Efficient Transformation of Nitrile into Amide under Mild Condition

Transformation of various kinds of nitriles into the corresponding amides or amide salts was performed in good yields by the addition of two equiv of chlorotrimethylsilane and three equiv of water at 0℃ to room temperature. Hydrogen halide generated in situ by TMSX and water is an important reaction especially when HX is needed in requisite amount and under dry reaction conditions. As part of our endeavor to utilize HX thus generated, we have found TMSC1 and water can be used for transformation of nitriles into amides under very mild reaction conditions and with satisfactory yields. Interestingly, under the condition of hydration of nitrile, ester of carboxylic acid remains intact. Although there are several reports in the literature to bring about the same transformation, however, a new approach is still significant and needed. Moreover, most of the reported methods have not been proven in general and practical in scope. This paper reports the hydration of a series aliphatic as well as aromatic nitriles into amides at 0℃ to room temperature for only two to four hours. Solvent is not needed in this transformation. Attempts to use THF, MeNO₂, or CH₂Cl₂ as the solvent results in poor yields. Protonation of the nitrile by HCl, generated in situ from TMSC1 and half equiv of H₂O, and followed by nucleophilic attack by another equiv of H₂O to form the amide salt seems to be the possible pathway for this reaction. Ideally, the molar ratio for RCN/TMSC1/H₂O is 1:1:1.5. Use of little excess of the reagents (0.2 to 0.5 equiv) leads to completion of this reaction in 10 to 12 h. To compensate the escape of HCl generated in situ, one more equiv of HCl is generally used in this reaction. No further hydrolysis of amide to the carboxylic acid was observed in the presence of one more equiv of water.     

Oxidation of disulfides with Selectfluor™: concise syntheses of thiosulfonates and sulfonyl fluorides

The reaction of aromatic or benzylic disulfides with 2.5 equiv of Selectfluor™ in acetonitrile/water (10:1) at room temperature efficiently produced the corresponding thiosulfonates. On the other hand, the reaction of disulfides with 6.5 equiv of Selectfluor™ in refluxing acetonitrile/water (10:1) provided sulfonyl fluoride in high yields.     

Oxidation of disulfides with electrophilic halogenating reagents: concise methods for preparation of thiosulfonates and sulfonyl halides

The reaction of aromatic or benzylic disulfides with 2.5 equiv of Selectfluor™ in acetonitrile/water (10:1) at room temperature efficiently produced the corresponding thiosulfonates. Conversely, the reaction of disulfides with 6.5 equiv of Selectfluor™ or thiosulfonates with 4.5 equiv of Selectfluor™ in refluxing acetonitrile/water (10:1) provided sulfonyl fluorides in high yields. Accufluor™ and FP-T300™ are also effective in preparing sulfonyl fluorides from disulfides under the similar reaction conditions. Sulfonyl chlorides or sulfonyl bromides were effectively obtained from the reaction of disulfides with 6 equiv of either N-chlorosuccinimide or N-bromosuccinimide in acetonitrile/water (10:1) at room temperature. Some other electrophilic chlorinating or brominating reagents are also able to be used instead of N-chlorosuccinimide or N-bromosuccinimide for the syntheses of sulfonyl halides from disulfides. These reactions of disulfides with electrophilic halogenating reagents are convenient methods to prepare thiosulfonates and sulfonyl halides.     

Palladium-catalyzed mono-N-allylation of unprotected amino acids with 1,1-dimethylallyl alcohol in water

Palladium-catalyzed N-allylation of unprotected amino acids with 1,1-dimethylallyl alcohol were carried out. The reaction in the presence of Pd(OAc)(2) (5 mol%), sodium diphenylphosphinobenzene-3-sulfonate (TPPMS, 10 mol%), and AcONa (2 equiv) in water at 120 °C for 16 h in a sealed tube gave only mono-N-allylated amino acids in good yield.     

The role of proton donors in SmI2-mediated ketone reduction: new mechanistic insights

The effects of proton donors (alcohols and water) on the rate of reduction of acetophenone by SmI2 have been examined utilizing stopped-flow spectrophotometric studies. The rate orders with respect to proton source and the kinetic isotope effects were determined as well. The reaction was first-order in phenol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, methanol, and ethanol and zero-order in 2-propanol and 2-methyl-2-propanol when 25 equiv of proton source were used in the reduction. Methanol, ethanol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, and phenol also showed a direct correlation between the pKa of the alcohol and the rate of reduction. Under the same conditions, water had a fractional rate order of 1.4. Further studies showed that water has a rate order of 1 at lower concentrations (<8 equiv) and a rate order of 2 at higher concentrations (>80 equiv). These results clearly indicate that the nature of the proton donor and its concentration affects the rates of reduction. Water has a high affinity for SmI2 (compared to that of the alcohols), and the onset of coordination at relatively low concentrations channels the reaction through a mechanistically distinct pathway.     

