Regioselective Insertion of o‐Carborynes into the α‐CH Bond of Tertiary Amines: Synthesis of α‐Carboranylated Amines

o‐Carboryne can undergo α‐C? H bond insertion with tertiary amines, thus affording α‐carboranylated amines in very good regioselectivity and isolated yields. In this process, the nucleophilic addition of tertiary amines to the multiple bond of o‐carboryne generates a zwitterionic intermediate. An intramolecular proton transfer, followed by a nucleophilic attack leads to the formation of the final product. Thus, regioselectivity is highly dependent upon the acidity of α‐C? H proton of tertiary amines. This approach serves as an efficient methodology for the preparation of a series of 1‐aminoalkyl‐o‐carboranes.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Iron(III) Porphyrin‐Catalyzed Intramolecular C(sp3)–H Amination of Alkyl Azides

Metal‐catalyzed intramolecular C?H amination of alkyl azides constitutes an appealing approach to alicyclic amines; challenges remain in broadening substrate scope, enhancing regioselectivity, and applying the method to natural product synthesis. Herein we report an iron(III) porphyrin bearing axial N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands which catalyzes the intramolecular C(sp³)–H amination of a wide variety of alkyl azides under microwave‐assisted and thermal conditions, resulting in selective amination of tertiary, benzylic, allylic, secondary, and primary C?H bonds with up to 95 % yield. 14 out of 17 substrates were cyclized selectively at C4 to give pyrrolidines. The regioselectivity at C4 or C5 could be tuned by modifying the reactivity of the C5–H bond. Mechanistic studies revealed a concerted or a fast re‐bound mechanism for the amination reaction. The reaction has been applied to the syntheses of tropane, nicotine, cis‐octahydroindole, and leelamine derivatives.     

Regioselective Insertion of o‐Carborynes into the α‐C?H Bond of Tertiary Amines: Synthesis of α‐Carboranylated Amines

o‐Carboryne can undergo α‐C H bond insertion with tertiary amines, thus affording α‐carboranylated amines in very good regioselectivity and isolated yields. In this process, the nucleophilic addition of tertiary amines to the multiple bond of o‐carboryne generates a zwitterionic intermediate. An intramolecular proton transfer, followed by a nucleophilic attack leads to the formation of the final product. Thus, regioselectivity is highly dependent upon the acidity of α‐C H proton of tertiary amines. This approach serves as an efficient methodology for the preparation of a series of 1‐aminoalkyl‐o‐carboranes.     

A pitfall of using 2‐[(2E)‐3‐(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐2‐methylprop‐2‐enylidene]malononitrile as a matrix in MALDI TOF MS: chemical adduction of matrix to analyte amino groups

2‐[(2E)‐3‐(4‐tert‐Butylphenyl)‐2‐methylprop‐2‐enylidene]malononitrile (DCTB) has been considered as an excellent matrix for matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) of many types of synthetic compounds. However, it might provide troublesome results for compounds containing aliphatic primary or secondary amino groups. For these compounds, strong extra ion peaks with a mass difference of 184.1 Da were usually observed, which might falsely indicate the presence of some unknown impurities that were not detected by other matrices. On the basis of the possible mechanisms proposed, these extra ions are the products of nucleophilic reactions between analyte amino groups and DCTB molecules or radical cations. In these reactions, an amino group replaces the dicyanomethylene group of DCTB forming a matrix adduct via a ? C?N‐bond. An aliphatic primary amine could react easily with DCTB and the reaction could start once they are mixed in a MALDI solution. For an aliphatic secondary amine, on the other hand, the reaction most likely occurs in the gas phase. Protonation of amino groups by adding acid seems to be a useful way to stop DCTB adduction for compounds with one single amino group, but not for compounds with multiple amino groups. Unlike aliphatic primary or secondary amines, aliphatic tertiary amines and aromatic amines do not yield DCTB adducts. This is because tertiary amines do not have the required transferrable H‐(N) atom to form an extra ? C?N‐bond, while aromatic amines are not sufficiently nucleophilic to attack DCTB. In view of the possible matrix adduction, care should be taken in MALDI time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (TOF MS) when DCTB is used as the matrix for compounds containing amino group(s). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intramolecular Redox‐Mannich Reactions: Facile Access to the Tetrahydroprotoberberine Core

Cyclic amines such as pyrrolidine undergo redox‐annulations with 2‐formylaryl malonates. Concurrent oxidative amine α‐C?H bond functionalization and reductive N‐alkylation render this transformation redox‐neutral. This redox‐Mannich process provides regioisomers of classic Reinhoudt reaction products as an entry to the tetrahydroprotoberberine core, enabling the synthesis of (±)‐thalictricavine and its epimer. An unusually mild amine‐promoted dealkoxycarbonylation was discovered in the course of these studies.     

