A mild and efficient palladium–triethylsilane system for reduction of olefins and carbon–carbon double bond isomerization

The versatility of palladium(II) acetate and palladium on activated charcoal catalysts with triethylsilane has been investigated in the hydrogenation and the isomerization of carbon–carbon double bond of 1‐alkenes. The reduction of 1‐alkenes was carried out in the presence of triethylsilane, ethanol and a catalytic amount of palladium(II) acetate or palladium on activated charcoal, at room temperature. This facile and efficient method affords high yields for hydrogenation of unsaturated alkenes to the corresponding alkanes. Then the carbon–carbon double bond isomerization of 1‐alkenes was tested using the same catalysts in the absence of solvent. The system palladium(II) acetate‐triethylsilane was found to be more effective compared with palladium on an activated charcoal–triethylsilane system at room temperature, while comparable results were obtained at 50 °C for both catalysts. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cu(OTf)2/Et3N-promoted cyclocondensation of activated α-methylene alkenes and nitroolefins: a novel one-pot synthesis of polysubstituted benzenes

A simple and efficient one-pot synthesis of polyfunctionalized benzenes has been developed via cyclocondensation of activated α-methylene alkenes such as vinyl malononitriles and ethyl vinyl cyanoacetates with nitroolefins using Cu(OTf)₂/Et₃N as a novel catalytic system.     

A highly regio- and stereo-selective [3+2] annulation of allylic compounds and 2-substituted 1,1-dicyanoalkenes through a catalytic carbon-phosphorus ylide reaction

A highly regio- and stereo-selective phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] annulation reaction between allylic compounds and 2-substituted 1,1-dicyanoalkenes through a catalytic phosphorus ylide reaction was developed. This reaction has the total reversed regioselectivity compared to that of the reactions of activated alkenes without the 2-substituents or reactions using the allenoates as the C3 component.     

Palladium-catalyzed furylation and thienylation of activated alkenes with 2-furoyl chloride and 2-thenoyl chloride

2-Furoyl or 2-thenoyl chlorides readily react with activated alkenes in the presence of a tertiary amine and a catalytic amount of palladium(II) acetate to give 2-furylated or 2-thienylated alkenes. Under similar conditions, 2-benzofuroyl chloride undergoes facile alkenylation to produce 2-alkenylated benzofurans. The reaction involves a highly efficient decarbonylation of furoyl or thenoyl-palladium species.     

Organocatalytic Stereoselective Iodoamination of Alkenes

A new chiral thiohydantoin catalyst is used for the stereoselective iodoamination of alkenes. N‐iodosuccinimide as the source of the electrophilic iodine is activated by catalytic amounts of different additives which also influence the regioselectivity of some cyclizations.     

The palladium-catalysed arylation of activated alkenes with aroyl chlorides

Aroyl chlorides react with activated alkenes in presence of a tertiary amine and a catalytic amount of palladium acetate to give arylated alkenes, specifically cinnamic acid derivatives and stilbenes. The reaction involves a highly efficient decarbonylation of the aroyl chloride. High yields can be obtained at low catalyst concentration by choice of an appropriate base. The reaction is not particularly sensitive to substituents in the aroyl chloride, although strongly electron-donating groups are advantageous (yields up to 98%). With mono-substituted alkenes E-isomers are formed with almost complete specificity. A mechanism for the reaction is proposed.     

Homogeneous hydrogenation of electron‐deficient alkenes by iridium complexes

The catalytic homogeneous hydrogenation of electron‐deficient alkenes (nucleophilic hydrogenation) was achieved in the presence of iridium complexes and a base as co‐catalyst. Contrary to hydrogenation of electron‐rich alkenes, which is inactivated by bases, the hydrogenation of the electron‐deficient alkenes turned out to be base activated. Here, we present a more thorough study on the capacities but also limitations of this new reaction mechanism using screenings of the reaction conditions as well as different Ir complexes and substrates. The formation of a catalytically active Ir complex is proposed. The active complex usually attacks a soft electron‐deficient atom, if more than one possibility exists (as shown by density functional theory computations). Additionally, first examples of enantiomeric enrichments in the presence of chiral Ir complexes are presented. The high catalyst load needed and the moderate yields show that the active complex is very unstable under conditions of nucleophilic hydrogenation and is quickly deactivated, which has to be addressed in further studies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cathodic Dimerization

The technical, electrochemical, and preparative aspects of cathodic dimerization, which leads to bifunctional compounds, are reviewed. With the hydrodimerization of acrylonitrile as an example, the effects of the reaction parameters and the mechanism are discussed in detail. In addition to the hydrodimerization of activated compounds, the coupling can also proceed via elimination of halide or via the discharge of cations. Processes of special preparative interest are those in which two different molecules are coupled, which can yield e.g. esters, alcohols, or ketones with cyano groups, as well as asymmetric diols. The reductive dimerizations of acrylonitrile, β-chloropropionitrile, acetone, acetylpyridine, nitrobenzene (→ benzidine), and pyridinium salts have already found industrial use.     

β-Silylacrylate as a Multipurpose Reagent in Organic Synthesis

Acrylates are well known electrophilic alkenes having multitude of applications in organic synthesis. They are very good acceptors in Michael addition reactions and are good enophile/dienophile/dipolarophile partners in cycloaddition reactions. Replacing the β-alkyl/aryl groups in acrylates by a silicon group would be interesting. In addition to the conventional reactions displayed by acrylates, β-silylacrylates (β-SAs) can show reactivity specifically related to the silicon group. Many conventional organic reactions such as hydrodimerization, organocatalytic asymmetric Michael additions, inter- and intra-molecular Diels–Alder reactions, and asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions have been used to generate the complex chemical entities from β-SAs. Some of the reaction outcomes were vastly influenced by the silicon substituent. This review describes the practical synthesis β-SAs and their use as starting point in complex molecule generation including total synthesis of some natural products/bioactive molecules.     

Genomic salmon testes DNA as a catalyst for Michael reactions in water

The DNA molecule, recognized as the carrier of genetic information in vivo, can function as an efficient organocatalyst for Michael additions of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to activated alkenes in aqueous media. The procedure described here is environmentally benign and offers several advantages in terms of simplicity, generality and efficiency. We have used fluorescence spectroscopy to evaluate the catalytic activity of a molecule of DNA.     

Copper-catalyzed allylic amination of olefins with nitrosoarenes

The transition metal catalyzed allylic amination of olefins are studied. A screening of catalysts known for the intermediacy of PhNO in the amination of alkene with phenylhydroxylamine reveals that the hydrated copper salt in conjugation with copper powder as reductant has the best catalytic properties using nitrosobenzene as nitrogen-fragment donor. The catalytic system has been studied for a variety of alkenes. Unsymmetrical alkenes react with high regioselectivity with N-functionalization at the less substituted vinylic carbon.     

Migratory Hydrogenation of Terminal Alkynes by Base/Cobalt Relay Catalysis

Migratory functionalization of alkenes has emerged as a powerful strategy to achieve functionalization at a distal position to the original reactive site on a hydrocarbon chain. However, an analogous protocol for alkyne substrates is yet to be developed. Herein, a base and cobalt relay catalytic process for the selective synthesis of (Z)‐2‐alkenes and conjugated E alkenes by migratory hydrogenation of terminal alkynes is disclosed. Mechanistic studies support a relay catalytic process involving a sequential base‐catalyzed isomerization of terminal alkynes and cobalt‐catalyzed hydrogenation of either 2‐alkynes or conjugated diene intermediates. Notably, this practical non‐noble metal catalytic system enables efficient control of the chemo‐, regio‐, and stereoselectivity of this transformation.     

Dimethylamine as a Substrate in Hydroaminoalkylation Reactions

Transition‐metal‐catalyzed hydroaminoalkylations of alkenes have made great progress over the last decade and are heading to become a viable alternative to the industrial synthesis of amines through hydroformylation of alkenes and subsequent reductive amination. In the past, one major obstacle of this progress has been an inability to apply these reactions to the most important amines, methylamine and dimethylamine. Herein, we report the first successful use of dimethylamine in catalytic hydroaminoalkylations of alkenes with good yields. We also report applicability for a variety of alkenes to show the tolerance of the reaction towards different functional groups. Additionally, we present a catalytic dihydroaminoalkylation reaction using dimethylamine, which has never been reported before.     

