Arylation with Diaryliodonium Salts

N-Arylation of DABCO with Diaryliodonium Salts: General Synthesis of N-Aryl-DABCO Salts as Precursors for 1,4-Disubstituted Piperazines

Employing DABCO as a substrate, aryl(mesityl)iodonium triflates are introduced as arylating agents for a tertiary sp³-nitrogen. Mild conditions and exceptional selectivity of the aryl group transfer allow unprecedented N-aryl-DABCO salts to be obtained, bearing substituents of different electronic natures. This metal-free methodology has no analogy among known transition-metal-based reactions. The utility of isolated N-aryl-DABCO salts is demonstrated for the preparation of flibanserin.

DFT calculations on the mechanism of copper-catalysed tandem arylation-cyclisation reactions of alkynes and diaryliodonium salts

We present a computational mechanistic study on the copper(III)-catalysed carboarylation-ring closure reactions leading to the formation of functionalised heterocycles. We have performed DFT calculations along selected routes and compared their free energy profiles. The calculations considered two viable options for the underlying mechanism which differ in the order of the oxazoline ring formation and the aryl transfer steps. In our model transformation, it was found that the reaction generally features the aryl transfer-ring closing sequence and this sequence shows very limited sensitivity to the variation of the substituent of the reactants. On the basis of the mechanism the origin of the stereoselectivity is ascribed to the interaction of the Cu ion with the oxazoline oxygen driving the ring-closure step selectively.

Regiospecific N-Arylation of Aliphatic Amines under Mild and Metal-Free Reaction Conditions

A transition metal‐free N‐arylation of primary and secondary amines with diaryliodonium salts is presented. Both acyclic and cyclic amines are well tolerated, providing a large set of N‐alkyl anilines. The methodology is unprecedented among metal‐free methods in terms of amine scope, the ability to transfer both electron‐withdrawing and electron‐donating aryl groups, and efficient use of resources, as excess substrate or reagents are not required.

Metal-free formal synthesis of phenoxazine

A transition metal-free formal synthesis of phenoxazine is presented. The key step of the sequence is a high-yielding O-arylation of a phenol with an unsymmetrical diaryliodonium salt to provide an ortho-disubstituted diaryl ether. This species was cyclized to acetylphenoxazine in moderate yield. The overall yield in the three-step sequence is 72% based on recovered diaryl ether. An interesting, unusually stable iodine(III) intermediate in the O-arylation was observed by NMR and could be converted to the product upon longer reaction time.

Atom-economical group-transfer reactions with hypervalent iodine compounds

Hypervalent iodine compounds, in particular aryl-λ³-iodanes, have been used extensively as electrophilic group-transfer reagents. Even though these compounds are superior substrates in terms of reactivity and stability, their utilization is accompanied by stoichiometric amounts of an aryl iodide as waste. This highly nonpolar side product can be tedious to separate from the desired target molecules and significantly reduces the overall atom efficiency of these transformations. In this short review, we want to give a brief summary of recently developed methods, in which this arising former waste is used as an additional reagent in cascade transformations to generate multiple substituted products in one step and with high atom efficiency.

Imide arylation with aryl(TMP)iodonium tosylates

Herein, we describe the synthesis of N-aryl phthalimides by metal-free coupling of potassium phthalimide with unsymmetrical aryl(TMP)iodonium tosylate salts. The aryl transfer from the iodonium moiety occurs under electronic control with the electron-rich trimethoxyphenyl group acting as a competent dummy ligand. The yields of N-aryl phthalimides are moderate to high and the coupling reaction is compatible with electron-deficient and sterically encumbered aryl groups.

Design of Trifluoroalkenyl Iodonium Salts for a Hypervalency-Aided Alkenylation-Cyclization Strategy: Metal-Free Construction of Aziridine Rings

The synthesis of fluorinated compounds and their use as pharmaceutical ingredients or synthetic building blocks have been in the focus of chemical and medicinal research. However, the efficient synthesis of trifluoromethylated nitrogen heterocycles is sometimes challenging. Herein, we disclose a simple aziridination process that relies on the use of amines and novel alkenyl iodonium reagents for the synthesis of strained, trifluoromethylated heterocycles. With the utilization of a newly designed and bench-stable but highly reactive hypervalent alkenyl iodonium species, these three-membered-ring heterocyclic compounds can be efficiently constructed from simple amines under mild conditions in the absence of transition-metal catalysts. The special reactivity of the new trifluoropropenyl synthon towards nucleophilic centers could be exploited in more general cyclization and alkenylation reactions in the future.

One-pot preparation of 4-aryl-3-bromocoumarins from 4-aryl-2-propynoic acids with diaryliodonium salts, TBAB, and Na2S2O8

Various 4-aryl-3-bromocoumarins were smoothly obtained in moderate yields in one pot by treating 3-aryl-2-propynoic acids with diaryliodonium triflates and K₂CO₃ in the presence of CuCl, followed by the reaction with tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) and Na₂S₂O₈. The obtained 3-bromo-4-phenylcoumarin was transformed into 4-phenylcoumarin derivatives bearing C-H, C-S, C-N, and C-C bonds at 3-position.

Mechanistic Study on Aryl-Exchange Reaction of Diaryl-λ3-iodane with Aryl Iodide

Because of its hyper-leaving ability, as well as its strong oxidizing ability, diaryl(triflato)-λ³-iodane transfers one of the aryl groups to iodoarenes simply upon gentle heating (>85 °C) in nonpolar solvents. We have performed an in-depth mechanistic study of this unusual aryl transfer reaction. A combination of experimental (product analysis, kinetic study, and substituent effects) and density functional theoretical approaches revealed that the reaction proceeds through a concerted bimolecular transition state, in which ipso-carbon binds loosely to both iodine centers. We also evaluated electronic effects on the thermodynamic stability of diaryl-λ³-iodanes.

Transition metal-free, chemoselective arylation of thioamides yielding aryl thioimidates orN-aryl thioamides

A highlyS-selective arylation of thioamides provided efficient access to aryl thioimidates.

Competing Pathways in O-Arylations with Diaryliodonium Salts: Mechanistic Insights

A mechanistic study of arylations of aliphatic alcohols and hydroxide with diaryliodonium salts, to give alkyl aryl ethers and diaryl ethers, has been performed using experimental techniques and DFT calculations. Aryne intermediates have been trapped, and additives to avoid by-product formation originating from arynes have been found. An alcohol oxidation pathway was observed in parallel to arylation; this is suggested to proceed by an intramolecular mechanism. Product formation pathways via ligand coupling and arynes have been compared, and 4-coordinated transition states were found to be favored in reactions with alcohols. Furthermore, a novel, direct nucleophilic substitution pathway has been identified in reactions with electron-deficient diaryliodonium salts.

Aryl Transfer Selectivity in Metal-Free Reactions of Unsymmetrical Diaryliodonium Salts

Aromatic rings are found in a wide variety of products, including pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and functional materials. Diaryliodonium salts are new reagents used to transfer aryl groups under both metal-free and metal-catalyzed reactions and thereby synthesize arene-containing compounds. This minireview focuses on recent studies in selective aryl transfer reactions from unsymmetrical diaryliodonium salts under metal-free conditions. Reactions reported from 2007 to 2017, which represents a period of significant growth in diaryliodonium salt chemistry, are presented and organized by the type of reactive intermediate formed in the reaction. Specifically, reactions involving λ³ -iodane, λ³ -iodane radical anions, aryl radicals, and arynes are discussed. Chemoselectivity trends in aryl transfer are compared and contrasted across reaction intermediates and translation to potential auxiliaries are posited.

