Asymmetric Synthesis of 1,3-Oxazolidine Derivatives with Multi-Component Reaction and Research of Kinetic Resolution.

An efficient multi-component reaction to synthesize multi-substituted 1,3-oxazolidine compounds of high optical purity was described. All the products were well-characterized and the absolute configuration of one chiral center was determined. The plausible mechanism was proposed and a kinetic resolution of epoxides process was confirmed.

An Unexpected Controlled New Oxidant: SO4(·-).

A controlled new oxidant sulfate radical anion (SO4(·-)) was found and it can be easily prepared by mixing Na2S2O4 and TBHP with stirring. In this new metal-free oxidation system (Na2S2O4/TBHP), SO4(·-) can be used as a controllable oxidant to oxidize various aromatic alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes in good yields without any acid formation at room temperature. SO4(·-) was determined by a DMPO (5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide) spin-trapping EPR method at room temperature on a Bruker E500 spectrometer and the results suggested that SO4(·-) was generated in this transformation.

Unactivated C(sp3)-H Bond Functionalization of Alkyl Nitriles with Vinylarenes and Mechanistic Studies.

The first example of a metal-free unactivated C(sp3)-H bond functionalization of alkyl nitriles with terminal vinylarenes to provide γ-ketonitrile derivatives is described. This protocol features simple operations, a broad substrate scope, and atom and step economy. In addition, Cu-catalyzed C(sp3)-H bond functionalization of azodiisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and analogues with terminal vinylarenes to generate γ-ketonitriles was also studied. A preliminary free-radical pathway was confirmed by capturing an alkyl radical, and a conjugate system was found that can stabilize radical intermediates and be in favor of this transformation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations also provide important evidence of the free-radical pathway.

A Petal-type Chiral NADH Model: Design, Synthesis and its Asymmetric Reduction.

A new type of NADH model compound has been synthesized by an efficient and convenient method. This model compound exhibits high reactivity and enantioselectivity in asymmetric reduction reactions. The results show that chiral NADH model S could be effectively combined with Mg(2+) to form ternary complexes. This novel C3 symmetrical NADH model is capable of fluorescence emission at 460 nm when excited at 377 nm.

Copper/Manganese Cocatalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Vinylarenes with Ketones.

A novel copper/manganese cocatalyzed direct oxidative coupling of terminal vinylarenes with ketones via C(sp(3))-H bond functionalization following C-C bond formation has been developed using tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the radical initiator. Various ketones underwent a free-radical addition of terminal vinylarenes to give the corresponding 1,4-dicarbonyl products with excellent regioselectivity and efficiency through one step. A possible reaction mechanism has been proposed.

Ligand-Mediated and Copper-Catalyzed C(sp(3))-H Bond Functionalization of Aryl Ketones with Sodium Sulfinates under Mild Conditions.

A novel and convenient copper (II) bromide and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.1]undec-7-ene (DBU) or 1,10-phenanthroline catalysis protocol for the construction of α-alkyl-ß-keto sulfones via C(sp(3))-H bond functionalization followed by C(sp(3))-S bond formation between aryl ketones and sodium sulfinates at room temperature has been developed. This method is applicable to a wide range of aryl ketones and sodium sulfinates. The electronic effects of aryl ketones and ligands effects of the copper salts are crucial for this transformation. Typically, substituted aryl ketones with electron-withdrawing group do not need any ligand to give a good to excellent yield, while substituted aryl ketones with electron-donating group and electron-rich heteroaromatic ketones offer a good to excellent yield only under the nitrogen-based ligands. The practical value of this transformation highlights the efficient and robust one-pot synthesis of α-alkyl-ß-keto sulfones.

Manganese-Mediated Coupling Reaction of Vinylarenes and Aliphatic Alcohols.

Alcohols and alkenes are the most abundant and commonly used organic building blocks in the large-scale chemical synthesis. Herein, this is the first time to report a novel and operationally simple coupling reaction of vinylarenes and aliphatic alcohols catalyzed by manganese in the presence of TBHP (tert-butyl hydroperoxide). This coupling reaction provides the oxyalkylated products of vinylarenes with good regioselectivity and accomplishes with the principles of step-economies. A possible reaction mechanism has also been proposed.

A novel sodium iodide and ammonium molybdate co-catalytic system for the efficient synthesis of 2-benzimidazoles using hydrogen peroxide under ultrasound irradiation.

The reaction of aldehydes and o-phenylenediamine for the preparation of 2-benzimidazoles has been studied using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant under ultrasound irradiation at room temperature in this paper. The combination of substoichiometric sodium iodide and ammonium molybdate as co-catalysts, together with using small amounts of hydrogen peroxide, makes this transformation very efficient and attractive under ultrasound. Thus, a mild, green and efficient method is established to carry out this reaction in high yield.