Palladium-catalyzed arylation of aryl sulfonamides with cyclohexanones

Nitro-sulfinate Reductive Coupling to Access (Hetero)aryl Sulfonamides

A method to assemble (hetero)aryl sulfonamides via the reductive coupling of aryl sulfinates and nitroarenes is reported. Various reducing conditions with sodium bisulfite and with or without tin(II) chloride in DMSO were developed using an ultrasound bath to improve reaction homogeneity and mixing. A range of (hetero)aryl sulfonamides bearing a selection of functional groups were prepared, and the mechanism of the transformation was investigated. These investigations have led us to propose the formation of nitrosoarene intermediates, which were established via an independent molecular coupling strategy.

Ethyl ester/acyl hydrazide-based aromatic sulfonamides: facile synthesis, structural characterization, electrochemical measurements and theoretical studies as effective corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in 1.0 M HCl

In this research paper, aromatic sulfonamide-derived ethyl ester (p-TSAE) and its acyl hydrazide (p-TSAH) were directly synthesized, characterized, and employed for the first time as prospective anticorrosive agents to protect mild steel in 1.0 M HCl conditions. The corrosion efficiency was probed by electrochemical methods including polarization, impedance, and frequency modulation measurements. Optimal efficiencies of 94% and 92% were detected for the hydrazide and ester, respectively, revealing excellent corrosion inhibition. Moreover, both the hydrazide and ester molecules combat the cathodic and anodic reactions correspondingly in a mixed-type manner. The electron transfer (ET) at the inhibitor/metal interface was evaluated using DFT at the B3LYP/6-31g(d,p) level. Natural bond orbital analysis (NBO) and frontier molecular orbital analysis (FMO) calculations showed superior capabilities of the synthesized inhibitors to easily reallocate charge into the metal surface. However, the hydrazide molecules showed slightly better inhibition efficiency than the ester due to the strong interaction between the lone pairs of the nitrogen atoms and the d-orbitals of the metal. The chemical hardness of the hydrazide and ester are 2.507 and 2.511 eV, respectively, in good accordance with the recorded electrochemical inhibition efficiencies for both molecules. Good and straightforward correlations between the experiments and calculations are obtained.

Design, Synthesis, and in vitro Evaluation of Tubulin-Targeting Dibenzothiazines with Antiproliferative Activity as a Novel Heterocycle Building Block

We prepared a series of free NH and N-substituted dibenzonthiazines with potential anti-tumor activity from N-aryl-benzenesulfonamides. A biological test of synthesized compounds (59 samples) was performed in vitro measuring their antiproliferative activity against a panel of six human solid tumor cell lines and its tubulin inhibitory activity. We identified 6-(phenylsulfonyl)-6H-dibenzo[c,e][1,2]thiazine 5,5-dioxide and 6-tosyl-6H-dibenzo[c,e][1,2]thiazine 5,5-dioxide as the best compounds with promising values of activity (overall range of 2-5.4 μM). Herein, we report the dibenzothiazine core as a novel building block with antiproliferative activity, targeting tubulin dynamics.

Arylation of indoles using cyclohexanones dually-catalyzed by niobic acid and palladium-on-carbons

3-Arylindoles were easily constructed from indoles and cyclohexanone derivatives using a combination of catalytic niobic acid-on-carbon (Nb₂O₅/C) and palladium-on-carbon (Pd/C) under heating conditions without any oxidants. The Lewis acidic Nb₂O₅/C promoted the nucleophilic addition of indoles to the cyclohexanones, and the subsequent dehydration and Pd/C-catalyzed dehydrogenation produced the 3-arylindoles. The additive 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene worked as a hydrogen acceptor to facilitate the dehydrogenation step.

Palladium-catalyzed aerobic synthesis of ortho-substituted phenols from cyclohexanones and primary alcohols

An aerobic palladium catalyzed site-specific synthesis of ortho-substituted phenols from cyclohexanones and primary alcohols via an oxidation/aldol/dehydration/aromatization process has been developed.

Copper-Catalyzed Redox Coupling of Nitroarenes with Sodium Sulfinates

A simple copper-catalyzed redox coupling of sodium sulfinates and nitroarenes is described. In this process, abundant and stable nitroarenes serve as both the nitrogen sources and oxidants, and sodium sulfinates act as both reactants and reductants. A variety of aromatic sulfonamides were obtained in moderate to good yields with broad substrate scope. No external additive is employed for this kind of transformation.

