Silver Supported Nanoparticles on [Mg4 Al-LDH] as an Efficient Catalyst for the α-Alkylation of Nitriles, Oxindoles and Other Carboxylic Acid Derivatives with Alcohols

An efficient heterogeneous silver-catalyzed α-alkylation of nitriles and oxindoles using alcohols via borrowing hydrogen strategy has been developed for the first time. The active nanostructured material, namely [Ag/Mg4 Al-LDH], composed by silver nanoparticles (3-4 nm average particle size) homogeneously stabilized onto a [Mg4 Al-LDH] support with suitable Brønsted basic properties, constitutes a stable catalyst for the sustainable building of novel C-C bonds from alcohols and C-nucleophiles. By applying this catalyst, a broad range of α-functionalized nitriles and oxindoles has been accessed with good to excellent isolated yields and without the addition of external bases. Moreover, the novel silver nanocatalyst has also demonstrated its successful application to the cyclization of N-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]-2-phenylacetamides to afford 3-arylquinolin-2(1H)-ones, through a one-pot dehydrogenation and intramolecular α-alkylation. Control experiments, kinetic studies, and characterization data of a variety of [Ag/LDH]-type materials confirmed the silver role in the dehydrogenation and hydrogenation steps, while [Mg4 Al-LDH] matrix is able to catalyze condensation. Interestingly, these studies suggest as key point for the successful activity of [Ag/Mg4 Al-LDH], in comparison with other [Ag/LDH]-type nanocatalysts, the suitable acid-base properties of this material.

A nickel phosphide nanoalloy catalyst for the C-3 alkylation of oxindoles with alcohols

Although transition metal phosphides are well studied as electrocatalysts and hydrotreating catalysts, the application of metal phosphides in organic synthesis is rare, and cooperative catalysis between metal phosphides and supports remains unexplored. Herein, we report that a cerium dioxide-supported nickel phosphide nanoalloy (nano-Ni₂P/CeO₂) efficiently promoted the C-3 alkylation of oxindoles with alcohols without any additives through the borrowing hydrogen methodology. Oxindoles were alkylated with various alcohols to provide the corresponding C-3 alkylated oxindoles in high yields. This is the first catalytic system for the C-3 alkylation of oxindoles with alcohols using a non-precious metal-based heterogeneous catalyst. The catalytic activity of nano-Ni₂P/CeO₂ was comparable to that reported for precious metal-based catalysts. Moreover, nano-Ni₂P/CeO₂ was easily recoverable and reusable without any significant loss of activity. Control experiments revealed that the Ni₂P nanoalloy and the CeO₂ support functioned cooperatively, leading to a high catalytic performance.

Iron-Catalyzed Borrowing Hydrogen C-Alkylation of Oxindoles with Alcohols

A general and efficient iron-catalyzed C-alkylation of oxindoles has been developed. This borrowing hydrogen approach employing a (cyclopentadienone)iron carbonyl complex (2 mol %) exhibited a broad reaction scope, allowing benzylic and simple primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols to be employed as alkylating agents. A variety of oxindoles underwent selective mono-C3-alkylation in good-to-excellent isolated yields (28 examples, 50-92 % yield, 79 % average yield).

Ru-Catalyzed dehydrogenative synthesis of antimalarial arylidene oxindoles

Ru(ii)-NHC catalyzes α-olefination of 2-oxindoles using diaryl methanols in the absence of an acceptor. A wide array of symmetrical and unsymmetrical diaryl methanols undergoes dehydrogenative coupling with 2-oxindole selectively to generate various substituted 3-(diphenylmethylene)indolin-2-one derivatives in good yields and produces environmentally benign by-products, H2 and H2O. This methodology was successfully applied for the synthesis of a bioactive drug i.e. TAS-301. The biological activities of the synthesized 3-(diphenylmethylene)indolin-2-one derivatives were screened against the Plasmodium falciparum parasite and found to exhibit a significant activity with IC50 = 2.24 μM.

Divergent reactions of oxindoles with amino alcohols via the borrowing hydrogen process: oxindole ring opening vs. C3 alkylation

Oxindoles react with N-acetyl amino alcohols to form tryptamine-derived oxindoles, whereas analogous reactions with N-alkyl amino alcohols lead to lactam formation via a relatively mild borrowing hydrogen process.

Preparation of pyridyltriazole ruthenium complexes as effective catalysts for the selective alkylation and one-pot C–H hydroxylation of 2-oxindole with alcohols and mechanism exploration

Pyridyltriazole-ligated ruthenium(ii) complexes have been designed and synthesized, which were characterized by X-ray crystallography.

Ru-NHC Catalyzed Domino Reaction of Carbonyl Compounds and Alcohols: A Short Synthesis of Donaxaridine

Direct α-alkylation of amides and the synthesis of C3-alkylated 3-hydroxyindolin-2-one/2-substituted-2-hydroxy-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one derivatives from 2-oxindole/1-teralone were reported using primary alcohols in the presence of Ru-NHC catalyst in a one pot condition under the borrowing hydrogen method. In the case of inert conditions, 2-oxindole/1-teralone exclusively forms the C3-alkylated product. Whereas, allowing this reaction mixture to occur under an air atmosphere predominantly forms C3-alkylated 3-hydroxyindolin-2-one via domino C-H alkylation and aerobic C-H hydroxylation. This Ru-NHC catalyst is easily accessible, air stable, and phosphine free. Using this method, synthesis of 2-oxindole based natural products such as Donaxaridine was accomplished.

Ruthenium-catalyzed direct α-alkylation of amides using alcohols

The Ru-catalyzed (0.1 mol%) direct α-alkylation of amides using alcohols is reported.