Chemoselective C-Benzylation of Unprotected Anilines with Benzyl Alcohols Using Re2O7 Catalyst

Alcohols as Substrates in Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Arylation, Alkylation, and Related Reactions

Alcohols are abundant and attractive feedstock molecules for organic synthesis. Many methods for their functionalization require them to first be converted into a more activated derivative, while recent years have seen a vast increase in the number of complexity-building transformations that directly harness unprotected alcohols. This Review discusses how transition metal catalysis can be used toward this goal. These transformations are broadly classified into three categories. Deoxygenative functionalizations, representing derivatization of the C-O bond, enable the alcohol to act as a leaving group toward the formation of new C-C bonds. Etherifications, characterized by derivatization of the O-H bond, represent classical reactivity that has been modernized to include mild reaction conditions, diverse reaction partners, and high selectivities. Lastly, chain functionalization reactions are described, wherein the alcohol group acts as a mediator in formal C-H functionalization reactions of the alkyl backbone. Each of these three classes of transformation will be discussed in context of intermolecular arylation, alkylation, and related reactions, illustrating how catalysis can enable alcohols to be directly harnessed for organic synthesis.

H2 O ⋅ B(C6 F5 )3 -Catalyzed para-Alkylation of Anilines with Alkenes Applied to Late-Stage Functionalization of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Anilines are core motifs in a variety of important molecules including medicines, materials and agrochemicals. We report a straightforward procedure that allows access to new chemical space of anilines via their para-C-H alkylation. The method utilizes commercially available catalytic H2 O ⋅ B(C6 F5 )3 and is highly selective for para-C-alkylation (over N-alkylation and ortho-C-alkylation) of anilines, with a wide scope in both the aniline substrates and alkene coupling partners. Readily available alkenes are used, and include new classes of alkene for the first time. The mild reaction conditions have allowed the procedure to be applied to the late-stage-functionalization of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including fenamic acids and diclofenac. The formed novel NSAID derivatives display improved anti-inflammatory properties over the parent NSAID structure.

Friedel-Crafts Benzylation of Unprotected Anilines with Indole-3- carbinols to Access Trifluoro-methyl(indolyl)phenylmethanes

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An unprecedented protocol for the efficient and highly chemoselective alkylation of unprotected anilines with deactivated CF3-indole-3-carbinols promoted by In(OTf)3 has been developed. A series of diversified trifluoromethylated (indolyl)phenylmethanes were produced featuring the C-alkylation in moderate to high chemical yields and with high regioselectivities.

Solvent Effects and Mechanistic Studies for Re2O7-Catalyzed Allylative Annulation Reactions

The sequence of allylic alcohol transposition, carbonyl group trapping, oxocarbenium ion formation, and nucleophilic addition results in the formation of a ring while serving as a fragment-coupling and stereocenter-generating reaction. Successful applications of these processes require a balancing of the kinetics of numerous productive and unproductive steps. This work describes the manner in which solvent changes can be used to expand the scope and change the stereochemical outcomes of these processes. Mechanistic studies provide greater insight into the nuances of the transformations and the reactive species that are generated.

Metal- and solvent-free synthesis of aniline- and phenol-based triarylmethanes via Brönsted acidic ionic liquid catalyzed Friedel-Crafts reaction

A beneficial, scalable and efficient methodology for the synthesis of aniline-based triarylmethanes has been established through the double Friedel-Crafts reaction of commercial aldehydes and primary, secondary or tertiary anilines using Brönsted acidic ionic liquid as a powerful catalyst, namely [bsmim][NTf₂]. This protocol was successfully performed under metal- and solvent-free conditions with a broad range of substrates, giving the corresponding aniline-based triarylmethane products in good to excellent yields (up to 99%). In addition, alternative aromatic nucleophiles such as phenols and electron-rich arenes were also studied using this useful approach to achieve a diversity of triarylmethane derivatives in high to excellent yields.

Brönsted acidic ionic liquid catalyzed the synthesis of aniline- and phenol-based triarylmethanes via Friedel-Crafts reaction under metal- and solvent-free conditions.

Dearomative 1,6-addition of P(O)–H to in situ formed p-QM-like ion pairs from 2-benzofuryl-ols to C3-phosphinoyl hydrobenzofurans

We report a dearomative C3-phosphorylation and a tandem C3-phosphorylation/aromatization of 2-benzofuryl-ols with P(O)–H species to afford C3-phosphinoyl hydrobenzofurans and benzofurans, respectively.

Diarylmethane synthesis through Re2O7-catalyzed bimolecular dehydrative Friedel-Crafts reactions

This manuscript describes the application of Re2O7 to the syntheses of diarylmethanes from benzylic alcohols through solvolysis followed by Friedel-Crafts alkylation. The reactions are characterized by broad substrate scope, low catalyst loadings, high chemical yields, and minimal waste generation. The intermediate perrhenate esters are superior leaving groups to chlorides and bromides in these reactions. The polarity and water sequestering capacity of hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol are critical to the success of these processes. Re2O7 is a precatalyst for HOReO3, which serves as a less costly and easily handled promoter for these reactions. Oxorhenium catalysts selectively activate alcohols in the presence of similarly substituted acetates, indicating a unique chemoselectivity and mechanism in comparison to Brønsted acid catalysis.

Selective Cleavage of C-O Bonds in Lignin Catalyzed by Rhenium(VII) Oxide (Re2 O7 )

The selective cleavage of C-O bonds in typical model lignin β-O-4 compounds and deconstruction of a realistic lignin feedstock catalyzed by Re₂ O₇ is described. High yields of C-O cleavage products (up to 97.8 %) from model compounds and oils (76.3 %) from organosolv pinewood lignin were obtained under mild conditions. Evidence for the pathway of this catalytic process is also provided.

Synthesis of annulated bis-indoles through Au(i)/Brønsted acid-catalyzed reactions of (1H-indol-3-yl)(aryl)methanols with 2-(arylethynyl)-1H-indoles

A general method to access annulated bis-indoles from (1H-indol-3-yl)(aryl)methanols and 2-(arylethynyl)-1H-indoles under the catalysis of the Ph₃PAuOTf/Brønsted acid binary catalyst system has been developed. The reaction was found to proceed in a highly efficient manner and benefit from easy-to-make starting materials, broad substrate scope and operational simplicity. The potential of this method has also been exemplified for the synthesis of pyrrole-annulated indoles using 2-(phenylethynyl)-1H-indoles and phenyl(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methanols. Furthermore, the use of a ternary catalyst system, involving PdCl₂/Brønsted acid/Ph₃PAuOTf catalysts, has been realized for the synthesis of annulated bis-indoles starting directly from 2-(phenylbuta-1,3-diyn-1-yl)aniline and (1H-indol-3-yl)(aryl)methanol. Mechanistically, this reaction is very interesting since the overall process involves three different catalytic cycles catalyzed by three different catalysts in a relay fashion.

Synthesis of Functionalized Benzo[b]furans via Oxidative Cyclization of o-Cinnamyl Phenols

Disclosed herein is an efficient synthetic route for the synthesis of functionalized 2-benzyl benzo[b]furans via a regioselective 5-exo-trig intramolecular oxidative cyclization of ortho-cinnamyl phenols using [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] as catalyst and benzoquinone as an oxidant. Further, a sequential ortho-cinnamylation of phenols using cinnamyl alcohols catalyzed by Re₂O₇, followed by an oxidative cyclization using the above Pd catalyst, is performed. The reaction showed broad substrate scope with good to excellent yields.

Palladium-Catalyzed Regioselective C-Benzylation via a Rearrangement Reaction: Access to Benzyl-Substituted Anilines

An unprecedented C-benzylation rearrangement reaction, catalyzed by palladium, is reported. The reaction proceeds by rearrangement leading to the direct synthesis of para or ortho benzyl-substituted N-methylanilines. The product is obtained in high regioselectivity, without the need to use a ligand for the catalytic process.

Re2O7-catalyzed formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition for diverse naphtho[1,2-b]furan-3-carboxamides and their biological evaluation

Diverse naphtho[1,2-b]furan-3-carboxamide derivatives 12a-12q were synthesized in high yield via the novel Re2O7-catalyzed formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition of 1,4-naphthoquinones with β-ketoamides as the key step. This methodology offers several advantages, such as environmentally benign character, the use of a mild catalyst, high yields, and ease of handling. The synthesized compounds were screened for their tyrosinase inhibitory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. The results showed that compound 12c exhibited excellent tyrosinase inhibitory activity with an IC50 of 13.48 μg/mL, which is comparable to that of kojic acid (IC50 = 19.45 μg/mL). Compounds 12a, 12b, and 12i displayed moderate antioxidant activities in a DPPH assay. Compound 12m showed good activity against S. aureus (MIC = 16 μg/mL), and compound 12p was found to be active against E. coli (MIC = 16 μg/mL).

Synthesis of polysubstituted quinolines via transition-metal-free oxidative cycloisomerization of o-cinnamylanilines

An efficient synthesis of 2-aryl 4-substituted quinolines from stable and readily available o-cinnamylanilines, prepared from anilines and cinnamylalcohols, has been developed. The reaction occurred via a regioselective 6-endo-trig intramolecular oxidative cyclization using KO(t)Bu as a mediator and DMSO as an oxidant at rt. The reaction showed a broad substrate scope with good to excellent yields.

Friedel–Crafts alkylation of heteroarenes and arenes with indolyl alcohols for construction of 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles

An intriguing camphorsulfonic acid catalyzed Friedel–Crafts alkylation of arenes with indolyl alcohols has been developed featuring mild reaction conditions, wide substrate scope and high yields.

In situ activation of benzyl alcohols with XtalFluor-E: formation of 1,1-diarylmethanes and 1,1,1-triarylmethanes through Friedel–Crafts benzylation

The Friedel–Crafts benzylation of arenes using benzyl alcohols activated in situ with XtalFluor-E is described. A wide range of 1,1-diarylmethanes and 1,1,1-triarylmethanes were prepared under simple and mild conditions, without the need for a transition metal or a strong Lewis acid.

Organocatalytic arylation of 3-indolylmethanols via chemo- and regiospecific C6-functionalization of indoles

An organocatalytic arylation of 3-indolylmethanols has been established via chemo- and regiospecific C6-functionalization of 2,3-disubstituted indoles, leading to the production of bisindolyloxindoles containing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter in high yields (up to 99% yield). This reaction not only represents the first catalytic arylation of 3-indolylmethanols using 2,3-disubstituted indoles as aromatic nucleophiles but also serves as a good example of direct catalytic C6-functionalization of indoles, which have been scarcely investigated. Besides, this approach also provides an efficient method to access a biologically important 3,3'-disubstituted oxindole framework and a 3',6-linked bisindole skeleton. Furthermore, the investigation of the activation mode suggested that the dual activation of an ion pair and H-bond between the substrates and the catalyst cooperatively contributed to the success of the reaction.