Nucleophilic catalysis with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) for the esterification of carboxylic acids with dimethyl carbonate

1,8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) is an effective nucleophilic catalyst for carboxylic acid esterification with dimethyl carbonate (DMC). The reaction pathway of this new class of nucleophilic catalysis has been studied. A plausible, multistep mechanism is proposed, which involves an initial N-acylation of DBU with DMC to form a carbamate intermediate. Subsequent O-alkylation of the carboxylate with this intermediate generates the corresponding methyl ester in excellent yield. In the absence of DBU or in the presence of other bases, such as ammonium hydroxide or N-methylmorpholine, the same reaction affords no desired product. This method is particularly valuable for the synthesis of methyl esters that contain acid-sensitive functionality.     

Selective Benzylic Bromination of 2-Methylnaphthalene

A practical synthesis of 2-(bromomethyl)naphthalene (1), by selective benzylic bromination of 2-methylnaphthalene (2), with bromine in heptane in the presence of lanthanum acetate hydrate is described.     

An expedient synthesis of an isofervenulin analogue

An efficient approach has been developed for the synthesis of an isofervenulin analogue 1 employing a one‐pot condensation‐substitution reaction of a chlorocarboethoxytriazine (electrophile) with a urea (nucleophile). The resulting cyclization reaction resulted in the synthesis of a pyrimido‐heterocycle in good yield in either acidic or basic media. The former was assisted by utilizing trimethylsilyl chloride.     

A Practical Synthesis of SDZ WAG 994 by Selective Methylation of N6-Cyclohexyladenosine

A selective 2′-O-methylation of N⁶-cyclohexyladenosine (2) under phase-transfer catalysis conditions and a preferential crystallization of N⁶-cyclohexyl-2′-O-methyladenosine (1, SDZ WAG 994) from a mixture of by-products is described. A plausible explanation for the selective crystallization of 1 as a hydrate is presented.     

Palladium-catalyzed amination of aryl bromides with hindered N-alkyl-substituted anilines using a palladium(I) tri-tert-butylphosphine bromide dimer

An efficient palladium-catalyzed amination of aromatic bromides with hindered N-alkyl-substituted anilines is described, either using the combination of Pd(OAc)(2) and P(t-Bu)(3) or a palladium(I) tri-tert-butylphosphine bromide dimer, [Pd(mu-Br)(t-Bu(3)P)](2), a new, commercially available, and easily handled catalyst.     

Palladium‐catalyzed amination with benzophenone imine as a new,safe and practical alternative to nitration for the synthesis of 7‐amino‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazoles

Palladium‐catalyzed amination of 7‐bromo‐4‐methyl‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole ( 7 ) with benzophenone imine as an ammonia equivalent is described as a new, safe and practical alternative to nitration for the synthesis of 7‐amino‐4‐methyl‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole ( 1 ) in high yield. This methodology was successfully scaled‐up in the pilot plant on 14.0‐kg scale of 7 and was also utilized for the synthesis of 7‐amino‐4,6‐dimethyl‐2,1,3‐ben‐zothiadiazole ( 12 ) by the amination of 7‐bromo‐4,6‐dimethyl‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole ( 10 ).     

Lithiation of N‐protected‐dihydro‐1,4‐benzoxaziness

Lithiation of N‐protected‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,4‐benzoxazines is described. Lithiation of N‐(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,4‐benzoxazine ( 1 ) with BuLi/TMEDA occurred in the α‐position to nitrogen on the heterocyclic ring, leading to the unexpected ring‐opened product 3 . On the other hand, lithiation of N‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,4‐benzoxazine ( 4 ) took place at the oxygen‐adjacent ortho‐position of the aromatic ring.     

Preparation of new 1,2,4-triazines

Several 1,2,4-triazines were synthesized. ¹³C- and ¹⁵N-nmr spectroscopy was employed for structure determination.     

A new reaction of N-aryl-2-pyrimidinamines with triphosgene

A new reaction of N-aryl-2-pyrimidinamines with triphosgene to afford N-aryl-N-(2-pyrimidinyl)-2-pyrimidinamine is described.     

Stereoselective Reduction of δ-Hydroxy-β-ketoesters

The reduction of δ-hydroxy-β-ketoesters 1 was investigated with three different reducing agents. In several instances, high selectivity in favor of syn-1,3-diols was observed.