Chemoselective reduction of β-butyltellanyl α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to allylic alcohols

(Z)-β-Butyltellanyl α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds were stereoselectively produced by hydrotelluration of alkynones or by an addition/elimination sequence from enol tosylates. The β-butyltellanyl-enones were chemoselectively reduced with NaBH₄/MeOH, NaBH₄·CeCl₃·7H₂O/MeOH and DIBAL-H systems to the corresponding allylic alcohols with retention of the Z stereochemistry.     

Detailed studies on the reduction of aliphatic 3-, 4-, 6-, and 13-oximino esters: Synthesis of novel isomeric amino esters,oximino alcohols,and amino alcohols

The preparation of novel 3-, 4-, 6-, and 13-amino-tetradecanoic acid methyl esters (2a–d) obtained by the reduction of 3-, 4-, 6-, and 13-oximino-tetradecanoic acid methyl esters (1a–d), was investigated. Oximino esters were reduced to afford the corresponding amino esters using NaBH₄–ZrCl₄ reducing system with good yields (58–82%). However, the reduction of oximino esters with LiAlH₄ and BH₃. Tetrahydrofuran gave the corresponding novel 3-, 4-, 6-, and 13-oximino alcohols (3a–d), and 3-, 4-, 6-, and 13-amino alcohols (4a–d) respectively with good chemical yields.     

Oxovanadium(V)-catalyzed enantioselective Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley cyanation of aldehydes using acetone cyanohydrin

Oxovanadium(V)(salen) complex 4 was found to catalyze Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley cyanation of aliphatic aldehydes with good to high enantioselectivity. This cyanation showed a positive nonlinear effect.     

2-Bromo-3,4,4-trichlorobut-3-enoates of certain natural alcohols, phenols, and oximes of carbonyl compounds

Previously undescribed 2-bromo-3,4,4-trichlorobut-3-enoates 1b-23b were synthesized in 84–91% yield from natural alcohols including terpenes and steroids, plant phenols, and oximes of natural carbonyl compounds 1a-23a by reaction of 2-bromo-3,4,4-trichlorobut-3-enoyl chloride in the presence of pyridine. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 212–215, May–June, 2006.     

Aerobic photocatalytic oxidation of activated benzylic and allylic alcohols to carbonyl compounds catalyzed by molecular iodine

An efficient, selective and environmentally benign photocatalytic system in acetonitrile has been developed for aerobic oxidation of activated benzylic and allylic alcohols into their corresponding aldehydes and ketones without the need for a transition metal in moderate to excellent yields with a catalytic amount of iodine. Very high inter- and intramolecular chemoselectivities are observed when benzylic OH groups are oxidized in the presence of aliphatic (nonbenzylic) hydroxyls.     

Reactions of 2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)oxirane with alcohols under phase transfer catalysis

It was demonstrated that the reaction of 2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)oxirane (1) with variety of alcohols could be successfully carried out under phase transfer catalysis conditions using sodium or potassium hydroxide as a base. For example, reaction of CH₃OH, C₂H₅OCH₂CH₂OH, HOCH₂CH₂OH with one or two moles of 1 in the presence of the catalyst [(C₄H₉)₄N⁺HSO₄⁻] gives the corresponding tertiary alcohols R[OCH₂C(CF₃)₂OH]_n (n=1 or 2) in 43-53% yield, along with some O[CH₂C(CF₃)₂OH]₂. Benzyl alcohol and phenol under similar conditions are less active, producing in the reaction with 1 the corresponding adducts ArOCH₂C(CF₃)₂OH in 31-35% yield. Fluorinated alcohols, such as CF₃CH₂OH, ClCF₂CH₂OH, HCF₂CF₂CH₂OH have much higher reactivity towards 1 giving ring opening products in 82-97% yield. Even in the reaction of hindered hexafluoro-iso-propanol the corresponding adduct was isolated in 43% yield. Surprisingly, the reaction of iso-propanol and epoxide 1, results in the formation of O[CH₂C(CF₃)₂OH]₂ as a major product, isolated in 56% yield. Possible mechanism for the formation of the last product was proposed.     

