Hydrogenation is a core technology in chemical synthesis. High rates and selectivities are attainable only by the coordination of structurally well-designed catalysts and suitable reaction conditions. The newly devised [RuCl(2)(phosphane)(2)(1,2-diamine)] complexes are excellent precatalysts for homogeneous hydrogenation of simple ketones which lack any functionality capable of interacting with the metal center. This catalyst system allows for the preferential reduction of a C=O function over a coexisting C=C linkage in a 2-propanol solution containing an alkaline base. The hydrogenation tolerates many substituents including F, Cl, Br, I, CF(3), OCH(3), OCH(2)C(6)H(5), COOCH(CH(3))(2), NO(2), NH(2), and NRCOR as well as various electron-rich and -deficient heterocycles. Furthermore, stereoselectivity is easily controlled by the electronic and steric properties (bulkiness and chirality) of the ligands as well as the reaction conditions. Diastereoselectivities observed in the catalytic hydrogenation of cyclic and acyclic ketones with the standard triphenylphosphane/ethylenediamine combination compare well with the best conventional hydride reductions. The use of appropriate chiral diphosphanes, particularly BINAP compounds, and chiral diamines results in rapid and productive asymmetric hydrogenation of a range of aromatic and heteroaromatic ketones and gives a consistently high enantioselectivity. Certain amino and alkoxy ketones can be used as substrates. Cyclic and acyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones can be converted into chiral allyl alcohols of high enantiomeric purity. Hydrogenation of configurationally labile ketones allows for the dynamic kinetic discrimination of diastereomers, epimers, and enantiomers. This new method shows promise in the practical synthesis of a wide variety of chiral alcohols from achiral and chiral ketone substrates. Its versatility is manifested by the asymmetric synthesis of some biologically significant chiral compounds. The high rate and carbonyl selectivity are based on nonclassical metal-ligand bifunctional catalysis involving an 18-electron amino ruthenium hydride complex and a 16-electron amido ruthenium species.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/1521-3773%2820010105%2940%3A1%3C40%3A%3AAID-ANIE40%3E3.0.CO%3B2-5

Asymmetric Catalysis by Architectural and Functional Molecular Engineering: Practical Chemo‐ and Stereoselective Hydrogenation of Ketones

Lanthanide complexes in multifunctional asymmetric catalysis.

2.1.8. Michael Reaction 2245 2.1.9. Others 2247 2.2. Cyclization Reactions 2248 2.2.1. Carbon Diels−Alder Reactions 2248 2.2.2. Aza-Diels−Alder Reactions 2252 2.2.3. Other Hetero-Diels−Alder Reactions 2255 2.2.4. Ionic Diels−Alder Reaction 2256 2.2.5. 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions 2256 2.2.6. Other Cycloaddition Reactions 2258 2.2.7. Prins-type Cyclization 2259 2.3. Friedel−Crafts Acylation and Alkylation 2259 2.4. Baylis−Hillman Reaction 2263 2.5. Radical Addition 2264 2.6. Heterocycle Synthesis 2267 2.7. Diazocarbonyl Insertion 2270 3. C−X (X ) N, O, P, Etc.) Bond Formation 2271 3.1. Aromatic Nitration and Sulfonylation 2271 3.2. Michael Reaction 2272 3.3. Glycosylation 2273 3.4. Aziridination 2275 3.5. Diazocarbonyl Insertion 2276 3.6. Ring-Opening Reactions 2277 3.7. Other C−X Bond Formations 2280 4. Oxidation and Reduction 2280 4.1. Oxidation 2280 4.2. Reduction 2281 5. Rearrangement 2283 6. Protection and Deprotection 2285 6.1. Protection 2285 6.2. Deprotection 2288 7. Polymerization 2291 8. Miscellaneous Reactions 2291 9. Lanthanide(II) Triflates in Organic Synthesis 2295 10. Conclusion 2295 11. Acknowledgment 2295 12. References 2295

Rare-earth metal triflates in organic synthesis

Heterocycles constitute the largest and the most diverse family of organic compounds Among them, aromatic heterocycles represent structural motifs found in a great number of biologically active natural and synthetic compounds, drugs, and agrochemicals Moreover, aromatic heterocycles are widely used for synthesis of dyes and polymeric materials of high value 1 There are numerous reports on employment of aromatic heterocycles as intermediates in organic synthesis 2

Although, a variety of highly efficient methodologies for synthesis of aromatic heterocycles and their derivatives have been reported in the past, the development of novel methodologies is in cuntinious demand Particlularly, development of new synthetic approaches toward heterocycles, aiming at achieving greater levels of molecular complexity and better functional group compatibilities in a convergent and atom economical fashions from readily accessible starting materials and under mild reaction conditions, is one of a major research endeavor in modern synthetic organic chemistry Transition metal-catalyzed transformations, which often help to meet the above criteria, are among the most attractive synthetic tools