Evolution of iridium-based molecular catalysts during water oxidation with ceric ammonium nitrate

Organometallic iridium complexes have been reported as water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) in the presence of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN). One challenge for all WOCs regardless of the metal used is stability. Here we provide evidence for extensive modification of many Ir-based WOCs even after exposure to only 5 or 15 equiv of Ce(IV) (whereas typically 100-10000 equiv are employed during WOC testing). We also show formation of Ir-rich nanoparticles (likely IrO(x)) even in the first 20 min of reaction, associated with a Ce matrix. A combination of UV-vis and NMR spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction is used. Even simple IrCl(3) is an excellent catalyst. Our results point to the pitfalls of studying Ir WOCs using CAN.     

An efficient approach for monofluorination via aqueous fluorolactonization reaction of 2,3-allenoic acids with selectfluor

We have developed a convenient method for the efficient monofluorination via the electrophilic fluorocyclization reaction of 2,3-allenoic acids with Selectfluor in MeCN in the presence of 10 equiv of H2O or even in pure water to afford beta-fluorobutenolides in moderate to high yields.     

A new protocol for in situ dioxirane reactions: stoichiometric in oxone and catalytic in fluorinated acetophenones

[reaction: see text] Dioxiranes made in situ from the commercially available tetrafluoroacetophenones (7, 8) and pentafluoroacetophenone (9) are reported for highly efficient epoxidation of olefins for the first time. Studies showed that ketone 7, 8, or 9 can be used in catalytic amount (0.2 equiv) with only 0.6 equiv of Oxone (equal to 1.2 equiv of peroxymonosulfate) to selectively oxidize diene 1 to epoxide 2. The epoxidation reactions of dioxiranes of fluoroacetophenones are compared with the recently described complementary aliphatic acyclic fluorinated ketones.     

A One-Pot Synthesis of Dimethyl 2,3-O-Benzylidene-L-tartrate from L-Tartaric Acid

An economical one-pot synthesis of (-)-dimethyl 2,3-O-benzylidene-L-tartrate [(4R, 5S)-4,5-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane] and its enantiomer from the corresponding tartaric acids is reported in 83-91% yield. The desired benzylidene tartrate is obtained by reaction of tartaric acid and benzaldehyde (1.5 equiv) in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid in methanol followed by the addition of 3 equiv of trimethyl orthoformate, which reacts with the water generated in the reaction.     

Efficient sensitized photooxygenation in water by a porphyrin-cyclodextrin supramolecular complex

[reaction: see text] The 2:1 inclusion complex between (2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (TMbetaCD) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)-porphyrin (TPPS(4)) behaves as a supramolecular sensitizer in water providing photooxygenation with turnover numbers up to 30,000 with a very minor sensitizer bleaching (<10%). The protocol, which employs only 4 equiv of the cyclodextrin additive with respect to the porphyrin sensitizer (5 x 10(-7) M), leads to high yield oxidation of model biomolecules such as l-methionine methyl ester and uracil and is also effective for phenol degradation in aqueous solution.     

Photoreduction of benzophenones by amines in room-temperature ionic liquids

[reaction: see text] The amine-mediated photoreduction of benzophenones in room temperature ionic liquids was investigated. Unlike the analogous reaction in organic solvents, the photoreduction produces mainly the corresponding benzhydrol in most cases. Because the reaction consumes only 1 equiv of amine and the solvent can be easily recycled, the photoreduction allows a very clean method for the conversion of benzophenones to benzhydrols.     

Chirality multiplication and efficient chirality transfer in exo- and endo-radical cyclization reactions of 4-(4'-iodobutyl)quinolones

[reaction: see text] Enantioselective radical cyclization reactions were performed in the presence of chiral complexing agent 1. The title compounds 3 yielded, depending on the 3'-substitution (R = H, Me), the corresponding endo- (4) or exo-product (5). The highest enantioselectivities (99% and 94% ee) were achieved with 2.5 equiv of complexing agent. The cyclization product trans-4 was obtained in 55% ee in the presence of only 0.1 equiv of complexing agent.     

