Tandem Oxidative C−H Amination and Iodization to Synthesize Difunctional Atropoisomeric P-Stereogenic Phosphinamides

Azaphosphinines and their derivatives

Six-membered heterocycles containing one phosphorus and one nitrogen atom, known as azaphosphinines, have existed in the shadows of their single heteroatom-containing analogues for almost 150 years. Despite this, recent chemistry has seen a rapid increase in publications concerning this uncommon scaffold. Azaphosphinines exist in one of six isomers-there are three possible orientations of the pnictogen atoms and in each of these, the phosphorus is in one of two valences (PIIIvs. PV). This review aims to outline and inform on the synthesis and applications of all six isomers. PV-oxo azaphosphinines are of particular interest to this review as many of the discussed heterocycles either form as the pentavalent species directly or oxidize to this over time. In very recent years the published applications of azaphosphinines have blossomed into subjects spanning several fields of chemistry such as asymmetric catalysis, supramolecular association, cellular imaging, and medicinal chemistry.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of P-Chiral Aminophosphinites

Herein, a copper(I)-catalyzed reaction of diarylphosphines and O-benzoyl hydroxylamines is developed. In the cases of symmetrical diarylphosphines, a series of aminophosphinites is prepared in high yields. In the cases of unsymmetrical diarylphosphines, an array of P-chiral aminophosphinites is synthesized in high yields with high enantioselectivity by using a copper(I)-(R,R_P )-Ph-FOXAP complex as a chiral catalyst. Based on several control experiments and ³¹ P NMR studies, a two-electron redox mechanism involving the dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation of unsymmetrical diarylphosphines is proposed for the copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric reaction. Finally, one representative P-chiral phosphoric amide generated through the oxidation with H₂ O₂ is transformed to a chiral diarylphosphinate in high yield with retained enantioselectivity, which allows further transformations towards various P-chiral tertiary phosphines.

Electrochemical Synthesis of Cyclic Diaryl Phosphinamides via Intramolecular sp2 C-H Phosphinamidation

We developed an oxidant- and transition-metal-free approach to construct six-membered cyclic phosphinamides via an intramolecular electrochemical C-H phosphinamidation process. With ⁿBu₄NBr as the catalyst and electrolyte, cyclic phosphinamides bearing a variety of functional groups (22 examples) were readily accessed under mild conditions. Meanwhile, this protocol provided an alternative route to organic electroluminescent materials and P-N ligands.

Synthesis of Six-Membered N-Heterocycle Frameworks Based on Intramolecular Metal-Free N-Centered Radical Chemistry

The formation of intramolecular C-N bond represents a powerful strategy in organic transformation as the great importance of N-heterocycles in the fields of natural products and bioactive molecules. This personal account describes the synthesis of cyclic phosphinamidation, benzosultam, benzosulfoximine, phenanthridine and their halogenated compounds through transition-metal-free intramolecular oxidative C-N bond formation. Mechanism study reveals that N-X bond is initially formed under the effect of hypervalent halogen, which is very unstable and easily undergoes thermal or light homolytic cleavage to generate nitrogen radical. Then the nitrogen radical is trapped by the arene to give aryl radical. Rearomatization of aryl radical under the oxidant to provide corresponding N-heterocycle. Under suitable conditions, the N-heterocycles can be further transformed to halogenated N-heterocycles.

Bumpy Roads Lead to Beautiful Places: The Twists and Turns in Developing a New Class of PN-Heterocycles

The Haley and Johnson labs at the University of Oregon have been collaborating since 2006, combining skillsets in synthetic organic, physical organic, and supramolecular chemistries. This joint project has produced many examples of host molecules that bind anionic guests and give chemical, photophysical, and/or electrical responses. Many of these receptors utilize two-armed arylethynyl backbones that have a variety of hydrogen- or halogen-bonding functional groups appended. However, in attempts to produce a bisamide-containing host using a peptide-coupling protocol with P(OPh)3 present, we isolated something unexpected – a heterocycle containing neighboring P and N atoms. This ‘failed’ reaction turned into a surprisingly robust synthesis of phosphaquinolinones, an unusual class of PN-heterocycles. This Account article tells the rollercoaster story of these heterocycles in our lab. It will highlight our key works to this field, including a suite of fundamental studies of both the original PN-naphthalene moiety, as well as a variety of structural modifications to the arene backbone. It will also discuss the major step forward the project took when we developed a phosphaquinolinone-containing receptor molecule capable of binding HSO4 – selectively, reversibly, and with recyclability. With these findings, the project has gone from hospice care to making a full, robust recovery.

1 Introduction

2 Initial Discovery

3 Setbacks Breathe New Life

4 A New Dynamic Duo Develops Dozens of Derivatives

5 Physicochemical Characterization

5.1 Fluorescence

5.2 Molecular Structures

5.3 Solution Dimerization Studies

6 Applying What We Have Learned

6.1 Development of Supramolecular Host

6.2 Use of PN Moiety as an Impressive Fluorophore

7 Conclusions and Outlook

Synthesis, photophysical properties, and self-dimerization studies of 2-λ5-phosphaquinolin-2-ones

Rationally designed phosphaquinolinone derivatives containing electron-donating and/or -withdrawing groups are reported, with dimerization constants up to 525 M⁻¹.

Radical-mediated direct C-H amination of arenes with secondary amines

Direct radical-based substitution of aryl C–H bonds allows one-pot access to valuable polycyclic aryl amines from simple secondary amines.

Aryl dialkyl amines, valuable subunits of a wide range of effect chemicals, are accessed by intramolecular amination of aromatic C–H bonds employing UV photolysis of N-chloroamines. The reactions show good functional group tolerance and allow access to a range of fused and bridged polycyclic structures. The homogeneous reaction conditions allow for the one-pot conversion of secondary amines to their arylated derivatives. Experimental and theoretical evidence supports the involvement of electrophilic aminium radicals which react via direct ortho-attack on the arene.

New Approaches for Biaryl-Based Phosphine Ligand Synthesis via P═O Directed C-H Functionalizations

Given the important influence of phosphine ligands in transition metal-catalyzed reactions, chemists have searched for straightforward and efficient methodologies for the synthesis of diverse phosphine ligands. Although significant progress has been made in this aspect over the past decades, the development of new phosphorus-containing ligands with properties superior to their predecessors remains a central task for chemists. Recently, researchers have demonstrated that biphenyl monophosphine ligands function as highly efficient ligands for transition-metal-catalyzed organic transformations, especially for reactions where chelating bisphosphine ligands cannot be used. In 1998, Buchwald introduced a new class of air-stable phosphine ligands based on the dialkylbiaryl phosphine backbone. These ligands have been successfully used for a wide variety of palladium-catalyzed carbon-carbon, carbon-nitrogen, and carbon-oxygen construction processes as well as serving as supporting ligands for a number of other reactions. At the same time, the use of the biphenyl monophosphine ligands often allows reactions to proceed with short reaction times and low catalyst loadings and under mild reaction conditions. However, the synthesis of chiral biphenyl monophosphine ligands, especially those the chirality of which is due to biaryl axial chirality, is very limited. In this Account, we summarize our methodologies for the synthesis of this kind of biphenyl monophosphine ligands including the P═O directed C-H functionalization, P═O directed diastereoselective C-H functionalization, P═O directed enantioselective C-H functionalization, and metal-free diastereoselective radical oxidative C-H amination under mild reaction conditions. With these methods, a series of biphenyl phosphine ligand precursors containing achiral or axially chiral centers and precursors possessing both axial chirality and a chirogenic phosphorus center with different electronic properties and steric effect have been obtained under different reaction conditions. For the preparation of chiral biphenyl monophosphine ligands, which not only possess axial chirality but in many cases also possess chirality at phosphorus, the primary means of introducing chirality is through the use of the menthyl phenylphosphinate. As a chiral auxiliary group, the menthyl phenylphosphinate has some unique features: (i) it is easy to prepare; (ii) the products contain both axial chirality and central chirality on the phosphorus atom; (iii) the menthyl group could easily be transformed into other functional groups, which is crucial for the diversity of the corresponding biphenyl ligands. In our reaction, the P═O group not only acts as the directing group but also facilitates the construction of the phosphine ligands. In addition, the application of these products in asymmetric catalysis has also been studied with good results obtained in some reactions. The further application of these ligands, especially the chiral biphenyl monophosphine ligands in catalysis reactions is underway in our laboratory, and we hope different kinds of reactions will be achieved with these ligands.

Efficient synthesis of cyclic P-stereogenic phosphinamides from acyclic chiral precursors via radical oxidative intramolecular aryl C–H phosphinamidation

A highly efficient method for the synthesis of cyclic P-stereogenic phosphinamides from acyclic chiral precursors via radical oxidative C–H phosphinamidation, followed by the versatile synthesis of various P-stereogenic compounds, is presented.