Microwave mediated rhodium-catalysed hydroboration of trans-4-octene with pinacolborane

Hydroboration of trans-4-octene by pinacolborane was carried out using oxidised Wilkinson’s catalyst to afford 1-octanol in high yields. Wilkinson’s catalyst in conjunction with microwave irradiation also provided a convenient and rapid route to the terminal pinacolboronate ester.     

Application of a stereospecific RhCl(PPh3)3 decarbonylation reaction for the total synthesis of 7-(±)-deoxypancratistatin

A highly efficient total synthesis of 7-deoxypancratistatin is described. The synthesis features the ready preparation of the phenanthridone skeleton by a Stille-IMDAF cycloaddition cascade. The resulting cycloadduct is converted into a key aldehydic intermediate, which is then induced to undergo a stereospecific decarbonylation reaction using Wilkinson’s catalyst to set the trans B-C ring junction of the target molecule.     

The effects of amine and acid catalysts on efficient chelation-assisted hydroacylation of alkene with aliphatic aldehyde

Efficient intermolecular hydroacylation of 1-alkene with aliphatic aldehyde was achieved using a catalyst mixture of cyclohexylamine, p-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid, Wilkinson’s complex and 2-amino-3-picoline. The formation of unwanted aldol side-product was avoided through the conjugate addition of cyclohexylamine to the aldol intermediate that was initially generated, followed by the retro-Mannich-type fragmentation of the resulting β-aminoaldimine.     

Rapid synthesis of kahweofuran and its derivatives, the coffee aroma components

Kahweofuran, as an impact flavor component of roasted coffee and possesses the 6-methyl-2,3-dihydrothieno[2,3-c]furan structure, was rapidly synthesized from 2-acetyl-3-hydroxymethylthiophene by the formal reductive cyclization using the Wilkinson’s catalyst. Similarly, the syntheses of the 4-methyl, 6-ethyl and 4,6-dimethyl derivatives were also achieved in favorable yields.     

Palladium and rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular [2+2+2] cycloisomerizations in molten tetrabutylammonium bromide

The cycloisomerization reaction of triacetylenic macrocycles 1 was carried out in molten n-Bu₄NBr using either the Wilkinson’s catalyst RhCl(PPh₃)₃, or PdCl₂ leading to good yields of the corresponding cycloisomerized compounds. It was possible to recycle the catalytic system. When PdCl₂/TBAB was used, palladium nanoparticles were identified by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).     

Dehydrogenative coupling as an efficient route to ferrocene functionalized siloxanes

Ferrocene grafted siloxanes were prepared in high yields (∼79-97%) via Rh-catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling of a series of monomeric, polymeric, and cyclic hydrosiloxanes with ferrocenemethanol. Wilkinson’s catalyst was the most efficient of those surveyed (Karstedt’s catalyst, H₂PtCl₆, Co₂(CO)₈, 10% Pd/C, 10% Pt/C, 5% Rh/C) with respect to yield and selectivity. Benzene and toluene were better solvents than tetrahydrofuran and methylene chloride.     

Oxirane synthesis from diazocarbonyl compounds via NHC-Ag catalysis

A new method was developed to synthesize oxirane products from the reaction of diazocarbonyl substrates with aryl aldehydes by using Ag(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complex as the catalyst. A combination of N-heterocyclic carbene silver complex (IPrAgCl) with another silver salt (AgOTf) generated the catalytic active IPr-Ag⁺ intermediate, which then catalyzed the epoxidation reaction.     

Beneficial effect of water as second solvent in ionic liquid biphasic catalytic hydrogenations

When reactions take place in ionic liquids, a solvent is normally used to extract the products after reaction. It is reported here how the presence of the solvent during the reaction already can seriously improve the catalytic performance. Above all, employing water as the added solvent enhanced the catalytic activities significantly, ascribed to the creation of a well mixed ‘emulsion-like’ system. The reductions of methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate with Rh-EtDuPHOS and of 2-cyclohexen-1-one with Wilkinson’s catalyst in bmimPF₆ were thus successfully performed in the presence of water. The complexes were easily recycled and Rh-EtDuPHOS was even no longer air sensitive.     

Hydrosilylation reactions catalyzed by rhodium complexes with phosphine ligands functionalized with imidazolium salts

Hydrosilylation reactions of styrene with triethoxysilane catalyzed by rhodium complexes with phosphine ligands functionalized with imidazolium salts are reported. In comparison with Wilkinson’s catalyst, Rh(PPh₃)₃Cl, all of the present rhodium complexes with phosphines functionalized with imidazolium salts exhibit higher catalytic activity and selectivity.     

