Liu, Liu & Cui
COMMUNICATION
product was separated by column chromatography
[eluted with V(petroleum ether)∶V(ethyl acetate)=6∶
1] to give a pure sample of 2a.
2θ=15°-80° with a BRUKER D8 ADVANCE dif-
fractometer. Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectra were
collected with a BRUKER FT/IR-460 Plus spectropho-
tometer in the 450-4000 cm−1 range. The spectra of the
samples were obtained in KBr pellets (Merck, spectro-
scopic grade) containing 1 wt% MNPs. 1H NMR spectra
and 13C NMR spectra were recorded using a Bruker
Avance 400 MHz NMR spectrometer (100 MHz for
carbon) and respectively referenced to δ 7.26 and 77.0
for chloroform-d solvent with TMS as internal standard.
Mass spectra were recorded on a Shimadzu GCMS-
QP5050A at an ionization voltage of 70 eV equipped
with a DB-WAX capillary column (internal diameter=
0.25 mm, length=30 m). TLC was performed using
commercially prepared 100-400 mesh silica gel plates
(GF254), and visualization was effected at 254 nm.
Synthesis of 3a according to the following proce-
dure
3-(Oct-2-ynylidene)pentane-2,4-dione (0.5
mmol), 1 mol% L-proline, 5 mol% Cu2O@Fe3O4 and
THF (3 mL) were stirred for 12 h in a closed system
under protection of purified argon at r.t. After comple-
tion of the reaction (monitored by TLC), the catalyst
could be easily separated by external permanent mag-
nets. And then the solvent was removed and the crude
product was separated by column chromatography
(eluted with V(petroleum ether)∶V(ethyl acetate)=
12∶1) to give a pure sample of 3a.
Results and Discussion
At the outset of our studies, 3-(oct-2-ynylidene)-
pentane-2,4-dione 1a was chosen as model substrates to
optimize the suitable reaction conditions and the results
are summarized in Table 1. A variety of nano-copper(I)
catalyst, solvents, additives, oxidant, temperatures and
time were screened. Various nanoparticle-supported
catalysts, such as Cu2O@Fe3O4, CuBr@Fe3O4, CuCl@
Fe3O4, CuO@Fe3O4 and nano-Cu2O, were firstly tested
by using air as oxidant in THF at room temperature for
12 h (Table 1, Entries 1-5). The results showed that the
product 2a was formed in 45% yield in the presence of
Cu2O@Fe3O4. Other catalysts also generated 2a in 10%
-42% yields. Notably, the side product 3a was also
detected. We next hope to optimize the suitable condi-
tions for the formation of 2a and 3a respectively in good
yields. Among solvents surveyed, the moderate yield of
2a was formed in CH3CN, CH2Cl2, CH3OH, DMSO and
DMF (Table 1 Entries 6-10). And it was indicated that
THF was the most effective media for this domino reac-
tion. Subsequently, additives were examined (Table 1
Entries 11-13) and the results indicated that higher
yield of 2a was obtained by using L-proline as additive
(Table 1 Entry 13). We next tried to improve the yields
of 2a by using oxygen with increasing oxygen pressure.
The results indicated that the products were formed in
82%, 73% yields by using 1 atm and 2 atm of O2 re-
spectively (Table 1, Entries 14, 15). To our delight, the
products 2a and 3a were formed in 10% and 79% yields
respectively in the protection of N2 (Table 1, Entry 16).
The good yield was obtained in the protection of Ar
(Table 1, Entry 17). The formation of Cu2O@Fe3O4 was
confirmed by TEM (Figure 1a) and XRD (Figure 2).
Having in hand a highly efficient catalytic system,
we then investigated the scope of the reaction for cycli-
zation of ene-yne-ketone to synthesize 2-carbonyl furans
(Table 2). First, alkyl-substituted alkyne (R=CH3-
(CH2)4) was examined for this domino process. We
were pleased to find that this cyclization/oxidation se-
quence tolerated a wide range of group on the carbonyl
carbon (R1, R2). Different substituted substrates, such as
R1=CH3, ClCH2; R2=CH3, CH3O, (CH3)3CO, EtO,
Synthesis of catalysts
Synthesis of Fe3O4 MNPs In the case of ammonia
water or diethylamine syntheses, 20 mmol of
FeCl3•6H2O and 10 mmol of FeCl2•4H2O were dis-
solved in 25 mL of deoxygenated 0.5 mol/L HCl solu-
tion. This solution was quickly added to 250 mL of a
deoxygenated 3.0 mol/L solution of ammonia water or
diethylamine at r.t. with vigorous mechanical stirring
under an argon atmosphere. A black precipitate formed
immediately, and stirring was continued for 2 h at that
temperature under an argon atmosphere. After that time,
the black precipitate was magnetically separated,
washed with deoxygenated water several times, and
stored in 0.1 mol/L TMAOH for future use. A similar
procedure was followed for the synthesis of Fe3O4 with
the inorganic base NaOH (pH 14).
Synthesis of Cu2O@Fe3O4 MNPs In the case of
the syntheses with ammonia water or diethylamine, 5
mmol of Cu2Cl2•6H2O was dissolved in a solution of 1
mL of 37% HCl in 4 mL of water, and 20 mmol of
FeCl3•6H2O and 10 mmol of FeCl2•4H2O were dis-
solved in 40 mL of water. The two solutions were mixed
at r.t., and then quickly added to 200 mL of 3.0 mol/L
ammonia water or diethylamine at 85 ℃ with vigorous
mechanical stirring under an argon atmosphere. A
brownish black precipitate formed immediately, and
stirring was continued for 2 h at 85 ℃. After that time,
the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature,
and the precipitate (Cu2O@Fe3O4 MNPs) was magneti-
cally separated, washed with water several times, and
dispersed in 0.1 mol/L TMAOH. For comparison, the
nanomaterials were also prepared using aqueous NaOH
solution (pH 14) under the same experimental condi-
tions.
Synthesis of 2a according to the following proce-
dure
3-(Oct-2-ynylidene)pentane-2,4-dione (0.5
mmol), 5 mmol% L-proline and 5 mol% Cu2O@Fe3O4
were stirred for 12 h in THF (3 mL) at r.t. After comple-
tion of the reaction (monitored by TLC), the catalyst
could be easily separated by an external permanent mag-
nets. And then the solvent was removed and the crude
2
© 2015 SIOC, CAS, Shanghai, & WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Chin. J. Chem. 2015, XX, 1—6