Two new chemically stable [acid and base] 2D crystalline covalent organic frameworks (COFs) (TpPa-1 and TpPa-2) were synthesized using combined reversible and irreversible organic reactions. Syntheses of these COFs were done by the Schiff base reactions of 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) with p-phenylenediamine (Pa-1) and 2,5-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine (Pa-2), respectively, in 1:1 mesitylene/dioxane. The expected enol-imine (OH) form underwent irreversible proton tautomerism, and only the keto-enamine form was observed. Because of the irreversible nature of the total reaction and the absence of an imine bond in the system, TpPa-1 and TpPa-2 showed strong resistance toward acid (9 N HCl) and boiling water. Moreover, TpPa-2 showed exceptional stability in base (9 N NaOH) as well.

A strategy for expedient synthesis of 3-substituted chromones from easily available o-hydroxyaryl­enaminones and diazo compounds has been developed. Carefully conducted experimental and computational studies led us to propose an uncommon mechanistic pathway involving the hydroxyl group assisted alkylation of enaminones with in situ generated gold carbenes.

No abstract

The temperature dependent selectivity switch in the reaction of arynes with aliphatic alcohols in THF has been reported. At -20 °C, arynes smoothly insert into the O-H bond of alcohols to form alkyl aryl ethers. Interestingly, at 60 °C, a highly selective multicomponent coupling occurs with the solvent THF acting as the nucleophilic trigger affording (4-(alkoxy)butoxy)arenes.

Selectively converting linear alkanes to α-olefins under mild conditions is a highly desirable transformation given the abundance of alkanes as well as the use of olefins as building blocks in the chemical community. Until now, this reaction has been primarily the remit of noble-metal catalysts, despite extensive work showing that base-metal alkylidenes can mediate the reaction in a stoichiometric fashion. Here, we show how the presence of a hydrogen acceptor, such as the phosphorus ylide, when combined with the alkylidene complex (PNP)Ti=CHBu(CH) (PNP=N[2-P(CHMe)-4-methylphenyl]), catalyses the dehydrogenation of cycloalkanes to cyclic alkenes, and linear alkanes with chain lengths of C to C to terminal olefins under mild conditions. This Article represents the first example of a homogeneous and selective alkane dehydrogenation reaction using a base-metal titanium catalyst. We also propose a unique mechanism for the transfer dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons to olefins and discuss a complete cycle based on a combined experimental and computational study.

Presented herein is the first report of enantioselective Au(I)/Au(III) redox catalysis, enabled by a newly designed hemilabile chiral (P,N)-ligand (ChetPhos). The potential of this concept has been demonstrated by the development of enantioselective 1,2-oxyarylation and 1,2-aminoarylation of alkenes which provided direct access to the medicinally relevant 3-oxyand 3-aminochromans (up to 88% yield and 99% ee). DFT studies were carried out to unravel the enantiodetermining step, which revealed that the stronger trans influence of phosphorus allows selective positioning of the substrate in the C 2 -symmetric chiral environment present around nitrogen, imparting a high level of enantioselectivity.

The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed generation of chiral a,b-unsaturated acylazoliums from 2-bromoenals followed by their interception with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds or enamines, the formal [3+3] annulation reaction, is reported. The reaction results in the enantioselective synthesis of synthetically and medicinally important dihydropyran-A C H T U N G T R E N N U N G ones and dihydropyridinones, and tolerates a wide range of functional groups. It is noteworthy that the reaction takes place under mild reaction conditions utilizing relatively low catalyst loadings. In addition, based on DFT calculations, a mechanistic scenario involving the attack of the nucleophile from below the plane of the a,b-unsaturated acylazoliums, and the mode of enantioinduction is presented.

Full quantum mechanical calculations demonstrate that cooperativity in the form of the activation of the M–C bond (M: transition metal or boron, C: the ipso carbon of the coordinated phenyl group) can lead to effective catalysis pathways. Calculations show that the presence of an aromatic bidentate ligand attached to a transition metal, or even a main group element, such as boron, can lead to effective catalysts for a range of important reactions, such as the dehydrogenation of ammonia borane and formic acid and the activation of the N–H bond in aromatic amines. Moreover, it is shown that the design of tridentate pincer complexes with the aromatic group at a terminal end can lead to effective M–C cooperativity. As such, the current work introduces a new concept in cooperativity and bond activation chemistry.