Synthesis of alkenyl sulfides through the iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of vinyl halides with thiols

We report here the iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alkyl vinyl halides with thiols. While many works are devoted to the coupling of thiols with alkyl vinyl iodides, interestingly, the known S-vinylation of vinyl bromides and chlorides is limited to 1-(2-bromovinyl)benzene and 1-(2-chlorovinyl)benzene. Investigation on the coupling reaction of challenging alkyl vinyl bromides and chlorides with thiols is rare. Since the coupling of 1-(2-bromovinyl)benzene and 1-(2-chlorovinyl)benzene with thiols can be performed in the absence of any catalyst, here we focus on the coupling of thiols with alkyl vinyl halides. This system is generally reactive for alkyl vinyl iodides and bromides to provide the products in good yields. 1-(Chloromethylidene)-4-tert-butyl-cyclohexane was also coupled with thiols, giving the targets in moderate yields.     

Ni-catalyzed alkylative dimerization of vinyl grignard reagents using alkyl fluorides

Alkyl halides underwent unique cross-coupling reaction with vinylmagnesium chloride in the presence of Ni catalyst to give 2-alkyl-3-butenyl Grignard reagent (1) in high yields. This reaction proceeded efficiently at 25 degrees C in THF using primary and secondary alkyl fluorides. On the other hand, PhCH=CHMgBr gave double alkylative vinyl coupling product 4 in good yield as the sole coupling product. Alkyl fluorides react as the most suitable alkylating reagent in comparison to the corresponding chlorides, bromides, and iodides.     

Zn/CuI-mediated coupling of alkyl halides with vinyl sulfones, vinyl sulfonates, and vinyl sulfonamides

A novel high-yielding Zn/CuI-mediated coupling method of alkyl halides with vinyl sulfones, vinyl sulfonates, and vinyl sulfonamides is described. This protocol is applicable for primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl iodides and bromides. Alkyl chlorides and aryl and vinyl halides were unreactive under the reaction conditions. Formamide was found to be a superior solvent for obtaining high yields.     

Free-Radical Carbonylations: Then and Now

Although known since the 1950s, free-radical carbonylation has not received much attention until only recently. In the last few years the application of modern free-radical techniques has revealed the high synthetic potential of this reaction as a tool for introducing CO into organic molecules. Clearly now is the time for a renaissance of this chemistry. Under standard conditions (tributyltin hydride/CO) primary, secondary, as well as tertiary alkyl bromides and iodides can be efficiently converted into the corresponding aldehydes. Aromatic and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes can also be prepared from the parent aromatic and vinylic iodides. If the reaction is carried out in the presence of alkenes containing an electron-withdrawing substituent, the initially formed acyl radical subsequently adds to the alkene, leading to a general method for the synthesis of unsymmetrical ketones. This three-component coupling reaction can be extended successfully to allyltin-mediated reactions. Thus, β,γ-enones can be prepared from organic halides, CO, and allyltributylstannanes. In a remarkable one-pot procedure alkyl halides can be treated with a mixture of alkene, allyltributylstannane, and carbon monoxide in a four-component coupling reaction that provides β-functionalized δ,?-unsaturated ketones by the formation of three new C? C bonds. The reaction of 4-pentenyl radicals with CO leads to acyl radical cyclization, which provides a useful method for the synthesis of cyclopentanones. Certain useful one-electron oxidations can be combined efficiently with free-radical carbonylations. These findings and others discussed in this article clearly demonstrate that free-radical carbonylation can now be considered a practical alternative to transition metal mediated carbonylation.     

Preparation of Organozinc and Organocadmium Compounds from the Metals and Alkyl Halides in the Presence of Stimulating Systems Based on a Derivative a Transition Metal and an Organometallic Compound

Full and mixed alkyl derivatives of zinc and cadmium were prepared from these metals and organic halides in the presence of stimulating systems necessarily containing a transition metal derivative and an organometallic compound capable of reducing this derivative under the process conditions. Such stimulating systems make it possible to introduce selectively organic halides (iodides, bromides, chlorides) into the reaction with zinc and cadmium to obtain the corresponding mixed organometallic compounds.     

N6-Arylation of 2'-deoxyadenosine via copper-catalyzed direct coupling with aryl halides

[reaction: see text] A general method for efficient N(6)-arylation of 2'-deoxyadenosine via copper-catalyzed direct coupling with aryl iodides and bromides is described. The method is useful for aryl halides with either electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups.     

1,2,3-Triazol-5-ylidene-palladium complex catalyzed Mizoroki-Heck and Sonogashira coupling reactions

The bis-1,4-dimesityl-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene-palladium complex (1a) successfully catalyzes the Mizoroki-Heck and Sonogashira coupling reactions with aryl bromides to give the corresponding alkenes and alkynes, respectively, in good to excellent yields. In the Mizoroki-Heck reaction, electron-rich, electron-poor, and functionalized aryl bromides and alkenes are tolerated, while the substrates are limited to electron-poor aryl halides in the Sonogashira coupling reaction. The palladium complex also catalyzes cross-coupling reactions with aryl chlorides to give higher yields of products than does the bis-IMes-Pd complex analogue (2), under specific conditions.     

