Palladium-catalyzed method for the synthesis of carbazoles via tandem C-H functionalization and C-N bond formation

Tandem Reactions of Electrophilic Indoles toward Indolizines and Their Subsequent Transformations through Pd(II)-Mediated C-H Functionalization to Access Polyring-Fused N-Heterocycles

A simple and efficient synthetic approach for generating a library of structurally novel indolizines has been developed via sequential 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition-ring opening processes. Using this methodology, a series of indolizines bearing different substituents were made in moderate to good yields. The presence of two functionalizable C-H bonds in these indolizine motifs makes them attractive for accessing fused indolizine scaffolds. In this line, we have introduced palladium-mediated site-selective C-H functionalizations, where the N-center and the two C-H centers of the indolizine moiety can be readily functionalized to generate fused N-heterocycles. Utilizing a Pd-mediated dual C-H activation of 5-benzoyl-substituted indolizine afforded 6H-indeno-indolizine, and a tetracene, viz., indolizino[2,1-b]indoles, was produced in the same substrate by the Pd-catalyzed selective C-H amination in the presence of oxygen.

Synthesis of Helical Indolophenanthridines Showing Aggregation-Induced Emission

Helical indolo[2,3-k]- and [3,2-a]phenanthridines were synthesized from amines by amide formation and Morgan-Walls cyclization. The synthetic routes offer the advantage of late-stage derivatization and do not require protecting groups, which makes the compounds directly suitable for further functionalization. The compounds exhibit remarkable acid-dependent bathochromic shifts of the luminescence, solvatochromism, and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behavior, which make them especially interesting candidates for studies toward optoelectronic applications.

Cu-Catalyzed Oxidative C(sp2)-H Cycloetherification of o-Alkenyl Arenols for the Preparation of Fused Furans

A practically efficient, copper-catalyzed approach for the synthesis of functionally embellished indeno-naphthofurans is developed from 1-(1H-inden-3-yl)naphthalen-2-ols. This intramolecular cycloetherification proceeds via C(sp2)-H oxygenation (C-H bond breaking and C-O bond forming), which enables the atom-economical synthesis of poly fused furans in high yields with large substrate diversity in the open air.

Mini-review on the novel synthesis and potential applications of carbazole and its derivatives

Microporous organic polymers (MOPs) are a new type of porous materials, which have advantages of synthetic diversity, chemical and physical stability, microporous size controllability, etc. MOPs indicate broad applications in various fields such as heterogeneous catalysis, gas adsorption, separation, and storage. In recent years, MOPs have attracted an enormous attention in greenhouse gas capture due to their great potential in physisorptive gas storage. Carbazole and its derivatives have been studied extensively as Metal-Organic Polyhedra (MOPs) building blocks due to their unique structural features and versatile functionalization possibilities. This paper systematically reviews the synthesis, characterization and application of carbazole-based polymers, and relationship of structures and properties of these polymers. The application of the polymers in carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture field is analysed taking advantage of their adjustable microporous structure and electron rich properties. This review also provides novel insights regarding functional polymer materials that have high ability of greenhouse gas capture and absorbing selectivity will be obtained by reasonable molecular design and efficient synthesis.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Regioselective para-Amination of Azobenzenes via Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution of Hydrogen

The metal-catalyzed nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hydrogen (S_NArH) via coordination of the substituent on the aromatic ring to the metal catalyst, in terms of reactivity, substrate type, and reaction selectivity, complements the transition metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization that proceeds via C-H metalation but remains an elusive target. Described herein is the development of an unprecedented cobalt-catalyzed para-selective amination of azobenzenes, which is essentially a metal-promoted S_NArH process as revealed by Hammett analysis, thus illustrating the concept that coordination of the substituent on the arene ring to the metal catalyst may result in electrophilic activation of the arene ring toward S_NArH. This cobalt-catalyzed protocol allows the use of a variety of both aliphatic amines and anilines as aminating reagents, tolerates electronically diverse substituents of azobenzene, and furnishes the corresponding products in good yields with a regiospecific selectivity for para-amination.

