Dinesh R. Shinde

Gold vs Rhodium Catalysis: Tuning Reactivity through Catalyst Control in the C–H Alkynylation of Isoquinolones

A site-selective C-4/C-8 alkynylation of isoquinolones catalyzed by gold and rhodium complexes is reported. A broad range of synthetically useful functional groups (-F, -Cl, -Br, -CF3, -OMe, alkyl, etc.) were tolerated, providing an efficient and robust protocol for the synthesis either C-4- or C-8-alkynylated isoquinolones.

Expedient Cobalt-Catalyzed C–H Alkynylation of (Enantiopure) Benzylamines

A unified strategy for cobalt-catalyzed ortho-C-H bond alkynylation of benzylamines is reported. Simple, commercially available CoBr2 was used as a cobalt source. The developed alkynylation strategy is robust and efficient and has a broad substrate scope including 1°, 2°, and 3° benzylamines. The mechanistic study shows that C-H bond cleavage is reversible, and the kinetic study illustrates that the rate of reaction depends solely on the catalyst.

Au(I)/Ag(I) co-operative catalysis: interception of Ag-bound carbocations with α-gold(I) enals in the imino-alkyne cyclizations with N-allenamides

A co-operative Au(i)/Ag(i) catalyst system has been developed to utilize N-allenamides as nucleophilic enal equivalents for the interceptive capturing of incipient carbocations generated through π-acid-triggered imino-alkyne cyclization. The salient features include the in situ generation of silver-bound carbocations (from iminoalkynes), α-gold(i) enals (from N-allenamides) and union of these two species to form indolizines with the regeneration of Au and Ag catalysts.

Isomerizing Hydroformylation of Cashew Nut Shell Liquid

A small library of bisphosphorus ligands was evaluated in the rhodium‐catalyzed isomerizing hydroformylation (I‐HF) of cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL). The rhodium complex of 1,2‐bis((di‐tert‐butylphosphanyl)methyl)benzene (BDTBPMB; L4) outperformed the other bisphosphite and bisphosphine ligands and unveiled a moderate selectivity of 28 % and 50 % in the I‐HF of CNSL monoene and methoxy‐protected monoene, respectively. The resultant aldehyde 16‐(3‐methoxyphenyl)hexadecanal P1′ was isolated and its identity was fully established. Application of bis‐phosphine ligand L4 in the I‐HF of highly challenging CNSL cardanol (S3) and methoxy‐protected CNSL cardanol yielded a linear selectivity of 74 %, although with reduced conversion. To demonstrate the synthetic utility of our strategy, the obtained aldehyde (derived from S3) was subjected to hydrogenation and the resultant 3‐(16‐hydroxyhexadecyl) phenol (P8) was isolated in 89 % isolated yield. High‐pressure NMR investigation revealed selective formation of a bis‐equatorial BDTBPMB–rhodium complex, which might be responsible for the excellent linear selectivity.

Coumarin-Appended Stable Fluorescent Self-Complementary Quadruple-Hydrogen-Bonded Molecular Duplexes

In this paper we report a coumarin-conjugated self-assembling system adorned with valuable features such as high duplex stability and a built-in fluorophore, which would augment its application potential. This system forms a highly stable molecular duplex in a nonpolar solvent (Kdim > 1.9 × 107 M-1 in CDCl3). Due to the fluorescent property of coumarin, these new structural motifs may find potential application in material chemistry and supramolecular chemistry.

Secondary Interactions Arrest the Hemiaminal Intermediate To Invert the Modus Operandi of Schiff Base Reaction: A Route to Benzoxazinones

Discovered by Hugo Schiff, condensation between amine and aldehyde represents one of the most ubiquitous reactions in chemistry. This classical reaction is widely used to manufacture pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. However, the rapid and reversible formation of Schiff base prohibits formation of alternative products, of which benzoxazinones are an important class. Therefore, manipulating the reactivity of two partners to invert the course of this reaction is an elusive target. Presented here is a synthetic strategy that regulates the sequence of Schiff base reaction via weak secondary interactions. Guided by the computational models, reaction between 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoro-benzaldehyde with 2-amino-6-methylbenzoic acid revealed quantitative (99%) formation of 5-methyl-2-(perfluorophenyl)-1,2-dihydro-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-one (15). Electron donating and electron withdrawing ortho-substituents on 2-aminobenzoic acid resulted in the production of benzoxazinones 9-36. The mode of action was tracked using low temperature NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy, and isotopic (18O) labeling experiments. These spectroscopic mechanistic investigations revealed that the hemiaminal intermediate is arrested by the hydrogen-bonding motif to yield benzoxazinone. Thus, the mechanistic investigations and DFT calculations categorically rule out the possibility of in situ imine formation followed by ring-closing, but support instead hydrogen-bond assisted ring-closing to prodrugs. This unprecedented reaction represents an interesting and competitive alternative to metal catalyzed and classical methods of preparing benzoxazinone.

Iron Catalyzed Hydroformylation of Alkenes under Mild Conditions: Evidence of an Fe(II) Catalyzed Process

Earth abundant, first row transition metals offer a cheap and sustainable alternative to the rare and precious metals. However, utilization of first row metals in catalysis requires harsh reaction conditions, suffers from limited activity, and fails to tolerate functional groups. Reported here is a highly efficient iron catalyzed hydroformylation of alkenes under mild conditions. This protocol operates at 10-30 bar syngas pressure below 100 °C, utilizes readily available ligands, and applies to an array of olefins. Thus, the iron precursor [HFe(CO)4]-[Ph3PNPPh3]+ (1) in the presence of triphenyl phosphine catalyzes the hydroformylation of 1-hexene (S2), 1-octene (S1), 1-decene (S3), 1-dodecene (S4), 1-octadecene (S5), trimethoxy(vinyl)silane (S6), trimethyl(vinyl)silane (S7), cardanol (S8), 2,3-dihydrofuran (S9), allyl malonic acid (S10), styrene (S11), 4-methylstyrene (S12), 4- iBu-styrene (S13), 4- tBu-styrene (S14), 4-methoxy styrene (S15), 4-acetoxy styrene (S16), 4-bromo styrene (S17), 4-chloro styrene (S18), 4-vinylbenzonitrile (S19), 4-vinylbenzoic acid (S20), and allyl benzene (S21) to corresponding aldehydes in good to excellent yields. Both electron donating and electron withdrawing substituents could be tolerated and excellent conversions were obtained for S11-S20. Remarkably, the addition of 1 mol % acetic acid promotes the reaction to completion within 16-24 h. Detailed mechanistic investigations revealed in situ formation of an iron-dihydride complex [H2Fe(CO)2(PPh3)2] (A) as an active catalytic species. This finding was further supported by cyclic voltammetry investigations and intermediacy of an Fe(0)-Fe(II) species was established. Combined experimental and computational investigations support the existence of an iron-dihydride as the catalyst resting state, which then follows a Fe(II) based catalytic cycle to produce aldehyde.

Unravelling the Nucleophilicity of Butenolides for 1,6-Conjugate Addition to p-Quinone Methides: A Direct Access to Diversely Substituted Butenolide-Derived Diarylmethanes

A Lewis acid catalyzed regioselective C-C bond is constructed through β-addition of deconjugated butenolides with p-quinone methides in a 1,6-conjugate addition manner. Interestingly, Lewis acid catalyzed vinylogous Mukaiyama-Michael reaction of silyloxyfurans with p-QMs proceeds selectively through the α or γ position exclusively. The reaction is mild with broad substrate scope, thus allowing easy access to a wide range of bis-arylated α-/β-/γ-substituted butenolides.

H-Bonding Assisted Self-Assembly of Anionic and Neutral Ligand on Metal: A Comprehensive Strategy To Mimic Ditopic Ligands in Olefin Polymerization

Self-assembly of two neutral ligands on a metal to mimic bidentate ligand coordination has been frequently encountered in the recent past, but self-assembly of an anionic ligand on a metal template alongside a neutral ligand remains an elusive target. Such a self-assembly is hampered by additional complexity, wherein a highly negatively charged anion can form intermolecular hydrogen bonding with the supramolecular motif, leaving no scope for self-assembly with neutral ligand. Presented here is the self-association of anionic ligand 3-ureidobenzoic acid (2a) and neutral ligand 1-(3-(diphenylphosphanyl)phenyl)urea (1a) on a metal template to yield metal complex [{COOC6H4NH(CO)NH2}{Ph2PC6H4NH(CO)NH2}PdMeDMSO] (4a). The identity of 4a was established by NMR and mass spectroscopy. Along the same lines, 3-(3-phenylureido)benzoic acid (2b) and 1-(3-(diphenylphosphanyl)phenyl)-3-phenylurea (1b) self-assemble on a metal template to produce palladium complex [{COOC6H4NH(CO)NHPh}{Ph2PC6H4NH(CO)NHPh}PdMePy] (5c). The existence of 5c was confirmed by Job plot, 1-2D NMR spectroscopy, deuterium labeling, IR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, model complex synthesis, and DFT calculations. These solution and gas phase investigations authenticated the presence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding between hydrogens of 1b and carbonyl oxygen of 2b. The generality of the supramolecular approach has been validated by preparing six complexes from four monodentate ligands, and their synthetic utility was demonstrated in ethylene polymerization. Complex 4a was found to be the most active, leading to the production of highly branched polyethylene with a molecular weight of 55700 g/mol and melting temperature of 112 °C.

Residue dependent hydrogen-bonding preferences in orthanilic acid-based short peptide β-turn motifs

This communication describes the competition between native β-turn (C10) and 2-aminobenzenesulfonic acid (SAnt)(orthanilic acid)-based pseudo β-turn (C11) in their hybrid peptides. Solid-state crystal structure and solution-state NMR studies revealed that C10 and C11 can be simultaneously observed under appropriate conditions. The variable temperature NMR coefficient data suggest that the isolated C11/C14 hydrogen bond is weaker in comparison with the consecutive C10 and C11 turns.