Cerium-catalyzed oxidative C–C bond forming reactions

Ligand- and Substrate-Controlled Chemodivergent Pd-Catalyzed Annulations of Cyclic β-Keto Esters with 3-Aryl-2H-azirines

Chemodivergent Pd-catalyzed annulations of cyclic β-keto esters with 3-aryl-2H-azirines have been developed to provide rapid access to eight-membered ring lactams, bicyclic 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole derivatives, and (E)-methyl [2-(2-oxocyclohexylidene)-2-phenylethyl]carbamates with high efficiency. The chemoselectivity can be determined by tuning the mono- or bisphosphine ligands as well as the substrate structure of cyclic β-keto esters.

Renaissance of Homogeneous Cerium Catalysts with Unique Ce(IV/III) Couple: Redox-Mediated Organic Transformations Involving Homolysis of Ce(IV)-Ligand Covalent Bonds

Recent advances in the catalytic application of cerium complexes were achieved through controlling the Ce(IV/III) redox couple. Although Ce(IV) complexes have been extensively investigated as stoichiometric oxidants in organic synthesis on the basis of their highly positive redox potentials, these complexes can be used as catalysts, not only by introducing supporting ligands around the coordination sphere of cerium, but also by taking advantage of the photoresponsive properties of Ce(IV) and Ce(III) species. Cerium is highly abundant, comparable to that of some first-row transition metals such as copper, nickel, and zinc. Cerium complexes are new and promising homogeneous catalyst candidates for a variety of organic transformations under mild reaction conditions. They are typically used to activate dioxygen to oxidize organic compounds and applied for organic radical generation using the photoresponsive character of Ce(IV) carboxylates and alkoxides as well as electronic transition of Ce(III), in which homolysis of Ce(IV)-ligand covalent bonds is an important step for the overall catalytic cycle. In this Perspective, we first review the early discovery of Ce(OAc)₄-mediated oxidative transformations to emphasize the importance of Ce(IV)-OAc bond homolysis in various C-C bond-forming reactions and its relation to recent developments. We then focus on the fundamental importance of Ce(IV) reactivity involving thermal and photoassisted homolysis of the Ce(IV)-ligand covalent bond and the developments regarding Ce(IV/III) redox changes in catalytic reactions together with our recent findings on cerium-based catalysis.

Formation of δ-Lactones with anti-Baeyer-Villiger Regiochemistry: Investigations into the Mechanism of the Cerium-Catalyzed Aerobic Coupling of β-Oxoesters with Enol Acetates

The cerium-catalyzed, aerobic coupling of β-oxoesters with enol acetates and dioxygen yields δ-lactones with a 1,4-diketone moiety. In contrast to the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation (BVO), where the higher substituted residue migrates; in the case of this oxidative C-C coupling reaction, the less substituted alkyl residue undergoes a 1,2-shift. An endoperoxidic oxycarbenium ion comparable to the Criegee intermediate in the BVO is proposed as a reaction intermediate and submitted to conformational analysis by computational methods. As a result, the inverse regiochemistry is explained by a primary stereoelectronic effect. A Hammett analysis using different donor- and acceptor-substituted enol esters provides support for the oxycarbenium ion being the crucial intermediate in the rate determining step of the conversion. An overall mechanism is suggested with a radical chain reaction for the formation of endoperoxides from β-oxoesters, enol acetates and dioxygen with a cerium(IV) species as initiating reagent.

Formation of δ-Lactones by Cerium-Catalyzed, Baeyer-Villiger-Type Coupling of β-Oxoesters, Enol Acetates, and Dioxygen

Formation of δ-lactones is observed when cyclopentanone-2-carboxylates are converted in a cerium-catalyzed reaction with α-aryl vinyl acetates under oxidative conditions. The products of this transformation possess a 1,4-dicarbonyl constitution together with a quaternary carbon center. Atmospheric oxygen is the oxidant in this process, which can be regarded as ideal from economic and ecological points of view. Further advantages of this new C-C coupling and oxidation reaction are its operational simplicity and the application of nontoxic and inexpensive CeCl3·7 H2O as precatalyst. This so far unprecedented reaction is proposed to proceed via 1,2-dioxane derivatives, which decompose under formation of an oxycarbenium cation in a Baeyer-Villiger-type pathway. This mechanistic picture is supported by the observation that electron-rich (donor substituted or heteroaromatic) enol esters give higher yields than electron deficient congeners. Apart from 1,4-diketones and α-hydroxylated β-oxoesters formed as byproducts, the yields of δ-lactones range from moderate to good (up to 74%).

Synthesis of 1,4-Diketones from β-Oxo Esters and Enol Acetates by ­Cerium-Catalyzed Oxidative Umpo­lung Reaction

Cyclic β‐oxo esters are converted with enol acetates in a cerium‐catalyzed, oxidative Umpolung reaction to furnish 1,4‐diketones with up to 95 % yield. Atmospheric oxygen is the oxidant in this process, which can be regarded as ideal from economic and ecological points of view. Further advantages of this new C–C coupling reaction are its operational simplicity and the application of nontoxic and inexpensive CeCl₃·7H₂O as precatalyst.

Synthesis of five- and six-membered cyclic organic peroxides: Key transformations into peroxide ring-retaining products

The present review describes the current status of synthetic five and six-membered cyclic peroxides such as 1,2-dioxolanes, 1,2,4-trioxolanes (ozonides), 1,2-dioxanes, 1,2-dioxenes, 1,2,4-trioxanes, and 1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes. The literature from 2000 onwards is surveyed to provide an update on synthesis of cyclic peroxides. The indicated period of time is, on the whole, characterized by the development of new efficient and scale-up methods for the preparation of these cyclic compounds. It was shown that cyclic peroxides remain unchanged throughout the course of a wide range of fundamental organic reactions. Due to these properties, the molecular structures can be greatly modified to give peroxide ring-retaining products. The chemistry of cyclic peroxides has attracted considerable attention, because these compounds are used in medicine for the design of antimalarial, antihelminthic, and antitumor agents.

Polyethylene Glycols as Efficient Media for Decarboxylative Nitration of α,β-Unsaturated Aromatic Carboxylic Acids by Ceric Ammonium Nitrate in Acetonitrile Medium: A Kinetic and Mechanistic Study

Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) were found to be efficient media for decarboxylative nitration of α,β-unsaturated aromatic carboxylic acids by ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) in acetonitrile to give β-nitrostyrene derivatives. Kinetics of the reaction exhibited second order kinetics with a first order dependence on [CAN] and [substrate]. Reactions were too sluggish to be studied in the absence of PEG; therefore detailed kinetics were not taken up. Reaction times were reduced from 24 hrs to few hours. The catalytic activity was found to be in the increasing order PEG-300 > PEG-400 > PEG-600 > PEG-200. Mechanism of PEG-mediated reactions was explained by Menger-Portnoy's scheme as applied in micellar kinetics.

Biomimetic synthesis of hyperolactones

Through a biomimetic pathway, hyperolactone D, 4-hydroxyhyperolactone D, and hyperolactone C were synthesized from methyl acetoacetate via Weiler's dianion method, asymmetric allylic alkylation, biomimetic lactonization, oxidation, and cyclization. The stereochemistry of the quaternary carbon was controlled efficiently by Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation. This strategy was also used for the synthesis of hyperolactone B.