The Synthesis of Highly Active Iridium(I) Complexes and their Application in Catalytic Hydrogen Isotope Exchange

Ir-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of N-Fused Heteroarenes with High Nitrogen Density: An Access to Chiral 2,5-Disubstituted 5,6-Dihydropyrrolo[1,2-a][1,2,4]triazolo[5,1-c]pyrazines

A highly enantioselective Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of 2,5-disubstituted pyrrolo[1,2-a][1,2,4]triazolo[5,1-c]pyrazines containing four nitrogen atoms has been first realized. Under additive-free conditions, a variety of chiral 2,5-disubstituted 5,6-dihydropyrrolo[1,2-a][1,2,4]triazolo[5,1-c]pyrazines can be afforded in high yields (86-98%) with excellent enantioselectivities of up to 99% ee. This method provides a straightforward strategy for the efficient synthesis of chiral multinitrogen polyheterocyclic compounds.

The Development and Application of Tritium-Labeled Compounds in Biomedical Research

With low background radiation, tritiate compounds exclusively emit intense beta particles without structural changes. This makes them a useful tool in the drug discovery arsenal. Thanks to the recent rapid progress in tritium chemistry, the preparation and analysis of tritium-labeled compounds are now much easier, simpler, and cheaper. Pharmacokinetics, autoradiography, and protein binding studies have been much more efficient with the employment of tritium-labeled compounds. This review provides a comprehensive overview of tritium-labeled compounds regarding their properties, synthesis strategies, and applications.

Pegylated Phosphine Ligands in Iridium(I) Catalyzed Hydrogen Isotope Exchange Reactions in Aqueous Buffers

The synthesis of a water-soluble, phosphine-pegylated iridium(I) catalyst and its application in hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) reactions in buffer is reported. The longer polyethylene glycol side chains on the phosphine increased the water solubility independently from the pH. HIE reactions of polar substrates in protic solvents were studied. DFT calculations gave further insights into the catalytic processes. The scope and limitation of the pegylated catalyst was studied in HIE reactions of several complex compounds in borax buffer at pH 9 and the best conditions were applied in a tritium experiment with the drug telmisartan.

Deuteration and Tritiation of Pharmaceuticals by Non-Directed Palladium-Catalyzed C-H Activation in Heavy and Super-Heavy Water

Deuterated and tritiated analogs of drugs are valuable compounds for pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry. In this work, we present a novel hydrogen isotope exchange reaction of drugs using non-directed homogeneous Pd-catalysis. Aromatic C-H activation is achieved by a commercially available pyridine ligand. Using the most convenient and cheapest deuterium source, D2O, as the only solvent 39 pharmaceuticals were labelled with clean reaction profiles and high deuterium uptakes. Additionally, we describe the first application of non-directed homogeneous Pd-catalysis for H/T exchange on three different pharmaceuticals by using T2O as isotopic source, demonstrating the applicability to the synthesis of radiotracers.

Computer vision for non-contact monitoring of catalyst degradation and product formation kinetics

We report a computer vision strategy for the extraction and colorimetric analysis of catalyst degradation and product-formation kinetics from video footage. The degradation of palladium(ii) pre-catalyst systems to form 'Pd black' is investigated as a widely relevant case study for catalysis and materials chemistries. Beyond the study of catalysts in isolation, investigation of Pd-catalyzed Miyaura borylation reactions revealed informative correlations between colour parameters (most notably ΔE, a colour-agnostic measure of contrast change) and the concentration of product measured by off-line analysis (NMR and LC-MS). The breakdown of such correlations helped inform conditions under which reaction vessels were compromised by air ingress. These findings present opportunities to expand the toolbox of non-invasive analytical techniques, operationally cheaper and simpler to implement than common spectroscopic methods. The approach introduces the capability of analyzing the macroscopic 'bulk' for the study of reaction kinetics in complex mixtures, in complement to the more common study of microscopic and molecular specifics.

C-H deuteration of organic compounds and potential drug candidates

C-H deuteration has been intricately developed to satisfy the urgent need for site-selectively deuterated organic frameworks. Deuteration has been primarily used to study kinetic isotope effects of reactions but recently its significance in pharmaceutical chemistry has been discovered. Deuterium labelled compounds have stolen the limelight since the inception of the first FDA-approved deuterated drug, for the treatment of chorea-associated Huntington's disease, and their pharmacological importance was realised by chemists, although surprisingly very late. Various approaches were developed to carry out site-selective deuteration. However, the most common and efficient method is hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE). This review summarises deuteration methods of various organic motifs containing C(sp²)-H and C(sp³)-H bonds utilizing C-H bond functionalisation as a key step along with a variety of catalysts, and exemplifies their biological relevance.

Efficient Aliphatic Hydrogen-Isotope Exchange with Tritium Gas through the Merger of Photoredox and Hydrogenation Catalysts

Employment of a combination of an organophotoredox catalyst with Wilkinson's catalyst (Rh(PPh₃)₃Cl) has given rise to an unprecedented method for hydrogen-isotope exchange (HIE) of aliphatic C(sp³)-H bonds of complex pharmaceuticals using T₂ gas directly. Wilkinson's catalyst, commonly used for catalytic hydrogenations, was exploited as a precatalyst for activation of D₂ or T₂ and hydrogen atom transfer. In this combined methodology and mechanistic study, we demonstrate that by coupling photocatalysis with Rh catalysis, carbon-centered radicals generated via photoredox catalysis can be intercepted by Rh-hydride intermediates to deliver an effective hydrogen atom donor for hydrogen-isotope labeling of complex molecules in one step. By optimizing the ratio of the photocatalyst and Wilkinson's catalyst to balance the rate of the dual catalytic cycles, we can achieve efficient HIE and high recovery yield. This protocol was readily applied to direct HIE of C(sp³)-H bonds in 10 complex drug molecules, showing high isotope incorporation efficiency and exceptionally good functional group tolerance and demonstrating this approach as a practical and attractive labeling method for deuteration and tritiation.

Recent Developments for the Deuterium and Tritium Labeling of Organic Molecules

Organic compounds labeled with hydrogen isotopes play a crucial role in numerous areas, from materials science to medicinal chemistry. Indeed, while the replacement of hydrogen by deuterium gives rise to improved absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties in drugs and enables the preparation of internal standards for analytical mass spectrometry, the use of tritium-labeled compounds is a key technique all along drug discovery and development in the pharmaceutical industry. For these reasons, the interest in new methodologies for the isotopic enrichment of organic molecules and the extent of their applications are equally rising. In this regard, this Review intends to comprehensively discuss the new developments in this area over the last years (2017-2021). Notably, besides the fundamental hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) reactions and the use of isotopically labeled analogues of common organic reagents, a plethora of reductive and dehalogenative deuteration techniques and other transformations with isotope incorporation are emerging and are now part of the labeling toolkit.

Palladium-Catalyzed Nondirected Late-Stage C-H Deuteration of Arenes

We describe a palladium-catalyzed nondirected late-stage deuteration of arenes. Key aspects include the use of D2O as a convenient and easily available deuterium source and the discovery of highly active N,N-bidentate ligands containing an N-acylsulfonamide group. The reported protocol enables high degrees of deuterium incorporation via a reversible C-H activation step and features extraordinary functional group tolerance, allowing for the deuteration of complex substrates. This is exemplified by the late-stage isotopic labeling of various pharmaceutically relevant motifs and related scaffolds. We expect that this method, among other applications, will prove useful as a tool in drug development processes and for mechanistic studies.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Deuteration of Aromatic Carbonyl Compounds with a Catalytic Transient Directing Group

A novel ruthenium-catalyzed C-H activation methodology for hydrogen isotope exchange of aromatic carbonyl compounds is presented. In the presence of catalytic amounts of specific amine additives, a transient directing group is formed in situ, which directs selective deuteration. A high degree of deuteration is achieved for α-carbonyl and aromatic ortho-positions. In addition, appropriate choice of conditions allows for exclusive labeling of the α-carbonyl position while a procedure for the preparation of merely ortho-deuterated compounds is also reported. This methodology proceeds with good functional group tolerance and can be also applied for deuteration of pharmaceutical drugs. Mechanistic studies reveal a kinetic isotope effect of 2.2, showing that the C-H activation is likely the rate-determining step of the catalytic cycle. Using deuterium oxide as a cheap and convenient source of deuterium, the methodology presents a cost-efficient alternative to state-of-the-art iridium-catalyzed procedures.

Immobilization of an Iridium(I)-NHC-Phosphine Catalyst for Hydrogenation Reactions under Batch and Flow Conditions

Na2[Ir(cod)(emim)(mtppts)] (1) with high catalytic activity in various organic- and aqueous-phase hydrogenation reactions was immobilized on several types of commercially available ion-exchange supports. The resulting heterogeneous catalyst was investigated in batch reactions and in an H-Cube flow reactor in the hydrogenation of phenylacetylene, diphenylacetylene, 1-hexyne, and benzylideneacetone. Under proper conditions, the catalyst was highly selective in the hydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes, and demonstrated excellent selectivity in C=C over C=O hydrogenation; furthermore, it displayed remarkable stability. Activity of 1 in hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone was also assessed.

Reduced Phenalenyl in Catalytic Dehalogenative Deuteration and Hydrodehalogenation of Aryl Halides

Dehalogenative deuteration reactions are generally performed through metal-mediated processes. This report demonstrates a mild protocol for hydrodehalogenation and dehalogenative deuteration of aryl/heteroaryl halides (39 examples) using a reduced odd alternant hydrocarbon phenalenyl under transition metal-free conditions and has been employed successfully for the incorporation of deuterium in various biologically active compounds. The combined approach of experimental and theoretical studies revealed a single electron transfer-based mechanism.

Catalyst design in C-H activation: a case study in the use of binding free energies to rationalise intramolecular directing group selectivity in iridium catalysis

Remote directing groups in a bifunctional molecule do not always behave independently of one another in C-H activation chemistries. A combined DFT and experimental mechanistic study to provide enhanced Ir catalysts for chemoselective C-H deuteration of bifunctional aryl primary sulfonamides is described. This provides a pharmaceutically-relevant and limiting case study in using binding energies to predict intramolecular directing group chemoselectivity. Rational catalyst design, guided solely by qualitative substrate-catalyst binding free energy predictions, enabled intramolecular discrimination between competing ortho-directing groups in C-H activation and delivered improved catalysts for sulfonamide-selective C-H deuteration. As a result, chemoselective binding of the primary sulfonamide moiety was achieved in the face of an intrinsically more powerful pyrazole directing group present in the same molecule. Detailed DFT calculations and mechanistic experiments revealed a breakdown in the applied binding free energy model, illustrating the important interconnectivity of ligand design, substrate geometry, directing group cooperativity, and solvation in supporting DFT calculations. This work has important implications around attempts to predict intramolecular C-H activation directing group chemoselectivity using simplified monofunctional fragment molecules. More generally, these studies provide insights for catalyst design methods in late-stage C-H functionalisation.

Nanocatalyzed Hydrogen Isotope Exchange

Recently, hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) reactions have experienced impressive development due to the growing importance of isotope containing compounds in various fields including materials and life sciences, in addition to their classical use for mechanistic studies in chemistry and biology. Tritium-labeled compounds are also of crucial interest to study the in vivo fate of a bioactive substance or in radioligand binding assays. Over the past few years, deuterium-labeled drugs have been extensively studied for the improvement of ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) properties of existing bioactive molecules as a consequence of the primary kinetic isotope effect. Furthermore, in the emergent "omic" fields, the need for new stable isotopically labeled internal standards (SILS) for quantitative GC- or LC-MS analyses is increasing. Because of their numerous applications, the development of powerful synthetic methods to access deuterated and tritiated molecules with either high isotope incorporation and/or selectivities is of paramount importance.HIE reactions allow a late-stage incorporation of hydrogen isotopes in a single synthetic step, thus representing an advantageous alternative to conventional multistep synthesis approaches which are time- and resource-consuming. Moreover, HIE reactions can be considered as the most fundamental C-H functionalization processes and are therefore of great interest for the chemists' community. Depending on the purpose, HIE reactions must either be highly regioselective or allow a maximal incorporation of hydrogen isotopes, sometimes both. In this context, metal-catalyzed HIE reactions are generally performed using either homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysis which may have considerable drawbacks including an insufficient isotope incorporation and a lack of chemo- and/or regioselectivity, respectively.Over the past 6 years, we have shown that nanocatalysis can be considered as a powerful tool to access complex labeled molecules (e.g., pharmaceuticals, peptides and oligonucleotides) via regio- and chemoselective or even enantiospecific labeling processes occurring at the surface of metallic nanoclusters (Ru or Ir). Numerous heterocyclic (both saturated and unsaturated) and acyclic scaffolds have been labeled with an impressive functional group tolerance, and highly deuterated compounds or high molar activity tritiated drugs have been obtained. An insight into mechanisms has also been provided by theoretical calculations to explain the regioselectivities of the isotope incorporation. Our studies have suggested that undisclosed key intermediates, including 4- and 5-membered dimetallacycles, account for the particular regioselectivities observed during the process, in contrast to the 5- or 6-membered metallacycle key intermediates usually encountered in homogeneous catalysis. These findings together with the important number of available coordination sites explain the compelling reactivity of metal nanoparticles, in between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. They represent innovative tools combining the advantages of both methods for the isotopic labeling and activation of C-H bonds of complex molecules.

Manganese-catalyzed selective C-H activation and deuteration by means of a catalytic transient directing group strategy

A novel manganese-catalyzed C-H activation methodology for selective hydrogen isotope exchange of benzaldehydes is presented. Using D₂O as a cheap and convenient source of deuterium, the reaction proceeds with excellent functional group tolerance. High ortho-selectivity is achieved in the presence of catalytic amounts of specific amines, which in situ form a transient directing group.

Are rate and selectivity correlated in iridium-catalysed hydrogen isotope exchange reactions?

We have qualitatively examined the relationship between reaction rate and reaction selectivity in iridium-catalysed hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) reactions directed by Lewis basic functional groups.

Multiple Site Hydrogen Isotope Labelling of Pharmaceuticals

Radiolabelling is fundamental in drug discovery and development as it is mandatory for preclinical ADME studies and late-stage human clinical trials. Herein, a general, effective, and easy to implement method for the multiple site incorporation of deuterium and tritium atoms using the commercially available and air-stable iridium precatalyst [Ir(COD)(OMe)]₂ is described. A large scope of pharmaceutically relevant substructures can be labelled using this method including pyridine, pyrazine, indole, carbazole, aniline, oxa-/thia-zoles, thiophene, but also electron-rich phenyl groups. The high functional group tolerance of the reaction is highlighted by the labelling of a wide range of complex pharmaceuticals, containing notably halogen or sulfur atoms and nitrile groups. The multiple site hydrogen isotope incorporation has been explained by the in situ formation of complementary catalytically active species: monometallic iridium complexes and iridium nanoparticles.

Computationally-Guided Development of a Chelated NHC-P Iridium(I) Complex for the Directed Hydrogen Isotope Exchange of Aryl Sulfones

Herein, we report the rational, computationally-guided design of an iridium(I) catalyst system capable of enabling directed hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) with the challenging sulfone directing group. Substrate binding energy was used as a parameter to guide rational ligand design via an in silico catalyst screen, resulting in a lead series of chelated iridium(I) NHC-phosphine complexes. Subsequent preparative studies show that the optimal catalyst system displays high levels of activity in HIE, and we demonstrate the labeling of a broad scope of substituted aryl sulfones. We also show that the activity of the catalyst is maintained at low pressures of deuterium gas and apply these conditions to tritium radiolabeling, including the expedient synthesis of a tritium-labeled drug molecule.

Transition-Metal-Free Coupling of 1,3-Dipoles and Boronic Acids as a Sustainable Approach to C-C Bond Formation

The need for alternative, complementary approaches to enable C-C bond formation within organic chemistry is an on-going challenge in the area. Of particular relevance are transformations that proceed in the absence of transition-metal reagents. In the current study, we report a comprehensive investigation of the coupling of nitrile imines and aryl boronic acids as an approach towards sustainable C-C bond formation. In situ generation of the highly reactive 1,3-dipole facilitates a Petasis-Mannich-type coupling via a nucleophilic boronate complex. The introduction of hydrazonyl chlorides as a complementary nitrile imine source to the 2,5-tetrazoles previously reported by our laboratory further broadens the scope of the approach. Additionally, we exemplify for the first time the extension of this protocol into another 1,3-dipole, through the synthesis of aryl ketone oximes from aryl boronic acids and nitrile N-oxides.

Recent advances in iridium(I) catalysis towards directed hydrogen isotope exchange

The initial discovery and establishment of a family of novel iridium catalysts possessing N-heterocyclic carbene units alongside bulky phosphine ligands allowed selected substrates to be labelled using deuterium or tritium gas at desirably low catalyst loadings via an ortho-directed C-H insertion process. Such a method has broad applicability and offers distinct advantages within the pharmaceutical industry, directly facilitating the ability to carefully monitor a potential drug molecule's biological fate. Over the past decade since these initial protocols were divulged, many additional advances have been made in terms of catalyst design and substrate scope. This review describes the broadened array of new iridium catalysts and associated protocols for direct and selective C-H activation and hydrogen isotope insertion within a number of new chemical entities of direct relevance to the pharmaceutical industry.

C-H Functionalization-Prediction of Selectivity in Iridium(I)-Catalyzed Hydrogen Isotope Exchange Competition Reactions

An assessment of the C-H activation catalyst [(COD)Ir(IMes)(PPh3 )]PF6 (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene, IMes=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) in the deuteration of phenyl rings containing different functional directing groups is divulged. Competition experiments have revealed a clear order of the directing groups in the hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) with an iridium (I) catalyst. Through DFT calculations the iridium-substrate coordination complex has been identified to be the main trigger for reactivity and selectivity in the competition situation with two or more directing groups. We postulate that the competition concept found in this HIE reaction can be used to explain regioselectivities in other transition-metal-catalyzed functionalization reactions of complex drug-type molecules as long as a C-H activation mechanism is involved.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes in C-H Activation Reactions

In this contribution, we provide a comprehensive overview of C-H activation methods promoted by NHC-transition metal complexes, covering the literature since 2002 (the year of the first report on metal-NHC-catalyzed C-H activation) through June 2019, focusing on both NHC ligands and C-H activation methods. This review covers C-H activation reactions catalyzed by group 8 to 11 NHC-metal complexes. Through discussing the role of NHC ligands in promoting challenging C-H activation methods, the reader is provided with an overview of this important area and its crucial role in forging carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds by directly engaging ubiquitous C-H bonds.

NHC-Stabilized Iridium Nanoparticles as Catalysts in Hydrogen Isotope Exchange Reactions of Anilines

The preparation of N-heterocyclic carbene-stabilized iridium nanoparticles and their application in hydrogen isotope exchange reactions is reported. These air-stable and easy-to-handle iridium nanoparticles showed a unique catalytic activity, allowing selective and efficient hydrogen isotope incorporation on anilines using D2 or T2 as isotopic source. The usefulness of this transformation has been demonstrated by the deuterium and tritium labeling of diverse complex pharmaceuticals.

The Natural Product Lepidiline A as an N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand Precursor in Complexes of the Type [Ir(cod)(NHC)PPh3)]X: Synthesis, Characterisation, and Application in Hydrogen Isotope Exchange Catalysis

A range of iridium(I) complexes of the type [Ir(cod)(NHC)PPh3)]X are reported, where the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) is derived from the naturally-occurring imidaozlium salt, Lepidiline A (1,3-dibenzyl-4,5-dimethylimidazolium chloride). A range of complexes were prepared, with a number of NHC ligands and counter-ions, and various steric and electronic parameters of these complexes were evaluated. The activity of the [Ir(cod)(NHC)PPh3)]X complexes in hydrogen isotope exchange reactions was then studied, and compared to established iridium(I) complexes.

A quantitative empirical directing group scale for selectivity in iridium-catalysed hydrogen isotope exchange reactions

Competition hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) experiments are used to construct quantitative directing group scales for two catalysts; these can be used to predict the outcomes of HIE reactions of substrates with multiple directing groups.

Comparison of Iridium(I) Catalysts in Temperature Mediated Hydrogen Isotope Exchange Reactions

The reactivity and selectivity of iridium(I) catalysed hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) reactions can be varied by using wide range of reaction temperatures. Herein, we have done a detailed comparison study with common iridium(I) catalysts (1–6) which will help us to understand and optimize the approaches of either high selectivity or maximum deuterium incorporation. We have demonstrated that the temperature window for these studied iridium(I) catalysts is surprisingly very broad. This principle was further proven in some HIE reactions on complex drug molecules.

Enabling Two-Electron Pathways with Iron and Cobalt: From Ligand Design to Catalytic Applications

Homogeneous catalysis with Earth-abundant, first-row transition metals, including iron and cobalt, has gained considerable recent attention as a potentially cost-effective and sustainable alternative to more commonly and historically used precious metals. Because fundamental organometallic transformations, such as oxidative addition and reductive elimination, are two-electron processes and essential steps in many important catalytic cycles, controlling redox chemistry-in particular overcoming one-electron chemistry-has been as a central challenge with Earth-abundant metals. This Perspective focuses on approaches to impart sufficiently strong ligand fields to generate electron-rich metal complexes able to promote oxidative addition reactions where the redox changes are exclusively metal-based. Emphasis is placed on how ligand design and exploration of fundamental organometallic chemistry coupled with mechanistic understanding have been used to discover iron catalysts for the hydrogen isotope exchange in pharmaceuticals and cobalt catalysts for C(sp²)-H borylation reactions. A pervasive theme is that first-row metal complexes often promote unique chemistry from their precious-metal counterparts, demonstrating that these elements offer a host of new opportunities for reaction discovery and for more sustainable catalysis.

A highly selective H/D exchange reaction of 1,4-dihydropyridines

Herein, we report a simple, economical, and effective acid-mediated method for the in situ deuteration of Hantzsch esters and their 4-substituted derivatives, including some drugs that constitute important calcium channel blockers which are effective for hypertension treatment. Hydrogen isotope exchange occurred selectively at α-alkyl C-H bonds in the 2,6-substituents.

Copper-Mediated N-Arylations of Hydantoins

A set of two broadly applicable procedures for the N-arylation of hydantoins is reported. The first one relies on the use of stoichiometric copper(I) oxide under ligand- and base-free conditions and enables a clean regioselective arylation at the N³ nitrogen atom, while the second one is based on the use of catalytic copper(I) iodide and trans- N, N'-dimethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine and promotes arylation at the N¹ nitrogen atom. Importantly, the combination of these two procedures affords a straightforward entry to diarylated hydantoins.