Atom‐Efficient Gold(I)‐Chloride‐Catalyzed Synthesis of α‐Sulfenylated Carbonyl Compounds from Propargylic Alcohols and Aryl Thiols: Substrate Scope and Experimental and Theoretical Mechanistic Investigation

Gold(I)‐chloride‐catalyzed synthesis of α‐sulfenylated carbonyl compounds from propargylic alcohols and aryl thiols showed a wide substrate scope with respect to both propargylic alcohols and aryl thiols. Primary and secondary aromatic propargylic alcohols generated α‐sulfenylated aldehydes and ketones in 60–97 % yield. Secondary aliphatic propargylic alcohols generated α‐sulfenylated ketones in yields of 47–71 %. Different gold sources and ligand effects were studied, and it was shown that gold(I) chloride gave the highest product yields. Experimental and theoretical studies demonstrated that the reaction proceeds in two separate steps. A sulfenylated allylic alcohol, generated by initial regioselective attack of the aryl thiol on the triple bond of the propargylic alcohol, was isolated, evaluated, and found to be an intermediate in the reaction. Deuterium labeling experiments showed that the protons from the propargylic alcohol and aryl thiol were transferred to the 3‐position, and that the hydride from the alcohol was transferred to the 2‐position of the product. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the observed regioselectivity of the aryl thiol attack towards the 2‐position of propargylic alcohol was determined by a low‐energy, five‐membered cyclic protodeauration transition state instead of the strained, four‐membered cyclic transition state found for attack at the 3‐position. Experimental data and DFT calculations supported that the second step of the reaction is initiated by protonation of the double bond of the sulfenylated allylic alcohol with a proton donor coordinated to gold(I) chloride. This in turn allows for a 1,2‐hydride shift, generating the final product of the reaction.     

β-Arylation of Racemic Secondary Benzylic Alcohols to Access Enantioenriched β-Arylated Alcohols

The transformation of alcohols into value-added products is of great importance, as simple alcohols are widespread and can be easily derived from both fossil fuels and biomass. The selective functionalization of a sp³ C−H bond on the alkyl side chain of an alcohol over its hydroxyl group would offer an expedient route to expand the chemical space of alcohols but it remains a challenging task. Harnessing the borrowing hydrogen strategy, the β-arylation of secondary alcohols with aryl bromides has been achieved in this study, which allows for the selective functionalization of a β-Csp³−H bond in an alcohol substrate. Under the catalysis of a Pd complex, secondary alcohols reacted with aryl bromides to afford 1,2-diaryl alcohols with broad substrate scope in the presence of a ketone additive. Furthermore, the enantioconvergent version of the reaction has also been realized, transforming racemic secondary alcohols into enantioenriched chiral 1,2-diaryl alcohols under the cooperative Pd and Ru catalysis. Mechanism studies indicate that the reactions are enabled by borrowing hydrogen catalysis.     

Pd(OAc)2/P(cC6H11)3-catalyzed allylation of aryl halides with homoallyl alcohols via retro-allylation

Allylations of aryl halides take place upon treatment of tertiary homoallyl alcohols with aryl halides in the presence of cesium carbonate and a palladium catalyst. The allylation reaction would consist of the following steps: (1) oxidative addition of aryl halide to palladium, (2) ligand exchange between the halide and the homoallyl alcohol affording aryl(homoallyloxy)palladium, (3) retro-allylation of the palladium alkoxide to generate sigma-allyl(aryl)palladium with concomitant liberation of the relevant ketone, and (4) productive reductive elimination. Since the retro-allylation step proceeds in a concerted fashion via a conformationally regulated six-membered cyclic transition state, the allylation reactions are highly regio- and stereospecific when homoallyl alcohols having a substituted allyl group are used. Whereas triarylphosphine is known to serve as a ligand for the palladium-catalyzed allyl transfer reactions, tricyclohexylphosphine proves to significantly expand the scopes of aryl halides to electron-rich aryl chlorides and of homoallyl alcohols to cyclic homoallyl alcohols. The new arylative ring-opening reactions of cyclic homoallyl alcohols allow for the synthesis of ketones having a branched or linear allylarene moiety at the remote terminus in regio- and stereospecific manners.     

Double arylation of allyl alcohol via a one-pot Heck arylation-isomerization-acylation cascade

A one-pot, two-step catalytic protocol has been developed. A regioselective Heck coupling between aryl bromides and allyl alcohol leads to the generation of arylated allyl alcohols that in situ isomerize to give aldehydes, which then undergo an acylation reaction with a second aryl bromide. A variety of aryl bromides can be employed in both the initial Heck reaction and the acylation, providing easy access to a wide variety of substituted dihydrochalcones.     

Gold‐ and Silver‐Catalyzed Reactions of Propargylic Alcohols in the Presence of Protic Additives

A wide range of primary, secondary and tertiary propargylic alcohols undergo a Meyer–Schuster rearrangement to give enones at room temperature in the presence of a gold(I) catalyst and small quantities of MeOH or 4‐methoxyphenylboronic acid. The syntheses of the enone natural products isoegomaketone and daphenone were achieved using this reaction as the key step. The rearrangement of primary propargylic alcohols can readily be combined in a one‐pot procedure with the addition of a nucleophile to the resulting terminal enone, to give β‐aryl, β‐alkoxy, β‐amino or β‐sulfido ketones. Propargylic alcohols bearing an adjacent electron‐rich aryl group can also undergo silver‐catalyzed substitution of the alcohol with oxygen, nitrogen and carbon nucleophiles. This latter reaction was initially observed with a batch of gold catalyst that was probably contaminated with small quantities of silver salt.     

Organosoluble copper clusters as precatalysts for carbon-heteroelement bond-forming reactions: microwave and conventional heating

The coupling of aryl iodides with alcohols under mild conditions has been explored using self-assembled octanuclear copper clusters as catalysts. Reactions involving tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol were typically complete in 4-8 h at 110 degrees C using an oil bath or 1-3 h with microwave heating. High yields of alkyl aryl ethers were obtained with catalyst loadings as low as 0.4 mol % cluster.     

Electrochemical Difunctionalization of Alkenes by a Four-Component Reaction Cascade Mumm Rearrangement: Rapid Access to Functionalized Imides

An electrochemical four-component reaction cascade Mumm rearrangement was developed. It is a rare example of in situ generation of O-acyl isoamides for 1,3-(O→N) acyl transfer. Inexpensive, commercially available arylethylenes, aryl or heterocyclic acids, acetonitrile, and alcohols were used as substrates. A wide range of aryl acids and alcohols were tolerated and provided imides in satisfactory yields. Subsequent hydrolysis of imides could be utilized to synthesize valuable amides and β-amino alcohol derivatives.     

Electrochemical Difunctionalization of Alkenes by a Four‐Component Reaction Cascade Mumm Rearrangement: Rapid Access to Functionalized Imides

An electrochemical four‐component reaction cascade Mumm rearrangement was developed. It is a rare example of in situ generation of O‐acyl isoamides for 1,3‐(O→N) acyl transfer. Inexpensive, commercially available arylethylenes, aryl or heterocyclic acids, acetonitrile, and alcohols were used as substrates. A wide range of aryl acids and alcohols were tolerated and provided imides in satisfactory yields. Subsequent hydrolysis of imides could be utilized to synthesize valuable amides and β‐amino alcohol derivatives.     

A mild C-O bond formation catalyzed by a rhenium-oxo complex

A mild method for the regioselective synthesis of propargyl ethers by the coupling of propargyl alcohols with a range of other alcohols is described. The method employs an air- and moisture-tolerant rhenium-oxo complex ((dppm)ReOCl3) as a catalyst for the formation of sp3-carbon-oxygen bonds without the need for prior activation of the propargyl alcohol or deprotonation of the alcohol nucleophile. A broad range of functional groups is tolerated, including aryl halides, olefins, esters, and acid-labile functional groups such as acetals. Furthermore, displacement of the alcohol occurs preferentially even in the presence of other electrophiles such as primary alkyl halides and conjugated esters.     

