Room-temperature alkyl-alkyl Suzuki cross-coupling of alkyl bromides that possess beta hydrogens

A concise and modular synthesis of pyranicin

A modular, 13-step synthesis of the tetrahydropyran-containing annonaceous acetogenin pyranicin is reported. Key features are the use of an Achmatowicz oxidation-Kishi reduction sequence for the assembly of a pyranone from a furan and the application of Fu's alkyl-alkyl Suzuki coupling for subunit union.

Asymmetric synthesis of naturally occurring spiroketals

Spiroketals are widely found as substructures of many naturally occurring compounds from diverse sources including plants, animals as well as microbes. Naturally occurring spiroketals are biologically active and most of them are chiral molecules. This article aims at reviewing the asymmetric synthesis of biologically active spiroketals for last 10 years (1998-2007).

Ligand redox effects in the synthesis, electronic structure, and reactivity of an alkyl-alkyl cross-coupling catalyst

The ability of the terpyridine ligand to stabilize alkyl complexes of nickel has been central in obtaining a fundamental understanding of the key processes involved in alkyl-alkyl cross-coupling reactions. Here, mechanistic studies using isotopically labeled (TMEDA)NiMe(2) (TMEDA = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) have shown that an important catalyst in alkyl-alkyl cross-coupling reactions, (tpy')NiMe (2b, tpy' = 4,4',4' '-tri-tert-butylterpyridine), is not produced via a mechanism that involves the formation of methyl radicals. Instead, it is proposed that (terpyridine)NiMe complexes arise via a comproportionation reaction between a Ni(II)-dimethyl species and a Ni(0) fragment in solution upon addition of a terpyridine ligand to (TMEDA)NiMe(2). EPR and DFT studies on the paramagnetic (terpyridine)NiMe (2a) both suggest that the unpaired electron resides heavily on the terpyridine ligand and that the proper electronic description of this nickel complex is a Ni(II)-methyl cation bound to a reduced terpyridine ligand. Thus, an important consequence of these results is that alkyl halide reduction by (terpyridine)NiR(alkyl) complexes appears to be substantially ligand based. A comprehensive survey investigating the catalytic reactivity of related ligand derivatives suggests that electronic factors only moderately influence reactivity in the terpyridine-based catalysis and that the most dramatic effects arise from steric and solubility factors.

Palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura reaction involving a secondary sp3 carbon: studies of stereochemistry and scope of the reaction

Palladium-catalyzed C--C bond formation involving secondary sp3-hybridized carbon is described. These reactions occur with secondary 1-bromoethyl arylsulfoxides and different arylboronic acids, to produce the corresponding arylated sulfoxides in moderate to high yields and with complete stereospecificity. Despite the presence of beta hydrogens in the substrate, the competitive beta-hydride elimination is not a significant side reaction when coordinating solvents are used. The reported cross-coupling involves secondary C(sp3)--C(sp2) bond formation: this is the first time that a mechanistic study has been carried out with such substrates. The reaction proceeds with inversion of configuration at the stereogenic C(sp3) carbon. The high stereospecificity of the coupling and the mildness of the reaction conditions allow for the preservation of the optical purities of reagents and products and the preparation of useful chiral targets.

Palladium(0)-catalyzed suzuki-miyaura cross-coupling reactions of potassium aryl- and heteroaryltrifluoroborates with alkenyl bromides

Efficient palladium(0)-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings are described. The reactions involving potassium aryl- and heteroaryltrifluoroborates with alkenyl bromides can generally be carried out using < or =2 mol % of palladium catalyst and 3 equiv of base in toluene/H2O. When stereodefined alkenyl bromides are employed, the resulting styrene derivatives are accessed stereospecifically. A variety of functional groups are tolerated in both coupling partners.

A Cyclopropanol-Based Strategy for Subunit Coupling: Total Synthesis of (+)-Spirolaxine Methyl Ether

A strategy for ketone synthesis with cyclopropanols as intermediates and its application to (+)-spirolaxine methyl ether is described. The synthesis also features an application of Fu's alkyl-alkyl Suzuki coupling.

