DMSO-catalyzed chlorination of alcohols using N-phenylbenzimidoyl chloride

N-phenylbenzimidoyl chloride has been demonstrated as an efficient chlorination reagent catalyzed by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in conversion of alcohols to corresponding chlorides. The reaction conditions were mild, and most of the substrates gave satisfactory yields. The configuration inversion of the chlorination was proved using optically active phenyl alcohols. The amount of DMSO can be as low as 0.001 eq without reducing the efficiency of the chlorination. A plausible mechanism for the reaction was proposed and proved by experiments. The reaction is stereoselective and potentially chemoselective among primary benzyl alcohols, secondary benzyl alcohols, and unactivated aliphatic alcohols.     

Rh‐Catalyzed Reaction of Propargylic Alcohols with Aryl Boronic Acids–Switch from β‐OH Elimination to Protodemetalation

It is known that Rh‐catalyzed reaction of propargylic alcohols with aryl metallic reagents undergoes S_N2’‐type reaction affording allenes via a sequential arylmetalation and β‐OH elimination process. Here we report a Rh/Ag‐cocatalyzed reaction of propargylic alcohols with organoboronic acids affording stereo‐defined (E)‐3‐arylallylic alcohols via arylmetalation and protodemetalation with a high regio‐ and stereoselectivity under very mild conditions. The reaction exhibits a good substrate scope and the compatibility with synthetically useful functional groups with no racemization for optically active propargylic alcohols. Such a reaction may also be extended to homopropargylic alcohols with a remarkable regioselectivity and exclusive E‐stereoselectivity.     

Metal-catalyzed phosphinyl ester forming reaction of alcohols and phenols with diphosphine disulfides and a dioxide

Transition metal complexes catalyzed the dialkylphosphinothioation reaction of alcohols and phenols with tetraalkyldiphosphine disulfides in high yields. Phenols were reacted in the presence of RhH(PPh₃)₄ and 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane under THF reflux, and alcohols with Pd(OAc)₂ and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene under chlorobenzene reflux. Primary alcohols reacted faster than secondary alcohols under these conditions, and protected tyrosine and serine were phosphinothioated with minimal racemization. Tetraphenyldiphosphine dioxide also underwent the P-O bond formation reaction.     

Synthesis of Quinolines via a Metal‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative N‐Heterocyclization

Efficient ruthenium‐, rhodium‐, palladium‐, copper‐ and iridium‐catalysed methodologies have been recently developed for the synthesis of quinolines by the reaction of 2‐aminobenzyl alcohols with carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) or the related alcohols. The reaction is assumed to proceed via a sequence involving initial metal‐catalysed oxidation of 2‐aminobenzyl alcohols to the related 2‐aminobenzaldehydes, followed by cross aldol reaction with a carbonyl compound under basic conditions to afford α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds. These aldehydes or ketones can be also generated in situ via dehydrogenation of the related primary and secondary alcohols. In the final step cyclodehydration of the α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compound intermediates gives quinolines. Good yields of quinolines were also obtained by reacting 2‐nitrobenzyl alcohols and secondary alcohols in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst. Finally, aniline derivatives afforded also a useful access to quinolines by the reaction with 1,3‐propanediol or 3‐amino‐1‐propanol, or in a three‐component reaction with benzyl alcohol and aliphatic alcohols.     

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of aryltrimethylsilyl chiral alcohols

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of aryltrimethylsilyl chiral alcohols through a transesterification reaction was studied. The optimal conditions found for the kinetic resolution of m- and p-aryltrimethylsilyl chiral alcohols, led to excellent results, high conversions (c = 50%), high enantiomeric ratios (E > 200) and enantiomeric excesses for the remaining (S)-alcohol and (R)-acetylated product (>99%). However, kinetic resolution of o-aryltrimethylsilyl chiral alcohols did not occur under the same conditions applied to the other isomers.     

Aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohols by MoVI compounds

Selective and controlled aerobic oxidation of activated benzyl alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes is achieved in refluxing CH₃CN using catalytic amounts of MoO₂Cl₂(L)₂ where L is DMSO, DMF or THF. The catalysis reactions are possible under open air in the absence of any other external co‐oxidants. However, bubbling of oxygen to the reaction mixture is useful in making the catalysis reaction sustained. Both activated and deactivated varieties of α‐substituted benzyl alcohols (secondary alcohols) give ketones in the same reaction conditions. The inexpensive catalyst is selective towards activated primary benzyl alcohols and also, being mild, stops the oxidation at the aldehyde stage, making it synthetically useful. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

12-Tungstophosphoric acid supported on inorganic oxides as heterogeneous and reusable catalysts for the selective preparation of alkoxymethyl ethers and their deprotections under different reaction conditions

A wide variety of primary and secondary alcohols were efficiently converted to their corresponding methoxymethyl (MOM) and ethoxymethyl (EOM) ethers in the presence of catalytic amounts of supported H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ on silica gel and zirconia at room temperature and under microwave irradiation at solvent-free conditions, whereas, phenols and tertiary alcohols remained intact under the same reaction conditions. Deprotection of these ethers to their parent alcohols was also achieved using these heterogeneous catalysts in ethanol, as a green solvent, under reflux conditions and microwave irradiation. Selective deprotection of primary and secondary MOM- and EOM-ethers in the presence of phenolic and tertiary ones, methyl and benzyl ethers, esters and trimethylsilyl ethers was achieved by these reagent systems. The present methodology offers several advantages such as short reaction times, high yields, simple procedure, heterogeneous reaction conditions, selectivity, non-toxicity and reusability of the catalysts.     

Highly efficient and chemoselective trimethylsilylation of alcohols and phenols with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) catalyzed by reusable electron-deficient [Ti(salophen)(OTf)2]

In the present work, highly efficient trimethylsilylation of alcohols and phenols with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) catalyzed by high-valent [Ti^IV(salophen)(OTf)₂] is reported. Under these conditions, primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols as well as phenols were silylated in short reaction times and high yields. It is noteworthy that this method can be used for chemoselective silylation of primary alcohols in the presence of secondary and tertiary alcohols and phenols. The catalyst was reused several times without loss of its catalytic activity.     

One-pot synthesis and resolution of chiral allylic alcohols

Substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones were selectively reduced to the corresponding allylic alcohols under mild reaction conditions. The allylic alcohols thus obtained were kinetically resolved by lipase catalyzed transesterification in the same pot to afford chiral allylic alcohols in excellent enantioselectivity. Various lipases were screened for this one-pot transesterification of allylic alcohols. Effects of different solvent have also been studied under these conditions. Pseudomonas cepacia lipase immobilized on ceramic particles (PS-C) and on diatomaceous earth (PS-D) catalyzes this transesterification in diisopropyl ether in a highly efficient manner.     

Palladium(II) chloride catalyzed selective acetylation of alcohols with vinyl acetate

PdCl(2) can catalyze the acetylation of primary and secondary alcohols with vinyl acetate. The reaction is selective and mild with high yields. Tertiary alcohols, phenols and amines are unaffected under these reaction conditions.     

Graphite oxide: a simple and efficient solid acid catalyst for the ring-opening of epoxides by alcohols

A simple, efficient, and general procedure for the ring-opening of epoxides with various alcohols to give the corresponding β-alkoxy alcohols using graphite oxide (GO) as the catalyst, under very mild reaction conditions is described. The method proceeds in good to excellent yields and in short reaction times at room temperature under metal-free conditions.     

Diastereoselective Weitz-Scheffer epoxidation of levoglucosenone for the synthesis of isolevoglucosenone and derivatives

High-yielding epoxidation conditions for the cellulose pyrolysis product (?)-levoglucosenone (LGO) and 3-aryl derivatives of LGO have been developed. The reaction of LGO with hydrogen peroxide/base is known to give a Baeyer-Villiger reaction, however, it was found that the reactions of LGO or derivatives with tert-butylhydroperoxide/base affords solely epoxides through the Weitz-Scheffer reaction. A critical parameter in the successful isolation of the epoxide from LGO was to avoid all contact with water or alcohols during the reaction and workup. The epoxide products were reacted under Wharton conditions affording allylic alcohols and subsequent oxidation led to isolevoglucosenone or 3-arylisolevoglucosenone derivatives. Previously unreported reactions on isolevoglucosenone were then investigated.     

