Asymmetric Electrochemical Transformations

The field of electrochemical synthesis has developed rapidly over the last decade and has provided alternative synthetic methods with the absence of stoichiometric amounts of chemical oxidants or reductants. Although sustainable electrosynthetic procedures have been developed, relatively few examples of highly enantioselective catalytic electrosynthesis have been reported to date. The development of general strategies for electrochemical enantiocontrol has thus proven to be a considerable challenge. This Minireview highlights the current knowledge and recent advances in the synthetic utility of electrochemical transformations for asymmetric synthesis. Specifically, three major types of catalytic enantioselective strategy in electrosynthesis are outlined, including electrochemical activation of chiral catalyst‐bound substrates, asymmetric cascade electrochemical processes, and chemically modified chiral electrodes.     

Advances in Electrochemical Decarboxylative Transformation Reactions

Owing to their non-toxic, stable, inexpensive properties, carboxylic acids are considered as environmentally benign alternatives as coupling partners in various organic transformations. Electrochemical mediated decarboxylation of carboxylic acid has emerged as a new and efficient methodology for the construction of carbon-carbon or carbon-heteroatom bonds. Compared with transition-metal catalysis and photoredox catalysis, electro-organic decarboxylative transformations are considered as a green and sustainable protocol due to the absence of chemical oxidants and strong bases. Further, it exhibits good tolerance with various functional groups. In this Minireview, we summarize the recent advances and discoveries on the electrochemical decarboxylative transformations on C−C and C−heteroatoms bond formations.     

Recent Advances in Organic Electrochemical C—H Functionalization

Organic electrochemistry has a rich history in organic synthesis and has been considered as a promising alternative to traditional chemical oxidants and reductants because it obviates the use of stoichiometric amount of dangerous and toxic reagents. In particular, the electrochemical C—H bonds functionalization is one of the most desirable approaches for the construction of carbon–carbon (C—C) and carbon–heteroatom (C—X) bonds. This review summarizes the substantial progress made in the last few years in C—H functionalization via organic electrochemistry. It is divided into sections on C—C, C—N, C—O, C—S, C–Halogen and C—P bond formation.     

Electrochemical Asymmetric Diacetoxylation of Styrenes Mediated by Chiral Iodoarene Catalyst**

Organocatalysis with chiral iodoarenes has emerged as a powerful approach for performing enantioselective transformations. However, it suffers from the need to utilize stoichiometric amounts of peroxy acids or similar high energy oxidants. Electrosynthesis enables eliminating stoichiometric redox reagents by replacing them with electric stimuli. In this context, an electrochemically-promoted variant of the chiral iodoarene-catalyzed asymmetric diacetoxylation of styrenes was evaluated. The screening of reaction parameters established a set of conditions under which, for the first time, an enantioselective electrochemical oxidation mediated by a chiral iodoarene achieving a catalytic turnover has been accomplished. The reaction was applied for the synthesis of an array of products in 15–60 % yields and 0–84 % ee. The modest efficiency of the electrocatalysis was traced to a partial direct oxidation of styrene substrates leading to racemic products and undesired dimeric side-products. Cyclic voltammetry measurements demonstrated that such outcome originates from a somewhat difficult electrochemical oxidation of the applied iodoarene catalyst. Present work provides important insights and implications for the design of more efficient electrocatalytic systems employing chiral iodoarenes as mediators.     

Carbon-centered strong bases in phosphonium ionic liquids

Phosphonium ionic liquids (PhosILs), most notably tetradecyl(trihexyl)phosphonium decanoate (PhosIL-C(9)H(1)9COO), are solvents for bases such as Grignard reagents, isocyanides, Wittig reagents (phosphoranes), and N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). The stability of the organometallic species in PhosIL solution is anion dependent. Small bases, such as hydroxide, react with the phosphonium ions and promote C-H exchange as suggested by deuterium-labeling studies. A method to dry and purify the ionic liquids is described and this step is important for the successful use of basic reagents in PhosIL. NHCs have been generated in PhosIL, and these persistent solutions catalyze organic transformations such as the benzoin condensation and the Kumada-Corriu cross-coupling reaction. Phosphoranes were generated in PhosIL, and their reactivity with various organic reagents was also tested. Inter-ion contacts involving tetraalkylphosphonium ions have been assessed, and the crystal structure of [(n-C(4)H(90)(4)P][CH(3)CO(2).CH(3)CO(2)H] has been determined to aid the discussion. Decomposition of organometallic compounds may also proceed through electron-transfer processes that, inter alia, may lead to decomposition of the IL, and hence the electrochemistry of some representative phosphonium and imidazolium ions has been studied. A radical derived from the electrochemical reduction of an imidazolium ion has been characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.     

