Lewis acid-promoted carbon-carbon bond cleavage of aziridines: divergent cycloaddition pathways of the derived ylides

Lewis acids are shown to cleave the carbon-carbon bond of activated aziridines at ambient temperature. The derived metal-coordinated azomethine ylides undergo cycloaddition reactions with electron-rich alkenes. Cyclic alkenes afford products that are formally [4+2] adducts most likely derived from a Mannich-type addition to the ylide, followed by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation. Alternatively, acyclic alkenes undergo [3+2] cycloaddition to give new pyrrolidine products.     

Polymer-supported glyoxylate and alpha-imino acetates. Versatile reagents for the synthesis of alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid and alpha-amino acid libraries

Polymer-supported glyoxylate.monohydrate (3) and alpha-imino acetates (7) have been readily prepared from chloromethylated resin via two or three steps. The ene reactions of 3 with alkenes were successfully performed in the presence of Yb(OTf)3 (50 mol %) to afford, after cleavage from the polymer support, the corresponding alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid esters in good yields. The reactions of 7 with silyl enolates, Danishefsky's diene, and alkenes also proceeded smoothly in the presence of Sc(OTf)3 (20 mol %) to give the corresponding alpha-amino acid, pyridone, and tetrahydroquinoline derivatives, respectively, in good yields.     

1,2,3-Triazol-5-ylidene-palladium complex catalyzed Mizoroki-Heck and Sonogashira coupling reactions

The bis-1,4-dimesityl-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene-palladium complex (1a) successfully catalyzes the Mizoroki-Heck and Sonogashira coupling reactions with aryl bromides to give the corresponding alkenes and alkynes, respectively, in good to excellent yields. In the Mizoroki-Heck reaction, electron-rich, electron-poor, and functionalized aryl bromides and alkenes are tolerated, while the substrates are limited to electron-poor aryl halides in the Sonogashira coupling reaction. The palladium complex also catalyzes cross-coupling reactions with aryl chlorides to give higher yields of products than does the bis-IMes-Pd complex analogue (2), under specific conditions.     

Iodine-catalyzed disulfidation of alkenes

The disulfidation reactions of alkenes with disulfides were thoroughly investigated in this paper. Using H₂O or DCE as the solvent, most reactions occurred smoothly to give the corresponding disulfidated products in good to high yields at room temperature within 12 h.     

Traceless Chelation‐Controlled Rhodium‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Alkene and Alkyne Hydroacylation

A new functional‐group tolerant, rhodium‐catalyzed, sulfide‐reduction process is combined with rhodium‐catalyzed chelation‐controlled hydroacylation reactions to give a traceless hydroacylation protocol. Aryl‐ and alkenyl aldehydes can be combined with both alkenes, alkynes and allenes to give traceless products in high yields. A preliminary mechanistic proposal is also presented.     

Lewis acid assisted reactions of N-(α- aminoalkyl)benzotriazoles and unactivated alkenes for the facile synthesis of 4-, 2,4-, and 3,4-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines

A range of substituted tetrahydroquinolines have been synthesized from benzotriazole derivatives and unactivated alkenes in the presence of a Lewis acid. These reactions utilize readily available starting materials and mild reaction conditions, and give high yields. The reaction mechanisms are discussed.     

Chemical Transformations of Tetracyclo[3.3.1.1<Superscript>3,7</Superscript>.0<Superscript>1,3</Superscript>]decane (1,3-Dehydroadamantane): VI. Reactions of 1,3-Dehydroadamantane with Carboxylic Acid Chlorides

1,3-Dehydroadamantane reacted with saturated carboxylic acid chlorides to give the corresponding 1-acyl-3-chloroadmantanes as the major products. In some cases, minor products of insertion into the C^α–H bond of acyl chloride were formed. The reactions of 1,3-dehydroadamantane with aromatic (heteroaromatic) carboxylic acid chlorides selectively afforded aryl (hetaryl) 3-chloroadamantan-1-yl ketones. The described reactions provide a synthetic route to difficultly accessible alkyl (aryl) ketones containing a 3-chloroadamantan- 1-yl group in one step under mild conditions with high yields.     

Vicinal C-functionalization of alkenes. Pd/light-induced multicomponent coupling reactions leading to functionalized esters and lactones

Under photoirradiation conditions using a xenon light, and in the presence of PdCl(2)(PPh(3))(2) as a catalyst, four-component coupling reactions comprising of α-substituted iodoalkanes, alkenes, carbon monoxide, and alcohols proceeded smoothly to give functionalized esters in good yields. When alkenyl alcohols were used as acceptor alkenes, three-component coupling reactions accompanied by intramolecular esterification proceeded to give lactones in good yields. The present reaction system represents the vicinal C-functionalization of alkenes.     

Iridium-Catalyzed Remote Site-Switchable Hydroarylation of Alkenes Controlled by Ligands

An iridium-catalyzed remote site-switchable hydroarylation of alkenes was reported, delivering the products functionalized at the subterminal methylene and terminal methyl positions on an alkyl chain controlled by two different ligands, respectively, in good yields and with good to excellent site-selectivities. The catalytic system showed good functional group tolerance and a broad substrate scope, including unactivated and activated alkenes. More importantly, the regioconvergent transformations of mixtures of isomeric alkenes were also successfully realized. The results of the mechanistic studies demonstrate that the reaction undergoes a chain-walking process to give an [Ar−Ir−H] complex of terminal alkene. The subsequent processes proceed through the modified Chalk–Harrod-type mechanism via the migratory insertion of terminal alkene into the Ir−C bond followed by C−H reductive elimination to afford the hydrofunctionalization products site-selectively.     

Synthesis of α,α-difluoro-γ-butyrolactones via ethyl iododifluoroacetate

A novel synthesis of α,α-difluoro-γ-butyrolactones was realized by the alkaline hydrolysis of the adducts of ethyl iododifluoroacetate and alkenes. Ethyl iododifluoroacetate reacted with alkenes in the presence of sodium dithionite to give the addition products in 62-78% yields. The products were hydrolyzed in 10% aqueous sodium carbonate solution to give α,α-difluoro-γ-butyrolactones in 93-98% yields.     

Asymmetric lithiation-substitution sequences of substituted allylamines

[reaction: see text] (-)-Sparteine-mediated asymmetric lithiation-substitution sequences of 2- and 3-substituted N-(Boc)-N-(p-methoxyphenyl) allylic amines with electrophiles have been investigated. Asymmetric lithiation-substitutions of N-(Boc)-N-(p-methoxyphenyl) allylic amines 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 provide highly enantioenriched enecarbamates in good yields. Further transformations to give aldehydes, acids, ketones, and a Diels-Alder adduct are reported. The 1,4-addition products from reactions of the lithiated allylic amines from 14 and 15 with conjugated activated alkenes gives enecarbamates with two and three stereogenic centers in good yields with high diastereomeric and enantiomeric ratios. Synthetic transformation of these products by acid hydrolysis and subsequent cyclization provide stereoselective access to bicyclic compounds containing four and five stereogenic centers with high diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. It is suggested that allyllithium complexes generated by asymmetric deprotonation react with most electrophiles with inversion of configuration.     

Palladium-catalyzed tandem reaction of yne-propargylic carbonates with boronic acids: a simple method for the synthesis of fused aromatic rings through allene-mediated electrocyclization

The palladium-catalyzed tandem reactions of yne-propargylic carbonates with aryl boronic acids, 2-furyl boronic acid, and 2-thiopheneboronic acid, followed by 6pi-electrocyclization to give fused ring aromatic products such as naphthalene, benzofuran, and benzothiophene derivatives are realized. Screening of the reaction conditions revealed that the combination of [Pd(PPh3)4] in THF gave the best results in terms of reactivity and product yields in the reaction of yne-propargylic carbonates with phenylboronic acid. The reaction is sensitive toward steric hindrance when substituted phenylboronic acids are employed. However, when we take 2-furyl boronic acid as the organometallic reagent, most substrates perform very well to give benzofuran derivatives. In addition, 2-thiopheneboronic acid is also a very effective coupling reagent to give bezothiophenes in high yields. A mechanism is proposed that involves the formation of an allenylpalladium complex from Pd0 and propargylic carbonate, followed by insertion of an intramolecular triple bond and the Suzuki coupling reaction, and then electrocyclization.     

