Synthesis and applications of chiral bis-THF in asymmetric synthesis

The synthesis of enantiopure bis-THF is described, starting from d-mannitol. Bis-THF is used as chiral ligand for organolithium reagents in four different reactions. The enantioselectivity provided by this ligand is moderate, and the asymmetric induction is in line with the expected model.     

Synthesis of hydroporphyrins based on comparative studies of palladium-catalyzed and non-catalyzed approaches

Hydroporphyrins have been synthesized using both Pd-catalyzed and non-catalyzed approaches. Comparative studies of the reaction of tetrasubstituted porphyrins with organolithium reagents in the presence of and without palladium catalysts showed that depending on reagents, the catalyst structure and reactivity of the corresponding porphyrins, chlorins (β-hydroporphyrins) and/or porphodimethenes (meso hydroporphyrins) of 5,10-type can be prepared in reasonable yields. In the absence of Pd catalysts, the formation of chlorins is predominant in the reactions with aliphatic RLi while porphodimethenes are the main products in reactions with PhLi. The use of a palladium catalyst resulted in the formation of both types of hydroporphyrins and the selective formation of either β-mono- or disubstituted chlorins. Of special interest was the reaction of octaethylporphyrin. Here, reaction with t-BuLi in the presence of Pd(PPh₃)₄/CuI proceeded with complete regioselectivity for 5,10-porphodimethenes.     

SNAr reactions of β-substituted porphyrins and the synthesis of meso substituted tetrabenzoporphyrins

Reaction of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrin with LiR reagents containing functional groups readily yields meso substituted derivatives suitable for further transformations with residues such as -p-C₆H₅Br, -p-C₆H₅-CCH, -p-C₆H₅-NH₂ or -(CH₂)₃-CHCH₂. Similar reactions of tetrabenzoporphyrin with alkyllithium reagents afforded the first entry into meso mono- and dialkylsubstituted tetrabenzoporphyrins while reaction of bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-type masked isoindole precursors with LiR followed by in situ retro-Diels-Alder reaction also afforded the 5-phenyl and 5,10-diphenyltetrabenzoporphyrins in high purity.     

SYNTHESIS OF ORGANOGERMANE OLIGOMERS VIA LIGAND SUBSTITUTION POLYMERIZATION FROM 1, 4-DIOXANE COMPLEX OF GERMANIUM DICHLORIDE

Some organogermanium oligomers with different side groups were synthesized via li-gand substitution polymerization from 1, 4-dioxane complex of germanium dichloride withdifferent organolithitum compounds. The oligomers were isolated through either precipi-tation from methanol or extraction using toluene with a yield of no less than 50%. Theweiglit average molecular weight (M_w) of the oligomers is ranging from 1.4×10~3 to 5.9×10~3depending on the type and alkyl length of the organolithium compounds used.     

Reaction of octafluorocyclopentene with various carbon nucleophiles

The treatment of octafluorocyclopentene with organolithium reagents gave the corresponding symmetrical disubstituted perfluorocyclopentenes in good to high yields. The reaction with Grignard reagents led to the monosubstituted perfluorocyclopentenes, which were subjected to the further nucleophilic substitution reaction using another Grignard or aryllithium reagents, unsymmetrical disubstituted perfluorocyclopentenes being obtained in high yields.     

Enantioselective addition of aryllithium reagents to aromatic imines mediated by 1,2-diamine ligands

A variety of optically enriched amines have been obtained by addition of aryllithium reagents to aromatic imines using N,N′-tetramethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine as chiral ligands. Enantiomeric excesses up to 90% could be obtained.     

Expeditive synthesis of homochiral fused tri- and tetrazoles-piperazines from β-amino alcohols

N-Cyanomethyl and N-propargyl β-amino alcohols are chlorinated with SOCl₂ and treated with NaN₃ in DMSO. A substitution/cycloaddition process affords in good yields, with high diastereoselectivity and a regioselectivity depending on the substitution pattern of the starting amino alcohol, fused tri- and tetrazoles-piperazines. These heterocycles were further lithiated with n-BuLi at the benzylic position and reacted diastereoselectively with a range of electrophiles.     

Recent topics of functionalized organolithiums using flow microreactor chemistry

Examples in this mini-review illustrate the potential of flow microreactor chemistry in chemical science and chemical production. Flow microreactors provide a powerful method for novel transformations via functional organolithiums that cannot be achieved using a conventional macro batch reactor.     

Recent advances on iron-catalyzed coupling reactions involving organolithium reagents

Several iron-catalyzed cross- and homo-coupling reactions involving organolithiums were developed to form diverse carbon-carbon bonds. The usefulness of this protocol was demonstrated by producing gram-scale products in good yields.     

Organolithiums by reductive lithiation: the catalytic aromatic method versus the use of preformed aromatic radical-anions. Naphthalene can behave as a catalyst or an inhibitor

Two common modes, using aromatic radical-anions for reductive lithiation, the replacement of a C-heteroatom bond with a C-Li bond, have been compared with regard to yield and the mildness of reaction conditions required. It was found that the use of preformed radical-anions generally resulted in higher yields and milder reaction conditions than the ‘catalytic’ method in which catalytic amounts of the aromatic compound are used and the radical-anion is generated and used in situ. The one apparent exception is N-phenylaziridine, but it is shown that in this case the aromatic compound, naphthalene, is actually an inhibitor rather than a catalyst. Rational mechanistic explanations are given.