Mild Aminoacylation of Indoles and Pyrroles through a Three-Component Reaction with Ynol Ethers and Sulfonyl Azides

Synthesis of Benzosiloles by Intramolecular anti-Hydroarylation via ortho-C-H Activation of Aryloxyethynyl Silanes

Straightforward synthesis of benzosiloles was achieved by the invention of Pd/acid-catalyzed intramolecular anti-hydroarylation of aryloxyethynyl(aryl)silanes via ortho-C-H bond activation. The aryloxy group bound to the ethynyl carbon is the key factor for this transformation.

Copper-Catalyzed Sulfonyl Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition Reactions: Simultaneous Generation and Trapping of Copper-Triazoles and -Ketenimines for the Synthesis of Triazolopyrimidines

First simultaneous generation and utilization of both copper-triazole and -ketenimine intermediates in copper-catalyzed sulfonyl azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions is achieved for the one-pot synthesis of triazolopyrimidines via a novel copper-catalyzed multicomponent cascade of sulfonyl azides, alkynes, and azirines. Significantly, the reaction proceeds under very mild conditions in good yields.

Diversity-oriented synthesis of heterocycles and macrocycles by controlled reactions of oxetanes with α-iminocarbenes

Using N-sulfonyl triazoles as substrates, compounds as diverse as 2-imino tetrahydrofurans, 13- and 15-membered ring aza-macrocycles can be prepared selectively via formal [1 + 4], [5 + 4 + 4] and [3 + 4 + 4 + 4] condensations of α-imino carbenes and oxetanes under Rh(ii)-catalysis or thermal activation. Spirocyclic N-heterocycles are also accessible by means of Buchwald-Hartwig and Pictet-Spengler cyclizations. By reaction control, substrate selection or further derivatization, a large variety of chemical structures is thus achievable. Finally, using triazoles reacting under thermal activation, interesting mechanistic insight was obtained.

Synthesis of 6-Substituted Piperidin-3-ones via Rh(II)-Catalyzed Transannulation of N-Sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles with Electron-Rich Aromatic Nucleophiles

A highly diastereoselective rhodium(II)-catalyzed transannulation of aldehyde-tethered N-sulfonyl triazoles with electron-rich aromatic nucleophiles is reported for the first time to afford functionalized 6-substituted piperidin-3-ones. The reaction has a broad substrate scope including both aliphatic and aromatic N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles together with various aromatic nucleophiles. The addition of a catalytic amount of Lewis acid has proven to be crucial for the yield improvement. By employing this methodology, hardly accessible piperidin-3-ones bearing quaternary carbons could be obtained.

Scope of the Reactions of Indolyl- and Pyrrolyl-Tethered N-Sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles: Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Indole- and Pyrrole-Fused Polycyclic Compounds

An efficient synthesis of tetrahydrocarboline-type products and polycyclic spiroindolines has been achieved. The transformation proceeds via rhodium(II)-catalyzed intramolecular annulations of indolyl- and pyrrolyl-tethered N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles. The reaction could be tuned toward either the formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition or the C-H functionalization reaction depending on the electronic and structural features of the substrates, leading to the production of a variety of structurally related heterocyclic compounds.

Rhodium(ii)-catalyzed intermolecular [3 + 2] annulation of N-vinyl indoles with N-tosyl-1,2,3-triazoles via an aza-vinyl Rh carbene

This study opens up a new synthetic approach for the construction of various functionalized indoles having a dihydropyrrole moiety from the Rh(ii)-catalyzed annulation of N-vinyl indoles with 4-aryl-N-tosyl-1,2,3-triazoles under mild conditions.

Rhodium-catalyzed denitrogenative transannulation of 1,2,3-triazolyl-carbamates: efficient access to 4-aminooxazolidinones

The rhodium(ii)-catalyzed denitrogenative transannulation reaction of 1,2,3-triazolyl-carbamates was described providing an efficient access to biologically interesting 4-aminooxazolidinones in excellent yields and selectivities.

Mechanism of the Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Münchnones: The Role of Ligands in N-Acyl Iminium Salt Carbonylation

The palladium-catalyzed carbonylative coupling of imines, acid chlorides, and dipolarophiles can provide efficient routes to prepare nitrogen-containing heterocycles. One challenge in developing this reaction, and in the creation of more active catalyst systems, is the lack of data on how this complex transformation proceeds. To address this, we report here the results of our mechanistic studies on this system, and in particular the formation of mesoionic münchnones. This includes the synthesis of key catalytic intermediates, model reactions, and kinetic studies that support the role of these compounds in catalysis. Together, these studies provide a clear picture of the impact of catalyst structure, ligands, and palladium nanoparticles on facilitating the carbonylation of in situ generated iminium salts, and suggest an avenue for the creation of more active catalyst systems.

Synthetic Transformations through Alkynoxy-Palladium Interactions and C-H Activation

Organic synthesis based on straightforward transformations is essential for environmentally benign manufacturing for the invention of novel pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and organoelectronic materials in order to ultimately realize a sustainable society. Metal-catalyzed C-H bond-cleaving functionalization has become a promising method for achieving the above goal. For site-selective C-H bond cleavage, so-called directing groups, i.e., ligands attached to substrates, are employed. Commonly utilized directing groups are carbonyls, imines, carboxyls, amides, and pyridyls, which σ-donate electron pairs to metals. On the other hand, unsaturated substrates such as alkenes and alkynes, which participate largely as reactants in organic synthesis, are prepared readily by a wide variety of synthetic transformations and are also employed as reactants in organometallic chemistry. Moreover, such unsaturated groups form complexes with some metals by ligation of their p orbitals via donation and back-donation. However, the use of unsaturated bonds as directing groups has not been studied extensively. We have been involved in the development of methods for the cleavage of C-H bonds by means of transition-metal catalysts to achieve new carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions and incidentally came to focus on the alkynoxy group (-OC≡C-), which shows a ketene-like resonance structure. We expected the alkynoxy group to interact electrophilically with a low-valent transition-metal complex in order to cleave adjacent C-H bonds. In this Account, we summarize our recent achievements on C-H activation based on interactions of palladium with the alkynoxy group in alkynyl aryl ethers. The alkynoxy group plays two roles in the transformation: as a directing group for adjacent C-H bond activation and as an acceptor for the carbon and hydrogen fragments. A typical example is palladium-catalyzed ortho-C-H bond activation in alkynoxyarenes followed by sequential insertion/annulation with internal alkynes and the alkynoxy group to produce 2-methylidene-2H-1-benzopyrans. Mechanistic studies have shown that the presence of both oxygen and alkynyl moieties is essential for selective ortho-C-H bond activation and subsequent annulation. In addition to internal alkynes, norbornene, allenes, isocyanates, and ketenes produce the corresponding oxacycles. It is worthy of note that benzoxadinones formed by the reaction with isocyanates exhibit solid-state luminescence. In addition, 2-methylphenyl alkynyl ethers and 2-alkynoxybiaryls undergo intramolecular annulation at the benzylic γ-position and aryl δ-position via C-H bond activation to give benzofurans and dibenzopyrans, respectively. The disclosed methods allow us to construct useful π-conjugated systems in a straightforward manner.

The chemistry of ynol and thioynol ethers

Alkynyl ethers and thioethers are versatile building blocks in organic synthesis allowing various transformations including a number of C–C bond forming processes.

Copper-catalyzed three-component cascade reaction of alkynes, sulfonyl azides and simple aldehydes/ketones

A copper-catalyzed dimethylzinc-promoted three-component cascade reaction of alkynes, sulfonyl azides, and simple aldehydes or ketones is described, which delivers polysubstituted olefins expeditiously in one pot under mild conditions.

Iridium(iii)-catalyzed regioselective C7-sulfonamidation of indoles

Iridium(iii)-catalyzed direct C7-sulfonamidation of indoles with sulfonyl azides is described.

Base-induced synthesis of N-dialkylaminomethyl-2H-1,2,3-triazoles from N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles

A facile synthetic method to access N-dialkylaminomethyl-2H-1,2,3-triazoles has been developed from N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles by a base induced reaction. Moreover, 4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles can also give the same product even in the absence of a base at high temperature.

Tandem 1,2-sulfur migration and (aza)-Diels-Alder reaction of β-thio-α-diazoimines: rhodium catalyzed synthesis of (fused)-polyhydropyridines, and cyclohexenes

Rhodium catalyzed synthesis of substituted tetrahydropyridines was accomplished from readily accessible thio-tethered N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles. The reaction involves tandem rhodium catalyzed 1,2-sulfur migration in β-thio-α-diazoimines, generated from thio-tethered N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles, to thio-substituted 1-azadiene and subsequent self aza-Diels-Alder reaction. Interestingly, the methodology was effectively extended to the synthesis of fused tetrahydropyridines, dihydropyridines and cyclohexenes through the in situ trapping of the intermediate, 1-azadiene, with various dienophiles such as enol ether, enamine, ketene S,S-acetal, alkyne, alkene and diene. Furthermore, the direct conversion of propargyl sulfides to (fused)-tetrahydropyridines was also achieved through the successful integration of copper and rhodium catalysts in one-pot.

Construction of 1-Naphthols via Benzannulation Based on the Reaction of Aryl tert-Butyl Ynol Ethers with Ynamides or Ynol Ethers

A new version of benzannulation featuring the use of aromatic tert-butyl ynol ethers as the convenient precursors for arylketenes has been developed. Both ynamides and ynol ethers undergo this reaction smoothly, giving 3-amino and 3-alkoxy 1-naphthols in good to excellent yields under the heated reaction conditions. The high efficiency, excellent regioselectivity, good functional group compatibility, and broad substrate scope render this reaction particularly valuable for organic synthesis.

Mechanism and Dynamics of Intramolecular C-H Insertion Reactions of 1-Aza-2-azoniaallene Salts

The 1-aza-2-azoniaallene salts, generated from α-chloroazo compounds by treatment with halophilic Lewis acids, undergo intramolecular C-H amination reactions to form pyrazolines in good to excellent yields. This intramolecular amination occurs readily at both benzylic and tertiary aliphatic positions and proceeds at an enantioenriched chiral center with retention of stereochemistry. Competition experiments show that insertion occurs more readily at an electron-rich benzylic position than it does at an electron-deficient one. The C-H amination reaction occurs only with certain tethers connecting the heteroallene cation and the pendant aryl groups. With a longer tether or when the reaction is intermolecular, electrophilic aromatic substitution occurs instead of C-H amination. The mechanism and origins of stereospecificity and chemoselectivity were explored with density functional theory (B3LYP and M06-2X). The 1-aza-2-azoniaallene cation undergoes C-H amination through a hydride transfer transition state to form the N-H bond, and the subsequent C-N bond formation occurs spontaneously to generate the heterocyclic product. This concerted two-stage mechanism was shown by IRC and quasi-classical molecular dynamics trajectory studies.

Nickel-promoted highly regioselective carboxylation of aryl ynol ether and its application to the synthesis of chiral β-aryloxypropionic acid derivatives

Nickel(0)-promoted carboxylation of aryl ynol ether proceeded in a highly regioselective manner to produce α-substituted-β-aryloxyacrylic acid derivatives. The α-substituted-β-aryloxyacrylic acids were transformed into the corresponding β-aryloxypropionic acid derivative as an optically active form via rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation.