Palladium-catalyzed imidoylative cyclization of α-isocyanoacetamides: efficient access to C2-diversified oxazoles

Zn(OTf)2-Promoted Isocyanide-Based Three-Component Reaction: Direct Access to 2-Oxazolines and β-Amino Amides

An efficient one-pot reaction of propargylamides, isocyanides, and water catalyzed by zinc was developed for the rapid construction of 2-oxazolines with a wide functional group tolerance. The methylene-3-oxazoline was proven to play a vitally important role to start the tandem cascade transformation through unfunctionalized alkynes with sequential nucleophilic addition approaches of isocyanide and water. Notably, with a slight alteration of the reaction temperature and the addition of one molecule of water, various β-amino amide derivatives were synthesized in good to excellent yields.

Advances in palladium-catalysed imidoylative cyclization of functionalized isocyanides for the construction of N-heterocycles

Palladium-catalysed isocyanide insertion reactions have witnessed great progress in recent years. In particular, imidoylative cyclization of functionalized isocyanides was successfully developed by taking advantage of the adjustable substituents on the isocyano group, opening a new avenue to access a variety of nitrogen-containing heterocycles. In this review article, we summarize the advances of functionalized isocyanide insertion reactions and highlight the breakthroughs of enantioselective palladium catalysed imidoylation reactions by using this strategy. Additionally, copper-catalysed cyclization reactions of functionalized isocyanides are briefly discussed.

Recent Advances in Palladium-Catalyzed Isocyanide Insertions

Isocyanides have long been known as versatile chemical reagents in organic synthesis. Their ambivalent nature also allows them to function as a CO-substitute in palladium-catalyzed cross couplings. Over the past decades, isocyanides have emerged as practical and versatile C1 building blocks, whose inherent N-substitution allows for the rapid incorporation of nitrogeneous fragments in a wide variety of products. Recent developments in palladium catalyzed isocyanide insertion reactions have significantly expanded the scope and applicability of these imidoylative cross-couplings. This review highlights the advances made in this field over the past eight years.

Palladium-catalysed dearomative aryl/cycloimidoylation of indoles

The first example of a dearomative palladium-catalysed isocyanide insertion reaction has been developed using functionalized isocyanides as the reaction partner of N-(2-bromobenzoyl)indoles. The imidoyl-palladium intermediate generated by tandem indole double bond/isocyanide insertion reactions could be trapped by intramolecular functional groups such as the C(sp2)-H bond and alkenes, affording diversified indoline derivatives bearing C3 imine-containing heterocycles. The dearomative aryl/cycloimidoylation of indoles proceeded smoothly in good to excellent yields with a wide functional group tolerance.

Rhodium-catalyzed homodimerization–cyclization reaction of two vinyl isocyanides: a general route to 2-(isoquinolin-1-yl)oxazoles

A novel rhodium-catalyzed homodimerization–cyclization reaction of two vinyl isocyanides has been developed for the synthesis of 2-(isoquinolin-1-yl)oxazoles by formation of three new bonds and two rings in a single step.

Thio radical-induced denitrogenative annulation of 1-azido-2-isocyanoarenes to construct 2-thiolated benzimidazoles

A method for the synthesis of 2-thiolated benzimidazoles is described starting from thiols and 1-azido-2-isocyanoarenes. The isocyano group works as an acceptor of various thio radicals, followed by denitrogenative annulation of the resulting imidoyl radical intermediates to the azido group, with nitrogen loss as the only process involving high bond-forming efficiency. The one-pot method for the synthesis of these products with high functional group tolerance in the benzimidazole-based ring is not available in previous literature.

Cascade double isocyanide insertion and C-N coupling of 2-iodo-2'-isocyano-1,1'-biphenyls

A palladium-catalyzed double isocyanide insertion using 2-iodo-2'-isocyano-1,1'-biphenyls followed by copper-catalyzed intramolecular C-N coupling, delivering a unique heterocyclic structure containing both phenanthridine and carbazole scaffolds, has been developed. In this cascade process, four chemical bonds, including two C-C, one C-O, and one C-N bonds are formed consecutively without isolating an intermediate. The strategy of using a functionalized isocyanide in double insertion provides a quick approach for constructing heterocyclic systems with high bond-forming efficiency.

Access to 1-amino-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines via palladium-catalyzed C–H bond aminoimidoylation reaction from functionalized isocyanides

Efficient and practice access to 1-amino-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines, through palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C–H bond aminoimidoylation of α-benzyl-α-isocyanoacetates, has been developed.

