A regioselective Ru-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling

[reaction: see text] The reaction of silylalkynes and terminal alkenes proceeds with complete control of regioselectivity by the silyl substituent to give geometrically defined vinylsilanes. Since terminal alkynes normally give mixtures, protodesilylation of these adducts then constitutes a regioselective addition of terminal alkynes to terminal alkenes.     

A Photosensitizing Metal–Organic Framework as a Tandem Reaction Catalyst for Primary Alcohols from Terminal Alkenes and Alkynes

Owing to the wide and growing demand for primary alcohols, the development of efficient catalysts with high regioselectivity remains a worthwhile pursuit. However, according to Markovnikov's rule, it is a challenge to obtain primary alcohols with high yields and regioselectivity from terminal alkenes or alkynes. Herein, we report the synthesis of a photosensitizing two-dimensional (2D) metal–organic framework (MOF) from cyclic trinuclear copper(I) units (Cu-CTUs) and a boron dipyrro-methene (Bodipy) ligand. The MOF features broadband light absorption, excellent photoinduced charge separation efficiency, and photochemical properties. By integrating the copper-catalyzed hydroboration and photocatalyzed aerobic oxidation, it can catalyze terminal alkenes and alkynes to produce primary alcohols via a one-pot tandem reaction with excellent regioselectivity, good overall yields in two-step reactions (up to 85 %), broad substrate compatibility (32 examples) and good reusability under mild conditions.     

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of aryl trimethoxysilanes with terminal alkynes

A palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of aryl trimethoxysilanes with terminal alkynes was described. Thus, di-substituted alkynes were prepared in moderate to good yields. The electron-deficient terminal alkynes also worked well in the procedure.     

A synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes by a Ru-catalyzed addition

Catalyzed by ruthenium trisacetonitrile hexafluorophosphate 4, the Alder-ene type reaction of alkenes and internal alkynes provides an effective way to synthesize trisubstituted alkenes. Unlike most typical olefination protocols, this reaction is atom economical, and affords trisubstituted alkenes with defined olefin geometry. The regioselectivity can be explained invoking a steric argument based on the proposed mechanism. The first C-C bond formation generally involves sterically less hindered carbons of the alkenes and alkynes. Modest to very high regioselectivity can be achieved depending on the steric difference of the two substituents of alkynes.     

NbCl3-catalyzed three-component [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of terminal alkynes, internal alkynes, and alkenes to 1,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted 1,3-cyclohexadienes

Three-component [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of terminal alkynes, internal alkynes, and terminal alkenes is achieved using an NbCl(3)(DME) catalyst, leading to 1,3,4,5-substituted 1,3-cyclohexadienes in excellent yields with high chemo- and regioselectivity.     

Active low-valent niobium catalysts from NbCl5 and hydrosilanes for selective intermolecular cycloadditions

An active niobium catalyst was developed via a simple and nontoxic reduction method from NbCl(5)/hydrosilane and utilized for the selective [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of terminal alkynes and alkenes/α,ω-dienes, to give 1,3-cyclohexadiene derivatives in high yields with excellent chemo- and regioselectivity.     

Catalytic oxyalkylation of alkenes with alkanes and molecular oxygen via a radical process using N-hydroxyphthalimide

A novel catalytic method for the radical addition of alkanes and molecular oxygen to electron-deficient alkenes was achieved by the use of N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) combined with a Co species as the catalyst. This reaction is referred to as oxyalkylation of alkenes with alkanes and O(2). For instance, the reaction of 1,3-dimethyladamantane with methyl acrylate under molecular oxygen in the presence of catalytic amounts of NHPI and Co(acac)(3) at 70 degrees C for 16 h gave oxyalkylated products in 91% yield. Other alkenes such as fumarate and acrylonitrile also serve as good acceptors of alkyl radicals and O(2) to afford the corresponding adducts in high yields. The generality of the present reaction was examined between various alkanes and alkenes under dioxygen. The behavior of Co ions during the reaction course was discussed. The present reaction involves (i) an alkyl radical generation via hydrogen abstraction of alkane by phthalimide N-oxyl generated in situ from NHPI and O(2) assisted by Co(II), (ii) the addition of the resulting alkyl radical to an electron-deficient alkene to form an adduct radical, (iii) trapping of the adduct radical by O(2) yielding a hydroperoxide, and (iv) the decomposition of the hydroperoxide by Co ions to form an adduct in which a hydroxy or a carbonyl function is incorporated.     