Indium-mediated cleavage of diphenyl diselenide and diphenyl disulfide: efficient one-pot synthesis of unsymmetrical diorganyl selenides, sulfides, and selenoesters

A convenient and efficient method was developed for the synthesis of alkyl phenyl selenides, sulfides, and selenoesters in one-pot reaction by using indium metal. The reaction showed the selectivity for tert-alkyl, benzylic, and allylic halides over primary and secondary alkyl halides. For the reaction of primary and secondary alkyl iodides and bromides, the yields of selenides were improved by the addition of a catalytic amount of iodine.     

Nickel-Catalyzed Preparations of Functionalized Organozincs

The reaction of primary alkyl bromides or chlorides with diethylzinc in the presence of Ni(acac)(2) (5 mol %) furnishes the corresponding alkylzinc halides (X = Br, Cl) via a halogen-zinc exchange reaction. The treatment of terminal alkenes with diethylzinc (neat, 25-60 degrees C) in the presence of Ni(acac)(2) as a catalyst (1-5 mol %) and 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD) affords the corresponding dialkylzincs via a hydrozincation reaction. Whereas the conversion for simple alkenes bearing a remote functionality reaches 40 to 63%, the hydrozincation of allylic, homoallylic alcohols and allylic amines proceeds very efficiently (85-95% conversion). All the zinc organometallics obtained react with various electrophiles (allylic halides, enones, acid chlorides, alkynyl halides, ethyl propiolate) after transmetalation with CuCN.2LiCl. In the presence of the chiral catalyst 12, the dialkylzincs prepared add to aldehydes with high enantioselectivity.     

Fe-catalyzed three-component dicarbofunctionalization of unactivated alkenes with alkyl halides and Grignard reagents

A highly chemoselective iron-catalyzed three-component dicarbofunctionalization of unactivated olefins with alkyl halides (iodides and bromides) and sp²-hybridized Grignard reagents is reported. The reaction operates under fast turnover frequency and tolerates a diverse range of sp²-hybridized nucleophiles (electron-rich and electron-deficient (hetero)aryl and alkenyl Grignard reagents), alkyl halides (tertiary alkyl iodides/bromides and perfluorinated bromides), and unactivated olefins bearing diverse functional groups including tethered alkenes, ethers, protected alcohols, aldehydes, and amines to yield the desired 1,2-alkylarylated products with high regiocontrol. Further, we demonstrate that this protocol is amenable for the synthesis of new (hetero)carbocycles including tetrahydrofurans and pyrrolidines via a three-component radical cascade cyclization/arylation that forges three new C–C bonds.

A highly selective iron-catalyzed three-component dicarbofunctionalization of unactivated alkenes with alkyl halides and sp²-hybridized Grignard reagents is reported.     

The Barbier-Grignard-type carbonyl alkylation using unactivated alkyl halides in water

The aqueous Barbier-Grignard-type alkylation of aldehydes with unactivated alkyl iodides and bromides was developed. By using a combination of zinc and cuprous iodide, catalyzed by indium(I) chloride, we successfully added tertiary, secondary, and primary alkyl halides to various aromatic aldehydes in 0.07 M aqueous Na2C2O4. A mechanistic rationale for the success of the reaction has been proposed.     

Aminomethylation of organic halides promoted by zinc in protic medium

Organic halides undergo smooth aminomethylation by secondary amines and aqueous formaldehyde promoted by metallic zinc under copper(I) catalysis. Good to excellent yields are obtained with primary, secondary, and tertiary iodides, allylic, propargylic, and benzylic bromides and with α-bromoesters. In most cases, DMSO is the best solvent, but dioxane is preferable for some more reactive halides. Additional experiments with radical quenchers and promoters and the use of ‘radical clocks’ indicate a stepwise reaction mechanism initiated by the attack of an alkyl radical to iminium ion.     

Reduction of organic halides with lanthanum metal: a novel generation method of alkyl radicals

Results of the reaction of alkyl halides with lanthanum metal have been shown. The reduction of alkyl iodide with 1/3 equiv of lanthanum metal efficiently proceeded to give the corresponding reductive dimerized products along with the formation of reduction and dehydroiodination products. In the case of alkyl bromides and chlorides, the reaction did not proceed under the same reaction conditions as that of alkyl iodides; however, the reaction was dramatically promoted by the addition of a catalytic amount of iodine. A reaction pathway including alkyl radicals was suggested.     

Efficient Stille cross-coupling reaction catalyzed by the Pd(OAc)2/Dabco catalytic system

[reaction: see text] An efficient Pd(OAc)2/Dabco-catalyzed Stille cross-coupling reaction procedure has been developed. In the presence of Pd(OAc)2 and Dabco (triethylenediamine), various aryl halides including aryl iodides, aryl bromides, and activated aryl chlorides were coupled efficiently with organotin compounds to afford the corresponding biaryls, alkene, and alkynes in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, high TONs [turnover numbers, up to 980,000 TONs for the coupling reaction of 1-bromo-4-nitrobenzene and furan-2-yltributyltin] for the Stille cross-coupling reaction were observed.     

Ruthenium(III) chloride catalyzed efficient synthesis of unsymmetrical diorganyl selenides via cleavage of dibenzyl and diphenyl diselenides in the presence of zinc

[equation: see text] An efficient one-pot route to unsymmetrical diorganyl selenides has been developed by ruthenium(III) chloride catalyzed reactions of dibenzyl or diphenyl diselenides with alkyl halides in the presence of zinc. Organic iodides, bromides, and activated chlorides underwent the reactions efficiently. Unreactive organic chlorides also underwent the same type of selenation with sodium bromide as the additive.     

Cross-coupling reactions of (1-fluorovinyl)methydiphenylsilane(1) with aryl halides and aryl triflates

The cesium fluoride (CsF)-assisted cross-coupling reaction of (1-fluorovinyl)methyldiphenylsilane (1) with aryl halides and aryl triflates was examined. The reaction with aryl iodides smoothly proceeded to afford the corresponding (1-fluorovinyl)arenes in the presence of a catalytic amount of CuI and Pd(PPh(3))(4) in aprotic polar solvents such as DMF, DMI, DMA, and NMP in good yields. A variety of functional groups (nitro, ester, ketone, and ether) on the aromatic rings can be tolerated under these mild conditions. Aryl iodides are superior to aryl bromides as the coupling reaction partner. The cross-coupling reaction of 1 with aryl triflates instead of aryl halides was also accomplished in the presence of tetrabutylammonium iodide (n-Bu(4)NI) as the additive under similar conditions.     

Copper(I)-catalyzed boryl substitution of unactivated alkyl halides

Borylation of alkyl halides with diboron proceeded in the presence of a copper(I)/Xantphos catalyst and a stoichiometric amount of K(O-t-Bu) base. The boryl substitution proceeded with normal and secondary alkyl chlorides, bromides, and iodides, but alkyl sulfonates did not react. Menthyl halides afforded the corresponding borylation product with excellent diastereoselectivity, whereas (R)-2-bromo-5-phenylpentane gave a racemic product. Reaction with cyclopropylmethyl bromide resulted in ring-opening products, suggesting the reaction involves a radical pathway.     

Palladium-catalyzed alpha-arylation of esters and amides under more neutral conditions

Two procedures for the alpha-arylation of carbonyl compounds under conditions that are more neutral than those of reactions of aryl halides with alkali metal enolates are reported. The first procedure rests upon the development of catalysts bearing the hindered pentaphenylferrocenyl di-tert-butylphosphine (Q-phos) and the highly reactive dimeric Pd(I) complex {P(t-Bu)3]PdBr}2. By this procedure, zinc enolates prepared from alpha-bromo esters and amides react with aryl halides to form alpha-aryl esters and amides in high yields under mild conditions with 1-2 mol % catalyst and with remarkable functional group tolerance. By the second procedure, silyl ketene and silyl ketimine acetals react with aryl bromides in the presence of substoichiometric zinc fluoride, 1 mol % Pd(dba)2, and 2 mol % P(t-Bu)3 in DMF solvent at 80 degrees C. Reactions of zinc tert-butyl acetate and propionate enolates and trimethylsilyl ketene acetals of tert-butyl propionate and methyl isobutyrate with aryl bromides bearing electron-donating and potentially reactive, base-sensitive electron-withdrawing groups and with pyridyl bromides are reported. In addition, the diastereoselective coupling of phenyl bromide with an imide enolate bearing the Evans auxiliary is reported, and this study shows that racemization of base-sensitive stereocenters does not occur during the coupling process under these more neutral conditions.     

Facile synthesis of symmetrical functionalized biaryls from aryl halides catalyzed by commercial zinc dust using ammonium formate

Reductive homocoupling of aryl halides in the presence of commercial zinc dust and ammonium formate in methanol produces biaryls in good to excellent yields. Aryl halides having either electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups underwent smooth coupling to afford the corresponding symmetrical biaryls. Addition of 1 equiv of sodium hydroxide enhanced the coupling reaction rate. Commercial zinc dust is inexpensive, widely available and can be used without any auxiliary catalysts such as Pd(0) and/or Ni(0).     

Highly efficient,general procedure for the preparation of alkylzinc reagents from unactivated alkyl bromides and chlorides

[reaction: see text] Alkylzinc bromides have been efficiently prepared by the direct insertion of zinc metal (dust, powder, granule, shot), activated with 1-5 mol % I(2), into alkyl bromides in a polar aprotic solvent. The zinc reagents thus formed undergo Ni- and Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling with aryl halides to produce functionalized alkylarenes in excellent yields.