Acid Chloride Synthesis by the Palladium-Catalyzed Chlorocarbonylation of Aryl Bromides

A metal-catalysed functional group metathesis approach to the carbon isotope labelling of carboxylic acids

The distribution, metabolism and ultimate fate of molecules within the body is central to the activity of pharmaceuticals. However, the introduction of radioisotopes into the metabolically stable carbon sites on drugs to probe these features typically requires toxic, radioactive gases such as [14C]CO and [14C]CO2. Here we describe an approach to directly carbon-label carboxylic-acid-containing pharmaceuticals via a metal-catalysed functional group exchange reaction, forming 14C-labelled carboxylic-acid-containing drugs without radioactive gases, in one pot, using an easily available and handled carboxylic acid 14C source. To enable this process, a functional group metathesis of carbon-carbon covalent bonds in acid chloride functionalities is developed, exploiting the ability of nickel catalysts to both reversibly activate carbon-chloride bonds and exchange functionalities between organic molecules. The drug development applicability is illustrated by the direct incorporation of the 14C label or 13C label into an array of complex aryl, alkyl, vinyl and heterocyclic carboxylic acid drugs or drug candidates without gases or a special apparatus, at ambient conditions and without loss of the radiolabel.

Palladium-catalyzed regiodivergent hydrochlorocarbonylation of alkenes for formation of acid chlorides

Novel strategy for acid chlorides formation that do not use carboxylic acids is particularly attractive in chemical synthesis but remains challenging. Herein, we reported the development of a highly effective Pd-catalyzed hydrochlorocarbonylation of alkenes with CO for the formation of alkyl acid chlorides. Chlorosilane and AcOH were found as a mild HCl source for the reaction. The reaction shows broad substrate scope and produces both branched and linear alkyl acid chlorides in good to high yields upon different ligands and solvents. Cooperating with follow-up acylation reactions, the Pd-catalyzed hydrochlorocarbonylation offers a complementary platform for the synthesis of diverse carbonyl compounds from alkenes. Mechanistic investigations suggested that the reaction proceeded though a palladium hydride pathway, and CO prompted reductive elimination of the acyl-Pd-Cl intermediate.

A Visible Light Driven Nickel Carbonylation Catalyst: The Synthesis of Acid Chlorides from Alkyl Halides

We describe here the development of a visible light driven nickel carbonylation catalyst. The combination of the large bite-angle Xantphos ligand with nickel(0) generates a catalyst capable of activating alkyl halides toward carbonylation at ambient temperature in the presence of blue light irradiation, and the reductive elimination of high energy acid chloride products. Unlike classical carbonylations, where the coordination of carbon monoxide inhibits the reactivity of earth abundant nickel catalysts, a CO-associated nickel is found to be the active catalyst in the reaction. Coupling the build-up of acid chlorides with nucleophile addition can be used to access various amides, esters and thioesters, including those of sterically encumbered substrates or with metal-reactive functionalities.

Catalytic Carbochlorocarbonylation of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons via C-COCl Bond Cleavage*

Here we report a palladium‐catalysed difunctionalisation of unsaturated C−C bonds with acid chlorides. Formally, the C−COCl bond of an acid chloride is cleaved and added, with complete atom economy, across either strained alkenes or a tethered alkyne to generate new acid chlorides. The transformation does not require exogenous carbon monoxide, operates under mild conditions, shows a good functional group tolerance, and gives the isolated products with excellent stereoselectivity. The intermolecular reaction tolerates both aryl‐ and alkenyl‐substituted acid chlorides and is successful when carboxylic acids are transformed to the acid chloride in situ. The reaction also shows an example of temperature‐dependent stereodivergence which, together with plausible mechanistic pathways, is investigated by DFT calculations. Moreover, we show that benzofurans can be formed in an intramolecular variant of the reaction. Finally, derivatisation of the products from the intermolecular reaction provides a highly stereoselective approach for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted cyclopentanes.

