A comprehensive overview of directing groups applied in metal-catalysed C-H functionalisation chemistry

Annulating thiazolium cations via a direct double C–H activation strategy: Rh–N,S-heterocyclic carbene is the key

Metal–N,S-heterocyclic carbene intermediates are conveniently generated and utilized for the first time to construct N,S doubly-doped cationic tricyclic organic molecules which exhibit easily-tuneable emission.

Rhodium(i)-catalyzed mono-selective C–H alkylation of benzenesulfonamides with terminal alkenes

The first example of C–H alkylation of benzenesulfonamides with alkenes is reported. Deuterium labeling experiments indicate that an unusual 1,2-H shift mechanism to generate a carbene rhodium intermediate is involved.

Synthesis ofmeta-substituted anilinesviaa three-component reaction of acetone, amines, and 1,3-diketones

A facilede novosynthesis ofmeta-substituted arylamines based on three-component cyclo-condensation/aromatization ofin situgenerated imines with 1,3-diketones is described.

Recent advances in the synthesis of axially chiral biarylsviatransition metal-catalysed asymmetric C–H functionalization

Recent advances in the synthesis of axially chiral biarylsviatransition metal-catalysed asymmetric C–H functionalization are reported.

Ruthenium(0)-sequential catalysis for the synthesis of sterically hindered amines by C–H arylation/hydrosilylation

We report sequential ruthenium(0)-catalysis for the synthesis of sterically-hindered amines via direct C–H arylation of simple imines and imine hydrosilylation.

Stereoselective synthesis of a phosphonate pThr mimetic via palladium-catalyzed γ-C(sp3)–H activation for peptide preparation

We report a facile and efficient synthetic strategy toward a CH₂-substituted phosphonate pThr mimetic and its application in phosphopeptide inhibitor synthesis.

Co(ii)/Cu(ii)-cocatalyzed oxidative C–H/N–H functionalization of benzamides with ketones: a facile route to isoindolin-1-ones

Co/Cu-cocatalyzed oxidative C–H/N–H annulation of amides with ketones is developed to synthesize isoindolin-1-ones.

Palladium-catalyzed regioselective C–H alkynylation of indoles with bromoalkynes in water

A palladium-catalyzed regioselective C(sp²)–H alkynylation between indoles and bromoalkynes in water has been developed, affording diverse functionalized 2-alkynylindoles in good yields.

Photochemical C–H bond coupling for (hetero)aryl C(sp2)–C(sp3) bond construction

This review highlights the recent advances in photochemical (hetero)aryl C(sp²)–C(sp³) bond construction via C–H bond coupling such as (hetero)arylation of C(sp³)–H bonds and alkylation of (hetero)aryl C(sp²)–H bonds.

Ruthenium-catalyzed remote C5-sulfonation of N-alkyl-8-aminoquinolines

Ruthenium-catalyzed remote C–H sulfonation of 8-aminoquinolines with single C5-selectivity.

Access to indolines from primary phenylethylamines by an unexpected palladium-catalyzed C–H functionalization process

A new method for the preparation of 2,2-disubstituted indolines from 2-phenylethylamines was developed under Pd catalysis and PhI(OAc)₂ as oxidant.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed cascade reactions of benzoic acids with dioxazolones: discovery of 2,5-substituted benzoxazinones as AIE molecules

Rhodium-catalyzed cascade reactions of benzoic acids with 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones afford 2,5-substituted benzoxazinones, which exhibited AIE properties with an ESIPT phenomenon.

Co(iii)-catalyzed Z-selective oxidative C–H/C–H cross-coupling of alkenes with triisopropylsilylacetylene

An inexpensive Co(iii)-catalyzed direct oxidative C–H/C–H cross-coupling reaction of acrylamides with triisopropylsilylacetylene to synthsize (Z)-1,3-enynes is presented.

Site-selective Ru-catalyzed C–H bond alkenylation with biologically relevant isoindolinones: a case of catalyst performance controlled by subtle stereo-electronic effects of the weak directing group

A general regio- and site-selective ruthenium-catalyzed C–H bond alkenylation with the biologically relevant isoindolinone fragment serving as a weak directing group is presented.

Rh(iii)-Catalyzed straightforward arylation of 8-methyl/formylquinolines using diazo compounds

A straightforward Rh(iii)-catalyzed general strategy was developed for the introduction of naphthol/phenol moieties to 8-methyl and formylquinolines using diazonaphthalen-2(1H)-ones/quinone diazides.

