Coordinating activation strategy enables 1,2-alkylamidation of alkynes

The radical 1,2-difunctionalization reaction of alkynes has been evolved into a versatile approach for expeditiously increasing the complexity of the common feedstock alkyne. However, intermolecular 1,2-carboamidation with general alkyl groups is an unsolved problem. Herein, we show that a coordinating activation strategy could act as an efficient tool for enabling radical 1,2-alkylamidation of alkynes. With the employment of diacyl peroxides as both alkylating reagents and internal oxidants, a large library of β-alkylated enamides is constructed in a three-component manner from readily accessible amides and alkynes. This protocol exhibits broad substrate scope with good functional group compatibility and is amenable for late-stage functionalization of natural molecules and biologically compounds.

Cross-dehydrogenative Coupling Reactions Between Formamidic C(sp2)-H and X-H (X = C, O, N) Bonds

In the last decade, the scientific community has witnessed explosive growth in research on the direct carbamoylation of C-H and X-H (X = N, O) bonds with formamides via cross-dehydrogenative coupling reactions. This novel approach is an effective means of preparing a variety of carboxamide, carbamate as well as urea derivatives, which are prevalent in medicinal chemistry and natural product synthesis. This review elaborates the most important advances and developments in the field, with an emphasis on the reaction patterns and mechanisms.

Iron-catalyzed urea synthesis: dehydrogenative coupling of methanol and amines

Substituted ureas have numerous applications but their synthesis typically requires the use of highly toxic starting materials. Herein we describe the first base-metal catalyst for the selective synthesis of symmetric ureas via the dehydrogenative coupling of methanol with primary amines. Using a pincer supported iron catalyst, a range of ureas was generated with isolated yields of up to 80% (corresponding to a catalytic turnover of up to 160) and with H2 as the sole byproduct. Mechanistic studies indicate a stepwise pathway beginning with methanol dehydrogenation to give formaldehyde, which is trapped by amine to afford a formamide. The formamide is then dehydrogenated to produce a transient isocyanate, which reacts with another equivalent of amine to form a urea. These mechanistic insights enabled the development of an iron-catalyzed method for the synthesis of unsymmetric ureas from amides and amines.

Recent advances in copper-catalyzed C-H bond amidation

Copper catalysis has been known as a powerful tool for its ubiquitous application in organic synthesis. One of the fundamental utilities of copper catalysis is in the C–N bond formation by using carbon sources and nitrogen functional groups such as amides. In this review, the recent progress in the amidation reactions employing copper-catalyzed C–H amidation is summarized.

Recent Trends in Copper-Catalyzed C-H Amination Routes to Biologically Important Nitrogen Scaffolds

Nitrogen-containing heterocycles have found remarkable applications in natural product research, material sciences, and pharmaceuticals. Although the synthesis of this interesting class of compounds attracted the interest of generations of organic chemists, simple and straightforward assembly methods based on transition-metal catalysis have regularly been elusive. The recent advancements in the development of C-H functionalization have helped in accomplishing the synthesis of a variety of complex heterocycles from simple precursors. This Focus Review summarizes the recent advances in one particular field: the copper-catalyzed C-N bond formation reactions via C-H bond functionalization to furnish a comprehensive range of nitrogen heterocycles. Applicability and synthetic feasibility of a particular reaction represent major requirements for the inclusion in this review.

Copper-mediated intramolecular oxidative C-H/N-H cross-coupling of α-alkenoyl ketene N,S-acetals to synthesize pyrrolone derivatives

CuCl2 and CuBr2-mediated intramolecular oxidative C-H/N-H cross-coupling/halogenation of β-thioalkyl-substituted α-alkenoyl ketene N,S-acetals occurred efficiently, affording 4-halo-5-thioalkyl-3-pyrrolones. Tunable C-S and C-halo bond transformations of the resultant pyrrolone derivatives led to highly functionalized N-heterocyclic compounds.

Synthesis of unsymmetrical phenylurea derivatives via oxidative cross coupling of aryl formamides with amines under metal-free conditions

A direct transformation of N-aryl formamides to the corresponding phenylurea derivatives via the formation of isocyanate intermediates is achieved in good yields using hypervalent iodine reagents as external oxidants.

Intramolecular oxidative coupling: I2/TBHP/NaN3-mediated synthesis of benzofuran derivatives

A novel intramolecular oxidative coupling reaction has been established to prepare benzofuran derivatives via direct C(sp²)–H functionalization for the formation of C–O bonds. This transformation is mediated by I₂/TBHP/NaN₃ under metal-free conditions and a catalytic amount of NaN₃ plays a crucial role in the reaction.