Water is the lingua franca of life on our planet and is the solvent of choice for Nature to carry out her syntheses.1 In contrast, our methods of making complex organic molecules have taken us far away from the watery milieu of biosynthesis. Indeed, it is fair to say that most organic reactions commonly used both in academic laboratories and in industry fail in the presence of water or oxygen. As a direct consequence of our attempts to mimick Nature's way of making new chemical bonds, we learned to rely on highly reactive nucleophilic and electrophilic reagents to gain control of the chemical reactivity and to channel chemical reactions down a desired pathway. The requirement for the protection of all protic functional groups, such as alcohols and amines, is another corollary of our reliance on these energetic species. Nevertheless, chemical transformations in aqueous solvents are not new to organic chemists. On the contrary, they have attracted attention of scientists for many years: the first use of water for an organic reaction could be dated back to Wohler's synthesis of urea from ammonium cyanate.2 From a true organic synthesis perspective, the earliest example could be the synthesis of indigo by Baeyer and Drewsen in 1882 (Scheme 1).3 In their synthesis, a suspension of o-nitrobenzaldehyde 1 in aqueous acetone was treated with a solution of sodium hydroxide. The immediate formation of the characteristic blue color of indigo 2 ensued, and the product subsequently precipitated.



Scheme 1



Water possesses many unique physical and chemical properties: large temperature window in which it remains in the liquid state, extensive hydrogen bonding, high heat capacity, large dielectric constant, and optimum oxygen solubility to maintain aquatic life forms. These distinctive properties are the consequence of the unique structure of water.4,5 The structure and properties of water have been studied by scientists representing almost all fields of knowledge, and new theoretical models continue to emerge.6,7 Water is also known to enhance the rates and to affect the selectivity of a wide variety of organic reactions.8,9

In spite of these potential advantages, water is still not commonly used as a sole solvent for organic synthesis, at least in part because most organic compounds do not dissolve in water to a significant extent, and solubility is generally considered a prerequisite for reactivity: “corpora non agunt nisi soluta” (substances do not react unless dissolved). Consequently, in the many examples of “aqueous reactions” organic co-solvents are employed in order to increase the solubility of organic reactants in water.9,10 Alternatively, hydrophilicity of the reactants is increased by the introduction of polar functional groups, again to make the resulting compound at least partially water soluble.11 However, these manipulations tend to diminish and even negate the advantages of low cost, simplicity of reaction conditions, ease of workup, and product isolation that water has over traditional solvents. Therefore, the currently burgeoning field of organic synthesis in aqueous media encompasses a large family of reactions. The solubility of reacting species and products can range from complete to partial to practically none, so that reaction mixtures can be both homogeneous and heterogeneous. The amount of water can also range widely, from substoichiometric quantities to a large volume in which the reactants are suspended or dissolved. Several terms have been used in the literature to describe reactions in aqueous millieu. In water, in the presence of water, and on water are commonly found in the recent publications and are often used interchangeably to describe reactions that proceed under very different conditions.12,13 There is also a growing number of examples micellar catalysis in the presence of non-ionic surfactants, such as Triton X-100 and PTS (a tocopherol-based amphiphile).14-18

In this review, we attempt to survey organic transformations that benefit from being performed on water under the conditions defined by Sharpless and co-workers: when insoluble reactant(s) are stirred in aqueous emulsions or suspensions without the addition of any organic co-solvents. In many cases, it is impossible to ascertain whether the reaction is occuring in or on water, but as long as the reaction mixture remains heterogeneous and the overall process appears to benefit from it (either in terms of increased reaction rate or enhanced selectivity), it qualifies.

The ‘on water’ moniker reflects the defining attribute of these reactions: the lack of solubility of the reactant(s) in water. A considerable rate acceleration is often observed in reactions carried out under these conditions over those in organic solvents.19 Furthermore, in many cases a significant rate increase of on water reactions over reactions carried out neat indicates that rate acceleration is not merely a consequence of increased concentration of the reacting species. Naturally, the degree of on water acceleration varies between different reaction classes, and even when it is modest, there are other advantages to carrying out reactions in this manner. Firstly, water is an excellent heat sink due to its large heat capacity, making exothermic processes safer and more selective, especially when they are carried out on large scale. Secondly, reactions of water-insoluble substrates usually lead to the formation of water-insoluble products. In such cases, product isolation simply involves filtration of solid products (or phase separation in case of liquids). Finally, the growing list of examples wherein reactions performed on water are not only faster but also more selective (whether chemo-, regio-, or enantio-) underscores the significant potential for process intensification for reactions performed on water.

Although claims of the ecological advantages and “greenness” of water are almost invariably found in the opening paragraphs of reports describing aqueous reactions, they should be taken with a grain of salt. The low cost, relative abundance, and inherent safety of water notwithstanding, the environmental impact of a process is determined by many factors, such as the efficiency of the reaction in terms of atom economy,20 the nature of solvents used in the reaction workup, the residual concentration of regulated organic compounds and metal catalysts remaining in the aqueous waste, and the costs of its clean up or disposal.21,22 The mere finding that a process performs as well in water as it does in an organic solvent tells us little about its potential environmental impact.

The field of aqueous organic synthesis has been regularly and comprehensively reviewed.9,10,23-27 In addition, recent reviews focusing on microwave assisted organic synthesis in water,28 reactions in near-critical water,29 and biocatalysis in water30 have been published. Accordingly, these topics are not covered in the present review.

