Palladium-catalyzed carbon dioxide elimination-fixation reaction of 4-methoxycarbonyloxy-2-buten-1-ols

A new type of palladium-catalyzed CO(2) recycling reaction using allylic carbonates is described. Reaction of trans-4-methoxycarbonyloxy-2-buten-1-ols in the presence of a palladium catalyst produces cyclic carbonates having a vinyl group via a CO(2) elimination-fixation process. A variety of allylic carbonates participate in the reaction giving cyclic carbonates with high efficiencies. Stereoselective construction of trans-cyclic carbonates is achieved by using nonsymmetric substrates. An enantiospecific reaction proceeds to give chiral cyclic carbonate when a chiral methyl-substituted substrate is subjected to the reaction conditions.     

Development of palladium-catalyzed transformations using propargylic compounds

It is known that propargylic compounds having an ester and a halide at the propargylic positions react with palladium complexes leading to π-propargylpalladium and allenylpalladium complexes, which cause various transformations in the presence of the reactants. The aim of the present study was to develop novel palladium-catalyzed transformations using propargylic compounds. As diastereoselective reactions of propargylic compounds with bis-nucleophiles, we have developed palladium-catalyzed reactions of propargylic carbonates with 2-substituted cyclohexane-1,3-diones, 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)acetates and 2-oxocyclohex-3-enecarboxylates. These processes produce highly substituted cyclic compounds in a highly stereoselective manner. Through our studies on the construction of substituted 2,3-allenols by the reactions of propargylic oxiranes, it has been made clear that palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions occur in the presence of arylboronic acids and terminal alkynes. The processes can be carried out in mild conditions to yield substituted 4-aryl-2,3-allenols in a diastereoselective manner. In our attempt to develop CO2-recycling reactions, we developed a methodology for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates by palladium-catalyzed reactions of propargylic carbonates with phenols. Our findings suggested that the process proceeds through a pathway involving decarboxylation-followed fixation of the liberated CO2. Diastereoselective, enantioselective, and enantiospecific construction of cyclic carbonates have been achieved by the application of this methodology.     

Organocatalytic methods for chemoselective O-tert-butoxycarbonylation of phenols and their regeneration from the O-t-Boc derivatives

Carbon tetrabromide (CBr4) catalyzes O-tert-butoxycarbonylation of functionalized phenols without any side reactions (bromination, addition of CBr3 to a double bond, and formation of symmetrical diaryl carbonates, cyclic carbonates, or carbonic-carbonic anhydrides). The parent phenols are regenerated from the O-t-Boc derivatives by the catalyst system CBr4-PPh3 without affecting other protecting groups (aryl alkyl ether, alkyl ester, and thioacetal) or competitive side reaction such as bromination, nitrene (from NO2) and alpha,alpha-dibromoolefine (with CHO/COMe) formation, and transesterification (with CO2Me/Et) taking place.     

Benzyl protection of phenols under neutral conditions: palladium-catalyzed benzylations of phenols.

Benzyl protection of phenols under neutral conditions was achieved by using a Pd(eta3-C3H5)Cp-DPEphos catalyst. The palladium catalyst efficiently converted aryl benzyl carbonates into benzyl-protected phenols through the decarboxylative etherification. Alternatively, the nucleophilic substitution of benzyl methyl carbonates with phenols proceeded in the presence of the catalyst, yielding aryl benzyl ethers.     

The Reactions of Carbon Monoxide and Phenols Promoted by Palladium Complexes

The reaction of phenols with carbon monoxide at atmospheric pressure and room temperature in the presence of palladium cholrode and tertiary amine produces diaryl carbonates and aryl salicylates. Only diaryl cabonates are produced when palladium carbonyl cholride is substituted for palladium chloride. Reaction pathways are proposed.     

Synthesis of β-Disubstituted Enones from Ynones. An Alternative Route to 1,4-Addition of Cuprate to the Ynone System

A one-pot reaction of 4-phenyl-3-butyn-2-one with hydrogen iodide generated in situ gave a hydroiodinated product that underwent cross coupling with organozinc compounds in the presence of palladium catalyst to provide a simple preparation of 4-disubstituted-3-alken-2-ones in fair to good yields.     

Mechanism of the cycloaddition of carbon dioxide and epoxides catalyzed by cobalt-substituted 12-tungstenphosphate

Co(II)-substituted α-Keggin-type 12-tungstenphosphate [(n-C(4)H(9))(4)N](4)H[PW(11)Co(H(2)O)O(39)]-(PW(11)Co) is synthesized and used as a single-component, solvent-free catalyst in the cycloaddition reaction of CO(2) and epoxides to form cyclic carbonates. The mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction is investigated using DFT calculations, which provides the first computational study of the catalytic cycle of polyoxometalate-catalyzed CO(2) coupling reactions. The reaction occurs through a single-electron transfer from the doublet Co(II) catalyst to the epoxide and forms a doublet Co(III)-carbon radical intermediate. Subsequent CO(2) addition forms the cyclic carbonate product. The existence of radical intermediates is supported by free-radical termination experiments. Finally, it is exhilarating to observe that the calculated overall reaction barrier (30.5 kcal mol(-1)) is in good agreement with the real reaction rate (83 h(-1)) determined in the present experiments (at 15 °C).     

ReCl(CO)5-catalyzed cyclocondensation of phenols with 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol to afford 2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromenes

A direct one-pot route for the synthesis of 2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromenes by Re(CO)₅Cl-catalyzed cyclocondensation of phenols with 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol has been developed. The easy availability of starting materials, mild reaction conditions, high atom-efficiency, and the use of a recoverable catalyst are advantages of this procedure.     

Palladium-catalyzed preparation of α-allyl esters and α,β-unsaturated esters from saturated esters via their silyl acetals

Reaction of ketene silyl acetals with allylic carbonates in the presence of palladium-phosphine catalyst in dioxane gives α-allyl esters in high yields. When the reaction is carried out with phosphine-free palladium catalyst in nitriles, α,β-unsaturated esters are obtained in good yields.     

Novel methodologies for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates

Cyclic carbonates are valuable compounds that have applications in a variety of chemical fields. Methodologies for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates are well investigated in recent years, and the most successful and popular procedure is the utilization of CO(2). This paper presents recent progress in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates by a CO(2)-fixation process, which involves novel palladium-catalyzed CO(2)-recycling reactions.     

New mechanistic insight into the coupling reactions of CO2 and epoxides in the presence of zinc complexes

Coupling reactions of CO(2) and epoxide to produce cyclic carbonates were performed in the presence of a catalyst [L(2)ZnX(2)] (L=pyridine or substituted pyridine; X=Cl, Br, I), and the effects of pyridine and halide ligands on the catalytic activity were investigated. The catalysts with electron-donating substituents on pyridine ligands exhibit higher activity than those with unsubstituted pyridine ligands. On the other hand, the catalysts with electron-withdrawing substituents at the 2-position of the pyridine ligands show no activity; this demonstrates the importance of the basicity of the pyridine ligands. The catalytic activity of [L(2)ZnX(2)] was found to decrease with increasing electronegativity of the halide ligands. A series of highly active zinc complexes bridged by pyridinium alkoxy ions of the general formula [((mu-OCHRCH(2)L)ZnBr(2))(n)] (n=2 for R=CH(3); n=3 for R=H; L=pyridine or substituted pyridine) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The dinuclear zinc complexes obtained from propylene oxide adopt a square-planar geometry for the Zn(2)O(2) core with two bridging pyridinium propoxy ion ligands. Trinuclear zinc complexes prepared from ethylene oxide adopt a boat geometry for the Zn(3)O(3) core, in which three zinc and three oxygen atoms are arranged in an alternate fashion. These zinc complexes bridged by pyridinium alkoxy ions were also isolated from the coupling reactions of CO(2) and epoxides performed in the presence of [L(2)ZnBr(2)]. Rapid CO(2) insertion into the zincbond;oxygen bond of the zinc complexes bridged by pyridinium alkoxy ions leads to the formation of zinc carbonate species; these which yield cyclic carbonates and zinc complexes bridged by pyridinium alkoxy ions upon interaction with epoxides. The mechanistic pathways for the formation of active species and cyclic carbonates are discussed on the basis of results from structural and spectroscopic analyses.     