Magtrieve™: a convenient catalyst for the oxidation of alcohols

We find that Magtrieve™ (CrO₂) catalyzes the oxidation of a wide variety of alcohols with periodic acid as the terminal oxidant. Mild conditions, short reaction times, and facile aqueous work-up make this a most attractive method. Olefins are not oxidized under these conditions; thus alcohols react selectively in the presence of alkenes. Conditions have been optimized with respect to catalyst loading, solvent, and co-oxidant; and the scope of the reaction includes primary and secondary benzylic, allylic, and aliphatic alcohols.     

Rhodium-catalyzed ring opening of vinyl epoxides with alcohols and aromatic amines

[Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2) is an effective catalyst for the ring opening of vinyl epoxides with alcohols and aromatic amines under neutral conditions at room temperature. The reaction occurs with excellent diastereo- and regioselectivity (>20:1) giving the trans-1,2-amino alcohols or alkoxy alcohols for a wide range of substrates. The regio- and stereochemistry of these reactions is complementary to that typically obtained with palladium-catalyzed ring openings of vinyl epoxides.     

Features of the reaction of polyfluoroalkyl chlorolsulfites with allyl alcohol

Unlike the saturated aliphatic and aromatic alcohols, allyl alcohol under the same conditions reacts with polyfluoroalkyl chlorosulfites to form not ethers, but polyfluorinated alcohols. The exception is polyfluoroalkyl chlorosulfites with the chain length of more than five carbon atoms. Allyl ethers of polyfluorinated alcohols of general formula CH₂=CHCH₂OCH₂(CF₂CF₂)nH (n = 1–3) were obtained, when the reaction proceeded in the presence of potassium carbonate, owing to its participation in a specific orientation of the reaction centers in the resulting intermediate structure, which is easily transformed into allyl ethers of polyfluorinated alcohols.     

A Mild,Simple, Efficient,and Selective Protection of Hydroxyl Groups Using Silica-Supported Sodium Hydrogen Sulfate as a Heterogeneous Catalyst

A mild, simple, novel, and highly efficient method for the rapid protection of various primary, secondary, tertiary aliphatic alcohols, aromatic alcohols, and oximes using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) in the presence of silica-supported sodium hydrogen sulfate (NaHSO ₄ -SiO ₂ ), as an active, inexpensive, nontoxic, heterogeneous, and readily available catalyst under ambient conditions is described. Timethylsilyl ethers were prepared in high to excellent yields, with short reaction times under mild and almost neutral reaction conditions at room temperature.     

Zwitterionic imidazolium salt: An efficient organocatalyst for tetrahydropyranylation of alcohols

An aprotic imidazole based zwitterionic-salt, 4-(3-methylimidazolium)-butane sulfonate has been found to be an efficient organocatalyst for tetrahydropyranylation by the reaction of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran (DHP) and different aliphatic alcohols as well as various phenolic compounds. The notable advantages of the present method are general applicability to various alcohols, clean reaction, production of no hazardous waste, open air reaction conditions and high yields. The catalyst can be reused without the loss of significant catalytic activity.     

A simple and efficient hydrogenation of benzyl alcohols to methylene compounds using triethylsilane and a palladium catalyst

Hydrogenolysis of benzyl alcohols using triethylsilane (Et₃SiH) and a catalytic amount of palladium(II) chloride (PdCl₂) is described. The reaction takes place under mild conditions affording high yields of the corresponding methylene compounds in short reaction times.     

Polystyrene‐Gallium Trichloride Complex: A Mild,Highly Efficient,and Recyclable Polymeric Lewis Acid Catalyst for Chemoselective Silylation of Alcohols and Phenols with Hexamethyldisilazane

Polystyrene‐supported gallium trichloride (PS/GaCl₃) as a highly active and reusable heterogeneous Lewis acid effectively activates hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) for the efficient silylation of alcohols and phenols at room temperature. In this heterogeneous catalytic system, primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols as well as phenols were converted to their corresponding trimethylsilyl ethers with short reaction times and high yields under mild reaction conditions. The heterogenized catalyst is of high reusability and stability in the silylation reactions and was recovered several times with negligible loss in its activity or a negligible catalyst leaching, and also there is no need for regeneration. It is noteworthy that this method can be used for chemoselective silylation of different alcohols and phenols with high yields.