Enroute sustainability: metal free C-H bond functionalisation

The term "C-H functionalisation" incorporates C-H activation followed by its transformation. In a single line, this can be defined as the conversion of carbon-hydrogen bonds into carbon-carbon or carbon-heteroatom bonds. The catalytic functionalisation of C-H bonds using transition metals has emerged as an atom-economical technique to engender new bonds without activated precursors which can be considered as a major drawback while attempting large-scale synthesis. Replacing the transition-metal-catalysed approach with a metal-free strategy significantly offers an alternative route that is not only inexpensive but also environmentally benign to functionalize C-H bonds. Recently metal free synthetic approaches have been flourishing to functionalize C-H bonds, motivated by the search for greener, cost-effective, and non-toxic catalysts. In this review, we will highlight the comprehensive and up-to-date discussion on recent examples of ground-breaking research on green and sustainable metal-free C-H bond functionalisation.

Catalyst-free and additive-free reactions enabling C-C bond formation: a journey towards a sustainable future

This review focuses on the catalyst- and additive-free C-C bond forming reactions reported mostly from the year 2005 to date. C-C bond forming reactions are highly important as large and complex organic molecules can be derived from simpler ones via these reactions. On the other hand, catalyst- and additive-free reactions are economical, environmentally friendly and less sensitive to air/moisture, allow easy separation of products and are operationally simple. Hence, a large number of research articles have been published in this area. Though a few reviews are available on the catalyst-free organic reactions, most of them were published a few years ago. The current review excludes catalysts as well as additives and is specific to only C-C bond formation. Besides many organic name reactions, catalyst/additive-free C-H functionalizations, coupling reactions and UV-visible-light-promoted reactions are also discussed. Undoubtedly, the contents of this review will motivate readers to do more novel work in this area which will accelerate the journey towards a sustainable future.

Synthesis of unsymmetrical ketones by applying visible-light benzophenone/nickel dual catalysis for direct benzylic acylation

Herein, we report a dual catalytic system for the direct benzylic C-H acylation reaction furnishing a variety of unsymmetrical ketones. A benzophenone-derived photosensitizer combined with a nickel catalyst has been established as the catalytic system. Both acid chlorides and anhydrides are able to acylate the benzylic position of toluene and other methylbenzenes. The method offers a valuable alternative to late transition metal catalyzed C-H acylation reactions.

Photochemical Hydroacylation of Michael Acceptors Utilizing an Aldehyde as Photoinitiator

The hydroacylation of Michael acceptors constitutes a useful tool for the formation of new C-C bonds. In this work, an environmentally friendly procedure was developed, utilizing 4cyanobenzaldehyde as the photoinitiator and household bulbs as the irradiation source. A great variety of substrates was well-tolerated, leading to good yields, and mechanistic experiments were performed to elucidate the catalyst's possible mechanistic pathway. Moreover, the inherent selectivity challenge regarding α,α-disubstituted aldehydes (decarbonylation problem) was studied and addressed.

Recent advances in metal-free aerobic C–H activation

An overview of recent reactions based on the metal-free, dioxygen-induced, C–H activation of various radical precursors.

Decarbonylative Formation of Homoallyl Radical Capable of Annulation with N-Arylpropiolamides via Aldehyde Auto-oxidation

A new metal-free aldehyde auto-oxidation strategy that allows the decarbonylative formation of homoallyl radical capable of cascade annulations with alkynes is described. By using various N-arylpropiolamides, the oxidative radical [3 + 2]/[5 + 2] cascade annulation reaction was achieved to produce benzo[ b]cyclopenta[ e]azepin-4(1 H)-ones, which represent a powerful new platform for the intermolecular cycloadditions of alkyne with broad substrate scope and high selectivity.

Metal-free decarbonylative alkylation-aminoxidation of styrene derivatives with aliphatic aldehydes and N-hydroxyphthalimide

A convenient metal-free decarbonylative alkylation-aminoxidation of styrene derivatives with aliphatic aldehydes and N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) to yield phthalimide protected alkoxyamines is developed. With DTBP as an oxidant and radical-initiator, this reaction smoothly converts aliphatic aldehydes into alkyl radicals and subsequently allows the cascade construction of C(sp³)-C(sp³) and C(sp³)-O bonds via radical-radical coupling.

Alkynylation of Csp2 (O)-H Bonds Enabled by Photoredox-Mediated Hydrogen-Atom Transfer

The development of new hydrogen-atom transfer (HAT) strategies within the framework of photoredox catalysis is highly appealing for its power to activate a desired C-H bond in the substrate leading to its selective functionalization. Reported here is the first photoredox-mediated hydrogen-atom transfer method for the efficient synthesis of ynones, ynamides, and ynoates with high regio- and chemoselectivity by direct functionalization of Csp2 (O)-H bonds. The broad synthetic application of this method has been demonstrated by the selective functionalization of C(O)-H bonds within complex molecular scaffolds.

