Meta-Selective Copper-Catalyzed C-H Arylation of Pyridines and Isoquinolines through Dearomatized Intermediates

C(sp2)-H functionalization offers an efficient strategy for the synthesis of various elaborated N-containing heteroarenes. Along these lines, oxazino pyridines that can be readily prepared from pyridines, have been introduced as powerful substrates in radical- and ionic-mediated meta-C-H functionalization. However, the regioselective meta-C-H arylation of pyridines remains a great challenge. Herein, a copper-catalyzed meta-selective C-H arylation of pyridines and isoquinolines through bench-stable dearomatized intermediates is reported. Electrophilic aryl-Cu(III) species, generated from readily accessible aryl I(III) reagents, enable the efficient meta-arylation of a broad range of pyridines and isoquinolines. The method also allows the meta-selective alkenylation of these heteroarenes using the corresponding alkenyl I(III)-reagents. Late-stage arylation of drug-derived pyridines and larger-scale experiments demonstrate the potential of this synthetic methodology.

Regiocontrol via Electronics: Insights into a Ru-Catalyzed, Cu-Mediated Site-Selective Alkylation of Isoquinolones via a C-C Bond Activation of Cyclopropanols

A site-selective C(3)/C(4)-alkylation of N-pyridylisoquinolones is achieved by employing C-C bond activation of cyclopropanols under Ru(II)-catalyzed/Cu(II)-mediated conditions. The regioisomeric ratios of the products follow directly from the electronic nature of the cyclopropanols and isoquinolones used, with electron-withdrawing groups yielding predominantly the C(3)-alkylated products, whereas the electron-donating groups primarily generate the C(4)-alkylated isomers. Density functional theory calculations and detailed mechanistic investigations suggest the simultaneous existence of the singlet and triplet pathways for the C(3)- and C(4)-product formation. Further transformations of the products evolve the utility of the methodology thereby yielding scaffolds of synthetic relevance.

Synthesis of Ferrocene 1,3-Derivatives by Distal C-H Activation

The third position of cyclopentadienyl ring of a monosubstituted ferrocene has remained as an inaccessible chemical space for direct functionalization. Until recently, functionalizing the C(3)-position while bypassing the predominantly active C(2)-position is the most challenging task. Herein, we report a distal C-H functionalization of monosubstituted ferrocenes using an easily removable directing group with precise site-selectivity, under a PdII / mono-N-protected amino-acid ligand catalytic system. The robust synthetic protocol leads to the synthesis of ferrocene 1,3-derivatives with broad scope in olefins while functionalizing ferrocenyl methylamine in moderate to good yields via a highly strained ferrocene appended 12-membered palladacycle intermediate.

Merging Rh-Catalyzed C-H Functionalization and Cascade Cyclization to Enable Propargylic Alcohols as Three-Carbon Synthons

Reported herein is a reactivity of propargyl alcohols as "Three-Carbon Synthons" in a Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H functionalization of acetanilides, leading to the synthesis of core structures of isocryptolepine, γ-carbolines, dihydrochromeno[2,3-b]indoles, and diindolylmethanes (DIM) derivatives. The transformation involves a rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H functionalization and heteroannulation to yield indoles followed by a cascade cyclization with both external and internal nucleophiles to afford diverse products. The role of the hydroxy group, the key function of the silver additive, the origin of the reverse regioselectivity and the rate-determining step, are rationalized in conformity with the combination of experimental, noncovalent interaction analysis and DFT studies. This protocol is endowed with several salient features, including one-pot multistep cascade approach, exclusive regioselectivity, good functional group tolerance and synthesis of variety of molecular frameworks.

Iridium(III)-Catalyzed C(3)-H Alkylation of Isoquinolines via Metal Carbene Migratory Insertion

An Ir(III)-catalyzed C(3)-H alkylation of N-acetyl-1,2-dihydroisoquinolines with diverse acceptor-acceptor diazo compounds has been achieved under a single catalytic system via metal carbene migratory insertion. Moreover, further synthetic transformations of the alkylated products such as aromatization, selective decarboxylation, and decarbonylation lead to the formation of several synthetically viable isoquinoline derivatives having immense potentials.

Regiodivergent C-H Arylation of Triphenylene Derivatives Controlled by Electronic Effects of Diaryliodonium Salts

A regiodivergent C-H arylation of triphenylene derivatives with diaryliodonium salts was developed. The regiodivergence was controlled by electronic effects of diaryliodonium salts. When the aryl(mesityl)iodonium salts bearing strong electron-donating groups at the para-position of aryl groups were used, the arylation reactions occurred ortho to amide groups. However, if the aryl(mesityl)iodonium salts bearing electron-withdrawing groups or weak electron-donating groups at the para-position of aryl groups were utilized, the arylation reactions occurred meta to amide groups.

Visible Light-Enabled sp3 -C-H Functionalization with Chloro- and Bromoalkynes: Chemoselective Route to Vinylchlorides or Alkynes

An unprecedented direct atom-economic chemo- and regioselective hydroalkylation of chloroalkynes and an sp3 -C-H alkynylation of bromoalkynes was achieved. The reaction partners are unfunctionalized ethers, alcohols, amides, and even non-activated hydrocarbons. We found that a household fluorescent bulb was able to excite a diaryl ketone, which then selectively abstracts a H-atom from an sp3 -C-H bond. The product of a formal alkyne insertion into the sp3 -C-H bond was obtained with chloroalkynes, providing valuable vinyl chlorides. The photo-organocatalytic hydrogen atom transfer strategy gives rise to a broad range of diversely functionalized olefins. When bromoalkynes are applied in the presence of a base, a chemoselectivity switch to an alkynylation is observed. This reaction can even be performed for the alkynylation of unactivated sp3 -C-H bonds, in this case with a preference of the more substituted carbon. Accompanying quantum chemical calculations indicate a vinyl radical intermediate with pronounced linear coordination of the carbon radical center, thus enabling the formation of both diastereoisomers after H-atom abstraction, suggesting that the (Z)-diastereoisomer is preferred, which supports the experimentally observed (E/Z)-distribution.

