Convenient preparation of tert-butyl esters

A general method is presented for the preparation of tert-butyl esters by the gentle warming of the carboxylic acid in the presence of excess of tert-butyl acetoacetate and a catalytic amount of acid. This method generates only low pressures, and is therefore suitable for laboratory scale pressure glassware.     

New synthesis of tert-butyl peroxycarboxylates

tert-Butyl peroxyacetate, tert-butyl peroxybutyrate, tert-butyl phenylperoxyacetate, and tert-butyl peroxyundecanoate were obtained in nearly quantitative yields by the esterification of the corresponding carboxylic acids with tert-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of trifluoroacetic anhydride and pyridine in nonaqueous medium at 0–5°C. No tert-butyl peroxytrifluoroacetate was formed as a by-product during the process. A possible reaction mechanism is discussed.     

A fast and practical synthesis of tert-butyl esters from 2-tert-butoxypyridine using boron trifluoride·diethyl etherate under mild conditions

A practical direct preparation of tert-butyl esters from 2-tert-butoxypyridine has been developed. This system features the use of boron trifluoride·diethyl etherate in toluene solvent to rapidly achieve the reaction at room temperature. Using this reaction protocol, a variety of tert-butyl esters were synthesized from several different carboxylic acids at high yields. This practical procedure provides a promising and effective approach to the protection of carboxylic acids with a tert-butyl group.     

Copper(II) tetrafluoroborate as a novel and highly efficient catalyst for N-tert-butoxycarbonylation of amines under solvent-free conditions at room temperature

Commercially available copper(II) tetrafluoroborate hydrate was found to be a highly efficient catalyst for chemoselective N-tert-butoxycarbonylation of amines with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate under solvent-free conditions and at room temperature. Various aromatic amines were protected as their N-tert-butyl carbamates in high yields and in short times. No competitive side reactions such as isocyanate, urea, and N,N-di-t-Boc formation was observed. Chemoselective N-tert-butoxycarbonylation was achieved with substrates bearing OH and SH groups. Chiral α-amino acid esters afforded the corresponding N-t-Boc derivatives in excellent yields.     

Di-tert-butyl dicarbonate: a versatile carboxylating reagent

Carbon nucleophiles generated by a non-nucleophilic base (LDA) were effectively trapped with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (Boc-anhydride) to provide the corresponding tert-butyl aryl acetates, di-tert-butyl aryl malonates, unsymmetrical aryl malonates and tert-butyl benzoates in high yields. This reaction represents another useful way to prepare a variety of tert-butyl carboxylates and highlights the synthetic utility of di-tert-butyl dicarbonate as a versatile carboxylating reagent.     

An efficient synthesis of tert-butyl ethers/esters of alcohols/amino acids using methyl tert-butyl ether

A facile synthesis of a wide variety of tert-butyl ethers and tert-butyl ester derivatives under mild conditions is described. Alcohols etherified with tert-butyl methyl ether as tert-butyl source and solvent, in the presence of sulfuric acid. Many amino acid tert-butyl esters have been synthesized by this procedure. The reaction is simple, inexpensive, easily scaled up, and proceeds without observable racemization. A green method was developed for the deprotection of this group using Amberlite resin IR 120-H as catalyst.     

Chemoselective hydrolysis of tert-butyl esters in acetonitrile using molecular iodine as a mild and efficient catalyst

A simple, mild and efficient method for the hydrolysis of tert-butyl esters using molecular iodine as a catalyst is described. Acid labile protecting groups, such as N-Boc, OBn, OAc and double bonds, are compatible under the reaction conditions.     

A synthesis of bicyclo[n.1.0]alkanes having tert-butyl carboxylate or acetamide moiety via the intramolecular 1,3-CH insertion of magnesium carbenoids

Treatment of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, derived from various cyclic ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with lithium enolate of carboxylic acid tert-butyl esters or N,N-dimethylacetamide gave adducts in high yields. The adducts were treated with ether solution of isopropylmagnesium chloride in dry toluene to give bicyclo[n.1.0]alkane derivatives having tert-butyl carboxylate or acetamide moiety on the bridgehead carbon in high to quantitative yields via magnesium carbenoid 1,3-CH insertion reaction. The 1,3-CH insertion reaction proved to be regioselective and stereospecific. The reaction mechanism and origin of the selectivity and specificity are discussed.     

Reaction between tert-butyl isocyanide, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, and aromatic carboxylic acids: an efficient method for the synthesis of dialkyl (E)-2-{[benzoyl(tert-butyl)amino]carbonyl}-2-butenedioate derivatives

Protonation of the reactive intermediates produced in the reaction between tert-butyl isocyanide and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates by aromatic carboxylic acids leads to vinylnitrilium cations, which undergo nucleophilic reaction with conjugate bases of the carboxylic acids to produce dialkyl (E)-2-[(benzoyloxy)(tert-butylimino)methyl]-2-butenedioates and this intermediate rearranges to the dialkyl (E)-2-{[benzoyl(tert-butyl)amino]carbonyl}-2-butenedioate derivatives.     

Transition metal free oxidative esterification of alcohols with toluene

Using Bu₄NI as the catalyst and tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidant, direct esterification of alcohols with toluene derivatives was achieved. Mechanistic investigations indicate that the alcohols are sequentially oxidized to aldehydes, carboxylic acids, and then to benzyl esters. Bu₄N⁺ functions as a phasetransfer reagent and iodide catalyzes the reaction.     

