Asymmetric Radical–Radical Cross‐Coupling through Visible‐Light‐Activated Iridium Catalysis

Combining single electron transfer between a donor substrate and a catalyst‐activated acceptor substrate with a stereocontrolled radical–radical recombination enables the visible‐light‐driven catalytic enantio‐ and diastereoselective synthesis of 1,2‐amino alcohols from trifluoromethyl ketones and tertiary amines. With a chiral iridium complex acting as both a Lewis acid and a photoredox catalyst, enantioselectivities of up to 99 % ee were achieved. A quantum yield of <1 supports the proposed catalytic cycle in which at least one photon is needed for each asymmetric C? C bond formation mediated by single electron transfer.     

Pd‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Intramolecular Arylative Dearomatization of para‐Aminophenols†

Asymmetric arylative dearomatization reactions of para‐aminophenols are realized by a Pd‐catalyst consisting of a TADDOL (α,α,α',α'‐tetraaryl‐2,2‐disubstituted 1,3‐dioxolane‐4,5‐dimethanol)‐derived chiral phosphoramidite ligand. The tetracyclic products bearing the key skeleton of Erythrina alkaloids are afforded in reasonable yields (up to 73%) with good to excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee). Concise total synthesis of (–)‐3‐demethoxyerythratidinone is achieved by employing this method as the key step.     

Stereodivergent Dual Catalytic α‐Allylation of Protected α‐Amino‐ and α‐Hydroxyacetaldehydes

Fully stereodivergent dual‐catalytic α‐allylation of protected α‐amino‐ and α‐hydroxyacetaldehydes is achieved through iridium‐ and amine‐catalyzed substitution of racemic allylic alcohols with chiral enamines generated in situ. The operationally simple method furnishes useful aldehyde building blocks in good yields, more than 99 % ee, and with d.r. values greater than 20:1 in some cases. Additionally, the γ,δ‐unsaturated products can be further functionalized in a stereodivergent fashion with high selectivity and with preservation of stereochemical integrity at the C_α position.     

Mechanism of nucleophilic fluorination promoted by bis‐tert‐alcohol‐functionalized crown‐6‐calix[4]arene

Theoretical calculations were performed to elucidate the ability of the recently reported bis‐tert‐alcohol‐functionalized crown‐6‐calix[4]arene (BACCA) molecule to promote nucleophilic fluorination of alkyl mesylates with cesium fluoride reagent. It was found that a similar structure, named BACCAt, can separate the cesium fluoride ion pair in tert‐butanol solution. This separation has a free energy cost, even considering the double hydrogen bonds with the fluoride ion. The solvent has an important effect on the stabilization of this complex, due to interaction with the high dipole moment of the separated ion pair. The observed rate acceleration effect involves a structure with double hydrogen bonds between the BACCAt and the centers of negative charges of the S_N2 transition state. The predicted free energy barrier of 27.3 kcal mol⁻¹ is in excellent agreement with the estimated experimental value of 26.2 kcal mol⁻¹.     

Asymmetric Gold‐Catalyzed Lactonizations in Water at Room Temperature

Asymmetric gold‐catalyzed hydrocarboxylations are reported that show broad substrate scope. The hydrophobic effect associated with in situ‐formed aqueous nanomicelles gives good to excellent ee’s of product lactones. In‐flask product isolation, along with the recycling of the catalyst and the reaction medium, are combined to arrive at an especially environmentally friendly process.     

Decarboxylative Aminomethylation of Aryl‐ and Vinylsulfonates through Combined Nickel‐ and Photoredox‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling

A mild approach for the decarboxylative aminomethylation of aryl sulfonates by the combination of photoredox and nickel catalysis through C?O bond cleavage is described for the first time. A wide range of aryl triflates as well as aryl mesylates, tosylates and alkenyl triflates afford the corresponding products in good to excellent yields.     

Site‐Selective C−S Bond Formation at C−Br over C−OTf and C−Cl Enabled by an Air‐Stable,Easily Recoverable,and Recyclable Palladium(I) Catalyst

This report widens the repertoire of emerging Pd^I catalysis to carbon–heteroatom, that is, C?S bond formation. While Pd⁰‐catalyzed protocols may suffer from the formation of poisonous sulfide‐bound off‐cycle intermediates and lack of selectivity, the mechanistically diverse Pd^I catalysis concept circumvents these challenges and allows for C?S bond formation (S–aryl and S–alkyl) of a wide range of aryl halides. Site‐selective thiolations of C?Br sites in the presence of C?Cl and C?OTf were achieved in a general and a priori predictable fashion. Computational, spectroscopic, X‐ray, and reactivity data support dinuclear Pd^I catalysis to be operative. Contrary to air‐sensitive Pd⁰, the active Pd^I species was easily recovered in the open atmosphere and subjected to multiple rounds of recycling.     

Polyfunctional Bis‐Lewis‐Acid‐/Bis‐Triazolium Catalysts for Stereoselective 1,4‐Additions of 2‐Oxindoles to Maleimides

Achieving enzyme‐like catalytic activity and stereoselectivity without the typically high substrate specificity of enzymes is a challenge in the development of artificial catalysts for asymmetric synthesis. Polyfunctional catalysts are considered to be a promising tool for achieving excellent catalytic efficiency. A polyfunctional catalyst system was developed, which incorporates two Lewis acidic/Brønsted basic cobalt centers in combination with triazolium moieties that are crucial for high reactivity and excellent stereoselectivity in the direct 1,4‐addition of oxindoles to maleimides. The catalyst is assembled through click chemistry and is readily recyclable through precipitation by making use of its charges. Kinetic studies support a cooperative mode of action. Diastereodivergency is achievable with either Boc‐protected or unprotected maleimide.     

