High-Throughput Optimization of Ir-Catalyzed C–H Borylation: A Tutorial for Practical Applications

C(sp2)-H Borylation of Fluorinated Arenes Using an Air-Stable Cobalt Precatalyst: Electronically Enhanced Site Selectivity Enables Synthetic Opportunities

Cobalt catalysts with electronically enhanced site selectivity have been developed, as evidenced by the high ortho-to-fluorine selectivity observed in the C(sp2)-H borylation of fluorinated arenes. Both the air-sensitive cobalt(III) dihydride boryl 4-Me-(iPrPNP)Co(H)2BPin (1) and the air-stable cobalt(II) bis(pivalate) 4-Me-(iPrPNP)Co(O2CtBu)2 (2) compounds were effective and exhibited broad functional group tolerance across a wide range of fluoroarenes containing electronically diverse functional groups, regardless of the substitution pattern on the arene. The electronically enhanced ortho-to-fluorine selectivity observed with the cobalt catalysts was maintained in the presence of a benzylic dimethylamine and hydrosilanes, overriding the established directing-group effects observed with precious-metal catalysts. The synthetically useful selectivity observed with cobalt was applied to an efficient synthesis of the anti-inflammatory drug flurbiprofen.

Theoretical prediction of the synthesis of 2,3-dihydropyridines through Ir(iii)-catalysed reaction of unsaturated oximes with alkenes

The Ir(iii)-catalysed reaction of unsaturated oximes with alkenes was predicted, and the results indicate a more efficient synthesis of 2,3-dihydropyridines.

Facile Synthetic Approach to a Large Variety of Soluble Diarenoperylenes

Fused, extended π-systems such as larger acenes and heteroacenes are interesting compounds for organic thin-film transistors (TFTs). The larger the number of linearly cata-fused rings, the lower the stability of the acenes. By peri-fusion of additional rings, the stabilities can significantly be increased. Here we present a facile approach to use a diborylated dihydroanthracene as precursor to get diareno-fused perylenes in just two steps in high yields. The compounds show pronounced packing in the crystalline states by π-stacking. Promising candidates have been used to fabricate p-channel TFTs by vacuum sublimation showing field-effect mobilities up to 0.12 cm²  V^-1  s^-1 .

Cobalt-Catalyzed C(sp(2))-H Borylation: Mechanistic Insights Inspire Catalyst Design

A comprehensive study into the mechanism of bis(phosphino)pyridine (PNP) cobalt-catalyzed C-H borylation of 2,6-lutidine using B2Pin2 (Pin = pinacolate) has been conducted. The experimentally observed rate law, deuterium kinetic isotope effects, and identification of the catalyst resting state support turnover limiting C-H activation from a fully characterized cobalt(I) boryl intermediate. Monitoring the catalytic reaction as a function of time revealed that borylation of the 4-position of the pincer in the cobalt catalyst was faster than arene borylation. Cyclic voltammetry established the electron withdrawing influence of 4-BPin, which slows the rate of C-H oxidative addition and hence overall catalytic turnover. This mechanistic insight inspired the next generation of 4-substituted PNP cobalt catalysts with electron donating and sterically blocking methyl and pyrrolidinyl substituents that exhibited increased activity for the C-H borylation of unactivated arenes. The rationally designed catalysts promote effective turnover with stoichiometric quantities of arene substrate and B2Pin2. Kinetic studies on the improved catalyst, 4-(H)2BPin, established a change in turnover limiting step from C-H oxidative addition to C-B reductive elimination. The iridium congener of the optimized cobalt catalyst, 6-(H)2BPin, was prepared and crystallographically characterized and proved inactive for C-H borylation, a result of the high kinetic barrier for reductive elimination from octahedral Ir(III) complexes.

Diborane-Mediated Deoxygenation of o-Nitrostyrenes To Form Indoles

A mild, transition metal-free, diborane-mediated deoxygenation of nitro groups was discovered that in situ generates nitrosoarene reactive intermediates. This new reactivity mode of B2pin2 was leveraged to construct indoles from o-nitrostyrenes through a reductive-cyclization reaction that exhibits a Hammett ρ-value of +0.97 relative to σpara values. Our new deoxygenation reaction is efficient, practical, and scaleable, enabling access to a broad range of indoles.

Chemistry informer libraries: a chemoinformatics enabled approach to evaluate and advance synthetic methods

Major new advances in synthetic chemistry methods are typically reported using simple, non-standardized reaction substrates, and reaction failures are rarely documented. This makes the evaluation and choice of a synthetic method difficult. We report a standardized complex molecule diagnostic approach using collections of relevant drug-like molecules which we call chemistry informer libraries. With this approach, all chemistry results, successes and failures, can be documented to compare and evolve synthetic methods. To aid in the visualization of chemistry results in drug-like physicochemical space we have used an informatics methodology termed principal component analysis. We have validated this method using palladium- and copper-catalyzed reactions, including Suzuki-Miyaura, cyanation and Buchwald-Hartwig amination.

Bismuth Acetate as a Catalyst for the Sequential Protodeboronation of Di- and Triborylated Indoles

Bismuth(III) acetate is a safe, inexpensive, and selective facilitator of sequential protodeboronations, which when used in conjunction with Ir-catalyzed borylations allows access to a diversity of borylated indoles. The versatility of combining Ir-catalyzed borylations with Bi(III)-catalyzed protodeboronation is demonstrated by selectively converting 6-fluoroindole into products with Bpin groups at the 4-, 5-, 7-, 2,7-, 4,7-, 3,5-, and 2,4,7-positions and the late-stage functionalization of sumatriptan.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Benzylic Borylation: Enabling Polyborylation and Functionalization of Remote, Unactivated C(sp(3))-H Bonds

Cobalt dialkyl and bis(carboxylate) complexes bearing α-diimine ligands have been synthesized and demonstrated as active for the C(sp(3))-H borylation of a range of substituted alkyl arenes using B2Pin2 (Pin = pinacolate) as the boron source. At longer reaction times, rare examples of polyborylation were observed, and in the case of toluene, all three benzylic C-H positions were functionalized. Coupling benzylic C-H activation with alkyl isomerization enabled a base-metal-catalyzed method for the borylation of remote, unactivated C(sp(3))-H bonds.

Fast colorimetric screening for visible light photocatalytic oxidation and reduction reactions

The discovery of new photocatalytic transformations in organic synthesis is accelerated by a rapid parallel screening based on UV measurements or visual inspection.

Mild metal-catalyzed C–H activation: examples and concepts

C–H Activation reactions that proceed under mild conditions are more attractive for applications in complex molecule synthesis. Mild C–H transformations reported since 2011 are reviewed and the different concepts and strategies that have enabled their mildness are discussed.

The medicinal chemist's toolbox for late stage functionalization of drug-like molecules

The advent of modern C–H functionalization chemistries has enabled medicinal chemists to consider a synthetic strategy, late stage functionalization (LSF), which utilizes the C–H bonds of drug leads as points of diversification for generating new analogs.

Visible light-driven water oxidation using a covalently-linked molecular catalyst-sensitizer dyad assembled on a TiO2 electrode

The combination of porphyrin as a sensitizer and a ruthenium complex as a water oxidation catalyst (WOC) is promising to exploit highly efficient molecular artificial photosynthetic systems. A covalently-linked ruthenium-based WOC-zinc porphyrin (ZnP) sensitizer dyad was assembled on a TiO₂ electrode for visible-light driven water oxidation. The water oxidation activity was found to be improved in comparison to the reference systems with the simple combination of the individual WOC and ZnP as well as with ZnP solely, demonstrating the advantage of the covalent linking approach over the non-covalent one. More importantly, via vectorial multi-step electron transfer triggered by visible light, the dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cell (DSPEC) achieved a broader PEC response in the visible region than DSPECs with conventional ruthenium-based sensitizers. Initial incident photon-to-current efficiencies of 18% at 424 nm and 6.4% at 564 nm were attained under monochromatic illumination and an external bias of -0.2 V vs. NHE. Fast electron transfer from the WOC to the photogenerated radical cation of the sensitizer through the covalent linkage may suppress undesirable charge recombination, realizing the moderate performance of water oxidation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis of the photoanodes before and after the DSPEC operation suggested that most of the ruthenium species exist at higher oxidation states, implying that the insufficient oxidation potential of the ZnP moiety for further oxidizing the intermediate ruthenium species at the photoanode is at least the bottleneck of the system.

Fast screening of analytes for chemical reactions by reactive low-temperature plasma ionization mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Approaches for analyte screening have been used to aid in the fine-tuning of chemical reactions. Herein, we present a simple and straightforward analyte screening method for chemical reactions via reactive low-temperature plasma ionization mass spectrometry (reactive LTP-MS).

