Synthesis of Indenones via Palladium‐Catalyzed Ligand‐Free Carbonylation

Cationic and Neutral PdII and PtII Pincer Complexes of Phosphinamino-Triazolyl-Pyridine [PN(H)N]: Pincer Ligand-Stabilized Palladium Nanoparticles and Their Catalytic Annulation of Internal Alkynes to Indenones

We describe the synthesis of a triazolyl-pyridine-based aminophosphine, N-(diphenylphosphaneyl)-6-(1-phenyl)-1H-(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine-2-amine [2,6-{(PPh₂)-N(H)(C₅H₃N)(C₂HN₃C₆H₅)}] [1, PN(H)N hereafter], and its palladium and platinum complexes and their catalytic application. The reaction of 1 with [M(COD)Cl₂] (M = Pd or Pt) afforded the cationic complex [(MCl){PN(H)N}-κ³-P,N,N]Cl [M = Pd (2) or Pt (3)]. Alternatively, compounds 2 and 3 were also synthesized by treating [2,6-{H₂N(C₅H₃N)(C₂HN₃C₆H₅)}] (A) with [M(COD)Cl₂] (M = Pd or Pt), followed by the addition of stoichiometric amounts of PPh₂Cl and Et₃N. The neutral, dearomatized complexes [(MCl){PNN}-κ³-P,N,N] [M = Pd (4) or Pt (5)] were prepared by the deprotonation of the NH of 2 and 3 with 1 equiv of ^tBuOK. Compounds 4 and 5 were also synthesized stepwise by treating [2,6-{H₂N(C₅H₃N)(C₂HN₃C₆H₅)}] (A) with [M(COD)Cl₂] (M = Pd or Pt) to give intermediate complexes [{MCl₂}2,6-{NH₂(C₅H₃N)(C₂HN₃C₆H₅)-κ²-N,N}] [M = Pd (B) or Pt (C)], which were subsequently phosphinated. The in situ-generated PNN ligand-stabilized Pd nanoparticles from compound 2 catalyzed the annulation of o-bromobenzaldehyde with alkynes to yield indenone derivatives. Mechanistic investigations suggested that the reaction was catalyzed by Pd nanoparticles (Pd@2) generated from compound 2 and proceeded through sequential oxidative addition, alkyne insertion, and reductive elimination steps to produce indanone products.

Synthesis of mono-, di- and tripalladated 1,3,5-benzenetristyryl complexes. CO insertion to give a dipalladated indenone

The tribrominated arenes 1,3,5-C₆(E-CHCHAr)₃Br₃ (Ar = Ph, (I), p-To (I')), add oxidatively to [Pd(dba)₂] ([Pd₂(dba)₃]·dba) in the presence of two equivalents of a phosphine (PPh₃ or PMe₂Ph) to form the monopalladated complexes trans-[Pd{C₆(E-CHCHAr)₃Br₂}Br(L)₂] (Ar = Ph, L = PPh₃ (1a), Ar = p-To, L = PPh₃ (1a'), Ar = Ph, L = PMe₂Ph (1b)), while the reaction in a 1 : 2 : 4 arene : Pd : PMe₂Ph molar ratio affords the dipalladated complex [{trans-PdBr(PMe₂Ph)₂}₂{μ₂-C₆(E-CHCHPh)₃Br}] (2b). Both I and I' add oxidatively to 3 equivalents of [Pd(dba)₂] in the presence of the chelating N-donor ligand tmeda (N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) to form the tripalladated complexes [{PdBr(tmeda)}₃{μ₃-C₆(E-CHCHAr)₃}] (Ar = Ph, (3c), p-To (3c')). Complex 3c reacts with PMe₃ to form [{trans-PdBr(PMe₃)₂}₃{μ₃-C₆(E-CHCHPh)₃}] (3d). Compound 3c also reacts with CO to give the novel dipalladated indenone [2-Ph-4,6-{PdBr(tmeda)}₂-5,7-(E-CHCHPh)₂-inden-1-one] (4). The crystal structures of 1a' and 1b were determined by X-ray diffraction studies.

Transition-metal-free approaches to 2,3-diarylated indenones from 2-alkynylbenzaldehydes and phenols with tunable selectivity

The first transition-metal-free regioselective synthesis of 2,3-diarylindenones via tandem annulation of 2-alkynylbenzaldehydes with phenols is described. Two different modes of reaction controlled by electronic effects and temperature furnished either "non-rearranged" or "rearranged" indenones in high selectivity.

AlBr3-Promoted stereoselective anti-hydroarylation of the acetylene bond in 3-arylpropynenitriles by electron-rich arenes: synthesis of 3,3-diarylpropenenitriles

Reactions of 3-arylpropynenitriles (ArC≡CCN) with electron-rich arenes (Ar′H, benzene and its polymethylated derivatives) under the action of aluminum bromide (AlBr₃, 6 equiv) at room temperature for 0.5–2 h result in the stereoselective formation of 3,3-diarylpropenenitriles (Ar(Ar′)C=CHCN) in yields of 20–64%, as products of mainly anti-hydroarylation of the acetylene bond. The obtained 3,3-diarylpropenenitriles in triflic acid CF₃SO₃H (TfOH) at room temperature for 1 h are cyclized into 3-arylindenones in yields of 55–70%.

Regioselective synthesis of indenones via nickel-catalyzed Larock annulations

A highly effective approach for the synthesis of indenones via nickel-catalyzed Larock annulations of substituted 2-formylphenyl trifluoromethanesulfonate with alkynes has been developed.