Chiral anthranilic pyrrolidine as custom-made amine catalyst for enantioselective Michael reaction of nitroalkenes with carbonyl compounds.

A chiral anthranilic pyrrolidine catalyst as a custom-made amine-catalyst was developed for the enantio- and diastereo selective Michael reaction of nitroalkenes with carbonyl compounds. In particular, a peptide-like catalyst in which an α-amino acid is attached to the anthranilic acid skeleton induced the high stereoselectivity of the reaction with aldehydes. Studies of the reaction mechanism indicated that the catalyst exhibits a divergent stereocontrol in the reaction, namely, steric control by a 2-substituted group on the catalyst and hydrogen-bonding control by a carboxylic acid group on the catalyst.

Nitroxyl Catalysts for Six-Membered Ring Bromolactonization and Intermolecular Bromoesterification of Alkenes with Carboxylic Acids.

We developed a nitroxyl-catalyzed bromoesterification of alkenes with bromo reagents, which includes a six-membered ring bromolactonization of alkenyl carboxylic acids catalyzed by AZADO as the nitroxyl radical catalyst, and an intermolecular bromoesterification of alkenes with carboxylic acids using NMO as the N-oxide catalyst. We also accomplished a remote diastereoselective bromohydroxylation via an AZADO-catalyzed six-membered ring bromolactonization and a subsequent ring cleavage reaction with alkylamines to furnish ε-bromo-δ-hydroxy amides with high diastereoselectivity.

C-H Sulfonylation via 1,3-Rearrangement of Sulfonyl Group in N-Protected 3-Bis-sulfonimidoindole Derivatives Using Fluorine Reagent.

A C-H sulfonylation of N-protected 3-bis-sulfonimidoindole derivatives via a 1,3-rearrangement of a sulfonyl group on a bis-sulfonimide moiety using tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride (TBAF) was developed to provide 2-sulfonyl-3-sulfonamidoindole derivatives in high yields as a novel Csp2-H functionalization of heterocycles. The rearrangement of the sulfonyl group proceeded through an intermolecular addition of the desorbed sulfinyl ion from the bis-sulfonimide moiety in the substrate.

Low-Frequency Vibrational Motions of Polystyrene in Carbon Tetrachloride: Comparison with Model Monomer and Dependence on Concentration and Molecular Weight.

In this study, the low-frequency vibrational dynamics of polystyrene (PS) in CCl4 was investigated by femtosecond Raman-induced Kerr effect spectroscopy. Ethylbenzene (EBz) was also investigated as a model monomer of the polymer to elucidate the unique dynamical features of PS in solution. The broadened low-frequency spectrum of the PS/CCl4 in the frequency region below 150 cm-1 is significantly different from that of the EBz/CCl4. Difference spectra between the PS or EBz solutions and neat CCl4, normalized to an internal vibrational mode of CCl4, clearly show a much lower spectral intensity for the PS/CCl4 than the EBz/CCl4 in the low-frequency region below ca. 20 cm-1. This indicates that translational motions are suppressed in the PS/CCl4 compared to the EBz/CCl4. Moreover, the high-frequency motion at ca. 70 cm-1, mainly due to phenyl ring librations, occurs at higher frequency in PS (78 cm-1) than EBz (65 cm-1). In addition, the results of concentration-dependent experiments show that the first moment (M1) of the low-frequency difference spectra of both PS/CCl4 and EBz/CCl4 is almost independent of the concentration. The molecular weight dependence of the low-frequency spectrum in the PS/CCl4 shows that the M1 value of the low-frequency spectral band of PS shifts to higher frequencies when the molecular weight of PS increases up to Mw = ∼1000, which corresponds approximately to the decamer, and then remains constant upon further increasing the molecular weight.

Cu-Catalyzed Oxidative 3-Amination of Indoles via Formation of Indolyl(aryl)iodonium Imides Using o-Substituted (Diacetoxyiodo)arene as a High-Performance Hypervalent Iodine Compound.

An oxidative 3-amination of indole derivatives using hypervalent iodine(III) and bissulfonimides, which proceeds via the formation of indolyl(aryl)iodonium imides, was developed. This reaction was followed by an indole-selective copper-catalyzed oxidative C⁻N coupling reaction to obtain 3-amino indole derivatives as single regioisomers. o-Alkoxy(diacetoxyiodo)arenes showed higher reactivity in the reaction than o-alkyl(diacetoxyiodo)arenes, efficiently promoting the formation of indolyl(aryl)iodonium imides in the first step.

Copper-Catalyzed Indole-Selective C-N Coupling Reaction of Indolyl(2-alkoxy-phenyl)iodonium Imides: Effect of Substituent on Iodoarene as Dummy Ligand.

A monoalkoxy phenyl group as a dummy ligand on indolyl(aryl)iodonium imides, which is related to the N-I bonding hypervalent iodine(III) compound, for the copper-catalyzed indole-selective C-N coupling reaction was designed to provide 3-bissulfonimido-indole derivatives in high yields. In particular, the use of indolyl(2-butoxylphenyl)iodonium bissulfonimides indicated the high indole selectivity. Furthermore, this reaction was applied for the one-pot synthesis of 3-bissulfonimido-indole derivatives directly from indoles with bissulfonimides and (diacetoxyiodo)-2-butoxybenzene in the presence of Cu(MeCN)4BF4 catalyst.

Ring-Contraction Reaction of Substituted Tetrahydropyrans via Dehydrogenative Dual Functionalization by Nitrite-Catalyzed Double Activation of Bromine.

A nitrite-catalyzed ring contraction reaction of substituted tetrahydrofurans by oxidation of bromide under aerobic conditions as a dehydrogenative dual functionalization was developed to provide 2-acyltetrahydrofurans in good yields. On the other hand, the oxidation reaction of 1-substituted isochromans occurred via the bromohydroxylation to give 1-(dibromoalkyl)-1-hydroxyisochromans in high yields.

Preparation of Phenanthridines from o-Cyanobiaryls via Addition of Organic Lithiums to Nitriles and Imino Radical Cyclization with Iodine.

Simple treatment of 2-cyanobiaryls with methyllithium, ethylmagnesium bromide, butyllithium, phenyllithium, p-methylphenyllithium, etc., followed by the reaction with water and then with molecular iodine at 60 °C provided efficiently 6-methyl-, 6-ethyl-, 6-butyl-, 6-phenyl, 6-( p-methylphenyl)phenanthridines, etc., in good yields, respectively. Here, imines formed through the addition of carbanion onto the nitriles reacted with molecular iodine to form N-iodoimines smoothly, and their warming treatment induced the formation of imino radicals that smoothly cyclized onto the aryl group to give 6-alkyl- and 6-arylphenanthridines.

One-pot preparation of 4-aryl-3-bromocoumarins from 4-aryl-2-propynoic acids with diaryliodonium salts, TBAB, and Na2S2O8.

Various 4-aryl-3-bromocoumarins were smoothly obtained in moderate yields in one pot by treating 3-aryl-2-propynoic acids with diaryliodonium triflates and K2CO3 in the presence of CuCl, followed by the reaction with tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) and Na2S2O8. The obtained 3-bromo-4-phenylcoumarin was transformed into 4-phenylcoumarin derivatives bearing C-H, C-S, C-N, and C-C bonds at 3-position.

1,3-Iodo-amination of 2-methyl indoles via Csp2-Csp3 dual functionalization with iodine reagent.

A 1,3-iodo-amination with iodine reagent that involved the Csp2-Csp3 dual functionalization of 2-methyl indoles was developed to provide 2-aminomethyl-3-iodo-indole derivatives. The iodo-amination proceeded via a 1,4-transfer of an imide group through the formation of an indolyl(phenyl)iodonium imide using PhI(OAc)2, followed by an iodination using DIH or a double iodination of indole using excess DIH.

Preparation of 3-Iodoquinolines from N-Tosyl-2-propynylamines with Diaryliodonium Triflate and N-Iodosuccinimide.

