AuCl-catalyzed [4+2] benzannulation between o-alkynyl(oxo)benzene and benzyne

[Structure: see text] The AuCl-catalyzed benzannulation of o-alkynyl(oxo)benzenes with benzenediazonium 2-carboxylate proceeds under mild conditions and a variety of anthracene derivatives, having a ketone group at the 9-position, are produced in good to high yields. The reaction proceeds most probably through the [4+2] cycloaddition between benzyne and benzopyrylium auric ate complex, which would be generated by the gold-induced electrophilic cyclization of o-alkynyl(oxo)benzenes.     

Facile synthetic protocols for perfluoroalkyl-substituted diazapentaphenes

Novel syntheses of 13,14-bis(perfluoroalkyl)-substituted 5,8-diazapentaphene derivatives were realized by such a facile two-step protocol as consecutive benzyne insertion into C(O)–NH bonds of p-phenylene-bis(perfluoroalkanamides), followed by Friedel–Crafts type cyclization reaction, yielding the corresponding title compounds especially for the case of Rf=CF₃ or C₂F₅. Additionally, an alternative approach based on condensation of cyclohexane-1,4-dione with (o-aminophenyl) perfluoroalkyl ketones, followed by dehydrogenation enabled us to effectively access to the same final products in better yields.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed arylation of fluorinated aromatic ketones via ortho-selective carbon-fluorine bond cleavage

We report here ruthenium-catalyzed arylation of fluorinated aromatic ketones via ortho-selective carbon-fluorine bond cleavage. In the presence of trimethylvinylsilane and cesium fluoride, ortho carbon-fluoride bonds of aromatic ketones were phenylated by 5,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,3,2-dioxaborinane using RuH₂(CO)(PPh₃)₃ as a catalyst. Tandem C-F phenylation/C-H alkylation was observed for substrates bearing both one ortho hydrogen and one ortho fluorine atoms.     

NickelII-catalyzed asymmetric photoenolization/Mannich reaction of (2-alkylphenyl) ketones

A diastereo- and enantioselective photoenolization/Mannich (PEM) reaction of ortho-alkyl aromatic ketones with benzosulfonimides was established by utilizing a chiral N,N′-dioxide/Ni(OTf)₂ complex as the Lewis acid catalyst. It afforded a series of benzosulfonamides and the corresponding ring-closure products, and a reversal of diastereoselectivity was observed through epimerization of the benzosulfonamide products under continuous irradiation. On the basis of the control experiments, the role of the additive LiNTf₂ in achieving high stereoselectivity was elucidated. This PEM reaction was proposed to undergo a direct nucleophilic addition mechanism rather than a hetero-Diels–Alder/ring-opening sequence. A possible transition state model with a photoenolization process was proposed to explain the origin of the high level of stereoinduction.

A diastereo- and enantioselective photoenolization/Mannich (PEM) reaction of (2-alkylphenyl) ketones with benzosulfonimides is realized by a chiral N,N′-dioxide/Ni^II complex catalyst.     

Facile construction of three-membered rings via benzyne-promoted Darzens-type reaction of tertiary amines

A range of tertiary amines having electron-withdrawing groups were activated in situ by benzyne, generated from 2-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl triflate and a fluoride source, and participated in the Darzens-type reaction with carbonyl compounds, imines, and vinyl ketones to afford structurally diverse epoxides, aziridines, and cyclopropanes, respectively, in moderate to excellent yields with high trans-selectivity. The reaction involves in situ formation of unstrained ammonium ylides from tertiary amines and benzyne, proceeds in the absence of transition metals and strong bases, and tolerates a wide variety of functional groups.     

Cationic iridium-BINAP complex-catalyzed addition of aryl ketones to alkynes and alkenes via directed C-H bond cleavage

Cationic Ir complex ([Ir(cod)₂]BF₄ + BINAP) catalyzed the addition of ortho-C-H bonds in aryl ketones to alkynes, which gave alkenylated products in good to high yield. Styrene derivatives were good substrates, and the enantioselective addition to norbornene was also described.     

Preparation and structural characterization of a new class of stable thioketones: ortho-hydroxythioacetophenones

ortho-Hydroxythioacetophenone and four structurally related ortho-hydroxyaryl methyl thioketones have been prepared from the corresponding ketones by reaction with gaseous H₂S and HCl in ethanol under strictly controlled reaction conditions. The remarkable stability of the new monomeric thioketones seems to be due to a strong intramolecular O-H?SC hydrogen bonding.     

Synthesis of 4- and 6-substituted nitroindoles

Enolizable ketones react with m-nitroaniline in the presence of strong base such as t-BuOK to give 4- and 6-substituted nitroindoles. The reaction proceeds via oxidative nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen in m-nitroaniline with enolate anions in positions ortho to the amino group giving anionic σ^H adducts that are additionally stabilized by intramolecular interaction between the amino and the carbonyl group. Spontaneous oxidation of the σ^H adducts followed by the Bayer type condensation of the produced ortho-aminonitrobenzyl ketones gives 4- and 6-substituted nitroindoles. The scope of this reaction and its basic mechanistic features are discussed.     

