Al(HSO4)3 as an Efficient Catalyst for the Acetylation of Alcohols in Solution and Under Solvent Free Conditions

Summary. Alcohols are acetylated in a mild, clean, and efficient reaction with acetic anhydride in the presence of a catalytic amount of Al(HSO₄)₃ in solution and under solvent free conditions. All reactions were performed at room temperature in good to high yields.     

Catalytic Cleavage of Amide C−N Bond: Scandium,Manganese, and Zinc Catalysts for Esterification of Amides

Amide C?N bonds are thermodynamically stable and their fission, such as by hydrolysis and alcoholysis, is considered a long‐challenging organic reaction. In general, stoichiometric chemical transformations of amides into the corresponding esters and acids require harsh conditions, such as strong acids/bases at a high reaction temperature. Accordingly, the development of catalytic reactions that cleave not only primary and secondary amides, but also tertiary amides in mild conditions, is in high demand. Herein, we surveyed typical stoichiometric transformations of amides, and highlight our recent achievements in the catalytic esterification of amides using scandium, manganese, and zinc catalysts, together with some recent catalyst systems using late‐transition metal reported by other groups.     

Metal-Organic Framework Thin Films as Ideal Matrices for Azide Photolysis in Vacuum

Studies on reactions in solutions are often hampered by solvent effects. In addition, detailed investigation on kinetics is limited to the small temperature regime where the solvent is liquid. Here, we report the in situ spectroscopic observation of UV-induced photochemical reactions of aryl azides within a crystalline matrix in vacuum. The matrices are formed by attaching the reactive moieties to ditopic linkers, which are then assembled to yield metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and surface-mounted MOFs (SURMOFs). These porous, crystalline frameworks are then used as model systems to study azide-related chemical processes under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions, where solvent effects can be safely excluded and in a large temperature regime. Infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) allowed us to monitor the photoreaction of azide in SURMOFs precisely. The in situ IRRAS data, in conjunction with XRD, MS, and XPS, reveal that illumination with UV light first leads to forming a nitrene intermediate. In the second step, an intramolecular rearrangement occurs, yielding an indoloindole derivative. These findings unveil a novel pathway for precisely studying azide-related chemical transformations. Reference experiments carried out for solvent-loaded SURMOFs reveal a huge diversity of other reaction schemes, thus highlighting the need for model systems studied under UHV conditions.     

Homogeneous Degradation of Cellulose in Its Aqueous Solution at Mild Temperature under Atmospheric Pressure

Degradation of cellulose to chemicals is one of major routes for biomass conversion. Here, a new simple and two-step method has been developed to convert cellulose in its homogeneously alkaline solution to organic acids under atmospheric pressure at mild temperature. At first, cellulose was degraded to small molecular intermediates at 110 ℃ for 3 h under atmospheric pressure, and then it was oxidized with H₂O₂ at 50 ℃ for 4 h. Under the optimal condition, 73.5% conversion of cellulose could be achieved, and the yield of organic acids was 32.8% (formic acid), 11.6% (lactic acid), and 2.3% (oxalic acid), respectively. It is noteworthy that the new strategy reduces energy consumption in the process of reaction, unlike the hydrothermal reaction under high temperature and high pressure.     

Tunable Gas-Gas Reactions through Nanobubble Pathway

Combustible gas-gas reactions usually do not occur spontaneously upon mixing without ignition or other triggers to lower the activation energy barrier. Nanobubbles, however, could provide such a possibility in solution under ambient conditions due to high inner pressure and catalytic radicals within their boundary layers. Herein, a tunable gas-gas reaction strategy via bulk nanobubble pathway is developed by tuning the interface charge of one type of bulk nanobubble and promoting its fusion and reaction with another, where the reaction-accompanied size and number concentration change of the bulk nanobubbles and the corresponding thermal effect clearly confirm the occurrence of the nanobubble-based H₂/O₂ combustion. In addition, abundant radicals can be detected during the reaction, which is considered to be critical to ignite the gas reaction during the fusion of nanobubbles in water at room temperature. Therefore, the nanobubble-based gas-gas reactions provide a safe and efficient pathway to produce energy and synthesize new matter inaccessible under mild or ambient conditions.     

