Direct Oxidation of β‐Aryl Substituted Aldehydes to α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes Promoted by an o‐Anisidine–Pd(OAc)2 Co‐catalyst

An o‐anisidine‐Pd(OAc)₂ catalytic system for the direct co‐catalytic Saegusa oxidation of β‐aryl substituted aldehydes to α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes has been developed. The use of o‐anisidine in place of (S)‐diphenylprolinol made the process more simply and cost‐effective. The process not only features the use of unmodified aldehydes rather than enol silyl ethers, but also gives moderate to good yields (44–72 %).     

Tandem Reaction of Deprotonation-Oxidation-Wittig Reaction: Stereoselective Synthesis of (E)-α,β-Unsaturated Enoates

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Synthesis of α,β‐ and β‐Unsaturated Acids and Hydroxy Acids by Tandem Oxidation,Epoxidation, and Hydrolysis/Hydrogenation of Bioethanol Derivatives

We report a reaction platform for the synthesis of three different high‐value specialty chemical building blocks starting from bio‐ethanol, which might have an important impact in the implementation of biorefineries. First, oxidative dehydrogenation of ethanol to acetaldehyde generates an aldehyde‐containing stream active for the production of C₄ aldehydes via base‐catalyzed aldol‐condensation. Then, the resulting C₄ adduct is selectively converted into crotonic acid via catalytic aerobic oxidation (62 % yield). Using a sequential epoxidation and hydrogenation of crotonic acid leads to 29 % yield of β‐hydroxy acid (3‐hydroxybutanoic acid). By controlling the pH of the reaction media, it is possible to hydrolyze the oxirane moiety leading to 21 % yield of α,β‐dihydroxy acid (2,3‐dihydroxybutanoic acid). Crotonic acid, 3‐hydroxybutanoic acid, and 2,3‐dihydroxybutanoic acid are archetypal specialty chemicals used in the synthesis of polyvinyl‐co‐unsaturated acids resins, pharmaceutics, and bio‐degradable/ ‐compatible polymers, respectively.     

Microwave‐Assisted Tandem Organocatalytic Peptide‐Coupling Intramolecular aza‐Michael Reaction: α,β‐Unsaturated N‐Acyl Pyrazoles as Michael Acceptors

Conjugated N‐acyl pyrazoles have been successfully employed in the organocatalytic enantioselective intramolecular aza‐Michael reaction as ester surrogates. Bifunctional squaramides under microwave irradiation provided the best results in this transformation. Furthermore, this protocol has been combined with a peptide‐coupling reaction in a tandem sequence. The final products were easily converted into the corresponding ethyl esters.     

On the Mechanism of the Organocatalytic Asymmetric Epoxidation of α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

Mechanistic studies on the organocatalytic epoxidation of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes explore the autoinductive behavior of the reaction and establish that the hydrate/peroxyhydrate of the product is acting as a phase‐transfer catalyst. Based on these studies, an improved methodology that provides high selectivities and decreased catalyst loading, through the addition of chloral hydrate, is developed.     

Differentiation of Boc‐protected α,δ‐/δ,α‐ and β,δ‐/δ,β‐hybrid peptide positional isomers by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Two new series of Boc‐N‐α,δ‐/δ,α‐ and β,δ‐/δ,β‐hybrid peptides containing repeats of L ‐Ala‐δ⁵‐Caa/δ⁵‐Caa‐L ‐Ala and β³‐Caa‐δ⁵‐Caa/δ⁵‐Caa‐β³‐Caa (L ‐Ala = L ‐alanine, Caa = C‐linked carbo amino acid derived from D ‐xylose) have been differentiated by both positive and negative ion electrospray ionization (ESI) ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). MSⁿ spectra of protonated isomeric peptides produce characteristic fragmentation involving the peptide backbone, the Boc‐group, and the side chain. The dipeptide positional isomers are differentiated by the collision‐induced dissociation (CID) of the protonated peptides. The loss of 2‐methylprop‐1‐ene is more pronounced for Boc‐NH‐L ‐Ala‐δ‐Caa‐OCH₃ (1), whereas it is totally absent for its positional isomer Boc‐NH‐δ‐Caa‐L ‐Ala‐OCH₃ (7), instead it shows significant loss of t‐butanol. On the other hand, second isomeric pair shows significant loss of t‐butanol and loss of acetone for Boc‐NH‐δ‐Caa‐β‐Caa‐OCH₃ (18), whereas these are insignificant for its positional isomer Boc‐NH‐β‐Caa‐δ‐Caa‐OCH₃ (13). The tetra‐ and hexapeptide positional isomers also show significant differences in MS² and MS³ CID spectra. It is observed that ‘b’ ions are abundant when oxazolone structures are formed through five‐membered cyclic transition state and cyclization process for larger ‘b’ ions led to its insignificant abundance. However, b₁⁺ ion is formed in case of δ,α‐dipeptide that may have a six‐membered substituted piperidone ion structure. Furthermore, ESI negative ion MS/MS has also been found to be useful for differentiating these isomeric peptide acids. Thus, the results of MS/MS of pairs of di‐, tetra‐, and hexapeptide positional isomers provide peptide sequencing information and distinguish the positional isomers. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Alkenes/ α‐Bromoacetophenones with Aldehydes: A Facile Entry to α,β‐Epoxy Ketones

A novel, N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed direct oxidative coupling of styrenes with aldehydes has been described for the synthesis of α,β‐epoxy ketones in good yields. This unprecedented regioselective oxidative coupling employs NBS/DBU/DMSO (DBU=1,8‐diazabicyclo [5.4. 0] undec‐7‐ene, DMSO=dimethylsulfoxide, NBS=N‐bromosuccinimide) as an oxidative system at ambient conditions. Additionally, first NHC‐catalyzed Darzens reaction of α‐bromoketones and aldehydes under mild reaction conditions has also been described. Interestingly, mechanistic studies have revealed the preferred reactivity of NHC with alkene/α‐bromoketone rather than aldehydes, thus proceeding via the ketodeoxy Breslow intermediate.     

Direct Access to β‐Fluorinated Aldehydes by Nitrite‐Modified Wacker Oxidation

An aldehyde‐selective Wacker‐type oxidation of allylic fluorides proceeds with a nitrite catalyst. The method represents a direct route to prepare β‐fluorinated aldehydes. Allylic fluorides bearing a variety of functional groups are transformed in high yield and very high regioselectivity. Additionally, the unpurified aldehyde products serve as versatile intermediates, thus enabling access to a diverse array of fluorinated building blocks. Preliminary mechanistic investigations suggest that inductive effects have a strong influence on the rate and regioselectivity of the oxidation.     

Enantioselective Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative β,β‐Fluoroarylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Derivatives

The site‐selective palladium‐catalyzed three‐component coupling of deactivated alkenes, arylboronic acids, and N‐fluorobenzenesulfonimide is disclosed herein. The developed methodology establishes a general, modular, and step‐economical approach to the stereoselective β‐fluorination of α,β‐unsaturated systems.     

Tandem Benzylic Oxidation/Dihydroxylation of α‐Vinyl‐ and α‐Alkenylbenzyl Alcohols

A de novo tandem benzylic oxidative dihydroxylation of α‐vinyl‐ and α‐alkenylbenzyl alcohols has been developed to give α,β‐dihydroxypropiophenones (=2,3‐dihydroxy‐1‐phenylpropan‐1‐ones) and α,β‐dihydroxyalkyl phenones. This method was shown to be substrate‐selective and specific for the oxidation of benzylic alcohols.     

One‐Pot Organocatalytic Tandem Aldol/Polycyclization Reactions between 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds and α,β,γ,δ‐Unsaturated Aldehydes for the Straightforward Assembly of Cyclopenta[b]furan‐Type Derivatives: New Insight into the Knoevenagel Reaction

A new cascade pathway viable for Knoevenagel chemistry that involves the coupling between 1,3‐dicarbonyl systems and α,β,γ,δ‐unsaturated aldehydes has been developed. The process comprises the combination of a classic aldol‐type condensation and a rare spontaneous metal‐free cycloisomerization, representing a convergent and innovative approach for the stereoselective synthesis of cyclopenta[b]furan‐type derivatives. The scope and limitations with respect to both reaction partners and mechanistic features were investigated. Meaningfully, our study provides valuable guidance concerning the structural and electronic effects controlling the reactivity of conjugated polyene carbonyl systems.     

Efficient Synthesis of β‐Hydroxy‐α‐Amino Acid Derivatives via Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction of α‐Isothiocyanato Imide with Aldehydes

An easily available and efficient chiral N,N′‐dioxide–nickel(II) complex catalyst has been developed for the direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of α‐isothiocyanato imide with aldehydes which produces the products in morderate to high yields (up to 98 %) with excellent diastereo‐ (up to >99:1 d.r.) and enantioselectivities (up to >99 % ee). A variety of aromatic, heteroaromatic, α,β‐unsaturated, and aliphatic aldehydes were found to be suitable substrates in the presence of 2.5 mol % L ‐proline‐derived N,N′‐dioxide L5 –nickel(II) complex. This process was air‐tolerant and easily manipulated with available reagents. Based on experimental investigations, a possible transition state has been proposed to explain the origin of reactivity and asymmetric inductivity.