ESI-MS detection of proposed reaction intermediates in the air-promoted and ligand-modulated oxidative Heck reaction

Direct observation of key intermediates by negative-ion electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry in palladium-catalysed cross-coupling

Negative-ion electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry with an anionic phosphine ligand enables detection of key intermediates in the Sonogashira reaction. MS/MS techniques are used to generate a Hammett plot for the key reductive elimination step.

Microwave-promoted palladium(II)-catalyzed C-P bond formation by using arylboronic acids or aryltrifluoroborates

The first Pd(II)-catalyzed P arylation has been performed by using palladium acetate, the rigid bidentate ligand dmphen (dmphen=2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline), and without the addition of base or acid. Couplings of arylboronic acids or aryl trifluoroborates with H-phosphonate dialkyl esters were conducted in 30 min with controlled microwave (MW) heating under non-inert conditions. Aryl phosphites were also synthesized at room temperature with atmospheric air as the sole reoxidant. The arylated phosphonates were isolated in 44-90 % yields. The excellent chemoselectivity of the method was illustrated in the synthesis of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis glutamine synthetase (MTB-GS) inhibitor. Online ESIMS was used to detect cationic palladium species in ongoing reactions directly, and a catalytic cycle has been proposed based on these results.

Recent advancements and challenges of palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidation reactions with molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant

During the past 10 years there have been significant advances in Pd(II)-catalyzed oxidation reactions where the use of ligands has led to the development of catalytic systems capable of achieving high turnover numbers, which employ molecular oxygen as the sole stoichiometric oxidant. This Feature article will highlight some of the recent developments in direct molecular oxygen-coupled Pd(II)-catalyzed oxidation reactions with an emphasis on enhanced catalytic systems and new reactions. Additionally, limitations of current catalytic systems, such as ligand oxidation, are presented and their implications for the development of new reactions are discussed.

A new approach to carbon-carbon bond formation: Development of aerobic Pd-catalyzed reductive coupling reactions of organometallic reagents and styrenes

Alkenes are attractive starting materials for organic synthesis and the development of new selective functionalization reactions are desired. Previously, our laboratory discovered a unique Pd-catalyzed hydroalkoxylation reaction of styrenes containing a phenol. Based upon deuterium labeling experiments, a mechanism involving an aerobic alcohol oxidation coupled to alkene functionalization was proposed. These results inspired the development of a new Pd-catalyzed reductive coupling reaction of alkenes and organometallic reagents that generates a new carbon-carbon bond. Optimization of the conditions for the coupling of both organostannanes and organoboronic esters is described and the initial scope of the transformation is presented. Additionally, several mechanistic experiments are outlined and support the rationale for the development of the reaction based upon coupling alcohol oxidation to alkene functionalization.

Synthesis of styrenes by palladium(II)-catalyzed vinylation of arylboronic acids and aryltrifluoroborates by using vinyl acetate

One Heck of a reaction: Treatment of arylboronic acids or aryltrifluoroborates with vinyl acetate by using a palladium(II) catalyst gives the corresponding styrenes (see scheme). No palladium reoxidant is needed and the vinylation is performed under non-inert conditionsReactions of aromatic and heteroaromatic boronic acids or aryltrifluoroborate salts with vinyl acetate in the presence of a palladium(II) catalyst give the corresponding styrenes in good yields. This Heck reaction proceeds with microwave heating in less than 30 min at 140 degrees C in the absence of base and tolerates a variety of substituents. No palladium reoxidant is needed and the vinylation is performed under non-inert conditions. Mass spectrometry (electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)) was used to identify cationic palladium-containing complexes in ongoing reactions. The key intermediates that have been detected, together with experiments that used deuterated vinyl acetate, support the existence of catalytically active palladium hydride species, and that it is the arylation of ethylene, not vinyl acetate, which generates the styrene product. The mechanism of the reaction is discussed in terms of the palladium(II) intermediates mentioned above.

Catalytic oxidation of organic substrates by molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide by multistep electron transfer--a biomimetic approach

Oxidation reactions are of fundamental importance in nature, and are key transformations in organic synthesis. The development of new processes that employ transition metals as substrate-selective catalysts and stoichiometric environmentally friendly oxidants, such as molecular oxygen or hydrogen peroxide, is one of the most important goals in oxidation chemistry. Direct oxidation of the catalyst by molecular oxygen or hydrogen peroxide is often kinetically unfavored. The use of coupled catalytic systems with electron-transfer mediators (ETMs) usually facilitates the procedures by transporting the electrons from the catalyst to the oxidant along a low-energy pathway, thereby increasing the efficiency of the oxidation and thus complementing the direct oxidation reactions. As a result of the similarities with biological systems, this can be dubbed a biomimetic approach.

Efficient Palladium(II) Catalysis under Air. Base-Free Oxidative Heck Reactions at Room Temperature or with Microwave Heating

Scope and limitations of the base-free oxidative Heck reaction with arylboronic acids have been explored. Under our conditions, the dmphen-palladium(II)-catalyzed arylation proceeded with air or p-benzoquinone as reoxidants of palladium(0). We found that ambient temperature and mild aerobic conditions allow for the use of substrates sensitive to palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidation. Oxidative Heck couplings, employing different arylboronic acids, were smoothly and regioselectively conducted with both electron-rich and electron-poor olefins, providing high yields even with disubstituted butyl methacrylate, sensitive acrolein, and a vinylboronate ester. Controlled microwave processing was used to reduce reaction times from hours to minutes both in small scale and in 50 mmol scale batch processes.