Thiazolium-catalyzed intermolecular Stetter reaction of linear and cyclic alkyl α-diketones

An efficient method for the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed conjugate addition of acetyl anions to various α,β-unsaturated acceptors (Stetter reaction) has been optimized by using 2,3-butandione (biacetyl) as an alternative surrogate of acetaldehyde. The disclosed procedure proved to be compatible with microwave dielectric heating for reaction time reduction and with the use of different linear α-diketones as acyl anion donors (e.g. 3,4-hexanedione for propionyl anion additions). Moreover, the unprecedented umpolung reactivity of cyclic α-diketones in the atom economic nucleophilic acylation of chalcones is herein presented. Mechanistic aspects of the thiazolium-based catalysis involving linear and cyclic α-diketone substrates are also discussed.     

Synthesis of oxygen-containing heterocyclic compounds based on the intramolecular O-H insertion and Wolff rearrangement of α-diazocarbonyl compounds

The addition products of Ti(IV)-enolate derived from β-keto α-diazo carbonyl compound to ketones or α,β-unsaturated compounds were subjected to Rh₂(OAc)₄-catalyzed and photo-induced diazo decomposition. The Rh₂(OAc)₄-catalyzed reaction afforded intramolecular O-H insertion products, while the photo-induced reaction gave Wolff rearrangement/intramolecular nucleophilic addition products. The transformations represent new approaches to tetrahydrofuran and γ-butyrolactone derivatives.     

The direct thioesterification of aldehydes with disulfides via NHC-catalyzed carbonyl umpolung strategy

An efficient N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed direct thioesterification of aldehydes and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (enals) with diaryl disulfides is reported. The protocol involves carbonyl umpolung reactivity of aldehydes and enals in which the carbonyl carbon attacks nucleophilically on diaryl disulfides to afford thioesters and α,β-unsaturated thioesters, respectively. However, aliphatic aldehydes are not suitable substrates for this reaction. No by-product formation, complete atom-economy, shorter reaction time, ambient temperature, operational simplicity, and high yields are the salient features of the present procedure.     

Three-component coupling sequence for the regiospecific synthesis of substituted pyridines

A de novo synthesis of substituted pyridines is described that proceeds through nucleophilic addition of a dithiane anion to an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl followed by metallacycle-mediated union of the resulting allylic alcohol with preformed trimethylsilane-imines (generated in situ by the low-temperature reaction of lithium hexamethyldisilazide with an aldehyde) and Ag(I)- or Hg(II)-mediated ring closure. The process is useful for the convergent assembly of di- through penta-substituted pyridines with complete regiochemical control.     

Direct organocatalytic asymmetric epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

The organocatalytic asymmetric epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with peroxides or sodium percarbonate is presented. Chiral pyrrolidine derivatives, proline and amino acid derived imidazolidinones mediate the asymmetric epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. For example, commercially available protected α,α-diphenyl-2-prolinol catalyzes the asymmetric formation of 2-epoxy-aldehydes in 81-95% conversion with up to 96:4 dr and 98% ee. The use of non-toxic catalysts, aqueous solvents and hydrogen peroxide or sodium percarbonate as the oxygen sources makes the reaction environmentally benign.     

N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed reactions of α-bromo-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes/α,β-dibromoaldehydes with 1,3-dinucleophilic reagents

Carbenes ring true: N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed reactions of α-bromo-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes/α,β-dibromoaldehydes with 1,3-dinucleophilic reagents, such as 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, β-enamino ketones, and β-enamino esters through umpolung processes gave functionalized 3,4-dihydropyranones and 3,4-dihydropyridinones. The availability of the starting materials, lack of external oxidant, and usefulness of the products make this strategy attractive.     

Nucleophilic carbene-catalyzed redox-esterification reaction of α-halo-α,β-unsaturated aldehyde

A nucleophilic carbene catalyzed redox esterification between α-halo-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and various alcohols has been developed. Interestingly, the reaction provided α,β-unsaturated esters instead of the saturated α-halo substituted esters as the only product in good to high yield with excellent trans-selectivity, presumably via the umpolung-halo-elimination pathway.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of 4-aza-5α-sitostane and the 4-methyl derivative

Synthesis of 4-aza-5α-sitostane (IX), and 4-methyl-4-aza-5α-sitostane (XII) were accomplished through a set of reactions involving oxidative opening of ring A of α,β-unsaturated ketone, ring closure, followed by catalytic hydrogenation and lithium aluminum hydride reduction, respectively. The antimicrobial activity for X and XII is reported.     

Rapid Synthesis of Chiral 1,2-Bisphosphine Derivatives through Copper(I)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Hydrophosphination

1,2-Bisphosphines have been identified as one class of important and powerful chiral ligands in asymmetric catalysis with transition metals. Herein, a copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrophosphination of α,β-unsaturated phosphine sulfides was developed with the assistance of “soft–soft” interaction between copper(I)-catalyst and the phosphine sulfide moiety, which afforded 1,2-bisphosphine derivatives with diversified electronic nature and steric hindrance in high to excellent yields with high to excellent enantioselectivity. Moreover, the challenging catalytic asymmetric hydrophosphination/protonation reaction was achieved with excellent enantioselectivity. Strikingly, the dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic diarylphosphines was also successfully carried out with high to excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Interestingly, the nucleophilic copper(I)-diphenylphosphide species was characterized by ³¹P NMR spectrum and mass spectrum. At last, three products were transformed to chiral 1,2-bisphosphines, which were employed as ligands in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-amino-α,β-unsaturated ester. The α-amino acid derivative was produced in high enantioselectivity, which demonstrated the utility of the present methodology.     

Ionic liquid as catalyst and solvent: the remarkable effect of a basic ionic liquid, [bmIm]OH on Michael addition and alkylation of active methylene compounds

A basic ionic liquid, 1-methyl-3-butylimidazolium hydroxide, [bmIm]OH, catalyzes the Michael addition of active methylene compounds to conjugated ketones, carboxylic esters and nitriles. It further catalyzes the addition of thiols to α,β-acetylenic ketones and alkylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl and -dicyano compounds. The Michael addition to α,β-unsaturated ketones proceeds in the usual way, giving the monoaddition products, whereas addition to α,β-unsaturated esters and nitriles leads exclusively to the bis-addition products. The α,β-acetylenic ketones undergo double conjugate addition with thiols producing β-keto 1,3-dithio-derivatives. In the alkylation reaction the acyclic 1,3-diketones are monoalkylated, whereas cyclic ketones undergo dialkylation under identical conditions. All these reactions were carried out without any organic solvent. The ionic liquid can also be recycled.     

Spectroscopic and structural characterization of the CyNHC adduct of B2pin2 in solution and in the solid state

The Lewis base adduct of B(2)pin(2) and the NHC (1,3-bis(cyclohexyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), which was proposed to act as a source of nucleophilic boryl groups in the β-borylation of α,β-unsaturated ketones, has been isolated, and its solid state structure and solution behavior was studied. In solution, the binding is weak, and NMR spectroscopy reveals a rapid exchange of the NHC between the two boron centers. DFT calculations reveal that the exchange involves dissociation and reassociation of NHC rather than an intramolecular process.     

Iridium-catalyzed addition of aroyl chlorides and aliphatic acid chlorides to terminal alkynes

Iridium complexes show high catalytic activity in intermolecular additions of acid chlorides to terminal alkynes to afford valuable (Z)-β-chloro-α,β-unsaturated ketones. Ligands in the catalytic system play a crucial role in this reaction. An N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) is an efficient ligand for the addition of aroyl chlorides, while dicyclohexyl(2-methylphenyl)phosphine (PCy(2)(o-Tol)) is indispensable for the reaction of aliphatic acid chlorides. The addition reactions proceed regio- and stereoselectively with suppression of decarbonylation and β-hydrogen elimination, which have been two major intrinsic problems in transition-metal-catalyzed reactions. Stoichiometric reactions of active iridium catalysts with aroyl chlorides and aliphatic acid chlorides are carried out to gain insights into the reaction mechanisms.     

Conjugate addition of grignard reagents to N-(α,β-unsaturated)acylpyrazoles. Diastereoselective β-alkylation using 3-phenyl-l-menthopyrazole

The conjugate additions of N-(α,β-unsaturated)acylpyrazoles were carried out by the treatment with Grignard reagents in the presence of cuprous halides. The reaction of 2-(α,β-unsaturated)acyl-3-phenyl-l-menthopyrazoles 3a-h occurred in higher chemical yields and with asymmetric inductions on β-position, where the addition of magnesium bromide as a Lewis acid influenced to the yields and the diastereoselectivities. In the case of α-methylated 2-(α,β-unsaturated)acyl-3-phenyl-l-menthopyrazoles 3i-n , the excellent asymmetric induction on the α-position was also observed through the diastereofacial protonation.     

