Photochemically Catalysed Diels–Alder Reaction of N-arylimines by 2,4, 6-triphenylpyrylium Salt: Synthesis of Furo- and Pyranoquinoline Derivatives

In Situ Anodically Oxidized BMIm-BF4: A Safe and Recyclable BF3 Source

The anodic oxidation of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIm-BF₄) efficiently generates BF₃ from BF₄^–. This Lewis acid, strongly bound to the ionic liquids, can be efficiently used in classical BF₃-catalyzed reactions. We demonstrated the BF₃/BMIm-BF₄ reactivity in four reactions, namely, a domino Friedel–Crafts/lactonization of phenols, the Povarov reaction, the Friedel–Crafts benzylation of anisole, and the multicomponent synthesis of tetrahydro-11H-benzo[a]xanthen-11-ones. In comparison with literature data using BF₃-Et₂O in organic solvents, in all the presented cases, analogous or improved results were obtained. Moreover, the noteworthy advantages of the developed method are the in situ generation of BF₃ (no storing necessity) in the required amount, using only the electron as redox reagent, and the recycling of BMIm-BF₄ for multiple subsequent runs.

Photochemically Promoted Aza-Diels-Alder-Type Reaction: High Catalytic Activity of the Cr(III)/Bipyridine Complex Enhanced by Visible Light Irradiation

Aza-Diels-Alder-type cycloaddition reactions between a range of N-arylimines and functionalized alkenes were effectively catalyzed by the Cr(III)/bipyridine complex under irradiation of blue light, to give the corresponding 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivity. Typically, the reaction of benzylideneaniline with 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone proceeded smoothly with a substrate-to-catalyst molar ratio (S/C) of 1000 and completed within 4 h at room temperature (20-25 °C), affording the cycloaddition product in 97% yield.