Ruthenium-Catalyzed C−C Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with Primary Alcohols or Aldehydes: α,β-Acetylenic Ketones (Ynones) via Oxidative Alkynylation

The first metal-catalyzed oxidative alkynylations of primary alcohols or aldehydes to form α,β-acetylenic ketones (ynones) are described. Deuterium labelling studies corroborate a novel reaction mechanism in which alkyne hydroruthenation forms a transient vinylruthenium complex that deprotonates the terminal alkyne to form the active alkynylruthenium nucleophile.     

Facile conversion of pyridine propargylic alcohols to enones: stereochemistry of protonation of allenol

The conversion of 4-pyridyl propargylic alcohols 1 to the (E)-propenones 3 and propynones 2 occurs under mild reaction conditions, pyridinium chloride in methanol at room temperature. (Z)-4-Pyridyl propenones 11 are detected as initial products when large substituents such as trimethylsilyl, tert-butyl and phenyl are attached at C-3 of the propynols and these (Z)-enones 11 are isomerised to the (E)-isomers 3 under the reaction conditions. In the presence of deuterated solvent, both hydrogens at the double bond of enone 3d are deuterated. An allenol is proposed as intermediate whose preferential protonation occurs at the less hindered side giving the (Z)-enone. The propargylic alcohols, pyridin-2-yl 12 and quinolin-4-yl 5, are converted to (E)-enones 13 and 7, respectively.     

Mild propargylic oxidation using a diacetoxyiodobenzene/tert-butyl hydroperoxide protocol

A mild propargylic oxidation of alkynes is reported using a diacetoxyiodobenzene/tert-butyl hydroperoxide (DIB/TBHP) protocol. The reactions proceed smoothly at 0 °C and a number of α,β-unsaturated alkynoic ketones are obtained.     

Asymmetric synthetic study of macrolactin analogues

We designed two aromatic analogues 1a and 1b of macrolactin A with expectation of enhancing biological activity and metabolical stability. As a result of retrosynthetic analysis of these compounds 1a-b, two synthetic strategies have been examined. The first strategy includes the enantioselective addition of nonadienyl anion, derived from 3, to aldehyde 4 as a key step. The second one includes epimerization of ynone 7 to (E,E)-conjugated dienone 31 and subsequent diastereoselective hydride-reduction of 31. Although the former route furnished no desired target, the latter one was revealed to work well for the synthesis of 1. Unfortunately, the aimed (2Z,4E)-analogue 1a could not be synthesized due to an epimerization of the (2Z)-olefin into the (2E)-olefin. However, these methods could be applied to the total asymmetric synthesis of the (2E,4E)-analogue 1b. Overall, control of all of the four stereocenters was achieved by means of asymmetric and diastereoselective reactions without using any chiral natural sources.     

Polymeric tertiaryphosphine as a green and recyclable organocatalyst for stereoselective isomerization reaction

A green, simple and effective polymeric organocatalytic system, polymer-supported triphenylphosphine (PS-TPP), for the stereoselective isomerization of α,β-ynones to (E,E)-α,β-γ,δ-dienones is reported here. The catalyst, PS-TPP could be recovered by simple filtration and reused several times with high activity.     

An expeditious and atom-economic synthesis of lead-like,medicinally important 4,5-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazin-6-ones

We have developed an expeditious and atom-economic synthesis of lead-like, privileged 4,5-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazin-6-ones, which is based on Sonogashira coupling and a two-step condensation with hydrazine hydrate leading to two ring-forming events, with full control over the two elements of diversity present.     

Friedel-Crafts acylation of ferrocene with alkynoic acids

Ferrocene reacts with alkynoic acids (conjugated or nonconjugated terminal), trifluoroacetic anhydride and triflic acid (or boron trifluoride etherate) to afford the corresponding ferrocenyl ynones in good yields. Only in the case of propynoic- and 3-butynoic acid complex, untreatable reaction mixtures were obtained. However, propynoilferrocene was obtained by desilylation of (trimethylsilyl)propynoilferrocene with KF/18-crown-6. Reaction with nonconjugated terminal alkynoic acids, carried out in the presence of a large excess of triflic acid (4 equiv.) results in formation of complex mixtures of products (in the reaction with 4-pentynoic acid enol triflate of ferrocenyl 1,4-diketone and 2-ferrocenyl-5-methylfuran were isolated). Ferrocenyl ynones obtained in this work can be used for synthesis of more complex ferrocenyl systems by “click” chemistry.     

Highly-efficient and recyclable nanosized MCM-41 anchored palladium bipyridyl complex-catalyzed coupling of acyl chlorides and terminal alkynes for the formation of ynones

A highly-efficient and practical method for the formation of ynones from a variety of acyl chlorides and terminal alkynes catalyzed by a nanosized MCM-41 anchored palladium bipyridyl complex is described herein. Aroyl, heteroaroyl, and alkyl acyl chlorides were easily coupled with terminal alkynes, giving good to high isolated yields in the presence of a very low catalyst loading (0.002-0.1 mol % Pd) in Et₃N or diisopropylethylamine at 50 °C. Furthermore, the reaction scale was up to 150 mmol for a single batch reaction, providing the potential for practically synthetic application. After centrifugation, the supported catalyst was able to be recycled and reused several times with only a slight decrease in activity.     

Multisubstituted pyrazole synthesis via[3+2]cycloaddition/rearrangement/N-H insertion cascade reaction of α-diazoesters and ynones

The cascade reactions of alkyl α-diazoesters and ynones using Al(OTf)₃ as the catalyst are described.A series of 4-substituted pyrazoles were obtained via [3+2] cycloaddition,1,5-ester shift,1,3-H shift,and N-H insertion process.Deuterium labelling experiments,kinetic studies and control experiments were carried out for the rationalization of the mechanism.     

Controllable single- or double-oxa-Michael addition of ynones with alcohols: Synthesis of 3-alkoxyprop-2-en-1-ones and 3,3-dialkoxypropan-1-ones

Single- or double-oxa-Michael addition of ynones with various alcohols was achieved at room temperature. (E)-3-Alkoxyprop-2-en-1-ones and 3,3-dialkoxypropan-1-ones were efficiently synthesized by time-controlling approach. This protocol has advantages of wide range of substrates, no transition metal catalyst, mild condition, high yield and high stereoselectivity.