One-Pot Oxidative Amidation of Aldehydes via the Generation of Nitrile Imine Intermediates

A one-pot procedure for the oxidative amidation of aldehydes via the in situ generation of reactive nitrile imine (NI) intermediates has been developed. Distinct from our progenitor processes, mechanistic and control experiments revealed that the NI undergoes rapid oxidation to an acyl diazene species, which then facilitates N-acylation of an amine. A range of substrates have been explored, including application in the synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant compounds.

Total synthesis of the antibacterial polyketide natural product thailandamide lactone

Stereoselective total synthesis of the structurally intriguing polyketide natural product thailandamide lactone was accomplished, and done so using a convergent approach for the first time to the best of our knowledge. The key features of this synthesis included use of a Crimmins acetate aldol reaction, Evans methylation, Urpi acetal aldol reaction, Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and subsequent γ-lactonization for the installation of six asymmetric centers and the use of the Negishi reaction, Julia-Kocienski olefination, cross metathesis, HWE olefination and intermolecular Heck coupling for construction of a variety of unsaturated linkages. Pd(i)-based Heck coupling was introduced, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, quite efficiently to couple the major eastern and sensitive western segments of the molecule. The antibacterial activity of thailandamide lactone was also evaluated.

Photochemical Activation of Aromatic Aldehydes: Synthesis of Amides, Hydroxamic Acids and Esters

A cheap, facile and metal-free photochemical protocol for the activation of aromatic aldehydes has been developed. Utilizing thioxanthen-9-one as the photocatalyst and cheap household lamps as the light source, a variety of aromatic aldehydes have been activated and subsequently converted in a one-pot reaction into amides, hydroxamic acids and esters in good to high yields. The applicability of this method was highlighted in the synthesis of Moclobemide, a drug against depression and social anxiety. Extended and detailed mechanistic studies have been conducted, in order to determine a plausible mechanism for the reaction.

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed amidation of aldehydes with amines via the tandem N-hydroxysuccinimide ester formation

A novel methodology for the construction of a wide variety of mono and di-substituted amides is developed, that utilizes readily available, non-hazardous, and cheaper starting reagents and simple imidazolium-based N-heterocyclic carbenes.

Metal-Free Cross-Dehydrogenative C-O Coupling of Carbonyl Compounds with N-Hydroxyimides: Unexpected Selective Behavior of Highly Reactive Free Radicals at an Elevated Temperature

Cross-dehydrogenative C-O coupling of N-hydroxyimides with ketones, esters, and carboxylic acids was achieved employing the di-tert-butyl peroxide as a source of free radicals and a dehydrogenating agent. The proposed method is experimentally simple and demonstrates the outstanding efficiency for the challenging CH substrates, such as unactivated esters and carboxylic acids. It was shown that N-hydroxyphthalimide drastically affects the oxidative properties of t-BuOOt-Bu by intercepting the t-BuO^• radicals with the formation of phthalimide-N-oxyl radicals, a species responsible for both hydrogen atom abstraction from the CH reagent and the selective formation of the C-O coupling product by selective radical cross-recombination. The practical applicability of the developed method was exemplified by the single-stage synthesis of commercial reagent (known as Baran aminating reagent precursor) from isobutyric acid and N-hydroxysuccinimide, whereas in the standard synthetic approach, four stages are necessary.

Copper-amino group complexes supported on silica-coated magnetite nanoparticles: efficient catalyst for oxidative amidation of methyl arenes

Magnetite nanoparticles coated with mesoporous silica, Fe₃O₄@SiO₂, were prepared.

Metal-free C(sp(3))-H functionalization: oxidative carbo-oxygenation of α-diazo carbonyls via radical dediazotization

A novel three-component carbo-oxygenation of α-diazo carbonyls for flexible synthesis of unprecedented α-aminooxy-β-amino ketones has been established through metal-free C(sp(3))-H functionalization from readily accessible N,N-dimethylanilines and N-hydroxyphthalimide. The reaction pathway involves an in situ-generated phthalimide N-oxyl radical-triggered dediazotization/radical coupling sequence, leading to C-O and C-C bond formation.

Visible-Light-Mediated Synthesis of Amides from Aldehydes and Amines via in Situ Acid Chloride Formation

An efficient visible-light photocatalysis-based one-pot amide synthesis method was developed; visible-light irradiation of a mixture of an aldehyde, tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide, and N-chlorosuccinimide using a Ru(bpy)3Cl2 photocatalyst afforded an acid chloride, which subsequently reacted with amine to yield the corresponding amide. The reaction was used to synthesize moclobemide and a D3 receptor intermediate.

Palladium-Catalyzed Carbonylation of (Hetero)Aryl, Alkenyl and Allyl Halides by Means of N-Hydroxysuccinimidyl Formate as CO Surrogate

An efficient Pd-catalyzed carbonylation protocol is described for the coupling of a large panel of aryl, heteroaryl, benzyl, vinyl and allyl halides 2 with the unusual N-hydroxysuccinimidyl (NHS) formate 1 as a CO surrogate to afford the corresponding valuable NHS esters 3. High conversion to the coupling products was achieved with up to 98% yield by means of Pd(OAc)2/Xantphos catalyst system.

Cross dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) of aldehydes with N-hydroxyimides by visible light photoredox catalysis

A visible light mediated cross-dehydrogenative-coupling (CDC) reaction has been developed for the synthesis of N-hydroxyester derivatives from aldehydes and N-hydroxyimides.

Copper-catalyzed carbon–carbon bond cleavage of primary propargyl alcohols: β-carbon elimination of hemiaminal intermediates

The copper-catalyzed β-carbon elimination of primary propargyl alcohols via hemiaminals is studied under aerobic oxidation conditions.

N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed oxidation of aldehydes for the synthesis of amides via phenolic esters

Carbene-catalyzed TEMPO-mediated oxidative coupling conditions were used to convert the aldehydes to amides via phenolic ester intermediates.

Organocatalytic amidation and esterification of aldehydes with activating reagents by a cross-coupling strategy

Formation on demand: An organocatalytic cross-coupling reaction of aldehydes with N-hydroxyimides, hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol, and sulfonimides has been developed. The resulting active intermediates can be directly converted into amides or esters in one pot. This simple method makes use of readily available starting materials, and the newly discovered activating reagents should find broad application in the synthesis of amides and esters.