Chromate oxidation of alpha-nitro alcohols to alpha-nitro ketones: significant improvements to a classic method

A series of eight alkyl and aryl alpha-nitro ketones were prepared by the potassium dichromate oxidation of the corresponding nitro alcohols. Short reaction times allowed for the easy isolation of pure nitro ketones that are devoid of starting materials and/or other oxidation side products.     

TiCl4-mediated reduction of 1,3-diketones with BH3-pyridine complex: a highly diastereoselective method for the synthesis of syn-1,3-Diols

[reaction: see text] 1,3-Diketones can be reduced in high yields and with excellent diastereoselectivity to the corresponding syn-1,3-diols by carrying out the reaction with BH3-pyridine complex in CH2Cl2 at -78 degrees C in the presence of an equivalent of TiCl4 and 0.1 equiv of pyridine. This protocol shows a general character: excellent results are obtained when the groups bound to the carbonylic functions are linear or branched carbon chains and aromatic or benzylic frameworks as well.     

Role of NaBH(4) stabilizer in the oxazaborolidine-catalyzed asymmetric reduction of ketones with BH(3-)THF

When stabilized BH(3-)THF (BTHF) was added to a mixture of ketone and tetrahydro-1-methyl-3,3-diphenyl-1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c][1,3,2]oxazaborole (MeCBS-ozaxaborolidine, MeCBS) catalyst 1, low enantioselectivities resulted. Several relative rate experiments showed that a borohydride species in BTHF catalyzed the nonselective borane reduction of ketones, effectively competing with enantioselective MeCBS reduction of ketones, lowering the overall selectivity of the reaction. Improved enantioselectivities in the reaction are obtained by reversing the mode of addition (ketone to BTHF and catalyst), lowering the concentration of NaBH(4) stabilizer in the BTHF solution (87-95% ee) and increasing the concentration or addition rate of BTHF. Decreased reaction temperature and increased catalyst loading only slightly improved the selectivity of the reaction. Upon reaction parameter optimization, simultaneous addition of substrate and BTHF to MeCBS catalyst stabilizer resulted in the highest overall enantioselectivities (96% ee) and diminished the effect of the borohydride. Alternatively, the addition of Lewis acids such as BF(3-)THF to the reaction mixture effectively destroyed the NaBH(4) stabilizer in BTHF solutions, restoring the enantioselectivity to acceptable levels.     

Highly stereoselective TiCl4-mediated aldol reactions from (S)-2-benzyloxy-3-pentanone

Stereoselectivity of TiCl4-mediated aldol reactions from (S)-2-benzyloxy-3-pentanone is dramatically improved when the reaction is carried out in the presence of 1.1 equiv of tetrahydrofuran (THF) or 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME). The resultant 2,4-syn-4,5-syn adducts are then obtained in diastereomeric ratios up to 97:3, which proves that the appropriate choice of the Lewis acid (TiCl4-THF or DME vs Ti(i-PrO)Cl3) engaged in the process permits access to both syn-aldol adducts.     

Phosphaniminato-Komplexe von Titan(IV). Die Kristallstrukturen von [TiCl3(NPEt3)]2, [TiCl3(NPEt3)(THF)2] und [TiCl4{Me2Si(NPEt3)2}]

Phosphoraneiminato Complexes of Titanium(IV). Crystal Structures of [TiCl₃(NPEt₃)]₂, [TiCl₃(NPEt₃)(THF)₂], and [TiCl₄{Me₂Si(NPEt₃)₂}] [TiCl₃(NPEt₃)]₂ ( 1 ) is formed from titanium(IV) chloride and the silylated phosphaneimine Me₃SiNPEt₃ in dichloromethane as reddish-brown, moisture-sensitive crystals. According to the crystal structure analysis these crystals show centrosymmetric Ti₂N₂ four-membered rings with Ti–N distances of 184.7 and 210.3 pm. With tetrahydrofurane 1 forms yellow, moisture sensitive crystals of the solvate [TiCl₃(NPEt₃)(THF)₂] ( 2 ), in which the titanium atom is octahedrally coordinated. The THF molecule which is in trans position to the phosporaneiminato ligand realizes but a very weak Ti–O bond of 238.0 pm, the cis THF molecule shows a Ti–O distance of 213.7 pm. With 173.4 pm along with a TiNP bond angle of 160.0° the TiN distance is very short. The bis(phosphaneimine) complex [TiCl₄{Me₂Si(NPEt₃)₂}] ( 3 ) is formed as colourless crystals in low yield in the reaction of titanium(IV) chloride with Me₃SiNPEt₃ and trimethylcyclopentadienylsilane. In 3 the titanium atom is surrounded by four chlorine atoms in a distorted octahedral fashion and by the two N atoms of the Me₂Si(NPEt₃)₂ molecule with TiN distances of 205.6 pm.     

