Claisen Rearrangement Triggered by Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Alkyne Alkoxylation

Over the past two decades, catalytic alkyne alkoxylation-initiated Claisen rearrangement has proven to be a practical and powerful strategy for the rapid assembly of a diverse range of structurally complex molecules. The rapid development of Claisen rearrangements triggered by transition-metal-catalyzed alkyne alkoxylation has shown great potential in the formation of carbon–carbon bonds in an atom-economic and mild way. However, metal-free alkyne alkoxylation-triggered Claisen rearrangement has seldom been exploited. Recently, Brønsted acids such as HNTf2 and HOTf have been shown to be powerful activators that promote catalytic alkyne alkoxylation/Claisen rearrangement, leading to the concise and flexible synthesis of valuable compounds with high efficiency and atom economy. Recent advances on the Brønsted acid catalyzed alkyne alkoxylation/Claisen rearrangement are introduced in this Account, in which both intramolecular and intermolecular tandem reactions are discussed.

Transition Metal Catalyst Free Cross-Coupling Reaction of Tertiary Propargylic Alcohols with Hetero-Areneboronic Acids

We report a perfluorophenylboronic acid catalyzed cross coupling reaction of tertiary propargylic alcohols and hetero-areneboronic acids for valuable benzo[b]thiophene and cyclopenta[a]indene derivates. This coupling reaction proceeds efficiently with a wide array of substrates scope in up to 89% yield and excellent regioselectivity. A significant advantage of our protocol is the transition metal catalyst free and mild conditions needed. This strategy provides direct and facile access to medicinally important benzo[b]thiophene and cyclopenta[a]indene scaffold containing a quaternary carbon center.

Acid-Catalyzed Liquefaction of Biomasses from Poplar Clones for Short Rotation Coppice Cultivations

Liquefaction of biomass delivers a liquid bio-oil with relevant chemical and energetic applications. In this study we coupled it with short rotation coppice (SRC) intensively managed poplar cultivations aimed at biomass production while safeguarding environmental principles of soil quality and biodiversity. We carried out acid-catalyzed liquefaction, at 160 °C and atmospheric pressure, with eight poplar clones from SRC cultivations. The bio-oil yields were high, ranging between 70.7 and 81.5%. Average gains of bio-oil, by comparison of raw biomasses, in elementary carbon and hydrogen and high heating, were 25.6, 67, and 74%, respectively. Loss of oxygen and O/C ratios averaged 38 and 51%, respectively. Amounts of elementary carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen in bio-oil were 65, 26, and 8.7%, and HHV averaged 30.5 MJkg−1. Correlation analysis showed the interrelation between elementary carbon with HHV in bio-oil or with oxygen loss. Overall, from 55 correlations, 21 significant and high correlations among a set of 11 variables were found. Among the most relevant ones, the percentage of elementary carbon presented five significant correlations with the percentage of O (−0.980), percentage of C gain (0.902), percentage of O loss (0.973), HHV gain (0.917), and O/C loss (0.943). The amount of carbon is directly correlated with the amount of oxygen, conversely, the decrease in oxygen content increases the elementary carbon and hydrogen concentration, which leads to an improvement in HHV. HHV gain showed a strong positive dependence on the percentage of C (0.917) and percentage of C gain (0.943), while the elementary oxygen (−0.885) and its percentage of O loss (0.978) adversely affect the HHV gain. Consequently, the O/C loss (0.970) increases the HHV positively. van Krevelen’s analysis indicated that bio-oils are chemically compatible with liquid fossil fuels. FTIR-ATR evidenced the presence of derivatives of depolymerization of lignin and cellulose in raw biomasses in bio-oil. TGA/DTG confirmed the bio-oil burning aptitude by the high average 53% mass loss of volatiles associated with lowered peaking decomposition temperatures by 100 °C than raw biomasses. Overall, this research shows the potential of bio-oil from liquefaction of SRC biomasses for the contribution of renewable energy and chemical deliverables, and thereby, to a greener global economy.

Asymmetric catalytic nitrooxylation and azidation of β-keto amides/esters with hypervalent iodine reagents

Chiral Lewis acid-catalyzed enantioselective nitrooxylation of cyclic and acyclic β-keto amides/esters with hypervalent iodine(III) reagents is reported. A number of α-nitrooxy-β-keto amides/esters were obtained with good yields and high enantioselectivities...