We report the use of cationic gold complexes [Au(NHC)(CH3CN)][BF4] and [{Au(NHC)}2(μ-OH)][BF4] (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) as highly active catalysts in the solvent-free hydroalkoxylation of internal alkynes using primary and secondary alcohols. Using this simple protocol, a broad range of (Z)-vinyl ethers were obtained in excellent yields and high stereoselectivities. The methodology allows...

We demonstrate the preparation and characterization of a simplified packed-bed microreactor using an immobilized TEMPO catalyst shown to oxidize primary and secondary alcohols via the biphasic Anelli-Montanari protocol. Oxidations occurred in high yields with great stability over time. We observed that plugs of aqueous oxidant and organic alcohol entered the reactor as plugs but merged into an ...

An in situ approach involving a simple mix and shake method for testing the enantiopurity of primary, secondary and tertiary chiral amines and their derivatives, chiral amino alcohols, by (1)H-NMR spectroscopy is developed. The protocol involves the in situ formation of chiral ammonium borate salt from a mixture of C2 symmetric chiral BINOL, trialkoxyborane and chiral amines. The proposed conce...

BACKGROUND Lipid molecules may play a regulatory role in the secretory pathway of mammals and yeast. The lipid hydrolase phospholipase D (PLD) is one candidate for mediating regulation of secretion, based on the location of this enzyme and its requirements for activation. RESULTS We found that primary alcohols, which block formation of phosphatidic acid (PA) by PLD, inhibited the transport of...

Bestmann ylide [(triphenylphosphoranylidene)ketene] acts as a chemical linchpin that links nucleophilic entities, such as alcohols or amines, with carbonyl moieties to produce unsaturated esters and amides, respectively. In this work, the formation of α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated esters (dienoates) is achieved through the coupling of Bestmann ylide, an alcohol and an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde. Primary an...

The iodine-catalyzed Prins cyclization of homoallylic alcohols and aldehydes was investigated under metal-free conditions and without additives. Anhydrous conditions and inert atmosphere are not required. The reaction of 2-(3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1-yl)propan-1-ol and 21 aldehydes (aliphatic and aromatic) in CH₂Cl₂ in the presence of 5 mol % of iodine gave 1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-benzo[f]isochromen...

By employing aerobic oxidation to aldehydes as a more effective alcohol activation strategy, ligand-free copper catalysts were found to be superior catalysts than other metals in aerobic dehydrative β-alkylation of secondary alcohols and α-alkylation of methyl ketones using alcohols as the green alkylating reagents. Based on our mechanistic studies and also supported by the literature, we deduc...

The synthetic protocol for the reduction of alcohols to hydrocarbons by using hydriodic acid, first described by Kiliani more than 140 years ago, was improved to be more applicable to organic synthesis. Instead of a strongly acidic, aqueous solution, a biphasic toluene-water reaction medium was used, which allowed the conversion of primary, secondary and tertiary benzylic alcohols, in good yiel...

Styrene monooxygenase (SMO) can catalyze the kinetic resolution of secondary allylic alcohols to provide enantiopure glycidol derivatives. To overcome the low theoretical yield of kinetic resolution, we designed a one-pot two-step enzymatic cascade using prochiral α,β-unsaturated ketones as the substrates. An S-specific ketoreductase ChKRED03 was screened for the efficient bioreduction of the s...

two subumits with molecular weights of 64,500 and 62,500. As its prosthetic group, non-covalelltly bound PQQ was foHnd. The dye-linked spectrophotemetric enzyme assay showed that the optimum enzyme activity occurred in the pH range about 7.0-9.0, and the ellzyme activity was inhibited by EDTA er EGTA. The enzyme showed extremely broEd substrate specificity for primary and secondary alcohols, al...