Highly regioselective Wittig reactions of cyclic ketones with a stabilized phosphorus ylide under controlled microwave heating

Significant base and temperature effects on the Wittig reactions of cyclohexanones with (carbethoxymethylene)triphenylphosphorane under microwave irradiation were observed. For the Wittig reactions carried out in a domestic microwave oven under solvent-free conditions, the initially formed exo-olefin products isomerized into the thermodynamically more stable endo-olefins due to uncontrolled high reaction temperature. In sharp contrast, under controlled microwave heating, both exo- and endo-olefins have been selectively synthesized by accurately regulating the reaction temperature with or without a base.     

Microwave-assisted deformylation of N-aryl formamide by KF on basic Al2O3

The formyl group was successfully removed from N-aryl formamide by KF on a solid support of basic Al₂O₃ in 4-20 min with microwave irradiation. The conditions mimic base-catalyzed hydrolysis of formamide and are compatible with carbamates and t-butyl esters, but not methyl, ethyl, and benzyl esters.     

Deoxyfluorination of alcohols using N,N-diethyl-α,α-difluoro-(m-methylbenzyl)amine

Deoxyfluorination of alcohols was carried out using N,N-diethyl-α,α-difluoro-(m-methylbenzyl)amine (DFMBA). Primary alcohols were effectively converted to fluorides under microwave irradiation or conventional heating. Deoxyfluorination of an anomeric hydroxy group in sugars by DFMBA proceeded at below room temperature and glycosyl fluorides could be obtained in good yields. The deoxyfluorination reaction chemoselectively proceeded and various protecting groups on the sugar can survive under the reaction conditions.     

Stille reaction over cis-halocyclohexadienediol derivatives

Stille reaction was performed with several halo cis-diol derivatives by reaction with allyltributyltin in the presence of a palladium catalyst forming allyl cis-dihydrodiol derivatives. These couplings were conducted with conventional heating as well as with microwave irradiation. Allylbenzene cis-dihydrodiol was obtained with excellent yield using mild conventional heating. However, if the diol moiety is protected with the isopropylidene group, the expected product is obtained only under microwave irradiation. The unusual reactivity observed for the polyoxygenated derivatives suggests assistance of the free hydroxyls in the catalytic cycle.     

Selective synthesis of fluorinated carbohydrates using N,N-diethyl-α,α-difluoro-(m-methylbenzyl)amine

Deoxyfluorination of a hydroxy group in carbohydrates was carried out using N,N-diethyl-α,α-difluoro-(m-methylbenzyl)amine. A primary hydroxy group in carbohydrates was effectively converted to the corresponding fluoride under microwave irradiation or at 100 °C. Deoxyfluorination of hydroxy groups at the anomeric position proceeded at below room temperature, and glycosyl fluorides could be obtained in good yields. The reaction chemoselectively proceeded, and various protecting groups of carbohydrates can survive under the reaction conditions.     

Poly(N-bromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide) and N,N,N′,N′-tetrabromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide as novel catalytic reagents for silylation of alcohols, phenols, and thiols using hexamethyldisilazane

Poly(N-bromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide) [PBBS] and N,N,N′,N′-tetrabromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide [TBBDA] are effective catalysts for the silylation of alcohols, phenols, and thiols in the presence of hexamethyldisilazane with, or without solvent, and also under microwave irradiation.     

A fast synthesis for Zintl phase compounds of Na3SbTe3, NaSbTe2 and K3SbTe3 by microwave irradiation

The microwave irradiation technique was used to prepare three Zintl phase compounds Na₃SbTe₃, NaSbTe₂ and K₃SbTe₃. The as-prepared products were analyzed and characterized by XRD, EDX and SEM techniques. Higher microwave oven power and shorter irradiation time are required for the synthesis of Na₃SbTe₃, whereas lower oven power and longer irradiation time are needed for NaSbTe₂. Moderate microwave irradiation conditions facilitate the formation of pure K₃SbTe₃. Pure phase of Na₃SbTe₃ are directly obtained by this technique for the first time. Compared with the traditional high-temperature solid-state synthesis, the microwave reaction required a considerable shortened reaction time for the preparation of the three Zintl compounds. The initial driving force for these reactions originates from the interaction of microwave electric field with alkali metals (Na and K) and Sb powders.     

