Synthesis of α‐(Fluorophenyl)pyridine by Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reaction

A series of α‐(fluoro‐substituted phenyl)pyridines have been synthesized by means of a palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction between fluoro‐substituted phenylboronic acid and 2‐bromopyridine or its derivatives. The reactivities of the phenylboronic acids containing di‐ and tri‐fluoro substituents with α‐pyridyl bromide were investigated in different catalyst systems. Unsuccessful results were observed in the Pd/C and PPh₃ catalyst system due to phenylboronic acid containing electron‐withdrawing F atom(s). For the catalyst system of Pd(OAc)₂/PPh₃, the reactions gave moderate yields of 55% –80%, meanwhile, affording 10% –20% of dimerisation (self‐coupling) by‐products, but trace products were obtained in coupling with 2,4‐difluorophenylboronic acids because of steric hinderance. Pd(PPh₃)₄ was more reactive for boronic acids with sterically hindering F atom(s), and the coupling reactions gave good yields of 90% and 91% without any self‐coupling by‐product.     

Enantiospecific sp2–sp3 Coupling of ortho‐ and para‐Phenols with Secondary and Tertiary Boronic Esters

The coupling of ortho ‐ and para ‐phenols with secondary and tertiary boronic esters has been explored. In the case of para ‐substituted phenols, after reaction of a dilithio phenolate species with a boronic ester, treatment with Ph₃BiF₂ or Martin's sulfurane gave the coupled product with complete enantiospecificity. The methodology was applied to the synthesis of the broad spectrum antibacterial natural product (−)‐4‐(1,5‐dimethylhex‐4‐enyl)‐2‐methyl phenol. For ortho ‐substituted phenols, initial incorporation of a benzotriazole on the phenol oxygen atom was required. Subsequent ortho ‐lithiation and borylation gave the coupled product, again with complete stereospecificity.     

A comparative experimental and theoretical investigation of hydrogen‐bond,halogen‐bond and π–π interactions in the solid‐state supramolecular assembly of 2‐ and 4‐formylphenyl arylsulfonates

To explore the operational role of noncovalent interactions in supramolecular architectures with designed topologies, a series of solid‐state structures of 2‐ and 4‐formylphenyl 4‐substituted benzenesulfonates was investigated. The compounds are 2‐formylphenyl 4‐methylbenzenesulfonate, C₁₄H₁₂O₄S, 3a , 2‐formylphenyl 4‐chlorobenzenesulfonate, C₁₃H₉ClO₄S, 3b , 2‐formylphenyl 4‐bromobenzenesulfonate, C₁₃H₉BrO₄S, 3c , 4‐formylphenyl 4‐methylbenzenesulfonate, C₁₄H₁₂O₄S, 4a , 4‐formylphenyl 4‐chlorobenzenesulfonate, 4b , C₁₃H₉ClO₄S, and 4‐formylphenyl 4‐bromobenzenesulfonate, C₁₃H₉BrO₄S, 4c . The title compounds were synthesized under basic conditions from salicylaldehyde/4‐hydroxybenzaldehydes and various aryl sulfonyl chlorides. Remarkably, halogen‐bonding interactions are found to be important to rationalize the solid‐state crystal structures. In particular, the formation of O…X (X = Cl and Br) and type I X…X halogen‐bonding interactions have been analyzed by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations and characterized using Bader's theory of `atoms in molecules' and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surfaces, confirming the relevance and stabilizing nature of these interactions. They have been compared to antiparallel π‐stacking interactions that are formed between the arylsulfonates.     

Cyclization of Homopropargyl Chalcogenides by Copper(II) Salts: Selective Synthesis of 2,3‐Dihydroselenophenes, 3‐Arylselenophenes,and 3‐Haloselenophenes/thiophenes

Copper(II) halide mediated cyclization of homopropargyl chalcogenides gave three types of chalcogenophene derivatives. Selective product formation was achieved by controlling solvent, temperature, and atmosphere. By using CuBr₂ and 1,2‐dichloroethane at room temperature under ambient atmosphere, 4‐bromo dihydroselenophene derivatives were obtained, whereas CuBr₂ and 1,2‐dichloroethane at reflux gave selectively 2‐substituted selenophenes. When 1,2‐dichloroethane was replaced by dimethylacetamide, 3‐halo‐selenophenes were obtained exclusively. The versatility of chalcogenophenes was also studied by reaction of 3‐haloselenophenes with terminal alkynes under Sonogashira conditions affording the cross‐coupled products. In addition, the reaction of 3‐haloselenophenes with boronic acids gave the corresponding Suzuki‐type products in good yields.     

