LithiatedN-pivaloyl-tetrahydroisoquinoline?a Supernuclephile

Catalytic asymmetric α-acylation of tertiary amines mediated by a dual catalysis mode: N-heterocyclic carbene and photoredox catalysis

Cross-coupling reactions are among the most widely utilized methods for C-C bond formation; however, the requirement of preactivated starting materials still presents a major limitation. Methods that take direct advantage of the inherent reactivity of the C-H bond offer an efficient alternative to these methods, negating the requirement for substrate preactivation. In this process, two chemically distinct activation events culminate in the formation of the desired C-C bond with loss of H(2) as the only byproduct. Herein we report the catalytic asymmetric α-acylation of tertiary amines with aldehydes facilitated by the combination of chiral N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis and photoredox catalysis.

Substitution of Hydroxybiaryls via Directed ortho-Lithiation of N-Silylated O-Aryl N-Isopropylcarbamates

[reaction: see text] Herein we report regioselective substitution reactions of a series of 2- and 3-hydroxybiaryls including BINOL via a new directed ortho-metalation procedure. O-Aryl N-isopropylcarbamates, conveniently prepared from phenols and isopropyl isocyanate, are temporarily and in situ N-protected by means of silyl triflates to form stable intermediates for low temperature lithiation reactions using butyllithium/TMEDA in diethyl ether. The resulting aryllithiums are efficiently substituted by a wide range of electrophilic reagents to afford functionalized biaryls in high yields. N-Desilylation already occurs during aqueous workup. The following deprotection of the urethanes to the corresponding phenols proceeds rapidly and in quantitative yields. Even sensitive substituents (e.g., CO2Me, CHO, SiMe3, I) in the products are preserved under mild alkaline conditions which have been established for carbamate ester cleavage. Furthermore, applications of ortho-substituted products in common cross-coupling reactions for further C-C bond formations are demonstrated.