A route to 2-substituted tetrahydroquinolines via palladium-catalyzed intramolecular hydroamination of anilino-alkynes.

The cyclization of amino-alkynes 1 in which an amino group is attached to the aromatic ring, proceeded smoothly using a catalytic amount of Pd(PPh3)4 and benzoic acid in toluene at 120 degrees C, leading to the formation of the 2-substituted tetrahydroquinolines 2. An asymmetric variant of the reaction using the chiral palladium catalyst (prepared in situ by mixing Pd2(dba)3.CHCl3 and (R,R)-RENORPHOS) was also explored.

Palladium-catalyzed intramolecular asymmetric hydroamination, hydroalkoxylation, and hydrocarbonation of alkynes.

A conceptually novel approach for asymmetric intramolecular hydroamination, hydroalkoxylation and hydrocarbonation of alkynes using chiral palladium catalysts are described. The reactions of the aminoalkynes 5, alkynols 7, and alkynylmethines 9 in the presence of Pd2(dba)3 x CHCl3/PhCOOH/renorphos 4 in benzene (or benzene-hexane) at 100 degrees C gave the corresponding cyclization products (nitrogen heterocycles 6, oxygen heterocycles 8, and carbocycles 10) in good yields with good enantioselectivities. The origins of enantioselectivities in the hydroamination reaction are discussed based on DFT computations.

Cu(I) catalyst in DMF: an efficient catalytic system for the synthesis of furans from 2-(1-alkynyl)-2-alken-1-ones.

The cyclization of 2-(1-alkynyl)-2-alken-1-ones 1 proceeded very smoothly in the presence of alcohols 2 with a catalytic amount of Cu(I)Br in DMF at 80 degrees C, leading to the formation of highly substituted furans 3. The catalytic system reported herein is easy to handle, compared to the previously known system wherein the reaction between 1 and 2 needed to use moisture sensitive gold(III) chloride.

A convenient and efficient route for the allylation of aromatic amines and alpha-aryl aldehydes with alkynes in the presence of a Pd(0)/PhCOOH combined catalyst system.

The allylation of aromatic amines with alkynes proceeded smoothly in the presence of catalytic amounts of Pd(PPh(3))(4) and benzoic acid. The allylation products were obtained in high yields in a regio- and stereoselective manner. The effect of various groups on the nitrogen atom of anilines was studied.

Catalytic cyclization of o-alkynylbenzaldehyde acetals and thioacetals. Unprecedented activation of the platinum catalyst by olefins. Scope and mechanism of the reaction.

A general protocol for the synthesis of functionalized indenes from o-alkynylbenzaldehyde acetals and thioacetals has been elaborated. Acetals uniformly give cyclization products having the alkyl group from the starting acetylene migrated to the alpha-position, whereas the cyclization of the corresponding thioacetals proceeds without alkyl migration. Optimization of the catalytic system for the cyclization of o-alkynylbenzaldehyde acetals revealed an unknown activation effect: PtCl(2) was found to be a better catalyst for the cyclization of acetals in the presence of olefins than without.