Free Amine-Directed Redox Neutral Ruthenium(II) Catalysis toward Regioselective Synthesis of Heterobiaryls

A regioselective coupling of ortho-heteroaryl anilines and 7-oxabenzonorbornadienes has been developed by leveraging free amine-directed redox-neutral Ru(II) catalysis. This protocol facilitates formal C-2 arylation of the indole moiety under mild conditions to offer valuable heterobiaryls in high yields. The reaction displays a broad substrate generality and scalability and retains efficacy in the presence of diverse pharmacophore scaffolds. Moreover, products bearing a free amine group were successfully employed in Mg(NTf2)2-catalyzed double Michael addition cascade, which led to the synthesis of intricate indole- and pyrrole-fused azaheterocycles.

Controllable skeletal reorganizations in natural product synthesis

Covering: 2016 to 2023The synthetic chemistry community is always in pursuit of efficient routes to natural products. Among the many available general strategies, skeletal reorganization, which involves the formation, cleavage, and migration of C-C and C-heteroatom bonds, stands out as a particularly useful approach for the efficient assembly of molecular skeletons. In addition, it allows for late-stage modification of natural products for quick access to other family members or unnatural derivatives. This review summarizes efficient syntheses of steroid, terpenoid, and alkaloid natural products that have been achieved by means of this strategy in the past eight years. Our goal is to illustrate the strategy's potency and reveal the spectacular human ingenuity demonstrated in its use and development.

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.

Computational Mechanism Investigation of C=C Bond Hydrogenation Catalyzed by Rhodium Hydride

The hydrogenation of unsaturated carbons is a commonly used synthetic tool in pharmaceutical and industrial production. Recently, the Norton group realized highly selective hydrogenation of C=C bonds catalyzed by a rhodium hydride. Despite the great efforts made by experimentalists, details regarding the mechanism remained unclear. In this work, detailed DFT calculations were carried out to elucidate the principal features of this transformation. For enones we find that two possible competing mechanisms proposed by the experimental groups are computationally excluded, our proposed alternative mechanism with a total barrier of 20.0 kcal mol^-1 is theoretically feasible, solvent methanol to also plays a crucial role in assisting β-hydrogenation in addition to being the hydrogen source for α-hydrogenation, and the cross-polarization of the substrate enone-conjugated system to result in an enhanced charge density of the α-carbon, which favors being hydrogenated first. For isolated alkenes, neither of the two possible competing mechanisms can be excluded computationally and which carbon atom is first hydrogenated depends on the electronic properties of the substrate itself. The combination of rhodium and C=C bonds changes the electronic properties of H on the rhodium hydride and enhances its hydrogenation activity.

A Ruthenium-Catalyzed Cyclization to Dihydrobenzo[c]phenanthridinone from 7-Azabenzonorbornadienes with Aryl Amides

An efficient ruthenium(II)-catalyzed tandem C-C/C-N bond formation with aryl amides and 7-azabenzonorbornadienes has been developed to synthesize cis-fused dihydrobenzo[c]phenanthridinones. The amide group functions as a directing group as well as a leaving group and provides an easy access to the pharmaceutically useful benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids such as nitidine and fagaronine analogues. The present methodology is compatible with various functional groups with respect to azabicyclic alkenes and aromatic amides. The reaction mechanism involving directing-group-assisted C-H activation was proposed and supported by the deuterium labeling studies.

A Short Total Synthesis of Benzophenanthridine Alkaloids via a Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed C-H Ring-Opening Reaction

The biologically important naturally available benzophenanthridines were prepared efficiently in three steps with overall good yields. A new synthetic methodology involving a rhodium(III) catalyzed redox-neutral ring-opening of 7-azabenzonorbornadienes with aromatic aldoximes is developed to synthesize the target molecules. The developed C-H ring-opening reaction is highly diastereoselective and compatible with various sensitive functional group substituted aromatic aldoximes as well as substituted 7-azabenzonorbornadienes. The ring-opening products were transformed into highly sensitive 13,14-dehydrobenzo phenanthridine derivatives by HCl hydrolysis. Subsequently, 13,14-dehydrobenzophenanthridines were converted into biologically important benzophenanthridine alkaloids in the presence of DDQ. A possible reaction mechanism was proposed for the C-H ring-opening reaction and supported by the deuterium labeling studies.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed and synergistic dual directing group-enabled redox-neutral [3+3] annulation of N-phenoxyacetamides with α-allenols

