Zoltán Novák

Enantioselective Decarboxylative Alkylation Reactions: Catalyst Development, Substrate Scope, and Mechanistic Studies

α-Quaternary ketones are accessed through novel enantioselective alkylations of allyl and propargyl electrophiles by unstabilized prochiral enolate nucleophiles in the presence of palladium complexes with various phosphinooxazoline (PHOX) ligands. Excellent yields and high enantiomeric excesses are obtained from three classes of enolate precursor: enol carbonates, enol silanes, and racemic β-ketoesters. Each of these substrate classes functions with nearly identical efficiency in terms of yield and enantioselectivity. Catalyst discovery and development, the optimization of reaction conditions, the exploration of reaction scope, and applications in target-directed synthesis are reported. Experimental observations suggest that these alkylation reactions occur through an unusual inner-sphere mechanism involving binding of the prochiral enolate nucleophile directly to the palladium center.

Efficient copper-free Sonogashira coupling of aryl chlorides with palladium on charcoal

Palladium on charcoal serves as an efficient and reusable solid supported catalyst for the Sonogashira coupling of aryl chlorides with terminal acetylenes in the presence of a bulky, electron-rich biphenyl type ligand (XPhos), without copper co-catalyst.

The first total synthesis of cicerfuran utilizing a one-pot synthesis of hydroxylated benzofurans

Abstract A simple one-pot procedure was elaborated for the preparation of hydroxylated benzofurans from halogenated phenols and was successfully applied to the first total synthesis of Cicerfuran, a natural defence agent of wild chickpea.

Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Ring Closure and Carboarylation of 2-Ethynylanilides

A new copper-catalyzed oxidative ring closure of ethynyl anilides with diaryliodonium salts was developed for the highly modular construction of benzoxazines bearing a fully substituted exo double bond. The oxidative transformation includes an unusual 6-exo-dig cyclization step with the formation of C-O and C-C bonds.

Efficient Copper-Catalyzed Trifluoromethylation of Aromatic and Heteroaromatic Iodides: The Beneficial Anchoring Effect of Borates

Efficient copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of aromatic iodides was achieved with TMSCF3 in the presence of trimethylborate. The Lewis acid was used to anchor the in situ generated trifluoromethyl anion and suppress its rapid decomposition. Broad applicability of the new trifluoromethylating reaction was demonstrated in the functionalization of different aromatic and heteroaromatic iodides.

Transition-Metal-Free N-Arylation of Pyrazoles with Diaryliodonium Salts.

A new synthetic method was developed for the N-arylation of pyrazoles using diaryliodonium salts. The transformation does not require any transition-metal catalyst and provides the desired N-arylpyrazoles rapidly under mild reaction condition in the presence of aqueous ammonia solution as a mild base without the use of inert atmosphere. The chemoselectivity of unsymmetric diaryliodonium salts was also explored with large number of examples.

Design and application of new imidazolylsulfonate-based benzyne precursor: an efficient triflate alternative.

Several o-(trimethylsilyl)aryl imidazolylsulfonates were synthesized in a simple process and successfully applied in cycloadditions involving benzyne intermediates. The precursor offers an efficient alternative for generating benzynes compared to widely used ortho TMS triflates under similar reaction conditions. With the utilization of this new precursor, the formation of potentially genotoxic trifluoromethanesulfonate side product is eliminated. The applicability of the new benzyne precursor was demonstrated in different types of cycloaddition reactions to prepare heterocyclic molecules.

Utilization of Copper-Catalyzed Carboarylation–Ring Closure for the Synthesis of New Oxazoline Derivatives

A copper-catalyzed carboarylation-ring-closure strategy was used for the modular synthesis of oxazolines via the reaction of 1-aryl- and 1-alkylpropargylamides and diaryliodonium salts. The novel approach enables the efficient, modular synthesis of oxazoline derivatives bearing fully substituted exo double bonds.

Mild and Efficient Palladium-Catalyzed Direct Trifluoroethylation of Aromatic Systems by C−H Activation

The introduction of trifluoroalkyl groups into aromatic molecules is an important transformation in the field of organic and medicinal chemistry. However, the direct installation of fluoroalkyl groups onto aromatic molecules still represents a challenging and highly demanding synthetic task. Herein, a simple trifluoroethylation process that relies on the palladium-catalyzed C-H activation of aromatic compounds is described. With the utilization of a highly active trifluoroethyl(mesityl)iodonium salt, the developed catalytic method enables the first highly efficient and selective trifluoroethylation of aromatic compounds. The robust catalytic procedure provides the desired products in up to 95 % yield at 25 °C in 1.5 to 3 hours and tolerates a broad range of functional groups. The utilization of hypervalent reagents opens new synthetic possibilities for direct alkylations and fluoroalkylations in the field of transition-metal-catalyzed C-H activation.

A one-pot process for palladium catalyzed direct C-H acylation of anilines in water using a removable ortho directing group

A new mild, practical method for the synthesis of aminobenzophenone derivatives through a three step one-pot reaction sequence involving acylation of anilines, palladium catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative coupling of the formed anilides and the hydrolytic cleavage is reported. The full reaction sequence was performed under aqueous conditions.