Preparation of secondary and tertiary amines from nitroarenes and alcohols

Various secondary amines were obtained selectively from the reaction of nitroarenes with primary alcohols in the presence of ruthenium(II) complexes having phosphine-amine ligands as the catalyst. Secondary amines could be further alkylated with a primary alcohol using the same catalyst, but different conditions.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed direct amination of alcohols with tertiary amines

A highly selective phosphine-based ruthenium catalyst system efficiently catalyzes the direct amination of alcohols with aliphatic tertiary amines, yielding unsymmetric tertiary amines in yields up to 87%. Ligand and solvent both affect the reaction yields significantly. The reaction can be performed with a wide variety of functionalities.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation between propargylic alcohols and alkenes via the allenylidene-ene reaction

A novel ruthenium-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation between propargylic alcohols and alkenes via the allenylidene-ene reaction has been found to afford the corresponding 2,4-disubstituted-1-hexen-5-ynes in moderate yields. The finding described here discloses a new reactivity of allenylidene complexes. As a synthetic application, intramolecular cyclization of propargylic alcohols bearing an alkene moiety has been developed to give the corresponding syn-substituted chromanes in high yields with an excellent diastereoselectivity.     

Hydrogen bond formation between aliphatic alcohols and tertiary amines

Hydrogen bond formation between tertiary amines and long chain and branched chain alcohols has been studied in order to understand the influence of chain length and the steric effect on the complex formation between tertiary amines and alcohols. On the addition of the amine to the alcohol the intensity of the monomeric OH band decreases and the new band appears corresponding to the alcohol—amine complex. The equilibrium constants of the complex formation are correlated by a two parameter equation. The three correlation equations obtained for three tertiary amines are: log K = 3.41 + 10.01σ* + 0.02χ (for triethylamine-alcohol) log K = 0.97 + 2.54σ* + 0.21χ (for tributylamine-alcohol) log K = 1.01 + 1.81σ* + 0.26χ (for trioctylamine-alcohol), where σ* is Taft's polar constant and χ the molecular connectivity index of the R skeleton of the alcohol.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed silyl ether formation and enyne metathesis sequence: synthesis of siloxacycles from terminal alkenyl alcohols and alkynylsilanes

Two consecutive ruthenium-catalyzed reactions have been achieved for the synthesis of siloxacycles from terminal alkenyl carbenols and alkynylsilanes. The metal-catalyzed dehydrogenative condensation between alcohols and silanes, generating molecular hydrogen as the only byproduct, allows for the subsequent enyne metathesis without isolating the intermediate silyl ethers. This system provides a streamlined synthesis of synthetically useful building blocks. [reaction: see text]     

Ruthenium-catalyzed reductive amination of allylic alcohols

Straighforward access to various saturated amines from allylic alcohols and isostructural mixture can now be achieved in the presence of arene ruthenium catalyst featuring phosphinesulfonate ligand and a hydrogen donor.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed reductive cyclization of nitroarenes with trialkylamines leading to quinolines

Nitroarenes react with trialkylamines in the presence of a catalytic amount of a ruthenium catalyst together with tin(II) chloride dihydrate at 180 °C in an aqueous medium (toluene–H₂O) to afford the corresponding quinolines in moderate to good yields. The catalytic pathway seems to be proceeded via a sequence involving initial reduction of nitroarenes to anilines, alkyl group transfer from alkylamines to anilines to form an imine, dimerization of imine, and heterocyclization.     

Palladium-catalyzed one-pot diarylamine formation from nitroarenes and cyclohexanones

The first palladium-catalyzed diarylamine formation from nitroarenes and cyclohexanone derivatives using borrowed hydrogen is described. Various diarylamines were selectively obtained in good to excellent yields. The reaction tolerated a wide range of functionalities. The nitro reduction, cyclohexanone dehydrogenation, and imine formation and reduction were realized in a cascade without an external reducing reagent and oxidant.     

Ni-catalysed, domino synthesis of tertiary alcohols from secondary alcohols

The use of in situ generated (NHC)-Ni catalytic species (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) allows for the synthesis, in short reaction times, of a variety of tertiary alcohols from secondary alcohols through a domino oxidation-addition protocol.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols and catechols using t-butyl hydroperoxide

Ruthenium complexes catalyze the oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding ketones or aldehydes when t-BuOOH (70% aq.) is used as an oxidant. The reactions proceed at room temperature to give the products in excellent to fairly good yields. Among the transition metal catalysts used, dichlorotris(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium (RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃) showed the highest catalytic activity. 3,5-Di-t-butylcatechol and 4-t-butylcatechol are also effectively oxidized to the corresponding 1,2-benzoquinones in the presence of a catalytic amount of RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ at room temperature with 1.1 equiv. of t-BuOOH, in quantitative yields. Hydrogen peroxide (30% aq.) can also be employed as an oxidant to give 1,2-benzoquinones in excellent yields.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols with sodium bromate

Ruthenium trichloride-catalyzed oxidation of secondary alcohols with sodium bromate under basic conditions affords ketones in the excellent yields.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed propargylation of aromatic compounds with propargylic alcohols

A novel ruthenium-catalyzed propargylation of aromatic compounds with propargylic alcohols has been found to afford the corresponding propargylated aromatic products in good yields with complete regioselectivity. The catalytic reaction provides a potential usefulness for practical application in organic synthesis, because the selective propargylation of aromatic compounds with an aromatic C-H bond cleavage is generally difficult.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed functionalization of pyrroles and indoles with propargyl alcohols

Several ruthenium-catalyzed atom-economic transformations of propargyl alcohols with pyrroles or indoles leading to alkylated, propargylated, or annulated heteroaromatics are reported. The mechanistically distinct reactions are catalyzed by a single ruthenium(0) complex containing a redox-coupled dienone ligand. The mode of activation regarding the propargyl alcohols determines the reaction pathway and depends on the alcohols' substitution pattern. Secondary substrates form alkenyl complexes by a 1,2-hydrogen shift, whereas the transformation of tertiary substrates involves allenylidene intermediates. 1-Vinyl propargyl alcohols are converted by a cascade allylation/cyclization sequence. The environmentally benign processes are of broad scope and allow the selective synthesis of highly functionalized pyrroles and indoles generating water as the only waste product.     

Ruthenium-catalysed synthesis of tertiary amines from alcohols

Secondary amines have been converted into tertiary amines by reactions with primary alcohols. A catalytic system of [Ru(cymene)Cl₂]₂ with dppf has been shown to be effective for this transformation for a range of primary alcohols and secondary amines. The methodology has been applied to the one pot synthesis of Piribedil and other piperazine and morpholine-containing products.     

Peroxide-mediated transition-metal-free direct amidation of alcohols with nitroarenes

An unusual direct amidation of alcohols with nitroarenes mediated by peroxides has been discovered. The reaction tolerated a wide range of functionalities, and various aromatic amides were obtained in moderate to good yields in the absence of transition-metal catalyst. The peroxides and solvents had a significant impact on the reaction yield.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of trifluoromethylated propargylic alcohols with azides

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of trifluoromethylated propargylic alcohols 1 with azides in the presence of catalytic [Cp*RuCl₂]_n afforded exclusively 4-trifluoromethyl-1,4,5-trisubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles 2 in high yields.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed formation of aryl(diphenyl)phosphine oxides by reactions of propargylic alcohols with diphenylphosphine oxide

1,1-Diaryl-1-penten-4-yn-3-ols react with diphenylphosphine oxide in the presence of a thiolate-bridged diruthenium complex as a catalyst and give high yields of aryl(diphenyl)phosphine oxide products via an initial substitution followed by a cyclization at the produced allene intermediate. [reaction: see text]     

Facile and chemo-selective synthesis of tertiary alkyl isothiocyanates from alcohols

When tert-alcohols were treated with (COOH)₂ and NaSCN in the presence of iodine, tertiary alkyl isothiocyanates were obtained in good yield, whereas the corresponding thiocyanates were obtained in low yield in the absence of iodine.