A new synthetic method for α‐alkynyl‐α,β‐unsaturated esters is presented herein. The method is based on a copper(I)‐catalyzed three‐component reaction of a terminal alkyne, diazoesters and aldehydes. The reaction is featured by mild conditions, high yields and excellent stereoselectivity. Cu(I) carbene migratory insertion is proposed as the key step in the transformation.
Using an easily prepared triethylammonium N‐benzyldithiocarbamate salt as a sulfur source, a dual C−S functionalization of cyclic diaryliodoniums to form tricyclic thioheterocycles is realized. Our method uses the readily available copper sulfate to accelerate the chemical transformation under mild conditions. A broad range of cyclic diaryliodoniums with a ring size from 5‐ to 7‐membered can be employed to gain a quick access to tricyclic thioheterocycles including dibenzothiophenes, thioxanthenes, and phenoxathiines.
A simple and efficient one‐pot approach has been developed for a copper‐catalyzed phosphorylation of glycine derivatives under air and at room temperature. The present cross‐dehydrogenative coupling allows various methoxyphenyl‐protected glycine derivatives to be phosphorylated using diverse alkyl and aryl phosphites through an oxidative coupling between Csp3−H and P−H bonds catalyzed by copper iodide. This method provides a new synthetic tool to obtain biologically active α‐aminophosphonates.
A facile method to synthesize 3‐halobenzo‐heterocyclic‐2‐carbonyl compounds is described. Mechanistic studies suggested that a halo‐cyclization process, which generated the unstable spiro‐acetal transition state and readily convertible to the corresponding carbonyl compound might be involved. Diverse 3‐halobenzo‐heterocyclic‐2‐carbonyl compounds could be synthesized with up to 95 % yield in mild conditions with inexpensive starting materials.
4H‐Pyran units are frequently present in molecules with significant biological and pharmaceutical activities. Herein, we present the first enantioselective formal [3+3] cycloaddition between 2‐(1‐alkynyl)‐2‐alken‐1‐ones and β‐keto esters catalyzed by a cyclohexyldiamine‐based thiourea‐tertiary amine bifunctional catalyst. Under the mild and eco‐friendly conditions, a wide range of polysubstituted 4H‐pyrans were obtained in moderate yields with good enantioselectivities.
With the use of a bifunctional chiral phosphine as the catalyst, the asymmetric [3+2] annulation of Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates with cyclic 1‐azadienes proceeded smoothly under mild conditions to give various enantiomerically enriched cyclopentene derivatives bearing three consecutive tertiary stereocenters and a sulfamate moiety in moderate to excellent yields with moderate to excellent enantioselectivities and excellent diastereoselectivities.
The first facile one‐pot synthesis of sulfone‐containing oxindoles with easily accessible disulfides as the sulfonylating precursors is described. This reaction occurs smoothly under transition metal‐free conditions and shows excellent functional group tolerance, allowing the facile and efficient green synthesis of various sulfone‐containing oxindoles in aqueous solution. Preliminary mechanistic studies reveal that both water (H2O) and potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) can be the oxygen source of the sulfone groups in the products.
By combining an organocatalyzed Michael addition of 1,3‐diketones to hydroxy‐nitroolefins with a subsequent, innovative iron(0)‐catalyzed fragmentation, key enantioenriched ketones possessing additional nitro and protected alcohol functions could efficiently be prepared under excellent enantiocontrol (typically 95% ee). The reaction was made possible by the discovery that photochemical activation of iron pentacarbonyl [Fe(CO)5], a cheap widely available complex, efficiently catalyzed a Claisen‐type fragmentation under mild conditions, avoiding decomposition of the intermediates and products.
We reveal here the first hydrogenation of nitrogen heterocycles catalyzed by carbon–metal covalent bonds‐stabilized palladium nanoparticles in water under mild conditions. Using a one‐phase reduction method, smaller metal–carbon covalent bond‐stabilized Pd nanoparticles were prepared with a size distribution of 2.5±0.5 nm, which showed extraordinary synergistic effects with water in the catalytic hydrogenation of nitrogen heterocycles. Water was supposed to accelerate substrate absorption and synergistic activation of molecular hydrogen on the Pd nanoparticles surface. The nanosized Pd catalyst could be easily recovered and reused for 5 runs.
Aryl carbamates were for the first time applied as electrophiles in the cross‐coupling with arylsilanes via nickel or iron catalysis to construct valuable biaryl compounds. This new coupling reaction features a good group tolerance and non‐sensitivity to steric hindrance on both aryl carbamates and arylsilanes.
The sodium iodide/hydrogen peroxide‐mediated oxidation/lactonization of indolepropionic acids was achieved, affording the corresponding spirocyclic oxindole‐lactones in moderate to high yields. This metal‐free procedure features mild reaction conditions, non‐toxicity and easy handling, with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a clean oxidant.
The formation of an amide bond via incorporation of two isocyanide units during a palladium‐catalyzed construction of the indoloquinoline ring afforded N‐substituted 6H‐indolo[2,3‐b]quinoline‐11‐carboxamides as new cytotoxic agents. The solvent and base play a key role in the selective and unprecedented synthesis of this class of amides.
An iron(III)‐catalyzed C‐3 functionalization of flavones has been achieved using tert‐butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPB)/potassium persulphate (K2S2O8) oxidant combinations with a suitable solvent. In the presence of iron(III)/tert‐butyl peroxybenzoate/potassium persulphate, the reaction of flavones in cycloalkanes afforded exclusive C‐3 cycloalkylation via C –C coupling, whereas the solvent N,N‐dialkylformamide provided C‐3 amidation via C –C coupling. Under identical reaction conditions just by switching the solvent to chlorobenzene, C‐3 methylated flavones were obtained where tert‐butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPB) served as the source of the methyl group.
Direct strategies for the iodothiocyanation and iodonitration of allenes have been developed. In this process, potassium thiocyanate/silver nitrite and molecular iodine are used as the source of SCN, ONO2 and iodine to provide the desired products in moderate to good yields with high stereoselectivity.
An efficient and easy method for C −C homocoupling was developed using cobalt bromide as catalyst. A series of functionalized alkyl bromides and alkyl chlorides were coupled in high yields under mild conditions. This reaction seems to involve a radical intermediate.
Cobalt‐catalyzed C−H amination of arenes with alkylamines by the assistance of 8‐aminoquinoline as auxiliary through sp2 C−H bond functionalization has been achieved. Attractive features of this protocol include the low loading of the cobalt catalyst and the readily available reagents.
A copper(I)‐catalyzed, (diacetoxyiodo)benzene [PhI(OAc)2]‐mediated ring‐expansion/thiolactonization of α‐oxo ketene dithioacetals was efficiently realized via azidation of the internal olefinic C−H bond with sodium azide under mild conditions. Sequential amination, ring‐expansion rearrangement, and thiolactonization occurred to form aminated thiolactones in the presence of acetic anhydride as the additive, while only C−H amination to afford the unprotected enamines occurred when using ammonium sulfide as a reducing additive. The in situ generated vinyl azides were confirmed as the reactive intermediates, which were captured by phenylacetylene to produce triazoles. This protocol provides a concise route to thiolactone derivatives and unprotected enamines.
The bis(N‐heterocyclic carbene)(diphenylacetylene)palladium complex [Pd(ITMe)2(PhC≡CPh)] (ITMe=1,3,4,5‐tetramethylimidazol‐2‐ylidene) acts as a highly active pre‐catalyst in the diboration and silaboration of azobenzenes to synthesize a series of novel functionalized hydrazines. The reactions proceed using commercially available diboranes and silaboranes under mild reaction conditions.
The first copper(I)‐catalyzed asymmetric 1,3‐dipolar [3+4] cycloaddition of nitrones with azoalkenes has been developed, affording a variety of biologically important 1,2,4,5‐oxatriazepane derivatives in good yields with exclusive regioselectivities and excellent enantioselectivities.
N‐Alkenylated triazolinone ylides were generated through copper‐catalyzed oxy‐N‐alkenylation of triazolopyridines. The mechanistic course of this aerobic tandem reaction has been experimentally elucidated and primary photophysical data of the ylide products are also given.
