CC Coupling of Ketones with Methanol Catalyzed by a N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Phosphine Iridium Complex

Alcohols as Substrates in Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Arylation, Alkylation, and Related Reactions

Alcohols are abundant and attractive feedstock molecules for organic synthesis. Many methods for their functionalization require them to first be converted into a more activated derivative, while recent years have seen a vast increase in the number of complexity-building transformations that directly harness unprotected alcohols. This Review discusses how transition metal catalysis can be used toward this goal. These transformations are broadly classified into three categories. Deoxygenative functionalizations, representing derivatization of the C-O bond, enable the alcohol to act as a leaving group toward the formation of new C-C bonds. Etherifications, characterized by derivatization of the O-H bond, represent classical reactivity that has been modernized to include mild reaction conditions, diverse reaction partners, and high selectivities. Lastly, chain functionalization reactions are described, wherein the alcohol group acts as a mediator in formal C-H functionalization reactions of the alkyl backbone. Each of these three classes of transformation will be discussed in context of intermolecular arylation, alkylation, and related reactions, illustrating how catalysis can enable alcohols to be directly harnessed for organic synthesis.

Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed Hydrogenation and Tandem (De)Hydrogenation via Metal-Ligand Cooperation: Base- and Solvent-Assisted Switchable Selectivity

A versatile, selective, solvent (methanol vs ethanol)- and base (potassium vs lithium carbonate)-assisted switchable synthesis of saturated ketone and α-methyl saturated ketone from α,β-unsaturated ketone is developed. Mechanistic aspects, evaluated from spectroscopic studies, in situ monitoring of the reaction progress, control studies, and labeling studies, further indicate the involvement of a tandem dehydrogenation-condensation-hydrogenation sequence in the reaction, in which the interconvertible coordination mode (imino N → Ru and amido N-Ru) of coordinated imidazole with Ru(II)-para-cymene is crucial, without which the efficiency and selectivity of the catalyst are completely lost. The catalyst demonstrates good efficiency, selectivity, and functional group tolerance and displays a broad scope (69 examples) for monomethylation and hydrogenation of unsaturated chalcones, double methylation of ketones, and N-methylation of amines.

Iron-Catalyzed α-Methylation of Ketones Using Methanol as the C1 Source under Photoirradiation

A mild, environmentally benign approach for α-methylation of ketones utilizing methanol as the C1 source under visible light has been developed. The reaction conditions were favorable for a wide range of ketones with both aromatic and aliphatic backbones, allowing for good-to-excellent yields of the respective products. The tentative mechanism is postulated after preliminary mechanistic and kinetic experiments.

Electronically tuneable orthometalated RuII–NHC complexes as efficient catalysts for C–C and C–N bond formations via borrowing hydrogen strategy

A series of simple and electronically tuneable cyclometalated RuII–NHC complexes have been explored as efficient catalysts for various C–C/N bond forming reactions via a BH methodology.

Ru-Catalyzed Selective Catalytic Methylation and Methylenation Reaction Employing Methanol as the C1 Source

Methanol can be employed as a green and sustainable methylating agent to form C-C and C-N bonds via borrowing hydrogen (BH) methodology. Herein we explored the activity of the acridine-derived SNS-Ru pincer for the activation of methanol to apply it as a C1 building block in different reactions. Our catalytic system shows great success toward the β-C(sp³)-methylation reaction of 2-phenylethanols to provide good to excellent yields of the methylated products. We investigated the mechanistic details, kinetic progress, and temperature-dependent product distribution, which revealed the slow and steady generation of in situ formed aldehyde, is the key factor to get the higher yield of the β-methylated product. To establish the environmental benefit of this reaction, green chemistry metrics are calculated. Furthermore, dimerization of 2-naphthol via methylene linkage and formation of N-methylation of amine are also described in this study, which offers a wide range of substrate scope with a good to excellent yield.

Allylic alcohol synthesis by Ni-catalyzed direct and selective coupling of alkynes and methanol

Methanol is an abundant and renewable chemical raw material, but its use as a C1 source in C-C bond coupling reactions still constitutes a big challenge, and the known methods are limited to the use of expensive and noble metal catalysts such as Ru, Rh and Ir. We herein report nickel-catalyzed direct coupling of alkynes and methanol, providing direct access to valuable allylic alcohols in good yields and excellent chemo- and regioselectivity. The approach features a broad substrate scope and high atom-, step- and redox-economy. Moreover, this method was successfully extended to the synthesis of [5,6]-bicyclic hemiacetals through a cascade cyclization reaction of alkynones and methanol.

Selective α-Methylation of Ketones

The convenient and scalable preparative approach for the two-step α-methylation of ketones is described. The optimized protocols for regioselective preparation of enaminones with further diastereoselective and functional groups tolerant hydrogenation to α-methylketones are developed. The scope and limitations of the proposed methodology are discussed. The advantages compared to known procedures are demonstrated. The unexpected role of acetone in the hydrogenation is suggested. The evaluation of the method for both early building block synthesis and late-stage CH-functionalization is shown. The elaborate procedures' preparability and scalability are demonstrated by the synthesis of several α-methyl ketones up to 100 g amount.

Rhenium(I)-Catalyzed C-Methylation of Ketones, Indoles, and Arylacetonitriles Using Methanol

A ReCl(CO)₅/MeC(CH₂PPh₂)₃ (L2) system was developed for the C-methylation reactions utilizing methanol and base, following the borrowing hydrogen strategy. Diverse ketones, indoles, and arylacetonitriles underwent mono- and dimethylation selectively up to 99% yield. Remarkably, tandem multiple methylations were also achieved by employing this catalytic system.

Visible-light-promoted α-methoxymethylation and aminomethylation of ketones with methanol as the C1 source

Visible-light-promoted α-methoxymethylation and aminomethylation of ketones using methanol as a sustainable C1 source have been developed. With rose bengal as the photosensitizer and air as the green oxidant, the methoxymethylation reactions proceeded smoothly under visible light irradiation at ambient temperature. Additionally, a one-pot one-step α-aminomethylation of ketones was achieved by adding N-nucleophiles. Preliminary mechanism studies suggest that the reaction mainly proceeds via a radical pathway.

Ruthenium catalyzed α-methylation of sulfones with methanol as a sustainable C1 source

Methylation of sulfones bearing an α-CH bond can be easily achieved via a one-step, Ru(ii) catalyzed redox neutral reaction using methanol as a sustainable C1 building block.

Recent advances in sustainable organic transformations using methanol: expanding the scope of hydrogen-borrowing catalysis

Recent progress relating to sustainable approaches using methanol as a C1-alkylating agent for C–Me and N–Me bond formation is discussed.

Sustainable and Selective Alkylation of Deactivated Secondary Alcohols to Ketones by Non-bifunctional Pincer N-heterocyclic Carbene Manganese

A sustainable and green route to access diverse functionalized ketones via dehydrogenative-dehydrative cross-coupling of primary and secondary alcohols is demonstrated. This borrowing hydrogen approach employing a pincer N-heterocyclic carbene Mn complex displays high activity and selectivity. A variety of primary and secondary alcohols are well tolerant and result in satisfactory isolated yields. Mechanistic studies suggest that this reaction proceeds via a direct outer-sphere mechanism and the dehydrogenation of the secondary alcohol substrates plays a vital role in the rate-limiting step.

One-Pot Conversion of Allylic Alcohols to α-Methyl Ketones via Iron-Catalyzed Isomerization-Methylation

A one-pot iron-catalyzed conversion of allylic alcohols to α-methyl ketones has been developed. This isomerization-methylation strategy utilized a (cyclopentadienone)iron(0) carbonyl complex as precatalyst and methanol as the C1 source. A diverse range of allylic alcohols undergoes isomerization-methylation to form α-methyl ketones in good isolated yields (up to 84% isolated yield).

Iron-Catalyzed Borrowing Hydrogen β-C(sp3)-Methylation of Alcohols

Herein we report the iron-catalyzed β-C(sp3)-methylation of primary alcohols using methanol as a C1 building block. This borrowing hydrogen approach employs a well-defined bench-stable (cyclopentadienone)iron(0) carbonyl complex as precatalyst (5 mol %) and enables a diverse selection of substituted 2-arylethanols to undergo β-C(sp3)-methylation in good isolated yields (24 examples, 65% average yield).

Manganese catalyzed α-methylation of ketones with methanol as a C1 source

The direct α-methylation of ketones with methanol under hydrogen borrowing conditions using a well-defined manganese PN³P pre-catalyst was, for the first time, achieved.

Nickel-Catalyzed Alkylation of Ketone Enolates: Synthesis of Monoselective Linear Ketones

Herein we have developed a Ni-catalyzed protocol for the synthesis of linear ketones. Aryl, alkyl, and heteroaryl ketones as well as alcohols yielded the monoselective ketones in up to 90% yield. The catalytic protocol was successfully applied in to a gram-scale synthesis. For a practical utility, applications of a steroid derivative, oleyl alcohol, and naproxen alcohol were employed. Preliminary catalytic investigations involving the isolation of a Ni intermediate and defined Ni-H species as well as a series of deuterium-labeling experiments were performed.

Preparation and use of DMF-stabilized iridium nanoclusters as methylation catalysts using methanol as the C1 source

We report methylations of alcohols and anilines catalyzed by DMF-stabilized Ir nanoclusters using methanol as the C1 source. The DMF-stabilized Ir nanoclusters were prepared in one step and have diameters of 1-1.5 nm. They react in a borrowing-hydrogen reaction and are efficient methylation catalysts (TON up to 310 000).

Iridium Clusters Encapsulated in Carbon Nanospheres as Nanocatalysts for Methylation of (Bio)Alcohols

C-H methylation is an attractive chemical transformation for C-C bonds construction in organic chemistry, yet efficient methylation of readily available (bio)alcohols in water using methanol as sustainable C1 feedstock is limited. Herein, iridium nanocatalysts encapsulated in yolk-shell-structured mesoporous carbon nanospheres (Ir@YSMCNs) were synthesized for this transformation. Monodispersed Ir clusters (ca. 1.0 nm) were encapsulated in situ and spatially isolated within YSMCNs by a silica-assisted sol-gel emulsion strategy. A selection of (bio)alcohols (19 examples) was selectively methylated in aqueous phase with good-to-high yields over the developed Ir@YSMCNs. The improved catalytic efficiencies in terms of activity and selectivity together with the good stability and recyclability were contributable to the ultrasmall Ir clusters with oxidation chemical state as a consequence of the confinement effect of YSMCNs with interconnected nanostructures.