Lithium Diisopropylamide-Mediated Ortholithiation and Anionic Fries Rearrangement of Aryl Carbamates: Role of Aggregates and Mixed Aggregates

The Versatile and Strategic O-Carbamate Directed Metalation Group in the Synthesis of Aromatic Molecules: An Update

The aryl O-carbamate (ArOAm) group is among the strongest of the directed metalation groups (DMGs) in directed ortho metalation (DoM) chemistry, especially in the form Ar-OCONEt2. Since the last comprehensive review of metalation chemistry involving ArOAms (published more than 30 years ago), the field has expanded significantly. For example, it now encompasses new substrates, solvent systems, and metalating agents, while conditions have been developed enabling metalation of ArOAm to be conducted in a green and sustainable manner. The ArOAm group has also proven to be effective in the anionic ortho-Fries (AoF) rearrangement, Directed remote metalation (DreM), iterative DoM sequences, and DoM-halogen dance (HalD) synthetic strategies and has been transformed into a diverse range of functionalities and coupled with various groups through a range of cross-coupling (CC) strategies. Of ultimate value, the ArOAm group has demonstrated utility in the synthesis of a diverse range of bioactive and polycyclic aromatic compounds for various applications.

Reactions of Sodium Diisopropylamide: Liquid-Phase and Solid-Liquid Phase-Transfer Catalysis by N,N,N',N″,N″-Pentamethyldiethylenetriamine

Sodium diisopropylamide (NaDA) in N,N-dimethylethylamine (DMEA) and DMEA-hydrocarbon mixtures with added N,N,N',N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDTA) reacts with alkyl halides, epoxides, hydrazones, arenes, alkenes, and allyl ethers. Comparisons of PMDTA with N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) accompanied by detailed rate and computational studies reveal the importance of the trifunctionality and κ2-κ3 hemilability. Rate studies show exclusively monomer-based reactions of 2-bromooctane, cyclooctene oxide, and dimethylresorcinol. Catalysis with 10 mol % PMDTA shows up to >30-fold accelerations (kcat > 300) with no evidence of inhibition over 10 turnovers. Solid-liquid phase-transfer catalysis (SLPTC) is explored as a means to optimize the catalysis as well as explore the merits of heterogeneous reaction conditions.

Recent progress in application of nanocatalysts for carbonylative Suzuki cross-coupling reactions

In the past few decades, cross-coupling of aryl halides and arylboronic acids in the presence of carbon monoxide (CO), also called carbonylative Suzuki coupling, to form two new carbon-carbon bonds in the production of synthetically and biologically important biaryl ketones, has been widely studied. Consequently, various catalytic systems have been extensively investigated in order to maximize the efficiency of this appealing area of biaryl ketone synthesis. As evidenced in the literature, nanometal-based systems are among the most powerful catalysts for this transformation as their large surface area to volume ratio and reactive morphologies allow faster reaction rates under milder CO pressure even at very low catalyst loadings. This review aims to provide an overview of the recent advances and achievements in the application of nano-sized metal catalysts for carbonylative Suzuki cross-coupling reactions, which may serve as an inspiration to researchers in their future work.

Total Synthesis of the Antitumor-Antitubercular 2,6'-Bijuglone Natural Product Diospyrin and Its 3,6'-Isomer

The 2,6'-bijuglone natural product diospyrin and its unnatural 3,6'-isomer idospyrin have been synthesized in seven steps each from N,N-diethylsenecioamide in overall yields of 12% and 13%, respectively. The syntheses diverge from ramentaceone (7-methyljuglone) and include a key Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. Diospyrin, idospyrin, and several synthetic precursors exhibit potent and selective cytotoxicity to the murine myeloma NS-1 cell line over neonatal foreskin cells.

Experimental and Computational Study of the 1,5-O → N Carbamoyl Snieckus-Fries-Type Rearrangement

The reactions of o-lithiated O-aryl N,N-diethylcarbamates with different C-N multiple bond electrophiles have been thoroughly studied. A 1,5-O → N carbamoyl shift, a new variation of the anionic Fries-type rearrangement, takes place when nitriles, imines, or alkylcarbodiimides are employed. In these cases, the carbamoyl group plays a dual role as a directing group, building up a variety of functional groups through the 1,5-O → N carbamoyl migration. On the other hand, the use of iso(thio)cyanates and arylcarbodiimides led to non-rearranged o-functionalized O-arylcarbamates. This reactivity was further computationally explored, and the governing factor could be traced back to the relative basicity of the alternative products (migrated vs nonmigrated substrates). This exploration also provided interesting insights about the degree of complexation of the lithium cations onto these substrates. A new access to useful 2-hydroxybenzophenone derivatives has also been developed.

