A Convenient One Pot Synthesis of Esters of Carboxylic Acids from Alkyl or Aryl Halides

Esters of carboxylic acids were readily synthesized from alkyl or aryl halides by reacting the corresponding Grignard reagents with dimethyl, diphenyl or ethylene carbonates.     

Cleavage of immobilized disubstituted triazenes with electrophiles: solid-phase synthesis of alkyl halides and esters

An efficient, selective cleavage of polymer-bound disubstituted triazenes with trimethylsilyl halides produces alkyl chlorides, bromides and iodides in good to excellent purities and yields. Similarly, alkyl esters are formed upon cleavage with carboxylic acids.     

Nucleophilic substitution of alkyl halides by zinc salts-32 preparation of tertiary alkyl esters and ethers under non-solvolytic conditions

Zinc salts of carboxylic acids, phenols and alcohols are found to react with tertiary alkyl halides in nonpolar solvents and in presence of a base yielding the corresponding esters and ethers in moderate to good yields.     

Alkyl−(Hetero)Aryl Bond Formation via Decarboxylative Cross‐Coupling: A Systematic Analysis

Suzuki, Negishi, and Kumada couplings are some of the most important reactions for the formation of skeletal C−C linkages. Their widespread use to forge bonds between two aromatic rings has enabled every branch of chemical science. The analogous union between alkyl halides and metallated aryl systems has not been as widely employed due to the lack of commercially available halide building blocks. Redox‐active esters have recently emerged as useful surrogates for alkyl halides in cross‐coupling chemistry. Such esters are easily accessible through reactions between ubiquitous carboxylic acids and coupling agents widely used in amide bond formation. This article features an amalgamation of in‐house experience bolstered by approximately 200 systematically designed experiments to accelerate the selection of ideal reaction conditions and activating agents for the cross‐coupling of primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl carboxylic acids with both aryl and heteroaryl organometallic species.     

Solid-phase synthesis of substituted 3-amino-3′-carboxy-tetrahydrocarbazoles

Two related solid-phase synthesis routes have been developed allowing the synthesis of 3-amino-3′-carboxy substituted tetrahydrocarbazole derivatives. Diversity can be introduced at the amino and carboxy functionalities and at the nitrogen and the aromatic ring of the tetrahydrocarbazole moiety. Both routes rely on Fmoc-protected 1-amino-4-oxocyclohexanone carboxylic acid as central core element. Derivatization of the carboxy function is achieved with amines, derivatization of the amino functionality is possible by reaction with alkyl halides, isocyanates, activated alcohols, sulfonic acid chlorides or carboxylic acids. The tetrahydrocarbazole scaffold is generated by Fischer indole cyclization with phenyl hydrazine derivatives, thereby introducing diversity in the aromatic moiety. N-Alkylation at the indole nitrogen with alkyl halides delivers N-substituted derivatives.     

Esterification of carboxylic acids catalyzed by in situ generated tetraalkylammonium fluorides

Esterification of carboxylic acids with alkyl halides can be efficiently catalyzed by tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) generated in situ from tetrabutylammonium hydrogensulfate (TBAHSO₄) and KF·2H₂O in THF. The general applicability and the characteristic feature of this approach has been amply demonstrated.     

Efficient esterification of carboxylic acids with alkyl halides catalyzed by fluoride ions in ionic liquids

Ionic liquids based on 1,3-dialkylimidazolinium methanesulfonate have been used as efficient reusable reaction media in the esterification of several carboxylic acids with alkyl halides catalyzed by fluoride ions. The method has wide applicability, and it is mild and green; it is useful for the protection of acids, via ester formation, for alkali labile molecules.     

Fused s-triazino heterocycles. VIII. 1,3,4,6,9b-pentaazaphenalenes. Reactions of a methyl and bromomethyl side chain

Enhanced reactivity of the methyl group of 2-t-butyl-5-methyl-1,3,4,6,9b-pentaazaphenalene allowed acetic anhydride-catalyzed condensation reactions with several aromatic aldehydes, and base-catalyzed alkylation reactions with several alkyl halides to take place, albeit in low yields. Of the many nucleophiles tried, only salts of carboxylic acids, in the presence of 18-crown-6, were able to displace bromine from 2-(bromomethyl)-5-methyl-1,3,4,6,9b-pentaazaphenalene.     