Rh(I)-catalyzed solvent-free ortho-alkylation of aromatic imines under microwave irradiation

The synthesis of ortho-alkylated ketones through a chelation-assisted Rh (I) catalyzed ortho-alkylation reaction of aromatic imines under microwave activated solvent-free conditions in monomode reactors was performed. These conditions have been also applied to hydroacylation and ortho-alkylation reactions with aldimines.     

Directed regioselective ortho,ortho′-magnesiations of aromatics and heterocycles using sBu2Mg in toluene

Aryl azoles are ubiquitous as bioactive compounds and their regioselective functionalization is of utmost synthetic importance. Here, we report the development of a toluene-soluble dialkylmagnesium base sBu₂Mg. This new reagent allows mild and regioselective ortho-magnesiations of various N-arylated pyrazoles and 1,2,3-triazoles as well as arenes bearing oxazoline, phosphorodiamidate or amide directing groups. The resulting diarylmagnesium reagents were further functionalized either by Pd-catalyzed arylation or by trapping reactions with a broad range of electrophiles (aldehydes, ketones, allylic halides, acyl chlorides, Weinreb amides, aryl halides, hydroxylamine benzoates, terminal alkynes). Furthermore, several double ortho,ortho′-magnesiations were realized in the case of aryl oxazolines, N-aryl pyrazoles as well as 2-aryl-2H-1,2,3-triazoles by simply repeating the magnesiation/electrophile trapping sequence allowing the preparation of valuable 1,2,3-functionalized arenes.

A toluene solution of sBu₂Mg allowed a regioselective ortho-magnesiation of aromatic and heterocyclic systems. A second ortho,ortho′-functionalization was achieved in the case of aryl oxazolines, N-aryl pyrazoles as well as N-aryl triazoles.     

A new finding in selective Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of α-fluorinated ketones; a new and practical route for the synthesis of α-fluorinated esters

α-Fluorinated esters were effectively prepared by the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of α-fluorinated ketones with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA) under mild conditions. The yield of the esters was influenced by the choice of solvent, base, and substituent on the aryl group of the ketones. 4-Methoxyphenyl substituted fluoroketones were oxidized almost quantitatively with m-CPBA within 10 min to 12 h at room temperature using 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) as a cosolvent with CH₂Cl₂ (1:1, v/v) and aqueous buffer (KH₂PO₄-NaOH, pH 7.6) as an additive base. The oxidation reaction rates of α-fluorinated ketones were higher than those of the corresponding non-fluorinated ketones. The fluorine atom at α-position of fluoromethyl aryl ketones enhanced the reactivity in the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation.     

Regioselective ring-opening of epoxides with ortho-lithioanisoles catalyzed by BF3·OEt2

It is presented that a number of o-2-hydroxyalkylanisoles could be efficiently synthesized through the regioselective ring-opening reaction of epoxides with o-lithioanisoles in the presence of BF₃·OEt₂ Lewis-acid catalyst. Sterically demanding o-lithioanisoles had to be generated by exploiting the combination of ⁿBuLi and a catalytic amount of TMEDA (0.20 equiv) in Et₂O as the lithiator whereas ‘normal’ anisole could be lithiated at ortho-position by treatment with ⁿBuLi in THF as usual. Surprisingly, the availability of THF and a catalytic amount of TMEDA (0.20 equiv) in the reaction mixture was found to enhance the reaction yields dramatically. A complex aggregate formation by the co-operative ligation of THF and TMEDA to ortho-lithioanisole(s) was proposed to rationalize the high reactivity achieved in the ring-opening reaction of epoxides.     

Palladium-catalysed intramolecular enolate O-arylation and thio-enolate S-arylation: synthesis of benzo[b]furans and benzo[b]thiophenes

Enolates derived from α-(ortho-haloaryl)-substituted ketones undergo palladium-catalysed C-O bond formation to deliver benzofuran products in good yield. A catalyst generated from Pd₂(dba)₃ and the ligand DPEphos effects the key bond formation to deliver a variety of substituted products from both cyclic and acyclic precursors. The analogous thio-ketones undergo C-S bond formation using identical reaction conditions and are converted to benzothiophene products. A cascade sequence that produces the required α-aryl ketones in situ has also been developed, although the substrate scope is more restricted.     

New chiral bis(diphenylphospholane) ligands: design, synthesis, and application to catalytic enantioselective aldol reaction to ketones

New chiral bidentate diphenylphospholanes were designed targeting a catalytic enantioselective aldol reaction to ketones. Ligands 5l and 5m having cis-2-butenyl and cyclopropyl groups at the linker part, respectively, were identified as effective chiral ligands for a CuF-catalyzed enantioselective aldol reaction to ketones. Catalysts prepared from CuF·3PPh₃·2EtOH and these ligands produced ketone aldol products with up to 66% ee, which is promising particularly for this extremely difficult and important catalytic enantioselective carbon-carbon bond forming reaction. The enantioselectivity was strongly dependent on the linker structure. Construction of a deep chiral pocket around the copper metal with stable bidentate chelation is the key to meaningful enantioinduction.     

Intramolecular oxidative addition of C-F and C-H bonds to [Pt(dba)2]. Crystal structure of [PtCl{Me2NCH2CH2NCH(2,4,5-C6HF3)}]

The reactions of compound [Pt(dba)₂] with ligands RCHNCH₂CH₂NMe₂ (1a-1f) in which R is a fluorinated aryl ring produced activation of C-F bonds when two fluorine atoms are present in the ortho positions of the aryl ring or activation of C-H bonds for ligands containing only one fluoro substituent in ortho. Both C-F and C-H bond activation are favoured by an increase of the degree of fluorination of the ring. Further reaction with lithium halides produced cyclometallated platinum (II) compounds [PtX(Me₂NCH₂CH₂NCHR)] (X = Br, Cl) (2) containing a terdentate [C,N,N′] ligand. The obtained compounds were fully characterized including a structure determination for [PtCl{Me₂NCH₂CH₂NCH(2,4,5-C₆HF₃)}] (2d′).     

Direct alkenylation of arylamines at the ortho-position with magnesium alkylidene carbenoids and some theoretical studies of the reactions

1-Chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides were synthesized from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in high yields. Treatment of the sulfoxides with isopropylmagnesium chloride at −78 °C in toluene gave magnesium alkylidene carbenoids (α-chloro alkenylmagnesium chlorides), which were treated with N-lithio arylamines to afford ortho-alkenylated arylamines in moderate yields. The reaction, in some cases, proceeded in a highly stereospecific manner at the carbon bearing the chlorine and the sulfinyl group. The structures of the α-chloro alkenylmagnesium chlorides and the reactivity of the N-lithio meta-substituted anilines were studied at the B3LYP and MP2 levels of theory with the 6-31(+)G* basis set. This reaction offers a quite novel and direct alkenylation of arylamines at the ortho-position of the aromatic ring.     

Rapid access to homoallylic alcohols via Pd(OAc)2 catalyzed Barbier type allylation in presence of DMAP

DMAP was found to accelerate significantly the rate of Pd(OAc)₂ catalyzed Barbier type allylation of carbonyl compounds by allylbromide using SnCl₂·2H₂O as reducing agent. Both aldehyde as well as ketones produced excellent yields within a short reaction time in the presence of 3 mol % of Pd(OAc)₂ and 12 mol % of DMAP at room temperature. Aldehydes could be allylated within 5–10 min whereas, in case of ketones, the reaction completes in 45–120 min.     

Synthetic, spectral and catalytic activity studies of ruthenium bipyridine and terpyridine complexes: Implications in the mechanism of the ruthenium(pyridine-2,6-bisoxazoline)(pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate)-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of olefins utilizing H2O2

Various Ru(L₁)(L₂) (1) complexes (L₁ = 2,2′-bipyridines, 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines, 6-(4S)-4-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-oxazol-2-yl-2,2′-bipyridinyl or 2,2′-bipyridinyl-6-carboxylate; L₂ = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate, pyridine-2-carboxylate or 2,2′-bipyridinyl-6-carboxylate) have been synthesized (or in situ generated) and tested on epoxidation of olefins utilizing 30% aqueous H₂O₂. The complexes containing pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate show extraordinarily high catalytic activity. Based on the stereoselective performance of chiral ruthenium complexes containing non-racemic 2,2′-bipyridines including 6-[(4S)-4-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-oxazol-2-yl]-[2,2′]bipyridinyl new insights on the reaction intermediates and reaction pathway of the ruthenium-catalyzed enantioselective epoxidation are proposed. In addition, a simplified protocol for epoxidation of olefins using urea hydrogen peroxide complex as oxidizing agent has been developed.     

Hydrogenation of ortho-nitrochalcones over Pd/C as a simple access to 2-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines

The preparation of some 2-substituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline has been achieved by the one-pot reductive intramolecular cyclization of ortho-nitrochalcones with gaseous hydrogen in the presence of a Pd/C catalyst and the best selectivity was observed using CH₂Cl₂ as solvent. The method is operationally simple and versatile since ortho-nitrocalchones are easily accessible by Claisen-Schmidt condensation of 2-nitrobenzaldehydes and enolizable ketones. Selected examples on structurally different substrates have been considered and a novel tetrahydroquinoline and a benzo[h]tetrahydroquinoline were prepared and characterised.     

A highly active catalyst for the reductive cyclization of ortho-nitrostyrenes under mild conditions

A mild and efficient method for the palladium-catalyzed reductive cyclization of ortho-nitrostyrenes to afford indoles is reported. Treatment of ortho-nitrostyrenes with 0.1 mol% palladium (II) trifluoroacetate [Pd(TFA)₂] and 0.7 mol% 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (tm-phen) in DMF at 15 psig CO and 80 °C afforded indoles in good to excellent yields. When the reaction was conducted in toluene, the corresponding N-hydroxyindole was isolated. A mechanism that accounts for the formation of N-hydroxyindole is proposed.