Aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols in the presence of activated secondary alcohols

Chemoselective aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols in the presence of activated secondary alcohols was effected under irradiation of visible light by using (nitrosyl)Ru(salen) complex 6 that possesses bulky 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl groups at C3, C3′, C5 and C5′, as catalyst. For example, oxidation of n-decanol was >50 times faster than oxidation of 1-phenylethanol at 10 °C.     

Selective,one-pot synthesis of 2,3,6-trisubstituted pyridine and 2-cyclohexen-1-one derivatives from bicyclic ketals

Boron difluoromethanesulfonate, prepared from 5 equivalents of trimethylsilyl methanesulfonate and 1 equivalent of boron trifluoride etherate, has proved to be an active Lewis acid catalyst for the one-pot transformation reaction of bicyclic ketals in the 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane series to 2,3,6-trisubstituted pyridine or 2-cyclohexen-1-one selectively, depending on conditions. A 1,5-diketone was the reaction intermediate for both products. Pyridine was formed selectively by using a nitrile as a solvent or a reagent, but cyclohexenone was prepared in methylene chloride instead of a nitrile.     

Selective oxidation of a primary hydroxyl in the presence of secondary one

RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃-benzene system has been found to be highly effective for the title selective oxidation providing 10-hydroxyundecanal in 89% yield from 1,10-undecanediol.     

Enantioselective synthesis of secondary alcohols in the presence of chiral ligands

The synthesis of two S-proline derivatives is described together with their use as chiral ligands for lithium in reactions of n-butyllithium with benzaldehyde to give 1-phenyl-1-pentanol with moderate optical purity. The presence of lithium salts in the reaction mixture causes a decrease in asymmetric induction.     

Stereoselective synthesis of secondary and tertiary propargylic alcohols induced by a chiral sulfoxide auxiliary

The synthesis of optically active secondary and tertiary propargylic alcohols was accomplished by addition of lithium acetylide to chiral β-sulfinyl enones. Only a stoichiometric amount of the lithium acetylide was required and various substituents were tolerated. This reaction could be applied to substrates consisting of both ketones and aldehydes in high yields and excellent diastereoselectivities.     

Cerium catalyzed selective oxidation of secondary alcohols in the presence of primary ones

The combination of (N₄₂Ce(NO₃)6-NaBrO₃ or CE(SO₄)₂·2H₂SO₄-NaBrO₃ has been found to be effective for the title selective oxidation.     

Magtrieve™: a convenient catalyst for the oxidation of alcohols

We find that Magtrieve™ (CrO₂) catalyzes the oxidation of a wide variety of alcohols with periodic acid as the terminal oxidant. Mild conditions, short reaction times, and facile aqueous work-up make this a most attractive method. Olefins are not oxidized under these conditions; thus alcohols react selectively in the presence of alkenes. Conditions have been optimized with respect to catalyst loading, solvent, and co-oxidant; and the scope of the reaction includes primary and secondary benzylic, allylic, and aliphatic alcohols.     

Catalyst-free,ethylene glycol promoted one-pot three component synthesis of 3-amino alkylated indoles via Mannich-type reaction

A highly efficient and sustainable approach for the multi-component synthesis of biologically important 3-amino alkylated indoles has been investigated via Mannich-type reaction under catalyst-free, ethylene glycol as a recyclable promoting medium. The wide applicability of the present method was examined with various substrates viz substituted aldehydes, indoles and secondary amines. This method will be useful for a large scale synthesis of 3-amino alkylated indoles without the use of column chromatography. The present method provides higher environmental compatibility and sustainability factors such as smaller E-factor (0.433) and higher atom-economy (AE = 93.3%).     

Poly(ethylene glycol)-supported nitroxyls: branched catalysts for the selective oxidation of alcohols

Nitroxyl radicals such as 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) are highly selective oxidation catalysts for the conversion of primary alcohols into the corresponding aldehydes. In this study, direct tethering of TEMPO units onto linear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has afforded macromolecular catalysts that exhibit solubility in both aqueous and organic solvents. Recovery of the dissolved polymer-supported catalyst has been carried out by precipitation with a suitable solvent such as diethyl ether. The high catalyst activities and selectivities associated traditionally with nitroxyl-mediated oxidations of alcohols are retained by the series of "linker-less" linear PEG-TEMPO catalysts in which the TEMPO moiety is coupled directly to the PEG support. Although the selectivity remains unaltered, upon recycling of the linker-less polymer-supported catalysts, extended reaction times are required to maintain high yields of the desired carbonyl compounds. Alternatively, attachment of two nitroxyl radicals onto each functionalized PEG chain terminus via a 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid linker affords branched polymer-supported catalysts. In stark contrast to the linker-less catalysts, these branched nitroxyls exhibit catalytic activities up to five times greater than 4-methoxy-TEMPO alone under similar conditions. In addition, minimal decrease in catalytic activity is observed upon recycling of these branched macromolecular catalysts via solvent-induced precipitation. The high catalytic activities and preservation of activity upon recycling of these branched systems is attributed to enhanced regeneration of the nitroxyl species as a result of intramolecular syn-proportionation.     

Organic reactions at alumina surfaces. An extremely simple,convenient and selective method for acetylating primary alcohols in the presence of secondary alcohols.

Stirring primary-secondary diols in ethyl acetate solvent over Woelm alumina leads to the corresponding primary monoacetates simply, conveniently, and in good yields. In this way, primary hydroxyalkylphenols are converted into acetoxyalkylphenols, and primary arylamines are transformed into the corresponding acetamides.     

Raman study of the conformational equilibrium of ethylene glycol in dimethyl sulfoxide

The Raman spectrum of liquid ethylene glycol (EG) was investigated as a function of concentration in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Utilizing previous vibrational assignments of the various bands to the gauche and trans conformers, it was observed that the equilibrium appeared to shift almost entirely to the latter form in dilute DMSO solution. This result permitted a quantitative estimate of the fraction of molecules in the trans configuration in EG-DMSO mixtures. Extrapolation of the measurements yielded a calculated value of 0.35 for the fraction of trans conformers in pure ethylene glycol, which was compared with the result obtained from earlier NMR investigations. A qualitative picture of the molecular structure and bonding in pure EG and in EG-DMSO mixtures, consistent with the observed data has been proposed.The Raman spectrum of an aqueous solution of ethylene glycol was also recorded, and compared to the spectrum of the pure glycol. In contrast to the conclusions of earlier workers, no significant shift in the gauche-trans equilibrium was detected.     

Poly(ethylene glycol)-supported TEMPO: an efficient, recoverable metal-free catalyst for the selective oxidation of alcohols

[structure: see text] Poly(ethylene glycol)-supported TEMPO (PEG-TEMPO) has been prepared, and its catalytic activity in the chemoselective oxidation of alcohols with stoichiometric amounts of organic or inorganic oxidants has been investigated. The new metal-free catalyst exhibits high activity and is easily removed from the reaction mixture by filtration. Recycling experiments showed that PEG-TEMPO can be reused up to six times with no loss of catalytic activity.     

Bimetallic Au/Pd catalyzed aerobic oxidation of alcohols in the poly(ethylene glycol)/CO2 system

Bimetallic Au/Pd nanoparticles were prepared and used to catalyze oxidation of alcohols in the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/CO₂ biphasic system using O₂ as the oxidant without adding any base. The catalytic activity of Au/Pd bimetal with different mole ratios was studied using benzyl alcohol as the substrate. It was found that bimetallic Au/Pd nanoparticles with Au:Pd=1:3.5 had higher catalytic activity than monometallic Au, Pd and the bimetallic Au/Pd nanoparticles with other molar ratios. The effect of CO₂ pressure on the oxidation of benzyl alcohol and 1-phenylethanol in PEG/CO₂ was investigated. It was demonstrated that CO₂ pressure could be used to tune the conversion and selectivity of the reactions effectively. α,β,-Unsaturated alcohols were also studied and found to be more reactive than benzyl alcohol and 1-phenylethanol. Recycling experiments showed that the Au/Pd/PEG/CO₂ catalytic system could be recycled at least four times without reducing the activity. In addition, the catalytic system is clean and the products can be separated easily.     

