Heteropolyacid-Catalyzed Phosphorylation of Secondary Aromatic Alcohols with H-Phosphine Oxides in DMC: A Simple Protocol for C-P Bond Formation

We successfully achieved the phosphorylation of secondary aromatic alcohols with H-phosphine oxides (less developed system) using phosphotungstic acid as a catalyst in dimethyl carbonate. The system was simple and environmentally friendly and showed better activity than traditional Lewis or Brønsted acids such as FeCl3, p-TsOH·H2O, etc., generating up to a 97% isolated yield. Control experiments indicated that the reaction did not occur through the radical pathway, and ethers and carbocation were the key intermediates in the pathway.

An intramolecular hydrogen bond-promoted "green" Ugi cascade reaction for the synthesis of 2,5-diketopiperazines with anticancer activity

We report a "green chemistry"-based Ugi cascade reaction to furnish a series of 2,5-diketopiperazines (through nucleophilic attack of amides upon ketones in Ugi adducts) at moderate-to-good yields. Investigation with the MTT assay revealed compound (±) 5c to exhibit potent anticancer activities against acute myeloid leukaemia (MV411; IC₅₀ = 1.7 μM) and acute T lymphocyte leukaemia (Jurkat; IC₅₀ = 5.7 μM) cell lines.

Rapid access to indole-fused bicyclo[2.2.2]octanones by merging the umpolung strategy and molecular iodine as a green catalyst

One-pot synthesis of indole-fused bicyclo[2.2.2]octanones from DiMeOIN and 2-cyclohexen-1-one is accomplished under an iodine catalyst. The simple and metal-free conditions provide a practical tool to construct Csp3-rich complex molecules via coupling cyclization.

Tritylium assisted iodine catalysis for the synthesis of unsymmetrical triarylmethanes

The combined Lewis acid catalytic system, generated from molecular iodine and tritylium tetrafluoroborate effectively catalyzed the Friedel-Crafts (FC) arylation of diarylmethyl sulfides providing an efficient access to various unsymmetrical triarylmethanes. The addition of tritylium and iodine created a more active catalytic system to promote the cleavage of sulfidic C-S bonds.

Molecular iodine as a mild catalyst for cross-coupling of alkenes and alcohols

C–C bond formation is one of the most fundamental approaches toward molecular diversity in organic synthesis. In pursuit of environmentally friendlier chemical approaches to organic chemistry, we present a new metal-free method for direct dehydrative cross-coupling of alcohols and alkenes using molecular iodine as a Lewis acid catalyst under solvent-free reaction conditions. The reaction is atom-economical, tolerant to air and allows simple synthetic procedure, furnishing Csp 3–Csp 2 coupling products with yields up to 97%. The method has proved efficient for coupling of secondary benzyl alcohols with phenyl-substituted alkenes.

B(C6F5)3 catalysed reduction of para-quinone methides and fuchsones to access unsymmetrical diaryl- and triarylmethanes: elaboration to beclobrate

An effective method for the synthesis of diaryl- and triarylmethane derivatives through a Lewis acid catalyzed reduction of para-quinone methides and fuchsones, respectively, using the Hantzsch ester as a hydride surrogate is described.

Tritylation of Alcohols under Mild Conditions without Using Silver Salts

Secondary alcohols were conveniently tritylated under mild conditions within a short running time with tritylium trifluoroacetate generated in situ from trityl alcohols and trifluoroacetic anhydride. No expensive silver salts were needed for the reactions. Four secondary alcohols were tritylated with both mono- and dimethoxy trityl alcohols giving good to excellent isolated yields. The reaction was also tested on four nucleoside derivatives that have primary alcohols. Satisfactory results were also obtained.

Diolefins with an ether/thioether functionality as ligands in the coordination sphere of Ni and Rh

A diolefin ether, trop2O (2), and a diolefin thioether, trop2S (3), have been investigated as ligand analogues of the well-established diolefin amine, trop2NH (1). Compounds 2 and 3 form different conformers in solution and in the solid state. Whereas 2 could be coordinated to Ni(0), 3 was found to be more suited for coordination to Rh(I). The coordination chemistry, electrochemical properties, and ligand exchange phenomena of the resulting complexes, [Ni(trop2O)(PPh3)] (5) and [Rh(trop2S)(L)n][OTf] (6: L = NCMe, n = 2; 7: L = 2,2'-bipy, n = 1) were investigated by analytical techniques including NMR spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray analysis, and cyclic voltammetry. The results were compared with those obtained for the amine analogues of 5, 6, and 7.

One-pot synthesis of diarylmethanones through palladium-catalyzed sequential coupling and aerobic oxidation of aryl bromides with acetophenone as a latent carbonyl donor

A one-pot palladium-catalyzed synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical diarylmethanones using acetophenone and aryl bromides as raw materials has been developed. In this reaction, acetophenone acts as a latent carbonyl donor and two pathways of palladium-catalyzed sequential coupling and aerobic oxidation are identified. The reaction is applicable to a spectrum of substrates and delivers the products in moderate to good yields. This method can be used for the synthesis of ketoprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in a two-step procedure and 45% overall yield.

Synthetic methodologies of achiral diarylmethanols, diaryl and triarylmethanes (TRAMs) and medicinal properties of diaryl and triarylmethanes-an overview

This review covers the synthesis of achiral diarylmethanols, diaryl and triarylmethanes and the bioactivities of diaryl and triarylmethanes during 1995 to 2013.