P(RNCH(2)CH(2))(3)N-catalyzed 1,2-addition reactions of activated allylic synthons.

Activated allylic compounds of the type RCH:CHCH(2)Z (Z = CN, CO(2)Me) react efficiently with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of 20-40 mol % of P(R'NCH(2)CH(2))(3)N at -94 to -63 degrees C. Both R = H and R = Me lead exclusively to alpha-addition products. When R = H and Z = CN, an allylic transposition occurs to afford a Baylis-Hillman product as the only product.     

Highly active palladium catalysts supported by bulky proazaphosphatrane ligands for Stille cross-coupling: coupling of aryl and vinyl chlorides, room temperature coupling of aryl bromides, coupling of aryl triflates, and synthesis of sterically hindered biaryls

A family of proazaphosphatrane ligands [P(RNCH2CH2)2N(R'NCH2CH2): R = R' = i-Bu, 1; R = Bz, R' = i-Bu, 3; R = R' = Bz, 4] for palladium-catalyzed Stille reactions of aryl chlorides is described. Catalysts derived from ligands 1 and 4 efficiently catalyze the coupling of electronically diverse aryl chlorides with an array of organotin reagents. The catalyst system based on the ligand 3 is active for the synthesis of sterically hindered biaryls (di-, tri-, and tetra-ortho substituted). The use of ligand 4 allows room-temperature coupling of aryl bromides and it also permits aryl triflates and vinyl chlorides to participate in Stille coupling.     

P(CH(3)NCH(2)CH(2))(3)N as a dehydrobromination reagent: synthesis of vitamin A derivatives revisited.

Although P(CH(3)NCH(2)CH(2))(3)N (1) was found to be less effective than 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN) or 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in the removal of hydrogen bromide from vitamin A intermediates 13-cis-10-bromo-9,10-dihydroretinyl acetates (6) and 14-bromo-9,14-dihydroretinyl acetate (11) when the reaction was carried out in refluxing benzene, in acetonitrile at room temperature it was superior to DBN and DBU. A (31)P NMR study of this reaction suggests that the carbanion generated from acetonitrile-d(3) in the presence of 1 is the basic species that initiates the elimination step. Diastereoselectivity of the nucleophilic addition of (Z)-HC triple bond C(CH(3))=CHCH(2)OH to the carbonyl group of (E)-2-methyl-4-(2',6',6'-trimethyl-1'-cyclohexen-1'-yl)-3-butenal (2) was only moderate (20%), and (9R,10S)-13-cis-11,12-didehydro-9,10-dihydro-10-hydroxyretinol (3b) predominated. The LiAlH(4) reduction of the C triple bond C bond in the diastereoisomeric diols 3 afforded 13-cis-9,10-dihydro-10-hydroxyretinols 4a and 4b as major products together with 11-cis-13-cis-isomers and the deoxygenated compound (3EZ,5EZ,8E)-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-1,3,5,8-nonatetraene (9). Reaction of 15-acetates of the pure diastereoisomeric allylic alcohols 4a and 4b with PBr(3) occurred with significant but not identical retention of configuration, and with concomitant formation of the rearranged bromide 11.     

Synthesis of chiral nonionic superbases based on iminophosphoranes

Optically active azides derived from penta‐O‐acetylglycose tartaric acid and quinine when reacted with the proazaphosphatrane P(MeNCH₂‐CH₂)₃N gave highly basic iminophosphoranes that are potential asymmetric catalysts and ligands for a variety of reactions. Preliminary results show that the enantiomers are formed in unequal proportions. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 11:251‐253, 2000     

Ligand-, copper-, and amine-free sonogashira reaction of aryl iodides and bromides with terminal alkynes

Conditions for an efficient ligand-, copper-, and amine-free palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira reaction of aryl iodides and bromides with terminal alkynes have been developed. Critical to the success of this new protocol is the use of tetrabutylammonium acetate as the base. Noteworthy features of this method are room-temperature conditions and the tolerance of a broad range of functional groups in both reaction partners.