Assembled catalyst of palladium and non-cross-linked amphiphilic polymer ligand for the efficient heterogeneous Heck reaction

The efficient heterogeneous Heck reaction was achieved by a new networked and supramolecular catalyst PdAS-V (1b). Employing of PdAS-V in 5.0×10⁻⁵ mol equiv. efficiently progressed the heterogeneous Heck reaction of a series of aryl iodides with acrylates, styrenes and acrylic acid. PdAS-V was successfully recycled five times without any decrease in its activity, and showed good stability in toluene and water, and hence the Heck reaction was efficiently performed in both reaction media. The use of 8.0×10⁻⁷ mol equiv. of PdAS-V resulted in the coupling product in 92% yield with the turnover number (TON) and the turnover frequency (TOF) of PdAS-V reached up to 1,150,000 and 12,000, respectively. The efficient synthesis of resveratrol was achieved via the PdAS-V-promoted Heck reaction.     

Direct acetoxylation and etherification of anilides using phenyliodine bis(trifluoroacetate)

Treatment of various anilides with 1.5 equiv. of phenyliodine bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA) and 1.0 equiv. of BF(3)·OEt(2) in AcOH at room temperature afforded the corresponding para-acetoxylated products with high regioselectivity. In addition, this reaction could be expanded to the etherification of anilides. In the presence of 2.0 equiv. of PIFA and 2.0 equiv. of BF(3)·OEt(2), the reaction of anilides with alcohols provided the corresponding para-etherified products in good yields.     

Direct formation of cyclobutenylphosphonates from 1-alkynylphosphonates and Cp2ZrCl2/2EtMgCl/2CuCl

Zirconacycles 2 prepared from 1-alkynylphosphonates 1, zirconocene dichloride, and 2 equiv of EtMgCl are smoothly converted into cyclobutenylphosphonates 3 when treated with two equiv of CuCl in 65-81% isolated yield. The reaction is specific and general only for zirconacyclopentenyl phosphonates.     

A general synthetic route to 6,6-substituted-6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyrans from dibenzofuran

The reaction of dibenzofuran 1, lithium pieces (2.2 equiv), and TMEDA (2.2 equiv) in dry ether under reflux led to a solution of the corresponding C,O-dilithiated intermediate 2 which, upon treatment with different ketones or aldehydes (0.8 equiv) at -78 degrees C, afforded, after hydrolysis and dehydration, 6,6-substituted-6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyrans 3 in good yields. The reaction undergoes reductive ring opening and cyclization, and the intermediate diol 4e was isolated.     

TiCl4-promoted cyclization reactions of aminoacetals and ethenetricarboxylates leading to nitrogen-containing heterocycles

Lewis acid-catalyzed cyclization of aminoacetals 2 and triethyl ethenetricarboxylate (1a) has been examined. The reaction of 3-aminopropionaldehyde diethyl acetal (2a) and 1a in the presence of 1 equiv of TiCl(4) at room temperature gave 4-ethoxypiperidine-2,3,3-tricarboxylate 3a in 92% yield with a 2,4-diastereomer ratio of 1:1. The reaction in the presence of 3 equiv of TiCl(4) gave 2,4-trans-piperidine derivative 3a in 86% yield predominantly. The reaction of aminoacetaldehyde diethyl/dimethyl acetals 2c,d and 1a with 3 equiv of TiCl(4) gave 2,4-trans-4-pyrrolidine-2,3,3-tricarboxylates 5a,b predominantly.     

Additive effects in palladium-indium mediated Barbier type allylations

The effect of adding 1 equiv. of an amine or 0.2 equiv. of CuI to a Pd/In bimetallic cascade reaction is described. In the class 1 cascade reaction of aldehydes, aryl iodides and allene, generating homoallylic alcohols, the reaction time is reduced from 16 to 2 h and is accompanied by an impressive increase in yield.     

Tetraorganoindates as nucleophilic coupling partners in Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions

In situ-generated tetraorganoindate complexes from the reaction of 1 equiv of indium trichloride with 4 equiv of appropriate organometallics are efficient nucleophiles in Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. In this novel reaction tetraorganoindates containing methyl, 1 degree- and 2 degree-alkyl, vinyl, alkynyl, and aryl groups transfer the four organic groups to a variety of electrophiles with high atom efficiency. [reaction: see text]     

N,1-(15)N2]-2'-deoxyadenosines

[reaction: see text] An efficient route to deoxyadenosine derivatives labeled on both the amino group and nitrogen 1 is uncovered. First, 3',5'-di-O-acetyl-2'-deoxy-1-(2-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)inosine (2a) and only 1.1 equiv of (15)NH4Cl are used for labeling position 1 (1a) through the isolation of the open intermediate and its cyclization with DBU in anhydrous CH3CN. Inosine 1a is then converted to [N,1-(15)N2]-3',5'-di-O-acetyl-N6-benzoyl-2'-deoxyadenosine (5a, the precursor of 6a) via a Pd/dppf-catalyzed chloride-to-benzamide replacement, by using again only 1.1 equiv of the labeling source.