Recent advances in the field of nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hydrogen

Catalyst- and solvent-free regiospecific SNHAr phosphinylation of pyridines with H-phosphinates mediated by benzoylphenylacetylene

Pyridines undergo a facile SNHAr phosphinylation with H-phosphinates under catalyst- and solvent-free conditions (50-55 °C) in the presence of benzoylphenylacetylene to afford 4-phosphinylpyridines in up to 68% yield. In this reaction, benzoylphenylacetylene activates the pyridine ring by the formation of a 1,3(4)-dipolar complex, deprotonates H-phosphinates to generate P-centered anions and finally acts as an oxidizer, being eliminated from an intermediate ion pair. Terminal electron-deficient acetylenes (methyl propiolate and benzoylacetylene) are inefficient as mediators in the above SNHAr process.

Indolyl-Derived 4H-Imidazoles: PASE Synthesis, Molecular Docking and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assay

The strategy of the nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen (SNH) was first applied for the metal-free C-H/C-H coupling reactions of 4H-imidazole 3-oxides with indoles. As a result, a series of novel bifunctional azaheterocyclic derivatives were obtained in yields up to 95%. In silico experiments on the molecular docking were performed to evaluate the binding possibility of the synthesized small azaheterocyclic molecules to the selected biotargets (BACE1, BChE, CK1δ, AChE) associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. To assess the cytotoxicity for the synthesized compounds, a series of in vitro experiments were also carried out on healthy human embryo kidney cells (HEK-293). The leading compound bearing both 5-phenyl-4H-imidazole and 1-methyl-1H-indole moieties was defined as the prospective molecule possessing the lowest cytotoxicity (IC50 > 300 µM on HEK-293) and the highest binding energy in the protein–ligand complex (AChE, −13.57 kcal/mol). The developed compounds could be of particular interest in medicinal chemistry, particularly in the targeted design of small-molecule candidates for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Synthesis of quinoxaline derivatives via aromatic nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen

The electrophilic nature of quinoxaline has been explored in the vicarious nucleophilic substitution (VNS) of hydrogen with various carbanions as nucleophiles in an attempt to develop a general method for functionalizing the heterocyclic ring. Only poorly stabilized nitrile carbanions were found to give the VNS products. 2-Chloroquinoxaline gave products of S_NAr of chlorine preferentially. A variety of quinoxaline derivatives containing cyanoalkyl, sulfonylalkyl, benzyl or ester substituents, including fluorinated ones, have been prepared in the VNS reactions with quinoxaline N-oxide.

Heterogeneous Photocatalysis as a Potent Tool for Organic Synthesis: Cross-Dehydrogenative C-C Coupling of N-Heterocycles with Ethers Employing TiO2/N-Hydroxyphthalimide System under Visible Light

Despite the obvious advantages of heterogeneous photocatalysts (availability, stability, recyclability, the ease of separation from products and safety) their application in organic synthesis faces serious challenges: generally low efficiency and selectivity compared to homogeneous photocatalytic systems. The development of strategies for improving the catalytic properties of semiconductor materials is the key to their introduction into organic synthesis. In the present work, a hybrid photocatalytic system involving both heterogeneous catalyst (TiO₂) and homogeneous organocatalyst (N-hydroxyphthalimide, NHPI) was proposed for the cross-dehydrogenative C-C coupling of electron-deficient N-heterocycles with ethers employing t-BuOOH as the terminal oxidant. It should be noted that each of the catalysts is completely ineffective when used separately under visible light in this transformation. The occurrence of visible light absorption upon the interaction of NHPI with the TiO₂ surface and the generation of reactive phthalimide-N-oxyl (PINO) radicals upon irradiation with visible light are considered to be the main factors determining the high catalytic efficiency. The proposed method is suitable for the coupling of π-deficient pyridine, quinoline, pyrazine, and quinoxaline heteroarenes with various non-activated ethers.

New TEMPO-Appended 2,2'-Bipyridine-Based Eu(III), Tb(III), Gd(III) and Sm(III) Complexes: Synthesis, Photophysical Studies and Testing Photoluminescence-Based Bioimaging Abilities

Linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyloids and tau-protein are known to contain a large number of cysteine (Cys) residues. In addition, certain levels of some common biogenic thiols (cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), glutathione (GSH), etc.) in biological fluids are closely related to AD as well as other diseases. Therefore, probes with a selective interaction with the above-mentioned thiols can be used for the monitoring and visualizing changes of (bio)thiols in the biological fluids as well as in the brain of animal models of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, new Eu(III), Tb(III), Gd(III) and Sm(III) complexes of 2,2'-bipyridine ligands containing TEMPO fragments as receptor units for (bio)thiols are reported. The presence of free radical fragments of the ligand in the complexes was proved by using the electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR) method. Among all the complexes, the Eu(III) complex turned out to be the most promising one as luminescence- and spin-probe for the detection of biogenic thiols. The EPR and fluorescent titration methods showed the interaction of the resulting complex with free Cys and GSH in solution. To study the practical applicability of the probes for the monitoring of AD in-vivo, by using the above-mentioned Eu(III)-based probe, the staining of the brain of mice with amyloidosis and Vero cell cultures supplemented with the cysteine-enriched medium was studied as well as the fluorescence titration of Bovine Serum Albumin, BSA (as the model for the thiol moieties containing protein), was carried out. Based on the results of fluorescence titration, the formation of a non-covalent inclusion complex between the above-mentioned Eu(III) complex and BSA was suggested.

SNH Amidation of 5-Nitroisoquinoline: Access to Nitro- and Nitroso Derivatives of Amides and Ureas on the Basis of Isoquinoline

For the first time, amides and ureas based on both 5-nitroisoquinoline and 5-nitrosoisoquinoline were obtained by direct nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen in the 5-nitroisoquinoline molecule. In the case of urea and monosubstituted ureas, only 5-nitrosoisoquinoline-6-amine is formed under anhydrous conditions.

The Structure of Biologically Active Functionalized Azoles: NMR Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemistry

This review summarizes the data on the stereochemical structure of functionalized azoles (pyrazoles, imidazoles, triazoles, thiazoles, and benzazoles) and related compounds obtained by multipulse and multinuclear 1H, 13C, 15N NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemistry. The stereochemistry of functionalized azoles is a challenging topic of theoretical research, as the correct interpretation of their chemical behavior and biological activity depends on understanding the factors that determine the stereochemical features and relative stability of their tautomers. NMR spectroscopy, in combination with quantum chemical calculations, is the most convenient and reliable approach to the evaluation of the stereochemical behavior of, in particular, nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic and heterocyclic compounds. Over the last decade, 15N NMR spectroscopy has become almost an express method for the determination of the structure of nitrogen-containing heterocycles.

A BF3-mediated C–H/C–Li coupling of 1,3,7-triazapyrene with 2-thienyllithium in the design of push–pull fluorophores and chemosensors for nitroaromatics

A BF3-mediated strategy of oxidative nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen affords mono- and bis-substituted thiophene-derived 1,3,7-triazapyrene fluorophores of interest in the design of luminescent materials and chemosensors for nitroaromatics.

Electron-Deficient Acetylenes as Three-Modal Adjuvants in SNH Reaction of Pyridinoids with Phosphorus Nucleophiles

Publications covering a new easy metal-free functionalization of pyridinoids (pyridines, quinolines, isoquinolines, acridine) under the action of the system of electron-deficient acetylenes (acetylenecarboxylic acid esters, acylacetylenes)/P-nucleophiles (phosphine chalcogenides, H-phosphonates) are reviewed. Special attention is focused on a S_N^H reaction of the regioselective cross-coupling of pyridines with secondary phosphine chalcogenides triggered by acylacetylenes to give 4-chalcogenophosphorylpyridines. In these processes, acetylenes act as three-modal adjuvants (i) activating the pyridine ring towards P-nucleophiles, (ii) deprotonating the P-H bond and (iii) facilitating the nucleophilic addition of the P-centered anion to a heterocyclic moiety followed by the release of the selectively reduced acetylenes (E-alkenes).

Direct Transition-Metal Free Benzene C-H Functionalization by Intramolecular Non-Nitroarene Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution of Hydrogen to Diverse AIEgens

Direct C(sp² )-H functionalization through nitroarene-triggered nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hydrogen (SNAr^H ) has attracted growing attention, owing to its high efficiency and low carbon footprint. In this study, non-nitro-group-assisted S_N Ar^H has been developed for direct benzene functionalization in one pot under mild conditions. The electron-withdrawing carbonyl group and the halide or trifluoromethyl group on the phenyl ring enable the σ^H adduct formation to fulfill the intramolecular C(sp² )-C(sp³ ) bond construction. Notably, the cyano group serves as both the electron-withdrawing group to activate the C(sp³ )-H bond and the leaving group to fulfill the β-elimination. Three series of pyrrolo[1,2-b]isoquinolinones, as well as unexpected rearrangement products 3-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-1H-inden-1-ones are regioselectively obtained through a simple and efficient base-catalyzed one-pot strategy. Mechanistic studies indicate that the σ^H adduct from carbanion addition to hydrogen serves as the sole intermediate for all of the aforementioned transformations. These molecules show intense luminescence and the subsequent one-step structural modification results in the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) derivatives with redshifted full-color tunable fluorescence, large Stokes shifts, and good quantum yields. Further living cell imaging investigations suggest their potential application as specific bioprobes for lipid droplet localization and visualization.

Electrooxidation Is a Promising Approach to Functionalization of Pyrazole-Type Compounds

The review summarizes for the first time the poorly studied electrooxidative functionalization of pyrazole derivatives leading to the C-Cl, C-Br, C-I, C-S and N-N coupling products with applied properties. The introduction discusses some aspects of aromatic hydrogen substitution. Further, we mainly consider our works on effective synthesis of the corresponding halogeno, thiocyanato and azo compounds using cheap, affordable and environmentally promising electric currents.

Direct amidation of metallaaromatics: access to N-functionalized osmapentalynes via a 1,5-bromoamidated intermediate

The direct C–H amidation or imidation of metallaaromatics with N-bromoamides or imides has been achieved under mild conditions and leads to the formation of a family of N-functionalized metallapentalyne derivatives. A unique 1,5-bromoamidated species has been identified, and can be viewed as a σ^H-adduct intermediate in a nucleophilic aromatic substitution. The 1,5-addition of both electrophilic and nucleophilic moieties into the metallaaromatic framework demonstrates a novel pathway in contrast to the typical radical process of arene C–H amidation involving N-haloamide reagents.

The direct C–H amidation of metallapentalyne has been achieved under mild conditions in which key 1,5-bromoamidated intermediates was determined.

C(sp2)-H functionalization in non-aromatic azomethine-based heterocycles

Direct C(sp2)-H functionalization of the endocyclic azomethine and aldonitrone moieties in non-aromatic azaheterocycles has established itself as a promising methodology over the last decade. Transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, α-metalation-electrophile quenching protocols, and (metal-free) nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen reactions (SNH) are the major routes applied on cyclic imines and their derivatives. In this overview, we show the tangible progress made in this area during the period from 2008 to 2020.

Oxidative nucleophilic alkoxylation of nitrobenzenes

Oxidative nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hydrogen in nitroaromatics with potassium alkoxides is reported.

Metal-free SHN cross-coupling of pyridines with phosphine chalcogenides: polarization/deprotonation/oxidation effects of electron-deficient acetylenes

Terminal acylacetylenes act as trimodal auxiliaries in SHN cross-coupling of pyridines with phosphine chalcogenides. The reaction proceeds via phosphorylation of the pyridine 2 position followed by 2 → 4-migration of phosphoryl moieties.

Construction of Binuclear Benzimidazole-Fused Quinazolinones and Pyrimidinones Using Aryl Isocyanates as Building Blocks by Transition-Metal-Free C(sp2)-N Coupling

A class of binuclear N-fused hybrid scaffolds was constructed by the reaction of 2-(2-bromoaryl)- and 2-(2-bromovinyl)benzimidazoles with aryl isocyanates as building blocks in the presence of a base under microwave irradiation. A nucleophilic addition followed by an unprecedented transition-metal-free C(sp²)-N coupling is proposed as a reaction pathway of this green process.

Organoborohydride-catalyzed Chichibabin-type C4-position alkylation of pyridines with alkenes assisted by organoboranes

The first NaBEt₃H-catalyzed intermolecular Chichibabin-type alkylation of pyridine and its derivatives with alkenes as the latent nucleophiles is presented with the assistance of BEt₃, and a series of branched C4-alkylation pyridines, even highly congested all-carbon quaternary center-containing triarylmethanes can be obtained in a regiospecific manner. Therefore, the conventional reliance on high cost and low availability transition metal catalysts, prior formation of N-activated pyridines, organometallic reagents, and extra oxidation operation for the construction of a C–C bond at the C4-position of the pyridines in previous methods are not required. The corresponding mechanism and the key roles of the organoborane were elaborated by the combination of H/D scrambling experiments, ¹¹B NMR studies, intermediate trapping experiments and computational studies. This straightforward and mechanistically distinct organocatalytic technology not only opens a new door for the classical but still far less well-developed Chichibabin-type reaction, but also sets up a new platform for the development of novel C–C bond-forming methods.

The first NaBEt₃H-catalyzed intermolecular Chichibabin-type alkylation of pyridines with alkenes as the latent nucleophiles is presented in the presence of BEt₃, and a series of branched C4-alkylated pyridines were obtained in a regiospecific manner.