The rearrangement route to 2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes. Solvent and electrophile control of neighboring group participation

The reactions of N-(alkoxycarbonyl)-2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-enes 5 with halonium ion electrophiles were studied in polar and nonpolar aprotic solvents and also in protic media with the aim of controlling nitrogen neighboring group participation. Specifically, for bromonium ions nitrogen participation is facilitated by the polar aprotic solvent nitromethane and by the poorly nucleophilic protic solvent acetic acid. Alkene 5b and bromine/nitromethane afford only the rearranged anti,anti-5,6-dibromo-2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane 6b, and NBS/acetic acid gives an 8:1 mixture favoring rearranged 5-bromo-6-acetate 6f. Conversely, pyridinium bromide perbromide/CH(2)Cl(2) is selective for only unrearranged 5,6-dibromide 7. Iodonium and phenylselenonium ions react with alkenes 5 to give only unrearranged 1,2-addition products 9 and 10, regardless of solvent. Chloronium and fluoronium ions react with alkenes 5 to give 4-aminomethyl-3-hydroxycyclobutene 11, derived by ring cleavage.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck‐ versus Michael‐Type Addition of Organoboronic Acids to α,β‐Unsaturated Alkenes through Fine‐Tuning of Ligands

Various arylboronic acids reacted with activated alkenes in the presence of [Ni(dppe)Br₂], ZnCl₂, and H₂O in CH₃CN at 80 °C to give the corresponding Mizoroki–Heck‐type addition products in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, 1 equivalent of the hydrogenation product of the activated alkene was also produced. By tuning the ligands of the nickel complexes and the reaction conditions, Michael‐type addition was achieved in a very selective manner. Thus, various p‐ and o‐substituted arylboronic acids or alkenylboronic acid reacted smoothly with activated alkenes in CH₃CN at 80 °C for 12 h catalyzed by Ni(acac)₂, P(o‐anisyl)₃, and K₂CO₃ to give the corresponding Michael‐type addition products in excellent yields. However, for m‐substituted arylboronic acids, the yields of Michael‐type addition products are very low. The cause of this unusual meta‐substitution effect is not clear. By altering the solvent or phosphine ligand, the product yields for m‐substituted arylboronic acids were greatly improved. In contrast to previous results in the literature, the present catalytic reactions required water for Mizoroki–Heck‐type products and dry reaction conditions for Michael‐type addition products. Possible mechanistic pathways for both addition reactions are proposed.     

Dipolar cycloaddition of novel 6-(nitrileoxidomethyl) penam sulfone: an efficient route to a new class of beta-lactamase inhibitors

6-(Nitrileoxidomethyl) penam sulfone intermediate was prepared in a few steps starting from commercially available (+)-6-aminopenicillanic acid. This intermediate underwent smooth 1, 3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with various alkenes and alkynes to give cycloadducts in moderate to good yields. By this new method, several potent beta-lactamase inhibitors were synthesized. The regio- and stereoselectivity outcomes of the cycloaddition process are also discussed.     

