Tandem Benzylic Oxidation/Dihydroxylation of α‐Vinyl‐ and α‐Alkenylbenzyl Alcohols

A de novo tandem benzylic oxidative dihydroxylation of α‐vinyl‐ and α‐alkenylbenzyl alcohols has been developed to give α,β‐dihydroxypropiophenones (=2,3‐dihydroxy‐1‐phenylpropan‐1‐ones) and α,β‐dihydroxyalkyl phenones. This method was shown to be substrate‐selective and specific for the oxidation of benzylic alcohols.     

Synthesis of Halogenated α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Butyrolactone Derivatives by Triphenylphosphine‐Catalyzed Cyclization of α‐Halogeno Ketones with Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxylates (=Dialkyl But‐2‐ynedioates)

A Ph₃P‐catalyzed cyclization of α‐halogeno ketones 2 with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates (=dialkyl but‐2‐ynedioates) 3 produced halogenated α,β‐unsaturated γ‐butyrolactone derivatives 4 in good yields (Scheme 1, Table). The presence of electron‐withdrawing groups such as halogen atoms at the α‐position of the ketones was necessary in this reaction. Cyclization of α‐chloro ketones resulted in higher yields than that of the corresponding α‐bromo ketones. Dihalogeno ketones similarly afforded the expected γ‐butyrolactone derivatives in high yields.     

Copper‐Catalysed Decarboxylative Trifluoromethylation of β‐Ketoacids

An efficient method for Cu‐catalyzed decarboxylative trifluoromethylation of β ‐ketoacids to achieve α ‐trifluoromethyl ketones was developed. A wide variety of synthetically useful α ‐trifluoromethyl ketones were obtained in modest to good yields under mild reaction conditions. The present method also exhibits good functional‐group compatibility.     

The Renaissance of α‐Methylene‐γ‐butyrolactones: New Synthetic Approaches

The amount of research activity concerning α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactones and α‐alkylidene‐γ‐butyrolactones has increased dramatically in recent years. This Review summarizes the structural types, biological activities, and biosynthesis of these compounds, concentrating on publications from the past 10 years. Traditional approaches to α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactones and α‐alkylidene‐γ‐butyrolactones are then reviewed together with novel approaches, including those from our own research group, reported more recently.     

A convenient synthesis of α,α′‐ homo‐ and α,α′‐hetero‐bifunctionalized poly(ε‐caprolactone)s by ring opening polymerization: The potentially valuable precursors for miktoarm star copolymers

Two new ring opening polymerization (ROP) initiators, namely, (3‐allyl‐2‐(allyloxy)phenyl)methanol and (3‐allyl‐2‐(prop‐2‐yn‐1‐yloxy)phenyl)methanol each containing two reactive functionalities viz. allyl, allyloxy and allyl, propargyloxy, respectively, were synthesized from 3‐allylsalicyaldehyde as a starting material. Well defined α‐allyl, α′‐allyloxy and α‐allyl, α′‐propargyloxy bifunctionalized poly(ε‐caprolactone)s with molecular weights in the range 4200–9500 and 3600–10,900 g/mol and molecular weight distributions in the range 1.16–1.18 and 1.15–1.16, respectively, were synthesized by ROP of ε‐caprolactone employing these initiators. The presence of α‐allyl, α′‐allyloxy and α‐allyl, α′‐propargyloxy functionalities on poly(ε‐caprolactone)s was confirmed by FT‐IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and MALDI‐TOF analysis. The kinetic study of ROP of ε‐caprolactone with both the initiators revealed the pseudo first order kinetics with respect to ε‐caprolactone consumption and controlled behavior of polymerization reactions. The usefulness of α‐allyl, α′‐allyloxy functionalities on poly(ε‐caprolactone) was demonstrated by performing the thiol‐ene reaction with poly(ethylene glycol) thiol to obtain (mPEG)₂‐PCL miktoarm star copolymer. α‐Allyl, α′‐propargyloxy functionalities on poly(ε‐caprolactone) were utilized in orthogonal reactions i.e copper catalyzed alkyne‐azide click (CuAAC) with azido functionalized poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) followed by thiol‐ene reaction with poly(ethylene glycol) thiol to synthesize PCL‐PNIPAAm‐mPEG miktoarm star terpolymer. The preliminary characterization of A₂B and ABC miktoarm star copolymers was carried out by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 844–860     

