Efficient Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides catalyzed by tricyclohexylphosphine adducts of cyclopalladated ferrocenylimines

The air and moisture stable tricyclohexylphosphine (PCy₃) adducts of dimeric cyclopalladated ferrocenylimines 5 and 6 have been easily synthesized and successfully used in palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling of aryl chlorides. Using 0.1 mol% of 6 in the presence of 2 equivalent of Cs₂CO₃ as base in dioxane at 100 °C provided coupled products in excellent yields in the reaction of non-activated and deactivated aryl chlorides with phenylboronic acid. For activated chlorides such as 4-chloronitrobenzene and 4-chloroacetophenone, the catalyst loadings could be lowered to 0.01 mol% without loss of activity.     

Studies on the Lossen-type rearrangement of N-(3-phenylpropionyloxy) phthalimide and N-tosyloxy derivatives with several nucleophiles

The reaction of N-(3-phenylpropionyloxy)phthalimide (1a) and N-tosyloxy (5a,b) derivatives with nucleophiles was examined and found to give the products via Lossen-type rearrangement. In order to obtain the scope of this reaction mechanism, further studies the reaction of several N-sulfonyloxyimide derivatives with various nucleophiles under similar conditions were carried out and found to afford the corresponding same types of products in high yields.     

Synthesis, structure and catalytic activity of a bimacrocylic NHC palladium allyl complex

The preparation of a bimacrocyclic NHC palladium allyl complex 4 is described. The complex was obtained by transmetalation with allyl palladium chloride dimer from the NHC silver complex 2 in 85% yield. Complex 4 was fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and by single-crystal X-ray analysis. In a preliminary catalytic study, complex 4 showed high activity in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of unactivated aryl chlorides and bromides with 1-naphthalene-boronic acid at low catalyst loading. Good results were also obtained in the Mizoroki-Heck reaction of aryl bromides with styrene, but a decrease in yield was observed when aryl chlorides were used.     

Reactions of chelated η-pentadienyl iron complexes with nucleophiles

Ferracyclic (1-3-η³)pentadienyl complexes with electronically decoupled allyl and vinyl moieties were reacted with various heteroatom and carbon nucleophiles. Primary amines selectively attacked neutral (4-6-η³-pentadienyl)ferralactones 2 on the end of the allyl ligand to give 3-(endo-vinyl)-(4-6-η³-allyl)ferralactams 4 and by a similar reaction of the latter eventually 6-(exo-vinyl)-(4-6-η³-allyl)ferralactams 5. -like attack on the conjugated coplanar vinyl residue of 2 was not observed. The cationic η³-allyl complex 3 was attacked by nucleophiles either on the allylic terminus furnishing free (1Z, 3E)-dienes 8, or on the vinyl residue which is part of an activated Michael system to give η⁴-1,3-diene complexes 9. η⁴-1,3,5-Triene complex 10 was obtained with basic nucleophiles.     

Samarium diiodide-mediated reductive couplings of chiral nitrones with aldehydes/ketones and acyl chlorides

The SmI₂-mediated and H₂O-promoted reductive cross-coupling reactions of the l-tartaric acid derived nitrone (3S,4S)-8 with aldehydes/ketones, and the l-malic acid derived nitrone (S)-6 with aliphatic acyl chlorides have been investigated, respectively. (2R,3S,4S)-1,3,4-Trihydroxyprolinol derivatives 9a-f were obtained with high C-2/C-3 trans-selectivities, and 72:28-85:15 diastereoselectivities at the carbinol center from aromatic ketones/aldehydes, while low diastereoselectivities for aliphatic aldehydes. Conditions have been established for the syntheses of (2R,3S,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyprolinol derivatives such as 18, by N-O bond cleavage of the corresponding N-hydroxyprolinol derivatives 9b-f, or more conveniently by a one-pot reductive coupling of nitrone 8 and in situ N-O bond cleavage of the resultant coupling product. The 2-acyl-3-benzyloxy-1-hydroxypyrrolidines 10a-f were formed in 48-82% yields, and in 74:26-78:22 diastereoselectivities. It was revealed that the amount of water required for the reaction is substrate-depending.     

1-(N-Acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts as synthetic equivalents of N-acylimines and new effective α-amidoalkylating agents

1-(N-Acylaminoalkyl)triphenylphosphonium salts 2a-f on reaction with DBU in MeCN are transformed into 1-(N-acylaminoalkyl)amidinium salts 3a-f. Amidinium salts 3d-f with a proton at the β-position undergo slow tautomerization into the corresponding enamides 6d-f. The same 1-(N-acylamino)alkyltriphenylphosphonium salts 2d-f in the presence of Hünig’s base are transformed directly into the corresponding enamides. Phosphonium salts 2, amidinium salts 3, and enamides 6 react with dialkyl malonates in the presence of DBU to give the corresponding amidoalkylation products. α-Amidoalkylation of dialkyl malonates is not observed in the presence of (i-Pr)₂EtN, yet proceeds well under these conditions with more acidic nucleophiles, for example, phthalimide or benzyl mercaptan.     

Electrochemical synthesis of 6-amino-5-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) pyrimidine

Electrochemical oxidation of several catechols is studied in the presence of 4(6)-aminouracil (3a) and 6-amino-1,3-dimethyl uracil (3b) as nucleophiles in aqueous solution using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results reveal that quinones derived from catechols participate in Michael additions with 3a and 3b to give the corresponding catecholamine derivatives via an electron transfer followed by chemical reaction (EC) mechanistic pathway in good yields and purities.     

Regioselective synthesis of 4- and 5-oxazole-phosphine oxides and -phosphonates from 2H-azirines and acyl chlorides

A simple and efficient regioselective synthesis of 4-oxazole-phosphine oxides 11 and -phosphonates 12 from 2H-azirine-phosphine oxides 1 and -phosphonates 6 is described. The key step for the synthesis of oxazoles 11 is a base-mediated ring closure of vinylogous α-aminophosphorus compounds derived from phosphine oxides 4 and from phosphonates 8. These derivatives 4 and 8 are obtained by reaction of functionalized azirines 1 and 6 with acyl chlorides 2 and subsequent acid-catalyzed ring opening of N-acylaziridine-phosphine oxides 3 and -phosphonates 7. Regioselective thermal ring cleavage of N-acylaziridine-phosphine oxides 3 leads α-chloro-β-(N-acylamido)-phosphine oxides 13 and their treatment with bases gives 5-oxazole-phosphine oxides 16.     

Tandem intramolecular carbolithiation-transmetallation: from lithium to copper or boron chemistry

Lithium/copper transmetallation from the organolithium intermediate 3 (obtained via intramolecular carbolithiation of the acyclic organolithium 2, generated by a chlorine-lithium exchange) gives the corresponding organocopper intermediate 5. This intermediate reacts with eletrophiles, such as allylic or propargylic halides, acyl chlorides or α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds giving the expected compounds 6-10, which are not possible to be obtained directly from the organolithium 3. On the other hand, lithium/boron transmetallation affords the corresponding alkylboronic acid 11 which, after palladium-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction with different aryl bromides gives the expected products 12 with modest yields, the corresponding Ullman biarylic homocoupling products being the major by-products.     

Synthesis of diastereoisomeric 6-deoxy-d-allal- and 6-deoxy-d-galactal-derived allyl epoxides and examination of the regio- and stereoselectivity in nucleophilic addition reactions. Comparison with the corresponding 6-O-functionalized allyl epoxides

The new 6-deoxy-d-allal- and 6-deoxy-d-galactal-derived allyl epoxides 8α and 8β have been stereoselectively prepared and their behaviour as glycosyl donors in addition reactions with nucleophiles examined and compared with that of the corresponding 6-OR (R=Bn, Tr) substituted epoxides. The completely stereoselective substrate-dependent glycosylation process found in the reaction of 8α and 8β with O-nucleophiles (alcohols and partially protected monosaccharides) and C-nucleophiles (alkyl lithium compounds and TMSCN), indicated that a 6-OR group in the side chain is not necessary for determining the selectivity. The reaction of 8α and 8β with azide (TMSN₃, N-nucleophile) made it possible to revise a previously proposed rationalization for the formation of the corresponding cis-azido alcohol (syn-1,2-addition product).     

An efficient microwave assisted synthesis of novel class of Rhodanine derivatives as potential HIV-1 and JSP-1 inhibitors

(Z)-5-(2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)-2-oxoethylidene)-3-phenyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one (7a-q) derivatives have been synthesized by the condensation reaction of 3-phenyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones (3a-h) with suitably substituted 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxoacetaldehyde (6a-d) under microwave condition. The thioxothiazolidine-4-ones were prepared from the corresponding aromatic amines (1a-e) and di-(carboxymethyl)-trithiocarbonyl (2). The aldehydes (6a-h) were synthesized from the corresponding acid chlorides (5a-d) using HSnBu₃.     

