Palladium-Catalyzed Tandem Alkenyl and Aryl C?N Bond Formation: A Cascade N-Annulation Route to 1-Functionalized Indoles

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 3-nitroindoles from N-aryl enamines via intramolecular arene-alkene coupling

A variety of N-aryl β-nitroenamines were effectively transformed into 3-nitroindoles in good yields and with complete regioselectivity via a rapid microwave (μW) assisted intramolecular arene-alkene coupling reaction. This report further demonstrates the versatility of this method by constructing 3-carboalkoxy- and 3-cyanoindoles. Optimization data, substrate scope, and applications are discussed.

Multicomponent assembly of highly substituted indoles by dual palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions

Highly substituted indoles were synthesized by a palladium-catalyzed reaction involving three independent components in a one-pot reaction. Two distinct palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions occur with a single catalytic system: a Buchwald-Hartwig reaction and an arene-alkene coupling. Quantum chemical computations provide insight into the mechanism of the latter coupling step.

Palladium-catalyzed amidation of aryl halides using 2-dialkylphosphino-2'-alkoxyl-1,1'-binaphthyl as ligands

Palladium-catalyzed intermolecular C-N bond-forming reactions between aryl halides and amides are described using 2-dialkylphosphino-2'-alkoxyl-1,1'-binaphthyl, which is both bulky and electron-rich, as the ligand. A variety of amides, including aliphatic and aromatic primary amides, lactams, and carbamates, were viable substrates for the amidation, which exhibited good functional group compatibility. By tuning the substituents at the 2,2'-position of 1,1'-binaphthyl of the ligand, the palladium-catalyzed amidation of bulky aryl halides was realized and this coupling reaction was used to synthesize 2-amino-2'-methoxy-1,1'-binaphthyl in high yield.

A general method for palladium-catalyzed reactions of primary sulfonamides with aryl nonaflates

A general method for Pd-catalyzed sulfonamidation of aryl nonafluorobutanesulfonates (aryl nonaflates) is described. A biaryl phosphine ligand, t-BuXPhos, formed the most active catalyst, and K(3)PO(4) in tert-amyl alcohol was found to be the optimal base-solvent combination for the reaction. The reaction conditions were tolerant of various functional groups such as cyano, nitro, ester, aldehyde, ketone, chloride, carbamate, and phenol. Heterocyclic aryl nonaflates were found to be suitable coupling partners. High yields of the coupled products were obtained from the reactions between inherently disfavored substrates such as electron-rich nonaflates and electron-poor sulfonamides. Kinetic data suggest reductive elimination to be the rate-limiting step for the reaction. The only limitation of this methodology that we have identified is the inability of 2,6-disubstituted aryl nonaflates to efficiently participate in the reaction.

Metal-catalysed approaches to amide bond formation

Amongst the many ways of constructing the amide bond, there has been a growing interest in the use of metal-catalysed methods for preparing this important functional group. In this tutorial review, highlights of the recent literature have been presented covering the key areas where metal catalysts have been used in amide bond formation. Acids and esters have been used in coupling reactions with amines, but aldehydes and alcohols have also been used in oxidative couplings. The use of nitriles and oximes as starting materials for amide formation are also emerging areas of interest. The use of carbon monoxide in the transition metal catalysed coupling of amines has led to a powerful methodology for amide bond formation and this is complemented by the addition of an aryl or alkenyl group to an amide typically using palladium or copper catalysts.