NiXantphos: a deprotonatable ligand for room-temperature palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings of aryl chlorides

Synthesis of Homoallylamines Enabled by Cobalt or Palladium Catalyzed Allylic Substitution of Azaarylmethylamines

Pd(OAc)2/Nixantphos or CoI2/Nixantphos catalyzed allylic substitutions with weakly acidic C(sp)3-H bonds of azaarylmethylamines are described. This method facilitates access to various kinds of heteroaryl rings containing homoallylamines (39 examples, 30-98% yields) with excellent functional group tolerance and diastereoselectivity. Compared with the Pd/Nixantphos complex, the Co/Nixantphos catalysis could obtain the cyclic products with good to excellent diastereoselectivities. Importantly, the CoI2/(R,R)-Me-Duphos catalyzed reactions exhibit moderate enantioselectivity. Additionally, the scalability of this transformation is successfully demonstrated.

Base-Promoted Tandem Synthesis of 2-Substituted Indoles and N-Fused Polycyclic Indoles

Herein is developed a base-promoted approach for the synthesis of C2-substituted indoles and N-fused polycyclic indoles via 5-endo-dig cyclization of 2-alkynyl anilines, followed by a 1,3'-acyl migration or a dearomatizing Michael addition process. A range of N-H free indoles and 8,9-dihydropyrido[1,2-a]indol-6(7H)-one scaffolds were synthesized in good to excellent yields with broad scope.

Porous Supramolecular Assemblies for Efficient Suzuki Coupling of Aryl Chlorides

The development of catalytic systems that can activate aryl chlorides for palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions is at the forefront of ongoing efforts to synthesize fine chemicals. In this study, a facile ligand-template approach is adopted to achieve active-site encapsulation by forming supramolecular assemblies; this bestowed the pristine inert counterparts with reactivity, which is further increased upon the construction of a porous framework. Experimental results indicated that the isolation of ligands by the surrounding template units is key to the formation of catalytically active monoligated palladium complexes. Additionally, the construction of porous frameworks using the resulting supramolecular assemblies prevented the decomposition of the Pd complexes into nanoparticles, which drastically increased the catalyst lifetime. These findings, along with the simplicity and generality of the synthesis scheme, suggest that the strategy can be leveraged to achieve unique reactivity and potentially enable fine-chemical synthesis.

Synthesis of triarylmethanes by silyl radical-mediated cross-coupling of aryl fluorides and arylmethanes

Although the cross-couplings of aryl halides with diarylmethanes are mostly achieved by transition-metal catalysis, aryl fluorides are rarely used as coupling partners owing to the high inertness of C-F bonds. Herein, we describe the efficient silylboronate-mediated cross-coupling reaction of aryl fluorides with arylalkanes under transition-metal-free, room-temperature conditions. The combination of silylboronate and KO ^t Bu is critical for driving a radical process via the cleavage of C-F and C-H bonds in two appropriate coupling precursors, resulting in a cross-coupling product. This practical cross-coupling protocol is applicable to a wide variety of aryl fluorides with a C(sp²)-F bond. This method can be extended to other coupling partners with a C(sp³)-H bond, including diarylmethanes, diarylethanes, and monoarylalkanes. Many di- and triarylalkanes with tertiary or quaternary carbon centers can be obtained easily in moderate to high yields. We believe that the developed silylboronate-mediated cross-coupling method is a valuable contribution to C-F and C-H activation chemistry.

Transition-Metal-Free Synthesis of Polyfluoro-Polyarylmethanes via Direct Cross-Coupling of Polyfluoroarenes and Benzyl Chlorides

The transition-metal-free direct cross-coupling between polyfluoroarenes and benzyl chlorides is reported. In this strategy, a variety of polyfluoro di-, tri- and tetra-arylmethanes was efficiently prepared with good to excellent yields in the presence of Mg turnings via a one-pot procedure. Significantly, this method provides a general approach for the synthesis of polyfluorinated polyarylmethanes.

Aryl acrylonitriles synthesis enabled by palladium-catalyzed α-alkenylation of arylacetonitriles with vinyl halides/triflates

Aryl acrylonitriles are an important subclass of acrylonitriles in the medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical industry. Herein, an efficient synthesis of aryl acrylonitrile derivatives using a Palladium/NIXANTPHOS-based catalyst system was developed. This approach furnishes a variety of substituted and functionalized aryl acrylonitriles (up to 95% yield). The scalability of the transformation and the synthetic versatility of aryl acrylonitrile were demonstrated.