Synthese und Kristallstruktur von SMe3 ⊕[MoBr4(SMe2)2]−

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of SMe₃^⊕ [MoBr₄(SMe₂)₂]^? . The title compound is obtained from MoBr₄ and excess dimethyl sulfide, forming red crystals which are only slightly sensitive to moisture. Whereas the intermediately formed adduct of MoBr₄ and SMe₂ is unstable, the stable adduct [Mo(NO)₂Br₂(SMe₂)₂] can be prepared from Mo(NO)₂Br₂ and SMe₂. According to the structural analysis by X-ray methods, SMe₃ ^⊕[MoBr₄(SMe₂)₂]^? crystallizes orthorhombic in the space group Imma with eight formula units per unit cell, the cell dimensions being a = 1578, b = 2820, c = 856 pm (1303 observed, independent reflexions). The compound consists of S(CH₃)₃^⊕ cations with S? C bond lengths of 180 pm and C? S? C bond angles of 102° and 103° resp., and anions [MoBr₄(SMe₂)₂]^?. The molybdenum atom is coordinated octahedral by four bromine atoms in equatorial positions and the two S atomes of the SMe₂ donor molecules in axial sites with Mo? S bond lengths of 254 pm.     

Highly diastereoselective Prins-type cyclisation of cyclopropylvinylic aldehydes mediated by TiCl4

A novel intramolecular Prins type cyclisation of cyclopropylvinylic aldehydes promoted by TiCl(4) under mild reaction conditions to form cis-cyclic products in high yields has been accomplished.     

Oxazaborolidine-catalyzed enantioselective reduction of alpha-methylene ketones to allylic alcohols

Oxazaborolidine-catalyzed enantioselective reduction of alpha-methylene ketones was efficiently carried out by using borane-diethylaniline as a stoichiometric reducing agent. The combination of this method and subsequent hydrogenation of thus-formed allylic alcohol improved stereoselectivity in the reduction of 24-oxocholesteryl ester to 24-(R)-hydroxycholesteryl ester.     

Titanium(II) and titanium(III) tetrahydroborates. Crystal structures of [Li(Et2O)2][Ti2(BH4)5(PMe2Ph)4], Ti(BH4)3(PMe2Ph)2, and Ti(BH4)3(PEt3)2

The molecular structures of the titanium(III) borohydride complexes Ti(BH4)3(PEt3)2 and Ti(BH4)3(PMe2Ph)2 have been determined. If the BH4 groups are considered to occupy one coordination site, both complexes adopt distorted trigonal bipyramidal structures with the phosphines in the axial sites; the P-Ti-P angles deviate significantly from linearity and are near 156 degrees. In both compounds, two of the three BH4 groups are bidentate and one is tridentate. The deduced structures differ from the one previously described for the PMe3 analogue Ti(BH4)3(PMe3)2, in which two of the tetrahydroborate groups were thought to be bound to the metal in an unusual "side-on" (eta(2)-B,H) fashion. Because the PMe3, PEt3, and PMe2Ph complexes have nearly identical IR spectra, they most likely have similar structures. The current evidence strongly suggests that the earlier crystal structure of Ti(BH4)3(PMe3)2 was incorrectly interpreted and that these complexes all adopt structures in which two of the BH4 groups are bidentate and one is tridentate. The synthesis of the titanium(III) complex Ti(BH4)3(PMe2Ph)2 affords small amounts of a second product: the titanium(II) complex [Li(Et2O)2][Ti2(BH4)5(PMe2Ph)4]. The [Ti2(BH4)5(PMe2Ph)4]- anion consists of two Ti(eta(2)-BH4)2(PMe2Ph)2 centers linked by a bridging eta(2),eta(2)-BH4 group that forms a Ti...(mu-B)...Ti angle of 169.9(3) degrees. Unlike the distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometries seen for the titanium(III) complexes, the metal centers in this titanium(II) species each adopt nearly ideal tbp geometries with P-Ti-P angles of 172-176 degrees. All three BH4 groups around each Ti atom are bidentate. One of the BH4 groups on each Ti center bridges between Ti and an ether-coordinated Li cation, again in an eta(2),eta(2) fashion. The relationships between the electronic structures and the molecular structures of all these titanium complexes are briefly discussed.     

