Dodging the Conventional Reactivity of o-Alkynylanilines under Gold Catalysis for Distal 7-endo-dig Cyclization

A direct ring-closing strategy involving a less facile 7-endo-dig carbacyclization of o-alkynylaniline derivatives for the synthesis of benzo[b]azepines has been presented. The trivial well-documented 5-endo-dig cyclization in o-alkynylaniline derivatives due to high nucleophilicity of nitrogen has been overcome by using their vinylogous amides under gold catalysis to access a wide array of benzo[b]azepines in an atom economical way with excellent functional group compatibility. Deuterium scrambling experiments and DFT studies favor a mechanism involving stabilizing conformational change of the initially formed seven-membered vinyl gold intermediate through a key cyclopropyl gold carbene intermediate and its subsequent protodeauration mediated by the counter anion.

Mechanistic insights into nickel- and gold-catalyzed diastereoselective [4 + 2 + 1] cycloadditions between dienynes and diazo compounds: a DFT study

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to gain an in-depth mechanistic understanding of Ni(0)- and Au(i)-catalyzed diastereoselective [4 + 2 + 1] cycloadditions between dienynes and diazo compounds.

Assessing counterion effects in gold-catalyzed domino spirocyclization: an industrial perspective on hydrogen bonding

We herein report a computational study of the hydrogen bonding in gold-catalyzed ipso-cyclization to diverse polyheterocyclic frameworks. The different roles of these hydrogen bonds are analyzed for the different ipso-cyclization reactions. The fine-tunability of the electronic as well as steric properties of gold counterions contributed substantially to the popularity of the dearomatization reaction, with robust applications in total synthesis and gold catalysis. We have found correlation between the hydrogen bonding parameters and chemoselectivity in gold-catalyzed spirocyclization, playing critical roles in determining the reaction direction of counterion-based enantioselective gold catalysis. The expanded use of counterions via hydrogen bonding interaction can occupy an important role in the future concerning catalyst optimization in gold catalysis.

Insight into the reaction mechanism and chemoselectivity in the cycloaddition of ynamides and isoxazoles with H2O

The mechanism and chemoselectivity in the cycloaddition of ynamides and isoxazoles have been explored by the density functional theory (DFT) in model systems composed of a Brønsted acid (HNTf₂), gold(i) [IPrAuNTf₂] or platinum(ii) (PtCl₂/CO) catalyst.

Mechanism and origins of gold-catalyzed domino cyclization to spiroindolines: the role of periplanar cooperation and hydrogen bonding interactions

The detailed mechanism and origins of gold-catalyzed domino cyclization to indoloazocines are systematically studied by density functional theory.

Lewis Acidic PSbP Pincer Ligand in Pt-Catalyzed 1,6-Enyne Cycloisomerization: A Theoretical Study

The progressively improved heterobimetallic antimony transition metal complex PSbP-Pt (I1) provides superior activity in catalyzed 1,6-enyne cycloisomerization. Our DFT calculations demonstrate that the noninnocent character of the antimony ligand enhances the self-activation of the catalyst precursor through a substrate-aided intramolecular chloride migration, which triggers subsequent reaction. Designed alternative redox noninnocent active species with strong electron-withdrawing groups also show promising catalytic ability due to an electron-deficient antimony ligand, which lowers the typical reaction barrier for the cycloisomerization of 1,6-enyne.

Gold(i)-catalyzed nucleophilic cyclization of β-monosubstituted o-(alkynyl)styrenes: a combined experimental and computational study

The diastereospecific 5-endo cyclization of β-monosubstituted o-(alkynyl)styrenes to 1-functionalized-1H-indenes is reported. The regiospecific generation of a cyclopropyl gold carbene intermediate is also supported by DFT calculations.

Theoretical study on the mechanism and chemoselectivity in gold(i)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of β,β-disubstituted ortho-(alkynyl)styrenes

The mechanism and chemoselectivity of gold(i)-catalyzed cycloadditions of β,β-disubstituted ortho-(alkynyl)styrenes were explored by DFT calculations.

Computational Exploration of Counterion Effects in Gold(I)-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of ortho-(Alkynyl)styrenes

A detailed theoretical analysis of the mechanism and chemoselectivity for gold(I)-catalyzed reaction of o-(alkynyl)styrene containing an isopropyl and a methyl at the terminal position of the alkene has been reported in this work. Two different counterions (SbF₆ ^- and OTs^-) were studied as model catalysts. According to our calculation, for SbF₆ ^-, the reaction pathway is more prone to direct 1,2-H shifts (isopropyl H) than the elimination and ring expansion pathway. However, an elimination pathway affords the indenyl derivative by forming p-toluenesulfonic acid (HOTs), which may be the main pathway in the presence of OTs^-. The chemoselectivity for the title reaction is mainly determined by the electronic effect of the counterion and the substituent rather than the steric effect. In other words, less basic SbF₆ ^- mainly provides the charge separation effect rather than assisted proton elimination. However, the more basic OTs^- mainly assist proton elimination through the formation of HOTs. In addition to the good agreement with the experimental data, the density functional theory results also provide a significant contribution to the understanding of the reaction mechanism.

Competing mechanisms and origins of chemo- and stereo-selectivities of NHC-catalyzed reactions of enals with 2-aminoacrylates

A DFT study on competing mechanisms of NHC-catalyzed reactions of enals with 2-aminoacrylates has been performed for the first time.

Insights into N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed [3 + 4] annulation reactions of 2-bromoenals with N-Ts hydrazones

A DFT study toward N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed [3 + 4] annulation reactions of 2-bromoenals has been performed for the first time.