Hein, Jason E.

Detailed kinetic analysis for the Cu(I)-catalyzed Kinugasa reaction forming β-lactams has revealed an anomalous overall zero-order reaction profile, due to opposing positive and negative orders in nitrone and alkyne, respectively. Furthermore, the reaction displays a second-order dependence on the catalyst, confirming the critical involvement of a postulated bis-Cu complex. Finally, reaction progress analysis of multiple byproducts has allowed a new mechanism, involving a common ketene intermediate to be delineated. Our results demonstrate that β-lactam synthesis through the Kinugasa reaction proceeds via a cascade involving (3 + 2) cycloaddition, (3 + 2) cycloreversion, and finally (2 + 2) cycloaddition. Our new mechanistic understanding has resulted in optimized reaction conditions to dramatically improve the yield of the target β-lactams and provides the first consistent mechanistic model to account for the formation of all common byproducts of the Kinugasa reaction.

Continuing developments in the elucidation techniques of complex catalytic processes is of foremost importance to modern synthetic chemistry, and the identification of efficient synthetic techniques relies on precise, reliable, and adaptable methods to dissect the mechanism of a given transformation. Currently, methods of reaction development are grounded upon the systematic modification of specific variables—such as temperature, time, concentration, etc.—to account for and control the dynamic series of coupled equilibria within a catalytic environment. On the other hand, tandem reaction analytical methods that involve the concomitant use of different instruments to probe a reaction can provide time-resolved information regarding active chemical species and facilitate the interrogation and optimization of the system. Herein, we report our study applying tandem in situ ReactIR and HPLC-MS monitoring to the dysprosium(III) triflate-catalyzed aza-Piancatelli rearrangement of 2-furylcarbinols, a reaction that grants access to trans-4,5-disubstituted cyclopentenones—common motifs in important biologically relevant and natural compounds. With a prototype automated sampling apparatus, information was obtained about the intrinsic chemoselectivity of the reaction, and previously unseen intermediates were observed, allowing for a more detailed reaction mechanism to be substantiated. The advantages of applying this type of tandem measurement to study these types of systems are also discussed.

A mechanistic study of a new heterocycloisomerization reaction that forms annulated aminopyrroles is presented. Density functional theory calculations and kinetic studies suggest the reaction is catalyzed by trace copper salts and that a Z- to E-hydrazone isomerization occurs through an enehydrazine intermediate before the rate-determining cyclization of the hydrazone onto the alkyne group. The aminopyrrole products are obtained in 36–93% isolated yield depending on the nature of the alkynyl substituent. A new automated sampling technique was developed to obtain robust mechanistic data.