Decarboxylative photosubstitution of dicyanobenzenes with aliphatic carboxylate ions

The photoreaction of dicyanobenzenes with aliphatic carboxylate ions afforded alkylcyanobenzenes and alkyldicyanobenzenes via decarboxylative substitution. The redox-photosensitized reaction system was effective in improving the product yield. The efficiency of this photoreaction depended on the structure of the carboxylate ion, and the product distribution varied with the dicyanobenzenes employed. This photoreaction was proved to be a clean process for the preparation of alkylcyanobenzenes.     

Mechanistic studies of the allylic rearrangements of alpha-silyloxy allylic silanes to silyloxy vinylic silanes

Mechanistic evidence suggests that the Lewis acid-promoted allylic rearrangement of alpha-silyloxy allylic silanes proceeds along an ionic reaction pathway involving a contact ion pair. The driving force for this transformation is alleviation of steric congestion at the allylic position of the alpha-silyloxy allylic silane and stabilization of pi cc by hyperconjugation.     

Stereo- and regioselective routes to allylic silanes

The Ni- or Pd-catalyzed reaction of alkenyl iodides with Me₃SiCH₂Mgcl provides various types of allytrimethylsilanes in excellent yields in a highly stereo- and regioselective manner, while the Zr-catalyzed carboalumination of Me₃SiCH₂CCH followed by replacement of Al with carbon groups by known reactions produces allylsilanes represented by $\text{2}$.     

Copper-catalyzed amidation of allylic and benzylic C-H bonds

[Structure: see text] A copper-catalyzed amidation of allylic and benzylic C-H bonds with both primary and secondary sulfonamides is described. The reaction is applicable to the coupling of a diverse set of hydrocarbon species with aryl, heteroaryl, and alkyl sulfonamides and is tolerant of a variety of functional groups. Mechanistic insight has been gained through the isolation of a benzylic acetate intermediate, which was demonstrated to undergo facile conversion to the substituted sulfonamide product under copper catalysis.     

Benzhydryldimethylsilyl allylic silanes: syntheses and applications to

A new silyl group, the benzhydryldimethylsilyl group, has been developed that is easily synthesized and that undergoes facile oxidation. The [3 + 2] annulation reactions of allylic silanes with this silyl group provide a variety of highly substituted five-membered carbocycles and heterocycles with high stereoselectivities. The silyl groups of these cyclic compounds have been oxidized to hydroxyl groups to demonstrate the general synthetic utility of the method.     

A new method for the selective oxidation of allylic and benzylic alcohols

A new method is described for the selective oxidation of allylic or benzylic alcohols, in the presence of saturated alcohols, using trimethylamine-N-oxide in the presence of an iron carbonyl.     

Direct conversion of benzylic and allylic alcohols to phosphonates

Benzyl phosphonate esters often serve as reagents in Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reactions. In most cases, they can be prepared from benzylic alcohols via formation of the corresponding halide followed by an Arbuzov reaction. To identify a more direct synthesis of phosphonate esters, we have developed a one-flask procedure for conversion of benzylic and allylic alcohols to the corresponding phosphonates through treatment with triethyl phosphite and ZnI(2).     

Tandem oxidation of allylic and benzylic alcohols to esters catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes

N-heterocyclic carbenes catalyze the oxidation of allylic, propargylic, and benzylic alcohols to esters with manganese(IV) oxide in excellent yields. A variety of ester derivatives can be synthesized, including protected carboxylates. This one-pot tandem oxidation represents the first organocatalytic oxidation of alcohols to esters. Saturated esters can also be accessed from aldehydes using this method. Through the utilization of a chiral catalyst, the acyl-heteroazolium intermediate becomes a chiral acylating agent, which can desymmetrize meso-1,2-diols. [reaction: see text].     

Synthesis of 7-alkyl-cycloheptatrienes from allylic silanes and tropylium tetrafluoroborate

The regiospecific substitution of some allylic silanes using tropylium tetrafluoroborate gives 7-alkyl-cycloheptatrienes.     

Convenient oxidation of benzylic and allylic halides to aldehydes and ketones

Benzylic and allylic halides were conveniently oxidized to aldehydes and ketones by pyridine N-oxide in the presence of silver oxide under mild conditions.     

Palladium-catalysed cross-coupling of vinyldisiloxanes with benzylic and allylic halides and sulfonates

The Hiyama cross-coupling reaction is a powerful method for carbon-carbon bond formation. To date, the substrate scope of this reaction has predominantly been limited to sp(2)-sp(2) coupling reactions. Herein, the palladium-catalysed Hiyama type cross-coupling of vinyldisiloxanes with benzylic and allylic bromides, chlorides, tosylates and mesylates is reported. A wide variety of functional groups were tolerated, and the synthetic utility of the methodology was exemplified through the efficient total synthesis of the cytotoxic natural product bussealin A. In addition, the antiproliferative ability of bussealin A was evaluated in two cancer-cell lines.     

One-step regiospecific synthesis of allylic silanes - extension to benzylsilanes

Allyltrichlorosilanes are prepared according to a one-step regiospecific process based on the reaction of allyl chlorides with SiCl₄ and NiCp₂/HMPA (catalyst), in the presence of industrial methylchlorodisilane fraction. ⁴Benzyltrihalosilanes are similarly obtained.     

Osmium (VI) catalyzed chemoselective oxidation of allylic and benzylic alcohols

A mild and highly chemoselective approach to oxidation of allylic, electron rich/deficient benzylic, and heterocyclic alcohols employing catalytic quantities of K₂[OsO₂(OH)₄] (3 mol %) and chloramine-T (50 mol %) is described. The protocol offers short reaction times (25 min–2 h), controlled oxidation, and tolerance to a variety of substrates. A systematic mechanistic study based on the LC-ESI-MS/MS reveals the presence of imidotriooxoosmium species which further reacts with alcohol to give the oxidized product.     

Glucosidation shifts of allylic and benzylic alcohols in 13C NMR spectroscopy

The ¹³C FT NMR spectra of β-D -glucopyranosides (including their tetraacetates) of several secondary allylic and benzylic alcohols were compared with those of methyl β-D -glucopyranoside and the corresponding parent alcohols. The characeristic glucosidation shifts observed for these alcohols may be applicable to the determination of the absolute configuration of the hydroxy group in these alcohols.     

Aerobic photocatalytic oxidation of activated benzylic and allylic alcohols to carbonyl compounds catalyzed by molecular iodine

An efficient, selective and environmentally benign photocatalytic system in acetonitrile has been developed for aerobic oxidation of activated benzylic and allylic alcohols into their corresponding aldehydes and ketones without the need for a transition metal in moderate to excellent yields with a catalytic amount of iodine. Very high inter- and intramolecular chemoselectivities are observed when benzylic OH groups are oxidized in the presence of aliphatic (nonbenzylic) hydroxyls.     

Liquid-phase Oppenauer oxidation of primary allylic and benzylic alcohols to corresponding aldehydes by solid zirconia catalysts

Hydrous zirconia and grafted zirconium 1-propoxide catalysts were found active in the Oppenauer oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol, geraniol and 4-tert-butylcyclohexanol (cis- and trans-). The most active hydrous zirconia catalysts were formed by calcining at 250–300 °C. Grafted zirconium 1-propoxide on silica gel and MCM-41 were active in the Oppenauer oxidation of geraniol with high selectivity to the desired citral product. However, over an acidic support such as AlMCM, the grafted zirconium 1-propoxide catalysed the dehydration and isomerisation of the alcohol, leading to low yield to citral. Also, furfural was found to be an efficient oxidant for the titled Oppenauer oxidation. Other solid catalysts such as γ-Al₂O₃, Na–Al₂O₃, zeolite beta and Mg/Al hydrotalcite showed only moderate catalytic activity and selectivity in the Oppenauer oxidation of geraniol. As compared to other solid catalysts, hydrous zirconia solid catalysts used in this work are active and selective towards the formation of desired carbonyl oxidation products; additionally, these solid zirconia catalysts are easy to prepare and recycle, and applicable to different alcohol substrates.

Graphical abstract

Hydrous zirconia calcined at 250–300 °C and grafted zirconium 1-propoxide solid catalysts were found to be efficient for the Oppenauer oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol, geraniol and 4-tert-butylcyclohexanol in toluene when furfural was used as the oxidant.

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