Palladium-Catalyzed Amination of Aryl Sulfoxides

KuQuinone as a Highly Stable and Reusable Organic Photocatalyst in Selective Oxidation of Thioethers to Sulfoxides

A chemoselective photocatalytic system to perform thioether oxidation to sulfoxide is presented. The light-induced oxidation process is here promoted by a metal-free quinoid catalyst, namely 1-hexylKuQuinone (KuQ). Reactions performed in a fluorinated solvent (i.e., HFIP), using O₂ as the oxidant, at room temperature, lead to complete thioanisole conversion to methyl phenyl sulfoxide in 60 min. Remarkably, the system can be recharged and recycled without a loss of activity and selectivity, reaching turnover numbers (TONs) higher than 4000. Excellent catalytic performances and full selectivity have also been obtained for the photocatalytic oxidation of substituted thioanisole derivatives, aliphatic, cyclic, and diaryl thioethers. Likewise, the oxidation of heteroaromatic organosulfur compounds can be accomplished, with longer reaction times.

Concise Synthesis of N-Aryl Tetrahydroquinolines via a One-Pot Sequential Reduction of Quinoline/Chan–Evans–Lam Coupling ­Reaction

A boronic acid catalyzed one-pot reduction of quinolines with Hantzsch ester followed by N-arylation via external base-free Chan–Evans–Lam coupling has been demonstrated. This step-economical synthesis of N-aryl tetrahydroquinolines has been accomplished from readily available quinoline, Hantzsch ester, and arylboronic acid under mild reaction conditions. The dual role of boronic acid as a catalyst (in the reduction of quinolines) and a reagent (in the N-arylation) has been realized for the first time. The use of an inexpensive N-arylation protocol, aerobic reaction conditions, and functional group diversity are important practical features.

Nickel-Catalyzed Direct Cross-Coupling of Diaryl Sulfoxide with Aryl Bromide

The direct cross-couplings of diaryl sulfoxides with aryl bromides via C-S bond cleavage could be readily accomplished using nickel(II) as the catalyst, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) as the ligand, and magnesium turnings as the reducing metal in THF, leading to the corresponding biaryls in moderate to good yields. The reaction exhibited a broad substrate scope and could be applied to a gram-scale synthesis. The "one-pot" reaction, which avoids the utility of presynthesized and moisture-labile organometallic compounds, is operationally simple and step-economic.

Chromium-catalyzed couplings of C(aryl)-SMe bonds for accessing arylated and alkylated benzaldehyde derivatives

Described here is the chromium-catalyzed cleavage of C(aryl)-SMe bonds leading to coupling with organomagnesium to give functionalized benzaldehydes under mild conditions. This reaction was promoted specifically by a low-cost and simple CrCl₂ salt used as a precatalyst, enabling synchronous activations of ortho-C(aryl)-SMe and ortho'-C(aryl)-H bonds to achieve difunctionalization of benzaldimines. This work provided a strategy for accessing arylated, alkylated, and diarylated benzaldehyde derivatives as a result of the couplings of C(aryl)-SMe and C(aryl)-SMe/C(aryl)-H bonds promoted with cost-effective Cr catalysis.

Metal-catalyzed reactions for the C(sp2)–N bond formation: achievements of recent years

The review deals with the main catalytic methods for the C(sp2)–N bond formation, including Buchwald–Hartwig palladium-catalyzed amination of aryl and heteroaryl halides, renaissance of the Ullmann chemistry, i.e., the application of catalysis by copper complexes to form the carbon–nitrogen bond, and Chan–Lam reactions of (hetero)arylboronic acids with amines. Also, oxidative amination with C–H activation, which has been booming during the last decade, is addressed. Particular attention is paid to achievements in the application of heterogenized catalysts.

The bibliography includes 350 references.

Visible-Light-Promoted Oxidative Annulation of Naphthols and Alkynes: Synthesis of Functionalized Naphthofurans

A visible-light-mediated site-selective oxidative annulation of naphthols with alkynes for the synthesis of functionalized naphthofurans has been developed. The reaction relies on the in situ formation of an electron donor acceptor pair between phenylacetylene and thiophenol as the light-absorbing system to obviate the requirement of an added photocatalyst. The protocol facilitates the transformation of 1-naphthol and 2-naphthol as well as 1,4-naphthoquinone into a wide variety of highly functionalized naphthofurans.

One-Pot Construction of Indolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines through Ruthenium-Catalyzed Ortho C-H Bond Functionalization of 2-Arylquinoxalines with Sulfonyl Azides

The synthesis of N-substituted indolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines has been developed through a Ru(II)-catalyzed ortho C-H functionalization of 2-arylquinoxalines with sulfonyl azides and further oxidation with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone in one pot. This double C-N bond formation strategy provides a new efficient route for the preparation of a series of biologically relevant 6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline derivatives in up to 94% yield, suggesting a broad substrate scope applicability. The preliminary mechanistic studies reveal that the sequential C-N bond formations proceed through the formation of a five-membered ruthenacyclic intermediate in the first step and a radical mechanism in the second step.

(DiMeIHeptCl)Pd: A Low-Load Catalyst for Solvent-Free (Melt) Amination

(DiMeIHept^Cl)Pd, a hyper-branched N-aryl Pd NHC catalyst, has been shown to be efficient at performing amine arylation reactions in solvent-free ("melt") conditions. The highly lipophilic environment of the alkyl chains flanking the Pd center serves as lubricant to allow the complex to navigate through the paste-like environment of these mixtures. The protocol can be used on a multi-gram scale to make a variety of aniline derivatives, including substrates containing alcohol moieties.

A nickel-catalyzed silylation reaction of alkyl aryl sulfoxides with silylzinc reagents

Ni(PEt3)Cl2-catalyzed silylation of alkyl aryl sulfoxides with silylzinc reagents was carried out. This protocol allows alkyl aryl sulfoxides to convert to arylsilicon compounds under mild reaction conditions, tolerates a range of functional groups and is suitable for a wide scope of substrates.

Ni-Catalyzed Borylation of Aryl Sulfoxides

A nickel/N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalytic system has been developed for the borylation of aryl sulfoxides with B2 (neop)2 (neop=neopentyl glycolato). A wide range of aryl sulfoxides with different electronic and steric properties were converted into the corresponding arylboronic esters in good yields. The regioselective borylation of unsymmetric diaryl sulfoxides was also feasible leading to borylation of the sterically less encumbered aryl substituent. Competition experiments demonstrated that an electron-deficient aryl moiety reacts preferentially. The origin of the selectivity in the Ni-catalyzed borylation of electronically biased unsymmetrical diaryl sulfoxide lies in the oxidative addition step of the catalytic cycle, as oxidative addition of methoxyphenyl 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl sulfoxide to the Ni(0) complex occurs selectively to give the structurally characterized complex trans-[Ni(ICy)2 (4-CF3 -C6 H4 ){(SO)-4-MeO-C6 H4 }] 4. For complex 5, the isomer trans-[Ni(ICy)2 (C6 H5 )(OSC6 H5 )] 5-I was structurally characterized in which the phenyl sulfinyl ligand is bound via the oxygen atom to nickel. In solution, the complex trans-[Ni(ICy)2 (C6 H5 )(OSC6 H5 )] 5-I is in equilibrium with the S-bonded isomer trans-[Ni(ICy)2 (C6 H5 )(SOC6 H5 )] 5, as shown by NMR spectroscopy. DFT calculations reveal that these isomers are separated by a mere 0.3 kJ/mol (M06/def2-TZVP-level of theory) and connected via a transition state trans-[Ni(ICy)2 (C6 H5 )(η2 -{SO}-C6 H5 )], which lies only 10.8 kcal/mol above 5.

Palladium-Catalyzed Sulfinylation of Aryl- and Alkenylborons with Sulfinate Esters

An efficient, direct sulfinylation of organoborons catalyzed by palladium is disclosed. Treatment of organoborons and sulfinate esters in the presence of a palladium precatalyst provided a broad range of sulfoxides. Various organosulfur compounds having oxidizable functional groups were successfully prepared through the sulfoxide synthesis.

Palladium catalyzed desulfurative coupling of allyl sulfides with organoboronic acids

A palladium catalyzed desulfurative coupling of allylthioethers with organoboronic acids under mild reaction conditions is described.

Photoredox-Mediated Synthesis of Functionalized Sulfoxides from Terminal Alkynes

A photoredox-mediated protocol for the synthesis of α-alkoxy-β-ketosulfoxides and α,β-dialkoxysulfoxides using alkynes, thiol, and alcohols is reported. This work presents a rare single-step synthesis of α-substituted sulfoxides, involving tandem introduction of a thiol and alcohol as a key enabling advancement. Furthermore, the method can be easily employed to access vinyl sulfoxides and β-ketosulfoxides.

Transition-metal-free formal cross-coupling of aryl methyl sulfoxides and alcohols via nucleophilic activation of C-S bond

Employment of sulfoxides as electrophiles in cross-coupling reactions remains underexplored. Herein we report a transition-metal-free cross-coupling strategy utilizing aryl(heteroaryl) methyl sulfoxides and alcohols to afford alkyl aryl(heteroaryl) ethers. Two drug molecules were successfully prepared using this protocol as a key step, emphasizing its potential utility in medicinal chemistry. A DFT computational study suggests that the reaction proceeds via initial addition of the alkoxide to the sulfoxide. This adduct facilitates further intramolecular addition of the alkoxide to the aromatic ring wherein charge on the aromatic system is stabilized by the nearby potassium cation. Rate-determining fragmentation then delivers methyl sulfenate and the aryl or heteroaryl ether. This study establishes the feasibility of nucleophilic addition to an appended sulfoxide as a means to form a bond to aryl(heteroaryl) systems and this modality is expected to find use with many other electrophiles and nucleophiles leading to new cross-coupling processes.

Cross-coupling processes without the use of transition metals are challenging to achieve. Here, the authors show a transition-metal-free cross-coupling utilizing aryl(heteroaryl) methyl sulfoxides and alcohols to afford alkyl aryl(heteroaryl) ethers and propose a nucleophilic addition mechanism based on experiments and theory.

Transition-metal mediated carbon-sulfur bond activation and transformations: an update

Carbon-sulfur bond cross-coupling has become more and more attractive as an alternative protocol to establish carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. Diverse transformations through transition-metal-catalyzed C-S bond activation and cleavage have recently been developed. This review summarizes the advances in transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling via carbon-sulfur bond activation and cleavage since late 2012 as an update of the critical review on the same topic published in early 2013 (Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, 42, 599-621), which is presented by the categories of organosulfur compounds, that is, thioesters, thioethers including heteroaryl, aryl, vinyl, alkyl, and alkynyl sulfides, ketene dithioacetals, sulfoxides including DMSO, sulfones, sulfonyl chlorides, sulfinates, thiocyanates, sulfonium salts, sulfonyl hydrazides, sulfonates, thiophene-based compounds, and C[double bond, length as m-dash]S functionality-bearing compounds such as thioureas, thioamides, and carbon disulfide, as well as the mechanistic insights. An overview of C-S bond cleavage reactions with stoichiometric transition-metal reagents is briefly given. Theoretical studies on the reactivity of carbon-sulfur bonds by DFT calculations are also discussed.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed ortho-C-H amidation of 2-arylindazoles with a dioxazolone as an amidating reagent

A simple and efficient method for the directed amidation of a wide range of 2-arylindazoles has been established for the first time through a rhodium-catalyzed C-H activation reaction with alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl dioxazolones. A series of N-(2-(2H-indazol-2-yl)phenyl)acetamide derivatives were synthesized in excellent yields. A mechanistic study was conducted to describe C-H bond cleavage which is likely to be involved in the rate determining step.

