Site-Selective Alkenylation of δ-C(sp3)–H Bonds with Alkynes via a Six-Membered Palladacycle

Late-stage stitching enabled by manganese-catalyzed C─H activation: Peptide ligation and access to cyclopeptides

Bioorthogonal late-stage diversification of structurally complex peptides bears enormous potential for drug discovery and molecular imaging. Despite major accomplishments, these strategies heavily rely on noble-metal catalysis. Herein, we report on a manganese(I)-catalyzed peptide C─H hydroarylation that enabled the stitching of peptidic and sugar fragments, under exceedingly mild and racemization-free conditions. This convergent approach represents an atom-economical alternative to traditional iterative peptide synthesis. The robustness of the manganese(I) catalysis regime is reflected by the full tolerance of a plethora of sensitive functional groups. Our strategy enabled an expedient access to challenging cyclic peptides by a modular late-stage macrocyclization of structurally complex peptides.

Site-selective and diastereoselective functionalization of α-amino acid and peptide derivatives via palladium-catalyzed sp3 C–H activation

This review introduces palladium-catalyzed C–H functionalization of amino acids and peptides.

Alkenes as hydrogen trappers to control the regio-selective ruthenium(ii) catalyzed ortho C–H silylation of amides and anilides

A convenient and practical pathway to versatile silylated amides and anilides is described via efficient and selective ruthenium(ii) catalyzed ortho C–H silylation with different alkenes as the hydrogen acceptors.

Remote C(sp3)–H functionalization via catalytic cyclometallation: beyond five-membered ring metallacycle intermediates

Despite impressive recent momentum gained in C(sp3)–H activation, achieving high regioselectivity in molecules containing different C–H bonds with similar high energy without abusing tailored substitution remains as one of the biggest challenges.

Site-selective functionalization of remote aliphatic C-H bonds via C-H metallation

Directing group assistance provided a paradigm for controlling site-selectivity in transition metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization reactions. However, the kinetically and thermodynamically favored formation of 5-membered metallacycles has greatly hampered the selective activation of remote C(sp3)-H bonds via larger-membered metallacycles. Recent development to achieve remote C(sp3)-H functionalization via the C-H metallation process largely relies on employing specific substrates without accessible proximal C-H bonds. Encouragingly, recent advances in this field have enabled the selective functionalization of remote aliphatic C-H bonds in the presence of equally accessible proximal ones by taking advantage of the switch of the regiodetermining step, ring strain of metallacycles, multiple non-covalent interactions, and favourable reductive elimination from larger-membered metallacycles. In this review, we summarize these advancements according to the strategies used, hoping to facilitate further efforts to achieve site- and even enantioselective functionalization of remote C(sp3)-H bonds.

Visible Light-Enabled sp3 -C-H Functionalization with Chloro- and Bromoalkynes: Chemoselective Route to Vinylchlorides or Alkynes

An unprecedented direct atom-economic chemo- and regioselective hydroalkylation of chloroalkynes and an sp3 -C-H alkynylation of bromoalkynes was achieved. The reaction partners are unfunctionalized ethers, alcohols, amides, and even non-activated hydrocarbons. We found that a household fluorescent bulb was able to excite a diaryl ketone, which then selectively abstracts a H-atom from an sp3 -C-H bond. The product of a formal alkyne insertion into the sp3 -C-H bond was obtained with chloroalkynes, providing valuable vinyl chlorides. The photo-organocatalytic hydrogen atom transfer strategy gives rise to a broad range of diversely functionalized olefins. When bromoalkynes are applied in the presence of a base, a chemoselectivity switch to an alkynylation is observed. This reaction can even be performed for the alkynylation of unactivated sp3 -C-H bonds, in this case with a preference of the more substituted carbon. Accompanying quantum chemical calculations indicate a vinyl radical intermediate with pronounced linear coordination of the carbon radical center, thus enabling the formation of both diastereoisomers after H-atom abstraction, suggesting that the (Z)-diastereoisomer is preferred, which supports the experimentally observed (E/Z)-distribution.

Copper(II)-Catalyzed Direct Amination of 1-Naphthylamines at the C8 Site

A new and simple protocol for C8-H amination of 1-naphthylamine derivatives was developed using copper salt and di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP) as the catalyst and oxidant, respectively. This reaction proceeded smoothly under the additive and solvent-free conditions. In addition, this amination showed excellent regioselectivity and could tolerate various functional groups.

Diverse strategies for transition metal catalyzed distal C(sp3)-H functionalizations

Transition metal catalyzed C(sp3)-H functionalization is a rapidly growing field. Despite severe challenges, distal C-H functionalizations of aliphatic molecules by overriding proximal positions have witnessed tremendous progress. While usage of stoichiometric directing groups played a crucial role, reactions with catalytic transient directing groups or methods without any directing groups are gaining more attention due to their practicality. Various innovative strategies, slowly but steadily, circumvented issues related to remote functionalizations of aliphatic molecules. A systematic compilation has been presented here to provide insights into the recent developments and future challenges in the field. The Present perspective is expected to open up a new dimension and provide an avenue for deep insights into the distal C(sp3)-H functionalizations that could be applied routinely in various pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries.

Synthesis of γ-Lactams via Pd(II)-Catalyzed C(sp3)-H Olefination Using a Self-Cleaving Polyfluoroethylsulfinyl Directing Group

A monodentate directing group, 2-chlorotetrafluoroethylsulfinylmide (-NHSOCF₂CF₂Cl), for inert C(sp³)-H bond activation is reported. This directing group shows efficient ability in Pd(II)-catalyzed C(sp³)-H olefination. The desired olefination products undergo subsequent Michael addition and in situ expulsion of the auxiliary to provide the free NH γ-lactam products. Preliminary mechanistic studies reveal that the auxiliary group is crucial for C(sp³)-H activation.

Distal γ-C(sp3 )-H Olefination of Ketone Derivatives and Free Carboxylic Acids

Reported herein is the distal γ-C(sp3 )-H olefination of ketone derivatives and free carboxylic acids. Fine tuning of a previously reported imino-acid directing group and using the ligand combination of a mono-N-protected amino acid (MPAA) and an electron-deficient 2-pyridone were critical for the γ-C(sp3 )-H olefination of ketone substrates. In addition, MPAAs enabled the γ-C(sp3 )-H olefination of free carboxylic acids to form diverse six-membered lactones. Besides alkyl carboxylic acids, benzylic C(sp3 )-H bonds also could be functionalized to form 3,4-dihydroisocoumarin structures in a single step from 2-methyl benzoic acid derivatives. The utility of these protocols was demonstrated in large scale reactions and diversification of the γ-C(sp3 )-H olefinated products.

Total Synthesis of (-)-Maximiscin

A short, enantioselective synthesis of (-)-maximiscin, a structurally intriguing metabolite of mixed biosynthetic origin, is reported. A retrosynthetic analysis predicated on maximizing ideality and efficiency led to several unusual disconnections and tactics. Formation of the central highly oxidized pyridone ring through a convergent coupling at the end of the synthesis simplified the route considerably. The requisite building blocks could be prepared from feedstock materials (derived from shikimate and mesitylene). Strategies rooted in hidden symmetry recognition, C-H functionalization, and radical retrosynthesis played key roles in developing this concise route.

Bidentate Directing Groups: An Efficient Tool in C-H Bond Functionalization Chemistry for the Expedient Construction of C-C Bonds

During the past decades, synthetic organic chemistry discovered that directing group assisted C-H activation is a key tool for the expedient and siteselective construction of C-C bonds. Among the various directing group strategies, bidentate directing groups are now recognized as one of the most efficient devices for the selective functionalization of certain positions due to fact that its metal center permits fine, tunable, and reversible coordination. The family of bidentate directing groups permit various types of assistance to be achieved, such as N,N-dentate, N,O-dentate, and N,S-dentate auxiliaries, which are categorized based on the coordination site. In this review, we broadly discuss various C-H bond functionalization reactions for the formation of C-C bonds with the aid of bidentate directing groups.

Late-stage functionalization of peptides via a palladium-catalyzed C(sp3)–H activation strategy

Recent advances in the late-stage modification of peptides via palladium-catalyzed C(sp³)–H functionalization are summarized.

Photoredox-Mediated Remote C(sp3)-H Heteroarylation of N-Alkyl Sulfonamides

A Minisci-type δ-selective C(sp³)-H heteroarylation of sulfonyl-protected primary aliphatic amines with N-heteroarenes under photoredox-catalyzed conditions was developed. The reaction typically uses a slight excess of amine reactant. The use of benziodoxole acetate (BI-OAc) oxidant and hexafluoroisopropanol solvent is critical to achieve high yield. Besides methylene C-H bonds, heteroarylation reactions of δ methyl C-H bonds also worked under more forced conditions. The reactions show a broad scope for both amine and N-heteroarene substrates, offering a straightforward method for synthesis of complex δ-heteroarylalkylmines from simple precursors.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed unreactive C(sp3)-H alkenylation of N-alkyl-1H-pyrazoles with alkynes

The first example of pyrazole-directed rhodium(iii)-catalyzed unreactive C(sp³)-H alkenylation with alkynes has been described, which showed a relatively broad substrate scope with good functional group compatibility. Moreover, we demonstrated that the transitive coordinating center pyrazole could be easily removed under mild conditions.

Rh-Catalyzed Annulative Insertion of Terminal Olefin onto Pyridines via a C-H Activation Strategy Using Ethenesulfonyl Fluoride as Ethylene Provider

A Rh(III)-catalyzed annulative insertion of ethylene onto picolinamides was achieved, providing a portal to a class of unique pyridine-containing molecules bearing a terminal olefin moiety for diversification. Application of this method for modification of Sorafenib was also accomplished.

Reversing conventional site-selectivity in C(sp3)-H bond activation

One of the core barriers to developing C-H activation reactions is the ability to distinguish between multiple C-H bonds that are nearly identical in terms of electronic properties and bond strengths. Through recognition of distance and molecular geometry, remote C(sp²)-H bonds have been selectively activated in the presence of proximate ones. Yet achieving such unconventional site selectivity with C(sp³)-H bonds remains a paramount challenge. Here we report a combination of a simple pyruvic acid-derived directing group and a 2-pyridone ligand that enables the preferential activation of the distal γ-C(sp³)-H bond over the proximate β-C(sp³)-H bonds for a wide range of alcohol-derived substrates. A competition experiment between the five- and six-membered cyclopalladation step, as well as kinetic experiments, demonstrate the feasibility of using geometric strain to reverse the conventional site selectivity in C(sp³)-H activation.