A Chemo- and Regioselective Tandem [3 + 2]Heteroannulation Strategy for Carbazole Synthesis: Combining Two Mechanistically Distinct Bond-Forming Processes

A modular approach to prepare tri- and tetracyclic carbazoles by a sequential [3 + 2]heteroannulation is described. First, optimization of Pd-catalyzed Buchwald–Hartwig amination followed by C/N-arylation in a one-pot process is established. Second, mechanistic analyses identified the origins of chemo- and regioselective sequential control of both bond-forming steps. Finally, the substrate scope is demonstrated by the preparation of a range of tri- and tetracyclic carbazoles, including expedient access to several natural products and anti-cancer agents.

C–N coupling reactions with arenes through C–H activation: the state-of-the-art versus the principles of green chemistry

Herein, we discuss the state-of-the-art in arene C–N coupling through C–H activation and to what extent it complies with the principles of green chemistry, with a focus on heterogeneously catalysed systems.

Metal-catalyzed reactions for the C(sp2)–N bond formation: achievements of recent years

The review deals with the main catalytic methods for the C(sp2)–N bond formation, including Buchwald–Hartwig palladium-catalyzed amination of aryl and heteroaryl halides, renaissance of the Ullmann chemistry, i.e., the application of catalysis by copper complexes to form the carbon–nitrogen bond, and Chan–Lam reactions of (hetero)arylboronic acids with amines. Also, oxidative amination with C–H activation, which has been booming during the last decade, is addressed. Particular attention is paid to achievements in the application of heterogenized catalysts.

The bibliography includes 350 references.

Combined Experimental and Computational Mechanistic Investigation of the Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Cross-Coupling of Sodium Benzoates with Chloroarenes

Reported herein is a mechanistic investigation into the palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative cross-coupling of sodium benzoates and chloroarenes. The reaction was found to be first-order in Pd. A minimal substituent effect was observed with respect to chloroarene, and the reaction was zero-order with respect to chloroarene. Palladium-mediated decarboxylation was assigned as the turnover-limiting step based on an Eyring plot and density functional theory computations. Catalyst performance was found to vary based on the electrophile, which is best explained by catalyst decomposition at Pd(0). The 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD) ligand contained in the precatalyst CODPd(CH₂TMS)₂ (Pd1) was shown to be a beneficial additive. The bench-stable Buchwald complex XPhosPdG2 could be used with exogenous COD and 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2',4',6'-triisopropylbiphenyl (XPhos) instead of complex Pd1. Adding exogenous XPhos significantly increased the catalyst turnover number and enhanced reproducibility.

Transition-metal-catalyzed ortho-selective C-H functionalization reactions of free phenols

Phenols are important readily available chemical feedstocks and versatile synthetic building blocks for diverse synthetic transformations. Their motifs are prevalent in a diverse array of natural products, pharmaceuticals, functional materials, and privileged chiral ligands. Consequently, the development of facile and direct site-selective C-H bond functionalization of free phenols is of great importance and considerable interest to both industry and academic research. Over the past decades, transition-metal-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization has become as a powerful synthetic tool in organic synthesis. In this review, we provide a brief overview of recent progress in the transition-metal-catalyzed direct ortho-selective C-H functionalization of free phenols.

Electrochemical Dehydrogenative C(sp2 )-H Amination

A transition-metal-free direct electrolytic C-H amination involving an electrochemically generated nitrenium ion intermediate has been developed. The electrosynthesis takes place in the absence of any organoiodine catalysts and is enabled by an in situ generated electrolyte. A novel, efficient intramolecular and intermolecular C-H amination has been demonstrated using a simple reaction setup.