特种氧化铝负载氧化钛作为异丙醇还原肉桂醛的高性能催化剂

肉桂醇在香料、香精以及医药等诸多高端领域有着重要应用,常通过肉桂醛加氢法制备.由于热力学上肉桂醛中C=C–C=O官能团的C=C双键加氢比C=O双键更有优势,因此不管是从学术角度还是工业生产角度来看,高选择性还原C=O基团都是一项极具挑战的任务.肉桂醛加氢反应的副产物苯丙醛以及苯丙醇的生成不仅导致肉桂醇收率降低,而且大大增加分离纯化成本,因此设计并制备出有利于C=O官能团高选择性氢化的高效催化剂具有重要意义.Meer-wein-Ponndorf-Verley(MPV)反应以异丙醇为氢供体,是一种可选择加氢C=C–C=O中C=O官能团的反应.目前用于MPV还原的催化剂(均相或多相)在实际应用中通常选择性不高,使得目标产物得率低且分离成本高.本文报道了负载于一种特殊氧化铝表面的氧化钛催化剂(记为TiOx/γ-Al2O3-nt),其催化肉桂醛经MPV还原为肉桂醇的催化性能优异,表征结果发现该特殊氧化铝可导致表面氧化钛呈较高比例的低价钛物种高度分散状态,从而成为一种高效的肉桂醛MPV还原催化剂.TEM结果表明,这种特殊氧化铝和普通氧化铝在形貌上有很大差别,具有比较规整的一维纳米粒子形貌.综合XRD,TEM,Raman以及H/D同位素交换表征结果,可得到氧化钛高度分散在氧化铝表面的结论.原位XPS结果表明,Ti-Ox/γ-Al2O3-nt催化剂表面具有较高浓度的Ti(III)物种,而以普通氧化铝为载体的催化剂TiOx/γ-Al2O3-c在相同的还原条件下其表面Ti(Ⅲ)物种浓度较低,这种差异的来源是具有规整形貌的一维纳米氧化铝提供了更加均匀的表面位点使得表面高度分散的氧化钛容易被还原为低价态.NH3-TPD结果表明,TiOx/γ-Al2O3-nt催化剂具有高的L酸酸量.肉桂醛MPV还原反应结果显示,表面负载氧化钛的特殊氧化铝(TiOx/γ-Al2O3-nt)是一种非常高效的催化剂,具有很高的目标产物肉桂醇的选择性,几乎观察不到副产物的生成,多次套用实验结果也证实该催化剂具有良好的稳定性.该催化剂的高性能可归纳为以下两个方面的原因:一方面,L酸是MPV还原反应的活性中心,该催化剂具有高的L酸酸量,因此转化率高;另一方面,其表面较高浓度的Ti(III)物种可以使肉桂醛以垂直吸附模式(吸附终端为C=O)在催化剂表面吸附,这种吸附模式可以高选择性地还原为目标产物肉桂醇,因此同时具有很高的选择性.     

Polymer bromide-DMSO: novel reagent system for the oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds

A novel method for the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes is described using polymer bromide-DMSO at room temperature. The condition described enables clean and fast conversion to desired carbonyl compounds and a broad range of substrates are tolerated. The resin recovery and recyclability make the protocol more ecofriendly.     

N-tert-Butylbenzenesulfenamide-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds with N-chlorosuccinimide

N-tert-Butylbenzenesulfenamide (1)-catalyzed oxidation of various primary and secondary alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes and ketones was efficiently carried out by using N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) in the coexistence of potassium carbonate and molecular sieves 4 Å at easy-to-control temperatures ranging from 0°C to room temperature. The present catalytic oxidation was performed without giving any damage to the functional groups in alcohols, and was particularly effective in the oxidation of alcohols that formed labile aldehydes because of its mild reaction conditions. Further, selective oxidation of primary hydroxy groups took place in 1-catalyzed oxidation of several diols. Mechanistic investigation suggested that the chlorination of the sulfenamide 1 by NCS led to the formation of a key species, N-tert-butylbenzenesulfinimidoyl chloride (2), which in turn oxidized alcohols in the presence of potassium carbonate to afford carbonyl products by accompanying regeneration of the catalyst 1.     

Solvent free synthesis of trifluoromethyl tertiary alcohols by cross Aldol reaction

Exceedingly fast preparation of trifluoromethyl tertiary alcohols has been accomplished from methyl ketones and trifluoromethyl ketones under solvent free conditions by cross Aldol reaction. The reaction was achieved in the presence of common inorganic base by grinding method at ambient temperature to give β-trifluoromethyl-β-hydroxyl ketones in high yields (up to 95%).     

Catalytic silylation of secondary alcohols by pyridine N-oxide derivative

The reaction of t-butyldiphenylsilyl (TBDPS) chloride with secondary alcohols was catalyzed by pyrrolidinopyridine N-oxide (PPYO) in the presence of diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) at room temperature, giving the corresponding TBDPS ethers in high yields.     

