Base-catalyzed cross coupling of secondary alcohols and aryl-aldehydes with concomitant oxidation of alcohols to ketones: An alternative route for synthesis of the Claisen-Schmidt condensation products

Base-catalyzed C–C cross coupling of secondary alcohols and aryl-aldehydes was achieved, when an alcoholic solution of an aryl-aldehyde was stirred under reflux for 45 h in the presence of a catalytic (20 mol%) amount of K₂CO₃. The consistent formation of α,α′-bis-(benzylidene) alkanones was obtained in moderate to good yields using various secondary alcohols and substituted aryl-aldehydes. Herein, α,α′-bis-(benzylidene)alkanones, which are the classical products of Claisen-Schmidt (cross aldol) condensation, have been synthesized via an alternative strategy using secondary alcohols. Bis-(benzylidene) alkanones are an integral part of various drug regimes and the production of bis-(benzylidene) alkanones without using any precious metal is a major outcome of the present reaction.     

Highly effective activation of aryl chlorides for Suzuki coupling in aqueous media using a ferrocene-based Pd(II)–diimine catalyst

The Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides with boronic acids using a ferrocene-containing Pd(II)–diimine complex as catalyst, in aqueous media, under microwave heating is reported. A small amount of the catalyst (0.1%) was found to be highly effective for coupling unactivated aryl chlorides with boronic acids to form sterically hindered ortho-substituted biaryls. The same catalyst also enabled the coupling of aryl bromides and iodides with various boronic acids in very high yields. The catalyst is air stable and the catalytic reaction can be completed in 15 min.     

Henry reaction catalyzed by recoverable enantioselective catalysts based on copper(II) complexes of α-methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(l-glutamic acid) and imidazolidine-4-one ligands

Herein we describe the preparation and characterization of a recoverable catalyst for a Henry reaction based on a Cu(II) complex of block copolymer α-methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(l-glutamic acid) with (2R,5S)- or (2S,5R)-5-isopropyl-5-methyl-2-(pyridine-2-yl)imidazolidine-4-one. The reactions of substituted aldehydes with nitromethane catalyzed by these catalysts proceed with high chemical yield (70–98%) and with high enantioselectivity (61–92% ee). The reaction mixture is in the form of a colloid system and is formed by self-organized aggregates of the catalysts with average hydrodynamic particle size of 189 ± 3 nm (DLS). After sevenfold recycling, the catalyst exhibited no decrease in the enantioselectivity and only a slight decrease (ca. 18%) in the yield for the Henry reaction of nitromethane with 2-methoxybenzaldehyde.     

Development of novel reactions using ruthenium carbene catalyst and its application to novel methods for preparing nitrogen-containing heterocycles

The reaction of N-allyl-ortho-vinylaniline with ruthenium carbene catalyst at 50 °C gives substituted 1,2-dihydroquinoline through ring-closing metathesis (RCM), which is easily converted to the corresponding quinoline after deprotection. In sharp contrast, when vinyloxytrimethylsilane is added to this reaction mixture, 1,2-dihydroquinoline is not formed and selective isomerization of N-allyl-ortho-vinylaniline is observed at 50 °C to give corresponding enamide, which is successfully converted to indole derivative by RCM. The same catalyst system provide indoline derivative at 160 °C by cycloisomerization. Based on a detailed mechanistic study, it becomes clear that a ruthenium carbene catalyst, which is highly effective for RCM, reacts with an electron-rich terminal olefin selectively, and another ruthenium species, which effectively catalyzes the isomerization of terminal olefin and cycloisomerization of alpha, omega-diene, is generated.     

General and highly efficient fluorinated-N-heterocyclic carbene–based catalysts for the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura reaction

A general and highly efficient trifluoromethylated-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-based catalyst for the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura reaction was reported. In the presence of the catalyst, reactions of non-activated aryl chlorides and triflates with aryl boronic acids occurred at room temperature with good to excellent yields (63–98%). In addition, catalysts generated from a combination of Pd(OAc)₂/imidazolium salt 6a is not only effective for the coupling of heteroaryl boronic acid with aryl halides and heteroaryl halides, but also efficient for coupling of other heteroaryl halides and heteroaryl boronic acids. Finally, the catalyst is highly effective for Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of aryl bromides and chlorides with 0.01–0.1 mol % loading if the temperature was raised at refluxed THF/H₂O.     

