Direct Zinc(II)-Catalyzed Enantioconvergent Additions of Terminal Alkynes to α-Keto Esters

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric alkynylation of pyrazole-4,5-diones using chloramphenicol base-derived hydroxyl oxazoline ligands

The asymmetric copper-catalyzed alkynylation reactions of pyrazole 4,5-diones in the presence of hydroxyl oxazoline ligand, which was derived from low cost, easily accessible chloramphenicol base (ANP), were achieved. The notable...

Chiral Quaternary Ammoniums Derived from Dehydroabietylamine: Synthesis and Application to Alkynylation of Isatin Derivatives Catalyzed by Silver

Abietic acid and its derivatives have broadly been used in fine chemicals and are renewable resources. Its inherent chiral rigid tricyclic phenanthrene skeleton is unique. Its utilities in asymmetric catalysis remain to be explored. A series new amide-type chiral quaternary ammoniums bearing dehydroabietylamine were designed, and prepared by two convenient steps. Acylation of dehydroabietylamine with bromoacetyl chloride afforded amide holding bromoacetyl group in higher yields using triethyl amine as base. Subsequent quaternization reaction gave the desired amide-type chiral quaternary ammoniums. The new chiral quaternary ammoniums can be used as phase-transfer catalyst (PTC) for the transition metal-catalysed alkynylation of isatin derivatives.

Dimethylzinc-mediated enantioselective addition of terminal alkynes to 1,2-diketones using perhydro-1,3-benzoxazines as ligands

A conformationally restricted perhydro-1,3-benzoxazine derived from (-)-8-aminomenthol behaves as a good chiral ligand in the dimethylzinc-mediated enantioselective monoaddition of aromatic and aliphatic terminal alkynes to 1,2-diketones. The corresponding α-hydroxyketones were obtained in good yields with high enantioselectivities starting from both aromatic and aliphatic 1,2-diketones. The alkynylation of unsymmetrical 1,2-diketones with electronically different substituents also proceeds with high regio- and enantioselectivity. This reaction provides a practical method to synthesize ketones bearing a chiral tertiary propargylic alcohol.

Visible-light-mediated photocatalytic cross-coupling of acetenyl ketones with benzyl trifluoroborate

In this report, we describe a simple visible light-triggered Barbier-type reaction by employing acetenyl ketones with benzyl trifluoroborates. Through a radical-radical cross-coupling process, this photocatalytic protocol furnished a wide range of tertiary propargyl alcohols. Mechanistic investigation indicated that proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) might be involved in the photochemical transformations.

Chiral tertiary propargylic alcohols via Pd-catalyzed carboxylative kinetic resolution

A highly efficient Pd/H⁺-cocatalyzed kinetic resolution reaction of tertiary propargylic alcohols has been reported.

Homoleptic and heteroleptic Zn(ii) selone catalysts for thioetherification of aryl halides without scrubbing oxygen

Tetra-coordinated zinc imidazoline selone complexes were synthesized and utilized as potential catalysts in the thioetherification of aryl halides without scrubbing oxygen.

Copper-catalyzed enantioselective alkynylation of pyrazole-4,5-diones with terminal alkynes

A copper-catalyzed enantioselective alkynylation between pyrazole-4,5-diones and terminal alkynes is developed, and both enantiomers of chiral propargylic alcohols can be achieved by using the ligand illustrated and its diastereomer.

3-Dialkylamino-1,2,4-triazoles via ZnII-Catalyzed Acyl Hydrazide-Dialkylcyanamide Coupling

Zinc(II)-catalyzed (10 mol % ZnCl₂) coupling of acyl hydrazides and dialkylcyanamides in ethanol leads to 3-dialkylamino-1,2,4-triazoles (76-99%; 17 examples). This reaction represents a novel, straightforward, and high-yielding approach to practically important 3-NR₂-1,2,4-triazoles, which utilizes commercially available and/or easily generated substrates. Seventeen new 3-NR₂-1,2,4-triazoles were characterized by HRESI⁺-MS and IR, ¹H, and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectroscopies and five species additionally by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). The Zn^II-catalyzed reaction proceeds via initial generation of the [Zn{RC(=O)NHNH₂}₃](ZnCl₄) complexes (exemplified by isolation of the complex with R = Ph, 76%; characterized by HRESI⁺-MS, IR, CP-MAS TOSS ¹³C{¹H} NMR, and XRD). Electronic effects of substituents at the acyl hydrazide moiety do not significantly affect the reaction rate and the yield of the target triazoles, whereas the steric hindrances reduce the reaction rate without affecting the yield of the heterocycles.

Dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformations of β-halo-α-keto esters byN,N′-dioxide/Ni(ii)-catalyzed carbonyl-ene reaction

An effective dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation of racemic β-halo-α-keto esters through carbonyl-ene reaction was realised.

Palladium/H+-cocatalyzed kinetic resolution of tertiary propargylic alcohols

A new concept for the synthesis of optically active tertiary propargylic alcohols with 90–99% ee through palladium/H⁺-cocatalyzed kinetic resolution was developed.