Microwaves as “Co-Catalysts” or as Substitute for Catalysts in Organophosphorus Chemistry

The purpose of this review is to summarize the importance of microwave (MW) irradiation as a kind of catalyst in organophosphorus chemistry. Slow or reluctant reactions, such as the Diels-Alder cycloaddition or an inverse-Wittig type reaction, may be performed efficiently under MW irradiation. The direct esterification of phosphinic and phosphonic acids, which is practically impossible on conventional heating, may be realized under MW conditions. Ionic liquid additives may promote further esterifications. The opposite reaction, the hydrolysis of P-esters, has also relevance among the MW-assisted transformations. A typical case is when the catalysts are substituted by MWs, which is exemplified by the reduction of phosphine oxides, and by the Kabachnik–Fields condensation affording α-aminophosphonic derivatives. Finally, the Hirao P–C coupling reaction may serve as an example, when the catalyst may be simplified under MW conditions. All of the examples discussed fulfill the expectations of green chemistry.     

Facile Synthesis of new 3,5‐Dispiro Substituted Piperidine Analogs via Microwave‐Assisted One Pot Multicomponent Reaction

An eco‐efficient one‐pot three component reaction for the synthesis of 3,5‐dispirosubstituted piperidines is reported by condensing of 2‐thiobarbituric acid, formaldehyde, and aromatic amines in the presence of a catalytic amount of p‐toluenesulfonic acid (1.0 equivalent) in dimethyl sulfoxide. The reactions were examined by two special methods such as classical heating and microwave (MW) irradiation. In general, improvements in rates and yields were observed when reactions were carried out under MW irradiation compared to the conventional method.     

Pyrrolopyridazine derivatives as blue organic luminophores: synthesis and properties. Part 2

Two environmentally friendly methods, one in liquid and other in solid phase, for preparation of highly fluorescent pyrrolopyridazine (PP) derivatives under microwave (MW) irradiation is presented. The first synthesis in solid phase of fluorescent PP derivatives using activated alkynes under MW and conventional heating is also reported. Under MW irradiation the yields are higher, the amount of used solvent in liquid phase is at least five-fold less while solid phase does not use solvents, so these reactions may be considered as environmentally friendly. Eight new blue fluorescent 2-aryl-pyrrolopyridazine derivatives were synthesised. A certain influence of the PP substituents concerning absorption and fluorescent properties was observed. Introduction of a π-conjugated system in the second position of PP moiety increase the fluorescent properties. In the absorption spectra were observed a gradual decrease of wavelengths simultaneously with an increasing of molar extinction coefficient, due to increased number of ester groups from pyrrolic ring.     

An efficient microwave-assisted synthesis of dihydropyrazinones and bis-benzoylketones

Microwave-assisted modified Sandmeyer reactions of oximinoacetanilides, themselves obtained from substituted primary aromatic amines, in concentrated H₂SO₄ give isatins. N-Acetylisatins undergo ring cleavage and subsequent ring closing with alkanediamines in the presence of ethanol under MW irradiation to give the corresponding dihydropyrazinones in excellent yields. Modification of the reaction conditions affords bis-benzoylketones under MW irradiation.     

Phenyl‐, benzyl‐, and unsymmetrical hydroxy‐methylenebisphosphonates as dronic acid ester analogues from α‐oxophosphonates by microwave‐assisted syntheses

The microwave (MW)‐assisted addition of dialkyl phosphites to α‐oxophosphonates was investigated and optimized under solventless conditions to provide the phenyl‐ and benzyl‐hydroxy‐methylenebisphosphonates efficiently by suppressing the rearrangement side reaction. Methyl‐hydroxy‐methylenebisphosphonates with mixed ester functionalities and an analogous diester‐diacid were also synthesized. It was found that the α‐oxophosphonates may also be converted to hydroxy‐methylenebisphosphonates and/or rearranged products without using dialkyl phosphite as the reagent and with the careful exclusion of water, simply on standing at room temperature, on thermal treatment, or on MW irradiation. These novel reactions taking place via the controlled decomposition of the precursor and resulting in the intermediate formation of dialkyl phosphite were also studied in detail. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 22:640–648, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.20727     

