A simple, efficient, and highly selective method for the iodination of alcohols using ZrCl4/NaI

Iodination of primary, secondary, allylic, and benzylic alcohols giving their corresponding iodides was achieved with ZrCl₄/NaI in anhydrous CH₃CN with excellent yields and selectivities.     

Application and Mechanistic Studies of a Water‐Oxidation Catalyst in Alcohol Oxidation by Employing Oxygen‐Transfer Reagents

By using a dimeric ruthenium complex in combination with tert‐butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP) as stoichiometric oxidant, a mild and efficient protocol for the oxidation of secondary benzylic alcohols was obtained, thereby giving the corresponding ketones in high yields within 4 h. However, in the oxidation of aliphatic alcohols, the TBHP protocol suffered from low conversions owing to a competing Ru‐catalyzed disproportionation of the oxidant. Gratifyingly, by switching to Oxone (2 KHSO₅ ? KHSO₄ ? K₂SO₄ triple salt) as stoichiometric oxidant, a more efficient and robust system was obtained that allowed for the oxidation of a wide range of aliphatic and benzylic secondary alcohols, giving the corresponding ketones in excellent yields. The mechanism for these reactions is believed to involve a high‐valent Ru^V–oxo species. We provide support for such an intermediate by means of mechanistic studies.     

Lewis acid-catalyzed oxidative rearrangement of tertiary allylic alcohols mediated by TEMPO

Two methods for the oxidative rearrangement of tertiary allylic alcohols have been developed. Most of tertiary allylic alcohols studied were oxidized to their corresponding transposed carbonyl derivatives in excellent to fair yields by reaction with TEMPO in combination with PhIO and Bi(OTf)₃ or copper (II) chloride in the presence or not of oxygen. Other primary oxidants of TEMPO such as PhI(OAc)₂, mCPBA, and Oxone^® were unsatisfactory giving the enone in modest to low yields.     

Ring opening of epoxides with alcohols using Fe(Cp)2BF4 as catalyst

Fe(Cp)₂BF₄ is an efficient catalyst for the alcoholysis of aromatic, aliphatic, and cyclic epoxides giving excellent yields of the corresponding β-alkoxy alcohols under ambient conditions. The methanolysis of styrene oxide using Fe(Cp)₂BF₄ as a catalyst (5 mol %) gave excellent yield of 2-methoxy-2-phenylethanol with complete regio-selectivity. The ring opening of cyclic epoxides gave 77–97% yields of trans-β-methoxy alcohols, in 0.5–6 h. The use of 1,2-epoxyhexane and 1,2-epoxydodecane as substrates gave both regioisomers in excellent yields. The first order rate of reaction with respect to catalyst was observed for the kinetics of ring opening of 1,2-epoxyhexane with methanol.     

Direct allylic substitution of allyl alcohols by carbon pronucleophiles in the presence of a palladium/carboxylic acid catalyst under neat conditions

The reaction of allylic alcohols with carbon pronucleophiles in the presence of the Pd(PPh₃)₄/carboxylic acid combined catalytic system, under neat conditions (without an organic solvent or without water as the solvent) enabled the direct allylation of the pronucleophiles, giving the corresponding allylated products in high yields.     

Air-stable hypervalent organobismuth(III) tetrafluoroborate as effective and reusable catalyst for the allylation of aldehyde with tetraallyltin

Air-stable hypervalent organobismuth(III) tetrafluoroborate (C₆H₁₁N(CH₂C₆H₄)₂BiBF₄) was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic techniques. The compound shows good catalytic efficiency in the allylation reaction of different aldehydes with tetraallyltin in a medium of aqueous methanol, giving the corresponding homoallylic alcohols in excellent chemoselectivity and yields.     

Platinum‐Catalyzed Multi‐Step Reaction of Propargyl Alcohols with N‐Heteroaromatics

N‐Methyl indole reacts with but‐2‐yn‐1‐ol in the presence of PtCl₂ in MeOH giving indole derivatives having a substituted 3‐oxobutyl group at the 3‐position in good yield. Under the reaction conditions, various substituted indoles and substituted propargyl alcohols are successfully involved in the reaction giving the corresponding addition products in good to moderate yields. The catalytic reaction can be further extended to N‐phenyl pyrrole. In the present multi‐step reaction, PtCl₂ likely plays dual roles: as the catalyst for the rearrangement of propargyl alcohols to the corresponding alkenyl ketones and as the catalyst for the addition of indoles to the alkenyl ketones. Experimental evidence is provided to support the proposed mechanism.     

B(C6F5)3 as a Highly Effective Catalyst for the Phosphoryl Transfer Reaction

The phosphoryl transfer reactions of diphenyl chlorophosphate with a wide range of alcohols were catalyzed by tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron [B(C₆F₅)₃], giving the corresponding phosphate esters in excellent yields. This methodology has advantages over older ones because it employs the easily handled B(C₆F₅)₃, avoids the side reaction, and has shorter reaction time.     

Enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes induced by a new chiral Ti(IV) catalyst

A new chiral titanium reagent, derived from optically active trans-1,2-dicamphorsulfonamidocyclohexane 2a and Ti(OⁱPr)₄, was found to promote the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to various aldehydes giving rise to the corresponding alcohols in high yields with moderate to high selectivity.     

Ru/Al2O3-catalyzed transfer dehydrogenation of alcohols

Summary Primary and secondary alcohols were oxidized to their corresponding aldehydes or ketones in good yields using Ru/Al₂O₃ as catalyst in the presence of acetone. The catalyst can be recovered by simple filtration and reused after washing with acetone.     

Metal-free one-pot oxidative conversion of benzylic alcohols and benzylic halides into aromatic amides with molecular iodine in aq ammonia, and hydrogen peroxide

Various primary alcohols, particularly benzylic alcohols, could be converted into the corresponding aromatic amides in good yields in a one-pot manner by treatment with molecular iodine in aq. NH₃, followed by reaction with ∼30% aq H₂O₂. Similarly, various benzylic halides could be also converted into the corresponding aromatic amides in good yields in a one-pot manner by treatment with molecular iodine in aq NH₃, followed by reaction with ∼30% aq H₂O₂. The present reactions involve the metal-free one-pot oxidative conversion of benzylic alcohols and benzylic halides into the corresponding aromatic amides, respectively.     

Efficient AgOTf or Ph3PAuCl-AgSbF6 catalyzed cyclization of 1-hydroxy-2-alkynylallylphosphonates/2-alkynylallyl alcohols to 2-furylphosphonates/2,3,5-trisubstituted furans

The reaction of 1-hydroxy-2-alkynylallylphosphonates, synthesized by the addition of the corresponding phosphites to 2-alkynylcinnamaldehydes, under AgOTf or Ph₃PAuCl-AgSbF₆ catalyzed cycloisomerization afforded 2-furylphosphonates in good to excellent yields. These cyclization reactions were compared with those of 2-alkynylallyl alcohols that led to multisubstituted furans.     

Modified Borohydride Agents1a-d Methyltriphenylphosphonium Tetrahydroborate; MePh3P+BH4 − as a Selective and An Efficient Reducing Agent

Abstract

MePh₃P⁺BH₄ ^? is able to reduce aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding alcohols in CH₂Cl₂. Aldehydes are reduced with high selectivity in the presence of ketones. α,β-Unsaturated carbonyl compounds undergo 1,2-reduction and produce their corresponding allylic alcohols in high yields. Carboxylic acid chlorides are also converted to their alcohols with high yields.     

Highly efficient synthesis of homoallylic alcohols and amines via allylation of aldehydes and imines catalyzed by ZrOCl2·8H2O in water

The allylation of aldehydes and imines has efficiently been carried out by treatment with allyltributylstannane in the presence of a catalytic amount of ZrOCl₂·8H₂O in water to form the corresponding homoallylic alcohols and amines, respectively, in high yields.     

