A Mild Cu(I)-Catalyzed Regioselective Diamination of Conjugated Dienes

Photoredox-catalyzed unsymmetrical diamination of alkenes for access to vicinal diamines

A photoredox-catalyzed unsymmetrical diamination of alkenes by using N-aminopyridinium salts and nitriles as the amination reagents has been developed. Various vicinal diamines were obtained in moderate to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, this protocol could be applied in the late-stage modification of pharmaceuticals and natural products. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that this methodology may undergo a radical pathway followed by a Ritter-type reaction.

Copper-Catalyzed Selective Three-Component 1,2-Phosphonoazidation of 1,3-Dienes

We report a copper-catalyzed selective 1,2-phosphonoazidation of conjugated dienes. This three-component reaction is achieved by using readily available P(O)-H compounds and bench-stable NaN3. Salient features of this strategy include its mild reaction conditions, broad functional group tolerance, and high chemoselectivity and regioselectivity. Moreover, the compatibility with the late-stage functionalization of drug molecules, the potential for scalable production, and the feasibility of further modifications of the products underscore the practical utility of this protocol in synthetic applications.

Tunable [3+2] and [4+2] annulations for pyrrolidine and piperidine synthesis

N-heterocycles are privileged pharmaceutical scaffolds in drug discovery and development. We disclose here divergent intermolecular coupling strategies that can access diverse N-heterocycles directly from olefins. The radical-to-polar mechanistic switching is key for the divergent cyclization processes. These distinctive annulations result in the coupling of alkenes with simple bifunctional reagents for divergent N-heterocycle syntheses.

Bifunctional sulfilimines enable synthesis of multiple N-heterocycles from alkenes

Intramolecular cyclization of nitrogen-containing molecules onto pendant alkenes is an efficient strategy for the construction of N-heterocycles, which are of paramount importance in, for example, pharmaceuticals and materials. Similar intermolecular cyclization reactions, however, are scarcer for nitrogen building blocks, including N-centred radicals, and divergent and modular versions are not established. Here we report the use of sulfilimines as bifunctional N-radical precursors for cyclization reactions with alkenes to produce N-unprotected heterocycles in a single step through photoredox catalysis. Structurally diverse sulfilimines can be synthesized in a single step, and subsequently engage with alkenes to afford synthetically valuable five-, six- and seven-membered heterocycles. The broad and diverse scope is achievable by a radical-polar crossover annulation enabled by the bifunctional character of the reagents, which distinguishes itself from all other N-centred-radical-based reactions. The modular synthesis of the sulfilimines allows for larger structural diversity of N-heterocycle products than is currently achievable with other single cyclization methods.

Nitrogen-Centered Radicals in Functionalization of sp2 Systems: Generation, Reactivity, and Applications in Synthesis

The chemistry of nitrogen-centered radicals (NCRs) has plentiful applications in organic synthesis, and they continue to expand as our understanding of these reactive species increases. The utility of these reactive intermediates is demonstrated in the recent advances in C-H amination and the (di)amination of alkenes. Synthesis of previously challenging structures can be achieved by efficient functionalization of sp² moieties without prefunctionalization, allowing for faster and more streamlined synthesis. This Review addresses the generation, reactivity, and application of NCRs, including, but not limited to, iminyl, aminyl, amidyl, and aminium species. Contributions from early discovery up to the most recent examples have been highlighted, covering radical initiation, thermolysis, photolysis, and, more recently, photoredox catalysis. Radical-mediated intermolecular amination of (hetero)arenes can occur with a variety of complex amine precursors, generating aniline derivatives, an important class of structures for drug discovery and development. Functionalization of olefins is achievable in high anti-Markovnikov regioselectivity and allows access to difunctionalized structures when the intermediate carbon radicals are trapped. Additionally, the reactivity of NCRs can be harnessed for the rapid construction of N-heterocycles such as pyrrolidines, phenanthridines, quinoxalines, and quinazolinones.

A Cu-Promoted C-N Coupling of Boron Esters and Diaziridinone: An Approach to Aryl Ureas

A novel Cu-promoted C-N coupling between boron esters and di-tert-butyldiaziridinone is described. A wide variety of aryl ureas can be readily obtained under mild conditions with up to a 92% yield.

Recent developments in the difunctionalization of alkenes with C–N bond formation

Various alkene difunctionalization reactions involving nitridization, diamination, azidation, oxyamination, carboamination, aminohalogenation, and nitration are introduced in this review.

