Directed Asymmetric Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive 1,2-Diarylation of Electronically Unactivated Alkenes

Transition-metal catalyzed intermolecular 1,2-diarylation of electronically unactivated alkenes has emerged as an extensive research topic in organic synthesis. However, most examples are mainly limited to terminal alkenes. Furthermore, transition-metal catalyzed asymmetric 1,2-diarylation of unactivated alkenes still remains unsolved and is a formidable challenge. Herein, we describe a highly efficient directed nickel-catalyzed reductive 1,2-diarylation of unactivated internal alkenes with high diastereoselectivities. More importantly, our further effort towards enantioselective 1,2-diarylation of the unactivated terminal and challenging internal alkenes is achieved, furnishing various polyarylalkanes featuring benzylic stereocenters in high yields and with good to high enantioselectivities and high diastereoselectivities. Interestingly, the generation of cationic Ni-catalyst by adding alkali metal fluoride is the key to increased efficiency of this enantioselective reaction.     

Tf2NH-catalyzed,highly regio-and stereo-selective synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes and indane derivatives from benzylic alcohols and alkenes

A reaction of benzylic alcohols with alkenes has been developed in the presence of bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide for the synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes and indane derivatives with high stereoselectivity.In general,benzylic alcohols react with 1,1-diaryl alkenes to afford trisubstituted alkenes,and the reaction with 1,2-disubstituted and trisubstituted alkenes affords indane derivatives through a [3 + 2] annulation reaction.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Functionalization of Unactivated Terminal Alkenes

Terminal alkenes are readily available functional groups which appear in α‐olefins produced by the chemical industry, and they appear in the products of many contemporary synthetic reactions. While the organic transformations that apply to alkenes are amongst the most studied reactions in all of chemical synthesis, the number of reactions that apply to nonactivated terminal alkenes in a catalytic enantioselective fashion is small in number. This Minireview highlights the cases where stereocontrol in catalytic reactions of 1‐alkenes is high enough to be useful for asymmetric synthesis.     

A synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes by a Ru-catalyzed addition

Catalyzed by ruthenium trisacetonitrile hexafluorophosphate 4, the Alder-ene type reaction of alkenes and internal alkynes provides an effective way to synthesize trisubstituted alkenes. Unlike most typical olefination protocols, this reaction is atom economical, and affords trisubstituted alkenes with defined olefin geometry. The regioselectivity can be explained invoking a steric argument based on the proposed mechanism. The first C-C bond formation generally involves sterically less hindered carbons of the alkenes and alkynes. Modest to very high regioselectivity can be achieved depending on the steric difference of the two substituents of alkynes.     

Synthesis of trans-Disubstituted Alkenes by Cobalt-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with Activated Alkenes

A cobalt-catalyzed reductive coupling of terminal alkynes, RC?CH, with activated alkenes, R'CH?CH(2) , in the presence of zinc and water to give functionalized trans-disubstituted alkenes, RCH?CHCH(2) CH(2) R', is described. A variety of aromatic terminal alkynes underwent reductive coupling with activated alkenes including enones, acrylates, acrylonitrile, and vinyl sulfones in the presence of a CoCl(2) /P(OMe)(3) /Zn catalyst system to afford 1,2-trans-disubstituted alkenes with high regio- and stereoselectivity. Similarly, aliphatic terminal alkynes also efficiently participated in the coupling reaction with acrylates, enones, and vinyl sulfone, in the presence of the CoCl(2) /P(OPh)(3) /Zn system providing a mixture of 1,2-trans- and 1,1-disubstituted functionalized terminal alkene products in high yields. The scope of the reaction was also extended by the coupling of 1,3-enynes and acetylene gas with alkenes. Furthermore, a phosphine-free cobalt-catalyzed reductive coupling of terminal alkynes with enones, affording 1,2-trans-disubstituted alkenes as the major products in a high regioisomeric ratio, is demonstrated. In the reactions, less expensive and air-stable cobalt complexes, a mild reducing agent (Zn) and a simple hydrogen source (water) were used. A possible reaction mechanism involving a cobaltacyclopentene as the key intermediate is proposed.     

Intermolecular cycloaddition of N-boranonitrone with alkenes

Ethyl glyoxylate O-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxime (8), on treatment with 2.2 equiv of BF3 x OEt2, generated N-boranonitrone E, which underwent intermolecular cycloaddition with alkenes 18 to afford isoxazolidines 19 in moderate to high yields. The cycloaddition of N-boranonitrone E with most of the alkenes gave 3,5-trans isoxazolidines as the major isomers via a concerted mechanism. However, in the case of 1-methylated cyclic alkenes (18j and 18l), the cycloaddition surprisingly furnished the 3,3a-cis-cycloadducts (19j and 19l) as major isomers. A possible explanation is that the reaction of 1-methylated cyclic alkenes proceeds mainly via a stepwise mechanism. This reaction of terminal alkenes is very useful for synthesis of 1,3-anti aminoalcohol derivatives by reductive cleavage of an N-O bond.     

