Iron‐Catalyzed Oxidative Decabonylation/Radical Cyclization of Aliphatic Aldehydes with Biphenyl Isocyanides: A New Pathway For the Synthesis of 6‐Alkylphenanthridines

Efficacy of radical reactions of isocyanides with heteroatom radicals in organic synthesis

Isocyanide is a promising synthetic reagent not only as a one-carbon homologation reagent but also as a nitrogen source for nitrogen-containing molecules. Because of their isoelectronic structure with carbon monoxide, isocyanides also react with nucleophiles, electrophiles, carbon radicals, and transition metal reagents, and are widely used in organic synthesis. On the other hand, the use of isocyanides in reactions with heteroatom radicals is limited. However, the reaction of isocyanides with heteroatom radicals is a promising synthetic tool for the construction of nitrogen-containing organic molecules modified with a variety of heteroatoms. In this Perspective, we review the addition and cyclization reactions of heteroatom radicals with isocyanides and discuss the synthetic prospects of the reaction of isocyanides with heteroatom radicals.

High-Loaded Copper-Containing Sol-Gel Catalysts for Furfural Hydroconversion

In this study, the high-loaded copper-containing catalysts modified with Fe and Al were successfully applied for the hydroconversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol (FA) or 2-methylfuran (2-MF) in a batch reactor. The synthesized catalysts were studied using a set of characterization techniques to find the correlation between their activity and physicochemical properties. Fine Cu-containing particles distributed in an amorphous SiO₂ matrix, which has a high surface area, provide the conversion of furfural to FA or 2-MF under exposure to high pressure of hydrogen. The modification of the mono-copper catalyst with Fe and Al increases its activity and selectivity in the target process. The reaction temperature strongly affects the selectivity of the formed products. At a H₂ pressure of 5.0 MPa, the highest selectivity toward FA (98%) and 2-MF (76%) was achieved in the case of 35Cu13Fe1Al-SiO₂ at the temperature of 100 °C and 250 °C, respectively.

Iron-catalyzed decarboxylative and oxidative decarbonylative cross-coupling: a new strategy for the synthesis of monofluoroalkenes

Herein, an iron(ii)-catalyzed decarboxylative and oxidative decarbonylative cross-coupling of α-fluoro cinnamic acids with aliphatic aldehydes is presented.

Recent advances in decarbonylative annulation reactions

In recent years, decarbonylative annulation reactions have emerged as one of the most efficient routes to construct a variety of important carbocyclic and heterocyclic scaffolds. The main advantages of this type of reaction are, first, the carbonyl compounds are used as the starting materials which are abundant in nature and second, the major by-product of this reaction is carbon monoxide. In the last two decades, various intramolecular and intermolecular decarbonylative annulation reactions have been performed using carbonyl compounds and alkenes/alkynes/arenes/isocyanates etc. as the annulation partners. These reactions are typically performed either in the presence of or in the absence of a metal catalyst. However, these reactions are still in their infancy as a very little progress has been achieved in these reactions. Through this review article, it is attempted to highlight the recent developments on various decarbonylative annulation reactions which ultimately lead to the formation of important structural moieties.