Transition metal free one pot synthesis of aryl carboxylic acids via dehomologative oxidation of styrenes

Iodine/NaOH-catalyzed one-pot dehomologative oxidation of styrenes to aryl carboxylic acids has been reported. A wide range of carboxylic acids are obtained using iodine (I₂) as a catalyst, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as a base. This reliable conversion involves dehomologation of styrene to aromatic aldehyde which on subsequent oxidation affords aryl carboxylic acid. This protocol was used for gram-scale synthesis as it is free from chromatographic purification. This is the first report for the oxidative transformation of styrenes into aryl carboxylic acids under transition metal-free conditions.     

Efficient cleavage of carboxylic tert-butyl and 1-adamantyl esters, and N-Boc-amines using H2SO4 in CH2Cl2

A new procedure for the deprotection of carboxylic tert-butyl and 1-adamantyl esters, and N-Boc-amines using H₂SO₄ in CH₂Cl₂ is described. The proposed method is simple, cheap, eco-friendly and represents a valid alternative to existing ones, with special significance in large scale applications.     

Boron trichloride as an efficient and selective agent for deprotection of tert-butyl aryl sulfonamides

A fast, mild and selective method for deprotection of tert-butyl aryl sulfonamides utilizing BCl₃ as deprotection reagent has been developed. A variety of tert-butyl aryl sulfonamides used under these conditions gave the corresponding primary sulfonamides in high yields. The method does not cleave methoxy groups and prevents incorporation of tert-butyl groups onto electron-rich aromatic rings.     

Bismuth-catalyzed allylic oxidation using t-butyl hydroperoxide

Bismuth(III) salts are efficient catalysts for the selective allylic oxidation using tert-butyl hydroperoxide. BiCl₃ is especially effective and can be easily recovered and reused as BiOCl. Using BiCl₃/K-10 as catalyst, an increase in the reaction rate was observed.     

Hydroxylamines and sulfinamide as amine components in the Petasis boronic acid-Mannich reaction: synthesis of N-hydroxy or alkoxy-α-aminocarboxylicacids and N-(tert-butyl sulfinyl)-α-amino carboxylicacids

An efficient synthesis of N-hydroxy or alkoxy-α-aminocarboxylic acids and N-(tert-butyl sulfinyl)-α-amino carboxylic acids has been developed from N,O-alkyl or hydroxylamines and tert-butyl sulfinamide utilizing a Petasis boronic acid-Mannich reaction. The scope and limitations of this method have been examined.     

An efficient method for the conversion of aromatic and aliphatic nitriles to the corresponding N-tert-butyl amides: a modified Ritter reaction

Aromatic and aliphatic nitriles react with tert-butyl acetate in the presence of a catalytic amount of sulfuric acid to give the corresponding N-tert-butyl amides in excellent yields.     

Oxidation of β-dicarbonyl compounds with tert-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of vanadyl acetylacetonate

Oxidation of β-dicarbonyl compounds with tert-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of vanadyl acetylacetonate (benzene, 20°C) involves the activated methylene group with intermediate formation of trioxo derivatives and is accompanied by decomposition of carbon skeleton. The oxidation products are carbon dioxide, carboxylic acids, and tert-butyl and peroxy esters derived from the latter.     

Synthesis of tertiary-butyl acrylate polymers and preparation of diblock copolymers using atom transfer radical polymerization

The synthesis of tert-butyl acrylate by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is reported. This polymer was prepared using FeCl₂ · 4H₂O(PPh₃)₂ catalyst system in conjunction with methyl 2-bromopropionate as initiator, in bulk and in solution using acetone as a solvent. The addition of solvent was necessary in order to decrease the polymerization rate and to afford low polydispersity polymers. The number-average molecular weights of the resulting polymers increased in direct proportion to the monomer conversion, and the polydispersities (M_w/M_n) were as low as 1.2. In addition, the preparation of an AB diblock copolymer of poly (n-butyl methacrylate)-block-poly (tert-butyl acrylate) by ATRP is reported. The resulting polymers and copolymers were characterized by means of size exclusion chromatography and ¹H-NMR Spectroscopy.     

Homo and block copolymers of tert-butyl methacrylate by atom transfer radical polymerization

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of tert-butyl methacrylate (tBMA) was investigated using cuprous bromide with different ligands, solvents, deactivators, etc. The polymerization in bulk and diphenyl ether solvent system performed using Cu(I)Br complexed with N, N, N′, N″, N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) catalyst in conjunction with 2-bromopropionitrile as an initiator at room temperature showed a curvature in the first-order kinetic plot. The controlled polymerization in methanol solution resulted in slower rate of polymerization and lower molecular weights. Well-defined diblock copolymers of PSt-b-PtBMA synthesized by polystyrene bromo macroinitiator (PSt-Br) with Cu(I)Cl/PMDETA catalyst system yielded predetermined molecular weights and lower polydispersities. Otherwise, the Cu(I)Br/PMDETA catalytic system showed an inefficient polymerization of tert-butyl methacrylate with lower molecular weights and higher polydispersities. Subsequent hydrolysis of the homopolymer refluxed in dioxane with addition of HCl afforded well-defined poly(methacrylic acid).     

Asymmetric addition of trimethylsilylcyanide to N-benzylimines catalyzed by recyclable chiral dimeric V(V) salen complex

Chiral dimeric vanadium (V) salen complex (10 mol%) derived from 5,5-Methylene di-[(S,S)-{N-(3-tert-butyl salicylidine)-N′-(3′,5′-di-tert-butyl salicylidene)]-1,2-cyclohexanediamine] with vanadyl suphate followed by auto oxidation was used as efficient catalyst for enantioselective Strecker reaction of N-benzylimines with TMSCN at −30 °C. Excellent yield (92%) of α-aminonitrile and high chiral induction was achieved (ee up to 94%) in case of 2-methoxy substituted N-benzylimines in 10 h. The catalytic system worked well up to four cycles with retention of enantioselectivity.