Regioselective Cu(I)-Catalyzed Tandem A3-Coupling/Decarboxylative Coupling to 3-Amino-1,4-Enynes

Atomically precise ultrasmall copper cluster for room-temperature highly regioselective dehydrogenative coupling

Three-component dehydrogenative coupling reactions represent important and practical methodologies for forging new C-N bonds and C-C bonds. Achieving highly all-in-one dehydrogenative coupling functionalization by a single catalytic system remains a great challenge. Herein, we develop a rigid-flexible-coupled copper cluster [Cu3(NHC)3(PF6)3] (Cu3NC(NHC)) using a tridentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligand. The shell ligand endows Cu3NC(NHC) with dual attributes, including rigidity and flexibility, to improve activity and stability. The Cu3NC(NHC) is applied to catalyze both highly all-in-one dehydrogenative coupling transformations. Mechanistic studies and density functional theory illustrate that the improved regioselectivity is derived from the low energy of ion pair with copper acetylide and endo-iminium ions and the low transition state, which originates from the unique physicochemical properties of the Cu3NC(NHC) catalyst. This work highlights the importance of N-heterocyclic carbene in the modification of copper clusters, providing a new design rule to protect cluster catalytic centers and enhance catalysis.

Microwave-assisted decarboxylative reactions: advanced strategies for sustainable organic synthesis

Recent advances in the microwave-assisted decarboxylative reactions of carboxylic acids and their derivatives, including transition-metal-catalyzed and metal-free approaches, are summarized.

Synthesis of nitrogen-tethered 1,6-enynes through CuI/TFA catalysis

A new cascade process of the TFA-promoted Pictet–Spengler reaction and Cu-catalyzed intermolecular hydride transfer/alkynylation of an amine, formaldehyde solution, and an alkyne has been developed.

Synthetic Access to Secondary Propargylamines via a Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Deamination/Alkynylation Cascade

A novel and selective cascade reaction of primary amines and alkynes for the synthesis of the corresponding secondary propargylamines is described. This protocol proceeds with a CuBr₂/TBHP system through a process of oxidative deamination of primary amines to imine and alkynylation, featuring a wide scope of substrates with good functional-group tolerance and operational simplicity. Additionally, the use of two different primary amines could also work smoothly using this protocol.

Chemo- and regioselective reductive deoxygenation of 1-en-4-yn-ols into 1,4-enynes through FeF3 and TfOH co-catalysis

We report chemo- and regioselective direct reductive deoxygenation of 1-en-4-yn-3-ols into 1,4-enynes through FeF₃ and TfOH cooperative catalysis under NBSH-mediated conditions.

Multicomponent domino reactions of hydrazinecarbodithioates: concise access to 3-substituted 5-thiol-1,3,4-thiadiazolines

Two classes of addition/cycloaddition cascade reactions of hydrazinecarbodithioate (1) have been developed under mild reaction conditions. Reaction of hydrazinecarbodithioate (1) with formaldehyde solution (2) and propiolic acid (3) gives 3-propargyl-5-thiol-2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazoles (5) via a decarboxylative coupling/cycloaddition domino sequence. When propiolic acid (3) is switched to phenyl boronic acid (4), a petasis/cycloaddition domino reaction is instead observed, in which 3-benzyl-5-thiol-2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazoles (6) are obtained. Both these reactions show a wide range of functional-group compatibility for propiolic acids and aryl boronic acids, and give the corresponding products in moderate to good yields.

Indium(iii)-catalyzed tandem synthesis of 2-alkynyl-3,3-dichloropyrrolidines and their conversion to 3-chloropyrroles

A convenient route to 2-alkynyl-3,3-dichloropyrrolidines was described by addition of terminal acetylenes to 2,2,4-trichloroaldimines using In(OTf)₃ as a catalyst. In the presence of a base these pyrrolidines were transformed into 3-chloropyrroles.

The Redox-A3 Reaction

This Highlight details the recent emergence of a new type of A3 reaction (three-component condensation of an amine, an aldehyde and an alkyne). In contrast to the classic A3 coupling process, the redox-A3 reaction incorporates an iminium isomerization step and leads to amine α-alkynylation. The overall transformation is redox-neutral by virtue of a combined reductive N-alkylation/oxidative C-H bond functionalization.

CuBr-promoted formal hydroacylation of 1-alkynes with glyoxal derivatives: an unexpected synthesis of 1,2-dicarbonyl-3-enes

An efficient and concise protocol has been developed for the highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of E-1,2-dicarbonyl-3-ene derivatives by a copper-promoted reaction of 1-alkynes with α-carbonyl aldehydes in the presence of morpholine. The products obtained are believed as the formal hydroacylation of the triple bond.

Redox-neutral copper(II) carboxylate catalyzed α-alkynylation of amines

A new strategy for iminium ion isomerization was applied to the direct, redox-neutral α-alkynylation of amines. Cu(II) 2-ethylhexanoate was identified as the optimal catalyst for this three-component coupling reaction of secondary amines, aldehydes and alkynes.

Synthesis of symmetric 1,4-diamino-2-butynes via a Cu(I)-catalyzed one-pot A3-coupling/decarboxylative coupling of a propiolic acid, an aldehyde, and an amine

A novel microwave-assisted approach for the one-pot Cu(I)-catalyzed A(3)-coupling/decarboxylative coupling (PA(2)-coupling) of a propiolic acid, an aldehyde, and an amine, resulting in the formation of diversely substituted 1,4-diamino-2-butynes,is described. It is noteworthy that this new multicomponent coupling provides an efficient access to introduce alkyl and aryl group at the 1,4-position of the 1,4-diamino-2-butynes.