Synthesis,characterization, and reactivity of arylpalladium cyanoalkyl complexes: selection of catalysts for the alpha-arylation of nitriles

A new coupling process, the palladium-catalyzed alpha-arylation of nitriles, was developed by exploring the structure and reactivity of arylpalladium cyanoalkyl complexes. Complexes of 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene (DPPBz), 1,1'-bis(di-i-propylphosphino)ferrocene (D(i)()PrPF), racemic-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl (BINAP), and diphenylethylphosphine (PPh(2)Et) were prepared. Coordination to palladium through the alpha-carbon was observed for DPPBz-ligated complexes and for complexes of primary and benzylic nitrile anions. However, the anion of isobutyronitrile was coordinated to palladium through the cyano-nitrogen when the complex was ligated by D(i)()PrPF. The isobutyronitrile anion displaced a phosphine ligand to form a C,N-bridged dimer when generated from PPh(2)Et-ligated palladium. These results suggest that the nitrile anion preferentially coordinates to palladium through the carbon atom in the absence of steric effects. Thermolysis of the arylpalladium cyanoalkyl complexes led to reductive elimination that formed alpha-aryl nitriles. The high yields and short reaction times observed for BINAP-ligated complexes suggested that BINAP-ligated palladium catalysts might be appropriate for the arylation of nitriles. Initial results on a palladium-catalyzed process for the direct coupling of aryl bromides and primary, benzylic, and secondary nitrile anions to form alpha-aryl nitriles in good yields are reported.     

Reductive Cleavage of Te-Te Bond in Ditellurides by Sm / ZrCl4 System : a Novel Method for the Synthesis of β-Telluroesters (and Nitriles)

Diaryl ditellurides were conveniently reduced by a system consisting of samarium and zirconium tetrachloride in tetrahydrofuran to produce samarium aryltellurolates. This new tellurolate anion species reacted smoothly with α, β-unsaturated esters (and nitriles) to give β-telluroesters (and nitriles) in good yields.     

低价钛引起的芳基二硫醚与α,β-不饱和酯(腈)的反应

芳香族二硫醚在低价钛试剂作用下，S-S键还原断裂成芳硫负离子，再与α,β-不饱和酯(腈)发生Michael加成反应，得到β-硫代酸酯(腈)。     

Cu2O-Catalyzed Conversion of Benzyl Alcohols Into Aromatic Nitriles via the Complete Cleavage of the C≡N Triple Bond in the Cyanide Anion

Nitrogen transfer from cyanide anion to an aldehyde is emerging as a promising method for the synthesis of aromatic nitriles. However, this method still suffers from a disadvantage that a use of stoichiometric Cu(II) or Cu(I) salts is required to enable the reaction. As we report herein, we overcame this drawback and developed a catalytic method for nitrogen transfer from cyanide anion to an alcohol via the complete cleavage of the C≡N triple bond using phen/Cu₂O as the catalyst. The present condition allowed a series of benzyl alcohols to be smoothly converted into aromatic nitriles in moderate to high yields. In addition, the present method could be extended to the conversion of cinnamic alcohol to 3-phenylacrylonitrile.     

Ureidopeptide‐Based Brønsted Bases: Design,Synthesis and Application to the Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of β‐Amino Nitriles from (Arylsulfonyl)acetonitriles

The addition of cyanoalkyl moieties to imines is a very attractive method for the preparation of β‐amino nitriles. We present a highly efficient organocatalytic methodology for the stereoselective synthesis of β‐amino nitriles, in which the key to success is the use of ureidopeptide‐based Brønsted base catalysts in combination with (arylsulfonyl)acetonitriles as synthetic equivalents of the acetonitrile anion. The method gives access to a variety of β‐amino nitriles with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities, and broadens the stereoselective Mannich‐type methodologies available for their synthesis.     

Metalated nitriles: cation-controlled cyclizations

Judicious choice of cation allows the selective cyclization of substituted gamma-hydroxynitriles to trans- or cis-decalins and trans- or cis-bicyclo[5.4.0]undecanes. The stereoselectivities are consistent with deprotonations generating two distinctly different metalated nitriles: an internally coordinated nitrile anion with BuLi, and a C-magnesiated nitrile with i-PrMgCl. Employing cations to control the geometry of metalated nitriles permits stereodivergent cyclizations with complete control over the stereochemistry of the quaternary, nitrile-bearing carbon.     

Copper-catalyzed cyanation of arenes using benzyl nitrile as a cyanide anion surrogate

The copper-catalyzed cyanation of arenes using benzyl nitrile as a cyanide anion surrogate furnishes aromatic nitriles in moderate to good yields. The cascade process involves a copper-catalyzed aerobic C-H oxidation, a retro-cyanohydrination, and a copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative C-H functionalization.     

Reductive C−C Coupling from α,β‐Unsaturated Nitriles by Intercepting Keteniminates

We present an atom‐economic strategy to catalytically generate and intercept nitrile anion equivalents using hydrogen transfer catalysis. Addition of α,β‐unsaturated nitriles to a pincer‐based Ru?H complex affords structurally characterized κ‐N‐coordinated keteniminates by selective 1,4‐hydride transfer. When generated in situ under catalytic hydrogenation conditions, electrophilic addition to the keteniminate was achieved using anhydrides to provide α‐cyanoacetates in high yields. This work represents a new application of hydrogen transfer catalysis using α,β‐unsaturated nitriles for reductive C?C coupling reactions.     

A niobaziridine hydride system for white phosphorus or dinitrogen activation and N- or P-atom transfer

This short review describes a breakthrough embodied by the synthesis of a niobaziridine hydride complex. This reactive entity reacts directly with white phosphorus to provide a bridging diphosphorus diniobium complex that upon reduction splits to afford a terminal niobium phosphide anion, isolated as its sodium salt. Reactions of the latter with acid chlorides constitute a new synthesis of phosphaalkynes, while treatment with chlorodiorganophosphanes leads to complexed 1,1-diorganophosphanylphosphinidene systems. Additionally, reactions of the sodium salt of the niobium phosphide anion with divalent main group element salts (E = Ge, Sn, or Pb) provide complexed triatomic EP2 triangles. Dinitrogen cleavage was realized via reduction of a heterodinuclear niobium/molybdenum dinitrogen complex, and this provided an entry to a nitrogen-15 labeled terminal nitride anion of niobium as its sodium salt. In a fashion analogous to the aforementioned phosphaalkyne synthesis, acid chlorides are transformed upon reaction with the niobium nitride anion into corresponding nitrogen-15 labeled organic nitriles. Complete synthetic cycles are achieved in both the phosphaalkyne and the organic nitrile syntheses, as the oxoniobium(v) byproduct can be recycled in high yield to the title niobaziridine hydride complex.     

Samarium diiodide induced reductive cleavage of the Te–Si bond in phenyltellurotrimethylsilane: A novel method for the synthesis of alkylphenyl tellurides,telluroesters, and β‐phenyltelluro esters (nitriles)

Phentyltellurotrimethylsilane (1) was reduced by samarium diiodide in tetrahydrofuran (THF) to produce samarium phenyltellurolate. This new tellurolate anion reacted smoothly with alkyl and benzyl halides to give alkyl and benzyl‐phenyl tellurides in good yields under mild and neutral conditions. The samarium tellurolate also reacted with acyl halides or anhydrides to give telluroesters, and the 1,4‐addition of samarium tellurolate to α, β‐unsaturated esters (nitriles) gave β‐phenyltelluro esters (nitriles). © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 10: 471–474, 1999     

A SURVEY OF CHEMILUMINESCENCE IN BASE-CATALYZED AUTOXIDATION REACTIONS

Abstract— Relatively bright chemiluminescence has been observed in autoxidation reactions in basic, aprotic, ionizing media for selected acyloins, vinyl carbonyls, vinyl nitriles and polynuclear aromatic compounds. The indoles approach the brightness of the most efficient chemiluminescent compounds. The intensity of acyloin emission correlates qualitatively with the resonance stabilization of the intermediate radical anion. It is suggested that Chandross' oxidative excitation mechanism may be applicable to the acyloins and hydrocarbons.     

Metalated nitriles: stereodivergent cation-controlled cyclizations

Stereodivergent cyclizations of γ-hydroxy cyclohexanecarbonitriles are controlled simply through judicious choice of cation in the alkylmetal base. Deprotonating a series of cyclic γ-hydroxy nitriles with i-PrMgBr generates C-magnesiated nitriles that cyclize under stereoelectronic control to cis-fused hydrindanes, decalins, and bicyclo[5.4.0]undecanes. An analogous deprotonation with BuLi triggers cyclization to trans-fused hydrindanes, decalins, and bicyclo[5.4.0]undecanes consistent with a sterically controlled electrophilic attack on an equatorial nitrile anion. Using cations to control the geometry of metalated nitriles provides a versatile, stereodivergent cyclization to cis- and trans-hydrindanes, decalins, and [5.4.0]undecanes, and reveals the key geometric requirements for intramolecular S_N2 and S_N2′ displacements.     