Aryl Carbamates: Mechanisms of Orthosodiations and Snieckus-Fries Rearrangements

Aryl carbamates are orthometalated by sodium diisopropylamide (NaDA) in tetrahydrofuran. The resulting arylsodiums undergo Snieckus-Fries rearrangement to give orthoacylated phenols in good yield. The intermediate arylsodiums and resulting orthoacylated phenolates are suggested to be monomeric. The rate-limiting step in the two-step sequence depends on the steric demands of the carbamoyl moiety and the substituents in the meta position of the arene. Rate studies reveal a dominant disolvated-monomer-based orthometalation followed by a di- or trisolvated arylsodium monomer-based rearrangement. Kinetic evidence of a NaDA-catalyzed Snieckus-Fries rearrangement suggests the intermediacy of mixed trimers. Competitive halide eliminations to form benzyne are also discussed.

Site-Selective and Stereoselective C-H Functionalization of N-Cyclopropylamides via a Directed Remote Metalation Strategy

A new methodology for site-selective and stereoselective C-H functionalization of aminocyclopropanes via directed remote lithiation has been developed. Treatment of N-directing group (DG = pivaloyl, tetramethylsuccinimidoyl) arylcyclopropanes with t-BuLi results in a clean β-lithiation and, following quench with electrophiles, leads to a range of cyclopropane derivatives. Sequential double lithiation-methylation to give a dimethylated cyclopropane has been achieved. X-ray, NMR, and computational studies allow rationalization of syn-DG β-deprotonation selectivity via a DG-lithium base coordinated complex.

1,5-O → N Carbamoyl Snieckus-Fries-Type Rearrangement

The reaction of o-lithiated O-aryl N,N-diethylcarbamates with (hetero)aromatic nitriles gives rise to functionalized salicylidene urea derivatives in high yields through a new 1,5-O → N carbamoyl migration. This Snieckus-Fries-type rearrangement nicely complements previously known O → C and O → O related shifts. In addition, when dimethylmalononitrile is used as the electrophilic partner, the carbamoyl shift is preferred over the expected transnitrilation reaction.

Lithium Hexamethyldisilazide-Mediated Enolization of Acylated Oxazolidinones: Solvent, Cosolvent, and Isotope Effects on Competing Monomer- and Dimer-Based Pathways

Lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS)-mediated enolization of (+)-4-benzyl-3-propionyl-2-oxazolidinone in THF-hydrocarbon mixtures shows unusual sensitivity to the choice of hydrocarbon cosolvent (hexane versus toluene) and to isotopic labeling. Four mechanisms corresponding to monosolvated monomers, trisolvated dimers, octasolvated monomers, and octasolvated dimers were identified. Even under conditions in which the LiHMDS monomer was the dominant observable form, dimer-based metalation was significant. The mechanism-dependent isotope and cosolvent effects are discussed in the context of ground-state stabilization and transition-state tunneling.

Sodium Diisopropylamide in N,N-Dimethylethylamine: Reactivity, Selectivity, and Synthetic Utility

The reactivities and chemoselectivities of sodium diisopropylamide (NaDA) in N,N-dimethylethylamine (DMEA) are compared with those of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) in tetrahydrofuran (THF). Metalations of arenes, epoxides, ketones, hydrazones, dienes, and alkyl and vinyl halides are represented. The positive attributes of NaDA-DMEA include high solubility, stability, resistance to solvent decomposition, and ease of preparation. The high reactivities and chemoselectivities often complement those of LDA-THF.

Mechanism of Lithium Diisopropylamide-Mediated Ortholithiation of 1,4-Bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene under Nonequilibrium Conditions: Condition-Dependent Rate Limitation and Lithium Chloride-Catalyzed Inhibition

Lithiation of 1,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene with lithium diisopropylamide in tetrahydrofuran at -78 °C occurs under conditions at which the rates of aggregate exchanges are comparable to the rates of metalation. Under such nonequilibrium conditions, a substantial number of barriers compete to be rate limiting, making the reaction sensitive to trace impurities (LiCl), reactant concentrations, and isotopic substitution. Rate studies using the perdeuterated arene reveal odd effects of LiCl, including catalyzed rate acceleration at lower temperature and catalyzed rate inhibition at higher temperatures. The catalytic effects are accompanied by corresponding changes in the rate law. A kinetic model is presented that captures the critical features of the LiCl catalysis, focusing on the influence of LiCl-catalyzed re-aggregation of the fleeting monomer that can reside above, at, or below the equilibrium population without catalyst.

