Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Quinoline and Pyridine Derivatives with Iridium‐(P‐Phos) Catalyst

The use of a chiral iridium catalyst generated in situ from the (cyclooctadiene)iridium chloride dimer, [Ir(COD)Cl]₂, the P‐Phos ligand [4,4′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐2,2′,6,6′‐tetramethoxy‐3,3′‐bipyridine] and iodine (I₂) for the asymmetric hydrogenation of 2,6‐substituted quinolines and trisubstituted pyridines [2‐substituted 7,8‐dihydroquinolin‐5(6H)‐one derivatives] is reported. The catalyst worked efficiently to hydrogenate a series of quinoline derivatives to provide chiral 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinolines in high yields and up to 96% ee. The hydrogenation was carried out at high S/C (substrate to catalyst) ratios of 2000–50000, reaching up to 4000 h⁻¹ TOF (turnover frequency) and up to 43000 TON (turnover number). The catalytic activity is found to be additive‐controlled. At low catalyst loadings, decreasing the amount of additive I₂ was necessary to maintain the good conversion. The same catalyst system could also enantioselectively hydrogenate trisubstituted pyridines, affording the chiral hexahydroquinolinone derivatives in nearly quantitative yields and up to 99% ee. Interestingly, increasing the amount of I₂ favored high reactivity and enantioselectivity in this case. The high efficacy and enantioselectivity enable the present catalyst system of high practical potential.     

Vanadyl Acetylacetonate Catalyzed Methylenation of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines by Using Dimethylacetamide as a Methylene Source: Direct Access to Bis(imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐3‐yl)methanes

An efficient protocol has been developed for the methylenation of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines using dimethylacetamide (DMA) as methylene source in the presence of vanadyl acetylacetonate [VO(acac)₂] as the catalyst and iodobenzene diacetate as the oxidant. The reaction involves coupling of sp³‐ and sp²‐hybridized carbons and proceeds through the formation of an iminium ion. A wide variety of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines were converted to bis(imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐3‐yl)methanes in good to excellent yields. A gram‐scale reaction demonstrated the potential for the scale‐up processes.

     

Gold‐Catalyzed Redox Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines using Pyridine N‐Oxide and Alkynes

A mild, catalytic, atom economical synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines has been developed: catalytic dichloro(2‐pyridinecarboxylato)gold [PicAuCl₂] in the presence of an acid produces a range of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines in good yields starting from alkynes and 2‐aminopyridine N‐oxides. This strategy is mild and foreseen to be of particular use for the installation of stereogenic centers adjacent to the imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine ring without loss of enantiomeric excess.

     

N,N‐Dimethylacetamide (DMA) as a Methylene Synthon for Regioselective Linkage of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine

A copper(II)‐catalyzed oxidative methylene‐bridged dimerization of two analogous imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines has been achieved using N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMA) as solvent cum methylene source. This reaction works with a variety of substituted imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines giving their products in moderate to good yields. Isotopic labelling experiments revealed that the methylene group in the product originates from the N,N‐dimethyl moiety of DMA.

     

Substrate Control in the Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Cyclization of β‐Propargylamino Acrylic Esters and Further Transformations of the Resultant Dihydropyridines

N‐Protected β‐propargylamino acrylic esters with a push‐pull olefinic bond afforded good to high yields of dihydropyridines upon treatment with 5% tris(2‐furyl)phosphine‐gold(I) chloride/silver(I) tetrafluoroborate [(TFP)AuCl/AgBF₄] in anhydrous benzene. Carbamate and sulfonyl groups were employed for nitrogen protection. On a model enyne, the p‐methoxybenzenesulfonyl (MBS) group was found to be a better protective group than tosyl in terms of cyclization yield, and also the yield of elimination to the corresponding 2,3,4‐trisubstituted pyridines. Boc‐protected dihydropyridines underwent partial deprotection/oxidation under the cyclization conditions, which enabled a more straightforward, one‐pot preparation of the corresponding pyridines. In another application, an appropriately substituted derivative protected as a stable methoxycarbamate was subjected to catalytic hydrogenation affording the known precursor of paroxetine. The chemoselectivity of enyne cyclization (dihydropyridine vs. pyrrole) is governed, among other factors, by C‐3 substitution. Dihydropyridines were obtained as sole products regardless of the catalyst/conditions when C‐3 was unsubstituted.

     

Synthesis of 2‐Haloalkylpyridines via Cp*RuCl‐Catalyzed Cycloaddition of 1,6‐Diynes with α‐Halonitriles. Unusual Halide Effect in Catalytic Cyclocotrimerization

In the presence of 2–5 mol % Cp*RuCl (cod), various 1,6‐diynes reacted with α‐monohalo‐ and α,α‐dihalonitriles at ambient temperature to afford 2‐haloalkylpyridines in 42–93% isolated yields. The failure of acetonitrile, N,N‐dimethylaminoacetonitrile, phenylthioacetonitrile, and methyl cyanoacetate as nitrile substrate clearly showed that the α halogen substitution is essential for the present cycloaddition under mild conditions. The cycloaddition of unsymmetrical diynes bearing a substituent on one alkyne terminal gave 2,3,4,6‐substituted pyridines exclusively.     

