Tertiary Benzylic Alcohols Research Articles

An acid-mediated synthesis of substituted naphthalenes from ortho-alkynyl tertiary benzylic alcohols

We present an efficient, acid-mediated cascade strategy for the construction of 1,3- and 1,2,3-substituted naphthalenes from readily accessible starting materials. This method employs ortho-alkynyl or arynyl tertiary benzylic alcohols as the substrates, which undergo a Lewis acid-triggered dehydration to form ortho-(alkynyl)-styrene intermediates. These intermediates subsequently undergo intramolecular cycloaromatization, resulting in the formation of substituted naphthalenes in a one-pot reaction. A significant advantage of this approach is its ability to proceed under sustainable and neat reaction conditions using ZnCl₂ as the sole Lewis acid, highlighting the simplicity and practicality of the process. Additionally, the strategy exhibits a broad substrate scope, efficiently yielding the desired naphthalene derivatives with practical and consistent yields. This method not only simplifies the synthetic pathway but also aligns with green chemistry principles by minimizing the use of solvents and reagents.

Friedel–crafts alkylations of indoles, furans, and thiophenes with arylmethyl acetates promoted by trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate

Various indoles undergo Friedel–Crafts alkylation at the 3-position when treated with secondary arylmethyl acetates in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) and 2,6-lutidine. Tertiary benzylic alcohols are also effective alkylating agents, undergoing TMSOTf-promoted activation to yield alkylated indoles that feature quaternary centers. A related study shows that benzofuran reacts under similar conditions to yield 2-alkylated benzofurans when treated with similar alkylating agents, and the reaction has been extended to include other representative heteroarenes. Yields for these Friedel–Crafts alkylation products range from 43%–99% over a wide range of substrate combinations.

Catalytic Generation of Benzyl Anions from Aryl Ketones Utilizing [1,2]-Phospha-Brook Rearrangement and Their Application to Synthesis of Tertiary Benzylic Alcohols.

A synthetic method of tertiary alcohols was developed based on the formal umpolung addition of aryl ketones with electrophiles utilizing the [1,2]-phospha-Brook rearrangement under Brønsted base catalysis. The addition reaction of α-hydroxyphosphonates, derived from alkyl aryl- and diaryl ketones, with electrophiles such as phenyl vinyl sulfone, afforded phosphates having a tertiary alkyl group, which were readily convertible to the corresponding tertiary benzylic alcohols. This operationally simple protocol provides efficient complementary access to tertiary alcohols that are difficult to synthesize by conventional methods.

TsOH-catalyzed dehydroxylative cross-coupling of alcohols with phenols: rapid access to propofol derivatives.

Modification of the parent structure of molecules often alters their physicochemical properties and biological activities. Herein, a practical, efficient, and highly regioselective C-H alkylation of phenols with alcohols via dehydroxylative cross-coupling was developed to produce para-alkylated phenols with excellent regioselectivities and yields, using which propofol derivatives were rapidly synthesized. This process is performed under mild and simple conditions and is well-compatible with a variety of alcohols (secondary and tertiary benzylic alcohols as well as allyl alcohols) as alkylated agents. In addition, high aryl ether derivatives were also obtained using this catalytic system.

Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Dehydroxylative Cyanation of Benzylic Alcohols with Trimethylsilyl Cyanide Using 1,1,1,3,3,3‐Hexafluoro‐2‐propanol as a Solvent

AbstractA concise and direct Brønsted acid catalyzed cyanation of secondary and tertiary benzylic and allylic alcohols has been developed using trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) as a cyanide source and 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐propanol (HFIP) as a solvent. The present transition‐metal‐free catalytic process is operationally simple to perform under “open‐flask” conditions and is applicable to the preparation of a number of α‐arylacetonitriles as well as late‐stage material transformations. The effectiveness of the present protocol was further demonstrated by the first enantioselective synthesis and determination of the absolute configuration of verimol F.

