An approach to the Paal–Knorr pyrroles synthesis in the presence of β-cyclodextrin in aqueous media

An efficient and facile method for the synthesis of N-substituted pyrroles in moderate to good yields by the Paal–Knorr reaction of γ-diketones with amines in the presence of β-cyclodextrin in aqueous media has been developed.Moreover,this process tolerated diamines(e.g.,para-,meta- or orthophenylenediamine)to construct bis-pyrrole or mono-pyrrole derivates.β-Cyclodextrin can be recovered easily after the reactions and reused without evident loss in activity.     

One-step synthesis of α-hydorxy acids via reductive double carbonylation of organic halides

Palladium-catalyzed carbonylation of organic halides with water in the presence of calcium hydroxide or lithium hydroxide in primary or secondary alcoholic solvents afforded α-hydroxy acids.     

Enantioselective synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyran derivatives via organocatalytic Michael reaction of α,β-unsaturated enones

A simple chiral diamine catalyst (1a) was successfully applied in the asymmetric Michael reaction between cyclic dimedone and α,β-unsaturated ketones. Both acyclic enones with aryl or alkyl β-substituents and cyclic enones were tolerated well in the reaction. The desired adducts were obtained in high yields (up to 98%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee). The additives were found to increase the reactivity dramatically. The biologically active 2,4-disubstituted polyhydroquinoline scaffold was conveniently prepared through an ammoniation from the generated 3,4-dihydropyran product.     

Enantioselective synthesis of 2-amino-4H-pyrans via the organocatalytic cascade reaction of malononitrile and α-substituted chalcones

An organocatalytic cascade reaction of malononitrile and α-substituted chalcones has been developed for the synthesis of chiral multisubstituted 2-amino-4H-pyran derivatives. A series of chiral primary/tertiary amines and cinchona alkaloids were examined as the catalysts. Quinine was found to be the most efficient catalyst in the absence of any additive. The α-substitutents of the chalcones had a siginificant effect on the yield and the enantioselectivity. A number of multisubstituted 2-amino-4H-pyrans were obtained in excellent yields and enantioselectivities.     

Efficient synthesis of polycyclic dispirooxindoles via domino Diels–Alder cyclodimerization reaction

Three-component reactions of 4-cyanopyridine or ethyl isonicotinate with electron-deficient alkynes and isatins in dimethoxyethane at room temperature afforded spiro[3H-indole-3,2′-[2H,9aH-pyrido[2,1-b][1,3]oxazine] derivatives. Alternately, the similar three-component reaction at elevated temperature resulted in polycyclic dispirooxindole derivatives. The reaction mechanism is believed to involve sequential generation and cycloaddition of Huisgen's 1,4-dipole, and Diels–Alder cyclodimerization reaction. The similar three-component reactions containing acenaphthenequinone and phenanthrenequinone also afforded corresponding polyheterocyclic derivatives.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of tetrahydroquinolines via a palladium-catalyzed Heck–Suzuki cascade reaction

A method for the diastereoselective synthesis of tetrahydroquinolines via a palladium-catalyzed Suzuki terminated Heck reaction is described. The reaction provides access to tetrahydroquinolines containing both quaternary and tertiary stereocenters. Ligand effects, a rationale for the high level of diastereoselectivity, and a mechanistic hypothesis are discussed.     

The Wittig–Horner reaction for the synthesis of neratinib

The Wittig–Horner reaction is a classic method to get alkenes by reaction phosphonates with carbonyl compounds. In this study, it was used for the synthesis of the anticancer drug neratinib. In this method, ethyl diethoxyphosphinylacetate and dimethylaminoacetaldehyde diethylacetal, replacing (E)-4-(dimethylamino)but-2-enoyl acid hydrochloride and oxalyl chloride, were used to synthesize the 6-position side chain of neratinib.     

Enantioselective synthesis of functionalized α-amino acids via a chiral guanidine catalyzed Michael addition reaction

Several chiral guanidines were evaluated as catalysts for the Michael reaction of glycine derivatives 7 with acrylic esters 8. The best result (30.4% ee) was obtained when 7b was reacted with 8b under the catalysis of guanidine 1 in THF.     

Cobalt–copper based catalysts for higher terminal alcohols synthesis via Fischer–Tropsch reaction

The production of higher terminal alcohols through CO hydrogenation according to the Fischer–Tropsch(F–T) process has been a topic of interest since the Institut Fran?ais du Pétrole(IFP) demonstrated shortchain C_1–C_6mixed alcohols production over cobalt–copper based catalysts. A number of catalyst formulations were screened for their suitability at that time. In particular, the addition of Cr, Zn, Al, Mn and V to Co Cu was investigated. In a number of patents, it was shown that catalyst preparation is crucial in these catalyst formulations and that high alcohols selectivity can only be achieved by carefully respecting the procedures and recipes. This short critical review highlights recent developments in Co Cu-based catalysts for higher terminal alcohols synthesis via F–T synthesis. Special attention will be given to catalyst preparation which according to developments in our group is based on oxalate precipitation. This way we show that the close association of Co and Cu on the one hand and promoter/dispersant on the other are of utmost importance to ensure high performance of the catalysts. We shall concentrate on "Co Cu Mn","Co Cu Mo" and "Co Cu Nb" catalyst formulations, all prepared via oxalate precipitation and combined with"entrainment techniques" if necessary, and show high total alcohols selectivity can be obtained with tunable Anderson-Schulz-Flory chain-lengthening probability. Either long-chain C_8–C_(14)terminal alcohols as feedstock for plasticizers, lubricants and detergents, or short-chain C_2–C_5alcohols as "alkanol" fuels or fuel additives can be formed this way.     