The Coupling of Carbon and Nitrogen Substituents with Nitroarenes：Vicarious Nucleophilic Substitution of Hydrogen in Nitroarenes

Abstract:

In recent years, nitroarenes have been extensively exploited as green, efficient electrophilic arylation reagents used in a variety of organic syntheses. Transition-metal-free cross-coupling reactions and vicarious nucleophilic substitution (VNS) have become practical and reliable synthetic methods to access momentous func-tionalized organic compounds. Thus, the introduction of various substituents into nitroarenes has attracted considerable attention as important synthetic approach-es due to their simplicity and practicality. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the coupling of several carbon and nitrogen substituents with ni-troarenes via nucleophilic substitution under mild conditions, followed by the ap-plication of these transversions in the construction of carbon and heterocyclic rings.

Recyclable cooperative catalyst for accelerated hydroaminomethylation of hindered amines in a continuous segmented flow reactor

Synthesis of hindered amines using the atom-efficient hydroaminomethylation (HAM) route remains a challenge. Here, we report a general and accelerated HAM in segmented flow, achieved via a cooperative effect between rhodium (Rh)/N-Xantphos and a co-catalyst (2-Fluoro-4-methylbenzoic acid) to increase the reactivity by 70 fold when compared to Rh/Xantphos in batch reactors. The cooperation between Rh and the co-catalyst facilitates the cleavage of the H–H bond and drives the equilibrium-limited condensation step forward. Online reaction optimization expands the scope to include alkyl, aryl, and primary amines. In-flow solvent tuning enables selectivity switching from amine to enamine without the need for changing the ligand. Furthermore, leveraging the ionic nature of the catalyst, we present a robust Rh recovery strategy up to 4 recycles without loss of activity.

Flow chemistry enables intensified production of hindered amines. Here the authors present a rapid and reusable catalyst to operate in a segmented flow reactor for olefin hydroaminomethylation to selectively produce hindered amines or enamines.

Electrochemical radical C(sp3)–H arylation of xanthenes with electron-rich arenes

An efficient electrochemical C(sp3)–H arylation of xanthenes using a carbon anode and platinum cathode as the electrodes is disclosed.

Arylations with Nitroarenes for One-Pot Syntheses of Triaryl-methanols and Tetraarylmethanes

Triarylmethanols are well-known core structures in natural products and pharmacologically relevant compounds. In general, transition metal-based catalysts or highly reactive organometallics are employed for the synthesis of these compounds. Herein,...

Palladium-catalyzed benzylic C(sp3)-H carbonylative arylation of azaarylmethyl amines with aryl bromides

A highly selective palladium-catalyzed carbonylative arylation of weakly acidic benzylic C(sp3)-H bonds of azaarylmethylamines with aryl bromides under 1 atm of CO gas has been achieved. This work represents the first examples of use of such weakly acidic pronucleophiles in this class of transformations. In the presence of a NIXANTPHOS-based palladium catalyst, this one-pot cascade process allows a range of azaarylmethylamines containing pyridyl, quinolinyl and pyrimidyl moieties and acyclic and cyclic amines to undergo efficient reactions with aryl bromides and CO to provide α-amino aryl-azaarylmethyl ketones in moderate to high yields with a broad substrate scope and good tolerance of functional groups. This reaction proceeds via in situ reversible deprotonation of the benzylic C-H bonds to give the active carbanions, thereby avoiding prefunctionalized organometallic reagents and generation of additional waste. Importantly, the operational simplicity, scalability and diversity of the products highlight the potential applicability of this protocol.

Pseudo-Tris(heteroleptic) Red Phosphorescent Iridium(III) Complexes Bearing a Dianionic C,N,C',N'-Tetradentate Ligand

1-Phenyl-3-(1-phenyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl)isoquinoline (H₂MeL) has been prepared by Pd(N-XantPhos)-catalyzed “deprotonative cross-coupling processes” to synthesize new phosphorescent red iridium(III) emitters (601–732 nm), including the carbonyl derivative Ir(κ⁴-cis-C,C′-cis-N,N′-MeL)Cl(CO) and the acetylacetonate compound Ir(κ⁴-cis-C,C′-cis-N,N′-MeL)(acac). The tetradentate 6e-donor ligand (6tt′) of these complexes is formed by two different bidentate units, namely, an orthometalated 2-phenylisoquinoline and an orthometalated 2-benzylpyridine. The link between the bidentate units reduces the number of possible stereoisomers of the structures [6tt′ + 3b] (3b = bidentate 3e-donor ligand), with respect to a [3b + 3b′ + 3b″] emitter containing three free bidentate units, and it permits a noticeable stereocontrol. Thus, the isomers fac-Ir(κ⁴-cis-C,C′-cis-N,N′-MeL){κ²-C,N-(C₆H₄-py)}, mer-Ir(κ⁴-cis-C,C′-cis-N,N′-MeL){κ²-C,N-(C₆H₃R-py)}, and mer-Ir(κ⁴-trans-C,C′-cis-N,N′-MeL){κ²-C,N-(C₆HR-py)} (R = H, Me) have also been selectively obtained. The new emitters display short lifetimes (0.7–4.6 μs) and quantum yields in a doped poly(methyl methacrylate) film at 5 wt % and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran at room temperature between 0.08 and 0.58. The acetylacetonate complex Ir(κ⁴-cis-C,C′-cis-N,N′-MeL)(acac) has been used as a dopant for a red PhOLED device with an electroluminescence λ_max of 672 nm and an external quantum efficiency of 3.4% at 10 mA/cm².

The proligand 1-phenyl-3-(1-phenyl-1-(pyridine-2-yl)ethyl)isoquinoline is used to generate a new family of neutral phosphorescent red iridium(III) emitters containing a tetradentate ligand, formed by two different bidentate units, and a third bidentate ligand with a good stereocontrol of the resulting [6tt′ + 3b] products. One of the new emitters has been used in the fabrication of an OLED device.

Triarylmethanes and their Medium-Ring Analogues by Unactivated Truce-Smiles Rearrangement of Benzanilides

Intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution (Truce–Smiles rearrangement) of the anions of 2‐benzyl benzanilides leads to triarylmethanes in an operationally simple manner. The reaction succeeds even without electronic activation of the ring that plays the role of electrophile in the S_NAr reaction, being accelerated instead by the preferred conformation imposed by the tertiary amide tether. The amide substituent of the product may be removed or transformed into alternative functional groups. A ring‐expanding variant (n to n+4) of the reaction provided a route to doubly benzo‐fused medium ring lactams of 10 or 11 members. Hammett analysis returned a ρ value consistent with the operation of a partially concerted reaction mechanism.

Palladium-Catalyzed Direct Arylation of 2-Pyridylmethyl Silanes with Aryl Bromides

The first palladium-catalyzed direct arylation of 2-pyridylmethyl silanes with aryl bromides to generate a diverse array of aryl(2-pyridyl)-methyl silane derivatives has been developed. This protocol facilitates access to various kinds of heterocycle-containing silanes in good to excellent yields (40 examples, 66-97% yield) with good functional group tolerance. The scalability of this transformation is demonstrated.

Benzylic Methylene Functionalizations of Diarylmethanes

Diarylmethanes are cardinal scaffolds by virtue of their unique structural feature including the presence of a benzylic CH₂ group that can be easily functionalized to generate a variety of fascinating molecules holding immense importance in pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and material sciences. While the originally developed protocols for benzylic C-H functionalization in diarylmethanes employing base-mediated and metal-catalyzed strategies are still actively used, they are joined by a new array of metal-free conditions, offering milder and benign conditions. With the recent surge of interest towards the synthesis of functionalized diarylmethanes, numerous choices are now available for a synthetic organic chemist to transform the benzylic C-H bond to C-C or C-X bond offering the synthesis of any molecule of choice. This review highlights benzylic methylene (CH₂ ) functionalizations of diaryl/heteroarylmethanes utilizing various base-mediated, transition-metal-catalyzed, and transition-metal free approaches for the synthesis of structurally diverse important organic molecules, often with a high chemo-, regio- and enantio-selectivity. This review also attempts to provide analysis of the scope and limitations, mechanistic understanding, and sustainability of the transformations.