Oxidation of Benzoins to Benzils with Chromium Trioxide Under Viscous Conditions

Reaction of chiral allylic cyclic carbonates with Grignards reagent in the presence of NiCl₂(dppe) as a catalyst afforded the alkylated (E)-allylic alcohols with high regio- and diastereoselectivity.     

Chemical Fixation of CO2 with Highly Efficient ZnCl/[BMIm]Br Catalyst System

The search for environmentally benign and economic process has been the impetus for much of the research involving epoxide and carbon dioxide coupling in view of the so called "green chemistry" and" atom economy ", since CO2 is a renewable resource and can be used as a safe and cheap C 1 building block to synthesize useful organic compounds without producing any coproducts.[1-2] One of the most attractive synthetic goals starting from carbon dioxide is the chemical fixation of CO2 onto epoxide to afford the five-membered cyclic carbonates (Scheme 1),which are excellent aprotic polar solvents and are used extensively as intermediates in the production of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals.[3] In the last decades of the twentieth century numerous catalytic systems have been developed for this transformation. While some advances have been obtained, all suffer from either low catalyst stability/reactivity, the need for co-solvent, or the requirement for high pressure and/or catalyst costing expensive.[4] Therefore, to find an effective,not exrensive, environmentally benign and economic catalyst system is urgent.In this paper, chemical fixation of CO2 with mono-substituted terminal epoxides or cyclohexene oxide to form cyclic carbonates under the ZnCl2/[BMIm]Br Catalyst System without using additional organic solvents was achieved in excellent selectivity (＞98%) and TOF(5410h-1) Besides,the pure cis-cyclic carbonate of cyclohexene oxide was obtained in this catalyst system.It was important to note that the catalyst could be recovered by simple vacuum distillation of the corresponding cyclic carbonates and could be used six times almost without losing its catalytic activity and selectivity. The catalyst system was found to be applicable to a variety of terminal epoxides and cyclohexene oxide, forming the corresponding cyclic carbonates in very high TOF and more than 98% selectivity. Based on the obtained results, we also propose the plausible mechanism for this chemical fixation reaction of CO2.     

Palladium-catalyzed divergent reactions of 1,6-enyne carbonates: synthesis of vinylidenepyridines and vinylidenepyrrolidines

A method for preparing five- or six-membered heterocyclic compounds from enyne carbonates via palladium catalysis was developed. Enyne carbonates were transformed into 3-vinylidene-1-tosylpyridines 2 in the presence of PdI(2) as the catalyst. Using Pd(dba)(2) as the catalyst, 3-vinylidene-1-tosylpyrrolidines 3 were obtained. Further functionalizations of compounds 3 were carried out in a one-pot manner.     

Pd(OAc)2/P(cC6H11)3-catalyzed allylation of aryl halides with homoallyl alcohols via retro-allylation

Allylations of aryl halides take place upon treatment of tertiary homoallyl alcohols with aryl halides in the presence of cesium carbonate and a palladium catalyst. The allylation reaction would consist of the following steps: (1) oxidative addition of aryl halide to palladium, (2) ligand exchange between the halide and the homoallyl alcohol affording aryl(homoallyloxy)palladium, (3) retro-allylation of the palladium alkoxide to generate sigma-allyl(aryl)palladium with concomitant liberation of the relevant ketone, and (4) productive reductive elimination. Since the retro-allylation step proceeds in a concerted fashion via a conformationally regulated six-membered cyclic transition state, the allylation reactions are highly regio- and stereospecific when homoallyl alcohols having a substituted allyl group are used. Whereas triarylphosphine is known to serve as a ligand for the palladium-catalyzed allyl transfer reactions, tricyclohexylphosphine proves to significantly expand the scopes of aryl halides to electron-rich aryl chlorides and of homoallyl alcohols to cyclic homoallyl alcohols. The new arylative ring-opening reactions of cyclic homoallyl alcohols allow for the synthesis of ketones having a branched or linear allylarene moiety at the remote terminus in regio- and stereospecific manners.     

Acetylene derivatives. Communication 177. Condensation of aromatic and aliphatic-aromatic ketones with acetylene under pressure. Part III.

