Ubiquitous Role of Phosphine-Based Water-Soluble Ligand in Promoting Catalytic Reactions in Water

Catalysis has been at the forefront of the developments that has revolutionised synthesis and provided the impetus in the discovery of platform technologies for efficient C-C or C-X bond formation. Current environmental situation however, demands a change in strategy with catalysis being promoted more in solvents that are benign (Water) and for that the development of hydrophilic ligands (especially phosphines) is a necessity which could promote catalytic reactions in water, allow recyclability of the catalytic solutions and make it possible to isolate products using column-free techniques that involve lesser usage of hazardous organic solvents. In this review, we therefore critically analyse such catalytic processes providing examples that do follow the above-mentioned parameter.

One-pot synthesis of tetrasubstituted 2-aminofurans via Au(I)-catalyzed cascade reaction of ynamides with propargylic alcohols

One-pot synthesis of fully substituted 2-aminofurans via a Au(I)-catalyzed cascade reaction of ynamides and propargylic alcohol was realized. Hydroalkoxylation of ynamide with propargylic alcohol, Saucy-Marbet rearrangement, and cyclization of the resultant 3,4-dienamide sequentially proceeds in a one-pot reaction under highly mild conditions to give fully substituted 2-aminofurans.

Total Synthesis of Shearinines D and G: A Convergent Approach to Indole Diterpenoids

The first total syntheses of the indole diterpenoids (+)‐shearinine G and D are disclosed. The successful routes rely on late‐stage coupling of two complex fragments. Formation of the challenging trans‐hydrindane motif was accomplished by diastereoselective, intramolecular cyclopropanation. A one‐pot sequence consisting of Sharpless dihydroxylation/Achmatowicz reaction was developed to install the dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane motif. The indenone subunit was accessed by Prins cyclization. Tuning the electronic nature of the substituents on the parent arylcarboxaldehyde allowed access to divergent products that were further transformed into shearinines G and D. Riley‐type oxidation of a bicyclic enone yielded a surprising stereochemical outcome.

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction of hydroxyarenes with nitroenynes to access chiral heterocycles via sequential catalysis

Naphthols, hydroxyindoles and an activated phenol are reacted with differently substituted (E)-nitrobut-1-en-3-ynes using the commercially available Rawal's chiral squaramide. The corresponding β-nitroalkynes were obtained with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities. Moreover, dihydronaphthofurans can be accessed via silver catalysed cyclization in a tandem one-pot procedure, with high preservation of the optical purity.

Cycloisomerization of π-Coupled Heteroatom Nucleophiles by Gold Catalysis: En Route to Regiochemically Defined Heterocycles

Since the dawn of millennium, catalytic gold chemistry is at the forefront to set off diverse organic reactions via unique activation of π-bonded molecules. Within this purview, cycloisomerization of heteroatom nucleophiles linked to a π-system is one of the well recognized chemistry for the construction of numerous heterocyclic cores. Though the rudimentary aspects of this transformation are reviewed by several groups in different timeline, a holistic view on regiochemistry of such reactions went largely overlooked. Hence, this account emphasizes the gold catalyzed regioselective cycloisomerization of structurally distinctive π-connected hetero-nucleophiles leading to different heterocycles documented in the last two decades. From an application perspective, this account also highlights those methodologies which find a role in the total synthesis of natural products. Wherever appropriate, mechanistic details and contributing factors for selectivity are also discussed.

Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Furans through One-Pot Formal [3 + 2] Cycloaddition Utilizing [1,2]-Phospha-Brook Rearrangement

An efficient method for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted furans was developed by utilizing the [1,2]-phospha-Brook rearrangement under Brønsted base catalysis. The two-step one-pot formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition involves the nucleophilic addition of a propargyl anion, which is catalytically generated through the [1,2]-phospha-Brook rearrangement, to an aldehyde and the subsequent intramolecular cyclization mediated by N-iodosuccinimide to provide 2,4,5-trisubstituted-3-iodofurans. The present method with readily available substrates provides new access to a wide range of well-organized tetrasubstituted furans.

Silver & gold-catalyzed routes to furans and benzofurans

Silver and gold have become incredibly versatile and mild catalysts for numerous transformations, especially in heterocycle synthesis. For the most prominent of them, i.e. furans, silver and gold, with their unique reactivity and mildness, allow numerous possible routes to highly substituted and/or functionalized furans from a large variety of starting materials. Silver and gold catalysis provide thus the most flexible way to this important family of compounds. The present review describes these silver and gold-catalyzed routes, with some emphasis on mechanistic aspects, and proposes a comparison of both the silver and the gold-catalyzed syntheses of furans.

Gold-catalysed reactions of diynes

In this critical review the reactivity patterns observed with different types of diyne substrates in gold catalysis are discussed. Apart from the many examples from homogeneous catalysis, the few examples from heterogeneous gold catalysis are also included. With a proper arrangement of the two alkynes unique and exciting reactivity patterns like 1,3-carbonyl transpositions, carbene transfer reactions, cascade annulations, macrocyclisations or the formation of gold vinylidene intermediates are observed. These reactions are of interest for organic synthesis, for pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry and for material science.