Ligand-free copper(Ι)-catalyzed Sonogashira-type coupling of arylboronic acids with terminal alkynes

An efficient ligand-free CuI-catalyzed Sonogashira-type coupling reaction of arylboronic acids with terminal alkynes under air is described. The electron-deficient alkynes gave the desired cross-coupling products in good yields. Thus, it represents a simple and alternative method for the traditional Sonogashira reaction.     

Boron-directed regio- and stereoselective enyne cross metathesis: efficient synthesis of vinyl boronate containing 1,3-dienes

[reaction: see text] Regio- and stereoselective enyne cross metathesis reactions between borylated alkynes and terminal alkenes were realized to provide a variety of functionalized vinyl boronates. High chemical yield and regioselectivity was achieved irrespective of substituents on the alkyne and alkene counterparts, whereas Z/E-selectivity was found to be dependent upon the substituents both on the alkyne and alkene.     

Highly stereoselective one-pot procedure to prepare bis- and tris-chalcogenide alkenes via addition of disulfides and diselenides to terminal alkynes

We present here the reaction of diorganoyl dichalcogenides with terminal alkynes under catalyst-free conditions, by a one-pot procedure, to prepare bis- and tris-chalcogenide alkenes selectively, avoiding the previous preparation of chalcogen alkynes. The reaction proceeded cleanly under mild reaction conditions, and the addition of dichalcogenides to alkynes occurred stereoselectively to give exclusively the corresponding Z isomers. We observed that the selectivity control was governed by the effective participation of the hydroxyl group from propargyl alcohols. In addition, the bis-chalcogenide alkenes were exclusively obtained with propargyl alcohol having the acidic hydroxyl group proton. Conversely, the alkynes with no potentially acidic hydroxyl group proton, at propargyl positions, gave exclusively the tris-chalcogenide alkenes.     

Rhodium-catalyzed intermolecular chelation controlled alkene and alkyne hydroacylation: synthetic scope of beta-S-substituted aldehyde substrates

The use of beta-S-substituted aldehydes in rhodium-catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation reactions is reported. Aldehydes substituted with either sulfide or thioacetal groups undergo efficient hydroacylation with a variety of electron-poor alkenes, such as enoates, in Stetter-like processes and with both electron-poor and neutral alkynes. In general, the reactions with electron-poor alkenes demonstrate good selectivity for the linear regioisomer, and the reactions with alkynes provide enone products with excellent selectivity for the E-isomers. The scope of the process was shown to be broad, tolerating a variety of substitution patterns and functional groups on both reaction components. A novel CN-directing effect was shown to be responsible for reversing the regioselectivity in a number of alkyne hydroacylation reactions. Catalyst loadings as low as 0.1 mol % were achievable.     

Catalyst-free system for reductive addition of terminal alkynes via 2,2′-dithiosalicylic acid in water

Green, practical, and efficient hydrothiolation of 2,2′-dithiosalicylic acid to terminal alkynes was found to proceed smoothly in water under mild reaction conditions with moderate to good yields. The use of metal catalysts and toxic solvents was avoided, and good to excellent stereoselectivity and regioselectivity were obtained. Herein, the reaction conditions and regioselectivity are discussed, and a preliminary reaction mechanism is proposed.     

Rhodium-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective codimerization of alkenes and electron-deficient internal alkynes leading to 1,3-dienes

A cationic rhodium(I)/H(8)-BINAP complex catalyzes codimerization of alkenes bearing no alpha-hydrogen and electron-deficient internal alkynes, leading to 1,3-dienes in good yields with moderate to excellent regio- and stereoselectivity. The same complex also catalyzes codimerization of an acrylate and phenyl-substituted electron-rich internal alkynes, leading to 1,3-dienes.     

Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Cross-Coupling of Electron-Deficient Polyfluorophenylboronate Esters with Terminal Alkynes

We report herein a mild procedure for the copper-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of electron-deficient polyfluorophenylboronate esters with terminal alkynes. This method displays good functional group tolerance and broad substrate scope, generating cross-coupled alkynyl(fluoro)arene products in moderate to excellent yields. Thus, it represents a simple alternative to the conventional Sonogashira reaction.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition of alkynes with alkenes: formation of cyclohexenedicarboxylates via isomerization of alkynes and successive Diels-Alder reaction

Formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition of alkynes with electron-deficient alkenes, which affords 3,6-dialkyl-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylates, was achieved using Ru(η⁶-1,3,5-cyclooctatriene)(η²-dimethyl fumarate)₂ as a catalyst. The reaction mechanism consists of two steps, isomerization of an alkyne to conjugated dienes and successive Diels-Alder reaction of the generated dienes with an electron-deficient alkene.     

Regioselectivity and enantioselectivity in nickel-catalysed reductive coupling reactions of alkynes

Nickel-catalysed reductive coupling reactions of alkynes have emerged as powerful synthetic tools for the selective preparation of functionalized alkenes. One of the greatest challenges associated with these transformations is control of regioselectivity. Recent work from our laboratory has provided an improved understanding of several of the factors governing regioselectivity in these reactions, and related studies have revealed that the reaction mechanism can differ substantially depending on the ligand employed. A discussion of stereoselective transformations and novel applications of nickel catalysis in coupling reactions of alkynes is also included.     

Palladium-catalyzed benzannulation from alkynes and allylic compounds

Various alkynes reacted with allyl tosylates in the presence of palladium catalysts, giving polysubstituted benzenes with good to high regioselectivity. Pentasubstituted and trisubstituted benzenes were readily prepared by reaction of internal alkynes and terminal alkynes, respectively. The combination of allyl alcohols and p-toluenesulfonic anhydride could be utilized in place of isolated allyl tosylates. The cyclization of diynes with allyl tosylate afforded bicyclic compounds containing an aromatic ring.     

Fast and Selective Semihydrogenation of Alkynes by Palladium Nanoparticles Sandwiched in Metal–Organic Frameworks

The semihydrogenation of alkynes into alkenes rather than alkanes is of great importance in the chemical industry. Unfortunately, state-of-the-art heterogeneous catalysts hardly achieve high turnover frequencies (TOFs) simultaneously with almost full conversion, excellent selectivity, and good stability. Here, we used metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) containing Zr metal nodes (“UiO”) with tunable wettability and electron-withdrawing ability as activity accelerators for the semihydrogenation of alkynes catalyzed by sandwiched palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs). Impressively, the porous hydrophobic UiO support not only leads to an enrichment of phenylacetylene around the Pd NPs but also renders the Pd surfaces more electron-deficient, which leads to a remarkable catalysis performance, including an exceptionally high TOF of 13835 h⁻¹, 100 % phenylacetylene conversion 93.1 % selectivity towards styrene, and no activity decay after successive catalytic cycles. The strategy of using molecularly tailored supports is universal for boosting the selective semihydrogenation of various terminal and internal alkynes.     

Synthesis of trans-Disubstituted Alkenes by Cobalt-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with Activated Alkenes

A cobalt-catalyzed reductive coupling of terminal alkynes, RC?CH, with activated alkenes, R'CH?CH(2) , in the presence of zinc and water to give functionalized trans-disubstituted alkenes, RCH?CHCH(2) CH(2) R', is described. A variety of aromatic terminal alkynes underwent reductive coupling with activated alkenes including enones, acrylates, acrylonitrile, and vinyl sulfones in the presence of a CoCl(2) /P(OMe)(3) /Zn catalyst system to afford 1,2-trans-disubstituted alkenes with high regio- and stereoselectivity. Similarly, aliphatic terminal alkynes also efficiently participated in the coupling reaction with acrylates, enones, and vinyl sulfone, in the presence of the CoCl(2) /P(OPh)(3) /Zn system providing a mixture of 1,2-trans- and 1,1-disubstituted functionalized terminal alkene products in high yields. The scope of the reaction was also extended by the coupling of 1,3-enynes and acetylene gas with alkenes. Furthermore, a phosphine-free cobalt-catalyzed reductive coupling of terminal alkynes with enones, affording 1,2-trans-disubstituted alkenes as the major products in a high regioisomeric ratio, is demonstrated. In the reactions, less expensive and air-stable cobalt complexes, a mild reducing agent (Zn) and a simple hydrogen source (water) were used. A possible reaction mechanism involving a cobaltacyclopentene as the key intermediate is proposed.     

Synthesis of isocoumarins via Pd/C-mediated reactions of o-iodobenzoic acid with terminal alkynes

The coupling reaction of o-iodobenzoic acid with terminal alkynes by using a catalyst system of 10% Pd/C-Et3N-CuI-PPh3 has been studied in a variety of solvents. 3-Substituted isocoumarins were formed in good yields and with good regioselectivity when the reaction was performed in EtOH.