Cobalt-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling Between Styryl and Benzyl Halides

Electrochemical low valent cobalt-catalyzed addition of aryl and vinyl chlorides to α-ketoamides via C-Cl bond activation

The development of an electrochemical cobalt catalyzed C-Cl bond activation at room temperature for the nucleophilic addition of aryl and vinyl chlorides to α-ketoamides is described. The overall method operates through an electrochemically induced low valent cobalt catalyst that oxidatively adds to aryl or vinyl chlorides affording medicinally important 3-hydroxy oxindole and 3-hydroxypyrrolidinone scaffolds. The development of an enantioselective version using a chiral pyrox ligand is also demonstrated.

Phosphinoquinoline supported CoII, NiII, and FeII complexes: divergent behaviour upon reduction

The reduction of [CoLBr2], a CoII complex supported by a diisopropylphosphinoquinoline (L) ligand, induced a ligand coupling giving access to a (PNNP) supported CoII complex which was isolated in 70% yield. This complex was formed using a minimum of 2 equivalents of a reductant (either Mn or KC8). The fate of [CoLBr2] in the presence of 1 equivalent of a reductant was more difficult to study; nevertheless, a CoI complex was characterised in the solid state. In order to determine whether this ligand coupling could occur with other 3d metals, L supported FeII and NiII complexes were synthesised. While no compound could be identified upon reduction of [FeLBr2], both [NiLBr2] and [NiL2Br](Br) led to the reduction at the metal center allowing the isolation of an original Ni0 trimer in a satisfactory yield. This study shows the different behaviours of these 3d metal complexes in the presence of a reductant.

Homogeneous Organic Electron Donors in Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Transformations

Many contemporary organic transformations, such as Ni-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling (XEC), require a reductant. Typically, heterogeneous reductants, such as Zn0 or Mn0, are used as the electron source in these reactions. Although heterogeneous reductants are highly practical for preparative-scale batch reactions, they can lead to complications in performing reactions on process scale and are not easily compatible with modern applications, such as flow chemistry. In principle, homogeneous organic reductants can address some of the challenges associated with heterogeneous reductants and also provide greater control of the reductant strength, which can lead to new reactivity. Nevertheless, homogeneous organic reductants have rarely been used in XEC. In this Perspective, we summarize recent progress in the use of homogeneous organic electron donors in Ni-catalyzed XEC and related reactions, discuss potential synthetic and mechanistic benefits, describe the limitations that inhibit their implementation, and outline challenges that need to be solved in order for homogeneous organic reductants to be widely utilized in synthetic chemistry. Although our focus is on XEC, our discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of different methods for introducing electrons is general to other reductive transformations.

Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive C-Ge Coupling of Aryl/Alkenyl Electrophiles with Chlorogermanes

Cross-electrophile coupling has emerged as a promising tool for molecular synthesis; however, current studies have focused mainly on forging C-C bonds. We report a cross-electrophile C-Ge coupling reaction and thereby demonstrate the possibility of constructing organogermanes from carbon electrophiles and chlorogermanes. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions and offers access to both aryl and alkenyl germanes. Electron-rich, electron-poor, and ortho-/meta-/para-substituted (hetero)aryl electrophiles, as well as cyclic and acyclic alkenyl electrophiles, were coupled. Gram-scale reaction, incorporation of the -GeR₃ moiety into complex biologically active molecules, and derivatization of formed organogermanes are demonstrated.

Reductive Alkylation of Alkenyl Acetates with Alkyl Bromides by Nickel Catalysis

Catalytic alkylation of stable alkenyl C-O electrophiles is synthetically appealing, but studies to date have typically focused on the reactions with alkyl Grignard reagents. We report herein a cross-electrophile reaction of alkenyl acetates with alkyl bromides. This work has enabled a new method for the synthesis of aliphatic alkenes from alkenyl acetates to be established that can be used to add more structural complexity and molecular diversity with enhanced functionality tolerance. The method allows for a gram-scale reaction and modification of biologically active molecules, and it affords access to useful building blocks. Preliminary mechanistic studies reveal that the Ni^I species plays an essential role for the success of the coupling of these two reactivity-mismatched electrophiles.

Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Electrophile C(sp3)-Si Coupling of Unactivated Alkyl Bromides with Vinyl Chlorosilanes

Cross-electrophile C-Si coupling has emerged as a promising tool for the construction of organosilanes, but the potential of this method remains largely unexplored. Herein, we report a C(sp³)-Si coupling of unactivated alkyl bromides with vinyl chlorosilanes. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions, and it offers a new approach to alkylsilanes. Functionalities such as Grignard-sensitive groups (e.g., acid, amide, alcohol, ketone, and ester), acid-sensitive groups (e.g., ketal and THP protection), alkyl fluoride and chloride, aryl bromide, alkyl tosylate and mesylate, silyl ether, and amine were tolerated. Incorporation of the -Si(vinyl)R₂ moiety into complex molecules and the immobilization of a glass surface by formed organosilanes were demonstrated.

Highly Regio- and Enantioselective Reductive Coupling of Alkynes and Aldehydes via Photoredox Cobalt Dual Catalysis

A Co-catalyzed highly regio- and enantioselective reductive coupling of alkynes and aldehydes has been developed under visible light photoredox dual catalysis. A variety of enantioenriched allylic alcohols have been obtained by using unsymmetrical internal alkynes and commercially available catalyst, chiral ligand, and reagents. It is noteworthy that this approach has considerable advantages, such as excellent regio- (>95:5 for >40 examples), stereo- (up to >95:5 E/Z), and enantioselectivity (92-99% ee, >35 examples) control, mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, and good functional group compatibility, making it a great improvement to enantioselective alkyne-aldehyde reductive coupling reactions.

Reductive Cross-Coupling of Vinyl Electrophiles

The synthesis of alkenes (olefins) is a central subject in the synthetic community. The transition-metal-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling of vinyl electrophiles has emerged as a promising tool to produce alkenes with improved flexibility, structural complexity, and functionality tolerance. In this review, we summarized the progress in this field with respect to cross-electrophile couplings and reductive Heck reactions using vinyl electrophiles.

1 Introduction

2 Cross-Electrophile Coupling of Vinyl Electrophiles

3 Reductive Heck Reaction of Vinyl Electrophiles

4 Summary and Outlook

Convergent access to bis-1,2,4-triazinyl-2,2'-bipyridines (BTBPs) and 2,2'-bipyridines via a Pd-catalyzed Ullman-type reaction

Multidentate, soft-Lewis basic, complexant scaffolds have displayed significant potential in the discrete speciation of the minor actinides from the neutron-absorbing lanthanides resident in spent nuclear fuel. Efforts to devise convergent synthetic strategies to targets of interest to improve liquid-liquid separation outcomes continue, but significant challenges to improve solubility in process-relevant diluents to effectively define meaningful structure-activity relationships remain. In the current work, a synthetic method to achieve the challenging 2,2'-bipyridine bond of the bis-1,2,4-triazinyl-2,2'-bipyridine (BTBP) complexant class leveraging a Pd-catalyzed Ullman-type coupling is reported. This convergent strategy improves upon earlier work focused on linear synthetic access to the BTBP complexant moiety. Method optimization, relevant substrate scope and application, as well as a preliminary mechanistic interrogation are reported herein.

Ni-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling between vinyl/aryl and alkyl sulfonates: synthesis of cycloalkenes and modification of peptides

We report here the coupling reactions between vinyl/aryl and alkyl C-O electrophiles that can be derived from chemical feedstocks and naturally occurring functional groups. This method provides an efficient approach to the synthesis of a wide range of functionalized, and/or secondary alkyl substituted cycloalkenes. These compounds are difficult to produce by conventional methods. The reaction proceeds with broad substrate scope, and tolerates various functional groups such as alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, ester, amide, alkene, alkyne, heterocycles, organotin and organosilicon compounds. The synthetic utility of this method has been demonstrated by providing facile access to important building blocks. We also demonstrated the possibility to apply this method for late-stage modification of peptides. A broad range of functionalized alkyl groups could be selectively introduced into tyrosine in peptides via C-C bond formation, which has been a challenge to the existing procedures.

Dual nickel- and photoredox-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling of aryl vinyl halides and unactivated tertiary alkyl bromides

A novel reductive cross-coupling of aryl vinyl halides and unactivated tertiary alkyl bromides has been realized via photoredox/nickel dual catalysis to produce vinyl arene derivatives bearing all-carbon quaternary centers with excellent E-selectivity. A stoichiometric metal reductant could be avoided by employing commercially available N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) as the terminal reductant.

Vinylation of Benzylic Amines via C-N Bond Functionalization of Benzylic Pyridinium Salts

Cross-couplings of benzylic pyridinium salts and vinylboronic acids or esters have been developed. Via these benzylic pyridinium intermediates, benzylic amines can be engaged in these cross-couplings via C-N bond functionalization. This method boasts mild reaction conditions and excellent tolerance for heteroaryl substituents and a range of functional groups.

Alkenylation of C(sp3 )-H Bonds by Zincation/Copper-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling with Iodonium Salts

α-Vinylation of phosphonates, phosphine oxides, sulfones, sulfonamides, and sulfoxides has been achieved by selective C-H zincation and copper-catalyzed C(sp³ )-C(sp² ) cross-coupling reaction using vinylphenyliodonium salts. The vinylation transformation proceeds in high efficiency and stereospecificity under mild reaction conditions. This zincative cross-coupling reaction represents a general alkenylation strategy, which is also applicable for α-alkenylation of esters, amides, and nitriles in the synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.

Preparation of Polyfunctional Naphthyridines by Cobalt-Catalyzed Cross-Couplings of Halogenated Naphthyridines with Magnesium and Zinc Organometallics

CoCl₂ (5%) catalyzes cross-couplings of various halogenated naphthyridines with alkyl- and arylmagnesium halides. Also, arylzinc halides undergo smooth cross-couplings with various naphthyridines in the presence of CoCl₂·2LiCl (5%) and sodium formate (50%), leading to polyfunctional arylated naphthyridines. Two of these arylated naphthyridines are highly fluorescent, with quantum efficiencies reaching 95% and long excited-state lifetimes of up to 12 ns.

Dual nickel and Lewis acid catalysis for cross-electrophile coupling: the allylation of aryl halides with allylic alcohols

Controlling the selectivity in cross-electrophile coupling reactions is a significant challenge, particularly when one electrophile is much more reactive. We report a general and practical strategy to address this problem in the reaction between reactive and unreactive electrophiles by a combination of nickel and Lewis acid catalysis. This strategy is used for the coupling of aryl halides with allylic alcohols to form linear allylarenes selectively. The reaction tolerates a wide range of functional groups (e.g. silanes, boronates, anilines, esters, alcohols, and various heterocycles) and works with various allylic alcohols. Complementary to most current routes for the C3 allylation of an unprotected indole, this method provides access to C2 and C4-C7 allylated indoles. Preliminary mechanistic experiments reveal that the reaction might start with an aryl nickel intermediate, which then reacts with Lewis acid activated allylic alcohols in the presence of Mn.