Experimental and Computational Exploration of para‐Selective Silylation with a Hydrogen‐Bonded Template

The regioselective conversion of C−H bonds into C−Si bonds is extremely important owing to the natural abundance and non‐toxicity of silicon. Classical silylation reactions often suffer from poor functional group compatibility, low atom economy, and insufficient regioselectivity. Herein, we disclose a template‐assisted method for the regioselective para silylation of toluene derivatives. A new template was designed, and the origin of selectivity was analyzed experimentally and computationally. An interesting substrate–solvent hydrogen‐bonding interaction was observed. Kinetic, spectroscopic, and computational studies shed light on the reaction mechanism. The synthetic significance of this strategy was highlighted by the generation of a precursor of a potential lipophilic bioisostere of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), various late‐stage diversifications, and by mimicking enzymatic transformations.     

Synthesis of Novel Heterocyclic Compounds with Expected Antibacterial Activities from 4‐(4‐Bromophenyl)‐4‐oxobut‐2‐enoic Acid

This research describes the utility of 4‐(4‐bromophenyl)‐4‐oxobut‐2‐enoic acid as a key starting material for preparation of a novel series of aroylacrylic acids, pyridazinones, and furanones derivatives. These heterocyclic compounds were synthesized by reaction of 4‐(4‐bromophenyl)‐4‐oxobut‐2‐enoic acid with benzimidazole, ethyl glycinate hydrochloride, anthranilic acid and o‐phenylenediamine under Aza–Michael addition conditions. Every Aza–Michael adduct was allowed to react with haydrazine hydrate and acetic anhydride to form pyridazinones and furanones derivatives, respectively. In further step, some pyridazinones were allowed to react with ethyl acetoacetate, acetyl acetone, acetyl chloride, and aromatic aldehydes to form novel heterocylces. Finally, studying antibacterial activities of these compounds was performed.     

Theoretical Elucidation of the Radical‐Scavenging‐Activity Difference of Hydroxycinnamic Acid Derivatives

To elucidate the nitrogen dioxide radical‐scavenging‐activity difference of three hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (HCAs), i.e., caffeic acid (=3‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoic acid; 1 ), ferulic acid (=3‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoic acid; 2 ), and sinapic acid (=3‐(4‐hydroxy‐3,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoic acid; 3 ), a combined density‐functional‐theory (DFT) method, labeled as B3LYP/6‐31G(d)//AM1, was employed to calculate adiabatic ionization potentials (IPs) for parent molecules and anions derived by proton dissociation. It was found that not the IPs of the parent HCAs but those of the anions account well for the experimentally observed higher activity of caffeic acid as compared to those of the other two HCAs, suggesting that the antioxidant anion should be taken into consideration in the selection or rational design of novel antioxidants; this, however, was neglected in previous studies.     

Highly Selective Directed Iridium‐Catalyzed Hydrogen Isotope Exchange Reactions of Aliphatic Amides

For the first time, we describe highly selective homogeneous iridium‐catalyzed hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) of unactivated C(sp³) centers in aliphatic amides. When using the commercially available Kerr catalyst, the HIE with a series of common antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) linker side chains proceeds with high yields, high regioselectivity, and with deuterium incorporation up to 99 %. The method is fully translatable to the specific requirements of tritium chemistry and its effectiveness was demonstrated by direct tritium labelling of a maytansinoid. The scope of the method can be extended to simple amino acids, with high HIE activity observed for glycine and alanine. In di‐ and tripeptides, a very interesting protecting‐group‐dependent tunable selectivity was observed. DFT calculations gave insight into the energies of the transition states, thereby explaining the observed selectivity and the influence of the amino acid protecting groups.     

Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Laboratory‐Scale Carbon–Carbon Bond‐Forming Reactions of Ethylene

Ethylene, the simplest alkene, is the most abundantly synthesized organic molecule by volume. It is readily incorporated into transition‐metal‐catalyzed carbon–carbon bond‐forming reactions through migratory insertions into alkylmetal intermediates. Because of its D_2h symmetry, only one insertion outcome is possible. This limits byproduct formation and greatly simplifies analysis. As described within this Minireview, many carbon–carbon bond‐forming reactions incorporate a molecule (or more) of ethylene at ambient pressure and temperature. In many cases, a useful substituted alkene is incorporated into the product.     

Alkene Isomerization–Hydroarylation Tandem Catalysis: Indole C2‐Alkylation with Aryl‐Substituted Alkenes Leading to 1,1‐Diarylalkanes

A cobalt‐N‐heterocyclic carbene catalyst generated from CoBr₂, imidazolium salt, and cyclohexylmagnesium bromide was found to promote the imine‐directed C2‐alkylation of indoles with nonconjugated arylalkenes through a tandem alkene isomerization–hydroarylation process, affording 1,1‐diarylalkanes with exclusive regioselectivity. The feasibility of the tandem catalysis was demonstrated for allyl‐, homoallyl‐, and bishomoallylbenzene derivatives. The catalytic system is also applicable to a variety of β‐substituted styrene derivatives. Mechanistic experiments using deuterium‐labeled indole substrate and Grignard reagent provided insight into the cobalt‐mediated C? H activation step, which likely involves exchange of the C2‐hydrogen atom of the former and the β‐hydrogen atoms of the latter.     

Origins of the Enantio‐ and N/O Selectivity in the Primary‐Amine‐Catalyzed Hydroxyamination of 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds with In‐Situ‐Formed Nitrosocarbonyl Compounds: A Theoretical Study

Chemoselective control over N/O selectivity is an intriguing issue in nitroso chemistry. Recently, we reported an unprecedented asymmetric α‐amination reaction of β‐ketocarbonyl compounds that proceeded through the catalytic coupling of enamine carbonyl groups with in‐situ‐generated carbonyl nitroso moieties. This process was facilitated by a simple chiral primary and tertiary diamine that was derived from tert‐leucine. This reaction featured high chemoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity for a broad range of substrates. Herein, a computational study was performed to elucidate the origins of the enantioselectivity and N/O regioselectivity. We found that a bidentate hydrogen‐bonding interaction between the tertiary N⁺? H and nitrosocarbonyl groups accounted for the high N selectivity, whilst the enantioselectivity was determined by Si‐facial attack on the (E)‐ and (Z)‐enamines in a Curtin–Hammett‐type manner. The bidentate hydrogen‐bonding interaction with the nitrosocarbonyl moieties reinforced the facial selectivity in this process.     

Preparation and Recognition Properties of Vanillin‐Imprinted Polymers

Some new molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared by different protocols involving vanillin as the imprinted molecule, methacrylic acid (= 2‐methylprop‐2‐enoic acid; MAA) as the functional monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA = 2‐methylprop‐2‐enoic acid ethane‐1,2‐diyl ester) as the cross‐linking agent. The adsorption property of the imprinted polymers was studied by UV spectrophotometry and HPLC. The results indicated that the porogen solvent had a certain influence on the adsorption performance of the polymer. The vanillin‐imprinted polymer MIP₁ prepared with MeOH as porogen, exhibited advantageous characteristics, i.e., a high binding activity, a good selectivity, and a rapid adsorption equilibrium. The binding parameters studied by Scatchard analysis established that there are two types of binding sites in MIP₁. Finally, by packing an SPE column (SPE = solid‐phase extraction) with the polymer MIP₁, the vanillin was separated and enriched successfully by this sorbent from the samples of Vanilla fragrans and beer.     

Enantioselective Continuous‐Flow Production of 3‐Indolylmethanamines Mediated by an Immobilized Phosphoric Acid Catalyst

A polystyrene‐supported 1,1’‐bi‐2‐naphthol derived phosphoric acid has been synthesized and applied in the enantioselective Friedel–Crafts reaction of indoles and sulfonylimines. The immobilized catalyst was highly active and selective, and gave rise to a broad range of 3‐indolylmethanamines (19 examples) in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98 % enantiomeric excess) after short reaction times under very convenient reaction conditions (RT in dichloromethane). Moreover, repeated recycling (14 cycles) was possible with no substantial loss in catalytic performance and the system could be adapted to a continuous‐flow operation (6 h). Finally, the applicability of the system was further confirmed by rapid access to a library of compounds with three points of diversity in a single continuous‐flow experiment that involved sequential pumping of different substrate combinations.     

Lewis Acid–Base Interaction‐Controlled ortho‐Selective C−H Borylation of Aryl Sulfides

An iridium/bipyridine‐catalyzed ortho ‐selective C−H borylation of aryl sulfides was developed. High ortho ‐selectivity was achieved by a Lewis acid–base interaction between a boryl group of the ligand and a sulfur atom of the substrate. This is the first example of a catalytic and regioselective C−H transformation controlled by a Lewis acid–base interaction between a ligand and a substrate. The C−H borylation reaction could be conducted on a gram scale, and with a bioactive molecule as a substrate, demonstrating its applicability to late‐stage regioselective C−H borylation. A bioactive molecule was synthesized from an ortho ‐borylated product by converting the boryl and methylthio groups of the product.     

