Iron-Catalyzed Ortho C–H Methylation of Aromatics Bearing a Simple Carbonyl Group with Methylaluminum and Tridentate Phosphine Ligand

Chelation-Assisted Iron-Catalyzed C-H Activations: Scope and Mechanism

ConspectusTo improve the resource economy of molecular syntheses, researchers have developed strategies to directly activate otherwise inert C-H bonds, thus avoiding cumbersome and costly substrate prefunctionalizations. During the past two decades, remarkable progress in coordination chemistry has set the stage for developing increasingly viable metal catalysts for C-H activations. Despite remarkable advances, C-H activations are largely dominated by precious 4d and 5d transition metal catalysts based primarily on palladium, ruthenium, iridium, and rhodium, thus decreasing the inherent sustainable nature of the C-H activation approach. Therefore, advancing catalytic reactions based on Earth-abundant and less toxic 3d transition metals, especially nontoxic and inexpensive iron, represents a desirable and attractive alternative. While research had previously focused on 8-aminoquinoline directing groups in C-H activations, we have devised easily accessible, tunable, and clickable triazoles, which feature widespread applications in bioactive compounds and drugs, among others, as peptide isosteres. Thus, in contrast to other directing groups, the triazole group is a highly desirable structural motif and functions as a bioisostere in medicine and biology, where it is exploited to mimic amide bonds.This Account summarizes the evolution of chelation-assisted iron-catalyzed C-H activations via C-H, C-H/N-H, and C-H/N-H/C-C bond cleavages, with a topical focus on the most recent contributions of our team. Thus, the triazole-enabled iron catalysis has surfaced as a transformative platform for a large variety of C-H transformations, including arylations, alkylations, alkenylations, allylations, annulations, and alkynylations, achieved through C-H activations with organometallic reagents, organohalides, alkynes, alkenes, allenes, and bicyclopropylidenes among others. Consequently, we developed widely applicable methods for the versatile preparation of decorated arenes and heteroarenes, providing access to benzamides, isoquinolones, pyrrolones, pyridones, phenones, indoles, and isoindolinones, among others. Most of these reactions employed 1,2-dichloroisobutane (DCIB) as an oxidant. Notably, chemical-oxidant-free strategies were also developed, with the major breakthroughs being the use of internal oxidants in oxidative annulations, the use of resource-economic electrocatalysis, and the development of well-defined iron(0)-mediated catalysis. In addition, a highly enantioselective inner-sphere C-H alkylation of (aza)indoles was developed by designing novel remotely decorated N-heterocyclic carbene ligands with dispersion energy donors. In addition, detailed mechanistic experiments including kinetic analyses, intermediate isolation, Mößbauer spectroscopy, and computation provided strong support for the mode of catalysis operation, enabling unprecedented C-H activations. Thereby, low-valent iron catalysts paved the way toward weakly coordinating ketones and enantioselective iron-catalyzed C-H activations through organometallic intermediates.

Modern Organometallic C-H Functionalizations with Earth-Abundant Iron Catalysts: An Update

Iron-catalyzed C-H activation has recently emerged as an increasingly powerful synthetic method for the step- and atom- economical direct C-H functionalizations of otherwise inert C-H bonds. Iron's low-cost and toxicity along with its catalytic versatility have encouraged the scientific community to elect this metal for the development of new C-H activation methodologies. Within this review, we aim to present a collection of the most recent examples of iron-catalyzed C-H functionalizations with a particular emphasis on modern synthetic strategies and mechanistic aspects.

Three Component syn-1,2-Arylmethylation of Internal Alkynes

A Pd-catalyzed three-component syn-1,2-arylmethylation of internal alkynes (ynamides/yne-acetates/alkynes) is described. The readily available and bench stable coupling partners iodo-arenes, and methyl boronic acid are successfully used in this coupling strategy to access the methyl-containing tetra-substituted olefins; the scope is broad showing excellent functional-group tolerance. Notably, the transformation is regio- as well as stereoselective. The biologically relevant motifs (BRM) bearing iodo-arenes and ynamides are also used for the late-stage syn-1,2-arylmethylation of alkynes. Aryl-alkylation, aryl-trideuteriomethylation, alkynyl-methylation, and alkenyl-methylation of ynamides are also presented. The Me-substituted alkenes are further transformed into synthetically important β-amino-indenones and α-fluoro-α'-methyl ketones.

