α-Iminol Rearrangement Triggered by Pd-Catalyzed C-H Addition to Nitriles Sequences: Synthesis of Functionalized α-Amino Cyclopentanones

Construction of Functionalized α-Imino Ketones via Pd-Catalyzed C-H Addition to Nitriles/Aerobic Oxidation Sequences

Pd(II)-catalyzed addition of sp2 C-H to nitrile/aerobic oxidation sequences for the preparation of functionalized α-imino ketones is described in which readily available heteroarenes and O-acyl cyanohydrins were employed. Various functionalized targeted molecules can be prepared in good yields with high atom and step economy. Moreover, a broad substrate scope and the ready manipulation and availability of the reaction partners enable this protocol to be appealing to explore the chemical space of the construction of functionalized α-imino ketones with high efficiency.

Selective synthesis of functionalized α,β-multi-substituted α-amino cyclopentanones via an α-iminol rearrangement enabled by Pd-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to nitriles

An efficient approach to construct α, β-multi-substituted α-amino cyclopentanones is described through an α-iminol rearrangement enabled by Pd-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to nitriles.

Palladium-catalyzed direct construction of oxazoline-containing polycyclic scaffolds via tandem addition/cyclization of nitriles and arylboronic acids

An efficient construction of oxazoline-containing polycyclic scaffolds through a Pd-catalyzed addition/cyclization of (hetero)arene tethered O-acyl cyanohydrin units and arylboronic acids is described.

Recent Advances in Transition-Metal-Catalyzed C–H Addition to Nitriles

Transition-metal-catalyzed C–H bond addition to nitriles has emerged as a powerful synthetic approach for the construction of C–C bonds in organic synthesis. Due to the merits of atom- and step-economy, as well the easy availability of the starting materials, these transformations not only deliver acyclic aryl ketone products with nitriles­ as C-building blocks, but can also be utilized for the highly efficient­ assembly of azaheterocyclic skeletons using nitriles as C–N building blocks. This short review summarizes recent progress on transition-metal-catalyzed C–C bond-forming reactions based on C(sp2)–H and C(sp3)–H additions to nitriles.

1 Introduction

2 Palladium-Catalyzed C–H Addition to Nitriles

2.1 Palladium-Catalyzed C–H Addition to Nitriles for the Preparation of Ketone (Imine) Products

2.2 Palladium-Catalyzed C–H Addition to Nitriles for the Preparation of Azaheterocycles

2.3 Palladium-Catalyzed C–H Addition to Nitriles/1,2-Rearangement

3 Other Transition-Metal-Catalyzed C–H Additions to Nitriles

4 Summary and Outlook

Nickel-catalyzed multicomponent reaction of dinitriles and hydrazine hydrochlorides with boronic acids: access to 1,3-diaryl-1H-pyrazol-5-amines and 4,5-dihydropyridazin-3(2H)-ones

Developing efficient methods to accommodate azaheterocycles has been the hotspot field in organic synthesis. Herein, we disclose a facile and expeditious avenue to synthesize 1,3-diaryl-1H-pyrazol-5-amines and 4,5-dihydropyridazin-3(2H)-ones via nickel-catalyzed addition,...

Copper-Catalyzed Difluoroalkylation of Alkene/Nitrile Insertion/Cyclization Tandem Sequences: Construction of Difluorinated Bicyclic Amidines

A copper-catalyzed difluoroalkylation of an alkene/nitrile insertion/cyclization tandem sequence of N-cyanamide alkene was described, which provided a convenient synthetic approach for accessing difluorinated bicyclic amidines bearing imine moieties in a sustainable fashion. This protocol is characterized by high yields, a broad substrate scope, and good functional group compatibility. In addition, the desired product can be readily converted into other valuable functionalized fluorinated aza-heterocycles.

α-Ketol and α-iminol rearrangements in synthetic organic and biosynthetic reactions

In the presence of a suitable acid or base, α-hydroxyaldehydes, ketones, and imines can undergo isomerization that features the 1,2-shift of an alkyl or aryl group. In the process, the hydroxy group is converted to a carbonyl and the aldehyde/ketone or imine is converted to an alcohol or amine. Such α-ketol/α-iminol rearrangements are used in a wide variety of synthetic applications including asymmetric synthesis, tandem reactions, and the total synthesis and biosynthesis of natural products. This review explores the use of α-ketol rearrangements in these contexts over the past two decades.

Recent Advances on O-Ethoxycarbonyl and O-Acyl Protected Cyanohydrins

Ethoxycarbonyl cyanohydrins and O-acyl cyanohydrins are examples of O-protected cyanohydrins in which the protecting group presents an electrophilic center, contributing to additional reaction pathways. The first section of this review describes recent advances on the synthesis of O-ethoxycarbonyl and O-acyl protected cyanohydrins. Reactions using KCN or alkyl cyanoformates as the cyanide ion source are described, as well as organic and transition metal catalysis used in their preparation, including asymmetric cyanation. In a second part, transformations, and synthetic applications of O-ethoxycarbonyl/acyl cyanohydrins are presented. A variety of structures has been obtained starting from such protected cyanohydrins and, in particular, the synthesis of oxazoles, 1,4-diketones, 1,3-diketones, 2-vinyl-2-cyclopentenones through various methods are discussed.