Iron-catalyzed ketonization of 2-aryl-1,1-dibromoalkenes with KOAc:Synthesis of α-acetoxy aryl ketones via a Michael-like addition process

A novel and convenient iron-catalyzed ketonization of 2-aryl-1,1-dibromoalkenes with KOAc has been achieved.A series ofα-acetoxy aryl ketones were prepared with moderate yields via 2-carbon position functionalization of 2-aryl-1,1-dibromoalkenes.     

Synthesis of α-amino ketones

Summary A new method is described for synthesizing aromatic -amino ketones with the general formula , which is based on the condensation of azlactones with benzene in the presence of aluminum chloride.     

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of α,β-unsaturated α′-acetoxy ketones

The lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolutions of the α,β-unsaturated α′-acetoxy ketones 3a,b have been investigated. Of the lipases examined, CAL-B from Candida antarctica (fraction B) has been shown to be an efficient biocatalyst, which may be used effectively in preparative scale reactions.     

Synthesis of cyclic α-amino ketones

Summary A simple method is described for synthesizing cyclic -amino ketones by intramolecular cyclization of azlactones under the action of aluminum chloride.     

A direct synthesis of α-(hydroxymethyl) and α-alkyl-vinyl alkyl ketones

Reaction of 2,4-diketoesters 3a-c with aqueous formaldehyde using potassium carbonate solution as base affords the corresponding α-methylene-β-hydroxyalkanones 4a-c which provide a route to α,β-unsaturated alkyl ketones 6a-e via coupling of α-acetoxymethyl alkyl vinyl ketone 5a with Grignard reagents in the presence of a catalytic amount of LiCuBr₂ at low temperature.     

Lead(IV) acetate mediated cleavage of β-hydroxy ethers: enantioselective synthesis of α-acetoxy carbonyl compounds

α-Acetoxy aldehydes or α-acetoxy ketones can be efficiently synthesized by treating 2,3-epoxy primary alcohols with lead tetraacetate. The reaction, which proceeds with complete regio- and stereoselectivity facilitates the enantioselective synthesis of α-acetoxy carbonyl compounds from allyl alcohols, via Sharpless epoxidation. Cyclic β-hydroxy ethers, with an oxygenated five-, six- or seven-membered ring, are transformed into α-acetoxy ethers.     

Synthesis of fluorinated α-amino ketones part I: α-benzamidoalkyl mono- di- and trifluoromethyl ketones

2-Phenyl-5(4H)-oxazolones, obtained from α-amino acids, are reacted with di- and trifluoro acetic anhydride by a modified Dakin-West procedure to yield in a one-pot reaction α-benzamidoalkyl-di- and trifluoromethyl ketones in good yields. The monofluoromethyl analogues were also prepared from α-amino acids, however the use of the highly toxic fluoroacetic anhydride was avoided. The key step is the halogen exchange reaction on the corresponding bromomethyl ketone.     

1,2-Dibromoethane and KI mediated α-acyloxylation of ketones with carboxylic acids

The 1,2-dibromoethane-and Kl-mediatedα-acyloxylation of ketones is reported in moderate to good yield without the use of transition metals and strong oxidants.Various acids are well tolerated with wide functional group compatibility.An 1,2-dibromoethane-and Kl-catalysed reaction mechanism is proposed based on the results of control experiments.     

An efficient one-step chemoselective reduction of alkyl ketones over aryl ketones in β-diketones using LiHMDS and lithium aluminium hydride

β-Hydroxy ketones were synthesized in one-pot from β-diketones by reducing alkyl ketones chemoselectively by keeping aryl ketone intact. Initially, β-diketones were enolized using LiHMDS and later alkyl ketone was chemoselectively reduced efficiently by lithium aluminium hydride. This method produces β- hydroxyl ketones from the corresponding β-diketones in high yield.     

Synthesis of polysubstituted 5-aminopyrimidines from α-azidovinyl ketones and amidines

A simple and direct synthesis of polysubstituted 5-aminopyrimidines from α-azidovinyl ketones and amidines in the present of base was developed. The reactions were performed under mild conditions in good to excellent yields. Additionally a possible mechanism of 1,4-Michael addition is proposed.     

Synthesis of arylglycine and mandelic acid derivatives through carboxylations of α-amido and α-acetoxy stannanes with carbon dioxide

Incorporation reactions of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) with N-Boc-α-amido and α-acetoxy stannanes were developed using CsF as a mild tin activator. Monoprotected α-amido stannanes could be used, and the corresponding arylglycine derivatives were obtained in moderate-to-high yields under 1 MPa (10 atm) of CO(2) pressure. α-Acetoxy stannanes also underwent carboxylation to afford mandelic acid derivatives in excellent yields under ambient CO(2) pressure. Both transformations enabled the synthesis of α-tertiary and α-quaternary carboxylic acid derivatives. In addition, the chirality of (S)-N-tert-butylsulfonyl-α-amido stannanes was transferred with up to 90% inversion of configuration at 100 °C.     

