Aryl Esters Research Articles

Rapid and General Amination of Aryl Boronic Acids and Esters Using O-(Diphenylphosphinyl)hydroxylamine (DPPH).

O-(Diphenylphosphinyl)hydroxylamine (DPPH) is a general reagent for the conversion of (hetero)aryl boronic acids and esters to primary anilines. The transformation proceeds rapidly at rt and exhibits a broad substrate scope and exceptional functional-group tolerance. In terms of rate, the reaction is relatively insensitive to the electronic properties of the substrate, in contrast to similar reactions using electrophilic amination reagents such as hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid. Consequently, this protocol is particularly useful for accessing electron-deficient (hetero)aryl anilines, which had been challenging to prepare using prior methods.

Soluble polyimides with ultralow dielectric constant and dielectric loss and high colorless transparency based on spirobisindane-bis (aryl ester) diamines

With the emergence of 5G technology, the traditional polyimide with a relatively high dielectric constant (Dk) and dielectric loss (Df) are not suitable the requirements of ultra-high transmission and ultra-low loss. In particular, reducing the Df value of polyimide has become a significant difficulty in science and engineering. Herein, an elaborate design was proposed for the preparation of polyimide with both low Dk and low Df, based on a pair of diamine isomer containing two esters and a spiro-bis-indene structure (p-SBI2EA and m-SBI2EA), and their polymerization with 4,4′-(Hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA). The resultant polyimide films showed an exceptional dielectric property, with Dk values of 2.83 and 2.88, and Df values of 0.0043 and 0.0048 for p-SBI2EA-6FDA and m-SBI2EA-6FDA, respectively, at high frequencies (40 GHz). Interestingly, introducing the spirobisindane structure significantly displayed preeminent solubility in both high-boiling-point and low-boiling-point solvents. Furthermore, the PI films exhibited perfect optical performance, with cutoff wavelengths (λcut-off) of 315 and 321 nm, transmittance exceeding 86 % and 89 % at 450 nm, and yellowing indices (YI) as low as 1.72 and 1.63, respectively. The features of the PIs render them auspicious candidate materials for applications in 5G high frequency communication and optical fields.

5'-Methoxyarmillane, a Bioactive Sesquiterpenoid Aryl Ester from the Fungus Armillaria ostoyae.

Higher fungi of the genus Armillaria belonging to the phylum Basidiomycota produce bioactive sesquiterpenoid aryl esters called melleolides. A bioactivity-guided discovery process led to the identification of the new melleolide 5'-methoxyarmillane (1) in organic extracts from the mycelium of Armillaria ostoyae. Remarkably, supplementation of rapeseed oil to the culture medium potato dextrose broth increased the production of 1 by a factor of six during the course of the 35 days fermentation. Compound 1 was isolated and its structure elucidated by UHPLC-QTOF-HR-MS/MS and NMR spectroscopy. It showed toxicity against Madin-Darby canine kidney II (MDCK II, IC50 19.2 μg/mL, 44.1 μM) and human lung cancer Calu-3 cells (IC50 15.2 μg/mL, 34.9 μM) as well as moderate bioactivity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MIC 8 mg/mL, 18.4 μM) and Mycobacterium smegmatis (MIC 16 mg/mL, 36.8 μM), but not against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Septoria tritici. No inhibitory effects of 1 against the influenza viruses H3N2, H1N1pdm, B/Malaysia, and B/Massachusetts were observed.

Decarboxylative and Decarbonylative Borylation of Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives†