Catalytic Asymmetric Intramolecular Homologation of Ketones with α‐Diazoesters: Synthesis of Cyclic α‐Aryl/Alkyl β‐Ketoesters

A catalytic asymmetric intramolecular homologation of simple ketones with α‐diazoesters was firstly accomplished with a chiral N,N′‐dioxide–Sc(OTf)₃ complex. This method provides an efficient access to chiral cyclic α‐aryl/alkyl β‐ketoesters containing an all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter. Under mild conditions, a variety of aryl‐ and alkyl‐substituted ketone groups reacted with α‐diazoester groups smoothly through an intramolecular addition/rearrangement process, producing the β‐ketoesters in high yield and enantiomeric excess.     

Studies on the Mass Spectra of N‐Aryl α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Lactams

The mass spectra of a series of N‐aryl α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactams were studied. Besides the molecular ion, the three characteristic fragments such as [M⁺‐29], [M⁺‐55], and [M⁺‐82] were commonly found in a series of N‐Aryl α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactams in EI/MS. Further more the mechanism for the interpretation of these fragments is also de scribed.     

Comparison of Methionine α,γ‐Lyase and Homocysteine α,γ‐Lyase for Electrochemical Determination of Homocysteine

Recently, a novel enzymatic method was developed for determination of homocysteine. This method utilizes the electrochemical hydrogen sulfide sensor along with methionine α,γ‐lyase to accomplish the fast, accurate, sensitive and selective measurements. As a continuation of this work, another enzyme, homocysteine α,γ‐lyase, was used and the parallel experiments of using both enzymes were carried out against the effect of pH, sensitivity, linearity, and interferences, in an intended comparison between these two enzymes. The excellent linearity of amperometric currents against homocysteine concentrations, high sensitivities and low detection limits for both enzymes reconfirmed that the electrochemical method is superior over other analytical means. The high enzymatic activity of methionine α,γ‐lyase surpassing homocysteine α,γ‐lyase endowed the former higher sensitivity, lower detection limit and faster response than the latter, suggesting methionine α,γ‐lyase a better candidate for homocysteine measurement by electrochemical method. The differences between these two enzymes on the trends of response time and sensitivity at different pH environments, reactivity toward several forms of homocysteine as well as on the interference from several agents were also addressed and discussed.     

Synthesis of Phenanthrene Derivatives through the Reaction of an α,α‐Dicyanoolefin with α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Phenanthrene derivatives were prepared by reacting an α,α‐dicyanoolefin with different α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds resulting from Wittig reaction of ninhydrin and phosphanylidene or condensation of barbituric acid and an aldehyde. The easy procedure, mild and metal‐catalyst free, reaction conditions, good yields, and no need for chromatographic purifications are important features of this protocol. The structures of the product of type 3 and 5 were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS). A plausible mechanism for this type of reaction is proposed (Scheme 1).     

Synthesis of β‐Hydroxy α‐Sulfanyl Esters by Using Nanocrystalline Magnesium Oxide

Aldol‐type reaction between electron deficient aldehydes and sulfonium salts to afford the corresponding β‐hydroxy α‐sulfanyl esters in moderate‐to‐good yields by using nanocrystalline MgO is described. The sulfanyl group is a useful group for further transformations in organic synthesis. Low R_f‐value isomer is anti‐configured as revealed by X‐ray diffraction study and consistent with the assignment of ¹H‐NMR spectrum.     

