Pyridine-catalyzed addition of diaryl-1,2-diones to dimethyl butynedioate leading to the formation of 1,2-diaroyl dimethyl maleates via an unprecedented rearrangement

[reaction: see text] Pyridine catalyzes the reaction of 1,2-diaryl diones with dimethyl butynedioate to afford diaroyl maleates. This unprecedented rearrangement involves a unique benzoyl migration and proceeds with complete stereoselectivity.     

The role of fluorine in the stereoselective tandem aza-Michael addition to acrylamide acceptors: an experimental and theoretical mechanistic study

Aza-Michael additions of alpha-amino esters to fluorinated acceptors take place in a highly stereoselective manner, to give partially modified Psi[NHCH2]retropeptides incorporating a hydrolytically stable trifluoroalanine mimic. The reaction mechanism has been investigated experimentally and theoretically, in order to explain the effect of the trifluoromethyl group on the reactivity and the origins of the experimentally observed stereocontrol. The reaction is a two-step process, involving a tandem aza-Michael addition followed by a stereoselective hydrogen transfer. Both steps are base-catalyzed. The high level of stereocontrol is the result of a combination of electrostatic interactions and steric effects.     

The direct catalytic asymmetric alpha-aminooxylation reaction: development of stereoselective routes to 1,2-diols and 1,2-amino alcohols and density functional calculations

Proline-catalyzed direct asymmetric alpha-aminooxylation of ketones and aldehydes is described. The proline-catalyzed reactions between unmodified ketones or aldehydes and nitrosobenzene proceeded with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. In all cases tested, the corresponding products were isolated with >95 % ees. Methyl alkyl ketones were regiospecifically oxidized at the methylene carbon atom to afford enantiomerically pure alpha-aminooxylated ketones. In addition, cyclic ketones could be alpha,alpha'-dioxidized with remarkably high selectivity, furnishing the corresponding diaminooxylated ketones with >99 % ees. The reaction mechanism of the proline-catalyzed direct asymmetric alpha-aminooxylation was investigated, and we performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations in order to investigate the nature of the plausible transition states further. We also screened other organocatalysts for the asymmetric alpha-oxidation reaction and found that several proline derivatives were also able to catalyze the transformation with excellent enantioselectivities. Moreover, stereoselective routes for the synthesis of monoprotected vicinal diols and hydroxyketones were found. In addition, short routes for the direct preparation of enantiomerically pure epoxides and 1,2-amino alcohols are presented. The direct catalytic alpha-oxidation is also a novel route for the stereoselective preparation of beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists.     

Chemo- and periselectivity in the addition of [OsO2(CH2)2] to ethylene: a theoretical study

Quantum chemical calculations by using density functional theory at the B3LYP level have been carried out to elucidate the reaction course for the addition of ethylene to [OsO2(CH2)2] (1). The calculations predict that the kinetically most favorable reaction proceeds with an activation barrier of 8.1 kcal mol(-1) via [3+2] addition across the O=Os=CH2 moiety. This reaction is -42.4 kcal mol(-1) exothermic. Alternatively, the [3+2] addition to the H2C=Os=CH2 fragment of 1 leads to the most stable addition product 4 (-72.7 kcal mol(-1)), yet this process has a higher activation barrier (13.0 kcal mol(-1)). The [3+2] addition to the O=Os=O fragment yielding 2 is kinetically (27.5 kcal mol(-1)) and thermodynamically (-7.0 kcal mol(-1)) the least favorable [3+2] reaction. The formal [2+2] addition to the Os=O and Os=CH2 double bonds proceeds by initial rearrangement of 1 to the metallaoxirane 1 a. The rearrangement 1-->1 a and the following [2+2] additions have significantly higher activation barriers (>30 kcal mol(-1)) than the [3+2] reactions. Another isomer of 1 is the dioxoosmacyclopropane 1 b, which is 56.2 kcal mol(-1) lower in energy than 1. The activation barrier for the 1-->1 b isomerization is 15.7 kcal mol(-1). The calculations predict that there are no energetically favorable addition reactions of ethylene with 1 b. The isomeric form 1 c containing a peroxo group is too high in energy to be relevant for the reaction course. The accuracy of the B3LYP results is corroborated by high level post-HF CCSD(T) calculations for a subset of species.     

Transmetalation reactions from Fischer carbene complexes to late transition metals: a DFT study

Transmetalation reactions from chromium(0) Fischer carbene complexes to late-transition-metal complexes (palladium(0), copper(I), and rhodium(I)) have been studied computationally by density functional theory. The computational data were compared with the available experimental data. In this study, the different reaction pathways involving the different metal atoms have been compared with each other in terms of their activation barriers and reaction energies. Although the reaction profiles for the transmetalation reactions to palladium and copper are quite similar, the computed energy values indicate that the process involving palladium as catalyst is more favorable than that involving copper. In contrast to these transformations, which occur via triangular heterobimetallic species, the transmetalation reaction to rhodium leads to a new heterobimetallic species in which a carbonyl ligand is also transferred from the Fischer carbene to the rhodium catalyst. Moreover, the structure and bonding situation of the so far elusive heterobimetallic complexes are briefly discussed.     

Intramolecular [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions of yne-ene-yne and yne-yne-ene enediynes catalysed by Rh(I): experimental and theoretical mechanistic studies

N-tosyl-linked open-chain yne-ene-yne enediynes 1 and 2 and yne-yne-ene enediynes 3 and 4 have been satisfactorily synthesised. The [2+2+2] cycloaddition process catalysed by the Wilkinson catalyst [RhCl(PPh(3))(3)] was tested with the above-mentioned substrates resulting in the production of high yields of the cycloadducts. Enediynes 1 and 2 gave standard [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions whereas enediynes 3 and 4 suffered β-hydride elimination followed by reductive elimination of the Wilkinson catalyst to give cycloadducts, which are isomers of those that would be obtained by standard [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions. The different reactivities of these two types of enediyne have been rationalised by density functional theory calculations.     

W(CO)5]-catalyzed endo- or exo-cycloisomerization reactions of 1,1-disubstituted 4-pentyn-1-ols: experimental and theoretical studies

The [W(CO)5]-catalyzed cycloisomerization reaction of 1,1-disubstituted 4-pentyn-1-ol derivatives has been studied from both, an experimental and theoretical point of view. Three different catalytic systems have been evaluated {preformed [(thf)W(CO)5], [W(CO)6]/excess Et3N, and [W(CO)6]/2 mol % Et3N]. We have found that the reaction proceeds to give the formal endo- or exo-cycloisomerization products depending on the amount of Et3N used and on the substitution along the alkyl chain of the starting alkynol. The theoretical study allowed us to find the mechanisms of the reactions which explain the formation of the formal endo- or exo-cycloisomerization products.     

Lanthanide polyoxocationic complexes: experimental and theoretical stability studies and Lewis acid catalysis

The [ε-PMo(V)(8)Mo(VI)(4)O(36)(OH)(4){Ln(III)(H(2)O)}(4)](5+) (Ln=La, Ce, Nd, Sm) polyoxocations, called εLn(4), have been synthesized at room temperature as chloride salts soluble in water, MeOH, EtOH, and DMF. Rare-earth metals can be exchanged, and (31)P NMR spectroscopic studies have allowed a comparison of the affinity of the reduced {ε-PMo(12)} core, thus showing that the La(III) ions have the highest affinity and that rare earths heavier than Eu(III) do not react with the ε-Keggin polyoxometalate. DFT calculations provide a deeper insight into the geometries of the systems studied, thereby giving more accurate information on those compounds that suffer from disorder in crystalline form. It has also been confirmed by the hypothetical La→Gd substitution reaction energy that Ln ions beyond Eu cannot compete with La in coordinating the surface of the ε-Keggin molybdate. Two of these clusters (Ln=La, Ce) have been tested to evidence that such systems are representative of a new efficient Lewis acid catalyst family. This is the first time that the catalytic activity of polyoxocations has been evaluated.     

