Fluoro-ketones. I reactions of hydrocarbon grignards with perfluoroalkylacid fluorides

The reaction between Grignard reagents and perfluoroacid fluorides provides a convenient synthesis procedure for ketones R_fOR_fC(O)R′, where R_fOR_f is perfluoroalkylether group and R' is either an aromatic or aliphatic group. Reaction temperature is an important factor in producing higher yields of ketones. Meta and para-bromophenyl Grignard reagents, which thus far have not been prepared as pure mono Grignards, present secondary competing reactions which detract from their synthetic utility.     

In Situ Quench Reactions of Enantioenriched Secondary Alkyllithium Reagents in Batch and Continuous Flow Using an I/Li-Exchange

We report a practical in situ quench (ISQ) procedure involving the generation of chiral secondary alkyllithiums from secondary alkyl iodides (including functionalized iodides bearing an ester or a nitrile) in the presence of various electrophiles such as aldehydes, ketones, Weinreb amides, isocyanates, sulfides, or boronates. This ISQ-reaction allowed the preparation of a broad range of optically enriched ketones, alcohols, amides, sulfides and boronic acid esters in typically 90–98 % ee. Remarkably, these reactions were performed at −78 °C or −40 °C in batch. A continuous flow set-up permitted reaction temperatures between −20 °C and 0 °C and allowed a scale-up up to a 40-fold without further optimization.     

Fluoro-ketones IV. Synthesis of phenylperfluoroalkyl ketones - mechanism of reaction between phenyllithium and fluoroesters

Although fluorine containing ketones (R_fC(O)R_f and R_fC(O)R, R_f = perfluoroalkyl) have been prepared from the reaction between organolithium reagents and perfluoroalkyl esters, the reaction has not found general applicability. Variable yields of ketones and co-production of secondary and tertiary alcohol by-products have in most instances been experienced. We have examined in more detail the factors e.g., temperature, mode of addition and perfluoroalkyl ester structure which influence ketone product and by-products formation. By controlling experimental conditions excellent yields of C₆H₅C(O)R_f compounds can be attained. A lithium salt of a hemiketal (II) has been isolated and shown to be the active intermediate in the production of the ketone. The stability of the salt and its potential reaction with the solvent dictates the type of reaction products. Low temperature favors stability of the lithium salt of the hemiketal whereby high yields of ketones are produced on hydrolysis.     

Experimental investigation of secondary reactions of intermediates in delayed coking

We report an experimental investigation of secondary reactions of intermediates in delayed coking. Thermal cracking reactions of intermediates, for example coker naphtha (C₅ ~180?°C), light coker gas oil (LCGO, 180?C350?°C), middle coker gas oil (MCGO, 350?C440?°C), and heavy coker gas oil (HCGO, >440?°C), were investigated. The results reveal that cracking of coker naphtha and LCGO is low under these experimental conditions. Thermal cracking MCGO exceeds that of LCGO. Among all the intermediates, thermal cracking is greatest for HCGO. The secondary reactions of HCGO produce not only gas and liquid products, but also coke. This increase in the yields of gas and coke is attributed to secondary reactions of HCGO and MCGO. Inhibition of the secondary reactions of intermediates results in a greater yield of liquid.     

Iridium(I)‐catalyzed C−H Borylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Esters with Bis(pinacolato)diboron

A new process has been developed for the iridium(I)‐catalyzed vinylic C?H borylation of α,β‐unsaturated esters with bis(pinacolato)diboron (B₂pin₂). These reactions proceeded in octane at temperatures in the range of 80–120 °C to afford the corresponding alkenylboronic compounds in high yields with excellent regio‐ and stereoselectivities. The presence of an aryl ester led to significant improvements in the yields of the acyclic alkenylboronates. Crossover experiments involving deuterated substrates as well as a mixture of stereoisomers confirmed that this reaction proceeds via a 1,4‐addition/β‐hydride elimination mechanism. Notably, this reaction was also used to develop a one‐pot borylation/Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling procedure.     

Propargylic CH activation using a Cu(II) 2-quinoxalinol salen catalyst and tert-butyl hydroperoxide

The oxidation of alkynes to α,β-acetylenic carbonyls was achieved using only 1?mol% of a Cu(II) 2-quinoxalinol salen catalyst with tert-butyl hydroperoxide. These reactions proceed under mild conditions (70?°C) with excellent selectivity, producing yields up to 78%, and were used on a variety of alkyne substrates to produce the desired corresponding α,β-acetylenic ketones. In addition, these reactions can be run under aqueous conditions using a sulfonated version of the 2-quinoxalinol salen with good yields, reducing the need for volatile organic solvents.     

