Secondary benzylation using benzyl alcohols catalyzed by lanthanoid, scandium, and hafnium triflate

The combination of a secondary benzyl alcohol and a metal triflate (e.g., La, Yb, Sc, and Hf triflate) in nitromethane was a highly effective secondary-benzylation system. Secondary benzylation of carbon (aromatic compounds, olefins, an enol acetate), nitrogen (amide derivatives), and oxygen (alcohols) nucleophiles was carried out with a secondary benzyl alcohol and 0.01-1 mol % of a metal triflate in the presence of water. Secondary benzyl alcohols and nucleophiles bearing acid-sensitive functional groups (e.g., tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy and acetoxy groups and methyl and benzyl esters) could be used for alkylation. Hf(OTf)4 was the most active catalyst for this alkylation, and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (triflic acid, TfOH) was also a good catalyst. The catalytic activity of metal triflates and TfOH increased in the order La(OTf)3 < Yb(OTf)3 < TfOH < Sc(OTf)3 < Hf(OTf)4. A mechanistic study was also performed. The reaction of 1-phenylethanol (4a) in the presence of Sc(OTf)3 in nitromethane gave an equilibrium mixture of 4a and bis(1-phenylethyl) ether (54). Addition of a carbon nucleophile to the equilibrium mixture gave alkylated product in high yield.     

Selective Benzylic and Allylic Alkylation of Protic Nucleophiles with Sulfonamides through Double Lewis Acid Catalyzed Cleavage of sp3 Carbon–Nitrogen Bonds

The acid‐catalyzed benzylic and allylic alkylation of protic nucleophiles is fundamentally important for the formation of carbon? carbon and carbon? heteroatom bonds, and it is a formidable challenge for benzylic and allylic amine derivatives to be used as the alkylating agents. Herein we report a highly efficient benzylic and allylic alkylation of protic carbon and sulfur nucleophiles with sulfonamides through double Lewis acid catalyzed cleavage of sp³ carbon–nitrogen bonds at room temperature. In the presence of a catalytic amount of inexpensive ZnCl₂‐TMSCl (TMSCl: chlorotrimethylsilane), 1,3‐diketones, β‐keto esters, β‐keto amides, malononitrile, aromatic compounds, thiols, and thioacetic acid can couple with a broad range of tosyl‐activated benzylic and allylic amines to give diversely functionalized products in good to excellent yields and with high regioselectivity. Furthermore, the cross‐coupling reaction of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with benzylic propargylic amine derivatives has been successfully applied to the one‐step synthesis of polysubstituted furans and benzofurans.     

Synthesis of Some Novel Quinazolinone Derivatives with Anticipated Biological Activity

The behavior of the benzoxazinone derivative 1 toward nitrogen and carbon nucleophiles was investigated and yielded compounds 2 – 4 , 6 , and 7 . The oxadiazol derivatives 9 – 12 were obtained from the interaction of hydrazide 8 with benzoic acid in the presence of phosphoryl chloride and/or carbon disulfide in the presence of KOH followed by alkylation with ethyl iodide and hydrazinolysis with hydrazine hydrate, respectively. The quinazolinone derivatives 13 and 22 were utilized to construct new heterocyclic systems 15 – 21 , 23 , and 24 via interaction with different carbon electrophiles. Some of the newly synthesized compounds were characterized on the bases of spectroscopic data. Some of the synthesized compounds were screened for antimicrobial activity.     

Modification of optically active ferrocenylphosphine ligands for palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation

Optically active ferrocenylphosphines containing a functional group on the side chain were effective as ligands for the palladium—catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-disubstituted allyl acetates such as l,3-diphenyl-3-acetoxy-l-propene with sodium acetylacetonate and related soft carbon nucleophiles to give the alkylation products of up to 92% ee.     

Water-promoted unprecedented chemoselective nucleophilic substitution reactions of 1,4-quinones with oxygen nucleophiles in aqueous micelles

Unique nucleophilic substitution and addition reactions of nitrogen and sulfur nucleophiles with 1,4-quinones in aqueous suspension with amines and thiols have recently been demonstrated by us.² However, the reactivity of oxygen nucleophiles toward nucleophilic substitution compared to nitrogen and sulfur nucleophiles ‘on water’ is not facile. An unprecedented economical, green methodology approach using ordinary laundry detergent (LD; washing powder, 0.5 mol %, reusable)/SDS as surfactant ‘in water’ for nucleophilic substitution by oxygen nucleophiles in 1,4-quinones in excellent yields has been demonstrated.     