Anchoring Positively Charged Pd Single Atoms in Ordered Porous Ceria to Boost Catalytic Activity and Stability in Suzuki Coupling Reactions

Single-atom (SA) catalysis bridging homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis offers new opportunities for organic synthesis, but developing SA catalysts with high activity and stability is still a great challenge. Herein, a heterogeneous catalyst of Pd SAs anchored in 3D ordered macroporous ceria (Pd-SAs/3DOM-CeO₂ ) is developed through a facile template-assisted pyrolysis method. The high specific surface area of 3DOM CeO₂ facilitates the heavily anchoring of Pd SAs, while the introduction of Pd atoms induces the generation of surface oxygen vacancies and prevents the grain growth of CeO₂ support. The Pd-SAs/3DOM-CeO₂ catalyst exhibits excellent activity toward Suzuki coupling reactions for a broad scope of substrates under ambient conditions, and the Pd SAs can be stabilized in CeO₂ in long-term catalytic cycles without leaching or aggregating. Theoretical calculations indicate that the CeO₂ supported Pd SAs can remarkably reduce the energy barriers of both transmetalation and reductive elimination steps for Suzuki coupling reactions. The strong metal-support interaction contributes to modulating the electronic state and maintaining the stability of Pd SA sites. This work demonstrates an effective strategy to design and synthesize stable single-atom catalysts as well as sheds new light on the origin for enhanced catalysis based on the strong metal-support interactions.

10-Phenyl-10H-phenoxazine-4,6-diol tetrahydrofuran monosolvate

In the crystalline state of the title solvate, C18H13NO3·C4H8O, hydrogen-bonding interactions between hydroxyl groups on a phenoxazine backbone and the tetrahydrofuran solvent are observed that suggest the ability for this compound to act as a chelating ligand. The O...O donor–acceptor distances for this hydrogen bonding are 2.7729 (15) and 2.7447 (15) Å. The three-ring backbone of the phenoxazine bends out of planarity by 18.92 (3)°, as computed using mean planes that encompass each half of the three-ring structure, with the central N and O atoms forming the line of flexion. In the crystal, a π–π stacking arrangement exists between inversion-related molecules, with a centroid-to-centroid distance of 3.6355 (11) Å. In the disordered tetrahydrofuran solvate, all atoms except oxygen were modeled over two positions, with occupancies of 0.511 (8) and 0.489 (8).

Aryl Fluoride Activation Through Palladium-Magnesium Bimetallic Cooperation: A Mechanistic and Computational Study

Herein is described a mechanistic study of a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl Grignard reagents to fluoroarenes that proceeds via a low-energy heterobimetallic oxidative addition pathway. Traditional oxidative additions of aryl chlorides to Pd complexes are known to be orders of magnitude faster than with aryl fluorides, and many palladium catalysts do not activate aryl fluorides at all. The experimental and computational studies outlined herein, however, support the view that at elevated Grignard : ArX ratios (i.e. 2.5 : 1) a Pd-Mg heterobimetallic mechanism predominates, leading to a remarkable decrease in the energy required for Ar-F bond activation. The heterobimetallic transition state for C-X bond cleavage is proposed to involve simultaneous Pd backbonding to the arene and Lewis acid activation of the halide by Mg to create a low-energy transition state for oxidative addition. The insights gained from this computational study led to the development of a phosphine ligand that was shown to be similarly competent for Ar-F bond activation.

Synthesis of Triarylmethanes by Decarbonylation of 3,3-Diaryl Benzofuranones

A simple protocol for the synthesis of triarylmethane derivatives with three different (hetero)aryl groups by decarbonylation of 3,3-diaryl benzofuranones, which can easily be prepared via arylation of benzofuranones, was developed. The reaction proceeds on heating in dimethylformamide (DMF) in the presence of CH₃ONa and water to generate the products in good to excellent yields. This reaction can be easily scaled up to give a triarylmethane in a gram scale. Further chemical manipulation of the products enabled useful transformations of the phenol ring, including reduction, arylation, cyclization, etc.

1,4-Addition of o-naphthoquinone methides induced by silver-catalyzed cyclization of enynones: an approach to unsymmetrical triarylmethanes and benzo[f]chromenes

The 1,4-addition reaction of ortho-naphthoquinone methide (o-NQM) intermediates induced by silver-catalyzed ring formation with electron-rich aromatic compounds and α-methylene ketones has been developed.