Selective hydroalkoxycarbonylation of enamides to N-acyl amino acid esters: synthetic applications and theoretical studies

N-acyl amino acid esters are easily accessible from enamides by cobalt-catalyzed hydroalkoxycarbonylation in moderate to excellent yield. An important reaction parameter for selective carbonylation is the use of low hydrogen partial pressure, which prevents hydrogenation as a side reaction. The reported method is applicable to various enamides and alcohols. A DFT calculation of the catalytic cycle explains the preferred pathway of this reaction.     

Unprecedented aromatic homolytic substitutions and cyclization of amide-iminyl radicals: experimental and theoretical study

Amide-iminyl radicals are versatile and efficient intermediates in cascade radical cyclizations of N-acylcyanamides. They are easily trapped by alkenes or (hetero-)aromatic rings and cyclize into a series of new heterocyclic compounds which bear a pyrroloquinazoline moiety. As an illustration of the synthetic importance of these compounds, the total synthesis of the natural antitumor compound luotonin A was achieved through a tin-free radical cascade cyclization process. Not only do amide-iminyl radicals lead to new tetracyclic heterocycles but these nitrogen-centered radical species also react in aromatic homolytic substitutions. Indeed, the amide-iminyl radical moiety unprecedentedly displaces methyl, methoxy, and fluorine radicals from an aromatic carbon atom. This seminal reaction in the field of radical chemistry has been developed experimentally and its mechanism has additionally been investigated by a theoretical study.     

Organolanthanide-mediated intermolecular hydroamination of 1,3-dienes: mechanistic insights from a computational exploration of diverse mechanistic pathways for the stereoselective hydroamination of 1,3-butadiene with a primary amine supported by an ansa-neodymocene-based catalyst

The complete catalytic reaction course for the organolanthanide-mediated intermolecular hydroamination of 1,3-butadiene and n-propylamine by an archetypical [Me2Si(eta5-Me4C5)2NdCH(SiMe3)2] precatalyst was critically scrutinized by employing a reliable gradient-corrected DFT method. A free-energy profile of the overall reaction is presented that is based on the thorough characterization of all crucial elementary steps for a tentative catalytic cycle. A computationally verified, revised mechanistic scenario is proposed which is consistent with the experimentally derived empirical rate law and accounts for crucial experimental observations. It involves kinetically mobile reactant association/dissociation equilibria and facile, reversible intermolecular diene insertion into the Nd-amido bond, linked to turnover-limiting protonolysis of the eta3-butenyl-Nd functionality. The computationally predicted effective kinetics (Delta(tot) = 11.3 kcal mol(-1), Delta(tot) = -35.7 e.u.) are in reasonably good agreement with experimental data for the thoroughly studied hydroamination of alkynes. The thermodynamic and kinetic factors that determine the almost complete regio- and stereoselectivity of the mechanistically diverse intermolecular 1,3-diene hydroamination have been unraveled. The present computational study complements experiments because it allows, first, a more detailed understanding and a consistent rationalization of the experimental results for the hydroamination of 1,3-dienes and primary amines and, second, enhances the insights into general mechanistic aspects of organolanthanide-mediated intermolecular hydroamination.     

Gold-gold cooperation in the addition of methanol to alkynes

The gold(I)-mediated reaction between an internal alkyne and methanol proceeds by a dual activation mechanism, which directly results in formation of gem-diaurated intermediates. Reaction intermediates were investigated by IR multiphoton dissociation spectroscopy, kinetics by NMR spectroscopy, and the mechanism by DFT calculations.     

