Reactivity of the carbon-carbon double bond towards nucleophilic additions. A DFT analysis

The global and local electrophilicity indexes have been used to characterize the reactivity pattern of the CC double bond towards nucleophilic addition reactions. A wide family of molecules including ketones, esters, anhydrides, nitriles and nitrocompounds containing appropriate substitution on the CC double bond have been classified within an unique scale of reactivity. The predictive capability of the theoretical model is tested against a series of benzylidenemalononitriles and substituted α-nitrostilbenes.     

A new paradigm for carbon-carbon bond formation: aerobic, copper-templated cross-coupling

Thiol esters and boronic acids react to produce ketones under aerobic conditions in the presence of catalytic quantities of a CuI or CuII salt. The reaction occurs at reasonable rates between room temperature and 50 degrees C at neutral pH using thiol esters derived from bulky 2 degrees amides of thiosalicylamides such as those based on N-tert-butyl-2-mercaptobenzamide. In this mechanistically unprecedented reaction system, the carbon-carbon bond formation occurs through templating of the thiol ester and the boronic acid at copper; the system is rendered catalytic in copper under the aerobic conditions.     

A novel method for carbon-carbon bond formation palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of phenyl fluoroalkanesulfonates with organozinc reagents

Cross-coupling reaction of phenyl fluoroalkanesulfonates with three kinds of organozinc reagents in the presence of palladium gives the corresponding alkylbenzenes in good yields. A possible mechanism is suggested.     

A palladacyclic azobenzene derivative as a catalyst for carbon-carbon bond formation reactions

A bis-chelated palladacycle in which the Pd atom is [(C, N)(C, N)]-tetracoordinated to two azobenzene ligands proved to be a moderately active catalyst for the Suzuki and Heck reactions. A voltammetric study revealed that the two-electron oxidation of this complex is accounted for by the irreversible Pd^II/Pd^IV transition.     

A new route to phenylenedimalononitrile and the analogues using palladium-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation

Phenylenedimalononitrile and the analogues, which are key intermediates in the synthesis of TCNQ and the analogues, are prepared directly by the Pd-catalyzed reaction of-diiodoarenes with malononitrile anion.     

A palladium-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation of conjugated dienones : A macrocyclic dienone lactone model for the carbomycins

A Pd catalyzed coupling of terminal vinylic iodides with methyl vinyl ketone and related enones to produce dienones is described. The application of this method to macrocyclization is demonstrated in a model system for the agylcone of carbomycin B.     

A highly efficient carbon-carbon bond formation reaction via nucleophilic addition to N-alkylaldimines without acids or metallic species

A nucleophilic addition reaction to N-methylaldimines without acid or metal species is described. A novel reagent, dicyanomethyl acetate, is used as a nucleophile to give alpha-(N-methyl-N-acetyl)amino acid methyl esters in excellent yield.     

Oxidative palladium(II) catalysis: A highly efficient and chemoselective cross-coupling method for carbon-carbon bond formation under base-free and nitrogenous-ligand conditions

We report herein the development of a general and mild protocol of oxygen-promoted Pd(II) catalysis resulting in the selective cross-couplings of alkenyl- and arylboron compounds with various olefins. Unlike most cross-coupling reactions, this new methodology works well even in the absence of bases, consequently averting undesired homo-couplings. Nitrogen-based ligands including dimethyl-phenanathroline enhance reactivities and offer a highly efficient and stereoselective methodology to overcome challenging substrate limitations. For instance, oxidative palladium(II) catalysis is effective with highly substituted alkenes and cyclic alkenes, which are known to be incompatible with other known catalytic conditions. Most examined reactions progressed smoothly to completion at low temperatures and in short times. These interesting results provide mechanistic insights and utilities for a new paradigm of palladium catalytic cycles without bases.     

Amide bond surrogates: A general synthetic route to trans carbon-carbon double bono isosteres.

A practical synthesis toward trans double bond replacements of amide bond pseudo-peptides has been accomplished. This methodology provides a general route to a wide range of modified peptide analogs which may have biological significance.     

Colloidal gold nanoparticles as catalyst for carbon-carbon bond formation: application to aerobic homocoupling of phenylboronic acid in water

Gold nanoparticles (<2 nm) stabilized by poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (Au:PVP NPs) were prepared by reduction of AuCl4- with NaBH4 in the presence of PVP and characterized via an array of methods including optical absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption near-edge structure, extended X-ray absorption fine structure, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We demonstrate for the first time that the Au:PVP NPs act as catalyst toward homocoupling of phenylboronic acid in water under aerobic conditions. Suppression of biphenyl formation under anaerobic conditions indicates that molecular oxygen dissolved in water is intimately involved in the coupling reactions. A mechanism of the aerobic homocoupling catalyzed by the Au:PVP NPs is proposed on the basis of a crucial role of dissolved oxygen, steric effects on the product yields, and the well-established mechanism for the Pd(II)-based catalysts.     

A new approach to carbon-carbon bond formation: development of aerobic Pd-catalyzed reductive coupling reactions of organometallic reagents and styrenes

Alkenes are attractive starting materials for organic synthesis and the development of new selective functionalization reactions is desired. Previously, our laboratory discovered a unique Pd-catalyzed hydroalkoxylation reaction of styrenes containing a phenol. Based upon deuterium labeling experiments, a mechanism involving an aerobic alcohol oxidation coupled to alkene functionalization was proposed. These results inspired the development of a new Pd-catalyzed reductive coupling reaction of alkenes and organometallic reagents that generates a new carbon-carbon bond. Optimization of the conditions for the coupling of both organostannanes and organoboronic esters is described and the initial scope of the transformation is presented. Additionally, several mechanistic experiments are outlined and support the rationale for the development of the reaction based upon coupling alcohol oxidation to alkene functionalization.     

Cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (CTAOH) as a general, ecofriendly catalyst for the formation of carbon-carbon bond through nitroalkanes

Nitroalkanes have been found to give good yields in Michael and nitroaldol (Henry) reactions by the use of a catalytic amount (10 mol%) of CTAOH, at room temperature and under solvent free conditions and in very short reaction times. The methods do not need a large excess of the nitroalkanes and show good chemoselectivity toward further functionalities.     

Asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formations in conjugate additions of lithiated N-Boc allylic and benzylic amines to nitroalkenes: enantioselective synthesis of substituted piperidines,pyrrolidines, and pyrimidinones

(-)-Sparteine mediated lithiations of N-Boc-allylic and benzylic amines provide configurationally stable intermediates which on conjugate additions to nitroalkenes provide highly enantioenriched enecarbamate products in good yields, and with high diastereoselectivities. Straightforward transformations of these adducts offer general routes to substituted 3,4-substituted piperidines, 3,4-substituted pyrrolidines, and 4,5-substituted pyrimidinones. Diastereoselective substitutions of intermediate lactams followed by reduction provide 3,4,5-substituted piperidines and 3,4-trisubstituted pyrrolidines. Lithiation adjacent to nitrogen of 3,4-substituted piperidines and pyrrolidines followed by diastereoselective substitution opens a route to 2,4,5- and 2,4,5,6-substituted piperidines as well as 2,3,4- and 2,3,4,5-substituted pyrrolidines. The enantiomers of the enecarbamate and 3,4-substituted piperidine products may be accessed by stannylation/transmetalation sequences as well as by further manipulation of 4-substituted piperidones. The methodology is used to synthesize both enantiomers of an aspartic peptidase inhibitor intermediate, 3-hydroxy-4-phenylpiperidine, as well as the antidepressant (+)-femoxetine.     

A one pot, metathesis-hydrogenation sequence for the selective formation of carbon-carbon bonds

A combination of homogeneous hydrogenation and metathesis reactions allows highly efficient, stepwise chemo- and stereoselective formation of three separate 2,7-diaminosuberic acid derivatives in a single pot without isolation of intermediates.     

A general method for site-selective Csp3–S bond formation via cooperative catalysis

Herein, we report a copper-catalysed site-selective thiolation of Csp³–H bonds of aliphatic amines. The method features a broad substrate scope and good functional group compatibility. Primary, secondary, and tertiary C–H bonds can be converted into C–S bonds with a high efficiency. The late-stage modification of biologically active compounds by this method was also demonstrated. Furthermore, the one-pot preparation of pyrrolidine or piperidine compounds via a domino process was achieved.

A copper-catalyzed site-selective thiolation of Csp³–H bonds of aliphatic amines was developed. The method features a broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance.