Transition Metal-Catalyzed Transformations of Chalcones

Chalcones are a class of naturally occurring flavonoid compounds associated to a variety of biological and pharmacological properties. Several reviews have been published describing the synthesis and biological properties of a vast array of analogues. However, overviews on the reactivity of chalcones has only been explored in a few accounts. To fill this gap, a systematic survey on the most recent developments in the transition metal-catalyzed transformation of chalcones was performed. The chemistry of copper, palladium, zinc, iron, manganese, nickel, ruthenium, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, silver, indium, gold, titanium, platinum, among others, as versatile catalysts will be highlighted, covering the literature from year 2000 to 2023, in more than 380 publications.

Transition metal complexes of monodentate 2-oxazolines containing long chain alkyl groups. The crystal structure of trans-PdCl2(κ 1-N-rac-2-heptadecyl-4,5-dihydro-5-methyl-2-oxazole)2

The synthesis, characterisation and properties of several divalent metal complexes (Co, Ni, Pd) containing 2-oxazoline ligands L1–L3, appended with long chain alkyl and/or ester groups, is reported. The X-ray crystal structure aspects of one such complex, trans-PdCl2(rac-2-heptadecyl-4,5-dihydro-5-methyl-2-oxazole)2 (i.e. PdCl2(L1)2: 3), is described. This latter material contains one of the longest alkyl chains to be crystallographically characterised appended to an oxazoline ligand. The complexes reported herein represent the first transition metal derivatives of these high molecular weight, long chain and presumably low polarity monodentate oxazoline ligands. A combination of spectral and theoretical calculations (semi-empirical PM6(tm) level of theory) are used to support the proposed structure in the case of the hydrates of NiCl2 and CoBr2 complexes derived from L1. A trio of PdCl2 complexes of the ligand set are likewise detailed. Complex 3 is shown to be a useful pre-catalyst for the promotion of a Heck coupling reaction between bromobenzene and styrene under typical conditions.

4,5-Dihydro-cyclo-penta-[b]thio-phen-6-one

The title compound, C(7)H(6)OS, crystallizes with two similar mol-ecules, 1 and 2, in the asymmetric unit. Both mol-ecules are essentially planar with r.m.s. deviations of 0.0193 and 0.0107 Å for the planes through the nine non-H atoms of mol-ecules 1 and 2, respectively. The thio-phene and 4,5-dihydro-cyclo-penta-dienone rings are inclined at 2.40 (13)° in 1 and 0.64 (13)° in 2. In the crystal structure π-π [3.6542 (17) Å] and C-H⋯π contacts stack the mol-ecules into columns in an inverse fashion along the b axis. An extensive series of C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds links the columns, generating an extended network structure.

Ethyl 5-hy-droxy-6-oxo-4-phenyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclo-penta-[b]thio-phene-5-carboxyl-ate

In the title mol-ecule, C(16)H(14)O(4)S, the dihydro-cyclo-penta-thio-phenone ring system is almost planar, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.060 Å from the best fit plane through all nine non-H atoms. The cyclo-penta-none ring adopts a severely flattened envelope conformation with the C atom carrying the OH and ethylcarboxylate substituents at the flap. This atom lies only 0.185 (3) Å from the plane through the other four C atoms. The phenyl substituent is inclined at 43.37 (5)° to the dihydro-cyclo-penta-thio-phenone mean plane. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by pairs of O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers with R(2) (2)(10) ring motifs. Weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds also link mol-ecules into chains along c, while an approximately orthogonal set of C-H⋯O contacts form chains along b, resulting in layers lying parallel to (100). Inversion dimers also form through weaker R(2) (2)(12) C-H⋯S contacts, which combine with C-H⋯O contacts to form stacks along b.

Recent advances in enantioselective copper-catalyzed 1,4-addition

A comprehensive overview of recent literature from 2003 concerning advances in enantioselective copper catalysed 1,4-addition of organometallic reagents to alpha,beta-unsaturated compounds is given in this critical review. About 200 ligands and catalysts are presented, with a focus on stereoselectivities, catalyst loading, ligand structure and substrate scope. A major part is devoted to trapping and tandem reactions and a variety of recent synthetic applications are used to illustrate the practicality and current state of the art of 1,4-addition of organometallic reagents. Finally several mechanistic studies are discussed (162 references).

An exceptional P-H phosphonite: biphenyl-2,2'-bisfenchylchlorophosphite and derived ligands (BIFOPs) in enantioselective copper-catalyzed 1,4-additions

Biphenyl-2,2'-bisfenchol (BIFOL) based chlorophosphite, BIFOP-Cl, exhibits surprisingly high stabilities against hydrolysis as well as hydridic and organometallic nucleophiles. Chloride substitution in BIFOP-Cl proceeds only under drastic conditions. New enantiopure, sterically demanding phosphorus ligands such as a phosphoramidite, a phosphite and a P-H phosphonite (BIFOP-H) are hereby accessible. In enantioselective Cu-catalyzed 1,4-additions of ZnEt2 to 2-cyclohexen-1-one, this P-H phosphonite (yielding 65% ee) exceeds even the corresponding phosphite and phosphoramidite.