Selenylated dienes: synthesis, stereochemical studies by Se NMR, and transformation into functionalized allenes

2-Phenylselanyl-1,3-dienes 3-8 were prepared by a Wittig or Wittig-Horner-Emmons procedure starting from α-phenylselanyl α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. Ratio and configuration of each diene isomers were determined by ⁷⁷Se and ¹H NMR. These dienes were then oxidized into selenoxides, which could be isolated in some cases. In THF, [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allylic selenoxides, selenimides, and dihalo-selenuranes occurred, yielding allenyl alcohols 12-15, allenyl carbamates 16c-19c, and 1-haloalkyl allenes 20c-22c, respectively.     

Hafnium(IV) tetratriflate in selective reductive carbohydrate benzylidene acetal opening reaction and direct silylation reaction

Hafnium(IV) tetratriflate was shown to be an effective catalyst for the regioselective reductive benzylidene ring opening with concurrent silylation reaction. The synthetic conditions were optimized, and the scope and limitations were identified. In addition to glucose and glycosamine derivatives, mannose and galactose were successfully employed as substrates. Various protecting groups such as acetyl, allyl, and benzyl were found to be stable under the reaction conditions. By using a deuterated reducing reagent, the reaction was deduced to proceed via an S_N1 mechanism.     

Mg-promoted reductive coupling of aromatic carbonyl compounds with trimethylsilyl chloride and bis(chlorodimethylsilyl) compounds

Mg-promoted reductive coupling of aromatic carbonyl compounds (1) with chlorosilanes, such as trimethylsilyl chloride (TMSCl:2), 1,2-bis(chlorodimethylsilyl)ethane (3) and 1,5-dichlorohexamethyltrisiloxane (4), in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at room temperature brought about selective and facile reductive formation of both of carbon-silicon and oxygen-silicon bonds to give the corresponding α-trimethylsilylalkyl trimethylsilyl ethers (5) and cyclic siloxanes (6), (7) in moderate to good yields, respectively. The present facile and selective coupling may be initiated through electron transfer from Mg metal to aromatic carbonyl compounds (1).     

Facile synthesis of aromatic unsymmetrical fluorine-containing acyloins through the reductive trifluoroacetylation of benzaldehyde and transposition of the carbonyl group

The reductive coupling reaction between benzaldehyde and ethyl trifluoroacetate in the presence of magnesium and chlorotrimethylsilane in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone gave the acetal of the corresponding coupling compound in good yields. The yield of the coupling product largely depended on the benzaldehyde concentration in the solution and it was essential to avoid the formation of pinacol type compounds in order to obtain the coupling product in high yields. The subsequent desilylation of the acetal using tetrabutylammonium fluoride easily yielded an acyloin compound as the sole product after the transposition of the carbonyl group through keto–enol tautomerism.     

Metal-free catalytic enantioselective silylation of aromatic aldehydes in water

One-step access to chiral α-hydroxysilanes by metal-free catalytic enantioselective silylation of aromatic aldehydes in water was achieved for the first time.     

Catalytic silylation of secondary alcohols by pyridine N-oxide derivative

The reaction of t-butyldiphenylsilyl (TBDPS) chloride with secondary alcohols was catalyzed by pyrrolidinopyridine N-oxide (PPYO) in the presence of diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) at room temperature, giving the corresponding TBDPS ethers in high yields.     

Facile synthesis of sulfur-substituted allenes by a three-component reaction

The three-component reaction of lithium alkylthiolate, 1-alkynylphosphine oxide and aldehyde in THF affords sulfur-substituted allenes in good to excellent yield.     

Pd-catalyzed oxidative homo-coupling of acrylates and aromatic alkenes for the conjugated diene synthesis

We developed a bidentate monoanionic nitrogen ligand that was effective in the Pd-catalyzed oxidative homo-coupling reaction of acrylates and aromatic alkenes. In the presence of Pd(OAc)₂/ligand several conjugated dienes were obtained in good yields with high stereoselectivities.     

Activation of silylphosphines by diethyl azodicarboxylate: novel silylation of alcohols

A novel activation mode of silylphosphines and an application of that to silylation of alcohols were described. Silylphosphines were found to be instantly activated by means of DEAD and PPTS to form reactive silyl cation equivalents. By using the activated species, silylation of alcohols successfully proceeded under mild acidic condition.     

The regio- and stereochemical course of reductive cross-coupling reactions between 1,3-disubstituted allenes and vinylsilanes: synthesis of (Z)-dienes

In investigations aimed at exploring the potential of disubstituted allenes in stereoselective synthesis, we report studies that explore the reductive cross-coupling reaction of vinylsilanes with a range of substituted allenes. Regiochemical control is attained by employing allenic alkoxides, where the proximal heteroatom dictates the site-selectivity in a process that proceeds by net formal metallo-[3,3] rearrangement (directed carbometalation/elimination). Stereoselectivity in these reactions is complex, with both the nature of allene substitution and relative stereochemistry of the substrate impacting the stereoselective generation of each alkene of a substituted 1,3-diene.     

Chromium(III) catalyzed synthesis of allenes from propargyl derivatives via a carbometalation-elimination sequence

The syn-carbometalation/syn-elimination of propargyl substrates to form allenes has been achieved using cationic chromium(III) catalysts activated by alkylaluminums. The mechanism and scope of this transformation are presented.     

