SnCl2-catalyzed multicomponent coupling: synthesis of 1,3-oxazolidine derivatives using paraformaldehyde as a C1 feedstock

SnCl2 catalyzed the three-component coupling of aniline, epoxide, and paraformaldehyde, resulting in the synthesis of 1,3-oxazolidine derivatives. The reaction is simple and does not require any additives, bases, or oxidants, and proceeds at moderate temperature with good functional group tolerance. The scope of the utilization of paraformaldehyde as the methylene source was further extended to the synthesis of benzothiazole and 4,4'-methylenebis(N,N-dimethylaniline) using the same catalyst. A catalytic pathway was proposed based on the control experiments.

Two-Photon Nanoparticle Probe for Formaldehyde Detection via the AILE Luminescence Mechanism

A two-photon nanoparticle probe was designed and developed based on the principle of intermolecular interaction of the aggregation-induced locally excited emission luminescence mechanism. The probe has the advantages of simple synthesis, convenient use, strong atomic economy, good biocompatibility, and photobleaching resistance. It can produce a specific and sensitive response to formaldehyde, help detect FA in normal cells and cancer cells, and is expected to become a specific detection probe for FA in vitro and in vivo.

Asymmetric Organocatalyzed Transfer Hydroxymethylation of Isoindolinones Using Formaldehyde Surrogates

The piperidine-based Takemoto catalyst has been successfully employed in a novel asymmetric transfer hydroxymethylation of activated isoindolinones, allowing us to prepare the enantioenriched hydroxymethylated adducts in good to excellent yields (48-96%) and enantiopurities (81:19-97:3 e.r.). To increase the reaction rate without compromising the selectivity, carefully optimized formaldehyde surrogates were employed, providing a convenient source of anhydrous formaldehyde with a base-triggered release. The substrate scope, including 34 entries, showed the considerable generality of the asymmetric transformation, and most entries exhibited complete conversions in 24-48 h. A scale-up experiment and multiple enantioselective downstream transformations were also carried out, suggesting the prospective synthetic utility of the products.

Comparison of the properties of phenolic resin synthesized from different aldehydes and evaluation of the release and health risks of VOCs

Different amounts of glyoxal and paraformaldehyde were used to synthesize phenol-glyoxal (PG) and phenol-paraformaldehyde (PPF) resins, which were compared with conventional phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins. Glyoxal oxidation leads to a pH value of 9.83 for PG 2.2. With the addition of polyformaldehyde, PPF 2.2 exhibited the highest viscosity at 17333.33 mPa s. The PPF 2.0 plywood has a maximum bonding strength of 1.94 MPa. The formaldehyde emission of PG 1.8 plywood is found to have a minimum value of 0.025 mg/m3, reaching the ENF limit (≤0.025 mg/m3). Acetaldehyde is found only in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from PG plywood and is associated with increased glyoxal. PPF plywood emitted more aromatic and total VOC (TVOC) than the other two plywood types. The measured TVOC for PPF 2.2 is 196.07 μg/m3. The results showed that the total cancer risk (TCR) values of PPF 1.8, PPF 2.0, and PG 1.8 were above the threshold of 1.00E-4, indicating a definite carcinogenic risk. Acetaldehyde in the PG plywood exceeded the safety threshold for noncarcinogenic risk. The use of paraformaldehyde in the wood-based panel production is been considered a possible means of improving the bonding strength of plywood. Glyoxal has also been shown to be a viable method for lowering the formaldehyde emissions from plywood. The VOC emissions from plywood changed significantly depending on the aldehyde used. Limiting VOCs that present high health hazards is crucial for reducing the negative impact of plywood on both indoor environments and human health.

