Synthesis of N-Protected 1-Aminoalkylphosphonium Salts from Amides, Carbamates, Lactams, or Imides

Direct synthesis of ethers from alcohols & aldehydes enabled by an oxocarbenium ion interception strategy

A new method has been established for formation of ethers from aldehydes and alcohols - a net reductive etherification. Reactions of these entities with phosphines in the presence of acid enable formation of α-(alkoxyalkyl)phosphonium salts, which, upon hydrolysis, result in formation of ether products in isolated yields of 63-92%. Formation and hydrolysis of the α-(alkoxyalkyl)phosphonium salts were done in an efficient telescoped two-step, one-pot process that does not require inert atmosphere conditions. Formation of the key phosphonium salt intermediates was found to occur in preference to acetal formation and is proposed based on both experimental and computational evidence to involve interception of oxocarbenium ions formed by reaction of the aldehyde, alcohol and acid by phosphine. This method represents the first instance in which net reductive etherifications have been achieved without the requirement for use of hydrides or hydrogen as reductants, and exhibits excellent functional group tolerance, thus enabling facile hydride-free synthesis of ethers. These are amongst the most important functional groups in organic synthesis. The new etherification method also enables deuteride-free synthesis of deuterated ethers.

31P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for Monitoring Organic Reactions and Organic Compounds

31P NMR spectroscopy is a consolidated tool for the characterization of organophosphorus compounds and, more recently, for reaction monitoring. The evolution of organic synthesis, mainly due to the combination of elaborated building blocks with enabling technologies, generated great challenges to understand and to optimize the synthetic methodologies. In this sense, 31P NMR experiments also became a routine technique for reaction monitoring, accessing products and side products yields, chiral recognition, kinetic data, intermediates, as well as basic organic parameters, such as acid-base and hydrogen-bonding. This review deals with these aspects demonstrating the essential role of the 31P NMR spectroscopy. The recent publications (the last ten years) will be explored, discussing the experiments of 31P NMR and the strategies accomplished to detect and/or quantify distinct organophosphorus molecules, approaching reaction mechanism, stability, stereochemistry, and the utility as a probe.

1-Hydroxyalkylphosphonium Salts-Synthesis and Properties

An efficient and convenient method for the synthesis of 1-hydroxyalkylphosphonium salts is described. Reactions were carried out at room temperature, in a short time, and without chromatography for product isolation. The properties of the obtained phosphonium salts were examined and discussed. In this paper, primary attention was paid to the stability of phosphonium salts, depending on the structure of the aldehydes used as substrates in their preparation. Other conditions such as the type of solvent, temperature, and molar ratio of the substrates were also investigated. Finally, the high reactivity of 1-hydroxyalkylphosphonium salts was demonstrated in reactions with amide-type substrates and (hetero)aromatic compounds. The developed step-by-step procedure (with the isolation of 1-hydroxyphosphonium salts) was compared to the one-pot protocol (in situ formation of such phosphonium salts).

Synthesis and Functionalization of Thiophosphonium Salts: A Divergent Approach to Access Thioether, Thioester, and Dithioester Derivatives

Herein, we report a straightforward practical method for efficiently obtaining a diverse range of thiophosphonium salts. This method involves the direct coupling of commercially available thiols and aldehydes with Ph3P and TfOH. The setup is simple and carried out in a metal-free manner. The synthetic utility of these salts is demonstrated through various examples of C-P bond functionalizations, enabling the synthesis of thioether, deuterated thioether, thioester, and dithioester derivatives. These products, which serve as valuable building blocks, are obtained in high yields.

1-Aminoalkylphosphonium Derivatives: Smart Synthetic Equivalents of N-Acyliminium-Type Cations, and Maybe Something More: A Review

N-acyliminium-type cations are examples of highly reactive intermediates that are willingly used in organic synthesis in intra- or intermolecular α-amidoalkylation reactions. They are usually generated in situ from their corresponding precursors in the presence of acidic catalysts (Brønsted or Lewis acids). In this context, 1-aminoalkyltriarylphosphonium derivatives deserve particular attention. The positively charged phosphonium moiety located in the immediate vicinity of the N-acyl group significantly facilitates Cα-P+ bond breaking, even without the use of catalyst. Moreover, minor structural modifications of 1-aminoalkyltriarylphosphonium derivatives make it possible to modulate their reactivity in a simple way. Therefore, these types of compounds can be considered as smart synthetic equivalents of N-acyliminium-type cations. This review intends to familiarize a wide audience with the unique properties of 1-aminoalkyltriarylphosphonium derivatives and encourage their wider use in organic synthesis. Hence, the most important methods for the preparation of 1-aminoalkyltriarylphosphonium salts, as well as the area of their potential synthetic utilization, are demonstrated. In particular, the structure-reactivity correlations for the phosphonium salts are discussed. It was shown that 1-aminoalkyltriarylphosphonium salts are not only an interesting alternative to other α-amidoalkylating agents but also can be used in such important transformations as the Wittig reaction or heterocyclizations. Finally, the prospects and limitations of their further applications in synthesis and medicinal chemistry were considered.

Sequential Selective C-H and C(sp3 )-+ P Bond Functionalizations: An Entry to Bioactive Arylated Scaffolds

Organophosphonium salts containing C(sp³ )-⁺ P bonds are among the most utilized reagents in organic synthesis for constructing C-C double bonds. However, their use as C-selective electrophilic groups is rare. Here, we explore an efficient and general transition-metal-free method for sequential chemo- and regioselective C-H and C(sp³ )-⁺ P bond functionalizations. In the present study, C-H alkylation resulting in the synthesis of benzhydryl triarylphosphonium salts was achieved by one-pot, four-component cross-coupling reactions of simple and commercially available starting materials. The utility of the resulting phosphonium salt building blocks was demonstrated by the chemoselective post-functionalization of benzylic C(sp³ )-⁺ PPh₃ groups to achieve aminations, thiolations, and arylations. In this way, benzhydrylamines, benzhydrylthioethers, and triarylmethanes, structural motifs that are present in many pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, are readily accessed. These include the synthesis of two anticancer agents from simple materials in only two to three steps. Additionally, a protocol for late-stage functionalization of bioactive drugs has been developed using benzhydrylphosphonium salts. This new approach should provide novel transformations for application in both academic and pharmaceutical research.

Amide-Type Substrates in the Synthesis of N-Protected 1-Aminomethylphosphonium Salts

Herein we describe the development and optimization of a two-step procedure for the synthesis of N-protected 1-aminomethylphosphonium salts from imides, amides, carbamates, or lactams. Our “step-by-step” methodology involves the transformation of amide-type substrates to the corresponding hydroxymethyl derivatives, followed by the substitution of the hydroxyl group with a phosphonium moiety. The first step of the described synthesis was conducted based on well-known protocols for hydroxymethylation with formaldehyde or paraformaldehyde. In turn, the second (substitution) stage required optimization studies. In general, reactions of amide, carbamate, and lactam derivatives occurred at a temperature of 70 °C in a relatively short time (1 h). On the other hand, N-hydroxymethylimides reacted with triarylphosphonium salts at a much higher temperature (135 °C) and over longer reaction times (as much as 30 h). However, the proposed strategy is very efficient, especially when NaBr is used as a catalyst. Moreover, a simple work-up procedure involving only crystallization afforded good to excellent yields (up to 99%).