Microwave irradiation related carbonylation reactions

A somewhat related process, the cobalt-mediated synthesis of symmetrical benzo-phenones from aryl iodides and dicobalt octacarbonyl, is shown in Scheme 6.49 [100]. Here, dicobalt octacarbonyl is used as a combined Ar-I bond activator and carbon monoxide source. Employing acetonitrile as solvent, a variety of aryl iodides with different steric and electronic properties underwent the carbonylative coupling in excellent yields. Remarkably, in several cases, microwave irradiation for just 6 s was sufficient to achieve full conversion An inert atmosphere, a base or other additives were all unnecessary. No conversion occurred in the absence of heating, regardless of the reaction time. However, equally high yields could be achieved by heating the reaction mixture in an oil bath for 2 min. 

Mejla-Oneto and Padwa have explored intramolecular [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of push-pull dipoles across heteroaromatic jr-systems induced by microwave irradiation [465]. The push-pull dipoles were generated from the rhodium(II)-cata-lyzed reaction of a diazo imide precursor containing a tethered heteroaromatic ring. In the example shown in Scheme 6.276, microwave heating of a solution of the diazo imide precursor in dry benzene in the presence of a catalytic amount of rhodium I) pivalate and 4 A molecular sieves for 2 h at 70 °C produced a transient cyclic carbonyl ylide dipole, which spontaneously underwent cydoaddition across the tethered benzofuran Jt-system to form a pentacyclic structure related to alkaloids of the vindoline type. 

This chapter covers the recent advances in amidocarbonylations, cyclohydrocarbonylations, aminocarbonylations, cascade carbonylative cyclizations, carbonylative ring-expansion reactions, thiocarbonylations, and related reactions from 1993 to early 2005. In addition, technical development in carbonylation processes with the use of microwave irradiation as well as new reaction media such as supercritical carbon dioxide and ionic liquids are also discussed. These carbonylation reactions provide efficient and powerful methods for the syntheses of a variety of carbonyl compounds, amino acids, heterocycles, and carbocycles. 

In this chapter, the recent advances in amidocarbonylations, cyclohydrocarbonylations, aminocarbonylations, cascade carbonylative cyclizations, carbonylative ring-expansion reactions, thiocarbonylations, and related reactions are reviewed and the scope and mechanisms of these reactions are discussed. It is clear that these carbonylation reactions play important roles in synthetic organic chemistry as well as organometallic chemistry. Some of the reactions have already been used in industrial processes and many others have high potential to become commercial processes in the future. The use of microwave irradiation and substitutes of carbon monoxide has made carbonylation processes suitable for combinatorial chemistry and laboratory syntheses without using carbon monoxide gas. The use of non-conventional reaction media such as SCCO2 and ionic liquids makes product separation and catalyst recovery/reuse easier. Thus, these processes can be operated in an environmentally friendly manner. Judging from the innovative developments in various carbonylations in the last decade, it is easy to anticipate that newer and creative advances will be made in the next decade in carbonylation reactions and processes. 

Sana et al. (2012) have carried out solvent-free and microwave-assisted nitration reactions, which underwent smoothly in the presence of group V and VI metal salts with high regio-selectivity for anilides, moderately and nonactivated aromatic compounds. Good to excellent yields were obtained under solvent-free conditions and the nitration was completed in few minutes under microwave irradiation. It was observed that when the ortho position was engaged, p-nitro derivatives were obtained, while o-nitro derivatives were obtained when para position was engaged. The nitration of aromatic carbonyl and related compounds was observed with good yield and the reaction times were about 3-5 min. 

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