Silver(I)-promoted intramolecular addition of N-heterocyclic carbenes towards unsaturated esters in water

Silver(I)-promoted intramolecular addition reaction between N-heterocyclic carbene and unsaturated esters in water is described. The reaction leads to 1H-imidazo[1,2-a]indole derivatives in moderate to excellent yields.     

γ-Selective allylic substitution reaction with Grignard reagents catalyzed by copper N-heterocyclic carbene complexes and its application to enantioselective synthesis

The reaction of allylic compounds with alkyl Grignard reagents in the presence of a catalytic amount of copper N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes proceeded predominantly in an S_N2′ reaction pathway to give γ-substituted product in excellent yield. The method was applied to asymmetric reaction by using optically active NHC ligands.     

N-Heterocyclic carbene catalyzed intramolecular crossed aldehyde-ketone benzoin condensation in the chalcone of o-phthalaldehyde: a facile synthesis of naphthalenones

The intramolecular crossed aldehyde-ketone benzoin condensation in the chalcone of o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbene (NHCs) generated in situ from readily available imidazolium and thiazolium salts is described. In this reaction, bicyclic α-hydroxyl ketones (naphthalenone type tertiary alcohol) were selectively produced in good yields (75-94%) in shorter reaction times (20 min) through nucleophilic addition of acyl anion generated by umpolung in OPA-chalcone (regio controlled).     

Synthesis of oxa-aza spirobicycles by intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer promoted by N-radicals in carbohydrate systems

The nitrogen-centred radical generated by reaction of an N-phosphoramidate or N-cyanamide, attached to a tri- or tetramethylene tether extended from the C-1 of a carbohydrate, with (diacetoxyiodo)benzene (DIB) and iodine can undergo a regio- and stereoselective intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reaction to furnish four different oxa-azaspirobicyclic systems: 1-oxa-6-azaspiro[4.4]nonane, 1-oxa-6-azaspiro[4.5]decane, 6-oxa-1-azaspiro[4.5]decane and 1-oxa-7-azaspiro[5.5]undecane. A tandem 1,5- or 1,6-HAT-oxidation-nucleophilic cyclisation mechanism is proposed.     

Highly efficient trialkylsilylcyanation of aldehydes, ketones and imines catalyzed by a nucleophilic N-heterocyclic carbene

The synthetic utility of N-heterocyclic carbenes was demonstrated by the trialkylsilylcyanation of aldehydes, ketones and imines. In the presence of a catalytic amount of 3a, the reactions with Me₃SiCN proceeded smoothly to give the corresponding cyanohydrin trimethylsilyl ethers or amino nitrile derivatives in good to excellent yields.     

Iron-catalyzed intramolecular cyclotrimerization of triynes to annulated benzenes

An iron species derived from FeCl₂ or FeCl₃ by in situ reduction with zinc powder in the presence of imidazol-2-ylidene or bidentate nitrogen ligand could effectively catalyze intramolecular cycloisomerization of triynes to annulated benzenes. With a 2-iminomethylpyridine ligand, hydrates of FeCl₂ and FeCl₃ as well as their anhydrous ones could be used.     

An unusual substitution reaction of an aromatic sulfonic group based on 3-carbonyl-4-phenolsulfonic acid

An unusual substitution reaction of an aromatic sulfonic group based on 3-carbonyl-4-phenolsulfonic acid was discovered in a diazo-coupling process.The reaction occurred under mild reaction conditions (pH 8.0-9.0.0-5 C,solvent:water) within a short reaction time(1h).A plausible substitution reaction mechanism by phenol-ketone resonance was proposed.     

A new entry to functionalized cycloalkylamines: diastereoselective intramolecular amidoalkylation of N,O-acetal TMS ether possessing allylsilane

Highly diastereoselective cyclization (>20:1) as a new entry to functionalized cycloalkylamines has been conducted with acyclic N,O-acetal TMS ethers possessing an allylsilane moiety.     

Novel synthesis of medium-sized oxa-heterocycles by palladium-catalyzed intramolecular Heck reaction

An efficient and high yielding method for the synthesis of eight-membered heterocyclic skeletons has been developed via palladium-catalyzed intramolecular Heck reaction.     

Protonation of N-heterocyclic carbene ligand coordinated to copper(I): Coordination mode of imidazolium cation as a function of counterion as determined by solid-state structures

Reactions of (IPr)Cu(X) (X = Cl or trifluoromethanesulfonate, IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) complexes with the strong acids HOTf or HCl result in protonation of the C2 carbon of the IPr ligand to form imidazolium cations. Coordination of the imidazolium to the resulting Cu^I system depends upon the identity of the two counterions (chloride or triflate). The copper complexes [(IPrH)Cu(OTf)(μ-OTf)]₂ and [IPrH][CuCl₂] as well as the imidazolium salt [IPrH][OTf] have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Rare direct imidation of aromatic metallacycle by reaction of CpCo(dithiolene) complex with N-halosuccinimide

