Synthesis of 2-benzyl benzoxazoles and benzothiazoles via elemental sulfur promoted cyclization of styrenes with 2-nitrophenols and N,N-dialkyl-3-nitroanilines

Herein we report a method for affording 2-benzyl benzoxazoles from substituted styrenes and 2-nitrophenols. The success of this method relies on the use of simple reagents, namely elemental sulfur and DABCO. A combination of identical reagents was utilized for the annulation of styrenes with N,N-dialkyl-3-nitroanilines to afford 2-benzyl benzothiazoles. Overall, benzoxazoles and benzothiazoles bearing useful functionalities such as halogens, amines, and heterocyclic groups were isolated in moderate to good yields. Our methods are a rare example of divergent transformations of substituted nitroarenes towards 2-benzyl benzoxazoles and benzothiazoles.

Direct Heterocycle C-H Alkenylation via Dual Catalysis Using a Palladacycle Precatalyst: Multifactor Optimization and Scope Exploration Enabled by High-Throughput Experimentation

One of the major challenges in developing catalytic methods for C-C bond formation is the identification of generally applicable reaction conditions, particularly if multiple substrate structural classes are involved. Pd-catalyzed direct arylation reactions are powerful transformations that enable direct functionalization of C-H bonds; however, the corresponding direct alkenylation reactions, using vinyl (pseudo) halide electrophiles, are less well developed. Inspired by process development efforts toward GSK3368715, an investigational active pharmaceutical ingredient, we report that a Pd(II) palladacycle derived from tri-tert-butylphosphine and Pd(OAc)2 is an effective single-component precatalyst for a variety of direct alkenylation reactions. High-throughput experimentation identified optimal solvent/base combinations for a variety of HetAr-H substrate classes undergoing C-H activation without the need for cocatalysts or stoichiometric silver bases (e.g., Ag2CO3). We propose this reaction proceeds via a dual cooperative catalytic mechanism, where in situ-generated Pd(0) supports a canonical Pd(0)/(II) cross-coupling cycle and the palladacycle effects C-H activation via CMD in a redox-neutral cycle. In all, 192 substrate combinations were tested with a hit rate of approximately 40% and 24 isolated examples. Importantly, this method was applied to prepare a key intermediate in the synthesis of GSK3368715 on multigram scale.

Palladium-Catalyzed Dehydrogenative C-2 Alkenylation of 5-Arylimidazoles and Related Azoles with Styrenes

The construction of carbon–carbon bonds by direct involvement of two unactivated carbon–hydrogen bonds, without any directing group, ensures a high atom economy of the entire process. Here, we describe a simple protocol for the Pd(II)/Cu(II)-promoted intermolecular cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) of 5-arylimidazoles, benzimidazoles, benzoxazole and 4,5-diphenylimidazole at their C-2 position with functionalized styrenes. This specific CDC, known as the Fujiwara–Moritani reaction or oxidative Heck coupling, also allowed the C-4 alkenylation of the imidazole nucleus when both 2 and 5 positions were occupied.

Accessing C2-Functionalized 1,3-(Benz)azoles through Transition Metal-Catalyzed C-H Activation

The skeletal presence of 1,3-azoles in a variety of bioactive natural products, pharmacophores, and organic materials demands the derivatization of such heteroarenes regioselectively. Plenty of cross-coupling as well as cyclocondensation reactions have been performed to build up these skeletons but remained commercially unrealizable. A couple of severe drawbacks are faced by these traditional protocols that require a more straightforward strategy to obviate them. Transition metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization has emerged as a superior alternative in that context. 1,3-Azoles and their benzo counterparts have been extensively functionalized exploiting both noble and earth-abundant transition metals. Lately, C-2 functionalization have gained much traction due to the ease of attaining high regioselectivity and installation of synthetically manipulative functionalities. This critical review presents a bird's eye view of all major C-2 functionalization of (benz)azoles catalyzed by a diverse set of metals performed over the past 15 years.

Nickel-Catalyzed C-H Bond Functionalization of Azoles and Indoles

Direct C-H functionalization of privileged and biologically relevant azoles and indoles represents an important chemical transformation in molecular science. Despite significant progress in the palladium-catalyzed regioselective C-H functionalization of azoles and indoles, the use of abundant and less expensive nickel catalyst is underdeveloped. In the recent past, the nickel-catalyzed regioselective C-H alkylation, arylation, alkenylation and alkynylation of azoles and indoles have been substantially explored, which can be applied to the complex organic molecule synthesis. In this Account, we summarize the developments in nickel-catalyzed regioselective functionalization of azoles and indoles with a considerable focus on the reaction mechanism.

Studies toward the Synthesis of an Oxazole-Based Analog of (-)-Zampanolide

Studies are described toward the synthesis of an oxazole-based analog of (-)-zampanolide (2). Construction of (-)-dactylolide analog 22 was achieved via alcohol 5 and acid 4 through esterification and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE)-based macrocyclization; however, attempts to attach (Z,E)-sorbamide to 22 proved unsuccessful. The C(8)-C(9) double bond of the macrocycle was prone to migration into conjugation with the oxazole ring, which may generally limit the usefulness of zampanolide analogs with aromatic moieties as tetrahydropyran replacements.

