Removable directing groups in organic synthesis and catalysis

Directing groups have been widely used in recent years to achieve control over all aspects of reaction selectivity in a wide range of transformations involving transition-metal catalysis and organometallic reagents. In cases when the existing functional group within a substrate is unsuited to achieve efficient intramolecular delivery of a reagent or catalyst, the specific introduction of an appropriately designed removable reagent-directing group can be a solution to this problem. In this Review we give an overview of the state of the art in this area, including the stoichiometric and catalytic use of directing groups.     

Synthesis and catalysis of a silica-supported cobalt carbonyl cluster

The supported metal cluster, Co₄(CO)₈(μ₂-CO)₂(μ₄-PC₆H₄)/(SiO₂) (2), which decomposed at 290°C, was synthesized. The cobalt and phosphorus contents were 10.51 and 2.64%, respectively. The IR spectrum of 2 exhibits absorptions at 2010 and 1840 cm⁻¹ assigned to the terminal carbonyl and bridged carbonyl, respectively. The effects of the reaction conditions and the structure of olefins on the hydroformylation using 2 have been investigated. Nearly 100% conversion and selectivity could be reached by hydroformylation of 1-hexene under conditions of 130°C, 40 kg/cm², H₂/CO = 1, for 6 h. The rate order of hydroformylation of olefins was as follows: 1-hexene > cyclohexene > diisobutene > styrene. The catalytic activity was kept almost constant after ten-time repeated use (240 h).     

Gold catalysis: phenol synthesis in the presence of functional groups

The effect of different substituents, such as bromo, chloromethyl, hydroxymethyl, formyl, acetyl, carboxy, and acylated hydroxymethyl and ammonium groups, on the furan ring of substrates in gold-catalyzed phenol synthesis has been investigated. The furan ring was also replaced by different heterocycles, such as pyrroles, thiophenes, oxazoles, and a 2,4-dimethoxyphenyl group; gold catalysis then delivered no phenols, but occasionally other products were obtained. [Ru(3)(CO)(12)] also catalyzed the conversion of 1 at a low rate, [Os(3)(CO)(12)] failed as a catalyst, and with [Co(2)(CO)(8)] the alkyne complex 19 can be obtained, it does not lead to any phenol but reacts with norbornene to give the product of a Pauson-Khand reaction. Efforts to prepare vinylidene complexes of 1 provided the only evidence for these species; in the presence of a phosphane ligand with ruthenium an interesting deoxygenation to 22 was observed. The phenol 2 c was converted to the allyl ether, a building block for para-Claisen rearrangements, and to the aryl triflate, a building block for cross-coupling reactions.     

Colorimetric methods for determining organic functional groups. I

Summary A colorimetric method is described for the determination ofmol quantities of organic compounds containing certain oxygen functions. It is based on oxidation by ceric sulfate in 1N H₂SO₄followed by measuring the absorbance of the residual Ce(IV) in presence of Ferroin at 426 nm.

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Zusammenfassung Eine kolorimetrische Methode zur Bestimmung von Mikromolen organischer Verbindungen mit gewissen sauerstoffhältigen Gruppen wurde beschrieben. Sie beruht auf der Oxydation mit Cer(IV)-sulfat in n H₂SO₄ und nachfolgender Messung der Absorption des restlichen Cer(IV) in Gegenwart von Ferroin bei 426 nm.

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This paper is based on the Master's Thesis ofW. L. Nazimowitz, January 1967.     

Metal-complex catalysis during the reduction of functional groups by sodium borohydride in the synthesis of pyrrolidine derivatives

A selective method was developed for the reduction of functional groups with sodium borohydride using complexes of CoCl₂ and CuCl₂ with triethylbenzylammonium chloride and cobalt and copper mesotetra[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyridyl]porphyrinates as catalysts. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 205–208, February, 2006.     