METHODS

Solution-phase reagents deposited on sample substrates were desorbed into the vapor phase by action of the LTP and by thermal desorption. Treated with LTP, both reagents reacted through a vapor phase ion/molecule reaction to generate the product. Finally, protonated reagents and products were identified by LTP-MS.

RESULTS

Reaction products from imine formation reaction, Eschweiler-Clarke methylation and the Eberlin reaction were detected via reactive LTP-MS. Products from the imine formation reaction with reagents substituted with different functional groups (26 out of 28 trials) were successfully screened in a time of 30 s each. Besides, two short-lived reactive intermediates of Eschweiler-Clarke methylation were also detected.

CONCLUSIONS

LTP in this study serves both as an ambient ionization source for analyte identification (including reagents, intermediates and products) and as a means to produce reagent ions to assist gas-phase ion/molecule reactions. The present reactive LTP-MS method enables fast screening for several analytes from several chemical reactions, which possesses good reagent compatibility and the potential to perform high-throughput analyte screening. In addition, with the detection of various reactive intermediates (intermediates I and II of Eschweiler-Clarke methylation), the present method would also contribute to revealing and elucidating reaction mechanisms.

SAMDI Mass Spectrometry-Enabled High-Throughput Optimization of a Traceless Petasis Reaction

Development of the self-assembled monolayer/MALDI mass spectrometry (SAMDI) platform to enable a high-throughput optimization of a traceless Petasis reaction is described. More than 1800 unique reactions were conducted simultaneously on an array of self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiolates on gold to arrive at optimized conditions, which were then successfully transferred to the solution phase. The utility of this reaction was validated by the efficient synthesis of a variety of di- and trisubstituted allenes.

Boryl (Hetero)aryne Precursors as Versatile Arylation Reagents: Synthesis through C-H Activation and Orthogonal Reactivity

(Pinacolato)boryl ortho-silyl(hetero)aryl triflates are presented as a new class of building blocks for arylation. They demonstrate unique versatility by delivering boronate or (hetero)aryne reactivity chemoselectively in a broad range of transformations. This approach enables the unprecedented postfunctionalization of fluoride-activated (hetero)aryne precursors, for example, as substrates in transition-metal catalysis, and offers valuable new possibilities for aryl boronate postfunctionalization without the use of specialized protecting groups.

Total Synthesis of Verruculogen and Fumitremorgin A Enabled by Ligand-Controlled C-H Borylation

Verruculogen and fumitremorgin A are bioactive alkaloids that contain a unique eight-membered endoperoxide. Although related natural products such as fumitremorgins B and C have been previously synthesized, we report the first synthesis of the more complex, endoperoxide-containing members of this family. A concise route to verruculogen and fumitremorgin A relied not only on a hydroperoxide/indole hemiaminal cyclization, but also on the ability to access the seemingly simple starting material, 6-methoxytryptophan. An iridium-catalyzed C-H borylation/Chan-Lam procedure guided by an N-TIPS group enabled the conversion of a tryptophan derivative into a 6-methoxytryptophan derivative, proving to be a general way to functionalize the C6 position of an N,C3-disubstituted indole for the synthesis of indole-containing natural products and pharmaceuticals.

Ligand survey results in identification of PNP pincer complexes of iridium as long-lived and chemoselective catalysts for dehydrogenative borylation of terminal alkynes

Following the report on the successful use of SiNN pincer complexes of iridium as catalysts for dehydrogenative borylation of terminal alkynes (DHBTA) to alkynylboronates, this work examined a wide variety of related pincer ligands in the supporting role in DHBTA. The ligand selection included both new and previously reported ligands and was developed to explore systematic changes to the SiNN framework (the 8-(2-diisopropylsilylphenyl)aminoquinoline). Surprisingly, only the diarylamido/bis(phosphine) PNP system showed any DHBTA reactivity. The specific PNP ligand (bearing two diisopropylphosphino side donors) used in the screen showed DHBTA activity inferior to SiNN. However, taking advantage of the ligand optimization opportunities presented by the PNP system via the changes in the substitution at phosphorus led to the discovery of a catalyst whose activity, longevity, and scope far exceeded that of the original SiNN archetype. Several Ir complexes were prepared in a model PNP system and evaluated as potential intermediates in the catalytic cycle. Among them, the (PNP)Ir diboryl complex and the borylvinylidene complex were shown to be less competent in catalysis and thus likely not part of the catalytic cycle.

para-C-H Borylation of Benzene Derivatives by a Bulky Iridium Catalyst

A highly para-selective aromatic C-H borylation has been accomplished. By a new iridium catalyst bearing a bulky diphosphine ligand, Xyl-MeO-BIPHEP, the C-H borylation of monosubstituted benzenes can be affected with para-selectivity up to 91%. This catalytic system is quite different from the usual iridium catalysts that cannot distinguish meta- and para-C-H bonds of monosubstituted benzene derivatives, resulting in the preferred formation of meta-products. The para-selectivity increases with increasing bulkiness of the substituent on the arene, indicating that the regioselectivity of the present reaction is primarily controlled by steric repulsion between substrate and catalyst. Caramiphen, an anticholinergic drug used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, was converted into five derivatives via our para-selective borylation. The present [Ir(cod)OH]2/Xyl-MeO-BIPHEP catalyst represents a unique, sterically controlled, para-selective, aromatic C-H borylation system that should find use in streamlined, predictable chemical synthesis and in the rapid discovery and optimization of pharmaceuticals and materials.

Mechanism, reactivity, and selectivity of the iridium-catalyzed C(sp3)-H borylation of chlorosilanes

The iridium-catalyzed C(sp3)-H borylation of methylchlorosilanes is investigated by means of density functional theory, using the B3LYP and M06 functionals. The calculations establish that the resting state of the catalyst is a seven-coordinate Ir(v) species that has to be converted into an Ir(iii)tris(boryl) complex in order to effect the oxidative addition of the C-H bond. This is then followed by a C-B reductive elimination to yield the borylated product, and the catalytic cycle is finally completed by the regeneration of the active catalyst over two facile steps. The two employed functionals give somewhat different conclusions concerning the nature of the rate-determining step, and whether reductive elimination occurs directly or after a prior isomerization of the Ir(v) hydride intermediate complex. The calculations reproduce quite well the experimentally-observed trends in the reactivities of substrates with different substituents. It is demonstrated that the reactivity can be correlated to the Ir-C bond dissociation energies of the corresponding Ir(v) hydride intermediates. The effect of the chlorosilyl group is identified to originate from the α-carbanion-stabilizing effect of the silicon, which is further reinforced by the presence of an electron-withdrawing chlorine substituent. Furthermore, the source of selectivity for the borylation of primary over secondary C(sp3)-H can be explained on a steric basis, by repulsion between the alkyl group and the Ir/ligand moiety. Finally, the difference in the reactivity between C(sp3)-H and C(sp2)-H borylation is investigated and rationalized in terms of distortion/interaction analysis.

Catalytic dehydrogenative borylation of terminal alkynes by POCOP-supported palladium complexes

A (POCOP)-supported palladium complex was used to catalyse the dehydrogenative borylation of terminal alkynes to form alkynylboronates.

C7-derivatization of C3-alkylindoles including tryptophans and tryptamines

A versatile strategy for C7-selective boronation of tryptophans, tryptamines, and 3-alkylindoles by way of a single-pot C2/C7-diboronation-C2-protodeboronation sequence is described. The combination of a mild iridium-catalyzed C2/C7-diboronation followed by an in situ palladium-catalyzed C2-protodeboronation allows efficient entry to valuable C7-boroindoles that enable further C7-derivatization. The versatility of the chemistry is highlighted by the gram-scale synthesis of C7-boronated N-Boc-L-tryptophan methyl ester and the rapid synthesis of C7-halo, C7-hydroxy, and C7-aryl tryptophan derivatives.

Nanomole-scale high-throughput chemistry for the synthesis of complex molecules

At the forefront of new synthetic endeavors, such as drug discovery or natural product synthesis, large quantities of material are rarely available and timelines are tight. A miniaturized automation platform enabling high-throughput experimentation for synthetic route scouting to identify conditions for preparative reaction scale-up would be a transformative advance. Because automated, miniaturized chemistry is difficult to carry out in the presence of solids or volatile organic solvents, most of the synthetic “toolkit” cannot be readily miniaturized. Using palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions as a test case, we developed automation-friendly reactions to run in dimethyl sulfoxide at room temperature. This advance enabled us to couple the robotics used in biotechnology with emerging mass spectrometry–based high-throughput analysis techniques. More than 1500 chemistry experiments were carried out in less than a day, using as little as 0.02 milligrams of material per reaction.

Silyl phosphorus and nitrogen donor chelates for homogeneous ortho borylation catalysis

Ir catalysts supported by bidentate silyl ligands that contain P- or N-donors are shown to effect ortho borylations for a range of substituted aromatics. The substrate scope is broad, and the modular ligand synthesis allows for flexible catalyst design.