Direct amide formation from unactivated carboxylic acids and amines

The direct coupling of unactivated carboxylic acids with amines can be performed in toluene 110 °C in the absence of catalyst. The use of simple zirconium catalysts at 5 mol% loading gave amide formation in as little as 4 h.     

Visible light photoredox catalysed amidation of carboxylic acids with amines

A visible-light promoted photoredox catalysed, green one-pot approach for the amidation of carboxylic acids with amines has been developed for the synthesis of diverse aliphatic and aromatic amides. The proposed strategy is extendable also to biologically active amides and could represent a low-cost alternative to the common synthetic pathways. The developed strategy may hold great potential for a comprehensive display of biologically interesting peptide synthesis and amino acid modification.     

A facile zirconium(IV) chloride catalysed selective deprotection of t-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) ethers

A simple and efficient protocol for the selective deprotection of t-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) ethers using 20 mol% ZrCl₄ in 20-45 min and in high yields, is reported, wherein it is demonstrated that acid and base sensitive groups and allylic and benzylic groups are unaffected.     

Atom-efficient electrophilic aromatic nitration by dinitrogen pentoxide catalysed by zirconium(IV) 2,4-pentanedionate

An atom-efficient, non-acidic, catalytic process is described for the nitration of electron deficient arenes such as o-nitrotoluene using a dinitrogen pentoxide-zirconium(iv) 2,4-pentanedionate system in dichloromethane solvent. Kinetic studies showed the nitration process to be first-order with respect to the aromatic substrate and higher than first-order with respect to the catalyst. Addition of the catalyst at ca. 0.1-1 mol% compared with both N(2)O(5) and the organic substrate results in an increase in the first-order rate constant for nitration by a factor of approximately 5000 with a turnover number of at least 500. The orientation of the nitration products (2,4-/2,6-dinitrotoluenes) is consistent with attack of nitronium ion. The apparently high order of reaction with respect to the catalyst suggests a possible heterogeneous process.     

Tetrameric zirconium(IV) compounds derived from oxozirconium(IV) chloride and heterocyclic aldimines and ketimines

Summary Interaction of ZrOCl₂:8H₂O, [Zr₄(OH)₈(H₂O)₁₆]Cl₈ 12H₂O, with the heterocyclic, aldimines (PyAlA) and heterocyclic ketimines (AcPyA) in Me₂CO in the presence of HC(OEt)₃ yields white amorphous compounds of the type [Zr₄(OH)₁₂(H₂O)₈(PyAlA)₂]Cl₄ and [Zr₄(OH)₁₂(H₂O)₁₀(AcPyA)]Cl₄. Presumably these compounds have a tetrameric dodecahedral structure, derived from the parent. The analytical data, i.r., electrical conductance and t.g. measurements all favour the tetrameric formulation. The t.g. studies also indicate the intermediacy of complex species, which lose water and the Schiff base ligands, with increase in temperature.     

Direct amidation of non-activated carboxylic acid and amine derivatives catalyzed by TiCp2Cl2

This paper described a mild and efficient direct amidation of non-activated carboxylic acid and amine derivatives catalyzed by TiCp₂Cl₂. Arylacetic acid derivatives reacted with different amines to afford the corresponding amides in good to excellent yield except of aniline. Aryl formic acids failed to react with aniline but smoothly reacted with aliphatic amines and benzylamine in moderate to good yield, fatty acids reacting with benzyl and aliphatic amines give amides in good to excellent yield. Chiral amino acids derivatives were transformed into amides without racemization in moderate yield. The possible mechanism of direct amidation catalyzed by TiCp₂Cl₂ was discussed. This catalytic method is very suitable for the amidation of low sterically hindered arylacetic acid, fatty acids with different low sterically hindered amines except aniline, as well as the amidation of aryl formic acid with benzyl and aliphatic amines.     

Regioselective deuteration of aromatic and α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids via rhodium(III) chloride catalysed exchange with deuterium oxide

$\text{Ortho}$-deuterated aromatic carboxylic acids and β-deuterated α,β-unsaturated caroboxylic acids may be prepared with high regioselectivity by exchange deuteration of the unlabelled acids in the presence of rhodium(III) chloride.     

Kinetics and mechanism of palladium(II) chloride catalysed oxidation of unsaturated acids by vanadium(V)

Summary The kinetics of the palladium(II) catalysed oxidation of acrylic, methacrylic and crotonic acid by vanadium(V), in acid medium at constant ionic strength exhibit zeroth order dependence on vanadium(V) and first order dependence on palladium(II) and the unsaturated acid. Complex formation between the palladium(II) species and the unsaturated acid, with possible exchange of chloride ion and hydrogen ion in two successive steps, was invoked. The reaction rate is determined by a rearrangement leading to elimination of chloride ion. A plausible mechanism is proposed.     

Organotin(IV) complexes of polyhydroxyalkyl carboxylic acids and some related ligands

A number of dibutyltin(IV) complexes of polyhydroxyalkyl carboxylic acids (O donor atoms) and amino acids (O,N donor atoms) were prepared in the solid state. The binding sites of the ligands were determined by means of FT-IR, Raman and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Partial quadrupole splitting calculations were utilized to determine the coordination geometry around the Sn(IV) centre by means of Mössbauer measurements. The results showed that in the solid state oligomeric complexes are formed, with the -COO^- groups as bridges between the organometallic cations. The {Sn} atoms are mostly in trigonal bipyramidal surroundings. The Sn-O and Sn-C bond distances were determined by EXAFS measurements to be 207-234 and 295 pm, respectively. Evaluation of the pH-metric and NMR titration curves in Me₂Sn(IV)-D-gluconic acid system revealed that the equilibria in aqueous solution are fairly complicated. In acidic solution, the formation of 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 -COO^- coordinated species predominate, but deprotonation of the alcoholic -OH groups also starts at very low pH. In the pH range 5-9, NMR provides experimental evidence of ligand-exchange reactions without pH-metrically detectable proton release. In alkaline solution, further deprotonation processes occur, resulting in either alkoxo or mixed hydroxo complexes. The carboxylate coordination is expected for the amino acid ligands but the shift of the νN-H stretching vibrations in the FT-IR spectra demonstrated that the ammine group also binds to the metal ion in the solid Bu₂Sn(IV)complexes.     

Studies on extraction of zirconium(IV) by tricapryl methyl ammonium chloride from sulphate media and its separation from hafnium(IV)

The distribution of Zr(IV) between aqueous H₂SO₄ solutions and organic phases of tricapryl methyl ammonium chloride has been described. The dependence of extraction on acidity, metal and solvent concentration, diluent type and temperature was thoroughly investigated. The possible extraction mechanism is discussed in the light of results obtained. A method for the separation of Hf(IV) from Zr(IV) is also suggested.     

Facile amide bond formation from carboxylic acids and isocyanates

A wide variety of carboxylic acids in the form of their salts condense with aryl isocyanates at room temperature with loss of carbon dioxide to give the corresponding amides in high yield. Application of the reaction to acyl isocyanates gives unsymmetric imides. The reaction is compatible with hydroxyl groups and both Fmoc and Boc protecting groups for amines and is applicable to aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic acids.     

Copper-catalyzed amide bond formation from formamides and carboxylic acids

A highly efficient copper-catalyzed approach to form amide bonds from formamides and carboxylic acids was developed.This protocol shows broad substrate scopes and high yields in the presence of 1 mol% catalyst and 4.0 equiv.formamides.     

Studies on the reaction of organotin phenoxides with ethyl propiolate catalysed by triethylamine and tin(IV) chloride

Different tributyltin phenoxides react at room temperature with ethyl propiolate in benzene, in the presence of tin(IV) chloride, triethylamine and their mixture to give the derivatives of 3‐phenoxyacrylic acid ethyl ester. Exceptionally, 3‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)acrylic acid ethyl ester and 3‐(2‐hydroxy‐5‐methylphenyl)acrylic acid ethyl ester have been obtained from the reaction of tributylphenoxytin and tributyl(p‐tolyloxy)tin, respectively catalysed by SnCl₄, and they have been easily hydrolysed to coumarin and 6‐methylcoumarin. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Concerted reductive coupling of an alkyl chloride at Pt(IV)

Oxidation of a doubly cyclometallated platinum(II) complex results in two isomeric platinum(IV) complexes. Whereas the trans isomer is robust, being manipulable in air at room temperature, the cis isomer decomposes at -20 °C and above. Reductive coupling of an alkyl chloride at the cis isomer gives a new species which can be reoxidised. The independence of this coupling on additional halide rules out the reverse of an S(N)2 reaction, leaving a concerted process as the only sensible reaction pathway.     

Schiff base derivatives of titanium(IV) and zirconium(IV)

The reactions of a few bifunctional and tridentate Schiff bases with titanium-(IV) and zirconium(IV) isopropoxides in equimolar and bimolar ratios are described. The resulting compounds have been obtained in almost quantitative yields and are of the general formulae M(SB)_x(OPrⁱ)_4?2X (where M = Ti or Zr; SB- = anion of the Schiff base SBH₂ and x = 1 or 2). Their molecular weights have been determined ebullioscopically and IR spectra recorded.