Dirhodium-Catalyzed Phenol and Aniline Oxidations with T-HYDRO. Substrate Scope and Mechanism of Oxidation

Synthesis of Nitroarenes by Oxidation of Aryl Amines

Nitro compounds are an important class of organic molecules with broad application in organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and materials science. Among the variety of methodologies available for their synthesis, the direct oxidation of primary amines represents an attractive alternative route. Efforts towards the development of oxidative procedures for the synthesis of nitro derivatives have spanned over the past decades, leading to a wide variety of protocols for the selective oxidative conversion of amines to nitro derivatives. Methods for the synthesis of nitroarenes via oxidation of aryl amines, with particular emphasis on recent advances in the field, are summarised in this review.

FeIII/TBHP mediated remote C–O bond construction of 8-aminoquinolines: access to methoxylation and cyanomethoxylation

The C5 regioselective methoxylation and cyanomethoxylation of 8-aminoquinolines were achieved under FeIII/TBHP system by tuning the temperature and solvent. TBHP was investigated as an “oxygen” source in the ether bond formation for the first time.

Selective Mild Oxidation of Anilines into Nitroarenes by Catalytic Activation of Mesoporous Frameworks Linked with Gold-Loaded Mn3 O4 Nanoparticles

This work reports the synthesis and catalytic application of mesoporous Au-loaded Mn3 O4 nanoparticle assemblies (MNAs) with different Au contents, i. e., 0.2, 0.5 and 1 wt %, towards the selective oxidation of anilines into the corresponding nitroarenes. Among common oxidants, as well as several supported gold nanoparticle platforms, Au/Mn3 O4 MNAs containing 0.5 wt % Au with an average particle size of 3-4 nm show the best catalytic performance in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as a mild oxidant. In all cases, the corresponding nitroarenes were isolated in high to excellent yields (85-97 %) and selectivity (>98 %) from acetonitrile or greener solvents, such as ethyl acetate, after simple flash chromatography purification. The 0.5 % Au/Mn3 O4 catalyst can be isolated and reused four times without a significant loss of its activity and can be applied successfully to a lab-scale reaction of p-toluidine (1 mmol) leading to the p-nitrotulene in 83 % yield. The presence of AuNPs on the Mn3 O4 surface enhances the catalytic activity for the formation of the desired nitroarene. A reasonable mechanism was proposed including the plausible formation of two intermediates, the corresponding N-aryl hydroxylamine and the nitrosoarene.

Merging Strategy, Improvisation, and Conversation to Solve Problems in Target Synthesis

Total synthesis has long been depicted as the quest to conquer the structures created by nature, requiring an unflinching, single-minded devotion to the task. The goal is achieved by chemists with grit, strength of will, and a competitive spirit. While there is some truth to this viewpoint, it does not fully capture the rich experiences gained in this research realm. In our lab, strategic planning, improvisation, and conversation have worked in concert to enable progress. This Account summarizes our efforts to synthesize four different bioactive targets: merrilactone A, rocaglamide, phomactin A, and tetrapetalone A. Certain missteps were integral to success in these synthetic projects. As such, we include the hiccups, and their roles in the evolution of the strategies, along with the results that aligned with our expectations.Two of these projects (merrilactone A and rocaglamide) culminated in the total synthesis of the targets. The challenges presented by merrilactone A spawned a new design strategy for pentannulation using Nazarov cyclization chemistry. This work demonstrated that Lewis acid catalysis is often a viable electrocyclization strategy in activated, polarized pentadienyl cation intermediates. We sought to apply the same logic to the rocaglamide target, but precursors we prepared did not behave according to plan. This situation pushed us to adapt our approach to match the innate reactivity of the substrate, resulting in an on-the-spot improvisation that was not only integral to the success of the project but also expanded our understanding of pentadienyl cation chemistry. In the other two projects (phomactin A and tetrapetalone A), we did not complete a total synthesis but did build the polycyclic core of the target. Even though the hetero [4 + 2] cycloaddition plan for assembling the macrocyclic oxadecalin ring system of phomactin A failed, the original experimental design still enabled us to solve the problem. Through a wholly unanticipated series of events, our focus on the oxadecalin ring system primed us for the discovery of a sequential iodoaldol/oxa-Michael sequence, using the original [4 + 2] building blocks. Then, the bridging ring present in phomactin A demanded we implement this sequence in a transannular fashion. Finally, our successful synthesis of the tetrapetalone core was enabled by consultations with others in the community. Each bond formation seemed to require different expertise, and in three separate instances (C-N cross-coupling, diastereoselective ring-closing metathesis, and oxidative dearomatization) synthetic challenges were overcome through conversation and collaboration.In our experience, the amount of creative power we summon during a target synthesis project correlates directly with the magnitude of the structural challenges we face. When reactivity surprises us, we analyze the problem anew, consult with colleagues, and improvise with the tools at hand. The inevitable misbehavior of a complex system is a strong motivating force, and one that has helped to shape our research program for nearly two decades.

