Ruthenium-catalyzed cyclic carbonylation of allenyl alcohols. Selective synthesis of gamma- and delta-lactones

[reaction: see text] Ruthenium complex-catalyzed carbonylation of allenyl alcohols quantitatively gave cyclic carbonyl compounds, gamma- and delta-lactones, in which the hydroxy group of allenyl alcohols participated in the cyclization. A wide variety of allenyl alcohols, such as mono-, di-, and trisubstituted alcohols, can be used in this reaction to produce 3- and 4-substituted gamma-lactones. Similarly, the cyclic carbonylation of 3,4-pentadien-1-ol 10a and 2-methyl-4,5-hexadien-2-ol 11a gave delta-lactones, 5,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one 10b, and 5,6-dihydro-6,6-dimethyl-3-methyl-2H-pyran. 2-one 11b, respectively, in a quantitative yield.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed direct amination of alcohols with tertiary amines

A highly selective phosphine-based ruthenium catalyst system efficiently catalyzes the direct amination of alcohols with aliphatic tertiary amines, yielding unsymmetric tertiary amines in yields up to 87%. Ligand and solvent both affect the reaction yields significantly. The reaction can be performed with a wide variety of functionalities.     

Ru-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation of alpha- and beta-allenic sulfonamides: synthesis of gamma- and delta-unsaturated lactams

[reaction: see text]. The Ru-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation of alpha- or beta-allenic sulfonamides in the presence of Ru(3)(CO)(12) (1 mol %) and Et(3)N (1.5 equiv) under CO atmosphere (20 atm) in dioxane at 100 degrees C for 9 h gave heterocyclic gamma- and delta-unsaturated lactams in good yields.     

Catalytic asymmetric cyclocarbonylation of o-isopropenylphenols: enantioselective synthesis of six-membered ring lactones

Cyclocarbonylation of o-isopropenylphenols with CO (500 psi) and H(2) (100 psi), using Pd(OAc)(2) and (+)-DIOP as the chiral catalyst, in CH(2)Cl(2) affords 3,4-dihydro-4-methylcoumarins in 60-85% yield and in up to 90% enantiomeric excess. The stereoselectivity is influenced by the structure of the chiral phosphine ligands and substrates, as well as by the reaction conditions.     

Synthesis of unsaturated seven-membered ring lactams through palladium-catalyzed amination and intramolecular cyclocarbonylation reactions of amines and Baylis-Hillman acetates

A versatile synthesis of unsaturated seven-membered ring lactams has been developed. The sequence involves hydroamination of Baylis-Hillman acetate with amines, followed by intramolecular cyclocarbonylation reactions of the resulting allylamines. This process can tolerate a wide array of functional groups, and affords lactams in excellent yields.     

A one-pot synthesis of tertiary amines from amines,lactams and urethanes

A one-pot synthesis of unsymmetrical tertiary amines from amides, lactams and urethanes has been developed. The reaction is general for all cases examined with the exception of N-aryl containing examples, which are not accessible by this method.     

Dual-function of alcohols in gold-mediated selective coupling of amines and alcohols

Oxidative coupling of alcohols (methanol and ethanol) and dimethylamine on atomic-oxygen-activated Au(111) occurs entirely on the surface to form the corresponding amides when the alkoxy of the alcohol and the amide derived from the amine are co-adsorbed. For effective oxygen-assisted coupling the formation of the amide requires excess methanol. Mechanistic studies reveal that molecularly adsorbed methanol removes excess adsorbed atomic oxygen efficiently, precluding either secondary oxidation or oxidative dehydrogenation of dimethylamide to the imine. The adsorbed amide then can react with the aldehyde produced by β-hydride elimination from the alkoxy to form the hemiaminal, the reactive intermediate leading to coupling. The selectivity for formamide production can be increased to nearly 100?% in excess methanol.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative C-H bond alkenylations in water: expedient synthesis of annulated lactones

Ruthenium-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative C-H bond alkenylations occurred efficiently in environmentally benign water, which was exploited for an oxidative phthalide synthesis with ample scope. Mechanistic studies provided strong evidence for the oxidative alkenylation to proceed by an irreversible C-H bond metalation via acetate assistance.     

Steric-switched defluorofunctionalization selectivity: controlled synthesis of monofluoroalkene-masked medium-sized heterocyclic lactams and lactones

The steric-switched ipso-defluoroamination-triggered and ipso-defluorooxylation-triggered cyclization of(trifluoromethyl)alkenes with amino alcohols and diamines are achieved under mild conditions. This regioselective strategy distinguishes the different nucleophilic heteroatom sites in amino alcohols and unsymmetric diamines by the sequential defluorinative functionalization of two C(sp³)–F bonds in a CF₃ group. Various attractive monofluoroalkene-masked medium-sized heter...     

Ruthenium-catalyzed synthesis of allylic alcohols: boronic acid as a hydroxide source

Secondary allylic alcohols were synthesized from linear allylic halides or carbonates using a catalytic amount of a ruthenium complex in the presence of boronic acid. The effects of solvent, base, ruthenium precursor, and boronic acid were fully explored, and the scope of the reaction was extended to various substrates. We also describe a preliminary investigation towards an enantioselective process.     

Toward catalyst economy: A programmed approach to the synthesis of bicyclic lactones and lactams

The development of sequential ring closing metathesis (RCM)–Kharasch sequences which utilize a single precatalyst is described. In these sequences the catalysts acts in a multiple role promoting two different carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions in a sequential manner.     

Ruthenium-catalysed synthesis of tertiary amines from alcohols

Secondary amines have been converted into tertiary amines by reactions with primary alcohols. A catalytic system of [Ru(cymene)Cl₂]₂ with dppf has been shown to be effective for this transformation for a range of primary alcohols and secondary amines. The methodology has been applied to the one pot synthesis of Piribedil and other piperazine and morpholine-containing products.     

Nitrogen ylide-mediated cyclopropanation of lactams and lactones

Cyclopropanation of α,β-unsaturated δ-lactams and δ-lactones mediated by nitrogen ylides is described. The process tolerates different alkyl halides and gives efficiently bicyclo[4.1.0]heptanes in a totally stereoselective manner. On the other hand, ε-lactams under our experimental conditions suffer a novel process involving a skeletal reorganization to give a bicyclic[3.3.0] system.