A General, Activator-Free Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Arylacetic and Benzoic Acids from Formic Acid

Visible-light-driven alkene dicarboxylation with formate and CO2 under mild conditions

Low-cost formate salt was used as the reductant and part of the carboxyl source in a visible-light-driven dicarboxylation of diverse alkenes, including simple styrenes. The highly competing hydrocarboxylation side reaction was successfully overridden. Good yields of products were obtained under mild reaction conditions at ambient temperature and pressure of CO2. The dual role of formate salt may stimulate the discovery of a range of new transformations under mild and friendly conditions.

Synergistic Augmentation of Beta-Lactams: Exploring Quinoline-Derived Amphipathic Small Molecules as Antimicrobial Potentiators against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The escalation of bacterial resistance against existing therapeutic antimicrobials has reached a critical peak, leading to the rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant strains. Stringent pathways in novel drug discovery hinder our progress in this survival race. A promising approach to combat emerging antibiotic resistance involves enhancing conventional ineffective antimicrobials using low-toxicity small molecule adjuvants. Recent research interest lies in weak membrane-perturbing agents with unique cyclic hydrophobic components, addressing a significant gap in antimicrobial drug exploration. Our study demonstrates that quinoline-based amphipathic small molecules, SG-B-52 and SG-B-22, significantly reduce MICs of selected beta-lactam antibiotics (ampicillin and amoxicillin) against lethal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Mechanistically, membrane perturbation, depolarization, and ROS generation drive cellular lysis and death. These molecules display minimal in vitro and in vivo toxicity, showcased through hemolysis assays, cell cytotoxicity analysis, and studies on albino Wistar rats. SG-B-52 exhibits impressive biofilm-clearing abilities against MRSA biofilms, proposing a strategy to enhance beta-lactam antibiosis and encouraging the development of potent antimicrobial potentiators.

Visible-light-driven photocatalytic carboxylation to aromatic carboxylic acids with CO2

(Hetero)aromatic carboxylic acids and their derivatives attract attention due to their role in the synthesis of several biologically active molecules, active pharmaceutical ingredients, polymers, etc. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a prime C1 source for the synthesis of aromatic carboxylic acids because of its nontoxicity, nonflammability, abundance and renewability. Owing to the thermodynamic and chemical inertness of CO2, traditional carboxylation to aromatic carboxylic acids with CO2 is always performed under harsh reaction conditions or using stoichiometric metallic reductants. Visible-light-driven carboxylation with CO2 provides an environmentally benign, mild, and high-efficiency route for the production of aromatic carboxylic acids. This review comprehensively introduces the visible-light-driven preparation of aromatic carboxylic acids through a visible-light-driven oxidative addition and reductive elimination mechanism, binding of aryl (radical) anions which are produced by photoinduced electron transfer (PET) to CO2, binding of carbon dioxide anion radicals (CO2˙-) which are formed by PET to aryl compounds, radical coupling between CO2˙- and aryl radicals, and other mechanisms. Finally, this review provides a summary and the future work direction. This article offers a theoretical guidance for efficient synthesis of aromatic carboxylic acids via photocatalysis.

Visible Light-Accelerated Palladium-Catalyzed Thiocarbonylation Using Oxalic Acid Monothioester with Aryl/Alkenyl Sulfonium Salts

Herein, we present a decarboxylative thiocarbonylation of aryl and alkenyl sulfonium salts with oxalic acid monothioethers (OAMs), which can be achieved by visible light-accelerated palladium catalysis. Sulfonium salts are widely available, and OAM is an easily accessible and stored reagent; this mild reaction method can also be used for the synthesis of different types of thioester compounds. The reaction represents a new application of visible light-accelerated palladium catalysis in catalytic decarboxylative cross-couplings.

Cobalt-Catalysed Asymmetric Addition and Alkylation of Secondary Phosphine Oxides for the Synthesis of P-Stereogenic Compounds

The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of P-chiral phosphorus compounds is an important way to construct P-chiral ligands. Herein, we report a new strategy that adopts the pyridinyl moiety as the coordinating group in the cobalt-catalysed asymmetric nucleophilic addition/alkylation of secondary phosphine oxides. A series of tertiary phosphine oxides were generated with up to 99 % yield and 99.5 % ee, and with broad functional-group tolerance. Mechanistic studies reveal that (R)-secondary phosphine oxides preferentially interact with the cobalt catalysts to produce P-stereogenic compounds.

Green Oxidation of Ketones to Lactones with Oxone in Water

Cyclic ketones were quickly and quantitatively converted to 5-, 6-, and 7-membered lactones, very important synthons, by treatment with Oxone, a cheap, stable, and nonpollutant oxidizing reagent, in 1 M NaH₂PO₄/Na₂HPO₄ water solution (pH 7). Under such simple and green conditions, no hydroxyacid was formed, thus making the adoption of more complex and non-eco-friendly procedures previously developed to avoid lactone hydrolysis unnecessary. With some changes, the method was successfully applied also to water-insoluble ketones such as adamantanone, acetophenone, 2-indanone, and the challenging cycloheptanone.

