C-H arylation of triphenylene, naphthalene and related arenes using Pd/C

Mechanistic study on the reductive elimination of (aryl)(fluoroaryl)palladium complexes: a key step in regiospecific dehydrogenative cross-coupling

Cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reactions have attracted attention as short-step synthetic methods for C-C bond formation. Recently, we have developed CDC reactions between naphthalene and fluorobenzene. Rather than exhibiting general regioselectivity, this reaction proceeds selectively at the β-position of naphthalene. In this study, investigation using model complexes as reaction intermediates revealed that the origin of the unique selectivity is the exclusive occurrence of reductive elimination at the β-position. Detailed studies on the reductive elimination showed that the steric hindrance of the naphthyl group and the electron-withdrawing properties of fluorobenzene determine the position at which the reductive elimination reaction proceeds. These results show that the selectivity of the C-H functionalisation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is determined not by the C-H cleavage step, but by the subsequent reductive elimination step. The regioselective CDC reaction was adaptable to various PAHs but was less selective for pyrene with extended π-conjugation. In fluorobenzene substrates, the F atoms at the two ortho positions of the C-H moiety are necessary for high selectivity. The substrate ranges are in good agreement with the proposed mechanism, in which the reductive elimination step determines the regioselectivity.

Hydrogen Bond Network Induced by Surface Ligands Shifts the Semi-hydrogenation Selectivity over Palladium Catalysts

Tuning the metal-ligand interfaces of heterogeneous catalysts has emerged as an effective strategy to optimize their catalytic performance. However, improving the selectivity via organic modification remains a challenge so far. In this work, we demonstrate a simple ligand modification by preparing cysteamine-coated ultrathin palladium nanosheets. The as-prepared catalyst exhibits excellent selectivity with durability during catalytic hydrogenation of terminal alkynes, superior to most previously reported ligand-protected palladium catalysts. Further study reveals that a zwitterionic transformation occurs on the palladium interface under the H₂ conditions, generating a rigid hydrogen bond network. Such an unexpected effect beyond the traditional steric effect derived from van der Waals interactions makes the catalytic surface favor the hydrogenation of alkynes over alkenes without significantly sacrificing the catalytic activity. These results not only provide a unique steric effect concept for surface coordination chemistry but also provide a practical application to improve the selectivity and activity comprehensively.

Enantioselective Au-Catalyzed Synthesis of Thia[5]- and Thia[6]helicenes and Their Transformation into Bowl-shaped Pleiadenes

A series of helically shaped benzo[b]chryseno[4,3-d]thiophenes, naphtho[1,2-b]phenanthro[4,3-d]thiophenes, and chryseno[3,4-b]naphtho[1,2-d]thiophenes is synthesized via a highly enantioselective Au-catalyzed intramolecular alkyne hydroarylation reaction. The inversion barriers of the structures obtained are determined both theoretically and experimentally, and their chiroptical properties are reported. Preliminary studies on the post-synthetic functionalization of these thiahelicenes and their transformation into azahelicenes are also presented. In addition, a straightforward one-step protocol is developed, which wraps the initially obtained chryseno[3,4-b]naphtho[1,2-d]thiophenes into bowl-shaped pleiadene derivatives without erosion of the enantiopurity. The number of structurally related products that are obtained with high enantioselectivity enables the establishment of comprehensive correlations between the structure and conformational stability or (chir)optical properties.

Toward Totally Defined Nanocatalysis: Deep Learning Reveals the Extraordinary Activity of Single Pd/C Particles

Homogeneous catalysis is typically considered "well-defined" from the standpoint of catalyst structure unambiguity. In contrast, heterogeneous nanocatalysis often falls into the realm of "poorly defined" systems. Supported catalysts are difficult to characterize due to their heterogeneity, variety of morphologies, and large size at the nanoscale. Furthermore, an assortment of active metal nanoparticles examined on the support are negligible compared to those in the bulk catalyst used. To solve these challenges, we studied individual particles of the supported catalyst. We made a significant step forward to fully characterize individual catalyst particles. Combining a nanomanipulation technique inside a field-emission scanning electron microscope with neural network analysis of selected individual particles unexpectedly revealed important aspects of activity for widespread and commercially important Pd/C catalysts. The proposed approach unleashed an unprecedented turnover number of 10⁹ attributed to individual palladium on a nanoglobular carbon particle. Offered in the present study is the Totally Defined Catalysis concept that has tremendous potential for the mechanistic research and development of high-performance catalysts.

Introduction to Spatial Anion Control for Direct C–H Arylation

C–H activation of functionally rich molecules without the need for directing groups promises shorter organic syntheses and late-stage diversification of molecules for drug discovery. We highlight recent examples of palladium-catalyzed nondirected functionalization of C–H bonds in arenes as limiting substrates with a focus on the development of the concept of spatial anion control for direct C–H arylation.

1 C–H Activation and the CMD Mechanism

2 Nondirected C–H Functionalizations of Arenes as Limiting Substrates

3 Nondirected C–H Arylation

4 Spatial Anion Control for Direct C–H Arylation

5 Coordination Chemistry with Spatial Anion Control

6 Conclusion

o-Acetoxylation of oxo-benzoxazines via C–H activation by palladium(ii)/aluminium oxide

Direct activation of sp2 C–H bonds by a palladium catalyst has received significant attention in organic chemistry.

Tris-NHC-propagated self-supported polymer-based Pd catalysts for heterogeneous C-H functionalization

Three-dimensionally propagated imidazolium-containing mesoporous coordination polymer and organic polymer-based platforms were successfully exploited to develop single-site heterogenized Pd-NHC catalysts for oxidative arene/heteroarene C-H functionalization reactions. The catalysts were efficient in directed arene halogenation, and nondirected arene and heteroarene arylation reactions. High catalytic activity, excellent heterogeneity and recyclability were offered by these systems making them promising candidates in the area of heterogeneous C-H functionalization, where efficient catalysts are still scarce.

C-H Activation: Toward Sustainability and Applications

Since the definition of the "12 Principles of Green Chemistry" more than 20 years ago, chemists have become increasingly mindful of the need to conserve natural resources and protect the environment through the judicious choice of synthetic routes and materials. The direct activation and functionalization of C-H bonds, bypassing intermediate functional group installation is, in abstracto, step and atom economic, but numerous factors still hinder the sustainability of large-scale applications. In this Outlook, we highlight the research areas seeking to overcome the sustainability challenges of C-H activation: the pursuit of abundant metal catalysts, the avoidance of static directing groups, the replacement of metal oxidants, and the introduction of bioderived solvents. We close by examining the progress made in the subfield of aryl C-H borylation from its origins, through highly efficient but precious Ir-based systems, to emerging 3d metal catalysts. The future growth of this field will depend on industrial uptake, and thus we urge researchers to strive toward sustainable C-H activation.

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.

Green strategies for transition metal-catalyzed C–H activation in molecular syntheses

Sustainable strategies for the activation of inert C–H bonds towards improved resource-economy.

Palladium-catalyzed C8–H arylation and annulation of 1-naphthalene carboxylic acid derivatives with aryl iodides

Disclosed herein is palladium-catalyzed C8–H arylation and annulation of 1-naphthoic acid derivatives with aryl iodides in a low reactant molar ratio via an electrophilic aromatic substitution (S_EAr) process.

Recent advances in the development of palladium nanocatalysts for sustainable organic transformations

In this review, we highlighted Pd nanocatalysts which have been used in the development of sustainable organic transformations including transfer hydrogenation, C–H bond activation, and some carbon–carbon couplings in the last five years.

Organic room-temperature phosphorescence from halogen-bonded organic frameworks: hidden electronic effects in rigidified chromophores

Development of purely organic materials displaying room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) will expand the toolbox of inorganic phosphors for imaging, sensing or display applications. While molecular solids were found to suppress non-radiative energy dissipation and make the RTP process kinetically favourable, such an effect should be enhanced by the presence of multivalent directional non-covalent interactions. Here we report phosphorescence of a series of fast triplet-forming tetraethyl naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylates. Various numbers of bromo substituents were introduced to modulate intermolecular halogen-bonding interactions. Bright RTP with quantum yields up to 20% was observed when the molecule is surrounded by a Br⋯O halogen-bonded network. Spectroscopic and computational analyses revealed that judicious heavy-atom positioning suppresses non-radiative relaxation and enhances intersystem crossing at the same time. The latter effect was found to be facilitated by the orbital angular momentum change, in addition to the conventional heavy-atom effect. Our results suggest the potential of multivalent non-covalent interactions for excited-state conformation and electronic control.

Spatial Anion Control on Palladium for Mild C-H Arylation of Arenes

C-H arylation of arenes without the use of directing groups is a challenge, even for simple molecules, such as benzene. We describe spatial anion control as a concept for the design of catalytic sites for C-H bond activation, thereby enabling nondirected C-H arylation of arenes at ambient temperature. The mild conditions enable late-stage structural diversification of biologically relevant small molecules, and site-selectivity complementary to that obtained with other methods of arene functionalization can be achieved. These results reveal the potential of spatial anion control in transition-metal catalysis for the functionalization of C-H bonds under mild conditions.

C–H Functionalization Strategies in the Naphthalene Series: Site Selections and Functional Diversity

Naphthalene is certainly not a common arene. In contrast to benzene, the bicyclic feature of naphthalene offers multiple differentiable positions and thus a broad diversity of substitution patterns. Naphthalene is a central building block for the construction of elaborated polycyclic architectures with applications in broad domains such as life and materials sciences. As a result, C–H functionalization strategies specially designed for naphthalene substrates have become essential to install valuable substituents on one or both rings towards polysubstituted naphthalenes. This short review provides a focus on uncommon substitution patterns; however, classical ortho C–H activation is not covered.

1 Introduction

2 C–H Functionalization Using a Directing Group Located at Position 1

2.1 Functionalization on the Ring Bearing the DG: 1,3-Substitution Pattern

2.2 Functionalization on the Ring Bearing the DG: 1,4-Substitution Pattern

2.3 Functionalization on the Neighboring Ring: 1,6-, 1,7- and 1,8-Substitution Patterns

3 C–H Functionalization Using a Directing Group Located at Position 2

3.1 Functionalization on the Ring Bearing the DG: 2,4- and 2,1-Substitution Patterns

3.2 Miscellaneous Substitution Patterns

4 Bis C–H Functionalization

4.1 Symmetrical Bisfunctionalization: 1,2,8-Substitution Pattern

4.2 Symmetrical Bisfunctionalization: 2,3,1-Substitution Pattern

4.2 Unsymmetrical Bisfunctionalization: 2,3,1-Substitution Pattern

4.3 Symmetrical Bisfunctionalization: 2,4,8-Substitution Pattern

5 Conclusion and Outlook

Unleash electron transfer in C-H functionalization by mesoporous carbon-supported palladium interstitial catalysts

The functionalization of otherwise unreactive C–H bonds adds a new dimension to synthetic chemistry, yielding useful molecules for a range of applications. Arylation has emerged as an increasingly viable strategy for functionalization of heteroarenes which constitute an important class of structural moieties for organic materials. However, direct bisarylation of heteroarenes to enable aryl-heteroaryl-aryl bond formation remains a formidable challenge, due to the strong coordination between heteroatom of N or S and transitional metals. Here we report Pd interstitial nanocatalysts supported on ordered mesoporous carbon as catalysts for a direct and highly efficient bisarylation method for five-membered heteroarenes that allows for green and mild reaction conditions. Notably, in the absence of any base, ligands and phase transfer agents, high activity (turn-over frequency, TOF, up to 107 h⁻¹) and selectivity (>99%) for the 2,5-bisarylation of five-membered heteroarenes are achieved in water. A combination of characterization reveals that the remarkable catalytic reactivity here is attributable to the parallel adsorption of heteroarene over Pd clusters, which breaks the barrier to electron transfer in traditional homogenous catalysis and creates dual electrophilic sites for aryl radicals and adsorbate at C2 and C5 positions. The d-band filling at Pd sites shows a linear relationship with activation entropy and catalytic activity. The ordered mesopores facilitate the absence of a mass transfer effect. These findings suggest alternative synthesis pathways for the design, synthesis and understanding of a large number of organic chemicals by ordered mesoporous carbon supported palladium catalysts.

Palladium catalysed C-H arylation of pyrenes: access to a new class of exfoliating agents for water-based graphene dispersions

A new and diverse family of pyrene derivatives was synthesised via palladium-catalysed C-H ortho-arylation of pyrene-1-carboxylic acid. The strategy affords easy access to a broad scope of 2-substituted and 1,2-disubstituted pyrenes. The C1-substituent can be easily transformed into carboxylic acid, iodide, alkynyl, aryl or alkyl functionalities. This approach gives access to arylated pyrene ammonium salts, which outperformed their non-arylated parent compound during aqueous Liquid Phase Exfoliation (LPE) of graphite and compare favourably to state-of-the-art sodium pyrene-1-sulfonate PS1. This allowed the production of concentrated and stable suspensions of graphene flakes in water.

Characterization of heterogeneous aryl–Pd(ii)–oxo clusters as active species for C–H arylation

The surface oxidation of Pd nanoparticles with [Ph₂I]BF₄ resulted in the generation of Pd(ii)–aryl–oxo clusters, which led to C–H arylation in high yields and regioselectivity.

