On the Superior Activity of In(I) versus In(III) Cations Toward ortho-C-Alkylation of Anilines and Intramolecular Hydroamination of Alkenes

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.

Aluminum-Catalyzed Intramolecular Vinylation of Arenes by Vinyl Cations

This study addresses the challenges associated with vinyl cation generation, a process that traditionally requires quite specific counterions. Described herein is a novel intramolecular vinylation of arenes catalyzed by aluminum(III) chloride, utilizing practical conditions and readily available vinyl triflates derived from 2-aceto-3-arylpropionates. Comprehensive experimental data support diverse carbocycle synthesis, exemplified by indenes and higher analogues. Control experiments verify the applicability of the vinylation protocol, and synthetic applications showcase a potent tubulin polymerization inhibitor with anticancer properties. Density functional theory computations reveal a Lewis-acid-driven mechanism involving triflate moiety abstraction to generate a reactive vinyl cation.

H2 O ⋅ B(C6 F5 )3 -Catalyzed para-Alkylation of Anilines with Alkenes Applied to Late-Stage Functionalization of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Anilines are core motifs in a variety of important molecules including medicines, materials and agrochemicals. We report a straightforward procedure that allows access to new chemical space of anilines via their para-C-H alkylation. The method utilizes commercially available catalytic H2 O ⋅ B(C6 F5 )3 and is highly selective for para-C-alkylation (over N-alkylation and ortho-C-alkylation) of anilines, with a wide scope in both the aniline substrates and alkene coupling partners. Readily available alkenes are used, and include new classes of alkene for the first time. The mild reaction conditions have allowed the procedure to be applied to the late-stage-functionalization of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including fenamic acids and diclofenac. The formed novel NSAID derivatives display improved anti-inflammatory properties over the parent NSAID structure.

Nickel(II)/Lewis acid catalysed olefin hydroamination and hydroarylation under mild conditions

Aniline derivatives are important nitrogen-containing compounds with wide applications in chemicals, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. In the work described herein, nickel(II)/Lewis acid (LA) catalysed olefin hydroamination with anilines was explored for use in aniline derivative syntheses. The Ni(II)/LA catalysis proceeded smoothly under mild conditions, whereas using Ni(OAc)2 alone, the catalyst was inactive. Remarkably, the Markovnikov addition type products were obtained when substituted styrenes were used as the olefin source, while the anti-Markovnikov addition type products were obtained when the electron-deficient olefins such as acrylonitrile and acrylates were used. The mechanistic studies revealed that hydroamination of the styrene derivates proceeded via the amino-Ni(II)/LA attacking the carbocation intermediate which was generated by the protonation of the olefin, whereas for acrylonitrile and acrylates, it proceeded by a direct amino-Ni(II)/LA attack on the olefin by nucleophilic addition. In addition, the hydroarylation product was generated by the Hofmann-Martius rearrangement of the hydroamination product.

Hydroboration and Deoxygenation of CO2 Mediated by a Gallium(I) Cation

Hydroboration of CO₂ to formoxy borane occurs under ambient conditions in acetonitrile using pinacolborane HBpin in the presence of gallium(I) cation [(Me₄TACD)Ga][BAr₄] (1; Me₄TACD = N,N',N″,N'''-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane; Ar = C₆H₃-3,5-Me₂). Slow turnover was accompanied by side reactions including ligand scrambling of HBpin to give BH₃(CH₃CN) and crystalline B₂pin₃. When 1 was reacted with CO₂ alone, the formation of the gallium(III) carbonato complex [(Me₄TACD)Ga(κ₂-O₂CO)][BAr₄] (3) along with CO was observed. This complex was assumed to form via the unstable oxido cation [(Me₄TACD)Ga=O]⁺ (4). Reaction of 1 with N₂O in the presence of BPh₃ confirmed the formation of the oxido cation, which was spectroscopically characterized as a triphenylborane adduct [(Me₄TACD)Ga=O(BPh₃)][BAr₄] (4·BPh₃). CO was also detected when CO₂ was reacted with 1 in the presence of HBpin, suggesting that compound 3 may also be formed in initial stages of catalysis. Compound 3 reacts with HBpin to give formoxy borane, borane redistribution products, and an unidentified Me₄TACD-containing species 5, which was also observed in "catalytic" runs starting from 1, HBpin, and CO₂. Hydroboration of CO₂ using HBpin with slow turnover and competitive ligand scrambling was also observed in the presence of gallium(III) hydride dication [(Me₄TACD)GaH][BAr₄]₂ (2), which is unreactive toward CO₂ in the absence of HBpin.