Recent advances in direct catalytic asymmetric transformations under proton-transfer conditions

Cooperative catalysis has proven to be a particularly powerful strategy for promoting stereoselective organic transformations under mild reaction conditions. The specific interactions between the catalyst components and substrates are precisely orchestrated to elicit high catalytic efficiency and excellent control of the stereochemical course. By harnessing the power of cooperativity, various sets of stereoselective reactions proceed under mild proton-transfer conditions with perfect atom economy. This Minireview summarizes our recent contributions to several C-N and C-C bond-forming reactions in this field and related transformations.     

Pd-catalyzed coupling of aryl iodides with triarylbismuths as atom-economic multi-coupling organometallic nucleophiles under mild conditions

The facile cross-coupling reactivity of triarylbismuth compounds with aryl iodides was achieved under mild heating conditions. The established catalytic protocol using Pd(OAc)₂(Cy₂NH)₂ system exhibited high coupling reactivity with a variety of triarylbismuth and aryl iodide compounds under mild conditions. These coupling reactions were completed in short reaction time affording good to high yields of functionalized biaryl products. The studies of multi-coupling reactions with tris(4-iodophenyl)amine, 8 also furnished moderate to good yields of coupled products, 8a-8f.     

The cross-coupling reactions of organic halides with organic derivatives of tin,mercury and copper catalyzed by palladium

The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of organic halides with organometallic compounds of tin, mercury and copper is discussed. It is shownn that the “ligandless” palladium complexes RPdXL₂ (L = solvent), in which solvent molecules act as weak donating ligands, are the most active catalysts for reactions of organotin compounds. It is found that nucleophilic catalysis is an efficient method of activatioin of organomercury and organocopper compounds in cross-coupling reactions. In the presence of iodide ion the palladium-catalyzed reactions of these compounds proceed under mild conditions giving high yields of cross-coupling products.     

KOtBu‐Catalyzed Michael Addition Reactions Under Mild and Solvent‐Free Conditions

Designed transition metal complexes predominantly catalyze Michael addition reactions. Inorganic and organic base‐catalyzed Michael addition reactions have been reported. However, known base‐catalyzed reactions suffer from the requirement of solvents, additives, high pressure and also side‐reactions. Herein, we demonstrate a mild and environmentally friendly strategy of readily available KO^tBu‐catalyzed Michael addition reactions. This simple inorganic base efficiently catalyzes the Michael addition of underexplored acrylonitriles, esters and amides with (oxa‐, aza‐, and thia‐) heteroatom nucleophiles. This catalytic process proceeds under solvent‐free conditions and at room temperature. Notably, this protocol offers an easy operational procedure, broad substrate scope with excellent selectivity, reaction scalability and excellent TON (>9900). Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction follows an ionic mechanism. Formal synthesis of promazine is demonstrated using this catalytic protocol.     

One-pot three-component Mannich reaction catalyzed by iodine under solvent-free conditions

One-pot three-component Mannich reactions of ketones with aromatic aldehydes and aromatic amines are effectively catalyzed by molecular iodine at room temperature under solvent-free conditions to afford the corresponding β-amino carbonyl compounds with moderate to excellent yields. The method has the following advantages: no use of solvent, mild condition, high reaction speed and small quantity of catalyst.     

LiOH-Catalyzed Simple Ring Opening of Epoxides Under Solvent-Free Conditions

LiOH has been found to be a very simple and selective catalyst for the rapid and mild synthesis of β-hydroxy sulfides and β-hydroxyl nitriles by ring opening of epoxides with aromatic, aliphatic, and heterocyclic thiols and trimethylsilyl cyanide at room temperature under solvent free conditions. All the reactions proceeded satisfactorily in short times and afforded the corresponding products in good to excellent yields with high regioselectivity and chemoselectivity under mild reaction conditions.     