Hydrogen-Induced Formation of Surface Acid Sites on Pt/Al(PO3)3 Enables Remarkably Efficient Hydrogenolysis of C-O Bonds in Alcohols and Ethers.

The hydrogenolysis of oxygenates such as alcohols and ethers is central to the biomass valorization and also a valuable transformation in organic synthesis. However, a mild and efficient catalyst system for the hydrogenolysis of a large variety of alcohols and ethers with various functional groups is still underdeveloped. Here, we report an aluminum metaphosphate-supported Pt nanoparticles (Pt/Al(PO3)3) for the hydrogenolysis of a wide variety of primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl and benzylic alcohols, and dialkyl, aryl alkyl, and diaryl ethers, including biomass-derived furanic compounds, under mild conditions (0.1-1 atm of H2, as low as 70 °C). Mechanistic studies suggested that H2 induces formation of the surface Brønsted acid sites via its cleavage by supported Pt nanoparticles. Accordingly, the high efficiency and the wide applicability of the catalyst system are attributed to the activation and cleavage of C-O bonds by the hydrogen-induced Brønsted acid sites with the assistance of Lewis acidic Al sites on the catalyst surface. The high efficiency of the catalyst implies its potential application in energy-efficient biomass valorization or fine chemical synthesis.

Hydrogen‐Induced Formation of Surface Acid Sites on Pt/Al(PO3)3 Enables Remarkably Efficient Hydrogenolysis of C−O Bonds in Alcohols and Ethers

AbstractThe hydrogenolysis of oxygenates such as alcohols and ethers is central to the biomass valorization and also a valuable transformation in organic synthesis. However, a mild and efficient catalyst system for the hydrogenolysis of a large variety of alcohols and ethers with various functional groups is still underdeveloped. Here, we report an aluminum metaphosphate‐supported Pt nanoparticles (Pt/Al(PO3)3) for the hydrogenolysis of a wide variety of primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl and benzylic alcohols, and dialkyl, aryl alkyl, and diaryl ethers, including biomass‐derived furanic compounds, under mild conditions (0.1–1 atm of H2, as low as 70 °C). Mechanistic studies suggested that H2 induces formation of the surface Brønsted acid sites via its cleavage by supported Pt nanoparticles. Accordingly, the high efficiency and the wide applicability of the catalyst system are attributed to the activation and cleavage of C−O bonds by the hydrogen‐induced Brønsted acid sites with the assistance of Lewis acidic Al sites on the catalyst surface. The high efficiency of the catalyst implies its potential application in energy‐efficient biomass valorization or fine chemical synthesis.

Mechanistic Basis for Oxoammonium Salt‐Mediated Tertiary Alcohol Oxidative Transformation Decoded by Computations and Experiments

AbstractOxoammonium salts have demonstrated superior efficacy as reagents in mediating various reactions involving tertiary alcohols, including the eliminative functionalization of tertiary benzylic alcohols, oxidative rearrangement of tertiary allylic alcohols, and oxidative Nazarov cyclization. These reactions have been believed to be triggered by the addition of alcohols to the N−O double bonds of oxoammonium cations. However, in this work, a combination of density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) calculations shows that the formation of this adduct is thermodynamically unfavorable. A thorough exploration of the possible mechanisms has shown that the reaction occurs through the ring opening of the oxoammonium cation. The oxoammonium cation acted as a masked tertiary carbocation and triggered the subsequent reactions. The computational results were further supported by control experiments and high‐resolution mass spectroscopy (HRMS) characterization.

Divergent Synthesis of Organofluorinated Molecules from Titanium Mediated Deoxygenation of Free Alcohols

Comprehensive SummaryAlcohols as among the most widely occurring organic compounds known, deoxygenative transformations of free alcohols as partners in radical addition reactions remain formidable challenges with great opportunities to achieve new and useful transformations. Herein, we report a protocol via C—O bond cleavage and C—C bond‐forming reaction of trifluoromethyl alkenes with free alcohols assisted by titanium reagents via a deoxygenative radical strategy, enabling the divergent synthesis for functional‐group‐rich organofluorinated compounds in high efficiencies. In this transformation, tertiary alcohols by Ti‐catalysis could be converted to trifluoromethyl alkanes without defluorination in acidic conditions, while benzyl alcohols are employed by Ti‐mediated activation to supply the gem‐difluoroalkenes with defluorination in the presence of a base. This protocol is applicable for a broad range of trifluoromethyl alkenes with good functional group tolerance and a variety of tertiary alcohols and benzyl alcohols (including primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols), and is scalable to the gram level. Remarkably, the utility of this protocol is demonstrated by several derivatizations and late‐stage functionalization of drug molecules. The successful applications in scale up reactions and late‐stage functionalization of several drug molecules demonstrate its potential synthetic value in drug discovery settings.

Synthesis of oxetane and azetidine ethers as ester isosteres by Brønsted acid catalysed alkylation of alcohols with 3-aryl-oxetanols and 3-aryl-azetidinols.

Oxetanes and azetidines continue to draw significant interest in medicinal chemistry, as small, polar and non-planar motifs. Oxetanes also represent interesting surrogates for carbonyl-containing functional groups. Here we report a synthesis of 3,3-disubstituted oxetane- and azetidine-ethers, with comparisons made to the ester functional group. The tertiary benzylic alcohols of the 4-membered rings are selectively activated using Brønsted acid catalysis and reacted with simple alcohols to form the ethers and maintain the oxetane ring intact. This approach avoids the use of strong bases and halide alkylating agents and allows alcohol libraries to be leveraged. Oxetane ethers demonstrate excellent chemical stability across a range of conditions and an improved stability vis-à-vis analogous esters under basic and reducing conditions.

Boryl Radical Activation of Benzylic C-OH Bond: Cross-Electrophile Coupling of Free Alcohols and CO2 via Photoredox Catalysis.

A new strategy for the direct cleavage of the C(sp3)-OH bond has been developed via activation of free alcohols with neutral diphenyl boryl radical generated from sodium tetraphenylborate under mild visible light photoredox conditions. This strategy has been verified by cross-electrophile coupling of free alcohols and carbon dioxide for the synthesis of carboxylic acids. Direct transformation of a range of primary, secondary, and tertiary benzyl alcohols to acids has been achieved. Control experiments and computational studies indicate that activation of alcohols with neutral boryl radical undergoes homolysis of the C(sp3)-OH bond, generating alkyl radicals. After reducing the alkyl radical into carbon anion under photoredox conditions, the following carboxylation with CO2 affords the coupling product.

Direct Solar Energy-Mediated Synthesis of Tertiary Benzylic Alcohols Using a Metal-Free Heterogeneous Photocatalyst

Direct Solar Energy-Mediated Synthesis of Tertiary Benzylic Alcohols Using a Metal-Free Heterogeneous Photocatalyst

Kinetic Resolution of Tertiary Benzyl Alcohols via Palladium/Chiral Norbornene Cooperative Catalysis

AbstractHerein we report a highly enantioselective kinetic resolution of tertiary benzyl alcohols via palladium/chiral norbornene cooperative catalysis. With simple aryl iodides as the resolution reagent, a wide range of readily available racemic tertiary benzyl alcohols are applicable to this method. Both chiral tertiary benzyl alcohols and benzo[c]chromene products are obtained in good to excellent enantioselectivities (selectivity factor up to 544). The appealing synthetic utility of the obtained enantioenriched tertiary alcohols is demonstrated by the facile preparation of several valuable chiral heterocycles. Preliminary mechanism studies include DFT calculations to explain the origin of enantiodiscrimination and control experiments to uncover the formation of a transient axial chirality during the kinetic resolution step.

