Rhodium‐Catalyzed [3+2+2] and [2+2+2] Cycloadditions of Two Alkynes with Cyclopropylideneacetamides

It has been established that a cationic rhodium(I)/H₈‐binap complex catalyzes the [3+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,6‐diynes with cyclopropylideneacetamides to produce cycloheptadiene derivatives through cleavage of cyclopropane rings. In contrast, a cationic rhodium(I)/(S)‐binap complex catalyzes the enantioselective [2+2+2] cycloaddition of terminal alkynes, acetylenedicarboxylates, and cyclopropylideneacetamides to produce spiro‐cyclohexadiene derivatives which retain the cyclopropane rings.     

Pd(II)-catalyzed acetal/ketal hydrolysis/exchange reactions

PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂ catalyzes the hydrolysis of dioxolane acetals and ketals in moist CH₃CN, while in acetoze, efficient and more reproducible exchange reactions take place.     

Self-Organization of a Binuclear Ruthenium Complex to Tetra- and Octanuclear Catalysts for Water Oxidation for “Artificial Photosynthesis”

The kinetics and mechanism of the action of tetra- and octanuclear ruthenium catalysts for water oxidation with Ce(IV) compounds in “artificial photosynthesis” have been studied. These catalysts are formed from a complex K₄[Ru₂(SO₄)₂(μ-SO₄)₂(μ-O)₂] · 2H₂O in an acidic medium via its self-organization. A tetranuclear adamantane-like cluster Ru₄O₆ is obtained during the dimerization of a binuclear complex and catalyzes the four-electron water oxidation to an oxygen molecule. An octanuclear cluster Ru₈O₁₂ is formed during the tetramerization of a binuclear complex and catalyzes the eight-electron water oxidation to an oxozone molecule O₄, which readily splits to two oxygen molecules.     

Highly regioselective hydroselenation and double-bond isomerization of terminal alkynes with benzeneselenol catalyzed by bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) dichloride

Bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) dichloride (PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂) catalyzes regioselective addition of benzeneselenol to terminal alkynes and the subsequent double-bond isomerization to afford the corresponding internal alkenyl selenides in good yields.     

Catalyzed oxidation of alcohols and aldehydes with iodosylbenzene

RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ catalyzes oxidation of alcohols to carbonyi compounds by iodosylbenzene and that of aldehydes to carboxylic acids. Catalyzed oxidation of primary alcohols with phenyliodosodiacetate affords aldehydes.     

Chemoselective Transfer Hydrogenation of Carbonyl Compounds Catalyzed by Macrocyclic Nickel (II)Complex

Macrocyclic Ni(II) complex, 1, catalyzes efficiently the chemoselective transfer reduction of carbonyl compounds in presence of propan-2-ol / KOH or HCO₂H / HCO₂NH₄ as hydrogen donors to produce the corresponding alcohols in high yield.     

Silphox [POCl3−n (SiO2) n ] as a New,Efficient, and Heterogeneous Reagent for the Synthesis of Benzimidazole Derivatives Under Microwave Irradiation

Silphox [POCl_3-n(SiO₂)_n] efficiently catalyzes the condensation of benzene-1,2-diamine with mono and dicarboxylic acids under microwave irradiation to afford benzimidazole derivatives in high yields and short reaction times.     

MgBr2 · OEt2: A Lewis Acid Catalyst for the O- and N-Boc Protection of Phenols and Amines

MgBr₂ · OEt₂ efficiently catalyzes the O- and N-tert-butoxycarbonylation of functionalized phenols and amines. The presented procedure is operationally simple and done under solvent-free conditions.     

High yield thiolation of iodobenzene catalyzed by the phosphinite nickel PCP pincer complex: [NiCl{C6H3-2,6-(OPPh2)2}]

[NiCl{C₆H₃-2,6-(OPPh₂)₂}] efficiently catalyzes the thiolation of iodobenzene with a broad scope of disulfides in the presence of zinc, the coupled products are obtained in excellent and in many cases nearly quantitative yields.     

Oxidation/reduction interconversion of thiols and disulfides using hydrogen and oxygen catalyzed by a rhodium complex

RhH(PPh₃)₄ catalyzes reduction of disulfides to thiols by hydrogen and RhH(PPh₃)₄/1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (dppb) catalyzes oxidation of thiols to disulfides by oxygen.     

