The promoting effect of pyridine ligands in the Pd-catalysed Heck–Matsuda reaction

Simple and cheap pyridine-type ligands promote good to excellent yields for poorly efficient Pd-catalyzed Heck–Matsuda arylations in less than 1 h.

Regioselective ketone α-alkylation with simple olefins via dual activation

Alkylation of carbonyl compounds is a commonly used carbon-carbon bond–forming reaction. However, the conventional enolate alkylation approach remains problematic due to lack of regioselectivity, risk of overalkylation, and the need for strongly basic conditions and expensive alkyl halide reagents. Here, we describe development of a ketone-alkylation strategy using simple olefins as the alkylating agents. This strategy employs a bifunctional catalyst comprising a secondary amine and a low-valent rhodium complex capable of activating ketones and olefins simultaneously. Both cyclic and acyclic ketones can be mono-α-alkylated with simple terminal olefins, such as ethylene, propylene, 1-hexene, and styrene, selectively at the less hindered site; a large number of functional groups are tolerated. The pH/redox neutral and byproduct-free nature of this dual-activation approach shows promise for large-scale syntheses.

Synthesis of trans-2,6-disubstituted cyclohexanones through allylic substitution

trans-2,6-Disubstituted cyclohexanones were synthesized with high regio- and stereoselectivity by allylic substitution followed by ozonolysis. Both alkyl and aryl groups were successfully installed to the cyclohexane ring. The stereochemistry of the SN2' products was determined to be controlled by the pre-existing chirality on the ring. The present method is highlighted by the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched cyclohexanones.

Stereochemical investigation of conjugate additions of carbon- and heteronucleophiles to ring-substituted nitrosocyclohexenes

Intermolecular Michael-type conjugate additions of some in situ-generated ring-substituted nitrosocyclohexenes with both carbon- and heteronucleophiles have been found to be highly stereoselective, leading predominantly (or exclusively) to products resulting from axial attack on a half-chair conformation of the nitrosoalkene substrate.

Investigation of the stereochemistry of intermolecular conjugate additions of nucleophiles to acyclic nitrosoalkenes

Michael-type conjugate additions of γ-chiral aldehyde-derived acyclic nitrosoalkenes have been explored using a series of carbon and hetero nucleophiles. In all cases examined, these reactions are stereoselective, leading exclusively to the anti products.

Further studies of intramolecular Michael reactions of nitrosoalkenes for construction of functionalized bridged ring systems

A wide variety of stabilized carbanions have been found to participate as nucleophiles in intramolecular Michael-type conjugate additions to in situ generated nitrosoalkenes to form bridged carbocyclic systems. The vinylnitroso platforms for these cyclizations have been prepared via two key steps involving ring-closing metathesis of vinyl chlorides and regioselective conversion of vinyl chlorides to α-chloroketones with sodium hypochlorite in glacial acetic acid/acetone. An alternative approach to preparation of some cyclization substrates has involved use of more reactive enol ethers as precursors to the requisite α-chloroketones. A sulfonamide anion has also been found to be an effective nucleophile in this type of reaction, leading to formation of a 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane.