A Highly Active and Magnetically Recoverable Tris(triazolyl)–CuI Catalyst for Alkyne–Azide Cycloaddition Reactions

Nanoparticle‐supported tris(triazolyl)–CuBr, with a diameter of approximately 25 nm measured by TEM spectroscopy, has been easily prepared, and its catalytic activity was evaluated in the copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. In initial experiments, 0.5 mol % loading successfully promoted the CuAAC reaction between benzyl azide and phenylacetylene, in water at room temperature (25 °C). During this process, the iron oxide nanoparticle‐supported tris(triazolyl)–CuBr displayed good monodispersity, excellent recoverability, and outstanding reusability. Indeed, it was simply collected and separated from the reaction medium by using an external magnet, then used for another five catalytic cycles without significant loss of catalytic activity. Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis for the first cycle revealed that the amount of copper leached from the catalyst into the reaction medium is negligible (1.5 ppm). The substrate scope has been examined, and it was found that the procedure can be successfully extended to various organic azides and alkynes and can also be applied to the one‐pot synthesis of triazoles, through a cascade reaction involving benzyl bromides, alkynes, and sodium azide. In addition, the catalyst was shown to be an efficient CuAAC catalyst for the synthesis of allyl‐ and TEG‐ended (TEG=triethylene glycol) 27‐branch dendrimers.     

Immobilized polytriazole complexes of copper(I) onto graphene oxide as a recyclable nanocatalyst for synthesis of triazoles

An efficient solid‐supported catalyst for the Huisgen [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between azides and alkynes was prepared from copper(I) iodide and 1,2,3‐triazole‐functionalized graphene oxide. This catalyst was then used for the efficient synthesis of β‐hydroxy‐1,2,3‐triazoles giving access to these products in excellent yields. In this protocol, the catalyst was shown to have high activity, air‐stability and recyclability. The formation of copper triazolide is very straightforward and energetically desirable. The catalyst can be isolated from copper‐catalysed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reactions.     

Zinc‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Cross‐Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with Aldehydes: Access to Ynones

Because of the lack of redox ability, zinc has seldom been used as a catalyst in dehydrogenative cross‐coupling reactions. Herein, a novel zinc‐catalyzed dehydrogenative C(sp²)? H/C(sp)? H cross‐coupling of terminal alkynes with aldehydes was developed, and provides a simple way to access ynones from readily available materials under mild reaction conditions. Good reaction selectivity can be achieved with a 1:1 ratio of terminal alkyne and aldehyde. Various terminal alkynes and aldehydes are suitable in this transformation.     

A reusable polymer‐supported copper(I) catalyst for triazole click reaction on water: An experimental and computational study

In the search for establishing a clickable copper‐catalysed (3 + 2) Huisgen azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction under strict conditions, in particular in terms of preventing the presence of copper particles/traces in reaction products and using an environmentally benign medium such as water, we describe here the synthesis of an aminomethyl polystyrene‐supported copper(I) catalyst (Cu(I)‐AMPS) and its characterization by means of Fourier transform infrared and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopies and scanning electron microscopy. Cu(I)‐AMPS was found to be highly active in the CuAAC reaction of various organic azides with alkynes affording the corresponding 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazoles in a regioselective manner in air at room temperature and using water as solvent. The insolubility and/or partial solubility of the organic azide and alkyne precursors as well as the heterogeneous Cu(I)‐AMPS catalytic system points to the occurrence of the cycloaddition at the organic–water interface ‘on water’ affording quantitative yields of water‐insoluble 1,2,3‐triazoles. A mechanistic study was performed using density functional theory aiming at explaining the observed reactivity and selectivity of the Cu (I)‐AMPS catalyst in CuAAC reactions.     

Cu Nano particles immobilized on silk‐fibroin as a green and biodegradable catalyst for copper catalyzed azide‐terminal,internal alkynes cycloaddition

Copper immobilized on silk fibroin was successfully prepared and fully characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy–energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform‐infrared, CHN elemental analysis, and inductively coupled plasma‐atomic emission spectroscopy. Catalytic activity of this catalyst was examined in the azide‐alkyne cycloaddition reaction with internal and terminal alkynes at room temperature under mild conditions. The reusability of the heterogeneous supported Cu catalyst was examined four times without significant loss of catalytic activity.     

Improved molecular weight control in ring‐opening metathesis polymerization reactions in organic and aqueous media using N‐heterocyclic carbene–ruthenium arene/alkyne catalyst systems

A binary catalytic system, RuCl₂(N‐heterocyclic carbene)(p‐cymene)/alkyne, was developed for improved molecular weight control in ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reactions of norbornene derivatives in organic and aqueous media. Monometallic ruthenium arene compounds were activated using aryl and aliphatic terminal alkynes to form highly active metathesis species. The effects of alkyne structure and concentration on the overall catalytic activity were systematically investigated. The catalytic activity of the metathesis active species can be tuned by varying alkyne substituents. Also, the initiation rate of the ROMP reaction can be tuned by increasing the alkyne‐to‐Ru ratio. ROMP polymers with a wide range of molecular weights (91–832 kDa) were isolated in organic media, whereas polymers with a molecular weight range of 110–280 kDa with average particle sizes of 150–250 nm were isolated in aqueous media. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of Vinyl Boronates and Vinyl Silanes via Atom‐Economical Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Alkene–Alkyne Coupling

The synthesis of vinyl boronates and vinyl silanes was achieved by employing a Ru‐catalyzed alkene–alkyne coupling reaction of allyl boronates or allyl silanes with various alkynes. The double bond geometry in the generated vinyl boronates can be remotely controlled by the juxtaposing boron‐ and silicon groups on the alkyne substrate. The synthetic utility of the coupling products has been demonstrated in a variety of synthetic transformations, including iterative cross‐coupling reactions, and a Chan‐Lam‐type allyloxylation followed by a Claisen rearrangement. A sequential one‐pot alkene‐alkyne‐coupling/allylation‐sequence with an aldehyde to deliver a highly complex α‐silyl‐β‐hydroxy olefin with a handle for further functionalization was also realized.     

Magnetite tethered mesoionic carbene‐palladium (II): An efficient and reusable nanomagnetic catalyst for Suzuki‐Miyaura and Mizoroki‐Heck cross‐coupling reactions in aqueous medium

In this paper, a highly active, air‐ and moisture‐stable and easily recoverable magnetic nanoparticles tethered mesoionic carbene palladium (II) complex (MNPs‐MIC‐Pd) as nanomagnetic catalyst was successfully synthesized by a simplistic multistep synthesis under aerobic conditions using commercially available inexpensive chemicals for the first time. The synthesized MNPs‐MIC‐Pd nanomagnetic catalyst was in‐depth characterized by numerous physicochemical techniques such as FT‐IR, ICP‐AES, FESEM, EDS, TEM, p‐XRD, XPS, TGA and BET surface area analysis. The prepared MNPs‐MIC‐Pd nanomagnetic catalyst was used to catalyze the Suzuki–Miyaura and Mizoroki–Heck cross‐coupling reactions and exhibited excellent catalytic activity for various substrates under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, MNPs‐MIC‐Pd nanomagnetic catalyst could be easily and rapidly recovered by applying an external magnet. The recovered MNPs‐MIC‐Pd nanomagnetic catalyst exhibited very good catalytic activity up to ten times in Suzuki–Miyaura and five times in Mizoroki–Heck cross‐coupling reactions without considerable loss of its catalytic activity. However, MNPs‐MIC‐Pd nanomagnetic catalyst shows notable advantages such as heterogeneous nature, efficient catalytic activity, mild reaction conditions, easy magnetic work up and recyclability.     

