Ya-Ping Han

Merging photoredox with copper catalysis: decarboxylative difluoroacetylation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids with ICF2CO2Et

A photoredox-/copper-catalyzed decarboxylative difluoroacetylation reaction of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids has been developed. This reaction produces a variety of difluoroalkylated alkenes in moderate to excellent yields and exhibits satisfactory stereoselectivity and a broad substrate scope at ambient temperature. Furthermore, this decarboxylative difluoroacetylation protocol provides efficient and environment friendly access to the difluoroalkylated alkenes.

TMSCl-Mediated Synthesis of α,β-Unsaturated Amides via C–C Bond Cleavage and C–N Bond Formation of Propargyl Alcohols with Trimethylsilyl Azide

A new method with high efficiency for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated amides from the easily prepared propargyl alcohols and TMSN3 using TMSCl as an acid promoter is developed. A wide variety of α,β-unsaturated amides were produced in moderate to excellent yields. Mechanistic studies indicate that this transformation involves TMSCl-mediated allenylazide intermediate formation, C-C bond cleavage, and C-N bond formation. Significantly, this reaction shows good functional group compatibility and high regioselectivity, with a relatively short reaction time and inexpensive reagents.

Lewis Acid Catalyzed [4 + 3] Cycloaddition of Propargylic Alcohols with Azides

An unprecedented Lewis acid catalyzed [4 + 3] cycloaddition reaction is described that provides a straightforward route to polycyclic products containing an imine-based indole azepine scaffold, starting from readily available internal tertiary alkynols and azides. This cycloaddition protocol provides efficient and atom-economical access to a new class of fascinating imine-containing products in satisfactory yields, which has shown good application in the construction of seven-membered N-heterocycles.

BF3·OEt2-AgSCF3 Mediated Trifluoromethylthiolation/Cascade Cyclization of Propynols: Synthesis of 4-((Trifluoromethyl)thio)-2H-chromene and 4-((Trifluoromethyl)thio)-1,2-dihydroquinoline Derivatives.

A BF3·OEt2-AgSCF3 mediated direct trifluoromethylthiolation/cascade cyclization of propynols involving the SCF3 anion nucleophilic pathway is developed. This protocol also provides an opportunity to construct valuable trifluoromethylthio-substituted 2H-chromene and 1,2-dihydroquinoline systems with high efficiency under mild conditions. Additionally, the developed BF3·OEt2-AgSCF3 reaction system could be scaled up to gram quantities in a satisfactory yield without inert gas protection.

Lewis Acid Mediated Tandem Reaction of Propargylic Alcohols to Tetrazoles Involving CO- and CC-Bond Cleavage Reactions and a CN-Bond Formation

A novel and direct synthesis of 1-aryl-5-arylvinyl-tetrazoles from easily prepared propargylic alcohols and TMSN3 is developed in the presence of TMSCl under mild conditions (TMS = trimethylsilyl). The process involves an allenylazide intermediate, followed by a C-C-bond cleavage and C-N-bond formation to afford the desired products. Moreover, this method offers a good functional-group applicability and can be scaled-up to grams (yield up to 85 %).

BF3·Et2O-Promoted Cleavage of the Csp–Csp2 Bond of 2-Propynolphenols/Anilines: Route to C2-Alkenylated Benzoxazoles and Benzimidazoles

A novel BF3·Et2O-promoted tandem reaction of easily prepared 2-propynolphenols/anilines and trimethylsilyl azide is developed to give C2-alkenylated benzoxazoles and benzimidazoles in moderate to good yields. Most reactions could be accomplished in 30 min at room temperature. This tandem process involves a Csp-Csp2 bond cleavage and a C-N bond formation. Moreover, both tertiary and secondary propargylic alcohols with diverse functional groups were tolerated under the mild conditions.

Convenient and Highly Efficient Routes to 2 H‐Chromene and 4‐Chromanone Derivatives: Iodine‐Promoted and p‐Toluenesulfonic Acid Catalyzed Cascade Cyclizations of Propynols

A convenient strategy is presented for the easy preparation of a series of 2 H-chromenes under mild conditions through iodocyclization of readily accessible propynols. In addition, various 4-chromanones can be synthesized through a p-toluenesulfonic acid catalyzed cascade cyclization with high efficiency (yields up to 99 %). Our developed reaction systems are proven to have good functional-group applicability and can be scaled up to gram quantities in satisfactory yields. These systems also provide a new synthetic strategy for two types of important flavonoid skeleton without using costly and toxic metal catalysts. Additionally, the resulting halides could be further exploited in subsequent palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions, so these compounds could act as potential intermediates for the construction of some valuable drug molecules.

Lewis Acid Mediated Tandem Reaction of Propargylic Alcohols with Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride To Give α,β-Unsaturated Amides and Alkenyl Nitriles.

We have developed a highly selective method for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated amides and alkenyl nitriles from readily available propargylic alcohols. The reaction proceeded smoothly under the neutral conditions with hydroxylamine hydrochloride (NH2OH·HCl) as the nitrogen source. The development of these new strategies has significantly extended the application of hydroxylamine hydrochloride to the chemistry of propargylic alcohols. Moreover, both secondary and tertiary alcohols have been highly regioselectively transformed to the desired products with good functional group compatibility.

Lewis Acid Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Coupling of Tertiary Propargylic Alcohols with Quinoline N-Oxides

An unprecedented Lewis acid catalyzed, high-efficiency synthesis of valuable 2-(quinolin-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-ones via dehydrogenative coupling of propargylic alkynols with quinoline N-oxides is described. This protocol, which tolerates a broad range of functional groups, provides a straightforward pathway to the products 2-(quinolin-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one scaffolds in satisfactory yields. The conversion could be scaled up to gram scale efficiently, which underlines a latent application of this methodology.

Lewis Acid Catalyzed Cyclization of Propargylic Alcohols with 2-Vinylphenol

An unprecedented Lewis acid catalyzed, protection-free, and high-efficiency synthesis of valuable 3,4-dihydro-2H-2,4-methanochromans via cycloaddition of propargylic alkynols with 2-vinylphenol is described. This cycloaddition protocol, which tolerates a wide variety of functional groups, provides practical, versatile, and atom-economical access to a new class of appealing bridged-ring products in satisfactory yields. Compared with the reported reaction conditions for bridged-ring skeletons synthesis, the present reaction conditions are neutral, mild, and without any additives.