Highly regioselective propanoylation of dihydroxybenzenes mediated by Candida antarctica lipase B in organic solvents

Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) was found to be a highly active biocatalyst for the direct acylation of the phenolic hydroxyls of substituted hydroquinones and resorcinols with vinyl propanoate as an acyl donor. The acylation reactions took place generally in a very regioselective manner. Especially in the case of 4-substituted resorcinols, the hydroxyl remote from the substituent was regiospecifically acylated to afford only the 1-O-propanoylated resorcinols.     

Biocatalytic preparation of enantioenriched 3,4-dihydroxypiperidines and theoretical study of Candida antarctica lipase B enantioselectivity

Enzymatic acetylations of N-substituted cis- and trans-3,4-dihydroxypiperidine and hydrolysis of their diacetylated derivatives have been studied. High enantioselectivities are obtained with Pseudomonas cepacia lipase and Candida antarctica lipase B for the hydrolysis of the trans-derivative, while the cis-derivatives are not adequate substrates in the same biocatalytic conditions. The enantiopreference of these processes can be rationalized by means of a molecular modelling study.     

Aldehyde-based racemization in the dynamic kinetic resolution of N-heterocyclic α-amino esters using Candida antarctica lipase A

The present research introduces approaches for the dynamic kinetic resolution of the methyl esters of proline and pipecolic acid. As the result, a method was developed which is based on the acylation of the secondary amino group of the amino esters with vinyl butanoate by Candida antarctica lipase A. In the optimized method, acetaldehyde as a racemizing agent is released in situ from vinyl butanoate in the presence of triethylamine, allowing ca. 90% of the racemic proline and 70% of the pipecolic acid methyl esters to be acylated in the forms of highly enantiopure (ee=97%) butanamides with the S-absolute configurations.     

Microwave-assisted clean synthesis of 6-aryl-2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazines in [bmim][PF6]

An efficient and green approach was developed to prepare 6-aryl-2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazines from corresponding arylnitriles and dicyanodiamide in ionic liquid [bmim][PF₆] under computer-controlled microwave irradiation. Particularly valuable features of this method included the short reaction time, good yield, convenient operation and eco-friendly solvent.     

[Bmim]PF6 and BF4 ionic liquids as novel and recyclable reaction media for aromatic amination

Activated aryl halides undergo smooth nucleophilic substitution reactions with secondary amines in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim]PF₆) or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim]BF₄) ionic liquids (ILs) at room temperature to afford the corresponding arylamines in excellent yields under mild and neutral conditions.     

Vanadium-catalyzed selective aerobic alcohol oxidation in ionic liquid [bmim]PF6

A selective aerobic oxidation of alcohols into the corresponding aldehydes or ketones was developed by using two-component system VO(acac)₂/DABCO in the ionic liquid [bmim]PF₆, and the catalysts can be recycled and reused for three runs without any significant loss of catalytic activity.     

Ambient synthesis of spiro[4H-pyran-oxindole] derivatives under [BMIm]BF4 catalysis

A simple and efficient one-pot approach for assembling some fused spiro[4H-pyran-oxindole] heterocycles by means of three-component reactions between isatins, malononitrile or ethyl cyano-acetate, and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds is reported. The combinatorial syntheses were achieved for the first time without applying extra activation energy at ambient temperature while making use of [BMIm]BF₄ as an ionic liquid catalyst. Good functional group tolerance and broad scope of usable substrates are other prominent features of the present methodology.     

A lipase catalyzed condensation reaction with a tricyclic diketone: yet another example of biocatalytic promiscuity

Novozym 435 (a commercially available immobilized form of Candida antarctica lipase B) was found to catalyze a condensation reaction of 5-hydroxy-endo-tricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]deca-4,8-dien-3-one with acetaldehyde (enzymatically produced from vinyl acetate in situ) under low water conditions, in presence of 10% organic co-solvent (N,N-dimethyl formamide or pyridine), to form a bis-adduct. Even though the condensation reaction occurred with pyridine (acting as a base catalyst) in the presence of acetaldehyde and in the absence of enzyme, the reaction was very slow as compared to the enzymatic process. Thus, while the non-enzymatic process took 4 days to achieve 100% conversion; in presence of enzyme it was possible within 4 h.     