Summary In presence of potassium hydroxide powder, aliphatic-aromatic and aromatic ketones of the aceto- and benzo-phenone types condense smoothly with acetylene at a pressure of 5–10 atm with formation of the corresponding tertiary acetylenic alcohols in yields of more than 90%. When the 2-aryl-3-butyn-2-ols so obtained are selectively hydrogenated over a palladium catalyst, 2-aryl-3-buten-2-ols are obtained in almost quantitative yield, and dehydration of these gives 2-aryl-1,3-butadienes, which are extremely reactive in polymerization (dimerization) reactions and in the diene condensation.     

Environmentally benign synthesis of β-hydroxy sulfides using cyclic carbonates catalyzed by large-pore zeolites

Abstract

An efficient one-pot synthesis of β-hydroxy sulfides from thiophenol and cyclic carbonates catalyzed by large-pore zeolites has been reported. Reaction of thiophenol with ethylene carbonate in the presence of the Na-X zeolite catalyst gave the highest yield of 2-(phenylthio)ethanol (100%), while reaction with propylene carbonate a highest yield of regioselective product 1-(phenylthio)propan-2-ol was obtained (97%). Enantiomerically pure 1,2-propylene carbonate gave highly regioselective and stereospecific phenylthiopropanol, demonstrating that original chirality of propylene carbonate is retained. A plausible mechanism has been proposed for zeolite-catalyzed transformation involving a chemoselective nucleophilic attack of thiophenoloxide ion onto the less-substituted carbon of cyclic carbonate. The Na-X zeolite catalyst is recyclable and provides advantages of green chemistry approach to the synthesis of β-hydroxy sulfides without the use of any solvent.     

Comparative kinetic studies of the copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and propylene oxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of chromium salen derivatives. In situ FTIR measurements of copolymer vs cyclic carbonate production

The catalysis of the reaction of carbon dioxide with epoxides (cyclohexene oxide or propylene oxide) using the (salen)Cr(III)Cl complex as catalyst, where H(2)salen = N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexenediimine (1), to provide copolymer and cyclic carbonate has been investigated by in situ infrared spectroscopy. As previously demonstrated for the cyclohexene oxide/CO(2) reaction in the presence of complex 1, coupling of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide was found to occur by way of a pathway first-order in catalyst concentration. Unlike the cyclohexene oxide/carbon dioxide reaction catalyzed by complex 1, which affords completely alternating copolymer and only small quantities of trans-cyclic cyclohexyl carbonate, under similar conditions propylene oxide/carbon dioxide produces mostly cyclic propylene carbonate. Comparative kinetic measurements were performed as a function of reaction temperature to assess the activation barrier for production of cyclic carbonates and polycarbonates for the two different classes of epoxides, i.e., alicyclic (cyclohexene oxide) and aliphatic (propylene oxide). As anticipated in both instances the unimolecular pathway for cyclic carbonate formation has a larger energy of activation than the bimolecular enchainment pathway. That is, the energies of activation determined for cyclic propylene carbonate and poly(propylene carbonate) formation were 100.5 and 67.6 kJ.mol(-1), respectively, compared to the corresponding values for cyclic cyclohexyl carbonate and poly(cyclohexylene carbonate) production of 133 and 46.9 kJ.mol(-1). The small energy difference in the two concurrent reactions for the propylene oxide/CO(2) process (33 kJ.mol(-1)) accounts for the large quantity of cyclic carbonate produced at elevated temperatures in this instance.     

Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of boryl-substituted allylsilanes via transition metal-catalyzed silaboration