Highly efficient and diastereoselective gold(I)-catalyzed synthesis of tertiary amines from secondary amines and alkynes: substrate scope and mechanistic insights

An efficient method for the synthesis of tertiary amines through a gold(I)‐catalyzed tandem reaction of alkynes with secondary amines has been developed. In the presence of ethyl Hantzsch ester and [{(tBu)₂(o‐biphenyl)P}AuCl]/AgBF₄ (2 mol %), a variety of secondary amines bearing electron‐deficient and electron‐rich substituents and a wide range of alkynes, including terminal and internal aryl alkynes, aliphatic alkynes, and electron‐deficient alkynes, underwent a tandem reaction to afford the corresponding tertiary amines in up to 99 % yield. For indolines bearing a preexisting chiral center, their reactions with alkynes in the presence of ethyl Hantzsch ester catalyzed by [{(tBu)₂(o‐biphenyl)P}AuCl]/AgBF₄ (2 mol %) afforded tertiary amines in excellent yields and with good to excellent diastereoselectivity. All of these organic transformations can be conducted as a one‐pot reaction from simple and readily available starting materials without the need of isolation of air/moisture‐sensitive enamine intermediates, and under mild reaction conditions (mostly room temperature and mild reducing agents). Mechanistic studies by NMR spectroscopy, ESI‐MS, isotope labeling studies, and DFT calculations on this gold(I)‐catalyzed tandem reaction reveal that the first step involving a monomeric cationic gold(I)–alkyne intermediate is more likely than a gold(I)–amine intermediate, a three‐coordinate gold(I) intermediate, or a dinuclear gold(I)–alkyne intermediate. These studies also support the proposed reaction pathway, which involves a gold(I)‐coordinated enamine complex as a key intermediate for the subsequent transfer hydrogenation with a hydride source, and reveal the intrinsic stereospecific nature of these transformations observed in the experiments.     

Regio- and stereospecific synthesis of novel 3-enynyl-substituted thioflavones/flavones using a copper-free palladium-catalyzed reaction

[reaction: see text] A variety of 3-enynyl substituted flavones/thioflavones were synthesized via a sequential one-pot procedure using copper-free palladium-catalyzed cross coupling in a simple synthetic operation. The cross coupling between 3-iodo(thio)flavone and a broad range of terminal alkynes was carried out in the presence of Pd(PPh3)2Cl2 and triethylamine to afford the corresponding 3-enynyl derivatives in a regio- and stereoselective fashion. The best results are obtained by employing 3 equiv of the terminal alkynes. The process worked well irrespective of the substituents present on the (thio)flavone ring as well as in the terminal alkynes except arylalkynes. The reaction is quite regioselective, placing the substituent of the terminal alkyne at the far end of the double bond attached with the (thio)flavone ring. The orientation of the (thio)flavonyl and acetylenic moieties across the double bond was found to be syn in the products isolated. A tandem C-C bond-forming reaction in the presence of palladium catalyst rationalized the formation of coupled product. The catalytic process apparently involves heteroarylpalladium formation, regioselective addition to the C-C triple bond of the terminal alkyne, and subsequent displacement of palladium by another mole of alkyne. The present methodology is useful for the introduction of an enynyl moiety at the C-3 position of flavones and thioflavone rings to afford novel compounds of potential biological interest. In the presence of CuI the process afforded 3-alkynyl (thio)flavones in good yields.     

Well‐Defined N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Palladium Complexes as Efficient Catalysts for Domino Sonogashira Coupling/Cyclization Reaction and C‐H bond Arylation of Benzothiazole

Well‐defined and air‐stable PEPPSI (Pyridine Enhanced Precatalyst Preparation Stabilization and Initiation) themed palladium bis‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes have been developed for the domino Sonogashira coupling/cyclization reaction of 2‐iodophenol with a variety of terminal alkynes and C‐H bond arylation of benzothiazole with aryl iodides. The PEPPSI themed palladium complexes, 2a and 2b were synthesized in good yields from the reaction of corresponding imidazolium salts with PdCl₂ and K₂CO₃ in pyridine. The new air‐stable palladium‐NHC complexes were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray crystallography, elemental analysis, and mass spectroscopy studies. The PEPPSI themed palladium(II) bis‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes 2a and 2b exhibited excellent catalytic activities for domino Sonogashira coupling/cyclization reaction of 2‐iodophenol with terminal alkynes yielding benzofuran derivatives. In addition, the palladium complexes, 2a and 2b successfully catalyzed the direct C‐H bond arylation of benzothiazole with aryl iodides as coupling partners in presence of CuI as co‐catalyst.     

