Microwave-assisted selenium dioxide oxidation of aryl methyl ketones to aryl glyoxals

We report an improved procedure for the synthesis of phenyl glyoxal and a series of para-substituted aryl glyoxals by microwave-assisted selenium dioxide oxidation. The reaction time has been reduced from several hours to three minutes for activated aryl methyl ketone substrates and 18 min for deactivated substrates, with all reactions affording quantitative conversion into the corresponding aryl glyoxals.     

Catalyzed asymmetric aryl transfer reactions to aldehydes with boronic acids as aryl source

Chiral diaryl methanols are important intermediates for the synthesis of biologically active compounds. Here, we describe a flexible method for their catalyzed asymmetric synthesis from readily available starting materials. Noteworthy is the fact that with a single catalyst both enantiomers of the product are accessible simply by choosing the appropriate combination of aryl boronic acid or aldehyde as aryl donor and acceptor, respectively. The catalysis with a planar-chiral ferrocene is easy to perform and yields a broad range of products with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).     

N-Directing group assisted rhodium-catalyzed aryl C-H addition to aryl aldehydes

Direct aryl C-H addition to aryl aldehydes to produce biaryl methanols was reported via Rh catalysis with an N-containing directing group. The method is highly atom-, step-, and redox-economic. The procedure is robust, reliable, and compatible with water and air.     

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of trialkylamines with aryl iodides leading to alkyl aryl ketones

A new, simple method for selectively synthesizing alkyl aryl ketones has been developed by palladium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of trialkylamines with aryl iodides. In the presence of PdCl(2)(MeCN)(2), TBAB, and ZnO, a variety of aryl iodides underwent an oxidative coupling reaction with tertiary amines and water to afford the corresponding alkyl aryl ketones in moderate to excellent yields. It is noteworthy that this method is the first example of using trialkylamines as the carbonyl sources for constructing alkyl aryl ketone skeletons.     

Stereoselective radical aryl migration from silicon to carbon

Highly diastereoselective radical 1,5 phenyl migration reactions from silicon in diarylsilyl ethers to various C-centered radicals to form the corresponding 3-phenylated alcohols are described. Functionalized aryl groups can also be transferred. The effect of the variation of the attacking radical on the aryl transfer reaction is discussed. Best results are obtained for the phenyl migration to nucleophilic secondary alkyl radicals, where high yields (up to 81%) and high selectivities (up to 95% ds) have been obtained. The mechanism of the process is discussed and a model to explain the stereochemical outcome of the reaction is presented. Finally, stereoselective 1,4 aryl migration reactions from Si to C, including a new method for the alpha-arylation of esters, are presented.     

Through-space intramolecular palladium rearrangement in substituted aryl complexes: theoretical study of the aryl to alkylpalladium migration process

DFT/B3LYP calculations have been carried out to study intramolecular 1,n palladium shifts (n = 3-5) between sp2 and sp3 carbon atoms in alkylarylpalladium systems. Such shifts, which also involve a concomitant exchange with a hydrogen atom of the alkylaryl ligand, are quite often a pivotal step of several organic transformations mediated by palladium complexes. We show that the intimate mechanism for the 1,3 shift corresponds to a Pd(IV) pathway, whereas a Pd(II) pathway is favored in the case of 1,5 migrations. In the case of 1,4 migrations, both mechanisms are competitive. The Pd(IV) pathway can involve either a true Pd(IV) intermediate (oxidative addition/reductive elimination mechanism) or a Pd(IV) transition state (oxidative hydrogen migration mechanism). The energy barrier is very high for the 1,3 palladium shift, making this process very unlikely, in contrast to the other ones which have enthalpy barriers ranging between 22.8 kcal mol-1 (for the 1,5 shift) and 31.9 kcal mol-1 (for the least favorable 1,4 shift studied here). All of these results are in line with our previous results for palladium shifts between two sp2 carbon atoms. In addition, the sp2 to sp3 shifts have been found to be rather exothermic owing to the possibility for the alkylaryl ligand in the product to achieve a eta3 coordination mode. This eta3 coordination mode results either from the shift itself (1,3 case) or from a subsequent rearrangement that comprises a chain-running mechanism within the alkyl chain bound to the metal (for n > 3).     

A Garratt-Braverman route to aryl naphthalene lignans

A series of aryl naphthalene lignans were prepared in good yields starting from substituted bis-propargyl ethers. The method involved a base-mediated Garratt-Braverman cyclization followed by benzylic oxidation to the lactone. The chemoselectivity in the GB cyclization and the regioselectivity in the benzylic oxidation could be achieved by controlling the electronic nature of the aryl-substituents as well as by changing the substitution pattern of the two aryl rings.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of aryl nitrilimines to electron-poor alkenes

The 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of aryl nitrilimines to 1,2-diacetylethylene gave along with the 1,2-diaryl-4,5-diacetyl-4,5-dihydropyrazoles 5 and the corresponding dehydrogenated pyrazoles 6 , the unexpected 1,3-diaryl-4-acetylpyrazoles 7 . As for tetrasubstituted alkenes, whereas 1,2-diacetyl-1,2-dicarbethoxyethylene gave a stable cycloadduct 8 , 1,2,3,4-tetraacetylethylene yielded a mixture of pyrazoles 6 and 7 .     

A simple and efficient transprotection of aryl methyl ether to aryl benzoate under microwave activation

A simple and efficient method for the transprotection of aryl methyl ether to easily cleavable arylbenzoate mediated by microwave activation has been developed. One important feature of this method is its high tolerance towards sensitive functionalities and to some extent to bulky environment.     

Atroposelective radical aryl migration reactions from sulfur to carbon

The paper describes stereoselective radical aryl migration reactions from sulfur in sulfonates to aryl radicals for the synthesis of axially chiral biaryls. A chirality center in secondary benzylic sulfonates is used to diastereoselectively (atroposelectively) install a stereogenic axis via a 1,5 aryl migration reaction. Atroposelectivity has not been investigated in stereoselective radical chemistry before. Good yields (53-82%) but low selectivities (up to 2 to 1) were obtained.     

Transformation of mononuclear aryl thiocarbamates to cyclic disulfides

Thermolysis of the melt of octakis(O-thiocarbamoyl)tetra(C-phenethyl)resorcinarene in a microwave reactor afforded a cavitand, the upper rim of which was formed due to the formation of disulfide bridges between the neighboring benzene rings of the resorcinarene framework. The reaction of 2,2’-bis(carbamoylthio)-1,1’-methylenedinaphthalene with LiAlH₄ gave a tricyclic derivative, in which the naphthalene rings were bound by methylene and disulfide bridges. The structure of 2,2’-dithiinedinaphthylmethane was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of this compound.     

Het(aryl)isatin to het(aryl)aminoindoline scaffold hopping: A route to selective inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a large family of zinc-dependent endoproteases known to exert multiple regulatory roles in tumor progression. A variety of chemical classes have been explored for targeting individual MMP isoforms. In the present study, we further developed our isatin based scaffold BB0223107 capable of binding to and inactivating MMP-2 in a zinc-independent manner (Agamennone et al., 2016). Forty four new compounds were synthesized based on the modified BB0223107. All compounds were tested in enzyme inhibition assays against MMP-2, ?8 and ?13. SAR studies demonstrated that 5-het(aryl)-3-aminoindolin-2-ones (37–39) were active toward MMP-2 and MMP-13. The most potent compounds 33 and 37 displayed an IC₅₀ of 3 µM against MMP-13 and showed a negligible activity toward MMP-8; almost all new compounds were inactive toward MMP-8. Replacement of the isatin ring with a biaryl system (compound 33) did not decrease the potency against MMP-13 but reduced the selectivity. Structure-based computational studies were carried out to rationalize the inhibitory activity data. The analysis of binding geometries confirmed that all fragments occupied the S1′ site in the three enzymes while no ligand was able to bind the catalytic zinc ion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of 3-aminoindolin-2-one-based MMP inhibitors that, based on the computer modeling study, do not coordinate the zinc ion. Thus, the het(aryl)-3-aminoindolin-2-one derivatives emerge as a drug-like and promising chemotype that, along with the hetaryl variations, represents an alternative and thrifty tool for chemical space exploration aimed at MMP inhibitor design.     