Regiospecific synthesis of polysubstituted furans with mono- to tricarboxylates from various sulfonium acylmethylides and acetylenic esters

Polysubstituted furans with mono- to tricarboxylates were prepared in moderate to good yields from various dimethylsulfonium acylmethylides and acetylenic esters.

A formal (5+1) annulation reaction from heterodimerization of two different isocyanides: stereoselective synthesis of 2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-2-one

A novel (5+1) annulation reaction of functionalized 2-isocyanophenyloxyacrylate and aromatic, aliphatic isocyanides has been disclosed. This strategy allows for a quick access to many 2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-2-one derivatives.

Cascade cyclization and acyl migration of propargylic esters with isocyanides: rapid access to substituted furans

A novel rearrangement of ester-activated propargylic acetate with isocyanide has been disclosed. This protocol enables a quick synthesis of polysubstituted furan derivatives.

Ytterbium and silver co-catalyzed synthesis of pyrrole-fused bicyclic skeletons from enynones and isocyanides

A cascade reaction of isocyanide and enynone using Yb/Ag cooperative catalysis provided a quick access to structurally complex pyrrole-fused heterocycles.

α-Oxo-Ketenimines from Isocyanides and α-Haloketones: Synthesis and Divergent Reactivity

The palladium-catalyzed reaction of α-haloketones with isocyanides afforded α-oxo-ketenimines through β-hydride elimination of the β-oxo-imidoyl palladium intermediates. Reaction of these relatively stable α-oxo-ketenimines with nucleophiles such as hydrazines, hydrazoic acid, amines, and Grignard reagent afforded pyrazoles, tetrazole, β-keto amidines, and enaminone, respectively, with high chemoselectivity. Whereas amines attack exclusively on the ketenimine functions, the formal [3+2] cycloaddition between N-monosubstituted hydrazines and α-oxo-ketenimines was initiated by nucleophilic addition to the carbonyl group.

Palladium-Catalyzed Incorporation of Two C1 Building Blocks: The Reaction of Atmospheric CO2 and Isocyanides with 2-Iodoanilines Leading to the Synthesis of Quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones

A Pd-catalyzed insertion and cycloaddition of CO₂ and isocyanide into 2-iodoanilines under atmospheric pressure has been developed and affords quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones through the formation of new C-C, C-O, and C-N bonds under mild conditions. This reaction provides a new and practical method not only for the construction of quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones but also for the efficient utilization of carbon dioxide.

Palladium-catalyzed β-selective C(sp2)–H carboxamidation of enamides by isocyanide insertion: synthesis of N-acyl enamine amides

An efficient synthesis of N-acyl enamine amides via palladium-catalyzed alkene C–H activation and isocyanide insertion has been developed.

I2/CHP mediated [1 + 1 + 1 + 1] cyclization of aromatic isocyanides with amines to construct 1,3-diazetidine-2,4-diimine derivatives

An I₂/CHP (cumene hydroperoxide) mediated [1 + 1 + 1 + 1] cyclization of aromatic isocyanides with readily accessible amines via the formation of 4 new C–N bonds has been developed to construct unsymmetric 1,3-diazetidine-2,4-diimine derivatives under mild conditions.

Palladium-catalyzed C(sp2)–H aminoimidoylation of isocyano-containing arenes: synthesis of amino substituted N-heterocycles

An efficient access to amino substituted phenanthridine and isoquinoline derivatives, through palladium-catalyzed C(sp²)–H aminoimidoylation, has been developed.

A one-pot synthesis of [1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]quinoxalines from 1-azido-2-isocyanoarenes with high bond-forming efficiency

An efficient approach to prepare 1,2,3-triazolo[1,5-a]quinoxaline scaffolds, starting from 1-azido-2-isocyanoarenes and terminal acetylenes or substituted acetaldehydes, has been developed.

Palladium-catalyzed domino Heck/intermolecular cross-coupling: efficient synthesis of 4-alkylated isoquinoline derivatives

The first example of a σ-alkylpalladium(ii) intermediate promoting cyclization of alkynes containing a proximate nucleophilic center is presented.

Ketenimines from Isocyanides and Allyl Carbonates: Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of β,γ-Unsaturated Amides and Tetrazoles

The reaction of allyl ethyl carbonates with isocyanides in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)₂ provided ketenimines through β-hydride elimination of the allyl imidoylpalladium intermediates. The insertion of the isocyanide into the π-allyl Pd complex proceeded via an unusual η¹ -allyl Pd species. The resulting ketenimines were hydrolyzed to β,γ-unsaturated carboxamides during purification by flash column chromatography on silica gel or converted in situ into 1,5-disubstituted tetrazoles by [3+2] cycloaddition with hydrazoic acid or trimethylsilyl azide.