The synthesis of (±)-aminoglutethimide via vicarious nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hydrogen

Easy Access to Esters with a Benzylic Quaternary Carbon Center from Diallyl Malonates by Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Allylation

Diallyl 2-alkyl-2-arylmalonates underwent palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative allylation quickly under mild conditions. In contrast, no reaction took place with diallyl 2,2-dialkylmalonates under the same conditions. Electron-donating phosphine ligands were found to be vital for this reaction. Most of the solvents used did not affect the catalytic cycle. Catalysis in [bmim][BF4], a well-known ionic liquid, was inhibited as a result of formation of a hydrogen bond between a carboxylate anion and a [bmim]+ cation; however, the reaction in [bdmim][BF4], in which the acidic proton of [bmim][BF4] was replaced with a methyl group, proceeded smoothly. The catalytic mechanism was investigated using a tetradeuterated substrate and an enzymatically synthesized enantio-enriched allyl methyl 2-methyl-2-phenylmalonate. Even the electron-deficient phosphite ligand was found to be active for catalysis of diallyl 2-methyl-2-(2- or 4-nitrophenyl)malonates.

A three-component coupling process based on vicarious nucleophilic substitution (VNS(AR))-alkylation reactions: an approach to indoprofen and derivatives

The intermediate anion derived from the vicarious nucleophilic substitution (VNS) of hydrogen reacts with a series of alkyl halides to generate the corresponding alpha-alkylated conventional VNS product in a one-pot process. This one-pot VNS-alkylation reaction offers a convenient route to a range alpha-substituted nitrobenzyl phosphine oxides, sulfones, and esters via a three-component coupling reaction. Reactions of alpha-chloroethyl phenyl sulfone (14) and ethyl 2-chloropropionate (16) with nitrobenzene followed by subsequent addition of an alkylating agent give a series of sulfones and esters bearing an alpha-aryl quaternary center. The VNS-alkylation protocol has been applied to the synthesis of derivatives of Indoprofen from nitrobenzene using readily available inexpensive starting materials. Indoprofen itself was prepared using the conventional VNS reaction in four steps and 24% overall yield from nitrobenzene.