Mild C(sp3)−H Alkylation of 8-Methylquinolines with α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds by Rhodium(III) Catalysis

Rhodium-catalyzed three-component C(sp3)/C(sp2)-H activation enabled by a two-fold directing group strategy

Rh-catalyzed three-component C(sp3)/C(sp2)-H activation has been achieved through a two-directing group strategy. This protocol provides a convenient and efficient pathway for the construction of diverse 8-alkyl quinoline derivatives in one-pot. Furthermore, mechanistic studies revealed that the first C-H amidation was significantly faster than the sequential C-H alkylation.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Alkylation of 8-Methylquinolines with Oxabenzonorbornadienes

Herein, a concise Rh(III)-catalyzed C(sp³)-H alkylation of 8-methylquinolines with oxabenzonorbornadiene scaffolds and other strained olefins has been disclosed. The retention of the oxabenzonorbornadiene skeleton, broad substrate scope, and wide-ranging functional group tolerance are the key features of the developed catalytic methodology. Mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction does not involve a radical pathway, and the five-membered rhodacycle is the key intermediate. This is the first report on the C(sp³)-H alkylation of 8-methylquinolines with strained oxabenzonorbornadiene scaffolds (with ring retention).

Transition-metal-catalyzed C-H bond alkylation using olefins: recent advances and mechanistic aspects

Transition metal catalysis has contributed immensely to C-C bond formation reactions over the last few decades, and alkylation is no exception. The superiority of such methodologies over traditional alkylation is evident from minimal reaction steps, shorter reaction times, and atom economy while also allowing control over regio- and stereo-selectivity. In particular, hydrocarbonation of alkenes has grabbed increased attention due its fundamental ability to effectively and selectively synthesise a wide range of industrially and pharmaceutically relevant moieties. This review attempts to provide a scientific viewpoint and a systematic analysis of the recent developments in transition-metal-catalyzed alkylation of various C-H bonds using simple and activated olefins. The key features and mechanistic studies involved in these transformations are described briefly.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed mild straightforward synthesis of quinoline-braced cyclophane macrocycles via migratory insertion

An efficient Rh(III)-catalyzed straightforward strategy is developed for the synthesis of quinoline braced cyclophane macrocycles via methyl (sp³) C-H functionalization. The method is mild, simple and regioselective with various ring sizes and has good functional group tolerance. The method proceeds via C8-methyl metalation, metal-carbene formation and a subsequent migratory insertion. High dilution is not necessary for this macrocyclization and the only byproduct is nitrogen. A preliminary investigation shows that the C-H metalation step is the rate-determining step.

Rhodium(III)/Chiral Carboxylic Acid Catalyzed Enantioselective C(sp3)-H Alkylation of 8-Ethylquinolines with α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

The enantioselective C-H alkylation of 8-ethylquinolines with enones or acrolein using a Rh^III catalyst and a chiral carboxylic acid is described. Under mild reaction conditions, a binaphthyl-based chiral carboxylic acid enables the enantioselective cleavage of the 8-ethylquinoline C(sp³)-H bond. The obtained results demonstrate the utility of the combination of a high-valent group 9 metal catalyst and a chiral carboxylic acid for the enantioselective C(sp³)-H activation and the subsequent C-C bond formation.

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.

A comprehensive overview of directing groups applied in metal-catalysed C-H functionalisation chemistry

The present review is devoted to summarizing the recent advances (2015-2017) in the field of metal-catalysed group-directed C-H functionalisation. In order to clearly showcase the molecular diversity that can now be accessed by means of directed C-H functionalisation, the whole is organized following the directing groups installed on a substrate. Its aim is to be a comprehensive reference work, where a specific directing group can be easily found, together with the transformations which have been carried out with it. Hence, the primary format of this review is schemes accompanied with a concise explanatory text, in which the directing groups are ordered in sections according to their chemical structure. The schemes feature typical substrates used, the products obtained as well as the required reaction conditions. Importantly, each example is commented on with respect to the most important positive features and drawbacks, on aspects such as selectivity, substrate scope, reaction conditions, directing group removal, and greenness. The targeted readership are both experts in the field of C-H functionalisation chemistry (to provide a comprehensive overview of the progress made in the last years) and, even more so, all organic chemists who want to introduce the C-H functionalisation way of thinking for a design of straightforward, efficient and step-economic synthetic routes towards molecules of interest to them. Accordingly, this review should be of particular interest also for scientists from industrial R&D sector. Hence, the overall goal of this review is to promote the application of C-H functionalisation reactions outside the research groups dedicated to method development and establishing it as a valuable reaction archetype in contemporary R&D, comparable to the role cross-coupling reactions play to date.