nBu4NI-catalyzed oxidative amidation of aldehydes with tertiary amines

An efficient oxidative coupling protocol for amide formation has been developed. Various tertiary amines and aromatic aldehydes were oxidized to their corresponding tertiary amides in moderate to good yields in the presence of a simple nBu₄NI-catalyst.     

Highly branched aromatic polymers prepared by single step syntheses

Highly branched polyphenylenes, polyphenylene ethers, aromatic polyesters and polyamides synthesized from AB₂ type monomers are reviewed. Polyphenylenes were obtained by aryl-aryl coupling reactions of 3,5-dihalo-phenyl organometallic reagents. ¹³C NMR indicates about 70% branching efficiency. A T_gat 236°C was observed, but the polymer did not form films. Polyethers were prepared by oxidative coupling of 2,4,6-tribromophenol and 2,4-dibromophenol. The former monomer gave high molecular weight polymers but the latter monomer did not polymerize well. Condensation of 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid (I) and 3-aminoisophthalic acid derivatives in an amide solvent gave lyotropic hyperbranched aromatic polyamides. The GPC indicated a large degree of polymer aggregation in the amide solvent in the absence of a complexing salt.     

Codonocarpus alkaloids—IV : Synthesis of 2-methoxy-2′-ethoxy-4-[2-(tetramethylenecarbamoyl)ethyl]-5′-[2-(propylcarbamoyl)ethyl]diphenyl ether

Synthesis of the title compound was accomplished by coupling the iodonium bromide (3) of 4-ethoxybenzaldehyde with methyl hydroferulate (4) to 2-methoxy-2′-ethoxy-4-(methyl β-propionate)-5′-formyldiphenyl ether (5) which was converted to the pyrrolidinyl amide 6, and then the aryl aldehyde group was extended to a n-propyl β-propionamide unit via the Knoevenagel malonic acid reaction through the trans-cinnamic acid 7 followed by hydrogenation and amide formation with n-propylamine.     

Polymer-analogous transformations of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) to produce new complexing macromolecular systems

A new polymer-analogous transformations of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) was used to prepare new complex-forming macromolecular systems containing thiourea and thio-semicarbazone sites. Two variants of modification were realized, namely, the method including the preliminary in situ activation of nucleophilic centres of the polymer amide fragments with dimethyl sulfate followed by introducing nucleophilic agents into the system, and the method including partial hydrolysis of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) followed by the amide coupling. The obtained modified polymeric materials react with silver ions in aqueous solution.     

Dual activation in oxidative coupling of 2-naphthols catalyzed by chiral dinuclear vanadium complexes

An efficient enantioselective oxidative coupling of 2-naphthol derivatives based on a concept of dual activation catalysis is realized. A chiral dinuclear vanadium(IV) complex (R_a,S,S)-1e possessing (S)-tert-leucine moieties at the 3,3′-positions of the (R)-binaphthyl skeleton was developed, which was found to promote the oxidative coupling of 2-naphthol to afford (S)-BINOL with 91% ee. To verify the dual activation mechanism, mononuclear vanadium(IV) complex (S)-8 was also prepared. Kinetic analysis revealed that the reaction rate of oxidative coupling of 2-naphthol promoted by (R_a,S,S)-1e is 48.3 times faster than that of (S)-8. The two vanadium metals in the chiral complex activate two molecules of 2-naphthol simultaneously in an intramolecular manner coupling reaction, achieving a high reaction rate with high enantiocontrol. Reaction mechanisms of the oxidative coupling reaction promoted by either vanadium(IV) or vanadium(V) complexes are also described.     

