Gold versus silver-catalyzed amination of allylic alcohols

Direct substitution of the hydroxy group in allylic alcohols by different nitrogenated nucleophiles is performed using low loadings of cationic gold(I) or silver salts as catalysts. Sulfonamides, carbamates and aromatic amines can be used as nucleophiles. Comparative studies between the best catalysts, cationic (triphenylphosphite)gold(I) complex and silver triflate, demonstrate that the former catalyst shows, in general, better performance than silver, working at lower loadings, in shorter reaction times and at lower temperatures. Representative allylic alcohols are used giving good γ-regioselectivity, specially in the case of penta-1,4-dien-3-ol and (E)-1-phenylbut-2-en-1-ol affording the corresponding allylic sulfonamides with total regio and stereoselectivity by a hydroamination mechanism. In the case of crotyl alcohol and (E)-4-phenylbut-3-en-2-ol mainly and exclusively α-substituted sulfonamides were obtained, respectively, by a cationic mechanism.     

S(N)/S(N)' competition: selective access to new 10-fluoro artemisinins

In this paper, we report a simple route to accede to a new family of C-10 fluorinated derivatives of artemisinin 7. We demonstrated that nucleophilic substitution of the allylic bromide 6 with alcohols can occur at carbon 10 (compounds 7) under solvolytic conditions (S(N)'/S(N) ratio, 87:13). Furthermore, using the particular properties of hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP), we are able to increase the selectivity of the substitution. Primary alcohols are completely selective for allylic substitution. With amines as nucleophiles, selectivity of substitution is dependent on their nucleophilicity, but attack at carbon 16 was always favored. However, the S(N)'/S(N) ratio could be slightly increased by adding HFIP, which is able to modulate their nucleophilicity through hydrogen bonding. In preliminary in vitro assessments, these new compounds, 7, exhibited a satisfying activity against malaria.     

BiCl3-catalyzed propargylic substitution reaction of propargylic alcohols with C-, O-, S- and N-centered nucleophiles

A general and efficient BiCl3-catalyzed substitution reaction of propargylic alcohols with carbon and heteroatom-centered nucleophiles such as allyl trimethylsilane, alcohols, aromatic compounds, thiols and amides, leading to the construction of C-C, C-O, C-S and C-N bonds, has been developed.     

Selective synthesis of functionalized allylic compounds by Pd(0)-catalyzed three-component reaction of methyl propargyl carbonate with phenols and nucleophiles

A Pd(0)-catalyzed three-component reaction of methyl propargyl carbonate with phenols and nucleophiles is described. The reaction proceeded smoothly and various allylic compounds were synthesized selectively in good to excellent yields under neutral conditions. The regioselective introduction of functional groups into the allylic compounds could also be achieved. The reaction with nitrogen and carbon nucleophiles afforded mainly 2-aryloxyallylic compounds. On the other hand, aliphatic alcohols gave 2-alkoxyallylic compounds.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed propargylic substitution reactions of propargylic alcohols with oxygen-, nitrogen-, and phosphorus-centered nucleophiles

The scope and limitations of the ruthenium-catalyzed propargylic substitution reaction of propargylic alcohols with heteroatom-centered nucleophiles are presented. Oxygen-, nitrogen-, and phosphorus-centered nucleophiles such as alcohols, amines, amides, and phosphine oxide are available for this catalytic reaction. Only the thiolate-bridged diruthenium complexes can work as catalysts for this reaction. Results of some stoichiometric and catalytic reactions indicate that the catalytic propargylic substitution reaction proceeds via an allenylidene complex formed in situ, whereby the attack of nucleophiles to the allenylidene C(gamma) atom is a key step. Investigation of the relative rate constants for the reaction of propargylic alcohols with several para-substituted anilines reveals that the attack of anilines on the allenylidene C(gamma) atom is not involved in the rate-determining step and rather the acidity of conjugated anilines of an alkynyl complex, which is formed after the attack of aniline on the C(gamma) atom, is considered to be the most important factor to determine the rate of this catalytic reaction. The key point to promote this catalytic reaction by using the thiolate-bridged diruthenium complexes is considered to be the ease of the ligand exchange step between a vinylidene ligand on the diruthenium complexes and another propargylic alcohol in the catalytic cycle. The reason why only the thiolate-bridged diruthenium complexes promote the ligand exchange step more easily with respect to other monoruthenium complexes in this catalytic reaction should be that one Ru moiety, which is not involved in the allenylidene formation, works as an electron pool or a mobile ligand to another Ru site. The catalytic procedure presented here provides a versatile, direct, and one-step method for propargylic substitution of propargylic alcohols in contrast to the so far well-known stoichiometric and stepwise Nicholas reaction.     

Stereodivergent synthesis of 1,4-bifunctional compounds by regio- and diastereoselective Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution reaction

Highly stereoselective synthesis of 1,4-bifunctional compounds was accomplished via 1,2-asymmetric induction to α-oxyaldehyde and α-oxyketone followed by regio- and diastereoselective Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution reaction. We found that trifluoroacetate is a suitable leaving group for the allylic substitution reaction. Various nucleophiles containing carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur can be applied to the method. Both 1,4-syn- and 1,4-anti-adducts were synthesized with high stereoselectivity by using stereodivergent reduction of the propargyl alcohols followed by allylic substitution reaction.     