Sm(i-PrO)3/4A分子筛催化下醛、酮的Meerwein-ponndorf-Verley型还原反应

Sm(i-Pro)3(2%)/4A分子筛能够有效地催化各类醛、酮的Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley型还原反应, 反应转化率优良。     

Mechanism for the reduction of ketones to the corresponding alcohols using supercritical 2-propanol

The mechanism for the reduction of ketones into the corresponding alcohols using supercritical 2-propanol under non-catalytic conditions was investigated. The studies of the kinetic-isotope effect and isotopic-labeling for the reduction of benzophenone and acetophenone were carried out using (CH₃)₂CD(OH), (CH₃)₂CH(OD), (CD₃)₂CH(OH), and (CD₃)₂CD(OD). It was clarified that the α- and hydroxyl hydrogens on 2-propanol, respectively, transfer to the carbonyl C and O in the rate-determining step. These isotope studies also suggested that this reaction proceeds via a six-membered cyclic transition state analogous to that of the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction. The fact that Hammett's reaction constant for this reaction was low, i.e., ρ=0.33, and that the reduction of the prochiral ketones using optically active alcohols at supercritical or high temperature provided optically active products also supported the existence of a six-membered cyclic transition state.     

Unique synthetic utility of BF(3).OEt(2) in the highly diastereoselective reduction of hydroxy carbonyl and dicarbonyl substrates

A new aspect of commonly used BF(3).OEt(2) has been illuminated by successfully demonstrating the unique but highly stereoselective reactions of hydroxy carbonyl and dicarbonyl substrates. For example, treatment of gamma-hydroxy ketone 1c with BF(3).OEt(2)/Bu(3)SnH in CH(2)Cl(2) at -78 to -40 degrees C afforded the corresponding 1, 4-diol 2c with virtually complete diastereoselection, while use of TiCl(4) as a Lewis acid under similar reaction conditions caused a total lack of diol yield and selectivity (17%; 2c/3c = 1.2:1), accompanied by a significant formation of 2,3-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran 4 (44%).     

Synthesis and crystal structure of Li4BH4(NH2)3

The solid solution, (LiNH2)x(LiBH4)(1-x), formed through the reaction of the two potential hydrogen storage materials, LiNH2 and LiBH4, is dominated by a compound that has an ideal stoichiometry of Li4BN3H10 and forms a body-centred cubic structure with a lattice constant of ca. 10.66 A.     

Reaction of a ruthenium B-carboranyl hydride complex and BH3(SMe2): Selective formation of a pincer-supported metallaborane LRu(B3H8)

Reaction of a boryl hydride pincer complex (POBOP)Ru(H)(PPh₃) (POBOP?=?1,7-OP(i-Pr)₂-m-2-carboranyl) and BH₃(SMe₂) at 70?°C led to the selective formation of a pincer-supported metallaborane (POBOP)Ru(B₃H₈). Single crystal structure of (POBOP)Ru(B₃H₈) was determined. This complex features coordination of the carborane cluster through adjacent boryl and borane groups that impose significantly different trans-influence on the coordinated B₃H₈ fragment.     

Intramolecular vs. intermolecular induction in the diastereoselective catalytic reduction of enantiomerically pure ketones with borane in the presence of cyclic β-amino alcohols

Asymmetric reduction of various enantiomerically pure ketones was carried out by using oxazaborolidine catalysts with a variety of achiral and chiral ligands. The efficiency of chiral 1,2-amino alcohols as well as the effect of the stereogenic centers in the substrate on the catalytic asymmetric reduction were studied. It was found that the corresponding secondary alcohols were obtained with extremely high stereoselectivities with the proper choice of chiral ligands although a considerably large double asymmetric induction was observed in some cases.     

Lithium nitride reduction of Cp2TiCl2 and CpTiCl3: The synthesis of (Cp2TiCl2), Cp2TiCl2)n,Cp2Ti(CO)2 and chlorotetratitanium and nitridohexatitanium complexes

Stoichiometric reactions of Cp₂TiCl₂ or CpTiCl₃ with Li₃N in various molar ratios result in reduction to (Cp₂TiCl)₂, (CpTiCl₂)_n and (CpTiCl)₄ and provide useful synthetic routes. Further reduction produces hexanuclear nitrido titanium clusters, Cp₈Ti₆N and Cp₈Ti₆N₃, characterised from mass spectral evidence. The nitrido clusters react with HCl to form (Cp₂TiCl)₂ and Cp₂TiCl₂. (Cp₂TiCl₂ is also obtained by reaction with Me₃SiCl. Cp₂Ti(CO)₂ is formed by the reaction between Cp₂TiCl₂ and Li₃ N in THF in the presence of CO.     

The structure and dynamics of FeH(DMPE)2(BH4), FeH(DEPE)2(BH4) and FeH(DPrPE)2(BH4): Iron complexes containing monodentate borohydride ligands

FeH(DMPE)₂(BH₄) [DMPE = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane] is a stable, diamagnetic complex which can be synthesized readily by borohydride reduction of FeH(DMPE)₂Cl or by treatment of Fe(DMPE)₂H₂ with borane. The complex contains an unsupported B? H? Fe hydrogen bridge. Analogous complexes with bulkier ligands, FeH(DEPE)₂(BH₄), [DEPE = 1,2-bis(diethylphosphino)ethane] and FeH(DPrPE)₂(BH₄) [DPrPE = 1,2-bis(di-n-propylphosphino)ethane], are less stable. In all complexes, in solution the borohydride ligand undergoes rapid internal motion, with all four boron-bound hydrogens interchanging environments. The barriers for BH₄ reorientation (measured by NMR spectroscopy) are in the sequence FeH(DMPE)₂(BH)₄ > FeH(DEPE)₂(BH)₄ > FeH(DPrPE)₂(BH₄).     

Asymmetric synthesis by chiral cobalt catalysts: Homogeneous reduction of ketones to optically active alcohols

The hydrogenation of ketones with Co₂(CO)₆(PR₃)₂ (PR₃ = PPh₂-neomenthyl, PPh₂ -6-deoxo-1,2:3,4-diisopropylidene d-galactose and PMe₂ -menthyl) as catalysts gives optically active alcohols in optical yields of 1.6 to 5%.     

Exploring Ternary and Quaternary Mixtures in the LiBH4-NaBH4-KBH4-Mg(BH4)2-Ca(BH4)2 System

Binary combinations of borohydrides have been extensivly investigated evidencing the formation of eutectics, bimetallic compounds or solid solutions. In this paper, the investigation has been extended to ternary and quaternary systems in the LiBH₄-NaBH₄-KBH₄-Mg(BH₄)₂-Ca(BH₄)₂ system. Possible interactions among borohydrides in equimolar composition has been explored by mechanochemical treatment. The obtained phases were analysed by X-ray diffraction and the thermal behaviour of the mixtures were analysed by HP-DSC and DTA, defining temperature of transitions and decomposition reactions. The release of hydrogen was detected by MS, showing the role of the presence of solid solutions and multi-cation compounds on the hydrogen desorption reactions. The presence of LiBH₄ generally promotes the release of H₂ at about 200 °C, while KCa(BH₄)₃ promotes the release in a single-step reaction at higher temperatures.