Synthesis and Reactivity of π‐Electron‐Deficient (Arylsulfonyl)acetates

Different π‐electron‐deficient (arylsulfonyl)acetates 9 were synthesized (Scheme 1, Table 1), and their behavior as soft nucleophiles in the dialkylation reaction under phase‐transfer catalysis conditions was studied (Schemes 2 and 3, Tables 2 and 3). The [3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]sulfonyl group was shown to be the best substituent for the stereoselective synthesis of (E)‐aconitates 18 via an alkylation hydro‐sulfonyl‐elimination integrated process under very mild phase‐transfer‐catalysis conditions (Scheme 5, Table 4). Sulfonylacetates 9h , i also underwent smooth Diels‐Alder reactions with acyclic and cyclic dienes via in situ formation of the appropriate dienophile through a Knoevenagel condensation with paraformaldehyde (Scheme 6). Reductive desulfonylation with Zn and NH₄Cl in THF was shown to be an efficient method for removal of the synthetically useful sulfonyl moiety (Scheme 7).     

Highly active oxime-derived palladacycle complexes for Suzuki-Miyaura and Ullmann-type coupling reactions

Oxime-derived chloro-bridged palladacycles 12 and 13 are efficient complexes for the Suzuki-Miyaura reactions of aryl-, allyl-, and benzyl halides with arylboronic acids. The isolated catalysts are thermally stable, not sensitive to air or moisture, and easily accessible from inexpensive starting materials. The reaction can be performed under aerobic conditions with aryl bromides and chlorides, displaying turnover numbers (TON) of up to 5 x 10(5) and turnover frequencies (TOF) of up to 198 000 h(-1) for aryl bromides. Aryl chlorides undergo the Suzuki reaction with arylboronic acids with TON of up to 4700 and TOF up to 4700 h(-1). Even inexpensive and readily available benzyl and allyl chlorides undergo the coupling reaction with good turnover numbers. Complexes of 12 catalyze the syntheses of symmetrical biaryls in good yields via reductive coupling of iodoarenes in the presence of Hünig's base.     

Studies on the reactivity of methyl γ-tosylcrotonoate as ambident reagent in organic synthesis

The treatment of methyl(E)-4-tosyl-2-butenoate (4) with two equiv. of sodium hydride and different mono and dihalides gives mainly γ,γ- and ,- or ,γ- and ,-dialkylated products (5–7) depending on the electrophile. The corresponding monoanion dimerizes with iodine to afford stereoselectively dimethyl cis-4,5-ditosyl-2,6-cyclohexadiene-1,2-dicarboxylate (11). The tosyl group in compounds 6 and 7 is reduced and in the case of γ,γ-dimethylated 5a substituted by sodium dimethyl malonate under Pd(PPh₃)₄ catalysis. Michael addition of different nucleophiles provides the corresponding β-substituted methyl γ-tosylbutanoates 16.     

BINOLAM,a recoverable chiral ligand for bifunctional enantioselective catalysis: the asymmetric synthesis of cyanohydrins

[reaction: see text] A new bifunctional catalytic system based on a monometallic aluminum complex is used for the efficient enantioselective cyanation of aldehydes. The ligand (S)- or (R)-2,2'-bis(diethylaminomethyl)-substituted binaphthol (BINOLAM) used is recovered for recycling. This methodology is used for the synthesis of a precursor of epothilone A.