One-Pot Enol Silane Formation–Alkylation of Ketones with Propargyl Carboxylates Promoted by Trimethylsilyl Trifluoromethanesulfonate

Cationic indium catalysis as a powerful tool for generating α-alkyl propargyl cations for SN1 reactions

Dehydration is an abundant and promising process in chemical, biochemical, and industrial fields. Dehydration methods can contribute to building a modern and sustainable society with minimal environmental impact. Breakthrough advances in the dehydrative SN1 reaction can be achieved through the discovery of new cationic indium catalysts. Here we show that the breakthrough advances in the dehydrative SN1 reaction can be achieved using the cationic indium catalysts. The dehydrative carbon-carbon bond formation of α-alkyl propargyl alcohols afforded a wide variety of α-aryl- and heteroaryl-propargyl compounds. Mechanistic investigations into this process revealed that the InCl3/AgClO4/Bu4NPF6/1,1'-binaphthol catalytic system generated a powerful cationic indium catalyst that could promote the dehydration of alcohols. Labile α-alkyl propargyl cations were found to self-condense, and the catalyst system efficiently regenerated propargyl cations for reaction with nucleophiles. This propargylation reaction directly proceeded from the corresponding alcohols under mild and open-air conditions and tolerated a broad scope of functional groups. Furthermore, a wide variety of nucleophiles, including aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds, phenols, alcohols, and sulfonamides, reacted with the corresponding cations to afford the propargyl compounds in good to high yields. Finally, the synthetic utility of this reaction was demonstrated by the synthesis of colchicine and allocolchicine analogues. The dehydration process could help create new compounds that were previously impossible to synthesize and is more eco-friendly and efficient than conventional methods.

1,3-Oxyalkynylation of Aryl Cyclopropanes with Ethylnylbenziodoxolones Using Photoredox Catalysis

Alkynes and cyclopropanes are vital motifs in chemistry. Herein, a photoredox catalyzed 1,3-oxyalkynylation of aryl cyclopropanes with ethylnylbenziodoxolones (EBXs) in an atom-economic fashion is described. This cascade comprises single-electron oxidation of the aryl cyclopropane and nucleophilic ring opening followed by radical alkynylation at the benzylic position. The EBX compounds act as bifunctional reagents providing the nucleophilic acid as well as the alkynyl entity. The introduced method features mild conditions and wide substrate scope.

Synthesis of Electron-Deficient Chiral Biphenols and Their Applications in Catalytic Asymmetric Reactions

The axially chiral biphenols are known as a broadly applicable chiral source. However, only a few electron-deficient ones have been reported to date. In the present study, chiral biphenols having several electron-withdrawing groups have been designed, and a facile synthetic route from readily available reagents has been developed. Newly synthesized chiral electron-deficient biphenols and biphenol-derived chiral Brønsted acids functioned as effective catalysts for several catalytic asymmetric reactions.

Construction of polycyclic bridged indene derivatives by a tandem 1,3-rearrangement/intramolecular Friedel-Crafts cyclization of propargyl acetates

An unprecedented Lewis acid-catalyzed cascade 1,3-rearrangement/Friedel-Crafts cyclization of propargyl acetates is developed for the construction of polycyclic bridged indene derivatives in moderate to good yields. This practical procedure features mild conditions, broad substrate scope, and easy operation.