Pd-Catalyzed Intramolecular Aminohydroxylation of Alkenes with Hydrogen Peroxide as Oxidant and Water as Nucleophile

Direct Synthesis of 2-Formylpyrrolidines, 2-Pyrrolidinones and 2-Dihydrofuranones via Aerobic Copper-Catalyzed Aminooxygenation and Dioxygenation of 4-Pentenylsulfonamides and 4-Pentenylalcohols

A new method for the direct conversion of 4-pentenylsulfonamides to 2-formylpyrrolidines and a 2-ketopyrrolidine has been developed. This transformation occurs via aerobic copper-catalyzed alkene aminooxygenation where molecular oxygen serves as both oxidant and oxygen source. The 2-formylpyrrolidines can further undergo oxidative carbon-carbon bond cleavage in situ upon addition of DABCO, providing 2-pyrrolidinones. These transformations have been demonstrated for a range of 4-pentenylsulfonamides. 4-Pentenylalcohols also undergo oxidative cyclization to form γ-lactones predominantly. The reaction is chemoselective, oxidizing one alkene in the presence of others, and is compatible with several functional groups. Application of these reactions to the formal syntheses of baclofen and (+)-monomorine was demonstrated.

Dual Role of H2O2 in Palladium-Catalyzed Dioxygenation of Terminal Alkenes

A palladium-catalyzed, environmentally friendly dioxygenation reaction of simple alkenes has been developed that enabled rapid assembly of valuable α-hydroxy ketones with high atom economy. Notably, control experiments and ¹⁸O isotope-labeling experiments established that H₂O₂ played a dominant dual role in this transformation.

Oxidative 1,2-carboamination of alkenes with alkyl nitriles and amines toward γ-amino alkyl nitriles

Difunctionalization of alkenes has become a powerful tool for quickly increasing molecular complexity in synthesis. Despite significant progress in the area of alkene difunctionalization involving the incorporation of a nitrogen atom across the C-C double bonds, approaches for the direct 1,2-carboamination of alkenes to produce linear N-containing molecules are scarce and remain a formidable challenge. Here we describe a radical-mediated oxidative intermolecular 1,2-alkylamination of alkenes with alkyl nitriles and amines involving C(sp³)-H oxidative functionalization catalysed by a combination of Ag₂CO₃ with iron Lewis acids. This three-component alkene 1,2-alkylamination method is initiated by the C(sp³)-H oxidative radical functionalization, which enables one-step formation of two new chemical bonds, a C-C bond and a C-N bond, to selectively produce γ-amino alkyl nitriles.

Dual gold and photoredox catalysis: visible light-mediated intermolecular atom transfer thiosulfonylation of alkenes

Regioselective difunctionalization of alkenes has attracted significant attention from synthetic chemists and has the advantage of introducing diverse functional groups into vicinal carbons of common alkene moieties in a single operation. Herein, we report an unprecedented intermolecular atom transfer thiosulfonylation reaction of alkenes by combining gold catalysis and visible-light photoredox catalysis. A trifluoromethylthio group (SCF3) and other functionalized thio groups together with a sulfonyl group were regioselectively introduced into alkenes in the most atom economical manner. A detailed mechanism study indicated that a synergistic combination of gold catalysis and photoredox catalysis is crucial for this reaction.

Copper(0)/Selectfluor System-Promoted Oxidative Carbon-Carbon Bond Cleavage/Annulation of o-Aryl Chalcones: An Unexpected Synthesis of 9,10-Phenanthraquinone Derivatives

A general and efficient protocol for the synthesis of 9,10-phenanthraquinone derivatives has been successfully developed involving a copper(0)/Selectfluor system-promoted oxidative carbon-carbon bond cleavage/annulation of o-aryl chalcones. A variety of substituted 9,10-phenanthraquinones were synthesized in moderate to good yields under mild reaction conditions.

Iron-catalyzed peroxidation–carbamoylation of alkenes with hydroperoxides and formamides via formyl C(sp2)–H functionalization

A three-component radical coupling reaction of aryl alkenes or 1,3-enynes with tert-butyl hydroperoxide and formamides for the efficient synthesis of β-peroxy amides.

Intramolecular aminocyanation of alkenes promoted by hypervalent iodine

Hypervalent iodine-promoted aminocyanation of unactivated alkenes has been developed and the orientation of cyanation on the double bond can be controlled.

Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Oxidative Difunctionalization of Alkenes: Bond Forming at a High-Valent Palladium Center

Difunctionalization of alkenes to incorporate two functional groups across a double bond has emerged as a powerful transformation to greatly increase molecular complexity in organic synthesis with improved efficiency. Historically, palladium-catalyzed difunctionalization of alkenes has suffered from difficulties with introducing a second functional group through reductive elimination of a Pd(II) intermediate and competing β-hydride elimination reactions. To overcome these challenges, one strategy involves utilizing a steric bulky ligand to promote the reductive elimination steps from the Pd(II) center and impeding the β-hydride elimination reactions, which are beyond the scope of this Account. Alternatively, strong oxidants have been utilized to generate high-valent palladium species, which are prone to undergo reductive elimination to form a second C-X bond. This new strategy has been extensively applied to explore the difunctionalization of alkenes with enriched functional group diversity over the past decade. In this Account, we discuss our exploration and application of a "high-valent palladium strategy" for the synthesis of fluorine-containing organic molecules that are typically inaccessible from other methods. These studies were focused on the difunctionalization of alkenes that was initiated by nucleopalladation to form the alkyl C-Pd(II) species in high exo/endo regioselectivity. In the presence of nucleophilic fluorine-containing reagents (e.g., AgF, TMSCF₃, and AgOCF₃) and strong oxidants (hypervalent iodine and electrophilic fluorinating reagents), the in situ generated fluorine-containing high-valent Pd(IV) intermediates undergo reductive elimination to provide the corresponding alkyl C-F, C-CF₃, and C-OCF₃ bonds. Using these methods, we synthesized a variety of heterocycles containing fluorine, trifluoromethyl, and trifluoromethoxyl moieties from alkene substrates under mild reaction conditions. Besides hypervalent iodine reagents and electrophilic fluorinating reagents, our group has demonstrated that hydrogen peroxide, which is an environmentally friendly oxidant, can oxidize alkyl C-Pd(II) species to form high-valent alkyl C-Pd intermediates, and based on this observation, several catalytic difunctionalizations of alkenes, such as aminochlorination, aminoacetoxylation, and aminohydroxylation reactions, have been successfully developed. In addition, water was the only waste derived from the oxidant. All of these studies provide attractive methods for the stereoselective introduction of C-N and C-O bonds across double bonds via high-valent palladium intermediates. To gain a deeper understanding of this "high-valent palladium strategy", systematic mechanistic studies were performed to illustrate the stereochemistry of aminopalladation and reductive elimination. These results are summarized in the final section and serve as a guide for further exploration of novel alkene transformation as well as in other areas, such as Pd-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization reactions.

Visible-Light Promoted Distereodivergent Intramolecular Oxyamidation of Alkenes

The visible-light-promoted diastereodivergent intramolecular oxyamination of alkenes is described to construct oxazolindinones, pyrrolidinones and imidazolidones via mild generation of primary amidyl radicals from functionalized hydroxylamines. A unique phenomenon of highly diastereoselective ring-opening of aziridines controlled by electron sacrifices was observed. Highly diastereoselective amino alcohols derivatives were obtained efficiently through this protocol in gram scales. The mechanistic studies suggested the isolatable anti-aziridine intermediates were generated quickly from primary amidyl radicals and the diastereoselectivities were controlled by pK_a values of the electron sacrifices.

Palladium-Catalyzed Aerobic Intramolecular Aminoacetoxylation of Alkenes Enabled by Catalytic Nitrate

A mild aerobic intramolecular aminoacetoxylation method for the synthesis of pyrrolidine and indoline derivatives was achieved using molecular oxygen as the oxidant. A catalytic NOx species acts as an electron transfer mediator to access a high-valent palladium intermediate as the presumed active oxidant.

Metal-Free Direct Amidation of Naphthoquinones Using Hydroxamic Acids as an Amide Source: Application in the Synthesis of an HDAC6 Inhibitor

A novel synthetic approach to amidoquinones by the reaction of naphthoquinones with hydroxamic acids under basic conditions was developed. The reaction is mild and operationally simple, and it affords high yields of amidoquinones. With this new method, a novel, very strong HDAC6 inhibitor, which showed high toxicity to AML cells, was successfully synthesized.

Copper-catalyzed intermolecular oxyamination of olefins using carboxylic acids and O-benzoylhydroxylamines

This paper reports a novel approach for the direct and facile synthesis of 1,2-oxyamino moieties via an intermolecular copper-catalyzed oxyamination of olefins. This strategy utilizes O-benzoylhydroxylamines as an electrophilic amine source and carboxylic acids as a nucleophilic oxygen source to achieve a modular difunctionalization of olefins. The reaction proceeded in a regioselective manner with moderate to good yields, exhibiting a broad scope of carboxylic acid, amine, and olefin substrates.

Copper-catalyzed oxyamination of electron-deficient alkenes with N-acyloxyamines

An intermolecular version of copper-catalyzed oxyamination of electron-deficient alkenes by making use of N-acyloxyamines as both amino and oxygen donors was developed.

‘Chiron’ approach to stereoselective synthesis of sphinganine and unnatural safingol, an antineoplastic and antipsoriatic agent

Highly stereoselective total syntheses of sphinganine 1 and antineoplastic and antipsoriatic drug safingol 17 have been demonstrated.

Syntheses and crystal structures of benzene-sulfonate and -carboxylate copper polymers and their application in the oxidation of cyclohexane in ionic liquid under mild conditions

Enhanced catalytic activities of copper polymers for the peroxidative oxidation of cyclohexane are observed in an ionic liquid medium.

Palladium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Aminotrifluoromethoxylation of Alkenes

The first catalytic trifluoromethoxylation of unactivated alkenes has been developed, in which Pd(CH3CN)2Cl2 was used as catalyst, AgOCF3 as trifluoromethoxide source, and Selectfluor-BF4 as oxidant. A variety of 3-OCF3 substituted piperidines were selectively obtained in good yields. Direct evidence was provided to address the facile reductive elimination of Pd(IV)-OCF3 complex to form sp(3) C-OCF3 bond.

Palladium-Based Nanomaterials: A Platform to Produce Reactive Oxygen Species for Catalyzing Oxidation Reactions

Oxidation reactions by molecular oxygen (O2 ) over palladium (Pd)-based nanomaterials are a series of processes crucial to the synthesis of fine chemicals. In the past decades, investigations of related catalytic materials have mainly been focused on the synthesis of Pd-based nanomaterials from the angle of tailoring their surface structures, compositions and supporting materials, in efforts to improve their activities in organic reactions. From the perspective of rational materials design, it is imperative to address the fundamental issues associated with catalyst performance, one of which should be oxygen activation by Pd-based nanomaterials. Here, the fundamentals that account for the transformation from O2 to reactive oxygen species over Pd, with a focus on singlet O2 and its analogue, are introduced. Methods for detecting and differentiating species are also presented to facilitate future fundamental research. Key factors for tuning the oxygen activation efficiencies of catalytic materials are then outlined, and recent developments in Pd-catalyzed oxygen-related organic reactions are summarized in alignment with each key factor. To close, we discuss the challenges and opportunities for photocatalysis research at this unique intersection as well as the potential impact on other research fields.

Divergent Synthesis of 2-Aminofurans via Palladium-Catalyzed Acetoxylative, Alkoxylative, and Hydroxylative Cycloisomerization of Homoallenyl Amides

A fine-tunable transformation, including Pd-catalyzed acetoxylative, alkoxylative, and hydroxylative cycloisomerization of homoallenyl amides, has been realized with hypervalent iodine organic compounds as the oxidants, giving polysubstituted 2-aminofurans in promising yields at room temperature. The selective formation of three different types of products from the same starting materials makes this reaction particularly attractive and useful for organic synthesis.

Catalyst-Controlled Amino- versus Oxy-Acetoxylation of Urea-Tethered Alkenes: Efficient Synthesis of Cyclic Ureas and Isoureas

A catalyst-controlled vicinal amino- versus oxy-acetoxylation of alkenes with PhI(OAc)2 as the oxidant is described. The divergent synthesis of cyclic ureas and isoureas was achieved in good yields under mild conditions employing ambident urea nucleophiles. Both terminal and internal alkenes are compatible with this reaction protocol.

Palladium-catalyzed intermolecular aminocarbonylation of alkenes: efficient access of β-amino acid derivatives

A novel palladium-catalyzed intermolecular aminocarbonylation of alkenes has been developed in which the employment of hypervalent iodine reagent can accelerate the intermolecular aminopalladation, which thus provides the successful catalytic transformation. The current transformation presents one of the most convenient methods to generate β-amino acid derivatives from simple alkenes.

Aerobic palladium-catalyzed dioxygenation of alkenes enabled by catalytic nitrite

Catalytic nitrite was found to enable carbon-oxygen bond-forming reductive elimination from unstable alkyl palladium intermediates, providing dioxygenated products from alkenes. A variety of functional groups were tolerated, and high yields (up to 94 %) were observed with many substrates, also for a multigram-scale reaction. Nitrogen dioxide, which could form from nitrite under the reaction conditions, was demonstrated to be a potential intermediate in the catalytic cycle. Furthermore, the reductive elimination event was probed with (18) O-labeling experiments, which demonstrated that both oxygen atoms in the difunctionalized products were derived from one molecule of acetic acid.

mCPBA-mediated metal-free intramolecular aminohydroxylation and dioxygenation of unfunctionalized olefins

We report a mild and metal-free process to prepare a variety of 2-hydroxymethylpyrrolidine and oxolanimine compounds.

Oxidative radical 1,2-alkylarylation of alkenes with α-C(sp3)–H bonds of acetonitriles involving 1,2-aryl migration

The first access to acyclic molecules by metal-free oxidative 1,2-alkylarylation of alkenes with acetonitriles is presented.

Hypoiodous acid-catalyzed regioselective geminal addition of methanol to vinylarenes: synthesis of anti-Markovnikov methyl acetals

A new metal-free catalytic approach for the synthesis of anti-Markovnikov methyl acetals from vinylarenes based on in situ generated HOI species is reported. The mechanistic investigations provided the solid evidence for the proposed mechanism.

Copper-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization for the synthesis of phosphorated indolines

A novel and convenient approach to the synthesis of various phosphorated indolines via a copper-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization reaction has been developed.