Mn-Catalyzed Electrooxidative Undirected C–H/P–H Cross-Coupling between Aromatics and Diphenyl Phosphine Oxides

Electrochemical synthesis of phosphorylated azaspiro[4.5]di/trienones through dearomative spirocyclization

Cp2Fe-mediated electrochemical synthesis of a diverse array of phosphorylated azaspiro[4.5]di/trienones has been developed, which demonstrated broad substrate scope and good diastereoselectivity. It represents the first example of electrochemical synthesis of phosphorylated azaspiro[4.5]di/trienones, circumventing the need for external oxidants and high temperatures. Moreover, a plausible mechanism including radical-initiated dearomative cyclization driven by ferrocenium cations has been provided, which was supported by the related mechanistic study.

Mn(OAc)2-promoted [3+2] cyclization of enaminone with isocyanoacetate: Rapid access to pyrrole-2-carboxylic ester derivatives with potent anticancer activity

The practical and facile Mn(OAc)2-promoted [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of enaminones with isocyanoacetate was developed, that delivered a diversity of 3-aroyl pyrrole-2-carboxylic esters with broad substrates scope. The most of the newly synthesized compounds exhibit moderate antiproliferative activity against four cancer cells. Notably, compound 2n demonstrate the most potent activity with average IC50 values of 5.61 μM against four distinct cancer cell lines. Moreover, 2n exhibit favorable anti-migration activity and drug-like properties. The further investigation suggests that compound 2n possesses the ability to inhibit ERK5 activity and exhibits effective binding with the ERK5 protein, making it a promising candidate as a lead compound for a new class of ERK5 inhibitors discovery.

Electrochemical Late-Stage Functionalization

Late-stage functionalization (LSF) constitutes a powerful strategy for the assembly or diversification of novel molecular entities with improved physicochemical or biological activities. LSF can thus greatly accelerate the development of medicinally relevant compounds, crop protecting agents, and functional materials. Electrochemical molecular synthesis has emerged as an environmentally friendly platform for the transformation of organic compounds. Over the past decade, electrochemical late-stage functionalization (eLSF) has gained major momentum, which is summarized herein up to February 2023.

Transition Metal-Catalyzed C-H Functionalization Through Electrocatalysis

Electrochemically promoted transition metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization has emerged as a promising area of research over the last few decades. However, development in this field is still at an early stage compared to traditional functionalization reactions using chemical-based oxidizing agents. Recent reports have shown increased attention on electrochemically promoted metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization. From the standpoint of sustainability, environmental friendliness, and cost effectiveness, electrochemically promoted oxidation of a metal catalyst offers a mild, efficient, and atom-economical alternative to traditional chemical oxidants. This Review discusses advances in the field of transition metal-electrocatalyzed C-H functionalization over the past decade and describes how the unique features of electricity enable metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization in an economic and sustainable way.

Mn-catalyzed electrooxidative radical phosphorylation of 2-isocyanobiaryls

As an efficient and green synthesis method, the electrocatalysis hydrogen evolution coupling reaction has been widely used by chemists to realize the combining of two nucleophiles. In this work, an alternative method to synthesize 6-phosphorylated phenanthridines has been developed by synergistically utilizing electrocatalysis and Mn catalysis, with moderate to relatively good yields achieved. Mild and oxidant-free conditions make this synthetic method applicable in various settings.

Electro-Triggered Cascade Cyclization to Access Phosphinyl-Substituted N-Containing Heterocycles

An electro-triggered cascade cyclization strategy was disclosed with concomitant phosphinylation and N-heterocycle construction. It provides a novel and environmentally friendly approach to access phosphinyl-substituted N-heterocycles with no external metal catalyst, oxidant, or heating. Mechanistic studies have revealed that anodic oxidation of H-phosphorus compounds occurs first to generate the key P-centered radical directly and cathodic reduction leads to the concurrent release of molecular hydrogen or methane. This protocol features simple operation, broad substrate scope, clean and mild conditions, and atom and step economy to form heterocycle-containing organophosphorus scaffolds.

Recent Advances in the Electrochemical Functionalization of Isocyanides

Isocyanides are well-known as efficient CO surrogates and C1 synthons in modern organic synthesis. Although tremendous efforts have been devoted to fully exploiting the reactivity of isocyanides, these transformations are primarily limited by their utilization of stoichiometric toxic chemical oxidants. With the recent resurgence of organic electrochemistry, which has considerably laid dormant over the past several decades, electrolysis has been identified as a green and powerful tool to enrich structural diversity by solely utilizing electric current as clean and inherently safe redox equivalents of stoichiometric chemical oxidants. In this regard, the unique reactivity of isocyanides has been studied in numerous electrochemical transformations. This review comprehensively highlights the most relevant progress in electrochemical strategies towards the functionalization of isocyanides up until June of 2022, with a focus on reaction outcomes and mechanisms.

Recent advances in electrochemical C—H phosphorylation

The activation of C–H bond, and its direct one-step functionalization, is one of the key synthetic methodologies that provides direct access to a variety of practically significant compounds. Particular attention is focused on modifications obtained at the final stages of the synthesis of complicated molecules, which requires high tolerance to the presence of existing functional groups. Phosphorus is an indispensable element of life, and phosphorus chemistry is now experiencing a renaissance due to new emerging applications in medicinal chemistry, materials chemistry (polymers, flame retardants, organic electronics, and photonics), agricultural chemistry (herbicides, insecticides), catalysis (ligands) and other important areas of science and technology. In this regard, the search for new, more selective, low-waste synthetic routes become relevant. In this context, electrosynthesis has proven to be an eco-efficient and convenient approach in many respects, where the reagents are replaced by electrodes, where the reactants are replaced by electrodes, and the applied potential the applied potential determines their “oxidizing or reducing ability”. An electrochemical approach to such processes is being developed rapidly and demonstrates some advantages over traditional classical methods of C-H phosphorylation. The main reasons for success are the exclusion of excess reagents from the reaction system: such as oxidants, reducing agents, and sometimes metal and/or other improvers, which challenge isolation, increase the wastes and reduce the yield due to frequent incompatibility with these functional groups. Ideal conditions include electron as a reactant (regulated by applied potential) and the by-products as hydrogen or hydrocarbon. The review summarizes and analyzes the achievements of electrochemical methods for the preparation of various phosphorus derivatives with carbon-phosphorus bonds, and collects data on the redox properties of the most commonly used phosphorus precursors. Electrochemically induced reactions both with and without catalyst metals, where competitive oxidation of precursors leads to either the activation of C-H bond or to the generation of phosphorus-centered radicals (radical cations) or metal high oxidation states will be examined. The review focuses on publications from the past 5 years.

Chemodivergent Synthesis of Indeno[1,2-b]indoles and Isoindolo[2,1-a]indoles via Mn(III)-Mediated or Electrochemical Intramolecular Radical Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling

Chemodivergent synthesis of indeno[1,2-b]indoles and isoindolo[2,1-a]indoles from the same starting materials involving radical cross-dehydrogenative couplings have been developed. Mn(OAc)₃·2H₂O selectively promoted an intramolecular radical C-H/C-H dehydrogenative coupling reaction to provide indeno[1,2-b]indoles, while an intramolecular radical C-H/N-H dehydrogenative coupling reaction could proceed via electrochemistry to deliver isoindolo[2,1-a]indoles. Plausible mechanisms of the chemodivergent reactions were proposed.

Electrochemically driven regioselective C-H phosphorylation of group 8 metallocenes

Metallocenes are privileged backbones for synthesis and catalysis. However, the direct dehydrogenative C−H functionalization of unsymmetric metallocenes suffers from reactivity and selectivity issues. Herein, we report an electrochemically driven regioselective C−H phosphorylation of group 8 metallocenes. Mechanistic investigations indicate this dehydrogenative cross coupling occurs through an electrophilic radical substitution of the metallocene with a phosphoryl radical, facilitated by the metallocene itself. This work not only offers an efficient and divergent synthesis of phosphorylated metallocenes, but also provides a guide to interpret the reactivity and regioselectivity for the C−H functionalization of unsymmetric metallocenes.

Metallocene-based phosphines are compounds with potential use in catalysis. Here, the authors report the electrochemical regioselective functionalization of group 8 metallocenes with phosphine oxides; over 60 examples of phosphorylated (benzo)ferrocenes and ruthenocenes can be accessed via this method without the need for a preinstalled directing group.

Synthesis of diphenyl-(2-thienyl)phosphine, its chalcogenide derivatives and a series of novel complexes of lanthanide nitrates and triflates

A novel synthesis of diphenyl(2-thienyl)phosphine, along with its' oxide, sulfide and selenide derivatives, is reported here. These phosphines have been characterized by NMR, IR, MS and X-Ray crystallography. The phosphine oxide derivative was reacted with a selection of lanthanide(III) nitrates and triflates, LnX₃, to give the resultant metal-ligand complexes. These complexes have also been characterized by NMR, IR, MS and X-Ray crystallography. Single crystal X-Ray diffraction data shows a difference in metal-ligand complex stoichiometry and stereochemistry depending on the counteranion (nitrate vs. triflate). The [Ln(Ar₃PO)₃(NO₃)₃] ligand-nitrate complexes are nine-coordinate to the metal in the solid state (bidentate nitrate), featuring a 1 : 3 lanthanide-ligand ratio and bear an overall octahedral arrangement of the six, coordinated ligands. Our [Ln(Ar₃PO)₃(NO₃)₃] ligand-nitrate complexes gave three examples of fac-stereochemistry, where mer-stereochemistry is almost universally observed in the literature of highly related [Ln(Ar₃PO)₃(NO₃)₃] complexes. For the Tb complexes, two different arrangements of the ligands around the metal were observed in the solid state for [Tb(Ar₃PO)₃(NO₃)₃] and [Tb(Ar₃PO)₄(OTf)₂] [OTf]. [Tb(Ar₃PO)₃(NO₃)₃] is strictly nine-coordinate, ligand mer-stereochemistry in the solid state, and [Tb(Ar₃PO)₄(OTf)₂] [OTf] is strictly octahedral, six-coordinate, with a square-planar stereochemical arrangement of the phosphine oxide ligands around the metal.

Homolytic Aromatic Sulfonation with K2S2O5 Promoted by a Combination of Mn(OAc)3·2H2O and HFIP

Herein, we reported a so far unprecedented Mn(OAc)₃·2H₂O-promoted homolytic aromatic sulfonation. The reaction was performed under mild conditions with K₂S₂O₅ employed as a green sulfonating reagent. Various arenes were successfully converted into desired sulfonic acids or sulfonates in high efficiency. Preliminary mechanistic studies demonstrated that the present reaction proceeds via a homolytic aromatic substitution-type mechanism involving an SO₃^- radical. The combination of Mn(OAc)₃·2H₂O and HFIP plays a crucial role.

Electrochemical Mn-Promoted Radical Selenylation of Boronic Acids with Diselenide Reagents

A powerful and environmentally friendly electrochemical manganese-promoted free radical selenylation reaction between boronic acids and diselenide reagents was established. This electrochemical protocol provides a practically applicable way to a series of valuable organoselenium compounds with the use of easy available materials. Mechanistic experiments implied that the seleno-radical formed via direct or indirect electrochemical oxidation of diselenide may be involved as a key species in this transformation.

An electrocatalytic three-component reaction for the synthesis of phosphoroselenoates

Phosphoroselenoates are important organic molecules because they have found widespread applications in many fields.

Excited-state cobaloxime catalysis enabled scalable oxidant-free dehydrogenative C–H phosphinoylation of undirected heterocycles

Visible-light-induced excited-state cobalt catalysis enables C(sp2)–H/C(sp3)–H phosphinoylation accompanied by H2 evolution. The reaction achieves the late-stage modification of more than 10 distinct classes of heterocycles and arenes.

Palladium-catalyzed phosphorylation of arylsulfonium salts with P(O)H compounds via C–S bond cleavage

Herein we report a novel palladium-catalyzed phosphorylation of arylsulfonium salts with P(O)H compounds via C–S bond cleavage under mild conditions.

Electrochemical Regioselective Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling of Indoles with Xanthenes

An electrochemical cross-dehydrogenative coupling of indoles with xanthenes has been established at room temperature. This coupling reaction could proceed in the absence of any catalyst or external oxidant, and generate the indole derivatives in moderate yields. Mechanistic experiments support that a radical pathway maybe involved in this reaction system.

Recent advances in organic electrosynthesis employing transition metal complexes as electrocatalysts

Organic electrosynthesis has been widely used as an environmentally conscious alternative to conventional methods for redox reactions because it utilizes electric current as a traceless redox agent instead of chemical redox agents. Indirect electrolysis employing a redox catalyst has received tremendous attention, since it provides various advantages compared to direct electrolysis. With indirect electrolysis, overpotential of electron transfer can be avoided, which is inherently milder, thus wide functional group tolerance can be achieved. Additionally, chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity can be tuned by the redox catalysts used in indirect electrolysis. Furthermore, electrode passivation can be avoided by preventing the formation of polymer films on the electrode surface. Common redox catalysts include N-oxyl radicals, hypervalent iodine species, halides, amines, benzoquinones (such as DDQ and tetrachlorobenzoquinone), and transition metals. In recent years, great progress has been made in the field of indirect organic electrosynthesis using transition metals as redox catalysts for reaction classes including C-H functionalization, radical cyclization, and cross-coupling of aryl halides-each owing to the diverse reactivity and accessible oxidation states of transition metals. Although various reviews of organic electrosynthesis are available, there is a lack of articles that focus on recent research progress in the area of indirect electrolysis using transition metals, which is the impetus for this review.

