A facile access to thieno[2,3-b]indoles via sulfur-mediated decarboxylative cyclization of α, β-unsaturated carboxylic acids with indoles

An efficient synthesis of thieno[2,3-b]indoles via a one-pot three-component reaction was well established. By using inexpensive and commercial available indoles and α, β-unsaturated carboxylic acids in the presence of elemental sulfur, various functional groups were achieved in moderate to good yields.     

Metal-free base-promoted sulfenylation for the synthesis of α-arylthio-α,β-unsaturated ketones

A new sulfenylation reaction has been established, stereoselectively affording 37 examples of α-arylthio-α,β-unsaturated ketones with generally good yields via a metal-free three-component reaction of α-thiocyanate ketones with diaryliodonium salts and 1,2-dicarbonyls. The reaction enabled multiple bond-forming events including C(sp²)–S formation to provide a high-efficient and practical method toward α-arylthio-α,β-unsaturated ketones. The reasonable mechanism for forming α-arylthio-α,β-unsaturated ketones was proposed.     

An atom-economical access to β-heteroarylated ketones from propargylic alcohols via tandem ruthenium/indium catalysis

The direct and chemoselective synthesis of β-heteroarylated ketones from secondary propargyl alcohols through tandem Ru/In catalysis is reported. Both electron-rich and neutral heteroarenes, such as furans and indoles, efficiently undergo the redox isomerization/conjugate addition (RICA) sequence to provide the corresponding adducts in yields of up to 97%.     

Facile synthesis of α, β-unsaturated esters through a one-pot copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidation-Wittig reaction

An efficient one-pot synthesis of α, β-unsaturated esters through the aerobic oxidation – Wittig tandem reaction of alcohols and phosphorous ylide is developed. This new method operates under mild reaction conditions, and uses CuI/TEMPO (TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl) as co-catalyst and air (O₂) as the oxidant. It tolerates a wide range of functionalized benzylic alcohol and aliphatic alcohols.     

Acyl/aroyl Meldrum’s acid as an enol surrogate for the direct organocatalytic synthesis of α,β-unsaturated ketones

The operationally simple, robust and straightforward organocatalytic protocol is developed for the synthesis of E-selective α,β-unsaturated ketones. The method utilizes simple and easily accessible starting materials such as Meldrum’s acid, carboxylic acid, aldehyde and simple bifunctional amine catalyst. The tandem organocatalytic process utilizes acyl/aroyl Meldrum’s acid as an enol surrogate for the effective Doebner-Knoevenagel type condensation reactions. A wide variety of aldehydes, carboxylic acids and base sensitive functional groups are well tolerated under the mild reaction conditions.     

Enantioselective synthesis of indolo[2,3-b]-dihydrothiopyranones via [3+3] cycloaddition of chiral α,β-unsaturated acylammonium salts

A nucleophile-catalyzed Michael addition/proton transfer/lactonization (NCMPL) organocascade process of chiral α,β-unsaturated acylammonium salts and indoline-2-thiones is described, which delivers the indolo[2,3-b]dihydrothiopyranone motifs in high yields (up to 97%) with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).     

Oxidative γ-addition of enals to trifluoromethyl ketones: enantioselectivity control via Lewis acid/N-heterocyclic carbene cooperative catalysis

An oxidative γ-functionalization of enals under N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis to give unsaturated δ-lactones is disclosed. Enantioselectivity control involving the relatively remote enal γ-carbon was achieved via Lewis acid [Sc(OTf)(3) or combined Sc(OTf)(3)/Mg(OTf)(2)] and NHC cooperative catalysis.     

SiCl4-catalyzed/PR3-mediated β-C(sp3)−H functionalization of nitrones to α,β-unsaturated imines and aromatic heterocycles

A novel method of SiCl₄-catalyzed/PR₃-mediated β-C(sp³)?H functionalization of nitrones with aldehydes/ketones to α,β-unsaturated imines was developed. The synthesis of α,β-unsaturated imines mainly invovles deoxygenation and aldol condensation, each proceeding under a cooperation effect between Lewis acid and Lewis base. In addition, both the acidity and hydrolytic stability of the weak SiCl₄ were supposed to be enhanced by coordination with phosphine oxide (R?=?Et) or phosphoric triamide (R?=?NMe₂) that originated from deoxygenation of nitrones by PR₃. In the case of 6-membered nitrone, a [1,3]-hydride shift within the resulted α,β-unsaturated imines renders the aromatization leading to 3,5-dialkylpyridines.     

Synthesis of dipyrrolo[2,3-a:1′,2′,3′-fg]acridin-12(1H)-ones

Acylation reactions of 4,6-dimethoxyindoles with glyoxyloyl chlorides were achieved by the use of graphite powder in 1,2-dichloroethane at reflux. The products were monoketones as a result of decarbonylation, rather than the expected 1,2-diketones. Treatment of these monoketones with base led to their cyclisation and elimination of methanol to afford the novel dipyrrolo[2.3-a:1′,2′,3′-fg]acridin-12(1H)-ones.     

Selective and facile synthesis of α,β-unsaturated nitriles and amides with N-hydroxyphthalimide as the nitrogen source

The direct conversion of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to corresponding nitriles promoted by Pd(OAc)₂ and phthalic acid which was hydrolyzed from N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) has been disclosed. Additionally, it was found that when water was used as the solvent, α,β-unsaturated amides was obtained as the main products in good to excellent yields. It was first reported that NHPI was utilized as the nitrogen source to synthesize α,β-unsaturated nitriles and amides from aldehydes. Control experiment demonstrated that aldehydes undergo a process of oximation and dehydration to form nitriles and amides.     

Synthesis of rac-2′-(trimethylsilyl)isovaline: A novel silicon-containing α,α-dialkylated α-amino acid

An efficient, convenient, and reliable multi-step synthesis of rac-2′-(trimethylsilyl)isovaline (rac-3) that uses inexpensive reagents in all steps has been developed, starting from diethyl malonate (overall yield 28%). Compound rac-3 is the first α-ethylated α,α-dialkylated silicon-containing α-amino acid.     

A facile stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-α-arylsulfonyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones

Palladium-catalyzed hydrostannylation of acetylenic sulfones 1 in benzene at room temperature gives highly regio- and stereoselectively (E)-α-stannylvinyl sulfones 2 in high yields. (E)-α-Stannylvinyl sulfones 2 are new difunctional group reagents which undergo Stille coupling reactions with acyl chlorides 3 to afford stereoselectively (Z)-α-arylsulfonyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones 4 in good yields. A one-pot stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-α-arylsulfonyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones 4 has also been achieved by tandem hydrostannylation-Stille coupling reaction of acetylenic sulfones 1 under mild conditions.     

Synthesis and hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of (E)-α-perfluoroalkanesulfonyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones

Catalyzed by ammonium acetate, the Knoevenagel reactions of β-keto perfluoroalkanesulfones 1 with aromatic aldehydes 2 afforded α-perfluoroalkanesulfonyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones 4 in moderate to good yields. The possible mechanism for the reactions was proposed. These fluorine-containing α,β-unsaturated ketones, which are electron-poor 1-oxa-1,3-butadienes, could be used in inverse electron demand hetero Diels-Alder (HDA) reaction with electron-rich olefins to give tetrasubstituted dihydropyrans 6 in quantitative yields.     

Facile access to β-hydroxyl ketones via a cobalt-catalyzed ring-opening/hydroxylation cascade of cyclopropanols

A cobalt-catalyzed ring-opening/hydroxylation cascade of highly strained cyclopropanols has been developed for the first time. The reaction was conducted under open-air atmosphere to afford a broad series of structurally diverse β-hydroxy ketones in moderate to good yields with high regioselectivity. The protocol features mild reaction conditions, simple operation, high-functional-group tolerance, facile scalability, and heterocycle compatibility.     

An expedient synthesis of α,α-difluoro-β-hydroxy ketones via decarboxylative aldol reaction of α,α-difluoro-β-keto acids with aldehydes

A novel decarboxylative aldol reaction of α,α-difluoro-β-keto acids with aldehydes in the absence of any base and metal catalysts has been developed. This reaction provides a highly convenient and efficient method for the synthesis of structurally diverse α,α-difluoro-β-hydroxy ketones in good to excellent yields.     

An efficient one-pot synthesis of β-enamino ketones from endo glucal via hypervalent iodine

β-Enamino ketones were successfully synthesized by reaction of endo glycals with primary or secondary amines in the presence of hypervalent iodine reagent in one pot. After the oxidation and protonation taking place on hypervalent iodine agent in acidic condition, endo glucals were effectively converted into the uncyclic β-alkoxyvinyl ketones. Further substitution of β-alkoxyvinyl ketones with primary or secondary amines provided the corresponding β-enamino ketone derivatives in 57-67% yields.     

Organoselenium-mediated reduction of α,β-epoxy ketones to β-hydroxy ketones: A new access to inter- and intramolecular aldols

The organoselenium-mediated reduction of α,β-epoxy ketones has been demonstrated to be a promising entry to a variety of cyclic and acyclic aldols.     

Facile synthesis of σ-π conjugated organosilicon polymers via Click polymerization

Poly[silylene-(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-1,4-phenylene]s have been prepared via Cu(I)-catalyzed Azides and Alkynes Cycloaddition (CuAAC) polymerization from diethynylsilanes and 1,4-diazidobenzene. The organosilicon units contribute to electronic transitions between the π-conjugated units, as well as improving the solubility and processability of the polymers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) have been utilized to confirm the structure of these polymers. The UV-visible spectra of polymers show almost identical absorption at around 270 nm. The fluorescence emission in CHCl₃ solutions were observed as similar broad band in visible blue region (ca. 430 nm). The quantum yields (Φ) were ranged from 0.19 to 0.37. The optical properties support the σ-π conjugation of the silylene and aromatic heterocycle groups, and the substituents on silicon atoms have negligible effect on the photoproperties.     

Palladium-catalyzed one-pot Catellani reaction: An efficient synthesis of α-alkynyl aromatic ketones via ortho acylation and ipso alkynylation

A palladium-catalyzed and norbornene-mediated Catellani reaction was developed through ortho-acylation and ipso-alkynylation for the aryl iodides. Acyl chlorides were used as acylation reagents and phenylpropiolic acids were used as termination reagents respectively in this transformation. As a result, the reactivity of these three different compounds matched well and this unreported combination could be used extensively.