Silver‐Catalyzed Three‐Component 1,1‐Aminoacylation of Homopropargylamines: α‐Additions for Both Terminal Alkynes and Isocyanides

The reaction of secondary homopropargylamines, isocyanides, and water in the presence of a catalytic amount of silver acetate and subsequent purification by chromatography on silica gel afforded substituted proline amides in good to excellent yields. Primary homopropargylamines underwent a cyclizative Ugi–Joullié three‐component reaction with isocyanides and carboxylic acids to afford functionalized N‐acyl proline amides. High diastereoselectivity was observed in the synthesis of 4‐alkoxy and 4,5‐disubstituted proline derivatives. This work represents the first examples of a three‐component cyclizative 1,1‐aminoacylation of terminal alkynes.     

Direct conversion of secondary phosphine oxides and H‐phosphinates with [Di(acyloxy)iodo]benzenes to phosphinic and phosphonic amides

The reaction of [di(acyloxy)iodo]benzene with secondary phosphine oxides or H‐phosphinates in the presence of primary or secondary amines allows one to obtain phosphinic or phosphonic acids amides in the one‐pot process. We take advantage of the strong acylating system DAIB/R₂P(O)H to phosphinylation of amines. However, the reaction mechanism is multipathway and causes yields of phosphinic or phosphonic acids amides to be moderate. When the concentration of amines is low, the intermolecular process plays a main role leading to the formation of carboxylic amides through mixed phosphoric–carboxylic anhydride, and also in the low concentration of amines, tetrahydrofuran effectively competes with the amines in the nucleophilic attack on the acylating intermediates. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 20:81–86, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20514     

Acyl chloride‐facilitated condensation polymerization for the synthesis of heat‐sensitive poly(anhydride‐ester)s

We succeeded in developing the acyl chloride‐facilitated condensation polymerization method for the synthesis of new poly(anhydride‐ester)s with aromatic side groups, which cannot be polymerized by the classic melt condensation polymerization method. Using chlorinated and acylated carboxylic acids as the intermediates, the polymerization was carried out at low temperatures of 120 or 135 °C to yield pure poly(anhydride‐ester)s of molecular weights as high as 1.55 × 10⁵ with minimal side‐reactions. A homogeneous route of preparation was developed and optimized, using butyric anhydride as the acylating reagent and oxalyl chloride as the chlorinating reagent. A comparison of the mechanisms of the classic method and the new method indicates that the effects of transacylation—cyclization and oligomer formation—were greatly reduced due to the high reactivity of carboxylic acid chloride and the steric effect of bulky acyl groups. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5899–5915, 2007     

Modified Pyridinium Chlorochromate Oxidation of Aldehydes to Carbamoyl Azides/Acyl Azides or Carboxylic Acids

Aldehydes are transformed into carbamoyl azides/acyl azides by pyridinium chlorochromate in the presence of sodium azide. Comparable oxidations modified with sodium cyanide generate carboxylic acids from simple aliphatic aldehydes whereas conjugated aldehydes are unreactive.     

Transition‐Metal‐Free Activation of Amides by N−C Bond Cleavage

The amide bond N?C activation represents a powerful strategy in organic synthesis to functionalize the historically inert amide linkage. This personal account highlights recent remarkable advances in transition‐metal‐free activation of amides by N?C bond cleavage, focusing on both (1) mechanistic aspects of ground‐state‐destabilization of the amide bond enabling formation of tetrahedral intermediates directly from amides with unprecedented selectivity, and (2) synthetic utility of the developed transformations. Direct nucleophilic addition to amides enables a myriad of powerful methods for the formation of C?C, C?N, C?O and C?S bonds, providing a straightforward and more synthetically useful alternative to acyl‐metals.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Acyclic α‐Quaternary Carboxylic Acid Derivatives through Iridium‐Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation

The first highly enantioselective iridium‐catalyzed allylic alkylation that provides access to products bearing an allylic all‐carbon quaternary stereogenic center has been developed. The reaction utilizes a masked acyl cyanide (MAC) reagent, which enables the one‐pot preparation of α‐quaternary carboxylic acids, esters, and amides with a high degree of enantioselectivity. The utility of these products is further explored through a series of diverse product transformations.     

Nickel or Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarbonylative Transformations of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

Carboxylic acid derivatives containing acyl halides, anhydrides, esters, amides and acyl nitriles are highly appealing electrophiles in transition‐metal‐catalyzed carbon‐carbon bond‐forming reactions due to their ready availability and low cost, which can provide divergent transformations of carboxylic acids into other value‐added products. In this Minireview, we focus on the recent advances of decarbonylative transformations of carboxylic acid derivatives in carbon‐carbon bond formations using Ni or Pd catalysts. A series of reaction types, product classifications and reaction pathways are presented herein, which show the advantageous features of carboxylic acid derivatives as alternative to aryl or alkyl halides in terms of reactivity and compatibility. The well‐accepted mechanism of nickel‐ or palladium‐catalyzed decarbonylative transformations involves initial oxidative addition of carboxylic acid derivatives, followed by decarbonylation or transmetalation (or insertion), and reductive elimination to generate the products, thereby regenerating the catalysts.     

One-pot,direct synthesis of acyl azides from carboxylic acids using Ph2PCl/I2/NaN3 reagent system

A mild,efficient and simple method for the preparation of acyl azides from carboxylic acids using chlorodiphenylphosphine in the presence of molecular iodine and sodium azide is described.     

Visible-Light Photoredox-Catalyzed Acyl Lactonization of Alkenes with Acyl Chlorides

A photocatalytic acyl lactonization of unsaturated carboxylic acids using simple and inexpensive acyl chlorides has been developed for a modular synthesis of acyl lactones. Significantly, the simple protocol could allow an efficient construction of biologically important phthalide framework. The transformation could be extended to a wide variety of unsaturated carboxylic acids, including substituted 2-vinyl benzoic acids and different types of alkenoic acids. Moreover, a series of aroyl, heteroaroyl chlorides could serve as coupling partners. Notably, functional groups including MeO, F, Cl and Br could survive. It is believed that acyl radicals generated from acyl chlorides under photoredox catalysis reacted with alkenes via atom-transfer radical addition (ATRA) and triggered subsequent lactonization in the process. Preliminary mechanistic investigations revealed that the transformation probably proceeded through a free radical pathway.     

Intermolecular,Branch‐Selective,and Redox‐Neutral Cp*IrIII‐Catalyzed Allylic C−H Amidation

Herein, we report the redox‐neutral, intermolecular, and highly branch‐selective amidation of allylic C?H bonds enabled by Cp*Ir^III catalysis. A variety of readily available carboxylic acids were converted into the corresponding dioxazolones and efficiently coupled with terminal and internal olefins in high yields and selectivities. Mechanistic investigations support the formation of a nucleophilic Ir^III–allyl intermediate rather than the direct insertion of an Ir–nitrenoid species into the allylic C?H bond.     

Synthesis of Organophosphorus‐Substituted Amides of Carbonic Acids with PCHNC(O) and 2,6‐Di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methylphenol Fragments

Convenient procedures for the synthesis of new organophosphorus‐substituted amides of various carbonic acids with PCHNC(O) and 2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methylphenol (ionol) fragments, starting from the adducts of imines and acyl chlorides, are proposed. Some properties of the new synthesized organophosphorus amides are presented. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 19:733–737, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20502     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Reductive Arylation of N‐(2‐Pyridinyl)amides with Isopropanol and Arylboronate Esters

A new three‐component reductive arylation of amides with stable reactants (iPrOH and arylboronate esters), making use of a 2‐pyridinyl (Py) directing group, is described. The N‐Py‐amide substrates are readily prepared from carboxylic acids and PyNH₂, and the resulting N‐Py‐1‐arylalkanamine reaction products are easily transformed into the corresponding chlorides by substitution of the HN‐Py group with HCl. The 1‐aryl‐1‐chloroalkane products allow substitution and cross‐coupling reactions. Therefore, a general protocol for the transformation of carboxylic acids into a variety of functionalities is obtained. The Py‐NH₂ by‐product can be recycled.     

Acyl Radicals from Aromatic Carboxylic Acids by Means of Visible‐Light Photoredox Catalysis

Simple and abundant carboxylic acids have been used as acyl radical precursor by means of visible‐light photoredox catalysis. By the transient generation of a reactive anhydride intermediate, this redox‐neutral approach offers a mild and rapid entry to high‐value heterocyclic compounds without the need of UV irradiation, high temperature, high CO pressure, tin reagents, or peroxides.     

Phosphorus in organic synthesis—XI Amino acids and peptides—XXI : Reaction of diethyl phosphorocyanidate(DEPC) with carboxylic acids. A new synthesis of carboxylic esters and amides

Diethyl phosphorocyanidate(DEPC) reacts with carboxylic acids in the presence of triethylamine leading to transient formation of acyl cyanides, but in presence of alcohols or amines, carboxylic esters or amides are produced. DEPC is especially effective for the synthesis of amides and peptides, and showed a satisfactory result on the Young racemization test.     

