Generation of substituted styrenes via Suzuki cross-coupling of aryl halides with 2,4,6-trivinylcyclotriboroxane

The synthesis of functionalized styrene derivatives can be readily achieved utilizing a Suzuki cross-coupling protocol between aryl halides and 2,4,6-trivinylcyclotriboroxane-pyridine complex. The scope and limitations of the procedure were demonstrated by investigation of an array of ortho-substituted aryl halides.     

Synthesis of primary aromatic amides by aminocarbonylation of aryl halides using formamide as an ammonia synthon

Primary aromatic amides were prepared by a palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation reaction of aryl halides in high yields (70-90%) using formamide as the amine source. The reactions require a palladium catalyst in combination with a nucleophilic Lewis base such as imidazole or 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP). Aryl, heteroaryl, and vinyl bromides and chlorides were converted to the primary amides under mild conditions (5 bar, 120 degrees C) using 1 mol % of a palladium-phosphine complex. Best results were obtained in dioxane using triphenylphosphine as the ligand and DMAP as the base. For activated aryl bromides, a phosphine-to-palladium ratio of 2:1 was sufficient, but less reactive aryl bromides or aryl chlorides required ligand-to-palladium ratios up to 8:1 in order to stabilize the catalyst and achieve full conversion. The influence of catalyst, base, solvent, pressure, and temperature was studied in detail. The mechanism of the reaction could be clarified by isolating and identifying the reaction intermediates. In addition, methylamides and dimethylamides were prepared by the same method using N-methylformamide and N,N-dimethylformamide as the amine source.     

Mild and efficient nickel-catalyzed Heck reactions with electron-rich olefins

A new efficient protocol for the nickel-catalyzed Heck reaction of aryl triflates with vinyl ethers is presented. Mild reaction conditions that equal those of the corresponding palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction are applied, representing a practical and more sustainable alternative to the conventional regioselective arylation of vinyl ethers. A catalytic system comprised of Ni(COD)(2) and 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (DPPF) in combination with the tertiary amine Cy(2)NMe proved effective in the olefination of a wide range of aryl triflates. Both electron-deficient and electron-rich arenes proved compatible, and the corresponding aryl methyl ketone could be secured after hydrolysis in yields approaching quantitative. Good functional group tolerance was observed matching the characteristics of the analogous Pd-catalyzed Heck reaction. The high levels of catalytic activity were explained by the intermediacy of a cationic nickel(II) complex potentially responsible for the successive β-hydride elimination and base promoted catalyst regeneration. Although these elementary reactions are normally considered challenging, DFT calculations suggested this pathway to be favorable under the applied reaction conditions.     

7-Azaindoles via carbolithiation of vinyl pyridines

The sequential reactions of a pyridine vinylation and alkene carbolithiation constitutes a new route to substituted 7-azaindoles. The methodology involves a reaction sequence of controlled carbolithiation of the vinyl double bond, subsequent trapping of the formal di-anion intermediate with a suitable electrophile, followed by an in situ ring closure and dehydration. The reaction sequence allows for aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl and keto substituents to be included at different positions around the heterocycle.     

Visible‐Light‐Promoted Nickel‐ and Organic‐Dye‐Cocatalyzed Formylation Reaction of Aryl Halides and Triflates and Vinyl Bromides with Diethoxyacetic Acid as a Formyl Equivalent

A simple formylation reaction of aryl halides, aryl triflates, and vinyl bromides under synergistic nickel‐ and organic‐dye‐mediated photoredox catalysis is reported. Distinct from widely used palladium‐catalyzed formylation processes, this reaction proceeds by a two‐step mechanistic sequence involving initial in situ generation of the diethoxymethyl radical from diethoxyacetic acid by a 4CzIPN‐mediated photoredox reaction. The formyl‐radical equivalent then undergoes nickel‐catalyzed substitution reactions with aryl halides and triflates and vinyl bromides to form the corresponding aldehyde products. Significantly, besides aryl bromides, less reactive aryl chlorides and triflates and vinyl halides serve as effective substrates for this process. Since the mild conditions involved in this reaction tolerate a plethora of functional groups, the process can be applied to the efficient preparation of diverse aromatic aldehydes.     

