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 Nanoparticles Immobilized on Nano‐Silica Triazine Dendritic Polymer (Pdnp‐nSTDP): An Efficient and Reusable Catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura Cross‐Coupling and Heck Reactions

A new catalyst based on palladium nanoparticles immobilized on nano‐silica triazine dendritic polymer (Pd_np‐nSTDP) was synthesized and characterized by FT‐IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray, transmission electron microscopy and elemental analysis. The size of the palladium nanoparticles was determined to be 3.1±0.5 nm. This catalytic system showed high activity in the Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling of aryl iodides, bromides and chlorides with arylboronic acids and also in the Heck reaction of these aryl halides with styrenes. These reactions were best performed in a dimethylformamide (DMF)/water mixture (1:3) in the presence of only 0.006 mol% and 0.01 mol% of the catalyst, respectively, under conventional conditions and microwave irradiation to afford the desired coupling products in high yields. The Pd_np‐nSTDP was also used as an efficient catalyst for the preparation of a series of star‐ and banana‐shaped compounds with a benzene, pyridine, pyrimidine or 1,3,5‐triazine unit as the central core. Moreover, the catalyst could be recovered easily and reused several times without any considerable loss of its catalytic activity.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Aryl Amination Reactions of 6‐Bromo‐ and 6‐Chloropurine Nucleosides

Palladium‐catalyzed C N bond forming reactions of 6‐bromo‐ as well as 6‐chloropurine ribonucleosides and the 2′‐deoxy analogues with arylamines are described. Efficient conversions were observed with palladium(II) acetate/Xantphos/cesium carbonate, in toluene at 100 °C. Reactions of the bromonucleoside derivatives could be conducted at a lowered catalytic loading [5 mol% Pd(OAc)₂/7.5 mol% Xantphos], whereas good product yields were obtained with a higher catalyst load [10 mol% Pd(OAc)₂/15 mol% Xantphos] when the chloro analogue was employed. Among the examples evaluated, silyl protection for the hydroxy groups appears better as compared to acetyl. The methodology has been evaluated via reactions with a variety of arylamines and by synthesis of biologically relevant deoxyadenosine and adenosine dimers. This is the first detailed analysis of aryl amination reactions of 6‐chloropurine nucleosides, and comparison of the two halogenated nucleoside substrates.     

Palladium‐Catalysed Regioselective Sequential C‐5 and C‐2 Direct Arylations of 3‐Acetylpyrroles with Aryl Bromides

The PdCl(C₃H₅)(dppb)/KOAc system was found to be effective for the direct regioselective C‐5 arylation of 3‐acetylpyrroles with ortho‐substituted aryl bromides. This procedure has been found to be tolerant to a variety of functional groups at C‐2 of the aryl bromide such as methyl, formyl, nitrile, nitro, hydroxymethyl, chloro, fluoro or trifluoromethyl. The sequential direct C‐5 arylation followed by C‐2 arylation of such 3‐substituted pyrroles allows the synthesis of 2,5‐diaryl‐3‐acetylpyrroles in high yields.     

Sulfonated N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes for Pd‐Catalyzed Sonogashira and Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling in Aqueous Solvents

The reactions of the N,N′‐diarylimidazolium and N,N′‐diarylimidazolinium salts with chlorosulfonic acid result in the formation of the respective disulfonated N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors in reasonable yields (46–77%). Water‐soluble palladium catalyst complexes, in situ obtained from the respective sulfonated imidazolinium salt, sodium tetrachloropalladate (Na₂PdCl₄) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) in water, were successfully applied in the copper‐free Sonogashira coupling reaction in isopropyl alcohol/water mixtures using 0.2 mol% catalyst loading. The preformed (disulfonatedNHC)PdCl(cinnamyl) complex was used in aqueous Suzuki–Miyaura reactions at 0.1 mol% catalyst loading. The coupling protocol reported here is very useful for Sonogashira reactions of N‐ and S‐heterocyclic aryl bromides and chlorides with aryl‐ and alkylacetylenes.     

