Palladium-Catalysed Dehydrogenativesp3CH Bonds Functionalisation into Alkenes: A Direct Access toN-Alkenylbenzenesulfonamides

1,4-Pd Migration-Enabled Synthesis of Fused 4-Membered Rings

1,4-Palladium migration has been widely used for the functionalization of remote C-H bonds. However, this mechanism has been limited to aryl halide precursors. This work reports an unprecedented Pd0-catalyzed cyclobutanation protocol producing valuable fused cyclobutanes starting from cycloalkenyl (pseudo)halides. This reaction takes place via alkenyl-to-alkyl 1,4-Pd migration, followed by intramolecular Heck coupling. The method performs best with cyclohexenyl precursors, giving access to a variety of substituted bicyclo[4,2,0]octenes. Reactants containing an N-methyl or methoxy group give rise to fused azetidines or oxetanes, respectively, via the same mechanism. Kinetic and deuterium-labeling studies point to a rate-limiting C(sp3)-H activation step.

Mechanistic insights into excited-state palladium catalysis for C-S bond formations and dehydrogenative sulfonylation of amines

Photocatalytic selective C(sp3)-H activation/cross-coupling reactions are appealing in organic synthesis. In this manuscript, we describe the development of photoexcited-state Pd-catalyzed dehydrogenative β-sulfonylation reactions using amines and aryl sulfonyl chlorides via intermolecular hydrogen atom transfer and C-S cross-coupling processes at room temperature. The transformation can be achieved by the direct generation of two distinct Pd-radical hybrid species and their capability to promote two different reactivities from Pd(0) and aryl sulfonyl chlorides, allowing for the efficient conversion of readily available amines into stable sulfonyl-substituted enamines at room temperature. The in-depth experimental, computational, and transient optical spectroscopic study and catalytic applications of a dehydrogenative functionalization event provide evidence for both static and dynamic quenching, as well as inner-sphere and outer-sphere mechanisms.

Tunable Construction of Multisubstituted 1,3-Dienes and Allenes via a 1,4-Palladium Migration/Carbene Insertion Cascade

Efficient palladium-catalyzed vinylic C-H alkenylation and allenylation of gem-disubstituted ethylenes with N-tosylhydrazones of aryl alkyl and diaryl ketones were achieved to access trisubstituted 1,3-dienes and tetrasubstituted allenes, respectively. An aryl to vinyl 1,4-palladium migration/carbene insertion/β-hydride elimination sequence proceeded to switch the chemo- and regioselectivities to give structurally diverse products. Use of 2-FC₆H₄OH additive enables enhancement of the reaction efficiency through accelerating the key 1,4-palladium migration process.

Synthesis of tetrasubstituted allenes via a 1,4-palladium migration/carbene insertion/β-H elimination sequence

A palladium-catalyzed synthesis of tetrasubstituted allenes from aryl bromides and aryl diazoacetates is developed. This transformation proceeded via an aryl to alkenyl 1,4-palladium migration/carbene insertion/β-H elimination sequence under mild reaction conditions.

Remote Construction of N-Heterocycles via 1,4-Palladium Shift-Mediated Double C-H Activation

In the past years, Pd⁰‐catalyzed C(sp³)−H activation provided efficient and step‐economical methods to synthesize carbo‐ and heterocycles via direct C(sp²)−C(sp³) bond formation. We report herein that a 1,4‐Pd shift allows access to N‐heterocycles which are difficult to build via a direct reaction. It is shown that o‐bromo‐N‐methylanilines undergo a 1,4‐Pd shift at the N‐methyl group, followed by intramolecular trapping by C(sp²)−H or C(sp³)−H activation at another nitrogen substituent and remote C−C bond formation to generate biologically relevant isoindolines and β‐lactams. The product selectivity is influenced by the employed ligand, with NHCs favoring the product of remote C−C coupling against products arising from direct C−C coupling and N‐demethylation.

Remote C(sp3)–H activation: palladium-catalyzed intermolecular arylation and alkynylation with organolithiums and terminal alkynes

A 1,4-palladium shift is regarded as one of the solutions towards the challenging remote C(sp3)–H activation.

Selective desaturation of amides: a direct approach to enamides

C(sp³)–H bond desaturation has been an attractive strategy in organic synthesis. Enamides are important structural fragments in pharmaceuticals and versatile synthons in organic synthesis. However, the dehydrogenation of amides usually occurs on the acyl side benefitting from enolate chemistry like the desaturation of ketones and esters. Herein, we demonstrate an Fe-assisted regioselective oxidative desaturation of amides, which provides an efficient approach to enamides and β-halogenated enamides.