PdII‐Catalyzed Enantioselective C(sp3)−H Activation/Cross‐Coupling Reactions of Free Carboxylic Acids

Pd^II‐catalyzed enantioselective C(sp³)?H cross‐coupling of free carboxylic acids with organoborons has been realized using either mono‐protected amino acid (MPAA) ligands or mono‐protected aminoethyl amine (MPAAM) ligands. A diverse range of aryl‐ and vinyl‐boron reagents can be used as coupling partners to provide chiral carboxylic acids. This reaction provides an alternative approach to the enantioselective synthesis of cyclopropanecarboxylic acids and cyclobutanecarboxylic acids containing α‐chiral tertiary and quaternary stereocenters. The utility of this reaction was further demonstrated by converting the carboxylic acid into cyclopropyl amine without loss of optical activity.     

Rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of terminal alkynes to vinyl ketones

The metal complex Rh(acac)(CO)₂ in the presence of an eqimolar amount of tris(o-methoxyphenyl)phosphine provides a useful catalyst system for the 1,4-addition of alkynes to unsubstituted vinyl ketones. Best yields are obtained when the transformation is performed in benzene at reflux with an excess of vinyl ketone. Both aryl and alkyl substituted alkynes participate in the reaction. Primary alcohols and alkyl chlorides are well tolerated under these reaction conditions. The reaction also proceeds in aqueous solvent mixtures, unlike most organometallic addition reactions.     

Pd-catalyzed ring opening of oxa- and azabicyclic alkenes with aryl and vinyl halides: efficient entry to 2-substituted 1,2-dihydro-1-naphthols and 2-substituted 1-naphthols

An efficient syntheses of 2-substituted 1,2-dihydro-1-naphthols and 2-substituted 1-naphthols has been developed that involves the sequential palladium-catalyzed ring opening of oxabicyclic alkenes with aryl and vinyl halides followed by oxidation of with IBX. In the first step of the sequence, a combination of Pd(OAc)2, PPh3, Zn, and PMP in dry DMF was employed to catalyze the ring opening of 7-oxabenzonorbornadienes with aryl and vinyl halides to afford the corresponding cis-2-substituted 1,2-dihydronaphthols in good to excellent yields. These reactions occurred under very mild conditions with a variety of aryl halides bearing electron-withdrawing or -donating groups. Similarly, a 7-azabenzonorbornadiene substituted with an electron-withdrawing group on the nitrogen atom underwent facile ring-opening reaction with aryl halides to provide cis-2-substituted (1,2-dihydro-1-naphthyl)carbamates in excellent yields. Oxidation of the intermediate 1,2-dihydro-1-naphthols using IBX yielded the corresponding 2-substituted 1-naphthols in good to excellent yields.     

Synthesis and characterization of a polymer-anchored palladium(II) Schiff base complex and its catalytic efficiency in phosphine-free Sonogashira coupling reactions

A polymer-anchored Pd(II) Schiff base complex has been synthesized by reacting a polymeric amine with 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde to get the polymer-anchored Schiff base, which was then reacted with palladium acetate. The catalyst was characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. It shows excellent catalytic activity in the Sonogashira coupling of phenylacetylene with aryl halides using triethylamine as a base and copper iodide as a co-catalyst in water under open air at 70 °C. We have also studied the effects of base and solvent on the coupling reaction. Sonogashira reactions of phenylacetylene with a variety of functionalized aryl halides were performed under the optimized reaction conditions. This catalyst gives excellent yields without the use of phosphine ligands. Further experiments showed that the catalyst can be used five times without much loss in the catalytic activity.     

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed [4+1] Annulation of Aromatic and Vinylic Carboxylic Acids with Allenes: An Efficient Method Towards Vinyl‐Substituted Phthalides and 2‐Furanones

A highly regio‐ and stereoselective synthesis of 3,3‐disubstituted phthalides from aryl carboxylic acids and allenes using a rhodium(III) catalyst has been demonstrated. The reaction features broad functional group tolerance and provides a simple and straightforward route to the synthesis of various 3‐vinyl‐substituted phthalides. Furthermore, the catalytic reaction can also be applied to the synthesis of biologically active 5‐vinyl‐substituted 2‐furanones from α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids and allenes. The reactions proceed through a carboxylate‐assisted ortho‐C?H activation and [4+1] annulation. The preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that a C?H cleavage is the rate‐determining step.     

Palladium catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling with aryl chlorides using a bulky phenanthryl N-heterocyclic carbene ligand

A novel bis-phenanthryl N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) based palladium acetate catalyst was effective for the coupling of various aryl and vinyl chlorides with organoboron compounds. N,N-Bis-(2,9-dicyclohexyl-10-phenanthryl)-4,5-dihydroimidazolium chloride 8 (H₂ICP·HCl) with Pd(OAc)₂ and KF·18-c-6 in THF at room temperature gave Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of aryl and vinyl chorides, including unactivated and di-ortho substituted substrates in high yields. Hindered tri- and tetra-ortho substituted products were also efficiently produced. Benzyl chloride was also found to be a useful coupling partner and trimethylboroxine was used to give methylated products. The effect of ligand, base, temperature, solvent, and reaction time are reported along with various substrates including halides and triflates.     

Analogs of tetrahydrofolic acid. XXXIX . selective bromoacylation of polyfunctional molecules for synthesis of active-site-directed irreversible enzyme inhibitors

A number of methods for selective bromoacylation of side-chain amino groups on 2-amino-4-pyrimidinols or 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidines have been developed for these extremely sensitive products. The choice of method depends upon whether (a) the aminopyrimidine is a stronger base than the amine to be bromoacylated, (b) as weak a base as the amine to be bromoacylated but the amine is more reactive, (c) the amine group to be bromoacylated is a strong aliphatic amine. In case (a) the aminopyrimidine can be protonated to protect it from acylation with an anhydride; in case (b), the reaction with an anhydride is controlled by temperature, stoichiometry, and time of reaction; in case (c), the reaction is selectively controlled by use of the less reactive p-nitrophenyl esters. Other difficulties were solved such as (a) proper characterization of the products when combustion analyses were unsatisfactory due to polymerization; in these cases a combination of thin layer chromatography, color reactions, and derivatization were employed; and (b) insolubility leading to overreaction on the aminopyrimidine which was solved with partial aqueous systems.     

Radical Addition Enables 1,2‐Aryl Migration from a Vinyl‐Substituted All‐Carbon Quaternary Center

An efficient method for photocatalytic perfluoroalkylation of vinyl‐substituted all‐carbon quaternary centers involving 1,2‐aryl migration has been developed. The rearrangement reactions use fac‐Ir(ppy)₃, visible light and commercially available fluoroalkyl halides and can generate valuable multisubstituted perfluoroalkylated compounds in a single step that would be challenging to prepare by other methods. Mechanistically, the photoinduced alkyl radical addition to an alkene leads to the migration of a vicinal aryl substituent from its adjacent all‐carbon quaternary center with the concomitant generation of a C‐radical bearing two electron‐withdrawing groups that is further reduced by a hydrogen donor to complete the domino sequence.     

Preparation and Regioselective Metalation of Bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl‐Substituted Aryl Derivatives

A range of bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl‐substituted aryl derivatives was prepared by using a Kumada–Corriu cross‐coupling reaction. The regioselective metalation of the resulting bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl‐substituted aryl derivatives bearing this bulky silyl group allowed the generation of functionalized aromatics. A regioselective switch in the presence or in the absence of the bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl group has been demonstrated. Furthermore, this silyl group was converted into a formyl group or a styryl group, enhancing the scope of application of such bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl‐substituted arenes.     

