Reactions of 1-vinyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindole and its mixtures with 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindole in the presence of Cr- and Pd-coated catalysts

In the presence of Cr- and Pd-coated -alumina catalysts, 1-vinyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindole (VTHI) and its mixtures with 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindole (THI) are converted into 1-ethyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindole (1-ETHI), indole, and 2-ethylindole, in proportions dependent on the reaction conditions and the catalyst. Over a sulfided 1% Pd--alumina catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at 200°C, VTHI is converted into 1-ETHI and THI. When the temperature is raised to 300–350°C, indole is formed in addition to these products. A 11 mixture of VTHI and THI over 1% Pd--alumina at 300°C gives indole and 2-ethylindole, over a sulfided 1% Pd --alumina catalyst at 200°C, 1-ETHI, and over a Cr oxide catalyst at 500°C, indole.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1417–1422, June, 1991.     

Synthesis of norfloxacin analogues catalyzed by Lewis and Brönsted acids: An alternative pathway

An alternative synthetic pathway to prepare norfloxacin analogues is presented. Three Lewis acids (CeCl₃·7H₂O, AlCl₃·6H₂O, ZnCl₂) and one Brönsted acid (TsOH) were tested as catalysts in the preparation of 3,4-difluoroacrylate. Cyclization of this acrylate at 55 °C was achieved with the use of Eaton's reagent (P₂O₅/MeSO₃H) a known Brönsted acid. The fluoroquinolone-boron complex presented high yields on C-7 nucleophilic substitution of the fluorine atom by different heterocyclic amines with low, medium and strong nucleophilic character.     

Lithium Diisopropylamide‐Mediated Carbolithiation Reactions of Vinylidenecyclopropanes and Further Transformations of the Adducts

Synthetic methods : Lithium diisopropylamide‐mediated highly selective carbolithiation reactions of vinylidenecyclopropanes are described and further transformations of these adducts were performed in the presence of Lewis or Brønsted acids (see scheme for sample reactions).

     

Asymmetric Cascade Reaction to Allylic Sulfonamides from Allylic Alcohols by Palladium(II)/Base‐Catalyzed Rearrangement of Allylic Carbamates

A regio‐ and enantioselective tandem reaction is reported capable of directly transforming readily accessible achiral allylic alcohols into chiral sulfonyl‐protected allylic amines. The reaction is catalyzed by the cooperative action of a chiral ferrocene palladacycle and a tertiary amine base and combines high step‐economy with operational simplicity (e.g. no need for inert‐gas atmosphere or catalyst activation). Mechanistic studies support a Pd^II‐catalyzed [3,3] rearrangement of allylic carbamates—generated in situ from the allylic alcohol and an isocyanate—as the key step, which is followed by a decarboxylation.     

1-Vinyl-1,2,4-triazole in copolymerization reaction with 1-vinyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindole: synthesis and properties of copolymers

A radical copolymerization of 1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole (VTA) with 1-vinyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahy-droindole (VTHI) was studied. New thermally stable functional copolymers of different composition, well soluble in organic solvents were synthesized. It was found that VTA has higher reactivity as compared to VTHI. A new soluble polymeric nanocomposite with metallic silver nanoparticles encapsulated into the matrix of synthesized copolymer was obtained.     

Supported Metal Sulfate Catalysts FexZny/SiO2 for Selective Dimerization of Isobutene in Mixed C4 to Isooctenes

Isobutene dimerization is an important route to properly utilize mixed C₄ and further produce isooctane with a high-octane number to replace MTBE in gasoline. A highly selective catalyst, which is effective for isobutene dimerization but ineffective for other olefins in the C₄ mixture, is necessary for industrial implementation. In this work, a series of supported metal sulfate catalysts Fe_xZn_y/SiO₂ were prepared and characterized by XRD, SEM, N₂ physical adsorption-desorption, NH₃-TPD, Py-FTIR, and XPS. Fe_0.2Zn_1.8/SiO₂ can achieve isobutene conversion up to 89 % with 0 % conversion of n-butene, and the selectivity of isooctenes (C₈⁼) product is 57 % (10 h on stream). Furthermore, isobutene conversion can sustain above 80 % after 50 h. It is found that these supported catalysts contain Zn²⁺, Zn⁺, Fe³⁺, and Fe²⁺ species, and there is a synergetic effect between Zn²⁺ and Fe²⁺. Zn²⁺ is beneficial to improve the conversion of isobutene, and Fe²⁺ facilitates the formation of C₈⁼, resulting in a high C₈⁼ yield.     

BiX3 and FeX3‐Promoted Prins Cyclization of Enol Ethers in CH2Cl2

The Prins cyclization of enol ethers has been realized by employing BiX₃ (or FeX₃) as catalyst and TMSX (X=Br, Cl) as the halogen source. The presence of a tiny amount of water in the solvent dichloromethane played a key role for the reaction to proceed. The reaction is believed to be catalyzed by Lewis acid‐assisted Brønsted acids, which were generated in situ from MX₃ and water in the solvent.     

Effect of Lewis and Brønsted acids on the homopolymerization of acrylates and their copolymerization with 1‐alkenes

The first copolymerization of acrylate and methacrylate with nonpolar 1‐alkenes in the presence of Brønsted acids as complexation agents has been reported. The addition of both homogeneous and heterogeneous Brønsted acids resulted in increased monomer conversion and 1‐alkene incorporation. Further, the heterogeneous Brønsted acids can be recycled without loss of activity. A direct correlation exists between the ability of the Lewis or Brønsted acid to bind to the ester group of the acrylate/methacrylate monomer and its ability to promote the copolymerization reaction. For Lewis acids, there is also a direct correlation between the charge/size ratio at the metal center and their ability to promote copolymerizations. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5499–5505, 2008     

Interactions of phosphorous molecules with the acid sites of H-Beta zeolite: Insights from solid-state NMR techniques and theoretical calculations

The local structures of various Brønsted and Lewis acid sites in H-Beta zeolite were resolved with the combined ³¹P MAS NMR, ³¹P–²⁷Al TRAPDOR NMR experiments and theoretical calculations at different levels. In addition, the interacting mechanisms of these acid sites with probe molecules such as trimethylphosphine (TMP) and trimethylphosphine oxide (TMPO) were clarified, which greatly aids the understanding of acid catalysis. Owing to the narrow chemical shift range and close Brønsted acid strengths, only an average resonance at −4.5 ppm was observed in TMP adsorbed H-Beta zeolite, consistent with the calculated data of acidities (substitution energies and proton affinities), geometries, adsorption energies as well as ³¹P chemical shifts. However, two types of Brønsted acids were distinguished by TMPO, and the HF/DZVP2 (MP2/DZVP2) chemical shifts were calculated at 68.1 (69.5) and 69.7–72.1 (71.7–74.9) ppm, respectively. Two types of Lewis acids were identified at −32.0 and −47.0 ppm with the latter exhibiting strong ³¹P–²⁷Al TRAPDOR effects. With theoretical calculations, these two peaks were attributed to the extra-lattice oxo-AlOH²⁺ species and the three-fold coordinated lattice-Al, extra-framework Al(OH)₃, oxo-AlO⁺ species, respectively. The peak at −60.0 ppm was conventionally assigned to the TMP physisorption, but the calculations indicated that the EFAL monovalent Al(OH)₂⁺ species coordinating with two lattice-O atoms near the framework Al atom can contribute to it as well.     

Facile evolution of asymmetric organocatalysts in water assisted by surfactant Brønsted acids

Simple mixing of chiral amines and surfactant Brønsted acids such as p-dodecyl benzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) leads to highly effective and selective organocatalysts in water. The in situ generated catalysts catalyze highly stereoselective desymmetrization of prochiral ketones via direct aldol reactions (up to >16:1 dr, >99% ee) in water using micelle as reaction media. The current strategy was also applied in asymmetric Michael addition leading to a catalytic system with good activity and stereoselectivity.     

InCl3-assisted one-pot synthesis of 1-aminocarbazoles

A novel InCl₃-mediated one-pot reaction leading to 1-aminocarbazoles is reported. Starting from easily available 2-acetyl-1H-indole, the reaction involves the alkylation of C-3 with a prop-2-yn-1-ol followed by a domino aminobenzannulation reaction in the presence of a secondary amine. The indium salt is most likely involved as catalyst in all three steps of the one-pot reaction. Starting from 2-acetyl-1H-indole and a series of prop-2-yn-1-ols and secondary amines a small library of products has been obtained.     

Synthesis of BINOL derived phosphorodithioic acids as new chiral Brønsted acids and an improved synthesis of 3,3′-disubstituted H8-BINOL derivatives

Original phosphorodithioic acid diesters were prepared according to an improved synthesis of 3,3′-disubstituted H₈-BINOL derivatives. In preliminary experiments, these new Brønsted acids were tested as organocatalysts in three reactions. They promoted the Nazarov cyclisation with mixed selectivities, the Mannich reaction with good enantioselectivity and they catalyzed efficiently the alkylation of N-acyliminium with enol silyl ether.     

Effect of the Al/Si atomic ratio on surface and structural properties of sol-gel prepared aluminosilicates

A series of aluminosilicates with an Al/Si ratio ranging from 0 to ∞ (0 for pure silica and ∞ for pure alumina) was prepared by sol-gel process and characterized by surface and structure techniques. Aluminum trisecbutoxide and tetramethylorthosilicate were used as precursors for the sol-gel synthesis. The acidic properties of the oxides were studied by determination of the zero point charges, through mass titration method, and, for selected samples, by FT-IR spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine used as a probe for both Brønsted and Lewis acidity. A dependence of the acidity on the Al/Si atomic ratio was found. According to the X-ray diffraction patterns, all the oxides have an amorphous structure except pure alumina exhibiting a γ-alumina pattern. The surface areas of the mixed oxides increase with increasing amount of alumina and are higher as compared to the individual oxides. The surface elemental distribution and electronic properties were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. According to the results, good agreement between the surface Al/Si atomic ratio and the analytical ratio is obtained.