Rh-Catalyzed Intermolecular Reactions of Alkynes with α-Diazoesters That Possess β-Hydrogens: Ligand-Based Control over Divergent Pathways

Rh-Catalyzed Intermolecular Reactions of α-Alkyl-α-Diazo Carbonyl Compounds with Selectivity over β-Hydride Migration

Rh-carbenes derived from α-diazocarbonyl compounds have found broad utility across a remarkable range of reactivity, including cyclopropanation, cyclopropenation, C-H insertions, heteroatom-hydrogen insertions, and ylide forming reactions. However, in contrast to α-aryl or α-vinyl-α-diazocarbonyl compounds, the utility of α-alkyl-α-diazocarbonyl compounds had been moderated by the propensity of such compounds to undergo intramolecular β-hydride migration to give alkene products. Especially challenging had been intermolecular reactions involving α-alkyl-α-diazocarbonyl compounds. This Account discusses the historical context and prior limitations of Rh-catalyzed reactions involving α-alkyl-α-diazocarbonyl compounds. Early studies demonstrated that ligand and temperature effects could influence chemoselectivity over β-hydride migration. However, effects were modest and conflicting conclusions had been drawn about the influence of sterically demanding ligands on β-hydride migration. More recent advances have led to a more detailed understanding of the reaction conditions that can promote intermolecular reactivity in preference to β-hydride migration. In particular, the use of bulky carboxylate ligands and low reaction temperatures have been key to enabling intermolecular cyclopropenation, cyclopropanation, carbonyl ylide formation/dipolar cycloaddition, indole C-H functionalization, and intramolecular bicyclobutanation with high chemoselectivity over β-hydride migration. Cyclic α-diazocarbonyl compounds have been shown to be particularly resilient toward β-hydride migration and are the first class of compounds that can engage in intermolecular reactivity in the presence of tertiary β-hydrogens. DFT calculations were used to propose that for cyclic α-diazocarbonyl compounds, ring constraints relieve steric interaction for intermolecular reactions and thereby accelerate the rate of intermolecular reactivity relative to intramolecular β-hydride migration. Enantioselective reactions of α-alkyl-α-diazocarbonyl compounds have been developed using bimetallic N-imido-tert-leucinate-derived complexes. The most effective complexes were found by computation and X-ray crystallography to adopt a "chiral crown" conformation in which all of the imido groups are presented on one face of the paddlewheel complex in a chiral arrangement. Insight from computational studies guided the design and synthesis of a mixed ligand paddlewheel complex, Rh2(S-PTTL)3TPA, the structure of which bears similarity to the chiral crown complex Rh2(S-PTTL)4. Rh2(S-PTTL)3TPA engages substrate classes (aliphatic alkynes, silylacetylenes, α-olefins) that are especially challenging in intermolecular reactions of α-alkyl-α-diazoesters and catalyzes enantioselective cyclopropanation, cyclopropenation, and indole C-H functionalization with yields and enantioselectivities that are comparable or superior to Rh2(S-PTTL)4. The work detailed in this Account describes progress toward enabling a more general utility for α-alkyl-α-diazo compounds in Rh-catalyzed carbene reactions. Further studies on ligand design and synthesis will continue to broaden the scope of their selective reactions.

Dual rhodium/copper catalysis: synthesis of benzo[b]fluorenes and 2-naphthalenylmethanones via de-diazotized cycloadditions

A novel synergistic rhodium/copper catalysis has been established, enabling de-diazotized cycloadditions toward the selective formation of benzo[b]fluorenes and 2-naphthalenylmethanones.

Insights into the unexpected chemoselectivity in Brønsted acid catalyzed cyclization of isatins with enaminones: convenient synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolin-1-ones and spirooxindoles

Chemoselective [1+2+3] vs. cascade cyclization has been developed by switching Brønsted acid, offering a divergent synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolin-1-ones and spirooxindoles.

Cyano-decorated ligands: a powerful alternative to fluorination for tuning the photochemical properties of cyclometalated Ir(iii) complexes

Two bis-cyclometalated Ir(iii) photocatalysts were synthesized with nitrile moieties which imparted remarkable photophysical properties over conventional fluorinated ligands.

