Spherical hollow mesoporous silica supported phosphotungstic acid as a promising catalyst for α-arylstyrenes synthesis via Friedel-Crafts alkenylation

This work presents a scalable approach for preparing spherical hollow mesoporous silica with high surface area/pore volume, serving as outstanding support for supported phosphotungstic acid catalyst with much superior catalytic performance to the one on previously reported spherical mesoporous silica toward diverse transformations, ascribed to the strengthened mass transfer and the enlarged exposure degree of acidic sites to reactants those resulting from unique hollow and mesoporous morphology.     

Alkylation of Allyl/Alkenyl Sulfones by Deoxygenation of Alkoxyl Radicals

A challenging deoxygenation of alkoxyl radicals from readily accessible alcohol derivatives was developed, affording facile synthesis of functionalized alkenes with good functional group tolerance under mild reaction conditions. Because alkoxyl radicals can easily undergo β-fragmentations or hydrogen abstractions, this new strategy for deoxygenation of alkoxyl radicals is highly valuable. Moreover, mechanistic studies revealed that the electron-neutral phosphine acts as the deoxygenation reagent.     

When Gold Cations Meet Polyoxometalates

Merging gold(I) cations with polyoxometalate anions results in various interclusters and complexes. Herein, the synthesis of these newly emerging gold(I)/polyoxometalate materials is reviewed. The applications of these promising hybrids in organic catalysis are also summarized and evaluated in terms of the advantages and limitations of the catalysts including efficiency, synergistic effects and recyclability.     

Asymmetric Reactions involving Lewis Base Catalyst Tethered Dearomatized Intermediates

Numerous protocols have been developed for the functionalization of aromatic substances. Among them, the strategy by which aromatic substrates are activated in situ to generate dearomatized intermediates is highly efficient but challenging, especially in the field of asymmetric catalysis. In this Concept article, the application of some well-established chiral Lewis base catalysis, including primary/secondary amines and N-heterocyclic carbenes, that can covalently form catalyst-tethered dearomatized ortho/para-quinodimethane species with diverse heteroaryl and aryl carbonyl substrates is summarized in a number of asymmetric cycloaddition and addition reactions with diverse reagents generally having electrophilic properties. As a result, a variety of enantioenriched aromatic products with higher molecular complexity are constructed effectively through a rearomatization process.     

Enantioselective C2-Alkylation of Indoles through a Redox-Relay Heck Reaction of 2-Indole Triflates

A palladium-catalyzed enantioselective redox-relay Heck reaction of 2-indole triflates and disubstituted alkenes is reported. This process combines readily available indole triflates with a variety of alkenes to afford a range of indole derivatives bearing a stereocenter adjacent to C2. Enantioselectivity is achieved through use of a simple pyridine-oxazoline ligand. Tuning the electronics of the indole, through judicious choice of N-protecting group, is required to ensure selective β-hydride elimination away from the indole core. Utility of this method is highlighted in a modular formal synthesis of an S1P₁ agonist precursor developed by Merck.     

Divergent Synthesis of Oxa-Cyclic Nitrones through Gold(I)-Catalyzed 1,3-Azaprotio Transfer of Propargylic α-Ketocarboxylate Oximes: Experimental and DFT Studies

1,3-Azaprotio transfer of propargylic α-ketocarboxylate oximes, a new type of alkynyl oximes featuring an ester tether, has been explored by taking advantage of gold catalysis. The incorporation of an oxygen atom to the chain of alkynyl oximes led to the formation of two different oxa-cyclic nitrones. It was found that internal alkynyl oximes with an E-configuration deliver five-membered nitrones, whereas terminal alkynyl oximes with an E-configuration afford six-membered nitrones. DFT calculations on four possible pathways supported a stepwise formation of C−N and C−H bonds, in which a 1,3-acyloxy-migration competes with the 1,3-azaprotio-transfer, especially in the case of internal alkynyl oximes. The relative nucleophilic properties of oxygen in the carbonyl group and the nitrogen in the oxime, the electronic effects of alkynes, and the influence of the ring system have been investigated computationally.     

Photoinduced C(sp3)−N Bond Cleavage Leading to the Stereoselective Syntheses of Alkenes

Herein we report a versatile Mizoroki–Heck-type photoinduced C(sp³)−N bond cleavage reaction. Under visible-light irradiation (455 nm, blue LEDs) at room temperature, alkyl Katritzky salts react smoothly with alkenes in a 1:1 molar ratio in the presence of 1.0 mol % of commercially available photoredox catalyst without the need for any base, affording the corresponding alkyl-substituted alkenes in good yields with broad functional-group compatibility. Notably, the E/Z-selectivity of the alkene products can be controlled by an appropriate choice of photoredox catalyst.     

Sonocatalytic degradation of EDTA in the presence of Ti and Ti@TiO2 nanoparticles

The sonocatalytic degradation of EDTA (C₀ = 5 10⁻³ M) in aqueous solutions was studied under 345 kHz (P_ac = 0.25 W mL⁻¹) ultrasound at 22–51 °C, Ar/20%O₂, Ar or air, and in the presence of metallic titanium (Ti⁰) or core-shell Ti@TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs). Ti@TiO₂ NPs have been obtained using simultaneous action of hydrothermal conditions (100–214 °C, autogenic pressure P = 1.0–19.0 bar) and 20 kHz ultrasound, called sonohydrothermal (SHT) treatment, on Ti⁰ NPs in pure water. Ti⁰ is composed of quasi-spherical particles (30–150 nm) of metallic titanium coated with a metastable titanium suboxide Ti₃O. SHT treatment at 150–214 °C leads to the oxidation of Ti₃O and partial oxidation of Ti⁰ and formation of nanocrystalline shell (10–20 nm) composed of TiO₂ anatase. It was found that Ti⁰ NPs do not exhibit catalytic activity in the absence of ultrasound. Moreover, Ti⁰ NPs remain inactive under ultrasound in the absence of oxygen. However, significant acceleration of EDTA degradation was achieved during sonication in the presence of Ti⁰ NPs and Ar/20%O₂ gas mixture. Coating of Ti⁰ with TiO₂ nanocrystalline shell reduces sonocatalytic activity. Pristine TiO₂ anatase nanoparticles do not show a sonocatalytic activity in studied system. Suggested mechanism of EDTA sonocatalytic degradation involves two reaction pathways: (i) sonochemical oxidation of EDTA by OH/HO₂ radicals in solution and (ii) EDTA oxidation at the surface of Ti⁰ NPs in the presence of oxygen activated by cavitation event. Ultrasonic activation most probably occurs due to the local heating of Ti⁰/O₂ species at cavitation bubble/solution interface.