Transfer Hydrocyanation of α‐ and α,β‐Substituted Styrenes Catalyzed by Boron Lewis Acids

A straightforward gram‐scale preparation of cyclohexa‐1,4‐diene‐based hydrogen cyanide (HCN) surrogates is reported. These are bench‐stable but formally release HCN and rearomatize when treated with Lewis acids. For BCl₃, the formation of the isocyanide adduct [(CN)BCl₃]^? and the corresponding Wheland complex was verified by mass spectrometry. In the presence of 1,1‐di‐ and trisubstituted alkenes, transfer of HCN from the surrogate to the C?C double bond occurs, affording highly substituted nitriles with Markovnikov selectivity. The success of this transfer hydrocyanation depends on the Lewis acid employed; catalytic amounts of BCl₃ and (C₆F₅)₂BCl are shown to be effective while B(C₆F₅)₃ and BF₃?OEt₂ are not.     

Lewis Acid Catalyzed Synthesis of Cyanidophosphates

Salts containing new cyanido(fluorido)phosphate anions of the general formula [PF_6?n(CN)_n]^? (n=1–4) were synthesized by a very mild Lewis‐acid‐catalyzed synthetic protocol and fully characterized. All [PF_6?n(CN)_n]^? (n=1–4) salts could be isolated on a preparative scale. It was also possible to detect the [PF(CN)₅]^? but not the [P(CN)₆]^? anion. The best results with respect to purity, yield, and low cost were obtained when the F^?/CN^? substitution reactions were carried out in ionic liquids.     

A Versatile Ligand Platform that Supports Lewis Acid Promoted Migratory Insertion

A helping hand: Incorporation of Group?2 Lewis acids into a macrocycle appended to a phosphine ligand attached to a rhenium carbonyl complex promotes otherwise unfavorable transformations of coordinated CO (see scheme; M=Ca, Sr). These Lewis acids form relatively weak M?O bonds, thereby enabling release of organic products from the metal center.     

A Stable and Recoverable Chiral Ru Lewis Acid: Synthesis,Asymmetric Diels–Alder Catalysis and Structure of the Lewis Acid Methacrolein Complex

Ease of generation , stablity in solution at ambient temperature, high enantioselectivity in Diels–Alder reactions, efficient catalyst recovery, and large rate differences on variation of the anion are all characteristics of the new Ru Lewis acid [CpRu((S,S)-biphop-F)]⁺ (biphop-F=(C₆F₅)₂POCH₂(Ph)CH₂(Ph)OP(C₆F₅)₂). The structure of complex 1 (L=methacrolein, Y=SbF₆) provides evidence for a cooperative binding of the dienophile by both the Lewis acid and the anion.     

Mechanistic Study of Unprecedented Highly Regioselective Hydrocyanation of Terminal Alkynes: Insight into the Origins of the Regioselectivity and Ligand Effects

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to gain insight into the mechanism of the nickel-catalyzed hydrocyanation of terminal alkynes with Zn(CN)₂ and water to exclusively generate the branched nitrile with excellent Markovnikov selectivity. After precatalyst activation to give the LNi(0) active species, the transformation proceeds via the following steps: (1) oxidative addition of H₂O to the LNi(0) provides the intermediate LNi(II)H(OH); (2) ligand exchange of LNi(II)H(OH) with Zn(CN)₂ gives the intermediate LNi(II)H(CN); (3) alkyne insertion to the LNi(II)H(CN) forms the alkenyl nickel complex, followed by the reductive elimination step reaching the final product. This mechanism is kinetically and thermodynamically more favorable than that of the experimental proposed ones. On the basis of the experimental observations, more water molecules cannot further improve the reaction as it has also been rationalized. Furthermore, the origin of the high regioselectivity of the product, the variable effectiveness of the metal mediator as function of ligands, as well as the high yield of the alkyl-substituted alkynes substrates, is analyzed in detail. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Investigation of Lewis Acid versus Lewis Base Catalysis in Asymmetric Cyanohydrin Synthesis

The asymmetric addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to aldehydes can be catalysed by Lewis acids and/or Lewis bases, which activate the aldehyde and trimethylsilyl cyanide, respectively. It is not always apparent from the structure of the catalyst whether Lewis acid or Lewis base catalysis predominates. To investigate this in the context of using salen complexes of titanium, vanadium and aluminium as catalysts, a Hammett analysis of asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis was undertaken. When Lewis acid catalysis is dominant, a significantly positive reaction constant is observed, whereas reactions dominated by Lewis base catalysis give much smaller reaction constants. [{Ti(salen)O}₂] was found to show the highest degree of Lewis acid catalysis, whereas two [VO(salen)X] (X=EtOSO₃ or NCS) complexes both displayed lower degrees of Lewis acid catalysis. In the case of reactions catalysed by [{Al(salen)}₂O] and triphenylphosphine oxide, a non‐linear Hammett plot was observed, which is indicative of a change in mechanism with increasing Lewis base catalysis as the carbonyl compound becomes more electron‐deficient. These results suggested that the aluminium complex/triphenylphosphine oxide catalyst system should also catalyse the asymmetric addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to ketones and this was found to be the case.     

Metal‐Free Ammonia–Borane Dehydrogenation Catalyzed by a Bis(borane) Lewis Acid

The storage of energy in a safe and environmentally benign way is one of the main challenges of today’s society. Ammonia–borane (AB=NH₃BH₃) has been proposed as a possible candidate for the chemical storage of hydrogen. However, the efficient release of hydrogen is still an active field of research. Herein, we present a metal‐free bis(borane) Lewis acid catalyst that promotes the evolution of up to 2.5 equivalents of H₂ per AB molecule. The catalyst can be reused multiple times without loss of activity. The moderate temperature of 60 °C allows for controlling the supply of H₂ on demand simply by heating and cooling. Mechanistic studies give preliminary insights into the kinetics and mechanism of the catalytic reaction.     

