The group led by Prof. Mascareñas has recently launched a new research line of research based on the selective functionalization of C-H bonds by metal catalysts. The first results have led to three articles in some prestigious international chemistry journals, two in Journal of American Chemical Society and another in Chemical Science.
The work has been fully developed in the CIQUS by students Noelia Casanova and Andrés Seoane, in collaboration with postdoctoral student Noelia Quiñones, and under the direction of Prof. José Luis Mascareñas and Dr. Moses Gulías.
In their latest article (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 7607–7610), CIQUS researchers describe a process that represents a new concept in terms of reactivity, as long as involves breaking C-H bonds which always have been considered inert. This transformation is based on a cycloaddition catalyzed by rhodium complexes from 2- alkenylphenols and alkynes, which allows a very simple, practical and economical way for building both azulenonas and functionalized spirocyclic systems. This new process opens a new route of chemical synthesis to obtain molecular structures with potential applications in biomedicine and materials chemistry
Additionally, the previous published work (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 834–837) describes the direct access to products which form the core of many bioactive molecules and materials (benzooxepin and coumarin), in two steps from commercially available materials through the cycloaddition of ortho-vinylphenols and alkynes.
Research papers:
Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Dearomatizing (3 + 2) Annulation of 2-Alkenylphenols and Alkynes