Metal-Free Dearomatization: Direct Access to Spiroindol(en)ines in Batch and Continuous-Flow

A metal-free, phosphine-catalyzed intramolecular “umpolung Michael addition” on alkynes to form spiroindol(en)ines is reported. This nucleophilic catalysis enables the formation of a wide scope of five- and six-membered spiroindol(en)ines in moderate to excellent yields in batch as well as under continuous-flow conditions. Triphenylphosphine-catalyzed nucleophilic activation of alkynes allows the exclusive formation of exo-product under mild reaction conditions.     

The role of oxygen in catalysis

Catalytic reactions with oxygen are divided into two groups: electrophilic oxidation proceeding through activation of oxygen, and nucleophilic oxidation in which insertion of nucleophilic oxygen species into previously activated organic molecule occurs. The role of different types of lattice oxygen in the nucleophilic oxygen addition as well as catalyst properties determining the electrophilic pathway are discussed.     

Hydrogen bond assisted activation of a dinitrile towards nucleophilic attack

The possibility of tunable regioselective activation of a dinitrile towards nucleophilic attack was demonstrated. For that, a sulfo-arylhydrazone unit was introduced into malononitrile and the thus formed intramolecular hydrogen bond systems assisted specific nucleophilic attacks to the cyano moieties leading to a variety of amidines, carboxamides and iminoesters depending on the nucleophiles and conditions used.     

Dimethyl carbonate as an ambident electrophile

[reaction: see text] The features of various anions having different soft/hard character (aliphatic and aromatic amines, alcohoxydes, phenoxides, thiolates) are compared with regard to nucleophilic substitutions on dimethyl carbonate (DMC), using different reaction conditions. Results are well in agreement with the Hard-Soft Acid-Base (HSAB) theory. Accordingly, the high selectivity of monomethylation of CH(2) acidic compounds and primary aromatic amines with DMC can be explained by two different subsequent reactions, which are due to the double electrophilic character of DMC. The first step consists of a hard-hard reaction and selectively produces a soft anion, which, in the second phase, selectively transforms into the final monomethylated product, via a soft-soft nucleophilic displacement (yield >99% at complete conversion, using DMC as solvent).     

Computational insights into the effects of reagent structure and bases on nucleophilic monofluoromethylation of aldehydes

Although fluorobis(phenylsulfonyl)methane(FBSM) and its cyclic analog 2-fluoro-1,3-benzodithiole-1,1,3,3-tetraoxide(FBDT) possess similar physicochemical properties, Shibata et al. found that FBSM failed to undergo nucleophilic monofluoromethylation of aldehydes regardless of the reaction conditions attempted(using various organic and inorganic bases). However, it was later discovered by Hu et al. that the nucleophilic monofluoromethylation could be accomplished by employing lithium hexamethyldi...     

New strategies for synthesis of partially fluorinated heterocycles as precursors for trifluoromethyl-substituted polymers

The building-block strategy is applied to the synthesis of new compounds with two five-membered heteroaromatic units. The heteroaromatic rings contain a fluorine atom which is activated towards nucleophilic displacement reactions by an adjacent trifluoromethyl group. The difunctional compounds can be converted into poly(arylene ether)s by base-catalyzed polycondensation with bisphenols or bisthiophenols. Trifluoromethylated poly(arylether oxazole)s and poly(arylthioether oxazole)s are obtained by this route. All representatives of these two new classes of polymers are soluble in common organic solvents. Reaction conditions for the polycondensation as well as thermal stability, glass transition temperatures, and molar masses of the polymers are described.     

Catalytic carbon-sulfur bond formation by amphoteric vanadyl triflate: exploring with thia-Michael addition, thioacetalization, and transthioacetalization reactions

A series of thiols have been examined as protic nucleophiles for Michael-type additions to α,β-unsaturated carbonyls as well as double nucleophilic condensations with aldehydes, ketones, and acetals catalyzed by amphoteric, water-tolerant vanadyl triflate under mild and neutral conditions. The newly developed C-S bond formation protocols were carried out smoothly in good to high yields in a highly chemoselective manner.     

