Modified (NHC)Pd(allyl)Cl (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes for room-temperature Suzuki-Miyaura and Buchwald-Hartwig reactions

Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of amides and esters at room temperature: correlation with barriers to rotation around C-N and C-O bonds

The Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling has been widely recognized as one of the most important methods for the construction of C-C bonds. However, in contrast to traditional aryl halide or pseudohalide electrophiles, coupling reactions with unactivated C-N and C-O electrophiles have proven significantly more challenging. Here we report the first general palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of both common amides and aryl esters through the selective cleavage of the C-N and C-O bonds under exceedingly mild conditions. Notably, for the first time we demonstrate selective C(acyl)-N and C(acyl)-O cleavage/cross-coupling under the same reaction conditions. The reaction uses a commercially available, bench-stable and operationally-convenient (η3-1-t-Bu-indenyl)Pd(IPr)(Cl) precatalyst. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the reactivity of generic amides and aryl esters can be correlated with barriers to isomerization around the C(acyl)-X (X = N, O) bond, thus providing a blueprint for the development of a broad range of novel coupling reactions of ester and amide electrophiles by the selective activation of C-O and C-N bonds.

N-Methylamino Pyrimidyl Amides (MAPA): Highly Reactive, Electronically-Activated Amides in Catalytic N-C(O) Cleavage

Despite recent progress in catalytic cross-coupling technologies, the direct activation of N-alkyl-N-aryl amides has been a challenging transformation. Here, we report the first Suzuki cross-coupling of N-methylamino pyrimidyl amides (MAPA) enabled by the controlled n_N → π_Ar conjugation and the resulting remodeling of the partial double bond character of the amide bond. The new mode of amide activation is suitable for generating acyl-metal intermediates from unactivated primary and secondary amides.

An active catalytic system for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions using low levels of palladium loading

An easily available Pd(OAc)₂/(2-(anthracen-9-yl)-1H-inden-3-yl) dicyclohexylphosphine/toluene/ⁱPrOH/water catalytic system was developed, which shows high catalytic activity in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of a diverse array of aryl and heteroaryl chlorides with Pd loadings down to 0.01 mol%.

Synthesis of (NHC)Pd(salicylaldimine)Cl complexes through template-directed ortho-aromatic metaloxylation of NHC-palladacycles derived from arylimines

Reactions of imidazoliums with palladacycles afforded NHC-palladacycle complexes. The reactivity of the NHC-palladacycles was explored and the results demonstrated that they could be template-directed ortho-aromatic metaloxylated in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), affording (NHC)Pd(salicylaldimine)Cl complexes. Furthermore, the NHC-palladacycles showed efficient catalytic activities toward the ortho-aromatic hydroxylation of arylimines.

A General Method for Two-Step Transamidation of Secondary Amides Using Commercially Available, Air- and Moisture-Stable Palladium/NHC (N-Heterocyclic Carbene) Complexes

The first general method is reported for transamidation of secondary carboxamides catalyzed by Pd-NHC (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes. Commercially available, air- and moisture-stable (NHC)Pd(R-allyl)Cl complexes can effect C-N cross-coupling of a wide range of N-Boc and N-Ts amides, obtained by selective amide N-functionalization, with non-nucleophilic anilines and sterically hindered amines in very good yields. The first use of versatile Pd-NHC complexes as catalysts is represented for transition-metal-catalyzed C(acyl)-N amination of amides by N-C activation.

Indenylmetal Catalysis in Organic Synthesis

Synthetic organic chemists have a long-standing appreciation for transition metal cyclopentadienyl complexes, of which many have been used as catalysts for organic transformations. Much less well known are the contributions of the benzo-fused relative of the cyclopentadienyl ligand, the indenyl ligand, whose unique properties have in many cases imparted differential reactivity in catalytic processes toward the synthesis of small molecules. In this Review, we present examples of indenylmetal complexes in catalysis and compare their reactivity to their cyclopentadienyl analogues, wherever possible.

Palladium-Catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling of Aryl Esters

The Suzuki-Miyaura coupling is among the most important C-C bond-forming reactions available due to its reliability, chemoselectivity, and diversity. Aryl halides and pseudohalides such as iodides, bromides, and triflates are traditionally used as the electrophilic coupling partner. The expansion of the reaction scope to nontraditional electrophiles is an ongoing challenge to enable an even greater number of useful products to be made from simple starting materials. Herein, we present how an NHC-based Pd catalyst can enable Suzuki-Miyaura coupling where the C(acyl)-O bond of aryl esters takes on the role of electrophile, allowing the synthesis of various ketone-containing products. This contrasts known reactions of similar esters that provide biaryls via nickel catalysis. The underlying cause of this mechanistic divergence is investigated by DFT calculations, and the robustness of esters compared to more electrophilic acylative coupling partners is analyzed.

A simple synthetic entryway into palladium cross-coupling catalysis

The simple synthesis of a family of palladates containing an imidazolium counterion is presented. These “ate” complexes can be easily converted into well-defined palladium–N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes.

Palladium catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling of benzyltrimethylammonium salts via C–N bond cleavage

A Pd catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling of a benzyltrimethylammonium salt is described. This reaction offers a highly efficient approach to diarylmethanes and also paves the way for the application of benzyltrimethylammonium salts in Pd catalyzed cross-coupling reactions.

AgNO3-catalyzed direct C–H arylation of quinolines by oxidative decarboxylation of aromatic carboxylic acids

AgNO₃-catalyzed direct C–H arylation of quinolines by oxidative decarboxylation of aromatic carboxylic acids to afford aryl quinoline derivatives in moderate yields was described.

Pd-PEPPSI-IPentCl: a new highly efficient ligand-free and recyclable catalyst system for the synthesis of 2-substituted indoles via domino copper-free Sonogashira coupling/cyclization

One pot synthesis of 2-substituted indolesviaSonogashira coupling (without a copper catalyst) followed by intermolecular cyclization using Pd-PEPPSI-IPent^Cl.

Effect on orthometallation of NHC palladium complexes toward the catalytic activity studies in Suzuki coupling reaction

Herein, we report an approach to improve catalytic activity for cross-coupling reactions.

Aryl appended neutral and cationic half-sandwich ruthenium(ii)–NHC complexes: synthesis, characterisation and catalytic applications

Aryl appended half-sandwich Ru(ii)–NHC complexes were synthesised and their use as selective catalysts for transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones was demonstrated.

Heteroleptic nickel(ii)–diNHC complexes and an unusual ‘reverse’ carbene-transfer reaction to silver(i)

An unusual NHC transfer reaction to silver was discovered in the study of heteroleptic nickel dicarbene complexes as aqueous Suzuki–Miyaura catalysts.

Synthesis and catalytic applications of palladium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as efficient pre-catalysts for Suzuki–Miyaura and Sonogashira coupling reactions

A new palladium complex series with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), pyridine and phosphine ligands, PdCl₂(L)NHC (2a–c)(L = NHC), PdCl₂(L¹)NHC(3a–c)(L¹ = pyridine), PdCl₂(L²)NHC(4a–c)(L² = triphenylphosphine) was synthesised and fully characterized.

New, potentially chelating NHC ligands; synthesis, complexation studies, and preliminary catalytic evaluation

Two new, potentially chelating NHC ligands are synthesised, characterised and their preliminary catalytic activity in NHC–Pd and NHC–Ru complexes is evaluated.