Samarium diiodide/nickel diiodide an efficient system for homo and heterocoupling reactions of imines

Electroreductive Access to 1,2-Aminoalcohols via Cross Aza-Pinacol Coupling of N-Acyl Diarylketimines and Aldehydes

We present highly efficient and operationally simple synthetic methods for 1,2-aminoalcohols via electroreductive cross aza-pinacol coupling between N-acyl diarylketimines and aldehydes. Preliminary mechanistic studies including cyclic voltammetry and density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the reaction is instigated by selective electrochemical single electron transfer (SET) of N-acylketimines. The developed electrochemical protocol is compatible to biorelevant functional groups, enabling late-stage functionalization of pharmacophores.

α-Aminocarbene-Mediated Si-H Insertion: Deoxygenative Silylation of Aromatic Amides with Silanes

While metal carbene-mediated Si-H insertion reactions have become a powerful strategy to build new C-Si bonds, the utilization of α-aminocarbene intermediates generated from readily available precursors in the Si-H insertion reaction remains a longstanding challenge. Herein, we develop a practical and general strategy to synthesize α-aminosilanes through a deoxygenative cross-coupling of amides and silanes mediated by Sm/SmI₂. Given the simplicity and versatility, this methodology represents a fascinating example for the effective utilization of inert amides as α-aminocarbene precursors in organic synthesis.

Deoxygenative Cross-Coupling of Aromatic Amides with Polyfluoroarenes

Considering the ubiquitous nature and ready synthesis of amides, and the great significance of organofluorine-containing species, the cross-coupling of amides and polyfluoroarenes, leading to new carbon-carbon bond-forming methodologies, would find useful applications in synthesis, late-stage functionalization, and rapid generation of molecular diversity. Herein, we present a novel synthesis of α-polyfluoroaryl amines via Sm/SmI₂ -mediated deoxygenative cross-coupling of aromatic amides with polyfluoroarenes through direct C-H functionalization. The structural and functional diversity of these readily available precursors provides a versatile and flexible strategy for the streamlined synthesis of α-polyfluoroaryl amines. Combining experimental and theoretical studies, a novel plausible mechanism of the α-aminocarbene-mediated C-H insertion has been revealed, which may stimulate future work for the development of novel methods in amine synthesis.

Photochemical and Electrochemical Applications of Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in Organic Synthesis

We present here a review of the photochemical and electrochemical applications of multi-site proton-coupled electron transfer (MS-PCET) in organic synthesis. MS-PCETs are redox mechanisms in which both an electron and a proton are exchanged together, often in a concerted elementary step. As such, MS-PCET can function as a non-classical mechanism for homolytic bond activation, providing opportunities to generate synthetically useful free radical intermediates directly from a wide variety of common organic functional groups. We present an introduction to MS-PCET and a practitioner's guide to reaction design, with an emphasis on the unique energetic and selectivity features that are characteristic of this reaction class. We then present chapters on oxidative N-H, O-H, S-H, and C-H bond homolysis methods, for the generation of the corresponding neutral radical species. Then, chapters for reductive PCET activations involving carbonyl, imine, other X═Y π-systems, and heteroarenes, where neutral ketyl, α-amino, and heteroarene-derived radicals can be generated. Finally, we present chapters on the applications of MS-PCET in asymmetric catalysis and in materials and device applications. Within each chapter, we subdivide by the functional group undergoing homolysis, and thereafter by the type of transformation being promoted. Methods published prior to the end of December 2020 are presented.

Merging Electron Transfer with 1,2-Metalate Rearrangement: Deoxygenative Arylation of Aromatic Amides with Arylboronic Esters

Amides are essentially inert carboxyl derivatives in many types of chemical transformations. In particular, deoxygenative C-C bond formation of amides to synthetically important amines is a long-standing challenge for synthetic chemists due to the inertness of the resonance-stabilized amide C=O bond. Herein, it is disclosed that by merging electron-transfer-induced activation with 1,2-metalate rearrangement, a wide range of aromatic amides react smoothly with arylboron reagents, affording a series of biologically relevant diarylmethylamines as deoxygenative C-C bond cross-coupling products. With its simplicity and versatility, this reaction shows great promise in the synthesis of amines from amides, which may open up new avenues in retrosynthetic planning and find widespread use in academia and industry.

N-Alkylation/aldol reaction of α-aldimino thioesters: a facile three-component coupling reaction

Theoretical calculation of the reactivity of α-imino thioesters indicates that they are very reactive substrates for Umpolung N-alkylation. In fact, treatment of α-aldimino thioesters with dialkylzinc reagents in the presence of aldehydes or imines gives three-component coupling products in good yields.

Distinctive reactivity of N-benzylidene-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-amines under photoredox conditions

A simple photocatalytic method was developed for the synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,2-diamines by the unprecedented reductive coupling of N-benzylidene-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-amines with an aliphatic amine. The presence of a phenyl substituent in the aniline moiety of the substrate was critical for the reactivity. The reaction proceeded via radical–radical cross-coupling of α-amino radicals generated by proton-coupled single-electron transfer in the presence of an Ir photocatalyst. On the other hand, symmetrical 1,2-diamines were selectively produced from the same starting materials by the judicious choice of the reaction conditions, showcasing the distinct reactivity of N-benzylidene-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-amines. The developed method can be employed for the synthesis of various bulky vicinal diamines, which are potential ligands in stereoselective synthesis.

One Amine-3 Tasks: Reductive Coupling of Imines with Olefins in Batch and Flow

Owing to their wide range of biological properties, γ-aminobutyric acid derivatives (GABA) have been extensively studied and found noteworthy industrial applications. However, atom-economical and efficient processes for their production are scarce and would greatly benefit from further investigations. Herein, we demonstrate that an iridium-based photocatalyst promotes the direct reductive cross-coupling of imines with olefins upon irradiation with visible light to give GABA derivatives in good yields and selectivities. We also stress the enabling triple role of tributylamine additive in this process, discuss the advantages of strategies based on proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) and demonstrate the scale-up of this reaction in continuous flow.

Temperature-Controlled Stereodivergent Synthesis of 2,2'-Biflavanones Promoted by Samarium Diiodide

In this work, the first example of a radical stereodivergent reaction directed towards the stereoselective synthesis of both (R*,R*)- and (R*,S*)-2,2'-biflavanones promoted by samarium diiodide is reported. Control experiments showed that the selectivity of this reaction was exclusively controlled by the temperature. It was possible to generate a variety of 2,2'-biflavanones bearing different substitution patterns at the aromatic ring in good-to-quantitative yields, being both stereoisomers of the desired compounds obtained with total or high control of selectivity. A mechanism that explains both the generation of the corresponding 2,2'-biflavanones and the selectivity is also discussed. The structure and stereochemistry determination of each isomer was unequivocally elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments.

Mischmetall and Zn–Cu Couple as Efficient Reagents for the Pinacol Coupling of Aldimines

The reductive pinacol coupling of aldimines was studied in respect to different coupling-mediators such as mischmetall, Zn–Cu couple and Devarda alloy. High diastereoselectivity was achieved for three substrates. A simple procedure for the preparation of 1,2-diamines is described.

A Metal-Free Approach to 1,2-Diamines via Visible Light-Driven Reductive Coupling of Imines with Perylene as a Photoredox Catalyst

A simple, metal-free, and versatile approach to 1,2-diamines has been developed based on reductive coupling reactions of various imines, where perylene, an aromatic hydrocarbon, was used as a photoredox catalyst under visible light irradiation using a white light-emitting diode. The use of 1 mol % perylene enabled almost complete conversion of the imines, leading to the formation of their corresponding 1,2-diamines, which were isolated in good yields. The ratios between dl and meso diamines ranged from 31:69 to 82:18 depending on the substituents of the imines.

Total synthesis of (-)-kainic acid and (+)-allo-kainic acid through SmI2-mediated intramolecular coupling between allyl chloride and an α,β-unsaturated ester

A 3,4-disubstituted pyrrolidine ring was effectively cyclized through SmI₂-mediated reductive coupling between allyl chloride and an α,β-unsaturated ester, although little has been reported about SmI₂-promoted C-C bond formation of an allyl chloride with an α,β-unsaturated ester. Selection of either the 3,4-cis- or 3,4-trans-selective cyclization can be accomplished simply by changing the additives from NiI₂ to HMPA during reductive cyclization conducted in H₂O-THF. Total synthesis of (-)-kainic acid and (+)-allo-kainic acid, which are pyrrolidine alkaloids used in neuroscience and neuropharmacology as useful molecular probes, was successfully achieved by using the stereo-complementary ring closure reactions promoted by SmI₂ for the construction of the 2,3,4-trisubsituted pyrrolidine scaffold of kainoids.

Umpolung Addition of Aldehydes to Aryl Imines

One of the classical ways to synthesize amines involves the coupling of carbonyl compounds and imines, either through enolate chemistry or acyl-based carbanion equivalents. We herein report an alternative strategy that is based on the use of aldehydes as alkyl carbanion equivalents in a reductive coupling with aryl imines. A wide array of secondary amines can be synthesized in moderate to high yields. This reaction is mediated by hydrazine and catalyzed by ruthenium(II) complexes, and it tolerates various functional groups, such as esters, amides, and nitriles.

Direct reductive coupling of secondary amides: chemoselective formation of vicinal diamines and vicinal amino alcohols

We report the first direct and chemoselective reductive homocoupling reaction of secondary amides and cross-coupling reaction of secondary amides with ketones. This method relies on the direct generation of α-amino carbon radicals from amides.

Investigation of functionalized α-chloroalkyllithiums for a stereospecific reagent-controlled homologation approach to the analgesic alkaloid (-)-epibatidine

Four putative functionalized α-chloroakyllithiums RCH2CHLiCl, where R=CHCH2(18 a), CCH (18 b), CH2OBn (18 c), and CH[O(CH2)2O] (18 d), were generated in situ by sulfoxide-lithium exchange from α-chlorosulfoxides, and investigated for the stereospecific reagent-controlled homologation (StReCH) of phenethyl and 2-chloropyrid-5-yl (17) pinacol boronic esters. Deuterium labeling experiments revealed that α-chloroalkyllithiums are quenched by proton transfer from their α-chlorosulfoxide precursors and it was established that this effect compromises the yield of StReCH reactions. Use of α-deuterated α-chlorosulfoxides was discovered to ameliorate the problem by retarding the rate of acid-base chemistry between the carbenoid and its precursor. Carbenoids 18 a and 18 b showed poor StReCH efficacy, particularly the propargyl group bearing carbenoid 18 b, the instability of which was attributed to a facile 1,2-hydride shift. By contrast, 18 d, a carbenoid that benefits from a stabilizing interaction between O and Li atoms gave good StReCH yields. Boronate 17 was chain extended by carbenoids 18 a, 18 b, and 18 d in 16, 0, and 68% yield, respectively; α-deuterated isotopomers D-18 a and D-18 d gave yields of 33 and 79% for the same reaction. Double StReCH of 17 was pursued to target contiguous stereodiads appropriate for the total synthesis of (-)-epibatidine (15). One-pot double StReCH of boronate 17 by two exposures to (S)-D-18 a (≤66 % ee), followed by work-up with KOOH, gave the expected stereodiad product in 16% yield (d.r.~67:33). The comparable reaction using two exposures to (S)-D-18 d (≤90% ee) delivered the expected bisacetal containing stereodiad (R,R)-DD-48 in 40% yield (≥98% ee, d.r.=85:15). Double StReCH of 17 using (S)-D-18 d (≤90% ee) followed by (R)-D-18 d (≤90% ee) likewise gave (R,S)-DD-48 in 49% yield (≥97% ee, d.r.=79:21). (R,S)-DD-48 was converted to a dideuterated isotopomer of a synthetic intermediate in Corey's synthesis of 15.

Autocatalysis and surface catalysis in the reduction of imines by SmI2

The reduction of the three imines, N-benzylidene aniline (BAI), N-benzylidenemethylamine (BMI), and benzophenone imine (BPI), with SmI(2) gives the reduced as well as coupled products. The reactions were found to be autocatalytic due to the formation of the trivalent samarium in the course of the reaction. When preprepared SmI(3) was added to the reaction mixture, the reaction rate increased significantly. However, the kinetics were found to be of zero order in SmI(2). This type of behavior is typical of surface catalysis with saturation of the catalytic sites. Although no solids are visible to the naked eye, the existence of microcrystals was proven by light microscopy as well as by dynamic light scattering analysis. Although HRTEM shows the existence of quantum dots in the solid, we were unable to make a direct connection between the existence of the quantum dots and the catalytic phenomenon. In the uncatalyzed reaction, the order of reactivity is BPI > BMI > BAI. This order does not conform to the electron affinity order of the substrates but rather to the nitrogen lone pair accessibility for complexation. This conclusion was further supported by using HMPA as a diagnostic probe for the existence of an inner sphere electron transfer reaction.

Radicals in transition metal catalyzed reactions? transition metal catalyzed radical reactions?: a fruitful interplay anyway: part 3: catalysis by group 10 and 11 elements and bimetallic catalysis

This review summarizes the current status of transition metal catalyzed reactions involving radical intermediates in organic chemistry. This part focuses on radical-based methods catalyzed by group 10 and group 11 metal complexes. Reductive and redox-neutral C-C bond formations catalyzed by low-valent metal complexes as well as catalytic oxidative methods are reviewed. Catalytic processes which rely on the combination of two metal complexes are also covered.

Estimating the Limiting Reducing Power of SmI2/H2O/Amine and YbI2/H2O/Amine by Efficient Reduction of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

The mixture of samarium diiodide, amine, and water (SmI2/H2O/Et3N) is known to be a particularly powerful reductant, but until now the limiting reducing power has not been determined. A series of unsaturated hydrocarbons with varying half-wave reduction potentials (E(1/2) = -1.6 to -3.4 V, vs SCE) have been treated with SmI2/H2O/Et3N and YbI2/H2O/Et3N, respectively. All hydrocarbons with potentials of -2.8 V or more positive were readily reduced with SmI2/H2O/Et3N, whereas all hydrocarbons with potentials of -2.3 V or more positive were readily reduced using YbI2/H2O/Et3N. This defines limiting values of the chemical reducing power of SmI2/H2O/Et3N to -2.8 V and of YbI2/H2O/Et3N to -2.3 V vs SCE.

Novel multichiral diols and diamines by highly stereoselective pinacol coupling of planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophane derivatives

The TiCl4/Zn-mediated intermolecular pinacol coupling of the planar chiral carbonyl compounds [2.2]paracyclophane-4-carbaldehyde, 4-acetyl[2.2]paracyclophane (ketone) and the four regioisomeric 5-, 7-, 12- and 13-methoxy[2.2]paracyclophane-4-carbaldehydes as well as the pTosOH-Zn/Cu-promoted coupling of their N-substituted imines is described. Coupling of the enantiomerically pure substrates (most of carbonyl compounds and all imines) occurs stereoselectively giving rise to diastereomerically pure 1,2-diols and 1,2-diamines. Racemic aldehydes and ketone react with different degrees of stereoselectivity (depending on the substituents in certain positions) and produce one to three diastereomers. 7-methoxy[2.2]paracyclophane-4-carbaldehyde undergoes a tandem pinacol coupling-pinacol rearrangement to yield bis-(7-methoxy[2.2]paracyclophane-4-yl)acetaldehyde. Coupling of the racemic imines produces a mixture of single racemic D,L-diamine and single meso-diamine in each case. The stereoselective formation of the asymmetric centres is governed by the planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophanyl moiety. The techniques elaborated are extended to the intramolecular coupling of [2.2]paracyclophane-4,13-dicarbaldehyde and its bis-N-phenylimine, resulting in stereoselective formation of the chiral triply-bridged diol and exclusive formation of the meso-diamine. X-Ray investigations of several diols and diamines have been carried out and the structural features of these derivatives are discussed.

A Highly Efficient and Direct Approach for Synthesis of Enantiopure β-Amino Alcohols by Reductive Cross-Coupling of Chiral N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Imines with Aldehydes

A highly efficient and practical approach for the synthesis of optically pure beta-amino alcohols by the SmI2-induced reductive cross-coupling of chiral N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines with aldehydes was developed. This method allows the preparation of a broad range of chiral beta-amino alcohols, including functionalized ones under mild conditions. It provides a straightforward access to enantiopure beta-amino alcohols that are widely applicable in asymmetric synthesis.

Highly Diastereoselective and Enantioselective Synthesis of Enantiopure C2-Symmetrical Vicinal Diamines by Reductive Homocoupling of Chiral N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Imines

[reaction: see text] An efficient and straightforward method for the preparation of highly enantiomerically enriched C2-symmetrical vicinal diamines by the reductive homocoupling of aromatic N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines in the presence of SmI2 and HMPA was developed. It gives access to a variety of enantiopure C2-symmetrical 1,2-diamines in a very mild and practical way.

Electroreductive Intramolecular Coupling of Aromatic β- and γ-Imino Esters: A New Synthetic Method for N-Alkoxycarbonyl-2-aryl-3-ones and cis-2-Aryl-3-ols of Pyrrolidines and Piperidines

The electroreduction of aromatic beta- and gamma-imino esters prepared from beta-alanine and GABA in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane and subsequent N-alkoxycarbonylation of the resulting five- and six-membered cyclized amines gave mixed ketals of N-alkoxycarbonyl-2-arylpyrrolidin-3-ones and 2-arylpiperidin-3-ones, respectively. The best result of the electroreductive intramolecular coupling was achieved using Bu(4)NClO(4) as a supporting electrolyte and a Pb cathode in THF. Acid hydrolysis of the mixed ketals afforded N-alkoxycarbonyl-2-arylpyrrolidin-3-ones and 2-arylpiperidin-3-ones in good yields. The reduction of these ketones with NaBH(4) in methanol afforded the corresponding N-alkoxycarbonyl-cis-2-arylpyrrolidin-3-ols and cis-2-arylpiperidin-3-ols diastereospecifically.

Samarium Diiodide-Induced Asymmetric Synthesis of Optically Pure Unsymmetrical Vicinal Diamines by Reductive Cross-Coupling of Nitrones with N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Imines

[reaction: see text] An efficient method for the preparation of optically pure unsymmetrical vicinal diamines by the SmI(2)-induced reductive cross-coupling of nitrones with chiral N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines was developed. This is the first successful example of the highly diastereoselective and enantioselective cross-coupling between two different imine species. It provides a straightforward access to enantiopure unsymmetrical vicinal diamines that are widely applicable in asymmetric synthesis.