Enhancing electrophilic alkene activation by increasing the positive net charge in transition-metal complexes and application in homogeneous catalysis

Among a large variety of fine-tuning parameters for homogeneous catalysts the net charge of transition-metal complexes appear to be an interesting factor that considerably affects activation of substrates and catalytic activity in general. The electrophilicity of coordinated alkenes in transition-metal complexes can be strongly enhanced by increasing the positive net charge, resulting in strong carbocationic properties. Theoretical and experimental studies have shown that the alkene in cationic complexes is kinetically and thermodynamically more activated towards nucleophilic addition than in neutral complexes. The concept of increasing the positive complex charge is thought to be useful for the development of new catalysts for reactions in which alkenes or other unsaturated substrates are involved.     

The first catalytic inverse-electron demand hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of nitroso alkenes using pyrrolidine as an organocatalyst

The first catalytic inverse-electron demand hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of nitroso alkenes has been developed. Nitroso alkenes were generated in situ from alpha-halooximes and underwent [4 + 2]-cycloadditions with enamines as dienophiles formed from aldehydes and pyrrolidine (10 mol%) as an organocatalyst. The presence of a suitable heterogeneous buffer system was found to be essential and best results were obtained with sodium acetate trihydrate. The resulting 5,6-dihydro-4H-oxazines were obtained in moderate to good yields under mild reaction conditions. A catalytic cycle has been proposed and evidence for the cycloaddition mechanism has been obtained. Moderate asymmetric induction (42% ee) was observed when a chiral secondary amine was used.     

Hydrosilylation Catalyzed with Rh(PPh3)3Cl/Ionic-Liquid–Functionalized SiO2

Ionic liquid–modified silica has been prepared by a “one-pot” reaction of activated silica, 3-chloropropyltriethoxysilane, and alkylimidazole or pyridine. It was found that the catalytic activity and β-adduct selectivity of the supported catalyst Rh(PPh₃)₃Cl/ionic-liquid–modified-SiO₂ for the hydrosilylation reaction of alkenes with triethoxysilane was significantly improved. Furthermore, the catalyst system could be recovered easily.     

Catalytic Oxidative Trifluoromethoxylation of Allylic C−H Bonds Using a Palladium Catalyst

A catalytic intermolecular allylic C−H trifluoromethoxylation reaction of alkenes has been developed based on the use of a palladium catalyst, CsOCF₃ as the trifluoromethoxide source, and benzoquinone as the oxidant. This reaction provides an efficient route for directly accessing allylic trifluoromethoxy derivatives with excellent regioselectivities from terminal alkenes via an allylic C−H bond activation process.     

Olefins and Vinyl Polar Monomers: Bridging the Gap for Next Generation Materials

The inherent differences in reactivity between activated and non‐activated alkenes prevents copolymerization using established polymer synthesis techniques. Research over the past 20 years has greatly advanced the copolymerization of polar vinyl monomers and olefins. This Review highlights the challenges associated with conventional polymerization systems and evaluates the most relevant methods which have been developed to “bridge the gap” between polar vinyl monomers and olefins. We discuss advancements in heteroatom tolerant coordination–insertion polymerizations, methods of controlling radical polymerizations to incorporate olefinic monomers, as well as combined approaches employing sequential polymerizations. Finally, we discuss state‐of‐the‐art stimuli‐responsive systems capable of facile switching between catalytic pathways and provide an outlook towards applications in which tailored copolymers are ideally suited.     

铜催化烯烃氰烷基化成环合成含氰吲哚酮

发展一种简单、高效的铜催化活泼烯烃氰烷基化成环合成吲哚酮的方法。 在CuI/DTBP(叔丁基过氧化物)催化作用下, N-芳基丙烯酰胺类化合物与α-氰基偶氮试剂发生自由基环化反应, 高效地合成了一系列含α-氰基季碳中心的吲哚酮, 并探讨了其反应机理。 该方法底物适用范围较广、反应体系温和, 催化体系廉价。