Iron-Catalyzed α-Alkylation of Ketones with Alcohols

Selective Iron Catalyzed Synthesis of N-Alkylated Indolines and Indoles

Whereas iron catalysts usually promote catalyzed C3-alkylation of indole derivatives via a borrowing-hydrogen methodology using alcohols as the electrophilic partners, this contribution shows how to switch the selectivity towards N-alkylation. Thus, starting from indoline derivatives, N-alkylation was efficiently performed using a tricarbonyl(cyclopentadienone) iron complex as the catalyst in trifluoroethanol in the presence of alcohols leading to the corresponding N-alkylated indoline derivatives in 31-99 % yields (28 examples). The one-pot, two-step strategy for the selective N-alkylation of indolines is completed by an oxidation to give the corresponding N-alkylated indoles in 31-90 % yields (15 examples). This unprecedented oxidation methodology involves an iron salt catalyst associated with (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPO) and a stoichiometric amount of t-BuOOH at room temperature.

(Cyclopentadienone)iron Complexes: Synthesis, Mechanism and Applications in Organic Synthesis

(Cyclopentadienone)iron tricarbonyl complexes are catalytically active, inexpensive, easily accessible and air-stable that are extensively studied as an active pre-catalyst in homogeneous catalysis. Its versatile catalytic activity arises exclusively due to the presence of a non-innocent ligand, which can trigger its unique redox properties effectively. These complexes have been employed widely in (transfer)hydrogenation (e. g., reduction of polar multiple bonds, Oppenauer-type oxidation of alcohols), C-C and C-N bond formation (e. g., reductive aminations, α-alkylation of ketones) and other synthetic transformations. In this review, we discuss the remarkable advancement of its various synthetic applications along with synthesis and mechanistic studies, until February 2021.

Sustainable and Selective Alkylation of Deactivated Secondary Alcohols to Ketones by Non-bifunctional Pincer N-heterocyclic Carbene Manganese

A sustainable and green route to access diverse functionalized ketones via dehydrogenative-dehydrative cross-coupling of primary and secondary alcohols is demonstrated. This borrowing hydrogen approach employing a pincer N-heterocyclic carbene Mn complex displays high activity and selectivity. A variety of primary and secondary alcohols are well tolerant and result in satisfactory isolated yields. Mechanistic studies suggest that this reaction proceeds via a direct outer-sphere mechanism and the dehydrogenation of the secondary alcohol substrates plays a vital role in the rate-limiting step.

Ru-Catalyzed Switchable N-Hydroxyethylation and N-Acetonylation with Crude Glycerol

Highly efficient Ru-catalyzed selective C-C or C-O bond cleavage of polyols (e.g., crude glycerol) for N-hydroxyethylation or N-acetonylation of amines was achieved through the hydrogen-borrowing approach. A variety of amines were transformed to the desired amino alcohols/ketones in moderate-to-excellent yields, opening up new avenues for generation of oxygenated pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals from renewable raw materials. The use of new redox-active catalysts containing bisphosphine/thienylmethylamine ligands allows this hydrogen-borrowing system to be operated selectively under both basic and acidic conditions.

Cyclometalated Ruthenium Pincer Complexes as Catalysts for the α-Alkylation of Ketones with Alcohols

Ruthenium PNP pincer complexes bearing supplementary cyclometalated C,N‐bound ligands have been prepared and fully characterized for the first time. By replacing CO and H⁻ as ancillary ligands in such complexes, additional electronic and steric modifications of this topical class of catalysts are possible. The advantages of the new catalysts are demonstrated in the general α‐alkylation of ketones with alcohols following a hydrogen autotransfer protocol. Herein, various aliphatic and benzylic alcohols were applied as green alkylating agents for ketones bearing aromatic, heteroaromatic or aliphatic substituents as well as cyclic ones. Mechanistic investigations revealed that during catalysis, Ru carboxylate complexes are predominantly formed whereas neither the PNP nor the CN ligand are released from the catalyst in significant amounts.

