Activation of the Si-B linkage: copper-catalyzed addition of nucleophilic silicon to imines

Activation of the Si-B bond through copper-catalyzed transmetalation quickly developed into a practical method to generate Cu-Si reagents. These silicon nucleophiles cleanly add to aldehyde-derived imine electrophiles to form α-silylated amines in protic media, and no carbon-to-nitrogen Brook-type rearrangement of the intermediate anion is observed. Aside from electron-withdrawing groups at the imine nitrogen atom, for example, SO(2)Tol and P(O)Ph(2), previously delicate nitrogen substituents such as phenyl or benzhydryl are tolerated. The same protocol also allows the unprecedented addition to representative ketone-derived imines.     

Mechanistic investigation of imine formation in ruthenium‐catalyzed N‐alkylation of amines with alcohols

Imines are observed frequently in ruthenium‐catalyzed N‐alkylation of amines with alcohols. Herein, nitrogen–phosphine functionalized carbene ligands were developed and used in ruthenium‐catalyzed N‐alkylation to explore the mechanism of imine formation. The results showed that strongly electron‐donating ligands were beneficial for imine formation and alcohol dehydrogenation to generate acid. In addition, with an increase of electron density of nitrogen atom in substituted amines, the yield of imines in N‐alkylation was improved. At the same time, with electron‐rich imines as substrates, the transfer hydrogenation of imines became difficult. It is suggested that strongly electron‐donating ligands and substrates caused an increase of electron density on the ruthenium center, which resulted in the elimination of hydrogen atoms in active species [LRuH₂] as hydrogen gas rather than transfer onto the imine coordinated with the ruthenium center.     

Insights into LiAlH4 Catalyzed Imine Hydrogenation

Commercial LiAlH₄ can be used in catalytic quantities in the hydrogenation of imines to amines with H₂. Combined experimental and theoretical investigations give deeper insight in the mechanism and identifies the most likely catalytic cycle. Activity is lost when Li in LiAlH₄ is exchanged for Na or K. Exchanging Al for B or Ga also led to dramatically reduced activities. This indicates a heterobimetallic mechanism in which cooperation between Li and Al is crucial. Potential intermediates on the catalytic pathway have been isolated from reactions of MAlH₄ (M=Li, Na, K) and different imines. Depending on the imine, double, triple or quadruple imine insertion has been observed. Prolonged reaction of LiAlH₄ with PhC(H)=NtBu led to a side-reaction and gave the double insertion product LiAlH₂[N]₂ ([N]=N(tBu)CH₂Ph) which at higher temperature reacts further by ortho-metallation of the Ph ring. A DFT study led to a number of conclusions. The most likely catalyst for hydrogenation of PhC(H)=NtBu with LiAlH₄ is LiAlH₂[N]₂. Insertion of a third imine via a heterobimetallic transition state has a barrier of +23.2 kcal mol⁻¹ (ΔH). The rate-determining step is hydrogenolysis of LiAlH[N]₃ with H₂ with a barrier of +29.2 kcal mol⁻¹. In agreement with experiment, replacing Li for Na (or K) and Al for B (or Ga) led to higher calculated barriers. Also, the AlH₄⁻ anion showed very high barriers. Calculations support the experimentally observed effects of the imine substituents at C and N: the lowest barriers are calculated for imines with aryl-substituents at C and alkyl-substituents at N.     

Metal-free catalysts for hydrogenation of both small and large imines: a computational experiment

This study extends our previous work of using π-FLP strategy to develop metal-free hydrogenation catalysts. Using small MeN=CMe(2) imine (im1) as a model, we previously designed cat1 and cat2 catalysts. But it is unclear whether they are capable of catalyzing the hydrogenations of bulky imines. Using tBuN=C(H)Ph (im2) as a representative of large imines, we assessed the energetics of the cat1- and cat2-catalyzed im2 hydrogenations. The predicted energetics indicates that they can still catalyze large imine hydrogenations with experimentally accessible kinetic barriers, although the energetics becomes less favorable. To improve the catalysis, we proposed new catalysts (cat3 and cat4) by tailoring cat1 and cat2. The study indicates that cat3 and cat4 could have better performance for the hydrogenation of the bulky im2 than cat1 and cat2. Remarkably, cat3 and cat4 are also found suitable for small imine (im1) hydrogenation. Examining the hydrogen transfer substeps in the eight hydrogenations involved in this study, we observed that the mechanism for the hydrogen transfer step in the catalytic cycles depends on the steric effect between catalyst and substrate. The mechanism can be switched from stepwise one in the case of large steric effect (e.g.im2/cat2) to the concerted one in the case of small steric effect (e.g.im1/cat3). The new catalysts could be better targets for experimental realization because of their simpler constructions.     

Visible‐Light‐Induced Selective Photocatalytic Aerobic Oxidation of Amines into Imines on TiO2

Imines are important intermediates for the synthesis of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural chemicals. Selective oxidation of amines into their corresponding imines with dioxygen is one of the most‐fundamental chemical transformations. Herein, we report the oxidation of a series of benzylic amines into their corresponding imines with atmospheric dioxygen as the oxidant on a surface of anatase TiO₂ under visible‐light irradiation (λ>420 nm). The visible‐light response of this system was caused by the formation of a surface complex through the adsorption of a benzylic amine onto the surface of TiO₂. From the analysis of products of specially designed benzylic amines, we demonstrated that a highly selective oxygenation reaction proceeds via an oxygen‐transfer mechanism to afford the corresponding carbonyl compound, whose further condensation with an amine would generate the final imine product. We found that when primary benzylic amines (13 examples), were chosen as the substrates, moderate to excellent selectivities for the imine products were achieved (ca. 38–94 %) in moderate to excellent conversion rates (ca. 44–95 %). When secondary benzylic amines (15 examples) were chosen as the substrates, both the corresponding imines and aldehydes were detected as the main products with moderate to high conversion rates (ca. 18–100 %) and lower selectivities for the imine products (ca. 14–69 %). When tribenzylamine was chosen as the substrate, imine (27 %), dibenzylamine (24 %), and benzaldehyde products (39 %) were obtained in a conversion of 50 %. This report can be viewed as a prototypical system for the activation of C? H bonds adjacent to heteroatoms such as N, O, and S atoms, and oxofuctionalization with air or dioxygen as the terminal oxidant under visible‐light irradiation using TiO₂ as the photocatalyst.     

Towards a Zinc‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation/Transfer Hydrogenation of Imines

The first asymmetric hydrogenation/transfer hydrogenation of imines to amines using zinc(II) triflate in combination with chiral ligands is described. The monodentate binaphthophosphepine ligand ( 3g ) provided the highest enantioselectivities. Using different imines, the corresponding amines were obtained in moderate yields and enantioselectivities.     

Structure–Reactivity Relationship in the Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP)‐Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Imines

The autoinduced, frustrated Lewis pair (FLP)‐catalyzed hydrogenation of 16‐benzene‐ring substituted N‐benzylidene‐tert‐butylamines with B(2,6‐F₂C₆H₃)₃ and molecular hydrogen was investigated by kinetic analysis. The pK_a values for imines and for the corresponding amines were determined by quantum‐mechanical methods and provided a direct proportional relationship. The correlation of the two rate constants k₁ (simple catalytic cycle) and k₂ (autoinduced catalytic cycle) with pK_a difference between imine and amine pairs (ΔpK_a) or Hammett's σ parameter served as useful parameters to establish a structure–reactivity relationship for the FLP‐catalyzed hydrogenation of imines.     

Hydrolysis of 4-imino-imidazolidin-2-ones in acid and the mechanism of cyclization of hydantoic acid amides

The hydrolysis of iminohydantoins generates the same tetrahedral intermediate as that obtained in the cyclization of hydantoic acid amides to hydantoins. The ratio of the products of imine hydrolysis under kinetic control is determined by the relative height of the barriers of the breakdown of to amide or to hydantoin. Thus the partitioning of products unequivocally proves which is the rate determining step in the cyclization reaction-formation or breakdown of . UV and 1H NMR monitoring of the acid catalyzed hydrolysis of four 5-substituted 4-imino-1-methyl-3-(4-nitrophenyl)imidazolidin-2-ones found hydantoins as the only products. The kinetics of hydrolysis of imines were measured in 0.001-1 M HCl. Contrary to the remaining imines, 1,5-dimethyl-4-imino-3-(4-nitrophenyl)imidazolidin-2-one is readily oxidized as stock solution in THF containing peroxides to 1,5-dimethyl-5-hydroxy-4-imino-3-(4-nitrophenyl)imidazolidin-2-one . In all cases, hydrolysis was found to be zero order with respect to [H+]. As imines are fully protonated under the acidity studied, this is evidence of a transition state of a single positive charge. Comparison of imine hydrolysis rates with previous data on rates of cyclization of the corresponding amides of hydantoic acids allowed conditions (acid concentration, substitution pattern-gem-dimethyl effect) to be found that guaranteed kinetic control of the products obtained. Thus it was unequivocally proven that formation of the tetrahedral intermediate is rate determining in the cyclization of hydantoic acid amides. The small steric effects upon methyl substitution at 5-C and a solvent kinetic isotope effect kH/kD of 1.72 favour a mechanism for imine hydrolysis whereby the rate is limited by water attack on the protonated imine concerted with proton transfer from attacking water to a second water molecule.     

Visible-light-induced selective photocatalytic aerobic oxidation of amines into imines on TiO2

Imines are important intermediates for the synthesis of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural chemicals. Selective oxidation of amines into their corresponding imines with dioxygen is one of the most-fundamental chemical transformations. Herein, we report the oxidation of a series of benzylic amines into their corresponding imines with atmospheric dioxygen as the oxidant on a surface of anatase TiO(2) under visible-light irradiation (λ>420 nm). The visible-light response of this system was caused by the formation of a surface complex through the adsorption of a benzylic amine onto the surface of TiO(2). From the analysis of products of specially designed benzylic amines, we demonstrated that a highly selective oxygenation reaction proceeds via an oxygen-transfer mechanism to afford the corresponding carbonyl compound, whose further condensation with an amine would generate the final imine product. We found that when primary benzylic amines (13 examples), were chosen as the substrates, moderate to excellent selectivities for the imine products were achieved (ca. 38-94%) in moderate to excellent conversion rates (ca. 44-95%). When secondary benzylic amines (15 examples) were chosen as the substrates, both the corresponding imines and aldehydes were detected as the main products with moderate to high conversion rates (ca. 18-100%) and lower selectivities for the imine products (ca. 14-69%). When tribenzylamine was chosen as the substrate, imine (27%), dibenzylamine (24%), and benzaldehyde products (39%) were obtained in a conversion of 50%. This report can be viewed as a prototypical system for the activation of C-H bonds adjacent to heteroatoms such as N, O, and S atoms, and oxofuctionalization with air or dioxygen as the terminal oxidant under visible-light irradiation using TiO(2) as the photocatalyst.     

Mechanistic study of hydrogen transfer to imines from a hydroxycyclopentadienyl ruthenium hydride. Experimental support for a mechanism involving coordination of imine to ruthenium prior to hydrogen transfer

Reaction of [2,3,4,5-Ph(4)(eta(5)-C(4)COH)Ru(CO)(2)H] (2) with different imines afforded ruthenium amine complexes at low temperatures. At higher temperatures in the presence of 2, the complexes decomposed to give [Ru(2)(CO)(4)(mu-H)(C(4)Ph(4)COHOCC(4)Ph(4))] (1) and free amine. Electron-rich imines gave ruthenium amine complexes with 2 at a lower temperature than did electron-deficient imines. The negligible deuterium isotope effect (k(RuHOH)/k(RuDOD) = 1.05) observed in the reaction of 2 with N-phenyl[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylidene]amine (12) shows that neither hydride (RuH) nor proton (OH) is transferred to the imine in the rate-determining step. In the dehydrogenation of N-phenyl-1-phenylethylamine (4) to the corresponding imine 8 by [2,3,4,5-Ph(4)(eta(4)-C(4)CO)Ru(CO)(2)] (A), the kinetic isotope effects observed support a stepwise hydrogen transfer where the isotope effect for C-H cleavage (k(CHNH)/k(CDNH) = 3.24) is equal to the combined (C-H, N-H) isotope effect (k(CHNH)/k(CDND) = 3.26). Hydrogenation of N-methyl(1-phenylethylidene)amine (14) by 2 in the presence of the external amine trap N-methyl-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylamine (16) afforded 90-100% of complex [2,3,4,5-Ph(4)(eta(4)-C(4)CO)]Ru(CO)(2)NH(CH(3))(CHPhCH(3)) (15), which is the complex between ruthenium and the amine newly generated from the imine. At -80 degrees C the reaction of hydride 2 with 4-BnNH-C(6)H(9)=NPh (18), with an internal amine trap, only afforded [2,3,4,5-Ph(4)(eta(4)-C(4)CO)](CO)(2)RuNH(Ph)(C(6)H(10)-4-NHBn) (19), where the ruthenium binds to the amine originating from the imine, showing that neither complex A nor the diamine is formed. Above -8 degrees C complex 19 rearranged to the thermodynamically more stable [Ph(4)(eta(4)-C(4)CO)](CO)(2)RuNH(Bn)(C(6)H(10)-4-NHPh) (20). These results are consistent with an inner sphere mechanism in which the substrate coordinates to ruthenium prior to hydrogen transfer and are difficult to explain with the outer sphere pathway previously proposed.     