Generation and reactions of anionic σ-adducts of 1,3-dinitrobenzene and 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene with carbanions in a gas phase,using an electrospray ion source as the chemical reactor

Di- and trinitrophenide anions generated by decarboxylation of the anions of 2,4-, 3,5-, and 2,6-dinitrobenzoic acids and 1,3,5-trinitrobenzoic acid in the medium-pressure region of an electrospray ion source react locally with various C-H acids delivered in the form of vapors mixed with the curtain gas, yielding anionic sigma-adducts. Positive results were obtained for aliphatic aldehydes, ketones, esters and nitriles. All three dinitrobenzoic acids bearing NO(2) groups in the meta position to each other gave the same sigma-adducts which can be rationalized by a reaction sequence including proton transfer from the C-H acid to the nitrophenide anion and subsequent formation of the sigma-adduct by the reaction of 1,3-dinitrobenzene with the carbanion within the ion-molecule complex. It was found that such a reaction is possible only for C-H acids with a gas-phase acidity lying within a narrow, strictly defined range whose location on the acidity scale depends on the acidity of the nitroarene. The sigma-adduct formed in the reaction of the 2,4-dinitrophenide anion with CH(2)Cl(2) undergoes rapid HCl elimination yielding an anion with the same composition as that produced by the Vicarious Nucleophilic Substitution of hydrogen reaction but with a different structure.     

Reductive Cleavage of S-S Bond by Samarium Diiodide: Synthesis of β-Thioesters and β-Thionitriles

Theuseofsamariumdiiodideasastrongone-electrontransferreducingandcouplingreagentinorganicsynthesishasgainedincreasingpopularity,especiallyinthepasttenyears1OurpreviousworkonsomedeoxygenationandsomereductivecleavageofSe-SeorTe-TebondwithSmI2wasrepel'te...     

gamma-hydroxy unsaturated nitriles: chelation-controlled conjugate additions

[reaction--see text] Chelation between gamma-hydroxy unsaturated nitriles and Grignard reagents promotes an otherwise difficult anionic conjugate addition reaction. The intermediate chelate is readily generated by deprotonation with t-BuMgCl followed by the addition of a second Grignard reagent that triggers an intramolecular conjugate addition. Structurally diverse Grignard reagents add with equal efficiency, providing an intermediate anion that stereoselectively alkylates BnBr in an overall addition-alkylation reaction.     

Recent advances for the photoinduced C-C bond cleavage of cycloketone oximes

Nitriles are widely existed in many bioactive compounds, and they can be easily transformed into other functional groups. Therefore, the synthesis of nitriles under cyanide-free conditions is of significant importance. Recent advances for the synthesis of nitriles through photoinduced C-C bond cleavage of cycloketone oximes classified by the type of C-X bond forming are summarized. Various compounds possessing nitriles can be efficiently accessed via this method.     

Preparation of imidazolines from aziridines and nitriles via TfOH promoted Ritter process

An efficient preparation of imidazolines from nitriles and aziridines in the presence of TfOH via Ritter reaction is described. It indicates that different kinds of nitriles can undergo the process. Among the nitriles, pivalonitrile is proven to be better than acetonitrile. The reaction is performed at room temperature and the yields are excellent.     

Palladium catalyzed addition of arylboronic acid or indole to nitriles: synthesis of aryl ketones

Aryl ketones can be synthesized conveniently by a palladium catalyzed addition of arylboronic acid to nitriles in aqueous triflic acid. This catalytic system was extended to the addition of unprotected indoles to nitriles under a slightly modified condition to produce 3-acyl indoles in good yields.     

Practical synthesis of a highly functionalized thiazole ketone

Compound 1 is a uniquely substituted ketone prepared via addition of a thiazole anion to an aromatic nitrile in good overall yield. An exploration into the generality of the addition of thiazole anions to nitriles allowed us to make a variety of thiazole ketones in good to excellent yields. The non-odorous thiolate-mediated demethylation reaction used in the synthesis of 1 is also presented.     

Formal [3 + 2] cycloadditions of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes and nitriles

Donor-acceptor cyclopropanes activated with Me3SiOTf cleave to reactive intermediates that can be efficiently intercepted by nitriles in a formal [3 + 2] dipolar cycloaddition reaction. Aliphatic, aromatic, and alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles are excellent reaction partners, giving synthetically useful 2H-3,4-dihydropyrrole cycloaddition products in high yield.