Comprehensive SummaryBoronate esters are highly valued in synthetic and pharmaceutical industries for their versatility in creating C—C and C—X bonds. They also find applications as catalysts in chemical transformations as well as stimuli‐responsive materials in materials science. Some alkyl boronates themselves also show promising applications in medicinal chemistry. In the past few decades, chemists have been devoted to developing new methods or new starting materials for synthesizing boronate esters. Carboxylic acids and their derivatives are privileged chemical entities due to their readily availability or natural abundance, structural diversity, and chemical stability. Hence, the transformation of carboxylic acid and their derivatives to alkyl/aryl boronate esters has seen its fast development in the past decade. This review summarized the state‐to‐art development of decarboxylative and decarbonylative borylation of carboxylic acids and their derivatives to aryl and alkyl boronate esters. Key ScientistsThe decarboxylative and decarbonylative borylation of carboxylic acids and their derivatives started only in the past decade. In 2016, the decarbonylative borylation of carboxylic esters and amides was reported by Zhuangzhi Shi and Magnus Reuping's groups. Then, in 2017, studies on the decarboxylative borylation of redox‐active esters such as NHPI esters started to receive increasing attention by Aggarwal, Baran, Fu, Glorius, and Li's groups. From 2018 to 2023, large numbers of studies on the decarboxylative and decarbonylative borylation of carboxylic acids and their derivatives using transition‐metal‐catalyst, organo‐catalyst, or under photochemical or electrochemical conditions emerged. Due to space limitations, only pictures of scientists who have contributed more than two works in this area are shown herein.

Chemoselective and Triggered Decomposition of Diazo Esters by the [(IMes)Rh2(OAc)4] Complex: En Route to Assisted Tandem Catalysis from Mixtures of Diazo Compounds

AbstractDecomposition of aryl and unsubstituted diazo ester into Rh(II)‐carbenes by the [(IMes)Rh2(OAc)4] complex is shown to be slower than with Rh2(OAc)4. Diazo esters substituted by a second electron‐withdrawing group do not suffer nitrogen extrusion when exposed for several hours to this (NHC)Rh(II) complex at room temperature. This chemoselective decomposition of diazo esters depending on their substituent (Ar, H, EWG) can furthermore be achieved on a mixture of substrates. The catalytic activity of [(IMes)Rh2(OAc)4] towards electron‐poor diazo compounds is also restored by heating to reflux in chloroform, or after decomplexation of the NHC by addition of GaCl3. The [(IMes)Rh2(OAc)4] complex was then used to induce a fully selective reaction cascade from a mixture of two diazo esters. First, a donor/acceptor diazo compound was decomposed selectively at room temperature to give an intermolecular O−H insertion product without any decomposition of the electron poor diazo compound. Addition of GaGl3 then triggered nitrogen extrusion from the diazo malonate to give a 1,5‐C−H insertion product. This transformation, where decomposition of diazo compounds catalyzed by Rh(II) complexes can be externally controlled, represents the first example of assisted tandem catalysis with two metal carbene precursors.

Visible‐Light‐Promoted Cascade Radical Cyclization for Difluorochroman‐4‐ones via Electron Donor‐Acceptor Complexes

The research of electron donor‐acceptor complex has developed fast in the field of photochemistry. Herein, the green and efficient metal‐free visible‐light‐promoted synthesis of difluorochroman‐4‐ones has been achieved with 2‐(allyloxy)arylaldehyde and bromodifluoroacetamide, which is driven by noncovalent interactions between 2‐(allyloxy)arylaldehyde/N,N,N',N'‐tetramethylethylene diamine (TMEDA) and bromodifluoroacetamide/TMEDA. By precisely optimizing the electron donor and reaction solvent, a wide range of structurally diverse difluorochroman‐4‐ones, including aryl amide, aliphatic amide and ester groups, were obtained in up to 76% yields. This strategy offers the benefits of simple operation, good yields, high atomic economy and broad applicability, providing an essential complement to traditional approaches for the preparation of chroman‐4‐one skeletons without any transition metals, photocatalysts or oxidants.

Three Undescribed Protoilludane-Type Sesquiterpene Aryl Esters from Armillaria gallica.

Three previously undescribed protoilludane-type sesquiterpene aryl esters, armillanals A-C (1-3), along with seven known ones (4-10) were obtained from Armillaria gallica Marxm. & Romagn. Compounds 1 and 2 were a rare class of sesquiterpenes featuring the Δ2(3) and Δ12(13)-protoilludane skeleton. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic methods. Based on electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, the absolute configurations of three new compounds (1-3) were determined. The anti-inflammatory activity of compounds 1-10 was screened and compound 3 could dose-dependently decrease the level of lactate dehydrogenase, showing IC50 value of 4.525 μM.

