Iodine(III)-mediated bicyclic diazenium salt formation

The hypervalent iodine(III) reagent PhI(OTf)₂ has been shown to be an effective oxidant for the conversion of linear aryl-hydrazones bearing a pendant alkene into bicyclic diazenium salts. This oxidative cyclization presumably occurs by the iodine(III) mediated formation of a 1-aza-2-azoniaallene salt intermediate that undergoes a subsequent intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with the pendant alkene.     

An efficient and mild oxidant for the synthesis of s-tetrazines

PhI(OAc)₂ serves as a mild and effective oxidant for the synthesis of s-tetrazine derivatives—molecules of emerging significance to the field of bioorthogonal chemistry. This reagent serves as a complementary oxidant to harsher nitrous reagents. The use of PhI(OAc)₂ improves the synthesis of 5-amino-di(pyridin-2-yl)-s-tetrazine, a molecule that has been broadly used for cellular imaging and nuclear medicine. The generality of PhI(OAc)₂ as the oxidant for tetrazine synthesis is demonstrated for nine tetrazines in 75–98% yield.     

Synthesis of cationic gold(III) complexes using iodine(III)

Abstract

We report the synthesis and characterization of cationic Au(III) complexes supported by nitrogen-based ligands. The syntheses are achieved by reacting Au(I) complexes [Au(N-Me-imidazole)₂]⁺ and [Au(pyridine)(NHC)]⁺ with iodine(III) reagents PhI(OTf)(OAc) and [PhI(pyridine)₂]²⁺ yielding a series of cationic gold(III) complexes. In contrast, reactions of phosphine ligated gold(I) complexes with iodine(III) reagents results in the oxidation of the phosphine ligand.     

Synthesis of an Iron(IV) Aqua–Oxido Complex Using Ozone as an Oxidant

The iron(IV) oxido complex [(tmc)Fe=O(OTf)]OTf with the macrocyclic ligand 1,4,8,11‐tetramethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclo‐tetradecane (tmc) has been synthesized using ozone as an oxidant. By adding water to this compound the complex [(H₂O)(tmc)Fe=O)](OTf)₂ could be prepared. This complex is important in regard to a better understanding of the reactivity of Fe^IV oxido complexes. Mössbauer measurements using the solid compound showed an isomer shift of δ=0.19 mm s^?1 and a quadrupole splitting ΔE_Q=1.38 mm s^?1, confirming the high‐valent Fe^IV state. DFT calculations were performed and led to an assignment of triplet spin multiplicity. Crystallographic characterization of [(H₂O)(tmc)Fe=O)](OTf)₂ as well as of starting materials [(tmc)Fe(CH₃CN)](OTf)₂ and [(tmc)Fe(OTf)]OTf together with previous results strongly suggest that [(H₂O)(tmc)Fe=O)](OTf)₂ was formed similar to the oxido–hydroxido tautomerism analogous to heme systems.     

From Waste Biomass to Solid Support: Lignosulfonate as a Cost‐Effective and Renewable Supporting Material for Catalysis

Lignosulfonate (LS) is an organic waste generated as a byproduct of the cooking process in sulfite pulping in the manufacture of paper. In this paper, LS was used as an anionic supporting material for immobilizing cationic species, which can then be used as heterogeneous catalysts in some organic transformations. With this strategy, three lignin‐supported catalysts were prepared including 1) lignin‐SO₃Sc(OTf)₂, 2) lignin‐SO₃Cu(OTf), and 3) lignin‐IL@NH₂ (IL=ionic liquid). These solid materials were then examined in many organic transformations. It was finally found that, compared with its homogeneous counterpart as well as some other solid catalysts that are prepared by using different supports with the same metal or catalytically active species, the lignin‐supported catalysts showed better performance in these reactions not only in terms of activity but also with regard to recyclability.     