Fluoro-ketones. II Reactions of fluorocarbon grignards and copper compounds with perfluoroalkylacid fluorides

The reactions between C₆F₅MgBr (I), p-BrC₆F₄MgBr (X), C₆F₅Cu (XXI), p-HC₆F₄Cu (XXII) and p-BrC₆F₄Cu (XV) with primary and secondary perfluoroalkylether acid fluorides were studied. The Grignard compounds react very slowly with the secondary acid halides (R_fCF(CF₃C(O)F) whereby competing reactions cause undesirable by-products and reduction of ketone yields. Primary acid halides (R_fCF₂C(O)F) react much faster with C₆F₅MgBr to give the ketone in improved yields. The organocopper compound react with either primary or secondary acid halides to give the ketone in excellent yields with no by-product formation from competing secondary reactions. Solvent, type of organometallic reagent and primary versus secondary acid fluoride are variables that influence product yield and product distribution.     

Ketones from Nickel‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative,Non‐Symmetric Cross‐Electrophile Coupling of Carboxylic Acid Esters

Synthesis of the C?C bonds of ketones relies upon one high‐availability reagent (carboxylic acids) and one low‐availability reagent (organometallic reagents or alkyl iodides). We demonstrate here a ketone synthesis that couples two different carboxylic acid esters, N‐hydroxyphthalimide esters and S‐2‐pyridyl thioesters, to form aryl alkyl and dialkyl ketones in high yields. The keys to this approach are the use of a nickel catalyst with an electron‐poor bipyridine or terpyridine ligand, a THF/DMA mixed solvent system, and ZnCl₂ to enhance the reactivity of the NHP ester. The resulting reaction can be used to form ketones that have previously been difficult to access, such as hindered tertiary/tertiary ketones with strained rings and ketones with α‐heteroatoms. The conditions can be employed in the coupling of complex fragments, including a 20‐mer peptide fragment analog of Exendin(9–39) on solid support.     

Ketones from Nickel‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative,Non‐Symmetric Cross‐Electrophile Coupling of Carboxylic Acid Esters

Synthesis of the C?C bonds of ketones relies upon one high‐availability reagent (carboxylic acids) and one low‐availability reagent (organometallic reagents or alkyl iodides). We demonstrate here a ketone synthesis that couples two different carboxylic acid esters, N‐hydroxyphthalimide esters and S‐2‐pyridyl thioesters, to form aryl alkyl and dialkyl ketones in high yields. The keys to this approach are the use of a nickel catalyst with an electron‐poor bipyridine or terpyridine ligand, a THF/DMA mixed solvent system, and ZnCl₂ to enhance the reactivity of the NHP ester. The resulting reaction can be used to form ketones that have previously been difficult to access, such as hindered tertiary/tertiary ketones with strained rings and ketones with α‐heteroatoms. The conditions can be employed in the coupling of complex fragments, including a 20‐mer peptide fragment analog of Exendin(9–39) on solid support.     

Pentafluoroethyllithium. Generation and use in synthesis

Pentafluoroethyl iodide undergoes a rapid exchange reaction with methyllithium at ?78°C in the presence of ketones to produce pentafluoroethyl-substituted tertiary carbinols in high yield.     

Reductions of Carboxylic Acids and Esters with NaBH4 in Diglyme at 162°C

Abstract

Aromatic esters, including the extremely sterically hindered ester: t-amyl 2-chlorobenzoate, are readily reduced to the corresponding benzyl alcohols in high yield with NaBH₄ in refluxing diglyme (162°C). In sharp contrast, aliphatic esters usually gave only low yields of alcohols. Instead, diglyme fragmentation products are formed which undergo transesterification reactions, producing complex product mixtures including products such as RCOOCH₂CH₂OCH₃. The mechanism of this process involves sodium borohydride-induced S_N2 cleavage of diglyme (hydride attack) at high temperatures. However, when the extremely electron rich, 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid is treated with NaBH₄/diglyme at 162°C (with or without an equivalent of LiCl), no 3,4,5-trimethyoxybenzyl alcohol is formed. The electron rich and hindered ester, t-amyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate, also does not reduce under these conditions (with or without LiCl). However, both methyl and isopropyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate esters were converted into 3,4,5-trimethyoxybenzyl alcohol in good yields in NaBH₄/diglyme/LiCl at 162°C. These reductions did not occur unless LiCl was present, illustrating the electron releasing effect of the three methoxy functions which reduce the carbonyl group's reactivity.     

