1,4:3,6-dianhydro-2,5-dideoxy-2,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-l-iditol. A new chiral ligand for asymmetric hydrogenation with rhodium complexes as catalysts

A new chiral 1,4-diphosphine, 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-2,5-dideoxy-2,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-l-iditol, has been prepared from d-mannitol. Rhodium complexes of this ligand are asymmetric homogeneous hydrogenation catalysts for dehydroamino acids, giving (S)-amino acids in 21–58% optical yields.     

Synthesis of the C18–C26 tetrahydrofuran-containing fragment of amphidinolide C congeners via tandem asymmetric dihydroxylation and SN2 cyclization

The C18–C26 fragment of amphidinolide C congeners has been synthesized starting from methyl acetoacetate in 14 steps in >17.0% overall yield. The C20 stereogenic center was secured by asymmetric hydrogenation of a β-keto ester and the configuration at both C23 and C24 was introduced by asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD). The trans-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran ring was assembled via the tandem AD–S_N2 sequence. The latter protocol could be employed for accessing the corresponding cis-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran rings from the same alkene substrates simply by choosing a suitable AD ligand. Moreover, functional group compatibility was observed for the Ru(II)-catalyzed hydrogenation of β-keto esters and the Pd(0)–Cu(I)-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction. These findings should be valuable for general synthetic design and application.     

Chiral 1,4-bis-diphosphine ligands from optically active (Z)-olefines

The catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral ketones was carried out with Ru(II) complexes prepared from new chiral diphosphine ligands, cis-(R,R)-2,5-bis[(diarylphosphino)]-3-hexenes. These new ligands were prepared from enantiomerically pure (R,R) or (S,S)-(Z)-3-hexene-2,5 diol and enantiomeric excesses up to 85% were obtained in the reduction of 2-benzamidomethyl-3-oxobutanoate, starting material for the synthesis of 4-acetoxy-2-azetidinone.     

Synthesis and structure of novel (S)-1,6-dialkylpiperazine-2,5-diones and (3S,6S)-1,3,6-trialkylpiperazine-2,5-diones

Eleven (S)-1,6-dialkylpiperazine-2,5-diones and five (3S,6S)-1,3,6-trialkylpiperazine-2,5-diones were prepared in three steps from the corresponding (S)-α-amino acid esters comprising of reductive N-alkylation, N-acylation and cyclisation. The synthesis of (S)-1,6-dialkylpiperazine-2,5-diones has a broad scope allowing preparation of diketopiperazines with primary and secondary alkyl groups at N(1), while the synthesis of (3S,6S)-1,3,6-trialkylpiperazine-2,5-diones is limited to compounds with primary alkyl groups at N(1). Reductive alkylation of amino acid ester hydrochlorides by catalytic hydrogenation in the presence of a carbonyl compound proved to be a simple, efficient and general method for the preparation of stable (storable) α-alkylamino acid ester hydrochlorides. The structures of the novel compounds were determined by NMR and X-ray diffraction.     

ansa-metallocene derivatives: XI. Synthesis and crystal structure of a chiral ansa-titanocene derivative with trimethylene-bridged tetrahydroindenyl ligands

The chiral ansa-titanocene derivative 1,3-propanediylbis(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl)titanium(IV) dichloride has been prepared by reaction of the dilithium salt of 1,3-bis(indenyl)propane with TiCl₄ and subsequent hydrogenation. The product has been shown by an X-ray diffraction study to be the R,S metal-ring linkage isomer; in this trimethylene-bridged ansa-metallocene the axial symmetry previously observed for te ethylene-bridged congener is destroyed by a non-symmetric location of the (CH₂)₃ bridge.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (S)-(−)-acromelobinic acid

A total synthesis of (S)-(−)-acromelobinic acid 2, which was isolated from clitocybe acromelalga, was achieved via an asymmetric hydrogenation protocol. Dehydroamino acid derivative 12 was prepared from 2,5-lutidine 5 and subjected to asymmetric hydrogenation using (S,S)-[Rh(Et-DuPHOS)(COD)]BF₄ to give the (S)-(+)-pyridylalanine derivative 13 in 93% yield and >96% e.e. Removal of the protecting groups in (S)-(+)-13 afforded (S)-(−)-acromelobinic acid 2.     

ansa-Metallocene derivatives: VII. Synthesis and crystal structure of a chiral ansa-zirconocene derivative with ethylene-bridged tetrahydroindenyl ligands

The chiral ansa-zirconocene derivative ethylenebis(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl)-zirconium(IV) dichloride has been prepared by reaction of dilithiobis(indenyl)ethane with ZrCl₄ and subsequent hydrogenation. The product has been shown to be the 1-R,S rather than meso-metal-ring linkage stereoisomer by an X-ray determination of the molecular structure.     

Ionic hydrogenation of thiophenes by HSiEt3-HCl/AlCl3

It has been found that 2,5-dimethylthiophenium and 2,3,5-trimethylthiophenium tetrachloroaluminates react with triethylsilane and diphenylsilane in the presence of HCl to form the corresponding thiophanes. This fact in the light of the ionic hydrogenation mechanism has led to the proposal of a new hydrogenating system: HSiEt₃-HCl/AlCl₃). This system has been successfully used for hydrogenating thiophenes such as 2,5-dimethyl-, 2-ethyl- and 2,5-diphenylthiophene to the respective thiophanes. It has been also extended to branched olefines, 1-methylcyclohexene being hydrogenated in high yield to methylcyclohexane.     

New C2-symmetric chiral phosphinite ligands based on amino alcohol scaffolds and their use in the ruthenium-catalysed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation processes of ketones with chiral molecular catalysts are attracting increasing interest from synthetic chemists due to their operational simplicity. C₂-symmetric catalysts have also received much attention and been used in many reactions. A series of new chiral C₂-symmetric bis(phosphinite) ligands has been prepared from corresponding amino acid derivated amino alcohols or (R)-2-amino-1-butanol through a three- or four-step procedure. Their structures have been elucidated by a combination of multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. ¹H-³¹P NMR, DEPT, ¹H-¹³C HETCOR or ¹H-¹H COSY correlation experiments were used to confirm the spectral assignments. In situ prepared ruthenium catalytic systems were successfully applied to ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone derivatives by iso-PrOH. Under optimized conditions, these chiral ruthenium catalyst systems serve as catalyst precursors for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone derivatives in iso-PrOH and act as good catalysts, giving the corresponding optical secondary alcohols in 99% yield and up to 79% ee.     

Enantioselective reduction of benzofuryl halomethyl ketones: asymmetric synthesis of (R)-bufuralol

Enantioselective reduction of representative 2-(bromoacetyl)- and 2-(chloroacetyl)benzofurans with (−)-B-chlorodiisopinocampheylborane and by transfer hydrogenation with formic acid/triethylamine in the presence of RhCl[R,R-TsDPEN](C₅Me₅) is described. Transfer hydrogenation of the chloro ketones produced the corresponding chlorohydrins of ⩾95% ee. (R)-Bufuralol of 96% ee was prepared from the corresponding chloro ketone by transfer hydrogenation–substitution.     

Paired Electrocatalytic Oxygenation and Hydrogenation of Organic Substrates with Water as the Oxygen and Hydrogen Source

The use of water as an oxygen and hydrogen source for the paired oxygenation and hydrogenation of organic substrates to produce valuable chemicals is of utmost importance as a means of establishing green chemical syntheses. Inspired by the active Ni³⁺ intermediates involved in electrocatalytic water oxidation by nickel‐based materials, we prepared NiB_x as a catalyst and used water as the oxygen source for the oxygenation of various organic compounds. NiB_x was further employed as both an anode and a cathode in a paired electrosynthesis cell for the respective oxygenation and hydrogenation of organic compounds, with water as both the oxygen and hydrogen source. Conversion efficiency and selectivity of ≥99 % were observed during the oxygenation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid and the simultaneous hydrogenation of p‐nitrophenol to p‐aminophenol. This paired electrosynthesis cell has also been coupled to a solar cell as a stand‐alone reactor in response to sunlight.     

Efficient synthesis of enantiomerically pure trans-2,5-bis(arylethynyl)pyrrolidines. A new entry into C2-symmetric chiral secondary amines

A new class of C₂-symmetric pyrrolidine derivatives bearing arylethynyl groups at the 2,5-positions has been synthesized in enantiomerically pure form from 1,7-octadiyne-3,6-diol in five steps. Some notable features of the synthesis are: (i) the formation of a separable diastereomeric mixture of pyrrolidine carbamates using a newly prepared chiral chloroformate; and (ii) the development of a new method for the deprotection of the carbamate via a novel SmI₂-promoted electron transfer process.     

Synthesis of conjugated 2 and 2,5-(ethenyl) and (ethynyl)phenylethynyl thiophenes: fluorescence properties

Nano conjugated thienylethenyl and thienylethynyl compounds with controlled structure and dimensions have been efficiently prepared, by heterocoupling reaction between 1,4-(thienylethynyl)phenylacetylene (or thienylethenyl)phenylacetylene and 2- or 2,5-dihalothiophene. Conjugated 1,4-di(2-thienylethynylphenyl)- (or 2-thienylethenylphenyl)-1,3-butadiyne were obtained by the homocoupling of the terminal acetylenes in excellent yield. The end-capped (N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)- and [3,5-di(trimethylsilylethynyl)-1-ethynyl]-2,5-di(phenylethynyl)_nthiophene were obtained by the heterocoupling between the corresponding terminal acetylene and 2,5-di(iodo)thiophene, catalyzed by the bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium and cuprous iodide system in excellent yield.     

Pd-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of fluorinated aromatic pyrazol-5-ols via capture of active tautomers

An efficient palladium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of fluorinated aromatic pyrazol-5-ols has been developed via capture of the active tautomers. A wide variety of 2,5-disubstituted and 2,4,5-trisubstituted pyrazolidinones have been synthesized with up to 96% and 95% ee, respectively. The hydrogenation pathway includes Brønsted acid promoted tautomerization of pyrazol-5-ols and Pd-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of the active tautomer.     