Simple preparation of phenylpropenoid β-d-glucopyranoside congeners by Mizoroki-Heck type reaction using organoboron reagents

Palladium(II)-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation between allyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) and arylboronic acid congeners gave the corresponding cinnamyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl- β-d-glucopyranosides (4a-m) in good yield. Among them, coupling products 4a-m were converted to not only the naturally occurring phenylpropenoid β-d-glucopyranoside analogues (1a-e) but also the unnaturally ones (1f-m).     

The radical reactions of imine radicals produced from the metal salts oxidation of 2-amino-1,4-benzoquinones

The metal salts mediated oxidative free radical reaction of 2-amino-1,4-benzoquinones is described. Imine radicals can be generated by the oxidation of 2-amino-1,4-benzoquinones with Mn(III) and Ag(II). The dimeric products 4 and 14 were formed via the intermolecular radical coupling reaction of the corresponding radical intermediates 5 and 15. In the presence of styrene, twistane 17 was afforded from 2-phenylamino-1,4-benzoquinone 1 via a radical annulation reaction of imine radical 5.     

Efficient synthesis of vinyl chlorides and/or gem-dichlorides from ketones by treatment with tungsten hexachloride

Treatment of cyclic ketones, e.g. 4, with tungsten hexachloride (WCl₆) provided good yields of vinyl chlorides, e.g. 5, and/or gem-dichlorides. A trans-diequatorial dichloride 9 was prepared by treatment of the corresponding epoxide 8 with WCl₆.     

Synthesis of polyfunctionalized furans from 3-acetyl-1-aryl-2-pentene-1,4-diones

The BF₃-catalyzed cyclization of 3-acetyl-1-aryl-2-pentene-1,4-diones 1a-e in the presence of water in boiling tetrahydrofuran gave bis(3-acetyl-5-aryl-2-furyl)methanes 2a-e in 26-79% yields along with a small amount of 3-acetyl-5-aryl-2-methylfurans 3a-e. The exact structure of 2a was determined by X-ray crystallography. The use of a half volume of the solvent for the reaction of 1a resulted in the formation of 2,4-bis(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-3-acetyl-5-phenylfuran (4) together with 2a and 3a. A similar reaction of 1a was carried out in the presence of 3-acetyl-5-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylfuran (3d) to afford 4-(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-3-acetyl-5-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylfuran (5) in 49% yield. The BF₃-catalyzed reaction of 1a with 2,4-pentanedione in dry tetrahydrofuran at 23°C gave 3-(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one (6a) and 3-(3-acetyl-2-methyl-4-phenyl-5-furyl)-4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one (7a) in 66 and 24% yields, respectively. The product distribution depended on the reaction temperature. A similar reaction of 1b-e also yielded the corresponding trisubstituted furans 6b-e and tetrasubstituted furans 7b-e in good yields. These results suggested the presence of the furfuryl carbocation intermediate A during the reaction. The one-pot synthesis of 6a and 7a was also achieved by a similar reaction using phenylglyoxal. The deoxygenation of 1a with triphenylphosphine gave 3a in 88% yield, while 1a was treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid to yield 3-acetyl-2-chloromethyl-5-phenylfuran (8) which was quantitatively transformed in ethanol into 3-acetyl-2-ethoxymethyl-5-phenylfuran (9) and in water into 3-acetyl-5-phenylfurfuryl alcohol (10), respectively. In addition, the Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopantadiene with 1a gave the corresponding [4+2] cycloaddition products 11 and 12.     

De-novo approach for a unique spiro skeleton-1,7-dioxa-2,6-dioxospiro[4.4]nonanes

2-Oxoglutaric acid (1) underwent facile indium mediated allylation with allyl bromide (2), and ethyl 4-bromocrotonate (3), cinnamyl bromide (4) and subsequent in situ dehydration to provide respective 5-oxotetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acids 5-7 (90-95%). The reaction of 1 with 3 and 4 proceeded with high regio and stereo selectivity to provide only γ-addition products with syn stereochemistry as ascertained from their cyclic products. Compounds 5-7 underwent diastereoselective iodocyclization to provide respective 1,7-dioxa-2,6-dioxospiro[4.4]nonanes 8-13. The relative stereochemistries have been ascertained by single crystal X-ray structures, NOE experiments and coupling constants in ¹H NMR spectra.     

