Recent advances in the chemistry of aryltriazene

Triazene is one of the most versatile building blocks in organic synthesis. Generally, it is viewed as a safe equivalent of diazonium salt, thus immediately finding numerous applications in preparative chemistry and medicinal chemistry. Besides, it can be used as a removable directing group in C-H functionalization or play a smart role as a precursor for aryl cation/radical generation. In this review, we will highlight recent noteworthy developments in this field.

K2S2O8-Mediated Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Pyrroles via Oxidative Self-Dimerization of N-Propargylamines

An efficient methodology has been developed for the synthesis of tetra- and pentasubstituted pyrroles via oxidative self-dimerization of N-propargylamines catalyzed by silver benzoate in the presence of K₂S₂O₈ in good yields. The protocol provides a simple route for the synthesis of both tetra- and pentasubstituted pyrroles with two carbonyl groups in the side chain. The methodology can be extended toward the synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyridazine.

Generation of aryl radicals by redox processes. Recent progress in the arylation methodology

Arylation methods based on the generation and use of aryl radicals have been a rapidly growing field of research in recent years and currently represent a powerful strategy for carbon – carbon and carbon – heteroatom bond formation. The progress in this field is related to advances in the methods for generation of aryl radicals. The currently used aryl radical precursors include aryl halides, aryldiazonium and diaryliodonium salts, arylcarboxylic acids and their derivatives, arylboronic acids, arylhydrazines, organosulfur(II, VI) compounds and some other compounds. Aryl radicals are generated under mild conditions by single electron reduction or oxidation of precursors induced by conventional reagents, visible light or electric current. A crucial role in the development of the radical arylation methodology belongs to photoredox processes either catalyzed by transition metal complexes or organic dyes or proceeding without catalysts. Unlike the conventional transition metal-catalyzed arylation methods, radical arylation reactions proceed very often at room temperature and have high functional group tolerance. Without claiming to be exhaustive, this review covers the most important advances of the current decade in the generation and synthetic applications of (het)aryl radicals. Examples of reactions are given and mechanistic insights are highlighted.

The bibliography includes 341 references.

Vinyl and Alkynyl Triazenes: Synthesis, Reactivity, and Applications

Aromatic compounds containing triazenyl groups (N₃ RR') have a profound impact on synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry. In contrast, the chemistry of vinyl and alkynyl triazenes was a largely uncharted territory until recently. The situation has changed over the last five years, and it has become apparent that vinyl and alkynyl triazenes are highly interesting compounds with a unique reactivity. The electron-donating properties of the triazenyl group provide alkynyl triazenes with an ynamide-like reactivity, which can be exploited in reactions of the triple bond. Vinyl triazenes, on the other hand, can be used for electrophilic vinylation reactions. The foundation for this new triazene chemistry are synthetic pathways which allow preparing vinyl and alkynyl triazenes in few steps from readily available starting materials. In this Minireview, we summarize recent developments in this area.

Synthesis of Arylamides via Ritter-Type Cleavage of Solid-Supported Aryltriazenes

A novel route for the synthesis of N-arylamides via the cleavage of aryltriazenes with alkyl or aryl nitriles is presented. We developed a variation of the Ritter reaction that allows the use of acetonitrile as solvent and reagent in reactions with solid-supported precursors. The reaction was optimized for the generation of N-aryl acetamides using a diverse range of immobilized building blocks including o-, m-, and p-substituted aryltriazenes. The cleavage via the Ritter-type conversion was combined with an on-bead cross-coupling reaction of halogen-substituted aryltriazenes with pyrazoles. Additionally, the synthesis of on-bead generated arylboronic ester-substituted triazenes was shown. The developed procedure was further expanded to use other commercially available nitriles, such as acrylonitrile, benzonitrile, and chlorinated alkyl nitriles as suitable reagents for a Ritter-type cleavage of the prepared triazene linkers.

Iron-mediated site-selective oxidative C–H/C–H cross-coupling of aryl radicals with quinones: synthesis of β-secretase-1 inhibitor B and related arylated quinones

Phenoxy radicals were converted intoparasite selectiveC-aryl radicals and coupled with quinones, using an inexpensive FeCl₃–K₂S₂O₈system, to obtain several arylated quinones, in good to moderate yields.

Biaryl synthesis with arenediazonium salts: cross-coupling, CH-arylation and annulation reactions

The rich legacy of arenediazonium salts in the synthesis of unsymmetrical biaryls, built around the seminal works of Pschorr, Gomberg and Bachmann more than a century ago, continues to make important contributions at various evolutionary stages of modern biaryl synthesis. Based on in-depth mechanistic analysis and design of novel pathways and reaction conditions, the scope of biaryl synthesis with arenediazonium salts has enormously expanded in recent years through applications of transition metal/photoredox-catalysed cross-coupling, thermal/photosensitized radical chain CH-arylation of (hetero)arenes and arylative radical annulation reactions with alkynes. These recent developments have provided facile synthetic access to a wide variety of unsymmetrical biaryls of pharmaceutical, agrochemical and optoelectronic importance with green scale-up options and created opportunities for late-stage modification of peptides, nucleosides, carbon nanotubes and electrodes, the details of which are captured in this review.

Atom-Economical Palladium Carbon-Catalyzed de Novo Synthesis of Trisubstituted Nicotinonitriles

A de novo palladium carbon-catalyzed synthesis of trisubstituted nicotinonitriles from easily synthesized homopropagylic or homoallylic aromatic alcohols in the presence of nitriles has been explored. The mechanism proceeds with an interesting generation of a Pd(II)-C palladacycle followed by an oxidative aromatization to generate the pyridine core. The pyridine core is generated with a noteworthy C-C bond cleavage in the case of the substituted nitriles. The moderate yields and easy separation of the products lend a unique importance to this one-pot methodology.

Palladium-catalyzed coupling of azoles with 1-aryltriazenes via C–H/C–N cleavage

Arylation of azoles was performed via C–H functionalization with 1-aryltriazenes in the presence of PdCl₂, dppe, CuCl and Bu^tOLi.

Ionic Liquid Promoted Diazenylation of N-Heterocyclic Compounds with Aryltriazenes under Mild Conditions

An efficient, mild, and metal-free approach to direct diazenylation of N-heterocyclic compounds with aryltriazenes using Brønsted ionic liquid as a promoter has been developed for the first time. Many N-heterocyclic azo compounds were synthesized in good to excellent yields at room temperature under an open atmosphere. Notably, the promoter 1,3-bis(4-sulfobutyl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium hydrogen sulfate could be conveniently recycled and reused with the same efficacies for at least four cycles.

Design for carbon–carbon bond forming reactions under ambient conditions

The carbon–carbon (C–C) bond forms the ‘backbone’ of nearly every organic molecule, and lies at the heart of the chemical sciences! Let us explore designing of carbon–carbon frameworks at ambient conditions.

Visible light-promoted C–H functionalization of ethers and electron-deficient arenes

Photocatalyst-free visible-light-mediated C–H arylation of ethers via C_(Sp2)–C_(Sp3) C–H functionalization involving hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) pathway.

Formation of BN Isosteres of Azo Dyes by Ring Expansion of Boroles with Azides

Herein, we present the results of our investigations on the effect of ortho substitution of aryl azides on the ring-expansion reaction of boroles, five-membered unsaturated boron heterocycles. These studies led to the isolation of the first 1,2-azaborinine-substituted azo dyes, which are bright yellow solids. One of the derivatives, (E)-2-mesityl-1-(mesityldiazenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetraphenyl-1,2-azaborinine, was found to be unstable in solution and to transform through a Jacobsen-like reaction into an indazole and 1-hydro-1,2-azaborinine. DFT calculations were performed to shed light on possible mechanisms to rationalize the unexpected azo-azaborinine formation and to draw conclusions about the role played by the ortho substituents in the reaction.

Studies towards asymmetric synthesis of 4(S)-11-dihydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (diHDHA) featuring cross-coupling of chiral stannane under mild conditions

An efficient and asymmetric synthetic approach towards one of the biologically interesting 4(S)-11-diHDHA derivatives was developed. This process mainly relied on two reactions, one is the copper-catalyzed mild cross-coupling that allows for the efficient construction of a chiral α-alkynyl α-hydroxy motif and another is the synthesis of chiral α-hydroxy α-stannanes that has previously been developed by our group featuring the asymmetric stannylation using the well-established tributyltin hydride/diethyl zinc system from an aldehyde.

Direct radical trifluoromethylthiolation and thiocyanation of aryl alkynoate esters: mild and facile synthesis of 3-trifluoromethylthiolated and 3-thiocyanated coumarins

A facile oxidative radical cyclization of aryl alkynoate esters for the synthesis of 3-trifluoromethylthiolated and 3-thiocyanated coumarins is developed.