Catalytic Friedel–Crafts allylation using Zn(II) triflimidate

The activity of various metallic triflates and triflimidates in the Friedel–Crafts allylation of activated aromatic rings was examined. Zinc bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide was proved to be a good catalyst in the model reaction with anisole and prenyl acetate. The Friedel–Crafts allylation reaction of various aryl derivatives with allyl acetates was efficiently catalysed under mild conditions, using 3 mol% of Zn(NTf₂)₂ as the catalyst, without solvent, at 100 °C. The desired ortho and para mono-allylated products were selectively obtained in good yields. The para isomer was always favoured.     

Diazenyl schiff bases: Synthesis,spectral analysis,antimicrobial studies and cytotoxic activity on human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT-116)

A series of diazenyl schiff bases have been synthesized by reaction of salicylaldehyde containing azo dyes with various substituted aniline derivatives in the presence of acetic acid as catalyst. The structures of diazenyl derivatives were determined by FTIR, UV–vis, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, CHN analysis, fluorimetric and mass spectroscopic studies. The synthesized derivatives were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against various Gram-positive (S. aureus, B. subtilis, B. cereus), Gram-negative (S. typhi, S. enterica, E. coli, P. aeruginosa) bacterial and fungal (C. albicans, A. niger and A. fumigatus) strains, using cefadroxil (antibacterial) and fluconazole (antifungal) as standard drugs. The diazenyl schiff bases were also screened for their cytotoxicity against human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT-116) using 5-fluorouracil as standard drug by Sulforhodamine-B Stain (SRB) assay. The schiff bases exhibited significant activity toward both Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacterial and fungal strains. Most of the synthesized derivatives showed high activity against S. enterica. 4-((2,5-Dichlorophenyl)diazenyl)-2-((3-bromophenylimino)methyl)phenol (SBN-40) was found to be very active against S. aureus, B. cereus and E. coli, with MIC = 0.69 (µM/ml × 10²). The compound 4-((2-bromophenyl)diazenyl)-2-((4-nitrophenylimino)methyl)phenol (SBN-13) possessed comparable activity (IC₅₀ = 7.5 µg/ml) to the standard drug 5-fluorouracil (IC₅₀ = 3.0 µg/ml) against human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT-116).     

An efficient and chemoselective deprotection of tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) ethers using tailor-made ionic liquid

Phenolic tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) ethers can be deprotected to yield phenols in excellent yield using tailor-made ionic liquid [dihexaEGim][OMs] (dihexaEGim = dihexaethylene glycolic imidazolium salt) as an organic catalyst with alkali-metal fluoride in tert-amyl alcohol. On the contrary, all TBDMS protecting groups can be cleaved cleanly from the bis-TBDMS ether using the same reaction in CH₃CN solvent instead of tert-alcohol at 100 °C. This [dihexaEGim][OMs]/tert-amyl alcohol media system allows the highly selective phenolic deprotection reaction of various bis-TBDMS ethers containing both phenolic and aliphatic TBDMS ethers to provide the corresponding phenols in high yield.     

Thermodynamic quantities for the different steps involved in the mechanism of osmium(VIII) catalysed oxidation of l-lysine by a new oxidant,diperiodatoargentate(III) (stopped flow technique)

The kinetics of Os(VIII) catalysed oxidation of l-lysine by diperiodatoargentate(III) (DPA) in alkaline medium at T = 298 K and a constant ionic strength of 0.50 mol · dm^?3 was studied spectrophotometrically. The oxidation products are aldehyde (5-aminopentanal) and Ag(I). The stoichiometry is i.e. [l-lysine]:[DPA] = 1:1. The reaction is of first order in [Os(VIII)] and [DPA] and is less than unit order in both [l-lys] and [alkali]. Addition of periodate has no effect on the reaction. Effect of added products, ionic strength, and dielectric constant of the reaction medium have been investigated. The oxidation reaction in alkaline medium has been shown to proceed via a Os(VIII)-l-lysine complex, which further reacts with one molecule of deprotonated DPA in a rate determining step followed by other fast steps to give the products. The main products were identified by spot test, IR, and GC-MS. The reaction constants involved in the different steps of the mechanism are calculated at different temperatures. The catalytic constant (K_C) was also calculated at different temperatures. From the plots of lg K_C versus 1/T, values of activation parameters with respect to the catalyst have been evaluated. The activation parameters with respect to slow step of the mechanism are computed and discussed and thermodynamic quantities are also determined. The active species of catalyst and oxidant have been identified.     

Efficient synthesis of fumaric amides through cross-metathesis of acrylic amides with the NHC Grubbs ruthenium catalyst

Application of the second generation Grubbs metathesis catalyst for the homo-cross-metathesis of acroyl amides from chiral amines is reported. This efficient and high-yielding reaction provides a side-product free synthesis of fumaric acid diamides which are formed with complete (E)-selectivity under the reaction conditions. In particular, products which cannot be synthesized from the corresponding fumaroyl chloride via classic condensation route can now be provided in excellent yields (88–98%) with a catalyst loading from 2.5 mol% to even 0.375 mol%.     

Effective synthesis of novel O-acetylated compounds over ZrO2-Al2O3 solid acid

The solid acids such as ZrO₂, Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂-Al₂O₃ containing different ZrO₂ loadings (10–80 mol%) were prepared by solution combustion method (SCM) and characterized for their total surface acidity by NH₃-TPD/n-butylamine back titration method and crystallinity by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) technique. These solid acids were evaluated for their catalytic activity in the synthesis of novel O-acetylated products from substituted phenols, pyridine alcohols and aryl alcohols with acetic anhydride (AA) as an acetylating agent. The reaction conditions were optimized by varying the catalyst, molar ratio of the reactants, reaction temperature and amount of the catalyst. All the solid acids used in this study exhibited good catalytic activity in the reaction. In particular, ZrO₂-Al₂O₃ containing 80 mol% of ZrO₂ was found to be highly active in the acetylation reaction with high yield of acetylated products. Triangular correlation between the surface acidity, crystallinity and catalytic activity of solid acids was observed. These solid acids were found to be reactivable and reusable.     

N-Benzyl-l-prolinol: an efficient catalyst for the enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc reagents to N-(diphenylphosphinoyl)imines

Commercially available N-benzyl-l-prolinol has shown to be a very efficient catalyst for the enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc reagents to N-(diphenylphosphinoyl)imines. The use of 0.5 equiv of this β-aminoalcohol as a catalyst leads to the expected addition products in good yields and with ees up to 92% in a reaction time of only 4 h at room temperature. This ee is almost equal to the highest value reported so far using 0.5 equiv of an aminoalcohol as promoter, although the reaction time is much shorter in our case. The amount of the catalyst can be reduced to 0.25 equiv with a slight decrease in the ee. An interesting effect of the addition rate and temperature on the enantioselectivity has been observed.     

A non-precious metal catalyst for oxygen reduction prepared by heat-treating a mechanical mixture of carbon black,melamine and cobalt chloride

A non-precious metal catalyst CoMe]C for the oxygen reduction reaction is prepared by heat-treating a mechanical mixture of carbon black, melamine and cobalt chloride at 600 under nitrogen atmosphere for 2 h. The catalytic activity of CoMe/C is characterized by the electrochemical linear sweep voltammetry technique. The onset reduction potential of the catalyst is 0.55 V （vs. SCE） at a scanning rate of 5 mV/s in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 solution. The formation of the ORR activity sites of CoMe/C is facilitated by metallic β- cobalt.     

Stability of the first-generation Grubbs metathesis catalyst in a continuous flow reactor

Ethylene pretreatment of the (PCy₃)₂Cl₂RuCHPh catalyst (1) prior to cross-metathesis of ethylene and cis-2-butene to form propylene in the continuous flow reactor produced a direct effect on catalyst deactivation. Similar cis-2-butene pretreatment of the same catalyst exhibited far less change in the catalyst activity. These results support the assumption that the ruthenium methylidene intermediate generated from ethylene and 1 is unstable and promotes catalyst loss while ruthenium alkylidenes, e.g. derived from 2-butene, exhibit significantly enhanced stability and sustained catalyst integrity. Continuous removal of products in the continuous flow reactor was important for separating the catalyst decay and the catalyst deactivation caused by a terminal olefin, in this case propylene.The amount of produced propylene during the 1 lifespan was determined in a series of tests using identical catalyst concentrations ([Ru] = 60 ppm) in pentadecane while varying the olefin pretreatment times from 0 to 420 min. The catalyst turnover numbers in the cross-metathesis experiments proved inversely proportional to the duration of ethylene treatment prior to the reaction. The activity of 1 pre-exposed to ethylene closely matched with the activity of the catalyst that decayed in the reaction mixture containing ethylene and cis-2-butene for the same period of time. A significant contribution of the Ru-methylidene decay to the activity losses in metathesis reactions was demonstrated directly in the cross-metathesis reaction environment. The catalyst proved to be less sensitive to cis-2-butene pretreatment and showed turnover numbers for subsequent cross-metathesis essentially similar to the reference cross-metathesis test.     

