Auto-Tandem Catalysis: A Single Catalyst Activating Mechanistically Distinct Reactions in a Single Reactor

Auto-Tandem Catalysis in Ionic Liquids: Synthesis of 2-Oxazolidinones by Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Carbonylation of Propargylic Amines in EmimEtSO₄

A convenient carbonylative approach to 2-oxazolidinone derivatives carried out using an ionic liquid (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate, EmimEtSO₄) as the solvent is presented. It is based on the sequential concatenation of two catalytic cycles, both catalyzed by the same metal species (auto-tandem catalysis): the first cycle corresponds to the oxidative monoaminocarbonylation of the triple bond of propargylic amines to give the corresponding 2-ynamide intermediates, while the second one involves the cyclocarbonylation of the latter to yield 2-(2-oxooxazolidin-5-ylidene)-acetamides. Reactions are carried out using a simple catalytic system consisting of PdI₂ in conjunction with an excess of KI, and the catalyst/solvent system could be recycled several times without appreciable loss of activity after extraction of the organic product with Et₂O.

Tandem Olefin Metathesis/Oxidative Cyclization: Synthesis of Tetrahydrofuran Diols from Simple Olefins

A tandem olefin metathesis/oxidative cyclization has been developed to synthesize 2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran (THF) diols in a stereocontrolled fashion from simple olefin precursors. The ruthenium metathesis catalyst is converted into an oxidation catalyst in the second step and is thus responsible for both catalytic steps. The stereochemistry of the 1,5-diene intermediate can be controlled through the choice of catalyst and the type of metathesis conducted. This olefin stereochemistry then controls the THF diol stereochemistry through a highly stereospecific oxidative cyclization.

Tandem Rh-catalysis: decarboxylative β-keto acid and alkyne cross-coupling

Herein, we describe a regioselective Rh-catalyzed decarboxylative cross-coupling of β-keto acids and alkynes to access branched γ,δ-unsaturated ketones. Rh-hydride catalysis enables the isomerization of an alkyne to generate a metal-allyl species that can undergo carbon-carbon bond formation. Ketones are generated under mild conditions, without the need for base or activated electrophiles.

A unified approach to pyrrole-embedded aza-heterocyclic scaffolds based on the RCM/isomerization/cyclization cascade catalyzed by a Ru/B-H binary catalyst system

An easy and straightforward preparation of pyrrole-embedded aza-heterocyclic scaffolds employing a Ru/B-H binary catalyst system has been developed.

Gold-catalysed facile access to indene scaffolds via sequential C–H functionalization and 5-endo-dig carbocyclization

The concise synthesis of functionalized indene derivatives via the gold(i)-catalysed cascade C–H functionalization/conia-ene type reaction of electron-rich aromatics with o-alkynylaryl α-diazoesters has been developed.

Reversed reactivity of anilines with alkynes in the rhodium-catalysed C-H activation/carbonylation tandem

Development of multicatalytic approach consisting of two or more mechanistically distinct catalytic steps using a single-site catalyst for rapid and straightforward access of structurally complex molecules under eco-benign conditions has significance in contemporary science. We have developed herein a rhodium-catalysed C-H activation strategy which uses an unprotected anilines and an electron-deficient alkynes to C-C bonded products as a potential intermediate in contrast to the archetypical C-N bonded products with high levels of regioselectivity. This is followed by carbonylation of C-H bond activated intermediate and subsequent annulation into quinolines has been described. This rhodium-catalysed auto-tandem reaction operates under mild, environmentally benign conditions using water as the solvent and CO surrogates as the carbonyl source with the concomitant generation of hydrogen gas. The strategy may facilitate the development of new synthetic protocols for the efficient and sustainable production of chemicals in an atom-economic way from simple, abundant starting materials.

Palladium-Catalyzed One-Pot Reaction of Hydrazones, Dihaloarenes, and Organoboron Reagents: Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activity of 1,1-Diarylethylene Derivatives

A new three-component assembly reaction between N-tosylhydrazones, dihalogenated arenes, and boronic acids or boronate esters was developed, producing highly substituted 1,1-diarylethylenes in good yields. The two C-C bonds formed through this coupling have been catalyzed by a single Pd-catalyst in a one-pot fashion. It is noted that the one-pot pinacol boronate cross-coupling reaction generally provides products in high yields, offers an expansive substrate scope, and can address a broad range of aryl, styrene, vinyl, and heterocyclic olefinic targets. The scope of this one-pot coupling has been also extended to the synthesis of the 1,1-diarylethylene skeleton of the natural product ratanhine. The new compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity, and this allowed the identification of compound 4ab that exhibits excellent antiproliferative activity in the nanomolar concentration range against HCT116 cancer cell lines.

