Efficient and selective alkylation of arenes and heteroarenes with benzyl and allyl ethers using a Ir/Sn bimetallic catalyst

A high-valent heterobimetallic catalyst namely [Ir₂(COD)₂(SnCl₃)₂(Cl)₂(μ-Cl)₂] (5 mol %), or dual catalyst system of [Ir(COD)Cl]₂ (1 mol %) and SnCl₄ (4 mol %), promotes the benzylation or allylation of arenes and heteroarenes using ethers as the alkylating agents. An electrophilic mechanism is proposed from a Hammett correlation.     

Copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of sulfonamides with aryl iodides and bromides facilitated by amino acid ligands

A highly general, convenient, and inexpensive catalyst system was developed for the N-arylation of sulfonamides with aryl iodides or bromides by using 5-20 mol % of CuI as catalyst, 20 mol % of N-methylglycine (for aryl iodides) or N,N-dimethylglycine (for aryl bromides) as ligand, and K₃PO₄ as base.     

Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation using chiral diaminophosphine oxides: DIAPHOXs. Formal enantioselective synthesis of (−)-paroxetine

An Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation using chiral diaminophosphine oxide is described. Asymmetric allylic alkylation of terminal allylic carbonates proceeded using 5 mol % of Ir catalyst, 5 mol % of DIAPHOX 1i, 10 mol % of NaPF₆, 10 mol % of LiOAc, and N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA), affording the corresponding branched products in excellent yield and in up to 95% ee. The developed catalytic asymmetric reaction was successfully applied to a formal enantioselective synthesis of (−)-paroxetine.     

Gold(I)-catalyzed benzannulation of 3-hydroxy-1,5-enynes: an efficient synthesis of substituted tetrahydronaphthalenes and related compounds

We report a novel gold(I)-catalyzed benzannulation of 3-hydroxy-1,5-enynes to prepare tetrahydronaphthalenes. The reaction is catalyzed by 2.5 mol % Ph₃PAuCl and 2.5 mol % AgOTf in dichloromethane. We discovered that this process can be also catalyzed by 1 mol % Ph₃PAuCl and 1 mol % TfOH. To the best of our knowledge, this constitutes the first report of an active gold catalyst generated from Au(PPh₃)Cl and triflic acid. This mild process is compatible with a variety of functional groups and proves to be an effective method to synthesize various meta-substituted aromatic rings in good yields.     

Palladium(II) chloride/EDTA-catalyzed biaryl homo-coupling of aryl halides in aqueous medium in the presence of ascorbic acid

Both electron-deficient and electron-rich aryl bromides undergo biaryl homo-coupling in a basic aqueous-ethanolic medium in the presence of PdCl₂-EDTA (1:1 molar ratio, 3 mol %) as catalyst and ascorbic acid as reductant (1 mol equiv) in acceptable to good yields.     

Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic amination using chiral diaminophosphine oxides

An Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic amination using chiral diaminophosphine oxide is described. Asymmetric allylic amination of terminal allylic carbonates proceeded in the presence of 2 mol % of Ir catalyst, 2 mol % of chiral diaminophosphine oxide, 5 mol % of NaPF₆, and BSA, affording the chiral branched allylic amines in up to 95% ee.     

Further improvements of the dibutyl tin oxide-catalyzed regioselective diol tosylation

In this Letter, we report that selective monotosylation of a 1,2-diol is possible using only 0.1 mol % of Bu₂SnO. More interestingly, we found that the corresponding tin acetal 3b gave faster conversions and more reproducible reaction times. Moreover, the loading of this catalyst could be as low as 0.05-0.005 mol %.     

Design and synthesis of thioether-imidazolium chlorides as efficient ligands for palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of aryl bromides with arylboronic acids

The catalyst composed of 0.25-0.025 mol % of [Pd(allyl)Cl]₂ and 0.5-0.05 mol % of the thioether-imidazolium chloride 3c was proven to be efficient in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides with arylboronic acids.     

Copper mediated atom transfer radical cyclisations with AIBN

We have shown that it is possible to mediate a range of 5-exo trig and 5-exo dig atom transfer radical cyclisations of bromoacetamides using 0.1-1 mol % CuBr or CuBr₂ in conjunction with 0.1-1 mol % tri(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amine and 10 mol % AIBN. This equates to a 30-300-fold reduction in the amount of catalyst previously reported for these reactions and allows cyclisation to be carried out with the more oxidatively stable CuBr₂ without the requirement of an inert atmosphere.     

Statistical experimental design-driven discovery of room-temperature conditions for palladium-catalyzed cyanation of aryl bromides

A combination of Pd₂(dba)₃·CHCl₃ (0.5 mol %) and commercially available, air-stable phosphonium salt [(t-Bu)₃PH]BF₄ (1.4 mol %) in a presence of Zn powder and Zn(CN)₂ as the cyanide source comprises an extremely efficient catalyst system for the cyanation of a diverse array of aryl bromides, at room temperature. This result emerged from an experimental strategy that combines the advantages of parallel, automated experimentation with the design of experiments (DOE) for the effective definition of an optimal set of reaction conditions.     

Au(I) complexes-catalyzed transfer vinylation of alcohols and carboxylic acids

Au(I) complexes-catalyzed transfer vinylation of alcohols and carboxylic acids has been achieved. The catalyst system consists of 2 mol % AuClPPh₃ and 2 mol % AgOAc. Primary alcohols and secondary alcohols were converted into corresponding vinyl ethers in good yield (64-93%); however, tertiary alcohols showed poor reactivities. Carboxylic acids were also transformed into corresponding vinyl esters in good yield (78-96%).     

