Aqueous-MediatedN-Alkylation of Amines

meta-C-H Arylation of Aniline Derivatives via Palladium/ S,O-Ligand/Norbornene Cooperative Catalysis

Aromatic amines are ubiquitous moieties in organic molecules and their direct functionalization is of great interest in many research areas due to their prevalence in pharmaceuticals and organic electronics. While several synthetic tools exist for the ortho- and para-functionalization of anilines, the functionalization of the less reactive meta-position is not easy to achieve with current methods. To date, the meta-C-H arylation of aniline derivatives has been restricted to either the use of directing groups & templates, or their transformation into anilides & quaternary anilinium salts. Herein, we report the first general and efficient meta-C-H-arylation of non-directed aniline derivatives via cooperative catalysis with a palladium-S,O-ligand-norbornene system. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions with a wide range of aniline derivatives and aryl iodides, while being operationally simple and scalable. Our preliminary mechanistic investigation-including the isolation of several palladium complexes and deuterium experiments-reveal useful insights into the substituent-effects of both the aniline-substrate and the norbornene-mediator during the meta-C-H activation step.

Recent Advances in Synthetic Routes to Azacycles

A heterocycle is an important structural scaffold of many organic compounds found in pharmaceuticals, materials, agrochemicals, and biological processes. Azacycles are one of the most common motifs of a heterocycle and have a variety of applications, including in pharmaceuticals. Therefore, azacycles have received significant attention from scientists and a variety of methods of synthesizing azacycles have been developed because their efficient synthesis plays a vital role in the production of many useful compounds. In this review, we summarize recent approaches to preparing azacycles via different methods as well as describe plausible reaction mechanisms.

Decarboxylative tandem C-N coupling with nitroarenes via SH2 mechanism

Aromatic tertiary amines are one of the most important classes of organic compounds in organic chemistry and drug discovery. It is difficult to efficiently construct tertiary amines from primary amines via classical nucleophilic substitution due to consecutive overalkylation. In this paper, we have developed a radical tandem C-N coupling strategy to efficiently construct aromatic tertiary amines from commercially available carboxylic acids and nitroarenes. A variety of aromatic tertiary amines can be furnished in good yields (up to 98%) with excellent functional group compatibility under mild reaction conditions. The use of two different carboxylic acids also allows for the concise synthesis of nonsymmetric aromatic tertiary amines in satisfactory yields. Mechanistic studies suggest the intermediacy of the arylamine–(TPP)Fe(III) species and might provide a possible evidence for an S_H2 (bimolecular homolytic substitution) pathway in the critical C-N bond formation step.

Aromatic tertiary amines are versatile building blocks in organic synthesis. In this article, the authors report on an iron-catalysed reaction for the decarboxylative C-N coupling from carboxylic acids and nitroarenes, leading to non-symmetric tertiary aromatic amines.

Facile tin(II)-catalyzed synthesis of N-heterocycles from dicarboxylic acids and arylamines

A novel efficient transformation reaction of dicarboxylic acids into N-aryl-substituted azacycles is described. In this synthetic procedure, both catalytic SnCl₂ and phenylsilane were used as crucial reagents for reaction of arylamines with dicarboxylic acids to produce the desired azacycles. Using this SnCl₂-catalyzed synthetic method, various N-aryl-substituted azacycles were successfully prepared from arylamines with dicarboxylic acids in high yield. This practical synthetic method using catalytic SnCl₂ can provide a useful approach for preparation of the desired azacycle products from many available dicarboxylic acid starting materials.

Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based detection of half nitrogen mustards in plasma as a new biomarker of nitrogen mustard exposure

The development and optimization of an analytical method for the detection and identification of reactive metabolite of organochlorine chemical warfare agent nitrogen mustards (NMs), 2-[(2-chloroethyl)(alkyl)amino]ethanol (CEAAE), known as half nitrogen mustard, in blood samples is presented, herein. In this study, half nitrogen mustards in plasma are presented as a new and unambiguous biomarker of NM exposure since the fully hydrolyzed product, i.e., amino alcohols, are common industrial chemicals that can be present as such without getting exposed to NMs. Thus, the detection of half nitrogen mustard as a biomarker holds great significance for verification by the Chemical Weapon Convention (CWC) and will also be helpful in understanding the pharmacokinetics of NM-based chemotherapeutic pro-drugs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the detection of half nitrogen mustards in any matrice, including plasma. A very simple sample preparation protocol was developed for its extraction from plasma samples. Heptafluorobutyrylation and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in the positive chemical ionization mode were developed for the detection and identification of halfNMs. The developed method has shown excellent analytical figures of merits such as a wide range of linearity (1.0-50 ng mL^-1), low limit of detection (0.3-0.5 ng mL^-1), and low limit of quantification (1.0 ng mL^-1). The interday and intraday reproducibilities were also less than 15%. The developed method was successfully applied to real-world samples; in vitro human plasma was spiked with ∼1 ng mL^-1 of all the NMs and in vivo studies were done with rats intravenously exposed to 1 × LD₅₀ of bis(2-chloroethyl)methylamine (HN2).

Pd/TiO2-Photocatalyzed Self-Condensation of Primary Amines To Afford Secondary Amines at Ambient Temperature

Symmetric secondary amines were synthesized by the self-condensation of primary amines over a palladium-loaded titanium dioxide (Pd/TiO₂) photocatalyst. The reactions afforded a series of secondary amines in moderate to excellent isolated yields at ambient temperature (30 °C, in cyclopentyl methyl ether). Applicability for one-pot pharmaceutical synthesis was demonstrated by a photocatalytic reaction sequence of self-condensation of an amine followed by N-alkylation of the resulting secondary amine with an alcohol.

N-Methylation of ortho-substituted aromatic amines with methanol catalyzed by 2-arylbenzo[d]oxazole NHC–Ir(iii) complexes

By the modification on benzo[d]oxazolyl-NHC-ligated cyclometalated Ir complexes, the N-methylation of ortho-substituted aromatic amines with methanol was remarkably improved.

N-Monomethylation of Aromatic Amines with Methanol via PNHP-Pincer Ru Catalysts

The use of methanol for the selective methylation of aromatic amines with RuHCl(CO)(PN^HP) (PN^HP = bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)amine) is reported. Various aromatic amines were transformed into their corresponding monomethylated secondary amines in high yields at 150 °C with a very low catalyst loading (0.02-0.1 mol %) in the presence of KO ^tBu (20-60 mol %). The catalyst precursor, RuHCl(CO)(PN^HP), was converted to [RuH(CO)₂(PN^HP)]⁺ under the catalytic conditions and also serves as a highly effective catalyst. The robustness of this catalyst contributes to its outstanding catalytic activity, even under reaction conditions, in which CO is liberated from methanol.

A new water-soluble polythiophene derivative as a probe for real-time monitoring adenosine 5'-triphosphatase activity in lysosome of living cells

Detection of the adenosine 5'-triphosphatase (ATPase) activity in lysosome of living cells is of great importance for clinical diagnosis of many related diseases, including cancer. In this work, a new water-soluble polythiophene derivative named ZnPT bearing both quaternary ammonium salt groups and dipicolylamine-Zn²⁺ (DPA-Zn²⁺) complexes in its side chain, was designed and synthesized for this propose. The probe mainly localized to lysosome with good biocompatibility and membrane penetration. The real-time, continuous, direct, and label-free assays were achieved through a fluorescence "turn-on" mode by taking advantages of the reaction specificity of ATPase with ATP and the high binding selectivity of ZnPT toward ATP substrate over its hydrolysis product (ADP). This well designed strategy should provide a facile and effective way for investigating ATPase-relevant biological processes.

Titanium tetrachloride-mediated synthesis of N-aryl-substituted azacycles from cyclic ethers

Five- and six-membered N-aryl-substituted azacycles were synthesized from amines and cyclic ethers under mild conditions while no expensive metal reagent was required.

Interfacial hydrogenation and deamination of nitriles to selectively synthesize tertiary amines

A novel one-pot method has been developed for the interfacial hydrogenation of nitriles to synthesize asymmetrical tertiary amines. The active Pt NWs allow for the preparation of a series of tertiary amines in excellent yields (up to 99.0%) and a mixed solvent is vital for the adjustment of the yield. And also, the reaction proceeded under mild conditions and is environmentally friendly.

Highly efficient and eco-friendly synthesis of tertiary amines by reductive alkylation of aldehydes with secondary amines over a Pt nanowires catalyst

A highly efficient and environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of tertiary amines by direct interaction of aldehydes with secondary amines was reported over a Pt NWs catalyst under mild reaction conditions.

Insight into luminescence enhancement of coordinated water-containing lanthanide metal–organic frameworks by guest molecules

The luminescence of novel metal–organic frameworks can be enhanced and reversibly modified by different guest molecules.

Ruthenium-catalyzed N-alkylation of amines with alcohols under mild conditions using the borrowing hydrogen methodology

Using a simple amino amide ligand, ruthenium-catalyzed one-pot alkylation of primary and secondary amines with simple alcohols was carried out under a wide range of conditions. Using the alcohol as solvent, alkylation was achieved under mild conditions, even as low as room temperature. Reactions occurred with high conversion and selectivity in many cases. Reactions can also be carried out at high temperatures in organic solvent with high selectivity using stoichiometric amounts of the alcohol.

N¹,N¹-Dimethyl-N³-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenethyl)propane-1,3-diamine, a new lead for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis

The natural product, convolutamine I (1), has anti-trypanosomal activity however it has a high molecular weight of 473 due to a presence of 3 bromine atoms. The synthesis of the natural product convolutamine I (1) together with its analogues are presented. A SAR study against Trypanosoma brucei brucei led to compounds with improved physico-chemical properties: lower molecular weight and lower log P while maintaining potency (with a slight 2-fold improvement).

Ultrasound-assisted solventless synthesis of amines by in situ oxidation/reductive amination of benzyl halides

Ultrasound-assisted solventless oxidation/reductive amination of benzyl halides was developed as a facile, efficient, and environmentally friendly method toward N-alkylated amines.

K10 montmorillonite clays as environmentally benign catalysts for organic reactions

This perspective summarizes the catalytic activity of K10 montmorillonite as a multifunctional catalyst for organic reactions.

Synthesis of N-aryl substituted, five- and six-membered azacycles using aluminum-amide complexes

N-Aryl substituted, five- and six-membered azacycles, isoindoles and tetrahydroisoquinolines, were synthesized from the reaction of corresponding cyclic ethers (n = 1, 2) with dimethylaluminum-amide reagents.

Highly efficient heterogeneous gold-catalyzed direct synthesis of tertiary and secondary amines from alcohols and urea

Urea, the white gold: The efficient synthesis of tertiary and secondary amines is achieved by heterogeneous gold-catalyzed direct amination of stoichiometric alcohols with urea in good to excellent yields. Via a hydrogen autotransfer pathway, the reactions of primary alcohols with urea give tertiary amines exclusively, while secondary alcohols selectively afford secondary amines.

A versatile and practical microwave-assisted synthesis of sterically hindered N-arylpiperazines

A wide-ranging and practical synthesis of structurally diverse, sterically hindered N-arylpiperazines from 2,2'-(4-nitrophenylsulfonylazanediyl) bis(ethane-2,1-diyl) bis(4-nitrobenzenesulfonate) and substituted anilines has been achieved using microwave irradiation in acetonitrile followed by deprotection with PhSH.