TBHP-Mediated Oxidative Cross-Coupling of Disulfides with Ethers through a C(sp3)-H Thiolation Process

A new tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)–mediated oxidative cross-coupling of disulfides with ethers is presented for the synthesis of etherified sulfides. This method is achieved by a C(sp³)-H thiolation strategy under metal-free conditions and provides a simple route to constructing the C-S bonds.     

Use of Stang's reagent, PhI(CN)OTf, to promote Pummerer-like oxidative cyclization of 2-(phenylthio)indoles

Treatment of various 2-(phenylthio)indoles, bearing nucleophilic groups tethered to C(3), with PhI(CN)OTf initiated an oxidative cyclization sequence that afforded 3,3-spirocyclic 2-(phenylthio)indolenines or oxindoles in moderate yield.     

Ligand-accelerated cross-coupling of C(sp2)-H bonds with arylboron reagents

A ligand-accelerated Pd(II)-catalyzed C(sp(2))-H/arylboron cross-coupling reaction of phenylacetic acid substrates is reported. Using Ac-Ile-OH as the ligand and Ag(2)CO(3) as the oxidant, a fast, high-yielding, operationally simple, and functional group-tolerant protocol has been developed for the cross-coupling of phenylacetic acid substrates with aryltrifluoroborates. This ligand scaffold has also been shown to improve catalysis using 1 atm O(2) as the sole reoxidant, which sheds light on the path forward in developing optimized ligands for aerobic C-H/arylboron cross-coupling.     

Palladium-catalyzed cascade synthesis of spirocyclic oxindoles via regioselective C2-H arylation and C8-H alkylation of naphthalene ring

A simultaneous C2-H arylation and C8-H alkylation of naphthalene ring has been achieved by palladiumcatalyzed cascade reaction of N-(2-halophenyl)-2-(naphthalen-1-yl)acrylamides with aryl iodides,which provides an efficient method for synthesizing various aryl-substituted spirocyclic oxindoles.The protocol enables three C-C bonds formation via an intramolecular Heck reaction and sequentially regioselective C-H bond activation.     

Aza-oxindole synthesis by oxidative coupling of C(sp2)-H and C(sp3)-H centers

A Cu(II) mediated oxidative C(sp(2))-H and C(sp(3))-H coupling protocol gives access to aza-oxindoles in good to excellent yield in the presence of NaOtBu as base and toluene as solvent.     

Palladium-catalyzed amidation by chemoselective C(sp3)-H activation: concise route to oxindoles using a carbamoyl chloride precursor

Quite select: a new strategy was developed for the synthesis of various oxindoles from carbamoyl chlorides. Under the optimum reaction conditions, with Ad(2)PBu as a ligand, tBuCONHOH as an additive, and a CO atmosphere, selective C(sp(3))-H activation proceeded in the presence of a C(sp(2))-H bond. Ad=adamantyl.     

Mn(OAc)3*2H2O promoted addition of arylboronic acids to quinoxalin-2-ones

A simple method has been developed for the synthesis of 3-aryl quinoxalin-2-one derivatives through an oxidative cross-coupling of arylboronic acids with quinoxalin-2-ones using a readily available oxidant Mn(III) acetate dihydrate. This method provides 3-aryl quinoxalin-2-one scaffolds with a broad substrate scope.     

Oxidative C-arylation of free (NH)-heterocycles via direct (sp3) C-H bond functionalization

The development of a new chemical transformation, namely oxidative C-arylation of saturated (NH)-heterocycles, is described. This reaction combines dehydrogenation and arylation in one process, leading to cross-coupling of (NH)-heterocycles and haloarenes. Typical reaction conditions involve heating the reaction partners in anhydrous dioxane at 120-150 degrees C in the presence of RhCl(CO)[P(Fur)3]2 as the catalyst and Cs2CO3 as the base. Addition of tert-butylethylene as the hydrogen acceptor increases the chemical yield by diminishing the dehalogenation pathway. This method demonstrated a good substrate scope, allowing for cross-coupling of a variety of (NH)-heterocycles (e.g., pyrrolidine, piperidine, piperazine, morpholine) and halo(hetero)arenes to afford valuable heterocyclic products in one step. The preliminary mechanistic studies provided some insight regarding the key events in the proposed catalytic cycle, including beta-hydride elimination of an amido rhodium complex and carbometalation of the resulting imine. A large kinetic isotope effect [KIE (kC-H/kC-D) = 4.3] suggests that one or both beta-hydride elimination steps are rate determining. The central role for the phosphine ligand was established in controlling the partitioning between the oxidative C-arylation and N-arylation pathways.     

Palladium-catalyzed C-H functionalization of N-arylpropiolamides with aryliodonium salts: selective synthesis of 3-(1-arylmethylene)oxindoles

A selective and efficient method for the synthesis of 3-(1-arylmethylene)oxindoles by palladium-catalyzed C-H functionalization of anilides with aryliodonium salts has been developed. In the presence of Pd(OAc)2 and Et3N, a variety of anilides underwent the reaction with aryliodonium salts to afford the corresponding 3-(1-arylmethylene)oxindoles in moderate to good yields. It is noteworthy that the reaction can be conducted providing moderate yields even without bases. The mechanism of the reaction was also discussed.     

General approach for the synthesis of 12-methoxy-substituted sarpagine indole alkaloids including (-)-12-methoxy-N(b)-methylvoachalotine, (+)-12-methoxy-N(a)-methylvellosimine, (+)-12-methoxyaffinisine, and (-)-fuchsiaefoline

[structures: see text] The enantiospecific synthesis of 7-methoxy-D-tryptophan ethyl ester was completed by combination of the Larock heteroannulation process with a Sch?llkopf-based chiral auxiliary in good yield. This ester was then employed in the first regiospecific, stereospecific total synthesis of (+)-12-methoxy-N(a)-methylvellosimine, (+)-12-methoxyaffinisine, (-)-fuchsiaefoline, and 12-methoxy-N(b)-methylvoachalotine in excellent overall yield. The asymmetric Pictet-Spengler reaction and enolate-driven palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling processes served as key steps. The quaternary center at C16 of 12-methoxy-N(b)-methylvoachalotine was established via the Tollens reaction between (+)-12-methoxy-N(a)-methylvellosimine and formaldehyde to form diol 17. The two prochiral primary alcohols in diol 17 were differentiated by the oxidative cyclization(DDQ) of the hydroxyl group at the axial position of 17 with the benzylic postion at [C6] to form a cyclic ether [C6-O17]. After oxidative formation of the alpha-ester at C16, the ether bond was reductively cleaved with TFA/Et3SiH in high yield. The DDQ-mediated oxidative cyclization and TFA/Et3SiH reductive cleavage served as protection/deprotection steps in order to provide a versatile entry into the voachalotine alkaloids.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of 3-monosubstituted oxindoles to (E)-1,4-diaryl-2-buten-1,4-diones: a strategy for the indirect enantioselective furanylation and pyrrolylation of 3-alkyloxindoles

An asymmetric conjugate addition of 3-monosubstituted oxindoles to a range of (E)-1,4-diaryl-2-buten-1,4-diones, catalyzed by commercially available cinchonine, is described. This organocatalytic asymmetric reaction affords a broad range of 3,3'-disubstituted oxindoles that contain a 1,4-dicarbonyl moiety and vicinal quaternary and tertiary stereogenic centers in high-to-excellent yields (up to 98%), with excellent diastereomeric and moderate-to-high enantiomeric ratios (up to 99:1 and 95:5, respectively). Subsequently, cyclization of the 1,4-dicarbonyl moiety in the resultant Michael adducts under different Paal-Knorr conditions results in two new kinds of 3,3'-disubstituted oxindoles--3-furanyl- and 3-pyrrolyl-3-alkyl-oxindoles--in high yields and good enantioselectivities. Notably, the studies presented here sufficiently confirm that this two-step strategy of sequential conjugate addition/Paal-Knorr cyclization is not only an attractive method for the indirect enantioselective heteroarylation of 3-alkyloxindoles, but also opens up new avenues toward asymmetric synthesis of structurally diverse 3,3'-disubstituted oxindole derivatives.     

Catalyst-free synthesis of (E)-2-alkenylquinoline derivatives via C(sp3)-H functionalization of 2-methylquinolines

This Letter described a facile approach to synthesize (E)-2-alkenylquinoline derivatives via C(sp³)-H functionalization of 2-methylquinolines under catalyst-free conditions. A variety of electronically and sterically diverse 2-methyl quinoline and aromatic aldehydes were well tolerated.     

Molybdenum-catalyzed asymmetric allylation of 3-alkyloxindoles: application to the formal total synthesis of (-)-physostigmine

The first example of Mo-catalyzed asymmetric allylation for the generation of quaternary stereocenters at a prochiral nucleophile is reported. A variety of 3-alkyl oxindoles can be alkylated with high yields and enantioselectivity. This method provides expedited access to (-)-physostigmine and its analogues.     