Base-catalyzed intramolecular hydroamination of cyclohexa-2,5-dienes: insights into the mechanism through DFT calculations and application to the total synthesis of epi-elwesine

The base-catalyzed intramolecular hydroamination of 1-ethylaminocyclohexa-2,5-dienes is described. The transformation proceeds through isomerization of the cyclohexa-1,4-dienyl fragment into the corresponding conjugated 1,3-diene prior to the hydroamination step. Attaching a chiral glycinol ether auxiliary on the amino group allows the protonation to occur with complete diastereocontrol. The resulting lithium amide then adds onto the 1,3-dienyl moiety, affording the desired fused pyrrolidine ring along with the corresponding lithium allylic anion. Protonation of the latter then proceeds with high regiocontrol to favor the resulting allylic amines. In contrast, when the reaction was performed on primary amines, fused pyrrolidines bearing a homoallylic amino group were obtained. The stereochemical course of the process and determination of the reaction pathways were established based on calculations performed at the DFT level. Finally, application of the methodology to the enantioselective synthesis of (+)-epi-elwesine, a crinane alkaloid, is described.

A convenient alumination of functionalized aromatics by using the frustrated Lewis pair Et3 Al and TMPMgCl⋅LiCl

A straightforward and efficient alumination of functionalized arenes by using the frustrated Lewis pair Et3 Al and TMPMgCl⋅LiCl (TMP=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl) has been developed. In particular, halogenated electron-rich aromatics can be smoothly functionalized by using the frustrated Lewis pair Et3 Al and TMPMgCl⋅LiCl. Compared with previously described alumination methods, this procedure avoids extensive cooling and the need for an excess of base. This in situ procedure has proven to be most practical and allows for regio- and chemoselective metalation of a wide range of aromatics with sensitive functional groups (CONEt2 , CO2 Me, CN, OCONMe2 ) or halogens (F, Cl, Br, I). The resulting aromatic aluminates, which were characterized by using NMR spectroscopy, were subjected to allylations, acylations, and palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions after transmetalation to zinc. It was shown that the nature of the Zn salt used for transmetalation is crucial. Thus, compared with ZnCl2 (2 equiv), the use of Zn(OPiv)2 (2 equiv; OPiv=pivalate) allows the subsequent quenching reactions to be performed with only a slight excess of electrophile (1.2 equiv) and provides interesting functionalized aromatics in good yields.

Lithium diisopropylamide-mediated ortholithiation of 2-fluoropyridines: rates, mechanisms, and the role of autocatalysis

Lithium diisopropylamide (LDA)-mediated ortholithiations of 2-fluoropyridine and 2,6-difluoropyridine in tetrahydrofuran at -78 °C were studied using a combination of IR and NMR spectroscopic and computational methods. Rate studies show that a substrate-assisted deaggregation of LDA dimer occurs parallel to an unprecedented tetramer-based pathway. Standard and competitive isotope effects confirm post-rate-limiting proton transfer. Autocatalysis stems from ArLi-catalyzed deaggregation of LDA proceeding via 2:2 LDA-ArLi mixed tetramers. A hypersensitivity of the ortholithiation rates to traces of LiCl derives from LiCl-catalyzed LDA dimer-monomer exchange and a subsequent monomer-based ortholithiation. Fleeting 2:2 LDA-LiCl mixed tetramers are suggested to be key intermediates. The mechanisms of both the uncatalyzed and catalyzed deaggregations are discussed. A general mechanistic paradigm is delineated to explain a number of seemingly disparate LDA-mediated reactions, all of which occur in tetrahydrofuran at -78 °C.

Regioselective synthesis of heteroaryl triflones by LDA (lithium diisopropylamide)-mediated anionic thia-Fries rearrangement

Novel heteroaryl triflones including oxindole, pyrazolone, pyridine, and quinoline derivatives have been regioselectively synthesized by LDA-mediated thia-Fries rearrangement for the first time. These reactions are also the first examples of the application of anionic thia-Fries rearrangement in heteroaromatic compounds.

Computational studies of lithium diisopropylamide deaggregation

Density functional theory computations [MP2/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d)] on the deaggregation of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) dimer solvated by two tetrahydrofuran ligands to give the corresponding trisolvated monomer show eight structurally distinct minima. The barriers to exchange are comparable to those expected from experimental studies showing rate-limiting deaggregations. The role of conformational isomerism in deaggregation and the extent that deaggregation rates dictate LDA reactivity under synthetically important conditions are considered.

On the nature of the oxidative heterocoupling of lithium enolates

The coupling of enolates through single-electron oxidation is one of the most direct routes for generating 1,4-dicarbonyls. Recent work on the intermolecular heterocoupling of equimolar amounts of two different enolates through single-electron oxidation has shown that synthetically useful yields beyond those predicted by statistics can be obtained. To determine the underlying basis for the selective formation of heterocoupled products, kinetic, (7)Li NMR, and synthetic studies were performed. The collection of data obtained from these experiments shows that the selective formation of heterocoupled products is a consequence of heteroaggregation of lithium enolates.

