Palladium-catalyzed carbonylative annulation of terminal alkynes: synthesis of coumarins and 2-quinolones

o-Iodophenols and o-iodoaniline derivatives react with terminal alkynes under 1 atm of CO in the presence of pyridine and catalytic amounts of Pd(OAc)₂ to generate coumarins and 2-quinolones, respectively, as the only products. Terminal alkynes bearing alkyl, aryl, silyl, hydroxyl, ester and cyano substituents are effective in these processes affording the desired products in moderate yields. The formation of coumarins and 2-quinolones in this process is in stark contrast with all previously described palladium-catalyzed reactions of o-iodophenols or o-iodoanilines with terminal alkynes and CO, which have afforded chromones and 4-quinolones. Moreover, under our reaction conditions terminal alkynes insert into the carbonpalladium bond instead of undergoing a Sonogashira-type coupling as confirmed by an isotope labeling experiment.     

Anti-Markovnikov stereoselective hydroamination and hydrothiolation of (hetero)aromatic alkynes using a metal-free cyclic trimeric phosphazene base

Hydroamination and hydrothiolation are the most efficient and completely atom-economical process to construct important enamine and vinyl sulfide intermediates in pharmaceutical and organic chemistry. The cyclic trimeric phosphazene base (CTPB) showed great catalytic activity for the anti-Markovnikov stereoselective hydroamination and hydrothiolation of alkynes in good to excellent yields. A broad substrate scope of alkynes and nucleophiles was demonstrated, including aryl and heteroaryl alkynes, terminal and internal alkynes, different N-heterocycles, thiols and thiophenols. This versatile and cost-efficient approach with good stereoselectivity and excellent functional group tolerance provided new opportunity for the organocatalyzed hydrofunctionalization of alkynes.     

Synthesis of new quinuclidine derivatives via Pd-mediated cross-coupling and cross-benzannulation reactions

New functionalized quinuclidines were prepared via palladium-catalyzed addition reactions of terminal alkynes (donors) to internal alkynes (acceptors). The enantiopure terminal alkynes were derivatives of quincoridine and quincorine, two semi-natural Cinchona alkaloids. The processes exhibited high chemoselectivity and excellent diastereoselectivity, the E-enynes being obtained as single products in almost all cases. The synthesis of new tetra and pentasubstituted benzene derivatives in good yields by [2+2+2] benzannulation of the diynes, obtained by the palladium-catalyzed homodimerization of 10,11-didehydro quincoridine and 10,11-didehydro quincorine, with terminal alkynes and in fair yield by [4+2] benzannulation of an enyne derivative of 10,11-didehydro quincoridine with 2,4-hexane-diyne are reported.     

Terminal alkynes as keto-methyl equivalent toward one pot synthesis of 1,5-benzodiazepine derivatives under catalysis of Hg(OTf)2

Mercuric triflate catalyzes the reaction between 1,2-diaminobenzene and terminal alkynes to afford 2,4-disubstituted 2-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[b][1,4]diazepine in an excellent yield. The terminal alkynes function as a source of keto-methyl equivalent.     

An efficient copper(I) complex catalyzed Sonogashira type cross-coupling of aryl halides with terminal alkynes

A wide range of arylated alkynes are synthesized from the corresponding aryl halides and terminal alkynes through Sonogashira type cross-coupling reactions through C(aryl)-C bond formation in the presence of a catalytic amount of N,N′-dibenzyl BINAM-CuI complex under mild reaction conditions.     

Hydrothiolation of terminal alkynes with diaryl disulfides and diphenyl diselenide: selective synthesis of (Z)-1-alkenyl sulfides and selenides

A simple, stereoselective and efficient method for the hydrothiolation of terminal alkynes with diaryl disulfides and diphenyl diselenide has been developed. In the presence of CuI, rongalite, and Cs₂CO₃, a variety of disulfides underwent the reaction of terminal alkynes stereoselectively to afford the corresponding (Z)-1-alkenyl sulfides in moderate to excellent yields. It is noteworthy that hydroselenations of 1,2-diphenyldiselane with alkynes are also conducted smoothly to afford (Z)-1-alkenyl selenides in good yields under the standard conditions.     

AIBN-initiated radical addition of gem-difluorinated alkyl iodides to alkynes and the Pd-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling reaction of E-phenyl difluoromethylene vinylic iodides with terminal alkynes

The addition of gem-difluorinated alkyl iodides to alkynes initiated by AIBN neatly gave the corresponding difluoromethylene vinyl iodides among which the stereoselectivity of aromatic acetylenes was high. The further coupling reaction of E-phenyl difluoromethylene vinyl iodides with terminal alkynes in the presence of catalytic palladium afforded the substituted difluorinated enynes.     

An unprecedented highly efficient solvent-free oxidation of alkynes to α,β-acetylenic ketones with tert-butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by water-soluble copper complex

The catalytic system composed of CuCl₂ and 2,2′-biquinoline-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid dipotassium salt (BQC) was found to be highly efficient for the selective α-oxidation of internal alkynes to the corresponding α,β-acetylenic ketones, with aqueous tert-butyl hydroperoxide under mild conditions. For the first time, full conversions of alkynes were reached with excellent selectivities, and propargylic tert-butylperoxy ethers were observed and suggested as the reaction intermediates. In the case of terminal alkynes, the oxidations are sluggish and low yields ranging from 32% to 40% were obtained.     

