Rare-earth metal triflates in organic synthesis

Functionalized Cyclopentanes via Sc(III)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Enolate Alkylation

We report herein the intramolecular α-tert-alkylation of unsaturated β-ketoesters which gives rise to highly functionalized cyclopentanes. This strategy is characterized by its operational simplicity, mild reaction conditions and the use of scandium(III) triflate as a Lewis acid catalyst. Of interest, cyclopentanes bearing heterocycles, sites for post reaction functionalization and spirocyclic architectures are accessible with this strategy.

Lanthanide-Coordinated Black Phosphorus

Black phosphorus (BP) possesses unique physical properties and, owing to its intrinsic instability, the proper surface and chemical coordination is the key point in many applications. Herein, a facile and efficient surface lanthanide-coordination strategy based on lanthanide (Ln) sulfonate complexes is designed to passivate and functionalize different BP-based nanostructures including quantum dots, nanosheets, and microflakes. By means of Ln-P coordination, the lone-pair electrons of phosphorus are occupied, thus preventing oxidation of BP, and the LnL3 @BP exhibits excellent stability in both air and water. Furthermore, accompanied by the original photothermal performance of BP nanostructures, the Gd-coordinated BP has high R1 relativities in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and other Ln (Tb, Eu, and Nd) coordinated BP structures exhibit fluorescence spanning the visible to near-infrared regions. Not only is LnL3 surface passivation an efficient method to enhance the stability of BP, but also the MR or fluorescence derived from lanthanide ions extends the application of BP to optoelectronics and biomedical engineering.

2,3-Dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one as a privileged scaffold in drug design

2,3-Dihydroquinazolin-4-one (DHQ) belongs to the class of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds representing a core structural component in various biologically active compounds. In the past decades, several methodologies have been developed for the synthesis of the DHQ framework, especially the 2-substituted derivatives. Unfortunately, multistep syntheses, harsh reaction conditions, and the use of toxic reagents and solvents have limited their full potential as a versatile fragment. Recently, use of green chemistry and alternative strategies are being explored to prepare diverse DHQ derivatives. This fragment is used as a synthon for the preparation of biologically active quinazolinones and as a functional substrate for the synthesis of modified DHQ derivatives exhibiting different biological properties. In this review, we provide a comprehensive assessment of the synthesis and biological evaluations of DHQ derivatives.

Dinuclear neodymium and lanthanum bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) phosphate complexes bearing a hydroxide ligand: catalytic activity of the Nd complex in 1,3-diene polymerization

The reactions of K[(2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃-O)₂POO] either with LaCl₃(H₂O)₇ or with Nd(NO₃)₃(H₂O)₆ in a 3:1 molar ratio, followed by vacuum drying and recrystallization from alkanes, have led to the formation of diaquapentakis[bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) phosphato]-μ-hydroxido-dilanthanum hexane disolvate, [La₂(C₂₄H₃₄O₄P)₅(OH)(H₂O)₂]·2C₆H₁₄, (1)·2(hexane), and tetraaquatetrakis[bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) phosphato]-μ-hydroxido-dineodymium bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) phosphate heptane disolvate, [Nd₂(C₂₄H₃₄O₄P)₄(OH)(H₂O)₄]·2C₆H₁₄, (2)·2(heptane). The compounds crystalize in the P2₁/n and P-1 space groups, respectively. The diaryl-substituted organophosphate ligand exhibits three different coordination modes, viz. κ²O,O'-terminal [in (1) and (2)], κO-terminal [in (1)] and μ₂-κ¹O:κ¹O'-bridging [in (1) and (2)]. Binuclear structures (1) and (2) are similar and have the same unique Ln₂(μ-OH)(μ-OPO)₂ core. The structure of (2) consists of an [Nd₂{(2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃-O)₂POO}₄(OH)(H₂O)₄]⁺ cation and a [(2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃-O)₂POO]^- anion, which are bound via four intermolecular O-H...O hydrogen bonds. The molecular structure of (1) displays two O-H...O hydrogen bonds between OH/H₂O ligands and a κ¹O-terminal organophosphate ligand, which resembles, to some extent, the `free' [(2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃-O)₂POO]^- anion in (2). NMR studies have shown that the formation of (1) undoubtedly occurs due to intramolecular hydrolysis during vacuum drying of the aqueous La tris(phosphate) complex. Catalytic experiments have demonstrated that the presence of the coordinated hydroxide anion and water molecules in precatalyst (2) substantially lowered the catalytic activity of the system prepared from (2) in butadiene and isoprene polymerization compared to the catalytic system based on the neodymium tris[bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) phosphate] complex, which contains neither OH nor H₂O ligands.

