Iron(III)-Catalyzed Ortho-Preferred Radical Nucleophilic Alkylation of Electron-Deficient Arenes

Strategies and Mechanisms of First-Row Transition Metal-Regulated Radical C-H Functionalization

Radical C-H functionalization represents a useful means of streamlining synthetic routes by avoiding substrate preactivation and allowing access to target molecules in fewer steps. The first-row transition metals (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) are Earth-abundant and can be employed to regulate radical C-H functionalization. The use of such metals is desirable because of the diverse interaction modes between first-row transition metal complexes and radical species including radical addition to the metal center, radical addition to the ligand of metal complexes, radical substitution of the metal complexes, single-electron transfer between radicals and metal complexes, hydrogen atom transfer between radicals and metal complexes, and noncovalent interaction between the radicals and metal complexes. Such interactions could improve the reactivity, diversity, and selectivity of radical transformations to allow for more challenging radical C-H functionalization reactions. This review examines the achievements in this promising area over the past decade, with a focus on the state-of-the-art while also discussing existing limitations and the enormous potential of high-value radical C-H functionalization regulated by these metals. The aim is to provide the reader with a detailed account of the strategies and mechanisms associated with such functionalization.

Dealkenylative Functionalizations: Conversion of Alkene C(sp3)-C(sp2) Bonds into C(sp3)-X Bonds via Redox-Based Radical Processes

This review highlights the history and recent advances in dealkenylative functionalization. Through this deconstructive strategy, radical functionalizations occur under mild, robust conditions. The reactions described proceed with high efficiency, good stereoselectivity, tolerate many functional groups, and are completed within a matter of minutes. By cleaving the C(sp3)-C(sp2) bond of terpenes and terpenoid-derived precursors, rapid diversification of natural products is possible.

Microwave-promoted radical addition/cyclization of biaryl vinyl ketones with diacyl peroxides in water under metal-free conditions

This communication reports an efficient microwave-promoted radical addition/cyclization reaction of biaryl vinyl ketones with diacyl peroxides in water under metal-free conditions. A series of 10-methyl-10-benzyl(alkyl)phenanthren-9(10H)-ones were obtained in high yields with good functional group tolerance.

When all C-C breaks LO-Ose

Organic peroxides are becoming popular intermediates for novel chemical transformations. The weak O-O bond is readily reduced by transition metals, including iron and copper, to initiate a radical cascade process that breaks C-C bonds. Great potential exists for the rapid generation of complexity, originating from the ability to couple the resulting free radicals with a wide range of partners. First, this review article discusses the history and synthesis of organic peroxides, providing the context necessary to understand this methodology. Then, it highlights 91 examples of recent applications of the radical functionalization of C-C bonds accessed through the transition metal-mediated reduction of organic peroxides. Finally, we provide some comments about safety when working with organic peroxides.

Diacyl peroxides: practical reagents as aryl and alkyl radical sources

Diacyl peroxides, which can be easily synthesized from corresponding carboxylic acids, are commonly utilized as radical initiators and one electron oxidants. Under thermal, transition-metal catalysis or irradiation conditions the cleavage of relatively weak O-O bonds would occur followed by CO₂ extrusion to generate the corresponding aryl or alkyl radicals. Thus, diacyl peroxides can be employed as ideal arylating and alkylating reagents in organic synthesis, including C-H/N-H arylation/alkylation, aryl/alkyl radical addition to unsaturated bonds, hetero arylation/alkylation, eliminative arylation/alkylation, perfluoroalkylation etc. Moreover, these arylation/alkylation protocols have been successfully utilized in the synthesis and late-stage functionalization of natural products as well as bioactive molecules. In this review, recent advances on arylation and alkylation using diacyl peroxides as aryl and alkyl radical sources are summarized and discussed.

Regioselective Pd-catalyzed α-alkylation of furans using alkyl iodides

A practical and regioselective strategy to synthesize α-alkylfurans via Pd-catalyzed direct C–H alkylation using alkyl iodides was developed.

Recent advances in reactions using diacyl peroxides as sources of O- and C-functional groups

This review summarizes recent advances in reactions utilizing diacyl peroxides as O- and C-sources, with examples illustrating how the reactivity of diacyl peroxides in organic reactions can be controlled.

Organic synthesis with the most abundant transition metal–iron: from rust to multitasking catalysts

The promising aspects of iron in synthetic chemistry are being explored for three-four decades as a green and eco-friendly alternative to late transition metals. This present review unveils these rich iron-chemistry towards different transformations.

Direct C(sp2)-H alkylation of unactivated arenes enabled by photoinduced Pd catalysis

Despite the fundamental importance of efficient and selective synthesis of widely useful alkylarenes, the direct catalytic C(sp²)–H alkylation of unactivated arenes with a readily available alkyl halide remains elusive. Here, we report the catalytic C(sp²)–H alkylation reactions of unactivated arenes with alkyl bromides via visible-light induced Pd catalysis. The reaction proceeds smoothly under mild conditions without any skeletal rearrangement of the alkyl groups. The direct syntheses of structurally diverse linear and branched alkylarenes, including the late-stage phenylation of biologically active molecules and an orthogonal one-pot sequential Pd-catalyzed C–C bond-forming reaction, are achieved with exclusive chemoselectivity and exceptional functional group tolerance. Comprehensive mechanistic investigations through a combination of experimental and computational methods reveal a distinguishable Pd(0)/Pd(I) redox catalytic cycle and the origin of the counter-intuitive reactivity differences among alkyl halides.

Direct catalytic C(sp²)–H alkylation of unactivated arenes with alkyl halides remains elusive despite the progress in C-H functionalization. Here, the authors report the catalytic C(sp²)–H alkylation of unactivated arenes with alkyl bromides via visible-light induced Pd catalysis.

Iron-Catalyzed Oxidative Decarbonylative α-Alkylation of Acyl-Substituted Furans with Aliphatic Aldehydes as the Alkylating Agents

A protocol for FeCl₂-catalyzed oxidative decarbonylative α-alkylation of acyl furans using alkyl aldehydes as the alkylating agents has been developed. This protocol affords α-alkyl-α-acylfurans in moderate to good yields in a practical and sustainable fashion. Mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction proceeds via generation of an alkyl radical from the alkyl aldehyde, addition of the radical to the furan ring, and subsequent rearomatization.

Regioselective Functionalization of 9,9-Dimethyl-9-silafluorenes by Borylation, Bromination, and Nitration

Despite the utility of 9-silafluorenes as functional materials and as building blocks, methods for efficient functionalization of their backbone are rare, probably because of the presence of easily cleavable C-Si bonds. Although controlling the regioselectivity of iridium-catalyzed direct borylation of C-H bonds is difficult, we found that bromination and nitration of 2-methoxy-9-silafluorene under mild conditions occurred predominantly at the electron-rich position. The resulting product having methoxy and bromo groups can be utilized as a building block for the synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted 9-silafluorene-containing π-conjugated molecules.

Radical alkylation of C(sp3)–H bonds with diacyl peroxides under catalyst-free conditions

Herein, we describe a protocol for alkylation reactions of C(sp³)–H bonds with diacyl peroxides by means of a process involving cross-coupling between an alkyl radical and an α-aminoalkyl radical.

Iron-Catalyzed Dehydrative Alkylation of Propargyl Alcohol with Alkyl Peroxides To Form Substituted 1,3-Enynes

This paper reports a new method for the generation of substituted 1,3-enynes, whose synthesis by other methods could be a challenge. The dehydrative decarboxylative cascade coupling reaction of propargyl alcohol with alkyl peroxides is enabled by an iron catalyst and alkylating reagents. Primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl groups can be introduced into 1,3-enynes, affording various substituted 1,3-enynes in moderate to good yields. Mechanistic studies suggest the involvement of a radical-polar crossover pathway.