Environmentally Friendly Methods for Syntheses of New Aromatic Bisesters

Two environmentally friendly methods, one in liquid and the other in solid phase, for preparation of phenyl bisesters (bearing alkylating groups) under microwave (MW) irradiation are presented. The MW remarkably enhanced the rate of acceleration for esterification: the reaction time decreased dramatically, the reaction conditions are milder, and the consumed energy decreased considerably. In the most cases, in the liquid phase under MW irradiation, the yields are better, in some cases substantially (almost 75%). In the solid phase under MW irradiation, the yields are moderate to good compared to the liquid phase but excellent compared to conventional heating. Both methods are fast, general, and facile, but because the solid-phase reactions are solvent-free, we consider this one to be the most suitable for synthetic chemistry. A comparative study of MW and conventional heating was done.     

Some aspects of polybenzimidazoles’ synthesis in Eaton reagent under different temperatures and microwave irradiation

Solution polycondensations of 3,3′-diaminobenzidine with two dicarboxylic acids, 4,4′-oxybis(benzoic acid) and hexafluoroisopropylidene bis(benzoic acid) to obtain two different polybenzimidazoles, OPBI and CF₃PBI, correspondingly, were studied in terms of formation of processable polymers and insoluble crosslinked gel. The syntheses were conducted in Eaton’s reagent using conventional heating (CH) at 100, 140 and 180?°C and microwave irradiation (MW) at 90 and 100?°C. The content of gel fraction was lesser using high temperature conditions under CH. The MW-assisted syntheses resulted in acceleration of polycondensations, but an abrupt growth of the insoluble gel was also observed under these conditions. The FTIR data showed that MW irradiation stimulated the side acylation reactions, and OPBI suffered more from the side acylation than CF₃PBI.     

Domino Constructions of Pentacyclic Indeno[2,1-c]quinolines and Pyrano[4,3-b]oxepines by [4+1]/[3+2+1]/[5+1] and [4+3] Multiple Cyclizations

New three-component domino reactions have been discovered. The reactions are easy to perform (see scheme; MW=microwave irradiation) and proceed with fast rates, which makes work-up convenient. Most of the multiple stereocenters and the geometry are controlled well. The stereochemistry has been unequivocally determined by X-ray structural analysis.     

A comparative study using conventional methods,ionic liquids,microwave irradiation and combinations thereof for the synthesis of 5-trifluoroacetyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines

This study reports a comparison between conventional methods, ionic liquids, microwave (MW) irradiation, and combinations thereof for the synthesis of a series of fourteen 1-aryl-2-arylamino-5-trifluoroacetyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines. In all of the reactions tested, the products were obtained at very good yields (87–97%), but the reaction times were very different, depending on the method used. Comparing to other methods, the time decreased to 1?min when [BMIM]BF₄ under MW irradiation was used, thus evidencing a synergic effect.     

The Impact of Microwaves on Organophosphorus Chemistry

A personal account on the pioneering results on microwave (MW)‐assisted organophosphorus syntheses obtained in the last decade is presented. The broad spectrum of the reactions studied exemplifies the advantages of the MW technique as a green tool regarding efficiency and the simplification of catalyst systems. Theoretical calculations for a few typical models helped us to explore the scope and limitations of the application of MW irradiation.     

Synthesis of pyrrole and indole quinoxalinone and oxazinone derivatives by intramolecular copper-catalyzed reactions

Intramolecular N-arylation of pyrrole and indole carboxamides and carboxylates linked with a pendant haloarene by Cu-catalyzed reactions to synthesize pyrrole and indole quinoxalinone and oxazinone derivatives is reported. The ring closure reactions were carried out by conventional heating and MW irradiation. The use of conventional heating affords moderate to good yields of the quinoxalinone and oxazinone derivatives (34-72%), while by using MW heating the best results are obtained (41-99%).     

