Silver sequestration of halides for the activation of Pd(OAc)2 catalyzed Mizoroki‐Heck reaction of 1,1 and 1,2 ‐ Disubstituted alkenes

A ligand free catalytic system consisting of Pd(OAc)₂ (cat) and stoichiometric quantities of silver salts, AgOAc or AgBF₄, exhibit high efficiency in the Mizoroki‐Heck arylation, transforming aryl iodides and 1,1 as well as 1,2 disubstituted alkenes into 1,1,2 – trisubstituted aryl alkenes in excellent yields in very short reaction times.     

Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) catalysed iodo-cyclisation of alkenes and alkynes using molecular oxygen

We have developed a convenient iodo-cyclisation reaction using NaNO₂ as catalyst and molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant. The reactive species, acetyl hypoiodite (IOAc), was generated in situ from TBAI and AcOH. The iodo-cyclisation reaction with a range of alkenes and alkynes gave good to excellent yields. Iodo-amination products can also be obtained using carbamates prepared from commercially available allylic alcohols and alkynic alcohols.     

Palladium-catalyzed amination of aryl nonaflates

The first detailed study of the palladium-catalyzed amination of aryl nonaflates is reported. Use of ligands 2-4 and 6 allows for the catalytic amination of electron-rich and -neutral aryl nonaflates with both primary and secondary amines. With use of Xantphos 5, the catalytic amination of a variety of functionalized aryl nonaflates resulted in excellent yields of anilines; even 2-carboxymethyl aryl nonaflate is effectively coupled with a primary alkylamine. Moderate yields were obtained when coupling halo-aryl nonaflates with a variety of amines, where in most cases the aryl nonaflate reacted in preference to the aryl halide. Overall, aryl nonaflates are an effective alternative to triflates in palladium-catalyzed C-N bond-forming processes due to their increased stability under the reaction conditions.     

Pd‐Catalyzed Synthesis of α‐Aryl Vinylphosphonates via Suzuki Arylation of α‐Phosphonovinyl Nonaflates

The first palladium‐catalyzed method for the arylation of α‐phosphonovinyl nonaflates is described. Using a catalyst comprised of Pd(OAc)₂ and SPhos, terminal and internal α‐aryl vinylphosphonates could be efficiently accessed under mild conditions. The reaction features a broad coupling partner scope and tolerates many functional groups.     

Sodium 2-(2-pyridin-3-ylethylamino)sulfonate: an efficient ligand and base for palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction in aqueous media

The first successful Pd(OAc)₂, N-donor ligand and base mediated Heck coupling reaction of aryl halides and alkenes in water is described. The corresponding Heck products were obtained in good to excellent yields.     

A general method for palladium-catalyzed reactions of primary sulfonamides with aryl nonaflates

A general method for Pd-catalyzed sulfonamidation of aryl nonafluorobutanesulfonates (aryl nonaflates) is described. A biaryl phosphine ligand, t-BuXPhos, formed the most active catalyst, and K(3)PO(4) in tert-amyl alcohol was found to be the optimal base-solvent combination for the reaction. The reaction conditions were tolerant of various functional groups such as cyano, nitro, ester, aldehyde, ketone, chloride, carbamate, and phenol. Heterocyclic aryl nonaflates were found to be suitable coupling partners. High yields of the coupled products were obtained from the reactions between inherently disfavored substrates such as electron-rich nonaflates and electron-poor sulfonamides. Kinetic data suggest reductive elimination to be the rate-limiting step for the reaction. The only limitation of this methodology that we have identified is the inability of 2,6-disubstituted aryl nonaflates to efficiently participate in the reaction.     

Nickel catalyzed cross-coupling of modified alkyl and alkenyl Grignard reagents with aryl- and heteroaryl nitriles: activation of the CCN bond

The nickel catalyzed cross-coupling of alkyl and alkenyl Grignard reagents with aryl nitrile derivatives affords good yields of the corresponding aryl alkanes or aryl alkenes via activation of the CCN bond. To prevent direct addition of the nucleophile to the nitrile group, the reactivity of the Grignard reagent was modulated by reaction with either LiOt-Bu or PhSLi prior to cross-coupling. The optimum catalyst was determined to be NiCl₂(PMe₃)₂, which is a convenient air stable commercially available complex.     

Efficient electrophilic and nucleophilic epoxidations utilizing a sulfonylperoxy radical and peroxysulfate species

Reaction of superoxide anion radical (O₂^−·) with o‐nitrobenzenesulfonyl chloride yields a o‐nitrobenzenesulfonyl peroxy radical with strong oxidizing ability, which is capable of oxidizing aryl methylene moieties to aryl ketones and relatively electron‐rich alkenes regioselectively to epoxides. The oxidizing species is tentatively attributed to the o‐nitrobenzenesulfonyl peroxy radical of structure 1 . Tetrabutylammonium peroxydisulfate ((TBA)₂S₂O₈, 2 ) was prepared by the reaction of tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate with potassium peroxydisulfate. The epoxidation of enals and enones, such as α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes or ketones, was efficiently achieved with 2 in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and base in acetonitrile or in methanol at 25°C. A base‐sensitive substrate, such as cinnamaldehyde, could be successfully epoxidized under mild reaction conditions and in short reaction time. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 13:431–436, 2002; Published online in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10078     

