Microwave‐Assisted Cross‐Coupling for the Construction of Diaryl Sulfides

The construction of diaryl sulfides through the cross‐coupling of aryl iodides and thiols in microwave heating is described. By using this method, a variety of diaryl sulfides can be prepared in a mild condition and in high yields. Deactivated 4‐nitrothiophenol was effective to afford the product in 94% yield. Sterically hindered ortho‐substituted aryl iodides or thiophenols provided diaryl sulfides effectively by this microwave‐assisted coupling reaction.     

Room‐Temperature Arylation of Thiols: Breakthrough with Aryl Chlorides

The formation of aryl C−S bonds is an important chemical transformation because aryl sulfides are valuable building blocks for the synthesis of biologically and pharmaceutically active molecules and organic materials. Aryl sulfides have traditionally been synthesized through the transition‐metal‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of aryl halides with thiols. However, the aryl halides used are usually bromides and iodides; readily available, low‐cost aryl chlorides often not reactive enough. Furthermore, the deactivation of transition‐metal catalysts by thiols has forced chemists to use high catalyst loadings, specially designed ligands, high temperatures, and/or strong bases, thus leading to high costs and the incompatibility of some functional groups. Herein, we describe a simple and efficient visible‐light photoredox arylation of thiols with aryl halides at room temperature. More importantly, various aryl chlorides are also effective arylation reagents under the present conditions.     

Efficient CS Cross‐Coupling of Thiols with Aryl Iodides Catalyzed by Cu(OAc)2·H2O and 2,2′‐Biimidazole

The classical Ullmann C? S cross coupling reaction of aryl iodides with aromatic/alkyl thiols under catalysis of 15 mol% Cu(OAc)₂·H₂O and 15 mol% 2,2′‐biimidazole works at 80°C in DMSO for 3 h to provide a variety of aryl sulfides in good to excellent yields.     

Efficient recyclable CuI-nanoparticle-catalyzed S-arylation of thiols with aryl halides on water under mild conditions

CuI nanoparticles efficiently catalyzed the C-S cross coupling of aryl and alkyl thiols with aryl halides in the absence of ligands on water under mild conditions. A wide range of diaryl sulfides and aryl alkyl sulfides are synthesized in good to excellent yields utilizing this protocol. This procedure is particularly noteworthy given its mild conditions, avoiding the undesired formation of disulfides through oxidation of thiols. The recovery and successful reutilization of the catalyst is described. Furthermore, the directed synthesis of bisarylated product is presented.     

A concise synthetic strategy to alkynyl sulfides via transition-metal-free catalyzed C-S coupling of 1,1-dibromo-1-alkenes with thiophenols

A novel synthetic strategy to alkynyl sulfides via transition-metal-free catalyzed C-S coupling of 1,1-dibromo-1-alkenes with thiophenols has been developed. The new strategy which avoided the transition-metal toxicities is environmental friendly and very important for alkynyl sulfides synthesis.     

Gold‐Catalyzed C(sp3)?H/C(sp)?H Coupling/Cyclization/Oxidative Alkynylation Sequence: A Powerful Strategy for the Synthesis of 3‐Alkynyl Polysubstituted Furans

In sharp contrast to the gold‐catalyzed reactions of alkynes/allenes with nucleophiles, gold‐catalyzed oxidative cross‐couplings and especially C H/C H cross‐coupling have been under represented. By taking advantage of the unique redox property and carbophilic π acidity of gold, this work realizes the first gold‐catalyzed direct C(sp³) H alkynylation of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with terminal alkynes under mild reaction conditions, with subsequent cyclization and in situ oxidative alkynylation. A variety of terminal alkynes including aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkyl, and cyclopropyl alkynes all successfully participate in the domino reaction. The protocol offers a simple and region‐defined approach to 3‐alkynyl polysubstituted furans.     