Photoredox-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Bromination,Chlorination and Thiocyanation Using Inorganic Salts

Decarboxylative halogenation reactions of alkyl carboxylic acids are highly valuable reactions for the synthesis of structurally diverse alkyl halides. However, many reported protocols rely on stoichiometric strong oxidants or highly electrophilic halogenating agents. Herein, we describe visible-light photoredox-catalyzed decarboxylative halogenation reactions of N-hydroxyphthalimide-activated carboxylic acids that avoid stoichiometric oxidants and use inexpensive inorganic halide salts as the halogenating agents. Bromination with lithium bromide proceeds under simple, transition-metal-free conditions using an organic photoredox catalyst and no other additives, whereas dual photoredox-copper catalysis is required for chlorination with lithium chloride. The mild conditions display excellent functional-group tolerance, which is demonstrated through the transformation of a diverse range of structurally complex carboxylic acid containing natural products into the corresponding alkyl bromides and chlorides. In addition, we show the generality of the dual photoredox-copper-catalyzed decarboxylative functionalization with inorganic salts by extension to thiocyanation with potassium thiocyanide, which was applied to the synthesis of complex alkyl thiocyanates.     

Reductive carboxylation of alkyl halides with CO2 by use of photoinduced SmI2/Sm reduction system

Upon visible-light irradiation, reductive carboxylation of alkyl halides takes place by using a SmI₂/Sm mixed system under atmospheric CO₂ to afford the corresponding carboxylic acids in good to excellent yields.     

Alkylative Carboxylation of Ynamides and Allenamides with Functionalized Alkylzinc Halides and Carbon Dioxide by a Copper Catalyst

The alkylative carboxylation of ynamides and allenamides with CO₂ and alkylzinc halides catalyzed by a copper catalyst was developed. A variety of alkylzinc halides bearing functional groups were used for this transformation to afford α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids, which contain the α,β-dehydroamino acid skeleton, introducing the corresponding alkyl group and CO₂ across the carbon–carbon triple or double bond. This alkylative carboxylation formally consists of Cu-catalyzed carbozincation of ynamides or allenamides with alkylzinc halides and the subsequent nucleophilic carboxylation of the resulting alkenylzinc species with CO₂. This protocol would be a useful method for the synthesis of α,β-dehydroamino acid derivatives possessing a functionalized alkyl group due to the high regio- and stereoselectivity, simple one-pot procedure as well as the use of CO₂ as a starting material.     

Carboxylic acids as substrates in homogeneous catalysis

In organic molecules carboxylic acid groups are among the most common functionalities. Activated derivatives of carboxylic acids have long served as versatile connection points in derivatizations and in the construction of carbon frameworks. In more recent years numerous catalytic transformations have been discovered which have made it possible for carboxylic acids to be used as building blocks without the need for additional activation steps. A large number of different product classes have become accessible from this single functionality along multifaceted reaction pathways. The frontispiece illustrates an important reason for this: In the catalytic cycles carbon monoxide gas can be released from acyl metal complexes, and gaseous carbon dioxide from carboxylate complexes, with different organometallic species being formed in each case. Thus, carboxylic acids can be used as synthetic equivalents of acyl, aryl, or alkyl halides, as well as organometallic reagents. This review provides an overview of interesting catalytic transformations of carboxylic acids and a number of derivatives accessible from them in situ. It serves to provide an invitation to complement, refine, and use these new methods in organic synthesis.     

Generation and Reactivity of C(1)-Ammonium Enolates by Using Isothiourea Catalysis

C(1)-Ammonium enolates are powerful, catalytically generated synthetic intermediates applied in the enantioselective α-functionalisation of carboxylic acid derivatives. This minireview describes the recent developments in the generation and application of C(1)-ammonium enolates from various precursors (carboxylic acids, anhydrides, acyl imidazoles, aryl esters, α-diazoketones, alkyl halides) using isothiourea Lewis base organocatalysts. Their synthetic utility in intra- and intermolecular enantioselective C−C and C−X bond forming processes on reaction with various electrophiles will be showcased utilising two distinct catalyst turnover approaches.     

Diastereoselective alkylation of chiral 2-imidazolidinone glycolates: asymmetric synthesis of α-hydroxy carboxylic acids

Sodium enolates of chiral 2-imidazolidinone glycolates reacted with alkyl halides to produce α-alkylated products with high diastereoselectivities, which were readily removed by simple alkaline hydrolysis and were converted to the protected α-hydroxy carboxylic acids. The new stereogenic center was assigned the (R)-configuration by comparison with known compounds.     

