Mild and efficient methods for the conversion of benzylic bromides to benzylic thiols

Very mild and efficient methods are established for the conversion of the benzylic bromides at room temperature to their corresponding benzylic thiols with high yields (94-99%) in 1 h under N₂.     

Efficient synthesis of 2-arylquinazolines via copper-catalyzed dual oxidative benzylic C–H aminations of methylarenes

A novel copper-catalyzed dual oxidative benzylic C–H aminations of methylarenes with 2-aminobenzoketones in the presence of ammonium acetate was developed. This reaction represents a new avenue for 2-arylquinazolines with good yields. A key intermediate was detected and the kinetics isotope effect(KIE) indicated that C–H bond cleavage was the rate-determining step.     

Ligand-free palladium-catalyzed intramolecular Heck reaction of secondary benzylic bromides

A facile ligand-free palladium-catalyzed intramolecular Heck reaction of β-hydrogen-containing secondary benzylic bromides was developed, which affords pyrroline derivatives with good regioselectivities.     

Mechanistic information on the copper-catalysed autoxidation of mercaptosuccinic acid in aqueous solution

Copper(II) ions react rapidly with sulfur from thiol groups, forming two distinct, intensely absorbing, short-lived intermediates, which decompose in a subsequent redox reaction to produce reduced copper and disulfides. In this study we report the results of a mechanistic study on the reaction between mercaptosuccinic acid, HO(2)CCH(2)CH(SH)CO(2)H, and Cu(2+)(aq) and [Cu(tren)H(2)O](2+), tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine. Spectroscopic and kinetic data indicate that in the presence of an excess of thiol, at least two distinct complexes are formed, with very different decomposition rate constants and an absorption maximum at 346 nm. Upon addition of thiol to [Cu(tren)H(2)O](2+)(1:1), a transient with a maximum at 380 nm appears, whereas in an excess of thiol this complex decomposes and again the 346 nm band is observed. The use of [Cu(tren)H(2)O](2+) enables to study the reaction of thiol with copper also in alkaline solution, where the rate of the overall process is slowed down greatly. The reactions were studied in detail, including the effect of dioxygen, and a possible reaction mechanism for the catalysed autoxidation process is proposed and discussed in reference to available literature data.     

Debromination of phenacyl and benzylic bromides with tertiary stibine and the mechanistic consideration

Tributylstibine is an efficient reagent for debromination of phenacyl and arylmethyl bromides. The mechanistic difference between stibine and phosphine is discussed briefly.     

Origin of byproducts during the catalytic autoxidation of cyclohexane

The formation of byproducts during the Co(acac)2 and Cr(acac)3-catalyzed cyclohexane autoxidation is compared with the noncatalyzed thermal process. CoII ions seem to cause only a moderate perturbation of the reaction mechanism, causing a fast conversion of the cyclohexyl hydroperoxide via a redox cycle, rather than via abstraction of the alphaH-atom by chain carrying peroxyl radicals. Nevertheless, both the radical propagation and the CoII-induced decomposition of the hydroperoxide cause the formation of cyclohexoxy radicals that are partially transformed to 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid, the major primary byproduct for these systems. However, during the CoII-catalyzed reaction, the concentration of cyclohexanone increases much faster than that of the hydroperoxide, causing the ketone to take over the role of dominant byproduct source. A mechanism for the conversion of cyclohexanone to ring-opened byproducts is put forward. Cr(acac)3 seems to catalyze additional reactions, some of them probably leading directly to byproducts. Indeed, the evolution of (by)products is significantly different from the CoII-catalyzed and the thermal systems, in the sense that they all seem to be primary in origin.     

Simple and efficient nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alkynylalanes with benzylic and aryl bromides

Highly efficient and simple coupling reactions of benzylic and aryl bromides with aluminium acetylide catalyzed by NiCl(2)(PPh(3))(2) are reported. The coupling reactions proceed at room temperature employing 4 mol% catalyst, affording coupling products in excellent yields of up to 95% in short reaction times. The system worked efficiently with aryl and heterocyclic bromides as well.     