Ni(ii)-Catalyzed vinylic C-H functionalization of 2-acetamido-3-arylacrylates to access isotetronic acids

A ligand-free Ni(ii)-catalyzed cascade annulation reaction for the synthesis of 4-aryl-substituted isotetronic acids from 2-acetamido-3-arylacrylates via vinylic C-H functionalization is reported. The reaction proceeds through heteroatom guided electrophilic insertion of nickel to the vinylic double bond followed by annulation with dibromomethane. This unconventional route features cascade steps, sole product formation, multiple functional group tolerance, low cost of catalysts and reagents, and readily available starting materials. Using this method, various aryl-substituted isotetronic acids have been synthesized which are biologically relevant. The annulation of 2-acetamido-3-arylacrylates has also been assessed with 1,2-dichloroethane, which resulted in the rearranged annulated products of 5-methyl substituted isotetronic acids.

Palladium-catalyzed remote C-H functionalization of 2-aminopyrimidines

A straightforward strategy was developed for the arylation and olefination at the C5-position of the N-(alkyl)pyrimidin-2-amine core with readily available aryl halides and alkenes, respectively. This approach was highly regioselective, and the transformation was achieved based on two different (Pd(ii)/Pd(iv)) and (Pd(0)/Pd(ii)) catalytic cycles.

Catalyst Control in Switching the Site Selectivity of C-H Olefinations of 1,2-Dihydroquinolines: An Approach to Positional-Selective Functionalization of Quinolines

A unique approach to achieve site-selective C-H olefinations exclusively at the C-3- or C-8-positions in the quinoline framework has been developed by catalyst control. Distal C(3)-H functionalization is achieved by using palladium catalysis, whereas proximal C(8)-H functionalization is obtained by employing ruthenium catalysis. Switching the site selectivity within a single substrate directly indicates two diverse pathways, which are operating under the palladium- and ruthenium-catalyzed reaction conditions.

Visible-Light-Mediated Direct Decarboxylative Acylation of Electron-Deficient Heteroarenes Using α-Ketoacids

Acylation of electron-deficient heteroaromatic compounds has been developed using visible light. α-Ketoacids have been used as an efficient source of acyl radicals under photoredox conditions. The in situ generated acyl radicals from α-ketoacids have been coupled to a wide variety of electron-deficient heteroaromatic compounds in a Minisci type reaction. This method would be attractive to access biologically attractive molecules.

Catalyst Control in Positional-Selective C-H Alkenylation of Isoxazoles and a Ruthenium-Mediated Assembly of Trisubstituted Pyrroles

High levels of catalyst control are demonstrated in determining the positional selectivity in C-H alkenylation of isoxazoles. A cationic rhodium-mediated, strong-directing group promotes C( sp²)-H activation at the proximal aryl ring whereas, the palladium-mediated electrophilic metallation leads to the C( sp²)-H activation at the distal position of the directing group. Synthetic elaboration of this C-H alkenylation product via ruthenium and copper co-catalysis leads to an efficient method for the assembly of densely substituted pyrroles.

Catalyst-controlled positional-selectivity in C–H functionalizations

C–H bonds are ubiquitous in organic molecules and typically these bonds are chemically indistinct from each other and it would be highly advantageous for a synthetic chemist to have the ability to choose which C–H bond is functionalized in a given molecule.

Metal-catalyzed regiodivergent organic reactions

This review discusses metal-catalysed regiodivergent additions, allylic substitutions, CH-activation, cross-couplings and intra- or intermolecular cyclisations.

Aminomethylation/hydrogenolysis as an alternative to direct methylation of metalated isoquinolines - a novel total synthesis of the alkaloid 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1-methylisoquinoline

Highly-substituted isoquinolines are important scaffolds in syntheses of natural products and in drug development and hence, effective synthetic approaches are required. Here we present a novel method for the introduction of a methyl group at C1 of isoquinolines. This is exemplified by a new total synthesis of the alkaloid 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1-methylisoquinoline. Direct metalation of 7-benzyloxy-6-methoxyisoquinoline with Knochel–Hauser base, followed by cuprate-mediated methylation gives the target alkaloid directly, but separation from the educt is cumbersome. Quenching the metalated intermediate with Eschenmoser’s reagent gives an easy to clean tertiary benzylamine, which, after quaternization with iodomethane, is easily converted into the desired 1-methylisoquinoline by hydrogenolysis of both the benzylamine and benzyl ether groups.

Palladium-catalysed stereoselective synthesis of 4-(diarylmethylidene)-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1(2H)-ones: expedient access to 4-substituted isoquinolin-1(2H)-ones and isoquinolines

Palladium-catalysed stereoselective synthesis of 4-(diarylmethylidene)-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1(2H)-ones and their straightforward transformations to 4-substituted isoquinolin-1(2H)-ones and isoquinolines are described.

Palladium-Catalyzed, ortho-Selective C-H Halogenation of Benzyl Nitriles, Aryl Weinreb Amides, and Anilides

A palladium-catalyzed, ortho-selective C-H halogenation methodology is reported herein. The highlight of the work is the highly selective C(sp²)-H functionalization of benzyl nitriles in the presence of activated C(sp³)-H bond, which results in good yields of the halogenated products with excellent regioselectivity. Along with benzyl nitriles, aryl Weinreb amides and anilides have been evaluated for the transformation using aprotic conditions. Mechanistic studies yield interesting aspects with respect to the pathway of the reaction and the directing group abilities.