Intramolecular σ-bond metathesis between carbon-carbon and silicon-silicon bonds

An intramolecular σ-bond metathesis between carbon-carbon and silicon-silicon bonds took place on treatment of a disilane tethered to a cyclobutanone with a palladium(0) catalyst, furnishing a silaindane skeleton as well as an acylsilane functionality at once.     

Chemoselective and enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of β,β-disubstituted nitroalkenes catalyzed by a water-insoluble chiral diamine–rhodium complex in water

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of β,β-disubstituted nitroalkenes catalyzed by a chiral diamine–rhodium complex in combination with HCO₂Na–HCO₂H as a hydrogen source in water was successfully realized with high reactivity, excellent chemoselectivity and good enantioselectivity. The metal precursor and pH value of the aqueous solution have a large influence on the reactivity and chemoselectivity. The substituents on the benzene rings and the sulfonyl groups of TsDPEN have significant effects on the enantioselectivity. This catalytic asymmetric transformation is one of the most practical pathways to obtain optically active nitroalkanes.     

Synthesis of enantiopure β2-homoalanine derivatives via rhodium catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

The stereoselective synthesis of chiral β²-homoalanine derivatives with 99% ee by the Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of prochiral 2-aminomethyl acrylates is described. The subsequent transformation to chiral 3-amino-2-methylpropanols is also demonstrated.     

Catalytic σ-Bond Annulation with Ambiphilic Organohalides Enabled by β-X Elimination**

We describe a catalytic cascade sequence involving directed C(sp³)−H activation followed by β-heteroatom elimination to generate a Pd^II(π-alkene) intermediate that then undergoes redox-neutral annulation with an ambiphilic aryl halide to access 5- and 6-membered (hetero)cycles. Various alkyl C(sp³)−oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur bonds can be selectively activated, and the annulation proceeds with high diastereoselectivity. The method enables modification of amino acids with good retention of enantiomeric excess, as well as σ-bond ring-opening/ring-closing transfiguration of low-strain heterocycles. Despite its mechanistic complexity, the method employs simple conditions and is operationally straightforward to perform.     

Asymmetric homogeneous hydrogenation of α-acylaminocinnamic acids and esters catalyzed by a rhodium (I) complex of dioxop

α-Acylaminocinnamic acids and esters are hydrogenated with rhodium (I) complex containing (2R, 4R)-cis-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)-1,3-dioxolan. The Z acids give enantiomeric excess up to 79% in the presence of triethylamine; increasing the steric bulk of the enamide moiety has only a small effect on the enantiomeric excess. The esters are reduced with low optical yield.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of (E)-α,β-bis(N-acylamino)acrylates catalyzed by a rhodium complex with trans-chelating chiral diphosphine ligand

The asymmetric hydrogenation of (E)-α,β-bis(N-acylamino)acrylates was promoted by a rhodium complex bearing a trans-chelating chiral diphosphine ligand (R,R)-(S,S)-PrTRAP, providing the corresponding optically active (2S,3R)-2,3-bis(N-acylamino)carboxylates with 79–82% ee. The 2,3-bis(N-acylamino)carboxylates isolated were readily hydrolyzed under acid to afford (2S,3R)-2,3-diaminocarboxylic acids in 95% yield without epimerization.     

Boron-boron σ-bond formation by two-electron reduction of a H-bridged dimer of monoborane

Diborane(6) as a H-bridged dimer of monoborane can be converted cleanly by two-electron reduction into diborane(6) dianion, which is isoelectronic with ethane, through B-B σ-bond formation when each boron atom has a bulky ligand on it. The existence of the B-B σ bond is supported by the X-ray molecular structure [B-B bond length of 1.924(3) ?], NMR studies, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and DFT calculations. Stepwise hydride abstraction reactions of the diborane(6) dianion produce the corresponding H-bridged diborane(5) anion and doubly H-bridged diborane(4) without B-B bond scission.     

A comparison of the asymmetric hydrogenation catalyzed by rhodium complexes containing chiral ligands with a binaphthyl unit and those with a 5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′-octahydro-binaphthyl unit

The chiral ligands H₈–BINAPO and H₈–BDPAB were synthesized by reacting chlorodiphenylphosphine with H₈–BINOL and H₈–BINAM, respectively. Applications of these ligands in the Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of a variety of (Z)-acetamido-3-arylacrylic acid methyl esters provided chiral amino acid derivatives with good to excellent enantioselectivities (H₈–BINAPO: up to 84.0% e.e.; H₈–BDPAB: up to 97.1% e.e.). In the hydrogenation of acetamidoacrylic acid, 99% e.e. was obtained when a [Rh(H₈–BDPAB)]⁺ catalyst was used. The catalytic activities and enantioselectivities of [Rh(H₈–BINAPO)]⁺ and [Rh(H₈–BDPAB)]⁺ are substantially better than those obtained with the corresponding rhodium catalysts containing BINAPO (up to 64% e.e.) and BDPAB (up to 92.6% e.e.).     

Direct coupling of arenes and iodoarenes catalyzed by a rhodium complex with a strongly π-accepting phosphite ligand

A new rhodium-based catalytic system for the direct C-H coupling of arenes and iodoarenes that shows high activity with reasonably broad scope was developed. Under the catalytic influence of RhCl(CO){P[OCH(CF₃)₂]₃}₂ and Ag₂CO₃, the direct C-H arylation of heteroarenes and arenes took place with iodoarenes to afford a range of biaryls in good to excellent yields with high regioselectivity. Thiophenes, furans, pyrroles, indoles, and alkoxybenzenes are applicable to this arylation protocol.     

Catalytic stereoselective synthesis of α-Amino phosphonic acid derivatives by asymmetric hydrogenation

The phosphonate analogue of α-N-benzoyl protected phenylalanine methylester has been prepared by catalytic synthesis. Commonly used Rh-complexes has been applied in asymmetric hydrogenation to check their usefulness in the standard reaction.     

EPR study of mono-o-iminobenzosemiquinonato nickel(II) complexes with Ni-C σ-bond

New square-planar (Ph₃P)Ni^II(o-Tol)(ISQ-Prⁱ) (1), (Ph₃P)Ni^II(o-Tol)(ISQ-Me) (2), (Ph₃P)Ni^II(o-Tol)(ISQ-Bu^t) (3) nickel complexes (where ISQ-Prⁱ = 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl)-o-iminobenzosemiquinonate, ISQ-Me = 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-di-methylphenyl)-o-iminobenzosemiquinonate, ISQ-Bu^t = 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-o-iminobenzosemiquinonate, o-Tol = o-tolyl ligand) have been synthesized. Complexes contain σ-bound o-tolyl and neutral donor ligand Ph₃P. The sterical hindrances of N-aryl in o-iminobenzosemiquinonate ligands lead to the tetrahedral distortion of square-planar configurations of complexes as it was established using EPR spectroscopy.     

Catalytic hydrogenation of itaconic acid in a biotinylated Pyrphos–rhodium(I) system in a protein cavity

The construction of a chiral catalyst system embedded at a specific site in a protein has been studied. The preparation of the biotinylated Pyrphos–Rh(I) complex attached to the binding site in avidin and its application to the asymmetric hydrogenation of itaconic acid have been investigated. By introducing the chiral Pyrphos–Rh(I) moiety into the constrained environment of the protein cavity it was found that the enantioselectivity of the system was significantly influenced by the tertiary conformation within the avidin cavity. The effects of reaction conditions such as temperature, hydrogen pressure, and the pH value of the buffer on enantioselectivity are reported.     

‘A rendezvous with an old flame’: revisiting olefin hydrogenation with new rhodium and iridium catalysts

A novel tridentate hemilabile ligand 2 containing phosphine, imine and pyridyl donor groups has been prepared in analogy with the synthesis of the known related ligand 1. The reaction of 1 or 2 with 〚Rh(COE)₂Cl〛₂ resulted in the formation of the neutral complexes 〚Rh(L)Cl〛. By a method using 〚M(diene)Cl〛₂ as starting material, cationic complexes of the type 〚M(diene)(L)〛X were also obtained (M = Rh, diene = NBD, L = 1, 2; M = Ir, diene = COD, L = 1; X = BF₄, OTf). A comparative study of the catalytic activity of the new complexes towards the hydrogenation of various olefins has been reported. In particular, the catalysts of the type 〚Rh(L)Cl〛 are remarkably active when prepared in situ, especially for the reduction of hindered olefins.     

