An aldehyde-selective Wacker-type oxidation of allylic fluorides proceeds with a nitrite catalyst. The method represents a direct route to prepare β-fluorinated aldehydes. Allylic fluorides bearing a variety of functional groups are transformed in high yield and very high regioselectivity. Additionally, the unpurified aldehyde products serve as versatile intermediates, thus enabling access to a diverse array of fluorinated building blocks. Preliminary mechanistic investigations suggest that inductive effects have a strong influence on the rate and regioselectivity of the oxidation.

An aldehyde-selective Wacker-type oxidation of allylic fluorides proceeds with a nitrite catalyst. The method represents a direct route to prepare β-fluorinated aldehydes. Allylic fluorides bearing a variety of functional groups are transformed in high yield and very high regioselectivity. Additionally, the unpurified aldehyde products serve as versatile intermediates, thus enabling access to a diverse array of fluorinated building blocks. Preliminary mechanistic investigations suggest that inductive effects have a strong influence on the rate and regioselectivity of the oxidation.

The structure, rheological response, and ionic conductivity of ABA brush block copolymer (BBCP) ion gels containing 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BMI][TFSI]) at polymer concentrations spanning 5-50 wt % (Φ_gel) were studied by small angle X-ray scattering, dynamic mechanical analysis, and AC impedance spectroscopy. Application of a hard sphere form factor and Percus-Yevick structure factor reveals trends in gel micellar structure as a function of BBCP molecular weight, A block volume fraction (Φ_A), and Φ_gel. Viscoelastic properties are strongly dependent on end-block molar mass, with storage moduli ≤10³ Pa at 25 °C. Impedance measurements reveal near liquid-like dynamics in the matrix phase as evidenced by conductivities near 1 mS/cm at 25 °C that decrease with increasing Φ_gel and Φ_A. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 292–300

The mechanistic features of oligomerization and oxidative cyclization steps in the synthesis of tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole (1) have been thoroughly studied. Separation of the intermediates by preparative HPLC and analysis by NMR spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometry allowed for the identification of product-forming intermediates and monitoring of undesired byproducts. Conditions for complete end-capping with pyrrole were optimized for improved yields of oligomers leading to the desired corrole 1. A yield of 84 % was achieved during oxidation of an isolated precursor; the overall yield of 1 was 17.0 %.

The direct α-vinylation of carbonyl compounds to form a quaternary stereocenter is a challenging transformation. It was discovered that δ-oxocarboxylic acids can serve as masked vinyl compounds and be unveiled by palladium-catalyzed decarbonylative dehydration. The carboxylic acids are readily available through enantioselective acrylate addition or asymmetric allylic alkylation. A variety of α-vinyl quaternary carbonyl compounds are obtained in good yields, and an application in the first enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-aspewentins A, B, and C is demonstrated.

Olefin cross metathesis is a particularly powerful transformation that has been exploited extensively for the formation of complex products. Until recently, however, constructing Z-olefins using this methodology was not possible. With the discovery and development of three families of ruthenium-based Z-selective catalysts, the formation of Z-olefins using metathesis is now not only possible but becoming increasingly prevalent in the literature. In particular, ruthenium complexes containing cyclometalated NHC architectures developed in our group have been shown to catalyze various cross metathesis reactions with high activity and, in most cases, near perfect selectivity for the Z-isomer. The types of cross metathesis reactions investigated thus far are presented here and explored in depth.

Catalytic nitrite was found to enable carbon–oxygen bond-forming reductive elimination from unstable alkyl palladium intermediates, providing dioxygenated products from alkenes. A variety of functional groups were tolerated, and high yields (up to 94 %) were observed with many substrates, also for a multigram-scale reaction. Nitrogen dioxide, which could form from nitrite under the reaction conditions, was demonstrated to be a potential intermediate in the catalytic cycle. Furthermore, the reductive elimination event was probed with ¹⁸O-labeling experiments, which demonstrated that both oxygen atoms in the difunctionalized products were derived from one molecule of acetic acid.

