Enantioselective γ-lactam synthesis via palladium-catalyzed intramolecular asymmetric allylic alkylation

A Pd(0)-catalyzed intramolecular allylic alkylation in the presence of (R)-3,5-t-Bu-MeOBIPHEP takes place in up to 92:8 er in agreement with DFT calculations and provides easy access to enantioenriched disubstituted γ-lactams

Cu(0), O2 and mechanical forces: a saving combination for efficient production of Cu-NHC complexes

International audienc

A more sustainable and efficient access to IMes·HCl and IPr·HCl by ball-milling

International audienc

High Catalytic Activity of Heterometallic (Fe6Na7 and Fe6Na6) Cage Silsesquioxanes in Oxidations with Peroxides

International audienceTwo types of heterometallic (Fe(III),Na) silsesquioxanes—[Ph5Si5O10]2[Ph10Si10O21]Fe6(O2‒)2Na7(H3O+)(MeOH)2(MeCN)4.5.1.25(MeCN), I, and [Ph5Si5O10]2[Ph4Si4O8]2Fe6Na6(O2‒)3(MeCN)8.5(H2O)8.44, II—were obtained and characterized. X-ray studies established distinctive structures of both products, with pair of Fe(III)-O-based triangles surrounded by siloxanolate ligands, giving fascinating cage architectures. Complex II proved to be catalytically active in the formation of amides from alcohols and amines, and thus becoming a rare example of metallasilsesquioxanes performing homogeneous catalysis. Benzene, cyclohexane, and other alkanes, as well as alcohols, can be oxidized in acetonitrile solution to phenol—the corresponding alkyl hydroperoxides and ketones, respectively—by hydrogen peroxide in air in the presence of catalytic amounts of complex II and trifluoroacetic acid. Thus, the cyclohexane oxidation at 20 °C gave oxygenates in very high yield of alkanes (48% based on alkane). The kinetic behaviour of the system indicates that the mechanism includes the formation of hydroxyl radicals generated from hydrogen peroxide in its interaction with di-iron species. The latter are formed via monomerization of starting hexairon complex with further dimerization of the monomer

The influence of structure on reactivity in alkene metathesis

Abstract Alkene metathesis has grown from a niche technique to a common component of the synthetic organic chemistry toolbox, driven in part by the development of more active catalyst systems, or those optimized for particular purposes. While the range of synthetic chemistry achieved has been exciting, the effects of structure on reactivity have not always been particularly clear, and rarely quantified. Understanding these relationships is important when designing new catalysts, reactions, and syntheses. Here, we examine what is known about the effect of structure on reactivity from two perspectives: the catalyst, and the substrate. The initiation of the precatalyst determines the rate at which active catalyst enters the catalytic cycle; the rate and selectivity of the alkene metathesis reaction is dependent on how the substrate and active catalyst interact. The tools deployed in modern studies of mechanism and structure/activity relationships in alkene metathesis are discussed

Direct synthesis of amides from nonactivated carboxylic acids using urea as nitrogen source and Mg(NO₃)₂ or imidazole as catalysts

A new method for the direct synthesis of primary and secondary amides from carboxylic acids is described using Mg(NO3)2·6H2O or imidazole as a low-cost and readily available catalyst, and urea as a stable, and easy to manipulate nitrogen source. This methodology is particularly useful for the direct synthesis of primary and methyl amides avoiding the use of ammonia and methylamine gas which can be tedious to manipulate. Furthermore, the transformation does not require the employment of coupling or activating agents which are commonly required