Synthesis and Optical Properties of Axially Chiral Bibenzo[b]carbazole Derivatives

Pure organic materials with the circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) property have attracted significant research interest over the past few decades. In this study, a series of axially chiral bibenzo[b]carbazole derivatives were synthesized by adopting palladium- and iridium-catalyzed direct C-H functionalization reactions as the key steps. These compounds exhibited CPL characteristics with considerably large dissymmetry factors up to 2.81 × 10^-2 in the solid state, indicating the formation of well-ordered aggregates.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed N-Nitroso Directed C-H Arylation for Facile Construction of Diverse N-Hetero Biaryl Compounds

A Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H arylation reaction of N-nitrosoanilines has been developed in which arylboronic acids were used as arylation reagents. It provides an efficient strategy for the synthesis of N-nitroso-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-amine, which is an important starting material for the synthesis of N-hetero biaryl compounds, such as 2-amine-1,1'-biphenyl, carbazole, phenanthridone. This protocol can be applied to various N-alkyl substituted N-nitrosoanilines and N-nitrosoanilines with substituents on the phenyl ring. Arylboronic acids with both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups are tolerated.

Palladium-catalyzed C–H bond activation for the assembly of N-aryl carbazoles with aromatic amines as nitrogen sources

A convenient and efficient palladium-catalyzed C–H bond activation for the assembly of N-aryl carbazole is reported, in which two C–N bonds were formed under one set of conditions.

Copper-catalyzed cascade C–N coupling/C–H amination: one pot synthesis of imidazo[1,2-b]indazole

A one-pot, two-fold C–N bond formation protocol has been developed for the construction of imidazo[1,2-b]indazole derivatives.

Electrochemical oxidation induced intermolecular aromatic C-H imidation

The dehydrogenative aryl C-H/N-H cross-coupling is a powerful synthetic methodology to install nitrogen functionalities into aromatic compounds. Herein, we report an electrochemical oxidation induced intermolecular cross-coupling between aromatics and sulfonimides with high regioselectivity through N-radical addition pathway under external-oxidant-free and catalyst-free conditions. A wide variety of arenes, heteroarenes, alkenes and sulfonimides are applicable scaffolds in this transformation. In addition, aryl sulfonamides or amines (aniline derivatives) can be obtained through different deprotection process. The cyclic voltammetry mechanistic study indicates that the N-centered imidyl radicals are generated via proton-coupled electron transfer event jointly mediated by tetrabutylammonium acetate and anode oxidation process.

The dehydrogenative C-H/N-H cross-coupling serves to install nitrogen functionalities into arenes with the highest atom economy. Here, the authors report an electrochemical cross-coupling between aromatics and sulfonimides through an N-radical addition pathway under oxidant- and catalyst-free conditions.

Electrooxidative para-selective C-H/N-H cross-coupling with hydrogen evolution to synthesize triarylamine derivatives

Oxidative C–H/N–H cross-coupling is one of the most atom-economical methods for the construction of C–N bonds. However, traditional oxidative C–H/N–H cross-coupling either required the use of strong oxidants or high reaction temperature, which makes it difficult to tolerate redox active functional groups. Herein we describe an external chemical oxidant-free electrooxidative C–H/N–H cross-coupling between electron-rich arenes and diarylamine derivatives. Under undivided electrolytic conditions, a series of triarylamine derivatives are produced from electron-rich arenes and diarylamine derivatives with high functional group tolerance. Both of the coupling partners are redox active in oxidative C–H/N–H cross-coupling, which enables high regioselectivity in C–N bond formation. Exclusive para-selectivity is observed for the coupling with anilines.

Oxidative C–H/N–H cross-coupling is a convenient method to construct C–N bonds, however this is rarely achieved in a sustainable manner. Here, the authors show an oxidant-free electrochemical C–H/N–H cross-coupling between electron-rich arenes and diarylamines to afford triarylamines with exclusive para-selectivity.

Recent advances in intramolecular C–O/C–N/C–S bond formationviaC–H functionalization

This review presents the construction of C–X bonds (X = O/N/S) by using intramolecular C–H functionalization for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds.

A comprehensive overview of directing groups applied in metal-catalysed C-H functionalisation chemistry

The present review is devoted to summarizing the recent advances (2015-2017) in the field of metal-catalysed group-directed C-H functionalisation. In order to clearly showcase the molecular diversity that can now be accessed by means of directed C-H functionalisation, the whole is organized following the directing groups installed on a substrate. Its aim is to be a comprehensive reference work, where a specific directing group can be easily found, together with the transformations which have been carried out with it. Hence, the primary format of this review is schemes accompanied with a concise explanatory text, in which the directing groups are ordered in sections according to their chemical structure. The schemes feature typical substrates used, the products obtained as well as the required reaction conditions. Importantly, each example is commented on with respect to the most important positive features and drawbacks, on aspects such as selectivity, substrate scope, reaction conditions, directing group removal, and greenness. The targeted readership are both experts in the field of C-H functionalisation chemistry (to provide a comprehensive overview of the progress made in the last years) and, even more so, all organic chemists who want to introduce the C-H functionalisation way of thinking for a design of straightforward, efficient and step-economic synthetic routes towards molecules of interest to them. Accordingly, this review should be of particular interest also for scientists from industrial R&D sector. Hence, the overall goal of this review is to promote the application of C-H functionalisation reactions outside the research groups dedicated to method development and establishing it as a valuable reaction archetype in contemporary R&D, comparable to the role cross-coupling reactions play to date.

Biphilic Organophosphorus-Catalyzed Intramolecular Csp2-H Amination: Evidence for a Nitrenoid in Catalytic Cadogan Cyclizations

A small-ring phosphacycloalkane (1,2,2,3,4,4-hexamethylphosphetane, 3) catalyzes intramolecular C-N bond forming heterocyclization of o-nitrobiaryl and -styrenyl derivatives in the presence of a hydrosilane terminal reductant. The method provides scalable access to diverse carbazole and indole compounds under operationally trivial homogeneous organocatalytic conditions, as demonstrated by 17 examples conducted on 1 g scale. In situ NMR reaction monitoring studies support a mechanism involving catalytic P^III/P^V═O cycling, where tricoordinate phosphorus compound 3 represents the catalytic resting state. For the catalytic conversion of o-nitrobiphenyl to carbazole, the kinetic reaction order was determined for phosphetane catalyst 3 (first order), substrate (first order), and phenylsilane (zeroth order). For differentially 5-substituted 2-nitrobiphenyls, the transformation is accelerated by electron-withdrawing substituents (Hammett factor ρ = +1.5), consistent with the accrual of negative charge on the nitro substrate in the rate-determining step. DFT modeling of the turnover-limiting deoxygenation event implicates a rate-determining (3 + 1) cheletropic addition between the phosphetane catalyst 3 and 2-nitrobiphenyl substrate to form an unobserved pentacoordinate spiro-bicyclic dioxazaphosphetane, which decomposes via (2 + 2) cycloreversion giving 1 equiv of phosphetane P-oxide 3·[O] and 2-nitrosobiphenyl. Experimental and computational investigations into the C-N bond forming event suggest the involvement of an oxazaphosphirane (2 + 1) adduct between 3 and 2-nitrosobiphenyl, which evolves through loss of phosphetane P-oxide 3·[O] to give the observed carbazole product via C-H insertion in a nitrene-like fashion.

Ligand-Promoted Palladium-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation Reactions

Palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidation reactions have been the focus of industrial application and extensive research efforts for nearly 60 years. A significant transition occurred in this field approximately 20 years ago, with the introduction of catalysts supported by ancillary ligands. The ligands play crucial roles in the reactions, including promotion of direct oxidation of palladium(0) by O₂, bypassing the typical requirement for Cu salts or related redox cocatalysts to facilitate oxidation of the reduced Pd catalyst; facilitation of key bond-breaking and bond-forming steps during substrate oxidation; and modulation of chemo-, regio-, or stereoselectivity of a reaction. The use of ligands has contributed to significant expansion of the scope of accessible aerobic oxidation reactions. Increased understanding of the role of ancillary ligands should promote the development of new synthetic transformations, enable improved control over the reaction selectivity, and improve catalyst activity and stability. This review surveys the different ligands that have been used to support palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidation reactions and, where possible, describes mechanistic insights into the role played by the ancillary ligand.