The aromatic [CpCo(S₂C₂(R)(H))] (R = Ph, Me, 9-phenanthryl, H) complexes reacted with N-halosuccinimides (NXS; X = Cl, Br, I) in carbon tetrachloride at room temperature to undergo the N-succinimide substitution reaction on the dithiolene ring, but no halogenated dithiolene complex was obtained. The imidation products [CpCo(S₂C₂(R)(N-sccinimide))] were yielded up to 64% where X = I and R = 9-phenanthryl. The reaction of [CpCo(S₂C₂(Ph)(H))] with N-bromophthalimide (NBP) also gave the imidation product [CpCo(S₂C₂(Ph)(N-phthalimide))]. This is the rare direct imidation reaction to an aromatic metallacycle by NXS. The reaction of [CpCo(S₂C₂H₂)] (R = H) with NIS afforded the double imidation product. One by-product in this reaction was the dithiolene-dithiolene homo-coupling product [CpCo(S₂C₂(R))]₂ (R = Ph, Me, 9-phenanthryl). The microwave-enhanced (MW) reactions were attempted in the carbon tetrachloride solution. Although the solution temperature increased up to only 43 °C by MW irradiation, the imidation reaction worked with short reaction time.     

A one-pot access to cycloalkano[1,2-a]indoles through an intramolecular alkyl migration reaction in indolylborates

A novel one-pot protocol for the preparation of cycloalkano[1,2-a]indoles by way of an intramolecular alkyl migration reaction in cyclic indolylborates is described. NaOMe was found to act as a successful trialkylboryl-protecting group against to the lithiation at the C2 of the indole ring. Treatment of cyclic indolylborates with electrophiles produced cycloalkano-[1,2-a]indoles.     

The enantiospecific synthesis of chromanes and isochromanes using a variant of an intramolecular Nicholas reaction

The enantiospecific synthesis of chromanes and isochromanes obtained from an intramolecular Nicholas cyclisation reaction is discussed. During the course of this study we observed the formation of chroman-4-ones from a CAN deprotection step of a dioxolane and this is also discussed.     

Mechanism insights into an unexpected isomerisation reaction observed during conversion of N-benzyl piperazinones to corresponding N-benzyl thio-piperazinones

An interesting and surprising rearrangement was observed during the reaction of 4-N-benzyl piperazinone derivatives with Lawesson’s reagent as a thionating agent. Investigation into the possible mechanism responsible for these results is reported herein.     

Use of tetrahydropyrimidinium salts for highly efficient palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides and chlorides

New, sterically demanding 1,3-dialkyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidinium salts (2) as NHC precursors have been synthesized and characterized. These salts, in combination with palladium acetate, provided active catalysts for the cross-coupling of aryl chlorides and bromides under mild conditions. The catalytic system was applied to the Heck, Suzuki and benzaldehyde (Kumada) coupling reactions. Catalyst activity was found to be influenced by the presence of a methoxy group on the ring of the p-position of benzyl substituent of the ligand precursor.     

Me3SiCl-promoted intramolecular cyclization of aromatic compounds tethered with N,O-acetals leading to the facile preparation of 1,4-benzodiazepine skeletons

The Me₃SiCl-promoted intramolecular aminomethylation of a novel type of N,O-acetals, which were prepared via a facile three-step synthesis from N-alkylaniline derivatives and N-alkyl-2-oxazolidinones that leads to the production of pharmaceutically useful 1,4-benzodiazepine skeletons with a variety of functional groups is described. This method was successfully applied to the facile preparation of both tricyclic benzodiazepine derivatives and a 1,4-benzoxazepine derivative via 7-exo-trig cyclization.     

Nucleophilic substitution reaction at an sp carbon of vinyl halides with an intramolecular thiol moiety: synthesis of thio-heterocycles

This article presents a full account of intramolecular vinylic substitution reactions of bromoalkenes having an acetylthio moiety, which give sulfur-containing heterocycles such as dihydrothiophene, tetrahydrothiopyran, and 2-alkylidenethietane derivatives. The reaction pathways of the substitution reactions were investigated by theoretical and experimental studies.     

Carbene adduct of cyclopalladated ferrocenylimine as an efficient catalyst for the amination of aryl chlorides

A novel air- and moisture-stable carbene adduct of cyclopalladated ferrocenylimine has been synthesized and characterized. The structure of this compound was determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis. This adduct has been applied as an efficient catalyst for the amination of aryl chlorides.     

β-Mannosylation of N-acetyl glucosamine by propargyl mediated intramolecular aglycon delivery (IAD): synthesis of the N-glycan core pentasaccharide

An efficient and completely stereocontrolled synthesis of the N-glycan Manβ(1-4)GlcNAc disaccharide is achieved by propargyl mediated intramolecular aglycon delivery (IAD). Isomerisation of the 2-O-progargyl group of a manno thioglycoside to an allene is followed by iodonium ion mediated mixed acetal formation with the 4-OH of a protected GlcNAc derivative, and subsequent intramolecular glycosylation with complete control of anomeric stereochemistry. Access to this key disaccharide intermediate allows completion of the total synthesis of the core N-glycan pentasaccharide.     

C-S bond formation catalyzed by N-heterocylic carbene palladium phosphine complexes

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are known to be useful ligands for palladium-complex catalysis. It was found that [(NHC)Pd(PPh₃)Cl₂] is an effective pre-catalyst in Pd-catalyzed C-S cross coupling reactions to produce the functionalized sulfides in excellent yields. The turn over frequency (TOF) for the coupling of p-CH₃C₆H₄Br with p-CH₃C₆H₄SH reaches to 6.25 (mol of product) (mole of catalyst)⁻¹ h⁻¹.