Oxime Palladacycle‐Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura Alkenylation of Aryl,Heteroaryl, Benzyl,and Allyl Chlorides under Microwave Irradiation Conditions

A simple new protocol for the palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling of organic chlorides under microwave irradiation is presented. Deactivated aryl and heteroaryl chlorides are efficiently cross‐coupled with alkenylboronic acids and potassium alkenyltrifluoroborates using the 4,4′‐dichlorobenzophenone oxime‐derived palladacycle 1b as precatalyst in 0.1 to 0.5 mol% palladium loading, tris(tert‐butyl)phosphonium tetrafluoroborate {[HP(t‐Bu)₃]BF₄} as ligand, tetra‐n‐butylammonium hydroxide as cocatalyst, and potassium carbonate as base in N,N‐dimethylformamide at 130 °C under microwave irradiation conditions. Under these conditions, styrenes, stilbenes, and alkenylarenes are obtained in good to high yields, and with high regio‐ and diastereoselectivities in only 20 min. The reported protocol is also very efficient for the regioselective alkenylation of benzyl and allyl chlorides to afford allylarenes and 1,4‐dienes.     

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.     

Mizoroki–Heck Reactions Catalyzed by Dichloro{bis[1‐(dicyclohexylphosphanyl)piperidine]}palladium: Palladium Nanoparticle Formation Promoted by (Water‐Induced) Ligand Degradation

The palladium‐based dichlorobis[1‐(dicyclohexylphosphanyl)piperidine] complex – [(P{(NC₅H₁₀)(C₆H₁₁)₂})₂Pd(Cl)₂] is readily prepared in quantitative yield from the reaction of [Pd(cod)(Cl)₂] (cod=cycloocta‐1,5‐diene) with two equivalents of 1‐(dicyclohexylphosphanyl)piperidine in toluene under N₂ within only a few minutes at room temperature. This complex is a highly active Heck catalyst with excellent functional group tolerance, which reliably operates at low catalyst loadings. Various activated, non‐activated, deactivated, functionalized, sterically hindered, and heterocyclic aryl bromides, which may contain nitro, chloro or trifluoromethane groups, nitriles, acetales, ketones, aldehydes, ethers, esters, lactones, amides, anilines, phenols, alcohols, carboxylic acids, and heterocyclic aryl bromides, such as pyridines and derivatives, as well as thiophenes and aryl bromides containing methylsulfanyl groups have been successfully coupled with various (also functionalized) alkenes in excellent yields and selectivities (the E‐isomers are typically exclusively formed) at 140 °C in the presence of 0.05 mol % of the catalyst in DMF. Even though lower catalyst loadings could be used for many electronically activated, non‐activated and some electronically deactivated aryl bromides without noticeable loss of activity, the great advantage of the reaction protocol presented here lies in its reliability and general applicability, which allows its direct adoption to other aryl bromides without the neccessity of its modification. Experimental observations indicated that palladium nanoparticles are the catalytically active form. Consequently, whereas comparable levels of activity were observed for dichloro‐bis(aminophosphine) complexes of palladium, a dramatic drop in activity was found for their phosphine‐based analogue [(P(C₆H₁₁)₃)₂Pd(Cl)₂].     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Alkyne Oxidation with Part‐Per‐Million Catalyst Loadings

Using a catalytic system of the (cymene)ruthenium dichloride dimer, [Ru(cymene)Cl₂]₂, (0.001 mol%) and iodine (10 mol%), a variety of alkynes bearing different functional groups were oxidized with tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP; 70% solution in water) under mild conditions to give 1,2‐diketones in good to excellent yields. Two noteworthy features of the method are the extremely high catalyst productivity (TON up to 420,000) and scale‐up to 1 mol. Preliminary mechanism investigations showed that iodonium ion and water were involved in the transformation.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed,Highly Efficient,Regiocontrolled Arylation of Electron‐Rich Allylamines with Aryl Halides

The highly efficient and regioselective palladium‐catalyzed Heck coupling of aryl bromides with electron‐rich allylamine derivatives is described. It was found that the choice of solvent, olefin, ligand and additive had a fundamental influence on the regioselectivity and reactivity of the reaction. The combination of palladium acetate [Pd(OAc)₂] and 1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) in ethylene glycol (EG) constitutes a highly effective catalyst system for internal arylation of N‐Boc‐allylamine (tert‐butyl methyl allyliminodicarbonate) with aryl bromides to give good to excellent regioselectivities, while the catalyst system consisting of Pd(OAc)₂, tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) and 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) additive allows for a variety of aryl bromides to react efficiently with N,N‐(Boc)₂‐allylamine (di‐tert‐butyl allyliminodicarbonate) in water to exclusively afford the linear (E)‐allylamine products in high yields.     

