Ionic Liquid Immobilized Organocatalysts for Asymmetric Reactions in Aqueous Media

Diastereo- and Enantioselective Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Tetrahydropyridines by Recyclable Novel Bifunctional C2-Symmetric Ionic Liquid–Supported (S)-Proline Organocatalyst

An efficient, novel bifunctional C2-symmetric ionic liquid–supported (S)-proline organocatalyst 7 was developed for a one-pot, five-component reaction involving β-keto esters 8, aryl aldehydes 9, and aryl amines 10, affording highly functionalized tetrahydropyridines 11a–o by simultaneous generation of fives bonds and two stereogenic centers with extraordinary diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to >99:1 dr, 95:5 er) in isopropanol with high yields (up to 92%). This protocol provides quick access to diverse enantio-enriched, highly functionalized diastereo- and enantioselective tetrahydropyridines in a green medium without any column chromatographic purification. The catalyst was recycled five times without significant loss of its catalytic activity.

Room Temperature Ionic Liquids in Asymmetric Hetero-Ene Type Reactions: Improving Organocatalyst Performance at Lower Temperatures

Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) have been widely used as (co)solvents in several catalytic processes modifying, in most of the cases, the catalyst activity and/or the selectivity for the studied reactions. However, there are just a few examples of their use in hydrogen bonding organocatalysis. In this paper, we show the positive effect of a set of imidazole-based ionic liquids ([bmim]BF₄ and [hmim]PF₆) in the enantioselective addition of formaldehyde tert-butylhydrazone to prochiral α-keto esters catalyzed by a sugar-based chiral thiourea. Reactions performed in the presence of low percentages of RTILs led to an increase of the catalyst activity, thereby making possible to work at lower temperatures. Thus, the chiral tert-butyl azomethyl tertiary alcohols could be obtained with moderate to good conversions and higher enantioselectivities for most of the studied substrates when using up to 30 vol% of [hmim]PF₆ as a cosolvent in processes performed in toluene.

Green Asymmetric Organocatalysis

Asymmetric organocatalysis is becoming one of the main tools for the synthesis of chiral compounds that are needed as medicines, crop protection agents, and other bioactive molecules. It can be effectively combined with various green chemistry methodologies. Intensification techniques, such as ball milling, flow, high pressure, or light, bring not only higher yields, faster reactions, and easier product isolation, but also new reactivities. More sustainable reaction media, such as ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, green solvent alternatives, and water, also considerably enhance the sustainability profile of many organocatalytic reactions.

C2 -symmetric sulfonamides as homogeneous and heterogeneous organocatalysts that mimic enzymes in enantioselective Michael additions

Herein, we report the synthesis of C2 -symmetric sulfonamides as homogeneous and heterogeneous organocatalysts and their application in the enantioselective conjugate 1,4-Michael addition of carbonylic nucleophiles to β-nitrostyrene. Organocatalysts hydrogen bond to β-nitrostyrene and enamine in the transition state, mimicking an enzyme leading to final products in high yields (up to 98%) and good enantioselectivities (up to 96%). In addition, these results were supported by density functional calculations.

Using chiral ionic liquid additives to enhance asymmetric induction in a Diels–Alder reaction

A bis-oxazoline ligand has been complexed using Cu(ii) and Zn(ii) trifluoromethanesulfonate and a range of chiral ionic liquid (CIL) additives based on natural products were used as a co-catalyst for a Diels–Alder reaction.

Ionic liquids in catalysis: molecular and nanometric metal systems

The catalyst immobilization in a liquid phase represents an attractive means to preserve high activities and selectivities, also permitting an easy recycling. To attain this goal, organic products should be extracted in a simple way from the catalytic phase leading to metal-free target compounds; for this reason, ionic liquids exhibiting high affinity for metallic species and low affinity for low polar compounds, turn into a promising medium, in particular for the synthesis of fine chemicals. In the present Accounts, we illustrate this approach through our research involving both molecular organometallic compounds and metallic nanoparticles dispersed in an ionic liquid phase.

l-Cysteine functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (LCMNP): a novel magnetically separable organocatalyst for one-pot synthesis of 2-amino-4H-chromene-3-carbonitriles in water

Magnetic nanoparticles were functionalized with l-cysteine using a new and efficient method and introduced as a novel magnetically separable organocatalyst.

Chemical and thermal stability of N-heterocyclic ionic liquids in catalytic C-H activation reactions

(1)H-NMR spectrum analyses are applied to study the chemical and thermal stability of selected N-heterocyclic ionic liquids within the reaction system that can highly efficiently activate a C-H bond of methane and convert it into the C-O bond in methanol. Our results indicate that under such reaction conditions involving using a powerful Pt-based catalyst and strong acidic solvent, the aromatic ring of an imidazolium cation becomes unstable generating an ammonium ion (NH(4)(+)). Our results also suggest that the instability of the imidazolium ring is more chemically (participation in reactions) than thermally based. Modifications of the aromatic ring structure such as pyrazolium and triazolium cations can increase the chemical/thermal stability of ionic liquids under these reaction conditions.

The use of supported acidic ionic liquids in organic synthesis

Catalysts obtained by the immobilisation of acidic ionic liquids (ILs) on solid supports offer several advantages compared to the use of catalytically active ILs themselves. Immobilisation may result in an increase in the number of accessible active sites of the catalyst and a reduction of the amount of the IL required. The ionic liquid films on the carrier surfaces provide a homogeneous environment for catalytic reactions but the catalyst appears macroscopically as a dry solid, so it can simply be separated from the reaction mixture. As another advantage, it can easily be applied in a continuous fixed bed reactor. In the present review the main synthetic strategies towards the preparation of supported Lewis acidic and Brønsted acidic ILs are summarised. The most important characterisation methods and structural features of the supported ionic liquids are presented. Their efficiency in catalytic reactions is discussed with special emphasis on their recyclability.