Synthesis of Core-Modified Third-Generation Light-Driven Molecular Motors.

The synthesis and characterization of a series of light-driven third-generation molecular motors featuring various structural modifications at the central aromatic core are presented. We explore a number of substitution patterns, such as 1,2-dimethoxybenzene, naphthyl, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,1':2',1″-terphenyl, 4,4″-dimethoxy-1,1':2',1″-terphenyl, and 1,2-dicarbomethoxybenzene, considered essential for designing future responsive systems. In many cases, the synthetic routes for both synthetic intermediates and motors reported here are modular, allowing for their post-functionalization. The structural modifications introduced in the core of the motors result in improved solubility and a bathochromic shift of the absorption maxima. These features, in combination with a structural design that presents remote functionalization of the stator with respect to the fluorene rotors, make these novel motors particularly promising as light-responsive actuators in covalent and supramolecular materials.

Murahashi Cross-Coupling at -78 °C: A One-Pot Procedure for Sequential C-C/C-C, C-C/C-N, and C-C/C-S Cross-Coupling of Bromo-Chloro-Arenes.

The coupling of organolithium reagents, including strongly hindered examples, at cryogenic temperatures (as low as -78 °C) has been achieved with high-reactivity Pd-NHC catalysts. A temperature-dependent chemoselectivity trigger has been developed for the selective coupling of aryl bromides in the presence of chlorides. Building on this, a one-pot, sequential coupling strategy is presented for the rapid construction of advanced building blocks. Importantly, one-shot addition of alkyllithium compounds to Pd cross-coupling reactions has been achieved, eliminating the need for slow addition by syringe pump.

Synthesis of Substituted Benzaldehydes via a Two-Step, One-Pot Reduction/Cross-Coupling Procedure.

The synthesis of functionalized (benz)aldehydes, via a two-step, one-pot procedure, is presented. The method employs a stable aluminum hemiaminal as a tetrahedral intermediate, protecting a latent aldehyde, making it suitable for subsequent cross-coupling with (strong nucleophilic) organometallic reagents, leading to a variety of alkyl and aryl substituted benzaldehydes. This very fast methodology also facilitates the effective synthesis of a 11C radiolabeled aldehyde. Aluminum-ate complexes enable transmetalation of alkyl fragments onto palladium and subsequent cross-coupling.

An atom efficient synthesis of tamoxifen.

The direct carbolithiation of diphenylacetylenes and their cross-coupling procedure taking advantage of the intermediate alkenyllithium reagents are presented. By employing our recently discovered highly active palladium nanoparticle based catalyst, we were able to couple an alkenyllithium reagent with a high (Z/E) selectivity (10 : 1) and good yield to give the breast cancer drug tamoxifen in just 2 steps from commercially available starting materials and with excellent atom economy and reaction mass efficiency.

One-pot, modular approach to functionalized ketones via nucleophilic addition/Buchwald-Hartwig amination strategy.

A general one-pot procedure for the 1,2-addition of organolithium reagents to amides followed by the Buchwald-Hartwig amination with in situ released lithium amides is presented. In this work amides are used as masked ketones, revealed by the addition of organolithium reagents which generates a lithium amide, suitable for subsequent Buchwald-Hartwig coupling in the presence of a palladium catalyst. This methodology allows for rapid, efficient and atom economic synthesis of aminoarylketones in good yields.

Oxygen Activated, Palladium Nanoparticle Catalyzed, Ultrafast Cross-Coupling of Organolithium Reagents.

The discovery of an ultrafast cross-coupling of alkyl- and aryllithium reagents with a range of aryl bromides is presented. The essential role of molecular oxygen to form the active palladium catalyst was established; palladium nanoparticles that are highly active in cross-coupling reactions with reaction times ranging from 5 s to 5 min are thus generated in situ. High selectivities were observed for a range of heterocycles and functional groups as well as for an expanded scope of organolithium reagents. The applicability of this method was showcased by the synthesis of the [11 C]-labeled PET tracer celecoxib.

