Mild Regiospecific Synthesis of 1-Alkoxy-isochromenes Catalyzed by Well-Defined [Silver(I)(Pyridine-Containing Ligand)] Complexes

Straightforward Access to Isoindoles and 1,2-Dihydrophthalazines Enabled by a Gold-Catalyzed Three-Component Reaction

We describe herein a gold-catalyzed three-component reaction of o-alkynylbenzaldehydes, aryldiazonium salts, and trimethoxybenzene. This process enables the one-pot formation of valuable isoindoles and 1,2-dihydrophathalazines. The regioselectivity of the reaction is dictated by the nature of the aryldiazonium salt. Noticeably, the reaction is performed at room temperature under mild conditions and tolerates a variety of functional groups on both the o-alkynylbenzaldehyde and the aryldiazonium salt. Experimental mechanistic studies suggest that it is catalyzed by arylAu(III) species.

Recent progresses in the chemistry of 12-membered pyridine-containing tetraazamacrocycles: From synthesis to catalysis

This article provides an overview (non-comprehensive) on recent developments regarding pyridine-containing 12-membered tetraazamacrocycles with pyclen or Py2N2 backbones and their metal complexes from 2017 to the present. Firstly, the synthesis...

Gold-Catalyzed Domino Cycloisomerization/Alkoxylation: An Entry to 3,4-Dihydro-1H-[1,4]oxazino[4,3-a]indole

A novel and mild synthetic route for the preparation of functionalized polycyclic indole skeletons via a gold-mediated cycloisomerization/alkoxylation of 1,6-aldehyde-yne has been developed. This atom-economical catalytic process that associates IPrAu(MeCN)BF₄ and an alcohol demonstrated remarkable selectivity in accessing functionalized 3,4-dihydro-1H-[1,4]oxazino[4,3-a]indole derivatives of high synthetic utility (21 examples, yields of ≤96%) and could be optimized under asymmetric conditions with an enantiomeric excess of ≤86%.

Addition of benzyl ethers to alkynes: a metal-free synthesis of 1H-isochromenes

Bromotrimethylsilane (TMSBr)-promoted intramolecular cyclization of (o-arylethynyl)benzyl ethers to form 1H-isochromenes at room temperature is reported. Further studies indicated that vinyl carbocations are the reaction intermediates which are stabilized by the conjugated aryl groups. Thus, O-addition of benzyl ethers/tetrahydropyrans to alkynes was achieved under metal-free, acidic conditions. These reaction conditions were compatible with an alkynyl Prins reaction; therefore, 1H-isochromenes were produced directly from alkynyl benzaldehydes and alkynyl alcohols using a one-pot procedure.

Gold-Catalyzed Reactions Towards Diversity: From Simple Substrates to Functionalized Carbo- and Heterocycles

The field of gold catalysis has been in constant expansion during the last twenty years. Based on the precept of π-activation of unsaturated simple substrates, several new rearrangements have been discovered, implying aryl, alkyne, alkene or keto derivatives as key partners. In this personal account, the main contributions in the field of gold catalysis from our group will be highlighted, emphasizing the recent reports, starting from 1,6- and 1,5-enynes and then moving to keto-ynes derivatives. The gold-catalyzed reactions will be presented starting from classical skeletal rearrangements (cycloisomerization) and then domino processes. In each part, the presentation of asymmetric versions will be highlighted.

Difunctionalization of Alkynones by Base-Mediated Reaction with α,α-Dithioketones

A novel 1,2-difunctionalization of alkynones via an umpolung strategy for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted olefins has been developed. This procedure is realized by a formal C-C σ-bond cleavage reaction of cyclic α,α-dithioketones and subsequent deprotection. Notable features of this approach include excellent yields, mild reaction conditions, a broad substrate scope, and operational simplicity.

Synthesis of 2-Aryl Acetophenones via Hydrobromination and Oxy-isomerization of (o-Arylethynyl)benzyl Alcohols

Hydrobromination and oxy-isomerization of (o-arylethynyl)benzyl alcohols to yield brominated aryl ketones were achieved with bromotrimethylsilane. The substrate scope suggested that vinyl carbocations, stabilized by the conjugated aryl groups, are the reaction intermediates. 1H-Isochromene was also detected by ¹H NMR, and an isolated 1H-isochromene was converted to the product when retreated with TMSBr. The formation of 1H-isochromene is equivalent to a 6-endo-dig cyclization and contrasts with the corresponding reactions under basic conditions, in which the 5-exo-dig process dominated.

Silver-catalyzed tandem 5- and 6-endo-cyclizations via concomitant yne-ol-imine activation: selective entry to 2-aryldihydrofuroquinolines

Ag(i)-catalyzed domino imination-intramolecular bi-heterocyclization-aromatization cascade has been developed to construct 2-aryldihydrofuroquinolines from aldehyde and unprotected 4-(2-aminophenyl)but-3-yn-1-ol via tandem 5-endo-dig and 6-endo-trig cyclization.

A silver-catalyzed stereoselective domino cycloisomerization-vinylogous aldol reaction of ortho-alkynylbenzaldehydes with 3-alkylidene oxindoles: an entry to functionalized isochromenes

A silver tetrafluoroborate catalyzed domino cycloisomerization-vinylogous aldol addition sequence on a multifunctional substrate such as ortho-alkynylbenzaldehydes yielding functionalized 1H-isochromenes in a single step with high yield and excellent diastereoselectivity (>19 : 1) is described. The reaction was well tolerated by alkyl, aryl, and unsubstituted alkynylbenzaldehydes, and furnished selective 6-endo-dig adducts exclusively without loss in the regio- as well as diastereoselectivity.

Isoquinolone Synthesis via Zn(OTf)2-Catalyzed Aerobic Cyclocondensation of 2-(1-Alkynyl)-benzaldehydes with Arylamines

A zinc(II) triflate-catalyzed cyclocondensation of ortho-alkynylbenzaldehydes with arylamines in the presence of base under an oxygen atmosphere affording isoquinolones in good to high yields has been developed. The advantages of the present catalyst system include the use of an air-stable and cheap commercially available Lewis acid as the catalyst, high atom utilization and easily available starting materials.

Oxidative C-S Bond Cleavage of Benzyl Thiols Enabled by Visible-Light-Mediated Silver(II) Complexes

The oxidative cleavage reaction of the C-S bond using singlet oxygen is challenging because of its uncontrollable nature. We have developed a novel method for the singlet-oxygen-mediated selective C-S bond cleavage reaction using silver(II)-ligand complexes. Visible-light-induced silver catalysis enables the controlled oxidative cleavage of benzyl thiols to afford carbonyl compounds, such as aldehydes or ketones, which are important synthetic components.

Coordinating Ability of Anions, Solvents, Amino Acids, and Gases towards Alkaline and Alkaline-Earth Elements, Transition Metals, and Lanthanides

After briefly reviewing the applications of the coordination ability indices proposed earlier for anions and solvents toward transition metals and lanthanides, a new analysis of crystal structures is applied now to a much larger number of coordinating species: anions (including those that are present in ionic solvents), solvents, amino acids, gases, and a sample of neutral ligands. The coordinating ability towards s-block elements is now also considered. The effect of several factors on the coordinating ability will be discussed: (a) the charge of an anion, (b) the chelating nature of anions and solvents, (c) the degree of protonation of oxo-anions, carboxylates and amino carboxylates, and (d) the substitution of hydrogen atoms by methyl groups in NH₃ , ethylenediamine, benzene, ethylene, pyridine and aldehydes. Hit parades of solvents and anions most commonly used in the areas of transition metal, s-block and lanthanide chemistry are deduced from the statistics of their presence in crystal structures.

Palladium mediated domino reaction: synthesis of isochromenes under aqueous medium

Isochromenes have been synthesized using palladium-catalyzed C–C and C–O bond forming reactions starting from ortho-bromo tertiary benzylic alcohols and internal acetylenes. Notably, this domino process is feasible by using the green solvent, water. The protocol exhibited a broad substrate scope and afforded various isochromenes.

Isochromenes have been synthesized using palladium-catalyzed C–C and C–O bond forming reactions starting from ortho-bromo tertiary benzylic alcohols and internal acetylenes.

Chiral N-heterocyclic Carbene Gold Complexes: Synthesis and Applications in Catalysis

N-Heterocyclic carbenes have found many applications in modern metal catalysis, due to the formation of stable metal complexes, and organocatalysis. Among a myriad of N-heterocyclic carbene metal complexes, gold complexes have gained a lot of attention due to their unique propensity for the activation of carbon-carbon multiple bonds, allowing many useful transformations of alkynes, allenes, and alkenes, inaccessible by other metal complexes. The present review summarizes synthetic efforts towards the preparation of chiral N-heterocyclic gold(I) complexes exhibiting C2 and C1 symmetry, as well as their applications in enantioselective catalysis. Finally, the emerging area of rare gold(III) complexes and their preliminary usage in asymmetric catalysis is also presented.

Self-assembled coordination thioether silver(I) macrocyclic complexes for homogeneous catalysis

The bis-ortho-thioether 9,10-bis[(o-methylthio)phenyl]anthracene was synthesized as a syn-atropisomer, as revealed by X-ray diffraction. This alkylaryl thioether ligand (L) formed different macrocyclic complexes by coordination with silver(I) salts depending on the nature of the anion: M₂L₂ for AgOTf and AgOTFA, M₆L₄ for AgNO₃. A discrete M₂L complex was obtained in the presence of bulky PPh₃AgOTf. These silver(I) complexes adopted similar structures in solution and in the solid state. As each sulfur atom in the ligand is prochiral, macrocycles L₂M₂ were obtained as mixtures of diastereoisomers, depending on the configurations of the sulfur atoms coordinated to silver cations. The X-ray structures of the two L₂·(AgOTf)₂ stereoisomers highlighted their different geometry. The catalytic activity of all silver(I) complexes was effective under homogeneous conditions in two tandem addition/cycloisomerization of alkynes using 0.5–1 mol % of catalytic loading.

Silver triflate/p-TSA co-catalysed synthesis of 3-substituted isocoumarins from 2-alkynylbenzoates

A well-balanced composition of catalytic system partners makes the approach cheap, quick, regioselective, mild, general, scalable and high-yielding.

Pd-Catalyzed One-Pot Stepwise Synthesis of Benzo[b][1,6]naphthyridines from 2-Chloroquinoline-3-carbonitriles Using Sulfur and Amines As Nucleophiles

A palladium-catalyzed one-pot stepwise coupling-annulation reaction of 2-chloroqunoline-3-carbonitriles enabled the direct synthesis of sulfur-substituted benzo[b][1,6]naphthyridines via multiple bond formation. The reaction provided an unusual mode for cyclization as sodium sulfide, a soft nucleophile, preferred to attack on the carbon of the nitrile group rather than on the C-C triple bond. The developed chemistry was extended with the secondary amines as nucleophiles to afford nitrogen-substituted benzo[b][1,6]naphythyridines while primary amines afforded hydroamination products . The hydromination products were transformed to benzo[b][1,6]naphthyridones via a base-mediated cyclization reaction. The  developed protocol features inexpensive and easily synthesizable starting materials, easy operations, and a high efficiency and tolerance to a broad range of substrates.

Electrophilic Cyclization and Intermolecular Acetalation of 2-(4-Hydroxybut-1-yn-1-yl)benzaldehydes: Synthesis of Diiodinated Diepoxydibenzo[c,k][1,9]dioxacyclohexadecines

An expedient strategy for the preparation of diiodinated diepoxydibenzo[c,k][1,9]dioxacyclohexadecines from readily available 2-(4-hydroxybut-1-yn-1-yl)benzaldehydes through electrophile-triggered tandem cyclization/intermolecular acetalation sequence has been presented. The electrophilic macrocyclization can be performed under mild conditions and in up to gram quantities. Moreover, palladium-catalyzed coupling and reduction reactions of the resulting iodides could efficiently afford oxa-macrocycles.

One-pot synthesis of 1H-isochromenes and 1,2-dihydroisoquinolines by a sequential isocyanide-based multicomponent/Wittig reaction

A one-pot synthesis of 1H-isochromenes and 1,2-dihydroisoquinolines by a I-MCR/Wittig sequence was developed. The reaction of phosphonium salt , an acid, an amine (or without), and an isocyanide gave the 1H-isochromenes or 1,2-dihydroisoquinolines in good yields by a sequential Passerini or Ugi condensation and an intramolecular Wittig reaction in the presence of K2CO3.

Ruthenium(0)-Catalyzed [4+2] Cycloaddition of Acetylenic Aldehydes with α-Ketols: Convergent Construction of Angucycline Ring Systems

Ruthenium(0) complexes modified by CyJohnPhos or RuPhos catalyze the successive C-C coupling of acetylenic aldehydes with α-ketols to form [4+2] cycloadducts as single diastereomers. This method enables convergent construction of type II polyketide ring systems of the angucycline class.

Silver comes into play: Henry reaction and domino cycloisomerisation sequence catalysed by [Ag(i)(Pc-L)] complexes

The Ag(i) complexes of pyridine-containing ligands with an active pendant arm are new catalysts for an old reaction: the nitroaldol condensation. When the substrates are 2-alkynylarylaldehydes, a smart cascade cycloisomerisation process can occur.

Pd catalyzed facile synthesis of cyclopenta[b]quinolin-1-one via sequential Sonogashira coupling and annulation. An unusual mode of ring closure, using sulphur as a soft nucleophile

Pd mediated one pot sequential Sonogashira coupling followed by annulation using o-alkynyl aldehyde is reported.

DFT study on the CuBr-catalyzed synthesis of highly substituted furans: effects of solvent DMF, substrate MeOH, trace H2O and the metallic valence state of Cu

Comparing the catalytic abilities of DMF, MeOH, and H₂O for intermolecular nucleophilic addition and H-transfer process.

Tetracyclic dihydronaphthalene derivatives via gold-catalyzed aminative homodimerization of ortho-alkynylbenzaldehydes

o-Alkynylbenzaldehydes undergo gold-catalyzed aminative homodimerization via a domino 6-endo-dig/hydroamination/[4+2] cycloaddition reaction sequence, furnishing tetracyclic products that incorporate medicinally relevant moieties.