Benzylic oxidation catalyzed by dirhodium(II,III) caprolactamate

[reaction: see text] Dirhodium caprolactamate [Rh2(cap)4] is an effective catalyst for benzylic oxidation with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) under mild conditions. Sodium bicarbonate is the optimal base additive for substrate conversion. Benzylic carbonyl compounds are readily obtained, and a formal synthesis of palmarumycin CP2 using this methodology is described.     

Oxidation of secondary amines catalyzed by dirhodium caprolactamate

The dirhodium caprolactamate [Rh(2)(cap)(4)] catalyzed oxidation of secondary amines to imines by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) occurs with high chemo- and regioselectivity.     

The oxidative mannich reaction catalyzed by dirhodium caprolactamate

Dirhodium caprolactamate [Rh2(cap)4] is a highly effective catalyst for the oxidative Mannich reaction. The reaction proceeds via C-H oxidation of a tertiary amine followed by nucleophilic capture. This green transformation is conducted in protic solvent using inexpensive T-HYDRO (70% t-BuOOH in water). Synthetically valuable gamma-aminoalkyl butenolides are obtained.     

Efficient aziridination of olefins catalyzed by mixed-valent dirhodium(II,III) caprolactamate

[reaction: see text] A mild, efficient, and selective aziridination of olefins catalyzed by dirhodium(II) caprolactamate [Rh(2)(cap)(4).2CH(3)CN] is described. Use of p-toluenesulfonamide (TsNH(2)), N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), and potassium carbonate readily affords aziridines in isolated yields of up to 95% under extremely mild conditions with as little as 0.01 mol % Rh(2)(cap)(4). Aziridine formation occurs through Rh(2)(5+)-catalyzed aminobromination and subsequent base-induced ring closure. An X-ray crystal structure of a Rh(2)(5+) halide complex, formed from the reaction between Rh(2)(cap)(4) and N-chlorosuccinimide, has been obtained.     

Propargylic oxidations catalyzed by dirhodium caprolactamate in water: efficient access to alpha,beta-acetylenic ketones

Dirhodium(II) caprolactamate (1, Rh 2(cap) 4) with 70% w/w aqueous tert-butyl hydroperoxide (T-HYDRO ) is a highly effective catalytic oxidation protocol for the selective C-H oxidation of alkynes to propargylic ketones. The oxidation occurs readily in aqueous solvent under mild conditions with an inexpensive and easily handled oxidant. Alpha,beta-acetylenic carbonyl compounds are formed in up to 80% isolated yield.     

Dirhodium(II) caprolactamate: an exceptional catalyst for allylic oxidation

The oxidation of organic molecules represents a fundamentally important chemical process. Particularly important is allylic oxidation, whereby a single methylene unit is converted directly into a carbonyl group. In this communication, we report that dirhodium(II) caprolactamate [Rh2(cap)4] in combination with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (terminal oxidant) effectively catalyzes the allylic oxidation of a variety of olefins and enones. The reaction is completely selective, tolerant of air/moisture, and can be performed with as little as 0.1 mol % catalyst in minutes. A mechanistic proposal involving redox chain catalysis has been put forth, as well as evidence for the intermediacy of a higher valent dirhodium tert-butyl peroxy complex.     

Improved chromium-catalyzed allylic oxidation of Δ-steroids with t-butyl hydroperoxide

Various chromium^VI-catalyzed conditions have been tested to improve the oxidation of Δ⁵-steroids with t-BuOOH to their corresponding 5-en-7-ones. The use of PDC or the association of CrO₃ with an amine as the catalyst and CH₂Cl₂ or PhCF₃ as the solvent led usually to the best yields. A minor reaction pathway was the epoxidation of the double bond.     

Tandem oxidation of allylic and benzylic alcohols to esters catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes

N-heterocyclic carbenes catalyze the oxidation of allylic, propargylic, and benzylic alcohols to esters with manganese(IV) oxide in excellent yields. A variety of ester derivatives can be synthesized, including protected carboxylates. This one-pot tandem oxidation represents the first organocatalytic oxidation of alcohols to esters. Saturated esters can also be accessed from aldehydes using this method. Through the utilization of a chiral catalyst, the acyl-heteroazolium intermediate becomes a chiral acylating agent, which can desymmetrize meso-1,2-diols. [reaction: see text].     

