Nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hydrogen through lithiated phosphine borane complexes and N-phosphorylphosphazenes

Organophosphorus compounds containing nitroaryl and cyanoaryl groups have been prepared in good yield through nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hydrogen using α-lithiated phosphazenes and phosphine borane complexes as nucleophiles. In all cases, nearly exclusive replacement of the hydrogen in the para position with respect to the activating group has been observed.     

Enantiodivergent synthesis of P-chirogenic phosphines

Several approaches for the enantiodivergent synthesis of P-chirogenic mono- and diphosphines are described, using ephedrine methodology and phosphine borane chemistry. Firstly, both enantiomers of a tertiary phosphine can be obtained starting from the same oxazaphospholidine borane complex, prepared from (+)-ephedrine, when changing the order of addition of the organolithium reagents during the synthetic pathway. The second approach is based on the chlorophosphine boranes, which react with an organolithium reagent, to afford the corresponding phosphines with inversion of configuration. In the case where the chlorophosphine borane reacts with the t-butyl lithium reagent, a metal-halogen exchange occurs to afford the corresponding phosphide borane with retention of the configuration. The reaction of the phosphide borane with an alkyl halide leads to the same phosphine, but with the opposite configuration. Another approach depends on the diastereoselective preparation of the starting oxazaphospholidine borane complex from (?)-ephedrine, which leads according the case, to either one or the other enantiomer of a phosphine. Finally, the synthesis of (R,R)- and (S,S)-1,2-bis(methylphenylphosphino)ethane is also demonstrated using both enantiomers of the P-chirogenic diphosphinite diborane, which simultaneously allows the introduction of alkyl- or aryl substituents on the phosphorus atoms. In summary, these approaches show the great efficiency of the “ephedrine methodology” for the enantiodivergent synthesis of P-chirogenic mono- and diphosphines, and bearing alkyl or aryl substituents.     

A convenient synthesis of (1S,2R)-1,2-indene oxide and trans-(1S,2S)-2-bromo-1-indanol via oxazaborolidine-catalyzed borane reduction

A facile synthesis of (1S,2R)-indene oxide with >99% e.e. and (1S,2S)-trans-2-bromo-1-indanol with 87% e.e. has been established by employing CBS-oxazaborolidine-catalyzed asymmetric borane reduction of 2-p-toluenesulfonyloxy-1-indanone using N-ethyl-N-isopropylaniline–borane complex as the borane carrier.     

Reactions of some ortho and para halogenated aromatic nitriles with ethylenediamine: selective synthesis of imidazolines

The reaction of ethylenediamine (EDA) with ortho and/or para halogenated benzonitriles did not lead to the imidazolines expected: a competitive aromatic nucleophilic substitution (S_NAr) was observed instead. The selective synthesis of these imidazolines was performed by nucleophilic addition of EDA to thiobenzamide derivatives. The difference in reactivity between the nitrile and thioamide derivatives was estimated by a frontier orbital approach at the RHF/6-31G** level which predicted a greater reactivity of substituted thiobenzamides towards the nucleophilic addition of EDA.     

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenations of β-N-substituted enamino esters with ammonia borane

Optically active β-amino acids and their derivatives are very useful building blocks in synthetic and medicinal chemistry. The catalytic asymmetric reduction of β-enamino esters is one of the most efficient approaches for their synthesis. Ammonia borane with low molecular weight, high hydrogen capacity, and good stability, is an ideal hydrogen source for the transfer hydrogenation. However, only a few successful examples have been reported for the asymmetric reduction with ammonia borane. In this work, an asymmetric metal-free transfer hydrogenation of β-N-substituted enamino esters with ammoinia borane was successfully realized by using a frustrated Lewis pair of Piers’ borane and (S)-tert-butylsulfinamide as a chiral catalyst. A variety of β-amino acid derivatives were obtained in 51–90% yields with up to 91% ee.     

