Base-mediated formal [3+2] cycloaddition of β,γ-alkenyl esters and p-TsN3 for the synthesis of pyrazoles

A novel 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU)-mediated formal cycloaddition of β,γ-alkenyl esters with p-tolylsulfonylazide (p-TsN₃) for the synthesis of 3,5-disubstituted pyrazoles has been developed. The reaction proceeded through diazotization of β,γ-alkenyl esters sequential with thermodynamic cyclization. p-Tolylsulfonylazide played a role as a source of two-nitrogen synthons. The reaction employs readily available starting materials, tolerates a wide range of functional groups, and proceeds under mild conditions.

Redox-Neutral Rhodium-Catalyzed [4+1] Annulation through Formal Dehydrogenative Vinylidene Insertion

A synthetic protocol for the expedient construction of 5-methylene-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-one derivatives through rhodium-catalyzed [4+1] annulation with gem-difluoroacrylate as the C₁ component was reported. By taking advantage of the twofold C-F bond cleavage occurring during the annulation, this reaction not only allows the synthesis of these heterocyclic compounds under overall oxidant-free conditions but also renders the transformation stereospecific. The very mild reaction conditions employed ensure compatibility with a wide variety of synthetically useful functional groups.

Mechanistic Study of Cp*CoIII/RhIII-Catalyzed Directed C-H Functionalization with Diazo Compounds

Density functional theory calculations have been performed to provide mechanistic insight into a series of Cp*Co^III- and Cp*Rh^III-catalyzed directed C-H bond functionalizations with diazo-compound substrates. Co-based catalysis proceeds through five steps: C-H bond activation; C-C coupling via a concerted 1,2-aryl transfer; proto-demetalation; nucleophilic addition; and solvent-assisted methanol elimination. C-H bond activation is predicted to be reversible, consistent with deuterium-scrambling experiments. The higher Lewis acidity of Co compared to Rh for two otherwise identical catalysts increases the susceptibility of a coordinated carbonyl group to nucleophilic addition in the former, facilitating the formation of cyclized products not observed for Rh. Methanol elimination is predicted to be the turnover-limiting step for one substrate, and this is facilitated by solvent 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) acting as a proton shuttle. Theory suggests that further tuning of acidity may offer opportunities for improving catalysis. We also assess the role of a pyridine group that leads to a different series of final steps in one Rh-based catalytic cycle, thereby enabling access to the otherwise suppressed cyclization product. Our study of an alternative Rh-based system having acetate ligands replaced with MeCN indicates that C-H bond activation is sensitive to those ligands and variation can affect which step is turnover-limiting.

Access to π-conjugated azaindole derivatives via rhodium(iii)-catalyzed cascade reaction of azaindoles and diazo compounds

Diazo compounds play an important role as a coupling partner to access unique π-conjugated 7-azaindole derivatives via rhodium(iii)-catalyzed double C–H activation/cyclization.

A Simple and Versatile Amide Directing Group for C-H Functionalizations

Achieving selective C-H activation at a single and strategic site in the presence of multiple C-H bonds can provide a powerful and generally useful retrosynthetic disconnection. In this context, a directing group serves as a compass to guide the transition metal to C-H bonds by using distance and geometry as powerful recognition parameters to distinguish between proximal and distal C-H bonds. However, the installation and removal of directing groups is a practical drawback. To improve the utility of this approach, one can seek solutions in three directions: 1) Simplifying the directing group, 2) using common functional groups or protecting groups as directing groups, and 3) attaching the directing group to substrates via a transient covalent bond to render the directing group catalytic. This Review describes the rational development of an extremely simple and yet broadly applicable directing group for Pd(II) , Rh(III) , and Ru(II) catalysts, namely the N-methoxy amide (CONHOMe) moiety. Through collective efforts in the community, a wide range of C-H activation transformations using this type of simple directing group have been developed.