Photochemically Promoted Transition Metal-Free Cross-Coupling of Acylsilanes with Organoboronic Esters

Stereoselective Synthesis of Silyl Enol Ethers with Acylsilanes and α,β-Unsaturated Ketones

Acylsilanes are emerging bench-stable reagents for the generation of electron-rich oxycarbenes that are difficult to access with unstable diazo compounds. Herein, we report a siloxycarbene-mediated stereoselective synthesis of silyl enol ethers through visible-light-induced intermolecular reactions between acylsilanes and α,β-unsaturated ketones. Both the solvent and low temperature are important for the success of the reaction. This approach features atomic economics, exclusive stereocontrol, and broad substrate scope. The synthetic potential of this methodology is demonstrated by gram-scale reaction and various downstream transformations including that requiring configuration purity of the silyl enol ethers.

Divergent Synthesis of Fluoroalkyl Ketones through Controlling the Reactivity of Organoboronate Complexes

Herein, we report a divergent synthesis of fluoroalkyl ketones through visible-light-induced reactions between readily available organoboronic esters and fluoroalkyl acylsilanes. Selective control of the reactivity of the in situ generated organoboronate complexes is the key to achieving divergent transformations. Under basic conditions, the organoboronate complexes undergo deboronative fluoride elimination, resulting in the formation of enol silyl ethers as intermediates that react with various electrophiles to generate defluorinated ketones as the products. Moreover, in combination with peroxide, a 1,2-shift of fluoroalkyl group is favored over deboronative fluoride elimination to generate ketal intermediates, leading to the formation of ketones as the products. This transition-metal-free reaction is operationally simple, and aryl, alkenyl, and alkyl boronic esters are all suitable substrates. The synthetic potential has been demonstrated by gram-scale reactions and facile synthesis of bioactive molecules including zifrosilone and its fluoroalkyl analogs.

Brook Rearrangement as Trigger for Dearomatization Reaction: Synthesis of Non-Aromatic N-Heterocycles

The [1,2]-Brook rearrangement stands as a potent technique for constructing complex molecules. In this study, we showcase its power in the dearomatization of aromatic N-heterocycles. Through a concise four-step process that integrates lithiation, nucleophilic addition, Brook rearrangement and dearomatization reaction, we demonstrate a versatile strategy for generating diverse non-aromatic N-heterocycles which exhibit ambident reactivities. Various acyl silanes, halo-pyridines, and quinolines have been explored within this context. The synthetic utility of this methodology is demonstrated through the construction of complex architectures.

Reaction of 4-Bpin-o-Carborane with Ketones: Sequential Carbon Vertex Alkylation and B-B Bond Activation

Diboron compounds are important reagents in a series of transition metal catalyzed or metal-free borylation reactions. We describe herein a unique reactivity of 4-Bpin-o-carborane with ketones under basic conditions, leading to sequential cage carbon alkylation, B-B bond activation and unexpected O-migration. The reaction was compatible with a good substrate scope including dialkyl or alkyl aryl ketones. The reaction mechanism is also proposed, involving cage CH deprotonation, nucleophilic attack of ketone, and O-migration along with B-B bond cleavage.

Nucleophilic Allylation of Acylsilanes in Water: An Effective Alternative to Functionalized Tertiary α-Silylalcohols

A nucleophilic allylation of acylsilanes in water was developed, generating versatile functionalized tertiary α-silyl alcohols in high yields. With the assistance of hydrogen bonding, a reaction model of less reactive acylsilane was achieved. Unlike the conventional strategy, transition metals and an additional Lewis acid catalyst were not required, and rate acceleration was observed in water.

Cu/SaBox-Catalyzed Photoinduced Coupling of Acylsilanes with Alkynes

The transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction with Fischer metal carbene intermediates bearing an electron-rich alkoxyl or siloxyl group remains a big challenge due to the lack of readily available corresponding carbene precursors. Herein, we report the coupling of alkynes with the Fischer-type copper carbene species bearing a α-siloxyl group, which could be in situ generated from acylsilanes catalytically under photoirradiation and redox-neutral conditions. The side-arm modified bisoxazoline (SaBox) ligands prove to be crucial for this coupling reaction, which provides the corresponding alkynyl alcohol in high yields with remarkable heterocycle tolerance and broad substrate scope.

