NHC-Cu Three-Coordinate Complex as a Promising Photocatalyst for Energy and Electron Transfer Reactions.

Herein, we describe a simple three-coordinate complex of Cu(I) with an NHC and 1,10-phenanthroline ligands as an effective photocatalyst for energy (e.g., olefin E/Z isomerization) and electron transfer (e.g., aryl halide dehalogenation) reactions under blue-light irradiation. This complex can be obtained in a one-pot procedure starting from commercially available reagents and green solvents (EtOH, water). We hereby present a study of its activity and mechanistic insight into its mode of operation.

Access to 2-Alkenyl-furans via a Cascade of Pd-Catalyzed Cyclization/Coupling Followed by Oxidative Aromatization with DDQ.

An unprecedented DDQ-mediated oxidative aromatization of 2-bezylidene-dihydrofurans yielding 2-alkenyl-furans is disclosed. Integration of this transformation with a prior Pd-catalyzed reaction of α-propargylic-ß-ketoesters and (hetero)aryl halides into a one-pot cascade process opens a direct modular route to highly substituted 2-vinyl-furans. Experimental and computational studies reveal that the crucial step of the oxidative-aromatization involves facile hydride transfer from the dihydrofuran ring to the O-center of DDQ.

Photo-cycloaddition reactions of vinyldiazo compounds.

Heterocyclic rings are important structural scaffolds encountered in both natural and synthetic compounds, and their biological activity often depends on these motifs. They are predominantly accessible via cycloaddition reactions, realized by either thermal, photochemical, or catalytic means. Various starting materials are utilized for this purpose, and, among them, diazo compounds are often encountered, especially vinyldiazo compounds that give access to donor-acceptor cyclopropenes which engage in [2+n] cycloaddition reactions. Herein, we describe the development of photochemical processes that produce diverse heterocyclic scaffolds from multisubstituted oximidovinyldiazo compounds. High chemoselectivity, good functional group tolerance, and excellent scalability characterize this methodology, thus predisposing it for broader applications. Experimental and computational studies reveal that under light irradiation these diazo reagents selectively transform into cyclopropenes which engage in cycloaddition reactions with various dipoles, while under thermal conditions the formation of pyrazole from vinyldiazo compounds is favored.

Gold-Catalyzed 1,2-Aryl Shift and Double Alkyne Benzannulation.

The tandem intramolecular hydroarylation of alkynes accompanied by a 1,2-aryl shift is described. Harnessing the unique electron-rich character of 1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole scaffold, we demonstrate that the hydroarylation of alkynes proceeds at the already occupied positions 2 and 5 leading to a 1,2-aryl shift. Remarkably, the reaction proceeds only in the presence of cationic gold catalyst, and it leads to heretofore unknown π-expanded, centrosymmetric pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles. The utility is verified in the preparation of 13 products that bear six conjugated rings. The observed compatibility with various functional groups allows for increased tunability with regard to the photophysical properties as well as providing sites for further functionalization. Computational studies of the reaction mechanism revealed that the formation of the six-membered rings accompanied with a 1,2-aryl shift is both kinetically and thermodynamically favourable over plausible formation of products containing 7-membered rings. Steady-state UV/Visible spectroscopy reveals that upon photoexcitation, the prepared S-shaped N-doped nanographenes undergo mostly radiative relaxation leading to large fluorescence quantum yields. Their optical properties are rationalized through time-dependent density functional theory calculations. We anticipate that this chemistry will empower the creation of new materials with various functionalities.

Tandem Pd-catalyzed annulation/coupling of acetylenic enamines with aryl triflates.

A cascade of 5-exo-dig intramolecular nucleophilic addition of enamine to terminal alkyne followed by cross coupling has been demonstrated for the first time. Two new C-C bonds are stereoselectively forged by a single Pd-complex capable of catalyzing two mechanistically diverse transformations. Mechanistic investigations identified cyclization as the rate limiting step relying on the facile displacement of OTf, weakly bound to the Pd-center, by the alkyne.

Bioinspired Cobalt-Catalysis Enables Generation of Nucleophilic Radicals from Oxetanes.

Oxetanes are valuable building blocks due to their well-explored propensity to undergo ring-opening reactions with nucleophiles. However, their application as precursors of radical species is still elusive. Herein, we present a bioinspired cobalt-catalysis-based strategy to access unprecedented modes of radical reactivity via oxetane ring-opening. This powerful approach gives access to nucleophilic radicals that engage in reactions with SOMOphiles and low-valent transition metals. Importantly, the regioselectivity of these processes complements known methodologies.