Ligand-enabled ruthenium-catalyzed meta-C−H alkylation of (hetero)aromatic carboxylic acids

Carboxylates are ideal directing groups because they are widely available, readily cleavable and excellent linchpins for diverse follow-up reactions. However, their use in meta-selective C−H functionalizations remains a substantial unmet catalytic challenge. Herein, we report the ruthenium-catalyzed meta-C–H alkylation of aromatic carboxylic acids with various functionalized alkyl halides. A bidentate N-ligand increases the electron density at the metal center of ortho-benzoate ruthenacycles to the extent that single-electron reductions of alkyl halides can take place. The subsequent addition of alkyl radicals is exclusively directed to the position para to the CAr–Ru bond, i.e., meta to the carboxylate group. The resulting catalytic meta-C−H alkylation extends to a wide range of (hetero)aromatic carboxylic acids including benzofused five-membered ring heteroarenes but no pyridine derivatives in combination with secondary/tertiary alkyl halides, including fluorinated derivatives. It also allows site-selective C5−H alkylation of 1-naphthoic acids. The products are shown to be synthetic hubs en route to meta-alkylated aryl ketones, nitriles, amides, esters and other functionalized products.

Silver-Catalyzed Coupling of Unreactive Carboxylates: Synthesis of α-Fluorinated O-Aryl Esters.

α-Fluorinated aryl esters pose a challenge in synthesis via O-arylation of α-fluorinated carboxylates owing to their low reactivities. This limitation has been addressed by combining a silver catalyst with aryl(trimethoxyphenyl)iodonium tosylates to access α-fluorinated aryl esters. We envision that the catalytic system involves high-valent aryl silver species generated via the oxidation of silver(I) salt. The present method provided a synthetic protocol for various α-fluorinated aryl esters including fluorinated analogs of drug derivatives.

Pd‐Catalyzed [3+6+3+6] Macrocyclizations of Aryl α‐Diazo‐β‐Ketoesters

AbstractThanks to Pd(II)‐catalysis, an efficient synthesis of unsaturated macrocycles is achieved by [3+6+3+6] condensation of cyclic ethers with aryl α‐diazo‐β‐ketoesters. The presence of the electron‐rich aryl ester moieties forbids the use of dirhodium complexes as these diazo decomposition catalysts provoke unforeseen intermolecular Csp2−H insertion reactions that derail the targeted reactivity. However, with Pd(acac)2, using high concentration conditions (1 M), a variety of 18‐membered macrocycles (16 examples) is afforded with both aryl and alkyl diazo reagents. Catalyst selection for either electrophilic aromatic substitution (Rh) or ylide (Pd) pathways are explained by computational approaches.

RhRu Bimetallic Oxide Cluster Catalysts for Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling of Arenes and Carboxylic Acids.

Noble-metal-based bimetallic oxide clusters are promising novel catalysts. In this study, we developed carbon-supported RhRu bimetallic oxide clusters (RhRuOx/C) with a mean diameter of 1.2 nm, which showed remarkable catalytic activity for the cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) of arenes and carboxylic acids with O2 as the sole oxidant. RhRu bimetallic oxide cluster formation was confirmed by aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Kinetic isotope and substituent effects indicated that arene C-H bond cleavage was the rate-determining step and proceeded via electrophilic concerted metalation-deprotonation mechanism, with a carboxylate as an internal base. Density functional theory calculations supported the proposed mechanism and indicated that the active center for C-H bond activation was Rh(V) rather than Rh(III), while Ru enhanced the electrophilicity of the Rh(V) site by decreasing the negative charge of the surrounding oxygen atoms. Electron-rich arenes showed relatively high reactivity for the RhRuOx/C-catalyzed CDC reaction, and both aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids were applicable to the reaction. The RhRuOx/C catalyst is promising for the CDC reaction of arenes and carboxylic acids to produce aryl esters. This work promotes the development of noble-metal-based bimetallic oxide clusters for C-H bond activation reactions.