Organic Synthesis “On Water”

3.1.2. Huisgen [3 + 2] Cycloaddition Reaction 6313 3.1.3. Claisen Rearrangement 6315 3.2. Multicomponent Reactions 6316 3.3. Nucleophilic Ring-Opening Reactions 6316 3.4. Wittig Reaction 6318 3.5. Bioorthogonal Reactions 6318 4. Catalyzed Reactions 6319 4.1. Metal-Catalyzed Reactions 6319 4.1.1. Pericyclic Reactions 6320 4.1.2. Arylation Reactions 6321 4.1.3. Olefin Metathesis 6323 4.1.4. Mizoroki-Heck Reaction 6324 4.1.5. Suzuki Reaction 6325 4.1.6. Sonogashira Reaction 6327 4.1.7. Transfer Hydrogenation 6327 4.1.8. Lewis Acid Catalysis 6328 4.2. Organocatalyzed Reactions 6330 4.2.1. Pericyclic Reactions 6330 4.2.2. Michael Reaction 6331 4.2.3. Mannich Reaction 6332 4.2.4. Aldol Reaction 6333 5. Conclusion 6334 6. Supporting Information Available 6335 7. References 6335

Water: Nature’s Reaction Enforcer—Comparative Effects for Organic Synthesis “In-Water” and “On-Water”

Catalyst-free reactions developed during the last decade and the latest developments in this emerging field are summarized with a focus on catalyst-free reactions in-water and on-water. Various named reactions, multi-component reactions and the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds are discussed including the use of various energy input systems such as microwave- and ultrasound irradiation, among others. Organic chemists and the practitioners of this art both in academia and industry hopefully will continue to design benign methodologies for organic synthesis in aqueous media under catalyst-free conditions by using alternative energy inputs based on fundamental principles.

Benign by design: catalyst-free in-water, on-water green chemical methodologies in organic synthesis

The transition metal-catalyzed transformation of otherwise inert C–H bonds into substituted alkenes offers a versatile tool for the synthesis of value added olefinic molecules. Recent developments in the directing group assisted C–H activation approach ensured high levels of positional selectivity. A vast number of coordinating groups have been utilized in directed C–H alkenylation, which are often not removable after the desired transformation. However, the concept of easily removable or traceless directing group strategy overcomes this limitation and enables site-selective C–H alkenylation of relevance to academia and the practitioners in industry. Various easily removable or transformable directing groups utilized in the transition metal-catalyzed oxidative C–H alkenylations are discussed in this review until February 2017.

Recent advances in positional-selective alkenylations: removable guidance for twofold C–H activation

Organozinc mediated reactions

Water is demonstrated to be an effective medium for the Wittig reaction over a wide range of stabilized ylides and aldehydes Despite sometimes poor solubility of the reactants, good chemical yields normally ranging from 80 to 98% and high E-selectivities (up to 99%) are achieved, and the rate of the reactions in water is unexpectedly accelerated The efficiency of water as a medium in the Wittig reaction is compared to conventional organic solvents ranging from carbon tetrachloride to methanol The aqueous Wittig reaction works best when large hydrophobic entities are present, such as aromatic, heterocyclic aromatic carboxaldehydes, and long-chain aliphatic aldehydes with triphenylphosphoranes The E/Z-isomeric ratio of the Wittig products appears dependent on the electron-accepting/donating capacity and the location of the substituents present in the aromatic ring The effect of additives, such as benzoic acid, LiCl, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), on the Wittig reaction has been explored The Wittig reaction can also be conducted in the presence of acidic entities, such as phenols and carboxylic acids In addition, large alpha-substituents in the aliphatic aldehydes do not jeopardize the reaction It is also demonstrated that hydrates of aldehydes can be used directly in the aqueous Wittig reaction as substrates The scope of the aqueous Wittig reaction is extended to 24 examples of one-pot mixtures of Ph3P, alpha-bromoesters, and aldehydes in sodium bicarbonate solution (at 20 degrees C for 40 min to 3 h) to provide Wittig products of up to 99% yield and up to 98% E-selectivity Since water is inexpensive, extremely easy to handle, and represents no environmental concerns, it should be considered a possible medium for new organic reactions

Wittig reactions in water media employing stabilized ylides with aldehydes. Synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters from mixing aldehydes, alpha-bromoesters, and Ph3P in aqueous NaHCO3.

Water is an efficient medium for Wittig reactions employing stabilized ylides and aldehydes

Conjugate additions with the efficient monoorganocopper-iodotrimethylsilane combination, exemplified mainly with methylcopper, butylcopper, and tert-butylcopper, proceed cleanly, smoothly, and rapidly to a variety of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds; cyclic and acyclic enones, β-alkoxy enones, enoates and lactones in ether, THF, and dichloromethane, often at -78 o C. The RCu-(LiI)-TMSI reagent gives a good economy of group transfer with good to excellent yields of conjugate adducts. Lithium iodide, present from preparation of the organocopper compounds, increases the rate of the reactions and is a favorable component. Additions are faster, but somewhat less selective, in THF than in ether. Careful workup after addition of triethylamine or pyridine at low temperature permits isolation of TMS enol ethers and TMS ketene acetals. Acyclic enones preferentially give the Z-silyl enol ethers. The RCu(LiI)-TMSI system is a most useful alternative to the conventional lithium diorganocuprates in conjugate additions

Mikael Bergdahl

Papers

Wittig reactions in water media employing stabilized ylides with aldehydes. Synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters from mixing aldehydes, alpha-bromoesters, and Ph3P in aqueous NaHCO3.

Water is an efficient medium for Wittig reactions employing stabilized ylides and aldehydes

Iodotrimethylsilane-promoted additions of monoorganocopper compounds to .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated ketones, esters, and lactones

Highly diastereoselective conjugate additions of monoorganocopper reagents to chiral imides

Direct Copper(I) Iodide Dimethyl Sulfide Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Alkenyl Groups from Vinylzirconocene Reagents