Mild Cobalt-Catalyzed Hydrocyanation of Olefins with Tosyl Cyanide

Cobalt-Catalyzed Cyclization of Unsaturated N-Acyl Sulfonamides: a Diverted Mukaiyama Hydration Reaction

The cycloisomerization of β-, γ-, and δ-unsaturated N-acyl sulfonamides to N-sulfonyl lactams and imidates is reported. This transformation is effected in the presence of a Co^III(salen) catalyst using t-BuOOH or air as the oxidant. The method shows good functional group tolerance (alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, ether, N-Boc) and furnishes an underexplored class of cyclic building blocks. The strong solvent dependence of the transformation is investigated, and the synthetic versatility of the N-sulfonyl imidate product class is highlighted.

Electrocatalytic Allylic C-H Alkylation Enabled by a Dual-Function Cobalt Catalyst

The direct functionalization of allylic C-H bonds with nucleophiles minimizes pre-functionalization and converts inexpensive, abundantly available materials to value-added alkenyl-substituted products but remains challenging. Here we report an electrocatalytic allylic C-H alkylation reaction with carbon nucleophiles employing an easily available cobalt-salen complex as the molecular catalyst. These C(sp³ )-H/C(sp³ )-H cross-coupling reactions proceed through H₂ evolution and require no external chemical oxidants. Importantly, the mild conditions and unique electrocatalytic radical process ensure excellent functional group tolerance and substrate compatibility with both linear and branched terminal alkenes. The synthetic utility of the electrochemical method is highlighted by its scalability (up to 200 mmol scale) under low loading of electrolyte (down to 0.05 equiv) and its successful application in the late-stage functionalization of complex structures.

Cycloisomerization of Olefins in Water

Preparative reactions that occur efficiently under dilute, buffered, aqueous conditions in the presence of biomolecules find application in ligation, peptide synthesis, and polynucleotide synthesis and sequencing. However, the identification of functional groups or reagents that are mutually reactive with one another, but unreactive with biopolymers and water, is challenging. Shown here are cobalt catalysts that react with alkenes under dilute, aqueous, buffered conditions and promote efficient cycloisomerization and formal Friedel-Crafts reactions. The constraining conditions of bioorthogonal chemistry are beneficial for reaction efficiency as superior conversion at low catalyst concentration is obtained and competent rates in dilute conditions are maintained. Efficiency at high dilution in the presence of buffer and nucleobases suggests that these reaction conditions may find broad application.

Selective Palladium-Catalyzed Aminocarbonylation of Olefins to Branched Amides

A general and efficient protocol for iso-selective aminocarbonylation of olefins with aliphatic amines has been developed for the first time. Key to the success for this process is the use of a specific 2-phosphino-substituted pyrrole ligand in the presence of PdX₂ (X=halide) as a pre-catalyst. Bulk industrial and functionalized olefins react with various aliphatic amines, including amino-acid derivatives, to give the corresponding branched amides generally in good yields (up to 99 %) and regioselectivities (b/l up to 99:1).

Markovnikov free radical addition reactions, a sleeping beauty kissed to life

This review covers free radical additions, which are initiated by the formal addition of a hydrogen atom to a C[double bond, length as m-dash]C double bond. These reactions originated in the realms of inorganic chemistry, polymer chemistry, and organic chemistry, whereby barriers between these disciplines impeded the rapid implementation of the findings.

Metal-Catalyzed β-Functionalization of Michael Acceptors through Reductive Radical Addition Reactions

Transition-metal-catalyzed radical reactions are becoming increasingly important in modern organic chemistry. They offer fascinating and unconventional ways for connecting molecular fragments that are often complementary to traditional methods. In particular, reductive radical additions to α,β-unsaturated compounds have recently gained substantial attention as a result of their broad applicability in organic synthesis. This Minireview critically discusses the recent landmark achievements in this field in context with earlier reports that laid the foundation for today's developments.

Total synthesis of (±)-hippolachnin A

The first total synthesis of the marine polyketide (±)-hippolachnin A has been achieved in nine linear steps and an overall yield of 9%. Rapid access to the oxacyclobutapentalene core structure was secured by strategic application of an ene cyclization.