Palladium-catalyzed C-H functionalization of acyldiazomethane and tandem cross-coupling reactions

Palladium-catalyzed C-H functionalization of acyldiazomethanes with aryl iodides has been developed. This reaction is featured by the retention of the diazo functionality in the transformation, thus constituting a novel method for the introduction of diazo functionality to organic molecules. Consistent with the experimental results, the density functional theory (DFT) calculation indicates that the formation of Pd-carbene species in the catalytic cycle through dinitrogen extrusion from the palladium ethyl diazoacetate (Pd-EDA) complex is less favorable. The reaction instead proceeds through Ag2CO3 assisted deprotonation and subsequently reductive elimination to afford the products with diazo functionality remained. This C-H functionalization transformation can be further combined with the recently evolved palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of diazo compounds with aryl iodides to develop a tandem coupling process for the synthesis of α,α-diaryl esters. DFT calculation supports the involvement of Pd-carbene as reactive intermediate in the catalytic cycle, which goes through facile carbene migratory insertion with a low energy barrier (3.8 kcal/mol).

Alkyne hydroacylation: switching regioselectivity by tandem ruthenium catalysis

By using tandem Ru-catalysis, internal alkynes can be coupled with aldehydes for the synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated ketones. The catalyst promotes alkyne transformations with high regioselectivity, with examples that include the differentiation of a methyl vs ethyl substituent on the alkyne. Mechanistic studies suggest that the regioselectivity results from a selective allene formation that is governed by allylic strain.

Experimental and theoretical mechanistic investigation of the iridium-catalyzed dehydrogenative decarbonylation of primary alcohols

The mechanism for the iridium-BINAP catalyzed dehydrogenative decarbonylation of primary alcohols with the liberation of molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide was studied experimentally and computationally. The reaction takes place by tandem catalysis through two catalytic cycles involving dehydrogenation of the alcohol and decarbonylation of the resulting aldehyde. The square planar complex IrCl(CO)(rac-BINAP) was isolated from the reaction between [Ir(cod)Cl]2, rac-BINAP, and benzyl alcohol. The complex was catalytically active and applied in the study of the individual steps in the catalytic cycles. One carbon monoxide ligand was shown to remain coordinated to iridium throughout the reaction, and release of carbon monoxide was suggested to occur from a dicarbonyl complex. IrH2Cl(CO)(rac-BINAP) was also synthesized and detected in the dehydrogenation of benzyl alcohol. In the same experiment, IrHCl2(CO)(rac-BINAP) was detected from the release of HCl in the dehydrogenation and subsequent reaction with IrCl(CO)(rac-BINAP). This indicated a substitution of chloride with the alcohol to form a square planar iridium alkoxo complex that could undergo a β-hydride elimination. A KIE of 1.0 was determined for the decarbonylation and 1.42 for the overall reaction. Electron rich benzyl alcohols were converted faster than electron poor alcohols, but no electronic effect was found when comparing aldehydes of different electronic character. The lack of electronic and kinetic isotope effects implies a rate-determining phosphine dissociation for the decarbonylation of aldehydes.

Supported gold–palladium alloy nanoparticle catalyzed tandem oxidation routes to N-substituted anilines from non-aromatic compounds

In the presence of a supported gold–palladium alloy nanoparticle catalyst (Au–Pd/Al₂O₃), various kinds of N-substituted anilines can be synthesized from non-aromatic compounds.

Palladium-Catalyzed Anti-Markovnikov Oxidation of Allylic Amides to Protected β-Amino Aldehydes

A general method for the preparation of N-protected β-amino aldehydes from allylic amines or linear allylic alcohols is described. Here the Pd(II)-catalyzed oxidation of N-protected allylic amines with benzoquinone is achieved in tBuOH under ambient conditions with excellent selectivity toward the anti-Markovnikov aldehyde products and full retention of configuration at the allylic carbon. The method shows a wide substrate scope and is tolerant of a range of protecting groups. Furthermore, β-amino aldehydes can be obtained directly from protected allylic alcohols via palladium-catalyzed autotandem reactions, and the application of this method to the synthesis of β-peptide aldehydes is described. From a mechanistic perspective, we demonstrate that tBuOH acts as a nucleophile in the reaction and that the initially formed tert-butyl ether undergoes spontaneous loss of isobutene to yield the aldehyde product. Furthermore, tBuOH can be used stoichiometrically, thereby broadening the solvent scope of the reaction. Primary and secondary alcohols do not undergo elimination, allowing the isolation of acetals, which subsequently can be hydrolyzed to their corresponding aldehyde products.

A facile one pot strategy for the synthesis of well-defined polyacrylates from acrylic acid via RAFT polymerization

Linear and hyperbranched polyacrylates were successfully synthesized by the combination of in situ esterification of acrylic acid with halogenated compounds promoted by 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (TMG) and RAFT polymerization.