Utilization of Copper-Catalyzed Carboarylation–Ring Closure for the Synthesis of New Oxazoline Derivatives

CuI-Catalyzed Radical Reaction of Benzimidates to Form Valuable 4,5-Dihydrooxazoles through Regioselective Aerobic Oxidative Cross-Coupling

A straightforward Cu(I)-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupled organic transformation has been developed under mild conditions for the construction of functionalized 4,5-dihydrooxazoles through a four-bond-forming regiocontrolled C-C/C-N/C-O coupling strategy emerging benzimidates, paraformaldehyde, and 1,3-diketo analogues using eco-friendly O2 as the sole oxidant. The fundamental features of these designed approaches involve operational simplicity, selectivity, generality, and a broad substrate scope with high yields under the same reaction conditions.

Deciphering Deoxynybomycin Biosynthesis Reveals Fe(II)/α-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase-Catalyzed Oxazoline Ring Formation and Decomposition

The antibacterial agents deoxynybomycin (DNM) and nybomycin (NM) have a unique tetracyclic structure featuring an angularly fused 4-oxazoline ring. Here, we report the identification of key enzymes responsible for forming the 4-oxazoline ring in Embleya hyalina NBRC 13850 by comparative bioinformatics analysis of the biosynthetic gene clusters encoding structurally similar natural products DNM, deoxynyboquinone (DNQ), and diazaquinomycins (DAQs). The N-methyltransferase DnmS plays a crucial role in catalyzing the N-dimethylation of a tricyclic precursor prenybomycin to generate NM D; subsequently, the Fe(II)/α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (Fe/αKGD) DnmT catalyzes the formation of a 4-oxazoline ring from NM D to produce DNM; finally, a second Fe/αKGD DnmU catalyzes the C-12 hydroxylation of DNM to yield NM. Strikingly, DnmT is shown to display unexpected functions to also catalyze the decomposition of the 4-oxazoline ring and the N-demethylation, thereby converting DNM back to prenybomycin, to putatively serve as a manner to control the intracellular yield of DNM. Structure modeling, site-directed mutagenesis, and quantum mechanics calculations provide mechanistic insights into the DnmT-catalyzed reactions. This work expands our understanding of the functional diversity of Fe/αKGDs in natural product biosynthesis.

The copper-catalyzed synthesis of dihydrooxazoles from α,β-unsaturated ketoximes and activated ketones

The first copper-catalyzed [3+2]-type condensation reaction of α,β-unsaturated ketoximes with activated ketones has been described for the synthesis of dihydrooxazoles, especially trifluoromethyl-decorated dihydrooxazoles. Notable features of this method include its broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and simple operation.

Nanofibrils of a CuII-Thiophenyltriazine-Based Porous Polymer: A Diverse Heterogeneous Nanocatalyst

Herein, we report knitting of a thiophenyltriazine-based porous organic polymer (TTPOP) with high surface area and high abundance of nitrogen and sulfur sites, synthesized through a simple one-step Friedel-Crafts reaction of 2,4,6-tri(thiophen-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine and formaldehyde dimethyl acetal in the presence of anhydrous FeCl₃, and thereafter grafting of Cu(OAc)₂·H₂O in the porous polymer framework to achieve the potential catalyst (Cu^II-TTPOP). TTPOP and Cu^II-TTPOP were characterized thoroughly utilizing solid-state ¹³C-CP MAS NMR, Fourier transform infrared, wide-angle powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and surface imaging by transmission electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The porosity of the nanomaterials was observed in the surface imaging and verified through conducting N₂ gas adsorption techniques. Keeping in mind the tremendous importance of C-C and C-N coupling and cyclization processes, the newly synthesized Cu^II-TTPOP was employed successfully for a wide range of organic catalytic transformations under mild conditions to afford directly valuable diindolylmethanes and spiro-analogues, phthalimidines, propargyl amines, and their sugar-based chiral compounds with high yields using readily available substrates. The highly stable new heterogeneous catalyst showed outstanding sustainability, robustness, simple separation, and recyclability.

DFT calculations on the mechanism of copper-catalysed tandem arylation-cyclisation reactions of alkynes and diaryliodonium salts

We present a computational mechanistic study on the copper(III)-catalysed carboarylation-ring closure reactions leading to the formation of functionalised heterocycles. We have performed DFT calculations along selected routes and compared their free energy profiles. The calculations considered two viable options for the underlying mechanism which differ in the order of the oxazoline ring formation and the aryl transfer steps. In our model transformation, it was found that the reaction generally features the aryl transfer-ring closing sequence and this sequence shows very limited sensitivity to the variation of the substituent of the reactants. On the basis of the mechanism the origin of the stereoselectivity is ascribed to the interaction of the Cu ion with the oxazoline oxygen driving the ring-closure step selectively.

Pd-catalyzed divergent trifluoroethylation and arylation of arylboronic acids by aryl(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)iodonium triflates

Highly electrophilic aryl(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)iodonium triflates have been used for the first time as trifluoroethyl and aryl transfer reagents in Pd-catalyzed functionalization of arylboronic acids. Electron-rich arylboronic acids reacted with aryl(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)iodonium triflates (2a-b) in CH3CN in the presence of Pd2(dba)3 and K3PO4 at room temperature to provide trifluoroethyl arenes in up to 82% yield, while the reactions of both electron-rich and -poor arylboronic acids with 2a-b in DMF in the presence of Pd[P(t-Bu)3]2 and Cs2CO3 at 40 °C afforded arylation products in up to 99% yield. This tunable protocol allows access to trifluoroethyl arenes or biaryls in good to excellent yields under mild conditions and without the addition of extra ligands.

A copper-catalyzed arylation/nucleophilic addition/fragmentation/C–S bond formation cascade: synthesis of bis(arylthio)imines

A new arylation/nucleophilic addition/fragmentation/C–S bond formation cascade was developed using isothiocyanates and diaryliodonium salts.

Insights into the Pummerer synthesis of oxazolines

A rapid and simple method to access unnatural 2-substituted 5-thio oxazolines has been developed. This methodology is based on a Pummerer reaction followed by an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution, which changes the paradigm for the normal use of a base in Pummerer chemistry. We also provide a useful two-step method for the synthesis of the starting material and a mechanistic proposal based on experimental observations, which contests the previously proposed reaction pathway. The reaction proved to be general, and different substituents, such as alkyl, aryl, alkenyl and functionalized groups, can be used without a significant decrease in efficiency.

CuBr2-promoted cyclization and bromination of arene–alkynes: C–Br bond formation via reductive elimination of Cu(iii) species

A CuBr₂-promoted cyclization and bromination of arene–alkynes was developed, affording 9-bromophenanthrenes via reductive elimination of the Cu(iii) species.

Copper-catalyzed tandem arylation–cyclization of 2-alkynylaryl isothiocyanates with diaryliodonium salts: an efficient synthesis of thiochromeno[2,3-b]indoles

A Cu-catalyzed arylation–cyclization approach is developed for the synthesis of thiochromeno[2,3-b]indoles through the S-arylation, 5-endo-trig cyclization, and Friedel–Crafts-type cyclization sequence.