Tunable carbon-carbon and carbon-sulfur cross-coupling of boronic acids with 3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2-thiones

Direct microwave-assisted Pd(0)-catalyzed/Cu(I)-mediated carbon-carbon cross-coupling of 3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2-thiones and boronic acids under Liebeskind-Srogl conditions leads to 2-aryl-1,4-dihydropyrimidines in moderate to high yield. In contrast, Cu(II)-mediated reaction of the same substrates leads to carbon-sulfur cross-coupling. [reaction: see text]     

Palladium-catalyzed reaction of allyl halides with alpha-diazocarbonyl compounds

The Pd(OAc)(2)-catalyzed reaction between alpha-diazocarbonyl compounds and allyl bromides or chlorides leads to the formation of 1,3-diene derivatives.     

Synthesis of Mixed Aryl 2,3-Diarylsulphanyl-1,4-naphthoquinones

The reaction of 2-arylsulphanyl-1,4-napththoquinone with aromatic thiols and sodium dithionate leads to bis-2,3-(arylsulphanyl)naphthalene-1,4-diols in high yield. Corresponding oxidized products, namely 2,3-diarylsulphanyl-1,4-naphthoquinones, are prepared in near quantitative yield by a copper(II)-catalyzed aerial oxidation reaction of bis-2,3-(arylsulphanyl)naphthalene-1,4-diols under mild condition.     

New annulations via platinum-catalyzed enyne cyclization and cyclopropane cleavage

[reaction: see text] Oxidative ring opening of 3-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-4-enes, formed by the intramolecular Pt(II)-catalyzed cyclopropanation of enol ethers by alkynes, gives oxepane derivatives. Alternatively, the acid-catalyzed opening of the cyclopropane ring leads to dihydrobenzofurans or 3,4-dihydro-2H-chromenes.     

A density functional theory study of the stereoselectivity of Cu(OTf)2-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of trifluoromethylated N-acylhydrazones and isoprene: A concerted asynchronous mechanism

Here we employ density functional theory calculations to systematically investigate the underlying mechanism of Cu(OTf)₂-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reactions in the synthesis of CF₃-substituted pyrazolidines. About eight possible initial configurations of the [3+2] reaction is considered, and all relevant reactants, transition states, and products are optimized. Based on these structures, internal reaction coordinate paths, and wavefunction analysis results, we conclude that the Cu(OTf)₂-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition follows a concerted asynchronous mechanism. The C N bond forms immediately after the formation of the C C bond. Among the eight reaction paths, the energy barrier for the [3+2] reaction that leads to the CF₃-substituted syn-pyrazolidine is the lowest, ∼5.4 kcal/mol, which might result in the diastereoselectivity that is observed in the experiment. This work not only gives the detailed mechanism of the Cu(OTf)₂-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition but can also be helpful for the future designation of Cu(OTf)₂-based cycloaddition processes.     

Cobalt-catalyzed intermolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition for the synthesis of 1,3-cyclohexadienes

A cobalt(I)-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between an internal acceptor-substituted alkyne and a terminal alkene leads to the formation of regiochemically enriched polysubstituted 1,3-cyclohexadiene derivatives in acceptable yields when methyl butynoate is used, whereas regiochemically pure products are formed in good yields form phenyl propyonate. The concurrent cyclotrimerization reaction of the alkyne to the corresponding benzene derivative is dependent on the sterical bulk of the alkyne and is considerably reduced with the sterically more hindered alkyne.     

Silver(I)-catalyzed addition of zirconocenes to glycal epoxides. A new synthesis of alpha-C-glycosides

[reaction: see text] Hydrozirconation of terminal alkynes, followed by AgClO4-catalyzed in situ addition of the resultant alkenylzirconocenes to 1,2-anhydrosugars (glycal epoxides) leads to alpha-C-glycosides in moderate to high yields.     

Synthesis of a 1,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzindole β-ketoester

Pd(OAc)₂-catalyzed decomposition of ethyl 2-diazo-4-(4-indolyl)-3-oxobutanoate leads to a tricyclic tetrahydrobenzindole compound formed by a formal C-H insertion reaction. This tricyclic indole rearranges to a novel and thermodynamically more stable naphthalene derivative. Treatment of N-tosyl-protected ethyl 2-diazo-4-(4-indolyl)-3-oxobutanoate with a base induces facile pyrazole formation.     

