Electroreductive acylation of aromatic imines with acylimidazoles

The intermolecular reductive coupling of aromatic imines with acylimidazoles was effected by electroreduction in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane and gave α-amino-α-aryl ketones. This method was also effective for the synthesis of α-amino-α-aryl esters using methoxycarbonylimidazole as an electrophile.     

Zirconocene Dichloride–Catalyzed Pinacol Coupling of Aromatic Aldehydes and Ketones

The reductive coupling of aromatic aldehydes and ketones has been achieved using a catalytic amount of zirconocene dichloride in the presence of magnesium metal and chlorotrimethylsilane in THF at room temperature to afford the corresponding 1,2‐diols in good yields and diastereoselectivity.     

Electrosynthesis of benzylboronic acids and esters

A novel preparation of benzylboronic acids and esters is described by using an electrochemical reductive coupling reaction between benzylic halides and borating agents (trialkylborates or pinacolborane). The reaction is carried out at room temperature in DMF or THF with the use of a sacrificial magnesium anode in a single-compartment cell.     

Highly enantioselective direct reductive coupling of conjugated alkynes and alpha-ketoesters via rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

Catalytic hydrogenation of 1,3-enynes 1a-7a in the presence of ethyl pyruvate and related activated ketones using chirally modified cationic rhodium catalysts results in reductive coupling to afford dienylated alpha-hydroxy esters 1b-7b and 3c-3f with exceptional levels of regio- and enantiocontrol. These studies represent the first highly enantioselective direct catalytic reductive couplings of alkynes to ketones. As illustrated by the conversion of 6b to 6c-6h, the diene containing the side chain of the coupling products is subject to diverse chemo- and regioselective manipulation. Reductive coupling of enyne 6a and ethyl pyruvate using elemental deuterium provides the monodeuterated product deuterio-6b, consistent with a catalytic mechanism involving alkyne-carbonyl oxidative coupling followed by hydrogenolytic cleavage of the resulting oxametallacycle, as corroborated by ESI-MS analysis.     

Reductive coupling of N-methoxycarbonyl lactams with benzophenone and 9-fluorenone by low-valent titanium

The reductive coupling of N-methoxycarbonyl lactams with benzophenone by Zn-TiCl₄ in THF gave cross-coupled products as cyclic α-diphenylidene-N-methoxycarbonylamines and ring-opening α,α-diphenyl-α-hydroxy-ω-(N-methoxycarbonyl)amino ketones selectively depending on the reduction conditions. The reductive coupling of N-methoxycarbonyl lactams with 9-fluorenone by Zn-TiCl₄ gave cyclic α-(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)-N-methoxycarbonylamines preferentially irrespective to the conditions.     

Nouvelle méthode de synthèse d’acides et d’esters arylboroniques par électroréduction de dérivés aromatiques halogénés en présence d’agents boratants

Novel synthesis of arylboronic acids and esters by electroreduction of aromatic halides in the presence of borating agents. A novel strategy for the one-step synthesis of arylboronic acids and esters by an electrochemical coupling reaction is described. It is based on the reductive coupling between the aromatic halides and a borating agent (trialkyl borate or pinacolborane). The reactions are carried out in DMF or THF with the use of sacrificial magnesium or aluminium anodes in a single-compartment cell. Arylboronic acids and esters are obtained with moderate-to-good isolated yields. To cite this article: C. Laza, E. Duñach, C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).     

Ketones from Nickel‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative,Non‐Symmetric Cross‐Electrophile Coupling of Carboxylic Acid Esters

Synthesis of the C?C bonds of ketones relies upon one high‐availability reagent (carboxylic acids) and one low‐availability reagent (organometallic reagents or alkyl iodides). We demonstrate here a ketone synthesis that couples two different carboxylic acid esters, N‐hydroxyphthalimide esters and S‐2‐pyridyl thioesters, to form aryl alkyl and dialkyl ketones in high yields. The keys to this approach are the use of a nickel catalyst with an electron‐poor bipyridine or terpyridine ligand, a THF/DMA mixed solvent system, and ZnCl₂ to enhance the reactivity of the NHP ester. The resulting reaction can be used to form ketones that have previously been difficult to access, such as hindered tertiary/tertiary ketones with strained rings and ketones with α‐heteroatoms. The conditions can be employed in the coupling of complex fragments, including a 20‐mer peptide fragment analog of Exendin(9–39) on solid support.     

