Chemoselectivity in the microwave-assisted solvent-free solid-liquid phase benzylation of phenols: O- versus C-alkylation

The outcome of the solvent-free benzylation of phenol and 4-substituted phenols (such as 4-cresol and 4-chlorophenol) under MW irradiation was found to depend on the absence or presence of the base (K₂CO₃) and catalyst (triethylbenzylammonium chloride (TEBAC)). Reaction of benzyl halides at 80-120 °C in the presence of K₂CO₃ and TEBAC resulted in O-alkylation in high (89-96%) chemoselectivities. In the absence of TEBAC, the proportion of C-alkylation was considerable (16-34%). Omitting also K₂CO₃ from the reaction mixture, C-alkylation became predominant. In the case of 4-tert-butylphenol, the presence of TEBAC promoted C-alkylation. The selectivity of the alkylations can be fine-tuned by choosing the appropriate conditions.     

吗啉基功能化酸性离子液体催化苯酚-叔丁醇选择性烷基化反应

研究了吗啉基磺酸功能化离子液体催化苯酚与叔丁醇的烷基化反应.考察不同的功能化离子液体、反应时间、反应温度、苯酚与叔丁醇的摩尔比以及离子液体的用量等反应条件对烷基化反应的影响,并考察了离子液体的循环使用.研究结果表明离子液体用量为20%苯酚时,在最佳优化条件下苯酚的转化率和选择性分别为92.4%和64.1%;离子液体重复使用三次,其催化活性不变.     

Efficient enrichment of alpha,beta-unsaturated bovine insulins-(C12)n using tweezing adsorptive bubble separation (TABS) with bovine serum albumin

Alkyl-substituted insulin molecules are depository preparations used in the treatment of diabetes. The isolation and purification of these active compounds is performed on the hand of several complicated separation steps. In this work, nonmodified and new synthesized alpha,beta-unsaturated bovine insulins-(C12)(n) were selectively isolated from aqueous solution using tweezing adsorptive bubble separation (TABS) with BSA, which enabled reversible binding with the unpolar side chains of bovine insulin and its derivates. The bovine insulin/serum albumin complex could be efficiently transferred into the foam phase at pH 8 with an enrichment factor of 2.6 and a recovery of 89.7%. Experiments with alkylated alpha,beta-unsaturated bovine insulins-(C12)(n) performed at pH 9 enriched even quantitatively the complex under equal experimental conditions, accompanied with an enrichment factor of 3.3. Additionally performed radio immunoassay tests revealed that the immunological activity of alpha,beta-unsaturated bovine insulins-(C12)(n) remained unchanged after foaming.     

Photocatalytic Alkylation of C(sp3)−H Bonds Using Sulfonylhydrazones**

The ability to construct C(sp³)−C(sp³) bonds from easily accessible reagents is a crucial, yet challenging endeavor for synthetic organic chemists. Herein, we report the realization of such a cross-coupling reaction, which combines N-sulfonyl hydrazones and C(sp³)−H donors through a diarylketone-enabled photocatalytic hydrogen atom transfer and a subsequent fragmentation of the obtained alkylated hydrazide. This mild and metal-free protocol was employed to prepare a wide array of alkyl-alkyl cross-coupled products and is tolerant of a variety of functional groups. The application of this chemistry further provides a preparatively useful route to various medicinally-relevant compounds, such as homobenzylic ethers, aryl ethyl amines, β-amino acids and other moieties which are commonly encountered in approved pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and natural products.     

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Cylindrocyclophanes A and F and Merocyclophanes A and D

Incorporating enzymatic reactions into natural product synthesis can significantly improve synthetic efficiency and selectivity. In contrast to the increasing applications of biocatalytic functional-group interconversions, the use of enzymatic C−C bond formation reactions in natural product synthesis is underexplored. Herein, we report a concise and efficient approach for the synthesis of [7.7]paracyclophane natural products, a family of polyketides with diverse biological activities. By using enzymatic Friedel–Crafts alkylation, cylindrocyclophanes A and F and merocyclophanes A and D were synthesized in six to eight steps in the longest linear sequence. This study demonstrates the power of combining enzymatic reactions with contemporary synthetic methodologies and provides opportunities for the structure–activity relationship studies of [7.7]paracyclophane natural products.     

