Iridium- and Rhodium-Catalyzed Directed C-H Heteroarylation of Benzaldehydes with Benziodoxolone Hypervalent Iodine Reagents

Ketones from aldehydes via alkyl C(sp3)-H functionalization under photoredox cooperative NHC/palladium catalysis

Direct synthesis of ketones from aldehydes features high atom- and step-economy. Yet, the coupling of aldehydes with unactivated alkyl C(sp³)-H remains challenging. Herein, we develop the synthesis of ketones from aldehydes via alkyl C(sp³)-H functionalization under photoredox cooperative NHC/Pd catalysis. The two-component reaction of iodomethylsilyl alkyl ether with aldehydes gave a variety of β-, γ- and δ-silyloxylketones via 1,n-HAT (n = 5, 6, 7) of silylmethyl radicals to generate secondary or tertiary alkyl radicals and following coupling with ketyl radicals from aldehydes under photoredox NHC catalysis. The three-component reaction with the addition of styrenes gave the corresponding ε-hydroxylketones via the generation of benzylic radicals by the addition of alkyl radicals to styrenes and following coupling with ketyl radicals. This work demonstrates the generation of ketyl radical and alkyl radical under the photoredox cooperative NHC/Pd catalysis, and provides two and three component reactions for the synthesis of ketones from aldehydes with alkyl C(sp³)-H functionalization. The synthetic potential of this protocol was also further illustrated by the late-stage functionalization of natural products.

Solid-state emitting twisted π-conjugate as AIE-active DSE-gen: in vitro anticancer properties against FaDu and 4T1 with biocompatibility and bioimaging

Dual-state emissive fluorogens (DSE-gens) are currently defining their importance as a transpiring tool in biological and biomedical applications. This work focuses on designing and synthesizing indole-anthracene-based solid-state emitting twisted π-conjugates using a metal-free protocol to achieve AIE-active DSE-gens, expanding their scope in biological applications. Special effort has been made to introduce proficient and photo/thermostable DSE-gens that inhibit cancer but not normal cells. Here, the lead DSE-gen initially detects cancer and normal cells by bioimaging; however, it could also confirm and distinguish cancer cells from normal cells by its abated fluorescence signal after killing cancer cells. In contrast, the fluorescence signals for a normal cell remain unscathed. Surprisingly, these molecules displayed decent anticancer properties against FaDu and 4T1 but not MCF-7 cell lines. From a series of newly designed indole-based molecules, we report one single 2,3,4-trimethoxybenzene-linked DSE-gen (the lead), exhibiting high ROS generation, less haemolysis, and less cytotoxicity than doxorubicin (DOX) for normal cells, crucial parameters for a biocompatible in vitro anticancer probe. Thus, we present a potentially applicable anticancer drug, offering a bioactive material with bioimaging efficacy and a way to detect dead cancer cells selectively. The primary mechanism behind the identified outcomes is deciphered with the support of experimental (steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence, biological assays, cellular uptake) and molecular docking studies.

Palladium-Catalyzed Directed Aldehyde C-H Arylation of Quinoline-8-carbaldehydes: Exploring the Reactivity Differences between Aryl (Pseudo) Halides

We have developed a method for Pd-catalyzed direct C-H arylation of quinoline-8-carbaldehydes with either aryl iodides or aryl diazonium salts for the synthesis of aryl quinolinyl ketones. Aryl iodide substituted with an electron-donating group favors the reaction, whereas aryl diazonium salt substituted with an electron-withdrawing group showed excellent reactivity. A range of aryl quinolinyl ketones were synthesized in good-to-excellent yields, with very good functional group tolerance. Our methodology was successfully applied to synthesize highly potent tubulin polymerization inhibitors and can be easily scaled up to a gram scale.

BF3·OEt2 catalyzed decarbonylative arylation/C-H functionalization of diazoamides with arylaldehydes: synthesis of substituted 3-aryloxindoles

A metal-free BF₃·OEt₂ catalyzed direct decarbonylative arylation of diazoamides with readily accessible aryl aldehydes under an open-air atmosphere was developed to afford 3-aryloxindoles via 1,2-aryl migration with high selectivity. The reaction offers an efficient pathway for 3-arylation of diazoamides under relatively mild conditions, which shows a high level of functional group tolerance of both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups with a broad substrate scope. 3-Aryloxindoles were also obtained by a substituent-controlled chemo- and site-selective C-H bond functionalization of unprotected salicylaldehyde derivatives.

Structure and Reactivity of N-Heterocyclic Alkynyl Hypervalent Iodine Reagents

Ethynylbenziodoxol(on)e (EBX) cyclic hypervalent iodine reagents have become popular reagents for the alkynylation of radicals and nucleophiles, but only offer limited possibilities for further structure and reactivity fine-tuning. Herein, the synthesis of new N-heterocyclic hypervalent iodine reagents with increased structural flexibility based on amide, amidine and sulfoximine scaffolds is reported. Solid-state structures of the reagents are reported and the analysis of the I-Calkyne bond lengths allowed assessing the trans-effect of the different substituents. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps of the reagents, derived from DFT computations, revealed less pronounced σ-hole regions for sulfonamide-based compounds. Most reagents reacted well in the alkynylation of β-ketoesters. The alkynylation of thiols afforded more variable yields, with compounds with a stronger σ-hole reacting better. In metal-mediated transformations, the N-heterocyclic hypervalent iodine reagents gave inferior results when compared to the O-based EBX reagents.

Strategic design and synthesis of star-shaped organic linkers for mesoporous MOFs

In the process of designing new MOFs with the aim of having a specific morphology, the shape of the linkers and the choice of coordinating metals have major importance. In this study, the aim to create novel hnb non-interpenetrating MOFs led us to choose tritopic linkers. Novel star-shaped molecules, presenting trigonal geometry and based on aromatic rings, were synthesized. For more convenient synthesis of the library, C-C coupling reactions via a direct arylation methodology were performed. This new synthetic tool, together with the idea of a molecule as a modular combination of smaller building blocks, made possible the fast, cheap and reproducible production of this class of compounds and also its scale-up. With one of the compounds, a MOF was synthesized and characterised via its specific surface area, which varies between 1681 and 3770 m2 g-1.

Applications of hypervalent iodine(III) reagents in constructing ortho-iodo aromatic ethers

A one-pot method for the synthesis of aromatic ethers using hypervalent iodine(III) reagents obtained from the corresponding iodoaryl compounds is developed. In this concise method, six diaryl ethers and three heterocyclic aromatic ethers are synthesized in good yields. Furthermore, possible mechanisms for the syntheses of the hypervalent iodine reagents and construction of the aromatic ethers are proposed.

Recent advances in the Rh-catalyzed cascade arene C-H bond activation/annulation toward diverse heterocyclic compounds

The Rh-catalyzed C-H bond activation/annulation provides a new strategy for the synthesis of new frameworks. In this review, we summarize the recent research on the Rh-catalyzed cascade arene C-H bond activation/annulation toward diverse heterocyclic compounds. The application, scope, limitations and mechanism of these transformations are also discussed.

Site-selective aromatic C-H λ3-iodanation with a cyclic iodine(iii) electrophile in solution and solid phases

An efficient and site-selective aromatic C-H λ³-iodanation reaction is achieved using benziodoxole triflate (BXT) as an electrophile under room temperature conditions. The reaction tolerates a variety of electron-rich arenes and heteroarenes to afford the corresponding arylbenziodoxoles in moderate to good yields. The reaction can also be performed mechanochemically by grinding a mixture of solid arenes and BXT under solvent-free conditions. The arylbenziodoxoles can be used for various C-C and C-heteroatom bond formations, and are also amenable to further modification by electrophilic halogenation. DFT calculations suggested that the present reaction proceeds via a concerted λ³-iodanation-deprotonation transition state, where the triflate anion acts as an internal base.

Electrochemically Enabled C3-Formylation and -Acylation of Indoles with Aldehydes

Reported herein is an effective strategy for oxidative cross-coupling of indoles with various aldehydes. The strategy is based on a two-step transformation via a well-known Mannich-type reaction and a C-N bond cleavage for carbonyl introduction. The key step-the C-N bond cleavage of the Mannich product-was enabled by electrochemistry. This strategy (with over 40 examples) ensures excellent functional-group tolerance as well as late-stage functionalization of pharmaceutical molecules.

Hypervalent iodine reactions utilized in carbon–carbon bond formations

This review covers recent developments of hypervalent iodine chemistry in dearomatizations, radicals, hypervalent iodine-guided electrophilic substitution, arylations, photoredox, and more.

Cyclic Hypervalent Iodine Reagents: Enabling Tools for Bond Disconnection via Reactivity Umpolung

The efficient synthesis of organic compounds is an important field of research, which sets the basis for numerous applications in medicine or materials science. Based on the polarity induced by functional groups, logical bond disconnections can be deduced for the elaboration of organic compounds. Nevertheless, this classical approach makes synthesis rigid, as not all bond disconnections are possible. The concept of Umpolung has been therefore introduced: by inverting the normal polarity of functional groups, new disconnections become possible. Among the tools for achieving Umpolung, hypervalent iodine reagents occupy a privileged position. The electrophilicity of the iodine atom and the reactivity of the hypervalent bond allow access to electrophilic synthons starting from nucleophiles. Nevertheless, some classes of hypervalent iodine reagents can be too unstable for many applications, in particular involving metal catalysis. In this context, cyclic hypervalent iodine reagents, especially benziodoxolones (BXs), have been known for a long time to be more stable than their acyclic counterparts, yet their synthetic potential had not been fully exploited. In this Account, we report our efforts since 2008 on the use of BX reagents in the development of new transformations in organic synthesis, which showed for the first time their versatility as synthetic tools. Our work started with electrophilic alkynylation, as alkynes are one of the most important functional groups in organic chemistry, but are usually introduced as nucleophiles. We used ethynylbenziodoxolones (EBXs) in the direct alkynylation of nucleophiles, such as keto esters, thiols, or phosphines. The reagents could then be applied to the gold- and palladium-catalyzed alkynylation of C-H bonds on (hetero)arenes, leading to a more efficient alternative to the Sonogashira reaction. More complex reactions were then developed with formations of several bonds in a single transformation. Gold- and platinum-catalyzed cyclization/alkynylation domino processes gave access to new types of alkynylated heterocycles. Multifunctionalization of olefins became possible through intramolecular oxy- and amino-alkynylations. (Enantioselective) copper-catalyzed oxy-alkynylation of diazo compounds led to stereocenters with perfect atom economy. Finally, EBXs were also used for the alkynylation of radicals generated under photoredox conditions. Since 2013, we then extended the use of BX reagents to other transformations. Azidobenziodoxol(on)ess (ABXs) were used in the azidation of keto esters, enol silanes, and styrenes. New more stable derivatives were introduced. Cyanobenziodoxolones (CBXs) enabled the cyanation of stabilized enolates, thiols, and radicals. Finally, new BX reagents were developed for the Umpolung of indoles and pyrroles. They could be used in metal-catalyzed directed C-H functionalizations, as well as in Lewis acid mediated oxidative coupling to give functionalized bi(hetero)arenes. In the past decade, our group and others have shown that BX reagents are not only "structural beauties", but also extremely useful reagents in synthetic chemistry. A toolbox of cyclic hypervalent iodine reagents is now available to achieve Umpolung-based disconnections. We are convinced that the field is still in its infancy, and many new reagents and transformations still remain to be discovered.

Metal-Free Oxidative Cross Coupling of Indoles with Electron-Rich (Hetero)arenes

A new method for the synthesis of bi-heteroaryls is reported, based on the umpolung of indoles with benziodoxol(on)e hypervalent iodine reagents (IndoleBX). The oxidative coupling of IndoleBX with an equimolar amount of electron-rich benzenes, indoles, pyrroles, and thiophenes proceeded under mild transition-metal-free conditions. Functionalized non-symmetrical bi-indolyl heterocycles were accessed efficiently. Introduction of a new type of C2-substituted indole benziodoxole reagents further allowed extending the scope of the reaction to NH unprotected and C3-alkylated indoles. The obtained bi-heterocycles are important building blocks in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, and could be easily transformed into more complex heterocyclic systems.

Rhodium-catalyzed C-H functionalization of heteroarenes using indoleBX hypervalent iodine reagents

The C–H indolation of heteroarenes was realized using the benziodoxolone hypervalent iodine reagents indoleBXs. Functionalization of the C–H bond in bipyridinones and quinoline N-oxides catalyzed by a rhodium complex allowed to incorporate indole rings into aza-heteroaromatic compounds. These new transformations displayed complete regioselectivity for the C-6 position of bipyridinones and the C-8 position of quinoline N-oxides and tolerated a broad range of functionalities, such as halogens, ethers, or trifluoromethyl groups.

Synthesis of 2-aminobenzaldehydes by rhodium(iii)-catalyzed C–H amidation of aldehydes with dioxazolones

Various aldehydes were directly amidated with dioxazolones to afford 2-aminobenzaldehydes through rhodium(iii)-catalyzed CHO-directed C–H activation.