A two-phase bromination process using tetraalkylammonium hydroxide for the practical synthesis of α-bromolactones from lactones

A simple and efficient method for α-brominating lactones that affords α-bromolactones under mild conditions using tetraalkylammonium hydroxide (R4N+OH−) as a base was developed. Lactones are ring-opened with Br2 and a substoichiometric amount of PBr3, leading to good yields of the corresponding α-bromocarboxylic acids. Subsequent intramolecular cyclization over 1 h using a two-phase system (H2O/CHCl3) containing R4N+OH− afforded α-bromo lactones in good yields. This method can be applied at the 10 mmol scale using simple operations. α-Bromo-δ-valerolactone, which is extremely reactive and difficult to isolate, could be isolated and stored in a freezer for about one week using the developed method. Optimizing the solvent for environmentally friendly large-scale syntheses revealed that methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) was as effective. In addition, in situ-generated α-bromo-δ-valerolactone was directly converted into a sulfur-substituted functional lactone without difficulty by reacting it with a sulfur nucleophile in one pot without isolation. This new bromination system is expected to facilitate the industrial use of α-bromolactones as important intermediates.

A General Approach to Deboronative Radical Chain Reaction with Pinacol Alkylboronic Esters

The generation of carbon-centered radicals from air-sensitive organoboron compounds via nucleohomolytic substitution at boron is one of the most general methods to generate non-functionalized and functionalized radicals. Due to their reduced Lewis acidity, the very popular, air-stable, and readily available alkylboronic pinacol esters are not suitable substrates for this process. Herein, is reported their <i>in situ</i> conversion to alkylboronic catechol esters by boron-transesterification with a substoichiometric amount of catechol methyl borate (MeO–Bcat) telescoped onto a wide array of radical chain processes. This simple one-pot, radical-chain, deboronative protocol allows for the conversion of pinacol boronic esters into iodides, bromides, chlorides, and thioethers. The process is also suitable the formation of nitriles and allylated compounds via C–C bond formation using sulfonyl radical traps. Finally, a particularly mild protocol for the protodeboronation of pinacol boronic esters is given. The power of combining radical and classical boron chemistry, is illustrated with a highly modular 5-membered ring formation using a combination of a three-component coupling reaction and a protodeboronative cyclization.

A General Approach to Deboronative Radical Chain Reaction with Pinacol Alkylboronic Esters

The generation of carbon-centered radicals from air-sensitive organoboron compounds via nucleohomolytic substitution at boron is one of the most general methods to generate non-functionalized and functionalized radicals. Due to their reduced Lewis acidity, the very popular, air-stable, and readily available alkylboronic pinacol esters are not suitable substrates for this process. Herein, is reported their <i>in situ</i> conversion to alkylboronic catechol esters by boron-transesterification with a substoichiometric amount of catechol methyl borate (MeO–Bcat) telescoped onto a wide array of radical chain processes. This simple one-pot, radical-chain, deboronative protocol allows for the conversion of pinacol boronic esters into iodides, bromides, chlorides, and thioethers. The process is also suitable the formation of nitriles and allylated compounds via C–C bond formation using sulfonyl radical traps. Finally, a particularly mild protocol for the protodeboronation of pinacol boronic esters is given. The power of combining radical and classical boron chemistry, is illustrated with a highly modular 5-membered ring formation using a combination of a three-component coupling reaction and a protodeboronative cyclization.

New Zinc Catalyst for Hydrosilylation of Carbonyl Compounds

A new zinc complex was synthesized and applied in the catalytic hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds. Optimization of the reaction conditions showed that the presence a substoichiometric amount of methanol accelerates the process significantly. The reaction can proceed at very low catalyst load (down to 0.1 mol%) under mild reaction conditions. The reaction tolerates the presence of C=C bonds, and thus can be useful for the synthesis of allylic alcohols from α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones.

Development of Conjugate Addition of Lithium Dialkylcuprates to Thiochromones: Synthesis of 2-Alkylthiochroman-4-ones and Additional Synthetic Applications

Lithium dialkylcuprates undergo conjugate addition to thiochromones to afford 2-alkylthiochroman-4-ones in good yields. This approach provide an efficient and general synthetic approach to privileged sulfur-containing structural motifs and valuable precursors for many pharmaceuticals, starting from common substrates-thiochromones. Good yields of 2-alkyl-substituted thiochroman-4-ones are attained with lithium dialkylcuprates, lithium alkylcyanocuprates or substoichiometric amount of copper salts. The use of commercially available inexpensive alkyllithium reagents will expedite the synthesis of a large library of 2-alkyl substituted thiochroman-4-ones for additional synthetic applications.

α-Arylation of alkylamines with sulfonylarenes through a radical chain mechanism

A radical chain, conducted by a sulfonyl radical in a homolytic aromatic substitution mechanism, makes it possible to promote α-arylation of alkylamines with sulfonylarenes just by using a substoichiometric amount of a tert-butoxy radical precursor.

Protein modification via alkyne hydrosilylation using a substoichiometric amount of ruthenium(ii) catalyst

The development of site-specific modification of alkyne-functionalized proteins using dimethylarylsilanes and substoichiometric or low-loading of Ru(ii) catalysts is reported. Furthermore, the resultant gem-vinylsilane can undergo further targeted chemical modifications, highlighting its potential for single-site, dual-modification applications.