Practical Synthesis of Pharmaceutically Relevant Pyrroles from α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes and Phenacyl Azides

Structurally diverse pyrroles were synthesized by direct coupling of α, β-unsaturated aldehydes and phenacyl azides. The scope of the synthetic method was successfully demonstrated by synthesizing 28 different phenyl(5-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methanones in high yields (87–95 %). Derivatization of a few synthesized pyrroles was demonstrated which shows the potential application of the developed protocol in new functional materials. To get a mechanistic insight of the reaction, a typical reaction was performed in a deuterated solvent and the progress of the reaction was monitored by recording its ¹H NMR at regular time intervals.     

Ligand-Promoted Non-Directed C−H Cyanation of Arenes

This article reports the first example of a 2-pyridone accelerated non-directed C−H cyanation with an arene as the limiting reagent. This protocol is compatible with a broad scope of arenes, including advanced intermediates, drug molecules, and natural products. A kinetic isotope experiment (k_H/k_D=4.40) indicates that the C−H bond cleavage is the rate-limiting step. Also, the reaction is readily scalable, further showcasing the synthetic utility of this method.     

Synthesis of Flavones through NaI-Mediated Electrochemical Cyclization of Chalcones

A mild electrochemical oxidative cyclization for the synthesis of flavones from easy-access 2’-hydroxychalcones was developed using an inexpensive NaI as mediator and electrolyte under ambient temperature in a mixture of EtOH and H₂O as solvent. This method was successfully applied to synthesize 26 examples of flavones from a variety of functionalized 2’-hydroxychalcones. A gram-scale formal synthesis of bioactive scutellarein was successfully demonstrated. Control experiments were conducted to disclose a possible indirect oxidation via in situ generation of iodine. The main advantages of this reaction include its broad substrate scope, scalability, ability to operate with benign solvent, and no requirement for strong oxidizing agents and external additives.     

Al/P- and Ga/P-Based Frustrated Lewis Pairs and Electronically Unsaturated Substrates: Ring Cleavage and Ring Closure,C−C and C−N Bond Formation

Al/P- and Ga/P-based frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) reacted with an azirine under mild conditions under cleavage of the heterocycle on two different positions. Opening of the C−C bond yielded an unusual nitrile–ylide adduct in which a C−N moiety coordinated to the FLP backbone. Cleavage of a C−N bond afforded the thermodynamically favored enamine adduct with the N atom bound to P and Al or Ga atoms. Ring closure was observed upon treatment of an Al/P FLP with electronically unsaturated substrates (4-(1-cyclohexenyl)-1-aza-but-1-en-3-ynes) and yielded by C−N bond formation hexahydroquinoline derivatives, which coordinated to the FLP through P−C and Al−C bonds. Diphenylcyclopropenone showed a diverse reactivity, which depending on steric shielding and the polarizing effect of Al or Ga atoms afforded different products. An AltBu₂/P FLP yielded an adduct with the C=O group coordinated to P and Al. The dineopentyl derivative gave an equilibrium mixture consisting of a similar product and a simple adduct with O bound to Al and a three-coordinate P atom. Both compounds co-crystallize. The Ga/P FLP only formed the simple adduct with the same substrate. Rearrangement resulted in all cases in C₃-ring cleavage and migration of a mesityl group from P to a former ring C atom by C−C bond formation. Diphenylthiocyclopropenone (evidence for the presence of P=C bonds) and an imine derivative afforded similar products.     

Carbon–Carbon Bond Forming Reactions Promoted by Aluminyl and Alumoxane Anions: Introducing the Ethenetetraolate Ligand

[K{Al(NON^Dipp)}]₂ (NON^Dipp=[O(SiMe₂NDipp)₂]²⁻, Dipp=2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃) reacts with CS₂ to afford the trithiocarbonate species [K(OEt₂)][Al(NON^Dipp)(CS₃)] 1 or the ethenetetrathiolate complex, [K{Al(NON^Dipp)(S₂C)}]₂ [ 3 ]₂. The dimeric alumoxane [K{Al(NON^Dipp)(O)}]₂ reacts with carbon monoxide to afford the oxygen analogue of 3 , [K{Al(NON^Dipp)(O₂C)}]₂ [ 4 ]₂ containing the hitherto unknown ethenetetraolate ligand, [C₂O₄]⁴⁻.     

Carboboration-Driven Generation of a Silylium Ion for Vinylic C−F Bond Functionalization by B(C6F5)3 Catalysis

Strong main-group Lewis acids such as silylium ions are known to effectively promote heterolytic C(sp³)−F bond cleavage. However, carrying out the C(sp²)−F bond transformation of vinylic C−F bonds has remained an unmet challenge. Herein, we describe our development of a new and simple strategy for vinylic C−F bond transformation of α-fluorostyrenes with silyl ketene acetals catalyzed by B(C₆F₅)₃ under mild conditions. Our theoretical calculations revealed that a stabilized silylium ion, which is generated from silyl ketene acetals by carboboration, cleaves the C−F bond of α-fluorostyrenes. A comparative study of α-chloro or bromostyrenes demonstrated that our reaction can be applied only to α-fluorostyrenes because the strong silicon-fluorine affinity facilitates an intramolecular interaction of silylium ions with fluorine atom to cleave the C−F bond. A broad range of α-fluorostyrenes as well as a range of silyl ketene acetals underwent this C−F bond transformation.     

Domino reactions of alkenyl p-benzoquinones: Access to aryl sulfide derivatives of coumarins

An efficient domino approach has been developed for the synthesis of coumarin aryl sulfides utilizing alkenyl arenes derived electrophilic alkenyl p-benzoquinones through Michael addition of thiols followed by cyclization. The reaction proceeds regioselectively under mild conditions within short reaction time to afford the title products in good to excellent yields. This catalyst-free reaction has good substrate scope.     

Iodine/persulfate-promoted site-selective direct thiolation of quinolones and uracils

A simple and general method for direct thiolation of 4-quinolones with disulfides or thiols under I₂/K₂S₂O₈ system has been developed. Under the optimal conditions, the C–S bond coupling can take place effectively with good to decent yields and excellent regioselectivity of the S-linked products. The established metal-free site-selective approach was also applicable to transform a range of uracil substrates to the thio-substituted products under mild conditions. Further transformation to the sulfone derivatives can be conveniently performed in one-pot. These easy-to-handle protocols represent a useful and interesting synthetic alternative with good substrate scope and functional group compatibility.     

Oxidatively Induced Selective Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation From Isolated Rhodium(III) Complexes

This work focuses on oxidatively induced regioselective intramolecular C−C bond formations based on the Rh^III complexes synthesized from dirhodium(II) trifluoroacetate with 2-arylpyridines. With the selection of electron-donating groups on the arene rings of 2-arylpyridines, the unusual meta-ortho C−C bond-forming was favored, which led to the formation of meta-substituted 2-arylpyridine homocoupling dimers. On the contrary, the electron-withdrawing groups have tendency to occur conventional ortho-ortho bond-forming, resulting in the formation of new Rh^III complexes possessing the intriguing Rh^III(TFA)₃ fragment. Preliminary mechanistic experiments suggest that the sequential oxidation of Rh^III occurred in the reaction.     

Microwave irradiation assisted synthesis, alkylation reaction, and configuration analysis of aryl pyrogallol[4]arenes

A series of aryl pyrogallol[4]arenes were efficiently synthesized in excellent yields by cyclocondensation of pyrogallol with aromatic aldehydes under microwave irradiation. The structures of aryl pyrogallol[4]arenes were confirmed by characterization of their acylated derivatives. Under microwave irradiation, alkylation reactions of aryl pyrogallol[4]arenes with some alkylating reagents such as n-butyl iodide, benzyl chloride, and ethyl α-chloroacetate were also finished quickly to yield fully O-alkylated products. The ¹H NMR spectra and crystal structures showed that the acylated and alkylated aryl pyrogallol[4]arenes existed mainly in rctt (cis-trans-trans) configuration.     

钌1,2-萘醌-1-肟配合物对aldol C—C成键反应的催化作用

在钌1,2-萘醌-1-肟(1-nqo)配合物cis,cis-[Ru(1-nqo)₂(CO)(NCMe)] (1)或trans,trans-[Ru(1-nqo)₂(PBu₃)₂] (2)的作用下, 氰基乙酸乙酯与取代苯甲醛发生aldol C—C成键反应. 根据GC-MS检测及HPLC分离结果, 对二苯甲醛的二个醛基可分别或同时与氰基乙酸乙酯发生aldol反应. ¹H NMR表征结果证明, 二种产物的双键构型均为反式. 其它取代苯甲醛的反应均给出单一反式aldol产物, 这表明该催化反应具有立体选择性. 配合物1的催化活性稍差, 产率不超过60%, 而配合物2的催化活性要高于1, 最高产率达99%.     

Efficient and Direct Functionalization of Allylic sp3 C−H Bonds with Concomitant CO2 Reduction

Solar-driven CO₂ reduction integrated with C−C/C−X bond-forming organic synthesis represents a substantially untapped opportunity to simultaneously tackle carbon neutrality and create an atom-/redox-economical chemical synthesis. Herein, we demonstrate the first cooperative photoredox catalysis of efficient and tunable CO₂ reduction to syngas, paired with direct alkylation/arylation of unactivated allylic sp³ C−H bonds for accessing allylic C−C products, over SiO₂-supported single Ni atoms-decorated CdS quantum dots (QDs). Our protocol not only bypasses additional oxidant/reductant and pre-functionalization of organic substrates, affording a broad of allylic C−C products with moderate to excellent yields, but also produces syngas with tunable CO/H₂ ratios (1 : 2–5 : 1). Such win-win coupling catalysis highlights the high atom-, step- and redox-economy, and good durability, illuminating the tantalizing possibility of a renewable sunlight-driven chemical feedstocks manufacturing industry.     

Formation of an Azaruthenacyclopentadiene Skeleton via Ammonia Activation by an Electron-Deficient Ru3 Cluster

A dicationic triruthenium complex containing a μ₃-η³-C₃ ring, [(Cp*Ru)₃(μ₃-η³-C₃MeH₂−)(μ₃-CH)(μ-H)]²⁺ ( 1 a , Cp*=η⁵-C₅Me₅), reacted with ammonia to yield a μ-amido complex, [(Cp*Ru)₃(μ₃-η³-CHCMeCH) (μ₃-CH)(μ-NH₂)]²⁺ ( 5 ), via N−H bond scission. Subsequent treatment with base resulted in C−N bond formation to yield a μ₃-η²:η²-1-azabutadien-4-yl complex, [(Cp*Ru)₃(μ₃-CH)(μ₃-η²:η²-NH=CH−CMe=CH−)]⁺ ( 6 a ). The azaruthenacyclopentadiene skeleton was alternatively synthesized by the photolysis of mono-cationic complex [(Cp*Ru)₃(μ₃-η³-C₃RH₂−)(μ₃-CH)]⁺ ( 2 a ; R=Me, 2 b ; R=H) in the presence of ammonia. The C₃ ring skeleton was broken via the electron transfer to the π*(C−C) orbital in the C₃ ring, and a transiently generated unsaturated μ₃-allylic species can take up ammonia, resulting in N−H bond scission followed by C−N bond formation.     

Direct C−H Borylation of Arenes Catalyzed by Saturated Hydride-Boryl-Iridium-POP Complexes: Kinetic Analysis of the Elemental Steps

The saturated trihydride IrH₃{κ³-P,O,P-[xant(PiPr₂)₂]} ( 1 ; xant(PiPr₂)₂=9,9-dimethyl-4,5-bis(diisopropylphosphino)xanthene) activates the B−H bond of two molecules of pinacolborane (HBpin) to give H₂, the hydride-boryl derivatives IrH₂(Bpin){κ³-P,O,P-[xant(PiPr₂)₂]} ( 2 ) and IrH(Bpin)₂{κ³-P,O,P-[xant(PiPr₂)₂]} ( 3 ) in a sequential manner. Complex 3 activates a C−H bond of two molecules of benzene to form PhBpin and regenerates 2 and 1 , also in a sequential manner. Thus, complexes 1 , 2 , and 3 define two cycles for the catalytic direct C−H borylation of arenes with HBpin, which have dihydride 2 as a common intermediate. C−H bond activation of the arenes is the rate-determining step of both cycles, as the C−H oxidative addition to 3 is faster than to 2 . The results from a kinetic study of the reactions of 1 and 2 with HBpin support a cooperative function of the hydride ligands in the B−H bond activation. The addition of the boron atom of the borane to a hydride facilitates the coordination of the B−H bond through the formation of κ¹- and κ²-dihydrideborate intermediates.     

Redox-Induced Oxidative C−C Bond Cleavage of 2,2′-Pyridil in Diruthenium Complexes

In the recent years, there has been an emerging research interest in the domain of C−C bond-cleavage reactions. The present contribution deals with the redox-mediated dioxygen activation and C−C bond cleavage in a diruthenium complex [(acac)₂Ru^II(μ-L1)Ru^II(acac)₂], 1 (acac=acetylacetonate) incorporating 2,2′-pyridil (L1) as the bridging ligand. The above process leads to a C−C-cleaved monomeric product [(acac)₂Ru^III(pic⁻)], 2 (pic⁻=piconilate). Intriguingly, similar diastereomeric complexes [(acac)₂Ru^II(μ-L2)Ru^II(acac)₂], meso (ΔΛ): 3 a and rac (ΔΔ/ΛΛ): 3 b , involving an analogous diimine bridge (L2=N1,N2-diphenyl-1,2-di(pyridin-2-yl)ethane-1,2-diimine), were stable towards such oxidative transformations. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies, in combination, establish the potential non-innocent feature of the 2,2′-Pyridil (L1) and its derivative (L2) both in oxidation and reduction processes. Additionally, theoretical calculations have been employed to verify the redox states and their behavior. Furthermore, transition state (TS) calculations at the M06L/6-31G*/LANL2DZ level of theory together with detailed kinetic studies outline a putative mechanism for the selective transformation of 1 → 2 involving the formation of an intermediate bearing peroxide linkage to complex 1 .     

Geodesic-Planar Conjugates: Substituted Buckybowls—Synthesis,Photoluminescence and Electrochemistry

C−C cross coupling products of bowl-shaped as-indaceno[3,2,1,8,7,6-pqrstuv]picene (Idpc) and different planar arenes and ethynyl-arenes were synthesized. Photoluminescence as well as electrochemical properties of all products were investigated and complemented by time-dependent quantum chemical calculations. UV/Vis spectroelectrochemistry investigations of the directly linked (Idpc)₂ indicated the absence of any intramolecular charge-transfer transition of intermittently formed (Idpc)₂^.−. All coupling products showed fluorescence. Ferrocene-1-yl-Idpc was structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction and is a rare example of a ferrocene-containing buckybowl exhibiting luminescence.     

Direct meta-C−H Perfluoroalkenylation of Arenes Enabled by a Cleavable Pyrimidine-Based Template

The development of efficient and mild methods for the synthesis of organofluorine compounds is of foremost interest in various fields of chemistry. A direct pyrimidine-based selective meta-C−H perfluoroalkenylation of arenes involving several commercially available perfluoroolefins is described. The synthetic versatility of the protocol is demonstrated by an extensive substrate scope including different benzylsulfonyl, alkylarene and phenylacetic acid scaffolds. The generality of this methodology including the meta-C−H perfluoroalkenylation of Ibuprofen, the facile cleavage of the directing group and gram-scale reactions are presented.     

Metal-Free,Visible-Light-Induced Selective C−C Bond Cleavage of Cycloalkanones with Molecular Oxygen

A metal-free, visible-light-induced oxidative C−C bond cleavage of cycloketones with molecular oxygen is described. Cooperative Brønsted-acid catalysis and photocatalysis enabled selective C−C bond cleavage of cycloketones to generate an array of γ-, δ- and ϵ-keto esters under very mild conditions. Mechanistic studies indicate that singlet molecular oxygen (¹O₂) is responsible for this transformation.     

Unexpected Vulnerability of DPEphos to C−O Activation in the Presence of Nucleophilic Metal Hydrides

C−O bond activation of DPEphos occurs upon mild heating in the presence of [Ru(NHC)₂(PPh₃)₂H₂] (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) to form phosphinophenolate products. When NHC=IEt₂Me₂, C−O activation is accompanied by C−N activation of an NHC ligand to yield a coordinated N-phosphino-functionalised carbene. DFT calculations define a nucleophilic mechanism in which a hydride ligand attacks the aryl carbon of the DPEphos C−O bond. This is promoted by the strongly donating NHC ligands which render a trans dihydride intermediate featuring highly nucleophilic hydride ligands accessible. C−O bond activation also occurs upon heating cis-[Ru(DPEphos)₂H₂]. DFT calculations suggest this reaction is promoted by the steric encumbrance associated with two bulky DPEphos ligands. Our observations that facile degradation of the DPEphos ligand via C−O bond activation is possible under relatively mild reaction conditions has potential ramifications for the use of this ligand in high-temperature catalysis.     

Weak Interactions Initiate C−H and C−C Bond Dissociation of Ethane on Nbn+ Clusters

The conversion of ethane into value-added chemicals under ambient conditions has attracted much attention but the mechanisms remain not fully understood. Here we report a study on the reaction of ethane with thermalized Nb_n⁺ clusters based on a multiple-ion laminar flow tube reactor combined with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (MIFT-TQMS). It is found that ethane reacts with Nb_n⁺ clusters to form both products of dehydrogenation and methane-removal (odd-carbon products). Combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we studied the reaction mechanisms of the C−C bond activation and C−H bond cleavage on the Nb_n⁺ clusters. It is unveiled that hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) initiates the reaction process, giving rise to the formation of Nb−C bonds and an elongated C−C distance in the HNb_n⁺CH₂CH₃ motif. Subsequent reactions allow for C−C bond activation and a competitive HAT process which is associated with CH₄ removal or H₂ release, resulting in the production of the observed carbides.