A novel method for thiiranation of alkenes with 1,1′-dithiobis(1H-1,2,4-triazole)

Eight alkenes reacted with 1,1′-dithiobis(1H-1,2,4-triazole) 4 at −15 °C to form the corresponding thiiranes in moderate to good yields. The thiiranations of anti- and syn-9,9′-bibenzonorbornenylidenes and cis- and trans-cyclooctenes with 4 proceeded with retention of configuration of the starting alkenes.     

Selective copper(II)-catalyzed aerobic oxidative cleavage of aromatic gem-disubstituted alkenes to carbonyl compounds under neutral and mild conditions

Three copper(II) catalytic systems, CuCl₂·2H₂O, CuCl₂·2H₂O+phenanthroline, and [Cu(μ-Cl)Cl(phen)]₂ were used to cleave alkenes to their corresponding carbonyl compounds under aerobic and neutral conditions. [Cu(μ-Cl)Cl(phen)]₂ shows enhanced selectivity over the other two catalytic systems. The oxidative cleavage reactions were carried out in mixed H₂O/THF solvent system under oxygen (4 atm) at 60°C. The real oxidant is 2-hydroperoxytetrahydrofuran, which is generated in situ in the process through the reaction between THF and oxygen catalyzed by copper(II). The cleavage reactions are selective for aromatic gem-disubstituted alkenes. Aromatic internal alkenes are slow to be oxidized, and both aliphatic terminal and internal alkenes are inert to oxidative cleavage. Free radical scavenger 2,2,6,6, tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl (TEMPO) deactivates the reaction indicating the involvement of free radical path in the reaction mechanism.     

Iron(III) chloride catalysed three-component Grieco condensation: Synthesis of tetrahydropyrido[2′,3′:3,4]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines/quinazolines

Three-component Grieco condensation reaction of 3-aminopyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine, formaldehyde/benzaldehyde and electron rich alkenes in presence of iron(III) chloride gave tetrahydropyrido[2′,3′:3,4]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines/quinazolines in single pot. The sequence of reactions is formation of di-azadiene in situ and the subsequent regioselective addition of alkenes in aza-Diels Alder type reaction. The structure and stereochemistry of the products were confirmed by spectral data and single crystal X-ray crystallography.     

[3+2] Dipolar cycloadditions of an unstabilised azomethine ylide under continuous flow conditions

The [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition reactions of the unstabilised azomethine ylide precursor benzyl(methoxymethyl)(trimethylsilylmethyl)amine with 12 electron-deficient alkenes in the presence of catalytic trifluoroacetic acid are examined under continuous flow conditions (20-100 °C, 10-60 min residence time). The more reactive and hazardous alkenes such as ethyl acrylate, N-methylmaleimide and (E)-2-nitrostyrene afford substituted N-benzylpyrrolidine products in 77-83% yields, whereas less reactive dipolarophiles such as (E)-crotononitrile and ethyl methacrylate give lower yields (59-63%). Under optimised conditions, the reaction with ethyl acrylate is scaled up to afford ethyl N-benzylpyrrolidine-3-carboxylate (30 g, 87%) in 1 h.     

Stereodefined dinucleoside (3′,5′)-propionamidophosphonates and β-cyanoethylphosphonates and their incorporation into modified oligonucleotides

Base-catalyzed stereospecific anti-Markovnikov addition of dinucleoside (3′,5′)-H-phosphonates to the activated alkenes acrylamide and acrylonitrile resulting in the synthesis of P-chiral diastereomerically pure dinucleoside (3′,5′)-alkylphosphonates is reported.     

An investigation into oxo analogues of molybdenum olefin metathesis complexes as epoxidation catalysts for alkenes

The oxo-imido molybdenum complex 2a is an effective catalyst at low catalyst loadings (0.5 mol % or below) for the epoxidation of a range of alkenes with ^tBuOOH in PhMe at 90 °C. Reactions are complete in less than 4 h and the products are isolated in high yields. The catalytic system is chemoselective for the epoxidation of electron-rich alkenes and allylic alcohols.     

Kinetic studies of inverse electron demand Diels–Alder reactions (iEDDA) of norbornenes and 3,6-dipyridin-2-yl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine

Inverse electron demand Diels–Alder additions (iEDDA) between 1,2,4,5-tetrazines and olefins have recently found widespread application as a novel ‘click chemistry’ scheme and as a mild technique for the modification of materials. Norbornenes are, due to their straightforward synthetic availability, especially interesting in the latter context. Therefore, the reactivity of different norbornene-based compounds was compared with unsubstituted norbornene and other alkenes using UV-vis measurements for the determination of reaction rates under pseudo first order conditions. Thereby, exo,exo-5-norbornene-2,3-dimethanol was found to be almost as reactive as unsubstituted norbornene whereas (±)-endo,exo-dimethyl-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylate reacted only insignificanty faster than unstrained alkenes.     

