Cyclopropenone-Catalyzed Direct Conversion of Aldoximes and Primary Amides into Nitriles

Organoselenium functionalized SBA-15 as a new catalyst for the cyanide-free conversion of oximes to nitriles

BACKGROUND

Here we report a new selenium-based heterogeneous catalyst, which was prepared from the immobilization of diphenyl diselenide on amine-functionalized Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 (SBA-15). The catalyst characterization study has been confirmed by different analysis methods including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis.

RESULTS

The newly designed catalyst was successfully applied in the green dehydration reaction of oximes to corresponding nitriles in the presence of hydrogen peroxide/air. To demonstrate the role of the catalyst in this study, the model reaction was also carried out in the absence of the catalyst and a trace yield of the relevant product was achieved.

CONCLUSION

In this way, a series of nitrile derivatives were obtained with 72-96% yields, also, the catalyst could be separated easily and recycled for four consecutive runs with no obvious drop in catalytic activity.

Cyclopropenium Ions in Catalysis

Cyclopropenium ions are the smallest class of aromatic compounds, satisfying Hückel's rules of aromaticity with two π electrons within a three-membered ring. First prepared by Breslow in 1957, cyclopropenium ions have been found to possess extraordinary stability despite being both cationic and highly strained. In the 65 years since their first preparation, cyclopropenium ions have been the subject of innumerable studies concerning their synthesis, physical properties, and reactivity. However, prior to our work, the reactivity of these unique carbocations had not been exploited for reaction promotion or catalysis.Over the past 13 years, we have been exploring aromatic ions as unique and versatile building blocks for the development of catalysts for organic chemistry. A major portion of this work has been focused on leveraging the remarkable properties of the smallest of the aromatic ions─cyclopropeniums─as a design element in the invention of highly reactive catalysts. Indeed, because of its unique profile of hydrolytic stability, compact geometry, and relatively easy oxidizability, the cyclopropenium ring has proven to be a highly advantageous construction module for catalyst invention.In this Account, we describe some of our work using cyclopropenium ions as a key element in the design of novel catalysts. First, we discuss our early work aimed at promoting dehydrative reactions, starting with Appel-type chlorodehydrations of alcohols and carboxylic acids, cyclic ether formations, and Beckmann rearrangements and culminating in the realization of catalytic chlorodehydrations of alcohols and a catalytic Mitsunobu-type reaction. Next, we describe the development of cyclopropenimines as strong, neutral organic Brønsted bases and, in particular, the use of chiral cyclopropenimines for enantioselective Brønsted catalysis. We also describe the development of higher-order cyclopropenimine superbases. The use of tris(amino)cyclopropenium (TAC) ions as a novel class of phase-transfer catalysts is discussed for the reaction of epoxides with carbon dioxide. Next, we describe the formation of a cyclopropenone radical cation that has a portion of its spin density on the oxygen atom, leading to some peculiar metal ligand behavior. Finally, we discuss recent work that employs TAC electrophotocatalysts for oxidation reactions. The key intermediate for this chemistry is a TAC radical dication, which as an open-shell photocatalyst has remarkably strong excited-state oxidizing power. We describe the application of this strategy to transformations ranging from the oxidative functionalization of unactivated arenes to the regioselective derivatization of ethers, C-H aminations, vicinal C-H diaminations, and finally aryl olefin dioxygenations. Collectively, these catalytic platforms demonstrate the utility of charged aromatic rings, and cyclopropenium ions in particular, to enable unique advances in catalysis.

Heterocycles from cyclopropenones

Great attention has been paid to cyclopropenones as they are present in many natural sources. Various synthesized cyclopropenone derivatives also show a wide range of biological activities. The cyclopropenone derivatives undergo a variety of reactions such as ring-opening reactions, isomerization reactions, C-C coupling reactions, C-H activation, cycloaddition reactions, thermal and photo-irradiation reactions, and acid-base-catalyzed reactions under the influence of various chemical reagents (electrophiles, nucleophiles, radicals, and organometallics) and external forces (heat and light). Many previous reviews have dealt with the chemistry and reactions of cyclopropenones. However and to the best of our knowledge, the utility of cyclopropenones in the synthesis of heterocycles has not been reported before. Therefore, it would be interesting to shed light on this new topic. The present review article provides, for the first time, a comprehensive compilation of synthetic methods for the synthesis of various heterocyclic ring systems, as a significant family in the field of organic chemistry.