Synthesis of gem-difluorides from aldehydes using DFMBA

Synthesis of gem-difluorides from aldehydes was effectively achieved using DFMBA and Et₃N-3HF under microwave irradiation or conventional thermal heating. Both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes could be converted to the corresponding gem-difluorides in good yields.     

Three practical approaches for the synthesis of novel 4,7-dihetarylpyrazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazines

Novel 4,7-dihetarylpyrazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazines were synthesized from three different approaches. The first one, involved a one-step reaction between 5-amino-3-hetaryl-1H-pyrazoles and O,S-diethyl hetaroylimidothiocarbonates or S,S-diethyl hetaroylimidodithiocarbonates under solvent-free conditions employing microwave irradiation as the energy source. In the second approach, conventional heating under reflux in DMF as solvent was used instead of the microwave irradiation; and the third one was achieved from a two-step sequence through the treatment of 5-amino-3-hetaryl-1H-pyrazoles with hetaroyl isothiocyanates and the subsequent S-alkylation and cyclization process in DMF as solvent. Some intermediates were isolated and characterized to support the regiochemistry of the studied reactions. The structures of the new compounds were unambiguously established by spectroscopic and analytical techniques.     

A synthetic route to 11-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline derivatives exploiting a three-component coupling strategy under microwave irradiation

11H-Indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-ones generated in situ from ninhydrin and various 1,2-phenylenediamines, catalysed by montmorillonite K10 under microwave irradiation, condense with 4-hydroxyproline to produce 11-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline derivatives in good yields.     

Microwave-assisted asymmetric ring opening of meso-epoxides with aromatic amines catalyzed by a Ti-S-(−)-BINOL complex

Catalytic asymmetric ring opening of cyclohexene oxide and meso-stilbene oxide with anilines was catalyzed by a Ti-(S)-(−)-BINOL complex to afford β-amino alcohols in high yield (up to 95%) and good enantioselectivities (ee up to 55%) under microwave irradiation. The reaction using a microwave was found to be 10 times faster than traditional oil-bath heating with retention of enantioselectivity.     

Solvent-free microwave activated three-component synthesis of thiazolo-s-triazine C-nucleosides

Novel three-component one-pot reactions of thiazole Schiff's bases, ammonium acetate and an aldose, under solvent-free microwave irradiation, expeditiously and diastereoselectively yield acyclic C-nucleosides incorporating the thiazolo-s-triazine structure as a nucleobase.     

Fast synthesis of temperature-sensitive PNIPAAm hydrogels by microwave irradiation

A novel method, microwave irradiation synthesis, is proposed for the preparation of thermo-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogels. The PNIPAAm hydrogels were separately synthesized by using microwave irradiation method and water-bath heating method. Chemical groups, lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and surface morphology of these PNIPAAm hydrogels were characterized by FT-IR, DSC and SEM. Swelling ratios of the gels were measured gravimetrically in the temperature range from 10.0 to 60.0 °C. Results showed that (1) the use of microwave irradiation can greatly shorten the reaction time required for PNIPAAm hydrogel synthesis from several hours to several minutes in comparison with water-bath heating method, and obviously improve the yields of the PNIPAAm gels, which were up to 99% after a short reaction time; (2) SEM micrographs and textural measurement revealed that the gels synthesized using microwave irradiation had more porous structure, and their average pore sizes and specific surface areas were larger than those of the gels synthesized using water-bath heating method; and (3) the PNIPAAm hydrogels synthesized using microwave irradiation had much higher swelling ratios at 10.0 °C below the LCST, and had lower swelling ratio at 60.0 °C above the LCST compared to the hydrogels synthesized by water-bath method.     