Laser photochemistry of aromatic substituted cyclobutanes and cyclobutenes

The photochemical ring opening and ring cleavage reactions of 6b,8a-dihydrocyclobut[a]acenaphthylene (1) and two similar compounds are described. These reactions occur at room temperature only if the irradiating light intensity is greater than MW/cm², easily obtained with excimer and dye lasers. This is rationalized in terms of a consecutive two-photon absorption to reach higher-lying reactive states. The mechanism proposed for the reaction of 1 also describes the product distribution, which depends on irradiation parameters such as laser pulse length, wavelength, intensity, and oxygen content of the solvent.     

Selective microwave-accelerated synthesis and polymerization of chiral methacrylamide directly from methacrylic acid and (R)-1-phenyl-ethylamine

The chiral (R)-N-(1-phenyl-ethyl)-methacrylamide was synthesized directly from methacrylic acid and (R)-1-phenyl-ethylamine through microwave irradiation in a solvent-free medium. Kinetic comparison between reactions carried out either under microwaves (MW) or conventional thermal heating evidenced the higher selectivity of the MW accelerated reaction. Under the MW applied conditions, the desired amidation is clearly preferred to the Michael side-reactions. The addition of a radical initiator to the starting mixture leads, in one step, to the formation of an optically active polymer containing both methacrylamide and imide moieties.     

Influence of microwave irradiation on enzyme kinetics

The in vitro effect of 2.45 GHz microwave irradiation on porcine pepsin activity under controlled temperature and absorbed microwave power via kinetic parameters was evaluated. Kinetic study with respect of time of irradiation demonstrated the existence of an inactivation effect of microwaves at pH 2 on pepsin molecule. Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-bromphenol blue (BPB) complex was used as substrate for the assay of pepsin by kinetic method. Depending on absorbed microwave dose, the degree of caused inactivation varies from 39.11 to 45.91% for 5 and 20 min of pepsin MW irradiation, respectively. The V _maxapp and K _mapp were calculated for low (5 min of MW irradiation) and higher specific absorbed dose (20 min of MW irradiation), as well as for untreated enzyme, from double reciprocal Lineweaver-Burk plot. The effect of microwaves on substrate (BSA-BPB complex) was also investigated. For reaction performed with MW irradiated substrate for 5 min the reaction rate was decreased for 15.15%, while for 20 min of substrate irradiation reaction rate was decreased for 25.52% compared to the control reaction. The article is published in the original.     

Synthesis of a Metal–Organic Framework Material,Iron Terephthalate,by Ultrasound,Microwave, and Conventional Electric Heating: A Kinetic Study

A metal–organic framework material named MIL‐53(Fe), iron terephthalate, has been synthesized sovothermally at a relatively low temperature by not only conventional electric (CE) heating, but also by irradiation under ultrasound (US) and microwave (MW) conditions to gain an understanding of the accelerated syntheses induced by US and MW. The kinetics for nucleation and crystal growth were analyzed by measuring the crystallinity of MIL‐53(Fe) under various conditions. The nucleation and crystal growth rates were estimated from crystallization curves of the change in crystallinity with reaction time. The activation energies and pre‐exponential factors were calculated from Arrhenius plots. It was confirmed that the rate of crystallization (both nucleation and crystal growth) decreases in the order US>MW?CE, and that the accelerated syntheses under US and MW conditions are due to increased pre‐exponential factors rather than decreased activation energies. It is suggested that physical effects such as hot spots are more important than chemical effects in the accelerated syntheses induced by US and MW irradiation. The syntheses were also conducted in two steps to understand quantitatively the acceleration induced by MW and it was found that the acceleration in crystal growth is more important than the acceleration in nucleation, even though both processes are accelerated by MW irradiation.     

Refinery of Biomass by Utilization of Specific Effects of Microwave Irradiation

The results of application of microwave (MW) irradiation to achieve refinery of various kinds of recalcitrant biomass were summarized with special emphasis on recent innovative utilization of sensitizers for MW irradiation. The saccharification rates of lignocellulosic plant biomass consisting of softwoods, hardwoods and monocotyledons attained by the simple MW irradiation treatment were in the orders of 35-65% (softwoods), 70-80% (hardwoods) and around 80% (monocotyledons), respectively. The corresponding values of cellulose were around 69-81% (230-240 °C), while xylan was susceptible to the MW energy and easily decomposed into oligomers including xylose by heating at >150 °C, optimally at 204 °C, to give 99% solubility rate. However, the effects of the MW treatment on the agro-food byproducts varied highly depending upon their origins. These results indicate necessity of troublesome specification of the optimum condition for each case. For development of more versatile and comprehensive refinery method we tried to use sensitizers for MW irradiation.We found that hydrogen peroxide was remarkably effective for biomass refinery. Utilization of activated carbon as a sensitizer for MW irradiation was also effective for saccharification of starchy materials. Enhancement of the surface charge of the activated carbons by oxidation and preparation of microwave absorption solid acid catalysts were recommended to further enhance their effectiveness. The overall results showed the importance of four factors, less affinity toward oligosaccharides in relation with pore size, quantity of surface negative charges in addition to electro-conductivity, faster filtration ability and unknown hot spot productivity. Due to removal of the coloured materials by the activated carbons, clear saccharified solution produced by one pot conversion could be directly used for further fermentation to produce biofuels such as ethanol.     

InCl3 as an efficient catalyst for synthesis of oxazolines under thermal, ultrasonic and microwave irradiations

Efficient synthesis of 2-oxazolines by the reaction of nitriles with β-aminoalcohols using InCl₃ as catalyst under reflux conditions is reported. This catalyst can be successfully applied to the chemoselective conversion of dicyanobenzenes to their corresponding mono- and bis-oxazolines. The application of ultrasonic and microwave irradiation improved the yields and reduced the reaction times. Another advantage of this catalytic system is its ability to carry out large-scale reactions under ultrasonic and MW irradiations. Alkylnitriles such as acetonitrile was also converted to its corresponding 2-methyloxazoline in the presence of catalytic amounts of InCl₃.     

Insights into a surprising reaction: the microwave-assisted direct esterification of phosphinic acids

It is well-known that phosphinic acids do not undergo direct esterifications with alcohols under thermal conditions. However, the esterifications take place under microwave (MW) irradiation due to the beneficial effect of MW. As a comparison, maximum 12-15% conversions were observed on traditional heating. It was proved experimentally that the MW-assisted esterifications are not reversible under the conditions applied that may be the consequence of the hydrophobic medium established by the long chain alcohol/phosphinic ester. Neither the thermodynamic, nor the kinetic data obtained by high level quantum chemical calculations justify the direct esterification of phosphinic acids under thermal conditions. The thermodynamic data show that there is no driving force for the reactions under discussion. As a consequence of the relatively high values of activation enthalpy (102-161 kJ mol(-1)), these esterifications are controlled kinetically. Comparing the energetics of the esterification of phosphinic acids and the preparative results obtained under MW conditions, one can see the potential of the MW technique in the synthesis of phosphinates. During our study, a series of new cyclic phosphinates with lipophilic alkyl groups was synthesized.     

水介质中微波促进一锅法合成吡喃并[2,3-d]嘧啶衍生物

水相中将芳香醛、丙二腈和巴比妥酸以等摩尔比混合,微波辐射5~15 min,合成了9种7-氨基-6-氰基-5-芳基吡喃并[2,3-d]嘧啶二酮,产率为80%~92%,避免了传统合成法反应时间长和中间体分离的繁琐操作,减少了环境污染。 产物结构通过IR、¹H NMR和元素分析测试技术进行了表征。     

Out of the oil bath and into the oven--microwave-assisted combinatorial chemistry heats up

The application of microwave irradiation to expedite solid-phase organic reactions could be the tool that allows combinatorial chemistry to deliver on its promise--providing rapid access to large collections of diverse small molecules. Herein, several different approaches to microwave (MW)-assisted solid-phase reactions and library synthesis are introduced, including the use of solid-supported reagents, multicomponent coupling reactions, solvent-free parallel library synthesis, and spatially addressable library synthesis on planar solid supports. The future impact of MW-assisted organic reactions on solid-phase and combinatorial chemistry could prove to be immense, and methods for further improvement of this strategic combination of technologies are highlighted.