High turnover number and rapid, room-temperature amination of chloroarenes using saturated carbene ligands

Pd-Catalyzed Cross-Couplings: On the Importance of the Catalyst Quantity Descriptors, mol % and ppm

This Review examines parts per million (ppm) palladium concentrations in catalytic cross-coupling reactions and their relationship with mole percentage (mol %). Most studies in catalytic cross-coupling chemistry have historically focused on the concentration ratio between (pre)catalyst and the limiting reagent (substrate), expressed as mol %. Several recent papers have outlined the use of “ppm level” palladium as an alternative means of describing catalytic cross-coupling reaction systems. This led us to delve deeper into the literature to assess whether “ppm level” palladium is a practically useful descriptor of catalyst quantities in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Indeed, we conjectured that many reactions could, unknowingly, have employed low “ppm levels” of palladium (pre)catalyst, and generally, what would the spread of ppm palladium look like across a selection of studies reported across the vast array of the cross-coupling chemistry literature. In a few selected examples, we have examined other metal catalyst systems for comparison with palladium.

Gold(I)-Catalyzed Synthesis of 4H-Benzo[d][1,3]oxazines and Biological Evaluation of Activity in Breast Cancer Cells

The first gold(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization procedure applied to the synthesis of substituted 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazines has been developed starting from N-(2-alkynyl)aryl benzamides. The chemoselective oxygen cyclization via the 6-exo-dig pathway yielded the observed heterocycles in modest to good chemical yields under very mild reaction conditions. The obtained oxazines were assayed on the breast cancer (BC)-derived cell lines MCF-7 and HCC1954 with differential biological activity. The newly synthesized 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazine compounds showed several degrees of cell proliferation inhibition with a remarkable effect for those compounds having a substituted aryl at C-2 of the molecules. The 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazines showed an IC₅₀ ranking from 3.1 to 95 μM in MCF-7 and HCC1954 cells. These compounds represent potential drug candidates for BC treatment. However, additional assays are needed to elucidate their complete effect over the cellular and molecular hallmarks of cancer.

Halogen-Bridged Methylnaphthyl Palladium Dimers as Versatile Catalyst Precursors in Coupling Reactions

Halogen‐bridged methylnaphthyl (MeNAP) palladium dimers are presented as multipurpose Pd‐precursors, ideally suited for catalytic method development and preparative organic synthesis. By simply mixing with phosphine or carbene ligands, they are in situ converted into well‐defined monoligated complexes. Their catalytic performance was benchmarked against state‐of‐the‐art systems in challenging Buchwald–Hartwig, Heck, Suzuki and Negishi couplings, and ketone arylations. Their use enabled record‐setting activities, beyond those achievable by optimization of the ligand alone. The MeNAP catalysts permit syntheses of tetra‐ortho‐substituted arenes and bulky anilines in near‐quantitative yields at room temperature, allow mono‐arylations of small ketones, and enable so far elusive cross‐couplings of secondary alkyl boronic acids with aryl chlorides.

Benzyloxycalix[8]arene supported Pd–NHC cinnamyl complexes for Buchwald–Hartwig C–N cross-couplings

The synthesis of a Pd–NHC cinnamyl-complex supported on a calix[8]arene and its use in Buchwald–Hartwig amination is reported. Thanks to the support, the products were isolated with low levels of residual palladium, in some cases below standards.

Aryl Amination Using Soluble Weak Base Enabled by a Water-Assisted Mechanism

The amination of aryl halides has become one of the most commonly practiced C-N bond-forming reactions in pharmaceutical and laboratory syntheses. The widespread use of strong or poorly soluble inorganic bases for amine activation nevertheless complicates the compatibility of this important reaction class with sensitive substrates as well as applications in flow and automated synthesis, to name a few. We report a palladium-catalyzed C-N coupling using Et₃N as a weak, soluble base, which allows a broad substrate scope that includes bromo- and chloro(hetero)arenes, primary anilines, secondary amines, and amide type nucleophiles together with tolerance for a range of base-sensitive functional groups. Mechanistic data have established a unique pathway for these reactions in which water serves multiple beneficial roles. In particular, ionization of a neutral catalytic intermediate via halide displacement by H₂O generates, after proton loss, a coordinatively unsaturated Pd-OH species that can bind amine substrate triggering intramolecular N-H heterolysis. This water-assisted pathway operates efficiently with even weak terminal bases, such as Et₃N. The use of a simple, commercially available ligand, PAd₃, is key to this water-assisted mechanism by promoting coordinative unsaturation in catalytic intermediates responsible for the heterolytic activation of strong element-hydrogen bonds, which enables broad compatibility of carbon-heteroatom cross-coupling reactions with sensitive substrates and functionality.