4-Aryl and 4-alkyl substituted 3-iodoquinolines could be smoothly obtained in one pot by treating N-tosyl-2-propynylamines with diaryliodonium triflate in the presence of K3PO4 and a catalytic amount of CuCl at room temperature, followed by treatment with N-iodosuccinimide and BF3·OEt2 at 0 °C, and then NaOH in methanol solution. The product, 3-iodo-4-phenylquinoline was smoothly transformed into 4-phenylquinoline with zinc; 4-phenyl-3-toluenesulfenylquinoline with toluenethiol, K2CO3, and CuI; 4-phenyl-3-phenylethynylquinoline with the Sonogashira coupling reaction; 4-phenyl-3-styrylquinoline with the Heck coupling reaction; 3,4-diphenylquinoline with the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction; 2-cyclohexyl-3-iodo-4-phenylquinoline with cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, Ag2CO3, and K2S2O8; and 3-iodo-2-(2',5'-dioxan-1'-yl)-4-phenylquinoline with benzoyl peroxide in dioxane.

Catalytic dehydrogenative dual functionalization of ethers: dealkylation-oxidation-bromination accompanied by C-O bond cleavage via aerobic oxidation of bromide.

Catalytic dehydrogenative dual functionalization (DDF) of ethers via oxidation, dealkylation, and α-bromination by the aerobic oxidation of bromide was developed to obtain the corresponding α-bromo ketones in high yields. In particular, the reaction of substituted tetrahydrofurans as cyclic ethers provided 3,3-dibromo tetrahydrofuran-2-ols in high yields selectively through the double α-bromination.

Introduction of Quinolines and Isoquinolines onto Nonactivated α-C-H Bond of Tertiary Amides through a Radical Pathway.

Treatment of quinolines and isoquinolines with benzoyl peroxide in tertiary amides, such as N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,N-dimethylpropionamide, and N-acetylpyrrolidine, etc., under irradiation with a Hg lamp in the temperature range of 35 °C to 40 °C gave C-C-bonded quinolines and isoquinolines bearing amide groups with high regioselectivity in good to moderate yields, respectively, under transition-metal-free conditions.

Preparation of Heteroaromatic (Aryl)iodonium Imides as I-N Bond-Containing Hypervalent Iodine.

Hypervalent iodine(III) compounds containing iodine-nitrogen bonds are very attractive amination reagents in organic synthesis. Heteroaromatic (aryl)iodonium imides containing a iodine-nitrogen bond and a hypervalent iodine(III) atom were prepared from heteroarenes, bis(sulfon)imides and (diacetoxyiodo)arenes under mild conditions. These compounds were stable under air and in organic solvents, and could be easily purified by precipitation. X-ray crystal structure analysis indicated that the structure of N-pivaloyl indolyl(phenyl)iodonium bis(tosyl)imides and N-pivaloyl indolyl(2-butoxyphenyl)iodonium bis(tosyl)imides was a dimer with a T-shaped geometry at the iodine atom linked to an indole group and a bis(tosyl)imide by a monomer unit. Moreover, the use of substituted iodoarenes facilitated the purification of some of the heteroaromatic (aryl)iodonium imides.

Nitroxyl-Radical-Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Amides with Silylated Nucleophiles through N-Halogenation.

A nitroxyl-radical-catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction between amines with an N-protecting electron-withdrawing group (EWG) and silylated nucleophiles was developed to furnish coupling products in high yields, thus opening up new frontiers in organocatalyzed reactions. This reaction proceeded through the activation of N-halogenated amides by a nitroxyl-radical catalyst, followed by carbon-carbon coupling with silylated nucleophiles. Studies of the reaction mechanism indicated that the nitroxyl radical activates N-halogenated amides, which are generated from N-EWG-protected amides and a halogenation reagent, to give the corresponding imines.

Magnesium Lewis Acid Assisted Oxidative Bromoetherification Involving Bromine Transfer from Alkyl Bromides with Aldehydes by Umpolung of Bromide.

An oxidative bromoetherification involving a bromine transfer from alkyl bromides upon reacting them with aldehydes in a Grignard reaction with a concurrent oxidation of bromide was developed to provide substituted tetrahydrofurans in high yields. This reaction, which proceeds through two types of bromine transfer, was promoted by the addition of a Brønsted acid. Mechanistic studies suggested that a magnesium Lewis acid activates hypobromate, which is generated in situ from the reaction of bromide and Oxone to improve the electrophilicity of the bromonium ion (Br(+) ) for the oxidative bromoetherification of alkenyl alcohols. Furthermore, the magnesium Lewis acid catalyzed oxidative bromoetherification of an alkenyl alcohol proceeded to provide a cyclization product in 92 % yield.

Preparation of 5-Aryl-2-Alkyltetrazoles with Aromatic Aldehydes, Alkylhydrazine, Di-tert-butyl Azodicarboxylate, and [Bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene.

A variety of 5-aryl-2-methyltetrazoles and 5-aryl-2-benzyltetrazoles were directly prepared in good to moderate yields by the reaction of aromatic aldehydes with methylhydrazine and benzylhydrazine, followed by treatment with di-tert-butyl azodicarboxylate and [bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene in a mixture of dichloromethane and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol at room temperature. The present method is a novel one-pot preparation of 5-aryl-2-methyltetrazoles and 5-aryl-2-benzyltetrazoles through a [2N + 2N] combination under transition metal-free and mild conditions.

Direct Preparation of 3-Iodochromenes from 3-Aryl- and 3-Alkyl-2-propyn-1-ols with Diaryliodonium Salts and NIS.

On the basis of a study of the O-phenylation of 3-phenyl-2-propyn-1-ol with diphenyliodonium triflate and t-BuONa, a variety of 4-aryl-3-iodo-2H-benzopyrans were prepared in good to moderate yields in one pot from the reaction of 3-aryl-2-propyn-1-ols with diaryliodonium triflates and t-BuONa, followed by the treatment with N-iodosuccinimide and BF3·OEt2, under transition-metal-free and mild conditions. The formed 4-phenyl-3-iodo-2H-benzopyran was converted into 4-phenyl-2H-benzopyran derivatives through C-C bond formations at the 3-position by Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions and into coumarin with oxidants.

Direct Transformation of Ethylarenes into Primary Aromatic Amides with N-Bromosuccinimide and I2-Aqueous NH3.

A variety of ethylarenes were converted into the corresponding primary aromatic amides in good yields via treatment with N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of a catalytic amount of 2,2'-azobis(isobutyronitrile) in a mixture of ethyl acetate and water, acetonitrile and water, or chloroform and water, followed by reaction with molecular iodine and aq NH3 in one pot. It was found that aryl α-bromomethyl ketones and/or aryl methyl ketones were formed at the first reaction step and their iodoform-type reaction occurred at the second reaction step to provide primary aromatic amides. The present reaction is a useful and practical transition-metal-free method for the preparation of primary aromatic amides from ethylarenes.

Divergent Synthesis of α,γ-Disubstituted γ-Butyrolactones through Diastereoselective Bromolactonization with Alkali Metal Bromide: Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (+)-Dubiusamine C.

A divergent synthesis of α-substituted bromomethyl γ-lactones was developed, which involves the diastereoselective bromolactonization of α-substituted 4-pentenoic acids and 4-pentenamides via umpolung of bromide by use of alkali metal bromide and Oxone (potassium peroxymonosulfate mixture, 2KHSO5·KHSO4·K2SO4) to obtain mainly cis-products from α-substituted 4-pentenoic acids and trans-products from α-substituted 4-pentenamides, and it was found that the bromonium species generated from KBr and Oxone had higher activity than N-bromosuccinimide. Furthermore, the asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-dubiusamine C, which was isolated as a minor diastereomer from Pandanus dubius, was accomplished for the first time through the cis-selective bromolactonization of (S)-α-methyl-4-pentenoic acid in nine linear steps and 36% overall yield.