Copper-Catalyzed 1,2-Amino Oxygenation of 1,3-Dienes: A Chemo-, Regio-, and Site-Selective Three-Component Reaction with O-Acylhydroxylamines and Carboxylic Acids

A three-component reaction for 1,2-amino oxygenation of 1,3-dienes has been achieved using O-acyl hydroxylamines and carboxylic acids. The reaction occurs through copper-catalyzed amination of olefins followed by nucleophilic addition of carboxylic acids, offering high levels of chemo-, regio-, and site-selectivity. The method is effective for both terminal and internal 1,3-dienes, including those bearing multiple, unsymmetrical substituents. The amino oxygenation conditions also exhibited remarkable selectivity toward 1,3-dienes over alkenes, good tolerance of sensitive functional groups, and reliable scalability.

Cross-Coupling of Heteroatomic Electrophiles

At the advent of cross-coupling chemistry, carbon electrophiles based on halides or pseudohalides were the only suitable electrophilic coupling partners. Almost two decades passed before the first cross-coupling reaction of heteroatom-based electrophiles was reported. Early work by Murai and Tanaka initiated investigations into silicon electrophiles. Narasaka and Johnson pioneered the way in the use of nitrogen electrophiles, while Suginome began the exploration of boron electrophiles. The chemistry reviewed within provides perspective on the use of heteroatomic electrophiles, specifically silicon-, nitrogen-, boron-, oxygen-, and phosphorus-based electrophiles in transition-metal catalyzed cross-coupling. For the purposes of this review, a loose definition of cross-coupling is utilized; all reactions minimally proceed via an oxidative addition event. Although not cross-coupling in a traditional sense, we have also included catalyzed reactions that join a heteroatomic electrophile with an in situ generated nucleophile. However, for brevity, those involving hydroamination or C-H activation as a key step are largely excluded. This work includes primary references published up to and including October 2018.

Intermolecular alkene difunctionalizations for the synthesis of saturated heterocycles

Saturated heterocycles are important structural motifs in a range of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. As a result of their importance, syntheses of these molecules have been extensively investigated. Despite the progress in this area, the most adopted strategies are still often characterized with inefficiency or relying on functionalizations with specialized precursors and pre-existing cores. This review highlights a dynamic synthetic strategy for the direct synthesis of saturated heterocycles from intermolecular alkene difunctionalizations. These coupling processes are highly modular, and therefore, offer perhaps the most convenient means to prepare diverse heterocyclic structures in compound libraries for bioactivity evoluations.

Metal-catalyzed regiodivergent organic reactions

This review discusses metal-catalysed regiodivergent additions, allylic substitutions, CH-activation, cross-couplings and intra- or intermolecular cyclisations.

Recent Advances in the Catalytic Synthesis of Imidazolidin-2-ones and Benzimidazolidin-2-ones

2-Imidazolidinone and its analogues are omnipresent structural motifs of pharmaceuticals, natural products, chiral auxiliaries, and intermediates in organic syntheses. Over the years, continuous efforts have been addressed to the development of sustainable and more efficient protocols for the synthesis of these heterocycles. This review gives a summary of the catalytic strategies to access imidazolidin-2-ones and benzimidazolidin-2-ones that have appeared in the literature from 2010 to 2018. Particularly important contributions beyond the timespan will be mentioned. The review is organized in four main chapters that identify the most common approaches to imidazolidin-2-one derivatives: (1) the direct incorporation of the carbonyl group into 1,2-diamines, (2) the diamination of olefins, (3) the intramolecular hydroamination of linear urea derivatives and (4) aziridine ring expansion. Methods not included in this classification will be addressed in the miscellaneous section.

Copper-catalyzed oxidative carbon–heteroatom bond formation: a recent update

This review updates recent advances in Cu-catalyzed (anaerobic) oxidative carbon–heteroatom bond formation on sp³- and sp²-C–H bonds as well as alkenes, classified according to the types of stoichiometric oxidants.

Catalytic diamination of olefins via N-N bond activation

Vicinal diamines are important structural motifs present in various biologically and chemically significant molecules. Direct diamination of olefins provides an effective approach to this class of compounds. Unlike well-established oxidation processes such as epoxidation, dihydroxylation, and aminohydroxylation, direct diamination of olefins had remained a long-standing challenge and had been less well developed.

