Mild and Efficient Ring Opening of Epoxides Catalyzed by Potassium Dodecatungstocobaltate(III)

Summary. Efficient ring opening of epoxides under mild conditions is reported. Potassium dodecatungstocobaltate(III) trihydrate was used as an efficient catalyst for the alcoholysis and acetolysis of epoxides. Conversion of epoxides to thiiranes was also performed efficiently in the presence of this catalyst.     

Investigation of the catalytic activity of an electron-deficient vanadium(IV) tetraphenylporphyrin: A new, highly efficient and reusable catalyst for ring-opening of epoxides

In this work, the catalytic activity of high-valent tetraphenylporphyrinatovanadium(IV) trifluoromethanesulfonate, [V^IV(TPP)(OTf)₂], in the nucleophilic ring-opening of epoxides is reported. This new V(IV) catalyst was used as an efficient catalyst for alcoholysis with primary (methanol, ethanol and n-propanol), secondary (iso-propanol) and tertiary alcohols (tert-butanol), hydrolysis and acetolysis of epoxides with acetic acid and also for the conversion of epoxides to 1,2-diacetates with acetic anhydride, conversion of epoxides to thiiranes with ammonium thiocyanate and thiourea, and for conversion of epoxides to acetonides with acetone. The catalyst was reused several times without loss of its activity.     

Co(III) porphyrin/DMAP: an efficient catalyst system for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and epoxides

CoTPP(Cl)/DMAP was found to be a highly active catalyst system for the chemical fixation of CO₂ via reaction with epoxides. The corresponding cyclic carbonate products are produced in high yield and selectivity for a variety of terminal mono and disubstituted epoxides. 1,2-Disubstituted internal epoxides were also investigated as substrates and found to react with very high stereospecificity.     

Asymmetric hydrolytic kinetic resolution with recyclable macrocyclic Co(III)-salen complexes: a practical strategy in the preparation of (R)-mexiletine and (S)-propranolol

A chiral cobalt(III) complex (1e) was synthesized by the interaction of cobalt(II) acetate and ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate with a chiral dinuclear macrocyclic salen ligand that was derived from 1R,2R-(-)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane with trigol bis-aldehyde. A variety of epoxides and glycidyl ethers were suitable substrates for the reaction with water in the presence of chiral macrocyclic salen complex 1e at room temperature to afford chiral epoxides and diols by hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR). Excellent yields (47% with respect to the epoxides, 53% with respect to the diols) and high enantioselectivity (ee>99% for the epoxides, up to 96% for the diols) were achieved in 2.5-16 h. The Co(III) macrocyclic salen complex (1e) maintained its performance on a multigram scale and was expediently recycled a number of times. We further extended our study of chiral epoxides that were synthesized by using HKR to the synthesis of chiral drug molecules (R)-mexiletine and (S)-propranolol.     

Ring opening of epoxides with NaHSO4: isolation of β-hydroxy sulfate esters and an effective synthesis for trans-diols

Sodium hydrogen sulfate (NaHSO₄) was observed to be highly effective as a reagent or catalyst in the ring-opening reactions of epoxides under mild conditions. Reaction of epoxides with NaHSO₄ gave isolable β-hydroxy sulfate esters and vicinal diols. Experimenting with different epoxides, the study investigated the scope of the ring-opening reaction.     

Regio- and stereoselective ring-opening reactions of epoxides with indoles and pyrroles in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol

Aliphatic and aromatic epoxides react regio- and stereoselectively with indoles and pyrroles in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol without the use of a catalyst or any other additive. While aromatic epoxides are selectively attacked at the benzylic position, aliphatic epoxides react at the less-substituted position. Chiral epoxides react with >99 % ee (ee=enantiomeric excess).     

Synthesis,Characterization, Polymerization of Optically Active Terminal Epoxides and Episulfides Bearing Bulky Groups

A simple and efficient protocol was developed for the syntheses of optically active epoxides(2a-2d) via the reactions of epichlorohydrin with organometallic reagents with steric hindrance at low temperature. On this basis, episulfides(3a-3d) were obtained with high e.e. values by the reaction of the corresponding epoxides with NH₄SCN. The configuration of thiiranes was opposite to that of the corresponding epoxides. Then, epoxides 2a-2d were anionically polymerized and the poly-R-2a(or poly-S-2a) was proved to keep a stable one-handed helical conformation in solution. The oligomers[degree of polymerization(DP)=2-5] were obtained when the thiiranes(3a, 3b and 3c) were used to polymerize.     