Probing the potential of metalla-N-heterocyclic carbenes towards activation of enthalpically strong bonds

Density functional theory calculations are employed to explore the reactivity of metalla-N-heterocyclic carbenes (MNHCs) towards activation of a variety of small molecules (H2, NH3, PH3, SiH3Ph and CH4). All the MNHCs considered are found to have a stable singlet ground state and possess suitable electronic properties for their application in small molecule activation. The calculated energy barriers of E-H (E = H, C, N, Si, P) activation for the MNHCs are found to be in agreement with those of the experimentally evaluated cyclic alkyl(amino)carbene (CAAC) and diamidocarbenes (DACs), thereby indicating the activating effect of the incorporation of an ancillary metal center within a cyclic NHC, and highlighting a new, underexplored strategy in achieving difficult bond activations with carbenes.

The Buchwald-Hartwig Amination After 25 Years

The Pd-catalyzed coupling of aryl (pseudo)halides and amines is one of the most powerful approaches for the formation of C(sp² )-N bonds. The pioneering reports from Migita and subsequently Buchwald and Hartwig on the coupling of aminostannanes and aryl bromides rapidly evolved into general and practical tin-free protocols with broad substrate scope, which led to the establishment of what is now known as the Buchwald-Hartwig amination. This Minireview summarizes the evolution of this cross-coupling reaction over the course of the past 25 years and illustrates some of the most recent applications of this well-established methodology.

Diversity-oriented synthesis of heterocycles and macrocycles by controlled reactions of oxetanes with α-iminocarbenes

Using N-sulfonyl triazoles as substrates, compounds as diverse as 2-imino tetrahydrofurans, 13- and 15-membered ring aza-macrocycles can be prepared selectively via formal [1 + 4], [5 + 4 + 4] and [3 + 4 + 4 + 4] condensations of α-imino carbenes and oxetanes under Rh(ii)-catalysis or thermal activation. Spirocyclic N-heterocycles are also accessible by means of Buchwald-Hartwig and Pictet-Spengler cyclizations. By reaction control, substrate selection or further derivatization, a large variety of chemical structures is thus achievable. Finally, using triazoles reacting under thermal activation, interesting mechanistic insight was obtained.

A highly efficient heterogeneous copper-catalysed cascade reaction of aryl iodides with acetamidine hydrochloride leading to primary arylamines

A highly efficient heterogeneous copper-catalysed cascade reaction of aryl iodides with acetamidine hydrochloride was achieved in DMF in the presence of 10 mol% of an MCM-41-immobilised L-proline-copper(I) complex (MCM-41-L-proline-CuI) with Cs2CO3 as base, yielding a variety of primary arylamines in good to excellent yields. The new heterogeneous copper complex can be easily prepared from commercially readily available and inexpensive reagents, recovered by a simple filtration of the reaction solution and used at least seven more times without any decrease in activity.

Biaryl Phosphine Based Pd(II) Amido Complexes: The Effect of Ligand Structure on Reductive Elimination

Kinetic studies conducted under both catalytic and stoichiometric conditions were employed to investigate the reductive elimination of RuPhos (2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2',6'-diisopropoxybiphenyl) based palladium amido complexes. These complexes were found to be the resting state in Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions for a range of aryl halides and diarylamines. Hammett plots demonstrated that Pd(II) amido complexes derived from electron-deficient aryl halides or electron-rich diarylamines undergo faster rates of reductive elimination. A Hammett study employing SPhos (2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2',6'-dimethoxybiphenyl) and analogues of SPhos demonstrated that electron donation of the "lower" aryl group is key to the stability of the amido complex with respect to reductive elimination. The rate of reductive elimination of an amido complex based on a BrettPhos-RuPhos hybrid ligand (2-(dicyclohexylphosphino)-3,6-dimethoxy-2',6'-diisopropoxybiphenyl) demonstrated that the presence of the 3-methoxy substituent on the "upper" ring of the ligand slows the rate of reductive elimination. These studies indicate that reductive elimination occurs readily for more nucleophilic amines such as N-alkyl anilines, N,N-dialkyl amines, and primary aliphatic amines using this class of ligands.

Competing amination and C–H arylation pathways in Pd/xantphos-catalyzed transformations of binaphthyl triflates: switchable routes to chiral amines and helicene derivatives

A Pd(OAc)₂/xantphos catalyst system can be tuned to promote either amination or C–H arylation of hindered binaphthyl 2-triflates, with xantphos's hemilability playing a key role.