Organized surface functional groups: cooperative catalysis via thiol/sulfonic acid pairing

The synthesis and characterization of heterogeneous catalysts containing surfaces functionalized with discrete pairs of sulfonic acid and thiol groups are reported. A catalyst having acid and thiol groups separated by three carbon atoms is ca. 3 times more active than a material containing randomly distributed acid and thiol groups in the condensation of acetone and phenol to bisphenol A and 14 times more active in the condensation of cyclohexanone and phenol to bisphenol Z. Increasing the acid/thiol distance in the paired materials decreases both the activity and selectivity. This work clearly reveals the importance of nanoscale organization of two disparate functional groups on the surface of heterogeneous catalysts.     

CO2-catalyzed/promoted transformation of organic functional groups

Carbon dioxide is a cheap, non-toxic, abundant chemical and has been widely utilized in organic syntheses. Many new strategies have been developed using CO₂ as a C1 building block and highly utilizable chemicals have been synthesized out of it. On the other hand, CO₂-catalyzed or promoted reactions can also be important from an environmental and scientific point of view. These reactions avoid toxic chemicals, expensive catalysts and often occur under mild reaction conditions. In this review, we would like to draw a summary about organic functional group transformation reactions that are promoted or catalyzed by CO₂.     

Cooperative catalysis approach to intramolecular hydroacylation

Prior examples of hydroacylation to form six- and seven-membered ring ketones require either embedded chelating groups or other substrate design strategies to circumvent competitive aldehyde decarbonylation. A cooperative catalysis strategy enabled intramolecular hydroacylation of disubstituted alkenes to form seven- and six-membered rings without requiring substrate-embedded chelating groups.     

Cooperative hydrogen-bonding effects in silanediol catalysis

The importance of cooperative hydrogen-bonding effects and SiOH-acidification is described for silanediol catalysis. NMR binding, X-ray, and computational studies provide support for a unique dimer resulting from silanediol self-recognition. The significance of this cooperative hydrogen-bonding is demonstrated using novel fluorinated silanediol catalysts for the addition of indoles and N,N-dimethyl-m-anisidine to trans-β-nitrostyrene.     

Polymerization of hydroxyl functional polypropylene by metallocene catalysis

Propylene was copolymerized with 10-undecen-1-ol with use of dimethylsilanyl-bis-(2-methyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl)zirconium dichloride as catalyst activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO) and triisobutylaluminum (TIBA). Comonomer incorporations as high as 2.0 mol% or 8.2 wt% were obtained without serious activity losses. Concentration of MAO, aluminum/comonomer ratio and pressure had some effect on polymerization activity and yield. However, changing the proportion of MAO in the cocatalyst mixture of MAO and TIBA proved to be most efficient way to enhance polymerization activity. Still, the result was a compromise between high functionality content, polymerization activity and molecular weight.     

Rieke zinc as a reducing agent for common organic functional groups

The ability of Rieke zinc to reduce common organic functional groups has been studied. Nitrobenzene, conjugated aldehydes, arylacetylenes, and phenylpropiolates are readily reduced under mild conditions. Benzonitrile, alkylacetylenes, ketones, unconjugated aldehydes, and alkenes are not reduced.     

Second-order NMR spectra at high field of common organic functional groups

The proton NMR spectra of aryl n-propyl sulfides gave rise to what may appear to be first-order proton NMR spectra. Upon oxidation to the corresponding sulfone, the spectra changed appearance dramatically and were clearly second-order. A detailed analysis of these second-order spectra, in the sulfone series, provided vicinal coupling constants which indicated that these compounds had a moderate preference for the anti-conformer, reflecting the much greater size of the sulfone over the sulfide. It also emerged, from this study, that the criterion for observing large second-order effects in the proton NMR spectra of 1,2-disubstituted ethanes was that the difference in vicinal coupling constants must be large and the difference in geminal coupling constants must be small. n-Propyl triphenylphosphonium bromide and 2-trimethylsilylethanesulfonyl chloride, and derivatives thereof, also exhibited second-order spectra, again due to the bulky substituents. Since these spectra are second-order due to magnetic nonequivalence of the nuclei in question, not chemical shifts, the proton spectra are perpetually second-order and can never be rendered first-order by using higher field NMR spectrometers.     

Lipase catalysis in organic solvents

The conditions for esterification and transesterification catalyzed by porcine pancreatic lipase in organic media were studied. It was found that the enzyme reaction was dependent on the following factors: the pH at which the enzyme powder was prepared from its solution, the polarity of organic media, the reaction temperature, the water content in reaction system, and the substrate structures. Effects of the above factors on enzyme activity were discussed.     

Single-atom catalysis for organic reactions

Metal-based catalysis, including homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, plays a significant role in the modern chemical industry. Heterogeneous catalysis is widely used due to the high efficiency, easy catalyst separation and recycling. However, the metal-utilization efficiency for conventional heterogeneous catalysts needs further improvement compared to homogeneous catalyst. To tackle this, the pursing of heterogenizing homogeneous catalysts has always been attractive but challenging. As a recently emerging class of catalytic material, single-atom catalysts (SACs) are expected to bridge homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic process in organic reactions and have arguably become the most active new frontier in catalysis field. In this review, a brief introduction and development history of single-atom catalysis and SACs involved organic reactions are documented. In addition, recent advances in SACs and their practical applications in organic reactions such as oxidation, reduction, addition, coupling reaction, and other organic reactions are thoroughly reviewed. To understand structure-property relationships of single-atom catalysis in organic reactions, active sites or coordination structure, metal atom-utilization efficiency (e.g., turnover frequency, TOF calculated based on active metal) and catalytic performance (e.g., conversion and selectivity) of SACs are comprehensively summarized. Furthermore, the application limitations, development trends, future challenges and perspective of SAC for organic reaction are discussed.     

Mechanism for reduction catalysis by metal oxo: hydrosilation of organic carbonyl groups catalyzed by a rhenium(V) oxo complex

The rhenium oxo complex [Re(O)(hoz)2][TFPB], 1 (where hoz = 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxazoline(-) and TFPB = tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate) catalyzes the hydrosilation of aldehydes and ketones under ambient temperature and atmosphere. The major organic product is the protected alcohol as silyl ether. Isolated yields range from 86 to 57%. The reaction requires low catalyst loading (0.1 mol %) and proceeds smoothly in CH2Cl2 as well as neat without solvent. In the latter condition, the catalyst precipitates at the end of reaction, allowing easy separation and catalyst recycling. Re(O)(hoz)(H), 3, was prepared, and its involvement in an ionic hydrosilation mechanism was evaluated. Complex 3 was found to be less hydridic than Et3SiH, refuting its participation in catalysis. A viable mechanism that is consistent with experimental findings, rate measurements, and kinetic isotope effects (Et3SiH/Et3SiD = 1.3 and benzaldehyde-H/benzaldehyde-D = 1.0) is proposed. Organosilane is activated via eta2-coordination to rhenium, and the organic carbonyl adds across the coordinated Si-H bond [2 + 2] to afford the organic reduction product.     

Calcium alkoxyalanates : III. Reduction of organic functional groups by calcium tetrakis(alkoxy)alanates

Calcium tetrakis(alkoxy)alanates obtained from different alcohols reduce aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters, acid chlorides and anhydrides to alcohols in high yields. Good results are achieved in the reduction of amides to amines. The reductions of nitrile and oxime groups and dehalogenation reactions are more difficult. Selectivity is possible in the reduction of organic epoxides.     

Lewis base catalysis in organic synthesis

The legacy of Gilbert Newton Lewis (1875–1946) pervades the lexicon of chemical bonding and reactivity. The power of his concept of donor–acceptor bonding is evident in the eponymous foundations of electron‐pair acceptors (Lewis acids) and donors (Lewis bases). Lewis recognized that acids are not restricted to those substances that contain hydrogen (Brønsted acids), and helped overthrow the “modern cult of the proton”. His discovery ushered in the use of Lewis acids as reagents and catalysts for organic reactions. However, in recent years, the recognition that Lewis bases can also serve in this capacity has grown enormously. Most importantly, it has become increasingly apparent that the behavior of Lewis bases as agents for promoting chemical reactions is not merely as an electronic complement of the cognate Lewis acids: in fact Lewis bases are capable of enhancing both the electrophilic and nucleophilic character of molecules to which they are bound. This diversity of behavior leads to a remarkable versatility for the catalysis of reactions by Lewis bases.