Copper-free Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction catalyzed by polymer-supported N-heterocyclic carbene palladium complex

A core-shell type of polymer-supported N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) palladium catalyst was applied to Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions without copper cocatalyst under ambient atmosphere. This supported NHC-palladium complex efficiently catalyzed the copper-free Sonogashira reaction of various aryl iodides and bromides with terminal alkynes; the reaction exhibited high dependency on the temperature and the amount of base as well as its nature. In addition, this heterogeneous catalyst exhibited good reusability for the copper-free Sonogashira reaction.     

Random low vinyl styrene-isoprene copolymers

The present work is to the syntheses and characterization of random, low vinyl copolymers containing styrene and isoprene (SIR’s). The content of these SIR’s ranged from 10% styrene/90% isoprene to 60% styrene/40% isoprene, and all were soluble in hexane solvent. The anionic polymerization of these SIR’s was initiated by a catalyst system of various sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) to n-butyllithium (n-BuLi) ratios. The SDBS allowed for styrene to become randomly incorporated onto the polyisoprene chain without any increase in the 3,4-unit of the isoprene. The glass transition temperature of the resulting polymers could be controlled by the styrene content and microstructure (blocky versus random) in the polymer chain. Kinetic data confirmed that styrene and isoprene have similar reaction kinetics. NMR and ozonolysis confirmed that random, low vinyl SIR’s were indeed being synthesized. The unique features of this system are that it does not metallate the polymers as was seen in the previous publication using the sodium and potassium alkoxides. Molecular weight differences due to SDBS are discussed. Finally, rubber process analyzer (RPA) results were presented for various styrenes content SIR’s.     

Polymerization of 5-norbornene-2-methyl acetate catalyzed by air-stable cationic (η-substituted allyl) palladium complexes of N-heterocyclic carbene

In situ generated cationic (η³-substituted allyl) palladium N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes are air-stable active catalysts for the olefin polymerization of (bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)methyl acetate (5-norbornene-2-methyl acetate) (endo:exo = 7:3). Catalytic activities, polymer yields, molecular weights, and molecular weight distributions of polymers were investigated under various reaction conditions. The catalytic activity was highly dependent not only on the reaction condition such as a solvent or the reaction temperature but also on the structure of the catalyst that include substituents of the allyl group in the catalyst and the counter anion. As the bulkiness of the allyl group increased, the catalytic activity of the catalysts increased.     

Palladium(II)-N-heterocyclic carbene complex derived from proline towards Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction in water at room temperature

Palladium(II)-N-heterocyclic carbene complex 1 derived from proline has been proved to be a highly effective catalyst in the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction of aryl iodides and bromides with arylboronic acids in water at room temperature. The reactions are tolerant towards various functional groups in the substrates. Moreover, the complex 1-catalyzed medium-scale (10.0 mmol) Suzuki-Miyaura reactions were also carried out and it was found that the complex was also effective enough in these cases.     

N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed cyanation reaction of carbonyl compounds with ethyl cyanoformate and acetyl cyanide

N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) has been employed as an efficient catalyst for cyanation reaction of carbonyl compounds. Under catalysis of 1 mol % NHCs, various aldehydes and 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone coupled with ethyl cyanoformate in THF to provide cyanohydrins ethyl carbonates in excellent yields. While in the presence of 10 mol % catalyst, different types of aldehydes and 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone reacted with acetyl cyanide in dichloroethane to give acylated cyanohydrins in moderate to high yields.     

Homogeneous Catalysis : III. Hydrosilylation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes; regiospecific reduction of CO using Ni0 catalysts

The addition of trialkoxysilanes across the carbonyl bond in crotonaldehyde has been demonstrated for a variety of nickel(0) complexes. The carboncarbon double bond is left intact. This differs from catalysts used previously, such as chloroplatinic acid or Wilkinson's compound, where 1,4-addition is reported for simple α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. The Ziegler system, Ni(acac)₂Et₃Al, proved ineffective as a catalyst, due to competing polymerisation of the crotonaldehyde. The 1,4-addition of trialkoxysilanes to crotonaldehyde, catalysed by Wilkinson's compound, has been confirmed; the new cis- and trans-but-1-enoxytriethoxy-silanes have been isolated and identified.     

