Stereoselective preparation of spirane bridged, sandwiched bisarenes

Preparation of α-oxo derivatives of spiro[4.4]nonane, spiro[4.5]decane and spiro[5.5]undecane derivatives is described. An efficient method for spiroannulation by Rh(I)-catalysed intramolecular hydroacylation provides α,α′-difunctionalised spiro[4.5]decanes. The α,α′-dioxo groups have been converted into vinyl triflates for arylation by Pd-catalysed cross-coupling reactions under Stille, Negishi or Suzuki conditions depending on relative reactivities. Stereoselective saturation of the conjugated aryl olefinic bonds by catalytic hydrogenation over Pd-carbon provides methodology for stereoselective preparation of α-aryl- and α,α′-cis,cis-diaryl spiranes, the latter with a sandwich like structure. Single crystal X-ray analyses have been used in the structural assignments.     

A General Approach to Intermolecular Olefin Hydroacylation through Light-Induced HAT Initiation: An Efficient Synthesis of Long-Chain Aliphatic Ketones and Functionalized Fatty Acids

Herein, an operationally simple, environmentally benign and effective method for intermolecular radical hydroacylation of unactivated substrates by employing photo-induced hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) initiation is described. The use of commercially available and inexpensive photoinitiators (Ph₂CO and NHPI) makes the process attractive. The olefin hydroacylation protocol applies to a wide array of substrates bearing numerous functional groups and many complex structural units. The reaction proves to be scalable (up to 5 g). Different functionalized fatty acids, petrochemicals and naturally occurring alkanes can be synthesized with this protocol. A radical chain mechanism is implicated in the process.     

Cobalt-Catalyzed Intramolecular Hydroacylation Involving Cyclopropane Cleavage

A simple cobalt-diphosphine catalyst has been found to efficiently promote intramolecular cyclization of ortho-cyclopropylvinyl- and cyclopropylidenemethyl-substituted benzaldehydes into benzocyclooctadienone and benzocycloheptadienone derivatives, respectively. This ring-opening hydroacylation likely involves aldehyde C−H oxidative addition, olefin insertion, cyclopropane cleavage by β-carbon elimination, and C−C bond-forming reductive elimination, as was supported by mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations.     

Rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular hydroacylation of 1,2-disubstituted alkenes for the synthesis of 2-substituted indanones

The intramolecular hydroacylation of 1,2-disubstituted alkenes was considered to be a challenging task due to the side reactions resulted from the lack of additional substituent at 1-position and the low activity caused by the steric hindrance of substituent at 2-position, and an asymmetric version has not been considered possible due to problems associated with the racemization of the products. We have partially solved these problems. Catalyzed by an activated diphosphine-Rh complex and reacted in a selected dihalogenated solvent, the intramolecular hydroacylation of o-(2-arylvinyl)benzaldehydes provided the corresponding 2-aryl-1-indanones in high yields, and its asymmetric variant using o-(2-alkylvinyl)benzaldehydes afforded chiral 2-alkyl-1-indanones in high yields and with moderate enantioselectivities.     

Theoretical studies of cobalt(I)‐catalyzed hydroacylation of vinylsilanes and alkyl aldehydes

Density functional theory (DFT) was used to investigate computationally cobalt(I)‐catalyzed hydroacylation of vinylsilanes and alkyl aldehydes to give ketones. Calculation indicated that cobalt(I)‐catalyzed hydroacylation had eight possible reaction pathways. In the cobalt‐hydride complexes IM2a and IM2b, the hydrogen migration occurred prior to the carbon–carbon bond‐forming reaction. In the complexes IM3a1 and IM3b1, the carbonyl elimination reaction occurred prior to the direct reductive elimination reaction. In the cobalt–carbonyl complexes IM4a and IM4b, the carbonyl insertion reaction was much easier to achieve than the decarbonylation reaction. The dominant reaction pathway was the reaction channel IM1a → TS1a → IM2a → TS2a1 → IM3a1 → TS4a → IM4a → TS5a → IM5a → TS6a → IM6a, and the reductive elimination reaction was the rate‐determining step for this channel, so the dominant product predicted theoretically was the linear ketone. Furthermore, the solvation effect was remarkable, and it decreased generally the free energies of the species. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

α-Amidoaldehydes as Substrates in Rhodium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Alkyne Hydroacylation: The Synthesis of α-Amidoketones

We show that readily available α-amidoaldehydes are effective substrates for intermolecular Rh-catalyzed alkyne hydroacylation reactions. The catalyst [Rh(dppe)(C₆H₅F)][BAr^F₄] provides good reactivity, and allows a broad range of aldehydes and alkynes to be used as substrates, delivering α-amidoketone products. High yields and high levels of regioselectivity are achieved. The use of α-amidoaldehydes as substrates establishes that 1,4-dicarbonyl motifs can be used as controlling groups in Rh-catalyzed hydroacylation reactions.     

Direct Synthesis of Highly Substituted Pyrroles and Dihydropyrroles Using Linear Selective Hydroacylation Reactions

Rhodium(I) catalysts incorporating small bite‐angle diphosphine ligands, such as (Cy₂P)₂NMe or bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm), are effective at catalysing the union of aldehydes and propargylic amines to deliver the linear hydroacylation adducts in good yields and with high selectivities. In situ treatment of the hydroacylation adducts with p‐TSA triggers a dehydrative cyclisation to provide the corresponding pyrroles. The use of allylic amines, in place of the propargylic substrates, delivers functionalised dihydropyrroles. The hydroacylation reactions can also be combined in a cascade process with a Rh^I‐catalysed Suzuki‐type coupling employing aryl boronic acids, providing a three‐component assembly of highly substituted pyrroles.