Gold- and silver-catalyzed reactions of propargylic alcohols in the presence of protic additives

A wide range of primary, secondary and tertiary propargylic alcohols undergo a Meyer-Schuster rearrangement to give enones at room temperature in the presence of a gold(I) catalyst and small quantities of MeOH or 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid. The syntheses of the enone natural products isoegomaketone and daphenone were achieved using this reaction as the key step. The rearrangement of primary propargylic alcohols can readily be combined in a one-pot procedure with the addition of a nucleophile to the resulting terminal enone, to give β-aryl, β-alkoxy, β-amino or β-sulfido ketones. Propargylic alcohols bearing an adjacent electron-rich aryl group can also undergo silver-catalyzed substitution of the alcohol with oxygen, nitrogen and carbon nucleophiles. This latter reaction was initially observed with a batch of gold catalyst that was probably contaminated with small quantities of silver salt.     

[(NHC)AuCl]-catalyzed Meyer-Schuster rearrangement: scope and limitations

An efficient catalytic system allowing for the synthesis of a variety of α,β-unsaturated ketones has been developed. [(NHC)AuCl] (NHCN-heterocyclic carbene) in the presence of a silver(I) salt was found to catalyze the Meyer-Schuster rearrangement, leading to α,β-unsaturated ketones from easily accessible propargylic alcohols in high yields. Catalysis was performed in a 2:1 mixture of methanol and water at 60 °C and afforded good yields even for tertiary alcohols and sterically demanding substrates. Thorough evaluation of the present catalytic system uncovered that it was unsuitable for terminal alkynes and primary alcohols. In these cases low yields of the target molecules were obtained due to the formation of unexpected by-products.     

Chiral macrocycle-catalyzed highly enantioselective phenylacetylene addition to aliphatic and vinyl aldehydes

The 1,1'-binaphthyl macrocycle (S)-2 is found to be an excellent catalyst for the alkyne addition to aldehydes. In the presence of (S)-2 (20 mol %) and Me2Zn (2 equiv) in THF at room temperature, the addition of phenylacetylene to linear or branched aliphatic aldehydes and vinyl aldehydes gave various propargylic alcohols with 89-96% ee.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed propargylic substitution reaction of propargylic alcohols with thiols: a general synthetic route to propargylic sulfides

A novel cationic methanethiolate-bridged diruthenium complex [Cp*RuCl(mu2-SMe)2RuCp*(OH2)]OTf (1e) has been disclosed to promote the catalytic propargylic substitution reaction of propargylic alcohols bearing not only terminal alkyne group but also internal alkyne group with thiols. It is noteworthy that neutral thiolate-bridged diruthenium complexes (1a-1c), which were known to promote the propargylic substitution reactions of propargylic alcohols bearing a terminal alkyne group with various heteroatom- and carbon-centered nucleophiles, did not work at all. The catalytic reaction described here provides a general and environmentally friendly preparative method for propargylic sulfides, which are quite useful intermediates in organic synthesis, directly from the corresponding propargylic alcohols and thiols.     

Phosphorous acid promoted isomerization of propargyl alcohols to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

A metal-free and two-phase protocol for the Meyer-Schuster isomerization of propargyl alcohols to the corresponding α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds has been achieved in the presence of stoichiometric phosphorous acid aqueous solution, which produces the desired products in high yields with excellent stereoselectivity. Compared with the traditional methods, the procedure features broad scope of the substrates, mild conditions, and easy separation, providing an appealing alternative to the Meyer-Schuster reaction.     

A mild and efficient AgSbF6-catalyzed synthesis of fully substituted pyrroles through a sequential propargylation/amination/cycloisomerization reaction

Development of an efficient synthesis of fully substituted pyrroles via a sequential propargylation/amination/cycloisomerization was accomplished using AgSbF₆ as a catalyst. The one-pot three-component reaction of propargylic alcohols, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, and primary amines proceeds at a mild temperature, which prevents the formation of furan by-product. The reaction was also successfully applied to the more basic aliphatic amines with the addition of 1.1 equiv of acetic acid.     

Reaction of 2-propargylphenylcarbamates with diphenyliodonium salts via Meyer-Schuster rearrangement

The syntheses of 2,3-dihydro-4-quinolones from 2-propargylphenylcarbamates by one-pot tandem process that involves Meyer-Schuster rearrangement or arylative Meyer-Schuster rearrangement/Michael addition of carbamate nitrogen to the resulting vinyl ketones have been developed. Phenylcarbamates tethering tertiary propargyl alcohols underwent arylative Meyer-Schuster rearrangement/Friedel-Crafts alkylation to produce 2,3-dihydroindenones.     

One‐Pot Sequential Propargylation/Cycloisomerization: A Facile [4+2]‐Benzannulation Approach to Carbazoles

A novel one‐pot [4+2]‐benzannulation approach to substituted carbazoles is accomplished by acid‐catalyzed C3‐propargylation of 2‐alkenyl/aryl indoles with 1‐aryl propargylic alcohols, followed by cycloisomerization. A variety of 2‐alkenylated indoles and 2‐aryl/heteroaryl indoles successfully participated in this tandem reaction with 1‐aryl/heteroaryl propargylic alcohols to provide diversely substituted and annulated carbazoles, as well as an aza[5]helicene.     

Task-specific ionic liquid and CO2-cocatalysed efficient hydration of propargylic alcohols to α-hydroxy ketones

The hydration of propargylic alcohols is a green route to synthesize α-hydroxy ketones. Herein a CO₂-reactive ionic liquid (IL), [Bu₄P][Im], was found to display high performance for catalyzing the hydration of propargylic alcohols in the presence of atmospheric CO₂, and a series of propargylic alcohols could be converted into the corresponding α-hydroxy ketones in good to excellent yields. In the IL/CO₂ reaction system, CO₂ served as a cocatalyst by forming α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates with propargylic alcohols, and was released via the rapid hydrolysis of the carbonates catalysed by the IL. This is the first example of the efficient hydration of propargylic alcohols under metal-free conditions.     

Facile coupling of propargylic, allylic and benzylic alcohols with allylsilane and alkynylsilane, and their deoxygenation with Et(3)SiH, catalyzed by Bi(OTf)(3) in [BMIM][BF(4)] ionic liquid (IL), with recycling and reuse of the IL

Allyltrimethylsilane (allyl-TMS) reacts with propargylic alcohols in the presence of 10% Bi(OTf)(3) in [BMIM][BF(4)] solvent to furnish the corresponding 1,5-enynes in respectable isolated yields (87-93%) at room temperature. The utility of Bi(OTf)(3) as a superior catalyst was demonstrated in a survey study on coupling of allyl-TMS with employing several metallic triflates (Bi, Ln, Al, Yb) as well as, B(C(6)F(5))(3), Zn(NTf(2))(2) and Bi(NO(3))(3)·5H(2)O. Coupling of cyclopropyl substituted propargylic alcohol with allyl-TMS gave the skeletally intact 1,5-enyne and a ring opened derivative as a mixture. Coupling of propargylic/allylic alcohol with allyl-TMS resulted in allylation at both benzylic (2 isomers) and propargylic positions, as major and minor products respectively. The scope of this methodology for allylation of a series of allylic and benzylic alcohols was explored. Chemoselective reduction of a host of propargylic, propagylic/allylic, bis-allylic, allylic, and benzylic alcohols with Et(3)SiH was achieved in high yields with short reaction times. The same approach was successfully applied to couple representative propargylic and allylic alcohols with 1-phenyl-2-trimethylsilylacetylene. The recovery and reuse of the ionic liquid (IL) was gauged in a case study with minimal decrease in isolated yields after six cycles.     

Synthesis of new optically active propargylic fluorides and application to the enantioselective synthesis of monofluorinated analogues of fatty acid metabolites

A new approach to obtain optically active unsaturated or polyunsaturated systems with a single fluorine atom in an allylic or propargylic position is reported. Central to this strategy is the high regio- and stereocontrol observed during the fluorination of propargylic alcohols allowing a short and efficient synthesis of 1. Further, simple functional group transformations gave the enals 2 and 3. These three key intermediates were used for the preparation of optically active monofluorinated analogues of fatty acid metabolites.     

Studies on the Cu(I)-catalyzed regioselective anti-carbometallation of secondary terminal propargylic alcohols

A highly regioselective Cu(I)-catalyzed anti-carbometallation of secondary terminal propargylic alcohols with 1 degrees alkyl or aryl Grignard reagents affording 2-substituted allylic alcohols was developed. By using this method, optically active allylic alcohols can be prepared from the optically active propargylic alcohols without obvious loss of the enantiopurity. The cyclic organometallic intermediate formed may undergo an iodination or a Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling reaction to afford stereo-defined allylic alcohols.     

Microwave-assisted InCl3-catalyzed Meyer-Schuster rearrangement of propargylic aryl carbinols in aqueous media: a green approach to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

A novel, efficient, simple and environmentally benign protocol for the Meyer-Schuster isomerization of propargylic aryl carbinols into α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds has been developed using catalytic amounts of InCl₃, pure water as the solvent, and microwave irradiation as the heating source.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed synthesis of alkylidenecyclobutenes via head-to-head dimerization of propargylic alcohols and cyclobutadiene-ruthenium intermediates

The reaction of propargylic alcohols with carboxylic acid, or phenol derivatives, in the presence of the precatalyst [RuCl(cod)(C5Me5)] leads selectively to a variety of alkylidenecyclobutenes through head-to-head dimerization of propargylic alcohol. The first step is the formation of a cyclobutadiene-ruthenium intermediate resulting from the head-to-head coupling of two molecules of propargylic alcohol. On protonation with strong acids (HPF6, HBF4) dehydration of the cyclobutadiene complex leads to formation of an alkylidenecyclobutenyl-ruthenium complex. The X-ray structure of one such complex, [RuCl(C5Me5)(eta4-R'CCH--CH--C=CR2)] (R'=cyclohexen-1-yl, CR2 = cyclohexylidene) has been determined. Carboxylate is added at the less substituted carbon of the cyclic allylic ligand. DFT/B3 LYP calculations confirm that the intermediate arising from head-to-head coupling of alkyne to the RuClCp* species yields the cyclobutadiene-ruthenium complex more easily with propargylic alcohol than with acetylene.     

A Versatile Iron‐Catalyzed Protocol for the One‐Pot Synthesis of Isoxazoles or Isoxazolines from the Same Propargylic Alcohols

The use N‐sulfonyl‐protected hydroxylamines as bi‐nucleophiles in iron‐catalyzed propargylic substitutions allows the selective one‐pot synthesis of four classes of substituted isoxazoles or isoxazolines from the same propargylic alcohols (21 examples) by simply tuning the nature of the base. By using an iron(III) catalyst and a base such as triethylamine (3 equiv), isoxazoles 3 are obtained in good isolated yields (56–95%), whereas N‐sulfonyl‐protected isoxazolines 6 are selectively obtained (77–93% yield) by using iron and gold catalysts in the presence of a catalytic amount of pyridine (10 mol%).     

Tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF)-catalyzed addition of substituted trialkylsilylalkynes to aldehydes, ketones, and trifluoromethyl ketones

Herein we report that tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) is a very efficient catalyst for the addition of trialkylsilylalkynes to aldehydes, ketones, and trifluoromethyl ketones in THF solvent at room temperature. The reaction conditions are mild and operationally simple, and a variety of aryl functional groups, such as chloro, trifluoromethyl, bromo, and fluoro groups, are tolerated. Impressively, using our protocol, useful CF(3)-bearing tertiary propargylic alcohols can be synthesized. Product yields are generally better than or comparable to those in the literature. 1-Phenyl-2-trimethylsilyl acetylene, trimethyl ((4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethynyl)silane, 1-trimethylsilyl-1-hexyne, and trimethyl(thiophen-3-ylethynyl)silane underwent clean conversion to their corresponding propargylic alcohols as products under our conditions. Heterocyclic carbonyl compounds, such as furan-3-carboxaldehyde, thiophene-3-carboxaldehyde, and 2-pyridyl ketone, gave good yields of propargylic alcohols.     

New Preparation of Bromoallenes

Bromoallenes are useful intermediates in organic synthesis (1) and also occur in a few natural products (2). They usually are prepared from propargylic alcohols by reaction with hydrobromic acid in the presence of cuprous bromide (2) but these conditions are usually drastic. A milder method has been reported but its scope is more limited (4).     

Use of asymmetric propargyl dicobalt hexacarbonyl complexes in organic synthesis: Access to enantiomerically pure α-hydroxy acid derivatives

The trapping under different conditions of the carbocation generated by acid treatment of chiral Co₂(CO)₆-complexed propargylic secondary alcohols permitted access to either diastereoisomer at the propargylic center. Further chemical manipulations provided either enantiomer of enantiomerically pure 1,2-difunctionalized molecules such as 1,2-diols, α-hydroxy-aldehydes or α-hydroxy-acids.     

Preparation of phenyl substituted propargylic alcohol dicobalt hexacarbonyls and their reactions with active methylene compounds in the presence of acid

Eight new complexes with the formula [PhC_2C(OH)R~2R~2]Co_2(CO)_6 were prepared fromphenyl substituted propargylic alcohols and dicobalt octacarbonyl.The reactions of these propargylioalcohol complexes with active methylene compounds,2,4-pentanedione or ethyl acetoacetate,in thepresnce of an acid,HBF_4(40％)+P_2O_5(in excess)or BF_3·Et_2O,at room temperature in dichlorome-thane were investigated.From the 1-alkyl substituted tertiary propargylic alcohol complexes,threenew conjugated ene-yne complexes produced by intramolecular dehydration reaction were isolated inhigh yields(82—95％).On the other hand,four new alkylated complexes were obtained withsatisfactory yields(44—66％)from the secondary propargylic alcohol complexes.The influence ofother acids,phosphorus pentoxide and polyphosphoric acid,on both dehydration reaction andalkylated reaction was also studied.     

CuCl‐Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of Allylic and Propargylic Alcohols to Aldehydes or Ketones with 1:1 Combination of Phenanthroline and Bipyridine as the Ligands

We developed a modified protocol for the oxidation of 2,3‐allenyl alcohols using CuCl with 1:1 combination of phenanthroline and bipyridine as the catalyst. To further investigate the applicability of this system, other types of alcohols such as allylic and propargylic alcohols have been tested: we found that both allylic and propargylic alcohols may be oxidized to the corresponding aldehydes or ketones using molecular oxygen in air as the oxidant with moderate to excellent yields.