Super electron donor-mediated reductive desulfurization reactions

The desulfurization of thioacetals and thioethers by a pyridine-derived electron donor is described. This methodology provides efficient access to the reduced products in high yields and does not require the use of transition-metals, elemental alkali-metals, or hydrogen atom donors.

The Buchwald-Hartwig Amination After 25 Years

The Pd-catalyzed coupling of aryl (pseudo)halides and amines is one of the most powerful approaches for the formation of C(sp² )-N bonds. The pioneering reports from Migita and subsequently Buchwald and Hartwig on the coupling of aminostannanes and aryl bromides rapidly evolved into general and practical tin-free protocols with broad substrate scope, which led to the establishment of what is now known as the Buchwald-Hartwig amination. This Minireview summarizes the evolution of this cross-coupling reaction over the course of the past 25 years and illustrates some of the most recent applications of this well-established methodology.

Bond-Forming and -Breaking Reactions at Sulfur(IV): Sulfoxides, Sulfonium Salts, Sulfur Ylides, and Sulfinate Salts

Organosulfur compounds have long played a vital role in organic chemistry and in the development of novel chemical structures and architectures. Prominent among these organosulfur compounds are those involving a sulfur(IV) center, which have been the subject of countless investigations over more than a hundred years. In addition to a long list of textbook sulfur-based reactions, there has been a sustained interest in the chemistry of organosulfur(IV) compounds in recent years. Of particular interest within organosulfur chemistry is the ease with which the synthetic chemist can effect a wide range of transformations through either bond formation or bond cleavage at sulfur. This review aims to cover the developments of the past decade in the chemistry of organic sulfur(IV) molecules and provide insight into both the wide range of reactions which critically rely on this versatile element and the diverse scaffolds that can thereby be synthesized.

Regioselective and oxidant-free sulfinylation of indoles and pyrroles with sulfinamides

An unexpected time-controlled highly selective C3- or C2-sulfinylation of pyrroles with sulfinamides is reported for the first time. The sulfinylation of indoles with sulfinamides using this protocol is oxidant-free and can be performed under obviously more feasible conditions (1.2 equiv. of indoles, 10 min) in comparison with the precedent procedure (3-20 equiv. of indoles, 16-18 h, ammonium persulfate as oxidant, hv). A variety of functional groups were tolerated, and various C2-thioindoles and C2/3-thiopyrroles were obtained in moderate to excellent yields.

Transition-Metal-Free N-Arylation of Amines by Triarylsulfonium Triflates

A simple and efficient method for transition-metal-free N-arylation of various amines by triarylsulfonium triflates is described. Both aliphatic and aromatic amines were smoothly converted at 80 °C in the presence of tBuOK or KOH to give the corresponding mono N-arylated products in good to high yields. The molar ratios of the reactants and the choice of bases had a big effect on the reaction. When a large excess of [Ph₃ S][OTf] and tBuOK were employed for primary amines under the standard conditions, the bis(N-phenyl) products were predominantly formed. This method was also applicable to the synthesis of bioactive N-phenyl amino acid derivatives. The control experiments, the deuterium labelling study, and the presence of regioisomers of N-arylated products when using 4-substituted triarylsulfonium triflates suggested that the reaction might proceed through an aryne intermediate. The present protocol demonstrated that triarylsulfonium salts are versatile arylation reagents in the construction of C_Ar -N bonds.

Ruthenium nanoparticle catalyzed selective reductive amination of imine with aldehyde to access tertiary amines

Reductive amination is one of the most frequently used transformations in organic synthesis. Herein, we developed a novel ruthenium nanoparticle embedded ordered mesoporous carbon catalyst (Ru-OMC) and a new hydrosilylation process for the synthesis of tertiary amines. We present a direct reductive amination of imines (C[double bond, length as m-dash]N bond) with aldehydes (C[double bond, length as m-dash]O bond) using hydrosilane as the reducing reagent under mild conditions. Moreover, the Ru-OMC catalysts can be reused for up to 14 runs without noticeably losing activity.