Isomorphous rare-earth tris[bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) phosphate] complexes and their catalytic properties in 1,3-diene polymerization and in the inhibited oxidation of polydimethylsiloxane

Crystals of mononuclear tris[bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) phosphato-κO]pentakis(methanol-κO)lanthanide methanol monosolvates of lanthanum, [La(C₂₄H₃₄O₄P)₃(CH₃OH)₅]·CH₃OH, (1), cerium, [Ce(C₂₄H₃₄O₄P)₃(CH₃OH)₅]·CH₃OH, (2), and neodymium, [Nd(C₂₄H₃₄O₄P)₃(CH₃OH)₅]·CH₃OH, (3), have been obtained by reactions between LnCl₃(H₂O)_n (n = 6 or 7) and lithium bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) phosphate in a 1:3 molar ratio in methanol media. Compounds (1)-(3) crystallize in the monoclinic P2₁/c space group and have isomorphous crystal structures. All three bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) phosphate ligands display a κO-monodentate coordination mode. The coordination number of the metal atom is 8. Each [Ln{O₂P(O-2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)₂}₃(CH₃OH)₅] molecular unit exhibits four intramolecular O-H...O hydrogen bonds, forming six-membered rings. The unit forms two intermolecular O-H...O hydrogen bonds with one noncoordinating methanol molecule. All six hydroxy H atoms are involved in hydrogen bonding within the [Ln{O₂P(O-2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)₂}₃(CH₃OH)₅]·CH₃OH unit. This, along with the high steric hindrance induced by the three bulky diaryl phosphate ligands, prevents the formation of a hydrogen-bond network. Complexes (1)-(3) exhibit disorder of two of the isopropyl groups of the phosphate ligands. The cerium compound (2) demonstrates an essential catalytic inhibition in the thermal decomposition of polydimethylsiloxane in air at 573 K. Catalytic systems based on the neodymium complex tris[bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) phosphato-κO]neodymium, (3'), which was obtained as a dry powder of (3) upon removal of methanol, display a high catalytic activity in isoprene and butadiene polymerization.

From Conventional Lewis Acids to Heterogeneous Montmorillonite K10: Eco-Friendly Plant-Based Catalysts Used as Green Lewis Acids

The concept of green chemistry began in the USA in the 1990s. Since the publication of the 12 principles of this concept, many reactions in organic chemistry have been developed, and chemical products have been synthesized under environmentally friendly conditions. Lewis acid mediated synthetic transformations are by far the most numerous and best studied. However, the use of certain Lewis acids may cause risks to environmental and human health. This Review discusses the evolution of Lewis acid catalyzed reactions from a homogeneous liquid phase to the solid phase to yield the expected organic molecules under green, safe conditions. In particular, recent developments and applications of biosourced catalysts from plants are highlighted.

Synthesis and Application of the Transition Metal Complexes of α-Pyridinyl Alcohols, α-Bipyridinyl Alcohols, α,α'-Pyridinyl Diols and α,α'-Bipyridinyl Diols in Homogeneous Catalysis

The paper presents a comprehensive survey on the synthetic procedures of transition metal complexes of α-pyridinyl alcoholato, α-bipyridinyl alcoholato, α,α'-pyridinyl dialcoholato and α,α'-bipyridinyl dialcoholato ligands and their coordination chemistry. Greater emphasis is, however, given to the catalytic activity of the complexes in homogeneous and asymmetric chemical reactions. The multidentate character of the pyridinyl alcohols and/or bipyridinyl diols is of great importance in the complexation with a large number and type of transition metals. The transition metal complexes of pyridinyl alcoholato or bipyridinyl dialcoholato ligands in most cases, and a few pyridinyl alcohols alone, were used as catalysts in homogeneous and chemical asymmetric reactions. In most of the homogeneously catalysed enantioselective chemical reactions, limited numbers and types of pyridinyl alcohols and or bipyridinyl diols were used in the preparation of chiral catalysts that led to a few investigations on the catalytic importance of the pyridinyl alcohols.

Crystal structure and catalytic activity of tetra-kis-(μ2-ethyl 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenyl phos-phato-κ2O:O')bis-(ethyl 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenyl phosphato-κ2O,O')dilutetium n-heptane disolvate

The title complex, [Lu2(C17H28O4P)6]·2C7H16, was formed in the reaction between potassium 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenyl ethyl phosphate, [K(2,6- t Bu2-4-MeC6H2-O)(EtO)PO2], and LuCl3(H2O)6 in water, followed by vacuum drying and recrystallization from heptane. Its crystal structure has triclinic (P [Formula: see text]) symmetry at 120 K. The lutetium tris-(phosphate) complex has a binuclear [Lu2(μ-OPO)4] core and the organophosphate ligand exhibits κ2O,O' terminal and μ2-κ1O:κ1O' bridging coordination modes with the LuIII ion being sixfold coordinated. The complex is of inter-est as a precatalyst in the acrylo-nitrile polymerization process and displays good catalytic activity under mild conditions.

Synthesis of Polyheterocyclic Pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridin-5-ones via a One-Pot (Ugi-3CR/aza Diels-Alder/N-acylation/aromatization/SN2) Process. A Suitable Alternative towards Novel Aza-Analogues of Falipamil

We describe the one-pot synthesis of twenty polyheterocyclic pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridin-5-ones via a cascade process (Ugi-3CR/aza Diels-Alder/N-acylation/aromatization) in 20 to 95% overall yields, as well as four pharmacologically promising analogues via an improved cascade process (Ugi-3CR/aza Diels-Alder/N-acylation/aromatization/SN2): two piperazine-linked pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridin-5-ones in 33 and 34%, and a couple of Falipamil aza-analogues in 30 and 35% overall yields. It is worth highlighting the good substrate scope found, because final products are furnished with alkyl, aryl, and heterocyclic substituents. The use of chain-ring tautomerizable isocyanides (as key reagents for the Ugi-type three component reaction) allowed for a rapid and efficient assembly of the polysubstituted oxindoles, which were used in situ toward the complex products, conferring features like robustness, sustainability, and the one-pot approach to this synthetic methodology.

Brønsted Acid-Mediated Domino One-Pot Dual C-C Bond Formation: Chemoselective Synthesis of Fused Tricyclic Ketones

A chemoselective synthesis of fused novel tricyclic motifs via a facile domino intramolecular cyclization is presented. The strategy enables the formation of dual C-C bond via intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation followed by acylation to accomplish fused tricyclic ketones. Significantly, these fused tricyclic compounds are ubiquitous and constitute major structural cores of natural products.

Angelica Lactones: From Biomass-Derived Platform Chemicals to Value-Added Products

The upgrading of biomass-derived compounds has arisen in recent years as a very promising research field in both academia and industry. In this sense, a lot of new processes and products have been developed, often involving levulinic acid as a starting material or intermediate. In the last few years, though, other scaffolds have been receiving growing attention, especially, angelica lactones. Considering these facts and the emergent applications of said molecules, in this review we will discuss their preparation and applications; the use of these frameworks as starting materials in organic synthesis to produce potential bioactive compounds will be covered, as will their use as a foundation to highly regarded compounds such as liquid alkanes with prospective use as fuels and polymers.

Water-tolerant solid Lewis-acid sites: Baeyer–Villiger oxidation with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of gallium-based silica catalysts

Highly effective and recyclable gallium-based silica catalysts for Baeyer–Villiger oxidation with hydrogen peroxide were developed.

Photoredox catalysed synthesis of amino alcohol

A mild and efficient one-pot visible light-induced method has been developed for the synthesis of amino alcohols.

Scandium as a pre-catalyst for the deoxygenative allylation of benzylic alcohols

Scandium triflate is an effective pre-catalyst for the deoxygenative allylation of benzylic and benzyhydryl alcohols.

Synthesis of glycerol carbonate over a 2D coordination polymer built with Nd3+ions and organic ligands

The production of glycerol carbonate from glycerol and urea using a 2D coordination polymer as the heterogeneous catalyst.

Highly efficient hydroboration of carbonyl compounds catalyzed by tris(methylcyclopentadienyl)lanthanide complexes

(MeCp)₃Ln complexes are reported as highly efficient catalysts in promoting hydroboration and a plausible stepwise mechanism is proposed.

Stereocontrolled glycoside synthesis by activation of glycosyl sulfone donors with scandium(iii) triflate

Activation of armed glycosyl sulfone donors, using scandium(iii) triflate under microwave irradiation, provides a selective preparation of α-mannosides.

Dimethyl carbonate as a non-innocent benign solvent for the multistep continuous flow synthesis of amino alcohols

An efficient methodology for the production and resolution of amino alcohols with a low environmental impact has been developed.

Reaction pathways at the initial steps of trioxane polymerisation

Cleavage and (re)formation of oxymethylene moieties are essential steps during the build-up of polyoxymethylene (POM), a technically relevant high-performance polymer.

Ce(iii)-Containing tungstotellurate(vi) with a sandwich structure: an efficient Lewis acid–base catalyst for the condensation cyclization of 1,3-diketones with hydrazines/hydrazides or diamines

A new Ce³⁺ modified Dawson-like polyoxometalate cluster was synthesized, which showed good Lewis acid and Lewis base activities in the condensation reaction.

Eosin Y–Yb(OTf)3 catalyzed visible light mediated electrocyclization/indole ring opening towards the synthesis of heterobiaryl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines

Synthesis of heterobiaryl-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines via Lewis acid and visible light photo-catalysis at room temperature.

Catalytic enantioselective aldol reactions

Recent developments in catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions have been summarized.

Yb(OTf)3-Catalyzed Desymmetrization of myo-Inositol 1,3,5-Orthoformate and Its Application in the Synthesis of Chiral Inositol Phosphates

A variety of inositol phosphates including myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, which is a secondary messenger in transmembrane signaling, were selectively synthesized via Yb(OTf)₃-catalyzed desymmetrization of myo-inositol 1,3,5-orthoformate using a proline-based chiral anhydride as an acylation precursor. The investigated catalytic system could regioselectively differentiate the enantiotopic hydroxy groups of myo-inositol 1,3,5-orthoformate in the presence of a chiral auxiliary. This key step to generate a suitably protected chiral myo-inositol derivatives is described here as a unified approach to access inositol phosphates.

Asymmetric Cycloaddition and Cyclization Reactions Catalyzed by Chiral N,N'-Dioxide-Metal Complexes

Catalytic asymmetric cycloadditions and cascade cyclizations are a major focus for the enantioselective construction of chiral carbo- and heterocycles. A number of chiral Lewis acids and organocatalysts have been designed for such reactions. The development of broadly applicable catalysts bearing novel chiral backbones to meet the demands of various applications is an ongoing challenge. Approximately 10 years ago, we introduced a group of conformationally flexible C₂-symmetric N,N'-dioxide amide compounds, which represent a new class of privileged ligands. The coordination of the four oxygens of a chiral N,N'-dioxide around a central metal generates an octahedral tricyclometalated Lewis acid catalyst that can carry out various enantioselective reactions. In this Account, we summarize our recent studies on asymmetric cycloadditions between various dienophiles and dienes, dipoles and dipolarophiles, and cascade cyclizations catalyzed by chiral N,N'-dioxide-metal complexes. In principle, these unique chiral catalysts lower the LUMO energy of electron-deficient 2π components or heterodienes by coordination with the functional groups via various binding modes. With N-Boc-3-alkenyloxindole and alkylidene malonate as the electron-deficient 2π components, N,N'-dioxide-metal complexes provided excellent catalytic activities and asymmetric inductions for a variety of transformations, including [2 + 1], [3 + 2], [4 + 2], and [8 + 2] cycloadditions. Mechanistically, these substrates could be efficiently activated through bidentate coordination. The strategy was also useful for asymmetric cascade cyclizations to form polycyclic adducts. Monodentate or bidentate coordination of other α,β-unsubstituted carbonyl compounds to metal centers enabled both normal Diels-Alder reactions and inverse-electron-demand hetero-Diels-Alder reactions as well as [2 + 2] additions. Furthermore, hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of aldehydes, ketones, and imines are well-tolerated and afford various heterocycles. This includes allowing the concise synthesis of the antimalarial compound KAE609. Asymmetric Michael/cyclization reactions of bidentate α,β-unsaturated pyrazolamides gave efficient access to the chiral drugs (-)-paroxetine and (R)-thiazesim. The formal [3 + 2] cycloadditions of donor-acceptor epoxides and aziridines enantioselectively gave a series of five-membered oxo- and aza-heterocycles. The reaction of cyclopropane diketones showed unprecedented reactivities and provided a new route for the synthesis of dihydropyrrole and benzimidazole derivatives. General models for the catalytic reactions emerged from knowledge of the absolute configurations of the products of several reactions and X-ray crystal structures of the catalysts. In the field of chirality created by the coordination of an N,N'-dioxide to a metal center, the bonding of one or two reactants establishes a perfect reaction template for generation of the target adducts. Representative examples have been used to demonstrate how the substructures of the ligands and other reaction components affect the stereoselectivity and how metal salts impact the reactivity. These results reveal the importance of tunability and compatibility of the ligands and metal precursors for achieving high stereoinduction and activity.

