Ultrasound-promoted synthesis of nitriles from aldoximes under ambient conditions

Copper(II) acetate proves to be an active catalyst for ultrasound-promoted conversion of aldoximes into nitriles. This dehydration reaction was carried out in acetonitrile under ambient conditions to provide nitriles with moderate tolerance toward water, which allows one-pot synthesis of a nitrile from an aldehyde with minimal purification.     

Process Development of the Copper(II)-Catalyzed Dehydration of a Chiral Aldoxime and Rational Selection of the Co-Substrate

The access towards chiral nitriles remains crucial in the synthesis of several pharmaceuticals. One approach is based on metal-catalyzed dehydration of chiral aldoximes, which are generated from chiral pool-derived aldehydes as substrates, and the use of a cheap and readily available nitrile as co-substrate and water acceptor. Dehydration of N-acyl α-amino aldoximes such as N-Boc-l -prolinal oxime catalyzed by copper(II) acetate provides access to the corresponding N-acyl α-amino nitriles, which are substructures of the pharmaceuticals Vildagliptin and Saxagliptin. In this work, a detailed investigation of the formation of the amide as a by-product at higher substrate loadings is performed. The amide formation depends on the electronic properties of the nitrile co-substrate. We could identify an acceptor nitrile which completely suppressed amide formation at high substrate loadings of 0.5 m even when being used with only 2 equivalents. In detail, utilization of trichloroacetonitrile as such an acceptor nitrile enabled the synthesis of N-Boc-cyanopyrrolidine in a high yield of 92 % and with full retention of the absolute configuration.     

Synthetic Processes toward Nitriles without the Use of Cyanide: A Biocatalytic Concept Based on Dehydration of Aldoximes in Water

While belonging to the most fundamental functional groups, nitriles represent a class of compound that still raises challenges in terms of an efficient, cost-effective, general and, at the same time, sustainable way for their synthesis. Complementing existing chemical routes, recently a cyanide-free enzymatic process technology based on the use of an aldoxime dehydratase (Oxd) as a biocatalyst component has been developed and successfully applied for the synthesis of a range of nitrile products. In these biotransformations, the Oxd enzymes catalyze the dehydration of aldoximes as readily available substrates to the nitrile products. Herein, these developments with such enzymes are summarized, with a strong focus on synthetic applications. It is demonstrated that this biocatalytic technology has the potential to “cross the bridge” between the production of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals, on one hand, and bulk and commodity chemicals, on the other.     

Cyanide‐Free and Broadly Applicable Enantioselective Synthetic Platform for Chiral Nitriles through a Biocatalytic Approach

A cyanide‐free platform technology for the synthesis of chiral nitriles by biocatalytic enantioselective dehydration of a wide range of aldoximes is reported. The nitriles were obtained with high enantiomeric excess of >90 % ee (and up to 99 % ee ) in many cases, and a “privileged substrate structure” with respect to high enantioselectivity was identified. Furthermore, a surprising phenomenon was observed for the enantiospecificity that is usually not observed in enzyme catalysis. Depending on whether the E or Z isomer of the racemic aldoxime substrate was employed, one or the other enantiomer of the corresponding nitrile was formed preferentially with the same enzyme.     

Ac2O/K2CO3/DMSO: an efficient and practical reagent system for the synthesis of nitriles from aldoximes

The transformation of aldoximes to nitriles using acetic anhydride as dehydration agent under mild reaction conditions is reported. The reaction, which proceeds under weak alkaline condition, allows for the conversion of a range of aldoximes including aromatic aldoximes, alphatic aldoximes, and heterocyclic aldoximes in good to excellent yields. This method has also been successfully applied to the synthesis of calcium channel blocker nilvadipine in pilot scale.     

An environmentally benign synthesis of isoxazolines and isoxazoles mediated by potassium chloride in water

An effective and environmentally benign procedure for the synthesis of isoxazolines and isoxazoles has been developed by a cycloaddition of nitrile oxides with alkenes or alkynes in water. In this approach, potassium chloride is first oxidized into chlorine in water by the environmentally friendly oxidant Oxone®, then aldoximes are oxidized into nitrile oxides by the in situ generated hypochlorous acid, finally a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between nitrile oxides and alkenes or alkynes occurs to provide the corresponding isoxazolines and isoxazoles in good yields.     

聚乙二醇支持的2,5-二取代异噁唑啉衍生物的液相合成

介绍了通过1,3-偶极环加成合成2,5-二取代异噁唑啉衍生物的液相合成方法, 利用聚乙二醇(PEG)支持的烯烃与由醛肟制得的腈氧化物反应制备了多种异噁唑啉衍生物, PEG解脱后产物的产率和纯度均很高.     

Ionic liquid-promoted dehydration of aldoximes: a convenient access to aromatic, heteroaromatic and aliphatic nitriles

A simple and convenient procedure for the synthesis of nitriles by dehydration of aldoximes using an ionic liquid, 1-pentyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [pmim]BF₄ under organic solvent-free condition, has been developed. A variety of aromatic, heteroaromatic and aliphatic aldoximes are converted to the corresponding nitriles. The ionic liquid is recovered and reused for subsequent reactions.     

Magtrieve™ (CrO2) and MnO2 mediated oxidation of aldoximes: studying the reaction course

Magtrieve™ (CrO₂) and MnO₂ mediated oxidation of aldoximes to nitrile oxides were studied in details. In presence of external radical source, TEMPO, these reagents did not furnish nitrile oxides, instead favoured deoximation to aldehydes. A common trend of deoximation was established from electronically tuned aldoximes, which is: aliphatic>aromatic>aldoximes with strong electron-withdrawing group, though the extent of deoximation was less in case of CrO₂. Above effects were not observed with chloramine-T and diacetoxyiodobenzene, reagents known to produce nitrile oxides via hydroximoyl halide or equivalent ionic intermediates. A putative reaction mechanism is proposed for MO₂ (M=Cr, Mn) mediated oxidation of aldoximes through formation of a nitroso-oxime tautomeric pair. Formation of nitrile oxide is possibly occurred from the oxime tautomer via a σ-type iminoxy radical intermediate. The deoximation process, dominating in presence of external radical environment, is explained following decomposition of the nitroso tautomer.     

Mechanochemical Dimerization of Aldoximes to Furoxans

Solvent-free mechanical milling is a new, environmentally friendly and cost-effective technology that is now widely used in the field of organic synthesis. The mechanochemical solvent-free synthesis of furoxans from aldoximes was achieved through dimerization of the in situ generated nitrile oxides in the presence of sodium chloride, Oxone and a base. A variety of furoxans was obtained with up to a 92% yield. The present protocol has the advantages of high reaction efficiency and mild reaction conditions.     

Microwave promoted rapid dehydration of aldoximes to nitriles using melamine-formaldehyde resin supported sulphuric acid in dry media

A simple and convenient procedure for the synthesis of nitriles by dehydration of aldoxime using supported sulphuric acid on melamine-formaldehyde resin(MFR) under solvent-free condition has been developed.A variety of aromatic and aliphatic aldoximes were converted to the corresponding nitriles.The resin was recovered and reused for subsequent reactions.     

Synthesis of Nitriles from Aldoximes Using Silica Gel as Catalyst Under Microwave Irradiation

Abstract

A rapid and efficient synthesis of nitriles via dehydration from the corresponding aldoximes has been carried out in the presence of Silica gel as catalyst under microwave irradiation in 83–95% yield.     

Iodobenzene Dichloride - An Efficient Reagent for Preparation of Nitrile Oxides from Aldoximes

Reaction of aldoximes with iodobenzene dichloride leads to formation of corresponding nitrile oxides in good yields in a single pot reaction.     

SOCl2/β-Cyclodextrin: A New and Efficient Catalytic System for Beckmann Rearrangement and Dehydration of Aldoximes Under Aqueous Condition

A rapid and efficient synthesis of amides via Beckmann rearrangement of ketoximes and dehydration of aldoximes to corresponding nitriles with good to excellent yields has been carried out in the presence of SOCl₂/β-cyclodextrin under aqueous conditions. The β-cyclodextrin has been recovered and reused.     

Hypervalent Iodine–Catalyzed Cycloaddition of Nitrile Oxides to Alkenes

A new and convenient method for preparation of isoxazolines was developed by a catalytic cycloaddition of nitrile oxides generated in situ from aldoximes to alkenes in the presence of a catalytic amount of iodobenzene. In this protocol, iodobenzene was first oxidized into the hypervalent iodine intermediate by m-chloroperbenzoic acid, which then transformed aldoximes into nitrile oxides, and a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to alkenes to provide the isoxazolines in moderate to good yields.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resource(s): Full experimental and spectral details.]     

PCC-Promoted Dehydration of Aldoximes: A Convenient Access to Aromatic,Heteroaromatic, and Aliphatic Nitriles

A simple and convenient procedure for the synthesis of nitriles by dehydration of aldoximes using a PCC (pyridiniumchlorochromate) has been developed. A variety of aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic aldoximes are converted.

Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the full spectral details.     

Silyl nitronates and nitrile oxides in organic synthesis. A novel route to d,l-deoxysugars. Use of aluminum oxide as solid phase base for generation of

Novel methodology is developed for a three step synthesis of deoxyaldoses and deoxyketoses: 1. Regioselective addition of silyl nitronate or nitrile oxide to a diene. 2. Stereospecific hydroxylation of the double bond. 3. Unmasking of the aldol moiety by catalytic reduction of the 2-isoxazoline. The syntheses of D,L-deoxyribose, D,L-oleose, D,L-digitoxose, D,L-2-deoxygalactose, 1,3-dideoxyfructose, 3-deoxyfructose etc. are described. Basic aluminum oxide is introduced as a solid phase base for the one step synthesis of 2-isoxazolines from aldoximes and olefins. An X-ray diffraction study of compound $\text{13c}$ verifies the stereochemical assignments.     

A novel one-pot synthesis of hydroximoyl chlorides and 2-isoxazolines using N-tert-butyl-N-chlorocyanamide

Treatment of aldoximes with N-tert-butyl-N-chlorocyanamide gave hydroximoyl chlorides in quantitative yields in less than a minute, which on dehydrohalogenation in the presence of triethylamine gave the corresponding nitrile oxides. The nitrile oxides underwent 1,3-dipolar addition to dipolarophiles and gave 2-isoxazolines in excellent yields under mild conditions.     

Dehydration of Aldoximes by Dichlorocarbene in Reverse Micelle

The use of reverse micelle to catalyze the dehydration, on a preparative scale, of aldoximes to nitriles by dichlorocarbene is reported.     

Generation of nitrile oxides under nanometer micelles built in neutral aqueous media: synthesis of novel glycal-based chiral synthons and optically pure 2,8-dioxabicyclo[4.4.0]decene core

A highly efficient strategy for chemoselective oxidation of aldoximes to nitrile oxides by iodosobenzene in neutral aqueous media is reported. Their in situ intermolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DC) with olefins in nanometer aqueous micelles occurs with improved stereoselectivity and acceleration of reaction rate toward synthesis of new chiral synthons, 3-(2'-C-3',4',6'-tri-O-benzylglycal)-Delta(2)-isoxazolines and others. Construction of optically pure 2,8-dioxabicyclo[4.4.0]decene skeleta is performed by this green approach, and the stereochemistry of the new chiral center is predicted by B3LYP density functional theory.