Access to "Friedel-Crafts-restricted" tert-alkyl aromatics by activation/methylation of tertiary benzylic alcohols

An Efficient Synthesis of Geminal-Dialkyl Dienes for Olefin Metathesis Polymerization

A robust synthesis of gem-dialkyl acyclic diene monomers has been developed. This route is scalable, flexible, and biorenewable, allowing for the production of a wide range of diene monomers of different lengths and different gem-dialkyl substitution starting from unsaturated esters derived from seed oils. The metathesis polymerization of these monomers and the hydrogenation of the resulting polyolefins leads to telechelic gem-dialkyl polyethylenes, which can be used as elastomers in the synthesis of polyurethanes and other block polymers.

Diiodomethane-Mediated Generation of N-Aryliminium Ions and Subsequent [4 + 2] Cycloadditions with Olefins

Herein, we report a method for in situ generation of N-aryliminium ions via reactions of N,N-dimethylanilines with diiodomethane. We used the method to prepare tetrahydroquinolines via one-pot three-component reactions between N,N-dimethylanilines, diiodomethane, and olefins. This transformation involves initial reaction of the aniline with diiodomethane to form an iodomethylammonium salt, which undergoes fragmentation accompanied by elimination of methyl iodide to give an N-aryliminium ion, which is trapped by the olefin via [4 + 2] cycloaddition to give the final product. This method for generating N-aryliminium ions requires neither a catalyst nor a strong oxidant, suggesting that it can be expected to find broad utility, especially for substrates that are sensitive to Lewis acids, transition metals, or strong oxidants.

Synthesis of 1,1'-Diarylethanes and Related Systems by Displacement of Trichloroacetimidates with Trimethylaluminum

Benzylic trichloroacetimidates are readily displaced by trimethylaluminum under Lewis acid promoted conditions to provide the corresponding methyl substitution product. This method is a convenient way to access 1,1'-diarylethanes and related systems, which play a significant role in medicinal chemistry, with a number of systems owing their biological activity to this functionality. Most benzylic substrates undergo ready displacement, with electron deficient systems being the exception. The use of an enantiopure imidate showed significant racemization, implicating the formation of a cationic intermediate.

A new mechanism for internal nucleophilic substitution reactions

A new mechanism, through two transition structures, is postulated for internal nucleophilic substitution reactions (S_Ni).

Synthesis of indazole motifs and their medicinal importance: an overview

Indazoles is an important class of heterocyclic compounds having a wide range of biological and pharmaceutical applications. There is enormous potential in the synthesis of novel heterocyclic systems to be used as building blocks for the next generation of pharmaceuticals as anti-bacterial, anti-depressant and anti-inflammatory. Fused aromatic 1H and 2H-indazoles are well recognized for anti-hypertensive and anti-cancer properties. The present review focuses on novel routes of their synthesis and various biological activities.

Nickel-catalyzed borylation of halides and pseudohalides with tetrahydroxydiboron [B2(OH)4]

Arylboronic acids are gaining increased importance as reagents and target structures in a variety of useful applications. Recently, the palladium-catalyzed synthesis of arylboronic acids employing the atom-economical tetrahydroxydiboron (BBA) reagent has been reported. The high cost associated with palladium, combined with several limitations of both palladium- and copper-catalyzed processes, prompted us to develop an alternative method. Thus, the nickel-catalyzed borylation of aryl and heteroaryl halides and pseudohalides using tetrahydroxydiboron (BBA) has been formulated. The reaction proved to be widely functional group tolerant and applicable to a number of heterocyclic systems. To the best of our knowledge, the examples presented here represent the only effective Ni-catalyzed Miyaura borylations conducted at room temperature.

Re-engineering aryl methylcarbamates to confer high selectivity for inhibition of Anopheles gambiae versus human acetylcholinesterase

To identify potential human-safe insecticides against the malaria mosquito we undertook an investigation of the structure-activity relationship of aryl methylcarbamates inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Compounds bearing a β-branched 2-alkoxy or 2-thioalkyl group were found to possess good selectivity for inhibition of Anopheles gambiae AChE over human AChE; up to 530-fold selectivity was achieved with carbamate 11d. A 3D QSAR model is presented that is reasonably consistent with log inhibition selectivity of 34 carbamates. Toxicity of these compounds to live Anopheles gambiae was demonstrated using both tarsal contact (filter paper) and topical application protocols.