Stereoselective Fluoroalkylacylation of Alkynes via Cooperative N-Heterocyclic Carbene/Palladium Catalysis

Herein, a cooperative N-heterocyclic carbene- and palladium-catalyzed three-component reaction of alkynes with aldehydes and fluoroalkyl iodides is developed. A series of biologically valuable CF2R-incorporated α-substituted enones was obtained in moderate to good yields. This mild catalytic method exhibits exclusive regio- and stereoselectivity, excellent functional group tolerance, and a broad substrate scope including terminal and internal alkynes. Mechanistic investigations disclose that this alkyne fluoroalkylacylation proceeds via a radical relay process in which vinyl iodides serve as putative reaction intermediates.

Copper-Catalyzed Aryne Insertion into the Carbon-Iodine Bond of Heteroaryl Iodides

Aryne insertions into the carbon-iodine bond of heteroaryl iodides has been achieved for the first time. This novel reaction provides an efficient pathway for the synthesis of valuable building blocks 2-iodoheterobiaryls from heteroaryl iodides and o-silylaryl triflates in excellent regioselectivity. The copper(I) catalyst, which bears a N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand, is essential to accomplish the reaction. Control reactions and DFT calculations indicate that the coordination of copper, as a Lewis acid, with nitrogen atoms of heteroaryl iodides mediates the insertion of arynes into heteroaryl carbon-iodine bonds.

An NHC-Catalyzed Desulfonylative Smiles Rearrangement of Pyrrole and Indole Carboxaldehydes

The use of catalysis methods to enable Smiles rearrangement opens up new substrate classes for arylation under mild conditions. Here, we describe an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis system that accesses indole and pyrrole aldehyde substrates in a desulfonylative Smiles process. The reaction proceeds under mild, transition-metal-free conditions and captures acyl anion reactivity for the synthesis of a diverse array of 2-aroyl indoles and pyrroles from readily available sulfonamide starting materials.

One-Pot Synthesis of Benzo[c]phenanthridine Alkaloids from 7-Azabenzonorbornadienes and Aryl Nitrones

An efficient synthesis of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids via a synergistic combination of C-C bond formation and a cycloaromatization reaction is described. Aryl nitrones react with 7-azabenzonorbornadienes in the presence of a Rh(III) catalyst, providing pharmaceutically useful benzo[c]phenanthridine derivatives in good to moderate yields. Using this methodology, highly useful alkaloids such as norfagaronine, norchelerythrine, decarine, norsanguinarine, and nornitidine were prepared in a single step.

Thiazol-2-ylidenes as N-Heterocyclic carbene ligands with enhanced electrophilicity for transition metal catalysis

Over the last 20 years, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have emerged as a dominant direction in ligand development in transition metal catalysis. In particular, strong σ-donation in combination with tunable steric environment make NHCs to be among the most common ligands used for C-C and C-heteroatom bond formation. Herein, we report the study on steric and electronic properties of thiazol-2-ylidenes. We demonstrate that the thiazole heterocycle and enhanced π-electrophilicity result in a class of highly active carbene ligands for electrophilic cyclization reactions to form valuable oxazoline heterocycles. The evaluation of steric, electron-donating and π-accepting properties as well as structural characterization and coordination chemistry is presented. This mode of catalysis can be applied to late-stage drug functionalization to furnish attractive building blocks for medicinal chemistry. Considering the key role of N-heterocyclic ligands, we anticipate that N-aryl thiazol-2-ylidenes will be of broad interest as ligands in modern chemical synthesis.

Carbene catalyzed C(sp3)–Cl activation of chlorinated solvents for benzyne chlorination

A new mode of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) organocatalysis was discovered, in which the normally inert chlorinated solvents were activated by carbene to realize the chlorination of hexa-dehydro-Diels-Alder derived benzynes.

