Novel Domino Oxidative Coupling: C−C Bond Formation Sequence to Highly Functionalized Dibenzo[a,c]cycloheptenes

Ultraviolet-Visible Absorption Spectroscopy of MoCl5, MoOCl4, and MoO2Cl2 Vapors

This article reports quantitative absorption spectra for MoCl5, MoOCl4, and MoO2Cl2 in the vapor phase from 45,500 to 15,500 cm-1 (645 to 220 nm). Spectra are obtained in an ultrahigh purity stainless steel vacuum system by rapidly sampling a range of analyte partial pressures. The short measurement times and the differential absorbance method employed here minimize effects from uncontrolled transients such as window deposits. A detailed analysis of replicate measurements and time-resolved spectra shows generally reproducible spectral response from MoCl5 vapors at 120 °C. The presence of HCl and MoOCl4 impurities in the MoCl5 vapor samples is determined to be unlikely based on the analysis of absorbance-pressure curves and spectral peak fitting. Comparison with MoOCl4 and MoO2Cl2 spectra shows a unique spectral fingerprint for MoCl5 at 28,500 cm-1 providing a convenient means of discriminating between MoCl5 and its oxychlorides in the visible wavelengths. Adsorption behavior of MoCl5 on surfaces is also discussed with particular emphasis on the use of MoCl5 as a reactant in vapor phase thin film deposition processes.

Conceptual advances in nucleophilic organophosphine-promoted transformations

Catalysis by trivalent nucleophilic organophosphines has emerged as an essential tool in organic synthesis. Several new organic transformations promoted by phosphines substantiate and complement the existing synthetic chemistry tools. Mere design of the substrate and reagent combinations has introduced new modes of reactivity patterns, which are otherwise difficult to achieve. These design considerations have led to the rapid build-up of complex molecular entities and laid a solid foundation to synthesise bioactive natural products and pharmaceuticals. This article presents an overview of some of the conceptual advances, including our contributions to nucleophilic organophosphine chemistry. The scope, limitations, mechanistic insights, and applications of these metal-free transformations are discussed elaborately.

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of medium-sized bridged biaryls

Despite the persistent presence of medium-sized (seven- to nine-membered) scaffolds in natural products and biologically active molecules, their asymmetric syntheses have always been considered a formidable task; therefore, they have remained underdeveloped when compared to the enantioselective synthesis of five- and six-membered ring scaffolds. One important class of such medium-sized ring frameworks includes seven- to nine-membered biaryl bridged carbo- and heterocycles. These medium-ring-sized biaryl frameworks possess more configurational stability than the related smaller ring structures and are common features of valuable natural products, bioactive compounds, chiral catalysts, and molecular motors. Due to these exciting properties and broad applications, over the last few years, the catalytic enantioselective synthesis of medium-sized bridged biaryls has seen an upsurge. This highlight article describes the development of organocatalysed and transition-metal catalysed transformations for procuring seven-, eight-, and nine-membered bridged biaryls bearing a chiral axis/one or more asymmetric carbon centres.

Scholl reaction as a powerful tool for the synthesis of nanographenes: a systematic review

Nanographenes, or extended polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, have been attracting increasing attention owing to their widespread applications in organic electronics. However, the atomically precise fabrication of nanographenes has thus far been achieved only through synthetic organic chemistry. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are popular research subjects due to their high stability, rigid planar structure, and characteristic optical spectra. The recent discovery of graphene, which can be regarded as giant PAH, has further stimulated research interest in this area. Chemists working with nanographene and heterocyclic analogs thereof have chosen it as their preferred tool for the assembly of large and complex architectures. The Scholl reaction has maintained significant relevance in contemporary organic synthesis with many advances in recent years and now ranks among the most useful C-C bond-forming processes for the generation of the π-conjugated frameworks of nanographene or their heterocyclic analogs. A broad range of oxidants and Lewis acids have found use in Scholl-type processes, including Cu(OTf)2/AlCl3, FeCl3, MoCl5, PIFA/BF3-Et2O, and DDQ, in combination with Brønsted or Lewis acids, and the surface-mediated reaction has found especially wide applications in PAH synthesis. Undoubtedly, the utility of the Scholl reaction is supreme in the construction of nanographene and their heterocyclic analogues. The detailed analysis of the progress achieved in this field reveals that many groups have contributed by pushing the boundary of structural possibilities, expanding into surface-assisted cyclodehydrogenation and developing new reagents. In this review, we highlight and discuss the recent modifications in the Scholl reaction for nanographene synthesis using numerous oxidant systems. In addition, the merits or demerits of each oxidative reagent is described herein.

Annulative Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction to synthesise chiral dibenzocycloheptanes

We describe the first metal-free and organocatalytic strategy to access highly functionalised dibenzocycloheptanes via a phosphine-promoted annulative Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction. The method is manipulated to access to chiral dibenzocycloheptanes as well. This work represents a rare entry for the construction of seven-membered carbocycles via the MBH route. The realisation of several bioactive molecules possessing the dibenzocycloheptane core makes this an attractive strategy.

