Skeletal Editing of Benzene Motif: Photopromoted Transannulation for Synthesis of DNA-Encoded Seven-Membered Rings

In this report, we present a photopromoted, metal-free transannulation of phenyl azides for the synthesis of DNA-encoded seven-membered rings. The transformation is efficiently achieved through a skeletal editing strategy targeting the benzene motif coupled with a Reversible Adsorption to Solid Support (RASS) strategy. A variety of valuable DNA-encoded seven-membered ring compounds, including DNA-encoded 3H-azepines, azepinones, and unnatural amino acids, are now accessible. Crucially, this DNA-compatible protocol can also be applied for the introduction of complex molecules, as exemplified by Lorcaserin and Betahistine. The selective conversion of readily available phenyl rings into high-value seven-membered rings offers a promising avenue for the construction of diversified and drug-like DNA-encoded library.

2,2'-Biquinoline-Based Recyclable Electroauxiliaries for the Generation of Alkyl Radicals via C-C Bond Cleavage

Alkyl radical precursors are essential for a wide variety of photocatalytic and 3d-metal-catalyzed C-C bond forming reactions. Neutral organic heterocycles as electroauxiliaries such as 4-alkyl Hantzsch esters have become reliable tools for alkyl radical formation. Here we show that 2,2'-biquinoline-derived alkyl-substituted dihydroquinolines act as competent radical precursors with the ability to form primary, secondary and tertiary alkyl radicals. Hydroalkylation of benzalmalononitriles and N-Boc protected diazenes has been achieved through copper catalysis under mild conditions of 50 °C with good to very good yields of up to 85 %. Furthermore, the dihydroquinolines' reactivity towards a denitrative alkylation of nitroolefins such as β-nitrostyrene was discovered. Most importantly, the released biquinoline can be recycled, which greatly improves the overall atom-economy of these alkyl radical precursors in comparison to previous N-heterocyclic electroauxiliaries.

Manganese-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of 3H-Indoles

The asymmetric hydrogenation (AH) of 3H-indoles represents an ideal approach to the synthesis of useful chiral indoline scaffolds. However, very few catalytic systems based on precious metals have been developed to realize this challenging reaction. Herein, we report a Mn-catalyzed AH of 3H-indoles with excellent yields and enantioselectivities. The kinetic resolution of racemic 3H-indoles by AH was also achieved with high s-factors to construct quaternary stereocenters. Many acid-sensitive functional groups, which cannot be tolerated when using a state-of-the-art ruthenium catalyst, were compatible with manganese catalysis. This new process expands the scope of this transformation and highlights the uniqueness of earth-abundant metal catalysis. The reaction could proceed with catalyst loadings at the parts per million (ppm) level with an exceptional turnover number of 72 350. This is the highest value yet reported for an earth-abundant metal-catalyzed AH reaction.

Recent Advances in the Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Amines via Transition Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

Chiral amines are key structural motifs present in a wide variety of natural products, drugs, and other biologically active compounds. During the past decade, significant advances have been made with respect to the enantioselective synthesis of chiral amines, many of them based on catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation (AH). The present review covers the use of AH in the synthesis of chiral amines bearing a stereogenic center either in the α, β, or γ position with respect to the nitrogen atom, reported from 2010 to 2020. Therefore, we provide an overview of the recent advances in the AH of imines, enamides, enamines, allyl amines, and N-heteroaromatic compounds.

One-pot synthesis of benzo[b][1,4]diazepines via carbonylative Sonogashira reaction and aza-Michael addition cyclocondensation

The benzodiazepines are essential structural motifs commonly found in biologically active compounds and pharmaceutical agents. The general and step-economy methods for the direct synthesis of the benzodiazepines from simple and...

Ligand-controlled divergent dehydrogenative reactions of carboxylic acids via C-H activation

Dehydrogenative transformations of alkyl chains to alkenes through methylene carbon-hydrogen (C–H) activation remain a substantial challenge. We report two classes of pyridine-pyridone ligands that enable divergent dehydrogenation reactions through palladium-catalyzed β-methylene C–H activation of carboxylic acids, leading to the direct syntheses of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids or γ-alkylidene butenolides. The directed nature of this pair of reactions allows chemoselective dehydrogenation of carboxylic acids in the presence of other enolizable functionalities such as ketones, providing chemoselectivity that is not possible by means of existing carbonyl desaturation protocols. Product inhibition is overcome through ligand-promoted preferential activation of C(sp3)–H bonds rather than C(sp2)–H bonds or a sequence of dehydrogenation and vinyl C–H alkynylation. The dehydrogenation reaction is compatible with molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant.

Chemoselective heterogeneous iridium catalyzed hydrogenation of cinnamalaniline

A selective atmospheric hydrogenation of unsaturated imines over heterogeneous iridium catalyst is described, in addition the selectivity is elucidated by DFT-calculations.

Recent Advances in Homogeneous Catalysts for the Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Heteroarenes

The asymmetric hydrogenation of heteroarenes has recently emerged as an effective strategy for the direct access to enantioenriched, saturated heterocycles. Although several homogeneous catalyst systems have been extensively developed for the hydrogenation of heteroarenes with high levels of chemo- and stereoselectivity, the development of mild conditions that allow for efficient and stereoselective hydrogenation of a broad range of substrates remains a challenge. This Perspective highlights recent advances in homogeneous catalysis of heteroarene hydrogenation as inspiration for the further development of asymmetric hydrogenation catalysts, and addresses underdeveloped areas and limitations of the current technology.

Extended π-Systems in Diimine Ligands in [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][PF6] Complexes: From 2,2′-Bipyridine to 2-(Pyridin-2-yl)Quinoline

We describe the synthesis and characterization of [Cu(POP)(1)][PF6], [Cu(POP)(2)][PF6], [Cu(xantphos)(1)][PF6], and [Cu(xantphos)(2)][PF6] in which ligands 1 and 2 are 2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline and 2-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)quinoline, respectively. With 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) as a benchmark, we assess the impact of the extended π-system on structural and solid-state photophysical properties. The single crystal structures of [Cu(POP)(2)][PF6], [Cu(xantphos)(1)][PF6], and [Cu(xantphos)(2)][PF6] were determined and confirmed a distorted tetrahedral copper(I) coordination environment in each [Cu(P^P)(N^N)]+ cation. The xanthene unit in [Cu(xantphos)(1)][PF6] and [Cu(xantphos)(2)][PF6] hosts the quinoline unit of 1, and the 6-methylpyridine group of 2. 1H NMR spectroscopic data indicate that these different ligand orientations are also observed in acetone solution. In their crystal structures, the [Cu(POP)(2)]+, [Cu(xantphos)(1)]+, and [Cu(xantphos)(2)]+ cations exhibit different edge-to-face and face-to-face π-interactions, but in all cases, the copper(I) centre is effectively protected by a ligand sheath. In [Cu(POP)(2)][PF6], pairs of cations engage in an efficient face-to-face π-stacking embrace, and we suggest that this may contribute to this compound having the highest photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY = 21%) of the series. With reference to data from the Cambridge Structural Database, we compare packing effects and PLQY data for the complexes incorporating 2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinoline and 2-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)quinoline, with those of the benchmark bpy-containing compounds. We also assess the effect that Cu⋯O distances in the {Cu(POP)} and {Cu(xantphos)} domains of [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][X] compounds have on solid-state PLQY values.