Amine-grafted on lanthanide metal-organic frameworks:Three solid base catalysts for Knoevenagel condensation reaction

A post-synthetic modification strategy has been used to prepare three solid base catalysts, including Er（btc）（ED）075（H2O）0.25 （2, btc = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylates, ED = 1,2-ethanediamine）, Er（btc）（PP）0.55（H20）0.45 （3, PP = piperazine）, and Er（btc）（DABCO）0.15（H2O）0.85 （4, DABCO = 1,4- diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane）, by grafting three different diamines onto the coordinatively unsaturated Er（III） ions into the channels of the desolvated lanthanide metal-organic framework （Er（otc））. The resulting metal-organic frameworks were characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, and N2 adsorption. Based on its higher loading ratio of the diamine, as well as its greater stability and porosity, catalyst 2 exhibited higher catalytic activity and reusability than catalysts 3 and 4- for the Knoevenagel condensation reaction. The catalytic mechanism of 2 has also been investigated using size-selective catalysis tests.

Robust cobalt oxide catalysts for controllable hydrogenation of carboxylic acids to alcohols

The selective catalytic hydrogenation of carboxylic acids is an important process for alcohol production,while efficient heterogeneous catalyst systems are still being explored.Here,we report the selective hydrogenation of carboxylic acids using earth‐abundant cobalt oxides through a reaction‐controlled catalysis process.The further reaction of the alcohols is completely hindered by the presence of carboxylic acids in the reaction system.The partial reduction of cobalt oxides by hydrogen at designated temperatures can dramatically enhance the catalytic activity of pristine samples.A wide range of carboxylic acids with a variety of functional groups can be converted to the corresponding alcohols at a yield level applicable to large‐scale production.Cobalt monoxide was established as the preferred active phase for the selective hydrogenation of carboxylic acids.

Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions in water using in situ generated palladium(II)–phosphazane complexes

The phosphazane derivatives （L1-3） were readily obtained by reaction of different ratios of PCI3 and PhNH2. The L1_3 derivatives were found to be efficient ligands in the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki C-C coupling reactions in water. It was determined that with the use of L1-3/Pd（OAc）2 system as a catalyst, aryl halides undergo Suzuki cross-couplings with arylboronic acids to give the desired products in moderate to excellent yields.

Asymmetric catalyzed intramolecular aza-Michael reaction mediated by quinine-derived primary amines

An intramolecular organocatalytic enantioselective aza-Michael reaction of carbamates, sulfonamides and acetamides to a,b-unsaturated ketones was developed. This process is promoted by 9-amino-9-deoxy-epi-quinine and diphenyl hydrogen phosphate to afford a straightforward and expeditious synthesis of several synthetically useful five-and six-membered heterocycles with excellent enantioselectivity（92%–97.5% ee） and very good yields（up to 99%）.

Impregnated copper on magnetite as catalyst for the O-arylation of phenols with aryl halides

Nanoparticle Fe304 encapsulated CuO, as a heterogeneous catalyst, is a facile system for the synthesis of diaryl ethers by the cross-coupling reaction of various substituted aryl halides with various substituted phenols, which avoids using any type of expensive ligand and can be recovered from the reaction mixture by using a simple magnet. Moreover, this catalyst can be reused three times with high catalytic activity.

Pseudo four-component and regioselective synthesis of 4-amino-3,5-dicyano-6-arylphthalates using triethylamine catalyst

An efficient triethylamine-catalyzed synthesis of 4-amino-3,5-dicyano-6-arylphthalates is described.A one-pot,simple pseudo four-component reaction between arylaldehydes,dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, and twice as much malononitrile gave 4-amino-3,5-dicyano-6-arylphthalates in good to excellent yields.

Phosphine-mediated enantioselective synthesis of carbocycles and heterocycles

Nucleophilic chiral phosphine catalysis has been prosperous in asymmetric synthesis over the past two decades. Various tunable chiral phosphines display excellent activity and selectivity in asymmetric transformations including acycloaddition reactions and cycloaddition reactions. Enantiomerically enriched cyclic compounds are ubiquitous in natural products and drug molecules. These phosphinecatalyzed reactions provide effective and extensive strategies for the synthesis of a series of complex cyclic compounds as well as the synthesis of chiral compounds which could be easily transformed to carbocycles and heterocycles. This minireview summarizes recent developments in this area and highlights meaningful breakthroughs.