Progress in organocatalysis with hypervalent iodine catalysts

Hypervalent iodine compounds as environmentally friendly and relatively inexpensive reagents have properties similar to transition metals. They are employed as alternatives to transition metal catalysts in organic synthesis as mild, nontoxic, selective and recyclable catalytic reagents. Formation of C-N, C-O, C-S, C-F and C-C bonds can be seamlessly accomplished by hypervalent iodine catalysed oxidative functionalisations. The aim of this review is to highlight recent developments in the utilisation of iodine(III) and iodine(V) catalysts in the synthesis of a wide range of organic compounds including chiral catalysts for stereoselective synthesis. Polymer-, magnetic nanoparticle- and metal organic framework-supported hypervalent iodine catalysts are also described.

Ruthenium Catalyzed Intramolecular C-X (X=C, N, O, S) Bond Formation via C-H Functionalization: An Overview

Ruthenium catalyzed C-H activation is well known for its high tolerance towards the functional group and broad applicability in organic synthesis and molecular sciences, with significant applications in pharmaceutical industries, material sciences, and polymer industry. In the last few decades, enormous progress has been observed with ruthenium-catalyzed C-H activation chemistry. Notably, the vast majority of the C-H functionalization known in the literature are intermolecular, although the intramolecular variant provides fascinating new structural facet starting from the simple molecular scaffolds. Intramolecular C-H functionalization is atom economical and step efficient, results in less formation of undesired products which is easy to purify. This has created a lot of interest in organic chemistry in developing new synthetic strategies for such functionalization. The focus of this review is to present the relatively unexplored intramolecular functionalization of C-H bonds into C-X (X=C, N, O, S) bonds utilizing versatile ruthenium catalysts, their scope, and brief mechanistic discussion.

Synthetic Strategies for (-)-Cannabidiol and Its Structural Analogs

(-)-Cannabidiol ((-)-CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid from Cannabis, and its structural analogs have received growing attention in recent years because of their potential therapeutic benefits, including neuroprotective, anti-epileptic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and anti-cancer properties. (-)-CBD and its analogs have been obtained mainly based on extraction from the natural source; however, the conventional extraction-based methods have some drawbacks, such as poor quality control along with purification difficulty. Chemical-synthetic strategies for (-)-CBD could tackle these issues, and, additionally, generate novel (-)-CBD analogs that exhibit advanced biological activities. This review concisely summarizes the historic and recent milestones in the synthetic strategies for (-)-CBD and its analogs.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed [4 + 2] Self-Annulation of N-Vinylarylamides

An efficient rhodium(III)-catalyzed self-annulation of N-vinylarylamide has been developed. This reaction features a simple system and good reactivity with complete regioselectivity. The protocol provides easy access to an aminal incorporated dihydroisoquinolinone, which proved to be a versatile synthetic synthon. The kinetic isotope effect experiments showed that C-H activation is the rate-limiting step, and competition studies revealed the annulation exhibits a strong self-recognition mode. In addition, a seven-membered rhodacycle species was isolated and established as the key reaction intermediate.

An aqueous medium-controlled stereospecific oxidative iodination of alkynes: efficient access to (E)-diiodoalkene derivatives

A new and versatile approach for the stereospecific iodination of alkynes has been developed in aqueous media. Scale-up reactions (up to 5 g) established the proficiency of this protocol and highlight the feasibility of large scale reactions.

Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed C-H Activation/Heterocyclization as a Macrocyclization Strategy. Synthesis of Macrocyclic Pyridones

Structurally diverse macrocyclic pyridones can be efficiently synthesized by a rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/heterocyclization of ω-alkynyl α-substituted acrylic hydroxamates. The use of a O-pivaloyl hydroxamate as directing group was crucial to achieve efficient catalyst turnover in a redox-neutral process.

Ru-Catalysed synthesis of fused heterocycle-pyridinones and -pyrones

Heterocycle-pyridinones and heterocycle-pyranones have been prepared by Ru-catalysed oxidative coupling of N-unprotected primary heterocycle-amides and heterocycle-carboxylic acids with internal alkynes.

A new and versatile one-pot strategy to synthesize alpha-bromoketones from secondary alcohols using ammonium bromide and oxone

A new, efficient and green protocol for the one-pot synthesis of alpha-bromoketones from secondary alcohols is reported.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed intramolecular annulation through C–H activation: concise synthesis of rosettacin and oxypalmatime

A flexible and efficient rhodium(iii)-catalyzed intramolecular annulation of benzamides bearing tethered alkynes for the synthesis of indolizinones and quinolizinones is reported.

Facile one-pot synthesis of 2,3-dihydro-1H-indolizinium derivatives by rhodium(iii)-catalyzed intramolecular oxidative annulation via C–H activation: application to ficuseptine synthesis

Various substituted indolizidinium, quinolizinium and pyrido[1,2-a]azepinium salts were synthesized from benzaldehydes (α,β-unsaturated aldehydes) and alkyne–amines via Rh-catalyzed C–H activation.

Metal-free, catalytic regioselective oxidative conversion of vinylarenes: a mild approach to phenylacetic acid derivatives

A first metal-free catalytic approach for the synthesis of phenylacetic acid derivatives from aromatic olefins is reported.