TiCl4-promoted addition of nucleophiles to open chain α-amidoalkylphenyl sulfones

Linear α-amidoalkylphenyl sulfones are converted into the corresponding N-acyliminium ions by treatment with TiCl₄ at low temperature and then made to react with different nucleophiles such as allyltrimethylsilane, silyl ketene acetal, anisole and thiophene.     

Synthesis and properties of the first stable silylene-isocyanide complexes

The first stable silylene-isocyanide complexes, [Tbt(Mes)SiCNAr] (5 c: Ar=Tip, 5 d: Ar=Tbt, 5 e: Ar=Mes*; Tbt=2,4,6-tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl, Mes=mesityl, Tip=2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl, Mes*=2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl) were successfully synthesized by the reaction of a kinetically stabilized disilene, [Tbt(Mes)Si=Si(Mes)Tbt] (1), with bulky isocyanides, ArNC (3c-e). The spectroscopic data of 5 c-e and theoretical calculations for a model molecule indicated that 5 c-e are not classical cumulative compounds but the first stable silylene-Lewis base complexes. The reactions of 5 c-e with triethylsilane and 1,3-dienes gave the corresponding silylene adducts, and they underwent isocyanide-exchange reactions in the presence of another isocyanide at room temperature. These results indicate dissociation of complexes 5 c-e to the corresponding silylene 2 and isocyanides 3 c-e under very mild conditions. The reaction of 5 c with methanol gave the MeOH adduct 16, [Tbt(Mes)SiHC(OMe)NTip], which has a hydrogen atom on the silicon atom. This regioselectivity can be explained in terms of the contribution of zwitterionic resonance structures D and E, which have an anion on the silicon atom. This result indicates that 5 c is not a classical cumulene having Si=C double bonds that should react with methanol to give adducts bearing a methoxyl group on the silicon atom. Although the reactions of 5 c-e with electrophilic reagents such as methanol, hydrogen chloride, and methyl iodide gave the formal silylene adducts, the studies on the reaction mechanism by trapping experiments and the observation of the intermediate suggested that the reaction mainly or partially proceeds by initial nucleophilic attack of the silicon atom, as is the case in the formation of 16 in the reaction of 5 c with methanol. It was revealed that 5 c-e show the nucleophilicity of the silicon atom, most likely resulting from the contribution of the zwitterionic resonance structures D and E.     

A new strategy in enantioselective intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction: catalytic double asymmetric induction during the tandem transetherification-intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction of methyl (E)-4-methoxy-2-oxo-3-butenoate with rac-6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol

An efficient catalytic double asymmetric induction during the tandem transetherification-intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction has been developed. The enantioselective tandem reaction of methyl (E)-4-methoxy-2-oxo-3-butenoate with rac-6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol has been achieved to provide methyl (2R,4aS,8aR)-3,4,4a,8a-tetrahydro-2,5,5-trimethyl-2H,5H-pyrano[4,3-b]-pyran-7-carboxylate in good yield with effective kinetic resolution (up to 95% selectivity), high diastereoselectivity (up to 92% de), and high enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee) in the presence of (S,S)-tert-Bu-bis(oxazoline)-Cu(SbF₆)₂ and 5 Å molecular sieves.     

Fluorous reverse-phase silica gel-supported Lewis acids as recyclable catalysts in water

Fluorous reverse-phase silica gel (FRPSG)-supported Lewis acids which have fluorous ligands acted as effective catalysts of Baeyer-Villiger and Diels-Alder reactions in water. Direct esterification of carboxylic acid with alcohol in organic media was also catalyzed. The FRPSG-supported Lewis acids could be recycled by simple filtration after the reaction.     