Synthesis of 5-aminoisoxazolines from N-allyl compounds and nitrile oxides via tandem isomerization-1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

A new strategy for the synthesis of derivatives of 5-aminoisoxazolines via tandem catalytic isomerization (of N-allyl systems to N-(1-propenyl) systems)—1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (of a stable nitrile oxide to N-(1-propenyl) systems) is presented. Rhodium and ruthenium complexes, Verkade’s superbase, and 18-crown-6/KOH system were used for the syntheses of the N-(1-propenyl) systems. 4-P-substituted isoxazoline was also synthesized via cycloaddition of diphenyl(1-propenyl)phosphine (prepared via isomerization of allyldiphenylphosphine) to 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile oxide. All cycloadditions were regioselective but not stereoselective and not concerted. Cycloaddition to all N-(1-propenyl) systems yielded 5-N-substituted isoxazolines, but cycloaddition to P-(1-propenyl) system lead to the formation of a 4-P-regioisomer. This difference in regioselectivity is predicted by opposite FMO reactivity indices calculated for model compounds: N-(1-propenyl)amine and N-(1-propenyl)phosphine.     

Synthesis of allyl phosphine oxides/boranes via Horner reaction of bis(diphenylphosphine)ethane monoxide reagent with an aldehyde

The Horner-Wittig addition-elimination reaction using bis(diphenylphosphine)ethane monoxide [DIPHOS(O)] with an aldehyde affords Z-allyl phosphine oxides/boranes. Alternatively, the stereoselective Lewis acid mediated intermolecular reduction of its γ-ketobisphosphoranes and stereoselective intramolecular reduction of γ-ketophosphine·borane derivatives followed by elimination of diphenylphosphinate affords E-allyl phosphine oxides/boranes with good to high selectivity. Allyl phosphine oxides are common intermediates in the synthesis of polyenes.     

Synthesis of Glycosylphosphine Oxides and Related Compounds

The benzyl-protected glycosyl acetates 1 , 6 , 11 , and 15 react with MeOPPh₂ under catalysis by TMSOTf to yield diastereoselectively the glycosylphosphine oxides 2 , 3 , 8 , 12 , 13 , and 16 , with a strong preference for the 1,2-cis-configurated anomers. Hydrogenolysis of the major products gave the crystalline, unprotected phosphine oxides 4 , 9 , 14 , and 17 , of which 4 was transformed in to the acetate 5 , and 9 into the benzoate 10 . The benzylated phosphine oxides 4 , 8 , 12 , and 16 were reduced with Cl₃SiH in the presence of a tertiary amine to form the phosphines 18 , 21 , 24 , and 26 , which were transformed into the phosphine sulfides 19 , 22 , 25 , and 27 . Moreover, 18 and 21 , were characterized as the borane adducts 20 , and 23 . The structure of the (arabinofuranosyl)phosphine oxide 12 , the corresponding sulfide 25 , and of the borane complex 20 were established by X-ray analysis. According to NMR spectroscopy, the equatorial pyranosylphosphine oxide 8 , the sulfide 22 , and the borane complex 23 adopt a ⁴C₁ conformation. The axial phosphine oxide 2 is a flattened ⁴C₁, the sulfide 19 exists as a B_2,5, and the borane complex 20 is a flattened ⁴C₁ in the solid sate and a B_2,5 in solution. Thus, the conformational behavior of these α-D -glucopyranose derivatives reflects the steric requirement of the P-substituents.     

Pd(ii)-catalyzed meta-C–H bromination and chlorination of aniline and benzoic acid derivatives

The classic electrophilic bromination leads to ortho- and para-bromination of anilines due to their electron-rich properties. Herein we report the development of an unprecedented Pd-catalyzed meta-C–H bromination of aniline derivatives using commercially available N-bromophthalimide (NBP), which overcomes the competing ortho/para-selectivity of electrophilic bromination of anilines. The addition of acid additives is crucial for the success of this reaction. A broad range of substrates with various substitution patterns can be tolerated in this reaction. Moreover, benzoic acid derivatives bearing complex substitution patterns are also viable with this mild bromination reaction, and meta-C–H chlorination is also feasible under similar reaction conditions. The ease of the directing group removal and subsequent diverse transformations of the brominated products demonstrate the application potential of this method and promise new opportunities for drug discovery.

An unprecedented Pd-catalyzed meta-C–H bromination and chlorination of highly substituted aniline and benzoic acid derivatives using N-bromophthalimide is reported.     

Lipase-mediated stereoselective transformations of chiral organophosphorus P-boranes revisited: revision of the absolute configuration of alkoxy(hydroxymethyl)phenylphosphine P-boranes

The lipase-promoted kinetic resolution of a series of alkoxy(hydroxymethyl)phenylphosphine P-boranes proceeded with moderate stereoselectivity to give both the unreacted substrates and their O-acetyl derivatives. The absolute configurations of the products, which were earlier ascribed on the basis of the stereoselective reduction of the corresponding phosphine oxides with borane and comparison with the literature data concerning bicyclic phosphine oxides, were disputed by theoretical calculation. Some additional studies were carried out, including theoretical calculations and more accurate chemical correlation, which proved that the borane reduction of acyclic phosphine oxides proceeded with inversion of configuration at the phosphorus center and, therefore, the former assignment of the absolute configurations was incorrect. On this basis, the stereochemistry of the enzymatic reaction was ultimately determined. A mechanism of the borane reduction of acyclic phosphine oxides explaining inversion of configuration at phosphorus is proposed.     

Direct ethoxycarbonyldifluoromethylation of aromatic compounds using Fenton reagent

Direct ethoxycarbonyldifluoromethylation of aromatic compounds by BrCF₂CO₂Et was investigated using Fenton reagent in dimethylsulfoxide. Various five-membered hetero-aromatic compounds, benzene derivatives and uracil having ethoxycarbonyldifluoromethyl group were obtained catalytically with the combination of ferrocene and H₂O₂ at room temperature. The ethoxycarbonyldifluoromethylation occurred at the position predicted by the trend of the electrophilic substitution of aromatic compounds. When para-substituted aniline derivatives were used as a substrate, the one-pot synthesis of 3,3-difluoro-2,3-dihydroindole-2-one derivatives was achieved through the ethoxycarbonyldifluoromethylation at the ortho-position to the amino group and the consecutive intramolecular amidation of the amino group and the adjacent ethoxycarbonyldifluoromethyl group.     

Reaction Products of β-Aminopropioamidoximes Nitrobenzenesulfochlorination: Linear and Rearranged to Spiropyrazolinium Salts with Antidiabetic Activity

Nitrobenzenesulfochlorination of β-aminopropioamidoximes leads to a set of products depending on the structure of the initial interacting substances and reaction conditions. Amidoximes, functionalized at the terminal C atom with six-membered N-heterocycles (piperidine, morpholine, thiomorpholine and phenylpiperazine), as a result of the spontaneous intramolecular heterocyclization of the intermediate reaction product of an S_N2 substitution of a hydrogen atom in the oxime group of the amidoxime fragment by a nitrobenzenesulfonyl group, produce spiropyrazolinium ortho- or para-nitrobenzenesulfonates. An exception is ortho-nitrobenzenesulfochlorination of β-(thiomorpholin-1-yl)propioamidoxime, which is regioselective at room temperature, producing two spiropyrazolinium salts (ortho-nitrobezenesulfonate and chloride), and regiospecific at the boiling point of the solvent, when only chloride is formed. The para-Nitrobezenesulfochlorination of β-(benzimidazol-1-yl)propioamidoxime, due to the reduced nucleophilicity of the aromatic β-amine nitrogen atom, is regiospecific at both temperatures, and produces the O-para-nitrobenzenesulfochlorination product. The antidiabetic screening of the new nitrobezenesulfochlorination amidoximes found promising samples with in vitro α-glucosidase activity higher than the reference drug acarbose. ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis revealed the slow inversion of six-membered heterocycles, and experimentally confirmed the presence of an unfavorable stereoisomer with an axial N–N bond in the pyrazolinium heterocycle.     

Efficient synthesis of optically active β-hydroxy p-tolylsulfones with very high enantiomeric excess via CBS–oxazaborolidine-catalyzed borane reduction

A simple, efficient synthesis of optically active β-hydroxy p-tolylsulfones with >99% e.e. by employing CBS–oxazaborolidine-catalyzed asymmetric borane reduction of β-keto p-tolylsulfones using N-ethyl-N-iso-propylaniline–borane complex as the borane carrier has been established.     

Synthesis and resolution of 2-(diphenylphosphino)heptahelicene

Palladium catalysed Heck couplings have been applied to the two-step synthesis of a stilbene derivative bearing a diphenylphosphine oxide function which represents a suitable precursor for the photochemical generation of the corresponding [7]-helicene. After reduction of the phosphine oxide, resolution of the monodentate helical phosphine has been performed by means of the ortho-metallated (R)-1-(naphthyl)ethylamine-palladium complex. A ruthenium complex of (heptahelicen-2-yl)diphenylphosphine has also been prepared and fully characterized.     

