Efficient synthesis of gamma-alkylidenetetronic esters by sequential Lewis acid catalyzed

A new approach for the synthesis of gamma-alkylidenetetronic acids and esters is reported which involves Me3SiOTf-catalyzed, regio- and stereoselective cyclization of 4-alkoxy-1,3-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)-1,3-butadienes with oxalyl chloride. The alpha-hydroxy group of the butenolides is efficiently functionalized by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions via the corresponding enol triflates.     

Lewis and Brönsted acid catalyzed Friedel-Crafts hydroxyalkylation of mucohalic acids: a facile synthesis of functionalized γ-aryl γ-butenolides

A catalytic, green and practical method for Friedel-Crafts hydroxyalkylation of mucohalic acid has been accomplished. Reaction of mucohalic acids with various electron-rich aromatic compounds in the presence of catalytic (1 mol % to 10 mol %) In(OTf)₃ or Brönsted acid, such as H₂SO₄ in acetic acid provides γ-aryl γ-butenolides in moderate to excellent yield.     

Indium-catalyzed addition of active methylene compounds to 1-alkynes

An active methylene compound adds to a 1-alkyne in high to quantitative yield upon heating in the presence of 0.05-5 mol % of In(OTf)3 to give an alpha-alkenylated carbonyl compound.     

One-step novel synthesis of methylene bisphenols and methylene bisnaphthols using Lewis acid mediated rearrangement

Mono- and di-substituted isomeric methylene bisphenols and methylene bisnaphthols have been synthesized by rearrangement of the corresponding O-methoxyacetyl derivatives of phenols and naphthols, respectively, in presence of aluminium chloride under dry conditions. The chemistry observed is different from the usual Fries rearrangement reaction and involves an intermolecular rearrangement. The reactions reported here also reflect the influence of substituents present in the substrate as is supported by the substitution of the bridging methylene at a position meta to the phenolic hydroxyl in some of the minor products formed along-side the majorly formed ortho substituted products.     

Lewis acid catalyzed addition of 2,2,2-trifluorodiazoethane to unactivated aldehydes

Condensations of 2,2,2-trifluorodiazoethane with pentanal, cyclohexancarboxaldehyde and benzaldehyde have been performed in presence of antimony pentachloride or boron trifiuoride. These reactions lead mainly to homologated aldehydes or ketones α substituted by a trifluoromethyl group.     

Highly efficient addition of activated methylene compounds to alkenes catalyzed by gold and silver

A highly efficient intermolecular addition of 1,3-diketones to alkenes catalyzed by AuCl3/AgOTf was developed. A mechanistic rationale for the reaction has been proposed via a alpha-C-H activation.     

Utilization of organogallium and organoindium compounds as alkylation reagents in organic synthesis: the addition of trialkylgallium and trialkylindium to aldehydes catalyzed by Lewis acids

The utilization of organogallium and organoindium compounds as alkylation reagents to aldehydes was realized with titanium tetrachloride as the strong Lewis acid catalyst. Furthermore, the catalytic asymmetric addition of organogallium to aldehydes was investigated with chiral titanium complexes, which were formed from titanium tetrachloride and salan ligands, with mediocre to good chemical yields and enantioselectivities. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mild alpha-halogenation reactions of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds catalyzed by Lewis acids

Lewis acid Mg(ClO4)2, combined with NBS, in CH3CN or EtOAc provided mild and fast bromination of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. In particular, this protocol could be applied to the alpha-monobromination of alpha-unsubstituted beta-keto esters. Similar Lewis acid catalysis was also extended to the alpha-chlorination and iodination of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with NCS and NIS, respectively.     

A facile synthesis of polyamides from aromatic diisocyanates and dicarboxylic acid catalyzed by Lewis acids

Aromatic polyamides were prepared by an AlCl₃ or HCl-catalyzed polymerization of toluene diisocyanate or methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) with adipic acid at low temperatures (≤100°C) in a short reaction time (3–4 h). The intrinsic viscosity of the polymers was approximately 1.1 dL/g as determined at 25°C with m-cresol as solvent, indicating that the polyamides obtained by this method have relatively high molecular weights. The polymers exhibit high glass transition temperatures and good thermal stability.     

