Improved Catalysts for the Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Oxindoles by Amide α-Arylation. Rate Acceleration, Use of Aryl Chloride Substrates, and a New Carbene Ligand for Asymmetric Transformations

Chiral bidentate N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of Rh and Pd

The synthesis of a new chiral, bidentate oxazoline/imidazolidene carbene precursor is described. This species is reacted with various metal salts in the presence of a base to generate rhodium and palladium complexes, which are characterized spectroscopically and crystallographically.Key words: chiral N-heterocyclic carbene, rhodium, palladium, oxazolidine, asymmetric catalysis.

Chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes as stereodirecting ligands in asymmetric catalysis

In recent years, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) have proved to be a versatile class of spectator ligands in homogeneous catalysis. Being robust anchoring functions for late transition metals, their ligand donor capacity and their molecular shape is readily modified by variation of the substituents at the N-atoms and the structure of the cyclic backbone. After the first attempts to use chiral NHC ligands in asymmetric catalysis in the late 1990's, which initially met with limited success, several novel structural concepts have emerged during the past two years which have led literally to an explosion of the field. With a significant number of highly selective chiral catalysts based on chiral NHCs having been reported very recently, several general trends in the design of new NHC-containing molecular catalysts for stereoselective transformations in organic synthesis emerge.

Palladium-Catalyzed Arylation of Trimethylsilyl Enolates of Esters and Imides. High Functional Group Tolerance and Stereoselective Synthesis of α-Aryl Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

A general procedure for the palladium-catalyzed arylation of trimethylsilyl enolates of esters and imides is reported. In the presence of ZnF2 or Zn(O-t-Bu)2 as an additive, the trimethylsilyl enolates of esters, including those bearing alpha-alkoxy derivatives, underwent arylation in high yield with high functional group tolerance. This arylation chemistry was extended to ester derivatives bearing chiral auxiliaries to form new tertiary stereocenters. The arylation of imides bearing the Evans auxiliary proceeded with selectivities up to 90% de. Further, the arylation of the ketal developed by Ley provided alpha-aryl glycolates with excellent diastereoselectivities (90 to >98% de). This reaction provides a convenient route to the synthesis of enantiopure alpha-aryl-alpha-hydroxy esters. Reactions conducted with Zn(O-t-Bu)2 as an additive occurred at room temperature to give enhanced diastereoselectivities with both chiral reagents. Mechanistic studies showed that the reaction conditions are neutral enough that the observed diastereomeric ratios reflect kinetic selectivities.

Palladium-Catalyzed Ring-Opening Reaction of Methyleneaziridines with Carboxylic Acids: Synthesis of α-Amidoketones

In the presence of palladium catalysts, the reaction of methyleneaziridines 1 with carboxylic acids 2proceeded smoothly to give the corresponding alpha-amidoketones 3 in good to high yields.

Synthesis of substituted oxindoles from alpha-chloroacetanilides via palladium-catalyzed C[bond]H functionalization

A novel method for the synthesis of oxindoles is described. In the presence of catalytic palladium acetate and 2-(di-tert-butylphosphino)biphenyl, alpha-chloroacetanilides are converted to oxindoles in good to excellent yields with high functional group compatibility using triethylamine as a stoichiometric base. The cyclization is highly regioselective, obviating the need for prefunctionalized arenes. Plausible mechanistic pathways for the reaction are discussed.

A Lewis acid-promoted cyclization of ethenetricarboxylate derivative aromatic compounds. Novel syntheses of oxindoles and benzofuranones via Friedel–Crafts intramolecular Michael addition

A novel cyclization reaction of ethenetricarboxylate derivative aromatic compounds in the presence of various Lewis acids gave benzo-annulated cyclic compounds such as oxindole and benzofuran derivatives via Friedel-Crafts intramolecular Michael addition in high yields. For example, the reaction of diethyl 2-[(N-methyl-N-phenylcarbamoyl)methylene]malonate (1a) in the presence of ZnCl2 at room temperature gave diethyl 2-(1-methyl-2-oxoindolin-3-yl)malonate (2a) in 98% yield. The reactions also proceeded with a catalytic amount of a Lewis acid such as AlCl3, ZnCl2, ZnBr2, Sc(OTf)3, or InBr3.