Novel preparation of N-arylmethyl-N-arylmethyleneamine N-oxides from benzylic bromides with zinc and isobutyl nitrite

Treatment of benzylic bromides with Zn and LiCl, followed by the reaction with i-butyl nitrite gave N-arylmethyl-N-arylmethyleneamine N-oxides in moderate yields. The present reaction is a novel and simple method for the preparation of nitrones from benzylic bromides, although the yields are moderate.     

Highly efficient catalytic aerobic oxidations of benzylic alcohols in water

A highly efficient catalytic system without transition metals in water has been developed for aerobic oxidations of benzylic alcohols. The newly developed catalyst system could oxidize benzylic alcohols and heteroaromatic analogues with 1 mol % TEMPO as a catalyst and with a catalytic amount of 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and NaNO2 as cocatalysts. Under the optimal conditions, various alcohols could be converted into their corresponding aldehydes or ketones in high yields.     

Direct and selective benzylic oxidation of alkylarenes via C-H abstraction using alkali metal bromides

A direct benzylic oxidation of alkylarenes via C-H bond abstraction was developed using alkali metal bromides and oxidants under mild conditions. This reaction proceeded with excellent selectivity by thermal oxidation or photooxidation to provide a broad range of carbonyl compounds containing electron-deficient aryl carbonyl compounds in high yields.     

Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of benzylic zinc reagents with aromatic bromides, chlorides and tosylates

Benzylic zinc reagents prepared by direct insertion of zinc to benzylic chlorides in the presence of LiCl undergo smooth cross-coupling reactions with aromatic chlorides, bromides and tosylates using Ni(acac)(2) and PPh(3) as a catalyst system.     

Mechanistic studies on the catalytic reaction of piperidine with formaldehyde

Reaction of piperidine with formaldehyde over HY, -Al₂O₃ and acetic acid under liquid phase and/or gas phase conditions lead to picolines and higher alkylpyridines. Mechanistic aspects of the reaction are discussed.     

Reaction of thioxophosphorane sulfenyl bromides with ethyl vinyl ether: Mechanistic and synthetic aspects

The mechanistic and synthetic aspects of the addition reaction of thioxophosphorane sulfenyl bromide with ethyl vinyl ether were studied in detail by NMR techniques. It has been found that the regiospecific, primary product of the reaction, 1-bromo-1-ethoxy-2S(dialkoxythiophosphoryl)ethane I, is unstable and undergoes slow decomposition to give four compounds. The formation of thiophosphoryl derivatives, vinyl ethers II and III, aldehyde IV, and the symmetrical hemiacetal anhydride V, has been considered in terms of a carbocation intermediate. By choice of the appropriate reaction conditions, the aldehyde IV can be obtained in very high yield.     

Iron-catalyzed thioesterification of methylarenes with thiols in water

An iron-catalyzed coupling reaction of methylarenes with thiols leading to thioesters has been developed. The reactions were carried out in water with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxidant and polyoxyethanyl α-tocopheryl sebacate (PTS) as the surfactant. The reaction medium is compatible with a series of functional groups and can be reused.     

NaIO4-mediated selective oxidation of alkylarenes and benzylic bromides/alcohols to carbonyl derivatives using water as solvent

A new transition-metal-free, sodium metaperiodate (NaIO4)-mediated direct oxidation of methylarenes and benzylic bromides to the corresponding aromatic carboxylic acids is described. Under the same reaction conditions, benzylic alcohols are selectively oxidized to afford the corresponding aldehydes in good yields without undergoing overoxidation. Unprecedentedly, oxidation of benzyl bromide, toluene, or benzyl alcohol with NaIO4 underwent nuclear bromination followed by oxidation to give 4-bromobenzoic acid in 60-79% yields.