First example of N-heterocyclic carbenes as catalysts for living polymerization: organocatalytic ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters

N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Mukaiyama Aldol Reactions

N-Heterocyclic carbenes were shown to be highly effective catalysts to promote Mukaiyama aldol reactions. In the presence of only 0.5 mol % of N-heterocyclic carbene (5), various aldehydes and 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone underwent Mukaiyama aldol reactions in THF with trimethylsilyl ketene acetal (2) at 23 degrees C as well as with trimethylsilyl enol ether (7) at 0 degrees C to afford aldol adducts in good yields. These conditions are extremely mild and operationally simple and tolerate various functional groups. [reaction: see text]

Carbonylation of heterocycles by homogeneous catalysts

This article summarizes the recent developments (particularly the uses of homogeneous organometallic catalysts) in ring-opening carbonylations, ring-opening carbonylative polymerizations and ring-expansion carbonylations of heterocycles such as epoxides, aziridines, lactones and oxazolines.

Organocatalytic Ring Opening Polymerization of Trimethylene Carbonate

A variety of organocatalysts has been surveyed in the ring opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate. Excellent control was found for several of these catalysts yielding well-defined polycarbonates with molecular weights up to 50,000 g mol(-1), polydispersities below 1.08, and high end-group fidelity. Melt or bulk polymerization was accomplished without loss of control of molecular weight or polydispersity, and random ester-carbonate bulk polymerizations were also demonstrated. Furthermore, by combining disparate polymerization techniques using bifunctional initiators, the mild polymerization conditions allow for the preparation of new block copolymers. Hydrogen-bond activation of monomer and initiator/propagating species is proposed as the underlying mechanism, which can be tuned to mitigate adverse side reactions.

Efficient N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed O- to C-Acyl Transfer

[reaction: see text] An N-heterocyclic carbene promotes the rearrangement of alpha-amino acid derived O-acyl carbonates to their corresponding C-acylated isomers, generating a C-C bond and a quaternary stereocenter with high efficiency, under mild reaction conditions and with low catalyst loadings.

Unexpected Ring-Opening Reactions of Aziridines with Aldehydes Catalyzed by Nucleophilic Carbenes under Aerobic Conditions

[reaction: see text] The chemoselective ring opening of N-tosyl aziridines with aldehydes catalyzed by an N-heterocyclic carbene was investigated under aerobic conditions. Unexpected carboxylates of 1,2-amino alcohols from the corresponding aldehydes, rather than the acyl anion ring-opened beta-amino ketones, were exclusively obtained. A plausible mechanism for this unprecedented carbene-mediated reaction was also proposed.

N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed amidation of unactivated esters with amino alcohols

[reaction: see text] A catalytic amidation of unactivated esters with amino alcohols is described. A series of solution studies in addition to the first X-ray structure of a carbene-alcohol complex support a carbene-base nucleophile activation mechanism.

Activation of TMSCN by N-Heterocyclic Carbenes for Facile Cyanosilylation of Carbonyl Compounds

N-Heterocyclic carbenes were found to be highly effective organocatalysts in activating TMSCN for facile cyanosilylation of carbonyl compounds. Cyano transfer from TMSCN to aldehydes and ketones proceeds at room temperature in the presence of only 0.01-0.5 mol % of N-heterocyclic carbene (1), leading to a range of trimethylsilylated cyanohydrins in very good to excellent yields. These conditions are extremely mild and simple and tolerate various functional groups.

Convenient, scalable and flexible method for the preparation of imidazolium salts with previously inaccessible substitution patterns

A high yielding and modular approach to N,N'-disubstituted imidazolium salts is described, providing access to substitution patterns that are beyond the reach of established methodology.

Cyano-Phosphorylation of Aldehydes Catalyzed by a Nucleophilic N-Heterocyclic Carbene

The first method for cyano-phosphorylation of aldehydes with diethyl cyanophosphonate in the presence of N-heterocyclic carbene prepared from 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolium chloride and KOt-Bu, as a nucleophilic catalyst, is described.

Bifunctional yttrium(iii) and titanium(iv) NHC catalysts for lactide polymerisation

Lewis acidic yttrium(III) and titanium(IV) derivatives of anionic, metal-tethered carbenes apparently act as bifunctional catalysts for the polymerisation of D,L-lactide, using a combination of Lewis acid and base functionalities to initiate ring opening of the cyclic monomer; the alcohol- and amino-functionalised carbenes from which they derive provide models for the first insertion step, and also display metal-free polymerisation catalysis to generate polylactic acid.

Synthesis and Small Molecule Reactivity of Uranium(IV) Alkoxide Complexes with both Bound and Pendant N-heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

The syntheses of two tetravalent uranium alkoxide-carbene complexes are reported, [UIL3], and [UL4] where L = OCMe2CH2[1-C(NCHCHNiPr)]. The latter shows dynamic behaviour of the alkoxycarbene ligands in solution at room temperature, and the crystal structure of [UL4] shows that one carbene group remains uncoordinated. The unbound N-heterocyclic carbene group is trapped by a range of reagents such as 16-valence-electron metal carbonyl fragments and BH3 moieties, forming, for example, [UL3(mu-L)W(CO)5], [UL2(mu-L)2Mo(CO)4], and [UL(n)(L-BH3)(4-n)] (n = 1-4), demonstrating the potential for these hemilabile electropositive metal-carbene complexes to participate in the bifunctional activation of small molecules.

Facile Synthesis of Highly Substituted 3-Aminofurans from Thiazolium Salts, Aldehydes, and Dimethyl Acetylenedicarboxylate

[reaction: see text] A facile preparation of 3-aminofuran derivatives via multicomponent reactions of thiazole carbenes, aldehydes, and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) is reported. In this process, the thiazole carbenes, generated in situ from thiazolium salts, reacted with aldehydes and DMAD at -78 to 0 degree C in CH(2)Cl(2) to afford the substituted furans in moderate to good yields. Eight substituted thiazolium salts were employed as carbene precursors in the reaction. Besides aryl aldehydes, alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, aliphatic aldehydes, and arenedial were also investigated and found to be applicable to this reaction.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Trifluoromethylation of Carbonyl Compounds

[reaction: see text]. A novel N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed trifluoromethylation reaction of carbonyl compounds was discovered. Both enolizable and nonenolizable aldehydes and alpha-keto esters undergo facile trifluoromethylation with TMSCF3 at room temperature in the presence of only 0.5-1 mol % of the commercially available NHC (1), providing CF3-substituted alcohols in good yields. Selective trifluoromethylation of aldehydes over ketones can be achieved under NHC catalysis. These conditions are mild and simple and tolerate a variety of functional groups.

Enantioselective Acylation of Secondary Alcohols Catalyzed by Chiral N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

[reaction: see text] The synthetic utility of chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes, which have been used mainly in transition metal-catalyzed reactions as a ligand, was demonstrated by the enantioselective acylation of secondary alcohols.

Synthesis of phosphorus esters by transesterification mediated by N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs)

The versatile nucleophilic organic catalysts N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have been shown to effectively mediate the transesterification of phosphorus esters under mild conditions; user-friendly imidazolium salts can also be employed as pre-catalysts.

Combinatorial chemistry and high-throughput screening for the discovery of organocatalysts

In recent years, interest in organocatalysis, the catalysis with small organic molecules, has been revitalized. Independently, high-throughput-screening and combinatorial chemistry became practical methodologies in the discovery of novel catalytic entities. The logical extension of these methodologies to organocatalysis has led to several interesting results, which are highlighted in this review.

Theoretical Study of Samarium (II) Carbenoid (ISmCH2I) Promoted Cyclopropanation Reactions with Ethylene and the Effect of THF Solvent on the Reaction Pathways

A computational study of the cyclopropanation reactions of divalent samarium carbenoid ISmCH(2)I with ethylene is presented. The reaction proceeds through two competing pathways: methylene transfer and carbometalation. The ISmCH(2)I species was found to have a "samarium carbene complex" character with properties similar to previously investigated lithium carbenoids (LiCH(2)X where X = Cl, Br, I). The ISmCH(2)I carbenoid was found to be noticeably different in structure with more electrophilic character and higher chemical reactivity than the closely related classical Simmons-Smith (IZnCH(2)I) carbenoid. The effect of THF solvent was investigated by explicit coordination of the solvent THF molecules to the Sm (II) center in the carbenoid. The ISmCH(2)I/(THF)(n)() (where n = 0, 1, 2) carbenoid methylene transfer pathway barriers to reaction become systematically lower as more THF solvent is added (from 12.9 to 14.5 kcal/mol for no THF molecules to 8.8 to 10.7 kcal/mol for two THF molecules). In contrast, the reaction barriers for cyclopropanation via the carbometalation pathway remain high (>15 kcal/mol). The computational results are briefly compared to other carbenoid reactions and related species.

In situ generation of carbenes: a general and versatile platform for organocatalytic living polymerization

A metal-free, organocatalytic approach to living polymerization using N-heterocyclic carbenes as nucleophilic catalysts generated and used in situ in a single-pot process is detailed. The N-heterocyclic carbene catalyst platform is extremely versatile, as the nature of the substituents has a pronounced effect of catalyst stability and activity toward different substrates. The generation of imidazolium- and thiazaolium-based carbenes was accomplished from the reaction of the corresponding salts with the appropriate bases. This allowed the rapid screening of libraries of catalysts that provided a basic understanding of catalyst structure (sterics, electronics, etc.) with the polymerization rate, control, substrate, and range of molecular weights. The imidazole-based catalysts were significantly more active toward ROP than the thiazolium-based analogues. No appreciable differences between imidazol-2-ylidene and imidazolin-2-ylidene catalysts were observed. Less sterically demanding carbenes were found to be more active toward ring-opening polymerization (ROP) than their sterically encumbered analogues for lactone polymerization. These data prompted the investigation of ionic liquid as a precatalyst reservoir in a phase-transfer polymerization with an immiscible THF solution of monomer and initiator. In situ activation of the ionic liquid generates carbene that migrates to the organic phase effecting living ROP. Precatalyst (ionic liquid) regeneration terminates polymerization. This simple reaction/recycle protocol readily allows repetitive ROPs from the ionic liquid using commercially available materials.

Unprecedented reactivity of N-heterocyclic carbenes toward DMAD and aldehydes leading to novel multicomponent reactions

A facile synthesis of highly functionalized 2-oxymaleate and furanone derivatives by the multicomponent reaction of 1,3-dimesityl imidazolin-2-ylidene/imidazol-2-ylidene, DMAD, and aldehydes is described.