Synthesis of C2 Substituted Benzothiophenes via an Interrupted Pummerer/[3,3]‐Sigmatropic/1,2‐Migration Cascade of Benzothiophene S‐Oxides

Functionalized benzothiophenes are important scaffolds found in molecules with wide ranging biological activity and in organic materials. We describe an efficient, metal‐free synthesis of C2 arylated, allylated, and propargylated benzothiophenes. The reaction utilizes synthetically unexplored yet readily accessible benzothiophene S‐oxides and phenols, allyl‐, or propargyl silanes in a unique cascade sequence. An interrupted Pummerer reaction between benzothiophene S‐oxides and the coupling partners yields sulfonium salts that lack aromaticity and therefore allow facile [3,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement. The subsequently generated benzothiophenium salts undergo a previously unexplored 1,2‐migration to access C2 functionalized benzothiophenes.     

Rapid Access to β‐Trifluoromethyl‐Substituted Ketones: Harnessing Inductive Effects in Wacker‐Type Oxidations of Internal Alkenes

We present a practical trifluoromethyl‐directed Wacker‐type oxidation of internal alkenes that enables rapid access to β‐trifluoromethyl‐substituted ketones. Allylic trifluoromethyl‐substituted alkenes bearing a wide range of functional groups can be oxidized in high yield and regioselectivity. The distance dependence of the regioselectivity was established by systematic variation of the number of methylene units between the double bond and the trifluoromethyl group. The regioselectivity enforced by traditional directing groups could even be reversed by introduction of a competing trifluoromethyl group. Besides being a new powerful synthetic method to prepare fluorinated molecules, this work directly probes the role of inductive effects on nucleopalladation events.     

TFAA‐Catalyzed Annulation Synthesis of Spiro Pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxaline Derivatives from 1‐(2‐Aminophenyl)pyrroles and Benzoquinones/Ketones

A metal‐free trifluorosulfonate anhydride (TFAA)‐catalyzed strategy for the synthesis of spiro pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxalines from 1‐(2‐aminophenyl)pyrroles and benzoquinones/ketones has been developed. With this general method, spiro pyrrolo[1,2‐a]quinoxalines have been accessed via nucleophilic addition and cyclization. This reaction exhibits good functional group tolerance, and a wide range of products are obtained in moderate to good yields.     

Synthesis of 2‐Substituted 2‐Amino Ketones by Rhodium‐Catalyzed Reaction of N‐Sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles with 2‐Alkenols

A study on a rhodium(II )‐catalyzed reaction of N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles with 2‐alkenols is reported. The reaction is initiated by insertion of an α‐imino carbene into the O–H linkage of alcohol, forming a 2‐alkenoxy enamide intermediate. A thermal [3,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement follows to yield 2‐substituted 2‐amino ketone in a stereoselective manner. The successful application of this methodology to a formal synthesis of (–)‐α‐conhydrine is also described.     

Chemoselective α,β‐Dehydrogenation of Saturated Amides

We report a method for the selective α,β‐dehydrogenation of amides in the presence of other carbonyl moieties under mild conditions. Our strategy relies on electrophilic activation coupled to in situ selective selenium‐mediated dehydrogenation. The α,β‐unsaturated products were obtained in moderate to excellent yields, and their synthetic versatility was demonstrated by a range of transformations. Mechanistic experiments suggest formation of an electrophilic Se^IV species.     

Microwave‐Assisted,Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed N‐Annulation Reactions of Aryl and α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones with Alkynes

New Rh^III‐catalyzed, one‐pot N‐annulation reactions of aryl and α,β‐unsaturated ketones with alkynes in the presence of ammonium acetate have been developed. Under microwave irradiation conditions, the processes lead to rapid formation of the respective isoquinoline and pyridine derivatives with efficiencies that are strongly dependent on the steric nature of the aryl ring and enone substituents. By employing this protocol, a variety of isoquinoline and pyridine derivatives were prepared in high yields. In addition, a new one‐pot approach to the synthesis of pyridines, involving four‐component reactions of ketones, formaldehyde, NH₄OAc, and alkynes, has been uncovered. This process takes place through a route involving initial aldol condensation of the ketone with formaldehyde to generate a branched α,β‐unsaturated ketone that then undergoes Rh^III‐catalyzed N‐annulation with NH₄OAc and the alkyne.     

Gold(I)‐ and Yb(OTf)3‐Cocatalyzed Rearrangements of Epoxy Alkynes: Transfer of a Carbonyl Group in a Five‐Membered Carbocycle

We report here the intramolecular reactions between α,β‐epoxy ketones and alkynes cocatalyzed by gold(I) and Yb(OTf)₃. This new catalytic system based on a combination of gold(I) and Yb(OTf)₃ allows facile transformation of epoxy alkynes to give novel indene derivatives in moderate to good yields under mild conditions. Moreover, we describe here the first observation of a transfer of a carbonyl group in a five‐membered carbocycle during gold‐catalyzed reactions. This proposed mechanism is corroborated by isotope‐labeling experiments (D and ¹³C). Furthermore, the probable role of each catalyst in this interesting domino reaction has been examined by ³¹P NMR experiments. The utilization of gold catalysts combined with rare‐earth metal salts offers a new concept for the design of catalyst combinations for domino or cascade reactions.     

