New insights into the titanium-mediated enantioselective oxidation of fluorinated aryl benzyl sulfides and aryl phenacyl sulfides

A fruitful switch from tert-butyl to cumene hydroperoxide was able to overcome a difficulty arose in the enantioselective oxidation of fluorinated aryl benzyl sulfide with hydroperoxides in the presence of a titanium/(S, S)-hydrobenzoin catalyst. New experiments show the complementarity of the old and the new protocols and indicate unequivocally the right choice leading to the corresponding highly enantioenriched sulfoxides. Moreover, in a totally unexpected way, the new protocol was able to overcome another difficulty arose in another field of research, that is the enantioselective oxidation of a fluorinated aryl phenacyl sulfide. Also in this case, the complementarity of behavior is acting. Finally, this investigation gives new support to the attribution of configuration of sulfoxides with ECD techniques, but only if the protocol outlined in our past research was followed thoroughly.     

Exploring rearrangements along the fragmentation pathways of diuron anion: A combined experimental and computational investigation

Diuron (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea), a common herbicide from phenyl urea class, was investigated by studying the formation of several negative ions [M−H]⁻ in the gas phase and the fragmentation behaviour of the thermodynamically most probably formed isomeric anions upon linear ion acceleration/collision experiments. The collision induced dissociation experiments (CID) were carried out in a hexapole–quadrupole–hexapole hybrid system coupled to 12 T magnet with infinity ICR cell for high resolution measurements. Two distinctive main pathways were observed in the MS/MS spectrum. Sustained off-resonance irradiation (SORI) experiments inside the ICR cell reinforce the fragmentation channels obtained from linear ion acceleration experiments. The fragmentation pathways were also completely investigated by the use of B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level of theory. Elimination of dimethylamine takes place in a two-step process, by which two successive 1,3 proton shifts occur. The second 1,3 proton shift is concerted with the departure of dimethylamine. The driving force for the (CH₃)₂NH elimination is the formation of isocyanate group. The formed primary product ion can further decompose to release HCl through a new transition state. A stable new aromatic product ion is formed with 10π electrons. Loss of C₃H₅NO neutral from another anionic isomer of the precursor ion was also observed and is characteristic for the amide terminal of the diamide functional group. A concerted mechanism is proposed, by which N–C bond breakage and cyclization of the eliminated neutral fragment C₃H₅NO takes place simultaneously to form 1-methyl-aziridin-2-one.     

Activation of superoxide by boron trifluoride: chemoselective and efficient oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides via tetrafluorodiboronperoxide

Activation of superoxide with boron trifluoride in dry acetonitrile can facilitate highly chemoselective and efficient oxidation of sulfides to corresponding sulfoxides at ice-water bath in excellent yields without any interference in the presence of ketone, olefin, ether, and hydroxyl functionalities. This new method also offers further advantages of a short reaction time, no overoxidation to sulfones, and none of complex catalysts and toxic metallic compounds used. A tetrafluorodiboronperoxide intermediate formed in situ from this new process is proposed.     

A general and selective zinc-catalyzed oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides

A general zinc-catalyzed oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides has been developed. All the reactions proceeded at room temperature. Hydrogen peroxide was used as a green oxidant. Twenty-one examples of sulfoxides were prepared in moderate to excellent yields.     

New computational evidence for the catalytic mechanism of carbonic anhydrase

Some aspects of the catalytic mechanism of HCA have been investigated. Either a zinc-bound water or a zinc-bound hydroxide has been considered as a nucleophile attacking CO ₂. No reaction path exists in the former case, while a transition state for the nucleophilic attack has been located in the latter (barrier of 7.6 kcal mol⁻¹). This activation energy is determined by the breaking of the hydrogen-bond network that shields the zinc-bound hydroxide when the CO ₂ molecule approaches the reaction center. No ambiguity exists about the mechanism for the internal rearrangement of the zinc–bicarbonate complex. The rotation pathway (Lindskog mechanism) proposed by many authors is too energy demanding since it causes the breaking of the hydrogen-bond network around the bicarbonate. The only possible rearrangement mechanism is a proton transfer (Lipscomb) that occurs in two steps (each step corresponding to a double proton transfer) and involves the Thr199 residue as a proton shuttle. Electronic Supplementary Material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Contribution to the Fernando Bernardi Memorial Issue.     

