Orientation of ethoxy, mono-, di-, and tri-fluoroethoxy on Cu(111): a DFT study

Alcohols as Fluoroalkyl Synthons: Ni-catalyzed Dehydrogenative Approach to Access Polyfluoroalkyl Bis-indoles

An acceptorless dehydrogenative strategy for the synthesis of polyfluoroalkylated bis-indoles is described by employing an earth-abundant nickel-based catalytic system under air. The notable feature of the present transformation is the use of bench stable and easily affordable polyfluorinated alcohols without any pre-functionalization for the introduction of precious polyfluoroalkyl groups. The developed straightforward protocol accomplished biologically relevant fluoroalkyl bis-indoles in a sustainable fashion. Extensive DFT study predicts the unique role of indole molecules which stabilizes the transition states during the dehydrogenation process of polyfluorinated alcohols, presumably through non-covalent π⋅⋅⋅π and H-bonding interactions.

Free-Radical-Promoted Dehydrogenative Coupling of Polyfluorinated Alcohol with Quinone, Chromone, and Coumarin

A free-radical-mediated dehydrogenative cross-coupling reaction of polyfluorinated alcohol with quinone, coumarin, and chromone was developed. It provides a sustainable and practical strategy for installation of fluorine atom into organic molecules by using polyfluorinated alcohols.

Interaction of intermediates with transition metal surfaces in the dehydrogenation of ethanol to ethyl acetate: A theoretical investigation

By employing a combined approach of the unity bond index–quadratic exponential potential method and density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation, we have studied the interaction of intermediates in the ethanol dehydrogenation process to ethyl acetate on Cu, Ag, Ni, Pd, Pt, Co, Au and Ir(111) transition metal surfaces. Binding energies and geometries were optimized for the main intermediates of this process. Electronic structures were computed for some intermediates/transition metal systems. We also calculated the activation energies for the elementary steps of the reactions. The results show that amid the studied surfaces, Cu(111) stabilizes ethoxy and acetyl species, preventing their dissociation. Inducing the η2 binding mode of acetaldehyde by alloying Cu with Ni, Co, Pd, Pt or Ir can enhance the catalytic proprieties of the Cu(111) clean surface.

Ruthenium-catalyzed C-C coupling of fluorinated alcohols with allenes: dehydrogenation at the energetic limit of β-hydride elimination

Ruthenium(II) complexes catalyze the CC coupling of 1,1-disubstituted allenes and fluorinated alcohols to form homoallylic alcohols bearing all-carbon quaternary centers with good to complete levels of diastereoselectivity. Whereas fluorinated alcohols are relatively abundant and tractable, the corresponding aldehydes are often not commercially available because of their instability.