A new palladium-based reaction could offer a useful advance in the synthesising of natural products and pharmaceutical agents, it has been suggested.

Scientists from the Scripps Research Institute conducted a number of tests involving a carboxylate-directed palladium (II)-catalysed carbon–hydrogen olefination reaction.

Phenylacetic acid and 3-phenylpropionic acid were used as substrates, while the oxidant was supplied by oxygen at atmospheric pressure and amino-acid derivatives provided the ligands.

The reaction was found to be effective in the production of commercial drug scaffolds and in synthesising 2-tetralone and naphtholic acid natural product cores.

According to a report in the journal Pharmaceutical Technology, the approach represents a potential improvement from the usual strategies adopted by researchers.

For example, the palladium-catalysed Mizoroki-Heck reaction - which is used for forging carbon-carbon bonds - is problematic as installing the relevant halides can be challenging.

Meanwhile, another method, palladium-catalysed carbon-hydrogenation olefination, is generally restricted to cases including electron-rich heterocyles and/or stoichiometric palladium.

The Scripps Research Institute, which is located in La Jolla, California, currently incorporates about 3,000 scientists, technicians and graduate students.

Source:

Advances in Custom Synthesis (02/02/10)

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