Design of Brønsted acid-assisted chiral Brønsted acid catalyst bearing a bis(triflyl)methyl group for a Mannich-type reaction

[Structure: see text] A new Br?nsted acid-assisted chiral Br?nsted (chiral BBA) acid catalyst (1) was developed by substituting a hydroxy group of optically active 1,1'-bi(2-naphthol) with a stronger Br?nsted acidic group such as a bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)methyl group. The enantioselective Mannich-type reaction of ketene silyl acetals with aldimines catalyzed by (R)-1 in the presence of stoichiometric achiral proton sources gave (S)-beta-amino esters in high yield with moderate to good enantiomeric excesses.     

A Brønsted acid catalyst for the enantioselective protonation reaction

A highly reactive and robust chiral Br?nsted acid catalyst, chiral N-triflyl thiophosphoramide, was developed. The first metal-free Br?nsted acid catalyzed enantioselective protonation reaction of silyl enol ethers was demonstrated using this chiral Br?nsted acid catalyst. The catalyst loading could be reduced to 0.05 mol % without any deleterious effect on the enantioselectivity.     

An effective lactic acid-modified Hβ zeolite for synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes

Excellent activity and stability have been observed for a lactic acid-modified Hβ (LA-Hβ) zeolite in the synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes by Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indole with aldehydes. It is proposed that lactic acid treatment is appropriate for dealumination of Hβ zeolite, and results in a LA-Hβ zeolite with greater surface area, fewer weak acid sites, and more moderately-strong acid sites, as confirmed by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry, and temperature-programmed desorption of NH₃. Moreover, both electronic and steric effects of substituents on the aromatic ring of the aldehydes were found to be important in this reaction.     

Poly(oxyalkylene) synthesis in Brønsted acid ionic liquids

The polyetherification of diols with 4-12 methylene units was studied in Br?nsted Acid Ionic Liquids (BAILs). High molar mass poly(oxyalkylene)s were obtained at relatively low temperatures (130 °C), except in the cases of 1,4-butanediol and 1,6-hexanediol where cyclic ether formation was observed.     

Brønsted acid catalyzed enantioselective α-amidoalkylation in the synthesis of isoindoloisoquinolines

The Parham cyclization-intermolecular α-amidoalkylation sequence results in the facile enantioselective synthesis of 12b-substituted isoindoloisoquinolines (ee up to 95%) using BINOL-derived Br?nsted acids. α-Amidoalkylation of indole occurs through the formation of a chiral conjugate base/bicyclic quaternary N-acyliminium ion pair.     

Stannous oxalate as a novel catalyst for the synthesis of polytrimethylene terephthalate

Stannous oxalate was prepared efficiently and characterized by XRD and FT-IR. It exhibited higher catalytic activity and had profitable effect than tetrabutyl titanate and stannous octoate for the synthesis of polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) via esterification-route. Over this catalyst, the degree of esterification of pure terephthalic acid was up to 94.4% at 260°C after 1.5 h, while the intrinsic viscosity and content of terminal carboxyl groups of the corresponding PTT polyester, polymerized at 260°C, 60 Pa for 2 h, was 0.8950 dL/g and 15 mol/t, respectively. Stannous oxalate was a promising catalyst for the synthesis of PTT polyester.     

Highly stereoselective Brønsted acid catalyzed synthesis of spirooxindole pyrans

A Br?nsted acid-catalyzed Prins-type cyclization sequence to construct spirooxindole pyrans in high yields and excellent diastereoselectivity has been developed. The combination of a β-hydroxy dioxinone fragment and isatin dimethyl acetal generate oxa-spirooxindoles efficiently. These compounds are diversifiable scaffolds that tap into the rich chemistry of dioxinones.     

Regulation of Brønsted acid sites in H-MOR for selective methyl methoxyacetate synthesis

As it is well known, Brønsted acid sites in 8-MR of H-MOR (mordenite) are selective for dimethyl ether (DME) carbonylation to methyl acetate, whereas those in 12-MR are more prone to methanol to olefin reaction. Interestingly, we observed that the Brønsted acid sites in 12-MR of H-MOR are highly active for dimethoxymethane (DMM) carbonylation to methyl methoxyacetate (MMAc), whereas those in 8-MR led to the formation of DME. A series of modified H-MOR catalysts with accurate regulation of Brønsted acid sites in 12-MR or 8-MR were successfully synthesized by selective Na⁺ exchange or pyridine (Py) adsorption. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, NH₃-temperature-programmed desorption, Py-FT-IR, and inductively coupled plasma analyses suggested that Na⁺ first occupied Brønsted acid sites in 8-MR and then replaced those in 12-MR. All Na⁺-exchanged catalysts exhibited significant acceleration on MMAc selectivity, and the ratio of Brønsted acid amount in 12-MR/total had a positive correlation with MMAc selectivity. The MMAc selectivity (78%) of H-MOR-0.15Na was nearly 2.5 times more than that of untreated H-MOR (31%). However, H-MOR-Py showed almost no carbonylation activity (<1% MMAc) and a highest DME selectivity (98%), indicating that Brønsted acid sites in 12-MR were the only active sites for DMM carbonylation, whereas those in 8-MR tended to accelerate DMM disproportionation to DME.     

N-Heterocyclic carbene as a Brønsted base catalyst for the amination of naphthol derivatives and alcoholysis of glutaric anhydrides

A non-covalent Brønsted-basic N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed (NHC) Friedel-Crafts type amination of naphthol derivatives using dialkyl azodicarboxylates as the aminating source and alcoholysis of various glutaric anhydrides using alcohol as pronucleophile is presented. Both of these reactions are performed in the presence of either commercially available free-carbene catalyst or in situ-generated carbene catalyst. Friedel-Crafts type amination reaction is an example of a hydroxy group facilitated amination reaction. Both reactions proceed via in situ activations of –OH group by the carbene catalyst through hydrogen bonding interaction and furnish the relevant products in moderate to excellent yields.     

Complex containing a Lewis acid and Brønsted acid for the catalytic reactions of aza-Michael addition

The novel efficient complex catalyst containing a Lewis acid and a Brønsted acid have been prepared by the reaction of proline ion liquid and cuprous iodide. The catalyst was characterized by FT-IR techniques using pyridine as probe molecule. A fast, mild, and quantitative procedure for aza-Michael addition reactions between various amines and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and nitriles has been developed using the novel complex catalyst. The results showed that the novel catalyst owned high activities for the reactions with excellent yields within 1 min.     

Brønsted acid catalyzed cyclization of hydroxylated enynes: a concise synthesis of five-membered heterocycles

A mild and direct pathway for the formation of five‐membered heterocyclic compounds from hydroxylated enynes has been developed. In this reaction, hydroxylated enynes were selectively transformed into five‐membered heterocyclic compounds 2 , with an allene moiety at the 3‐position, in the presence of F₃CSO₃H (0.1 mol %). When R¹, R²=Ph, diphenylvinyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole ( 2 y ) was obtained. With HSbF₆ (5 mol %) as the catalyst, polycyclic skeletons 3 and 4 with adjacent stereocenters were obtained. When R¹=H and R²=styrene, 1,3‐dienyl‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole ( 6 as ) was formed. This Brønsted acid catalyzed domino process involves the formation of an allene carbocation intermediate, which can be readily trapped by olefins to give various novel five‐membered heterocyclic skeletons.     

Chiral sulfonimide as a Brønsted acid organocatalyst for asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with imines

Binaphthyl-based chiral sulfonimide (CSI) is demonstrated for the first time to be an efficient, strong Br?nsted acid in asymmetric organocatalysis. A series of CSIs were synthesized and screened in the asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with imines. Good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities have been achieved. It was proved that it was crucial to wash the CSI catalyst with HCl before use.     

Pd(II)/Brønsted acid catalyzed enantioselective allylic C-H activation for the synthesis of spirocyclic rings

A Pd(II)/Br?nsted acid catalyzed migratory ring expansion for the synthesis of indene derivatives possessing a stereogenic spirocyclic carbon center was developed. This transformation is believed to mechanistically proceed via enantioselective allylic C-H activation with concomitant semipinacol ring expansion to the nascent π-allylpalladium species. Enantioselectivities as high as 98% ee were attainable.     

Novel solid acid with both Brønsted and Lewis acid sites for biodiesel synthesis

The solid acid with both Brønsted and Lewis acid sites has been synthesized from resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) resin, hydroxyethylsulfonic acid and copper hydroxyethylsulfonate. The solid acid was applied to catalyze the transesterification of rapeseed oil. The results showed that the novel solid acid was very efficient for the biodiesel synthesis with the yield over 99% even for the rapeseed oil with high water content and both the free fatty acid and triglyceride could be efficiently transformed to the biodiesel products. The regular sphere structure, low cost, high acidity and catalytic activities gave the solid acid great potential for green chemical processes.     

Efficient synthesis of 1-carbamatoalkyl-2-naphthols using Brønsted acidic ionic liquid as reusable catalyst

Efficient synthesis of 1-carbamatoalkyl-2-naphthols can be carried out in the presence of halogen-free Brønsted acidic ionic liquid, synthesized from 1,4-diaza-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) and 1,4-butanesulfonate. A wide range of aldehydes and carbamates easily undergo condensation with 2-naphthol to afford the desired products in good to excellent yields. The present methodology offers several advantages, such as a simple work-up procedure and short reaction times. The catalyst can be recycled and reused without substantial reduction in catalytic activities.     

Highly efficient Brønsted acid and Lewis acid catalysis systems for the Friedländer Quinoline synthesis

The efficient and green Brønsted acid or Lewis acid catalysis systems for the Friedländer synthesis of 2,3,4-trisubstituted quinolines from the condensation of 2-aminoarylketones and β-ketoesters/ketones had been developed. The results confirmed that 4-toluenesulfonic acid, magnesium chloride, and cupric nitrate were the desired catalyst independently. This protocol had the advantages of mild conditions, operational simplicity, and excellent yields.