Isocyanide Insertion: De Novo Synthesis of Trifluoromethylated Phenanthridine Derivatives

Trifunctionalization of CC bonds in vinyl azides to access densely functionalized phenanthridines enabled by the NCS/AgNO2 system

An unprecedented trifunctionalization of CC bonds in 2-(1-azidovinyl)-1,1'-biphenyls has been successfully achieved using the NCS/AgNO2 system, leading to the preparation of 6-(dichloro(nitro)methyl)phenanthridines in moderate to good yields. In this process, the NCS/AgNO2 system serves as a NO2 radical initiator as well as a chloro group source. The present protocol is a rare example of the selective construction of densely functionalized phenanthridine derivatives in a one-pot manner.

Metal-free 2-isocyanobiaryl-based cyclization reactions: phenanthridine framework synthesis

The development of transition metal-free 2-isocyanobiaryl-based reactions has received much attention due to the widespread presence of phenanthidine frameworks as products in pharmacological chemistry and materials science. This review article focuses on the achievements from 2013 until now in various metal-free catalyzed reactions and discusses challenging mechanisms and features of the transformations.

Preparation of pyridopyrazines through tandem Pd-catalyzed C-N/C-C coupling reactions of Ugi adducts

A Pd-catalyzed selective tandem cyclization of the Ugi adduct via Buchwald-Hartwig/C-H bond functionalization reactions has been reported. This sequence offers an interesting approach for synthesizing a wide range of pyrido[1,2-a]pyrazine-3,6-dione scaffolds under mild reaction conditions in moderate to excellent yields. The scope and limitations of the protocol are discussed.

Photoredox-catalyzed C-heteroaryl glycosylation of biphenyl isocyanides with glycosyl bromides

8,9-Dimethoxyphenanthridine derivatives, as potential antitumor drugs, need modification to improve their biocompatibility and water solubility. Reported here is a strategy to access C-heteroaryl glycosides by photoredox catalysis. C6-glycosylated phenanthridine derivatives are synthesized from biphenyl isocyanides and glycosyl bromides. The reaction conditions are mild and widely applicable, with anomeric α selectivity and good functional group tolerance.

Electrochemical trifluoromethylation of 2-isocyanobiaryls using CF3SO2Na: synthesis of 6-(trifluoromethyl)phenanthridines

An efficient trifluoromethylation of 2-isocyanobiaryls was developed through the constant current electrolysis, employing sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate (CF₃SO₂Na) as the trifluoromethyl source. The method enabled the syntheses of a series of 6-(trifluoromethyl)phenanthridine derivatives in moderate to high yields under metal- and oxidant-free conditions. A gram-scale synthesis highlights the synthetic versatility of the reported protocol.

Visible Light-Promoted Radical-Mediated Ring-Opening/Cyclization of Vinyl Benzotriazoles: An Alternative Approach to Phenanthridines

A visible light-promoted radical-mediated ring-opening/cyclization of vinyl benzotriazoles has been developed. The method provides an efficient and practical approach to synthesize functionalized phenanthridines from vinyl benzotriazoles with alkyl bromides under mild conditions. Significantly, the readily available and bench-stable vinyl benzotriazoles can serve as valuable alternative radical acceptors during the synthesis of phenanthridines.

Modern methods for the synthesis of perfluoroalkylated aromatics

Perfluoroalkyl-containing substances (PFAS), have become omnipresent materials in the modern world for both commercial and research applications. Compounds such as perfluoroalkylated arenes and heteroarenes have found uses in surfactants, lubricants, and flame retardants as a result of their astonishing chemical stability. Consequently, the synthesis of such compounds encompasses a large body of scientific articles and patents developed in the previous century. Most recent reviews on this subject have thus focused on summarizing this traditional literature, and have thereby spurred the development of a new wave of reaction manifolds employing modern synthesis principles. This new generation of methodologies focuses on the greener synthesis of perfluoroalkylated aromatic scaffolds, through the use of more efficient organometallic reactions, as well as by photochemical and electrochemical strategies. Herein, we will summarize this cohort of reactions while highlighting current challenges and future desirable outcomes for their environmentally friendly synthesis.