Borinic acid catalyzed α-addition to isocyanide with aldehyde and water

A first example of diphenylborinic acid catalyzed α-addition to isocyanide with aldehyde and water is described. The reaction proceeded smoothly in the presence of water and 5 mol % of borinic acid to give the corresponding α-hydroxyamides in good to high yields. A wide range of aldehydes and isocyanides are applicable to this reaction.     

PTSA–catalyzed functionalization of hydroquinones with benzhydryl alcohols in water

An intriguing and operationally simple direct benzylation of hydroquinones with benzhydryl alcohols has been developed using PTSA in water, affording functionalized hydroquinones in good to excellent yields. The advantages of being environmentally benign, metal-free, base-free, easy workup and having a wide substrate scope make it a promising process for the synthesis of symmetrically and unsymmetrically benzylated hydroquinones as well as for industrial applications.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 1,1-disubstituted tetrahydro-β-carbolines by phase-transfer catalyzed alkylations

Efficient catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 1,1-disubstituted tetrahydro-β-carbolines has been achieved via asymmetric alkylation of 1-cyanotetrahydro-β-carbolines using a binaphthyl-modified N-spiro-type chiral phase-transfer catalyst. This is a valuable example of hitherto difficult highly enantioselective alkylations at α-carbon of the cyano group under phase-transfer conditions.     

Catalytic decarboxylative alkylation of β-keto acids with sulfonamides via the cleavage of carbon-nitrogen and carbon-carbon bonds

An efficient decarboxylative alkylation reaction of β-keto acids with N-benzylic or N-allylic sulfonamides has been developed, for the first time, through sequential cleavage of carbon-nitrogen and carbon-carbon bonds in the presence of 10 mol% of FeCl(3).     

Highly stereoselective direct aldol reaction of 4-formylcoumarins with acetone catalyzed by L-proline in water–acetone mixtures

Organocatalyzed direct intermolecular aldol reactions have been developed for substituted 4-formylcoumarins with acetone in water using L-proline and phthalimido-prolinamide catalysts without use of additives. Stereoselective products obtained were in excellent yields (up to 97%) with high purity (up to 99%) and enatioselectivities (up to 95%). The isolated compounds were confirmed by infrared, NMR, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry and some of them by single-crystal x-ray crystallography.     

Use of rhodium complexes with amphiphilic and nonamphiphilic ligands for the preparation of chiral α-aminophosphonic acid esters by hydrogenation in micellar media

Several kinds of micelle forming amphiphiles were tested in the asymmetric hydrogenation of the prochiral dialkyl 1-benzamido-2-phenyl-ethenephosphonates in aqueous media. The chiral catalytic system [Rh(cod)₂]BF₄/BPPM or amphiphilized PPM proved to be suitable for the hydrogenation reaction affording enantiomeric excesses up to 99%. A chiral induction is possible to a certain extent (up to 11% ee) by selected chiral amphiphiles in the presence of achiral rhodium catalysts.     

Trimerization of aldehydes with one α-hydrogen catalyzed by sodium hydroxide

Trimerization of 2-methylpropanal (isobutyraldehyde) is a simple and effective method to synthesize 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-3-monoisobutyrate which are often used as film forming auxiliaries in paints. The use of solid sodium hydroxide as a catalyst provides an excellent yield of above 85 % after the optimization of the reaction time and the catalyst dosage. Furthermore, trimerization of four other aldehydes with one α-hydrogen catalyzed by solid sodium hydroxide can also take place and the yield of 1,3-diol monoesters reaches 50–70 %. Trimerization of aldehydes with one α-hydrogen can be explained by a three-step reaction mechanism: (i) aldol condensation of aldehyde; (ii) crossed Cannizzaro reaction; and (iii) esterification of carboxylic acid and alcohol.