Cyclic Diaryl λ3-Chloranes: Reagents and Their C-C and C-O Couplings with Phenols via Aryne Intermediates

Aryne Chemistry: Generation Methods and Reactions Incorporating Multiple Arynes

Arynes hold significance for the efficient fusion of (hetero) arenes with diverse substrates, advancing the construction of complex molecular frameworks. Employing multiple equivalents of arynes is particularly effective in the rapid formation of polycyclic cores found in optoelectronic materials and bioactive compounds. However, the inherent reactivity of arynes often leads to side reactions, yielding unanticipated products and underlining the importance of a detailed investigation into the use of multiple arynes to fine-tune their reactivity. This review centers on methodologies and syntheses in organic reactions involving multiple arynes, categorizing based on mechanisms like cycloadditions, σ-bond insertions, nucleophilic additions, and ene reactions, and discusses aryne polymerization. The categorization based on these mechanisms includes two primary approaches: the first entails multiple aryne engagement within a single step while the second approach involves using a single equivalent of aryne sequentially across multiple steps, with both requiring strict reactivity control to ensure precise aryne participation in each respective step. Additionally, the review provides an in-depth analysis of the selection of aryne precursors, organized chronologically and by activation strategy, offering a comprehensive background that supports the main theme of multiple aryne utilization. The expectation remains that this comprehensive review will be invaluable in designing advanced syntheses engaging multiple arynes.

syn-1,2-Diaminobenzocyclobutenes from [2+2] cycloaddition of 2-imidazolones with arynes

Formal [2+2] cycloaddition of arynes with 2-imidazolones affords syn-1,2-diaminobenzocyclobutenes. The transformation can also be conducted as a one-pot, three-stage process direct from simple propargyl amines and isocyanates to afford the new stereochemically defined benzocyclobutene frameworks.

Metal-free site-selective functionalization with cyclic diaryl λ3-chloranes: suppression of benzyne formation for ligand-coupling reactions

While hypervalent halogens are versatile reagents enabling diverse reactions in organic synthesis, the utility of hypervalent chlorine compounds, particularly cyclic λ3-chloranes, remains underdeveloped despite their unique electronic properties and innate enhanced reactivity. Herein, we illustrate the elusive ligand coupling reaction of cyclic λ3-chloranes that suppresses the more facile competing reaction modality involving benzyne intermediates. The methodology can be performed in three-component as well as two-component fashions, offering direct access to a wide range of unsymmetrically substituted biaryl molecules in very high yields and excellent ortho-regioselectivity. The reactions were scalable, and the versatility was demonstrated by constructing different types of C-S and C-N bonds under mild conditions. The reaction outcomes were also compared with those of corresponding λ3-iodanes and λ3-bromanes, demonstrating the superiority of cyclic λ3-chloranes in ligand-coupling reactions under metal-free conditions.

Predicting bond dissociation energies of cyclic hypervalent halogen reagents using DFT calculations and graph attention network model

Although hypervalent iodine(III) reagents have become staples in organic chemistry, the exploration of their isoelectronic counterparts, namely hypervalent bromine(III) and chlorine(III) reagents, has been relatively limited, partly due to challenges in synthesizing and stabilizing these compounds. In this study, we conduct a thorough examination of both homolytic and heterolytic bond dissociation energies (BDEs) critical for assessing the chemical stability and functional group transfer capability of cyclic hypervalent halogen compounds using density functional theory (DFT) analysis. A moderate linear correlation was observed between the homolytic BDEs across different halogen centers, while a strong linear correlation was noted among the heterolytic BDEs across these centers. Furthermore, we developed a predictive model for both homolytic and heterolytic BDEs of cyclic hypervalent halogen compounds using machine learning algorithms. The results of this study could aid in estimating the chemical stability and functional group transfer capabilities of hypervalent bromine(III) and chlorine(III) reagents, thereby facilitating their development.

Easy access to polyhalogenated biaryls: regioselective (di)halogenation of hypervalent bromines and chlorines

Polyhalogenated biaryls are unique motifs offering untapped potential as versatile building blocks for the expedient synthesis of complex biaryl compounds. Overcoming the limitations of conventional syntheses, we introduce a novel, metal-free, operationally simple and one-pot approach to regioselectively (di)halogenate biaryl compounds under mild conditions using cyclic biaryl hypervalent bromine and chlorine substrates as masked arynes. Through chemoselective post-functionalizations, these valuable products can expand the toolbox for synthesizing biaryl-containing scaffolds, addressing a critical gap in the field.

Organohypervalent heterocycles

This review summarizes the structural and synthetic aspects of heterocyclic molecules incorporating an atom of a hypervalent main-group element. The term "hypervalent" has been suggested for derivatives of main-group elements with more than eight valence electrons, and the concept of hypervalency is commonly used despite some criticism from theoretical chemists. The significantly higher thermal stability of hypervalent heterocycles compared to their acyclic analogs adds special features to their chemistry, particularly for bromine and iodine. Heterocyclic compounds of elements with double bonds are not categorized as hypervalent molecules owing to the zwitterionic nature of these bonds, resulting in the conventional 8-electron species. This review is focused on hypervalent heterocyclic derivatives of nonmetal main-group elements, such as boron, silicon, nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, selenium, bromine, chlorine, iodine(III) and iodine(V).

Switchable chemoselective aryne reactions between nucleophiles and pericyclic reaction partners using either 3-methoxybenzyne or 3-silylbenzyne

Arynes are known to serve as highly reactive benzene-based synthons, which have gained numerous successes in preparing functionalized arenes. Due to the superb electrophilic nature of these fleeting species, however, it is challenging to modulate the designated aryne transformation chemoselectively, when substrates possess multiple competing reaction sites. Here, we showcase our effort to manipulate chemoselective control between two major types of aryne transformations using either 3-methoxybenzyne or 3-silylbenzyne, where nucleophilic addition-triggered reactions and non-polar pericyclic reactions could be differentiated. This orthogonal chemoselective protocol is found to be applicable between various nucleophiles, i.e., imidazole, N-tosylated/N-alkyl aniline, phenol, and alcohol, and an array of pericyclic reaction partners, i.e., furan, cyclopentadiene, pyrrole, cycloheptatrienone, and cyclohexene. Beyond arylation reactions, C-N bond insertion, Truce-Smiles rearrangement, and nucleophilic annulation are appropriate reaction modes as well. Moreover, this chemoselective protocol can find potential synthetic application.

Cyclic Diaryl λ3-Bromanes as a Precursor for Regiodivergent Alkynylation Reactions

Regiodivergent reactions are a fascinating tool to rapidly access molecular diversity while using identical coupling partners. We have developed a new approach for regiodivergent synthesis using the dual character of hypervalent bromines. In addition to the recently reported reactivity of hypervalent bromines as aryne precursors, the first transition metal-catalyzed reaction is reported. Accordingly, the development of these two complementary transformations allows for the alteration of regioselectivity to furnish both ortho- and meta-substituted alkynylation products. Mechanistic and computational studies show how these selectivities are controlled.

Csp2-H functionalization of phenols: an effective access route to valuable materials via Csp2-C bond formation

In the vast majority of top-selling pharmaceutical and industrial products, phenolic structural motifs are highly prevalent. Non-functionalized simple phenols serve as building blocks in the synthesis of value-added chemicals. It is worth mentioning that lignin, being the largest renewable biomass source of aromatic building blocks in nature, mainly consists of phenolic units, which enable the production of structurally diverse phenols. Given their remarkable applicability in the chemical value chain, many efforts have been devoted to increasing the molecular complexity of the phenolic scaffold. Among the key techniques, direct functionalization of Csp2-H is a powerful tool, enabling the construction of new Csp2-C bonds in an economical and atomic manner. Herein we present and summarize the large plethora of direct Csp2-H functionalization methods that enables scaffold diversification of simple, unprotected phenols, leading to the formation of new Csp2-C bonds. In this review article, we intend to summarize the contributions that appeared in the literature mainly in the last 5 years dealing with the functionalization of unprotected phenols, both catalytic and non-catalytic. Our goal is to highlight the key findings and the ongoing challenges in the stimulating and growing research dedicated to the development of new protocols for the valorization of phenols.

Diaryl hypervalent bromines and chlorines: synthesis, structures and reactivities

In the field of modern organic chemistry, hypervalent compounds have become indispensable tools for synthetic chemists, finding widespread applications in both academic research and industrial settings. While iodine-based reagents have historically dominated this research field, recent focus has shifted to the potent yet relatively unexplored chemistry of diaryl λ3-bromanes and -chloranes. Despite their unique reactivities, the progress in their development and application within organic synthesis has been hampered by the absence of straightforward, reliable, and widely applicable preparative methods. However, recent investigations have uncovered innovative approaches and novel reactivity patterns associated with these specialized compounds. These discoveries suggest that we have only begun to tap into their potential, implying that there is much more to be explored in this captivating area of chemistry.

Preparation and X-ray Structural Study of Dibenzobromolium and Dibenzochlorolium Derivatives

Various five-membered cyclic dibenzobromolium salts (dibenzo[b,d]bromol-5-ium chloride, nitrate, hydrogen sulfate, dihydrogen phosphate, trifluoroacetate, and tetrafluoroborate) were prepared by diazotization-cyclization of 2'-bromo-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-amine in solution of appropriate acids. The chlorolium analogues (iodide, trifluoroacetate, and tetrafluoroborate) were obtained by a similar procedure. Additional dibenzohalolium derivatives (dibenzo[b,d]bromol-5-ium and dibenzo[b,d]chlorol-5-ium azides, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imidates, thiocyanates, and trifluoromethanesulfonates) were prepared by anion exchange. Structures of ten of these dibenzohalolium derivatives were established by X-ray analysis. Bond distances and angles for the halogen atoms in different dibenzohalolium derivatives were summarized and discussed.

Aryne-Enabled C-N Arylation of Anilines

Anilines are potentially high-value arylating agents, but are limited by the low reactivity of the strong C-N bond. We show that the reactive intermediate benzyne can be used to both activate anilines, and set-up an aryl transfer reaction in a single step. The reaction does not require any transition metal catalysts or stoichiometric organometallics, and establishes a metal-free route to valuable biaryl products by functionalizing the aniline C-N bond.

Cyclic Homo- and Heterohalogen Di-λ3-diarylhalonium Structures

In the context of the ever-growing interest in the cyclic diaryliodonium salts, this work presents synthetic design principles for a new family of structures with two hypervalent halogens in the ring. The smallest bis-phenylene derivative, [(C₆H₄)₂I₂]²⁺, was prepared through oxidative dimerization of a precursor bearing the ortho-disposed iodine and trifluoroborate groups. We also report, for the first time, the formation of cycles containing two different halogen atoms. These present two phenylenes linked by hetero-(I/Br) or -(I/Cl) halogen pairs. This approach was also extended to the cyclic bis-naphthylene derivative [(C₁₀H₆)₂I₂]²⁺. The structures of these bis-halogen(III) rings were further assessed through X-ray analysis. The simplest cyclic phenylene bis-iodine(III) derivative features the interplanar angle of ∼120°, while a smaller angle of ∼103° was found for the analogous naphthylene-based salt. All dications form dimeric pairs through a combination of π-π and C-H/π interactions. As the largest member of the family, a bis-I(III)-macrocycle was also assembled using the quasi-planar xanthene backbone. Its geometry enables the two iodine(III) centers to be bridged intramolecularly by two bidentate triflate anions. In a preliminary manner, the interaction of the phenylene- and naphthalene-based bis-iodine(III) dications with a new family of rigid bidentate bis-pyridine ligands was studied in solution and the solid state, with an X-ray structure showing the chelating donor bonding to just one of the two iodine centers.

3-sulfonyloxyaryl(mesityl)iodonium triflates as 1,2-benzdiyne precursors with activation via ortho-deprotonative elimination strategy

Benzyne has long captivated the attention of chemists and has gained numerous synthetic achievements. Among typical benzyne generation methods, removal of two vicinal substituents from 1,2-difunctionalized benzenes, i.e., Kobayashi's protocol, are prevailing, while ortho-deprotonative elimination from mono-substituted benzene lags far behind. Despite the advantages of atom economy and ready achievability of precursors, a bottle neck for ortho-deprotonative elimination strategy resides in the weak acidity of the ortho-hydrogen, which normally demands strong bases as the activating reagents. Here, an efficient aryne generation protocol is developed, where ortho-deprotonative elimination on 3-sulfonyloxyaryl(mesityl)iodonium triflates occurs under mild conditions and the generated 3-sulfonyloxyarynes can serve as efficient 1,2-benzdiyne synthons. This array of 1,2-benzdiyne precursors can be conveniently prepared with high functional group tolerance, and densely substituted scaffolds can be accessed as well. Carbonate and fluoride salts are found to serve as efficient activating reagents, which are the weakest bases used in ortho-deprotonative elimination strategies. Particularly, this scaffold has predictable chemoselective generation of the designated aryne intermediates. The success of this ortho-deprotonative elimination protocol sets up a unique platform with a broad spectrum of synthetic applications.