Applications of Baylis-Hillman adducts: a simple, convenient, and one-pot synthesis of 3-benzoylquinolines

A simple and convenient synthesis of 3-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)quinoline derivatives via the treatment of 3-[hydroxy(2-nitroaryl)methyl]-4H-chromen-4-ones, derived from chromones and various 2-nitrobenzaldehydes, with Fe/AcOH, in a one-pot operation, is described.     

A convenient route for the synthesis of s,s-and R,R-warfarin alcohols

S,S-and R,R-warfarin alcohols 3 are prepared in good yield and in 99% d.e. (diastereomeric excess) by the reaction of S- or R-warfarin 1 with S or R-Alpine-Hidride 2.     

Theoretical study of ethylene glycol synthesis in a reaction-rectification column

Principles of construction of a mathematical model of a reaction-rectification column for ethylene glycol synthesis are considered. Some specific features of the operation of the reaction-rectification column are analyzed. The correctness of the assumptions and limitations of the model is substantiated and the adequacy of the model is assessed.     

The selective acetylation of primary alcohols in the presence of secondary alcohols in carbohydrates

Treatment of primary-secondary sugar diols with ethyl acetate in the presence of Woelm neutral alumina produced selectively the corresponding primary monoacetates in good yield. No di-acetate was formed in a detectable amount.     

Copper-catalyzed C-alkylation of secondary alcohols and methyl ketones with alcohols employing the aerobic relay race methodology

By employing aerobic oxidation to aldehydes as a more effective alcohol activation strategy, ligand-free copper catalysts were found to be superior catalysts than other metals in aerobic dehydrative β-alkylation of secondary alcohols and α-alkylation of methyl ketones using alcohols as the green alkylating reagents. Based on our mechanistic studies and also supported by the literature, we deduce that the newly-proposed relay race process rather than the conventional borrowing hydrogen-type mechanisms should be the most possible and a more rational mechanism for the aerobic C-alkylation reactions.     

Selective aerobic oxidation of alcohols catalyzed by iron chloride hexahydrate/TEMPO in the presence of silica gel

An environmentally friendly and efficient process whereby FeCl₃?6H₂O/2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine N‐oxyl (TEMPO)‐catalyzed oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes and ketones is accomplished in the presence of silica gel using molecular oxygen or air as the terminal oxidant. The electron‐deficient benzyl alcohol was smoothly oxidized to the corresponding aldehydes with up to 99% isolated yield. It was found that silica gel not only could enhance the catalytic reaction rate but also increase the selectivity for the product. The high performance of FeCl₃?6H₂O/TEMPO catalyst system in the presence of silica gel might be attributed to the surface silanol groups. UV–visible spectra analysis showed that the Fe (III)–TEMPO complex could serve as the active intermediate species in the present catalytic system. A plausible mechanism of the catalytic system is proposed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pd-catalyzed enantioselective aerobic oxidation of secondary alcohols: applications to the total synthesis of alkaloids

Enantioselective syntheses of the alkaloids (-)-aurantioclavine, (+)-amurensinine, (-)-lobeline, and (-)- and (+)-sedamine are described. The syntheses demonstrate the effectiveness of the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric oxidation of secondary alcohols in diverse contexts and the ability of this methodology to set the absolute configuration of multiple stereocenters in a single operation. The utility of an aryne C-C insertion reaction in accessing complex polycyclic frameworks is also described.