Cross-Coupling of Primary Amides to Aryl and Heteroaryl Partners Using (DiMeIHeptCl)Pd Promoted by Trialkylboranes or B(C6F5)3

Pd-PEPPSI N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes from Caffeine: Application in Suzuki, Heck, and Sonogashira Reactions

The first synthesis of Pd-PEPPSI N-heterocyclic carbene complexes derived from the abundant and renewable natural product caffeine is reported. The catalysts bearing 3-chloro-pyridine, pyridine and N-methylimidazole ancillary ligands were readily prepared from the corresponding N9-Me caffeine imidazolium salt by direct deprotonation and coordination to PdX2 in the presence of N-heterocycles or by ligand displacement of PdX2(Het)2. The model Pd-PEPPSI-caffeine complex has been characterized by x-ray crystallography. The complexes were successfully employed in the Suzuki cross-coupling of aryl bromides, Suzuki cross-coupling of amides, Heck cross-coupling and Sonogashira cross-coupling. Computational studies were employed to determine frontier molecular orbitals and bond order analysis of caffeine derived Pd-PEPPSI complexes. This class of catalysts offers an entry to utilize benign and sustainable biomass-derived Xanthine NHC ligands in the popular Pd-PEPPSI systems in organic synthesis and catalysis.

Direct Synthesis of Paracetamol via Site-Selective Electrochemical Ritter-type C-H Amination of Phenol

The synthesis of paracetamol still relies on multistep protocols involving the utilization of a stoichiometric amount of oxidizing/reducing or other corrosive agents. Herein we report a regioselective electrochemical Ritter-type reaction at the C(sp²)-H of unprotected phenol toward the environmentally benign and direct synthesis of paracetamol. The reaction proceeds under exogenous oxidant- and catalyst-free conditions. The protocol is scalable, can be deployed to a variety of phenols, and offers a sustainable alternative for the synthesis of paracetamol.

(DiMeIHeptCl)Pd: A Low-Load Catalyst for Solvent-Free (Melt) Amination

(DiMeIHept^Cl)Pd, a hyper-branched N-aryl Pd NHC catalyst, has been shown to be efficient at performing amine arylation reactions in solvent-free ("melt") conditions. The highly lipophilic environment of the alkyl chains flanking the Pd center serves as lubricant to allow the complex to navigate through the paste-like environment of these mixtures. The protocol can be used on a multi-gram scale to make a variety of aniline derivatives, including substrates containing alcohol moieties.

B(C6 F5 )3 -Catalyzed Tandem Friedel-Crafts and C-H/C-O Coupling Reactions of Dialkylanilines

Tandem Friedel-Crafts (FC) and C-H/C-O coupling reactions catalyzed by tris(pentafluorophenyl) borane (B(C₆ F₅ )₃ ) were achieved without using any other additive in the absence of solvent. This process can be used for the reactions between a series of dialkylanilines and vinyl ethers with good isolated yields of bis(4-dialkylaminophenyl) compounds. Based on combined theoretical and experimental studies, the possible reaction mechanism was proposed. B(C₆ F₅ )₃ can activate the C=C and C-O bond for FC and C-H/C-O coupling reactions respectively. The FC reaction is slow, which is followed by a fast C-H/C-O coupling.

B(C6F5)3-Catalyzed C-C Coupling of 1,4-Naphthoquinones with the C-3 Position of Indole Derivatives in Water

An atom-economical and environmentally benign approach for the synthesis of indole-substituted 1,4-naphthoquinones from indoles and 1,4-naphthoquinones using readily available Lewis acidic B(C₆F₅)₃ in water and with the recycling of water and part of the catalyst is reported. The reaction proceeded through the B(C₆F₅)₃-catalyzed C(sp²)-H and C(sp²)-H bond coupling of 1,4-naphthoquinones with the C-3 position of indole derivatives in water. This methodology provides a facile protocol for the synthesis of some new indole-substituted 1,4-naphthoquinones in satisfactory yields and with a broad substrate scope. When compared to known methods for the synthesis of indole-substituted 1,4-naphthoquinones, this protocol is practical and efficient and does not require a transition-metal catalyst or toxic organic solvents. In addition, we utilized a simple filtration process for complete recycling of the solvent and the part of the catalyst in each reaction cycle.

Sodium Butylated Hydroxytoluene (NaBHT) as a New and Efficient Hydride Source for Pd-Catalysed Reduction Reactions

NaBHT (sodium butylated hydroxytoluene), a hindered and soluble base for the efficient arylation of various base-sensitive amines and (hetero)aryl halides has been found to have an unanticipated role as a hydride donor to reduce (hetero)aryl halides and allylic acetates. Mechanistic studies have uncovered that NaBHT, but not BHT, can deliver multiple hydrides through oxidation of the benzylic methyl group in NaBHT to the aldehyde. Further, performing the reduction with NaBHT-d₂₀ has revealed that the redox-active benzylic position is not the only hydride donor site from NaBHT with one hydride in three coming, presumably, from the tert-butyl groups. The reduction works well under mild conditions and, incredibly, only consumes 20 percent of the NaBHT in the process; the remaining 80 percent can be readily recovered in pure form and reused. This, combined with the low cost of the material in ton-scale quantity, makes it practical and attractive for wider use in industry at scale.

Murahashi Cross-Coupling at -78 °C: A One-Pot Procedure for Sequential C-C/C-C, C-C/C-N, and C-C/C-S Cross-Coupling of Bromo-Chloro-Arenes

The coupling of organolithium reagents, including strongly hindered examples, at cryogenic temperatures (as low as -78 °C) has been achieved with high-reactivity Pd-NHC catalysts. A temperature-dependent chemoselectivity trigger has been developed for the selective coupling of aryl bromides in the presence of chlorides. Building on this, a one-pot, sequential coupling strategy is presented for the rapid construction of advanced building blocks. Importantly, one-shot addition of alkyllithium compounds to Pd cross-coupling reactions has been achieved, eliminating the need for slow addition by syringe pump.

Bulky-Yet-Flexible Carbene Ligands and Their Use in Palladium Cross-Coupling

In recent years, several classes of new N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands were developed around the concept of “flexible steric bulk”. The steric hindrance of these ligands brings stability to the active species, while ligand flexibility still allows for the approach of the substrate. In this review, the synthesis of several types of new classes, such as IBiox, cyclic alkyl amino carbenes (CAAC), ITent, and IPr* are discussed, as well as how they move the state-of-the-art in palladium catalyzed cross-coupling forward.

Highly efficient copper-catalyzed direct C–H amidation of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with amidates under microwave irradiation

A novel and convenient protocol for the construction of 3-amidated quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones was developed via copper-catalyzed direct oxidative amidation of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with amidates using K₂S₂O₈ as an oxidant, and under microwave irradiation.

Rigid hindered N-heterocyclic carbene palladium precatalysts: synthesis, characterization and catalytic amination

Rigid hindered N-heterocyclic carbene palladium complexes have been developed and exhibited high activities for a variety of (hetero)aryl chlorides with (hetero)anilines and amines under aerobic conditions.

The roles of Lewis acidic additives in organotransition metal catalysis

We present recent advances in prominent organotransition metal-catalysed reactions in which Lewis acid cocatalysts are employed to increase catalyst activity or selectivity. The roles of Lewis acids are discussed.

Palladium-catalyzed chemoselective anaerobic oxidation of N-heterocycle-containing alcohols

A palladium-catalyzed chemoselective anaerobic oxidation for N-heterocycle-containing alcohols has been achieved with chloroarenes as oxidants.