Cu(OTf)2-catalyzed arylmethylation of terminal alkynes with benzylic alcohols under ligand-, base-, and additive-free reaction conditions

An effective, convenient, and mild coupling reaction of benzylic alcohols with terminal alkynes has been developed. As an effective Lewis acid, Cu(OTf)₂-catalyzed arylmethylation of terminal alkynes with benzylic alcohols generated the corresponding products in BrCH₂CH₂Br with good yields in the absence of ligand, base, and additive.     

ZnBr2-Catalyzed and Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of 2,3-Unsaturated Glucosides of Hindered Phenols and Alcohols

Zinc bromide (ZnBr₂) under microwave irradiation efficiently catalyzed the Ferrier reaction of hindered phenols and alcohols to afford the corresponding α-2,3-unsaturated glucoside acetates in good yields and with good stereoselectivity. The reaction affords a facile access to new 2,3-dideoxyglucosides of important phenolic and alcoholic constituents of spices.     

Mg(NTf2)2·xH2O: An Efficient Catalyst for the Synthesis of Homoallylic Alcohols in Water

An efficient method has been developed for the allylation of aldehydes with allytributylstannane in the presence of a catalytic amount of Mg(NTf₂)₂·xH₂O at room temperature in water to afford the corresponding homoallylic alcohols in good yields.     

Microwave-enhanced bismuth triflate-catalyzed epoxide opening with aliphatic amines

In the presence of a catalytic amount of Bi(OTf)₃·4H₂O and under microwave irradiation, neat mixtures of epoxides and amines afforded smoothly the corresponding 2-amino alcohols. A wide variety of aliphatic amines were reacted with cycloalkene oxide, styrene oxide, and stilbene oxide. The reaction proceeded rapidly and afforded the 2-amino alcohols in high up to quantitative yields. All products could be obtained without aqueous work-up by simple filtration.     

Methane generated during photocatalytic redox reaction of alcohols on TiO2 suspension in aqueous solutions

Studies on the photo-catalytic redox reaction of C1–C3 alcohols such as methanol, ethanol and 2-propanol were carried out in aqueous solution containing TiO₂ photocatalyst (0.1% w/v) as suspension using 350 nm light. Other hydrocarbons such as ethane and ethene in the case of ethanol, and propene in the case of 2-propanol with low yields were produced along with the major photolytic products methane and carbon dioxide. The yields of methane and CO₂ were found to be dependent on the light exposure time and ambient conditions. Methane yields were higher in 2-propanol and ethanol systems than in methanol system, showing their better hole-scavenging properties. In the aerated condition, methane was produced during photolysis of all alcohols in the presence of TiO₂ and the yield was comparable to those observed in the corresponding CO₂-saturated systems. The overall results reveal that the surface adsorbed, as well as in-situ-generated CO₂ from photo-oxidation of alcohols are equally responsible for methane formation through photo-reduction in presence of TiO₂. In the O₂-saturated system, the methane yield was lower as compared to that in aerated system, in contrast to the CO₂ yield. In N₂O-and N₂-purged systems, the yield of methane was observed to be low, inferring that the methane generation has not taken place through photodecomposition/photodissociation of alcohols. Again, photolysis of alcohols without TiO₂ did not generate any methane.     

An expedient route for the reduction of carboxylic acids to alcohols employing 1-propanephosphonic acid cyclic anhydride as acid activator

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of alcohols from the corresponding carboxylic acids is described. Activation of carboxylic acid with 1-propanephosphonic acid cyclic anhydride (T3P) and subsequent reduction using NaBH₄ yield the alcohol in excellent yields with good purity. Reduction of several alkyl/aryl carboxylic acids and N^α-protected amino acids/peptide acids as well as N^β-protected amino acids was successfully carried out to obtain corresponding alcohols in good yields. All the products were fully characterized by ¹H NMR and mass spectral analyses. The procedure is mild, simple and the isolation of the products is easy.