Recent advances in the organocatalytic applications of cyclopropene- and cyclopropenium-based small molecules

The development of novel small molecule-based catalysts for organic transformations has increased noticeably in the last two decades. A very recent addition to this particular research area is cyclopropene- and cyclopropenium-based catalysts. At one point in time, particularly in the mid-20^th century, much attention was focused on the structural aspects and physical properties of cyclopropene-based compounds. However, a paradigm shift was observed in the late 20^th century, and the focus shifted to the synthetic utility of these compounds. In fact, a wide range of cyclopropene derivatives have been found serving as valuable synthons for the construction of carbocycles, heterocycles and other useful organic compounds. In the last few years, the catalytic applications of cyclopropene/cyclopropenium-based compounds have been uncovered and many synthetic protocols have been developed using cyclopropene-based compounds as organocatalysts. Therefore, the main objective of this review is to highlight recent developments in the catalytic applications of cyclopropene-based small molecules in different areas of organocatalysis such as phase-transfer catalysis (PTC), Brønsted base catalysis, hydrogen-bond donor catalysis, nucleophilic carbene catalysis, and electrophotocatalysis developed within the past two decades.

Enantioselective palladium-catalyzed C(sp2)-C(sp2) σ bond activation of cyclopropenones by merging desymmetrization and (3 + 2) spiroannulation with cyclic 1,3-diketones

Catalytic asymmetric variants for functional group transformations based on carbon–carbon bond activation still remain elusive. Herein we present an unprecedented palladium-catalyzed (3 + 2) spiro-annulation merging C(sp²)–C(sp²) σ bond activation and click desymmetrization to form synthetically versatile and value-added oxaspiro products. The operationally straightforward and enantioselective palladium-catalyzed atom-economic annulation process exploits a TADDOL-derived bulky P-ligand bearing a large cavity to control enantioselective spiro-annulation that converts cyclopropenones and cyclic 1,3-diketones into chiral oxaspiro cyclopentenone–lactone scaffolds with good diastereo- and enantio-selectivity. The click-like reaction is a successful methodology with a facile construction of two vicinal carbon quaternary stereocenters and can be used to deliver additional stereocenters during late-state functionalization for the synthesis of highly functionalized or more complex molecules.

An unprecedented palladium-catalyzed (3 + 2) spiro-annulation merging C–C bond activation and desymmetrization was developed for the enantioselective construction of synthetically versatile and value-added oxaspiro products with up to 95% ee.

Metal-free C-H Activation over Graphene Oxide toward Direct Syntheses of Structurally Different Amines and Amides in Water

Unprecedented metal-free synthesis of a variety of amines and amides is reported via amination of C(sp³)-H and C(sp²)-H bonds. The strategy involves graphene-oxide/I₂-catalyzed nitrene insertion using PhINTs as a nitrene (NT) source in water at room temperature. A wide range of structurally different substrates, viz., cyclohexane, cyclic ethers, arenes, alkyl aromatic systems, and aldehydes/ketones, having an α-phenyl ring have been employed successfully to afford the corresponding nitrene insertion product in good yield, albeit low in few cases. The envisaged method has superiority over others in terms of its operational simplicity, metal-free catalysis, use of water as a solvent, ambient reaction conditions, and reusability of the catalyst.

Cu(I)-Induced Activation of Furan for Inverse Electron Demand ADAR with Alkenes toward Regioselective Synthesis of Tetrahydropyridine

The aza-Diels-Alder reaction of various alkenes and in situ formed 1-aza-1,3-dienes from the reaction of furan/pyrrole/thiophene and PhINTs for the regioselective synthesis of tetrahydropyridine (THP) derivatives was realized. The reaction was catalyzed by Tp^Me2Cu as a catalyst under very mild reaction conditions. Structurally different alkenes, along with an alkyne, have been utilized as dienophiles to afford a wide range of different THP derivatives up to 70% yield. The potential application of the envisaged method was also investigated by a gram-scale synthesis.

Recent developments in dehydration of primary amides to nitriles

Various dehydration methods available for the direct conversion of amides to the corresponding nitriles have been reviewed.

A novel aromatic carbocation-based coupling reagent for esterification and amidation reactions

Driven by aromatization: a novel tropylium-based coupling reagent has been developed to facilitate nucleophilic coupling reactions of carboxylic acids.

Organocatalysis: Key Trends in Green Synthetic Chemistry, Challenges, Scope towards Heterogenization, and Importance from Research and Industrial Point of View

This paper purports to review catalysis, particularly the organocatalysis and its origin, key trends, challenges, examples, scope, and importance. The definition of organocatalyst corresponds to a low molecular weight organic molecule which in stoichiometric amounts catalyzes a chemical reaction. In this review, the use of the term heterogenized organocatalyst will be exclusively confined to a catalytic system containing an organic molecule immobilized onto some sort of support material and is responsible for accelerating a chemical reaction. Firstly, a brief description of the field is provided putting it in a green and sustainable perspective of chemistry. Next, research findings on the use of organocatalysts on various inorganic supports including nano(porous)materials, nanoparticles, silica, and zeolite/zeolitic materials are scrutinized in brief. Then future scope, research directions, and academic and industrial applications will be outlined. A succinct account will summarize some of the research and developments in the field. This review tries to bring many outstanding researches together and shows the vitality of the organocatalysis through several aspects.