Binuclear Pd(I)–Pd(I) Catalysis Assisted by Iodide Ligands for Selective Hydroformylation of Alkenes and Alkynes

Copper-catalyzed syn-hydroformylation of alkynes with silanes and N,N-dimethylformamide dimethylacetal

A copper-catalyzed syn-hydrocarbonization of internal alkynes with N,N-dimethylformamide dimethylacetal and silanes has been disclosed that offers an efficient and expedient access to (E)-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. This highly selective process, which can be performed at gram-scale, enjoys operational simplicity, as well as syngas-free conditions.

Accessing Z-Enynes via Cobalt-Catalyzed Propargylic Dehydrogenation

Alkenes constitute an enabling motif in organic synthesis, as they can be functionalized to form highly substituted molecules. Z-alkenes are generally challenging to access due to the thermodynamic preference for the formation of E-alkenes compared to Z-alkenes. Dehydrogenation methodologies to selectively form Z-alkenes have not yet been reported. Herein, we report a Z-selective, propargylic dehydrogenation that provides 1,3-enynes through the invention of a Co-catalyzed oxidation system. Observation of a kinetic isotope effect (KIE) revealed that deprotonation of the propargylic position is the rate limiting step. Additionally, isomerization experiments were conducted and confirmed that the observed Z-selectivity is a kinetic effect. A proposed stereomechanistic model for the Z-selectivity is included.

Radicalizing CO by Mononuclear Palladium(I)

A mononuclear, T-shaped palladium(I) d9 metalloradical (3), stabilized by a bulky carbazole-based PNP-ligand, was obtained by reduction of palladium chloride or thermal Pd-C bond homolysis of the corresponding neopentyl complex. Pressurizing with CO gave the Pd(I) carbonyl complex, which was structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction. Delocalization of the unpaired electron to the carbonyl carbon was detected by EPR spectroscopy and theoretically modeled by DFT and ab initio methods. The partially reduced and radicalized CO slowly reacts with di(tert-butyl) disulfide under homolytic S-S cleavage and C-S bond formation to give the corresponding metallathioester.

Lewis Acid-Mediated Friedel-Crafts-Type Formylation of Alkenes with Dichloromethyl Methyl Ether in the Presence of Pyridines

Various alkenes are formylated with dichloromethyl methyl ether (MOMCl2) by the combined use of SnCl4/2,6-dibromopyridine (B1) or AgOTf/pyridine (B4) via Friedel-Crafts-type reaction. The former reagent combination is mainly applied to α,α-diarylalkenes, while the latter one is applied not only to arylalkenes but also to some alkylalkenes. Vinyl aldehydes are exclusively obtained from alkenes that can possibly afford both allyl and vinyl aldehydes.

Proline-catalyzed synthesis of α-substituted (E)-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes from epoxides

A novel, simple and metal-free tandem approach for synthesizing α-substituted (E)-α,β-unsaturated aldehyde derivatives through acid-catalyzed epoxide rearrangement and organocatalyzed aldol condensation processes has been described. This transformation has a broad substrate scope under mild conditions, including epoxides and aldehydes containing diverse functional groups, resulting in moderate to high yields of the desired products. Eventually, large-scale reactions and the synthesis of some bioactive molecules are used to demonstrate the potential applicability of the developed method.

Pd-Catalyzed Regioselective Hydroformylation of Olefins with HCO2H and Its Derivatives

An effective Pd-catalyzed regioselective hydroformylation process with N-formylsaccharin or 2,4,6-trichlorophenyl formate along with formic acid is described. Linear aldehydes can be obtained in up to 83% yield and >20:1 l/b ratio. The reaction is operationally simple without the need for external CO and H2.

Palladium-Catalyzed Carbonylative Difunctionalization of Unactivated Alkenes Initiated by Unstabilized Enolates

This report describes the first example of palladium-catalyzed carbonylative difunctionalization of unactivated alkenes initiated by enolate nucleophiles. The approach involves initiation by an unstabilized enolate nucleophile under an atmospheric pressure of CO and termination with a carbon electrophile. This process is compatible with a diverse range of electrophiles, including aryl, heteroaryl, and vinyl iodides to yield synthetically useful 1,5-diketone products, which were demonstrated to be precursors for multi-substituted pyridines. A PdI -dimer complex with two bridging CO units was observed although its role in catalysis is not yet understood.

Mechanistic interpretation of orders in catalyst greater than one

Orders in catalyst greater than one can be attributed to several different reaction mechanisms. Differentiating among these possibilities requires careful analysis of their rate laws, rational experiment design and accurate measurement of the progress of the reactions. We have compiled the most popular mechanisms proposed for reactions with an order in catalyst greater than one and derived their steady-state rate laws. We have analysed the rate laws and proposed experiments to discern between mechanisms. Finally, we have examined 100 case studies that showcase good practices to propose robust mechanisms and to avoid common pitfalls.