Dual Heterogeneous Catalysis for a Regioselective Three‐ Component Synthesis of Bi‐ and Tri(hetero)arylpyridines

We have designed a new, user‐friendly oxidative dual heterogeneous catalytic system capable of promoting polysubstituted pyridines as unique products from simple activated Michael acceptors, 1,3‐dicarbonyls and ammonium acetate. This metal‐free environmentally‐respectful and totally regioselective domino reaction proved to be a great strategy to access bi‐ and triaryl‐type pyridines as well as challenging bi‐ and triheteroaryl‐type pyridines in a single operation.     

Magnetic carbon nanotube supported Cu (CoFe2O4/CNT-Cu) catalyst: A sustainable catalyst for the synthesis of 3-nitro-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

A magnetic carbon nanotube supported Cu catalyst (CoFe₂O₄/CNT-Cu) was prepared, characterized and evaluated as a recoverable catalyst for synthesis of 3-nitro-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via one-pot three-component reactions of 2-aminopyridines, aldehydes and nitromethane. The reactions proceeded in PEG 400 under aerobic conditions and the products were obtained in good to excellent yields. The catalyst can be successfully recycled for eight runs without appreciable loss of its activity.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct Arylations of 1,2‐Azolo[1,5‐a]pyridines using Copper(I) Chloride as a Lewis Acid Activator and the Synthesis of 2,6‐Disubstituted Pyridines

A direct method for the arylation of 1,2‐azolo[1,5‐a]pyridines has been developed. In the process, the fused pyridines react with aryl halides in the presence of the palladium complex Pd(OAc)₂(Phen) as a catalyst and copper(I) chloride (CuCl) as a Lewis acid to form arylated derivatives. While pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyridines and [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyridines are arylated at ortho‐positions of their pyridine rings using this method, in situ ring‐opening of the formed C‐7 arylated [1,5‐a]pyridine takes place to generate the 2,6‐disubstituted pyridine. Also, upon treatment with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA), C‐7 arylated pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyridine‐3‐carboxylates react to produce diversely substituted 2,6‐disubstituted pyridines. Finally, a sequential C‐3 arylation was accomplished through a two‐step sequence involving hydrolysis of pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyridine‐3‐carboxylates followed by the bimetallic Pd/Cu‐catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reaction with aryl bromide.

     

Development of Diphenylamine‐Linked Bis(imidazoline) Ligands and Their Application in Asymmetric Friedel–Crafts Alkylation of Indole Derivatives with Nitroalkenes

The new diphenylamine‐linked bis(imidazoline) ligands were prepared through Kelly‐You’s imidazoline formation procedure mediated by Hendrickson’s reagent in good yields. The novel ligands were tested in the asymmetric Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indole derivatives with nitroalkenes. In most cases, good yields (up to 97%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98%) can be achieved. The optimized bis(imidazoline) ligand with trans‐diphenyl substitution on the imidazoline ring gave better enantioselectivity than the corresponding bis(oxazoline) ligand.     

The Application of a Recyclable Organocatalytic System to the Asymmetric Domino Michael/Henry Reaction in Aqueous Media

A new type of pyrrolidine‐based organocatalyst has been developed and found to be very effective for the domino Michael/Henry reaction in aqueous solvents. For the reaction involving pentane‐1,5‐dial and various nitroolefins, good yields (65–85%) and excellent enantioselectivities (99%) were obtained using this catalyst. In addition, the catalyst could be recycled up to four times resulting in good yields and up to seven times with good enantioselectivity.     

Enantioselective Aza‐Henry Reaction of Imines Bearing a Benzothiazole Moiety Catalyzed by a Cinchona‐Based Squaramide

An efficient enantioselective aza‐Henry reaction of nitroalkanes to imines bearing a benzothiazole moiety catalyzed by a Cinchona‐based squaramide has been developed. In the reaction of imines, the corresponding products were obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) for most of the aromatic substituted imines. The imines with electron‐withdrawing groups gave better yields than those bearing electron‐donating groups in the aza‐Henry reaction. Moreover, a one‐pot three‐component enantioselective aza‐Henry reaction using 2‐aminobenzothiazoles, aldehydes, and nitromethane was also developed. Moderate to good yields and high enantioselectivities were obtained in the one‐pot cases (up to 98% ee).     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Dihydrocoumarins via N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Catalyzed Cycloaddition of Ketenes and o‐Quinone Methides

Chiral N‐heterocyclic carbenes were found to be efficient catalysts for the formal [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of alky(aryl)ketenes and o‐quinone methides to give the corresponding 3,3,4‐trisubstituted 3,4‐dihydrocoumarins in good yields with good diastereoselectivities and excellent enantioselectivities.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed Carbon‐Carbon Bond Formation: Synthesis and Applications of Enantiopure Pyrrolidine Derivatives[1]

In the presence of cobalt catalysts and tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), the iodine atom in (S)‐2‐(iodomethyl)pyrrolidines was replaced by an aryl or an alkynyl group from the corresponding Grignard reagent, and the coupling products were obtained in good to excellent yields (16 examples; 75–94% yields). The scope and limitations of this protocol were examined. The stereochemistry of the pyrrolidines was unaffected by the reaction conditions. The coupling products are important building blocks of phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids. Palladium‐catalyzed formal [4+2] cycloaddition of 2,2′‐diiodobiphenyl with the thus‐generated (S)‐2‐(3‐trimethylsilyl‐2‐propynyl)pyrrolidine gave a good yield of the desilylated phenanthrene, which was then converted into unnatural (+)‐(S)‐tylophorine by the Pictet–Spengler cyclization.     

α‐ and β‐Stannyl Trifluoromethylbutenoates: Regioselective Preparation and Use in Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Allylation and Propargylation Reactions

The palladium‐free hydrostannylation of ethyl 4,4,4‐trifluorobutynoate 1 with tributyltin hydride at room temperature is highly regio‐ and stereoselective, providing good yields of β‐trifluoromethyl (Z)‐α‐ or (Z)‐β‐stannylacrylates 2 . Vinylstannanes 2 undergo a copper(I)‐catalyzed coupling reactions with allylic or propargylic bromides leading selectively to good yields of the corresponding allylated or propargylated products without allylic or allenic transposition.     

Synthesis of 5,5′‐Diformyl‐2,2′‐difuran from 2‐Furfural by Photochemical Aryl Coupling

The synthesis of 5,5′‐diformyl‐2,2′‐difuran (IUPAC name: [2,2′‐bifuryl]‐5,5′‐dicarbaldehyde) in good yields by the intermolecular coupling of 2‐furfural and 5‐bromo‐2‐furfural has been achieved. Optimum yields were obtained when mixtures of the substrates in acetonitrile were treated with polyvinylpyridine powder (Reillex 402), and irradiated with UV light through a quartz filter. Low yields of coupling product were obtained in the absence of this base or if hydrocarbon solvents were used. A mechanistic pathway involving a transient exciplex intermediate has been proposed.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Synthesis of 3‐Acylimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines via Carbene Oxidation

A convenient gold‐catalyzed strategy for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine derivatives has been developed via gold carbene complexes. This transformation opens a new synthetic route to a variety of 3‐carbonyl‐substituted imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines using air as oxidant affording the products in good yields.

     

Efficient Synthesis of 2‐Fluoromethylated Quinolines via Copper‐Catalyzed Alkynylation and Cyclization of Fluorinated Imidoyl Iodides

2‐Fluoromethylated quinolines were synthesized through the reaction of N‐aryl‐fluorinated imidoyl iodides with terminal alkynes in good yields by the catalysis of copper(I) iodide (CuI) alone.     

Nickel(0)/Imidazolium Carbene Catalyst System for Efficient Cross‐Coupling of Aryl Bromides and Chlorides with Organomanganese Reagents

N,N′‐Bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolium chloride associated with nickel(II) acetylacetonate (3–5 mol %) was used as catalyst to efficiently cross‐couple functionalized aryl bromides with organomanganese reagents. The reactions were performed between 0 °C and room temperature, giving unsymmetrical biaryls in 0.25 to 24 h with 52 to 100 % yields for isolated materials. Aryl chlorides showed slightly diminished reactivity in Ni/2 IPr‐catalyzed cross‐couplings and good yields could only be attained with activated or neutral substrates.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of cis‐3,4‐Disubstituted Chromans and Dihydrocoumarins via an Organocatalytic Michael Addition/ Hemiacetalization Reaction

The organocatalytic domino Michael/hemiacetalization reaction between various aldehydes and ortho‐nitrovinylphenols has been developed. Under the catalysis of diphenyl prolinol trimethylsilyl ether, cis‐3,4‐disubstituted chromanols are obtained in high to excellent yields (81–98%) and stereoselectivities (dr: 86:14 to >99:1, ee 96 to >99%). The corresponding disubstituted chromans are available by dehydroxylation of the domino products in good to excellent yields (58–95%). Furthermore, oxidation of the domino products with pyridinium chlorochromate provided 3,4‐dihydrocoumarins in good yields (65–83%) without any epimerization.