An FeCl3-catalyzed highly C3-selective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with alcohols

The FeCl₃-catalyzed C3-selective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles using allylic, benzylic and propargylic alcohols has been developed. The reaction was performed in the presence of a catalytic amount of inexpensive anhydrous FeCl₃ (10 mol %) in nitromethane under mild conditions. This method can also be used for the alkylation of pyrrole.     

An efficient FeCl3-catalyzed amidation reaction of secondary benzylic and allylic alcohols with carboxamides or p-toluenesulfonamide

A simple, inexpensive, environmentally friendly and high yielding amidation reaction of benzylic and allylic alcohols with primary amides using a catalytic amount of FeCl₃ (5 mol %) is described. Direct substitution of various amides such as benzamide, sulfonamide, acetamide and acrylamide is reported, and this method also works on a large scale in high yield.     

FeCl3-catalyzed propargylation of aromatic compounds with propargylic acetates

A new method for the synthesis of propargylated aromatic compounds is developed. The reaction was carried out at room temperature in the presence of a catalytic amount of FeCl₃ in acetonitrile, high product yields were obtained with excellent regioselectivity and the reaction proceeded smoothly without exclusion of moisture or air.     

First example of FeCl3-catalyzed alkylation of indoles with pinenes

Indoles undergo smooth alkylation with α- and β-pinenes in the presence of 20 mol % of anhydrous FeCl₃ under mild reaction conditions to produce a wide range of the corresponding 3-alkylated indoles in excellent yields with high trans-selectivity. This is the first example of alkylation of indoles with mono-terpenes.     

Alkylation of 2-methylquinoline with alcohols under additive-free conditions by Al2O3-supported Pt catalyst

Supported metal nanoparticle catalysts are studied for alkylation of 2-methylquinoline with benzyl alcohol under additive-free conditions in N₂ atmosphere. Among various metal-loaded Al₂O₃ catalysts and supported Pt catalysts, Pt metal nanocluster loaded-Al₂O₃ pre-reduced in H₂ at 500 °C shows highest yield (82%) of the product (2-phenethyl-quinoline). The catalyst is reusable, shows higher turnover number than a previous homogeneous catalyst, and shows good to moderate yield for alkylation of 2-methylquinoline with various alcohols. The reaction is driven by the borrowing-hydrogen pathway, in which aldehyde formed by dehydrogenation of alcohol undergoes aldol condensation with 2-methylquinoline to give the alkene intermediate which is finally hydrogenated by Pt-H species.     

PdCl2-catalyzed hydrosulfonamidation of homo allylic alcohols: an efficient synthesis of allylic sulfonamides

A new protocol for the palladium chloride-catalyzed direct hydrosulfonamidation of homoallylic alcohols with migration of the double bond is described. This method requires no preactivation of alcohols and the reaction is environmentally benign with water as the only by-product. Various homoallylic alcohols on hydrosulfonamidation with sulfonamides gave the corresponding products in good yields.     

Triethylborane as an efficient promoter for palladium-catalyzed allylation of active methylene compounds with allyl alcohols

Without prior activation of allyl alcohols, allylation of a variety of active methylene compounds with allyl alcohols proceeds smoothly at rt-50°C in the presence of catalytic amounts of Pd(OAc)₂ (1-10 mol%), Et₃B (30-240 mol%), a phosphine ligand (1-20 mol%), and a base (0 to 50-60 mol%).     

Solvent-free alkylation of dimethyl malonate using benzyl alcohols catalyzed by FeCl_3/SiO_2

Activated methylene compound such as dimethyl malonate reacted readily with benzylic alcohols in the presence of ferric chloride/silica gel mixture(FeCl_3/SiO_2) under microwave irradiation to produce benzylic derivative of dimethyl malonate in high yields in solvent-free condition.     

Knoevenagel reaction: alum-mediated efficient green condensation of active methylene compounds with arylaldehydes

Abstract

A solvent-free stirred mixture of active methylene compounds, arylaldehyde and 10 mol% alum at 80°C afforded Knoevenagel products in excellent yields. The use of a green catalyst, the solvent-free conditions, and shorter reaction times are the main features of this efficient protocol.     

A simple and efficient hydrogenation of benzyl alcohols to methylene compounds using triethylsilane and a palladium catalyst

Hydrogenolysis of benzyl alcohols using triethylsilane (Et₃SiH) and a catalytic amount of palladium(II) chloride (PdCl₂) is described. The reaction takes place under mild conditions affording high yields of the corresponding methylene compounds in short reaction times.     