Enantioselective total syntheses of the Ipecacuanha alkaloid emetine, the Alangium alkaloid tubulosine and a novel benzoquinolizidine alkaloid by using a domino process

The first enantioselective syntheses of the Ipecacuanha alkaloid emetine (1) and the Alangium alkaloid tubulosine (2) is described employing a domino Knoevenagel/hetero-Diels-Alder reaction and an enantioselective catalytic transfer hydrogenation of imines as key steps. Thus, hydrogenation of the imine 15 with the catalyst (R,R)-16 gives the tetrahydroisoquinoline 14 with 95 % ee which was transformed into the aldehyde (1S)-7. The three-component domino reaction of (1S)-7 with 6 and 8 led to 19, which in a second domino process was treated with K(2)CO(3) in methanol followed by a hydrogenation to give the benzoquinolizidine 4 together with the diastereomers 22 and 23 in a overall yield of 66 %. Further transformation of 4 with the amines 3 and 5 yielded enantiopure emetine (1) and tubulosine (2), respectively. In addition, starting from 19 the novel benzoquinolizidine alkaloid 34 was synthesised; this compound resembles the vallesiachotamine alkaloid dihydroantirhin 31, which has not been isolated so far but probably must also exist in nature.     

Syntheése d′Imines Polyfluorées (R) (RF) C = NR′

Primary amines R′eNH₂ react with hemifluorinated ketones R-CO-R_F to give the corresponding polyfluorinated imines (R) (RF) C - NR′ in good yields. By means of ¹⁹F NMR, it is shown that the imine formation involves a gem-aminoalcohol intermediate, which spontaneously dehydrates without any catalyst.     

Stereo- and regioselectivity in asymmetric synthesis of α-amino substituted benzocyclic compounds

The enantiomerically pure chiral benzocyclic amines 6–8 were obtained by asymmetric transamination of the corresponding prochiral ketones 9a–c. The method involves: (a) formation of chiral imines 10a–c from the prochiral ketones 9a–c and the inexpensive chiral auxiliary (R)- or (S)-phenylethylamine (PEA); (b) asymmetrically induced reduction of these imines to the diastereomeric amines 11a–c and 12a–c; (c) catalytic hydrogenation to remove the benzylic fragment of the chiral PEA auxiliary. The stereoselectivity of the imine reduction, as well as the regioselectivity of the catalytic hydrogenation, are strongly dependent on the size of the saturated ring condensed with the benzene ring. This approach was used to develop a convenient, high yielding, and stereoselective route to several practically important optically active α-amino substituted benzocyclic compounds.     

Synthesis of functional derivatives of aryl trichlorovinyl (trichloroallyl) ketones via consecutive transformations of the carbonyl group

An efficient procedure have been developed for the selective reduction of the carbonyl group in phenyl trichlorovinyl ketone and aryl trichloroallyl ketones by the action of NaBH₄ in propan-2-ol to obtain the corresponding alcohols. The hydroxy group in the latter was converted into amino by the Ritter reaction. Treatment of the alcohols and amines with 5-phenylisoxazole-3-carbonyl chloride and 4,5-dichloroisothiazole-3-carbonyl chloride gave the corresponding esters and amides, and condensation of the amines with aromatic aldehydes afforded Schiff bases.     

伯胺在电催化媒介ABNO作用下的自氧化偶联反应

以9-氮杂双环[3.3.1]壬烷-N-氧基自由基(ABNO)为电催化媒介, 在NaClO₄-MeCN溶液中伯胺通过自氧化偶联反应生成对应的亚胺. 采用循环伏安法研究了ABNO对伯胺的电催化性能. 在相同条件下, 与2,2,6,6-四甲基哌啶氮氧自由基相比, ABNO在伯胺的自氧化偶联反应中表现出更好的电催化反应活性. 采用电化学原位红外光谱技术分析其中间产物为Ph—CH＝NH. 在优化的反应条件下, 一系列芳香伯胺可在ABNO电催化作用下自氧化偶联生成对应的亚胺, 产率较高.     

