Controllable Strategy of Metal-Organic Framework Structural Stability: Regulation of Ligand Electronegativity by Esterification

Structural stability of metal-organic framework (MOF) is crucial for their application, and thus it is of great significance to construct MOFs with controllable structural stability. Herein, a strategy based on adjusting the electronic environment of ligands to regulate the structure stability of MOF is proposed. Briefly, a novel Zr-MOF (Zr-TA) with hydroxyl groups is synthesized. The hydroxyl groups are esterified to obtain ester groups with stronger electronegativity, which can weaken the strength of coordination between metal ion and ligand, thereby regulating the structure stability of the Zr-MOF. Notably, this strategy can achieve controllable adjustment of the structure by adding modifiers at the appropriate time. In this work, this strategy is used to greatly improving the binding ability of MOF and collagen fibers, the hydrothermal stability of crosslinked collagen fibers is enhanced by 82.6%. Surprisingly, this strategy can also be applied to other application fields that require dynamic changes in structural stability of MOF. It will open up a new pathway for controlling the structural stability and application performance of MOF.

Masters of Mediation: MN(SiMe3)2 in Functionalization of C(sp3)-H Latent Nucleophiles

Organoalkali compounds have undergone a far-reaching transformation being a coupling partner to a mediator in unusual organic conversions which finds its spot in the field of sustainable synthesis. Transition-metal catalysis has always been the priority in C(sp3)-H bond functionalization, however alternatively, in recent times this has been seriously challenged by earth-abundant alkali metals and their complexes arriving at new sustainable organometallic reagents. In this line, the importance of MN(SiMe3)2 (M=Li, Na, K & Cs) reagent revived in C(sp3)-H bond functionalization over recent years in organic synthesis is showcased in this minireview. MN(SiMe3)2 reagent with higher reactivity, enhanced stability, and bespoke cation-π interaction have shown eye-opening mediated processes such as C(sp3)-C(sp3) cross-coupling, radical-radical cross-coupling, aminobenzylation, annulation, aroylation, and other transformations to utilize readily available petrochemical feedstocks. This article also emphasizes the unusual reactivity of MN(SiMe3)2 reagent in unreactive and robust C-X (X=O, N, F, C) bond cleavage reactions that occurred alongside the C(sp3)-H bond functionalization. Overall, this review encourages the community to exploit the untapped potential of MN(SiMe3)2 reagent and also inspires them to take up this subject to even greater heights.

Development of Catalytic Enantioselective Mannich Reactions Using Esters

Catalytic enantioselective Mannich reactions of simple nonactivated esters proceeded using a chiral potassium strong base catalyst prepared from a chiral bisoxazoline and potassium hexamethyldisilazide. Alkyl acetates, alkyl propionates, and an alkyl butyrate were employed as the simple esters, and the desired reactions proceeded smoothly to afford Mannich products in good to high yields with high enantioselectivities. One of the products was successfully employed in the asymmetric total synthesis of Maraviroc.

Metal-Catalyst-Free One-Pot Aqueous Synthesis of trans-1,2-Diols from Electron-Deficient α,β-Unsaturated Amides via Epoxidation Using Oxone as a Dual Role Reagent

In organic synthesis, incorporating two functional groups into the carbon-carbon double bond of α,β-unsaturated amides is challenging due to the electron-deficient nature of the olefin moiety. Although a few examples of dihydroxylation of α,β-unsaturated amides have been demonstrated, producing cis-1,2-diols using either highly toxic OsO4 or other specialized metal reagents in organic solvents, they are limited to several specific amides. We describe herein a general and one-pot direct synthesis of trans-1,2-diols from electron-deficient α,β-unsaturated amides through dihydroxylation using oxone as a dual-role reagent in water. This reaction does not require any metal catalyst and produces non-hazardous and nontoxic K2 SO4 as the sole byproduct. Moreover, epoxidation products could also be selectively formed by adjusting the reaction conditions. By the strategy, the intermediates of Mcl-1 inhibitor and antiallergic bioactive molecule can be synthesized in one pot. The gram-scale synthesis of trans-1,2-diol which is isolated and purified by recrystallization further shows the potential applications of this new reaction in organic synthesis.