Synthesis of Dihydroquinolinone Derivatives via the Cascade Reaction of o-Silylaryl Triflates with Pyrazolidinones

Presented herein is a novel synthesis of dihydroquinolinone derivatives through an unprecedented cascade reaction of o-silylaryl triflates with pyrazolidinones. Mechanistically, the formation of the title products is believed to involve a cascade procedure including in situ formation of aryne and its addition with pyrazolidinone followed by N-N bond cleavage and intramolecular C-C bond formation/annulation. Compared with literature methods for the synthesis of dihydroquinolinones, this protocol has advantages such as multistep transformations accomplished in one pot, broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, and good tolerance of diverse functional groups. In addition, the products thus obtained demonstrated significant in vitro antiproliferative activity in selected human cancer cell lines.

Mechanochemical Syntheses of N-Containing Heterocycles with TosMIC

A mechanochemical van Leusen pyrrole synthesis with a base leads to 3,4-disubstitued pyrroles in moderate to excellent yields. The developed protocol is compatible with a range of electron-withdrawing groups and can also be applied to the synthesis of oxazoles. Attempts to mechanochemically convert the resulting pyrroles into porphyrins proved to be difficult.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Cyclization of Aldehydes with α-Diazo Iodonium Triflate: Facile Access to 2,5-Disubstituted 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles

Herein, we report a novel organocatalytic process for synthesis of complex 1,3,4-oxadiazoles from readily accessible aldehydes. By exploiting the nucleophilicity of the putative Breslow intermediate and the inherent electrophilicity of α-diazo iodonium triflate, we have found that N-heterocyclic carbene catalyst promotes efficient cyclization of various aldehydes and α-diazo iodonium triflates. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions with a wide range of functional group tolerance. The heterocyclic products can be readily further functionalized, rendering the protocol highly valuable.

Generation of Aryllithium Reagents from N-Arylpyrroles Using Lithium

Treatment of 1-aryl-2,5-diphenylpyrroles with lithium powder in tetrahydrofuran at 0 °C results in the generation of the corresponding aryllithium reagents through reductive C–N bond cleavage.

Regioselective difunctionalization of pyridines via 3,4-pyridynes

A new regioselective 3,4-difunctionalization of 3-chloropyridines via 3,4-pyridyne intermediates is reported. Regioselective lithiation of 3-chloro-2-ethoxypyridine and a related 2-thio-derivative followed by treatment with aryl- and alkylmagnesium halides as well as magnesium thiolates at -78 °C produced 3,4-pyridynes during heating to 75 °C. Regioselective addition of the Grignard moiety in position 4 followed by an electrophilic quench in position 3 led to various 2,3,4-trisubstituted pyridines. This method was adapted into a continuous flow set-up. As an application, we have prepared a key intermediate for (±)-paroxetine.

NHC-Mediated Stetter-Aldol and Imino-Stetter-Aldol Domino Cyclization to Naphthalen-1(2H)-ones and Isoquinolines

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed tandem Stetter-aldol reaction of phthalaldehyde and α,β-unsaturated ketimines has been developed to afford functionalized naphthalen-1(2H)-one derivatives as the formal [4+2] annulation product. Interestingly, the reaction of aldimines led to the formation of isoquinoline derivatives instead of the expected indanone derivatives as a [4+1] annulation product.

Imines as acceptors and donors in N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) organocatalysis

The synthetic potential of imines as electrophiles or as a source of nucleophilic coupling partner in N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis for the synthesis of various nitrogen heterocycles and functionalized amines is highlighted in this Feature Article. Electrophilic imines are suitable candidates for intercepting the NHC-derived acyl anions, homoenolate equivalents, and (di)enolates for the synthesis of α-amino ketones and a variety of lactam derivatives. Moreover, enamines generated from imines bearing α-hydrogen could be trapped with α,β-unsaturated acylazoliums for the synthesis of functionalized dihydropyridinones. NHCs are also useful for the umpolung of imines for the generation of aza-Breslow intermediates thus leading to the synthesis of indoles, quinolines, dihydroquinoxalines etc. A concise account of the diverse reactivity of imines in NHC catalysis has been presented.

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) organocatalysis using aliphatic aldehydes

Recent advances are presented in NHC catalysis employing aliphatic aldehydes as substrates for the generation of various carbene-bound intermediates and subsequent interception with electrophiles/nucleophiles.

NHC-catalyzed green synthesis of functionalized chromones: DFT mechanistic insights and in vitro activities in cancer cells

A simple green protocol for the synthesis of 3-aminochromone derivatives using a NHC catalyzed intramolecular hydroacylation reaction was developed. Further functional 3-aminochromes were evaluated for their anticancer activity.

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed formal [3 + 3] annulation of alkynoic acid esters with indolin-3-ones: access to functionalized pyrano[3,2-b]indol-2-ones

The structurally interesting pyrano[3,2-b]indol-2-ones were synthesized by an N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed formal [3 + 3] annulation of alkynoic acid esters.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Organocatalytic One-Pot Reaction for the Enantioselective Synthesis of Fluoromethylated Chromenones

An efficient carbene organocatalyzed route to enantioenriched chromenones, bearing one tri- or difluoromethylated stereogenic center in the β position of the carbonyl group, from o-allyloxybenzaldehydes is described. The one-pot transition-metal-free transformation exhibits a broad substrate scope and excellent enantioselectivity.

Rapidly Activating Pd-Precatalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura and Buchwald-Hartwig Couplings of Aryl Esters

Esters are valuable electrophiles for cross-coupling due to their ubiquity and ease of synthesis. However, harsh conditions are traditionally required for the effective cross-coupling of ester substrates. Utilizing a recently discovered precatalyst, Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura and Buchwald-Hartwig reactions involving cleavage of the C(acyl)-O bond of aryl esters that proceed under mild conditions are reported. The Pd(II) precatalyst is highly active because it is reduced to the Pd(0) active species more rapidly than previous precatalysts.

Decarbethoxylative Arylation Employing Arynes: A Metal-Free Pathway to Arylfluoroamides

An efficient, metal-free decarbethoxylative arylation protocol for the synthesis of α-aryl-α-fluoroamides from fluoromalonamates, under ambient reaction conditions using aryne as an electrophilic arylating agent, is reported. This decarbethoxylative arylation proceeds under mild conditions and provides a practical and effective entry to a wide range of α-aryl-α-fluoroacetamides. Interestingly, the use of the tert-butyl ester of fluoromalonamate prevented the otherwise rapid decarboxylation step, affording the arylated fluoromalonamate in moderate yield.

Recent advances in N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed achiral synthesis

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have emerged as powerful and elegant organocatalysts in a variety of newly developed and unprecedented enantioselective transformations due to their unique umpolung capacity. As a supplement to conventional enantioselective organocatalysis, NHC-induced non-asymmetric catalysis has gradually attracted much interest in recent years. Herein, this review aims to reveal the recent developments in NHC-promoted non-asymmetric umpolung transformations resulting in the expeditious construction of versatile achiral natural heterocycles, carbocycles and acylated products.

N-Arylation of Tertiary Amines under Mild Conditions

A transition-metal-free procedure for the N-arylation of tertiary amines to sp(3) quaternary ammonium salts is described. The presented conditions allow for the isolation of trialkylaryl, dialkyldiaryl, and novel triarylalkyl ammonium salts, including N-chiral quaternary ammonium salts. The reaction works at room temperature, open to air with electron-rich or -poor benzyne precursors and different tertiary amines, allowing the synthesis of a broad range of N-aryl ammonium salts that have applications in a variety of fields.

Transition metal-free N-arylation of secondary amides through iodonium salts as aryne precursors

A transition metal-free approach for N-arylation of secondary amides was developed via diaryliodonium salts as aryne precursors.