Chemoselective metal-free indole arylation with cyclohexanones

Elemental sulfur- and iodine reagent-mediated indole C3 arylations have been developed with cyclohexanones as the arylating reagent.

Catalyst- and additive-free annulation/aromatization leading to benzothiazoles and naphthothiazoles

Catalyst- and additive-free three-component annulation/aromatization enable a highly efficient entry to naphtho[1,2-d]thiazoles and benzo[d]thiazoles.

Synthesis of N-arylsulfonamides through a Pd-catalyzed reduction coupling reaction of nitroarenes with sodium arylsulfinates

A novel one-step direct reductive coupling reaction between nitroarenes and sodium arylsulfinates was realized in the presence of an inexpensive Pd/C catalyst. In this procedure, readily available nitroarenes are employed as the nitrogen sources, and sodium arylsulfinates serve as both coupling partners and reductants. The method features high efficiency by using cheap Pd/C with low catalyst loading and good functional group tolerance in the absence of any additional reductants or ligands. This facile and mild synthetic method enables the high efficiency synthesis of functionalized N-arylsulfonamides from readily available substrates.

Synthesis of N-arylsulfonamides via Fe-promoted reaction of sulfonyl halides with nitroarenes in an aqueous medium

A fascinating Fe-promoted protocol for the synthesis of N-arylsulfonamides has been developed. Starting from commercially available nitroarenes and sulfonyl chlorides, moderate to excellent yields of the corresponding N-arylsulfonamides can be obtained. In particular, Fe dust was the sole reductant in the transformation and it can be easily performed on a large scale.

Versatile routes for synthesis of diarylamines through acceptorless dehydrogenative aromatization catalysis over supported gold-palladium bimetallic nanoparticles

Diarylamines are an important class of widely utilized chemicals, and development of diverse procedures for their synthesis is of great importance. Herein, we have successfully developed novel versatile catalytic procedures for the synthesis of diarylamines through acceptorless dehydrogenative aromatization. In the presence of a gold-palladium alloy nanoparticle catalyst (Au-Pd/TiO2), various symmetrically substituted diarylamines could be synthesized starting from cyclohexylamines. The observed catalysis of Au-Pd/TiO2 was heterogeneous in nature and Au-Pd/TiO2 could be reused several times without severe loss of catalytic performance. This transformation needs no oxidants and generates molecular hydrogen (three equivalents with respect to cyclohexylamines) and ammonia as the side products. These features highlight the environmentally benign nature of the present transformation. Furthermore, in the presence of Au-Pd/TiO2, various kinds of structurally diverse unsymmetrically substituted diarylamines could successfully be synthesized starting from various combinations of substrates such as (i) anilines and cyclohexanones, (ii) cyclohexylamines and cyclohexanones, and (iii) nitrobenzenes and cyclohexanols. The role of the catalyst and the reaction pathways were investigated in detail for the transformation of cyclohexylamines. The catalytic performance was strongly influenced by the nature of the catalyst. In the presence of a supported gold nanoparticle catalyst (Au/TiO2), the desired diarylamines were hardly produced. Although a supported palladium nanoparticle catalyst (Pd/TiO2) gave the desired diarylamines, the catalytic activity was inferior to that of Au-Pd/TiO2. Moreover, the activity of Au-Pd/TiO2 was superior to that of a physical mixture of Au/TiO2 and Pd/TiO2. The present Au-Pd/TiO2-catalyzed transformation of cyclohexylamines proceeds through complex pathways comprising amine dehydrogenation, imine disproportionation, and condensation reactions. The amine dehydrogenation and imine disproportionation reactions are effectively promoted by palladium (not by gold), and the intrinsic catalytic performance of palladium is significantly improved by alloying with gold. One possible explanation of the alloying effect is the formation of electron-poor palladium species that can effectively promote the β-H elimination step in the rate-limiting amine dehydrogenation.