Stereoselective Synthesis of 1-Tuberculosinyl Adenosine; a Virulence Factor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Despite its status as one of the world's most prevalent and deadly bacterial pathogens, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection is not routinely diagnosed by rapid and highly reliable tests. A program to discover Mtb-specific biomarkers recently identified two natural compounds, 1-tuberculosinyl adenosine (1-TbAd) and N(6)-tuberculosinyl adenosine (N(6)-TbAd). Based on their association with virulence, the lack of similar compounds in nature, the presence of multiple stereocenters, and the need for abundant products to develop diagnostic tests, synthesis of these compounds was considered to be of high value but challenging. Here, a multigram-scale stereoselective synthesis of 1-TbAd and N(6)-TbAd is described. As a key-step, a chiral auxiliary-mediated Diels-Alder cycloaddition was developed, introducing the three stereocenters with a high exo endo ratio (10:1) and excellent enantioselectivity (>98% ee). This constitutes the first entry into the stereoselective synthesis of diterpenes with the halimane skeleton. Computational studies explain the observed stereochemical outcome.

Palladium-Catalyzed, tert-Butyllithium-Mediated Dimerization of Aryl Halides and Its Application in the Atropselective Total Synthesis of Mastigophorene†A.

A palladium-catalyzed direct synthesis of symmetric biaryl compounds from aryl halides in the presence of tBuLi is described. In situ lithium-halogen exchange generates the corresponding aryl lithium reagent, which undergoes a homocoupling reaction with a second molecule of the aryl halide in the presence of the palladium catalyst (1 mol %). The reaction takes place at room temperature, is fast (1 h), and affords the corresponding biaryl compounds in good to excellent yields. The application of the method is demonstrated in an efficient asymmetric total synthesis of mastigophorene A. The chiral biaryl axis is constructed with an atropselectivity of 9:1 owing to catalyst-induced remote point-to-axial chirality transfer.

Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Organolithium Reagents with (Hetero)Aryl Electrophiles.

Nickel-catalyzed selective cross-coupling of aromatic electrophiles (bromides, chlorides, fluorides and methyl ethers) with organolithium reagents is presented. The use of a commercially available nickel N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex allows the reaction with a variety of (hetero)aryllithium compounds, including those prepared via metal-halogen exchange or direct metallation, whereas a commercially available electron-rich nickel-bisphosphine complex smoothly converts alkyllithium species into the corresponding coupled product. These reactions proceed rapidly (1 h) under mild conditions (room temperature) while avoiding the undesired formation of reduced or homocoupled products.

Palladium-Catalyzed C(sp(3))-C(sp(2)) Cross-Coupling of (Trimethylsilyl)methyllithium with (Hetero)Aryl Halides.

The palladium-catalyzed direct cross-coupling of a range of organic chlorides and bromides with the bifunctional C(sp(3))-(trimethylsilyl)methyllithium reagent is reported. The use of Pd-PEPPSI-IPent as the catalyst allows for the preparation of structurally diverse and synthetically versatile benzyl- and allylsilanes in high yields under mild conditions (room temperature) with short reaction times.

Enantioselective synthesis of almorexant via iridium-catalysed intramolecular allylic amidation.

An enantioselective synthesis of almorexant, a potent antagonist of human orexin receptors, is presented. The chiral tetrahydroisoquinoline core structure was prepared via iridium-catalysed asymmetric intramolecular allylic amidation. Further key catalytic steps of the synthesis include an oxidative Heck reaction at room temperature and a hydrazine-mediated organocatalysed reduction.

Pd-diimine: a highly selective catalyst system for the base-free oxidative Heck reaction.

Pd(OAc)(2)/3 is an efficient catalyst system for the base-free oxidative Heck reaction that outperforms the currently available catalysts for the more challenging substrates studied. The catalyst system is highly selective, and works at room temperature with dioxygen as the oxidant.