Jumping in the Chiral Pool: Asymmetric Hydroaminations with Early Metals

The application of early-metal-based catalysts featuring natural chiral pool motifs, such as amino acids, terpenes and alkaloids, in hydroamination reactions is discussed and compared to those beyond the chiral pool. In particular, alkaline (Li), alkaline earth (Mg, Ca), rare earth (Y, La, Nd, Sm, Lu), group IV (Ti, Zr, Hf) metal-, and tantalum-based catalytic systems are described, which in recent years improved considerably and have become more practical in their usability. Additional emphasis is directed towards their catalytic performance including yields and regio- as well as stereoselectivity in comparison with the group IV and V transition metals and more widely used rare earth metal-based catalysts.

Vanadium pyridonates: dimerization, redox behaviour, and metal-ligand cooperativity

The synthesis, structure, and reactivity of vanadium pyridonate complexes are described. Vanadium(III) pyridonate complexes were accessed through protonolysis and reduction of a tetrakis(amido)vanadium(IV) starting material. Bis(pyridonate) vanadium(IV) precursors could be isolated depending on the amount of proteoligand added. The targeted vanadium(III) species tend to form dimers, but monomeric complexes can be achieved in the presence of neutral donors such as amines or pyridine derivatives or through the use of sterically demanding proligands. The reduction process is proposed to involve dimeric intermediates and be mediated by the amine released from protonolysis, thereby forming the corresponding imine as a byproduct. Isolated amine complexes of vanadium(III) are presented. In contrast, bis(amidate)vanadium(IV) complexes were not found to undergo a similar reduction. This work informs on design principles for the synthesis and application of new vanadium pyridonate catalysts for transformations involving dimerization and PCET for changes in oxidation state.

Hydroaminoalkylation for the Catalytic Addition of Amines to Alkenes or Alkynes: Diverse Mechanisms Enable Diverse Substrate Scope

Hydroaminoalkylation is a powerful, atom-economic catalytic reaction for the reaction of amines with alkenes and alkynes. This C-H functionalization reaction allows for the atom-economic alkylation of amines using simple alkenes or alkynes as the alkylating agents. This transformation has significant potential for transformative approaches in the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and fine chemical industries in the preparation of selectively substituted amines and N-heterocycles and shows promise in materials science for the synthesis of functional and responsive aminated materials. Different early transition-metal, late transition-metal, and photoredox catalysts mediate hydroaminoalkylation by distinct mechanistic pathways. These mechanistic insights have resulted in the development of new catalysts and reaction conditions to realize hydroaminoalkylation with a broad range of substrates: activated and unactivated, terminal and internal, C-C double and triple bonds with aryl or alkyl primary, secondary, or tertiary amines, including N-heterocyclic amines. By deploying select catalysts with specific substrate combinations, control over regioselectivity, diastereoselectivity, and enantioselectivity has been realized. Key barriers to widespread adoption of this reaction include air and moisture sensitivity for early transition-metal catalysts as well as a heavy dependence on amine protecting or directing groups for late transition-metal or photocatalytic routes. Advances in improved catalyst robustness, substrate scope, and regio-/stereoselective reactions with early- and late transition-metal catalysts, as well as photoredox catalysis, are highlighted, and opportunities for further catalyst and reaction development are included. This perspective shows that hydroaminoalkylation has the potential to be a disruptive and transformative strategy for the synthesis of selectively substituted amines and N-heterocycles from simple amines and alkenes.

Cyclic Ureate Tantalum Catalyst for Preferential Hydroaminoalkylation with Aliphatic Amines: Mechanistic Insights into Substrate Controlled Reactivity

The efficient and catalytic amination of unactivated alkenes with simple secondary alkyl amines is preferentially achieved. A sterically accessible, N,O-chelated cyclic ureate tantalum catalyst was prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography. This optimized catalyst can be used for the hydroaminoalkylation of 1-octene with a variety of aryl and alkyl amines, but notably enhanced catalytic activity can be realized with challenging N-alkyl secondary amine substrates. This catalyst offers turnover frequencies of up to 60 h^-1, affording full conversion at 5 mol% catalyst loading in approximately 20 min with these nucleophilic amines. Mechanistic investigations, including kinetic isotope effect (KIE) studies, reveal that catalytic turnover is limited by protonolysis of the intermediate 5-membered azametallacycle. A Hammett kinetic analysis shows that catalytic turnover is promoted by electron rich amine substrates that enable catalytic turnover. This more active catalyst is shown to be effective for late stage drug modification.