A novel and regioselective N-α,β-desaturation and dehydrogenative N-β-halogenation of amides was developed. This chemistry with high selectivity and broad substrate scope provides an efficient approach to enamides from simple amides.

Palladium(0)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Intramolecular Arylation of Enantiotopic Secondary C-H Bonds

The enantioselective functionalization of nonactivated enantiotopic secondary C-H bonds is one of the greatest challenges in transition-metal-catalyzed C-H activation proceeding by an inner-sphere mechanism. Such reactions have remained elusive within the realm of Pd⁰ catalysis. Reported here is the unique reactivity profile of the IBiox ligand family in the Pd⁰ -catalyzed intramolecular arylation of such nonactivated secondary C-H bonds. Chiral C₂ -symmetric IBiox ligands led to high enantioselectivities for a broad range of valuable indane products containing a tertiary stereocenter, as well as the arylation of secondary C-H bonds adjacent to amides. Depending on the amide substituents and upon control of reaction time, indanes containing labile tertiary stereocenters were also obtained with high enantioselectivities. Analysis of the steric maps of the IBiox ligands indicated that the level of enantioselectivity correlates with the difference between the two most occupied and the two less occupied space quadrants, and provided a blueprint for the design of even more efficient ligands.

C─C Cleavage Approach to C─H Functionalization of Saturated Aza-Cycles

Saturated cyclic amines (aza-cycles) are ubiquitous structural motifs found in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and bioactive natural products. Given their importance, methods that directly functionalize aza-cycles are in high demand. Herein, we disclose a fundamentally different approach to functionalizing cyclic amines which relies on C─C cleavage and attendant cross-coupling. The initial functionalization step is the generation of underexplored N-fused bicyclo α-hydroxy-β-lactams under mild, visible light conditions using a Norrish-Yang process to affect α-functionalization of saturated cyclic amines. This approach is complementary to previous methods for the C─H functionalization of aza-cycles and provides unique access to various cross-coupling adducts. In the course of these studies, we have also uncovered an orthogonal, base-promoted opening of the N-fused bicyclo α-hydroxy-β-lactams. Computational studies have provided insight into the origin of the complementary C─C cleavage processes.

Synthesis of Z-Enamides through Heterogeneous Gold-Catalyzed Stereoselective Hydrogenation of Ynamides

A facile synthesis of Z-enamides via heterogeneous Au/TiO₂ catalyzed stereoselective hydrogenation of ynamides has been developed. Easy to handle and inexpensive ammonium formate was used as the hydrogen source, and Z-enamides were formed in a highly stereoselective manner. The commercially available gold nanoparticle catalyst could be recycled multiple times without a significant loss of activity.

Metal-free synthesis of activated ynesulfonamides and tertiary enesulfonamides

An operationally simple synthesis of activated ynesulfonamides and enesulfonamides is described. Ynesulfonamides can be obtained through reaction of sulfonylamides with activated bromoalkynes and Triton B in a short time at room temperature. Likewise, terminal alkynes react with sulfonylamides to provide enesulfonamides. Z/E enesulfonamides can be transformed exclusively into E enesulfonamides.

General, Mild, and Selective Method for Desaturation of Aliphatic Amines

A novel method for desaturation of aliphatic amines into enamines as well as allylic and homoallylic amines has been developed. This general protocol operates via putative aryl hybrid Pd-radical intermediates, which combine the signature features of radical chemistry, a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process, and transition metal chemistry, a selective β-hydride elimination step, to achieve efficient and selective desaturation of amines. These hybrid Pd-radical intermediates are efficiently generated under mild photoinduced conditions and are capable of a 1,n-HAT (n = 5-7) event at C(sp3)-H sites. The selectivity of HAT is tunable by varying different auxiliaries, which highlight the generality of this method. Remarkably, this desaturation method, which operates under mild conditions and does not require employment of exogenous photosensitizers or oxidants, can be performed in a practical scalable fashion from simple amines.

Synthesis of sulfonamides via copper-catalyzed oxidative C–N bond cleavage of tertiary amines

Tertiary amines were employed as amino sources via the selective oxidative cleavage of the C–N bond to construct the S–N bond. Sulphonamides were synthesized using this strategy in moderate to good yields.