Site-Selective Azaindole Arylation at the Azine and Azole Rings via N-Oxide Activation

Palladium-catalyzed direct C–H arylation of pyridine N-oxides with potassium aryl- and heteroaryltrifluoroborates

An efficient ligand-free Pd(OAc)₂-catalyzed selective arylation of pyridine N-oxides using potassium (hetero)aryltrifluoroborates as coupling partners via C–H bond activation was achieved in the presence of TBAI.

A unique annulation of 7-azaindoles with alkenyl esters to produce π-conjugated 7-azaindole derivatives

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed N-directed ortho C–H activation and subsequent roll-over C–H activation represents an important strategy to synthesize fused polycyclic compounds.

Palladium-catalyzed regioselective C-2 arylation of 7-azaindoles, indoles, and pyrroles with arenes

A palladium-catalyzed regioselective C-2 arylation of 7-azaindoles, indoles, and pyrroles with arenes has been developed, which features substrate dependent acid concentration.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed C–C coupling of 7-azaindoles with vinyl acetates and allyl acetates

The behaviour of electron-rich alkenes with 7-azaindoles in rhodium(iii)-catalyzed C–H activation is investigated.

Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Oxidative Annulation of 7-Azaindoles and Alkynes via Double C-H Activation

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed double C-H activation involving N-directed ortho C-H activation and subsequent roll-over C-H activation of the heterocycle ring has been developed to form complex 7-azaindole derivatives in moderate to excellent yields. A broad scope of 7-azaindoles and internal alkynes has been demonstrated in this oxidative annulation reaction.

Advances in direct C–H arylation of 5,5- 6,5- and 6,6-fused-heterocycles containing heteroatoms (N, O, S)

This report aims to review the advances made in C–H arylation of 5,6, 6,6 and 5,5 fused-heterocyclic systems.

Regioselective and guided C-H activation of 4-nitropyrazoles

A divergent and regioselective approach to 5-aryl-4-nitro-1H-pyrazoles was developed by guided transition-metal-catalyzed arylation of 4-nitro-1H-pyrazoles. This method provides a convenient tool for the functionalization of the pharmacologically relevant pyrazole scaffold. The scope and limitations of the methodology were studied.

An organic cation as a silver(i) analogue for the arylation of sp2 and sp3 C–H bonds with iodoarenes

A general, cost-effective and sustainable replacement for silver in palladium catalysed direct arylations of C(sp²)–H and C(sp³)–H bonds.

Silver catalyzed decarboxylative acylation of pyridine-N-oxides using α-oxocarboxylic acids

Silver catalyzed acylation of pyridine-N-oxides by α-oxocarboxylic acid is demonstrated. This decarboxylative acylation using a metal catalyst takes place at 50 °C via a radical process.

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative CH/CH cross-coupling of pyridine N-oxides with five-membered heterocycles

Using Ag₂CO₃ as an additive, we developed the Pd-catalyzed intermolecular C–H/C–H cross-coupling of pyridine N-oxides with five-membered heterocycles such as 1-benzyl-1,2,3-triazoles, thiophens and furans.

Mechanistic investigations and substrate scope evaluation of ruthenium-catalyzed direct sp3 arylation of benzylic positions directed by 3-substituted pyridines

A highly efficient direct arylation process of benzylic amines with arylboronates was developed that employs Ru catalysis. The arylation takes place with greatest efficiency at the benzylic sp(3) carbon. If the distance to the activating aryl ring is increased, arylation is still possible but the yield drops significantly. Efficiency of the CH activation was found to be significantly increased by use of 3-substituted pyridines as directing groups, which can be removed after the transformation in high yield. Calculation of the energy profile of different rotamers of the substrate revealed that presence of a substituent in the 3-position favors a conformation with the CH(2) group adopting a position in closer proximity to the directing group and facilitating C-H insertion. This operationally simple reaction can be carried out in argon atmosphere as well as in air and under neutral reaction conditions, displaying a remarkable functional group tolerance. Mechanistic studies were carried out and critically compared to mechanistic reports of related transformations.

Reduction of amine N-oxides by diboron reagents

Facile reduction of alkylamino-, anilino-, and pyridyl-N-oxides can be achieved via the use of diboron reagents, predominantly bis(pinacolato)- and in some cases bis(catecholato)diboron [(pinB)(2) and (catB)(2), respectively]. Reductions occur upon simply mixing the amine N-oxide and the diboron reagent in a suitable solvent, at a suitable temperature. Extremely fast reductions of alkylamino- and anilino-N-oxides occur, whereas pyridyl-N-oxides undergo slower reduction. The reaction is tolerant of a variety of functionalities such as hydroxyl, thiol, and cyano groups, as well as halogens. Notably, a sensitive nucleoside N-oxide has also been reduced efficiently. The different rates with which alkylamino- and pyridyl-N-oxides are reduced has been used to perform stepwise reduction of the N,N'-dioxide of (S)-(-)-nicotine. Because it was observed that (pinB)(2) was unaffected by the water of hydration in amine oxides, the feasibility of using water as solvent was evaluated. These reactions also proceeded exceptionally well, giving high product yields. In constrast to the reactions with (pinB)(2), triethylborane reduced alkylamino-N-oxides, but pyridine N-oxide did not undergo efficient reduction even at elevated temperature. Finally, the mechanism of the reductive process by (pinB)(2) has been probed by (1)H and (11)B NMR.

A general method for copper-catalyzed arene cross-dimerization

A general method for a highly regioselective copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of two aromatic compounds using iodine as an oxidant has been developed. The reactions involve an initial iodination of one arene followed by arylation of the most acidic C-H bond of the other coupling component. Cross-coupling of electron-rich arenes, electron-poor arenes, and five- and six-membered heterocycles is possible in many combinations. Typically, a 1/1.5 to 1/3 ratio of coupling components is used, in contrast to existing methodology that often employs a large excess of one of the arenes. Common functionalities such as ester, ketone, aldehyde, ether, nitrile, nitro, and amine are well-tolerated.

Fluorenone synthesis by palladacycle-catalyzed sequential reactions of 2-bromobenzaldehydes with arylboronic acids

A new, anionic four-electron donor-based (type I) palladacycle-catalyzed sequential reaction of 2-bromobenzaldehydes with arylboronic acids based on the addition reaction, cyclization via C-H activation-oxidation sequence is described. Our study provided an efficient access to a variety of substituted fluorenones/indenofluorenediones from readily available arylboronic acids and 2-bromobenzaldehydes.

The Pyridyldiisopropylsilyl Group: A Masked Functionality and Directing Group for Monoselective ortho-Acyloxylation and ortho-Halogenation Reactions of Arenes

A novel, easily removable and modifiable silicon-tethered pyridyldiisopropylsilyl directing group for C-H functionalizations of arenes has been developed. The installation of the pyridyldiisopropylsilyl group can efficiently be achieved via two complementary routes using easily available 2-(diisopropylsilyl)pyridine (5). The first strategy features a nucleophilic hydride substitution at the silicon atom in 5 with aryllithium reagents generated in situ from the corresponding aryl bromides or iodides. The second milder route exploits a highly efficient room-temperature rhodium(I)-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between 5 and aryl iodides. The latter approach can be applied to the preparation of a wide range of pyridyldiisopropylsilyl-substituted arenes possessing a variety of functional groups, including those incompatible with organometallic reagents. The pyridyldiisopropylsilyl directing group allows for a highly efficient, regioselective palladium(II)-catalyzed mono-ortho-acyloxylation and ortho-halogenation of various aromatic compounds. Most impor-tantly, the silicon-tethered directing group in both acyloxylated and halogenated products can easily be removed or efficiently converted into an array of other valuable functionalities. These transformations include protio-, deuterio-, halo-, boro-, and alkynyldesilylations, as well as a conversion of the directing group into the hydroxy functionality. In addition, the construction of aryl-aryl bonds via the Hiyama-Denmark cross-coupling reaction is feasible for the acetoxylated products. Moreover, the ortho-halogenated pyridyldiisopropylsilylarenes, bearing both nucleophilic pyridyldiisopropylsilyl and electrophilic aryl halide moieties, represent synthetically attractive 1,2-ambiphiles. A unique reactivity of these ambiphiles has been demonstrated in efficient syntheses of arylenediyne and benzosilole derivatives, as well as in a facile generation of benzyne. In addition, preliminary mechanistic studies of the acyloxylation and halogenation reactions have been performed. A trinuclear palladacycle intermediate has been isolated from a stoichiometric reaction between diisopropyl-(phenyl)pyrid-2-ylsilane (3a) and palladium acetate. Furthermore, both C-H functionalization reactions exhibited equally high values of the intramolecular primary kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD = 6.7). Based on these observations, a general mechanism involving the formation of a palladacycle via a C-H activation process as the rate-determining step has been proposed.