Nucleophilic 18F-fluorination of heteroaromatic iodonium salts with no-carrier-added [18F]fluoride

Diaryliodonium salts containing the 2-thienyl group as an example of an electron-rich heteroaromatic moiety proved to be very potent precursors for the nucleophilic, regioselective no-carrier-added (nca) radiofluorination of various arenes. It even allowed the nucleophilic introduction of nca [18F]fluoride into electron-rich arene compounds in one step. The influences of the substitution pattern, of counteranions, and of different reaction conditions were studied. Effects of counterions could be explained by the influence of solvent on ion pair separation of precursor salts. Different aryl(2-thienyl)iodonium salts were used as precursors, where the homoaromatic group systematically varied from bearing electron-deficient to electron-rich substituents. Relative rates of exchange kinetics correlated linearly with Hammett constants of the appropriate substituents confirming a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction of high reactivity and low selectivity.     

Sequential Nucleophilic Substitution of Phosphorus Trichloride with Alcohols in a Continuous-Flow Reactor and Consideration of a Mechanism for Reduced Over-reaction through the Addition of Imidazole

We demonstrate a sequential nucleophilic substitution of highly electrophilic and inexpensive phosphorus trichloride with three different alcohols in a continuous-flow reactor. A variety of alcohols including ones that contained acid- and/or basic-labile functionalities were rapidly reacted. A over nucleophilic substitution that occurred during reaction of the second alcohol was suppressed by the addition of imidazole. Density functional theory calculations of the sequential nucleophilic substitutions of alcohols were performed both with and without imidazole, and Berry pseudorotation was suggested as a rate-limiting step in both cases. Herein, we discuss the reasons for the decreased selectivity in the absence of imidazole as well as those for improved selectivity in the presence of imidazole during the second nucleophilic substitution.     

Development of one-pot benzylic amination reactions of azine N-oxides

An efficient one-pot synthetic methodology has been developed for the benzylic amination reactions of methyl-substituted azine N-oxides that operate under mild conditions. The reaction was found to tolerate quinoline and isoquinoline N-oxides with electron donating and withdrawing substituents as the electrophilic reaction partners as well as a broad range of nucleophilic primary, secondary and aromatic amines, affording the benzylic amination products in up to 82% yield.     

Synthesis of Ethyl 2-Cyano-3-Methylthio-3'-Arylaminoacrylate From Low Nucleophilic Amine

The synthesis of ketene N,S-acetals has attracted a considerable attention as building blocks in organic synthesis, especially in the preparation of heterocycles^[1]. The addition reaction of ketene S,S-acetals with highly nucleophilic amines, such as alkylamines, can easily afford the corresponding ketene N,S-acetals, under gentle condition, which could be converted into conjugated ketene aminals by reaction with a second equivalent of the same or a different amine^[2,3]. However, this addition reaction with low nucleophilic amines, such as arylamine or heterocyclic amine, can hardly give the corresponding ketene N,S-acetals under gentle conditions. If under powerful condition,such as refluxing, the addition reaction affords a mixture of the N,S-acetals and conjugated ketene aminals^[4]. Recent studies showed that this addition reaction with low nucleophilic amines affords the corresponding ketene N,S-acetals in the presence of a catalyst^[5].     

Enantioselective total syntheses of ropivacaine and its analogues

An alternative asymmetric synthesis of ropivacaine and analogues employing the ‘cation pool’ strategy and host/guest supramolecular co-catalysis approach is presented. In this study, chiral auxiliaries, several soft nucleophiles as well as one-pot conditions for anodic oxidation, followed by nucleophilic addition, have been applied.     

2-Fluoro-5-nitrophenyldiazonium: A Novel Sanger-Type Reagent for the Versatile Functionalization of Alcohols

As a novel Sanger-type reagent, 2-fluoro-5-nitrophenyldiazonium tetrafluoroborate enabled the versatile functionalization of primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols. Based on a mild nucleophilic aromatic substitution of the fluorine atom under unprecedented, base-free conditions, the diazonium unit on the aromatic core of the resulting aryl-alkyl ether could be employed for such diverse transformations as radical C−H activation and cyclization, as well as palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reactions.     

Some reactions of 4-aryl-1 (2H)-phthalazinones

The behaviors of 4-aryl-1 (2H)-phthalazinones (1a–c) toward carbon nucleophiles (Grignard reagents) and secondary amine under Mannich conditions as well as the nucleophilic substitution reaction on chlorophthalazine derivatives have been studied.     

Bifunctional Onium and Potassium Iodides as Nucleophilic Catalysts for the Solvent-Free Syntheses of Carbonates,Thiocarbonates, and Oxazolidinones from Epoxides

The catalytic potential of organo-onium iodides as nucleophilic catalysts is aptly demonstrated in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon dioxide (CO₂), as a representative CO₂ utilization reaction. Although organo-onium iodide nucleophilic catalysts are metal-free environmentally benign catalysts, harsh reaction conditions are generally required to efficiently promote the coupling reactions of epoxides and CO₂. To solve this problem and accomplish efficient CO₂ utilization reactions under mild conditions, bifunctional onium iodide nucleophilic catalysts bearing a hydrogen bond donor moiety were developed by our research group. Based on the successful bifunctional design of the onium iodide catalysts, nucleophilic catalysis using a potassium iodide (KI)-tetraethylene glycol complex was also investigated in coupling reactions of epoxides and CO₂ under mild reaction conditions. These effective bifunctional onium and potassium iodide nucleophilic catalysts were applied to the solvent-free syntheses of 2-oxazolidinones and cyclic thiocarbonates from epoxides.     

Homogeneous hydrogenation of electron‐deficient alkenes by iridium complexes

The catalytic homogeneous hydrogenation of electron‐deficient alkenes (nucleophilic hydrogenation) was achieved in the presence of iridium complexes and a base as co‐catalyst. Contrary to hydrogenation of electron‐rich alkenes, which is inactivated by bases, the hydrogenation of the electron‐deficient alkenes turned out to be base activated. Here, we present a more thorough study on the capacities but also limitations of this new reaction mechanism using screenings of the reaction conditions as well as different Ir complexes and substrates. The formation of a catalytically active Ir complex is proposed. The active complex usually attacks a soft electron‐deficient atom, if more than one possibility exists (as shown by density functional theory computations). Additionally, first examples of enantiomeric enrichments in the presence of chiral Ir complexes are presented. The high catalyst load needed and the moderate yields show that the active complex is very unstable under conditions of nucleophilic hydrogenation and is quickly deactivated, which has to be addressed in further studies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Efficient addition of alcohols, amines and phenol to unactivated alkenes by Au(III) or Pd(II) stabilized by CuCl2

The nucleophilic addition of alcohols, amines and phenol to unactivated alkenes catalyzed by cationic gold and palladium becomes limited due to the fast reduction into metallic gold under reaction conditions. The presence of CuCl2 retards the reduction of Au(III) and Pd", strongly increasing the turnover number of gold and palladium catalysts. It is shown that new Au(III)-CuCl2 and Pd(II)-CuCl2 catalysts are active and selective for the nucleophilic addition of alcohols, amines and phenol to unactivated alkenes.     

氟代位置对苝酰亚胺聚集态结构和电子传输性能的影响

合成了三种新型的有机电子受体: N,N'-二(2-氟代苯基)-3,4,9,10-苝四羧基二酰亚胺(D2MFPP)、N,N'-二(3-氟代苯基)-3,4,9,10-苝四羧基二酰亚胺(D3MFPP)和N,N'-二(4-氟代苯基)-3,4,9,10-苝四羧基二酰亚胺(D4MFPP). 利用元素分析、傅立叶变换红外(FTIR)等方法表征了它们的分子结构, 用紫外-可见光吸收光谱(UV-Vis)、X射线衍射(XRD)和原子力显微镜(AFM)等手段研究了氟代位置对苝酰亚胺薄膜聚集态结构的影响, 发现氟代使苝酰亚胺的聚集态发生变化, 且不同位置的氟代对其影响也不一样. 除了分子结构的影响, 外场条件也会产生很大的作用. 通过制备场效应晶体管研究了其电子传输性能, 发现氟代后器件的空气稳定性有明显提高.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction between dibenzyl triselenocarbonate and oxygen-bases

The base-induced solvolysis of dibenzyl triselenocarbonate in DMSO/water (4:1) has been studied by UV spectrophotometric measurements under pseudo-first order conditions, using KOH, Me₄NOH, Bu₄ⁿNOH and Bu₄ⁿNHCO₃ as bases. The reaction is first order with respect to the substrate as well as to the base. Rate constants and activation parameters for the four bases indicate that the rate determining step is the nucleophilic attack by the base, as an ionic couple, on the substrate. Fast reactions, due to strong nucleophilic selenolate species, may follow this slow step; a tentative mechanism is proposed on the basis of experimental evidence.     

Alkynylation of cyclopropyl trifluoromethyl ketone catalyzed by CuF2·2H2O/4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline

CuF₂·2H₂O/4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline was found to be a highly efficient catalyst for the nucleophilic alkynylation of cyclopropyl trifluoromethyl ketone. The corresponding trifluoromethyl-substituted tertiary propargyl alcohols were synthesized in moderate to excellent yields under mild conditions. The catalyst system could also be applied to aromatic trifluoromethyl ketone as well as trifluoropyruvate.