One-pot synthesis of diarylalkynes using palladium-catalyzed sonogashira reaction and decarboxylative coupling of sp carbon and sp2 carbon

Decarboxylative coupling of sp-sp2 carbons is possible by palladium catalyst. Employing propiolic acid (1) as a difunctional alkyne, and using the consecutive reactions of the Sonogashira reaction and the decarboxylative coupling, unsymmetrically substituted diaryl alkynes were obtained in moderate to good yield.     

Encapsulation of N-heterocyclic carbene–gold (I) catalysts within magnetic core/shell silica gels: A reusable alkyne hydration catalyst

In this study, N-heterocyclic carbene–Au(I) complex, chloro[1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]gold (I), was successfully encapsulated within mesopores of a magnetic core/shell (γ-Fe₂O₃@SiO₂) silica gel through post-pore-size reduction by silylation reactions The post-reduction of the pore size not only minimizes the catalyst leaching during the alkyne hydration reactions but also eliminates any need for covalent modification of the catalyst or support surface. The resulting catalyst exhibits high activity in hydration reactions of various alkynes even under low catalytic loadings. The catalyst can be easily recycled from the reaction mixture using a magnet and can be reused in alkyne hydration reactions up to six times with only 52. wt% Au leaching.     

Tertiary Carbinamine Synthesis by Rhodium‐Catalyzed [3+2] Annulation of N‐Unsubstituted Aromatic Ketimines and Alkynes

A convenient and waste‐free synthesis of indene‐based tertiary carbinamines by rhodium‐catalyzed imine/alkyne [3+2] annulation is described. Under the optimized conditions of 0.5–2.5 mol % [{(cod)Rh(OH)}₂] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) catalyst, 1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane (DPPP) ligand, in toluene at 120 °C, N‐unsubstituted aromatic ketimines and internal alkynes were coupled in a 1:1 ratio to form tertiary 1H‐inden‐1‐amines in good yields and with high selectivities over isoquinoline products. A plausible catalytic cycle involves sequential imine‐directed aromatic C? H bond activation, alkyne insertion, and a rare example of intramolecular ketimine insertion into a Rh^I–alkenyl linkage.     

Exploring Bis(cyclometalated) Ruthenium(II) Complexes as Active Catalyst Precursors: Room‐Temperature Alkene–Alkyne Coupling for 1,3‐Diene Synthesis

Described is the development of a new class of bis(cyclometalated) ruthenium(II) catalyst precursors for C? C coupling reactions between alkene and alkyne substrates. The complex [(cod)Ru(3‐methallyl)₂] reacts with benzophenone imine or benzophenone in a 1:2 ratio to form bis(cyclometalated) ruthenium(II) complexes ( 1 ). The imine‐ligated complex 1 a promoted room‐temperature coupling between acrylic esters and amides with internal alkynes to form 1,3‐diene products. A proposed catalytic cycle involves C? C bond formation by oxidative cyclization, β‐hydride elimination, and C? H bond reductive elimination. This Ru^II/Ru^IV pathway is consistent with the observed catalytic reactivity of 1 a for mild tail‐to‐tail methyl acrylate dimerization and for cyclobutene formation by [2+2] norbornene/alkyne cycloaddition.     

Reactions of Alkynes with [RuCl(cyclopentadienyl)] Complexes: The Important First Steps

