Microreactors for the synthesis of fluorinated materials

P[N(i-Bu)CH(2)CH(2)](3)N: nonionic Lewis base for promoting the room-temperature synthesis of α,β-unsaturated esters, fluorides, ketones, and nitriles using Wadsworth-Emmons phosphonates

The bicyclic triaminophosphine P(RNCH(2)CH(2))(3)N (R = i-Bu, 1c) serves as an effective promoter for the room-temperature stereoselective synthesis of α,β-unsaturated esters, fluorides, and nitriles from a wide array of aromatic, aliphatic, heterocyclic, and cyclic aldehydes and ketones, using a range of Wadsworth-Emmons (WE) phosphonates. Among the analogues of 1c [R = Me (1a), i-Pr (1b), Bn (1d)], 1a and 1b performed well, although longer reaction times were involved, and 1d led to poorer yields than 1c. Functionalities such as cyano, chloro, bromo, methoxy, amino, ester, and nitro were well tolerated. We were able to isolate and characterize (by X-ray means; see above) the reactive WE intermediate species formed from 2b and 1c.

Continuous-flow organic synthesis: a tool for the modern medicinal chemist

Medicinal chemists are under increasing pressure, not only to identify lead compounds and optimize them into clinical candidates, but also to produce materials in sufficient quantities for subsequent investigation. With this in mind, continuous-flow methodology presents an opportunity to reduce the time taken to, first, identify the compound and, second, scale the process for evaluation and, where necessary, production. It is therefore the aim of this review to provide the reader with an insight into the advantages associated with the use of continuous-flow chemistry through the use of strategically selected literature examples.

An efficient method for the synthesis of nitropiperidones

A three step efficient strategy for the synthesis of substituted 5-nitropiperidones in high de, employing Michael addition of N-p-tolylsulfinyl beta-nitroamines to alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, hydrolysis of the sulfinyl group, and cyclization of the resulting free amines, has been developed. A very simple experimental procedure involving mild conditions and only one chromatographic purification are the main features of the process.