A novel electrochemical conversion of CO2 with aryl hydrazines and paraformaldehyde into 1,3,4-oxadiazol-2(3H)-one derivatives in one step

Using CO₂ to replace phosgene or CO as the C1 synthon, we successfully achieved the one-pot electrochemical synthesis of 1,3,4-oxadiazol-2(3H)-one derivatives via a three-component coupling reaction of CO₂ with aryl hydrazines and paraformaldehyde in an undivided cell. With NaI as the electro-catalyst and t-BuOK as the base, this electrochemical process could be smoothly performed to afford the target products in good to high yields at room temperature.     

Nickel(II) complex containing N‐(4,5‐dihydrooxazol‐2‐yl)benzamide ligands: highly efficient catalyst for Heck coupling reactions

Heck reaction catalyzed by Ni(II) containing N‐(4,5‐dihydrooxazol‐2‐yl) benzamide has been developed. The coupling of alkenes with aryl iodide or aryl bromide in the presence of potassium carbonate in DMF provides the corresponding products with moderate to good yields. This method possesses obvious advantages such as low‐cost catalyst and simple experimental operation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An efficient Negishi cross-coupling reaction catalyzed by nickel(II) and diethyl phosphite

A combination of diethyl phosphite-DMAP and Ni(II) salts forms a very effective catalytic system for the cross-coupling reactions of arylzinc halides with aryl, heteroaryl, and alkenyl bromides, chlorides, triflates, and nonaflates. The choice of solvent is quite important and the mixture of THF-N-ethylpyrrolidinone (NEP) (8:1) was found to be optimal. The reaction usually requires only 0.05 mol % of NiCl₂ or Ni(acac)₂ as catalyst and proceeds at room temperature within 1-48 h.     

Study on the Regioselectivity of Rhodium-Catalyzed Ring Opening Reactions of C1-Substituted 7-Oxabenzonorbornadienes with Boronic Acids

An optimized condition for the rhodium-catalyzed ring-opening reaction of C₁-substituted oxabicyclic alkenes with aryl boronic acids was developed and the effect of aryl boronic acid as well as the effect of C₁ substitution on the oxabicyclic alkenes was studied. Aryl boronic acids carrying electron-donating substituents provided the ring-opened products in excellent yields regardless of the position, while electron-withdrawing substituents were more susceptible to steric interactions. Although two different regioisomers are possible, all the rhodium-catalyzed ring-opening reactions of C₁ substituted oxabicyclic alkenes studied with aryl boronic acids were found to be highly regioselective, giving single regioisomers in all cases.     

Radical Cyclization Reactions via Manganese(III) Acetate Leading to 2‐Thienyl‐Substituted Dihydrofuran Compounds

The 2‐thienyl‐substituted 4,5‐dihydrofuran derivatives 3 – 8 were obtained by the radical cyclization reaction of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds 1a – 1f with 2‐thienyl‐substituted conjugated alkenes 2a – 2e by using [Mn(OAc)₃] (Tables 1–5). In this study, reactions of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds 1a – 1e with alkenes 2a – 2c gave 4,5‐dihydrofuran derivatives 3 – 5 in high yields (Tables 1–3). Also the cyclic alkenes 2d and 2e gave the dihydrobenzofuran compounds, i.e., 6 and 7 in good yields (Table 4). Interestingly, the reaction of benzoylacetone (=1‐phenylbutane‐1,3‐dione; 1f ) with some alkenes gave two products due to generation of two stable carbocation intermediates (Table 5).     

PCy3‐Catalyzed Ring Expansion of Aziridinofullerenes with CO2 and Aryl Isocyanates: Evidence for a Two Consecutive Nucleophilic Substitution Pathway on the Fullerene Cage

A PCy₃‐catalyzed ring‐expansion reaction of aziridine‐fused fullerenes (aziridinofullerenes) through the insertion of CO₂ and aryl isocyanates is disclosed. The reaction allows for CO₂ fixation by aziridinofullerenes, producing oxazolidinone‐fused fullerenes (oxazolidinofullerenes) in high yields, whereas treatment with aryl isocyanates led to a new fullerene family—imidazolidinone‐fused fullerenes (imidazolidinofullerenes)—in good to high yields. Furthermore, a mechanistically related unprecedented fullerenyl phosphonium salt was successfully isolated. Using the isolated salt, mechanistic studies were also investigated.     