Hydro­gen‐bonded adducts of ferrocene‐1,1′‐diyl­bis­(di­phenyl­methanol): a finite cyclic 1:1 adduct with 2,2′‐dipyridyl­amine

In ferrocene‐1,1′‐diyl­bis­(di­phenyl­methanol)–2,2′‐dipyridyl­amine (1/1), [Fe(C₁₈H₁₅O)₂]·C₁₀H₉N₃, (I), there is an intramolecular O—H?O hydrogen bond [H?O 2.03 Å, O?O 2.775 (2) Å and O—H?O 147°] in the ferrocenediol component, and the two neutral molecular components are linked by one O—H?N hydrogen bond [H?N 1.96 Å, O?N 2.755 (2) Å and O—H?N, 157°] and one N—H?O hydrogen bond [H?O 2.26 Å, N?O 3.112 (2) Å and N—H?O 164°] forming a cyclic R(8) motif. One of the pyridyl N atoms plays no part in the intermolecular hydrogen bonding, but participates in a short intramolecular C—H?N contact [H?N 2.31 Å, C?N 2.922 (2) Å and C—H?N 122°].     

Catalytic Upgrading of Biomass‐Derived Methyl Ketones to Liquid Transportation Fuel Precursors by an Organocatalytic Approach

A highly efficient water‐tolerant, solid‐base catalyst for the self‐condensation of biomass‐derived methyl ketones to jet‐diesel fuel precursors was developed by grafting site‐isolated secondary amines on silica‐alumina supports. It is shown that apart from the nature and density of amine groups and the spatial separation of the acidic and basic sites, the acidity of the support material plays a critical role in defining the catalytic activity. It is also found that a combination of weakly acidic silanol/aluminol with secondary amine groups can mimic proline catalysts and are more effective in catalyzing the selective dimerization reaction than the combination of amines with organic acids. In situ FTIR measurements demonstrate that acidic groups activate methyl ketones through their carbonyl groups leading to a favorable C? C bond formation step involving an enamine intermediate. DFT analysis of the reaction pathway confirms that C? C bond formation is the rate‐limiting step.     

Trans ligand influence in cobalt(III) Schiff base complexes: Electronic and steric effects on the kinetics of hydrolysis

Rate constants for the hydrolysis (k_h) of six different amines in trans‐[Co((BA)₂en)(amine)₂]ClO₄ complexes (amine = aniline 1a , para‐toluidine 1b , benzylamine 1c (primary amines), pyrrolidine 2a , piperidine 2b , morpholine 2c (secondary amines), and (BA)₂en = Bisbenzoylacetoneethylenediiminato) in mixed methanol/water (1:1) solvent have been determined between 30 and 55°C. The hydrolysis product of 2c , trans‐[Co((BA)₂en)(morpholine)(H₂O)]ClO₄, has been separately prepared and characterized by UV–vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Depending on the nature of the axial amine ligand the limiting first‐order rate constants for the amine hydrolysis at 40°C range from (3.42 ± 0.10) × 10^?5 to (5.32 ± 0.13) × 10^?5 s^?1. At the first glance, a reasonable trend cannot be established between k_h and the basicity or the inductive trans effect of the amine ligands. However, when the complexes are classified into two groups, based on the type of the amine (primary and secondary), the values of k_h correlate well with the basicity or inductive effect of the amine in each group. The observed trend in k_h values for the complexes with primary amines is 1a (5.32 ± 0.13) × 10^?5 s^?1 > 1b (3.51 ± 0.14) × 10^?5 > 1c (1.72 ± 0.03) × 10^?5 (40°C), which is opposite to the amine basicity strength. In the case of the complexes with secondary amines, the observed trend in k_h values is in accord with amine basicity (or inductive trans effect), i.e. 2a (5.02 ± 0.22) × 10^?5 > 2b (4.18 ± 0.10) × 10^?5 > 2c (3.42 ± 0.10) × 10^?5 s^?1 (40°C). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 387–393, 2002     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Cascade Double C—N Bond Activation: A New Strategy for Aminomethylation of 1,3‐Dienes with Aminals

A new palladium‐catalyzed selective aminomethylation of conjugated 1,3‐dienes with aminals via double C—N bond activation is described. This simple method provides an effective and rapid approach for the synthesis of linear α,β‐unsaturated allylic amines with perfect regioselectivity. Mechanistic studies disclosed that one palladium catalyst cleaved two distinct C—N bond to furnish a cascade double C—N bond activation, in which an allylic 1,3‐diamine and allylic 1,2‐diamine were initially formed as key intermediates through the palladium‐catalyzed C—N bond activation of aminal and the α,β‐unsaturated allylic amine was subsequently produced via palladium‐catalyzed C—N bond activation of the allylic diamines.     

Iridium‐Catalyzed Regioselective Silylation of Aromatic and Benzylic CH Bonds Directed by a Secondary Amine

Reported herein is an iridium‐catalyzed, regioselective silylation of the aromatic C? H bonds of benzylamines and the benzylic C? H bonds of 2,N‐dialkylanilines. In this process, (hydrido)silyl amines, generated in situ by dehydrogenative coupling of benzylamine or aniline with diethylsilane, undergo selective silylation at the C? H bond γ to the amino group. The products of this silylation are suitable for subsequent oxidation, halogenation, and cross‐coupling reactions to deliver benzylamine and arylamine derivatives.     

Straightforward Solvent‐Free Synthesis of Tertiary Phosphine Chalcogenides from Secondary Phosphines,Electron‐Rich Alkenes,and Elemental Sulfur or Selenium

A series of tertiary phosphine sulfides and selenides have been synthesized in excellent yields (88‐99%) via a three‐component reaction between secondary phosphines, electron‐rich alkenes (styrene, vinyl chalcogenides), and elemental sulfur or selenium, proceeding under solvent‐free conditions (80‐82°C, 4–44 h). The interaction occurs via initial oxidation of secondary phosphines with elemental sulfur or selenium followed by noncatalyzed anti‐Markovnikov addition of the generated R₂P(E)H (E = S, Se) species to alkenes to afford the corresponding adducts with high chemo‐ and regioselectivity.     

The Isothiocyanato Moiety: An Ideal Protecting Group for the Stereoselective Synthesis of Sialic Acid Glycosides and Subsequent Diversification

The preparation of a crystalline, peracetyl adamantanyl thiosialoside donor protected by an isothiocyanate group is described. On activation at ?78 °C in the presence of typical carbohydrate acceptors, this donor gives high yields of the corresponding sialosides with exquisite α‐selectivity. The high selectivity extends to the 4‐O‐benzyl‐protected 3‐OH acceptors, which are typically less reactive and selective than galactose 3,4‐diols. Treatment of the α‐sialosides with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane or allyltris(trimethylsilyl)silane results in replacement of the C5? N5 bond by a C? H or a C? C bond. The reaction of the isothiocyanate‐protected sialosides with thioacids generates amides, while reaction with an amine gives a thiourea, which can be converted into a guanidine. The very high α‐selectivities observed with the new donor and the rich chemistry of the isothiocyante function considerably extend the scope for optimization at the sialoside 5‐position.     

Synthesis of π‐Functional Molecules through Oxidation of Aromatic Amines

In this review, we focus on the synthesis of π‐conjugated functional molecules by the oxidation of aromatic amines, which is one of the most effective methods for the construction of C?C, C?N, and N?N bonds between two π‐conjugated molecular units, and consider their characteristics and applications. Polyanilines are the most common products of the oxidation of aromatic amines; however, azobenzenes, phenazines, and 1,1′‐binaphthyl‐2,2′‐diamines may be produced in this manner also, depending on the reaction conditions. Recent advances in the methodology of aniline oxidation have led to the development of high‐regioselectivity industrial‐scale syntheses of optically or electroactive π‐functional dyes containing nitrogen atoms. In particular, the regioselective fusion of π‐extended aromatic amines can be used to prepare distorted π‐conjugated molecules under mild reaction conditions, allowing the construction of unprecedented curved nitrogen‐containing π‐conjugated molecules.     

Hydrogen Bond Directed ortho‐Selective C−H Borylation of Secondary Aromatic Amides

Reported is an iridium catalyst for ortho‐selective C?H borylation of challenging secondary aromatic amide substrates, and the regioselectivity is controlled by hydrogen‐bond interactions. The BAIPy ‐Ir catalyst forms three hydrogen bonds with the substrate during the crucial activation step, and allows ortho‐C?H borylation with high selectivity. The catalyst displays unprecedented ortho selectivities for a wide variety of substrates that differ in electronic and steric properties, and the catalyst tolerates various functional groups. The regioselective C?H borylation catalyst is readily accessible and converts substrates on gram scale with high selectivity and conversion.     

Free‐Amine‐Directed Alkenylation of C(sp2)?H and Cycloamination by Palladium Catalysis

A new protocol for the palladium‐catalyzed free‐amine‐directed alkenylation of C(sp²)? H bonds and cycloamination is described. Substituted biaryl‐2‐amines react with various alkenes, including electron‐deficient alkenes, aryl alkenes and alkyl alkenes, to give the corresponding phenanthridines with exclusive regioselectivity. The use of α‐branched styrenes leads to the formation of tricyclic compounds with a seven‐membered amine ring. The method operates through a free‐amine‐directed alkenylation and a subsequent hydroamination cyclization reaction.     

