One-pot synthesis of cyclic carbonates from aldehydes, sulfur ylide, and CO2

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-0033-1340072

Treatment of aldehydes with sulfur ylide (CH₂=SOMe₂ or CH₂=SMe₂), in the presence of CO₂ (1 atm) bubbled sequentially under mild conditions, produces cyclic carbonates in preparative yields. Sodium iodide formed in situ promotes the reaction between epoxide as intermediate and CO₂ at ambient conditions, thus constituting a powerful metal-free synthesis of organic cyclic carbonates directly from aldehydes. Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York.

Full text of DOI:10.1055/s-0033-1340072

LETTER
▌97
letter
One-Pot Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from Aldehydes, Sulfur Ylide, and
CO2
Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from Aldehydes
Ravindra D. Aher, B. Senthil Kumar, Arumugam Sudalai*
Chemical Engineering and Process Development Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pashan Road, Pune – 411 008, India
Fax +91(20)25902676; E-mail: a.sudalai@ncl.res.in
Received: 19.07.2013; Accepted after revision: 01.10.2013
up procedure for their isolation. Sulfur ylides have been
widely employed in the conversion of aldehydes into ep-
oxides (Corey–Chaykovsky reaction) in organic synthe-
sis, thereby serving as C1 carbon source under ambient
Abstract: Treatment of aldehydes with sulfur ylide (CH2=SOMe2
or CH2=SMe2), in the presence of CO2 (1 atm) bubbled sequentially
under mild conditions, produces cyclic carbonates in preparative
yields. Sodium iodide formed in situ promotes the reaction between
epoxide as intermediate and CO2 at ambient conditions, thus consti- conditions.12 In this note, we wish to disclose an efficient
tuting a powerful metal-free synthesis of organic cyclic carbonates
directly from aldehydes.
and metal-free, one-pot procedure for the synthesis of or-
ganic cyclic carbonates by the sequential reaction of alde-
Key words: cyclization, epoxides, insertion, carbon dioxide, cyclic
carbonates
hydes with sulfur ylides (CH2=SOMe2 or CH2=SMe2)
followed by its reaction with CO2 (1 atm) in the absence
of heavy-metal additives under ambient conditions
(Scheme 1).
Carbon dioxide is one of the major constituents of green-
house gases, and to control its rapidly increased concen-
tration in atmosphere is a major challenge for scientific
communities.1 Global-warming concern has dramatically
increased interest in using CO2 as a feedstock for the prep-
aration of value-added chemicals.1j Although CO2 is an at-
tractive nonhazardous C1 synthon in abundance, its
utilization in chemical transformations remains challeng-
ing because of its high thermodynamic stability and low
chemical reactivity.2 In particular, the synthesis of low-
energy target molecules (e.g., organic carbonates) repre-
sents a promising alternative to overcome this thermody-
namics. Organic cyclic carbonates are biodegradable
chemicals that find tremendous applications as electrolyt-
ic materials in lithium ion batteries, polar aprotic solvents,
intermediates in the production of pharmaceuticals and
fine chemicals, as well as for developing engineered poly-
meric materials.3 Biologically active molecules that con-
tain a cyclic carbonate moiety have also been isolated
from various natural sources.4 In literature, cyclic carbon-
ates are generally prepared by the cycloaddition of CO2
with epoxides in the presence of many activating reagents
such as quaternary ammonium salts,5a–c azaphospha-
tranes,5d metal–salen complexes derived from Al, Zn, Mg,
and other first-row transition metals.6 Other methods of
their synthesis include the reaction of CO2 with styrenes,7
propargyl alcohols,8 allyl alcohols,9 diols,10 or halohy-
drins.11 Although these reported methods provide a simple
route for the environmentally benign chemical fixation of
CO2 to produce cyclic carbonates, these have certain lim-
itations such as dependence on epoxides as starting mate-
rials, use of toxic or costly reagents, relatively high
pressure and temperature, often requiring a tedious work-
O
Me3SI or Me3SOI,
O
O
NaH, DMSO–THF (1:1)
O
R
H
25 °C, 1 h,
then CO2 (1 atm)
40 °C, 6 h
R
1a–v
R = alkyl, aryl, vinyl
4a–v
40–98%
Scheme 1 Synthesis of cyclic carbonates from aldehydes, sulfur
ylide, and CO2
Preliminary experiments have shown that when all the
three components (aldehyde, sulfur ylide, and CO2) were
treated together at 25 °C in DMSO, a stable, colorless
adduct12 (mp 135–137 °C) was obtained instantaneously
due to the preferential reaction of sulfur ylide with CO2. It
was then reasoned that CO2 could be bubbled sequentially
after the in situ formation of epoxide from aldehyde and
sulfur ylide.
