Pd nanoparticle catalyst loading 4.7 wt.% was prepared by the deposition-precipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The crystallite size estimated from the integral width of the highest intensity line using the Scherrer equation was 2.3 nm. Images obtained from TEM showed an equal distribution of the particles size between 0-2 and 2-4 nm, and also a good dispersion of the nanoparticles on the catalyst support. The catalytic activity of this nanocatalyst was studied for racemization reactions of (S)-(-)-1-phenylethylamine. After that, the catalyst was used in the chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of some primary amines. Expressive yields and optical purities were obtained.

A series of α-acetyloxy-N-cyclohexylamides was efficiently obtained via Passerini reaction of cyclohexyl isocyanide, acetic acid, and different aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes using refluxing dichloromethane or dimethylcarbonate (DMC). Reactions performed with DMC led to desired products in moderate to good yields, corroborating this solvent as a eco-friendly alternative to the chlorinated solvents commonly used in this transformation. The α-acetyloxy-N-cyclohexylamides thus obtained were tested against Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as promastigote forms of L.(L.) amazonensis. The α-(Acetyloxy)-N-cyclohexyl-pentanamide showed low antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (S. aureus and B. cereus) and Gram negative (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) bacteria (MIC = 8,3-16,5 mmol L-1), while α-(acetyloxy)-N-cyclohexyl-4-bromo-benzeneacetamide showed leishmanicidal activitity (IC50 = 0,099 mmol L-1).

Um protocolo livre de metais foi desenvolvido para sintetizar indanos através da contração de anel de 1, 2-di-hidronaftalenos promovida por PhI(OH)OTs (HTIB ou reagente de Koser). Este rearranjo oxidativo pode ser realizado em diversos solventes (MeOH, CH3CN, 2 , 2, 2-trifluoroetanol (TFE), 1 , 1, 1, 3, 3, 3-hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP), e uma mistura 1:4 de TFE:CH2Cl2) em condições brandas. A contração de anel fornece indanos trans-1, 3-dissubstituídos diastereosseletivamente, os quais são difíceis de obter em química orgânica sintética

A metal-free protocol was developed to synthesize indanes by ring contraction of 1, 2-dihydronaphthalenes promoted by PhI(OH)OTs (HTIB or Koser's reagent). This oxidative rearrangement can be performed in several solvents (MeOH, CH3CN, 2 , 2, 2-trifluoroethanol (TFE), 1 , 1, 1, 3, 3, 3-hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP), and a 1:4 mixture of TFE:CH2Cl2) under mild conditions. The ring contraction diastereoselectively gives functionalized trans-1, 3-disubstituted indanes, which are difficult to obtain in synthetic organic chemistry