By virtue of α-allenols as innovative three-carbon annulation components, the Rh(III)-catalyzed redox-neutral C-H coupling of N-phenoxyacetamides with α-allenols has been realized for the assembly of 4-alkylidene chroman-2-ol frameworks via an unusual [3+3] annulation. This transformation features good functional group tolerance, specific regio-/chemoselectivity and potential synthetic utility. Mechanistic studies reveal that synergistic coordination modes between the dual directing groups (-ONHAc and -OH) and the rhodium metal center account for the observed exclusive selectivity.

Multiple Reaction Pathways of Eight-Membered Rhodacycles in Rh-Catalyzed Annulations of 2-Alkenyl Phenols/Anilides with Alkynes

Density functional theory calculations were performed to study the competing pathways of rhodacycle intermediates generated in Rh(III)-catalyzed annulations of 2-alkenyl phenols and 2-alkenyl anilides with alkynes. The results show that the multiple pathways of eight-membered rhodacycles can be subtly tuned to give specific cyclic products. The seven-membered oxacyclic and spirocyclic products from 2-alkenyl phenols are formed by favoring the pathway of dissociating the Rh-O bond of O-contained rhodacycles, which are followed by antarafacial nucleophilic attack. The indoline product from 2-alkenyl anilides is generated through the pathway of intramolecular olefin migratory insertion of the N-contained rhodacycle.

Cu-Catalyzed [1,3]-Alkoxy Rearrangement/Diels-Alder Cascade Reactions via in Situ Generation of Functionalized ortho-Quinol Imines

A Cu-catalyzed cascade reaction between N-alkoxyanilines having an electron-donating functional group at the ortho position and dienophiles, such as N-methylmaleimide, styrene, and indene, proceeded via a dearomative [1,3]-alkoxy rearrangement followed by the Diels-Alder reaction, affording the corresponding ketimines with highly functionalized bicyclic skeletons in an efficient and stereoselective manner. Our mechanistic investigations indicated that the [1,3]-rearrangement is the rate-determining process, efficiently suppressing unfavorable side reactions.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed C-H Activation/[3 + 2] Annulation of N-Phenoxyacetamides via Carbooxygenation of 1,3-Dienes

A unique Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/[3 + 2] annulation of N-phenoxyacetamides has been developed for the construction of dihydrobenzofurans via carbooxygenation of 1,3-dienes. This transformation features a redox-neutral process with specific chemoselectivity, good substrate/functional group compatibility, and profound synthetic potentials. A preliminary exploration to realize their asymmetric synthesis have been also successfully demonstrated, which further strengthens the practicality of this approach.

Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Alkenyl C-H Functionalization to Dienes and Allenes

An oxyacetamide-directed Rh(III)-catalyzed Z-type alkenyl C-H functionalization through a rare exo-rhodacyle intermediate is described, forming multisubstituted dienes and allenes. A variety of alkenes and propargylic carbonate coupling partners are suitable for this transformation with high regio- and stereoselectivity. The synthetic utility is demonstrated by the selective late-stage modification of the Z-type natural products as well as the synthesis of the unnatural β-amino acid.

Sustainable Option for Hydrogen Production: Mechanistic Study of the Interaction between Cobalt Pincer Complexes and Ammonia Borane

