Dynamic reductive kinetic resolutions of racemic 3‐arylalkanones have been performed by the proper combination of an alcohol dehydrogenase and a basic anionic resin. The best results were found for the bioreduction with the alcohol dehydrogenase type A from Rhodococcus ruber DSM 44541 overexpressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli/ADH‐A) and the commercially available evo‐1.1.200, while the Amberlite IRA‐440 C and the DOWEX‐MWA‐1 resins allowed efficient in situ racemizations. Reaction conditions were optimized in terms of enzyme source and loading, type and amount of resin, pH, temperature and reaction times, obtaining a series of (R,R)‐substituted propan‐2‐ols with good conversions and both diastereoselectivity and stereoselectivity. As a proof of concept, the subsequent intramolecular cyclization of a selected propan‐2‐ol substrate afforded a valuable isochroman heterocycle without any loss of the optical purity.
Copper‐catalyzed aerobic coupling of thiols and alcohols affords sulfinates and thiosulfonates. These products are assumed to form via sulfinyl radicals which are not commonly found in oxidative coupling reactions of thiols. A reaction mechanism involving sulfinyl radicals is proposed, and mass and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experimental results are provided.
A novel and efficient palladium and copper co‐catalyzed intermolecular cyclization of acetonitriles with hydrazones has been developed for the synthesis of 5‐aminopyrazoles through C C and C N bond formation. The reaction has the advantages of easily available starting materials, simple manipulation and mild reaction conditions. The reaction involving various substituted acetonitriles and hydrazones proceeds smoothly and 5‐aminopyrazoles are synthesized in good yields. In contrast to the aliphatic and heteroaromatic substrates, the aromatic substrates tend to have a higher degree of reactivity.
The palladium‐catalyzed ketone‐directed dual sp2 C H activation and sp3 C H functionalization has been applied for fullerene functionalization for the first time. The sec‐alkyl aryl ketones have been exploited to react with [60]fullerene (C60) to provide the novel and scarce C60‐fused tetralones. The combined use of a highly active cationic palladium(II) catalyst and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid is crucial for the improvement of the reaction yield. A plausible reaction mechanism leading to the observed products has been proposed, and the electrochemistry of the fullerene products has also been investigated.
A metal‐free aerobic autoxidative nitrooxylation of alkenyl oximes mediated by tert‐butyl nitrite is described. Molecular oxygen is used as the oxidizing reagent, avoiding use of organic trapping reagents such as 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine 1‐oxyl (TEMPO). The desired products were obtained in generally high yields.
An intramolecular palladium(II)‐catalyzed dearomative arylation reaction of indoles via C H bond functionalization was developed, providing access to structurally novel spiroindolenines with moderate to good yields. A one‐pot process for the synthesis of spiroindoline derivatives was also realized.
A new visible light‐initiated 1,5‐hydride radical shift strategy has been developed to enable the one‐step functionalization of both a C(sp3) Br bond and a C(sp3) H bond adjacent to the same carbon atom. This visible light photoredox catalysis offers a mild and straightforward access to diverse five‐membered carbocyclic ring‐fused polycyclic hydrocarbons with high turnover numbers (TONs; up to 4.93×103) and broad substrate scope.