Synthesis and structural investigation of the compounds containing HF2 anions: Ca(HF2)2, Ba4F4(HF2)(PF6)3 and Pb2F2(HF2)(PF6)

Three new compounds Ca(HF₂)₂, Ba₄F₄(HF₂)(PF₆)₃ and Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) were obtained in the system metal(II) fluoride and anhydrous HF (aHF) acidified with excessive PF₅. The obtained polymeric solids are slightly soluble in aHF and they crystallize out of their aHF solutions. Ca(HF₂)₂ was prepared by simply dissolving CaF₂ in a neutral aHF. It represents the second known compound with homoleptic HF environment of the central atom besides Ba(H₃F₄)₂. The compounds Ba₄F₄(HF₂)(PF₆)₃ and Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) represent two additional examples of the formation of a polymeric zigzag ladder or ribbon composed of metal cation and fluoride anion (MF⁺)_n besides PbF(AsF₆), the first isolated compound with such zigzag ladder. The obtained new compounds were characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction method and partly by Raman spectroscopy. Ba₄F₄(HF₂)(PF₆)₃ crystallizes in a triclinic space group P1¯ with a=4.5870(2) Å, b=8.8327(3) Å, c=11.2489(3) Å, α=67.758(9)°, β=84.722(12), γ=78.283(12)°, V=413.00(3) Å³ at 200 K, Z=1 and R=0.0588. Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) at 200 K: space group P1¯, a=4.5722(19) Å, b=4.763(2) Å, c=8.818(4) Å, α=86.967(10)°, β=76.774(10)°, γ=83.230(12)°, V=185.55(14) ų, Z=1 and R=0.0937. Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) at 293 K: space group P1¯, a=4.586(2) Å, b=4.781(3) Å, c=8.831(5) Å, α=87.106(13)°, β=76.830(13)°, γ=83.531(11)°, V=187.27(18) Å³, Z=1 and R=0.072. Ca(HF₂)₂ crystallizes in an orthorhombic Fddd space group with a=5.5709(6) Å, b=10.1111(9) Å, c=10.5945(10) Å, V=596.77(10) Å³ at 200 K, Z=8 and R=0.028.     

TEMPO-catalyzed oxidation of benzylic alcohols to aldehydes with the H2O2/HBr/ionic liquid [bmim]PF6 system

A selective oxidation of benzylic alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes in room temperature ionic liquid was achieved by using TEMPO/HBr/H₂O₂ system, and both ether-insoluble acetamido-TEMPO and ionic liquid [bmim]PF₆ can be successfully recovered and reused for the oxidation of the same (different) substrate.     

Ionic liquids/H2O systems for the reaction of epoxides with NaN3: a new protocol for the synthesis of 2-azidoalcohols

Oxiranes undergo ring opening rapidly with sodium azide in a [bmim]BF₄/H₂O or [bmim]PF₆/H₂O (2:1) solvent system, under mild and neutral reaction conditions to afford the corresponding 2-azidoalcohols in high to quantitative yields. The remarkable features of this procedure are improved yields, enhanced reaction rates, high regioselectivity and ease of recyclability of ionic liquids (ILs). The recovered ionic liquid can be reused for four to five times but with gradual decrease in activity.     

Solvent relaxation of a room-temperature ionic liquid [bmim][PF6] confined in a ternary microemulsion

In this paper we have reported the solvent and rotational relaxation of 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF₆]) confined in tween 20/([bmim][PF₆]/water microemulsion using coumarin 153 (C-153) as probe. The most interesting feature of our experiment was that we observed an increase in solvent relaxation time with increase in R (R = tween 20-to-[bmim][PF₆] molar ratio). This is due to the fact that with increase in [bmim][PF₆] content of the microemulsions, the microviscosity of the pool of the microemulsions increases, and motion of ions of [bmim][PF₆] is hindered in the pool of microemulsions. Since motion of ions is responsible for solvation in room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), solvent-relaxation time increases with increase in R.     

Direct sulfonylation of Baylis-Hillman alcohols and diarylmethanols with TosMIC in ionic liquid-[Hmim]HSO4: an unexpected reaction

A Brønsted acidic ionic liquid-[Hmim]HSO₄ promoted unexpected reaction of Baylis-Hillman alcohols and diarylmethanols with p-toluenesulfonylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) affording the corresponding sulfone derivatives instead of N-tosylmethyl amides is reported. After isolation of the product, the ionic liquid [Hmim]HSO₄ was easily recycled for further use.     

Selective alkylation of phenol with tert-butyl alcohol catalyzed by [bmim]PF6

Alkylation of phenol with tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) in a room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumhexafluorophosphate ([bmim]PF₆), has been investigated. The effects of various parameters such as reaction temperature, reaction time, reactant ratio (mol ratio of phenol to that of TBA), and the amount of the ionic liquid used were studied. The [bmim]PF₆ ionic liquid was found to catalyze the reaction with high conversion and good selectivity.     

On the use of succinic anhydride as acylating agent for practical resolution of aryl-alkyl alcohols through lipase-catalyzed acylation

A comparison is carried out of the E-values recorded in the lipase-catalyzed resolution of a series of secondary aryl-alkyl alcohols with enol esters versus succinic anhydride. Whereas all the substrates could be resolved by a proper choice of the lipase/enol ester couple with moderate (E=50) to good (E>100) enantioselectivities, only some of them showed satisfactory enantioselectivity (E>50) with the use of succinic acid as acylating agent. Notably, indanol and 1-quinolin-3-yl-ethanol were resolved in a practical way, with E>100 and E>80, respectively.     

Z/E Stereoselective synthesis of β-bromo Baylis-Hillman ketones using MgBr2 as promoter via a one-pot three-component reaction

The first time steroselective synthesis of (Z)-β-bromo Baylis-Hillman ketones has been achieved using a one-pot three-component reaction. The new system uses MgBr₂ as both the Lewis acidic promoter and the bromine source for the Michael-type addition with α,β-acetylenic ketones to form an active β-bromo allenolate intermediate, which in turn attacks various aldehydes to afford β-bromo Baylis-Hillman adducts in good yields and Z-selectivity.     

Aldol reaction of kojic acid using alumina supported base catalyst and enzymatic resolution of the aldol adduct by CALB

An efficient and ecofriendly aldol reaction of kojic acid with aldehydes using a heterogeneous reusable catalyst (alumina modified with base) is developed. Enzymatic hydrolytic resolution of the racemic acetylated aldol adduct 2 was achieved using lipase from Candida antarctica type B (CALB). The key feature of this enzymatic resolution is that regioselective deacetylation of ester derived from the primary alcohol located away from the stereocentre occurred in the presence of adjacent secondary acetate.     

B(C6F5)3-catalyzed Prins/Ritter reaction: a novel synthesis of hexahydro-1H-furo[3,4-c]pyranyl amide derivatives

The coupling of aldehydes or ketones with (2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-methylenetetrahydrofuran-3-yl)methanol in the presence of nitriles under the influence of 5 mol % tris(pentaflourophenyl)borane at room temperature afforded a novel series of cis-fused hexahydro-1H-furo[3,4-c]pyran derivatives in good yields with high selectivity. This is the first report on the synthesis of hexahydro-1H-furo[3,4-c]pyranyl amide through a sequential Prins/Ritter reactions using B(C₆F₅)₃ as a mild Lewis acid.     

Mild and practical stereoselective synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-allyl bromides from Baylis-Hillman adducts using Appel agents (PPh3/CBr4): a facile synthesis of semiplenamides C and E

Appel agents (PPh₃/CBr₄) have been utilized for high-yielding stereoselective synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-allyl bromides from Baylis-Hillman adducts at room temperature. The method has been applied for the synthesis of naturally occurring bioactive fatty acid amides, semiplenamides C and E.     

Bi(OTf)3/[bmim]BF4 as novel and reusable catalytic system for the synthesis of furan, pyrrole and thiophene derivatives

Bi(OTf)₃ immobilized in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [bmim]BF₄ has been utilized for the first time as a novel and reusable catalytic system for the synthesis of heteroaromatics such as furan, pyrrole and thiophene derivatives from 1,4-diketones. This new procedure offers significant improvements in reaction rates and yields. The recovered ionic liquid containing bismuth triflate can be reused for subsequent runs with only a gradual decrease in activity.