KHSO4 · H2O/SiO2‐Catalyzed,One‐Pot,Solvent‐Free Synthesis of Pyrazolines,Tetrahydrocarbozoles and Indoles using Microwave Irradiation

A new high‐yielding, operationally simple, solvent‐free, and mild method for preparation of pyrazolines, tetrahydrocarbazoles, and indoles has been developed using KHSO₄ · H₂O impregnated on SiO₂. The reactions have been probed under microwave irradiation (MWI), and ultrasonic and thermal conditions, employing different solid supports. The data revealed that KHSO₄ · H₂O impregnated on SiO₂ under MWI provides the best yields in a shorter time under solvent‐free reaction conditions.     

Palladium-catalyzed carbonylative coupling of benzyl chlorides with aryl boronic acids in aqueous media

A novel chemoselective protocol for the carbonylative Suzuki coupling of benzyl chlorides with aryl boronic acids at low pressure of carbon monoxide has been developed. Applying a commercially available palladium acetate/PCy₃ catalyst system in the presence of potassium phosphate as the base and water as the solvent the coupling reactions proceeded smoothly. To demonstrate the general applicability 12 different α-arylated acetophenones have been synthesized in moderate to good yields (41-78%) under mild conditions.     

Some Organic Reactions in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Organic reactions in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) have facilitated great progress in recent years . ScCO2, as an environmentally friendly reaction medium, may be a substitute for 1 volatile and toxic organic solvents and show some special advantages. Firstly, CO2 is inexpensive, nonflammable, nontoxic and chemical inert under many conditions. Secondly, scCO2 possesses hybrid properties of both liquid and gas, to the advantage of some reactions involving gaseous reagents. Control o…     

Photochemical Functionalization of Helicenes

Herein, a visible-light photochemical approach for practical helicene functionalization at very mild reaction conditions is described. The photochemical reactions allow for the regiospecific and innate late-stage functionalization of helicenes and are easily executed either through the activation of C(sp²)−Br bonds in helicenes using K₂CO₃ as inorganic base or direct C(sp²)−H helicene bond functionalization under oxidative photoredox reaction conditions. Overall, using these transformations six different functional groups are introduced to the helicene scaffold through C−C and four different C-heteroatom bond-forming reactions.     

A new strategy of transforming pharmaceutical crystal forms

The robust nature of network materials allows them to (for example) respond to external stimuli such as pressure, temperature, light, or gas/solvent adsorption and desorption. There is difficulty in retaining long-range order in purely molecular organic solids, due to weak intermolecular interactions such as van der Waals forces. Here, we show gas-induced transformations of the well-known pharmaceuticals clarithromycin and lansoprazole. For clarithromycin, the stimulus is capable of converting the kinetic solvate and guest-free crystal forms to the commercial thermodynamically stable polymorph with a huge saving in energy cost relative to industrially employed methods. The synthesis of the marketing form of lansoprazole involves a solvate that readily decomposes and that is stirred in water, filtered, and dried intensively. Our method readily circumvents such synthetic problems and transforms the sensitive solvate to the marketed drug substance with ease. Such expedient transformations hold great implications for the pharmaceutical industry in general when considering the ease of transformation and mild conditions employed.     

Mild, versatile, and chemoselective indium(III) triflate-catalyzed deprotection of acetonides under microwave heating conditions

A series of acetonides (both terminal and internal isopropylidene acetals) have been deprotected under catalytic, neutral conditions to give their corresponding 1,2-diols. The reactions utilize indium(III) triflate in the presence of water and an organic solvent with mild microwave heating. Terminal acetonides are chemoselectivley removed in the presence of internal acetonides; acid labile functional groups remain intact under these conditions, thereby greatly enhancing the scope of the reaction substrates that can be utilized with this approach.     