The CO2 insertion into epoxide can be further facilitated
by NaI as promoter formed in the reaction. However,
when CO2 (1 atm) was bubbled into the reaction mixture
at 25 °C after one hour (by which time the complete for-
mation of epoxide has taken place), only epoxide 2a was
isolated in 95% yield (Table 1, entry 1). At 40 °C, it gave
the desired cyclic carbonate 4a (30%) along with signifi-
cant amount of iodo alcohol 3a (65%). Subsequently it
was found that the yield of 4a was, however, dependent
linearly on temperature (Table 1, entries 3–5). At this
stage, it was thought that by reducing the polarity of the
solvent, the nucleophilicity of the iodo alkoxide 3
(Scheme 2) could be increased for its reaction with CO2 so
as to maximize the yield of 4a.11 Thus, when the reaction
was carried out with a relatively low polar solvent system
(DMSO–THF, 1:1) at 25 °C under CO2 (1 atm), no cyclic
carbonate was observed; only epoxide 2a was again ob-
tained in 96% yield. Finally, at 40 °C, a dramatic im-
provement in yield of 4a (94%) was achieved with the
SYNLETT 2014, 25, 0097–0101
Advanced online publication: 07.11.2013
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1
4
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DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1340072; Art ID: ST-2013-B0676-L
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

98
R. D. Aher et al.
LETTER
Table 1 Optimization Parameters for Cyclic Carbonatesa
O
O
OH
O
O
Me3SOI, NaH,
solvent, 25 °C, 1 h
O
I
H
+
+
then CO2 (1 atm)
1a
2a
3a
4a
Entry
Solvent
Temp (°C)
Time (h)
Yield of 2a (%)b Yield of 3a (%)b Yield of 4a (%)b
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
DMSO
25
40
12
12
12
12
12
12
6
95
–
–
–
DMSO
65
53
23
–
30
41
71
87
–
DMSO
60
–
DMSO
80
–
DMSO
100
25
–
DMSO–THF(1:1)
DMSO–THF(1:1)
96
–
–
40
–
94
a Aldehyde (3 mmol), NaH (3.3 mmol), Me3SOI (3.3 mmol), solvent (20 mL).
b Isolated yield after column chromatographic purification.
Table 2 Cyclic Carbonates from Aldehydes and CH2=SOMe2 or
CH2=SMe2 with CO2 (continued)
same solvent system Table 1, entry 7). Unfortunately, oth-
er bases (KOH, NaOH, KOt-Bu)13 were not as effective as
NaH. With the optimized reaction conditions in hand,16
we then examined the substrate scope of the reaction (Ta-
ble 2). Even lower members of cyclic carbonates of com-
mercial importance (4b and 4c) can be prepared in
moderate to good yields. Further, aldehydes bearing halo,
cyano, nitro, methoxy, and methylene dioxy groups on the
aromatic nucleus and functionalized aliphatic aldehydes
underwent this sequential reaction smoothly to afford the
corresponding cyclic carbonates 4a–v in high yields.
a
Entry
Aldehydes 1
Yield of cyclic
carbonates (%)b
6
n-heptanal (1f)
4f 94
4g 65
4h 98
4i 85
7b
8b
9
acrolein (1g)
cinnamaldehyde (1h)
2-methoxybenzaldehyde (1i)
3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde (1j)
4-fluorobenzaldehyde (1k)
4-chlorobenzaldehyde (1l)
2-bromobenzaldehyde (1m)
4-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde (1n)
2-nitrobenzaldehyde (1o)
3-nitrobenzaldehyde (1p)
piperonal (1q)
Among the substrates screened, aldehdyes with halo 4k– 10
4j 90
4k 90
4l 87
n and cyano 4t substituents on the aromatic nucleus were
found to be the best substrates for this methodology.
Volatile aliphatic and conjugated aldehydes14 were also
converted into the corresponding cyclic carbonates 4b–h
in high yields (Table 2, entries 2–8). Also, chiral amino al-
dehyde 1u gave the corresponding cyclic carbonate 4u ef-
ficiently under the reaction conditions (Table 2, entry 21).
Cyclic carbonates 4a–v have exhibited a strong IR absorp-
tion in the range 1792–1822 cm–1 due to the C=O stretch-
ing vibration of the cyclic carbonate moiety.
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
4m 96
4n 98
4o 79
4p 75
4q 86
4r 80
4s 77
3-benzyloxy-1-propanal (1r)
3-phenylpropanal (1s)
Table 2 Cyclic Carbonates from Aldehydes and CH2=SOMe2 or
a
CH2=SMe2 with CO2
Entry
Aldehydes 1
Yield of cyclic
carbonates (%)b
3,4-(OMe)2-2-CN-phenyl-propanal (1t) 4t 83
(S)-(α-NHBoc)-3-phenyl-propanal (1u) 4u 79
1
2
3
4
5
benzaldehyde (1a)
acetaldehyde (1b)
propionaldehyde (1c)
isobutyraldehyde (1d)
n-pentanal (1e)
4a 94
4b 40
4c 65
4d 73
4e 89
4-thiomethylbenzaldehyde (1v)
4v 90
a Reaction conditions: aldehyde (3 mmol), NaH (3.3 mmol), Me3SOI
(3.3 mmol), DMSO (10 mL), THF (10 mL), 25 °C, 1 h, then CO2 bub-
bling 40 °C, 6 h.
b Dimethylsulfonium methylide was used instead of dimethyloxosul-
fonium methylide.
Synlett 2014, 25, 97–101
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

LETTER
Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from Aldehydes
99
For comparative studies, it was of interest to investigate as a promoter; (5) milder reaction conditions; (6) func-
the effect of temperature on cycloaddition of styrene ep- tional-group tolerance; and (7) high yields of cyclic car-
oxide with CO2 using various alkali metal iodides. Thus, bonates.
when styrene epoxide was treated with CO2 (1.0133 bar)
in the presence of NaI (100 mol%) in DMSO–THF (1:1)
at 25 °C for 12 hours, no reaction took place. However,
Acknowledgment
We sincerely thank CSIR, New Delhi, India (NWP-0021B) for fi-
nancial support. RDA and BSK thank CSIR, New Delhi, India for
research fellowships. Authors also thank Dr V. V. Ranade, Chair,
Chemical Eng. & Process Develop. Div. and Dr B. D. Kulkarni, Di-
stinguished Scientist for their constant encouragement and support.
when the same reaction was carried out at 40 °C for six
hours, the corresponding styrene cyclic carbonate was ob-
tained in 95% yield. Also, other alkali metal iodides (KI
and LiI, in stoichiometric amount) under the same reac-
tion conditions, could be employed to give the styrene cy-
clic carbonate in 73% and 83% yield, respectively. NaI
could also be used in catalytic amount (10 mol%) to give
styrene cyclic carbonate in 91% yield, although it took 38
hours to completion. From the above investigations, we
strongly believe that a slightly higher temperature (40 °C)
is needed for the activation of styrene epoxide by alkali
metal iodide.
Supporting Information for this article is available online at
http://www.thieme-connect.com/ejournals/toc/synlett.SnuIpofoiprmntgirStanoIuifpog
r
t
iornat
References and Notes
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Based on the above observations, a probable mechanistic
pathway for the formation of cyclic carbonates is shown
in Scheme 2.15 Firstly, aldehydes 1a–v react with sulfur
ylide (generated in situ from O=SMe3I and NaH in
DMSO) to form epoxide 2 which was isolated and charac-
terized. Subsequently, NaI formed in situ in the reaction
medium promotes the regioselective ring opening of ep-
oxide 2 to give iodo alkoxide complex 3 (confirmed by
isolation and characterization of iodoalcohol 3a, see Table
1). This is followed by its simultaneous insertion with
CO2 producing the intermediate I, cyclization of which re-
sults in the formation of cyclic carbonates 4a–v.
Na
O
Na
O
O
C
H
CO2 (1atm)
Me3SOI, NaH
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R
CHO
1a–v
R
R
– NaI
– DMSO
I
O
I
3
2
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O
O
O
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Na
– NaI
O
O
O
R
R
I
4a–v
I
Scheme 2 Pathway for the formation of cyclic carbonates from alde-
hydes, sulfur ylide, and CO2
In summary, we have described, for the first time, a novel
‘one-pot’ procedure that involves reaction of aldehydes
1a–v with sulfur ylides, followed by CO2 insertion in a
sequential fashion leading to the high-yield synthesis of
cyclic carbonates 4a–v. The salient features of the meth-
odology are as follows: (1) unprecedented one-pot synthe-
sis of organic cyclic carbonates directly from aldehydes;
(2) inexpensive and commercially available starting mate-
rials; (3) metal-free synthesis; (4) water-soluble NaI acts
(7) (a) Wang, J. L.; Wang, J. Q.; He, L. N.; Dou, X. Y.; Wu, F.
Green Chem. 2008, 10, 1218. (b) Bai, D. S.; Jing, H. W.
Green Chem. 2010, 12, 39.
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
Synlett 2014, 25, 97–101

100
R. D. Aher et al.
LETTER
(8) Satoshi, K.; Shunsuke, Y.; Yuudai, S.; Wataru, Y.; Hau, M.
C.; Kosuke, F.; Kohei, S.; Izumi, I.; Taketo, I.; Tohru, Y.
Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 2011, 84, 698.
4.77–4.94 (m, 1 H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 19.0,
70.4, 73.4, 154.8. Anal. Calcd (%) for C4H6O3: C, 47.06; H,
5.92. Found: C, 47.04; H, 5.91.
(9) Minakata, S.; Sasaki, I.; Ide, T. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010,
49, 1309.
4-Ethyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4c)
Yield 65% (226.4 mg, 1.95 mmol); colorless oil. IR
(CHCl3): νmax = 1060, 1177, 1377, 1797 cm–1. 1H NMR (200
MHz, CDCl3): δ = 1.03 (t, J = 7.4 Hz, 3 H), 1.72–1.87 (m, 2
H), 4.1 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.5 Hz, 1 H), 4.55 (t, J = 8.2 Hz, 1 H),
4.63–4.73 (m, 1 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 7.9,
26.2, 68.5, 77.6, 154.6. Anal. Calcd (%) for C5H8O3: C,
51.72; H, 6.94. Found: C, 51.75; H, 6.91.
(10) (a) Du, Y.; Kong, D. L.; Wang, H. Y.; Cai, F.; Tian, J. S.;
Wang, J. Q.; He, L. N. J. Mol. Catal. A: Chem. 2005, 241,
233. (b) Du, Y.; He, L. N. Catal. Commun. 2008, 9, 1754.
(11) Peng, Y.; Xueqin, T.; Huanwang, J.; Shuhui, D.; Xiaoxuan,
W.; Zhongli, L. J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 2459.
(12) (a) Corey, E. J.; Chaykovsky, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1965,
87, 1353. (b) Melting point was found to be in agreement
with the reported value.
(13) (a) Ylide generation failed with NaOH. (b) Diol was
obtained in 48% yield with KOH. (c) Trace amount (5%) of
epoxide was obtained using KOt-Bu as base.
(14) Dimethylsulfonium methylide was used instead of
dimethyloxosulfonium methylide.
4-Isopropyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4d)
Yield 73% (285 mg, 2.19 mmol); colorless oil. IR (CHCl3):
ν
max = 1075, 1175, 1392, 1789 cm–1. 1H NMR (200 MHz,
CDCl3): δ = 0.95 (d, J = 6.8 Hz, 3 H), 1.04 (d, J = 6.5 Hz, 3
H), 1.90–2.00 (m, 1 H), 4.12–4.18 (m, 1 H), 4.37–4.53 (m, 2
H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 16.4, 16.8, 31.4, 67.2,
80.9, 154.6. HRMS (ESI+): m/z = calcd for (C6H10O3)+ [M +
H]+: 131.0709; found: 131.0708. Anal. Calcd (%) for
C6H10O3: C, 55.37; H, 7.75. Found: C, 55.40; H, 7.71.
4-Butyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4e)
(15) North, M.; Pasquale, R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48,
2946.
(16) General Description
Solvents were purified and dried by standard procedures
before use; PE of boiling range 60–80 °C was used. Melting
points are uncorrected and recorded on a Buchi B-542
instrument. 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra were recorded on
Bruker AC-200 spectrometer unless mentioned otherwise.
Elemental analysis was carried out on a Carlo Erba CHNS-
O analyzer. Infrared spectra were recorded on Shimadzu
FTIR-8400 spectrometer and absorption is expressed in cm–1.
HRMS data for new compounds were recorded on a Thermo
Scientific Q-Exactive, Accela 1250 pump. Purification was
done using column chromatography (230–400 mesh).
