Visible-light-initiated tandem synthesis of difluoromethylated oxindoles in 2-MeTHF under additive-, metal catalyst-, external photosensitizer-free and mild conditions

An efficient and eco-friendly protocol for synthesizing difluoromethylated oxindoles through a visiblelight induced one-pot tandem reaction of N-arylacrylamides, difluoroacetic acid and Ph I(OAc)_2 was developed. This reaction proceeded in the absence of any additive, base, metal-catalyst and external photosensitizer, using cheap and easily available CHF_2CO_2H as the difluoromethylation reagent and bulk biomass-derived 2-Me THF as the sole solvent. 26 Examples of N-arylacrylamide substrates were investigated, and all of them successfully underwent difluoromethylation to deliver the target products in good to excellent yields.     

2-Methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF) as a versatile green solvent for the synthesis of amphiphilic copolymers via ROP,FRP, and RAFT tandem polymerizations

2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF) is a readily available, inexpensive, neoteric, bio-based solvent. It has been adopted across a wide range of chemical processes including the batch manufacture of fine chemicals, enzymatic polycondensations and ring opening polymerizations. To reduce the environmental burden related to the synthesis of pharmaceutical-grade polymers based on lactide and caprolactone, we envisaged the use of 2-MeTHF. For the first time, we combined a series of metal-free and enzymatic ROPs with free radical and controlled RAFT polymerizations (carried out separately and in tandem) in 2-MeTHF, in order to easily tune the chemistry and the architecture of the final polymers. After a simple purification, the amphiphilic polymers were formulated into nanoparticles and tested for their cytocompatibility in three model cell lines, to assess their application as potential polymeric excipients for nanomedicines.     

Bi(OTf)3 and SiO2-Bi(OTf)3 as effective catalysts for the Ferrier rearrangement

Bi(OTf)3 and SiO2-Bi(OTf)3 are found to effectively catalyze the Ferrier rearrangement of tri-O-acetyl glycals with different alcohols providing an effective route to 2,3-unsaturated O-glycosides with good anomeric selectivity and good to excellent yields after short reaction times.     

Direct Ferrier rearrangement on unactivated glycals catalyzed by indium(III) chloride

Anhydrous InCl₃ has been shown to efficiently catalyze the Ferrier rearrangement by a direct allylic substitution of the hydroxyl group at C-3 position of glycals to afford the corresponding 2,3-unsaturated glycosides in high yields at ambient temperature. This methodology obviates the need for protecting and/or activating the C-3 hydroxyl group of glycals. The reaction works in equal ease with both 4,6-di-O-benzyl-d-glucal and 4,6-di-O-benzyl-d-galactal. The mildness of InCl₃ makes this approach compatible for glycosyl acceptors with acid labile groups. The generality of the reaction has been demonstrated with a diversity of alcohols, phenols, and sugar nucleophiles.     

In(OTf)3 catalyzed reductive etherification of 2-aryloxybenzaldehydes and 2-(arylthio)benzaldehydes

2-Aryloxybenzaldehydes and 2-(arylthio)benzaldehydes undergo reductive etherification in presence of 5 mol% In(OTf)₃ and stoichiometric amount of Et₃SiH under solvent free conditions to generate novel symmetrical dibenzyl ethers and thioethers in excellent yields. In(OTf)₃ is found to be superior in terms of catalytic activity over the other metal triflates tested for the reaction. Xanthenes and thioxanthenes, as anticipated, could not be obtained under these conditions.     

An eco-friendly synthesis of 2-aminochromenes and indolyl chromenes catalyzed by InCl3 in aqueous media

A simple and convenient method for the synthesis of new 2-aminochromenes and indolyl chromenes via an indium trichloride catalyzed, three-component reaction in aqueous media is described.     

An alternative quinoline synthesis by via Friedländer reaction catalyzed by Yb(OTf)3

Quinolines have been synthesized in very good yields from 2-aminoarylketones and differently substituted carbonyl compounds in the presence of Yb(OTf)₃ as the catalyst. The method is applicable to both cyclic and acyclic carbonyl compounds with only slight differences in the experimental procedure.     

CuI@Al2O3 catalyzed synthesis of 2-aminonicotinonitrile derivatives under solvent free condition

A Green approach for the synthesis of 2-aminonicotinonitriles from oxime acetate as enamine precursor, aldehyde and malononitrile under neat condition without the use of additive in presence of CuI@Al₂O₃ nanocatalyst is reported. Wide substrate scope, high yield in shorter reaction time, avoid the usage of bases/additives with better green chemistry matrices like low E factor and PMI, high values of atom economy, carbon efficiency and reaction mass efficiency as compared with literature methods. CuI@Al₂O₃ nanocatalyst was recovered and recycled five times without significant decrease in its catalytical activity.     

Tandem ene-reaction/hydroamination of amino-olefin and -allene compounds catalyzed by Bi(OTf)3

Bi(OTf)(3) was proven to act as an effective catalyst for tandem ene-reaction/hydroamination of amino-olefin and amino-allene compounds with some enophiles, giving rise to functionalized N-heterocycles in good yields.     

Cobalt(II) catalyzed tosylation of alcohols with p-toluenesulfonic acid

Cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate (CoCl₂·6H₂O) has been found to catalyze the tosylation of both aliphatic and aromatic alcohols with p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TsOH) in high yields in 1,2-dichloroethane under reflux (ca. 80 °C). In the case of aliphatic alcohols, secondary alcohols undergo tosylation chemoselectively in the presence of primary hydroxy groups.     

