Synthetic applications of o- and p-halobenzyl sulfones as zwitterionic synthons: preparation of ortho-substituted cinnamates and biarylacetic acids

The synthetic applications of o-halobenzyl and p-halobenzyl sulfones as precursors of 1,3- and 1,5-zwitterionic synthons, respectively, are described. Their alpha-sulfonyl carbanions, generated by means of the phosphazene base P2-Et or BuLi or K2CO3 under PTC conditions, reacted with different electrophiles such as alkyl halides, aldehydes, and electrophilic olefins. Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling processes such as Heck, Suzuki, and Sonogashira reactions can be efficiently performed at the halogen atom. These two sequential functionalization processes are applied to the synthesis of ortho-substituted cinnamates and pharmaceuticals belonging to the family of p-biarylacetic acids such as 4-biphenylacetic acid, namoxyrate, xenyhexenic acid, and biphenylpropionic acid.     

Synthesis,crystal structures and luminescent properties of an isotypic series of rare-earths complexes with a dialdehyde ligand

A series of mononuclear complexes based on lanthanide ions has been synthesized and X-ray characterized. The compounds [Ln^IIIL₂(NO₃)₃(H₂O)₂] (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd and Tm; L = 2,6-bis(2-formylphenoxymethyl)pyridine) are found to be isomorphous and isostructural. Ligand L systematically coordinates through one carbonyl functionality, and the resulting complexes are placed on a twofold axis in crystals belonging to C2/c space-group. Emission spectra for Ln = La, Pr, Nd revealed a correlation between the Ln–O coordination bond length and the photoluminescent properties of the complexes, in line with a Förster–Dexter mechanism for intramolecular energy transfer. Ligand L is therefore a suitable sensitizer for lanthanide ions.     

Binap-gold(I) trifluoroacetate as a bifunctional catalyst for the synthesis of chiral prolines through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

Highly enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of amino acid-derived azomethine ylides with alkenes have been performed, for the first time, under gold-catalysis using (S_a)- or (R_a)-Binap-gold(I) trifluoroacetate complexes, with the cationic Binap-gold acting as a Lewis acid and the counteranion as a base. Maleimides and trans-1,2-bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethylene were reacted with imino esters at room temperature in the absence of a base to afford, in very good yields, the corresponding polysubstituted prolines with total endo-diastereoselection and higher enantioselectivities than the Binap-silver trifluoroacetate complex.     

Binap-gold(I) versus Binap-silver trifluoroacetate complexes as catalysts in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of azomethine ylides

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between azomethine ylides and alkenes is efficiently catalysed by [{(S(a))-Binap-Au(tfa)}(2)] (Binap=2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl; tfa=trifluoroacetyl). Maleimides, 1,2-bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethylene, chalcone and nitrostyrene were suitable dipolarophiles even when using sterically hindered 1,3-dipole precursors. The results obtained in these transformations improve the analogous ones obtained in the same reactions catalysed by [Binap-Ag(tfa)]. In addition, computational studies have also been carried out to demonstrate both the high enantioselectivity exhibited by the chiral gold(I) complex, and the non-linear effect observed in this transformation.     

A highly efficient solvent-free asymmetric direct aldol reaction organocatalyzed by recoverable (S)-binam-L-prolinamides. ESI-MS evidence of the enamine-iminium formation

Recoverable (S(a))-binam-L-prolinamide in combination with benzoic acid is used as catalysts in the direct aldol reaction between cycloalkyl, alkyl, and alpha-functionalized ketones and aldehydes under solvent-free reaction conditions. Three different methods are assayed: simple conventional magnetic stirring, magnetic stirring after previous dissolution in THF and evaporation, and ball mill technique. These procedures allow one to reduce not only the amount of required ketone to 2 equiv but also the reaction time to give the aldol products with regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivities comparable to those in organic or aqueous solvents. Generally anti-isomers are mainly obtained with enantioselectivities up to 97%. The reaction can be carried out under these conditions also using aldehydes as nucleophiles, yielding after in situ reduction of the aldol products the corresponding chiral 1,3-diols with moderate to high enantioselectivities mainly as anti-isomers. The aldol reaction has been studied by the use of positive ESI-MS technique, providing the evidence of the formation of the corresponding enamine-iminium intermediates.