Phosphorylation of arenes, heteroarenes, alkenes, carbonyls and imines by dehydrogenative cross-coupling of P(O)-H and P(R)-H

Organophosphorous compounds have recently emerged as a powerful class of compounds with widespread applications, such as in bioactive natural products, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and organic materials, and as ligands in catalysis. The preparation of these compounds requires synthetic techniques with novel catalytic systems varying from transition metal, photo- and electrochemical catalysis to transformations without metal catalysts. Over the past few decades, the addition of P-H bonds to alkenes, alkynes, arenes, heteroarenes and other unsaturated substrates in hydrophosphination and other related reactions via the above-mentioned catalytic processes has emerged as an atom economical approach to obtain organophosphorus compounds. In most of the catalytic cycles, the P-H bond is cleaved to yield a phosphorus-based radical, which adds onto the unsaturated substrate followed by reduction of the corresponding radical yielding the product.

Electrochemical C-H phosphorylation of arenes in continuous flow suitable for late-stage functionalization

The development of efficient and sustainable methods for carbon-phosphorus bond formation is of great importance due to the wide application of organophosphorus compounds in chemistry, material sciences and biology. Previous C-H phosphorylation reactions under nonelectrochemical or electrochemical conditions require directing groups, transition metal catalysts, or chemical oxidants and suffer from limited scope. Herein we disclose a catalyst- and external oxidant-free, electrochemical C-H phosphorylation reaction of arenes in continuous flow for the synthesis of aryl phosphorus compounds. The C-P bond is formed through the reaction of arenes with anodically generated P-radical cations, a class of reactive intermediates remained unexplored for synthesis despite intensive studies of P-radicals. The high reactivity of the P-radical cations coupled with the mild conditions of the electrosynthesis ensures not only efficient reactions of arenes of diverse electronic properties but also selective late-stage functionalization of complex natural products and bioactive compounds. The synthetic utility of the electrochemical method is further demonstrated by the continuous production of 55.0 grams of one of the phosphonate products.

Highly Efficient Production of Heteroarene Phosphonates by Dichromatic Photoredox Catalysis

A new strategy to achieve efficient aerobic phosphorylation of five-membered heteraroenes with excellent yields using dichromatic photoredox catalysis in a gel-based nanoreactor is described here. The procedure involves visible aerobic irradiation (cold white LEDs) of a mixture containing the heteroarene halide, trisubstituted phospite, N,N-diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) as sacrificial agent, and catalytic amounts of 9,10-dicyanoanthracene (DCA) in the presence of an adequate gelator, which permits a faster process than at the homogeneous phase. The methodology, which operates by a consecutive photoinduced electron transfer (ConPET) mechanism, has been successfully applied to the straightforward and clean synthesis of a number of different heteroarene (furan, thiophene, selenophene, pyrrole, oxazole, or thioxazole) phosphonates, extending to the late-stage phosphonylation of the anticoagulant rivaroxaban. Strategically, employment of cold white light is critical since it provides both selective wavelengths for exciting first DCA (blue region) and subsequently its corresponding radical anion DCA^•- (green region). The resultant strongly reducing excited agent DCA^•-* is capable of even activate five-membered heteroarene halides (Br, Cl) with high reduction potentials (∼-2.7 V) to effect the C(sp²)-P bond formation. Spectroscopic and thermodynamic studies have supported the proposed reaction mechanism. Interestingly, the rate of product formation has been clearly enhanced in gel media because reactants can be presumably localized not only in the solvent pools but also through to the fibers of the viscoelastic gel network. This has been confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy images where a marked densification of the network has been observed, modifying its fibrillary morphology. Finally, rheological measurements have shown the resistance of the gel network to the incorporation of the reactants and the formation of the desired products.

Copper-Catalyzed Phosphorylation of 2,3-Allenoic Acids and Phosphine Oxide: Access to Phosphorylated Butenolides

We investigated a novel Cu-catalyzed annulation of 2,3-allenoic acids with diphenylphosphine oxide, leading to the formation of 4-phosphate butenolides in up to 88% yield. The formation of the C-P bond provides new avenues for the functionalization of different furan-2(5H)-ones, with favorable features such as suitable functional group tolerance and mild synthesis conditions.