Binol quinone methides as bisalkylating and DNA cross-linking agents

The photogeneration and detection of new binol quinone methides undergoing mono- and bisalkylation of free nucleophiles was investigated by product distribution analysis and laser flash photolysis in water solution using binol quaternary ammonium derivatives 2 and 12 as photoactivated precursors. The alkylation processes of N and S nucleophiles are strongly competitive with the hydration reaction. DNA cross-linking potency of the water-soluble binol quaternary ammonium salt 2 was investigated as a pH function and compared to that of other quaternary ammonium salts capable of benzo-QM (QM = quinone methide) photogeneration by gel electrophoresis. DFT calculations in the gas phase and in water bulk on the binol and benzo quaternary ammonium salts 2 and 4 evidence structural and electrostatic features of the binol derivative which might offer a rationalization of its promising high photo-cross-linking efficiency.     

A Novel Synthetic Method and Potential Application of a Sulfanilic Acid-Based Surfactant

A novel synthetic method was developed to prepare a difunctional surfactant using sulfanilic acid and dodecyl bromide. In the first step, sulfanilic acid was protected by acetic anhydride. Then, Friedel–Crafts alkylation of the synthesized acetanilide with dodecyl bromide was performed in the presence of aluminum chloride. The protecting group (amide) was removed easily by acid hydrolysis. The formation of surfactant was confirmed with Fourier transform infrared and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The demulsification property of this surfactant was studied using brine-fuel oil emulsion, and its result was compared with a commercially available demulsifier. The results showed that 52% of water was separated from emulsion at room temperature, but at elevated temperature 98% of water was separated from brine-fuel oil emulsion.     

First example of a heterobimetallic 'Pd-Sn' catalyst for direct activation of alcohol: efficient allylation, benzylation and propargylation of arenes, heteroarenes, active methylenes and allyl-Si nucleophiles

Arenes, heteroarenes, 1,3-dicarbonyls and organosilicon nucleophiles undergo highly efficient alkylation with allylic, propargylic and benzylic alcohols in the presence of a new 'Pd-Sn' bimetallic catalyst in nitromethane; water being the sole byproduct. The plausible mechanism of alkylation and the intermediacy of ether has been enumerated.     

Carbon nucleophiles in the Mitsunobu reaction. Mono- and dialkylation of bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) malonates

[formula: see text] Simple dialkyl malonate esters, for example diethyl malonate, exhibit relatively limited scope as carbon nucleophiles in the Mitsunobu dehydrative alkylation reaction. In contrast, bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) malonate readily undergoes dehydrative alkylation with primary alcohols, and using only a slight excess of malonate gives monoalkylated product in good yield. Some secondary alcohols can also be employed, and bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) malonates can be used in a second dehydrative alkylation to give dialkylated products in good to excellent yield.     

Palladium-catalyzed regio- and diastereo-selective allylic alkylation using 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzoic acid: construction of vicinal quaternary and tertiary carbon centers

The palladium-catalyzed regio- and diastereo-selective allylic alkylation of allyl acetates with carbon nucleophiles occurred. The stereochemistry was highly controlled by the palladium catalyst with 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzoic acid as the ligand, and vicinal quaternary and tertiary carbon centers were constructed.     

Allylic Functionalization of Unactivated Olefins with Grignard Reagents

New advances in the functionalization of unactivated olefins with carbon nucleophiles have provided more efficient and practical approaches to convert inexpensive starting materials into valuable products. Recent examples have been reported with stabilized carbon nucleophiles, tethered carbon nucleophiles, diazoesters, and trifluoromethane donors. A general method for functionalizing olefins with aromatic, aliphatic, and vinyl Grignard reagents was developed. In a one‐pot process, olefins are oxidized by a commercially available reagent to allylic electrophiles, which undergo selective copper‐catalyzed allylic alkylation with Grignard reagents. Products are formed in high yield and with high regioselectivity. This was utilized to synthesize a series of skipped dienes, a class of compounds that are prevalent in natural products and are difficult to synthesize by known allylic alkylation methods.     