Imino Diels-Alder reaction of boronates. Preparation and characterization of new 3,4-dihydroquinoline and 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine derivatives

The preparation of 3,4-dihydroquinolines (2a-d and 3a,b,d), as well as 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines (4a-e) by imino Diels-Alder reaction of boronates (1a-e) with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene is reported. Boronates (1a-d) containing substituents meta and para relative to the imino fragment lead to diastereomeric mixtures of 4-methyl-4-ethenyl-3,4-dihydroquinolines (2, 3) and tetrahydropyridines (4). In contrast, the presence of an electron withdrawing substituent at the para position (1e), favors the iminodienophile behavior giving 4,5-dimethyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (4e) as the main product. The results show that boronates derived from Schiff bases are electron deficient species which can act either as dienophiles or dienes in the reaction with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene to give 3,4-dihydroquinolines and 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines. All products were characterized by NMR and X-ray diffraction analysis of 2b, 2d, 3d and 4c allowed to assign the relative configuration of the newly formed stereogenic centers.     

Regioselective control using a catalyst switch in the reaction of diarylmethyl chlorides with allyltributylstannane

Regioselective control in the reaction of diarylmethyl chlorides 5a with allyltributyltin is described. The reaction pathway (allylative dearomatization vs cross-coupling) can be easily controlled using different catalysts. When reactions are performed in the presence of Pd₂(dba)₃ and PPh₃, allylative dearomatization proceeds to provide satisfactory yield of the desired products. However, when Cy₃P·HBF₄ is employed as a catalyst instead of palladium, a Stille-type cross-coupling reaction takes place exclusively to give excellent yields of the corresponding products.     

Sodium dithionite initiated reactions of 1-bromo-1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane with enol ethers of cyclic ketones

Sodium dithionite initiated reactions of 1-bromo-1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (1) with methyl and trimethylsilyl ethers of cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone enols (2a-d) in a MeCN/H₂O system were investigated. 2-(2,2,2-Trifluoroethylidene)cyclopentanone (4a) and 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-cyclohexanone (4b), respectively, were obtained as the main products and isolated in reasonable yields. The reaction with a 1:1 mixture of 5- and 3-methyl substituted 1-methoxycyclohexenes, 2e and 2f, revealed strong influence of steric hindrance on the reaction rate; a mixture of 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-5-methylcyclohexanone (6) and 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-3-methylcyclohexanone (7) in a 9:1 ratio was formed. Ketones 4a and 4b were reduced to the corresponding alcohols 8 and 9 and the reaction of 4b with hydrazine gave an indazole derivative 10.     

Intramolecular carbolithiation promoted by a DTBB-catalysed chlorine-lithium exchange

The reaction of 6-chlorohex-1-ene 1 with lithium powder and a catalytic amount of 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (DTBB, 5% molar) in THF at −78°C gives the corresponding organolithium intermediate 2, which by reaction with different electrophiles affords, after hydrolysis with diluted hydrochloric acid, the expected products 3. The same reaction performed at −30°C gives cyclopentyl derivatives 5, probably by cyclisation of the open-chain intermediate 2 to give the cyclic organolithium compound 4. When the double bond in the starting material contains an alkyl substituent, for instance compounds 6 and 9, the corresponding cyclisation is inhibited, so the corresponding acyclic products 8 and 11 are respectively, obtained. However, when the substituent at the same positions is a phenyl group, like in starting materials 12 and 15, the cyclised products 14 and 17 were respectively, isolated. In the case of the secondary starting chlorinated material 18, the reaction can be directed to both, the acyclic products 20 or the cyclic ones 22, working at −78 or −30°C, respectively, as it happens in the case of the unsubstituted chlorinated material 1. For the tertiary chloro derivative 23, only the cyclic compound 27 could be isolated at −30°C due to the great instability of the corresponding tertiary organolithium intermediate 24, which undergoes a proton abstraction even at −78°C. From allyl 2-chlorophenyl ether 28 or N,N-diallyl-2-chloroaniline 32, only the corresponding cyclic compounds 31 and 33, respectively, are isolated either at −78 or at −30°C. In all cases a carbanionic cyclisation, better than a radical one, is postulated to occur as mechanistic pathway.