Preparation and Characteristics of Esculin‐Imprinted Polymers

Four molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared in MeOH with esculin (=6,7‐dihydroxycoumarin 6‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranoside)=6‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐7‐hydroxy‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) as the imprinted molecule, methacrylic acid (=2‐methylprop‐2‐enoic acid; MAA), acrylamide (=prop‐2‐enamide; AM), 4‐vinylpyridine (=4‐ethenylpyridine; 4‐VP), or 2‐vinylpyridine (=2‐ethenylpyridine; 2‐VP) as the functional monomer, respectively, as well as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (=2‐methylprop‐2‐enoic acid ethane‐1,2‐diyl ester; EGDMA) as the cross‐linking agent. The interaction between the template and the functional monomers was investigated by fluorescence and UV spectrophotometry, respectively, which revealed the presence of esculin/monomer complexes in the stoichiometric ratio 1 : 2 in the pre‐polymerization mixture. The resultant polymers were studied in equilibrium binding experiments to evaluate the recognition ability and the binding capacity towards esculin. The results showed that MIP₁, prepared with MAA as the functional monomer, exhibited advantageous characteristics of high binding capacity, optimal imprinting effect, and good selectivity towards esculin. The Scatchard analysis indicated that there are two types of binding sites in MIP₁, and its binding parameters including the apparent maximum numbers of binding sites and the dissociation constants were calculated. Finally, by packing an SPE column (SPE=solid‐phase extraction) with MIP₁, the esculin was separated and enriched successfully by this sorbent from samples of Cortex fraxini, and the average recovery was up to 74.7%.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct Dialkenylation of Cage B?H Bonds in o‐Carboranes through Cross‐Coupling Reactions

Palladium‐catalyzed direct dialkenylation of cage B(4,5) H bonds in o‐carboranes has been achieved with the help of a carboxylic acid directing group, leading to the preparation of a series of 4,5‐[trans‐(ArCHCH)]₂‐ocarboranes in high yields with excellent regioselectivity. The traceless directing group, eliminated during the course of the reaction, is responsible for controlling regioselectivity and dialkenylation. A possible catalytic cycle is proposed, involving a tandem sequence of Pd^II‐initiated cage B H activation, alkene insertion, β‐H elimination, reductive elimination, and decarboxylation.     

Ring‐opening polymerization of 6‐hydroxynon‐8‐enoic acid lactone: Novel biodegradable copolymers containing allyl pendent groups

This article reports the synthesis and copolymerization of 6‐hydroxynon‐8‐enoic acid lactone. The ring‐opening polymerization of this lactone‐type monomer bearing a pendant allyl group led to new homopolymers and random copolymers with ε‐caprolactone and L ,L ‐lactide. The copolymerizations were carried out at 110 °C with Sn(Oct)₂ as a catalyst. The introduction of unsaturations into the aliphatic polyester permitted us to carry out different chemical transformations on this family of polymers. For example, this article reports the bromination, epoxidation, and hydrosylilation of the allyl group in the new polyester copolymers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 870–875, 2000     

Transition‐Metal‐Free Hydrogen Autotransfer: Diastereoselective N‐Alkylation of Amines with Racemic Alcohols

A practical method for the synthesis of α‐chiral amines by alkylation of amines with alcohols in the absence of any transition‐metal catalysts has been developed. Under the co‐catalysis of a ketone and NaOH, racemic secondary alcohols reacted with Ellman's chiral tert‐butanesulfinamide by a hydrogen autotransfer process to afford chiral amines with high diastereoselectivities (up to >99:1). Broad substrate scope and up to a 10 gram scale production of chiral amines were demonstrated. The method was applied to the synthesis of chiral deuterium‐labelled amines with high deuterium incorporation and optical purity, including examples of chiral deuterated drugs. The configuration of amine products is found to be determined solely by the configuration of the chiral tert‐butanesulfinamide regardless of that of alcohols, and this is corroborated by DFT calculations. Further mechanistic studies showed that the reaction is initiated by the ketone catalyst and involves a transition state similar to that proposed for the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV) reduction, and importantly, it is the interaction of the sodium cation of the base with both the nitrogen and oxygen atoms of the sulfinamide moiety that makes feasible, and determines the diastereoselectivity of, the reaction.     

Xantphos Doped POPs‐PPh3 as Heterogeneous Ligand for Cobalt‐Catalyzed Highly Regio‐ and Stereoselective Hydrosilylation of Alkynes

A Co(acac)₂/POL‐Xantphos@10PPh₃‐catalyzed hydrosilylation of unsymmetrical internal alkynes with Ph₂SiH₂ has been developed for the synthesis of highly selective syn‐α‐vinylsilane products. Furthermore, terminal alkynes were also used and gave the products with excellent regioselectivity and a wide functional group tolerance. Because this porous organic polymer combines the selectivity and activity merits of Xantphos with the stability advantage derived from the high concentration of PPh₃, the Co(acac)₂/POL‐Xantphos@10PPh₃ can be recycled multiple times without loss of activity and selectivity. This heterogeneous catalyst is expected to find promising applications in industrial synthesis.     

