Aerobic Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ketones to 1,4-Enediones

Synthesis of meta-carbonyl phenols and anilines

Phenols and anilines are of extreme importance for medicinal chemistry and material science. The development of efficient approaches to prepare both compounds has thus long been a vital research topic. The utility of phenols and anilines directly reflects the identity and pattern of substituents on the benzenoid ring. Electrophilic substitutions remain among the most powerful synthetic methods to substituted phenols and anilines, yet in principle achieving ortho- and para-substituted products. Therefore, the selective preparation of meta-substituted phenols and anilines is the most significant challenge. We herein report an efficient copper-catalyzed dehydrogenation strategy to exclusively synthesize meta-carbonyl phenols and anilines from carbonyl substituted cyclohexanes. Mechanistic studies indicate that this transformation undergoes a copper-catalyzed dehydrogenation/allylic hydroxylation or amination/oxidative dehydrogenation/aromatization cascade process.

Photoredox-Mediated Aerobic Oxidative Cleavage of 1,3-Diketones to Access 1,2-Diketones and (Z)-1,4-Enediones

An aerobic oxidative cleavage of 1,3-diketones under visible light irradiation using an organic dye as a photocatalyst is disclosed. The newly developed reaction provides practical access to 1,2-diketones and (Z)-1,4-enediones in moderate to good yields with absolute regio- and stereoselectivity. Mechanistic studies of the reaction suggest that tetraketone intermediates might undergo a photocatalytic energy transfer from the excited photocatalyst to form biradical-like (n,π*) states of ketones.

B(C6 F5 )3 -Catalyzed [2+3]-Cyclative o,m-diC-H Functionalization of Phenols

Metal-free catalytic C-H functionalization is highly desired for the construction of C-C bonds. We herein report a highly chemoselective consecutive C-H [2+3]-cyclative functionalization for the simultaneous formation of two C-C bonds with construction of polycyclic phenols catalyzed by commercially available and low-cost B(C6 F5 )3 . This catalytic system tolerates a wide range of substrate scope, providing a series of 2,6,7,8-tetrahydroacenaphthylen-3-ol-type polycyclic compounds efficiently. Several derivatizations of the catalytic products have also been conducted to show the potential application of this method in synthesis of polycyclic compounds.

Electro-oxidative Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Alkyne-1,4-diones via Sequential Ring Formation and Cleavage

Synthesis of unsymmetrical but-2-yne-1,4-diones is reported through oxidative alkyne translocation of readily accessible homopropargylic alcohols. The developed method consists of an unprecedented one-pot sequential electro-oxidative annulation-fragmentation-chemical selenoxide elimination process. Excellent functional group compatibility was observed, and an array of yne-1,4-diones were synthesized. Derivatization of the alkyne gave access to other valuable scaffolds. Detailed mechanistic studies through the isolation of key intermediates clarified the cascade transformation.

Stereoselective Synthesis of cis-2-Ene-1,4-diones via Aerobic Oxidation of Substituted Furans Catalyzed by ABNO/HNO3

We report a highly efficient and selective catalytic system, ABNO (9-azabicyclo-[3.3.1]nonane N-oxyl)/HNO₃, for the aerobic oxidation of substituted furans to cis-2-ene-1,4-diones under mild reaction conditions using oxygen as the oxidant. The catalyst system is amenable to various substituted (mon-, di-, and tri-) furans and tolerates diverse functional groups, including cyano, nitro, naphthyl, ketone, ester, heterocycle, and even formyl groups. Based on the control and ¹⁸O-labeling experiments, the possible mechanism of the oxidation is proposed.

Desulfonylative Electrocarboxylation with Carbon Dioxide

Electrocarboxylation of organic halides is one of the most investigated electrochemical approaches for converting thermodynamically inert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into value-added carboxylic acids. By converting organic halides into their sulfone derivatives, we have developed a highly efficient electrochemical desulfonylative carboxylation protocol. Such a strategy takes advantage of CO₂ as the abundant C1 building block for the facile preparation of multifunctionalized carboxylic acids, including the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen, under mild reaction conditions.

DBU/O2-Mediated Oxidation of Dienones

Herein, we describe a DBU/O₂-promoted novel method for oxidation of dienones to 2,6-dione derivatives. The reaction involves treatment of a dienone with DBU in acetonitrile employing molecular oxygen as the oxidant. Metal free conditions and an eco-friendly reagent are the striking features of this protocol. This transformation proceeds through a peroxide intermediate that upon Kornblum-DeLaMare rearrangement produces 2,6-diones. The method was successfully utilized for the synthesis of (±)-pleodendione with improved yields versus those of the traditional PDC-TBHP method.