A novel and selective method for the simple copper‐catalyzed α‐amination of α‐aminocarbonyl compounds to afford 2‐amino‐2‐iminocarbonyl and 2‐amino‐2‐oxocarbonyl compounds is reported. This transformation is achieved by C(sp3)−H and N−H bond oxidative cross‐coupling and selective C−N bond oxidative cleavage. This reaction system has a broad reaction scope, providing a facile pathway for the α‐functionalization of α‐amino ketones.
A domino reaction of palladium(II)‐catalyzed dual C–H functionalization with subsequent intramolecular annulation is presented. This method provides a convenient synthesis of a range of symmetrical and unsymmetrical biologically important (E)‐bisindole‐2‐ones under extremely mild reaction conditions – room temperature, green oxidant and no additive. The reaction mechanism is elucidated in light of the yield values as well as additional control experiment results.
A novel one‐pot reaction which combines halogenation, decarboxylation/desulfonamidation with oxidation has been developed. Diverse valuable 3,3‐dihalo‐2‐oxindole compounds can be produced rapidly and safely with isolated yields of up to 98% under mild conditions.
A direct access to multisubstituted 1,3‐dienes by α‐exclusive alkylidenation of crotonic derivatives has been developed. This protocol, mediated by titanium tetrachloride chelation, features excellent regio‐ and stereoselectivity, mild reaction conditions, easy operation and wide substrate scope. Conversions of the derived dienes to other useful molecules were also explored.
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.
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.
The first highly enantioselective intramolecular N−H bond insertion was realized by using copper catalysts modified with chiral spirobisoxazoline ligands, which provides a novel strategy for the synthesis of chiral 2‐carboxytetrahydroquinolines. This reaction features fast reaction rate, high yield, high enantioselectivity, and mild reaction conditions.
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.
An unprecedented copper(II)‐catalyzed enantioselective 1,3‐dipolar [3+4] cycloaddition of azomethine imines with in situ formed azoalkenes has been realized. This strategy provides a facile access to biologically important 1,2,4,5‐tetrazepine derivatives in high yield with exclusive regioselectivity and high stereoselectivity. Moreover, enantioenriched azomethine imines could be obtained via an efficient kinetic resolution using the same approach.
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.
Herein we describe a new methodology for the asymmetric hydrogenation (AH) of 2‐substituted pyridinium salts. An iridium catalyst based on a mixture of a chiral monodentate phosphoramidite and an achiral phosphine was shown to hydrogenate N‐benzyl‐2‐arylpyiridinium bromides to the corresponding N‐benzyl‐2‐arylpiperidines with full conversion and good enantioselectivity. The mechanism of the reaction under optimized conditions was investigated via kinetic measurements and isotopic labeling experiments. Our study suggests that the hydrogenation starts with a 1,4‐hydride addition and that the enantiodiscriminating step involves the reduction of an iminium intermediate.
A mild, metal‐free synthesis of polyfunctionalized N‐acyl‐N,O‐hemiacetals was developed via the nucleophilic addition of unactivated amides to ketones. The protocol demonstrated a wide substrate scope, with good isolated yields. Additionally, their O‐acetylated products serve as a precursor of α,α‐difunctionalized N‐acylimines. An addition reaction of broad scope of nucleophiles to generate N‐acylimines is also reported.
The iron(III) chloride‐catalyzed Friedel–Crafts arylation of 4‐aryl‐4‐methoxy‐2,5‐cyclohexadienones, which were easily prepared by the phenyliodine(III) diacetate (PIDA)‐mediated oxidation of 4‐arylphenols in methanol, proceeded site‐selectively to form meta‐terphenyl (2,4‐diarylphenol) derivatives in good yields. The subsequent PIDA‐mediated oxidation and iron(III) chloride‐catalyzed Friedel–Crafts arylation of the resulting products gave the corresponding 2,4,6‐triarylphenol derivatives. The present method provides useful highly substituted polyarylated compounds.
A metal‐free method for the synthesis of substituted 1,3,4‐oxadiazole/1,3,4‐oxadiazoline and 1,2,4‐triazole derivatives from a common starting material via reagent/substituent switching is reported. In the presence of 2‐fluoropyridine/triflic anhydride, 1,3,4‐oxadiazole derivatives were exclusively formed from N′‐tert‐butylhydrazides and 1,3,4‐oxadiazoline derivatives were produced from N‐phenylhydrazides. On the other hand, when using pyridine/triflic anhydride, salts of 1,2,4‐triazoles were the sole products.
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 highly efficient chiral N,N′‐dioxide‐zinc(II) complex catalytic system has been developed for the enantioselective aza‐Friedel–Crafts reaction of isatin‐derived ketimines with indoles. A series of enantiomerically enriched 3‐indolyl‐3‐aminooxindoles containing a tetrasubstituted stereocenter were obtained in up to 99% yield with up to 96% ee. Furthermore, control experiments provide a fundamental sight into the mechanism of the reaction.
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.
A pair of epimeric l ‐proline derived chiral auxiliaries have been developed for the diastereoselective lithiation–substitution of η6‐arene chromium tricarbonyl complexes. Lithiation of the anti epimer affords planar chiral imidazolones in >95:5 dr upon electrophile quench. Application of the same reaction sequence to the syn epimer provides products with opposite planar chirality in equally high levels of diastereomeric purity. The ortho‐substituted epimeric imidazolones give rise to planar chiral enantiomers upon acid‐induced elimination, thus precluding the need to prepare a d ‐proline‐derived starting material.
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.