Kinetic Resolution of Tertiary Benzyl Alcohols via Palladium/Chiral Norbornene Cooperative Catalysis

Herein we report a highly enantioselective kinetic resolution of tertiary benzyl alcohols via palladium/chiral norbornene cooperative catalysis. With simple aryl iodides as the resolution reagent, a wide range of readily available racemic tertiary benzyl alcohols are applicable to this method. Both chiral tertiary benzyl alcohols and benzo[c]chromene products are obtained in good to excellent enantioselectivities (selectivity factor up to 544). The appealing synthetic utility of the obtained enantioenriched tertiary alcohols is demonstrated by the facile preparation of several valuable chiral heterocycles. Preliminary mechanism studies include DFT calculations to explain the origin of enantiodiscrimination and control experiments to uncover the formation of a transient axial chirality during the kinetic resolution step.

Tandem elimination-oxidation of tertiary benzylic alcohols with an oxoammonium salt

Tertiary benzylic alcohols react with oxoammonium salts, undergoing a tandem elimination/allylic oxidation to provide an allylic ether product in a single step. This mode of reactivity provides a rapid entry into allylic ethers from certain benzylic tertiary alcohols. The allylic ether may be cleaved under reductive conditions to reveal the allylic alcohol.

Light-Driven Metal-Free Direct Deoxygenation of Alcohols under Mild Conditions.

SummaryHydroxyl is widely found in organic molecules as functional group and its deprivation plays an inevitable role in organic synthesis. However, the direct cleavage of Csp3-O bond in alcohols with high selectivity and efficiency, especially without the assistance of metal catalyst, has been a formidable challenge because of its strong bond dissociation energy and unfavorable thermodynamics. Herein, an efficient metal-free strategy that enables direct deoxygenation of alcohols has been developed for the first time, with hydrazine as the reductant induced by light. This protocol features mild reaction conditions, excellent functional group tolerance, and abundant and easily available starting materials, rendering selective deoxygenation of a variety of 1° and 2° alcohols, vicinal diols, and β-1 and even β-O-4 models of natural wood lignin. This strategy is also highlighted by its “traceless” and non-toxic by-products N2 and H2, as readily escapable gases. Mechanistic studies demonstrated dimethyl sulfide being a key intermediate in this transformation.

Stereospecific Hydrogenolysis of Benzylic Alcohols over Pd/C.

Hydrogenolysis of tertiary benzylic alcohols on palladium on carbon (Pd/C) generally proceeds with inversion of configuration. However, little is known about the hydrogenolysis mechanism of primary and secondary benzylic alcohols. Literature precedents suggest that these substrates may interact differently with the catalyst. To study the mechanism, we synthesized a pair of deuterated diastereoisomers with a chiral center at the benzylic position. Chemical derivatization of the hydrogenolysis products showed that the reaction proceeds with inversion of configuration for these substrates.

Efficient Heterogeneous Palladium-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenolysis of Benzylic Alcohols by Formic Acid

An efficient heterogeneous palladium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenolysis­ of primary, secondary, and tertiary benzylic alcohols using formic acid as hydrogen source has been developed. The resulting hydrocarbon products were obtained in excellent yields. Moreover, the system exhibits high chemoselectivity, reacting only with the hydroxy groups in the presence of other functional groups, and excellent re­cyclability.

Palladium mediated domino reaction: synthesis of isochromenes under aqueous medium.

Isochromenes have been synthesized using palladium-catalyzed C–C and C–O bond forming reactions starting from ortho-bromo tertiary benzylic alcohols and internal acetylenes. Notably, this domino process is feasible by using the green solvent, water. The protocol exhibited a broad substrate scope and afforded various isochromenes.

Boron-Catalyzed N-Alkylation of Arylamines and Arylamides with Benzylic Alcohols.

A sustainable boron-based catalytic approach for chemoselective N-alkylation of primary and secondary aromatic amines and amides with primary, secondary, and tertiary benzylic alcohols has been presented. The metal-free protocol operates at low catalyst loading, tolerates several functional groups, and generates H2O as the sole byproduct. Preliminary mechanistic studies were performed to demonstrate the crucial role of boron catalyst for the activation of the intermediate dibenzyl ether and to identify the rate-determining step.