Stereoselective Silylcupration of Conjugated Alkynes in Water at Room Temperature

Anti-Selective Carbosilylation: Nickel-Catalyzed Multicomponent Reaction of Solid Me3SiZnI

The stereodefined and highly substituted vinylsilanes are essential building blocks for constructing complex organic molecules. Transition metal-mediated silylmetalation of alkynes was developed to overcome the limitations of conventional hydrosilylations; however, a very limited study was carried out to utilize transient vinylmetal species in cross-coupling reactions. Moreover, they produce syn-adduct, and the anti-selective cross-coupling is still unknown and highly desired. Silylzinc reagents are highly functional group tolerant, however, their synthesis from pyrophoric silyllithium and dissolved lithium salts hampers cross-coupling reactions. Our novel solid silylzinc reagents circumvent these constraints are employed in the anti-selective synthesis of vinylsilanes via a multi-component reaction involving Me3SiZnI, terminal alkynes, and activated alkyl halides. An intensive computational and experimental investigation of the mechanism reveals an equilibrium between the intermediate syn- and anti-adducts; the greater barrier at the single electron reduction of alkyl halides and the thermodynamic stability of the Ni(III) adduct determine the anti-selectivity.

Micellar Mechanisms for Desymmetrization Reactions in Aqueous Media

Water-mediated organic reactions significantly contribute to the protection of the environment. Desymmetrization reactions, which convert only one of the identical functional groups within one molecule, are cost-effective because of the low cost of the starting materials. In combination with these two merits, highly efficient and practical selective monohydrolysis reactions of symmetric diesters were previously reported. The products of these reactions are versatile building blocks. The mechanisms of this reaction are hypothesized to proceed through micellar aggregates in which the hydrophilic carboxylate anions formed by monohydrolysis are directed outward and the remaining hydrophobic groups are directed inward in governing the selectivities. Here, dynamic light scattering and electrophoretic light scattering experiments were performed for detection of the key intermediates in the reaction. These experiments revealed the existence of aggregates with negative charges on the surface in the mainly aqueous media, supporting the reaction mechanisms that control the high selectivities.

Iodosulfonylation of Alkynes under Ultrasound Irradiation

(E)-β-Iodo vinylsulfones are synthesized under ultrasound irradiation using alkynes, sulfonyl hydrazides, potassium iodide and hydrogen peroxide. The key features of this protocol are the speed and efficiency of the reactions, which afford good to excellent yields of the desired products by employing ultrasound as the driving force. Mechanistic studies reveal that a sulfonyl radical intermediate is generated via sulfonyl iodide homolysis.

Activation of the Si–B interelement bond related to catalysis

Covering the past seven years, this review comprehensively summarises the latest progress in the preparation and application of Si–B reagents, including the discussion of relevant reaction mechanisms.

Copper(ii)-catalyzed protoboration of allenes in aqueous media and open air

A copper(ii)-catalyzed internal protoboration of monosubstituted allenes efficiently occurs in water at room temperature and open air to generate 1,1-disubstituted vinyl boronic acid derivatives.

Boron-enabled geometric isomerization of alkenes via selective energy-transfer catalysis

Isomerization-based strategies to enable the stereodivergent construction of complex polyenes from geometrically defined alkene linchpins remain conspicuously underdeveloped. Mitigating the thermodynamic constraints inherent to isomerization is further frustrated by the considerations of atom efficiency in idealized low-molecular weight precursors. In this work, we report a general ambiphilic C₃ scaffold that can be isomerized and bidirectionally extended. Predicated on highly efficient triplet energy transfer, the selective isomerization of β-borylacrylates is contingent on the participation of the boron p orbital in the substrate chromophore. Rotation of the C(sp²)-B bond by 90° in the product renders re-excitation inefficient and endows directionality. This subtle stereoelectronic gating mechanism enables the stereocontrolled syntheses of well-defined retinoic acid derivatives.

Divergent Protosilylation and Protoborylation of Polar Enynes

Copper-catalyzed divergent conjugate protosilylation and protoborylation of polar enynes were developed. The corresponding β-boryldienoates and β-silyldienotes were obtained in moderate to good yields and with good stereoselectivity. In this protocol, novel cascade double protoborylation/protodeboronation processes of polar enynoates enabled access of the useful trisubstituted vinylboronates in up to 80% yield and with up to 98:2 Z/ E ratio. Moreover, divergent transformations of the products thus obtained were also investigated.

Intermolecular Three-Component Arylsilylation of Alkynes under Palladium/Copper Cooperative Catalysis

An intermolecular three-component arylsilylation of alkynes has been developed under mild palladium/copper cooperative catalysis. The reaction proceeds through syn-addition of an aryl group and a silyl group across the carbon-carbon triple bond of an alkyne. This represents the first transition-metal-catalyzed fully intermolecular arylsilylation of alkynes, and transformations of the resulting products have also been demonstrated.

Organocatalytic silyl transfer from silylborane to nitroalkenes for the synthesis of β-silyl nitroalkanes and β-silyl amines

We discovered organocatalytic silyl transfer from silylborane to nitroalkenes in a toluene/water biphasic solvent. A variety of functionalized β-silyl nitroalkanes were obtained in moderate to excellent yields, which provides access to biologically interesting β-silyl amines.

Copper-catalyzed hydroboration of propargyl-functionalized alkynes in water

The Cu-catalyzed hydroboration of alkynes in operationally simple and environmentally friendly conditions is reported.

First pinacol coupling in emulsified water: key role of surfactant and impact of alternative activation technologies

For the first time, the influence of surfactants on the radical pinacol coupling reaction is investigated. The rate and selectivity of this reductive C-C coupling are compared under three different activation technologies: thermal activation, microwave irradiation, and sonication. The use of IgepalCO520, a neutral surfactant, led to the successful conversion of aromatic or α,β-unsaturated aliphatic carbonyl compounds in moderate to excellent yield (55-90 %). An insight on the potential mechanism involved in the reaction is also proposed, based on microscopic observations and particle size measurement.

Copper(ii)-catalyzed highly regio- and stereo-selective hydrosilylation of unactivated internal alkynes with silylborate in water

The hydrosilylation of internal alkynes with Me₂PhSiBpin catalyzed by Cu(OTf)₂ in water provided multisubstituted vinylsilanes in high regio- and stereoselectivities.

Synthesis of multi-substituted vinylsilanes via copper(i)-catalyzed hydrosilylation reactions of allenes and propiolate derivatives with silylboronates

An efficient and general copper(i)-catalyzed method for the synthesis of multi-substituted vinylsilanes is reported.