Cyclopentadiene Construction via Rh-Catalyzed Carbene/Alkyne Metathesis Terminated with Intramolecular Formal [3 + 2] Cycloaddition

A new type of intramolecular carbene cascade reaction of alkynyl-tethered styryl diazoesters is presented, which is terminated with a formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition to give the bicyclic cyclopentadiene derivatives in high yields and selectivity. Additionally, it was found that the β-H shift is the dominating process in the case of alkyl alkyne-tethered substrates.

Rh(II)-Catalyzed Reactions of Diazoesters with Organozinc Reagents

Rh(II)-catalyzed reactions of diazoesters with organozinc reagents are described. Diorganozinc reagents participate in reactions with diazo compounds by two distinct, catalyst-dependent mechanisms. With bulky diisopropylethyl acetate ligands, the reaction mechanism is proposed to involve initial formation of a Rh-carbene and subsequent carbozincation to give a zinc enolate. With Rh2(OAc)4, it is proposed that initial formation of an azine precedes 1,2-addition by an organozinc reagent. This straightforward route to the hydrazone products provides a useful method for preparing chiral quaternary α-aminoesters or pyrazoles via the Paul-Knorr condensation with 1,3-diketones. Crossover and deuterium labeling experiments provide evidence for the mechanisms proposed.

Transition-metal-free intramolecular carbene aromatic substitution/Büchner reaction: synthesis of fluorenes and [6,5,7]benzo-fused rings

Intramolecular aromatic substitution and Büchner reaction have been established as powerful methods for the construction of polycyclic compounds. These reactions are traditionally catalyzed by Rh(II) catalysts with α-diazocarbonyl compounds as the substrates. Herein a transition-metal-free intramolecular aromatic substitution/Büchner reaction is presented. These reactions use readily available N-tosylhydrazones as the diazo compound precursors and show wide substrate scope.

Asymmetric syntheses of sceptrin and massadine and evidence for biosynthetic enantiodivergence

Cycloaddition is an essential tool in chemical synthesis. Instead of using light or heat as a driving force, marine sponges promote cycloaddition with a more versatile but poorly understood mechanism in producing pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids sceptrin, massadine, and ageliferin. Through de novo synthesis of sceptrin and massadine, we show that sponges may use single-electron oxidation as a central mechanism to promote three different types of cycloaddition. Additionally, we provide surprising evidence that, in contrast to previous reports, sceptrin, massadine, and ageliferin have mismatched chirality. Therefore, massadine cannot be an oxidative rearrangement product of sceptrin or ageliferin, as is commonly believed. Taken together, our results demonstrate unconventional chemical approaches to achieving cycloaddition reactions in synthesis and uncover enantiodivergence as a new biosynthetic paradigm for natural products.

Synthesis of substituted azulenes via Pt(II)-catalyzed ring-expanding cycloisomerization

Substituted azulenes, valuable structures for electronic devices and pharmaceuticals, have been synthesized by the platinum(II)-catalyzed intramolecular ring-expanding cycloisomerization of 1-en-3-yne with ortho-disubstituted benzene. This novel method provides an alternative route for the efficient synthesis of substituted azulenes. The reaction mechanism of selected catalytic transformations was explored using density functional calculations.

Expedient synthesis of fused azepine derivatives using a sequential rhodium(II)-catalyzed cyclopropanation/1-aza-Cope rearrangement of dienyltriazoles

A general method for the formation of fused dihydroazepine derivatives from 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles bearing a tethered diene is reported. The process involves an intramolecular cyclopropanation of an α-imino rhodium(II) carbenoid, leading to a transient 1-imino-2-vinylcyclopropane intermediate which rapidly undergoes a 1-aza-Cope rearrangement to generate fused dihydroazepine derivatives in moderate to excellent yields. The reaction proceeds with similar efficiency on gram scale. The use of catalyst-free conditions leads to the formation of a novel [4.4.0] bicyclic heterocycle.

Intramolecular dearomatizing [3 + 2] annulation of α-imino carbenoids with aryl rings furnishing 3,4-fused indole skeletons

The rhodium-catalyzed dearomatizing [3 + 2] annulation reaction of 4-(3-arylpropyl)-1,2,3-triazoles is described. It provides a straightforward synthetic pathway from simple 5-aryl-1-alkynes leading to tricyclic 3,4-fused dihydroindoles via the corresponding 1,2,3-triazoles.

1,6-Carbene transfer: gold-catalyzed oxidative diyne cyclizations

In the presence of a gold catalyst an unprecedented oxidative cyclization of diynes takes place. The reaction cascade is initiated by an oxygen transfer from a N-oxide onto a gold-activated alkyne. The formed α-oxo carbene is transferred across the second alkyne yielding a stabilized vinyl carbene/cation. Alkyl migration or sp(3)-CH insertion then terminates the catalytic cycle by formation of highly substituted functionalized indenones. A 1,6-carbene shift could be supported by the oxidation of the vinyl carbene. This protocol represents an attractive alternative to procedures which are based on the metal-catalyzed decomposition of hazardous, not easily accessible, diazo compounds.

Enantioselective synthesis of cyclobutanes via sequential Rh-catalyzed bicyclobutanation/Cu-catalyzed homoconjugate addition

Enantiomerically enriched cyclobutanes are constructed by a three-component process in which t-butyl (E)-2-diazo-5-arylpent-4-enoates are treated with Rh2(S-NTTL)4 to provide enantiomerically enriched bicyclobutanes, which can subsequently engage in homoconjugate addition/enolate trapping sequence to give densely functionalized cyclobutanes with high diastereoselectivity. This three-component, two-catalyst procedure can be carried out in a single flask. Rh2(S-NTTL)4-catalyzed reaction of t-butyl (Z)-2-diazo-5-phenylpent-4-enoate gives the Büchner cyclization product in excellent enantioselectivity.

Rh-catalyzed intermolecular reactions of cyclic α-diazocarbonyl compounds with selectivity over tertiary C-H bond migration

Intermolecular Rh-catalyzed reactions of cyclic α-diazocarbonyl compounds with chemoselectivity over β-hydride elimination are described. These methods represent the first general intermolecular reactions of Rh-carbenoids that are selective over tertiary β-C-H bond migration. Successful transformations include cyclopropanation, cyclopropenation, and various X-H insertion reactions with a broad scope of substrates. We propose that the intermolecular approach of substrates to carbenes from acyclic diazo precursors may be relatively slow due to a steric interaction with the ester function, which is perpendicular to the π-system of the carbene. For carbenes derived from five- and six-membered cyclic α-diazocarbonyls, it is proposed that the carbene is constrained to be more conjugated with the carbonyl, thereby relieving the steric interaction for intermolecular reactions, and accelerating the rate of intermolecular reactivity relative to intramolecular β-hydride migration. However, attempts to use α-diazo-β-ethylcaprolactone in intermolecular cyclopropanation with styrene were unsuccessful. It is proposed that the conformational flexibility of the seven-membered ring allows the carbonyl to be oriented perpendicular to Rh-carbene. The significant intermolecular interaction between the carbonyl and approaching substrate is in agreement with the poor ability of α-diazo-β-ethylcaprolactone to participate in intermolecular cyclopropanation reactions. DFT calculations provide support for the mechanistic proposals that are described.

Rh(2)(S-PTTL)(3)TPA-A Mixed Ligand Dirhodium(II) Catalyst for Enantioselective Reactions of α-Alkyl-α-Diazoesters

Herein we report the synthesis of the mixed ligand paddlewheel complex dirhodium(II) tris[N-phthaloyl-(S)-tert-leucinate] triphenylacetate, Rh(2)(S-PTTL)(3)TPA, the structure of which bears similarity to the chiral crown complex Rh(2)(S-PTTL)(4). Rh(2)(S-PTTL)(3)TPA engages substrate classes (aliphatic alkynes, silylacetylenes, α-olefins) that are especially challenging in intermolecular reactions of α-alkyl-α-diazoesters, and catalyzes enantioselective cyclopropanation, cyclopropenation, and indole C-H functionalization with yields and enantioselectivities that are comparable or superior to Rh(2)(S-PTTL)(4). Mixing ligands on paddlewheel complexes offers a versatile handle for diversifying catalyst structure and reactivity. The results described herein illustrate how mixed ligand catalysts can create new opportunities for the optimization of catalytic asymmetric processes.