Nickel(II)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Propargyl and Allyl Claisen Rearrangements to Allenyl‐ and Allyl‐Substituted β‐Ketoesters

Highly efficient catalytic asymmetric Claisen rearrangements of O‐propargyl β‐ketoesters and O‐allyl β‐ketoesters have been accomplished under mild reaction conditions. In the presence of the chiral N,N′‐dioxide/Ni^II complex, a wide range of allenyl/allyl‐substituted all‐carbon quaternary β‐ketoesters was obtained in generally good yield (up to 99 %) and high diastereoselectivity (up to 99:1 d.r.) with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee).     

Ring Contraction of 3‐Hydroxy‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)piperidines: Synthesis of 2‐Substituted 2‐(Trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidines

A ring contraction of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)piperidines was achieved via an aziridinium intermediate. This contraction facilitates the synthesis of a series of 2‐substituted 2‐(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidines incorporating a quaternary center at the C2 position.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Cyanomethylation of Allylic Alcohols with Concomitant 1,2‐Aryl Migration: Efficient Synthesis of Functionalized Ketones Containing an α‐Quaternary Center

A copper‐catalyzed alkylation of allylic alcohols by alkyl nitriles with concomitant 1,2‐aryl migration was developed. Formation of the alkyl nitrile radical was followed by its intermolecular addition to alkenes and the migration of a vicinal aryl group with the concomitant generation of a carbonyl functionality to complete the domino sequence. Mechanistic studies suggested that 1,2‐aryl migration proceeded through a radical pathway (neophyl rearrangement). The protocol provided an efficient route to functionalized ketones containing an α‐quaternary center.     

Ene Reaction with Pummerer‐type Reaction Intermediate of α‐(Methylthio)‐N‐methoxy‐N‐methyl Acetamide: A New Synthesis of N‐methoxy‐N‐methyl‐(E,E)‐2,4‐dienamides

Pummerer‐type reaction intermediate 2 of α‐(methylthio)‐N‐methoxy‐N‐methyl acetamide (1) has been found to react with 1‐alkenes to afford ene adducts 3 . N‐Methoxy‐N‐methyl‐(E,E)‐2,4‐dienamides were synthesized from the adducts 3b‐f .     

Synthesis of Three‐, Five‐, and Six‐Membered Heterocycles Derived from New β‐Amino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) Alcohols

Nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of α‐imino ketones 2 , derived from arylglyoxal, with Ruppert–Prakash reagent (CF₃SiMe₃) offers a convenient access to the corresponding O‐silylated β‐imino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) alcohols. In a ‘one‐pot’ procedure, by treatment with NaBH₄, these products smoothly undergo reduction and desilylation yielding the expected β‐amino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) alcohols 4 . The latter were used as starting materials for the synthesis of diverse trifluoromethylated heterocycles, including aziridines 5 , 1,3‐oxazolidines 8 , 1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐ones 9 , 1,3,2‐oxazaphospholidine 2‐oxides 10 , 1,2,3‐oxathiazolidine 2‐oxides 11 , and morpholine‐2,3‐diones 12 . An optically active 5‐(trifluoromethyl)‐substituted 1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐one 9g was also obtained.     

A New Zincate‐Mediated Rearrangement Reaction of 2‐(1‐Hydroxyalkyl)‐1‐alkylcyclopropanol

A novel rearrangement of 2‐(1‐hydroxyalkyl)‐1‐alkylcyclopropanol has been found. It proceeds in the presence of a catalytic amount of organozinc ate complex to give vic‐diols. The rearrangement can be applied to various types of 2‐(1‐hydroxyalkyl)‐1‐alkylcyclopropanol, which can be easily prepared from the corresponding α,β‐epoxyketones and bis(iodozincio)methane. When bicyclo[13.1.0]pentadecane‐1,15‐diol was treated with the organozinc ate complex, the corresponding 14‐membered cyclic vic‐diol was obtained. Thus, this rearrangement is also useful for changing the ring size of cyclic substrates.     

Conjugate Addition of Indoles to α, β-Unsaturated Ketones （Chalcones） Catalyzed by KHSO4 under Ultrasonic Conditions

Conjugate addition of indoles to a variety of α,β-unsaturated ketones （chalcones） mediated by a catalytic amount of KHSO4 at room temperature under ultrasonic conditions to afford the corresponding Michael adducts in good to excellent yields was reported.