Alcohols as Substrates in Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Arylation, Alkylation, and Related Reactions

Alcohols are abundant and attractive feedstock molecules for organic synthesis. Many methods for their functionalization require them to first be converted into a more activated derivative, while recent years have seen a vast increase in the number of complexity-building transformations that directly harness unprotected alcohols. This Review discusses how transition metal catalysis can be used toward this goal. These transformations are broadly classified into three categories. Deoxygenative functionalizations, representing derivatization of the C-O bond, enable the alcohol to act as a leaving group toward the formation of new C-C bonds. Etherifications, characterized by derivatization of the O-H bond, represent classical reactivity that has been modernized to include mild reaction conditions, diverse reaction partners, and high selectivities. Lastly, chain functionalization reactions are described, wherein the alcohol group acts as a mediator in formal C-H functionalization reactions of the alkyl backbone. Each of these three classes of transformation will be discussed in context of intermolecular arylation, alkylation, and related reactions, illustrating how catalysis can enable alcohols to be directly harnessed for organic synthesis.

Electrochemical Rearrangement of 3-Hydroxyoxindoles into Benzoxazinones

We report an unexpected rearrangement of 3-hydroxyoxindoles into benzoxazinones using electrochemistry. Our reaction employs mild and environmentally friendly conditions, and the benzoxazinone products are obtained in moderate to excellent yields. Mechanistic experiments suggest that a peroxide intermediate is likely involved.

Direct Csp3-H methylenation of 2-arylacetamides using DMF/Me2NH-BH3 as the methylene source

A direct Csp3-H methylenation of 2-arylacetamides using DMF/Me2NH-BH3 as the methylene source was developed. The formyl group of DMF delivered the carbon and one hydrogen atoms, and the Me2NH-BH3 donated the remaining one hydrogen atom. This protocol offers a new alternative to make useful 2-arylacrylamides from simple starting materials.

A highly efficient Hg(OTf)2-mediated Sakurai–Hosomi allylation of N-tert-butyloxycarbonylamino sulfones, aldehydes, fluoroalkyl ketones and α,β-unsaturated enones using allyltrimethylsilane

The cheap and easily available Hg(OTf)₂ can efficiently mediate the Sakurai–Hosomi reaction of N-Boc amino sulfones, aldehydes, α-fluoroalkyl ketones and α,β-unsaturated enones using allyltrimethylsilane with the catalyst loading down to 0.5–5.0 mol%.

Brønsted Acid-Promoted Friedel-Crafts Alkylation/Cyclization of (7-Hydroxynaphthalenyl)pyrrole or (2-Hydroxyphenyl)pyrroles with Isatins for the Construction of Pyrrolospirooxindole Derivatives

An efficient trifluoroacetic acid-catalyzed cascade Friedel-Crafts alkylation/cyclization of 1-(7-hydroxynaphthalenyl)pyrrole or 1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyrroles with isatins has been developed, providing practical access to a variety of biologically important pyrrole-containing spirooxindoles.

Synthesis of α-functionalized α-indol-3-yl carbonyls through direct SN reactions of indol-3-yl α-acyloins

A new and efficient synthesis of α-functionalized α-indol-3-yl ketones from easily available indolyl α-acyloins is reported. This process, catalyzed by Brønsted or Lewis acids, involves an uncommon direct nucleophilic substitution reaction of a secondary α-carbonyl-substituted hydroxyl group. The described methodology allows the introduction of a variety of nucleophiles such as (hetero)arenes, thiophenols, nitroanilines and 1,3-dicarbonyl derivatives. The synthesized α-indol-3-yl carbonyl compounds are important synthetic targets also useful for accessing functionalized tryptophols and furan-3-yl indoles.

Brønsted acid catalysed eco friendly synthesis of quaternary centred C-3 functionalized oxindole derivatives

A facile atom economic and eco friendly protocol for the synthesis of biologically important quaternary centered C-3 functionalized oxindole derivatives, with a novel nucleus, in high yields has been demonstrated.