New functional chiral P-based ligands and application in ruthenium-catalyzed enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of ketones

Metal-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation is a powerful and practical method for the reduction of ketones to produce the corresponding secondary alcohols, which are valuable building blocks in the pharmaceutical, perfume, and agrochemical industries. Hence, a series of novel chiral β-amino alcohols were synthesized by chiral amines with regioselective ring opening of (S)-propylene oxide or reaction with (S)-(+)-2-hydroxypropyl p-toluenesulfonate by a straightforward method. The chiral ruthenium catalytic systems generated from [Ru(arene)(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ complexes and chiral phosphinite ligands based on amino alcohol derivatives were employed in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones to give the corresponding optically active alcohols; (2S)-1-{[(2S)-2-[(diphenylphosphanyl)oxy]propyl][(1R)-1-phenylethyl]amino}propan-2-yldiphenylphosphinitobis[dichol-oro(η⁶-benzene)ruthenium(II)] acts an excellent catalyst in the reduction of α-naphthyl methyl ketone, giving the corresponding alcohol with up to 99% ee. The substituents on the backbone of the ligands were found to have a remarkable effect on both the conversion and enantioselectivity of the catalysts. Furthermore, this transfer hydrogenation is characterized by low reversibility under these conditions.     

The effect of coordination on the reaction of N-tosyl imines with diethylzinc

The effect of coordination on the reaction of N-tosyl imines and diethylzinc was studied in detail. It showed that there was strong coordination between N-tosyl imine and diethylzinc. Due to this coordination, N-tosyl imines could be reduced directly through the β-H transferring mechanism by diethylzinc in nonpolar solvents to afford the corresponding secondary amines in excellent yields at mild conditions. The coordination of diethylzinc and N-tosyl imine was hindered by reacting in polar solvents or adding TMEDA to the reaction, it afforded ethylating product partially or exclusively.     

3 d Transition Metal‐Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Nitriles and Alkynes

Selective hydrogenation of nitriles and alkynes is crucial considering the vast applications of reduced products in industries and in the synthesis of bioactive compounds. Particularly, the late 3d transition metal catalysts (manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper) have shown promising activity for the hydrogenation of nitriles to primary amines, secondary amines and imines. Similarly, semihydrogenation of alkynes to E‐ and Z‐alkenes by 3d metals is adequately successful both via the transfer hydrogenation and by using molecular hydrogen. The emergence of 3d transition metals in the selective synthesis of industrially relevant amines, imines and alkenes makes this protocol more attractive. Herein, we provide a concise overview on the late 3d transition metal‐catalyzed hydrogenation of nitriles to amines and imines as well as semihydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes.     

Interaction of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl chloritewith alcohols

The kinetics of the oxidation of a series of alcohols (viz., ethanol, propan-2-ol, butan-1-ol, butan-2-ol, heptan-4-ol, decan-2-ol, propan-1,3-diol, butan-2,3-diol, cyclohexanol, benzyl alcohol, and borneol) with the oxoammonium salt 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl chlorite in acetonitrile was studied by spectrophotometry. The products of oxidation of primary alcohols are the corresponding aldehydes and carboxylic acids, and the products of oxidation of secondary alcohols are ketones. The reaction rate is described by the second order equation. The rate constants and activation parameters were determined. The rate constant as a function of the alcohol nature is described by the one-parameter Taft equation.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Amination of Alcohols by the Use of Borrowing Hydrogen Methodology: Cooperative Catalysis by Iridium and a Chiral Phosphoric Acid

The catalytic asymmetric reduction of ketimines has been explored extensively for the synthesis of chiral amines, with reductants ranging from Hantzsch esters, silanes, and formic acid to H₂ gas. Alternatively, the amination of alcohols by the use of borrowing hydrogen methodology has proven a highly atom economical and green method for the production of amines without an external reductant, as the alcohol substrate serves as the H₂ donor. A catalytic enantioselective variant of this process for the synthesis of chiral amines, however, was not known. We have examined various transition‐metal complexes supported by chiral ligands known for asymmetric hydrogenation reactions, in combination with chiral Brønsted acids, which proved essential for the formation of the imine intermediate and the transfer‐hydrogenation step. Our studies led to an asymmetric amination of alcohols to provide access to a wide range of chiral amines with good to excellent enantioselectivity.