Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative Synthesis of α‐Acetoxylated Enones from Alkynes

We report a palladium‐catalyzed oxidative functionalization of alkynes to generate α‐acetoxylated enones in one step. A range of functional groups are well‐tolerated in this reaction. Mechanistic studies, including the use of ¹⁸O‐labeled DMSO, revealed that the ketone oxygen atom in the product originates from DMSO.     

Vanadium(V)‐Induced Oxidative Cross‐Coupling of Various Boron and Silyl Enolates

Intermolecular oxidative cross‐coupling of two different enolates is one of the most useful reactions to synthesize unsymmetrical 1,4‐dicarbonyl compounds. In this study, the oxovanadium(V)‐induced intermolecular oxidative cross‐coupling of enolates afforded unsymmetrical 1,4‐dicarbonyl compounds. Various boron and silyl enolates underwent the formation of ketone–ester, ester–ketone, ester–ester, amide–ketone and amide–ester coupling products . These results clearly show the versatility of the present oxidative cross‐coupling protocol.     

Synthesis of 2‐Alkynoates by Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Oxidative Carbonylation of Terminal Alkynes and Alcohols

A homogeneous Pd^II catalyst, utilizing a simple and inexpensive amine ligand (TMEDA), allows 2‐alkynoates to be prepared in high yields by an oxidative carbonylation of terminal alkynes and alcohols. The catalyst system overcomes many of the limitations of previous palladium carbonylation catalysts. It has an increased substrate scope, avoids large excesses of alcohol substrate and uses a desirable solvent. The catalyst employs oxygen as the terminal oxidant and can be operated under safer gas mixtures.     

Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Azidation of Unactivated Alkenes

The first Pd‐catalyzed enantioselective azidation of unactivated alkenes has been established by using readily accessible 1‐azido‐1,2‐benziodoxol‐3(1H)‐one (ABX) as an azidating reagent, which affords a wide variety of structurally diverse 3‐N₃‐substituted piperidines in good yields with excellent enantioselectivity. The reaction features good functional‐group compatibility and mild reaction conditions. Notably, both an electrophilic azidating reagent and the sterically bulky chiral pyridinyl‐oxazoline (Pyox) ligand are crucial to the successful reaction.     

Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Oxidative Cyclization of Allylic Tosylcarbamates: Scope,Derivatization, and Mechanistic Aspects

A highly selective oxidative palladium(II)‐catalyzed (Wacker‐type) cyclization of readily available allylic tosylcarbamates is reported. This operationally simple catalytic reaction furnishes tosyl‐protected vinyl‐oxazolidinones, common precursors to syn‐1,2‐amino alcohols, in high yield and excellent diasteroselectivity (>20:1). It is demonstrated that both stoichiometric amounts of benzoquinone (BQ) as well as aerobic reoxidation (molecular oxygen) is suitable for this transformation. The title reaction is shown to proceed through overall trans‐amidopalladation of the olefin followed by β‐hydride elimination. This process is scalable and the products are suitable for a range of subsequent transformations such as: kinetic resolution (KR) and oxidative Heck‐, Wacker‐, and metathesis reactions.     

Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Sulfinates from Boronic Acids and DABSO: A Redox‐Neutral,Phosphine‐Free Transformation

A redox‐neutral palladium(II)‐catalyzed conversion of aryl, heteroaryl, and alkenyl boronic acids into sulfinate intermediates, and onwards to sulfones and sulfonamides, has been realized. A simple Pd(OAc)₂ catalyst, in combination with the sulfur dioxide surrogate 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis(sulfur dioxide) (DABSO), is sufficient to achieve rapid and high‐yielding conversion of the boronic acids into the corresponding sulfinates. Addition of C‐ or N‐based electrophiles then allows conversion into sulfones and sulfonamides, respectively, in a one‐pot, two‐step process.     

Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Potassium (Z)‐2‐Chloroalk‐1‐enyl Trifluoroborates: A Chemo‐ and Stereoselective Access to (Z)‐Chloroolefins and Trisubstituted Alkenes

Original and ambivalent : We describe the preparation of a series of new potassium trifluoroborates 1 , and the study of their behaviour in a Pd⁰‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction. We found that compounds 1 are endowed with original properties as they behave as nucleophilic cross‐coupling partners chemoselectively, but also as ambivalent synthons. The usefulness of this methodology has been successfully illustrated by the first total synthesis of an N‐acyl spermidine.

     

Water as an Activator for Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Olefin Polymerization

By a reasonable combination of the Wacker reaction and olefin polymerization processes, water proves to be an excellent activator for the palladium(II)‐catalyzed polymerization of ethylene and it provides a safe, environmental‐friendly and handy initiator for olefin polymerization. The activity of the olefin polymerization is comparable to reactions catalyzed by the corresponding alkylated cationic palladium complexes.     

Enantioselective Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Nazarov‐Type Cyclization

A Pd⁰‐catalyzed asymmetric Nazarov‐type cyclization is described. The optimized ligand for the reaction incorporates a weakly coordinating pyridine ring into a TADDOL‐derived phosphoramidite (TADDOL=α,α,α,α‐tetraaryl‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4,5‐dimethanol). The reaction leads to the formation of cyclopentenones as single diastereoisomers that incorporate two contiguous asymmetric centers, one tertiary and one an all‐carbon‐atom quaternary stereocenter, in high yield and optical purity. It is noteworthy that the reaction does not require that substrates should be activated by aryl substituents.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Enantioselective β‐Boration of Acyclic Enones

Josi or Mandy? Asymmetric conjugate addition of diboron to acyclic enones catalyzed by copper affords chiral organoboronates that possess a boronate group at the β stereocenter with excellent chemical yields and enantioselectivities (see scheme). This method accommodates the structural variation of acyclic enones and provides access to highly functionalized chiral organoboronates in one step.

     

A Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Spiroacetals through a One‐Pot Multicomponent Cascade Reaction

Functionalized spiroacetals have been easily prepared in a one‐pot three‐component coupling process that involves the reaction of pentynol derivatives, salicylaldehydes, and amines in the presence of catalytic amounts of a palladium(II) complex (see scheme). Alternatively, oxygen‐substituted spiroacetals can be obtained by using orthoesters as the third component.

     

Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Arylative Dearomatization of β‐Naphthols

The first Pd⁰‐catalyzed intermolecular arylative dearomatization of β‐naphthols with aryl halides is described. It was found that Q‐Phos could facilitate the palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling‐type dearomatization of β‐naphthols, while avoiding O‐arylation, to construct 2‐naphthalenones in excellent yields and with high chemoselectivity.     

Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Allylic CH Oxidation of Hindered Substrates Featuring Tunable Selectivity Over Extent of Oxidation

The use of Oxone and a palladium(II) catalyst enables the efficient allylic C? H oxidation of sterically hindered α‐quaternary lactams which are unreactive under known conditions for similar transformations. This simple, safe, and effective system for C? H activation allows for unusual tunable selectivity between a two‐electron oxidation to the allylic acetates and a four‐electron oxidation to the corresponding enals, with the dominant product depending on the presence or absence of water. The versatile synthetic utility of both the allylic acetate and enal products accessible through this methodology is also demonstrated.