Mechanism of photochemical reduction of chromium(VI) by alcohols and its environmental aspects

The idea of photochemical abatement of the Cr(VI) pollution has been verified by investigating the photoreduction mediated by aliphatic alcohols under conditions mimicking the environmental ones. Effects of the alcohol nature, pH and presence of oxygen are analysed. The time-resolved spectra are used to follow the generation of the transient chromium Cr(V), Cr(IV) and Cr(II) species and the R₁R₂CHOH√⁺ radicals. A direct interaction between chromate(VI) and an electron donor is a precondition of the photoreduction via the photoinduced electron transfer (PET). Two pathways of the PET are identified: one-electron transfer for intermolecular and two-electron transfer for the intramolecular systems. In the case of the alcohol mediators the option is pH-controlled.     

Reaction of allylic and benzylic alcohols and esters with PPh3/I2: one-pot synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated compounds

The treatment of tertiary and secondary allylic alcohols containing a terminal double bond, and their acetyl derivatives, with triphenylphosphine and iodine under mild conditions leads regiospecifically and in high stereoselectivity to the corresponding primary allylic iodides, which can react ‘in situ’ with diverse nucleophiles. Primary allylic alcohols and benzyl alcohols and acetates are also transformed into the corresponding iodides under these conditions.     

Expeditious oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds using iron(III) nitrate

An efficient and solvent-free protocol for the oxidation of alcohols to corresponding carbonyl compounds using iron(III) nitrate nonahydrate has been developed.     

Copper-catalyzed methyl esterification of aromatic aldehydes and benzoic alcohols by TBHP as both oxidant and methyl source

A copper-catalyzed synthesis of methyl esters from aromatic aldehydes in the presence of tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP) was developed via a radical reaction mechanism. TBHP acts not only as an efficient oxidant, but also as a green methyl source in such transformation. Moreover, this method could also be efficiently extended to the methyl esterification of benzylic alcohols.     

Photocatalytic reduction of fluoroalkyl-substituted alcohols activated by pentafluoropyridine

A new method for deoxygenation of fluoroalkyl-substituted alcohols involves derivatization of the hydroxy group with pentafluoropyridine followed by photoredox catalyzed reduction of the obtained hetaryl ethers using γ-terpinene as a source of hydrogen. The initial alcohols can be easily obtained by nucleophilic fluoroalkylation of the corresponding aldehydes.     

Regio- and stereoselective double alkylation of β-enamino esters with organolithium reagents followed by one-pot reduction: convenient method for the synthesis of tertiary γ-amino alcohols

An easy, high yielding and stereoselective procedure for the preparation of tertiary γ-amino alcohols starting from β-enamino esters is presented. In this procedure, the double alkylation of β-enamino esters with organolithium reagents is followed by one-pot reduction with sodium borohydride in methanol/acetic acid. A hypothesis of mechanism is given, explaining the observed diastereoselectivity through molecular modeling. The configuration of the products was determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy coupled with conformational analysis.     

Efficient method for the reduction of carbonyl compounds by triethylsilane catalyzed by PdCl2

The versatility of the palladium(II) chloride and triethylsilane system has been tested in the reduction of aromatic carbonyl compounds. The reaction takes place under mild conditions. This facile and efficient method affords high yields for the reduction of aldehydes and ketones to the corresponding alkanes.     

Synthesis of chiral 4-hydroxy-2,3-unsaturated carbonyl compounds from 3,4-epoxy alcohols by oxidation: application in the formal synthesis of macrosphelide A

An interesting transformation during the oxidation of 3,4-epoxy alcohols 1a-d, derived from the corresponding homoallylic alcohols, led to the formation of 4-hydroxy-2,3-unsaturated carbonyls 2a-d in very good yields. One of these products 2c was transformed into the functionalised carboxylic acid 5, an advanced stage intermediate from which the total synthesis of macrosphelide A has been reported.     

Generation of alkyl hypochlorites in oxidation of alcohols with carbon tetrachloride catalyzed by vanadium and manganese compounds

Primary alcohols and diols with various structures were subjected to transformations into esters, aldehydes, ketones, and lactones under the action of carbon tetrachloride in the presence of manganese compounds (MnCl₂, MnO₂, Mn(OAc)₂, Mn(acac)₃) and vanadium compounds (VCl₅, V₂O₅, VO(acac)₂) as catalysts. These transformation proceeded with the involvement of alkyl hypochlorites, which were generated in the course of oxidation of alcohols with carbon tetrachloride catalyzed by manganese or vanadium compounds. The optimum molar ratios between the catalyst and reagents were determined, and the reaction conditions for the highly selective synthesis of esters, aldehydes, ketones, and lactones from alcohols were found.