Squaramide/Li+-Catalyzed Direct SN1-Type Reaction of Vinyl Triflates with Difluoroenoxysilanes through Vinyl Cations

Difluoromethylene-skipped enones have been readily obtained from arylvinyltriflates and aryldifluoroenoxysilanes. While these useful compounds are difficult to synthesize by the classical aldol/dehydration approach, the use of a squaramide/Li⁺ catalyst allows their direct formation via a vinyl carbocation paired with a weakly coordinating perfluorinated alkoxyaluminate. This strategy makes possible a reaction between a typically weak electrophile and a weak nucleophile. Control experiments and DFT computations shed light on the mechanism of this transformation.

Ga+-catalyzed hydrosilylation? About the surprising system Ga+/HSiR3/olefin, proof of oxidation with subvalent Ga+ and silylium catalysis with perfluoroalkoxyaluminate anions

Already 1 mol% of subvalent [Ga(PhF)2]+[pf]- ([pf]- = [Al(ORF)4]-, RF = C(CF3)3) initiates the hydrosilylation of olefinic double bonds under mild conditions. Reactions with HSiMe3 and HSiEt3 as substrates efficiently yield anti-Markovnikov and anti-addition products, while bulkier substrates such as HSiiPr3 are less reactive. Investigating the underlying mechanism by gas chromatography and STEM analysis, we unexpectedly found that H2 and metallic Ga0 formed. Without the addition of olefins, the formation of R3Si-F-Al(ORF)3 (R = alkyl), a typical degradation product of the [pf]- anion in the presence of a small silylium ion, was observed. Electrochemical analysis revealed a surprisingly high oxidation potential of univalent [Ga(PhF)2]+[pf]- in weakly coordinating, but polar ortho-difluorobenzene of E 1/2(Ga+/Ga0; oDFB) = +0.26-0.37 V vs. Fc+/Fc (depending on the scan rate). Apparently, subvalent Ga+, mainly known as a reductant, initially oxidizes the silane and generates a highly electrophilic, silane-supported, silylium ion representing the actual catalyst. Consequently, the [Ga(PhF)2]+[pf]-/HSiEt3 system also hydrodefluorinates C(sp3)-F bonds in 1-fluoroadamantane, 1-fluorobutane and PhCF3 at room temperature. In addition, both catalytic reactions may be initiated using only 0.2 mol% of [Ph3C]+[pf]- as a silylium ion-generating initiator. These results indicate that silylium ion catalysis is possible with the straightforward accessible weakly coordinating [pf]- anion. Apparently, the kinetics of hydrosilylation and hydrodefluorination are faster than that of anion degradation under ambient conditions. These findings open up new windows for main group catalysis.

Silver-Catalyzed Regioselective 1,6-Hydroarylation of para-Quinone Methides with Anilines and Phenols

A simple and efficient method for the silver-catalyzed regioselective 1,6-hydroarylation of para-quinone methides (p-QMs) with anilines and phenols has been established. Without the need for pre-protection, a broad range of...

Selective Acid-Catalyzed Hydroarylation of Nonactivated Alkenes with Aniline Assisted by Hexafluoroisopropanol

The catalytic hydroarylation of nonactivated alkenes with aniline is a reaction of high interest, aiming at providing C-functionalized aniline derivatives that are important precursors for the fabrication of polyurethanes. However, this reaction remains a longstanding goal of catalysis, as it requires one to simultaneously address two important goals: (1) the very low reactivity of nonactivated alkenes and (2) control of the hydroarylation/hydroamination selectivity. As a result, the hydroarylation of aniline is mostly restricted to activated alkenes (i.e., featuring ring strain, conjugation, or activation with electron-donating or -withdrawing groups). Here we show that the combination of bismuth triflate and hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) leads to the formation of highly active catalytic species capable of promoting the hydroarylation of various nonactivated alkenes, such as 1-octene, 1-heptene, and 1-undecene, among others, with aniline with high selectivity (71-92%). Through a combined experimental and computational investigation, we propose a reaction pathway where HFIP stabilizes the rate-determining transition state through a H-bond interaction with the triflate anion, thus assisting the acid catalyst in the hydroarylation of nonactivated alkenes. From a practical point of view, this work opens a catalytic access to C-functionalized aniline derivatives from two cheap and abundant feedstocks in a 100% atom-economical fashion.

Benzylic C-H addition of aromatic amines to alkenes using a scandium catalyst

An efficient and selective benzylic C(sp³)-H addition of o-CH₃-substituted tertiary aromatic amines to alkenes has been achieved using an anilido-oxazoline ligand supported scandium catalyst, which provides an atom-economic method for the synthesis of a new family of alkylated tertiary anilines. A wide range of amine and alkene substrates are compatible with the catalyst system.