Gold-catalyzed three-component spirocyclization: a one-pot approach to functionalized pyrazolidines

An efficient, highly atom economic synthesis of hitherto unknown spirocyclic pyrazolidines in a one-pot process was developed. The gold-catalyzed three-component coupling of alkynols, hydrazines and aldehydes or ketones likely proceeds via cycloisomerization of the alkynol to an exocyclic enol ether and subsequent [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of an azomethine ylide. A library of 29 derivatives with a wide range of functional groups was synthesized in up to 97% yield. With this new method, every position in the final product can be substituted which renders the method ideal for applications in combinatorial or medicinal chemistry.

Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed cyclization of α-allylated 1,3-dicarbonyls: an efficient access to 2,2-disubstituted 2,3-dihydrofuran derivatives

A Sc(OTf)₃-catalyzed cyclization of α-allylated 1,3-dicarbonyls is reported. By the reaction, a variety of 2,2-disubstituted 2,3-dihydrofurans were obtained in good yields.

Copper(II)-Catalyzed Alkoxyhalogenation of Alkynyl Ureas and Amides as a Route to Haloalkylidene-Substituted Heterocycles

A highly effective synthesis of haloalkylidene-substituted heterocycles by copper(II)-catalyzed cyclization of alkynyl ureas and secondary amides has been developed. The reaction, which involves a catalytic amount of CuCl2 and a stoichiometric amount of N-halosuccinimide, occurs selectively through an alkoxyhalogenation process. Alternatively, alkoxychlorination and alkoxybromination reactions can be performed working solely with stoichiometric CuCl2 and CuBr2, respectively.

A copper-catalyzed one-pot, three-component tandem conjugative alkynylation/6-endo cyclization sequence: access to pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidines

A copper-catalyzed one-pot, atom/step-economical, three component method for the construction of pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidines has been developed via a tandem conjugative alkynylation/6-endo cyclization sequence.

Metal-catalyzed formation of 1,3-cyclohexadienes: a catalyst-dependent reaction

A metal-dependent and complementary catalytic method to synthesize the cyclohexadienes has been developed. When gold or indium salts were used as catalysts, 1,3-cyclohexadiene (1,3-CHD) could be obtained; when Cu(OTf)₂ was used as the catalyst, however, another isomer 2,4-cyclohexadiene (2,4-CHD) was furnished instead.

Gold(I)-catalyzed formation of furans from γ-acyloxyalkynyl ketones

Various γ-acyloxyalkynyl ketones were efficiently converted into highly substituted furans with 2.5 mol % of triflimide (triphenylphosphine)gold(I) as a catalyst in dichloroethane at 70 °C.

Bifunctional titanocene catalysis in multicomponent couplings: a convergent assembly of β-alkynyl ketones

Herein is described a titanium-catalyzed three-component coupling to assemble β-alkynyl ketones in a single operation. Treatment of an aryl aldehyde with an acetylide and silyl enol ether in the presence of a bifunctional titanocene catalyst enables the highly convergent assembly of β-alkynyl ketones in good to excellent yields.

Recent advances in the gold-catalyzed additions to C-C multiple bonds

C-O, C-N and C-C bonds are the most widespread types of bonds in nature, and are the cornerstone of most organic compounds, ranging from pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals to advanced materials and polymers. Cationic gold acts as a soft and carbophilic Lewis acid and is considered one of the most powerful activators of C-C multiple bonds. Consequently, gold-catalysis plays an important role in the development of new strategies to form these bonds in more convenient ways. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the gold-catalyzed chemistry of addition of X-H (X = O, N, C) bonds to C-C multiple bonds, tandem reactions, and asymmetric additions. This review covers gold-catalyzed organic reactions published from 2008 to the present.

Gold(I)-catalyzed formation of furans by a Claisen-type rearrangement of ynenyl allyl ethers

A series of ynenyl allyl ethers were rearranged into polysubstituted furans in the presence of a gold(I) catalyst. It is proposed that the transformation involves a Claisen-type rearrangement that allows the efficient creation of quaternary centers under mild experimental conditions.

One-pot synthesis of 1,2-dihydropyridines: expanding the diverse reactivity of propargyl vinyl ethers

The catalyzed synthesis of 1,2-dihydropyridines starting from easily accessible propargyl vinyl ethers was realized. The reaction sequence involving a transition metal-catalyzed propargyl-Claisen rearrangement, a condensation step, and a Brønsted acid-catalyzed heterocyclization furnishes the highly substituted heterocycles in moderate to excellent yields. Additionally, a practical one-pot protocol toward 1,2-dihydropyridines and 2H-pyrans starting from propargylic alcohols was developed.