Iridium as a general catalyst for the decarbonylative addition of aldehydes to alkynes

A general catalytic system for the decarbonylative addition reaction of aldehydes with alkynes is developed by using an iridium catalyst system. Both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes reacted with terminal alkynes efficiently to give the corresponding olefination products in high yields and up to 11:1 E/Z selectivity.     

Efficient rhodium-catalyzed installation of unsaturated ester functions onto porphyrins: site-specific Heck-type addition versus conjugate addition

A facile introduction of alpha,beta- or alpha,beta,gamma,delta-unsaturated ester functions onto porphyrins was achieved through rhodium-catalyzed addition of beta-borylporphyrins to acrylate or 2,4-pentadienoate esters. The reaction of meso-borylporphyrins with acrylates exclusively afforded saturated esters by 1,4-conjugate addition under the same reaction conditions. Thus, the reaction mode (Heck-type versus conjugate addition) is highly dependent on the reaction site (beta versus meso). This functionalization has a significant impact on the electronic properties of the pi system of porphyrins, which induces a substantial redshift and broadening in the absorption spectra by effective conjugation through the beta positions. The coplanar structure of the unsaturated ester moieties with respect to the porphyrin core has been unambiguously elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

A theoretical study of malononitrile addition to carbonyl compounds

The nucleophilic addition of the malononitrile anion (MN⁻) to formaldehyde was studied theoretically by the AM1 semiempirical MO method. The addition is found to be endothermic with a late productlike transition state on the reaction coordinate. Additions of MN⁻ to a series of carbonyl compounds were studied in order to investigate the substituent effect on the energetics of the title addition and the nucleophilic attack reactivity. The solvent effect was stimulated by hydrogen bonding a single molecule of water to the formaldehyde oxygen and/or to the MN⁻ anion. Its influence on the energetics and the transition-state geometry was estimated. The Hammond postulate was satisfied for the studied additions. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 62 : 419–426, 1997     

Catalytic conjugate addition of heterocyclic compounds to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds by hafnium salts and scandium salts

The hafnium chloride (HfCl₄) and scandium chloride (ScCl₃) catalyzed conjugate additions of heterocyclic compounds, such as indoles, pyrrole, pyrazole, and imidazole, have been demonstrated. Hafnium chloride effectively catalyzed the conjugate addition of indoles to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, and the addition product was obtained in high yield. The reaction of pyrrole was also catalyzed by HfCl₄ or ScCl₃, and produced 2,6-dialkylated pyrroles up to 99% yields. Furthermore, the conjugate addition of the 1-position of the pyrazoles and imidazole occurred, and produced several substituted heterocyclic compounds in good yields.     

Nickel salt-catalyzed addition reaction of arylboronic acids to aromatic aldehydes

Arylation reaction of aromatic aldehydes with arylboronic acids proceeded smoothly in the presence of a base and catalytic amount of a nickel salt, Ni(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O, in toluene/IPA = 5:1 or IPA to afford corresponding diarylmethanols in good to excellent yields.     

The first ionic liquids promoted conjugate addition of azide ion to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

The first, highly efficient conjugate addition of azide ion to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds promoted by the simple recyclable ionic liquids, bmimPF₆ and bmimBF₄, are described.     

Stereoselective conjugate addition reactions to phenylglycinol-derived, unsaturated oxazolopiperidone lactams

Phenylglycinol-derived, unsaturated oxazolopiperidone lactams are extremely useful building blocks that undergo stereoselective conjugate addition reactions with organocuprates, enolates, and sulfur-stabilized anions, allowing the stereocontrolled introduction of substituents at the piperidine 4-position. The factors governing the exo- or endo-facial selectivity are discussed. The methodology can be used for the preparation of a variety of enantiopure piperidines, including pharmaceuticals, alkaloids precursors, piperidine-fused derivatives, as well as complex piperidine-containing natural products.     

Microwave-accelerated conjugate addition of aldehydes to α,β-unsaturated ketones

Aldehydes undergo smooth conjugate addition to α,β-unsaturated ketones in the presence of 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3-thiazolium halides and DBU adsorbed onto the surface of basic alumina under microwave irradiation and solvent-free conditions to afford 1,4-diketones in enhanced yields and reduced reaction times compared to conventional methods.     