Cooperative Effect of Two Metals: CoPd(OAc)4‐Catalyzed CH Amination and Aziridination

The first Co/Pd‐cocatalyzed intramolecular C?H amination and aziridination reactions were developed. Sulfamate esters were converted to oxathiazinanes by using CoPd(OAc)₄ as catalyst and PhI(OAc)₂ as oxidant. The mutual presence of both Co and Pd is crucial for the catalytic activity. This combination of two metals with simple acetate ligands provides an economical alternative to the Rh‐catalyzed insertion of nitrenoids into C?H bonds.     

Indium(III) Triflate: A Highly Efficient Catalyst for Reactions of Sugars[1]

Indium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate has been found to be extremely efficient in catalyzing acyl transfer reactions of various carbohydrates and their derivatives. Selective acetolyses of certain benzyl ethers/isopropylidene acetals of sugars have been possible using In(OTf)₃ in Ac₂O (neat). Reaction of the per-O-acetate of 2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-D-glucose with benzyl mercaptan in the presence of In(OTf)₃ led to the formation of the corresponding thioglycoside in high yield. Facile formation and hydrolysis of the isopropylidene and benzylidene acetals of various carbohydrates have also been achieved very efficiently in the presence of In(OTf)₃. The results show great promise for In(OTf)₃ in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry.     

Establishing the Coordination Chemistry of Antimony(V) Cations: Systematic Assessment of Ph4Sb(OTf) and Ph3Sb(OTf)2 as Lewis Acceptors

The coordination chemistry of the stiboranes Ph₄Sb(OTf) ( 1 a , OTf = OSO₂CF₃) and Ph₃Sb(OTf)₂ ( 3 ) with Lewis bases has been investigated. The significant steric encumbrance of the Sb center in 1 a precludes interaction with most ligands, but the relatively low steric demands of 4‐methylpyridine‐N‐oxide (OPyrMe) and OPMe₃ enabled the characterization of [Ph₄Sb(OPyrMe)][OTf] ( 2 a ) and [Ph₄Sb(OPMe₃)][OTf] ( 2 b ), rare examples of structurally characterized complexes of stibonium acceptors. In contrast, 3 was found to engage a variety of Lewis bases, forming stable isolable complexes of the form [Ph₃Sb(donor)₂][OTf]₂ [donor=OPMe₃ ( 6 a ), OPCy₃ ( 6 b , Cy=cyclohexyl), OPPh₃ ( 6 c ), OPyrMe ( 6 d )], [Ph₃Sb(dmap)₂(OTf)][OTf] ( 6 e , dmap=4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine) and [Ph₃Sb(donor)(OTf)][OTf] [donor=1,10‐phenanthroline ( 7 a ) or 2,2′‐bipy ( 7 b , bipy=bipyridine)]. These compounds exhibit significant structural diversity in the solid‐state, and undergo ligand exchange reactions in line with their assignment as coordination complexes. Compound 3 did not form stable complexes with phosphine donors, with reactions instead leading to redox processes yielding SbPh₃ and products of phosphine oxidation.     

Oxidative entry to α-oxy N-acyl aminals and hemiaminals: efficient formation of 2-(N-acylaminal) substituted tetrahydropyrans

An efficient new method to synthesize α-oxy N-acyl aminals and hemiaminals in a single step from readily synthesized N-acyl enamines has been developed using PhI(OAc)₂ as the oxidant. The reaction conditions are very mild and the products are obtained in good yields (65-92%). A possible mechanistic pathway is laid out.     

Rh-catalyzed alkene oxidation: a highly efficient and selective process for preparing N-alkoxysulfonyl aziridines

Unique alkoxysulfonyl aziridine heterocycles were prepared through selective intra- and intermolecular alkene oxidation reactions. These methods are general and perform efficiently at low Rh-catalyst loadings (1-2 mol %) with only a slight excess of an inexpensive commercial oxidant, PhI(OAc)₂. For intermolecular processes, trichloroethylsulfamate was identified as a novel and markedly effective N-atom source, allowing reactions to be conducted with limiting amounts of the olefin substrate. The aziridine products submit to facile, nucleophilic ring opening; these processes are regioselective and can be used to prepare polyfunctionalized amines, including α-aminoketones via the direct addition of Me₂SO.     

Facile synthesis of 3,5-diaryl-1,2,4-triazoles via copper-catalyzed domino nucleophilic substitution/oxidative cyclization using amidines or imidates as substrates

Two methods for the synthesis of 3,5-diaryl-1,2,4-triazoles, both domino reactions, are reported. The first procedure, the Cu(OTf)₂-catalyzed reaction between two amidines using NaHCO₃ as a base, 1,10-phenanthroline as an additive and K₃[Fe(CN)₆]/atmospheric oxygen as the oxidant, delivers 3,5-diaryl-1,2,4-triazoles with yields up to 68%. The second procedure for the synthesis of 3,5-diaryl-1,2,4-triazoles with yields up to 64% rests on the Cu(OTf)₂-catalyzed reaction between two imidates and ammonium carbonate. This method features the formation of three bonds in a single synthetic step.     

Exceedingly Facile PhX Activation (X=Cl,Br, I) with Ruthenium(II): Arresting Kinetics,Autocatalysis, and Mechanisms

[(Ph₃P)₃Ru(L)(H)₂] (where L=H₂ ( 1 ) in the presence of styrene, Ph₃P ( 3 ), and N₂ ( 4 )) cleave the Ph? X bond (X=Cl, Br, I) at RT to give [(Ph₃P)₃RuH(X)] ( 2 ) and PhH. A combined experimental and DFT study points to [(Ph₃P)₃Ru(H)₂] as the reactive species generated upon spontaneous loss of L from 3 and 4 . The reaction of 3 with excess PhI displays striking kinetics which initially appears zeroth order in Ru. However mechanistic studies reveal that this is due to autocatalysis comprising two factors: 1) complex 2 , originating from the initial PhI activation with 3 , is roughly as reactive toward PhI as 3 itself; and 2) the Ph? I bond cleavage with the just‐produced 2 gives rise to [(Ph₃P)₂RuI₂], which quickly comproportionates with the still‐present 3 to recover 2 . Both the initial and onward activation reactions involve PPh₃ dissociation, PhI coordination to Ru through I, rearrangement to a η²‐PhI intermediate, and Ph? I oxidative addition.     

Cu(OTf)2/NBS Promoted Cyclization of 1-Cinnamyl Alcohol-o-Carboranes: An Efficient Approach for Synthesis of o-Carboranes Substituted Oxetanes

The Cu(OTf)₂/NBS promoted cyclization of 1-cinnamyl alcohol-o-carboranes for synthesis of o-carborane substituted oxetanes has been developed. A series of substituted oxetanes has been synthesized with moderate to good yields, which would be an important synthon for design novel reactions in oxetane chemistry as well as carborane chemistry.     

Oxidative Addition to Palladium(0) Diphosphine Complexes: Observations of Mechanistic Complexity with Iodobenzene as Reactant

Using a combination of electrochemical and NMR techniques, the oxidative addition of PhX to three closely related bis‐diphosphine P₂Pd⁰ complexes, where the steric bulk of just one substituent was varied, has been analysed quantitatively. For the complex derived from MetBu₂P, a rapid reaction ensued with PhI following an associative mechanism, and data was also obtained by cyclic voltammetry for PhOTs, PhBr and PhCl, revealing distinct relative reactivities from the related (PCx₃)₂Pd complex (Cx=cyclohexyl) previously studied. The corresponding EttBu₂P complex reacted more slowly with PhI and was studied by NMR spectroscopy. The reaction course indicated a mixture of pathways, with contribution from a component that was [PhI] independent. For the CxtBu₂P complex, reaction was again monitored by NMR spectroscopy, and was even slower. At high PhI concentrations reaction was predominantly linear in [PhI], but at lower concentrations the [PhI] independent pathway was again observed, and an accelerating influence of the reaction product was observed over the concentration range. The NMR spectra of the EttBu₂P and CxtBu₂P complexes conducted in C₆D₆ shows some line broadening that was augmented on addition of PhI. NMR experiments carried out in parallel show that there is rapid ligand exchange between free phosphine and the Pd₂Pd complex and also a slow ligand crossover between different P₂Pd complexes. DFT calculations were carried out to further test the feasibility of C₆D₆ involvement in the oxidative addition process, and located Van der Waals complexes for association of the P₂Pd⁰ complexes with either PhI or benzene. PhI or solvent‐assisted pathways for ligand loss are both lower in energy than direct ligand dissociation. Taken all together, these results provide a consistent explanation for the surprising complexity of an apparently simple reaction step. The clear dividing line between reactions that give a di‐ or monophosphine palladium complex after oxidative addition clarifies the participation of the ligand in coupling catalysis.     

Lewis acid-catalyzed oxidative rearrangement of tertiary allylic alcohols mediated by TEMPO

Two methods for the oxidative rearrangement of tertiary allylic alcohols have been developed. Most of tertiary allylic alcohols studied were oxidized to their corresponding transposed carbonyl derivatives in excellent to fair yields by reaction with TEMPO in combination with PhIO and Bi(OTf)₃ or copper (II) chloride in the presence or not of oxygen. Other primary oxidants of TEMPO such as PhI(OAc)₂, mCPBA, and Oxone^® were unsatisfactory giving the enone in modest to low yields.     

Palladium-catalyzed oxime ether directed regioselective C-H alkoxylation of arenes

A palladium-catalyzed highly regioselective ortho-C(sp²)-H alkoxylation of oxime ethers with PhI(OAc)₂ as the oxidant and alcohols as the alkoxylation reagents has been developed. Mono-alkoxylated and acetoxylated products could be selectively obtained via tuning the reaction conditions. A series of oxime ethers were tolerated, affording the corresponding products in moderate to good yields. Both primary and secondary alcohols survived the reaction conditions. Moreover, the directing group can be easily removed, thereby providing a straightforward access to substituted aryl ketones.     

Copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric alkene aziridination mediated by PhI(OAc)2: a facile one-pot procedure

A facile one-pot procedure for copper-catalyzed PhI(OAc)₂-mediated asymmetric alkene aziridination had been developed. Commercially available PhI(OAc)₂ and sulfonamides were used to generate the nitrene precursors (PhINR) in situ for olefin aziridination. This one-pot procedure had been optimized using 4-nitrobenzenesulfonamide as the nitrene source. With 5 mol % of the chiral copper catalyst, these conditions afforded 94% yield of the isolated product with 75% ee. We had also developed a simple and rapid method to monitor the rate of this one-pot aziridination.     

Metal-free chemoselective oxidation of sulfides by in situ generated Koser’s reagent in aqueous media

Selective oxidation of sulfides was successfully performed by employing phenyliodine diacetate as an oxidant with the catalysis of TsOH in aqueous solution under mild conditions. Sulfoxides were formed with 1.1 equiv of PhI(OAc)₂ at room temperature; whereas sulfones were obtained in the presence of 2.1 equiv of PhI(OAc)₂ at 80 °C under otherwise identical conditions. Notably, various sulfides were converted to corresponding sulfoxides or sulfones in good to high yields by this metal-free protocol.     

Gold-catalyzed direct oxidative coupling reactions of non-activated arenes

A general gold-catalyzed oxidative homo- and hetero-coupling of arenes in mild conditions is described. This reaction gives moderate to excellent yield using PhI(OAc)₂ as an oxidant. The effects of temperature, solvent, oxidant and concentration of substrate in this process have also been studied in detail. The product identity and distribution as well as the substrate limitation give us insights into this type of gold catalysts. Depending upon the reaction conditions, the gold catalyst behaves as a simple Lewis acid, which produces amines from arenes using DIAD as an aminating reagent.     

Epoxidation of olefins catalyzed by manganese(III) porphyrin in a room temperature ionic liquid

The epoxidation of several alkenes catalyzed by (meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphinato) manganese(III) chloride (MnTFPPCl) was carried out in a 3:1 [bmim]PF₆ ionic liquid/CH₂Cl₂ mixed solvent. The conversion and the yield of epoxide are excellent. It was also found that [bis(acetoxy)iodo]benzene [PhI(OAc)₂] is a more efficient oxidant than PhIO. The catalyst in the ionic liquids can be recycled for several runs without substantial diminution in the catalytic activity.