A denitrogenative palladium-catalyzed cascade for regioselective synthesis of fluorenes

We herein report a denitrogenative palladium-catalyzed cascade for the modular and regioselective synthesis of polysubstituted fluorenes. Hydrazone facilitates the Pd(ii) to Pd(iv) oxidative addition in a Catellani pathway and is also the methylene synthon in the proposed reaction. Aryl iodides and 2-bromoarylaldehyde hydrazones undergo a norbornene-controlled tandem reaction sequence to give a broad scope of fluorenes in the presence of a palladium catalyst. The method described is scalable and adaptable to a three-component reaction with in situ generation of the hydrazone group. Preliminary mechanistic investigations have been conducted.

Surprising Reactivity in NiXantphos/Palladium-Catalyzed α-Arylation of Substituted Cyclopropyl Nitriles

α-Arylations of cyclopropyl and related nitriles provide access to important synthetic intermediates and pharmacophores for biologically active molecules. However, robust methods for coupling of sterically encumbered partners have remained elusive. Through optimization using high-throughput experimentation (HTE), the NiXantphos ligand was found to be effective in the coupling of sterically hindered β-substituted cyclopropyl nitriles with a number of aryl groups and heterocycles, including those containing acidic N-H and O-H bonds.

Ni(NIXANTPHOS)-Catalyzed Mono-Arylation of Toluenes with Aryl Chlorides and Bromides

A nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of toluene derivatives with both aryl bromides and chlorides using a NIXANTPHOS-ligated nickel(II) complex has been developed. The key factor to success is proposed to be the catalyst activation of toluene by a cation-π complex, enabling methyl arenes (p K_a ≈ 43) to be deprotonated with the relatively mild base NaN(SiMe₃)₂. This method facilitates access to a variety of sterically and electronically diverse hetero- and nonheteroaryl-containing diarylmethanes.

Enantioselective α-Allylation of Aryl Acetic Acid Esters via C1-Ammonium Enolate Nucleophiles: Identification of a Broadly Effective Palladium Catalyst for Electron-Deficient Electrophiles

We have identified a generally effective Pd catalyst for the highly enantioselective cooperative Lewis base/Pd-catalyzed α-allylation of aryl acetic esters using electron-deficient electrophiles. Changing between aldehyde, ketone, ester, and amide substituents at the terminus of intermediate cationic π-(allyl)Pd species affects both the efficiency of the reaction and, in the case of amides, control over the stereochemistry of the product alkene, as a function of the ligand. Tris[tri(2-thienyl)phosphino]Pd(0) serves as a broadly effective catalyst and overcomes these challenges to provide a general, high-yielding, and operationally simple C(sp³)-C(sp³) bond-forming method that gives products with high levels of enantioselectivity.

Cation-π Interactions in the Benzylic Arylation of Toluenes with Bimetallic Catalysts

A method to directly arylate toluene derivatives with aryl bromides to generate diarylmethanes, which are important building blocks in drug discovery, is described. In this method, KN(SiMe3)2 in combination with a (NIXANTPHOS)Pd catalyst accomplished the deprotonative activation of toluene derivatives to permit cross-coupling with aryl bromides. Good to excellent yields are obtained with a range of electron-rich to neutral aryl bromides. Both electron-rich and electron-poor toluene derivatives are well tolerated, and even 2-chlorotoluene performs well, providing a platform for introduction of additional functionalization. This discovery hinges on the use of a main group metal to activate toluene for deprotonation by means of a cation-π interaction, which is secured by a bimetallic K(NIXANTPHOS)Pd assembly. Mechanistic and computational studies support acidification of toluene derivatives by the K+-cation- π interaction, which may prove pertinent in the development of other, new reaction systems.

One-pot aminobenzylation of aldehydes with toluenes

Amines are fundamental motifs in bioactive natural products and pharmaceuticals. Using simple toluene derivatives, a one-pot aminobenzylation of aldehydes is introduced that provides rapid access to amines. Simply combining benzaldehydes, toluenes, NaN(SiMe3)2, and additive Cs(O2CCF3) (0.35 equiv.) generates a diverse array of 1,2-diarylethylamine derivatives (36 examples, 56-98% yield). Furthermore, suitably functionalized 1,2-diarylethylamines were transformed into 2-aryl-substituted indoline derivatives via Buchwald-Hartwig amination. It is proposed that the successful deprotonation of toluene by MN(SiMe3)2 is facilitated by cation-π interactions between the arene and the group(I) cation that acidify the benzylic C-Hs.