Synthesis and deprotonation of 2-(pyridyl)phenols and 2-(pyridyl)anilines

2-(2- and 3-Pyridyl)anilines (1, 2), 2,2-dimethyl-N-[2-(2- and 3-pyridyl)phenyl]propanamides (3, 4), and 2-, 3- and 4-(2-methoxyphenyl)pyridines (7-9) are readily synthesized using cross-coupling reactions. Whereas the amines 1, 2 undergo side reactions, the corresponding amides 3, 4 are deprotonated with lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (LTMP): the compound 3 at C6' under in situ quenching, and the compound 4 at C4'. When the ether 7 is subjected to the same reagent, lithiation occurs at C6'.     

Synthesis of 5-substituted 2-(4- or 3-methoxyphenyl)-4(1H)-quinolones

5-Substituted 7-methoxy-2-(4- or 3-methoxyphenyl)-4(1H)-quinolones 8-17 have been synthesised in good yields from the corresponding 7-methoxy-2-(4- or 3-methoxyphenyl)-5-trifluoromethanesulfonate-4(1H)-quinolones 7 via palladium-mediated cross-coupling reactions or aromatic nucleophilic substitution (SN_Ar) reactions.     

pH-oscillations in a closed chemical system of CaSO3-H2O2-HCO3(-)

Long-lasting large amplitude periodic change of the pH is measured in an aqueous suspension of CaSO(3)-H(2)O(2)-HCO(3)(-) at 2.0-10.0 °C in a closed reactor. The amplitude can be as large as 2 pH units between pH 5 and 7. The observed phenomenon is explained and simulated by taking into account a slow dissolution of CaSO(3), which serves as a continuous supply of HSO(3)(-) for a H(+)-producing autocatalytic composite reaction between H(2)O(2) and HSO(3)(-). Protonation of HCO(3)(-) to form CO(2) in a reversible reaction provides for the necessary negative feedback in [H(+)].     

Synthesis of 2-alkylidenecyclopentanones via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of 1-(1-Alkynyl)cyclobutanols and aryl or vinylic halides

The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl or vinylic halides and 1-(1-alkynyl)cyclobutanols affords good yields of stereoisomerically pure 2-arylidene- or 2-(2-alkenylidene)cyclopentanones, respectively, by a process involving (1) oxidative addition of the organic iodide to Pd(0), (2) carbopalladation of the triple bond of the 1-(1-alkynyl)cyclobutanol, (3) regio- and stereoselective ring expansion to form a novel palladiacycle, and (4) reductive elimination to the 2-alkylidenecyclopentanone with simultaneous regeneration of the Pd(0) catalyst.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of quaternary carbons bearing two aryl substituents. Enantioselective synthesis of 3-alkyl-3-aryl oxindoles by catalytic asymmetric intramolecular heck reactions

A practical sequence involving three consecutive palladium(0)-catalyzed reactions has been developed for synthesizing 3-alkyl-3-aryloxindoles in high enantiopurity. The Heck cyclization precursors 10 and 11a-k are generated in one step by chemoselective Stille cross-coupling of 2'-triflato-(Z)-2-stannyl-2-butenanilide 9 with aryl or heteroaryl iodides. The pivotal catalytic asymmetric Heck cyclization step of this sequence takes place in high yield and with high enantioselectivity (71-98% ee) with the Pd-BINAP catalyst derived from Pd(OAc)(2) to construct oxindoles containing a diaryl-substituted all-carbon quaternary carbon center. A wide variety of aryl and heteroaryl substituents, including ones of considerable steric bulk, can be introduced at C3 of oxindoles in this way (Table 4). The only limitations encountered to date are aryl substituents containing ortho nitro or basic amine functionalities and the bulky N-alkyl-7-oxindolyl group. Asymmetric Heck cyclization of butenalide 22 having an o-(N-acetyl-N-benzylamino)phenyl substituent at C2 provided a approximately 1:1 mixture of amide atropisomers 23 and 24 in high yield and high enantioselectivity. These atropisomers are formed directly upon Heck cyclization of 22 at 80 degrees C, as they interconvert thermally to only a small extent at this temperature.     

Synthesis of (s)-2-(2-methylbutyl)thiophene

Optically active (S)-2-(2-methylbutyl)thiophene was obtained by different procedures. Among them, the cross-coupling reaction between 2-methylbutylmagnesium chloride and 2-chlorothio-phene proved to be the most efficient one. Compound 1 was thus obtained in satisfactory yield and rather high optical purity (82%).     

Sonogashira reaction of 5-substituted 3-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)oxolan-2-ones

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of 5-methyl- and 5,5-dimethyl-3-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)oxolan-2-ones with dihaloarenes (dihaloheteroarenes) gave mixtures of the corresponding mono- and bis-coupling products. The latter can be obtained as the major products by variation of the catalytic system.