KOtBu-catalysed α-homoallylic alkylation of acyclic amides with 1-aryl-1,3-dienes

Herein, we report a KOtBu-catalysed α-homoallylic alkylation of acyclic amides with 1-aryl-1,3-dienes. With this transition metal-free and atom-economic protocol, a series of α-homoallylic alkylated acyclic amides were synthesized in good to excellent yields. This transformation is proposed to proceed through a cation-π interaction-based C-C bond formation from the in situ-generated potassium enolate with the diene unit.

Development of chiral potassium strong Brønsted base catalysts for enantioselective carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions

Chiral alkaline metal Brønsted bases are traditional and reliable promoters in enantioselective catalysis. Here, new chiral potassium strong base catalysts were developed for enantioselective carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions of weakly acidic carbon pronucleophiles. Chiral potassium amide or alkyl potassium catalyzed enantioselective addition reactions to imines or α,β-unsaturated amides with good to high enantioselectivities. The good potential of chiral potassium Brønsted bases to act as proton transfer catalysts has been shown.

Bifunctional Iminophosphorane-Catalyzed Enantioselective Sulfa-Michael Addition to Unactivated α,β-Unsaturated Amides

The first metal-free catalytic intermolecular enantioselective Michael addition to unactivated α,β-unsaturated amides is described. Consistently high enantiomeric excesses and yields were obtained over a wide range of alkyl thiol pronucleophiles and electrophiles under mild reaction conditions, enabled by a novel squaramide-based bifunctional iminophosphorane catalyst. Low catalyst loadings (2.0 mol %) were achieved on a decagram scale, demonstrating the scalability of the reaction. Computational analysis revealed the origin of the high enantiofacial selectivity via analysis of relevant transition structures and provided substantial support for specific noncovalent activation of the carbonyl group of the α,β-unsaturated amide by the catalyst.

Chiral Metal Salts as Ligands for Catalytic Asymmetric Mannich Reactions with Simple Amides

Catalytic asymmetric Mannich reactions of imines with weakly acidic simple amides were developed using a chiral potassium hexamethyldisilazide (KHMDS)-bis(oxazoline) potassium salt (K-Box) catalyst system. The desired reactions proceeded to afford the target compounds in high yields with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities. It was suggested that a K enolate interacted with K-Box to form a chiral K enolate that reacted with imines efficiently. In this system, K-Box (potassium salt of Box) worked as a chiral ligand of the active potassium species.

Alkali-Metal Mediation: Diversity of Applications in Main-Group Organometallic Chemistry

Organolithium compounds have been at the forefront of synthetic chemistry for over a century, as they mediate the synthesis of myriads of compounds that are utilised worldwide in academic and industrial settings. For that reason, lithium has always been the most important alkali metal in organometallic chemistry. Today, that importance is being seriously challenged by sodium and potassium, as the alkali-metal mediation of organic reactions in general has started branching off in several new directions. Recent examples covering main-group homogeneous catalysis, stoichiometric organic synthesis, low-valent main-group metal chemistry, polymerization, and green chemistry are showcased in this Review. Since alkali-metal compounds are often not the end products of these applications, their roles are rarely given top billing. Thus, this Review has been written to alert the community to this rising unifying phenomenon of "alkali-metal mediation".

Asymmetric C(sp3)-H functionalization of unactivated alkylarenes such as toluene enabled by chiral Brønsted base catalysts

Benzylic functionalisation of unactivated alkylarenes remains as a significant challenge in asymmetric catalysis due to their less reactive nature. Here, we show development of catalytic asymmetric C(sp³)-H functionalization of unactivated alkylarenes such as toluene with imines. The reactions proceeded smoothly under proton-transfer conditions using a chiral, strong Brønsted base catalyst system. A chiral Brønsted base prepared from an alkylpotassium and a chiral amine ligand was found to effectively form a promising asymmetric environment around a benzyl anion. Optimization of the reaction conditions revealed that the use of the alkaline metal amide, potassium hexamethyldisilazide (KHMDS), as an additive was most effective, and enantioselective and atom economical carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions at the benzylic positions of unactivated alkylarenes was achieved without using any transition-metal catalyst.

Alkali-amide-catalyzed divergent sp2 and sp3 C–H bonds alkylation of alkylthiophenes with alkenes

Divergent sp² and sp³ C–H bonds alkylation of alkylthiophenes was achieved selectively with LDA and KHMDS catalysts, providing not only atom-economical synthesis approaches but also some insights in the different behaviours of the alkali amides.