A convergent Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of dl- and meso-divinylethylene carbonate: enantioselective synthesis of (+)-australine hydrochloride and formal synthesis of isoaltholactone

The use of a mixture of dl- and meso-divinylethylene carbonate as an electrophile in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation reactions is reported. From the diastereomeric mixture of meso and chiral racemic starting materials, a single product is obtained in high optical purity employing either oxygen or nitrogen nucleophiles. The resulting dienes have proven to be versatile synthetic intermediates as each carbon is functionalized for further transformation and differentiated by virtue of the reaction. A mechanism for this intriguing transformation is proposed and a concise enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-australine hydrochloride is reported as well as a formal synthesis of isoaltholactone.     

Synthesis of α-amino acids using transition metal catalysis - alkylation of schiff bases derived from α-amimo acid esters (regio,stereo - selectivity)

A general approach to the synthesis of γ,δ-unsaturated α-amino acid esters is described. Schiff bases derived from glycine and alanine esters were alkylated in the presence of palladium or molybdenum catalysts under neutral or basic conditions using allylic carbonates, esters or halides, (20–95% yield). These less stabilized nucleophiles reacted with the η³ allyl species on the side opposite to the palladium and they can be classified as soft nucleophiles. The regioselectivity was studied with various unsymmetrical electrophiles. After hydrolysis, several functionalized α-amino acids of biological interest (enzymes inhibitors) were obtained. Asymmetric palladium allylic alkylation of the benzophenone imine glycine methyl ester using Pd(OAc)₂ + (+)DIOP was achieved with up to 68 % ee ; the enantioselective Pd-promoted alkylation of this new and useful prochiral nucleophile for the synthesis of α-amino acids is one of the highest ee known.     

Modular synthesis of heterocyclic carbene precursors

A series of N-heterocyclic carbene precursors, containing an imidazoline or tetrahydropyrimidine framework, were prepared from omega-chloroalkanoyl chlorides. The sequential attachment of nitrogen nucleophiles and subsequent ring closure gave, depending on the reagents used, either the desired dihydroimidazolium and tetrahydropyrimidinium salts or their parent heterocycles. In this latter case, the second substituent was introduced in an alkylation step. The preparation of carbene precursors bearing chiral or bulky substituents was acieved with comparable efficiency.     

Nucleophile Coordination Enabled Regioselectivity in Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic C−H Alkylation

Branched selectivity in asymmetric allylic C?H alkylation is enabled by using 2‐acylimidazoles as nucleophiles in the presence of a chiral phosphoramidite‐palladium catalyst. A wide range of terminal alkenes, including 1,4‐dienes and allylarenes, are nicely tolerated and provide chiral 2‐acylimidazoles in moderate to high yields and with high levels of regio‐, and enantio‐, and E/Z‐selectivities. Mechanistic studies using density‐functional theory calculations suggest a nucleophile‐coordination‐enabled inner‐sphere attack mode for the enantioselective carbon–carbon bond‐forming event.     

Umpolung Reactions of α‐Imino Esters: Useful Methods for the Preparation of α‐Amino Acid Frameworks

This paper summarizes our recent efforts toward the development of tandem reactions utilizing umpolung reactions of α‐imino esters. A highly diastereoselective tandem N‐alkylation–Mannich reaction of α‐imino esters was developed. A tandem N‐alkylation–addition reaction of α‐imino esters derived from ethyl glyoxylate with various aldehydes proceeded to give 1,2‐amino alcohols. The same reaction also proceeded efficiently using a novel flow system comprising two connected microreactors. Novel syntheses of α‐quaternary alkynyl amino esters and allenoates were developed through the use of umpolung N‐addition to β,γ‐alkynyl α‐imino esters, followed by regioselective acylation. In addition, a highly regioselective tandem N‐alkylation–vinylogous aldol reaction of β,γ‐alkenyl α‐imino esters was discovered. N‐Alkylation of α‐iminophosphonates followed by a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction with aldehydes occurred to afford enamines, which can be used in a four‐component coupling reaction with methyl vinyl ketone. α‐N‐Acyloxyimino esters served as highly efficient substrates for the N,N,C‐trialkylation reaction to introduce various nucleophiles at the imino nitrogen and carbon atoms.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Alkylation Reactions for the Construction of Protected Ethylene‐Amino and Propylene‐Amino Motifs Attached to Quaternary Stereocentres

An efficient catalytic and stereoselective method for the direct construction of protected ethylene‐amino and propylene‐amino scaffolds attached to quaternary stereocentres is reported. Preliminary investigations revealed a mild base catalysed nucleophilic ring opening of N‐sulfonyl aziridines using the commercially available phosphazene base 2‐tert‐butylimino‐2‐diethylamino‐1,3‐dimethyl‐perhydro‐1,3,2‐diazaphosphorine (BEMP) was possible and resulted in highly efficient alkylation reactions with a range of methine carbon acids. This reaction could be rendered highly asymmetric (up to 97 % ee) by employing phase‐transfer catalysis to control stereoinduction. Incorporation of alkyl substituents onto the aziridine electrophile, resulted in a highly diastereoselective (up to 30:1 d.r.) variant of this methodology. A further extension using N‐protected cyclic sulfamidates as the electrophilic component was successful with a range of pro‐nucleophiles (up to 96 % ee and 45:1 d.r.) and allowed a range of nitrogen protecting groups (carbamate, sulfonyl, phosphonyl, benzyl) to be incorporated into the alkylation adducts. Finally, the utility of the products have been demonstrated in the synthesis of useful heterocycles and compounds bearing structural components of natural products.     

Enantiopure fluorous bis(oxazolines): synthesis and applications in catalytic asymmetric reactions

Various enantiopure fluorous bis(oxazolines) with fluorine content between 52.7 and 58.7% have been synthesized by a simple reaction sequence that involved the introduction of two fluorinated ponytails by alkylation of the corresponding nonfluorous bis(oxazolines). These new ligands have been used in palladium-catalyzed alkylation of rac-(E)-1,3-diphenylpropenyl acetate with carbon nucleophiles and in copper-catalyzed oxidation of cycloalkenes; these ligands exhibited enantioselectivities up to 98 and 77%, respectively, quite close to the values obtained using the analogous nonfluorous bis(oxazolines). These ligands could be easily recovered by liquid-liquid extraction or solid-liquid separation and reused with the same enantioselectivities.     

Regio- and enantiospecific rhodium-catalyzed arylation of unsymmetrical fluorinated acyclic allylic carbonates: inversion of absolute configuration

The transition metal-catalyzed allylic substitution with unstabilized carbon nucleophiles represents an important cross-coupling reaction for the construction of ternary carbon stereogenic centers. We have developed a new regio- and enantiospecific rhodium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of acyclic unsymmetrical chiral nonracemic allylic alcohol derivatives with aryl zinc bromides. This study demonstrates that the hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate rhodium catalyst and zinc(II) halide salt are crucial for efficiency, while the addition of lithium bromide to the catalyst is necessary for obtaining optimal regiospecificity. The stereochemical course of this reaction was established through the synthesis of (S)-ibuprofen, which demonstrated that the alkylation proceeds with net inversion of absolute configuration consistent with direct addition of the nucleophile to the metal center followed by reductive elimination.     

Byproduct‐Catalyzed Four‐Component Reactions of Aldehydes with Hexamethyldisilazane,Chloroformates, and Nucleophiles in Acetonitrile Leading to Protected Primary Amines, β‐Amino Esters,and β‐Amino Ketones

Multicomponent reactions are a very powerful tool for the construction of complex organic molecules by using readily available starting materials. While most of the multicomponent reactions discovered so far consist of three components, the reactions with four or more components remain sparse. We have successfully developed several four‐component reactions using a catalytic amount of water as a hydrolyzing agent to decompose byproduct chlorotrimethylsilane (TMSCl) to yield secondary byproduct HCl that serves as a catalyst. In the presence of 40 mol % of water, the four‐component reaction of aldehydes with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), chloroformates, and silylated nucleophiles proceeds smoothly at room temperature to give a range of protected primary amines in moderate to excellent yields. Importantly, a wide variety of protic carbon nucleophiles, such as β‐keto esters, β‐diketones, and ketones, have further been explored as suitable substrates for the synthesis of protected β‐amino esters and β‐amino ketones that are useful building blocks for various pharmaceuticals and natural products. These four‐component reactions proceed through a pathway of tandem nitrogen protection/imine formation/imine addition, and the decomposition of byproduct TMSCl, generated in the first step of nitrogen protection, with water results in the formation of secondary byproduct HCl, a strong Brønsted acid that catalyzes the following imine formation/imine addition. Taking advantage of the fact that alcohols or phenols are also able to decompose byproduct TMSCl to yield secondary byproduct HCl, no catalyst is needed at all for the four‐component reactions with aldehydes bearing hydroxy groups.