Selective Benzylic and Allylic Alkylation of Protic Nucleophiles with Sulfonamides through Double Lewis Acid Catalyzed Cleavage of sp3 Carbon–Nitrogen Bonds

The acid‐catalyzed benzylic and allylic alkylation of protic nucleophiles is fundamentally important for the formation of carbon? carbon and carbon? heteroatom bonds, and it is a formidable challenge for benzylic and allylic amine derivatives to be used as the alkylating agents. Herein we report a highly efficient benzylic and allylic alkylation of protic carbon and sulfur nucleophiles with sulfonamides through double Lewis acid catalyzed cleavage of sp³ carbon–nitrogen bonds at room temperature. In the presence of a catalytic amount of inexpensive ZnCl₂‐TMSCl (TMSCl: chlorotrimethylsilane), 1,3‐diketones, β‐keto esters, β‐keto amides, malononitrile, aromatic compounds, thiols, and thioacetic acid can couple with a broad range of tosyl‐activated benzylic and allylic amines to give diversely functionalized products in good to excellent yields and with high regioselectivity. Furthermore, the cross‐coupling reaction of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with benzylic propargylic amine derivatives has been successfully applied to the one‐step synthesis of polysubstituted furans and benzofurans.     

A general and efficient FeCl3-catalyzed nucleophilic substitution of propargylic alcohols

A general and efficient FeCl3-catalyzed substitution reaction of propargylic alcohols with carbon- and heteroatom-centered nucleophiles such as allyl trimethylsilane, alcohols, aromatic compounds, thiols, and amides, leading to the construction of C-C, C-O, C-S and C-N bonds, has been developed.     

Direct palladium/carboxylic acid-catalyzed allylation of anilines with allylic alcohols in water

The direct activation of C-O bonds in allylic alcohols in water as a suspension medium by palladium complexes has been accelerated by carrying out the reactions in the presence of a carboxylic acid. The palladium-catalyzed allylation of anilines using allylic alcohols directly gave allylic anilines in good yields.     

Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-2-Arylsulfanyl allylic alcohols using anhydrous CeCl3 as catalyst under solvent free conditions

Anhydrous CeCl₃ was successfully employed as catalyst for the synthesis of (Z)-2-Arylsulfanyl allylic alcohols from propargylic alcohols and thiols under solvent free conditions. The products were obtained in good to excellent yields.     

Palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution with (η6-arene-CH2Z)Cr(CO)(3)-based nucleophiles

Although the palladium-catalyzed Tsuji-Trost allylic substitution reaction has been intensively studied, there is a lack of general methods to employ simple benzylic nucleophiles. Such a method would facilitate access to "α-2-propenyl benzyl" motifs, which are common structural motifs in bioactive compounds and natural products. We report herein the palladium-catalyzed allylation reaction of toluene-derived pronucleophiles activated by tricarbonylchromium. A variety of cyclic and acyclic allylic electrophiles can be employed with in situ generated (η(6)-C(6)H(5)CHLiR)Cr(CO)(3) nucleophiles. Catalyst identification was performed by high throughput experimentation (HTE) and led to the Xantphos/palladium hit, which proved to be a general catalyst for this class of reactions. In addition to η(6)-toluene complexes, benzyl amine and ether derivatives (η(6)-C(6)H(5)CH(2)Z)Cr(CO)(3) (Z = NR(2), OR) are also viable pronucleophiles, allowing C-C bond-formation α to heteroatoms with excellent yields. Finally, a tandem allylic substitution/demetalation procedure is described that affords the corresponding metal-free allylic substitution products. This method will be a valuable complement to the existing arsenal of nucleophiles with applications in allylic substitution reactions.     

Gold(III)-catalyzed direct nucleophilic substitution of propargylic alcohols

Gold-catalyzed nucleophilic substitution of propargylic alcohols with various nucleophiles (allylsilane, electron-rich aromatics, alcohols, thiols, hydrides, 1,3-dicarbonyl derivatives, sulfonamides) is described under very mild conditions (room temperature in dichloromethane). Preliminary mechanistic investigations suggest a mechanism through a carbocation intermediate. Nucleophilic substitutions on allylic and benzylic alcohols are also described.     

Nickel-catalyzed enantioselective hydrovinylation of silyl-protected allylic alcohols: An efficient access to homoallylic alcohols with a chiral quaternary center

Asymmetric hydrovinylation of silyl-protected allylic alcohols catalyzed by nickel complexes of chiral spiro phosphoramidite ligands was developed. A series of homoallylic alcohols with a chiral quaternary center were produced in high yields (up to 97%) and high enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee). The reaction provides an efficient method for preparing bifunctional compounds with a chiral quaternary carbon center.     

PCC-mediated novel oxidation reactions of homobenzylic and homoallylic alcohols

A new PCC-mediated carboncarbon bond cleavage reaction during oxidation of homobenzylic alcohols leading to the formation of benzylic carbonyl compounds has been observed. Homobenzylic alcohols with no benzylic substitution (R¹=H) gave benzylic aldehydes without further oxidation, while those with benzylic substitution (R¹=Me, Et, Ar) gave benzylic ketones. In contrast, homoallylic alcohols gave products arising from double bond migration, cis- to trans-olefin isomerization and/or allylic oxidation.     

Practical Pd/C-mediated allylic substitution in water

Pd/C-mediated allylic substitution in water is described as an interesting alternative to classical homogeneous conditions. The reaction applied to allylic acetates showed a wide range of compatibility with various nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and carbon nucleophiles. Notably, the method features inexpensive reagents and a nontoxic solvent. Moreover, measurement of the palladium content in water by ICP-MS shows low palladium contamination (4 ppm) of the solvent, rendering this method safer for the environment compared to homogeneous conditions. The first asymmetric example of Pd/C-mediated allylic substitution is also disclosed.     

Gold-catalysed allylic alkylation of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds with allylic alcohols

Friedel-Crafts allylic alkylation of a wide variety of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds with allylic alcohols catalysed by AuCl(3) (5 mol%) under mild conditions at room temperature was accomplished in good to excellent yields (up to 99%) and regioselectivity.     

(Pi-allyl)palladium complexes bearing diphosphinidenecyclobutene ligands (DPCB): highly active catalysts for direct conversion of allylic alcohols

The (pi-allyl)palladium complex bearing an sp2-hybridized phosphorus ligand (DPCB-OMe: 1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-bis[(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)phosphinidene]cyclobutene) efficiently catalyzes direct conversion of allylic alcohols in the absence of activating agents of alcohols such as Lewis acids. N-Allylation of aniline proceeds at room temperature to afford monoallylated anilines in 90-97% yields. C-Allylation of active methylene compounds is also successful at 50 degrees C using a catalytic amount of pyridine as a base, giving monoallylation products in 85-95% yields. The catalytic mechanism involving hydrido- and (pi-allyl)palladium intermediates has been proposed on the basis of stoichiometric examinations using model compounds of presumed intermediates.     

From allylic alcohols to aldols through a new nickel-mediated tandem reaction: synthetic and mechanistic studies

Nickel hydride type complexes have been successfully developed as catalysts for the tandem isomerization-aldolization reaction of allylic alcohols with aldehydes. Optimization of the reaction conditions has shown that a cocatalyst, such as MgBr2, has a very positive effect on the kinetics of the reaction and in the yields of aldols. Under such optimized conditions {[NiHCl(dppe)] + MgBr(2) at 3-5 mol %)}, this reaction affords the aldols in good to excellent yields. It is a full-atom-economy-type reaction that occurs under mild conditions. Furthermore, it has a broad scope for the allylic alcohols and it is compatible with a wide range of aldehydes, including very bulky derivatives. The reaction is completely regioselective, but it exhibits a low stereoselectivity, except for allylic alcohols with a bulky substituent at the carbinol center. The use of chiral nonracemic catalysts was not successful, affording only racemic compounds. However, it was possible to use asymmetric synthesis for the preparation of optically active aldols. Various mechanistic studies have been performed using, for instance, a deuterated alcohol or a deuterated catalyst. They gave strong support to a mechanism involving first a transition-metal-mediated isomerization of the allylic alcohol into the free enol, followed by the addition of the latter intermediate onto the aldehyde in an "hydroxyl-carbonyl-ene" type reaction. These results confirm that allylic alcohols can be considered as new and useful partners in the development of the aldol reaction.     

Applications of Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Substitution in Total Synthesis of Natural Products: An Update

Metal‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution (AAS) reaction is one of the most synthetically useful reactions catalyzed by metal complexes for the formation of carbon‐carbon and carbon‐heteroatom bonds. It comprises the substitution of allylic substrates with a wide range of nucleophiles or S_N2′‐type allylic substitution, which results in the formation of the above‐mentioned bonds with high levels of enantioselective induction. AAS reaction tolerates a broad range of functional groups, thus has been successfully applied in the asymmetric synthesis of a wide range of optically pure compounds. This reaction has been extensively used in the total synthesis of several complex molecules, especially natural products. In this review, we try to highlight the applications of metal (Pd, Ir, Mo, or Cu)‐catalyzed AAS reaction in the total synthesis of the biologically active natural products, as a key step, updating the subject from 2003 till date.     

Direct allylic substitution of allyl alcohols by carbon pronucleophiles in the presence of a palladium/carboxylic acid catalyst under neat conditions

The reaction of allylic alcohols with carbon pronucleophiles in the presence of the Pd(PPh₃)₄/carboxylic acid combined catalytic system, under neat conditions (without an organic solvent or without water as the solvent) enabled the direct allylation of the pronucleophiles, giving the corresponding allylated products in high yields.