Easy access to polyhalogenated biaryls: regioselective (di)halogenation of hypervalent bromines and chlorines

Polyhalogenated biaryls are unique motifs offering untapped potential as versatile building blocks for the expedient synthesis of complex biaryl compounds. Overcoming the limitations of conventional syntheses, we introduce a novel, metal-free, operationally simple and one-pot approach to regioselectively (di)halogenate biaryl compounds under mild conditions using cyclic biaryl hypervalent bromine and chlorine substrates as masked arynes. Through chemoselective post-functionalizations, these valuable products can expand the toolbox for synthesizing biaryl-containing scaffolds, addressing a critical gap in the field.

Derivatization of 2,1,3-Benzothiadiazole via Regioselective C-H Functionalization and Aryne Reactivity

Despite growing interest in 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BTD) as an integral component of many functional molecules, methods for the functionalization of its benzenoid ring have remained limited, and many even simply decorated BTDs have required de novo synthesis. We show that regioselective Ir-catalyzed C-H borylation allows access to versatile 5-boryl or 4,6-diboryl BTD building blocks, which undergo functionalization at the C4, C5, C6, and C7 positions. The optimization and regioselectivity of C-H borylation are discussed. A broad reaction scope is presented, encompassing ipso substitution at the C-B bond, the first examples of ortho-directed C-H functionalization of BTD, ring closing reactions to generate fused ring systems, as well as the generation and capture reactions of novel BTD-based heteroarynes. The regioselectivity of the latter is discussed with reference to the Aryne Distortion Model.

Diaryliodonium Salts Enabled Arylation, Arylocyclization, and Aryl-Migration

Our research interest focusing on synthetic methodology with diaryliodonium salts, is summarized in this account. Besides employing a dual activation strategy of C-I and ortho C-H bonds, we have introduced vicinal functional groups at ortho-positions of diaryliodonium salts, in which their unique reactivities have been explored in various processes, including arylation, diarylation, cascade annulation, benzocyclization, arylocyclization, and intramolecular aryl migration. The variety of mechanisms of these reactions that involves either transition metals, especially palladium in organometallic catalysis, or transition-metal free conditions, were discussed in the context.

Oxidative Cycloaddition Reactions of Arylboron Reagents via a One-pot Formal Dehydroboration Sequence

Arylboron compounds are widely available and synthetically useful reagents in which the boron group is typically substituted. Herein, we show that the boron group and ortho-hydrogen atom are substituted in a formal cycloaddition reaction. This transformation is enabled by a one-pot sequence involving diaryliodonium and aryne intermediates. The scope of arylboron reagents and arynophiles is demonstrated, and the method is applied to the formal synthesis of an investigational drug candidate.

3-sulfonyloxyaryl(mesityl)iodonium triflates as 1,2-benzdiyne precursors with activation via ortho-deprotonative elimination strategy

Benzyne has long captivated the attention of chemists and has gained numerous synthetic achievements. Among typical benzyne generation methods, removal of two vicinal substituents from 1,2-difunctionalized benzenes, i.e., Kobayashi's protocol, are prevailing, while ortho-deprotonative elimination from mono-substituted benzene lags far behind. Despite the advantages of atom economy and ready achievability of precursors, a bottle neck for ortho-deprotonative elimination strategy resides in the weak acidity of the ortho-hydrogen, which normally demands strong bases as the activating reagents. Here, an efficient aryne generation protocol is developed, where ortho-deprotonative elimination on 3-sulfonyloxyaryl(mesityl)iodonium triflates occurs under mild conditions and the generated 3-sulfonyloxyarynes can serve as efficient 1,2-benzdiyne synthons. This array of 1,2-benzdiyne precursors can be conveniently prepared with high functional group tolerance, and densely substituted scaffolds can be accessed as well. Carbonate and fluoride salts are found to serve as efficient activating reagents, which are the weakest bases used in ortho-deprotonative elimination strategies. Particularly, this scaffold has predictable chemoselective generation of the designated aryne intermediates. The success of this ortho-deprotonative elimination protocol sets up a unique platform with a broad spectrum of synthetic applications.

Synthesis of Arynes via Formal Dehydrogenation of Arenes

Arynes offer immense potential for diversification of benzenoid rings, which occur in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and liquid crystals. However, accessing these high-energy intermediates requires synthetic precursors, which involve either harsh conditions or multistep syntheses. The development of alternative methods to access arynes using simpler substrates and milder conditions is necessary for a more streamlined approach. Here, we describe a two-step formal dehydrogenation of simple arenes to generate arynes at a remote position relative to traditionally reactive groups, e.g., halides. This approach is enabled by regioselective installation and ejection of an "onium" leaving group, and we demonstrate the compatibility of simple arenes (20 examples) and arynophiles (8 examples). Moreover, through direct comparison, we show that our formal dehydrogenation method is both more functional group tolerant and efficient in generating arynes than the current state-of-the-art aryne precursors. Finally, we show that aryne intermediates offer opportunities for regioselective C-H amination that are distinct from other methods.

Arynes as synthetic linchpins towards the construction of diversely functionalized natural product skeletons

Arynes are a privileged class of reactive intermediates in synthetic organic chemistry, and their unusual reactivities have been the subject of engrossing research interest. Recently, there are many reports on novel aryne-based synthetic innovations as a linchpin approach to accomplish the total synthesis of structurally diverse natural products or their derivatives in a racemic and enantiopure fashion. This review provides an overview of the literature on synthetic strategies, employing arynes as crucial intermediates to construct architecturally intriguing bioactive natural products/derivatives in a period of 2019 to 2022. This study highlights the need to investigate the effective synthesis and search for new biological uses of highly functionalized natural product skeletons.

An Unexpected Reaction between Diaryliodonium Salts and DMSO

Diaryliodonium salts are useful arylating reagents that have been exploited widely. In this Communication, we demonstrate that heating diphenyliodonium triflate in the solvent DMSO leads to an unexpected arylation reaction. It is postulated that arylation of DMSO at oxygen, followed by a thia-Sommelet–Hauser rearrangement, leads to the formation of 2-thiomethylphenols. More substituted diaryliodonium salts and cyclic diaryliodonium salts are shown to be more stable and less likely to react with DMSO. In conclusion, when using iodonium salts dissolved in DMSO, beware of side-reactions.

Refining boron-iodane exchange to access versatile arylation reagents

Aryl(Mes)iodonium salts, which are multifaceted aryl transfer reagents, are synthesized via boron-iodane exchange. Modification to both the nucleophilic (aryl boron) and electrophilic (mesityl-λ³-iodane) reaction components results in improved yield and faster reaction time compared to previous conditions. Mechanistic studies reveal a pathway that is more like transmetallation than S_EAr.

Orbital analysis of bonding in diarylhalonium salts and relevance to periodic trends in structure and reactivity

Diarylhalonium compounds provide new opportunities as reagents and catalysts in the field of organic synthesis. The three center, four electron (3c–4e) bond is a center piece of their reactivity, but structural variation among the diarylhaloniums, and in comparison with other λ³-iodanes, indicates that the model needs refinement for broader applicability. We use a combination of Density Functional Theory (DFT), Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) Theory, and X-ray structure data to correlate bonding and structure for a λ³-iodane and a series of diarylchloronium, bromonium, and iodonium salts, and their isoelectronic diarylchalcogen counterparts. This analysis reveals that the s-orbital on the central halogen atom plays a greater role in the 3c–4e bond than previously considered. Finally, we show that our revised bonding model and associated structures account for both kinetic and thermodynamic reactivity for both acyclic phenyl(mesityl)halonium and cyclic dibenzohalolium salts.

A revised bonding model for diarylhalonium salts, that involves partial s-orbital contribution, provides new insight into periodic trends in structure and reactivity.

Diaryliodonium(III) Salts in One-Pot Double Functionalization of C–IIII and ortho C–H Bonds

Since the 1950s, diaryliodonium(III) salts have been demonstrated to participate in various arylation reactions, forming aryl–heteroatom and aryl–carbon bonds. Incorporating the arylation step into sequential transformations would provide access to...

Cyclic Diaryl λ3-Bromanes: A Rapid Access to Molecular Complexity via Cycloaddition Reactions

Biaryls have widespread applications in organic synthesis. However, sequentially polysubstituted biaryls are underdeveloped due to their challenging preparation. Herein, we report the synthesis of dissymetric 2,3,2',3',4-substituted biaryls via pericyclic reactions of cyclic diaryl λ³-bromanes. The functional groups tolerance and atom economy allow access to molecular complexity in a single reaction step. Continuous flow protocol has been designed for the scale-up of the reaction, while postfunctionalizations have been developed taking advantage of the residual Br-atom.

Aryl(TMP)iodonium Tosylate Reagents as a Strategic Entry Point to Diverse Aryl Intermediates: Selective Access to Arynes

Arenes are broadly found motifs in societally important molecules. Access to diverse arene chemical space is critically important, and the ability to do so from common reagents is highly desirable. Aryl(TMP)iodonium tosylates provide one such access point to arene chemical space via diverse aryl intermediates. Here we demonstrate that controlling reaction pathways selectively leads to arynes with a broad scope of arenes and arynophiles (24 examples, 70% average yield) and efficient access to biologically active compounds.