Prediction of cathodic E1/21 and E1/22 values for viologen-containing conjugated unimers and dimers from calculated pKb values of the aromatic substituents

A library of 18 conjugated, rod-like compounds with either one or two viologen residues were synthesized and characterized electrochemically. Containing up to 8 aromatic/heterocyclic rings in conjugation, the members of the library differ in the substitution pattern of electron-withdrawing or -donating groups on the aromatic substituents of the viologen units. The first and second half-wave potentials of each member were found to be linearly correlated with the calculated pK_b values of the aromatic end-groups. This relationship will enable the half-wave potentials of related, novel, substituted viologen species to be predicted using a simple, empirical formula.     

Facile reductive oxy-Nazarov cyclization of 2-methoxy-2, 4-hexadienoates

Reduction of 2-methoxy-2, 4-hexadienoates with Dibal-H in toluene at ?78 °C resulted in a facile formation of 5-hydroxyl cyclopentenone derivatives. This novel transformation was proposed as a variant of the oxy-Nazarov cyclization of the corresponding 2-methoxy aldehyde intermediate via the cationic Al-chelate as depicted in Fig. 2a.     

Synthesis of allenes via CuBr-catalyzed homologation of alk-1-ynes accelerated by microwave

CuBr-catalyzed homologation of alk-1-ynes 1 with paraformaldehyde and N,N-diisopropylamine (or N,N-dicyclohexylamine) was accelerated by microwave irradiation at 150 °C to afford the corresponding allenes 2 in good to high yields in 1-10 min. Bisalkynes 5 and 7 were also converted to the corresponding bisallenes 6 and 8 in 63% and 61% yields, respectively, under the current condition.     

Reaction of magnesium alkylidene carbenoids with lithium acetylides and lithium thiolates: a novel synthesis of conjugated enynes and vinyl sulfides

Magnesium alkylidene carbenoids were generated from 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with i-PrMgCl at −78 °C in THF or toluene via the sulfoxide-magnesium exchange reaction. Reaction of the generated magnesium alkylidene carbenoids with lithium acetylides or lithium thiolates gave conjugated enynes or vinyl sulfides, respectively, in moderate to good yields. The intermediate of this reaction was found to be the alkenyl anion and it could be trapped with some electrophiles to give tetra-substituted conjugated enynes and vinyl sulfides.     

Facile synthesis of fluoroalkenes by palladium-catalyzed reductive defluorination of allylic gem-difluorides

Chemo- and stereoselective synthesis of fluoroalkenes was achieved in excellent yields via Pd-catalyzed C-F bond activation. In this transformation, Et3N plays a crucial role to produce reactive hydride species such as Ph(EtO)SiH2 and Ph(EtO)2SiH by promoting dehydrogenative coupling. The reaction proceeds efficiently at 50 degrees C with a variety of substrates and is also useful for the synthesis of fluoroalkene peptidomimetics.     

N-heterocyclic carbene enabled synthesis of conjugated polymers

The Suzuki polycondensation of a dihalogenated 4,5-diphenylimidazole (2) with a fluorenyl diboronic acid diester followed by methylation afforded a conjugated poly(imidazolium) copolymer (P2) in 93% yield. Upon exposure to strong base, P2 was converted in situ to the corresponding poly(N-heterocyclic carbene) P3, as evidenced by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and a trapping experiment involving sulfur that afforded the corresponding poly(thiourea) P4. Similarly, treating a solution of P2 with KOtBu and [Ir(1,5-cyclooctadiene)Cl]₂ afforded a conjugated polymer bearing pendant Ir complexes (P5) in 63% yield. Thermal and photophysical analyses of the aforementioned polymers revealed that they were thermally stable with tunable fluorescence properties, features which poise them for use in various electronic and sensing applications. The presented methodology is expected to facilitate the synthesis of a broad range conjugated organometallic polymers from a common and readily accessible precursor.     

Palladium- and base-free synthesis of conjugated ynones by cross-coupling reactions of alkynylboronates with acid chlorides mediated by CuCl

Alkynylboronates can be employed as a practical and versatile precursor for a variety of π-conjugated organic compounds. In the presence of Cu(I) salt, cross-coupling reactions of acid chlorides with alkynylboronates giving rise to the corresponding conjugated ynones takes place readily in aprotic polar solvents such as DMI under neutral conditions.     

The regiochemistry of the stannylcupration of allenes: synthesis of allylstannanes using the lower order cuprate (Bu3Sn)CuCNLi

The lower order cuprate (Bu₃Sn)CuCNLi, prepared by mixing 1 equiv of tributylstannyllithium and 1 equiv of copper(I) cyanide, reacts with allenes showing a regiochemistry opposite to that previously reported for higher order stannylcuprates. Capture of the intermediate allylstannane-vinylcuprate species with different electrophiles allows the selective formation of allylstannanes with different substitution pattern. Reaction with acetylenes was also checked.     

The first example for the asymmetric synthesis of allenes by the Doering-LaFlamme allene synthesis with enantiopure cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoids

The reaction of lithium α-sulfinyl carbanion of enantiopure dichloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds gave optically active 1-chlorocyclopropyl p-tolyl sulfoxides having a carbonyl group with high asymmetric induction from the sulfur chiral center. Reduction of the carbonyl group followed by treatment with Grignard reagent, the 1-chlorocyclopropyl p-tolyl sulfoxides resulted in the formation of enantiopure allenic alcohols via the Doering-LaFlamme-type rearrangement of enantiopure cyclopropylmagnesium carbenoid intermediates. This is the first example for the asymmetric synthesis of allenes by the Doering-LaFlamme allene synthesis.