Substrate Channeling in Compartmentalized Nanoreactors.

Thermo- and photoresponsive nanoreactors based on shell cross-linked micelles (SCMs) for the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of ketones have been developed from poly(2-oxazoline) triblock terpolymers. The nanoreactors incorporate thermoresponsive poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) as the hydrophilic corona and are covalently cross-linked with a photoswitchable spiropyran molecule. UV irradiation or changes in temperature trigger morphology switching of the polymer-based nanoreactors that alters the hydrophobicity in separate layers of the SCMs, resulting in dynamic substrate selectivity of the ATH in water.

Photoresponsive Azobenzene-Functionalized Shell Cross-Linked Micelles for Selective Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation.

We describe the substrate-selective asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones using rhodium complexes immobilized on a photoresponsive nanoreactor. The nanoreactor switches its morphology upon light irradiation in a wavelength-selective manner. Kinetic studies show that the gated behavior in the cross-linking layer is key to discriminating among substrates and reagents during catalysis.

Compartmentalisation of molecular catalysts for nonorthogonal tandem catalysis.

The development of nonorthogonal tandem catalysis enables the use of a combination of arbitrary catalysts to rapidly synthesize complex products in a substainable, efficient, and timely manner. The key is to compartmentalise the molecular catalysts, thereby overcoming inherent incompatibilities between individual catalysts or reaction conditions. This tutorial review analyses the development of the past two decades in the field of nonorthogonal tandem catalysis with an emphasis on compartmentalisation strategies.

Compartmentalization and Photoregulating Pathways for Incompatible Tandem Catalysis.

This contribution describes an advanced compartmentalized micellar nanoreactor that possesses a reversible photoresponsive feature and its application toward photoregulating reaction pathways for incompatible tandem catalysis under aqueous conditions. The smart nanoreactor is based on multifunctional amphiphilic poly(2-oxazoline)s and covalently cross-linked with spiropyran upon micelle formation in water. It responds to light irradiation in a wavelength-selective manner switching its morphology as confirmed by dynamic light scattering and cryo-transition electron microscopy.

Reversible Photoswitching in Poly(2-oxazoline) Nanoreactors.

This contribution reports light responsive catalytic nanoreactors based on poly(2-oxazoline) diblock copolymers. The hydrophobic block of the copolymer is a random copolymer consisting of a spiropyran functionalized 2-oxazoline (SPOx) and 2-(but-3-yn-1-yl)-4,5-dihydrooxazole (ButynOx), while the hydrophilic block is based on 2-methyl-2-oxazoline (MeOx). The block copolymer is terminated with tris(2-aminoethyl) amine (TREN) that serves as catalyst in a Knoevenagel condensation.

Rh(I)-Catalyzed Coupling of Conjugated Enynones with Arylboronic Acids: Synthesis of Furyl-Containing Triarylmethanes.

Conjugated enynones can be used as carbene precursors to couple with arylboronic acids in the presence of Rh(I) catalyst. This reaction shows good functional compatibility, and a range of furyl-containing triarylmethanes can be smoothly synthesized from easily available starting materials under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistically, the formation of Rh(I) (2-furyl)carbene species and the subsequent carbene migratory insertion are proposed as the key steps in this reaction.

Palladium-catalyzed carbene migratory insertion using conjugated ene-yne-ketones as carbene precursors.

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions between benzyl, aryl, or allyl bromides and conjugated ene-yne-ketones lead to the formation of 2-alkenyl-substituted furans. This novel coupling reaction involves oxidative addition, alkyne activation-cyclization, palladium carbene migratory insertion, β-hydride elimination, and catalyst regeneration. Palladium (2-furyl)carbene is proposed as the key intermediate, which is supported by DFT calculations.

Palladium-catalyzed diarylmethyl C(sp3)-C(sp2) bond formation: a new coupling approach toward triarylmethanes.

Palladium-catalyzed reductive coupling reactions between N-tosylhydrazones and aryl halides lead to the formation of C(sp(3))-C(sp(2)) bonds. This approach provides a general route for the synthesis of triarylmethanes.

Catalyst-free intramolecular formal carbon insertion into σ-C-C bonds: a new approach toward phenanthrols and naphthols.

The different reactivity of two kinds of carbonyl groups in keto aldehyde substrates has been exploited for the synthesis of phenanthrols, naphthols, and their heteroatom-containing analogues. Key to this highly efficient and robust methodology is the catalyst-free intramolecular formal diazo carbon insertion of N-tosylhydrazones into keto C-C bonds.