Cross Dehydrogenative Arylation (CDA) of a Benzylic CH Bond with Arenes by Iron Catalysis

Expedient Access to Unsymmetrical Diarylindolylmethanes through Palladium-Catalyzed Domino Electrophilic Cyclization-Extended Conjugate Addition Approach

A palladium-catalyzed domino process to access unsymmetrical diarylindolylmethanes has been developed through the annulation of o-alkynylanilines followed by 1,6-conjugate addition with p-quinone methides (p-QMs) under relatively mild conditions. The broad substrate scope of this methodology was demonstrated through the use of a wide range of substituted o-alkynylanilines and p-quinone methides, and in most cases, the unsymmetrical diarylindolylmethanes could be prepared in moderate to excellent yields. Notably, this method does not require any amino group protection. Moreover, 100% atom economy makes this transformation attractive from a green chemistry perspective.

Selective synthesis of either enantiomer of an anti-breast cancer agent via a common enantioenriched intermediate

A stereoselective synthesis of a bioactive triarylmethane is described. Key to the synthesis is a nickel-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling which proceeds with retention at the benzylic center. This method is complementary to our previously reported nickel-catalyzed Kumada coupling which proceeds with inversion. Together, the two methods allow for efficient access to either enantiomer of biologically relevant triarylmethanes from a common enantioenriched intermediate.

Exploration of earth-abundant transition metals (Fe, Co, and Ni) as catalysts in unreactive chemical bond activations

Activation of inert chemical bonds, such as C-H, C-O, C-C, and so on, is a very important area, to which has been drawn much attention by chemists for a long time and which is viewed as one of the most ideal ways to produce valuable chemicals. Under modern chemical bond activation logic, many conventionally viewed "inert" chemical bonds that were intact under traditional conditions can be reconsidered as novel functionalities, which not only avoids the tedious synthetic procedures for prefunctionalizations and the emission of undesirable wastes but also inspires chemists to create novel synthetic strategies in completely different manners. Although activation of "inert" chemical bonds using stoichiometric amounts of transition metals has been reported in the past, much more attractive and challenging catalytic transformations began to blossom decades ago. Compared with the broad application of late and noble transition metals in this field, the earth-abundant first-row transition-metals, such as Fe, Co, and Ni, have become much more attractive, due to their obvious advantages, including high abundance on earth, low price, low or no toxicity, and unique catalytic characteristics. In this Account, we summarize our recent efforts toward Fe, Co, and Ni catalyzed "inert" chemical bond activation. Our research first unveiled the unique catalytic ability of iron catalysts in C-O bond activation of both carboxylates and benzyl alcohols in the presence of Grignard reagents. The benzylic C-H functionalization was also developed via Fe catalysis with different nucleophiles, including both electron-rich arenes and 1-aryl-vinyl acetates. Cobalt catalysts also showed their uniqueness in both aromatic C-H activation and C-O activation in the presence of Grignard reagents. We reported the first cobalt-catalyzed sp(2) C-H activation/arylation and alkylation of benzo[h]quinoline and phenylpyridine, in which a new catalytic pathway via an oxidative addition process was demonstrated to be much preferable. Another interesting discovery was the Co-catalyzed magnesiation of benzylic alcohols in the presence of different Grignard reagents, which proceeded via Co-mediated selective C-O bond activation. In C-O activation, Ni catalysts were found to be most powerful, showing the high efficacy in different kinds of couplings starting form "inert" O-based electrophiles. In addition, Ni catalysts exhibited their power in C-H and C-C activation, which have been proven by us and pioneers in this field. Notably, our developments indicated that the catalytic efficacy in cross coupling between aryl bromides and arenes under mild conditions was not the privilege of several noble metals; most of the transition metals exhibited credible catalytic ability, including Fe, Co, and Ni. We hope our studies inspire more interest in the development of first row transition metal-catalyzed inert chemical bond functionalization.

Iron-catalyzed tandem cyclization of olefinic dicarbonyl compounds with benzylic Csp3–H bonds for the synthesis of dihydrofurans

A novel iron-catalyzed radical cyclization of olefinic dicarbonyl compounds with benzyl hydrocarbons and simple alkanes has been developed. This protocol provides ready access to a variety of dihydrofurans containing a quaternary carbon center in moderate to good yields.

Copper(i)-promoted cycloalkylation–peroxidation of unactivated alkenes via sp3C–H functionalisation

A copper-promoted cycloalkylation–peroxidation strategy has been developedviaa three-component reaction involving cycloalkanes,tert-butyl hydroperoxide and internal conjugated alkene.

Formal synthesis of (−)-platensimycin

An efficient formal synthesis of (−)-platensimycin was completed by using a tandem C–H oxidation/C–C coupling (cyclization)/rearrangement as the key step.

Reusable ionic liquid-catalyzed oxidative coupling of azoles and benzylic compounds via sp3 C–N bond formation under metal-free conditions

The heterocyclic ionic liquid-catalyzed direct oxidative amination of benzylic sp³ C–H bonds via intermolecular sp³ C–N bond formation for the synthesis of N-alkylated azoles under metal-free conditions is reported for the first time.

Cu- or Fe-catalyzed C–H/C–C bond nitrogenation reactions for the direct synthesis of N-containing compounds

This tutorial account summarizes the recent progress in Cu- or Fe-catalyzed C–H/C–C bond nitrogenation reactions for the direct synthesis of N-containing compounds.

I2-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline and imidazo[1,5-a]quinoxaline derivatives via sp3and sp2C–H cross-dehydrogenative coupling

An efficient I₂-catalyzed cascade coupling protocol was developed for the synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline and imidazo[1,5-a]quinoxaline derivativesviasp³and sp²C–H cross-dehydrogenative coupling.

Transition metal-catalyzed C–H bond functionalizations by the use of diverse directing groups

In this review, a summary of transition metal-catalyzed C–H activation by utilizing the functionalities as directing groups is presented.

Iron-catalyzed direct α-arylation of ethers with azoles

The direct α-arylation of cyclic and acyclic ethers with azoles has been achieved, which features a novel iron-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) process.

Direct transformation of arylpropynes to acrylamides via a three-step tandem reaction

A novel and metal-free acrylamides formation between arylpropynes and hydroxylamine hydrochloride through sp(3) C-H and C-C bond cleavage has been achieved with DDQ as an oxidant. The mechanistic study shows that the acrylamides are formed through a three-step tandem sequence, including cross-dehydrogenative-coupling (CDC) reaction, aza-Meyer-Schuster rearrangement and Beckmann rearrangement.

Copper catalyzed C-O bond formation via oxidative cross-coupling reaction of aldehydes and ethers

A practical and efficient construction of C-O bonds via oxidative cross-coupling reaction of aldehydes and ethers has been realized under open air. When 2 mol% copper was used as the catalyst, various α-acyloxy ethers were obtained with up to 93% isolated yield.

DDQ-mediated oxidative coupling: an approach to 2,3-dicyanofuran (thiophene)

A facile oxidative coupling of α-carbonyl radicals to 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) for the synthesis of 2,3-dicyanofurans and thiophenes starting from readily available β-diketones, simple ketones, and β-keto thioamides in up to 95% yield in one step was developed. Mechanistic investigations revealed that a radical process could be involved in this transformation, and a water promoted C-C bond cleavage pathway is proposed for the formation of 2,3-dicyanofurans and thiophenes.

Iron-catalyzed/mediated oxidative transformation of C–H bonds

Iron-catalyzed/mediated C–H bond oxidation has been demonstrated as one of practical and straightforward tools in synthetic chemistry.

n-Bu4NI/TBHP-catalyzed direct amination of allylic and benzylic C(sp3)–H with anilines under metal-free conditions

An efficient n-Bu₄NI/TBHP-catalyzed direct amination of allylic and benzylic C(sp³)–H with anilines under metal-free conditions was developed.

Base-promoted dehydrogenative coupling of benzene derivatives with amides or ethers

Electronically neutral and deficient benzene derivatives are introduced into the dehydrogenative coupling as arenes that couple with amides/ethers.

Nickel-catalyzed chelation-assisted direct arylation of unactivated C(sp3)–H bonds with aryl halides

The nickel-catalyzed chelation-assisted unactivated β-C(sp³)–H bond arylation of aliphatic acid derivatives with aryl iodides/bromides has been achieved.

Nickel or phenanthroline mediated intramolecular arylation of sp3 C-H bonds using aryl halides

The development of the intramolecular arylation of sp(3) C-H bonds adjacent to nitrogen using aryl halides is described. Arylation was accomplished using either Ni(COD)2 or 1,10-phenanthroline in substoichiometric amounts, and the reaction conditions were applied to a variety of electronically differentiated benzamide substrates. Preliminary studies suggest a mechanism involving aryl and alkyl radical intermediates.