General Experimental Procedure for the Preparation of
Cyclic Carbonates 4a–v
NaH (0.132 g, 3.3 mmol; previously washed with anhydrous
PE to remove oil) was taken in an oven-dried three-necked
flask, followed by addition of anhydrous DMSO (10 mL)
through a septum to it, and the whole slurry was stirred at 25
°C under N2 atmosphere. Solid Me3SOI (0.726 g, 3.3 mmol)
was added to the slurry with stirring over a period of 5 min
via a solid addition funnel until it becomes a homogeneous
solution. A solution of aldehyde 1a–v (3 mmol), dissolved in
anhydrous THF (10 mL), was added dropwise to the reaction
mixture. After 1 h, CO2 (1 atm) was then bubbled slowly via
a needle into the reaction mixture, (after ascertaining that
aldehyde was completely converted into epoxide, monitored
by TLC) at 40 °C, for 6 h. Water (10 mL) was added to
quench the reaction. It was then extracted with EtOAc (3 ×
20 mL); the organic layer was washed with brine and dried
over anhydrous Na2SO4 and the solvent concentrated,
product purified by silica gel column chromatography (100–
200 mesh) using PE and EtOAc (70:30) as eluent to afford
pure cyclic carbonates 4a–v.
Yield 89% (384.9 mg, 2.6 mmol); gum. IR (CHCl3): νmax
=
1066, 1173, 1797 cm–1. 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ =
0.88–0.95 (m, 3 H), 1.23–1.40 (m, 3 H), 1.68–1.80 (m, 3 H),
4.05 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.0 Hz, 1 H), 4.51 (t, J = 8.2 Hz, 1 H),
4.62–4.76 (m, 1 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 13.8,
22.2, 26.4, 33.6, 69.3, 76.9, 154.9. Anal. Calcd (%) for
C7H12O3: C, 58.32; H, 8.39. Found: C, 58.34; H, 8.38%.
4-Hexyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4f)
Yield 94% (486 mg, 2.82 mmol); gum. IR (CHCl3): νmax
=
772, 1065, 1170, 1802 cm–1. 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ
= 0.86–0.93 (m, 3 H), 1.30–1.49 (m, 8 H), 1.69–1.80 (m, 2
H), 4.06 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 1 H), 4.51 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H), 4.62–
4.76 (m, 1 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 13.9, 22.4,
24.3, 28.7, 31.4, 33.8, 69.2, 76.8, 154.8. Anal. Calcd (%) for
C9H16O3: C, 62.77; H, 9.36. Found: C, 62.73; H, 9.40.
4-Vinyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4g)
Yield 65% (222.5 mg, 1.95 mmol); yellow oil. IR (CHCl3):
ν
max = 772, 991, 1060, 1168, 1385, 1510, 1805 cm–1. 1H
NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 4.17 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1 H), 4.61
(t, J = 8.4 Hz, 1 H), 5.12 (dd, J = 14.9, 7.5 Hz, 1 H), 5.48 (t,
J = 16.5 Hz, 2 H), 5.83–6.0 (m, 1 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz,
CDCl3): δ = 68.8, 76.8, 120.9, 132.2, 154.2. HRMS (ESI+):
m/z calcd for (C5H6O3)+ [M + H]+: 115.0396; found:
115.0392; Anal. Calcd (%) for C5H6O3: C, 52.63; H, 5.30.
Found: C, 52.61; H, 5.32.
(E)-4-Styryl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4h)
Yield 98% (559 mg, 2.94 mmol); colorless solid; mp 115–
116 °C. IR (CHCl3): νmax = 1049, 1070, 1168, 1648, 1800
cm–1. 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 4.23 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1
H), 4.64 (t, J = 8.2 Hz, 1 H), 5.26 (q, J = 7.9 Hz, 1 H), 6.15
(dd, J = 15.7, 7.7 Hz, 1 H), 6.73 (d, J = 15.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.26–
7.40 (m, 5 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 69.2, 77.6,
122.4, 126.9, 128.8, 129.0, 134.8, 136.6, 154.4. HRMS
(ESI+): m/z calcd for (C11H10O3)+ [M + Na]+: 213.0527;
found: 213.0522. Anal. Calcd (%) for C11H10O3: C, 69.46; H,
5.30. Found: C, 69.41; H, 5.33.
4-Phenyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4a)
Yield 94% (463 mg, 2.82 mmol); colorless solid; mp 53–
54 °C (lit. mp 51–53 °C). IR (CHCl3): νmax = 769, 1068,
1168, 1328, 1458, 1812 cm–1. 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3):
δ = 4.29 (t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1 H), 4.77 (t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1 H), 5.64
(t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1 H), 7.32–7.42 (m, 5 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz,
CDCl3): δ = 70.9, 77.8, 125.7, 129.0, 129.4, 135.8, 154.6.
Anal. Calcd (%) for C9H8O3: C, 65.85; H, 4.91. Found: C,
65.84; H, 4.90.
4-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4i)
Yield 85% (495 mg, 2.55 mmol); gum. IR (CHCl3): νmax
=
757, 1076, 1166, 1249, 1494, 1812 cm–1. 1H NMR (200
MHz, CDCl3): δ = 3.86 (s, 3 H), 4.25 (dd, J = 8.4, 1.1 Hz, 1
H), 4.82 (t, J = 8.4 Hz, 1 H), 5.81 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H), 6.90–
7.04 (m, 2 H), 7.32–7.38 (m, 2 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz,
CDCl3): δ = 55.4, 70.5, 74.7, 110.5, 120.9, 124.9, 126.1,
130.3, 154.9, 156.1. Anal. Calcd (%) for C10H10O4: C, 61.85;
H, 5.19. Found: C, 61.79; H, 5.14.
4-Methyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4b)
Yield 40% (122.5 mg, 1.2 mmol); colorless oil; IR (CHCl3):
νmax = 711, 776, 1051, 1120, 1183, 1354, 1389, 1793 cm–1.
1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 1.49 (d, J = 6.1 Hz, 3 H),
4.02 (dd, J = 8.2, 1.0 Hz, 1 H), 4.55 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H),
4-(3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4j)
Synlett 2014, 25, 97–101
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

LETTER
Yield 90% (686 mg, 2.7 mmol); brown solid; mp 133–
Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from Aldehydes
101
4-{Benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl}-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4q)
134 °C. IR (CHCl3): νmax = 1068, 1125, 1243, 1510, 1796
cm–1. 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 3.84 (s, 3 H), 3.88 (s,
6 H), 4.31 (t, J = 8.3 Hz, 1 H), 4.78 (t, J = 8.4 Hz, 1 H), 5.60
(t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1 H), 6.54 (s, 2 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz,
CDCl3): δ = 56.1, 60.7, 71.1, 78.0, 102.6, 131.2, 138.8,
153.8, 154.5. HRMS (ESI+): m/z calcd for (C12H14O6)+ [M +
H]+: 255.0869; found: 255.0855. Anal. Calcd (%) for
C12H14O6: C, 56.69; H, 5.55. Found: C, 56.62; H, 5.50.
4-(4-Fluorophenyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4k)
Yield 90% (492 mg, 2.7 mmol); colorless solid; mp 91–
92 °C. IR (CHCl3): νmax = 773, 840, 1069, 1161, 1210, 1385,
1514, 1818 cm–1. 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 4.31 (t,
J = 8.2 Hz, 1 H), 4.80 (t, J = 8.3 Hz, 1 H), 5.66 (t, J = 8.0 Hz,
1 H), 7.08–7.19 (m, 2 H), 7.32–7.40 (m, 2 H). 13C NMR (50
MHz, CDCl3): δ = 71.0, 77.3, 116, 116.5, 127.9, 128.0,
131.6, 154.4, 160.84, 165.8. Anal. Calcd (%) for C9H7FO3:
C, 59.35; H, 3.87. Found: C, 59.37; H, 3.86.
Yield 86% (537 mg, 2.58 mmol); gum. IR (CHCl3): νmax =
1070, 1164, 1251, 1505, 1791 cm–1. 1H NMR (200 MHz,
CDCl3): δ = 4.32 (t, J = 8.4 Hz, 1 H), 4.75 (t, J = 8.5 Hz, 1
H), 5.58 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H), 6.01 (s, 2 H), 6.84 (s, 3 H). 13
NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 71.0, 78.0, 101.5, 106.1, 108.6,
120.3, 129.2, 148.5, 148.8, 154.6. Anal. Calcd (%) for
C10H8O5: C, 57.70; H, 3.87. Found: C, 57.72; H, 3.84.