Copper(I)-catalyzed benzylic C(sp3)–H geminal difunctionalization: Successive oxidative intramolecular amidation and hydroxylation

A selective copper(I)-catalyzed benzylic C(sp³)–H geminal difunctionalization reaction of a benzylic-type sp³ carbon was developed. This novel strategy allowed simultaneous introduction of amide and hydroxyl group in a highly selective and efficient way via successive oxidative intramolecular amidation and hydroxylation. This method was also applied to the synthesis of 3-hydroxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]quinoxalinones from readily available 3-methyl-N-substituted quinoxaline-2-carboxamides in moderate to good yields. The five-membered cyclic hemiaminal moiety of the pyrrolo[3,4-b]quinoxalinones can serve as an intermediates for subsequent transformations into other useful functional groups.     

Dual-function of alcohols in gold-mediated selective coupling of amines and alcohols

Oxidative coupling of alcohols (methanol and ethanol) and dimethylamine on atomic-oxygen-activated Au(111) occurs entirely on the surface to form the corresponding amides when the alkoxy of the alcohol and the amide derived from the amine are co-adsorbed. For effective oxygen-assisted coupling the formation of the amide requires excess methanol. Mechanistic studies reveal that molecularly adsorbed methanol removes excess adsorbed atomic oxygen efficiently, precluding either secondary oxidation or oxidative dehydrogenation of dimethylamide to the imine. The adsorbed amide then can react with the aldehyde produced by β-hydride elimination from the alkoxy to form the hemiaminal, the reactive intermediate leading to coupling. The selectivity for formamide production can be increased to nearly 100?% in excess methanol.     

Synthesis and properties of new fluorinated ester,thioester, and amide substituted polythiophenes. Towards superhydrophobic surfaces

A series of new fluorinated polythiophenes has been synthesized by oxidative chemical and electrochemical polymerization and by Ullmann coupling. The substitution with the perfluoroalkyl alkyl chain CH₂CH₂C₆F₁₃ on the 3 position of the thiophene ring is performed via an ester, thioester, or amide connector, (CH₂)_m‐C(O)X, m = 0–2, with a view to investigating the role of the linker on the polymerization and on the properties of the corresponding polymers. The bromination of the monomers at the 2 and 5 positions allows the use of Ullmann coupling to form soluble fluorinated oligomers. The electron affinity was determined from cyclic voltammetry and a value of 3.1 eV was found for the ester derivative; such materials represent interesting candidates for use in light‐emitting devices or as an electron accepting material in photodiodes/solar cells. The oxidative polymerizations need the connector to be spaced out from the heterocycle to reduce its withdrawal effect. The ester, thioester, and amide spacer determined to a large extent the efficiency of the oxidative polymerization, and particularly the electropolymerization, as well as the solubility of the polymers formed. All the polymers were analyzed by GPC and by UV–visible and fluorescence spectroscopies. The electrochemical oxidation of the thioester and amide group prevents the formation of electroactive films by electropolymerization. But in the case of the ester group, the electroformed polymer exhibits exceptional stable superhydrophobic and lipophobic properties because of a porous surface and the presence of a fluorinated chain that confers low surface energy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4707–4719, 2007     

Dual‐Function of Alcohols in Gold‐Mediated Selective Coupling of Amines and Alcohols

Oxidative coupling of alcohols (methanol and ethanol) and dimethylamine on atomic‐oxygen‐activated Au(111) occurs entirely on the surface to form the corresponding amides when the alkoxy of the alcohol and the amide derived from the amine are co‐adsorbed. For effective oxygen‐assisted coupling the formation of the amide requires excess methanol. Mechanistic studies reveal that molecularly adsorbed methanol removes excess adsorbed atomic oxygen efficiently, precluding either secondary oxidation or oxidative dehydrogenation of dimethylamide to the imine. The adsorbed amide then can react with the aldehyde produced by β‐hydride elimination from the alkoxy to form the hemiaminal, the reactive intermediate leading to coupling. The selectivity for formamide production can be increased to nearly 100 % in excess methanol.     

