Stereoselective synthesis of α,α-difluoro-β,γ-alkenyl ketones by free-radical reaction of iododifluoromethyl ketones with alkynes

A method for stereoselective synthesis of α,α-difluoro-γ-iodo-β,γ-alkenyl ketones via radical difluoroacetylation of iododifluoromethyl ketones with terminal and internal alkynes was reported. This methodology provides a straightforward access to 3,3-disubstitued allylic difluorides.     

Convenient synthesis of α-bromo ketones by the Meerwein reaction

A simple and convenient procedure was proposed for the synthesis of 4-aryl-3-bromobutan-2-ones from methyl vinyl ketone and arenediazonium bromides under Meerwein reaction conditions.     

One-pot multicoupling reaction of silylcopper reagents, organolithium compounds and α,β-unsaturated nitriles

The silylcupration of allene using a lower order silylcopper species gives an allylsilane-vinyl copper intermediate 2 which, in conjunction with an organolithium reagent, is able to participate in a one-pot multicoupling reaction with α,β-unsaturated nitriles. The scope of this tandem reaction is studied and a possible mechanism pathway is outlined.     

One-pot synthesis of α,β-epoxy ketones by palladium-catalyzed epoxidation-oxidation of terminal allylic alcohols

Described herein is a one-pot synthesis of α,β-epoxy ketones using a palladium-catalyzed epoxidation-oxidation sequence. Functionalized terminal allylic alcohols are treated with m-CPBA under mild reaction conditions to obtain the α,β-epoxy ketones. The main benefit of this approach is that the epoxidation of the terminal double bond and the oxidation of the secondary alcohol occured in the same reaction under mild reactions and both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing functionalities are tolerated in the reaction sequence.     

One-pot asymmetric synthesis of α-trifluoromethylated amines from α-trifluoromethyl ketones

Diastereoselective reduction of (Rs)-N-tert-butanesulfinyl α-trifluoromethyl ketimines formed in situ from the corresponding α-trifluoromethyl ketones and N-tert-butanesulfinamide has been achieved, and either diastereomer of N-tert-butanesulfinyl α-trifluoromethyl amines was obtained in good yields with excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr) using NaBH₄ and L-Selectride as the reductants, respectively.     

Double nucleophilic N-alkylation of α-oxime-esters with Grignard reagents

Double nucleophilic N-alkylation of α-oxime-esters, affording N,N-dialkyl-α-amino acids is herein described. Grignard reagents accomplished double N-alkylations via umpolung and various N,N-dialkylated α-amino acids were successfully synthesized in 15 min. Both electron-withdrawing sulfonyl groups and electron-donating silyl and methyl groups on oximes were available. Alkylmagnesium species and (E)-configuration of α-oxime-ester were essential to this cascade reaction.     

Investigating the reaction mechanism and organocatalytic synthesis of α,α'-dihydroxy ketones

A biomimetic TK one-pot reaction using hydroxypyruvate and aldehydes to generate α,α'-dihydroxy ketones in water has recently been described. To investigate this tertiary-amine mediated reaction mechanism two approaches were used. Firstly, (13)C labelled lithium hydroxypyruvate was synthesised and used to establish where hydroxypyruvate is incorporated in the product. In separate experiments reaction intermediates were also successfully intercepted and structurally identified using ESI-MS with tandem mass spectrometry ESI-MS/MS. These studies indicated that two mechanisms appear to be operating, one involving the addition of the tertiary amine catalyst to hydroxypyruvate, the other an aldol-based mechanism. Since the first mechanism may enable facial stereodifferentiation in the addition of intermediates to the aldehyde, a preliminary study on the use of chiral catalysts was performed and the first asymmetric organocatalytic synthesis of α,α'-dihydroxy ketones in aqueous media achieved, in up to 50% ee, using a quinine ether catalyst.     

Reaction of aspartic acid derivatives with Grignard reagents—synthesis of γ,γ-disubstituted α- and β-amino-butyrolactones

A series of γ,γ-dimethyl and γ,γ-diphenyl substituted α- and β-amino-butyrolactones have been prepared in enantiomerically pure form using l-aspartic acid as a chiral building block. For the final Grignard reaction the difference in chemical reactivity between the carboxyl groups of aspartic acid was increased or inverted by preparing the corresponding semiesters, diesters and anhydrides. The resulting hydroxyacids and hydroxyesters lactonised in most cases during work up. Thus, (2S)-2-ethoxycarbonylamino-succinic acid-4-methylester 1 reacted with methylmagnesium iodide to form (3S)-3-ethoxycarbonylamino-5,5-dimethyl-tetrahydrofuran-2-one 2b. Two interesting side products were obtained and were found to result from attack at the C-1 carboxylic acid rather than the C-4 carboxylic ester group leading to (3S)-3-ethoxycarbonylamino-4-oxo-pentanoic acid methylester 3 and (4S)-4-ethoxycarbonylamino-5,5-dimethyl-tetrahydrofuran-2-one 5a.     

An unusual reaction of α-alkoxyphosphonium salts with Grignard reagents under an O2 atmosphere

An unusual and novel reaction of α-alkoxyphosphonium salts, generated from O,O-acetals and Ph(3)P, with Grignard reagents under an O(2) atmosphere afforded alcohols in moderate to high yields. It was clarified by isotopic labelling experiments that the reaction proceeded via a novel radical pathway.     