De Novo Synthesis of Possible Candidates for the Inagami-Tamura Endogenous Digitalis-like Factor

De novo synthesis of possible candidates for the Inagami-Tamura endogenous digitalis-like factor (EDLF) was achieved to validate a previously proposed structure. Our synthetic approach involves a highly regio- and diastereoselective Mizoroki-Heck reaction and a Friedel-Crafts-type cyclodehydration to construct steroidal tetracycle 14 as a versatile common intermediate leading to seven 2,14β-dihydroxyestradiol analogues 1a-c, 2a-c, and 3 as possible candidates. By comparing the potency of inhibitory activity against Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase between the synthesized candidates and the EDLF, it was found that the proposed structure is not likely to be a true structure of the Inagami-Tamura EDLF.

The Beneficial Sinergy of MW Irradiation and Ionic Liquids in Catalysis of Organic Reactions

The quest for sustainable processes is becoming more and more important, with catalysis playing a major role in improving atom economy and reducing waste. Organic syntheses with less need of protecting/de-protecting steps are highly desirable. The combination of microwave irradiation, as energy source, with ionic liquids, as both solvents and catalysts, offered interesting solutions in recent years. The literature data of the last 15 years concerning selected reactions are presented, highlighting the importance of microwave (MW) technology coupled with ionic liquids.

Vinylation of Aryl Ether (Lignin β-O-4 Linkage) and Epoxides with Calcium Carbide through C-O Bond Cleavage

Calcium carbide has been increasingly used as a sustainable, easy-to-handle, and low-cost feedstock in organic synthesis. Currently, methodologies of using calcium carbide as "solid acetylene" in synthesis are strictly limited to activation and reaction with X-H (X=C, N, O, S) bonds. Herein, a mild and transition-metal-free protocol was developed for the vinylation of epoxides and aryl ether linkage (β-O-4 lignin model compound) with calcium carbide through C-O bond cleavage, forming valuable vinyl ether products. Calcium carbide plays a vital role in the C-O bond activation and cleavage, and in providing acetylide source for the formation of vinylated products. These exciting results may provide new methodologies for organic synthesis and new insights toward lignin- or biomassrelated degradation to useful products.

Synthesis of Benzoquinolizinium Salts by Rh(III)-Catalyzed Cascade Double N-Annulation Reactions of Allylamines, Diarylacetylenes, and HBF4

A new cascade double N-annulation method has been developed for the synthesis of benzoquinolizinium salts. The process takes place between allylamines, internal alkynes, and HBF₄ in the presence of Rh(III)/Cu(II) complexes and leads to formation of multisubstituted benzoquinolizinium salts. Importantly, the resulting benzoquinolizinium salts serve as fluorescent materials whose emission wavelengths can be tuned by selection of appropriate substituents.