Borane promoted aryl transfer reaction for the synthesis of α-aryl functionalised β-hydroxy and β-keto esters.

The synthesis of a series of α-aryl or α-alkyl functionalised β-hydroxy and β-keto esters has been achieved by reacting α-diazoesters with boranes, and aldehydes, ketones, anhydrides, nitriles, esters or isocyanates. In a mild reaction protocol, 26 examples are presented in yields up to 73%.

Flow Biocatalysis: A Challenging Alternative for the Synthesis of APIs and Natural Compounds.

Biocatalysts represent an efficient, highly selective and greener alternative to metal catalysts in both industry and academia. In the last two decades, the interest in biocatalytic transformations has increased due to an urgent need for more sustainable industrial processes that comply with the principles of green chemistry. Thanks to the recent advances in biotechnologies, protein engineering and the Nobel prize awarded concept of direct enzymatic evolution, the synthetic enzymatic toolbox has expanded significantly.

Memory of Chirality in Flow Electrochemistry: Fast Optimisation with DoE and Online 2D-HPLC.

Amino acid derivatives undergo non-Kolbe electrolysis to afford enantiomerically enriched α-alkoxyamino derivatives through intermediate chiral carbenium ions. The products contain N,O-acetals which are important structural motifs found in bioactive natural products. The reaction is performed in a continuous flow electrochemical reactor coupled to a 2D-HPLC for immediate online analysis.

Metal-Free Tandem Rearrangement/Lactonization: Access to 3,3-Disubstituted Benzofuran-2-(3H)-ones.

A novel metal-free synthesis of 3,3-disubstituted benzofuran-2-(3H)-ones through reacting α-aryl-α-diazoacetates with triarylboranes is presented. Initially, triarylboranes were successfully investigated in α-arylations of α-diazoacetates, however in the presence of a heteroatom in the ortho position, the boron enolate intermediate undergoes an intramolecular rearrangement to form a quaternary center. The intermediate cyclizes to afford valuable 3,3-disubstituted benzofuranones in good yields.