An expeditious and greener one-pot synthesis of 4H-chromenes catalyzed by Ba(OTf)2 in PEG-water

Abstract

An expeditious synthesis of 4H-chromenes has been achieved by three-component one-pot condensation of 1,3-diketone, aldehyde, and malononitrile using Ba(OTf)₂ as catalyst in PEG-water at room temperature. Results from various reaction media and different metal triflates as catalysts show that choice of proper catalyst and the solvent system play a key role in the synthesis of 4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile derivatives. The catalyst can be recovered and reused at least five times without loss of activity. The application of an eco-friendly, noncorrosive, and reusable catalytic system with high isolated yield of the products makes this method advantageous.     

Cu（OAc）2 catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction in amines

A simple Cu(OAc)_2 catalyzed Sonogashira coupling protocol is presented.It was found that the couplings of a variety of aryl halides with terminal alkynes were conducted smoothly to afford the corresponding desired products in moderate to excellent yields,using Cu(OAc)_2 as the catalyst and Et3N as the solvent.     

Bi(OTf)3 catalyzed disproportionation reaction of cinnamyl alcohols

Bi(OTf)₃ catalyzed disproportionation reaction of cinnamyl alcohols provides chalcones and benzyl styrenes. The use of various metal triflates is investigated herein for facile and efficient redox transformation. A plausible mechanism has been proposed.     

An approach to the Paal-Knorr pyrroles synthesis catalyzed by Sc(OTf)3 under solvent-free conditions

A facile synthesis of N-substituted pyrroles by the Paal-Knorr condensation has been accomplished using a simple procedure. Among different metal triflates screened, 1 mol % Sc(OTf)₃ efficiently promoted the reaction to give excellent yield (89-98%) under mild reaction conditions. Additionally, Sc(OTf)₃ could be recovered easily after the reactions and reused without evident loss in activity.     

Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with methyl (E)-2-oxo-4-aryl-3-butenoates catalyzed by Sc(OTf)3/pybox

The asymmetric Friedel–Crafts reaction between a series of substituted indoles 2 a – l and methyl (E)‐2‐oxo‐4‐aryl‐3‐butenoates 3 a – c has been efficiently catalyzed by the scandium(III) triflate complex of (4′S,5′S)‐2,6‐bis[4′‐(triisopropylsilyl)oxymethyl‐5′‐phenyl‐1′,3′‐oxazolin‐2′‐yl]pyridine (pybox; 1 ). Substituted 4‐(indol‐3‐yl)‐2‐oxo‐4‐arylbutyric acid methyl esters 4 a – n were usually formed in excellent yields and the enantioselectivity was up to 99 % ee, irrespective of the electronic character of the substituent and its location on the indole ring, albeit with the exclusion of position 2. The adducts could be obtained as stable enol tautomers and the equilibrium with the keto structure is discussed. The X‐ray crystal structure determination of 4 m indicated the 4R absolute configuration, thus confirming the proposal of Jørgensen for 4 i . The sense of the stereoinduction can be rationalized by the same octahedral complex 5 between 3 , pybox 1 , and scandium triflate already proposed for the Diels–Alder/hetero‐Diels–Alder and the Mukaiyama–aldol reactions of pyruvates.     

Highly selective oxidation of amines to imines by Mn2O3 catalyst under eco-friendly conditions

Mn₂O₃ calcined at 450 ℃ by a simple template-free oxalate route gave 96.2% selectivity of imine at 100% conversion of benzylamine. The high selectivity of the imines clearly depended on the Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ ratio. The probable reaction pathway for amines oxidation catalyzed by manganese oxides was proposed for the first time. This catalytic process was carried out under milder conditions, no base additives, and air as the only oxidant.     

Palladium catalyzed coupling reactions of cationic porphyrins with organoboranes (Suzuki) and alkenes (Heck)

The carbon-carbon coupling reaction in aqueous medium between 5,10,15-tri-(4-N-methylpyridyl)-20-(4-bromophenyl)-porphyrin and a variety of organoboranes, fluoroorganoboranes and alkenes using palladium catalyst (Suzuki and Heck) is explored.     

MW-assisted Er(OTf)3-catalyzed mild cleavage of isopropylidene acetals in Tricky substrates

Erbium(III) trifluoromethane sulfonate is proposed as a very gentle Lewis acid catalyst in a MW-assisted chemoselective method for the cleavage of isopropylidene acetals in awkward substrates by using pure water as the solvent.     

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction of indoles with arylidene malonates catalyzed by iPr-bisoxazoline-Cu(OTf)2

The cheap and simple (i)Pr-bisoxazoline-Cu(OTf)(2) proves to be an efficient catalyst in the asymmetric Friedel-Crafts reaction of indole with arylidene malonates. In (i)BuOH, the S-enantiomer was obtained in up to 97% ee, while the opposite enantiomer was obtained in up to 78% ee in CH(2)Cl(2) or TTCE.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of pyrrolidines via the Yb(OTf)3 catalyzed three-component reaction of aldehydes, amines, and 1,1-cyclopropanediesters

[Chemical reaction: see text] Aldimines, generated in situ by the reaction of primary amines or anilines with aldehydes, undergo smooth reaction with various 1,1-cyclopropanediesters in the presence of catalytic Yb(OTf)3. The products are pyrrolidines in which the major diastereomer bears a cis relationship between substituents at the 2- and 5-positions. In most cases the diastereoselectivity is greater than 10:1.