Synthesis and Facile Dearomatization of Highly Electrophilic Nitroisoxazolo[4,3-b]pyridines

A number of novel 6-R-isoxazolo[4,3-b]pyridines were synthesized and their reactions with neutral C-nucleophiles (1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, π-excessive (het)arenes, dienes) were studied. The reaction rate was found to be dependent on the nature of the substituent 6-R. The most reactive 6-nitroisoxazolo[4,3-b]pyridines are able to add C-nucleophiles in the absence of a base under mild conditions. In addition, these compounds readily undergo [4+2]-cycloaddition reactions on aromatic bonds C=C(NO₂) of the pyridine ring, thus indicating the superelectrophilic nature of 6-NO₂-isoxazolo[4,3-b]pyridines.

Mechanistic insight into the organocalcium-mediated nucleophilic alkylation of benzene and further rational design

DFT calculations disclosed the mechanism of the target reaction and the origin of unusual nucleophilicity of organocalcium. More reactive analogues were designed.

Site-Selective C-H Alkylation of Diazine N-Oxides Enabled by Phosphonium Ylides

The synthesis of alkylated diazine derivatives is important for their practical utilization as pharmaceuticals and for other purposes. Herein, we describe the metal-free site-selective C-H alkylation of diazine N-oxides using phosphonium ylides that affords a variety of alkylated diazine derivatives with broad functional group tolerance. The utility of this method is showcased by the late-stage functionalization of a commercially available drug such as varenicline. Notably, the sequential C-H alkylation of pyrazine N-oxides for the total synthesis of a pyrazine-containing natural product, paenibacillin A, highlights the importance of this method.

Synthesis of Functionalized Pyrazin-2(1 H)-ones via Tele-Nucleophilic Substitution of Hydrogen Involving Grignard Reactants and Electrophiles

The reaction of 6-chloro-1-methylpyrazin-2(1 H)-one with Grignard reactants followed by quenching with different electrophiles gave access to a variety of 3,6-difunctionalized 1-methylpyrazin-2(1 H)-ones. This regioselective three-component reaction represents the first example of a tele-nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen (S_N^H) in which the anionic σ^H adduct is quenched by electrophiles (other than a proton) before elimination takes place. Quenching the reaction with iodine (I₂) or bromine (Br₂) provides an alternative reaction pathway, yielding a 3-functionalized 6-chloro-1-methylpyrazin-2(1 H)-one or 5-bromo-6-chloro-1-methylpyrazin-2(1 H)-one, respectively. The halogens present offer opportunities for further selective transformations.

Nucleophilic Substitution of Hydrogen Atom in Initially Inactivated Pyrrole Ring

It has been found that 1-dialkylamino-8-(pyrrolyl-1)naphthalenes 1 and 6, upon treatment with an equimolar amount of HBF₄ under ambient conditions, produce 1-dialkylammonium salts which are transformed into 7,7-dialkyl-7 H-pyrrolo[1,2- a]perimidine-7-ium tetrafluoroborates 5 and 7, respectively. The reaction proceeds in a highly selective manner and represents the first case of nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen in the initially inactivated pyrrole ring. The scope and limitations of the transformation, apparently operating due to the joint action of the "proximity effect" and proton catalysis, are outlined.

Transition metal-free oxidative and deoxygenative C-H/C-Li cross-couplings of 2H-imidazole 1-oxides with carboranyl lithium as an efficient synthetic approach to azaheterocyclic carboranes

The direct C-H functionalization methodology has first been applied to perform transition metal-free C-H/C-Li cross-couplings of 2H-imidazole 1-oxides with carboranyllithium. This atom- and step-economical approach, based on one-pot reactions of nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen (SN H) in non-aromatic azaheterocycles, affords novel imidazolyl-modified carboranes of two types (N-oxides and their deoxygenative analogues), which are particularly of interest in the design of advanced materials.

Electrochemical strategies for C-H functionalization and C-N bond formation

Conventional methods for carrying out carbon-hydrogen functionalization and carbon-nitrogen bond formation are typically conducted at elevated temperatures, and rely on expensive catalysts as well as the use of stoichiometric, and perhaps toxic, oxidants. In this regard, electrochemical synthesis has recently been recognized as a sustainable and scalable strategy for the construction of challenging carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. Here, electrosynthesis has proven to be an environmentally benign, highly effective and versatile platform for achieving a wide range of nonclassical bond disconnections via generation of radical intermediates under mild reaction conditions. This review provides an overview on the use of anodic electrochemical methods for expediting the development of carbon-hydrogen functionalization and carbon-nitrogen bond formation strategies. Emphasis is placed on methodology development and mechanistic insight and aims to provide inspiration for future synthetic applications in the field of electrosynthesis.