Copper-Catalyzed Cascade Radical Addition–Cyclization Halogen Atom Transfer between Alkynes and Unsaturated α-Halogenocarbonyls

Copper-catalysed bromine atom transfer cyclisation in SDS micelles

The atom transfer radical cyclisation (ATRC) of non-activated alkyl bromides was realized under blue light irradiation in carbonate-buffered aqueous SDS solution using a catalytic system of CuBr2, Me6-TREN and ascorbic acid. The beneficial effect of SDS micelles can be accounted for by the activation of the C-Br bond as well as by the suppression of competitive reductive cyclisation.

α-Halocarbonyls as a Valuable Functionalized Tertiary Alkyl Source

This review introduces the synthetic organic chemical value of α-bromocarbonyl compounds with tertiary carbons. This α-bromocarbonyl compound with a tertiary carbon has been used primarily only as a radical initiator in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) reactions. However, with the recent development of photo-radical reactions (around 2010), research on the use of α-bromocarbonyl compounds as tertiary alkyl radical precursors became popular (around 2012). As more examples were reported, α-bromocarbonyl compounds were studied not only as radicals but also for their applications in organometallic and ionic reactions. That is, α-bromocarbonyl compounds act as nucleophiles as well as electrophiles. The carbonyl group of α-bromocarbonyl compounds is also attractive because it allows the skeleton to be converted after the reaction, and it is being applied to total synthesis. In our survey until 2022, α-bromocarbonyl compounds can be used to perform a full range of reactions necessary for organic synthesis, including multi-component reactions, cross-coupling, substitution, cyclization, rearrangement, stereospecific reactions, asymmetric reactions. α-Bromocarbonyl compounds have created a new trend in tertiary alkylation, which until then had limited reaction patterns in organic synthesis. This review focuses on how α-bromocarbonyl compounds can be used in synthetic organic chemistry.

Dispersion-induced cooperative hydrogen atom transfer for radical iodoalkylation

Described herein is a novel visible-light-promoted three-component radical iodo-alkylative cyclization of alkynes using iodoform as a bifunctional iodine atom source. Visible-light irradiation of a polar-polar interaction complex of iodoform with malonate enables the cooperative hydrogen atom transfer process to generate alkyl radical and trigger a cascade reaction sequence.

Synthesis of 2,3-Dihydrobenzofurans via a Photochemical Gold-Mediated Atom Transfer Radical Addition Reaction

A light-mediated cyclization reaction initiated by an atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) of haloalkanes onto alkenes was exploited for the synthesis of functionalized dihydrobenzofurans. Initial investigation indicated that the dimeric gold catalyst [Au2(μ-dppm)2Cl2] can effectively be used for intermolecular ATRA reactions. Further, the reactivity was applied in a cascade-like cyclization for the preparation of dihydrobenzofuran derivatives. With the presented photochemical approach, the functionalization can be achieved directly from ortho-allylphenols in yields of up to 96% under mild conditions.

Tandem Sulfonylative Annulation/Halogenation of 1,7-Enynes with Sodium Sulfinate and TBAX for the Assembly of 4-Methylenechromanes

An effective and stereoselective synthesis of halogenated (E)-4-methylenechromanes with a sulfonyl group was developed via the copper-catalyzed sulfonylative annulation/halogenation of 1,7-enynes, in which sodium sulfinates were used as the sulfonyl reagents and tetrabutylammonium halide provided the halogen sources. The formed alkenyl C-X bonds were valuable and can efficiently undergo the subsequent hydrolysis, alkenylation, alkynylation, arylation, alkylthiolation, and alkoxylation to furnish a series of highly functionalized 4-methylenechromanes.

Visible-Light-Promoted Cascade Cyclization of 3-Ethynyl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-Carbonitriles with Unsaturated α-Bromocarbonyls

A visible-light-promoted cascade cyclization of 3-ethynyl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-carbonitriles with unsaturated α-bromocarbonyls for the synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[mn]cyclopenta[b]acridines is described. Three C(sp3)-C(sp2) bonds, one C(sp2)-N bond, and three cycles can be formed in a single reaction through the addition of a C-centered radical to the carbon-carbon triple bond and three radical cyclizations. This reaction features mild conditions, wide substrate scope, and high bond-forming efficiency.

Copper-mediated bromine atom transfer radical cyclisation of unactivated alkyl bromides

The atom transfer radical cyclisation of unactivated alkyl bromides was realized by using a catalytic system of CuBr and Me₆-TREN. This protocol is applicable to the preparation of five-membered rings from unsaturated primary and secondary bromides.

Copper-catalyzed switchable cyclization of alkyne-tethered α-bromocarbonyls: selective access to quinolin-2-ones and quinoline-2,4-diones

Copper-catalyzed cyclization of alkynes has played a significant role in modern catalytic chemistry.

Metal-/solvent-free oxidative [4+2]/[3+2] annulation of 2-ethynylbenzaldehydes with arylalkenes: Facile synthesis of benzo[a]fluoren-5-ones

We report here a DTBP-mediated oxidative [4+2]/[3+2] annulation between 2-alkynylbenzaldehydes and terminal arylalkenes enabled by aldehyde C(sp2)-H functionalization for assembling a range of benzo[a]fluoren-5-ones with high step-economy, simple operations under...

A Radical Addition/Cyclization and Se-Group Transfer Strategy for the Facile Synthesis of Se-Containing Cyclopentenes under Metal-Free and Peroxide-Free Conditions

A novel intermolecular radical addition/cyclization and Se-group transfer reaction of terminal alkynes and unsaturated alkyl selenide is presented which offers a straightforward and facile approach for the synthesis of valuable Se-containing cyclopentenes. Remarkable features of this strategy include easily accessible starting materials, metal-free and peroxide-free conditions, high atom economy, simple operation and broad substrate scope. More importantly, the reaction is easy to scale up and can be extended to the construction of six-membered carbon ring.

A Nanocrystal Catalyst Incorporating a Surface Bound Transition Metal to Induce Photocatalytic Sequential Electron Transfer Events

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is less common but can provide unique avenues for inducing novel chemical transformations and can also be utilized for energy transductions, i.e., the energy in the photons can be captured in chemical bonds. Here, we developed a novel heterogeneous photocatalytic system that employs a lead-halide perovskite nanocrystal (NC) to capture photons and direct photogenerated holes to a surface bound transition metal Cu-site, resulting in a N-N heterocyclization reaction. The reaction starts from surface coordinated diamine substrates and requires two subsequent photo-oxidation events per reaction cycle. We establish a photocatalytic pathway that incorporates sequential inner sphere electron transfer events, photons absorbed by the NC generate holes that are sequentially funneled to the Cu-surface site to perform the reaction. The photocatalyst is readily prepared via a controlled cation-exchange reaction and provides new opportunities in photodriven heterogeneous catalysis.

Atom Transfer Radical Addition to Styrenes with Thiosulfonates Enabled by Synergetic Copper/Photoredox Catalysis

A synergetic copper/photoredox catalyzed ATRA of styrenes and thiosulfonates is developed. Besides aryl ethylenes, the challenging α-substituted styrenes were employed to construct the benzylic quaternary carbon centers. Owing to the mild conditions as well as the high level of substrate compability, this ATRA could be applied to derivatize bioactive natural products in late stage, and to install fluorophores across alkenes. The mechanistic studies reveal sulfonyl radicals as the key intermediate in the transformation.

Controlling alkyne reactivity by means of a copper-catalyzed radical reaction system for the synthesis of functionalized quaternary carbons

A terminal alkyne is one of the most useful reactants for the synthesis of alkyne and alkene derivatives. Because an alkyne undergoes addition reaction at a C-C triple bond or cross-coupling at a terminal C-H bond. Combining those reaction patterns could realize a new reaction methodology to synthesize complex molecules including C-C multiple bonds. In this report, we found that the reaction of 3 equivalents of terminal alkyne 1 (aryl substituted alkyne) and an α-bromocarbonyl compound 2 (tertiary alkyl radical precursor) undergoes tandem alkyl radical addition/Sonogashira coupling to produce 1,3-enyne compound 3 possessing a quaternary carbon in the presence of a copper catalyst. Moreover, the reaction of α-bromocarbonyl compound 2 and an alkyne 4 possessing a carboxamide moiety undergoes tandem alkyl radical addition/C-H coupling to produce indolinone derivative 5.

TBPB-initiated cascade cyclization of 3-arylethynyl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-carbonitriles with sulfinic acids: access to sulfone-containing cyclopenta[gh]phenanthridines

A novel TBPB-initiated cascade cyclization of 3-arylethynyl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-carbonitriles with sulfinic acids via C-S, C-C and C-N bond formation for the synthesis of 3-sulfonated cyclopenta[gh]phenanthridines under metal-free conditions has been developed. This protocol features mild conditions, good functional group tolerance and a broad substrate scope. By using this protocol, a variety of potentially bioactive 3-sulfonated cyclopenta[gh]phenanthridines were facilely synthesized via direct annulation.

Iron-catalyzed regioselective alkylation of 1,4-quinones and coumarins with functionalized alkyl bromides

A simple and efficient Fe-catalyzed regioselective alkylation of 1,4-quinones and coumarins, using functionalized alkyl bromides as alkylating reagents, has been developed.

Ag-Mediated Radical Cyclization of 2-Alkynylthio(seleno)anisoles: Direct Synthesis of 3-Phosphinoylbenzothio(seleno)phenes

A new method for the direct synthesis of 3-phosphinoylbenzothio(seleno)phenes has been achieved through an Ag-mediated radical addition-cyclization of 2-alkynylthio(seleno)anisoles with secondary phosphine oxides in good yields under mild conditions. In this single reaction, benzenethiophene or benzeneselenophene skeleton, C(sp²)-P and C(sp²)-S bonds can be constructed with the cleavage of the C(sp³)-S bond, highlighting the efficiency and step-economics of this protocol.

Photocatalytic Atom Transfer Radical Addition to Olefins Utilizing Novel Photocatalysts

Photocatalysis is a rapidly evolving area of research in modern organic synthesis. Among the traditional photocatalysts, metal-complexes based on ruthenium or iridium are the most common. Herein, we present the synthesis of two photoactive, ruthenium-based complexes bearing pyridine-quinoline or terpyridine ligands with extended aromatic conjugation. Our complexes were utilized in the atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) of haloalkanes to olefins, using bromoacetonitrile or bromotrichloromethane as the source of the alkyl group. The tailor-made ruthenium-based catalyst bearing the pyridine-quinoline bidentate ligand proved to be the best-performing photocatalyst, among a range of metal complexes and organocatalysts, efficiently catalyzing both reactions. These photocatalytic atom transfer protocols can be expanded into a broad scope of olefins. In both protocols, the photocatalytic reactions led to products in good to excellent isolated yields.

Copper-catalyzed selective difunctionalization of N-heteroarenes through a halogen atom transfer radical process

A highly regioselective Cu-catalyzed difunctionalization of quinolinium and benzothiazolim salts was developed with ether and halide (X = Br, Cl) as the halogen source under mild conditions.

Cu-Catalyzed atom transfer radical addition reactions of alkenes with α-bromoacetonitrile

A practical, simple, and efficient copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical addition reaction of alkenes with α-bromoacetonitrile is realized. With this methodology, various γ-bromonitriles and β,γ-unsaturated nitriles were efficiently constructed.

Cascade Annulation of 2-Alkynylthioanisoles with Unsaturated α-Bromocarbonyls Leading to Thio-Benzobicyclic Skeletons

A protocol of Cu-catalyzed annulation of phenylethynylsulfanes with unsaturated α-bromocarbonyls for the construction of thio-benzobicyclic skeletons is described. In this single reaction, three new bonds and two new rings can be established, highlighting the step-economics and high efficiency of this protocol.

Decarbonylative Formation of Homoallyl Radical Capable of Annulation with N-Arylpropiolamides via Aldehyde Auto-oxidation

A new metal-free aldehyde auto-oxidation strategy that allows the decarbonylative formation of homoallyl radical capable of cascade annulations with alkynes is described. By using various N-arylpropiolamides, the oxidative radical [3 + 2]/[5 + 2] cascade annulation reaction was achieved to produce benzo[ b]cyclopenta[ e]azepin-4(1 H)-ones, which represent a powerful new platform for the intermolecular cycloadditions of alkyne with broad substrate scope and high selectivity.

Metal-Free Oxidative Decarbonylative [3+2] Annulation of Terminal Alkynes with Tertiary Alkyl Aldehydes toward Cyclopentenes

A new metal-free oxidative decarbonylative [3+2] annulation of terminal alkynes with tertiary alkyl aldehydes is presented, which features broad substrate scope and excellent selectivity. The selectivity of this reaction toward cyclopentenes and indenes relies on the nature of the aldehyde substrates. While treatment of tertiary γ,δ-unsaturated aldehydes with common terminal alkynes assembles cyclopentenes, 2-methyl-2-arylpropanals succeed in accessing indenes.