In this Account, we summarize our recent studies on Pd(0)- and Cu(I)-catalyzed diaminations of olefins using di-tert-butyldiaziridinone and its related analogues as nitrogen sources via N–N bond activation. A wide variety of imidazolidinones, cyclic sulfamides, indolines, imidazolinones, and cyclic guanidines can be obtained from conjugated dienes and terminal olefins. For conjugated dienes, the diamination proceeds regioselectively at the internal double bond with the Pd(0) catalyst. Mechanistic studies show that the diamination likely involves a four-membered Pd(II) species resulting from the insertion of Pd(0) into the N–N bond of di-tert-butyldiaziridinone. Interestingly, the Cu(I)-catalyzed process occurs regioselectively at either the terminal or internal double bond depending on the reaction conditions via two mechanistically distinct pathways. The Cu(I) catalyst cleaves the N–N bond of di-tert-butyldiaziridinone to form a Cu(II) nitrogen radical and a four-membered Cu(III) species, which are likely in rapid equilibrium. The Cu(II) nitrogen radical and the four-membered Cu(III) species lead to the terminal and internal diamination, respectively.

Terminal olefins are effectively C–H diaminated at the allylic and homoallylic carbons with Pd(0) as catalyst and di-tert-butyldiaziridinone as nitrogen source, likely involving a diene intermediate generated in situ from the terminal olefin via formation of a π-allyl Pd complex and subsequent β-hydride elimination. When di-tert-butylthiadiaziridine 1,1-dioxide is used as nitrogen source, cyclic sulfamides are installed at the terminal carbons via a dehydrogenative diamination process. When α-methylstyrenes (lacking homoallylic hydrogens) react with Pd(0) and di-tert-butyldiaziridinone, spirocyclic indolines are formed with generation of four C–N bonds and one spiro quaternary carbon via allylic and aromatic C–H amination.

With Cu(I) catalysts, various terminal olefins can be effectively diaminated at the double bonds using di-tert-butyldiaziridinone, di-tert-butylthiadiaziridine 1,1-dioxide, and 1,2-di-tert-butyl-3-(cyanimino)-diaziridine as nitrogen sources, giving a variety of imidazolidinones, cyclic sulfamides, and cyclic guanidines in good yields, respectively. In the case of monosubstituted olefins using di-tert-butyldiaziridinone as nitrogen source, the resulting diamination products (imidazolidinones) are readily dehydrogenated under the reaction conditions, leading to the corresponding imidazolinones in good yields. Esters can also be diaminated to form the corresponding hydantoins with di-tert-butyldiaziridinone in the presence of a Cu(I) catalyst. A radical mechanism is likely to be operating in these Cu(I)-catalyzed reaction processes.

Asymmetric processes have also been developed for the Pd(0)- and Cu(I)-catalyzed diamination reactions. Biologically active compounds such as (+)-CP-99,994 and Sch 425078 have been synthesized via the diamination processes. The diamination reactions described herein provide efficient methods to access a wide variety of vicinal diamines from readily available olefins and show great potential for synthetic applications.

Copper-catalyzed oxidative homo- and cross-coupling of Grignard reagents using diaziridinone

Transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are among the most powerful synthetic transformations. This paper describes an efficient copper-catalyzed homo- and cross-coupling of Grignard reagents with di-tert-butyldiaziridinone as oxidant under mild conditions, giving the coupling products in good to excellent yields. The reaction process has a broad substrate scope and is also effective for the C(sp)-C(sp(3)) coupling.

Cu(I)-catalyzed sequential diamination and dehydrogenation of terminal olefins: a facile approach to imidazolinones

Diamination of olefins presents a powerful strategy to access vicinal diamines. During the last decade, metal-catalyzed diamination of olefins has received considerable attention. This study describes an efficient sequential diamination and dehydrogenation process of terminal olefins with CuBr as catalyst and di-tert-butyldiaziridinone as nitrogen source, providing a facile and viable approach to a variety of imidazolin-2-ones, which are important structural motifs present in various biologically active molecules.

A facile copper(I)-catalyzed homocoupling of terminal alkynes to 1,3-diynes with diaziridinone under mild conditions

A novel and efficient Cu(I)-catalyzed oxidative homocoupling of terminal alkynes with diaziridinone as an oxidant is described. Various terminal alkynes can be transformed into the corresponding 1,3-diynes in good yields. The reaction process is base-free, operationally simple, and amenable to the gram scale.

Facile Cu(I)-catalyzed oxidative coupling of anilines to azo compounds and hydrazines with diaziridinone under mild conditions

A mild and highly efficient Cu(I)-catalyzed oxidative coupling of anilines is described. Various primary and secondary anilines can be efficiently coupled under mild conditions to the corresponding azo compounds and hydrazines in high yields. This method provides a direct and practical access to these compounds and is also amenable to gram scale with no special precautions to exclude air or moisture.

