Palladium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cocyclotrimerization of benzynes with bicyclic alkenes: an efficient route to anellated 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene derivatives and polyaromatic compounds

An efficient method for the cocyclotrimerization of bicyclic alkenes and benzynes catalyzed by palladium phosphine complexes to give the corresponding norbornane anellated 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene derivatives is described. Bicyclic alkenes 1a-i undergo [2 + 2 + 2] cocyclotrimerization with benzynes generated from precursors 2a-d [2-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl triflate (2a), 4,5-dimethyl-2-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl triflate (2b), 6-(trimethylsilyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-5-indenyl triflate (2c), 4-methyl-2-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl triflate (2d)] in the presence of PdCl(2)(PPh(3))(2) in acetonitrile at ambient temperature to yield anellated 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene products 3a-r in moderate to excellent yields. The [2 + 2 + 2] cocyclotrimerization products from oxa- and azabicyclic alkenes can be applied for the synthesis of polyaromatics, substituted benzo[b]triphenylenes (8a-f), via a simple Lewis acid mediated deoxyaromatization in good yields. In addition the [2 + 2 + 2] products undergo retro Diels-Alder reaction readily, providing a new method for the synthesis of substituted phenanthrenes and for generating isobenzofurans. A plausible mechanism is proposed to account for the catalytic [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction.     

Highly efficient route to o-Allylbiaryls via palladium-catalyzed three-component coupling of benzynes, allylic halides, and aryl organometallic reagents

[reaction: see text] o-Allylbiaryl derivatives have been prepared in good to excellent yields by the palladium-catalyzed three-component reaction of allyl halides, benzynes, and aryl organometallic reagents.     

Palladium-catalyzed carbopalladation and carbocyclization of arynes with aryl halides: a highly efficient route to functionalized triphenylenes

Highly substituted triphenylene derivatives were prepared in good yields via the palladium-catalyzed carbocyclization of arynes with aryl iodides.     

Cobalt-catalyzed aryl-sulfur bond formation

A new cobalt-catalyzed coupling of aryl halides with thiophenols and alkanethiols is reported. A variety of aryl sulfides can be prepared in excellent yields under mild reaction conditions using 1-2 mol % of CoI2(dppe) and Zn. This new cobalt-catalyzed coupling represents an interesting addition to previously known methods to synthesize thioethers. [reaction: see text].     

Ene reaction of arynes with alkynes

Arynes, generated in situ from ortho-silylaryl triflates, undergo ene reaction with alkynes possessing propargylic hydrogen in the presence of KF/18-crown-6 in THF at room temperature to give substituted phenylallenes. Various terminal and internal alkynes as well as different arynes can be used to give the corresponding phenylallenes in good to moderate yields. The reaction of alkyne without propargylic hydrogen gave an acetylenic C-H addition product (a phenylalkyne) and a dehydro Diels-Alder product (a phenanthrene).     

Pesticidal and antifertility activities of triorganogermanium(IV) complexes synthesized using a green chemical approach

Microwave chemistry is a green chemical method that improves reaction conditions and product yields while reducing solvent amounts and reaction times. This paper deals with the synthesis, spectral and biological studies of germanium(IV) complexes with chelating hydrazones derived from 1‐(pyridine‐2‐yl)ethanone (F₁) and 1‐(furan‐2‐yl)ethanone (F₂) with isonicotinohydrazide (INH). The complexes have been synthesized under a microwave–green chemical approach and investigated using a combination of microanalytical analysis, melting point, IR spectra, ¹H NMR spectra and ¹³C NMR spectra. Trimethylgermanium(IV)chloride and triphenylgermanium(IV)chloride interact with the hydrazones in a 1:1 molar ratio (metal:ligand), resulting in the formation of coloured products. On the basis of conductance and spectral evidence, a pentacoordinated structure for germanium(IV) complexes has been assigned for these products. The ligand is coordinated to the germanium(IV) via the azomethine nitrogen atom and the enolic oxygen atom. The free ligands and their metal complexes have been tested in male rats in order to assess their antifertility properties. Ligands and their metal complexes have also been tested in vitro against a number of pathogenic microorganisms in order to assess their antimicrobial and pesticidal properties. Both the ligands and their complexes were found to possess appreciable antifertility activity and other activities, which have been discussed in brief. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.