Copper-Catalyzed Regioselective Iodoformylation of Terminal Alkynes to Access Versatile Electrophiles (E)-β-Iodo-α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes

Herein, we describe a method for synthesizing (E)-β-iodo-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes via the iodoformylation of terminal alkynes with TMSCF₃ and NaI. This synthetic method uses inexpensive and easy-to-handle chemical feedstocks and employs a commercially available CuI catalyst. It can transform a broad range of terminal alkynes into bis-electrophile (E)-β-iodo-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with excellent chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity. Moreover, it was demonstrated that this protocol has abundant organic reactivity.

Photoredox Catalyzed Thioformylation of Terminal Alkynes Using Nitromethane as a Formyl Source

A photoredox thioformylation of terminal alkynes using nitromethane as a formyl anion equivalent, thereby leading to the synthesis of (E)-1,2-difunctionalized acrylaldehyde, has been described. The current strategy introduces an adaptable aldehyde function across an alkyne and offers a new route to synthesizing α-alkyl/aryl aldehydes.

Copper-Catalyzed Substrate-Controlled Carbonylative Synthesis of α-Keto Amides and Amides from Alkyl Halides

Controllable production of α-keto amides and amides from the same substrates is an attractive goal in the field of transition-metal-catalyzed (double-)carbonylation. Herein, a novel copper-catalyzed highly selective double carbonylation of alkyl bromides has been developed. Moderate to good yields of α-keto amides were obtained as the only products. In the case of alkyl iodides, double- and mono-carbonylation can be achieved controllably under different conditions.

Palladium-catalyzed Regiodivergent Decarboxylative Hydrothiocarbonylation of Vinylarenes using Oxalic Acid Monothioesters

Oxalic acid monothioester (OAM), an easily accessible and bench-stable reagent, is reported herein as a synthetic equivalent of thioester for palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative hydrothiocarbonylation of vinylarenes to achieve both branched and linear regioselectivity. The reactions provided user-friendly synthetic methods for preparation of alfa- or beta-arylated propionic acid thioesters from vinylarenes without directly handling toxic carbon monoxide and odorous thiols.

Recent advances in Cu-catalyzed carbonylation with CO

Transition metal-catalyzed carbonylation has emerged as a powerful and versatile strategy for the efficient construction of complicated carbonyl-containing molecules from simple chemical feedstocks in the past decades.

Selective Rhodium-Catalyzed Hydroformylation of Terminal Arylalkynes and Conjugated Enynes to (Poly)enals Enabled by a π-Acceptor Biphosphoramidite Ligand

The hydroformylation of terminal arylalkynes and enynes offers a straightforward synthetic route to the valuable (poly)enals. However, the hydroformylation of terminal alkynes has remained a long-standing challenge. Herein, an efficient and selective Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation of terminal arylalkynes and conjugated enynes has been achieved by using a new stable biphosphoramidite ligand with strong π-acceptor capacity, which affords various important E-(poly)enals in good yields with excellent chemo- and regioselectivity at low temperatures and low syngas pressures.

Ligand-Controlled Regiodivergent Thiocarbonylation of Alkynes toward Linear and Branched α,β-Unsaturated Thioesters

Thiocarbonylation of alkynes offers an ideal procedure for the synthesis of unsaturated thioesters. A robust ligand-controlled regioselective thiocarbonylation of alkynes is developed. Utilizing boronic acid and 5-chlorosalicylic acid as the acid additive to in situ form 5-chloroborosalicylic acid (5-Cl-BSA), and bis(2-diphenylphosphinophenyl)ether (DPEphos) as the ligand, linear α,β-unsaturated thioesters were produced in a straightforward manner. Switching the ligand to tri(2-furyl)phosphine can turn the reaction selectivity to give branched products. Remarkably, this approach also represents the first example on thiocarbonylation of internal alkynes.

Palladium-Catalyzed Markovnikov Hydroaminocarbonylation of 1,1-Disubstituted and 1,1,2-Trisubstituted Alkenes for Formation of Amides with Quaternary Carbon

Hydroaminocarbonylation of alkenes is one of the most promising yet challenging methods for the synthesis of amides. Herein, we reported the development of a novel and effective Pd-catalyzed Markovnikov hydroaminocarbonylation of 1,1-disubstituted or 1,1,2-trisubstituted alkenes with aniline hydrochloride salts to afford amides bearing an α quaternary carbon. The reaction makes use of readily available starting materials, tolerates a wide range of functional groups, and provides a facile and straightforward approach to a diverse array of amides bearing an α quaternary carbon. Mechanistic investigations suggested that the reaction proceeded through a palladium hydride pathway. The hydropalladation and CO insertion are reversible, and the aminolysis is probably the rate-limiting step.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Regioselective Hydroformylation of Alkynes to α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes Using Formic Acid

A rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of alkynes with formic acid was developed. The method provides α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in high yield and E-selectivity without the need to handle toxic CO gas.

A direct synthesis of carboxylic acids via platinum-catalysed hydroxycarbonylation of olefins

A selective platinum-catalysed hydroxycarbonylation of aliphatic olefins has been achieved.