Synthesis and Utilization of Nitroalkyne Equivalents in Batch and Continuous Flow

Catalytic ipso-Nitration of Organosilanes Enabled by Electrophilic N-Nitrosaccharin Reagent

Nitroaromatic compounds represent one of the essential classes of molecules that are widely used as feedstock for the synthesis of intermediates, the preparation of nitro-derived pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials on both laboratory and industrial scales. We herein disclose the efficient, mild, and catalytic ipso-nitration of organotrimethylsilanes, enabled by an electrophilic N-nitrosaccharin reagent and allows chemoselective nitration under mild reaction conditions, while exhibiting remarkable substrate generality and functional group compatibility. Additionally, the reaction conditions proved to be orthogonal to other common functionalities, allowing programming of molecular complexity via successive transformations or late-stage nitration. Detailed mechanistic investigation by experimental and computational approaches strongly supported a classical electrophilic aromatic substitution (SE Ar) mechanism, which was found to proceed through a highly ordered transition state.

Organic Nitrating Reagents

Nitro compounds are vital raw chemicals that are widely used in academic laboratories and industries for the preparation of various drugs, agrochemicals, and materials. Thus, nitrating reactions are of great importance for chemists and are even taught in schools as one of the fundamental transformations in organic synthesis. Since the discovery of the first nitrating reactions in the 19th century, progress in this field has been constant. Yet, for many years the classical electrophilic nitration approach using a mixture of strong mineral acids dominated the field. However, in recent decades, the attention of researchers has focused on new reactivity and new reagents that can provide access to nitro compounds in a practical and straightforward way under mild reaction conditions. Organic nitrating reagents have played a special role in this field since they have enhanced reactivity. They also allow nitration to be carried out in an ecofriendly and sustainable manner. This review examines the development and application of organic nitrating reagents.

1 Introduction

2 Organic Nitrating Reagents

2.1 Alkyl Nitrites

2.2 Nitroalkanes

2.3 Alkyl Nitrates

2.4 N-Nitroamides

2.5 N-Nitropyrazole

2.6 N-Nitropyridinium Salts

3 Organic Nitrating Reagents Generated In Situ

3.1 Acyl Nitrates

3.2 Trimethylsilyl Nitrate

3.3 Nitro Onium Salts

4 Organic Nitronium Salts

5 Organic Nitrates and Nitrites

5.1 Ammonium Nitrates

5.2 Heteroarylium Nitrates

5.3 Other Organic Nitrates

5.4 Organic Nitrites

6 Conclusion and Outlook

Continuous Flow Acylation of (Hetero)aryllithiums with Polyfunctional N,N-Dimethylamides and Tetramethylurea in Toluene

The continuous flow reaction of various aryl or heteroaryl bromides in toluene in the presence of THF (1.0 equiv) with sec -BuLi (1.1 equiv) provided at 25 °C within 40 sec the corresponding aryllithiums which were acylated with various functionalized N,N-dimethylamides including easily enolizable amides at -20 °C within 27 sec, producing highly functionalized ketones in 48-90% yield (36 examples). This method was well suited for the preparation of α-chiral ketones such as naproxene and ibuprofen derived ketones with 99% ee . A one-pot stepwise bis-addition of two different lithium organometallics to 1,1,3,3-tetramethyurea (TMU) provided unsymmetrical ketones in 69-79% yield (9 examples).

Flow Chemistry for Cycloaddition Reactions

Continuous flow reactors form part of a rapidly growing research area that has changed the way synthetic chemistry is performed not only in academia but also at the industrial level. This Review highlights the most recent advances in cycloaddition reactions performed in flow systems. Cycloadditions are atom-efficient transformations for the synthesis of carbo- and heterocycles, involved in the construction of challenging skeletons of complex molecules. The main advantages of translating these processes into flow include using intensified conditions, safer handling of hazardous reagents and gases, easy tuning of reaction conditions, and straightforward scaling up. These benefits are especially important in cycloadditions such as the copper(I)-catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), Diels-Alder reaction, ozonolysis and [2+2] photocycloadditions. Some of these transformations are key reactions in the industrial synthesis of pharmaceuticals.

Acid-Catalyzed 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of 2H-Azirines with Nitrones: An Unexpected Access to 1,2,4,5-Tetrasubstituted Imidazoles

The first 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 2H-azirines with nitrones, a straightforward approach toward the regioselective synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles, is reported. This trifluoroacetic acid-catalyzed protocol tolerates a broad range of aliphatic and aromatic substrates, offering an efficient access to highly diverse, multisubstituted imidazoles in isolated yields up to 83% under mild conditions.

Integrating continuous flow synthesis with in-line analysis and data generation

Continuous flow synthesis of fine chemicals has successfully advanced from an academic niche area to a rapidly growing field of its own that directly impacts developments and applications in industrial settings. Whilst the numerous advantages of flow over batch processing are widely recognised and have led to a wider uptake of continuous flow synthesis within the community, we have reached a point where continuous flow synthesis has to transition from a stand-alone enabling technology to a readily integrated synthesis concept. Thus it is paramount to embrace a multitude of in-line analysis and purification techniques to not only allow for efficiently telescoped multi-step sequences but ultimately generate bioactivity data concomitantly on newly synthesised entities. This short review summarises the state of the art in this field and presents both challenges and opportunities that arise from this ambitious endeavour.

The convenient Michael addition of imidazoles to acrylates catalyzed by Lipozyme TL IM from Thermomyces lanuginosus in a continuous flow microreactor

A fast and green protocol for the Michael addition of imidazoles to acrylates catalyzed by Lipozyme TL IM from Thermomyces lanuginosus in a continuous flow microreactor was developed. In contrast with existing methods, this method is simple (35 min), uses mild reaction conditions (45 °C) and is environmentally friendly. This enzymatic Michael addition performed in continuous flow microreactors is an innovation that may open up the use of enzymatic microreactors in imidazole analogue biotransformations.

Synthesis and Utilization of Nitroalkyne Equivalents in Batch and Continuous Flow

We report a method for overcoming the low stability of nitroalkynes through the development of nitrated vinyl silyltriflate equivalents. Because of their instability, nitroalkynes have only rarely been utilized in synthesis. The reactivity of these silyltriflates, which are prepared in situ, is exemplified by dipolar cycloaddition reactions with nitrones to give highly substituted 4‐nitro‐4‐isoxazolines in high yields. This approach has proven general for several different alkyl and aryl substituted alkynes. In order to minimize the accumulation of potentially hazardous reaction intermediates, we have also developed a continuous flow variant of this method that is capable of carrying out the entire reaction sequence in a good yield and a short residence time.