Lewis Acid-Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of sp3 CH Bonds to Methylenemalononitriles

Recent trends in catalytic sp3 C-H functionalization of heterocycles

Heterocycles are a ubiquitous substructure in organic small molecules designed for use in materials and medicines. Recent work in catalysis has focused on enabling access to new heterocycle structures by sp³ C-H functionalization on alkyl side-chain substituents-especially at the heterobenzylic position-with more than two hundred manuscripts published just within the last ten years. Rather than describing in detail each of these reports, in this mini-review we attempt to highlight gaps in existing techniques. A semi-quantitative overview of ongoing work strongly suggests that several specific heterocycle types and bond formations outside of C-C, C-N, and C-O have been almost completely overlooked.

V. K, Hari K, Kaliyamoorthy A. Base-promoted 1,6-conjugate addition of alkylazaarenes to para-quinone methides

1,1,2-Triarylethanes embedded with an azaarene unit were prepared in a single step at ambient temperature via the sodium hexamethyldisilazide mediated 1,6-conjugate addition of unactivated alkylazaarenes on para-quinone methides (p-QMs).

Direct Access of the Chiral Quinolinyl Core of Cinchona Alkaloids via a Brønsted Acid and Chiral Amine Co-catalyzed Chemo- and Enantioselective α-Alkylation of Quinolinylmethanols with Enals

A strategy for the facile construction of the chiral quinolinylmethanolic structure, a core featured in cinchona alkaloids, is reported. A new reactivity is harnessed by TfOH-promoted chemoselective activation of α-C-H over O-H bond in quinolinylmethanols. The new reactivity is successfully engineered with an iminium catalysis in a synergistic manner to create a powerful conjugate addition-cyclization cascade process for synthesis of chiral quinoline derived γ-butyrolactones in good yields and with good to excellent enantioselectivities. The method enables the first total synthesis of natural product broussonetine in three steps.

Ni-Catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling of primary and secondary alcohols with methyl-N-heteroaromatics

Here we report the first base-metal catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling of primary (aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic) and secondary alcohols with methyl-N-heteroaromatics to form various C(sp³)-alkylated N-heteroaromatics.

Acetic Acid Promoted Redox Annulations with Dual C-H Functionalization

Amines such as 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline undergo redox-neutral annulations with 2-alkylquinoline-3-carbaldehydes as well as the corresponding 4-alkyl isomers and pyridine analogues. These processes involve dual C-H bond functionalization. Acetic acid is used as a cosolvent and acts as the sole promoter of these transformations.

Water-mediated and promoted eco-friendly one-pot synthesis of azaarene substituted isoxazoles

An efficient and green approach for the sp³ C–H bond functionalization of 2-methyl azaarenes to 3-methyl-4-nitro-5-styrylisoxazoles in water has been described.

Synthesis of benzyl esters from the commercially available alcohols catalyzed by TBAI via C(sp3)–H bond functionalization

The direct esterification of alcohol catalyzed by TBAI via C(sp³)–H bond functionalization was achieved under mild and clean conditions with good to excellent yields.

Bi(OTf)3-catalyzed C–H bond functionalization of azaarenes for the facile access to oxindoles featuring quaternary carbon centers

Bi(OTf)₃-catalyzed sp³ C–H functionalization of 2-alkyl azaarenes to isatylidene malononitriles has been achieved to give oxindoles containing an all-carbon quaternary center.

Solvent free one-pot multi-component synthesis of β-azaarene substituted ketones via a Sn-catalyzed C(sp3)–H functionalization of 2-alkylazaarenes

A tin-catalyzed solvent free one-pot multi-component cascade reaction strategy for the efficient synthesis of β-azaarene substituted ketones via an aldol–Michael addition/C(sp³)–H functionalization of 2-alkylazaarenes has been developed.

A domino green method for the rapid synthesis of novel fused isoquinoline derivatives via Knoevenagel/Michael/cyclization reactions on aqueous media and their photophysical properties

An expedient, eco-friendly and green-protocol has been developed for the synthesis of novel 4-imino-2-aryl-4H-pyrido[2,1-a]isoquinoline-3-carbonitrile derivatives via Knoevenagel/Michael/cyclisation reactions in one pot under catalyst-free conditions on aqueous media.

Utilization of methylarenes as versatile building blocks in organic synthesis

This review attempts to describe the latest developments in the utilisation of methylarenes adopting C–H functionalization strategies and covers all the developments until March 2015.

Magnetically separable CuFe2O4 nanoparticles as a recoverable catalyst for the addition reaction of C(sp3)–H bond of azaarenes to aldehydes

A green and efficient method for CuFe₂O₄-catalyzed C(sp³)–H functionalization of 2-alkyl azaarenes has been developed. The catalyst can be magnetically recycled and reused for eight times without significant decrease in catalytic activity.

Tandem sp3 C-H functionlization/decarboxylation of 2-alkylazaarenes with coumarin-3-carboxylic acids

The catalyst-free sp(3) C-H functionalization of 2-alkylazaarenes has been achieved in the reaction with (thio)coumarin-3-carboxylic acids. Followed by a tandem decarboxylation, this method provides facile synthesis of biologically important azaarene-substituted 3,4-dihydro(thio)coumarins in a single step in high yields.

A simple and sustainable tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF)-catalyzed synthesis of azaarene-substituted 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles through sp3 C–H functionalization

A green, practical, and metal-free protocol for direct addition of α-and γ-alkylazaarenes to isatins has been developed for the synthesis of biologically important azaarene-substituted 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles in good to excellent yields.

Rh(III)-catalyzed addition of alkenyl C-H bond to isocyanates and intramolecular cyclization: direct synthesis 5-ylidenepyrrol-2(5H)-ones

The rhodium-catalyzed addition of an alkenyl C-H bond to isocyanates via sp(2) C-H bond activation followed by an intramolecular cyclization is described. This atom-economic and catalytic reaction affords a simple and straightforward access to biologically relevant 5-ylidene pyrrol-2(5H)-ones and can be carried out under mild and neutral conditions in the absence of any additives and environmentally hazardous waste production.