Palladium‐catalyzed cycloaromatization of N‐acyl‐2‐aminobiaryls, through a sequence of ortho C−H bond activation/alkyne insertion/meta C−H bond activation/alkyne insertion, was developed. An efficient synthesis of multiaryl‐substituted naphthalenes, N‐[2‐(5,6,7,8‐tetraarylnaphthalen‐1‐yl)aryl]acetamides, was demonstrated using molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant. Furthermore, through Buchwald's synthetic protocol, two compounds were converted into corresponding fluorescent carbazoles in 30–40% yield by intramolecular C−N bond formation.
An efficient and easy method for C −C homocoupling was developed using cobalt bromide as catalyst. A series of functionalized alkyl bromides and alkyl chlorides were coupled in high yields under mild conditions. This reaction seems to involve a radical intermediate.
The ruthenium(II)‐ or rhodium(III)‐catalyzed pyrimidinyl‐directed Grignard‐type C−H additions of N‐heterocycles with activated aldehydes and ketones are described. A cationic ruthenium catalyst and sodium acetate additive in dichloroethane as solvent were found to be optimal catalytic system for the construction of C‐7 alkylated indolines. In sharp contrast, a cationic rhodium complex allows the generation of C‐2 alkylated indoles and pyrroles as well as C‐1 alkylated carbazoles. The site‐selective C−H functionalization of these heterocyclic scaffolds could be an important asset towards the development of novel bioactive compounds.
2,2‐Difluoro‐1,3‐diketones are introduced as gem‐difluoroenolate precursors for the first example of an organocatalytic asymmetric aldol addition with N‐benzylisatins to form 3‐difluoroalkyl‐3‐hydroxyoxindoles.
A Mitsunobu approach for the synthesis of sulfinate esters by direct nucleophilic substitution of alcohols is described. The salient features of this strategy include neutral and metal‐free conditions for the rapid synthesis of sulfinates in high yields. The present protocol using p‐toluenesulfonylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) and the triphenylphosphine (TPP)/diisopropyl azodicarboxylate (DIAD) reagent system represents the general synthetic route to this important class of compounds.
1‐Alkynylcyclopropyl tosylates react with alkylmagnesium halides in the presence of catalytic ferric acetylacetonate [Fe(acac)3] under net propargylic substitution; allene formation, which is the prevalent reactivity mode of propargylic substrates otherwise, was noticed as a side reaction only when branched alkyl‐ or aryl‐Grignard reagents were used. These transformations represent the first successful iron‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions of tert‐alkyl electrophiles.
A rotor‐stator homogenizer was found to be an effective mixing tool that accelerated solid‐liquid phase‐transfer reactions. In the asymmetric alkylation under phase‐transfer conditions using the homogenizer, a considerably high turnover frequency was observed.
An efficient asymmetric synthesis of spirocyclohexenone β‐lactams bearing three contiguous stereocenters has been achieved in moderate to good yields and high stereoselectivities. The protocol involves the combination of a squaramide‐catalyzed sulfa‐Michael addition under desymmetrization via a dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic 2,5‐cyclohexadienones.
This review describes the recent developments in the field of Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction, in particular with regard to ligand‐free catalysis. The catalysts outlined here allow convenient and green synthetic pathways specifically for the construction of C–C bonds. They enable the synthesis of biaryls by the coupling arylboronic acids with aryl halides. The literature reporting ligand‐free synthesis of biaryls from 2010 to May 2015 has been reviewed.
An efficient copper(I) iodide‐catalyzed sulfenylation of maleimides and related 3‐indolylmaleimides with thiols has been developed in the presence of fluoroboric acid. Several 3‐thiomaleimides and 3‐indolyl‐4‐thiomaleimides were obtained with good yields under ligand‐free conditions. The methods are simple, practical and show good functional group tolerance.
N‐Propargyl‐ and N‐homoallenyl‐2‐bromo‐β‐tryptamines undergo gold(I)‐catalyzed dearomatizing cyclizations to afford 2‐bromospiroindolenines that are in situ hydrolyzed to furnish spirooxindoles in a one‐pot process. Tryptophane derivatives (R2=CO2Et) led upon cyclization to chiral spirooxindoles in excellent diastereoselectivities.
We report here that a cobalt catalyst generated from a cobalt(II) salt and a ligand using magnesium metal is capable of promoting hydroarylation reactions through chelation‐assisted C−H activation. With the appropriate choice of the ligand and other reaction conditions, ketimine‐ or aldimine‐directed branched selective hydroarylations of styrenes and ketimine‐directed hydroarylations of vinylsilane have been achieved. The reported catalytic systems may serve as more convenient alternatives to previously developed catalytic systems employing Grignard reagents as reducing agents.
Polystyrene‐supported gold (Au@PS) nanoparticles were synthesized by the reduction deposition approach and well characterized by UV‐visible, XRD, TEM, SAED, EDX, and XPS studies. The Au@PS was applied as catalyst for the hydration of nitriles to amides in water under microwave irradiation. Several functionalized aromatic, heterocyclic and aliphatic nitriles were found to be active for synthesis of the corresponding amides where no activation of water by base, ligand and support is needed. Easy recovery, negligible leaching and recyclability for up to eight runs are added advantages of the catalyst under water‐mediated reaction conditions.
N‐Alkenylated triazolinone ylides were generated through copper‐catalyzed oxy‐N‐alkenylation of triazolopyridines. The mechanistic course of this aerobic tandem reaction has been experimentally elucidated and primary photophysical data of the ylide products are also given.
A natural quinine‐catalyzed, efficient and practical asymmetric α‐hydroxylation of 4‐substituted pyrazolones has been developed, delivering a broad spectrum of pyrazolones bearing an oxygen‐attached carbon stereocenter at C‐4 in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. The broad substrate scope, ready availability of the catalyst, ease of operation, and valuable transformation of the product highlight the practical utility of this process.
A catalytic system comprising the inexpensive cobalt(II) acetylacetonate [Co(acac)2] and an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand enabled versatile C−H arylations by oxazoline assistance. The broadly applicable, low‐valent cobalt catalyst displayed a wide substrate scope, and even proved applicable to challenging C−H alkylations with β‐hydrogen‐containing primary and secondary alkyl chlorides. The power of the cobalt‐catalyzed C−H arylation protocol was among others reflected by facile C−H activation at a room temperature of 23 °C, and efficient late‐stage diversification, providing access to bioactive biaryls.
A new protocol for the direct reductive cobalt‐catalyzed arylation of benzyl chlorides has been developed in order to form functionalized diarylmethanes. A variety of reactive groups either on the aryl or the benzyl halide was employed. This represents the first cobalt‐catalyzed reductive cross‐coupling which does not require any ligand and pyridine. A reaction pathway is proposed involving a radical benzyl species.
Using an easily prepared triethylammonium N‐benzyldithiocarbamate salt as a sulfur source, a dual C−S functionalization of cyclic diaryliodoniums to form tricyclic thioheterocycles is realized. Our method uses the readily available copper sulfate to accelerate the chemical transformation under mild conditions. A broad range of cyclic diaryliodoniums with a ring size from 5‐ to 7‐membered can be employed to gain a quick access to tricyclic thioheterocycles including dibenzothiophenes, thioxanthenes, and phenoxathiines.
The iron(III) chloride‐catalyzed Friedel–Crafts arylation of 4‐aryl‐4‐methoxy‐2,5‐cyclohexadienones, which were easily prepared by the phenyliodine(III) diacetate (PIDA)‐mediated oxidation of 4‐arylphenols in methanol, proceeded site‐selectively to form meta‐terphenyl (2,4‐diarylphenol) derivatives in good yields. The subsequent PIDA‐mediated oxidation and iron(III) chloride‐catalyzed Friedel–Crafts arylation of the resulting products gave the corresponding 2,4,6‐triarylphenol derivatives. The present method provides useful highly substituted polyarylated compounds.
