Enantioselective synthesis of β-substituted cyclic ketones via cobalt-catalyzed asymmetric reductive coupling of alkynes with alkenes

A CoI(2)/(R)-BINAP, Zn, ZnI(2), H(2)O system efficiently catalyzes the intermolecular asymmetric reductive coupling of alkynes with cyclic enones to afford highly regio- and enantioselective β-alkenyl cyclic ketones. A possible mechanism that involves the formation of a cobaltacyclopentene intermediate from the alkyne and cyclic enone is proposed.     

Nickel-catalyzed cycloaddition of o-arylcarboxybenzonitriles and alkynes via cleavage of two carbon-carbon σ bonds

An intermolecular cycloaddition reaction has been developed, where o-arylcarboxybenzonitriles react with alkynes to afford coumarins in the presence of Ni(0)/P(CH(2)Ph)(3)/MAD as a catalyst. The reaction process displays an unusual mechanistic feature-the cleavage of two independent C-CN and C-CO bonds.     

An organoantimony complex with intramolecular N → Sb coordination as effective and recyclable catalyst for the allylation of aldehydes with tetraallyltin

An air-stable hypervalent organoantimony (III) triflate complex (PhN(CH₂C₆H₄)₂SbOSO₂CF₃) having intramolecular N → Sb coordination was synthesized and characterized by techniques such as ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, TG-DSC, X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis. The complex shows relatively strong Lewis acidity (0.8 < H_o ≤ 3.3). It exhibits excellent catalytic performance towards the allylation of aldehydes with tetraallyltin at room temperature, and shows good thermal stability and recyclability. The catalytic system enables convenient and efficient synthesis of homoallylic alcohols.     

Direct synthesis of β-ketophosphine oxides via copper-catalyzed difunctionalization of alkenes with H-phosphine oxides and dioxygen

A simple copper-catalyzed direct difunctionalization of alkenes with H-phosphine oxides and dioxygen for the synthesis of β-ketophosphine oxides has been developed under mild conditions. The present protocol, which utilizes an inexpensive catalyst, readily available materials, and environmentally benign oxygen source, provides a convenient and cost-effective approach to construct various β-ketophosphine oxides.     

Synthesis and intramolecular heterocyclization of β-amino ketone thiosemicarbazones

Intramolecular heterocyclization of thiosemicarbazones derived from saturated and conjugated β-amino ketones afforded previously unknown dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives. A probable scheme of the transformation of multicenter intermediate includes generation and intramolecular cyclization of a thiol thiosemicarbazone tautomer without participation of conjugated double carbon-carbon bond in the substrate.     

Nickel-catalyzed formation of cyclopentenone derivatives via the unique cycloaddition of α,β-unsaturated phenyl esters with alkynes

Oxygen-containing organic compounds, such as ethers, carboxylates, and carbamates, have recently received increasing attention because of their newly discovered applications as electrophiles in cross-coupling reactions via transition metal-catalyzed C-O bond activation. However, no cycloaddition reaction involving their C-O bond activation has been demonstrated thus far. The present study developed a Ni(0)-catalyzed unique [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of α,β-unsaturated phenyl esters with alkynes in (i)PrOH to yield cyclopentenone derivatives.     

The reactivity of tert-butoxyl radicals in reactions of hydrogen abstraction and β-elimination

The transition states of competing reactions of abstraction of the H atom from hydrocarbon molecules by tert-butoxyl radical and its -elimination were studied by the semiempirical quantum-chemical AM1 method. The calculated activation enthalpy and entropy of these reactions correlate with the experimental values. A correlation between the reactivity in homolytic hydrogen abstraction and the parameters of the chemical structure of the reactants was found.     

Photoreactions of β-aziridinylacrylonitriles and acrylates with alkenes: formation of head-to-head adducts and application to the preparation of pyrrolizidine alkaloid

The photochemical C,C-bond cleavage of N-benzyl β-aziridinylacrylonitrile 1 and acrylate 2 and the subsequent [3+2] cycloaddition with electron-deficient alkenes afforded head-to-head adducts selectively and efficiently. Irradiation of N-phenyl aziridine 3 with acrylonitrile gave adducts, but photoreaction of N-benzoyl aziridine 4 and thermal reactions of 3 and 4 with alkenes yielded C(γ),N-cleaved products instead of cycloadducts. N-trityl aziridine 5 also reacted with electron-deficient alkenes, affording 2,3-cis-pyrrolidine derivatives exclusively. A formal synthesis of a pyrrolizidine alkaloid, isoretronecanol (27), starting from 5 was achieved in a convenient manner.     

A facile synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes from β-diketones and aldehydes with AlCl3 as catalyst

Preparation of trisubstituted alkenes from low-activity β-diketones and aldehydes with aluminum chloride as catalyst has been studied. The frequently used catalyst AlCl₃ is used for the first time to promote this condensation. The procedure is a convenient, low toxicity, and highly efficient method for industrial synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes in high yield.     

Amine-promoted β-elimination of a β-aryloxy aldehyde for fluorogenic chemodosimeters

We previously reported a fluorescent chemodosimeter for ozone. The β-elimination step after the ozonolysis of the chemodosimeter was too slow to be practical for real-time monitoring of ozone. We examined primary, secondary, and tertiary amines at various pHs. It was found that pyrrolidine in pH 9 buffer could accelerate the elimination to generate a fluorescence signal. The elimination step is now sufficiently rapid to monitor ozone exposure in real time. We also discovered that azetidine was distinctly effective for the same elimination reaction in a pH 6 buffer.     

Lewis base promoted intramolecular acylcyanation of α-substituted activated alkenes: construction of ketones bearing β-quaternary carbon centers

A novel phosphine-promoted intramolecular acylcyanation of α-substituted activated alkenes has been developed, which provides a unique access to densely functionalized acyclic ketones bearing β-quaternary carbon centers with a remarkable feature that both α- and β-positions of activated alkene are functionalized.     

Synthesis of pulvinones via tandem Dieckmann condensation-alkoxide β-elimination

A series of pulvinones were prepared in three steps from a common precursor, methyl 3-phenylglycidate. This compound was readily converted to several diesters containing an ether function. Then, treatment of these compounds with lithium hexamethyldisilazide afforded the corresponding pulvinones, via tandem Dieckmann condensation-alkoxide β-elimination. The use of a 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ether instead of a methyl ether facilitated the β-elimination and led to better yields of product.