Rhodium-Catalyzed Selective Olefination of Arene Esters via C−H Bond Activation

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed alkenyl C-H bond functionalization: convergent synthesis of furans and pyrroles

Ring in the new: a new annulation for the efficient synthesis of substituted furans and pyrroles is reported. The Rh(III) -catalyzed reaction of O-methyl α,β-unsaturated oximes with aldehydes and N-tosyl imines affords secondary alcohol and amine intermediates, respectively. Cyclization and aromatization occurs under the reaction conditions to provide access to biologically relevant furans and pyrroles in good yields. Cp*=C(5)Me(5), DCE=1,2-dichloroethane, THF=tetrahydrofuran.

Rh(III)-catalyzed regioselective synthesis of pyridines from alkenes and α,β-unsaturated oxime esters

α,β-Unsaturated O-pivaloyl oximes are coupled to alkenes by Rh(III) catalysis to afford substituted pyridines. The reaction with activated alkenes is exceptionally regioselective and high-yielding. Mechanistic studies suggest that heterocycle formation proceeds via reversible C-H activation, alkene insertion, and a C-N bond formation/N-O bond cleavage process.

Access to sultams by rhodium(III)-catalyzed directed C-H activation

Director's cut: The pharmaceutically relevant sulfonamide group is shown to be a competent directing group for [Cp*Rh(OAc)(2)]-catalyzed C-H functionalizations. Reactions of the cyclometalated intermediate with internal alkynes provide access to a wide range of sultam derivatives. The reaction is high yielding and works best under aerobic conditions with catalytic amounts of CuOAc as an oxidation mediator. Cp* = C(5)Me(5).

Rhodium(III)- and ruthenium(II)-catalyzed olefination of isoquinolones

NH and N-protected isoquinolones undergo Rh(III)-catalyzed oxidative olefination at the 8-position. Complementary redox-neutral olefination of such isoquinolones using internal alkynes was achieved under ruthenium catalysis.

Activation of remote meta-C-H bonds assisted by an end-on template

Functionalization of unactivated carbon-hydrogen (C-H) single bonds is an efficient strategy for rapid generation of complex molecules from simpler ones. However, it is difficult to achieve selectivity when multiple inequivalent C-H bonds are present in the target molecule. The usual approach is to use σ-chelating directing groups, which lead to ortho-selectivity through the formation of a conformationally rigid six- or seven-membered cyclic pre-transition state. Despite the broad utility of this approach, proximity-driven reactivity prevents the activation of remote C-H bonds. Here we report a class of easily removable nitrile-containing templates that direct the activation of distal meta-C-H bonds (more than ten bonds away) of a tethered arene. We attribute this new mode of C-H activation to a weak 'end-on' interaction between the linear nitrile group and the metal centre. The 'end-on' coordination geometry relieves the strain of the cyclophane-like pre-transition state of the meta-C-H activation event. In addition, this template overrides the intrinsic electronic and steric biases as well as ortho-directing effects with two broadly useful classes of arene substrates (toluene derivatives and hydrocinnamic acids).

Ruthenium(II)-catalyzed synthesis of hydroxylated arenes with ester as an effective directing group

An unprecedented Ru(II) catalyzed ortho-hydroxylation has been developed for the facile synthesis of a variety of multifunctionalized arenes from easily accessible ethyl benzoates with ester as an efficient directing group. Both the TFA/TFAA cosolvent system and oxidants serve as the critical success factors in this transformation. The reaction demonstrates excellent reactivity, good functional group tolerance, and high yields.

Mild rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H activation and intermolecular annulation with allenes

All(enes) great! A novel Rh(III)-catalyzed oxidative coupling with allenes under mild conditions provides heterocycles with exocyclic double bonds. This reaction features low catalyst loadings, high regio- and stereoselectivity, and excellent substrate scope. The products were derivatized and preliminary mechanistic studies were conducted.