Regioselective ring-opening of aziridines with potassium thiocyanate and thiols using sulfated zirconia as a heterogeneous recyclable catalyst

Arylcyclopropane yet in its infancy: the challenges and recent advances in its functionalization

Electronically unbiased arylcyclopropane functionalization has always been a challenge to organic chemists, and the emergence of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes (DACs) has not only vehemently overshadowed them but still dominates the cyclopropane chemistry. Unlike DACs, the absence of pre-installed functional groups makes it harder for them to activate and participate in a reaction. The field has witnessed considerably slow progress since its inception due to the inherent challenges. There are only a few strategies available to open arylcyclopropanes. Therefore, this work is still in its infancy stage in spite of these materials being one of the earliest known type of cyclopropanes. This review manifests the history, endeavors, and achievements alongside the associated challenges, opportunities, and the need for concerted efforts to accomplish the long-awaited golden age of arylcyclopropanes.

Copper-catalyzed 1,3-aminothiocyanation of arylcyclopropanes

A copper-catalyzed 1,3-aminothiocyanation of arylcyclopropanes with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) and trimethylsilyl isothiocyanate (TMSNCS) has been developed for the first time, efficiently synthesizing a series of γ-aminothiocyanate derivatives in moderate to excellent yields from readily available substrates under mild conditions. The practicability of the reaction was demonstrated by gram-scale preparation. Furthermore, the easily prepared γ-aminothiocyanate derivatives were verified to be versatile building blocks.

Zirconium Tetrachloride Catalysed Synthesis of Symmetric and Unsymmetric Ethers from Secondary Benzylic Alcohols

Secondary benzylic alcohols are coupled in the presence of zirconium tetrachloride to afford the corresponding symmetrical ethers in good yields. Unsymmetric ethers are obtained with good selectivity by condensation of two different secondary benzylic alcohols under the action of the same catalyst.

Bimetallic catalysis in the highly enantioselective ring–opening reactions of aziridines

Structural and kinetic evidence for bimetallic mechanism.

PMA/SiO2 – An efficient recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of homoallyl alcohols and amines under solvent-free conditions

Aldehydes and imines can efficiently undergo nucleophilic addition reaction with allyltributylstannane in the presence of phosphomolybdic acid supported on silica (PMA/SiO2) under solvent free-conditions to form the corresponding homoallyl alcohols and amines respectively at room temperature in excellent yields. The catalyst can be easily recovered and re-used.Key words: homoallyl alcohol, homoallyl amine, phosphomolybdic acid, heterogeneous catalyst, allyltributylstannane, solvent-free conditions.