Gabriel Radivoy

Multicomponent click synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles from epoxides in water catalyzed by Copper nanoparticles on activated carbon

Copper nanoparticles on activated carbon have been found to effectively catalyze the multicomponent synthesis of β-hydroxy-1,2,3-triazoles from a variety of epoxides and alkynes in water. The catalyst is easy to prepare, reusable at a low copper loading (0.5 mol %), and exhibits higher catalytic activity than some commercially available copper sources. The regio- and stereochemistry of the reaction has been revised and unequivocally established on the basis of X-ray crystallographic analyses. An NMR experiment has been implemented for the rapid and unmistakable determination of the regiochemistry of the process. Some mechanistic aspects of the reaction have been also undertaken which unveil the participation of copper(I) acetylides.

Copper Nanoparticles in Click Chemistry

The challenges of the 21st century demand scientific and technological achievements that must be developed under sustainable and environmentally benign practices. In this vein, click chemistry and green chemistry walk hand in hand on a pathway of rigorous principles that help to safeguard the health of our planet against negligent and uncontrolled production. Copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), the paradigm of a click reaction, is one of the most reliable and widespread synthetic transformations in organic chemistry, with multidisciplinary applications. Nanocatalysis is a green chemistry tool that can increase the inherent effectiveness of CuAAC because of the enhanced catalytic activity of nanostructured metals and their plausible reutilization capability as heterogeneous catalysts. This Account describes our contribution to click chemistry using unsupported and supported copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) as catalysts prepared by chemical reduction. Cu(0)NPs (3.0 ± 1.5 nm) in tetrahydrofuran were found to catalyze the reaction of terminal alkynes and organic azides in the presence of triethylamine at rates comparable to those achieved under microwave heating (10-30 min in most cases). Unfortunately, the CuNPs underwent dissolution under the reaction conditions and consequently could not be recovered. Compelling experimental evidence on the in situ generation of highly reactive copper(I) chloride and the participation of copper(I) acetylides was provided. The supported CuNPs were found to be more robust and efficient catalyst than the unsupported counterpart in the following terms: (a) the multicomponent variant of CuAAC could be applied; (b) the metal loading could be substantially decreased; (c) reactions could be conducted in neat water; and (d) the catalyst could be recovered easily and reutilized. In particular, the catalyst composed of oxidized CuNPs (Cu2O/CuO, 6.0 ± 2.0 nm) supported on carbon (CuNPs/C) was shown to be highly versatile and very effective in the multicomponent and regioselective synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles in water from organic halides as azido precursors; magnetically recoverable CuNPs (3.0 ± 0.8 nm) supported on MagSilica could be alternatively used for the same purpose under similar conditions. Incorporation of an aromatic substituent at the 1-position of the triazole could be accomplished using the same CuNPs/C catalytic system starting from aryldiazonium salts or anilines as azido precursors. CuNPs/C in water also catalyzed the regioselective double-click synthesis of β-hydroxy-1,2,3-triazoles from epoxides. Furthermore, alkenes could be also used as azido precursors through a one-pot CuNPs/C-catalyzed azidosulfenylation-CuAAC sequential protocol, providing β-methylsulfanyl-1,2,3-triazoles in a stereo- and regioselective manner. In all types of reaction studied, CuNPs/C exhibited better behavior than some commercial copper catalysts with regard to the metal loading, reaction time, yield, and recyclability. Therefore, the results of this study also highlight the utility of nanosized copper in click chemistry compared with bulk copper sources.

Alkenes as Azido Precursors for the One-Pot Synthesis of 1,2,3-Triazoles Catalyzed by Copper Nanoparticles on Activated Carbon

A one-pot protocol for the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles has been developed starting from inactivated alkenes and based on two click reactions: the azidosulfenylation of the carbon-carbon double bond and the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). High yields of the β-methylsulfanyl triazoles have been attained using CuNPs/C as catalyst, with other commercial copper catalysts being completely inactive. The versatility of the methylsulfanyl group has been demonstrated through a series of synthetic transformations, including direct access to 1-vinyl and 4-monosubstituted triazoles.

Multicomponent click synthesis of potentially biologically active triazoles catalysed by copper nanoparticles on activated carbon in water

This work was generously supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN; CTQ2007-65218 and Consolider Ingenio 2010-CSD2007-00006), the Generalitat Valenciana (GV; PROMETEO/2009/039), and FEDER. Y. M. thanks the ISO of the University of Alicante for a postdoctoral grant.

One-step synthesis of xanthones catalyzed by a highly efficient copper-based magnetically recoverable nanocatalyst.