Substrate‐Directed Hydroacylation: Rhodium‐Catalyzed Coupling of Vinylphenols and Nonchelating Aldehydes

We report a protocol for the hydroacylation of vinylphenols with aryl, alkenyl, and alkyl aldehydes to form branched products with high selectivity. This cross‐coupling yields α‐aryl ketones that can be cyclized to benzofurans, and it enables access to eupomatenoid natural products in four steps or less from eugenol. Excellent reactivity and high levels of regioselectivity for the formation of the branched products were observed. We propose that aldehyde decarbonylation is avoided by the use of an anionic directing group on the alkene and a diphosphine ligand with a small bite angle.     

Alkene Transfer Hydrogenation with Alkaline‐Earth Metal Catalysts

The alkene transfer hydrogenation (TH) of a variety of alkenes has been achieved with simple AeN′′₂ catalysts [Ae=Ca, Sr, Ba; N′′=N(SiMe₃)₂] using 1,4‐cyclohexadiene (1,4‐CHD) as a H source. Reaction of 1,4‐CHD with AeN′′₂ gave benzene, N′′H, and the metal hydride species N′′AeH (or aggregates thereof), which is a catalyst for alkene hydrogenation. BaN′′₂ is by far the most active catalyst. Hydrogenation of activated C=C bonds (e.g. styrene) proceeded at room temperature without polymer formation. Unactivated (isolated) C=C bonds (e.g. 1‐hexene) needed a higher temperature (120 °C) but proceeded without double‐bond isomerization. The ligands fully control the course of the catalytic reaction, which can be: 1) alkene TH, 2) 1,4‐CHD dehydrogenation, or 3) alkene polymerization. DFT calculations support formation of a metal hydride species by deprotonation of 1,4‐CHD followed by H transfer. Convenient access to larger quantities of BaN′′₂, its high activity and selectivity, and the many advantages of TH make this a simple but attractive procedure for alkene hydrogenation.     

Kristallstrukturen ferrocenhaltiger 1,3‐Diketon‐ und Enaminoketon‐Derivate

Crystal Structures of 1,3‐Diketone and Enaminoketone Derivatives Containing Ferrocene The crystal structures of the 1,3‐diketones 2,4‐dioxo‐4‐ferrocenyl‐butanoic acid ethylester ( 1 ) und ferrocene‐1,1′‐bis(2,4‐dioxo‐butanoic acid ethylester) ( 2 ) have been determined. Through conversion of 1 by Cu(ac)₂ · H₂O in THF the copper(II) complex aqua‐bis(3‐ethoxycarbonyl‐1‐ferrocenyl‐propane‐1,3‐dionato) copper(II) ( 1 a ) has been obtained, which is structurally characterized too. The structures of the enaminoketones 2,2′‐(1,4‐phenylenediamino)‐bis(4‐ferrocenyl‐4‐oxo‐but‐2‐enoic acid ethylester) ( 3 ) and ferrocene‐1,1′‐bis(4‐oxo‐2‐phenylamino‐but‐2‐enoic acid ethylester) ( 4 ) have been determined by X‐ray analysis as well. Electrochemical studies completed the structural investigations.     

Synthesis of 1‐acetoxy‐2‐aminoakenes via condensation of amino with carbonyl and CC acetoxylation

1‐Acetoxy‐2‐aminoakenes were synthesized through an effective synthetic route using acid as the catalyst and (diacetoxyiodo)benzene as the oxidant, which is also a novel strategy for the formation of two C‐heteroatom bonds in the same reaction. In addition, it is a practical protocol with high regioselectivity, atom efficiency, and good substrate scope. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 23:290–294, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.21016     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed trans‐Selective Hydrostannation of Alkynes

In contrast to all other transition‐metal‐catalyzed hydrostannation reactions documented in the literature, the addition of Bu₃SnH across various types of alkynes proceeds with excellent trans selectivity, provided the reaction is catalyzed by [Cp*Ru]‐based complexes. This method is distinguished by a broad substrate scope and a remarkable compatibility with functional groups, including various substituents that would neither survive under the conditions of established Lewis acid mediated trans hydrostannations nor withstand free‐radical reactions. In case of unsymmetrical alkynes, a cooperative effect between the proper catalyst and protic functionality in the substrate allows outstanding levels of regioselectivity to be secured as well.