Synthesis of three-dimensionally arranged porphyrin arrays via intramolecular meso-meso coupling

The synthesis and photophysical properties of three-dimensionally arranged porphyrin arrays with through-space electronic communication are reported. 1,3,5-Trioxamethylphenylene bridged Zn(II) porphyrin trimer 3 was coupled by Ag(I)-promoted oxidative coupling reaction to give porphyrin cage 5 comprising three meso-meso linked diporphyrins, which was then transformed by oxidation with DDQ and Sc(OTf)₃ into porphyrin cage 7 comprising three fused diporphyrins. Intramolecular meso-meso coupling reaction was applied to porphyrin pentamer 11 to provide porphyrin array 12 consisting of a porphyrin core flanked by two meso-meso linked diporphyrins. Further oxidation of 12 with DDQ and Sc(OTf)₃ afforded triply stacked porphyrin array 13 that is comprised of a porphyrin core flanked by two porphyrin tapes. UV-vis-NIR absorption and fluorescence spectra of 5, 7, 12, and 13 showed their distorted conformations and electronic interaction within the stacked porphyrin arrays.     

Mechanistic Evidence of a Ni(0/II/III) Cycle for Nickel Photoredox Amide Arylation

This work demonstrates the dominance of a Ni(0/II/III) cycle for Ni-photoredox amide arylation, which contrasts with other Ni-photoredox C-heteroatom couplings that operate via Ni(I/III) self-sustained cycles. The kinetic data gathered when using different Ni precatalysts supports an initial Ni(0)-mediated oxidative addition into the aryl bromide. Using NiCl₂ as the precatalyst resulted in an observable induction period, which was found to arise from a photochemical activation event to generate Ni(0) and to be prolonged by unproductive comproportionation between the Ni(II) precatalyst and the in situ generated Ni(0) active species. Ligand exchange after oxidative addition yields a Ni(II) aryl amido complex, which was identified as the catalyst resting state for the reaction. Stoichiometric experiments showed that oxidation of this Ni(II) aryl amido intermediate was required to yield functionalized amide products. The kinetic data presented supports a rate-limiting photochemically-mediated Ni(II/III) oxidation to enable C−N reductive elimination. An alternative Ni(I/III) self-sustained manifold was discarded based on EPR and kinetic measurements. The mechanistic insights uncovered herein will inform the community on how subtle changes in Ni-photoredox reaction conditions may impact the reaction pathway, and have enabled us to include aryl chlorides as coupling partners and to reduce the Ni loading by 20-fold without any reactivity loss.     

O-(Aminosulfonylation) of phenols and an example of slow hydrolytic release

Sequential replacement of imidazole from sulfonyldiimidazole by phenols and then amines leads to O-arylsulfamate esters. Application of this coupling method to 19 phenols and 6 amines generates a library of 114 sulfamate esters, Ar-OSO₂-NR₂. A sulfamate based conjugate of ethinyl estradiol was prepared by using the steroid 3-hydroxyl as the phenol component, and an amino amide derived from linoleic acid as the amine. Hydrolysis of this conjugate was studied in aqueous buffer at pH values 2, 5, and 7.4, and (essentially identical) respective half-lives of 6.8, 6.6, and 6.7 days were observed.     

Observation of the rotational spectra of CuI and AgI molecules generated by laser ablation in a pulsed-jet,Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer

The diatomic species CuI and AgI were produced by the reaction of metal atoms, formed in situ by ablation of an appropriate metal rod, with methyl iodide entrained in argon. The rotational spectra of the MI species so produced were then observed with the aid of a pulsed-jet, Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer. The ground-state rotational constant B₀, centrifugal distortion constant D₀, iodine nuclear quadrupole coupling constant χ(I) and iodine spin-rotation coupling constant M_bb(I) were determined with high precision for each of the isotopomers ¹⁰⁷Ag¹²⁷I, ¹⁰⁹Ag¹²⁷I, ⁶³Cu¹²⁷I and ⁶⁵Cu¹²⁷I by analysis of its rotational spectrum. In the case of the two CuI isotopomers, the nuclear hyperfine coupling constants χ(⁶³Cu), χ(⁶⁵Cu), M_bb(⁶³Cu) and M_bb(⁶⁵Cu) were also established.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (−)-(R)-sitagliptin