Synthesis of (Z)-1-bromo-1-alkenes and terminal alkynes from anti-2,3-dibromoalkanoic acids by microwave-induced reaction

(Z)-1-Bromo-1-alkenes were stereoselectively prepared in high yields in a short reaction time by microwave irradiation of the corresponding anti-2,3-dibromoalkanoic acids in a Et₃N/DMF system. A one-pot synthesis of terminal alkynes and enynes from 2,3-dibromoalkanoic acids were also developed by microwave-induced reaction.     

Thermal and microwave-assisted N-formylation using solid-supported reagents

A rapid and easy route to formamides by microwave assisted N-formylation of primary and secondary amines is described. Using an insoluble polymer or an inorganic solid-supported reagent as a formylating agent, microwave irradiation furnished the corresponding formamides in high yields, with reduced reaction time and solvent volume over the conventional approach.     

New and clean synthesis of N-substituted pyrroles under microwave irradiation

N-Substituted homochiral pyrrole derivatives were synthesized by the ring-closure reaction of cis-1,4-dichloro-2-butene with various amine compounds on a silica surface under microwave irradiation.     

Toward the controlled production of oligoesters by microwave-assisted degradation of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s

The degradation of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs) could be performed in a rapid, inexpensive and straightforward way via microwave irradiation with good potential for further scale-up. One such degradation was compared to that induced by conventional heating at 190 °C. The experimental results showed that PHA oligomers with varying molar masses, characterized by a terminal crotonic double bond and a carboxyl group on the other chain end, could be effectively obtained from native PHAs in the bulk by both degradation approaches. The kinetics of PHA oligomer production was monitored by size exclusion chromatography and ¹H NMR. The influence of temperature as well as microwave irradiation time and power was investigated, and the optimal conditions of degradation are described. It turned out that this treatment was much more efficient than a conventional thermally-induced degradation, as oligomers with similar molar masses were formed with an about 100 times faster rate corresponding to very short irradiation times (maximum 15 min). Two microwave-assisted procedures could be advantageously used: an irradiation with constant temperature was appropriate to afford PHA oligomers with molar masses lower than 1000 g.mol⁻¹ and high yields, while irradiation under constant power was more convenient to provide oligoesters with higher molar masses.     

Microwave-assisted one-pot synthesis of benzo[b][1,4]thiazin-3(4H)-ones via Smiles rearrangement

The synthesis of benzo[b][1,4]thiazin-3(4H)-one derivatives in a simple and efficient method from the one-pot reaction of substituted 2-chlorobenzenthiols, chloroacetyl chloride, and primary amines via Smiles rearrangement under microwave irradiation gave high yields (65-92%) of the products with short reaction time (15-20 min).     

Sulfamic acid: a novel and efficient catalyst for the synthesis of aryl-14H-dibenzo[a.j]xanthenes under conventional heating and microwave irradiation

A simple and convenient procedure for the synthesis of aryl-14H-dibenzo[a.j]xanthenes is described through a one-pot condensation of β-naphthol with aryl aldehydes in the presence of sulfamic acid as the catalyst in a solvent-free media using both conventional heating and microwave irradiation.     

A convenient and efficient synthesis of C-carbamoyl-1,2,3-triazoles from alkyl bromide by a one-pot sequential addition: conversion of ester to amide using Zr(Ot-Bu)4

A convenient and efficient one-pot sequence has been developed for the synthesis of C-carbamoyl-1,2,3-triazoles from alkyl bromide using (i) sodium azide, (ii) methyl propiolate and copper iodide, and (iii) amines, zirconium tert-butoxide, and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole, under microwave irradiation. The sequential reactions in one-pot provided the desired C-carbamoyl-1,2,3-triazoles in excellent yields.