A mild, one-pot preparation of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles

A mild and efficient one-pot protocol for the synthesis of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles from carboxylic acids and acylhydrazides was developed. Diacylhydrazide formation via HATU coupling followed by addition of Burgess reagent afforded the corresponding 1,3,4-oxadiazoles in 63-96% yields at room temperature. The reaction conditions are tolerant of a variety of functional groups, including esters, nitriles, alkynes, olefins, alkyl halides, phenols, carbamates and sulfonamides.     

Enantioselective Generation and Diastereoselective Reactions of Chiral Enolates Derived from α-Heterosubstituted Carboxylic Acids. Preliminary Communication

Dioxolanones 7 and 8a and oxazolinones 9a derived from pivalaldehyde and lactic acid, mandelic acid, and proline, respectively, furnish chiral enolates of type 3 by deprotonation with LDA. Reactions of these enolates with alkyl halides, aldehydes, and ketones (→ 8b, 9b, 11–13) are highly diastereoselective. Thus, the overall enantioselective α-alkylation of chiral, non-racemic α-heterosubstituted carboxylic acids (4 → 6) is realized.     

Reactions of azirines with sulfur nucleophiles. 4. Treatment of 2H-azirine with mercaptosubstituted acids. reactions of aziridinyl alkyl sulfides with carboxylic acids and acyl chloride derivatives

Treatment of 2H-azirines with mercaptosubstituted acids and their derivatives leads to -ketoamides and 2-aziridinyl alkyl sulfides, respectively. 2-Aziridinyl alkyl sulfides, in turn, react with carboxylic acids to give -ketoamides and substituted ethanethiol derivatives. Acylation of 2-aziridinyl alkyl sulfides with acyl halides generates a variety of products, depending on the reaction conditions; either products derived from cleavage and isomerization of the aziridinyl ring or (1-acylaziridinyl-2) alkyl sulfides are obtained.For communication 3, see [1].Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 206–211, February, 1986.     

Comparative study of self‐assembly of a range of monofunctional aliphatic molecules on magnetron‐sputtered aluminium

The adsorption of a range of organic molecules from toluene onto the oxidized surface of magnetron‐sputtered aluminium metal is studied using sessile drop water contact angle measurements. Molecules with different head group functionalities and various chain lengths are considered, including alkyl carboxylic acids, alkyl phosphonic acids, alkyl amines, alkyl trimethoxysilanes, alkyl trichlorosilanes and epoxy alkanes. Alkyl phosphonic and carboxylic acids are identified as readily forming the most well‐packed monolayers on the aluminium surface, whereas the others adsorb less well and the chlorosilanes polymerize as a result of combination with moisture to form a thick deposit. The high‐adsorption‐density monolayers of alkyl phosphonic and carboxylic acids were studied using polarization modulation infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy (PM‐IRRAS) and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS): PM‐IRRAS reveals relatively poorer ordering of the C₁₀ alkyl carboxylic acid monolayer compared with that formed from the phosphonic acid, and XPS data suggest that this is likely to relate to a lower ability to displace preadsorbed volatile organic compounds. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>-Diethylhydrazine and Its Reactions with Carboxylic Acids and Alkyl Halides

N,N-Diethylhydrazine was synthesized by a modified procedure via nitrosation of diethylamine, followed by reduction of the resulting N-nitrosodiethylamine with zinc amalgam in a hydrochloric acid medium. Reactions of N, N-diethylhydrazine with carboxylic acids and alkyl halides resulted in formation of the corresponding hydrazinium salts.     

Nickel or Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarbonylative Transformations of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

Carboxylic acid derivatives containing acyl halides, anhydrides, esters, amides and acyl nitriles are highly appealing electrophiles in transition‐metal‐catalyzed carbon‐carbon bond‐forming reactions due to their ready availability and low cost, which can provide divergent transformations of carboxylic acids into other value‐added products. In this Minireview, we focus on the recent advances of decarbonylative transformations of carboxylic acid derivatives in carbon‐carbon bond formations using Ni or Pd catalysts. A series of reaction types, product classifications and reaction pathways are presented herein, which show the advantageous features of carboxylic acid derivatives as alternative to aryl or alkyl halides in terms of reactivity and compatibility. The well‐accepted mechanism of nickel‐ or palladium‐catalyzed decarbonylative transformations involves initial oxidative addition of carboxylic acid derivatives, followed by decarbonylation or transmetalation (or insertion), and reductive elimination to generate the products, thereby regenerating the catalysts.