Rhodium(III)-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation, amidoarylation, and Heck-type reaction: three distinct pathways determined by an amide directing group

Rh(III)-Catalyzed [4 + 2] Self-Annulation of N-Vinylarylamides

An efficient rhodium(III)-catalyzed self-annulation of N-vinylarylamide has been developed. This reaction features a simple system and good reactivity with complete regioselectivity. The protocol provides easy access to an aminal incorporated dihydroisoquinolinone, which proved to be a versatile synthetic synthon. The kinetic isotope effect experiments showed that C-H activation is the rate-limiting step, and competition studies revealed the annulation exhibits a strong self-recognition mode. In addition, a seven-membered rhodacycle species was isolated and established as the key reaction intermediate.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed three-component cascade synthesis of 6H-benzo[c]chromenes through C-H activation

A three-component cascade reaction is described that provides concise access to 6H-benzo[c]chromenes via Rh(iii)-catalyzed annulation of aryl ketone O-acyloximes, quinones and acetone. Acetone acts as a co-solvent and as a reactant. This reaction shows high efficiency, atom- and step-economy, good substrate scope, excellent functional group compatibility and gives the products in good yields.

Sulfoximine-Assisted One-Pot Unsymmetrical Multiple Annulation of Arenes: A Combined Experimental and Computational Study

Discussed herein is an unprecedented Ru-catalyzed one-pot unsymmetrical C-H difunctionalization of arenes comprising intramolecular hydroarylation of olefins and intermolecular annulation of alkynes. This unprecedented 2-fold C-H functionalization is validated on the basis of experimental and density functional theory (DFT) study. The transformation readily occurs with the assistance of methylphenyl sulfoximine (MPS) directing group in the presence of Ru catalyst forming two C-C and one C-N bonds in a single operation. The overall process is atom economical and step-efficient and provides unusual dihydrofuran-fused isoquinolone heterocycles. Further annulation of NH and the proximal o-C-H-arene of isoquinolone with alkynes build highly conjugated novel polycyclic compounds. Overall, three independent annulations in arene motifs are visualized and thoughtfully executed; finally, 5 ring-fused structural entities are constructed forming three C-C and two C-N bonds.

Rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular cascade sequence for the formation of fused carbazole-annulated medium-sized rings by cleavage of C(sp2)-H/C(sp3)-H bonds

The rhodium(iii)-catalyzed intramolecular annulation of alkyne-tethered 3-(indol-3-yl)-3-oxopropanenitriles for the synthesis of fused carbazole scaffolds via C-H activation has been developed. A series of six-, seven-, and eight-membered hydroazepino[3,2,1-jk]carbazoles were achieved. This reaction proceeded under mild reaction conditions and with a broad substrate scope. The reaction involved sequential cleavage of C(sp2)-H/C(sp3)-H bonds and annulation with the tethered alkyne.

Weinreb Amide Directed Versatile C-H Bond Functionalization under (η5 -Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)cobalt(III) Catalysis

The (η⁵ -pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)cobalt(III) (Cp*Co^III )-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization of aromatic, heteroaromatic, and α,β-unsaturated Weinreb amides was explored. C-H allylation reactions with the use of allyl carbonate and a perfluoroalkene, oxidative alkenylation reactions with the use of ethyl acrylate, iodination reactions with the use of N-iodosuccinimide, and amidation reactions with the use of dioxazolones were catalyzed by Cp*Co(CO)I₂ in the presence of a cationic Ag salt and AgOAc to afford various synthetically useful building blocks. Mechanistic studies of the C-H allylation disclosed that the C-H activation step was rate determining and virtually irreversible.

A tethering directing group strategy for ruthenium-catalyzed intramolecular alkene hydroarylation

We report a new catalyst design for N-heterocycle synthesis that utilizes an alkene-tethered amide moiety as a directing group for aromatic C-H activation. This tethering directing group strategy is demonstrated in a ruthenium-catalyzed intramolecular alkene hydroarylation with N-aryl acrylamides to form oxindole products.

Electronic and Steric Tuning of a Prototypical Piano Stool Complex: Rh(III) Catalysis for C-H Functionalization

The history of transition metal catalysis is heavily steeped in ligand design, clearly demonstrating the importance of this approach. The intimate relationship between metal and ligand can profoundly affect the outcome of a reaction, often impacting selectivity, physical properties, and the lifetime of a catalyst. Importantly, this metal-ligand relationship can provide near limitless opportunities for reaction discovery. Over the past several years, transition-metal-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization reactions have been established as a critical foundation in organic chemistry that provides new bond forming strategies. Among the d-block elements, palladium is arguably one of the most popular metals to accomplish such transformations. One possible explanation for this achievement could be the broad set of phosphine and amine based ligands available in the chemist's toolbox compatible with palladium. In parallel, other metals have been investigated for C-H bond functionalization. Among them, pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (Cp*) Rh(III) complexes have emerged as a powerful mode of catalysis for such transformations providing a broad spectrum of reactivity. This approach possesses the advantage of often very low catalyst loading, and reactions are typically performed under mild conditions allowing broad functional group tolerance. Cp*Rh(III) is considered as a privileged catalyst and a plethora of reactions involving a C-H bond cleavage event have been developed. The search for alternative cyclopentadienyl based ligands has been eclipsed by the tremendous effort devoted to exploring the considerable scope of reactions catalyzed by Cp*Rh(III) complexes, despite the potential of this strategy for enabling reactivity. Thus, ligand modification efforts in Rh(III) catalysis have been an exception and research directed toward new rhodium catalysts has been sparse. Recently, chiral cyclopentadienyl ligands have appeared allowing enantioselective Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H functionalization reactions to be performed. Alongside chiral ligands, an equally important collection of achiral cyclopentadienyl-derived ligands have also emerged. The design of this new set of ligands for rhodium has already translated to significant success in solving inherent problems of reactivity and selectivity encountered throughout the development of new Rh(III)-catalyzed transformations. This Account describes the evolution of cyclopentadienyl ligand skeletons in Rh(III)-catalysis since the introduction of pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligands to the present. Specific emphasis is placed on reactivity and synthetic applications achieved with the new ligands with the introduction of achiral mono-, di-, or pentasubstituted cyclopentadienyl ligands exhibiting a stunning effect on reactivity and selectivity. Furthermore, an underlying question when dealing with ligand modification strategies is to explain the reason one ligand outperforms another. Conjecture and speculation abound, but extensive characterization of their steric and electronic properties has been carried out and information about electronic and steric properties of the ligands all contribute to our understanding and give crucial pieces to solve the puzzle.

Mild rhodium(iii)-catalyzed intramolecular annulation of benzamides with allylic alcohols to access azepinone derivatives

A mild intramolecular Rh(iii)-catalyzed annulation by C–H activation to access azepinone derivatives has been developed.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of N-Methoxybenzamides and Ethenesulfonyl fluoride: a C–H Bond Activation Strategy for the Preparation of 2-Aryl ethenesulfonyl fluorides and Sulfonyl fluoride Substituted γ-Lactams

The synthesis of a new class of 2-aryl ethenesulfonyl fluorides was achieved via a rhodium(iii)-catalyzed sp² C–H bond activation strategy.

Iridium(I)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Hydrocarbonation of Alkenes: Efficient Access to Cyclic Systems Bearing Quaternary Stereocenters

A catalytic, versatile and atom-economical C-H functionalization process that provides a wide variety of cyclic systems featuring methyl-substituted quaternary stereocenters is described. The method relies on the use of a cationic Ir^I -bisphosphine catalyst, which promotes a carboxamide-assisted activation of an olefinic C(sp² )-H bond followed by exo-cyclization to a tethered 1,1-disubstituted alkene. The extension of the method to aromatic and heteroaromatic C-H bonds, as well as developments on an enantioselective variant, are also described.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Aryl and Alkenyl C-H Bond Addition to Diverse Nitroalkenes

The transition metal catalyzed C-H bond addition to nitroalkenes has been developed. Very broad nitroalkene scope was observed for this Rh(III)-catalyzed method, including for aliphatic, aromatic and β,β-disubstituted derivatives. Additionally, various directing groups and both aromatic and alkenyl C-H bonds were effective in this transformation. Representative nitroalkane products were converted to dihydroisoquinolones and dihydropyridones in a single step and in high yield by iron mediated reduction and in situ cyclization. Moreover, preliminary success in enantioselective Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H bond addition to nitroalkenes was achieved as was X-ray structural characterization of a nitronate intermediate.

Mononuclear palladium(ii) and platinum(ii) complexes of P,C-donor ligands: synthesis, crystal structures, cytotoxicity, and mechanistic studies of a highly stereoselective Mizoroki–Heck reaction

Pallada- and platinacycle complexes exhibit potential orientations in stereoselective transformations and anticancer metallodrugs.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed intramolecular annulation through C–H activation: concise synthesis of rosettacin and oxypalmatime

A flexible and efficient rhodium(iii)-catalyzed intramolecular annulation of benzamides bearing tethered alkynes for the synthesis of indolizinones and quinolizinones is reported.

A Simple and Versatile Amide Directing Group for C-H Functionalizations

Achieving selective C-H activation at a single and strategic site in the presence of multiple C-H bonds can provide a powerful and generally useful retrosynthetic disconnection. In this context, a directing group serves as a compass to guide the transition metal to C-H bonds by using distance and geometry as powerful recognition parameters to distinguish between proximal and distal C-H bonds. However, the installation and removal of directing groups is a practical drawback. To improve the utility of this approach, one can seek solutions in three directions: 1) Simplifying the directing group, 2) using common functional groups or protecting groups as directing groups, and 3) attaching the directing group to substrates via a transient covalent bond to render the directing group catalytic. This Review describes the rational development of an extremely simple and yet broadly applicable directing group for Pd(II) , Rh(III) , and Ru(II) catalysts, namely the N-methoxy amide (CONHOMe) moiety. Through collective efforts in the community, a wide range of C-H activation transformations using this type of simple directing group have been developed.

Convergent Synthesis of Diverse Nitrogen Heterocycles via Rh(III)-Catalyzed C-H Conjugate Addition/Cyclization Reactions

The development of Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H conjugate addition/cyclization reactions that provide access to synthetically useful fused bi- and tricyclic nitrogen heterocycles is reported. A broad scope of C-H functionalization substrates and electrophilic olefin coupling partners is effective, and depending on the nature of the directing group, cyclic imide, amide, or heteroaromatic products are obtained. An efficient synthesis of a pyrrolophenanthridine alkaloid natural product, oxoassoanine, highlights the utility of this method.