Palladium-catalyzed allylalkynylation of benzynes: a highly efficient route to substituted 1-allyl-2-alkynylbenzenes

Benzynes, generated in situ from 2-(trimethylsilyl)aryl triflates and cesium fluoride, undergo allylalkynylation with allylic chlorides and alkynylstannanes in the presence of palladium catalyst to give 1-allyl-2-alkynylbenzenes in good to excellent yields. [reaction: see text]     

Excimer state of a conjugate polymer (MEH-PPV) in liquid solutions

The conjugated polymer poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) is an important electrooptical material, which is useable as an excellent laser media. In this paper, we present the absorption and fluorescence spectral characteristics of MEH-PPV in a few organic solvents. The paper shows that MEH-PPV exists in an excimeric state in benzene, and that the laser action as shown here arises from a liquid excimeric state.     

Cobalt-catalyzed intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cocyclotrimerization of nitrilediynes: an efficient route to tetra- and pentacyclic pyridine derivatives

[reaction: see text] In this paper, we wish to report the intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cocyclotrimerization of nitrilediynes catalyzed by the CoI2(dppe)/Zn system at 80 degrees C in CH3CN. Under these reaction conditions, various highly substituted nitrilediynes having steric conjunction at the alpha and beta positions to a nitrile group and a bulkier substitution at the terminal carbon of alkyne undergo [2 + 2 + 2] cocylotrimerization to afford tetra- and pentacyclic pyridine derivatives in good to excellent yields.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed ortho-alkenylation of aromatic ketones with alkenes by C-H bond activation

A ruthenium-catalyzed chelation-assisted C-H bond activation of aromatic ketones and the reaction with olefins to provide Heck-type products in good to excellent yields with a high regio- and stereoselective manner is described.     

Copper-catalyzed three-component coupling of arynes, terminal alkynes and activated alkenes

The three-component coupling of benzynes with terminal alkynes and activated alkenes in the presence of CuI, PCy(3) and CsF in a 1:1 mixture of CH(3)CN and THF at 50 degrees C for 5 h gave 1-alkyl-2-alkynylbenzenes in good to moderate yields.     

Transition metal-catalyzed three-component coupling of allenes and the related allylation reactions

The feature article surveys the transition metal-catalyzed three-component coupling of allenes and the related allylation reactions. Most of the reactions shown in the article mechanistically proceed via oxidative addition of organic electrophiles to metals, followed by carbometallation of allene and then transmetalation by main group metals or reagents and organometallic reagents. These reactions provide an efficient route for the synthesis of various substituted allyl and vinyl metal reagents and complex organic molecules in highly regio-, stereo- and chemoselective manner in one pot. The metal reagents or pi-allyl-metal intermediates obtained from the reaction are utilized for the allylation of aldehydes, ketones and imines, producing various homoallylic alcohols and amines in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed regioselective oxidative coupling of aromatic and heteroaromatic esters with alkenes under an open atmosphere

A ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of substituted aromatic and heteroaromatic esters with alkenes in the presence of catalytic amounts of AgSbF(6) and Cu(OAc)(2) to provide highly substituted alkene derivatives in good to excellent yields under an open atmosphere is described.     

A [Fe(CB6)] platform for binding of small molecules: Insights from DFT calculations

The viability of making [Fe(CB₆)L] (L = H₂, N₂, O₂, nitric oxide [NO^?, NO, and NO⁺], CO₂, and hydrocarbons [CH₄, C₂H₆, C₂H₄, and C₆H₆]) has been investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The complexes 2 – 18 are thermodynamically stable and may be synthesized. The small molecules are activated to some extent after complexation. Molecular orbital and ΔG calculation revealed that the molecular hydrogen and hydrocarbons can be chemically adsorbed and desorbed on [Fe(CB₆)] without any significant chemical modification and therefore [Fe(CB₆)] may serve as a storage material. The N₂, O₂, and nitric oxide (NO^?, NO, and NO⁺) can be activated using [Fe(CB₆)]. Proton, carbon, boron, and nitrogen NMR chemical shift calculation predicts drastic chemical shift difference before and after the complexation of [Fe(CB₆)] with small molecules. This new findings suggest that the CB₆^2? ligand‐based complex may provide several applications in the future. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Palladium-catalyzed multistep reactions involving ring closure of 2-iodophenoxyallenes and ring opening of bicyclic alkenes

[reaction: see text] An efficient ring closure of 2-iodophenoxy-, 2-iodobenzyloxy-, and 2-iodobenzylaminoallenes followed by ring opening of oxabenzonorbornadienes leading to the synthesis of 2-benzofuranyl, 1H-isochromenyl, or 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline methyl-1,2-dihydro-1-naphthalenol derivatives catalyzed by palladium complexes is described.