Facile construction of symmetric biaryls using (BeDABCO)2Pd2Cl6 as an efficient and highly active catalyst under microwave irradiation

An efficient catalytic system using (BeDABCO)₂Pd₂Cl₆ (BeDABCO, benzyl‐1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) was developed for the homo‐coupling reaction of various aryl halides. Due to the combination of ionic homogeneous metal catalyst and microwave irradiation, symmetric biaryls were produced in excellent yields and short reaction times in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone at 120 °C. BeDABCO as an efficient ligand and also a quaternary ammonium salt had an efficient stabilizing effect on the Pd(0) species in this coupling reaction. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

1,2,3-Triazol-5-ylidene-palladium complex catalyzed Mizoroki-Heck and Sonogashira coupling reactions

The bis-1,4-dimesityl-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene-palladium complex (1a) successfully catalyzes the Mizoroki-Heck and Sonogashira coupling reactions with aryl bromides to give the corresponding alkenes and alkynes, respectively, in good to excellent yields. In the Mizoroki-Heck reaction, electron-rich, electron-poor, and functionalized aryl bromides and alkenes are tolerated, while the substrates are limited to electron-poor aryl halides in the Sonogashira coupling reaction. The palladium complex also catalyzes cross-coupling reactions with aryl chlorides to give higher yields of products than does the bis-IMes-Pd complex analogue (2), under specific conditions.     

[FeIII(F20‐tpp)Cl] Is an Effective Catalyst for Nitrene Transfer Reactions and Amination of Saturated Hydrocarbons with Sulfonyl and Aryl Azides as Nitrogen Source under Thermal and Microwave‐Assisted Conditions

[Fe^III(F₂₀‐tpp)Cl] (F₂₀‐tpp=meso‐tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrinato dianion) is an effective catalyst for imido/nitrene insertion reactions using sulfonyl and aryl azides as nitrogen source. Under thermal conditions, aziridination of aryl and alkyl alkenes (16 examples, 60–95 % yields), sulfimidation of sulfides (11 examples, 76–96 % yields), allylic amidation/amination of α‐methylstyrenes (15 examples, 68–83 % yields), and amination of saturated C? H bonds including that of cycloalkanes and adamantane (eight examples, 64–80 % yields) can be accomplished by using 2 mol % [Fe^III(F₂₀‐tpp)Cl] as catalyst. Under microwave irradiation conditions, the reaction time of aziridination (four examples), allylic amination (five examples), sulfimidation (two examples), and amination of saturated C? H bonds (three examples) can be reduced by up to 16‐fold (24–48 versus 1.5–6 h) without significantly affecting the product yield and substrate conversion.     

Stereospecific synthesis of a family of novel (E)‐2‐aryl‐1‐silylalka‐1,4‐dienes or (E)‐4‐aryl‐5‐silylpenta‐1,2,4‐trienes via a cross‐coupling of (Z)‐silyl(stannyl)ethenes with allyl halides or propargyl bromide

Stereospecific synthesis of a family of novel (E)‐2‐aryl‐1‐silylalka‐1,4‐dienes or (E)‐4‐aryl‐5‐silylpenta‐1,2,4‐trienes via a cross‐coupling of (Z)‐silyl(stannyl)ethenes with allyl halides or propargyl bromide is described. In the reaction with allyl bromide, either a Pd(dba)₂? CuI combination (dba, dibenzylideneacetone) in DMF or copper(I) iodide in DMSO–THF readily catalyzes or mediates the coupling reaction of (Z)‐silyl(stannyl)ethenes at room temperature, producing novel vinylsilanes bearing an allyl group β to silicon with cis ‐disposition in good yields. Allyl chlorides as halides can be used in the CuI‐mediated reaction. CuI alone much more effectively mediates the cross‐coupling reaction with propargyl bromide in DMSO–THF at room temperature compared with a Pd(dba)₂? CuI combination catalysis in DMF, providing novel stereodefined vinylsilanes bearing an allenyl group β to silicon with cis ‐disposition in good yields. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gold(I)-catalyzed direct C-H arylation of pyrazine and pyridine with aryl bromides

An efficient procedure for the direct C-H arylation of electron-poor aromatics such as pyrazine and pyridine with aryl bomides is described. In the presence of catalytic amount of Cy₃PAuCl and with the use of t-BuOK as base, pyrazine undergoes the direct C-H arylation with aryl bromides at 100 °C, and the yields of the arylated products depend on the nature of aryl bromides. In the cases of electron-rich aryl bromides used, the arylated pyrazines can be obtained in good to high yields. For electron-poor aryl bromides, the addition of AgBF₄ is the crucial point to accelerate the coupling reaction to give the arylated products in moderate yields. Pyridine also reacts with electron-rich aryl bromides catalyzed by Cy₃PAuCl to give a mixture of arylated regioisomers in moderate yield. However, in order to realize the direct C-H arylation of pyridine with electron-poor aryl bromides, the addition of silver salt as additive and a milder reaction temperature (60 °C) are required.     

Pd(OAc)2-Catalyzed Carbonylative Coupling of Aryl Iodide with Ortho-Haloamines in Water

The carbonylative cross coupling of aryl iodide with ortho-haloaniline to ortho-haloanilide using phosphine-free Pd(OAc)₂ catalyst in water as a reaction medium has been studied. The present protocol facilitated the reaction of o-haloanilines with a wide variety of hindered and functionalized aryl iodides, affording good yields of the desired products. The protocol was also extended for the synthesis of benzoxazoles through cyclization of ortho-haloanilide using Cu(acac)₂ catalyst.