Quinoxaline-specific enantioselective sulfa-michael reaction catalyzed by chiral phosphoric acid

Highly enantioselective sulfa-Michael additions (SMA) between 2-alkenyl quinoxalines and aromatic thiols are accomplished using a low loading of chiral phosphoric acid catalyst (1 mol%). It was confirmed by an investigation of a lot of azaarenes that the two C=N units of quinoxalines are indispensable for controlling the reaction enantioselectivities. A series of non-terminal 2-alkenes substituted with aryls or alkyls, even other electro-withdrawing groups such as ketones, esters, or amides, selectively reacted and afforded the desired SMA products (48 examples) in good regioselectivities with high yields (up to 99%) and good ee values (up to 97%).     

Asymmetric Hydrative Aldol Reaction (HAR) via Vinyl-Gold Promoted Intermolecular Ynamide Addition to Aldehydes

Herein, we reported an intermolecular asymmetric hydrative aldol reaction through vinyl-gold intermediate under ambient conditions. This tandem alkyne hydration and sequential nucleophilic addition afforded a “base-free” approach to β-hydroxy amides with high efficiency (up to 95 % yields, >50 examples). Vinyl gold intermediate was applied as reactive nucleophile and Fe(acac)₃ was used as the critical co-catalyst to prevent undesired protodeauration, allowing this transformation to proceed under mild conditions with good functional group tolerance and excellent stereoselectivity (>20 : 1 d.r. and up to 99 % ee).     

Facile amidation of esters with aromatic amines promoted by lanthanide tris (amide) complexes

The development of catalysts capable of catalyzing amidation of esters with amines to construct amides under mild conditions is of great importance. Compared to aliphatic amines, the direct catalytic amidation of esters with less nucleophilic aromatic amines is rather difficult. Employing simple lanthanide tris (amide) complexes Ln[N (SiMe₃)₂]₃(μ-Cl)Li (THF)₃ as the catalysts, it was found a broad range of aromatic amines and esters were efficiently converted into various amides in good yields under mild conditions. A plausible mechanism for this transformation was experimentally supported as starting from an amide exchange reaction between the lanthanide tris (amide) complex and the substrate amine.     

Enantioselective conjugate addition to α,β-unsaturated esters and amides mediated by lithium perchlorate

An efficient method for the enantioselective 1,4-conjugate addition of amines to α,β-unsaturated esters containing an inexpensive chiral auxiliary, such as (S)-2-methyl-1-butanol and fenchyl alcohol, in solvent-free conditions mediated by solid lithium perchlorate is reported. Over 12 examples of the products are generated in excellent yields, accompanied by moderate enantioselectivity. The concentrated solution of LiClO₄ in a diethyl ether system works well for the enantioselective 1,4-addition of organolithium compounds to α,β-unsaturated amides without any side reactions.     

Highly chemo- and enantioselective vinylogous aldol/cyclization cascade reaction to construct chiral 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones

An organocatalytic chemo- and enantioselective vinylogous aldol/cyclization cascade reaction between β,γ-unsaturated amides and β,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters was developed. With 5?mol% of chiral tertiary amine-thiourea catalyst C3, highly functionalized 5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones with a quaternary stereocenter were constructed in a straightforward manner with high yields (up to 99%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).     

Microwave acceleration in DABAL-Me3-mediated amide formation

Facile direct coupling of esters and secondary amines to afford tertiary amides proceeds under microwave irradiation using the air-stable trimethylaluminium source DABAL-Me₃ [(DABCO)(AlMe₃)₂]. Excellent yields (88-98%) are attained for cyclic secondary amines in reactions that are complete in 5-16 min. The process can be extended to the formation of Weinreb amides (upto 76% from commercial MeNHOMe·HCl) in a one-pot procedure using NaH to liberate the free methoxyamine.     