Tandem Pd-Catalyzed Cyclization/Coupling of Non-Terminal Acetylenic Activated Methylenes with (Hetero)Aryl Bromides.

We report a new method for a tandem Pd-catalyzed intramolecular addition of active methylene compounds to internal alkynes followed by coupling with aryl and heteroaryl bromides. Highly substituted vinylidenecyclopentanes were obtained with good yields, complete selectivity, and excellent functional group tolerance. A plausible mechanism, supported by DFT calculations, involves the oxidative addition of bromoarene to Pd(0), followed by cyclization and reductive elimination. The excellent regio- and stereoselectivity arises from the 5-exo-dig intramolecular addition of the enol form of the substrate to alkyne activated by the π-acidic Pd(II) center, postulated as the rate-determining step.

Cobalt Catalyst Determines Regioselectivity in Ring Opening of Epoxides with Aryl Halides.

Ring-opening of epoxides furnishing either linear or branched products belongs to the group of classic transformations in organic synthesis. However, the regioselective cross-electrophile coupling of aryl epoxides with aryl halides still represents a key challenge. Herein, we report that the vitamin B12/Ni dual-catalytic system allows for the selective synthesis of linear products under blue-light irradiation, thus complementing methodologies that give access to branched alcohols. Experimental and theoretical studies corroborate the proposed mechanism involving alkylcobalamin as an intermediate in this reaction.

Pd-Catalyzed Boroperfluoroalkylation of Alkynes Opens a Route to One-Pot Reductive Carboperfluoroalkylation of Alkynes with Perfluoroalkyl and Aryl Iodides.

A three-component tandem Pd-catalyzed perfluoroalkylative borylation of terminal and internal alkynes is presented. On the basis of this methodology, the first reductive dicarbofunctionalization of alkynes with two electrophiles (perfluoroalkyl and aryl iodides) through a temperature-controlled sequence of iodoperfluoroalkylation-borylation coupling is developed. This regio- and stereoselective process is easily controllable by a temperature program, providing access to fluoroalkyl-substituted vinyl iodides, vinyl boronates, or olefins from the very same complex reaction mixture (four substrates, catalysts, base, and additives).

Pd-catalyzed intramolecular addition of active methylene compounds to alkynes with subsequent cross-coupling with (hetero)aryl halides.

We report an efficient protocol for tandem Pd-catalyzed intramolecular addition of active methylene compounds to alkynes, followed by subsequent cross-coupling with (hetero)aryl bromides and chlorides. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions, providing excellent functional group tolerance, including unprotected OH, NH2 groups, enolizable ketones, or a variety of heterocycles. Mechanistic studies point towards a catalytic cycle involving oxidative addition, intramolecular nucleophilic addition to the Pd(ii)-activated alkyne, and reductive elimination, with 5-exo-dig cyclization being the rate limiting step.

Tandem Palladium-Catalyzed 6- exo- dig Oxocyclization Coupling of δ-Acetylenic ß-Ketoesters with Aryl Bromides and Chlorides: Route to Substituted Dihydropyrans.

We report an efficient and functional group-tolerant method for the synthesis of substituted dihydropyrans, based on tandem Pd-catalyzed cyclization/coupling of δ-acetylenic ß-ketoesters with aryl halides. The reaction proceeds cleanly through 6- exo-dig oxocyclizaton mode, delivering products with very good yields and complete control of regio- and stereoselectivity. Due to mild conditions, the transformation offers exceptional tolerance of functionalities, including NHR, formyl, enolizable ketone, free OH and NH2 groups, as well as a range of N-heterocyclic moieties of potential biological relevance.

Pd-Catalyzed Carbonylative Carboperfluoroalkylation of Alkynes. Through-Space 13C-19F Coupling as a Probe for Configuration Assignment of Fluoroalkyl-Substituted Olefins.

A four-component Pd-catalyzed protocol for direct synthesis of perfluoroalkyl-substituted enones is reported. Under mild conditions and low catalyst loading, alkynes, iodoperfluoroalkanes, (hetero)arylboronic acids, and carbon monoxide are assembled into highly elaborate products with good yields and excellent regio- and stereoselectivities. The configuration of the products was confirmed by the observation of through-space 13C-19F couplings, accessible through the analysis of routine 13C NMR spectra.

Assessment of the various ionization methods in the analysis of metal salen complexes by mass spectrometry.

Metal salen complexes are one of the most frequently used catalysts in enantioselective organic synthesis. In the present work, we compare a series of ionization methods that can be used for the mass spectral analysis of two types of metalosalens: ionic complexes (abbreviated as Com(+)X(-)) and neutral complexes (NCom). These methods include electron ionization and field desorption (FD) which can be applied to pure samples and atmospheric pressure ionization techniques: electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) which are suitable for solutions. We found that FD is a method of choice for recording molecular ions of the complexes containing even loosely bonded ligands. The results obtained using atmospheric pressure ionization methods show that the results depend mainly on the structure of metal salen complex and the ionization method. In ESI spectra, Com(+) ions were observed, while in APCI and APPI spectra both Com(+) and [Com + H](+) ions are observed in the ratio depending on the structure of the metal salen complex and the solvent used in the analysis. For complexes with tetrafluoroborate counterion, an elimination of BF3 took place, and ions corresponding to complexes with fluoride counterion were observed. Experiments comparing the relative sensitivity of ESI, APCI and APPI (with and without a dopant) methods showed that for the majority of the studied complexes ESI is the most sensitive one; however, the sensitivity of APCI is usually less than two times lower and for some compounds is even higher than the sensitivity of ESI. Both methods show very high linearity of the calibration curve in a range of about 3 orders of magnitude of the sample concentration.

Pd-catalyzed α-arylation of α,α-difluoroketones with aryl bromides and chlorides. A route to difluoromethylarenes.

We report the Pd-catalyzed α-arylation of α,α-difluoroketones with aryl and heteroaryl bromides and chlorides catalyzed by an air- and moisture-stable palladacyclic complex containing P(t-Bu)Cy2 as ligand. The combination of this Pd-catalyzed arylation and base-induced cleavage of the acyl-aryl C-C bond within the α-aryl-α,α-difluoroketone constitutes a one-pot, two-step procedure to synthesize difluoromethylarenes from aryl halides. A broad range of electronically varied aryl and heteroaryl bromides and chlorides underwent these two transformations, providing α-aryl-α,α-difluoroketones, difluoromethylarenes, and difluoromethylheteroarenes in high yields.

Total synthesis of neurymenolide A based on a gold-catalyzed synthesis of 4-hydroxy-2-pyrones.

Treat me gently: for a selective synthesis of the unusually sensitive cyclophanic α-pyrone neurymenolide A, the chosen catalysts must be able to distinguish between six different sites of unsaturation, without scrambling any of the skipped π systems. This challenge was met with a new gold-catalyzed pyrone synthesis in combination with a molybdenum-catalyzed ring-closing alkyne metathesis.

Silica-polymethacrylate hybrid particles synthesized using high-pressure atom transfer radical polymerization.

Hybrid nanoparticles with a silica core and grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) chains were prepared via activators generated by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (AGET ATRP) at room temperature under high pressure. Due to enhanced propagation rate constant and reduced termination rate constant for polymerizations conducted under high pressure, the rate of polymerization was increased, while preserving good control over polymerization when compared to ATRP under ambient pressure. Molecular weights of greater than 1 million were obtained. The PMMA and PBMA brushes exhibited "semi-diluted" or "diluted" brush architecture with the highest grafting densities ≈0.3 chain·nm(-2).

Enantioselective construction of cis-2,6-disubstituted dihydropyrans: total synthesis of (-)-centrolobine.

This paper presents a simple and efficient route to chiral cis-6-substituted 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyrans, a versatile chiral building block. The strategy is based on three key transformations: enantioselective hetero-Diels-Alder (HDA) reaction of aldehyde with Danishefsky's diene, selective reduction of carbonyl function, and Claisen or related rearrangement. The synthetic utility of the methodology is illustrated by total synthesis of antibiotic (-)-centolobine.

Origin of the asymmetric induction in metallosalen-catalyzed reactions of aldehydes.

This study investigates, experimentally and computationally, the role played by the structure of the diamine moiety of salen chromium complexes in determining the catalyst conformational equilibrium and, in consequence, the direction of asymmetric induction in metallosalen-catalyzed reactions of aldehydes.

Highly diastereoselective Friedel-Crafts reaction of furans with 8-phenylmenthyl glyoxylate.

The Friedel-Crafts reaction of (1R)-8-phenylmenthyl glyoxylate with variously substituted furans was found to be efficiently promoted by SnCl(4) or magnesium salts with high diastereoselectivities. MgBr(2) performs especially well under simple, undemanding conditions, giving both high yields and high diastereoselectivities (>90%). The reaction afforded chiral substituted furan-2-yl-hydroxyacetic acid esters, compounds of potentially high synthetic interest. [reaction: see text]