Indoles from Alkynes and Aryl Azides: Scope and Theoretical Assessment of Ruthenium Porphyrin-Catalyzed Reactions

A symbiotic experimental/computational study analyzed the Ru(TPP)(NAr)₂ -catalyzed one-pot formation of indoles from alkynes and aryl azides. Thirty different C₃ -substituted indoles were synthesized and the best performance, in term of yields and regioselectivities, was observed when reacting ArC≡CH alkynes with 3,5-(EWG)₂ C₆ H₃ N₃ azides, whereas the reaction was less efficient when using electron-rich aryl azides. A DFT analysis describes the reaction mechanism in terms of the energy costs and orbital/electronic evolutions; the limited reactivity of electron-rich azides was also justified. In summary, PhC≡CH alkyne interacts with one NAr imido ligand of Ru(TPP)(NAr)₂ to give a residually dangling C(Ph) group, which, by coupling with a C(H) unit of the N-aryl substituent, forms a 5+6 bicyclic molecule. In the process, two subsequent spin changes allow inverting the conformation of the sp² C(Ph) atom and its consequent electrophilic-like attack to the aromatic ring. The bicycle isomerizes to indole via a two-step outer sphere H-migration. Eventually, a 'Ru(TPP)(NAr)' mono-imido active catalyst is reformed after each azide/alkyne reaction.

Fe(II)-Catalyzed Isomerization of 4-Vinylisoxazoles into Pyrroles

The first synthesis of pyrroles by Fe(II)-catalyzed isomerization of 4-vinylisoxazoles is reported. 5-Alkoxy, amino, and N,N-dialkylamino-3-aryl/alkyl-4-(2-R-vinyl)isoxazoles afford 2-aryl/alkyl-5-aryl/alkyl/methoxycarbonyl-1H-pyrrol-3-carboxylic acid derivatives typically under mild conditions with cheap and available FeCl₂·4H₂O as a catalyst. The isomerization of 5-alkoxy/amino-3-arylisoxazoles, bearing unsaturated carbo and heterocyclic substituents at the position 4, gives the corresponding fused pyrrolecarboxylic acid derivatives in high yields. DFT calculations were used to elucidate a probable mechanism of the isomerization and explain the influence of steric congestion of the vinyl moiety on the isomerization pathway.

Fe(II)/Au(I) Relay Catalyzed Propargylisoxazole to Pyridine Isomerization: Access to 6-Halonicotinates

An efficient synthesis of methyl nicotinates/6-halonicotinates by the domino isomerization of 4-propargyl/(3-halopropargyl)-5-methoxyisoxazoles under Fe(II)/Au(I) relay catalysis was developed. It was found that FeNTf₂ is an effective catalyst for first step of the domino isomerization, transformation of isoxazole to 2H-azirine, which is compatible with Ph₃PAuNTf₂, catalyzing the second step.

Transition Metal-Catalyzed C-H Amination: Scope, Mechanism, and Applications

Catalytic transformation of ubiquitous C-H bonds into valuable C-N bonds offers an efficient synthetic approach to construct N-functionalized molecules. Over the last few decades, transition metal catalysis has been repeatedly proven to be a powerful tool for the direct conversion of cheap hydrocarbons to synthetically versatile amino-containing compounds. This Review comprehensively highlights recent advances in intra- and intermolecular C-H amination reactions utilizing late transition metal-based catalysts. Initial discovery, mechanistic study, and additional applications were categorized on the basis of the mechanistic scaffolds and types of reactions. Reactivity and selectivity of novel systems are discussed in three sections, with each being defined by a proposed working mode.