Highly chemoselective calcium-catalyzed propargylic deoxygenation

A calcium-catalyzed direct reduction of propargylic alcohols and ethers has been accomplished by using triethylsilane as a nucleophilic hydride source. At room temperature a variety of secondary propargylic alcohols was deoxygenated to the corresponding hydrocarbons in excellent yields. Furthermore, for the first time, a catalytic deoxygenation of tertiary propargylic alcohols was generally applicable. The same protocol was suitable for an efficient reduction of secondary as well as tertiary propargylic methyl, benzyl and allyl ethers. Substrates containing an additional keto-, ester or secondary hydroxyl function were reduced with exceptional chemoselectivity at the propargylic position.     

Palladium-catalyzed direct coupling reaction of propargylic alcohols with arylboronic acids

The direct coupling of propargylic alcohols with arylboronic acids has been achieved using palladium catalyst. Various propargylic alcohols and arylboronic acids can be coupled to afford the corresponding allenic and propargylic arenes, which are selectively produced depending on the substituent on the propargylic alcohol, respectively.     

Highly Chemoselective Calcium‐Catalyzed Propargylic Deoxygenation

A calcium‐catalyzed direct reduction of propargylic alcohols and ethers has been accomplished by using triethylsilane as a nucleophilic hydride source. At room temperature a variety of secondary propargylic alcohols was deoxygenated to the corresponding hydrocarbons in excellent yields. Furthermore, for the first time, a catalytic deoxygenation of tertiary propargylic alcohols was generally applicable. The same protocol was suitable for an efficient reduction of secondary as well as tertiary propargylic methyl, benzyl and allyl ethers. Substrates containing an additional keto‐, ester or secondary hydroxyl function were reduced with exceptional chemoselectivity at the propargylic position.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed propargylic substitution reaction of propargylic alcohols with thiols: a general synthetic route to propargylic sulfides

A novel cationic methanethiolate-bridged diruthenium complex [Cp*RuCl(mu2-SMe)2RuCp*(OH2)]OTf (1e) has been disclosed to promote the catalytic propargylic substitution reaction of propargylic alcohols bearing not only terminal alkyne group but also internal alkyne group with thiols. It is noteworthy that neutral thiolate-bridged diruthenium complexes (1a-1c), which were known to promote the propargylic substitution reactions of propargylic alcohols bearing a terminal alkyne group with various heteroatom- and carbon-centered nucleophiles, did not work at all. The catalytic reaction described here provides a general and environmentally friendly preparative method for propargylic sulfides, which are quite useful intermediates in organic synthesis, directly from the corresponding propargylic alcohols and thiols.     

Task-specific ionic liquid and CO2-cocatalysed efficient hydration of propargylic alcohols to α-hydroxy ketones

The hydration of propargylic alcohols is a green route to synthesize α-hydroxy ketones. Herein a CO₂-reactive ionic liquid (IL), [Bu₄P][Im], was found to display high performance for catalyzing the hydration of propargylic alcohols in the presence of atmospheric CO₂, and a series of propargylic alcohols could be converted into the corresponding α-hydroxy ketones in good to excellent yields. In the IL/CO₂ reaction system, CO₂ served as a cocatalyst by forming α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates with propargylic alcohols, and was released via the rapid hydrolysis of the carbonates catalysed by the IL. This is the first example of the efficient hydration of propargylic alcohols under metal-free conditions.     

Efficient catalyst-free chemical fixation of carbon dioxide into 2-oxazolidinones under supercritical condition

4-Methylene-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones can be synthesized from propargylic alcohols,primary amines and carbon dioxide under supercritical condition in the absence of any additional catalyst and solvent.Various propargylic alcohols and primary amines were examined.     

One-step synthesis of substituted dihydro- and tetrahydroisoquinolines by FeCl3.6H2O catalyzed intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction of benzylamino-substituted propargylic alcohols

A mild, versatile, and efficient method for the one-step synthesis of substituted dihydro- and tetrahydroisoquinolines has been developed by the FeCl3.6H2O catalyzed intramolecular allenylation/cyclization reaction of benzylamino-substituted propargylic alcohols, representing the first example of the intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction of propargylic alcohols.     

Chemoselective addition of in situ prepared lithium alkynyl borates to aldehydes: a practical and transition metal free approach toward the synthesis of propargylic alcohols

A convenient synthesis of functionalized propargylic alcohols arising from the 1,2-addition of lithium alkynyl-trimethyl borate onto aldehydes under transition metal free mild conditions is reported. The reaction tolerates a wide range of functional groups, is highly chemoselective and the propargylic alcohols are isolated in good to excellent yields.     

Copper-catalyzed domino cyclization of propargylic alcohol with tosyl isocyanate to oxazolidinones

A copper-catalyzed domino cyclization of propargylic alcohols with tosyl isocyanate for the synthesis of oxazolidinones has been developed. Various propargylic alcohols with an aryl or alkyl substituents worked smoothly to afford the corresponding oxazolidinones in moderate to excellent yields.     

Studies on the Cu(I)-catalyzed regioselective anti-carbometallation of secondary terminal propargylic alcohols

A highly regioselective Cu(I)-catalyzed anti-carbometallation of secondary terminal propargylic alcohols with 1 degrees alkyl or aryl Grignard reagents affording 2-substituted allylic alcohols was developed. By using this method, optically active allylic alcohols can be prepared from the optically active propargylic alcohols without obvious loss of the enantiopurity. The cyclic organometallic intermediate formed may undergo an iodination or a Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling reaction to afford stereo-defined allylic alcohols.     

Rh‐Catalyzed Reaction of Propargylic Alcohols with Aryl Boronic Acids–Switch from β‐OH Elimination to Protodemetalation

It is known that Rh‐catalyzed reaction of propargylic alcohols with aryl metallic reagents undergoes S_N2’‐type reaction affording allenes via a sequential arylmetalation and β‐OH elimination process. Here we report a Rh/Ag‐cocatalyzed reaction of propargylic alcohols with organoboronic acids affording stereo‐defined (E)‐3‐arylallylic alcohols via arylmetalation and protodemetalation with a high regio‐ and stereoselectivity under very mild conditions. The reaction exhibits a good substrate scope and the compatibility with synthetically useful functional groups with no racemization for optically active propargylic alcohols. Such a reaction may also be extended to homopropargylic alcohols with a remarkable regioselectivity and exclusive E‐stereoselectivity.     

CuCl‐Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of Allylic and Propargylic Alcohols to Aldehydes or Ketones with 1:1 Combination of Phenanthroline and Bipyridine as the Ligands

We developed a modified protocol for the oxidation of 2,3‐allenyl alcohols using CuCl with 1:1 combination of phenanthroline and bipyridine as the catalyst. To further investigate the applicability of this system, other types of alcohols such as allylic and propargylic alcohols have been tested: we found that both allylic and propargylic alcohols may be oxidized to the corresponding aldehydes or ketones using molecular oxygen in air as the oxidant with moderate to excellent yields.     

Ruthenium- and platinum-catalyzed sequential reactions: selective synthesis of fused polycyclic compounds from propargylic alcohols and alkenes

A simple method for the preparation of fused polycyclic compounds by an intramolecular cyclization of propargylic alcohols bearing an alkene moiety at a suitable position has been developed, where the presence of both Ru and Pt catalysts promotes a sequence of catalytic cycles in the same medium. This sequential system can be applied to an intermolecular reaction between a propargylic alcohol and an alkene to obtain the corresponding bicyclo[3,1,0]hex-2-ene derivative. These sequential reactions provide a conceptually new type of cycloaddition system between propargylic alcohols and alkenes.     

Facile coupling of propargylic, allylic and benzylic alcohols with allylsilane and alkynylsilane, and their deoxygenation with Et(3)SiH, catalyzed by Bi(OTf)(3) in [BMIM][BF(4)] ionic liquid (IL), with recycling and reuse of the IL

Allyltrimethylsilane (allyl-TMS) reacts with propargylic alcohols in the presence of 10% Bi(OTf)(3) in [BMIM][BF(4)] solvent to furnish the corresponding 1,5-enynes in respectable isolated yields (87-93%) at room temperature. The utility of Bi(OTf)(3) as a superior catalyst was demonstrated in a survey study on coupling of allyl-TMS with employing several metallic triflates (Bi, Ln, Al, Yb) as well as, B(C(6)F(5))(3), Zn(NTf(2))(2) and Bi(NO(3))(3)·5H(2)O. Coupling of cyclopropyl substituted propargylic alcohol with allyl-TMS gave the skeletally intact 1,5-enyne and a ring opened derivative as a mixture. Coupling of propargylic/allylic alcohol with allyl-TMS resulted in allylation at both benzylic (2 isomers) and propargylic positions, as major and minor products respectively. The scope of this methodology for allylation of a series of allylic and benzylic alcohols was explored. Chemoselective reduction of a host of propargylic, propagylic/allylic, bis-allylic, allylic, and benzylic alcohols with Et(3)SiH was achieved in high yields with short reaction times. The same approach was successfully applied to couple representative propargylic and allylic alcohols with 1-phenyl-2-trimethylsilylacetylene. The recovery and reuse of the ionic liquid (IL) was gauged in a case study with minimal decrease in isolated yields after six cycles.     

Enantioselective alkynylation of carbonyl compounds with trimethoxysilylalkynes catalyzed by lithium binaphtholate

Enantioselective alkynylation of aldehydes and ketones was accomplished using trimethoxysilylalkynes as alkynylating reagents and lithium 3,3′-diphenylbinaphtholate as a catalyst. Optically active propargylic alcohols were obtained in good to high chemical yields and enantioselectivities. Alkynylation of acetylpyridines afforded biologically active pyridyl propargylic alcohols in good enantioselectivities.     

Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of Z-vinylic tellurides from propargylic alcohols: a route to chiral Z-enynes

tert-Butyldimethylsilyl ethers of propargylic alcohols are hydrotellurated regioselectively to give 1,2-Z-vinylic tellurides. Enantiomerically pure propargylic alcohols give enantiomerically pure vinylic tellurides, which are coupled with alkynes under Pd catalysis to give enantiomerically pure allylic enynols.     

Sodium bicarbonate-catalyzed stereoselective isomerizations of electron-deficient propargylic alcohols to (Z)-enones

Redox isomerization is a synthetically important process because it creates two new functional groups in the product, among which is the isomerization of propargylic alcohols to conjugated enones. Although E-enones have been prepared by this approach, Z-enones could not be accessed. We previously reported DABCO-catalyzed E-selective isomerization of electron-deficient propargylic alcohols to enones and its mechanism. Based on this mechanism, we have now developed the first Z-selective redox isomerization of electron-deficient propargylic alcohol to enone using sodium bicarbonate as a catalyst.     

Atom‐Efficient Gold(I)‐Chloride‐Catalyzed Synthesis of α‐Sulfenylated Carbonyl Compounds from Propargylic Alcohols and Aryl Thiols: Substrate Scope and Experimental and Theoretical Mechanistic Investigation

Gold(I)‐chloride‐catalyzed synthesis of α‐sulfenylated carbonyl compounds from propargylic alcohols and aryl thiols showed a wide substrate scope with respect to both propargylic alcohols and aryl thiols. Primary and secondary aromatic propargylic alcohols generated α‐sulfenylated aldehydes and ketones in 60–97 % yield. Secondary aliphatic propargylic alcohols generated α‐sulfenylated ketones in yields of 47–71 %. Different gold sources and ligand effects were studied, and it was shown that gold(I) chloride gave the highest product yields. Experimental and theoretical studies demonstrated that the reaction proceeds in two separate steps. A sulfenylated allylic alcohol, generated by initial regioselective attack of the aryl thiol on the triple bond of the propargylic alcohol, was isolated, evaluated, and found to be an intermediate in the reaction. Deuterium labeling experiments showed that the protons from the propargylic alcohol and aryl thiol were transferred to the 3‐position, and that the hydride from the alcohol was transferred to the 2‐position of the product. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the observed regioselectivity of the aryl thiol attack towards the 2‐position of propargylic alcohol was determined by a low‐energy, five‐membered cyclic protodeauration transition state instead of the strained, four‐membered cyclic transition state found for attack at the 3‐position. Experimental data and DFT calculations supported that the second step of the reaction is initiated by protonation of the double bond of the sulfenylated allylic alcohol with a proton donor coordinated to gold(I) chloride. This in turn allows for a 1,2‐hydride shift, generating the final product of the reaction.     

The propargylic route as efficient entry to monofluoro and gem-difluoro compounds: mechanistic considerations

The dehydroxy-fluorination of propargylic alcohols occurs with a complete regiocontrol and a good to complete stereocontrol, in contrast to the reactions performed on allylic alcohols. The gem-difluorination of propargylic ketones occurs smoothly in contrast to enones which have a very low reactivity towards DAST or Deoxo-fluor™. It is proposed that the large differences in the stabilization energies of the key carbonium ion intermediates (either propargylic or allylic) could explain these strong differences in reactivity during nucleophilic fluorination. The calculations of isodesmic reactions are in full agreement with this proposal.     

Titanium-catalyzed enantioselective alkynylation of aldehydes

A simple and practical method to make chiral propargylic alcohols has been developed: in the presence of a titanium alkoxide catalyst prepared in situ from titanium tetraisopropoxide and (R)-H8-binaphthol, a variety of aromatic aldehydes were converted to the corresponding chiral propargylic alcohols with very good enantioselectivities (up to 96.2% e.e.) and yields.