Diastereoselective [3+2] Annulation of Aromatic/Vinylic Amides with Bicyclic Alkenes through Cobalt‐Catalyzed C−H Activation and Intramolecular Nucleophilic Addition

A highly diastereoselective method for the synthesis of dihydroepoxybenzofluorenone derivatives from aromatic/vinylic amides and bicyclic alkenes is described. This new transformation proceeds through cobalt‐catalyzed C?H activation and intramolecular nucleophilic addition to the amide functional group. Transition‐metal‐catalyzed C?H activation reactions of secondary amides with alkenes usually lead to [4+2] or [4+1] annulation; to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a [3+2] cycloaddition is described in this context. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions and tolerates a wide range of functional groups. Mechanistic studies imply that the C?H bond cleavage may be the rate‐limiting step.     

FeCl3‐Catalyzed Ring‐Closing Carbonyl–Olefin Metathesis

Exploiting catalytic carbonyl–olefin metathesis is an ongoing challenge in organic synthesis. Reported herein is an FeCl₃‐catalyzed ring‐closing carbonyl–olefin metathesis. The protocol allows access to a range of carbo‐/heterocyclic alkenes with good efficiency and excellent trans diastereoselectivity. The methodology presents one of the rare examples of catalytic ring‐closing carbonyl–olefin metathesis. This process is proposed to take place by FeCl₃‐catalyzed oxetane formation followed by retro‐ring‐opening to deliver metathesis products.     

Direct Cross‐Couplings of Propargylic Diols

[Pd(PPh₃)₄] catalyzes a Suzuki–Miyaura‐like twofold cross‐coupling sequence between underivatized propargylic diols and either aryl or alkenyl boronic acids to furnish highly substituted 1,3‐dienes. Thus, 2,3‐diaryl‐1,3‐butadienes and their dialkenic congeners ([4]dendralenes) are delivered in a (pseudo)halogen‐free, single‐step synthesis which supersedes existing methods. Allenols are also readily formed. Treatment of these single‐ and twofold cross‐coupled products with acid leads to remarkably short syntheses of highly‐substituted benzofulvenes and aryl indenes, respectively.     

Challenges in Catalytic Hydrophosphination

Despite significant advances, metal‐catalyzed hydrophosphination has ample room for discovery, growth, and development. Many of the key successes in metal‐catalyzed hydrophosphination over the last decade have indicated what is needed and what is yet to come. Reactivity that is absent from the literature also speaks to the challenges in catalytic hydrophosphination. This Concept article discusses and highlights recent developments that address the ongoing challenges, and identifies areas in metal‐catalyzed hydrophosphination that are underdeveloped. Advances in product selectivity, catalyst design, and both unsaturated and phosphine substrates illustrate the ongoing development of the field. Like all catalytic transformations, the benefits are realized through catalyst, ligand, and conditions, and consideration of those features are the route to a yet more efficient and broadly applicable reaction.     

Stereoselective Ketone Rearrangements with Hypervalent Iodine Reagents

The first stereoselective version of an iodine(III)‐mediated rearrangement of arylketones in the presence of orthoesters is described. The reaction products, α‐arylated esters, are very useful intermediates in the synthesis of bioactive compounds such as ibuprofen. With chiral lactic acid‐based iodine(III) reagents product selectivities of up to 73 % ee have been achieved.     

Hantzsch Ester as a Photosensitizer for the Visible‐Light‐Induced Debromination of Vicinal Dibromo Compounds

The debromination of vicinal dibromo compounds to generate alkenes usually requires harsh reaction conditions and the addition of catalysts. Just recently the visible‐light‐induced debromination of vicinal dibromo compounds emerged as a possible alternative to commonly used methods, but the substrate scope of this reaction is limited and a photocatalyst is necessary for the successful conversion of the starting compounds. A catalyst‐free visible‐light‐induced debromination of vicinal dibromo compounds with a base‐activated Hantzsch ester as photosensitizer is reported. The method has a wide substrate scope and a broad functional‐group compatibility.     

Diastereoselective Coupling of Chiral Acetonide Trisubstituted Radicals with Alkenes

The stereochemical outcome of reactions of chiral nucleophilic trisubstituted acetonide radicals with electron‐deficient alkenes is dictated by a delicate balance between destabilizing non‐bonding interactions and stabilizing hydrogen‐bonding between substituents on the α and β carbons.     

Effects of entropy on the gas-phase pyrolysis of ethyl N,N-dimethylcarbamate

In this study, we examined the gas-phase pyrolysis of ethyl N,N-dimethylcarbamate theoretically at various theoretical levels. The reaction consists of a two-step mechanism, with N,N-dimethylcarbamic acid and ethylene as reaction intermediates. In the first step, the reaction proceeds via a six-membered cyclic transition state (TS), which is more favorable than that via a four-membered cyclic TS. Here, the contribution of entropy to the overall potential energy surface was found to play an important role in determining the rate-limiting step, which was found to be the second step when viewed in terms of the enthalpy of activation (DeltaH(not equal)), but the first step when entropy changes (-TDeltaS(not equal)) were considered. These results are consistent with experimental findings. Moreover, the experimental activation entropy can be reproduced by using the hindered rotor approximation, which converts some low vibration frequencies that correspond to internal rotational modes into hindered rotors.     

Facile Synthesis and Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reactions of 2,3‐Bis(pinacolatoboryl)‐1,3‐butadiene

Treatment of 1,1‐bis(pinacolatoboryl)ethene with an excess of 1‐bromo‐1‐lithioethene gave 2,3‐bis(pinacolatoboryl)‐1,3‐butadiene in high yield. Palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of the resulting diborylbutadiene with aryl iodides took place smoothly in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)₂/PPh₃ and aqueous KOH to give 2,3‐diaryl‐1,3‐butadienes in good yields. The coupling reaction with commercially available 4‐acetoxyphenylmethyl chloride under the same conditions followed by hydrolysis of the acetyl groups gave anolignan B in a one‐pot manner. A variety of [3]‐ to [6]dendralenes were synthesized by palladium‐catalyzed coupling of the diene or 1,1‐bis(pinacolato)borylethene with alkenyl or dienyl halides, respectively, in good yields.