Transition-metal-free coupling reactions

Iridium-Catalyzed ortho-Arylation of Benzoic Acids with Arenediazonium Salts

In the presence of catalytic [{IrCp*Cl2 }2 ] and Ag2 CO3 , Li2 CO3 as the base, and acetone as the solvent, benzoic acids react with arenediazonium salts to give the corresponding diaryl-2-carboxylates under mild conditions. This C-H arylation process is generally applicable to diversely substituted substrates, ranging from extremely electron-rich to electron-poor derivatives. The carboxylate directing group is widely available and can be removed tracelessly or employed for further derivatization. Orthogonality to halide-based cross-couplings is achieved by the use of diazonium salts, which can be coupled even in the presence of iodo substituents.

General Ambient Temperature Benzylic Metalations Using Mixed-Metal Li/K-TMP Amide

Highly regioselective benzylic metalations in hydrocarbon solvent have been achieved at rt and 0 °C using a mixed-metal Li/K-TMP amide comprised of KOtBu, BuLi, and 2,2,6,6,-tetramethylpiperidine (TMP(H)). Mixing of KOtBu, BuLi, and TMP(H) in heptane gave a solution of the base mixture which when used in deuterium labeling experiments confirmed the requirement of the three reagent components for both reactivity and selectivity. The reaction protocol is operationally straightforward and found to be applicable to a broad range of substrates. Upon generation of the metalated products, they are reacted in heptane at ambient temperature in a variety of synthetically useful ways. Illustrated examples include generation of the benzyltrimethylsilanes and α,α-bis(trimethylsilyl)toluenes reagents, which are bench-stable surrogates of benzyl anions and α-silyl carbanions utilized for nucleophilic addition and Peterson olefination reactions. Direct C-C couplings mediated by 1,2-dibromoethane provided entries into bibenzyls and [2.2]metacyclophanes. Comparison of reaction outcomes with the same reactions carried out in THF at -78 °C showed no negative effects for conducting the reactions under these milder more user-friendly conditions.

Metal-Free Oxidative C-C Bond Formation through C-H Bond Functionalization

The formation of C-C bonds embodies the core of organic chemistry because of its fundamental application in generation of molecular diversity and complexity. C-C bond-forming reactions are well-known challenges. To achieve this goal through direct functionalization of C-H bonds in both of the coupling partners represents the state-of-the-art in organic synthesis. Oxidative C-C bond formation obviates the need for prefunctionalization of both substrates. This Minireview is dedicated to the field of C-C bond-forming reactions through direct C-H bond functionalization under completely metal-free oxidative conditions. Selected important developments in this area have been summarized with representative examples and discussions on their reaction mechanisms.

Iminoiodane- and Brønsted base-mediated cross dehydrogenative coupling of cyclic ethers with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds

A one-pot, two-step approach to prepare 2-tetrahydrofuran and -pyran substituted 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds by PhI=NTs-mediated amination/Brønsted base-catalyzed cross dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reaction of the cyclic ether and 1,3-dicarbonyl derivative under mild conditions is reported. The reaction is compatible with a variety of cyclic ethers and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, affording the corresponding coupled products in moderate to good yields of up to 80% over two steps.

Transition-Metal-Free α-Arylation of Enolizable Aryl Ketones and Mechanistic Evidence for a Radical Process

The α-arylation of enolizable aryl ketones can be carried out with aryl halides under transition-metal-free conditions using KOtBu in DMF. The α-aryl ketones thus obtained can be used for step- and cost-economic syntheses of fused heterocycles and Tamoxifen. Mechanistic studies demonstrate the synergetic role of base and solvent for the initiation of the radical process.

Photo-induced Metal-Catalyst-Free Aromatic Finkelstein Reaction

The facile iodination of aromatic compounds under mild conditions is a great challenge for both organic and medicinal chemistry. Particularly, the synthesis of functionalized aryl iodides by light has long been considered impossible due to their photo-lability, which actually makes aryl iodides popular starting materials in many photo-substitution reactions. Herein, a photo-induced halogen exchange in aryl or vinyl halides has been discovered for the first time. A broad scope of aryl iodides can be prepared in high yields at room temperature under exceptionally mild conditions without any metal or photo-redox catalysts. The presence of a catalytic amount of elemental iodine could promote the reaction significantly.

