Rh(III)- and Ir(III)-Catalyzed Direct C–H Bond Transformations to Carbon–Heteroatom Bonds. In: Dixneuf PH, Doucet H, editors. C-H Bond Activation and Catalytic Functionalization I. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2016. pp. 29-51. [DOI: 10.1007/3418_2015_123]

Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Annulation and Aromatization for the Synthesis of Pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinolines

A rhodium(III)-catalyzed protocol for the synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinolines through intramolecular annulation of o-alkynyl amino aromatic ketones and subsequent aromatization is reported. This transformation builds the pyrrole and quinoline moieties of the pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoline in one pot and achieves a flexible introduction of different substituent groups at 4- and 5-positions on products that were difficult to prepare by other means. The reaction proceeds smoothly on a gram scale, and the products are amenable to downstream synthetic manipulations.

Rh(iii)-Catalysed synthesis of cinnolinium and fluoranthenium salts using C-H activation/annulation reactions: organelle specific mitochondrial staining applications

The construction of a novel class of indazolo[2,1-a]cinnolin-7-ium and diazabenzofluoranthenium salts was developed by using Rh(iii)-catalyzed C-H activation/annulation reactions with 2-phenyl-2H-indazole, and internal alkynes, which resulted in structurally important polycyclic heteroaromatic compounds (PHAs). This reaction uses mild reaction conditions and has a high efficiency, low catalyst loading, and wide substrate scope. The overall catalytic process involves C-H activation followed by C-C/C-N bond formation. Furthermore, the synthesised cinnolinium/fluoranthenium salts exhibit potential fluorescence properties and 5i was targeted in particular for specific mitochondrial staining in order to investigate cancer cell lines.

Lewis acid-assisted Ir(iii) reductive elimination enables construction of seven-membered-ring sulfoxides

Iridium has played an important role in the evolution of C-H activation chemistry over the last half century owing to its high reactivity towards stoichiometric C-H bond cleavage; however, the use of Ir(iii) complexes in catalytic C-H functionalization/C-C bond formation appears to have fallen off significantly. The main problem lies in the reductive elimination step, as iridium has a tendency to form stable and catalytically inactive Ir(iii) species. Herein, with a rationally designed Lewis acid assisted oxidatively induced strategy, the sluggish Ir(iii) reductive elimination is successfully facilitated, enabling the facile C-C bond formation. The X-ray crystal structure of a silver salt adduct of iridacycle and DFT calculations demonstrate that the sulfoxide group acts as a key bridge connecting the Ir(iii) metal centre with the silver Lewis acid, which facilitates the reductive elimination of the Ir(iii) metallacycle. Further identification of oxidants was carried out by performing stoichiometric reactions, which enables the development of catalytic construction of various highly functionalized seven-membered-ring sulfoxides, that are of great interest in medicinal chemistry and materials science.

Ir(iii)-Catalyzed direct C–H functionalization of N-phenylacetamide with α-diazo quinones: a novel strategy for producing 2-hydroxy-2′-amino-1,2′-biaryl scaffolds

A novel strategy is reported for the construction of 2-hydroxy-2′-amino-1,1′-biaryl scaffolds via Ir(iii)-catalyzed direct C–H bond activation under mild reaction conditions.

Formal Lossen Rearrangement/Alkenylation or Annulation Cascade of Heterole Carboxamides with Alkynes Catalyzed by CpRhIII Complexes with Pendant Amides

It has been established that a cyclopentadienyl (Cp) Rh^III complex with two aryl groups and a pendant amide moiety catalyzes the formal Lossen rearrangement/alkenylation cascade of N-pivaloyl heterole carboxamides with internal alkynes, leading to alkenylheteroles. Interestingly, the use of sterically demanding internal alkynes afforded not the alkenylation but the [3+2] annulation products ([5,5]-fused heteroles). In these reactions, the pendant amide moiety of the CpRh^III complex may accelerate the formal Lossen rearrangement. The use of five-membered heteroles may deter reductive elimination to form strained [5,5]-fused heteroles; instead, protonation proceeds to give the alkenylation products. Bulky alkyne substituents accelerate the reductive elimination to allow the formation of the [5,5]-fused heteroles.

A comprehensive overview of directing groups applied in metal-catalysed C-H functionalisation chemistry

The present review is devoted to summarizing the recent advances (2015-2017) in the field of metal-catalysed group-directed C-H functionalisation. In order to clearly showcase the molecular diversity that can now be accessed by means of directed C-H functionalisation, the whole is organized following the directing groups installed on a substrate. Its aim is to be a comprehensive reference work, where a specific directing group can be easily found, together with the transformations which have been carried out with it. Hence, the primary format of this review is schemes accompanied with a concise explanatory text, in which the directing groups are ordered in sections according to their chemical structure. The schemes feature typical substrates used, the products obtained as well as the required reaction conditions. Importantly, each example is commented on with respect to the most important positive features and drawbacks, on aspects such as selectivity, substrate scope, reaction conditions, directing group removal, and greenness. The targeted readership are both experts in the field of C-H functionalisation chemistry (to provide a comprehensive overview of the progress made in the last years) and, even more so, all organic chemists who want to introduce the C-H functionalisation way of thinking for a design of straightforward, efficient and step-economic synthetic routes towards molecules of interest to them. Accordingly, this review should be of particular interest also for scientists from industrial R&D sector. Hence, the overall goal of this review is to promote the application of C-H functionalisation reactions outside the research groups dedicated to method development and establishing it as a valuable reaction archetype in contemporary R&D, comparable to the role cross-coupling reactions play to date.

Towards Sustainable C-H Functionalization Reactions: The Emerging Role of Bio-Based Reaction Media

In the last decade, transition-metal catalyzed C-H functionalization reactions have progressed enormously, becoming a useful tool in organic synthesis and a practical alternative to well-established methodologies. Very recently, research efforts have also been devoted to developing more sustainable C-H functionalization protocols, in order to increase their applicability. One of the most promising approaches in this sense is represented by the substitution of common reaction media with bio-based solvents. In the present contribution a general perspective on the benefits of this approach is given, followed by key literature examples.

Rhodium-catalyzed C-C coupling reactions via double C-H activation

Various rhodium-catalyzed double C-H activations are reviewed. These powerful strategies have been developed to construct C-C bonds, which might be widely embedded in complex aza-fused heterocycles, polycyclic skeletons and heterocyclic scaffolds. In particular, rhodium(iii) catalysis shows good selectivity and reactivity to functionalize the C-H bond, generating reactive organometallic intermediates in most of the coupling reactions. Generally, intermolecular, intramolecular and multi-component coupling reactions via double C-H activations with or without heteroatom-assisted chelation are discussed in this review.

Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed meta C-H Mono- and Difluoromethylations by Phosphine/Carboxylate Cooperation

Ruthenium(II)-catalyzed meta-selective C-H (di)fluoromethylation was accomplished by phosphine and carboxylate cooperation. The remote C-H functionalization was characterized by ample substrate scope, thereby setting the stage for meta-(di)fluoromethylation through facile C-H cleavage.

Iron-catalyzed C–H/N–H activation by triazole guidance: versatile alkyne annulation

Iron-catalyzed C–H/N–H functionalizations were achieved by the aid of modular triazole amides.

Ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed C-H functionalizations on benzoic acids with aryl, alkenyl and alkynyl halides by weak-O-coordination

C-H arylations of weakly coordinating benzoic acids were achieved by versatile ruthenium(ii) catalysis with ample substrate scope. Thus, user-friendly ruthenium(ii) biscarboxylate complexes modified with tricyclohexylphosphine enabled C-H functionalizations with aryl electrophiles. The unique versatility of the ruthenium(ii) catalysis manifold was reflected by facilitating effective C-H activations with aryl, alkenyl and alkynyl halides.