A readily synthesized and highly active epoxide carbonylation catalyst based on a chromium porphyrin framework: expanding the range of available beta-lactones

[reaction: see text] Catalytic carbonylation of epoxides to beta-lactones was effected by a highly active and selective bimetallic catalyst comprised of a chromium(III) porphyrin cation and a cobalt tetracarbonyl anion. The complex is readily synthesized from commercially available compounds in high yield. Carbonylation of numerous linear epoxides, as well as bicyclic epoxides derived from 8- and 12-membered hydrocarbons, proceeded with high activity, selectivity, and yield.     

Homologation of Furfural and Deriuatives to Furylacetaldehydes

The homologation of furfural 1a and methyl 3-(5-formyl-2-furyl) propenoate 1b or ethyl 3-(5-formyl-2-furyl) propenoate 1c to the corresponding furylacetaldehydes was carried out in two stages:

i) preparation of the furan epoxides from 1a, 1b, 1c

ii) cleavage and rearrangement of the epoxides on sepiolite. Sepiolite is a convenient catalyst for this last stage involving substrates as labile as the furan epoxides.     

A new multicomponent reaction catalyzed by a [Lewis Acid](+)[Co(CO)(4)](-) catalyst: stereospecific synthesis of 1,3-oxazinane-2,4-diones from epoxides, isocyanates, and CO

The use of mechanistic information to develop a new, catalytic multicomponent reaction is described. The complex [(salph)Al(THF)2]+[Co(CO)4]- (1, salph = N,N'-o-phenylenebis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneimine), THF = tetrahydrofuran), which is known to carbonylate epoxides, aziridines, and beta-lactones, was used to catalyze the synthesis of 1,3-oxazinane-2,4-diones from epoxides, isocyanates, and CO. Under optimized conditions, the reaction was both selective and high-yielding. 1,3-Oxazinane-2,4-diones were synthesized from a variety of epoxides and isocyanates, including some epoxides that do not undergo simple ring-expansion carbonylation. The best results were obtained using highly electrophilic isocyanates. The mechanism of the multicomponent reaction was investigated using labeling and stereochemistry, and the data obtained were consistent with the 1-catalyzed formation of beta-lactone and 1,3-oxazinane-2,4-dione from a common intermediate.     

Chemistry of fullerene epoxides: synthesis, structure, and nucleophilic substitution-addition reactivity

Fullerene epoxides, C??O(n), having epoxide groups directly attached to the fullerene cage, constitute an interesting class of fullerene derivatives. In particular, the chemical transformations of fullerene epoxides are expected to play an important role in the development of functionalized fullerenes. This is because such transformations can readily afford a variety of mono- or polyfunctionalized fullerene derivatives while conserving the epoxy ring arrangement on the fullerene surface, as seen in representative regioisomeric fullerene polyepoxides. The first part of this review addresses the synthesis and structural characterization of fullerene epoxides. The formation of fullerene epoxides through different oxidation reactions is then explored. Adequate characterization of the isolated fullerene epoxides was achieved by concerted use of NMR and LC-MS techniques. The second part of this review addresses the substitution of fullerene epoxides in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst. Most major substitution products have been isolated as pure compounds and their structures established through spectroscopic methods. The correlation between the structure of the substitution product and the oxygenation pattern of the starting materials allows elucidation of the mechanistic features of this transformation. This approach promises to lead to rigorous regioselective production of various fullerene derivatives for a wide range of applications.     

锌和锡参与下末端环氧化物的选择性烯丙基化反应

烯丙基溴和金属辛或锡成功地将末端环氧化合物1一锅法合成高烯丙基醇2和双高烯丙基醇3. 还研究了环氧化合物取代基的影响, 并提出了此烯丙基化的反应途径 .     