Regio- and stereo-controlled synthesis of boryl-substituted allylsilanes via transition metal-catalyzed additions of silylboranes to unsaturated organic compounds is described. Nickel-catalyzed reactions of (dimethylphenylsilyl)pinacolborane with 1,3-dienes, vinylcyclopropanes, and vinylcyclobutanes yielded 4-, 5-, and 6-boryl-substituted allylsilanes, respectively. Palladium-catalyzed addition of the silylborane to allenes took place at the more substituted C=C bond to yield 2-borylallylsilane selectively. The 2-borylallylsilanes served as useful allylation reagents in Lewis acid-mediated reactions with acetals and aldehydes. In addition to the simple allylation reactions, a cascade reaction to form the trans-9-boryl-1,2-benzooxadecalin skeleton and a cyclization reaction to form cyclic alkenylboranes were achieved by the use of 2-borylallylsilanes as key reagents. Reactions of methylenecyclopropanes were catalyzed by palladium and platinum catalysts. The reaction course, however, depended upon the substrate structure and the catalyst employed. For instance, cycloalkylidenecyclopropanes yielded 2-cycloalkylidene-3-boryl-1-silylpropanes selectively in the presence of a palladium catalyst, while 3-cycloalkylidene-3-boryl-1-silylpropanes were obtained selectively in the corresponding platinum-catalyzed reactions.     

Highly selective palladium catalyzed kinetic resolution and enantioselective substitution of racemic allylic carbonates with sulfur nucleophiles: asymmetric synthesis of allylic sulfides,allylic sulfones,and allylic alcohols

We describe the highly selective palladium catalyzed kinetic resolutions of the racemic cyclic allylic carbonates rac-1 a-c and racemic acyclic allylic carbonates rac-3 aa and rac-3 ba through reaction with tert-butylsulfinate, tolylsulfinate, phenylsulfinate anions and 2-pyrimidinethiol by using N,N'-(1R,2R)-1,2-cyclohexanediylbis[2-(diphenylphosphino)-benzamide] (BPA) as ligand. Selectivities are expressed in yields and ee values of recovered substrate and product and in selectivity factors S. The reaction of the cyclohexenyl carbonate 1 a (>/=99 % ee) with 2-pyrimidinethiol in the presence of BPA was shown to exhibit, under the conditions used, an overall pseudo-zero order kinetics in regard to the allylic substrate. Also described are the highly selective palladium catalyzed asymmetric syntheses of the cyclic and acyclic allylic tert-butylsulfones 2 aa, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d and 4 a-c, respectively, and of the cyclic and acyclic allylic 2-pyrimidyl-, 2-pyridyl-, and 4-chlorophenylsulfides 5 aa, 5 b, 5 ab, 6 aa-ac, 6 ba and 6 bb, respectively, from the corresponding racemic carbonates and sulfinate anions and thiols, respectively, in the presence of BPA. Synthesis of the E-configured allylic sulfides 6 aa, 6 ab, 6 ac and 6 bb was accompanied by the formation of minor amounts of the corresponding Z isomers. The analogous synthesis of allylic tert-butylsulfides from allylic carbonates and tert-butylthiol by using BPA could not be achieved. Reaction of the cyclopentenyl esters rac-1 da and rac-1 db with 2-pyrimidinethiol gave the allylic sulfide 5 c having only a low ee value. Similar results were obtained in the case of the reaction of the cyclohexenyl carbonate rac-1 a and of the acyclic carbonates rac-3 aa and rac-3 ba with 2-pyridinethiol and lead to the formation of the sulfides 5 ab, 6 ab, and 6 bb, respectively. The low ee values may be ascribed to the operating of a "memory effect", that is, both enantiomers of the substrate give the substitution product with different enantioselectivities. However, in the reaction of the racemic carbonate rac-1 a as well as of the highly enriched enantiomers 1 a (>/=99 % ee) and ent-1 a (>/=99 % ee) with 2-pyrimidinethiol the ee values of the substrates and the substitution product remained constant until complete conversion. Similar results were obtained in the reaction of the cyclic carbonates rac-1 a, ent-1 a (>/=99 % ee) and ent-1 c (>/=99 % ee) with lithium tert-butylsulfinate. Thus, in the case of rac-1 a and 2-pyrimidinthiol and tert-butylsulfinate anion as nucleophiles the enantioselectivity of the substitution step is, under the conditions used, independent of the chirality of the substrate; this shows that no "memory effect" is operating in this case. Hydrolysis of the carbonates ent-1 a-c, ent-3 aa and ent-3 ba, which were obtained through kinetic resolution, afforded the enantiomerically highly enriched cyclic allylic alcohols 9 a-c (>/=99 % ee) and acyclic allylic alcohols 10 a (>/=99 % ee) and 10 b (99 % ee), respectively.