Modular Dual-Tasked C-H Methylation via the Catellani Strategy

We report a dual-tasked methylation that is based on cooperative palladium/norbornene catalysis. Readily available (hetero)aryl halides (39 iodides and 4 bromides) and inexpensive MeOTs or trimethylphosphate are utilized as the substrates and methylating reagent, respectively. Six types of "ipso" terminations can modularly couple with this "ortho" C-H methylation to constitute a versatile methylation toolbox for preparing diversified methylated arenes. This toolbox features inexpensive methyl sources, excellent functional-group tolerance, simple reaction procedures, and scalability. Importantly, it can be uneventfully extended to isotope-labeled methylation by switching to the corresponding reagents CD₃OTs or ¹³CH₃OTs. Moreover, this toolbox can be applied to late-stage modification of biorelevant substrates with complete stereoretention. We believe these salient and practical features of our dual-tasked methylation toolbox will be welcomed by academic and industrial researchers.

Pd-catalyzed desulfitative arylation for the synthesis of 2,5-diarylated oxazole-4-carboxylates using dioxygen as the terminal oxidant

A novel palladium-catalyzed approach for constructing 2,5-diarylated oxazole-4-carboxylates using sodium arylsulfinates as the aryl source has been demonstrated.

CuCl-Catalyzed direct C–H alkenylation of benzoxazoles with allyl halides

An efficient and concise CuCl-catalyzed C2-alkenylation reaction of benzoxazoles with allyl halides has been established.

Nickel-Catalyzed Methylation of Aryl Halides with Deuterated Methyl Iodide

A nickel-catalyzed methylation of aryl halides with cheap and readily available CH3 I or CD3 I is described. The reaction is applicable to a wide range of substrates and allows installation of a CD3 group under mild reaction conditions without deuterium scrambling to other carbon atoms. Initial mechanistic studies on the stoichiometric and catalytic reactions of the isolated [(dppp)Ni(C6 H4 -4-CO2 Et)Br] [dppp=1,3-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane] suggest that a Ni(0) /Ni(II) catalytic cycle is favored.

Synthesis and orthogonal functionalization of oxazolo[5',4':4,5]pyrano[2,3-b]pyridine by intra- and intermolecular Pd-catalyzed direct C-H bond heteroarylation

The construction and subsequent orthogonal functionalization of a hitherto unknown oxazolo[5',4':4,5]pyrano[2,3-b]pyridine are reported. A palladium-catalyzed direct C-H bond functionalization methodology was used to build the tricyclic scaffold as well as to achieve the subsequent C-H bond functionalization at the C-2 position of the oxazole unit with various (hetero)aryl iodides. Remarkably, selective C-H construction and functionalization procedures preserve the chorine atom on the pyridine moiety offering a late-stage substitution site to progress drug design.

Palladium-catalysed direct C-2 methylation of indoles

A direct C-2 methylation reaction of indoles bearing an N-2-pyrimidyl directing group has been developed with a palladium catalyst.

Base-mediated direct fluoroalkenylation of 2-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole, benzothiazole and benzoxazole with gem-difluoroalkenes

Direct α-fluorovinylation of 2-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole, benzothiazole and benzoxazole with gem-difluoroalkenes under the assistance of KHMDS or NaH at room temperature was developed.

Direct construction of 2-alkylbenzo-1,3-azoles via C–H activation of alkanes for C–C and C–X (X = O, S) bond formation

2-Alkylated benzo(oxa)thiazoles were prepared directly from simple alkanes and aryl isocyanates/isothiocyanates in a one-pot procedure.

Direct substitution of benzylic alcohols with electron-deficient benzenethiols via π-benzylpalladium(ii) in water

An efficient and environmentally benign method for the direct nucleophilic substitution of benzylic alcohols with electron-deficient benzenethiols in water is developed. This strategy is an attractive atom-economical process, which affords the desired products along with water as the sole co-product.

Pd-Catalyzed direct C–H functionalization of imidazolones with aryl- and alkenyl halides

Direct C–H arylation and alkenylation of 4,4′-dialkylimidazolones with a broad range of halides under palladium and copper catalysis have been developed.

Ligand promoted Pd-catalyzed dehydrogenative alkenylation of hetereoarenes

An efficient Pd-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative coupling of heteroarenes with styrenes and other olefinic substrates has been developed. This alkenylation paradigm encompasses a wide range of substrates and provides a straightforward approach toward C2-E-alkenylated azole motifs.

Rhodium-catalyzed synthesis of unsymmetrical di(aryl/heteroaryl)methanes using aryl/heteroarylmethyl ketones via CO–C bond cleavage

The RhH(PPh₃)₄ complex catalyzes the reaction of aryl/heteroarylmethyl ketones and aryl heteroaryl ethers giving unsymmetrical diarylmethanes containing one or two heteroarenes.