Water-promoted ortho-selective monohydroxymethylation of phenols in the NaBO2 system generates salicyl alcohols in 65-97% yields. A remarkable rate-enhancement by water was observed, and NaBO2 appeared to serve the dual role of a suitable base and an efficient chelating reagent. This protocol possesses many advantages such as short reaction times, expanded substrate scope, and high mono- and regio-selectivities. The experimental results were explained by the calculations based on local ionisation energy minima, leading to a possible reaction mechanism.

The synthesis of quinolines from alcohols and 2‐nitrobenzaldehydes is described. Unreactive alcohols and 2‐nitrobenzaldehydes were concurrently converted to the reactive reactants for a Friedländer annulation via a hydrogen transfer. Tris(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II) dichloride [Ru(PPh3)3Cl2] appeared to serve the dual role of an efficient hydrogen transfer catalyst and a suitable Friedländer annulation catalyst.magnified image

No abstract

No abstract

The applied Ru catalyst serves the dual role of an efficient hydrogen transfer catalyst and is a suitable Friedlaender annulation catalyst.