Asymmetric synthesis of 2-alkyl-4-hydroxycyclohex-2-en-1-ones by scandium(III) triflate-catalyzed fragmentation of 2-alkyl-3-iodo-1-oxocyclohexan-2,4-carbolactones

Fragmentation of (2S,3S,4S)-2-allyl-3-iodo-1-oxocyclohexan-2,4-carbolactone to (4S)-2-allyl-4-hydroxycyclohex-2-en-1-one, a chiral building block of (−)-platensimycin, proceeded efficiently by using scandium(III) triflate in DMF-H₂O (1:3) at 100 °C.     

Reductive dimerization of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate catalyzed by [Rh(binap)(MeOH)2]ClO4 in methanol

Cationic Rh(I) complex [Rh(binap)(MeOH)₂]ClO₄ catalyzes reductive dimerization of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates 1 to give 1,2,3,4-tetrakis(alkoxycarbonyl)-1,3-butadienes 2 in methanol selectively.     

Et2SiH2 assisted the selective dimerization of terminal alkynes catalyzed by Cp2UMe2

A practical approach has been developed for the catalytic synthesis of short oligomers, dimers and/or trimers of terminal alkynes. The method allows control of the extent and, in some cases, the regiospecificity in the catalyzed oligomerization of terminal alkynes promoted by bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)uranium dimethyl complex (Cp^*₂U(CH₃)₂, Cp^*=C₅Me₅). The metallocene precursor is known to promote the simultaneous production of a large number of differently sized oligomers in the presence of terminal alkynes. However, the addition of a specific secondary silane ensures the selective synthesis of short oligomers.     

Highly efficient Pd(acac)2/TFA catalyzed head-to-tail dimerization of vinylarenes at room temperature

Pd(acac)₂ catalyzed dimerization of vinylarenes to form dimers under mild condition with excellent yields and stereoselectivities. In particular, the use of TFA highly promoted the activity and selectivity of the dimerization. The studies on mechanism for the reaction displayed clearly that the dimerization of styrenes is 100% atom economic reaction.     

Reaction of indium ate complexes with allylic compounds. Controlling SN2/SN2′ selectivity by solvents

Vinyl and methylindium ate complexes (indates) were prepared and both the tendency of immigration and regioselectivity toward cinnamyl bromide were investigated. The vinyl group was more preferably transferred than the Me group, giving a regioisomeric mixture of S_N2 and S_N2′ products. The ratio of S_N2/S_N2′ selectivity can be controlled by solvents; in the presence of polar solvents, such as N-butylpyrrolidone (NBP) and THF, the S_N2′ product was mainly obtained, whereas the S_N2 product was selectively prepared in solutions containing hexane. The vinylindium compound, generated by the reaction of allylic-type diindium reagents with imine, was also converted to the corresponding vinyl indate, which was allowed to react with allyl chloride to give a three-component coupling product.     

Synthesis of conformationally restricted C2 symmetric macrodiolides via head to tail dimerization of carbonyl ylides

Tandem reaction of α-diazocarbonyl compounds in the presence of rhodium(II) acetate catalyst is described to furnish a range of conformationally restricted C₂ symmetric macrodiolides via head to tail dimerization of intramolecular carbonyl ylides.     

Unusual dimerization of N-protected bromomethylindoles using phenylmagnesium chloride

A novel dimerization of N-protected bromomethylindoles involving an exchange reaction with phenylmagnesium chloride is reported.     

Aerobic oxidative dimerization of 1-naphthols to 2,2′-binaphthoquinones mediated by SnCl4 and its application to natural product synthesis

We developed a simple method for the direct synthesis of 2,2′-binaphthoquinones, utilizing oxidative dimerization via electron donor-acceptor complex formation of 1-naphthols with SnCl₄ in the presence of dioxygen. This oxidation involves a catalytic cycle of SnCl₄, and the reaction mechanism is discussed. As an application of this method to natural products synthesis, we describe facile biomimetic syntheses of the binaphthoquinones 3,3′-bijuglone, 3,3′-biplumbagin and elliptinone.     

Elucidation of inhibitors in the dimerization of acrylonitrile using [RuCl2(DMSO)4/CH3CH2COONa/DMSO/o-benzoylbenzoic acid] as catalyst

A study of inhibitors in the dimerization of acrylonitrile using the novel catalytic system of [RuCl₂(DMSO)₄/CH₃CH₂COONa/DMSO/o-benzoylbenzoic acid] was carried out by examining the effect of reaction products on the catalytic activity. 1,4-Dicyanobuta-1,3-diene (3), one of the linear dimer products of acrylonitrile, inhibited the Ru-catalyzed reaction. Methylthiomethyl o-benzoylbenzoate (8), a by-product which was produced from carboxylic acid and DMSO under the reaction conditions, also acted as an inhibitor.     

