Biocatalytic Synthesis of Allylic and Allenyl Sulfides through a Myoglobin‐Catalyzed Doyle–Kirmse Reaction

The first example of a biocatalytic [2,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement reaction involving allylic sulfides and diazo reagents (Doyle–Kirmse reaction) is reported. Engineered variants of sperm whale myoglobin catalyze this synthetically valuable C?C bond‐forming transformation with high efficiency and product conversions across a variety of sulfide substrates (e.g., aryl‐, benzyl‐, and alkyl‐substituted allylic sulfides) and α‐diazo esters. Moreover, the scope of this myoglobin‐mediated transformation could be extended to the conversion of propargylic sulfides to give substituted allenes. Active‐site mutations proved effective in enhancing the catalytic efficiency of the hemoprotein in these reactions as well as modulating the enantioselectivity, resulting in the identification of the myoglobin variant Mb(L29S,H64V,V68F), which is capable of mediating asymmetric Doyle–Kirmse reactions with an enantiomeric excess up to 71 %. This work extends the toolbox of currently available biocatalytic strategies for the asymmetric formation of carbon–carbon bonds.     

Highly chemoselective synthesis of aryl allylic sulfoxides through calcium hypobromite oxidation of aryl allylic sulfides

A highly chemoselective oxidation of widely substituted aryl allylic sulfides, prepared by allylation of arylthioethers with KF-Celite, to the corresponding aryl allylic sulfoxide was achieved by employing calcium hypobromite. Neither over-oxidation to sulfones nor halogenation of the aromatic rings was observed. The protocol may be successfully applied for the oxidation of substituted allylic systems (i.e., 2-haloallyl) that per se could interact with the oxidizing agent.     

Investigation of steric and electronic effects in the copper-catalysed asymmetric oxidation of sulfides

Steric and electronic effects in the copper-catalysed asymmetric oxidation of aryl benzyl, aryl alkyl and alkyl benzyl sulfides have been investigated. The presence of an aryl group directly attached to the sulfur is essential to afford sulfoxides with high enantioselectivities, with up to 97% ee for 2-naphthyl benzyl sulfoxide, the highest enantioselectivity achieved to date for copper-catalysed asymmetric sulfoxidation. In contrast, the benzyl substituent can be replaced by sterically comparable groups with no effect on enantioselectivity. Copper-mediated oxidation of substituted aryl benzyl sulfides display modest steric and electronic effects resulting in comparable or lower enantioselectivities to those obtained with the unsubstituted benzyl phenyl sulfide.     

Titanium–salan‐catalyzed asymmetric sulfoxidations with H2O2: design of more versatile catalysts

Titanium–salan complexes with 3,3’‐diphenyl substituents in the salicylidene rings of the salan ligand are efficient sulfoxidation catalysts, capable of catalyzing the asymmetric oxidation of bulky aryl benzyl sulfides with H₂O₂ with good to high enantioselectivities. In this paper, substituent effects on titanium‐salan‐catalyzed enantioselective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides have been systematically investigated. Titanium–salan catalysts with halogen substituents at the 5,5’‐positions (3,3’‐H₂dihydrogen substituted) have been found to catalyze the oxidation of both bulky aryl benzyl sulfides and small alkyl phenyl sulfides with good to high enantioselectivities. Kinetic data witness a direct attack of the sulfide to the electrophilic active oxygen species; a consistent reaction mechanism is proposed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The preparation of aryl 1-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-phenyl-4-trifluoromethyl-5-imidazolyl sulfides and sulfones

A series of aryl 1-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-phenyl-4-trifluoromethyl-5-imidazolyl sulfides was prepared by displacement of fluoride from the 5-position of 1-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-phenyl-4-trifluoromethyl-5-fluoroimidazole by substituted thiophenols and by benzyl mercaptan. This displacement reaction occurs much more slowly than the corresponding previously described reactions of 4-trifluoromethyl-5-fluorothiazoles and -oxazoles. Several solvent-base pairs were examined; the reaction was found to work best when dimethyl sulfoxide was used as the solvent and diazabicycloundecene as the base. The sulfides were oxidized to sulfones by treatment with hydrogen peroxide in acetic acid.     

