ortho-Formylation of oxygenated phenols

Oxygenated phenols are mono-formylated using a mixture of paraformaldehyde, MgCl₂, and Et₃N in THF. In all cases but one, only one regioisomer of the salicylaldehyde is obtained in good to high yield.     

Synthesis of functionalized 7-azaindoles via directed ortho-metalations

Functionalization at C-5 of 4-fluoro- and 4-chloro-1-triisopropylsilyl-7-azaindole, 1 and 2, respectively, leads to a variety of new substituted 7-azaindole derivatives. We also describe two approaches to introduce functionality at C-6.     

Synthesis of ortho-substituted cyanopyridines through lithio intermediate trapping

Ortholithiation of 4-cyanopyridine using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (LiTMP) and trapping the lithio intermediate with electrophiles represents an efficient and straightforward access to ortho-substituted-4-cyanopyridines. The cyano group can be used as an ortho-directing group and allows the preparation of 3-halogeno-4-cyanopyridines. Reactivity of 2- and 3-cyanopyridines is also investigated and seems to give similar results.     

Metallation of pyridin-2-yldiazines. Use of pyridine ring as ortho-directing group. Diazines. Part 45

Starting from commercial chlorodiazines, we report the synthesis of pyridin-2-yldiazines. The first lithiation and functionalization of these compounds are reported and the regioselectivity of the metallation is discussed. The functionalization via the metallation reaction, provides a new access to substituted pyridin-2-yldiazines, which could be used as building blocks in supramolecules.     

One-pot synthesis of ortho-hydroxycinnamate esters

Phenols are converted to salicylaldehydes with paraformaldehyde, MgCl₂-Et₃N in THF, and subsequent treatment with methyl (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetate gave the corresponding methyl ortho-hydroxycinnamate derivatives. The sequence is conveniently carried out as a one-pot procedure.     

Palladium-catalyzed direct ortho-acylation through an oxidative coupling of 2-arylbenzothiazoles with benzylic alcohols

An efficient protocol was developed for Pd-catalyzed direct C–H bond acylation by cross-dehydrogenative-coupling of arylbenzothiazoles and benzylic alcohols using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxidant. The acylation reactions exhibit good reactivities and excellent regioselectivity.     

On the cyclization of ortho-alkynylbenzene diazonium salts

Cyclization of ortho-(phenylethynyl)benzene diazonium salts containing groups of +C character at the para-position of the phenyl ring proceeds with closure to a pyrazole, but not to a pyridazine as is the case in the presence of neutral or −C groups.     

Total synthesis of pawhuskin C: a directed ortho metalation approach

The total synthesis of the opioid modulator pawhuskin C has been accomplished in eight steps from methyl 3,5-dihydroxybenzoate. The key step in this sequence is a directed ortho metalation reaction conducted without protection of a benzylic alcohol and thus presumed to involve a formal dianion intermediate.     

Lithiation of 2-(chloroaryl)-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanes and application in synthesis of new ortho-functionalized acetophenone derivatives

2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane 2a was lithiated ortho to the ketal group by treatment with butyllithium in THF at 0°C. Related 2-aryl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanes possessing a chlorine substituent at the meta position of the aryl group 2b,c were lithiated with butyllithium in THF at −78°C at the position between the two directing groups. The lithio species thus generated were treated with various electrophiles to give ortho-functionalized acetophenone derivatives.     

Efficient, protection-free Suzuki-Miyaura synthesis of ortho-biphenyltetrazoles

We describe an efficient protocol for the Suzuki-Miyaura synthesis of ortho-biphenyltetrazoles from non-protected 2-bromophenyltetrazole and arylboronic acids. The optimised conditions were achieved using [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) as catalyst and Na₂CO₃ as base. A panel of structurally diverse arylboronic acids was used to demonstrate the scope of the coupling procedure.     

Efficient access to chiral N-substituted saccharin analogues via the directed ortho-lithiation of 3-N-arylsulfonyloxazolidin-2-ones

Chiral 3-N-arylsulfonyloxazolidin-2-ones 1a-f, prepared from (l)-amino acids, were reacted with lithium diisopropylamide in anhydrous THF and HMPA. The resulting new, optically active benzisothiazolinone 1,1-dioxides 2a-c and naphthisothiazolinone 1,1-dioxides 2d-f were obtained in good yields.     

Synthesis of (±)-aporphine utilizing Pictet-Spengler and intramolecular phenol ortho-arylation reactions

A synthesis of the alkaloid (±)-aporphine is reported. The initial key step of the synthesis involves a Pictet-Spengler cyclization of N-tosyl tyramine with 2-bromophenylacetaldehyde in trifluoroacetic acid. This step was followed by the second strategic transformation a palladium-mediated intramolecular phenol ortho-arylation reaction utilizing tricyclohexylphosphine as co-catalysts in the presence of cesium carbonate. Finally, de-oxygenation of the phenol, removal of the tosyl group and methylation gave the desired alkaloid.     

