Applications of bismuth(III) compounds in organic synthesis

This review article summarizes the applications of bismuth(III) compounds in organic synthesis since 2002. Although there are an increasing number of reports on applications of bismuth(III) salts in polymerization reactions, and their importance is acknowledged, they are not included in this review. This review is largely organized by the reaction type although some reactions can clearly be placed in multiple sections. While every effort has been made to include all relevant reports in this field, any omission is inadvertent and we apologize in advance for the same (358 references).

Development of Polymer-supported π-Acid Catalysts

We reported that dicyanoketene acetals (DCKA), in which gem-dicyano groups of tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) are displaced with alkoxyl groups, function as pi-acid catalysts, and that a polymer (poly-DCKA-1) derived by copolymerization of a monomer, in which the alkoxyl group at the omega-position is modified with a styrene moiety, with ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate also shows high level of activities as a pi-acid. In this research, the effects of dicyanoketene ethylene acetal (DCKEA), polymers previously developed (poly-DCKA-1 and 2), new monomers, in which the alkoxyl group at the omega-position is modified with an ethereal moiety, and the corresponding polymers (poly-DCKA-3 and 4) were investigated on catalytic activities. Among the catalysts, the polymer (poly-DCKA-1) had the most efficient activity in monothioacetalization, cyanation, and Mukaiyama aldol reaction of acetals, two-component and three-component Mannich-type reaction, hydrolysis of acetals and silyl ethers, and two-component and three-component inverse electron demand Aza-Diels-Alder reaction. Remarkably, the polymer catalyst works more efficiently in water than in organic solvents and is recyclable.

Absolute stereochemistry assignment ofN-phosphorylimine-derived aza-Diels-Alder adducts with TDDFT CD calculations

N-phosphorylimines undergo Lewis acid-catalyzed Diels-Alder reactions with Danishefsky's diene. Application of the chiral catalyst zinc(II)-(S)-BINOL results in good-to-low asymmetric induction but poor chemical conversion. However, the absolute stereochemistry of novel aza-Diels-Alder cycloadducts, such as diethyl 4-oxo-2-phenyl-3,4-dihydropyridin-1(2H)-ylphosphonate, can be determined using circular dichroism (CD). Comparison between experimental and TDDFT-calculated CD spectrum shows that use of the (S)-catalyst results in predominant formation of the (6R) cycloadducts.

Lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiOTf) as a recyclable catalyst for highly efficient acetylation of alcohols and diacetylation of aldehydes under mild and neutral reaction conditions

A variety of alcohols and aldehydes were reacted with acetic anhydride at room temperature in the presence of a catalytic amount of lithium triflate (LiOTf) to produce the corresponding esters and 1,1-diacetates, respectively, in good to excellent yields under essentially neutral reaction conditions. Sensitive functional groups such as PhCO(2)-, OMe, and OTBDMS ethers survived intact under the described reaction conditions.

A simple and versatile method for the synthesis of acetals from aldehydes and ketones using bismuth triflate

Acetals are obtained in good yields by treatment of aldehydes and ketones with trialkyl orthoformate and the corresponding alcohol in the presence of 0.1 mol % Bi(OTf)3.4H2O. A simple procedure for the formation of acetals of diaryl ketones has also been developed. The conversion of carbonyl compounds to the corresponding 1,3-dioxolane using ethylene glycol is also catalyzed by Bi(OTf)3.4H2O (1 mol %). Two methods, both of which avoid the use of benzene, have been developed.