Regio- and diastereoselective reductive coupling of vinylepoxides catalyzed by titanocene chloride

[reaction: see text] The Ti(III)-catalyzed reaction of a series of vinylepoxides leads, with regio- and E-diastereoselectivity control, to good-to-excellent yields of the corresponding homocoupling products. This homocoupling reaction, which involves a new C-C bond-forming method, takes place via a S(N)2' process between an allyltitanium species and the starting vinylepoxide. The process can be used for the rapid and efficient formation of highly valuable intermediates for organic synthesis, as well as new interesting homologues of natural products.     

Iron-catalyzed aryl-aryl cross-coupling reaction tolerating amides and unprotected quinolinones

The iron(III)-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between functionalized arylcopper reagents and aromatic iodides bearing an amide function or an unprotected quinolinone leads smoothly to polyfunctionalized biphenyls in excellent yields due to an intramolecular chelating effect of the amide group.     

Organocatalytic synthesis of N-Phenylisoxazolidin-5-ones and a one-pot synthesis of beta-amino acid esters

A novel N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed C-N bond formation by the reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and nitrosobenzene to N-phenylisoxazolidin-5-ones, followed by an acid-catalyzed esterification and Bamberger-like rearrangement in a mild one-pot protocol leads to N-p-methoxyphenyl (N-PMP) protected beta-amino acid esters.     

Copper(I)-catalyzed carboxylation of aryl- and alkenylboronic esters

The copper(I)-catalyzed carboxylation reaction of aryl- and alkenylboronic esters proceeded smoothly under CO(2) to give the corresponding carboxylic acid in good yield. This reaction showed wide generality with higher functional group tolerance compared to the corresponding Rh(I)-catalyzed reaction.     

Control of product selectivity by a styrene additive in ruthenium-catalyzed C-H arylation

A unique effect of styrene additive on product selectivity was observed for RuH(2)(CO)(PPh(3))(3)-catalyzed C-H arylation of acetophenone derivatives bearing two ortho C-H bonds. Without styrene, the C-H arylation with arylboronates gives diarylation products as the major products throughout the reaction, but the use of styrene as an additive switches the product selectivity and leads to selective formation of monoarylation products.     

Highly chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective [3+2]-cyclization of activated and deactivated allenes with alkenyl Fischer carbene complexes: a straightforward access to alkylidenecyclopentanone derivatives

A broad range of functionalized 5-alkylidenecyclopentene derivatives are synthesized by the rhodium(I)-catalyzed [3+2]-cyclization reaction of chromium alkenyl(methoxy)carbene complexes 1 and activated allenes. Thus, amidocyclopentenes 4a-n are readily available from N-allenylamides 2a-c, while phenoxyallene 2e gives access to phenoxycyclopentenes 6. In turn, the cyclization reaction with (alkoxycarbonyl)allenes 3 leads to (alkoxycarbonyl)methylidenecyclopentenes 7-10. In terms of selectivity, most cyclization reactions take place with complete chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselectivity. Representative cycloadducts are efficiently hydrolyzed to the corresponding 2-alkylidenecyclopentanones 11a-e without tautomerization or isomerization. Finally, a tentative reaction pathway is proposed that involves the rhodium(I) carbene complexes as the species responsible for the [3+2]-cyclization.     

Aerobic Fujiwara-Moritani alkenylation and dienylation of ferrocene

Pd(OAc)₂-catalyzed aerobic alkenylation and dienylation of ferrocene with electron-poor olefins and dienes (ethyl acrylate, methyl (E)-cinnamate, diethyl fumarate and maleate, ethyl sorbate and sorbic acid) is reported. In the case of acrylate and cinnamate the reaction leads to mixtures of mono- and dialkenylated ferrocenes. In other cases the products of mono alkenylation and dienylation are formed in low yield. The relatively slow (∼1 week) reaction takes place in AcOH solutions at room temperature.     

A new beta-carbolinone synthesis using a Rh(II)-promoted [3 + 2]-cycloaddition and Pd(0) cross-coupling/Heck cyclization chemistry

[reaction: see text]. A short and efficient synthesis of the beta-carbolinone ring system was achieved using a rhodium(II)-catalyzed [3 + 2]-cycloaddition, a Pd(0)-catalyzed C-N amination reaction, and a subsequent intramolecular Heck reaction as the key synthetic steps.     

New efficient approach to 2,2-diaryl-1,1-difluoro-1-alkenes and 1,1-difluoro-2-aryl-1,3-dienes via Suzuki coupling of alpha-halo-beta,beta-difluorostyrenes

[reaction: see text] Alpha-halo-beta,beta-difluorostyrenes [ArCX = CF2; X = Br, I; Ar = aryl, heteroaryl; synthesized by the Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling reaction of the corresponding alpha-halo-beta,beta-difluoroethenylzinc reagents (CF2=CXZnCl, X = Br, I) with aryl iodides] were functionalized at the halogen site with arylboronic acids under Pd(0)-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction conditions to obtain 2,2-diaryl-1,1-difluoro-1-alkenes (ArAr'C=CF2, Ar' = aryl, heteroaryl) in 51-91% isolated yield. The corresponding reaction with alkenylboronic acids produced 1,1-difluoro-2-aryl-1,3-dienes in 53-80% isolated yield. Alternatively, 2,2-disubstituted-1,1-difluoro-1-alkenes were synthesized in moderate yield by a zinc-insertion reaction at the halogen site of the alpha-halo-beta,beta-difluorostyrenes, followed by Pd(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling of the zinc reagent with aryl or alkenyl iodides.     

Stereoselective palladium-catalyzed carbocyclization of allenic allylic carboxylates

Palladium(0)-catalyzed reaction of allene-substituted allylic carboxylates 3-8 employing 2-5 mol % of Pd(dba)(2) in refluxing toluene leads to the carbocyclization and elimination of carboxylic acid to give bicyclo[4.3.0]nonadiene and bicyclo[5.3.0]decadiene derivatives (12-17). The carbon-carbon bond formation is stereospecific, occurring syn with respect to the leaving group. Addition of maleic anhydride as a ligand to the above-mentioned procedures changed the outcome of the reaction, and under these conditions 3-5 afforded cycloisomerized products 21-23. The experimental results are consistent with a mechanism involving oxidative addition of the allylic carboxylate to Pd(0) to give an electron-deficient (pi-allyl)palladium intermediate, followed by nucleophilic attack by the allene on the face of the pi-allyl opposite to that of the palladium atom. Furthermore, it was found that the Pd(dba)(2)-catalyzed cyclization of the trans-cycloheptene derivative (trans-8) can be directed to give either the trans-fused (trans-17) or the cis-fused (cis-17) ring system by altering the solvent. The former reaction proceeds via a nucleophilic trans-allene attack on the (pi-allyl)palladium intermediate, whereas the latter involves a syn-allene insertion into the allyl-Pd bond of the same intermediate. The products from the carbocylization undergo stereoselective Diels-Alder reactions to give stereodefined polycyclic systems in high yields.     

Pd-catalyzed sequential C-C bond formation and cleavage: evidence for an unexpected generation of arylpalladium(II) species

A Pd(II)-catalyzed reaction engaging alkenyl β-keto esters is reported that leads to the formation of 1-naphthols and an unexpected generation of arylpalladium(II) species. Interception of the in situ generated arylpalladium(II) species in a Mizoroki-Heck reaction, together with additional mechanistic studies, provided strong evidence in support of the first aromatization-driven β-carbon elimination process. A single Pd catalyst served to promote a series of both C-C bond forming and cleavage events in an unprecedented manner.     

Synthesis and Electroconductive Properties of Radical Salts Derived from Tetrathiafulvalene Dimers

Palladium(II)- or copper(II)-catalyzed homo-coupling reaction of either trimethylstannyltetrathiafulvalene or tetrathiafulvalenylzinc chloride produces symmetrical bitetrathiafulvalenes (bi-TTFs) in good yields, whereas palladium(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of tetrathiafulvalenylzinc chloride with 4-iodotetrathiafulvalenes leads to the corresponding unsymmetrically substituted bi-TTFs in moderate-to-high yields. The X-ray analysis of bi-TTF derivatives showed planar structures, and the cyclic voltammetry suggested that bi-TTFs have good donor ability comparable to that of BEDT-TTF. The symmetrical bi-TTFs formed the corresponding CT-complexes and cation radical salts. These CT-complexes and radical salts were found to be metallic or semiconducting, reflecting the effect of stoichiometry control in the dimeric TTF system. The X-ray structures of two cation radical salts revealed a unique stacking, and the precise conducting path in BEDO-bi-TTF·ClO₄ was discussed on the basis of MO calculations.