Competition of substituents for ortho direction of metalation of veratric acid

LTMP (5 equiv) metalates randomly veratric acid (1). Under external quench conditions, the thermodynamically more stable lithium 2-lithio-3,4-dimethoxybenzoate (2) reacts with a variety of electrophiles to give versatile building units that are not easily accessible by conventional means. Under in situ quench conditions (LTMP/TMSCl), a reversal of regioselectivity is observed and 6-trimethylsilyl-3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid (10) is formed predominantly.     

Regioselective hydrostannation of highly hindered arylalkynes under ortho-directing effects

Palladium-catalyzed hydrostannation reactions of ortho-disubstituted arylalkynes were achieved with total stereo- and regio-selectivity in THF at room temperature. The regioselectivity was found to be under the control of the ortho-substituents (ortho-directing effects, ODE) and pure α-vinylstannanes are produced in good yields and as single isomers regardless of the substituents’ nature. These hydrostannation α-products are precursors of choice for the preparation of stereo-defined triarylolefins.     

An efficient synthesis of ortho-N-Boc-arylmethyl ketone derivatives

A new and efficient method for the preparation of ortho-N-Boc-arylmethyl ketone derivatives is reported. The reaction involves the intermediacy of a 4-methylene-3,1-benzoaxin-2-one moiety which smoothly converts to the target compounds under acidic conditions. The ortho-N-Boc-arylmethyl ketone derivatives can be formed in a one-pot reaction or alternatively the 4-methylene-3,1-benzoaxin-2-ones can be isolated and subsequently transformed into the desired products.     

Efficient synthesis of phosphorylated ortho-fused azaheterocycles

A simple and efficient two-step synthesis of various ortho-fused azaheterocycles, containing phosphorylated pyrimidinones as a parent component, was accomplished by the reaction of 2-diethoxyphosphoryl-3-methoxyacrylate with heteroaromatic amines followed by intramolecular N-acylation of the obtained substitution products. Optimization studies performed for the N-acylation reaction revealed that heating the addition products in Dowtherm A at 250 °C gave the best results. The same conditions applied in the intramolecular cyclization of ethyl 2-diethoxyphosphoryl-3-aminophenylacrylate gave expected product of the electrophilic aromatic substitution, but in low yield.     

Synthesis and properties of novel ortho-metalated cobalt(I) and iron(II) complexes through Csp2-H bond activation of dibenzylphenylphosphine

Dibenzylphenylphosphine in the reaction with CoMe(PMe₃)₄ afforded complex [(Me₃P)₃Co((ortho-C₆H₄)∩P(C₆H₅)(CH₂C₆H₅))] (1) by C_sp2-H activation via ortho-metalation with P atom as anchoring group. An unexpected dinitrogen iron(II) complex [(Me₃P)₂(N₂)Fe((ortho-C₆H₄)₂∩P(C₆H₅))] (2) stabilized by two five-membered chelate rings as [CPC]-pincer ligand was formed through the reaction of dibenzylphenylphosphine with FeMe₂(PMe₃)₄ via double C_sp2-H activation. The reactions of complexes 1 and 2 with carbon monoxide delivered carbonyl complexes [(Me₃P)(CO)₂Co((ortho-C₆H₄)∩P(C₆H₅)(CH₂C₆H₅))] (3) and [(Me₃P)₂(CO)Fe((ortho-C₆H₄)₂∩P(C₆H₅))] (4). An iodo methyl cobalt(III) complex [(Me₃P)₂(Me)(I)Co((ortho-C₆H₄)∩P(C₆H₅)(CH₂C₆H₅))] (5) was isolated through the reaction of 1 with iodomethane. The structures of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were determined by X-ray diffraction.     

GaCl3-Catalyzed ortho-ethynylation reaction of N-benzylanilines

Lithiated N-benzylanilines were ethynylated at the ortho-position with silylchloroethyne at 120 °C in the presence of a catalytic amount of GaCl₃. Trimethylsilylated N-methylaniline could also be used for this transformation.     

Synthesis of ginsenoside Rh2 and chikusetsusaponin-LT8 via gold(I)-catalyzed glycosylation with a glycosyl ortho-alkynylbenzoate as donor

Glycosylation of the acid labile protopanaxadiol derivatives was succeeded with a glycosyl ortho-hexynylbenzoate as donor under the catalysis of PPh₃AuNTf₂, leading to the subsequent elaboration of ginsenoside Rh2 and chikusetsusaponin-LT8 in a concise manner.