Asymmetric γ‐Allylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes by Combined Organocatalysis and Transition‐Metal Catalysis

The first asymmetric regio‐ and diastereodivergent γ‐allylation of cyclic α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes based on combined organocatalysis and transition‐metal catalysis is disclosed. By combining an aminocatalyst with an iridium catalyst, both diastereomers of branched allylated products can be achieved in moderate to good yields and excellent regio‐ and stereoselectivities. Furthermore, by replacing the iridium catalyst with a palladium catalyst, the linear allylated products are formed in good yields and excellent regio‐ and enantioselectivities. The developed method thus provides selective access to all six isomers of the γ‐allylated product in a divergent fashion by choosing the appropriate combination of organocatalyst, transition‐metal catalyst, and ligand.     

Vapor‐Phase Carbonylation of Dimethoxymethane over H‐Faujasite

Carbonylation gets a phase lift : The usual liquid‐phase, high‐pressure processes for carbonylating formaldehydes are avoided in a novel vapor‐phase reaction. Using an acid zeolite (Faujasite) at near‐atmospheric pressure dimethoxymethane (DMM; the dimethyl acetal of formaldehyde; see scheme) is carbonylated to produce methyl methoxyacetate (MMAc). This approach provides a new route to ethylene glycol under mild conditions.

     

Catalytic and Mechanistic Insights of the Low‐Temperature Selective Oxidation of Methane over Cu‐Promoted Fe‐ZSM‐5

The partial oxidation of methane to methanol presents one of the most challenging targets in catalysis. Although this is the focus of much research, until recently, approaches had proceeded at low catalytic rates (<10 h^?1), not resulted in a closed catalytic cycle, or were unable to produce methanol with a reasonable selectivity. Recent research has demonstrated, however, that a system composed of an iron‐ and copper‐containing zeolite is able to catalytically convert methane to methanol with turnover frequencies (TOFs) of over 14 000 h^?1 by using H₂O₂ as terminal oxidant. However, the precise roles of the catalyst and the full mechanistic cycle remain unclear. We hereby report a systematic study of the kinetic parameters and mechanistic features of the process, and present a reaction network consisting of the activation of methane, the formation of an activated hydroperoxy species, and the by‐production of hydroxyl radicals. The catalytic system in question results in a low‐energy methane activation route, and allows selective C₁‐oxidation to proceed under intrinsically mild reaction conditions.     

Versatile In Situ Generated N‐Boc‐Imines: Application to Phase‐Transfer‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Mannich‐Type Reactions

The efficient construction of nitrogen‐containing organic compounds is a major challenge in chemical synthesis. Imines are one of the most important classes of electrophiles for this transformation. However, both the available imines and applicable nucleophiles for them are quite limited given the existing preparative methods. Described herein are imine precursors which generate reactive imines with a wide variety of substituents under mild basic conditions. This approach enables the construction of various nitrogen‐containing molecules which cannot be accessed by the traditional approach. The utility of the novel imine precursor was demonstrated in the asymmetric Mannich‐type reaction under phase‐transfer conditions.     

Continuous‐Flow Suzuki‐Miyaura and Mizoroki‐Heck Reactions under Microwave Heating Conditions

Microwave‐assisted continuous‐flow reactions have attracted significant interest from synthetic organic chemists, especially process chemists from practical points of view, due to a less complicated shift to large‐scale synthesis based on simple and continuous access to products with low energy requirements. In this personal account, we focused on the Suzuki‐Miyaura and Mizoroki‐Heck reactions, both of which are significantly important cross‐coupling reactions for the synthesis of various functional materials. Microwave power is effective for heating. Typical homogeneous palladium catalysts, such as PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂, Pd(PPh₃)₄, and Pd(OAc)₂, as well as heterogeneous palladium catalysts, such as Pd‐film, Pd/Al₂O₃, Pd/SiO₂, and Pd supported on polymers, can be used for these reactions.     

Solution pH: A Selectivity Switch in Aqueous Organometallic Catalysis—Hydrogenation of Unsaturated Aldehydes Catalyzed by Sulfonatophenylphosphane–Ru Complexes

The equilibribrium distribution of water-soluble ruthenium hydrides [HRuCl(tppms)₃] and [H₂Ru(tppms)₄] (tppms = (3-sulfonatophenyl)diphenylphosphane) in the reaction with H₂ is governed by the pH value. As a consequence, the selectivity in the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde for reaction at C=C or C=O can be completely inverted by changing the pH value (see drawing below).     

Asymmetric Epoxidation of cis/trans‐β‐Methylstyrene Catalysed by Immobilised Mn(Salen) with Different Linkages: Heterogenisation of Homogeneous Asymmetric Catalysis

Immobilised Mn(salen) catalysts with two different linkages were studied in the asymmetric epoxidation of cis/trans‐β‐methylstyrene using NaClO as oxidant. The immobilised Mn(salen) complexes inside nanopores can lead to different catalytic behaviour compared with that of homogeneous Jacobsen catalyst. The rigidity of the linkage was found to be a key factor affecting the catalytic performance of immobilised catalysts. The immobilised catalyst with a rigid linkage exhibited comparable chemical selectivity, enantioselectivity and cis/trans ratio of product formation to that obtained with homogeneous Jacobsen catalysts. In contrast, the immobilised catalyst with a flexible linkage gave remarkably lower chemical selectivity, enantioselectivity and inverted cis/trans ratio compared with the results obtained with the homogeneous Jacobsen catalyst and the immobilised catalyst with rigid linkage. Thus, for immobilised Mn(salen) catalysts, a rigid linkage connecting active centres to the support is essential to obtain activity and enantioselectivity as high as those obtained in homogeneous systems.