Synthesis of symmetric 1,4-diamino-2-butynes via a Cu(I)-catalyzed one-pot A3-coupling/decarboxylative coupling of a propiolic acid, an aldehyde, and an amine

A novel microwave-assisted approach for the one-pot Cu(I)-catalyzed A(3)-coupling/decarboxylative coupling (PA(2)-coupling) of a propiolic acid, an aldehyde, and an amine, resulting in the formation of diversely substituted 1,4-diamino-2-butynes,is described. It is noteworthy that this new multicomponent coupling provides an efficient access to introduce alkyl and aryl group at the 1,4-position of the 1,4-diamino-2-butynes.     

Reactivity of 3-silyloxy-1,4-enynes: Gold(III)-catalyzed regioselective nucleophilic substitution

Gold-catalyzed reactions of 3-silyloxy-1,4-enynes with alcohols afford primary, secondary, and tertiary pent-2-en-4-ynyl ethers in moderate to excellent yields. The substitution proceeds with high regioselectivity. An initial cyclization providing five-membered carbocycles instead was not observed under the reaction conditions. Control experiments show that these reactions are also catalyzed by Brønsted- and Lewis-acids, although scope and yields are markedly reduced.     

Cu(I)-catalyzed tandem benzyldiazoester coupling with terminal alkyne-allene formation-Michael reaction: application to the syntheses of oxa and azacycles

A simple and practical procedure for the synthesis of aza- and oxacycles, which possess an array of stereogenic functionalities, is described. This protocol relies on tandem Cu-catalyzed coupling of suitably functionalized terminal alkyne with diazoester followed by isomerization and subsequent aza or oxa-Michael reaction, thus generating the required scaffold with high diastereoselectivity.     

Copper(I)-catalyzed synthesis of 1,3-enynes via coupling between vinyl halides and alkynes or domino coupling of vinyl halides

1,3-Enynes were easily prepared from coupling between vinyl halides and alkynes or domino coupling of vinyl halides in the presence of copper iodide. It is noteworthy that the double-bond geometry of the vinyl halides was retained during the reaction. This ligand-free protocol is potentially useful and practical.     

Cu(I)-catalyzed decarboxylative aldol-type and Mannich-type reactions for asymmetric construction of contiguous trisubstituted and quaternary stereocenters

The catalytic asymmetric decarboxylative aldol-type reaction between aldehydes and cyanocarboxylic acids and Mannich-type reaction between aldimines and cyanocarboxylic acids were developed. α,α,β-Trisubstituted-β-hydroxy nitriles bearing contiguous all-carbon quaternary and trisubstituted stereocenters were produced with moderate enantio- and diastereoselectivity in the presence of 10 mol % CuOAc–TANIAPHOS (or DTBM-SEGPHOS) complex in the aldol-type reaction. α,α,β-Trisubstituted-β-amino nitriles containing contiguous all-carbon quaternary and trisubstituted stereocenters were produced with moderate to high enantio- and diastereoselectivity using 5 mol % CuOAc–(R)-DTBM-SEGPHOS complex in the Mannich-type reaction. These reactions proceed through Cu(I)-catalyzed decarboxylative nucleophile generation, followed by the addition of the resulting chiral Cu-ketenimide to aldehydes or imines. Because the reactions proceed under very mild conditions at nearly neutral pH, the reactions are applicable to a wide range of substrate combinations, including both aromatic and aliphatic substrates. Finally, α,α,β-trisubstituted-β-amino nitriles were converted to β^2,2,3-amino acid derivatives through simple acidic hydrolysis without any racemization and epimerization.     

Gold(I)-catalyzed intermolecular addition of carbon nucleophiles to 1,5- and 1,6-enynes

Gold(I)-catalyzed addition of carbon nucleophiles to 1,6-enynes gives two different type of products by reaction at the cyclopropane or at the carbene carbons of the intermediate cyclopropyl gold carbenes. The 5-exo-dig cyclization is followed by most 1,6-enynes, although those bearing internal alkynes and alkenes react by the 6-endo-dig pathway. The cyclopropane versus carbene site-selectivity can be controlled in some cases by the ligand on the gold catalyst. In addition to electron-rich arenes and heteroarenes, allylsilanes and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds can be used as the nucleophiles. In the reaction of 1,5-enynes with carbon nucleophiles, the 5-endo-dig pathway is preferred.     

Addition reaction of zinc acetylides to thioiminium salts leading to 3-amino-1-sulfenyl-1,4-enynes

The reaction of thioiminium salts with zinc acetylides took place at 60 °C to give 3-amino-1-sulfenyl-1,4-enynes in moderate to good yields. Two molecules of acetylides were incorporated into the products. Nucleophilic attack of zinc acetylides to thioiminium salts may initially occur to form alkynyl S,N-acetals, followed by their [1,3]-rearrangement to give 3-sulfenyl-1-aminoallenes.     

Cu(I)-catalyzed cycloguanidination of olefins

This paper describes a novel cycloguanidination process using CuCl as catalyst and diaziridinimines as the nitrogen source. A variety of conjugated dienes, trienes, and terminal olefins can be effectively diaminated under mild reaction conditions. For dienes and trienes, the reaction occurs at the terminal double bond with high regioselectivity.     

A domino desulfitative coupling and decarboxylative coupling of 3, 4-dihydropyrimidine-2-thiones with copper(I) carboxylates

A novel and general carbon-nitrogen and carbon-carbon cross-coupling reaction between 3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2-thiones and copper(I) carboxylates were performed in the presence of palladium acetate. The copper(I) carboxylates act not only as desulfurative reagents but also as sources of carbon nucleophiles. A wide array of highly substituted and functionalized pyrimidines scaffolds were synthesized in good yields.     

Unusual gold(I)-catalyzed isomerization of 3-hydroxylated 1,5-enynes: highly substrate-dependent reaction manifolds

[reaction: see text] The gold(I) isomerization of diversely substituted 3-hydroxylated enynes has led to the discovery of three new unreported skeletal rearrangements furnishing structures such as alkylidene-cyclopentenes, cyclohexadienes or alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes under very mild conditions.     

Gold(I)-catalyzed cyclizations of 1,6-enynes: alkoxycyclizations and exo/endo skeletal rearrangements

Gold(I) complexes are the most active catalysts for alkoxy- or hydroxycyclization and for skeletal rearrangement reactions of 1,6-enynes. Intramolecular alkoxycyclizations also proceed efficiently in the presence of gold(I) catalysts. The first examples of the skeletal rearrangement of enynes by the endocyclic cyclization pathway are also documented. Iron(III) is also able to catalyze exo and endo skeletal rearrangements of 1,6-enynes, although the scope of this transformation is more limited. The gold(I)-catalyzed endocyclic cyclization proceeds by a mechanism different from those followed in the presence of PdII, HgII, or RhI catalysts.     

Nature of the intermediates in gold(I)-catalyzed cyclizations of 1,5-enynes

The carbene or carbocationic nature of the intermediates in the gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 1,5-enynes can be revealed, depending on the ligands on the gold catalysts. Gold complexes with highly electron-donating ligands promote reactions that proceed via intermediates with carbene-like character, leading to products with a bicyclo[3.1.0]hexene skeleton. The intermediate cyclopropyl endo-gold carbenes formed in this cyclization have been trapped, for the first time, to give biscyclopropane derivatives in a reaction that proceeds in a concerted fashion, according to DFT calculations.     

Facile synthesis of 2-(phenylthio)phenols by copper(I)-catalyzed tandem transformation of C-S coupling/C-H functionalization

2-(Phenylthio)phenols were successfully synthesized from simple phenols and aromatic halides by using dimethyl sulfoxide as the oxidant. The transformation was accomplished via tandem copper(I)-catalyzed C-S coupling/C-H functionalization employing the CuI/L [L = (E)-3-(dimethylamino)-1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one] catalyst system. The mechanism of the reaction was elucidated based on an isotope labeling strategy.     

Cu(I)-catalyzed allylic amination of olefins

The copper(I) complex [Cu(CH₃CN)₄]PF₆ catalyzes the allylic amination of alkenes by aryl hydroxylamine in fair to moderate yields. Unsymmetrical alkenes react with high regioselectivity with N-functionalization occuring at the less substituted vinylic carbon. Trapping experiments indicate that free PhNO is not an intermediate in these reactions.     

A silver(I)-catalyzed tandem reaction of 2-alkynylbenzaldoxime with alkylidenecyclopropane

A silver(I)-catalyzed tandem reaction of 2-alkynylbenzaldoxime with alkylidenecyclopropane gives rise to benzo-7-azabicyclo[4.2.2]dec-7-en-4-ones in moderate to good yields. The complexity and diversity could be easily incorporated with the formation of three bonds during the process.     

One-pot synthesis of 2-amino-3,4-dicyanopyridines from ketoximes and tetracyanoethylene via Cu(I)-catalyzed cyclization

A novel approach to 2-amino-3,4-dicyanopyridines has been discovered from Cu(I)-catalyzed cyclizations of simple and easily available ketoximes and tetracyanoethylene (TCNE). The complexed radical mechanism involves cleavage of several OH/NO/CH bonds, and new CC/CN bonds formation. A wide variety of substrates with different functional groups could be smoothly converted into the corresponding products in moderate yields.