Synthesis of B-trisubstituted borazines via the rhodium-catalyzed hydroboration of alkenes with N,N′,N″-trimethyl or N,N′,N″-triethylborazine

Hydroboration of terminal and internal alkenes with N,N′,N″-trimethyl- and N,N′,N″-triethylborazine was carried out at 50 °C in the presence of a rhodium(I) catalyst. Addition of dppb or DPEphos (1 equiv.) to RhH(CO)(PPh₃)₃ gave the best catalyst for hydroboration of ethylene at 50 °C, resulting in a quantitative yield of B,B′,B″-triethyl-N,N′,N″-trimethylborazine. On the other hand, a complex prepared from (t-Bu)₃P (4 equiv.) and [Rh(coe)₂Cl]₂ gave the best yield for hydroboration of terminal or internal alkenes.     

(Dicyclopentadiene) platinum(II) dichloride: An efficient catalyst for the hydrosilylation reaction between alkenes and triethoxysilane

(Dicyclopentadiene) platinum(II) dichloride was found to be an efficient hydrosilylation catalyst (homogeneous) upon a wide variety of functionalized alkenes and alkenes terminated with chemical moieties (diphenyl amino-, N-carbazol- and N-isoindoline-1,3-dione-). It is noteworthy that the hydrosilylation of aminated alkenes with triethoxysilane exhibited the yield of over 70% and the selectivity (γ-isomer/β-isomer) of more than 3/1. Due to steric hindrance lowering Markovnikov probability, the alkenes with big terminal moieties (diphenyl amino-, N-carbazol- and N-isoindoline-1,3-dione-) presented the high ratio of anti-Markovnikov isomers. The strategy of the hydrosilylation of the protected diamino chelating alkene was developed.     

Push-pull alkenes from cyclic ketene-N,N′-acetals: a wide span of double bond lengths and twist angles

Push-pull alkenes can be quickly accessed by cyclic ketene-N,N′-acetal chemistry. A number of push-pull structures with a wide span of double bond lengths and twist angles were synthesized from the reactions of (1) N,N′-dimethyl cyclic ketene-N,N′-acetals with isocyanates, (2) the products from (1) with isocyanates, (3) 2-methylimidazoline and 2-methyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine with diacid chlorides, (4) 2-methylimidazoline, and 1,2-dimethyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine with benzoyl chlorides, and (5) 1,2-dimethylimidazoline and 1,2-dimethyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine with aryl isocyanates. These reactions proceed under very mild conditions and give moderate to excellent yields. X-ray crystallographic analysis of eight pxush-pull alkenes indicates that the central double bond lengths and twists are sensitive to the ring sizes (5 or 6), ring structures (fused or non-fused), electron donating and withdrawing strengths of pushing and pulling portions, respectively, number of electron pushing or pulling groups and substituent steric effects.     

Organocatalytic diastereoselective dibromination of alkenes

A highly diastereoselective pyrrolidine-promoted dibromination of alkenes by combination of NBS and succinimide is presented. The pyrrolidine-mediated dibromination of alkenes is higly anti-selective and gives the corresponding products in moderate to high yields and up to >25:1 dr.     

Stereoselective synthesis of N-protected pyrrolidines via Pd-catalyzed reactions of γ-(N-acylamino) alkenes and γ-(N-Boc-amino) alkenes with aryl bromides

The stereoselective synthesis of N-acyl- and N-Boc-protected pyrrolidines via Pd-catalyzed reactions of γ-(N-acylamino) alkenes and γ-(N-Boc-amino) alkenes with aryl bromides is described. These reactions effect formation of two bonds in a single operation and proceed with generally high levels of diastereoselectivity. In contrast to previously described reactions of γ-(N-arylamino) alkenes, these transformations proceed in high yield and high regioselectivity with both electron-rich and electron-deficient aryl bromides as well as vinyl bromide substrates.     

The reactivity of methylnickel, -palladium and -platinum compounds towards alkenes and alkynes

The reactivity of alkyl-transition metals towards alkenes and alkynes falls in the sequence Et₂Ni(bipy) > Et₂Pt(bipy) > Me₂Pt(bipy) > MePtCl(bipy) > MePdCl(bipy), which is also the order of decreasing energy of the filled metal d-orbitals.     

