Iridium-Catalyzed Formyl-Selective Deuteration of Aldehydes

We report the first direct catalytic method for formyl-selective deuterium labeling of aromatic aldehydes under mild conditions, using an iridium-based catalyst designed to favor formyl over aromatic C−H activation. A good range of aromatic aldehydes is selectively labeled, and a one-pot labeling/olefination method is also described. Computational studies support kinetic product control over competing aromatic labeling and decarbonylation pathways.     

A Convenient Palladium‐Catalyzed Reductive Carbonylation of Aryl Iodides with Dual Role of Formic Acid

Palladium‐catalyzed reductive carbonylation of aryl halides represents a straightforward pathway for the synthesis of aromatic aldehydes. The known reductive carbonylation procedures either require CO gas or complexed compounds as CO sources. In this communication, we developed a palladium‐catalyzed reductive carbonylation of aryl iodides with formic acid as the formyl source. As a convenient, practical, and environmental friendly methodology, no additional silane or H₂ was required. A variety of aromatic aldehydes were isolated in moderate to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. Notably, this is the first procedure on using formic acid as the formyl source.     

Visible‐Light‐Promoted Nickel‐ and Organic‐Dye‐Cocatalyzed Formylation Reaction of Aryl Halides and Triflates and Vinyl Bromides with Diethoxyacetic Acid as a Formyl Equivalent

A simple formylation reaction of aryl halides, aryl triflates, and vinyl bromides under synergistic nickel‐ and organic‐dye‐mediated photoredox catalysis is reported. Distinct from widely used palladium‐catalyzed formylation processes, this reaction proceeds by a two‐step mechanistic sequence involving initial in situ generation of the diethoxymethyl radical from diethoxyacetic acid by a 4CzIPN‐mediated photoredox reaction. The formyl‐radical equivalent then undergoes nickel‐catalyzed substitution reactions with aryl halides and triflates and vinyl bromides to form the corresponding aldehyde products. Significantly, besides aryl bromides, less reactive aryl chlorides and triflates and vinyl halides serve as effective substrates for this process. Since the mild conditions involved in this reaction tolerate a plethora of functional groups, the process can be applied to the efficient preparation of diverse aromatic aldehydes.     

Oxalyl‐CoA Decarboxylase Enables Nucleophilic One‐Carbon Extension of Aldehydes to Chiral α‐Hydroxy Acids

The synthesis of complex molecules from simple, renewable carbon units is the goal of a sustainable economy. Here we explored the biocatalytic potential of the thiamine‐diphosphate‐dependent (ThDP) oxalyl‐CoA decarboxylase (OXC)/2‐hydroxyacyl‐CoA lyase (HACL) superfamily that naturally catalyzes the shortening of acyl‐CoA thioester substrates through the release of the C₁‐unit formyl‐CoA. We show that the OXC/HACL superfamily contains promiscuous members that can be reversed to perform nucleophilic C₁‐extensions of various aldehydes to yield the corresponding 2‐hydroxyacyl‐CoA thioesters. We improved the catalytic properties of Methylorubrum extorquens OXC by rational enzyme engineering and combined it with two newly described enzymes—a specific oxalyl‐CoA synthetase and a 2‐hydroxyacyl‐CoA thioesterase. This enzymatic cascade enabled continuous conversion of oxalate and aromatic aldehydes into valuable (S)‐α‐hydroxy acids with enantiomeric excess up to 99 %.     

A Simple and Efficient Synthesis of Ethyl 1‐Aryl‐4‐formyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐3‐carboxylates

A new simple and convenient method of synthesis of ethyl 1‐aryl‐4‐formyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐3‐carboxylates from aromatic amines via diazonium salts has been developed. Hydrolysis and hydrazinolyization of these compounds has been investigated.     

A Novel Synthesis of γ,δ‐Unsaturated Aldehydes from α‐Formyl‐γ‐lactones

A preparatively useful one‐step transformation of γ,γ‐disubstituted α‐formyl‐γ‐lactones into trisubstituted γ,δ‐unsaturated aldehydes is described, by means of catalytic amounts of either AcOH or AcOEt in the vapor phase over a glass support. A mechanistic rationale is proposed.     

A Metal‐Free Three‐Component Reaction for the Regioselective Synthesis of 1,4,5‐Trisubstituted 1,2,3‐Triazoles

A metal‐free three‐component reaction to synthesize 1,4,5‐trisubstituted 1,2,3‐triazoles from readily available building blocks, such as aldehydes, nitroalkanes, and organic azides, is described. The process is enabled by an organocatalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of the formyl group with the nitro compound, which is followed by the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of the azide to the activated alkene. The reaction features an excellent substrate scope, and the products are obtained with high yield and regioselectivity. This method can be utilized for the synthesis of fused triazole heterocycles and materials with several triazole moieties.     