Several excellent reviews dealing with transition metal-catalyzed synthesis of heterocyclic compounds have been published in literature during recent years Many of them highlighted the use of a particular transition metal, such as gold,3 silver,4 palladium,5 copper,6 cobalt,7 ruthenium,8 iron,9 mercury,10 rare-earth metals,11 and others Another array of reviews described the use of a specific kind of transformation, for instance, intramolecular nucleophilic attack of heteroatom at multiple C–C bonds,12 Sonogashira reaction,13 cycloaddition reactions,14 cycloisomerization reactions,15 C–H bond activation processes,16 metathesis reactions,17 etc Reviews devoted to an application of a particular type of starting materials have also been published Thus, for example, applications of isocyanides,18 diazocompounds,19 or azides20 have been discussed In addition, a significant attention was given to transition metal-catalyzed multicomponent syntheses of heterocycles21 Finally, syntheses of heterocycles featuring formation of intermediates, such as nitrenes,22 vinylidenes,23 carbenes, and carbenoids24 have also been reviewed

The main focus of the present review is a transition metal-catalyzed synthesis of aromatic monocyclic heterocycles The organization of the review is rather classical and is based on a heterocycle, categorized in the following order: (a) ring size of heterocycle, (b) number of heteroatoms, (c) type of heterocycle, and (d) a class of transformation involved A brief mechanistic discussion is given to provide information about a possible reaction pathway when necessary The review mostly discusses recent literature, starting from 200425 until the end of 2011, however, some earlier parent transformations are discussed when needed

Transition Metal-Mediated Synthesis of Monocyclic Aromatic Heterocycles

II.2.1. Homogeneous Systems 2166 II.2.2. Heterogeneous Systems 2168 II.3. Hydride Transfer Reduction 2169 II.3.1. Homogeneous Systems 2169 II.3.2. Heterogeneous Systems 2171 II.4. Hydrosilylation 2172 III. C−O Bond Formation 2173 III.1. Epoxidation of Unfunctionalized Olefins 2173 III.1.1. Homogeneous Catalysis 2173 III.1.2. Heterogeneous System 2176 III.2. Dihydroxylation of Olefins 2178 III.2.1. Homogeneous Systems 2178 III.2.2. Heterogeneous System 2178 III.3. Ring Opening of Meso Epoxides 2180 III.4. Kinetic Resolution 2180 III.4.1. Terminal Epoxides 2180 III.4.2. Secondary Alcohols 2181 IV. C−H Bond Oxidation 2181 IV.1. Allylic and Benzylic Oxidation 2181 IV.2. Baeyer−Villiger-type Reaction 2181 IV.3. Wacker-type Cyclization 2182 V. S−O Bond Formation 2182 VI. C−N Bond Formation 2183 VI.1. Hydroboration/Amination 2183 VI.2. Enolate Amination 2183 VI.3. Aza-Claisen Rearrangement 2183 VI.4. Azide Synthesis 2184 VI.5. Aminohydroxylation 2184 VI.6. Aziridine Synthesis 2184 VI.7. C−N Bond Formation via S−N Bond Formation 2185

Nitrogen-containing ligands for asymmetric homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis.

Pinwheel-Shaped Heterobimetallic Lanthanide Alkali Metal Binaphtholates: Ionic Size Matters!

Lanthanide Pybox Complexes as Catalysts for Enantioselective Silylcyanation of Aldehydes

Three component synthesis of homoallylic amines. Efficient catalysis by lanthanum triflate/benzoic acid

Catalytic, asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis mediated by lanthanide(III) chloride pybox complexes

Glycerol carbonate results from the cyclo-condensation of glycerol, arguably the best studied and most promising biomass-derived compound. Glycerol is highly abundant and relatively cheap as it is produced as a waste stream within the biodiesel industry. The direct reaction of carbon dioxide with glycerol is possible, and the prospect of combining these two abundant waste products into such a versatile and exciting molecule has resulted in a linear increase in the number of patents and scientific publications in the last ten years. Glycerol carbonate has already been commercialised, but many opportunities to develop better production routes and new applications exist. In this critical review, we examine the relevance of this bio-derived compound and the recent advances in preparation methods and recent applications.

Nicholas Greeves

Papers

Pinwheel-Shaped Heterobimetallic Lanthanide Alkali Metal Binaphtholates: Ionic Size Matters!

Lanthanide Pybox Complexes as Catalysts for Enantioselective Silylcyanation of Aldehydes

Three component synthesis of homoallylic amines. Efficient catalysis by lanthanum triflate/benzoic acid

Catalytic, asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis mediated by lanthanide(III) chloride pybox complexes

Recent progress in the synthesis and applications of glycerol carbonate