Designing Cross-Coupling Reactions using Aryl(trialkyl)silanes

The Versatile and Strategic O-Carbamate Directed Metalation Group in the Synthesis of Aromatic Molecules: An Update

The aryl O-carbamate (ArOAm) group is among the strongest of the directed metalation groups (DMGs) in directed ortho metalation (DoM) chemistry, especially in the form Ar-OCONEt2. Since the last comprehensive review of metalation chemistry involving ArOAms (published more than 30 years ago), the field has expanded significantly. For example, it now encompasses new substrates, solvent systems, and metalating agents, while conditions have been developed enabling metalation of ArOAm to be conducted in a green and sustainable manner. The ArOAm group has also proven to be effective in the anionic ortho-Fries (AoF) rearrangement, Directed remote metalation (DreM), iterative DoM sequences, and DoM-halogen dance (HalD) synthetic strategies and has been transformed into a diverse range of functionalities and coupled with various groups through a range of cross-coupling (CC) strategies. Of ultimate value, the ArOAm group has demonstrated utility in the synthesis of a diverse range of bioactive and polycyclic aromatic compounds for various applications.

Advances in disilylation reactions to access cis/trans-1,2-disilylated and gem-disilylated alkenes

Organosilane compounds are widely used in both organic synthesis and materials science. Particularly, 1,2-disilylated and gem-disilylated alkenes, characterized by a carbon-carbon double bond and multiple silyl groups, exhibit significant potential for subsequently diverse transformations. The versatility of these compounds renders them highly promising for applications in materials, enabling them to be valuable and versatile building blocks in organic synthesis. This review provides a comprehensive summary of methods for the preparation of cis/trans-1,2-disilylated and gem-disilylated alkenes. Despite notable advancements in this field, certain limitations persist, including challenges related to regioselectivity in the incorporation and chemoselectivity in the transformation of two nearly identical silyl groups. The primary objective of this review is to outline synthetic methodologies for the generation of these alkenes through disilylation reactions, employing silicon reagents, specifically disilanes, hydrosilanes, and silylborane reagents. The review places particular emphasis on investigating the practical applications of the C-Si bond of disilylalkenes and delves into an in-depth discussion of reaction mechanisms, particularly those reactions involving the activation of Si-Si, Si-H, and Si-B bonds, as well as the C-Si bond formation.

Catalytic ipso-Nitration of Organosilanes Enabled by Electrophilic N-Nitrosaccharin Reagent

Nitroaromatic compounds represent one of the essential classes of molecules that are widely used as feedstock for the synthesis of intermediates, the preparation of nitro-derived pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials on both laboratory and industrial scales. We herein disclose the efficient, mild, and catalytic ipso-nitration of organotrimethylsilanes, enabled by an electrophilic N-nitrosaccharin reagent and allows chemoselective nitration under mild reaction conditions, while exhibiting remarkable substrate generality and functional group compatibility. Additionally, the reaction conditions proved to be orthogonal to other common functionalities, allowing programming of molecular complexity via successive transformations or late-stage nitration. Detailed mechanistic investigation by experimental and computational approaches strongly supported a classical electrophilic aromatic substitution (SE Ar) mechanism, which was found to proceed through a highly ordered transition state.

Palladium-catalyzed disilylation of ortho-halophenylethylenes enabled by 2-pyridone ligand

A palladium-catalyzed disilylation reaction applicable for a variety of non-, α-, or β-substituted and α,β-disubstituted ortho-halophenylethylenes has been developed. This reaction proceeds with high yields and very low catalyst loadings. The two C-Si bonds of the disilylated products could be well-differentiated chemoselectively in the reaction with various electrophiles.

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of 4-sila-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazines by intramolecular Hiyama coupling

A palladium-catalyzed synthesis of 4-sila-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazines, silicon-switched analogs of biologically relevant 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazines, was developed by the intramolecular Hiyama coupling of 3-amido-2-(arylsilyl)aryl triflates.

Sila-spirocyclization involving unstrained C(sp3)-Si bond cleavage

C - Si Bond cleavage is one of the key elemental steps for a wide variety of silicon-based transformations. However, the cleavage of unstrained Si-C(sp3) bonds catalyzed by transition metal are still in their infancy. They generally involve the insertion of a M - C(sp2) species into the C - Si bond and consequent intramolecular C(sp2)‒Si coupling to exclusively produce siloles. Here we report the Pd-catalyzed sila-spirocyclization, in which the Si-C(sp3) bond is activated by the insertion of a M - C(sp3) species and followed by the formation of a new C(sp3)‒Si bond, allowing the construction of diverse spirosilacycles. This reactivity mode, which is strongly supported by DFT calculations may open an avenue for the Si-C(sp3) bond cleavage and silacycle synthesis.

3-Alkyl-2-pyridyl Directing Group-Enabled C2 Selective C-H Silylation of Indoles and Pyrroles via an Iridium Catalyst

An iridium-catalyzed, directing group-enabled site selective intra- and intermolecular silylation of indoles and pyrroles with hydrosilanes has been developed under ligand-free conditions. Fine-tuning of the removable 3-alkyl-2-pyridyl directing group was found to be crucial for achieving high yields for C2-silylated indole and pyrrole products. Moreover, the scalability was demonstrated, and further transformations of the silylation products were achieved.

Direct synthesis and applications of solid silylzinc reagents

The increased synthetic utility of organosilanes has motivated researchers to develop milder and more practical synthetic methods. Silylzinc reagents, which are typically the most functional group tolerant, are notoriously difficult to synthesize because they are obtained by a pyrophoric reaction of silyllithium, particularly Me3SiLi which is itself prepared by the reaction of MeLi and disilane. Furthermore, the dissolved LiCl in silylzinc may have a detrimental effect. A synthetic method that can avoid silyllithium and involves a direct synthesis of silylzinc reagents from silyl halides is arguably the simplest and most economical strategy. We describe, for the first time, the direct synthesis of PhMe2SiZnI and Me3SiZnI reagents by employing a coordinating TMEDA ligand, as well as single crystal XRD structures. Importantly, they can be obtained as solids and stored for longer periods at 4 °C. We also demonstrate their significance in cross-coupling of various free alkyl/aryl/alkenyl carboxylic acids with broader functional group tolerance and API derivatives. The general applicability and efficiency of solid Me3SiZnI are shown in a wide variety of reactions including alkylation, arylation, allylation, 1,4-addition, acylation and more.

Silacyclization through palladium-catalyzed intermolecular silicon-based C(sp2)-C(sp3) cross-coupling

Silicon-based cross-coupling has been recognized as one of the most reliable alternatives for constructing carbon–carbon bonds. However, the employment of such reaction as an efficient ring expansion strategy for silacycle synthesis is comparatively little known. Herein, we develop the first intermolecular silacyclization strategy involving Pd-catalyzed silicon-based C(sp²)–C(sp³) cross-coupling. This method allows the modular assembly of a vast array of structurally novel and interesting sila-benzo[b]oxepines with good functional group tolerance. The key to success for this reaction is that silicon atoms have a stronger affinity for oxygen nucleophiles than carbon nucleophiles, and silacyclobutanes (SCBs) have inherent ring-strain-release Lewis acidity.

Herein, we develop the first silacyclization between 2-halophenols and SCBs, which allows the modular assembly of sila-benzo[b]oxepines with good functional group tolerance and can be applied for the late-stage modification of biologically active molecules.

p-Silylation of Arenes via Organic Photoredox Catalysis: Use of p-Silylated Arenes for Exclusive o-Silylation, o-Acylation, and o-Alkylation Reactions

Photocatalytic regiospecific p-silylation of arenes has been achieved by the coupling of in situ generated silyl radical with arene radical cation. The strategy involves reductive activation of PhSe-SiR₃ and single electron transfer from the electron rich arene to 9,10-dimethoxyanthracene radical cation (DMA^•+). p-Silyl arenes, thus formed, are further utilized for exclusive o-silylation reaction and for regiospecific o-acylation as well as o-alkylation reaction.

Design and synthesis of 3,3'-triazolyl biisoquinoline N,N'-dioxides via Hiyama cross-coupling of 4-trimethylsilyl-1,2,3-triazoles

A new strategy to effectively lock the conformation of substituents at the 3,3'-positions of axial-chiral biisoquinoline N,N'-dioxides was developed based on the strong dipole-dipole interaction between 1,2,3-triazole and pyridine N-oxide rings. The crystal structure and the DFT calculations of 3,3'-bis(1-benzyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-yl)-1,1'-biisoquinoline N,N'-dioxide (3a) provided strong support for this strategy. Furthermore, we successfully demonstrated that readily available 4-trimethylsilyl-1,2,3-triazoles are viable nucleophiles for Hiyama cross-coupling.

Relay Palladium/Copper Catalysis Enabled Silylative [5 + 1] Benzannulation Using Terminal Alkynes as One-Carbon Units

Using terminal alkyne as a nontraditional one-carbon (C1) unit and silylborane as an external silicon pronucleophile, a relay palladium/copper-catalyzed silylative [5 + 1] benzannulation of 3-acetoxy-1,4-enynes for producing polysubstituted arylsilanes, especially including bioactive motif-based analogues, in a single reaction step through benzene ring skeleton assembly and silyl intermolecular incorporation cascades is developed. Mechanistic studies show that this reaction allows the terminal sp-hybridized carbon atom in terminal alkynes as a C1 unit via cleavage of two π-bonds and one C(sp)-H bond.

Divergent Synthesis of Vinyl-, Benzyl-, and Borylsilanes: Aryl to Alkyl 1,5-Palladium Migration/Coupling Sequences

Organosilicon compounds have been extensively utilized both in industry and academia. Studies on the syntheses of diverse organosilanes is highly appealing. Through-space metal/hydrogen shifts allow functionalization of C-H bonds at a remote site, which are otherwise difficult to achieve. However, until now, an aryl to alkyl 1,5-palladium migration process seems to have not been presented. Reported herein is the remote olefination, arylation, and borylation of a methyl group on silicon to access diverse vinyl-, benzyl-, and borylsilanes, constituting a unique C(sp³ )-H transformation based on a 1,5-palladium migration process.

Cross-Coupling of Heteroatomic Electrophiles

At the advent of cross-coupling chemistry, carbon electrophiles based on halides or pseudohalides were the only suitable electrophilic coupling partners. Almost two decades passed before the first cross-coupling reaction of heteroatom-based electrophiles was reported. Early work by Murai and Tanaka initiated investigations into silicon electrophiles. Narasaka and Johnson pioneered the way in the use of nitrogen electrophiles, while Suginome began the exploration of boron electrophiles. The chemistry reviewed within provides perspective on the use of heteroatomic electrophiles, specifically silicon-, nitrogen-, boron-, oxygen-, and phosphorus-based electrophiles in transition-metal catalyzed cross-coupling. For the purposes of this review, a loose definition of cross-coupling is utilized; all reactions minimally proceed via an oxidative addition event. Although not cross-coupling in a traditional sense, we have also included catalyzed reactions that join a heteroatomic electrophile with an in situ generated nucleophile. However, for brevity, those involving hydroamination or C-H activation as a key step are largely excluded. This work includes primary references published up to and including October 2018.