Chemoselectivity Control in the Asymmetric Hydrogenation of γ‐ and δ‐Keto Esters into Hydroxy Esters or Diols

The asymmetric hydrogenation of aromatic γ‐ and δ‐keto esters into optically active hydroxy esters or diols under the catalysis of a novel DIPSkewphos/3‐AMIQ–Ru^II complex was studied. Under the optimized conditions (8 atm H₂ , Ru complex/t‐C₄H₉OK=1:3.5, 25 °C) the γ‐ and δ‐hydroxy esters (including γ‐lactones) were obtained quantitatively with 97–99 % ee. When the reaction was conducted under somewhat harsh conditions (20 atm H₂ , [t‐C₄H₉OK]=50 mm , 40 °C), the 1,4‐ and 1,5‐diols were obtained predominantly with 95–99 % ee. The reactivity of the ester group was notably dependent on the length of the carbon spacer between the two carbonyl moieties of the substrate. The reaction of β‐ and ?‐keto esters selectively afforded the hydroxy esters regardless of the reaction conditions. This catalyst system was applied to the enantioselective and regioselective (for one of the two ester groups) hydrogenation of a γ‐?‐diketo diester into a trihydroxy ester.     

Synthesis and characterization of thermoplastic polyesters and polyamides from sebacyl bisketene

Sebacyl bisketene was generated in solution at ?78°C. Copolymerization in solution at 0°C with the secondary diamines, piperazine and N,N′dimethyl-1,6-hexamethylenediamine, yielded the polyamides poly(1,4-piperazylsebacyl) and poly[(methylimino)hexamethylene(methylimino)sebacyl], respectively. The polyamides were obtained in yields of 50–90%. The former had a glass transition temperature (T_g) at 30°C and a melting temperature at 165°C, whereas the latter had only a T_g at ?15°C. The polymers were insoluble in the usual polyamide solvents. Copolymerization with the diol bisphenol A yielded poly(oxy-1,4-phenyleneisopropylidene-1,4-phenyleneoxysebacyl). The polyester was obtained in yields up to 99%. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) determinations showed molecular weights up to 50,000 when acetone was the reaction solvent but only 12,000 when tetrahydrofuran (THF) was the reaction solvent; the T_g for the polyester varied with the molecular weight with a maximum at 15°C. Tensile properties were obtained for the polyesters with molecular weights greater than 35,000.     

Cyanation of Aryl Bromides with K4[Fe(CN)6] Catalyzed by Dichloro[bis{1‐(dicyclohexylphosphanyl)piperidine}]palladium,a Molecular Source of Nanoparticles,and the Reactions Involved in the Catalyst‐Deactivation Processes

Dichloro[bis{1‐(dicyclohexylphosphanyl)piperidine}]palladium [(P{(NC₅H₁₀)(C₆H₁₁)₂})₂PdCl₂] ( 1 ) is a highly active and generally applicable C? C cross‐coupling catalyst. Apart from its high catalytic activity in Suzuki, Heck, and Negishi reactions, compound 1 also efficiently converted various electronically activated, nonactivated, and deactivated aryl bromides, which may contain fluoride atoms, trifluoromethane groups, nitriles, acetals, ketones, aldehydes, ethers, esters, amides, as well as heterocyclic aryl bromides, such as pyridines and their derivatives, or thiophenes into their respective aromatic nitriles with K₄[Fe(CN)₆] as a cyanating agent within 24 h in NMP at 140 °C in the presence of only 0.05 mol % catalyst. Catalyst‐deactivation processes showed that excess cyanide efficiently affected the molecular mechanisms as well as inhibited the catalysis when nanoparticles were involved, owing to the formation of inactive cyanide complexes, such as [Pd(CN)₄]^2?, [(CN)₃Pd(H)]^2?, and [(CN)₃Pd(Ar)]^2?. Thus, the choice of cyanating agent is crucial for the success of the reaction because there is a sharp balance between the rate of cyanide production, efficient product formation, and catalyst poisoning. For example, whereas no product formation was obtained when cyanation reactions were examined with Zn(CN)₂ as the cyanating agent, aromatic nitriles were smoothly formed when hexacyanoferrate(II) was used instead. The reason for this striking difference in reactivity was due to the higher stability of hexacyanoferrate(II), which led to a lower rate of cyanide production, and hence, prevented catalyst‐deactivation processes. This pathway was confirmed by the colorimetric detection of cyanides: whereas the conversion of β‐solvato‐α‐cyanocobyrinic acid heptamethyl ester into dicyanocobyrinic acid heptamethyl ester indicated that the cyanide production of Zn(CN)₂ proceeded at 25 °C in NMP, reaction temperatures of >100 °C were required for cyanide production with K₄[Fe(CN)₆]. Mechanistic investigations demonstrate that palladium nanoparticles were the catalytically active form of compound 1 .     

ALIPHATIC THIOETHERS BY S-ALKYLATION OF THIOLS VIA TRIALKYL BORATES

A simple and convenient one-pot procedure is described for the synthesis of thioethers via boron esters. This procedure involves in-situ generation of alkyl sulfates by reaction of trialkyl borates with concentrated sulfuric acid and subsequent reaction with thiols in the presence of pyridine. The reactions with boron esters of primary or secondary alcohols proceed cleanly at 100°C and afford aliphatic thioethers in reasonable yields (59–93%) within 24 h. Interestingly, the ¹H NMR spectra of the products showed no sign of positional isomerisms. The method fails however with thiophenol and does not yield aromatic thioethers, due to electrophilic substitution at the phenyl ring.     

Intramolecular Oxygen Transfer on the Ozonolysis of a Diphenylcyclopentene Derivative

The ozonolysis of cis-3,4a,7,7a-tetrahydro-3,3-dimethyl-6,7a-diphenylcyclopenta[1,2,4]trioxine ( 1 ) in CH₂Cl₂ at ?78° gave the secondary endo ozonide 2 (43% yield) and an acetal 3 (27% yield) derived from O-insertion at the ortho position of the C(7a) phenyl substituent. Both structures were elucidated by X-ray. Repetition of the ozonolysis in MeOH/CH₂Cl₂20:3 at ?78° also gave the same two products in 12 and 15% yields, repectively, together with the hemiperacetal 4 (54% yield) formally derived from the secondary ozonide by addition of MeOH.     

Co-oligomerization of ethylene and higher linear alpha olefins. I. Co-oligomerization with the sulfonated nickel ylide-based catalytic system

Co-oligomers of ethylene and a series of linear α-olefins (propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, and 1-decene) were synthesized with a homogeneous catalyst consisting of sulfonated nickel ylide and diethylaluminum ethoxide at 90°C. GC analysis of the co-oligomerization products allowed complete structural identification of all reaction products, α-olefins with linear and branched chains, vinylidene olefins, and linear olefins with internal double bonds. The article describes the reaction scheme of ethylene–olefin co-oligomerization. The scheme includes chain initiation reactions (insertion of ethylene or an olefin into the Ni? H bond), chain propagation reactions, and chain termination reactions via β-hydride elimination. Primary and secondary inertions of α-olefins into the Ni? H bond in the initiation stage proceed with nearly equal probabilities. Higher olefins participate in the chain growth reactions (insertion into the Ni? C bond) also both in primary and secondary insertion modes. The primary insertion of an α-olefin molecule into the Ni? C bond produces the β-branched Ni? CH₂? CR₁R₂ group. This group is susceptible to β-hydride elimination with the formation of vinylidene olefins. However, the Ni? CH₂? CR₁R₂ groups can participate in further ethylene insertion reactions and thus form vinyl oligomerization products with branched alkyl groups. On the other hand, the secondary insertion of an α-olefin molecule into the Ni? C bond produces the α-branched Ni? CR₁R₂ bond which does not participate in further chain growth reactions and undergoes the β-hydride elimination reaction with the formation of linear reaction products with internal double bonds. Most co-oligomer molecules contain only one α-olefin fragment. However, the analysis of ethylene-propylene and ethylene-1-heptene co-oligomers allowed identification of products with two olefinic fragments which are also formed in the copolymerization reactions with small yields.     

Palladium-catalysed oxidation of alcohols with carbon tetrachloride,formation of 4,4,4-trichloro ketones from allylic alcohols and carbon tetrachlorid

Pd salts catalyse oxidation of alcohols with CCl₄ in the presence of K₂CO₃. Primary alcohols are oxidised to esters, and secondary alcohols to ketones. CCl₄ is converted to CHCl₃. The reaction of allylic alcohols bearing a terminal olefinic bond with CCl₄ or BrCCl₃ in the presence of palladium catalyst at 110° affords 4,4,4-trichloro ketones. At 40°, simple adducts of CCl₄ or BrCCl₃ having a halohydrin structure are obtained, which are converted to the corresponding trichloro ketones by the catalysis of palladium. Various halohydrins are converted to ketones by Pd catalysis.     

Oxidative desulfonylation. Phenyl vinyl sulfone as a ketene synthetic equivalent

α-Sulfonyl carbanions undergo oxidative desulfonylation to form ketones upon treatment with molybdenum peroxide MoO₅·Py·HMPA (MoOPH) in THF at ?78°C.     

Preparation of Functionalized Aryl,Heteroaryl, and Benzylic Potassium Organometallics Using Potassium Diisopropylamide in Continuous Flow

We report the preparation of lithium‐salt‐free KDA (potassium diisopropylamide; 0.6 m in hexane) complexed with TMEDA (N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine) and its use for the flow‐metalation of (hetero)arenes between ?78 °C and 25 °C with reaction times between 0.2 s and 24 s and a combined flow rate of 10 mL min^?1 using a commercial flow setup. The resulting potassium organometallics react instantaneously with various electrophiles, such as ketones, aldehydes, alkyl and allylic halides, disulfides, Weinreb amides, and Me₃SiCl, affording functionalized (hetero)arenes in high yields. This flow procedure is successfully extended to the lateral metalation of methyl‐substituted arenes and heteroaromatics, resulting in the formation of various benzylic potassium organometallics. A metalation scale‐up was possible without further optimization.