Oxo-Thiolation of Cationically Polymerizable Alkenes Using Flow Microreactors

Convergent approach for direct cross-coupling enabled by flash irreversible generation of cationic and anionic species

In biosynthesis multiple kinds of reactive intermediates are generated, transported, and reacted across different parts of organisms, enabling highly sophisticated synthetic reactions. Herein we report a convergent synthetic approach, which utilizes dual intermediates of cationic and carbanionic species in a single step, hinted at by the ideal reaction conditions. By reactions of unsaturated precursors, such as enamines, with a superacid in a flow microreactor, cationic species, such as iminium ions, are generated rapidly and irreversibly, and before decomposition, they are transported to react with rapidly and independently generated carbanions, enabling direct C-C bond formation. Taking advantage of the reactivity of these double reactive intermediates, the reaction take place within a few seconds, enabling synthetic reactions which are not applicable in conventional reactions.

External Flash Generation of Carbenoids Enables Monodeuteration of Dihalomethanes

In this study, incorporation of one deuterium atom was achieved by H-D exchange of one of the two identical methylene protons in various dihalomethanes (halogen=Cl, Br, and I) through a rapid-mixing microflow reaction of lithium diisopropylamide as a strong base and deuterated methanol as a deuteration reagent. Generation of highly unstable carbenoid intermediate and suppression of its decomposition were successfully controlled under high flow-rate conditions. Monofunctionalization of diiodomethane afforded various building blocks composed of boryl, stannyl, and silyl groups. The monodeuterated diiodomethane, which served as a deuterated C1 source, was subsequently subjected to diverted functionalization methods to afford various products including biologically important molecules bearing isotope labelling at specific positions and homologation products with monodeuteration.

Flash functional group-tolerant biaryl-synthesis based on integration of lithiation, zincation and negishi coupling in flow

We achieved an integration of a lithiation of aryl bromides, a zincation of thus-generated aryllithiums, and a Negishi coupling of the arylzinc with an aryl halide in one flow. Taking advantages of flow microreactors, biaryls bearing a wide range of functional groups, especially biaryls bearing multiple electrophilic-functionalities were synthesized.

Investigation of Parameter Control for Electrocatalytic Semihydrogenation in a Proton-Exchange Membrane Reactor Utilizing Bayesian Optimization

Owing to its applicability in sustainable engineering, flow electrochemical synthesis in a proton-exchange membrane (PEM) reactor has attracted considerable attention. Because the reactions in PEM reactors are performed under electro-organic and flow-synthetic conditions, a higher number of reaction parameters exist compared to ordinary reactions. Thus, the optimization of such reactions requires significant amounts of energy, time, chemical and human resources. Herein, we show that the optimization of alkyne semihydrogenation in PEM reactors can be facilitated by means of Bayesian optimization, an applied mathematics strategy. Applying the optimized conditions, we also demonstrate the generation of a deuterated Z-alkene.

Switchable Chemoselectivity of Reactive Intermediates Formation and Their Direct Use in A Flow Microreactor

A chemoselectivity switchable microflow reaction was developed to generate reactive and unstable intermediates. The switchable chemoselectivity of this reaction enables a selection for one of two different intermediates, an aryllithium or a benzyl lithium, at will from the same starting material. Starting from bromo-substituted styrenes, the aryllithium intermediates were converted to the substituted styrenes, whereas the benzyl lithium intermediates were engaged in an anionic polymerization. These chemoselectivity-switchable reactions can be integrated to produce polymers that cannot be formed during typical polymerization reactions.

A Synthetic Approach to Dimetalated Arenes Using Flow Microreactors and the Switchable Application to Chemoselective Cross-Coupling Reactions

In spite of their potential utility, the chemistry of dimetalated arenes is still in its infancy because they are extremely difficult to synthesize. We report a novel method of synthesizing arenes bearing a boryl group and a metallic substituent, such as boryl, silyl, stannyl, or zincyl groups, in an integrated flow microreactor based on the generation and reactions of aryllithiums bearing a trialkyl borate moiety. The bimetallic arenes showed a remarkable chemoselectivity in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. The selectivity was switched by the selection of the metal species that constitutes the dimetalated arenes as well as appropriate catalysts.