Scope and selectivity in palladium-catalyzed directed C–H bond halogenation reactions

Palladium K-edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Studies on Controlled Ligand Systems

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is widely used across the life and physical sciences to identify the electronic properties and structure surrounding a specific element. XAS is less often used for the characterization of organometallic compounds, especially for sensitive and highly reactive species. In this study, we used solid- and solution-phase XAS to compare a series of 25 palladium complexes in controlled ligand environments. The compounds include palladium centers in the formal I, II, III, and IV oxidation states, supported by tridentate and tetradentate macrocyclic ligands, with different halide and methyl ligand combinations. The Pd K-edge energies increased not only upon oxidizing the metal center but also upon increasing the denticity of the ligand framework, substituting sigma-donating methyl groups with chlorides, and increasing the charge of the overall metal complex by replacing charged ligands with neutral ligands. These trends were then applied to characterize compounds whose oxidation states were otherwise unconfirmed.

Mechanism and Selectivity of Copper-Catalyzed Bromination of Distal C(sp3)-H Bonds

Unactivated C(sp3)-H bonds are the most challenging substrate class for transition metal-catalyzed C-H halogenation. Recently, the Yu group [Liu, T.; Myers, M. C.; Yu, J. Q. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed.2017, 56 (1), 306-309] has demonstrated that a CuII/phenanthroline catalyst and BrN3, generated in situ from NBS and TMSN3 precursors, can achieve selective C-H bromination distal to a directing group. The current understanding of the mechanism of this reaction has left numerous questions unanswered. Here, we investigated the mechanism of Cu-catalyzed C(sp3)-H bromination with distal site selectivity using density functional theory calculations. We found that this reaction starts with the Br-atom transfer from BrN3 to the Cu center that occurs via a small energy barrier at the singlet-triplet state seam of crossing. In the course of this reaction, the presence of the N-H bond in the substrate is critically important and acts as a directing group for enhancing the stability of the catalyst-substrate interaction and for the recruitment of the substrate to the catalyst. The required C-centered radical substrate formation occurs via direct C-H dehydrogenation by the Cu-coordinated N3 radical, rather than via the previously proposed N-H bond dehydrogenation and then the 1,5-H transfer from the γ-(C-H) bond to the N-radical center pathway. The C-H bond activation by the azide radical is a regioselectivity-controlling step. The following bromination of the C-centered radical by the Cu-coordinated bromine completes the product formation. This reaction step is the rate-limiting step, occurs at the singlet-to-triplet state seam of the crossing point, and is exergonic.

Unified short syntheses of oxygenated tricyclic aromatic diterpenes by radical cyclization with a photoredox catalyst

The biomimetic two-phase strategy employing polyene cyclization and subsequent oxidation/substitution is an effective approach for divergent syntheses of [6-6-6]-tricyclic diterpenes. However, this strategy requires lengthy sequences for syntheses of oxygenated tricyclic aromatic abietane/podocarpane diterpenes owing to the many linear oxidation/substitution steps after cyclization. Here, we present a new synthetic route based on a convergent reverse two-phase strategy employing a reverse radical cyclization approach, which enabled the unified short syntheses of four aromatic abietane/podocarpane diterpenes and the divergent short syntheses of other related diterpenes. Oxygenated and substituted precursors for cyclization were convergently prepared through Friedel-Crafts acylation and rhodium-catalyzed site-selective iodination. Radical redox cyclization using an iridium photoredox catalyst involving neophyl rearrangement furnished the thermodynamically favored 6-membered ring preferentially. (±)-5,6-Dehydrosugiol, salvinolone, crossogumerin A, and Δ5-nimbidiol were synthesized in only 8 steps. An oxygenated cyclized intermediate was also useful for divergent derivatization to sugiol, ferruginol, saprorthoquinone, cryptomeriololide, and salvinolone.

Alkali halides as nucleophilic reagent sources for N-directed palladium-catalysed ortho-C-H halogenation of s-tetrazines and other heteroaromatics

A general palladium-catalysed selective C-H halogenation reaction is reported, which was successfully achieved for a large variety of functionalized aromatic rings incorporating diverse N-directing groups. By using simple alkali halides of MX type as the nucleophilic reagent source (M = Li, Na, K, Cs and X = I, Br and Cl), and phenyliodanediacetate oxidant, clean C-H-iodination, bromination and chlorination reactions were performed. This general protocol of selective ortho-monohalogenation, which complements but contrasts with the classical methods using electrophilic reagents, is achievable in a short time (30 min) with microwave irradiation assistance. The reaction was extended to substrates bearing N-directing pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrazole, oxazoline, naphtho[1,2-d]thiazole, and azobenzene groups. Notably, the topical and selectivity-challenging s-tetrazine, as a nitrogen-rich heteroaromatic, was successfully halogenated by this protocol.

Mechanochemical halogenation of unsymmetrically substituted azobenzenes

The direct and selective mechanochemical halogenation of C–H bonds in unsymmetrically substituted azobenzenes using N-halosuccinimides as the halogen source under neat grinding or liquid-assisted grinding conditions in a ball mill has been described. Depending on the azobenzene substrate used, halogenation of the C–H bonds occurs in the absence or only in the presence of Pd^II catalysts. Insight into the reaction dynamics and characterization of the products was achieved by in situ Raman and ex situ NMR spectroscopy and PXRD analysis. A strong influence of the different 4,4’-substituents of azobenzene on the halogenation time and mechanism was found.

Palladium-catalyzed acetalization/cyclization of enynones with alcohols: rapid access to functionalized dihaloalkenyl dihydrofurans

A novel Pd-catalyzed acetalization/cyclization of enynones and alcohols for the construction of dihaloalkenyl dihydrofuran derivatives is described.

Advances on the Merger of Electrochemistry and Transition Metal Catalysis for Organic Synthesis

Synthetic organic electrosynthesis has grown in the past few decades by achieving many valuable transformations for synthetic chemists. Although electrocatalysis has been popular for improving selectivity and efficiency in a wide variety of energy-related applications, in the last two decades, there has been much interest in electrocatalysis to develop conceptually novel transformations, selective functionalization, and sustainable reactions. This review discusses recent advances in the combination of electrochemistry and homogeneous transition-metal catalysis for organic synthesis. The enabling transformations, synthetic applications, and mechanistic studies are presented alongside advantages as well as future directions to address the challenges of metal-catalyzed electrosynthesis.

Oxidatively Induced Selective Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation From Isolated Rhodium(III) Complexes

This work focuses on oxidatively induced regioselective intramolecular C-C bond formations based on the Rh^III complexes synthesized from dirhodium(II) trifluoroacetate with 2-arylpyridines. With the selection of electron-donating groups on the arene rings of 2-arylpyridines, the unusual meta-ortho C-C bond-forming was favored, which led to the formation of meta-substituted 2-arylpyridine homocoupling dimers. On the contrary, the electron-withdrawing groups have tendency to occur conventional ortho-ortho bond-forming, resulting in the formation of new Rh^III complexes possessing the intriguing Rh^III (TFA)₃ fragment. Preliminary mechanistic experiments suggest that the sequential oxidation of Rh^III occurred in the reaction.

Single-Pore versus Dual-Pore Bipyridine-Based Covalent-Organic Frameworks: An Insight into the Heterogeneous Catalytic Activity for Selective CH Functionalization

Exponential growth in the field of covalent-organic frameworks (COFs) is emanating from the direct correlation between designing principles and desired properties. The comparison of catalytic activity between single-pore and dual-pore COFs is of importance to establish structure-function relationship. Herein, the synthesis of imine-linked dual-pore [(BPyDC)]_{x %} -ETTA COFs (x = 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) with controllable bipyridine content is fulfilled by three-component condensation of 4,4',4″,4'″-(ethene-1,1,2,2-tetrayl)tetraaniline (ETTA), 4,4'-biphenyldialdehyde, and 2,2'-bipyridyl-5,5'-dialdehyde in different stoichiometric ratio. The strong coordination of bipyridine moieties of [(BPyDC)]_{x %} -ETTA COFs with palladium imparts efficient catalytic active sites for selective functionalization of sp² CH bond to CX (X = Br, Cl) or CO bonds in good yield. To broaden the scope of regioselective CH functionalization, a wide range of electronically and sterically substituted substrates under optimized catalytic condition are investigated. A comparison of the catalytic activity of palladium decorated dual-pore frameworks with single-pore imine-linked Pd(II) @ Py-2,2'-BPyDC framework  is undertaken. The finding of this work provides a sporadic example of chelation-assisted CH functionalization and disclosed an in-depth comparison of the relationship between superior catalytic activity and core properties of rationally designed imine linked frameworks.

Palladium-Catalyzed Aromatic C-H Functionalizations Utilizing Electrochemical Oxidations

Transition-metal-catalyzed electrochemical C-H functionalizations have been extensively studied as atom- and step-economical clean methods in organic synthesis. In this account, we described our efforts on the palladium-catalyzed electrochemical C-H functionalizations, including C-H halogenations of arylpyridines and benzamide derivatives using HCl/HBr and I₂ as a halogen source, a one-pot process giving teraryls via the palladium-catalyzed electrochemical C-H iodination and subsequent Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, and an iodine-mediated oxidative homo-coupling reaction of arylpyridines.

Efficient Pd(ii)-catalyzed regioselective ortho-halogenation of arylcyanamides

2-Halo arylcyanamides have been constructed from cyanamides via Pd(ii)-catalyzed selective ortho-halogenation under moderate reaction conditions.

Pd-Catalyzed C-H Halogenation of Indolines and Tetrahydroquinolines with Removable Directing Group

Pd-catalyzed directing-group-assisted regioselective halogenations to C7 of indolines and C8 of tetrahydroquinolines were achieved in good to excellent yields. The practicality and utility of the developed method have been illustrated by various functional group transformations such as arylation, alkenylation, cyanation, and silylation utilizing the installed synthetic handle. The concise synthesis of primaquine, an antimalarial drug, and formal syntheses of two bioactive natural products, hippadine and pratosine, have also been demonstrated.

Rhodium-Catalyzed ortho-Bromination of O-Phenyl Carbamates Accelerated by a Secondary Amide-Pendant Cyclopentadienyl Ligand

It has been established that a newly developed cyclopentadienyl rhodium(III) [Cp^A Rh^III ] complex, bearing an acidic secondary amide moiety on the Cp ring, is able to catalyze the ortho-bromination of O-phenyl carbamates with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) at room temperature. The presence of the acidic secondary amide moiety on the Cp^A ligand accelerates the bromination by the hydrogen bond between the acidic NH group of the Cp^A ligand and the carbonyl group of NBS.

Salen-based hypercrosslinked polymer-supported Pd as an efficient and recyclable catalyst for C-H halogenation

In this work, we report the first use of a salen-based hypercrosslinked polymer-supported Pd catalyst to carry out C-H halogenation. This catalyst can effectively catalyze C-H bromination and chlorination even better than its homogeneous counterpart Pd(OAc)2. It also showed excellent reusability without loss of catalytic activity for ten cycles. A broad substrate scope was explored and moderate to excellent yields were obtained.

C-H Halogenation of Pyridyl Sulfides Avoiding the Sulfur Oxidation: A Direct Catalytic Access to Sulfanyl Polyhalides and Polyaromatics

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative C-H halogenation and acetoxylation reactions of S-unprotected sulfides, selectively directed by pyridinyl groups, allows the formation of C-X bonds (X = I, Br, Cl, OAc) by using simple halosuccinimide or phenyliodine diacetate (PIDA) oxidants. The undesired formation of sulfoxides and/or sulfones, which are usually observed under oxidative conditions, is fully obviated. Under the solvent-dependent conditions that we proposed, sulfide C-H functionalization is achieved in less than 1 h without any direct electrophilic halogenation at the pyridine moiety. N-Directed ortho-C-H activation of aryl also facilitates dibromination reactions which are hardly accessible with sulfone and sulfoxide counterparts because of their higher structural rigidity. This general method gives a straightforward access to polyhalide sulfides, without an organosulfur reduction step or protection-deprotection sequence. Polyhalide sulfides are valuable synthons that give a practical entry to new constrained polyaromatic and biphenyl sulfides, including synthetically challenging unsymmetrical examples.

Directed C-H Halogenation Reactions Catalysed by PdII Supported on Polymers under Batch and Continuous Flow Conditions

A new generation of N-heterocyclic carbene palladium(II) complexes containing vinyl groups in different positions in the backbone of the N-heterocycle have been developed. The fully characterised monomers were copolymerised with divinylbenzene to fabricate robust polymer supported NHC-Pd^II complexes and these polymers were applied as heterogeneous catalysts in directed C-H halogenation of arenes with a pyridine-type directing group. The catalysts demonstrated medium-high catalytic activity with up to 90 % conversion and 100 % selectivity in chlorination. They are heterogeneous and recyclable (at least six times) with no significant leaching of palladium in batch mode catalysis. The best catalyst was also applied under continuous flow conditions where it disclosed an exceptional activity (90 % conversion) and 100 % selectivity for the mono-halogenated product for at least six days, with no leaching of palladium, no loss of activity and an ability to maintain the original oxidation state of Pd^II .

The palladium(ii)-catalyzed regioselective ortho-C-H bromination/iodination of arylacetamides with in situ generated imidic acid as the directing group: mechanistic exploration

In the present study, we report the palladium(ii)-catalyzed regioselective ortho-C-H bromination/iodination of challenging arylacetamide derivatives using N-halosuccinimides as halogenating agents. Diverse arylacetamides underwent the regioselective ortho-bromination and iodination of aromatic C-H bonds in the presence of a reactive benzylic C(sp3)-H bond without installing any bulky auxiliaries via unfavorable six-membered metallacycles. Weak coordination, the use of ubiquitous primary amides for challenging C-H functionalization, the simple catalytic system and the wide substrate scope are the key features of this transformation. Further, the halogenated amide derivatives were transformed into a variety of valuable synthons. Detailed mechanistic studies revealed some interesting aspects concerning the reaction pathway. We present for the first time strong evidence for the formation of imidic acid (in situ) from primary amides under Brønsted acid conditions that eventually aids in the stabilization of palladacycles of amide derivatives and drives regioselective C-X bond formation.

Conformational and Stereodynamic Behavior of Five- to Seven-Membered 1-Aryl-2-iminoazacycloalkanes

The stereodynamic behavior of 1-arylpyrrolidin-2-imines, having a C_aryl-N stereogenic axis, has been studied by means of dynamic nuclear magnetic resonance and density functional theory calculations, evaluating the steric effect of ortho-aryl substituents. The rotational barrier due to E/Z isomerism about the -C=N-H bond was also determined. The dynamic stereochemistry of homologous six- and seven-membered iminoazacycloalkane rings and their oxo-analogues was also comparatively investigated, evidencing a ring size effect. It was found that the seven-membered heterocycle shows additional dynamic features because of ring inversion.

Electrochemical Umpolung of Bromide: Transition-Metal-Free Bromination of Indole C⁻H Bond

A facile and sustainable electrochemical umpolung of bromide ion protocol was developed under mild reaction conditions. Transition metal catalysts and exogenous chemical oxidants were obviated for the bromination of C⁻H bond. Notably, graphite rod, which is commercially available at supermarkets and is inexpensive, was employed as the electrode material. This operationally easy and environmentally friendly approach accomplished the synthesis of 3-bromoindole in excellent yield and regioselectivity.

Transition metal catalysed C7 and ortho-selective halogenation of 2-arylbenzo[d]oxazoles

An approach to construct C–X bonds on the C7 or ortho-position of 2-arylbenzo[d]oxazoles by Rh and Ru catalysts has been reported.

Site-selective Ru-catalyzed C–H bond alkenylation with biologically relevant isoindolinones: a case of catalyst performance controlled by subtle stereo-electronic effects of the weak directing group

A general regio- and site-selective ruthenium-catalyzed C–H bond alkenylation with the biologically relevant isoindolinone fragment serving as a weak directing group is presented.

Metal-catalyzed regiodivergent organic reactions

This review discusses metal-catalysed regiodivergent additions, allylic substitutions, CH-activation, cross-couplings and intra- or intermolecular cyclisations.

Ligand and solvent control of selectivity in the C-H activation of a pyridylimine-substituted 1-naphthalene; a combined synthetic and computational study

The pyridylimine-substituted 1-naphthalenes, 2-(1-C10H7)-6-{CR[double bond, length as m-dash]N(2,6-i-Pr2C6H3)}C5H3N (R = Me HLMe, H HLH), react with Na2[PdCl4] in acetic acid at elevated temperature to afford either ortho-C-Hnaphthyl activated (LMe)PdCl (2ortho) or the unactivated adduct (HLH)PdCl2 (1b). Alternatively, 1b and its ketimine analogue (HLMe)PdCl2 (1a), can be prepared by treating (MeCN)2PdCl2 with either HLMe or HLH in chloroform at room temperature. Regio-selective ortho-C-H activation to form 2ortho can also be initiated by the thermolysis of 1a in acetic acid, while no reaction occurs under similar conditions with 1b. Interestingly, the C-H activation of HLMe to give 2ortho is found to be reversible with 100% deuteration of the peri-site occurring on reacting Na2[PdCl4] with HLMe in acetic acid-d4. By contrast, heating 1a in toluene gives a 55 : 45 mixture of 2ortho and its peri-activated isomer 2peri. Pure 2peri can, however, be obtained either from (LMe)PdOAc (3peri) by OAc/Cl exchange or by the sequential reactions of 1a with firstly silver acetate then with aqueous sodium chloride. Intriguingly, a peri to ortho interconversion occurs on heating 2peri in acetic acid to give 2ortho. DFT calculations have been used to investigate the C-H activation steps and it is found that in acetic acid ortho-C-H activation is kinetically and thermodynamically favoured but peri-CH activation is kinetically accessible (ΔΔG‡ = 2.4 kcal mol-1). By contrast in toluene, the reaction appears to be irreversible with the difference in barrier height for ortho- and peri-C-H activation being very small within the error of the method (ΔΔG‡ = 0.7 kcal mol-1), findings that are in agreement with the empirically observed product distribution for 2ortho and 2peri. Single crystal X-ray structures are reported for 1a, 1b, 2ortho and 2peri.

Site-Selective Switching Strategies to Functionalize Polyazines

Many drug fragments and therapeutic compounds contain multiple pyridines and diazines. Developing site-selective reactions where specific C-H bonds can be transformed in polyazine structures would enable rapid access to valuable derivatives. We present a study that addresses this challenge by selectively installing a phosphonium ion as a versatile functional handle. Inherent factors that control site-selectivity are described along with mechanistically driven approaches for site-selective switching, where the C-+PPh3 group can be predictably installed at other positions in the polyazine system. Simple protocols, readily available reagents, and application to complex drug-like molecules make this approach appealing to medicinal chemists.

Oxidative C-C Bond Functionalization of Methylenecyclopropanes with Aldehydes for the Formation of 2-Acyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalenes

A new FeCl₂- and DTBP (di- tert-butyl peroxide)-promoted oxidative ring-opening and cyclization of methylenecyclopropanes with aldehydes for the synthesis of 2-acyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalenes is presented. This oxidative cyclization reaction proceeds via a radical addition, ring-opening, and cyclization sequence facilitated by a Lewis acid, and it offers a practical and straightforward route for the oxidative cyclization of methylenecyclopropanes with an aromatic carbon and a C(sp²)-H bond by simultaneously forming two new carbon-carbon bonds.

Site-selective bromination of sp3 C-H bonds

A method for converting sp3 C-H to C-Br bonds using an N-methyl sulfamate directing group is described. The reaction employs Rh2(oct)4 and a mixture of NaBr and NaOCl and is performed in aqueous solution open to air. For all sulfamates examined, oxidation occurs with high selectivity at the γ-carbon, affording a uniquely predictable method for C-H bond halogenation. Results from a series of mechanistic experiments suggest that substrate oxidation likely proceeds by a radical chain process. Initial formation of an N-halogenated sulfamate followed by Rh-mediated homolysis generates an N-centered radical, which serves as the active oxidant.

Rh(iii)-Catalyzed regioselective mono- and di-iodination of azobenzenes using alkyl iodide

We developed a highly chemoselective oxidative access to ortho-iodinated azobenzenes by Rh(iii)-catalysis with alkyl iodide as the iodinating reagent.