Ligand-Mediated Regulation of the Chemical/Thermal Stability and Catalytic Performance of Isostructural Cobalt(II) Coordination Polymers

Regulating the chemical/thermal stability and catalytic activity of coordination polymers (CPs) to achieve high catalytic performance is topical and challenging. The CPs are competent in promoting oxidative cross-coupling, yet they have not received substantial attention. Here, the ligand effect of the secondary ligand of CPs for oxidative cross-coupling reactions was investigated. Specifically, four new isostructural CPs [Co(Fbtx)1.5(4-R-1,2-BDC)]n (denoted as Co-CP-R, Fbtx = 1,4-bis(1,2,4-triazole-1-ylmethyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzene, 4-R-1,2-BDC = 4-R-1,2-benzenedicarboxylate, R = F, Cl, Br, CF3) were prepared. It was found that in the reactions of oxidative amination of benzoxazoles with secondary amines and the oxidative coupling of styrenes with benzaldehydes, both the chemical and thermal stabilities of the four Co-CPs with the R group followed the trend of -CF3 > -Br > -Cl > -F. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggested that the difference in reactivity may be ascribed to the effect of substituent groups on the electron transition energy of the cobalt(II) center of these Co-CPs. These findings highlight the secondary ligand effect in regulating the stability and catalytic performance of coordination networks.

C–N coupling reactions with arenes through C–H activation: the state-of-the-art versus the principles of green chemistry

Herein, we discuss the state-of-the-art in arene C–N coupling through C–H activation and to what extent it complies with the principles of green chemistry, with a focus on heterogeneously catalysed systems.

Zwitterionic Ring-Opened Oxyphosphonium Species from the Ph3P-I2 Mediated Reactions of Benzo[d]oxazol-2(3H)-ones with Secondary Amines

Instead of the expected substituted 2-aminobenzo[d]oxazoles, relatively stable ring-opened oxyphosphonium betaines were isolated for the first time from the Ph₃P-I₂-mediated reactions of benzo[d]oxazol-2(3H)-ones with acyclic secondary amines. The structure of one of these compounds was unambiguously confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Thermolysis of the betaines gave rise to 2-dialkylaminobenzoxazoles with concomitant loss of triphenylphosphine oxide, suggesting their possible role as intermediates in an alternative reaction path.

Direct Amination of Aromatic C-H Bonds with Free Amines

Aromatic amines belong to a highly important class of organic compounds which are found in various natural products, functional materials, and pharmaceutical agents. Their prevalence has sparked continuing interest in the development of highly efficient and environmentally benign synthetic strategies for the construction of these compounds. Cross-dehydrogenative coupling reactions between two unmodified C(X)-H bonds have recently emerged as a versatile and powerful strategy for the fabrication of new C(X)-C(X) bonds. In this context, several procedures have been reported for the synthesis of aromatic amines through the direct amination of aromatic C-H bonds with free amines. This review highlights recent advances and progress in this appealing research arena, with special emphasis on the mechanistic features of the reactions.

Metal-Free Synthesis of 2- N, N-Dialkylaminobenzoxazoles Using Tertiary Amines as the Nitrogen Source

The unprecedented reaction of tertiary amines with 2(3 H)-benzoxazolones has been investigated. In the presence of the Ph₃P-I₂ reagent system, the reaction of both acyclic and cyclic aliphatic tertiary amines led to the formation of 2- N, N-dialkylaminobenzoxazoles with the selective cleavage of an alkyl group. Especially, N-(2-iodoethyl)piperazinyl derivatives were rapidly produced in good yields when using DABCO as the nitrogen source. Only in the cases when the nucleophilicity of the substrates exceeds that of the amine, competitive self-condensation of benzoxazolones then proceeds preferentially. ³¹P{¹H}-NMR study suggested the involvement of an aryloxyphosphonium intermediate and/or possibly 2-iodobenzoxazole which activates the C-2 position of benzoxazolones toward nucleophilic aromatic substitution.

Electrochemical Transition-Metal-Catalyzed C-H Bond Functionalization: Electricity as Clean Surrogates of Chemical Oxidants

Transition-metal-catalyzed C-H activation has attracted much attention from the organic synthetic community because it obviates the need to prefunctionalize substrates. However, superstoichiometric chemical oxidants, such as copper- or silver-based metal oxidants, benzoquinones, organic peroxides, K₂ S₂ O₈ , hypervalent iodine, and O₂ , are required for most of the reactions. Thus, the development of environmentally benign and user-friendly C-H bond activation protocols, in the absence of chemical oxidants, are urgently desired. The inherent advantages and unique characteristics of organic electrosynthesis make fill this gap. Herein, recent progress in this area (until the end of September 2018) is summarized for different transition metals to highlight the potential sustainability of electro-organic chemistry.

3d Transition Metals for C-H Activation

C-H activation has surfaced as an increasingly powerful tool for molecular sciences, with notable applications to material sciences, crop protection, drug discovery, and pharmaceutical industries, among others. Despite major advances, the vast majority of these C-H functionalizations required precious 4d or 5d transition metal catalysts. Given the cost-effective and sustainable nature of earth-abundant first row transition metals, the development of less toxic, inexpensive 3d metal catalysts for C-H activation has gained considerable recent momentum as a significantly more environmentally-benign and economically-attractive alternative. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview on first row transition metal catalysts for C-H activation until summer 2018.

Nickel-Catalyzed Electrooxidative C-H Amination: Support for Nickel(IV)

Nickel-catalyzed electrochemical C-H aminations were accomplished by chemo- and position-selective C-H activation with ample scope. Detailed mechanistic studies highlighted a facile C-H cleavage with unique chemo-selectivity, while cyclovoltammetric analysis provided support for a nickel(II/III/IV) manifold.

The Synthesis of 2-Aminobenzoxazoles Using Reusable Ionic Liquid as a Green Catalyst under Mild Conditions

A facile, green, and efficient method for the direct oxidative amination of benzoxazoles using heterocyclic ionic liquid as catalyst has been developed. The reaction proceeded smoothly at room temperature and gave the desirable 2-aminobenzoxazoles with good to excellent yields (up to 97%). The catalyst 1-butylpyridinium iodide can be easily recycled and reused with similar efficacies for at least four cycles.

n Bu4NI-catalyzed direct amination of benzoxazoles with tertiary amines using TBHP as oxidant under microwave irradiation

A facile, efficient, and practical method for n Bu4NI-catalyzed direct C–H amination of benzoxazoles with tertiary amines has been developed. The system could be performed in the absence of metal catalyst and only requires tert-butyl hydroperoxide as oxidant under microwave irradiation. A variety of substituted benzoxazol-2-amines were synthesized with moderate to good yield.

Heterogeneously porous γ-MnO₂-catalyzed direct oxidative amination of benzoxazole through C-H activation in the presence of O₂

Oxidative amination of azoles through catalytic C-H bond activation is a very important reaction due to the presence of 2-aminoazoles in several biologically active compounds. However, most of the reported methods are performed under homogeneous reaction conditions using excess reagents and additives. Herein, we report the heterogeneous, porous γ-MnO2-catalyzed direct amination of benzoxazole with wide range of primary and secondary amines. The amination was carried under mild reaction conditions and using molecular oxygen as a green oxidant, without any additives. The catalyst can easily be separated by filtration and reused several times without a significant loss of its catalytic performance. Of note, the reaction tolerates a functional group such as alcohol, thus indicating the broad applicability of this reaction.