Oxidative Neutralization of Mustard-Gas Simulants in an On-Board Flow Device with In-Line NMR Monitoring

The fast and effective neutralization of the mustard-gas simulant 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) using a simple and portable continuous flow device is reported. Neutralization takes place through a fully selective sulfoxidation by a stable source of hydrogen peroxide (alcoholic solution of urea–H₂O₂ adduct/MeSO₃H freshly prepared). The reaction progress can be monitored with an in-line benchtop NMR spectrometer, allowing a real-time adjustment of reaction conditions. Inherent features of millireactors, that is, perfect control of mixing, heat and reaction time, allowed the neutralization of 25 g of pure CEES within 46 minutes in a 21.5 mL millireactor (t^R=3.9 minutes). This device, which relies on affordable and nontoxic reagents, fits into a suitcase, and can be deployed by police/military forces directly on the attack site.     

Harnessing the Dual Properties of Thiol‐Grafted Cellulose Paper for Click Reactions: A Powerful Reducing Agent and Adsorbent for Cu

A new approach exploiting the dual properties of thiol‐grafted cellulose paper for promoting copper‐catalyzed [3+2]‐cycloadditions of organic azides with alkynes and adsorbing residual copper species in solution was developed. The thiol‐grafted cellulose paper, used as a paper strip, effects the reduction of Cu^II to catalytically active Cu^I and acts as a powerful adsorbent for copper, thereby facilitating the work‐up process and leaving the crude mixture almost free of copper residues after a single filtration.     

Preparation of 2‐Quinolones by Sequential Heck Reduction–Cyclization (HRC) Reactions by Using a Multitask Palladium Catalyst

One‐pot sequential Heck reduction–cyclization (HRC) reactions leading to the synthesis of substituted 2‐quinolones have been developed by using a heterogeneous or mixed homogeneous/heterogeneous multitask palladium catalyst with charcoal as a support. The whole sequence occurs under very mild conditions without the need for additives (ligand or base) by taking advantage of the high reactivity of aryldiazonium salts as “super electrophiles”. Recycling experiments showed that the reused heterogeneous Pd⁰/C catalyst was not able to promote another HRC sequence but was, however, still highly active for hydrogenation, hydrodehalogenation, as well as hydrogenolysis reactions.     

Mitomycin synthetic studies: stereocontrolled and convergent synthesis of a fully elaborated aziridinomitosane

Full details of a stereocontrolled and convergent synthetic route to 9a-desmethoxymitomycin A (1) are reported. The target molecule possesses the parent tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]indole ring system characteristic of the mitomycin family of antitumor agents. The synthesis was based on the diastereocontrolled addition of a fully elaborated cinnamylstannane to a pyrrolidine-based N-acyliminium ion as the key convergent step, which resulted in the installation of the C9 and C9a stereogenic centers.     

Chelation‐Assisted Cross‐Coupling of Anilines through In Situ Activation as Diazonium Salts with Boronic Acids under Ligand‐, Base‐, and Salt‐Free Conditions

We describe the coupling of anilines with aryl boronic acids, under ligand‐, base‐, and salt‐free conditions at room temperature. This new reaction proceeds through the formation of an aryl palladium alkoxo complex, which allows the transmetalation step with aryl boronic acids without any external base. Importantly, this sustainable procedure generates only environmentally friendly byproducts such as tBuOH, H₂O, N₂, and B(OH)₃. The reaction mechanism has been deeply investigated through experimental and theoretical studies.     

Ultra-Fast Continuous-Flow Photo-Thiol-Ene Functionalization of Conformation-Controlled Cinchona Alkaloids

In this work, we describe ultra-fast continuous flow photo-thiol-ene reactions on cinchona alkaloids derivatives through a control of the reactive conformation in solution. Flow thiol-ene reactions proceed at 32 °C under light irradiation at 365 nm and require only 2.5 minutes of residence time to reach completion. The short path length of the tubular flow photochemical reactor, which maximizes and homogenizes the photon flux, associated to the fine tuning of the reactive conformation of cinchona alkaloids in solution are the main reasons for the high rates observed. The predominant conformation in solution of cinchona alkaloids was adjusted through the substitution of the hydroxyl group at C9 by a phenyl carbamate function.