9-fluorenylphosphines for the Pd-catalyzed sonogashira, suzuki, and Buchwald-Hartwig coupling reactions in organic solvents and water

The lithiation/alkylation of fluorene leads to various 9-alkyl-fluorenes (alkyl=Me, Et, iPr, -Pr, -C18H25) in>95% yields, for which lithiation and reaction with R2PCl (R=Cy, iPr, tBu) generates 9-alkyl, 9-PR2-fluorenes which constitute electron-rich and bulky phosphine ligands. The in-situ-formed palladium-phosphine complexes ([Na2PdCl4], phosphonium salt, base, substrates) were tested in the Sonogashira, Suzuki, and Buchwald-Hartwig reactions of aryl chlorides and aryl bromides in organic solvents. The Sonogashira coupling of aryl chlorides at 100-120 degrees C leads to>90% yields with 1 mol% of Pd catalyst. The Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides typically requires 0.05 mol% of Pd catalyst at 100 degrees C in dioxane for quantitative product formation. To carry out "green" cross-coupling reactions in water, 9-ethylfluorenyldicyclohexylphosphine was reacted in sulphuric acid to generate the respective 2-sulfonated phosphonium salt. The Suzuki coupling of activated aryl chlorides by using this water-soluble catalyst requires only 0.01 mol% of Pd catalyst, while a wide range of aryl chlorides can be quantitatively converted into the respective coupling products by using 0.1-0.5 mol% of catalyst in pure water at 100 degrees C. Difficult substrate combinations, such as naphthylboronic acid or 3-pyridylboronic acid and aryl chlorides are coupled at 100 degrees C by using 0.1-0.5 mol% of catalyst in pure water to obtain the respective N-heterocycles in quantitative yields. The copper-free aqueous Sonogashira coupling of aryl bromides generates the respective tolane derivatives in>95% yield.

Studies toward the Total Synthesis of Sorangiolides and Their Analogues. A Convergent Stereoselective Synthesis of the Macrocyclic Lactone Precursors

Stereoselective synthesis of the fully protected 18-membered macrocyclic lactones as the immediate precursors of the natural products, sorangiolides A and B, is described. The key steps used in the synthesis include the sp3-hybridized carbon-carbon Fu cross coupling, the stereoselective Evans' aldol reaction with 1,5-anti induction, the 1,3-diastereoselective syn reduction of a beta-hydroxyketone intermediate, and Mukaiyama macrolactonization reactions.

Highly Efficient Monophosphine-Based Catalyst for the Palladium-Catalyzed Suzuki−Miyaura Reaction of Heteroaryl Halides and Heteroaryl Boronic Acids and Esters

A highly active and efficient catalyst system derived from a palladium precatalyst and monophosphine ligands 1 or 2 for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of heteroaryl boronic acids and esters has been developed. This method allows for the preparation of a wide variety of heterobiaryls in good to excellent yields and displays a high level of activity for the coupling of heteroaryl chlorides as well as hindered aryl and heteroaryl halides. Specific factors that govern the efficacy of the transformation for certain heterocyclic motifs were also investigated.

Preparation and wittig reactions of organotrifluoroborato phosphonium ylides

[reaction: see text] Potassium [(trifluoroboratophenyl)methyl]triphenylphosphonium chlorides have been prepared from the corresponding benzyl chlorides and PPh3. In the presence of 1.2 equiv of K2CO3 and various aldehydes, these mixed salts are easily converted to the corresponding unsaturated organotrifluoroborates via the intermediate phosphorus ylides. A protocol for a one-pot transformation has also been developed.

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alkenyl bromides with potassium alkyltrifluoroborates

The Suzuki-Miyaura-type cross-coupling reaction of potassium alkyltrifluoroborates with various alkenyl bromides in the presence of 10 mol % of PdCl(2)(dppf)·CH(2)Cl(2) and 3.0 equiv of Cs(2)CO(3) in aqueous toluene at 80 °C provided the desired compounds in 49-95% yields. A variety of functional groups in the potassium alkyltrifluoroborates were tolerated under the basic conditions.

Synthesis and reactivity of alkylpalladium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

The transamination of alkyl-palladium halide N-heterocyclic carbene complexes has enabled the isolation of products that reveal interesting insights into the factors which might be barriers to the development of a palladium-catalysed alkyl-amination reaction.

Facile Synthesis of Highly Congested 1,2-Diphosphinobenzenes from Bis(phosphine)boronium Salts

[Structure: see text] Bis(phosphine)boronium salts 3a-c were designed and prepared as key building blocks for the synthesis of highly congested diphosphinobenzenes. The preparation of sterically hindered ortho-phenylene-bridged diphosphines 1a-c was achieved by the reaction of the bis(phosphine)boronium salts 3a-c with difluorobenzenechromium complex 2 and subsequent removal of the BH2 group. The steric nature of diphosphine 1a was revealed in single-crystal X-ray analysis of its Rh complex.

