The solvent-controlled Rh(III)-catalyzed switchable [4+2] annulation of 2-arylIndoles with iodonium ylides

Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Directed C-H Bond Functionalization with Iodonium Ylides: A Review of the Last 5 Years

Transition-metal-catalyzed directed C-H functionalization with various carbene precursors has been widely employed for constructing a wide range of complex and diverse active molecules through metal carbene migratory insertion processes. Among various carbene precursors, iodonium ylides serve as a novel and emerging carbene precursor with features including easy accessibility, thermal stability and high activity, which have attracted great attention from organic chemists and have achieved tremendous success in organic transformation. In this review, recent progress on the application of iodonium ylides with multifunctional coupling characteristics in C-H bond activation reactions is summarized, and the potential of iodonium ylides is discussed.

Accessing 7,8-Dihydroquinoline-2,5-diones via Rh-Catalyzed Olefinic C-H Activation/[4+2] Cyclization

Herein, we report a rhodium-catalyzed C-H activation/[4+2] cyclization reaction between α,β-unsaturated amides and iodonium ylides for the synthesis of novel 7,8-dihydroquinoline-2,5-diones and analogues. This protocol provides a series of pyridones fused with saturated cycles with good functional group compatibility, good water and air tolerance, and good to excellent yields under mild and green reaction conditions. Additionally, scale-up synthesis can be smoothly performed with as low as 0.25 mol % catalyst loading. Recycling experiments and different transformation experiments were also carried out to demonstrate the potential synthetic utility of this protocol.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed Direct C-H Cyclization of N-Nitrosoanilines with 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds: A Route to Tetrahydrocarbazol-4-ones

A novel and efficient Rh(III)-catalyzed direct C-H bond tandem annulation of N-nitrosoanilines with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds through two C-H bond cleavage was developed. This protocol provides a rapid access to a series of valuable tetrahydrocarbazol-4-ones with the feature of readily available starting materials, broad functional group tolerance, and in situ generation of carbene precursors. Importantly, some reaction products exhibited promising antiproliferative activity in cancer cell lines.

Visible-Light-Induced Annulation of Iodonium Ylides and 2-Isocyanobiaryls to Access 6-Arylated Phenanthridines

A 1,2,3,5-tetrakis(carbazol-9-yl)-4,6-dicyanobenzene (4-CzIPN)-photocatalyzed cascade arylation/cyclization reaction of 2-isocyanobiaryls and iodonium ylides was established for the synthesis of 6-arylated phenanthridines. This is the first example of employing iodonium ylides as aryl radical sources in a visible-light-induced radical cascade cyclization reaction.

Fe-Catalyzed Aliphatic C-H Methylation of Glycine Derivatives and Peptides

Direct and selective C-H methylation is a powerful tool with which to install methyl groups into organic molecules, and is particularly useful in pharmaceutical chemistry. However, practical methods for such modification of biologically interesting targets have been rarely developed. We here report an iron-catalyzed C(sp³ )-H methylation reaction of glycine derivatives, peptides and drug-like molecules in an alcohol in the presence of di-tert-butyl peroxide. A readily available iron catalyst plays multiple roles in the transformation, which accelerates oxidation of C-N bonds to C=N double bonds, activates imine intermediates as Lewis acids by bidentate chelation, and at the same time facilitates cleavage of the peroxide to generate methyl radicals. A variety of methylated N-aryl glycine derivatives and peptides were obtained in good yield and with excellent chemo- and site-selectivity. This reaction is scalable, easily managed, and can be completed within 1-2 h. It features an economic, bio-friendly catalyst, a green solvent and low toxic reagents, and will provide effective access to precise C-H modification of biomolecules and natural products.

