Pd-Catalyzed Reduction of Aldehydes to Alcohols Using Formic Acid as the Hydrogen Donor

Facile and selective reduction of aromatic aldehydes as well as aliphatic aldehydes to alcohols was achieved using formic acid as the hydrogen donor in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)₂ and Cy₃P. It was found that both hydrogen atoms in the formic acid molecule can serve as the hydride source.

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Synthesis of β-Aryl-β-sulfanyl Ketones by a Sequential One-Pot Reaction Using KF/Al2O3 in Glycerol

The title compounds were synthesized by a sequential one-pot reaction of aryl aldehydes, aryl-methyl ketones, and thiols promoted by KF/Al₂O₃. This methodology affords a large number of β-aryl-β-sulfanyl ketone derivatives from aliphatic and aromatic thiols in good yields and is also applicable for solid substrates.

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Selective and Efficient Oxidation of Benzylic Alcohols to Benzaldehydes and Methyl Benzoates by Dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin

A selective and efficient method of oxidizing benzyl alcohols to benzaldehydes and methyl benzoates by using 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DBDMH) as oxidant is developed. One-step conversion of benzyl alcohols to methyl benzoates in methanol at room temperature for 12 hours is achieved without any catalysts. Moreover, para-substituted benzyl alcohols are obtained in 86–98% yield. When dichloromethane is used as solvent, further oxidation of benzaldehydes to esters is well controlled, selectively affording benzaldehydes in 89–99% yield within 30 minutes.

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CuFe2O4 Nanoparticles: A Magnetically Recoverable and Reusable Catalyst for the Synthesis of Coumarins via Pechmann Reaction in Water

The synthesis of coumarins by hydroxyalkylation of phenols with ethyl acetoacetate (via Pechmann reaction) is attempted using magnetically separable and reusable CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles in water.

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Efficient Room-Temperature Synthesis and Antimicrobial Study of Novel 2-Aroylbenzofuran-3-ols from Substituted Methyl Salicylates and Phenacyl Bromides

The article describes a convenient and efficient synthetic route for the construction of 2-aroylbenzofuran-3-ols from readily available diverse methyl salicylates and phenacyl bromides using K₂CO₃ as catalyst in dimethylformamide as solvent at room temperature. The reaction involves two steps, which occur in quick succession within 1 h to deliver the product with reasonably high yields. All the synthesized 2-aroylbenzofuran-3-ols (4a–u) were subjected for their antimicrobial studies, and some of these have shown prominent activity.

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Green and Reusable Synthetic Procedure for Pyridine N-Oxides Catalyzed by a Lacunary Polyoxometalate

A lacunary Keggin polyoxometalate of K₈[BW₁₁O₃₉H] · 13H₂O was used as an effective and reusable catalyst for pyridine oxidation. Good yields of pyridine N-oxides were obtained in this catalytic system with hydrogen peroxide in water under mild conditions.

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Mild,Selective Oxidation of Aromatic Alcohols Using β-Cyclodextrin-Functionalized Glass Microparticles: Characterization,Stability, and Application

The surface of glass microparticle (GMP) was functionalized with β-cyclodextrin (→ GMP-β-CD) and was characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). GMP-β-CD was used to catalyze oxidation of alcohols into aldehydes and katones with excellent yield (86–92%). The modified surface of GMP-β-CD showed no change or degradation after repeated use as confirmed from XPS analysis after 10 cycles.

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Unexpected Transformation of Aldehydes into Benzoins with Copper(I)/Samarium

The reductive coupling of aldehydes to afford pinacolic alcohols using all kinds of reducing agents involving samarium is well known. In this report, however, treatment of aromatic aldehydes with Cu(I)/Sm system produces benoins and/or benzils in good yields. A possible mechanism is proposed where Cu(I) not only activates the Sm metal but also promotes the dehydrogenation of the intermediates, during which a Cu(III) species may be involved.

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Lanthanum Triflate–Catalyzed Rapid Oxidation of Secondary Alcohols Using Hydrogen Peroxide Urea Adduct (UHP) in Ionic Liquid

A convenient and efficient protocol for the oxidation of secondary hydroxyl group to ketone using hydrogen peroxide–urea adduct and catalytic (CF₃SO₃)₃La in ionic liquid has been developed. A number of 1,2-diols, α-hydroxyketones, and other aromatic and aliphatic secondary alcohols have been successfully oxidized to the corresponding ketones using this protocol in good yields and short reaction times.

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Ultrasound-Assisted,One-Pot,Four-Component Synthesis of 1,4,6,8-Tetrahydroquinolines in Aqueous Medium

A series of 2-amino-3-cyano-4-aryl-5-oxo-7,7-dimethyl-1,4,6,8-tetrahydroquinolines were prepared by a one-pot, four-component condensation of aromatic aldehydes, dimedone, malononitrile, and ammonium acetate using K₂CO₃ as a catalyst in aqueous medium under sonic conditions. This protocol, being a single-step reaction, has the advantages of operational simplicity and minimal environmental impact. The synthesized compounds were confirmed through spectral characterization using infrared, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and CHN analysis.