Synthesis of Cumene from Lignin by Catalytic Transformation

Cumene is an important intermediate and chemical in chemical industry.In this work,directional preparation of cumene using lignin was achieved by a three-step cascade process.The mixture aromatics were first produced by the catalytic pyrolysis of lignin at 450℃ over 1% Zn/HZSM-5 catalyst,monocyclic aromatics with the selectivity of 85.7 wt% were obtained.Then,the catalytic dealkylation of heavier aromatics resulted in benzene-rich aromatics with 93.6 wt% benzene at 600℃ over Hβ catalyst.Finally,the cumene synthesis was performed by the aromatic alkylation,giving cumene selectivity of 91.6 C-mol% using the[bmim]Cl-2AlCl₁₃ ionic liquid at room temperature for 15 min.Besides,adding a small amount of methanol to the feed can efficiently suppress the coke yield and enhance the aromatics yield.The proposed transformation potentially provides a useful route for production of cumene using renewable lignin.     

O‐Glycosylation/Alkylation and Antimicrobial Activity of 4,6‐Diaryl‐2‐Oxonicotinonitrile Derivatives

A series of glycosylation and alkylation reactions of 6‐phenanthernyl‐2‐pyridone derivatives 1a , 1b containing electron withdrawing and electron donating substituents at 4‐position is reported. Regioselective 2‐O‐ alkylated/glycosylated products were obtained exclusively, irrespective of the electronic nature of alkylating or the glycosyling agent. Glycosylation of 1a , 1b with glucosyl/galactosyl and lactosyl bromides afforded 2a , 2b ; 4a , 4b ; and 6a , respectively. Alkylation of 1a , 1b with epichlorohydrin, propargyl, allyl bromides, and 3‐chloropropanol resulted in compounds 8 , 9 , 10 and 13 , respectively. Deprotection of O‐glycosylated products under conventional conditions provided the free glycosides 3a , 3b ; 5a , 5b ; 7a , 12 ; and 13 , respectively. The minimal inhibitory concentration for some of the newly synthesized compounds showed high significant activity against Gram (+ve) and Gram (−ve) and antifungal activities. Among the screened compounds, the 4‐trifluromethyl phenyl derivatives 2a , 3a , 4a , 8a , and 11a exhibited strong antimicrobial activity.     

Efficient alkylation of ketones with primary alcohols catalyzed by ruthenium(II)/P,N ligand complexes

An efficient catalytic system containing [RuCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene)]₂ and one P,N ligand, N-diphenylphosphino-2-aminopyridine (L1) was loaded in catalyzing the alkylation of ketones with primary alcohols for a diverse array of substrates. Other five P,N ligands based on pyridin-2-amine and pyrimidin-2-amine were also examined in this reaction to explore the influence of steric hindrance and electronic effects. Monitoring by ¹H NMR and ESI-MS reveals a stable cationic L1-coordinated ruthenium hydride intermediate, identified as [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)(κ²-L1)H]⁺. Organic intermediates consistent with a three-step dehydrogenation, alkylation and hydrogenation pathway were also observed. The final step in this reaction, the ruthenium-catalysed transfer hydrogenation reduction of α,β-unsaturated ketone with benzyl alcohol was performed separately.     

Cs2CO3-catalyzed alkylation of indoles with trifluoromethyl ketones

A Cs₂CO₃-catalyzed alkylation reaction of indoles with trifluoromethyl ketones was presented. Both alicyclic and aromatic trifluoromethyl ketones as well as various substituted indoles are compatible with the methodology. Good to excellent yields of the corresponding trifluoromethyl substituted tertiary alcohols 2,2,2-tritrifluoro-1-(1H-indol-3-yl)-ethan-1-ols were acquired as the sole products.     

Systematic synthesis of phthalimide-protected unsaturated hydrazine heterocycles

A four-step route for the synthesis of novel phthalimide-protected hydrazine heterocycles that include a C?C double bond in the cycle was developed. Phthalimide-protected Boc-hydrazine was used as a starting material, which was alkylated with bromoalkenes in mild conditions. Further steps involved Boc-deprotection and second alkylation with bromoalkenes. Finally, the heterocycles were produced by ring-closing metathesis. This route allows access to these versatile building blocks without using electrophilic amination or nitrosylation, therefore, significantly reducing environmental and safety concerns. Phthalimide-protected heterocycles can be derivatized further by modifying the carbon–carbon double bond and by deprotection and subsequent functionalization of the primary amino group. During the current research, various five- to seven-membered hydrazine heterocycles and numerous novel intermediate compounds were synthesized and thoroughly characterized.