Regioselective synthesis of N-beta-hydroxyethylaziridines by the ring-opening reaction of epoxides with aziridine generated in situ

[reaction: see text] Biologically important N-beta-hydroxyethylaziridine intermediates were conveniently prepared by regioselective ring-opening reactions of diversely substituted epoxides. Ethyleneimine generated in situ under basic conditions from beta-chloroethylamine was used as a nucleophile to open the epoxides in an aqueous environment.     

Organotellurides as a source of organometallics: application in the synthesis of (+/−)-frontalin

A masked lithium homoenolate, generated by tellurium/lithium exchange, was reacted with epoxides. The lithium compound was also converted into other organometallics such as Grignard, and cuprates and the reactivity of those organometallics with epoxides was evaluated. The same building block was employed in the synthesis of (+/−)-frontalin.     

A mild ring opening fluorination of epoxide with ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazorium oligo hydrogenfluoride (EMIMF(HF)2.3)

Ring opening fluorination of epoxides with hydrogen fluoride in ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazorium oligo hydrogenfluoride EMIMF(HF)_2.3 was demonstrated. This ionic liquid released hydrogen fluoride graduately to make mild conditions without oligomerization of epoxides.     

Rearrangements of Epoxides of Linalool and Nerolidyl Acetate in Acid Media

The behavior of epoxides of linalool and cis-nerolidyl acetate was comparatively investigated in acids of various strength with the goal of establishing the effect of the structure of the initial compound and the medium character on the main direction of cationoid rearrangement. Linalool epoxides undergo cyclization of solid acid catalysts affording oxygen-containing heterocyclic compounds whereas the nerolidyl acetate epoxides yield the ketones originating from the opening of the epoxy ring followed by 1,2-hydride shift. 10,11-Epoxy derivative of cis-nerolidyl acetate affords 7-oxanorbornane as a minor product.     

Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of aziridino epoxides from cyclic dienes

Two different routes for the regio- and stereoselective synthesis of aziridino epoxides from cyclic dienes have been explored. The first strategy involves regiospecific aziridination of cyclic diene derivatives and subsequent epoxidation with m-CPBA to yield cis-aziridino epoxides as major products. The second strategy utilizes regiospecific epoxidation of cyclic diene derivatives followed by Sharpless aziridination to provide exclusively trans-aziridino epoxides. Synthesis of both enantiomers of cis-aziridino epoxides from (R)-(-)- and (S)-(+)-carvones are also reported.     

Retro‐Corey‐Chaykovsky Epoxidation: Converting Geminal Disubstituted Epoxides to Ketones

Corey‐Chaykovsky epoxidation has been widely applied in the conversion of aldehydes and ketones to epoxides with sulfonium and sulfoxonium ylides. The reverse transformation is realized for conversion of geminal disubstituted epoxides to ketones in the presence of DABCO in refluxing mesitylene. The method is a weak basic transformation from epoxides to ketones with loss of a methylene group and can be applied as an alternative strategy of the acid‐catalyzed Meinwald rearrangement or oxidation for conversion of epoxides to carbonyl compounds.     

Azacycloalkanes from epoxides and aziridines

Methods of preparation of azetidines, pyrrolidines, and piperidines from epoxides and aziridines were analyzed. The possibility of epoxides conversion into aziridines was considered. The examples of application of azacycloalkanes in the medical and organic chemistry as biologically active substances and synthons for their preparation were calculated.     

Enantioselective epoxide polymerization using a bimetallic cobalt catalyst

A highly active enantiopure bimetallic cobalt complex was explored for the enantioselective polymerization of a variety of monosubstituted epoxides. The polymerizations were optimized for high rates and stereoselectivity, with s-factors (k(fast)/k(slow)) for most epoxides exceeding 50 and some exceeding 300, well above the threshold for preparative utility of enantiopure epoxides and isotactic polyethers. Values for mm triads of the resulting polymers are typically greater than 95%, with some even surpassing 98%. In addition, the use of a racemic catalyst allowed the preparation of isotactic polyethers in quantitative yields. The thermal properties of these isotactic polyethers are presented, with many polymers exhibiting high T(m) values. This is the first report of the rapid synthesis of a broad range of highly isotactic polyethers via the enantioselective polymerization of racemic epoxides.