A neutral, water-soluble olefin metathesis catalyst based on an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand

A water-soluble ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalyst supported by a poly(ethylene glycol) conjugated N-heterocyclic carbene ligand is reported. The catalyst displays greater activity in aqueous ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reactions than previously reported water-soluble metathesis catalysts.     

Rotamers of palladium complexes bearing IR active N-heterocyclic carbene ligands: Synthesis, structural characterization and catalytic activities

The preparation and properties of mono- versus bis(carbene) Pd(II) complexes bearing unsymmetrical cyano- and ester-functionalized NHC ligands as potential IR probes were studied in detail. Direct reaction of Pd(OAc)₂ with functionalized imidazolium salts afforded either bis(carbene) (3a, c) or monocarbene complexes (5, 6) with a N-coordinated imidazole co-ligand. The latter were exclusively obtained with N-ethylene substituted salts, which were found to undergo N-C cleavage reaction. The milder Ag-carbene transfer reaction on the other hand was tolerable to the length of the substituents and the nature of the functional groups. All bis(carbene) complexes (3a-c, 4a-c) were obtained as a inseparable mixture of square-planar trans-anti and trans-syn rotamers. The identity, ratio and dynamic equilibrium of these rotamers have been investigated and the relatively high rotational barrier for rotamers of 3a was estimated to be about 74 kJ mol⁻¹ at 380 K. All eight complexes were fully characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopies, ESI mass spectrometry and X-ray single crystal and powder diffraction. A preliminary catalytic study showed that ester-functionalized complexes 4a and 4b gave rise to highly active catalyst in the double Mizoroki-Heck coupling of aryl dibromides, while the in situ ester-hydrolyzed complexes were also active in the coupling of activated aryl chlorides.     

Catalytic epoxidation of styrene–butadiene triblock copolymer with hydrogen peroxide

Styrene-butadiene-styrene linear block copolymer (SBS) can be epoxidized with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of methyltrioctylammonium tetrakis (diperoxotungsto) phosphate(3-) as the catalyst in a biphasic system. The effects of reaction time, temperature, solvent, the ratio of the organic phase to the aqueous phase, the concentration of the catalyst, hydrogen peroxide and polymer, respectively, are studied on the conversion of double bonds to oxirane groups. ¹H-NMR analysis confirms the absence of ring opening side reaction in this epoxidation reaction system up to at least 70% conversion of the double bonds. When the conversion of double bonds is over about 70% the resultant polymer is insoluble in chloroform even at reflux but soluble in polar solvents such as DMSO when heated. Toluene is a better solvent for the reaction than dichloroethane. The reaction rate constants are measured at four temperatures and the activation energy for the reaction with toluene as solvent is determined as 49.9 kJ/mol.     

On the mechanism of Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling of propargylic carbonates with N-tosylhydrazones: density functional theory survey

In this article, we have theoretically investigated the possible reaction mechanisms for Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling of propargylic carbonates with N-tosylhydrazones. The ωb97X-D method and C-PCM solvent model are used to describe the reaction processes. After the formation of allenylpalladium through C–O bond cleavage from propargylic carbonates, both decarboxylation and ligand exchange processes are explored. Then, depending on different conditions, we considered three possible types of reaction mechanisms, carbene insertion triggered by N₂ release, C–C coupling reactions without N₂ release, and C–C coupling reactions via the out-sphere attack of diazo compound. Our results indicate that it is favorable to undergo the carbene insertion into allenylpalladium after ligand exchange with diazo compound, which is partially agreement with the experimental suggestions. Although the decarboxylation is more difficult than ligand exchange, the reaction rate could be limited by Pd-catalyzed N₂ dissociation from diazo compound. Additionally, it should be essential to select DFT-D method to describe this reaction.     

N-Heterocyclic carbene as a Brønsted base catalyst for the amination of naphthol derivatives and alcoholysis of glutaric anhydrides

A non-covalent Brønsted-basic N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed (NHC) Friedel-Crafts type amination of naphthol derivatives using dialkyl azodicarboxylates as the aminating source and alcoholysis of various glutaric anhydrides using alcohol as pronucleophile is presented. Both of these reactions are performed in the presence of either commercially available free-carbene catalyst or in situ-generated carbene catalyst. Friedel-Crafts type amination reaction is an example of a hydroxy group facilitated amination reaction. Both reactions proceed via in situ activations of –OH group by the carbene catalyst through hydrogen bonding interaction and furnish the relevant products in moderate to excellent yields.