Cu(II)-catalyzed oxidation of sulfides

A variety of sulfides and disulfides were converted into the corresponding sulfoxide derivatives with 70% t-BuOOH (water) as the oxidant in the presence of catalytic quantity of CuBr₂. The method described does not involve cumbersome work-up, has wide range of applicabilities, exhibits chemoselectivity, and proceeds under mild reaction conditions, and the resulting products are obtained in good yields within reasonable time.     

A highly efficient, green, rapid, and chemoselective oxidation of sulfides using hydrogen peroxide and boric acid as the catalyst under solvent-free conditions

We report boric acid as a highly efficient and eco-friendly catalyst for the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides or sulfones, in excellent yields under solvent-free conditions, using 30% hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. Various sulfides possessing functional groups such as alcohol, ester, and aldehyde are successfully and selectively oxidized without affecting sensitive functionalities.     

Role of electron transfer processes in the oxidation of aryl sulfides catalyzed by nonheme iron complexes

ABSTRACT

The oxidation of a series of aryl 1-methyl-1-phenylethyl sulfides with H₂O₂ catalyzed by the two tetradentate nonheme-iron complexes [(PDP)Fe^II(SbF₆)₂] and [(BPMCN)Fe^II(OTf)₂] occurs by an electron transfer-oxygen transfer (ET/OT) mechanism as supported by the observation of products deriving from fragmentation of the corresponding radical cations in association with S-oxidation products (sulfoxides).     

Fe3O4 as a magnetically reusable Fenton nanocatalyst for the oxidation of thiols to sulfonic acid and sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones

In this study, the oxidation of thiols to sulfonic acids and sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones was carried out in the presence of Fe₃O₄/H₂O₂ as an efficient heterogeneous Fenton system. The products were obtained in good to excellent yields and short reaction times. Further results showed that the heterogeneous catalyst could be recovered easily using an external magnetic field and reused several times without any loss of its catalytic activity.     

Poly(4-vinylpyridinium tribromide) as metal-free, green and recoverable oxidizing polymer for the chemoselective oxidation of sulfides into sulfoxides

Poly(4-vinylpyridinium tribromide) was prepared from poly(4-vinylpyridin) and used for the selective oxidation of a variety of sulfides to the corresponding sulfoxides.The oxidation reaction was carried out heterogeneously in acetone/water,as green solvent, at room temperature.     

Selective synthesis of sulfoxides and sulfones by tantalum(V) catalyzed oxidation of sulfides with 30% hydrogen peroxide

The reaction of sulfides with 30% hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by tantalum(V) chloride in acetonitrile, i-propanol, or t-butanol selectively provided the corresponding sulfoxides in high yields. On the other hand, the reaction of sulfides with 30% hydrogen peroxide-catalyzed by tantalum(V) chloride or tantalum(V) ethoxide in methanol effectively gave the sulfones.     

Diketopiperazine-derived hydroperoxide for chemoselective oxidations of sulfides and enantioselective Weitz-Scheffer epoxidations

l-Proline-derived hydroperoxide (−)-2, which was obtained from the corresponding diketopiperazine by irradiation under oxygen atmosphere, was applied to the oxidation of a variety of sulfides and asymmetric Weitz-Scheffer epoxidations of cyclic and acyclic enones. The sulfoxidation, however, gave only racemic products. In contrast, depending on the base catalyst, enantioselectivities up to 37% were achieved in the epoxidation of chalcone with (−)-2.     

A Simple and Selective Oxidation of Sulfides to Sulfoxides Using Tetrabutylammonium Peroxydisulfate: A Rebuttal

Abstract

The report that oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides using tetrabutylammonium peroxydisulfate (2) in methylene chloride was found to be erroneous. We repeated the procedure described in the paper and found that oxidation of sulfide to sulfoxide could not be achieved with the method.     

A recyclable fluorous thiourea organocatalyst for the chemoselective oxidation of sulfides

As a kind of organocatalyst, 1-[4-(perfluorooctyl)phenyl]-3-phenylthiourea was employed to the chemoselective oxidation of sulfides in the presence of 30% H₂O₂. A variety of diaryl, dialkyl, alkyl aryl sulfides could be oxidized to sulfoxide under the mild condition. The catalyst could be easily recovered by fluorous solid-phase extraction for reuse.     

Efficient trapping of the intermediates in the photooxygenation of sulfides by aryl selenides and selenoxides

Aryl selenides and selenoxides trap efficiently the intermediates in the reaction of singlet oxygen with sulfides. In the co-photooxygenation of 1 equiv of an aryl selenoxide with 1.3 equiv of dimethyl sulfide, the aryl selenone is formed quantitatively. Aryl selenides require 4-5 equiv of sulfide for their complete co-oxidation to selenones.     

Stereomeric studies on the oxidation and alkylation of 4-thiazolidinones

Diastereoselectivity in the oxidation of different 4-thiazolidinones was discussed. Alkylation of these compounds with benzyl bromide was also studied. The stereoselectivity obtained was interpreted by the presence of the sulfoxide.     

The mechanism of transition metal catalyzed carbonylation of allyl halides: A theoretical investigation

The mechanism of the carbonylation reaction of allyl halides catalyzed by nickel (Ni(CO)₄) and palladium (Cl₂Pd(PPh₃)₂) complexes is theoretically investigated at the DFT level using the hybrid B3LYP functional. The favored reaction path to carbonylation corresponds, for both catalysts, to a direct attack of the halogen on the metal. This affords η¹ intermediates that can undergo the final carbonylation step. It is also possible to obtain the acyl product (β,γ-unsaturated acyl halides) from η² and/or η³ intermediates. However, in this case, the barrier of the rate-determining step to carbonylation is much higher. Since a channel on the potential surface connects rather easily the η² or η³ intermediates to the η¹ intermediates, an alternative and competitive path leading to the acyl products can originate from the η² or η³ intermediates, follow the η²/η³ → η¹ transformation, then undergo the final carbonylation step.     

The first application of titanocenes in the asymmetric oxidation of sulfides

Investigations were carried out on the oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides catalyzed by the commercial Cp₂Ti(X)₂ (X=Cl, OTf)/t-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). The asymmetric version of prochiral sulfides oxidation was achieved using Cp₂TiCl₂, as transition metal catalyst, in the presence of (+)-(R)-BINOL, as chiral ligand and activated 4 Å molecular sieves (m.s.).     

Room temperature metathesis of aryl isocyanates and aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by group(IV) metal alkoxides: An experimental and computational study

Aromatic aldehydes and aryl isocyanates do not react at room temperature. However, we have shown for the first time that in the presence of catalytic amounts of group(IV) n-butoxide, they undergo metathesis at room temperature to produce imines with the extrusion of carbon dioxide. The mechanism of action has been investigated by a study of stoichiometric reactions. The insertion of aryl isocyanates into the metal n-butoxide occurs very rapidly. Reaction of the insertion product with the aldehyde is responsible for the metathesis. Among the n-butoxides of group(IV) metals, Ti(OⁿBu)₄ (8aTi) was found to be more efficient than Zr(OⁿBu)₄ (8aZr) and Hf(OⁿBu)₄ (8aHf) in carrying out metathesis. The surprisingly large difference in the metathetic activity of these alkoxides has been probed computationally using model complexes Ti(OMe)₄ (8bTi), Zr(OMe)₄ (8bZr) and Hf(OMe)₄ (8bHf) at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level of theory. These studies indicate that the insertion product formed by Zr and Hf are extremely stable compared to that formed by Ti. This makes subsequent reaction of Zr and Hf complexes unfavorable.