Cobalt-Catalyzed Intermolecular Hydrofunctionalization of Alkenes: Evidence for a Bimetallic Pathway

Iron-catalyzed hydrogen atom transfer induced cyclization of 1,6-enynes for the synthesis of ketoximes: a combined experimental and computational study

An iron-catalyzed reductive radical cyclization/hydro-oximation of 1,6-enynes with tBuONO was developed, leading to functionalized benzofuran, benzothiophene, and cyclopentenyl-based ketoximes.

NiH-Catalyzed Proximal-Selective Hydroamination of Unactivated Alkenes

Reported herein is a modular, NiH-catalyzed system capable of proximal-selective hydroamination of unactivated alkenes with diverse amine sources. The key to the successful implementation of this approach is the promotion of NiH insertion into even highly substituted olefins via coordination of the bidentate directing group to the nickel complex. A wide range of primary and secondary amines can be installed in both internal and terminal unactivated alkenes with excellent regiocontrol under the optimized reaction conditions. This protocol is flexible and general for the preparation of a variety of valuable β- and γ-amino acid building blocks that would otherwise be difficult to synthesize. The utility of this transformation was further demonstrated by the site-selective late-stage modification of complex and medicinally relevant molecules. Combined experimental and computational studies illuminate the detailed reaction mechanism.

Catalysis and regioselectivity in hydrofunctionalization reactions of unsaturated carbon bonds. Part II. Hydroamination

This review continues consideration of the regioselectivity problem in the catalyzed hydrofunctionalization of unsaturated organic compounds and addresses hydroamination of unsaturated hydrocarbons. Particular parts of the review deal with reactions of alkenes, alkynes, allenes and dienes. It is shown that the selectivity of hydroamination depends on the natures of the reactants and the catalyst. Conditions of the reactions are described; in some cases, reaction mechanisms are discussed. Reactions for which divergent regioselectivity is possible are noted.

The bibliography includes 249 references.

Dedicated to the memory of V.V.Markovnikov.

Catalytic hydrogen atom transfer to alkenes: a roadmap for metal hydrides and radicals

Hydrogen atom transfer from metal hydrides to alkenes appears to underlie widely used catalytic methods – the mechanistic implications are fascinating.

Hydrogen atom transfer from a metal hydride (MHAT) has emerged as a powerful, if puzzling, technique in chemical synthesis. In catalytic MHAT reactions, earth-abundant metal complexes generate stabilized and unstabilized carbon-centered radicals from alkenes of various substitution patterns with robust chemoselectivity. This perspective combines organic and inorganic perspectives to outline challenges and opportunities, and to propose working models to assist further developments. We attempt to demystify the putative intermediates, the basic elementary steps, and the energetic implications, especially for cage pair formation, collapse and separation. Distinctions between catalysts with strong-field (SF) and weak-field (WF) ligand environments may explain some differences in reactivity and selectivity, and provide an organizing principle for kinetics that transcends the typical thermodynamic analysis. This blueprint should aid practitioners who hope to enter and expand this exciting area of chemistry.

Catalyst- and Silane-Controlled Enantioselective Hydrofunctionalization of Alkenes by Cobalt-Catalyzed Hydrogen Atom Transfer and Radical-Polar Crossover

The catalytic enantioselective synthesis of tetrahydrofurans, which are found in the structures of many biologically active natural products, via a transition-metal-catalyzed hydrogen atom transfer (TM-HAT) and radical-polar crossover (RPC) mechanism is described herein. Hydroalkoxylation of nonconjugated alkenes proceeded efficiently with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee) using a suitable chiral cobalt catalyst, N-fluoro-2,4,6-collidinium tetrafluoroborate, and diethylsilane. Surprisingly, the absolute configuration of the product was highly dependent on the steric hindrance of the silane. Slow addition of the silane, the dioxygen effect on the solvent, thermal dependence, and DFT calculation results supported the unprecedented scenario of two competing selective mechanisms. For the less-hindered diethylsilane, a high concentration of diffused carbon-centered radicals invoked diastereoenrichment of an alkylcobalt(III) intermediate by a radical chain reaction, which eventually determined the absolute configuration of the product. On the other hand, a more hindered silane resulted in less opportunity for a radical chain reaction, instead facilitating enantioselective kinetic resolution during the late-stage nucleophilic displacement of the alkylcobalt(IV) intermediate.

Catalytic Dealkylative Synthesis of Cyclic Carbamates and Ureas via Hydrogen Atom Transfer and Radical-Polar Crossover

Guided by the transition-metal hydrogen atom transfer and radical-polar crossover concepts, we developed a functional-group-tolerant and scalable method for the synthesis of cyclic carbamates and ureas, which are found in the structures of bioactive compounds. This method provides not only a common five-membered ring but also six-to-eight-membered ring products. The reaction proceeds through the intramolecular displacement of an alkylcobalt(IV) intermediate and dealkylation by 2,4,6-collidine; the activation energies of these steps were calculated by DFT.

Redox Neutral Radical-Relay Cobalt Catalysis toward C-H Fluorination and Amination

A redox neutral radical-relay cobalt-catalyzed intramolecular C-H fluorination of N-fluoroamides featuring the in situ formed cobalt fluorides as the latent radical fluorinating agents is reported. Moreover, the reactivity of such a cobalt catalysis could be diverted from C-H fluorination to amination by engineering substrates' conformational flexibility. Preliminary mechanistic studies (UV-vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry studies and DFT calculations, etc.) support the reaction proceeding a redox neutral radical-relay mechanism.

Ligand-promoted cobalt-catalyzed radical hydroamination of alkenes

Highly regio- and enantioselective intermolecular hydroamination of alkenes is a challenging process potentially leading to valuable chiral amines. Hydroamination of alkenes via metal-catalyzed hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) with good regioselectivity and functional group tolerance has been reported, however, high enantioselectivity has not been achieved due to the lack of suitable ligands. Here we report a ligand-promoted cobalt-catalyzed Markovnikov-type selective radical hydroamination of alkenes with diazo compounds. This operationally simple protocol uses unsymmetric NNN-tridentate (UNT) ligand, readily available alkenes and hydrosilanes to construct hydrazones with good functional group tolerance. The hydrazones can undergo nitrogen–nitrogen bond cleavage smoothly to deliver valuable amine derivatives. Additionally, asymmetric intermolecular hydroamination of unactivated aliphatic terminal alkenes using chiral N-imidazolinylphenyl 8-aminoquinoline (IPAQ) ligands has also been achieved to afford chiral amine derivatives with good enantioselectivities.

Asymmetric intermolecular hydroamination of alkenes is a challenging process, potentially leading to useful chiral amines. Here, the authors report unsymmetric NNN tridentate ligands promoting the cobalt-catalyzed radical hydroamination of alkenes via hydrogen atom transfer, also in an asymmetric fashion.

Iron and cobalt catalysis: new perspectives in synthetic radical chemistry

Iron and cobalt complexes are at the origin of high valuable synthetic pathways involving radical intemediates.

Rhenium-catalyzed alkylarylation of alkenes with PhI(O2CR)2via decarboxylation to access indolinones and dihydroquinolinones

Rhenium-catalyzed alkylarylation of alkenes with hypervalent iodine(iii) reagents (HIRs) via decarboxylation to access various 3,3-disubstituted indolinones and trans-3,4-dihydroquinolinones is described.