Drug/Lead Compound Hydroxymethylation as a Simple Approach to Enhance Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetic Properties

Hydroxymethylation is a simple chemical reaction, in which the introduction of the hydroxymethyl group can lead to physical–chemical property changes and offer several therapeutic advantages, contributing to the improved biological activity of drugs. There are many examples in the literature of the pharmaceutical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic benefits, which the hydroxymethyl group can confer to drugs, prodrugs, drug metabolites, and other therapeutic compounds. It is worth noting that this group can enhance the drug’s interaction with the active site, and it can be employed as an intermediary in synthesizing other therapeutic agents. In addition, the hydroxymethyl derivative can result in more active compounds than the parent drug as well as increase the water solubility of poorly soluble drugs. Taking this into consideration, this review aims to discuss different applications of hydroxymethyl derived from biological agents and its influence on the pharmacological effects of drugs, prodrugs, active metabolites, and compounds of natural origin. Finally, we report a successful compound synthesized by our research group and used for the treatment of neglected diseases, which is created from the hydroxymethylation of its parent drug.

Iron-catalyzed [3+2+1] annulation of 2-aminobenzimidazoles/3-aminopyrazoles and aromatic alkynes using N,N-dimethylaminoethanol as one carbon synthon for the synthesis of pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles and pyrimido[1,2-b]indazoles

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles and pyrimido[1,2-b]indazoles from 2-aminobenzimidazoles/3-aminoindazoles, alkynes and N,N-dimethylaminoethanol in a three-component [3+2+1] annulation catalyzed by FeCl3 has been established, where N,N-dimethylaminoethanol...

Difluorocarbene-enabled access to 1,3-oxazin-6-ones from enamides

1,3-Oxazin-6-ones as important structural scaffolds widely exist in many bioactive or therapeutic agents.

Successful CO2 reduction under visible light photocatalysis using porous NiO nanoparticles, an atypical metal oxide

An efficient wet chemical one-pot synthesis strategy for the preparation of NiO nanoparticles has been reported. The nano-structured NiO has surface bound hexamine and it has emerged as a proficient...

NHC-CDI Betaine Adducts and Their Cationic Derivatives as Catalyst Precursors for Dichloromethane Valorization

Zwitterionic adducts of N-heterocyclic carbene and carbodiimide (NHC-CDI) are an emerging class of organic compounds with promising properties for applications in various fields. Herein, we report the use of the ICyCDI(p-Tol) betaine adduct (1a) and its cationic derivatives 2a and 3a as catalyst precursors for the dichloromethane valorization via transformation into high added value products CH₂Z₂ (Z = OR, SR or NR₂). This process implies selective chloride substitution of dichloromethane by a range of nucleophiles Na⁺Z^– (preformed or generated in situ from HZ and an inorganic base) to yield formaldehyde-derived acetals, dithioacetals, or aminals with full selectivity. The reactions are conducted in a multigram-scale under very mild conditions, using dichloromethane both as a reagent and solvent, and very low catalyst loading (0.01 mol %). The CH₂Z₂ derivatives were isolated in quantitative yields after filtration and evaporation, which facilitates recycling the dichloromethane excess. Mechanistic studies for the synthesis of methylal CH₂(OMe)₂ rule out organocatalysis as being responsible for the CH₂ transfer, and a phase-transfer catalysis mechanism is proposed instead. Furthermore, we observed that 1a and 2a react with NaOMe to form unusual isoureate ethers, which are the actual phase-transfer catalysts, with a strong preference for sodium over other alkali metal nucleophiles.

Palladium-catalyzed regioselective direct C–H bond alkoxycarbonylation of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

A palladium catalyzed method for regioselective alkoxycarbonylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines using W(CO)₆, as the CO source, and alcohols has been reported.

New insights into the biphasic “CO-free” Pauson–Khand cyclisation reaction through combined in situ spectroscopy and multiple linear regression modelling

Multiple linear regression modelling is used to analyse in situ Raman spectra recorded during a “CO-free” Pauson–Khand type cyclisation which enables a knowledge-driven optimisation protocol.