Pd‐Catalyzed Highly Regioselective Hydroesterification of Terminal Alkyl Olefins with Formates

Comprehensive SummaryA Pd‐catalyzed regioselective hydroesterification of alkyl terminal olefins with aryl formates is described. A wide variety of linear carboxylic esters bearing various functional groups can be obtained in good yields with high regioselectivities under mild reaction conditions by using 1,2‐DTBPMB or (p‐F‐Ph)3P as ligand. The reaction process is operationally simple and requires no handling of toxic CO or strong acid. The resulting aryl esters can be readily converted to other carboxylic acid derivatives.

Electrochemically Driven para-Selective C(sp2)-H Alkylation Enabled by Activation of Alkyl Halides without Sacrificial Anodes.

With alkyl halides (I, Br, Cl) as a coupling partner, an electrochemically driven strategy for para-selective C(sp2)-H alkylation of electron-deficient arenes (aryl esters, aldehydes, nitriles, and ketones) has been achieved to access diverse alkylated arenes in one step. The reaction enables the activation of alkyl halides in the absence of sacrificial anodes, achieving the formation of C(sp2)-C(sp3) bonds under mild electrolytic conditions. The utility of this protocol is reflected in high site selectivity, broad substrate scope, and scalable.

A Convenient Oligonucleotide Conjugation via Tandem Staudinger Reaction and Amide Bond Formation at the Internucleotidic Phosphate Position.

Staudinger reaction on the solid phase between an electronodeficit organic azide, such as sulfonyl azide, and the phosphite triester formed upon phosphoramidite coupling is a convenient method for the chemical modification of oligonucleotides at the internucleotidic phosphate position. In this work, 4-carboxybenzenesulfonyl azide, either with a free carboxy group or in the form of an activated ester such as pentafluorophenyl, 4-nitrophenyl, or pentafluorobenzyl, was used to introduce a carboxylic acid function to the terminal or internal internucleotidic phosphate of an oligonucleotide via the Staudinger reaction. A subsequent treatment with excess primary alkyl amine followed by the usual work-up, after prior activation with a suitable peptide coupling agent such as a uronium salt/1-hydroxybenzotriazole in the case of a free carboxyl, afforded amide-linked oligonucleotide conjugates in good yields including multiple conjugations of up to the exhaustive modification at each phosphate position for a weakly activated pentafluorobenzyl ester, whereas more strongly activated and, thus, more reactive aryl esters provided only single conjugations at the 5'-end. The conjugates synthesized include those with di- and polyamines that introduce a positively charged side chain to potentially assist the intracellular delivery of the oligonucleotide.

Synthesis of Boronic Esters from Organometallic Reagents and Bis(pinacolato)diboron.

Synthesis of alkyl, aryl, and vinyl boronic esters carrying various chiral and achiral diol-protecting groups were synthesized starting from the corresponding alkyl, aryl, and vinyl lithium or Grignard reagents. Good to excellent yields were obtained for a large range of substrates. The reaction can be conducted in a gram scale to obtain the product over 80 % yield. This approach provides direct access to neopentyl, pinene, and other boronic esters that are difficult to achieve. Using trimethoxyborane or 2-isopropoxy pinacolboronic ester. Detailed mechanistic studies have been conducted to understand the mechanism behind the formation of boronic ester starting from organometallic reagents.

Oligodeoxynucleotide Synthesis Under Non-Nucleophilic Deprotection Conditions.

This protocol describes a method for the incorporation of sensitive functional groups into oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs). The nucleophile-sensitive epigenetic N4-acetyldeoxycytosine (4acC) DNA modification is used as an example, but other sensitive groups can also be incorporated, e.g., alkyl halide, α-haloamide, alkyl ester, aryl ester, thioester, and chloropurine groups, all of which are unstable under the basic and nucleophilic deprotection and cleavage conditions used in standard ODN synthesis methods. The method uses a 1,3-dithian-2-yl-methoxycarbonyl (Dmoc) group that carries a methyl group at the carbon of the methoxy moiety (meDmoc) for the protection of exo-amines of nucleobases. The growing ODN is anchored to a solid support via a Dmoc linker. With these protecting and linking strategies, ODN deprotection and cleavage are achieved without using any strong bases and nucleophiles. Instead, they can be carried out under nearly neutral non-nucleophilic oxidative conditions. To increase the length of ODNs that can be synthesized using the meDmoc method, the protocol also describes the synthesis of a PEGylated Dmoc (pDmoc) phosphoramidite. With some of the nucleotides being incorporated with pDmoc-CE phosphoramidite, the growing ODN on the solid support carries PEG moieties and becomes more soluble, thus enabling longer ODN synthesis. The ODN synthesis method described in this protocol is expected to make many sensitive ODNs that are difficult to synthesize accessible to researchers in multiple areas, such as epigenetics, nanopore sequencing, nucleic acid-protein interactions, antisense drug development, DNA alkylation carcinogenesis, and DNA nanotechnology. © 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol: Sensitive ODN synthesis Support Protocol 1: Synthesis of meDmoc-CE phosphoramidites Support Protocol 2: Synthesis of a pDmoc-CE phosphoramidite.

