Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative vinylation of heteroarene carboxylic acids with alkenes via regioselective C-H bond cleavage

The ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative vinylation of thiophene-2-carboxylic acids with alkenes efficiently proceeds through directed C-H bond cleavage to give the corresponding 3-vinylated products. Similarly, benzothiophene-, benzofuran-, pyrrole-, and indolecarboxylic acids also undergo regioselective vinylation.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective addition of carboxylic acids to aryl and trifluoromethyl group substituted unsymmetrical internal alkynes

The regio- and stereoselective addition of carboxylic acids to aryl and trifluoromethyl group substituted unsymmetrical internal alkynes has been accomplished: the Ru(3)(CO)(12)/3PPh(3) catalyst system has effectively catalyzed the reaction to afford the trifluoromethyl group substituted (E)-enol esters with high regio- and stereoselectivities.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative cleavage of olefins to aldehydes.

Three oxidation protocols have been developed to cleave olefins to carbonyl compounds with ruthenium trichloride as catalyst (3.5 mol %). These methods convert olefins that are not fully substituted to aldehydes rather than carboxylic acids. While aryl olefins were cleaved to aromatic aldehydes in excellent yields by using the system of RuCl3-Oxone-NaHCO3 in CH3CN-H2O (1.5:1), aliphatic olefins were converted into alkyl aldehydes with RuCl3-NaIO4 in 1,2-dichloroethane-H2O (1:1) in good to excellent yields. It is noteworthy that terminal aliphatic olefins were cleaved to the corresponding aldehydes in excellent yields by using RuCl3-NaIO4 in CH3CN-H2O (6:1).     

Rhodium-catalyzed selective anti-Markovnikov addition of carboxylic acids to alkynes

The selective intermolecular anti-Markovnikov addition of carboxylic acids to terminal alkynes yielding valuable Z-enol esters has been achieved for the first time under rhodium-catalyzed conditions. The catalyst system is applicable to a broad substrate scope and displays a wide functional group tolerance.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed stereoselective anti-Markovnikov-addition of thioamides to alkynes

A catalyst system generated in situ from bis(2-methallyl)-cycloocta-1,5-diene-ruthenium(II) and a phosphine was found to efficiently catalyze the addition of thioamides to terminal alkynes with exclusive formation of the anti-Markovnikov thioenamide products. The stereoselectivity of the addition is usually high and controlled by the choice of the phosphine ligand, whereas the (E)-isomers are predominantly formed in the presence of tri(n-octyl)phosphine, the use of bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)methane preferentially leads to the formation of the (Z)-configured thioenamides.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed addition of carboxylic acids or cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to propargyl alcohols

Monomeric ruthenium(0) complexes containing redox-coupled dienone ligands were found to catalyze the regio-selective addition of carboxylic acids or cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to propargyl alcohols.     

Rhodium- and iridium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of benzoic acids with alkynes via regioselective C-H bond cleavage

The oxidative coupling of benzoic acids with internal alkynes effectively proceeds in the presence of [Cp*RhCl2]2 and Cu(OAc)2 x H2O as catalyst and oxidant, respectively, to produce the corresponding isocoumarin derivatives. The copper salt can be reduced to a catalytic quantity under air. Interestingly, by using [Cp*IrCl2]2 in place of [Cp*RhCl2]2, the substrates undergo 1:2 coupling accompanied by decarboxylation to afford naphthalene derivatives exclusively. In this case, Ag2CO3 acts as an effective oxidant.     

Oxidation cascade with oxone: cleavage of olefins to carboxylic acids

A variety of olefins is shown to be cleaved oxidatively to the corresponding acids with oxone as the reagent. The simple methodology that works well for a range of alkenes, i.e., styrenes, nitrostyrenes, stilbenes, cinnamic acids, chalcones, etc., involves heating of the reactant with oxone in acetonitrile–water mixture (1:1, v/v) at reflux. The oxidation cascade involves initial dihydroxylation followed by oxidative cleavage and oxidation of the resultant aldehydes to acids.     

Tetrapropylammonium perruthenate catalyzed glycol cleavage to carboxylic (di)acids

A new method to accomplish glycol cleavage to carboxylic (di)acids in one step using catalytic amounts of tetrapropylammonium perruthenate (TPAP) together with N-methylmorpholine N-Oxide (NMO) as the stoichiometric oxidant is presented. In addition to regenerating the active catalyst, the N-oxide stabilizes intermediary carbonyl hydrates and thereby shifts a crucial equilibrium. The mild oxidation protocol is applicable to a broad range of substrates providing the respective acids, diacids, or keto acids in high yields.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition of aryl azides and alkynes

The formation of 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles from aryl azides and alkynes was readily accomplished using [Cp*RuCl]4 catalyst in dimethylformamide. It was also demonstrated that the reaction provided higher yields, cleaner product, and shorter reaction times when carried out under microwave irradiation.     

Aerobic photooxidative cleavage of 1,3-diketones to carboxylic acids using 2-chloroanthraquinone

We developed direct aerobic photooxidation of 1,3-diketones to corresponding carboxylic acids in the presence of a catalytic amount of 2-chloroanthraquinone under visible light irradiation from fluorescent lamps.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition of alkynes and organic azides

Cp*RuCl(PPh3)2 is an effective catalyst for the regioselective "fusion" of organic azides and terminal alkynes, producing 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles. Internal alkynes also participate in this catalysis, resulting in fully substituted 1,2,3-triazoles.     

Copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative synthesis of aromatic carboxylic acids

A simple, practical and efficient copper-catalyzed method for synthesis of aromatic carboxylic acids has been developed. The protocol uses inexpensive CuI/L-proline as the catalyst/ligand, and readily available aryl halides and malononitrile as the starting materials, and the corresponding aromatic carboxylic acids were obtained in moderate to good yields. The method is of tolerance towards functional groups in the substrates.     

Photochemical cleavage and release of carboxylic acids from alpha-keto amides

Carboxylate groups incorporated at the position alpha to the keto carbonyl of alpha-keto amides 1 were photochemically cleaved in aqueous media to give carboxylic acids in 70-90% yields with quantum yields of 0.3. The cleavage coproducts were diastereomeric hemiacetals 2. Prompt release of acetate and gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) in buffer was observed by difference FT-IR spectroscopy upon 355 nm laser flash photolysis. The time-constant for release of GABA was <30 ms. [reaction--see text]     

Photochemical cleavage and release of carboxylic acids from alpha-keto amides

In aqueous media, alpha-keto amides LGCH(2)COCON(R)CH(R')CH(3) (1a, R = Et, R' = H; 1b, R = (i)()Pr, R' = Me; 1c, R = Ph, R' = H) with various carboxylate leaving groups (LG) at the C-3 position undergo photocleavage and release of carboxylic acids with formation of diastereomeric 5-hydroxyoxazolidin-4-ones 2a,c in the cases of 1a,c or 5-methyleneoxazolidin-4-ones 3b in the case of 1b. For 1a,b, Phi(photocleavage) = 0.24-0.38, whereas Phi(photocleavage) = ca. 0.05 for 1c. The proposed mechanism involves transfer of hydrogen from an N-alkyl group to the keto oxygen to produce zwitterionic intermediates 4a-c that eliminate carboxylate anions. The resultant imminium ions, H(2)C=C(OH)CON(+)(R)=C(R')CH(3) 5a-c, cyclize intramolecularly to 3b or undergo intermolecular addition of water followed by tautomerization and cyclization to give 2a,c. These inter- or intramolecular trapping reactions of 5 release protons that decrease the pH and cause bleaching of the 620 nm band of the pH indicator, bromocresol green. Determination of the bleaching kinetics by laser flash photolysis methods in the case of 1a gives time constants of 18-137 mus, depending on the leaving group ability of the carboxylate anion, whereas amides 1b show only a small leaving group effect. For 1a, the large leaving group effect is consistent with rate-limiting carboxylate elimination from 4a, whereas the proton release step would be largely rate determining for 1b. Photolyses of 1a (LG = CH(3)CO(2)(-), PhCH(2)CO(2)(-)) in neat CH(3)CN results in carboxylate elimination to form imminium ion 5a, followed by internal return to give aminals.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed addition of sulfenamides to alkynes leading to selective synthesis of polyfunctional alkenes

Sulfenamides smoothly add to alkynes by [RuCl₂(CO)₃]₂ or Ru₃(CO)₁₂ catalyst to give the corresponding polyfunctional alkenes in high yield with high regio- and stereoselectivity (Z 100%).     

Hydrocarboxylation of unactivated internal alkynes with carboxylic acids catalyzed by dinuclear palladium complexes

Dinuclear palladium complexes catalyzed addition reactions of carboxylic acid O-H bond to unactivated internal alkynes. The reaction afforded a trans-adduct selectively.