Commercially available neat organozincs as highly reactive reagents for catalytic enantioselective addition to ketones and aldehydes under solvent free conditions

Neat Et₂Zn, Ph₂Zn, and highly concentrated Me₂Zn are highly reactive organozinc reagents, which are commercially available in bulk quantities. We here report a catalytic enantioselective Et₂Zn, Ph₂Zn, and Me₂Zn addition to ketones and aldehydes under solvent free or highly concentrated conditions without Ti(Oi-Pr)₄ as a conventional activator of organozinc reagents. The desired optically active tertiary and secondary alcohols were obtained in good yield with high enantioselectivity when compared to the conventional solvent-use conditions. From the viewpoint of ecological and environmental reasons in green chemistry, this catalysis would be practical for not only academic but also industrial use.     

Palladium-bipyridine catalyzed conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in aqueous media

Palladium/bipyridine catalyzed conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in aqueous media was developed with high yields.     

A novel solid state Michael addition reaction of N-heterocyclic compounds containing active C-H bond

In this paper,a novel solid state Michael-type addition reaction of N-heterocyclic compounds containing the active-CH group was investigated.3-Methyl-l-phenyl-5-pyrazolone (MPP) and indole (In) reacted with 4-arylmethylene-3-methyl-l-phenyl-5-pyrazolone (1) hi the solid state at room temperature to give the corresponding adducts,aryl-4,4'-bis(5-hydroxy-3-methyl-l-phenyl-pyrazolyl) methane (2a-n) and l-aryl-l-(5'-hydroxy-3'-methyl-1'-phenyl-4'-pyrazolyl)-l-(3"-indolyl) methane (3a-n),respectively.This is a feasible method for preparing the compound which contains two heterocyclic groups on the same carbon.     

Palladium-catalyzed conjugate addition of organosiloxanes to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and nitroalkenes

The addition of aryltrialkoxysilanes to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (ketones, aldehydes) and nitroalkenes in the presence of SbCl(3), TBAF, AcOH, and a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)(2), in CH(3)CN at 60 degrees C, provides the corresponding conjugate addition products in moderate to good yields. The addition of equimolar amounts of SbCl(3) and TBAF is necessary for this reaction to proceed smoothly. The arylpalladium complex, which is generated by the transmetalation from a putative hypercoordinate silicon compound, is considered to be the catalytically active species.     

An efficient catalytic asymmetric addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to aldehydes at room temperature

The BINOL-salen compound (S)-5c in combination with Ti(OⁱPr)₄ is found to catalyze the addition of TMSCN to aldehydes to form chiral cyanohydrins with very good enantioselectivity (75-85% ee). The reactions are carried out in one-pot at room temperature without the need to isolate the chiral Lewis acid catalyst.     

Decarbonylative radical conjugate addition of aliphatic aldehydes for alkylation of electron-deficient alkenes

A convenient metal-free decarbonylative radical conjugate addition of aliphatic aldehydes to electron-deficient alkenes is developed. With DTBP as an oxidant and radical-initiator, this reaction smoothly converts α-unsubstituted, α-mono-substituted and α-di-substituted aliphatic aldehydes into the corresponding primary, secondary and tertiary alkyl radicals, and subsequently allows for the cascade construction of C(sp³)C(sp³) bond via radical conjugate addition.     

Asymmetric conjugate addition of carbonyl compounds to nitroalkenes catalyzed by chiral bifunctional thioureas

Readily available chiral thioureas derived from cyclohexane-1,2-diamine were prepared and found to be highly effective organocatalysts for the conjugate addition of aldehydes and ketones to nitroalkenes. Excellent enantioselectivities and yields were obtained for a variety of aryl and heteroaryl nitroalkenes. The base additives are essential for good yields and excellent enantioselectivities in this transformation. Based on new experimental evidence, a modified catalytic mechanism was proposed to rationalize the important role of the base additives.     

A catalytic and iterative route to beta-substituted esters via highly enantioselective conjugate addition of dimethylzinc to unsaturated malonates

Using the chiral phosphoramidite ligand (S,R,R)-L1 in the conjugate addition of dimethylzinc to acyclic unsaturated malonates, enantioselectivities of up to 98% have been obtained for the first time. An iterative and stereodivergent route to 3,5-dimethyl esters that takes advantage of this asymmetric catalysis has been developed.