Gas-Free Amino- and Alkoxycarbonylation of Aryl Iodides in a Bioinspired Deep Eutectic Solvent with Mo(CO)6 as a Safe CO Source

The Pd-catalyzed amino- and alkoxycarbonylation of aryl iodides has been exploited, for the first time, in a bioinspired Deep Eutectic Solvent and under gas-free conditions, by using Mo(CO)₆ as the CO source. The method allows for the preparation of carboxylic amides and esters in high yields (up to 99 %), short reaction time (2 h) and under mild reaction conditions (80 °C), with a low catalyst loading (2.5 mol %). Noteworthy, in the case of N-hexylbenzamide, it has been demonstrated that both the catalyst and DES can be used for four consecutive runs, with a moderate decrease of catalytic efficiency. The methodology has been also applied to the preparation of an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient used for the treatment of human scabies and lice.     

Amide bond formation using an air-stable source of AlMe3

Synthesis of amides from coupling esters with a range of primary amines can be conveniently achieved in moderate to excellent yields (69-99%) using an air-stable adduct of trimethylaluminium (AlMe₃)₂·DABCO (DABCO is 1,4-diazobicyclo[2.2.2]octane), referred to as DABAL-Me₃. Reactions can be run without requiring the exclusion of atmospheric oxygen or the drying of solvents.     

One-pot stibine modified Co2(CO)8 catalyzed reductive N-alkylation of primary amides with carbonyl compounds

A one-pot stibine modified Co₂(CO)₈ homogeneous catalytic reductive N-alkylation of primary amides using aldehydes/ketones as alkylating agents, is reported. Good to excellent yields of a wide range of secondary amides are obtained (up to 97%) under relative mild conditions.     

Palladium-catalyzed selective alkoxycarbonylation of α,β-unsaturated amides: a novel approach toward new ω-amido esters and N-substituted cyclic succinimides

The alkoxycarbonylation of α,β-unsaturated amides proceeded efficiently and regioselectivity to give ω-amido esters with complete conversion in the presence of the catalyst system: Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂/MeOH/CO/H₂O. The reaction was successfully applied to the alkoxycarbonylation of bis-acrylamides yielding, selectively, the corresponding di-ω-amido esters. These mono and di-ω-amido esters have been used as precursors for the synthesis of N-substituted cyclic succinimides in moderate to high yields.     

Amidation of esters assisted by Mg(OCH3)2 or CaCl2

Magnesium methoxide (Mg(OCH₃)₂) and calcium chloride have been shown to facilitate the direct aminolysis of esters by ammonia to primary amides. Methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, and tert-butyl esters were converted to the corresponding carboxamides in good yields. Reactions have been run on a larger scale and without the safety liability inherent in the use of magnesium nitride (Mg₃N₂). Ammonium chloride and amine hydrochlorides have been used successfully in the place of ammonia with magnesium methoxide.     

Transition-metal,organic solvent and base free α-hydroxylation of β-keto esters and β-keto amides with peroxides in water

Without employing any transition metal, organic solvent and base, a facile, economical and environmentally friendly strategy has been developed for the α-hydroxylation of β-keto esters and β-keto amides with peroxides via radical cross-coupling reaction in water under open-air conditions. This protocol allows a convenient access to various α-hydroxy-β-keto esters and α-hydroxy-β-keto amides with up to 92% yield (34 examples). Moreover, the reaction was successfully scaled up to gram quantity and mechanistic studies showed the radical pathway was involved in this hydroxylation.     

Graphite‐Supported Gold Nanoparticles as Efficient Catalyst for Aerobic Oxidation of Benzylic Amines to Imines and N‐Substituted 1,2,3,4‐Tetrahydroisoquinolines to Amides: Synthetic Applications and Mechanistic Study

Selective oxidation of amines using oxygen as terminal oxidant is an important area in green chemistry. In this work, we describe the use of graphite‐supported gold nanoparticles (AuNPs/C) to catalyze aerobic oxidation of cyclic and acyclic benzylic amines to the corresponding imines with moderate‐to‐excellent substrate conversions (43–100 %) and product yields (66–99 %) (19 examples). Oxidation of N‐substituted 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolines in the presence of aqueous NaHCO₃ solution gave the corresponding amides in good yields (83–93 %) with high selectivity (up to amide/enamide=93:4) (6 examples). The same protocol can be applied to the synthesis of benzimidazoles from the reaction of o‐phenylenediamines with benzaldehydes under aerobic conditions (8 examples). By simple centrifugation, AuNPs/C can be recovered and reused for ten consecutive runs for the oxidation of dibenzylamine to N‐benzylidene(phenyl)methanamine without significant loss of catalytic activity and selectivity. This protocol “AuNPs/C+O₂” can be scaled to the gram scale, and 8.9 g (84 % isolated yield) of 3,4‐dihydroisoquinoline can be obtained from the oxidation of 10 g 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline in a one‐pot reaction. Based on the results of kinetic studies, radical traps experiment, and Hammett plot, a mechanism involving the hydrogen‐transfer reaction from amine to metal and oxidation of M‐H is proposed.     

Facile oxidative conversion of hydrazides of carboxylic acids to corresponding acids,esters and amides using copper compounds

Oxidative conversion of hydrazides of carboxylic acids to acids, esters and amides using Cu salts was studied. Acids were obtained in high yields by using a catalytic amount of Cu(OAc)₂ at room temperature by bubbling oxygen. Hydrazides were converted to esters by the treatment with Cu(OR)Cl or Cu(OR)₂ formed in situ from CuCl₂ and sodium alkoxide. Amides were obtained in high yields by the oxidation of hydrazides with CuCl₂ in the presence of amines.     

Direct transformation of N,N-disubstituted amides and isopropyl esters to nitriles

Various N,N-dimethyl amides, N-methoxy-N-methyl amides, and isopropyl esters were smoothly transformed into the corresponding nitriles in good to moderate yields by the treatment with diisobutylaluminium hydride, followed by treatment with molecular iodine in aq ammonia. The present reactions are novel one-pot and practical methods for the transformation of N,N-disubstituted amides and isopropyl esters into nitriles, through the formation of hemiaminal O-AlBu₂ and hemiacetal O-AlBu₂, respectively.     

Stereospecific 1,3‐Aminobromination of Donor–Acceptor Cyclopropanes

Sn(OTf)₂‐catalyzed 1,3‐aminobromination of donor–acceptor cyclopropanes with various sulfonyl amides or electron‐poor anilines and N ‐bromosuccinimide is reported. These experimentally straightforward reactions occurred with complete regio‐ and stereospecificity (for anilines) to give γ‐aminated α‐brominated malonic diesters in good to excellent yields (up to 98 %). These compounds served as valuable substrates for subsequent reactions to provide substituted azetidines and γ‐lactams in high yields.     

A solventless protocol for the Michael addition of aromatic amides to α,β-unsaturated esters promoted by microwave irradiation

A very simple and efficient solvent-free method for the preparation of N-benzoylated β-amino esters (protected β-amino acids) via the microwave-assisted Michael addition of aromatic amides to α,β-unsaturated esters in the presence of Cs₂CO₃ and tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) is described. The advantages of this method are efficiency, high yields and short reaction times.     

Consecutive catalytic electrophilic fluorination/amination of β-keto esters: toward α-fluoro-α-amino acids?

Monofluorination of β-keto esters with Selectfluor^® (1-chloromethyl-4-fluoro-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2,2,2]octane bis(tetrafluoroborate)) using CpTiCl₃ as a catalyst, followed by amination with diazodicarboxylates using a Cu/Ph-Box catalyst leads to α-fluoro-α-hydrazino-β-keto esters in good yields and good selectivities (ee up to 94%).     

Synthesis of 2-oxazolines via boron esters of N-(2-hydroxyethyl) amides

A new, convenient, one-pot process is presented for the synthesis of 2-oxazolines in high yields (75-94%) via boron esters of N-(2-hydroxyethyl) amides. The procedure involves thermolysis of the boron esters at 240-260 °C, in the presence of solid CaO as an acid scavenger and allows the preparation of oxazolines from hydroxyethyl amides of aliphatic and aromatic monocarboxylic acids.     

Catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins with recyclable osmate-exchanged chloroapatite catalyst

An osmate-exchanged chloroapatite (CAP-OsO₄) catalyst was prepared by an ion-exchange technique. CAP-OsO₄ efficiently catalyses asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins including α,β-unsaturated esters and amides to afford the corresponding diols in high yields and enantioselectivities. The catalyst was reused for several cycles with consistent activity.