Nickel-catalyzed Heck-type alkenylation of secondary and tertiary α-carbonyl alkyl bromides

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of enamides with sterically hindered α-bromocarbonyls

Palladium-catalyzed intermolecular alkylation of enamides with α-bromo carbonyls was developed. Under mild reaction conditions, various cyclic and acyclic enamides reacted well with α-bromo carbonyls to afford the corresponding multi-substituted alkene products in good yields. The coupling products could be converted into very useful γ-amino acid, δ-amino alcohol, 1,4-dicarbonyl and γ-lactam derivatives.

Novel carbon nanofiber-supported Ni(0) nanoparticles catalyse the Heck reaction under ligand-free conditions

Ni(0)/CNFs was one-dimensional morphology, and the average size of Ni nanoparticles sheathed by CNFs is 14 nm. Solid Ni(0)/CNFs can catalyse Heck reaction high-efficiently.

Copper-catalyzed oxidative [2+2+1] annulation of 1,n-enynes with α-carbonyl alkyl bromides through C–Br/C–H functionalization

The Cu-catalyzed oxidative [2+2+1] annulation of 1,n-enynes (n = 6, 7) with α-carbonyl alkyl bromides through C–Br/C–H functionalization has been developed.

Recent developments in low-cost TM-catalyzed Heck-type reactions (TM = transition metal, Ni, Co, Cu, and Fe)

This review focuses on low-cost TM-catalyzed Heck-type reactions, representing a new research trend in this reaction.

Iodine-catalyzed radical oxidative annulation for the construction of dihydrofurans and indolizines

Through iodine catalysis, the direct oxidative coupling/annulation of β-keto esters or 2-pyridinyl-β-esters with alkenes was achieved. This reaction procedure provides a simple and selective way for the synthesis of dihydrofurans and indolizines in one step.

Nickel-catalyzed monofluoromethylation of aryl boronic acids

Aryl boronic acids can be monofluoromethylated under nickel catalysis. The utility of this method is demonstrated by the monofluoromethylation of a borylated and acyl-protected derivative of the statin drug ezetimibe. Mechanistic investigations indicate that a fluoromethyl radical is involved in the Ni(I)/Ni(III) catalytic cycle.

Ni(ii)/BINOL-catalyzed alkenylation of unactivated C(sp3)–H bonds

The first nickel-catalyzed alkenylation of unactivated C(sp³)–H bonds with vinyl iodides is described.

A transition-metal-free Heck-type reaction between alkenes and alkyl iodides enabled by light in water

A transition-metal-free coupling protocol between various alkenes and non-activated alkyl iodides is developed by using photoenergy in water.

Olefinic C–H functionalization through radical alkenylation

This tutorial review provides a comprehensive overview of olefinic C–H functionalization through radical addition and following SET oxidation/elimination.

Nickel N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of aryl aldehydes with organozinc reagents to produce aryl ketones

The transformation of aromatic aldehydes into aryl ketones by nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling has been developed. This transformation represents an efficient and attractive synthetic utilization of organozinc reagents.

A facile formal [2+1] cycloaddition of styrenes with alpha-bromocarbonyls catalyzed by copper: efficient synthesis of donor–acceptor cyclopropanes

The reaction of alpha-bromocarbonyls and styrenes underwent a formal [2+1] cycloaddition to produce donor–acceptor cyclopropanes.

Recent advances of transition-metal catalyzed radical oxidative cross-couplings

CONSPECTUS: Oxidative cross-coupling reactions between two nucleophiles are a powerful synthetic strategy to synthesize various kinds of functional molecules. Along with the development of transition-metal-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling reactions, chemists are applying more and more first-row transition metal salts (Fe, Co, etc.) as catalysts. Since first-row transition metals often can go through multiple chemical valence changes, those oxidative cross-couplings can involve single electron transfer processes. In the meantime, chemists have developed diverse mechanistic hypotheses of these types of reactions. However, none of these hypotheses have led to conclusive reaction pathways until now. From studying both our own work and that of others in this field, we believe that radical oxidative cross-coupling reactions can be classified into four models based on the final bond formations. In this Account, we categorize and summarize these models. In model I, one of the starting nucleophiles initially loses one electron to generate its corresponding radical under oxidative conditions. Then, bond formations between this radical and another nucleophile create a new radical, [Nu(1)-Nu(2)](•), followed by a further radical oxidation step to generate the cross-coupling product. The radical oxidative alkenylation with olefin, radical oxidative arylative-annulation, and radical oxidative amidation are examples of this model. In model II, one of the starting nucleophiles loses its two electrons via two steps of single-electron-transfer to generate an electrophilic intermediate, followed by a direct bond formation with the other nucleophile. For example, the oxidative C-O coupling of benzylic sp(3) C-H bonds with carboxylic acids and oxidative C-N coupling of aldehydes with amides are members of this model group. For model III, both nucleophiles are oxidized to their corresponding radicals. Then, the radicals combine to form the final coupling product. The dioxygen-involved radical oxidative cross-couplings between sulfinic acids and olefins or alkynes belong to this bond formation model. Lastly, in model IV, one nucleophile loses two electrons to generate an electrophilic intermediate, while the other nucleophile loses one electron to generate a radical. Then, a bond forms between the cation and the radical to generate a cationic radical, followed by a one-electron reduction to afford the final coupling product. The oxidative coupling between arylboronic acids and simple ethers was classified in this model. At the current stage, there are only a few examples presented for models III and IV, but they represent two types of potentially important transformations. More and more examples of these two models will be developed in the future.

