Imidazotetrazines as Weighable Diazomethane Surrogates for Esterifications and Cyclopropanations

Diazomethane is one of the most versatile reagents in organic synthesis, but its utility is limited by its hazardous nature. Although alternative methods exist to perform the unique chemistry of diazomethane, these suffer from diminished reactivity and/or correspondingly harsher conditions. Herein, we describe the repurposing of imidazotetrazines (such as temozolomide, TMZ, the standard of care for glioblastoma) for use as synthetic precursors of alkyl diazonium reagents. TMZ was employed to conduct esterifications and metal‐catalyzed cyclopropanations, and results show that methyl ester formation from a wide variety of substrates is especially efficient and operationally simple. TMZ is a commercially available solid that is non‐explosive and non‐toxic, and should find broad utility as a replacement for diazomethane.     

On the Structure of Intermediates in Enyne Gold(I)-Catalyzed Cyclizations: Formation of trans-Fused Bicyclo[5.1.0]octanes as a Case Study

The nature of cyclopropyl gold(I) carbene-type intermediates has been reexamined as part of a mechanistic study on the formation of cis- or trans-fused bicyclo[5.1.0]octanes in a gold(I)-catalyzed cascade reaction. Benchmark of DFT methods together with QTAIM theory and NBO analysis confirms the formation of distinct intermediates with carbenic or carbocationic structures in the cycloisomerizations of enynes.     

A Novel M8L6 Cubic Cage That Binds Tetrapyridyl Porphyrins: Cage and Solvent Effects in Cobalt-Porphyrin-Catalyzed Cyclopropanation Reactions

Confinement of a catalyst can have a significant impact on catalytic performance and can lead to otherwise difficult to achieve catalyst properties. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a novel caged catalyst system Co−G@Fe₈(Zn−L ⋅ 1)₆ , which is soluble in both polar and apolar solvents without the necessity of any post-functionalization. This is a rare example of a metal-coordination cage able to bind catalytically active porphyrins that is soluble in solvents spanning a wide variety of polarity. This system was used to investigate the combined effects of the solvent and the cage on the catalytic performance in the cobalt catalyzed cyclopropanation of styrene, which involves radical intermediates. Kinetic studies show that DMF has a protective influence on the catalyst, slowing down deactivation of both [Co(TPP)] and Co−G@Fe₈(Zn−L ⋅ 1)₆ , leading to higher TONs in this solvent. Moreover, DFT studies on the [Co(TPP)] catalyst show that the rate determining energy barrier of this radical-type transformation is not influenced by the coordination of DMF. As such, the increased TONs obtained experimentally stem from the stabilizing effect of DMF and are not due to an intrinsic higher activity caused by axial ligand binding to the cobalt center ([Co(TPP)(L)]) . Remarkably, encapsulation of Co−G led to a three times more active catalyst than [Co(TPP)] (TOF_ini) and a substantially increased TON compared to both [Co(TPP)] and free Co−G . The increased local concentration of the substrates in the hydrophobic cage compared to the bulk explains the observed higher catalytic activities.     

Cu–iminopyridine complexes as catalysts for carbene and nitrene transfer reactions

Copper complexes with chiral iminopyridine ligands were screened for their catalytic efficiency in carbene (cyclopropanation) and nitrene transfer reactions (aziridination, C? H amidation). Both pre‐formed and in situ formed complexes were considered. The results highlighted the poor catalytic efficiency of these complexes in cyclopropanation reactions employing methyl phenyldiazoacetate as the carbene source, whereas better results were obtained in nitrene transfer reactions, particularly in the amidation of C? H bonds, albeit the enantioselectivity of the reactions was negligible in nearly all cases. Finally, copper complexes were also found to promote an interesting oxidative functionalization of alkynes with PhI(OAc)₂ at room temperature. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure of a Reactive Gold Carbenoid

A formal gold‐for‐chromium transmetalation allowed the gold carbenoid species [Cy₃PAuCAr₂]NTf₂ ( 11 ) (Ar=pMeOC₆H₄‐) to be obtained in crystalline form. The structure in the solid state suggests that there is only little back donation of electron density from gold to the carbene center of 11 and hence very modest Au? C double‐bond character; rather, it is the organic ligand framework that is responsible for stabilizing this species by resonance delocalization of the accumulated positive charge. Because 11 is capable of cyclopropanating p‐methoxystyrene even at low temperature, the discussion of its structure is deemed relevant for a better understanding of the mechanisms of π‐acid catalysis in general.     

Carbenes,related intermediates,and small-sized cycles: contribution from Professor Nefedov’s laboratory

The review summarizes some of the most prominent results obtained in the laboratory headed by Academician Oleg M. Nefedov at the N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the field of chemistry of carbenes, their heavy analogs, and related intermediates, as well as small-sized cycles. Those include elaboration of safe methodology of cyclopropanation using diazomethane, development and extension of synthetic applications of diazoesters and other diazo compounds in the preparation of valuable chemical products, design of functionalized alkynylcyclopropanes on the basis of alkynylcarbene reactions, creation of versatile synthetic approaches to preparation of various practically useful fluoroorganic compounds on the basis of reactions of fluorocarbenes, development of synthetic applications of heavy carbene analogs and synthesis of small-sized heterocycles containing silicon and germanium atoms, analysis of mechanisms of some important reactions of carbenes, their analogs and related intermediates on the basis of physicochemical studies, direct spectroscopic studies of various labile intermediates of chemical reactions.     

Direct Cyclopropanation of α-Cyano β-Aryl Alkanes by Light-Mediated Single Electron Transfer Between Donor–Acceptor Pairs

Cyclopropanes are traditionally prepared by the formal [2+1] addition of carbene or radical based C1 units to alkenes. In contrast, the one-pot intermolecular cyclopropanation of alkanes by redox active C1 units has remained unrealised. Herein, we achieved this process simply by exposing β-aryl propionitriles and C1 radical precursors (N-oxy esters) to base and blue light. The overall process is redox-neutral and a photocatalyst, whether metal- or organic-based, is not required. Our findings support that single electron transfer (SET) from the α-cyano carbanion of the propionitrile to the N-oxy ester is facilitated by blue-light via their electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complex. The α-cyano carbon radical thus formed can then lose a β-proton to form a π-resonance stabilised radical anion that preferentially couples at the benzylic β-position with a decarboxylated C1 radical unit. This new transition metal-free chemistry tolerates both electron rich and electron deficient (hetero)aryl systems, even sulfide or alkene functionality, to afford a range of cis-aryl/cyano cyclopropanes bearing congested tetrasubstituted quaternary carbons.     

手性铁催化体系在不对称催化中的应用研究

本文介绍了手性铁催化体系在酮及亚胺的不对称还原、烯烃及硫醚的不对称氧化、不对称环加成、不对称环丙烷化以及不对称Friedel-Crafts烷基化等反应中的应用.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Styrenes with Aryl Methyl Ketones in Ionic Liquids: Direct Access to Cyclopropanes

The combined use of Pd(OAc)₂, Cu(OAc)₂, and dioxygen in molten tetrabutylammonium acetate (TBAA) promotes an unusual cyclopropanation reaction between aryl methyl ketones and styrenes. The process is a dehydrogenative cyclizing coupling that involves a twofold C? H activation at the α‐position of the ketone. The substrate scope highlights the flexibility of the catalyst; a reaction mechanism is also proposed.