Amavadin and other vanadium complexes as remarkably efficient catalysts for one-pot conversion of ethane to propionic and acetic acids

Synthetic amavadin Ca[V{ON[CH(CH(3))COO](2)}(2)] and its models Ca[V{ON(CH(2)COO)(2)}(2)] and [VO{N(CH(2)CH(2)O)(3)}], in the presence of K(2)S(2)O(8) in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), exhibit remarkable catalytic activity for the one-pot carboxylation of ethane to propionic and acetic acids with the former as the main product (overall yields up to 93 %, catalyst turnover numbers (TONs) up to 2.0 x 10(4)). The simpler V complexes [VO(CF(3)SO(3))(2)], [VO(acac)(2)] and VOSO(4) are less active. The effects of various factors, namely, C(2)H(6) and CO pressures, time, temperature, and amounts of catalyst, TFA and K(2)S(2)O(8), have been investigated, and this allowed optimisation of the process and control of selectivity. (13)C-labelling experiments indicated that the formation of acetic acid follows two pathways, the dominant one via oxidation of ethane with preservation of the C--C bond, and the other via rupture of this bond and carbonylation of the methyl group by CO; the C--C bond is retained in the formation of propionic acid upon carbonylation of ethane. The reactions proceed via both C- and O-centred radicals, as shown by experiments with radical traps. On the basis of detailed DFT calculations, plausible reaction mechanisms are discussed. The carboxylation of ethane in the presence of CO follows the sequential formation of C(2)H(5) (*), C(2)H(5)CO(*), C(2)H(5)COO(*) and C(2)H(5)COOH. The C(2)H(5)COO(*) radical is easily formed on reaction of C(2)H(5)CO(*) with a peroxo V catalyst via a V{eta(1)-OOC(O)C(2)H(5)} intermediate. In the absence of CO, carboxylation proceeds by reaction of C(2)H(5) (*) with TFA. For the oxidation of ethane to acetic acid, either with preservation or cleavage of the C-C bond, metal-assisted and purely organic pathways are also proposed and discussed.     

Silver(I)‐Catalyzed Addition of Phenols to Alkyne Cobalt Cluster Stabilized Carbocations

A smooth catalytic method to use phenols as the nucleophilic partner in the Nicholas reaction has been developed. The method uses either Ag^I or Au^I catalysts with AgClO₄ or AgBF₄ as the most efficient catalysts tested. Neither additional additives nor cocatalysts were required and the formation of the corresponding phenol adducts occurred in excellent yields. The process has the single limitation of the inability of less nucleophilic phenols (4‐nitrophenol) to generate the corresponding adducts. Additionally, the reaction is highly diastereoselective. DFT calculations allow a catalytic cycle to be proposed that involves trimetallic intermediates; the rate‐determining step of the reaction is hydroxy‐group elimination in a cobalt–silver trimetallic intermediate.     

Formation of trichlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins from 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,5-trichlorophenolate: a theoretical study.

The reaction of the 2,4,5-trichlorophenolate anion with 2,4-dichlorophenol to afford trichlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (T3CDDs) is investigated at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d) and B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d)+ZPVE(B3LYP/6-31+G(d)) levels of theory. The first stage of the process corresponds to the formation of a predioxin, which can evolve through four different routes. Two of them lead directly to the products 2,3,7-T3CDD and 1,3,8-T3CDD, and the other two afford different predioxin-type intermediates, which in turn can evolve through all or some of the four routes to give new predioxins or T3CDD. Consequently, the theoretical results obtained show plainly the complex chemistry implied in the formation of dioxins from chlorophenols via anionic mechanisms by disclosing all the critical structures through which the system evolves, thus allowing assessment of the viability of the different mechanistic routes and the accessible products. The statistical thermodynamics treatment at 1 atm and 298.15, 600, 900, and 1200 K indicates that at higher temperatures, the Gibbs energy barrier for the formation of the initial predioxin is clearly the rate-determining step for the whole process, but at lower temperatures the Gibbs energy barrier for this step is similar to those for its evolution into 2,3,7-T3CDD. This result is in contrast with previous proposals that the closure of the central ring is the rate-limiting step. Finally, according to our results the rate constant for the formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins increases with the temperature, in agreement with the experimental observation that the conversion of trichlorophenols increases when going from 600 to 900 K in the gas phase in the absence of catalysts, and with DFT molecular dynamics results.