Efficient ligand-free nickel-catalyzed C-S cross-coupling of thiols with aryl iodides

NiCl₂·6H₂O efficiently catalyzes the C-S bond formation by the cross-coupling of aryl iodides with thiols in tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) in excellent yield. The reaction functions in air and the NiLn-TBAB can be recovered and recycled without the loss of activity.     

Barbier coupling in water: SnCl2-mediated and Co(acac)2-catalyzed allylation of carbonyls

Co(acac)₂·2H₂O efficiently catalyzes SnCl₂-mediated Barbier coupling in water between carbonyls, including aromatic, aliphatic and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, ketones, sugars and allyl bromide to afford the corresponding homoallylic alcohols in high yields. The catalyst was reused for several cycles with consistent activity.     

Knoevenagel condensation of aldehydes with active methylene compounds catalyzed by MgC2O4/SiO2 under microwave irradiation and solvent-free conditions

MgC₂O₄/SiO₂ catalyzes the efficient Knoevenagel condensation of aldehydes with active methylene compounds in solvent-free conditions under microwave irradiation to give alkenes derivatives in excellent yields. MgC₂O₄/SiO₂ can be reusable for Knoevenagel condensation. However, ketones have been found to be unsatisfactory in the reaction under the same conditions.     

Cerium(III) Chloride Heptahydrate (CeCl<Subscript>3</Subscript> · 7H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O) as an Efficient Enamination Catalyst in Aqueous Media

Cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate CeCl₃ · H₂O catalyzes enamination of β-dicarbonyl compounds with primary amines in aqueous medium at room temperature to afford the corresponding β-enamino ketones with high chemoselectivity.     

Ferric Sulphate Hydrate–Catalyzed,Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of 2,3‐Unsaturated O‐Glycosides via the Ferrier Reaction

Fe₂(SO₄)₃ · xH₂O catalyzes the Ferrier reaction of per‐O‐acetylated/benzylated glycals with alcohols to give 2,3‐unsaturated α‐glycosides in a few minutes under microwave irradiation.     

Microwave-assisted iridium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of resin-bound dipropargylamine with alkynes

The [Ir(COD)Cl]₂/dppe system effectively catalyzes the solid-phase [2+2+2] cycloaddition of resin-bound dipropargylamine with alkynes under microwave conditions. The reaction results in high purity of isoindoline derivatives with moderate yields.     

A new ruthenium-catalyzed cyclopropanation of alkenes using propargylic acetates as a precursor of vinylcarbenoids

[RuCl₂(CO)₃]₂ catalyzes intermolecular cyclopropanation of various alkenes with propargylic acetates to give vinylcycloropanes in good yields. The key intermediate of this reaction is a vinylcarbene complex generated by nucleophilic attack of the carbonyl oxygen of the acetate to an internal carbon of alkyne activated by the ruthenium complex.     

Reductive dimerization of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate catalyzed by [Rh(binap)(MeOH)2]ClO4 in methanol

Cationic Rh(I) complex [Rh(binap)(MeOH)₂]ClO₄ catalyzes reductive dimerization of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates 1 to give 1,2,3,4-tetrakis(alkoxycarbonyl)-1,3-butadienes 2 in methanol selectively.     

Nickel-catalyzed reductive electrocarboxylation of disubstituted alkynes

Electrochemically reduced Ni(bipy)₃(BF₄)₂ catalyzes the reaction of carbon dioxide with disubstituted alkynes to yield mono- and di-carboxylated derivatives. The reaction is performed under mild conditions in an undivided cell fitted with a sacrificial magnesium anode.     

Metalloproteins/metalloenzymes for the synthesis of acetyl-CoA in the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway

This paper focuses on the group of metalloproteins/metalloenzymes in the acetyl-coenzyme A synthesis pathway of anaerobic microbes called Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, including formate dehydrogenase (FDH), corrinoid iron sulfur protein (CoFeSP), acetyl-CoA synthase (ACS) and CO dehydrogenase (CODH). FDH, a key metalloenzyme involved in the conversion of carbon dioxide to methyltetrahydrofolate, catalyzes the reversible oxidation of formate to carbon dioxide. CoFeSP, as a methyl group transformer, accepts the methyl group from CH₃-H₄ folate and then transfers it to ACS. CODH reversibly catalyzes the reduction of CO₂ to CO and ACS functions for acetyl-coenzyme A synthesis through condensation of the methyl group, CO and coenzyme A, to finish the whole pathway. This paper introduces the structure, function and reaction mechanisms of these enzymes.