Synthesis of densely functionalized α-methylene γ-butyrolactones via an organocatalytic one-pot allylic-alkylation–cyclization reaction

The tertiary amine-catalyzed one-pot allylic-alkylation–cyclization (AAC) reaction has been developed, which provided an efficient synthetic route for the preparation of densely functionalized α-methylene-γ-cyano-γ-butyrolactones with various substituents at the β-position and the γ-position.     

A novel access to bisformylated pyrroles via decarboxylation of N-aryl-γ-lactam-carboxylic acids under Vilsmeier reaction conditions

A simple methodology for the conversion of substituted N-aryl-γ-lactam 2/3-carboxylic acids to substituted N-aryl-diformylated pyrroles has been developed. Several γ-lactam 2/3-carboxylic acids were subjected to Vilsmeier reagent and substituted diformylated pyrroles are isolated in one-step process.     

A three-component one-pot synthesis of penta-substituted pyrroles via ring opening of α-nitroepoxides

A novel and facile one-pot reaction has been developed to synthesize a variety of penta-substituted pyrroles from α-nitroepoxides, primary amines and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates under the conditions without catalyst. Furthermore, the controlled experiments has been performed and a possible mechanism has also been proposed.     

PTC and organic bases–LiCl assisted alkylation of imidazolidinone–glycine iminic derivatives for the asymmetric synthesis of α-amino acids

Iminic derivatives of (4R,5S)-1,5-dimethyl-4-phenylimidazolidin-2-one and glycine 4 have been highly diastereoselectively alkylated with activated alkyl halides or electrophilic olefins either under PTC conditions or in the presence of the strong organic bases DBU or BEMP at −20°C in the presence of LiCl. Hydrolysis of the alkylated imino imides gave (S)-α-amino acids with recovery of the imidazolidinone chiral auxiliary.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic synthesis of quaternary α-amino acids bearing a CF3 moiety

A highly enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction catalyzed by a chiral phosphoric acid was developed. N-Boc-protected ethyl trifluoropyruvate imine was activated by 6 mol % of catalyst and reacted with a wide variety of indole derivatives to afford quaternary α-amino acids in excellent yields (up to 99%) and high enantioselectivities (up to 98:2 er).     

Kinetic scheme and rate constants for methyl methacrylate synthesis occurring via the radical–coordination mechanism

Two kinetic schemes of the bulk radical–coordination polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by the benzoyl peroxide–ferrocene system are considered from the standpoint of formal kinetics. The most likely kinetic scheme is the one that includes the reactions characteristic of classical radical polymerization and, additionally, reactions of controlled radical polymerization proceeding via the Organometallic Mediated Radical Polymerization mechanism, a reaction generating a coordination active site, and a chain propagation reaction in the coordination sphere of the metal. The temperature dependences of the rate constants for the reactions of this kinetic scheme at temperatures typical of commercial poly(methyl methacrylate) production (313–353 K) have been determined by solving the inverse kinetic problem.     

Total synthesis of agomelatine via Friedel–Crafts acylation followed by Willgerodt–Kindler reaction

Total synthesis of antidepressant drug, agomelatine is reported. Regio selective Friedel–Crafts acylation followed by Willgerodt–Kindler reactions is used as the key steps for the synthesis of agomelatine.     

Synthesis of unnatural N-glycosyl α-amino acids via Petasis reaction

A convenient and efficient protocol for the synthesis of unnatural N-glycosyl a-amino acids was developed.Condensation of 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-actyl-β-D-glucosamine hydrochloride,alkenyl boronic acid,and glyoxylic acid was achieved in CH_2C1_2 to give the derivatives of 2-(N-glycosyl)aminobut-3-enoic acid which may find applications in glycobiology research and medicinal chemistry.     

Expedient synthesis of highly substituted pyrroles via tandem rearrangement of α-diazo oxime ethers

An efficient rhodium-catalyzed synthesis of 2H-azirines and pyrroles has been developed. Novel rearrangement of α-oximino ketenes derived from α-diazo oxime ethers provides 2H-azirines bearing quaternary centers and allows for subsequent rearrangement to highly substituted pyrroles in excellent yields.     

A novel asymmetric organocatalytic Michael–aldol–dehydration domino reaction for the construction of spirocyclic benzofuranones

Organocatalytic Michael–aldol–dehydration domino reaction of 3-(1-hydroxyethylidene)benzofuran-2(3H)-ones and enones catalyzed by Cinchona-based primary amine has been developed. The desired chiral spirocyclic benzofuranones were obtained in excellent stereoselectivities (dr>20:1 and up to 96% ee) and moderate to excellent yields (up to 98%).     

Investigating the reaction mechanism and organocatalytic synthesis of α,α'-dihydroxy ketones

A biomimetic TK one-pot reaction using hydroxypyruvate and aldehydes to generate α,α'-dihydroxy ketones in water has recently been described. To investigate this tertiary-amine mediated reaction mechanism two approaches were used. Firstly, (13)C labelled lithium hydroxypyruvate was synthesised and used to establish where hydroxypyruvate is incorporated in the product. In separate experiments reaction intermediates were also successfully intercepted and structurally identified using ESI-MS with tandem mass spectrometry ESI-MS/MS. These studies indicated that two mechanisms appear to be operating, one involving the addition of the tertiary amine catalyst to hydroxypyruvate, the other an aldol-based mechanism. Since the first mechanism may enable facial stereodifferentiation in the addition of intermediates to the aldehyde, a preliminary study on the use of chiral catalysts was performed and the first asymmetric organocatalytic synthesis of α,α'-dihydroxy ketones in aqueous media achieved, in up to 50% ee, using a quinine ether catalyst.