Copper-Catalyzed Regioselective Intramolecular Electrophilic Sulfenoamination via Lewis Acid Activation of Disulfides under Aerobic Conditions

Recent Progress in Synthetic and Biological Application of Diorganyl Diselenides

Diorganyl diselenides have emerged as privileged structures because they are easy to prepare, have distinct reactivity, and have broad biological activity. They have also been used in the synthesis of natural products as an electrophile in the organoselenylation of aromatic systems and peptides, reductions of alkenes, and nucleophilic substitution. This review summarizes the advancements in methods for the transformations promoted by diorganyl diselenides in the main functions of organic chemistry. Parallel, it will also describe the main findings on pharmacology and toxicology of diorganyl diselenides, emphasizing anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, chemotherapeutic, and antimicrobial activities. Therefore, an examination detailing the reactivity and biological characteristics of diorganyl diselenides provides valuable insights for academic researchers and industrial professionals.

Advances in Difunctionalization of Olefins with Diorganyl Dichalcogenides

Organochalcogen molecules have extensive applications in various fields. They serve as pharmaceuticals, ligands, organocatalysts, agrochemicals, and other functional materials. Difunctionalization of olefins, which belong to a class of multicomponent reactions, is a successful technique for introducing two functional moieties in a single-step reaction, both in terms of atom economy and step economy. The difunctionalization of olefins with diorganyl dichalcogenides may effectively increase the molecular complexity, which has achieved significant advancements in recent decades. This article describes recent advancements in the difunctionalization of olefins with diorganyl diselenides and diorganyl disulfides.

Palladium-Catalyzed Direct Selanylation of Chalcogenophenes and Arenes Assisted by 2-(Methylthio)amide

The direct and selective conversion of a C-H bond into a C-Se bond remains a significant challenge, which is even more intricate with substrates having an innate regioselectivity under several reaction conditions, such as chalcogenophenes. We overrode their selectivity toward selanylation using palladium, copper, and the 2-(methylthio)amide directing group. This chelation-assisted direct selanylation was also suitable for mono and double ortho functionalization of arenes. The mechanistic studies indicate high-valent Pd(IV) species in the catalytic cycle, a reversible C-H activation step, and Cu(II) as a sequestering agent for organoselenide byproducts.

Copper-Mediated Intramolecular Interrupted CuAAC Selanylation

We, herein, describe a copper-mediated domino CuAAC intramolecular selanylation for the synthesis of unprecedented fused benzo[4,5][1,3]selenazolo[3,2-c][1,2,3]triazoles from 1,2-bis(2-azidoaryl)diselenides and terminal alkynes under microwave irradiation. This is the seminal method for the synthesis of these fused heterocycles, and it proceeds under mild conditions, tolerates several functional groups, and can be carried out using environmentally benign solvents such as dimethyl carbonate. This transformation has been successfully extended to TMS-protected alkynes and to bioactive alkynes. A plausible reaction mechanism is proposed based on several control experiments and previous reports.

Silver-catalyzed direct selanylation of indoles: synthesis and mechanistic insights

Herein we describe the Ag(i)-catalyzed direct selanylation of indoles with diorganoyl diselenides. The reaction gave 3-selanylindoles with high regioselectivity and also allowed direct access to 2-selanylindoles when the C3 position of the indole ring was blocked via a process similar to Plancher rearrangement. Experimental analyses and density functional theory calculations were carried out in order to picture the reaction mechanism. Among the pathways considered (via concerted metalation-deprotonation, Ag(iii), radical, and electrophilic aromatic substitution), our findings support a classic electrophilic aromatic substitution via Lewis adducts between Ag(i) and diorganoyl diselenides. The results also afforded new insights into the interactions between Ag(i) and diorganoyl diselenides.

Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Oxysulfenylation of Alkenols: Synthesis of Arylthiomethyl-Substituted Cyclic Ethers

Saturated heterocycles containing oxygen and sulfur are found in biologically significant molecules. The enantioselective oxysulfenylation of alkenols provides a straightforward synthesis route. To date, organocatalytic methods have dominated this approach. Herein, a complementary approach via copper catalysis is presented. This exoselective method provides enantioenriched arylthiomethyl-substituted tetrahydrofurans, phthalans, isochromans, and morpholines from acyclic alkenols. This method provides the largest scope to date for the exocyclization mode, and with generally high enantioselectivity. The enantioselectivity of this copper-catalyzed oxysulfenylation is rationalized by a proposed mechanism involving alkene oxycupration followed by C─S bond formation via radical-mediated atom transfer.

K2S2O8/I2-Promoted Electrophilic Selenylative Cyclization To Access Seleno-Benzo[b]azepines

A novel and simple organoselenium-involved 7-membered cyclization to access diverse seleno-benzo[b]azepines has been developed. This protocol involves an electrophilic cyclization process and is accomplished under mild conditions. Discussion of the mechanism rationalizes the regioselectivity observed in transformation. The studies of further transformation of seleno-benzo[b]azepines and large-scale experiment reveal the promising utility of this methodology.

Time-economical synthesis of selenofunctionalized heterocycles via I2O5-mediated selenylative heterocyclization

A time-economical and robust synthesis of various selenofunctionalized heterocycles was accomplished via I₂O₅-mediated selenocyclizations of olefins with diselenides. Using this method, 116 selenomethyl-substituted heterocycles were synthesized with up to 97% isolated yield in minutes. Additional features of this new protocol include the use of an inorganic oxidant, mild conditions, and easy operation. Preliminary investigations suggest that the transformation operates through selenenyl iodide-induced electrophilic cyclization.

Water oxidation by Brønsted acid-catalyzed in situ generated thiol cation: dual function of the acid catalyst leading to transition metal-free substitution and addition reactions of S-S bonds

An unprecedented water oxidation reaction by a small organic molecule, i.e., the thiol cation generated in situ by Brønsted acid-catalyzed heterolytic cleavage of S-S bond of a disulfide, is observed...

Production of Alkyl Aryl Sulfides from Aromatic Disulfides and Alkyl Carboxylates via a Disilathiane-Disulfide Interchange Reaction

The results of this study show that disilathiane is an effective mediator in the synthesis of alkyl aryl sulfides with disulfides and alkyl carboxylates. Mechanistic studies suggest that disilathiane promotes cleavage of the sulfur-sulfur bond of disulfides to generate thiosilane as a key intermediate. Diselenides were also applicable to this transformation to produce the corresponding selenides.

Preparation of selenyl 1,3-oxazines via PhICl2/Cu2O-promoted aminoselenation of O-homoallyl benzimidates with diselenides

A practical electrophilic aminoselenation of O-homoallyl benzimidate with diselenides promoted by PhICl₂/Cu₂O has been developed. The easily available and stable diselenides were used as selenium sources. Various selenyl 1,3-oxazines, which are important frameworks in medicinal and biological chemistry, were easily obtained in moderate to good yields for the first time. Easy scaleup and scalability make this method attractive for the preparation of other valuable organoselenides.

Ag-Cu copromoted direct C2-H bond thiolation of azoles with Bunte salts as sulfur sources

A direct C2-H thiolation of azoles with Bunte salts was achieved under the combined action of copper and silver salts. This protocol could furnish various substituted 2-thioazoles in moderate to good yields. This method has a broad substrate scope and shows good functional group tolerance.

Straightforward Functionalization of Sulfur-Containing Peptides via 5- and 6-endo-dig Cyclization Reactions

We present a simple and convenient method for the generation of sulfenyl electrophiles from peptides containing S–S or S–H bonds by employing N-chlorosuccinimide. The corresponding sulfenyl electrophiles are further utilized in 5- and 6-endo-dig cyclization reactions yielding indolizinium salts, indoles, benzo[b]furans, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and isocoumarins, as well as quinolinones bearing a glutathione moiety. PAH derivatives can be used as selective fluorescent dyes for the visualization of lipid droplets in living cells.

Copper-Catalyzed Cycloaddition of Heterobicyclic Alkenes with Diaryl Disulfides to Synthesize Dihydrobenzo[b]thiophene Derivatives

A novel copper-catalyzed cycloaddition of diaryl disulfides to heterobicyclic alkenes has been developed. The C-S and C-C bonds can be formed simultaneously on the C═C bond of the olefins via a single-step cycloaddition to afford a series of 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]thiophene derivatives. This reaction exhibits excellent diastereoselectivity and relatively broad substrate scope. Various functional groups attached to the substrates are tolerated in this protocol to give the corresponding exo adducts in moderate yields.

Facilely controllable synthesis of copper-benzothiadiazole complexes via solvothermal reactions: exploring the customized synthetic approach by experiments

It is very challenging to transform small organic molecules into customized coordination polymer (CP) because the functionalities with desired properties are greatly influenced by several elements, including the assembly modes of the organic linkers and metal nodes, organic linker functionalization, and defects. Therefore, deep cognition for the molecular-level engineering of CP chemistry is very important. Herein, we obtained five new copper-benzothiadiazole complexes via a controllable synthesis approach: [CuII(L1)(CH3CN)]2 (C1), [CuIBr(L1)]n (C2), [CuI3Br3(L2)2]n (C3), [CuICl(L3)]2 (C4), and [CuIICl2(L3)2] (C5). In the exploration, we successfully modulated the structure of the organic linker and the valence state of the metal nodes as well as the assembly modes of the organic linkers and metal nodes through the facilely controllable solvothermal reaction. The results from our experiments also indicated that the fusing process was driven by a CuII/CuI catalytic cycle. In this pathway, oxygen is the final electron acceptor and the solvent DMSO acts as a co-oxidant. In C2 and C3, the ever-expanding macrocycles were constructed from CuX clusters and organic chromophore linkers, forming interesting 1D chain structures, while the supramolecular macrocycles were assembled through hydrogen bonding expanding to a 3D network of C5. Interestingly, C1-C4 exhibit chromophore-based fluorescence, but are not phosphorescence.

Iron-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative C–H amidation of benzofurans and benzothiophenes with anilines

An efficient iron-catalyzed radical cross-dehydrogenative aromatic C–H amidation provides a straightforward access to structurally diverse diarylamine derivatives incorporating benzofuran/benzothiophene motifs.

Enantioselective, Aerobic Copper-Catalyzed Intramolecular Carboamination and Carboetherification of Unactivated Alkenes

Reduction of waste is an important goal of modern organic synthesis. We report herein oxidase reactivity for enantioselective intramolecular copper-catalyzed alkene carboamination and carboetherification reactions where previously used stoichiometric MnO2 has been replaced with oxygen. This substitution was risky as the reaction mechanism is thought to involve C-C bond formation via addition of alkyl carbon radicals to arenes. Such intermediates are also susceptible to C-O bond formation via O2 addition. Control of absolute stereochemistry under aerobic conditions was also uncertain. The oxidative cyclization efficiencies appear to track with the ease of the radical addition to the arenes.

Recent advances in tandem selenocyclization and tellurocyclization with alkenes and alkynes

This review highlights recent progress in tandem selenocyclization and tellurocyclization with alkenes and alkynes, with an emphasis on the scopes, limitations and mechanisms of these different reactions.

One-step assembly of alkoxypyrroloindolines via iodine-catalyzed alkoxycyclization of indole derivatives

Herein we report an iodine-catalyzed alkoxycyclization of tryptamine derivatives under mild reaction conditions. This method distinguished itself by providing a catalytic, one-step assembly of diversely functionalized C3a-alkoxypyrroloindolines as well as dihydrofuran and lactone fused indolines. Mechanistic studies suggest that an ionic pathway is operative and this probably accounts for the diastereospecificity of all isolated cycloadducts.

Catalytic Regio- and Stereoselective Alkene Sulfenoamination for 1,4-Benzothiazine Synthesis

An alkene sulfenoamination reaction with 2-aminothiophenol is developed using iodide catalysis. This reaction renders access to useful 1,4-benzothiazines with good functional group compatibility including both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents. The reaction is proposed to proceed through an inversion of the polarity of the thiol functionality. Our mechanistic studies reveal that both thiiranium and thiyl radical pathways are plausible and that the disulfide reagent can also function as a viable substrate in this reaction.

Copper(II)-Catalyzed Alkene Aminosulfonylation with Sodium Sulfinates For the Synthesis of Sulfonylated Pyrrolidones

A copper-catalyzed direct aminosulfonylation of unactivated alkenes with sodium sulfinates for the efficient synthesis of sulfonylated pyrrolidones is described. This reaction features good functional group tolerance and wide substrate scope, providing an efficient and straightforward protocol to access this kind of pyrrolidones. Moreover, preliminary mechanistic investigations disclosed that a free-radical pathway might be invovled in the process.

Intermolecular alkene difunctionalizations for the synthesis of saturated heterocycles

Saturated heterocycles are important structural motifs in a range of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. As a result of their importance, syntheses of these molecules have been extensively investigated. Despite the progress in this area, the most adopted strategies are still often characterized with inefficiency or relying on functionalizations with specialized precursors and pre-existing cores. This review highlights a dynamic synthetic strategy for the direct synthesis of saturated heterocycles from intermolecular alkene difunctionalizations. These coupling processes are highly modular, and therefore, offer perhaps the most convenient means to prepare diverse heterocyclic structures in compound libraries for bioactivity evoluations.

Bioinspired radical cyclization of tryptamines: synthesis of peroxypyrroloindolenines as potential anti-cancer agents

Inspired by the heme iron-catalyzed radical insertion of dioxygen to the tryptophan indole ring, herein we utilize alkylperoxy radical species as a coupling partner to trigger a peroxycyclization of readily accessible tryptophan derivatives and enable the first synthesis of peroxypyrroloindolenines.

Acid-catalyzed oxidative cleavage of S–S and Se–Se bonds with DEAD: efficient access to sulfides and selenides

An acid/DEAD system for oxidative cleavage of S–S and Se–Se bonds to generate chalcogenium ions has been developed. These ions could be captured by nucleophile-tethered alkenes and nucleophilic aryl reagents such as arylboronic acids and arenes to give chalcogenides.