Recent advances of the tandem difunctionalization of alkynes via five kinds of mechanisms

Recent advances of the tandem difunctionalization of alkynes in decade (2010-2020) were summarized via five categories by triggered mechanisms: (1) radical addition and coupling for the synthesis of polysubstituted ketones and alkenes; (2) electrophilic addition of alkynes; (3) haloalkyne or copper acetylide-mediated reactions; (4) preparation of cyclic compounds via radical process, palladium-catalyzed reactions or conjugate addition; (5) cyclic compounds as intermediates in ring openings. Herein, radical, electrophilic and nucleophilic reactions were well discussed. We hope this review will promote future research in this area.

2-Aminobenzothiazole-Containing Copper(II) Complex as Catalyst in Click Chemistry: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

The reaction of copper(II) acetate with the 2-aminobenzothiazole (abt) heterocycle affords the new copper(II) complex of formula [Cu(abt)2(OOCCH3)2] (1) in a straightforward manner. Compound 1 served as a precatalyst for azide/alkyne cycloaddition reactions (CuAAC) in water, leading to 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazole derivatives in a regioselective manner and with excellent yields at room temperature. The main advantages of the coordination of such a heterocyclic ligand in 1 are its strong σ-donating ability (N-Cu), nontoxicity and biological properties. In addition, the click chemistry reaction conditions using 1 allow the formation of a great variety of 1,2,3-triazole-based heterocyclic compounds that make this protocol potentially relevant from biological and sustainable viewpoints. A molecular electron density theory (MEDT) study was performed by using density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) (LANL2DZ for Cu) level to understand the observed regioselectivity in the CuAAC reaction. The intramolecular nature of this reaction accounts for the regioselective formation of the 1,4-regioisomeric triazole derivatives. The ionic nature of the starting copper-acetylide precludes any type of covalent interaction throughout the reaction, as supported by the electron localization function (ELF) topological analysis, reaffirming the zwitterionic-type (zw-type) mechanism of the copper(I)/aminobenzothiazole-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions.

Aerobic synthesis of N-sulfonylamidines mediated by N-heterocyclic carbene copper(I) catalysts

A new catalytic strategy for the one-pot synthesis of N-sulfonylamidines is described. The cationic copper(I) complexes were found to be highly active and efficient under mild conditions in air and in the absence of solvent. A copper acetylide is proposed as key intermediate in this transformation.

A merged copper(I/II) cluster isolated from Glaser coupling

Ubiquitous copper-oxygen species are pivotal in enabling multifarious oxidation reactions in biological and chemical transformations. We herein construct a macrocycle-protected mixed-valence cluster [(tBuC≡CCuI3)-(μ2-OH)-CuII] by merging a copper acetylide cluster with a copper-oxygen moiety formed in Glaser coupling. This merged Cu(I/II) cluster shows remarkably strong oxidation capacity, whose reduction potential is among the most positive for Cu(II) and even comparable with some Cu(III) species. Consequently, the cluster exhibits high hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactivity with inert hydrocarbons. In contrast, the degraded [CuII-(μ2-OH)-CuII] embedded in a small macrocyclic homologue shows no HAT reactivity. Theoretical calculations indicate that the strong oxidation ability of Cu(II) in [(tBuC≡CCuI3)-(μ2-OH)-CuII] is mainly ascribed to the uneven charge distribution of Cu(I) ions in the tBuC≡CCuI3 unit because of significant [dCu(I) → π*(C≡C)] back donation. The present study on in situ formed metal clusters opens a broad prospect for mechanistic studies of Cu-based catalytic reactions.

Synthesis of cyclic phenyl hexayne from Me3Si-/Ph2P(O)-protected ethynes

A practical approach for the synthesis of cyclic phenyl hexayne is demonstrated through a one-pot deprotection/transformation of magnesium acetylide into a copper acetylide/Sonogashira coupling procedure, followed by dephosphination, Hay coupling, desilylation, and Eglinton coupling. This approach avoids tedious synthetic routes and harsh reaction conditions and affords the product in 41% yield.

Efficient Copper Catalyzed Multi-component Synthesis of N-acyl amidines via Acyl Nitrenes

Direct synthetic routes to amidines are desired, as they are widely present in many biologically active compounds and organometallic complexes. N-Acyl amidines in particular can be used as a starting material for the synthesis of heterocycles and have several other applications. Here, we describe a fast and practical copper catalyzed 3-component reaction of aryl acetylenes, amines and easily accessible 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones to N-acyl amidines, generating CO₂ as the only by-product. Transformation of the dioxazolones on the Cu-catalyst generates acyl nitrenes that rapidly insert into the copper acetylide Cu-C bond rather than undergoing an undesired Curtius rearrangement. For non-aromatic dioxazolones, [Cu(OAc)(Xantphos)] is a superior catalyst for this transformation, leading to full substrate conversion within 10 minutes. For the direct synthesis of N-benzoyl amidine derivatives from aromatic dioxazolones, [Cu(OAc)(Xantphos)] proved to be inactive, but moderate to good yields were obtained when using simple CuI as the catalyst. Mechanistic studies revealed the aerobic instability of one of the intermediates at low catalyst loadings, but the reaction could still be performed in air for most substrates when using catalyst loadings of 5 mol%. The herein reported procedure does not only provide a new, practical and direct route to N-acyl amidines, but also represents a new type of<br>C-N bond formation.

Efficient Copper Catalyzed Multi-component Synthesis of N-acyl amidines via Acyl Nitrenes

Direct synthetic routes to amidines are desired, as they are widely present in many biologically active compounds and organometallic complexes. N-Acyl amidines in particular can be used as a starting material for the synthesis of heterocycles and have several other applications. Here, we describe a fast and practical copper catalyzed 3-component reaction of aryl acetylenes, amines and easily accessible 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones to N-acyl amidines, generating CO₂ as the only by-product. Transformation of the dioxazolones on the Cu-catalyst generates acyl nitrenes that rapidly insert into the copper acetylide Cu-C bond rather than undergoing an undesired Curtius rearrangement. For non-aromatic dioxazolones, [Cu(OAc)(Xantphos)] is a superior catalyst for this transformation, leading to full substrate conversion within 10 minutes. For the direct synthesis of N-benzoyl amidine derivatives from aromatic dioxazolones, [Cu(OAc)(Xantphos)] proved to be inactive, but moderate to good yields were obtained when using simple CuI as the catalyst. Mechanistic studies revealed the aerobic instability of one of the intermediates at low catalyst loadings, but the reaction could still be performed in air for most substrates when using catalyst loadings of 5 mol%. The herein reported procedure does not only provide a new, practical and direct route to N-acyl amidines, but also represents a new type of<br>C-N bond formation.

An efficient synthesis of novel triazoles incorporating barbituric motifs via [3+2] cycloaddition reaction: An experimental and theoretical study

In this work, the synthesis of novel triazole derivatives with barbituric motifs in good yields is described. The alkyne was prepared through the Knoevenagel reaction of barbituric derivatives with ortho and para O-propargylated hydroxybenzaldehyde. The mechanism and regioselectivity of this [3+2] cycloaddition reaction were investigated using the density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level of theory. The computational studies revealed that a di-copper catalyzed stepwise mechanism, involving six-membered ring intermediate, is the preferred pathway. The regioselectivity was explained in terms of frontier molecular orbital (FMO) interactions, local and global electrophilicity and nucleophilicity indices. Accordingly, the favored interactions for di-copper acetylide are in good agreement with the observed regioselectivity, while completely opposite results were obtained for a possible uncatalysed reaction.