The direct α-vinylation of carbonyl compounds to form a quaternary stereocenter is a challenging transformation. It was discovered that δ-oxocarboxylic acids can serve as masked vinyl compounds and be unveiled by palladium-catalyzed decarbonylative dehydration. The carboxylic acids are readily available through enantioselective acrylate addition or asymmetric allylic alkylation. A variety of α-vinyl quaternary carbonyl compounds are obtained in good yields, and an application in the first enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-aspewentins A, B, and C is demonstrated.

A stereoselective synthesis of anti-1,2-diols has been developed using a multitasking Ru catalyst in an assisted tandem catalysis protocol. A cyclometalated Ru complex catalyzes first a Z-selective cross-metathesis of two terminal olefins, followed by a stereospecific dihydroxylation. Both steps are catalyzed by Ru, as the Ru complex is converted to a dihydroxylation catalyst upon addition of NaIO₄. A variety of olefins were transformed into valuable, highly functionalized, and stereodefined molecules. Mechanistic experiments were performed to probe the nature of the oxidation step and catalyst inhibition pathways. These experiments point the way to more broadly applicable tandem catalytic transformations.

Die Olefin-Kreuzmetathese ist eine besonders nützliche Reaktion, die intensiv in der Synthese von komplexen Verbindungen genutzt wurde. Bis vor kurzem war es jedoch nicht möglich, Z-Olefine mit dieser Methode herzustellen. Mit der Entdeckung und Entwicklung dreier Klassen von Ruthenium-Katalysatoren wurde die Synthese von Z-Olefinen mittels Kreuzmetathese nun ermöglicht und wird zunehmend populärer. Insbesondere Ruthenium-Komplexe mit cyclometallierten NHC-Liganden, die in unserem Labor entwickelt wurden, konnten erfolgreich in verschiedenen Kreuzmetathesen eingesetzt werden. Sie zeichnen sich durch eine hohe Aktivität und nahezu vollständige Z-Selektivität aus. Dieser Kurzaufsatz gibt einen Überblick über die bisher untersuchten Kreuzmetathesereaktionen.

Catalytic nitrite was found to enable carbon–oxygen bond-forming reductive elimination from unstable alkyl palladium intermediates, providing dioxygenated products from alkenes. A variety of functional groups were tolerated, and high yields (up to 94 %) were observed with many substrates, also for a multigram-scale reaction. Nitrogen dioxide, which could form from nitrite under the reaction conditions, was demonstrated to be a potential intermediate in the catalytic cycle. Furthermore, the reductive elimination event was probed with ¹⁸O-labeling experiments, which demonstrated that both oxygen atoms in the difunctionalized products were derived from one molecule of acetic acid.

A stereoselective synthesis of anti-1,2-diols has been developed using a multitasking Ru catalyst in an assisted tandem catalysis protocol. A cyclometalated Ru complex catalyzes first a Z-selective cross-metathesis of two terminal olefins, followed by a stereospecific dihydroxylation. Both steps are catalyzed by Ru, as the Ru complex is converted to a dihydroxylation catalyst upon addition of NaIO₄. A variety of olefins were transformed into valuable, highly functionalized, and stereodefined molecules. Mechanistic experiments were performed to probe the nature of the oxidation step and catalyst inhibition pathways. These experiments point the way to more broadly applicable tandem catalytic transformations.

An enantioselective method for the synthesis of 1,2-anti-diols has been developed. A cyclometalated chiral-at-ruthenium complex catalyzes the asymmetric ring-opening/cross-metathesis of dioxygenated cyclobutenes, thus resulting in functionally rich synthetic building blocks. Syntheses of the insect pheromone (+)-endo-brevicomin and monosaccharide ribose demonstrate the synthetic utility of the 1,2-anti-diol fragments generated in the title reaction.

We present a practical trifluoromethyl-directed Wacker-type oxidation of internal alkenes that enables rapid access to β-trifluoromethyl-substituted ketones. Allylic trifluoromethyl-substituted alkenes bearing a wide range of functional groups can be oxidized in high yield and regioselectivity. The distance dependence of the regioselectivity was established by systematic variation of the number of methylene units between the double bond and the trifluoromethyl group. The regioselectivity enforced by traditional directing groups could even be reversed by introduction of a competing trifluoromethyl group. Besides being a new powerful synthetic method to prepare fluorinated molecules, this work directly probes the role of inductive effects on nucleopalladation events.

An enantioselective method for the synthesis of 1,2-anti-diols has been developed. A cyclometalated chiral-at-ruthenium complex catalyzes the asymmetric ring-opening/cross-metathesis of dioxygenated cyclobutenes, thus resulting in functionally rich synthetic building blocks. Syntheses of the insect pheromone (+)-endo-brevicomin and monosaccharide ribose demonstrate the synthetic utility of the 1,2-anti-diol fragments generated in the title reaction.

We present a practical trifluoromethyl-directed Wacker-type oxidation of internal alkenes that enables rapid access to β-trifluoromethyl-substituted ketones. Allylic trifluoromethyl-substituted alkenes bearing a wide range of functional groups can be oxidized in high yield and regioselectivity. The distance dependence of the regioselectivity was established by systematic variation of the number of methylene units between the double bond and the trifluoromethyl group. The regioselectivity enforced by traditional directing groups could even be reversed by introduction of a competing trifluoromethyl group. Besides being a new powerful synthetic method to prepare fluorinated molecules, this work directly probes the role of inductive effects on nucleopalladation events.

The development of a model system to study ruthenium–olefin complexes relevant to the mechanism of olefin metathesis has been reported recently. Upon addition of the ligand precursor 1,2-divinylbenzene to [RuCl₂(Py)₂(H₂IMes)(CHPh)] (H₂IMes=1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene), two ruthenium–olefin adducts are formed. Based on ¹H NMR spectroscopy experiments and X-ray crystallographic analysis, these complexes are assigned as side-bound isomers in which the olefin and H₂IMes ligands are coordinated cis to each other. Herein is reported an investigation of the generality of these observations through variation of the N-heterocyclic carbene ligand and the ligand precursor.

A series of ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts coordinated with unsymmetrical N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands has been prepared and fully characterized. These complexes are readily accessible in one or two steps from commercially available [(PCy₃)₂Cl₂RuCHPh]. All of the complexes reported herein promote the ring-closing of diethyldiallyl and diethylallylmethallyl malonate, the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 1,5-cyclooctadiene, and the cross metathesis of allyl benzene with cis-1,4-diacetoxy-2-butene, in some cases surpassing in efficiency the existing second-generation catalysts. Especially in the cross metathesis of allyl benzene with cis-1,4-diacetoxy-2-butene, all new catalysts demonstrate similar or higher activity than the second-generation ruthenium catalysts and, most importantly, afford improved E/Z ratios of the desired cross-product at conversion above 60 %. The influence of the unsymmetrical NHC ligands on the initiation rate and the activation parameters for the irreversible reaction of these ruthenium complexes with butyl vinyl ether were also studied. Finally, the synthesis of the related chlorodicarbonyl(carbene) rhodium(I) complexes allowed for the study of the electronic properties of the new unsymmetrical NHC ligands that are discussed in detail.

A series of bidentate ruthenium-based NHC complexes with the general formula [(H₂IMes)(κ²-L-COO)ClRuCHPh)], where L is either PAr₃, HNR₂, or ROR, were prepared from commercially available [(H₂IMes)(PCy₃)Cl₂Ru(CHPh)] (2) and the appropriate ligand. The catalytic activities of the complexes were evaluated in ring-closing metathesis reactions. The type of donor ligand has a major impact on both the initiation behavior and also the stability of the complexes. Upon addition of CuCl to the reaction mixture the initiation is improved for the phosphine or amine containing chelates. For the P,O-chelate, the fast initiation was followed by decomposition. In the case of the N,O-containing chelate, a stable catalytic system was achieved. Trapping experiments support that the nitrogen lone-pair reversibly coordinates CuCl during the reaction.