Insertion of Isocyanides, Isothiocyanates, and Carbon Monoxide into the Pd−C Bond of Cyclopalladated Complexes Containing Primary Arylalkylamines of Biological and Pharmaceutical Significance. Synthesis of Lactams and Cyclic Amidinium Salts Related to the Isoquinoline, Benzo[g]isoquinoline, and β-Carboline Nuclei

Cobalt-catalyzed carbonylative synthesis of free (NH)-tetrahydro-β-carbolinones from tryptamine derivatives

A new cobalt-catalyzed carbonylative synthesis of free (NH)-tetrahydro-β-carbolinones from tryptamine derivatives has been developed. A variety of free (NH)-tetrahydro-β-carbolinones were produced in good yields. The oxidant, silver salt, can be recycled and reused.

Sequential Insertion of Alkynes, Alkenes, and CO into the Pd–C Bond of ortho-Palladated Primary Phenethylamines: from η3-Allyl Complexes and Enlarged Palladacycles to Functionalized Arylalkylamines

The eight-membered metallacycles arising from the insertion of 1 equiv of alkyne into the Pd–C bond of ortho-metalated homoveratrylamine and phentermine can further react with alkenes to give two different types of mononuclear complexes depending on the nature of the olefin. When terminal alkenes (styrene and ethyl acrylate) are used, a mixture of the anti/syn η³-allyl Pd(II) complexes are isolated, which evolve slowly to the syn isomers by heating the mixtures appropriately. These η³-allyl Pd(II) complexes do not react with CO or weak bases, but when they are treated with a strong base, such as KO^tBu, they afford Pd(0) and the functionalized starting phenethylamines containing a 1,3-butadienyl substituent in an ortho position. When 2-norbornene was used instead of terminal alkenes, the strained olefin inserts into the alkenyl Pd(II) complex to afford a 10-membered norbornyl palladium(II) complex, in which the new C,N-chelate ligand is coordinated to the metal through an additional double bond, occupying three coordination positions. The reactivity of these norbornyl complexes depends on the substituents on the inserted alkenyl fragment, and thus they can further react with (1) KO^tBu, to give Pd(0) and a tetrahydroisoquinoline nucleus containing a tricyclo[3.2.1]octyl ring, or (2) CO and TlOTf, to afford Pd(0) and amino acid derivatives or the corresponding lactones arising from an intramolecular Michael addition of the CO₂H group to the α,β-unsaturated ester moiety. Crystal structures of every type of compound have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies.

Pd/Cu Cocatalyzed Oxidative Tandem C-H Aminocarbonylation and Dehydrogenation of Tryptamines: Synthesis of Carbolinones

The Pd/Cu cocatalyzed oxidative tandem C-H aminocarbonylation and dehydrogenation was developed, affording carbolinones with molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant. Natural product strychnocarpine and its derivatives were prepared conveniently using this strategy.

Activation of heteroallenes by coordinatively unsaturated nickel(ii) alkyl complexes supported by the hydrotris(3-phenyl-5-methyl)pyrazolyl borate (Tp(Ph,Me)) ligand

Activation of sulfur containing heteroallenes by nickel(ii) alkyl complexes supported by the bulky hydrotris(3-phenyl-5-methylpyrazolyl)borate (Tp(Ph,Me)) ligand is described. Exposure of Tp(Ph,Me)NiCH2Ph (1a) and Tp(Ph,Me)NiCH2Si(CH3)3 (1b) to CS2 resulted in formation of the insertion products Tp(Ph,Me)Ni(η(2)-CS2)CH2Ph (2a) and Tp(Ph,Me)Ni(η(2)-CS2)CH2Si(CH3)3 (2b) in moderate yields. Reaction of 1a and MeNCS produced two species in a 1 : 1 ratio, identified as Tp(Ph,Me)Ni(η(2)-MeNC)CH2Ph (3) and Tp(Ph,Me)Ni(η(2)-MeNCS)SCH2Ph (4). Isolation of the unexpected insertion product (3) prompted an investigation into the activity of 1a-b in the presence of isocyanides (i.e.(t)BuNC), which resulted in isolation of Tp(Ph,Me)Ni(η(2-t)BuNC)CH2Ph (5a) and Tp(Ph,Me)Ni(η(2-t)BuNC)CH2Si(CH3)3 (5b). Similarly, reaction of 1a with OCS led to the isolation of a rare example of a Ni(i) carbonyl species Tp(Ph,Me)NiCO (6). Alternatively, complex 6 was also formed by exposure of 1a-b to an atmosphere of CO. Isolation of the intermediate species (Tp(Ph,Me)Ni(η(2)-CO)CH2TMS (7b) and Tp(Ph,Me)Ni(CO)(C(O)R, (8a-b) with R = Ph, TMS)) shed light on the formation of such species.

Multiple Roles of Isocyanides in Palladium-Catalyzed Imidoylative Couplings: A Mechanistic Study

Kinetic, spectroscopic and computational studies examining a palladium-catalyzed imidoylative coupling highlight the dual role of isocyanides as both substrates and ligands for this class of transformations. The synthesis of secondary amides from aryl halides and water is presented as a case study. The kinetics of the oxidative addition of ArI with RNC-ligated Pd⁰ species have been studied and the resulting imidoyl complex [(ArC=NR)Pd(CNR)₂ I] (Ar=4-F-C₆ H₄ , R=tBu) has been isolated and characterized by X-ray diffraction. The unprecedented ability of this RNC-ligated imidoyl-Pd complex to undergo reductive elimination at room temperature to give the amide in the presence of water and an F^- /HF buffer is demonstrated. Its behavior in solution has also been characterized, revealing an unexpected strong tendency to give cationic complexes, and notably [(ArC=NR)Pd(CNR)₃ ]⁺ with excess isocyanide and [(ArC=NR)Pd(PP^ )(CNR)]⁺ with bidentate phosphines (PP^ ). These species may be responsible for catalyst deactivation and side-reactions. Ab initio calculations performed at the DFT level allowed us to rationalize the multiple roles of RNC in the different steps of the catalytic cycle.

C-H Activation in Primary 3-Phenylpropylamines: Synthesis of Seven-Membered Palladacycles through Orthometalation. Stoichiometric Preparation of Benzazepinones and Catalytic Synthesis of Ureas

The dimeric cyclometalated complexes [Pd2{κ(2)C,N-C6H4CH2CH2C(R)(Me)NH2-2}2(μ-Cl)2] (R = Me (1a), H (1b)) are prepared by reacting 1,1-dimethyl-3-phenylpropylammonium or 1-methyl-3-phenylpropylammonium triflate with Pd(OAc)2 in a 1:1 molar ratio and subsequent treatment with excess NaCl. The mononuclear derivatives [Pd{κ(2)C,N-C6H4CH2CH2C(R)(Me)NH2-2}Cl(L)] (L = PPh3, R = Me (3a), H (3b); L = 4-picoline (4-pic), R = Me (4a), H (4b)) were prepared from 1a,b by splitting the chloro bridges with the neutral ligands L. A conformational analysis of the mononuclear palladacycles in solution has been carried out. Insertion of CO takes place into the Pd-C bond of complexes 1a,b, affording Pd(0) and the tetrahydro-benzazepinone 5a or 5b, which possesses potential pharmacological interest. Additionally, the triflate salt A or B undergoes catalytic carbonylation with CO to afford the corresponding N,N'-dialkylurea, using Pd(OAc)2/Cu(OAc)2, in boiling acetonitrile. The crystal structures of 3a·(1)/2H2O, 3b, 4b·CHCl3, and 5a were determined by X-ray diffraction studies.

Synthesis of 6-aminophenanthridines via palladium-catalyzed insertion of isocyanides into N-sulfonyl-2-aminobiaryls

A robust route to a diverse set of 6-aminophenanthridines via palladium-catalyzed C–H activation of N-sulfonyl-2-aminobiaryl and isocyanide insertion is reported.

Synthesis of 3-acyl-2-arylindole via palladium-catalyzed isocyanide insertion and oxypalladation of alkyne

The synthesis of 3-acyl-2-arylindole derivatives was performed through palladium-catalyzed isocyanide insertion and oxypalladation of an alkyne. As a result of the introduction of internal nucleophiles, domino cyclization was also achieved for the synthesis of several tetracyclic indole derivatives. Imidoylpalladium generated by isocyanide insertion is a key intermediate in these reactions.

Biotinylated Rh(III) complexes in engineered streptavidin for accelerated asymmetric C-H activation

Enzymes provide an exquisitely tailored chiral environment to foster high catalytic activities and selectivities, but their native structures are optimized for very specific biochemical transformations. Designing a protein to accommodate a non-native transition metal complex can broaden the scope of enzymatic transformations while raising the activity and selectivity of small-molecule catalysis. Here, we report the creation of a bifunctional artificial metalloenzyme in which a glutamic acid or aspartic acid residue engineered into streptavidin acts in concert with a docked biotinylated rhodium(III) complex to enable catalytic asymmetric carbon-hydrogen (C-H) activation. The coupling of benzamides and alkenes to access dihydroisoquinolones proceeds with up to nearly a 100-fold rate acceleration compared with the activity of the isolated rhodium complex and enantiomeric ratios as high as 93:7.