Iodine(III) mediators in electrochemical batch and flow reactions

The anodic oxidation of aryl iodides is a powerful method for synthesis of hypervalent iodine compounds, which have matured to frequently used reagents in organic synthesis. The electrochemical route eliminates the use of expensive or hazardous oxidants for their synthesis. Hypervalent iodine reagents generated at the anode are successfully used as either in-cell or ex-cell mediators for many valuable chemical transformations including fluorinations and oxidative cyclisations. The recent advances in the area of flow electrochemistry are providing additional benefits and allow new synthetic applications. Mechanistic insights and novel technologies enable the development of new concepts for sustainable chemistry.     

Electrooxidative Rhodium‐Catalyzed C−H/C−H Activation: Electricity as Oxidant for Cross‐Dehydrogenative Alkenylation

Rhodium(III) catalysis has enabled a plethora of oxidative C?H functionalizations, which predominantly employ stoichiometric amounts of toxic and/or expensive metal oxidants. In contrast, we herein describe the first electrochemical rhodium‐catalyzed C?H activation that avoids hazardous chemical oxidants. Environmentally benign twofold C?H/C?H functionalizations were accomplished with weakly coordinating benzoic acids and benzamides, employing electricity as the terminal oxidant and generating H₂ as the sole byproduct.     

Electrooxidative palladium- and enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed [3 + 2] spiroannulations

Despite indisputable progress in the development of electrochemical transformations, electrocatalytic annulations for the synthesis of biologically relevant three-dimensional spirocyclic compounds has as of yet not been accomplished. In sharp contrast, herein, we describe the palladaelectro-catalyzed C–H activation/[3 + 2] spiroannulation of alkynes by 1-aryl-2-naphthols. Likewise, a cationic rhodium(iii) catalyst was shown to enable electrooxidative [3 + 2] spiroannulations via formal C(sp³)–H activations. The versatile spiroannulations featured a broad substrate scope, employing electricity as a green oxidant in lieu of stoichiometric chemical oxidants under mild conditions. An array of spirocyclic enones and diverse spiropyrazolones, bearing all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers were thereby accessed in a user-friendly undivided cell setup, with molecular hydrogen as the sole byproduct.

Despite indisputable progress in the development of electrochemical transformations, electrocatalytic annulations for the synthesis of biologically relevant three-dimensional spirocyclic compounds has as of yet not been accomplished.     

Synthesis and characterization of nano−zinc wire using a self designed unit galvanic cell in aqueous medium and its reactivity in propargylation of aldehydes

Electrochemistry is used for propargylation of carbonyls in aqueous ZnCl₂ medium. For electrochemical process we designed a unit galvanic cell. ZnCl₂ is used as stoichiometric reagent and causes electrochemical deposition of zinc in cathode. Wire shaped nano zinc architecture has been formed in cathode during electrochemical process which is the active reagent. Homopropergylic alcohols are synthesized in good yields. After the organic reaction is over aqueous solution containing zinc salts can be reused up to 5th cycle without significant loss of reactivity.     

An Electrochemical Route for Special Oxidative Ring-Opening of Indoles

A novel electrochemical protocol for the oxidative cleavage of indoles has been developed, which offers a simple way to access synthetically useful anthranilic acid derivatives. In undivided cells, a wide variety of indoles and alcohol compounds are examined to afford amide ester aromatics without using extra oxidants and stoichiometric metal catalysts, which avoids the formation of undesired by-products and exhibits high atom economy. The products we described in this perspective represent a synthetic intermediate in numerous drug molecules and industrial chemical reagents and remarkably show potential application in the future.     