Selective Production of Linear Aldehydes and Alcohols from Alkenes using Formic Acid as Syngas Surrogate

Performing carbonylation without the use of carbon monoxide for high-value-added products is an attractive yet challenging topic in sustainable chemistry. Herein, effective methods for producing linear aldehydes or alcohols selectively with formic acid as both carbon monoxide and hydrogen source have been described. Linear-selective hydroformylation of alkenes proceeds smoothly with up to 88 % yield and >30 regioselectivity in the presence of single Rh catalyst. Strikingly, introducing Ru into the system, the dual Rh/Ru catalysts accomplish efficient and regioselective hydroxymethylation in one pot. The present processes utilizing formic acid as syngas surrogate operate simply under mild condition, which opens a sustainable way for production of linear aldehydes and alcohols without the need for gas cylinders and autoclaves. As formic acid can be readily produced via CO₂ hydrogenation, the protocols represent indirect approaches for chemical valorization of CO₂ .

Reaction Mechanism of Pd-Catalyzed "CO-Free" Carbonylation Reaction Uncovered by In Situ Spectroscopy: The Formyl Mechanism

"CO-free" carbonylation reactions, where synthesis gas (CO/H2 ) is substituted by C1 surrogate molecules like formaldehyde or formic acid, have received widespread attention in homogeneous catalysis lately. Although a broad range of organics is available via this method, still relatively little is known about the precise reaction mechanism. In this work, we used in situ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to unravel the mechanism of the alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes using different surrogate molecules. In contrast to previous hypotheses no carbon monoxide could be found during the reaction. Instead the reaction proceeds via the C-H activation of in situ generated methyl formate. On the basis of quantitative NMR experiments, a kinetic model involving all major intermediates is built which enables the knowledge-driven optimization of the reaction. Finally, a new reaction mechanism is proposed on the basis of in situ observed Pd-hydride, Pd-formyl and Pd-acyl species.

Nickel-catalyzed carboxylation of aryl iodides with lithium formate through catalytic CO recycling

A protocol for the Ni-catalyzed carboxylation of aryl iodides with formate has been developed with good functional group compatibility for the synthesis of a variety of aromatic carboxylic acids under mild conditions. The reaction tolerates other functionalities for cross-coupling, such as aryl bromide, aryl chloride, aryl tosylate, and aryl pinacol boronate. The reaction proceeds through a carbonylation process with in situ generated carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalytic amount of acetic anhydride and lithium formate, avoiding the use of gaseous CO. The strategy of CO recycling in catalytic amounts is critical for the success of the reaction.

Rhodium-catalyzed reductive carbonylation of aryl iodides to arylaldehydes with syngas

The reductive carbonylation of aryl iodides to aryl aldehydes possesses broad application prospects. We present an efficient and facile Rh-based catalytic system composed of the commercially available Rh salt RhCl3·3H2O, PPh3 as phosphine ligand, and Et3N as the base, for the synthesis of arylaldehydes via the reductive carbonylation of aryl iodides with CO and H2 under relatively mild conditions with a broad substrate range affording the products in good to excellent yields. Systematic investigations were carried out to study the experimental parameters. We explored the optimal ratio of Rh salt and PPh3 ligand, substrate scope, carbonyl source and hydrogen source, and the reaction mechanism. Particularly, a scaled-up experiment indicated that the catalytic method could find valuable applications in industrial productions. The low gas pressure, cheap ligand and low metal dosage could significantly improve the practicability in both chemical researches and industrial applications.

Oxalic Acid Monothioester for Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Thiocarbonylation and Hydrothiocarbonylation

Oxalic acid monothioester (OAM), an easily accessible and storable reagent, was reported herein as a thioester synthetic equivalent for palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative thiocarbonylation of organohalides and hydrothiocarbonylation of unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds at room temperature with high chemo- and regioselectivity. The reaction is applicable to the synthesis of cysteine-derived thioesters, thus allowing chemical modification of cysteine-containing peptides. Decarboxylation of OAM proceeds through oxidative addition of Pd(0) to the acyl-S bond, which accounts for the very mild reaction conditions.

Pd-catalyzed synthesis of α,β-unsaturated ketones by carbonylation of vinyl triflates and nonaflates

A general and highly chemoselective Pd-catalyzed protocol for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated ketones by carbonylation of vinyl triflates and nonaflates is presented. Applying the specific monophosphine ligand cataCXium® A, the synthesis of various vinyl ketones as well as carbonylated natural product derivatives proceeds in good yields.

Development of efficient palladium catalysts for alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes

Herein, we report a general and efficient Pd-catalysed alkoxycarbonylation of sterically hindered and demanding olefins including a variety of tri-, tetra-substituted and 1,1-disubstituted alkenes. In the presence of 1,3-bis(tert-butyl(pyridin-2-yl)phosphanyl)propane L3 or 1,4-bis(tert-butyl(pyridin-2-yl)phosphanyl)butane L4 the desired esters are obtained in good yields and selectivities. Similar transformation is obtained using tertiary ether as showcased in the carbonylation of MTBE to the corresponding linear ester in high yield and selectivity.