Highly efficient Cu(I)-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols to ketones and aldehydes with diaziridinone

A novel and efficient Cu(I)-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols has been achieved with di-tert-butyldiaziridinone as the oxidant under mild conditions. A wide variety of primary and secondary alcohols with various functional groups can be oxidized to aldehydes and ketones in high yields. The reaction proceeds under neutral conditions making it compatible with acid- or base-sensitive substrates, and it is amenable to gram scale.

Development of intramolecular vicinal diamination of alkenes: from palladium to bromine catalysis

Palladium catalysis has been instrumental in the development of the intramolecular diamination of alkenes. Reagent combinations of a palladium catalyst and iodosobenzene diacetate or copper(II) salts, respectively, represent the broad applicability and mechanistic variation. Recent work has established alternative copper and bromine catalysts. The occupation with this reaction has also contributed to the development of high oxidation state metal catalysis in alkene difunctionalization and significantly broadened the spectrum of Pd-catalyzed C-N bond-forming reactions in general.

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of cyclic sulfamides from conjugated dienes

This paper describes the catalytic asymmetric diamination of alkyl dienes using N,N'-di-tert-butylthiadiaziridine 1,1-dioxide in the presence of Pd(0) and a chiral phosphoramidite ligand to give cyclic sulfamides in high yield and high ee. The diamination is also amenable to gram scale.

Synthesis of differentially substituted 1,2-diamines through advances in C-H amination technology

A general, high yielding method for the synthesis of 1,2-diamine derivatives is described that capitalizes on selective, rhodium-catalyzed C-H insertion of hydroxylamine-based sulfamate esters. The resulting Troc-protected oxathiadiazinane heterocycles are easily modified and can be reduced under the mild action of NaI to afford differentially substituted diamine products. This technology offers a number of salient improvements over related C-H and π-bond amination tactics for diamine synthesis.

Copper-catalyzed oxaziridine-mediated oxidation of C-H bonds

The highly regio- and chemoselective oxidation of activated C-H bonds has been observed via copper-catalyzed reactions of oxaziridines. The oxidation proceeded with a variety of substrates, primarily comprising allylic and benzylic examples, as well as one example of an otherwise unactivated tertiary C-H bond. The mechanism of the reaction is proposed to involve single-electron transfer to the oxaziridines to generate a copper-bound radical anion, followed by hydrogen atom abstraction and collapse to products, with regeneration of the catalyst by a final single-electron transfer event. The involvement of allylic radical intermediates was supported by a radical-trapping experiment with TEMPO.

Methods for direct alkene diamination, new & old

The 1,2-diamine moiety is a ubiquitous structural motif present in a wealth of natural products, including non-proteinogenic amino acids and numerous alkaloids, as well as in pharmaceutical agents, chiral ligands and organic reagents. The biological activity associated with many of these systems and their chemical utility in general has ensured that the development of methods for their preparation is of critical importance. While a wide range of strategies for the preparation of 1,2-diamines have been established, the diamination of alkenes offers a particularly direct and efficient means of accessing these systems. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of all methods of direct alkene diamination, metal-mediated or otherwise.

Cu(I)-catalyzed diamination of conjugated dienes. Complementary regioselectivity from two distinct mechanistic pathways involving Cu(II) and Cu(III) species

Conjugated dienes can be diaminated at the internal and/or terminal double bonds using Cu(I) as catalyst and N,N-di-t-butyldiaziridinone (1) as nitrogen source. The regioselectivity is highly dependent upon the choice of Cu(I) catalyst and the substituents on diene substrates. The diamination likely proceeds via two mechanistically distinct pathways. The N-N bond of N,N-di-t-butyldiaziridinone (1) is first homolytically cleaved by the Cu(I) catalyst to form four-membered Cu(III) species A and Cu(II) radical species B, which are in rapid equilibrium. The internal diamination likely proceeds in a concerted manner via Cu(III) species A, and the terminal diamination likely involves Cu(II) radical species B. Kinetic studies have shown that the diamination is first-order in N,N-di-t-butyldiaziridinone (1), zero-order in olefin, and first-order in total Cu(I) catalyst, and the cleavage of the N-N bond of 1 by the Cu(I) catalyst is the rate-determining step. The internal diamination is favored by use of CuBr without ligand and electron-rich dienes. The terminal diamination is favored when using CuCl-L and dienes with radical-stabilizing groups.