Synthetic Routes to Imidates and Their Applications in Organic Transformation: Recent Progress

Recent synthetic approaches and diverse applications of imidates are presented in this review. These motifs are successfully used as intermediates in organic transformations, such as the synthesis of N-heterocycles, natural products and metal complexes with a potential catalytic effect. Consequently, many attempts have been made for the development of efficient and facile synthetic methods of imidates in the past few years, as a continuum of previous paths. A wide range of organic compounds can be used as starting materials for these syntheses, including nitriles, isocyanides, amides etc. which through simple and flexible processes are converted to the desired imidates. Herein, an exploration of the recent synthetic routes of imidates and their diverse applications in organic transformations has been categorized and summarized.     

Base Metal Catalyzed Isocyanide Insertions

Isocyanides are diverse C₁ building blocks considering their potential to react with nucleophiles, electrophiles, and radicals. Therefore, perhaps not surprisingly, isocyanides are highly valuable as inputs for multicomponent reactions (MCRs) and other one‐pot cascade processes. In the field of organometallic chemistry, isocyanides typically serve as ligands for transition metals. The coordination of isocyanides to metal centers alters the electronic distribution of the isocyano moiety, and reaction pathways can therefore be accessed that are not possible in the absence of the metal. The tunable reactivity of the isocyanide functional group by transition metals has evolved into numerous useful applications. Especially palladium‐catalyzed isocyanide insertion processes have emerged as powerful reactions in the past decade. However, reports on the use of earth‐abundant and cheap base metals in these types of transformations are scarce and have received far less attention. In this Minireview, we focus on these emerging base metal catalyzed reactions and highlight their potential in synthetic organic chemistry. Although mechanistic studies are still scarce, we discuss distinct proposed catalytic cycles and categorize the literature according to 1) the (hetero)atom bound to and 2) the type of bonding with the transition metal in which the (formal) insertion occurs.     

Silver(I)‐Catalyzed Widely Applicable Aerobic 1,2‐Diol Oxidative Cleavage

The oxidative cleavage of 1,2‐diols is a fundamental organic transformation. The stoichiometric oxidants that are still predominantly used for such oxidative cleavage, such as H₅IO₆ , Pb(OAc)₄ , and KMnO₄ , generate stoichiometric hazardous waste. Herein, we describe a widely applicable and highly selective silver(I)‐catalyzed oxidative cleavage of 1,2‐diols that consumes atmospheric oxygen as the sole oxidant, thus serving as a potentially greener alternative to the classical transformations.     

Visible‐Light Photocatalysis: Does It Make a Difference in Organic Synthesis?

Visible‐light photocatalysis has evolved over the last decade into a widely used method in organic synthesis. Photocatalytic variants have been reported for many important transformations, such as cross‐coupling reactions, α‐amino functionalizations, cycloadditions, ATRA reactions, or fluorinations. To help chemists select photocatalytic methods for their synthesis, we compare in this Review classical and photocatalytic procedures for selected classes of reactions and highlight their advantages and limitations. In many cases, the photocatalytic reactions proceed under milder reaction conditions, typically at room temperature, and stoichiometric reagents are replaced by simple oxidants or reductants, such as air, oxygen, or amines. Does visible‐light photocatalysis make a difference in organic synthesis? The prospect of shuttling electrons back and forth to substrates and intermediates or to selectively transfer energy through a visible‐light‐absorbing photocatalyst holds the promise to improve current procedures in radical chemistry and to open up new avenues by accessing reactive species hitherto unknown, especially by merging photocatalysis with organo‐ or metal catalysis.     

Asymmetric electrosynthesis: Recent advances in catalytic transformations

Asymmetric synthesis is one of the most important and valuable research fields in modern organic chemistry. Since the use of electricity as a traceless oxidant or reductant under electrochemical conditions, highly reactive intermediates can selectively generate under mild reaction conditions through more environmentally benign conditions compared with the reactions using common chemical oxidants or reductants. Thus, the merging electrochemistry with asymmetric catalysis would provide a unique and powerful approach for the synthesis of optically active compounds under oxidative or reductive conditions. Selected recent (2018–2020) examples of enantioselective electro-organic synthesis using transition metal catalysts or organocatalysts are summarized in this short review. These examples are divided to oxidative and reductive transformations and described together with brief reaction mechanisms.     

1‐Alkynyltriazenes as Functional Analogues of Ynamides

The chemical reactivity of 1‐alkynyltriazenes has been investigated and is found to parallel the reactivity of ynamides. The similarity in reactivity of these two classes of compounds is demonstrated by addition reactions with acids, by cycloaddition reactions with ketenes, tetracyanoethene, and cyclopropanes, as well as by intramolecular cyclization reactions. The presence of reactive triazene groups in the products enables subsequent transformations. Overall, our results suggest that 1‐alkynyltriazenes should become valuable reagents in synthetic organic chemistry.     

Continuous‐Flow Electrochemical Generator of Hypervalent Iodine Reagents: Synthetic Applications

An efficient and reliable electrochemical generator of hypervalent iodine reagents has been developed. In the anodic oxidation of iodoarenes to hypervalent iodine reagents under flow conditions, the use of electricity replaces hazardous and costly chemical oxidants. Unstable hypervalent iodine reagents can be prepared easily and coupled with different substrates to achieve oxidative transformations in high yields. The unstable, electrochemically generated reagents can also easily be transformed into classic bench‐stable hypervalent iodine reagents through ligand exchange. The combination of electrochemical and flow‐chemistry advantages largely improves the ecological footprint of the overall process compared to conventional approaches.     

Mini-review on the functionalization of C–H bond to C-X linkage via metalla-electrocatalyzed tool

To date, the C–H activation protocol and its functionalization of bonds via transition metal have witnessed major attention in coordination chemistry as they eliminate the pre-functionalization of the substrate. Conventional approaches use a stoichiometric amount of chemical oxidants which are toxic under mild conditions. This will create a major problem in C–H functionalization reactions that involve a selective issue of reductive elimination from metal center to form a significant amount of by-product (waste) in large amount which is difficult to separate and thus reduce atom economy and sustainability of the reaction medium. This will limit catalyst turnover and thus, decreases the reaction rate. To avoid this, there is an urgent need for renewable resources which bring about the functionalization of the C–H bond. Metalla-electro catalyzed is the cleanest tool on the platform of C–H activation chemistry. Here, electricity was being involved as a clean surrogate of chemical oxidant and holds unleashed potential for an oxidative protocol of C–H activation with unmet site selectivity. This mini-review pay attention to the C–H functionalization of the bond to C–C, C–N, and C-Miscellaneous (P, O, and S) bond linkage by employing different transition metal {precious (Pd, Rh, Ru, and Ir)} and {earth-abundant (Mn, Ni, Co, and Cu)} using the electrochemical tool. Such metalla-electro catalyzed tools are helpful to those who were not being trained electrochemists but can unleash this potential benefit in various sustainable organic transformations.     

Asymmetric transformations involving 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds as pronucleophiles

This article concentrates on the versatile nucleophilic reactivity of 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds in various asymmetric transformations. Although underexploited in comparison to their 1,3-dicarbonyl homologues, the presence of adjacent multiple reactive centres allows the selection of specific activation modes for enhancing the reactivity of these important ambident pronucleophiles. They can be involved in selective formation of C-C, C-O or C-N bonds leading to various optically active targets in the acyclic and cyclic series including three- to seven-membered ring systems. Recent contributions in the field of biochemical, organometallic and organic catalytic transformations as well as some relevant stoichiometric approaches are discussed from synthetic and mechanistic point of views highlighting some important stereochemical issues.     

Catalytic oxidation of organic substrates by molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide by multistep electron transfer--a biomimetic approach

Oxidation reactions are of fundamental importance in nature, and are key transformations in organic synthesis. The development of new processes that employ transition metals as substrate-selective catalysts and stoichiometric environmentally friendly oxidants, such as molecular oxygen or hydrogen peroxide, is one of the most important goals in oxidation chemistry. Direct oxidation of the catalyst by molecular oxygen or hydrogen peroxide is often kinetically unfavored. The use of coupled catalytic systems with electron-transfer mediators (ETMs) usually facilitates the procedures by transporting the electrons from the catalyst to the oxidant along a low-energy pathway, thereby increasing the efficiency of the oxidation and thus complementing the direct oxidation reactions. As a result of the similarities with biological systems, this can be dubbed a biomimetic approach.