4-[2-(Benzyloxy)ethyl]-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4r)
C
Yield 80% (533 mg, 2.4 mmol); gum. IR (CHCl3): νmax
=
1061, 1173, 1364, 1454, 1794 cm–1. 1H NMR (200 MHz,
CDCl3): δ = 2.02–2.10 (m, 2 H), 3.58–3.65 (m, 2 H), 4.17
(dd, J = 8.4, 1.0 Hz, 1 H), 4.47–4.52 (m, 3 H), 4.79–4.93 (m,
1 H), 7.29–7.40 (m, 5 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): δ =
32.0, 33.9, 61.5, 65.3, 69.1, 69.6, 73.1, 73.3, 75.0, 127.5,
127.8, 128.3, 128.4, 137.5, 154.7. Anal. Calcd (%) for
C12H14O4: C, 64.85; H, 6.35. Found: C, 64.82; H, 6.31.
4-Phenethyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4s)
4-(4-Chlorophenyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4l)
Yield 77% (444 mg, 2.31 mmol); gum. IR (CHCl3): νmax =
Yield 87% (518 mg, 2.61 mmol); colorless solid; mp 70–71
°C (lit. mp 68–69 °C). IR (CHCl3): νmax = 770, 829, 1071,
1167, 1384, 1494, 1816 cm–1. 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3):
δ = 4.29 (t, J = 8.4 Hz, 1 H), 4.80 (t, J = 8.4 Hz, 1 H), 5.65
(t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1 H), 7.28–7.33 (m, 2 H), 7.36–7.44 (m, 2 H).
13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 70.9, 77.1, 127.2, 129.4,
134.4, 135.7, 154.3. Anal. Calcd (%) for C9H7ClO3: C,
54.43; H, 3.55. Found: C, 54.37; H, 3.56.
1061, 1165, 1796 cm–1. 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ =
1.94–2.17 (m, 2 H), 2.72–2.91 (m, 2 H), 4.01 (dd, J = 8.3,
1.1 Hz, 1 H), 4.44 (t, J = 8.2 Hz, 1 H), 4.62–4.68 (m, 1 H),
7.15–7.34 (m, 5 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 30.8,
35.6, 69.1, 75.8, 126.5, 128.3, 128.7, 139.6, 154.6. Anal.
Calcd (%) for C11H12O3: C, 68.74; H, 6.29. Found: C, 68.71;
H, 6.26.
4,5-Dimethoxy-2-(2-oxo-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)benzonitrile
(4t)
4-(2-Bromophenyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4m)
Yield 96% (700 mg, 2.88 mmol); gum. IR (CHCl3): νmax
=
Yield 83% (690.42, 2.49 mmol); gum. IR (CHCl3): νmax =
763, 969, 1072, 1125, 1159, 1208, 1473, 1817 cm–1. 1H
1064, 1168, 1270, 1516, 1793, 2218 cm–1. 1H NMR (200
MHz, CDCl3): δ = 2.09 (q, J = 7.8 Hz, 1 H), 2.89–2.98 (m,
1 H), 3.89 (s, 3 H), 3.94 (s, 3 H), 4.14 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.6 Hz,
1 H), 4.54 (t, J = 8.2 Hz, 1 H), 4.62–4.73 (m, 1 H), 6.80 (s,
1 H), 7.03 (s, 1 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 29.5,
35.0, 56.1, 69.0, 75.6, 103.0, 112.3, 114.2, 118.0, 138.1,
147.9, 152.9, 154.5. HRMS (ESI+): m/z calcd for
(C14H15NO5)+ [M + H]+: 278.1023; found: 278.1026. Anal.
Calcd (%) for C14H15NO5 C, 60.64; H, 5.45; N, 5.05. Found:
C, 60.60; H, 5.40; N, 5.10.
NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 4.24 (dd, J = 6.8, 1.7 Hz, 1 H),
4.99 (t, J = 8.4 Hz, 1 H), 5.94 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H), 7.28–7.39
(m, 1 H), 7.43–7.62 (m, 3 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3):
δ = 70.4, 76.3, 120.1, 126.0, 128.1, 130.4, 132.96, 136.3,
154.3. Anal. Calcd (%) for C9H7BrO3: C, 44.47; H, 2.90.
Found: C, 44.45; H, 2.86.
4-[4-(Trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4n)
Yield 98% (683 mg, 2.94 mmol); gum. IR (CHCl3): νmax
=
771, 844, 1071, 1167, 1264, 1327, 1426, 1822 cm–1. 1H
NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 4.30 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1 H), 4.85
(t, J = 8.4 Hz, 1 H), 5.74 (t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1 H), 7.48 (d, J = 8.0
Hz, 1 H), 7.70–7.74 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 2 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz,
CDCl3): δ = 70.8, 76.8, 126.0, 126.2, 126.3, 126.4, 139.9,
154.2. HRMS (ESI+): m/z calcd for (C10H7F3O3)+ [M + H]+:
233.0426; found: 233.0426. Anal. Calcd (%) for C10H7F3O3:
C, 51.74; H, 3.04. Found: C, 51.71; H, 3.06.
tert-Butyl {(S)-1-[(S)-2-Oxo-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]-2-
phenylethyl}carbamate (4u)
Yield 79% (728 mg, 2.37 mmol); colorless solid; mp 148–
149 °C. IR (CHCl3): νmax = 1061, 1169, 1249, 1366, 1689,
1800 cm–1. 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 1.40 (s, 9 H),
2.82–2.89 (m, 2 H), 4.09 (m, 1 H), 4.28–4.44 (m, 2 H), 4.67
(m, 2 H), 7.22–7.33 (m, 5 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): δ
= 28.2, 38.5, 52.8, 66.5, 76.1, 80.4, 127.1, 128.88, 129.2,
136.4, 154.6, 155.9. Anal. Calcd (%) for C16H21NO5: C,
62.53; H, 6.89; N, 4.56. Found: C, 62.57; H, 6.91; N, 4.60.
4-[4-(Methylthio)phenyl]-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4v)
Yield 90% (573 mg, 2.73 mmol); yellow solid; mp 55–
57 °C. IR (CHCl3): νmax = 817, 895, 1062, 1173, 1384, 1514,
1767 cm–1. 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 2.49 (s, 3 H),
4.30 (t, J = 8.1 Hz, 1 H), 4.76 (t, J = 8.2 Hz, 1 H), 5.61 (t,
J = 8.0 Hz, 1 H), 7.27 (s, 4 H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3):
δ = 15.0, 70.7, 77.5, 125.8, 131.9, 140.7, 154.5. Anal. Calcd
(%) for C10H10SO3: C, 57.13; H, 4.79. Found: C, 57.17; H,
4.86. HRMS (ESI+): m/z calcd for (C10H10O3S)+ [M + H]+:
211.0429; found: 211.0441.
4-(2-Nitrophenyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4o)
Yield 79% (496 mg, 2.37 mmol); brown solid; mp 95–96 °C.
IR (CHCl3): νmax = 1073, 1167, 1350, 1527, 1819 cm–1. 1H
NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 4.27 (dd, J = 9.0, 3.3 Hz, 1 H),
5.17 (t, J = 8.9 Hz, 1 H), 6.28 (dd, J = 8.7, 2.7 Hz, 1 H),
7.60–7.68 (m, 1 H), 7.83 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2 H), 8.26 (d, J = 8.2
Hz, 1 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 71.2, 74.3, 125.6,
126.2, 129.9, 134.1, 135.1, 145.9, 154.2 Anal. Calcd (%) for
C9H7NO5: C, 51.68; H, 3.37; N, 6.70. Found: C, 51.71; H,
3.35; N, 6.66.
4-(3-Nitrophenyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-one (4p)
Yield 75% (470 mg, 2.25 mmol); brown solid; mp 97–98 °C.
IR (CHCl3): νmax = 1071, 1166, 1349, 1530, 1805 cm–1. 1H
NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 4.35 (dd, J = 8.7, 1.1 Hz, 1 H),
4.91 (t, J = 8.5 Hz, 1 H), 5.81 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1 H), 7.64–7.78
(m, 2 H), 8.24–8.33 (m,2 H). 13C NMR (50 MHz, CDCl3): δ
= 70.7, 76.3, 120.9, 124.5, 130.5, 131.4, 138.2, 148.6, 153.8.
HRMS (ESI+): m/z calcd for (C9H7NO5)+ [M + Na]+:
232.0221; found: 232.0214. Anal. Calcd (%) for C9H7NO5:
C, 51.68; H, 3.37; N, 6.70. Found: C, 51.72; H, 3.34; N, 6.68.
2-Iodo-1-phenylethan-1-ol (3a)
Gum. IR (CHCl3): νmax = 699, 1054, 1174, 1452, 3404 cm–1.
1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 2.44 (br s, 1 H), 3.33–3.52
(m, 2 H), 4.80–4.84 (m, 1 H), 7.31–7.38 (m, 5 H). 13C NMR
(50 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 1502, 74.0, 125.7, 128.3, 128.6,
141.1. Anal. Calcd (%) for C8H9IO: C, 38.74; H, 3.66.
Found: C, 38.70; H, 3.63.
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
Synlett 2014, 25, 97–101