Ketones from Nickel‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative,Non‐Symmetric Cross‐Electrophile Coupling of Carboxylic Acid Esters

Synthesis of the C?C bonds of ketones relies upon one high‐availability reagent (carboxylic acids) and one low‐availability reagent (organometallic reagents or alkyl iodides). We demonstrate here a ketone synthesis that couples two different carboxylic acid esters, N‐hydroxyphthalimide esters and S‐2‐pyridyl thioesters, to form aryl alkyl and dialkyl ketones in high yields. The keys to this approach are the use of a nickel catalyst with an electron‐poor bipyridine or terpyridine ligand, a THF/DMA mixed solvent system, and ZnCl₂ to enhance the reactivity of the NHP ester. The resulting reaction can be used to form ketones that have previously been difficult to access, such as hindered tertiary/tertiary ketones with strained rings and ketones with α‐heteroatoms. The conditions can be employed in the coupling of complex fragments, including a 20‐mer peptide fragment analog of Exendin(9–39) on solid support.     

Direct observation of aldehyde insertion into rhodium-aryl and -alkoxide complexes

Several organorhodium(I) complexes of the general formula (PPh(3))(2)(CO)RhR (R = p-tolyl, o-tolyl, Me) were isolated and were shown to insert aryl aldehydes into the aryl-rhodium(I) bond. Under nonaqueous conditions, these reactions provided ketones in good yield. The stability of the arylrhodium(I) complexes allowed these reactions to be run also in mixtures of THF and water. In this solvent system, diarylmethanols were generated exclusively. Mechanistic studies support the formation of ketone and diarylmethanol by insertion of aldehyde into the rhodium-aryl bond and subsequent beta-hydride elimination or hydrolysis to form diaryl ketone or diarylmethanol products. Kinetic isotope effects and the formation of diarylmethanols in THF/water mixtures are inconsistent with oxidative addition of the acyl carbon-hydrogen bond and reductive elimination to form ketone. Moreover, the intermediate rhodium diarylmethoxide formed from insertion of aldehyde was observed directly during the reaction. Its structure was confirmed by independent synthesis. This complex undergoes beta-hydrogen elimination to form a ketone. This alkoxide also reacts with a second aldehyde to form esters by insertion and subsequent beta-hydrogen elimination. Thus, reactions of arylrhodium complexes with an excess of aldehyde formed esters by a double insertion and beta-hydrogen elimination sequence.     

Synthetic Reactions Using Low‐valent Titanium Reagents Derived from Ti(OR)4 or CpTiX3 (X = O‐i‐Pr or Cl) in the Presence of Me3SiCl and Mg

In the presence of Me₃SiCl, Ti(OR)₄ or CpTiX₃ (X = O‐i‐Pr or Cl) is reduced by Mg powder in THF to gradually generate a specific low‐valent titanium (LVT) species that mediates several synthetic reactions. The LVT‐catalyzed C–O bond‐cleaving reactions of allyl and propargyl ethers and esters generate parent alcohols and carboxylic acids, respectively. O‐allyl and propargyl carbamates are also readily deprotected by the LVT to afford parent amines. In addition, the respective reductive N–S or O–S bond cleavage of sulfonamides or sulfonyl esters mediated by the LVT was developed as a novel facile deprotection method. The reagent catalyzes intra‐ and intermolecular alkyne or alkyne/nitrile cycloaddition to produce substituted benzenes and pyridines, while epoxides and oxetanes are reduced to alcohols via an LVT‐mediated homolytic ring opening. The McMurry coupling of aryl aldehydes and ketones proceeds with the LVT under homogeneous and mild reaction conditions and is effective for the polymerization of aromatic dialdehydes, generating conjugated polymers. Finally, imino‐pinacol coupling of imines is mediated by the LVT to provide 1,2‐diamines.     

Reductive coupling of isatins with ketones and aldehydes by low-valent titanium

The reductive coupling of isatins with ketones and aldehydes by Zn–TiCl₄ in THF gave two- and four-electron reduced products, 3-hydoxy-3-(1-hydoxyalkyl)oxindoles and 3-alkylideneoxindoles, selectively by controlling the reaction conditions. Although the 3-(1-hydoxyalkyl)oxindoles were also produced as the four-electron reduced products in some cases, these products were readily dehydrated to 3-alkylideneoxindoles. The 3-alkylideneoxindoles derived from aldehydes were formed as mixtures of geometric isomers. The both geometric isomers were isomerized to the equilibrium mixtures by reflux in cat. PPTS/benzene.     

Exploring SmBr2-, SmI2-, and YbI2-mediated reactions assisted by microwave irradiation

The use of microwave heating in lanthanide(II) halide (LnX2 = SmBr2, SmI2, and YbI2) mediated reduction and coupling reactions has been investigated for a variety of functional groups including alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, aldehydes, ketones, imines, and alkyl halides. Good to quantitative transformations were obtained within a few minutes without the addition of any co-solvents, such as hexamethyl phosphoramide (HMPA). The redox potential of YbI2 in tetrahydrofuran (THF) has been determined as -1.02+/-0.05 V (versus Ag/AgNO3) by cyclic voltammetry. A large selectivity difference in various reactions was observed depending on the redox potential of the LnX2 reagent. The more powerful reductant, SmBr2, afforded mainly pinacol-coupling products of ketones whereas the weaker reductant YbI2 afforded mainly reduction products. The results indicate that the reducing power of LnX2 has a large impact on not only the pinacol coupling/reduction product ratio of ketones but also on other substrates in which there are competing coupling and reduction reactions. The use of in situ generated LnX2 has also been explored and proven useful in many of these reactions.     

MeOH or H2O as efficient additive to switch the reactivity of allylSmBr towards carbonyl compounds

A variety of carbonyl compounds were treated by allylSmBr (allylSmBr) with MeOH as the cosolvent to have further insights on the previously reported reductive coupling of aryl ketones mediated by Sm/alkyl halide/MeOH. The results demonstrate that the real reducing species in Sm/alkyl halide/MeOH system should be allylSmBr, and MeOH has elegantly switched the reactivity of allylSmBr from being nucleophilic to being good reductive coupling reagent. Besides, H₂O was also found to be a useful additive to realize the pinacol coupling of aliphatic aldehydes and ketones promoted by allylSmBr.     

Reductive Amination of Aldehydes and Ketones with Sodium Triacetoxyborohydride. Studies on Direct and Indirect Reductive Amination Procedures(1)

Sodium triacetoxyborohydride is presented as a general reducing agent for the reductive amination of aldehydes and ketones. Procedures for using this mild and selective reagent have been developed for a wide variety of substrates. The scope of the reaction includes aliphatic acyclic and cyclic ketones, aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes, and primary and secondary amines including a variety of weakly basic and nonbasic amines. Limitations include reactions with aromatic and unsaturated ketones and some sterically hindered ketones and amines. 1,2-Dichloroethane (DCE) is the preferred reaction solvent, but reactions can also be carried out in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and occasionally in acetonitrile. Acetic acid may be used as catalyst with ketone reactions, but it is generally not needed with aldehydes. The procedure is carried out effectively in the presence of acid sensitive functional groups such as acetals and ketals; it can also be carried out in the presence of reducible functional groups such as C-C multiple bonds and cyano and nitro groups. Reactions are generally faster in DCE than in THF, and in both solvents, reactions are faster in the presence of AcOH. In comparison with other reductive amination procedures such as NaBH(3)CN/MeOH, borane-pyridine, and catalytic hydrogenation, NaBH(OAc)(3) gave consistently higher yields and fewer side products. In the reductive amination of some aldehydes with primary amines where dialkylation is a problem we adopted a stepwise procedure involving imine formation in MeOH followed by reduction with NaBH(4).     

Reductive coupling of 1,3-dimethyluracils with benzophenone by low-valent titanium: unusual two-to-one coupling

The reductive coupling of 1,3-dimethyluracil with benzophenone by Zn-TiCl₄ in THF gave unusual two-to-one adduct and its further reduced product. The reductive coupling of 1,3-dimethyl-5-fluorouracil with benzophenone by Zn-TiCl₄ also gave two-to-one adduct. 1,3-Dimethylthymine was, however, completely inert under the same conditions.     

用钐和四氯化钛体系一锅法合成咪唑烷衍生物

在四氢呋喃溶液中,用Sm/TiCl4体系还原亚胺合成了咪唑烷衍生物.发现当没有促进剂1,2-二溴乙烷时,咪唑烷衍生物的产率小于20%,加入1,2-二溴乙烷后,产率大大提高.产物的结构通过IR,1HNMR和MS光谱确证.根据实验结果提出了一个可能的反应机理.     

Electroreductive intramolecular coupling of aromatic beta- and gamma-imino esters: a new synthetic method for N-alkoxycarbonyl-2-aryl-3-ones and cis-2-aryl-3-ols of pyrrolidines and piperidines

The electroreduction of aromatic beta- and gamma-imino esters prepared from beta-alanine and GABA in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane and subsequent N-alkoxycarbonylation of the resulting five- and six-membered cyclized amines gave mixed ketals of N-alkoxycarbonyl-2-arylpyrrolidin-3-ones and 2-arylpiperidin-3-ones, respectively. The best result of the electroreductive intramolecular coupling was achieved using Bu(4)NClO(4) as a supporting electrolyte and a Pb cathode in THF. Acid hydrolysis of the mixed ketals afforded N-alkoxycarbonyl-2-arylpyrrolidin-3-ones and 2-arylpiperidin-3-ones in good yields. The reduction of these ketones with NaBH(4) in methanol afforded the corresponding N-alkoxycarbonyl-cis-2-arylpyrrolidin-3-ols and cis-2-arylpiperidin-3-ols diastereospecifically.     

稀土金属作用下芳香醛、酮的还原偶联反应

由Ln/ROH/TMSCl组成的体系能选择性地使芳香族醛、酮还原偶联形成频哪醇, 产率优良, 而对脂肪族醛酮呈惰性。     

Reduction of activated carbonyl groups by alkyl phosphines: formation of alpha-hydroxy esters and ketones

Reduction of activated carbonyl groups such as alpha-keto esters, benzils, 1,2-cyclohexanedione, and alpha-ketophosphonates by alkyl phosphines afforded the corresponding alpha-hydroxy esters or ketones in good to excellent yields in THF at room temperature. The mechanism of the proton transfer and intramolecular hydrolysis has been studied on the basis of deuterium and 18O labeling experiments.     

Transition metal-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation in organic synthesis

Cyclocarbonylation reactions proceed mainly by the coupling reactions of carbonylation components with cyclization components having an unsaturated π-electron bond, in the presence of transition metal compounds. The representative reactions are cyclocarbonylation of alkynes by carbon monoxide such as Pauson–Khand reactions, hetero Pauson–Khand reactions, cyclocarbonylation of alkynyl alcohols, cyclocarbonylation of alkynyl amines, cyclocarbonylative alkyne–alkyne coupling reactions, and reductive cyclocarbonylation of alkynes. The other reactions are cyclocarbonylation of alkenes by carbon monoxide such as alkene–alkene coupling reactions, cyclocarbonylation with aldehydes, ketones, amines or imines, cyclocarbonylation of alkenyl alcohols. Carbonylation via cyclometalation, carbonylative ring expansion reactions, cyclocarbonylation by aldehydes, carboxylic acids or carboxylic acid esters are also cyclocarbonylation reactions. These reactions are conveniently used for organic syntheses, especially, for the syntheses of pharmaceutical intermediates.