Thermal decomposition of amide and imide derivatives of maleated polyethylene

The thermal decomposition behavior of six derivatives of maleated polyethylene was investigated by high‐resolution pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The results revealed that substituents attached to maleated polyethylene as amides formed from secondary amines were significantly less stable than imides formed from primary amines. Morpholine amide and N‐methylaniline amide derivatives of maleated polyethylene underwent significant decomposition at 160 °C and substantial decomposition at 200 °C. In contrast, the imide derivatives of maleated polyethylene were stable for long periods of time at elevated temperatures. Following 2 min of heating, the first traces of decomposition were detected at 200 °C for the 2‐aminoanthrancene imide derivative, at 255 °C for the 2‐phenethylamine imide, and at 280 °C for the 9‐aminomethylphenanthrene imide. With the exception of the 9‐aminomethylphenanthrene imide, all other derivatives decomposed to form the corresponding amine as the single most significant volatile product. The most likely explanation for this result is that the polymer contained small amounts of succinamic acid that did not close to form the imide. We concluded that the imide was stable even to 315 °C and that the amine was lost from β‐carboxyamide groups present in the sample. In the 9‐aminomethylphenanthrene imide derivative, we observed no loss of amine. Instead, we observed an alternative fragmentation process yielding 9‐methyl phenanthrene. The dependence of the thermal stability of these various derivatives of maleated polyethylene has important implications for the design of reactive‐blending strategies for polyolefins with other functional polymers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 730–740, 2000     

Cuprous Oxide Catalyzed Oxidative CC Bond Cleavage for CN Bond Formation: Synthesis of Cyclic Imides from Ketones and Amines

Selective oxidative cleavage of a C? C bond offers a straightforward method to functionalize organic skeletons. Reported herein is the oxidative C? C bond cleavage of ketone for C? N bond formation over a cuprous oxide catalyst with molecular oxygen as the oxidant. A wide range of ketones and amines are converted into cyclic imides with moderate to excellent yields. In‐depth studies show that both α‐C? H and β‐C? H bonds adjacent to the carbonyl groups are indispensable for the C? C bond cleavage. DFT calculations indicate the reaction is initiated with the oxidation of the α‐C? H bond. Amines lower the activation energy of the C? C bond cleavage, and thus promote the reaction. New insight into the C? C bond cleavage mechanism is presented.     

A Highly Efficient Gold‐Catalyzed Photoredox α‐C(sp3)H Alkynylation of Tertiary Aliphatic Amines with Sunlight

A new α‐C(sp³)? H alkynylation of unactivated tertiary aliphatic amines with 1‐iodoalkynes as radical alkynylating reagents in the presence of [Au₂(μ‐dppm)₂]²⁺ in sunlight provides propargylic amines. Based on mechanistic studies, a C? C coupling of an α‐aminoalkyl radical and an alkynyl radical is proposed for the C(sp³)? C(sp) bond formation. The mild, convenient, efficient, and highly selective C(sp³)? H alkynylation reaction shows excellent regioselectivity and good functional‐group compatibility. A scale‐up to gram quantities is possible with sunlight used as a clean and sustainable energy source.     

Novel synthesis of N,N′‐dialkyl cyclic ureas using sulfur‐assisted carbonylation and oxidation

The first example of cyclic urea synthesis from secondary amines by the use of sulfur‐assisted carbonylation and oxidation was established. By combined sulfur‐assisted carbonylation of secondary α,ω‐diamines under an ambient pressure of carbon monoxide at 20°C with oxidation by molecular oxygen (0.1 MPa, 20°C), a facile synthetic method for N,N′‐dialkyl cyclic ureas including 1,3‐dimethyl‐2‐imidazolidinone was developed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 20:64–68, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20508     

The Mechanism of NO Bond Cleavage in Rhodium‐Catalyzed CH Bond Functionalization of Quinoline N‐oxides with Alkynes: A Computational Study

Metal‐catalyzed C?H activation not only offers important strategies to construct new bonds, it also allows the merge of important research areas. When quinoline N‐oxide is used as an arene source in C?H activation studies, the N?O bond can act as a directing group as well as an O‐atom donor. The newly reported density functional theory method, M11L, has been used to elucidate the mechanistic details of the coupling between quinoline N?O bond and alkynes, which results in C?H activation and O‐atom transfer. The computational results indicated that the most favorable pathway involves an electrophilic deprotonation, an insertion of an acetylene group into a Rh?C bond, a reductive elimination to form an oxazinoquinolinium‐coordinated Rh^I intermediate, an oxidative addition to break the N?O bond, and a protonation reaction to regenerate the active catalyst. The regioselectivity of the reaction has also been studied by using prop‐1‐yn‐1‐ylbenzene as a model unsymmetrical substrate. Theoretical calculations suggested that 1‐phenyl‐2‐quinolinylpropanone would be the major product because of better conjugation between the phenyl group and enolate moiety in the corresponding transition state of the regioselectivity‐determining step. These calculated data are consistent with the experimental observations.