The catalytic Mannich reaction of 1,1-difluoro-2-trialkyl(aryl)silyl-2-trimethyl-silyloxyethenes: preparation of beta-amino acid derivatives

[reaction: see text] Catalytic Mannich reactions of 1,1-difluoro-2-trialkyl(aryl)silyl-2-trimethylsilyloxyethenes (3) with a variety of sulfonylimines were utilized for the preparation of alpha,alpha-difluoro-beta-amino acid derivatives (7). The influence of the Lewis acid on the reaction was examined. Methods for the conversion of alpha,alpha-difluoroacylsilanes to alpha,alpha-difluorocarboxylic acids were also explored.     

Reactions of gem-dibromo compounds with trialkylmagnesate reagents to yield alkylated organomagnesium compounds

The reaction of gem-dibromocyclopropanes 5 with nBu(3)MgLi affords butylated cyclopropylmagnesium species that can be trapped with various electrophiles. The reaction of dibromomethylsilanes 12 requires the addition of a catalytic amount of CuCN small middle dot2 LiCl for smooth migration of the alkyl groups. The resultant alpha-silylpentylmagnesium compounds 16 react with electrophiles, such as acyl chlorides or alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones to afford alpha- or gamma-silyl ketones, respectively. Treatment of dibromodisilylmethanes with Me(3)MgLi yields 1-bromo-1,1-disilylethanes 25 that can be converted into 1,1-disilylethenes 29 by dehydrobromination.     

Synthesis of new cyclic thionosulfites

The reaction of a series of 1,2-diols with S(2)Cl(2), 1,1'-thiobisbenzimidazole (4a), and 1,1'-dithiobisbenzimidazole (4b) provides the corresponding thionosulfites, ROS(S)OR (2), in moderate to good yield.     

Synthesis of trifluoromethylated amines using 1,1-bis(dimethylamino)-2,2,2-trifluoroethane

Lewis acid-catalyzed deamination of aminal, 1,1-bis(dimethylamino)-2,2,2-trifluoroethane, using ZnI2 in ether, generates the 2,2,2-trifluoro-1,1-dimethylaminoethyl carbocation, which undergoes synthetically useful electrophilic reactions with alkynes, a variety of electron-rich alkenes, and TMS cyanide to form trifluoromethylated alkynylamines, homoallylic amines, alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, and cyanoamines in fair to good yields.     

Preparation of an amphiphilic resin-supported BINAP ligand and its use for rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of phenylboronic acid in water

[reaction: see text] The axially chiral bisphosphine ligand, 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl (binap), was supported on a polystyrene-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer (PS-PEG) resin and was used successfully for the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of phenylboronic acid to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones in water.     

A selective and convenient method for the synthesis of 2-phenylaminothiazolines

A series of 2-phenylaminothiazolines have been prepared from the corresponding N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N'-phenylthioureas under mild reaction conditions using either thio-CDI (1,1'-thiocarbonyldiimidazole) or CDI (1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole) to promote the cyclization. This protocol provides the desired cyclization products in good yield with excellent selectivity. The scope and selectivity of this methodology are also described.     

P-chirogenic binaphthyl-substituted monophosphines: synthesis and use in enolate vinylation/arylation reactions

[reaction: see text] New phosphine ligands possessing both axial chirality and a chirogenic phosphorus center were prepared from (R)-2-bromo-2'-N,N-(dimethylamino)-1,1'-binaphthyl (1) via a simple Li-halogen exchange protocol. The asymmetric vinylation of a ketone enolate with (R,R(P))-2-(tert-butylphenylphosphino)-2'-N,N-(dimethylamino)-1,1'-binaphthyl (2a) afforded the coupling product with good enantiomeric excess.     

Palladium and nickel-catalyzed reaction of grignard reagents with trichloroethylene. A simple synthesis of 1,1-dichloroalkenes.

The palladium (or nickel) catalyzed reaction of Grignard reagents with trichloroethylene affords 1,1-dichloroalkenes in good yield under mild conditions.     

Enantiomerically pure 2-bromo-2'-diphenylphosphinyl-1,1'- binaphthyl as a monophosphorus template for electrophilic functionalization in chiral MOP-type ligand synthesis

[reaction: see text] Pd-catalyzed monophosphinylation of (R)-2-bromo-2'-iodo-1,1'-binaphthyl with Ph(2)P(O)H afforded (R)-2-bromo-2'-diphenylphosphinyl-1,1'-binaphthyl in good yield with excellent chemoselectivity and no observable racemization. Subsequent lithiation in the presence of excess thiosulfonate furnished an enantiomerically pure sulfenylation product, which was reduced to afford a chiral S-MOP ligand.     

