31197-63-4

Upstream product

• 71-23-8 propan-1-ol 
• 611-73-4 Benzoylformic acid 
• 15206-55-0 methyl 2-oxo-2-phenylacetate 
• 64-17-5 ethanol 
• 2720-67-4 potassium propylxanthate 
• 98-86-2 acetophenone 
• 932-87-6 1-Bromo-2-phenylacetylene 
• 1201-93-0 1-phenyl-3-dimethylaminoprop-2-enone 
• 536-74-3 phenylacetylene 
• 93-56-1 phenylethane 1,2-diol 
• 41463-86-9 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-hydroxy-1-phenylbut-2-en-1-one 
• 140-29-4 phenylacetonitrile 
• 5413-58-1 propyl 2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetate 
• 611-71-2 MANDELIC ACID 

Downstream Products

• 100-52-7 benzaldehyde 
• 123-38-6 propionaldehyde 

Relevant academic research and scientific papers

Metal-Free Oxidative Esterification of Ketones and Potassium Xanthates: Selective Synthesis of α-Ketoesters and Esters

A novel and efficient oxidative esterification for the selective synthesis of α-ketoesters and esters has been developed under metal-free conditions. In the protocol, various α-ketoesters and esters are available in high yields from commercially available ketones and potassium xanthates. Mechanistic studies have proven that potassium xanthate not only promotes oxidative esterification but also provides an alkoxy moiety for the reaction, which involves the cleavage and reconstruction of C-O bonds.

Exploiting Cofactor Versatility to Convert a FAD-Dependent Baeyer–Villiger Monooxygenase into a Ketoreductase

Cyclohexanone monooxygenases (CHMOs) show very high catalytic specificity for natural Baeyer–Villiger (BV) reactions and promiscuous reduction reactions have not been reported to date. Wild-type CHMO from Acinetobacter sp. NCIMB 9871 was found to possess an innate, promiscuous ability to reduce an aromatic α-keto ester, but with poor yield and stereoselectivity. Structure-guided, site-directed mutagenesis drastically improved the catalytic carbonyl-reduction activity (yield up to 99 %) and stereoselectivity (ee up to 99 %), thereby converting this CHMO into a ketoreductase, which can reduce a range of differently substituted aromatic α-keto esters. The improved, promiscuous reduction activity of the mutant enzyme in comparison to the wild-type enzyme results from a decrease in the distance between the carbonyl moiety of the substrate and the hydrogen atom on N5 of the reduced flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor, as confirmed using docking and molecular dynamics simulations.

ZnO nanoparticles: An efficient catalyst for transesterification reaction of α-keto carboxylic esters

Pure ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by a sustainable precipitation method using zinc nitrate and sodium hydroxide in aqueous medium at room temperature. They were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV–vis) spectroscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. The XRD patterns indicate the formation of the hexagonal wurtzite phase with high purity and SEM-EDS analysis confirm the purity and a homogenous distribution of the nanostructures. The ZnO nanostructures present plate-like agglomerates, resulting in a quasi-spherical morphology. The catalytic activity of the formed ZnO nanoparticles was evaluated towards the transesterification reaction of different carboxylic esters in the presence of various alcohols. This catalyst is highly selective for the transesterification of α-keto carboxylic ester (methyl benzoylformate) and leads to ca. 97percent of product yield within 24 h of reaction time.

Controllable chemoselectivity in the coupling of bromoalkynes with alcohols under visible-light irradiation without additives: Synthesis of propargyl alcohols and α-ketoesters

The chemoselectivity of visible-light-induced coupling reactions of bromoalkynes with alcohols can be controlled by simple changes to the reaction atmosphere (N2 or O2). A N2 atmosphere favours propargyl alcohols via a direct C-C coupling process, whereas an O2 atmosphere results in the generation of α-ketoesters through the oxidative CC/C-O coupling pathway.

Ambient and aerobic carbon-carbon bond cleavage toward α-ketoester synthesis by transition-metal-free photocatalysis

The α-oxoesterification of the CC double bond in readily available enaminones enabling efficient synthesis of α-ketoesters is developed. The reactions showing general tolerance to the reactions of primary and secondary alcohols proceed well under air via Rose Bengal (RB)-based photocatalysis. Particularly, this mild synthetic method has been discovered to tolerate various polyhydroxylated substrates such as phenolic alcohol, diols and triols with an excellent selectivity of mono-oxoesterification. What is more noteworthy is that α-ketoester functionalized 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate resulting from the elaboration on a natural product has been obtained practically.

Copper catalyzed photoredox synthesis of α-keto esters, quinoxaline, and naphthoquinone: Controlled oxidation of terminal alkynes to glyoxals

Herein, we report a facile visible light induced copper catalyzed controlled oxidation of terminal CC alkynes to α-keto esters and quinoxalines via formation of phenylglyoxals as stable intermediates, under mild conditions by using molecular O2 as a sustainable oxidant. The current copper catalysed photoredox method is simple, highly functional group compatible with a broad range of electron rich and electron poor aromatic alkynes as well as aliphatic alcohols (1°, 2° and 3° alcohols), providing an efficient route for the preparation of α-keto esters (43 examples), quinoxaline and naphthoquinone with higher yields than those in the literature reported thermal processes. Furthermore, the synthetic utility of the products has been demonstrated in the synthesis of two biologically active molecules, an E. coli DHPS inhibitor and CFTR activator, using the current photoredox process. In addition, we applied this methodology to the one-pot synthesis of a heterocyclic compound (quinoxaline, an FLT3 inhibitor) by trapping the intermediate phenylglyoxal with O-phenylenediamine. The intermediate phenylglyoxal can also be isolated and further reacted with an internal alkyne to form naphthoquinone. This process can be readily scaled up to the gram scale.

CuCl/TMEDA/nor-AZADO-catalyzed aerobic oxidative acylation of amides with alcohols to produce imides

Although aerobic oxidative acylation of amides with alcohols would be a good complement to classical synthetic methods for imides (e.g., acylation of amides with activated forms of carboxylic acids), to date, there have been no reports on oxidative acylation to produce imides. In this study, we successfully developed, for the first time, an efficient method for the synthesis of imides through aerobic oxidative acylation of amides with alcohols by employing a CuCl/TMEDA/nor-AZADO catalyst system (TMEDA = teramethylethylendiamine; nor-AZADO = 9-azanoradamantane N-oxyl). The proposed acylation proceeds through the following sequential reactions: aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes, nucleophilic addition of amides to the aldehydes to form hemiamidal intermediates, and aerobic oxidation of the hemiamidal intermediates to give the corresponding imides. This catalytic system utilizes O2 as the terminal oxidant and produces water as the sole by-product. An important point for realizing this efficient acylation system is the utilization of a TMEDA ligand, which, to the best of our knowledge, has not been employed in previously reported Cu/ligand/N-oxyl systems. Based on experimental evidence, we consider that plausible roles of TMEDA involve the promotion of both hemiamidal oxidation and regeneration of an active CuII-OH species from a CuI species. Here promotion of hemiamidal oxidation is particularly important. Employing the proposed system, various types of structurally diverse imides could be synthesized from various combinations of alcohols and amides, and gram-scale acylation was also successful. In addition, the proposed system was further applicable to the synthesis of α-ketocarbonyl compounds (i.e., α-ketoimides, α-ketoamides, and α-ketoesters) from 1,2-diols and nucleophiles (i.e., amides, amines, and alcohols).

I 2 /TBHP-Promoted Approach to α-Keto Esters from Trifluoromethyl β-Diketones and Alcohols via C-C Bond Cleavage

A metal-free oxidative coupling reaction of trifluoromethyl β-diketones with alcohols for the synthesis of α-keto esters in good to excellent yields has been developed. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that an I 2 /TBHP promoted sequential iodination, C-C bond cleavage, C-O bond formation and oxidation pathway is involved in this reaction.

Copper(II)-Catalyzed Benzylic C(sp3)-H Aerobic Oxidation of (Hetero)Aryl Acetimidates: Synthesis of Aryl-α-ketoesters

A straightforward method is developed in this paper for the synthesis of α-ketoesters through copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of (hetero)aryl acetimidates using molecular oxygen as a sustainable oxidant. The reaction represents the first example of the direct synthesis of aryl-α-ketoesters from arylacetimidates through the aerobic oxidation of a benzylic C(sp3)-H (CO) bond in moderate to good yield. This transformation occurs under mild reaction conditions with a wide range of substrates and utilizes a readily available oxidant and catalyst. The synthetic utility of this transformation is demonstrated through scaled-up synthesis. A plausible reaction mechanism is also proposed.

Chiral cobalt-catalyzed enantioselective aerobic oxidation of α-hydroxy esters

A chiral cobalt-catalyzed enantioselective aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution of (±)-α-hydroxy esters, using molecular oxygen as a sole oxidant, is reported and a maximum of selectivity factor (s) 31.9 was achieved with >99% enantiomeric excess for unreacted α-hydroxy esters.