Palladium-Catalyzed α-Arylation of Esters and Amides under More Neutral Conditions

Two procedures for the alpha-arylation of carbonyl compounds under conditions that are more neutral than those of reactions of aryl halides with alkali metal enolates are reported. The first procedure rests upon the development of catalysts bearing the hindered pentaphenylferrocenyl di-tert-butylphosphine (Q-phos) and the highly reactive dimeric Pd(I) complex {P(t-Bu)3]PdBr}2. By this procedure, zinc enolates prepared from alpha-bromo esters and amides react with aryl halides to form alpha-aryl esters and amides in high yields under mild conditions with 1-2 mol % catalyst and with remarkable functional group tolerance. By the second procedure, silyl ketene and silyl ketimine acetals react with aryl bromides in the presence of substoichiometric zinc fluoride, 1 mol % Pd(dba)2, and 2 mol % P(t-Bu)3 in DMF solvent at 80 degrees C. Reactions of zinc tert-butyl acetate and propionate enolates and trimethylsilyl ketene acetals of tert-butyl propionate and methyl isobutyrate with aryl bromides bearing electron-donating and potentially reactive, base-sensitive electron-withdrawing groups and with pyridyl bromides are reported. In addition, the diastereoselective coupling of phenyl bromide with an imide enolate bearing the Evans auxiliary is reported, and this study shows that racemization of base-sensitive stereocenters does not occur during the coupling process under these more neutral conditions.

Palladium-catalyzed alpha-arylation of azlactones to form quaternary amino acid derivatives

[reaction: see text] The synthesis of alpha-aryl-alpha-alkyl amino acid derivatives from alpha-amino acids by the arylation of azlactone derivatives is reported. Arylation of azlactones derived from alanine, valine, phenalanine, phenyl glycine, and leucine all provided good yields of the arylated product. Mechanistic studies of this reaction revealed that a stable complex containing a ligand formed by reaction of dba with the azlactone accounts for a new inhibiting effect of dba when reactions are initiated with Pd(dba)(2).

Efficient synthesis of alpha-aryl esters by room-temperature palladium-catalyzed coupling of aryl halides with ester enolates

A catalytic amount of Pd(dba)(2) ligated by either carbene precursor N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazolium (1) or P(t-Bu)(3) mediated the coupling of aryl halides and ester enolates to produce alpha-aryl esters in high yields at room temperature. The reaction was highly tolerant of functionalities and substitution patterns on the aryl halide. Improved protocols for the selective monoarylation of tert-butyl acetate and the efficient arylation of alpha,alpha-disubstituted esters were developed with LiNCy(2) as base and P(t-Bu)(3) as ligand. In addition, tert-butyl esters, such as those of Naproxen and Flurbiprofen, were prepared from tert-butyl propionate and aryl bromides in high yields in the presence of Pd(dba)(2) and the hindered, saturated heterocyclic carbene ligand precursor.

New palladium carbene catalysts for the Heck reaction of aryl chlorides in ionic liquids

[reaction: see text] The Heck reaction of aryl chlorides was investigated in the presence of defined monocarbenepalladium(0) complexes. Activated and nonactivated aryl chlorides provide the corresponding cinnamic esters and stilbenes in (n)Bu(4)NBr as a ionic liquid in good to excellent yields.

Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of monomeric, arylpalladium halide complexes with a hindered phosphine as the only dative ligand

We report the isolation and structural characterization of several monomeric arylpalladium(II) halide complexes containing tri-tert-butyl phosphine, 1-adamantyl-di-tert-butylphosphine, or 2-adamantyl-di-tert-butylphosphine. X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and theoretical studies indicated that the complexes may be stabilized by agostic interactions. For example, the distance from the closest hydrogen atom to the palladium metal center in the X-ray structure of the 1-adamantyl-phenylpalladium bromide complex 1 was 2.26(3) A. The calculated Pd-H distance of 2.28 A and harmonic vibrational frequencies were in agreement with the measured distance, but Wiberg bond indices indicated only weak M-H-C interactions. Addition of 2-adamantyl-di-tert-butyl phosphine to 1 led to ligand exchange and formation of 2-adamantyl-di-tert-butyl phosphine complex 2. Addition of P(t-Bu)(3) generated free aryl bromide and Pd[P(t-Bu)(3)](2). Reactivity of complex 1 with nucleophiles provided evidence of the intermediacy of these complexes in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Complex 1 reacted with amine and base to form the corresponding arylamine, with tert-butoxide to form the corresponding ether, with boronic acid and fluoride to form the corresponding biaryl, and with styrene to form stilbene. This complex also catalyzed the reaction of bromobenzene with diphenylamine in the presence of base to produce 94% of the amination product in 45 min at room temperature. This rate is comparable to the reaction rate of in situ generated catalysts.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of pinacol boronates from aryl chlorides catalyzed by a palladium/imidazolium salt system

[reaction: see text] Aryl chlorides bearing electron-withdrawing groups react with bis(pinacol)borane 1 to give aryl boronates in good to excellent yields in the presence of a catalyst formed in situ from Pd(OAc)(2) and the imidazolium chloride 2. The reaction is greatly accelerated when carried out under microwave heating.

An improved catalyst for the asymmetric arylation of ketone enolates

A new catalyst system for the enantioselective alpha-arylation of ketones is reported. This catalyst, prepared from Pd(2)(dba)(3) and a bulky dialkylphosphino-binaphthyl ligand, is able to effect the asymmetric arylation of ketone enolates with aryl bromides utilizing NaO(t)()Bu as base. These new catalysts enjoy much higher reactivity than previous systems; arylation reactions could be effected at room temperature with only 2 mol % of the Pd catalyst. The coupling of alpha-alkyl-alpha'-protected cyclopentanones proceeded in high yield, and the resulting quaternary stereogenic center was installed in up to 94% ee.

Palladium-catalyzed intramolecular alpha-arylation of alpha-amino acid esters

The Pd-catalyzed intramolecular alpha-arylation of alpha-amino acid esters is described. Starting from readily available amino acids, the synthesis of a variety of isoindolines and tetrahydroisoquinoline carboxylic acid esters has been accomplished. Additionally, fused tricyclic systems can be efficiently prepared from cyclic amino acid esters. Reaction conditions have been found that allow the use of tert-butyl ester and N-(benzyloxycarbonyl) protecting groups.

Preparation, structure and catalytic properties of a binuclear Pd(0) complex with bridging silylene ligands

In contrast to the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) 1, the homologous N-heterocyclic silylene (NHS) 4 acts as a bridging ligand to Pd(0), giving rise to the dinuclear complex 5 which is catalytically active in Suzuki reactions.

N-Heterocyclic carbenes can coexist with alkenes and C-H acidic sites

The isolation of compounds 3 and 7a,b proves that a singlet carbene center can coexist with alkenes or C-H acidic sites in proximity without spontaneous annihilation.

Catalyzed Asymmetric Arylation Reactions

Addition and substitution reactions with carbon nucleophiles are fundamental processes in organic synthesis, and the development of general catalytic asymmetric variants thereof is still a major challenge today. In contrast to enantioselective alkyl transfer reactions, the corresponding arylations have not yet reached a high level of maturity. The existing protocols are either of no general applicability or are limited in terms of selectivity. This article summarizes established routes for catalytic asymmetric aryl transfer together with the latest developments in this area. The scope and limitations of this reaction are discussed.