Osmium (VI) catalyzed chemoselective oxidation of allylic and benzylic alcohols

A mild and highly chemoselective approach to oxidation of allylic, electron rich/deficient benzylic, and heterocyclic alcohols employing catalytic quantities of K₂[OsO₂(OH)₄] (3 mol %) and chloramine-T (50 mol %) is described. The protocol offers short reaction times (25 min–2 h), controlled oxidation, and tolerance to a variety of substrates. A systematic mechanistic study based on the LC-ESI-MS/MS reveals the presence of imidotriooxoosmium species which further reacts with alcohol to give the oxidized product.     

Copper catalyzed enantioselective allylic substitution by MeMgX

Methyl Grignard undergoes highly regio (>90/10) and enantioselective (ee 91-96%) copper catalyzed allylic substitution on cinnamyl-type chlorides. CuBr (3%) and 3.3% of a chiral phosphoramidite ligand are sufficient for a complete reaction. The synthesis of a precursor of (+)-Naproxen is described. The reaction can be extended to alkyl substituted allylic chlorides (ee 72%).     

Aerobic photocatalytic oxidation of activated benzylic and allylic alcohols to carbonyl compounds catalyzed by molecular iodine

An efficient, selective and environmentally benign photocatalytic system in acetonitrile has been developed for aerobic oxidation of activated benzylic and allylic alcohols into their corresponding aldehydes and ketones without the need for a transition metal in moderate to excellent yields with a catalytic amount of iodine. Very high inter- and intramolecular chemoselectivities are observed when benzylic OH groups are oxidized in the presence of aliphatic (nonbenzylic) hydroxyls.     

On the mechanism of allylic alkylations catalyzed by palladium

Reults are reported indicating the intermediacy of a symmetrical π-allyl species in the alkylation of an allylic lactone. A previous report indicating that another mechanism was operative is disputed.     

Regio- and enantioselective allylic amination of achiral allylic esters catalyzed by an iridium-phosphoramidite complex

A new catalytic asymmetric process, the iridium-catalyzed enantioselective allylic amination of (E)-cinnamyl and terminal aliphatic allylic carbonates, was developed by exploring complexes of chiral phosphoramidites. The reaction provided branched secondary and tertiary allylic amines in high yields with excellent regio- and enantioselectivity (13 examples over 94% ee). Although the reactions in polar solvent such as DMF, EtOH, and MeOH were fast, they gave low enantiomeric excesses. In contrast, reactions in THF displayed the most suitable balance of rate and enantioselectivity. Both the binaphthol unit and the disubstituted amine in the phosphoramidite affected reactivity and selectivity, and complexes of O,O'-(R)-(1,1'-dinaphthyl-2,2'-diyl)-N,N'-di-(R,R)-1-phenylethylphosphoramidite provided the highest reactivity and selectivity. Primary and cyclic secondary amines reacted at room temperature, and acyclic diethylamine reacted at 50 degrees C. p-Methoxy-substituted cinnamyl carbonate reacted similarly to the unsubstituted cinnamyl carbonate, but the o-methoxy-substituted substrate gave lower enantiomeric excess. High ee's were also observed for the products from the reaction of furanyl- and alkyl-substituted (E)-allylic carbonates.     

Ether formation from allylic alcohols catalyzed by samarium trichloride

The behaviour of various allylic alcohols in the presence of catalytic amounts of SmCl₃ (by heating in 1,2-dichloroethane) has been studied. Diallyl ethers are obtained in many cases in good yields. Mixed allyl alkyl ethers are also prepared if 2–5 equivalents of an aliphatic alcohol is present. The reactions are interpreted as proceeding through a pseudo allylic carbonium intermediate initiated by a preliminary complexation of the allyl hydroxyl to the samarium ion.     

Reaction of tertiary allylic amines with butadiene catalyzed by palladium

Tertiary allylic amines react with butadiene in the presence of palladium(O) with cleavage of the carbon-nitrogen bond of the allylic amine and formation of the unsaturated tertiary amine $\text{4}$.     