α-Carbonyl Cations in Sulfoxide-Driven Oxidative Cyclizations

The selective, metal-free generation of α-carbonyl cations from simple internal alkynes was accomplished by the addition of a sulfoxide to a densely substituted vinyl cation. The high reactivity of the α-carbonyl cations was found to efficiently induce hydrogen and even carbon shift reactions with unusual selecivities. Complex compounds with highly congested tertiary and all-carbon-substituted quartenary carbon centers can thus be accessed in a single step from simple precursors. Mechanistic analysis strongly supports the intermediacy of the title compounds and provides a simple predictive scheme for the migratory aptitude of different substituents.

Transition-metal-free Chemoselective Oxidative C-C Coupling of the sp3 C-H Bond of Oxindoles with Arenes and Addition to Alkene: Synthesis of 3-Aryl Oxindoles, and Benzofuro- and Indoloindoles

A transition-metal (TM)-free and halogen-free NaOtBu-mediated oxidative cross-coupling between the sp³ C-H bond of oxindoles and sp² C-H bond of nitroarenes has been developed to access 3-aryl substituted and 3,3-aryldisubstituted oxindoles in DMSO at room temperature in a short time. Interestingly, the sp³ C-H bond of oxindoles could also react with styrene under TM-free conditions for the practical synthesis of quaternary 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles. The synthesized 3-oxindoles have also been further transformed into advanced heterocycles, that is, benzofuroindoles, indoloindoles, and substituted indoles. Mechanistic experiments of the reaction suggests the formation of an anion intermediate from the sp³ C-H bond of oxindole by tert-butoxide base in DMSO. The addition of nitrobenzene to the in-situ generated carbanion leads to the 3-(nitrophenyl)oxindolyl carbanion in DMSO which is subsequently oxidized to 3-(nitro-aryl) oxindole by DMSO.

Br2- or HBr-catalyzed synthesis of asymmetric 3,3-di(indolyl)indolin-2-ones

Under the catalysis of 1 mol% of Br

A highly enantioselective Hg(ii)-catalyzed Sakurai–Hosomi reaction of isatins with allyltrimethylsilanes

A chiral complex derived from (S)-difluorophos and Hg(OTf)₂ is identified as a powerful catalyst for the Sakurai–Hosomi reaction of isatins with allyltrimethylsilane, allowing the facile synthesis of valuable building blocks 3-allyl-3-hydroxyoxindoles in up to 97% ee, with only 0.5–1.0 mol% of catalyst loading.

Highly chemoselective synthesis of dimeric 2-oxindoles with a C-3/C-5′ linkage via Friedel–Crafts alkylations of 2-oxindoles with 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles

An expeditious approach to a variety of dimeric 2-oxindoles with a C-3/C-5′ linkage sharing an all-carbon quaternary center at the pseudobenzylic position has been developed via Lewis acid-catalyzed F–C alkylations.

Preparation of Aryl-Susbstituted 2-Oxyindoles by Superelectrophilic Chemistry

A series of pyridyl-substituted 3-hydroxy-2-oxyindoles have been prepared and reacted with arenes in superacid promoted Friedel-Crafts reactions. The product aryl-substituted 2-oxyindoles are formed in generally good yields. With substituted arenes such as toluene, bromobenzene, or ethyl salicylate, the Friedel-Crafts reactions occur with excellent regioselectivity. A mechanism is proposed involving dicationic, superelectrophilic species leading to the electrophilic aromatic substitution chemistry.

Organocatalytic asymmetric Michael addition of unprotected 3-substituted oxindoles to 1,4-naphthoquinone

We reported the first example of organocatalytic Michael addition of unprotected 3-prochiral oxindoles 1 to 1,4-naphthoquinone. Quinidine derivative (DHQD)₂PYR was found to be able to catalyze this reaction in up to 83% ee, with moderate to excellent yields. This method could be used for the synthesis of enantioenriched 3,3-diaryloxindoles, and the catalytic synthesis of which was unprecedented.