PdCl2(CH3CN)2-catalyzed regioselective C-H olefinations of 2-amino biaryls with vinylsilanes as unactivated alkenes

The first example of palladium-catalyzed chelation-assisted C-H olefination of 2-amino biaryls using readily available vinylsilanes as unactivated olefinating reagents has been developed, affording valuable arylated vinylsilane compounds in moderate to excellent yields and with exclusive (E)-selectivities.

C–H alkenylation/cyclization and sulfamidation of 2-phenylisatogens using N-oxide as a directing group

Ru(ii)-Catalyzed C–H alkenylation/cyclization and Ir(iii)-catalyzed C–H sulfamidation provided indol-3-one derivatives and sulfamidated 2-phenylisatogens respectively, with good yields and excellent functional group tolerance.

Mono-selective β-C–H arylation of N-methylated amino acids and peptides promoted by the 2-(methylthio)aniline directing group

2-(Methylthio)aniline (MTA) directed C(sp³)–H functionalisations are efficient and straightforward protocols for the selective β-modification of N-methylated amino acids.

A ruthenium-catalyzed free amine directed (5+1) annulation of anilines with olefins: diverse synthesis of phenanthridine derivatives

A ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed cross-ring (5+1) annulation between 2-aminobiphenyls and activated olefins is disclosed for succinct synthesis of valuable phenanthridine scaffolds.

Imidates: an emerging synthon for N-heterocycles

This review highlights the recent application of imidates as building blocks for the synthesis of saturated and un-saturated N-heterocycles via C–N annulation reactions under acid/base/metal-catalyzed/radical-mediated reaction conditions.

Methods for direct C(sp2)–H bonds azidation

Direct functionalization of C–H bonds has attracted great attention in recent years from the perspectives of atom and step economy.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Reductive Arylation of N-(2-Pyridinyl)amides with Isopropanol and Arylboronate Esters

A new three-component reductive arylation of amides with stable reactants (iPrOH and arylboronate esters), making use of a 2-pyridinyl (Py) directing group, is described. The N-Py-amide substrates are readily prepared from carboxylic acids and PyNH₂ , and the resulting N-Py-1-arylalkanamine reaction products are easily transformed into the corresponding chlorides by substitution of the HN-Py group with HCl. The 1-aryl-1-chloroalkane products allow substitution and cross-coupling reactions. Therefore, a general protocol for the transformation of carboxylic acids into a variety of functionalities is obtained. The Py-NH₂ by-product can be recycled.

Nickel-Catalyzed Oxidative Decarboxylative Annulation for the Synthesis of Heterocycle-Containing Phenanthridinones

A nickel-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylative annulation reaction of simple benzamides and (hetero)aromatic carboxylates has been developed. This reaction provides access to a large array of phenanthridinones and their heterocyclic analogues, highlighting the utility and versatility of oxidative decarboxylative coupling strategies for C-C bond formation.

Enantiodivergent Desymmetrization in the Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Annulation of Sulfoximines with Diazo Compounds

Rh^III - and Ir^III -catalyzed asymmetric C-H functionalization reactions of arenes have relied on the employment of chiral Rh^III /Ir^III cyclopentadienyl catalysts, the introduction of chiral carboxylic acids to achiral Cp*RhX₂ catalysts, and the integration of both strategies. Despite considerable progress, each reaction only provided a specific configuration of the enantioenriched product when using a particular chiral catalyst. Reported in this work is the enantiodivergent coupling of sulfoximines with various diazo compounds by Rh^III -catalyzed desymmetrizing annulation. The enantiodivergence was enabled by a judicious choice of achiral carboxylic acids, and the enantioselectivity correlates with the steric bias of the carboxylic acid and the sulfoximine.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed three-component cascade synthesis of 6H-benzo[c]chromenes through C-H activation

A three-component cascade reaction is described that provides concise access to 6H-benzo[c]chromenes via Rh(iii)-catalyzed annulation of aryl ketone O-acyloximes, quinones and acetone. Acetone acts as a co-solvent and as a reactant. This reaction shows high efficiency, atom- and step-economy, good substrate scope, excellent functional group compatibility and gives the products in good yields.

Regioselective indole C2-alkylation using β-CF3-substituted enones under redox neutral Rh(iii) catalysis

Rhodium(iii) catalyzed C–H alkylation at the C2-position of indole with β-trifluoromethyl-α,β-unsaturated ketones with a broad range of substrates and excellent functional group compatibility is described.

Rhodium-catalyzed triazole-directed C–H bond functionalization of arenes with diazo compounds

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed alkylation reactions of arenes through triazole directed C–H activation that lead to a number of dialkylated and monoalkylated triazoles are described.