3d-Metal Catalyzed N- and C-Alkylation Reactions via Borrowing Hydrogen or Hydrogen Autotransfer

Direct α-C-H alkylation of alcohols via photoinduced hydrogen atom transfer

A general approach for the α-C-H alkylation of alcohols has been established, offering access to highly functionalized alcohols via visible light irradiation with TBAP as a co-catalyst. The methodology exhibits excellent functional group tolerance and a wide substrate scope. Its practicality is underscored by successful gram-scale synthesis and a sunlight-driven reaction demonstration.

Borrowing Hydrogen/Chiral Enamine Relay Catalysis Enables Diastereo- and Enantioselective β-C-H Functionalization of Alcohols

We report herein an unprecedented borrowing hydrogen/chiral enamine relay catalysis strategy that enables a highly efficient enantioselective formal β-alkylation of simple alcohols using electron-deficient alkenes and especially nitroalkenes. A variety of 1,4-difunctional products such as nitro alcohols are readily accessible in one waste-free step from feedstock alcohols in excellent levels of stereoselectivity. It is important to note that the products are formed in much higher diastereoselectivity than the enamine catalysis step alone under identical conditions, highlighting the unique advantage of cascade borrowing hydrogen catalysis in achieving high efficiency, economy, and stereoselectivity.

Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Hydrolysis of Nitriles to Alcohols

Nitriles are an abundant class of compounds that are widely used as versatile feedstocks to produce various chemicals including pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals as well as materials. Here we report Ni-catalyzed reductive hydrolysis of nitriles to alcohols in the presence of molecular hydrogen. This conversion likely occurs in a domino reaction sequence that first involves the hydrogenation of nitrile to primary imine, then the hydrolysis of imine, and subsequent deamination to the aldehyde, which is finally hydrogenated to the desired alcohol. Crucial for this reductive hydrolysis process is the commercially available triphos-ligated Ni-complex that enables highly efficient and selective transformation of aromatic, heterocyclic, and aliphatic nitriles including fatty nitriles to prepare functionalized primary alcohols. Further, the synthetic applicability of this Ni-based protocol is presented for the selective conversion of nitrile to alcoholic group in structurally diverse and complex drug molecules as well as agrochemicals. The resulting products, alcohols are indispensable chemicals commonly used in organic synthesis and life sciences as well as material and energy technologies.

Manganese(I)-NNSe Pincer Complex Mediated Dehydrogenative Cyclization to Synthesize 2-Aryl-2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-ones

A catalytic one-pot cascade dehydrogenative cyclization of 1-(2-aminophenyl)ethanone using primary alcohols is presented. The reaction is catalyzed by an earth-abundant manganese pincer complex of NNSe ligand, without any solvent, additives, base, or hydrogen acceptor, liberating dihydrogen and water as the only byproducts. Compared to an earlier reported four-step dehydrogenative coupling protocol, only a single step is required to synthesize 2-aryl-2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-ones.

State-of-the-art advances in homogeneous molecular catalysis for the Guerbet upgrading of bio-ethanol to fuel-grade bio-butanol

The upgrading of ethanol to n-butanol marks a major breakthrough in the field of biofuel technology, offering the advantages of compatibility with existing infrastructure while simultaneously offering potential benefits in terms of transport efficiency and energy density. With its lower vapour pressure and reduced corrosiveness compared to ethanol, n-butanol is easier not only to manage but also to transport, eliminating the need for costly infrastructure changes. This leads to improved fuel efficiency and reduced fuel consumption. These features position n-butanol as a promising alternative to ethanol in the future of biodiesel. This review article delves into the cutting-edge advancements in upgrading ethanol to butanol, highlighting the critical importance of this transformation in enhancing the value and practical application of biofuels. While traditional methods for making butanol rely heavily on fossil fuels, those that employ ethanol as a starting material are dominated by heterogeneous catalysis, which is limited by the requirement of high temperatures and a lack of selectivity. Homogeneous catalysts have been pivotal in enhancing the efficiency and selectivity of this conversion, owing to their unique mode of operation at the molecular level. A comprehensive review of the various homogeneous catalytic processes employed in the transformation of feedstock-agnostic bio-ethanol to fuel-grade bio-n-butanol is provided here, with a major focus on the key advancements in catalyst design, reaction conditions and mechanisms that have significantly improved the efficiency and selectivity of these Guerbet reactions.

Triflic Acid-Catalyzed Dehydrative Amination of 2-Arylethanols with Weak N-Nucleophiles in Hexafluoroisopropanol

The catalytic deoxyamination of readily available 2-arylethanols offers an appealing, simple, and straightforward means of accessing β-(hetero)arylethylamines of biological interest. Yet, it currently represents a great challenge to synthetic chemistry. In most cases, the alcohol has to be either pre-activated in situ or converted into a reactive carbonyl intermediate, limiting the substrate scope for some methods. Examples of direct dehydrative amination of 2-arylethanols are thus still scarce. Here, we describe a catalytic protocol based on the synergy of triflic acid and hexafluoroisopropanol, which enables the direct and stereospecific amination of a broad array of 2-arylethanols, and does not require any pre-activation of the alcohol. This approach yields high value-added products incorporating sulfonamide, amide, urea, and aniline functionalities. In addition, this approach was applied to the sulfidation of 2-arylethanols. Mechanistic experiments and DFT computations indicate the formation of phenonium ions as key intermediates in the reaction.