Environment friendly organic synthesis using bismuth compounds. An efficient method for carbonyl-ene reactions catalyzed by bismuth triflate

Bismuth triflate (0.1 mol %) is a highly efficient catalyst for the cyclization of citronellal 1, a reaction that yields a ratio of 80:20 of isopulegol 2 and neoisopulegol 3. This methodology has also been extended to the synthesis of substituted piperidines. The bismuth triflate catalyzed ene reaction of aldehyde 4 gives a 70:30 mixture of piperidines 5 and 6. The advantages of these methods include the use of a highly efficient catalyst that is relatively nontoxic, cheap and easy to handle.     

Trimeric perfluoro-ortho-phenylenemercury: a versatile Lewis acidic host

Trimeric perfluoro-ortho-phenylenemercury (1) constitutes one of the simplest trifunctional Lewis acidic hosts. In addition to cooperative effects arising from the proximity of the mercury(II) centers, the electron-withdrawing properties of the backbone and the accessibility of the electrophilic sites lead to the facile complexation of neutral and electron rich substrates. The planarity of the structure as well as its overall polarizability compounded with relativistic effects at mercury also permits the occurrence of non-covalent interactions and accounts for the tendency of this compound to form cofacial dimers. Collectively, the Lewis acidic properties of 1 as well as its ability to engage in non-covalent interactions can be held responsible for its ability to form extended binary supramolecular stacks with arenes. The photoluminescence observed in some of these supramolecular complexes corresponds to the phosphorescence of the aromatic substrate and indicate the occurrence of a mercury heavy atom effect.     

Total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-glucopyranoside, a component of blue flower pigment of Salvia patens, and seven chiral analogues

We have succeeded in the first total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1a), a component of blue pigment, protodelphin, from naringenin (2). Glycosylation of 2 according to Koenigs-Knorr reaction provided a monoglucoside 4a in 80% yield, and this was followed by DDQ oxidation to give apigenin 7-O-glucoside (12a). Further glycosylation of 4′-OH of 12a with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl fluoride (5a) was achieved using a Lewis acid-and-base promotion system (BF₃·Et₂O, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine, and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine) in 70% yield, and subsequent deprotection produced 1a. Synthesis of three other chiral isomers of 1a, with replacement of d-glucose at 7 and/or 4′-OH by l-glucose (1b-d), and four chiral isomers of apigenin 7-O-β-glucosides (6a,b) and 4′-O-β-glucosides (7a,b) also proved possible.     

“受阻路易斯酸碱对”催化的2,3-二取代2H-1,4-苯并噁嗪氢化反应机理研究

在受阻路易斯酸碱对（FLPs）催化的2，3-二取代2H-1，4-苯并噁嗪氢化反应中，3号位取代基不同会导致反应效率极大改变，因此我们选取反应活性具有较大差别的三种底物作为模型化合物对其反应机理进行了研究，建立了氢化反应势能面.发现当B（C₆F₅）₃与2，3-二苯基2H-1，4-苯并噁嗪或2-甲基-3-苯基2H-1，4-苯并噁嗪混合后，会形成FLPs与路易斯酸碱加合物的混合物.而将B（C₆F₅）₃与2，3-二甲基2H-1，4-苯并噁嗪混合后主要形成没有催化活性的路易斯酸碱加合物，因其能量低于FLPs，在催化体系中不容易转化为FLPs，这导致三种模型化合物在FLPs催化的氢化反应中效率不同.进一步的取代基电子效应及位阻效应计算表明：B（C₆F₅）₃与2-甲基-3-取代2H-1，4-苯并噁嗪混合后形成的路易斯酸碱加合物和FLPs化合物之间稳定性差别源于3位取代基空间位阻不同.     

Synthesis of 2-oxazolines mediated by N,N′-diisopropylcarbodiimide

N-(β-Hydroxy)amides can be cyclised by reaction with diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC) to give the corresponding 2-oxazolines in high yields. The reaction requires only very mild Lewis-acid catalysis (5 mol % Cu(OTf)₂) and can be accomplished with simple heating, or in very short reaction times under microwave irradiation.