Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Direct Alkenylation and Arylation of Arenes: Removable 2-Pyridylsulfinyl Group Assisted C–H Bond Activation

Palladium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Dehydrogenative C-2 Pentenylation of Indoles with 2-Methyl-2-butene

Five-carbon (C5) units are the fundamental building blocks that constitute a multitude of natural products. Herein we report an unprecedented unusual C5 functionalization of indole regioselectively at the C-2-position enabled by a (2-pyridyl)sulfonyl-directing palladium-catalyzed dehydrogenative strategy with a bulk chemical 2-methyl-2-butene as a C5 source. Compared to typical C5 functionalization using pentenyl alcohols, carbonates, borates, or halides as the C5 source, the protocol not only has a low cost advantage but also is of atom and step economy.

Aryl Sulfoxides: A Traceless Directing Group for Catalytic C-H Activation of Arenes

The transition metal-catalyzed C-H activation of arenes directed by sulfoxides represents a compelling strategy in organic synthesis, owing to its exceptional regioselectivity and high efficiency. This innovative approach stands out for its traceless character, enabling the direct functionalization of arenes, before the easy removal or conversion of the key sulfinyl moiety. Beyond their utility as a directing group, sulfoxides have proved particularly valuable to mediate as chiral auxiliaries, presenting exciting prospects for the synthesis of stereo-enriched compounds upon C-H functionalization. The versatility demonstrated by the method paves the way to different structures with potential applications ranging from medicinal chemistry to organic electronics.

Synthesis of 5,6-Dihydrophenanthridines via Palladium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Dehydrogenative Coupling of Two Aryl C−H Bonds

5,6-Dihydrophenanthridines are common aza heterocycle frameworks of natural products and pharmaceuticals. Herein, we reported the first palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C−H/C−H dehydrogenative coupling reaction of two simple arenes to generate 5,6-dihydrophenanthridines. The approach features a broad substrate scope and good tolerance of functional groups, offering an efficient alternative synthesis route for important 5,6-dihydrophenanthridine compounds.

Synthesis of Chiral Sulfoxides via Pd(II)-Catalyzed Enantioselective C-H Alkynylation/Kinetic Resolution of 2-(Arylsulfinyl)pyridines

A Pd(II)-catalyzed enantioselective C-H alkynylation of 2-(arylsulfinyl)pyridines via kinetic resolution using cheap and commercially available l-pGlu-OH as a chiral ligand is reported. A wide range of 2-(arylsulfinyl)pyridines were compatible with this protocol, giving the alkynylation products and recovered sulfoxides in high yields with high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). Furthermore, the enantioenriched products can be easily transformed to several other types of chiral sulfoxide scaffolds with the retention of enantiopurity.

Synthesis of Aporphine Analogues via Palladium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Aryl-Aryl Dehydrogenative Coupling

Reported herein is an intramolecular dehydrogenative coupling of two inert aryl C-H bonds for the synthesis of aporphine analogues. The process represents a novel tool for the preparation of aporphines via palladiun-catalyzed C-H bond activation. The present reaction is compatible with various functional groups, and the coupling products have been further applied for the synthesis of natural products aporphine and zenkerine.

Removal and modification of directing groups used in metal-catalyzed C–H functionalization: the magical step of conversion into ‘conventional’ functional groups

This feature review is focused on recent approaches for removing versatile directing groups.

Directing Group Assisted Unsymmetrical Multiple Functionalization of Arene C-H Bonds

Multiple C-H bond functionalizations promptly install diverse groups on the molecular framework and consequently fabricate complex molecular entities. This review briefly surveys the conceptual development of directing group assisted unsymmetrical multiple functionalization of arene C(sp² )-H bonds, which is exceedingly appealing and highly important.