Stereodivergent assembly of δ-valerolactones with an azaarene-containing quaternary stereocenter enabled by Cu/Ru relay catalysis

Developing methodologies for the expedient construction of biologically important δ-valerolactones bearing a privileged azaarene moiety and a sterically congested all-carbon quaternary stereocenter is important and full of challenges. We present herein a novel multicatalytic strategy for the stereodivergent synthesis of highly functionalized chiral δ-valerolactones bearing 1,4-nonadjacent quaternary/tertiary stereocenters by orthogonally merging borrowing hydrogen and Michael addition between α-azaaryl acetates and allylic alcohols followed by lactonization in a one-pot manner. Enabled by Cu/Ru relay catalysis, this cascade protocol offers the advantages of atom/step economy, redox-neutrality, mild reaction conditions, and broad substrate tolerance. Scale-up experiments and synthetic transformations further demonstrated the potential for synthetic applications. Mechanistic experiments support the envisioned bimetallic relay catalytic mechanism, and the key role of Cs2CO3 in promoting lactonization was also revealed.

Chromium-catalyzed sustainable C-C and C-N bond formation: C-alkylation and Friedländer quinoline synthesis using alcohols

The synthesis of a novel phosphine-based pincer chromium(II) complex CrCl2(PONNH) (Cr-1) is reported in this study. The complex exhibited promising catalytic performance in C-C and C-N bond formation using the borrowing hydrogen methodology. Cr-1 catalyzed the α-alkylation of ketones using primary alcohols as alkyl surrogates in the presence of catalytic amount of a base. Cr-1 was also found to catalyze the β-alkylation of secondary alcohols using primary alcohols. In addition, the dehydrogenative annulation of 2-aminobenzyl alcohols with ketones to form quinolines was achieved using Cr-1 as the catalyst. Based on the mechanistic investigation, a plausible mechanism based on metal-ligand cooperation is proposed. The reactions are redox-neutral, atom-efficient, and produce water as the only by-product, thus contributing to green chemistry.

Terpenylation of Ketones and a Secondary Alcohol under Hydrogen-Borrowing Manganese Catalysis

An Earth-abundant Mn-PNP pincer complex-catalyzed terpenylation of cyclic and acyclic ketones and secondary alcohol 1-phenylethanol using isoprenoid derivatives prenol, nerol, phytol, solanesol, and E-farnesol as allyl surrogates is reported. The C-C coupling reactions are green and atom-economic, proceeding via dehydrogenation of alcohols following a hydrogen autotransfer methodology aided by metal-ligand cooperation.

Iridium-Catalyzed Enantioconvergent Construction of Piperidines and Tetrahydroisoquinolines from Racemic 1,5-Diols

We report herein a one-step synthesis of valuable enantioenriched piperidines and tetrahydroisoquinolines from readily available racemic 1,5-diols. Key to the success is the development of new iridacycle catalysts that enable efficient redox-neutral construction of two C-N bonds between diols and amines in an enantioconvergent fashion. Mechanistic studies identified an intriguing preferential oxidation of secondary versus primary alcohol in the diol substrate by the iridacycle catalyst, which set a challenging intermolecular amination of aryl-alkyl-substituted alcohol as the enantiodetermining step for this catalytic N-heterocycle synthesis. Application of this catalytic method to the preparation of important drugs and bioactive compounds is also demonstrated.

Chemical looping synthesis of amines from N2 via iron nitride as a mediator

Amines are commonly synthesized through the amination of organooxygenates using ammonia, frequently involving the use of noble metal catalysts. In this study, we present an alternative route to make amines using iron nitride (Fe2.5N) as the nitrogen source. Without any additional catalyst, Fe2.5N reacts with a range of alcohols at 250 °C under 1 or 10 bar H2 to produce amines as major products. Mechanistic investigations indicate that hydrogen activates the nitrogen species within iron nitride, converting them into surface NH and NH2 groups that then react with alcohols to form amines. Building on this foundation, we further demonstrate an iron nitride-mediated chemical looping pathway that utilizes N2 as the nitrogen source to synthesize octylamines. In this process, N2 first reacts with iron to form FexN by a ball-milling method at ambient temperature and 6 bar N2. The as-prepared FexN subsequently reacts with alcohols to yield amines, transferring over 80% of the nitrogen to organic compounds. This looping process proves stable across four cycles.

Supported Nickel Nanoparticles as Catalyst in Direct sp3 C-H Alkylation of 9H-Fluorene Using Alcohols as Alkylating Agent

Herein, we report an inexpensive first-row transition metal Ni heterogeneous catalytic system for the Csp 3-mono alkylation of fluorene using alcohols as alkylating agents via borrowing hydrogen strategy. The catalytic protocol displayed versatility with high yields of the desired products using various types of primary alcohols, including aryl/hetero aryl methanols, and aliphatic alcohols as alkylating agents. The catalyst Ni NPs@N-C was synthesized via high-temperature pyrolysis strategy, using ZIF-8 as the sacrificial template. The Ni NPs@N-C catalyst was characterized by XPS, HR-TEM, HAADF-STEM, XRD and ICP-MS. The catalyst is stable even in the air at room temperature, displayed excellent activity and could be recycled 5 times without appreciable loss of its activity.

An NNN Pd(II) pincer complex with 1,1-diaminoazine: a versatile catalyst for acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling reactions

An azine-based, non-palindromic, neutral NNN-pincer ligand was synthesised in a single step with an yield of 85%. The palladation of the ligand, using Pd(OAc)2, was performed in acetonitrile at room temperature to obtain the pincer complex in 88% yield through a simple, cost-effective, and straightforward synthetic procedure. The structure of the complex was confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR, and mass spectrometry. The variable temperature NMR spectra revealed the stability of the complex even at higher temperatures, a characteristic feature of pincer complexes. The generated complex proved to be a versatile catalyst for Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling (ADC) to synthesize N-heterocycles: (i) 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazoles, (ii) 2-phenylquinolines, (iii) 2-phenylquinoxalines and (iv) 2-phenylquinazolinones. Since the side products of the reactions are H2O and H2 gas, the catalysis can be considered as a green catalytic process. Quantum chemical calculations indicated the participation of a possible nitrene-imide conversion process during the Metal-Ligand Cooperation (MLC) in ADC reactions.

Redox Noninnocent Copper(I) Complex Where Metal Is a Spectator and Ligand Is an Actor in the Glaser Coupling Reaction of Alkynes

An extended trisazo dipyridyl ligand, L, and its copper(I) complex, [1]+, were synthesized and fully characterized. Complex [1]+ has five coordination geometry satisfied by ligand L. L has a low-lying π* orbital; thus, [1]+ showed very facile multiple ligand-based redox events. Moreover, due to the strong π-acceptor nature of L, the Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox potential of [1]+ was anodic (0.62 V). The redox events of both L and [1]+ were characterized using various spectroscopic studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Taking advantage of the multiple facile ligand-based reductions in [1]+, the Glaser coupling reaction of terminal alkynes was explored. Various kinds of alkynes were found to be effective when using [1]+ as a precatalyst. The mechanism of the reaction was investigated thoroughly by several controlled experiments, isolation, and characterization of the intermediates using various spectroscopic studies as well as by single-crystal X-ray structure determination. These studies showed that the L in [1]+ acted not only in the electron transfer events but also as a locus for binding the substrate, breaking and forming bonds, and, finally, releasing the product. Thus, here, the metal mainly acted as a spectator and ligand L acted as an actor.

Cu-ABNO Catalyst for the Synthesis of Quinolines and Pyrazines via Aerobic Double Dehydrogenation of Alcohols

In this report, a new imidazole- and amide-functionalized pincer-like Cu(II) complex (1) was synthesized and characterized. By employing 1 and 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane NH-Oxyl (ABNOH), a catalytic protocol for alcohol oxidation and the subsequent alcohol oxidation-triggered synthesis of quinolines and pyrazines were explored. Alcohols such as 2-aminoaryl alcohols were also oxidized efficiently. As carbonyls from 2-arylaminobenzyl alcohols and secondary alcohols are synthons for quinolines, we explored their synthesis directly from alcohols. The protocol was quite efficient and completed the reaction in only ∼5-10 h. Combinations such as (a) primary 2-arylaminobenzyl alcohols with secondary alcohols or their ketones and (b) secondary 2-arylaminobenzyl alcohols with secondary alcohols or their ketones were found to be very effective for the synthesis of quinolines. The protocol was also successful for the synthesis of various pyrazines from 1,2-diols and 1,2-diaminobenzenes in 10 h. Mechanistic investigations showed that the generated complex acted as an active catalyst: it activated O2 and subsequently with the cooperation of 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane N-Oxyl (ABNO•) activated the α-CH hydrogen of coordinated alkoxide. Then, Cu(II)/Cu(I) reduction led to the formation of carbonyl compounds, which via successive C-C/C-N coupling reactions resulted in heterocycles in the presence of KOtBu and 1.

Quinoline as an Intramolecular Hydride Shuttle in the Deoxygenative Coupling Reaction of Alcohol and the Inert Methyl C(sp3)-H Bond

Reported herein is the C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond-forming at an unactivated C(sp3)-H bond via hydride transfer-initiated deoxygenative coupling reactions. Various polycyclic hydroquinolines were provided under metal-free conditions with excellent diastereoselectivity. Mechanistic study revealed that quinoline served as an intramolecular hydride shuttle to achieve the hydride abstraction and release in order. This methodology not only provides a practical strategy for direct deoxygenative coupling for the C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond-forming but also develops a new reaction type involving quinoline-enabled hydride transfer.

Remote C-H bond cooperation strategy enabled silver catalyzed borrowing hydrogen reactions

Metal-ligand cooperation (MLC) is an essential strategy in transition metal catalysis. Traditional NH-based and OH-based MLC catalysts, as well as the later developed (de)aromatization strategy, have been widely applied in atom-economic borrowing hydrogen/hydrogen auto-transfer (BH/HA) reactions. However, these conventional MLC approaches are challenging for low-coordination and low-activity coinage metal complexes, arising from the instability during (de)protonation on the coordination atom, the constraint in linear coordination, and possible poisoning due to extra functional sites. Herein, we demonstrate a remote C-H bond cooperation strategy that enables the unprecedented homogeneous Ag(i)-catalyzed BH/HA reaction. The covalent C-H bifunctional site well facilitates (de)hydrogenation, especially under the low coordination circumstances of d10 Ag(i). The strong electron-donating bis-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand stabilizes the silver-hydride and stimulates the hydride activity on the trans-position of ligands. Mechanistic studies implicate the plausible remote assistance of the dissociative NHC arm in facilitating BH/HA reactions. Our findings emphasize the potential of the remote C-H bond cooperation strategy for low coordination metals in catalyzing BH/HA reactions and broadening MLC catalysts to d10 coinage metals.

Regioselective intermolecular carboamination of allylamines via nucleopalladation: empowering three-component synthesis of vicinal diamines

An intermolecular carboamination reaction of allyl amines under Pd(ii)-catalysis is reported, expediting the synthesis of valuable vicinal diamines embedded in a functionally enriched linear carbon framework with high yields and exclusive Markovnikov selectivity. Central to our approach is the strategic use of a removable picolinamide auxiliary, which directs the regioselectivity during aminopalladation and stabilizes the crucial 5,5-palladacycle intermediate. This stabilization facilitates oxidative addition to carbon electrophiles, enabling the simultaneous incorporation of diverse aryl/styryl groups as well as important amine motifs, such as sulfoximines and anilines, across carbon-carbon double bonds. The protocol features broad substrate compatibility, tolerance to various functional groups, and scalability. The utility of this method is further demonstrated by the site-selective diversification of pharmaceutical agents. Additionally, these products serve as versatile intermediates for synthesizing heterocycles and function as effective ligands in catalytic transfer hydrogenation reactions. Notably, this work represents a rare instance of nucleopalladation-guided intermolecular carboamination of allylamines.