Cp*Co(III)-Catalyzed Regioselective [4 + 2]-Annulation of N-Chlorobenzamides with Vinyl Acetate/Vinyl Ketones

An efficient and straightforward strategy for the synthesis of isoquinolones through [4 + 2]-annulation of N-chlorobenzamides with vinyl acetate in the presence of CoCp*(III) catalyst in a regioselective manner is described. Furthermore, the annulation reaction was diversified by using vinyl ketones. By utilizing this strategy, biologically valuable isoquinolone derivatives were prepared in good yields. Subsequently, isoquinolone derivatives were further transformed into 1-chloroisoquinolines in the presence of POCl₃. Furthermore, mechanistic investigations such as deuterium labeling study and competition experiment were performed to support the proposed reaction mechanism.

Triarylamine/Bithiophene Copolymer with Enhanced Quinoidal Character as Hole-Transporting Material for Perovskite Solar Cells

Polytriarylamine is a popular hole-transporting materials (HTMs) despite its suboptimal conductivity and significant recombination at the interface in a solar cell setup. Having noted insufficient conjugation among the triarylamine units along the polymer backbone, we inserted a bithiophene unit between two triarylamine units through iron-catalyzed C-H/C-H coupling of a triarylamine/thiophene monomer so that two units conjugate effectively via four quinoidal rings when the molecule functions as HTM. The obtained triarylamine/bithiophene copolymer (TABT) used as HTM showed a high-performance in methylammonium lead iodide perovskite (MAPbI₃ ) solar cells. Mesityl substituted TABT forms a uniform film, shows high hole-carrier mobility, and has an ionization potential (IP=5.40 eV) matching that of MAPbI₃ . We fabricated a solar cell device with a power conversion efficiency of 21.3 % and an open-circuit voltage of 1.15 V, which exceeds the performance of devices using reference standard such as poly[bis(4-phenyl)(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amine (PTAA) and Spiro-OMeTAD.

Cobalt(III)-Catalyzed Regio- and Chemoselective [4 + 2]-Annulation of N-Chlorobenzamides/Acrylamides with 1,3-Dienes at Room Temperature

Co(III)-catalyzed regio- and chemoselective redox-neutral C-H annulation of arylamides/acrylamides with 1,3-dienes is described. The present annulation reaction was well suited with a less-reactive 1,3-butadiene. By employing this protocol, pharmaceutically important 3,4-dihydroisoquinolinones were synthesized in good yields. Furthermore, the prepared 3,4-dihydroisoquinolinones were converted into highly important oxirane derivatives in good yields. A plausible mechanistic cycle is proposed and supported by a competition experiment and kinetic isotopic effect (KIE) studies.

Advances in the site-selective C-5, C-3 and C-2 functionalization of chromones via sp2 C-H activation

In this work, site-selective C-H activation at C-5, C-3 and C-2 positions of chromones for the introduction of structural diversity to the chromone scaffold was studied. The keto group of the chromone moiety acts as the directing group for the selective functionalization of chromones at the C-5 position. Furthermore, the C-H functionalization at the electron-rich C-3 position of the chromone can be achieved using electrophilic coupling partners. The C-H functionalization at the C-2 position can be possible using nucleophilic coupling partners. The direct functionalization methods provide a better pathway for the generation of C-5, C-3 and C-2-substituted chromones with good atom economy than that of classical pre-functionalized reaction protocols.

Palladium-catalyzed nucleomethylation of alkynes for synthesis of methylated heteroaromatic compounds

Herein, we disclosed a novel and efficient palladium-catalyzed nucleomethylation of alkynes for the simultaneous construction of the heteroaromatic ring and methyl group. The 3-methylindoles, 3-methylbenzofurans and 4-methylisoquinolines were obtained in moderate to excellent yields. Notably, this methodology was employed as a key step for synthesis of a pregnane X receptor antagonist, zindoxifene, bazedoxifene and AFN-1252. The kinetic studies revealed that reductive elimination might be the rate-determining step.

A novel palladium-catalyzed nucleomethylation of alkynes is developed, affording 3-methylindoles, 3-methylbenzofurans and 4-methylisoquinolines in moderate to excellent yields.

Intermediates and mechanism in iron-catalyzed C-H methylation with trimethylaluminum

A mechanistic study is performed on the reaction method for iron-catalyzed C-H methylation with AlMe₃ reagent, previously proposed to involve cyclometalated iron(III) intermediates and an iron(III)/(I) reaction cycle. Detailed spectroscopic studies (⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer, EPR) during catalysis and in stoichiometric reactions identify iron(II) complexes, including cyclometalated iron(II) intermediates, as the major iron species formed in situ under catalytic reaction conditions. Reaction studies identify a cyclometalated iron(II)-methyl species as the key intermediate leading to C-H methylated product upon reaction with oxidant, consistent with a previously proposed iron(II)/iron(III)/iron(I) reaction manifold for C-H arylation.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Vinylic C-H Addition to Formaldehyde: Synthesis of Butenolides from Acrylic Acids and HCHO

A carboxyl-assisted C-H functionalization of acrylic acids with formaldehyde to give butenolides is described. It is the first time that the addition of an inert vinylic C-H bond to formaldehyde has been achieved via cobalt-catalyzed C-H activation. The unique reactivity of the cobalt species was observed when compared with related Rh or Ir catalysts. γ-Hydroxymethylated butenolides were produced by the treatment of Na₂CO₃ after the catalytic reaction in one pot.

Iridium-catalyzed C-H methylation and d 3-methylation of benzoic acids with application to late-stage functionalizations

Late-stage functionalization (LSF) has over the past years emerged as a powerful approach in the drug discovery process. At its best, it allows for rapid access to new analogues from a single drug-like molecule, bypassing the need for de novo synthesis. To be successful, methods able to tolerate the diverse functional groups present in drug-like molecules that perform under mild conditions are required. C-H methylation is of particular interest due to the magic methyl effect in medicinal chemistry. Herein we report an iridium-catalyzed carboxylate-directed ortho C-H methylation and d ₃-methylation of benzoic acids. The method uses commercially available reagents and precatalyst and requires no inert atmosphere or exclusion of moisture. Substrates bearing electron-rich and electron-poor groups were successfully methylated, including compounds with competing directing/coordinating groups. The method was also applied to the LSF of several marketed drugs, forming analogues with increased metabolic stability compared with the parent drug.

Iron-Catalyzed Tandem Cyclization of Diarylacetylene to a Strained 1,4-Dihydropentalene Framework for Narrow-Band-Gap Materials

Carbon bridging in a form of a strained 1,4-dihydropentalene framework is an effective strategy for flattening and stabilizing oligophenylenevinylene systems for the development of optoelectronic materials. However, efficient and flexible methods for making such a strained ring system are lacking. We report herein a mild and versatile synthetic access to the 1,4-dihydropentalene framework enabled by iron-catalyzed single-pot tandem cyclization of a diarylacetylene using FeCl₂ and PPh₃ as catalyst, magnesium/LiCl as a reductant, and 1,2-dichloropropane as a mild oxidant. The new annulation method features two iron-catalyzed transformations used in tandem, a reductive acetylenic carboferration and an oxidation-induced ring contraction of a ferracycle under mild oxidative conditions. The new method provides access not only to a variety of substituted indeno[2,1-a]indenes but also to their thiophene congeners, 4,9-dihydrobenzo[4,5]pentaleno[1,2-b]thiophene (CPTV) and 4,8-dihydropentaleno[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophenes (CTV). With its high highest occupied molecular orbital level and narrow optical gap, CTV serves as a donor unit in a narrow-band-gap non-fullerene acceptor, which shows absorption extending over 1000 nm in the film state, and has found use in a near-infrared photodetector device that exhibited an external quantum efficiency of 72.4% at 940 nm.

Cobalt(iii)-catalyzed redox-neutral [4+2]-annulation of N-chlorobenzamides/acrylamides with alkylidenecyclopropanes at room temperature

An efficient synthesis of substituted 3,4-dihydroisoquinolinones through [4+2]-annulation of N-chlorobenzamides/acrylamides having a monodentate directing group with alkylidenecyclopropanes in the presence of a less expensive, highly abundant and air stable Co(iii) catalyst via a C-H activation is demonstrated. In this reaction, the N-Cl bond of N-chlorobenzamide serves as an internal oxidant and thus an external metal oxidant is avoided. The 3,4-dihydroisoquinolinone derivatives are converted successfully into the highly useful imidoyl chloride derivatives. The deuterium labeling and kinetic isolabelling studies reveal that the C-H activation is a rate-determining step in this cyclization reaction.

Mechanochemical Solvent-Free Catalytic C-H Methylation

The mechanochemical, solvent-free, highly regioselective, rhodium-catalyzed C-H methylation of (hetero)arenes is reported. The reaction shows excellent functional-group compatibility and is demonstrated to work for the late-stage C-H methylation of biologically active compounds. The method requires no external heating and benefits from considerably shorter reaction times than previous solution-based C-H methylation protocols. Additionally, the mechanochemical approach is shown to enable the efficient synthesis of organometallic complexes that are difficult to generate conventionally.

Access to the C2 C–H olefination, alkylation and deuteration of indoles by rhodium(iii) catalysis: an opportunity for diverse syntheses

A concise approach for a diversity-oriented synthesis via regioselective C2 C–H olefination, alkylation, and deuteration of indoles by Rh(iii) catalysis is described.

Installing the “magic methyl” – C–H methylation in synthesis

Following notable cases of remarkable potency increases in methylated analogues of lead compounds, this review documents the state-of-the-art in C–H methylation technology.

Nickel-catalyzed defluorinative alkylation of C(sp2)–F bonds

A nickel-catalyzed defluorinative alkylation of unactivated C(sp²)–F electrophiles using commercially available trialkylaluminum reagents, thus forming the C(sp²)–C(sp³) bonds is reported.

Organic synthesis with the most abundant transition metal–iron: from rust to multitasking catalysts

The promising aspects of iron in synthetic chemistry are being explored for three-four decades as a green and eco-friendly alternative to late transition metals. This present review unveils these rich iron-chemistry towards different transformations.

Palladium-Catalyzed Site-Selective Benzocyclization of Naphthoic Acids with Diaryliodonium Salts: Efficient Access to Benzanthrones

Dual activation of both C-I and vicinal C-H bonds of diaryliodonium salts allowing for diarylation is a subject of rapid construction of π-extended frameworks. Here, we report palladium-catalyzed cascade of C₈-arylation/intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation of α-naphthoic acids in the synthesis of benzanthrone derivatives. The step-economical protocol tolerates various substrates, which resulted in a potential molecular library for developing functional polycyclic scaffolds. The approach relies on the synergistic action of strong acid with palladium catalysts to form two bonds in a one-pot procedure.

Allenes for Versatile Iron-Catalyzed C-H Activation by Weak O-Coordination: Mechanistic Insights by Kinetics, Intermediate Isolation, and Computation

The iron-catalyzed hydroarylation of allenes was accomplished by weak phenone assistance. The C-H activation proceeded with excellent efficacy and high ortho-regioselectivity in proximity to the weakly coordinating carbonyl group for a range of substituted phenones and allenes. Detailed mechanistic studies, including the isolation of key intermediates, the structural characterization of an iron-metallacycle, and kinetic analysis, allowed the sound elucidation of a plausible catalytic working mode. This mechanistic rationale is supported by detailed computational density functional theory studies, which fully address multi-spin-state reactivity. Furthermore, in operando nuclear magnetic resonance monitoring of the catalytic reaction provided detailed insights into the mode of action of the iron-catalyzed C-H alkylation with allenes.

Remote and Selective C(sp2)-H Olefination for Sequential Regioselective Linkage of Phenanthrenes

Biphenylcarboxylic acid with two competing C(sp²)-H sites was designed for site selective C(sp²)-H functionalization by developing carboxylic acids assisted remote and selective olefination via 7-membered palladacycle. Mechanism investigation and DFT calculations reveal a kinetics-determined process, which could be utilized to explore a variety of remote site selectivity. The practicability of this method was highlighted by the precise construction of phenathrene under sequential site selectivity.

Cobalt-catalysed C-H methylation for late-stage drug diversification

The magic methyl effect is well acknowledged in medicinal chemistry, but despite its significance, accessing such analogues via derivatization at a late stage remains a pivotal challenge. In an effort to mitigate this major limitation, we here present a strategy for the cobalt-catalysed late-stage C-H methylation of structurally complex drug molecules. Enabling broad applicability, the transformation relies on a boron-based methyl source and takes advantage of inherently present functional groups to guide the C-H activation. The relative reactivity observed for distinct classes of functionalities were determined and the sensitivity of the transformation towards a panel of common functional motifs was tested under various reaction conditions. Without the need for prefunctionalization or postdeprotection, a diverse array of marketed drug molecules and natural products could be methylated in a predictable manner. Subsequent physicochemical and biological testing confirmed the magnitude with which this seemingly minor structural change can affect important drug properties.

Chromium(III)-Catalyzed C(sp2)-H Alkynylation, Allylation, and Naphthalenation of Secondary Amides with Trimethylaluminum as Base

Among base metals used for C-H activation reactions, chromium(III) is rather unexplored despite its natural abundance and low toxicity. We report herein chromium(III)-catalyzed C(sp²)-H functionalization of an ortho-position of aromatic and α,β-unsaturated secondary amides using readily available AlMe₃ as a base and using bromoalkynes, allyl bromide, and 1,4-dihydro-1,4-epoxynaphthalene as electrophiles. This redox-neutral reaction taking place at 70-90 °C, requires as low as 1-2 mol % of CrCl₃ or Cr(acac)₃ as a catalyst without any added ligand, and tolerates functional groups such as aryl iodide, boronate, and thiophene groups. Stoichiometric and kinetics studies as well as kinetic isotope effects suggest that the catalytic cycle consists of a series of thermally stable but reactive intermediates bearing two molecules of the amide substrate on one chromium atom and also that one of these chromate(III) complexes takes part in the alkynylation, allylation, and naphthalenation reactions. The proposed mechanism accounts for the effective suppression of methyl group delivery from AlMe₃ for ortho-C-H methylation.

Synthesis of unsymmetrical diarylmethanols via C–Si bond bifunctionalization enabled by sequential [1,4]-Csp2 to O-silyl migration

Unsymmetrical C–Si bond bifunctionalization of 2,2′-bis(trimethylsilyl) diphenylmethanol via “on–off–on” sequential [1,4]-Csp² to O-silyl migration installs Csp³/Csp³, Csp³/Csp² or Csp²/Csp³ in one pot, giving sterically congested unsymmetrical diarylmethanols in good yields.

Transition metal-free synthesis of 3-trifluoromethyl chromones via tandem C–H trifluoromethylation and chromone annulation of enaminones

The synthesis of 3-trifluoromethyl chromones has been realized via transition metal-free reactions of o-hydroxyphenyl enaminones and the Langlois reagent via cascade C–H trifluoromethylation and chromone annulation.

Iron-Electrocatalyzed C-H Arylations: Mechanistic Insights into Oxidation-Induced Reductive Elimination for Ferraelectrocatalysis

Despite major advances, organometallic C-H transformations are dominated by precious 5d and 4d transition metals, such as iridium, palladium and rhodium. In contrast, the unique potential of less toxic Earth-abundant 3d metals has been underexplored. While iron is the most naturally abundant transition metal, its use in oxidative, organometallic C-H activation has faced major limitations due to the need for superstoichiometric amounts of corrosive, cost-intensive DCIB as the sacrificial oxidant. To fully address these restrictions, we describe herein the unprecedented merger of electrosynthesis with iron-catalyzed C-H activation through oxidation-induced reductive elimination. Thus, ferra- and manganaelectro-catalyzed C-H arylations were accomplished at mild reaction temperatures with ample scope by the action of sustainable iron catalysts, employing electricity as a benign oxidant.