A new library of arsine, stibine-stabilized N-heterocyclic carbene palladium complexes: synthesis, structures and activities in C-C and C-N coupling reactions

A series of new N-heterocyclic carbene palladium complexes bearing AsPh3 and SbPh3 functions PdCl2(IMes)(AsPh3) (1a), PdCl2(IMes)(SbPh3) (1b), PdCl2(IPr)(AsPh3) (1c), PdCl2(IPr)(SbPh3) (1d), PdCl2(SIMes)(AsPh3) (2a), PdCl2(SIMes)(SbPh3) (2b), PdCl2(SIPr)(AsPh3) (2c), and PdCl2(SIPr)(SbPh3) (2d) (IMes = N,N'-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene; IPr = N,N'-bis-(2,6-di(iso-propyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene; SIMes = N,N'-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolidin-2-ylidene; SIPr = N,N'-bis-(2,6-di(iso-propyl)phenyl)imidazolidin-2-ylidene) was synthesized and fully characterized by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The catalytic potential of these arsine and stibine-stabilized carbene palladium complexes for Pd-mediated transformations was investigated with various substrates in the Hiyama cross-coupling reactions and Buchwald-Hartwig aminations. The results demonstrate that these complexes show high catalytic activity and good tolerance to various chemical functions.

Direct oxidative nitration of aromatic sulfonamides under mild conditions

This efficient reaction proceeds under very mild conditions with low cost nitration reagents and can be applied in gram-scale preparation.

A rapid and modified approach for C-7 amination and amidation of 4-methyl-7-nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxy coumarins under microwave irradiation

A rapid approach for the synthesis of an array of 4-methyl-7-substituted coumarins has been developed.

Large yet flexible N-heterocyclic carbene ligands for palladium catalysis

A straightforward and scalable eight-step synthesis of new N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) has been developed from inexpensive and readily available 2-nitro-m-xylene. This process allows for the preparation of a novel class of NHCs coined ITent ("Tent" for "tentacular") of which the well-known IMes (N,N'-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), IPr (N,N'-bis(2,6-di(2-propyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) and IPent (N,N'-bis(2,6-di(3-pentyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) NHCs are the simplest and already known congeners. The synthetic route was successfully used for the preparation of three members of the ITent family: IPent (N,N'-bis(2,6-di(3-pentyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), IHept (N,N'-bis(2,6-di(4-heptyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) and INon (N,N'-bis(2,6-di(5-nonyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene). The electronic and steric properties of each NHC were studied through the preparation of both nickel and palladium complexes. Finally the effect of these new ITent ligands in Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura and Buchwald-Hartwig cross-couplings was investigated.

BippyPhos: a single ligand with unprecedented scope in the Buchwald-Hartwig amination of (hetero)aryl chlorides

Over the past two decades, considerable attention has been given to the development of new ligands for the palladium-catalyzed arylation of amines and related NH-containing substrates (i.e., Buchwald-Hartwig amination). The generation of structurally diverse ligands, by research groups in both academia and industry, has facilitated the accommodation of sterically and electronically divergent substrates including ammonia, hydrazine, amines, amides, and NH heterocycles. Despite these achievements, problems with catalyst generality persist and access to multiple ligands is necessary to accommodate all of these NH-containing substrates. In our quest to address this significant limitation we identified the BippyPhos/[Pd(cinnamyl)Cl]2 catalyst system as being capable of catalyzing the amination of a variety of functionalized (hetero)aryl chlorides, as well as bromides and tosylates, at moderate to low catalyst loadings. The successful transformations described herein include primary and secondary amines, NH heterocycles, amides, ammonia and hydrazine, thus demonstrating the largest scope in the NH-containing coupling partner reported for a single Pd/ligand catalyst system. We also established BippyPhos/[Pd(cinnamyl)Cl]2 as exhibiting the broadest demonstrated substrate scope for metal-catalyzed cross-coupling of (hetero)aryl chlorides with NH indoles. Furthermore, the remarkable ability of BippyPhos/[Pd(cinnamyl)Cl]2 to catalyze both the selective monoarylation of ammonia and the N-arylation of indoles was exploited in the development of a new one-pot, two-step synthesis of N-aryl heterocycles from ammonia, ortho-alkynylhalo(hetero)arenes and (hetero) aryl halides through tandem N-arylation/hydroamination reactions. Although the scope in the NH-containing coupling partner is broad, BippyPhos/[Pd(cinnamyl)Cl]2 also displays a marked selectivity profile that was exploited in the chemoselective monoarylation of substrates featuring two chemically distinct NH-containing moieties.

Synthetic route to chiral indolines via ring-opening/C-N cyclization of activated 2-haloarylaziridines

A practical approach for the synthesis of 3-substituted indolines via regio- and stereoselective SN2-type ring-opening of 2-(2-halophenyl)-N-tosylaziridines with heteroatomic nucleophiles (O, N, and S) followed by palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C-N cyclization is reported in excellent yields (up to >99%) and enantiomeric excess (ee 99%).