Synthesis of α,α-diarylacetamides from benzyl aryl ketones using 2-azido-1,3-dimethylimidazolinium hexafluorophosphate

Benzyl aryl ketones reacted with 2-azido-1,3-dimethylimidazolinium hexafluorophosphate (ADMP, 1) to give migratory amidated compounds, which were transformed into the corresponding diarylacetamides by treating with LiAlH₄.     

One-pot synthesis of α-trifluoromethylstyrenes from aryl ketones and the Ruppert–Prakash reagent

A new synthesis of α-trifluoromethylstyrenes from aromatic ketones and (trifluoromethyl) trimethylsilane is described. The reaction involves nucleophilic trifluoromethylation and elimination of trimethylsilanol, which are performed within one reaction flask.     

Synthesis of novel chiral lipophilic pyridyl-containing β-amino alcohol ligands and enantioselective hydrolysis of α-amino acid esters by chiral metallomicelles

Seven novel chiral lipophilic pyridyl-containing β-amino alcohol ligands have been synthesized by coupling of 6-alkoxymethyl-2-chloromethylpyridine 3 with the corresponding chiral β-amino alcohols or l-cysteine. Their metal ion complexes have been investigated as catalysts for the enantioselective hydrolysis of N-protected α-amino acid esters in aqueous comicellar solution. The results indicate that the hydrophobic interactions between substrate and metallocatalyst, the rigidity of the ligand, the hydroxyl group of the ligand acting as a nucleophile for the transacylation process, and the micellar microenvironment are important factors for the activity and enantioselectivity. Large rate accelerations (up to three orders of magnitude) and moderate enantioselectivities (up to 7.81 (k_R/k_S)) employing 4a–Cu²⁺ have been observed.     

Synthesis of α,β-dibromo ketones by photolysis of α-bromo ketones with N-bromosuccinimide: Photoinduced β-bromination of α-bromo ketones

Irradiation of α-bromopropiophenones in the presence of NBS results in the formation of α,β-dibromopropiophenones, which can be viewed as β-bromination of α-bromopropiophenones. The reaction is believed to go through a series of reactions; photoinduced C–Br bond cleavage, elimination of HBr to give α,β-unsaturated ketone intermediates, and addition of Br₂, which are formed by the reaction between HBr and NBS. From mechanistic studies of the reaction, we have also found a very convenient method for α-debromination of the α,β-dibromopropiophenones which is by simple irradiation of the dibromo ketones in acetone or 2-propanol without the use of any additives. Our results demonstrate that bromine can be added into or eliminated from the alpha, beta, or both positions to the carbonyl group by photochemical methods, which make synthetic options of bromine containing carbonyl compounds versatile.     

Synthesis of optically active α-hydroxy ketones by enantioselective oxidation of silyl enol ethers with a fructose-derived dioxirane

Optically active α-hydroxy ketones 3 have been prepared in moderate to high enantioselectivities by the asymmetric oxidation of the silyl enol ethers 2 with in situ generated dioxirane from the fructose-derived ketone 1. Best results (ee values up to 82%) for this novel non-transition metal mediated asymmetric α-hydroxylation may be obtained, when an excess of the fructose-derived ketone 1 is employed at pH ca. 8 and short reaction times. Valuable mechanistic information on the spiro versus planar transition states for the oxygen-transfer process has been aquired through the absolute configuration of the resulting α-hydroxy ketone 3 products.     

Cinchona based squaramide catalysed enantioselective Michael addition of α-nitrophosphonates to aryl acrylates: enantioselective synthesis of quaternary α-aminophosphonates

Several cinchona based squaramide catalysts were applied to the asymmetric Michael addition of α-nitroethylphosphonates to acrylic acid aryl esters, resulting in high yields and enantioselectivities. The absolute configuration of one of the quaternary α-nitrophosphonate adducts was deduced from its experimental and calculated CD spectra. The adducts were reduced to their cyclic aminophosphonates by catalytic hydrogenation.     

Synthesis of tetracyclic indoles via intramolecular α-arylation of ketones

An intramolecular palladium(0)-mediated α-arylation of ketones applied to the synthesis of various substituted tetracyclic indoles is reported. Most significantly, the efficiency of the transformation was enhanced by the use of monoligated Pd(0) complexes. This methodology was extended to double α-arylation of ketones using one-pot reactions with either simultaneous addition or sequential addition of two aryl halides for producing aryl substituted tetracyclic indoles.