Indium-catalyzed direct chlorination of alcohols using chlorodimethylsilane-benzil as a selective and mild system

The InCl3-catalyzed reaction of alcohols with chlorodimethylsilane (HSiMe2Cl) in the presence of benzil gave the corresponding organic chlorides under mild conditions. Benzil significantly changes the reaction course because the reducing product through dehydroxyhydration was obtained in the absence of benzil. The secondary or tertiary alcohols were effectively chlorinated. The substrates bearing acid-sensitive functional groups were also applied to this system. The highly selective chlorination of the tertiary site was observed in the competitive reaction between tertiary and primary alcohols. The highly coordinated hydrosilane generated from benzil and HSiMe2Cl is an important intermediate.     

A novel B(C(6)F(5))(3)-catalyzed reduction of alcohols and cleavage of aryl and alkyl ethers with hydrosilanes

The primary alcohols 1a-e and ethers 4a-d were effectively reduced to the corresponding hydrocarbons 2 by HSiEt(3) in the presence of catalytic amounts of B(C(6)F(5))(3). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of catalytic use of Lewis acid in the reduction of alcohols and ethers with hydrosilanes. The secondary alkyl ethers 4j,k enabled cleavage and/or reduction under similar reaction conditions to produce either the silyl ethers 3m-n or the corresponding alcohol 5a upon subsequent deprotection with TBAF. It was found that the secondary alcohols 1g-i and tertiary alcohol 1j, as well as the tertiary alkyl ether 4l, did not react with HSiEt(3)/(B(C(6)F(5))(3) reducing reagent at all. The following relative reactivity order of substrates was found: primary > secondary > tertiary. A plausible mechanism for this nontraditional Lewis acid catalyzed reaction is proposed.     

Dialkyl acylphosphonates: a new acylating agent of alcohols

Diethyl benzoylphosphonate ($\text{1}$) underwent facile benzoylation of alcohols in the presence of DBU. Reactions of diols containing primary and secondary hydroxyl groups with $\text{1}$ gave predominantly monobenzoates in which primary hydroxyl groups were highly selectively benzoylated. Related acylations were also described.     

Reaction of InCl3 with various reducing agents: InCl3-NaBH4-mediated reduction of aromatic and aliphatic nitriles to primary amines

While alternative methods of preparing dichloroindium hydride (HInCl(2)) via the in situ reduction of InCl(3) using lithium amino borohydride (LAB) were explored, generation of HInCl(2) from the reduction of InCl(3) by sodium borohydride (NaBH(4)) was also re-evaluated for comparison. The reductive capability of the InCl(3)/NaBH(4) system was found to be highly dependent on the solvent used. Investigation by (11)B NMR spectroscopic analyses indicated that the reaction of InCl(3) with NaBH(4) in THF generates HInCl(2) along with borane-tetrahydrofuran (BH(3)·THF) in situ. Nitriles underwent reduction to primary amines under optimized conditions at 25 °C using 1 equiv of anhydrous InCl(3) with 3 equiv of NaBH(4) in THF. A variety of aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic nitriles were reduced to their corresponding primary amine in 70-99% isolated yields. Alkyl halide and nitrile functional groups were reduced in tandem by utilizing the reductive capabilities of both HInCl(2) and BH(3)·THF in a one-pot reaction. Finally, the selective reduction of the carbon bromine bond in the presence of nitriles was achieved by generating HInCl(2) via the reduction InCl(3) with NaBH(4) in CH(3)CN or with lithium dimethylaminoborohydride (MeLAB) in THF.     

