Exploiting Coordination Effects for the Regioselective Zincation of Diazines Using TMPZnX⋅LiX (X=Cl, Br)

A new method for regioselective zincations of challenging N-heterocyclic substrates such as pyrimidines and pyridazine was reported using bimetallic bases TMPZnX⋅LiX (TMP=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl; X=Cl, Br). Reactions occurred under mild conditions (25-70 °C, using 1.75 equivalents of base without additives), furnishing 2-zincated pyrimidines and 3-zincated pyridazine, which were then trapped with a variety of electrophiles. Contrasting with other s-block metalating systems, which lack selectivity in their reactions even when operating at low temperatures, these mixed Li/Zn bases enabled unprecedented regioselectivities that cannot be replicated by either LiTMP nor Zn(TMP)₂ on their own. Spectroscopic and structural interrogations of organometallic intermediates involved in these reactions have shed light on the complex constitution of reaction mixtures and the origins of their special reactivities.

Eucalyptol, an All-Purpose Product

Eucalyptus plants have attracted the attention of researchers and environmentalists worldwide because they are a rapidly growing source of wood and a source of oil used for multiple purposes. The main and the most important oil component is 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol: 60–85%). This review summarizes the literature reported to date involving the use of 1,8-cineole for the treatment of disorders. Additionally, we describe our efforts in the use of eucalyptol as a solvent for the synthesis of O,S,N-heterocycles. Solvents used in chemistry are a fundamental element of the environmental performance of processes in corporate and academic laboratories. Their influence on costs, safety and health cannot be neglected. Green solvents such as bio-based systems hold considerable additional promise to reduce the environmental impact of organic chemistry. The first section outlines the process leading to our discovery of an unprecedented solvent and its validation in the first coupling reactions. This section continues with the description of its properties and characteristics and its reuse as reported in the various studies conducted. The second section highlights the use of eucalyptol in a series of coupling reactions (i.e., Suzuki–Miyaura, Sonogashira–Hagihara, Buchwald–Hartwig, Migita–Kosugi–Stille, Hiyama and cyanation) that form O,S,N-heterocycles. We describe the optimization process applied to reach the ideal conditions. We also show that eucalyptol can be a good alternative to build heterocycles that contain oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen. These studies allowed us to demonstrate the viability and potential that bio solvents can have in synthesis laboratories.

Inorganometallics (Transition Metal-Metalloid Complexes) and Catalysis

While the formation and breaking of transition metal (TM)–carbon bonds plays a pivotal role in the catalysis of organic compounds, the reactivity of inorganometallic species, that is, those involving the transition metal (TM)–metalloid (E) bond, is of key importance in most conversions of metalloid derivatives catalyzed by TM complexes. This Review presents the background of inorganometallic catalysis and its development over the last 15 years. The results of mechanistic studies presented in the Review are related to the occurrence of TM–E and TM–H compounds as reactive intermediates in the catalytic transformations of selected metalloids (E = B, Si, Ge, Sn, As, Sb, or Te). The Review illustrates the significance of inorganometallics in catalysis of the following processes: addition of metalloid–hydrogen and metalloid–metalloid bonds to unsaturated compounds; activation and functionalization of C–H bonds and C–X bonds with hydrometalloids and bismetalloids; activation and functionalization of C–H bonds with vinylmetalloids, metalloid halides, and sulfonates; and dehydrocoupling of hydrometalloids. This first Review on inorganometallic catalysis sums up the developments in the catalytic methods for the synthesis of organometalloid compounds and their applications in advanced organic synthesis as a part of tandem reactions.

The 2-Pyridyl Problem: Challenging Nucleophiles in Cross-Coupling Arylations

Azine-containing biaryls are ubiquitous scaffolds in many areas of chemistry, and efficient methods for their synthesis are continually desired. Pyridine rings are prominent amongst these motifs. Transition-metal-catalysed cross-coupling reactions have been widely used for their synthesis and functionalisation as they often provide a swift and tuneable route to related biaryl scaffolds. However, 2-pyridine organometallics are capricious coupling partners and 2-pyridyl boron reagents in particular are notorious for their instability and poor reactivity in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. The synthesis of pyridine-containing biaryls is therefore limited, and methods for the formation of unsymmetrical 2,2'-bis-pyridines are scarce. This Review focuses on the methods developed for the challenging coupling of 2-pyridine nucleophiles with (hetero)aryl electrophiles, and ranges from traditional cross-coupling processes to alternative nucleophilic reagents and novel main group approaches.

Cross-coupling reactions towards the synthesis of natural products

Cross-coupling reactions are powerful synthetic tools for the formation of remarkable building blocks of many naturally occurring molecules, polymers and biologically active compounds. These reactions have brought potent transformations in chemical and pharmaceutical disciplines. In this review, we have focused on the use of cross-coupling reactions such as Suzuki, Negishi, Heck, Sonogashira and Stille in the total synthesis of some natural products of recent years (2016-2020). A short introduction of mentioned cross-coupling reactions along with highlighted aspects of natural products has been stated in separate sections. Additionally, few examples of natural products via incorporation of more than one type of cross-coupling reaction have also been added to demonstrate the importance of these reactions in organic synthesis.

Mild and Robust Stille Reactions in Water using Parts Per Million Levels of a Triphenylphosphine-Based Palladacycle

An inexpensive and new triphenylphosphine-based palladacycle has been developed as a pre-catalyst, leading to highly effective Stille cross-coupling reactions in water under mild reaction conditions. Only 500-1000 ppm of Pd suffices for couplings involving a variety of aryl/heteroaryl halides with aryl/hetaryl stannanes. Several drug intermediates can be prepared using this catalyst in aqueous nanoreactors formed by 2 wt % Brij-30 in water.

Copper-Mediated Late-stage Radiofluorination: Five Years of Impact on Pre-clinical and Clinical PET Imaging

Purpose

Copper-mediated radiofluorination (CMRF) is emerging as the method of choice for the formation of aromatic C-¹⁸F bonds. This minireview examines proof-of-concept, pre-clinical, and in-human imaging studies of new and established imaging agents containing aromatic C-¹⁸F bonds synthesized with CMRF. An exhaustive discussion of CMRF methods is not provided, although key developments that have enabled or improved upon the syntheses of fluorine-18 imaging agents are discussed.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search from April 2014 onwards of the Web of Science and PubMed library databases was performed to find reports that utilize CMRF for the synthesis of fluorine-18 radiopharmaceuticals, and these represent the primary body of research discussed in this minireview. Select conference proceedings, previous reports describing alternative methods for the synthesis of imaging agents, and preceding fluorine-19 methodologies have also been included for discussion.

Conclusions

CMRF has significantly expanded the chemical space that is accessible to fluorine-18 radiolabeling with production methods that can meet the regulatory requirements for use in Nuclear Medicine. Furthermore, it has enabled novel and improved syntheses of radiopharmaceuticals and facilitated subsequent PET imaging studies. The rapid adoption of CMRF will undoubtedly continue to simplify the production of imaging agents and inspire the development of new radiofluorination methodologies.

Nickel-Catalyzed Decarbonylative Stannylation of Acyl Fluorides under Ligand-Free Conditions

Nickel-catalyzed decarbonylative stannylation of acyl fluorides under ligand-free conditions was disclosed. A variety of aromatic acyl fluorides are capable of reacting with silylstannanes in the presence of cesium fluoride. A one-pot decarbonylative stannylation/Migita-Kosugi-Stille reaction of benzoyl fluoride, giving rise to the direct formation of the corresponding cross-coupled products, further demonstrated the synthetic utility of the present method. This newly developed methodology with a good functional-group compatibility via C-F bond cleavage and C-Sn bond formation under nickel catalysis opens a new area for the functionalization of acyl fluorides in terms of carbon-heteroatom bond formation.