Gold‐Catalyzed C(sp3)H/C(sp)H Coupling/Cyclization/Oxidative Alkynylation Sequence: A Powerful Strategy for the Synthesis of 3‐Alkynyl Polysubstituted Furans

In sharp contrast to the gold‐catalyzed reactions of alkynes/allenes with nucleophiles, gold‐catalyzed oxidative cross‐couplings and especially C? H/C? H cross‐coupling have been under represented. By taking advantage of the unique redox property and carbophilic π acidity of gold, this work realizes the first gold‐catalyzed direct C(sp³)? H alkynylation of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with terminal alkynes under mild reaction conditions, with subsequent cyclization and in situ oxidative alkynylation. A variety of terminal alkynes including aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkyl, and cyclopropyl alkynes all successfully participate in the domino reaction. The protocol offers a simple and region‐defined approach to 3‐alkynyl polysubstituted furans.     

NiFe2O4 as a magnetically recoverable nanocatalyst for odourless C–S bond formation via the cleavage of C–O bond in the presence of S8 under mild and green conditions

We present green methodologies for one‐pot and odourless syntheses of unsymmetric and symmetric diaryl sulfides via C─O bond activation using NiFe₂O₄ magnetic nanoparticles as a reusable heterogeneous nanocatalyst. The synthesis of unsymmetric sulfides is performed using the cross‐coupling reaction of phenolic esters such as acetates, triflates and tosylates with arylboronic acid/S₈ or triphenyltin chloride/S₈ as thiolating agents in the presence of base and NiFe₂O₄ magnetic nanoparticles as a catalyst in poly(ethylene glycol) as solvent at 60–85°C. Also, the synthesis of symmetric diaryl sulfides from phenolic compounds using S₈ as the sulfur source and NiFe₂O₄ as catalyst in dimethylformamide at 120°C is described. Using these protocols, the syntheses of various unsymmetric and symmetric sulfides become easier than using the available protocols due to the use of a magnetically reusable bimetallic nanocatalyst and avoiding the use of thiols and aryl halides.     

2,4‐Dinitrophenol‐Catalyzed α‐C(sp3)−H and C(sp)−H Bond Functionalization of Cyclic Amines and Alkynes: Highly Regio‐/Diastereoselective Synthesis of α‐Alkynyl‐3‐Amino‐2‐Oxindoles

A transition‐metal‐ and oxidant‐free DNP (2,4‐dinitrophenol)‐catalyzed atom‐economical regio‐ and diastereoselective synthesis of monofunctionalized α‐alkynyl‐3‐amino‐2‐oxindole derivatives by C?H bond functionalization of cyclic amines and alkynes with indoline‐2,3‐diones has been developed. This cascade event sequentially involves the reductive amination of indoline‐2,3‐dione by imine formation and cross coupling between C(sp³)?H and C(sp)?H of the cyclic amines and alkynes. This reaction offers an efficient and attractive pathway to different types of α‐alkynyl‐3‐amino‐2‐oxindole derivatives in good yields with a wide tolerance of functional groups. The salient feature of this methodology is that it completely suppresses the homocoupling of alkynes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a DNP‐catalyzed metal‐free direct C(sp³)?H and C(sp)?H bond functionalization providing biologically active α‐alkynyl‐3‐amino‐2‐oxindole scaffolds.     

Pd‐NHC‐Catalyzed Alkynylation of General Aryl Sulfides with Alkynyl Grignard Reagents

Cross‐coupling reactions of unactivated aryl sulfides with alkynylmagnesium chloride have been invented to afford 1‐aryl‐1‐alkynes with the aid of a palladium/N‐heterocyclic carbene complex. This reaction has by far the widest scope of all transformations utilizing aryl sulfides and alkynes, while known cross‐coupling alkynylations of aryl‐sulfur electrophiles require activated azaaryl sulfides, thiolactams, or arenesulfonyl chlorides. The alkynylation of aryl sulfides is compatible with typical protecting functional groups. The alkynylation is applied to the synthesis of benzofuran‐based fluorescent molecules by taking advantage of characteristic organosulfur chemistry.     

An Arylation Strategy to Propargylamines: Catalytic Asymmetric Friedel–Crafts‐type Arylation Reactions of C‐Alkynyl Imines

The first arylation strategy for the synthesis of enantioenriched propargylamines is disclosed. This approach, which is complementary to previous alkynylation and alkylation strategies, involves a C(sp²)?C(sp³) bond formation, and is based on the first asymmetric Friedel–Crafts‐type arylation reaction of C‐alkynyl imines. Asymmetric Friedel–Crafts reactions with electron‐deficient phenols, a longstanding unsolved challenge, have thus been realized for the first time, enabled by the combination of our recently introduced C‐alkynyl N‐Boc‐protected N,O‐acetals as electrophiles and chiral phosphoric acids as catalysts. The synthetic utility of the resulting structurally diverse and polyfunctional chiral propargylamines was demonstrated by a series of selective transformations, including controlled reduction of the alkynyl group and iterative cross‐couplings.     

Tuning Redox Chemistry and Photophysics in Core‐Substituted Tetraazaperopyrenes (TAPPs)

Core substitution of tetraazaperopyrenes (TAPPs) has been achieved, and with it, considerable variation of their photo‐ and redox‐chemical properties. Through Suzuki cross coupling starting from the fourfold core‐brominated tetraazaperopyrene, aryl‐substituted TAPPs were synthesized, which displayed very high fluorescence quantum yields (up to 100 %) in solution. Besides the Suzuki reactions, Stille and Sonogashira cross‐couplings were also found to be suitable methods for core derivatization, as demonstrated in the syntheses of alkynyl‐substituted tetraazaperopyrene congeners. Furthermore, TAPPs incorporating intramolecular donor–acceptor combinations of aromatic units ( 8 , 9 ) were accessible by coupling the electron‐poor peropyrene core with electron‐rich aromatic units, which act as strong electron donors. Finally, C‐heteroatom coupling (O, S, N) gave rise to novel TAPP derivatives with strongly modified redox‐chemical behaviour and photophysics in the solid state as well in solution. In particular, TAPP derivatives displaying red fluorescence were obtained for the first time.     

Ligand‐Free Copper‐Catalyzed Negishi Coupling of Alkyl‐, Aryl‐, and Alkynylzinc Reagents with Heteroaryl Iodides

Reported herein is an unprecedented ligand‐free copper‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of alkyl‐, aryl‐, and alkynylzinc reagents with heteroaryl iodides. The reaction proceeds at room temperature for the coupling of primary, secondary, and tertiary alkylzinc reagents with heteroaryl iodides without rearrangement. An elevated temperature (100 °C) is required for aryl–heteroaryl and alkynyl–heteroaryl couplings.     

Efficient copper-catalyzed S-vinylation of thiols with vinyl halides

The synthesis of vinyl sulfides through the coupling reaction of thiols with vinyl iodides, bromides, and chlorides is described. The thiols can couple with aryl iodides in the presence of only 0.5 mol % Cu(2)O without the need for an ancillary ligand. In the presence of 5 mol % of Cu(2)O and 10 mol % 1,10-phenanthroline as the ligand, the more challenging alkyl vinyl bromides can also be coupled with thiols, giving the vinyl sulfides in good to excellent yields.     

Zirconium oxide complex‐functionalized MCM‐41 nanostructure: an efficient and reusable mesoporous catalyst for oxidation of sulfides and oxidative coupling of thiols using hydrogen peroxide

Zirconium oxide complex‐functionalized mesoporous MCM‐41 (Zr‐oxide@MCM‐41) as an efficient and reusable catalyst is reported for the oxidation of sulfides into sulfoxides using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as the oxidant, with short reaction times in good to excellent yields at room temperature under solvent‐free conditions. Also, a simple and efficient method is reported for the oxidative coupling of thiols into corresponding disulfides in good to high yields using H₂O₂ as oxidant in the presence of Zr‐oxide@MCM‐41 as recoverable catalyst in ethanol at room temperature. A series of sulfides and thiols possessing functional groups was successfully converted into corresponding products. After completion of reactions the catalyst was easily separated with simple filtration from the reaction mixture and reused for several consecutive runs without significant loss of catalytic efficiency. The mesoporous catalyst was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area measurements, X‐ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopies, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The first broad application of alkynyl sulfides as dienophiles in cobalt(I)-catalyzed Diels-Alder reactions