Cyclometalated palladium pre-catalyst for N-alkylation of amines using alcohols and regioselective alkylation of sulfanilamide using aryl alcohols

Simple pyrazole based palladacycle-phosphine with a high turnover has been developed and applied for the N-alkylation of amines and sulfanilamide using alcohols as substrates by hydrogen borrowing strategy. N-alkylation of primary and secondary amines resulted in high isolated yields at 100–130 °C, under solvent free conditions. More challenging secondary aliphatic as well as aromatic alcohols were also successfully utilized as alkylating agents under similar reaction conditions. The turn over number reached up to 43000 for N-benzylation of aniline using benzyl alcohol. Notably, regioselective N-alkylation of 2-aminobenzothiazole and 4-aminobenzenesulfonamide to the corresponding 2-N-(alkylamino)azoles and 4-amino-(N-alkyl)benzenesulfonamides using alcohols as alkylating agents have been achieved using our new pre-catalyst-phosphine system.     

Secondary benzylation using benzyl alcohols catalyzed by lanthanoid, scandium, and hafnium triflate

The combination of a secondary benzyl alcohol and a metal triflate (e.g., La, Yb, Sc, and Hf triflate) in nitromethane was a highly effective secondary-benzylation system. Secondary benzylation of carbon (aromatic compounds, olefins, an enol acetate), nitrogen (amide derivatives), and oxygen (alcohols) nucleophiles was carried out with a secondary benzyl alcohol and 0.01-1 mol % of a metal triflate in the presence of water. Secondary benzyl alcohols and nucleophiles bearing acid-sensitive functional groups (e.g., tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy and acetoxy groups and methyl and benzyl esters) could be used for alkylation. Hf(OTf)4 was the most active catalyst for this alkylation, and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (triflic acid, TfOH) was also a good catalyst. The catalytic activity of metal triflates and TfOH increased in the order La(OTf)3 < Yb(OTf)3 < TfOH < Sc(OTf)3 < Hf(OTf)4. A mechanistic study was also performed. The reaction of 1-phenylethanol (4a) in the presence of Sc(OTf)3 in nitromethane gave an equilibrium mixture of 4a and bis(1-phenylethyl) ether (54). Addition of a carbon nucleophile to the equilibrium mixture gave alkylated product in high yield.     

Catalytic selective oxidation of benzyl alcohols to aldehydes with rhenium complexes

The system (ⁿBu₄N)ReO₄ 5/PhIO/CH₂Cl₂, T = 298 K catalyses effectively and with total selectivity the anaerobic oxidation of a range of primary substituted benzyl alcohols (o-, m-, p-X-C₆H₄-CH₂OH, X = H, Me, MeO, Cl, NO₂, CF₃) to the corresponding aldehydes; in contrast, it is unreactive towards secondary benzyl and aliphatic (primary and secondary) alcohols. This may prove of interest in synthetic organic transformations, when several alcoholic functionalities are present in the same molecule.     

Oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds with diisopropyl azodicarboxylate catalyzed by nitroxyl radicals

A nitroxyl-radical-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols using diisopropyl azodicarboxylate (DIAD) as the terminal oxidant is reported. A variety of primary and secondary alcohols including aliphatic, benzylic, and allylic alcohols are efficiently oxidized to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones without overoxidation to carboxylic acid. 1,2-Diols are oxidized to hydroxyl ketones or diketones depending on the amount of DIAD used.     

Cyclodextrin complexes of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of aliphatic alcohols

Pyrene, as a fluorescence probe, has been used to study the cyclodextrin complexation process in the presence of different alcohols. The complex formation as well as the hydrophobicity of the cyclodextrin interior can be significantly influenced by the introduction of alcohols. The alcoholic alkyl group and the primary and secondary hydroxyl groups of the cyclodextrin proved to be the determining factors in the complex formation.     

Rhenium-catalyzed 1,3-isomerization of allylic alcohols: scope and chirality transfer

The scope of the triphenylsilyl perrhennate (O3ReOSiPh3, 1) catalyzed 1,3-isomerization of allylic alcohols has been thoroughly explored. It was found to be effective for a wide variety of secondary and tertiary allylic alcohol substrates bearing aryl, alkyl, and cyano substituents. Two general reaction types were found which gave high levels of product selectivity: those driven by formation of an extended conjugated system and those driven by selective silylation of a particular isomer. The efficiency of chirality transfer with various substrates was investigated, and conditions were found in which secondary and tertiary allylic alcohols could be formed with high levels of enantioselectivity. Consideration of selectivity trends with respect to the nature of the substituents around the allylic system revealed that this is a reliable and predictable method for allylic alcohol synthesis.     

Ligand-controlled phosphine-free Co(II)-catalysed cross-coupling of secondary and primary alcohols

Cobalt(II) complexes (5 mol% Co) bearing phosphine-free N^˄N^˄N pincer ligands efficiently catalyze C–C coupling of secondary and primary alcohols to selectively form α-alkylated ketones with a good functional group compatibility using NaOH (20 mol%) as a base at 120 °C. The NH group on the N^˄N^˄N–Co(II) precatalyst controls the activity and selectivity. This simple catalytic system is involved in the synthesis of quinolones via the dehydrogenative annulation of 2-aminobenzyl alcohols with secondary alcohols.     

Enantioselective fluorescent recognition of amino alcohols by a chiral tetrahydroxyl 1,1'-binaphthyl compound

The tetrahydroxyl derivative of BINOL, (S)- or (R)-1, and its analogues are synthesized. (S)- or (R)-1 can be used to conduct the enantioselective recognition of chiral amino alcohols. In comparison with BINOL, the two additional hydroxyl groups of (S)- or (R)-1 have increased the binding of this compound with the amino alcohols and significantly improved the fluorescence quenching efficiency. The fluorescence responses of (S)- or (R)-1 toward amino alcohols are compared with those of its analogues (R)-4 and (R)-6. It shows that the interaction of the central naphthyl hydroxyl groups of (S)- or (R)-1 with the substrates is responsible for the observed fluorescence quenching, and the two additional alkyl hydroxyl groups increase the quenching efficiency.     

Hydrogen bonding interaction between N-methylformamide and alcohols

The hydrogen bonding interactions between N-methylformamide and primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols have been studied using the FTIR spectroscopic method. The most likely association complex between alcohol and N-methylformamide is the 1:1 stoichiometric complex formed between the hydroxyl group of alcohol and the carbonyl group of N-methylformamide. The formation constant of the 1:1 complexes has been calculated using the Nash method. It appears that the primary alcohols have larger formation constant compared with the secondary and tertiary alcohols. The results showed that the proton-donating ability of the alcohols decreased in the order: primary>secondary>tertiary, and that the association constant increased with the increase in carbon chain of the alkyl group of alcohols.     

DMSO/N2H4.H2O/I2/H2O/CH3CN: a new system for selective oxidation of alcohols in hydrated media

A new alternative system for the oxidation of secondary alcohols to ketones with DMSO/N2H4.H2O/I2/H2O/CH3CN in hydrated media has been developed. The system also selectively oxidizes the secondary alcoholic groups to the corresponding ketones in the presence of primary alcoholic groups present within the same molecule in moderate to very good yields at reflux temperature.     

Direct beta-alkylation of secondary alcohols with primary alcohols catalyzed by a CpIr complex

A new catalytic system for beta-alkylation of secondary alcohols has been developed. In the presence of [CpIrCl(2)](2) (Cp = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) catalyst and base, the reactions of various secondary alcohols with primary alcohols give beta-alkylated higher alcohols in good to excellent yields without any hydrogen acceptor or hydrogen donor. This reaction proceeds via successive hydrogen-transfer reactions and aldol condensation. [reaction: see text]     

Ligand-promoted dehydrogenation of alcohols catalyzed by Cp*Ir complexes. A new catalytic system for oxidant-free oxidation of alcohols

[reaction: see text] An efficient catalytic system for oxidant-free oxidation of alcohols has been developed. A new Cp*Ir catalyst bearing a 2-hydroxypyridine ligand has been designed on the concept of "ligand-promoted dehydrogenation". Various secondary alcohols can be dehydrogenatively oxidized to ketones under neutral conditions with high turnover numbers by using the new Cp*Ir catalyst.     

Na-promoted aerobic oxidation of alcohols to ketones

Aerobic oxidation of a number of diaryl and arylalkyl carbinols to ketones was promoted by Na in THF at room temperature with up to 99% yield. This new oxidation method is also selective with good efficiency for the oxidation of benzylic secondary alcohols but not for a primary alcohol or nonbenzylic secondary alcohols. Under nitrogen, a catalytic amount of Ni or transition metal halides such as CoCl₃, FeCl₃, and NiCl₃ in combination with Na was also found to conduct a dehydrogenation of a secondary alcohol to the corresponding ketone in high yield at room temperature.     

Effect of alcohols on the gamma-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene

Gamma-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in alcohols such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, and n-pentyl alcohols was carried out under a pressure of 400 kg./cm.²at 30°C. at a dose rate of 1.4 × 10⁵ rad/hr. in a batch reactor of 100 ml. capacity. The yield and molecular weight of polymer formed in the alcohols (except tert-butyl alcohol) were much lower than those of the bulk polymerization under the same conditions, whereas the addition of tert-butyl alcohol increased the yield and reduced the molecular weight. From the infrared spectra of the polymers and those of the bromination products it was concluded that only primary OH exists in the polymer formed in methyl alcohol and that both primary and secondary OH are in the polymer formed in other primary alcohols. Both secondary and tertiary OH were observed in the polymer when the secondary alcohols were used, and only tertiary OH in the case of tert-butyl alcohol. These polymers were found to contain small amounts of vinylidene unsaturation and methyl group. On the basis of these results the roles of the alcohols in the polymerization are discussed.     

Fluorous biphasic catalysis with dirhodium(II) perfluorocarboxylates: selective silylation of alcohols under fluorous biphasic conditions

Dirhodium(II) perfluorocarboxylates bearing C7–C13 perfluoroalkyl chains have been prepared and used as catalysts under fluorous biphasic conditions. They were found to be active and recyclable catalysts for the silylation of alcohols with triethylsilane. Hydrophobic, primary alcohols are preferentially silylated by the fluorous biphasic catalytic system in comparison with hydrophilic or secondary ones. This opens the way to the development of selective silylation protocols.     

Aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohols catalyzed by aryl substituted N-hydroxyphthalimides. Possible involvement of a charge-transfer complex

A series of aryl-substituted N-hydroxyphthalimides (X-NHPIs) containing either electron-withdrawing groups (4-CH(3)OCO, 3-F) or electron-donating groups (4-CH(3), 4-CH(3)O, 3-CH(3)O, 3,6-(CH(3)O)(2)) have been used as catalysts in the aerobic oxidation of primary and secondary benzylic alcohols. The selective formation of aromatic aldehydes was observed in the oxidation of primary alcohols; aromatic ketones were the exclusive products in the oxidation of secondary alcohols. O-H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) of X-NHPIs have been determined by using the EPR radical equilibration technique. BDEs increase with increasing the electron-withdrawing properties of the aryl substituent. Kinetic isotope effect studies and the increase of the substrate oxidation rate by increasing the electron-withdrawing power of the NHPI aryl substituent indicate a rate-determining benzylic hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from the alcohol to the aryl-substituted phthalimide-N-oxyl radical (X-PINO). Besides enthalpic effects, polar effects also play a role in the HAT process, as shown by the negative rho values of the Hammett correlation with sigma(+) and by the decrease of the rho values (from -0.54 to -0.70) by increasing the electron-withdrawing properties of the NHPI aryl substituent. The relative reactivity of 3-CH(3)O-C(6)H(4)CH(2)OH and 3,4-(CH(3)O)(2)-C(6)H(3)CH(2)OH, which is higher than expected on the basis of the sigma(+) values, the small values of relative reactivity of primary vs secondary benzylic alcohols, and the decrease of the rho values by increasing the electron-withdrawing properties of the NHPI aryl substituent, suggest that the HAT process takes place inside a charge-transfer (CT) complex formed by the X-PINO and the benzylic alcohol.