An External Energy Independent WO3/MoCl5 Nano-Sized Catalyst for the Superior Degradation of Crystal Violet and Rhodamine B Dye

In this study, the synthesis of a novel catalyst WO3/MoCl5 was carried out by the thermal method. The method gave an entirely different product compared to previous studies that doped Mo on the surface of semiconductor metal oxides. The degradation reaction of crystal violet (CV) and rhodamine B (RB) dye were done without any energy source. The results showed an incomparably superior result for degradation, with a reaction rate constant of 1.74 s−1 for 30 ppm CV, 1.08 s−1 for 30 ppm RB, and a higher value than 1 s−1 for both cases of 50 ppm dye solution. To the author’s knowledge, this catalyst has the highest reaction rate compared to other studies that targeted CV and RB, with an immense reaction rate increase of more than 100 times. Reusability of the three trials was verified, and the only process required was washing the catalyst after the reaction. One of the drawbacks of the advanced oxidation process (AOP), which has a degradation percent limit, has been solved, since 100% mineralization of the dye was available using this catalyst. FT-IR spectroscopy revealed that W-O-Mo linkage was successfully processed while Mo-Cl linkage has retained. 1H-NMR spectroscopy results confirmed that the degradation product of the dye treated by simple MoCl5 and WO3/MoCl5 was different. Deep inspection of specific regions of NMR fields gave necessary information about the degradation product using WO3/MoCl5.

Decarbonylation of phenylacetic acids by high valent transition metal halides

The unusual decarbonylation of α-phenyl carboxylic acids with suitable substituents is a general reaction promoted at room temperature by homoleptic halides of high valent transition metals.

Domino C-F Bond Activation of the CF3 Group: Synthesis of Fluorinated Dibenzo[a,c][7]annulenes from 2-(Trifluoromethyl)-1-alkenes and 2,2'-Diceriobiaryls

The construction of ring-fluorinated seven-membered carbocycles was readily achieved via the domino S_N2'-type/S_NV reaction between 2-(trifluoromethyl)-1-alkenes and 1,4-carbodianions. The S_N2'-type reaction of 2-(trifluoromethyl)-1-alkenes with 2,2'-diceriobiaryls generated the intermediary 1,1-difluoro-1-alkenes bearing a monoceriobiaryl moiety, which in turn underwent intramolecular S_NV reaction to afford fluorinated 5H-dibenzo[a,c][7]annulenes.

Copper-catalyzed cascade annulation between α-bromocarbonyls and biaryl or (Z)-arylvinylacetylenes enabling a direct synthesis of dibenzocycloheptanes and related compounds

Copper-catalyzed cascade annulation of γ,δ-unsaturated α-bromocarbonyls with biaryl or (Z)-arylvinylacetylenes is presented, giving an expeditious access to dibenzocycloheptanes and related compounds in moderate to high yields.

Over-Oxidation as the Key Step in the Mechanism of the MoCl5-Mediated Dehydrogenative Coupling of Arenes

Molybdenum pentachloride is an unusually powerful reagent for the dehydrogenative coupling of arenes. Owing to the high reaction rate using MoCl5, several labile moieties are tolerated in this transformation. The mechanistic course of the reaction was controversially discussed although indications for a single electron transfer as the initial step were found recently. Herein, based on a combined study including synthetic investigations, electrochemical measurements, EPR spectroscopy, DFT calculations, and mass spectrometry, we deduct a highly consistent mechanistic scenario: MoCl5 acts as a one-electron oxidant in the absence of TiCl4 and as two-electron oxidant in the presence of TiCl4, but leads to an over-oxidized intermediate in both cases, which protects it from side reactions. In the course of aqueous work-up the reagent waste (Mo(III/IV) species) acts as reducing agent generating the desired organic C-C coupling product.

Powerful fluoroalkoxy molybdenum(V) reagent for selective oxidative arene coupling reaction

We introduce the novel fluoroalkoxy molybdenum(V) reagent 1 which has superior reactivity and selectivity in comparison to MoCl5 or the MoCl5 /TiCl4 reagent mixture in the oxidative coupling reactions of aryls. Common side reactions, such as chlorination and/or oligomer formation, are drastically diminished creating a powerful and useful reagent for oxidative coupling. Theoretical treatment of the reagent interaction with 1,2-dimethoxybenzene-type substrates indicates an inner-sphere electron transfer followed by a radical cationic reaction pathway for the oxidative-coupling process. EPR spectroscopic and electrochemical studies, X-ray analyses, computational investigations, and the experimental scope provide a highly consistent picture. The substitution of chlorido ligands by hexafluoroisopropoxido moieties seems to boost both the reactivity and selectivity of the metal center which might be applied to other reagents as well.