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Solvent-Free Synthesis of Dihydropyridines and Acridinediones via a Salicylic Acid–Catalyzed Hantzsch Multicomponent Reaction

A multicomponent Hantzsch synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridines and acridinediones from commercially available aldehydes, ammonium acetate, and ethyl acetoacetate or dimedone, in the presence of salicylic acid as an efficient catalyst, in good yield and short reaction time is reported.

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Boric Acid–Catalyzed One-Pot Access to 7-Aryl-benzopyrano[4,3-b] benzopyran-6,8-diones Under Aqueous Micellar Conditions

A mild protocol for the synthesis of 7-arylbenzopyrano[4,3-b]benzopyran-6,8-diones by three-component reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin, aromatic aldehyde, and 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione (dimedone) with boric acid catalyst under aqueous micellar conditions is described. Good to excellent yield, high selectivity, tolerance of several common functional and protecting groups, and green features including avoidance of organic solvent in the reaction as well as isolation stage and use of nontoxic water-compatible mild Lewis acid catalyst are key attractive features of the protocol.

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Highly Stereoselective Cyclopropanation of Olefins Catalyzed by a Novel C 3-Symmetric Arsine

A novel C ₃-symmetric arsine was employed in the one-pot cyclopropanation of olefins with carbonyl-stabilized arsonium ylides formed in situ from phenacyl bromide in the presence of NaHCO₃. This new arsine demonstrates good stereoselectivity and activity in the one-pot cyclopropanation of arylidenemalononitrile.

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Catalysis by Amberlyst A-21: A Greener Approach to 4,5,6,7-Tetrahydro-1H-indazol-3(2H)-ones via Construction of Cyclohexanones

The 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-3(2H)-one derivatives have been synthesized in good yields via a two-step method in a single pot. The initial step involved the construction of cyclohexanone ring from aromatic aldehydes and β-ketoester in i-PrOH using an inexpensive and reusable catalyst (i.e., Amberlyst A-21) under mild reaction conditions. The utility of this catalyst has been demonstrated in synthesizing a range of cyclohexanone derivatives. The catalyst can be recovered and recycled, which makes this procedure simple, convenient, economically viable, and environmental friendly.

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Efficient Method for the Synthesis of α,α′-Bis(arylmethylidene) Cycloalkanones Catalyzed by Bromodimethylsulfonium Bromide

Bromodimethylsulfonium bromide (BDMS)–catalyzed crossed aldol condensation between aromatic aldehydes and ketones is reported to access α,α′-bis(arylmethylidene) cycloalkanones at room temperature in good yields within 3–10 min. The salient features of this method are the simplicity of the procedure, the ready accessibility of the catalyst, and greater yields in relatively short reaction times.

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Three-Component Synthesis and 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Highly Functionalized Pyrans with Nitrile Oxides: Easy Access to 1,2,4-Oxadiazoles

Three-component reaction of 1-[(4-chlorophenyl)sulfanyl]acetone, malononitrile, and substituted aromatic aldehydes in the presence of sodium ethoxide under simple mixing at ambient temperature for 5–8 min afforded highly functionalized 4H-pyrans in good to excellent yields. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides over the nitrile functionality of the 4H-pyrans furnished 1,2,4-oxadiazoles in moderate yields.

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Metal-Free,One-Pot Oxidative Conversion of Aldehydes to Primary Thioamides in Aqueous Media

One-pot tandem reactions of a variety of aldehydes with aqueous ammonia, molecular iodine, and O,O-diethyl dithiophosphoric acid readily afford the corresponding primary thioamides. This is an inexpensive, practical, and metal-free way of accessing various thioamides from aldehydes in aqueous media. The pure products are obtained simply by filtration followed by successive washing with aqueous sodium thiosulfate and water.

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Mild and Efficient One-Pot Synthesis of 3,5-Disubstituted 1,2,4-Oxadiazoles from Nitriles Mediated by K3PO4

Potassium phosphate, K₃PO₄, has been proved to be a cheap, strong, and efficient reagent for the one-pot synthesis of 3,5-disubstituted-1,2,4-oxadiazoles from nitriles and acid chlorides under mild conditions.

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Recyclable,Graphite-Catalyzed,Four-Component Synthesis of Functionalized Pyrroles

A facile, convenient, and multicomponent coupling strategy for the synthesis of highly functionalized pyrroles is developed using graphite as a catalyst, but devoid of moisture-sensitive metal catalysts and corrosive acidic reagents. This method involves four-component coupling reactions of ethyl acetoacetate compound or diethyl acetylene dicarboxylate, amines, aromatic aldehydes, and nitromethane without an inert atmosphere. This approach provides easy access to highly substituted pyrroles in good yields via one-pot tandem reaction. The method is very simple, straightforward, and environmentally friendly compared to the existing methods.

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Copper bis(2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate)–Catalyzed Coupling of Sodium Azide with Aryl Iodides/Boronic Acids to Aryl Azides or Aryl Amines

This work reports an efficient protocol for the coupling reaction of aryl iodides/boronic acids with sodium azide to aryl azides/amines in the presence of copper bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate) Cu(TMHD)₂ catalyst. The Cu(TMHD)₂ catalyst is a structurally well-defined, O-containing, air- and moisture-stable, transition-metal complex and works at mild reaction conditions. It was observed that aryl azides can be reduced further to corresponding aniline derivatives using the same catalyst under basic reaction conditions for a prolonged period.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resource(s): Full experimental and spectral details.]