The asymmetric synthesis of (?)-(R)-sitagliptin was achieved in seven steps from commercially available starting materials using the highly diastereoselective conjugate additions of either lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide or lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to tert-butyl 4-(2′,4′,5′-trifluorophenyl)but-2-enoate to install the correct stereochemistry. Subsequent sequential acid-catalysed hydrolysis of the resultant β-amino esters, HOBt/EDC mediated coupling with the triazolopyrazine fragment, and hydrogenolysis gave (?)-(R)-sitagliptin in 43% and 42% overall yields, respectively.     

Dual activation in a homolytic coupling reaction promoted by an enantioselective dinuclear vanadium(IV) catalyst

A new concept of dual activation catalysis in homolytic coupling reaction of 2-naphthol derivatives is described. The dinuclear vanadium(IV) catalyst (R,S,S)-1a promotes the oxidative coupling reaction of 2-naphthol derivatives with high reactivity and enantioselectivity. This dual activation mechanism is supported by the fact that the reaction rate of oxidative coupling of 2-naphthol promoted by the (R,S,S)-1a is 48 times faster than that of the mononuclear complex (S)-3 and a lower catalyst loading of (R,S,S)-1a shows higher catalyst efficiency both in enantioselectivity and chemical yield.     

Copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of amides and potassium alkenyltrifluoroborate salts: a general approach to the synthesis of enamides

Potassium alkenyltrifluoroborate salts undergo coupling with amides to give enamides using a catalytic amount of Cu(OAc)₂ under mild oxidative conditions. The air and water stable alkenyltrifluoroborate salts offer a practical alternative to the use of alkenyl halides and alkenylboronic acids as cross-coupling partners. A range of amides participate in the cross-coupling, including heterocyclic amides, imides, carbamates, benzamides, and acetamides. Optimization studies established two sets of conditions, best suited to either high pK_a or low pK_a amide substrates. Lower pK_a amide substrates worked best using a dichloromethane solvent system in the presence of 4 Å molecular sieves, 10 mol % Cu(OAc)₂, and 20 mol % N-methylimidazole. Higher pK_a amide substrates worked best using a ‘ligandless’ protocol using a 1:1 dichloromethane/DMSO solvent system in the presence of 4 Å molecular sieves and 10 mol % Cu(OAc)₂. The cross-coupling reactions occur stereospecifically with retention of alkene configuration from the alkenyltrifluoroborate salt. The mild reaction conditions employed are tolerant of various functionalities, including nitro, acetals, alkyl and aryl halides, and α,β-unsaturated carbonyls. Finally, the importance of copper sources and the presence of minor impurities were investigated.     

Cu(I)-catalyzed asymmetric oxidative cross-coupling of 2-naphthol derivatives

The asymmetric oxidative coupling reaction between 2-naphthol or binaphthol derivatives and 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoate derivatives with the copper(I)-(S)-(−)-isopropylidenebis(4-phenyl-2-oxazoline) catalyst was carried out. The reaction proceeded in a highly cross-coupling selective manner (≤99.7%) to produce the binaphthyl or quaternaphthyl derivative in good yield (≤92%) with enantioselectivity of up to 74%.     

