Activation of Benzyl Aryl Carbonates: The Role of Cation-π Interactions

Base-Mediated Deuteration of Organic Molecules: A Mechanistic Insight

A base-promoted, step-economical, and cost-effective strategy for introducing heavy isotopes into the organic molecules has been developed. The schemes involve the selective deuteration of various electronically distinct molecules that are formed because of deuterioamination, deuteriothiolation, deuteriophenoxylation, and deuterioalkoxylation as well as tandem cyclization using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-d ₆ as a deuterium source. The reaction involves a metal-, ligand-, and additive-free route and provides a high level of deuterium incorporation in the presence of DMSO-d ₆ as an inflammable and ecological reagent. The reaction is well tolerated across the electronically varied substrates for the successful incorporation of deuterium into the product. The proposed mechanistic pathway for various transformations has been well supported by NMR studies.

Carbon Dioxide Utilisation for the Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Dialkyl and Cyclic Carbonates Promoted by Basic Ionic Liquids

An efficient and greener synthesis of unsymmetrical organic carbonates mediated by Hünig’s base-appended basic ionic liquids, via carbon dioxide conversion, is described here. These ionic liquids were found to be effective bases for the fixation of carbon dioxide by various alcohols and benzyl bromide, at room temperature. When the alcohol and the halide functionalities are present within the same substrate, the reaction cleanly produces a cyclic carbonate. These functionalised basic ionic liquids were fully recyclable with no loss product yields.