Tetraphosphine/palladium-catalyzed Heck reactions of aryl halides with disubstituted alkenes

cis,cis,cis-1,2,3,4-Tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)cyclopentane/[PdCl(C₃H₅)]₂ efficiently catalyses the Heck reaction of disubstituted alkenes such as methyl crotonate, ethyl cinnamate, methyl methacrylate or α-methylstyrene with a variety of aryl halides. In the presence of 1,2-disubstituted alkenes the stereoselectivities of the reactions strongly depend on the substituents of the alkenes. Selectivities up to 97% in favor of E-isomers can be obtained for the addition to methyl crotonate. With the 1,1-disubstituted alkenes methyl methacrylate or α-methylstyrene mixtures of products are obtained.     

Julia–Kocienski approach to trifluoromethyl-substituted alkenes

A Julia–Kocienski approach to trifluoromethyl-substituted alkenes was evaluated in the reactions of 1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl, 1-phenyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl, and 1-tbutyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl sulfones with aldehydes. Among the various conditions tested, the best yields were obtained with 1-phenyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl sulfone, in CsF-mediated, room temperature olefinations in DMSO. Aromatic aldehydes gave (trifluoromethyl)vinyl derivatives in 23–86% yields, with generally moderate stereoselectivity. Straightforward synthesis of the Julia–Kocienski reagent, and conversion to trifluoromethyl-substituted alkenes under mild reaction conditions, are the advantages of this approach.     

Synthesis of dihydrofurans containing trifluoromethyl ketone and heterocycles by radical cyclization of fluorinated 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with 2-thienyl and 2-furyl substituted alkenes

Manganese(III) acetate based radical cyclization of various fluorinated 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with 2-thienyl and 2-furyl substituted alkenes produced 3-trifluoroacetyl and 2-trifluoromethyl-dihydrofurans in good yields. The radical cyclizations of 2-methyl-5-[(E)-2-phenylvinyl]furan 2b and 2-[(E)-2-phenylvinyl]thiophene 2c led to the formations of 5-(5-methyl-2-furyl)-4,5-dihydrofuran and 5-(2-thienyl)-4,5-dihydrofuran, respectively. In the reactions of 1,3-dicarbonyls with alkenes, 2-thienyl substituted alkenes formed 4,5-dihydrofurans in higher yields than 2-furyl substituted alkenes.     

Copper-catalyzed Z-selective semihydrogenation of alkynes with hydrosilane: a convenient approach to cis-alkenes

A copper catalyst generated in situ from widely available copper salt and imidazolium salt in the presence of t-BuOK showed high efficiency for the semihydrogenation of a wide range of internal and terminal alkynes to their corresponding alkenes without obvious over-reduction. Functional groups, such as hydroxyl, nitro, halides, and amino, etc. were tolerated. The Z/E ratios of the obtained alkenes were generally >99%. Finally, semireduction of bulky alkynes also went smoothly.     

Efficient biocatalysis for the production of enantiopure (S)-epoxides using a styrene monooxygenase (SMO) and Leifsonia alcohol dehydrogenase (LSADH) system

Herein we report the production of enantiopure epoxides through biocatalysis using recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing Rhodococcus sp. ST-10 styrene monooxygenase (SMO) and Leifsonia sp. S749 alcohol dehydrogenase (LSADH) genes are described. Rhodococcus sp. ST-10 SMO catalyzed the epoxidation of various alkenes, including styrene derivatives, vinyl pyridines, and linear alkenes, to give (S)-epoxides. NADH was regenerated by the reduction of NAD⁺ by LSADH with 2-propanol. The E. coli biocatalyst was used in an aqueous/organic biphasic reaction system and the reaction conditions were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, 170 mM of (S)-styrene oxide was obtained from styrene in the organic phase with excellent enantiomeric excess (99.8%). This biocatalytic process was used to synthesize various (S)-epoxides.     

An evidence of contact ion pair in β-(acyloxy)alkyl radical heterolysis during copper(I)-mediated synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes

The first evidence for a unified mechanism of heterolysis in β-(acyloxy)alkyl radical involving contact ion pair (CIP) is presented for both fragmentation and rearrangement of the acyloxy group in the reaction of 1-alkoxy-2,2,2-trichloroethyl acetate with 2 mol equiv each of CuCl and bpy in refluxing DCE under a N₂ atmosphere and availed this reaction for the synthesis of Z-stereoselective trisubstituted alkenes. The stereochemistry of the trisubstituted alkenes was assigned by the uniform pattern of the chemical shift values of some relevant signals in ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. This assignment was further supported by the X-ray diffraction spectroscopy of Z-1-chloro-2-(4-nitrobenzyloxy)vinyl acetates.     

Selenium-catalyzed iodohydrin formation from alkenes

A new simple method for catalyzed iodohydroxylation of alkenes using stoichiometric amounts of water is described. The iodohydrins were prepared in good yields from the corresponding alkenes using N-iodosuccinimide, 2 equiv of H₂O, and catalytic amounts of diphenyl diselenide in MeCN.