N-Nosyl-O-bromoethyl hydroxylamine acts as a multifunctional formaldehyde, formaldimine, and 1,2-oxazetidine surrogate for C–C and C–O bond-forming reactions

Hydroxylamine could chemo- and stereoselectively produce α-hydroxymethyl and α-aminomethyl ketones and chiral α-alkoxyl and α-aminomethyl carboxylates in good yields.

Palladium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] annulation: access to chromone fused cyclopentanones with cyclopropenone as the CO source

A variety of chromone fused cyclopentanones are efficiently generated in good to high yields via palladium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] annulation, in which cyclopropenone was utilized for the first time as the sole CO surrogate in the carbonylation process.

Membrane Microreactors for the On-Demand Generation, Separation, and Reaction of Gases

The use of gases as reagents in organic synthesis can be very challenging, particularly at a laboratory scale. This Concept takes into account recent studies to make the case that gases can indeed be efficiently and safely formed from relatively inexpensive commercially available reagents for use in a wide range of organic transformations. In particular, we argue that the exploitation of continuous flow membrane reactors enables the effective separation of the chemistry necessary for gas formation from the chemistry for gas consumption, with these two stages often containing incompatible chemistry. The approach outlined eliminates the need to store and transport excessive amounts of potentially toxic, reactive or explosive gases. The on‐demand generation, separation and reaction of a number of gases, including carbon monoxide, diazomethane, trifluoromethyl diazomethane, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and formaldehyde, is discussed.

Concise synthesis of N-thiomethyl benzoimidazoles through base-promoted sequential multicomponent assembly

An efficient method for the synthesis of N-thiomethyl benzimidazoles from o-phenylenediamines, thiophenols, and aldehydes via C–N/C–S bond formation under metal-free conditions is described. A broad range of functional groups attached to the substrates were well tolerated in this reaction system. Stable and low-toxicity paraformaldehyde was used as the carbon source.

An efficient method for the synthesis of N-thiomethyl benzimidazoles from o-phenylenediamines, thiophenols, and aldehydes via C–N/C–S bond formation under metal-free conditions is described.

Palladium-Catalyzed External-CO-Free Carbonylation of Aryl Bromides Using 2,4,6-Trichlorophenyl Formate

A practical Pd-catalyzed carbonylation of (hetero)aryl bromides using a crystalline carbon monoxide (CO) surrogate, 2,4,6-trichlorophenyl formate (TCPF), was developed. This reaction proceeds without the slow addition technique that was previously required and with a low catalyst loading (1 mol%). The utility of this Pd-catalyzed external-CO-free carbonylation using TCPF was demonstrated in the synthesis of a histone deacetylase inhibitor.

Pd-catalysed carbonylative annulation of salicylaldehydes with benzyl chlorides using N-formylsaccharin as a CO surrogate

A highly efficient synthesis of 3-arylcoumarins by Pd-catalysed carbonylative cyclisation of salicylaldehydes with benzyl chlorides using N-formylsaccharin as a CO source is developed.

Copper-Catalyzed Alkoxycarbonylation of Alkanes with Alcohols

Esters are important chemicals widely used in various areas, and alkoxycarbonylation represents one of the most powerful tools for their synthesis. In this communication, a new copper-catalyzed carbonylative procedure for the synthesis of aliphatic esters from cycloalkanes and alcohols was developed. Through direct activation of the Csp3 -H bond of alkanes and with alcohols as the nucleophiles, the desired esters were prepared in moderate-to-good yields. Paraformaldehyde could also be applied for in situ alcohol generation by radical trapping, and moderate yields of the corresponding esters could be produced. Notably, this is the first report on copper-catalyzed alkoxycarbonylation of alkanes.

Palladium-catalyzed paraformaldehyde insertion: a three-component synthesis of benzofurans

2-Aroylbenzofurans were prepared from 2-bromophenols, phenacyl bromides and paraformaldehyde under palladium catalysis conditions.