Branched allyl amines or linear amines can be obtained from E‐4‐hydroxybuten‐2‐yl methyl carbonate using the palladium/1,2‐diaminocyclohexane (DACH)‐catalysed allylic amination by just starting from the unprotected or the protected derivative, respectively. Unhindered primary amines can be used as nucleophiles, thus enlarging the scope of the Pd/DACH catalytic system. Hydrogen bonding involving the free hydroxy group in the unprotected allylic carbonate is proposed to be responsible for the control of the regioselectivity to afford branched isomers, obtained in high ee. A short and enantioselective formal synthesis of the glycosidase inhibitor fagomine is described using this method.
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.
The acyloxy group of 2‐acyloxy‐2H‐azirines has been displaced by carboxylic acids to generate the corresponding 2‐acyloxy‐2H‐azirines by using potassium iodide as a promotor. This metal‐free method can be performed with a wide scope of substrates readily generating products in moderate to high yields. It also represents an example of nucleophilic substitution between esters and carboxylic acids under metal‐free reaction conditions for the first time.
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.
Chiral 1,2‐diamines are privileged structural motifs in organocatalysis, whereas efficient 1,3‐diamine‐derived organocatalysts are very rare. Herein we report a highly efficient camphor‐1,3‐diamine‐derived squaramide organocatalyst. Its catalytic activity in Michael additions of 1,3‐dicarbonyl nucleophiles to trans‐β‐nitrostyrene derivatives provides excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee).
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 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.
A natural quinine‐catalyzed, efficient and practical asymmetric α‐hydroxylation of 4‐substituted pyrazolones has been developed, delivering a broad spectrum of pyrazolones bearing an oxygen‐attached carbon stereocenter at C‐4 in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. The broad substrate scope, ready availability of the catalyst, ease of operation, and valuable transformation of the product highlight the practical utility of this process.
2,2‐Difluoro‐1,3‐diketones are introduced as gem‐difluoroenolate precursors for the first example of an organocatalytic asymmetric aldol addition with N‐benzylisatins to form 3‐difluoroalkyl‐3‐hydroxyoxindoles.
The copper(II)‐catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reactions of arylglyoxylic acids with isatins afford 4H‐benzo[d][1,3]oxazin‐4‐ones via decarbonylation and concurrent C–N, C–O bond formation.
A palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of activated amides with arylboronic acids has been developed via C–N bond cleavage. This approach demonstrated high tolerance to a variety of alkyl, aryl, heterocyclic and vinyl substituents. Unsymmetrical ketones could be achieved in excellent yield under mild conditions with 1% catalyst loadings.
Under gold(I) catalysis, the in situ generated gold carbene from vinylidenecyclopropanes bearing a methoxymethyl group can undergo an intramolecular nucleophilic attack to give the carbon‐oxygen bond cleavage product in good yield within 15 min. and different phosphine ligands could control both Z‐ and E‐configurations, respectively. The reaction mechanism has been clarified on the basis of deuterium‐ and 18O‐labeling experiments. This method provides a new and efficient approach to stereoselectively synthesize alkylidenecyclobutanones under mild conditions.
A simple, efficient and practical iron‐catalyzed azidoarylthiation of alkenes has been developed at room temperature, and the corresponding products containing ortho‐sited sulfide and azide units were obtained in moderate to good yields with good tolerance of functional groups. The protocol uses readily available 1‐(alkylthio)pyrrolidine‐2,5‐diones and trimethylsilyl azide as the alkylthiation and azidation reagents, respectively, inexpensive and environmentally friendly iron chloride as the catalyst without addition of any ligand and additive.
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.
A catalyst‐controlled regiodivergent dehydrogenative Heck reaction of 4‐arylthiophene/furan‐3‐carboxylates has been realized. Use of a palladium catalyst led to the C‐5 alkenylation through electronic palladation, while a ruthenium catalyst favored the C‐2 alkenylation with the assistance of a directing group. This reaction exhibited good to excellent regioselectivities.
An inexpensive ruthenium‐catalyzed direct C–H olefination of aromatic carboxamides with allyl acetate was developed. This external oxidant‐free protocol provided an efficient route for the synthesis of useful trans‐styrene derivatives in high to excellent yields. The olefination reaction exhibited excellent regioselectivities and allowed the presence of a wide range of functional groups, such as OMe, F, Cl, Br, I, CF3, NMe2, as well as NO2.
A systematic investigation of ZnCl2‐catalyzed reactions of enynals with alkenes has been undertaken. Structurally unique propeller‐like products could be obtained under mild conditions. Cyclic o‐quinodimethanes (o‐QDMs) are generated through [4+2] cycloaddition between enynals and alkenes. Both electron‐poor and electron‐rich dienophiles could be used to trap the active intermediate through [4+2] cycloaddition. But [1,5]‐H shift products could also be observed when electron‐rich alkenes were used as dienophile. DFT calculations were performed to understand the reaction mechanism. A competition between the [4+2] cycloaddition and [1,5]‐H shift was proposed for the transformation of cyclic o‐QDMs. The selectivity could be affected by the properties of the substrates.
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.
A cobalt‐catalyzed regioselective C‐3 alkylation of coumarins was realized under mild reaction conditions, during which a variety of substituted coumarins including those containing sensitive functional groups could smoothly undergo the selective C(sp2)−C(sp3) bond formation with a series of cyclic or straight‐chain alkyl ethers.