Metal free synthesis of quinoxalines from alkynes via a cascade process using TsNBr2

A metal free protocol for the synthesis of quinoxalines from alkynes has been developed. The reaction was carried out by treating alkynes with TsNBr₂ in presence of O-phenylenediamines in a mixture of acetonitrile and water (9:1). This one-pot reaction proceeds via an oxidative transformation of alkynes to α,α-dibromoketones in presence of TsNBr₂ and eventually to quinoxalines in presence of 1,2-diamines in a cascade process.     

Cobalt-catalyzed regioselective [3+2] annulation of ortho-formyl and acetyl substituted phenylboronic acids with alkynes

Treatment of alkynes with ortho-formyl and acetyl phenylboronic acids in the presence of a cobalt catalyst resulted in the formation of 2,3-disubstituted indenols in good yields. When aryl silyl alkynes were used, 2-aryl-3-silyl indenols were obtained regioselectively in good yields.     

Reactions of alkynes with trisubstituted (Z)-bromoalkenyl-pinacolboronates towards the synthesis of 1,2,4,6-tetrasubstituted benzenes

Treatment of trisubstituted (Z)-bromoalkenyl-pinacolboronates with terminal alkynes in the presence of cuprous iodide, palladium(0) tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) and Hünig’s base leads to the formation of 1,2,4,6-tetrasubstituted aromatic compounds in a one-pot fashion. Substrate scope was shown for three trisubstituted (Z)-bromoalkenyl-pinacolboronates and four terminal alkynes.     

RhCl3/amine-catalyzed [2+2+2] cyclization of alkynes

The RhCl₃·3H₂O/i-Pr₂NEt-catalyzed [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization of alkynes has been achieved. The reaction can be widely used for various alkynes and provides tri- or hexa-substituted benzenes regioselectively in high yields. The [2+2+2] cycloaddition of diynes and alkynes is also developed, and it affords benzene derivatives in moderate to high yields.     

Selective cis-addition of C-H bonds of pyrroles and thiophenes to alkynes catalyzed by a dinuclear palladium complex

Pyrroles and thiophenes reacted with alkynes in the presence of dinuclear palladium complexes with high stereoselectivity (cis-addition) in almost all cases. While regioselectivity in the reaction with pyrroles depended on substituents on the nitrogen atom and alkynes, all reactions of thiophenes afforded 2-alkenylthiophenes.     

p-Toluenesulfonic acid-promoted selective functionalization of unsymmetrical arylalkynes: a regioselective access to various arylketones and heterocycles

Regioselective hydration of a wide range of internal alkynes has been afforded in high to good yields by using PTSA in EtOH. The scope of the reaction of alkynes has been delineated. Arylaliphatic alkynes and diarylalkynes were regioselectively hydrated in good to excellent yields and short reaction times when the reaction was achieved under microwave irradiation. Moreover, diarylalkynes, arylenynes as well as diaryldiynes bearing a methoxy- or a thiomethyl substituent on the ortho position underwent a regioselective 5-endo-dig-cyclization to give a variety of 2-aryl- and 2-styrylbenzofuran or benzothiphene derivatives. We believe that, this new environmentally metal-free procedure combined to microwave irradiation would be in importance in the search of green laboratory-scale synthesis.     

A microwave-enhanced, solventless Mannich condensation of terminal alkynes and secondary amines with para-formaldehyde on cuprous iodide doped alumina

A microwave-enhanced, solventless Mannich condensation of terminal alkynes and secondary amines with para-formaldehyde on cuprous iodide doped alumina has been developed. β-Aminoalkynes are generated in good yields. The reaction can be extended to include a cyclization, which affords 2-substituted benzo[b]furans. The chemoselectivity of the reaction indicates that terminal alkynes are much more reactive than enolizable ketones under the reaction conditions.     

Palladium-catalyzed convenient one-pot synthesis of multi-substituted 2-pyrones via transesterification and alkenylation of enynoates

An efficient one-pot protocol for the synthesis of multi-substituted 2-pyrone derivatives from internal alkynes and unactivated alkenes is reported. The methodology involves difunctionalization of internal alkynes by using Pd(II) as a catalyst alongwith X-Phos as ligand via 6-endo transesterification and subsequent alkenylation pathway. Notable features include simple and easily available starting materials, including a range of unactivated alkenes, reduced synthetic steps and mild reaction conditions with high efficiency.     

Novel one pot synthesis of substituted quinazolin-4(3H)-ones and pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-7(6H)-ones using copper iodide,azides and terminal alkynes

A simple and highly efficient copper iodide catalyzed one-pot synthesis of 2-substituted quinazolin-4(3H)-ones have been developed from anthranilamide, terminal alkynes and azides. A wide variety of alkynes were screened to understand the scope of this methodology. This method has been extended for the synthesis of 5-substituted pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-7(6H)-ones which are having potential applications in medicinal chemistry.     

Enantioselective addition of terminal alkynes to N-(diphenylphosphinoyl)imines catalyzed by Zn–BINOL complexes

Chiral nonracemic N-(diphenylphosphinoyl)-protected propargylic amines have been prepared by addition of terminal alkynes to N-(diphenylphosphinoyl)aldimines in the presence of dimethylzinc and 3,3′-dibromo-BINOL as catalyst. The reaction works with a variety of aromatic and heteroaromatic aldimines and with different alkynes, providing the expected products in generally good yields and enantiomeric excesses (up to 96%).     

Terminal alkynes from aldehydes via dehydrohalogenation of (Z)-1-iodo-1-alkenes with TBAF

Terminal alkynes were prepared in near quantitative yields via dehydrohalogenation of (Z)-1-iodo-1-alkenes with tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) under mild conditions. The methodology was expanded to include a one-pot, direct synthesis of terminal alkynes from aldehydes without the necessity of isolating and purifying the intermediate iodoalkene.