Low Valent Titanium Mediated Imino−Pinacol Coupling: An Improved and Expeditious Route to Vicinal Diamino-Based Ligands

A Metal-Free Approach to 1,2-Diamines via Visible Light-Driven Reductive Coupling of Imines with Perylene as a Photoredox Catalyst

A simple, metal-free, and versatile approach to 1,2-diamines has been developed based on reductive coupling reactions of various imines, where perylene, an aromatic hydrocarbon, was used as a photoredox catalyst under visible light irradiation using a white light-emitting diode. The use of 1 mol % perylene enabled almost complete conversion of the imines, leading to the formation of their corresponding 1,2-diamines, which were isolated in good yields. The ratios between dl and meso diamines ranged from 31:69 to 82:18 depending on the substituents of the imines.

A Simple Method of Synthesis of (±)-2,3-Diarylpiperazines and a Novel Method of Resolution of (±)-2,3-Diphenylpiperazine

Intramolecular reductive coupling of diimines in the presence of Zn/Ti(O(i)Pr)2Cl2 gives the corresponding (+/-)-2,3-diarylpiperazines in 73-83% yields with dl/meso ratio >99%:<1%. The (+/-)-2,3-diphenylpiperazine obtained in this way was readily resolved partially using L-(+)-tartaric acid, and the enantiomeric purity was enhanced to >99% ee via preparation of hydrogen-bonded salt aggregates using oxalic acid.

Titanocene-Catalyzed Coupling of Aromatic Amides in the Presence of Organosilanes: A Novel Route to Vicinal Diamines and a New Class of Amine-Substituted Oligomers

The title reaction has been surveyed for a number of substrates with differing substitution patterns. With a few exceptions, the methodology provides a one-pot synthesis of the 1,2-diamines from widely available and inexpensive starting materials, and in high yields. In addition, the coupling of 1,4- and 1,3-bis-(N,N,N',N'-tetraalkyl)arylenediamides is shown, under the same experimental conditions, to yield oligomers: R2NC(O)C6H4CH(NR2)-[CH(NR2)C6H4CH(NR2)]n-CH(NR2)C6H4C(O)-NR2 (R = methyl and ethyl; n = 0 to ca. 5). The chemical structures of these unprecedented oligomers are determined by comparison of NMR and MS spectra to those of vicinal diamines, prepared from the analogous N,N-dialkylbenzamides. The origin of the limitation of oligomer chain length is probably due to a specific effect of the internal benzylic amine group, since the substrate 4-Me2NCH2C6H4C(O)NMe2 was found to be uniquely unreactive compared to the other 4-substituted N,N-dialkylbenzamides investigated. N-Methylphthalimide was briefly studied as a monomer and analysis by MS showed that oligomers are formed. Attempts to fully characterize these polymers were unsuccessful.

Reductive Amination of Aliphatic Carbonyls using Low–valent Titanium Reagent: A Convenient Route to free Primary Amines

A simple procedure for reductive amination of aliphatic carbonyls, giving direct access to free primary amines using low–valent titanium (LVT) reagent has been reported.

Generation of reactive low-valent titanium species using metal--arenes as efficient organic reductants for TiCl(3): applications to organic synthesis

A comprehensive study on the use of metal-arene systems as organic reductants for TiCl(3) has resulted in an efficient method for the generation of highly reactive low-valent titanium (LVT) reagents. The activated titanium species could be prepared by refluxing a mixture of substoichiometric amounts of arenes, TiCl(3), and Li/Mg in THF or DME. Among the LVT reagents screened, TiCl(3)--Li--naphthalene--THF (reagent I) was the best for coupling of carbonyls to olefins. The reagent could carry out the McMurry olefination of both aromatic and aliphatic substrates at a lower temperature and in a much reduced time as compared to the conventional procedures. Subtle changes in the method of preparation of the LVT reagents influenced the stereoisomeric ratio of the olefins. The reagent was also useful for the synthesis of O- and N- heterocycles and vicinal diamines via intramolecular carbonyl coupling and reductive duplication of imines, respectively.

A novel reductive dimerization/oxidative dehydrogenation of aldimines mediated by lanthanoid metals

A lanthanoid metal-mediated novel reductive dimerization/oxidative dehydrogenation of a variety of aldimines has been achieved. Aromatic aldimines (1) were dimerized in the presence of 0.5 mol of ytterbium metal (Yb) and 1-naphthaldehyde (1-NpCHO) to give the corresponding vicinal diimines (2) in good to high yields. Samarium metal (Sm) or samarium(II) diiodide (SmI2) gives unsatisfied yields under the same reaction conditions. As an oxidant, 1-NpCHO gives the best result. In addition, HMPA plays an important role as a cosolvent in this reaction. Reaction of various aldimines with Yb metal is discussed in detail. Moreover, it has been found that the electron-donating substitutents on the benzene ring promote the reaction and that the electron-withdrawing substitutents retard the reaction. The reaction of deuterated N-benzylideneaniline with Yb metal confirmed that transformation of the hydride occurred from aldimines to the oxidant aldehyde. The mechanism of the reaction was discussed.