Theoretical study of Ni(0)-catalyzed intermolecular hydroamination of branched 1,3-dienes: reaction mechanism, regioselectivity, enantioselectivity, and prediction of the ligand

CONTEXT

Nickel-catalyzed hydroamination of dienes with phenylmethanamines was studied theoretically to investigate reaction mechanism. These calculated results revealed that Ni-catalyzed hydroamination began with the O - H bond activation of trifluoroethanol, including three important elementary steps: the ligand-to-ligand hydrogen migration, the nucleophilic attack of phenylmethanamine, and hydrogen migration. The nucleophilic attack of phenylmethanamine was the rate-determining step, and the branched product of 3,4-addition with (S)-chirality was the most dominant. The N - H bond activation of phenylmethanamine occurred more difficultly than the O - H bond of trifluoroethanol, because of high ΔG and ΔG≠. In addition, the origin of regioselectivity and enantioselectivity, and prediction of the ligand were also discussed in this text.

METHODS

All computations were performed with Gaussian09 program. All geometries were optimized at the ωB97XD/6-31G(d,p) level (SDD for Ni), and to obtain more accurate potential energy, single-point calculation was carried out at the ωB97XD/cc-pVDZ level (SDD for Ni). The Cramer-Truhlar continuum solvation model (SMD) was used to evaluate solvation effect of mesitylene, and a correction of the translational entropy was made with the procedure of Whitesides group.

From sugars to aliphatic amines: as sweet as it sounds? Production and applications of bio-based aliphatic amines

Aliphatic amines encompass a diverse group of amines that include alkylamines, alkyl polyamines, alkanolamines and aliphatic heterocyclic amines. Their structural diversity and distinctive characteristics position them as indispensable components across multiple industrial domains, ranging from chemistry and technology to agriculture and medicine. Currently, the industrial production of aliphatic amines is facing pressing sustainability, health and safety issues which all arise due to the strong dependency on fossil feedstock. Interestingly, these issues can be fundamentally resolved by shifting toward biomass as the feedstock. In this regard, cellulose and hemicellulose, the carbohydrate fraction of lignocellulose, emerge as promising feedstock for the production of aliphatic amines as they are available in abundance, safe to use and their aliphatic backbone is susceptible to chemical transformations. Consequently, the academic interest in bio-based aliphatic amines via the catalytic reductive amination of (hemi)cellulose-derived substrates has systematically increased over the past years. From an industrial perspective, however, the production of bio-based aliphatic amines will only be the middle part of a larger, ideally circular, value chain. This value chain additionally includes, as the first part, the refinery of the biomass feedstock to suitable substrates and, as the final part, the implementation of these aliphatic amines in various applications. Each part of the bio-based aliphatic amine value chain will be covered in this Review. Applying a holistic perspective enables one to acknowledge the requirements and limitations of each part and to efficiently spot and potentially bridge knowledge gaps between the different parts.

Dynamic Asymmetric Diamination of Allylic Alcohols through Borrowing Hydrogen Catalysis: Diastereo-Divergent Synthesis of Tetrahydrobenzodiazepines

We present herein a catalytic enantioconvergent diamination of racemic allylic alcohols with the construction of two C-N bonds and 1,3-nonadjacent stereocenters. This iridium/chiral phosphoric acid cooperative catalytic system operates through an atom-economical borrowing hydrogen amination/aza-Michael cascade, and converts readily available phenylenediamines and racemic allylic alcohols to 1,5-tetrahydrobenzodiazepines in high enantioselectivity. An intriguing solvent-dependent switch of diastereoselectivity was also observed. Mechanistic studies suggested a dynamic kinetic resolution process involving racemization through a reversible Michael addition, making the last step of asymmetric imine reduction the enantiodetermining step of this cascade process.

Iron-Catalyzed sp3 C-H Alkylation of Fluorene with Primary and Secondary Alcohols: A Borrowing Hydrogen Approach

The utilization of earth-abundant, cheap, and nontoxic transition metals in important catalytic transformations is essential for sustainable development, and iron has gained significant attention as the most abundant transition metal. A mixture of FeCl2 (3 mol %), phenanthroline (6 mol %), and KOtBu (0.4 eqivalent) was used as an effective catalyst for the sp3 C-H alkylation of fluorene using alcohol as a nonhazardous alkylating partner, and eco-friendly water was formed as the only byproduct. The substrate scope includes a wide range of substituted fluorenes and substituted benzyl alcohols. The reaction is equally effective with challenging secondary alcohols and unactivated aliphatic alcohols. Selective mono-C9-alkylation of fluorenes with alcohols yielded the corresponding products in good isolated yields. Various postfunctionalizations of C-9 alkylated fluorene products were performed to establish the practical utility of this catalytic alkylation. Control experiments suggested a homogeneous reaction path involving borrowing hydrogen mechanism with the formation and subsequent reduction of 9-alkylidene fluorene intermediate.

Multifunctionalization of Alkenyl Alcohols via a Sequential Relay Process

Aryl-substituted aliphatic amines are widely recognized as immensely valuable molecules. Consequently, the development of practical strategies for the construction of these molecules becomes increasingly urgent and critical. Here, we have successfully achieved multifunctionalization reactions of alkenyl alcohols in a sequential relay process, which enables transformation patterns of arylamination, deuterated arylamination, and methylenated arylamination to the easy access of multifarious arylalkylamines. Notably, a novel functionalization mode for carbonyl groups has been developed to facilitate the processes of deuterium incorporation and methylene introduction, thereby providing new means for the diverse transformations of carbonyl groups. This methodology displays a wide tolerance toward functional groups, while also exhibiting good applicability across various skeletal structures of alkenols and amines.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Synthesis of 2-Pyrazolines via Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling of Allylic Alcohols with Hydrazines

Described herein is the synthesis of 2-pyrazolines via acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of allylic alcohols with hydrazines based on a Ru3(CO)12/NHC-phosphine-phosphine ligand L catalytic system. The reaction not only exhibits low catalyst loading (only 0.3 mol %), wide substrate scope, good to excellent yields, and high selectivity but also omits the use of sacrificial hydrogen acceptor with only H2 and H2O as byproducts, making the reaction green and atom-economical.

Iron Complexes of 4,5-Bis(diorganophosphinomethyl)acridine Ligands

The search for an iron analog of the established ruthenium-based catalysts containing methylene-extended 4,5-bis(diorganophosphinomethyl)acridine ligands, [FeHCl(CO)(LR)], resulted in the discovery of a bidentate coordination mode of these usually tridentate pincer ligands toward iron. The acridines nitrogen atom does not coordinate to iron, leading to the formation of iron diphos-type complexes with unusually large cis bite angles of up to 124° as well as trans bite angles around 155°. The iron-containing complexes [FeCl2(κ2-LR)] (R = iPr, Ph), [FeX2(κ2-LCy)] (X = Cl, Br) and [Fe(CO)3(κ2-LR)] (R = iPr, Cy) have been isolated in crystalline form and characterized by spectroscopic methods and mass spectrometry. Their structures were verified unambiguously through X-ray diffraction. The stability of the iron(II) complexes decreased in the order Cy > Ph > iPr and Cl > Br > I, although all iron(II) complexes were found to be relatively stable enough for short-term handling in air in the solid state. Notably, no iron(0) complex of the phenyl derivative could be isolated. The iron(0) complex [Fe(CO)3(κ2-LCy)] was found to be significantly more stable toward hydrolysis and oxygen compared to [Fe(CO)3(κ2-LiPr)] and can be stored in air for months without significant decomposition in the solid state, while [Fe(CO)3(κ2-LiPr)] decomposes in air within seconds. The decomposition products [FeI2(κ2-O2LCy)], [{Fe(CO)3(κ2-HLR)}2] (R = iPr, Cy) and [FeCl2(CO)2(κ1-LCy)(κ1-OLCy)] were identified and characterized crystallographically. The iron(0) complex [Fe(CO)3(κ2-LCy)] is oxidized by [Fe(Cp)2](BPh4) to give the paramagnetic, low-spin iron(I) cation [Fe(CO)3(κ2-LCy)]+. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of the highly sensitive cation as well as density functional theory calculations suggest a partial delocalization of the unpaired electron over the three carbonyl ligands and the acridines aromatic ring system. The catalytic activity and photophysical properties of the complexes have been preliminarily investigated.

Bifunctional Imine Reductase Cascades for the Synthesis of Saturated N-Heterocycles

Saturated N-heterocycles constitute a vital scaffold for pharmaceutical chemistry but are challenging to access synthetically, particularly asymmetrically. Here, we demonstrate how imine reductases can achieve annulation through tandem inter- and intramolecular reductive amination processes. Imine reductases were used in combination with further enzymes to access unsubstituted, α-substituted, and α,α'-disubstituted N-heterocycles from simple starting materials in one pot and under benign conditions. This work shows the remarkable flexibility of these enzymes to have broad activity against numerous substrates derived from singlular starting materials.

Iron-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Allylic Alcohols with Isopropanol

Herein, we report an iron-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of allylic alcohols. The operationally simple protocol employs a well-defined bench stable (cyclopentadienone)iron(0) carbonyl complex as a precatalyst in combination with K2CO3 (4 mol %) and isopropanol as the hydrogen donor. A diverse range of allylic alcohols undergo transfer hydrogenation to form the corresponding alcohols in good yields (33 examples, ≤83% isolated yield). The scope and limitations of the method have been investigated, and experiments that shed light on the reaction mechanism have been conducted.

Copper-Catalyzed α-Alkylation of Aryl Acetonitriles with Benzyl Alcohols

A highly efficient, in situ formed CuCl2/TMEDA catalytic system (TMEDA = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylene-diamine) for the cross-coupling reaction of aryl acetonitriles with benzyl alcohols is reported. This user-friendly protocol, employing a low catalyst loading and a catalytic amount of base, leads to the synthesis of α-alkylated nitriles in up to 99% yield. Experimental mechanistic investigations reveal that the key step of this transformation is the C(sp3)-H functionalization of the alcohol, taking place via a hydrogen atom abstraction, with the simultaneous formation of copper-hydride species. Detailed density functional theory studies shed light on all reaction steps, confirming the catalytic pathway proposed on the basis of the experimental findings.

Unveiling the Unique Reactivity of Anionic Mn(I) Complexes via Metal-Ligand Cooperation: Nucleophilic Attack on C(sp3)-X Bonds

Metal-ligand cooperation (MLC) has emerged as a pivotal strategy for the catalytic activation of small molecules within both synthetic and biological arenas. Leveraging this approach, a suite of potent catalytic reactions─encompassing hydrogenation, hydroelementation, and dehydrogenative processes─have been realized, with notable advances in manganese catalysis in recent years. However, the activation of alkyl halides by Mn complexes, which typically requires strong reductants to form Mn(-I) complexes that are incompatible with standard cross-coupling conditions, remains a significant challenge. This limitation underscores the urgent need to investigate alternative methods for activating C(sp3)-X bonds using higher valence state Mn complexes. In response to this challenge, we present the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of a new anionic Mn(I) complex featuring a redox-active dianionic ligand that induces multiple MLC functionalities. We have discovered an innovative mechanism of MLC, characterized by a single ligand transferring two electrons to the metal center. This novel process facilitates an orbital-symmetry-allowed nucleophilic attack on C(sp3)-X bonds, preserving manganese's oxidative state at +1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first instance where the MLC strategy via a two-electron transfer process has been utilized to execute an SN2 nucleophilic attack at a C(sp3)-X bond by a relatively electron-deficient metal center like Mn(I). Additionally, the dianionic ligand of the anionic Mn(I) complex exhibits ambident nucleophilicity by reacting with different electrophiles, further highlighting its versatile reactivity.

Au(III)/TPPMS-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts benzylation of deactivated N-alkylanilines in water

The Friedel-Crafts reaction of electronically deactivated anilines including those with strong electron-withdrawing NO2, CN or CO2H groups is challenging due to the reduced electron density of the aromatic ring. Here, we demonstrate the Au(III)/TPPMS-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts benzylation of deactivated anilines in water. This reaction exhibits operational simplicity and a broad substrate scope with high regioselectivity, enabling rapid access to 2-benzylanilines.

Electrochemical Dimerization of o-Aminophenols and Hydrogen Borrowing-like Cascade to Synthesize N-Monoalkylated Aminophenoxazinones via Paired Electrolysis

A novel electrocatalytic dimerization of o-aminphenols and a hydrogen borrowing-like cascade for synthesizing N-monoalkylated aminophenoxazinones have been developed. This electrocatalytic reaction uses a constant current mode in an undivided cell and is free of metal catalysis, open to the air, and eco-friendly. In particular, this protocol exhibits a wide substrate range and provides versatile N-monoalkylated aminophenoxazinones in medium to good yields. The results of our mechanistic research reveal that this protocol involves a cascade of electrochemical cyclocondensation of o-aminphenols and the hydrogen transfer process via paired electrolysis.

Copper-catalyzed C(sp3)-H alkylation of fluorene with primary and secondary alcohols using a borrowing hydrogen method

Despite the limited success of copper-catalyzed alkylations, (NNS)CuCl proved to be an effective catalyst for the sp3 C-H alkylation of fluorene with alcohols. Various primary alcohols and challenging secondary alcohols were successfully used. The practical applicability of the method was effectively tested with several post-functionalization reactions. This copper-catalyzed alkylation of fluorene involved a borrowing hydrogen mechanism.

β-Methylation of Primary Alcohols with Methanol Catalyzed by a Metal-Ligand Bifunctional Iridium Catalyst

The development of efficient methods for the direct introduction of a methyl group into molecules is becoming increasingly important. Herein, the β-methylation of primary alcohols with methanol has been accomplished under environmentally benign conditions using [Cp*Ir(2,2'-bpyO)(H2O)] as a catalyst. It was found that functional groups in the ligand are crucially important for the activity of the iridium complex. Furthermore, the mechanistic research and application potential of our catalytic system are also presented.

FDA-approved drugs containing dimethylamine pharmacophore: a review of the last 50 years

Dimethylamine (DMA) derivatives represent a promising class of compounds with significant potential in the field of medicinal chemistry. DMA derivatives exhibit a diverse range of pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, antihistaminic, anticancer, and analgesic properties. Their unique chemical structure allows for the modulation of various biological targets, making them valuable candidates for the treatment of numerous diseases. Synthetic strategies for the preparation of DMA derivatives vary depending on the desired biological activity and target molecule. Common synthetic routes involve the modification of the DMA scaffold through functional group manipulation, scaffold hopping, or combinatorial chemistry approaches. Therapeutically, DMA derivatives have shown promise in the treatment of infectious diseases, especially bacterial infections. Additionally, by focusing on particular biochemical pathways involved in tumor growth and metastasis, DMA-based drugs have shown anticancer activity. In addition to their direct pharmacological effects, DMA derivatives can serve as valuable tools in drug delivery systems, prodrug design, and molecular imaging techniques, enhancing their utility in medicinal chemistry research. Overall, DMA derivatives represent a versatile class of compounds with immense potential in medicinal chemistry. Further research and development efforts are warranted to explore their full therapeutic capabilities and optimize their clinical utility in the treatment of various diseases. This article outlines the pharmacological properties, synthetic strategies, and therapeutic applications of DMA derivatives of FDA approved drugs, highlighting their importance in drug discovery and development.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation at sp3-Carbon Centers

The rising demand and financial costs of noble transition metal catalysts have emphasized the need for sustainable catalytic approaches. Over the past few years, base-metal catalysts have emerged as ideal candidates to replace their noble-metal counterparts because of their abundance and easiness of handling. Despite the significant advancements achieved with precious transition metals, earth-abundant cobalt catalysts have emerged as efficient alternatives for allylic substitution reactions. In this review, allylic alkylations at sp3-carbon centers mediated by cobalt will be discussed, with a special focus on the mechanistic features, scope, and limitations.

Designing Cobalt(II) Complex for Chemoselective Synthesis of 2-Aryl-3-Formyl Indoles from Amino Alcohols and Alcohols†

An air-stable, inexpensive, and isolable cobalt(II) complex (C1) of N-((1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl)-2-(phenylselanyl)ethan amine (L1) was synthesized and characterized. The complex was used to catalyze a one-pot cascade reaction between 2-(2-aminophenyl)ethanols and benzyl alcohol derivatives. Interestingly, 2-aryl-3-formylindole derivatives were formed instead of N-alkylated or C-3 alkylated indoles. A broad substrate scope can be activated using this protocol with only 5.0 mol % catalyst loading to achieve up to 87 % yield of 2-aryl-3-formylindole derivatives. The mechanistic studies suggested that the reaction proceeds through tandem imine formation followed by cyclization.

Single-Atom Fe-Catalyzed Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling to Quinolines

A single-atom iron catalyst was found to exhibit exceptional reactivity in acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling for quinoline synthesis, outperforming known homogeneous and nanocatalyst systems. Detailed characterizations, including aberration-corrected HAADF-STEM, XANES, and EXAFS, jointly confirmed the presence of atomically dispersed iron centers. Various functionalized quinolines were efficiently synthesized from different amino alcohols and a range of ketones or alcohols. The iron single-atom catalyst achieved a turnover number (TON) of up to 105, far exceeding the results of current homogeneous and nanocatalyst systems. Detailed mechanistic studies verified the significance of single-atom Fe sites in the dehydrogenation process.

Amination of Aminopyridines via η6-Coordination Catalysis

Pyridine, a widespread aromatic heterocycle, features a sp2-hybridized nitrogen atom that can readily coordinate to metals, leading to distinctive achievements in catalysis. In stark contrast, π-coordination of pyridine and derivatives with transition metals is notably scarce, and the involvement of such activation mode in catalysis remains to be developed. Herein, we present amination reactions of aminopyridines that leverages the reversible π coordination with a ruthenium catalyst as the arenophilic π acid, rather than relying on the conventional κ-N coordination. Specifically, a transient η6-pyridine complex functions as the electrophile in the nucleophilic aromatic substitution with amines, providing a diverse array of products via the cleavage of the pyridyl C-N bond. In addition, this method can be employed to incorporate chiral amines and 15N-labeled amines.

NNO Pincer-Supported Pd(II)-Catalyzed Reductive N-Alkylation of Challenging Nitroarenes with Alcohols via Borrowing Hydrogen Strategy

A sustainable catalytic synthesis of selective monoalkylated amines from nitroarenes and alcohols by new palladium(II)-NNO pincer-type complexes has been described. Herein, a series of Pd(II) complexes [Pd(NNO)PPh3] (1-3) are synthesized and characterized by analytical and spectroscopic (IR, NMR, and HR-MS) methods. The solid-state molecular structures of two complexes are established by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Furthermore, the catalytic N-alkylation of challenging nitroarenes with primary and secondary alcohols has been performed by the well-defined palladium(II) complexes via borrowing hydrogen strategy. The current protocol offers a wide range of monoalkylated amines (26 examples) with a maximum yield of 87% utilizing 1 mol % of catalyst loading. Gratifyingly, the catalytic system works well under mild reaction conditions and atom economy with water is the only byproduct. Furthermore, control experiments confirm the formation of probable intermediates (aniline, aldehyde, and imine), and deuterium labeling authenticates the borrowing hydrogen mechanism. A gram-scale synthesis of an alkylated product clearly demonstrates the synthetic efficacy of the present catalytic methodology.

Enable biomass-derived alcohols mediated alkylation and transfer hydrogenation

A single-atom catalyst with generally regarded inert Zn-N4 motifs derived from ZIF-8 is unexpectedly efficient for the activation of alcohols, enabling alcohol-mediated alkylation and transfer hydrogenation. C-alkylation of nitriles, ketones, alcohols, N-heterocycles, amides, keto acids, and esters, and N-alkylation of amines and amides all go smoothly with the developed method. Taking the α-alkylation of nitriles with alcohols as an example, the α-alkylation starts from the (1) nitrogen-doped carbon support catalyzed dehydrogenation of alcohols into aldehydes, which further condensed with nitriles to give vinyl nitriles, followed by (2) transfer hydrogenation of C=C bonds in vinyl nitriles on Zn-N4 sites. The experimental results and DFT calculations reveal that the Lewis acidic Zn-N4 sites promote step (2) by activating the alcohols. This is the first example of highly efficient single-atom catalysts for various organic transformations with biomass-derived alcohols as the alkylating reagents and hydrogen donors.

Poly(2,2'-Bibenzimidazole)-Supported Iridium Complex: A Recyclable Metal-Polymer Ligand Bifunctional Catalyst for the N-Methylation of Amines with Methanol

The design and development of new types of catalysts is one of the most important topics for modern chemistry. Herein, a polymer-supported iridium complex Cp*Ir@Poly(2,2'-BiBzIm) was designed and synthesized by the coordinative immobilization of [Cp*IrCl2]2 on 2,2'-bibenzimidazoles. In the presence of the catalyst (0.5 mol % Ir) and Cs2CO3 (0.3 equiv), a variety of N-methylated amines were obtained in high yields with complete selectivity. More importantly, the catalyst could be recycled without an obvious loss of activity for six cycles. Apparently, the designed catalyst combines the advantages of both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis.

Manganese-catalyzed cyclopropanation of allylic alcohols with sulfones

Cyclopropanes are among the most important structural units in natural products, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. Herein, we report a manganese-catalyzed cyclopropanation of allylic alcohols with sulfones as carbene alternative precursors via a borrowing hydrogen strategy under mild conditions. Various allylic alcohols and arylmethyl trifluoromethyl sulfones work efficiently in this borrowing hydrogen transformation and thereby deliver the corresponding cyclopropylmethanol products in 58% to 99% yields. Importantly, a major benefit of this transformation is that the versatile free alcohol moiety is retained in the resultant products, which can undergo a wide range of downstream transformations to provide access to a series of functional molecules. Mechanistic studies support a sequential reaction mechanism that involves catalytic dehydrogenation, Michael addition, cyclization, and catalytic hydrogenation.

Potent pincer-zinc catalyzed homogeneous α-alkylation and Friedländer quinoline synthesis reaction of secondary alcohols/ketones with primary alcohols

Herein, we describe an air- and moisture-stable, homogeneous zinc catalyst stabilised using an electron deficient N^N^N pincer-type ligand. This ternary, penta-coordinated neutral molecular catalyst [Zn(N^N^N)Cl2] selectively produces α-alkylated ketone derivatives (14 examples) through a one-pot acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling (ADC) reaction between secondary and primary alcohols using the borrowing hydrogen (BH) approach in good to excellent isolated yields (up to 93%). It is worth noting that this catalyst also provides an eco-friendly route for the synthesis of quinoline derivatives (30 examples) using 2-aminobenzyl alcohols as alkylating agents via successive dehydrogenative coupling and N-annulation reactions. This cost effective, easy to synthesize and environmentally benign catalyst shows excellent stability in catalytic cycles under open-air conditions, as evident from its high turnover number (∼104), and is activated by using a catalytic amount of base under milder conditions.

Iron- and base-catalyzed C(α)-alkylation and one-pot sequential alkylation-hydroxylation of oxindoles with secondary alcohols

The utilization of economical and environmentally benign transition metals in crucial catalytic processes is pivotal for sustainable advancement in synthetic organic chemistry. Iron, as the most abundant transition metal in the Earth's crust, has gained significant attention for this purpose. A combination of FeCl2 (5 mol%) in the presence of phenanthroline (10 mol%) and NaOtBu (1.5 equivalent) proved effective for the C(α)-alkylation of oxindole, employing challenging secondary alcohol as a non-hazardous alkylating agent. The C(α)-alkylation of oxindole was optimized in green solvent or under neat conditions. The substrate scope encompasses a broad array of substituted oxindoles with various secondary alcohols. Further post-functionalization of the C(α)-alkylated oxindole products demonstrated the practical utility of this catalytic alkylation. One-pot C-H hydroxylation of alkylated oxindoles yielded 3-alkyl-3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles using air as the most sustainable oxidant. Low E-factors (3.61 to 4.19) and good Eco-scale scores (74 to 76) of these sustainable catalytic protocols for the alkylation and one-pot sequential alkylation-hydroxylation of oxindoles demonstrated minimum waste generation. Plausible catalytic paths are proposed on the basis of past reports and control experiments, which suggested that a borrowing hydrogen pathway is involved in this alkylation.

Primary Allylic Amine Synthesis via Pd-Catalyzed Direct Amination of Allylic Alcohols with Ammonium Acetate

Pd/DPEphos-catalyzed direct amination of allylic alcohols with readily available ammonium acetate as a nitrogen source provides access to convenient and scalable syntheses of primary allylic amines with high monoallylation selectivity. Mechanistic studies revealed that ammonium acetate functions as a Brønsted acid to activate the hydroxyl groups and inhibit overreaction.

Mn(I)-Catalyzed Carbon-Skeleton Rearrangement of Tertiary Alcohol-Based Aldol Reaction with Aldehydes

A Mn-catalyzed ligand-directed Csp3-Csp2 coupling of tertiary allylic alcohols with arylaldehydes has been developed. The method provides an efficient approach to access 1,5-diarylpent-1-en-3-ones via carbon-skeleton rearrangement-based aldol reaction.

Manganese-Catalyzed Synthesis of Polyketones Using Hydrogen-Borrowing Approach

We report here a method of making polyketones from the coupling of diketones and diols using a manganese pincer complex. The methodology allows us to access various polyketones (polyarylalkylketone) containing aryl, alkyl, and ether functionalities, bridging the gap between the two classes of commercially available polyketones: aliphatic polyketones and polyaryletherketones. Using this methodology, 12 polyketones have been synthesized and characterized using various analytical techniques to understand their chemical, physical, morphological, and mechanical properties. Based on previous reports and our studies, we suggest that the polymerization occurs via a hydrogen-borrowing mechanism that involves the dehydrogenation of diols to dialdehyde followed by aldol condensation of dialdehyde with diketones to form chalcone derivatives and their subsequent hydrogenation to form polyarylalkylketones.

Copper-Catalyzed Borrowing Hydrogen Reaction for α-Alkylation of Amides with Alcohols

We report the first example of copper-catalyzed α-alkylation of acetamides with alcohols via a borrowing hydrogen strategy. Catalyzed by the in situ-generated copper particles, acetamides and various substituted benzyl or alkyl alcohols were transformed into functionalized amides in good yields with excellent selectivity. Compared with previous work, this process is simple using commercially available Cu(OAc)2 as a precatalyst, without an additional ligand or a metal complex, and easier. Mechanistic studies revealed that aldehyde and α,β-unsaturated amides were the intermediates of this reaction and also disclosed the role of copper in alcohol dehydrogenation and C═C bond hydrogenation.

Copper/ruthenium relay catalysis enables 1,6-double chiral inductions with stereodivergence

The dual catalysis strategy is an efficient and powerful tool to fulfill the stereodivergent synthesis of stereoisomeric products from the same set of starting materials. Great attention has been given to the construction of chiral compounds with two contiguous stereocenters. However, the synthesis of two remote noncontiguous stereocenters is more challenging and is less developed, despite the high demand for synthetic tactics. We herein developed an unprecedented example of the stereodivergent preparation of synthetically useful and biologically important chiral ζ-hydroxy amino ester derivatives containing remote 1,6-noncontiguous stereocenters and a unique β,γ-unsaturation moiety. This cascade dehydrogenation/1,6-Michael addition/hydrogenation protocol between readily-available ketoimine esters and racemic branched dienyl carbinols was rationally realized with bimetallic copper/ruthenium relay catalysis. The key features of the process were atom economy, step economy, and redox-neutrality. All four stereoisomers of chiral ζ-hydroxy amino ester derivatives were easily achieved by the orthogonal permutations of a chiral copper catalyst and chiral ruthenium catalyst. Importantly, a much more challenging stereodivergent synthesis of all eight stereoisomers of chiral peptide products containing three remote stereocenters was accomplished with excellent results through the cooperation of two chiral catalyst pairs and substrate enantiomers.