Marcin Kalek

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.

Computational Study of the Mechanism and Selectivity of Palladium-Catalyzed Propargylic Substitution with Phosphorus Nucleophiles

The mechanism and sources of selectivity in the palladium-catalyzed propargylic substitution reaction that involves phosphorus nucleophiles, and which yields predominantly allenylphosphonates and related compounds, have been studied computationally by means of density functional theory. Full free-energy profiles are computed for both H-phosphonate and H-phosphonothioate substrates. The calculations show that the special behavior of H-phosphonates among other heteroatom nucleophiles is indeed reflected in higher energy barriers for the attack on the central carbon atom of the allenyl/propargyl ligand relative to the ligand-exchange pathway, which leads to the experimentally observed products. It is argued that, to explain the preference of allenyl- versus propargyl-phosphonate/phosphonothioate formation in reactions that involve H-phosphonates and H-phosphonothioates, analysis of the complete free-energy surfaces is necessary, because the product ratio is determined by different transition states in the respective branches of the catalytic cycle. In addition, these transition states change in going from a H-phosphonate to a H-phosphonothioate nucleophile.

The case for the intermediacy of monomeric metaphosphate analogues during oxidation of H-phosphonothioate, H-phosphonodithioate, and H-phosphonoselenoate monoesters: mechanistic and synthetic studies

Studies on the reaction of H-phosphonothioate, H-phosphonodithioate, and H-phosphonoselenoate monoesters with iodine in the presence of a base led to identification of a unique oxidation pathway, which consists of the initial oxidation of the sulfur or selenium atom in these compounds, followed by oxidative elimination of hydrogen iodide to generate the corresponding metaphosphate analogues. The intermediacy of the latter species during oxidation of the investigated H-phosphonate monoester derivatives with iodine was supported by various diagnostic experiments. The scope and limitation of these oxidative transformations for the purpose of the synthesis of nucleoside phosphorothioate, nucleoside phosphorodithioate, and nucleoside phosphoroselenoate diesters was also investigated.

On the Sulfurization of H-Phosphonate Diesters and Phosphite Triesters Using Elemental Sulfur

Sulfurization of tetracoordinate and tricoordinate P(III) derivatives, namely, H-phosphonate diesters, H-phosphonothioate diesters, and phosphite triesters with elemental sulfur under various experimental conditions, was investigated.

Synthesis of nucleoside phosphorothio-, phosphorodithio- and phosphoroselenoate diesters via oxidative esterification of the corresponding H-phosphonate analogues

It was found that nucleoside H-phosphonothioate, H-phosphonodithioate, and H-phosphonoselenoate monoesters in the presence of iodine underwent rapid oxidative esterification with various hydroxylic components to produce in one pot reactions the corresponding nucleoside phosphorothioate, nucleoside phosphorodithioate and nucleoside phosphoroselenoate diesters in good yields. The transformation represents a novel alternative method for the synthesis of internucleotide phosphate bridge, bearing sulfur or selenium atoms. Mechanistic studies have revealed metaphosphate analogues as the probable intermediates, involved in the reactions.

31 P NMR AND COMPUTATIONAL STUDIES ON STEREOCHEMISTRY OF CONVERSION OF PHOSPHORAMIDATE DIESTERS INTO THE CORRESPONDING PHOSPHOTRIESTERS

31P NMR spectroscopy was used to investigate a stereochemical course of a nitrite-promoted conversion of phosphoramidate diesters into the corresponding phosphotriesters. It was found that this reaction occurred with almost complete epimerization at the phosphorus center and at the C1 atom in the amine moiety. On the basis of the 31P NMR data, a plausible mechanism for the reaction was proposed. The density functional theory calculation of the key step of the reaction, i.e., breaking of the P–N bond and formation of the P–O bond, suggested a one-step SN2(P) process with retention of configuration at the phosphorus center.