New Dimensions of Brønsted Base Catalyzed Carbon–Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions

Catalytic carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions of weakly acidic carbon pronucleophiles (pK a in DMSO ≥30) were developed using strong alkaline metal Brønsted bases as catalysts. Not only weakly acidic amides, esters, nitriles, sulfonamides without any activating group, and alkyl azaarenes, but also alkyl arenes such as toluene, were applicable for the reactions, which are difficult to be applied in typical Brønsted base catalyzed reactions. Expansion to enantioselective reactions was also revealed to be possible. The reactions are atom economical and require only inexpensive alkaline metals rather than precious transition metals.

1 Introduction

2 Catalytic Direct-Type Addition Reactions of Weakly Acidic Carbonyl and Related Pronucleophiles

3 Catalytic Direct-Type Addition Reactions of Alkyl Azaarenes

4 Catalytic Direct-Type Addition Reactions of Alkyl Arenes

5 Conclusion

Base-promoted addition of DMA with 1,1-diarylethylenes: application to a total synthesis of (-)-sacidumlignan B

A base-promoted addition of DMA (N,N-dimethylacetamide) to 1,1-diarylethylenes has been developed, and it provides a new strategy for the synthesis of N,N-dimethyl-4,4-diarylbutanamides from 1,1-diarylethylenes at room temperature. This method allows us to achieve the goal of synthesizing (-)-sacidumlignan B, and provides simple operation and broad substrate scope by avoiding the use of transition metal catalysts.

Alkyl lithium-catalyzed benzylic C–H bond addition of alkyl pyridines to α-alkenes

The alkyl lithium catalyst successfully achieved the benzylic C–H bond addition of alkyl pyridines to α-alkenes, and displayed distinct selectivity from those of transition metal catalysts.

Lithium Diisopropylamide Catalyzed Allylic C-H Bond Alkylation with Styrenes

Allylic substitution reactions, a well-established approach for new bond construction, often need transition-metal catalysts and stoichiometric amounts of organometallic reagents, strong bases, or oxidants. Lithium diisopropylamide (LDA), a widely used and commercially available Brønsted base, is herein reported to catalyze the allylic C-H bond addition of 1,3-diarylpropenes to styrenes. Preliminary mechanism studies have provided a solid structure of the π-allyllithium intermediate and revealed the unique catalytic roles of LDA and its conjugate acid diisopropylamine.

Potassium-Zincate-Catalyzed Benzylic C-H Bond Addition of Diarylmethanes to Styrenes

Direct functionalization of the benzylic C-H bond of diarylmethanes is an important strategy for the synthesis of diarylmethine-containing compounds. However, the methods developed to date for this purpose require a stoichiometric amount (usually more) of either a strong base or an oxidant. Reported here is the first catalytic benzylic C-H bond addition of diarylmethanes to styrenes and conjugated dienes. A potassium zincate complex, generated from potassium benzyl and zinc amide, acts as a catalyst and displays good activity and chemoselectivity. Considering the atom economy of the reaction and the ready availability of the catalyst, this reaction constitutes a practical, efficient method for diarylalkane synthesis.

Catalytic alkylation reactions of weakly acidic carbonyl and related compounds using alkenes as electrophiles

Catalytic alkylation reactions of weakly acidic carbonyl and related pronucleophiles such as amides, esters, and sulfonamides with substituted alkenes have been reported.

Catalytic Carbon-Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions of Weakly Acidic Carbon Pronucleophiles Using Strong Brønsted Bases as Catalysts

Catalytic carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions of weakly acidic carbon pronucleophiles with N-aryl imines, α,β-unsaturated amides, and others under proton-transfer conditions were developed by designing strongly basic reaction intermediates known as product bases. The reactions proceed smoothly in the presence of a catalytic amount of strong base such as KH or alkaline metal amides. Modification of the metal cations by using chiral macrocyclic crown ethers allowed catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions to proceed with high enantioselectivities. This concept can be applied to Brønsted-base-catalyzed reactions of a wide range of weakly acidic carbon pronucleophiles.

Intramolecular addition of benzyl anion to alkyne utilizing [1,2]-phospha-Brook rearrangement under Brønsted base catalysis

A novel reaction system for intramolecular addition of benzyl anions to alkynes was developed by utilizing the [1,2]-phospha-Brook rearrangement under Brønsted base catalysis. The present reaction is a rare example of a catalytic addition reaction of an unstabilized benzyl anion under Brønsted base catalysis.