Recent synthetic applications of manganese in organic synthesis

Manganese-promoted reductive cross-coupling of disulfides with dialkyl carbonates

Manganese is a cheap and environmentally friendly metal on Earth. Herein, we report a manganese-promoted reductive cross-coupling using easily available and odorless disulfides as thiolating agents in an excellent 100% sulfur atom economy. The protocol featured a broad substrate scope, including various alkyl disulfides and excellent functional group compatibility, constructing diverse thioethers under simple conditions. Ultimately, thioethers can be prepared in gram-scale reactions and further transformed into structurally complex molecules.

Advances in mercury(II)-salt-mediated cyclization reactions of unsaturated bonds

The synthesis of complex cyclic compounds is extremely challenging for organic chemists. Many transition-metal-salt-mediated cyclizations are reported in literature. Hg(II) salts have been successfully employed in cyclizations to form complex heterocyclic and carbocyclic structures that are impossible to synthesize with other transition metal salts. In this review, we have summarized cyclization reactions that are performed with Hg(II) salts. These salts are also successfully applied in stoichiometric or catalytic amounts to form complex cyclic structures and natural products.

Manganese-mediated reductive functionalization of activated aliphatic acids and primary amines

Alkyl carboxylic acids as well as primary amines are ubiquitous in all facets of biological science, pharmaceutical science, chemical science and materials science. By chemical conversion to redox-active esters (RAE) and Katritzky's N-alkylpyridinium salts, respectively, alkyl carboxylic acids and primary amines serve as ideal starting materials to forge new connections. In this work, a Mn-mediated reductive decarboxylative/deaminative functionalization of activated aliphatic acids and primary amines is disclosed. A series of C-X (X = S, Se, Te, H, P) and C-C bonds are efficiently constructed under simple and mild reaction conditions. The protocol is applicable to the late-stage modification of some structurally complex natural products or drugs. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest the involvement of radicals in the reaction pathway.

Structural and Magnetic Diversity in Alkali-Metal Manganate Chemistry: Evaluating Donor and Alkali-Metal Effects in Co-complexation Processes

By exploring co-complexation reactions between the manganese alkyl Mn(CH2SiMe3)2 and the heavier alkali-metal alkyls M(CH2SiMe3) (M=Na, K) in a benzene/hexane solvent mixture and in some cases adding Lewis donors (bidentate TMEDA, 1,4-dioxane, and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2] octane (DABCO)) has produced a new family of alkali-metal tris(alkyl) manganates. The influences that the alkali metal and the donor solvent impose on the structures and magnetic properties of these ates have been assessed by a combination of X-ray, SQUID magnetization measurements, and EPR spectroscopy. These studies uncover a diverse structural chemistry ranging from discrete monomers [(TMEDA)2 MMn(CH2SiMe3)3] (M=Na, 3; M=K, 4) to dimers [{KMn(CH2SiMe3)3 ⋅C6 H6}2] (2) and [{NaMn(CH2SiMe3)3}2 (dioxane)7] (5); and to more complex supramolecular networks [{NaMn(CH2SiMe3)3}∞] (1) and [{Na2Mn2 (CH2SiMe3)6 (DABCO)2}∞] (7)). Interestingly, the identity of the alkali metal exerts a significant effect in the reactions of 1 and 2 with 1,4-dioxane, as 1 produces coordination adduct 5, while 2 forms heteroleptic [{(dioxane)6K2Mn2 (CH2SiMe3)4(O(CH2)2OCH=CH2)2}∞] (6) containing two alkoxide-vinyl anions resulting from α-metalation and ring opening of dioxane. Compounds 6 and 7, containing two spin carriers, exhibit antiferromagnetic coupling of their S=5/2 moments with varying intensity depending on the nature of the exchange pathways.

Mn(OAc)3-mediated arylation–lactonization of alkenoic acids: synthesis of γ,γ-disubstituted butyrolactones

A general method for the synthesis of γ,γ-disubstituted butyrolactones via an arylation–lactonization of alkenoic acids process has been developed.

Mn(OAc)3-mediated phosphonation–lactonization of alkenoic acids: synthesis of phosphono-γ-butyrolactones

A new, general method for the synthesis of phosphono-γ-butyrolactones has been achieved through Mn(OAc)₃-mediated radical oxidative phosphonation and lactonization of alkenoic acids withH-phosphonates andH-phosphine oxide.

Mn(0)-mediated chemoselective reduction of aldehydes. Application to the synthesis of α-deuterioalcohols

A mild, simple, safe, chemoselective reduction of different kinds of aldehydes to the corresponding alcohols mediated by the Mn dust/water system is described. In addition to this, the use of D(2)O leads to the synthesis of α-deuterated alcohols and constitutes an efficient, inexpensive alternative for the preparation of these compounds.