Diastereoselective arylation of l-proline derivatives at the 5-position

Diastereoselective introduction of nucleophiles into l-proline derivatives at the 5-position was achieved with suitable selection of N-protecting group. N-Methoxycarbonylated or benzyloxycarbonylated l-proline derivatives reacted with arene to give cis-arylated products. On the other hand, N-benzoylated l-proline derivative preferentially gave trans-arylated product, which could be easily transformed into optically active C₂-symmetrical pyrrolidine derivative. Such derivative 5 worked well as an organic activator in the asymmetric reduction of aromatic imines by Cl₃SiH.     

Achiral β-amino alcohols as efficient ligands for the ruthenium-catalysed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of sulfinylimines

Some achiral β-amino alcohols have been shown as efficient ligands for the ruthenium-catalysed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of N-(tert-butylsulfinyl)imines in isopropanol. The ruthenium complex prepared from [RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ (2.5 mol %) and 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (5 mol %) leads to α-branched chiral primary amines with very high optical purities (up to 98% ee) by the diastereoselective reduction of the imines followed by removal of the sulfinyl group under mild acidic conditions. Short reaction times (2-3 h) were needed to complete the reduction reactions when they were performed at 50 °C.     

Ruthenium-catalysed transfer hydrogenation reactions with dimethylamine borane

Dimethylamine-borane adduct has been used as the hydrogen source for the reduction of carbonyl compounds, imines, oximes, nitriles, nitroarenes and alkenes using [Ru(p-cymene)Cl₂]₂ as the catalyst.     

Reactivity of N-arylsulfonyl-1,4-benzoquinone imines. Reaction with hydrazoic acid

N-Arylsulfonyl-2-halo-1,4-benzoquinone imines react with hydrazoic acid in boiling acetic acid via two pathways: the 1,4-addition and nucleophilic replacement of the halogen atom by an azido group, followed by the 1,4-addition of HN₃. In the reaction of N-arylsulfonyl-2,6-dihalo-1,4-benzoquinone imines with hydrazoic acid, both halogen atoms are replaced by azido groups, while N-p-tolylsulfonyl-2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone imine takes up HN₃ molecule according to the 1,4-addition pattern.     

Stereoselective synthesis of cis and trans-fused 3a-aryloctahydroindoles using cyclization of N-vinylic α-(methylthio)acetamides: synthesis of (−)-mesembrane

Treatment of N-(2-arylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)-α-(methylthio)acetamides with N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) gave 3a-aryl-2,3,3a,4,5,6-hexahydro-3-(methylthio)indol-2-ones. Desulfurization of the cyclization products followed by a catalytic hydrogenation of the resulting hexahydroindol-2-ones gave predominantly or exclusively trans-fused octahydroindol-2-ones. On the other hand, reduction of the desulfurization products with Et₃SiH in CF₃CO₂H exclusively provided cis-fused octahydroindol-2-ones. A chiral induction of N-[2-(3,4-dimethoxy)phenylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl]-α-(methylthio)acetamide having an (R)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl group on the nitrogen atom led to the synthesis of (−)-mesembrane and (−)-trans-mesembrane.     

Catalytic <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Alkylation of Amines with Primary Alcohols over Halide Clusters

Piperidine was reacted with methanol under a hydrogen stream in the presence of (H₃O)₂[(W₆Cl₈)Cl₆]·6H₂O supported on silica gel. When the temperature was raised above 200 °C, the catalytic activity of the cluster appeared. Piperidine N-methylation proceeded yielding N-methylpiperidine in 95% selectivity at 350 °C. The corresponding halide clusters of niobium, molybdenum, and tantalum supported on silica gel also catalyzed the reaction. Primary alcohols such as ethanol and 1-propanol produced the corresponding N-alkyl products of piperidine; however, secondary and tertiary alcohols did not. Selective N-methylation of pyrrolidine, hexamethyleneimine, butylamine, and aniline also proceeded. Thus, the clusters catalyzed alkylation of aliphatic, alicyclic, and aromatic amines with primary alcohols. A Brønsted acid site attributable to a hydroxo ligand, which is formed on the cluster complex by thermal activation, is proposed as the active site of the catalyst.     

Organocobalt cluster complexes XXIX. Novel silicon compounds containing the nonacarbonyl tricobaltcarbon substituent

The reaction of bromomethylidynetricobalt nonacarbonyl or, more effectively, of methylidynetricobalt nonacarbonyl with diverse silicon hydrides (R₃SiH, Ph₃SiH, Me₂(EtO)SiH, R_nCl_3-nSiH (n = 02), etc. results in formation of silylmethylidynetricobalt nonacarbonyl complexes. Silicon-functional interconversions such as SiCl → SiOH, SiCl → SiOMe, SiOH → SiF, and SiOH → SiOSiMe₃, have provided still other substituted silylmethylidynetricobalt nonacarbonyl complexes, generally in high yield. The compounds Me(HO)₂SiCCO₃(CO)₉ and (HO)₃SiCCo₃(CO)₉ have been incorporated into methylsilicone polymers by H₂SO₄-induced reactions with cyclo-(Me₂SiO)₃.     

A novel method for the reduction of imines using the system silane/MoO2Cl2

A novel catalytic system, silane/MoO₂Cl₂ (10 mol %), for the reduction of imines in excellent to moderate yields and chemoselectivity was designed. These results extend the scope of the use of MoO₂Cl₂ as an effective catalyst for reduction reactions.     

Palladium asymmetric reduction of β-carboline imines mediated by chiral auxiliaries assisted by microwave irradiation

An alternative synthetic approach for the introduction of chirality in β-carboline moiety through in situ reduction of N-acyliminium ion intermediates generated from imine 2 and chloroformate of 8-phenylmenthyl as chiral auxiliary was achieved. The method applied microwave-assisted irradiation and used PdCl₂/Et₃SiH protocol as a mild reducing agent, which decreased reaction times to minutes when compared to the conventional thermal reactions. The diastereoselectivity (4-12:1) of the reduction produced R-amines, which were assigned after chiral auxiliary removal and spectroscopic data compared to products obtained from Noyori asymmetric hydrogenation catalyst.     

A simple proline-based organocatalyst for the enantioselective reduction of imines using trichlorosilane as a reductant

A simple and inexpensive proline-based organocatalyst was developed for the reduction of imines using trichlorosilane as a reductant. The reduction of N-aryl imines in the presence of 10 mol % of N-pivaloyl-l-proline anilide was carried out to give the corresponding amines in excellent yields (up to 99%) with high enantioselectivities (up to 93% ee).     

Chiral N-phosphonyl imine chemistry: asymmetric 1,2-additions of allylmagnesium bromides

Chiral N-phosphonyl homoallylic amines were synthesized by the reaction of allylmagnesium bromide with chiral N-phosphonyl imines. The C₂-symmetric chiral N-phosphonyl group was optimized for this reaction. Excellent yields and good diastereoselectivities were obtained for eight examples.     

Ring opening of 2-(cyanomethyl)aziridines by acid chlorides: synthesis of novel 4-amino-2-butenenitrile derivatives through intermediate aziridinium salts

1-Arylmethyl-2-(cyanomethyl)aziridines were transformed into novel N-arylmethyl-N-(2-chloro-3-cyanopropyl)amides as the major reaction products upon treatment with acid chlorides in CH₂Cl₂ through the ring opening of intermediate aziridinium salts. Subsequently, N-arylmethyl-N-(2-chloro-3-cyanopropyl)amides were converted into stable N-arylmethyl-N-(3-cyano-2-propenyl)amides for the first time by means of a dehydrochlorination mediated by Et₃N in CH₂Cl₂.     

Synthesis of substituted salicylamines and dihydro-2H-1,3-benzoxazines

Phenols were converted to their magnesium salts with the MgCl₂-Et₃N base system and subsequently reacted with Eschenmoser's salt, affording N,N-dimethyl substituted benzylamines in high to excellent yields. A series of mono N-substituted benzylamines were prepared in one-pot syntheses by ortho-formylation of phenols to corresponding salicylaldehydes, which in turn reacted with amines to imines. The imines were subsequently reduced to mono N-substituted benzylamines. Some of these benzylamines were further converted, without work-up, to mono N-substituted dihydro-2H-1,3-benzoxazines.     

The use of samarium or sodium iodide salts as an alternative for the aza-Henry reaction

A novel reaction of bromonitromethane with a variety of imines in very mild conditions promoted by SmI₂ and NaI to afford nitroamines or bromonitroamines is described. When these reactions were performed on sugar-based imines, the corresponding nitroamines or bromonitroamines were obtained in high yields and from moderate to good stereoselectivities. Synthetic possibilities of nitroamines were also shown by their reduction with SmI₂/H₂O in the presence of pyrrolidine at room temperature. A mechanism is proposed for this novel aza-Henry reaction.     

Enantiomer separation of rac-2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl (BNO) by inclusion complexation with racemic or achiral ammonium salts and a novel transformation of a 1:1:1 racemic complex of BNO, Me4N·Cl and MeOH into a conglomerate complex in the solid state

The complete simultaneous and mutual enantiomer resolution of 2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl (BNO) and N-(3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride, Me₃N⁺CH₂CH(OH)CH₂Cl·Cl⁻ into their enantiomers by inclusion complexation between their racemates in EtOH in the presence of a chiral seed crystal is reported. The enantiomer resolution of the rac-BNO was also accomplished easily by inclusion complexation with achiral ammonium salts, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride, Me₃N⁺CH₂CH₂OH·Cl⁻ and tetramethylammonium chloride, Me₄N⁺·Cl⁻. Inclusion complexation of the rac-BNO with Me₃N⁺ CH₂CH₂OH·Cl⁻ gave only a 1:1 conglomerate inclusion complex but not a racemic complex. Recrystallization of the rac-BNO and an equimolar amount of Me₄N⁺·Cl⁻ from MeOH (7 ml) and MeOH (15 ml) gave a 1:1:1 racemic complex, BNO·Me₄N⁺·Cl⁻·MeOH and a 1:1 conglomerate complex, BNO·Me₄N⁺·Cl⁻, respectively. Novel transformation of the former racemate into the latter conglomerate occurred by heating or by exposure to MeOH vapor in the solid state.     

