Transition metal-catalyzed direct arylation of substrates with activated sp3-hybridized C-H bonds and some of their synthetic equivalents with aryl halides and pseudohalides

Investigation of the mechanism of C(sp3)-H bond cleavage in Pd(0)-catalyzed intramolecular alkane arylation adjacent to amides and sulfonamides

The reactivity of C(sp(3))-H bonds adjacent to a nitrogen atom can be tuned to allow intramolecular alkane arylation under Pd(0) catalysis. Diminishing the Lewis basicity of the nitrogen lone pair is crucial for this catalytic activity. A range of N-methylamides and sulfonamides react exclusively at primary C(sp(3))-H bonds to afford the products of alkane arylation in good yields. The isolation of a Pd(II) reaction intermediate has enabled an evaluation of the reaction mechanism with a focus on the role of the bases in the C(sp(3))-H bond cleaving step. The results of these stoichiometric studies, together with kinetic isotope effect experiments, provide rare experimental support for a concerted metalation-deprotonation (CMD) transition state, which has previously been proposed in alkane C(sp(3))-H arylation. Moreover, DFT calculations have uncovered the additional role of the pivalate additive as a promoter of phosphine dissociation from the Pd(II) intermediate, enabling the CMD transition state. Finally, kinetic studies were performed, revealing the reaction rate expression and its relationship with the concentration of pivalate.

Intramolecular palladium-catalyzed alkane C-H arylation from aryl chlorides

The first examples of efficient and general palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C(sp(3))-H arylation of (hetero)aryl chlorides, giving rise to a variety of valuable cyclobutarenes, indanes, indolines, dihydrobenzofurans, and indanones, are described. The use of aryl and heteroaryl chlorides significantly improves the scope of C(sp(3))-H arylation by facilitating the preparation of reaction substrates. Careful optimization studies have shown that the palladium ligand and the base/solvent combination are crucial to obtaining the desired class of product in high yields. Overall, three sets of reaction conditions employing P(t)Bu(3), PCyp(3), or PCy(3) as the palladium ligand and K(2)CO(3)/DMF or Cs(2)CO(3)/pivalic acid/mesitylene as the base/solvent combination allowed five different classes of products to be accessed using this methodology. In total, more than 40 examples of C-H arylation have been performed successfully. When several types of C(sp(3))-H bond were present in the substrate, the arylation was found to occur regioselectively at primary C-H bonds vs secondary or tertiary positions. In addition, in the presence of several primary C-H bonds, selectivity trends correlate with the size of the palladacyclic intermediate, with five-membered rings being favored over six- and seven-membered rings. Regio- and diastereoselectivity issues were studied computationally in the prototypal case of indane formation. DFT(B3PW91) calculations demonstrated that C-H activation is the rate-determining step and that the creation of a C-H agostic interaction, increasing the acidity of a geminal C-H bond, is a critical factor for the regiochemistry control.

Regioselective functionalization of iminophosphoranes through Pd-mediated C-H bond activation: C-C and C-X bond formation

The orthopalladation of iminophosphoranes [R(3)P=N-C(10)H(7)-1] (R(3) = Ph(3) 1, p-Tol(3) 2, PhMe(2) 3, Ph(2)Me 4, N-C(10)H(7)-1 = 1-naphthyl) has been studied. It occurs regioselectively at the aryl ring bonded to the P atom in 1 and 2, giving endo-[Pd(μ-Cl)(C(6)H(4)-(PPh(2=N-1-C(10)H(7))-2)-κ-C,N](2) (5) or endo-[Pd(μ-Cl)(C(6)H(3)-(P(p-Tol)(2)=N-C(10)H(7)-1)-2-Me-5)-κ-C,N](2) (6), while in 3 the 1-naphthyl group is metallated instead, giving exo-[Pd(μ-Cl)(C(10)H(6)-(N=PPhMe(2))-8)-κ-C,N](2) (7). In the case of 4, orthopalladation at room temperature affords the kinetic exo isomer [Pd(μ-Cl)(C(10)H(6)-(N=PPh(2)Me)-8)-κ-C,N](2) (11exo), while a mixture of 11exo and the thermodynamic endo isomer [Pd(μ-Cl)(C(6)H(4)-(PPhMe=N-C(10)H(7)-1)-2)-κ-C,N](2) (11endo) is obtained in refluxing toluene. The heating in toluene of the acetate bridge dimer [Pd(μ-OAc)(C(10)H(6)-(N=PPh(2)Me)-8)-κ-C,N](2) (13exo) promotes the facile transformation of the exo isomer into the endo isomer [Pd(μ-OAc)(C(6)H(4)-(PPhMe=N-C(10)H(7)-1)-2)-κ-C,N](2) (13endo), confirming that the exo isomers are formed under kinetic control. Reactions of the orthometallated complexes have led to functionalized molecules. The stoichiometric reactions of the orthometallated complexes [Pd(μ-Cl)(C(10)H(6)-(N=PPhMe(2))-8)-κ-C,N](2) (7), [Pd(μ-Cl)(C(6)H(4)-(PPh(2)[=NPh)-2)](2) (17) and [Pd(μ-Cl)(C(6)H(3)-(C(O)N=PPh(3))-2-OMe-4)](2) (18) with I(2) or with CO results in the synthesis of the ortho-halogenated compounds [PhMe(2)P=N-C(10)H(6)-I-8] (19), [I-C(6)H(4)-(PPh(2)=NPh)-2] (21) and [Ph(3)P=NC(O)C(6)H(3)-I-2-OMe-5] (23) or the heterocycles [C(10)H(6)-(N=PPhMe(2))-1-(C(O))-8]Cl (20), [C(6)H(5)-(N=PPh(2)-C(6)H(4)-C(O)-2]ClO(4) (22) and [C(6)H(3)-(C(O)-1,2-N-PPh(3))-OMe-4]Cl (24).

Asymmetric Suzuki cross-couplings of activated secondary alkyl electrophiles: arylations of racemic alpha-chloroamides

A nickel-catalyzed stereoconvergent method for the enantioselective Suzuki arylation of racemic alpha-chloroamides has been developed. This process provides a unique example of an asymmetric arylation of an alpha-haloamide, an enantioselective arylation of an alpha-chlorocarbonyl compound, and an asymmetric Suzuki reaction with an activated alkyl electrophile or an arylboron reagent. The method is also applicable to the corresponding enantioselective cross-coupling of alpha-bromoamides. The coupling products can be transformed without racemization into enantioenriched alpha-arylcarboxylic acids and primary alcohols. A modest kinetic resolution of the alpha-chloroamide was observed; a mechanistic study indicated that the selectivity may reflect discrimination by the chiral catalyst of the two enantiomeric alpha-chloroamides in an irreversible oxidative-addition process.

Alpha-arylation of 3-aryloxindoles

A versatile method for the synthesis of 3,3-diaryloxindoles via Pd-catalyzed alpha-arylations or an S(N)Ar reaction is described. The reaction proceeds using mild base, is tolerant of a variety of functional groups, and is capable of preparing hindered all-carbon quaternary centers.