Dehydrative Coupling of 1,1-Diarylalkenes and Cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1-carbaldehyde Derivatives Induced by a B(C6F5)3-Initiated [1,2]-Alkyl Migration.

A four-step formal ipso allylation of benzoic acid derivatives involving a B(C6F5)3-initiated and proton-catalyzed [1,2]-alkyl shift as part of a dehydrative coupling of cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1-carbaldehyde derivatives and 1,1-diarylalkenes is reported. By this, a series of allyl arenes can be regioselectively obtained from readily available benzoic acids in good yields.

Decarbonylative Transfer Hydrochlorination of Alkenes and Alkynes Based on a B(C6 F5 )3 -Initiated Grob Fragmentation.

Readily available cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ylcarbonyl chloride derivatives are introduced as bench-stable HCl surrogates for transfer hydrochlorination of terminal and internal alkenes as well as selected alkynes. The stepwise Grob fragmentation of those acyl chlorides into chloride, carbon monoxide, a low-molecular-weight arene, and a proton is promoted by B(C6 F5 )3 . This decarbonylative transfer process enables the addition of HCl across C-C double and triple bonds with Markovnikov selectivity at room temperature.

Consecutive ß,ß'-Selective C(sp3 )-H Silylation of Tertiary Amines with Dihydrosilanes Catalyzed by B(C6 F5 )3.

Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane has been found to catalyze the two-fold C(sp3 )-H silylation of various trialkylamine derivatives with dihydrosilanes, furnishing the corresponding 4-silapiperidines in decent yields. The multi-step reaction cascade involves amine-to-enamine dehydrogenation at two alkyl residues and two electrophilic silylation reactions of those enamines, one inter- and one intramolecular.

The Cyclohexa-2,5-dienyl Group as a Placeholder for Hydrogen: Organocatalytic Michael Addition of an Acetaldehyde Surrogate.

An aldehyde with a cyclohexa-2,5-dienyl group in the α-position is introduced as a storable surrogate of highly reactive acetaldehyde. The cyclohexa-2,5-dienyl unit is compatible with an enantioselective Michael addition to nitroalkenes promoted by a Hayashi-Jørgensen catalyst and can be removed by a boron Lewis acid mediated C-C bond cleavage. The robust two-step sequence does not require a large excess of the aldehyde component that is typically needed when directly using acetaldehyde.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Dihydrocoumarins through Chiral Phosphoric Acid-Catalyzed Cycloannulation of para-Quinone Methides and Azlactones.

A chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed approach constructing dihydrocoumarin motifs by the addition of azlactones to para-quinone methides (p-QMs) was developed. The reaction proceeded smoothly with a wide range of p-QMs and azlactones to generate corresponding products in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivities (>19:1 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). Two possible pathways were proposed to explain the stereoselectivity.

Bismuth Triflate-Catalyzed Vinylogous Nucleophilic 1,6-Conjugate Addition of para-Quinone Methides with 3-Propenyl-2-silyloxyindoles.

A highly diastereoselective vinylogous nucleophilic 1,6-conjugate addition reaction of para-quinone methides with 3-propenyl-2-silyloxyindoles by a bismuth triflate catalyst has been developed. A number of diphenylmethane type compounds functionalized with oxindole motifs was obtained with excellent yields (up to 99%) and very good diastereoselectivities (up to Z/E > 99:1).