Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Electrophile Coupling with Organic Reductants in Non‐Amide Solvents

Cross‐electrophile coupling of aryl halides with alkyl halides has thus far been primarily conducted with stoichiometric metallic reductants in amide solvents. This report demonstrates that the use of tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE) as an organic reductant enables the use of non‐amide solvents, such as acetonitrile or propylene oxide, for the coupling of benzyl chlorides and alkyl iodides with aryl halides. Furthermore, these conditions work for several electron‐poor heterocycles that are easily reduced by manganese. Finally, we demonstrate that TDAE addition can be used as a control element to ‘hold’ a reaction without diminishing yield or catalyst activity.     

Esters and amides from aziridine 2-carboxylic acid salts

Potassium salts of aziridine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives are efficiently converted into esters of amides by reactions with alkyl halides, alkyl dihalides or by acylation with trimethylacetyl chloride followed by aminolyses.     

Titanocene-catalyzed carbosilylation of alkenes and dienes using alkyl halides and chlorosilanes

A new method for regioselective carbosilylation of alkenes and dienes has been developed by the use of a titanocene catalyst. This reaction proceeds efficiently at 0 degrees C in THF in the presence of Grignard reagents by the combined use of alkyl halides (R'-X, X = Br or Cl) and chlorotrialkylsilanes (R3'Si-Cl) as the alkylating and silylating reagents, respectively. Terminal alkenes having aryl or silyl substituents (YRC=CH2, Y = Ar or Me3Si, R = H or Me) afford addition products YRC-(SiR'3)-CH2R' in good yields, whereas 1-octene and internal alkenes were sluggish. When 2,3-disubstituted 1,3-butadienes were used instead of alkenes, alkyl and silyl units are introduced at the 1- and 4-positions giving rise to allylsilanes in high yields under similar conditions. The present reaction involves (i) addition of alkyl radicals toward alkenes or dienes, and (ii) electrophilic trapping of benzyl- or allylmagnesium halides with chlorosilanes. The titanocene catalyst plays important roles in generation of these active species, i.e., alkyl radicals and benzyl- or allylmagnesium halides.     

The efficient consecutive β-carboxylation and α-alkylation of cyclic α,β-enones; a new route to sarkomycin

Sequential one-pot introduction of a carboxy group equivalent and an alkyl group at the respective β- and α-positions of cyclic enones has been achieved through a 1,4-addition reaction of [methoxy(phenylthio)(trimethylsilyl)methyl] lithium followed by direct trapping of the resulting enolate with alkyl halides. The present method proved to be applicable to a simple synthesis of sarkomycin.     

Cobalt-catalyzed trimethylsilylmethylmagnesium-promoted radical alkenylation of alkyl halides: a complement to the Heck reaction

A cobalt complex, [CoCl2(dpph)] (DPPH = [1,6-bis(diphenylphosphino)hexane]), catalyzes an intermolecular styrylation reaction of alkyl halides in the presence of Me3SiCH2MgCl in ether to yield beta-alkylstyrenes. A variety of alkyl halides including alkyl chlorides can participate in the styrylation. A radical mechanism is strongly suggested for the styrylation reaction. The sequential isomerization/styrylation reactions of cyclopropylmethyl bromide and 6-bromo-1-hexene provide evidence of the radical mechanism. Crystallographic and spectroscopic investigations on cobalt complexes reveal that the reaction would begin with single electron transfer from an electron-rich (diphosphine)bis(trimethylsilylmethyl)cobalt(II) complex followed by reductive elimination to yield 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)ethane and a (diphosphine)cobalt(I) complex. The combination of [CoCl2(dppb)] (DPPB = [1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane]) catalyst and Me3SiCH2MgCl induces intramolecular Heck-type cyclization reactions of 6-halo-1-hexenes via a radical process. On the other hand, the intramolecular cyclization of the prenyl ether of 2-iodophenol would proceed in a fashion similar to the conventional palladium-catalyzed transformation. The nonradical oxidative addition of carbon(sp2)-halogen bonds to cobalt is separately verified by a cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alkenyl halides with Me3SiCH2MgCl with retention of configuration of the starting vinyl halides. The cobalt-catalyzed intermolecular radical styrylation reaction of alkyl halides is applied to stereoselective variants. Styrylations of 1-alkoxy-2-bromocyclopentane derivatives provide trans-1-alkoxy-2-styrylcyclopentane skeletons, one of which is optically pure.     