Palladium catalyzed synthesis of indolizines via the carbonylative coupling of bromopyridines, imines and alkynes

We report herein the development of a palladium-catalyzed, multicomponent synthesis of indolizines. The reaction proceeds via the carbonylative formation of a high energy, mesoionic pyridine-based 1,3-dipole, which can undergo spontaneous cycloaddition with alkynes. Overall, this provides a route to prepare indolizines in a modular fashion from combinations of commercially available or easily generated reagents: 2-bromopyridines, imines and alkynes.

Palladium catalyzed carbonylative generation of potent, pyridine-based acylating electrophiles for the functionalization of arenes to ketones

We describe here the design of a palladium catalyzed route to generate aryl ketones via the carbonylative coupling of (hetero)arenes and aryl- or vinyl-triflates. In this, the use of the large bite angle Xantphos ligand on palladium provides a unique avenue to balance the activation of the relatively strong C(sp²)–OTf bond with the ultimate elimination of a new class of potent Friedel–Crafts acylating agent: N-acyl pyridinium salts. The latter can be exploited to modulate reactivity and selectivity in carbonylative arene functionalization chemistry, and allow the efficient synthesis of ketones with a diverse array of (hetero)arenes.

A palladium catalyzed approach to the overall carbonylative functionalization of arenes to form ketones with aryl- and vinyl-triflates is described.

A palladium-catalyzed C-H functionalization route to ketones via the oxidative coupling of arenes with carbon monoxide

We describe the development of a new palladium-catalyzed method to generate ketones via the oxidative coupling of two arenes and CO. This transformation is catalyzed by simple palladium salts, and is postulated to proceed via the conversion of arenes into high energy aroyl triflate electrophiles. Exploiting the latter can also allow the synthesis of unsymmetrical ketones from two different arenes.

A palladium catalyzed route to prepare aryl ketones from their two fundamental building blocks, two arenes and carbon monoxide, is described.

Enantioselective Cross-Exchange between C-I and C-C σ Bonds

A palladium-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular σ-bond cross-exchange between C-I and C-C bonds is realized, providing chiral indanones bearing an alkyl iodide group and an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter. Pd/TADDOL-derived phosphoramidite is found to be an efficient catalytic system for both C-C bond cleavage and alkyl iodide reductive elimination. In addition to aryl iodides, aryl bromides can also be used for this transformation in the presence of KI. Density-functional theory (DFT) calculation studies support the ring-opening of cyclobutanones occuring through an oxidative addition/reductive elimination process involving Pd^IV species.

Decarboxylation with Carbon Monoxide: The Direct Conversion of Carboxylic Acids into Potent Acid Triflate Electrophiles

We report a new strategy for the conversion of carboxylic acids into potent acid triflate electrophiles. The reaction involves oxidative carbonylation of carboxylic acids with I₂ in the presence of AgOTf, and is postulated to proceed via acyl hypoiodites that react with CO to form acid triflates. Coupling this chemistry with subsequent trapping with arenes offers a mild, room temperature approach to generate ketones directly from broadly available carboxylic acids without the use of corrosive and reactive Lewis or Bronsted acid additives, and instead from compounds that are readily available, stable, and functional group compatible.

Palladium-Catalyzed Carbon Isotope Exchange on Aliphatic and Benzoic Acid Chlorides

An operationally simple protocol for a palladium-catalyzed ¹³CO and ¹⁴CO exchange with activated aliphatic and benzoic carbonyls is presented. Several ¹³C and ¹⁴C building blocks, natural product derivatives, and pharmaceuticals have been prepared to showcase the method for late-stage carbon isotope incorporation and its functional group compatibility.

Carboiodination Catalyzed by Nickel

A novel nickel-catalyzed cycloisomerization reaction forming a new carbon-carbon bond while preserving the carbon-halogen bond has been developed. A cheap and readily available Ni-catalyst is employed to generate nitrogen containing heterocycles in good to excellent yields and the procedure is readily scalable. The more readily available aryl bromides were also cyclized with the addition of potassium iodide to generate the respective alkyl iodides. A rare dual ligand system employing a bisphosphine and bisphosphine monoxide was used to achieve enantioenriched products.