Alkylation of active methylene compounds with alcohols catalyzed by an iridium complex

Base-free catalytic alpha-alkylation of active methylene compounds with primary alcohols was successfully achieved using an [IrCl(cod)](2) complex in the presence of PPh(3) to afford the corresponding saturated alpha-alkylated products in good yields.     

Halocyclization of products of allyl isothiocyanate addition to acyclic methylene active compounds

Products of allyl isothiocyanate addition to methylene active compounds, salt-like N-allyl-N,S-ketenacetals or N-allylthioamides, react with iodine, bromine or N-bromosuccinimide with the formation of derivatives of 2-ylidene-5-halomethylthiazolidines. A dependence was found of isomeric composition of obtained thiazolidines on the solvent nature.     

Highly efficient, reversible addition of activated methylene compounds to styrene derivatives catalyzed by silver catalysts

[reaction: see text] A highly efficient inter- and intramolecular addition of 1,3-diketone/beta-ketoester to alkenes was developed by using silver catalysts. Silver triflate shows the highest catalytic activity. The reaction is reversible through the cleavage of a carbon-carbon bond by silver at an elevated temperature.     

Efficient synthesis of optically active 4-nitro-cyclohexanones via bifunctional thiourea-base catalyzed double-Michael addition of nitromethane to dienones

Thiourea-modified cinchona alkaloids as bifunctional catalysts and a base could catalyze a stepwise [5+1] cyclization of divinyl ketones with nitromethane via double Michael additions, furnishing optically active 4-nitro-cyclohexanones with good yields, excellent diastereoselectivities (>20 : 1) and high enantiomeric ratios (up to 97 : 3).     

A new synthesis of α-amino acids—III: Amidoalkylation of active methylene compounds with glyoxylic acid derivatives

The synthesis of N-acyl derivatives of γ - keto - α - amino acids (3, 4, 5) by the amidoalkylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with glyoxylic acid-amide adducts (1, 2) is described. The γ - keto - α - amino acid derivatives (4, 5) were further converted to the corresponding butenolides (6, 7) and to pyrazolylglycine (12).     

Efficient copper(II)-catalyzed addition of activated methylene compounds to alkenes

Efficient regioselective addition of beta-diketones to styrenes, norbornene, cyclic enol ether, and diene has been realized by means of copper(II) triflate as the catalyst. The solvent effect is prominent on the reactions, and the desired addition products were obtained in good to excellent yields only in dioxane or ionic liquid [bmim]PF6. The mechanism suggests that copper(II) triflate activates the enolic O-H bond of a beta-diketone substrate to initiate the addition reaction.     

Efficient formation of novel and versatile building blocks from mucohalic acids: new substitute for tetronic acid and γ-alkylidenebutenolide

Novel and useful building blocks were synthesized efficiently by DABCO mediated highly selective dehalogenation of Knoevenagel aldol adducts of mucochloric acid and mucobromic acid. These new compounds were found to undergo palladium catalyzed C-C bond forming reactions (Suzuki and Sonogashira cross-coupling) in high yields.     

Ytterbium triflate hydrate catalyzed Michael addition and cyclocondensation of α,β-unsaturated ketones with active methylene compounds

Catalyzed by ytterbium（III） triflate hydrate [Yb（OTf）3.xH20], the Michael addition and cyclocondensation of α,β-unsaturated ketones with active methylene compounds to afford the 1,4-adducts and benzo[b]pyran derivatives, respectively were studied.     

Ytterbium triflate hydrate catalyzed Michael addition and cyclocondensation of α,β-unsaturated ketones with active methylene compounds

Catalyzed by ytterbium(Ⅲ) triflate hydrate [Yb(OTf)3.xH2O], the Michael addition and cycloeondensation of α,β-unsaturated ketones with active methylene compounds to afford the 1,4-adducts and benzo[b]pyran derivatives, respectively were studied.     

Efficient cyclopropanation of active methylene compounds. A serendipitous discovery

Cyclopropanation of active methylene compounds has been achieved in good yields with ethylene carbonate as the cyclopropanating agent in the presence of a simple base.