First general approach to cyclohex-3-ene-1,1-bis(phosphonates) by Diels-Alder cycloaddition of tetraethyl vinylidenebis(phosphonate) to 1,3-dienes

Tetraethyl vinylidenebis(phosphonate) (VBP) reacts smoothly with substituted 1,3-dienes at 90-110 degrees C without solvent to give the corresponding cyclohex-3-ene-1,1-bis(phosphonates) in good yields (60-85%). With nonsymmetrically substituted dienes, mixtures of regioisomers are obtained, the regioisomeric ratio being exclusively controlled by electronic effects. Danishefsky's diene allows tetraethyl 4-oxocyclohex-2-ene-1,1-bis(phosphonate) to be obtained in an 81% overall yield after the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the Diels-Alder cycloadduct. With 2,3-dimethoxy-1,3-butadiene, a mixture of regioisomeric dimethoxycyclohexene-1,1-bis(phosphonates) is formed by the VBP-catalyzed isomerization of the normal Diels-Alder cycloadduct. The mixture converges into tetraethyl 3,4-dimethoxycyclohex-2-ene-1,1-bis(phosphonate) at prolonged reaction times.     

Synthesis of chiral (alpha,alpha-difluoroalkyl)phosphonate analogues of (lyso)phosphatidic acid via hydrolytic kinetic resolution

The hydrolytic kinetic resolution of 1,1-difluoro-3,4-epoxy-butylphosphonate using a chiral salen-Co complex was employed as a key step to obtain enantiomeric diols in 99% ee as key intermediates. The enantiomerically homogeneous (alpha,alpha-difluoroalkyl)phosphonates were obtained after selective esterification and deprotection of the corresponding phosphonates. These compounds are novel phosphatase-resistant analogues of lysophosphatidic acid and phosphatidic acid. [reaction: see text]     

Rate-equilibrium relationships in hydride transfer reactions: the role of intrinsic barriers

A literature survey on the kinetics of hydride abstractions from CH-groups by carbocations reveals a general phenomenon: Variation of the hydride acceptor affects the rates of hydride transfer to a considerably greater extent than an equal change of the thermodynamic driving force caused by variation of the hydride donor. The origin of this relationship was investigated by quantum chemical calculations on various levels of ab initio and DFT theory for the transfer of an allylic hydrogen from 1-mono- and 1,1-disubstituted propenes (XYC=CH-CH(3)) to the 3-position of 1-mono- and 1,1-disubstituted allyl cations (XYC=CH-CH(2)(+)). The discussion is based on the results of the MP2/6-31+G(d,p)//RHF/6-31+G(d,p) calculations. Electron-releasing substituents X and Y in the hydride donors increase the exothermicity of the reaction, while electron-releasing substituents in the hydride acceptors decrease exothermicity. In line with Hammond's postulate, increasing exothermicity shifts the transition states on the reaction coordinate toward reactants, as revealed by the geometry parameters and the charge distribution in the activated complexes. Independent of the location of the transition state on the reaction coordinate, a value of 0.72 is found for Hammond-Leffler's alpha = deltaDeltaG/deltaDelta(r)G degrees when the hydride acceptor is varied, while alpha = 0.28 when the hydride donor is varied. The value of alpha thus cannot be related with the position of the transition state. Investigation of the degenerate reactions XYC=CH-CH(3) + XYC=CH-CH(2)(+) indicates that the migrating hydrogen carries a partial positive charge in the transition state and that the intrinsic barriers increase with increasing electron-releasing abilities of X and Y. Substituent variation in the donor thus influences reaction enthalpy and intrinsic barriers in the opposite sense, while substituent variation in the acceptor affects both terms in the same sense, in accord with the experimental findings. Marcus theory is employed to treat these effects quantitatively.     

Axially chiral NHC-Pd(II) complexes in the oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols using molecular oxygen as a terminal oxidant

[reaction: see text] Axially chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) Pd(II) complexes were prepared from optically active 1,1'-binaphthalenyl-2,2'-diamine (BINAM) and H8-BINAM and applied in the oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols using molecular oxygen as a terminal oxidant. The corresponding sec-alcohols can be obtained in good yields with moderate to good enantioselectivities.     

