Synthesis of pyridines from ketoximes and terminal alkynes via C-H bond functionalization

An expedient one-pot rhodium catalyzed C-H bond functionalization/electrocyclization/dehydration procedure has been developed for the synthesis of highly substituted pyridine derivatives from terminal alkynes and α,β-unsaturated ketoximes. The use of electron-deficient phosphite ligands is important to suppress dimerization of the terminal alkynes to enynes.     

New reaction model for O-O bond formation and O2 evolution catalyzed by dinuclear manganese complex

A new mechanism of the oxygen evolving reaction catalyzed by [H(2)O(terpy)Mn(μ-O)(2)Mn(terpy)OH(2)](3+) is proposed by using density functional theory. This proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) model shows reasonable barriers. Because in experiments excess oxidants (OCl(-) or HSO(5)(-)) are required to evolve oxygen from water, we considered the Mn(2) complex neutralized by three counterions. Structure optimization made the coordinated OCl(-) withdraw a H(+) from the water ligand and produces the reaction space for H(2)O(2) formation with the deprotonated OH(-) ligand. The reaction barrier for the H(2)O(2) formation from OH(-) and protonated OCl(-) depends significantly on the system charge and is 14.0 kcal/mol when the system is neutralized. The H(2)O(2) decomposes to O(2) during two PCET processes to the Mn(2) complex, both with barriers lower than 12.0 kcal/mol. In both PCET processes the spin moment of transferred electrons prefers to be parallel to that of Mn 3d electrons because of the exchange interaction. This model thus explains how the triplet O(2) molecule is produced.     

A rare terminal dinitrogen complex of chromium

Cis and trans-Cr-N(2) complexes supported by the diphosphine ligand P(Ph)(2)N(Bn)(2) have been prepared. Positioned pendant amines in the second coordination sphere influence the thermodynamically preferred geometric isomer. Electronic structure calculations indicate negligible Cr-N(2) back-bonding; rather, electronic polarization of N(2) ligand is thought to stabilize Cr-N(2) binding.     

The cross-coupling reaction of vinylindiums generated via hydroindation of terminal alkynes with diaryliodoniums salts

In InCl₃–NaBH₄–MeCN system, vinylindiums generated by hydroindation of aryl terminal alkynes can undergo cross-coupling reaction with diaryliodonium salts high regio- and stereoselectively. But under the same conditions, the aliphatic terminal alkynes do not react very well.     

N-C bond formation promoted by a hafnocene dinitrogen complex: comparison of zirconium and hafnium congeners

Nitrogen-carbon bond formation from coordinated dinitrogen has been observed upon addition of 2 equiv of PhNCO to the hafnocene dinitrogen complex, [(eta5-C5Me4H)2Hf]2(mu2,eta2,eta2-N2). The resulting product most likely arises from initial N=C cycloaddition of the first equivalent of heterocumulene, followed by carbonyl insertion of a second equivalent into the newly formed hafnium-nitrogen bond. The resulting product has considerable hafnium imido character, as evidenced by the metrical parameters determined from the solid-state structure as well as reactivity studies, whereby PhNCO, p-tolyl isocyanate, and t-BuCCH each undergo cycloaddition with the hafnium-nitrogen bond. The origin of the nitrogen-carbon-forming chemistry is likely derived from the reluctance of the hafnocene dinitrogen complex to undergo ligand-induced N2 isomerization, as was observed with the zirconium congener.     

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of aryl trimethoxysilanes with terminal alkynes

A palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of aryl trimethoxysilanes with terminal alkynes was described. Thus, di-substituted alkynes were prepared in moderate to good yields. The electron-deficient terminal alkynes also worked well in the procedure.     

Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction of organotellurium dichlorides with terminal alkynes

The Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction of vinylic and heteroaromatic tellurium dichlorides has been explored, yielding the corresponding enynes and 2-alkynyl substituted heteroaromatic compounds. The reaction was carried out with PdCl₂/CuI as catalysts and triethylamine as base, using methanol as solvent. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions and the cross-coupled products were obtained in good yields and in a stereoconservative manner.     

Rare-earth silylamide-catalyzed monocoupling reaction of isocyanides with terminal alkynes

[reaction: see text] Rare-earth silylamides, Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3 (Ln = Y, La, Sm, Yb), serve as good catalysts for monoinsertion of isocyanides into terminal alkynes in the presence of amine additives, leading to 1-aza-1,3-enyens in excellent yields. The reaction is applicable to a diverse set of terminal alkynes with various functionalities such as ethers, acetals, and amino groups. Larger metals (La and Sm) give a better performance than smaller ones (Y and Yb). Using less hindered primary amines and, in contrast, bulky isocyanides is crucial for the coupling reaction; otherwise, competitive oligomerization of the isocyanides occurs predominantly. In the mechanistic study, the rate-determining step of the reaction seems to be the first insertion of the isocyanides into rare-earth alkynides, which is followed by spontaneous protonation with the amine additives.     

Scandium terminal imido complex induced C-H bond selenation and formation of an Sc-Se bond

The reaction between scandium terminal imido complexes and elemental selenium showed an unprecedented C-H bond selenation and the formation of an Sc-Se bond.     

Addition reaction of dialkyl disulfides to terminal alkynes catalyzed by a rhodium complex and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid

[reaction: see text]. Addition of dialkyl disulfides to terminal alkynes is catalyzed by a rhodium-phosphine complex and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid giving (Z)-bis(alkylthio)olefins stereoselectively.     

Nickel-catalyzed trans-alkynylboration of alkynes via activation of a boron-chlorine bond

Reaction of (diisopropylamino)chloroboryl ethers of alkynols with alkynylstannanes in the presence of nickel catalysts afforded formal trans-alkynylboration products in good yields. The products were isolated as pinacol boronates after treatment of the crude reaction mixture with acetic anhydride and pinacol in the presence of a base. The trans-alkynylboration products underwent Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction with organic halides. A 2-borylalkenylnickel(II) complex, in which the boryl and nickel groups are located in a trans fashion, was isolated in a reaction of the chloroboryl ether with a single equivalent of a nickel(0)-phosphine complex.     

Mild reaction conditions for the terminal deuteration of alkynes

Routinely employed syntheses of terminally deuterated alkynes often utilize strong bases (i.e., LDA, n-BuLi, or Grignard reagents) or low (i.e., -78 °C) or elevated (i.e., 56 °C) reaction temperatures; furthermore many of these procedures afford average yields and in some cases less than optimum deuterium incorporation. Herein we report the application of alternative extremely mild reaction conditions that readily afford quantitative yields of terminally deuterated alkynes in a matter of minutes with exceptional isotope incorporation at ambient temperature.     

Facile synthesis of fluorinated α-imino alkynes by the coupling reaction of imidoyl iodides with terminal alkynes

A series of N-arylbromodifluoroacetimidoyl iodides and 1-alkynes were converted into α-imino alkynes by using Pd(Ph₃)₂Cl₂/CuI as the catalyst under mild conditions. The reaction proceeded smoothly to give the coupling products in good to excellent yields.     

Cascade rearrangement in the reaction of methyl trifluoropyruvate sulfonylimines with terminal alkynes

Methyl trifluoropyruvate benzene- and methanesulfonylimines react with hex-1-yne and phenylacetylene to give methyl N-sulfonyl-4-oxo-2-trifluoromethyl-4-R-but-2E-enimidates. The reaction mechanism includes the formation of a six-centered bipolar ion followed by its cascade rearrangement.     

Uranium(III)-mediated C-C-coupling of terminal alkynes: formation of dinuclear uranium(IV) vinyl complexes

The previously reported uranium(III) complex [(((Ad)ArO)(3)N)U(III)(DME)] (1; Ad = adamantane, DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) reacts with the terminal bis-alkynes 1,7-octadiyne or 1,6-heptadiyne in C-C-coupling reactions to form the uranium(IV) vinyl complexes [{(((Ad)ArO)(3)N)U(IV)}(2)(μ-η(2):η(1)-1,2-(CH)(2)-cyclohexane)] (2) and [{(((Ad)ArO)(3)N)U(IV)}(2)(μ-η(2):η(2)-1,2-(CH)(2)-cyclopentane)] (3). With the monoalkynes 1-hexyne or 4-(t)butyl-phenylacetylene, the complexes [{(((Ad)ArO)(3)N)U(IV)}(2)(μ-η(2)(C1):η(1)(C4)-2-(n)Bu-1,3-octadiene)] (4) and [{(((Ad)ArO)(3)N)U(IV)}(2)(μ-η(2)(C4):η(1)(C1)-1,3-di-(p-(t)Bu-phenyl)butadiene))] (5), are formed. These are the first four examples of uranium vinyl complexes that are reported and crystallographically characterized. In addition, detailed DFT calculations are presented to establish a possible mechanism for their formation and explain the differences found for the coordination of the hydrocarbon fragments. In contrast to a previously proposed monometallic pathway for catalytic hydroamination of alkynes and alkyne dimerization involving a uranium vinyl intermediate at uranium(III) complexes, the calculations clearly support a bimetallic mechanism, since its transition states are energetically the most favored.     

Copper-catalyzed coupling reaction of terminal alkynes with aryl- and alkenyliodonium salts

[reaction: see text]. The copper iodide-catalyzed cross-coupling of terminal alkynes with hypervalent iodonium salts was accomplished with CuI (10 mol %) and NaHCO3 (2 equiv) in DME/H2O (4:1) at room temperature for 30 min to afford arylalkynes or enynes under mild conditions.