Palladium-Catalyzed Carbonylations: Application in Complex Natural Product Total Synthesis and Recent Developments

Synthesis of a collection of nootkatone analogues with diverse skeletons

A collection of ring distorted analogue of Nootkatone including 6 CTD (Complex to Diversity) compounds and 9 SAR (Structure Activity Relationship) compounds were synthesized utilizing the carbonyl group as a starting reaction point.

A Sustainable and Versatile Cellulose-based CO Surrogate for Carbonylative Reactions

The highly toxic and flammable nature of CO lead to high handling demand for its use and storage, undoubtedly constricting its further academic exploration for carbonylative reactions in laboratory. Although many CO surrogates have been developed and applied in carbonylative reactions instead of CO gas, exploration of more versatile CO surrogates for diverse carbonylations is still highly desirable. Here we report a cellulose-based CO surrogate (cellulose-CO), which prepared from cheap and abundant cellulose through a simple and green process. The very mild and efficient CO release makes this reagent a highly competitive candidate for providing CO in carbonylation. This surrogate is compatible with a wide variety of functional groups in various carbonylative reactions due to the excellent compatibility of cellulose-CO. Moreover, the cellulose-CO exhibits excellent chemical stability which can be stored exposed to air for 12 months, making this CO surrogate a robust and general reagent in CO chemistry.

Competing Mechanisms in Palladium-Catalyzed Alkoxycarbonylation of Styrene

Palladium-catalyzed carbonylation is a versatile method for the synthesis of various aldehydes, esters, lactones, or lactams. Alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes with carbon monoxide and alcohol produces either saturated or unsaturated esters as a result of two distinct catalytic cycles. The existing literature presents an inconsistent account of the procedures favoring oxidative carbonylation products. In this study, we have monitored the intermediates featured in both catalytic cycles of the methoxycarbonylation of styrene PhCH=CH2 as a model substrate, including all short-lived intermediates, using mass spectrometry. Comparing the reaction kinetics of the intermediates in both cycles in the same reaction mixture shows that the reaction proceeding via alkoxy intermediate [PdII]-OR, which gives rise to the unsaturated product PhCH=CHCO2Me, is faster. However, with an advancing reaction time, the gradually changing reaction conditions begin to favor the catalytic cycle dominated by palladium hydride [PdII]-H and alkyl intermediates, affording the saturated products PhCH2CH2CO2Me and PhCH(CO2Me)CH3 preferentially. The role of the oxidant proved to be crucial: using p-benzoquinone results in a gradual decrease of the pH during the reaction, swaying the system from oxidative conditions toward the palladium hydride cycle. By contrast, copper(II) acetate as an oxidant guards the pH within the 5-7 range and facilitates the formation of the alkoxy palladium complex [PdII]-OR, which favors the oxidative reaction producing PhCH=CHCO2Me with high selectivity. Hence, it is the oxidant, rather than the catalyst, that controls the reaction outcome by a mechanistic switch. Unraveling these principles broadens the scope for developing alkoxycarbonylation reactions and their application in organic synthesis.

Regiodivergent Carbonylation of Alkenes: Selective Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Linear and Branched Selenoesters

An unprecedented regiodivergent palladium-catalyzed carbonylation of aromatic alkenes has been developed. Utilizing commercially available Pd(CH3 CN)2 Cl2 in the presence of 1,1'-ferrocenediyl-bis(tert-butyl(pyridin-2-yl)phosphine) ligand L8 diverse selenoesters are obtained in a straightforward manner. Key to success for the control of the regioselectivity of the carbonylation step is the concentration of the acidic co-catalyst. This general protocol features wide functional group compatibility and good regioselectivity. Mechanistic studies suggest that the presence of stoichiometric amounts of acid changes the properties and coordination mode of the ligand leading to reversed regioselectivity.

Palladium-Catalyzed Carbonylative Difunctionalization of Unactivated Alkenes Initiated by Unstabilized Enolates

This report describes the first example of palladium-catalyzed carbonylative difunctionalization of unactivated alkenes initiated by enolate nucleophiles. The approach involves initiation by an unstabilized enolate nucleophile under an atmospheric pressure of CO and termination with a carbon electrophile. This process is compatible with a diverse range of electrophiles, including aryl, heteroaryl, and vinyl iodides to yield synthetically useful 1,5-diketone products, which were demonstrated to be precursors for multi-substituted pyridines. A PdI -dimer complex with two bridging CO units was observed although its role in catalysis is not yet understood.

Pd(II)-Catalyzed Cascade Annulation of o-Aminobenzoic Acids with CO, Amines, and Aldehydes to N3-/N1,N3-Substituted 2,3-Dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones

The unprecedented Pd(II)-catalyzed cascade annulation of o-aminobenzoic acids with CO, amines, and aldehydes has been developed. This protocol provides an efficient and concise approach to selective construction of N3-substituted and N1,N3-disubstituted 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones mostly in moderate to excellent yields from simple and easily available starting materials under mild conditions featured with low cost, high step economy, broad substrate scope, and good product diversity.

Heck Macrocyclization in Forging Non-Natural Large Rings including Macrocyclic Drugs

The intramolecular Heck reaction is a well-established strategy for natural product total synthesis. When constructing large rings, this reaction is also referred to as Heck macrocyclization, which has proved a viable avenue to access diverse naturally occurring macrocycles. Less noticed but likewise valuable, it has created novel macrocycles of non-natural origin that neither serve as nor derive from natural products. This review presents a systematic account of the title reaction in forging this non-natural subset of large rings, thereby addressing a topic rarely covered in the literature. Walking through two complementary sections, namely (1) drug discovery research and (2) synthetic methodology development, it demonstrates that beyond the well-known domain of natural product synthesis, Heck macrocyclization also plays a remarkable role in forming synthetic macrocycles, in particular macrocyclic drugs.