Palladium-Catalyzed Annulation of Acyloximes with Arynes (or Alkynes): Synthesis of Phenanthridines and Isoquinolines

Regioselective Synthesis of Phenanthridines via Pd(II)-Catalyzed Annulative C(sp2)-H Activation

A robust synthesis of phenanthridines has been described via Pd(II)-catalyzed domino C(sp2)-H activation/N-arylation using oxime esters with aryl acyl peroxides in a highly regioselective manner. This protocol is compatible with acetophenone as well as benzophenone-derived oxime esters and allows modular construction of functionalized phenanthridines with wide tolerance of electronic functionality. Further transformations were conducted to synthesize key building blocks, and control experiments were performed to understand the plausible reaction mechanism.

NHC-alcohol adduct-mediated photocatalytic deoxygenation for the synthesis of 6-phenanthridine derivatives

NHC-alcohol adduct-mediated deoxygenation of alcohols under photocatalytic conditions is described. This process provides various alkyl radicals, which can react with 2-isocyanobiaryls to afford 6-substituted phenanthridine derivatives in moderate to good yields. This method offered the first example of directly using alcohols as radical sources for 6-phenanthridine synthesis.

Regioselective synthesis of spirocyclic pyrrolines via a palladium-catalyzed Narasaka-Heck/C-H activation/[4 + 2] annulation cascade reaction

A novel palladium-catalyzed spirocyclization through sequential Narasaka-Heck cyclization, C-H activation and [4 + 2] annulation has been developed. In this reaction, cheap and readily available 2-chlorobenzoic acid or ethyl phenylpropiolate was employed as the C2 insertion unit to react with γ,δ-unsaturated oxime ester. The key step in this transformation is the regioselective insertion of the C2 synthon into the spiro-palladacycle intermediate that is formed by the δ-C-H activation process, thereby efficiently assembling a series of spirocyclic pyrrolines with high regiocontrol. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations and control experiments were performed to gain some insights into the reaction mechanism.

Modular Synthesis of Benzocyclobutenes via Pd(II)-Catalyzed Oxidative [2+2] Annulation of Arylboronic Acids with Alkenes

Benzocyclobutenes (BCBs) are highly valuable compounds in organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and materials science. However, catalytic modular synthesis of functionalized BCBs from easily accessible starting materials remains limited. We report herein an efficient synthesis of diversely functionalized BCBs by a Pd(II)-catalyzed formal [2+2] annulation between arylboronic acids and alkenes in the presence of N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI). An intermolecular carbopalladation followed by palladium oxidation, intramolecular C(sp²)-H activation by a transient C(sp³)-Pd(IV) species, and selective carbon-carbon (C-C) bond-forming reductive elimination from a high-valent five-membered palladacycle is proposed to account for the reaction outcome. Kinetically competent oxidation of alkylPd(II) to alkylPd(IV) species is important to avoid the formation of a Heck adduct. The reaction forges two C-C bonds of the cyclobutene core and is compatible with a wide range of functional groups. No chelating bidentate directing group in the alkene part is needed for this transformation.

Manganese-Catalyzed [4 + 2] Annulation of N-H Amidines with Vinylene Carbonate via C-H Activation

Manganese-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization of aryl amidines for the synthesis of 1-aminoisoquinolines in the presence of vinylene carbonate has been developed. The reaction features a broad substrate scope and proceeds under mild reaction conditions with only the carbonate anion as the byproduct.

Copper-Catalyzed Aza-Sonogashira Cross-Coupling To Form Ynimines: Development and Application to the Synthesis of Heterocycles

Nitrogen‐substituted alkynes, such as ynamines and ynamides, are versatile synthetic building blocks. Ynimines bearing additional nucleophilic and electrophilic centers relative to ynamines and ynamides are expected to have high synthetic potential. However, their chemical reactivity remains unexplored owing mainly to the lack of synthetic accessibility. We report herein a versatile copper‐catalyzed synthesis of ynimines from readily available O‐acetyl ketoximes and terminal alkynes. A wide range of O‐acetyl ketoximes derived from diaryl ketones, aryl alkyl ketones and dialkyl ketones underwent cross‐coupling with a diverse set of terminal alkynes to afford the ynimines in good to excellent yields. An unprecedented [5+1] heteroannulation reaction exploiting the reactivity of the ynimine generated in situ was subsequently developed for the synthesis of medicinally important heterocycles, including isoquinolines, azaindoles, azabenzofurans, azabenzothiophenes and carbolines.

Experimental and Computational Studies of Palladium-Catalyzed Spirocyclization via a Narasaka-Heck/C(sp3 or sp2)-H Activation Cascade Reaction

The first synthesis of highly strained spirocyclobutane-pyrrolines via a palladium-catalyzed tandem Narasaka-Heck/C(sp³ or sp²)-H activation reaction is reported here. The key step in this transformation is the activation of a δ-C-H bond via an in situ generated σ-alkyl-Pd(II) species to form a five-membered spiro-palladacycle intermediate. The concerted metalation-deprotonation (CMD) process, rate-determining step, and energy barrier of the entire reaction were explored by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Moreover, a series of control experiments was conducted to probe the rate-determining step and reversibility of the C(sp³)-H activation step.

Cu-Catalyzed Dimerization of Indole Derived Oxime Acetate for Synthesis of Biimidazo[1,2-a]indoles

A copper-mediated cyclization and dimerization of indole derived oxime acetate was developed to generate a series of biimidazo[1,2-a]indole scaffolds with two contiguous stereogenic quaternary carbons in one step.

Photocatalytic xanthate-based radical addition/cyclization reaction sequence toward 2-biphenyl isocyanides: synthesis of 6-alkylated phenanthridines

A photocatalytic xanthate-based radical addition/cyclization reaction cascade toward 2-biphenylisocyanides is described as a practical and modular approach to 6-alkylated phenanthridines. The use of xanthates as radical precursors allowed the synthesis of diversely 6-substituted phenanthridines. Electrophilic radicals derived from nitriles, aromatic and aliphatic ketones, malonates, and amide derivatives, as well as radicals derived from phthalimidomethyl and benzylic derivatives were successfully introduced. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions without a stoichiometric amount of oxidant. Thirty novel phenanthridine scaffolds were synthesized with yields ranging from 24 to 76%.

Gold-Catalyzed Formal Hexadehydro-Diels-Alder/Carboalkoxylation Reaction Cascades

A dual gold-catalyzed hexadehydro-Diels-Alder/carboalkoxylation cascade reaction is reported. In this transformation, the gold catalyst participated in the hexadehydro-Diels-Alder step, switching the mechanism from a radical type to a cationic one, and then the catalyst activated the resulting aryne to form an ortho-Au phenyl cation species, which underwent a carboalkoxylation rearrangement rather than the expected aryne-ene reaction.

Arynes as Radical Acceptors: TEMPO-Mediated Cascades Comprising Addition, Cyclization, and Trapping

The application of arynes as radical acceptors is described. The stable radical TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine 1-oxyl) is shown to add to various ortho-substituted benzynes generating the corresponding aryl radicals which engage in 5-exo or 6-endo cyclizations. The cyclized radicals are eventually trapped by TEMPO. The introduced method provides ready access to various dihydrobenzofurans, oxindoles, and sultones by a conceptually novel approach.

Metal-free tandem carbene N-H insertions and C-C bond cleavages

A metal-free C-H [5 + 1] annulation reaction of 2-arylanilines with diazo compounds has been achieved, giving rise to two types of prevalent phenanthridines via highly selective C-C cleavage. Compared to the simple N-H insertion manipulation of diazo, this method elegantly accomplishes a tandem N-H insertion/SEAr/C-C cleavage/aromatization reaction, and the synthetic utility of this new transformation is exemplified by the succinct syntheses of trisphaeridine and bicolorine alkaloids.

Expeditious synthesis of phenanthridines through a Pd/MnO2-mediated C–H arylation/oxidative annulation cascade from aldehydes, aryl iodides and amino acids

The expeditious access to phenanthridines through a Pd/MnO₂-mediated arylation/oxidative annulation cascade from aldehydes, aryl iodides and amino acids is described.

Access to pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoindolediones from oxime acetates and ninhydrin via Cu(i)-mediated domino annulations

A copper-mediated domino condensation reaction of easily accessible oxime acetates with ninhydrin to give pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoindolediones is reported.

Ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed [5 + 1] annulation reaction: a facile and efficient approach to construct 6-ethenyl phenanthridines utilizing a primary amine as a directing group

A ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed [5 + 1] annulation reaction between 2-arylanilines and cyclopropenones employing a free amine as a directing group has been developed.

A carboxylate-assisted amination/unactivated C(sp2)–H arylation reaction via a palladium/norbornene cooperative catalysis

A carboxylate-assisted palladium-catalysed Catellani reaction, which is compatible with ortho-amination and unactivated C(sp²)–H arylation, synthesized a series of 1-amino substituted dihydrophenanthridines, phenanthridines and 6H-benzo[c]chromenes.

Unveiling the high reactivity of cyclohexynes in [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions through the molecular electron density theory

[3 + 2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions of cyclohexyne, a cyclic strained acetylene, with methyl azide and methoxycarbonyl diazomethane have been studied within the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d) computational level. These 32CA reactions, which take place through a one-step mechanism involving highly asynchronous transition state structures, proceed with relatively low activation enthalpies of 6.0 and 4.3 kcal mol-1, respectively, both reactions being strongly exothermic. The reactions are initiated by the creation of a pseudoradical center at one of the two acetylenic carbons of cyclohexyne with a very low energy cost, 1.0 kcal mol-1, which promotes the easy formation of the first C-N(C) single bond in the adjacent acetylenic carbon. This scenario is completely different from that of the 32CA reaction involving non-strained but-2-yne; thus, strain in cyclohexyne triggers a high reactivity as a consequence of its unusual electronic structure at the ground state. Finally, the experimental regioselectivity of the 32CA reactions involving 3-alkoxy-cyclohexyne derivatives is correctly explained within MEDT.

Harnessing the reactivity of ortho-formyl-arylketones: base-promoted regiospecific synthesis of functionalized isoquinolines

An efficient and base-mediated one-pot regiospecific synthesis of structurally diversified isoquinolines and benzo[h] isoquinolines from easily accessible ortho-formyl-arylketones and aryl/(het)arylmethanamines has been described.

3d Transition Metals for C-H Activation

C-H activation has surfaced as an increasingly powerful tool for molecular sciences, with notable applications to material sciences, crop protection, drug discovery, and pharmaceutical industries, among others. Despite major advances, the vast majority of these C-H functionalizations required precious 4d or 5d transition metal catalysts. Given the cost-effective and sustainable nature of earth-abundant first row transition metals, the development of less toxic, inexpensive 3d metal catalysts for C-H activation has gained considerable recent momentum as a significantly more environmentally-benign and economically-attractive alternative. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview on first row transition metal catalysts for C-H activation until summer 2018.