Efficient and suitable preparation of N-sulfonyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines and ring analogues using recyclable H6P2W18O62·24H2O/SiO2 catalyst

Silica gel-supported H₆P₂W₁₈O₆₂·24H₂O is an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of biologically important molecules. Several substituted N-sulfonyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines and ring analogues can be prepared in very good yields and purity by direct reaction of N-aralkylsulfonamides and sym-trioxane by a Pictet-Spengler reaction in the presence of a catalytic amount of silica gel-supported H₆P₂W₁₈O₆₂·24H₂O. Reactions were performed in a low volume of toluene, at 70 °C and for a short time, typically 15 to 30 min. The title heterocyclic compounds were prepared in very good yields (60%–95%) using the described procedure results in a clean and useful alternative, which has the advantages of a greener methodology with operative simplicity, use of a reusable and non-corrosive solid catalyst, soft reaction conditions, low reaction times, and good yields.     

Catenane gel: synthesis of high molecular weight poly[2]catenanes by Sonogashira coupling polymerization

A first catenane polymer gel was obtained by Sonogashira coupling reaction of diiodo[2]catenane and 4,4′-diethynylbiphenyl. Because of the linearity and rigidity of the ethynylene group formed in the coupling reaction, the formation of undesired cyclic dimer was inhibited, and a very high molecular weight (M_n > 2.3 × 10⁵) poly[2]catenane was synthesized. The polymer was gelated without any chemical cross-linkage and swelled in DMF.     

Gold-catalyzed intramolecular hydroalkoxylation/cyclization of conjugated dienyl alcohols

Catalytic intramolecular additions of hydroxyl groups to tethered conjugated dienes are described. The reactions proceed smoothly at 60 °C in the presence of 5 mol % of (PPh₃)AuCl/AgOTf as a catalyst. A broad range of structurally diverse conjugated dienes produce substituted tetrahydrofurans and tetrahydropyrans in good yields. This reaction represents an atom-economic route to construct five- and six-membered cyclic ethers.     

Ultrasound-assisted tandem synthesis of tri- and tetra-substituted pyrrole-2-carbonitriles from alkenes,TMSCN and N,N-disubstituted formamides

An energy-saving and eco-friendly method for the efficient construction of various tri- and tetra-substituted pyrrolecarbonitriles through ultrasound-assisted multicomponent tandem reaction of readily available alkenes, TMSCN and N,N-disubstituted formamides within 40 min under metal-, solvent-free and mild conditions was developed. The dual role of iodine (catalyst and oxidant) notably simplified the reaction conditions and reduced the chemical waste generated     

Enantioselective acylation of rac-2-phenylcycloalkanamines catalyzed by lipases

The kinetic resolution of some 2-phenylcycloalkanamines was performed by means of aminolysis reactions catalyzed by lipases, with Kazlauskas’ rule being obeyed in all cases. The size of the ring and the stereochemistry of the stereogenic centers of the amines had a strong influence on both the enantiomeric ratio and the reaction rate of these aminolysis processes. Lipase B from Candida antarctica (CAL-B) showed excellent enantioselectivities toward trans-2-phenylcyclohexanamine in a variety of reaction conditions (E >150), whereas lipase A from C. antarctica (CAL-A) was the best catalyst for the acylation of cis-2-phenylcyclohexanamine (E = 34) and trans-2-phenylcyclopropanamine (E = 9).     

Synthesis,biological evaluation and Structure Activity Relationships (SARs) study of 8-(substituted)aryloxycaffeine

A series of 8-(substituted)aryloxycaffeine were prepared from 8-bromocaffeine and (substituted)phenols by modified Ullmann reaction. In vitro antibacterial activity, inhibitory activity on topoisomerase II and pharmacological activities were evaluated for the synthesized 8-(substituted)aryloxycaffeine. Among the synthesized compounds, 8-(5-chloropyridin-3-yloxy)caffeine (3k) showed strong inhibitory activity (MIC = 15.6 μg/mL) against the tested gram negative (−) bacteria Salmonella enteritidis. 8-(quinolin-8-yloxy)caffeine (3g) showed the strongest inhibitory activity against topoisomerase II. And the compounds 8-(6-methylpyridin-2-yloxy)caffeine (3j) and 8-(3-chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yloxy)caffeine (3m) showed analgesic effect without the central nervous system stimulation.