Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Alkynylation of Diaryl Imines with Terminal Alkynes: A Facile Synthesis of Ynimines

N-Functionalization of 1,2-Azaborines

General protocols for the N-functionalization of 1,2-azaborines with C(sp3), C(sp2), or C(sp) electrophiles are described. The syntheses of a new parental BN isostere of trans-stilbene and a BN isostere of a lisdexamfetamine derivative were accomplished with the developed methodology.

Copper-Catalyzed C(sp)-H Bond Hydrazidation

A catalytic, direct synthetic strategy for preparing ynehydrazides with terminal alkynes and dialkyl azodicarboxylates is described. The protocol utilizes a cheap copper catalyst in combination with a catalytic amount of a weak base. The high sustainability, good practicality, broad substrate scope, and wide functional group tolerance comprised the advantages of this reaction. Synthetic applications and preliminary mechanistic studies have been conducted.

Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidant Dependent Switchable Aza-Wacker Cyclization and Oxidative Dimerization of Benzimidates

An oxidant dependent switchable palladium-catalyzed synthesis of 1,3-oxazines and benzohydrazonates (azines) from O-homoallyl benzimidates has been developed. The reaction involved aza-Wacker-type intramolecular cyclization of O-homoallyl benzimidates with Cu(OAc)2 as oxidant under Pd-catalysis to deliver 4-methylene-1,3-oxazines, whereas dimerization of O-homoallyl benzimidates with K2S2O8 as oxidant resulted remarkably in benzohydrazonates (azines). The reaction is atom economic with an easily operational procedure for divergent synthesis of important scaffolds.

A metal-free BF3·OEt2 mediated chemoselective protocol for the synthesis of propargylic cyclic imines

A chemoselective and metal/additive-free protocol for the synthesis of propargylic cyclic imine derivatives via (3 + 2)-cycloaddition of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes and alkynylnitriles in the presence of BF₃·OEt₂ has been established. The newly developed methodology provided access to a variety of propargylic cyclic imines in good to excellent yields. In addition, the synthesis of propargylic amines and the corresponding very stable enol derivatives from the title compound is also explored.

Synthesis of Stable N-H Imines with a Benzo[7,8]indolizine Core and Benzo[7,8]indolizino[1,2-c]quinolines via Copper-Catalyzed Annulation of α,β-Unsaturated O-Acyl Ketoximes with Isoquinolinium N-Ylides

A copper-catalyzed annulation of α,β-unsaturated O-acyl ketoximes with isoquinolinium N-ylides has been developed for the concise synthesis of stable N-H imines with a benzo[7,8]indolizine core. When β-(2-bromoaryl)-α,β-unsaturated O-acyl ketoximes are used as the starting materials, a cascade cyclization occurs to afford the benzo[7,8]indolizino[1,2-c]quinolines.

Copper-Catalyzed Aza-Sonogashira Cross-Coupling To Form Ynimines: Development and Application to the Synthesis of Heterocycles

Nitrogen‐substituted alkynes, such as ynamines and ynamides, are versatile synthetic building blocks. Ynimines bearing additional nucleophilic and electrophilic centers relative to ynamines and ynamides are expected to have high synthetic potential. However, their chemical reactivity remains unexplored owing mainly to the lack of synthetic accessibility. We report herein a versatile copper‐catalyzed synthesis of ynimines from readily available O‐acetyl ketoximes and terminal alkynes. A wide range of O‐acetyl ketoximes derived from diaryl ketones, aryl alkyl ketones and dialkyl ketones underwent cross‐coupling with a diverse set of terminal alkynes to afford the ynimines in good to excellent yields. An unprecedented [5+1] heteroannulation reaction exploiting the reactivity of the ynimine generated in situ was subsequently developed for the synthesis of medicinally important heterocycles, including isoquinolines, azaindoles, azabenzofurans, azabenzothiophenes and carbolines.

Elucidating the mechanism and origins of selectivity on catalyst-dependent cyclization reactions to form polycyclic indolines from a theoretical study

There is a significant role for bioactive polycyclic indolines in the pharmaceutical science field. In this paper, a systematic DFT study at the M06-D3/SMD/BS2//B3LYP-D3/BS1 level is adopted to investigate the cyclization reaction catalyzed by Rh₂(esp)₂ and InCl₃ to generate polycyclic indolines. Luckily, the simplification of the Rh₂(esp)₂ computational model is feasible, and successfully used in this study. The computational results detailed indicate the reaction mechanisms catalyzed by different catalysts, and the regio- and diastereo-selectivity. The regio-selectivity is controlled by the weak interaction (reflected in repulsive interaction) of the key transition state in the InCl₃-catalyzed pathway, and the larger distortion energy makes the regio-selectivity more obvious in the pathway catalyzed by Rh₂(esp)₂. It is important that this theoretical study suggests the significance of the catalyst in the reaction system in detail by NBO and FMO analysis. This paper is a good explanation of the experimental phenomenon caused by the catalyst where InCl₃ is more significant than Rh₂(esp)₂. The reaction mechanism and the importance of the catalysts are revealed in detail by this particular theoretical study.

The mechanism and origins of selectivities of multiply catalyzed cyclization reactions catalyzed by Rh₂(esp)₂ and InCl₃ are investigated by DFT calculations as well as distortion/interaction and noncovalent interaction (NCI) analyses.

Cross-Dehydrogenative Alkynylation: A Powerful Tool for the Synthesis of Internal Alkynes

Alkynes are among the most fundamentally important organic compounds and are widely used in synthetic chemistry, biochemistry, and materials science. Thus, the development of an efficient and sustainable method for the preparation of alkynes has been a central concern in organic synthesis. Cross-dehydrogenative coupling utilizing E-H and Z-H bonds in two different molecules can avoid the need for prefunctionalization of starting materials and has become one of the most straightforward methods for the construction of E-Z chemical bonds. This Review summarizes recent progress in the preparation of internal alkynes by cross-dehydrogenative coupling with terminal alkynes.

Electrochemical Strategy for Hydrazine Synthesis: Development and Overpotential Analysis of Methods for Oxidative N-N Coupling of an Ammonia Surrogate

Hydrazine is an important industrial chemical and fuel that has attracted considerable attention for use in liquid fuel cells. Ideally, hydrazine could be prepared via direct oxidative coupling of ammonia, but thermodynamic and kinetic factors limit the viability of this approach. The present study evaluates three different electrochemical strategies for the oxidative homocoupling of benzophenone imine, a readily accessible ammonia surrogate. Hydrolysis of the resulting benzophenone azine affords hydrazine and benzophenone, with the latter amenable to recycling. The three different electrochemical N-N coupling methods are (1) a proton-coupled electron-transfer process promoted by a phosphate base, (2) an iodine-mediated reaction involving intermediate N-I bond formation, and (3) a copper-catalyzed N-N coupling process. Analysis of the thermodynamic efficiencies for these electrochemical imine-to-azine oxidation reactions reveals low overpotentials (η) for the copper- and iodine-mediated processes (390 and 470 mV, respectively), but a much higher value for the proton-coupled pathway (η ≈ 1.6 V). A similar approach is used to assess molecular electrocatalytic methods for electrochemical oxidation of ammonia to dinitrogen.

HKUST-1 derived Cu@CuOx/carbon catalyst for base-free aerobic oxidative coupling of benzophenone imine: high catalytic efficiency and excellent regeneration performance

The oxidative coupling of imines to ketazine with molecular oxygen is a green process towards the synthesis of hydrazine or hydrazine hydrate, which could efficiently address the economic and environmental issues of the traditional Raschig or peroxide-ketazine process. Herein, we developed an efficient heterogeneous base-free benzophenone imine oxidative coupling route with O₂ catalyzed by Cu/CuO_x/carbon materials derived from MOFs under mild conditions. Under optimized conditions, the conversion of BI is up to 98.2% and the selectivity of ketamine is 94.9%. This catalyst has excellent structure stability, recycling, and regeneration performance, owing to the carbonization of organic ligands of MOF at high temperature. More importantly, it is confirmed that the metallic Cu core is essential to improve the catalytic performance of the CuO shell in the BI oxidative coupling reaction, due to the promotion of electron transfer in the CuO surface, making dissolved O₂ molecules more easily insert oxygen vacancies. This strategy might open an avenue to the sustainable catalytic synthesis of hydrazine or hydrazine hydrate.

The oxidative coupling of imines to ketazine with molecular oxygen is a green process towards hydrazine hydrate synthesis, which could efficiently address the environmental and economic issues of the traditional Raschig or peroxide-ketazine process.

Mechanistic insights into copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative coupling of N-N bonds

Catalytic N–N coupling is a valuable transformation for chemical synthesis and energy conversion. Here, mechanistic studies are presented for two related copper-catalyzed oxidative aerobic N–N coupling reactions, one involving the synthesis of a pharmaceutically relevant triazole and the other relevant to the oxidative conversion of ammonia to hydrazine. Analysis of catalytic and stoichiometric N–N coupling reactions support an “oxidase”-type catalytic mechanism with two redox half-reactions: (1) aerobic oxidation of a Cu^I catalyst and (2) Cu^II-promoted N–N coupling. Both reactions feature turnover-limiting oxidation of Cu^I by O₂, and this step is inhibited by the N–H substrate(s). The results highlight the unexpected facility of the N–N coupling step and establish a foundation for development of improved catalysts for these transformations.

Mechanistic studies provide valuable insights into Cu-catalyzed N–N coupling reactions relevant to energy conversion and pharmaceutical synthesis.

Efficient and Divergent Synthesis of α-Halogenated Amides and Esters by Double Electrophilic Activation of Ynamides

An efficient and modular entry to α-halogenated amides and esters is reported. This reaction is based on an underestimated double electrophilic activation of ynamides sequentially involving highly reactive activated keteniminium and iminium ions. Upon simple reaction with HCl and an electrophilic halogenation reagent in the presence of water or an alcohol, a broad range of ynamides can be transformed, in a highly divergent manner, to α-halo amides and esters with high efficiency and under mild conditions.

TBHP/NH4I-Mediated Direct N-H Phosphorylation of Imines and Imidates

A direct and practical metal-free N-H phosphorylation has been achieved via the TBHP/NH₄I-mediated cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reactions between imines/imidates and P(O)H compounds. This transformation provides an efficient synthetic route to the construction of P-N bonds with good functional group compatibility, leading to the formation of N-phosphorylimines and N-phosphorylimidates in up to 95% yield (33 examples) under mild conditions.

Copper-Mediated N-Arylations of Hydantoins

A set of two broadly applicable procedures for the N-arylation of hydantoins is reported. The first one relies on the use of stoichiometric copper(I) oxide under ligand- and base-free conditions and enables a clean regioselective arylation at the N³ nitrogen atom, while the second one is based on the use of catalytic copper(I) iodide and trans- N, N'-dimethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine and promotes arylation at the N¹ nitrogen atom. Importantly, the combination of these two procedures affords a straightforward entry to diarylated hydantoins.

Cationic polycyclization of ynamides: building up molecular complexity

Polycyclization reactions are among the most efficient synthetic tools for the synthesis of complex, polycyclic molecules in a single operation from simple starting materials. We report in this manuscript a full account on the discovery and development of a novel cationic polycyclization from readily available ynamides. Simple activation of these building blocks under acidic conditions enables the generation of highly reactive activated keteniminium ions, which triggers an unprecedented cationic polycyclization yielding highly substituted polycyclic nitrogen heterocycles possessing up to seven fused cycles and three contiguous stereocenters.

Copper-Catalyzed Alkenylation of Cyanamides

An efficient procedure for the copper-catalyzed cross-coupling between a broad range of cyanamides and iodoalkenes is reported. Upon reaction with catalytic amounts of copper(I) iodide and 2,2'-bisimidazole in the presence of cesium carbonate in DMF at 80 °C, a fast, regioselective, and stereoretentive cross-coupling occurs. This reaction, which was found to have a broad substrate scope, provides the first general entry to N-alkenylcyanamides, building blocks that hold great synthetic potential.

Transition Metal-Catalyzed C-H Amination: Scope, Mechanism, and Applications

Catalytic transformation of ubiquitous C-H bonds into valuable C-N bonds offers an efficient synthetic approach to construct N-functionalized molecules. Over the last few decades, transition metal catalysis has been repeatedly proven to be a powerful tool for the direct conversion of cheap hydrocarbons to synthetically versatile amino-containing compounds. This Review comprehensively highlights recent advances in intra- and intermolecular C-H amination reactions utilizing late transition metal-based catalysts. Initial discovery, mechanistic study, and additional applications were categorized on the basis of the mechanistic scaffolds and types of reactions. Reactivity and selectivity of novel systems are discussed in three sections, with each being defined by a proposed working mode.

Harnessing the Electrophilicity of Keteniminium Ions: A Simple and Straightforward Entry to Tetrahydropyridines and Piperidines from Ynamides

An efficient, modular and straightforward entry to tetrahydropyridines and piperidines is reported. This reaction is based on a formal intramolecular hydroalkylation of readily available, properly substituted ynamides which, upon simple activation under acidic conditions, generate highly reactive activated keteniminium ions whose reactivity can be finely controlled to induce a remarkably efficient [1,5]-hydride shift from unactivated C-H bonds and trigger a cationic cyclization which is complete within minutes.

An efficient approach toward formation of polycyclic coumarin derivatives via carbocation-initiated [4+2] cycloaddition and atom-economical photo-irradiated cyclization

Polycyclic coumarin derivatives were easily prepared by carbocation initiated [4+2] cycloaddition of propargyl silyl ethers with ynamides and fluorescent analysis-oriented photo-irradiated cyclization.

Anti-Markovnikov hydroimination of terminal alkynes in gold-catalyzed pyridine construction from ammonia

Gold-catalyzed hydroimination of terminal alkynes, giving rise to anti-Markovnikov adducts concomitant with unstable Markovnikov adducts is described. The elementary step can be applied for the construction of pyridine derivatives from ammonia and alkynes.