Facile synthesis of dendrimer-like star-branched poly(isopropylacrylamide) via combination of click chemistry and atom transfer radical polymerization

We report a facile synthesis method of dendrimer-like star-branched poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) via the combination of click chemistry and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) by employing the arm-first approach. First, the α-azido-ω-chloro-heterodifunctionalized building block, N ₃-PNIPAM-Cl (G0-Cl), was synthesized via ATRP by 3-azidopropyl 2-chloropropionate as the initiator. Taking advantage of click chemistry, the first generation (G1) of dendrimer-like star-branched PNIPAM, G1-(Cl)₃, was facilely prepared via the click coupling reaction between G0-Cl and tripropargylamine. For the construction of second generation (G2) dendrimer-like star-branched PNIPAM, G2-(Cl)₆, terminal chloride moieties of G1-(Cl)₃ were first converted to azide, and then reacted with excess tripropargylamine to give G1-(alkynyl)₆; G2-(Cl)₆ was subsequently prepared via click reaction between G1-(alkynyl)₆ and G0-Cl. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry were employed to confirm the successful construction of dendrimer-like star-branched polymers. The unique thermal phase transition behavior of this dendrimer-like star-branched polymer in aqueous solutions was further investigated by turbidimetry and micro-differential scanning calorimetry (Micro-DSC).     

Y(OTf)3-CuI Catalyzed N-α Alkynylation of Cyclic Imines with Alkynes

An efficient approach to (2R,3S)-3-siloxy-2-phenylethynyl substituted pyrrolidines was developed through Y(OTf)₃-CuI catalyzed N-α alkynylation of cyclic imines ( 1 a and 1 e) with alkynes 2 a – s . As a result, a number of trans-2-phenyl acetylene substituted-3-siloxy pyrrolidine derivatives 4 aa – as , 4 ea – ef and 4 es were synthesized in moderate to good yields with excellent diastereoselectivities (dr up to 99 : 1).     

A novel method for the reduction of sulfoxides and pyridine N-oxides with the system silane/MoO2Cl2

A novel method for the reduction of sulfoxides and pyridine N-oxides using a silane and a catalytic amount of MoO₂Cl₂ in excellent yields and with a wide functional group tolerance is reported. A green protocol for this reaction was developed in water with the air-stable catalytic system PMHS/MoO₂Cl₂(H₂O)₂.     

Simple and efficient one-pot solvent-free synthesis of N-methyl imines of aromatic aldehydes

A one-pot solvent-free synthesis of N-methyl imines in good to excellent yields was performed by grinding together aromatic aldehydes and methylamine hydrochloride in the presence of a base. The best yields were achieved when an excess of methylamine hydrochloride and inexpensive sodium hydrogen carbonate was used (usually in a molar ratio ArCHO/CH₃NH₂·HCl/NaHCO₃ = 1:5:5), allowing the reaction to proceed for 1 h (in the case of aromatic aldehydes containing electron-withdrawing substituents) or overnight (in the case of electron-rich aldehydes). After a simple work-up (extraction with diethyl ether) the obtained products were mostly pure enough for spectral characterization. In this way, 31 N-methyl imines were prepared, among which eight were synthesized for the first time. Their structures were elucidated by spectral means (¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, IR, MS) whenever it was possible. In the case of salicylaldehyde and 4-chlorobenzaldehyde, the synthesis of the corresponding imines was also conducted on a gram-scale with a 72% and 84% isolated yield, respectively. The present approach not only provides good to high yields, but also eliminates the disadvantages of the traditional synthesis of N-methyl imines, such as the use of hazardous solvents and more or less expensive catalysts and the necessity of work/handling with an anhydrous gas in pressurized containers.     

Solid supported Pd(0): an efficient recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for chemoselective reduction of nitroarenes

Solid supported palladium(0) (SS-Pd) catalyzed highly chemoselective reduction of nitroarenes to the corresponding anilines was accomplished under a milder reaction condition. This catalyst showed high compatibility with various reducing agents (NaBH₄, Et₃SiH, and NH₂NH₂·H₂O) and a large number of reducible functional groups such as sulfonamide, amides, carboxylic acid, ester, alcohol, halide, hetero cycle, nitrile, alkene, carbonyl, O-benzyl, and N-benzyl were tolerated. Most of the reactions were clean and high yielding. The SS-Pd catalyst could be recycled up to seven runs without significant loss of activity.