Modifying bipolar membranes with palygorskite and FeCl3

To explore a more function-stable and energy-efficient bipolar membrane, palygorskite and FeCl₃ were added at the intermediate layer as water-splitting catalysts. As proven, the two materials have a synergetic effect on water splitting. Particularly, the bipolar membrane modified with 5 g dm⁻³ palygorskite and 0.005 mol dm⁻³ FeCl₃ can achieve a voltage drop of 0.68 V at 100 mA cm⁻² and loses only 14.7 μg of Fe after an electrodialysis operation at 100 mA cm⁻² for 660 min. Obviously, palygorskite can protect ferric ions from significant loss, which makes the membrane stable in the performance of water splitting. Nevertheless, how palygorskite immobilizes ferric ions is still under investigation.     

FeCl3-catalyzed alkylation of indoles with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds: an expedient synthesis of 3-substituted indoles

Indoles undergo smooth alkylation at the 3-position with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in the presence of 20 mol % of FeCl₃ under mild reaction conditions to produce a wide range of 3-substituted indoles in excellent yields and with high E-selectivity.     

Unexpected results in the reaction of active methylene compounds with phenylsulfonyl-1,2-propadiene triggered by triphenylphosphine

Some unexpected phenomena were observed in the reaction of active methylene compounds with phenylsulfonyl-1,2-propadiene in the presence of Ph₃P. The reaction gave three types of products: Michael adducts, rearranged adducts or a three-component adduct. It could be explained as an interesting phosphine-triggered, sulfinate anion-catalyzed reaction.     

Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed alkylation of indoles with propargyl alcohols: an expeditious synthesis of 3-substituted indoles

Indoles undergo smooth alkylation with propargylic alcohols in the presence of 10 mol % of scandium triflate under mild conditions to produce 3-propargylated indoles in excellent yields with high selectivity.     

Ytterbium triflate hydrate catalyzed Michael addition and cyclocondensation of α,β-unsaturated ketones with active methylene compounds

Catalyzed by ytterbium(Ⅲ) triflate hydrate [Yb(OTf)3.xH2O], the Michael addition and cycloeondensation of α,β-unsaturated ketones with active methylene compounds to afford the 1,4-adducts and benzo[b]pyran derivatives, respectively were studied.     

Expeditious reaction of ninhydrin with active methylene compounds on montmorillonite K10 clay

Abstract  Ninhydrin reacted expeditiously with thirteen active methylene compounds on montmorillonite K10 clay at room temperature to furnish, in 5 min, a Knoevenagel condensate in one case, aldols in six cases, aldol-derived cyclic hemiketals in three cases, and interesting products in the remaining three cases. Almost identical results were obtained, but faster, when the reactions were carried out in water on steam-bath. The structures of two novel products were also confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Graphical abstract        

Heteropoly acid-catalyzed highly efficient alkylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with benzylic and propargylic alcohols

Various 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds reacted readily with benzylic and propargylic alcohols in the presence of 10 mol % of phosphomolybdic acid supported on silica gel (PMA/SiO₂) under mild reaction conditions to produce 2-benzylic- and 2-propargylic-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in excellent yields and with high selectivity.     

A mild and efficient acetylation of alcohols, phenols and amines with acetic anhydride using La(NO3)3·6H2O as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions

A wide variety of alcohols, phenols and amines are efficiently and selectively converted into the corresponding acetates by treatment with acetic anhydride in the presence of catalytic amounts of La(NO₃)₃·6H₂O under solvent-free conditions at room temperature. The method is compatible with acid sensitive hydroxyl protecting groups such as TBDMS, THP, OBz, OBn, Boc and some isopropylidenes and offers excellent yields of the mono acetates of 1,3-, 1,4- and 1,5-diols.     

Wet carbon-based solid acid/potassium permanganate as an efficient heterogeneous reagents for oxidation of alcohols under mild conditions

Wet carbon-based solid acid and potassium permanganate were used as new reagents for oxidation of alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones in heterogeneous mixtures. The experiments were done moderately at mild condition and high yields in suitable times were obtained.     

Combination of NH2OH·HCl and NaIO4: a new and mild oxidizing agent for selective oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds

A new method for oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds has been developed using NH₂OH·HCl and NaIO₄ under mild reaction conditions at room temperature. Application of the method for the synthesis of diiodo compound from α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound is also described.