Photocatalytic xanthate-based radical addition/cyclization reaction sequence toward 2-biphenyl isocyanides: synthesis of 6-alkylated phenanthridines

A photocatalytic xanthate-based radical addition/cyclization reaction cascade toward 2-biphenylisocyanides is described as a practical and modular approach to 6-alkylated phenanthridines. The use of xanthates as radical precursors allowed the synthesis of diversely 6-substituted phenanthridines. Electrophilic radicals derived from nitriles, aromatic and aliphatic ketones, malonates, and amide derivatives, as well as radicals derived from phthalimidomethyl and benzylic derivatives were successfully introduced. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions without a stoichiometric amount of oxidant. Thirty novel phenanthridine scaffolds were synthesized with yields ranging from 24 to 76%.

Thio radical-induced denitrogenative annulation of 1-azido-2-isocyanoarenes to construct 2-thiolated benzimidazoles

A method for the synthesis of 2-thiolated benzimidazoles is described starting from thiols and 1-azido-2-isocyanoarenes. The isocyano group works as an acceptor of various thio radicals, followed by denitrogenative annulation of the resulting imidoyl radical intermediates to the azido group, with nitrogen loss as the only process involving high bond-forming efficiency. The one-pot method for the synthesis of these products with high functional group tolerance in the benzimidazole-based ring is not available in previous literature.

Radical alkylation of isocyanides with amino acid-/peptide-derived Katritzky salts via photoredox catalysis

A mild and practical protocol is developed for the synthesis of functionalized phenanthridines via C(sp³)–N bond activation upon visible-light irradiation.

Expeditious Synthesis of 6-Fluoroalkyl-Phenanthridines via Palladium-Catalyzed Norbornene-Mediated Dehydrogenative Annulation

A novel palladium-catalyzed, norbornene-mediated intermolecular dehydrogenative annulation approach for the synthesis of 6-fluoroalkyl-phenanthridines from aryl iodides and fluorinated imidoyl chlorides, which are important structural motifs for bioactive molecules, is reported. Fluorinated imidoyl chlorides served as a new type of electrophilic reagent in the Catellani-type reaction, which, in turn, could be readily prepared from various anilines and fluorinated carboxylic acids. Control experiments were carried out to study the mechanism of the reaction. This transformation is scalable and tolerates a broad range of functional groups.

To each his own: isonitriles for all flavors. Functionalized isocyanides as valuable tools in organic synthesis

The term functionalized isocyanides refers to all those isocyanides in which a neighbouring functional group can finely tune the reactivity of the isocyano group or can be exploited in post-functionalization processes. In this manuscript, we have reviewed all the isocyanides in which the pendant functional group causes either deviation from or reinforces the normal reactivity of the isocyano group and categorized them to highlight their common features and differences. An analysis of their synthetic potential and the possible unexplored directions for future research studies is also addressed.

Visible-light-mediated radical arylthiodifluoromethylation of isocyanides with fluorinated 2-pyridyl sulfones

2-PySO₂CF₂SAr were developed as powerful arylthiodifluoromethylation reagents, and the Stern–Volmer luminescence studies demonstrated that the mechanism might operate via a photoredox cycle consisting of a reductive quenching with Na₂CO₃.

Cobalt-catalyzed radical cyclization of isocyanides forming phenanthridine derivatives

A neutral cobalt(ii) compound catalyzes the radical cyclization of 2-isocyano-biphenyls with various alkyl halides, providing a series of phenanthridine-fused polycycles.

Synthesis of trifluoroalkyl or difluoroalkyl phenanthridine derivatives via cascade reaction using an intramolecular cyano group as a radical acceptor under photoredox catalysis

In the presence of Ru(phen)₃Cl₂ or fac-Ir(ppy)₃ under visible-light irradiation, the addition of fluorinated radicals to N-arylacrylamides followed by an intramolecular cyano group insertion cascade cyclization process produced the target compounds in moderate to good yields.

Electrochemical initiation of electron-catalyzed phenanthridine synthesis by trifluoromethylation of isonitriles

Electrochemical initiation of the trifluoromethylation of biaryl isonitriles verifies the electron's catalytic character in the examined cascade reaction.

Transition-metal-free radical fluoroalkylation of isocyanides for the synthesis of tri-/di-/monofluoromethylated phenanthridines

A convenient and scalable protocol is developed for the radical fluoroalkylation of 2-isocyanobiphenyls under transition-metal-free conditions.

Silver-mediated oxidative C–H difluoromethylation of phenanthridines and 1,10-phenanthrolines

An efficient silver-mediated oxidative C–H difluoromethylation of phenanthridines and 1,10-phenanthrolines with TMSCF₂H was developed.

Free-radical initiated cascade methylation or trideuteromethylation of isocyanides with dimethyl sulfoxides

The methylation or trideuteromethylation reaction of isocyanides with dimethyl sulfoxides in a radical way is developed, which offers a low-cost, easy-operation cascade methylation strategy for the synthesis of phenanthridines or isoquinolines.

I2/CHP mediated [1 + 1 + 1 + 1] cyclization of aromatic isocyanides with amines to construct 1,3-diazetidine-2,4-diimine derivatives

An I₂/CHP (cumene hydroperoxide) mediated [1 + 1 + 1 + 1] cyclization of aromatic isocyanides with readily accessible amines via the formation of 4 new C–N bonds has been developed to construct unsymmetric 1,3-diazetidine-2,4-diimine derivatives under mild conditions.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of hydroxyl-containing isoquinolines by metal-free radical cyclization of vinyl isocyanides with alcohols

A convenient microwave-assisted protocol for the synthesis of hydroxyl-containing isoquinolines from a metal-free radical cyclization reaction of vinyl isonitriles with alcohols was developed with moderate-to-excellent yields.

A one-pot synthesis of [1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]quinoxalines from 1-azido-2-isocyanoarenes with high bond-forming efficiency

An efficient approach to prepare 1,2,3-triazolo[1,5-a]quinoxaline scaffolds, starting from 1-azido-2-isocyanoarenes and terminal acetylenes or substituted acetaldehydes, has been developed.

Metal-catalyzed C–H functionalization involving isocyanides

This review demonstrates the metal-catalyzed incorporation of isocyanides into C–H functionalization to establish complicated reactions utilizing synergistic effects.

Visible-Light-Induced Trifluoromethylation of Isonitrile-Substituted Methylenecyclopropanes: Facile Access to 6-(Trifluoromethyl)-7,8-Dihydrobenzo[k]phenanthridine Derivatives

A new visible-light-induced trifluoromethylation of isonitrile-substituted methylenecyclopropanes is developed. A range of substituted 6-(trifluoromethyl)-7,8-dihydrobenzo[k]phenanthridine derivatives are readily furnished by this newly developed tandem reaction with moderate to good yields. This reaction allows the direct formation of two six-membered rings and three new C-C bonds, including the C-CF3 bond, under visible light irradiation.

Ag-catalyzed C-H/C-C bond functionalization

Silver, known and utilized since ancient times, is a coinage metal, which has been widely used for various organic transformations in the past few decades. Currently, the silver-catalyzed reaction is one of the frontier areas in organic chemistry, and the progress of research in this field is very rapid. Compared with other transition metals, silver has long been believed to have low catalytic efficiency, and most commonly, it is used as either a cocatalyst or a Lewis acid. Interestingly, the discovery of Ag-catalysis has been significantly improved in recent years. Especially, Ag(i) has been demonstrated as an important and versatile catalyst for a variety of organic transformations. However, so far, there has been no systematic review on Ag-catalyzed C-H/C-C bond functionalization. In this review, we will focus on the development of Ag-catalyzed C-H/C-C bond functionalization and the corresponding mechanism.