Total Synthesis of Caesalpinnone A and Caesalpinflavan B: Evolution of a Concise Strategy

The total syntheses of caesalpinnone A (1) and its putative biosynthetic precursor caesalpinflavan B (3) are described. Herein, we describe the evolution of a synthetic strategy toward 1 and 3, which entails a convergent Barluenga coupling that quickly delivers a heavily functionalized benzopyran containing the core carbon framework and exploration of two distinct synthetic routes for forging the flavanoid C-ring by reducing a sterically encumbered embedded alkene: one via a stepwise approach and a second, more direct and atom-economical, enabled by a Shenvi-HAT hydrogenation. The latter strategy allowed access to caesalpinflavan B in 6 steps after Pd-mediated deallylation. A late-stage dearomative phenolic oxidation and deallylation/oxa-Michael cascade was implemented to access caesalpinnone A (1) in 7 steps. We also describe an enantioselective total synthesis and stereochemical revision of (-)-caesalpinflavan B, as well as a formal enantioselective synthesis of (-)-caesalpinnone A, by implementing an enantioselective Pd-catalyzed conjugate addition developed by Stoltz.

Surfactant-Assisted Selective Oxidation of Aromatic Amines to Nitro Compounds by in Situ-Formed Performic Acid

Development of novel and greener methods for the selective oxidation of various organic compounds is a challenging task. Herein, a novel protocol for the selective oxidation of aromatic amines to nitroaromatics at room temperature is developed. The oxidation reaction was carried out using a mixture of formic acid and aqueous hydrogen peroxide, which resulted in the in situ formation of performic acid. Further, improvement of selectivity was studied using different surfactants, of which cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) gave the highest selectivity (85%) toward nitrobenzene. The role of CTAB in achieving higher selectivity is discussed. Under optimized reaction conditions, various substituted amines were successfully oxidized to corresponding nitro compounds. It is worth mentioning that this is the first report on oxidation of amines to nitro compounds in an aqueous medium with high selectivity.

Synthetic Studies toward the Tetrapetalones: Diastereoselective Construction of a Putative Intermediate

A strategy toward tetrapetalones was explored including a site-selective ethylenation of the silyl enol ether A to afford a quaternary stereocenter that serves in a stereogenic capacity. Regio- and diastereoselective reactions were observed in conjunction with the oxidative formation of cation B, which included subsequent selective formation of either carbon-oxygen or carbon-carbon bonds at the δ or ζ position on the seven-membered ring. The fourth ring was formed using a Stetter reaction.

“A Jack of Trio”-robust one-pot metal free oxidative amination, azidation and peroxidation of phenols

Facile generation of quaternary carbon centres has been realised in the presence of phenyl trimethyl ammonium tribromide (PTAB) mediated oxidative dearomatisation.

Advances in the synthesis of acyclic peroxides

This review summarises the many developments in the synthesis of acyclic peroxides, with a particular focus on the past 20 years, and seeks to update organic chemists about these new approaches.

o-Iodoxybenzoic Acid-Initiated One-Pot Synthesis of 4-Arylthio-1,2-naphthoquinones, 4-Arylthio-1,2-diacetoxynaphthalenes, and 5-Arylthio-/5-Aminobenzo[a]phenazines

1,2-Naphthoquiones and their derivatives constitute an important category of compounds of relevance in pharmaceutical and material chemistry. It is shown that 1,2-naphthoquinones generated by o-iodoxybenzoic acid-mediated oxidation of 2-naphthols can be subjected to a cascade of reactions, namely oxidation, Michael addition, reduction, acetylation, and cyclocondensation, in the same pot to afford diverse 4-arylthio-1,2-naphthoquinones 2, 4-arylthio-1,2-diacetoxynaphthalenes 3, and 5-arylthio-/5-aminobenzo[a]phenazines 4 in very good isolated yields. The multistep single-pot synthesis occurs smoothly in DMF at rt.

Copper-catalyzed divergent oxidative pathways of 2-naphthol derivatives: ortho-naphthoquinones versus 2-BINOLs

Divergent reaction pathways of 2-naphthol derivatives to either ortho-naphthoquinones or BINOLs have been achieved using two different Cu(ii) catalyst systems.

Heterogeneous self-supported dirhodium(ii) catalysts with high catalytic efficiency in cyclopropanation – a structural study

Catalytically active dirhodium sheet-like coordination polymers are synthesized from their precursors via ligand exchange.

Oxidative coupling of methylamine with an aminyl radical: direct amidation catalyzed by I2/TBHP with HCl

Oxidative coupling of methylamines with an aminyl radical to construct amides was developed in the presence of an I2/TBHP catalyst under acidic conditions via the two cleavages of the sp(3) C-N bond of aryl-methylamines and the sp(2) C-N bond of N-substituted formamides respectively. This transition-metal-free protocol provides a novel synthetic tool for the construction of N-substituted amides and a series of arylamides can be easily obtained with good yields.

Synthesis of (±)-tetrapetalone A-Me aglycon

The first synthesis of (±)-tetrapetalone A-Me aglycon is described. Key bond-forming reactions include Nazarov cyclization, a ring-closing metathesis promoted with complete diastereoselectivity by a chiral molybdenum-based complex, tandem conjugate reduction/intramolecular aldol cyclization, and oxidative dearomatization.

IBS-catalyzed regioselective oxidation of phenols to 1,2-quinones with Oxone®

We have developed the first example of hypervalent iodine(V)-catalyzed regioselective oxidation of phenols to o-quinones. Various phenols could be oxidized to the corresponding o-quinones in good to excellent yields using catalytic amounts of sodium salts of 2-iodobenzenesulfonic acids (pre-IBSes) and stoichiometric amounts of Oxone^® as a co-oxidant under mild conditions. The reaction rate of IBS-catalyzed oxidation under nonaqueous conditions was further accelerated in the presence of an inorganic base such as potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃), a phase transfer catalyst such as tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate (nBu₄NHSO₄), and a dehydrating agent such as anhydrous sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄).