Novel regioselective aromatic chlorination via catalytic thiourea activation of N-chlorosuccinimide

Telluronium-Catalyzed Halogenation Reactions: Chalcogen-Bond Activation of N-Halosuccinimides and Catalysis

The ability of triaryltelluronium salts to interact with N-halosuccinimides (NXS) through chalcogen bonding (ChB) in the solid state and in solution is demonstrated herein. Cocrystals of the triaryltelluronium bearing two CF3 electron-withdrawing groups per aryl ring with N-chloro-, N-bromo- and N-iodosuccinimide (respectively NCS, NBS and NIS) were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, evidencing a ChB between tellurium and the carbonyl group of NXS. This ChB was confirmed in solution by NMR spectroscopy, especially by 125Te NMR titration experiment, which allowed the determination of the association constant (Ka) between the telluronium and NBS. The so-obtained Ka value of 17.3±0.6 M-1 indicated a moderate interaction in solution because of the competitive role of the solvent. The strength of the Te⋅⋅⋅O ChB was however sufficient enough to promote the catalytic halofunctionalization of aromatics and of alkenes such as the intra- and intermolecular haloalkoxylation and haloesterification of alkenes.

Elemental Sulfur-Mediated Aromatic Halogenation

A method for aromatic halogenation using a combination of elemental sulfur (S8) and N-halosuccinimide has been developed. A catalytic quantity of elemental sulfur (S8) with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) effectively halogenated less-reactive aromatic compounds, such as ester-, cyano-, and nitro-substituted anisole derivatives. No reaction occurred in the absence of S8, underscoring its crucial role in the catalytic activity. This catalytic system was also applicable to aromatic iodination with 1,3-diiodo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

HFIP in Organic Synthesis

1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) is a polar, strongly hydrogen bond-donating solvent that has found numerous uses in organic synthesis due to its ability to stabilize ionic species, transfer protons, and engage in a range of other intermolecular interactions. The use of this solvent has exponentially increased in the past decade and has become a solvent of choice in some areas, such as C-H functionalization chemistry. In this review, following a brief history of HFIP in organic synthesis and an overview of its physical properties, literature examples of organic reactions using HFIP as a solvent or an additive are presented, emphasizing the effect of solvent of each reaction.

Enhanced Reactivity for Aromatic Bromination via Halogen Bonding with Lactic Acid Derivatives

We report a new method for regioselective aromatic bromination using lactic acid derivatives as halogen bond acceptors with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS). Several structural analogues of lactic acid affect the efficiency of aromatic brominations, presumably via Lewis acid/base halogen-bonding interactions. Rate comparisons of aromatic brominations demonstrate the reactivity enhancement available via catalytic additives capable of halogen bonding. Computational results demonstrate that Lewis basic additives interact with NBS to increase the electropositive character of bromine prior to electrophilic transfer. An optimized procedure using catalytic mandelic acid under aqueous conditions at room temperature was developed to promote aromatic bromination on a variety of arene substrates with complete regioselectivity.

DABCO as a practical catalyst for aromatic halogenation with N-halosuccinimides

A simple and practical synthetic approach for synthesis of aromatic halides is developed. Simple Lewis base, DABCO, is used as the catalyst. This arene halogenation process proceedes conveniently and efficiently at ambient conditions, providing the desired products in good to excellent yields and selectivity.

Halogen bond-induced electrophilic aromatic halogenations

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in utilising halogen bonds in organic synthesis, especially in aromatic halogenation reactions. N-Halosuccinimides and 1,3-dihalo-5,5-dimethylhydantoins are popular sources of halonium ions due to their ease of handling and low toxicities. Traditionally, these N-haloimides are activated by electrophiles, namely Brønsted and Lewis acids. The recent discovery of possible activation by nucleophilic Lewis base catalysts led to a paradigm shift in aromatic halogenation. Active functional motifs in Lewis base catalysts such as CS, R-S-R¹, Ar-S-S-Ar, SO, Ar-NH₂, and R₂NH⁺Cl^- form halogen bonds with the positively charged σ-hole of the halogen atoms: an essential interaction to produce halonium ions. This review highlights the evolution of the two modes of activation. Evidence of halogen bond formation from mechanistic studies of nucleophilic activation is also discussed herein.

Catalyst-Controlled Regioselective Chlorination of Phenols and Anilines through a Lewis Basic Selenoether Catalyst

We report a highly efficient ortho-selective electrophilic chlorination of phenols utilizing a Lewis basic selenoether catalyst. The selenoether catalyst resulted in comparable selectivities to our previously reported bis-thiourea ortho-selective catalyst, with a catalyst loading as low as 1%. The new catalytic system also allowed us to extend this chemistry to obtain excellent ortho-selectivities for unprotected anilines. The selectivities of this reaction are up to >20:1 ortho/para, while the innate selectivities for phenols and anilines are approximately 1:4 ortho/para. A series of preliminary studies revealed that the substrates require a hydrogen-bonding moiety for selectivity.

Synthesis of mono- and dimethoxylated polychlorinated biphenyl derivatives starting from fluoroarene derivatives

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are environmental pollutants implicated in a variety of adverse health effects, including cancer and noncancer diseases in animals and humans. PCBs are metabolized to hydroxylated compounds, and some of these PCB metabolites are more toxic than the parent PCBs. Unfortunately, most PCB metabolites needed for toxicological studies are not available from commercial sources. Moreover, it is challenging to synthesize PCB metabolites because starting materials with suitable substitution patterns are not readily available. Here, we report the novel synthesis of a variety of mono- and dimethoxyarene derivatives from commercially available fluoroarenes via nucleophilic aromatic substitution with sodium methoxide. This reaction provided good to excellent yields of the desired methoxylated products. Suzuki coupling of selected mono- and dimethoxy haloarenes with chlorinated phenylboronic acids yielded methoxylated derivatives of PCB 11, 12, 25, 35, and 36 in low to good yields. Crystal structures of 3,3'-dichloro-2,5-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl and 3',5-dichloro-2,3-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl confirmed the substitution pattern of both compounds. This synthesis strategy provides straightforward access to a range of mono- and dimethoxylated PCB derivatives that were not readily accessible previously.

Triptycenyl Sulfide: A Practical and Active Catalyst for Electrophilic Aromatic Halogenation Using N-Halosuccinimides

A Lewis base catalyst Trip-SMe (Trip = triptycenyl) for electrophilic aromatic halogenation using N-halosuccinimides (NXS) is introduced. In the presence of an appropriate activator (as a noncoordinating-anion source), a series of unactivated aromatic compounds were halogenated at ambient temperature using NXS. This catalytic system was applicable to transformations that are currently unachievable except for the use of Br₂ or Cl₂: e.g., multihalogenation of naphthalene, regioselective bromination of BINOL, etc. Controlled experiments revealed that the triptycenyl substituent exerts a crucial role for the catalytic activity, and kinetic experiments implied the occurrence of a sulfonium salt [Trip-S(Me)Br][SbF₆] as an active species. Compared to simple dialkyl sulfides, Trip-SMe exhibited a significant charge-separated ion pair character within the halonium complex whose structural information was obtained by the single-crystal X-ray analysis. A preliminary computational study disclosed that the π system of the triptycenyl functionality is a key motif to consolidate the enhancement of electrophilicity.

An unexpected Bromolactamization of Olefinic Amides Using a Three-Component Co-catalyst System

Reaction between (N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine and isocyanate unexpectedly produced a three-component mixture. By using this mixture as an unprecedented three-component catalyst system, a facile and selective bromolactamization of olefinic amides has been developed. The protocol confers enhanced selectivity of N- over O-cyclization, leading to the formation of a structurally diverse range of lactams including both small and medium ring sizes.