Synthesis of mono‐ and bisorganophosphorus substituted amides of unsaturated carboxylic acids with PCHNC(O) and antioxidant fragments

The convenient methods for the synthesis of new mono‐ and bisorganophosphorus substituted amides of unsaturated carboxylic acids with PCHNC(O) and antioxidant fragments, starting from Arbuzov reaction of the highly reactive adducts of corresponding imines and acyl chlorides with trimethylsilyl phosphites are proposed. Some properties of the new synthesized mono‐ and bisorganophosphorus substituted amides are presented. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 23:27–31, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/.20748     

Chiral DMAP‐N‐oxides as Acyl Transfer Catalysts: Design,Synthesis, and Application in Asymmetric Steglich Rearrangement

A DMAP‐N‐oxide, featuring an α‐amino acid as the chiral source, was developed, synthesized and applied in asymmetric Steglich rearrangement. A series of O‐acylated azlactones afforded C‐acylated azlactones possessing a quaternary stereocenter in high yields (up to 97 % yield) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee). Compared to the widespread use of pyridine nitrogen, which serves as the nucleophilic site in the asymmetric acyl transfer reaction, we discovered that chiral DMAP‐N‐oxides, in which the oxygen now acts as the nucleophilic site, are efficient acyl transfer catalysts. Our finding might open a new door for the development of chiral DMAP‐N‐oxides for asymmetric acyl transfer reactions.     

Base‐Promoted C→N Acyl Rearrangement: An Unconventional Approach to α‐Amino Acid Derivatives

We have discovered that N‐alkyl aminomalonates undergo a fast and selective intramolecular C→N acyl rearrangement reaction in the presence of a strong base, leading to N‐protected glycinates in excellent yield. Moreover, the fact that the reaction proceeds through a nucleophilic enolate intermediate has been used for implementing a tandem rearrangement/alkylation sequence that has been applied to the preparation of synthetically relevant nonproteinogenic tertiary and quaternary N‐alkyl α‐amino acids in a very simple and reliable way.     

Chiral DMAP‐N‐oxides as Acyl Transfer Catalysts: Design,Synthesis, and Application in Asymmetric Steglich Rearrangement

A DMAP‐N‐oxide, featuring an α‐amino acid as the chiral source, was developed, synthesized and applied in asymmetric Steglich rearrangement. A series of O‐acylated azlactones afforded C‐acylated azlactones possessing a quaternary stereocenter in high yields (up to 97 % yield) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee). Compared to the widespread use of pyridine nitrogen, which serves as the nucleophilic site in the asymmetric acyl transfer reaction, we discovered that chiral DMAP‐N‐oxides, in which the oxygen now acts as the nucleophilic site, are efficient acyl transfer catalysts. Our finding might open a new door for the development of chiral DMAP‐N‐oxides for asymmetric acyl transfer reactions.     

The birch reduction of heterocyclic compounds V Birch reduction of 2‐ and 5‐acylfuran‐3‐carboxylic acids and reductive elimination of 2‐(arylmethoxymethyl)furan‐3‐carboxylic acids

The Birch reduction of 2‐ and 5‐acylfuran‐3‐carboxylic acid 1 and 4 gave 2‐acyl‐2,3‐dihydrofuran‐3‐carboxylic acid 2 and 5‐acyltetrahydrofuran‐3‐carboxylic acid 5 , respectively. Further examination of the reductive elimination was also studied on 2‐(arylmethoxymethyl)furan‐3‐carboxylic acids 7.     

Acyl Fluorides in Late‐Transition‐Metal Catalysis

In this Review, we summarize the current state of the art in late‐transition‐metal‐catalyzed reactions of acyl fluorides, covering both their synthesis and further transformations. In organic reactions, the relationship between stability and reactivity of the starting substrates is usually characterized by a trade‐off. Yet, acyl fluorides display a very good balance between these properties, which is mostly due to their moderate electrophilicity. Thus, acyl fluorides (RCOF) can be used as versatile building blocks in transition‐metal‐catalyzed reactions, for example, as an “RCO” source in acyl coupling reactions, as an “R” source in decarbonylative coupling reactions, and as an “F” source in fluorination reactions. Starting from the cleavage of the acyl C?F bond in acyl fluorides, various transformations are accessible, including C?C, C?H, C?B, and C?F bond‐forming reactions that are catalyzed by transition‐metal catalysts that contain the Group 9–11 metals Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, or Cu.