High-pressure alkylation of azomethines

Reaction of anils with alkyl halides under high pressure (10 kbar) was studied. Alkylation in polar media (dioxane or acetonitrile) followed by hydrolysis yields pureN-monoalkylamines in high yields. Optimum conditions for high-pressure alkylation were found.     

Tin-free radical alkylation of ketones via N-silyloxy enamines

The radical alkylation of ketones is achieved by their conversion into corresponding N-silyloxy enamines, followed by a radical reaction with alkyl halides bearing electron-withdrawing groups.     

A new method for preparation of organocalcium halides by cocondensation of calcium vapor with solvents

Calcium vapor (atom) when cocondensed with various solvents at 77 K was found to be very reactive toward alkyl and aryl halides. A series of organocalcium halides was prepared in good yields by addition of alkyl or aryl halides to the resultant calcium atom-solvent slurries at ambient temperatures.     

有机磷化合物的研究 X:五价膦(磷)酸酯与卤代烷在卤化钠存在下的酯烷基交换反应

A detailed study on the ester alkyl exchange reaction of various types of quinique-valent phosphorus esters with alkyl halide in the presence of sodium bromides was reported. This ester alkyl exchange reaction was evidently influenced by the structure of phosphorus esters and alkyl halides as well as by the nature of the halides of metal ions. In contrast with the reaction without sodium hadlide, the alkyl phosphinmate is more reactive than phosphonate and phosphate by treatment with alkyl halide in the presence of sodium halide. This is consistent with the high nucleophilicity of >P(CO)O- as leaving group. The reactivity of butyl halides was decreased in the following order: n-BuBr>i-BuBr=s-BuBr>t-BuBr. Alkyl iodide was proved to be more reactive than the corresponding bromide and chloride. However, the use of iodioe is limited by the formation of alkene resulted from the elimination of HI. These structural effects show the general characteristics of a nucleophilic substitution reaction. A reaction mechanism involving the formation of sodium salt intermecutiate was proposed based on the concept of HSAB principle. This reaction may, however, be used as a convenient method for the preparation of mixed esters of quinque-valent phosphorus acids.     

Intra- and intermolecular Fe-catalyzed dicarbofunctionalization of vinyl cyclopropanes

Design and implementation of the first (asymmetric) Fe-catalyzed intra- and intermolecular difunctionalization of vinyl cyclopropanes (VCPs) with alkyl halides and aryl Grignard reagents has been realized via a mechanistically driven approach. Mechanistic studies support the diffusion of alkyl radical intermediates out of the solvent cage to participate in an intra- or intermolecular radical cascade with a range of VCPs followed by re-entering the Fe radical cross-coupling cycle to undergo (stereo)selective C(sp²)–C(sp³) bond formation. This work provides a proof-of-concept of the use of vinyl cyclopropanes as synthetically useful 1,5-synthons in Fe-catalyzed conjunctive cross-couplings with alkyl halides and aryl/vinyl Grignard reagents. Overall, we provide new design principles for Fe-mediated radical processes and underscore the potential of using combined computations and experiments to accelerate the development of challenging transformations.

Design and implementation of the first (asymmetric) Fe-catalyzed intra- and intermolecular difunctionalization of vinyl cyclopropanes (VCPs) with alkyl halides and aryl Grignard reagents has been realized via a mechanistically driven approach.     

Cobalt-Catalyzed Asymmetric Remote Borylation of Alkyl Halides

Enantioselective functionalization of racemic alkyl halides is an efficient strategy to assemble complex chiral molecules, but remains one of the biggest challenges in organic chemistry. The distant and selective activation of unreactive C−H bonds in alkyl halides has received growing interest as it enables rapid generation of molecular complexity from simple building blocks. Here, we reported a cobalt-catalyzed remote borylation of alkyl (pseudo)halides (alkyl−X, X=I, Br, Cl, OTs) with pinacolborane (HBpin) and presented a robust approach for the generation of valuable chiral secondary organoboronates from racemic alkyl halides. This migration borylation reaction is compatible with primary, secondary, and tertiary bromides, offering direct access to a broad range of alkylboronates. The extension of this catalytic system to the borylation of aryl halides was also demonstrated. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that this remote borylation involved a radical reaction pathway.     