Catalytic and Atom-Economic Csp3 -Csp3 Bond Formation: Alkyl Tantalum Ureates for Hydroaminoalkylation

Atom-economic and regioselective Csp3 -Csp3 bond formation has been achieved by rapid C-H alkylation of unprotected secondary arylamines with unactivated alkenes. The combination of Ta(CH₂ SiMe₃ )₃ Cl₂ , and a ureate N,O-chelating-ligand salt gives catalytic systems prepared in situ that can realize high yields of β-alkylated aniline derivatives from either terminal or internal alkene substrates. These new catalyst systems realize C-H alkylation in as little as one hour and for the first time a 1:1 stoichiometry of alkene and amine substrates results in high yielding syntheses of isolated amine products by simple filtration and concentration.

Early transition metal-catalyzed C–H alkylation: hydroaminoalkylation for Csp3–Csp3 bond formation in the synthesis of selectively substituted amines

Protecting group, directing group, and external oxidant free synthesis of structurally diverse amines.

Influence of the 5f Orbitals on the Bonding and Reactivity in Organoactinides: Experimental and Computational Studies on a Uranium Metallacyclopropene

The synthesis, structure, and reactivity of a uranium metallacyclopropene were comprehensively studied. Reduction of (η(5)-C5Me5)2UCl2 (1) with potassium graphite (KC8) in the presence of bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene (Me3SiC≡CSiMe3) allows the first stable uranium metallacyclopropene (η(5)-C5Me5)2U[η(2)-C2(SiMe3)2] (2) to be isolated. Magnetic susceptibility data confirm that 2 is a U(IV) complex, and density functional theory (DFT) studies indicate substantial 5f orbital contributions to the bonding of the metallacyclopropene U-(η(2)-C═C) moiety, leading to more covalent bonds between the (η(5)-C5Me5)2U(2+) and [η(2)-C2(SiMe3)2](2-) fragments than those in the related Th(IV) compound. Consequently, very different reactivity patterns emerge, e.g., 2 can act as a source for the (η(5)-C5Me5)2U(II) fragment when reacted with alkynes and a variety of heterounsaturated molecules such as imines, bipy, carbodiimide, organic azides, hydrazine, and azo derivatives.

Aluminium-catalysed intramolecular hydroamination of aminoalkenes: computational perusal of alternative pathways for aminoalkene activation

A comprehensive computational examination of alternatively plausible mechanistic pathways for the intramolecular hydroamination (HA) of aminoalkenes utilising a recently reported novel phenylene-diamine aluminium amido compound is presented. On the one hand, a proton-assisted concerted N-C/C-H bond-forming pathway to afford the cycloamine in a single step can be invoked, and, on the other, a stepwise σ-insertive pathway that involves a relatively fast, reversible migratory olefin 1,2-insertion step linked to a less rapid, irreversible Al-C alkyl bond protonolysis. The present study, which employs a sophisticated and reliable computational methodology, supports the prevailing mechanism to be a stepwise σ-insertive pathway. The predicted effective barrier for turnover-limiting aminolysis compares favourably with reported catalytic performance data. Non-competitive kinetic demands militates against the operation of the concerted proton-assisted pathway, which describes N-C bond-forming ring closure triggered by concomitant amino proton delivery at the C[double bond, length as m-dash]C linkage evolving through a six-centre transition state structure. The valuable insights into mechanistic intricacies of aluminium-mediated intramolecular HA reported herein will help guide the rational design of group 13 metal-based HA catalysts.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Activity of a Series of Aluminium–Amidate Complexes

The aluminium complexes {[κ2-N,O-(t-BuNCOPh)]AlMe2}2 (2), [κ2-N,O-(t-BuNCOPh)]2AlMe (3), and [κ2-N,O-(t-BuNCOPh)]3Al (4) were prepared through the protonolysis reaction between trimethylaluminium and one, two, or three equivalents, respectively, of N-tert-butylbenzamide. Complex 2 was also prepared via a salt metathesis reaction between K(t-BuNCOPh) and dimethylaluminium chloride. Complexes 2–4 were characterized using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the complexes corroborated ligand : metal stoichiometries and revealed that all the amidate ligands coordinate to the aluminium ion in a κ2 fashion. The Al–amidate complexes 2–4 were viable catalyst precursors for the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley–Oppenauer reduction–oxidation manifold, successfully interconverting several classes of carbonyl and alcohol substrates.

2-Pyridonate tantalum complexes for the intermolecular hydroaminoalkylation of sterically demanding alkenes

The design and synthesis of a mixed 2-pyridonate-Ta(NMe2)3Cl complex for the direct C-H alkylation adjacent to nitrogen in unprotected secondary amines are reported. The hydroaminoalkylation of sterically demanding internal alkenes gives the direct, catalytic formation of C(sp(3))-C(sp(3)) bonds. Substrate scope investigations reveal key strategies for further catalyst development efforts in this 100% atom-economic synthesis of α-alkylated amines.

Mixed amidophenolate-catecholates of molybdenum(VI)

The dioxomolybdenum(vi) complex ((t)BuClipH2)MoO2 ((t)BuClipH4 = 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)-2,2'-diaminobiphenyl) reacts with 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to form oxo-free ((t)BuClip)Mo(3,5-(t)Bu2Cat). The bis(amidophenoxide)-monocatecholate complex is monomeric and exhibits a cis-β geometry in the solid state. Variable-temperature NMR data are consistent with two fluxional processes, one that interconverts several geometric isomers at low temperature, and a second that interchanges the ends of the (t)BuClip ligand at ambient temperatures. The high-temperature fluxional process can be explained by a single Bailar trigonal twist coupled with atropisomerization of the chiral diaminobiaryl backbone. Addition of excess catechol to ((t)BuClipH2)MoO2 results in formation of a dimolybdenum mono-oxo complex ((t)BuClip)Mo(μ-3,5-(t)Bu2Cat)2Mo(O)(3,5-(t)Bu2Cat). This complex, which contains a seven-coordinate bis(amidophenoxide)molybdenum center and a six-coordinate oxomolybdenum center, represents a structural hybrid between dimeric oxomolybdenumbis(catecholate) and molybdenum tris(catecholate) complexes. Both mono- and dimolybdenum complexes are best formulated as containing Mo(vi), but there is structural evidence for significant π donation from the amidophenolates. ((t)BuClip)Mo(3,5-(t)Bu2Cat) binds pyridine to form a mixture of isomeric seven-coordinate adducts. The Lewis acidity of the mixed amidophenoxide-catecholate appears to be lower than its tris(catecholate) or oxobis(amidophenoxide) analogues, which manifests itself principally in relatively slow binding of pyridine to the six-coordinate complex (k = 8 × 10(4) L mol(-1) s(-1) at 0 °C) rather than in the rate of dissociation of pyridine from the seven-coordinate adduct.

Ruthenium catalyzed hydroaminoalkylation of isoprene via transfer hydrogenation: byproduct-free prenylation of hydantoins

The ruthenium catalyst derived from Ru3(CO)12 and triphos [Ph2P(CH2CH2PPh2)2] promotes the direct C-C coupling of isoprene with aryl substituted hydantoins 1a–1f at the diene C4-position to furnish products of n-prenylation 2a–2f. A mechanism involving hydantoin dehydrogenation followed by diene-imine oxidative coupling to furnish a transient aza-ruthencyclopentene is proposed.

Direct functionalization of unactivated C-H bonds catalyzed by group 3-5 metal alkyl complexes

This perspective summarizes direct C-H bond functionalization reactions catalyzed by group 3-5 metal alkyl complexes. Metal-carbon bonds of group 3-5 metals have potentially high reactivity toward both C-H bond activation reactions through the intrinsic σ-bond metathesis pathway and insertion of unsaturated organic molecules. Upon the combination of these two elemental steps, direct C-H bond functionalization reactions of (hetero)aromatic compounds, methane, alkylamines, and terminal alkynes, proceed through C(sp)-H, C(sp(2))-H, and C(sp(3))-H bond activation reactions. Here we review as catalysts for these transformations not only simple metallocene complexes but also non-metallocene complexes supported by a variety of ligands, which are often superior in terms of catalyst design and catalytic activity.

Head-to-tail square-shaped cyclic hydrogen bonds leading to dimeric aggregates: 1,8-dibenzoyl-2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene and a comparison with its analogous benzoylnaphthalene

The title compound, C24H16O4, crystallized with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. Both carbonyl groups in these molecules form intramolecular O—H...O=C hydrogen bonds with neighbouring hydroxy groups, affording six-membered cyclic structures. In the crystal, dimeric aggregates arise from two intermolecular O—H...O=C hydrogen bonds between both independent molecules, forming head-to-tail square-shaped cyclic ...O...H...O...H... hydrogen bonds. These dimeric aggregates are connected into layers in thebcplane by intermolecular (naphthalene)C—H...O=C interactions. On the other hand, the analogous compound bearing methoxy groups at the 2- and 7-positions of the naphthalene ring, namely 1,8-dibenzoyl-2,7-dimethoxynaphthalene [Nakaemaet al.(2008).Acta Cryst.E64, o807], forms a three-dimensional molecular networkviaC—H...O=C and π–π interactions between the benzoyl groups. These results show that the intramolecular O—H...O=C hydrogen bonds in the title compound control the orientations of the benzoyl groups and thus promote the formation of the cyclic intermolecular O—H...O=C interactions involving the same donor and acceptor groups in pairs of molecules.

2-Pyridonate titanium complexes for chemoselectivity. Accessing intramolecular hydroaminoalkylation over hydroamination

Chemoselectivity of intramolecular hydroaminoalkylation over hydroamination has been achieved with a bis(3-phenyl-2-pyridonate) titanium complex. Primary aminoalkenes are selectively α-alkylated by C-H functionalization adjacent to nitrogen to access five- and six-membered cycloalkylamines with a good substrate-dependent diastereoselectivity of up to 19:1.