Organoselenium-Catalyzed Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling of Alkenes and Azlactones

Intermolecular Aza-Wacker Coupling of Alkenes with Azoles by Photo-Aerobic Selenium-π-Acid Multicatalysis

Herein, the intermolecular, photoaerobic aza-Wacker coupling of azoles with alkenes by means of dual and ternary selenium-π-acid multicatalysis is presented. The title method permits an expedited avenue toward a broad scope of N-allylated azoles and representative azinones under mild conditions with broad functional group tolerance, as is showcased in more than 60 examples including late-stage drug derivatizations. From a regiochemical perspective, the protocol is complementary to cognate photoredox catalytic olefin aminations, as they typically proceed through either allylic hydrogen atom abstraction or single electron oxidation of the alkene substrate. These methods predominantly result in C-N bond formations at the allylic periphery of the alkene or the less substituted position of the former π-bond (i.e., anti-Markovnikov selectivity). The current process, however, operates through a radical-polar crossover mechanism, which solely affects the selenium catalyst, thus allowing the alkene to be converted strictly through an ionic two-electron transfer regime under Markovnikov control. In addition, it is shown that the corresponding N-vinyl azoles can also be accessed by sequential or one-pot treatment of the allylic azoles with base, thus emphasizing the exquisite utility of this method.

Organoselenium-Catalyzed C2,3-Diarylation of N-H Indoles

An organoselenium-catalyzed C2,3-diarylation of unprotected N-H indoles with electron-rich aromatics has been developed. This one-pot multicomponent tandem cross-dehydrogenation coupling reaction allows for the incorporation of two different aromatic groups to indoles. More importantly, this approach offers significant advantages, including a high atom and step economy, eliminating the need for prepreparation of the reaction substrates, streamlining the synthetic process and enhancing its practicality. Overall, this organoselenium-catalyzed C2,3-diarylation reaction presents an efficient and versatile strategy for the functionalization of indole derivatives.

A Tunable Cascade Reaction of Ureidomalonates and Alkenyl Azlactones for the Divergent Synthesis of Hydantoins with Distinct Functional Groups

A tunable cascade reaction of ureidomalonates and alkenyl azlactones was disclosed, which gave rise to the construction of N-aroyl α-amino acid ester and imide-functionalized hydantoins in moderate to good yields and with excellent diastereoselectivities. The reaction pathway was precisely manipulated by organocatalysis and phase-transfer/sunlight relay catalysis, respectively, to realize the divergent synthesis. The successful gram-scale preparation of representative products exhibited the application potential of this protocol. Mechanistic studies indicated that the exchange and phase transfer of ethoxy anion played a key role in altering the reaction pathway, and sunlight might accelerate the oxidation process at the late stage of the reaction triggered by phase-transfer catalysis.

Organoselenium Compounds: Chemistry and Applications in Organic Synthesis

Selenium, originally described as a toxin, turns out to be a crucial trace element for life that appears as selenocysteine and its dimer, selenocystine. From the point of view of drug developments, selenium-containing drugs are isosteres of sulfur and oxygen with the advantage that the presence of the selenium atom confers antioxidant properties and high lipophilicity, which would increase cell membrane permeation leading to better oral bioavailability. In this article, we have focused on the relevant features of the selenium atom, above all, the corresponding synthetic approaches to access a variety of organoselenium molecules along with the proposed reaction mechanisms. The preparation and biological properties of selenosugars, including selenoglycosides, selenonucleosides, selenopeptides, and other selenium-containing compounds will be treated. We have attempted to condense the most important aspects and interesting examples of the chemistry of selenium into a single article.

A Palladium-Catalyzed Borylation/Silica Gel Promoted Hydrolysis Sequence for the Synthesis of Hydroquinine-6'-Boric Acid and Its Applications

Hydroquinine-6'-boric acid was first synthesized via a palladium-catalyzed borylation/silica gel promoted hydrolysis sequence of hydroquinine-derived triflate and bis(pinacolato)diboron. The newly designed chiral building block was subjected to the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction, Petasis reaction, and selenylation reaction, respectively, and all these reactions worked well to afford the corresponding 6'-functionalized hydroquinines with satisfactory results, demonstrating its extraordinary application potency.

A rhodium-catalyzed ylide formation/Smiles rearrangement reaction of chalcogenide ether and triazoles

A Rh(ii)-catalyzed highly stereoselective chalcogenide ylide formation/Smiles rearrangement reaction of diaryl thioether/selenoethers and triazoles was successfully developed.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Three-Component Selenosulfonation of Maleimides with Sulfonyl Hydrazides and Diselenides via Radical Relay

By employing Cu(CH₃CN)₄PF₆ as the catalyst and tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidant, we realized a three-component radical selenosulfonation of substituted maleimides, sulfonyl hydrazides, and diphenyl diselenides, providing a series of 3,4-selenosulfonylated succinimides in moderate to good yields. This reaction features broad substrate scopes, high functional-group tolerability, and feasibility of gram-scale synthesis, enabling one-step construction of C-SO₂ and C-Se bonds under mild reaction conditions. Preliminary mechanistic studies support the free-radical-induced pathway.

O2-Mediated Te(II)-Redox Catalysis for the Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling of Indoles

Very few elements in the periodic system can catalytically activate O₂, such as in the context of cross-dehydrogenative couplings. The development of O₂-activating catalysts is essential to enable new and sustainable reactivity concepts to emerge, because these catalysts also often feature specific activating interactions with the target substrates. In this context, the unprecedented Te(II)/Te(III) catalyzed dehydrogenative C3-C2 dimerization of indoles is described herein. The fact that O₂ can be directly utilized as a terminal oxidant in this reaction, as well as the absence of any background reactivity without the redox-active Te catalyst, constitute very important milestones for the fields of cross-dehydrogenative couplings and tellurium catalysis.

Potassium-Base-Mediated Autoxidative Diastereoselective Homocoupling of N-Acyl-2-aminoacetophenones

We herein report a general and highly efficient method for the synthesis of dl-2,3-diamide-1,4-diones via autoxidative dehydrogenative homocoupling of N-acyl-2-aminoacetophenones mediated by t-BuOK. The transformation is mild, operationally simple, and environmentally friendly. Control experiments and stereochemical results suggest that the substrate undergoes autoxidation followed by a diastereoselective S_N2 reactopm.

Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Vinyl Selenides via Rhodium-Catalyzed [1,4]-Acyl Migration of Selenoesters and Diazo Compounds

Herein, we disclose a highly stereoselective Rh(II)-catalyzed 1,4-acyl rearrangement of selenium esters and α-diazo carbonyl compounds, which provides an efficient method for synthesizing tetrasubstituted vinyl selenides. Furthermore, this reaction also offers a synthetic tool for medium and large ring compounds.

Diselenide–yne chemistry for selenium-containing linear polymer modification

Selenium-containing brush polymers with diverse functional segments were easily prepared through diselenide–yne chemistry.