Selective mono N-alkylations of cyclen in one step syntheses

In this Letter, we describe selective one step mono N-alkylations of cyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) using a range of functionalized alkyl halides. This ‘easy to use’ synthesis gives rise to mono-derivatives of cyclen from various alkyl halides or, when using alkyl dihalides, bis-cyclen derivatives, where the alkyl group links two cyclen macrocycles together. While the reaction conditions require the use of 1:4 stoichiometry (alkyl halide:cyclen), any unreacted cyclen can be recovered with an aqueous extraction and successfully reused. This procedure was found to be quite versatile, being particularly well-suited for cyclen targets bearing protected thiol groups, as well as α-chloroamide-derived chromophores; such cyclen pendant chromophores are employed as antennae for lanthanide luminescence probes and sensors.     

A Novel Method of Preparing Unsymmetrical Thioether from Disulfides

The disulfides reacted with zinc in DMF, followed by alkyl halides, giving unsymmetrical thioether in excellent yields. This reaction takes place under mild and neutral conditions.     

Distannane mediated reaction of N-acyliminium ion pools with alkyl halides. A chain mechanism involving radical addition followed by electron transfer

Hexabutyldistannane was found to be an effective mediator allowing the reaction of N-acyliminium ion pools with alkyl halides. A chain mechanism involving the addition of an alkyl radical generated from an alkyl halide to an N-acyliminium ion followed by the one-electron reduction of the resulting radical-cation by distannane was proposed.     

Synthesis of Thiols via Palladium Catalyzed Methanolysis of Thioacetates with Borohydride Exchange Resin

Various thiols are prepared quantitatively from the corresponding thioacetates via Pd catalyzed methanolysis with borohydride exchange resin under a mild and neutral conditions. One-pot synthesis of thiols from alkyl halides through the formation of alkyl thioacetates using thioacetate exchange resin followed by methanolysis is also described.     

Selective functionalization of the primary hydroxy group in triols

A procedure was suggested for preparing functionally substituted 1,2-diols by O-alkylation of hydroxyalkyl-1,3-dioxacyclanes with alkyl halides, followed by acid hydrolysis. The conditions for selective cleavage of the ethers obtained were found. (2,2-Dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methyl benzoate under the conditions of acid deacetalization undergoes saponification of the ester group.     

Understanding atom transfer radical polymerization: effect of ligand and initiator structures on the equilibrium constants

Equilibrium constants in Cu-based atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) were determined for a wide range of ligands and initiators in acetonitrile at 22 degrees C. The ATRP equilibrium constants obtained vary over 7 orders of magnitude and strongly depend on the ligand and initiator structures. The activities of the Cu(I)/ligand complexes are highest for tetradentate ligands, lower for tridentate ligands, and lowest for bidentate ligands. Complexes with tripodal and bridged ligands (Me6TREN and bridged cyclam) tend to be more active than those with the corresponding linear ligands. The equilibrium constants are largest for tertiary alkyl halides and smallest for primary alkyl halides. The activities of alkyl bromides are several times larger than those of the analogous alkyl chlorides. The equilibrium constants are largest for the nitrile derivatives, followed by those for the benzyl derivatives and the corresponding esters. Other equilibrium constants that are not readily measurable were extrapolated from the values for the reference ligands and initiators. Excellent correlations of the equilibrium constants with the Cu(II/I) redox potentials and the carbon-halogen bond dissociation energies were observed.     

Tin-catalyzed conversion of trioses to alkyl lactates in alcohol solution

Tin chlorides, SnCl2 and SnCl4.5H2O are excellent catalysts for the reactions of trioses, dihydroxyacetone and glyceraldehyde with alcohols (MeOH, EtOH and nBuOH) to give alkyl lactates, whose reaction mechanism involves the intermediary formation of pyruvic aldehyde followed by its esterification, which is distinctively promoted by tin halides.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Alkyl Zinc Halides for the Formation of C(sp2)?C(sp3) Bonds: Scope and Mechanism

Optimal conditions for a general Ni‐catalysed Negishi cross‐coupling of alkyl zinc halides with aryl, heteroaryl and alkenyl halides have been determined. These conditions allow the reaction to take place smoothly, with low catalyst loading, and in the presence of a wide variety of functional groups to afford products in good yields at room temperature. DFT studies on the mechanism support the occurrence of a catalytic cycle involving transmetalation of the alkyl zinc halide to Ni^I followed by oxidative addition of the haloarene and C? C reductive elimination.     

Photopromoted Carbonylation of Alkyl Halides Under Ambient Conditions

Photopromoted carbonylation of alkyl halides with carbon monoxide can be carried out under ambient conditions with non-precious transition metal complexes(such as cobalt complexes) catalysts.Our preliminary work sowed that alkyl halides can be transformed into alkene and alkane directly under irradiation,but the esters can not be transformed.It is assumed that the carbonylation of alkyl halides may be proceeded in two ways.