Highly selective cross-coupling reactions of 1,1-dibromoethylenes with alkynylaluminums for the synthesis of aryl substituted conjugated enediynes and unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes

A highly efficient method for the synthesis of aryl substituted conjugated enediynes and unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes via selective cross-coupling reactions of 1,1-dibromoethylenes with alkynylaluminums using the Pd(OAc)2-DPPE and Pd2(dba)3-TFP complexes as catalysts, respectively, has been successfully developed. Though the alkyl substituted conjugated enediynes and unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes were not obtained, this case is also remarkable as the same starting materials could selectively produce either aryl substituted conjugated enediynes or unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes in moderate to excellent yields (up to 99%) in the different Pd-phosphine catalytic systems.

Synthesis of aromatic terminal allenes and aliphatic terminal alkynes from hydrazones using calcium carbide as an acetylene source

A simple method for the selective synthesis of aromatic terminal allenes and aliphatic terminal alkynes from the reactions of calcium carbide with ketone and aldehyde p-tosylhydrazones using copper as a mediator is described.

Organotitanium Nucleophiles in Asymmetric Cross-Coupling Reaction: Stereoconvergent Synthesis of Chiral α-CF3 Thioethers

Asymmetric Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions have become a very attractive tool for the stereoselective construction of valuable organic chiral materials. While various nucleophiles are used in such transformation, organotitanium(IV) has not been used before. Herein we demonstrate, for the first time, that organotitanium species can serve as efficient coupling partners in asymmetric cross-couplings, which have proven to be beneficial, compared to the commonly used organomagnesium and organozinc counterparts. This principle is exemplified by the first asymmetric catalytic synthesis of CF₃-substituted thioethers via a Ni-catalyzed stereoconvergent cross-coupling reaction. Thioether moieties and their derivatives are common motifs in many biologically active compounds, and their enantioenriched fluorinated analogs should be of great interest in the search for novel drugs and agrichemicals.

Synthesis of multi-substituted allenes from organoalane reagents and propargyl esters by using a nickel catalyst

A highly efficient and simple route for the synthesis of multi-substituted allenes has been developed by a nickel catalyzed SN2' substitution reaction of propargyl esters with organic aluminium reagents under mild conditions, which gave the corresponding multi-substituted allenes in good to excellent yields (up to 92%) and high selectivities (up to 99%) at 60 °C for 6 h in THF. Aryls bearing electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups in propargyl esters gave products in good yields. In addition, the multi-substituted allenes bearing a thienyl or a pyridyl group were obtained in 95-97% selectivities with isolated yields of 72-83%. Furthermore, the SN2' substitution reaction worked efficiently with propargyl carbonate compounds as well. On the basis of the experimental results, a possible catalytic cycle has been proposed.

Highly efficient synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes from organoalane reagents and alkynyl bromides mediated by a nickel catalyst

Highly efficient and simple cross-coupling reactions of alkynylbromides with organoalane reagents for the synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes derivatives using Ni(OAc)₂ (2–5 mol%)/(o-furyl)₃P (4–10 mol%) as a catalyst are reported.