Search

The influence of specific adsorption of the sulfo group in the perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer, Nafion, on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of a carbon-supported Pt/C catalyst using a thin-film r...

This study provides evidence of the enhancement of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of Pt/C and Pd-core Pt-shell catalysts upon ionic liquid modification. Under high potential at 1.15 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode), the lower coverage of the oxide species on the Pt surface modified with [7-methyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (MTBD)][bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (NTf2)] ionic liquid (IL) was confirmed by electrochemical analysis. Operando X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) of the ionic liquid-modified Pd-core Pt-shell catalyst displayed smaller 5d orbital vacancies than the naked catalyst. Shrinkage of Pt-Pt bond length was also displayed, indicating the suppression of oxidation. Thus, we conclude that the IL-modified systems are effective in avoiding the adsorption of oxide species on the Pt surface and improving the oxygen reduction activity.

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and the coverage of oxide species over a Pd core–Pt shell catalyst on carbon support (Pt/Pd/C) with various Pd core sizes (2.3, 4.3, and 8.0 nm) were in...

Cyclic alkenylborates have been synthesized regioselectively via a palladium-catalyzed regioselective silaboration of terminal alkynes with ClMe2Si–B(pin) followed by basic hydrolysis. The cyclic borates undergo cross coupling with 4-iodoanisole in the absence of an external base.

The first examples of metal-catalyzed extended Pummerer reactions through the activation of sulfoxides are described. The copper-catalyzed reactions of ketene dithioacetal monoxides with alkynyl sulfides and ynamides provided a wide variety of γ,γ-disulfanyl-β,γ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with an accompanying oxygen rearrangement. The products can be easily converted into 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds and substituted heteroaromatics. DFT calculations and mechanistic experiments revealed a new interesting stepwise addition/oxygen rearrangement mechanism.

Pyridine undergoes addition of pinacolborane at 50 °C in the presence of a rhodium catalyst, giving N-boryl-1,2-dihydropyridine in a high yield. The selective 1,2-hydroboration also takes place in the reactions of substituted pyridines. In the reaction of 3-substituted pyridines, 3-substituted N-boryl-1,2-dihydropyridines are formed regioselectively.

Palladium-catalyzed arylative cyclization of propargyl-substituted malonate esters with aryl halides offers a stereoselective approach to alkylidenecyclopropanes. The reaction proceeds by an anti-carbopalladation pathway, which guarantees the exclusive stereocontrol of the resulting double bond. The highly strained as well as densely substituted skeletons of the products facilitate further versatile transformations, which underscores the importance of the products as synthetic intermediates.

The addition of silylboronic esters to pyridine takes place in toluene at 50 °C in the presence of a palladium catalyst to give N-boryl-4-silyl-1,4-dihydropyridines in high yield. The regioselective 1,4-silaboration also proceeds in the reaction of 2-picoline and 3-substituted pyridines, whereas 4-substituted pyridines undergo 1,2-silaboration to give N-boryl-2-silyl-1,2-dihydropyridines regioselectively.

A facile route to homoallyl alcohols bearing a trisubstituted double bond has been devised. The palladium-catalyzed reactions of aryl halides with the alcohols thus synthesized result in regiospecific allyl transfer from the alcohols to aryl halides via retro-allylation, providing allylarenes having two substituents at the 1 and 2 positions of the allyl moiety. Optically active homoallyl alcohols transfer their chirality at the hydroxylated carbon to the benzylic carbon of the product.

The title reaction proceeds smoothly at ambient temperature to give tri- and tetrasubstituted benzylated alkenes with high regio- (regioisomeric ratio 90:1 to

A variety of ynamides undergo highly regio- and stereoselective radical addition of arenethiols with the aid of trie-thylborane as a radical initiator. The products, N-[(Z)-2-arylsulfanyl-1-alkenyl]amides, can be reduced with triethylsilane in trifluoroacetic acid to yield N-[2-(arylsulfanyl)alkyl]amides.

Palladium-catalyzed annulation of 1-alkynylphosphine sulfides with 2-iodoanilines followed by desulfidation affords 3-substituted 2-indolylphosphines. This annulation/desulfidation sequential protocol offers a conceptually new approach to bulky heteroarylphosphines.

Treatment of gem-dibromoalkanes with allylic Grignard reagents in the presence of a catalytic amount of silver triflate in diethyl ether leads to diallylation to afford 1,6-heptadiene derivatives. Benzylic Grignard reagents also undergo a similar transformation to yield 1,3-diphenylpropanes. Controlled sequential treatment of gem-dibromoalkane with two different Grignard reagents results in selective displacement of the two bromine atoms with allylic and benzylic moieties.

About 40 years have passed since methylene dizinc reagent was discovered as a substitute for Wittig reagent. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to understand the reaction pathways of methylenation of carbonyl compounds with bis(iodozincio)methane. The present computational/theoretical study concluded that the methylenation reaction with gem-dizinc reagent proceeds as a two-step reaction, that is, methylene addition (RDS) and olefination. In the first step, the nucleophilic attack of the CH2 group enhanced by two Zn proceeds under the assistance of the electrophilic activation of the carbonyl group with the Zn atom. In the second step, the olefination is facilitated by both Zn atoms of the gem-dizinc reagent without an electron transfer process.

Alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and cyclopropyl ketones undergo palladium-catalyzed hydrosilylation with hydrosilanes to yield (Z)-silyl enolates.

Transmetalation between [CpFe(CO)2I] and arylzinc iodide-lithium chloride complexes proceeds in the presence of catalytic amounts of palladium acetate and N,N,N’,N’-tetramethyl-1,2-cyclohexanediamine to yield the corresponding aryliron complexes [CpFe(CO)2Ar]. Phenylation of [CpFe(CO)2I] also takes place when triphenylindium is used under similar conditions. Arylboronic acids undergo arylation in the presence of cesium carbonate and a palladium-N-heterocyclic carbene complex, PEPPSI. The present methods are useful for the facile synthesis of various functionalized [CpFe(CO)2Ar]. The products [CpFe(CO)2Ar] represent an interesting class of aryl metals that undergo several transformation.

Treatment of aryliron complexes [CpFe(CO)2Ar] with organolithium reagents RLi in THF affords the corresponding ketones RCOAr. The reaction, wherein the aryliron complexes serve as arylcarbonyl cation equivalents, would begin with nucleophilic addition of RLi to one of the carbonyl ligands to form acyliron [CpFe(CO)(RCO)Ar] without lithiation of the Cp ring.

Two N-benzyl imines are designed to allow for carbon–carbon bond formations at the aminated benzylic positions. Direct benzylic arylation reactions of N-benzylxanthone imine with aryl chlorides proceed under palladium catalysis in the presence of cesium hydroxide, yielding the corresponding benzhydrylamine derivatives. Alkylation reactions of N-benzyldi-1-naphthyl ketone imine with alkyl halides in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide afford the corresponding 1-phenylalkylamines in high yields. Conjugate addition of N-benzyldi-1-naphthyl ketone imine is also described.

A method for the synthesis of 2-aryl-1,3-alkadienes has been developed. Treatment of aryl bromides with 3,4-alkadien-1-ols in the presence of a palladium catalyst results in 1-methylene-2-propenyl ...

An effective palladium catalyst system for the direct arylation of benzyl sulfones with aryl halides has been developed. The catalytic reaction provides a facile route to diarylmethyl sulfones. The products can be transformed further via desulfonylative functionalization mediated by aluminum compounds.

Radical additions of S-thiophosphinyl dithiocarbonate to terminal aromatic alkynes afford (E)-1-aryl-1-thio-2-thiophosphinylethene derivatives regio- and stereoselectively in high yields. The transformations of the products are also described.

Metal-mediated or -catalyzed retro-allylation of homoallyl alcohol that proceeds via a six-membered transition state has appeared as a new useful method to prepare allylmetals. A crotylzirconium re...

The reactions of aryl halides with 2,3,3-trimethyl-4-penten-2-ol in the presence of a palladium catalyst result in prenyl transfer from the alcohol to aryl halides via retro-allylation, yielding prenylarenes. Other multisubstituted allyl groups such as the 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl group are introduced to aromatic rings.

Regioselective and stereoselective radical additions of arenethiols to various ynamides have been developed. Mixing yn­amides and arenethiols in the presence of a catalytic amount of triethylborane affords the corresponding adducts, (Z)-1-amino-2-thio-1-alkenes, in excellent yields with high selectivities. The products can be reduced by means of trifluoroacetic acid and triethylsilane to yield 1-amino-2-thioalkanes.

A combination of nickel(II) acetylacetonate and (Z)-3,3-dimethyl-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)but-1-ene catalyzes cross-coupling reactions of alkyl aryl sulfides and alkenyl alkyl sulfides with alkyl Grignard reagents. Not only primary but also secondary alkyl Grignard reagents can be employed.

A highly efficient and mild method for the synthesis of 1,5-hexadienes, nickel-catalyzed reactions of Boc-protected allyl alcohols with homoallyl alcohols, has been developed. Nickel-mediated retro-allylation allows for the use of homoallyl alcohols as allylmetal equivalents in the synthesis of 1,5-hexadienes.

Treatment of ynamides with silylcopper reagents resulted in silylcupration to afford (E)-β-silylenamides, after protonolysis, in good yields with high regio- and stereoselectivity. Reaction of ynam...

Vanadium(III) chloride catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with arylmagnesium bromides. Various arylmagnesium bromides, except for an ortho-substituted arylmagnesium reagent, could ...

A new synthetic strategy, involving utilization of a tethered intramolecular reaction with a removable tether, was demonstrated by the intramolecular cyanoboration-retro-allylation sequence.

During these thirty years, we have pursued new methodologies in organic synthesis and developed many synthetically useful reactions. Among them, four topics are described in this article. (1) Regio- and stereoselective silylmetalation of acetylenes has been examined. Whereas platinum- or copper-catalyzed silylmagnesation of terminal acetylenes afforded (E)-1-silyl-1-alkene exclusively, palladium-catalyzed silylalumination with PhMe 2 Si-AlEt 2 provided 2-silyl-1-alkenes with high regioselectivity. (2) Triethylborane induced radical addition of Ph 3 SnH to acetylenes gave 1-triphenyl-stannyl-1-alkenes in the presence of small amount of oxygen. The reaction has two distinguishing characteristics. One feature is that Et 3 B can initiate the radical reaction at low temperature, such as -78 °C. (3) The other distinctive feature of Et 3 B-induced radical reaction is that many solvents could be used for the reaction. Thus, water was chosen as a solvent, and Et 3 B-induced atom-transfer radical cyclization of iodo acetals and iodoacetates in water was examined. (4) Three types of organometallic ate complexes, R 3 MnMgBr, R 3 MgLi, and R 3 Co(L 2 )MgBr, were prepared and used for organic synthesis. Treatment of gem-dibromocyclopropane with trialkylmanganate provided alkylated cyclopropane after aqueous workup. Aryl and alkenyl halides could be converted into the corresponding magnesium reagents by the action of trialkylmagnesate via halogen-magnesium exchange. Finally, synthetic reactions catalyzed by cobalt complexes are described. Without suffering from β-elimination, cobalt complexes allow cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with Grignard reagents.

Treatment of 1-alkynylphosphane sulfides with 1,6- or 1,7-diynes in the presence of a cationic rhodium catalyst results in a formal [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction to afford the corresponding aromatic phosphane sulfides. The aromatic rings formed in the cycloaddition naturally bear one or two substituents at the ortho positions to the phosphorus atom, which creates a sterically hindered environment around the phosphorus atom. The following desulfidation of the products is facile under radical conditions or with the aid of tris(dimethylamino)phosphane, providing the corresponding bulky phosphanes. Dicyclohexyl(2,6-diphenylaryl)phosphane, which is available through this sequence, proves to serve as an efficient ligand in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling amination reactions.

The treatment of an aldehyde with a tertiary homoallylic alcohol at 100-250 degrees C in the presence of cesium carbonate and a rhodium catalyst leads to allyl transfer from the homoallylic alcohol to the aldehyde. The process includes Rh-mediated retroallylation to form an allyl rhodium species as the key intermediate. The homoallylic alcohol formed initially through allyl transfer is converted under the reaction conditions into the corresponding saturated ketone when bulky ligands are used. Microwave heating at 250 degrees C accelerates the reaction significantly.

The reaction of aryl-X or alkenyl-X (X=I, Br, OTf, ONf) with terminal acetylenes in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)2 provided the alkynylated products in good yields by using Cp∗Li (Cp∗=1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) as a base.

Treatment of 1-alkynylphosphines with a rhodium catalyst in 1,4-dioxane/H2O at reflux provides (E)-1-alkenylphosphine oxides in good yields with perfect stereoselectivity. The reaction proceeds as ...

Reaction of acid chlorides with lithium pentamethylcyclopentadienide afforded the corresponding pentamethyl-cyclopentadienyl ketones in high yield. These ketones were treated with an allylaluminum reagent to form the corresponding 3-butenyl alcohols. Removal of pentamethylcyclopentadiene upon heating or treatment with a catalytic amount of trichloroacetic acid yielded the corresponding β,γ-unsaturated ketones in good yields.

Cobalt/N-heterocyclic carbene system or cobalt/diamine combination effectively catalyzes sequential cyclization/cross-coupling reactions of 6-halo-1-hexene derivatives with trialkylsilylmethyl, 1-alkynyl, and aryl Grignard reagents. The sequential cyclization/cross-coupling reactions are applied to the synthesis of 1,3-diols starting from siloxy-tethered 6-halo-1-hexene derivatives.

A mixture of tertiary alkyl halide and 2-methylene-1,3-dithiane was treated with butylmagnesium bromide in the presence of a catalytic amount of zirconocene dichloride. The reaction resulted in alkylative dimerization to yield the corresponding vic-bis(dithiane). The reaction would proceed as follows. A single electron transfer from low-valent zirconocene to alkyl halide would generate the corresponding alkyl radical. The radical adds to 2-methylene-1,3-dithiane to afford the corresponding radical stabilized by the two sulfur atoms. A couple of the stable radicals finally undergo dimerization.

Allylations of aryl halides take place upon treatment of tertiary homoallyl alcohols with aryl halides in the presence of cesium carbonate and a palladium catalyst. The allylation reaction would consist of the following steps: (1) oxidative addition of aryl halide to palladium, (2) ligand exchange between the halide and the homoallyl alcohol affording aryl(homoallyloxy)palladium, (3) retro-allylation of the palladium alkoxide to generate sigma-allyl(aryl)palladium with concomitant liberation of the relevant ketone, and (4) productive reductive elimination. Since the retro-allylation step proceeds in a concerted fashion via a conformationally regulated six-membered cyclic transition state, the allylation reactions are highly regio- and stereospecific when homoallyl alcohols having a substituted allyl group are used. Whereas triarylphosphine is known to serve as a ligand for the palladium-catalyzed allyl transfer reactions, tricyclohexylphosphine proves to significantly expand the scopes of aryl halides to electron-rich aryl chlorides and of homoallyl alcohols to cyclic homoallyl alcohols. The new arylative ring-opening reactions of cyclic homoallyl alcohols allow for the synthesis of ketones having a branched or linear allylarene moiety at the remote terminus in regio- and stereospecific manners.

[reaction: see text] Nickel catalyst systems for 1,4-addition of trialkylboranes to alpha,beta-unsaturated esters have been developed. Addition of methanol was found to be essential for the alkylation reaction with 9-alkyl-9-BBNs.

