De Novo Synthesis of α-Ketoamides via Pd/TBD Synergistic Catalysis

Precisely controlling the product selectivity of a reaction is an important objective in organic synthesis. α-Ketoamides are vital intermediates in chemical transformations and privileged motifs in numerous drugs, natural products, and biologically active molecules. The selective synthesis of α-ketoamides from feedstock chemicals in a safe and operationally simple manner under mild conditions is a long-standing catalysis challenge. Herein, an unprecedented TBD-switched Pd-catalyzed double isocyanide insertion reaction for assembling ketoamides in aqueous DMSO from (hetero)aryl halides and pseudohalides under mild conditions is reported. The effectiveness and utility of this protocol are demonstrated by its diverse substrate scope (93 examples), the ability to late-stage modify pharmaceuticals, scalability to large-scale synthesis, and the synthesis of pharmaceutically active molecules. Mechanistic studies indicate that TBD is a key ligand that modulates the Pd-catalyzed double isocyanide insertion process, thereby selectively providing the desired α-ketoamides in a unique manner. In addition, the imidoylpalladium(II) complex and α-ketoimine amide are successfully isolated and determined by X-ray analysis, confirming that they are probable intermediates in the catalytic pathway.

Deconstructive annulation mediated one-pot synthesis of xanthene derivatives

Direct conversion of naphthoxazines to diverse xanthene derivatives was achieved under one-pot operation through deconstructive annulation methodology. Sequential oxidative C(sp3)-O/C(sp3)-N cleavage followed by intramolecular/intermolecular annulation reaction was carried out under aerobic reaction conditions. Mechanistic analyses performed on the substrate revealed that the C(sp3)-O bond cleavage supersedes the C(sp3)-N bond scission. The in situ generated Betti base intermediate through the C(sp3)-O cleavage was successfully isolated. Based on a molecular docking investigation, the intermolecular annulated products demonstrated good α-glucosidase inhibitory properties.

Silver-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Acylation of Isocyanides Accesses to α-Ketoamides with Air as a Sole Oxidant

α-Ketoamide moieties, as privileged units, may represent a valuable option to develop compounds with favorable biological activities, such as low toxicity, promising PK and drug-like properties. An efficient silver-catalyzed decarboxylative acylation of α-oxocarboxylic acids with isocyanides was developed to derivatize the α-ketoamide functional group via a multicomponent reaction (MCR) cascade sequence in one pot. A series of α-ketoamides was synthesized with three components of isocyanides, aromatic α-oxocarboxylic acid analogues and water in moderate yields. Based on the research, the silver-catalyzed decarboxylative acylation confirmed that an oxygen atom of the amide moiety was derived from the water and air as a sole oxidant for the whole process.

Ru(II)-catalyzed oxidative coupling of sulfoxonium ylides with amines: efficient synthesis of α-ketoamides and indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines

The first use of sulfoxonium ylides for the synthesis of α-ketoamides is described via a Ru(II)-catalyzed amidation reaction with amines. The same Ru(II)-catalyzed reaction of sulfoxonium ylides with 2-phenylindoles provided indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines instead of α-ketoamides.

Palladium-catalyzed tandem Heck/carbonylation/aminocarbonylation en route to chiral heterocyclic α-ketoamides

An unprecedented tandem carbonylation/aminocarbonylation triggered by palladium-catalyzed enantioselective Heck-type exocyclopalladation delivering chiral heterocyclic α-ketoamides has been developed.

Mg(OtBu)2-catalyzed C–H oxidation of α-azido arylethanones using TBHP as the oxidant and carbonyl oxygen source: facile access to primary α-ketoamides

A Mg(OtBu)2-catalyzed C(sp3)–H oxidation of α-azido arylethanones to straightforwardly produce primary α-ketoamides is presented.

K2S2O8 activation by glucose at room temperature for the synthesis and functionalization of heterocycles in water

While persulfate activation at room temperature using glucose has primarily been focused on kinetic studies of the sulfate radical anion, the utilization of this protocol in organic synthesis is rarely demonstrated. We reinvestigated selected K₂S₂O₈-mediated known organic reactions that invariably require higher temperatures and an organic solvent. A diverse, mild functionalization and synthesis of heterocycles using the inexpensive oxidant K₂S₂O₈ in water at room temperature is reported, demonstrating the sustainability and broad scope of the method. Unlike traditional methods used for persulfate activation, the current method uses naturally abundant glucose as a K₂S₂O₈ activator, avoiding the use of higher temperature, UV light, transition metals or bases.

Metal-free electrochemical synthesis of α-ketoamides via decarboxylative coupling of α-keto acids with isocyanides and water

A mild and convenient electrochemical protocol has been developed for the preparation of α-ketoamides via a decarboxylative coupling reaction of α-keto acids with isocyanides and water.