Oxidative Cross-Coupling through Double Transmetallation: Surprisingly High Selectivity for Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Alkylzinc and Alkynylstannanes

Two different organometallic reagents now can cross-couple together with the oxidative cross-coupling strategy. Palladium catalyzed oxidative cross-couplings of alkylzinc and alkynylstannane reagents using desyl chloride as the oxidant have been explored, which produce the desired Csp-Csp3 cross-coupling product in surprisingly high selectivity and yields. The current catalytic system tolerates the presence of beta-H, and the reactions using long chain alkyl zinc reagents gave the cross-coupling product in excellent yields and selectivities.

A User-Friendly, All-Purpose Pd–NHC (NHC=N-Heterocyclic Carbene) Precatalyst for the Negishi Reaction: A Step Towards a Universal Cross-Coupling Catalyst

We have developed the first user-friendly Negishi protocol capable of routinely cross-coupling all combinations of alkyl and aryl centers. The use of an easily synthesized, air stable, highly active, well-defined precatalyst PEPPSI-IPr (1; PEPPSI=pyridine-enhanced precatalyst preparation, stabilization and initiation; IPr=diisopropylphenylimidazolium derivative) substantially increases the scope, reliability, and ease-of-use of the Negishi reaction. All organohalides and routinely used pseudohalides were excellent coupling partners, with the use of chlorides, bromides, iodides, triflates, tosylates, and mesylates resulting in high yield of the coupled product. Furthermore, all reactions were performed by using general laboratory techniques, with no glove-box necessary as the precatalyst was weighed and stored in air. Utilization of this methodology allowed for the easy synthesis of an assortment of sterically encumbered biaryls and druglike heteroaromatics, demonstrating the value of the PEPPSI-IPr system. Furthermore, this is also the first time Pd-NHC (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) methodology has surpassed the related phosphine-ligated Negishi processes both in activity and use.

Triazole-Based Monophosphine Ligands for Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions of Aryl Chlorides

A variety of triazole-based monophosphines (ClickPhos) have been prepared via efficient 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of readily available azides and acetylenes. Their palladium complexes provided excellent yields in the amination reactions and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions of unactivated aryl chlorides. Ligand 7i, which has a 2,6-dimethoxybenzene moiety, provided good results in Suzuki-Miyaura reaction to form hindered biaryls. A CAChe model for the Pd/7i complex shows that the likelihood of a Pd-arene interaction might be a rationale for its high catalytic reactivity.

Changes in Coordination of Sterically Demanding Hybrid Imidazolylphosphine Ligands on Pd(0) and Pd(II)

Low-coordinate organometallic complexes are important in structure and catalysis, and hemilability or secondary interactions such as hydrogen bonding enabled by hybrid ligands are receiving increasing attention. To study the factors controlling these phenomena, three new imidazol-2-ylphosphine ligands, L, were made. In these ligands, the bulk around P and the hindrance at the basic and potentially coordinating imidazole N-3 were varied. Remarkably, L(2)Pd(0) complexes 3a-c were shown to be two-coordinate, 12-electron species, despite the availability of imidazole N-3 to enter into eta(2)-P,N chelation. In oxidative additions of C-X bonds to the Pd(0) complexes, reaction rates and products could be controlled by the nature of the C and X groups and the R groups on the phosphine. Most significantly, whereas 4c-PhI and 4c-MeOTf from 3c are normal trans-bis(phosphine)Pd(R)(X) species, 5a-PhI, 5a-PhBr, and 5b-PhI from 3a and 3b were shown by X-ray diffraction to be a monomeric species with a single eta(2)-P,N-chelating phosphine. From 3a and methyl triflate, an ionic complex [6a-Me](+)[OTf](-) with one chelating and one nonchelating phosphine was formed, with temperature-dependent windshield-wiper exchange of the two, showing hemilability. Thus, large phosphine substituents (R = tert-butyl rather than isopropyl) favor chelation. The chelate Pd-imidazole N-3 bond is longer when the heterocyclic nitrogen is hindered by an adjacent tert-butyl group at C-4 (comparing 5a-PhI and 5b-PhI). Finally, whereas in [8b-Ph](+)[OTf](-) from 5b-PhI and isopropylamine, the amine coordinates without chelate opening or hydrogen bonding, in [10c-Me](+)[OTf](-) made from 4c-MeOTf and isopropylamine, the amine is not only coordinated at N but also donates a hydrogen bond to each phosphine imidazol-2-yl substituent.