Boronic Acids as Bioorthogonal Probes for Site‐Selective Labeling of Proteins

Over the past two decades, bioorthogonal chemistry has become a preferred tool to achieve site‐selective modifications of proteins. However, there are only a handful of commonly applied bioorthogonal reactions and they display some limitations, such as slow rates, use of unstable or cytotoxic reagents, and side reactions. Hence, there is significant interest in expanding the bioorthogonal chemistry toolbox. In this regard, boronic acids have recently been introduced in bioorthogonal chemistry and are exploited in three different strategies: 1) boronic ester formation between a boronic acid and a 1,2‐cis diol; 2) iminoboronate formation between 2‐acetyl/formyl‐arylboronic acids and hydrazine/hydroxylamine/semicarbazide derivatives; 3) use of boronic acids as transient groups in a Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling or other reactions that leave the boronyl group off the conjugation product. In this Review, we summarize progress made in the use of boronic acids in bioorthogonal chemistry to enable site‐selective labeling of proteins and compare these methods with the most commonly utilized bioorthogonal reactions.     

Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Arylated Pyrrolo[2,1‐a]Isoquinoline Derivatives via Sequential [3 + 2] Cycloadditions and Suzuki‐Miyaura Cross‐Couplings in Aqueous Medium

Treatment of 5‐bromo‐2‐(bromoacetyl)thiophene ( 1 ) with isoquinoline gave the isoquinolinium bromide 2 . Reaction of 2 with acrylic acid derivatives, in the presence of MnO₂, afforded the 3‐[(5‐bromothiophen‐2‐ylcarbonyl]pyrrolo[2,1‐a]‐isoquinolines 3a , 3b . Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions of the bromides 3a , 3b in aqueous solvent with several activated and deactivated aryl(hetaryl)boronic acids 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f using a Pd(II)‐complex under thermal heating as well as microwave‐irradiating conditions afforded the corresponding new arylated pyrrolo[2,1‐a]isoquinoline derivatives 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 in high to excellent isolated yields.     

Facile Synthesis of 2‐Alkylthio‐3‐alkyl‐5‐phenylmethylidene‐4H‐imidazol‐4‐ones

2‐Alkylthio‐3‐alkyl‐5‐phenylmethylidene‐4H‐imidazol‐4‐ones 6 were synthesized by N‐alkylation and S‐alkylation of 2‐thioxo‐5‐phenylmethylidene‐4‐imidazolidinone 5, which was obtained via cyclization of vinyl isothiocyanate 4 with excess ammonium hydroxide (28% NH₃ in water).     

Copper(I) 3-Methylsalicylate Mediates the Chan–Lam N-Arylation of Heterocycles

Copper(I) 3-methylsalicylate (CuMeSal) mediates N-arylation reactions between aryl boronic acids and aromatic heterocycles (Chan–Lam coupling) under moderate reaction conditions (K₂CO₃, methanol, 65 °C, in air, 3–5 h). Both electron-rich and electron-deficient aryl boronic acids and a diverse set of N-heterocycles were allowed to react and gave N-arylation products in reasonable yields, which demonstrate the utility of this catalyst.     

Preparation of poly(p‐oxybenzoyl) crystals using direct polymerization of p‐hydroxybenzoic acid in the presence of boronic anhydrides

Poly(p‐oxybenzoyl) (POB) crystals were prepared by reaction‐induced crystallization during direct polymerization of p‐hydroxybenzoic acid in the presence of boronic anhydrides. Polymerizations were carried out at 300 °C in dibenzyltoluene at a concentration of 1% with three kinds of anhydrides of boronic acid such as 3,4,5‐trifluorophenylboronic acid (TFB), 4‐methoxyphenylboronic acid (MPB) and 4‐biphenylboronic acid (BPB). The POB crystals were formed as precipitates in the solution and the morphology was considerably influenced by both the structure of the boronic anhydride and its concentration (c_B). Needle‐like crystals were firmed in the presence of TFB anhydride (TFBA) at c_Bs of 5 and 10 mol % by the spiral growth of lamellae. Spherical aggregates of slab‐like crystals were formed at c_Bs from 50 to 100 mol %. The polymerization with MPB anhydride and BPB anhydride (BPBA) also yielded the needle‐like crystals at c_Bs of 50 and 5 mol %, respectively. The polymerization with TFBA at lower c_B was favorable to prepare the needle‐like crystal. Molecular weight was also influenced by the structure of the boronic anhydride and c_B. M_n increased generally with c_B and BPBA gave the highest M_n of 14.7 × 10³ at c_B of 100 mol %. The loose packing of the molecules in the crystal caused by the bulkiness of the end‐groups made the polymerization in the crystals more efficiently. Morphology and molecular weight of the POB crystals could be controlled by the chemical structure and the content of boronic anhydride. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Redox‐Active Esters with Boronic Acids

A transformation analogous in simplicity and functional group tolerance to the venerable Suzuki cross‐coupling between alkyl‐carboxylic acids and boronic acids is described. This Ni‐catalyzed reaction relies upon the activation of alkyl carboxylic acids as their redox‐active ester derivatives, specifically N‐hydroxy‐tetrachlorophthalimide (TCNHPI), and proceeds in a practical and scalable fashion. The inexpensive nature of the reaction components (NiCl₂?6 H₂O—$9.5 mol^?1, Et₃N) coupled to the virtually unlimited commercial catalog of available starting materials bodes well for its rapid adoption.     

2‐(6‐Bromopyridin‐3‐yl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolane and (6‐bromopyridin‐3‐yl)boronic acid,new bifunctional building blocks for combinatorial chemistry

The first comparative study between two new heterocyclic boron derivatives, viz. a (6‐bromo­pyridin‐3‐yl)­boronic ester, C₁₁H₁₅BBrNO₂, and (6‐bromo­pyridin‐3‐yl)­boronic acid, C₅H₅BBrNO₂, shows a small but not significant difference in their C—B bond lengths, which cannot explain the experimentally observed difference in their stabilities. The crystal packing of the boronic ester consists principally of van der Waals interactions, while the boronic acid mol­ecules interact in their crystal through hydrogen bonds.     

Chelation‐Assisted Cross‐Coupling of Anilines through In Situ Activation as Diazonium Salts with Boronic Acids under Ligand‐, Base‐, and Salt‐Free Conditions

We describe the coupling of anilines with aryl boronic acids, under ligand‐, base‐, and salt‐free conditions at room temperature. This new reaction proceeds through the formation of an aryl palladium alkoxo complex, which allows the transmetalation step with aryl boronic acids without any external base. Importantly, this sustainable procedure generates only environmentally friendly byproducts such as tBuOH, H₂O, N₂, and B(OH)₃. The reaction mechanism has been deeply investigated through experimental and theoretical studies.     

Facile and Versatile Synthesis of End‐Functionalized Poly(phenylacetylene)s: A Multicomponent Catalytic System for Well‐Controlled Living Polymerization of Phenylacetylenes

A rhodium‐based multicomponent catalytic system for well‐controlled living polymerization of phenylacetylenes has been developed. The catalytic system is composed of readily available and bench‐stable [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂, aryl boronic acid derivatives, diphenylacetylene, 50 % aqueous KOH, and PPh₃. This system offers a method for the facile and versatile synthesis of various end‐functionalized cis‐stereoregular poly(phenylacetylene)s because components from aryl boronic acids and diphenylacetylene were introduced to the initiating end of the polymers. The polymerization reaction shows a typical living nature with a high initiation efficiency, and the molecular weight of the resulting poly(phenylacetylene)s can be readily controlled with very narrow molecular‐weight distributions (M_w/M_n=1.02–1.09). The experimental results suggest that the present catalytic system has a higher polymerization activity than the polymerization activities of other rhodium‐based catalytic systems previously reported.     

Hydrogen Peroxide-Responsive Triggers Based on Borinic Acids: Molecular Insights into the Control of Oxidative Rearrangement

Arylborinic acids represent new, efficient, and underexplored hydrogen peroxide-responsive triggers. In contrast to boronic acids, two concomitant oxidative rearrangements are involved in the complete oxidation of these species, which might represent a major limitation for an efficient effector (drug or fluorophore) release. Herein, a comprehensive study of H₂O₂-mediated unsymmetrical arylborinic acid oxidation to investigate the factors that could selectively guide their oxidative rearrangement is described. The o-CF₃ substituent was found to be an excellent directing group allowing a complete regioselectivity on borinic acid models. This result was successfully applied to synthesizing new borinic acid-based fluorogenic probes, which exclusively release the fluorescent moiety upon H₂O₂ treatment. These compounds maintained their superior kinetic properties compared to boronic acids, thus further enhancing the potential of arylborinic acids as valuable new H₂O₂-sensitive triggers.     

Boronic Acid Catalysis for Mild and Selective [3+2] Dipolar Cycloadditions to Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids

Herein, the concept of boronic acid catalysis (BAC) for the activation of unsaturated carboxylic acids is applied in several classic dipolar [3+2] cycloadditions involving azides, nitrile oxides, and nitrones as partners. These cycloadditions can be used to produce pharmaceutically interesting, small heterocyclic products, such as triazoles, isoxazoles, and isoxazolidines. These cycloadducts are formed directly and include a free carboxylic acid functionality that can be employed for further transformations, thereby avoiding prior masking or functionalization. In all cases, BAC provides faster reactions, under milder conditions, with much improved product yields and regioselectivities. In some instances, such as triazole formation from the reaction of azides with 2‐alkynoic acids, catalysis with ortho‐nitrophenylboronic acid circumvents the undesirable product decarboxylation observed when using thermal activation. By using NMR spectroscopic studies, the boronic acid catalyst was shown to provide activation by a LUMO‐lowering effect in the unsaturated carboxylic acid, likely via a monoacylated hemiboronic ester intermediate.     

Synthesis of Benzo‐ and Naphthoquinonyl Boronic Acids: Exploring the Diels–Alder Reactivity

Substituted 2‐quinonyl boronic acids have been synthesised from 1,4‐dimethoxy aromatic derivatives in two steps: regiocontrolled boronation and oxidative demethylation. The study of their dienophilic behaviour evidenced that the boron substituent significantly increases the reactivity and triggers an efficient domino process in which the Diels–Alder reaction was followed by a protodeboronation or dehydroboronation, depending on the substitution on both the quinone and diene partners. The boronic acid acts as a temporary controller, opening a direct access to trans‐fused meta‐regiosomeric adducts when 3‐methyl‐substituted 2‐quinonyl boronic acids react with dienes with a substituent at C‐1. A particularly valuable synthetic result was obtained in the reaction between 3,6‐dimethyl‐2‐quinonyl boronic acid and piperylene under an oxygen atmosphere; trans‐fused 8a‐hydroxy‐2,4a,8‐trimethyl tetrahydronaphthoquinone was formed directly, in excellent yield and in a highly diastereoselective manner.     

Two closely related {4‐[(N‐substituted amino)(diethoxyphosphoryl)methyl]phenyl}boronic acids

Organic phosphonic acids and organic phosphonic acid esters have been of much interest due to their applications in the fields of medicine, agriculture and industrial chemistry. Boronic acids can act as synthetic intermediates and building blocks and are used in sensing, protein manipulation, therapeutics, biological labelling and separation. The additional introduction of an aminophosphonic acid group into a boronic acid may give new opportunities for application. To study the structure of such multifunctional compounds, we prepared two new derivatives which can be easily converted to the corresponding phosphonic acids. In the title compounds, {4‐[(butylamino)(diethoxyphosphoryl)methyl]phenyl}boronic acid monohydrate, C₁₅H₂₇BNO₅P·H₂O, (I), and {4‐[(diethoxyphosphoryl)(4‐nitroanilino)methyl]phenyl}boronic acid, C₁₇H₂₂BN₂O₇P, (II), three different substituents are attached to a central C—H group, namely 4‐boronophenyl, diethoxyphosphoryl and amine. Compound (I) crystallizes as a monohydrate and O_B—H…N hydrogen bonds link neighbouring molecules into chains along the [001] direction. The solvent water molecule connects two such chains running in opposite directions. Compound (II) crystallizes as an ansolvate and classical hydrogen bonds result in a layer structure in the (001) plane.     

Alkaloids of the flora of Siberia and Altai: XX. Synthesis of 5-aryl(hetaryl)-substituted anthranilic acid esters

Cross-coupling of methyl 2-acetylamino-5-bromobenzoate and 5′-bromolappaconitine with aryl-, furyl-, pyridyl-, and 5-acetylthiophen-2-ylboronic acids or 1-(2-fluoroquinolin-3-yl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane gave the corresponding 5-aryl(hetaryl)-substituted anthranilic acid derivatives. The use of the two-phase toluene-water system as reaction medium and addition of tetrabutylammonium bromide allows the cross-coupling to be accomplished under mild conditions. The catalytic system Pd(dba)₂-AsPh₃ was found to be efficient in the cross-coupling of methyl 2-acetylamino-5-bromobenzoate with furyl- and pyridylboronic acids, whereas the system Pd(OAc)₂-(o-Tol)₃P ensured good results in the reactions of 5′-bromolappaconitine with hetarylboronic acids. Facile esterification at the C⁸-OH and C⁹-OH groups of the aconitane skeleton was observed in the reactions of 5′-bromolappaconitine and 5′-phenyllappaconitine with phenylboronic acid. 5′-Bromo-8,9-O-(phenylboranediyl)lappaconitine under the Suzuki reaction conditions underwent hydrolysis of the boronic ester moiety with formation of the cross-coupling product of 5′-bromolappaconitine with phenylboronic acid.     

Potential Anti‐Inflammatory Activities of Bractelactone and other Compounds Isolated from Fissistigma bracteolatum

From the stems of Fissistigma bracteolatum, a novel natural product with an unprecedented skeleton, bractelactone ( 1 ), was isolated, together with four known compounds: piperolactam A ( 2 ), aristololactam BIII ( 3 ), aristololactam BII ( 4 ), and fissilandione ( 5 ). The structure of 1 was established on the basis of spectroscopic data as (3Z)‐6,7‐dihydroxy‐4‐methoxy‐3‐(phenylmethylidene)‐5‐(3‐phenylpropanoyl)‐1‐benzofuran‐2(3H)‐one. This compound may be derived from a hybrid of a chalcone and a cinnamic acid, or from a degradation product of a dichalcone. Compounds 1, 2 , and 5 showed inhibitory effects on NO generation by RAW264.7 macrophages in response to lipopolysaccharide. Compounds 2 and 5 showed inhibitory effects on formyl‐L ‐methionyl‐L ‐leucyl‐L ‐phenylalanine (fMLP)‐induced superoxide anion (O ) generation in human neutrophils.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Addition of Aryl Boronic Acids to 2,2‐Disubstituted Malononitriles

β‐Ketonitriles bearing a quaternary carbon at the 2‐position were prepared through Rh‐catalyzed addition of aryl boronic acids to 2,2‐disubstituted malononitriles. In contrast to the previously described transnitrilative cyanation of aryl boronic acids with dialkylmalononitriles, the present reaction avoids retro‐Thorpe collapse of the intermediate addition product through the use of a milder base. The reaction was amenable to a variety of aryl boronic acids and disubstituted malononitriles, providing a diverse array of β‐ketonitriles. The products could be further derivatized to valuable chiral α,α‐disubstituted‐β‐aminonitriles through addition reactions to the corresponding N ‐tert ‐butanesulfinyl imines.