X-ray Crystal Structure and Hirshfeld Analysis of Gem-Aminals-Based Morpholine, Pyrrolidine, and Piperidine Moieties

The gem-aminals of 1,2-dimorpholinoethane (1) and 1-morpholino-3-morpholinium bromide propane (2) were synthesized by reaction of two molar ratio of morpholine with the halogenating agents in the presence of basic condition (K2CO3) in acetone at room temperature (RT) overnight. The structures of the centro-symmetric compound 1 and the morpholinium salt derivative 2 were assigned unambiguous by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and compared with the 1,2-di(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethane 3 and 1,2-di(piperidin-1-yl)ethane 4. The 1,2-dimorpholinoethane molecule has a center of symmetry at the midpoint of the C-C bond of the ethyl moiety leading to two equivalent halves. It crystallized in monoclinic crystal system and P21/n space group, while the unit cell parameters are determined to be a = 6.0430(3), b = 8.0805(3), c = 11.1700(4) Å, and β = 97.475(2)° with unit cell volume of 540.80(4) Å3 and Z = 2 at 170(2) K. The less symmetric analogue 2 crystallized in the lower space group P21 with unit cell parameters of a = 6.37450(10), b = 11.1378(2), c = 9.6549(2) Å, and β = 93.358(2)°, while the unit cell volume is 684.30(2)Å3 at 120(2) K. Using Hirshfeld analysis, the molecules of 1 are mainly packed by weak N…H (4.2%), O…H (16.8%), and H…H (79.0%) interactions. In contrast, the molecules of 2 are packed by significantly short O…H (14.4%) and Br…H (11.6%) interactions in addition to the relatively long H…H (73.3%) interactions. DFT calculations predicted the molecular geometry of the studied compounds showing a good agreement with the experimental X-ray structures. Due to symmetry considerations, compounds 1, 3, and 4 are nonpolar with zero dipole moment, while the less symmetric molecule 2 has a dipole moment of 6.914 Debye. Their electronic aspects, such as natural population charges, HOMO, and LUMO energies as well as the corresponding reactivity descriptors, were also calculated and discussed.

Thiocyanation of α-amino carbonyl compounds for the synthesis of aromatic thiocyanates

A procedure for K2S2O8-mediated thiocyanation of α-amino carbonyl compounds has been developed for the synthesis of aromatic thiocyanates. A series of α-amino carbonyl compounds have been investigated, and the desired products are obtained in 74%–93% yields. This strategy has the advantages of simple reaction conditions without use of a transition-metal catalyst, high regioselectivity, and high efficiency. Moreover, we found that arylamine thiocyanates can also be obtained from α-amino carbonyl compounds and potassium thiocyanate in the presence of CoCl2·6H2O, I2, and dimethyl sulfoxide through the cleavage of the C–N bond. To explore the reaction mechanism, we designed several control experiments and proposed a possible mechanism using the experimental results and related literature reports.

Selective synthesis of aryl thioamides and aryl-α-ketoamides from α-oxocarboxylic acids and tetraalkylthiuram disulfides: an unexpected chemoselectivity from aryl sulfonyl chlorides

Tosyl chloride-controlled generation of thioamides and α-ketoamides via base-promoted decarboxylative reaction of α-oxocarboxylic acids with tetraalkylthiuram disulfides has been established.

Palladium-Catalyzed Hydroaminocarbonylation of Alkynes with Tertiary Amines via C-N Bond Cleavage

An efficient strategy for the cleavage of the C-N bond of tertiary amines was developed with DTBP as an oxidant, in which the cleaved H atom and amine moiety were successfully transferred to the desired products. This strategy has enabled an efficient palladium-catalyzed hydroaminocarbonylation of alkynes with tertiary amines. Notably, the catalyst loading could be lowered from 5 to 0.1 mol %, which represents the lowest catalyst loading among the reported work on carbonylation via C-N bond activation.

Synthesis of sulfonamides via copper-catalyzed oxidative C–N bond cleavage of tertiary amines

Tertiary amines were employed as amino sources via the selective oxidative cleavage of the C–N bond to construct the S–N bond. Sulphonamides were synthesized using this strategy in moderate to good yields.

Copper-catalyzed, hypervalent iodine mediated CC bond activation of enaminones for the synthesis of α-keto amides

An unprecedented approach toward the general synthesis of α-keto amides has been established by tailoring the CC double bond of enaminones in the presence of CuI and hypervalent iodine.

Rh(iii)-catalyzed chemoselective C–H functionalizations of tertiary aniline N-oxides with alkynes

Two novel Rh(iii)-catalyzed chemoselective functionalizations of tertiary aniline N-oxides with alkynes, including annulation via the sequential C(sp²)–H and C(sp³)–N activation and an O-atom transfer (OAT) process, have been described.

The copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative amidation of tertiary amines

A general and efficient method for the synthesis of tertiary amides has been developed via the copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative amidation of tertiary amines.