Copper(II)-catalyzed oxidative [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of secondary amines with α-diazo compounds: a facile and efficient synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles

A novel copper-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of secondary amines with α-diazo compounds has been developed via a cross-dehydrogenative coupling process. The reaction involves a sequential aerobic oxidation/[3+2] cycloaddition/oxidative aromatization procedure and provides an efficient method for the construction of 1,2,3-triazoles in a single step in an atom-economic manner from readily available starting materials under very mild conditions.

A Direct Metal-Free Decarboxylative Sulfono Functionalization (DSF) of Cinnamic Acids to α,β-Unsaturated Phenyl Sulfones

A metal-free room temperature decarboxylative cross-coupling between cinnamic acids and arylsulfonyl hydrazides has been realized for the first time for the synthesis of (E)-vinyl sulfones. The scope and versatility of the reaction has been demonstrated by the regio- and stereoselective synthesis of 22 derivatives with diverse structural features.

I₂-TBHP-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of N-sulfonyl hydrazones and isocyanides to 5-aminopyrazoles

I2-TBHP-catalyzed oxidative cross coupling of N-sulfonyl hydrazones with isocyanides has been realized for the synthesis of 5-aminopyrazoles through formal [4 + 1] annulation via in situ azoalkene formation. Notable features are the metal/alkyne-free strategy, C-C and C-N bond formation, atom economy, catalytic I2, broad functional group tolerance, good reaction yields, shorter time, and also applicability to one-pot methodology.

Additive-free decarboxylative coupling of cinnamic acid derivatives in water: synthesis of allyl amines

The first example of an additive-free decarboxylative coupling of cinnamic acid derivatives with formaldehyde and amines to afford the corresponding allyl amines is reported. This reaction is highly environmentally friendly because it was conducted in H2O and without any additives, releasing only CO2 and H2O as byproducts. This reaction showed a broad substrate scope including cyclic and acyclic amines and high functional group tolerance. Moreover, phenyl dienoic acid participated in this type of decarboxylative coupling reaction.

O2 -mediated dehydrogenative amination of phenols

A method was developed for the direct dehydrogenative construction of CN bonds between unprotected phenols and a series of cyclic anilines without resorting to any kind of metal activation of either substrate and without the use of halides. The resulting process relies on the exclusively organic activation of molecular oxygen and the subsequent oxidation of the aniline substrate. This allows the coupling of ubiquitous phenols, thus furnishing aminophenols through an atom-economical and most sustainable dehydrogenative amination method. This new reactivity, which relies on the intrinsic organic reactivity of cumene in what can be seen as a modified Hock activation process of oxygen, is expected to have a large impact on the formation of CN bonds in organic synthesis.

Catalytic C–H bond functionalisation of purine and pyrimidine nucleosides: a synthetic and mechanistic perspective

C–H bond functionalisation of heteroarenes, especially nucleosides, has received a lot of attention in the past few years. This review describes the state-of the art in this area with a global aspiration for possibly functionalising purine and pyrimidine moieties in complex biomolecular systems.

K2S2O8-mediated metal-free direct C–H functionalization of quinones using arylboronic acids

Direct C–H functionalization of quinones with arylboronic acids is achieved using K₂S₂O₈ as the sole and efficient green catalytic system.

Preparation of phenanthrenes from ortho-amino-biphenyls and alkynes via base-promoted homolytic aromatic substitution

Phenanthrenes are prepared from ortho-aminobiphenyls and acetylenes via base-promoted homolytic aromatic substitution.

Transition-metal-free, ambient-pressure carbonylative cross-coupling reactions of aryl halides with potassium aryltrifluoroborates

A transition-metal-free, ambient-pressure, and general methodology for carbonylative Suzuki coupling has been developed.