Boron（Ⅲ） Tribromide or Tianium （Ⅳ） Bromide and Lewis Base Promoted Baylis—Hillman Reaction

It was found that,when the Baylis-Hillman reaction of arylaldehydes with methyl vinyl ketone was carried out at below -20℃ in the presence of boron (Ⅲ） tribromide or titanium (Ⅳ） bromide using a catalytic amount of Lewis base such as amine,the brominated compounds and the Baylis-Hillman adducts could be obtained as the major products in good yields for various aryl aldehydes.But at room temperature,the elimination products were the major products.In addition,the palladium catalyzed allylic substitution reactions of the elimination products were also examined.     

Biaryl synthesis via Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling of aromatic carboxylates with aryl halides

A new strategy for the regiospecific construction of unsymmetrical biaryls is presented, in which easily available salts of carboxylic acids are decarboxylated in situ to give arylmetal species that serve as the nucleophilic component in a catalytic cross-coupling reaction with aryl halides. The catalyst system consists of a copper phenanthroline complex that mediates the extrusion of CO2 from aromatic carboxylates to generate arylcopper species, and a palladium complex that catalyzes the cross-coupling of these intermediates with aryl halides. This bimetallic system allows the direct coupling of various aryl, heteroaryl, or vinyl carboxylic acids with aryl or heteroaryl iodides, bromides, or chlorides at 160 degrees C in the presence of a mild base such as potassium carbonate. The present scope and potential economic impact of the reaction are demonstrated by the synthesis of 42 biaryls, some of which are of substantial industrial relevance. Remaining challenges and future perspectives of the new transformation are discussed.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Chlorocarbonylation of Aryl (Pseudo)Halides Through In Situ Generation of Carbon Monoxide

An efficient palladium-catalyzed chlorocarbonylation of aryl (pseudo)halides that gives access to a wide range of carboxylic acid derivatives has been developed. The use of butyryl chloride as a combined CO and Cl source eludes the need for toxic, gaseous carbon monoxide, thus facilitating the synthesis of high-value products from readily available aryl (pseudo)halides. The combination of palladium(0), Xantphos, and an amine base is essential to promote this broadly applicable catalytic reaction. Overall, this reaction provides access to a great variety of carbonyl-containing products through in situ transformation of the generated aroyl chloride. Combined experimental and computational studies support a reaction mechanism involving in situ generation of CO.     

Copper‐ and Amine‐Free Sonogashira Reaction of N,N‐Disubstituted Propargylamine: Synthesis of Substituted Aryl Propargylamine

A copper‐ and amine‐free Sonogashira reaction of N,N‐disubstituted propargylamine (DEP) is reported. The procedure was mild and tolerated a series of aryl bromides, affording the substituted aryl propargylic amines in good to excellent yield.     

Synthesis and Utilization of Nitroalkyne Equivalents in Batch and Continuous Flow

We report a method for overcoming the low stability of nitroalkynes through the development of nitrated vinyl silyltriflate equivalents. Because of their instability, nitroalkynes have only rarely been utilized in synthesis. The reactivity of these silyltriflates, which are prepared in situ, is exemplified by dipolar cycloaddition reactions with nitrones to give highly substituted 4‐nitro‐4‐isoxazolines in high yields. This approach has proven general for several different alkyl and aryl substituted alkynes. In order to minimize the accumulation of potentially hazardous reaction intermediates, we have also developed a continuous flow variant of this method that is capable of carrying out the entire reaction sequence in a good yield and a short residence time.     

Isothiourea‐Catalysed Acylative Kinetic Resolution of Aryl–Alkenyl (sp2 vs. sp2) Substituted Secondary Alcohols

The non‐enzymatic acylative kinetic resolution of challenging aryl–alkenyl (sp² vs. sp²) substituted secondary alcohols is described, with effective enantiodiscrimination achieved using the isothiourea organocatalyst HyperBTM (1 mol %) and isobutyric anhydride. The kinetic resolution of a wide range of aryl–alkenyl substituted alcohols has been evaluated, with either electron‐rich or naphthyl aryl substituents in combination with an unsubstituted vinyl substituent providing the highest selectivity (S=2–1980). The use of this protocol for the gram‐scale (2.5 g) kinetic resolution of a model aryl–vinyl (sp² vs. sp²) substituted secondary alcohol is demonstrated, giving access to >1 g of each of the product enantiomers both in 99:1 e.r.