σ‐Alkylpalladium Intermediates in Intramolecular Heck Reactions:Isolation and Catalytic Activity

The isolation of σ‐alkylpalladium Heck intermediates, possible when β‐hydride elimination is inhibited, is a rather rare event. Performing intramolecular Heck reactions on N‐allyl‐2‐halobenzylamines in the presence of [Pd(PPh₃)₄], we isolated and characterized a series of stable bridged palladacycles containing an iodine or bromine atom on the palladium atom. Indolyl substrates were also tested for isolation of the corresponding complexes. X‐ray crystallographic analysis of one of the indolyl derivatives revealed the presence of a five‐membered palladacycle with the metal center bearing a PPh₃ ligand and an iodine atom in a cis position with respect to the nitrogen atom. The stability of the σ‐alkylpalladium complexes is probably a consequence of the strong constraint resulting from the bridged junction that hampers the cisoid conformation essential for β‐hydride elimination. Subsequently, the thus obtained bridged five‐membered palladacycles were proven to be effective precatalysts in Heck reactions as well as in cross‐coupling processes such as Suzuki and Stille reactions.     

Exploratory studies toward a total synthesis of the marine ascidian metabolite perophoramidine

A strategy for a total synthesis of the marine alkaloid perophoramidine has been investigated. Key steps which have been tested include a tandem intramolecular Heck/carbonylation reaction and a stereoselective allylation of a pentacyclic δ-lactam to produce the C-4/20 vicinal quaternary centers having the requisite relative configuration of the metabolite.     

A PdCl2–ionic liquid brush assembly: an efficient and reusable catalyst for Mizoroki–Heck reaction in neat water

An efficient and reusable heterogeneous catalytic assembly of PdCl₂ held in ionic liquid brushes has been synthesized and an environmentally‐friendly procedure was developed for coupling aryl iodides with acrylic acid. These reactions were conducted in water under aerobic conditions with water‐insoluble or even solid aryl iodides and they proceeded smoothly and cleanly without any organic co‐solvent or other additives. A 0.5 mol% (based on Pd atom) dose of the catalyst was found to be sufficient for Mizoroki–Heck reaction. The catalyst is easily recovered post reaction, via simple filtration, and reused at least eight times without a noticeable loss of activity. The protocol has the advantages of excellent yield, environmental friendliness, and catalyst recyclability. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Double Heck Cross‐Coupling Reactions of Dibrominated Pyridines

Double Heck cross‐coupling reactions of 2,3‐ and 3,5‐dibromopyridine with various alkenes afforded the corresponding novel di(alkenyl)pyridines. The Heck reaction of 2,5‐dibromopyridine unexpectedly afforded 5,5′‐di(alkenyl)‐2,2′‐bipyridines by palladium‐catalyzed dimerization to give 5,5′‐dibromo‐2,2′‐bipyridine and subsequent twofold Heck reaction.     

Pd‐Catalyzed Ring Assembly by Vinylation and Intramolecular Heck Coupling: A Versatile Strategy Towards Functionalized Azadibenzocyclooctynes

A new modular approach based on Pd‐catalyzed C? C bond formation is presented for the assembly of a benzannulated azocine scaffold, the key intermediate in the synthesis of functionalized azadibenzocyclooctynes (aza‐DIBOs). The intramolecular ring‐closing Heck coupling was investigated by variation of the C? X bond. The reaction rate is limited by the initial oxidative addition step and the regiochemistry strongly depends on the auxiliary phosphine. Under optimized conditions, the 8‐endo regioisomer was obtained in 71 % yield over two steps (with no protecting group chemistry) or in one pot, inclusive of C? N bond formation. The practical generation of the octyne triple bond of a prototypical N‐benzoyl aza‐DIBO, without the need for chromatographic purification, is also described. The structural features, including those of the ring‐strained cyclic octyne, were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallographic analysis. The high reactivity of the N‐benzoyl aza‐DIBO synthesized is demonstrated in a strain‐promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction with an alkyl azide (k=0.38 M ^?1 s^?1).     

Synthesis of benzodiazocine-annulated heterocycles by the implementation of Pd-catalyzed intramolecular Heck reaction

Synthesis of hitherto unreported benzodiazocine-annulated heterocycles by the implementation of palladium-catalyzed intramolecular Heck reaction has been achieved in excellent yields.     

One-pot synthesis of stilbenes by dehydrohalogenation-Heck olefination and multicomponent Wittig-Heck reaction

A variant of olefination reaction involving in situ generation of styrene by either one-pot dehydrohalogenation-Heck or one-pot multicomponent Wittig-Heck reaction is developed.     

Synthesis of 8,9-(1,3-benzodioxolo-5,6)-5-azatricyclo[8.2.1.0<Superscript>1,5</Superscript>]tridec-11-en-6-one. A convenient route to structural analogs of the alkaloid cephalotaxine

A synthetic route to 8,9-(1,3-benzodioxolo-5,6)-5-azatricyclo[8.2.1.0^1,5]tridec-11-en-6-one structurally isomeric to the pentacyclic cephalotaxine nucleus is suggested. The route is based on the sequence including diallylboration of 2-pyrrolidinone and intramolecular metathesis of the resulting 2,2-diallylpyrrolidine, giving rise to 1-azaspiro[4.4]non-7-ene. This product was N-acylated with 6-bromohomopiperonylic acid chloride and then subjected to intramolecular cyclization according to the Heck reaction. Dedicated to Academicians A. L. Buchachenko and N. S. Zefirov on the occasion of their 70th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 2160–2163, September, 2005.