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.     

Reversed‐Polarity Synthesis of Diaryl Ketones through Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct Arylation of 2‐Aryl‐1,3‐dithianes

An umpolung approach to the synthesis of diaryl ketones has been developed based on in situ generation of acyl anion equivalents and their catalytic arylation. This method entails the base‐promoted, palladium‐catalyzed direct C‐H arylation of 2‐aryl‐1,3‐dithianes with aryl bromides. Use of MN(SiMe₃)₂ (M=Li, Na) base results in reversible deprotonation of the weakly acidic dithiane. In the presence of a Pd(NiXantphos)‐based catalyst and aryl bromide, cross‐coupling of the metallated 2‐aryl‐1,3‐dithiane takes place under mild conditions (2 h at rt) with yields as high as 96 %. The resulting 2,2‐diaryl‐1,3‐dithianes were converted into diaryl ketones by either molecular iodine, N‐bromo succinimide (NBS) or Selectfluor in the presence of water. The dithiane arylation/hydrolysis can be performed in a one‐pot procedure to yield a variety of diaryl ketones in good to excellent yields. This method is suitable for rapid and large‐scale synthesis of diaryl ketones. A one‐pot preparation of anti‐cholesterol drug fenofibrate (TriCor®) has been achieved on 10.0 mmol scale in 86 % yield.

     

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.     

The First Fluoride‐Free Hiyama Reaction of Vinylsiloxanes Promoted by Sodium Hydroxide in Water

The first cross‐coupling reaction between vinylalkoxysilanes and aryl bromides or chlorides promoted by aqueous sodium hydroxide under fluoride‐free conditions to provide styrenes is reported. The reaction is catalyzed by palladium(II) acetate or a 4‐hydroxyacetophenone oxime‐derived palladacycle either under thermal or microwave heating at 120 °C with low catalyst loading (0.01–1 mol % of palladium) in the presence of tetra‐n‐butylammonium bromide (TBAB) as additive in air. In the case of styryltriethoxysilane, the coupling with aryl or vinyl bromides takes place stereospecifically to give the corresponding stilbenes or dienes, respectively. These mild and simple reaction conditions prevent undesirable polymerization of the products.     

Convenient Approach to 3,4‐Diarylisoxazoles Based on the Suzuki Cross‐Coupling Reaction

The Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction was found effective for rapid access to a series of 3,4‐diarylisoxazoles of pharmacological interest. The efficiency of this approach was demonstrated by the synthesis of the highly potent COX‐2‐selective inhibitor, 4‐(5‐methyl‐3‐phenyl‐4‐isoxazolyl)benzenesulfonamide (valdecoxib), and its analogues. Thus, the coupling reaction between (3‐aryl‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolyl)boronic acids, prepared in situ from the corresponding bromides using triisopropyl borate, and aryl bromides containing a 4‐sulfonamide or 4‐methylsulfonyl group under the standard conditions [Pd(PPh₃)₄, Na₂CO₃, EtOH‐H₂O, reflux] yielded the target 3,4‐diarylisoxazoles in good yields.     

On the Use of Non‐Symmetrical Mixed PCN and SCN Pincer Palladacycles as Catalyst Precursors for the Heck Reaction

The mixed pincer palladacycles (Me₂NCH₂(Cl)CCCH₂CH₂Y‐κN,κC,κY)PdCl ( 1 , Y=PPh₂; 2 , OPPh₂) and (t‐BuSCH₂CH₂CC(Cl)(o‐NC₅H₄)‐κS,κC,κN)PdCl 3 have been obtained in high yields by chloropalladation of heterosusbstituted alkynes Me₂NCH₂CCCH₂CH₂PPh₂, Me₂NCH₂CCCH₂CH₂OPPh₂ and t‐BuSCH₂CH₂CC(o‐NC₅H₄), respectively. The molecular structures of 1 and 3 have been ascertained by means of X‐ray diffraction analysis. The catalytic properties of these mixed donor group pincer‐type palladacycles have been evaluated in the arylation of olefins (Heck reaction). The pincer palladacycle 1 is highly active for the coupling of aryl iodides and aryl bromides with n‐butyl acrylate. In contrast it is only moderately active for the coupling of aryl chlorides substituted with electron‐withdrawing groups and inactive for the coupling of electron neutral and electron deactivated aryl chlorides.     

Resorcin[4]arene‐Derived Mono‐ and Diphosphines in Suzuki Cross‐Coupling

Three resorcin[4]arene cavitands ( 1 – 3 ) having either one or two resorcinolic C‐2 atoms substituted by a  CH₂PPh₂ podand arm were assessed in the Suzuki arylation of aryl bromides with phenylboronic acid. Using P:Pd ratios of 2:1 and operating in dioxane at 100 °C with a catalyst loading of 0.001 mol% resulted in highly efficient catalytic systems. For example, TOFs up to 34570 mol(converted ArBr)⋅mol(Pd)⁻¹⋅h⁻¹ were obtained with the proximally‐disubstituted cavitand 3 when using 4‐bromotoluene as substrate. The performance was shown to vary in the following order: monophosphine 1 <diphosphine 2 <diphosphine 3 (where 2 is the distally disubstituted cavitand). A comparison of the catalytic properties of monophosphine‐cavitand 1 with those of benzyldiphenylphosphine and o‐anisylmethyldiphenyl phosphine suggests that 1 functions as a hemilabile phosphine, the oxygen atoms close to the phosphorus atom behaving as donors able to temporarily increase the electron density on the metal and/or favour the formation of mono‐ligand Pd(0) species.     

Palladium‐Catalysed Direct Arylation of Heteroaromatics Bearing Unprotected Hydroxyalkyl Functions using Aryl Bromides

Heteroaromatics bearing unprotected hydroxyalkyl functions can be arylated using aryl or heteroaryl bromides, via palladium‐catalysed carbon‐hydrogen bond activation/arylation. Good yields were generally obtained using 0.01–0.5 mol% of the air‐stable palladium acetate complex as the catalyst. The nature of the base was found to be crucial for the selectivity of this reaction. Potassium acetate led to the direct arylation products whereas caesium carbonate led to the formation of the ether. This procedure is certainly more atom‐economic than other methods for the preparation of such compounds, as no protection/deprotection sequence of the hydroxyalkyl function and no preparation of an organometallic derivative is required.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed and Hybrid Acids‐Assisted Synthesis of [60]Fulleroazepines in One Pot under Mild Conditions: Annulation of N‐Sulfonyl‐2‐aminobiaryls with [60]Fullerene through Sequential C‐H Bond Activation,C‐C and C‐N Bond Formation

An extraordinarily efficient hybrid acids‐assisted, palladium‐catalyzed and chelating‐group‐assisted C H bond activation of N‐sulfonyl‐2‐aminobiaryls and their annulations with [60]fullerene via sequential C C and C N bond formation at room temperature to afford [60]fulleroazepines is demonstrated. The formation of [60]fulleroazepines is highly regioselective and tolerant to both electron‐withdrawing and electron‐donating groups on the aryl moiety and the reaction gives monofunctionalized fullerenes in good yields (up to 54% isolated yield and 92% based on converted C₆₀).     

Pyridin‐, Quinolin‐ and Acridinylidene Palladium Carbene Complexes as Highly Efficient C–C Coupling Catalysts

A series of four new complexes bearing N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHCs) as well as four compounds bearing N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands with remote heteroatoms (rNHCs) of the general types [(NHC)(PPh₃)₂PdCl]⁺BF₄⁻ and [(rNHC)(PPh₃)₂PdCl]⁺BF₄⁻, respectively, have been prepared in high yields. Crystal and molecular structures have been determined for four representative examples. These compounds proved to be efficient catalysts for aryl coupling reactions of the Heck and Suzuki types (reaching TONs of as high as 6,200,000). Both aryl bromides and aryl chlorides can be used as substrates. Like the well known mixed, standard (NHC)(phosphine) compounds, the new six‐numbered, one‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes (and in particular certain rNHC‐containing ones) also combine the advantageous stability of bis(carbene) and the high activity of bis(phosphine) complexes. Furthermore, their good catalytic performance and, especially, their easy synthesis based on cheap and commercially available starting materials, make them by far superior when compared to the mixed (NHC)(phosphine) catalysts known thus far.