Selective O-Acylation of Enol Silyl Ethers with Acyl Fluorides Catalyzed by Fluoride Ions Derived from Potassium Fluoride and 18-Crown-6.

The fluoride ion-catalyzed selective O-acylation of enol silyl ethers with acyl fluorides using KF and 18-Crown-6 is described herein. This catalytic system facilitated the practical and facile reaction of a variety of enol silyl ethers derived from aromatic/aliphatic ketones and aldehydes with acyl fluorides to afford useful and valuable enol esters.

Chemical Upcycling of PET into a Morpholine Amide as a Versatile Synthetic Building Block.

A catalytic chemical upcycling methodology for polyesters has been developed. Commodity polyesters, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), are depolymerized with morpholine by using a Cp*TiCl catalyst under ambient pressure without any additives, which provides morpholine amides exclusively. The method can also apply to other polyesters, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene adipate (PEA), polybutylene adipate (PBA), and polybutylene succinate (PBS), as well as an actual PET waste of a 50 g postconsumer beverage bottle.

Production of Alkyl Aryl Sulfides from Aromatic Disulfides and Alkyl Carboxylates via a Disilathiane-Disulfide Interchange Reaction.

The results of this study show that disilathiane is an effective mediator in the synthesis of alkyl aryl sulfides with disulfides and alkyl carboxylates. Mechanistic studies suggest that disilathiane promotes cleavage of the sulfur-sulfur bond of disulfides to generate thiosilane as a key intermediate. Diselenides were also applicable to this transformation to produce the corresponding selenides.

Palladium-Catalyzed Annulation of Acyl Fluorides with Norbornene via Decarbonylation and CO Reinsertion.

A palladium-catalyzed annulation of acyl fluorides with norbornene is described. This study reports the first example of an annulation of acyl fluorides in the presence of a transition-metal catalyst. Polycyclic ketones are obtained from the cleavage of the C-F and C-H bonds of the acyl fluoride and the rearrangement of the carbonyl moiety by decarbonylation and CO reinsertion.

Acyl Fluorides in Late-Transition-Metal Catalysis.

In this Review, we summarize the current state of the art in late-transition-metal-catalyzed reactions of acyl fluorides, covering both their synthesis and further transformations. In organic reactions, the relationship between stability and reactivity of the starting substrates is usually characterized by a trade-off. Yet, acyl fluorides display a very good balance between these properties, which is mostly due to their moderate electrophilicity.

Catalytic C-H/C-F Coupling of Azoles and Acyl Fluorides.

A method for the palladium/copper-catalyzed direct acylation of azoles with acyl fluorides is described. This study reports the first examples of acyl fluorides being used as acylation reagents in transition-metal-catalyzed aromatic C-H bond functionalization reactions. Depending on the reaction temperature, decarbonylative coupling may also occur.

Group 4 Metallocene Difluoride/Palladium Bimetallic Catalysts for the Reductive Cross-Coupling of Alkynes with Aryl Iodides and Bromides.

A novel protocol has been developed for the selective synthesis of ( E)-alkenes via the reductive cross-coupling of alkynes and aryl halides using a bimetallic catalyst system composed of a group 4 metallocene difluoride (Cp[M]F; [M] = Hf or Zr; Cp = cyclopentadienide) and palladium dichloride. This reaction proceeds via a coupling between an aryl halide and an in situ generated alkenyl metallocene intermediate derived from the group 4 metallocene difluoride, a hydrosilane, and an alkyne. For a catalytic reductive coupling, the addition of sodium fluoride (NaF) to the reaction system is required.

Construction of N-Heterocyclic Systems Containing a Fully Substituted Allylic Carbon by Palladium/Phosphine Catalysis.

The unique cyclization of benzamide derivatives that contain an alkyne by a Pd(0)/dialkyl(biaryl)phosphine catalytic system is reported. The reaction efficiently provides a variety of six-membered N-heterocyclic compounds that contain a fully substituted carbon center without the need for a stoichiometric additive. Mechanistic studies suggest that this unprecedented cyclization starts with the cleavage of a propargylic C-O bond, and a 1,3-diene has been identified as a relevant intermediate.

Palladium-Catalyzed Reductive Conversion of Acyl Fluorides via Ligand-Controlled Decarbonylation.

Ligand-controlled non-decarbonylative and decarbonylative conversions of acyl fluorides were developed using a Pd(OAc)/EtSiH combination. When tricyclohexylphosphine (PCy) was used as the ligand, aldehydes were obtained as simple reductive conversion products. The use of 1,2-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane (CyP(CH)PCy, DCPE) as the ligand, however, favored the formation of hydrocarbons, which are decarbonylative reduction products.

Indium-Catalyzed Direct Conversion of Lactones into Thiolactones Using a Disilathiane as a Sulfur Source.

An indium-catalyzed reaction of lactones and a disilathiane leading to thiolactones is described. The direct synthesis of thiolactones from lactones with an appropriate sulfur source is one of the most attractive approaches in organic and pharmaceutical chemistry. In this context, we found an indium-catalyzed direct conversion of lactones into thiolactones in the presence of elemental sulfur and a hydrosilane via formation of the disilathiane in situ.

Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Dibenzothiophenes from 2-Biphenylyl Disulfides by C-H Functionalization.

The palladium-catalyzed oxidative preparation of dibenzothiophene derivatives from 2-biphenylyl disulfides by C-H functionalization is described herein. This procedure shows a high tolerance toward various functional groups and does not require the further addition of a metal oxidant, a base, or a ligand. Also, the present method was applied to the facile preparation of dibenzoselenophene.

