A novel and general carbon-nitrogen and carbon-carbon cross-coupling reaction between 3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2-thiones and copper(I) carboxylates were performed in the presence of palladium acetate. The copper(I) carboxylates act not only as desulfurative reagents but also as sources of carbon nucleophiles. A wide array of highly substituted and functionalized pyrimidines scaffolds were synthesized in good yields.Download high-res image (83KB)Download full-size imageA novel and general carbon-nitrogen and carbon-carbon cross-coupling reaction between dihydropyrimidinthiones and copper(I) carboxylates protocol was performed in the presence of palladium acetate. The copper(I) carboxylates act not only as desulfurative reagents but also as sources of carbon nucleophiles.

Polymer bound sulfonic acid (PEG-OSO3H) is active for the dehydration of biomass to furfural. The furfural yield is improved when MnCl2 is added to the reaction mixture. The catalyst was mild, non-volatile, and non-corrosive and can be recycled multiple times (>10) without an intermediate regeneration step and no significant leaching of –OSO3H groups is observed.

52–94% yields of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from carbohydrates such as monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides were achieved using PEG-OSO3H or PS-PEG-OSO3H as reusable catalysts in a DMSO/H2O reaction system. Using polymer-supported catalysis, corn stover could also be effectively transformed into HMF and furfural.

Polymer bound sulfonic acid (PEG-OSO3H) is active for the dehydration of biomass to furfural. The furfural yield is improved when MnCl2 is added to the reaction mixture. The catalyst was mild, non-volatile, and non-corrosive and can be recycled multiple times (>10) without an intermediate regeneration step and no significant leaching of –OSO3H groups is observed.