Α-hydroxy Carbonyl Compounds Research Articles

Microwave Assisted Benzoin Condensation using N,N-Dimethylbenzimidazolium Iodide as an Efficient Greener Catalyst in Neutral Ionic Liquid [Bmim]BF4

The utilization of N,N-dimethylbenzimidazolium iodide as a catalyst in [Bmim]BF4 for benzoin condensation under microwave irradiation demonstrates its efficiency and eco-friendliness. This method enables the synthesis of α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds from various aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes with significant yields, ranging from good to high (89-96%). The reactions proceed swiftly, yielding no detectable byproducts. Moreover, the recycled reaction media, comprising benzimidazolium salt and NaOH after extraction, can be reused multiple times without a significant loss of efficiency.

Novel Pyridinium Cross-Link Structures Derived from Glycolaldehyde and Glyoxal.

Short-chained α-hydroxycarbonyl compounds such as glycolaldehyde (GA) and its oxidized counterpart glyoxal (GX) are known as potent glycating agents. Here, a novel fluorescent lysine-lysine cross-link 1-(5-amino-5-carboxypentyl)-3-(5-amino-5-carboxy-pentylamino)pyridinium salt (meta-DLP) was synthesized and its structure unequivocally proven by 1H NMR, 13C-NMR attached proton test, and 2D NMR. Further characterization of chemical properties and mechanistic background was obtained in comparison to the known monovalent protein modification 2-ammonio-6-(3-oxidopyridinium-1-yl)hexanoate (OP-lysine). Identification and quantitation in various sugar incubations with N2-t-Boc-lysine revealed a novel alternative formation pathway for both advanced glycation end products (AGEs) by the interplay of both carbonyl compounds, GA and GX, which was confirmed by isotope labeling experiments. The concentration of pyridinium AGEs was about 1000-fold lower compared to the well-established N6-carboxymethyl lysine. However, pyridinium AGEs were shown to lead to the photosensitized generation of singlet oxygen in irradiation experiments, which was verified by the detection of 3,3'-(naphthalene-1,4-diyl)-dipropionate endoperoxide. Furthermore, meta-DLP was identified in hydrolyzed potato chip proteins by collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry after HPLC enrichment.

Synthesis of Sterically Hindered α-Hydroxycarbonyls through Radical-Radical Coupling.

We describe a synthetic approach to sterically hindered α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds through radical-radical coupling. An organic photoredox catalysis reaction converts an aliphatic carboxylic acid and α-ketocarbonyl to a transient alkyl radical and a persistent ketyl radical, respectively, which couple selectively based on the persistent radical effect. This protocol allows the use of primary, secondary, and tertiary aliphatic carboxylic acids to introduce various alkyl substituents onto ketone moieties of α-ketocarbonyls under mild reaction conditions.

A novel metal-free synthesis of thiazole-substituted α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds and 2-alkenylthiazoles from thiazole N-oxides and olefins

A metal-free and highly atom-economic synthesis of thiazole-substituted α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds has been developed. Catalyzed by 5 mol% of p-toluenesulfonic acid (TsOH), a variety of thiazole-substituted α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds were obtained in moderate to good yields via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of thiazole N-oxides with olefins, followed by a ring-opening reaction. Furthermore, the corresponding 2-alkenylthiazoles could be produced in excellent yields from synthesized α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds through a one-pot, two-step dehydration process.

A mechanistic study of oxygen atom transfer from N-sulfonyloxaziridine to enolates

Enolate additions to chiral N-sulfonyloxaziridines providing enantiomerically enriched α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds is a reaction of importance, yet a clear understanding of the factors governing stereoinduction in these transformations remains ambiguous. This is despite, previous computational studies, one by Bach et al. employing truncated model systems exploring oxygen atom transfer to an unsubstituted lithium enolate and another by our own group. In clarifying this reactivity we report here a computational study examining oxygen atom transfer from 1-S-(+)-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxaziridine, viz., archetypal Davis chiral oxaziridine to substituted Li, Na, K enolates offering improved mechanistic understanding. From this investigation, a revised model is offered revealing the metal cation, chelation effects and sterics as decisive stereocontrolling factors in enolate additions to chiral N-sulfonyloxaziridines affording enantiomerically enriched α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds.

Ni-Catalyzed Reductive C-O Bond Arylation of Oxalates Derived from α-Hydroxy Esters with Aryl Halides.

A Ni-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling of α-hydroxycarbonyl compounds modified with oxalyl groups and aryl halides has been developed that furnishes α-aryl esters under mild conditions and tolerates a variety of functionalized aryl halides bearing electron-withdrawing and -donating groups. This work highlights C-O bond fragmentation on secondary alkyl carbon centers that generates α-carbonyl radicals.

