A Domino Approach to Dibenzopentafulvalenes by Quadruple Carbopalladation

Origin of Ligand Effects on Stereoinversion in Pd-Catalyzed Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Olefins

The mechanism and origin of ligand effects on stereoinversion of Pd-catalyzed synthesis of tetrasubstituted olefins were investigated using DFT calculations and the approach of energy decomposition analysis (EDA). The results reveal that the stereoselectivity-determining steps are different when employing different phosphine ligands. This is mainly due to the steric properties of ligands. With the bulkier Xantphos ligand, the syn/anti-to-Pd 1,2-migrations determine the stereoselectivity. While using the less hindered P(o-tol)₃ ligand, the 1,3-migration is the stereoselectivity-determining step. The EDA results demonstrate that Pauli repulsion and polarization are the dominant factors for controlling the stereochemistry in 1,2- and 1,3-migrations, respectively. The origins of differences of Pauli repulsion and polarization between the two stereoselective transition states are further identified.

Palladium-Catalyzed anti-Carbosilylation of Alkynes to Access Isoquinolinone-Containing Exocyclic Vinylsilanes

A Pd-catalyzed trans-selective carbosilylation reaction of alkynes has been developed. The trans-vinylpalladium species, generated through intramolecular syn-carbopalladation of alkynes and subsequent cis-trans isomerization, were captured by hexamethyldisilane to form multisubstituted vinylsilanes. This reaction provides a useful strategy for the stereoselective synthesis of isoquinolinone-containing exocyclic tetrasubstituted vinylsilanes.

Gold-Catalyzed Annulation of 1,8-Dialkynylnaphthalenes: Synthesis and Photoelectric Properties of Indenophenalene-Based Derivatives

A simple gold-catalyzed annulation of 1,8-dialkynylnaphthalenes utilizing a cationic gold catalyst was developed. Such a peri-position of two alkynyl substituents has not been studied in gold catalysis before. Dependent on the substrate, the reactions either follow a mechanism involving vinyl cation intermediates or involve a dual gold catalysis mechanism which in an initial 6-endo-dig-cyclization generates gold(I) vinylidene intermediates that are able to insert into C-H bonds. Indenophenalene derivatives were obtained in moderate to high yields. In addition, the bidirectional gold-catalyzed annulation of tetraynes provided even larger conjugated π-systems. The optoelectronic properties of the products were also investigated.

From 1,2-difunctionalisation to cyanide-transfer cascades - Pd-catalysed cyanosulfenylation of internal (oligo)alkynes

Internal alkynes substituted by aliphatic or aromatic moieties or by heteroatoms were converted into sulphur-substituted acrylonitrile derivatives. Key is the use of Pd catalysis, which allows the addition of aromatic and aliphatic thiocyanates in an intra- and intermolecular manner. Substrates with several alkyne units underwent further carbopalladation steps after the initial thiopalladation step, thus generating in a cascade-like fashion an oligoene unit with sulphur at one terminus and the cyano group at the other.

The intra- and intermolecular Pd-catalysed cyanosulfenylation of internal alkynes enables the formation of tetrasubstituted thioacrylonitriles and is extended to oligoyne systems leading to oligoenes and a cyanide transfer over four or six atoms.

Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized Dihydropyridines, Pyridines, and 2H-Pyrans: Heck Coupling of Monocyclopropanated Heterocycles

A palladium-catalyzed coupling between aryl halides and monocyclopropanated pyrroles or furans has been developed, leading to valuable six-membered N- and O-heterocycles. As the key step, a selective cleavage of the non-activated endocyclic C-C bond of the 2-heterobicyclo-[3.1.0]hexane framework is achieved. The developed method offers access to highly functionalized piperidines, pyridines, and pyrans that are challenging to access by traditional methods.

Intramolecular trans-Carbocarbonation of Internal Alkynes by a Cascade of Formal anti-Carbopalladation/Cyclopropanol Opening

An intramolecular cascade reaction consisting of a formal anti-carbopalladation terminated by the ring-opening of a cyclopropanol unit is presented. The products, which involve tetrasubstituted alkene units embedded in an oligocyclic ring system, are generated in moderate to excellent yield. The opening of the cyclopropanol unit leads to a keto group in the γ-position to the emerging double bond.

Intramolecular Pd-Catalyzed Formal anti-Carboalkoxylation of Alkynes: Access to Tetrasubstituted Enol Ethers

An intramolecular Pd-catalyzed formal anti-carboalkoxylation reaction is presented that provides access to tetrasubstituted enol ethers. The key to success is a cascade consisting of a formal anti-carbopalladation of a carbon-carbon triple bond followed by a nucleophilic attack of a hydroxy group at the emerging vinyl organopalladium species. The desired transformation proceeded smoothly with primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols, and even with phenols. Depending on the substitution pattern of the enol ethers, a further Tsuji-Trost-type step may occur resulting in oligocyclic ketals.

trans-Carbocarbonation of Internal Alkynes through a Formal anti-Carbopalladation/C-H Activation Cascade

An intramolecular Pd-catalyzed cascade reaction is presented that consists of a formal anti-carbopalladation of a C-C triple bond followed by C-H activation. As a result, oligocyclic ring systems with an embedded tetrasubstituted double bond are formed. The key to success in affording the trans geometry of the emerging double bond are alkyne units with residues that must not undergo β-hydride elimination (e.g., t-butyl or silyl groups). Silyl groups proved to be a perfect handle to further convert the tetrasubstituted alkenes. The evaluation of kinetic data with a deuterium-labeled compound and X-ray analyses of trapped intermediates provided additional insight into the catalytic cycle.

Palladium-Catalyzed 4-Fold Domino Reaction for the Synthesis of a Polymeric Double Switch

A palladium-catalyzed 4-fold domino reaction consisting of two carbopalladation reactions and two C-H activation reactions, followed by the introduction of an acrylate moiety, led to the tetra-substituted helical alkene A2, using the dialkyne A3 as a substrate. The alkene was copolymerized with butyl acrylate by using the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) to give the desired polymeric switch A1.

Expedient synthesis of 9,10-phenanthrenes via LiOPiv-promoted and palladium-catalysed aryne annulation by vinyl triflates

An expedient synthesis of 9,10-phenanthrenes via LiOPiv-promoted and palladium-catalysed aryne annulation by vinyl triflates.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Lysergol: A Formal anti-Carbopalladation/Heck Cascade as the Key Step

The enantioselective synthesis of (+)-lysergol was completed in 12 steps and an overall yield of 13% starting from a known literature precursor. The key step relies on a domino reaction containing a formal anti-carbopalladation, which is terminated by a β-silyl-directed Heck reaction. During this transformation, the two six-membered rings of the ergot scaffold are formed in a completely stereospecific manner.

Regioselective access of alkylidendibenzo[c,f]oxocine framework via cyclocarbopalladation/cross-coupling cascade reactions and reductive Heck strategy

Palladium-catalyzed dual strategies of cascade cyclocarbopalladation/cross-coupling of alkynes and a reductive Heck reaction have been developed to construct dibenzo[c,f]oxocine frameworks with tri- and tetra-substituted exo-cyclic alkenes with high stereo- and regio-control.

Carbopalladation Cascades Using Carbon-Carbon Triple Bonds: Recent Advances to Access Complex Scaffolds

Alkynes are one of the most versatile functional groups as synthetic handles. They allow for a direct access to partially or fully substituted alkenes through difunctionalization reactions. A prominently utilized transformation for these sequences is the carbopalladation of alkynes, which can be followed by various termination steps such as aromatizations, dearomatizations, cross-coupling reactions, or pericyclic processes, amongst others. This Minireview provides an overview of the recent literature published in the field of carbopalladation chemistry, both with a focus on methodology as well as its application in the syntheses of complex molecular scaffolds, natural products, and functional molecules.

Palladium(0)-Catalyzed Intermolecular Carbocyclization of (1,n)-Diynes and Bromophenols: An Efficient Route to Tricyclic Scaffolds

A novel palladium(0)-catalyzed dearomative cyclization reaction of bromophenols with (1,n)-diynes has been developed for building two new types of tricyclic architectures containing a quaternary carbon center. This method employs inexpensive bromophenols, and easily accessible tethered diynes. It exhibits a broad substrate scope and tolerates various functional groups. Preliminary results with commercially available chiral ligands indicate that enantioselective variants are feasible for both cyclization processes.

Total Synthesis of (+)-Rubriflordilactone A

Two enantioselective total syntheses of the nortriterpenoid natural product rubriflordilactone A are described, which use palladium- or cobalt-catalyzed cyclizations to form the CDE rings, and converge on a late-stage synthetic intermediate. These key processes are set up through the convergent coupling of a common diyne component with appropriate AB-ring aldehydes, a strategy that sets the stage for the synthetic exploration of other members of this family of natural products.

Formal anti-carbopalladation reactions of non-activated alkynes: requirements, mechanistic insights, and applications

Formal anti-carbopalladation reactions of CC triple bonds are uncommon, but highly useful transformations. Alkynes can be designed to give anti-carbopalladation products. Prerequisite is the exclusion of other reaction pathways to provoke the cis-trans isomerization of the syn-carbopalladation intermediate. Detailed mechanistic studies of this crucial step by experimental and computational means were performed. Application of an intramolecular version for the synthesis of oligocyclic compounds and substituted dibenzofurans is also described.