Mechanism of a cobalt-catalyzed hydroarylation reaction and origin of stereoselectivity

In the present study, the mechanism of a cobalt-catalyzed hydroarylation reaction between N-pyridylindole and 1,6-enynes and the origin of its stereoselectivity have been systematically investigated using the DFT calculation method.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Asymmetric C-O Bond Construction Between Benzoic Acid and o-Phthalaldehyde: Mechanism and Origin of Stereoselectivity

A computational study was contributed to explore the origin of stereoselectivity of NHC-mediated cyclization reaction between benzoic acid and o-phthalaldehyde for asymmetric construction of phthalidyl ester. The most energetically favorable pathway mainly includes the following steps: (1) nucleophilic attack on carbonyl carbon of o-phthalaldehyde by catalyst NHC, (2) formation of Breslow intermediate, (3) oxidation by DQ, (4) asymmetric formation of dual C-O bonds, and (5) dissociation of catalyst with the product. The C-O bond formation was testified as the stereoselectivity-determining step, the R-configurational pathway is more energetically favorable than the S-configurational one. The non-covalent interaction (NCI) and atom-in-molecule (AIM) analyses were performed to reveal that the O-H ⋅⋅⋅ O and C-H ⋅⋅⋅ O hydrogen-bond interactions are the key factors for controlling the stereoselectivity. The detailed mechanism and origin of stereoselectivity give useful insights for understanding organocatalytic reactions for asymmetric construction of C-O bond.

New Bidentate N-Sulfonyl-Substituted Aromatic Amines as Chelate Ligand Backbones: Pd Catalyst Generation in C–C Coupling via In Situ and Precatalyst Modes

A series of six new, bidentate ligands based on N-(2-(R-sulfonamido)benzyl)R-sulfonamide have been isolated as dianionic or monoanionic chelators via condensation of 2-(aminomethyl)aniline with sulfonyl chloride reagents; R=methyl (1 and 1′), tolyl (2 and 2′), 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl (3), or 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl (4). Complexes of ligands 2–4 reacted at room temperature with palladium(ii) acetate in the presence of various monodentate N-donor co-ligands to form complexes Pd2(2dmap), Pd2′(OAc.py), Pd3(2acn), Pd3(2py), Pd4(2acn), and Pd4(2py), which were structurally confirmed by three X-ray crystal analyses. Results of catalysis studies in water showed high turnover frequencies and yields of up to 98% within 10min and at 0.2 mol-% palladium catalyst loading. Relative to ligand-free catalysis in the presence of only Pd(OAc)2, the ligand-supported palladium species clearly possess positive catalytic advantage. Furthermore, Suzuki coupling efficiencies by 1:1 ‘Pd(OAc)2+ligand’ yielded notably better outcomes than for the 1:2 ‘Pd(OAc)2+ligand’ insitu catalyst generation, which reveals that coordinative saturation is undesirable. The size of the complementing monodentate co-ligand was observed to influence the catalytic efficiency such that bulkier co-ligands consistently yielded improved turnover frequency values, which leads to the conclusion that steric repulsion between the synthesised ligands and the bulkier co-ligands aided the generation of vacant coordination sites for the more active complexes. Moderate Heck coupling activity was recorded for the complexes and better activities appear to correlate with moderate bulkiness of ligand 3.

Metal-free and regiospecific synthesis of 3-arylindoles

A convenient, metal-free, and organic acid-base promoted synthetic method to prepare 3-arylindoles from 3-aryloxirane-2-carbonitriles and arylhydrazine hydrochlorides has been developed. In the reaction, the organic acid catalyzes a tandem nucleophilic ring-opening reaction of aryloxiranecarbonitriles and arylhydrazine hydrochlorides and Fischer indolization. The organic base triethylamine plays a crucial role in the final elimination step in the Fischer indole synthesis, affording 3-arylindoles regiospecifically. The reaction features advantages of microwave acceleration, non-metal participation, short reaction time, organic acid-base co-catalysis, and broad substrate scope.

Insights into Lewis base-catalyzed chemoselective [3 + 2] and [3 + 4] annulation reactions of MBH carbonates

The chemoselectivity of Lewis base-catalyzed [3 + 2] and [3 + 4] annulation reactions of MBH carbonates can be predicted using FMO overlap analysis.

Origin and stabilization of axial chirality in the construction of naphthyl-C2-indoles: a DFT study

A novel method for predicting the stabilization of axial chirality in the construction of naphthyl-C2-indoles has been suggested for the first time.

Relative Strength of Common Directing Groups in Palladium-Catalyzed Aromatic C-H Activation

Efficient functionalization of C-H bonds can be achieved using transition metal catalysts, such as Pd(OAc)2. To better control the regioselectivity in these reactions, some functional groups on the substrate may be used as directing groups, guiding the reactivity to an ortho position. Herein, we describe a methodology to score the relative strength of such directing groups in palladium-catalyzed aromatic C-H activation. The results have been collected into a scale that serves to predict the regioselectivity on molecules with multiple competing directing groups. We demonstrate that this scale yields accurate predictions on over a hundred examples, taken from the literature. In addition to the regioselectivity prediction on complex molecules, the knowledge of the relative strengths of directing groups can also be used to work with new combinations of functionalities, exploring uncharted chemical space.

Mechanistic insights of Cu(ii)-mediated ortho-C-H amination of arenes by capturing fleeting intermediates and theoretical calculations

The capture of reactive intermediates empowers chemists to conjecture the detail of a chemical transformation. Here we explore the mechanism of a C-H amination by intercepting short-lived intermediates in real time using online mass spectrometry. Computational study unravels the favorable pathway of the proposed dual mechanism of the reaction.

Insights into highly selective ring expansion of oxaziridines under Lewis base catalysis: a DFT study

The possible mechanism and stereoselectivity of the NHC-catalyzed ring expansion reaction of oxaziridines have been theoretically studied for the first time.

Mechanistic studies on the N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed reaction of isatin-derived enals with hydrazones

The detailed mechanism and origin of stereoselectivity of the NHC-catalyzed annulation reaction were investigated.

Mechanistic insights and origin of chemoselectivity for S–O bond cleavage in dinitrobenzenesulfonic carbamates

A computational study on the NHC-catalyzed chemoselective S–O bond cleavage in dinitrobenzenesulfonic carbamates.

Prediction on the origin of chemoselectivity in Lewis base-mediated competition cyclizations between allenoates and chalcones: a computational study

The HOMO_TSs and p-orbital contributions of the center atoms were used to predict the origin of chemoselectivity in this work.

Insights into NHC-catalyzed oxidative α-C(sp3)–H activation of aliphatic aldehydes and cascade [2 + 3] cycloaddition with azomethine imines

The NHC catalyst is identified to promote [2 + 3] cycloaddition by avoiding the poor FMO overlap mode in theory.