The cobalt(I)-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction of nonactivated aryl alkynyl sulfides with acyclic 1,3-dienes generates dihydroaromatic vinyl sulfides under very mild reaction conditions, and these products can be oxidized with mild oxidants to the corresponding diaryl sulfides in good overall yields. The steric and electronic effects of substituents on the aryl, as well as on the alkynyl, moieties of the aryl alkynyl sulfide are discussed. While the cobalt catalyst system is quite efficient in converting alkynyl sulfides to the Diels-Alder adducts, the transformation of the corresponding aryl alkynyl sulfoxides and sulfones under similar mild reaction conditions gave only moderate yields of the desired adducts.     

Using Anilines as Masked Cross‐Coupling Partners: Design of a Telescoped Three‐Step Flow Diazotization,Iododediazotization, Cross‐Coupling Process

The conversion of commercially available anilines into biaryl and biarylacetylene products was realized by using a telescoped, three‐reactor flow diazotization/iododediazotization/cross‐coupling process. The segmented flow stream created by off‐gassing during the Sandmeyer sequence was restored to a continuous column of reaction solution by using a specially designed continuous‐flow unit controlled by custom software created in‐house. The resultant aryl iodide was then combined with a stream of cross‐coupling solution that fed into the final reactor. The system proved versatile as modifications to the diazotization/iododediazotization sequence could be made rapidly to account for any substrate specificity (e.g., solubility problems), leading to a wide substrate scope of Suzuki–Miyaura and Sonogashira cross‐coupled products.     

Copper mediated coupling of 2-(piperazine)-pyrimidine iodides with aryl thiols using Cu(I)thiophene-2-carboxylate

A copper-mediated synthesis of diaryl sulfides utilizing Cu(I)-thiophene-2-carboxylate (CuTC) is described. We demonstrate the use of CuTC as a soluble, non-basic catalyst in the coupling of aryl iodides and aryl thiols in the synthesis of synthetically advanced diaryl sulfides. This method allows for the successful coupling of challenging substrates including ortho-substituted and heteroaryl iodides and thiols. Additionally, most of the aryl iodide substrates used here contain the privileged piperazine scaffold bound to a pyrimidine, pyridine, or phenyl ring and thus this method allows for the elaboration of complex piperazine scaffolds into molecules of biological interest. The method described here enables the incorporation of late-stage structural diversity into diaryl sulfides containing the piperazine ring, thus enhancing the number and nature of derivatives available for SAR investigation.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Unactivated Aryl Sulfides with Arylzinc Reagents under Mild Conditions

Cross‐coupling of general aryl alkyl sulfides with arylzinc reagents proceeds smoothly, even at room temperature or below, with a palladium–N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyst. When combined with reactions that are unique to organosulfurs, that is, the S_NAr sulfanylation or Pummerer reaction, the cross‐coupling offers interesting transformations that are otherwise difficult to achieve. An alkylsulfanyl group is preferentially converted whilst leaving the tosyloxy and chloro intact, which expands the variety of orthogonal cross‐coupling.     

Synthesis of new zirconium complex supported on MCM‐41 and its application as an efficient catalyst for synthesis of sulfides and the oxidation of sulfur containing compounds

In the present work, we report synthesis of new zirconium complex supported on mesoporous silica by anchoring of adenine on the wall of functionalized MCM‐41, then reacted with ZrOCl₂. The resultant MCM‐41‐Adenine‐Zr was characterized by FT‐IR, XRD, TEM, SEM, TGA, EDX, ICP and BET techniques. It was exhibited that the MCM‐41‐Adenine‐Zr can be used as an efficient and thermally stable nanocatalyst for the oxidation of sulfides, oxidative coupling of thiols and synthesis of sulfides. Moreover, this heterogeneous catalyst can be easily recovered from the reaction mixture by simple filtration and reused for several consecutive cycles without noticeable change in its catalytic activity.