Efficient and highly aldehyde selective Wacker oxidation

A method for efficient and aldehyde-selective Wacker oxidation of aryl-substituted olefins using PdCl(2)(MeCN)(2), 1,4-benzoquinone, and t-BuOH in air is described. Up to a 96% yield of aldehyde can be obtained, and up to 99% selectivity can be achieved with styrene-related substrates.     

Pd(0)/C catalyzed efficient Wacker oxidation of functionalized terminal olefins

Wacker oxidation of terminal olefins was carried out at room temperature and atmospheric pressure by using Pd(0)/C in THF/H₂O (9:1). Palladium(0)/C was proven to be highly efficient catalyst for the Wacker oxidation of terminal olefins to the corresponding methyl ketones. The catalyst was reusable while maintaining its activity and selectivity to a high degree.     

Aldehyde-selective Wacker oxidation in a thiyl-mediated vinyl group transfer route to daunosamine

[reaction: see text] Asymmetric dihydroxylation, thiyl radical mediated transfer of a silicon-tethered vinyl group to a hydrazone and an unconventional aldehyde-selective Wacker oxidation are sequenced for an efficient synthesis of methyl N-trifluoroacetyl-L-daunosaminide in 32% overall yield from crotonaldehyde.     

Ultrahigh Loading Copper Single Atom Catalyst for Palladium-free Wacker Oxidation

Wacker oxidation is an industry-adopted process to transform olefins into value-added epoxides and carbonyls. However, traditional Wacker oxidation involves the use of homogeneous palladium and copper catalysts for the olefin addition and reductive elimination. Here, we demonstrated an ultrahigh loading Cu single atom catalyst(14% Cu, mass fraction) for the palladium-free Wacker oxidation of 4-vinylanisole into the corresponding ketone with N-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride as an additive under mild conditions. Mechanistic studies by ¹⁸O and deuterium isotope labelling revealed a hydrogen shift mechanism in this palladium-free process using N-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride as the oxygen source. The reaction scope can be further extended to Kucherov oxidation. Our study paves the way to replace noble metal catalysts in the traditional homogeneous processes with single atom catalysts.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)‐Blennolide A

Blennolide A can be synthesized through an enantioselective domino‐Wacker/carbonylation/methoxylation reaction of 7 a with 96 % ee and an enantioselective Wacker oxidation of 7 b with 89 % ee. Further transformations led to the α,β‐unsaturated ester (E)‐ 17 , which was subjected to a highly selective Michael addition, introducing a methyl group to give 18 a . After a threefold oxidation and an intramolecular acylation, the tetrahydroxanthenone 4 was obtained, which could be transformed into (?)‐blennolide A (ent‐ 1 ) in a few steps.     

Two-phase wacker oxidation of alkenes catalyzed by water-soluble macromolecular complexes of palladium

New water-soluble macromolecular palladium complexes with phase transfer ability were used for two-phase Wacker oxidation of higher alkenes. Macromolecular metal complexes have been prepared employing as ligands monobutyl ether of polyethylene oxide and copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide functionalized by β,β'-iminodipropionitrile and acetodinitrile. Macromolecular metal complexes exhibited high activity and selectivity as catalysts for Wacker oxidation of different alkenes: octene-1, dodecene-1, hexadecene-1, styrene, propenylbenzene, cyclooctadiene-1,5. The complexes based on β,β'-iminodipropionitrile ligands showed the highest activity. All catalysts can be easily separated from product and used repeatedly without decrease of activity.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)‐Diversonol

For the synthesis of (?)‐diversonol (ent‐ 1 ), an enantioselective domino‐Wacker/carbonylation/methoxylation reaction and an enantioselective Wacker oxidation were used to give the chroman in high yield and 96 % and 93 % ee, respectively. Dihydroxylation at the vinyl moiety using the Sharpless procedure and a Wittig–Horner reaction followed by hydrogenation, benzylic oxidation, and an intramolecular acylation provided the tetrahydroxanthenone, from which ent‐ 1 is accessible in a few steps. Furthermore, the synthesis of the diastereomeric diversonol rac‐1,9 a‐epi‐diversonol (rac‐ 41 ) is also described.     

