Cyclopropenimine-Mediated CO2 Activation for the Synthesis of Polyurethanes and Small-Molecule Carbonates and Carbamates.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an abundant C1 feedstock with tremendous potential to produce versatile building blocks in synthetic applications. Given the adverse impact of CO2 on the atmosphere, it is of paramount importance to devise strategies for upcycling it into useful materials, such as polymers and fine chemicals. To activate such stable molecule, superbases offer viable modes of binding to CO2. In this study, a superbase cyclopropenimine derivative was found to exhibit exceptional proficiency in activating CO2 and mediating its polymerization at ambient temperature and pressure for the synthesis of polyurethanes. The versatility of this reaction can be extended to monofunctional amines and alcohols, yielding a variety of functional carbonates and carbamates.

Synthesis of Acylboron Compounds.

Acylboron compounds are emerging as versatile functional groups with applications in multiple research fields. Their synthesis, however, is still challenging and requires innovative methods. This Minireview provides an overview on the obstacles of acylboron synthesis and highlights notable advances within the last three years on new strategies to overcome the challenges posed by the formation of acyl-boron bonds.

Catalytic Synthesis of Potassium Acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) through Chemoselective Cross-Coupling with a Bifunctional Reagent.

Potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) are increasingly important functional groups, and general methods for their preparation are of great current interest. We report a bifunctional iminium reagent bearing both a tin nucleophile and a trifluoroborate, which was applied in chemoselective Pd0 -catalyzed Migita-Kosugi-Stille cross-coupling reactions owith aryl and vinyl halides. This method gives access to previously inaccessible aromatic and α,ß-unsaturated acyltrifluoroborates, including precursors to amino-acid derived KATs.

One-Step Synthesis of Aliphatic Potassium Acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) from Organocuprates.

A one-step synthesis of aliphatic KATs from organocuprates is reported. Organolithium and organomagnesium reagents were readily transmetalated onto Cu(I) and coupled with a KAT-forming reagent to yield the respective aliphatic KAT. The protocol is suitable for primary, secondary and-for the first time-tertiary alkyl substrates. These protocols considerably expand the range of KATs that can be readily accessed in one step from commercially available starting materials.

Halogen bonding of (iodoethynyl)benzene derivatives in solution.

Halogen bonding (XB) between (iodoethynyl)benzene donors and quinuclidine in benzene affords binding free enthalpies (ΔG, 298 K) between -1.1 and -2.4 kcal mol(-1), with a strong LFER with the Hammett parameter σpara. The enthalpic driving force is compensated by an unfavorable entropic term. The binding affinity of XB acceptors increases in the order pyridine < C═O < S═O < P═O < quinuclidine. Diverse XB packing motifs are observed in the solid state.