Direct observation of the oxidative addition of the aryl carbon-oxygen bond to a ruthenium complex and consideration of the relative reactivity between aryl carbon-oxygen and aryl carbon-hydrogen bonds

When RuH2(CO)(PPh3)3 was reacted with 2,2-dimethyl-1-(2-p-tolylphenyl)propan-1-one (2), the ruthenium-aryloxy complex 3 was obtained in 76% yield. The structure of this complex was determined from 1H and 31P NMR and X-ray data. Complex 3 showed the catalytic activity for the coupling of 2 with the phenylboronate 4. The 1H and 31P NMR studies of the reaction of Ru(CO)(PPh3)3 with o-aryloxy pivalophenone revealed that the C-H bond cleavage is a kinetically favorable process but the C-O bond cleavage is a thermodynamic one. The reaction of 2'-methoxyacetophenone with vinylsilane and organoboronate resulted in chemoselective C-C bond formation.     

Efficient copper-catalyzed N-arylation of sulfoximines with aryl iodides and aryl bromides

Two simple and inexpensive systems for copper-catalyzed N-arylations of sulfoximines with aryl bromides and aryl iodides have been developed. Using 10 mol % of a copper(I) salt in combination with 20 mol % of a 1,2-diamine and Cs2CO3 provides N-arylated sulfoximines in high yields. Various functional groups and heteroatoms are tolerated. The method is complementary to the known protocols for N-arylations of sulfoximines, which require stoichiometric quantities of copper salts or cost-intensive palladium/BINAP catalysts.     

Conversion of diaryliodonium salts to aryl fluorides

The preparation of aryl fluorides by the reaction of diaryliodonium salts with KF is discussed. Generally, best results were obtained when the salt Ar₂I⁺X^? was heated with KF in the absence of solvent. The counterion, X^?, must be non-nucleophilic.     

Thia-Fries rearrangement of aryl triflinates to trifluoromethanesulfinylphenols

Aryl triflinates are transformed to trifluoromethanesulfinylphenols in the presence of aluminum trichloride in dichloromethane at room temperature according to a thia-Fries rearrangement process. Rigorous exclusion of oxygen is necessary in order to avoid the formation of 2,2′-dihydroxybiaryls as secondary products.     

Asymmetric additive-free aryl addition to aldehydes using perhydrobenzoxazines as ligands and boroxins as aryl source

A highly efficient enantioselective aryl addition to aldehydes using boroxins as aryl source and conformationally restricted perhydro-1,3-benzoxazines as ligands is reported. Both enantiomeric forms of chiral arylphenylmethanols and 1,1'-disubstituted diarylmethanols are afforded with excellent yields and enantioselectivities using the same ligand by means of an appropriate combination of boroxin and aromatic aldehyde. The enantiocontrol is not significantly influenced by electronic effects or steric hindrance, even with substituted boroxins. Very homogeneous ee's are reached when substituted arylboroxins are employed, without the use of any class of additive or pre-treatment.     

Iron-catalyzed conversion of unactivated aryl halides to phenols in water

Although iron is low-cost and environmentally friendly, there is no report about iron-catalyzed conversion of unactivated aryl halides to phenols. In this Letter, a new method for the present conversion was developed with iron compounds as the catalyst and water as the solvent. The suggested method allowed a series of unactivated aryl bromides and aryl iodides to be converted into the corresponding substituted phenols in moderate to high yields.     

Application of aryl siloxane cross-coupling to the synthesis of allocolchicinoids

In this communication, we report a new approach to the allocolchicine carbocyclic skeleton based upon an aryl siloxane coupling reaction and a phenanthrol ring expansion. These key steps allow for the selective functionalization of every carbon within the carbocyclic framework. The siloxane coupling-phenanthrol sequence was applied to the synthesis of two allocolchicinoids, including the first fully synthetic approach to N-acetyl colchinol-O-methyl ether (NCME).