Trimethylsilyl Iodide‐Promoted Aza‐Prins Cyclization for the Synthesis of 4‐Iodopiperidines

The aza‐Prins cyclization of homoallyl N‐tosylamine with aliphatic aldehydes gives trans‐2‐alkyl‐4‐iodo‐1‐tosylpiperidines. This method is chemoselective as it works only with the aliphatic aldehydes, and, in the case of aromatic aldehydes, the starting materials are recovered.     

Rhodium‐catalyzed ortho‐C‐H olefination of aromatic aldehydes employing transient directing strategy

A Rhodium(III)‐catalyzed ortho‐C‐H olefination of aromatic aldehydes in the presence of catalytic amount of TsNH₂ has been developed. The in situ generated imine intermediate from aldehyde and TsNH₂ worked as a transient directing group. Both electron‐rich and electron‐deficient aromatic aldehydes were tolerated, affording the corresponding products in moderate to good yields. Importantly, the present protocol provides a straightforward access to olefinated aromatic aldehydes with aldehydes as the simple starting materials.     

Unexpected One‐pot Synthesis of Novel 2‐Aminopyrimidine‐4‐ones under Microwave Irradiation

One‐pot, three‐component condensation of guanidine, ethylbenzoylacetate and various aromatic aldehydes in the presence of NaHCO₃ have been investigated by microwave irradiation. The aromatic aldehydes bearing electron‐withdrawing groups undergo condensation with guanidine and ethylbenzoyl‐acetate to afford ethyl‐2‐amino‐4‐aryl‐1,4‐dihydro‐6‐phenylpyrimidine‐5‐carboxylate derivatives via Biginelli reaction. However, reaction of the aromatic aldehydes having electron‐releasing groups with guanidine and ethylbenzoylacetate did not give the corresponding dihydropyrimidines. Instead, novel 2‐amino‐5‐benzoyl‐5,6‐dihydro‐6‐arylpyrimidine‐4(3H)‐ones were obtained via an unexpected mechanism.     

Direct Formylation of Enol Ethers Using Cyanuric Chloride and N,N‐Dimethylformamide

A new method to prepare α,β‐unsaturated enol aldehydes is described. 3‐Ethoxymethacrolein ( 1 ) and 5‐formyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran ( 5 ) were effectively prepared from enol ethers and the Vilsmeier‐Haack type complex, derived from cyanuric chloride and DMF. One byproduct, amidine 4 , was also characterized.     

Aldol Condensation and Michael Addition of 4,4‐Dimethyl‐cyclohexane‐1,3‐dione and Aromatic Aldehydes. Unconventional Substituent Effects

By the cyclization of 4,4‐dimethylcyclohexane‐1,3‐dione with different aromatic aldehydes, the xanthene regioisomers were obtained. The diversity of xanthene isomers could be determined. The electronic and steric effects on aromatic aldehydes could be observed.     

Chemoselectivity in the Reaction of 2‐Diazo‐3‐oxo‐3‐phenylpropanal with Aldehydes and Ketones

The chemoselectivity in the reaction of 2‐diazo‐3‐oxo‐3‐phenylpropanal ( 1 ) with aldehydes and ketones in the presence of Et₃N was investigated. The results indicate that 1 reacts with aromatic aldehydes with weak electron‐donating substituents and cyclic ketones under formation of 6‐phenyl‐4H‐1,3‐dioxin‐4‐one derivatives. However, it reacts with aromatic aldehydes with electron‐withdrawing substituents to yield 1,3‐diaryl‐3‐hydroxypropan‐1‐ones, accompanied by chalcone derivatives in some cases. It did not react with linear ketones, aliphatic aldehydes, and aromatic aldehydes with strong electron‐donating substituents. A mechanism for the formation of 1,3‐diaryl‐3‐hydroxypropan‐1‐ones and chalcone derivatives is proposed. We also tried to react 1 with other unsaturated compounds, including various olefins and nitriles, and cumulated unsaturated compounds, such as N,N′‐dialkylcarbodiimines, phenyl isocyanate, isothiocyanate, and CS₂. Only with N,N′‐dialkylcarbodiimines, the expected cycloaddition took place.     

Breslow Intermediates from Aromatic N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes (Benzimidazolin‐2‐ylidenes,Thiazolin‐2‐ylidenes)

We report the first generation and characterization of elusive Breslow intermediates derived from aromatic N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), namely benzimidazolin‐2‐ylidenes (NMR, X‐ray analysis) and thiazolin‐2‐ylidenes (NMR). In the former case, the diamino enols were generated by reaction of the free N,N‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐ and N,N‐bis(mesityl)‐substituted benzimidazolin‐2‐ylidenes with aldehydes while the dimer of 3,4,5‐trimethylthiazolin‐2‐ylidene served as the starting material in the latter case. The unambiguous NMR identification of the first thiazolin‐2‐ylidene‐based Breslow intermediate rests on double ¹³C labeling of both the NHC and the aldehyde component. The acyl anion reactivity was confirmed by benzoin formation with excess aldehyde.     

Syngas‐Free Highly Regioselective Rhodium‐Catalyzed Transfer Hydroformylation of Alkynes to α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

The hydroformylation of alkynes is a fundamental and important reaction in both academic research and industry. Conventional methods focus on the conversion of alkynes, CO, and H₂ into α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes, but they often suffer from problems associated with operation, regioselectivity, and chemoselectivity. Herein, we disclose an operationally simple, mild, and syngas‐free rhodium‐catalyzed reaction for the hydroformylation of alkynes via formyl and hydride transfer from an alkyl aldehyde. This synthetic method uses inexpensive and easy‐to‐handle n‐butyraldehyde to overcome the challenge posed by the use of syngas in traditional approaches and employs a commercially available catalyst and ligand to transform a broad range of internal alkynes, especially alkynyl‐containing complex molecules, into versatile stereodefined α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes with excellent chemo‐, regio‐, and stereoselectivity.     

Disulfide‐Catalyzed Visible‐Light‐Mediated Oxidative Cleavage of C=C Bonds and Evidence of an Olefin–Disulfide Charge‐Transfer Complex

A photocatalytic method for the aerobic oxidative cleavage of C=C bonds has been developed. Electron‐rich aromatic disulfides were employed as photocatalyst. Upon visible‐light irradiation, typical mono‐ and multi‐substituted aromatic olefins could be converted into ketones and aldehydes at ambient temperature. Experimental and computational studies suggest that a disulfide–olefin charge‐transfer complex is possibly responsible for the unconventional dissociation of S−S bond under visible light.     

An Improved Protocol for Synthesis of 3‐Substituted 5‐Arylidene‐2‐thiohydantoins: Two‐step Procedure Alternative to Classical Methods

A novel method for the direct synthesis of 5‐arylidene‐2‐thiohydantoins from thioureas and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of base in ethanol was developed. Application of this efficient method allowed preparing thiohydantoins, which are difficult to synthesis by traditional methods.     

Radical‐Mediated 1,2‐Formyl/Carbonyl Functionalization of Alkenes and Application to the Construction of Medium‐Sized Rings

A novel radical 1,2‐formylfunctionalization of alkenes involving 1,2(4,5)‐formyl migration triggered by addition of various carbon‐ and heteroatom‐centered radicals to alkenes has been developed for the first time, thus providing straightforward access to diverse β‐functionalized aldehydes with good efficiency, remarkable selectivity, and excellent functional group tolerance. Analogous transformations mediated by a keto‐carbonyl migration have also been effected under similar conditions. This method was used to access ring systems including various benzannulated nine‐, ten‐, and eleven‐membered rings, complex 6‐5(6,7)‐6(5) fused rings, and bridged rings with diverse functionalities.     

Efficient 2,4,6‐trichloro‐1,3,5‐triazine‐catalyzed synthesis of 2‐arylbenzothiazoles and bisbenzothiazoles by condensation of 2‐aminithiophenol with aldehydes under mild conditions

2,4,6‐Trichloro‐1,3,5‐triazine efficiently catalyzed the condensation reactions between 2‐aminothiophenol and aromatic aldehydes to afford 2‐arylbenzothiazolles in good‐to‐excellent yields. Simple and mild reaction conditions, the use of a cheap catalyst and easy work up, and isolation are notable features of this method. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Sodium Tetrafluoroborate as a New and Highly Efficient Catalyst for One‐Pot Synthesis of 3,4‐Dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐Ones and Thiones

Sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF₄) is found to catalyze the three component condensation of an aldehyde, 1,3‐dicarbonyl compound and urea or thiourea to afford the corresponding 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1 H)‐ones and thiones in high yields. This method is very useful for the synthesis of a wide range of 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1 H)‐ones and thiones from aromatic, heterocyclic, α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes and aliphatic aldehydes.