An efficient synthesis of triazolium ion based NHC precursors using diaryliodonium salts and their photophysical properties

Copper-catalysed N-arylation of fused triazoles using diaryliodonium salts as an aryl source is described. This scalable protocol displayed good compatibility towards diverse sensitive functional groups like ester, alkyl and nitro groups and halogens (F, Cl, Br). The synthetic usefulness of the prepared triazolium salts was proved by preparing α-hydroxyketone through benzoin condensation. Photophysical studies of these compounds showed promising Stokes-shifted fluorescence emission in aqueous medium, so this molecular framework could be a proficient probe for biological applications.

Annulative π-extension of indoles and pyrroles with diiodobiaryls by Pd catalysis: rapid synthesis of nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic compounds

A palladium-catalyzed one-step annulative π-extension (APEX) reaction of indoles and pyrroles that allows rapid access to nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic compounds is described. In the presence of palladium pivalate and silver carbonate, diverse indoles or pyrroles coupled with diiodobiaryls in a double direct C-H arylation manner to be transformed into the corresponding π-extended compounds in a single step. The newly developed catalytic system enables the use of various pyrroles and indoles as templates with a series of diiodobiaryls to provide structurally complicated and largely π-extended nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic compounds that are otherwise difficult to synthesize.

SF5-Pyridylaryl-λ3-iodonium salts and their utility as electrophilic reagents to access SF5-pyridine derivatives in the late-stage of synthesis

Electrophilic pentafluorosulfanyl (SF₅) heteroarylation of target molecules using novel reagents is described. Unsymmetrical diaryliodonium reagents 1 having 2-SF₅-pyridine have been synthesized in good yields. They are efficient electrophilic reagents for carbon and heterocentered nucleophiles, producing the corresponding SF₅-pyridine derivatives in good to excellent yields.

Site-selective synthesis of functionalized dibenzo[f,h]quinolines and their derivatives involving cyclic diaryliodonium salts via a decarboxylative annulation strategy

An unprecedented site-selective synthesis of dibenzo[f,h]quinolines and their derivatives was reported via an acid directed decarboxylative annulation cascade.

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions of aryl boronic acids with nitroalkenes: reaction mechanism and development of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts

Asymmetric 1,4-additions of arylboronic acids with nitroalkenes catalyzed by rhodium complexes or heterogeneous Rh–Ag bimetallic nanoparticles with a chiral diene ligand bearing a tertiary butyl amide moiety are developed.

Asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions with nitroalkenes are valuable because the resulting chiral nitro compounds can be converted into various useful species often used as chiral building blocks in drug and natural product synthesis. In the present work, asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions of arylboronic acids with nitroalkenes catalyzed by a rhodium complex with a chiral diene bearing a tertiary butyl amide moiety were developed. Just 0.1 mol% of the chiral rhodium complex could catalyze the reactions and give the desired products in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities. The homogeneous catalyst thus developed could be converted to a reusable heterogeneous metal nanoparticle system using the same chiral ligand as a modifier, which was immobilized using a polystyrene-derived polymer with cross-linking moieties, maintaining the same level of enantioselectivity. To our knowledge, this is the first example of asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions of arylboronic acids with nitroalkenes in a heterogeneous system. Wide substrate generality and high catalytic turnover were achieved in the presence of sufficient water without any additives such as KOH or KHF₂ in both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. Various insights relating to a rate-limiting step in the catalytic cycle, the importance of water, role of the secondary amide moiety in the ligand, and active species in the heterogeneous system were obtained through mechanistic studies.

An Annulative Synthetic Strategy for Building Triphenylene Frameworks by Multiple C-H Bond Activations

C-H activation is a versatile tool for appending aryl groups to aromatic systems. However, heavy demands on multiple catalytic cycle operations and site-selectivity have limited its use for graphene segment synthesis. A Pd-catal- yzed one-step synthesis of functionalized triphenylene frameworks is disclosed, which proceeds by 2- or 4-fold C-H arylation of unactivated benzene derivatives. A Pd₂ (dibenzylideneacetone)₃ catalytic system, using cyclic diaryliodonium salts as π-extending agents, leads to site-selective inter- and intramolecular tandem arylation sequences. Moreover, N-substituted triphenylenes are applied to a field-effect transistor sensor for rapid, sensitive, and reversible alcohol vapor detection.