Extremely Efficient Cross‐Coupling of Benzylic Halides with Aryltitanium Tris(isopropoxide) Catalyzed by Low Loadings of a Simple Palladium(II) Acetate/Tris(p‐tolyl)phosphine System

Highly efficient coupling reactions of benzylic bromides or chlorides with aryltitanium tris(isopropoxide) [ArTi(O‐i‐Pr)₃] catalyzed by a simple palladium(II) acetate/tris(p‐tolyl)phosphine [Pd(OAc)₂/ P(p‐tolyl)₃] system are reported. The coupling reactions proceed in general at room temperature employing low catalyst loadings of 0.02 to 0.2 mol%, affording coupling products in excellent yields of up to 99%. For benzylic bromides bearing strong electron‐withdrawing cyano (CN) or trifluoromethyl (CF₃) substituents, the reactions require a higher catalyst loading of 1 mol%, or the reactions are carried out at 60 °C. The catalytic system also tolerates (1‐bromoethyl)benzene bearing β‐hydrogen atoms while using a catalyst loading of 1 mol% to afford the coupling product in a 70% yield.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct Arylations of 1,2‐Azolo[1,5‐a]pyridines using Copper(I) Chloride as a Lewis Acid Activator and the Synthesis of 2,6‐Disubstituted Pyridines

A direct method for the arylation of 1,2‐azolo[1,5‐a]pyridines has been developed. In the process, the fused pyridines react with aryl halides in the presence of the palladium complex Pd(OAc)₂(Phen) as a catalyst and copper(I) chloride (CuCl) as a Lewis acid to form arylated derivatives. While pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyridines and [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyridines are arylated at ortho‐positions of their pyridine rings using this method, in situ ring‐opening of the formed C‐7 arylated [1,5‐a]pyridine takes place to generate the 2,6‐disubstituted pyridine. Also, upon treatment with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA), C‐7 arylated pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyridine‐3‐carboxylates react to produce diversely substituted 2,6‐disubstituted pyridines. Finally, a sequential C‐3 arylation was accomplished through a two‐step sequence involving hydrolysis of pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyridine‐3‐carboxylates followed by the bimetallic Pd/Cu‐catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reaction with aryl bromide.

     

Regioselective Heck Reaction of N‐Vinylphthalimide: A General Strategy for the Synthesis of (E)‐N‐Styrylphthalimides and Phenethylamines

The arylation of N‐vinylphthalimide takes place at the β‐position with aryl iodides, bromides and chlorides using palladium acetate [Pd(OAc)₂] or phenone oxime‐derived palladacycles as catalysts under phosphine‐free conditions. The reaction is succesfully carried out in organic solvents, such as DMF, in the presence of an organic base, such as dicyclohexylmethylamine, and with TBAB as additive at 120 °C under conventional or microwave heating. (E)‐N‐Styrylphthalimides are mainly obtained using a rather low palladium loading (0.05–1 mol%). Similar catalytic efficiency is observed using a Kaiser oxime resin‐derived palladacycle, which allows reuse of the polymeric complex for three cycles. The high regioselectivity observed supports that these palladacycles work as a source of Pd(0) species operating mainly through a neutral mechanism. The syntheses of 2‐thienylphenethylamine and mescaline have been performed by subsequent hydrogenation with Wilkinson’s catalyst and hydrazinolysis.     

Heterogeneous Palladium Catalysts Applied to the Synthesis of 2‐ and 2,3‐Functionalised Indoles

Heterogeneous palladium catalysts ([Pd(NH₃)₄]²⁺/NaY and [Pd]/SBA‐15) were applied to the synthesis of 2‐functionalised indoles, giving generally high conversions and selectivities (>89% yield) using only 1 mol % [Pd]‐catalyst under standard reaction conditions (polar solvent, 80 °C). For the synthesis of 2,3‐functionalised indoles by cross‐coupling arylation, the [Pd]/SBA‐15 catalyst was found to be particularly interesting, producing the expected compound with =35% yield after 12 days of reaction, which is comparable to the homogeneous catalyst, Pd(OAc)₂ (=48% yield). In the course of the study, the dual reactivity of the indole nucleus was demonstrated: aryl bromides gave clean C C coupling while aryl iodides led to a clean C N coupling.     

Mild Stereoselective Intermolecular Acetoxylation and Azidation of α‐C−H Bonds in Tröger's Bases

Introduction of oxygen and nitrogen into organic molecules is one of the fundamental strategies for their functionalization. Traditional approaches rely on the formation of an activated intermediate, which is then modified in a subsequent step. Here we report a simple direct oxidative α‐acetoxylation and azidation of α‐C−H bonds in Tröger's base analogues promoted by N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) and palladium(II)acetate [Pd(OAc)₂] under mild conditions. This approach is pivotal on NBS oxidizing the carbon atoms next to the nitrogen atoms in the presence of Pd(OAc)₂ followed by a reaction with oxygen‐ or nitrogen‐centred nucleophiles such as KOAc or NaN₃ to yield either the mono‐ and bisacetoxylated or azidated Tröger's base derivatives in a stereo‐ and chemoselective manner. The obtained products can be efficiently modified to access synthetically meaningful structures.

     

Mechanistic Studies on the Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct C‐5 Arylation of Imidazoles: The Fundamental Role of the Azole as a Ligand for Palladium

An in‐depth mechanistic study on the palladium‐catalyzed direct arylation of imidazoles at the C‐5 position is presented. The interactions of triphenylphosphine (PPh₃)‐ligated aryl‐Pd species with 1,2‐dimethyl‐1H‐imidazole (dmim) have been studied in detail. In contrast with previous suggestions, phosphine‐ligated organo‐Pd species are not active and the reaction proceeds through imidazole‐ligated organo‐Pd intermediates. The kinetics of the oxidative addition of aryl halides with dmim‐ligated Pd(0) species have been characterized in a Pd(dba)₂/dmim model system. A thorough study of the equilibria involving novel [ArPd(dmim)₂X] complexes (X=I, OAc) and the unexpected cationic [ArPd(dmim)₃]⁺ is also reported. The ability of these species to effect the C H arylation of dmim at room temperature in the presence of acetate is also demonstrated.

     

Synthesis of α‐Carbolines Starting from 2,3‐Dichloropyridines and Substituted Anilines

9H‐α‐Carbolines have been prepared via consecutive intermolecular Buchwald–Hartwig reaction and Pd‐catalyzed intramolecular direct arylation from commercially available 2,3‐dichloropyridines and substituted anilines. The combination of a high reaction temperature (180 °C) and the use of DBU were found to be crucial for the intramolecular direct arylation reactions of the 3‐chloro‐N‐phenylpyridin‐2‐amines as no reaction was observed at 120 °C and 180 °C using different inorganic and other organic bases. On the other hand, nitrogen‐methylated pyridine analogues of these substrates {N‐[3‐chloro‐1‐methylpyridin‐2(1H)‐ylidene]anilines} do undergo ring closure at 120 °C, with K₃PO₄ as base, affording the respective 1‐methyl‐1H‐α‐carbolines in good yields.     

Thiosemicarbazone Salicylaldiminato‐Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck Reactions

Four tridentate thiosemicarbazone salicylaldiminato‐palladium(II) complexes of the general formula [Pd(saltsc‐R)PPh₃] [saltsc=salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone; R=H ( 1 ), 3‐tert‐butyl ( 2 ), 3‐methoxy ( 3 ), 5‐chloro ( 4 )], have been evaluated as catalyst precursors for the Mizoroki–Heck coupling reaction between a variety of electron‐rich and electron‐poor aryl halides and olefins. The palladium complexes (0.1–1 mol% loading) were found to effectively catalyze these reactions with high yields being obtained when aryl iodides and aryl bromides were utilized. The effects of base, catalyst loading, reaction temperature and reaction time on the catalytic activity of the most active complex were also investigated.     

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Tandem Alkoxylation/Lactonization of γ‐Hydroxy‐α,β‐Acetylenic Esters

The formation of 4‐alkoxy‐2(5H)‐furanones was achieved via tandem alkoxylation/lactonization of γ‐hydroxy‐α,β‐acetylenic esters catalyzed by 2 mol% of [2,6‐bis(diisopropylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidine]gold bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imidate [Au(IPr)(NTf₂)]. The economic and simple procedure was applied to a series of various secondary propargylic alcohols allowing for yields of desired product of up to 95%. In addition, tertiary propargylic alcohols bearing mostly cyclic substituents were converted into the corresponding spiro derivatives. Both primary and secondary alcohols reacted with propargylic alcohols at moderate temperatures (65–80 °C) in either neat reactions or using 1,2‐dichloroethane as a reaction medium allowing for yields of 23–95%. In contrast to [Au(IPr)(NTf₂)], reactions with cationic complexes such as [2,6‐bis(diisopropylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidine](acetonitrile)gold tetrafluoroborate [Au(IPr)(CH₃CN)][BF₄] or (μ‐hydroxy)bis{[2,6‐bis(diisopropylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidine]gold} tetrafluoroborate or bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imidate – [{Au(IPr)}₂(μ‐OH)][X] (X=BF₄, NTf₂) – mostly stop after the alkoxylation. Analysis of the intermediate proved the exclusive formation of the E‐isomer which allows for the subsequent lactonization.     

Synthesis of Methylene‐Bridge Polyarenes through Palladium‐Catalyzed Activation of Benzylic Carbon‐Hydrogen Bond

In the presence of palladium(II) acetate [Pd(OAc)₂] and an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand, fluorene derivatives can be generated in good to excellent yields from 2‐halo‐2′‐methylbiaryls through the benzylic C H bond activation (14 examples; 81–97% yields). The scope and limitations of this protocol have been examined. A wide range of functional groups, such as alkyl, alkoxy, ester, nitrile, and others, is able to tolerate the reaction conditions herein. The cyclization of an isotope‐labelled biphenyl gave the corresponding product with a primary kinetic isotope effect (k_H/k_D=4.8:1), which indicates that the rate‐determining step of this reaction is the activation of the benzylic C H bond. Moreover, indenofluorenes were also accessed in excellent results from terphenyls (3 examples; 91–92% yields). The cascade reaction of 2,6‐dichloro‐2′‐methylbiphenyl with diphenylacetylene produced 8,9‐diphenyl‐4H‐cyclopenta[def]phenanthrene in 60% yield through the activation of an aryl and a benzylic C H bond.     

Alkoxycarbonylation of 3,3,3‐Trifluoropropyne: an Intriguing Reaction to Prepare Trifluoromethyl‐Substituted Unsaturated Acid Derivatives

The addition of CO and methanol to 3,3,3‐trifluoropropyne is catalysed by Pd(OAc)₂ in the presence of (6‐methylpyrid‐2‐yl)diphenylphosphine and CH₃SO₃H. The main products of the reaction are the methyl esters of 2‐(trifluoromethyl)propenoic acid 1 and of 3‐(trifluoromethyl)propenoic acid 2 (4,4,4‐trifluorobut‐2‐enoic acid). The regioselectivity of the reaction can be controlled to a great extent by a suitable choice of the composition of the catalytic system and the reaction conditions. Thus, 1 can be obtained in 93% yield by using P(CO)=20 atm and high ligand/Pd and acid/Pd ratios. On the other hand, selectivity up to 85% in 2 can be achieved using P(CO)=80 atm and a low ligand/Pd ratio together with a high acid/Pd ratio. The reaction mechanism is also discussed.     

Palladium(II) Complexes of C2‐Bridged Chiral Diphosphines: Application to Enantioselective Carbonyl‐Ene Reactions

(11bR,11′bR)‐4,4′‐(1,2‐Phenylene)bis[4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐dinaphtho[2,1‐c:1′,2′‐e]phosphepin] [abbreviated as (R)‐BINAPHANE], (3R,3′R,4S,4′S,11bS,11′bS)‐4,4′‐bis(1,1‐dimethylethyl)‐4,4′,5,5′‐tetrahydro‐3,3′‐bi‐3H‐dinaphtho[2,1‐c:1′,2′‐e]phosphepin [(S)‐BINAPINE], (1S,1′S,2R,2′R)‐1,1′‐bis(1,1‐dimethylethyl)‐2,2′‐biphospholane [(S,S,R,R)‐TANGPHOS] and (2R,2′R,5R,5′R)‐1,1′‐(1,2‐phenylene)bis[2,5‐bis(1‐methylethyl)phospholane] [(R,R)‐i‐Pr‐DUPHOS] are C₂‐bridged chiral diphosphines that form stable complexes with palladium(II) and platinum(II) containing a five‐membered chelate ring. The Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE catalyst displayed good to excellent enantioselectivities with ee values as high as 99.0% albeit in low yields for the carbonyl‐ene reaction between phenylglyoxal and alkenes. Its Pt(II) counterpart afforded improved yields while retaining satisfactory enantioselectivity. For the carbonyl‐ene reaction between ethyl trifluoropyruvate and alkenes, the Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE catalyst afforded both good yields and extremely high enantioselectivities with ees as high as 99.6%. A comparative study on the Pd(II) catalysts of the four C₂‐bridged chiral diphosphines revealed that Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE afforded the best enantioselectivity. The ee values derived from Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE are much higher than those derived from the other three Pd(II) catalysts. A comparison of the catalyst structures shows that the Pd(II)‐BINAPHANE catalyst is the only one that has two bulky (R)‐binaphthyl groups close to the reaction site. Hence it creates a deep chiral space that can efficiently control the reaction behavior in the carbonyl‐ene reactions resulting in excellent enantioselectivity.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Heck‐Type Reactions of Allylic Esters with Arylboronic Acids or Potassium Aryltrifluoroborates

A selective and general route to (E)‐1,3‐diaryl‐prop‐1‐enes and (E)‐3‐arylallyl acetates has been developed by palladium‐catalyzed Heck‐type reactions of allylic esters with arylboronic acids or potassium aryltrifluoroborates. The present method selectively proceeds including β‐OAc elimination or β‐H elimination on the basis of the boronic acids. Whereas a variety of allylic esters were reacted with arylboronic acids, palladium(II) acetate [Pd(OAc)₂], tetra(n‐butyl)ammonium chloride [(n‐Bu)₄NCl] and postassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH₂PO₄) to afford the corresponding diarylation products in moderate to good yields, treatment of allylic esters with potassium aryltrifluoroborates furnished the corresponding monoarylation products.     

Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed 1,4‐Addition of Arylboronic Acids to β‐Arylenones for Enantioselective Synthesis of 4‐Aryl‐4H‐chromenes

The enantioselective 1,4‐addition of arylboronic acids to β‐arylenones to give β‐diaryl ketones was carried out at 0–25 °C in the presence of a dicationic palladium(II) catalyst, [Pd(S,S‐chiraphos)(PhCN)₂](SbF₆)₂. Addition of a silver salt such as silver tetrafluoroborate [AgBF₄] or silver hexafluoroantimonate [AgSbF₆] (5–10 mol %) was effective to achieve high enantioselectivities at low temperatures (92–99 % ee) and to reduce the catalyst loading to 0.05 mol %. The protocol provided a simple access to 4‐aryl‐4H‐chromenes. Optically active chromenes were synthesized with up to 99 % ee via dehydration of the 1,4‐adducts between arylboronic acids and β‐(2‐hydroxyaryl)‐α,β‐unsaturated ketones.     

Rhodium Acetate Dimer Immobilized in 1‐Butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium Hexafluorophosphate Ionic Liquid: a Novel and Recyclable Catalytic System for the Cyclopropanation of Alkenes

Alkenes undergo smooth cyclopropanation with ethyl diazoacetate using a catalytic amount of rhodium acetate dimer, Rh₂(OAc)₄, immobilized in the air‐ and moisture‐stable 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid, [bmim]PF₆, to afford cyclopropanecarboxylates in excellent yields with high trans‐selectivity. The recovery of the catalyst is facilitated by the hydrophobic nature of [bmim]PF₆. The recovered ionic liquid containing Rh₂(OAc)₄ can be reused for three to five subsequent runs with only a gradual decrease in activity.     

Copper‐Nitrene Triggered Annulation of α‐Acyl Cinnamides: Access to Isoxazol‐3(2H)‐ones

A facile and efficient one‐pot synthesis of isoxazol‐3(2H)‐ones has been developed starting from α‐acyl cinnamides and tosyliminophenyliodinane catalyzed by copper(II) acetate [Cu(OAc)₂] under very mild conditions involving a tandem aza‐Michael addition and intramolecular cyclization sequence.