α-Alkylation of Ketones with Secondary Alcohols Catalyzed by Well-Defined Cp*CoIII -Complexes

Although α-alkylation of ketones with primary alcohols by transition-metal catalysis is well-known, the same process with secondary alcohols is arduous and complicated by self-condensation. Herein a well-defined, high-valence cobalt(III)-catalyst was applied for successful α-alkylation of ketones with secondary alcohols. A wide-variety of secondary alcohols, which include cyclic, acyclic, symmetrical, and unsymmetrical compounds, was employed as alkylating agents to produce β-alkyl aryl ketones.

Synthesis of Quinolines Through Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling Catalyzed by Rhenium PN(H)P Complexes

A practical and sustainable synthesis of substituted quinolines was achieved through the annulation of 2-aminobenzyl alcohol with various secondary alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, or nitriles, under hydrogen-borrowing conditions. Under the catalysis of well-defined rhenium complexes bearing tridentate diphosphinoamino ligands, the reaction proceeded efficiently (31 examples were isolated with yields up to 96 %) affording a variety of quinoline derivatives.

Iron-Catalyzed Borrowing Hydrogen C-Alkylation of Oxindoles with Alcohols

A general and efficient iron-catalyzed C-alkylation of oxindoles has been developed. This borrowing hydrogen approach employing a (cyclopentadienone)iron carbonyl complex (2 mol %) exhibited a broad reaction scope, allowing benzylic and simple primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols to be employed as alkylating agents. A variety of oxindoles underwent selective mono-C3-alkylation in good-to-excellent isolated yields (28 examples, 50-92 % yield, 79 % average yield).

C-C Bond Formation of Benzyl Alcohols and Alkynes Using a Catalytic Amount of KOt Bu: Unusual Regioselectivity through a Radical Mechanism

We report a C-C bond-forming reaction between benzyl alcohols and alkynes in the presence of a catalytic amount of KO^t Bu to form α-alkylated ketones in which the C=O group is located on the side derived from the alcohol. The reaction proceeds under thermal conditions (125 °C) and produces no waste, making the reaction highly atom efficient, environmentally benign, and sustainable. Based on our mechanistic investigations, we propose that the reaction proceeds through radical pathways.

Cp*CoIII -Catalyzed Efficient Dehydrogenation of Secondary Alcohols

A novel, well-defined molecular Cp*Co^III complex was isolated and structurally characterized for the first time. The efficiency of this cobalt catalyst was demonstrated in the alcohol dehydrogenation and dehydrative coupling of secondary alcohols under mild conditions into ketones and ethers, respectively.

Hydrogen-Transfer-Mediated α-Functionalization of 1,8-Naphthyridines by a Strategy Overcoming the Over-Hydrogenation Barrier

A general catalytic hydrogen transfer-mediated α-functionalization of 1,8-naphthyridines is reported for the first time that benefits from a hydrogen transfer-mediated activation mode for non-activated pyridyl cores. The pyridyl α-site selectively couples with the C8-site of various tetrahydroquinolines (THQs) to afford novel α-functionalized tetrahydro 1,8-naphthyridines, a class of synthetically useful building blocks and potential candidates for the discovery of therapeutic and bio-active products. The utilization of THQs as inactive hydrogen donors (HDs) appears to be a key strategy to overcome the over-hydrogenation barrier and address the chemoselectivity issue. The developed chemistry features operational simplicity, readily available catalyst and good functional group tolerance, and offers a significant basis for further development of new protocols to directly transform or functionalize inert N-heterocycles.

Asymmetric Chemoenzymatic Reductive Acylation of Ketones by a Combined Iron-Catalyzed Hydrogenation-Racemization and Enzymatic Resolution Cascade

A general and practical process for the conversion of prochiral ketones into the corresponding chiral acetates has been realized. An iron carbonyl complex is reported to catalyze the hydrogenation-dehydrogenation-hydrogenation of prochiral ketones. By merging the iron-catalyzed redox reactions with enantioselective enzymatic acylations a wide range of benzylic, aliphatic and (hetero)aromatic ketones, as well as diketones, were reductively acylated. The corresponding products were isolated with high yields and enantioselectivities. The use of an iron catalyst together with molecular hydrogen as the hydrogen donor and readily available ethyl acetate as acyl donor make this cascade process highly interesting in terms of both economic value and environmental credentials.