RESUMO
We report the discovery that simple carboxylic acids, such as benzoic acid, boost the activity of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysts in the oxidative esterification of aldehydes. A simple and efficient protocol for the transformation of a wide range of sterically hindered α- and ß-substituted aliphatic aldehydes/enals, catalyzed by a novel and readily accessible N-Mes-/N-2,4,6-trichlorophenyl 1,2,4-triazolium salt, and benzoic acid as co-catalyst, was developed. A whole series of α/ß-substituted aliphatic aldehydes/enals hitherto not amenable to NHC-catalyzed esterification could be reacted at typical catalyst loadings of 0.02-1.0â mol %. For benzaldehyde, even 0.005â mol % of NHC catalyst proved sufficient: the lowest value ever achieved in NHC catalysis. Preliminary studies point to carboxylic acid-induced acceleration of acyl transfer from azolium enolate intermediates as the mechanistic basis of the observed effect.
RESUMO
We report the first generation and characterization of elusive Breslow intermediates derived from aromatic N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), namely benzimidazolin-2-ylidenes (NMR, X-ray analysis) and thiazolin-2-ylidenes (NMR). In the former case, the diamino enols were generated by reaction of the free N,N-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)- and N,N-bis(mesityl)-substituted benzimidazolin-2-ylidenes with aldehydes while the dimer of 3,4,5-trimethylthiazolin-2-ylidene served as the starting material in the latter case. The unambiguous NMR identification of the first thiazolin-2-ylidene-based Breslow intermediate rests on double 13 C labeling of both the NHC and the aldehyde component. The acyl anion reactivity was confirmed by benzoin formation with excess aldehyde.
RESUMO
Two independent mol-ecules comprise the asymmetric unit in the title thio-carbamide derivative, C(10)H(13)NOS. These differ in the relative orientations of terminal ethyl groups [C-C-C-O torsion angles = -66.95â (13) and 55.92â (13)°, respectively]. The phenyl ring is twisted out of the plane of the central residue [C(q)-N-C(ph)-C(ph) = -146.20â (12) and -144.15â (12)°, respectively; q = quaternary and ph = phen-yl]. The independent mol-ecules are linked into a dimeric aggregate by N-Hâ¯S hydrogen bonds and an eight-membered thio-amide {â¯H-N-C=S}(2) synthon.