A simple and effective catalytic system for epoxidation of aliphatic terminal alkenes with manganese(II) as the catalyst

A simple catalytic system that uses commercially available manganese(II) perchlorate as the catalyst and peracetic acid as the oxidant is found to be very effective in the epoxidation of aliphatic terminal alkenes with high product selectivity at ambient temperature. Many terminal alkenes are epoxidised efficiently on a gram scale in less than an hour to give excellent yields of isolated product (>90 %) of epoxides in high purity. Kinetic studies with some C9-alkenes show that the catalytic system is more efficient in epoxidising terminal alkenes than internal alkenes, which is contrary to most commonly known epoxidation systems. The reaction rate for epoxidation decreases in the order: 1-nonene>cis-3-nonene>trans-3-nonene. ESI-MS and EPR spectroscopic studies suggest that the active form of the catalyst is a high-valent oligonuclear manganese species, which probably functions as the oxygen atom-transfer agent in the epoxidation reaction.     

Cobalt-catalyzed efficient aziridination of alkenes

[reaction: see text]. Cobalt porphyrins are capable of catalyzing the aziridination of alkenes with bromamine-T as the nitrene source. Among cobalt complexes of different porphyrins, Co(TDClPP) is an effective catalyst that can aziridinate a wide variety of alkenes. The catalytic system can operate at room temperature in a one-pot fashion with alkenes as limiting reagents, forming the desired N-sulfonylated aziridine derivatives in high to excellent yields with NaBr as the byproduct.     

Manganese-Catalyzed Hydroarylation of Unactivated Alkenes

Transition-metal-catalyzed hydroarylation of unactivated alkenes with strategic use of remote coordinating functional groups has received significant attention recently to address the issues of both low reactivity and poor selectivity. The bidentate 8-aminoquinoline amide group is the most successfully adopted in unactivated alkenes for Pd and Ni catalysis. We describe the first manganese-catalyzed hydroarylation of unactivated alkenes bearing diverse simple functionalities with arylboronic acids. A series of δ- and γ-arylated amides, ketones, pyridines, and amines was accessed with excellent regioselectivity and in high yields. Hydroalkenylation of unactivated alkenes was also shown to be applicable under this manganese-catalysis regime. The method features earth-abundant manganese catalysis, easily available substrates, broad functional-group tolerance, and excellent regioselective control.     

TBAF-mediated reactions of 1,1-dibromo-1-alkenes with thiols and amines and regioselective synthesis of 1,2-heterodisubstituted alkenes

An efficient synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes including 1,2-heterodisubstituted alkenes has been described. Reactions of thiols and amines with 1,1-dibromo-1-alkenes in the presence of TBAF·3H(2)O afford (Z)-2-bromovinyl sulfides and (Z)-2-bromovinyl amines regio- and stereoselectively. The reaction proceeds under catalyst-free conditions with high efficiency. The coupling reactions of the obtained products bearing bromine atoms with phenylacetylene and phenylboronic acid gave trisubstituted alkenes in good to excellent yields. Cross-coupling with various N, O, S, and P nucleophiles selectively generated 1,2-N,O, 1,2-N,S, 1,2-S,P, 1,2-S,S, and 1,2-S,O heterodisubstituted alkenes.     

Selective oxidation of terminal aryl and aliphatic alkenes to aldehydes catalyzed by iron(III) porphyrins with triflate as a counter anion

[Fe(Por)CF(3)SO(3)] (Por = porphyrin dianion) can efficiently catalyze selective oxidation of terminal aryl alkenes and aliphatic alkenes to aldehydes in good to high yields under mild conditions.     

Stereoselective synthesis of N-protected pyrrolidines via Pd-catalyzed reactions of γ-(N-acylamino) alkenes and γ-(N-Boc-amino) alkenes with aryl bromides

The stereoselective synthesis of N-acyl- and N-Boc-protected pyrrolidines via Pd-catalyzed reactions of γ-(N-acylamino) alkenes and γ-(N-Boc-amino) alkenes with aryl bromides is described. These reactions effect formation of two bonds in a single operation and proceed with generally high levels of diastereoselectivity. In contrast to previously described reactions of γ-(N-arylamino) alkenes, these transformations proceed in high yield and high regioselectivity with both electron-rich and electron-deficient aryl bromides as well as vinyl bromide substrates.     

Multicatalytic processes using diverse transition metals for the synthesis of alkenes

A series of cascade processes for the synthesis of alkenes from alcohols is described. Each individual step is catalyzed with a specific transition metal complex. The oxidation-methylenation one-pot procedure took place in the presence of a palladium and a rhodium catalyst to produce the desired terminal alkenes in high yields. A methylenation-ring-closing metathesis allowed the synthesis of cyclic alkenes from carbonyl derivatives, using the second-generation metathesis catalyst. Finally, an oxidation-methylenation-RCM process that involves up to three different transition metal catalysts in the same vessel is presented.     

Aryliodine (III) Diacetates as Substrates for Pd-Ag Catalyzed Arylation of Alkenes

An unprecedented application of aryliodine(III) diacetates as substrates in Pd-Ag catalyzed arylation of alkenes is described. The mechanistic studies revealed that the binary Pd-Ag catalysis leads to the decomposition of aryliodine(III) diacetates to oxygen and aryl iodides followed by arylation of alkenes forming Heck-type products. Under optimized conditions both electron-rich and electron-deficient alkenes undergo arylation in high yields. Advantageously, the reaction proceeds smoothly in water as a solvent and neither organic ligands nor inert atmosphere are required.     

Regioselective and Enantioselective Copper-Catalyzed Hydroaminocarbonylation of Unactivated Alkenes and Alkynes

Given the prevalence of amide backbones in marketed pharmaceuticals and their ubiquity as critical binding units in natural peptides and proteins, it remains important to develop novel methods to construct amide bonds. We report here a general method for the anti-Markovnikov hydroaminocarbonylation of unactivated alkenes under mild conditions, using copper catalysis in combination with hydroxylamine electrophile reagents and poly(methylhydrosiloxane) (PMHS) as a cheap and environmentally friendly hydride source. The reaction tolerates a variety of functional groups and efficiently converts unactivated terminal alkenes, 1,1-disubstituted alkenes, and cyclic alkenes to the corresponding amides with exclusive anti-Markovnikov selectivity (and high enantioselectivities/diastereoselectivities). Additionally, with minimal modification of the reaction conditions, alkynes can also undergo tandem hydrogenation-hydroaminocarbonylation to alkyl amides.     

Phosphabarrelenes as ligands in rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of internal alkenes essentially free of alkene isomerization

Despite significant research efforts in the past, one of the remaining problems to be solved in industrially important hydroformylation is the chemoselective low-pressure hydroformylation of internal alkenes. We report here on a new class of phosphabarrelene/rhodium catalysts 2 that display very high activity towards hydroformylation of internal alkenes with an unusually low tendency towards alkene isomerization. Preparation of new phosphabarrelene ligands, studies of their coordination properties, as well as results obtained in the rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of cyclic and acyclic internal alkenes are reported.     

Manganese‐Catalyzed Hydroarylation of Unactivated Alkenes

Transition‐metal‐catalyzed hydroarylation of unactivated alkenes with strategic use of remote coordinating functional groups has received significant attention recently to address the issues of both low reactivity and poor selectivity. The bidentate 8‐aminoquinoline amide group is the most successfully adopted in unactivated alkenes for Pd and Ni catalysis. We describe the first manganese‐catalyzed hydroarylation of unactivated alkenes bearing diverse simple functionalities with arylboronic acids. A series of δ‐ and γ‐arylated amides, ketones, pyridines, and amines was accessed with excellent regioselectivity and in high yields. Hydroalkenylation of unactivated alkenes was also shown to be applicable under this manganese‐catalysis regime. The method features earth‐abundant manganese catalysis, easily available substrates, broad functional‐group tolerance, and excellent regioselective control.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed Allylation of Heterobicyclic Alkenes: Ligand‐Induced Divergent Reactivities

The allylation of heterobicyclic alkenes is presented for the first time. By using an inexpensive cobalt salt as the catalyst and easy‐to‐handle potassium allyltrifluoroborate as the reagent, an unprecedented formal hydroallylation of the bicyclic alkenes is realized in high efficiency. When a chiral cobalt/bis(phosphine) complex is used instead, the alternative ring‐opening products can be obtained in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity.     

Asymmetric Syntheses Promoted by Organoselenium Reagents

Using chiral nonracemic electrophilic-organoselenium-reagents-asymmetric alkoxy-, hydroxy-, azido- and amido-selenenylation of alkenes were effected with high diastereoselectivity. These reagents have also been employed in catalytic amounts to promote one-pot selenenylation-deselenenylation processes. The asymmetric cyclization of properly substituted alkenes diastereoselectively afforded lactons, tetrahydrofurans oxazolines, thiazolines, pyrrolidines, isoxazolidines, 1,2-oxazines, and cyclic nitrones. Enantiopure dioxane, morpholine, tetrahydrofuran, oxazolidin-2-one and aziridine derivatives were prepared from alkenes, PhSeX, and optically active nucleophiles or substrates.     

Rhodium acetate-catalyzed aerobic Mukaiyama epoxidation of alkenes

Mukaiyama epoxidation of alkenes under oxygen catalyzed by rhodium acetate with isobutyraldehyde as the reducing agent is as or more effective than previously reported procedures. A variety of alkenes, including terpenes and cholesterol derivatives, were oxidized. And high regioselectivity for monoepoxidation was observed with neryl, geranyl, and linalyl acetates.