Stereoselective synthesis of anti-alpha-(difluoromethyl)-beta-amino alcohols by boronic acid based three-component condensation. Stereoselective preparation of (2S,3R)-difluorothreonine

Starting from optically active 3,3-difluorolactaldehyde, an alkenyl or aryl boronic acid, and an amine, a one-step three-component methodology was developed for the stereoselective preparation of anti-alpha-(difluoromethyl)-beta-amino alcohols. beta-Furyl-substituted anti-alpha-(difluoromethyl)-beta-amino alcohol was further elaborated to form (2S,3R)-difluorothreonine in high yield and ee.     

A new catalytic method for the synthesis of selectively substituted biphenyls containing an oxoalkyl chain

A novel reaction sequence leading to the synthesis of substituted biphenyls containing a carbonyl group in an aliphatic chain has been achieved in one-pot reaction starting from iodoarenes and allylic alcohols under the catalytic action of palladium and norbornene. The latter is temporarily incorporated into a palladacycle, which directs the reaction towards the selective formation of an arylaryl bond. Norbornene spontaneously deinserts to allow the biphenylylpalladium bond thus formed to react in its turn with the allylic alcohol.     

Synthesis of arylallenes by palladium-catalyzed retro-propargylation of homopropargyl alcohols

Treatment of tertiary homopropargyl alcohol with aryl halide under palladium catalysis provided arylallenes regioselectively. The reaction includes retro-propargylation, which proceeds in a concerted fashion via a cyclic transition state and transfers the stereochemistry of homopropargyl alcohols through C-C bond cleavage. The present method enables the use of homopropargyl alcohols as allenylmetal equivalents.     

Coupling-isomerization synthesis of chalcones

The Sonogashira coupling of electron-deficient (hetero)aryl halides 1 and (hetero)aryl or alkenyl 1-propargyl alcohols 2 does not terminate at the stage of the expected internal propargyl alcohols, but rather gives rise to the formation of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones 3 with a variety of acceptor substituents. This new domino reaction, a coupling-isomerization reaction (CIR), can be rationalized as a sequence of rapid Pd/Cu-catalyzed alkynylation followed by a slow amine-base-catalyzed propargyl alcohol-enone isomerization. Performing the CIR in deuterated protic solvents or with a selectively deuterated propargyl alcohol revealed that the base-catalyzed isomerization step proceeds through a formal 1,3-H shift with minimal H/D exchange with the surrounding solvent. Additionally, 19F NMR kinetic measurements on the isomerization step with the fluorinated propargyl alcohol 4 r support the mechanistic rationale.     

High-yielding metalloenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution of fluorinated aryl alcohols

Dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of various fluorinated aryl alcohols by a combination of lipase-catalyzed enzymatic resolution with in situ ruthenium-catalyzed alcohol racemization is described. (R)-Selective Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) was employed for transesterification of different fluoroaryl alcohols in DKR reactions delivering the corresponding acetates in high yield (?97%) with excellent enantiomeric excess (?98%).     

ACID-CATALYZED ADDITION OF N-HYDROXYUREA TO 1-ARYL ALCOHOL DERIVATIVES: A NEW SYNTHESIS OF ZILEUTON

A highly efficient synthesis of Zileuton is described in which the key step involves a site-specific alkylation of hydroxyurea under acid catalysis. Various aryl alcohol electrophiles were tested and the reaction was found to be highly substrate-specific, favoring benzothiophene and benzofuran-based alcohols.     

Rhenium-catalyzed 1,3-isomerization of allylic alcohols: scope and chirality transfer

The scope of the triphenylsilyl perrhennate (O3ReOSiPh3, 1) catalyzed 1,3-isomerization of allylic alcohols has been thoroughly explored. It was found to be effective for a wide variety of secondary and tertiary allylic alcohol substrates bearing aryl, alkyl, and cyano substituents. Two general reaction types were found which gave high levels of product selectivity: those driven by formation of an extended conjugated system and those driven by selective silylation of a particular isomer. The efficiency of chirality transfer with various substrates was investigated, and conditions were found in which secondary and tertiary allylic alcohols could be formed with high levels of enantioselectivity. Consideration of selectivity trends with respect to the nature of the substituents around the allylic system revealed that this is a reliable and predictable method for allylic alcohol synthesis.     

Isothiourea‐Catalysed Acylative Kinetic Resolution of Aryl–Alkenyl (sp2 vs. sp2) Substituted Secondary Alcohols

The non‐enzymatic acylative kinetic resolution of challenging aryl–alkenyl (sp² vs. sp²) substituted secondary alcohols is described, with effective enantiodiscrimination achieved using the isothiourea organocatalyst HyperBTM (1 mol %) and isobutyric anhydride. The kinetic resolution of a wide range of aryl–alkenyl substituted alcohols has been evaluated, with either electron‐rich or naphthyl aryl substituents in combination with an unsubstituted vinyl substituent providing the highest selectivity (S=2–1980). The use of this protocol for the gram‐scale (2.5 g) kinetic resolution of a model aryl–vinyl (sp² vs. sp²) substituted secondary alcohol is demonstrated, giving access to >1 g of each of the product enantiomers both in 99:1 e.r.     

Novozym-435-catalyzed enzymatic separation of racemic propargylic alcohols. A facile route to optically active terminal aryl propargylic alcohols

Novozym-435 (a form of Candida antarctica lipase B) was found to be an effective biocatalyst for the kinetic resolution of a variety of racemic terminal aryl propargylic alcohols affording highly optically active (S)-propargylic alcohols and (R)-propargylic alcohol acetates in high yields and good ees. The advantages of this reaction are the easy availability of starting materials and the biocatalyst, simple reaction conditions, easy operation and high stereoselectivity.     

新型2-(芳氨基乙基氨基)苯甲醇的合成及其杀菌活性

2-氨基苯甲醇及其衍生物是一类很重要的具有双官能团的化合物,在有机化学和药物合成中具有广泛的用途。本文主要提供了一种简单、有效合成2-(芳氨基乙基氨基)苯甲醇类化合物的方法,同时测定了目标化合物的杀菌活性。溴乙酰芳胺与2-氨基苯甲醇经N-烷基化反应生成2-[(2-羟甲基苯基)氨基]乙酰芳胺类化合物3,然后经LiAlH4还原生成了一系列结构新颖的2-(芳氨基乙基氨基)苯甲醇类化合物5a~5i,产率为76%~95%。用IR、~1H NMR、~(13)C NMR和元素分析等对产物结构进行了表征。目标化合物的杀菌活性结果表明,在测试浓度下,大部分显示中等至良好的活性,化合物5e对辣椒疫霉病菌的抑制活性达73.0%。     

Direct Olefination of Alcohols with Sulfones by Using Heterogeneous Platinum Catalysts

Carbon‐supported Pt nanoparticles (Pt/C) were found to be effective heterogeneous catalysts for the direct Julia olefination of alcohols in the presence of sulfones and KOtBu under oxidant‐free conditions. Primary alcohols, including aryl, aliphatic, allyl, and heterocyclic alcohols, underwent olefination with dimethyl sulfone and aryl alkyl sulfones to give terminal and internal olefins, respectively. Secondary alcohols underwent methylenation with dimethyl sulfone. Under 2.5 bar H_2, the same reaction system was effective for the transformation of alcohol OH groups to alkyl groups. Structural and mechanistic studies of the terminal olefination system suggested that Pt⁰ sites on the Pt metal particles are responsible for the rate‐limiting dehydrogenation of alcohols and that KOtBu may deprotonate the sulfone reagent. The Pt/C catalyst was reusable after the olefination, and this method showed a higher turnover number (TON) and a wider substrate scope than previously reported methods, which demonstrates the high catalytic efficiency of the present method.