A new method for the synthesis of nitriles is described. As a complement to the classic cyanation of aryl halides using cyanide sources and a transition metal catalyst, the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of thiocyanates with boronic acids in the presence of copper(I) thiophene-2-carboxylate (CuTC) affords nitriles in good to excellent yields.
TpMo(CO)2(5-alkenyl-η-2,3,4-pyranyl) diene complexes function as excellent chiral scaffolds for the efficient regio- and enantiocontrolled synthesis of highly functionalized 1-oxadecaline derivatives through a novel transition metal-mediated Diels-Alder reaction. Very good to excellent yields and excellent levels of endo-selectivity are obtained and the reaction gives products with complete retention of enantiomeric purity when carried out with chiral, non-racemic scaffolds. A subtle structural modification on the diene (replacement of an H by a trans-CH3 group) leads to a complete change of regiochemistry, which is discussed from a mechanistic point of view. The role of the η3-coordinated TpMo(CO)2 moiety is also critical to the further functionalization of the [4+2] cycloadducts, as illustrated by the preparation of 20 variously functionalized 1-oxadecaline derivatives (>98% ee when carried out with high enantiopurity scaffolds).
A short and efficient synthesis of high enantiopurity (−)-D-erythro-sphingosine has been achieved in 71% yield over 6 steps from N-Boc-L-serine. The key steps are high yield, racemization-free, palladium-catalyzed, copper(I)-mediated coupling of the thiophenyl ester of N-Boc-O-TBS L-serine with E-1-pentadecenyl boronic acid and the highly diastereoselective reduction of the resulting peptidyl ketone with LiAl(O-t-Bu)3H. Using this concise route (−)-D-erythro-sphingosine can be prepared on large scale and in high enantio and diastereopurity (ee >99%, de up to 99%).
Catalytic quantities of copper (I) or copper (II) sources catalyze the N-imination of boronic acids and organostannanes through reaction with oxime O-carboxylates under non-basic conditions. This method tolerates various functional groups and takes place efficiently using aryl, heteroaryl, and alkenyl boronic acids and stannanes.
α-Amino acid thiol esters derived from N-protected mono-, di-, and tripeptides couple with aryl, π-electron-rich heteroaryl, or alkenyl boronic acids in the presence of stoichiometric Cu(I) thiophene-2-carboxylate (CuTC) and catalytic Pd2(dba)3/triethylphosphite to generate the corresponding N-protected peptidyl ketones in good to excellent yields and in high enantiopurity. Triethylphosphite plays a key role as a supporting ligand by mitigating an undesired palladium-catalyzed decarbonylation-β-elimination of the α-amino thiol esters. The peptidyl ketone synthesis proceeds at room temperature under non-basic conditions and demonstrates a high tolerance to functionality.
A unified strategy for the high throughput synthesis of multigram quantities of the η3-oxopyranyl- and η3-oxopyridinylmolybdenum complexes TpMo(CO)2(η3-oxopyranyl) and TpMo(CO)2(η3-oxopyridinyl) is described (Tp = hydridotrispyrazolylborato). The strategy uses the oxa- and aza-Achmatowicz reaction for the preparation of these organometallic enantiomeric scaffolds, in both racemic and high enantiopurity versions.
A simple, modular method to prepare highly substituted pyridines is disclosed. The method employs a cascade reaction comprising (1) a novel N-iminative, Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling of alkenylboronic acids at the N—O bond of α, β-unsaturated ketoxime O-pentafluorobenzoates, (2) electrocyclization of the resulting 3-azatriene, and (3) air oxidation affording highly substituted pyridines in moderate to excellent isolated yields (43–91%). Starting materials are readily available and functional group tolerance is very good.
A general non-oxidative N-amidation of organostannanes and boronic acids has been developed. Under non-basic conditions a wide variety of aryl, alkenyl, and heteroaryl organostannanes and boronic acids couple efficiently with O-acetyl hydroxamic acids in the presence of Cu(I) sources.
Thiol esters and boronic acids react to produce ketones under aerobic conditions in the presence of catalytic quantities of a CuI or CuII salt. The reaction occurs at reasonable rates between room temperature and 50 °C at neutral pH using thiol esters derived from bulky 2° amides of thiosalicylamides such as those based on N-tert-butyl-2-mercaptobenzamide. In this mechanistically unprecedented reaction system the carbon-carbon bond formation occurs through templating of the thiol ester and the boronic acid at copper; the system is rendered catalytic in copper under the aerobic conditions.
6-Substituted TpMo(CO)2(η-2,3,4-pyranyl)- and TpMo(CO)2(η-2,3,4-pyridinyl) scaffolds (Tp = hydridotrispyrazolylborato) function as reaction partners in an efficient regio- and stereocontrolled synthesis of functionalized oxa- and azabicyclo[3.2.1]octenes through a novel Brønsted acid-catalyzed [5+2] cycloaddition reaction. Excellent exo-selectivities are obtained and the reaction gives products with complete retention of enantiomeric purity when carried out with chiral, non-racemic scaffolds. The substituent at C-6 of the η3-coordinated heterocyclic scaffold not only influences [5+2] reactivity but also plays a critical role in the demetalation step directing the reaction to only one of two possible products.