Palladium-Catalyzed Three-Component Cascade Carbonylation Reaction to Construct Benzofuran Derivatives.

A novel three-component cyclization carbonylation reaction of iodoarene-tethered propargyl ethers with amine and CO is reported. This palladium-catalyzed cascade reaction undergoes a sequence of oxidative addition, unsaturated bond migration, carbonyl insertion, and nucleophilic attack to deliver the benzofuran skeleton. Both aromatic amines and aliphatic amines could proceed smoothly in this transformation under one atm of CO.

Nickel-Catalyzed Three-Component Tandem Radical Cyclization 1,5-Difunctionalization of 1,3-Enynes and Alkyl Bromide.

A nickel-catalyzed three-component tandem radical cyclization reaction of aryl bromides with 1,3-enynes and aryl boric acids to construct γ-lactam-substituted allene derivatives has been described. This protocol provides lactam alkyl radicals through the free radical cyclization process, which can be effectively used to participate in the subsequent multicomponent coupling reaction so that 1,3-enynes could directly convert into corresponding poly-substituted allene compounds. In addition, this efficient method enjoys a broad substrate scope and provides a series of 1,5-difunctionalized allenes in a one-pot reaction.

Synthesis of 3(2H)-furanone derivatives: p-TsOH/halotrimethylsilane promoted cycloketonization of γ-hydroxyl ynones.

A p-TsOH/halotrimethylsilane facilitated cycloketonization of γ-hydroxyl ynones is detailed. This methodology enables the one-step synthesis of polysubstituted 3(2H)-furanone products. It is remarkable that the reaction exhibits excellent regio- and chemoselectivity by the addition of very small quantities of p-toluenesulfonic acid and water.

AgSCF3/Na2S2O8-Promoted Trifluoromethylthiolation/Cyclization of o-Propargyl Arylazides/ o-Alkynyl Benzylazides: Synthesis of SCF3-Substituted Quinolines and Isoquinolines.

A AgSCF3/Na2S2O8-promoted trifluoromethylthiolation/cascade cyclization of o-propargyl arylazides (or o-alkynyl benzylazides) triggered by a carbon-carbon triple bond is reported. This strategy provides the synthesis of valuable SCF3-substituted quinoline and isoquinoline systems via the construction of one C(sp2)-SCF3 bond and one C-N bond within one process.

Electrophilic Cyclization of Aryl Propargylic Alcohols: Synthesis of Dihalogenated 6,9-Dihydropyrido[1,2-a]indoles via a Cascade Iodocyclization.

A strategy for the synthesis of 6,9-dihydropyrido[1,2-a]indoles through a cascade iodocyclization of 4-(3-methyl-1H-indol-1-yl)-1,1-diphenylbut-2-yn-1-ol derivatives is presented. This reaction was conducted under very mild conditions and in a short time. The reactions are metal-free, are environmentally friendly and give up to 94% yield. Moreover, the obtained halides allow functional group diversification by palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions, which could act as potential intermediates for the synthesis of valuable compounds.

Iodine-Promoted Radical Cyclization in Water: A Selective Reaction of 1,6-Enynes with Sulfonyl Hydrazides.

An iodine-promoted one-pot radical cyclization reaction of 1,6-enynes with sulfonyl hydrazides to provide five-membered and hexatomic ring sulfonylated products under the same conditions is established. This reaction proceeded smoothly in water and gave the corresponding products by using I2/TBHP instead of expensive and toxic catalysts with C-S and C-I bond formed in one step. This method also allowed easy access to significant functional sulfones for potential applications in medicinal and organic chemistry.

Recent advances in the tandem reaction of azides with alkynes or alkynols.

Over the past few decades, the development of versatile methodologies to employ azides as aminating agents for the formation of nitrogen-containing compounds has attracted significant attention in synthetic chemistry. This review examines recent developments in the tandem reaction of azides with alkynes and alkynols, which have not been solely discussed before. The formation of diverse nitrogen-containing compounds is classified in this review according to the types of reactions.

Copper-catalyzed difunctionalization of activated alkynes by radical oxidation-tandem cyclization/dearomatization to synthesize 3-trifluoromethyl spiro[4.5]trienones.

A copper-catalyzed difunctionalizing trifluoromethylation of activated alkynes with the cheap reagent sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate (NaSO2CF3 or Langlois' reagent) has been developed incorporating a tandem cyclization/dearomatization process. This strategy affords a straightforward route to synthesis of 3-(trifluoromethyl)-spiro[4.5]trienones, and presents an example of difunctionalization of alkynes for simultaneous formation of two carbon-carbon single bonds and one carbon-oxygen double bond.

Convenient and highly efficient routes to 2 H-chromene and 4-chromanone derivatives: iodine-promoted and p-toluenesulfonic acid catalyzed cascade cyclizations of propynols.

A convenient strategy is presented for the easy preparation of a series of 2 H-chromenes under mild conditions through iodocyclization of readily accessible propynols. In addition, various 4-chromanones can be synthesized through a p-toluenesulfonic acid catalyzed cascade cyclization with high efficiency (yields up to 99 %). Our developed reaction systems are proven to have good functional-group applicability and can be scaled up to gram quantities in satisfactory yields. These systems also provide a new synthetic strategy for two types of important flavonoid skeleton without using costly and toxic metal catalysts. Additionally, the resulting halides could be further exploited in subsequent palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions, so these compounds could act as potential intermediates for the construction of some valuable drug molecules.

Lewis Acid Mediated Tandem Reaction of Propargylic Alcohols with Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride To Give α,ß-Unsaturated Amides and Alkenyl Nitriles.

We have developed a highly selective method for the synthesis of α,ß-unsaturated amides and alkenyl nitriles from readily available propargylic alcohols. The reaction proceeded smoothly under the neutral conditions with hydroxylamine hydrochloride (NH2OH·HCl) as the nitrogen source. The development of these new strategies has significantly extended the application of hydroxylamine hydrochloride to the chemistry of propargylic alcohols. Moreover, both secondary and tertiary alcohols have been highly regioselectively transformed to the desired products with good functional group compatibility.

BF3·Et2O-promoted cleavage of the Csp-Csp2 bond of 2-propynolphenols/anilines: route to C2-alkenylated benzoxazoles and benzimidazoles.

A novel BF3·Et2O-promoted tandem reaction of easily prepared 2-propynolphenols/anilines and trimethylsilyl azide is developed to give C2-alkenylated benzoxazoles and benzimidazoles in moderate to good yields. Most reactions could be accomplished in 30 min at room temperature. This tandem process involves a Csp-Csp2 bond cleavage and a C-N bond formation. Moreover, both tertiary and secondary propargylic alcohols with diverse functional groups were tolerated under the mild conditions.

Lewis acid mediated tandem reaction of propargylic alcohols to tetrazoles involving C-O- and C-C-bond cleavage reactions and a C-N-bond formation.

A novel and direct synthesis of 1-aryl-5-arylvinyl-tetrazoles from easily prepared propargylic alcohols and TMSN3 is developed in the presence of TMSCl under mild conditions (TMS = trimethylsilyl). The process involves an allenylazide intermediate, followed by a C-C-bond cleavage and C-N-bond formation to afford the desired products. Moreover, this method offers a good functional-group applicability and can be scaled-up to grams (yield up to 85 %).

Zinc-catalyzed [4+3] cycloaddition with concomitant furan annulation: formation of cyclohepta[b]furans.

A convenient zinc-promoted [4+3] cycloaddition of a carbonyl ene-yne with simple dienes was first achieved. This reaction provided an efficient strategy to prepare various cyclohepta[b]furan rings by cascade cycloadditions. Additionally, a multicomponent reaction of dione, alkynal, and diene was also reported, which exhibited a novel strategy for selective creations of C-O bonds and C-C bonds.

TMSCl-mediated synthesis of α,ß-unsaturated amides via C-C bond cleavage and C-N bond formation of propargyl alcohols with trimethylsilyl azide.

A new method with high efficiency for the synthesis of α,ß-unsaturated amides from the easily prepared propargyl alcohols and TMSN3 using TMSCl as an acid promoter is developed. A wide variety of α,ß-unsaturated amides were produced in moderate to excellent yields. Mechanistic studies indicate that this transformation involves TMSCl-mediated allenylazide intermediate formation, C-C bond cleavage, and C-N bond formation. Significantly, this reaction shows good functional group compatibility and high regioselectivity, with a relatively short reaction time and inexpensive reagents.

Gold-catalyzed tandem [3,3]-propargyl ester rearrangement leading to (E)-1H-inden-1-ones.

An efficient method for the synthesis of (E)-1H-inden-1-ones using gold-catalyzed tandem [3,3]-propargyl ester rearrangement followed by Michael addition under mild reaction conditions has been developed. The resulting products are important frameworks found in numerous natural products and pharmaceutically active compounds, as well as being valuable intermediates in organic synthesis.

Palladium-catalyzed/norbornene-mediated ortho-amination/N-tosylhydrazone insertion reaction: an approach to the synthesis of ortho-aminated vinylarenes.

ortho-Aminated vinylarene derivatives were obtained via a reaction of aryl iodides, N-benzoyloxyamines, and N-tosylhydrazones. This approach involves a palladium-catalyzed, norbornene-mediated ortho-amination/N-tosylhydrazone insertion reaction. In this transformation, one C-N bond and one C-C bond are formed and an amine group is introduced at the ortho position successfully.

Electrophilic ipso-iodocyclization of N-benzyl-N-(1-naphthyl)propiolamides: synthesis of complex polycyclic lactams.

An intramolecular electrophilic ipso-iodocyclization of N-benzyl-N-(1-naphthyl)propiolamides combined with the Friedel-Crafts-type reaction for the synthesis of complex polycyclic lactams is reported. The resulting iodinated cyclization product can provide a very useful handle for further structural manipulation.

Brønsted acid catalyzed and NIS-promoted cyclization of diynones: selective synthesis of 4-pyrone, 4-pyridone, and 3-pyrrolone derivatives.

Brønsted acid catalyzed tandem cyclization was found to be highly effective for the preparation of a series of polysubstituted 4-pyrones from diynones (yield up to 99%). 4-Pyridone and 3-pyrrolone derivatives were also selectively synthesized by employing NIS and/or Brønsted acid. NIS as an electrophilic reagent could promote these reactions efficiently and rapidly under very mild reaction conditions.

Regioselective C-H Active Carbonylation via 1,4-Palladium Migration.

We report a highly regioselective three-component coupling reaction of styrene, CO gas, and an amine compound to synthesize multisubstituted α,ß-unsaturated amides, which involves a palladium-catalyzed sequential 1,4-palladium migration, C(sp2)-H activation, carbonylation, and amination. Salient features of this strategy include the use of 1 atm of CO, excellent stereochemistry, and good functional group tolerance. Further, a series of control experiments and density functional theory calculations were performed to afford some insights for the transfer mechanism.

Redox Neutral Radical-Relay Nickel-Catalyzed Remote Carbonylation.

A novel and efficient method for the catalytic installation of a carbonyl group via remote radical coupling is disclosed. The nickel-catalyzed reaction proceeds to undergo a sequential single-electron transfer, 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer, and carbonyl insertion, thus providing the α-substituted ketone. Further, this reaction could be carried out smoothly under normal pressure and redox-neutral conditions, and demonstrated functional-group compatibility and excellent site-selectivity.