Interface Engineering in Two‐Dimensional Heterostructures: Towards an Advanced Catalyst for Ullmann Couplings

The design of advanced catalysts for organic reactions is of profound significance. During such processes, electrophilicity and nucleophilicity play vital roles in the activation of chemical bonds and ultimately speed up organic reactions. Herein, we demonstrate a new way to regulate the electro‐ and nucleophilicity of catalysts for organic transformations. Interface engineering in two‐dimensional heteronanostructures triggered electron transfer across the interface. The catalyst was thus rendered more electropositive, which led to superior performance in Ullmann reactions. In the presence of the engineered 2D Cu₂S/MoS₂ heteronanostructure, the coupling of iodobenzene and para‐chlorophenol gave the desired product in 92 % yield under mild conditions (100 °C). Furthermore, the catalyst exhibited excellent stability as well as high recyclability with a yield of 89 % after five cycles. We propose that interface engineering could be widely employed for the development of new catalysts for organic reactions.     

The Utilization of Solid State Chemistry Reaction Routes as New Syntheses Strategies for the Coordination Chemistry of Rare Earth Amides

Solvent free high‐temperature reactions in melts are well known procedures in Solid‐State Chemistry. Although the reaction conditions are extreme considering the properties of organic ligands they can also be utilized for Coordination Chemistry and offer a fruitful alternative to usual solvent treatments. This includes the chemistry of organic amides of the rare earth elements. The avoidance of any solvent renders novel homoleptic complexes accessible but also implies difficulties bound to the solid state of the reaction mixtures. The high chemical affinity of the rare earth elements towards halides and especially oxygen limits known homoleptic amides obtained via solvent treatments mostly to multi‐chelating ligands like porphyrines, calix‐pyrroles etc. With no special conditions met like a high steric demand, solvent molecules as co‐coordinating partners enforce the formation of heteroleptic species. This influence can be avoided by the use of completely solvent free reactions, such as melt reactions in which a solid is reacted directly with a melt or with a substance under solvothermal conditions. The high reactivity of the rare earth metals allows the direct oxidation with amines and thus to use high‐temperature reactions for the formation of rare earth amides. This includes homoleptic compounds from simple ligands. Crystallization under reaction conditions is possible; no re‐crystallization step is necessary preventing the risk of a change of the chemical character of the products. Additionally, the solubility of rare earth elements in liquid ammonia under formation of an electride solution enlarges the temperature range of these oxidation reactions down to the melting point of ammonia. It further enhances the reactivity of the metals and less N‐H acidic and thermally less stable amines can be introduced into these syntheses enabling the formation of meta stable products. The crystal structures and hence the properties of the products of both high‐ and low‐temperature oxidation of rare earth metals with amines strongly differ from reactions carried out in classic solvents. Thus reaction routes frequently used in Solid State Chemistry can well be utilized for Coordination Chemistry and offer alternatives to classic solvent based synthesis, particularly if certain properties like homoleptic character or the coordination of elements with a low chemical affinity are aimed for.     

Applying Mechanochemistry for Bottom‐Up Synthesis and Host–Guest Surface Modification of Semiconducting Nanocrystals: A Case of Water‐Soluble β‐Cyclodextrin‐Coated Zinc Oxide

Mechanochemistry has recently emerged as an environmentally friendly solventless synthesis method enabling a variety of transformations including those impracticable in solution. However, its application in the synthesis of well‐defined nanomaterials remains very limited. Here, we report a new bottom‐up mechanochemical strategy to rapid mild‐conditions synthesis of organic ligand‐coated ZnO nanocrystals (NCs) and their further host–guest modification with β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) leading to water‐soluble amide‐β‐CD‐coated ZnO NCs. The transformations can be achieved by either one‐pot sequential or one‐step three‐component process. The developed bottom‐up methodology is based on employing oxo‐zinc benzamidate, [Zn₄(μ₄‐O)(NHOCPh)₆], as a predesigned molecular precursor undergoing mild solid‐state transformation to ZnO NCs in the presence of water in a rapid, clean and sustainable process.