Ni-catalyzed reductive allylation of unactivated alkyl halides with allylic carbonates

Game of two electrophiles: Two partially positively charged sp(3) carbon atoms can be connected by using a catalytic Ni species in the presence of an environmentally benign Zn reductant, delivering allylated alkanes. This unprecedented approach allowed a variety of unactivated alkyl halides and substituted allylic carbonates to regioselectively afford E-alkenes in good to excellent yields.     

Ketone formation via mild nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of alkyl halides with aryl acid chlorides

The present work highlights unprecedented Ni-catalyzed reductive coupling of unactivated alkyl iodides with aryl acid chlorides to efficiently generate alkyl aryl ketones under mild conditions.     

Nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of aryl halides with secondary alkyl bromides and allylic acetate

A room-temperature Ni-catalyzed reductive method for the coupling of aryl bromides with secondary alkyl bromides has been developed, providing C(sp(2))-C(sp(3)) products in good to excellent yields. Slight modification of this protocol allows efficient coupling of activated aryl chlorides with cyclohexyl bromide and aryl bromides with allylic acetate.     

Cobalt-catalyzed reductive coupling of saturated alkyl halides with activated alkenes

[reaction: see text] An efficient cobalt-catalyzed reductive coupling reaction of alkyl halides with electron-withdrawing alkenes (CH(2)=CR(1)EWG, EWG = electron-withdrawing group) in the presence of water and zinc powder in acetonitrile to give the corresponding Michael-type addition product (RCH(2)CR(1)EWG) was described. The methodology is versatile such that unactivated primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl bromides and iodides and various conjugated alkenes including acrylates, acrylonitrile, methyl vinyl ketone, and vinyl sulfone all successfully participate in this coupling reaction. For the alkyl halides used in the reaction, the iodides generally gave better yields compared to those of the corresponding bromides. It is a unique method employing CoI(2)dppe, zinc, and alkyl halides, affording conjugate addition products in high yields. Mechanistically, the reaction appears to follow an oxidative addition driven route rather than the previously reported radical route.     

Copper catalyzed regioselective coupling of allylic halides and alkynes promoted by weak inorganic bases

Allylic halides and terminal alkynes couple under CuI catalysis in DMSO or DMF solution. In most cases, sodium carbonate or bicarbonate is sufficient to promote the reaction; less reactive alkynes require catalytic amounts of DBU. Bifunctional alkynes and halides can be reacted selectively according to the stoichiometry used. Trimethylsilyl, hydroxyl, ester and halide groups are tolerated in the alkyne. Most halides react without allylic rearrangement. The method is suitable for the synthesis of functionalized enynes.     

Mild ketone formation via Ni-catalyzed reductive coupling of unactivated alkyl halides with acid anhydrides

Ni-catalyzed ketone formation through mild reductive coupling of a diverse set of unactivated alkyl bromides and iodides with particularly aryl acid anhydrides was successfully developed using zinc as the terminal reductant. These conditions also allow direct coupling of alkyl iodides with aryl acids in the presence of Boc(2)O and MgCl(2).     

Synthesis of C13-C22 of amphidinolide T2 via nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of an alkyne and a terminal epoxide

Several stereoselective routes to the synthesis of (1S,3R)-t-butyldimethyl-(1-methyl-3-oxiranyl-propoxy)-silane (13a) were explored, and the use of Jacobsen's hydrolytic kinetic resolution to separate a mixture of diastereomeric epoxides was a key step in the shortest of these. As part of an approach to the total synthesis of amphidinolide T2 (2), this epoxide, corresponding to C17-C22 of the natural product, was successfully joined with an alkyne (C13-C16) by way of a nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling reaction.     

Silver-catalyzed coupling reactions of alkyl halides with indenyllithiums

Coupling reactions of tertiary and secondary alkyl halides with indenyllithiums proceeded effectively in the presence of a catalytic amount of silver bromide to provide tertiary- and secondary-alkyl-substituted indene derivatives in good yields.     

Rhodium-catalyzed reductive coupling of disulfides and diselenides with alkyl halides, using hydrogen as a reducing agent

[reaction: see text] We have established that RhCl(PPh3)3 catalyzes a reductive coupling of disulfides and diselenides with alkyl halides in the presence of triethylamine using hydrogen as a reducing agent. This reaction serves as a convenient new method to produce unsymmetrical sulfides and selenides from disulfides and diselenides instead of unstable and odoriferous thiols and selenols.     

Mild TiIII- and Mn/ZrIV-catalytic reductive coupling of allylic halides: efficient synthesis of symmetric terpenes

Two new efficient methods for the regioselective homocoupling of allylic halides using either catalytic TiIII or the combination Mn/ZrIV catalyst have been developed. The regio- and stereoselectivity of the process proved to increase significantly when the Mn/ZrIV catalyst is used as the coupling reagent and when cyclic substituted allylic halides are used as substrates. The use of Lewis acids such as collidine hydrochloride allowed the quantity of catalyst to be lowered up to 0.05 equiv. We have proved the utility of these protocols with the synthesis of different terpenoids such as (+)-beta-onoceradiene (1), (+)-beta-onocerine (2), squalene (5), and advanced key-intermediates in the syntheses of (+)-cymbodiacetal (3) and dimeric ent-kauranoids as xindongnin M (4a).     

Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of primary alkyl halides with phenylethynyl- and trimethylsilyethynyllithium reagents

A highly efficient alkyl-alkynyl coupling system is described which is promoted by a well-defined and moisture-stable pincer complex [NiCl{C₆H₃-2,6-(OPPh₂)₂}] (1). Non-activated alkyl halides could be efficiently coupled with phenylethynyl- and trimethylsilylethynyllithium reagents at room temperature. Compared to the alkylation of primary alkyl halides with alkynyllithium reagents in literatures, this method requires milder conditions (room temperature) and proceeds quickly. This research will make these readily available alkynyllithium reagents much more useful for organic synthesis.     

Nickel‐catalyzed umpolung CS radical reductive cross coupling of S‐(trifluoromethyl)arylsulfonothioates with alkyl halides

A new cooperative nickel reductive catalysis and N,N-dimethylformamide-mediated strategy for umpolung CS radical reductive cross coupling of S-(trifluoromethyl)arylsulfonothioates with alkyl halides to produce alkyl aryl thioethers is described. This reaction features excellent selectivity, wide functionality tolerance, broad substrate scope, and facile late-stage modification of biologically relevant molecules. Mechanistic studies recognize initial generation of an amidyl radical anion via thermoinduced reduction of DMF with Sn, followed by umpolung reduction and single electron transfer of the nucleophilic sulfonyl moiety to form a sulphydryl radical and engage the Ni⁰/Ni^I/Ni^III/Ni^I catalytic cycle.     

Pd-catalyzed Negishi coupling of pyrazole triflates with alkyl zinc halides

A mild, functional group tolerant palladium-catalyzed Negishi coupling of pyrazole triflates and nonaflates with alkyl, benzyl, and aryl zinc halides has been developed. It allows quick access to 3-substituted pyrazole analogs at late stage via common synthetic intermediates.     

Copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of functionalized alkyl halides and tosylates with secondary and tertiary alkyl grignard reagents

Added value: A copper-based method is highly efficient for the cross-coupling of alkyl electrophiles with secondary and tertiary alkyl Grignard reagents. The method is distinguished by its broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance.     

Platinum-catalyzed allylation of aminonaphthalenes with allylic acetates

The activation of C-O bonds in allylic acetates has been accelerated by carrying out the reactions in the presence of platinum complexes associated with ligands. Platinum-catalyzed allylation of aminonaphthalenes with allylic acetates leads to N-allylic aminonaphthalenes in good yields.     

Nickel-catalyzed coupling reactions of alkyl electrophiles, including unactivated tertiary halides, to generate carbon-boron bonds

Through the use of a catalyst formed in situ from NiBr(2)·diglyme and a pybox ligand (both of which are commercially available), we have achieved our first examples of coupling reactions of unactivated tertiary alkyl electrophiles, as well as our first success with nickel-catalyzed couplings that generate bonds other than C-C bonds. Specifically, we have determined that this catalyst accomplishes Miyaura-type borylations of unactivated tertiary, secondary, and primary alkyl halides with diboron reagents to furnish alkylboronates, a family of compounds with substantial (and expanding) utility, under mild conditions; indeed, the umpolung borylation of a tertiary alkyl bromide can be achieved at a temperature as low as -10 °C. The method exhibits good functional-group compatibility and is regiospecific, both of which can be issues with traditional approaches to the synthesis of alkylboronates. In contrast to seemingly related nickel-catalyzed C-C bond-forming processes, tertiary halides are more reactive than secondary or primary halides in this nickel-catalyzed C-B bond-forming reaction; this divergence is particularly noteworthy in view of the likelihood that both transformations follow an inner-sphere electron-transfer pathway for oxidative addition.     

Samarium(II)-induced coupling of acid chlorides with allylic halides

Samarium(II)-induced coupling of acid chlorides with allylic halides gave diallylated tertiary alcohols. Monoallylated allylic ketones could not be obtained.     

Allylation of epoxides with allylic indium reagents

Allylindium sesquihalide reacts with epoxide to give homoallyl alcohol via a 1,2-shift reaction. In contrast, allylindate gives the ring-opening product without rearrangement.