One-Pot Synthesis of Unsymmetric Diaryliodonium Salts from Iodine and Arenes

The first synthesis of unsymmetric diaryliodonium salts directly from iodine and arenes is presented. The methodology provides diaryliodonium salts with the trimethoxyphenyl (TMP) moiety as dummy group. The protocol avoids the customary use of iodoarenes, which can be both expensive and toxic. Excess reagents are not required, and the reactions are performed under mild conditions. O-Arylations with these TMP salts were demonstrated to be highly chemoselective.

An Admix Approach To Determine Counter Anion Effects on Metal-Free Arylation Reactions with Diaryliodonium Salts

A method to determine the effect of counter anions in metal-free arylation reactions of diaryliodonium salts is described. This approach avoids the independent synthesis of individual diaryliodonium salts and potentially enables assessment of a large number of different counter anions, including those that are synthetically challenging to install. Diaryliodonium tosylate salts serve as a general precursor for this approach, and an azide arylation reaction was used to develop this strategy. Further optimization and representative scope of azide arylation is demonstrated in yields that range from 74-95% (89% average). The use of this method as a screening tool has also been validated with arylation reactions of three different nucleophiles employing diphenyliodonium tosylate.

Preparation of 3-Iodoquinolines from N-Tosyl-2-propynylamines with Diaryliodonium Triflate and N-Iodosuccinimide

4-Aryl and 4-alkyl substituted 3-iodoquinolines could be smoothly obtained in one pot by treating N-tosyl-2-propynylamines with diaryliodonium triflate in the presence of K₃PO₄ and a catalytic amount of CuCl at room temperature, followed by treatment with N-iodosuccinimide and BF₃·OEt₂ at 0 °C, and then NaOH in methanol solution. The product, 3-iodo-4-phenylquinoline was smoothly transformed into 4-phenylquinoline with zinc; 4-phenyl-3-toluenesulfenylquinoline with toluenethiol, K₂CO₃, and CuI; 4-phenyl-3-phenylethynylquinoline with the Sonogashira coupling reaction; 4-phenyl-3-styrylquinoline with the Heck coupling reaction; 3,4-diphenylquinoline with the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction; 2-cyclohexyl-3-iodo-4-phenylquinoline with cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, Ag₂CO₃, and K₂S₂O₈; and 3-iodo-2-(2',5'-dioxan-1'-yl)-4-phenylquinoline with benzoyl peroxide in dioxane.

Crystal Structures of Diaryliodonium Fluorides and Their Implications for Fluorination Mechanisms

The radiofluorination of diaryliodonium salts is of value for producing radiotracers for positron emission tomography. We report crystal structures for two diaryliodonium fluorides. Whereas diphenyliodonium fluoride (1 a) exists as a tetramer bridged by four fluoride ions, 2-methylphenyl(phenyl)iodonium fluoride (2 a) forms a fluoride-bridged dimer that is further halogen bonded to two other monomers. We discuss the topological relationships between the two and their implications for fluorination in solution. Both radiofluorination and NMR spectroscopy show that thermolysis of 2 a gives 2-fluorotoluene and fluorobenzene in a 2 to 1 ratio that is in good agreement with the ratio observed from the radiofluorination of 2-methylphenyl(phenyl)iodonium chloride (2 b). The constancy of the product ratio affirms that the fluorinations occur via the same two rapidly interconverting transition states whose energy difference dictates chemoselectivity. From quantum chemical studies with density functional theory we attribute the "ortho-effect" to the favorable electrostatic interaction between the incoming fluoride and the o-methyl in the transition state. By utilizing the crystal structures of 1 a and 2 a, the mechanisms of fluoroarene formation from diaryliodonium fluorides in their monomeric, homodimeric, heterodimeric, and tetrameric states were also investigated. We propose that oligomerization energy dictates whether the fluorination occurs through a monomeric or an oligomeric pathway.

Transition-Metal-Free Direct C-H Arylation of Quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with Diaryliodonium Salts at Room Temperature

A method of synthesizing 3-arylquinoxalin-2(1H)-ones using diaryliodonium tetrafluoroborates under mild conditions is described. This protocol has a wide substrate scope and enables direct C-H functionalization. The synthetic potential of this coupling was explored using a range of readily accessible diaryliodonium salts and quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones.

Synthesis of Aryl(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)iodonium Trifluoroacetate Salts

The direct synthesis of aryl(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)iodonium trifluoroacetate salts from aryl iodides is described. Stoichiometric quantities of trifluoroacetic acid and trimethoxybenzene are used as the counteranion and auxiliary precursors, respectively, under oxidizing conditions. The reaction occurs at mild temperature, is broad in scope, and does not require a separate anion exchange step to install the trifluoroacetate group. The intermediacy of two distinct dicarboxy aryl-λ³-iodanes is hypothesized in the mechanism.

Metal-free Synthesis of Aryl Amines: Beyond Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution

A mild and metal-free approach to C-N coupling is described that employs diaryliodonium salt electrophiles and secondary aliphatic amine nucleophiles. This reaction results in direct ipso-substitution of the iodonium moiety and unsymmetrical aryl(TMP)iodonium salts are primarily employed. Moreover, arene substituents and substitution patterns that currently pose a challenge to classical metal-free methods are accommodated and the alicyclic amine nucleophiles used here are unprecedented in other contemporary metal-free C-N coupling reactions.

Efficient O-Functionalization of Carbohydrates with Electrophilic Reagents

Novel methodology for O-functionalization of carbohydrate derivatives has been established using bench-stable and easily prepared iodonium(III) reagents. Both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating aryl groups were introduced under ambient conditions and without precautions to exclude air or moisture. Furthermore, the approach was extended both to full arylation of cyclodextrin, and to trifluoroethylation of carbohydrate derivatives. This is the first general approach to introduce traditionally non-electrophilic groups into any of the OH groups around the sugar backbone. The methodology will be useful both in synthetic organic chemistry and biochemistry, as important functional groups can be incorporated under simple and robust reaction conditions in a fast and efficient manner.

Mild Synthesis of Sterically Congested Alkyl Aryl Ethers

An efficient and transition-metal-free method is presented to access tertiary alkyl aryl ethers by arylation of tertiary alcohols with ortho-substituted diaryliodonium salts. The scope covers cyclic and acyclic aliphatic, benzylic, allylic, and propargylic tertiary alcohols as well as primary and secondary fluorinated alcohols. The methodology gives access to alkyl aryl ethers of previously unprecedented steric congestion. Furthermore, the versatility of the developed procedure was demonstrated by arylation of the pro-drug mestranol.

Copper-Catalyzed N-Arylation of 2-Pyridones Employing Diaryliodonium Salts at Room Temperature

A new and mild synthetic approach for the N-arylation of 2-pyridones with diaryliodonium salts has been developed. Most reactions proceed readily at room temperature in the presence of 10 mol % of copper chloride. As a result, a wide range of N-arylpyridine-2-ones were synthesized in yields of 23% to 99%. With this method, an antifibrotic drug, Pirfenidone, was successfully synthesized in 99% yield within 30 min at room temperature.

One-Pot C-H Functionalization of Arenes by Diaryliodonium Salts

A transition-metal-free, mild, and highly regioselective synthesis of nitroarenes from arenes has been developed. The products are obtained in a sequential one-pot reaction by nitration of iodine(III) reagents with two carbon ligands, which are formed in situ from iodine(I). This novel concept has been extended to formation of aryl azides, and constitutes an important step towards catalytic reactions with these hypervalent iodine reagents. An efficient nitration of isolated diaryliodonium salts has also been developed, and the mechanism is proposed to proceed by a [2,2] ligand coupling pathway.

Copper-catalyzed intramolecular aryl-bicyclization of diynes with diaryliodonium salts via vinyl cations

A novel protocol for the synthesis of polycyclic compounds from linear diynes and diaryliodonium salts has been realized.