An Improved Synthesis of Vinyl- and β-Iodovinyl Sulfones by a Molecular Iodine-Mediated One-Pot Iodosulfonation-Dehydroiodination Reaction

An improved one-pot method to synthesize vinyl sulfones from unsaturated systems by using molecular iodine/sodium arenesulfinate/sodium acetate as reagents was described. Vinyl sulfones derived from styrene derivatives were generally obtained in good to excellent yields except for those bearing strong electron releasing substituent. Aliphatic alkenes and activated alkenes gave the corresponding vinyl sulfone products in moderate to good yields. Arylacetylenes yielded the respective β-iodovinyl sulfones in good yields while low yield was observed with aliphatic terminal alkyne. The potentials of the method entail simplicity, short reaction time, non-anhydrous reaction conditions, employing inexpensive, non-metallic reagent and integrating two reactions that are commonly accomplished separately into a single operation.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® to view the free supplemental file.     

Progress toward artificial metalloenzymes: New ligands for transition metal ions and neutral molecules

New nickel catalysts have been developed for the oxidation of alkenes to epoxides, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones. Mechanistic studies indicate that the oxidation reactions are very sensitive to the nature of the catalyst; only certain ligands including salen and the macrocycles cyclam and dioxocyclam render Ni(II) effective as a catalyst. A Ni(III) or Ni(IV)-oxo species has been postulated as the catalytically active oxidant which leads to oxygen atom transfer to alkenes in a stepwise process. Both iodosylbenzene and hypochlorite have been used as terminal oxidants; both systems give high yields of epoxidation of alkenes and varying amounts of C=C bond cleavage products. In order to reach an ultimate goal of hydrocarbon oxidation within a molecular recognition system, new molecular receptors for organic substrates have been investigated. The receptors are constructed from two subunits of cholic acid and display amphophilic character — a hydrophobic exterior and a hydrophilic interior. Conformational properties in the presence of polar guests in CDCl₃ are described.     

[3+2] Dipolar cycloadditions of an unstabilised azomethine ylide under continuous flow conditions

The [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition reactions of the unstabilised azomethine ylide precursor benzyl(methoxymethyl)(trimethylsilylmethyl)amine with 12 electron-deficient alkenes in the presence of catalytic trifluoroacetic acid are examined under continuous flow conditions (20-100 °C, 10-60 min residence time). The more reactive and hazardous alkenes such as ethyl acrylate, N-methylmaleimide and (E)-2-nitrostyrene afford substituted N-benzylpyrrolidine products in 77-83% yields, whereas less reactive dipolarophiles such as (E)-crotononitrile and ethyl methacrylate give lower yields (59-63%). Under optimised conditions, the reaction with ethyl acrylate is scaled up to afford ethyl N-benzylpyrrolidine-3-carboxylate (30 g, 87%) in 1 h.     

Michael Addition Reaction of Thioacetic Acid (AcSH) to Conjugated Alkenes Under Solvent- and Catalyst-Free Conditions

A new and convenient procedure has been developed for the Michael addition reaction of thioacetic acid (AcSH) to a variety of conjugated alkenes under solvent- and catalyst-free conditions. These reactions proceeded in 5–60 min and produced the desired products in good to high yields.     

Gold(I)-catalyzed intermolecular hydroarylation of alkenes with indoles under thermal and microwave-assisted conditions

An efficient method for intermolecular hydroarylation of aryl and aliphatic alkenes with indoles using a combination of [(PR(3))AuCl]/AgOTf as catalyst under thermal and microwave-assisted conditions has been developed. The gold(I)-catalyzed reactions of indoles with aryl alkenes were achieved in toluene at 85 degrees C over a reaction time of 1-3 h with 2 mol% of [(PR(3))AuCl]/AgOTf as catalyst. This method works for a variety of styrenes bearing electron-deficient, electron-rich, and sterically bulky substituents to give the corresponding products in good to high yields (60-95%). Under microwave irradiation, coupling of unactivated aliphatic alkenes with indoles gave the corresponding adducts in up to 90% yield. Selective hydroarylation of terminal C=C bond of conjugated dienes with indoles gave good product yields (62-81%). On the basis of deuterium-labeling experiments, a reaction mechanism involving nucleophilic attack of Au(I)-coordinated alkenes by indoles is proposed.