One-Pot Twofold Unsymmetrical C-Si Bond 2,6-Bifunctionalization of Arenes via Sequential [1,4]-Csp2 to O-Silyl Migration

Twofold unsymmetrical C-Si bond bifunctionalization of 2,6-di(trimethylsilyl) benzyl alcohols has been achieved in one pot via sequential [1,4]-Csp² to O-silyl migration. The hydroxyl group functions as an "on-off-on" switch to control two successive silyl migrations, and 4,7-dimethyl-o-phenanthroline ligand favors cleavage of the endocyclic C-Si bond. Diverse Csp³/Csp³ or Csp²/Csp³ electrophiles can be installed at the 2- and 6-positions. This approach was used to chemoselectively functionalize the three C-Si bonds of 2,4,6-tri(trimethylsilyl) benzyl alcohol, transforming it into isochroman derivatives. The approach even works as a five-component reaction to construct complex symmetric structures.

Iridium-Catalyzed α-Selective Arylation of Styrenes by Dual C-H Functionalization

An Ir^I‐system modified with a ferrocene derived bisphosphine ligand promotes α‐selective arylation of styrenes by dual C−H functionalization. These studies offer a regioisomeric alternative to the Pd‐catalyzed Fujiwara–Moritani reaction.

Iridium-Catalyzed Sequential Silylation and Borylation of Heteroarenes Based on Regioselective C-H Bond Activation

An iridium-catalyzed regioselective sequential silylation and borylation of heteroarenes was developed, which represents a rare example of unsymmetrical intermolecular C-H bond difunctionalization through the introduction of two different functionalities during a one-pot transformation. Although the substrate scope for the dehydrogenative silylation of heteroarenes has been limited mainly to electron-rich five-membered rings, the current reaction proceeds with both electron-rich and electron-deficient heteroarenes with the aid of heteroatom-directing C-H bond activation. The regioselectivity of the second borylation was controlled by both steric factors and the electronic effect of the silyl group installed in the first step. In combination with the classic cross-coupling reaction, this method provides rapid access to multisubstituted heteroarenes.

Substrate-Selective C-H Functionalization for the Preparation of Organosulfur Compounds from Crude Oil-Derived Components

The direct utilization of a natural feedstock in organic synthesis is an utmost challenge because the selective production of one product from a mixture of starting materials requires unprecedented substrate selectivity. In the present study, a simple and convenient procedure is evaluated for the substrate-selective alkenylation of a single component in a mixture of organosulfur compounds. Pd-catalyzed alkenylation of two-, three-, four-, and five-component mixtures of crude oil-derived sulfur species led to the exclusive C-H functionalization of only one compound. The observed remarkable substrate selectivity opens new opportunities for sustainable organic synthesis.

Oxidative C-H/C-H Coupling Reactions between Two (Hetero)arenes

Transition metal-mediated C-H bond activation and functionalization represent one of the most straightforward and powerful tools in modern organic synthetic chemistry. Bi(hetero)aryls are privileged π-conjugated structural cores in biologically active molecules, organic functional materials, ligands, and organic synthetic intermediates. The oxidative C-H/C-H coupling reactions between two (hetero)arenes through 2-fold C-H activation offer a valuable opportunity for rapid assembly of diverse bi(hetero)aryls and further exploitation of their applications in pharmaceutical and material sciences. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals and applications of transition metal-mediated/catalyzed oxidative C-H/C-H coupling reactions between two (hetero)arenes. The substrate scope, limitation, reaction mechanism, regioselectivity, and chemoselectivity, as well as related control strategies of these reactions are discussed. Additionally, the applications of these established methods in the synthesis of natural products and exploitation of new organic functional materials are exemplified. In the last section, a short introduction on oxidant- or Lewis acid-mediated oxidative Ar-H/Ar-H coupling reactions is presented, considering that it is a very powerful method for the construction of biaryl units and polycylic arenes.

Recent advances in positional-selective alkenylations: removable guidance for twofold C–H activation

Recent advances in transition-metal catalyzed positional-selective alkenylations via twofold C–H activation directed by removable or traceless directing groups are reviewed.

C-H Coupling Reactions Directed by Sulfoxides: Teaching an Old Functional Group New Tricks

Sulfoxides are classical functional groups for directing the stoichiometric metalation and functionalization of C-H bonds. In recent times, sulfoxides have been given a new lease on life owing to the development of modern synthetic methods that have arisen because of their unique reactivity. They have recently been used in catalytic C-H activation proceeding via coordination of an internal sulfoxide to a metal or through the action of an external sulfoxide ligand. Furthermore, sulfoxides are able to capture nucleophiles and electrophiles to give sulfonium salts, which subsequently enable the formation of C-C bonds at the expense of C-H bonds. This Review summarizes a renaissance period in the application of sulfoxides arising from their versatility in directing C-H functionalization.

Catalytic Reductive ortho-C-H Silylation of Phenols with Traceless, Versatile Acetal Directing Groups and Synthetic Applications of Dioxasilines

A new, highly selective, bond functionalization strategy, achieved via relay of two transition metal catalysts and the use of traceless acetal directing groups, has been employed to provide facile formation of C-Si bonds and concomitant functionalization of a silicon group in a single vessel. Specifically, this approach involves the relay of Ir-catalyzed hydrosilylation of inexpensive and readily available phenyl acetates, exploiting disubstituted silyl synthons to afford silyl acetals and Rh-catalyzed ortho-C-H silylation to provide dioxasilines. A subsequent nucleophilic addition to silicon removes the acetal directing groups and directly provides unmasked phenol products and, thus, useful functional groups at silicon achieved in a single vessel. This traceless acetal directing group strategy for catalytic ortho-C-H silylation of phenols was also successfully applied to preparation of multisubstituted arenes. Remarkably, a new formal α-chloroacetyl directing group has been developed that allows catalytic reductive C-H silylation of sterically hindered phenols. In particular, this new method permits access to highly versatile and nicely differentiated 1,2,3-trisubstituted arenes that are difficult to access by other catalytic routes. In addition, the resulting dioxasilines can serve as chromatographically stable halosilane equivalents, which allow not only removal of acetal directing groups but also introduce useful functional groups leading to silicon-bridged biaryls. We demonstrated that this catalytic C-H bond silylation strategy has powerful synthetic potential by creating direct applications of dioxasilines to other important transformations, examples of which include aryne chemistry, Au-catalyzed direct arylation, sequential orthogonal cross-couplings, and late-stage silylation of phenolic bioactive molecules and BINOL scaffolds.

Reactivity of (poly)fluorobenzamides in palladium-catalysed direct arylations

Under PdCl₂/PivOK as reaction conditions, fluoro substituents act as better directing groups than amides in the palladium-catalysed direct arylations.

Palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative ortho-arylation of 2-pyridyl sulfoxides with benzoyl peroxides

A palladium catalyzed efficient strategy for regio-selective ortho-arylation of sulfoxides with aryl acyl peroxides via decarboxylation has been developed.

Open-air oxidative Mizoroki–Heck reaction of arylsulfonyl hydrazides with alkenes

A palladium(ii)-catalyzed oxidative Mizoroki–Heck reaction of arylsulfonyl hydrazides with alkenes was developed employing Pd(OAc)₂ and pyridine ligand L9 as a catalyst system and ​atmospheric air as the sole oxidant in an open-vessel manner.

Palladium-catalyzed direct alkenylation of 2-methyl-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones using oxygen as the oxidant

A direct C-3 alkenylation of 2-methyl-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones through palladium-catalyzed C–H activation using oxygen as the terminal oxidant has been developed.

Quinoxaline: a new directing group for ortho C–H alkenylation / intramolecular ortho C–H cycloamination under open air leading to bioactive polynuclear N-heteroarenes

A two-step strategy involving quinoxaline directed the ortho C–H alkenylation/intramolecular ortho C–H cycloamination afforded new PDE4 inhibitors.

C-H functionalization directed by transformable nitrogen heterocycles: synthesis of ortho-oxygenated arylnaphthalenes from arylphthalazines

Two protocols for oxygenation of aromatic C-H bonds ortho-positioned to the phthalazine ring were developed. The transannulation of the phthalazine ring to a naphthalene moiety by an Inverse Electron Demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) reaction led to the synthesis of naphtho[2,1-c]chromenes, 1-(ortho-hydroxyaryl)naphthalenes and 6,7-dihydrobenzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]oxepine. This new strategy based on the utilization of transformable nitrogen heterocycles in C-H functionalization chemistry can be potentially applicable to the synthesis of a broad range of biaryl compounds.