A versatile and highly efficient strategy to construct a xanthone skeleton via a ligand-free intermolecular catalytic coupling of 2-substituted benzaldehydes and a wide range of phenols has been developed. For this purpose, a novel and magnetically recoverable catalyst consisting of copper nanoparticles on nanosized silica coated maghemite is presented. The reaction proceeds smoothly with easy recovery and reuse of the catalyst. The methodology is compatible with various functional groups and provides an attractive protocol for the generation of a small library of xanthones in very good yield.

Direct synthesis of β-ketophosphonates and vinyl phosphonates from alkenes or alkynes catalyzed by CuNPs/ZnO

Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) supported on ZnO have been shown to effectively catalyze the direct synthesis of β-ketophosphonates from alkenes or alkynes, and that of vinyl phosphonates from alkynes and diethylphosphite, under air and in the absence of any additive or ligand. When using alkynes as starting materials, the selectivity proved to be dependent on the nature of the alkyne. Thus, alkynes conjugated with an aromatic ring or a carbon–carbon double bond gave β-ketophosphonates as the main reaction products, whereas aliphatic alkynes or alkynes conjugated with a carbonyl group led to the formation of the corresponding vinyl phosphonates.

Novel alkynylphosphonate analogue of calcitriol with potent antiproliferative effects in cancer cells and lack of calcemic activity

Here, we describe the design and synthesis of diethyl [(5Z,7E)-(1S,3R)-1,3-dihydroxy-9,10-secochola-5,7,10(19)-trien-23-in-24-yl] phosphonate (compound 10), which combines the low calcemic properties of phosphonates with the decreased metabolic inactivation due to the presence of a triple bond in C-24 and studied its in vitro effects on several cancer cell lines and its in vivo effects on blood calcium levels. We demonstrate that this compound is a potent antiproliferative vitamin D analogue, showing lack of calcemic effects in vivo.

Base-Free Direct Synthesis of Alkynylphosphonates from Alkynes and H-Phosphonates Catalyzed by Cu2O

A simple and mild methodology for the direct synthesis of alkynylphosphonates is presented. The reaction of a variety of terminal alkynes with dialkyl phosphites in the presence Cu2O (14 mol %) led to the formation of the corresponding alkynylphosphonates in good to excellent yields. Reactions are performed under air, in acetonitrile as solvent, and in the absence of base or ligand additives. This new methodology is compatible with the presence of a wide variety of functional groups on the starting alkynes and can be scaled up to a gram scale.

Phosphonate Analogues of 1α, 25 Dihydroxyvitamin D 3 are Promising Candidates for Antitumoural Therapies

The active metabolite of vitamin D, 1α, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol) is classically known to regulate calcium and phosphate homeostasis and bone mineralization. In addition, calcitriol has also been documented to act as a potent anticancer agent in multiple cell culture and animal models of cancer. However, major side effects, such as hypercalcemia, hinder broad-spectrum therapeutic uses of calcitriol in cancer chemotherapy. Synthesis of calcitriol analogues with the same or increased antiproliferative and pro-differentiating activities, and with reduced undesired effects on calcium and bone metabolism, is getting significant attention towards rational therapeutics to treat cancer. In this regard, phosphonate analogues have been shown to display a certain degree of dissociation between the vitamin D activity in vitro and undesired hypercalcemia in vivo. However, few phosphonates have been described in the literature and fewer of them tested for antitumoral effects. Our group has synthesized a novel vitamin D analogue (EM1) bearing an alkynylphosphonate moiety that combines the low calcemic properties of phosphonates with the decreased metabolic inactivation due to the presence of a triple bond between C-23 and C-24. Biological assays demonstrated that this analogue has potent antiproliferative effects in a wide panel of tumour cell lines, even in those resistant to calcitriol treatment. Importantly, EM1 does not show toxic effects in animals, even administered at high doses and for extended periods of time. In the current review we discuss the effects and the potential application in cancer of vitamin D and its derivatives, with an emphasis on phosphonate analogues.

Mild bottom-up synthesis of indium(0) nanoparticles: characterization and application in the allylation of carbonyl compounds

Very reactive, monodisperse (4.0 ± 0.5 nm) spherical indium(0) nanoparticles have been generated in situ, in a simple, mild and efficient way, by fast reduction of commercially available indium(III) chloride with lithium sand and a catalytic amount of 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (DTBB) in THF, at room temperature, and in the absence of any anti-agglomeration additives or ligands. The as-synthesized bare InNPs were applied for the allylation of a variety of aldehydes and ketones. For most of the compounds tested, the corresponding homoallylic alcohols were obtained as the major product in good to excellent yield.