Metal-free oxidation of secondary benzylic alcohols using aqueous TBHP

We report a simple, yet efficient metal-free oxidation of secondary benzylic alcohols in the presence of t-butyl hydroperoxide (70% TBHP) with high yields of up to 98%. This type of reaction can be carried out using a wide variety of substrates, requires no other organic solvent, and proves to be tolerant toward a variety of different functional groups.     

Synthesis of nearly enantiopure allylic amines by aza-Claisen rearrangement of Z-configured allylic trifluoroacetimidates catalyzed by highly active ferrocenylbispalladacycles

The development of the first highly active enantioselective catalyst for the aza-Claisen rearrangement of Z-configured allylic trifluoroacetimidates generating valuable almost enantiopure protected allylic amines is described. Usually Z-configured allylic imidates react significantly slower than their E-configured counterparts, but in the present study the opposite effect was observed. Z-Configured olefins have the principal practical advantage that a geometrically pure C=C double bond can be readily obtained, for example, by semihydrogenations of alkynes. Our catalyst, a C(2)-symmetric planar chiral bispalladacycle complex, is rapidly prepared from ferrocene in four simple steps. Key step of this protocol is an unprecedented highly diastereoselective biscyclopalladation providing dimeric macrocyclic complexes of fascinating structure. In the present study as little as 0.1 mol % of catalyst precursor were sufficient for most of the alkyl substituted substrates to give in general almost quantitative yields. NMR investigations revealed a monomeric structure for the active catalyst species. The bispalladacycle can also be used for the formation of almost enantiomerically pure allylic amines (ee > or =96 %) substituted with important functional groups such as ester, ketone, ether, silyl ether, acetal or protected amino moieties providing high-added-value allylic amine building blocks in excellent yield (> or =94 %). The preparative advantages should render this methodology highly appealing as a practical and valuable tool for the formation of allylic amines in target oriented synthesis.     

Selective aerobic oxidation of allylic and benzylic alcohols catalyzed by N-hydroxyindole and copper(I) chloride

In the presence of copper(I) chloride, tert-butyl 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-6-trifluoromethyl-1H-indole-3-carboxylate acted as a catalyst for the chemoselective aerobic oxidation of allylic and benzylic alcohols. A variety of primary and secondary allylic and benzylic alcohols were oxidized into the corresponding α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in good yields without affecting non-allylic alcohols.     

A case for enantioselective allylic alkylation catalyzed by palladium nanoparticles

Palladium nanoparticles (4 nm, fcc) were prepared through decomposition of [Pd2(dba)3] by H2 in the presence of a chiral xylofuranoside diphosphite. These particles catalyze the allylic alkylation of rac-3-acetoxy-1,3-diphenyl-1-propene with dimethyl malonate leading to an almost total conversion of the (R) enantiomer and almost no reaction with the (S). This gives rise to 97% ee for the alkylation product and a kinetic resolution of the substrate recovered with ca. 90% ee. This behavior was compared to that of a molecular catalyst at various dilutions, and the differences between the two systems are discussed. This is the first colloidal system shown to display such a high enantioselectivity besides the well-known Pt/cinchonidine system.     

钯配合物催化的亚磺酸烯丙酯重排反应

在杂原子酸烯丙酯和低价过渡金属配合物反应的系统研究中,我们发现在四(三苯膦)钯韵催化下,亚磺酸烯丙酯能够容易地重排成相应的砜.反应温度要比相应的热重排低得多,而且时间短,产率高. 重排反应的典型实例如下:在25℃氩气气氛下,向溶有91mg(0.5mmol)苯基亚磺酸烯丙基酯(1a)的5mL四氢呋喃溶液中加入25mg(0.022mmol)四(三苯膦)钯,搅拌反应混合物,薄层层析跟踪直至原料消失,耗时约70分钟.减压除去四氢呋喃,残渣用四氯化碳萃取,硅胶制备薄层层析分离[5:1石油醚(30～60℃)-乙酸乙酯],得79mg油状物,产率87％,b.p.130℃(浴温)/0.2 mm(文献值:111～113℃/0.25mm).结果如表1所示.