Divergent Synthesis of Fluoroalkyl Ketones through Controlling the Reactivity of Organoboronate Complexes.

Herein, we report a divergent synthesis of fluoroalkyl ketones through visible-light-induced reactions between readily available organoboronic esters and fluoroalkyl acylsilanes. Selective control of the reactivity of the in situ generated organoboronate complexes is the key to achieving divergent transformations. Under basic conditions, the organoboronate complexes undergo deboronative fluoride elimination, resulting in the formation of enol silyl ethers as intermediates that react with various electrophiles to generate defluorinated ketones as the products. Moreover, in combination with peroxide, a 1,2-shift of fluoroalkyl group is favored over deboronative fluoride elimination to generate ketal intermediates, leading to the formation of ketones as the products. This transition-metal-free reaction is operationally simple, and aryl, alkenyl, and alkyl boronic esters are all suitable substrates. The synthetic potential has been demonstrated by gram-scale reactions and facile synthesis of bioactive molecules including zifrosilone and its fluoroalkyl analogs.

Copper(I)-free syntheses of [11C/18F]trifluoromethyl ketones from alkyl or aryl esters and [11C/18F]fluoroform.

Herein, we report a copper(I)-free method for labeling the trifluoroacetyl group with positron-emitting carbon-11 (t1/2 = 20.4 min) or fluorine-18 (t1/2 = 109.8 min) as part of our exploration of radiolabeled fluoroforms to access new radiolabeled chemotypes of interest for tracer development. Treatment of alkyl esters and aryl esters, containing electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups, with [11C/18F]fluoroform in the presence of strong base, gave [11C/18F]trifluoromethyl ketones as novel radiolabeling synthons in moderate to high yields within 15 minutes.

Aryl carbonyls and carbinols as proelectrophiles for Friedel-Crafts benzylation and alkylation.

Friedel-Crafts benzylation/alkylation using benzylic, tertiary, and homobenzylic alcohols; aryl aldehydes, aryl ketones, and the highly challenging aryl carboxylic acids and esters as proelectrophiles has been achieved using borane-ammonia and TiCl4, greatly broadening the scope of useable substrates. Incorporation of deactivated aromatic proelectrophiles and specificity for substitution at the benzylic position are demonstrated in the synthesis of various di- and triarylalkane products. Dual protocols allow for the use of standard nucleophilic solvents (benzene, toluene, etc.) or for stoichiometric addition of more valuable nucleophiles including furans, thiophenes, and benzodioxoles.

Direct conversion of esters to imines/enamines and applications to polyester waste upcycling.

Semi-reductive transformations of esters remain an underdeveloped but valuable class of functional group interconversions. Here, we describe the development of a highly selective method for the interconversion of esters to imines, enamines, aldehydes or amines through an amine-intercepted zirconocene hydride (ZrH)-catalyzed reduction. This protocol employs an inexpensive zirconium catalyst in combination with hydrosilanes and simple unprotected amines. A variety of aryl, benzylic, and aliphatic esters are directly transformed to imines and enamines in up to 99% yield or aldehydes in up to 84% yield, with little-to-no reduction to the corresponding alcohols. The utility of this method for the direct catalytic chemical upcycling of polyester plastic waste is demonstrated through multiple unprecedented depolymerization transformations. Further, the efficient preparation of nitrogen-containing products is also presented, including single-flask multicomponent reactions and the reductive amination of esters.