Hypervalent iodine reagents enable chemoselective deboronative/decarboxylative alkenylation by photoredox catalysis

Chemoselective C(sp(3))-C(sp(2)) coupling reactions under mild reaction conditions are useful for synthesizing alkyl-substituted alkenes having sensitive functional groups. Reported here is a visible-light-induced chemoselective alkenylation through a deboronation/decarboxylation sequence under neutral aqueous reaction conditions at room temperature. This reaction represents the first hypervalent-iodine-enabled radical decarboxylative alkenylation reaction, and a novel benziodoxole-vinyl carboxylic acid reaction intermediate was isolated. This C(sp(3))-C(sp(2)) coupling reaction leads to aryl-and acyl-substituted alkenes containing various sensitive functional groups. The excellent chemoselectivity, stable reactants, and neutral aqueous reaction conditions of the reaction suggest future biomolecule applications.

General and facile method for exo-methlyene synthesis via regioselective C-C double-bond formation using a copper-amine catalyst system

In this study, for distal-selective β-hydride elimination to produce exomethylene compounds with a newly formed Csp(3)-Csp(3) bond between tertiary alkyl halides and α-alkylated styrenes, a combination of a Cu(I) salt and a pyridine-based amine ligand (TPMA) is found to be a very efficient catalyst system. The yields and regioselectivities were high, and the regioselectivity was found to be dependent on the structure of the alkyl halide, with bulky alkyl halides showing the highest distal selectivities.

Iron-catalyzed directed alkylation of aromatic and olefinic carboxamides with primary and secondary alkyl tosylates, mesylates, and halides

Alkenes, arenes, and heteroarenes possessing an 8-quinolylamide group as the directing group are alkylated with primary and secondary alkyl tosylates, mesylate, and halides in the presence of Fe(acac)3/diphosphine as a catalyst and ArZnBr as a base. The reaction proceeds stereospecifically for alkene substrates and takes place without loss of regiochemical integrity of the starting secondary tosylate, but with loss of the stereochemistry of the chiral center.

General route for preparing β-nitrocarbonyl compounds using copper thermal redox catalysis

Using a simple copper catalyst, the alkylation of nitroalkanes with α-bromocarbonyls is now possible. This method provides a general, functional group tolerant route to β-nitrocarbonyl compounds, including nitro amides, esters, ketones, and aldehydes. The highly sterically dense, functional group rich products from these reactions can be readily elaborated into a range of complex nitrogen-containing molecules, including highly substituted β-amino acids.

Enantiospecific intramolecular Heck reactions of secondary benzylic ethers

Enantioenriched methylenecyclopentanes are synthesized by stereospecific, nickel-catalyzed Heck cyclizations of secondary benzylic ethers. The reaction proceeds in high yield and enantiospecificity for benzylic ethers of both π-extended and simple arenes. Ethers with pendant 1,2-disubstituted olefins form trisubstituted olefins with control of both absolute configuration and alkene geometry. Diastereoselective synthesis of a polycyclic furan is demonstrated.

Nickel-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of arylboronic acids with olefins

A novel and efficient nickel-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of arylboronic acids with olefins to synthesize 1,2-diarylalkenes has been developed. By employing Ni(acac)2 as the catalyst, TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl) as the oxidant, a variety of arylboronic acids and styrene derivatives could be cross-coupled efficiently to afford the corresponding 1,2-diarylalkenes in moderate-to-good yields. Notably, high E-selectivity of 1,2-diarylalkenes was obtained with the aid of a high temperature of 120°C. Moreover, boric acid esters also proved to be efficient coupling partners. Initial mechanistic studies suggest that this reaction proceeds through a radical pathway.