Three-component synthesis of N-naphthyl pyrazoles via Rh(III)-catalyzed cascade pyrazole annulation and Satoh-Miura benzannulation

The synthesis of N-naphthyl pyrazoles has been realized by the direct three-component reactions of enaminones, aryl hydrazine hydrochlorides and internal alkynes via Rh(III) catalysis. The synthetic reactions employing simple substrates lead to simultaneous construction of dual cyclic moieties, including a pyrazole ring and a phenyl ring, via sequential formation of two C-N and three C-C bonds.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed C-H Annulation of Sulfoxonium Ylides and 1,3-Diynes: A Rapid Access to Alkynyl-1-Naphthol Derivatives

An effective redox-neutral strategy to synthesize aryl/alkynyl and alkyl/alkynyl substituted 1-naphthol derivatives has been efficaciously developed by Rh(III)-catalyzed [4+2]-annulation of sulfoxonium ylides and 1,3-diynes with excellent regio- and chemoselectivity. Subsequently, the same strategy was extended to furnish various unsymmetrical binaphthol motifs in one-pot manner. Interestingly, the TMS-derived 1,3-diyne predominantly delivered the 3-alkynyl-1-naphthol via desilylation pathway. The salient features such as traceless directing group, broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and operationally simple conditions made the present protocol more valuable and appealing.

1,3-Diynes: A Versatile Precursor in Transition-Metal Catalyzed (Mediated) C-H Functionalizations

Transition metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization of diverse arenes with alkyne units has attracted enormous attention for decades since they provide straightforward access to various functionalization/annulations, which are commonly present in bioactive compounds and natural products. Recently, conjugated alkynes (1,3-diynes) have been utilized as key coupling partner in many C-H activation reactions due to their versatile characteristic properties. The presence of two C≡C bonds in conjugated 1,3-diyne brings the new diversity in synthetic transformations, such as chemo-, regioselective pathways, mono-bis functionalizations, cascade annulations, etc. Herein, we summarized the latest developments in the realm of transition-metal-catalyzed C-H functionalizations of diverse arenes with 1,3-diynes. Moreover, we highlighted the diverse transformations, conditions, mechanisms and applications of the corresponding reaction in detail.

Visible-Light-Mediated Solvent-Switched Photosensitizer-Free Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Quinolines and Pyridines

A solvent (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) vs ethyl alcohol (EtOH)) switched synthesis of quinolines and pyridines is illustrated from (E)-2-(1,3-diphenylallylidene)malononitriles via a Pd(II)-catalyzed photochemical process. The active catalyst [L₂Pd(0)] generated serves as an exogenous photosensitizer. The process offers predominantly Z-alkenylated quinolines and pyridines in TFE and EtOH, respectively. Furthermore, large-scale synthesis and a few interesting post-synthetic modifications have been demonstrated.

Iodonium ylides: an emerging and alternative carbene precursor for C-H functionalizations

The metal-catalyzed successive activation and functionalization of arene/heteroarene is one of the most fundamental transformations in organic synthesis and leads to privileged scaffolds in natural products, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and fine chemicals. Particularly, transition-metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization of arenes with carbene precursors via metal carbene migratory insertion has been well studied. As a result, diverse carbene precursors have been evaluated, such as diazo compounds, sulfoxonium ylides, triazoles, etc. In addition, there have been significant developments with the use of iodonium ylides as carbene precursors in recent years, and these reactions proceed with high efficiencies and selectivities. This review provides a comprehensive overview of iodonium ylides in C-H functionalizations, including the scope, limitations, and their potential synthetic applications.

Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H/C-C bond annulation of enaminones with iodonium ylides to form isocoumarins

A straightforward approach to synthesise isocoumarins via Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H/C-C bond activation/annulation cascade of enaminones and iodonium ylides has been explored. The established protocol is characterized by an exceedingly simple reaction system, high regioselectivity and good functional group tolerance. Moreover, this strategy may provide a new route to cleavage of the C(sp²)-C(O) bond of unstrained ketones.

Ru(II)-Catalyzed Decarbonylative Alkylation and Annulations of Benzaldehydes with Iodonium Ylides under Chelation Assistance

A Ru(II)-catalyzed decarbonylative alkylation and annulation of salicylaldehydes and 2-aminobenzaldehydes with iodonium ylides has been developed for the synthesis of dibenzo[b,d]furans and NH-free carbazolones. The reaction proceeds smoothly under mild conditions with a low catalyst loading and a broad substrate compatibility. Notably, hydroxy and free amino groups were demonstrated to be the effective directing groups, enabling the successful aldehyde C-H bond activation and subsequent decarbonylation and annulation under the inexpensive Ru(II) catalyst.

Recent progress in the application of iodonium ylides in organic synthesis

This review summarizes the recent advances in the synthetic application of iodonium ylides covering 2017 to 2022.