Hydroxoiridium-Catalyzed Hydroalkylation of Terminal Alkenes with Ureas by C(sp3 )-H Bond Activation

Direct alkylation of a methyl group, on di- and trisubstituted ureas, with terminal alkenes by C(sp³ )-H bond activation proceeded in the presence of a hydroxoiridium/bisphosphine catalyst to give high yields of the corresponding addition products. The hydroxoiridium/bisphosphine complex generates an amidoiridium intermediate by reaction with ureas having an N-H bond.

Metal-Free Formal Oxidative C-C Coupling by In Situ Generation of an Enolonium Species

Much contemporary organic synthesis relies on transformations that are driven by the intrinsic, so-called "natural", polarity of chemical bonds and reactive centers. The design of unconventionally polarized synthons is a highly desirable strategy, as it generally enables unprecedented retrosynthetic disconnections for the synthesis of complex substances. Whereas the umpolung of carbonyl centers is a well-known strategy, polarity reversal at the α-position of a carbonyl group is much rarer. Herein, we report the design of a novel electrophilic enolonium species and its application in efficient and chemoselective, metal-free oxidative C-C coupling.

Visible-Light-Mediated Two-Fold Unsymmetrical C(sp3 )-H Functionalization and Double C-F Substitution

A visible-light-mediated [3+3] annulation of tertiary amines with α-trifluoromethyl alkenes was developed. The reaction offers a direct route to fluorinated tetrahydropyridines and azabicyclo[3.m.1] frameworks under very mild conditions. This protocol presents a rare example of dual sp³ C-H functionalization of tertiary amines with the formation of two different C-C bonds (one sp³ -sp³ bond, one sp² -sp³ bond). Moreover, two consecutive C-F substitutions in a trifluoromethyl group were achieved in one pot using visible light photoredox catalysis, which enables an unprecedented ring construction.

Cs2 CO3 -Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling of Thiols with Phosphonates and Arenes

An efficient Cs₂ CO₃ -catalyzed oxidative coupling of thiols with phosphonates and arenes that uses molecular oxygen as the oxidant is described. These reactions provide not only a novel alkali metal salt catalyzed aerobic oxidation, but also an efficient approach to thiophosphates and sulfenylarenes, which are ubiquitously found in pharmaceuticals and pesticides. The reaction proceeds under simple and mild reaction conditions, tolerates a wide range of functional groups, and is applicable to the late-stage synthesis and modification of bioactive molecules.

Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed meta C-H Mono- and Difluoromethylations by Phosphine/Carboxylate Cooperation

Ruthenium(II)-catalyzed meta-selective C-H (di)fluoromethylation was accomplished by phosphine and carboxylate cooperation. The remote C-H functionalization was characterized by ample substrate scope, thereby setting the stage for meta-(di)fluoromethylation through facile C-H cleavage.

Organoselenium-Catalyzed Regioselective C-H Pyridination of 1,3-Dienes and Alkenes

An efficient approach for organoselenium-catalyzed regioselective C-H pyridination of 1,3-dienes to form pyridinium salts has been developed. This method was also successfully applied to direct C-H pyridination of alkenes. Fluoropyridinium reagents, or initially loaded pyridine derivatives, acted as pyridine sources in the pyridination reactions. The obtained pyridinium salts could be further converted under different conditions. This work is the first example of catalytic C-2 direct C-H functionalization of 1,3-dienes and the first case of organoselenium-catalyzed C-H pyridination.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed C-H Arylation of Benzoic Acids and Indole Carboxylic Acids with Aryl Halides

Herein we report the first Ru-catalyzed C-H arylation of benzoic acids with readily available aryl (pseudo)halides. The reaction, which does not require the use of silver salt additives, allows the arylation of previously challenging hindered benzoic acids and the use of generally unreactive ortho-substituted halorarenes. Furthermore, our new protocol can efficiently be applied to indole carboxylic acids, thus allowing access to C7-, C6-, C5- and C4-arylated indole compounds, a departure from the classical enhanced reactivity of the C2 and C3 positions of indole.

A Cu-Catalysed Radical Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling Approach to Acridanes and Related Heterocycles

The synthesis of acridanes and related compounds through a Cu-catalysed radical cross-dehydrogenative coupling of simple 2-[2-(arylamino)aryl]malonates is reported. This method can be further streamlined to a one-pot protocol involving the in situ fomation of the 2-[2-(arylamino)aryl]malonate by α-arylation of diethyl malonate with 2-bromodiarylamines under Pd catalysis, followed by Cu-catalysed cyclisation.

Redox-Neutral Aromatization of Cyclic Amines: Mechanistic Insights and Harnessing of Reactive Intermediates for Amine α- and β-C-H Functionalization

Cyclic amines such as pyrrolidine and piperidine are known to undergo condensations with aldehydes to furnish pyrrole and pyridine derivatives, respectively. A combined experimental and computational study provides detailed insights into the mechanism of pyrrole formation. A number of reactive intermediates (e.g., azomethine ylides, conjugated azomethine ylides, enamines) were intercepted, outlining strategies for circumventing aromatization as a valuable pathway for amine C-H functionalization.

Carboxylic Acids as Directing Groups for C-H Bond Functionalization

The selective transformation of C-H bonds is one of the most desirable approaches to creating complexity from simple building blocks. Several directing groups are efficient in controlling the regioselectivity of catalytic C-H bond functionalizations. Among them, carboxylic acids are particularly advantageous, since they are widely available in great structural diversity and at low cost. The carboxylate directing groups can be tracelessly cleaved or may serve as the anchor point for further functionalization through decarboxylative couplings. This Minireview summarizes the substantial progress made in the last few years in the development of reactions in which carboxylate groups direct C-H bond functionalizations with formation of C-C, C-O, C-N, or C-halogen bonds at specific positions. It is divided into sections on C-C, C-O, C-N, and C-halogen bond formation, each of which is subdivided by reactions and product classes. Particular emphasis is placed on methods that enable multiple derivatizations by combining carboxylate-directed C-H functionalization with decarboxylative couplings.