Polyethylene glycol as a non-ionic liquid solvent for polyoxometalate catalyzed aerobic oxidation

The H5PV2Mo10O40 polyoxometalate in a polyethylene glycol solvent was effective for a series of aerobic oxidation reactions including oxydehydrogenation of alcohols and cyclic dienes, oxidation of sulfides and the Wacker reaction; the solvent-catalyst phase can be recovered and recycled.     

Wacker‐Type Oxidation Using an Iron Catalyst and Ambient Air: Application to Late‐Stage Oxidation of Complex Molecules

A practical and general iron‐catalyzed Wacker‐type oxidation of olefins to ketones is presented, and it uses ambient air as the sole oxidant. The mild oxidation conditions enable exceptional functional‐group tolerance, which has not been demonstrated for any other Wacker‐type reaction to date. The inexpensive and nontoxic reagents [iron(II) chloride, polymethylhydrosiloxane, and air] can, therefore, also be employed to oxidize complex natural‐product‐derived and polyfunctionalized molecules.     

Heteroatom-directed Wacker oxidations. A protection-free synthesis of (-)-heliophenanthrone

The first enantioselective six-step synthesis of (-)-heliophenanthrone has been achieved without any protection-deprotection protocol at an overall yield of 28%. Key features of this synthesis comprise a heteroatom-directed Wacker oxidation of an internal cyclic olefin in addition to asymmetric Brown allylation and ring closing metathesis (RCM).     

Synthesis of tetrahedral diarylheptanoid ent-diospongin A and epimer-diospongin B by employing Julia–Kocienski olefination

Total synthesis of ent-diospongin A and epimer-diospongin B has been accomplished in good yield with high optical purity. The key steps of diospongin synthesis involve Julia–Kocienski olefination, Weinreb amide formation, Grignard reaction, reduction, acetonide deprotection, Lewis acid catalyzed cyclization, and Wacker oxidation.     

Active control of catalysis and product selectivity by a fuel cell system

A new concept to control catalysis and catalytic reaction through partial oxidation of alkenes with O₂ is described. Oxidation of alkenes was studied by alkene/Pd-anode/H₃PO₄-electrolyte/cathode/O₂ fuel cell (FC). An idea based on electrocatalysis and electrochemical reactions to control reaction rates and product selectivity was proposed and proven through the oxidation of propylene, Wacker and π-allyl oxidation. The oxidation rate and the product selectivity to the Wacker and the π-allyl oxidations could be controlled by changing electrode potentials. We could active control oxidation states of Pd on the anode, Pd(II) or Pd(0), during the oxidation from outer circuit. The oxidation states of Pd on the anode decided the product selectivity.     

Rapid Access to β‐Trifluoromethyl‐Substituted Ketones: Harnessing Inductive Effects in Wacker‐Type Oxidations of Internal Alkenes

We present a practical trifluoromethyl‐directed Wacker‐type oxidation of internal alkenes that enables rapid access to β‐trifluoromethyl‐substituted ketones. Allylic trifluoromethyl‐substituted alkenes bearing a wide range of functional groups can be oxidized in high yield and regioselectivity. The distance dependence of the regioselectivity was established by systematic variation of the number of methylene units between the double bond and the trifluoromethyl group. The regioselectivity enforced by traditional directing groups could even be reversed by introduction of a competing trifluoromethyl group. Besides being a new powerful synthetic method to prepare fluorinated molecules, this work directly probes the role of inductive effects on nucleopalladation events.     

Active control of catalysis and product selectivity by a fuel cell system

A new concept to control catalysis and catalytic reaction through partial oxidation of alkenes with O₂ is described. Oxidation of alkenes was studied by alkene/Pd-anode/H₃PO₄-electrolyte/cathode/O₂ fuel cell (FC). An idea based on electrocatalysis and electrochemical reactions to control reaction rates and product selectivity was proposed and proven through the oxidation of propylene, Wacker and π-allyl oxidation. The oxidation rate and the product selectivity to the Wacker and the π-allyl oxidations could be controlled by changing electrode potentials. We could active control oxidation states of Pd on the anode, Pd(II) or Pd(0), during the oxidation from outer circuit. The oxidation states of Pd on the anode decided the product selectivity.     

Direct Access to β‐Fluorinated Aldehydes by Nitrite‐Modified Wacker Oxidation

An aldehyde‐selective Wacker‐type oxidation of allylic fluorides proceeds with a nitrite catalyst. The method represents a direct route to prepare β‐fluorinated aldehydes. Allylic fluorides bearing a variety of functional groups are transformed in high yield and very high regioselectivity. Additionally, the unpurified aldehyde products serve as versatile intermediates, thus enabling access to a diverse array of fluorinated building blocks. Preliminary mechanistic investigations suggest that inductive effects have a strong influence on the rate and regioselectivity of the oxidation.     

Cooperative Catalysis of Noncompatible Catalysts through Compartmentalization: Wacker Oxidation and Enzymatic Reduction in a One‐Pot Process in Aqueous Media

A Wacker oxidation using CuCl/PdCl₂ as a catalyst system was successfully combined with an enzymatic ketone reduction to convert styrene enantioselectively into 1‐phenylethanol in a one‐pot process, although the two reactions conducted in aqueous media are not compatible due to enzyme deactivation by Cu ions. The one‐pot feasibility was achieved via compartmentalization of the reactions. Conducting the Wacker oxidation in the interior of a polydimethylsiloxane thimble enables diffusion of only the organic substrate and product into the exterior where the biotransformation takes place. Thus, the Cu ions detrimental to the enzyme are withheld from the reaction media of the biotransformation. In this one‐pot process, which formally corresponds to an asymmetric hydration of alkenes, a range of 1‐arylethanols were formed with high conversions and 98–99 % ee. In addition, the catalyst system of the Wacker oxidation was recycled 15 times without significant decrease in conversion.     

The role of iron(II) phthalocyanine as a catalyst in Wacker oxidation of 1-decene

The Wacker oxidation of 1-decene to 2-decanone by dioxygen catalyzed by Pd(OAc)₂, hydroquinone and iron(II) phthalocyanine (FePc) in acidic aqueous dimethylformamide gives high yield m 40 min at room temperature. The major factors controlling the activity of the multi-component catalyst are the structure and morphology of the FePc, which were analyzed by IR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and BET surface area measurement. The dimeric μ-oxo(1) form of FePc is highly active, has higher surface area, and is less crystalline than the inactive monomeric β-FePc. The rate of oxidation using the most active catalyst is limited by the solubility of 1-decene in aqueous DMF.     

Abnormal and regioselective Wacker oxidation of 1,5-dienes

The presence of an additional double bond can change the regioselectivity of the Wacker oxidation of a 1-alkene moiety to give the aldehyde product.     

Oxidation of Olefins to Carbonyl Compounds: Modern View of the Classical Reaction

Kinetics and Catalysis - The results of 60 years' research into the mechanisms of olefin oxidation catalyzed by palladium complexes (Wacker oxidation) are analyzed. The concepts of the...     

Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Oxidative Cyclization of Allylic Tosylcarbamates: Scope,Derivatization, and Mechanistic Aspects

A highly selective oxidative palladium(II)‐catalyzed (Wacker‐type) cyclization of readily available allylic tosylcarbamates is reported. This operationally simple catalytic reaction furnishes tosyl‐protected vinyl‐oxazolidinones, common precursors to syn‐1,2‐amino alcohols, in high yield and excellent diasteroselectivity (>20:1). It is demonstrated that both stoichiometric amounts of benzoquinone (BQ) as well as aerobic reoxidation (molecular oxygen) is suitable for this transformation. The title reaction is shown to proceed through overall trans‐amidopalladation of the olefin followed by β‐hydride elimination. This process is scalable and the products are suitable for a range of subsequent transformations such as: kinetic resolution (KR) and oxidative Heck‐, Wacker‐, and metathesis reactions.