Functional Group Transposition: A Palladium-Catalyzed Metathesis of Ar-X σ-Bonds and Acid Chloride Synthesis

We describe the development of a new method to use palladium catalysis to form functionalized aromatics: via the metathesis of covalent σ-bonds between Ar-X fragments. This transformation demonstrates the dynamic nature of palladium-based oxidative addition/reductive elimination and offers a straightforward approach to incorporate reactive functional groups into aryl halides through exchange reactions. The reaction has been exploited to assemble acid chlorides without the use of high energy halogenating or toxic reagents and, instead, via the metathesis of aryl iodides with other acid chlorides.

Palladium-Catalyzed Insertion of Isocyanides into the C-S Bonds of Heteroaryl Sulfides

Insertion of tert-butyl isocyanide into the C(sp² )-S bonds of heteroaryl sulfides is catalyzed by a palladium diphosphine complex. Thioimidates generated through this reaction could be readily hydrolyzed under acidic conditions to yield the corresponding thioesters, which are of synthetic use. This insertion is useful because starting heteroaryl sulfides were readily prepared by either conventional ways or through sulfur-specific extended Pummerer reactions.

Pd-Catalyzed Decarbonylative Cross-Couplings of Aroyl Chlorides

This report describes a method for Pd-catalyzed decarbonylative cross-coupling that enables the conversion of carboxylic acid derivatives to biaryls, aryl amines, aryl ethers, aryl sulfides, aryl boronate esters, and trifluoromethylated arenes. The success of this transformation leverages the Pd0/Brettphos-catalyzed decarbonylative chlorination of aroyl chlorides, which can then participate in diverse cross-coupling reactions in situ using the same Pd catalyst.

A palladium-catalyzed synthesis of (hetero)aryl-substituted imidazoles from aryl halides, imines and carbon monoxide

We describe here a tandem catalytic route to prepare imidazoles in a single operation from aryl iodides, imines and CO. The reaction involves a catalytic carbonylation of aryl halides with imines to form 1,3-dipoles, which undergo spontaneous 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. Overall, this offers an alternative to coupling reactions to construct the (hetero)aryl-imidazole motif, where variation of the building blocks can allow the synthesis of broad families of imidazoles with independent control of all substituents.

Deactivation of the coordinating ability of the iminophosphorane group by the effect of ortho-carborane

An electron-withdrawing carborane group deactivates the nitrogen donor atom of an iminophosphorane ligand, which is not observed for organic ligands.

Highly Emissive Far Red/Near-IR Fluorophores Based on Borylated Fluorene-Benzothiadiazole Donor-Acceptor Materials

Stille, Suzuki-Miyaura and Negishi cross-coupling reactions of bromine-functionalised borylated precursors enable the facile, high yielding, synthesis of borylated donor-acceptor materials that contain electron-rich aromatic units and/or extended effective conjugation lengths. These materials have large Stokes shifts, low LUMO energies, small band-gaps and significant fluorescence emission >700 nm in solution and when dispersed in a host polymer.

A flexible approach to Pd-catalyzed carbonylations via aroyl dimethylaminopyridinium salts

The palladium catalyzed carbonylation of aryl halides in the presence of DMAP can allow the generation of highly electrophilic aroylating agents: aroyl–DMAP salts.

4-Dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) is shown to undergo Pd/P^tBu₃ catalyzed coupling with aryl halides and carbon monoxide to form electrophilic aroyl–DMAP salts. The reaction is easily scalable to prepare multigram quantities with low catalyst loadings, while the precipitation of these salts as they form leads to products with low impurities. These reagents rapidly react with a variety of nucleophiles, including those that contain potentially incompatible functional groups under standard carbonylative conditions.

An Electrophilic Approach to the Palladium-Catalyzed Carbonylative C-H Functionalization of Heterocycles

A palladium-catalyzed approach to intermolecular carbonylative C-H functionalization is described. This transformation is mediated by P(t)Bu3-coordinated palladium catalyst and allows the derivatization of a diverse range of heterocycles, including pyrroles, indoles, imidazoles, benzoxazoles, and furans. Preliminary studies suggest that this reaction may proceed via the catalytic formation of highly electrophilic intermediates. Overall, this provides with an atom-economical and general synthetic route to generate aryl-(hetero)aryl ketones using stable reagents (aryl iodides and CO) and without the typical need to exploit pre-metalated heterocycles in carbonylative coupling chemistry.