylethanol to styrene in particular. The experimental and theoretical studies are in good agreement, both showing the involvement of several proton transfers, and of a carbenium ion intermediate in the catalytic cycle.     

Synthesis of the 6′-iso analogues of neplanocin A and 5′-homoneplanocin A

An efficient synthesis of 6′-isoneplanocin A and 6′ -isohomoneplanocin A is reported. The key steps in the synthesis include an enyne metathesis and a regioselective oxidation.     

Ritter Reaction of 1‐Aryl‐1‐Fluoro‐2‐Haloethanes

Fluorinated phenethyl bromides 1,2 , and 3 , prove to be totally inert under Ritter reaction conditions in the presence of either SnCl₄ or AgNO₃, due to the strong deactivation by the gem‐difluoro unit. Subjecting 2‐bromo‐1‐fluoro‐1‐phenylethane to SnCl₄ in MeCN at elevated temperatures led to formation of 2‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐4,5‐dihydrooxazole.     

Synthesis of 15‐Cyano‐12‐oxopentadecano‐15‐lactone and 15‐Cyano‐ 12‐oxopentadecano‐15‐lactam

15‐Cyano‐12‐oxopentadecano‐15‐lactone was synthesized in 59% total yield starting from 2‐nitrocyclododecanone by Michael addition to acrylaldehyde, followed by reaction with trimethylsilylcyanide, hydrolysis, ring‐expansion, and Nef reaction. A two‐step, one‐pot synthesis of intermediate 2‐hydroxy‐4‐(1‐nitro‐2‐oxycyclododecyl)butanenitrile from 3‐(1‐nitro‐2‐oxocyclododecyl)propanal was developed and the conditions for the Nef reaction were studied. 15‐Cyano‐12‐oxopentadecano‐15‐lactam was synthesized in 40% total yield starting from 2‐nitrocyclododecanone by Michael addition to acrylaldehyde, followed by Strecker reaction, ring‐expansion, and Nef reaction. The conditions for the Strecker and Nef reactions were studied. The structures of the target compounds, intermediates, and by‐product were characterized by IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and elemental analysis or MS.     

Synthesis of Dispirocyclopentyl‐3,3′‐bisoxindoles via Domino Cycloaddition Reactions of 4‐Dimethylaminopyridinium Bromides with 3‐Phenacylideneoxindoles

The base mediated cycloaddition reactions of 4‐dimethylamino‐1‐phenacylpyridinium bromides with two molecular 3‐phenacylideneoxindoles in methylene dichloride afforded functionalized dispirocyclopentyl‐3,3′‐bisoxindoles in good yields and with high diastereoselectivity. The similar cycloaddition reactions of 1‐(N,N‐dialkylcarbamoylmethyl) and 1‐cyanomethyl 4‐dimethylamino‐pyridinium bromide in refluxing ethanol in the presence of triethylamine also resulted in dispirocyclopentyl‐3,3′‐bisoxindoles with high diastereoselectivity. The stereochemistry of dispirocyclopentyl‐3,3′‐bisoxindoles was elucidated on the basis of ¹H NMR data and single crystal structures.     

Trifluoromethyl Sulfoxides: Reagents for Metal‐Free C−H Trifluoromethylthiolation

Trifluoromethyl sulfoxides are a new class of trifluoromethylthiolating reagent. The sulfoxides engage in metal‐free C?H trifluoromethylthiolation with a range of (hetero)arenes. The method is also applicable to the functionalization of important compound classes, such as ligand derivatives and polyaromatics, and in the late‐stage trifluoromethylthiolation of medicines and agrochemicals. The isolation and characterization of a sulfonium salt intermediate supports an interrupted Pummerer reaction mechanism.     

Electrochemical lithium insertion in β-MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript>: novel Li<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript> bronzes

New lithium molybdenum bronzes have been synthesized by electrochemical lithium insertion. Through electrochemical spectroscopy techniques we have detected that lithium insertion proceeds at least in a two-step reduction process. The maximum amount of lithium inserted in β-MoO₃ leads to a high specific capacity of the cell of 370 Ah kg^–1. However, this capacity was lost after the first charge-discharge cycle, resulting in a total loss of 25%, due to structural transformations. The structural study of the insertion process showed that each step of the process can be associated with the formation of different single phases of variable composition, Li _x MoO₃. Electronic Publication     

Ene Reaction with Pummerer‐type Reaction Intermediate of α‐(Methylthio)‐N‐methoxy‐N‐methyl Acetamide: A New Synthesis of N‐methoxy‐N‐methyl‐(E,E)‐2,4‐dienamides

Pummerer‐type reaction intermediate 2 of α‐(methylthio)‐N‐methoxy‐N‐methyl acetamide (1) has been found to react with 1‐alkenes to afford ene adducts 3 . N‐Methoxy‐N‐methyl‐(E,E)‐2,4‐dienamides were synthesized from the adducts 3b‐f .