Chalcone-Based Synthesis of Tetrahydropyridazines via Cloke-Wilson-Type Rearrangement-Involved Tandem Reaction between Cyclopropyl Ketones and Hydrazines

A facile and efficient approach for the synthesis of multisubstituted tetrahydropyridazines starting from cyclopropyl ketones and hydrazines has been developed. The transformation is chalcone-based and takes place via a Cloke-Wilson-type rearrangement-involved tandem reaction catalyzed by TfOH in HFIP.

Introducing Frustrated Lewis Pairs to Metal-Organic Framework for Selective Hydrogenation of N-Heterocycles

Hydrogenated nitrogen heterocyclic compounds play a critical role in the pharmaceutical, polymer, and agrochemical industries. Recent studies on partial hydrogenation of nitrogen heterocyclic compounds have focused on costly and toxic precious metal catalysts. As an important class of main-group catalysts, frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) have been widely applied in catalytic hydrogenation reactions. In principle, the combination of FLPs and metal-organic framework (MOF) is anticipated to efficiently enhance the recyclability performance of FLPs; however, the previously studied MOF-FLPs showed low reactivity in the hydrogenation of N-heterocycles compounds. Herein, we offer a novel P/B type MOF-FLP catalyst that was achieved via a solvent-assisted linker incorporation approach to boost catalytic hydrogenation reactions. Using hydrogen gas under moderate pressure, the proposed P/B type MOF-FLP can serve as a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for selective hydrogenation of quinoline and indole to tetrahydroquinoline and indoline-type drug compounds in high yield and excellent recyclability.

B(C6F5)3-Catalyzed Highly Stereoselective Hydrogenation of Unfunctionalized Tetrasubstituted Olefins

A metal-free hydrogenation of unfunctionalized tetrasubstituted olefins were successfully realized using a combination of B(C₆F₅)₃ and Ph₂NMe catalyst. The corresponding products were afforded in 58-98% yields with up to >99:1 cis/trans selectivity.

Metallomimetic Chemistry of Boron

The study of main-group molecules that behave and react similarly to transition-metal (TM) complexes has attracted significant interest in recent decades. Most notably, the attractive idea of replacing the all-too-often rare and costly metals from catalysis has motivated efforts to develop main-group-element-mediated reactions. Main-group elements, however, lack the electronic flexibility of TM complexes that arises from combinations of empty and filled d orbitals and that seem ideally suited to bind and activate many substrates. In this review, we look at boron, an element that despite its nonmetal nature, low atomic weight, and relative redox staticity has achieved great milestones in terms of TM-like reactivity. We show how in interelement cooperative systems, diboron molecules, and hypovalent complexes the fifth element can acquire a truly metallomimetic character. As we discuss, this character is powerfully demonstrated by the reactivity of boron-based molecules with H₂, CO, alkynes, alkenes and even with N₂.

FLP catalysis: main group hydrogenations of organic unsaturated substrates

This article is focused on recent developments in main group mediated hydrogenation chemistry and catalysis using "frustrated Lewis pairs" (FLPs). The broading range of substrates and catalyst systems is reviewed and the advances in catalytic reductions and the development of stereoselective, asymmetric reductions made since 2012 is considered.

B(C6F5)3-Catalyzed Regioselective Deuteration of Electron-Rich Aromatic and Heteroaromatic Compounds

Deuterium labeled compounds find widespread application in life science. Herein, the deuteration of electron-rich (hetero)aromatic compounds employing B(C₆F₅)₃ as the catalyst and D₂O as the deuterium source is reported. This protocol is highly efficient, simply manipulated, and successfully applied in the deuteration of 23 substrates including natural neurotransmitter-like melatonin. It is assumed that the weakening of the O-D bond ultimately results in the formation of electrophilic D⁺.

Pyridazine-bridged cationic diiridium complexes as potential dual-mode bioimaging probes

A novel diiridium complex [(N^C^N)₂Ir(bis-N^C)Ir(N^C^N)₂Cl]PF₆ (N^C^N = 2-[3-tert-butyl-5-(pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]pyridine; bis-N^C = 3,6-bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)pyridazine) was designed, synthesised and characterised. The key feature of the complex is the bridging pyridazine ligand which brings two cyclometallated Ir(iii) metal centres close together so that Cl also acts as a bridging ligand leading to a cationic complex. The ionic nature of the complex offers a possibility of improving solubility in water. The complex displays broad emission in the red region (λ_em = 520–720 nm, τ = 1.89 μs, Φ_em = 62% in degassed acetonitrile). Cellular assays by multiphoton (λ_ex = 800 nm) and confocal (λ_ex = 405 nm) microscopy demonstrate that the complex enters cells and localises to the mitochondria, demonstrating cell permeability. Further, an appreciable yield of singlet oxygen generation (Φ_Δ = 0.45, direct method, by ¹O₂ NIR emission in air equilibrated acetonitrile) suggests a possible future use in photodynamic therapy. However, the complex has relatively high dark toxicity (LD₅₀ = 4.46 μM), which will likely hinder its clinical application. Despite this toxicity, the broad emission spectrum of the complex and high emission yield observed suggest a possible future use of this class of compound in emission bioimaging. The presence of two heavy atoms also increases the scattering of electrons, supporting potential future applications as a dual fluorescence and electron microscopy probe.

A novel cell permeable, mitochondria localising, diiridium complex has a high emission yield and two heavy atoms to increase scattering of electrons, supporting potential future applications as a dual fluorescence and electron microscopy probe.

Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed C-H (Hetero)Arylation of Alkenylic 1,n-Diazines (n = 2, 3, and 4): Scope, Mechanism, and Application in Tandem Hydrogenations

A general ruthenium(II)-catalyzed methodology enabling the (hetero)arylation of alkenylic C-H bonds utilizing a series of synthetically appealing diazines as directing groups is presented. Despite the presence of additional nitrogen lone pairs remote from the C-H bond activation site, which could eventually poison the catalyst, the reaction times are short (3 h), thus being suitable for selective double C-H bond arylation. Mixtures of E:Z isomeric products were observed in some cases, which were further hydrogenated in a tandem manner in the presence of the remaining ruthenium catalyst from the first step, representing an alternative approach to more difficult C(sp³)-H bond functionalization. According to mechanistic studies, the unexpected E:Z product formation seems to occur by thermal C═C bond isomerization after the reductive elimination step.

Borane-catalyzed metal-free hydrogenation of 2,7-disubstituted 1,8-naphthyridines

Metal-free hydrogenation of 2,7-disubstituted 1,8-naphthyridines was realized to furnish 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,8-naphthyridines in high yields with up to 74% ee.