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.     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Reduction of β‐Trifluoromethyl Nitroalkenes: An Efficient Strategy for the Synthesis of Chiral β‐Trifluoromethyl Amines

An efficient organocatalytic stereoselective reduction of β‐trifluoromethyl‐substituted nitroalkenes, mediated by 3,5‐dicarboxylic ester‐dihydropyridines (Hantzsch ester type), has been successfully developed. A multifunctional thiourea‐based (S)‐valine derivative was found to be the catalyst of choice, promoting the reaction in up to 97 % ee. The methodology has been applied to a wide variety of substrates, leading to the formation of differently substituted precursors of enantiomerically enriched β‐trifluoromethyl amines. The mechanism of the reaction and the mode of action of the metal‐free catalytic species were computationally investigated; on the basis of DFT transition‐state (TS) analysis, a model of stereoselection was also proposed.     

Modular Synthetic Approach to Carboranyl‒Biomolecules Conjugates

The development of novel, tumor-selective and boron-rich compounds as potential agents for use in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) represents a very important field in cancer treatment by radiation therapy. Here, we report the design and synthesis of two promising compounds that combine meta-carborane, a water-soluble monosaccharide and a linking unit, namely glycine or ethylenediamine, for facile coupling with various tumor-selective biomolecules bearing a free amino or carboxylic acid group. In this work, coupling experiments with two selected biomolecules, a coumarin derivative and folic acid, were included. The task of every component in this approach was carefully chosen: the carborane moiety supplies ten boron atoms, which is a tenfold increase in boron content compared to the l-boronophenylalanine (l-BPA) presently used in BNCT; the sugar moiety compensates for the hydrophobic character of the carborane; the linking unit, depending on the chosen biomolecule, acts as the connection between the tumor-selective component and the boron-rich moiety; and the respective tumor-selective biomolecule provides the necessary selectivity. This approach makes it possible to develop a modular and feasible strategy for the synthesis of readily obtainable boron-rich agents with optimized properties for potential applications in BNCT.     

Transition-Metal-Free Reverse Reactivity of (2-Alkynyl)-Arylaldimines: Assembly of Functionalized Amino-Indinones

Transition-metal-free regioselective synthesis of functionalized amino-indenones by the reaction of ortho-alkynylaldehydes with a broad range of primary amines by intramolecular cyclization has been described. The designed reaction proceeds through KOH-mediated Prins-type cyclization and DMSO-promoted oxidation of the cyclopent-2-en-1-one system. The proposed mechanism and role of solvent were well supported by control experiments. For the first time, we have disclosed the reverse reactivity of (2-alkynyl)-arylaldimines in a super basic system.     

Organic Cage Dumbbells

Molecular dumbbells with organic cage capping units were synthesised via a multi-component imine condensation between a tri-topic amine and di- and tetra-topic aldehydes. This is an example of self-sorting, which can be rationalised by computational modelling.     

Reversible M−M Bonding by Alkaline Earth Metals (Mg,Ca, Sr,Ba) in Graphite Intercalation Compounds

The alkaline earth metals (M=Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) exhibit a +2 oxidation state in nearly all known stable compounds, but M^I dimeric complexes with M−M bonding, [M₂(en)₂]²⁺, (en=ethylenediamine) of all these metals can be stabilized within the galleries of donor-type graphite intercalation compounds (GICs). These metals can also form GICs with more conventional metal (II) ion complexes, [M(en)₂]²⁺. Here, the facile interconversion between dimeric-M^I and monomeric-M^II intercalates upon the addition/removal of en are reported. Thermogravimetry, powder X-ray diffraction, and pair distribution function analysis of total scattering data support the presence of either [M₂(en)₂]²⁺ or [M(en)₂]²⁺ guests. This phase conversion requires coupling graphene and metal redox centers, with associated reversible M−M bond formation within graphene galleries. This chemistry allows the facile isolation of unusual oxidation states, reveals M⁰→M²⁺ reaction pathways, and present new opportunities in the design of hybrid conversion/intercalation materials for applications such as charge storage.     

Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution of Unactivated Aryl Fluorides with Primary Aliphatic Amines by Organic Photoredox Catalysis

In this work, a mild and transition-metal-free approach for the nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S_NAr) of unactivated fluoroarenes with primary aliphatic amines to form aromatic amines is reported. This reaction is facilitated by the formation of cationic fluoroarene radical intermediates in the presence of an acridinium-based organic photocatalyst under blue-light irradiation. Various electron-rich and electron-neutral fluoroarenes are competent electrophiles for this transformation. A wide range of primary aliphatic amines, including amino acid esters, dipeptides, and linear and branched amines are suitable nucleophiles. The synthetic utility of this protocol is demonstrated by the late-stage functionalization of several complex drug molecules.     

Gold-Catalyzed Oxidative Aminocyclizations of Propargyl Alcohols and Propargyl Amines to Form Two Distinct Azacyclic Products: Carbene Formation versus a 3,3-Sigmatropic Shift of an Initial Intermediate

Gold-catalyzed oxidations of propargyl alcohols with nitrones by using a P(tBu)₂(o-biphenyl)Au⁺ catalyst, afforded bicyclic annulation products from the Mannich reactions of gold enolates. The same reactions of propargyl amines with nitrones by using the same gold catalyst gave distinct oxoarylation products. Our DFT calculations indicate that oxidation of propargyl alcohols with nitrones by using electron-rich gold catalysts lead only to gold carbenes, which can generate gold enolates or oxoarylation intermediates with enolate species having a barrier smaller than that of oxoarylation species.     

New dialkylenetriamine zinc complexes as highly efficient ROP catalysts

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Silver chloride supported on Vitamin B1 -Organometallic magnetic catalyst: synthesis,density functional theory study and application in A3-coupling reactions

A highly efficient Fe₃O₄@VitB₁–Ag(I) magnetic catalyst has been obtained using surface modification of Fe₃O₄. To this end, silver chloride was immobilized on Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles via vitamin B₁ biomolecules. The synthesized biocompatible magnetic catalyst was applied in an A³-coupling reaction in the presence of aldehyde, amine and phenyl acetylene under solvent-free conditions and afforded the desired products in excellent yields. Also, interactions between metal and ligand in the Fe₃O₄@VitB₁–Ag(I) were studied using theoretical calculations.