Tandem Oxidative Derivatization of Nitrene Insertion Products for the Highly Diastereoselective Synthesis of 1,3-aminoalcohols

Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of Oxazolines from Aminotriols via Asymmetric Desymmetrization

A copper-catalyzed enantioselective transformation of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-derived aminotriols was developed to provide multisubstituted oxazolines with a tetrasubstituted carbon center. The present transformation consisted of sequential reactions involving mono-sulfonylation of aminotriols, subsequent intramolecular cyclization to afford prochiral oxazoline diols, and sulfonylative asymmetric desymmetrization of resultant oxazoline diols. In addition, the kinetic resolution process would be involved in the sulfonylative asymmetric desymmetrization step, which would amplify the enantiopurities of the desired products. Various aminotriols were tolerated in the present reaction, affording the desired oxazolines in good to high yields with excellent enantioselectivities. The synthetic utility of the present reaction was demonstrated by the transformation of the optically active oxazoline into a chiral α-tertiary amine motif.

Regioselective differentiation of vicinal methylene C-H bonds enabled by silver-catalysed nitrene transfer

Silver-catalyzed nitrene insertion enables the formation of benzosultams in good yield and with regioselectivity complementary to other transition metal nitrene-transfer catalysts. Preferential formation of six-membered benzosultam rings predominates for alkyl-substituted benzenesulphonamide precursors. Ligand-controlled tunability is also achieved for benzenesulphonamides with γ-branched alkyl substituents. Mechanistic probes suggest that the reaction pathway differs depending on whether a α (benzylic) or β (homobenzylic) C-H bond undergoes amidation, as well as the catalyst identity.

Inverting Steric Effects: Using "Attractive" Noncovalent Interactions To Direct Silver-Catalyzed Nitrene Transfer

Nitrene transfer (NT) reactions represent powerful and direct methods to convert C-H bonds into amine groups that are prevalent in many commodity chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The importance of the C-N bond has stimulated the development of numerous transition-metal complexes to effect chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselective NT. An ongoing challenge is to understand how subtle interactions between catalyst and substrate influence the site-selectivity of the C-H amination event. In this work, we explore the underlying reasons why Ag(tpa)OTf (tpa = tris(pyridylmethyl)amine) prefers to activate α-conjugated C-H bonds over 3° alkyl C(sp3)-H bonds and apply these insights to reaction optimization and catalyst design. Experimental results suggest possible roles of noncovalent interactions (NCIs) in directing the NT; computational studies support the involvement of π···π and Ag···π interactions between catalyst and substrate, primarily by lowering the energy of the directed transition state and reaction conformers. A simple Hess's law relationship can be employed to predict selectivities for new substrates containing competing NCIs. The insights presented herein are poised to inspire the design of other catalyst-controlled C-H functionalization reactions.

Catalytic C–H amination at its limits: challenges and solutions

Pushing C–H amination to its limits fosters innovative synthetic solutions and offers a deeper understanding of the reaction mechanism and scope.