Lewis Acid Promoted Ruthenium(II)‐Catalyzed Etherifications by Selective Hydrogenation of Carboxylic Acids/Esters

Ethers are of fundamental importance in organic chemistry and they are an integral part of valuable flavors, fragrances, and numerous bioactive compounds. In general, the reduction of esters constitutes the most straightforward preparation of ethers. Unfortunately, this transformation requires large amounts of metal hydrides. Presented herein is a bifunctional catalyst system, consisting of Ru/phosphine complex and aluminum triflate, which allows selective synthesis of ethers by hydrogenation of esters or carboxylic acids. Different lactones were reduced in good yields to the desired products. Even challenging aromatic and aliphatic esters were reduced to the desired products. Notably, the in situ formed catalyst can be reused several times without any significant loss of activity.     

Photomechanical Actuation of Ligand Geometry in Enantioselective Catalysis

A catalyst that couples a photoswitch to the biaryl backbone of a chiral bis(phosphine) ligand, thus allowing photochemical manipulation of ligand geometry without perturbing the electronic structure is reported. The changes in catalyst activity and selectivity upon switching can be attributed to intramolecular mechanical forces, thus laying the foundation for a new class of catalysts whose selectivity can be varied smoothly and in situ over a useful range by controlling molecular stress experienced by the catalyst during turnover. Forces on the order of 100 pN are generated, thus leading to measurable changes in the enantioselectivities of asymmetric Heck arylations and Trost allylic alkylations. The differential coupling between applied force and competing stereochemical pathways is quantified and found to be more efficient for the Heck arylations.     

A Well‐Defined Aluminum‐Based Lewis Acid as an Effective Catalyst for Diels–Alder Transformations

A catalytically active aluminum‐based system for Diels–Alder transformations is reported. The system was generated by mixing a β‐diketiminate‐stabilized aluminum bistriflate compound with Na[BAr^Cl₄] (Ar^Cl=3,5‐Cl₂C₆H₃). Solid‐state analysis of the catalytic system reveals a unique structure incorporating a two‐dimensional coordination polymer. According to the experimental results obtained from several Diels–Alder transformations, the aluminum‐based system appears to be a more practical and more robust alternative to the recently reported compounds based on carbon and silicon cations.     

Lewis Acid Promoted Dearomatization of Naphthols

Two-step dearomative functionalization of naphthols promoted by Lewis acids and copper(I) catalysis was developed. Initially, Lewis acid complexation inverted the electronic properties of the ring and established an equilibrium with the dearomatized counterpart. Subsequent trapping of the dearomatized intermediate with organometallics as well as organophosphines was demonstrated and provided the corresponding dearomatized products.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Hydrocarboxylation of Alkynes with Formic Acid

A palladium‐catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of alkynes with formic acid has been developed. The method provides acrylic acid and derivatives in good yields with high regioselectivity without the need to handle toxic CO gas.     

Promoting the Hydrosilylation of Benzaldehyde by Using a Dicationic Antimony‐Based Lewis Acid: Evidence for the Double Electrophilic Activation of the Carbonyl Substrate

The concomitant activation of carbonyl substrates by two Lewis acids has been investigated by using [1,2‐(Ph₂MeSb)₂C₆H₄]²⁺ ([ 1 ]²⁺), an antimony‐based bidentate Lewis acid obtained by methylation of the corresponding distibine. Unlike the simple stibonium cation [Ph₃MeSb]⁺, dication [ 1 ]²⁺ efficiently catalyzes the hydrosilylation of benzaldehyde under mild conditions. The catalytic activity of this dication is correlated to its ability to doubly activate the carbonyl functionality of the organic substrate. This view is supported by the isolation of [ 1 ‐μ₂‐DMF][OTf]₂, an adduct, in which the DMF oxygen atom bridges the two antimony centers.     

Nitrenium Salts in Lewis Acid Catalysis

Molecular compounds featuring nitrogen atoms are typically regarded as Lewis bases and are extensively employed as donor ligands in coordination chemistry or as nucleophiles in organic chemistry. By contrast, electrophilic nitrogen‐containing compounds are much rarer. Nitrenium cations are a new family of nitrogen‐based Lewis acids, the reactivity of which remains largely unexplored. In this work, nitrenium ions are explored as catalysts in five organic transformations. These reactions are the first examples of Lewis acid catalysis employing nitrogen as the site of substrate activation. Moreover, these compounds are readily accessed from commercially available reagents and exhibit remarkable stability toward moisture, allowing for benchtop transformations without the need to pretreat solvents.     

Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Maleic Acid Diesters and Anhydrides

Asymmetric hydrogenation of maleic and fumaric acid derivatives with iridium catalysts based on N,P ligands provides an efficient route to chiral enantioenriched succinates. A new catalyst derived from a 2,6‐difluorophenyl‐substituted pyridine‐phosphinite ligand was developed and enables the conversion of a wide range of 2‐alkyl and 2‐arylmaleic acid diesters into the corresponding succinates in high enantiomeric purity. Mixtures of cis/trans substrates can be hydrogenated in an enantioconvergent fashion with high enantioselectivity, and further enhances the scope of this transformation. The products are valuable chiral building blocks with a structural motif found in many bioactive compounds, such as metalloproteinase inhibitors.