Barbier Continuous Flow Preparation and Reactions of Carbamoyllithiums for Nucleophilic Amidation

Harnessing a Continuous-Flow Persulfuric Acid Generator for Direct Oxidative Aldehyde Esterifications

Persulfuric acid is a well-known oxidant in various industrial-scale purification procedures. However, due to its tendency toward explosive decomposition, its usefulness in organic synthesis remained largely underexplored. Herein, a continuous in situ persulfuric acid generator was developed and applied for oxidative esterification of aldehydes under flow conditions. Sulfuric acid served as a readily available and benign precursor to form persulfuric acid in situ. By taking advantage of the continuous-flow generator concept, safety hazards were significantly reduced, whilst a robust and effective approach was ensured for direct transformations of aldehydes to valuable esters. The process proved useful for the transformation of diverse aliphatic as well as aromatic aldehydes, while its preparative capability was verified by the multigram-scale synthesis of a pharmaceutically relevant key intermediate. The present flow protocol demonstrates the safe, sustainable, and scalable application of persulfuric acid in a manner that would not be amenable to conventional batch processing.

Preparation of Functionalized Amides Using Dicarbamoylzincs

We report a new convenient preparation of dicarbamoylzincs of type (R¹R²NCO)₂Zn by the treatment of ZnCl₂ and formamides R¹R²NCHO with LiTMP in THF (15 °C, 15 min) or by the reaction of formamides R¹R²NCHO with TMP₂Zn (25 °C, 16 h). This second method tolerates sensitive groups such as an ester, ketone or nitro function. Reaction of these dicarbamoylzincs with allylic, benzylic, aryl, alkenyl bromides, acid chlorides, aldehydes or enones provided various polyfunctional amides in 47–97 % yields. ¹³C NMR characterization of these new carbamoylzinc derivatives is reported.

Photoinduced carbamoylation reactions: unlocking new reactivities towards amide synthesis

The preparation of amide-containing compounds is among the most interesting and challenging topics for the synthetic community. Such relevance is given by their reactive aspects explored in the context of organic synthesis and by the direct application of these compounds as pharmaceuticals and useful materials, and their key roles in biological structures. A simple and straightforward strategy for the amide moiety installation is the use of carbamoyl radicals - this nucleophilic one-electron intermediate is prone to undergo a series of transformations, providing a range of structurally relevant derivatives. In this review, we summarize the latest advances in the field from the perspective of photoinduced protocols. To this end, their synthetic applications are organized accordingly to the nature of the radical precursor (formamides through HAT, 4-substituted-1,4-dihydropyridines, oxamic acids, and N-hydroxyphthalimido esters), the mechanistic aspects also being highlighted. The discussion also includes a recent approach proceeding via photolytic C-S cleavage of dithiocarbamate-carbamoyl intermediates. By exploring fundamental concepts, this material aims to offer an understanding of the topic, which will encourage and facilitate the design of new synthetic strategies applying the carbamoyl radical.

An organophotocatalytic late-stage N–CH3 oxidation of trialkylamines to N-formamides with O2 in continuous flow

We report an organophotocatalytic, N–CH₃-selective oxidation of trialkylamines in continuous flow. Based on the 9,10-dicyanoanthracene (DCA) core, a new catalyst (DCAS) was designed with solubilizing groups for flow processing. This allowed O₂ to be harnessed as a sustainable oxidant for late-stage photocatalytic N–CH₃ oxidations of complex natural products and active pharmaceutical ingredients bearing functional groups not tolerated by previous methods. The organophotocatalytic gas–liquid flow process affords cleaner reactions than in batch mode, in short residence times of 13.5 min and productivities of up to 0.65 g per day. Spectroscopic and computational mechanistic studies showed that catalyst derivatization not only enhanced solubility of the new catalyst compared to poorly-soluble DCA, but profoundly diverted the photocatalytic mechanism from singlet electron transfer (SET) reductive quenching with amines toward energy transfer (E_nT) with O₂.

An N–CH₃-selective trialkylamine oxidation to N-formamides is reported in continuous flow using gaseous O₂. A novel, enhanced-solubility dicyanoanthracene organophotocatalyst switched the photochemical mechanism from electron to energy transfer.

Regioselective Magnesiations and Zincations of Aromatics and Heterocycles Triggered by Lewis Acids

Mixed TMP‐bases (TMP=2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidyl), such as TMPMgCl ⋅ LiCl, TMP₂Mg ⋅ 2LiCl, TMPZnCl ⋅ LiCl and TMP₂Zn ⋅ 2LiCl, are outstanding reagents for the metalation of functionalized aromatics and heterocycles. In the presence of Lewis acids, such as BF₃ ⋅ OEt₂ or MgCl₂, the metalation scope of such bases was dramatically increased, and regioselectivity switches were achieved in the presence or absence of these Lewis acids. Furthermore, highly reactive lithium bases, such as TMPLi or Cy₂NLi, are also compatible with various Lewis acids, such as MgCl₂ ⋅ 2LiCl, ZnCl₂ ⋅ 2LiCl or CuCN ⋅ 2LiCl. Performing such metalations in continuous flow using commercial setups permitted practical and convenient reaction conditions.

Samarium-based Grignard-type addition of organohalides to carbonyl compounds under catalysis of CuI

Grignard-type additions were readily achieved under the mediation of CuI (10 mol%) and samarium (2 equiv.) by employing various organohalides, e.g. benzyl, aryl, heterocyclic and aliphatic halides (Cl, Br or I), and diverse carbonyl compounds (e.g. carbonic esters, carboxylic esters, acid anhydrides, acyl chlorides, ketones, aldehydes, propylene epoxides and formamides) to afford alcohols, ketones and aldehydes, respectively, with high efficiency and chemoselectivity, in which the organosamarium intermediate might be involved.

(2-Ethylhexyl)sodium: A Hexane-Soluble Reagent for Br/Na-Exchanges and Directed Metalations in Continuous Flow

We report the on-demand generation of hexane-soluble (2-ethylhexyl)sodium (1) from 3-(chloromethyl)heptane (2) using a sodium-packed-bed reactor under continuous flow conditions. Thus, the resulting solution of 1 is free of elemental sodium and therefore suited for a range of synthetic applications. This new procedure avoids the storage of an alkylsodium and limits the handling of metallic sodium to a minimum. (2-Ethylhexyl)sodium (1) proved to be a very useful reagent and undergoes in-line Br/Na-exchanges as well as directed sodiations. The resulting arylsodium intermediates are subsequently trapped in batch with various electrophiles such as ketones, aldehydes, Weinreb-amides, imines, allyl bromides, disulfides and alkyl iodides. A reaction scale-up of the Br/Na-exchange using an in-line electrophile quench was also reported.

Preparation and reactions of polyfunctional magnesium and zinc organometallics in organic synthesis

Polyfunctional organometallics of magnesium and zinc are readily prepared from organic halides via a direct metal insertion in the presence of LiCl or a Br/Mg-exchange using iPrMgCl·LiCl (turbo-Grignard) or related reagents. Alternatively, such functionalized organometallics are prepared by metalations with TMP-bases (TMP = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl). The scope of these methods is described as well as applications in new Co- or Fe-catalyzed cross-couplings or aminations. It is shown that the use of a continous flow set-up considerably expands the field of applications of these methods and further allows the preparation of highly reactive organosodium reagents.

Continuous Flow Sodiation of Substituted Acrylonitriles, Alkenyl Sulfides and Acrylates

The sodiation of substituted acrylonitriles and alkenyl sulfides in a continuous flow set-up using NaDA (sodium diisopropylamide) in EtNMe2 or NaTMP (sodium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide)⋅TMEDA in n-hexane provides sodiated acrylonitriles and alkenyl sulfides, which are subsequently trapped in batch with various electrophiles such as aldehydes, ketones, disulfides and allylic bromides affording functionalized acrylonitriles and alkenyl sulfides. This flow-procedure was successfully extended to other acrylates by using Barbier-type conditions.

Continuous-Flow Reactions Mediated by Main Group Organometallics

The generation of reactive organometallic reagents in batch is often complicated by the low thermal stability of these important synthetic intermediates and can require low reaction temperatures and special reaction conditions. However, the use of continuous-flow setups and microreactors has led to a revolution in this field. In this short review, an overview is given of recent advances in this area, with a focus on the main group organometallics of Li, Na, and K.

The Concept of Chemical Generators: On-Site On-Demand Production of Hazardous Reagents in Continuous Flow

In recent years, a steadily growing number of chemists, from both academia and industry, have dedicated their research to the development of continuous flow processes performed in milli- or microreactors. The common availability of continuous flow equipment at virtually all scales and affordable cost has additionally impacted this trend. Furthermore, regulatory agencies such as the United States Food and Drug Administration actively encourage continuous manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with the vision of quality and productivity improvements. That is why the pharmaceutical industry is progressively implementing continuous flow technologies. As a result of the exceptional characteristics of continuous flow reactors such as small reactor volumes and remarkably fast heat and mass transfer, process conditions which need to be avoided in conventional batch syntheses can be safely employed. Thus, continuous operation is particularly advantageous for reactions at high temperatures/pressures (novel process windows) and for ultrafast, exothermic reactions (flash chemistry).

In addition to conditions that are outside of the operation range of conventional stirred tank reactors, reagents possessing a high hazard potential and therefore not amenable to batch processing can be safely utilized (forbidden chemistry). Because of the small reactor volumes, risks in case of a failure are minimized. Such hazardous reagents often are low molecular weight compounds, leading generally to the most atom-, time-, and cost-efficient route toward the desired product. Ideally, they are generated from benign, readily available and cheap precursors within the closed environment of the flow reactor on-site on-demand. By doing so, the transport, storage, and handling of those compounds, which impose a certain safety risk especially on a large scale, are circumvented. This strategy also positively impacts the global supply chain dependency, which can be a severe issue, particularly in times of stricter safety regulations or an epidemic. The concept of the in situ production of a hazardous material is generally referred to as the “generator” of the material. Importantly, in an integrated flow process, multiple modules can be assembled consecutively, allowing not only an in-line purification/separation and quenching of the reagent, but also its downstream conversion to a nonhazardous product.

For the past decade, research in our group has focused on the continuous generation of hazardous reagents using a range of reactor designs and experimental techniques, particularly toward the synthesis of APIs. In this Account, we therefore introduce chemical generator concepts that have been developed in our laboratories for the production of toxic, explosive, and short-lived reagents. We have defined three different classes of generators depending on the reactivity/stability of the reagents, featuring reagents such as Br₂, HCN, peracids, diazomethane (CH₂N₂), or hydrazoic acid (HN₃). The various reactor designs, including in-line membrane separation techniques and real-time process analytical technologies for the generation, purification, and monitoring of those hazardous reagents, and also their downstream transformations are presented. This Account should serve as food for thought to extend the scope of chemical generators for accomplishing more efficient and more economic processes.

Selective Acylation of Aryl- and Heteroarylmagnesium Reagents with Esters in Continuous Flow

A selective acylation of readily accessible organomagnesium reagents with commercially available esters proceeds at convenient temperatures and short residence times in continuous flow. Flow conditions allow us to prevent premature collapse of the hemiacetal intermediates despite noncryogenic conditions, thus furnishing ketones in good yields. Throughout, the coordinating ability of the ester and/or Grignard was crucial for the reaction outcome. This was leveraged by the obtention of several bisaryl ketones using 2-hydroxy ester derivatives as substrates.

Flow Technology for the Genesis and Use of (Highly) Reactive Organometallic Reagents

In the field of organic synthesis, the advent of flow chemistry and flow microreactor technology represented a tremendous novelty in the way of thinking and performing chemical reactions, opening the doors to poorly explored or even impossible transformations using batch methods. In this Concept article, we would like to highlight the impact of flow chemistry for exploiting highly reactive organometallic reagents, and how, alongside the well-known advantages concerning safety, scalability, and productivity, flow chemistry makes possible processes that are impossible to control by using the traditional batch approach.

Generation and Reaction of Functional Alkyllithiums by Using Microreactors and Their Application to Heterotelechelic Polymer Synthesis

Flow microreactors enabled the successful generation of various functional alkyllithiums containing electrophilic functional groups, as well as the use of these alkyllithiums in subsequent reactions. The high reactivity of these series of reactions could be achieved by the extremely accurate and selective control of residence time. Moreover, integrated flow microreactor systems could be used to successfully synthesize heterotelechelic polymers with two functionalities, one at each end, via a process involving controlled anionic polymerization initiated by functional alkyllithium compounds, followed by trapping reactions with difunctional electrophiles.

Sodiation of Arenes and Heteroarenes in Continuous Flow

The first sodiations of (hetero)arenes in continuous flow using NaDA (sodium diisopropylamide) in Me₂ EtN are reported. This flow procedure enables sodiation of functionalized arenes and heteroarenes that decompose under batch-sodiation conditions. The resulting sodiated (hetero)arenes react instantly with various electrophiles, such as ketones, aldehydes, isocyanates, alkyl bromides, and disulfides, affording polyfunctionalized (hetero)arenes in high yields. Scale-up is possible without further optimization.