Synthesis of benzo-fused heterocycles by intramolecular α-arylation of ketone enolate anions

A two-step synthesis of six-, seven-, eight-, and nine-member benzo-fused heterocycles in good to excellent yields is reported. The synthetic strategy involves the generation of a new intramolecular α-aryl ketone bond by the photostimulated S(RN)1 reaction of ketone enolate anions linked to a pendant haloarene as the key step. On the other hand, an intramolecular C(Ar)-C(Ar) coupling led to the formation of five- and six-member benzo-fused heterocycles (9H-carbazole and phenanthridine) when an aromatic amide anion is competitively formed.     

Totally stereocontrolled synthesis of α,β-diamino acids by addition of Grignard reagents to nitrones derived from l-serine

The asymmetric synthesis of protected (2R,3S)- and (2R,3R)-3-substituted 2,3-α-amino acids is reported. The key step in the synthesis of these compounds is the diastereoselective addition of Grignard reagents to α-amino nitrones derived from l-serine. Total stereocontrol of the addition step is achieved by changing the protecting groups in the starting material. The predominant selectivity in each case can be reasonably interpreted in terms of steric effects of the substituents.     

One-pot synthesis of α-trifluoromethylstyrenes from aryl ketones and the Ruppert–Prakash reagent

A new synthesis of α-trifluoromethylstyrenes from aromatic ketones and (trifluoromethyl) trimethylsilane is described. The reaction involves nucleophilic trifluoromethylation and elimination of trimethylsilanol, which are performed within one reaction flask.     

One-pot synthesis of borolanes by reaction of aluminacyclopentanes with BF3·Et2O

A selective procedure was developed for the synthesis of substituted borolanes via transmetalation with BF₃ · Et₂O of 3-alkyl-1-ethylaluminacyclopentanes obtained from the corresponding terminal olefins and AlEt₃ in the presence of Cp₂ZrCl₂ as a catalyst. 3-Substituted 1-fluoroborolanes were isolated and identified as 1: 1 complexes with EtBF₂.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of N-sulfinyl α-aminophosphine sulfides and phosphines

The diastereoselective synthesis of N-sulfinyl α-aminophosphine sulfides and phosphines is reported. These molecules are synthesized by formation of sulfinyl imine followed by diastereoselective addition of a diphenylphosphine sulfide. The product N-sulfinyl α-aminophosphine sulfides can be converted to phosphines through removal of the sulfur by reaction with Raney nickel. Hydrolysis of the sulfinyl group provides an amine that can then be attached to other ligands or structural scaffolds.     

A continuous-flow synthesis of annulated and polysubstituted furans from the reaction of ketones and α-haloketones

A synthesis of di-, tri- and tetra-substituted furans from reaction of the corresponding ketones and α-haloketones with LiHMDS is reported. Reaction under continuous-flow conditions gave increased yields and removed the need for external cooling when compared to the unoptimised batch conditions.     

Copper(I) catalyzed asymmetric 1,2-addition of Grignard reagents to α-methyl substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones

The first catalytic enantioselective 1,2-addition of Grignard reagents to ketones is presented. This additive-free copper(I) catalyzed 1,2-addition provides chiral allylic tertiary alcohols with an er of up to 98:2 and excellent yields due to the complete shift of overwhelming 1,4-selectivity of copper(I)-catalysts towards 1,2-selectivity in the addition reaction to enones.     

A kinetic and thermodynamic study of the α-cyclodextrin mediated reaction of a range of p-substituted phenyl methyl sulfides with binding and non-binding peroxyacids

This paper presents a thermodynamic study of the rate and equilibria processes involved in the α-cyclodextrin mediated reaction of a range of 4-substituted phenyl methyl sulfides with two peroxyacids of different binding affinities. The results for the inclusion processes show that the formation of 1:1 and 2:1 (host:guest) complexes between α-cyclodextrin and phenyl methyl sulfides are generally enthalpically controlled, particularly so for the 2:1 complexes, as might be expected for a ternary complex. The data from this series of sulfides is presented as enthalpy-entropy compensation plots, yielding slopes of unity for each inclusion process. The formation of a 1:1 complex between cyclodextrin and the strongly associating 3-chloroperbenzoic acid (MCPBA) is also enthapically controlled. The other peroxyacid used, peroxomonosulfate, does not bind to α-cyclodextrin to any measurable degree. As described in our original study of this reaction system (Davies and Deary in J Chem Soc Perkin Trans 2:2423–2430, 1996), catalysis by α-cyclodextrin is effected by activation of the peroxide as a result its inclusion within the cyclodextrin cavity; hence for reactions of phenyl methyl sulfides with MCPBA, catalysis is observed, but is absent for PMS. In this study the reaction rates are analysed using the transition state pseudo-equilibrium approach of Tee (Carbohydr Res 192:181–195, 1989), whereby the transition state pseudoequilibrium constant K _TS reflects the stabilisation imparted to the transition state by the association with one molecule of cyclodextrin. Enthalpy- entropy compensation plots for K _TS give slopes close to unity; this is the first reported example of such plots being applied to transition state pseudoequilibrium constants.     

Asymmetric synthesis of α-chiral ketones by the reduction of enones with baker's yeast

Baker's yeast-mediated asymmetric reduction of α,β-unsaturated ketones (enones) having a pyridyl ring affords the corresponding optically active α-substituted ketones (α-chiral ketones) with excellent stereoselectivity. The position of the heteroatom, as well as the bulk of the α-substituent, plays an important role in governing the stereoselectivity in the reduction of a carboncarbon double bond.