Direct Asymmetric α-Hydroxylation of Cyclic α-Branched Ketones through Enol Catalysis

Enantiopure α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds are common scaffolds in natural products and pharmaceuticals. Although indirect approaches towards their synthesis are known, direct asymmetric methodologies are scarce. Herein, we report the first direct asymmetric α-hydroxylation of α-branched ketones through enol catalysis, enabling a facile access to valuable α-keto tertiary alcohols. The transformation, characterized by the use of nitrosobenzene as the oxidant and a new chiral phosphoric acid as the catalyst, delivers a good scope and excellent enantioselectivities.

In Situ Electrophilic Activation of Hydrogen Peroxide for Catalytic Asymmetric α-Hydroxylation of 3-Substituted Oxindoles

Peroxy trichloroacetimidic acid, in situ generated from aqueous hydrogen peroxide and trichloroacetonitrile, was found to act as a competent electrophilic oxygenating agent for the direct α-hydroxylation of oxindoles. The use of chiral 1,2,3-triazolium salt as a phase-transfer catalyst enabled rigorous absolute stereocontrol in the carbon–oxygen bond-forming reaction. The present study provides a new, yet practical method for straightforward access to optically active α-hydroxycarbonyl compounds.

Catalytic α-hydroxylation of ketones under CuBr2 or HBr/DMSO systems

An efficient and facile α-hydroxylation of ketones catalyzed by CuBr2 or HBr in DMSO is developed, providing secondary/tertiary α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds in moderate to good yields (up to 87%). A series of control experiments suggested that water and DMSO may work cooperatively in the hydrolysis step.

Metal-free direct 1,6- and 1,2-difunctionalization triggered by radical trifluoromethylation of alkenes.

A metal-free direct remote C-H functionalization triggered by radical trifluoromethylation of alkenes was explored, realizing highly selective 1,6-difunctionalization of alkenes toward valuable trifluoromethyl α-hydroxycarbonyl compounds. Furthermore, a metal-free direct intermolecular regioselective 1,2-oxytrifluoromethylation of alkenes is also disclosed. With Togni's reagent as both the CF3 source and oxidant, the reaction exhibits a broad substrate scope with excellent functionality tolerance under mild metal-free conditions, thus showing great potential for synthetic utility.

ProPhenol-catalyzed asymmetric additions by spontaneously assembled dinuclear main group metal complexes.

ConspectusThe development of catalytic enantioselective transformations has been the focus of many research groups over the past half century and is of paramount importance to the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Since the award of the Nobel Prize in 2001, the field of enantioselective transition metal catalysis has soared to new heights, with the development of more efficient catalysts and new catalytic transformations at increasing frequency. Furthermore, catalytic reactions that allow higher levels of redox- and step-economy are being developed. Thus, alternatives to asymmetric alkene dihydroxylation and the enantioselective reduction of α,β-unsaturated ketones can invoke more strategic C–C bond forming reactions, such as asymmetric aldol reactions of an aldehyde with α-hydroxyketone donors or enantioselective alkynylation of an aldehyde, respectively. To facilitate catalytic enantioselective addition reactions, including the aforementioned aldol and alkynylation reactions, our lab has developed the ProPhenol ligand.In this Account, we describe the development and application of the ProPhenol ligand for asymmetric additions of both carbon- and heteroatom-based nucleophiles to various electrophiles. The ProPhenol ligand spontaneously forms chiral dinuclear metal complexes when treated with an alkyl metal reagent, such as Et2Zn or Bu2Mg. The resulting complex contains both a Lewis acidic site to activate an electrophile and a Brønsted basic site to deprotonate a pronucleophile. Initially, our research focused on the use of Zn-ProPhenol complexes to facilitate the direct aldol reaction. Fine tuning of the reaction through ligand modification and the use of additives enabled the direct aldol reaction to proceed in high yields and stereoselectivities with a broad range of donor substrates, including acetophenones, methyl ynones, methyl vinyl ketone, acetone, α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds, and glycine Schiff bases. Additionally, an analogous magnesium ProPhenol complex was used to facilitate enantioselective diazoacetate aldol reactions with aryl, α,β-unsaturated, and aliphatic aldehydes.The utility of bimetallic ProPhenol catalysts was extended to asymmetric additions with a wide range of substrate combinations. Effective pronucleophiles include oxazolones, 2-furanone, nitroalkanes, pyrroles, 3-hydroxyoxindoles, alkynes, meso-1,3-diols, and dialkyl phosphine oxides. These substrates were found to be effective with a number of electrophiles, including aldehydes, imines, nitroalkenes, acyl silanes, vinyl benzoates, and α,β-unsaturated carbonyls. A truly diverse range of enantioenriched compounds have been prepared using the ProPhenol ligand, and the commercial availability of both ligand enantiomers makes it ideally suited for the synthesis of complex molecules. To date, enantioselective ProPhenol-catalyzed reactions have been used in the synthesis of more than 20 natural products.

ChemInform Abstract: Improved Catalyst‐Free Synthesis of Pyrrole Derivatives in Aqueous Media.

AbstractThe novel procedure for the three component reaction of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds, α‐hydroxycarbonyl compounds, and ammonium acetate is less laborious and provides a better scope and chemoselectivity than previously reported procedures.

