The [Cu(OH).TMEDA]2Cl2-catalyzed coupling of arylboronic acids with imidazoles in water

Computational Assessment of the Mechanistic Journey in Chan-Lam-Based Arylation of Imidazoles

Cu(II)-catalyzed C-N bond formation reactions remain one of most widely practiced and powerful protocols for the synthesis of value-added chemicals, bioactive molecules, and materials. Despite numerous experimental contributions, the overall mechanistic understanding of the C-N coupling reaction based on the Chan-Lam (CL) reaction methodology is still limited and underdeveloped, particularly with respect to the use of different substrates and catalytic species. Herein, we report an in-depth DFT-based study on the mechanism of N-arylation of imidazoles following Collman's experimental setup. Our findings unfold for the first time the ligand-based CL coupling catalyzed by the [Cu(II)(OH)TMEDA]2Cl2 complex. The transmetalation step with an energy span of 26.2 kcal mol-1 is rate-determining, while the subsequent disproportionation and reductive elimination are relatively facile (δE = 16.4 kcal mol-1) in comparison to the CL amination of secondary amines. The final oxidative catalyst regeneration results in the presence of O2, accompanying an energy span of 12.8 kcal mol-1, where hydrogen transfer from the coordinated water allows the reduction of superoxo linkage. Couplings performed in the presence of a combination of bidentate sp3-N ligands with single and double -(CH2)- spacer units afford a kinetically facile transformation (24.5 kcal mol-1). Furthermore, our results agree with the experimental outcomes of regioselective couplings of substituted imidazoles.

Mechanistic Avenues in the Chan-Lam-Based Etherification Reaction: A Computational Exploration

Ongoing advances in CuII -catalyzed aerobic oxidative coupling reactions between arylboronic esters and diverse heteroatom nucleophiles have strengthened the development of the general Chan-Lam (CL)-based reaction protocol, including C-O bond formation methodologies. In-depth mechanistic understanding of CL etherification with specific emphasis on different reaction routes and their energetics are still lacking, even though the reaction has been experimentally explored. Here, we present a DFT-guided computational study to unravel the mechanistic pathways of CL-based etherification. The computational findings provide some interesting insights into the fundamental steps of the catalytic cycle, particularly the rate-determining transmetalation event. An aryl boronic ester-coordinated, methoxide-bridged CuII intermediate that acts as resting state undergoes transmetalation with an activation barrier of 20.4 kcal mol-1 . The energy spans of the remaining fundamental steps leading to the methoxylated product are relatively low. The minor p-cresol product requires an additional 14.2 kcal mol-1 energy span to surmount in comparison to the favored route. Hammett studies for the substituted aryl boronic esters reveal higher reaction turnovers for electron-rich aryl systems. The results agree with previously reported spectroscopic and kinetic observations. For a series of alcohol substrates, it was observed that, except for cyclohexanol, moderate to high etherification turnovers are predicted.

Exploiting Coordination Behavior of 7-Azaindole for Mechanistic Investigation of Chan-Lam Coupling and Application to 7-Azaindole Based Pharmacophores

Multiple spectroscopic techniques, along with single-crystal X-ray analysis, have been used to reveal the detailed structural and electronic information on reaction intermediates of a new copper(II)-DBU catalytic system for the N-arylation of 7-Azaindole. The reaction mixture of Chan-Lam cross-coupling yields two dimeric copper(II)-7-azaindole complexes, including one attached with DBU, prior to adding arylboronic acid and are confirmed structurally and spectroscopically. A suitable mechanism has been proposed using the dimeric copper(II) complex as a catalyst for the coupling reactions. The role of DBU as a base and also as an auxiliary ligand in the course of the reaction has been established. The transmetalated monomeric aryl-copper(II) species generated from the dimeric unit is oxidized by another equivalent of copper(II) to yield an aryl-copper(III) intermediate for facile N-arylation, which has been authenticated with UV-vis spectroscopy. The regeneration of the copper(II)-catalyst by aerial oxidation of colorless copper(I) species (generated via reductive elimination and disproportionation step) is confirmed by mass and absorption spectroscopy. Detailed DFT and TD-DFT calculations help to rationalize the proposed reaction intermediates and their corresponding electronic transitions. Moreover, the confirmation of copper(I)-7-azaindole intermediate via HRMS reaffirmed the involvement of Cu(II)/Cu(III)/Cu(I) species in the Chan-Lam type of coupling. A medicinally-important 7-azaindole-based SHP2 inhibitor has been synthesized via sequential arylation.

N,N′-Dimethylurea as an efficient ligand for the synthesis of pharma-relevant motifs through Chan–Lam cross-coupling strategy

The combination of copper and N,N′-dimethylurea is used to showcase the Chan–Lam N-arylation of three different nitrogen nucleophiles. The synthesized catalyst is cheap, chemoselective, and also found to be effective in the N-arylation of target APIs.

Advances in Carbon–Element Bond Construction under Chan–Lam Cross-Coupling Conditions: A Second Decade

Copper-mediated carbon–heteroatom bond-forming reactions involving a wide range of substrates have been in the spotlight for many organic chemists. This review highlights developments between 2010 and 2019 in both stoichiometric and catalytic copper-mediated reactions, and also examples of nickel-mediated reactions, under modified Chan–Lam cross-coupling conditions using various nucleophiles; examples include chemo- and regioselective N-arylations or O-arylations. The utilization of various nucleophiles as coupling partners together with reaction optimization (including the choice of copper source, ligands, base, and other additives), limitations, scope, and mechanisms are examined; these have benefitted the development of efficient and milder methods. The synthesis of medicinally valuable or pharmaceutically important nitrogen heterocycles, including isotope-labeled compounds, is also included. Chan–Lam coupling reaction can now form twelve different C–element bonds, making it one of the most diverse and mild reactions known in organic chemistry.

1 Introduction

2 Construction of C–N and C–O Bonds

2.1 C–N Bond Formation

2.1.1 Original Discovery via Stoichiometric Copper-Mediated C–N Bond Formation

2.1.2 Copper-Catalyzed C–N Bond Formation

2.1.3 Coupling with Azides, Sulfoximines, and Sulfonediimines as Nitrogen­ Nucleophiles

2.1.4 Coupling with N,N-Dialkylhydroxylamines

2.1.5 Enolate Coupling with sp3-Carbon Nucleophiles

2.1.6 Nickel-Catalyzed Chan–Lam Coupling

2.1.7 Coupling with Amino Acids

2.1.8 Coupling with Alkylboron Reagents

2.1.9 Coupling with Electron-Deficient Heteroarylamines

2.1.10 Selective C–N Bond Formation for the Synthesis of Heterocycle-Containing Compounds

2.1.11 Using Sulfonato-imino Copper(II) Complexes

2.2 C–O Bond Formation

2.2.1 Coupling with (Hetero)arylboron Reagents

2.2.2 Coupling with Alkyl- and Alkenylboron Reagents

3 C–Element (Element = S, P, C, F, Cl, Br, I, Se, Te, At) Bond Forma tion under Modified Chan–Lam Conditions

4 Conclusions

Ligand and Cu free N-arylation of indoles, pyrroles and benzylamines with aryl halides catalyzed by a Pd nanocatalyst

Herein, the N-arylation of aromatic heterocycles like indoles and pyrroles is reported by a Pd nanocatalyst under ligand- and Cu-free conditions.

Cu2(BDC)2(BPY)–MOF: an efficient and reusable heterogeneous catalyst for the aerobic Chan–Lam coupling prepared via ball-milling strategy

Nanoporous Cu₂(BDC)₂(BPY)–MOF was used as efficient and reusable heterogeneous catalyst to effect the aerobic cross-coupling of aromatic amines and phenyl boronic acid (Chan–Lam Coupling).

Visible-light-driven Photocatalytic N-arylation of Imidazole Derivatives and Arylboronic Acids on Cu/graphene catalyst

N-aryl imidazoles play an important role as structural and functional units in many natural products and biologically active compounds. Herein, we report a photocatalytic route for the C-N cross-coupling reactions over a Cu/graphene catalyst, which can effectively catalyze N-arylation of imidazole and phenylboronic acid, and achieve a turnover frequency of 25.4 h(-1) at 25°C and the irradiation of visible light. The enhanced catalytic activity of the Cu/graphene under the light irradiation results from the localized surface plasmon resonance of copper nanoparticles. The Cu/graphene photocatalyst has a general applicability for photocatalytic C-N, C-O and C-S cross-coupling of arylboronic acids with imidazoles, phenols and thiophenols. This study provides a green photocatalytic route for the production of N-aryl imidazoles.

N-(1-Oxy-2-picolyl)oxalamic acids as a new type of O,O-ligands for the Cu-catalyzed N-arylation of azoles with aryl halides in water or organic solvent

A new type of chelators was identified as efficient ligands for promoting Cu-catalyzed N-arylation of azoles with applicability to different solvents.

Coupling of C-nitro-NH-azoles with arylboronic acids. A route to N-aryl-C-nitroazoles

A method for the synthesis of N-aryl-C-nitroazoles is presented. A coupling reaction between variously substituted arylboronic acids and 3(5)-nitro-1H-pyrazole catalyzed by copper salt has been carried out in methanol in the presence of sodium hydroxide to afford the desired N-aryl-C-nitroazoles in good yields. This synthetic route has also been successfully applied to obtain N-phenyl derivatives of 4-nitropyrazole, 2-nitroimidazole, 4(5)-nitroimidazole and 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole.

Completely N1-selective palladium-catalyzed arylation of unsymmetric imidazoles: application to the synthesis of nilotinib

The completely N(1)-selective Pd-catalyzed arylation of unsymmetric imidazoles with aryl halides and triflates is described. This study showed that imidazoles have a strong inhibitory effect on the in situ formation of the catalytically active Pd(0)-ligand complex. The efficacy of the N-arylation reaction was improved drastically by the use of a preactivated solution of Pd(2)(dba)(3) and L1. From these findings, it is clear that while imidazoles can prevent binding of L1 to Pd, once the ligand is bound to the metal, these heterocycles do not displace it. The utility of the present catalytic system was demonstrated by the regioselective synthesis of the clinically important tyrosine kinase inhibitor nilotinib.

Palladium- and copper-mediated N-aryl bond formation reactions for the synthesis of biological active compounds

N-Arylated aliphatic and aromatic amines are important substituents in many biologically active compounds. In the last few years, transition-metal-mediated N-aryl bond formation has become a standard procedure for the introduction of amines into aromatic systems. While N-arylation of simple aromatic halides by simple amines works with many of the described methods in high yield, the reactions may require detailed optimization if applied to the synthesis of complex molecules with additional functional groups, such as natural products or drugs. We discuss and compare in this review the three main N-arylation methods in their application to the synthesis of biologically active compounds: Palladium-catalysed Buchwald-Hartwig-type reactions, copper-mediated Ullmann-type and Chan-Lam-type N-arylation reactions. The discussed examples show that palladium-catalysed reactions are favoured for large-scale applications and tolerate sterically demanding substituents on the coupling partners better than Chan-Lam reactions. Chan-Lam N-arylations are particularly mild and do not require additional ligands, which facilitates the work-up. However, reaction times can be very long. Ullmann- and Buchwald-Hartwig-type methods have been used in intramolecular reactions, giving access to complex ring structures. All three N-arylation methods have specific advantages and disadvantages that should be considered when selecting the reaction conditions for a desired C-N bond formation in the course of a total synthesis or drug synthesis.

C-H bonds as ubiquitous functionality: a general approach to complex arylated imidazoles via regioselective sequential arylation of all three C-H bonds and regioselective N-alkylation enabled by SEM-group transposition

Imidazoles are an important group of the azole family of heterocycles frequently found in pharmaceuticals, drug candidates, ligands for transition metal catalysts, and other molecular functional materials. Owing to their wide application in academia and industry, new methods and strategies for the generation of functionalized imidazole derivatives are in demand. We here describe a general and comprehensive approach for the synthesis of complex aryl imidazoles, where all three C-H bonds of the imidazole core can be arylated in a regioselective and sequential manner. We report new catalytic methods for selective C5- and C2-arylation of SEM-imidazoles and provide a mechanistic hypothesis for the observed positional selectivity based on electronic properties of C-H bonds and the heterocyclic ring. Importantly, aryl bromides and low-cost aryl chlorides can be used as arene donors under practical laboratory conditions. To circumvent the low reactivity of the C-4 position, we developed the SEM-switch that transfers the SEM-group from N-1 to N-3 nitrogen and thus enables preparation of 4-arylimidazoles and sequential C4-C5-arylation of the imidazole core. Furthermore, selective N3-alkylation followed by the SEM-group deprotection (trans-N-alkylation) allows for regioselective N-alkylation of complex imidazoles. The sequential C-arylation enabled by the SEM-switch allowed us to produce a variety of mono-, di-, and triarylimidazoles using diverse bromo- and chloroarenes. Using our approach, the synthesis of individual compounds or libraries of analogues can begin from either the parent imidazole or a substituted imidazole, providing rapid access to complex imidazole structures.