Palladium - catalyzed dimerization of propene

Summary The insertion of the previously coordinated second molecule of propene into the Pd-C bond is the rate-determining step in the dimerization of propene with the Pd(acac)₂ + BF₃OEt₂ catalyst system. Tetracoordinated square planar Pd hydrides bearing two vacant coordination sites are likely to be catalytically active species in the dimerization of propene. The simplicity of the catalyst system composition might be of industrial importance.     

Convergent synthesis of panclicin-D via intramolecular SN2 displacement approach

A convergent enantioselective synthesis of panclicin-D has been reported from simple octanal using syn aldol reaction via intramolecular S_N2 displacement reaction for the first time towards the construction of anti-β-lactones in panclicin-D. The key steps involved are C-allylation, asymmetric aldolization under Crimmins condition, intramolecular S_N2 displacement, and Mitsunobu esterification reaction.     

On the dichotomy of the SN2/ET reaction pathways: an apparent SN2 reactivity in the reaction of naphthalene dianion with alkyl fluorides

Dilithium naphthalene (Li₂C₁₀H₈) displays a S_N2 reactivity profile in its reaction with alkyl fluorides (n-, s- and t-octyl fluoride). S_N2 seems to be the dominant mechanism operating with primary alkyl fluorides, which presumably turns into competition with ET as we move to secondary and tertiary alkyl fluorides. Significantly, lithium naphthalene (LiC₁₀H₈) seems to have also an important nucleophilic component when reacting with alkyl fluorides, in contrast to the previously proposed general ET process valid for all alkyl halides. These results explain the observed distribution of products and are reinforced by a complete analysis of the products originated by the reaction with 6-halohexenyl radical probes, whose main alkylation products are described here for the first time.     

Unusual Au(III)-catalyzed dimerization of benzoxazol-2-yloxy enynes: Formation of substituted 1,5-cyclooctadienes

Symmetric 1,5-cyclooctadienes were formed via Au-catalyzed dimerization of benzoxazol-2-yloxy enynes, involving double nucleophilic attacks of alkenylgolds toward allylic cations.     

Unique selectivity for the dimerization of propene on RhSn/SiO2 catalysts: implications on the mechanism of C---C bond formation and cleavage on bimetallic catalysts

A series of bimetallic catalysts RhSn_x/SiO₂ (x = 0.4, 0.7, 0.9, and 1.4) were synthesized by the reaction of the monometallic catalyst Rh/SiO₂ with Sn(n-butyl)₄ under hydrogen. Various chemical and spectroscopic methods indicated that the metals present were fully reduced, and that tin atoms rest on the surface, very slightly increasing particle size and producing isolated rhodium sites. The catalytic reactions of propylene/hydrogen mixtures in the presence of these bimetallic catalysts are compared with those of the monometallic Rh/SiO₂ catalysts. The mechanistically interesting reactions observed are those of carbon-carbon bond formation and cleavage. For the monometallic catalyst, olefin homologation and hydrogenolysis were observed, reactions which invoked the transfer of C₁ fragments from one olefin to another. For the bimetallic catalysts, a marked increase in the selectivity for C₆ products was observed. The presence of hydrogen is necessary to this reaction but selectivity for C₆ is enhanced when hydrogen is in deficit with respect to propylene. Selectivity for C₆ increases with the surface rhodium to tin, Rh^s/Sn, ratio to a maximum at 0.9. Low temperature favors the formation of C₆ and C₂ products.     

An SN2′ displacement approach to allenyl acetates

Reaction of cuprates derived from R³MgBr/CuI/LiBr (R³ = n-alkyl) with R¹CCCH(O₂CR²)₂ (R¹ = sp² hybridised substituent, R² = mainly Me, alkyl, Ph) provides access to allenyl esters R¹R³CCCH(O₂CR²) (51-88%). Such species are not accessible via rearrangement of precursor propargylic R¹R³C(O₂CR²)CCH.     

N-Bromosuccinimide-mediated dimerization of unsymmetrical indodicarbocyanine dyes

The bromination of unsymmetrical indodicarbocyanine dyes bearing electron-donating groups (–NHCOCH₃, –OH) on the aryl rings using N-bromosuccinimide produces dimeric molecules together with the corresponding meso-brominated dyes. The direction of the process depends on the reaction conditions. A possible reaction mechanism is also discussed.     

tert-Butyl nitrite induced radical dimerization of primary thioamides and selenoamides at room temperature

A simple and efficient method for the dimerization of primary thioamides into 1,2,4-thiadiazoles using tert-butyl nitrite is described. The optimized condition was also found to be suitable for the dimerization of benzoselenoamides into 1,2,4-selenadiazoles. All the reactions proceed smoothly at room temperature and gave the desired products in excellent yields in a short span of time.     

Is charge development a measure of SN2 transition state structure?

Application of the configuration mixing model to the S_N2 reaction illustrates that charge development in an S_N2 reaction is not linearly related to the position of the transition state along the reaction coordinate.