A new method for the preparation and control of dynamic σ-allylgalliums is disclosed. Upon treatment with a Grignard reagent and gallium trichloride, bulky homoallyl alcohols undergo gallium-mediated retro-allylation reaction to provide σ-allylgallium reagents. The σ-allylgallium reagents generated were applied to carbonyl allylation. The retro-allylation reaction generates (Z)- and (E)-σ-crotylgalliums stereospecifically, starting from erythro- and threo-homoallyl alcohols, respectively. The stereochemically defined crotylgallium reagents effected stereoselective allylation of aldehydes. Allylgallation reaction of alkynes with the allylgallium reagents prepared by retro-allylation is also described.

Lithium pentamethylcyclopentadienide (C5Me5Li, Cp*Li) reacted with aromatic aldehyde to provide the corresponding carbinol in excellent yield. The carbinol returns to the parent aldehyde and pentamethylcyclopentadiene upon exposure to acid or due to heating. Chlorodimethylaluminum is essential as an additive to attain the nucleophilic addition of Cp*Li to aliphatic aldehyde. The carbinol derived from aliphatic aldehyde returns to the parent aldehyde and pentamethylcyclopentadiene by the action of a catalytic amount of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ). The reversible addition/elimination of the Cp* group can represent a protection of aldehyde. Mechanistic details of the carbon–carbon bond cleavage are also disclosed.

Reactions of alkyl halides with arylmagnesium bromides in the presence of cobalt(II)(diphosphine) complexes are discussed. Treatment of 1-bromooctane with phenylmagnesium bromide with the aid of a catalytic amount of CoCl2(dppp) [DPPP=1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane] yielded octylbenzene in good yield. The reaction mechanism would include single electron transfer from an electron-rich cobalt complex to alkyl halide to generate the corresponding alkyl radical. The mechanism was justified by CoCl2(dppe)-catalyzed [DPPE=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane] sequential radical cyclization/cross-coupling reactions of 6-halo-1-hexene derivatives that yielded benzyl-substituted cyclopentane skeletons.

Treatment of nitroarenes having electron-withdrawing groups at the ortho or para position with alkanethiol in the presence of cesium carbonate in dimethyl sulfoxide at 25 °C leads to nucleophilic displacement of the nitro group with the alkylthio group. Cesium carbonate is superior to other bases such as potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, and triethylamine. The cesium-mediated nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction provides a mild yet powerful and user-friendly protocol for the synthesis of aryl sulfides.

Water enables the alkylation of aldehydes with trialkylboranes under nickel catalysis without the addition of a base. Trialkylboranes prepared from borane-dimethyl sulfide and terminal olefins via hydroboration as well as commercially available trialkylboranes could be employed for the reaction. The reaction would proceed via η 2 -coordinated nickel complexes with aldehydes as the key intermediates.

Reactions of 2-alkenyl methyl ether with phenyl, trimethylsilylmethyl, and allyl Grignard reagents in the presence of cobalt(II) complexes are discussed. The success of the reactions heavily depends on the combination of the substrate, ligand, and Grignard reagent. In the reaction of cinnamyl methyl ether, the formation of the linear coupling products predominates over that of the relevant branched products. In the cobalt-catalyzed allylation of allylic ethers, addition of a diphosphine ligand can change the regioselectivity, mainly providing the corresponding branched products. Rhodium complexes catalyze the reactions of allylic ethers and halides with allylmagnesium chloride and allylzinc bromide, respectively, in which the branched coupling product is the major product.

Cobalt salts such as cobalt(II) chloride catalyze allylzincation reactions of 1-aryl-1-alkynes. The allylzincations proceed in a syn fashion to form 2-allyl-1-aryl-1-alkenylzinc species. Other inte...

[reaction: see text] This paper describes cobalt-mediated cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with 1-(trimethylsilyl)ethenylmagnesium bromide and 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynylmagnesium bromide, respectively. The cobalt system allows for employing secondary as well as primary alkyl halides as the substrates. The reactions offer facile formations of alkyl-alkenyl and alkyl-alkynyl bonds. The reaction mechanism would include single-electron transfer from a cobalt complex to alkyl halide to generate the corresponding alkyl radical. The cobalt system thus enables sequential radical cyclization/alkenylation and cyclization/alkynylation reactions of 6-halo-1-hexene derivatives.