     

A New Chiral P,N‐Ligand Derived from 1‐Phenylphospholane‐2‐carboxylic Acid (Phenyl‐P‐proline) for Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Substitution Reactions

New types of P,N‐ligands, cis‐ and trans‐ 3 , containing a tetrahydroisoquinoline skeleton as an N‐donor were synthesized from (1R,2S)‐1‐phenylphospholane‐2‐carboxylic acid (phenyl‐P‐proline, 1 ). The cis isomer, cis‐ 3 , was found to act as an excellent ligand in palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions. The reactions of 1,3‐diphenyl‐2‐propenyl acetate ( 5 ) with several nucleophiles in the presence of [Pd(π‐allyl)Cl]₂, cis‐ 3 (Pd : ligand=1 : 2), and a base afforded the desired products in high yields with high enantioselectivity. It was suggested that these ligands did not serve as P,N‐bidentate ligands but as P‐monodentate ligands in these reactions.     

Palladium on Carbon‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling using Triarylbismuths

Simple and efficient protocols for the 10% palladium on carbon (Pd/C)‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions between triarylbismuths and aryl halides have been developed. A variety of iodo‐ and bromobenzenes possessing an electron‐withdrawing group on the aromatic nucleus were smoothly cross‐coupled in the presence of 10% Pd/C, sodium phosphate dodecahydrate (Na₃PO₄⋅12 H₂O) and 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) in heated N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) as the solvent. For the arylations of iodobenzenes, the reactions effectively proceeded under the combined use of caesium fluoride (CsF) and 2,2′‐biquinoline. Furthermore, a ligand‐free 10% Pd/C‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction between the aryl iodides and triarylbismuths was also established by the addition of tetra‐n‐buthylammonium fluoride trihydrate (TBAF⋅3 H₂O) in which the palladium metals were hardly leached from the catalyst into the reaction media.     

Selective Aryl α‐Diimine/Palladium‐Catalyzed Bis‐Alkoxy‐ carbonylation of Olefins for the Synthesis of Substituted Succinic Diesters

Aryl α‐diimine derivatives have been used, for the first time, as efficient new ligands for the palladium‐catalyzed oxidative bis‐alkoxycarbonylation reaction of olefins. The most active catalyst was formed in situ from bis(9‐anthryl)‐2,3‐dimethyl‐1,4‐diazabutadiene and palladium(II) trifluoroacetate [Pd(TFA)₂]. This catalytic system was able to selectively convert olefins into succinic diesters in good yields (up to 97%) and low catalyst loading (up to 0.5 mol%) under mild reaction conditions [4 bar of carbon monoxide (CO) at 20 °C in the presence of p‐toluenesulphonic acid as additive and p‐benzoquinone as oxidant]. The optimized conditions could be successfully applied to both aromatic and aliphatic olefins, by using methanol, benzyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol as nucleophiles.

     

Catalytic C‐F Bond Activation of Perfluoroarenes by Tricoordinated Gold(I) Complexes

We report the first example of gold catalyzing C F bond activation for perfluoroarenes in the presence of silanes. Tricoordinated gold(I) complexes supported by Xantphos‐type ligands, such as Xantphos and ^tBuXantphos ligands, exhibit efficacy in the hydrodefluorination (HDF) of various types of perfluoroarenes. For [^tBuXantphosAu(AuCl₂)], the highest turnover number is up to 1000 in the HDF of pentafluoronitrobenzene with diphenylsilane. An examination of functional group tolerance shows the orthogonality of this gold(I) catalytic protocol to ketone, ester, carboxylate, alkynyl, alkenyl and amide groups, suggesting its potential application in chemoselective C F activations. Mechanistic studies show that the equilibrium between tetracoordinated [L₂Au]⁺ and [LAu]⁺ is important for the reactivity of gold catalysts, which is dependent on the sterically bulky group of Xantphos‐type ligands. Furthermore, computational studies for the possible reaction pathways suggest that direct oxidative addition of C F bonds by gold(I) cation might be the key step during these catalytic reactions.