Synthesis of new optically active α,α′,β‐trisubstituted‐β‐lactones as monomers for stereoregular biopolyesters

Various optically active (4R)‐alkyloxycarbonyl‐3,3‐dialkyl‐2‐oxetanones as monomers were synthesized from L‐(S)‐malic acid in six steps to prepare a new family of stereopolyesters for biomedical applications. The synthesis began with an esterification followed of a dialkylation in the aim to introduce hydrophobic groups as methyl or reactive group as allyl. Then, a saponification has permitted to obtain the corresponding diacids that reacted with appropriate alcohols to furnish different monoesters. The last and most important step was activation of hydroxyl group of monoesters with the asymmetric carbon configuration inversion according to the Mitsunobu reaction. Thus, this reaction has provided lactones from monoesters with 100% enantiomeric excess which was confirmed by ¹H NMR and by the synthesis of corresponding isotactic and semicrystalline homopolyesters. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2586–2597     

Enantioselective Palladium‐Catalyzed Insertion of α‐Aryl‐α‐diazoacetates into the OH Bonds of Phenols

A palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric O? H insertion reaction was developed. Palladium complexes with chiral spiro bisoxazoline ligands promoted the insertion of α‐aryl‐α‐diazoacetates into the O? H bond of phenols with high yield and excellent enantioselectivity under mild reaction conditions. This palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric O? H insertion reaction provided an efficient and highly enantioselective method for the preparation of synthetically useful optically active α‐aryl‐α‐aryloxyacetates.     

Thermal Cyclization of Copper Carbenoid of α‐Dizao α‐Phosphorylacetate: Unexpected and Novel Access to Oxaphosphirane

Under the catalysis of Cu(OTf)₂ in refluxing CH₂Cl₂, ethyl α‐dizao α‐(diethylphosphoryl)acetate was shown to undergo a new cyclization reaction to afford a pentacovalent oxaphosphirane product. The reaction is proposed to occur through the addition of the P=O double bond to the copper carbenoid, followed by the hydrolysis of the ylide intermediate. Our finding represents the first example on producing oxaphosphiranes from dizao phosphoryl compounds. On the other hand, the corresponding rhodium carbenoid displayed the different reactivity under the same thermal conditions, to produce the β‐propiolactone through the well‐recognized C‐H insertion pathway.     

Rhodium‐catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α‐Dehydroamino Ketones: A General Approach to Chiral α‐amino Ketones

Rhodium/DuanPhos‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of aliphatic α‐dehydroamino ketones has been achieved and afforded chiral α‐amino ketones in high yields and excellent enantioselectives (up to 99 % ee), which could be reduced further to chiral β‐amino alcohols by LiAlH(tBuO)₃ with good yields_. This protocol provides a readily accessible route for the synthesis of chiral α‐amino ketones and chiral β‐amino alcohols.     

The Catalytic Asymmetric α‐Benzylation of Aldehydes

The first aminocatalyzed α‐alkylation of α‐branched aldehydes with benzyl bromides as alkylating agents has been developed. Using a sterically demanding proline derived catalyst, racemic α‐branched aldehydes are reacted with alkylating agents in a DYKAT process to give the corresponding α‐alkylated aldehydes with quaternary stereogenic centers in good yields and high enantioselectivities.     

Magnetic nanoparticle γ‐Fe2O3‐immobilized 1,5,7‐triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec‐5‐ene as a highly recyclable and efficient nanocatalyst for the synthesis of α′‐oxindole‐α‐hydroxyphosphonates

Magnetic nanoparticle γ‐Fe₂O₃‐immobilized 1,5,7‐triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec‐5‐ene as a novel magnetic nanocatalyst was synthesized and characterized. The nanoparticle reagent catalyzed efficiently the synthesis of α′‐oxindole‐α‐hydroxyphosphonates from isatins and dimethyl phosphate under solvent‐free conditions at 60 °C. More importantly, the catalyst could be easily recovered by an external magnet and reused six times without significant loss of activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.