Regioselective lithium diisopropylamide-mediated ortholithiation of 1-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzene: role of autocatalysis, lithium chloride catalysis, and reversibility

Ortholithiation of 1-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzene with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) in tetrahydrofuran at -78 °C displays characteristics of reactions in which aggregation events are rate limiting. Metalation with lithium-chloride-free LDA involves a rate-limiting deaggregation via dimer-based transition structures. The post-rate-limiting proton transfers are suggested to involve highly solvated triple ions. Autocatalysis by the resulting aryllithiums or catalysis by traces (<100 ppm) of LiCl diverts the reaction through di- and trisolvated monomer-based pathways for metalation at the 2 and 6 positions, respectively. The regiochemistry is dictated by a combination of kinetically controlled metalations overlaid by an equilibration involving diisopropylamine that is shown to occur by the microscopic reverse of the monomer-based metalations.

General approach to the synthesis of prochiral atropisomeric biaryls

General approach to the synthesis of prochiral precursors of chiral atropisomeric biaryls based on several complementary methods has been developed. Biaryls were obtained in good to excellent yields depending on their structure and selected method of synthesis. Furthermore, we demonstrate a possibility of utilisation of the obtained compounds possessing 2 or 3 ortho substituents around the aryl-aryl bond in direct and directed arylation reaction leading through transition metal-mediated C–H bond activation to atropisomeric compounds.

Mechanism of lithium diisopropylamide-mediated substitution of 2,6-difluoropyridine

Treatment of 2,6-difluoropyridine with lithium diisopropylamide in THF solution at -78 degrees C effects ortholithiation quantitatively. Warming the solution to 0 degrees C converts the aryllithium to 2-fluoro-6-(diisopropylamino)pyridine. Rate studies reveal evidence of a reversal of the ortholithiation and a subsequent 1,2-addition via two monomer-based pathways of stoichiometries [ArH*i-Pr(2)NLi(THF)](double dagger) and [ArH*i-Pr(2)NLi(THF)(3)](double dagger). Computational studies fill in the structural details and provide evidence of a direct substitution without the intermediacy of a Meisenheimer complex.

Synthesis of a 7-azaindole by chichibabin cyclization: reversible base-mediated dimerization of 3-picolines

The lithium diisopropylamide (LDA)-mediated condensation of 2-fluoro-3-picoline and benzonitrile to form 2-phenyl-7-azaindole via a Chichibabin cyclization is described. Facile dimerization of the picoline via a 1,4-addition of the incipient benzyllithium to the picoline starting material and fast 1,2-addition of LDA to benzonitrile cause the reaction to be complex. Both adducts are shown to reenter the reaction coordinate to produce the desired 7-azaindole. The solution structures of the key intermediates and the underlying reaction mechanisms are studied by a combination of IR and NMR spectroscopies.

Autocatalysis in lithium diisopropylamide-mediated ortholithiations

Ortholithiation of 3-fluorophenyl-N,N-diisopropyl carbamate by lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) in THF at -78 degrees C affords unusual rate behavior including linear decays of the carbamate, delayed formation of LDA-aryllithium mixed dimers, and evidence of autocatalysis. A mechanistic model in conjunction with numeric integration methods accounts for the time-dependent changes in concentration. The two critical rate-limiting steps in the model entail (1) an LDA dimer-based metalation of arylcarbamate, and (2) a rate-limiting condensation of the resulting aryllithium with the LDA dimer to form two isomeric LDA-ArLi mixed dimers. One isomer elicits a highly efficient (post-rate-limiting) metalation of aryl carbamate, in turn, regenerating aryllithium. The prevalence and implications of such autocatalysis are discussed.

Anionic Snieckus-Fries rearrangement: solvent effects and role of mixed aggregates

Lithiated aryl carbamates (ArLi) bearing methoxy or fluoro substituents in the meta position are generated from lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) in THF, n-BuOMe, Me2NEt, dimethoxyethane (DME), N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), N,N,N',N'-tetramethylcyclohexanediamine (TMCDA), and hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA). The aryllithiums are shown with (6)Li, (13)C, and (15)N NMR spectroscopies to be monomers, ArLi-LDA mixed dimers, and ArLi-LDA mixed trimers, depending on the choice of solvent. Subsequent Snieckus-Fries rearrangements afford ArOLi-LDA mixed dimers and trimers of the resulting phenolates. Rate studies of the rearrangement implicate mechanisms based on monomers, mixed dimers, and mixed trimers.

13C INEPT diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) with internal references

13C INEPT Diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) with an internal reference system was developed to study the aggregation state of THF-solvated LDA dimeric complex. Six components are clearly identified in the diffusion dimension, and their DOSY-generated 13C INEPT spectrum slices agree extremely well with their respective INEPT spectra. The correlation between log D and log FW of the linear least-squares fit to reference points of all components is exceptionally high: (r = 0.9985).