Ferric perchlorate-mediated radical reactions of [60]fullerene

Transition-metal-salt-mediated radical reactions of fullerenes have attracted extensive attention as a new and important method for fullerene functionalization. The application of relatively cheap and easily available ferric perchlorate (Fe(ClO 4 ) 3 ) to the synthesis of [60]fullerene (C 60 ) has demonstrated remarkable advantages and afforded a series of novel fullerene derivatives. In this review we present our recent progress in this area and summarize the reactions of C 60 with malonate esters, β-keto esters, nitriles, aldehydes/ketones, and arylboronic acids in the presence of Fe(ClO 4 ) 3 to afford the C 60-fused disubstituted lactones, C 60-fused hemiketal, C 60-fused dihydrofuran, C 60-fused oxazoles, C 60-fused 1,3-dioxolanes, and fullerenyl boronic esters. The possible reaction mechanisms for the above-mentioned reactions are also described in detail.     

Synthesis and characterization of mono- and bis-methano[60]fullerenyl amino acid derivatives and their reductive ring-opening retro-bingel reactions

The addition of N-(diphenylmethylene)glycinate esters (Ph2C=NCH2CO2R) 3-6 to [60]fullerene under Bingel conditions gives, respectively, the methano[60]fullerenyl iminoesters 7-10. Upon treatment of 7-9 with sodium cyanoborohydride, in the presence of a protic or a Lewis acid, a novel reductive ring-opening reaction occurred to give the corresponding 1,2-dihydro[60]fullerenyl glycine derivatives 11-13. Using tethered bis-N-(diphenylmethylene)glycinate esters 33 and 34derived from m- and p-benzenedimethanol scaffolds, the corresponding bis-methano[60]fullerenyl iminoesters 35-38 were synthesized under double Bingel reaction conditions. The m-benzenedimethanol derivative 33 gave the trans-4 (35) and cis-3 (36) regioisomeric bisadducts in a ratio of 80:20. The analogous para-tethered derivative 34 afforded the trans-3 (37) and trans-4 (38) regioisomers in a 80:20 ratio. The regiochemistry of the major bisadducts 35 and 37 (via the trans-esterified 39) were unequivocally determined using 2D INADEQUATE and C-C TOCSY NMR experiments. The regiochemistry of these bis-additions were unexpected on the basis of literature precedents. These results unequivocally show that the regiochemistry of tethered bis-additions is not solely dependent on the nature of the tether. A mixture of the trans-4 and cis-3 nonsymmetrical bisadducts 45 and 46 was obtained from the double-Bingel cyclopropanation of a bis-N-(diphenylmethylene)glycinate tether based on a 1,3-naphthyldimethanol scaffold. The regiochemistry of these compounds (45 and 46) was identified by correlation with the diethyl esters 40 and 47, prepared by trans-esterification of 35/45 and 36/46, respectively. The INADEQUATE and molecular modeling experiments allowed topological mapping of the fullerene surfaces of the bis-methano[60]fullerenes 38 and 42. Reductive ring-opening reactions on the tethered bis-methano[60]fullerenes 35-37, 45, and 46 gave none of the expected bis-fullerenylglycinates rather the reductive ring-opening-retro-Bingel products, the 1,2-dihydro[60]fullerenylglycinates 48, 49, 52, and 53. These compounds resulted from the reductive ring-opening of one methanoimino ester moiety and a retro-Bingel reaction of the other. Under analogous reductive ring-opening-retro-Bingel conditions, the nontethered bis-methano[60]fullerene 40 afforded the 1,2-dihydro[60]fullerenylglycinate 12. Thus, it was concluded that the tether was not the driving force for the reductive elimination of one of the methano groups.     

Synthesis of enantioenriched tertiary boronic esters from secondary allylic carbamates. Application to the synthesis of C30 botryococcene

Enantioenriched secondary allylic carbamates have been deprotonated with sBuLi and reacted with boronic esters. In contrast to other electrophiles, high α-selectivity was observed and the boronate complexes were formed with almost complete retention of stereochemistry. The boronate complexes underwent a stereospecific 1,2-migration leading to tertiary allylic boronic esters with high er (>98:2). The scope of the reaction has been explored and found to embrace a broad range of both allylic carbamates and boronic esters. The methodology has been applied to an eight-step, stereoselective synthesis of each of the diastereoisomers of C30 botryococcene.     

Decarboxylative Conjunctive Cross-coupling of Vinyl Boronic Esters using Metallaphotoredox Catalysis

The synthesis of complex alkyl boronic esters through conjunctive cross-coupling of vinyl boronic esters with carboxylic acids and aryl iodides is described. The reaction proceeds under mild metallaphotoredox conditions and involves an unprecedented decarboxylative radical addition/cross-coupling cascade of vinyl boronic esters. Excellent functional-group tolerance is displayed, and application of a range of carboxylic acids, including secondary α-amino acids, and aryl iodides provides efficient access to highly functionalized alkyl boronic esters. The decarboxylative conjunctive cross-coupling was also applied to the synthesis of sedum alkaloids.     

Facile preparation of fullerenyl boronic esters

The fullerendiol C₆₀(OH)₂(OOt-Bu)₄ 1 reacts with various arylboronic acids ArB(OH)₂ to form fullerene-containing boronic esters C₆₀(O₂BAr)(OOt-Bu)₄ in up to 95% yield depending on the structure of aryl group. Bis(pinacolato)diboron (B(OCMe₂)₂)₂ also reacts with 1 to form C₆₀(O₂BB(OCMe₂)₂)(OOt-Bu)₄. The bisboronic ester C₆₀(O)(O₂BAr)₂(OOt-Bu)₂ was also obtained starting from a tetrahydroxyl fullerene derivative C₆₀(O)(OH)₄(OOt-Bu)₂. The fullerenyl boronic esters are moderately stable in air. Single crystal X-ray structure of C₆₀(O₂BPh)(OOt-Bu)₄ was obtained.     

Synthesis of a (β-acetamido-α-acetoxyethyl)boronic ester via azido boronic esters

(Azidomethyl)boronic esters of 1,2-dicyclohexyl-1,2-ethanediol (“DICHED”) and pinanediol have been prepared from the corresponding (bromomethyl)boronic esters. Conversion to (2-azido-1-chloro- or bromoethyl)boronic esters by reaction with a (dihalomethyl)lithium followed. Attempted displacement of halide from DICHED (2-azido-1-haloethyl)boronates with alkoxides failed. Reaction of either pinanediol or DICHED (2-azido-1-chloromethyl)boronate with sodium acetate in acetic acid yielded the 1-acetoxy derivative as a ∼1:1 mixture of diastereomers, indicating probable involvement of an α-boryl carbocation intermediate. Hydrogenation of the pinanediol azido boronic ester over platinum in a solution of hydrogen chloride in dioxane was accompanied by deacetylation to form the impure (2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl)boronic ester hydrochloride. Attempted purification of this material resulted in deboronation to ethanolamine. Acetylation yielded pinanediol (2-acetamido-1-acetoxyethyl)boronate.     

Decarboxylative Conjunctive Cross‐coupling of Vinyl Boronic Esters using Metallaphotoredox Catalysis

The synthesis of complex alkyl boronic esters through conjunctive cross‐coupling of vinyl boronic esters with carboxylic acids and aryl iodides is described. The reaction proceeds under mild metallaphotoredox conditions and involves an unprecedented decarboxylative radical addition/cross‐coupling cascade of vinyl boronic esters. Excellent functional‐group tolerance is displayed, and application of a range of carboxylic acids, including secondary α‐amino acids, and aryl iodides provides efficient access to highly functionalized alkyl boronic esters. The decarboxylative conjunctive cross‐coupling was also applied to the synthesis of sedum alkaloids.     

N-heterocyclic carbene catalysed aerobic oxidation of aromatic aldehydes to aryl esters using boronic acids

The organocatalytic behavior of N-heterocyclic carbenes in the aerobic oxidation of aromatic aldehydes to esters with boronic acids has been explored. This transition metal-free protocol allows access to a wide variety of aromatic esters in good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions.     

Alkynyl Moiety for Triggering 1,2‐Metallate Shifts: Enantiospecific sp2–sp3 Coupling of Boronic Esters with p‐Arylacetylenes

The enantiospecific coupling of secondary and tertiary boronic esters to aromatics has been investigated. Using p‐lithiated phenylacetylenes and a range of boronic esters coupling has been achieved by the addition of N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS). The alkyne functionality of the intermediate boronate complex reacts with NBS triggering the 1,2‐migration of the group on boron to carbon giving a dearomatized bromoallene intermediate. At this point elimination and rearomatization occurs with neopentyl boronic esters, giving the coupled products. However, using pinacol boronic esters, the boron moiety migrates to the adjacent carbon resulting in formation of ortho boron‐incorporated coupled products. The synthetic utility of the boron incorporated product has been demonstrated by orthogonal transformation of both the alkyne and boronic ester functionalities.     

Enantioselective difunctionalization of alkenes by a palladium-catalyzed Heck/borylation sequence

A palladium catalyzed enantioselective Heck/borylation reaction of alkene-tethered aryl iodides was realized, delivering a variety of 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl boronic esters in high yield with excellent enantioselectivity. Asymmetric synthesis of chromane boronic ester, indane boronic ester and indoline boronic ester was also accomplished. The protocol offers an efficient access to the corresponding chiral benzocyclic boronic esters, which are notably important chemical motifs in synthetic transformations.

A palladium catalyzed enantioselective Heck/borylation reaction of alkene-tethered aryl iodides was realized, delivering a variety of 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl boronic esters in high yield with excellent enantioselectivity.     

Asymmetric homologation of boronic esters bearing azido and silyloxy substituents

In the asymmetric homologation of boronic esters with a (dihalomethyl)lithium, substituents that can bind metal cations tend to interfere. Accordingly, we undertook the introduction of weakly basic oxygen and nitrogen substituents into boronic esters in order to maximize the efficiency of multistep syntheses utilizing this chemistry. Silyloxy boronic esters cannot be made efficiently by direct substitution, but a (hydroxymethyl)boronic ester has been silylated in the usual manner. Conversion of alpha-halo boronic esters to alpha-azido boronic esters has been carried out with sodium azide and a tetrabutylammonium salt as phase-transfer catalyst in a two-phase system with water and either nitromethane or ethyl acetate. These are safer solvents than the previously used dichloromethane, which can form an explosive byproduct with azide ion. Boronic esters containing silyloxy or alkoxy and azido substituents have been shown to react efficiently with (dihalomethyl)lithiums, resulting in efficient asymmetric insertion of the halomethyl group into the carbon-boron bond.     

Highly Selective Allylborations of Aldehydes Using α,α‐Disubstituted Allylic Pinacol Boronic Esters

α,α‐Disubstituted allylic pinacol boronic esters undergo highly selective allylborations of aldehydes to give tetrasubstituted homoallylic alcohols with exceptional levels of anti‐Z‐selectivity (>20:1). The scope of the reaction includes both acyclic and cyclic allylic boronic esters which lead to acyclic and exocyclic tetrasubstituted homoallylic alcohols. The use of β‐borylated allylic boronic esters gave fully substituted alkenes bearing a boronic ester which underwent further cross‐coupling enabling a highly modular and stereoselective approach to the synthesis of diaryl tetrasubstituted alkenes. Computational analysis revealed the origin of the remarkable selectivity observed.     

Asymmetric alkyldifluoroboranes and their use in secondary amine synthesis

[reaction: see text] Asymmetric diol boronic esters with potassium bifluoride form the corresponding alkyltrifluoroborate and free diol under mild conditions. Defluoridation with tetrachlorosilane produces an alkyldifluoroborane intermediate. This conversion of relatively unreactive boronic esters to derivatives that are strong Lewis acids opens new synthetic opportunities, as illustrated by the preparation of (R)-2-phenylpyrrolidine in 98% ee from a pinanediol or 1,2-dicyclohexyl-1,2-ethanediol boronic ester via potassium (2-phenyl-4-azidobutyl)trifluoroborate.     

Synthesis of high enantiopurity N-protected alpha-amino ketones by thiol ester-organostannane cross-coupling using pH-neutral conditions

An efficient synthesis of high enantiopurity N-protected alpha-amino ketones is described. Complementing other studies using boronic acids and thiol esters, this Cu(I) diphenylphosphinate (CuDPP)-mediated, palladium-catalyzed coupling of alpha-amino thiol esters with aryl, heteroaryl, allyl, and alkenyl organostannanes gives N-protected alpha-amino ketones in high yields with high enantiopurity (in almost all cases) under mild and pH-neutral reaction conditions. The viability of pi-deficient heteroarylstannanes is an advantage of this reaction compared to the related boronic acid system.     

Structural reassignment of the mono- and bis-addition products from the addition reactions of N-(Diphenylmethylene)glycinate esters to [60]fullerene under Bingel conditions

The addition of N-(diphenylmethylene)glycinate esters (Ph2C=NCH2CO2R) to [60]fullerene under Bingel conditions gives [60]fullerenyldihydropyrroles and not methano[60]fullerenyl iminoesters [C60C(CO2R)(N=CPh2)] as previously reported. Unequivocal evidence for the structure of C60C(CO2Et)(N=CPh2) was provided by INADEQUATE NMR studies on 13C enriched material. New mechanistic details are proposed to account for the formation of [60]fullerenyldihydropyrroles and their reductive ring-opening reactions.     

Crystallization-controlled dynamic self-assembly and an on/off switch for equilibration using boronic ester formation

Macrocyclic boronic esters of different sizes can be prepared selectively from the same starting diboronic acid and 1,2-diol by means of an interesting dynamic self-assembly phenomena. More specifically, two kinds of macrocyclic boronic esters could be formed diastereoselectively and nearly quantitatively under neutral conditions by the addition of an appropriate guest molecule that acts as a template. Although a mixture of tetrol 1 and di(boronic acid) 2 in methanol gave only insoluble polymeric boronic esters, a soluble macrocyclic boronic ester, homo-[2+2], was obtained selectively in the presence of toluene as a guest molecule. Furthermore, when benzene was employed as a guest molecule, the selective formation of another macrocyclic boronic ester, hetero-[3+3], occurred. Interestingly, each of these macrocycles could be converted into the other in the presence of methanol and the appropriate guest molecule; however, under aprotic conditions, guest molecules encaged by the macrocyclic boronic ester could be exchanged without affecting its structure. Thus the presence or absence of a protic solvent could be used as a regulator to switch on or off the dynamic equilibrium of the system. In addition, investigation of the effect of reaction time, direct observation of the reaction mixture by NMR spectroscopy, and carrying out the reaction using optically active tetrol suggested that precipitation plays an essentially important role in the selective formation of the macrocyclic boronic esters. Thus, although both of [2+2] and [3+3] were present as solutes in the reaction mixture, the type of added guest molecule induced the selective precipitation of only one form of macrocyclic boronic ester, hence displacing the equilibrium of the system.     

Vinylidene Homologation of Boronic Esters and its Application to the Synthesis of the Proposed Structure of Machillene

Alkenyl boronic esters are important reagents in organic synthesis. Herein, we report that these valuable products can be accessed by the homologation of boronic esters with lithiated epoxysilanes. Aliphatic and electron‐rich aromatic boronic esters provided vinylidene boronic esters in moderate to high yields, while electron‐deficient aromatic and vinyl boronic esters were found to give the corresponding vinyl silane products. Through DFT calculations, this divergence in mechanistic pathway has been rationalized by considering the stabilization of negative charge in the C?Si and C?B bond breaking transition states. This vinylidene homologation was used in a short six‐step stereoselective synthesis of the proposed structure of machillene, however, synthetic and reported data were found to be inconsistent.     

Investigation of the scope of a [3+2] cycloaddition approach to isoxazole boronic esters

The [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of nitrile oxides and alkynylboronates provides direct access to a wide variety of isoxazole boronic esters. Specifically, this technique has been employed to generate trisubstituted isoxazole 4-boronates and disubstituted isoxazoles where the boronic ester moiety can be installed at C-4 or C-5 with high levels of regiocontrol. The application of this methodology in the synthesis of non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents is also described.     

Ketone synthesis under neutral conditions. Cu(I) diphenylphosphinate-mediated,palladium-catalyzed coupling of thiol esters and organostannanes

[reaction: see text] A versatile approach to ketone synthesis is described. The reaction relies on the palladium-catalyzed, copper diphenylphosphinate-mediated coupling of thiol esters with organostannanes under neutral reaction conditions. This reaction complements the previously described coupling of thiol esters with boronic acids that used dual thiophilic-borophilic activation methodology.     

Visible‐Light‐Mediated Decarboxylative Radical Additions to Vinyl Boronic Esters: Rapid Access to γ‐Amino Boronic Esters

The synthesis of alkyl boronic esters by direct decarboxylative radical addition of carboxylic acids to vinyl boronic esters is described. The reaction proceeds under mild photoredox catalysis and involves an unprecedented single‐electron reduction of an α‐boryl radical intermediate to the corresponding anion. The reaction is amenable to a diverse range of substrates, including α‐amino, α‐oxy, and alkyl carboxylic acids, thus providing a novel method to rapidly access boron‐containing molecules of potential biological importance.