Efficient and Convenient Synthesis of β-Vinyl Sulfides in Nickel-Catalyzed Regioselective Addition of Thiols to Terminal Alkynes under Solvent-Free Conditions

Carbonyl and Carbonyl-N-Heterocyclic Carbine-Ligated Iron Complexes as Catalysts for Markovnikov-Selective Alkyne Hydrothiolation and Hydroselenation Reactions: A Mechanistic Study

In the present work, iron carbonyl-catalyzed hydrothiolation/hydroselenation of alkynes has been studied computationally. The catalytic efficiency of inexpensive iron carbonyls and three iron-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-based complexes-Fe(NHC)ax(CO)4, Fe(NHC)eq(CO)4, and Fe(aNHC)ax(CO)4-is evaluated. The results demonstrate significantly reduced energy barriers for the catalytic reactions compared to uncatalyzed gas-phase reactions. A high degree of regioselectivity for the Markovnikov product is observed, validating the effectiveness of these complexes in producing Markovnikov vinyl sulfides/selenides. An alternative catalytic pathway involving alkyne insertion into the MS/Se and MH bonds is also explored, and it is found that the catalyst regio- and stereoselectively leads to the formation of Markovnikov product in MS/Se insertion pathway and Z-anti-Markovnikov product in MH insertion pathway, consistent with the existing literature reports.

Cobalt-catalyzed hydrothiolation of alkynes for the diverse synthesis of branched alkenyl sulfides

Alkenyl sulfides have gained increasing prominence in medicinal chemistry and materials. Hydrothiolation of alkynes for the diverse synthesis of alkenyl sulfides is an appealing method. Herein, we report a cobalt-catalyzed Markovnikov hydromethylthiolation of alkynes to afford branched alkenyl methylsulfanes with good yields and high regioselectivity. This method also enables the diverse synthesis of branched alkenyl sulfides. The reaction shows good functional group tolerance and could be scaled up. The mechanistic studies including control experiments, deuterium-labeling experiments, and Hammett plot indicated alkynes insertion followed by electrophilic thiolation pathway.

Synthesis and comparative study of (NHCF)PdCl2Py and (NHCF)Ni(Cp)Cl complexes: investigation of the electronic properties of NHC ligands and complex characteristics

The electron-donating and electron-accepting properties of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands play a pivotal role in governing their interactions with transition metals, thereby influencing the selectivity and reactivity in catalytic processes. Herein, we report the synthesis of Pd/NHCF and Ni/NHCF complexes, wherein the electronic parameters of the NHC ligands were systematically varied. By performing a series of controlled structure modifications, we elucidated the influence of the σ-donor and π-acceptor properties of NHC ligands on interactions with the transition metals Pd and Ni and, consequently, the catalytic behavior of Pd and Ni complexes. The present study deepens our understanding of NHC-metal interactions and provides novel information for the rational design of efficient catalysts for organic synthesis.

Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Addition of Organosulfur Compounds to Alkynes and Alkenes: Catalysis and Catalyst Poisons

The addition of heteroatom compounds to alkynes and alkenes is an atom-efficient method of carbon-heteroatom bond formation and is widely used as a fundamental synthetic method for the construction of functional molecules. Nevertheless, examples of transition-metal-catalyzed addition reactions of group 16 heteroatom compounds to carbon-carbon unsaturated bonds have been limited due to the widespread belief that organic sulfur and selenium compounds are representative catalyst poisons. In recent decades, however, several seminal catalytic reactions of sulfur compounds have been developed, providing important insights into catalysis and poisons. Therefore, this paper focuses on the transition-metal-catalyzed addition of organosulfur compounds to alkynes and alkenes, gains comprehensive insights into the catalysis and catalyst poisons, and proposes concepts for the development of transition-metal-catalyzed reactions of group 16 heteroatom compounds.

Synthesis of vinyl sulfides and thioethers via a hydrothiolation reaction of 4-hydroxydithiocoumarins and arylacetylenes/styrenes

The synthesis of vinyl sulfides (3a-m) and thioethers (7a-k), exclusive Markovnikov products, is reported by a copper(I) iodide catalyzed regioselective hydrothiolation reaction of terminal alkynes/alkenes and 4-hydroxydithiocoumarins. However, anti-Markovnikov hydrothiolation products (5a-f) were obtained in the case of 2-ethynylpyridine, with exclusive Z selectivity in good yields. The important aspects of this protocol are the absence of expensive metal complexes and additives to act as ligands, mild reaction conditions, high regioselectivity, good yields, and shorter reaction times.

Catalysis and regioselectivity in hydrofunctionalization reactions of unsaturated carbon bonds. Part III

The review addresses the possibility of obtaining Markovnikov and anti-Markovnikov isomers in the reactions of unsaturated hydrocarbons with organophosphorus and organosulfur compounds having P–H and S–H bonds using metal salts or complexes as catalysts.

The bibliography includes 247 references.

(Z)-Selective anti-Markovnikov or Markovnikov thiol-yne-click reactions of an internal alkyne by amide hydrogen bond control

Herein, we show exclusive control of stereo and regioselective thiol-yne click (TYC) reactions of internal alkynes via amide hydrogen bond control. By exploiting appropriate hydrogen bonding interactions like N-HS, N-HN and C-HO, either (Z)-selective anti-Markovnikov or Markovnikov products could be obtained for an internal alkyne, exclusively.

Evolution of a Strategy for the Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Psiguadial B

(+)-Psiguadial B is a diformyl phloroglucinol meroterpenoid that exhibits antiproliferative activity against the HepG2 human hepatoma cancer cell line. This full account details the evolution of a strategy that culminated in the first enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-psiguadial B. A key feature of the synthesis is the construction of the trans-cyclobutane motif by a Wolff rearrangement with in situ catalytic, asymmetric trapping of the ketene. An investigation of the substrate scope of this method to prepare enantioenriched 8-aminoquinolinamides is disclosed. Three routes toward (+)-psiguadial B were evaluated that featured the following key steps: (1) an ortho-quinone methide hetero-Diels-Alder cycloaddition to prepare the chroman framework, (2) a Prins cyclization to form the bridging bicyclo[4.3.1]decane system, and (3) a modified Norrish-Yang cyclization to generate the chroman. Ultimately, the successful strategy employed a ring-closing metathesis to form the seven-membered ring and an intramolecular O-arylation reaction to complete the polycyclic framework of the natural product.

Metal Catalysis in Thiolation and Selenation Reactions of Alkynes Leading to Chalcogen-Substituted Alkenes and Dienes

This review covers recent achievements in metal-catalyzed Z-H and Z-Z (Z=S, Se) bond addition to the triple bonds of alkynes-a convenient and atom-efficient way to carbon-element bond formation. Various catalytic systems (both homogeneous and heterogeneous) developed to date to obtain mono- and bis-chalcogen-substituted alkenes or dienes, as well as carbonyl compounds or heterocycles, starting from simple and available alkynes and chalcogenols or dichalcogenides are described. The right choice of metal and ligands allows us to perform these transformations with high selectivities under mild reaction conditions, thus tolerating unprotected functional groups in substrates and broadening ways of further modification of the products. The main aim of the review is to show the potential of the catalytic methods developed in synthetic organic chemistry. Thus, emphasis is made on the scope of reactions, types of products that can be selectively formed, convenience, and scalability of the catalytic procedures. A brief mechanistic description is also given to introduce new readers to the topic.

Selective Thiolative Lactonization of Internal Alkynes Bearing a Hydroxyl Group with Carbon Monoxide and Organic Disulfides Catalyzed by Transition-Metal Complexes

Although many transition-metal catalysts are ineffective for the addition and carbonylative addition of organic disulfides to internal alkynes, dicobalt octacarbonyl and palladium complexes such as Pd(PPh3)4 and Pd(OAc)2 were found to exhibit excellent catalytic activity for the thiolative lactonization of internal alkynes bearing a hydroxyl group. In the presence of the cobalt or palladium catalyst, internal alkynes bearing a hydroxy group, such as homopropargyl alcohol derivatives, successfully undergo thiolative carbonylation with carbon monoxide and an organic disulfide regio- and stereoselectively to afford the corresponding thio group bearing-lactones in good yields. In the Co-catalyzed reaction, the cobalt-alkyne complex from dicobalt octacarbonyl and internal alkyne acts as a key species, making it possible to attain thiolative lactonization of internal alkynes with a hydroxyl group. In the Pd-catalyzed reaction, the coordination of the hydroxy group to the palladium catalyst plays an important role for the thiolative lactonization.

Theoretical investigation of the mechanism of gold(i)-catalyzed hydrothiolation of alkynes and alkenes with phenthiol

The mechanisms of gold-catalyzed hydrothiolation of alkynes and alkenes with phenthiol have been investigated using density functional theory calculations.

Nickel-catalysed synthesis of tetrasubstituted vinyl sulfides from thiocarbamates and internal alkynes

The thiocarbamoylation of internal alkynes to produce tetrasubstituted β-aminocarbonyl vinyl sulfides was demonstrated using a nickel catalyst. This reaction was successful with a wide variety of substituents, and gave the syn-adducts exclusively.

Mechanism of the palladium-catalyzed hydrothiolation of alkynes to thioethers: a DFT study

The mechanisms of the palladium-catalyzed hydrothiolation of alkynes with thiols were investigated using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31G(d, p) (SDD for Pd) level. Solvent effects on these reactions were explored using the polarizable continuum model (PCM) for the solvent tetrahydrofuran (THF). Markovnikov-type vinyl sulfides or cis-configured anti-Markovnikov-type products were formed by three possible pathways. Our calculation results suggested the following: (1) the first step of the cycle is a proton-transfer process from thiols onto the palladium atom to form a palladium-thiolate intermediate. The palladium-thiolate species is attacked on alkynes to obtain an elimination product, liberating the catalyst. (2) The higher activation energies for the alkyne into the palladium-thiolate bond indicate that this step is the rate-determining step. The Markovnikov-type vinyl sulfide product is favored. However, for the aromatic alkyne, the cis-configured anti-Markovnikov-type product is favored. (3) The activation energy would reduce when thiols are substituted with an aromatic group. Our calculated results are consistent with the experimental observations of Frech and colleagues for the palladium-catalyzed hydrothiolation of alkynes to thiols.

Self-assembled selenium monolayers: from nanotechnology to materials science and adaptive catalysis

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of selenium have emerged into a rapidly developing field of nanotechnology with several promising opportunities in materials chemistry and catalysis. Comparison between sulfur-based self-assembled monolayers and newly developed selenium-based monolayers reveal outstanding complimentary features on surface chemistry and highlighted the key role of the headgroup element. Diverse structural properties and reactivity of organosulfur and organoselenium groups on the surface provide flexible frameworks to create new generations of materials and adaptive catalysts with unprecedented selectivity. Important practical utility of adaptive catalytic systems deals with development of sustainable technologies and industrial processes based on natural resources. Independent development of nanotechnology, materials science and catalysis has led to the discovery of common fundamental principles of the surface chemistry of chalcogen compounds.

Hydrothiolation of benzyl mercaptan to arylacetylene: application to the synthesis of (E) and (Z)-isomers of ON 01910·Na (Rigosertib®), a phase III clinical stage anti-cancer agent

A stereoselective and efficient method for free radical addition of benzyl thiol to aryl acetylene in the presence of Et3B-hexane has been developed for the synthesis of (Z) and (E)-styryl benzyl sulfides where base catalyzed hydrothiolations have failed. The scope of this reaction was successfully extended for the synthesis of (E)-ON 01910·Na, a phase III clinical stage anti-cancer agent and its inactive geometrical isomer (Z)-ON 01910·Na. It is interesting to note that all the E-isomers synthesized have shown better cytotoxicity profile on cancer cells compared to the Z-isomers.

Thiol-yne coupling: revisiting old concepts as a breakthrough for up-to-date applications

Radical thiol-yne coupling (TYC) has emerged as one of the most appealing click chemistry procedures, appearing as a sound candidate for replacing/complementing other popular click reactions such as the thiol-ene coupling (TEC) and the Cu-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). Radical TYC is indeed a metal-free reaction suitable for biomedical applications, and its mechanistic features often make it more efficient than its TEC sister reaction and more suitable for multifaceted derivatisations in the materials chemistry and bioconjugation realms. This article reviews the fascinating results obtained in those fields in very recent years.

Catalytic adaptive recognition of thiol (SH) and selenol (SeH) groups toward synthesis of functionalized vinyl monomers

An unprecedented sustainable procedure was developed to produce functionalized vinyl monomers H(2)C═C(R)(FG) starting from a mixture of sulfur and selenium compounds as a functional group donor (FG = S or Se). The reaction serves as a model for efficient utilization of natural resources of sulfur feedstock in oil and technological sources of sulfur/selenium. The catalytic system is reported with amazing ability to recognize SH/SeH groups in the mixture and selectively incorporate them into valuable organic products via wastes-free atom-economic reaction with alkynes (HC≡CR). Formation of catalyst active site and the mechanism of the catalytic reaction were revealed by joint experimental and theoretical study. The difference in reactivity of μ(1)- and μ(2)-type chalcogen atoms attached to the metal was established and was shown to play the key role in the action of palladium catalyst. An approach to solve a challenging problem of dynamically changed reaction mixture was demonstrated using adaptive tuning of the catalyst. The origins of the adaptive tuning effect were investigated at molecular level and were found to be governed by the nature of metal-chalcogen bond.