Development of aqueous oxidative Ugi-type reactions by copper-catalyzed surfactant-promoted C(sp)–H direct functionalization in water

Direct assembly of α-amino amides from N-alkyl amines and isocyanides through oxidative Ugi-type reactions in aqueous conditions, has been achieved in a Cu(I)–TBHP–surfactant catalysis system. Various N-alkyl amines and isocyanides could be tolerated in this reaction and furnish α-amino amides in moderate yields.     

A Designed Amide as an Aldol Donor in the Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction

The direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction offers efficient access to β‐hydroxy carbonyl entities. Described is a robust direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of α‐sulfanyl 7‐azaindolinylamide, thus affording both aromatic and aliphatic β‐hydroxy amides with high ee values. The design of this transformation features a cooperative interplay of a soft and a hard Lewis acid, which together facilitate the challenging chemoselective enolization by a hard Brønsted base.     

Electrochemical studies of copper fatty amides complex in organic medium

The electrochemical behavior of complexes of fatty amides, synthesized from vegetable oil, with Cu(II) has been investigated. In this study, a platinum electrode was used in presence of DMSO as a medium. Reduction of Cu(II)/fatty amides complex was found with quasi-reversible reaction. The peak potential of voltammetric behavior of fatty amides is about ?0.77 V at a scan rate v = 0.1 V s^?1 versus Ag|Ag⁺ electrode. This study shows that Cu(II)-fatty amides complex is poorly adsorbed on the electrode surface. Additionally, the copper complex form of fatty amides has a more stable structure than pure fatty amides to form the electrochemical reduction of the complex.     

Direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of thioamides: a concise asymmetric synthesis of (R)-fluoxetine

A direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of aromatic aldehydes and thioamides is described. A soft Lewis acid/hard Brønsted base cooperative catalyst comprising (R,R)-Ph-BPE/[Cu(CH₃CN)₄]PF₆/Li(OC₆H₄-p-OMe) promoted the title reaction efficiently, triggered by in situ generation of the active thioamide enolate through a soft–soft interaction of Cu(I) and the thioamide. The aldol product was transformed into (R)-fluoxetine, an antidepressant agent.     

Effect of Cu(II)/H2 Salen complex on the non-conventional initiated emulsion polymerization of acrylonitrile

Radical polymerization of acrylonitrile was carried out in an emulsifier-free condition initiated by KHSO₅ catalyzed with Cu(II)/bis-salicylidene ethylene diamine (H₂ Salen) complex. The Cu(II) salt alone, Cu(II)/salicylaldehyde and Cu(II)/ethylene diamine have a retarding effect on the polymerization reaction, while the chelate of Cu(II) with the tetradentate Schiff base ligand, H₂ Salen has a catalytic effect. Prior to this, the catalytic effect of various bivalent transition metal salts and their couple with the Schiff base, H₂ Salen on the polymerization reaction has been examined to be not significant. The in situ developed complex produces the stable emulsion leading to high conversion. In the polymerization, the variables studied were the concentration of monomer, initiator, Cu(II), H₂ Salen and temperature. The overall activation energy was computed to be 13.1 kcal/mol. From the kinetic and spectral analyses, the mechanism of the initiator decomposition and initiation of polymerization by Cu(II)/H₂ Salen complex were suggested. The rate of polymerization (R_p) was found to be dependent on the monomer, initiator, Cu(II) ion, H₂ Salen concentrations to the 1.4, 0.3, 1.6, 1.5 power respectively. The polymers are characterized by IR and molecular weight by viscosity and GPC methods.     

Cationic rhodium(I)–diolefin complexes containing an optically active C2-symmetric bis(sulfoximine) ligand: Synthesis and catalytic activity

A series of cationic rhodium(I) complexes [Rh(diene)(N^N)][BF₄] (diene = 1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod), norbornadiene (nbd), tetrafluorobenzobarralene (tfb)), containing the optically pure bis(sulfoximine) ligand 1,2-bis(S-methyl-S-phenylsulfonimidoyl)benzene, have been synthesized and fully characterized. The structure of the R,R enantiomer of the ligand, and that of its cyclooctadiene–Rh(I) complex, were confirmed by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Studies on the catalytic activity of these complexes in acetophenone hydrosilylation and dimethyl itaconate hydrogenation are also reported.     

S,S-Complexes of Copper(I) Halides with 1,2-Bis(3,5-dimethyloxazol-4-ylmethylsulfanyl)ethane as New Catalysts for Phenylacetylene Aminomethylation

New metal–heterocycle S,S-complexes based on Cu(I) binary halides and a polydentate ligand, 1,2- bis(3,5-dimethyloxazol-4-ylmethylsulfanyl)ethane have been prepared. The obtained complexes have demonstrated high catalytic activity in aminomethylation of phenylacetylene with N,N,N',N'-tetramethylmethanediamine, bis(oxazolidin-3-yl)methane, or benzaldehyde–piperidine system.     

Cu(I)/Cu(II)/TMEDA, new effective available catalyst of sandmeyer reaction

The system Cu(I)/Cu(II)/N,N,N??,N??-tetramethylethylenediamine is a highly efficient and accessible catalyst of Sandmeyer reaction. The reaction of aryldiazonium salts with chlorides, bromides,, cyanides, and thiocyanates of alkaline metals in the presence of this catalytic system leads to the formation of the corresponding aryl halides, nitriles, and thiocyanates in high yields.     

Cu/Cu_2O nanoparticles co-regulated carbon catalyst for alkaline Al-air batteries

Developing high-efficiency,inexpensive,and steady non-precious metal oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) catalysts to displace Pt-based catalysts is significant for commercial applications of Al-air battery.Here,we have prepared the Cu/Cu_2 O-NC catalyst with excellent ORR performance and high stability,due to the synergistic effect of Cu and Cu_2 O nanoparticles.The half-wave potential(0.8 V) and the limiting-current density(5.20 mA/cm~2) of the Cu/Cu_2 O-NC are very close to those of the 20% Pt/C catalyst(0.82 V,5.10 mA/cm~2).Besides,it exhibits excellent performance with a maximal power density of 250 mW/cm~2 and a stable continuous discharge for more than 90 h in the Al-air battery test The promoting effects of Cu_2 O towards Cu-based ORR catalysts are illustrated as follows:(ⅰ) Cu_2 O is the major ORR active site by the redox of Cu(Ⅱ)/Cu(Ⅰ),which provides excellent ORR activities;(ⅱ) Cu can stabilize the location of Cu_2 O by assisting the electron transfer to Cu(Ⅱ)/Cu(Ⅰ) redox,which is conducive to the high stability of the catalyst.This work provides a useful strategy for enhancing the ORR performance of Cu-based catalysts.     

Transition-metal chloride mediated addition reaction of diorganomagnesium to easily enolizable ketones

An alkylation to an easily enolizable ketone, such as β-tetralone, is difficult to perform with Grignard reagent (RMgX) or with diorganomagnesium (R₂Mg), because a deprotonation to form a magnesium enolate occurs predominantly. To avoid the prior enolization, a complex reagent of a transition-metal salt and R₂Mg was examined: A combination of R₂Mg with iron(II) chloride (FeCl₂) or ytterbium(III) chloride (YbCl₃) gave a complex reagent that can realize a nucleophilic reaction to β-tetralone prior to the enolization. A combination of RMgX with these metal salts is inferior to a combination of R₂Mg with them to obtain the nucleophilic complex reagent.     

Reactivity of phosphonium diylids with esters and amides

The phosphonium diylid (C₆H₅)₂P(CH₂)(CH₂Li) reacts readily with various esters and amides to give acylated phosphonium salts and Wittig products. In the case of N,N-dimethylbenzamide the reaction can be directed mainly to the Wittig products by protonation. Depending on the nature of the carbonyl group, unexpected reactions, such as conjugate additions to α,β-unsaturated compounds or enolization of α-hydrogenated amides, can also take place.     

Activation of nitriles by silver(I) N-heterocyclic carbenes: An efficient on-water synthesis of primary amides

A first example of silver(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (Ag(I)-NHC) catalyzed on-water synthesis of primary amides by hydration of nitriles under mild reaction conditions is described. This organometallic catalytic system has excellent tolerance for various homo-aromatic, hetero-aromatic and aliphatic nitriles to afford primary amides in good yields in neat water.     

Carbohydrate-based spiro bis(isoxazolines): synthesis and evaluation in asymmetric catalysis

Two carbohydrate-based spiro bis(isoxazolines) were synthesized via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition from peracetylated methylene exo-glucal and the corresponding bis(arylnitrile oxide). The bis(cycloadducts) were then evaluated as ligands for enantioselective catalytic reactions. The Pd-catalyzed Tsuji-Trost reaction between a malonate and an allylic acetate did not provide good results. The poor conversion observed can be attributed to the rearrangement of the ligand in the reaction mixture to afford the corresponding ring-opened isoxazole which has been characterized. Both ligands were also evaluated in Cu(I)-catalyzed asymmetric imine alkynylation and afforded the product in good yield and modest enantioselectivity.     

Copper bis(oxazolines) as catalysts for stereoselective aziridination of styrenes with N-tosyloxycarbamates

A Cu(I)-catalyzed asymmetric aziridination of styrenes with a chiral N-tosyloxycarbamate has been developed. Double stereodifferentiation was observed and both the N-tosyloxycarbamate substituent and the bis(oxazoline) ligand have a significant effect on the yields and diastereoselectivities. The best results for the aziridination were obtained with electron-deficient styrenes. Subsequent ring-opening reactions of styrene-derived aziridines at the benzylic position were observed with various oxygen and nitrogen nucleophiles under Lewis acid catalysis affording the corresponding products with complete inversion of stereochemistry. The strategy was used to synthesize the β-blocker, (R)-nifenalol.     

Facile oxidative conversion of hydrazides of carboxylic acids to corresponding acids,esters and amides using copper compounds

Oxidative conversion of hydrazides of carboxylic acids to acids, esters and amides using Cu salts was studied. Acids were obtained in high yields by using a catalytic amount of Cu(OAc)₂ at room temperature by bubbling oxygen. Hydrazides were converted to esters by the treatment with Cu(OR)Cl or Cu(OR)₂ formed in situ from CuCl₂ and sodium alkoxide. Amides were obtained in high yields by the oxidation of hydrazides with CuCl₂ in the presence of amines.     

Rational design of sterically and electronically easily tunable chiral bisimidazolines and their applications in dual Lewis acid/brønsted base catalysis for highly enantioselective nitroaldol (Henry) reactions

A new addition to the rational design of sterically and electrically easily tunable chiral bis(imidazoline) ligands from chiral amino alcohols has been developed. Vast structural variation of chiral bis(imidazoline) ligands can be simply achieved by the choice of both the 1,2‐amino alcohol and its N‐1 R¹ substituent. A small library of chiral bisimidazolines ( 1 a – h ) has been constructed. The method has provided an easy and simplified route to a diverse set of air‐stable and water‐tolerant chiral bis(imidazoline) ligands on 10 g scales. The dual Lewis Acid/Brønsted base catalytic system generated from the (S)‐ 1 a /Cu(OTf)₂ complex and Et₃N was able to catalyze Henry reactions between aldehydes and nitromethane effectively at room temperature, and also to tolerate a wide scope of aldehydes with excellent enantiomeric excesses. Not only aromatic aldehydes but also aliphatic aldehydes afforded the nitroalcohol products, with enantiomeric excesses in the 93–98 % range. This dual catalytic system is among the most effective systems so far reported for the asymmetric parent Henry reactions. This work also represents the first members of the class of chiral bisimidazolines to have been demonstrated to achieve excellent enantioselectivities.     

Syntheses and X-ray structures of Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of N,N′-dibenzyl-(R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane and application to nitroaldol reaction

Chiral Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes with N,N′-dibenzyl-(R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane ligands were synthesized and characterized. X-ray crystal structures of these complexes reveal that Cu complex has the distorted square-planar geometry and the Zn one has the nearly tetrahedral pattern. The coordination of metals to the chiral diamine ligand leads to a 5-membered metallaheterocycle of (S,S)-configuration of nitrogen atoms. Their asymmetric catalytic activities to nitroaldol reaction of benzaldehyde and nitromethane were examined. The difference of the geometry around metals leads to the opposite preferential configuration of alcohol products using these chiral complexes as asymmetric catalysts in the presence of triethylamine or diisopropylethylamine.     

Synthesis of a Novel C2‐Symmetric Bis‐oxazoline (=Bis[4,5‐dihydrooxazole]) and Its Application as Chiral Ligand in Asymmetric Transition Metal Catalysis

The new C₂‐symmetric bis‐oxazoline (=bis[4,5‐dihydrooxazole]) 2 with a chiral trans‐(2R,3R)‐2,3‐bis(3,5‐diphenylphenyl)cyclopropylidene (=trans‐(2R,3R)‐2,3‐bis([1,1′: 3′,1″‐terphenyl]‐5′‐yl)cyclopropylidene) backbone was efficiently synthesized (Scheme). All synthetic steps were easy to perform and led to the desired product in good overall yields. Compound 2 was tested and compared as ligand in several enantioselective catalytic reactions such as palladium(0)‐catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylations and copper(I)‐catalyzed enantioselective cyclopropanations and aziridinations.     

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of aryl and alkyl trifluoromethyl sulfides using CF3SiMe3 and Na2S2O3 as –SCF3 source

A universal and efficient Cu(I)-catalyzed synthesis of aryl and alkyl trifluoromethyl sulfides has been developed. In this catalytic system, S-aryl or S-alkyl sulfothioate (I or II) proved to be the key intermediate. Substrates bearing groups of I, Br, Cl, OTs, and OMs on the aryl carbon and no matter electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substitutions on the aromatic ring could afford good to excellent yields.     

Novel chiral C2-symmetric multidentate aminophosphine ligands for use in catalytic asymmetric reduction of ketones

A series of novel chiral C₂-symmetric multidentate aminophosphine ligands have been successfully synthesized by Schiff-base condensation of bis（o-formylphenyl）phenylphosphane and easily available monoprotected（1R,2R）-diaminocyclohexane.The catalytic properties of these ligands were investigated in Ir-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of various aromatic ketones,giving the corresponding optical active alcohols with up to 98%conversion and good ee under mild reaction conditions.