Dicationic ((−)-sparteine)palladium-catalyzed enantioselective aldol reaction of aldehydes with 1-phenyl-1-trimethylsilyloxyethene, proceeding via a palladium enolate

A dicationic ((−)-sparteine)palladium complex underwent a superior catalytic enantioselective aldol reaction of aldehydes with 1-phenyl-1-trimethylsilyloxyethene performing satisfactorily, starting with ((−)-sparteine)PdCl₂ and AgSbF₆ as catalyst precursors (1 mol % loading) in the presence of 3 Å molecular sieves over the reaction.     

Molybdenum oxide/bipyridine hybrid material {[MoO3(bipy)][MoO3(H2O)]}n as catalyst for the oxidation of secondary amines to nitrones

The inorganic-organic hybrid material {[MoO₃(bipy)][MoO₃(H₂O)]}_n (bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine) can be used as a water-tolerant catalyst for the oxidation of secondary amines under mild conditions using either urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP) or tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxidant. Under optimized reaction conditions (2 mol % catalyst, 3-4 equiv TBHP, CH₂Cl₂ as the solvent, 40 °C), the corresponding nitrones were obtained with different efficiency depending on the nature of the cyclic or acyclic amine used.     

Palladium-catalyzed oxidation of cyclohexanones to conjugated enones using molecular oxygen

Oxidation of cyclohexanones into conjugated enones with molecular oxygen as oxidant was achieved by palladium catalysts. A catalyst system consists of 1 mol % Pd(OCOCF₃)₂ and 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine accomplished maximum 84% yield for the oxidation of cyclohexanone and 51-78% yields for 4-substituted-cyclohexanones.     

Catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles as monodentate and activated ester equivalent acceptors

Catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles as monodentate and activated ester equivalent acceptors is described. A Sm(O-i-Pr)₃/(R)-H₈-BINOL complex promoted the epoxidation reaction to afford products in high yield (up to quant) and high enantiomeric excess (up to >99.5% ee). Reaction proceeded smoothly using cumene hydroperoxide (CMHP) with low explosive hazard, and completed within 0.2-0.5 h with 5 mol % catalyst. Catalyst loading was successfully reduced to as little as 0.02 mol %. The N-acylpyrrole properties as well as efficient synthesis of α,β-unsaturated N-acylpyrroles are also described.     

Desymmetrization of malonamides via an enantioselective intramolecular Buchwald-Hartwig reaction

A new form of enantioselective nitrogen arylation reaction is described. Beginning with symmetrical α-(2-bromobenzyl)malonamides, intramolecular palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling using a catalyst system including 3.3 mol % Pd(OAc)₂ and 6.6 mol % of the chiral biaryl monophosphine (R)-MOP, desymmetrized quinolinone products are obtained in nearly quantitative yields in enantiomeric ratios up to 88:12. This Letter represents a rare example of enantioselective Buchwald-Hartwig reaction.     

Microwave-assisted nickel(II) acetylacetonate-catalyzed arylation of aldehydes with arylboronic acids

Applying sealed vessel microwave heating at 180 °C in toluene the arylation of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes with arylboronic acids using 1-2 mol % of Ni(acac)₂ as a catalyst can be performed efficiently within 10-30 min providing the desired diarylmethanols or benzyl alcohols in good yields.     

Asymmetric cyano-ethoxycarbonylation of aldehydes catalyzed by self-assembled titanium catalyst

A new self-assembled catalyst based on titanium complex has been developed for the effective enantioselective cyano-ethoxycarbonylation of aldehydes. The self-assembled catalyst was readily prepared from (R)-3,3′-bis((methyl((S)-1-phenylethyl)amino)methyl)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diol (1h), N-((1S,2R)-2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethyl)acetamide (2b), and tetraisopropyl titanate (Ti(OiPr)₄). A variety of aromatic aldehydes, aliphatic aldehydes, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes were found to be suitable substrates in the presence of the self-assembled titanium catalyst (5 mol % 1h, 5 mol % 2b, and 5 mol % Ti(OiPr)₄). The desired cyanohydrin ethyl carbonates were afforded with high isolated yields (up to 95%) and moderate to good enantioselectivities (up to 92% ee) under mild conditions (at −15 °C). A possible catalytic cycle based on the experimental observation was proposed.     

Synthesis of α-aminonitriles under mild catalytic,metal-free conditions

α-Aminonitriles have been synthesized by a Strecker synthesis from aldehydes and ketones under mild catalytic, metal-free conditions. Aromatic aldehydes (1 equiv) were reacted with aromatic and 1° or 2° aliphatic amines (1 equiv) in EtOH containing 3 mol % of NH₄Cl to give high yields of α-aminonitriles. An alternative to adding NH₄Cl as a catalyst involved the use of excess TMSCN (1 equiv) and to promote the process. The reaction was also successful under microwave conditions using excess TMSCN with no solvent. Ketones similarly reacted with aromatic amines and excess TMSCN under conventional and microwave heating, but 30 mol % of added NH₄Cl was required for optimum conversion.     

Carbohydrate-based phosphines as supporting ligand for palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction

Carbohydrate-based mono-phosphines (1 and 2) derived from glucose have been explored as supporting ligand for palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura reaction. The combination of phosphine to palladium in a ratio of 2:1 resulted in a longer-living system than that in a ratio of 1:1. Using K₂CO₃ as base, aryl bromides as well as active aryl chlorides can be coupled nearly quantitatively by 0.1–0.2 mol % of 1/Pd(OAc)₂ with 95–99% of isolated yields. The amount of the catalyst could be lowered to 0.01 mol % under the optimized condition with 80% yield at room temperature. The carbohydrate hydroxyl group in 1 was found to contribute to catalytic activity.