A P-chirogenic β-aminophosphine synthesis by diastereoselective reaction of the α-metallated PAMP–borane complex with benzaldimine

The diastereoselective synthesis of a P-chirogenic β-aminophosphine ligand with carbon–carbon bond formation of the ethano bridge in a 3:1 ratio via reaction of an α-metallated P-chirogenic phosphine borane with a benzaldimine is described. The diastereoselectivity is attributed to a transition state where the lithium cation chelates the phosphine borane carbanion and the nitrogen of the imine and the attack of the CN occurs on the face opposite to the P–B bond, due to its interaction with the antibonding P–B bond. The major diastereoisomeric β-aminophosphine borane was then separated and decomplexed into the corresponding β-aminophosphine under neutral conditions and without epimerization by heating at reflux in EtOH. This synthesis offers a short hemisynthetic route to the P-chirogenic β-P,N-ligands, by bridge formation starting from methylphosphine boranes.     

An unusual behaviour of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)- and N-pivaloyl-(methylthio)anilines in metallation reactions

The metallation reaction of N-Boc-and N-Piv-(methylthio)anilines are here described. The results show that N-Boc derivatives are metallated only by superbases to give products substituted at the thiomethylic group. N-Piv derivatives show a different behaviour: ortho-derivative is metallated by both butyllithium and superbase at the thiomethylic carbon atom, while para-derivative is metallated in ortho to the N-Piv group by butyllithium and at the thiomethylic carbon atom by superbase. The meta-derivative is metallated only by superbase at the thiomethylic carbon atom.     

Iodine(III)-mediated aromatic amidation vs olefin amidohydroxylation. The amide N-substituent makes the difference

A series of N-methoxy- and N-para-methoxyphenylacetamides simultaneously substituted at the α position by a benzyl and an allyl group have been treated with phenyliodine(III)bis(trifluoroacetate) to generate stabilized N-acylnitrenium intermediates. It has been observed that, when starting from N-methoxy substituted amides, such intermediates are intramolecularly trapped by nucleophilic arene rings to render the quinolinone skeleton. Alternatively, under the same reaction conditions, N-para-methoxyphenylamides afford pyrrolidinone derivatives through an olefin amidohydroxylation process.     

Reactions of dibromotetrafluorobenzene derivatives with sodium phenoxide salts. Competing hydrodebromination and SNAr processes

1,2- and 1,3-dibromotetrafluorobenzene react with sodium phenoxide derivatives at sites para to ring bromine because these positions are activated by fluorine atoms ortho and meta to the site of nucleophilic substitution. Fluorine para to the site of nucleophilic attack is usually deactivating in nucleophilic aromatic substitution processes and this is reflected in the significantly reduced reactivity of 1,4-dibromotetrafluorobenzene which undergoes competing hydrodebromination processes to afford, primarily, 3-bromo-1,2,4,5-tetrafluorobenzene.     

Synthesis of Amides by Nucleophilic Substitution of Hydrogen in 3-Nitropyridine

3-Nitropyridine reacted with nitrogen-centered carboxylic acid amide anions in anhydrous DMSO in the presence of K₃Fe(CN)₆ via oxidative nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen to give previously unknown N-(5-nitropyridin-2-yl) carboxamides. The reaction of nitrobenzene with urea anion in DMSO enabled one-pot synthesis of bis(4-nitrophenyl)amine.     

Efficient synthesis of unsymmetrical diaryl thioethers via TBAF-mediated denitrative substitution of nitroarenes with PhSTMS under mild and neutral conditions

Tetrabutylammonium fluoride(TBAF) effectively facilitated a denitrative substitution reaction of electron-deficient nitroarenes with phenylthiotrimethylsilane(PhSTMS) under mild and base-free neutral conditions at room temperature,providing a practical and efficient synthesis of useful unsymmetrical diaryl thioethers.Nitroarenes bearing ortho-and para-positioned electron-withdrawing groups are the most reactive substrates,indicating that this reaction most possibly proceeded via the nucleophilic aromatic substitution(S_NAr) mechanism.