Palladium-Catalyzed Aerobic Dehydrogenation of Cyclic Hydrocarbons for the Synthesis of Substituted Aromatics and Other Unsaturated Products

Catalytic dehydrogenation of saturated or partially saturated six-membered carbocycles into aromatic rings represents an appealing strategy for the synthesis of substituted arenes. Particularly effective methods have been developed for the dehydrogenation of cyclohexanones and cyclohexenes into substituted phenol, aniline, and benzene derivatives, respectively. In this Perspective, we present the contributions of our research group to the discovery and development of palladium-based catalysts for aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation methods, including general methods for conversion of cyclohexanones and cyclohexenones into substituted phenols and a complementary method for partial dehydrogenation cyclohexanones to cyclohexenones. The mechanistic basis for chemoselective conversion of cyclohexanones to phenols or enones is presented. These results are presented within the context of recent methods developed by others for the synthesis of aryl ethers, anilines and other substituted arenes. Overall, Pd-catalyzed dehydrogenation methods provide a compelling strategy for selective synthesis of aromatic and related unsaturated molecules.

Au-Pd alloy nanoparticles supported on layered double hydroxide for heterogeneously catalyzed aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation of cyclohexanols and cyclohexanones to phenols

Phenol, an important industrial chemical, is widely produced using the well-developed cumene process. However, demand for the development of a novel alternative method for synthesizing phenol from benzene has been increasing. Herein, we report a novel system for the synthesis of phenols through aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation of cyclohexanols and cyclohexanones, including ketone-alcohol (KA) oil, catalyzed by Mg-Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH)-supported Au-Pd alloy nanoparticles (Au-Pd/LDH). Alloying of Au and Pd and basicity of LDH are key factors in achieving the present transformation. Although monometallic Au/LDH, Pd/LDH, and their physical mixture showed almost no catalytic activity, Au-Pd/LDH exhibited markedly high catalytic activity for the dehydrogenative phenol production. Mechanistic studies showed that β-H elimination from Pd-enolate species is accelerated by Au species, likely via electronic ligand effects. Moreover, the effect of supports was critical; despite the high catalytic performance of Au-Pd/LDH, Au-Pd bimetallic nanoparticles supported on Al2O3, TiO2, MgO, and CeO2 were ineffective. Thus, the basicity of LDH plays a deterministic role in the present dehydrogenation possibly through its assistance in the deprotonation steps. The synthetic scope of the Au-Pd/LDH-catalyzed system was very broad; various substituted cyclohexanols and cyclohexanones were efficiently converted into the corresponding phenols, and N-substituted anilines were synthesized from cyclohexanones and amines. In addition, the observed catalysis was truly heterogeneous, and Au-Pd/LDH could be reused without substantial loss of its high performance. The present transformation is scalable, utilizes O2 in air as the terminal oxidant, and generates water as the only by-product, highlighting the potential practical utility and environmentally benign nature of the present transformation. Dehydrogenative aromatization of cyclohexanols proceeds through (1) oxidation of cyclohexanols to cyclohexanones; (2) dehydrogenation of cyclohexanones to cyclohexenones; and (3) disproportionation of cyclohexenones to afford the desired phenols. In the present Au-Pd/LDH-catalyzed transformation, the oxidation of the Pd-H species is included in the rate-determining step.

Facile access to N-substituted anilines via dehydrogenative aromatization catalysis over supported gold–palladium bimetallic nanoparticles

In the presence of a gold–palladium alloy nanoparticle catalyst (Au–Pd/Al₂O₃) and styrene, various kinds of structurally diverse N-substituted anilines (twenty three examples) could be synthesized starting from cyclohexanones and amines.

Palladium-catalyzed N-arylsulfonamide formation from arylsulfonyl hydrazides and nitroarenes

Various N-arylsulfonamides were prepared from nitroarenes and arylsulfonyl hydrazides via hydrogen transfer methodology.

Palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation of cyclohexenes to substituted arene derivatives

A palladium(II) catalyst system has been identified for aerobic dehydrogenation of substituted cyclohexenes to the corresponding arene derivatives. Use of sodium anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AMS) as a cocatalyst enhances the product yields. A wide range of functional groups are tolerated in the reactions, and the scope and limitations of the method are described. The catalytic dehydrogenation of cyclohexenes is showcased in an efficient route to a phthalimide-based TRPA1 activity modulator.

Supported gold–palladium alloy nanoparticle catalyzed tandem oxidation routes to N-substituted anilines from non-aromatic compounds

In the presence of a supported gold–palladium alloy nanoparticle catalyst (Au–Pd/Al₂O₃), various kinds of N-substituted anilines can be synthesized from non-aromatic compounds.

Catalytic dehydrogenative aromatization: an alternative route to functionalized arenes

Catalytic dehydrogenative aromatization has emerged as an efficient and environmentally friendly way to access functionalized arenes in recent years.