Dechalcogenative allylic selenosulfide and disulfide rearrangements: complementary methods for the formation of allylic sulfides in the absence of electrophiles. Scope, limitations, and application to the functionalization of unprotected peptides in aqueous media

Primary allylic selenosulfates (seleno Bunte salts) and selenocyanates transfer the allylic selenide moiety to thiols giving primary allylic selenosulfides, which undergo rearrangement in the presence of PPh3 with the loss of selenium to give allylically rearranged allyl alkyl sulfides. This rearrangement may be conducted with prenyl-type selenosulfides to give isoprenyl alkyl sulfides. Alkyl secondary and tertiary allylic disulfides, formed by sulfide transfer from allylic heteroaryl disulfides to thiols, undergo desulfurative allylic rearrangement on treatment with PPh3 in methanolic acetonitrile at room temperature. With nerolidyl alkyl disulfides this rearrangement provides an electrophile-free method for the introduction of the farnesyl chain onto thiols. Both rearrangements are compatible with the full range of functionality found in the proteinogenic amino acids, and it is demonstrated that the desulfurative rearrangement functions in aqueous media, enabling the derivatization of unprotected peptides. It is also demonstrated that the allylic disulfide rearrangement can be induced in the absence of phosphine at room temperature by treatment with piperidine, or simply by refluxing in methanol. Under these latter conditions the reaction is also applicable to allyl aryl disulfides, providing allylically rearranged allyl aryl sulfides in good yields.     

Copper-mediated cross-coupling of aryl boronic acids and alkyl thiols

[reaction: see text] The cross-coupling of aryl boronic acids and alkanethiols mediated by copper(II) acetate and pyridine in anhydrous dimethylformamide affords aryl alkyl sulfides in good yield with a wide variety of substituted aryl boronic acids. The method is applicable to the synthesis of aryl sulfides of cysteine.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Amination of Aryl Sulfides with Anilines

A combination of a palladium–NHC catalyst and potassium hexamethyldisilazide enables the amination of aryl sulfides with anilines to afford a wide variety of diarylamines. The reaction conditions are versatile enough for the reaction of even bulky ortho‐substituted aryl sulfides. This amination can be applied to the modular synthesis of N‐aryl carbazoles from the corresponding ortho‐bromothioanisoles. As aryl sulfoxides undergo extended Pummerer reactions to afford ortho‐substituted aryl sulfides, the Pummerer products are thus useful substrates for the amination to culminate in efficient syntheses of a 2‐anilinobenzothiophene and an indole as proof‐of‐principle of the utility of the extended Pummerer reaction/amination cascade.     

Palladium-catalyzed regio- and enantio-selective allylic substitution reaction of monosubstituted allyl substrates with benzyl alcohols

Regio- and enantio-selectivities in Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution reaction of monosubstituted allylic substrates with substituted benzyl alcohols were realized, affording the corresponding products in high regioselectivity (up to 93/7) and enantioselectivity (up to 96%).     

MOLECULAR REARRANGEMENTS. VI. THERMOLYSIS OF α-(N-ARYL)BENZYL ARYL SULFIDES

Abstract

In view of the significance of studying the effect of heat on organic compounds especially those containing nitrogen and/or sulfur, six substituted α-(N-aryl) benzyl aryl sulfides (4–9) were prepared and subjected to thermolysis at 200°C.

Surveying of the reaction products showed the formation of amines, benzylidene amines, sulfides, disulfides, dibenzyl, stilbene, benzthiazole, benzimidazole, tetraphenyl thiophene as principle products in variable ratios according to the type of the starting sulfide.

A mechanism involving the homolytic cleavage of the C[sbnd]S and the C[sbnd]N bond is suggested to rationalize the thermolysis products.     

MODERN FRIEDEL–CRAFTS CHEMISTRY. XIV. ON THE CYCLIZATION OF SELECTED ARYL HYDROXYALKYL SULFIDES

Abstract

The feasibility of cycloalkylation reactions in the presence of Friedel–Crafts catalysts was demonstrated in a number of aryl hydroxyalkyl sulfides (1–5), and benzyl hydroxyalkyl sulfides (6–7). Treatment of compounds (1–7) with Friedel-Crafts catalysts gave diaryl disulfides, diaryl sulfides, arene thiols, chlorohydrins, aryl chloroalkyl sulfides, aryl alkenyl sulfides and cyclization products. It is noteworthy to mention that cyclization products were isolated only in cases where the hydroxyl group is linked to a tertiary carbon atom as in compounds 3 and 7.

A suitable reaction pathway is suggested to rationalize the formation of the various reaction products.     

Pd(0)‐Catalyzed Tandem One‐Pot Reaction of Biphenyl Ketones/Aldehydes to the Corresponding Di‐substituted Aryl Olefins

Synthesis of di‐substituted aryl olefins via a Pd(0)‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction of biphenyl ketones/aldehydes, tosylhydrazide, and aryl bromides (or benzyl halides) was developed. This methodology was achieved by one‐pot two‐step reactions involving the preparation of N ‐tosylhydrazones by reacting tosylhydrazide with biphenyl ketones/aldehydes, followed by coupling with aryl bromides (or benzyl halides) in the presence of Pd(PPh₃ )₄ and lithium t ‐butoxide to produce various di‐substituted aryl olefins in moderate to good yields.     

Novel and Efficient Oxidation of Benzyl Ethers to Benzaldehydes by DMSO/49% Aq. HBr

Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) oxidizes benzyl ethers into corresponding benzaldehydes at 110°C; the reaction is accelerated by 49% aq. HBr. The conditions work well for different aryl‐substituted benzyl ethers. This protocol is inert toward dialkyl ethers.     

Synthetic scope, computational chemistry and mechanism of a base induced 5-endo cyclization of benzyl alkynyl sulfides

We present an experimental and computational study of the reaction of aryl substituted benzyl 1-alkynyl sulfides with potassium alkoxide in acetonitrile, which produces 2-aryl 2,3-dihydrothiophenes in poor to good yields. The cyclization is most efficient with electron withdrawing groups on the aromatic ring. Evidence indicates there is rapid exchange of protons and tautomerism of the alkynyl unit prior to cyclization. Theoretical calculations were also conducted to help rationalize the base induced 5-endo cyclization of benzyl 1-propynyl sulfide (1a). The potential energy surface was calculated for the formation of 2,3-dihydrothiophene in a reaction of benzyl 1-propynyl sulfide (1a) with potassium methoxide. Geometries were optimized with CAM-B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) in acetonitrile with the CPCM solvent model. It is significant that the benzyl propa-1,2-dien-1-yl sulfane (6) possessed a lower benzylic proton affinity than the benzyl prop-2-yn-1-yl sulfane (8) thus favoring the base induced reaction of the former. From benzyl(propa-1,2-dien-1-yl sulfane (6), 2,3-dihydrothiophene can be formed via a conjugate base that undergoes 5-endo-trig cyclization followed by a protonation step.     

C−C Coupling of Benzyl Fluorides Catalyzed by an Electrophilic Phosphonium Cation

The activation and cleavage of benzyl fluorides by the electrophilic organofluorophosphonium catalyst, [(C₆F₅)₃PF][B(C₆F₅)₄], is reported and used for the preparation of 1,1‐diarylalkanes (37 examples) and substituted aryl homoallylic alkenes (14 examples). This procedure involves mild conditions, avoids harmful waste, and is compatible with a range of substituted arenes and allylic silanes.     

Microwave‐Assisted Cross‐Coupling for the Construction of Diaryl Sulfides

The construction of diaryl sulfides through the cross‐coupling of aryl iodides and thiols in microwave heating is described. By using this method, a variety of diaryl sulfides can be prepared in a mild condition and in high yields. Deactivated 4‐nitrothiophenol was effective to afford the product in 94% yield. Sterically hindered ortho‐substituted aryl iodides or thiophenols provided diaryl sulfides effectively by this microwave‐assisted coupling reaction.     

Total Synthesis of the Biologically Active,Naturally Occurring 3,4‐Dibromo‐5‐[2‐bromo‐3,4‐dihydroxy‐6‐(methoxymethyl)benzyl]benzene‐1,2‐diol and Regioselective O‐Demethylation of Aryl Methyl Ethers

3,4‐Dibromo‐5‐[2‐bromo‐3,4‐dihydroxy‐6‐(methoxymethyl)benzyl]benzene‐1,2‐diol ( 2 ), a natural product, has been synthesized for the first time starting from (3‐bromo‐4,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)methanol ( 5 ) in five steps and with an overall yield of 34%. The reaction of some methoxymethyl‐substituted aryl methyl ethers with BBr₃, followed by the addition of MeOH, afforded the corresponding methoxymethyl‐substituted arylphenols in high yields.     

Copper oxide nanoparticles catalyzed synthesis of aryl sulfides via cascade reaction of aryl halides with thiourea

Recyclable copper oxide nanoparticles catalyzed simple and highly efficient protocol for the synthesis of symmetrical aryl sulfides was developed by the cross-coupling of aromatic halides with inexpensive and commercially available thiourea which was used as an effective sulfur surrogate. The present cross-coupling protocol of thiourea, via cascade reaction with various substituted aryl halides, producing desired aryl sulfides, has an added advantage of avoiding foul-smelling thiols.     

Basic Alumina‐Supported Synthesis of Aryl‐Heteroarylmethanes via Palladium Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling under Microwave Irradiation

A basic alumina‐supported microwave assisted simple methodology has been developed for the synthesis of aryl‐heteroaryl methanes (benzylated quinolones) via transition metal catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction of halo substituted polynuclear oxa‐aza quinolones with benzyl indium, an organometallic reagent easily derived from commercially available benzyl bromide.     

A new catalytic method for the synthesis of selectively substituted biphenyls containing an oxoalkyl chain

A novel reaction sequence leading to the synthesis of substituted biphenyls containing a carbonyl group in an aliphatic chain has been achieved in one-pot reaction starting from iodoarenes and allylic alcohols under the catalytic action of palladium and norbornene. The latter is temporarily incorporated into a palladacycle, which directs the reaction towards the selective formation of an arylaryl bond. Norbornene spontaneously deinserts to allow the biphenylylpalladium bond thus formed to react in its turn with the allylic alcohol.