Palladium-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling Reaction of Terminal Alkynes with Aryl Iodides Utilizing Hafnocene Difluoride as a Hafnium Hydride Precursor Leading to trans-Alkenes.

Herein, we describe a reductive cross-coupling of alkynes and aryl iodides by using a novel catalytic system composed of a catalytic amount of palladium dichloride and a promoter precursor, hafnocene difluoride (Cp HfF , Cp=cyclopentadienyl anion), in the presence of a mild reducing reagent, a hydrosilane, leading to a one-pot preparation of trans-alkenes. In this process, a series of coupling reactions efficiently proceeds through the following three steps: (i) an initial formation of hafnocene hydride from hafnocene difluoride and the hydrosilane, (ii) a subsequent hydrohafnation toward alkynes, and (iii) a final transmetalation of the alkenyl hafnium species to a palladium complex. This reductive coupling could be chemoselectively applied to the preparation of trans-alkenes with various functional groups, such as an alkyl group, a halogen, an ester, a nitro group, a heterocycle, a boronic ester, and an internal alkyne.

Palladium-Catalyzed Cyclization of Alkynoic Acids To Form Vinyl Dioxanones Bearing a Quaternary Allylic Carbon.

A palladium-catalyzed intramolecular reaction of carboxylic acids and alkynes in a novel cyclization manner was developed. This unique cyclization efficiently provided a wide range of complex ring systems-vinyl dioxanones bearing a quaternary allylic carbon. Mechanistic studies suggest an allenyl carboxylate as an intermediate.

Indium-Catalyzed Reductive Dithioacetalization of Carboxylic Acids with Dithiols: Scope, Limitations, and Application to Oxidative Desulfurization.

In this study an InI-TMDS (1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane) reducing system effectively catalyzed the reductive dithioacetalization of a variety of aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids with 1,2-ethanedithiol or 1,3-propanedithiol leading to the one-pot preparation of either 1,3-dithiolane derivatives or a 1,3-dithiane derivative. Also, the intact indium catalyst continuously catalyzed the subsequent oxidative desulfurization of an in situ formed 1,3-dithiolane derivative, which led to the preparation of the corresponding aldehydes.

Production of Quaternary α-Aminonitriles by Means of Indium-Catalyzed Three-Component Reaction of Alkynes, Amines, and Trimethylsilyl Cyanide.

A novel synthesis of α-aminonitriles is described via an indium-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction of alkynes, amines, and trimethylsilyl cyanide (Me3SiCN). Hydroamination of alkynes with a subsequent nucleophilic addition of Me3SiCN resulted in a novel approach to quaternary α-aminonitrile derivatives.

Reductive Amination/Cyclization of Keto Acids Using a Hydrosilane for Selective Production of Lactams versus Cyclic Amines by Switching of the Indium Catalyst.

Described herein is that the catalytic construction of N-substituted five- and six-membered lactams from keto acids with primary amines by reductive amination, using an indium/silane combination. This relatively benign and safe catalyst/reductant system tolerates the use of a variety of functional groups, especially ones that are reduction-sensitive. A direct switch from synthesizing lactams to synthesizing cyclic amines is achieved by changing the catalyst from In(OAc)3 to InI3.

Oxidative Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with Aldehydes Leading to Alkynyl Ketones by Using Indium(III) Bromide.

An indium(III)-promoted direct acylation of terminal alkynes using aldehydes leading to ynones was developed. In contrast to the previous addition reactions of alkynes to aldehydes, which provide propargylic alcohols, the oxidative coupling proceeded exclusively to afford alkynyl ketones. The products were likely generated through an Oppenauer oxidation of the indium propargylic alkoxide species by excess amounts of aldehydes.

Copper(II)-catalyzed oxidative N-nitrosation of secondary and tertiary amines with nitromethane under an oxygen atmosphere.

The combination of a catalytic amount of Cu(OTf)2 and less than a stoichiometric amount of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) under an O2 atmosphere effectively promoted the N-nitrosation of both secondary aromatic/aliphatic amines and tertiary aromatic amines with nitromethane (CH3NO2) leading to the preparation of N-nitrosamine derivatives.

Indium(III)-catalyzed knoevenagel condensation of aldehydes and activated methylenes using acetic anhydride as a promoter.

The combination of a catalytic amount of InCl3 and acetic anhydride remarkably promotes the Knoevenagel condensation of a variety of aldehydes and activated methylene compounds. This catalytic system accommodates aromatic aldehydes containing a variety of electron-donating and -withdrawing groups, heteroaromatic aldehydes, conjugate aldehydes, and aliphatic aldehydes. Central to successfully driving the condensation series is the formation of a geminal diacetate intermediate, which was generated in situ from an aldehyde and an acid anhydride with the assistance of an indium catalyst.

Gallium-catalyzed reductive chlorination of carboxylic acids with copper(II) chloride.

Described herein is the direct chlorination of carboxylic acids using copper(II) chloride via a gallium(III)-catalyzed reduction in the presence of a hydrosiloxane. During this reductive chlorination, the counteranions of CuCl2 functioned as a chloride source.

Ruthenium-catalyzed conversion of sp3 C-O bonds in ethers to C-C bonds using triarylboroxines.

Catalytic conversion of unreactive sp(3) C-O bonds in alkyl ethers to C-C bonds is described. Alkyl ethers bearing 2- or 4-pyridyl groups were coupled with triarylboroxines in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst. Triarylboroxines bearing a variety of functional groups including electron-withdrawing and -donating groups can be used for the reaction.