Single-conformation infrared spectra of model peptides in the amide I and amide II regions: Experiment-based determination of local mode frequencies and inter-mode coupling

Single-conformation infrared spectra in the amide I and amide II regions have been recorded for a total of 34 conformations of three α-peptides, three β-peptides, four α∕β-peptides, and one γ-peptide using resonant ion-dip infrared spectroscopy of the jet-cooled, isolated molecules. Assignments based on the amide NH stretch region were in hand, with the amide I∕II data providing additional evidence in favor of the assignments. A set of 21 conformations that represent the full range of H-bonded structures were chosen to characterize the conformational dependence of the vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities of the local amide I and amide II modes and their amide I∕I and amide II∕II coupling constants. Scaled, harmonic calculations at the DFT M05-2X∕6-31+G(d) level of theory accurately reproduce the experimental frequencies and infrared intensities in both the amide I and amide II regions. In the amide I region, Hessian reconstruction was used to extract local mode frequencies and amide I∕I coupling constants for each conformation. These local amide I frequencies are in excellent agreement with those predicted by DFT calculations on the corresponding (13)C = (18)O isotopologues. In the amide II region, potential energy distribution analysis was combined with the Hessian reconstruction scheme to extract local amide II frequencies and amide II∕II coupling constants. The agreement between these local amide II frequencies and those obtained from DFT calculations on the N-D isotopologues is slightly worse than for the corresponding comparison in the amide I region. The local mode frequencies in both regions are dictated by a combination of the direct H-bonding environment and indirect, "backside" H-bonds to the same amide group. More importantly, the sign and magnitude of the inter-amide coupling constants in both the amide I and amide II regions is shown to be characteristic of the size of the H-bonded ring linking the two amide groups. These amide I∕I and amide II∕II coupling constants remain similar in size for α-, β-, and γ-peptides despite the increasing number of C-C bonds separating the amide groups. These findings provide a simple, unifying picture for future attempts to base the calculation of both nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor coupling constants on a joint footing.     

Palladium catalyzed transformations of monoterpenes: stereoselective deuteriation and oxidative dimerization of camphene

Camphene undergoes a highly regio and stereoselective palladium catalyzed deuteriation in deuteriated acetic acid solutions of Pd(OAc)₂. NMR reveals that an outward oriented vinylic hydrogen is selectively exchanged for ²H, resulting in 90% camphene-d₁ (ca. 100% stereoselectivity) and 10% camphene-d₂ at 75% conversion of camphene (6 h, 25 °C). Neither π-allyl nor π-olefin palladium complexes are formed in detectable concentrations during the reaction, whereas palladium hydride (singlet at −6.86 ppm) and palladium deuteride (singlet at −6.78 ppm) intermediates have been detected by ¹H and ²H NMR, respectively. At higher temperature, oxidative coupling of camphene readily occurs giving the (E,E)-diene, i.e., bis(3,3-dimethyl-2-norbornylidene)ethane, which formally originates by abstracting the outward oriented vinylic hydrogens and coupling the resulting fragments of two camphene molecules. The reaction is catalytic at palladium in the Pd(OAc)₂-LiNO₃(cat)-O₂ and Pd(OAc)₂-benzoquinone systems. Similar mechanisms for the deuteriation and oxidative coupling of camphene are proposed, which involve the formation of σ-vinyl palladium hydride intermediates. No deuteriation neither oxidative coupling of limonene, myrcene and β-pinene were observed under the same conditions.     

Peptide bond vibrational coupling

Neutral trialanine (Ala3), which is geometrically constrained to have its peptide bond at Phi and Psi angles of alpha-helix and PPII-like conformers, are studied at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory to examine vibrational interactions between adjacent peptide units. Delocalization of the amide I, amide II, and amide III3 vibrations are analyzed by calculating their potential energy distributions (PED). The vibrational coupling strengths are estimated from the frequency shifts between the amide vibrations of Ala3 and the local amide bond vibrations of isotopically substituted Ala3 derivatives. Our calculations show the absence of vibrational coupling of the amide I and amide II bands in the PPII conformations. In contrast, the alpha-helical conformation shows strong coupling between the amide I vibrations due to the favorable orientation of the C=O bonds and the strong transitional dipole coupling. The amide III3 vibration shows weak coupling in both the alpha-helix and PPII conformations; this band can be treated as a local independent vibration. Our calculated results in general agree with our previous experimental UV Raman studies of a 21-residue mainly alanine-based peptide (AP).