Cascade cyclization of alkene-tethered acylsilanes and allylic sulfones enabled by unproductive energy transfer photocatalysis

Developing photo-induced cascade cyclization of alkene-tethered acylsilanes is challenging, because acylsilanes are unstable under light irradiation. Herein, we report that the energy transfer from excited acylsilanes to a photocatalyst that possesses lower triplet energy can inhibit the undesired decomposition of acylsilanes. With neutral Eosin Y as the photocatalyst, an efficient synthesis of cyclopentanol derivatives is achieved with alkene-tethered acylsilanes and allylic sulfones. The reaction shows broad substrate scope and the synthetic potential of this transformation is highlighted by the construction of cyclopentanol derivatives which contain fused-ring or bridged-ring.

Acylsilanes decompose under light irradiation, and this limits their use in light-induced organic transformations. Here the authors report a strategy to inhibit the light-induced decomposition of acylsilanes, enabling the photochemical synthesis of cyclopentanol derivatives from alkene-tethered acylsilanes and allylic sulfones.

Photoinduced Intramolecular Cyclization of Acylsilanes Bearing a Boronate Moiety: Construction of a Highly Strained trans-Fused Bicyclo[3.3.0]octane Skeleton

A reliable strategy for the construction of trans-fused bicyclo[n.3.0] skeletons was explored by utilizing photoinduced cyclization of acylsilanes bearing a boronate. The substrates having an acylsilane and a boronate in a 1,2-trans relationship were prepared via hydroboration of cycloalkene derivatives. The desired cyclization was efficiently promoted by photoirradiation to give the trans-fused bicyclo[n.3.0] derivatives as a single diastereomer. It is noteworthy that this methodology enables the efficient construction of a highly strained trans-5-5 ring system.

Functionalized Cyclopentenes via the Formal [4+1] Cycloaddition of Photogenerated Siloxycarbenes from Acyl Silanes

This work describes the first formal cycloaddition reaction of photogenerated nucleophilic carbenes derived from acylsilanes with electrophilic dienes. The resulting transient donor-acceptor cyclopropane rearranges to its stable and highly functionalized cyclopentene isomer in an unprecedented metal-free process. The cyclopropanation-vinyl cyclopropane rearrangement sequence was corroborated by computational calculations. The cyclopropane formation corresponds to a higher energetic barrier, and the vinylcyclopropane-cyclopentene rearrangement proceeds through different mechanisms, although of comparable energies, depending on the stereochemistry of the cyclopropane.

Diastereoselective Transfer of Tri(di)fluoroacetylsilanes-Derived Carbenes to Alkenes

Stereoselective cyclopropanation reaction of alkenes is usually achieved by metal complexes via singlet-metal-carbene intermediates. However, previous transition-metal-catalyzed cyclopropanation of alkenes with acylsilanes afforded low diastereoselectivity. Herein, we report the first visible-light-induced transition-metal-free cyclopropanation reaction of terminal alkenes with trifluoroacetylsilanes and difluoroacetylsilanes. Both aromatic and aliphatic alkenes as well as electron-deficient alkenes are suitable substrates for the highly cis-selective [2+1] cyclization reaction. A combination of experimental and computational studies identified triplet carbenes as being key intermediates in this transformation. The gram scale reaction and late-stage functionalization demonstrated the synthetic potential of this strategy.

Visible-Light-Induced Organocatalyzed [2+1] Cyclization of Alkynes and Trifluoroacetylsilanes

The synthesis of common cyclopropenes has been widely studied, but the synthesis of cyclopropenols is a significant challenge. Herein, we highlight our recent work on the synthesis of trifluoromethylated cyclopropenols through [2+1] cycloaddition reaction between alkynes and trifluoroacetylsilanes under visible-light-induced organocatalysis. The novel amphiphilic donor-acceptor carbenes derived from trifluoroacetylsilanes can react effectively with both activated and unactivated alkynes. Broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance have been achieved. Besides, the synthetic potential of this reaction was highlighted by a gram-scale reaction and the one-pot diastereoselective synthesis of trifluoromethylated cyclopropanols.

Synthesis of Cyclopropenols Enabled by Visible-Light-Induced Organocatalyzed [2+1] Cyclization

Although the synthesis of common cyclopropenes has been well studied, the access to cyclopropenols is rather limited. Herein, we report the first synthesis of α-trifluoromethylated cyclopropenols via 2+1 cycloaddition reactions between alkynes and trifluoroacylsilanes, enabled by visible-light-induced organocatalysis. The novel ambiphilic donor-acceptor carbenes derived from trifluoroacetylsilanes reacted efficiently with both activated and non-activated alkynes. The reaction features simple operation, mild conditions, broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance. The synthetic potential of the reaction is highlighted by the gram-scale reactions and first synthesis of α-trifluoromethylated cyclopropanols through the combination of the 2+1 cyclization and high diastereoselective hydrogenation reaction in one pot.

Photoinduced Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Acylation of Allylic Phosphates with Acylsilanes

We report a visible-light-induced copper-catalyzed highly enantioselective umpolung allylic acylation reaction with acylsilanes as acyl anion equivalents. Triplet-quenching experiments and DFT calculations supported our reaction design, which is based on copper-to-acyl metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) photoexcitation that generates a charge-separated triplet state as a highly reactive intermediate. According to the calculations, the allylic phosphate substrate in the excited state undergoes novel molecular activation into an allylic radical weakly bound to the copper complex. The allyl radical fragment undergoes copper-mediated regio- and stereocontrolled coupling with the acyl group under the influence of the chiral N-heterocyclic carbene ligand.

Generation of (amino)(boryloxy)carbenes from carbamoylboranes and their coupling reaction with aldehydes

Carbamoylboranes were found to react with various aldehydes under heating conditions to give α-hydroxycarboxamides in good yields. A DFT study supports the mechanism, which involves thermally generated (amino)(boryloxy)carbene intermediates. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the generation of (amino)(boryloxy)carbene intermediates from carbamoylboranes and its application to carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions.

Intramolecular Photochemical [2+1]-Cycloadditions of Nucleophilic Siloxy Carbenes

Visible light induced singlet nucleophilic carbenes undergo rapid [2 + 1]-cycloaddition with tethered olefins to afford unique bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane and bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane scaffolds. This cyclopropanation process requires only visible light irradiation to proceed, circumventing the use of exogenous (photo)catalysts, sensitisers or additives and showcases a vastly underexplored mode of reactivity for nucleophilic carbenes in chemical synthesis. The discovery of additional transformations including a cyclopropanation/retro-Michael/Michael cascade process to afford chromanones and a photochemical C–H insertion reaction are also described.

Visible light induced singlet nucleophilic carbenes undergo rapid [2 + 1]-cycloaddition with tethered olefins to afford unique bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane and bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane scaffolds.

Visible-Light-Induced In Situ Generation of Fischer-Type Copper Carbene Complexes from Acylsilanes and Its Application to Catalytic [4 + 1] Cycloaddition with Siloxydienes

A novel methodology for in situ generation of Fischer-type metal-carbene complexes was developed. Photoirradiation to a mixture of an acylsilane and a cationic copper complex cleanly gave a Fischer-type copper-siloxycarbene complex, which was detected by spectroscopic methods. This carbene complex reacted with siloxydienes in a [4 + 1] cycloaddition manner to give cyclopentene derivatives. It is noteworthy that this reaction proceeds with a catalytic amount of copper through in situ generation of a Fischer-type copper-siloxycarbene complex intermediate.

Direct synthesis and applications of solid silylzinc reagents

The increased synthetic utility of organosilanes has motivated researchers to develop milder and more practical synthetic methods. Silylzinc reagents, which are typically the most functional group tolerant, are notoriously difficult to synthesize because they are obtained by a pyrophoric reaction of silyllithium, particularly Me3SiLi which is itself prepared by the reaction of MeLi and disilane. Furthermore, the dissolved LiCl in silylzinc may have a detrimental effect. A synthetic method that can avoid silyllithium and involves a direct synthesis of silylzinc reagents from silyl halides is arguably the simplest and most economical strategy. We describe, for the first time, the direct synthesis of PhMe2SiZnI and Me3SiZnI reagents by employing a coordinating TMEDA ligand, as well as single crystal XRD structures. Importantly, they can be obtained as solids and stored for longer periods at 4 °C. We also demonstrate their significance in cross-coupling of various free alkyl/aryl/alkenyl carboxylic acids with broader functional group tolerance and API derivatives. The general applicability and efficiency of solid Me3SiZnI are shown in a wide variety of reactions including alkylation, arylation, allylation, 1,4-addition, acylation and more.

Regioselective Cross-Coupling of Isatogens with Boronic Acids to Construct 2,2-Disubstituted Indolin-3-one Derivatives

Herein we present a transition-metal-free cross-coupling reaction of isatogens with boronic acids through a 1,4-metalate shift of a boron "ate" complex. This coupling reaction provides a feasible method to deliver valuable 2,2-disubstituted indolin-3-one derivatives with excellent regioselectivity, which exhibit operational simplicity, good functional group tolerance, and a broad substrate scope.

Photo Click Reaction of Acylsilanes with Indoles

Light-mediated coupling of acylsilanes with indoles is reported. This photo click reaction occurs under mild conditions (415 nm) mostly in quantitative yield and provides stable silylated N,O-acetals via light mediated siloxycarbene generation with subsequent indole-N-H insertion. We show that this very efficient and fully atom economic coupling process can be applied to conjugate complex systems, as documented by the clicking of carbohydrates with indole alkaloids. The method is also applicable to the conjugation of polymer chains. The linking acetal moiety can be readily cleaved and it is also shown that wavelength-selective coupling and cleavage with acyl silanes bearing a second photoactive moiety is possible. This is documented by a successful polymerization/depolymerization sequence and by a polymer folding/unfolding process.

Acyl silane directed Cp*Rh(III)-catalysed alkylation/annulation reactions

Studies into the Cp*Rh(iii)-catalysed hydroarylation of alkenes with aryl acyl silanes led to the discovery of a new synthetic strategy to access unique silicon derived indene frameworks. Rather than protodemetalation of the metal enolate formed following insertion of an alkene into the aryl C-H bond, intramolecular aldol condensation of the acyl silane occurred to generate a series of 2-formyl- and 2-acetyl-3-silyl indenes. This represents only the second example of rhodium-catalysed C-H functionalisation employing acyl silanes as weakly coordinating directing groups and the intramolecular aldol condensation strategy was extended to access analogous silicon derived benzofurans.

Ruthenium-catalyzed C-H amination of aroylsilanes

Acylsilane represents a valuable synthon in synthetic chemistry. We report on ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed ortho-C-H amination of aroylsilanes to provide facile access to synthetically useful imidobenzoylsilanes and tosyl-amidobenzoylsilanes. The protocols, with broad substrate scope and excellent functional group tolerance, are enabled with the weak chelation-assistance of acylsilane via C-H cyclometallation.

Visible-Light-Induced Cycloaddition of α-Ketoacylsilanes with Imines: Facile Access to β-Lactams

We report the synthesis of β-lactams from α-ketoacylsilanes and imines, which proceeds via a formal [2+2] photochemical cycloaddition with in situ generation of siloxyketene. This mild and operationally simple reaction proceeds in an atom-economic fashion with broad substrate scope, including aldimines, ketimines, hydrazones, and fused nitrogen heterocycles, affording a variety of important β-lactams with satisfactory diastereoselectivities in most cases. This reaction also features good functional-group tolerance, facile scalability and product diversification. Experimental and computational studies suggest that α-ketoacylsilanes can serve as photochemical precursors by engaging in a 1,3 silicon shift to the distal carbonyl group.

Fluorinated Ketones as Trapping Reagents for Visible-Light-Induced Singlet Nucleophilic Carbenes

Singlet nucleophilic carbenes (SNCs) containing only one heteroatom donor remain underutilized in chemical synthesis. We recently discovered that visible-light-induced SNC intermediates can be trapped by fluorinated ketones via 1,2-carbonyl addition to afford benzoin-type products. This discovery represents a rare example of nucleophilic carbenes reacting with ketones and delivers an efficient, user-friendly, and scalable process for accessing fluorinated tertiary alcohol derivatives driven only by light circumventing the use of exogenous catalysts or additives.

Acyl metalloids: conformity and deviation from carbonyl reactivity

Once considered as mere curiosities, acyl metalloids are now recognized for their utility in enabling chemical synthesis. This perspective considers the reactivity displayed by acylboron, -silicon, -germanium, and tellurium species. By highlighting the role of these species in various transformations, we demonstrate how differences between the comprising elements result in varied reaction outcomes. While acylboron compounds are primarily used in polar transformations, germanium and tellurium species have found utility as radical precursors. Applications of acylsilanes are comparatively more diverse, owing to the possibility to access both radical and polar chemistry.

Crystal structure of a 1,1-dibutyl-1H,3H-naphtho[1,8-cd][1,2,6]oxastannaborinin-3-ol

A novel oxastannaborininol, 1,1-dibutyl-1H,3H-naphtho­[1,8-cd][1,2,6]oxastannaborinin-3-ol, has been synthesized and crystallized. It is the first reported compound with a heterocycle containing an Sn–O–B unit.

The title oxastannaborininol compound, [Sn(C₄H₉)₂(C₁₀H₇BO₂)], has been synthesized and crystallized. While heterocycles containing a C–O–B group are common, heterocycles containing an E–O–B unit, where E is an element of the carbon group except for carbon, are rare. In fact, while heterocycles containing Si–O–B units are occasionally reported (although without crystal structures), there are no reports for the corresponding germanium, tin or lead analogues. Herein, the first synthesis and crystal structure of a heterocycle containing an Sn–O–B unit is described. The asymmetric unit contains one mol­ecule showing a notable disorder of the tin atom and the butyl groups. They occupy two sets of positions with site-occupancy factors of 0.295 (6) and 0.705 (6).

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Brook Rearrangement Involved Domino Sequence Enabled by Acylsilane-Aldehyde Corporation

A ruthenium-catalyzed [1,2]-Brook rearrangement involved domino sequence is presented to prepare highly functionalized silyloxy indenes with atomic- and step-economy. This domino reaction is triggered by acylsilane-directed C-H activation, and the aldehyde controlled the subsequent enol cyclization/Brook Rearrangement other than β-H elimination. The protocol tolerates a broad substitution pattern, and the further synthetic elaboration of silyloxy indenes allows access to a diverse range of interesting indene and indanone derivatives.

The Exploration of Aroyltrimethylgermane as Potent Synthetic Origins and Their Preparation

The synthetic utilities of acylgermanes are surprisingly rarely explored compared with their analogues. In this communication, the survey of aroyltrimethylgermane as potent synthetic origins has been studied. A variety of novel chemical transformations have been realized, including using the acylgermane group as a directing group in Rh-catalyzed aromatic C-H alkenylation reaction and Ir-catalyzed aromatic C-H amidation reactions. Additionally, a general approach for acylgermanes preparation has been established as well. The catalytic system proceeds effectively in the presence of Pd(OAc)2/BINOL-based monophosphite (L11) and allows for the straightforward access to a wide range of functionalized acylgermanes in high yields.

Cu-Catalyzed Carbonylative Silylation of Alkyl Halides: Efficient Access to Acylsilanes

A Cu-catalyzed carbonylative silylation of unactivated alkyl halides has been developed, enabling efficient synthesis of alkyl-substituted acylsilanes in high yield. A variety of functional groups are tolerated under the mild reaction conditions, and primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl halides are all applicable. The practical utility of this method has been demonstrated in the synthesis of acylsilanes bearing different silyl groups as well as in situ reduction of a product to the corresponding α-hydroxylsilane in one pot. Mechanistic experiments indicate that a silylcopper intermediate activates alkyl halides by single electron transfer to form alkyl radical intermediates and that carbon-halogen bond cleavage is not involved in the rate-determining step.

Visible-Light-Induced, Metal-Free Carbene Insertion into B-H Bonds between Acylsilanes and Pinacolborane

Carbene insertion reactions with B-H bonds are a challenging but promising method for the synthesis of organoboranes. Herein, we report visible-light-induced B-H insertions of HBpin with acylsilane. This metal-free and operationally simple reaction proceeds in an atom-economical way with broad substrate scope under mild reaction conditions, affording a variety of important α-alkoxyorganoboronate esters in quantitative yields. Control experiments and density functional theory calculations suggest that the siloxycarbene generation from the T₁ state of acylsilane and the carbene insertion into the B-H bond occurred in a concerted manner.

Acylsilane directed aromatic C-H alkenylations by ruthenium catalysis

A ruthenium-catalyzed C-H alkenylation of aroylsilanes with electron-deficient alkenes was developed, using acylsilane as the directing group. The mild reaction conditions enable the tolerance of a wide scope of functionalities such as OMe, F, Cl, Br and CF3, providing a convenient and highly effective method for the synthesis of styrene derivatives bearing acylsilane. Steroid and heterocycles such as furan and thiophene were also well tolerated. Furthermore, acylsilane was efficiently converted to the corresponding aldehyde or carboxylic acid.

Synthesis of silacyclopent-2-en-4-ols via intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of benzoyl(allyl)silanes

Organosilicon compounds are versatile units with a wide range of uses from medicinal chemistry to the field of organic electronics.

Transition-Metal-Free Selective C-H Benzylation of Tertiary Arylamines by a Dearomatization-Aromatization Sequence

Due to the significance of hybrid systems in drug discovery, there is an urgent need to assemble multiple biologically active ingredients into a single molecule. Here, we report a general transition-metal-free selective C-H benzylation of tertiary arylamines in good to excellent yields with a broad substrate scope and high functional-group tolerance under mild conditions. Besides arylamines, some other benzene derivatives also readily furnished the corresponding diaryl methane derivatives with this protocol. A series of control experiments and theoretical calculations indicated that this transition-metal-free reaction is a dearomatization-aromatization process.