Nickel‐Catalyzed Homoallylation of Aldehydes and Ketones with 1,3‐Dienes and Complementary Promotion by Diethylzinc or Triethylborane

Regio‐ and stereoselective homoallylation of saturated aldehydes and ketones to give bishomoallyl alcohols 1,3‐anti‐ 1 is achieved with [Ni(acac)₂] (cat.) and Et₂Zn [Eq. (a)]. This new catalyst system thus complements the previously reported combination of [Ni(acac)₂] with Et₃B, which offers advantages in the homoallylation of unsaturated and aromatic aldehydes. acac=acetylacetonato.     

Iridium‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Decarbonylation of Primary Alcohols with the Liberation of Syngas

A new iridium ‐ catalyzed reaction in which molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide are cleaved from primary alcohols in the absence of any stoichiometric additives has been developed. The dehydrogenative decarbonylation was achieved with a catalyst generated in situ from [Ir(coe)₂Cl]₂ (coe=cyclooctene) and racemic 2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl (rac‐BINAP) in a mesitylene solution saturated with water. A catalytic amount of lithium chloride was also added to improve the catalyst turnover. The reaction has been applied to a variety of primary alcohols and gives rise to products in good to excellent yields. Ethers, esters, imides, and aryl halides are stable under the reaction conditions, whereas olefins are partially saturated. The reaction is believed to proceed by two consecutive organometallic transformations that are catalyzed by the same iridium(I)–BINAP species. First, dehydrogenation of the primary alcohol to the corresponding aldehyde takes place, which is then followed by decarbonylation to the product with one less carbon atom.     

Mixed metal MgO–ZrO2 nanoparticle‐catalyzed O‐tert‐Boc protection of alcohols and phenols under solvent‐free conditions

An environmentally benign method for O‐tert‐Boc protection of alcohols and phenols catalyzed by MgO–ZrO₂ nanoparticles under solvent‐free conditions is described. A variety of phenols, alcohols (aliphatic and aromatic) were converted to corresponding O‐tert‐Boc products in good to excellent yield (50–95%). The present protocol is expedient, simple, and efficient under solvent‐free conditions. The MgO–ZrO₂ Nps are easily prepared from inexpensive precursors, and are reusable, recyclable and chemoselective. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

Platinum‐Catalyzed Multi‐Step Reaction of Propargyl Alcohols with N‐Heteroaromatics

N‐Methyl indole reacts with but‐2‐yn‐1‐ol in the presence of PtCl₂ in MeOH giving indole derivatives having a substituted 3‐oxobutyl group at the 3‐position in good yield. Under the reaction conditions, various substituted indoles and substituted propargyl alcohols are successfully involved in the reaction giving the corresponding addition products in good to moderate yields. The catalytic reaction can be further extended to N‐phenyl pyrrole. In the present multi‐step reaction, PtCl₂ likely plays dual roles: as the catalyst for the rearrangement of propargyl alcohols to the corresponding alkenyl ketones and as the catalyst for the addition of indoles to the alkenyl ketones. Experimental evidence is provided to support the proposed mechanism.     

The Baylis–Hillman Adducts as Valuable Source for One‐Pot Multi‐Step Synthesis: A Facile Synthesis of Substituted Piperidin‐2‐ones

A facile, convenient, and one‐pot multi‐step synthesis of substituted piperidin‐2‐ones from the Baylis–Hillman alcohols derived from various aldehydes and acrylonitrile, involving Johnson–Claisen rearrangement, reduction of an α,β‐unsaturated nitrile moiety into the saturated amine‐skeleton, followed by cyclization, in an operationally simple procedure, is described.     

Controlled Release of Perfumery Alcohols by Neighboring‐Group Participation. Comparison of the Rate Constants for the Alkaline Hydrolysis of 2‐Acyl‐, 2‐(Hydroxymethyl)‐, and 2‐Carbamoylbenzoates

A series of 2‐acylbenzoates 1 and 2 , 2‐(hydroxymethyl)benzoates 3 , 2‐carbamoylbenzoates 4 – 6 , as well as the carbamoyl esters 7 or 8 of maleate or succinate, respectively (see Fig. 2), were prepared in a few reaction steps, and the potential use of these compounds as chemical delivery systems for the controlled release of primary, secondary, and tertiary fragrance alcohols was investigated. The rate constants for the neighboring‐group‐assisted alkaline ester hydrolysis were determined by anal. HPLC in buffered H₂O/MeCN solution at different pH (Table 1). The rates of hydrolysis were found to depend on the structure of the alcohol, together with the precursor skeleton and the structure of the neighboring nucleophile that attacks the ester function. Primary alcohols were released more rapidly than secondary and tertiary alcohols, and benzoates of allylic primary alcohols (e.g., geraniol) were hydrolyzed 2–4 times faster than their homologous saturated alcohols (e.g., citronellol). For the same leaving alcohol, 2‐[(ethylamino)carbonyl]benzoates cyclized faster than the corresponding 2‐(hydroxymethyl)benzoates, and much faster than their 2‐formyl and 2‐acetyl analogues (see, e.g., Fig. 4). Within the carbamoyl ester series, 2‐[(ethylamino)carbonyl]benzoates were found to have the highest rate constants for the alkaline ester hydrolysis, followed by unsubstituted 2‐(aminocarbonyl)benzoates, or the corresponding isopropyl derivatives. To rationalize the influence of the different structural changes on the hydrolysis kinetics, the experimental data obtained for the 2‐[(alkylamino)carbonyl]benzoates were compared with the results of density‐functional computer simulations (Table 2 and Scheme 4). Based on a preliminary semi‐empirical conformation analysis, density‐functional calculations at the B3LYP/6‐31G** level were carried out for the starting precursor molecules, several reaction intermediates, and the cyclized phthalimides. For the same precursor skeleton, these simple calculations were found to model the experimental data correctly. With an understanding of the influence of structural parameters on the rate constants obtained in this work, it is now possible to influence the rates of hydrolysis over several orders of magnitude, to design tailor‐made precursors for a large variety of fragrance alcohols, and to predict their efficiency as controlled‐release systems in practical applications.     

Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Synthesis of (E)‐δ‐Boryl‐Substituted anti‐Homoallylic Alcohols in Two Steps from Terminal Alkynes

We report the highly diastereo‐ and enantioselective preparation of (E)‐δ‐boryl‐substituted anti‐homoallylic alcohols in two steps from terminal alkynes. This method consists of a cobalt(II)‐catalyzed 1,1‐diboration reaction of terminal alkynes with B₂pin₂ and a palladium(I)‐mediated asymmetric allylation reaction of the resulting 1,1‐di(boryl)alk‐1‐enes with aldehydes in the presence of a chiral phosphoric acid. Propyne, which is produced as the byproduct during petroleum refining, could be used as the starting material to construct homoallylic alcohols that are otherwise difficult to synthesize with high stereocontrol.     

Domino Rhodium/Palladium‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenation Reactions of Alcohols to Acids by Hydrogen Transfer to Inactivated Alkenes

The combination of the d⁸ Rh^I diolefin amide [Rh(trop₂N)(PPh₃)] (trop₂N=bis(5‐H‐dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten‐5‐yl)amide) and a palladium heterogeneous catalyst results in the formation of a superior catalyst system for the dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols. The overall process represents a mild and direct method for the synthesis of aromatic and heteroaromatic carboxylic acids for which inactivated olefins can be used as hydrogen acceptors. Allyl alcohols are also applicable to this coupling reaction and provide the corresponding saturated aliphatic carboxylic acids. This transformation has been found to be very efficient in the presence of silica‐supported palladium nanoparticles. The dehydrogenation of benzyl alcohol by the rhodium amide, [Rh]N, follows the well established mechanism of metal–ligand bifunctional catalysis. The resulting amino hydride complex, [RhH]NH, transfers a H₂ molecule to the Pd nanoparticles, which, in turn, deliver hydrogen to the inactivated alkene. Thus a domino catalytic reaction is developed which promotes the reaction R‐CH₂‐OH+NaOH+2 alkene→R‐COONa+2 alkane.     

Chiral N,N′‐Dioxide–Scandium(III) Complex‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Friedel–Crafts Alkylation Reaction of ortho‐Hydroxybenzyl Alcohols with C3‐Substituted N‐Protected Indoles

The first Lewis acid catalyzed asymmetric Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction of ortho‐hydroxybenzyl alcohols with C3‐substituted indoles is described. A chiral N,N′‐dioxide Sc(OTf)₃ complex served not only to promote formation of ortho‐quinone methides (o‐QMs) in situ but also induced the asymmetry of the reaction. This methodology enables a novel activation of ortho‐hydroxybenzyl alcohols, thus affording the desired chiral diarylindol‐2‐ylmethanes in up to 99 % yield and 99 % ee. A range of functional groups were also tolerated under the mild reaction conditions. Moreover, this strategy gives concise access to enantioenriched indole‐fused benzoxocines.     

Electrochemically Driven C−H Hydrogen Abstraction Processes with the Tetrachloro‐Phthalimido‐N‐Oxyl (Cl4PINO) Catalyst

The radical redox mediator tetrachloro‐phthalimido‐N‐oxyl (Cl₄PINO) is generated at a glassy carbon electrode and investigated for the model oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols with particular attention to reaction rates and mechanism. The two‐electron oxidation reactions of a range of primary, secondary, and cyclic alcohols are dissected into an initial step based on C−H hydrogen abstraction (rate constant k₁, confirmed by kinetic isotope effect) and a fast radical‐radical coupling of the resulting alcohol radical with Cl₄PINO to give a ketal that only slowly releases the aldehyde/ketone and redox mediator precursor back into solution (rate constant k₂). In situ electrochemical EPR reveals Cl₄PINO sensitivity towards moisture. DFT methods are applied to confirm and predict C−H hydrogen abstraction reactivity.     

Rh‐Catalyzed Reaction of Propargylic Alcohols with Aryl Boronic Acids–Switch from β‐OH Elimination to Protodemetalation

It is known that Rh‐catalyzed reaction of propargylic alcohols with aryl metallic reagents undergoes S_N2’‐type reaction affording allenes via a sequential arylmetalation and β‐OH elimination process. Here we report a Rh/Ag‐cocatalyzed reaction of propargylic alcohols with organoboronic acids affording stereo‐defined (E)‐3‐arylallylic alcohols via arylmetalation and protodemetalation with a high regio‐ and stereoselectivity under very mild conditions. The reaction exhibits a good substrate scope and the compatibility with synthetically useful functional groups with no racemization for optically active propargylic alcohols. Such a reaction may also be extended to homopropargylic alcohols with a remarkable regioselectivity and exclusive E‐stereoselectivity.     

Synthesis and Applications of Silyl 2‐Methylprop‐2‐ene‐1‐sulfinates in Preparative Silylation and GC‐Derivatization Reactions of Polyols and Carbohydrates

Trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, tert‐butyldimethylsilyl, and triisopropylsilyl 2‐methylprop‐2‐ene‐1‐sulfinates were prepared through (CuOTf)₂?C₆H₆‐catalyzed sila‐ene reactions of the corresponding methallylsilanes with SO₂ at 50 °C. Sterically hindered, epimerizable, and base‐sensitive alcohols gave the corresponding silyl ethers in high yields and purities at room temperature and under neutral conditions. As the byproducts of the silylation reaction (SO₂+isobutylene) are volatile, the workup was simplified to solvent evaporation. The developed method can be employed for the chemo‐ and regioselective semiprotection of polyols and glycosides and for the silylation of unstable aldols. The high reactivity of the developed reagents is shown by the synthesis of sterically hindered per‐O‐tert‐butyldimethylsilyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranose, the X‐ray crystallographic analysis of which is the first for a per‐O‐silylated hexopyranose. The per‐O‐silylation of polyols, hydroxy carboxylic acids, and carbohydrates with trimethylsilyl 2‐methylprop‐2‐ene‐1‐sulfinate was coupled with the GC analysis of nonvolatile polyhydroxy compounds both qualitatively and quantitatively.     

Palladium‐catalyzed carbonylative cyclization of 3‐bromoallyl alcohols leading to furan‐2(5H)‐ones

3‐Bromoallyl alcohols are carbonylatively cyclized under carbon monoxide pressure in toluene in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)₂ and PPh₃ along with Na₂CO₃ to give furan‐2(5H)‐ones in good yields. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of 2,3‐Diaryl‐3H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐c]pyridin‐3‐ol Derivatives by the Reaction of Aryl(3‐isocyanopyridin‐4‐yl)methanones with Aryl Grignard Reagents

The reaction of aryl(3‐isocyanopyridin‐4‐yl)methanones 1 , easily prepared from commercially available pyridin‐3‐amine, with aryl Grignard reagents gave, after aqueous workup, 2,3‐diaryl‐3H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐c]pyridin‐3‐ols 2 . These rather unstable alcohols were O‐acylated with Ac₂O in pyridine in the presence of a catalytic amount of 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) to afford the corresponding 2,3‐diaryl‐3H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐c]pyridin‐3‐yl acetates 3 in relatively good yields.     

Axially Dissymmetric Chiral (R)‐N,W‐Bis(2‐hydroxy‐3,5‐ditert‐butyl‐arylmethyl)‐1, 1′‐binaphthalene‐2,2′‐diamine as Chiral Ligands in the Reaction of Diethylzinc to Aldehydes†

Chiral ligand (A)‐N,N′‐Bis(2‐hydroxy‐3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐arylmethyl)‐1,1′‐binaphthalene‐2,2′‐diamine derived from the reduction of Schiff base (R)‐2,2′‐bis (3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐hydroxybenzylideneamino)‐1, 1′‐binaphthyl with LiAlH₄, is fairly effective in the asymmetric addition reaction of diethylzinc to aldehydes by which good yields (46%‐94%) of the corresponding sec‐alcohols can be obtained in moderate ee (51%‐79%) with R configuration for a variety of aldehydes.     

Rapid Synthesis of 2‐Alkanol‐substituted Pyrrolo[2,3‐b]quinoxalines from Propargylic Alcohols via Copper‐free Sonogashira Coupling Reaction at Room Temperature

A practical and efficient procedure is established for the synthesis of 2‐alkanol‐substituted pyrrolo[2,3‐b]quinoxalines by the reaction of N‐alkyl‐3‐chloroquinoxaline‐2‐amines with propargylic alcohols. The reaction is carried out in the absence of any copper salt but in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ at room temperature. The Sonogashira coupling reaction step in this procedure is fast, producing clean products with high yields without contamination by unwanted homocoupling Glaser reaction products. The synthesized pyrroloquinoxaline derivatives are also screened against the three bacterial strains Micrococcus luteus, pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis.     

Synthesis of (±)‐Trinervitadiene‐2,3‐diol

The first synthesis of trinervita‐1(15),8(19)‐dien‐2β,3α‐diol ( 2a ) and its 2α‐isomer 2b , which have been isolated from termite soldiers, where they are used as defense chemicals, is documented starting from geranylgeranioic acid in 33 steps. The route for construction of the key intermediate of the trinervitane skeleton 8 has been developed previously (Scheme 1). Noteworthy features include the efficient construction of the trinervitane framework from the corresponding bicyclic 7(16)‐secotrinervitane skeleton and Me₃SiCl (TMSCl)‐induced ring‐opening of tetrasubstituted epoxide to give the corresponding allyl alcohols (Scheme 7). The synthetic route developed in the present study seems applicable to the syntheses of other trinervitane‐type natural products.     

Steric Demand and Rate‐determining Step for Photoenolization of Di‐ortho‐substituted Acetophenone Derivatives

Laser flash photolysis of ketone 1 in argon‐saturated methanol yields triplet biradical 1BR (τ = 63 ns) that intersystem crosses to form photoenols Z‐1P (λ_max = 350 nm, τ ~ 10 μs) and E‐1P (λ_max = 350 nm, τ > 6 ms). The activation barrier for Z‐1P re‐forming ketone 1 through a 1,5‐H shift was determined as 7.7 ± 0.3 kcal mol^?1. In contrast, for ketone 2, which has a less sterically hindered carbonyl moiety, laser flash photolysis in argon‐saturated methanol revealed the formation of biradical 2BR (λ_max = 330 nm, τ ~ 303 ns) that intersystem crosses to form photoenol E‐2P (λ_max = 350 nm, τ > 42 μs), but photoenol Z‐2P was not detected. However, in more viscous basic H‐bond acceptor (BHA) solvent, such as hexamethylphosphoramide, triplet 2BR intersystem crosses to form both Z‐2P (λ_max = 370 nm, τ ~ 1.5 μs) and E‐2P. Thus, laser flash photolysis of ketone 2 in methanol reveals that intersystem crossing from 2BR to form Z‐2P is slower than the 1,5‐H shift of Z‐2P, whereas in viscous BHA solvents, the 1,5‐H shift becomes slower than the intersystem crossing from 2BR to Z‐2P. Density functional theory and coupled cluster calculations were performed to support the reaction mechanisms for photoenolization of ketones 1 and 2 .