Cyclopentadienyl–ruthenium half‐sandwich complexes with η²‐bound alkyne ligands have been suggested as catalytic intermediates in the early stages of Ru‐catalyzed reactions with alkynes. We show that electronically unsaturated complexes of the formula [RuCl(Cp^)(η²‐RC≡CR′)] can be stabilized and crystallized by using the sterically demanding cyclopentadienyl ligand Cp^ (Cp^=η⁵‐1‐methoxy‐2,4‐tert‐butyl‐3‐neopentyl‐cyclopentadienyl). Furthermore we demonstrate that [RuCl₂(Cp^)]₂ is an active and regioselective catalyst for the [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization of alkynes. The first elementary steps of the reaction of mono(η²‐alkyne) complexes containing {RuCl(Cp*)} (Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅) and {RuCl(Cp^)} fragments with alkynes were investigated by DFT calculations at the M06/6‐31G* level in combination with a continuum solvent model. Theoretical results are able to rationalize and complement the experimental findings. The presence of the sterically demanding Cp^ ligand increases the activation energy required for the formation of the corresponding di(η²‐alkyne) complexes, enhancing the initial regioselectivity, but avoiding the evolution of the system towards the expected cyclotrimerization product when bulky substituents are present. Theoretical results also show that the electronic structure and stability of a metallacyclic intermediate is strongly dependent on the nature of the substituents present in the alkyne.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed Intermolecular [2+2] Cycloaddition between Alkynes and Allenes

An intermolecular [2+2] cycloaddition reaction between an alkyne and an allene is reported. In the presence of a cobalt(I)/diphosphine catalyst, a near equimolar mixture of the alkyne and allene is converted into a 3‐alkylidenecyclobutene derivative in good yield with high regioselectivity. The reaction tolerates a variety of internal alkynes and mono‐ or disubstituted allenes bearing various functional groups. The reaction is proposed to involve regioselective oxidative cyclization of the alkyne and allene to form a 4‐alkylidenecobaltacyclopentene intermediate, with subsequent C?C reductive elimination.     

Copper Salt of 12‐Tungstophosphoric Acid: An Efficient and Reusable Heteropoly Acid for the Click Chemistry

Three components coupling of alkyl bromide, sodium azide and alkyne has been achieved using a catalytic amount of copper‐exchanged phosphotungstic acid (Cu‐TPA) in the presence of triethyl amine in DMF to afford substituted triazoles in good yields with high selectivity. Interestingly, the coupling of alkyl azide with alkyne proceeds readily at room temperature to furnish 1,2,3‐triazoles in excellent yields. The catalyst can be recovered and reused for three to four subsequent runs with a minimal decrease of activity. The use of copper modified heteropolyacids makes this procedure simple, convenient and environmentally friendly.     

Synthesis of [Zn(ΙΙ)BHPPDAH] as New Heterogeneous Catalyst without Being Immobilized on Any Support and Applied for Mannich Reaction

In this paper, a novel heterogeneous complex of zinc with N,N‐bis(2‐hydroxyphenyl)pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxamide(BHPPDAH) was synthesized. The catalyst was found to be a highly effective catalyst for the three‐component coupling reactions of aldehydes, alkynes, and amines (A3 coupling) via C–H activation. The reactions could be applied to both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes and alkynes. Nearly quantitative yields of the desired products were obtained in most cases. The reaction proceeds without any cocatalyst or activator, and water is the only byproduct. The catalyst was quantitatively recovered from the reaction by a simple filtration and reused for five cycles with almost consistent activity.     

Theoretical mechanism for selective catalysis of ruthenium complex catalyzed hydroboration of terminal alkynes to Z‐vinylboronates

Detailed mechanism of the hydroboration of terminal alkynes catalyzed by ruthenium complex was studied using density functional theory. The calculated results suggest that the reaction proceeds in two steps: alkyne rearrangement and catalyst regeneration. Vinylboronate products with E and Z configuration are formed in this reaction. Path A forming Z‐vinylboronate is the preferred pathway. Noncovalent interaction between B? H bond and Ru centre determines the preferred pathway of the reaction. The E_gap of HOMO‐LUMO for the reactant is lowered with the assistance of ruthenium–borane complex (Ru–Cat) formation. A hypothetical control model using 1, 2‐dimethyl acetylene (internal alkyne) and styrene (terminal alkene) as the reaction substrates was designed. The calculated results suggest that the activation barrier of the rate‐determining process is too high, which make the hydroboration reaction of styrene and 1, 2‐dimethyl acetylene (CH₃C‐CCH₃) hard to occur. The results uncover the selectivity of the ruthenium complex for hydroboration of terminal alkynes. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.