Synthesis and desilylation of some bis(trimethylsilyl)alkenes and polymers bearing bis(silyl)alkenyl groups

The synthesis of various vinylbis(silanes) from some aryl and heteroaryl aldehydes and (Me₃Si)₃CLi in Et₂O is described. Friedel-Crafts reaction of 1,1-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2-(2-naphthyl)ethene with various acyl chlorides (RCOCl, R = Me, Et, i-Pr, i-Bu, n-pent) gave the corresponding α-silyl-α,β-unsaturated enones with high E steroselectivity. Moreover, poly(styrene)-co-[2,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)ethenyl(styrene)] obtained via the reaction of polymers bearing pendant enone functions and (Me₃Si)₃CLi, reacts with the same acyl chlorides in the presence of catalytic amount of AlCl₃ to give the new macromolecules bearing α-silyl-α,β-unsaturated enones and α,β-unsaturated enones.     

Nucleophilic acylation of α-haloketones with aldehydes: an umpolung strategy for the synthesis of 1,3-diketones

The first example of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-promoted intermolecular acylation of α-haloketones with aldehydes and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (enals) is reported. The protocol involves carbonyl umpolung reactivity of aldehydes and enals in which the carbonyl carbon attacks nucleophilically on electrophilic terminal of α-haloketones to afford 1,3-diketones and α,β-unsaturated 1,3-diketones, respectively. Short reaction time, ambient temperature, operational simplicity, and high yields are the salient features of the present procedure.     

Gold(III)-catalyzed tandem conjugate addition/annulation of 4-hydroxycoumarins with α,β-unsaturated ketones

An efficient and selective approach for the synthesis of functionalized pyranocoumarins has been developed via a gold(III)-catalyzed tandem conjugate addition/annulation reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarins with α,β-unsaturated ketones.     

NHC-catalysed retro-aldol/aldol cascade reaction enabling solvent-controlled stereodivergent synthesis of spirooxindoles

An N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalysed retro-aldol/aldol cascade reaction of spirooxindole-based β-hydroxyaldehyde has been developed. The ring opening-closure process enables the diastereodivergent synthesis of spirocyclopentaneoxindole products with four consecutive stereocenters by simply changing the reaction solvents (THF or DCE). The Michael/aldol/retro-aldol/aldol sequential protocol allows the diastereodivergent synthesis of spirocyclopentaneoxindoles from 3-substituted oxindole and α,β-unsaturated aldehyde under the relay catalysis of a chiral secondary amine and an NHC catalyst. Moreover, four stereoisomers of the product can be selectively provided by using different combinations of a chiral secondary amine and a solvent.     

Intramolecular cyanoboration of alkynes via activation of boron-cyanide bonds by transition metal catalysts

Cyano(dialkylamino)boryl ethers of homopropargylic alcohols undergo intramolecular addition of a B-CN bond across their carbon-carbon triple bonds (cyanoboration) in the presence of palladium and nickel catalysts, furnishing five-membered cyclic boryl ethers regioselectively in good yields via 5-exo cyclization. The products were transformed into highly substituted α,β-unsaturated nitriles via Suzuki-Miyaura coupling to aryl iodides, rhodium-catalyzed conjugative addition to methyl vinyl ketone, and rhodium-catalyzed protodeborylation.     

Ionic Liquid–Catalyzed Internal Redox Esterification Reaction

The internal redox esterification of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and alcohols was carried out using different ionic liquids (ILs) as catalysts and reaction solvents. The basic ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([bmim]OAc), exhibited the best activity for this reaction. The influences of the amount of ionic liquid catalyst and reaction time on yield of saturated ester have been investigated. The results showed that ionic liquid anions have a crucial effect on the redox esterification of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and alcohols. The nucleophilic carbenes generated in situ from the ionic liquid cation were believed to be actual active species for this reactions.     

Sequential one-pot and three-component reactions of an N-heterocyclic carbene to form 4-(1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene)pyrrolidine-2,5-diones: a tandem umpolung/annulation sequence via deoxy-Breslow intermediates

The tandem sequence of the umpolung of α,β-unsaturated esters by an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) followed by annulation is demonstrated. The deoxy-Breslow intermediates are selectively generated from the reaction of NHC with methyl methacrylate, dimethyl itaconate, or methyl crotonate. Subsequently, they undergo annulation with isocyanates to give 4-(1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene)pyrrolidine-2,5-diones in good isolated yields. In addition, the stoichiometric three-component reaction of NHC, methyl methacrylate, and phenyl isocyanate proceeded, accompanied by the formation of the 1:2 adduct of NHC with phenyl isocyanate.