Highly Efficient CH Hydroxylation of Carbonyl Compounds with Oxygen under Mild Conditions

A transition-metal-free Cs2 CO3 -catalyzed α-hydroxylation of carbonyl compounds with O2 as the oxygen source is described. This reaction provides an efficient approach to tertiary α-hydroxycarbonyl compounds, which are highly valued chemicals and widely used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. The simple conditions and the use of molecular oxygen as both the oxidant and the oxygen source make this protocol very environmentally friendly and practical. This transformation is highly efficient and highly selective for tertiary C(sp(3) )H bond cleavage.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Hydrohydroxyalkylation of Acrylates with Diols and α-Hydroxycarbonyl Compounds To Form Spiro- and α-Methylene-γ-butyrolactones

Under the conditions of ruthenium(0)-catalyzed hydrohydroxyalkylation, vicinal diols 1a-1l and methyl acrylate 2a are converted to the corresponding lactones 3a-3l in good to excellent yield. The reactions of methyl acrylate 2a with hydrobenzoin 1f, benzoin didehydro-1f, and benzil tetradehydro-1f form the same lactone 3f product, demonstrating that this process may be deployed in a redox level-independent manner. A variety of substituted acrylic esters 2a-2h participate in spirolactone formation, as illustrated in the conversion of N-benzyl-3-hydroxyoxindole 1o to cycloadducts 4a-4h. Hydrohydroxyalkylation of hydroxyl-substituted methacrylate 2i with diols 1b, 1f, 1j, and 1l forms α-exo-methylene-γ-butyrolactones 5b, 5f, 5j, and 5l in moderate to good yield. A catalytic cycle involving 1,2-dicarbonyl-acrylate oxidative coupling to form oxaruthenacyclic intermediates is postulated. A catalytically competent mononuclear ruthenium(II) complex was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The influence of electronic effects on regioselectivity in reactions of nonsymmetric diols was probed using para-substituted 1-phenyl-1,2-propanediols 1g, 1m, and 1n and density functional theory calculations.

Improved Catalyst-Free Synthesis of Pyrrole Derivatives in Aqueous Media

An improved catalyst-free, three-component reaction of ammonium acetate, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, and aromatic α-hydroxycarbonyl compounds has been carried out in water–ethanol (50:50) under reflux conditions. The improvement of yield in this aqueous medium is attributed to a combination of increased association of the reactants by hydrophobic interactions and precipitation of the product during the reaction. This operationally simple procedure is less laborious and provides a better scope and chemoselectivity than previously reported procedures.

ChemInform Abstract: Enantioselective α‐Benzoyloxylation of Ketones Promoted by Primary Amine Catalyst.

AbstractThe method allows the preparation of protected α‐hydroxy ketones and 1,2‐diols.

Reduction of benzylic alcohols and α-hydroxycarbonyl compounds by hydriodic acid in a biphasic reaction medium

The synthetic protocol for the reduction of alcohols to hydrocarbons by using hydriodic acid, first described by Kiliani more than 140 years ago, was improved to be more applicable to organic synthesis. Instead of a strongly acidic, aqueous solution, a biphasic toluene–water reaction medium was used, which allowed the conversion of primary, secondary and tertiary benzylic alcohols, in good yields and short reaction times, into the corresponding hydrocarbons. Red phosphorous was used as the stoichiometric reducing agent. Keto, ester, amide or ether groups are tolerated, and catalytic amounts of hydriodic acid (0.2 equiv) in the presence of 0.6 equiv phosphorous are sufficient to achieve conversion.

Enantioselective α-Benzoyloxylation of Ketones Promoted by Primary Amine Catalyst

A mixture of 9-amino-(9-deoxy)epi-dihydroquinidine and salicylic acid was able to promote the direct reaction of various cyclohexanones with dibenzoyl peroxide, thus affording the corresponding protected α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds in high yield and enantioselectivity. Interestingly the same catalytic salt was found to be active when 1-indanones derivatives were directly employed in the reaction with dibenzoyl peroxide furnishing chiral 1-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl benzoates in high yields and enantioselectivity. Furthermore their treatment with NaBH(4) gives easy access to the corresponding enantioenriched 1,2-diols in high yields and without any loss of stereoselectivity.

ChemInform Abstract: Lead(IV) Acetate Oxidative Ring‐Opening of 2,3‐Epoxy Primary Alcohols: A New Entry to Optically Active α‐Hydroxy Carbonyl Compounds.

AbstractNucleophilic ring‐opening of hydroxymethyl‐substituted substrates with Pb(OAc)4 results in formation of α‐acetoxy aldehydes or α‐acetoxy ketones.

Lead(IV) acetate oxidative ring-opening of 2,3-epoxy primary alcohols: a new entry to optically active α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds

The treatment of 2,3-epoxy primary alcohols with lead(IV) acetate (LTA) leads to α-acetoxy aldehydes or α-acetoxy ketones, through the nucleophilic ring-opening of an intermediate oxonium and the subsequent carbon–carbon bond cleavage. This reaction represents a new route to optically active α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds.