Straightforward syntheses leading to π-extended benzosilolothiophene (BST) derivatives by Rh-catalyzed dehydrogenative cyclization reactions have been developed. Electron-deficient ligands were effective for the reactions, and dppe-F20 gave the best result. This method could be applied to the synthesis of highly π-extended ladder-type BST derivatives, which exhibited fluorescence.

We developed an acylative desymmetrization of meso-1,2-diols using a binaphthyl-based N,N-4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) derivative 1h with tert-alcohol substituents. The reaction proceeds with a wide range of acyclic meso-1,2-diols and six-membered-ring meso-1,2-diols to provide a monoacylate selectively with a high enantiomeric ratio (er). Only 0.1 mol % of the catalyst facilitated the reaction within a short reaction time (3 h) to afford enantio-enriched monoacylated products in moderate to good yield. Several control experiments revealed that the tert-alcohol units of catalyst 1h play a significant role in achieving high catalytic activity, chemoselectivity of monoacylation, and enantioselectivity.

AbstractAn extremely efficient acylative kinetic resolution of d,l-1,2-diols in the presence of only 0.5 mol% of binaphthyl-based chiral N,N-4-dimethylaminopyridine was developed (selectivity factor of up to 180). Several key experiments revealed that hydrogen bonding between the tert-alcohol unit(s) of the catalyst and the 1,2-diol unit of the substrate is critical for accelerating the rate of monoacylation and achieving high enantioselectivity. This catalytic system can be applied to a wide range of substrates involving racemic acyclic and cyclic 1,2-diols with high selectivity factors. The kinetic resolution of d,l-hydrobenzoin and trans-1,2-cyclohexanediol on a multigram scale (10 g) also proceeded with high selectivity and under moderate reaction conditions: (i) very low catalyst loading (0.1 mol%); (ii) an easily achievable low reaction temperature (0 °C); (iii) high substrate concentration (1.0 M); and (iv) short reaction time (30 min).

The front cover image, provided by Kazuki Fujii, Hiroki Mandai, and Seiji Suga, illustrates the large scale (10 g) kinetic resolution of d,l-hydrobenzoin with a highly active nucleophilic catalyst. The catalyst well recognizes the diol unit and accelerates only the monoacylation reaction. The reaction proceeds with only 0.1 mol% of the catalyst within 30 min, and both the monoacylate and the recovered diol are obtained with high enantioselectivities. The acceleration effect by the catalyst is portrayed by the tachometer in the picture. Details can be found in the full paper on pages 2778–2788 (K. Fujii, K. Mitsudo, H. Mandai, S. Suga, Adv. Synth. Catal. 2017, 359, 2778–2788; DOI: 10.1002/adsc.201700057).

A method for the facile synthesis of ethene-bridged terthiophenes (EBTTs) in two steps has been developed. The first step is a double Sonogashira coupling between 3′,4′-dibromo-2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene and terminal alkynes to give dialkynylated terthiophenes, and the second step is a cyclization reaction to afford EBTTs. The fundamental physical properties of EBTTs were also studied.

Chiral N,N-4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) derivatives, which can be readily prepared by the Ugi multicomponent reaction in a one-pot manner, have been efficiently applied to the enantioselective Steglich rearrangement of oxindole derivatives to give the desired products bearing a quaternary carbon center in high yield (>98% yield) and with high enantioselectivity (up to 99:1 er).

Iron oxide produced by iron-oxidizing bacteria, Leptothrix ochracea, (L-BIOX) obtained from a freshwater purification plant, Joyo City in Kyoto, Japan catalyzed Baeyer-Villiger oxidation with molecular oxygen in the presence of benzaldehyde at 25 °C more efficiently than usual iron compounds. L-BIOX can promote the reactions of various substrates to give the desired products in sufficient yields and was found to be reusable. Scanning transmission electron microscopy and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed that no change of the surface structure of L-BIOX was observed even after four times of the recycling test and the oxidation state of iron in L-BIOX is trivalent before and after the oxidation of cyclohexanone. An investigation with analogous amorphous iron oxides which contain silicon revealed that the catalytic activity of L-BIOX might stem from a synergetic effect of iron and silicon in the structure.

The first synthesis of hexa(furan-2-yl)benzene derivatives is described. The RhCl3/i-Pr2NEt-catalyzed cyclotrimerization of di(furan-2-yl)acetylenes was an effective method for constructing hexa(furan-2-yl)benzene derivatives in good yields. Their π-extended derivatives were also synthesized by Suzuki–Miyaura coupling between hexakis(5-Bpinfuran-2-yl)benzene (Bpin = (pinacolato)boryl) and several aryl iodides.

An efficient and simple protocol for the kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols is presented. The new system is based on a combination of chiral Brønsted acid, DABCO, and acetyl chloride and gives various enantioenriched alcohols with selectivity factors up to 105.

The first synthesis of nitrogen-bridged terthiophenes (NBTTs) has been achieved by a tandem Buchwald–Hartwig coupling of 3,3′,3″,4′-tetrabromo-2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene. Several NBTT derivatives bearing aryl or alkyl moieties on the N-atoms could be synthesized. Their fundamental electrochemical characteristics and HOMO–LUMO levels were found to be influenced by the substituents on the N-atoms.

In the presence of fluorene derivatives, the electro-reduction of aryl chlorides, bromides, and iodides bearing an ethylene moiety proceeded smoothly to afford the corresponding cyclized products. Noteworthy is that aryl chlorides, which have more negative reduction potential than aryl bromides and iodides, exhibited high reactivity in the reaction, and the corresponding five-membered and six-membered cyclized products were obtained in good to high yields. Mechanistic study suggests that the electro-reduction of fluorene derivatives was essential for the reactions, indicating that they work as a mediator.

Site-selective sequential coupling reactions directed toward bis(diaryl)butadiynes are described. The reaction site could be controlled completely by the on/off application of electricity. The electro-oxidative homo-coupling of terminal alkynes (electricity ON) and the subsequent Suzuki–Miyaura coupling (electricity OFF) afforded bis(diaryl)butadiynes in high yields. The obtained 1,4-bis(diaryl)butadiynes could be converted to a 2,5-bis(diaryl)thiophene derivative, which exhibited blue fluorescence.

Site-selective sequential coupling reactions directed toward bis(diaryl)butadiynes are described. The reaction site could be controlled completely by the on/off application of electricity. The electro-oxidative homo-coupling of terminal alkynes (electricity ON) and the subsequent Suzuki–Miyaura coupling (electricity OFF) afforded bis(diaryl)butadiynes in high yields. The obtained 1,4-bis(diaryl)butadiynes could be converted to a 2,5-bis(diaryl)thiophene derivative, which exhibited blue fluorescence.