Imidazolium salts as phase transfer catalysts for the dialkylation and cycloalkylation of active methylene compounds

Ionic Liquids: Advances and Applications in Phase Transfer Catalysis

Ionic liquids are a family of liquids that are composed entirely of ions and usually have melting points lower than 100 °C. Extensive research, along with the ever-growing interest of the scientific community, allowed for the development of a multitude of ionic liquids with low melting points. Such compounds are considered neoteric materials as well as ideal, custom-made solvents for a variety of different chemical transformations. In this regard, the importance of phase transfer catalysis is evident in a diversity of substrates and reactions. The use of phase transfer catalysts allows the reaction to proceed, facilitating the transfer of otherwise insoluble reactants to the desired phase. Recent scientific advances led to the emergence of ionic liquids, which are excellent candidates as phase transfer catalysts. The inherent fine-tuning capability of these molecules, along with the potential of phase transfer catalytic reactions, epitomize the sustainable aspect of this field of research. Herein, a cohesive report of such applications will be presented, including the period from the last decade of the 20th century up to date.

Sugar-Based Ionic Liquids: Multifaceted Challenges and Intriguing Potential

Carbohydrates represent a promising option in transitioning from oil-based chemical resources to renewable ones, with the goal of developing chemistries for a sustainable future. Cellulose, hemicellulose, and largely available monosaccharides already provide useful chemical building blocks, so-called platform chemicals, such as levulinic acid and hydroxymethyl furfural, as well as solvents like cyrene or gamma-valerolactone. Therefore, there is great anticipation for novel applications involving materials and chemicals derived from sugars. In the field of ionic liquids (ILs), sugar-based ILs have been overlooked for a long time, mainly on account of their multistep demanding preparation. However, exploring new strategies for accessing sugar-based ILs, their study, and their exploitation, are attracting increasing interest. This is due to the growing concerns about the negative (eco)toxicity profile of most ILs in conjunction with their non-sustainable nature. In the present review, a literature survey concerning the development of sugar-based ILs since 2011 is presented. Their preparation strategies and thermal behavior analyses, sorted by sugar type, make up the first two sections with the intention to provide the reader with a useful guide. A final overview of the potential applications of sugar-based ILs and their future perspectives complement the present analysis.

An overview on chemical structures as ΔF508-CFTR correctors

Deletion of phenylalanine at position 508 (F508del) in the CFTR protein, is the most common mutation causing cystic fibrosis (CF). F508del causes misfolding and rapid degradation of CFTR protein a defect that can be targeted with pharmacological agents termed "correctors". Correctors belong to various chemical classes but are generally small molecules based on nitrogen sulfur or oxygen heterocycles. The mechanism of action of correctors is generally unknown but there is experimental evidence that some of them can directly act on mutant CFTR improving folding and stability. Here we overview the characteristics of the various F508del correctors described so far to obtain indications on key chemical structures and modifications that are required for mutant protein rescue.

Promotion of Appel-type reactions by N-heterocyclic carbenes

N-Heterocyclic carbenes are found to mediate the Appel-type dehydrative halogenation reaction.

Formal reductive addition of acetonitrile to aldehydes and ketones

An efficient and highly productive rhodium-catalyzed method for the synthesis of nitriles employing aldehydes or ketones, methyl cyanoacetate, water and carbon monoxide as starting materials has been developed. Simple rhodium chloride without any ligands can be used. The fine tuning of the substrate can lead to the activity higher than 5000 TON.

Medium Rings Bearing Bitriazolyls: Easily Accessible Structures with Superior Performance as Cu Catalyst Ligands

Benefiting from their unique properties, the development of structurally novel and easily accessible medium rings is of significant interest in the pharmaceutical industry and academic research. However, synthetic access to medium-ring scaffolds is very difficult due to their rigid skeleton and large-angle strains. In this paper, a new class of medium rings bearing bitriazolyls (MRBTs) was designed, synthesized, identified as a promising new skeleton ligand for the Cu(I)-catalyzed click reaction, and used in site-special modification of protein. One of the MRBTs, 3aa, exhibited a turnover number (TON) as high as 55 000 and dramatic accelerating effects ( k_obs = 1.95 M^-1 s^-1) and ranked among the most efficient ligands for copper-catalyzed alkyne and azide cycloaddition. Unlike the difficult access to other known medium rings, these 7-12-membered MRBTs can be prepared in straightforward, one-step manner from structurally diverse linear terminal diynes and azides. The unique accessibility and intriguing properties therefore imply their broad application perspectives.

N-Heterocyclic olefins as efficient phase-transfer catalysts for base-promoted alkylation reactions

N-Heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) chemically transfer the base from solid phase and promote alkylation reaction on a wide range of substrates.

Activity of N,N′-dialkyl-2-trifluoromethylthioimidazolium salts as phase-transfer catalyst for the alkylation of active methylene compounds

The design and synthesis of N,N'-dialkyl-2-trifluoromethylthioimidazolium salts as novel catalysts for alkylations of active methylene compounds are described.

Palladium catalyzed decarboxylative acylation of arylboronic acid with ethyl cyanoacetate as a new acylating agent: synthesis of alkyl aryl ketones

The versatile, one-pot synthesis of a series of alkyl aryl ketones is described using ethyl cyanoacetate as a new acylating agent.

Tandem halogenation/Michael-initiated ring-closing reaction of α,β-unsaturated nitriles and activated methylene compounds: one-pot diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized cyclopropanes

An efficient one-pot synthetic route to highly substituted cyclopropanes has been developed from readily available α,β-unsaturated nitriles and doubly activated methylene compounds under very mild conditions in a highly diastereoselective manner, which involves halogenation, Michael addition and intramolecular ring-closing reaction sequences.

1,1'-Bis-Methyl-3, 3-Methylenebisimidazolium Dichloride as an Efficient Phase Transfer Catalyst for Ring Opening of Epoxides Using SCN- and N3- in water

An efficient synthesis of β-azido alcohols and β-hydroxy thiocyanates has been achieved by ring opening of epoxides using 1,1'-bis-methyl-3, 3-methylene-bisimidazolium dichloride as a phase transfer catalyst at room temperature in water. The reaction is regioselective and afforded the corresponding products in moderate to excellent yields.

Solvent-Controlled Highly Selective Bis- and Monoallylation of Active Methylene Compounds by Allyl Acetate with Palladium(0) Nanoparticle

Palladium(0) nanoparticle has been used as an efficient catalyst for the allylation of active methylene compounds. Very efficient bisallylation is achieved for a variety of active methylene compounds by allyl acetate and its derivatives in one stroke in THF solvent. The reaction in water provides monoallylated product selectively by allyl acetate only. The recovered Pd(0) nanoparticle is recycled. A probable mechanism is suggested.

A Divergent Synthesis of Functionalized Unsaturated δ-Lactones from α-Alkenoyl-α-carboxyl Ketene Dithioacetals

A divergent synthesis of functionalized unsaturated delta-lactones 2, 3, 4, and 5 has been developed starting from the readily available alpha-alkenoyl-alpha-carboxyl ketene dithioacetals 1 in high to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. Thus, 6-substituted 3-(1,3-dithiolan/dithian-2-ylidene)-3H-pyran-2(6H)-ones 2, obtained from a consecutive reduction with NaBH4 and acidic workup of 1 via a novel vinylogous Pummerer cyclization, can be further transformed into alpha-pyranones 3, 4, and 5 upon a sequential isomerization catalyzed by triethylamine (to give 3), followed by dethioacetalization (to give 4) or a formylation with Vilsmeier reagent (to give 5).