A simple and efficient 2N2O–Cu(II) complex as a catalyst for N‐arylation of imidazoles in water

Four inexpensive and air‐ and moisture‐stable 2N2O–Cu complexes were synthesized, one of which proved to exhibit good catalytic activity for the N‐arylation of imidazoles in water. A variety of aryl iodides and aryl bromides underwent coupling with imidazoles promoted by the catalytic system with moderate to excellent yields. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cu(II)‐Catalyzed Ligand‐Free Oxidation of Diarylmethanes and Second Alcohols in Water

We developed a simple and efficient Cu(II )‐catalyzed ligand‐free oxidation of diarylmethanes and secondary alcohols using 70% tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP ) in water. A series of diarylmethanes were directly oxidized into diaryl ketones in 67%–98% yields. Additionally, various secondary alcohols were also transformed into the desired products in 48%–98% yields. Importantly, the catalytic system in the absence of any organic solvent, surfactant, or phase transfer agent, had a wide substrate scope and a high tolerance for various functional groups.     

Easy One‐Pot Synthesis of 1‐Monosubstituted Aliphatic 1,2,3‐Triazoles from Aliphatic Halides,Sodium Azide and Propiolic Acid by a Click Cycloaddition/Decarboxylation Process

1‐Monosubstituted aliphatic 1,2,3‐triazoles were synthesized by a one‐pot reaction from aliphatic halides (Cl and Br), sodium azide and propiolic acid. The yields ranged from moderate to good. The reaction was easily carried out in DMF with Cs₂CO₃ at 100°C by copper‐catalyzed click cycloaddition/decarboxylation.     

3‐(Diphenylphosphino)propanoic acid: an efficient ligand for the Pd/Cu‐catalyzed homo‐coupling of terminal alkynes in the presence of oxygen at room temperature

A simple, yet efficient system for PdCl₂/CuI to catalyze the homo‐coupling reactions of various terminal alkynes has been developed using 3‐(diphenylphosphino)propanoic acid as ligand in the presence of oxygen. The alkynes, including aromatic, heteroaromatic and aliphatic alkynes, were transformed at room temperature into the corresponding 1,3‐diynes in moderate to excellent yields. The turnover number was up to 1.04 × 10³. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CuFeO2/tetrabutylammonium bromide catalyzes selective synthesis of 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazoles in neat water at room temperature

A completely green medium including water as a solvent and antiviral CuFeO₂ as a catalyst is described for the synthesis of 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazoles. Excellent yields of products are obtained at room temperature. Cost effectiveness, high stability and high recyclability of CuFeO₂ along with antiviral properties of the catalyst make it a unique catalyst for cycloadditions of phenylacetylene with a wide variety of aryl halides. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A reusable CuSO4 · 5H2O/cationic 2,2′‐bipyridyl system catalyzed homocoupling of terminal alkynes in water

A reusable CuSO₄ · 5H₂O/cationic 2,2′‐bipyridyl system catalyzed the homocoupling reaction of terminal alkynes in water using I₂ as the additive in the presence or absence of tetrabutylammonium bromide, giving the 1,3‐diynes in good to high yields. After reaction, the residual aqueous solution could be reused several times. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Application of Copper/Iron Cocatalysis in Cross‐Coupling Reactions

For conventional cross‐couplings in organic chemistry, precious metal (such as Pd or Rh) complexes have been the preferable choices as catalysts. However, their high cost, toxicity, and potential contamination of products limit their massive applications on some occasions, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, where close monitoring of the metal contamination of products is required. Therefore, the use of metals that are less expensive and less toxic than Pd or Rh can be greatly advantageous and earth abundant metal (such Fe or Cu) catalysts have shown promise for replacing the precious metals. Interestingly, a certain copper catalyst combined with an iron catalyst displays higher catalytic efficiency than itself in various coupling reactions. Notably, ligand‐free conditions make such protocols more useful and practical in many cases. In this account, we summarize the recent progress made in this increasingly attractive topic by describing successful examples, including our own work in the literature, regarding effective copper/iron cocatalysis. In addition, a few examples involving a magnetic and readily recyclable CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticle cocatalyst are also included.

     

First report of a nano‐Cu2O‐catalyzed protocol for homo‐coupling reaction of terminal alkynes in water/ionic liquid medium

A new, efficient and green protocol for the nano‐Cu₂O‐catalyzed homo‐coupling reaction of terminal alkynes has been developed, using water/ionic liquid as an environmentally friendly solvent. Moreover, the system also allows the synthesis of unsymmetric 1,3‐diynes by cross‐coupling of two different terminal alkynes. It is noteworthy that the nano‐Cu₂O‐catalyzed methodology is a good supplement to copper catalyst for the Glaser‐type homo‐coupling reaction. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Copper(I) salt/PEG‐400 catalysis in one‐pot direct synthesis of 1‐aryl‐1H‐indazoles from 2‐bromobenzaldehydes and arylhydrazines

2‐Bromobenzaldehydes are condensed and cyclized with arylhydrazines (or their hydrochlorides) in PEG‐400 at 110 °C in the presence of a catalytic amount of a copper(I) salt along with a base to give 1‐aryl‐1H‐indazoles in high yields. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of residual water and free volume on the glass‐transition temperature and heat capacity in polystyrene/poly(vinyl acetate‐co‐butyl acrylate) structured latex films

The dynamic heat capacity and glass‐transition temperature of polystyrene (PS)/poly(vinyl acetate‐co‐butyl acrylate) (VAc–BA) (50:50 w/w) structured latex films as a function of annealing time at 70, 77, and 85 °C were examined with modulated‐temperature differential scanning calorimetry. The PS and poly(vinyl acetate‐co‐n‐butyl acrylate) components were considered to be the cores and shells, respectively, in the structured latex. The dynamic heat capacity decreased with time. The glass‐transition temperatures of the PS and VAc–BA phases shifted to higher values after annealing. The results of thermogravimetry showed that there existed about 1.8% residual water in the films. The mean free volume and relative concentration of holes at room temperature (before and after annealing) and 85 °C, as a function of time, were obtained with positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The PALS results indicated no significant change in free volume during annealing. It is believed that the loss, by diffusion, of residual water mainly caused a decrease in heat capacity and an increase in the glass‐transition temperatures. As little as 1.8% residual water in the structured latex films had a significant influence on the thermal properties. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 1659–1664, 2001     

Sm／BiCl3 System Mediated Reformatsky Type Reactions of α—Bromoacetophenone with Aldehydes in THF—H2O Solvent

In the presence of samarium-bismuth(Ⅲ） chloride,intermolecular aldol type reations of α-bromoacetophenone with various aldehydes in tetrahydrofuran-water mixed solvent afford β-hydroxy ketones in moderate to good yields under mild and neutral conditions.     

An estimation method of binding free energy in terms of ABEEMσπ/MM and continuum electrostatics fused into LIE method

A method is proposed for the estimation of absolute binding free energy of interaction between proteins and ligands. The linear interaction energy method is combined with atom‐bond electronegativity equalization method at σπ level Force field (fused into molecular mechanics) and generalized Born continuum model calculation of electrostatic solvation for the estimation of the absolute free energy of binding. The parameters of this method are calibrated by using a training set of 24 HIV‐1 protease–inhibitor complexes (PDB entry 1AAQ). A correlation coefficient of 0.93 was obtained with a root mean square deviation of 0.70 kcal mol^?1. This approach is further tested on seven inhibitor and protease complexes, and it provides small root mean square deviation between the calculated binding free energy and experimental binding free energy without reparametrization. By comparing the radii of gyration and the hydrogen bond distances between ligand and protein of three training model molecules, the consistent comparison result of binding free energy is obtained. It proves that this method of calculating the binding free energy with appropriate structural analysis can be applied to quickly assess new inhibitors of HIV‐1 proteases. To test whether the parameters of this method can apply to other drug targets, we have validated this method for the drug target cyclooxygenase‐2. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011     

Reductive Cleavage of the Te—Te Bond in Diphenyl Ditelluride by the Sm—CrCl3（cat.）System： Preparation of Telluroesters and Unsymmetrical Phenyltellurides

The reduction of diphenyl ditelluride by the Sm/CrCl3(cat.) system led to a telluride anion.This species reacted with acid chlorides,alkyl halides,and α，β-unsaturated enoates or α，β-unsaturated ene nitriles to afford telluroesters and unsymmetrical phenyltellurides,respectively,in moderate to good yields under mild and neutral conditions.