A Proline-Based Artificial Enzyme That Favors Aldol Condensation Enables Facile Synthesis of Aliphatic Ketones via Tandem Catalysis

A proline-based artificial enzyme is prepared by grafting the l-proline moieties onto the surface of bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The artificial enzyme, the BSA-PolyProline conjugate, prefers to catalyze the formation of unsaturated ketones rather than β-hydroxy ketones in the reaction between acetone and aldehydes, which is difficult to achieve in free-proline catalysis. The altered reaction selectivity is ascribed to the locally concentrated l-proline moieties surrounding the BSA molecule, indicating a microenvironmental effect-induced switching of the reaction mechanism. Taking advantage of this selectivity, we used this artificial enzyme in conjunction with a natural enzyme, old yellow enzyme 1 (OYE1), to demonstrate a simple synthesis of different aliphatic ketones from acetone and aldehydes via tandem catalysis.

Efficient synthesis of α,β-dichlorinated ketones from α,β-dichlorinated Weinreb amides through a simple work-up procedure

An efficient synthesis of α,β-dichlorinated ketones from α,β-dichlorinated Weinreb amides is described. Quenching with nonaqueous HCl avoided side reactions associated with typical work-up procedures. The amide reacted with various nucleophiles to give the corresponding ketones in high yields. A novel reactivity of the Weinreb amide is also discussed.

Direct Synthesis of Tri-/Difluoromethyl Ketones from Carboxylic Acids by Cross-Coupling with Acyloxyphosphonium Ions

A simple and straightforward approach to the synthesis of trifluoromethyl and difluoromethyl ketones from widely available carboxylic acids is disclosed. The transformation utilizes an acyloxyphosphonium ion as the active electrophile, conveniently generated in situ from the carboxylic acid substrate by using commodity chemicals. The utility of the reaction system is exemplified by its chemoselectivity, with tolerance to a variety of important functional groups. The late-stage functionalization of carboxylic acid active pharmaceutical ingredients and pharmaceutically relevant compounds is also discussed.

Direct electrochemical hydrodefluorination of trifluoromethylketones enabled by non-protic conditions

CF₂H groups are unique due to the combination of their lipophilic and hydrogen bonding properties. The strength of H-bonding is determined by the group to which it is appended. Several functional groups have been explored in this context including O, S, SO and SO₂ to tune the intermolecular interaction. Difluoromethyl ketones are under-studied in this context, without a broadly accessible method for their preparation. Herein, we describe the development of an electrochemical hydrodefluorination of readily accessible trifluoromethylketones. The single-step reaction at deeply reductive potentials is uniquely amenable to challenging electron-rich substrates and reductively sensitive functionality. Key to this success is the use of non-protic conditions enabled by an ammonium salt that serves as a reductively stable, masked proton source. Analysis of their H-bonding has revealed difluoromethyl ketones to be potentially highly useful dual H-bond donor/acceptor moieties.

The electrochemical hydrodefluorination of trifluoromethylketones under non-protic conditions make this single-step reaction at deeply reductive potentials uniquely amenable to challenging electron-rich substrates and reductively sensitive functionalities.

Solvent-Switched Oxidation Selectivities with O2 : Controlled Synthesis of α-Difluoro(thio)methylated Alcohols and Ketones

The solvent-switched hydroxylation and oxygenation of α-difluoro(thio)methylated carbanions with molecular oxygen under mild conditions are reported. This strategy tames the redox reactions of the in situ generated hydroperoxy difluoromethylsulfides, in which solvent-bonding can alter their reactivity and switch the oxidation selectivities. These controllable three-component reactions of gem-difluoroalkenes, thiols and molecular oxygen afford various useful α-difluoro(thio)methylated alcohols and ketones in high yields. Significantly, this protocol has been applied in the synthesis different bioactive molecules. Mechanism studies enable the detection of the hydroperoxy difluoromethylsulfide intermediates and exclude the thiol-based radical pathway.

Synthetic Routes Towards the Synthesis of Geminal α-Difunctionalized Ketones

The importance of gem-difunctionalized ketones is represented by their broad applications across chemical boundaries over recent years. The interesting reactivities that this class of compounds possess have made them ideal building blocks to access high-value organic molecules. Furthermore, the gem-difunctionalized ketone moiety has featured in numerous bioactive molecules. For these reasons, a plethora of routes to access such significant molecules have been developed by research groups worldwide - this account looks at delineating the synthesis of gem-difunctionalized ketones from carbonyl substrates, diazo compounds, sulfur ylides and alkynyl reactants.

Iridium-Catalyzed C-H Amination of Weinreb Amides: A Facile Pathway toward Anilines and Quinazolin-2,4-diones

C-H amination of arenes directed by weakly coordinating Weinreb amides has been achieved with an iridium catalyst and 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl (Troc) azide as an aminating agent, providing a robust method of producing synthetic useful ortho-TrocNH aryl Weinreb amides. Taking advantage of the reactivity of Weinreb amide and Troc groups in the amination products, selective hydrolysis was achieved as an attractive process for the synthesis of ortho-NH₂ aryl Weinreb amides, which are the building blocks useful in the synthesis of bioactive compounds, and cascade aminocyclization with primary amines was successful and provided an efficient pathway for the construction of quinazolin-2,4-diones, which are present in various alkaloids and natural products.

Access to Aryl and Heteroaryl Trifluoromethyl Ketones from Aryl Bromides and Fluorosulfates with Stoichiometric CO

We report a sequential one-pot preparation of aromatic trifluoromethyl ketones starting from readily accessible aryl bromides and fluorosulfates, the latter easily prepared from the corresponding phenols. The methodology utilizes low pressure carbon monoxide generated ex situ from COgen to generate Weinreb amides as reactive intermediates that undergo monotrifluoromethylation affording the corresponding aromatic trifluoromethyl ketones (TFMKs) in good yields. The stoichiometric use of CO enables the possibility for accessing ¹³C-isotopically labeled TFMK by switching to the use of ¹³COgen.

Direct and Chemoselective Synthesis of Tertiary Difluoroketones via Weinreb Amide Homologation with a CHF2-Carbene Equivalent

The homologation of Weinreb amides into difluoromethylketones with a formal nucleophilic CHF₂ transfer agent is reported. Activating TMSCHF₂ with potassium tert-amylate enables a convenient access to the difluorinated homologation reagent, which adds to the acylating partners. The high chemoselectivity showcased in the presence of variously multifunctionalized Weinreb amides, jointly with uniformly high yields, enables the strategy of general applicability without requiring any stabilization element for the putative carbanion.

Radical α,β-Dehydrogenation of Saturated Amides via α-Oxidation with TEMPO under Transition Metal-Free Conditions

A transition metal-free radical process for the selective α,β-dehydrogenation of saturated amides under mild conditions is developed. Utilizing radical activation strategy, the challenging issue associated with the low α-acidity of amides is resolved. For the first time, α,β-unsaturated Weinreb amides and acrylamides could be efficiently prepared directly from corresponding saturated amides. Mechanistic studies confirm the radical nature of this transformation. Two gram scale α,β-dehydrogenation have also been performed to demonstrate the utility of this method.