The mechanism of the solvolysis/hydrolysis of ammonia borane by iridium (Ir), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe) and ruthenium (Ru) complexes with various PNP ligands has been revisited using density functional theory (DFT). The approach of ammonia borane (NH3BH3) to the metal center has been tested on three different possible mechanisms, namely, the stepwise, concerted and proton transfer mechanism. It was found that the theoretical analyses correlate with the experimental results very well, with the activities of the iridium complexes with different PNP ligands following the order: (tBu)2P > (iPr)2P > (Ph)2P through the concerted mechanism. The reaction barriers of the rate-determining steps for the dehydrogenation of ammonia borane catalyzed by the active species [(tBu)2PNP-IrH] (Complex I-8), are found to be 19.3 kcal/mol (stepwise), 15.2 kcal/mol (concerted) and 26.8 kcal/mol (proton transfer), respectively. Thus, the concerted mechanism is the more kinetically favorable pathway. It is interesting to find that stable (tBu)2PNP Co-H2O and (tBu)2PNP Co-NH3 chelation products exist, which could stabilize the active I-8 species during the hydrolysis reaction cycle. The use of more sterically hindered and electron-donating PNP ligands such as (adamantyl)2P- provides similar activity as the t-butyl analogue. This research provides insights into the design of efficient cobalt catalysts instead of using precious and noble metal, which could benefit the development of a more sustainable hydrogen economy.

Transition metal-catalyzed coupling of heterocyclic alkenes via C–H functionalization: recent trends and applications

Heterocyclic alkenes and their derivatives are an important class of reactive feedstock and valuable synthons. This review highlights the transition-metal-catalyzed coupling of heterocyclic alkenes via a C–H functionalization strategy.

Rh(iii)-catalyzed, hydrazine-directed C–H functionalization with 1-alkynylcyclobutanols: a new strategy for 1H-indazoles

Rh(iii)-catalyzed coupling of phenylhydrazines with 1-alkynylcyclobutanols was realized through a hydrazine-directed C–H functionalization and [4+1] annulation pathway.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed C-H Activation/Cycloisomerization of N-Phenoxyacetamides with Enynones for One-Pot Assembly of Furylated 2-Alkenylphenols

An efficient and practical procedure for one-pot assembly of furylated 2-alkenylphenols has been achieved via the Cp*^CyRh-catalyzed regioselective redox-neutral C-H activation/5-exo-dig cyclization cascade using N-phenoxyacetamides and enynones as the viable substrates. The synthetic application of such a protocol has also been demonstrated to highlight the versatility of this transformation.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed C–H Bond Activation for the Construction of Heterocycles with sp3-Carbon Centers

Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H activation features mild reaction conditions, good functional group tolerance, high reaction efficiency, and regioselectivity. Recently, it has attracted tremendous attention and has been employed to synthesize various heterocycles, such as indoles, isoquinolines, isoquinolones, pyrroles, pyridines, and polyheterocycles, which are important privileged structures in biological molecules, natural products, and agrochemicals. In this short review, we attempt to present an overview of recent advances in Rh(III)-mediated C–H bond activation to generate diverse heterocyclic scaffolds with sp3 carbon centers.

Palladium-Catalyzed Intermolecular [4+1] Spiroannulation by C(sp3 )-H Activation and Naphthol Dearomatization

A novel palladium-catalyzed [4+1] spiroannulation was developed by using a C(sp³ )-H activation/naphthol dearomatization approach. This bimolecular domino reaction of two aryl halides was realized through a sequence of cyclometallation-facilitated C(sp³ )-H activation, biaryl cross-coupling, and naphthol dearomatization, thus rendering the rapid assembly of a new class of spirocyclic molecules in good yields with broad functional-group tolerance. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that C-H cleavage is likely involved in the rate-determining step, and a five-membered palladacycle was identified as the key intermediate for the intermolecular coupling.

One-step access to N-enoxyimides by gold-catalysed addition of N-hydroxyimides to terminal alkynes

A gold(i)trifluoroacetate complex promotes direct additions of N-hydroxyimides to a wide variety of terminal alkynes yielding synthetically valuable N-enoxyimides.

Mn(i)-Catalyzed nucleophilic addition/ring expansion via C–H activation and C–C cleavage

The Mn(i)-Catalyzed C–H alkenylation/carbonyl addition/retro-Aldol cascade was realized leading to the convenient synthesis of seven- or eight-membered carbocycles.

One-pot synthesis of benzo[b]fluorenones via a cobalt-catalyzed MHP-directed [3+2] annulation/ring-opening/dehydration sequence

A cobalt-catalyzed MHP-directed [3+2] annulation of benzoyl hydrazines with oxabicyclic alkenes followed by a ring-opening/dehydration sequence is developed for the one-pot synthesis of benzo[b]fluorenones.