Catalytic coupling of terminal alkynes with isonitriles promoted by organoactinide complexes

The coupling reaction of terminal alkynes and tert-butylisonitrile to yield substituted alpha,beta-acetylenic aldimines is catalyzed by the organoactinide neutral complexes Cp*2AnMe2 (Cp* = C5Me5, An = Th, U) and the cationic complex [(Et2N)3U][BPh4]. The reaction proceeds by a 1,1-insertion of the isonitrile into the metal-acetylide bond. Additional insertion products can be obtained by altering the catalyst and the reactant ratios. A plausible mechanism for the catalytic reaction is presented, in addition to the crystal structure of Cp*2UMe2     

Chiral bifunctional organocatalysts in asymmetric aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reactions of ethyl (arylimino)acetates with methyl vinyl ketone and ethyl vinyl ketone

The bifunctional chiral phosphine Lewis base (R)-2'-diphenylphosphino-[1,1'-binaphthalene]-2-ol is an effective organocatalyst in the asymmetric aza-MBH reaction of ethyl (arylimino)acetates 1 with MVK and EVK to give the corresponding adducts in moderate to good yields and good to high enantiomeric excesses under mild conditions.     

Intramolecular cyanoamidation of unsaturated cyanoformamides catalyzed by palladium: an efficient synthesis of multi-functionalized lactams

The Pd(0)-catalyzed intramolecular cyanoamidation of several unsaturated cyanoformamides with alkenyl, allenyl, and alkynyl groups was investigated. In the cases of alkynyl and 1,1-disubstituted alkenyl cyanoformamides, the Pd(0)-catalyzed C-CN activation and subsequent insertion reaction proceeded smoothly and gave the corresponding lactams bearing a cyano group at the β-position in good yields. The mechanism of the reaction was also discussed.     

Highly Enantioselective Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Terminal Alkynes to 1,1‐Difluoro‐1‐(phenylsulfonyl)‐3‐en‐2‐ones: New Ester/Amide Surrogates in Asymmetric Catalysis

A highly enantioselective copper‐catalyzed conjugate alkynylation of monoactivated enones, namely 1,1‐difluoro‐1‐(phenylsulfonyl)‐3‐en‐2‐ones, is described. The reaction products are obtained with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities (from 92 to 99% ee). The β‐alkynylated difluoro(phenylsulfonyl) ketones can be converted into the corresponding β‐alkynylated difluoro‐ and trifluoromethyl ketones, esters and amides. This is the first example on the use of 1,1‐difluoro‐1‐(phenylsulfonyl)‐3‐en‐2‐ones as substrates in an enantioselective reaction, which have been shown to be new ester/amide surrogates.     

Enantiomerically pure rhodium complexes bearing 1,5-diphenyl-1,5-cyclooctadiene as a chiral diene ligand. Their use as catalysts for asymmetric 1,4-addition of phenylzinc chloride

[reaction and structures: see text] A rhodium complex coordinated with 1,5-diphenyl-1,5-cyclooctadiene (Ph-cod), [RhCl((R)-Ph-cod)]2, was obtained enantiomerically pure through optical resolution of diastereomeric isomers [Rh(Ph-cod)((R)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diamine)]BF4. The enantiomerically pure rhodium complexes showed high catalytic activity and enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee) in the asymmetric 1,4-addition of phenylzinc chloride to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and esters in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane.     

Novel synthesis of dihydropyrans and 2,8-dioxabicylo[3.3.0]oct-3-enes using Mn(III)-based oxidative cyclization

The Mn(III)-based reaction of 1,1-disubstituted alkenes with 2-(2-oxoethyl)malonates and 3-acetylpentane-1,4-diones gave novel substituted dihydropyrans and 2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-3-enes in good yields, respectively. These routes rely on the nucleophilic character of the carbonyl-oxygen atoms of the malonates and pentanediones used to obtain the products by a cycloaddition reaction or cycloaddition-tandem cyclization reactions.     

Radical cascade reaction with 1,4-dienes and 1,4-enynes using 2-(iodomethyl)cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylate as a homoallyl radical precursor: one-step synthesis of bicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivatives

[reaction: see text] Radical cascade reaction with various 1,4-dienes and 1,4-enynes using dimethyl 2-(iodomethyl)cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylate as a homoallyl radical precursor smoothly proceeds through an iodine atom transfer mechanism to give functionalized bicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivatives in good yields.