Synthesis of Nitric Oxide Donors Derived from Piloty's Acid and Study of Their Effects on Dopamine Secretion from PC12 Cells

This study investigated the mechanisms and kinetics of nitric oxide (NO) generation by derivatives of Piloty's acid (NO-donors) under physiological conditions. In order to qualitatively and quantitatively measure NO release, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) was carried out with NO spin trapping. In addition, voltammetric techniques, including cyclic voltammetry and constant potential amperometry, were used to confirm NO release from Piloty's acid and its derivatives. The resulting data showed that Piloty's acid derivatives are able to release NO under physiological conditions. In particular, electron-withdrawing substituents favoured NO generation, while electron-donor groups reduced NO generation. In vitro microdialysis, performed on PC12 cell cultures, was used to evaluate the dynamical secretion of dopamine induced by the Piloty's acid derivatives. Although all the studied molecules were able to induce DA secretion from PC12, only those with a slow release of NO have not determined an autoxidation of DA itself. These results confirm that the time-course of NO-donors decomposition and the amount of NO released play a key role in dopamine secretion and auto-oxidation. This information could drive the synthesis or the selection of compounds to use as potential drugs for the therapy of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Diastereoselective Radical Hydroacylation of Alkylidenemalonates with Aliphatic Aldehydes Initiated by Photolysis of Hypervalent Iodine(III) Reagents

Diastereoselective radical hydroacylation of chiral alkylidenemalonates with aliphatic aldehydes is realized by the combination of a hypervalent iodine(III) reagent and UV-light irradiation. The reaction is initiated by the photolysis of hypervalent iodine(III) reagents under mild, metal-free conditions, and is the first example of diastereoselective addition of acyl radicals to olefins to afford chiral ketones in a highly stereoselective fashion. The obtained optically active ketones are useful chiral synthons, as exemplified by the short formal synthesis of (-)-methyleneolactocin.

Metal-free oxidative decarbonylative coupling of aromatic aldehydes with arenes: direct access to biaryls

A metal-free oxidative decarbonylative coupling of aromatic aldehydes with electron-rich or electron-deficient arenes to produce biaryl compounds was developed. This novel coupling was proposed to proceed via a non-chain radical homolytic aromatic substitution (HAS) type mechanism, based on the substrate scope, ortho-regioselectivity, radical trapping experiments and DFT calculation studies. With the ready availability of aromatic aldehydes and arenes, metal-free conditions should make this coupling attractive for the biaryl synthesis.

Pentafluorophenyl vinyl sulfonate enables efficient, metal-free, radical-based alkene hydroacylation with an aldehyde as a limiting reagent

Pentafluorophenyl vinyl sulfonate enables efficient radical-based, metal-free, alkene hydroacylation with a single equivalent of an aldehyde.

Rhodium-catalyzed oxidative decarbonylative Heck-type coupling of aromatic aldehydes with terminal alkenes

A rhodium-catalyzed oxidative decarbonylative Heck-type coupling of aromatic aldehydes and terminal alkenes to afford 1,2-disubstituted alkenes with good regio- and E-selectivity is developed.

Vanadyl species-catalyzed complementary β-oxidative carbonylation of styrene derivatives with aldehydes

By judicious choice of the counter anions in the vanadyl catalysts, we can achieve β-hydroxylated and t-butyl peroxylated carbonylation of styrenes by aromatic 1° and 2° alkyl aldehydes in a complementary manner.

Diversity-oriented syntheses: coupling reactions between electron-deficient olefins and aryl aldehydes via C(sp2)-H functionalization

A diversity-oriented syntheses by coupling three electron-deficient olefins (vinyl sulfonamides, methacrylamides, and methyl acrylates, respectively) with aryl aldehydes via C(sp(2))-H functionalization were reported. These reactions gave four different skeletal products respectively under environment-friendly and mild conditions. All these reactions are highly regioselective and effective, very suitable for the preparation of synthetic building blocks and compound library, the results will enrich current coupling chemistry of olefins with aldehydes and can be applied to other chemistry areas as well.

Metal-free C-H bond activation of branched aldehydes with a hypervalent iodine(III) catalyst under visible-light photolysis: successful trapping with electron-deficient olefins

Direct acyl radical formation of linear aldehydes (RCH2-CHO) and subsequent hydroacylation with electron-deficient olefins can be effected with various types of metal and nonmetal catalysts/reagents. In marked contrast, however, no successful reports on the use of branched aldehydes have been made thus far because of their strong tendency of generating alkyl radicals through the facile decarbonylation of acyl radicals. Here, use of a hypervalent iodine(III) catalyst under visible light photolysis allows a mild way of generating acyl radicals from various branched aldehydes, thereby giving the corresponding hydroacylated products almost exclusively. Another characteristic feature of this approach is the catalytic use of hypervalent iodine(III) reagent, which is a rare example on the generation of radicals in hypervalent iodine chemistry.

Metal-free, hydroacylation of C=C and N=N bonds via aerobic C-H activation of aldehydes, and reaction of the products thereof

In this report, a thorough evaluation of the use of aerobically initiated, metal-free hydroacylation of various C=C and N=N acceptor molecules with a wide range of aldehydes is presented. The aerobic-activation conditions that have been developed are in sharp contrast to previous conditions for hydroacylation, which tend to use transition metals, peroxides that require thermal or photochemical degradation, or N-heterocyclic carbenes. The mildness of the conditions enables a number of reactions involving sensitive reaction partners and, perhaps most significantly, allows for α-functionalised chiral aldehydes to undergo radical-based hydroacylation with complete retention of optical purity. We also demonstrate how the resulting hydroacylation products can be transformed into other useful intermediates, such as γ-keto-sulfonamides, sultams, sultones, cyclic N-sulfonyl imines and amides.