Photosynthesis-Inhibiting Activity of N-(Disubstituted-phenyl)-3-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxamides

A set of twenty-four 3-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxanilides, disubstituted on the anilide ring by combinations of methoxy/methyl/fluoro/chloro/bromo and ditrifluoromethyl groups at different positions, was prepared. The compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit photosynthetic electron transport (PET) in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) chloroplasts. N-(3,5-Difluorophenyl)-, N-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-, N-(2,5-difluorophenyl)- and N-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-3-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxamides showed the highest PET-inhibiting activity (IC₅₀ ~ 10 µM) within the series. These compounds were able to inhibit PET in photosystem II. It has been found that PET-inhibiting activity strongly depends on the position of the individual substituents on the anilide ring and on the lipophilicity of the compounds. The electron-withdrawing properties of the substituents contribute towards the PET activity of these compounds.     

Unexpected Knoevenagel self-condensation reaction of tetronic acid: synthesis of a new class of organic heterocyclic salts

A new class of pyridinium, quinolinium, isoquinolinum, and N-methylimidazolium-3-(2,5-dihydro-5-oxofuran-3-yl)-4-hydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one salts have been prepared in high yields by reacting pyridine, quinoline, isoquinoline, N-methylimidazole, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, and their derivatives with tetronic acid in CH₂Cl₂.     

An efficient catalytic system for the hydrogenation of quinolines

A new catalytic system ([Ru(p-cymene)Cl₂]₂/I₂) has been developed for the hydrogenation of quinoline derivatives with high reactivity. For the 2-methyl-quinoline, the hydrogenation reaction can proceed smoothly at an S/C of 20,000/1 with complete conversion. The iodine additive is important for the reactivity.     

H+−H− Pairs in Partially Oxidized MAX Phases for Bifunctional Catalytic Conversion of Furfurals into Linear Ketones

Currently, less favorable C=O hydrogenation and weak concerted acid catalysis cause unsatisfactory catalytic performance in the upgrading of biomass-derived furfurals (i.e., furfural, 5-methyl furfural, and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural) to ketones (i.e., cyclopentanone, 2,5-hexanedione, and 1-hydroxyl-2,5-hexanedione). A series of partially oxidized MAX phase (i.e., Ti₃AlC₂, Ti₂AlC, Ti₃SiC₂) supporting Pd catalysts were fabricated, which showed high catalytic activity; Pd/Ti₃AlC₂ in particular displayed high performance for conversion of furfurals into targeted ketones. Detailed studies of the catalytic mechanism confirm that in situ hydrogen spillover generates Frustrated Lewis H⁺−H⁻ pairs, which not only act as the hydrogenation sites for selective C=O hydrogenation but also provide acid sites for ring opening. The close intimate hydrogenation and acid sites promote bifunctional catalytic reactions, substantially reducing the reported minimum reaction temperature of various furfurals by at least 30–60 °C.     

Synthesis and optical properties of conjugated N,N-dimethyl and thienyl end-capped 2,5-(arylethynyl)thiophene oligomer structures

End-capped (N,N-dimethylaminophenyl) and 2′-thienylethynyl 2,5-thiophene oligomer structures were synthesized by heterocoupling between the terminal acetylenes such as: p-(N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)ethyne (3) [or 1-(p-(N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-2-p-(ethynylphenyl)ethyne, 4]; p-(β-ethenyl-2′-thienyl)phenylethyne (E-9) [or p-(β-ethynyl-2′-thienyl)phenylethyne, 11], and 2,5-diiodothiophene, catalyzed by the Cl₂Pd(PPh₃)₂/CuI system, in good to excellent yields. The 2,5-di[(3′,5′-di(trimethylsilylethynyl)phenyl]_x-1-ethynyl]thiophene oligomers were prepared by heterocoupling between 3′,5′-di[(trimethylsilylethynyl)phenyl]_x-1-ethyne (n = 0-2) terminal acetylenes and 2,5-diiodothiophene, in excellent yields. The terminal acetylenes were efficiently prepared by a specific protection-deprotection methodology. All the ethynylphenyl compounds obtained show fluorescence radiation emission, with a bathochromic shift of the wavelength that increases with the chain conjugation.     

Preparation and catalytic activity of cationic rhodium(I) and iridium(I) complexes with phosphine sulphide ligands

The preparation and properties of cationic rhodium and iridium complexes of types [M(diolefin)L₂](ClO₄) and [M(diolefin)L(PPh₃)](ClO₄) [M = Rh, diolefin = 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD) or 2,5-norbornadiene; M = Ir, diolefin = COD; L = phosphine sulphide] are described. The complexes have been characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The use of [M(diolefin)L₂](ClO₄) as catalyst precursors in homogeneous hydrogenation of olefins has been studied.