α‐Allenols were catalytically transformed into dihydrofurans in the presence of platinum dichloride. Notably, using platinum dichloride along with silver triflate as the catalytic system, α,β‐unsaturated ketones were obtained. Therefore, the role of the silver salt may not just consist in the activation of the platinum precatalyst.
The Wittig reaction of isatin derivatives with Morita–Baylis–Hillman bromides of cinnamaldehydes afforded 3‐dienylidene‐2‐oxindoles. These trienes were converted into the corresponding spirooxindoles in a stereoselective manner in refluxing toluene in good yields. The diastereomeric spirooxindoles could be obtained stereoselectively by adding a catalytic amount of palladium(II) acetate via the palladium‐catalyzed isomerization of EEE‐trienes to ZEE‐trienes followed by a more facile 6π‐electrocyclization process. The obtained spirooxindoles could be further functionalized by palladium‐catalyzed oxidative arylation, thionation with Lawesson’s reagent, catalytic hydrogenation and Friedel–Crafts‐type reaction.
A novel and efficient domino process has been developed for the synthesis of 1,4‐benzoxazepine derivatives from a range of readily accessible N‐tosylaziridines, 2‐iodophenols and isocyanides. This process involves the aziridine ring‐opening reaction with 2‐iodophenol, followed by a palladium‐catalyzed isocyanide‐insertion reaction. This regioselective and high‐yielding transformation could be extended to its application for the synthesis of natural products and biologically interesting heterocycles.
A triphenylphosphine‐catalyzed cascade reaction of unsaturated pyrazolones with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates or but‐3‐yn‐2‐one to synthesize the bioactive pyrano[2,3‐c]pyrazoles in moderate to excellent yields has been developed. Meanwhile, spiro‐cyclopentanone‐pyrazolones were also first constructed by the triphenylphosphine‐catalyzed cascade reaction of unsaturated pyrazolones with 4‐phenylbut‐3‐yn‐2‐one in moderate to good yields.
A novel asymmetric [4+2] annulation of vinyl ketones with oxindole‐derived α,β‐unsaturated imines has been developed in the presence of a multifunctional thiourea‐phosphine catalyst derived from a natural amino acid, providing the first phosphine‐catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of 2′,3′‐dihydro‐1′H‐spiro[indoline‐3,4′‐pyridin]‐2‐ones in good yields with excellent stereoselectivities under mild conditions.
A concise synthesis of 1‐naphthols via cyclization of o‐iodoacetophenones and methyl ketones has been realized under very mild conditions. The cyclization process is initiated by a rare copper‐catalyzed arylation of simple methyl ketones with ortho‐iodoacetophenones.
The selective copper‐catalyzed borylation of silylalkynes in the presence of a diboron reagent and methanol produced a variety of (Z)‐β‐(borylvinyl)silanes. The appropriate use of a selective ligand for copper allows the chemo‐, regio‐, and stereoselective monoborylation of silylalkynes. The β‐regioselectivity of an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐copper catalyst was investigated by DFT calculations.
Novel copper‐catalyzed three‐component reactions of phenylacetonitrile, sulfur and DMF (dimethyformamide) for the selective preparation of N,N‐dimethylthiobenzamide and N,N‐dimethyl‐2‐phenylethanethioamides in yields of up to 96% are described.
A new copper‐mediated synthesis of α‐sulfonylethanone oximes from styrenes, sodium arylsulfinates and tert‐butyl nitrite (t‐BuONO; TBN) is presented. This intermolecular three‐component method enables the one‐step formation of C N and C S bonds under mild conditions, and represents a new, straightforward approach to α‐sulfonylethanone oximes.
1‐Bromo‐2‐(cyclopropylidenemethyl)benzenes react with 2‐alkynylphenols under palladium catalysis, leading to indeno[1,2‐c]chromenes in moderate to good yields. The molecular complexity and diversity can be introduced efficiently from easily available starting materials.
A straightforward, tandem, copper‐catalyzed N‐arylation–condensation has been developed using chiral cyclic 1,2‐diamines and ortho‐haloaryl aldehydes or ketones. The corresponding chiral tricyclic 1,4‐benzodiazepines were synthesized in high yields. Subsequently, the 1,4‐diazepines have been converted to a new class of tetracyclic N‐fused imidazobenzodiazepines (ImBDs) using the van Leusen reaction. A one‐pot sequential strategy has also been demonstrated for the synthesis of ImBDs. The synthetic utility of 1,4‐benzodiazepines and ImBDs is described.
In the presence of sodium carbonate, the [4+3] cycloadditions of α‐halogeno hydrazones with nitrones were performed efficiently, and affording 2,3,4,7‐tetrahydro‐1,2,4,5‐oxatriazepines in moderate to high yields.
We describe here a convenient and mild, carbon monoxide gas‐free palladium‐catalyzed procedure to obtain N‐substituted phthalimides with molybdenum hexacarbonyl as carbon monoxide precursor. These conditions tolerate a number of functional groups on the benzene ring as well as a number of amines and give the corresponding phthalimides in good to excellent yields.
A binaphthyl‐supported Pd nanoparticles (Pd‐BNP)‐catalyzed aminocarbonylation of aryl iodides in the presence of carbon monoxide and amines for the synthesis of amides has been developed. This methodology provides an efficient route for the synthesis of a COX‐2 enzyme inhibitor having anti‐inflammatory activity.
A transition metal‐free and efficient method for the synthesis of 3‐alkynylpyrrole‐2‐carboxylates from diynones and glycine esters or 2‐aminoacetophenone hydrochloride has been developed. This transformation provides a large range of substituted pyrroles in good to excellent yields with the elimination of water as the only by‐product. The detailed mechanistic studies elucidated that this transformation involves a Michael addition/intramolecular cyclodehydration process.
Treatment of cyclobutanecarboxamide with bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodobenzene, PhI(OCOCF3)2, resulted in the formation of 1‐pyrroline via Hofmann rearrangement of the former followed by in situ ring expansion reaction of the cyclobutylamine intermediate. Further elaboration of this methodology to the synthesis of 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrolo[2,1‐a]isoquinolinium salts has also been described.
A unique one‐pot synthesis of cyclic cis‐1,2‐amino alcohols from trans‐1,2‐azido alcohol precursors was developed. The key step is highlighted by the stereoselective reduction of the cyclic α‐alkoxy imines, which could be prepared from the corresponding azides by ruthenium catalysis under photolytic conditions. Remarkably, this unprecedented reaction pathway offers a stereodivergent access to structurally diverse cyclic 1,2‐amino alcohols.
