Continuous flow synthesis of alkynes from isoxazolones

The development of a continuous flow approach for the generation of alkynes from isoxazolones under diazotisation conditions is reported. The underlying transformation has been known for several decades; however, in batch mode, it is plagued by variable yields, excessive use of sodium nitrite and limited scalability due to its exothermic nature and the release of copious amounts of toxic nitroxide gases. The presented flow approach overcomes these limitations and delivers various alkyne products in residence times of less than 1 minute with productivities of ca. 2 g h-1. This demonstrates the value of continuous flow processing in miniaturised devices and renders this alkyne forming method an attractive addition to the limited synthetic toolbox towards this important functional group.

One-Stage Pathway from Hollongdione to C17-Alkyne and Vinyl Chloride Following Mannich Bases and Carboxylic Acid

Hollongdione is the first recorded example of the occurrence of a dammarane hexanor-triterpene in nature possessing antiviral and cytotoxic activity. Its simple one-stage transformation into compounds with terminal alkyne and vinyl chloride fragments via the interaction with phosphorus halides is reported. The copper(I)-catalyzed Mannich reaction of 3-oxo-22,23,24,25,26,27-hexanor-dammar-20(21)-in 3 led to a series of aminomethylated products, while 17-carboxylic acid was obtained by ozone oxidation of 3-oxo-22,23,24,25,26,27-hexanor-dammar-20-chloro-20(21)-en 4; the following direct amidation of the latter has been developed. The structures of all new molecules were established by spectroscopic studies that included 2D NMR correlation methods; the molecular structures of compounds 2-5 were determined by X-ray analysis.

Bonding and stability of elusive silaboryne (SiB) and germaboryne (GeB) with donor base ligands

Stabilizing the exotic chemical species possessing multiple bonds is often extremely challenging due to insufficient orbital overlap, especially involving one heavier element. Bulky aryl groups and/or carbene as ligand have previously stabilized the SiSi, GeGe, and BB triple bonds. Herein, theoretical calculations have been carried out to shed light on the stability and bonding of elusive silaboryne/germaboryne (Si/GeB triple bond) stabilized by donor base ligands ((cAAC)BE(Me)(L); E = Si, L = cAAC^Me , NHC^Me , PMe₃ ; E = Ge, L = cAAC^Me ). The heavier analogues (Sn, Pb) have been further studied for comparison. Additionally, the effects of bulky substituents at the Si and N atoms on the structural parameters and stability of those species have been investigated. Energy decomposition analysis coupled with natural orbital for chemical valence (EDA-NOCV; for Si) showed that cAAC/NHC ligands could stabilize the exotic BSi-Me species more efficiently than PMe₃ ligands. The BSi partial triple bond of the corresponding species possesses a mixture of one covalent electron sharing BSi σ-bond and two dative π-bonds (B ← Si, B → Si).

Aryl Radical Enabled, Copper-Catalyzed Sonogashira-Type Cross-Coupling of Alkynes with Alkyl Iodides

Despite the success of Sonogashira coupling for the synthesis of arylalkynes and conjugated enynes, the engagement of unactivated alkyl halides in such reactions remains historically challenging. We report herein a strategy that merges Cu-catalyzed alkyne transfer with the aryl radical activation of carbon-halide bonds to enable a general approach for the coupling of alkyl iodides with terminal alkynes. This unprecedented Sonogashira-type cross-coupling reaction tolerates a broad range of functional groups and has been applied to the late-stage cross-coupling of densely functionalized pharmaceutical agents as well as the synthesis of positron emission tomography tracers.

Enantioselective and Diastereodivergent Allylation of Propargylic C-H Bonds

An iridium-catalyzed stereoselective coupling of allylic ethers and alkynes to generate 3,4-substituted 1,5-enynes is reported. Under optimized conditions, the coupling products are formed with excellent regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivities, and the protocol is functional group tolerant. Moreover, we report conditions that allow the reaction to proceed with complete reversal of diastereoselectivity. Mechanistic studies are consistent with an unprecedented dual role for the iridium catalyst, enabling the propargylic deprotonation of the alkyne through π-coordination, as well as the generation of a π-allyl species from the allylic ether starting material.

Nonlinear Optical Properties of Pyrene Derivatives Based on a Donor-Acceptor Structure and Its Polyurethane Composites

Two pyrenyl Schiff base derivatives with π conjugated structures (B2 and B3) were designed and synthesized. Then, B2 and B3 were added into polyurethane to obtain doped and bonded polyurethane nonlinear optical materials (B2/PU and B3/PU), respectively. The synthesized B2, B3, and polyurethane nonlinear optical materials were tested by a nanosecond (ns) and picosecond (ps) pulse Z-scan at a 532 nm wavelength. Due to the two-photon absorption-induced excited state absorption (TPA-ESA), B2, B3, and polyurethane nonlinear optical materials show reverse saturable absorption (RSA). From a quantum chemistry calculation, it can be concluded that the RSA of B2 and B3 comes from the large π conjugated system and intramolecular charge transfer. Furthermore, B2, B3, and the polyurethane nonlinear optical materials show good optical limiting. B2/PU and B3/PU not only have excellent nonlinear optical properties but also have good transmittance, thermal stability, and processability of polyurethane materials. The combination of pyrenyl Schiff base derivatives and polyurethane materials greatly improves the application of nonlinear small molecules in the field of optical limiting and all-optical switching.

Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Carbonylative Multifunctionalization of Alkynes

Currently, the construction of new carbon-carbon bonds and value-added structures in an atom- and step economical manner has become a continuous pursuit in the synthetic chemistry community. Since the first transition-metal-catalyzed hydroformylation of ethylene was reported by Otto Roelen in the 1930s, impressive progress has been achieved in the carbonylative functionalization of unsaturated C-C bonds. In contrast to alkenes, the carbonylative functionalization of alkynes offers tremendous potential for the construction of multisubstituted carbonyl-containing derivatives because of their two independently addressable π-systems. This review provides a timely and necessary investigation of transition-metal-catalyzed carbonylative mutifunctionalization of alkynes with the exclusion of carbonylative hydrofunctionalizations. Different transition metals including palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, iron, copper, etc. were applied to the development of novel carbonylative transformation. Various C-C, C-N, C-O, C-S, C-B, C-Si, and carbon-halogen bonds were formed efficiently and give the corresponding tri- or tetrasubstituted α,β-unsaturated ketones, diesters, and heterocycles.

Forging C–C Bonds through Intramolecular Oxidative Coupling of Organoborates – An Overview

C–C bond formation has challenged the community of synthetic organic chemists for decades. Organoboron derivatives represent a mild and functional-group-tolerant class of reagents that can be handled without the need for inert conditions, making them suitable scaffolds for the development of methods that increase the sustainability of current processes for coupling reactions. This short review summarizes the different approaches that have been developed to enable C–C bond formation through intramolecular rearrangements of organoborate species.

1 Introduction

2 Oxidative Coupling with Chemical Oxidants

3 Electrocoupling of Tetraorganoborates

4 Photocoupling of Tetraorganoborates

Copper-catalyzed switchable cyclization of alkyne-tethered α-bromocarbonyls: selective access to quinolin-2-ones and quinoline-2,4-diones

Copper-catalyzed cyclization of alkynes has played a significant role in modern catalytic chemistry.

Fritsch-Buttenberg-Wiechell rearrangement of magnesium alkylidene carbenoids leading to the formation of alkynes

A series of 1-heteroatom-substituted vinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides were prepared and treated with organometallic reagents to evaluate which combination of sulfoxides and organometallic reagents yielded alkynes the most efficiently. The use of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxide and isopropylmagnesium chloride was optimal for this purpose. A variety of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides were prepared from carbonyl compounds and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide and were converted into alkynes via the sulfoxide/magnesium exchange reaction and subsequent Fritsch–Buttenberg–Wiechell (FBW) rearrangement of the resulting magnesium alkylidene carbenoids. The mechanism of the FBW rearrangement of magnesium alkylidene carbenoids was studied by using ¹³C-labeled sulfoxides and by using DFT calculations.

Electro-alkynylation: Intramolecular Rearrangement of Trialkynylorganoborates for Chemoselective C(sp2)-C(sp) Bond Formation

An alternative and complementary transformation for the synthesis of aryl- and heteroaryl-substituted alkynes is presented that relies on a chemoselective electrocoupling process. Tetraorganoborate substrates were logically designed and simply accessed by transmetalations using readily or commercially available organotrifluoroborate salts.

Palladium-Catalyzed Decarbonylative Sonogashira Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with Carboxylic Acids

A direct decarbonylative Sonogashira coupling of terminal alkynes with carboxylic acids was achieved through palladium catalysis. This reaction did not use overstoichiometric oxidants, thus overcoming the homocoupling issue of terminal alkynes. Under the reaction conditions, a wide range of carboxylic acids including those bioactive ones could couple readily with various terminal alkynes, thus providing a relative general method for preparing internal alkynes.

Facile one-pot synthesis of diarylacetylenes from arylaldehydes via an addition-double elimination process

A practical one-pot protocol has been developed to synthesize diarylacetylenes from arylaldehydes by treatment with 1-(arylmethyl)benzotriazoles and LiN(SiMe3)2. The reaction proceeded through imine formation, Mannich-type addition and double elimination to deliver products in up to 99% yields with broad substrate scope. In addition, gram-scale synthesis of 1-bromo-4-(phenylethynyl)benzene has been demonstrated.

SOMOphilic alkynylation using acetylenic sulfones as functional reagents

Recent advancements in SOMOphilic alkynylation reactions by using acetylenic sulfones as functional reagents are summarized.